bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long non-coding RNA DLEU2 drives EMT and glycolysis in endometrial cancer through HK2 by competitively binding with miR-455 and by modulating the EZH2/miR-181a pathway
Authors: Dong Peixin , Xiong Ying , Konno Yosuke , Ihira Kei , Kobayashi Noriko , Yue Junming , Watari Hidemichi
Published: June 2021

Background

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and aerobic glycolysis are fundamental processes implicated in cancer metastasis. Although increasing evidence demonstrates an association between EMT induction and enhanced aerobic glycolysis in human cancer, the mechanisms linking these two conditions in endometrial cancer (EC) cells remain poorly defined.

Methods

We characterized the role and molecular mechanism of the glycolytic enzyme hexokinase 2 (HK2) in mediating EMT and glycolysis and investigated how long noncoding RNA DLEU2 contributes to the stimulation of EMT and glycolysis via upregulation of HK2 expression.

Results

HK2 was highly expressed in EC tissues, and its expression was associated with poor overall survival. Overexpression of HK2 effectively promoted EMT phenotypes and enhanced aerobic glycolysis in EC cells via activating FAK and its downstream ERK1/2 signaling. Moreover, microRNA-455 (miR-455) served as a tumor suppressor by directly interacting with HK2 mRNA and inhibiting its expression. Furthermore, DLEU2 displayed a significantly higher expression in EC tissues, and increased DLEU2 expression was correlated with worse overall survival. DLEU2 acted as an upstream activator for HK2-induced EMT and glycolysis in EC cells through two distinct mechanisms: (i) DLEU2 induced HK2 expression by competitively binding with miR-455, and (ii) DLEU2 also interacted with EZH2 to silence a direct inhibitor of HK2, miR-181a.

Conclusions

This study identified DLEU2 as an upstream activator of HK2-driven EMT and glycolysis in EC cells and provided significant mechanistic insights for the potential treatment of EC.
Breast cancer risk factors in relation to molecular subtypes in breast cancer patients from Kenya
Authors: Sayed Shahin , Fan Shaoqi , Moloo Zahir , Wasike Ronald , Bird Peter , Saleh Mansoor , Shaikh Asim Jamal , Figueroa Jonine D. , Naidoo Richard , Makokha Francis W. , Gardner Kevin , Oigara Raymond , Njoroge Faith Wambui , Magangane Pumza , Mutebi Miriam , Chauhan Rajendra , Mwanzi Sitna , Govender Dhirendra , Yang Xiaohong R.
Published: June 2021

Background

Few studies have investigated risk factor heterogeneity by molecular subtypes in indigenous African populations where prevalence of traditional breast cancer (BC) risk factors, genetic background, and environmental exposures show marked differences compared to European ancestry populations.

Methods

We conducted a case-only analysis of 838 pathologically confirmed BC cases recruited from 5 groups of public, faith-based, and private institutions across Kenya between March 2012 to May 2015. Centralized pathology review and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for key markers (ER, PR, HER2, EGFR, CK5-6, and Ki67) was performed to define subtypes. Risk factor data was collected at time of diagnosis through a questionnaire. Multivariable polytomous logistic regression models were used to determine associations between BC risk factors and tumor molecular subtypes, adjusted for clinical characteristics and risk factors.

Results

The median age at menarche and first pregnancy were 14 and 21 years, median number of children was 3, and breastfeeding duration was 62 months per child. Distribution of molecular subtypes for luminal A, luminal B, HER2-enriched, and triple negative (TN) breast cancers was 34.8%, 35.8%, 10.7%, and 18.6%, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, compared to patients with ER-positive tumors, ER-negative patients were more likely to have higher parity (OR = 2.03, 95% CI = (1.11, 3.72), p = 0.021, comparing ≥ 5 to ≤ 2 children). Compared to patients with luminal A tumors, luminal B patients were more likely to have lower parity (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.23, 0.87, p = 0.018, comparing ≥ 5 to ≤ 2 children); HER2-enriched patients were less likely to be obese (OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.16, 0.81, p = 0.013) or older age at menopause (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.15, 0.997, p = 0.049). Body mass index (BMI), either overall or by menopausal status, did not vary significantly by ER status. Overall, cumulative or average breastfeeding duration did not vary significantly across subtypes.

