bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fatores do bem-estar animal relacionados ao padrão da carne bovina: uma revisão
Authors: Castro Matheus Campos , Alves Eloize Silva , Saqueti Bruno Henrique Figueiredo , Alves Jéssica Souza , Costa Joice Camila Martins , Bruni Andressa Rafaella da Silva , Hussein Zeinab El Hajj , Frigo Giovana , Santos Oscar Oliveira , Visentainer Jesui Vergilio
Published: December 2021

O presente estudo tem como objetivo fornecer uma compreensão sobre a relação das condições do bem-estar animal antecedentes ao abate à qualidade da carne baseada em uma revisão bibliográfica. Para isso foi realizado uma busca na literatura utilizando as seguintes palavras-chaves: Welfare, Animal Welfare, Pre-slaughter, Beef, Meat Quality. A partir do início do século XXI foi possível observar um crescente aumento de pesquisas pertencentes ao tema, isso acontece devido ao fato de que cada vez mais o bem-estar animal está relacionado ao estresse do animal, metabolismo durante o rigor mortis – responsável pela conversão do tecido muscular em carne de consumo, assim consequentemente os consumidores finais estão cada vez mais exigentes em relação a isso. No pós-abate de bovinos, podem surgir defeitos da qualidade da carne, denominadas como PSE (pálido, mole, exsudativo) e DFD (escuro, duro, seco), associados a um pH anormal da carne. O bem-estar animal está intimamente ligado desde a criação dos animais até a etapa de pré-abate da carne. A partir do estudo realizado, pode-se definir a necessidade de novas pesquisas que avaliem métodos de prevenção de estresse durante ao pré-abate.
Emerging Drugs in Dermatology
Authors: Nzisa Janet
Published: December 2021

The ANNUAL European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Virtual Congress 2021 featured the latest updates on emerging drugs in dermatology. Presentations covered a wide range of topics such as immunotherapy versus targeted therapy in melanoma, targeting cytokine pathways in psoriasis, emerging biologics, and the promise of personalised medicine in dermatology.
Technological Aspects of Obtaining Liposomes Containing of a Complex of Biologically Active Substances Isolated from Deer Musk
Authors: Lyublinskiy S. L. , Lyublinskaya I. N. , Koloskova E. M. , Azizov A. M. , Karkischenko V. N. , Nesterov M. S. , Kaptsov A. V. , Ageldinov R. A. , Gerasimov V. N. , Grinenko D. V.
Published: December 2021

In order to preserve and increase the biological effectiveness of biologically active substances isolated from deer musk, we studied technological aspects of obtaining a substance of lipid-stabilized stable nanoparticles from deer musk. The stability of the obtained substance was evaluated. It was found that homogenization under high pressure is an optimal approach to obtaining biologically active substances from deer musk. The modes of preparation of a liposomal form of biologically active substances with predetermined dispersion parameters (average particle diameter 250 ± 100 nm, polydispersity index 0.3 ± 0.1, and zeta potential from -5 to -35 mV) were determined. It was found that the high-pressure homogenizer “Donor-5” makes it possible to obtain liposomal dispersions with standard parameters and the degree of inclusion of musk biologically active substances up to 60%, at the same time as providing minimal oxidation and hydrolysis of phospholipids (oxidation index 0.3). Our studies showed that the use of a domestic phosphatidylcholine is economically justiﬁed and allows obtaining liposomal forms of proper quality. The quality indicators of the obtained liposomal substance were characterised by conventional analytical methods (dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, gel chromatography, chromatography-mass spectrometry, etc.). On the basis of the results obtained, a draft speciﬁcation was developed for a liposomal substance (powder) containing a complex of biologically active substances isolated from deer musk. The developed technology for obtaining a liposomal form of biologically active substances from deer musk can be scaled up in accordance with GMP requirements.
Preclinical Studies into Speciﬁc Toxicity of a Candidate Drug Based on Complement C3 neodeterminant Recombinant Humanized Antibody for Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries
Authors: Nekrasova K. A. , Troﬁmov A. V. , Zhahov A. V. , Rodin S. V. , Gorbunov N. P. , Petrov A. V. , Pigareva N. V. , Alexandrov G. V. , Zakharov M. S. , Kiryanova A. S. , Khuttunen O. E. , Bendt I. V. , Krylova A. E. , Ischenko A. M.
Published: December 2021

This study aims to assess the speciﬁc toxicity (allergenicity, immunotoxicity and reproduction toxicity) of a dosage form of complement C3 neodeterminant recombinant humanized antibody. The reactions of general anaphylaxis, active cutaneous anaphylaxis and delayed-type reaction demonstrated no drug-related signs of experimental animal sensitization and immediate or delayed hypersensitivity in the treated animals. It was found that, in doses exceeding signiﬁcantly the expected human therapeutic dose, the drug has no effect on humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. In addition, the drug does not suppress the phagocytic cell activity thereby indicating the absence of immunotoxic effect. Moreover, the drug has no adverse effects on male and female reproduction, progeny embryonal development, as well as prenatal and postnatal progeny development. The obtained data can be used in future clinical studies of the drug safety.
The unusual printing and publishing arrangements of Hugh Miller (1802–1856)
Authors: Taylor M. A.
Published: December 2021

