bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PENINGKATAN EFEKTIVITAS PEMBELAJARAN MELALUI PENGUATAN SUPERVISI AKADEMIK DAN DISIPLIN KERJA
Authors: Herawati Reni , Retnowati Rita , Harijanto Sutji
Published: May 2021

LEARNING EFFECTIVENESS IMPROVEMENT THROUGH ACADEMIC SUPERVISION AND WORK DISCIPLINE STRENGTHENINGThe purpose of this study was to empirically determine  the enhance of teaching effectiveness. Research respondents were permanent teachers of private high schools in Bogor City. The number of samples were 131 teachers who were established by using proportional random sampling technique. The method used was the correlational method. Hypothesis testing was carried out by using parametric statistical analysis in the form of linear regression analysis, correlation analysis, and partial analysis where a significance level of α = 0.01 and α = 0.05. The research came up with three conclusions. Firstly, there was a very significant positive relationship between academic supervision and the teaching effectiveness where the correlation coefficient of ry1 = 0.824. Secondly, there was a very significant positive relationship between work discipline and the teaching effectiveness, where the correlation coefficient of ry2 = 0.66. Thirdly, there was a very significant positive relationship between academic supervision and work discipline together with the teaching effectiveness, where the correlation coefficient of ry.12 = 0.84. Based on the results of the research, it can be concluded that the teaching effectiveness can be enhanced by strengthening academic supervision and work discipline. Results of the SITOREM analysis indicated that several priority indicators need to be improved, such as; assessment of work results, problems solving assistance, self-control during working, teachers’ willingness to carry out obligations, sucessfullness in conducting learning activity, and successfulness in managing learning activity. Based on the results above, it can be concluded that the teaching effectiveness can be enhanced by strengthening academic supervision and work discipline.
Efektivitas Nutrasetikal Sebagai Penghambat Kanker Terhadap Progresivitas Kanker Payudara
Authors: Agustin Tesya
Published: May 2021

Kanker payudara merupakan pertumbuhan sel-sel abnormal di epitel duktus atau lobulus payudara sehingga menimbulkan keganasan pada jaringan payudara. Kanker payudara menjadi kasus kanker yang paling banyak terjadi di Indonesia. Keganasan ini dapat dihambat dengan mengonsumsi nutrasetikal, yakni perpaduan antara nutrisi dan farmasetikal. Nutrasetikal merupakan jenis makanan yang komposisi nutrisinya memiliki manfaat terhadap kesehatan, baik pencegahan maupun pengobatan suatu penyakit. Senyawa yang terkandung di dalamnya mampu melawan sel kanker dengan efek samping yang minimal. Tujuan dari penulisan artikel ini adalah untuk mengetahui nutrasetikal yang berperan dalam pencegahan kanker payudara. Metode yang digunakan adalah literature review. Hasil yang didapatkan adalah jahe, kunyit, sayuran cruciferous, kedelai, tomat, bawang putih, jintan hitam, dan pomegranat memiliki aktivitas antikanker payudara. Maka, nutrasetikal memiliki potensi sebagai penghambat progresivitas sel kanker payudara yang efektif.
Uji Efek Anti Fungi Ekstrak Daun Biduri (Calotropis gigantea L.) Terhadap Pertumbuhan Jamur Trichophyton mentagrophytes
Authors: Mardiana Rosa , Safrida Safrida , Husna Nurul
Published: May 2021

Daun biduri (Calotropis gigantea L.) merupakan salah satu tanaman yang dapat digunakan sebagai antifungi. Daun biduri dijadikan sebagai antifungi berdasarkan zat kimia yang terdapat didalamnya seperti tannin, saponin flavonoid dan polifenol. Jamur Trichophyton mentagrophytes dapat menyebabkan penyakit kulit yang ditandai dengan timbulnya bercak melingkar dan bersisik atau gelembung kecil yang dikenal dengan istilah Tinea atau kurap. Jamur ini memiliki habitat (terutama pada daerah yang beriklim tropis dan basah) di tanah, manusia dan hewan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektifitas ekstrak daun biduri (Calotropis gigantea L.) dalam menghambat pertumbuhan jamur Trichophyton mentagrophytes dan untuk mengetahui berapakah konsentrasi optimal ekstrak daun biduri (Calotropis gigantea L.) untuk menghambat pertumbuhan jamur Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Laboratorium Mikrobiologi Fakultas Tarbiyah UIN Ar-Raniry dan Laboratorium kimia FKIP kimia Universitas Syiah Kuala Banda Aceh pada tanggal 26 April sampai 21 Agustus 2018. Daun biduri diekstraksi dengan menggunakan metode maserasi yang direndam selama 5 hari dengan 2 kali pengulangan dan diuapkan dengan menggunakan alat rotary evaporator hingga memperoleh ekstrak sebanyak 30 ml berwarna hijau kehitaman dan kental. Uji daya hambat terhadap jamur Trichophyton mentagrophtes dilakukan dengan metode difusi disc difussion pada media Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) dengan konsentrasi 20%, 35% dan 50%. Antifungi ketoconazole yang dibuat dalam bentuk suspensi sebagai kontrol positif dan aquadest sebagai kontrol negatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa diameter zona hambat yang diperoleh dari ekstrak daun biduri pada konsentrasi 50% sebesar 9,16 mm termasuk dalam kategori sedang, pada konsentrasi 35% sebesar 8,66 mm termasuk dalam kategori sedang, konsentrasi 20% sebesar 8,16 mm termasuk dalam kategori sedang, pada ketoconazole suspensi sebesar 11,83 mm termasuk dalam kategori kuat dan pada aquadest sebesar 0 mm yang tidak memiliki daya hamba
Notas históricas sobre a assistência à saúde em Barra do Rio Grande, século XIX
Authors: Silva Rafael Sancho Carvalho da , Aras Lina Maria Brandão de
Published: May 2021