Conclusions

In Kenya, we found associations between parity-related risk factors and ER status consistent with observations in European ancestry populations, but differing associations with BMI and breastfeeding. Inclusion of diverse populations in cancer etiology studies is needed to develop population and subtype-specific risk prediction/prevention strategies.
Serum metabolomics in chickens infected with Cryptosporidium baileyi
Authors: Wu Xue-Mei , Yang Xin , Fan Xian-Cheng , Chen Xi , Wang Yu-Xin , Zhang Long-Xian , Song Jun-Ke , Zhao Guang-Hui
Published: June 2021

Background

Cryptosporidium baileyi is an economically important zoonotic pathogen that causes serious respiratory symptoms in chickens for which no effective control measures are currently available. An accumulating body of evidence indicates the potential and usefulness of metabolomics to further our understanding of the interaction between pathogens and hosts, and to search for new diagnostic or pharmacological biomarkers of complex microorganisms. The aim of this study was to identify the impact of C. baileyi infection on the serum metabolism of chickens and to assess several metabolites as potential diagnostic biomarkers for C. baileyi infection.

Methods

Ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and subsequent multivariate statistical analysis were applied to investigate metabolomics profiles in the serum samples of chickens infected with C. baileyi, and to identify potential metabolites that can be used to distinguish chickens infected with C. baileyi from non-infected birds.

Results

Multivariate statistical analysis identified 138 differential serum metabolites between mock- and C. baileyi-infected chickens at 5 days post-infection (dpi), including 115 upregulated and 23 downregulated compounds. These metabolites were significantly enriched into six pathways, of which two pathways associated with energy and lipid metabolism, namely glycerophospholipid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism, respectively, were the most enriched. Interestingly, some important immune-related pathways were also significantly enriched, including the intestinal immune network for IgA production, autophagy and cellular senescence. Nine potential C. baileyi-responsive metabolites were identified, including choline, sirolimus, all-trans retinoic acid, PC(14:0/22:1(13Z)), PC(15:0/22:6(4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z)), PE(16:1(9Z)/24:1(15Z)), phosphocholine, SM(d18:0/16:1(9Z)(OH)) and sphinganine.

Conclusions

This is the first report on serum metabolic profiling of chickens with early-stage C. baileyi infection. The results provide novel insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of C. baileyi in chickens.

Graphic abstract
Amaryllidaceae plants: a potential natural resource for the treatment of Chagas disease
Authors: Martínez-Peinado Nieves , Cortes-Serra Nuria , Tallini Luciana R. , Pinazo Maria-Jesus , Gascon Joaquim , Bastida Jaume , Alonso-Padilla Julio
Published: June 2021

Background

Chagas disease is a neglected zoonosis caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It affects over six million people, mostly in Latin America. Drugs available to treat T. cruzi infection have associated toxicity and questionable efficacy at the chronic stage. Hence, the discovery of more effective and safer drugs is an unmet medical need. For this, natural products represent a pool of unique chemical diversity that can serve as excellent templates for the synthesis of active molecules.

Methods

A collection of 79 extracts of Amaryllidaceae plants were screened against T. cruzi. Active extracts against the parasite were progressed through two cell toxicity assays based on Vero and HepG2 cells to determine their selectivity profile and discard those toxic to host cells. Anti-T. cruzi-specific extracts were further qualified by an anti-amastigote stage assay.

Results

Two extracts, respectively from Crinum erubescens and Rhodophiala andicola, were identified as highly active and specific against T. cruzi and its mammalian replicative form.

Conclusions

The results retrieved in this study encourage further exploration of the chemical content of these extracts in search of new anti-T. cruzi drug development starting points.

Graphic abstract
Aedes species (Diptera: Culicidae) ecological and host feeding patterns in the north-eastern parts of South Africa, 2014–2018
Authors: Guarido M. M. , Riddin M. A. , Johnson T. , Braack L. E. O. , Schrama M. , Gorsich E. E. , Brooke B. D. , Almeida A. P. G. , Venter Marietjie
Published: June 2021

Background

There is a paucity of recent data and knowledge on mosquito diversity and potential vectors of arboviruses in South Africa, with most of the available data dating back to the 1950s–1970s. Aedes and Culex species are the major vectors of some of the principal arboviruses which have emerged and re-emerged in the past few decades.

Methods

In this study we used entomological surveillance in selected areas in the north-eastern parts of South Africa from 2014 to 2018 to assess mosquito diversity, with special emphasis on the Aedes species. The impact of trap types and environmental conditions was also investigated. Identification of the blood meal sources of engorged females collected during the study period was carried out, and DNA barcodes were generated for selected species.

Results

Overall, 18.5% of the total Culicidae mosquitoes collected belonged to the genus Aedes, with 14 species recognised or suspected vectors of arboviruses. Species belonging to the Neomelaniconion subgenus were commonly collected in the Bushveld savanna at conservation areas, especially Aedes mcintoshi and Aedes circumluteolus. Aedes aegypti was present in all sites, albeit in low numbers. Temperature was a limiting factor for the Aedes population, and they were almost exclusively collected at temperatures between 18 °C and 27 °C. The cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) barcode fragment was amplified for 21 Aedes species, and for nine of these species it was the first sequence information uploaded on GenBank.