John Johnstone was an Edinburgh printer and publisher, from 1849 in partnership with Robert Hunter. In 1839, Johnstone and the printer Robert Fairly established a separate firm, Johnstone & Fairly, to publish the Witness, a newspaper edited by the geologist Hugh Miller. The firm became Miller & Fairly in 1844 when Miller bought out Johnstone's share. The editorial office was in the High Street. The steam-powered printing office was in Horse Wynd, in the former gatehouse of Minto House and later also in the former house of the physician Dr John Clerk of Listonshiels. Johnstone's own publishing business specialized in religious and ecclesiastical works. Nevertheless, Miller chose that firm to publish The Old Red Sandstone (1841), and later books, until the firm ran into financial trouble in the mid-1850s, and Miller placed The testimony of the rocks (1857) with Shepherd & Elliot of Edinburgh. Miller's original choice of Johnstone was perhaps to protect the reputation of Miller and the Witness when geology was often regarded with suspicion on religious grounds. It may also have given Miller more creative freedom. Miller & Fairly printed many, but not all, impressions of Miller's books for Johnstone and other publishers. This was to Miller's, and Miller's heirs', presumed double profit as copyright holder and printer, with implications for his relationships with publishers. Miller's dual role may help explain his reluctance to resign the newspaper's editorship even at the cost of his health and life.
Stanisław Batys Gorski’s botanical research in the Białowieża Primeval Forest during the 1820s
Authors: Ričkienė A. , Daszkiewicz P. , Fedotova A. , Samojlik T.
Published: December 2021

The first scientific description of the flora of the Białowieża Primeval Forest (Puszcza Białowieska) was published in 1829 in Stanisław Batys Gorski’s paper “O roślinach żubrom upodobanych, jakoteż innych w puszczy Białowiezkiey [About preferred plants of the European bison and other plants from the Białowieża Primeval Forest]”. This publication comprised the first critical evaluation of the plant species present in the forest based on several field surveys during 1822, 1823 and 1826 by Gorski, and it dismissed the popular hypothesis that the European bison ( Bison bonasus) survived there because some of its preferred forage plants were exclusively found in the forest. To assess the importance of Gorski’s contribution to studies on the flora of the Białowieża Primeval Forest, we critically evaluated all his materials on the topic, including manuscripts, plant specimens collected by Gorski now preserved in Vilnius University Herbarium and his published works, and also traced all mentions and references to Gorski’s studies in later botanical works devoted to the Białowieża Primeval Forest.
Ideological Manipulation in Twitter Communication:
A Critical Stylistic Analysis of Donald Trump's Tweets
Authors: Sadeq Alaghbary Gibreel
Published: December 2021

Donald Trump’s use of Twitter as a modality to defame opponents, antagonize media outlets and even glorify violence is an enduring legacy for political campaigns, presidential rhetoric and argumentative debates. This nontraditional use of social media as a political communication tool has invited Twitter’s fact-checking editorial decisions, alienated some of Trump’s supporters and attracted worldwide criticism. Using purposive sampling, the present paper employs the ten textual-conceptual functions of critical stylistics to analyze a dataset of Trump’s tweets on domestic and international political issues published between 2011 and 2020 and assembled from the monitor corpus Trump Twitter Archive. The critical stylistic analysis aims at uncovering Trump’s ideological outlook by identifying the extra layer of meaning in which the ideological evaluation is structured and exposing the way in which the resources of language are strategically deployed to influence and ideologically manipulate Trump’s followers’ experience of reality. Analysis reveals a network of lexical, syntactic, semantic and pragmatic choices underlying Trump’s seemingly simple rhetoric. It signposts his ideological evaluation and constructs a world for his followers to desire, believe or fear. The study extends the application of critical stylistics to microblogging channels, with implications both for the linguistic make-up of political communication in Web 2.0 contexts and for the explanatory power of critical stylistics..
Evidence of Variable Gender Role in Defining Language Change Leadership in Syrian Arabic
Authors: Habib Rania
Published: December 2021

This study aims to present evidence of gender variability among leaders of language change across different sociolinguistic variables, five phonological variables (a consonant and four vowels) and a discourse variable in Syrian Arabic, within the same speech community. Employing a sociolinguistic variationist approach and comparing children to adults yielded different gendered linguistic behavior. Children show the same dramatic gendered linguistic difference as adults regarding the variable (q), with males using much more rural (q) than urban (ʔ) than females. Regarding the vowel variables, children dramatize their gendered linguistic difference much more than adults; boys show much higher use of the rural vowels than girls compared to the difference between men and women. This pattern is reversed in the discourse variable (yaʕni) ‘that is/I mean’; the gendered linguistic difference is more dramatic among adults than it is among children, and gender effect diminishes in the linguistic distribution of the variable. This multidirectionality in gender effects bears implications for sociolinguistic variationist research. Variables indexed to urban refinement/prestige and social meanings such as femininity/masculinity are more likely to be led by females than males. Conversely, variables that lack these types of social/gender identification indexicality, regardless of whether they are phonological or discursive, do not follow the same pattern of leadership..
The Possible Useful Effectiveness of Sinapic Acid Sepsis-Induced Secondary Organ Damage in Rats
Authors: TANYELİ Ayhan , EKİNCİ AKDEMİR Fazile Nur , ERASLAN Ersen , GÜLER Mustafa Can , ÖZBEK ŞEBİN Saime , COMAKLI Selim , GÜLÇİN İlhami
Published: December 2021