O presente artigo analisa a assistência à saúde em Barra do Rio Grande, no sertão do São Francisco, na Bahia, durante o século XIX, através do estudo do Hospital de Caridade de São Pedro que, por sua vez, era administrado pela Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Barra. As fontes consultadas foram corres-pondências da mesa administrativa da Santa Casa da Misericórdia com a presidência da província e os relatórios e falas dos presidentes da província na abertura dos trabalhos da Assembleia Provincial. Por estar localizado numa área de fronteira da Bahia, o hospital de caridade em questão possuía um alcance regional que extrapolava os limites provinciais que, por seu turno, tinha o rio São Francisco como principal meio de comunicação.
A construção da Colônia Santa Teresa e as propostas terapêuticas para os primeiros leprosos internados – São Pedro de Alcântara (SC), anos 1940
Authors: Lima Simone A. Ribeiro de , Bertucci Liane Maria
Published: May 2021

A Colônia Santa Teresa, em São Pedro de Alcântara (SC), inaugurada em 1940, foi construída de acordo com a legislação nacional que previa o internamento compulsório de leprosos, terapia medicamentosa e laborterapia. Nesse artigo abordamos aspectos de propostas prévias e do acordo, entre governo estadual e federal, que culminou na construção da instituição catarinense. Discutimos prescrições ou sugestões médicas para o trabalho e a recreação dos internos, tais como a realização de atividades agrícolas e os bailes e blocos de carnaval. Os indícios dessas atividades tornaram possível um vislumbre sobre como as práticas terapêuticas realizadas pelos homens e mulheres da Colônia Santa Teresa ganharam contornos e significados peculiares para esses leprosos, podendo abrir frestas na ordem estabelecida (Certeau, 2011). Para realizar esse artigo foram pesquisados: livros e relatos de médicos, textos memorialís-ticos de ex-internos, material arquivado na ex-colônia, relatórios governamen-tais, legislação (federal e estadual) e periódicos.
Mudanças na expectativa de vida no Brasil: analisando o passado e o futuro, de 1950 a 2095
Authors: Bomfim Wanderson Costa , Camargos Mirela Castro Santos
Published: May 2021

Buscou-se mensurar o percentual de contribuição dos grupos etários avançados nos ganhos em expectativa de vida ao nascer, analisando as mudanças entre 1950 e 2095, a contribuição das causas de morte na variação da expectativa de vida, entre 2010 e 2017, para ambos os sexos, para o Brasil. Foram utilizadas tábuas de mortalidade por sexo, idade e dados de causas de óbito. Utilizaram-se as decompo-sições de Arriaga (1984) e Pollard (1982). Os resultados mostraram que a partir do final da década de 90 e início do século XXI, o grupo etário de 60 anos ou mais se transformou no que mais contribuiu para os ganhos em expectativa de vida, ultrapa-ssando a contribuição do grupo de 0 a 14 anos, aumentando consideravelmente sua contribuição até o final deste século. Para potencializar ainda mais os ganhos em idades avançadas, deve-se ter a ênfase no com-bate as doenças crônicas, bem como suas consequências.
O jornal impresso e a teoria de alfabetização de Paulo Freire: a mídia escrita como recurso didático-pedagógico para a alfabetização de crianças
Authors: Inocêncio Kellin Cristina Melchior , Ferreira Juliana Battistus Mateus
Published: May 2021

A partir dos princípios teórico-práticos da proposta educativa de Paulo Freire, discutimos o uso do jornal impresso na alfabetização de crianças, considerando sua inserção nas atividades alfabetizadoras como possibilidade simplificada de compreensão da totalidade do material, da informação e do contexto a que ele se refere. Pela apreciação interpretativa e crítica da alfabetização contemporânea e da questão da mídia escrita, hermeneuticamente apresentamos o jornal impresso como recurso metodológico para a leitura de mundo que conduz à leitura da palavra no processo alfabetizador que conscientiza. Decorre disso que a mídia escrita seja um recurso didático-pedagógico potencialmente libertador, porque possibilita a conscientização pela reflexão sobre o contexto concreto de vida. Concluímos que a opção pelo uso do jornal impresso nas atividades de alfabetização de crianças tanto é pertinente à variação dos suportes e portadores de informação, quanto é necessária para a compreensão da totalidade da informação vinculada na mídia digital.
Imagens vivas de mundos passados: as reminiscências alegóricas nas fotografias do centro de Florianópolis, em Santa Catarina, Brasil
Authors: Costa Daniel Lula , Zdebskyi Janaína de Fátima , Bastos Rodolpho Alexandre Santos de Melo , Cardoso Leonardo de Lara
Published: May 2021