Conclusion

This study provides a better understanding of the diversity and relative abundance of Aedes species in the north-east of South Africa. The information provided here will contribute to future arboviral research and implementation of efficient vector control and prevention strategies.

Graphical abstract
Serum fatty acid-binding protein 4 levels and responses of pancreatic islet β-cells and α-cells in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Wang Hong , Cao Jie , Su Jian-bin , Wang Xue-qin , Wang Xing , Zhang Dong-mei , Wang Xiao-hua
Published: June 2021

Background

Serum fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), as an intracellular lipid chaperone and adipokine, was reported to be related to the incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and diabetic complications, but its association with pancreatic islet β-cell and α-cell functions has not been fully elucidated. So the present study was to investigate the serum FABP4 levels and responses of islet β-cells and α-cells in patients with T2D.

Methods

115 patients with T2D and 89 healthy controls (HC), who received serum FABP4 levels test, were recruited to participate in this study. Moreover, 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in T2D patients to evaluate islet β-cell and α-cell functions. Systemic insulin sensitivity and overall insulin secretion of islet β-cell function were assessed by Matsuda index using C peptide (ISIM-cp) and ratio of the area under the C peptide curve to the glucose curve (AUCcp/glu) during OGTT, respectively. Fasting glucagon (Gluca0min) and postchallenge glucagon assessed by the area under the glucagon curve (AUCgluca) were determined during OGTT to evaluate islet α-cell function. And other various clinical variables were also measured in all participants. Skewed variables were natural log-transformed (ln), such as lnFABP4.

Results

The serum FABP4 levels in T2D patients were significantly higher than those in HC (p < 0.05). And after partially adjusting for fasting plasma glucose, serum lnFABP4 levels were negatively correlated with lnISIM-cp (r =  − 0.332, p < 0.001) and positively correlated with lnAUCcp/glu (r = 0.324, p < 0.001), lnGluca0min (r = 0.200, p = 0.040) and lnAUCgluca (r = 0.311, p < 0.001), respectively, in patients with T2D. Furthermore, when multiple linear regression analyses were applied to adjust for other various clinical variables, serum lnFABP4 levels were found to remain associated with lnISIM-cp (β =  − 0.296, t =  − 2.900, p = 0.005), lnAUCcp/glu (β = 0.223, t = 2.038, p = 0.046), lnGluca0min (β = 0.272, t = 2.330, p = 0.024) and lnAUCgluca (β = 0.341, t = 3.065, p = 0.004), respectively.

Conclusion

Increased serum FABP4 levels were closely associated with blunted insulin sensitivity, increased insulin secretion, and elevated fasting and postchallenge glucagon levels in patients with T2D.
Arterial stiffness and progression of cerebral white matter hyperintensities in patients with type 2 diabetes and matched controls: a 5-year cohort study
Authors: Funck Kristian L. , Laugesen Esben , Høyem Pernille , Stausbøl-Grøn Brian , Kim Won Y. , Østergaard Leif , Grauballe Dora , Hansen Troels K. , Buhl Christian S. , Poulsen Per L.
Published: June 2021

Background

Stroke is a serious complication in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Arterial stiffness may improve stroke prediction. We investigated the association between carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity [PWV] and the progression of cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH), a marker of stroke risk, in patients with T2DM and controls.

Methods

In a 5-year cohort study, data from 45 patients and 59 non-diabetic controls were available for analysis. At baseline, participants had a mean (± SD) age of 59  ±  10 years and patients had a median (range) diabetes duration of 1.8 (0.8–3.2) years. PWV was obtained by tonometry and WMH volume by an automated segmentation algorithm based on cerebral T2-FLAIR and T1 MRI (corrected by intracranial volume, cWMH). High PWV was defined above 8.94 m/s (corresponding to the reference of high PWV above 10 m/s using the standardized path length method).

Results

Patients with T2DM had a higher PWV than controls (8.8  ±  2.2 vs. 7.9  ±  1.4 m/s, p  <  0.01). WMH progression were similar in the two groups (p  =  0.5). One m/s increase in baseline PWV was associated with a 16% [95% CI 1–32%], p  <  0.05) increase in cWMH volume at 5 years follow-up after adjustment for age, sex, diabetes, pulse pressure and smoking. High PWV was associated with cWMH progression in the combined cohort (p  <  0.05). We found no interaction between diabetes and PWV on cWMH progression.