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the possible useful effectiveness of Sinapic acid on rat kidney and lung tissues in an experimental cecal ligation puncture (CLP) model.
Methods: CLP model was created for the rats in the CLP group. 20 mg/kg of Sinapic acid was given in the CLP-Sinapic acid group. At the end of the experiment, lung and kidney tissues were collected and biochemical analyzes were evaluated.
Results: For the lung and kidney tissue samples; antioxidant levels decreased, and oxidant levels increased in the CLP group. When the immunohistochemical parameters were evaluated, IL-1β, caspase-3, and TNF-α immunopositivity were severe levels in CLP group. But immunopositivity of these parameters have been observed as attenuated in CLP-Sinapic acid group compared to CLP group.
Conclusion: The results of our study showed that Sinapic acid has useful effectiveness on the sepsis model caused by CLP in the lung and kidney tissues.
ИЗ ИСТОРИИ РУССКОГО СУНДУЧНОГО ПРОИЗВОДСТВА XVI–XVII ВЕКОВ: ПО МАТЕРИАЛАМ ОПИСЕЙ ИМУЩЕСТВА ЗНАТНЫХ ЛИЦ И МОНАСТЫРСКИХ ОПИСЕЙ
Authors: Пудов Глеб Александрович
Published: December 2021

В статье рассматривается один из периодов в истории русского сундучного производства, который ограничивается XVI–XVII вв. В музейных собраниях почти не сохранились сундуки и шкатулки этого времени. Поэтому большую ценность приобрели письменные источники — описи имущества частных лиц и монастырские описи. Они могут дать представление о несохранившихся сундучных изделиях. В статье не только анализируются некоторые аспекты русского сундучного производства XVI–XVII столетий, но и раскрываются особенности названных исторических источников, констатируется их ограниченность. В качестве приложения дан отрывок из описания Кирилло-Белозерского монастыря, составленного во второй половине XVIII в.
The article examines one of the periods in the history of Russian chest production. It is limited to the 16th – 17th centuries. In museum collections, chests and caskets of that time are almost not preserved. Therefore, written sources – inventories of the property of individuals and monastic inventories – acquired great value. They can give an idea of the unpreserved chest products. The article not only analyzes some aspects of the Russian chest production of the 16th – 17th centuries, but also reveals the features of the named historical sources, states their limitations. As an appendix, an excerpt from the description of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, compiled in the second half of the 18th century, is given.
СРЕДНЕВЕКОВЫЕ ТЕКСТЫ ПРОТИВ ЯЗЫЧЕСТВА КАК ИСТОЧНИК ПО ИЗУЧЕНИЮ ИГРОВОЙ КУЛЬТУРЫ
Authors: Слепцова Ирина Семеновна
Published: December 2021

Статья посвящена рассмотрению произведений литературы Древней и Средневековой Руси и раннего Нового времени, направленных против языческих верований и практик, как источника для описания игровой культуры. Привлекаются главным образом нормативные, канонические и дидактические сочинения, а также исповедные тексты, в которых содержатся сведения о развлечениях и играх. Основное внимание уделено играм в узком смысле слова (играм с правилами), как наименее изученному феномену культуры данного исторического периода. Это расширяет представления об игровом репертуаре, месте и статусе игры в празднично-обрядовой и повседневной жизни, а также дает возможность проследить процесс десакрализации игры, ее переход в сферу «мирского». Выявленные в письменных памятниках сведения об игровой культуре Средневековья и раннего Нового времени раскрывают их включенность в языческую обрядность и демонстрируют связь с магическими практиками, что было основанием для их преследования и запрещения. Это обстоятельство определяет ограниченность использования данных источников для реконструкции игрового репертуара. В список игр попадают только те, которые расценивались церковью как языческие или нарушавшие социальный порядок и нравственные правила. Упомянутые в древнерусских и средневековых источниках формы народного веселья обнаруживают истоки ряда народных игр, бытовавших в XIX–ХХ вв., и объясняют их включенность в календарную обрядность.
The article is devoted to the consideration of the works of literature of Ancient and Medieval Russia and the early modern era, directed against pagan beliefs and practices, as a source for describing the game culture. Mainly normative, canonical and didactic compositions are used, as well as confessional texts, which contain information about entertainment and games. The main attention is paid to games in the narrow sense of the word (games with rules), as the least studied cultural phenomenon of this historical period. This expands the understanding of the game repertoire, the place and status of the game in festive and ceremonial and everyday life, and also makes it possible to trace the process of desacralization of the game, its transition into the sphere of the «worldly». The information about the gaming culture of the Middle Ages and the early modern times revealed in written monuments reveals their involvement in pagan rituals and demonstrates a connection with magical practices, which was the basis for their persecution and prohibition. This circumstance determines the limited use of these sources for the reconstruction of the playing repertoire. The list of games includes only those that were regarded by the church as pagan or violating social order and moral rules. The forms of folk fun mentioned in ancient Russian and medieval sources reveal the origins of a number of folk games that existed in the 19th – 20th centuries and explain their inclusion in calendar rituals.
The Relationship Between the Network of Non-coding RNAs-Molecular Targets and N6-Methyladenosine Modification in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Lu Senxu , Ding Xiangyu , Wang Yuanhe , Hu Xiaoyun , Sun Tong , Wei Minjie , Wang Xiaobin , Wu Huizhe
Published: December 2021

