bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring dissolved black carbon in water via aqueous, inorganic, high-performance liquid chromatography of benzenepolycarboxylic acid (BPCA) molecular markers
Authors: Barton Riley , Wagner Sasha
Published: May 2022

Dissolved black carbon (DBC) is the condensed aromatic portion of dissolved organic matter produced from the incomplete combustion of biomass and other thermogenic processes. DBC quantification facilitates the examination of the production, accumulation, cycling, transformation, and effects of biologically recalcitrant condensed aromatic carbon in aquatic environments. Due to the heterogeneous nature of DBC molecules, concentrations are difficult to measure directly. Here, the method for DBC quantification consists of oxidizing condensed aromatic carbon to benzenepolycarboxylic acids (BPCAs), which are used as proxies for the assessment of DBC in the original sample. The concentrations of oxidation products (BPCAs) are quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. DBC concentrations are determined from the concentration of BPCAs using a previously established conversion factor. Details and full descriptions of the preparative and analytical procedures and techniques of the BPCA method are usually omitted for brevity in published method sections and method-specific papers. With this step-by-step protocol, we aim to clarify the steps of DBC analysis, especially for those adopting or conducting the BPCA method for the first time.
The prevalence and concentration of Salmonella enterica in poultry litter in the southern United States
Authors: Dunn Laurel L. , Sharma Vijendra , Chapin Travis K. , Friedrich Loretta M. , Larson Colleen C. , Rodrigues Camila , Jay-Russell Michele , Schneider Keith R. , Danyluk Michelle D.
Published: May 2022

Poultry litter is applied to crop production land in the southern United States as a waste management strategy as it is a nitrogen-rich fertilizer and plentiful throughout the region. While litter is a known reservoir for human enteric pathogens including Salmonella enterica, little is known regarding pathogen prevalence, concentration, and common serotypes within the material. Litter from thirteen farms across four southern states was examined for Salmonella. Samples (n = 490) from six of the thirteen (46.2%) farms tested positive. Thirty-three samples out of 490 (6.7%) were Salmonella positive. Salmonella was ca. 95% less likely to be collected from stacked litter piles than from the poultry house floor or pasture, and every day increase in litter age reduced the likelihood of recovering Salmonella by 5.1%. When present, concentrations of Salmonella in contaminated poultry litter were variable, ranging from <0.45 to >280,000 MPN/g. The most prevalent serotypes found were Kentucky (45.5%), Kiambu (18.2%), and Michigan (12.1%). Salmonella Kentucky also had the greatest distribution and was found on 4 of the 6 (66.7%) positive farms. Results from this survey demonstrated that Salmonella prevalence and concentration in poultry litter is highly variable, and good agricultural practices are critical to safely use poultry litter as a soil amendment on fresh produce fields.
Cost-effectiveness and impact of pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV among men who have sex with men in Asia: A modelling study
Authors: ten Brink Debra C. , Martin-Hughes Rowan , Minnery Mark E. , Osborne Aaron J. , Schmidt Heather-Marie A. , Dalal Shona , Green Kimberly E. , Ramaurtarsing Reshmie , Wilson David P. , Kelly Sherrie L.
Published: May 2022

Introduction

More than 70% of new HIV infections in Asia occurred in eight countries in 2020: Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam—with a rising incidence among men who have sex with men (MSM). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for those at risk of acquiring HIV, yet wide-scale implementation of PrEP, on a daily or event-driven basis, has been limited in Asia.

Methods

The Optima HIV model was applied to examine the impact of scaling-up PrEP over five-years to cover an additional 15% of MSM compared with baseline coverage, a target deemed feasible by regional experts. Based on behavioral survey data, we assume that covering 15% of higher-risk MSM will cover 30% of all sexual acts in this group. Scenarios to compare the impact of generic-brand daily dosing of PrEP with generic event-driven dosing (15 days a month) were modelled from the start of 2022 to the end of 2026. Cost-effectiveness of generic versus branded PrEP was also assessed for China, the only country with an active patent for branded, higher cost PrEP. The impact on new HIV infections among the entire population and cost per HIV-related disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted were estimated from the beginning of 2022 to the end of 2031 and from 2022 to 2051.

Results

If PrEP were scaled-up to cover an additional 15% of MSM engaging in higher-risk behavior from the beginning of 2022 to the end of 2026 in the eight Asian countries considered, an additional 100,000 (66,000–130,000) HIV infections (17%) and 300,000 (198,000–390,000) HIV-related DALYs (3%) could be averted over the 2022 to 2031 period. The estimated cost per HIV-related DALY averted from 2022 to 2031 ranged from US$600 for event-driven generic PrEP in Indonesia to US$34,400 for daily branded PrEP in Thailand. Over a longer timeframe from 2022 to 2051, the cost per HIV-related DALY averted could be reduced to US$100–US$12,700.