Conclusions

PWV is associated with cWMH progression in patients with type 2 diabetes and non-diabetic controls. Our results indicate that arterial stiffness may be involved early in the pathophysiology leading to cerebrovascular diseases.
CRISPR/Cas9-based generation of a recombinant double-reporter pseudorabies virus and its characterization in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Fu Peng-Fei , Cheng Xuan , Su Bing-Qian , Duan Li-Fang , Wang Cong-Rong , Niu Xin-Rui , Wang Jiang , Yang Guo-Yu , Chu Bei-Bei
Published: June 2021

Pseudorabies, caused by pseudorabies virus (PRV) variants, has broken out among commercial PRV vaccine-immunized swine herds and resulted in major economic losses to the pig industry in China since late 2011. However, the mechanism of virulence enhancement of variant PRV is currently unclear. Here, a recombinant PRV (rPRV HN1201-EGFP-Luc) with stable expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and firefly luciferase as a double reporter virus was constructed on the basis of the PRV variant HN1201 through CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology coupled with two sgRNAs. The biological characteristics of the recombinant virus and its lethality to mice were similar to those of the parental strain and displayed a stable viral titre and luciferase activity through 20 passages. Moreover, bioluminescence signals were detected in mice at 12 h after rPRV HN1201-EGFP-Luc infection. Using the double reporter PRV, we also found that 25-hydroxycholesterol had a significant inhibitory effect on PRV both in vivo and in vitro. These results suggested that the double reporter PRV based on PRV variant HN1201 should be an excellent tool for basic virology studies and evaluating antiviral agents.
Proposing a reliable method of securing and verifying the credentials of graduates through blockchain
Authors: Rama Reddy T. , Prasad Reddy P. V. G. D. , Srinivas Rayudu , Raghavendran Ch. V. , Lalitha R. V. S. , Annapurna B.
Published: June 2021

Education acts as a soul in the overall societal development, in one way or the other. Aspirants, who gain their degrees genuinely, will help society with their knowledge and skills. But, on the other side of the coin, the problem of fake certificates is alarming and worrying. It has been prevalent in different forms from paper-based dummy certificates to replicas backed with database tampering and has increased to astronomic levels in this digital era. In this regard, an overlay mechanism using blockchain technology is proposed to store the genuine certificates in digital form and verify them firmly whenever needed without delay. The proposed system makes sure that the certificates, once verified, can be present online in an immutable form for further reference and provides a tamper-proof concealment to the existing certification system. To confirm the credibility of the proposed method, a prototype of blockchain-based credential securing and verification system is developed in ethereum test network. The implementation and test results show that it is a secure and feasible solution to online credential management system.
Team functioning and implementation of innovations in healthcare and human service settings: a systematic review protocol
Authors: McGuier Elizabeth A. , Kolko David J. , Klem Mary Lou , Feldman Jamie , Kinkler Grace , Diabes Matthew A. , Weingart Laurie R. , Wolk Courtney Benjamin
Published: June 2021

Background

Healthcare and human services increasingly rely on teams of individuals to deliver services. Implementation of evidence-based practices and other innovations in these settings requires teams to work together to change processes and behaviors. Accordingly, team functioning may be a key determinant of implementation outcomes. This systematic review will identify and summarize empirical research examining associations between team functioning and implementation outcomes in healthcare and human service settings.

Methods

We will conduct a comprehensive search of bibliographic databases (e.g., MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, ERIC) for articles published from January 2000 or later. We will include peer-reviewed empirical articles and conference abstracts using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods. We will include experimental or observational studies that report on the implementation of an innovation in a healthcare or human service setting and examine associations between team functioning and implementation outcomes. Implementation outcomes of interest are acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, cost, feasibility, fidelity, penetration, and sustainability. Two reviewers will independently screen all titles/abstracts, review full-text articles, and extract data from included articles. We will use the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool to assess methodological quality/bias and conduct a narrative synthesis without meta-analysis.