Recent accumulating researches implicate that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNA (miRNA), circular RNA (circRNA), and long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation and development. Notably, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation, the critical posttranscriptional modulators, exerts various functions in ncRNA metabolism such as stability and degradation. However, the interaction regulation network among ncRNAs and the interplay with m6A-related regulators has not been well documented, particularly in CRC. Here, we summarize the interaction networks and sub-networks of ncRNAs in CRC based on a data-driven approach from the publications (IF > 6) in the last quinquennium (2016–2021). Further, we extend the regulatory pattern between the core m6A regulators and m6A-related ncRNAs in the context of CRC metastasis and progression. Thus, our review will highlight the clinical potential of ncRNAs and m6A modifiers as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for improving the diagnostic precision and treatment of CRC.
Self, Free Will and Compassion: Shared Constructs in Neuroscience and Buddhism
Authors: Jaeger Dieter , Gonpo Lobsang
Published: December 2021

The authors, a neuroscientist and a Buddhist monastic who met through the Emory Tibet Science Initiative, highlight similarities in the understanding of mental activities found in both traditions. An important principle discovered is the parallel processing of multiple mental activities, which reveals the existence of a unitary self and free will as illusions. These insights provide the rationale in Buddhism to develop a culture of compassion. Meanwhile western psychology and neuroscience have found brain circuits that have evolved to support social and even altruistic behaviors, giving compassion a physical basis in our brains as well. These insights then set the stage for a shared interest in an altruistic compassionate society.
Performance of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II for Post-Cardiac Surgery Patients in Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Xu Fei , Li Weina , Zhang Cheng , Cao Rong
Published: December 2021

Background: The aim of this study is to assess the performance of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II) on outcomes of patients with cardiac surgery and identify the cutoff values to provide a reference for early intervention.

Methods: All data were extracted from MIMIC-III (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-III) database. Cutoff values were calculated by the receiver-operating characteristic curve and Youden indexes. Patients were grouped, respectively, according to the cutoff values of SOFA and SAPS II. A non-adjusted model and adjusted model were established to evaluate the prediction of risk. Comparison of clinical efficacy between two scoring systems was made by decision curve analysis (DCA). The primary outcomes of this study were in-hospital mortality, 28-day mortality, 90-day mortality, and 1-year mortality after cardiac surgery. The secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay and intensive care unit (ICU) stay and the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) within 7 days after ICU admission.

Results: A total of 6,122 patients were collected and divided into the H-SOFA group (SOFA ≥ 7) and L-SOFA group (SOFA < 7) or H-SAPS II group (SAPS II ≥ 43) and L-SAPS II group (SAPS II < 43). In-hospital mortality, 28-day mortality, 90-day mortality, and 1-year mortality were higher, the length of hospital and ICU stay were longer in the H-SOFA group than in the L-SOFA group (p < 0.05), while the incidence of AKI was not significantly different. In-hospital mortality, 28-day mortality, 90-day mortality, 1-year mortality, and the incidence of AKI were all significantly higher in the H-SAPS II group than in the L-SAPS II group (p < 0.05). Hospital stay and ICU stay were longer in the H-SAPS II group than in the L-SAPS II group (p < 0.05). According to DCA, the SAPS II scoring system had more net benefits on assessing the long-term mortality compared with the SOFA scoring system.

Conclusion: Exceeding the cutoff values of SOFA and SAPS II scores could lead to increased mortality and extended length of ICU and hospital stay. The SAPS II scoring system had a better discriminative performance of 90-day mortality and 1-year mortality in post-cardiac surgery patients than the SOFA scoring system. Emphasizing the critical value of the scoring system is of significance for timely treatment.
An Automated Dashboard to Improve Laboratory COVID-19 Diagnostics Management
Authors: Maury Emma , Boldi Marc-Olivier , Greub Gilbert , Chavez Valérie , Jaton Katia , Opota Onya
Published: December 2021

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our microbial diagnostic laboratory located in a university hospital has implemented several distinct SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR systems in a very short time. More than 148,000 tests have been performed over 12 months, which represents about 405 tests per day, with peaks to more than 1,500 tests per days during the second wave. This was only possible thanks to automation and digitalization, to allow high throughput, acceptable time to results and to maintain test reliability. An automated dashboard was developed to give access to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to improve laboratory operational management.