Conclusion

PrEP is a critical tool to further reduce HIV incidence in highly concentrated epidemics. Implementing PrEP in Asia may be cost-effective in settings with increasing HIV prevalence among MSM and if PrEP drug costs can be reduced, PrEP could be more cost-effective over longer timeframes.
The feasibility of a crowd-based early developmental milestone tracking application
Authors: Ben-Sasson Ayelet , Jacobs Kayla , Ben-Sasson Eli
Published: May 2022

Objective

Parents’ tracking of developmental milestones can assist healthcare providers with early detection of developmental delays and appropriate referrals to early intervention. Crowdsourcing is one way to update the content and age data distribution of developmental checklists for parents and providers. This feasibility study examined which developmental milestones parents chose to track and what they added beyond traditional milestones, using the babyTRACKS crowd-based mobile app.

Method

We analyzed the developmental diaries of 3,832 children, registered in the babyTRACKS app at an average age of 9.3 months. Their parents recorded a median of 5 milestones per diary, selecting from the accumulating lists of age-appropriate milestones or authoring new milestones. The final database included 645 types of milestones; 89.15% were developmental, of which 43.6% were comparable to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) milestones while the rest were crowd-authored. Milestones were categorized into developmental domains: Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Oral Motor, Self-Care, Cognitive, Language Comprehension, Speech, Non-Verbal Communication, Social, Emotional, and Regulation.

Results

On average, the milestone domains of Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Cognitive and Social were the most added to diaries (20%-30% of a diary). Within the Cognitive, Speech and Language Comprehension domains there were significantly more CDC comparable versus crowd-authored milestones (29% versus 21%, 22% versus 10%, 8% versus 4%). In contrast, within the Regulation and Oral Motor domains there were more crowd versus CDC milestones (17% versus 3%, 9% versus 3%). Crowd-authored Speech milestones were significantly older by 7 months than CDC milestones.

Conclusion

Tracking daily observations of child development provides a window into personally relevant milestones for the child and parent. The crowd of parents can independently track and add new milestones across main developmental domains. Regulation and Oral Motor development especially interest parents. Parents may be less aware of early progress in Language Comprehension and Speech; thus, these domains require more structured screening. Designing mobile early screening which is crowd-based engages parents as proactive partners in developmental tracking.
Unconstrained coevolution of bacterial size and the latent period of plastic phage
Authors: Bonachela Juan A. , Choua Melinda , Heath Michael R.
Published: May 2022

Viruses play critical roles in the dynamics of microbial communities. Lytic viruses, for example, kill significant fractions of autotrophic and heterotrophic microbes daily. The dynamic interplay between viruses and microbes results from an overlap of physiological, ecological, and evolutionary responses: environmental changes trigger host physiological changes, affecting the ecological interactions of host and virus and, ultimately, the evolutionary pressures influencing the two populations. Recent theoretical work studied how the dependence of viral traits on host physiology (viral plasticity) affects the evolutionarily stable host cell size and viral infection time emerging from coevolution. Here, we broaden the scope of the framework to consider any coevolutionary outcome, including potential evolutionary collapses of the system. We used the case study of Escherichia coli and T-like viruses under chemostat conditions, but the framework can be adapted to any microbe-virus system. Oligotrophic conditions led to smaller, lower-quality but more abundant hosts, and infections that were longer but produced a reduced viral offspring. Conversely, eutrophic conditions resulted in fewer but larger higher-quality hosts, and shorter but more productive infections. The virus influenced host evolution decreasing host size more noticeably for low than for high dilution rates, and for high than for low nutrient input concentration. For low dilution rates, the emergent infection time minimized host need/use, but higher dilution led to an opportunistic strategy that shortened the duration of infections. System collapses driven by evolution resulted from host failure to adapt quickly enough to the evolving virus. Our results contribute to understanding the eco-evolutionary dynamics of microbes and virus, and to improving the predictability of current models for host-virus interactions. The large quantitative and qualitative differences observed with respect to a classic description (in which viral traits are assumed to be constant) highlights the importance of including viral plasticity in theories describing short- and long-term host-virus dynamics.
Potential of phenothiazines to synergistically block calmodulin and reactivate PP2A in cancer cells
Authors: Manoharan Ganesh Babu , Okutachi Sunday , Abankwa Daniel
Published: May 2022

Phenothiazines (PTZ) were developed as inhibitors of monoamine neurotransmitter receptors, notably dopamine receptors. Because of this activity they have been used for decades as antipsychotic drugs. In addition, they possess significant anti-cancer properties and several attempts for their repurposing were made. However, their incompletely understood polypharmacology is challenging. Here we examined the potential of the PTZ fluphenazine (Flu) and its mustard derivative (Flu-M) to synergistically act on two cancer associated targets, calmodulin (CaM) and the tumor suppressor protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Both proteins are known to modulate the Ras- and MAPK-pathway, cell viability and features of cancer cell stemness. Consistently, we show that the combination of a CaM inhibitor and the PP2A activator DT-061 synergistically inhibited the 3D-spheroid formation of MDA-MB-231 (K-Ras-G13D), NCI-H358 (K-Ras-G12C) and A375 (B-raf-V600E) cancer cells, and increased apoptosis in MDA-MB-231. We reasoned that these activities remain combined in PTZ, which were the starting point for PP2A activator development, while several PTZ are known CaM inhibitors. We show that both Flu and Flu-M retained CaM inhibitory activity in vitro and in cells, with a higher potency of the mustard derivative in cells. In line with the CaM dependence of Ras plasma membrane organization, the mustard derivative potently reduced the functional membrane organization of oncogenic Ras, while DT-061 had a negligible effect. Like DT-061, both PTZ potently decreased c-MYC levels, a hallmark of PP2A activation. Benchmarking against the KRAS-G12C specific inhibitor AMG-510 in MIA PaCa-2 cells revealed a higher potency of Flu-M than combinations of DT-061 and a CaM inhibitor on MAPK-output and a strong effect on cell proliferation. While our study is limited, our results suggest that improved PTZ derivatives that retain both, their CaM inhibitory and PP2A activating properties, but have lost their neurological side-effects, may be interesting to pursue further as anti-cancer agents.
Novel reusable animal model for comparative evaluation of in vivo growth and protein-expression of Escherichia coli O157 strains in the bovine rumen
Authors: Kudva Indira T. , Trachsel Julian , Biernbaum Erika N. , Casey Thomas
Published: May 2022