O presente artigo pretende colocar em diálogo a ideia de tempo e alegoria em Walter Benjamin como instrumentos de análise de fotografias de paisagens do Centro de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Nas teses sobre o conceito de história, Benjamin (1987) afirma que a verdadeira imagem do passado perpassa veloz pelos tempos, pois o passado é fixado como imagem que relampeja irreversivelmente no momento em que é reconhecido. Metodologicamente, optamos por fotografar cenários do centro de Florianópolis, intencionalmente escolhidos para discutir as ideias de Benjamin sobre alegoria, e trazer essas imagens como fios de condução para pensar suas ideias e a história da cidade. Como resultado, identificamos que a arquitetura dos prédios e os monumentos das praças da cidade são constituídos por fragmentos do passado que permanecem até o presente, mas que também observamos essas permanências nas pessoas que circulam e na rotina que ocupa o espaço.
High Seeding Rates and Low Soil Nitrogen Environments Optimize Weed Suppression and Profitability in Organic No-Till Planted Soybean
Authors: Menalled Uriel D. , Pethybridge Sarah J. , Pelzer Chris J. , Smith Richard G. , DiTommaso Antonio , Ryan Matthew R.
Published: May 2021

No-till planting crops into rolled-crimped cover crops can improve soil health while reducing labor and fuel requirements compared with traditional tillage-based production. However, little information is available to help farmers optimize the management of organic no-till planted crops. Weed suppression, crop yield, and profitability were assessed across soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seeding rates and soil nitrogen environments in an experiment conducted at two sites in central New York. Soybeans were no-till planted into rolled-crimped cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) at 0, 185,000, 371,000, 556,000, and 741,000 seeds ha−1. Three rates (0, 63, or 125 kg ha−1) of sodium nitrate (15-0-2) were applied across seeding rates to create different soil nitrogen environments. When pooled over sites, the lowest weed biomass occurred at the highest soybean density in the lowest soil nitrogen environment. An interaction was observed between soybean seeding rate and nitrogen treatments on weed communities. Soybean yield increased asymptotically with crop density and was not affected by nitrogen or site treatments. When pooled over nitrogen treatments and sites, partial returns to the soybean seeding rates were maximized at $2,238 ha−1 with 527,800 seeds ha−1. Results suggest that crop density is an important lever for optimizing weed suppression and crop yield in organic no-till soybean, and that managing for low soil nitrogen conditions may further enhance weed suppression while maintaining high yields.
Insights from CPTu and Seismic Cone Penetration Testing in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Authors: Gilder Charlotte E. L. , Pokhrel Rama Mohan , De Luca Flavia , Vardanega Paul J.
Published: May 2021

Seismic hazard assessment often relies on static piezocone penetration tests (CPTu) to estimate the cyclic resistance ratio (CRR) and for the evaluation of in situ soil behavior. This article presents CPTu data acquired in the Kathmandu valley sediments and makes use of established CPTu interpretation procedures to assess the soil in situ properties. Up to this point predominantly SPT data and limited shear wave velocity measurements have been relied upon to assess the variability and seismic response of soil deposits underlying Kathmandu. This article provides 1) additional data to add to the existing SAFER/GEO-591 database, 2) new shear-wave velocity measurements, and 3) initial estimates of CRR at the sites visited. Based on the work presented in this article, it is concluded that a more detailed methodology is needed for liquefaction assessment mainly due to the presence of saturated silts in the valley.
Cytolethal Distending Toxin Promotes Replicative Stress Leading to Genetic Instability Transmitted to Daughter Cells
Authors: Tremblay William , Mompart Florence , Lopez Elisa , Quaranta Muriel , Bergoglio Valérie , Hashim Saleha , Bonnet Delphine , Alric Laurent , Mas Emmanuel , Trouche Didier , Vignard Julien , Ferrand Audrey , Mirey Gladys , Fernandez-Vidal Anne
Published: May 2021

The cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is produced by several Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. In addition to inflammation, experimental evidences are in favor of a protumoral role of CDT-harboring bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni, or Helicobacter hepaticus. CDT may contribute to cell transformation in vitro and carcinogenesis in mice models, through the genotoxic action of CdtB catalytic subunit. Here, we investigate the mechanism of action by which CDT leads to genetic instability in human cell lines and colorectal organoids from healthy patients’ biopsies. We demonstrate that CDT holotoxin induces a replicative stress dependent on CdtB. The slowing down of DNA replication occurs mainly in late S phase, resulting in the expression of fragile sites and important chromosomic aberrations. These DNA abnormalities induced after CDT treatment are responsible for anaphase bridge formation in mitosis and interphase DNA bridge between daughter cells in G1 phase. Moreover, CDT-genotoxic potential preferentially affects human cycling cells compared to quiescent cells. Finally, the toxin induces nuclear distension associated to DNA damage in proliferating cells of human colorectal organoids, resulting in decreased growth. Our findings thus identify CDT as a bacterial virulence factor targeting proliferating cells, such as human colorectal progenitors or stem cells, inducing replicative stress and genetic instability transmitted to daughter cells that may therefore contribute to carcinogenesis. As some CDT-carrying bacterial strains were detected in patients with colorectal cancer, targeting these bacteria could be a promising therapeutic strategy.
Midkine-a Regulates the Formation of a Fibrotic Scar During Zebrafish Heart Regeneration
Authors: Grivas Dimitrios , González-Rajal Álvaro , de la Pompa José Luis
Published: May 2021