Methods: RT-PCR data extraction of four respiratory viruses—SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B and RSV—from our laboratory information system (LIS), was automated. This included age, gender, test result, RT-PCR instrument, sample type, reception time, requester, and hospitalization status etc. Important KPIs were identified and the visualization was achieved using an in-house dashboard based on the open-source language R (Shiny).

Results: The dashboard is organized into three main parts. The “Filter” page presents all the KPIs, divided into five sections: (i) general and gender-related indicators, (ii) number of tests and positivity rate, (iii) cycle threshold and viral load, (iv) test durations, and (v) not valid results. Filtering allows to select a given period, a dedicated instrument, a given specimen, an age range or a requester. The “Comparison” page allows a custom charting of all the available variables, which represents more than 182 combination. The “Data” page, gives the user an access to the raw data in tables format, with possibility of filtering, allowing for a deeper analysis and data download. Informations are updated every 4 h.

Conclusions: By giving a rapid access to a huge number of up-to-date information, represented using the most relevant visualization types, without the burden of timely data extraction and analysis, the dashboard represents a reliable and user-friendly tool for operational laboratory management. The dashboard represents a reliable and user-friendly tool improving the decision-making process, resource planning and quality management.
Bandgap Correction and Spin-Orbit Coupling Induced Absorption Spectra of Dimethylammonium Lead Iodide for Solar Cell Absorber
Authors: Agbaoye Ridwan O. , Bolarinwa Sherifdeen , Akiode Kolawole Olubunmi , Adekoya-Olowofela Abibat A. , Habeeb Lateefat Modupe , Balogun Omolola Myriam , Adebambo Paul O. , Kenmoe Stephane , Adebayo Gboyega A.
Published: December 2021

The search for stable and highly efficient solar cell absorbers has revealed interesting materials; however, the ideal solar cell absorber is yet to be discovered. This research aims to explore the potentials of dimethylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH2CH3PbI3) as an efficient solar cell absorber. (CH3NH2CH3PbI3) was modeled from the ideal organic–inorganic perovskite cubic crystal structure and optimized to its ground state. Considering the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) effects on heavy metals, the electronic band structure and bandgaps were calculated using the density functional theory (DFT). In contrast, bandgap correction was achieved by using the GW quasiparticle methods of the many-body perturbation theory. The optical absorption spectra were calculated from the real and imaginary dielectric tensors, which are determined by solving the Bethe–Salpeter equations of the many-body perturbation theory. Spin-orbit coupling induces band splitting and bandgap reduction in both DFT and GW methods, while the GW method improves the DFT bandgap. We report a DFT band gap of 1.55 eV, while the effect of spin-orbit coupling reduces the bandgap to 0.50 eV. Similarly, the self-consistent GW quasiparticle method recorded a bandgap of 2.27 eV, while the effect of spin-orbit coupling on the self-consistent GW quasiparticle method reported a bandgap of 1.20 eV. The projected density of states result reveals that the (CH3NH2CH3PbI3) does not participate in bands around the gap, with the iodine (I) p orbital and the lead (Pb) p orbital showing most prominence in the valence band and the conduction band. The absorption coefficient reaches 106 in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions, which is higher than the absorption coefficient of CH3NH3PbI3. The spectroscopic limited maximum efficiency predicts a high maximum efficiency of about 62% at room temperature and an absorber thickness of about 10–1 to 102 μm, suggesting that (CH3NH2CH3PbI3) has an outstanding prospect as a solar cell absorber.
Quantifying Landscape Degradation Following Construction of a Highway Using Landscape Metrics in Southern Iran
Authors: Mohammadi Alireza , Fatemizadeh Faezeh
Published: December 2021

Rapid expansion of roads is among the strongest drivers of the loss and degradation of natural habitats. The goal of the present study is to quantify landscape fragmentation and degradation before and after the construction of the Isfahan-Shiraz highway in southern Iran. To this end, the ecological impacts of the highway on forests, rangelands, and protected areas were evaluated. Impacts of the construction of the highway were studied within a 1,000-m buffer around the road, which was then overlaid on maps of forests, rangelands, and protected areas. Class area, number of patches, largest patch index, edge density, landscape shape index, mean patch size, and patch cohesion index were used to gauge changes in the spatial configuration of the landscape; the ecological impacts of the highway were quantified using effective mesh size (MESH), division index, and splitting index. The results indicated that after the construction of the highway, 6,406.9 ha of forest habitat, 16,647.1 ha of rangeland habitat, and 912 of the Tang-e Bostanak Protected Area will be lost. The effective MESH metric showed that after the construction of the highway, the area of forest, rangeland habitats and protected area will decrease by 20,537, 49,149, and 71,822 ha, respectively. Our findings revealed drastic habitat loss and landscape fragmentation associated with construction of the highway, serving as references for conservation planning and development.
Daily Regulation of Key Metabolic Pathways in Two Seagrasses Under Natural Light Conditions
Authors: Ruocco Miriam , Barrote Isabel , Hofman Jan Dirk , Pes Katia , Costa Monya M. , Procaccini Gabriele , Silva João , Dattolo Emanuela
Published: December 2021