Previously, we had demonstrated that Escherichia coli O157:H7 (O157) strain 86–24 expresses proteins involved in survival rather than virulence in vitro in rumen fluid from dairy cattle limit fed a maintenance diet. Here, we verified if this observation would be true for different O157 strains grown in vitro in rumen fluid from, and in vivo in the rumen of, animals on contrasting maintenance (high fiber) and lactation (high energy-protein) diets usually limit fed to dairy cattle. For the in vivo studies, an economical, novel, reusable and non-terminal rumen-fistulated animal model permitting simultaneous evaluation of multiple bacterial strains in the bovine rumen was developed. All experiments were conducted in duplicate using different animals to account for host-related variations. The O157 strains included, 86–24, EDL933 and the super shed SS-17. E. coli NalR (#5735), derived from a bovine intestinal commensal E. coli, was included as a control. As expected, diet influenced ruminal pH and volatile fatty acid (VFA) composition. The pH ranged from 6.2–7.0 and total VFA concentrations from 109–141 μM/ml, in animals fed the maintenance diet. In comparison, animals fed the lactation diet had a ruminal pH ranging between 5.18–6.0, and total VFA of 125–219 μM/ml. Strain dependent differences in O157 recovery from the rumen fluid of cattle fed either diet was observed, both in vitro and in vivo, with O157 strains 86–24 and EDL933 demonstrating similar survival patterns. Analysis of the O157 proteomes expressed in the rumen fluid/rumen verified previous observations of adaptive responses. Any difference in the adaptive response was mainly influenced by the animal’s diet and growth conditions (in vitro and in vivo) and not the O157 strain. These new insights into the O157 responses could help formulate modalities to control O157 across strains in cattle at all stages of husbandry.
How effective is a blended web-based rehabilitation for improving pain, physical activity, and knee function of patients with knee osteoarthritis? Study protocol for a randomized control trial
Authors: Moutzouri Maria , Gioftsos Georgios
Published: May 2022

Due to the chronic nature of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) self-management is considered an essential part of therapy to improve physical function, activity, pain and quality of life (QoL). Web-based rehabilitation may be a potential innovative mode of patient’ training to guide management compared to usual care, especially with the current restrictions pandemic imposed. Moreover, in order to alter KOA patients’ behavior towards physical activity (PA), it may be more attractive and motivating to combine within their rehabilitation program, outdoor real life local activity that could feasible to be sustained in the future. Aim of the current study is to evaluate the effects of a blended web-based rehabilitation compared with structured PA alone in patients with KOA. This is a randomized multi-center study with two prospective arms. Fifty-six eligible participants with KOA will be recruited from the West Attica region (considered as structurally weak areas). After a comprehensive face-to face training session, participants will follow a 6-week web-based rehabilitation program, consisting of exercise, advice material enhanced outdoor structured PA. The control group will be encouraged to follow the outdoor structured PA alone. Baseline, 6-week and 12-week follow up assessments will be performed. The primary outcome is self-reported physical function as measured by the Knee Injury Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Secondary measures include pain, function (Timed Up and Go Test, Sit to Stand test), PA levels (Lower Extremity Activity Scale, Baecke Scale and pedometer), psychological perspective (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia) and health-related QoL (Short-Form 12). Baseline-adjusted Analysis of Variance will be used to test for group differences in the primary and secondary outcomes. The study will evaluate the blended web-based exercise and advice material, enhanced with outdoor PA in many respects compared to the outdoor PA alone so as to promote self-management care programs for KOA patients.