Unlike the hearts of mammals, the adult zebrafish heart regenerates after injury. Heart cryoinjury in zebrafish triggers the formation of a fibrotic scar that gradually degrades, leading to regeneration. Midkine-a (Mdka) is a multifunctional cytokine that is activated after cardiac injury. Here, we investigated the role of mdka in zebrafish heart regeneration. We show that mdka expression was induced at 1-day post-cryoinjury (dpci) throughout the epicardial layer, whereas by 7 dpci expression had become restricted to the epicardial cells covering the injured area. To study the role of mdka in heart regeneration, we generated mdka-knock out (KO) zebrafish strains. Analysis of injured hearts showed that loss of mdka decreased endothelial cell proliferation and resulted in an arrest in heart regeneration characterized by retention of a collagenous scar. Transcriptional analysis revealed increases in collagen transcription and intense TGFβ signaling activity. These results reveal a critical role for mdka in fibrosis regulation during heart regeneration.
Research Advances on Human-Eye-Sensitive Long Persistent Luminescence Materials
Authors: Wang Yuhua , Guo Haijie
Published: May 2021

Based on the actual application requirements of multicolor long persistent luminescence (LPL) materials, we highlight the recent developments in the last decade on human-eye-sensitive LPL materials and try to make a full list of known LPL compounds possessing wavelengths of 400–600 nm and a duration time longer than 10 h (>0.32 mcd/m2); these are more sensitive to the human eye's night vision and can be used throughout the night. We further emphasize our group research of novel LPL materials and the regulation of LPL color to enable a full palette. In the end, we try to summarize the challenges and perspectives of LPL materials for potential research directions based on our limited understandings. This review could offer new enlightenment for further exploration of new LPL materials in the visible light range and related applications.
The High-Spin Heme bL Mutant Exposes Dominant Reaction Leading to the Formation of the Semiquinone Spin-Coupled to the [2Fe-2S]+ Cluster at the Qo Site of Rhodobacter capsulatus Cytochrome bc1
Authors: Sarewicz Marcin , Pintscher Sebastian , Bujnowicz Łukasz , Wolska Małgorzata , Artur Osyczka
Published: May 2021

Cytochrome bc1 (mitochondrial complex III) catalyzes electron transfer from quinols to cytochrome c and couples this reaction with proton translocation across lipid membrane; thus, it contributes to the generation of protonmotive force used for the synthesis of ATP. The energetic efficiency of the enzyme relies on a bifurcation reaction taking place at the Qo site which upon oxidation of ubiquinol directs one electron to the Rieske 2Fe2S cluster and the other to heme bL. The molecular mechanism of this reaction remains unclear. A semiquinone spin-coupled to the reduced 2Fe2S cluster (SQo-2Fe2S) was identified as a state associated with the operation of the Qo site. To get insights into the mechanism of the formation of this state, we first constructed a mutant in which one of the histidine ligands of the iron ion of heme bLRhodobacter capsulatus cytochrome bc1 was replaced by asparagine (H198N). This converted the low-spin, low-potential heme into the high-spin, high-potential species which is unable to support enzymatic turnover. We performed a comparative analysis of redox titrations of antimycin-supplemented bacterial photosynthetic membranes containing native enzyme and the mutant. The titrations revealed that H198N failed to generate detectable amounts of SQo-2Fe2S under neither equilibrium (in dark) nor nonequilibrium (in light), whereas the native enzyme generated clearly detectable SQo-2Fe2S in light. This provided further support for the mechanism in which the back electron transfer from heme bL to a ubiquinone bound at the Qo site is mainly responsible for the formation of semiquinone trapped in the SQo-2Fe2S state in R. capusulatus cytochrome bc1.
e-Graphene: A Computational Platform for the Prediction of Graphene-Based Drug Delivery System by Quantum Genetic Algorithm and Cascade Protocol
Authors: Zheng Suqing , Xiong Jun , Wang Lei , Zhai Dong , Xu Yong , Lin Fu
Published: May 2021

Graphene, as a novel category of carbon nanomaterials, has attracted a great attention in the field of drug delivery. Due to its large dual surface area, graphene can efficiently load drug molecules with high capacity via non-covalent interaction without chemical modification of the drugs. Hence, it ignites prevalent interests in developing a new graphene/graphene oxide (GO)-based drug delivery system (GDDS). However, current design of GDDS primarily depends on the prior experimental experience with the trial-and-error method. Thus, it is more appealing to theoretically predict possible GDDS candidates before experiments. Toward this end, we propose to fuse quantum genetic algorithm (QGA) and quantum mechanics (QM)/semi-empirical quantum mechanics (SQM)/force field (FF) to globally search the optimal binding interaction between the graphene/GO and drug in a given GDDS and develop a free computational platform “e-Graphene” to automatically predict/screen potential GDDS candidates. To make this platform more pragmatic for the rapid yet relatively accurate prediction, we further propose a cascade protocol via firstly conducting a fast QGA/FF calculation with fine QGA parameters and automatically passing the best chromosomes from QGA/FF to initialize a higher level QGA/SQM or QGA/QM calculation with coarse QGA parameters (e.g., small populations and short evolution generations). By harnessing this platform and protocol, systematic tests on a typical GDDS containing an anticancer drug SN38 illustrate that high fabrication rates of hydroxyl, epoxy, and carboxyl groups on a pristine graphene model will compromise the stability of GDDS, implying that an appropriate functionalization rate is crucial for the delicate balance between the stability and solubility/biocompatibility of GDDS. Moreover, automatic GDDS screen in the DrugBank database is performed and elicits four potential GDDS candidates with enhanced stability than the commonly tested GDDS containing SN38 from the computational point of view. We hope that this work can provide a useful program and protocol for experimental scientists to rationally design/screen promising GDDS candidates prior to experimental tests.
A Quinol Anion as Catalytic Intermediate Coupling Proton Translocation With Electron Transfer in E. coli Respiratory Complex I
Authors: Nuber Franziska , Mérono Luca , Oppermann Sabrina , Schimpf Johannes , Wohlwend Daniel , Friedrich Thorsten
Published: May 2021