The circadian clock is an endogenous time-keeping mechanism that enables organisms to adapt to external environmental cycles. It produces rhythms of plant metabolism and physiology, and interacts with signaling pathways controlling daily and seasonal environmental responses through gene expression regulation. Downstream metabolic outputs, such as photosynthesis and sugar metabolism, besides being affected by the clock, can also contribute to the circadian timing itself. In marine plants, studies of circadian rhythms are still way behind in respect to terrestrial species, which strongly limits the understanding of how they coordinate their physiology and energetic metabolism with environmental signals at sea. Here, we provided a first description of daily timing of key core clock components and clock output pathways in two seagrass species, Cymodocea nodosa and Zostera marina (order Alismatales), co-occurring at the same geographic location, thus exposed to identical natural variations in photoperiod. Large differences were observed between species in the daily timing of accumulation of transcripts related to key metabolic pathways, such as photosynthesis and sucrose synthesis/transport, highlighting the importance of intrinsic biological, and likely ecological attributes of the species in determining the periodicity of functions. The two species exhibited a differential sensitivity to light-to-dark and dark-to-light transition times and could adopt different growth timing based on a differential strategy of resource allocation and mobilization throughout the day, possibly coordinated by the circadian clock. This behavior could potentially derive from divergent evolutionary adaptations of the species to their bio-geographical range of distributions.
Comparison of Karyotypes in Two Hybridizing Passerine Species: Conserved Chromosomal Structure but Divergence in Centromeric Repeats
Authors: Poignet Manon , Johnson Pokorná Martina , Altmanová Marie , Majtánová Zuzana , Dedukh Dmitry , Albrecht Tomáš , Reif Jiří , Osiejuk Tomasz S. , Reifová Radka
Published: December 2021

Changes in chromosomal structure involving chromosomal rearrangements or copy number variation of specific sequences can play an important role in speciation. Here, we explored the chromosomal structure of two hybridizing passerine species; the common nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) and the thrush nightingale (Luscinia luscinia), using conventional cytogenetic approaches, immunostaining of meiotic chromosomes, fluorescence in situ hybridization as well as comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). We found that the two nightingale species show conserved karyotypes with the same diploid chromosome number of 2n = 84. In addition to standard chromosomes, both species possessed a small germline restricted chromosome of similar size as a microchromosome. Just a few subtle changes in chromosome morphology were observed between the species, suggesting that only a limited number of chromosomal rearrangements occurred after the species divergence. The interspecific CGH experiment suggested that the two nightingale species might have diverged in centromeric repetitive sequences in most macro- and microchromosomes. In addition, some chromosomes showed changes in copy number of centromeric repeats between the species. The observation of very similar karyotypes in the two nightingale species is consistent with a generally slow rate of karyotype evolution in birds. The divergence of centromeric sequences between the two species could theoretically cause meiotic drive or reduced fertility in interspecific hybrids. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to evaluate the potential role of chromosomal structural variations in nightingale speciation.
TNFRSF11B Suppresses Memory CD4+ T Cell Infiltration in the Colon Cancer Microenvironment: A Multiomics Integrative Analysis
Authors: Zhang Jun-rong , Hou Ping , Wang Xiao-jie , Weng Zong-qi , Shang-guan Xin-chang , Wang Hui , You Fang , Lin Bing-qiang , Huang Zheng-yuan , Chen Xian-qiang
Published: December 2021

Background

Colorectal cancer is a lethal cancer worldwide. Due to the low tumor mutation burden and low proportion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in the microenvironment of most patients, innovative immunotherapeutic approaches need to be identified.

Methods

Using the TCGA-COAD dataset (n = 514), we identified TNFRSF11B as a prognostic factor of colon cancer. An immunohistochemistry (IHC) dataset (n = 86), 290 single colorectal cancer cells (GSE81861), and 31 paired colon cancer transcriptional datasets were further applied to validate the function of TNFRSF11B, which was confirmed via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis.

Results

A risk score system consisting of eight immune-related genes (IRGs) (FGFR2, ZC3HAV1L, TNFRSF11B, CD79A, IGHV3-11, IGHV3-21, IGKV2D-30, and IGKV6D-21) was constructed to predict the prognosis of colon cancer patients. Only TNFRSF11B was closely correlated with late-stage lymph node metastasis and worse survival outcomes (p = 0.010, p = 0.014, and p = 0.0061). In our IHC dataset, 72.09% (62/86) of the colon cancer patients had TNFRSF11B overexpression with significantly shorter overall survival times (p = 0.072). High TNFRSF11B expression typically had a later TNM stage (p = 0.067), a higher frequency of lymph node (p = 0.029) and lymphovascular (p = 0.007) invasion, and a higher incidence of pneumonia (p = 0.056) than their counterparts. The expression of six genes (KRT18, ARPC5L, ACTG1, ARPC2, EZR, and YWHAZ) related to pathogenic E. coli infection was simultaneously increased with TNFRSF11B overexpression via gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). These genes are involved in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, shigellosis, bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, and Salmonella infection. Finally, only activated memory CD4+ T cells (p = 0.017) were significantly decreased in the high TNFRSF11B expression group via CIBERSORT comparison, which was confirmed by TIMER2.0 analysis of the TCGA-COAD dataset. We also performed FACS analysis to show that TNFRSF11B decreased the infiltration of central memory CD4+ T cells and effector memory CD4+ T cells in the colorectal cancer microenvironment (all p <0.001).