Trial registration: Prospectively registered ISRCTN12950684 (27-09-2020).
Regulation of myoepithelial differentiation
Authors: Thiemann Renee F. , Varney Scott , Moskwa Nicholas , Lamar John , Larsen Melinda , LaFlamme Susan E.
Published: May 2022

The salivary gland can be permanently impaired by radiation treatment for head and neck cancers. Efforts at tissue regeneration have focused on saliva-producing acinar cells. However, myoepithelial cells are also critical to gland function, but mechanisms that regulate their differentiation are poorly defined. To study myoepithelial differentiation, we employed mSG-PAC1 murine salivary gland epithelial cells. We demonstrate that mSG-PAC1 spheroids exhibit phenotypic plasticity between pro-acinar and myoepithelial cell fates. Increased expression of pro-acinar/acinar or myoepithelial RNAs was identified from spheroids cultured under different media conditions by microarray followed by gene-set enrichment analysis. Spheroids cultured with different medium components expressed proteins typical of either acinar or myoepithelial cells, as detected by immunocytochemistry. We demonstrate that the pattern of TAZ expression in the epithelial compartment of the differentiating murine salivary gland correlates with the expression of the myoepithelial marker alpha-SMA, as is the case for TAZ expression in mSG-PAC1 spheroids. Our analysis also indicates that YAP/TAZ target genes are upregulated together with myoepithelial markers. Importantly, siRNA targeting of TAZ expression in mSG-PAC1 spheroids diminished the expression of myoepithelial markers. Our results in this in vitro cell model implicate TAZ signaling in myoepithelial differentiation.
Development and implementation of a simple and rapid extraction-free saliva SARS-CoV-2 RT-LAMP workflow for workplace surveillance
Authors: Li Zhiru , Bruce Jacqueline L. , Cohen Barry , Cunningham Caileigh V. , Jack William E. , Kunin Katell , Langhorst Bradley W. , Miller Jacob , Moncion Reynes A. , Poole Catherine B. , Premsrirut Prem K. , Ren Guoping , Roberts Richard J. , Tanner Nathan A. , Zhang Yinhua , Carlow Clotilde K. S.
Published: May 2022

Effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic requires widespread and frequent testing of the population for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Saliva has emerged as an attractive alternative to nasopharyngeal samples for surveillance testing as it does not require specialized personnel or materials for its collection and can be easily provided by the patient. We have developed a simple, fast, and sensitive saliva-based testing workflow that requires minimal sample treatment and equipment. After sample inactivation, RNA is quickly released and stabilized in an optimized buffer, followed by reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) and detection of positive samples using a colorimetric and/or fluorescent readout. The workflow was optimized using 1,670 negative samples collected from 172 different individuals over the course of 6 months. Each sample was spiked with 50 copies/μL of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus to monitor the efficiency of viral detection. Using pre-defined clinical samples, the test was determined to be 100% specific and 97% sensitive, with a limit of detection of 39 copies/mL. The method was successfully implemented in a CLIA laboratory setting for workplace surveillance and reporting. From April 2021-February 2022, more than 30,000 self-collected samples from 755 individuals were tested and 85 employees tested positive mainly during December and January, consistent with high infection rates in Massachusetts and nationwide.
Knowledge, attitude, and practices towards cutaneous leishmaniasis in referral cases with cutaneous lesions: A cross-sectional survey in remote districts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Ahmad Salman , Obaid Muhammad Kashif , Taimur Muhammad , Shaheen Huma , Khan Shahid Niaz , Niaz Sadaf , Ali Rehman , Haleem Sumbal
Published: May 2022

Background

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania spp. and transmitted by female sandflies. Terrorism and counter-insurgency military operations in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) lead to a large-scale migration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and thus, new outbreaks of several infectious diseases such as cutaneous leishmaniasis occurred. This study intended to find the prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in people with cutaneous lesions suspected of having cutaneous leishmaniasis in four remote districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to assess the participant’s knowledge, attitude, and practices about the infection and its control.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out in four remote districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Karak, Lakki Marwat, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan (D. I. Khan) and a total of 1,674 participants were recruited using a convenience sampling technique.

Results

The prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis among the participants with cutaneous lesions was 50.4% and the infection was comparatively more prevalent in district Karak. Among participants, 56.8% were male and mostly, 53.8% were under the age of 16 years with 52.8% living in kutcha houses and were from rural areas. Multiple skin lesions were more common, and the face was frequently affected body part. The ratio of participants with lesions older than a month was higher and the majority confronted infections with blood protozoan parasites for the first time. Most participants were unaware of the signs/symptoms of the disease, basic knowledge of the vectors, anthroponotic spread, preventive measures, secondary infections, and reservoir hosts. The use of wood/animal dung as fuel, closeness with reservoir animals, and no use of insect repellents were some of the notable risk factors.

Conclusion

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is highly prevalent in the study area and a very low level of awareness was reported among the participants. This study necessitates the planning and execution of regulations and preventive programs, public health education, awareness campaigns, and disease management practices to overcome future incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Analysis and prediction of the major fatty acids in vegetable oils using dielectric spectroscopy at 5–30 MHz
Authors: Amat Sairin Masyitah , Abd Aziz Samsuzana , Yoke Mun Chan , Khaled Alfadhl Yahya , Rokhani Fakhrul Zaman
Published: May 2022