Energy-converting NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, respiratory complex I, plays a major role in cellular energy metabolism. It couples NADH oxidation and quinone reduction with the translocation of protons across the membrane, thus contributing to the protonmotive force. Complex I has an overall L-shaped structure with a peripheral arm catalyzing electron transfer and a membrane arm engaged in proton translocation. Although both reactions are arranged spatially separated, they are tightly coupled by a mechanism that is not fully understood. Using redox-difference UV-vis spectroscopy, an unknown redox component was identified in Escherichia coli complex I as reported earlier. A comparison of its spectrum with those obtained for different quinone species indicates features of a quinol anion. The re-oxidation kinetics of the quinol anion intermediate is significantly slower in the D213GH variant that was previously shown to operate with disturbed quinone chemistry. Addition of the quinone-site inhibitor piericidin A led to strongly decreased absorption peaks in the difference spectrum. A hypothesis for a mechanism of proton-coupled electron transfer with the quinol anion as catalytically important intermediate in complex I is discussed.
Large-Scale Analysis of Apolipoprotein CIII Glycosylation by Ultrahigh Resolution Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Demus Daniel , Naber Annemieke , Dotz Viktoria , Jansen Bas C. , Bladergroen Marco R. , Nouta Jan , Sijbrands Eric J. G. , Van Hoek Mandy , Nicolardi Simone , Wuhrer Manfred
Published: May 2021

Apolipoprotein-CIII (apo-CIII) is a glycoprotein involved in lipid metabolism and its levels are associated with cardiovascular disease risk. Apo-CIII sialylation is associated with improved plasma triglyceride levels and its glycosylation may have an effect on the clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins by directing these particles to different metabolic pathways. Large-scale sample cohort studies are required to fully elucidate the role of apo-CIII glycosylation in lipid metabolism and associated cardiovascular disease. In this study, we revisited a high-throughput workflow for the analysis of intact apo-CIII by ultrahigh-resolution MALDI FT-ICR MS. The workflow includes a chemical oxidation step to reduce methionine oxidation heterogeneity and spectrum complexity. Sinapinic acid matrix was used to minimize the loss of sialic acids upon MALDI. MassyTools software was used to standardize and automate MS data processing and quality control. This method was applied on 771 plasma samples from individuals without diabetes allowing for an evaluation of the expression levels of apo-CIII glycoforms against a panel of lipid biomarkers demonstrating the validity of the method. Our study supports the hypothesis that triglyceride clearance may be regulated, or at least strongly influenced by apo-CIII sialylation. Interestingly, the association of apo-CIII glycoforms with triglyceride levels was found to be largely independent of body mass index. Due to its precision and throughput, the new workflow will allow studying the role of apo-CIII in the regulation of lipid metabolism in various disease settings.
AFM-Based Correlative Microscopy Illuminates Human Pathogens
Authors: Bhat Supriya V. , Price Jared D. W. , Dahms Tanya E. S.
Published: May 2021

Microbes have an arsenal of virulence factors that contribute to their pathogenicity. A number of challenges remain to fully understand disease transmission, fitness landscape, antimicrobial resistance and host heterogeneity. A variety of tools have been used to address diverse aspects of pathogenicity, from molecular host-pathogen interactions to the mechanisms of disease acquisition and transmission. Current gaps in our knowledge include a more direct understanding of host-pathogen interactions, including signaling at interfaces, and direct phenotypic confirmation of pathogenicity. Correlative microscopy has been gaining traction to address the many challenges currently faced in biomedicine, in particular the combination of optical and atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM, generates high-resolution surface topographical images, and quantifies mechanical properties at the pN scale under physiologically relevant conditions. When combined with optical microscopy, AFM probes pathogen surfaces and their physical and molecular interaction with host cells, while the various modes of optical microscopy view internal cellular responses of the pathogen and host. Here we review the most recent advances in our understanding of pathogens, recent applications of AFM to the field, how correlative AFM-optical microspectroscopy and microscopy have been used to illuminate pathogenicity and how these methods can reach their full potential for studying host-pathogen interactions.
Characterization of Feces-Derived Bacterial Membrane Vesicles and the Impact of Their Origin on the Inflammatory Response
Authors: Kameli Nader , Borman Reitske , López-Iglesias Carmen , Savelkoul Paul , Stassen Frank R.M.
Published: May 2021