Conclusion

TNFRSF11B acts as a prognostic factor for colon cancer patients and could affect the colon cancer immune response. TNFRSF11B was closely related to lymph node invasion and pathogenic E. coli. infection, which may negatively affect memory-activated CD4+ T cell infiltration in colon cancer.
Advances in the Global Distribution, Chemical Constituents, and Pharmacology of Hippocampus, a Traditional Marine Chinese Medicine
Authors: Cui Xinhai , Zhao Xiangfeng , Li Jintong , Li Ziwei , Ren Xia , Zhao Yangang , Fu Xianjun , Li Xiuxue
Published: December 2021

Hippocampus is an important traditional marine Chinese medicinal resource that has been used to warm and tonify kidney yang in the clinic for a long time in China. Modern pharmacological studies show that its active ingredients display a wide range of pharmacological activities associated with the kidney, such as anti-inflammation, antioxidation, antitumor, and neuroprotective effects. Herein, we systematically summarize and analyze the research progress on the resource distribution, active ingredients, pharmacological activities, and clinical application of Hippocampus. First, the species and worldwide distribution of Hippocampus were assessed to clarify the existing resources, and the results showed that 44 species of Hippocampus have been found in 159 countries and regions worldwide. Then, based on the analysis of 16 kinds of active ingredients and extraction methods, the relationship between the ingredient extraction and pharmacological activities of Hippocampus was revealed. This review may provide a foundation for further research on the potential active ingredients and mechanisms of Hippocampus. In addition, the research status of traditional prescriptions containing Hippocampus was evaluated. The results implied that research on Hippocampus is still in its infancy, and the mechanism and material basis of its efficacy have not been clarified. This paper should provide directions for further studies on Hippocampus.
The Morphological, Clinical and Radiological Outputs of the Preclinical Study After Treatment of the Osteochondral Lesions in the Porcine Knee Model Using Implantation of Scaffold Based on the of Calcium Phosphate Biocement
Authors: Vdoviaková Katarína , Danko Ján , Krešáková Lenka , Šimaiová Veronika , Petrovová Eva , Novotný Jaroslav , Žert Zděnek , Koľvek Filip , Valocký Igor , Varga Maroš , Špakovská Tatiana , Pribula Jozef , Gašpárek Miroslav , Giretova Mária , Štulajterova Radoslava , Medvecký Ľubomír
Published: December 2021

The symptomatic full-thickness cartilage lesions or cartilage degeneration leads to the destruction of the normal chondral architecture and bone structure in affected area, causes the osteoarthritis, and general damage to the health. Knee joints are most frequently affected by this condition. The permanent damage of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone has motivated many scientists and clinicians to explore new methods of regeneration of osteochondral defects, such as novel materials.We studied the potential of the biocement based on calcium phosphate consisting of a mixture of four amino acids (glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and lysine) in the regenerating process of the artificially created osteochondral defect on the porcine medial femoral condyle in the stifle joint. The mass ratio of the amino acids in biocement CAL was 4:2:2:1. The Ca/P ratio in cement was 1.67 which correspond with ratio in hydroxyapatite. We compared the results with spontaneous healing of an artificially created cyst with that of the healthy tissue. The animal group treated with biocement paste CAL presented completely filled osteochondral defects. The results were confirmed by histological and radiological assessments, which have shown regenerated chondral and bone tissue in the examined knee joints. Macroscopic evaluation showed that neocartilage was well integrated with the adjacent native cartilage in animal group with biocement CAL, compared with healing of the artificial cyst, where treated cartilage surfaces were visibly lower than the surrounding native cartilage surface and a border between native and restored tissue was apparent. The qualitative assessment of the implant histology specimens showed full regeneration of the hyaline cartilage and subchondral bone in animals with biocement CAL. The artificial cyst group showed remarkable fibrillation. The detailed MRI analysis of cross-section of osteochondral defect confirmed the complete cartilage and subchondral bone healing where the thickness of the regenerated cartilage was 1.5 mm. The MRI imaging of defects in the artificial cyst group showed incomplete healing, neo cartilage tissue reduced up to 50%.
Nystagmus Parameters of Supine Roll Test Correlates With Prognosis After Repositioning Maneuver in Horizontal Semicircular Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Authors: Yu Jia , Gu Yongzhe , Meng Guilin , Zhu Xiaosa , Wang Wenxie , Liu Xueyuan , Jin Aiping
Published: December 2021

Background: Positional nystagmus induced by supine roll test is characteristic for diagnosing horizontal semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (HC-BPPV). In this study, we aimed to explore the value of nystagmus parameters in by supine roll test (SRT) as prognostic factors in HC-BPPV.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the nystagmus parameters of 813 patients diagnosed with HC-BPPV by the SRT model in the SRM-IV system through video nystagmography. Then we used the computer-controlled canalith repositioning procedure (CCRP) mode for treatment. Based on the outcomes, patients were divided into either the cured group or the resistant group. The 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to minimize potential selection bias. Then univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify the association of nystagmus parameters and the efficacy of CCRP.