A dielectric spectroscopy method was applied to determine major fatty acids composition in vegetable oils. Dielectric constants of vegetable oils were measured in the frequency range of 5–30 MHz. After data pre-treatment, prediction models were constructed using partial least squares (PLS) regression between dielectric spectral values and the fatty acids compositions measured by gas chromatography. Generally, the root means square error of validation (RMSECV) was less than 11.23% in the prediction of individual fatty acids. The determination coefficient (R2) between predicted and measured oleic, linoleic, mono-unsaturated, and poly-unsaturated fatty acids were 0.84, 0.77, 0.84, and 0.84, respectively. These results indicated that dielectric spectroscopy coupled with PLS regression could be a promising method for predicting major fatty acid composition in vegetable oils and has the potential to be used for in-situ monitoring systems of daily consumption of dietary fatty acids.
Flow-compensated diffusion encoding in MRI for improved liver metastasis detection
Authors: Laun Frederik B. , Führes Tobit , Seuss Hannes , Müller Astrid , Bickelhaupt Sebastian , Stemmer Alto , Benkert Thomas , Uder Michael , Saake Marc
Published: May 2022

Magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is often used to detect focal liver lesions (FLLs), though DWI image quality can be limited in the left liver lobe owing to the pulsatile motion of the nearby heart. Flow-compensated (FloCo) diffusion encoding has been shown to reduce this pulsation artifact. The purpose of this prospective study was to intra-individually compare DWI of the liver acquired with conventional monopolar and FloCo diffusion encoding for assessing metastatic FLLs in non-cirrhotic patients. Forty patients with known or suspected multiple metastatic FLLs were included and measured at 1.5 T field strength with a conventional (monopolar) and a FloCo diffusion encoding EPI sequence (single refocused; b-values, 50 and 800 s/mm2). Two board-certified radiologists analyzed the DWI images independently. They issued Likert-scale ratings (1 = worst, 5 = best) for pulsation artifact severity and counted the difference of lesions visible at b = 800 s/mm² separately for small and large FLLs (i.e., < 1 cm or > 1 cm) and separately for left and right liver lobe. Differences between the two diffusion encodings were assessed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Both readers found a reduction in pulsation artifact in the liver with FloCo encoding (p < 0.001 for both liver lobes). More small lesions were detected with FloCo diffusion encoding in both liver lobes (left lobe: six and seven additional lesions by readers 1 and 2, respectively; right lobe: five and seven additional lesions for readers 1 and 2, respectively). Both readers found one additional large lesion in the left liver lobe. Thus, flow-compensated diffusion encoding appears more effective than monopolar diffusion encoding for the detection of liver metastases.
TextFormats: Simplifying the definition and parsing of text formats in bioinformatics
Authors: Gonnella Giorgio
Published: May 2022

Text formats are common in bioinformatics, as they allow for editing and filtering using standard tools, as well as, since text formats are often human readable, manual inspection and evaluation of the data. Bioinformatics is a rapidly evolving field, hence, new techniques, new software tools, new kinds of data often require the definition of new formats. Often new formats are not formally described in a standard or specification document. Although software libraries are available for accessing the most common formats, writing parsers for text formats, for which no library is currently available, is a very common though tedious task, utilized by many researchers in the field. This manuscript presents the open source software library and toolset TextFormats (available at https://github.com/ggonnella/textformats), which aims at simplifying the definition and parsing of text formats. Formats specifications are written in a simple data description format using an interactive wizard. Automatic generation of data examples and automatic testing of specifications allow for checking for correctness. Given the specification for a text format, TextFormats allows parsing and writing data in that format, using several programming languages (Nim, Python, C/C++) or the provided command line and graphical user interface tools. Although designed as a general purpose software, the main target application field, for the above mentioned reasons, is expected to be in bioinformatics: Thus, the specifications of several common existing bioinformatics formats are included.
A preliminary, observational study using whole-blood RNA sequencing reveals differential expression of inflammatory and bone markers post-implantation of percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses
Authors: Miller Andrew , Jeyapalina Sujee , Agarwal Jay , Mansel Mitchell , Beck James Peter
Published: May 2022

Aims

While the benefits of direct skeletal attachment of artificial limbs are well recognized, device failure due to infection and insufficient osseointegration remain obstacles to obtaining consistently successful outcomes. Currently, the potential for device failure is assessed by subjective pain, clinical function scores, radiographic evidence of bone atrophy, and the presence of radiolucent lines at the bone-implant interface, and subjective pain and function scores. Our hypothesis is that measurable biological indices might add another objective means to assess trends toward bone and stomal healing. This longitudinal cohort study was undertaken to identify potential serological biomarkers suggestive of bone remodeling and the presence of stomal tissue inflammation.

Methods

Ten unilateral transfemoral amputee veterans, who were implanted with a percutaneous osseointegrated (OI) skeletal limb docking system, were recruited to participate in this IRB-approved study. Venous blood samples were obtained from before the Stage 1 Surgery up to 1 year following the Stage 2 Surgery. Whole-blood RNA was extracted, sequenced, mapped, and analyzed. Of the significant differentially expressed (DEGs) genes (p<0.05) identified, four genes of interest (IL12B, IL33, COL2A1, and SOST) were validated using qPCR. Enrichment analysis was performed to identify significant (p<0.01) Gene Ontology (GO) terms.

Results

Most differentially expressed genes were only detected at PoS1 immediately after the first surgery. Of the significant genes identified, IL12B and IL33 were related to inflammation, and COL2A1 and SOST were associated with bone remodeling. These four genes were identified with greater than 20 log fold-change.