The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a diverse and complex microbiome, which interacts in a variety of ways with the host. There is compelling evidence that gut microbial dysbiosis, defined as an alteration of diversity and abundance in intestinal microbes, is an etiological factor in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Membrane vesicles (MVs), which are nano-sized particles released by bacteria, have been found to interact with the host and modulate the development and function of the immune system. As a result MVs have been suggested to play a critical role in both health and disease. In this study we developed a method to isolate, characterize and assess the immunoreactivity of heterogeneous populations of MVs from fecal samples (fMVs) of healthy volunteers. We successfully isolated 2*109-2*1010 particles/ml from 0.5 gram of feces by using a combination of ultrafiltration and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) from 10 fecal samples. Bead-based flowcytometry in combination with tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS) provided a reliable method for (semi-)quantitative determination of fMVs originating from both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, while transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of fMVs. Real time 16s PCR on bacterial cell fractions or isolated fMVs DNA of the most common phyla (Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria) revealed differences in the relative abundance between bacteria and the fMVs. Moreover, fMVs evoke the release of TNF-α by THP-1 cells in a dose-dependent matter. Also, a significant positive correlation was found between Actinobacteria/γ-Proteobacteria derived vesicles and the release of TNF-α. It has become increasingly clear that fMVs could provide an additional layer to the definition of homeostasis or dysbiosis of the microbiota. The current study supports their potential involvement in the intestinal homeostasis or inflammatory disorders and provides putative interesting incentives for future research.
Evaluation of Science Communication: Current Practices, Challenges, and Future Implications
Authors: Ziegler Ricarda , Hedder Imke Ronja , Fischer Liliann
Published: May 2021

Scientifically substantiated evaluations are pivotal to ensuring the effectiveness and improvement of the growing number of science communication projects. Yet current evaluation practices are still lacking in various respects. Based on a systematic review of evaluation reports, an online survey of, as well as discussion rounds with science communication practitioners in the German-speaking countries, we discuss three main challenges of science communication evaluation: (1) There is a conflation of impact goals and measurable project objectives as well as a lack of precise definitions of objectives and target groups, which complicates the assessment of the projects' success. (2) Although many evaluations highlight the impact-oriented interest of those responsible, the methods chosen rarely allow scientifically valid evaluations of effects. The lack of comparative reference points and the partially unsuitable use of self-report measures are key issues in this regard. (3) The fact that few evaluation processes are made transparent and that formative evaluation designs are a rarity indicates a tendency to understand evaluations as the final ‘success story’ of a project rather than a learning process. This stands in the way of a constructive discussion of the actual impact of science communication. Our exploratory insights contribute to an understanding of the weaknesses of science communication evaluation and needs in the field. They also provide impulses for future improvements in the field for the stakeholders in practice, research, funding, and science management.
Speech Rate Adjustments in Conversations With an Amazon Alexa Socialbot
Authors: Cohn Michelle , Liang Kai-Hui , Sarian Melina , Zellou Georgia , Yu Zhou
Published: May 2021

This paper investigates users’ speech rate adjustments during conversations with an Amazon Alexa socialbot in response to situational (in-lab vs. at-home) and communicative (ASR comprehension errors) factors. We collected user interaction studies and measured speech rate at each turn in the conversation and in baseline productions (collected prior to the interaction). Overall, we find that users slow their speech rate when talking to the bot, relative to their pre-interaction productions, consistent with hyperarticulation. Speakers use an even slower speech rate in the in-lab setting (relative to at-home). We also see evidence for turn-level entrainment: the user follows the directionality of Alexa’s changes in rate in the immediately preceding turn. Yet, we do not see differences in hyperarticulation or entrainment in response to ASR errors, or on the basis of user ratings of the interaction. Overall, this work has implications for human-computer interaction and theories of linguistic adaptation and entrainment.
Exploring the Brain Activity Related to Missing Penalty Kicks: An fNIRS Study
Authors: Slutter Max W. J. , Thammasan Nattapong , Poel Mannes
Published: May 2021

At vital moments in professional soccer matches, penalties were often missed. Psychological factors, such as anxiety and pressure, are among the critical causes of the mistakes, commonly known aschoking under pressure. Nevertheless, the factors have not been fully explored. In this study, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate the influence of the brain on this process. Anin-situstudy was set-up (N= 22), in which each participant took 15 penalties under three different pressure conditions: without a goalkeeper, with an amiable goalkeeper, and with a competitive goalkeeper. Both experienced and inexperienced soccer players were recruited, and the brain activation was compared across groups. Besides, fNIRS activation was compared between sessions that participants felt anxious against sessions without anxiety report, and between penalty-scoring and -missing sessions. The results show that the task-relevant brain region, the motor cortex, was more activated when players were not experiencing performance anxiety. The activation of task-irrelevant areas was shown to be related to players experiencing anxiety and missing penalties, especially the prefrontal cortex (PFC). More particularly, an overall higher activation of the PFC and an increase of PFC lateral asymmetry were related to anxious players and missed penalties, which can be caused by players' worries about the consequences of scoring or missing the penalty kicks. When experienced players were feeling anxious, their left temporal cortex activation increased, which could be an indication that experienced overthink the situation and neglect their automated skills. Besides, the left temporal cortex activation is higher when inexperienced players succeeded to score a penalty. Overall, the results of this study are in line with the neural efficiency theory and demonstrate the feasibility and ecological validity to detect neurological clues relevant to anxiety and performance from fNIRS recordingsin the field.
Diagnostic Performance of CMR, SPECT, and PET Imaging for the Identification of Coronary Artery Disease: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Xu Jianfeng , Cai Fei , Geng Changran , Wang Zheng , Tang Xiaobin
Published: May 2021

Background: Myocardial perfusion imaging modalities, such as cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and positron emission tomography (PET), are well-established non-invasive diagnostic methods to detect hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this meta-analysis is to compare CMR, SPECT, and PET in the diagnosis of CAD and to provide evidence for further research and clinical decision-making.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched. Studies that used CMR, SPECT, and/or PET for the diagnosis of CAD were included. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio with their respective 95% confidence interval, and the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve were calculated.