Results: Among the 813 patients, 99 (12.2%) were classified in the resistant group. The right side of HC-BPPV patients was twice the number of the left side patients (537 vs. 276). PSM is used to pair resistant patients to the cured patients, in which 99 pairs were successfully matched. Results of univariate and multivariate analyses showed that patients in the resistant group have longer latency in the affected side [odds ratio (OR) = 1.231 (1.110–1.366); P < 0.001] and slower slow phase velocity (SPV) in the healthy side [OR = 0.957 (0.917–0.999); P = 0.045].

Conclusion: Nystagmus parameters may represent the characteristics of canalith. HC-BPPV patients with a longer latency in the affected side and slower SPV on the healthy side during SRT have a higher risk of HC-BPPV persisting after a single CCRP.
Carbon Black Nanoparticles Selectively Alter Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Expression in vitro and in vivo in Female Mice
Authors: Avet Charlotte , Paul Emmanuel N. , Garrel Ghislaine , Grange-Messent Valérie , L’Hôte David , Denoyelle Chantal , Corre Raphaël , Dupret Jean-Marie , Lanone Sophie , Boczkowski Jorge , Simon Violaine , Cohen-Tannoudji Joëlle
Published: December 2021

Toxic effects of nanoparticles on female reproductive health have been documented but the underlying mechanisms still need to be clarified. Here, we investigated the effect of carbon black nanoparticles (CB NPs) on the pituitary gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which are key regulators of gonadal gametogenesis and steroidogenesis. To that purpose, we subjected adult female mice to a weekly non-surgical intratracheal administration of CB NPs at an occupationally relevant dose over 4 weeks. We also analyzed the effects of CB NPs in vitro, using both primary cultures of pituitary cells and the LβT2 gonadotrope cell line. We report here that exposure to CB NPs does not disrupt estrous cyclicity but increases both circulating FSH levels and pituitary FSH β-subunit gene (Fshb) expression in female mice without altering circulating LH levels. Similarly, treatment of anterior pituitary or gonadotrope LβT2 cells with increasing concentrations of CB NPs dose-dependently up-regulates FSH but not LH gene expression or release. Moreover, CB NPs enhance the stimulatory effect of GnRH on Fshb expression in LβT2 cells without interfering with LH regulation. We provide evidence that CB NPs are internalized by LβT2 cells and rapidly activate the cAMP/PKA pathway. We further show that pharmacological inhibition of PKA significantly attenuates the stimulatory effect of CB NPs on Fshb expression. Altogether, our study demonstrates that exposure to CB NPs alters FSH but not LH expression and may thus lead to gonadotropin imbalance.
Effects of Dietary Selenium Sources on Physiological Status of Laying Hens and Production of Selenium-Enriched Eggs
Authors: Qiu Kai , Zheng Jun-Jie , Obianwuna Uchechukwu Edna , Wang Jing , Zhang Hai-Jun , Qi Guang-Hai , Wu Shu-Geng
Published: December 2021

Developing new sources of organic selenium (Se) has potential benefits for animal production and human nutrition via animal-based foods enriched with Se. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Se-enriched insect protein (SEIP) in comparison with other sources, such as sodium selenite (SS) and selenium-enriched yeast (SEY), on performance, egg quality, selenium concentration in eggs, serum biochemical indices, immune capacity, and intestinal morphology of laying hens. Four hundred and fifty 24-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens with 94.0 ± 1.5% laying rate were randomly allocated to five groups with six replicates of 15 hens each. The control diet was prepared without adding exogenous selenium (calculated basal Se content of 0.08 mg/kg). The normal group was fed basal diets supplemented with 0.3 mg/kg of Se provided by sodium selenite. Three treatment groups (SS, SEY, and SEIP, respectively) were fed basal diets supplemented with 2 mg/kg of Se provided by sodium selenite, Se-enriched yeast, and SEIP, respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 12 weeks. Results revealed that dietary supplementation of 2 mg/kg of Se increased egg weight, decreased feed conversion ratio, and enhanced the antioxidant capacity of eggs in laying hens relative to the control group, whereas no significant differences were observed among SS, SEY, and SEIP treatment groups for the same. The organic source of Se provided by SEY or SEIP showed higher bio efficiency, as indicated by higher selenium content in eggs of SEY and SEIP compared with SS, although higher content was observed in SEY compared with SEIP. Also, the organic Se source significantly improved antioxidant capacity and immune functions of laying hens than the inorganic Se source. Diets supplemented with SEIP and SS significantly improved jejunal morphology of the laying hens compared with SEY, whereas SEIP was more effective than SEY to improve the oviduct health of laying hens. The results of this work evidently points the additive effect and nontoxicity of SEIP. Thus, SEIP could be used as another organic source of Se in the diet of laying hens and production of selenium-enriched eggs for humans.