Conclusion

Whole-blood RNA-seq data from 10 patients who previously underwent percutaneous osseointegrated lower limb implantation revealed four genes of interest that are known to be involved in inflammation or bone remodeling. If verified in future studies, these genes may serve as markers for predicting optimal bone remodeling and stomal tissue healing following OI device implantation.
Extending the lore of curcumin as dipteran Butyrylcholine esterase (BChE) inhibitor: A holistic molecular interplay assessment
Authors: Rao Priyashi , Goswami Dweipayan , Rawal Rakesh M.
Published: May 2022

Since its origin, the emergence of vector-borne infections has taken a toll on incalculable human lives. The use of chemical insecticides is one of the early known methods of vector control and although their use is still a prevalent way to combat insect population sadly the perils of insects related transmission still persists. Most commonly, the existing insecticides face the wrath of getting resisted repeatedly, paying way to develop resilient, efficient, and cost-effective natural insecticides. In this study, computational screening was performed using homology modelling, E-pharmacophore feature mapping, molecular docking, Density Function Theory (DFT) assessment, Molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area (MM-GBSA) based binding free energy calculations and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation to identify a potential lead phytochemical out of a manually curated library from published literature. The protein target used under this study is insect Butyrylcholine esterase (BChE). Additionally, in vitro insect (Aedes aegypti) BChE inhibition assay was also performed with the top phytochemical identified from in silico assessments. Our research highlights that curcumin leads to inhibition of enzyme BChE of Ae. aegypti. The identified mode of action of curcumin as an insect BChE inhibitor indicates the possibility of its use as an environment friendly and natural futuristic insecticide.
Integrating sustainable Islamic social finance: An Analytical Network Process using the Benefit Opportunity Cost Risk (ANP BOCR) framework: The case of Indonesia
Authors: Widiastuti Tika , Robani Anidah , Sukmaningrum Puji Sucia , Mawardi Imron , Ningsih Sri , Herianingrum Sri , Al-Mustofa Muhammad Ubaidillah
Published: May 2022

The utilization of Islamic social finance instruments is far behind what is expected. To realize its full potential, Islamic social finance instruments must be integrated. This study examined solutions and priority strategies for integrating sustainable Islamic social finance that could be implemented in the short and long term using the Benefit, Opportunity, Cost, and Risk (BOCR) framework, which includes six aspects: Governance, sustainable financing, institutional aspect, human resources, regulations, and supporting technology. This qualitative research employed the Analytic Network Process (ANP) method using the benefit, opportunity, cost, and risk analysis. The data were obtained mainly through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with respondents among academics, practitioners, associations, regulators, and community leaders. The respondents were selected for their expertise and experience in the selected topic. The data were processed using the Microsoft Excel and Super Decision software. There are several findings worth considering from the analysis. First, the highest priority in integrating Islamic social finance aspects are human resources (0.97), regulation (0.86), and technology (0.76). Second, based on the short- and long-term analysis, financial integration through sustainable financing (0.01 and 1.44, respectively) and improving human resource quality through certification and training (0.01 and 1.56, respectively) is a priority solution and strategy to integrate sustainable Islamic social finance. Meanwhile, according to expert judgments, integrating national data (0.24) and optimizing technology use (0.18) are priority solutions and strategies. The findings emphasize the critical role of improving human resource quality to utilize technology, with experts identifying a national data integration as the most critical solution. As a result, relevant stakeholders are concerned about technology management training for Islamic philanthropic managers, with the goal of maximizing the potential of technology’s growing role and adoption.
One in five South Africans are multimorbid: An analysis of the 2016 demographic and health survey
Authors: Roomaney Rifqah Abeeda , van Wyk Brian , Cois Annibale , Pillay-van Wyk Victoria
Published: May 2022

Multimorbidity is a global research priority, yet relatively little is known about it in low and middle income countries. South Africa has the largest burden of HIV worldwide but also has a growing burden of non-communicable diseases; potentially leading to uncommon disease combinations. Information about the prevalence of multimorbidity and factors associated with it can assist in healthcare planning and targeting groups of people for interventions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of multimorbidity by age and sex, as well as factors associated with multimorbidity in people 15 years and older. This study analyses the nationally representative 2016 South African Demographic Health Survey. The sample included 10 336 people who participated in the Adult Health questionnaire and approximately 7 961 people who provided biomarkers. Multivariate logistic regression was used to measure the association of multimorbidity with age, sex, living in an urban or rural area, education level, wealth level, employment status, body mass index, current alcohol or tobacco use. All analyses were conducted using STATA 15. Multimorbidity was present in 20.7% (95% CI: 19.5%– 21.9%) of participants; in 14.8% (95% CI: 13.4% - 16.3%) of males and 26.2% (95% CI: 24.7–27.7%) of females. Multimorbidity increased with age; with the highest odds in the 55–64 years old age group (OR: 24.910, 95% CI: 14.901–41.641, p < 0.001) compared to those aged 15–24 years. The odds of multimorbidity was also higher in young females compared to young males (OR: 2.734, 95% CI: 1.50–4.99, p = 0.001). Possessing tertiary education (OR: 0.722, 95% CI: 0.537–0.97, p = 0.031), being employed (OR: 0.813, 95% CI: 0.675–0.979, p = 0.029) or currently using alcohol (OR: 0.815, 95% CI: 0.686–0.968, p = 0.02) was protective against multimorbidity. Multimorbidity is prevalent within the South African population, with females and older adults being most affected. However, multimorbidity is also observed in younger adults and most likely driven by the high prevalence of HIV and hypertension.
Overcoming pH defenses on the skin to establish infections
Authors: Costa Flavia G. , Horswill Alexander R.
Published: May 2022