Results: A total of 203 articles were identified for inclusion in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity values of CMR, SPECT, and PET were 0.86, 0.83, and 0.85, respectively. Their respective overall specificity values were 0.83, 0.77, and 0.86. Results in subgroup analysis of the performance of SPECT with 201Tl showed the highest pooled sensitivity [0.85 (0.82, 0.88)] and specificity [0.80 (0.75, 0.83)]. 99mTc-tetrofosmin had the lowest sensitivity [0.76 (0.67, 0.82)]. In the subgroup analysis of PET tracers, results indicated that 13N had the lowest pooled sensitivity [0.83 (0.74, 0.89)], and the specificity was the highest [0.91 (0.81, 0.96)].

Conclusion: Our meta-analysis indicates that CMR and PET present better diagnostic performance for the detection of CAD as compared with SPECT.
Electrocardiographic Screening of Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy in Genotype-Positive and Phenotype-Negative Relatives
Authors: Lopez-Ayala Jose Maria , Gimeno-Blanes Javier , Lopez-Cuenca David , Molina Maria Sabater , Gimeno-Blanes Juan Ramon
Published: May 2021

Background: Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is a hereditary cause of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. Identifying the healthy genetic carriers who will develop the disease remains a challenge. A novel approach to the analysis of the digital electrocardiograms of mutation carriers through signal processing may identify early electrocardiographic abnormalities.

Methods: A retrospective case–control study included a population of healthy genetics carriers and their wild-type relatives. Genotype-positive/phenotype-negative individuals bore mutations associated with the development of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. The relatives included had a non-pathological 12-lead electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and a cardiac magnetic resonance. Automatic digital electrocardiographic analyses comprised QRS and terminal activation delay duration, the number of QRS fragmentations, ST slope, and T-wave voltage.

Results: Digital 12-lead electrocardiograms from 41 genotype-positive/ phenotype-negative (29 simple carriers and 12 double mutation carriers) and 73 wild-type relatives were analyzed. No differences in the QRS length, the number of QRS fragmentations, and the voltage of the T-wave were observed. After adjusting for potential confounders, double carriers showed an average ST-slope flatter than those of the simple carriers and wild type [5.18° (0.73–8.01), 7.15° (5.14–11.05), and 11.46° (3.94–17.49), respectively, p = 0.005]. There was a significant negative correlation between the ST slope and the age in genotype-positive/phenotype-negative relatives (r = 0.376, p = 0.021) not observed in their wild-type counterparts (r = 0.074, p = 0.570).

Conclusions: A flattened ST segment may be an early sign of electrical remodeling that precedes T-wave inversion in healthy genetic carriers. A thorough analysis of the digital electrocardiographic signal may help identify and measure early electrical abnormalities.
Home Monitoring System for Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in Patient's Dwelling: System Design and UX Evaluation
Authors: Villalba-Mora Elena , Ferre Xavier , Pérez-Rodríguez Rodrigo , Moral Cristian , Valdés-Aragonés Myriam , Sánchez-Sánchez Alberto , Rodríguez-Mañas Leocadio
Published: May 2021

Population aging threatens the sustainability of welfare systems since it is not accompanied by an extended healthy and independent period in the last years of life. The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) has been shown to be efficient in maintaining the healthy period at the end of the life. Frailty monitoring is typically carried out for an average period of 6 months in clinical settings, while more regular monitoring could prevent the transition to disability. We present the design process of a system for frailty home monitoring based on an adapted CGA and the rationale behind its User eXperience (UX) design. The resulting home monitoring system consists of two devices based on ultrasound sensors, a weight scale, and a mobile application for managing the devices, administering CGA-related questionnaires, and providing alerts. Older users may encounter barriers in their usage of technology. For this reason, usability and acceptability are critical for health monitoring systems addressed to geriatric patients. In the design of our system, we have followed a user-centered process, involving geriatricians and older frail patients by means of co-creation methods. In the iterative process of design and usability testing, we have identified the most effective way of conducting the home-based CGA, not just by replicating the dialogue between the physician and the patient, but by adapting the design to the possibilities and limitations of mobile health for this segment of users. The usability evaluation, carried out with 14 older adults, has proved the feasibility of users older than 70 effectively using our monitoring system, additionally showing an intention over 80% for using the system. It has also provided some insights and recommendations for the design of mobile health systems for older users.
Frictional Anisotropy of 3D-Printed Fault Surfaces
Authors: Vincent-Dospital Tom , Steyer Alain , Renard François , Toussaint Renaud
Published: May 2021