Skin health is influenced by the composition and integrity of the skin barrier. The healthy skin surface is an acidic, hypertonic, proteinaceous, and lipid-rich environment that microorganisms must adapt to for survival, and disruption of this environment can result in dysbiosis and increase risk for infectious diseases. This work provides a brief overview of skin barrier function and skin surface composition from the perspective of how the most common skin pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus, combats acid stress. Advancements in replicating this environment in the laboratory setting for the study of S. aureus pathogenesis on the skin, as well as future directions in this field, are also discussed.
You give me fever: Health, happiness and the inherent vitality of the short story
Authors: Gunn Kirsty
Published: May 2022

Award-winning fiction writer Kirsty Gunn reflects on the current climate of short-story publishing in the United Kingdom, and considers the way the rhetoric of sickness and health has become attached to discussions of the form.
Estratégias de visibilidade populista nos media on-line
Authors: Barbosa de Almeida Thais
Published: May 2022

Neste artigo, questionamos a visibilidade dos atores populistas nos media on-line tradicionais através do uso do discurso polêmico. Para isso, analisamos a cobertura da candidatura de Jair Bolsonaro nos veículos on-line G1 e UOL nas eleições presidenciais brasileiras de 2018. Mostramos como a polêmica foi a estratégia argumentativa usada por este ator populista para fins de controle midiático. Nosso corpus de trabalho compreende o conteúdo das notícias dos dois principais portais de notícias brasileiros, no período entre 07 de setembro de 2018 e 07 de outubro de 2018, mês que antecede o primeiro turno dessas eleições. Este trabalho é feito sob um ponto de vista interdisciplinar, aliando as Ciências da informação e da comunicação e as Ciências da linguagem.
Populismo de Direita radical em Portugal
Authors: Prior Helder
Published: May 2022

O seguinte artigo aborda o fenómeno do populismo mediante os significados atribuídos ao conceito pela imprensa portuguesa. A partir de um estudo qualitativo dos enquadramentos atribuídos à candidatura de André Ventura, líder do partido político Chega, durante o período eleitoral das Presidenciais Portuguesas de 2021, pretendemos identificar os significados atribuídos ao populismo, as diferenças de enquadramento do fenómeno na imprensa de referência e na imprensa tablóide, e a relação do populismo com o campo dos media. Na imprensa portuguesa analisada, foram encontrados, essencialmente, os frames: polarização, retórica anti-sistema, nacionalismo, nativismo e messianismo. O nosso estudo também identificou variações de enquadramento por parte dos jornais analisados, Público e Correio da Manhã, concluindo que a imprensa tablóide analisada é mais permeável aos valores do conflito, da novelização e da dramatização, valores normalmente explorados pela comunicação populista.
A tanuló-tanító közötti kapcsolat a pedagógusok szemszögéből
Authors: Huszka Noémi
Published: May 2022

A tanító és a diákok közötti kapcsolat minőségének feltárásával foglalkoztam, és a kapcsolatot elsősorban a pedagógusok szemszögéből vizsgáltam. A kutatás a Student-Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS, Pianta, 2001) magyarra adaptált változatának (Huszka & Kinyó, 2020) felhasználásával valósult meg. A kérdőív segít feltárni a pedagógus és a diákok közötti kapcsolatot a tanítók szemszögéből: a tanítók a kérdőíveket az osztályukban tanuló diákokra vonatkozóan töltötték ki. Az STRS visszajelzést ad a tanítóknak a tanulóikkal való kapcsolatukról. Az STRS kérdőív hosszú változata (28 tétel) a pedagógus-diák kapcsolat három dimenzióját értékeli: közelség, konfliktus és függőség (Pianta, 2001). Az adaptált kérdőív mellett egy háttérkérdőívet (Kósáné Ormai (1998) munkája alapján) is bevontam a vizsgálatba, amelynek egyes tételei arra vonatkoznak, hogy az általános iskolai tanítók hogyan vélekednek az osztályukban tanuló gyermekek tanulmányi teljesítményéről. A vizsgálatot egy tanulói adatlappal is kibővítettem (SZTE Neveléstudományi Intézet, 1998; OKM 2017/2018, 2018), amely a következő területeket fedi le: (1) tantárgyi attitűdök, (2) tantárgyak megítélése, (3) tanulmányi teljesítménnyel való elégedettség. A tanulók a szülői beleegyező nyilatkozat elfogadását követően tölthetik ki az adatlapot, amelyben kizárólag zárt kérdések szerepelnek. Az adatgyűjtést háttérváltozók kialakítása céljából, illetve összefüggés-vizsgálatok elvégzése érdekében végeztem. A vizsgálatok (első próbamérés: Ntanító = 2; második próbamérés: Ntanító = 4; nagymintás mérés: Ntanító = 14, Ntanuló = 183; online próbamérés: Ntanító = 2) magyarországi és szerbiai általános iskolák alsó tagozatos osztályainak bevonásával valósultak meg. A vizsgált mintára vonatkozóan az adaptált tanítói kérdőív Magyarországon és Szerbiában egyaránt hatékony diagnosztikai eszközként alkalmazható a tanító-tanuló kapcsolatokban, megfelelő szakmai támogatás mellett - beágyazva a mindennapi pedagógiai gyakorlatba.
Identity Negotiation through the Lens of Language Rights
Authors: Garzón Duarte Eliana
Published: May 2022