The surface morphology of faults controls the spatial anisotropy of their frictional properties and hence their mechanical stability. Such anisotropy is only rarely studied in seismology models of fault slip, although it might be paramount to understand the seismic rupture in particular areas, notably where slip occurs in a direction different from that of the main striations of the fault. To quantify how the anisotropy of fault surfaces affects the friction coefficient during sliding, we sheared synthetic fault planes made of plaster of Paris. These fault planes were produced by 3D-printing real striated fault surfaces whose 3D roughness was measured in the field at spatial scales from millimeters to meters. Here, we show how the 3D-printing technology can help for the study of frictional slip. The results show that fault anisotropy controls the coefficient of static friction, with μS//, the friction coefficient along the striations being three to four times smaller than μS⊥, the friction coefficient along the orientation perpendicular to the striations. This is true both at the meter and the millimeter scales. The anisotropy in friction and the average coefficient of static friction are also shown to decrease with the normal stress applied to the faults, as a result of the increased surface wear under increased loading.
Modeling Tsunamis Generated by Submarine Landslides at Stromboli Volcano (Aeolian Islands, Italy): A Numerical Benchmark Study
Authors: Esposti Ongaro Tomaso , de' Michieli Vitturi Mattia , Cerminara Matteo , Fornaciai Alessandro , Nannipieri Luca , Favalli Massimiliano , Calusi Benedetta , Macías Jorge , Castro Manuel J. , Ortega Sergio , González-Vida José M. , Escalante Cipriano
Published: May 2021

We present a benchmark study aimed at identifying the most effective modeling approach for tsunami generation, propagation, and hazard in an active volcanic context, such as the island of Stromboli (Italy). We take as a reference scenario the 2002 landslide-generated tsunami event at Stromboli simulated to assess the relative sensitivity of numerical predictions to the landslide and the wave models, with our analysis limited to the submarine landslide case. Two numerical codes, at different levels of approximation, have been compared in this study: the NHWAVE three-dimensional non-hydrostatic model in sigma-coordinates and the Multilayer-HySEA model. In particular, different instances of Multilayer-HySEA with one or more vertical discretization layers, in hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic formulation and with different landslide models have been tested. Model results have been compared for the maximum runup along the shores of Stromboli village, and the waveform sampled at four proximal sites (two of them corresponding to the locations of the monitoring gauges, offshore the Sciara del Fuoco). Both rigid and deformable (granular) submarine landslide models, with volumes ranging from 7 to 25 million of cubic meters, have been used to trigger the water waves, with different physical descriptions of the mass movement. Close to the source, the maximum surface elevation and the resulting runup at the Stromboli village shores obtained with hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic models are similar. However, hydrostatic models overestimate (with respect to non-hydrostatic ones) the amplitude of the initial positive wave crest, whose height increases with the distance. Moreover, as expected, results indicate significant differences between the waveforms produced by the different models at proximal locations. The accurate modeling of near-field waveforms is particularly critical at Stromboli in the perspective of using the installed proximal sea-level gauges, together with numerical simulations, to characterize tsunami source in an early-warning system. We show that the use of non-hydrostatic models, coupled with a multilayer approach, allows a better description of the waveforms. However, the source description remains the most sensitive (and uncertain) aspect of the modeling. We finally show that non-hydrostatic models, such as Multilayer-HySEA, solved on accelerated GPU architectures, exhibit the optimal trade-off between accuracy and computational requirements, at least for the envisaged problem size and for what concerns the proximal wave field of tsunamis generated by volcano landslides. Their application and future developments are opening new avenues to tsunami early warning at Stromboli.
Research Progress of Initial Mechanism on Debris Flow and Related Discrimination Methods: A Review
Authors: Du Jun , Fan Zhong-jie , Xu Wen-tao , Dong Lin-yao
Published: May 2021

The initial of debris flow can be classified into two types based on their triggering positions, that is, debris flow from slope and debris flow from gully or channel. For the former, great progress has been achieved on the mechanisms of soil failure and liquefaction. The framework established by a series of theories or laws, such as the Mohr–Coulomb criteria, the unsaturated soil mechanics, and the critical state of soil mass, has been used widely in industry and research. However, the details and discrimination basis for the transformation process from landslide into debris flow still need to be further clarified. Relatively, debris flow from gully or channel is more complex due to its various mass sources and the diversity of processes. Nevertheless, through a great number of case studies and experimental statistics, people have gradually recognized the influential rule and critical condition of factors from landform, hydrology, and other aspects on debris flow initiation. Furthermore, based on the theories of granular flow, continuum mechanics, and rheological law, some typical event-based scenarios can also be reproduced by different single-/two-phase depth integral/average numerical models. However, some key knowledge on mechanism and application level is still insufficient, such as the erosion and entrainment mechanism of materials from different sources, the boundary tractions and materials exchange, as well as the selection of prediction indicators. Three current discriminated methodologies for debris flow initiation, that is, the safety factor method, the rainfall indicator method, and the comprehensive assessment method, were summarized in this article. Considering the technical limitation of each methodology, it is believed that the establishment or improvement of a unified, stable, and open-access database system for event registration and query, as well as the development of large-scale and high-precision rainfall monitoring, is still regarded as the important aspect of debris flow prevention in the future. In addition, as an economic and efficiency means for obtaining information on potential threats and real-time hazard messages, the multielement method for debris flow is recommended as a long-term reference.