Ez a disszertáció egy kvalitatív tanulmány, mely a nyelvek és kultúrák közötti lehetséges feszültségeket és konfliktusokat kutatja a magyar közoktatásba bekerülő menekült és migráns gyermekek esetében, továbbá arra is keresi a választ, hogy megoldási módokat találnak oldják fel ezeket az identitásnegociáció segítségével. Ez a tanulmány egy fő és négy alkérdést vizsgál. A fő kutatási téma a következő: Hogyan képviselik a menekült és migráns gyermekek és fiatalok az identitásukat, ha egy potenciálisan ellentmondásos nyelvi vagy egyéb kulturális szükségletük támad mindennapi iskolai tevékenységük során? Ezen kérdések vizsgálatához a szociokulturális nyelvi megközelítést (Bucholtz és Hall, 2005) és az elbeszélő kérdezés (Connelly és Clandinin, 2006) módszereit használtam. Három csoport vett részt a kutatásban. Az első csoportot 22 migráns hátérrel rendelkező gyermek és fiatal alkotta. A másik kettőt pedig nyolc közoktatásban dolgozó tanár és intézményvezető, illetve a Misszió* 12 munkatársa alkotta. Az anyaggyűjtés egy interjú-sorozat elkészítésével valósult meg; a gyermekek és fiatalok esetében strukturáltalan, a tanárok és intézményvezetők esetében félig strukturált, a Misszió* munkatársaival pedig etnográfiai interjúk készültek. A három csoportból három adatsor alakult ki. A gyermekek és fiatalok elbeszéléseiből született adathalmazt narratív megközelítéssel, a másik két adatsort tematikus analízissel elemeztem. A tanulmány helyszíne egy budapesti civil szervezet, amit a Misszió* álnévvel védek. A narratív analízis esetében, a szociokulturális nyelvi megközelítés öt alapelvét követve kutattam az identitás alkotóelemeit. Az adatokat – az elbeszélésekben fellelhető identitásnegociációs folyamatok szerint –a következő címek alatt kategorizáltam: (1) menekülés a háború elől és jövőkép, (2) megértési csatornák a magyar és az anyanyelv között, (3) lavírozás két kultúra közt, (4) nyelvi akadályok leküzdése az iskolában, és (5) motiváció, beilleszkedés és elismerés a magyar nyelven keresztül. Az tanárokkal, intézményvezetőkkel és a Misszió* munkatársaival készített interjúk tematikus elemzéséhez, a három kategóriába soroltam a vizsgálati anyagot a következő címek alatt: (1) az oktatáspolitika számára láthatatlan menekült és migráns gyermekek, (2) az egynyelvű oktatási gyakorlat határok épít az osztályteremben, (3) Misszió*: a gyermek, a család és az iskola közötti közvetítés színtere. Alkalmazott nyelvészeti kutatási szempontból, ez a tanulmány folytatja azt a vitát, hogy az elbeszélő elemzéssel hogyan lehet jobban megérteni az oktatáson keresztüli európai integrációs folyamatot, melynek célja, hogy egy ilyen multikulturális környezetben együttélési stratégiákat alakíthassunk ki és vezethessünk be. A nyelvi sokszínűséget és a társadalmi igazságosság közötti kérdéseket jövőbe mutató útnak tekinthetjük.
Analysing the Outreach of Social Media Marketing to Understand the Perspective of the Malaysian Bloggers
Authors: Krishnan Vijayaletchumy , Hussain Wan Mohd Hirwani Wan
Published: May 2022

In Malaysia millions of people have gathered together social media such as blogs and microblogs, social networking sites, virtual gaming community, joint ventures, content communities and the virtual social world. The growth of social media has led to a significant increase in research into social media, as well as in the scholarly and media environment. This mix study therefore aims to address different social media problems through the monitoring of research patterns in Malaysia. Through the study of social media research papers, data has been collected from three main Malaysian communication publications, such as the Malaysian Journal of Media Studies (Jurnal Pengaja Media Malaysia), the Malaysian Journal of Communication, and the Global Media Journal - Malaysian Versio. Data were retrieved through content analysis. Conclusions on the theoretical context and study issues were established. Data have also been contrasted with the early social network advent (2010) onwards and the new social media period (2000-2020). The findings of the study offered insights into the country's social media trends and challenges for analysts and practitioners.