Discussion

Understanding how team functioning influences implementation outcomes will contribute to our understanding of team-level barriers and facilitators of change. The results of this systematic review will inform efforts to implement evidence-based practices in team-based service settings.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42020220168
Existence of solutions for a coupled system of fractional differential equations by means of topological degree theory
Authors: Xie Jingli , Duan Lijing
Published: June 2021

This paper investigates the existence of solutions for a coupled system of fractional differential equations. The existence is proved by using the topological degree theory, and an example is given to show the applicability of our main result.
On generalized Ostrowski, Simpson and Trapezoidal type inequalities for co-ordinated convex functions via generalized fractional integrals
Authors: Budak Hüseyin , Hezenci Fatih , Kara Hasan
Published: June 2021

In this study, we prove an identity for twice partially differentiable mappings involving the double generalized fractional integral and some parameters. By using this established identity, we offer some generalized inequalities for differentiable co-ordinated convex functions with a rectangle in the plane$\mathbb{R} ^{2}$R2. Furthermore, by special choice of parameters in our main results, we obtain several well-known inequalities such as the Ostrowski inequality, trapezoidal inequality, and the Simpson inequality for Riemann and Riemann–Liouville fractional integrals.
Safety assessment of subtilisin QK in rats
Authors: Xiao Shuai , Hu Dingbang , Gao Ya , Ai Yang , Luo Sang , Chen Song , Wang Ben , Zhou Li , Dong Yanshan , Wang Yefu
Published: June 2021

Background

Subtilisin QK is a serine protease in the subtilisin family, and is fermented by Bacillus subtilis QK02. The fibrinolytic activity of subtilisin QK was measured by detecting low molecular weight degradation products using a spectrophotometric method developed by Japan Bio Science Laboratory Co., Ltd. Subtilisin QK powder can maintain its fibrinolytic activity for more than 24 months when it is stored at room temperature and protected from light. Our previous results showed that subtlisin QK directly degraded cross-linked fibrins in the fibrin plate assay and effectively inhibited thrombosis in the mouse thrombus model. The aim of this study was to determine the acute toxicity, potential subchronic toxicity, and safety pharmacology of subtilisin QK in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats.

Methods

In the acute toxicity study, a single oral dose of 100,000 FU/kg was administered to 10 female and 10 male SD rats. In the 28-day subchronic toxicity, 60 female and 60 male SD rats were randomly assigned to four experimental groups (daily oral dose of 0, 2500, 7500 and 25,000 FU/kg). In the safety pharmacology study, 20 female and 20 male SD rats were randomly assigned to four experimental groups (single oral dose of 0, 500, 1500 and 5000 FU/kg).

Results

No death occurred and no adverse effects were observed in the acute toxicity study at a dose of 100,000 FU/kg. In the 28-day subchronic toxicity study, several hematological and blood biochemical parameters showed increases or decreases; however, due to the lack of a dose–response relationship, these differences were considered unrelated to treatment. In the safety pharmacology study, no adverse effects were observed on the central nervous of SD rats post-administration up to a dose of 5000 FU/kg subtilisin QK.

Conclusion

The results showed that oral consumption of subtilisin QK is of low toxicological concern. No adverse effects were observed at doses of 2500, 7500, and 25,000 FU/kg in the 28-day subchronic toxicity, and the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of subtilisin QK was 25,000 FU/kg.
Fast cluster-based computation of exact betweenness centrality in large graphs
Authors: Daniel Cecile , Furno Angelo , Goglia Lorenzo , Zimeo Eugenio
Published: June 2021

Nowadays a large amount of data is originated by complex systems, such as social networks, transportation systems, computer and service networks. These systems can be modeled by using graphs and studied by exploiting graph metrics, such as betweenness centrality (BC), a popular metric to analyze node centrality of graphs. In spite of its great potential, this metric requires long computation time, especially for large graphs. In this paper, we present a very fast algorithm to compute BC of undirected graphs by exploiting clustering. The algorithm leverages structural properties of graphs to find classes of equivalent nodes: by selecting one representative node for each class, we are able to compute BC by significantly reducing the number of single-source shortest path explorations adopted by Brandes’ algorithm. We formally prove the graph properties that we exploit to define the algorithm and present an implementation based on Scala for both sequential and parallel map-reduce executions. The experimental evaluation of both versions, conducted with synthetic and real graphs, reveals that our solution largely outperforms Brandes’ algorithm and significantly improves known heuristics.
The efficacy of a training program for social skills in reducing addictive Internet behaviors among Palestinian university students
Authors: Affouneh Saida , Mahamid Fayez Azez , Berte Denise Ziya , Shaqour Ali Z. , Shayeb Marouf
Published: June 2021

Background

For youth in geopolitically at-risk environments, such as Palestine, the issues related to Internet overuse and addictions are complex. Youth residing in the occupied territories of Palestine as in other highly militarized zones have high levels of environmental stressors (e.g., militarization, poverty, lack of employment opportunities, cultural pressures, etc.) and few chemical or social outlets such as alcohol, intoxicants, and leisure activities. As such, the easily accessible and unrestricted opportunities for stress-reducing social contact of social media can lead easily to excessive and maladaptive Internet use. Therefore, interventions directly aimed at awareness and education on how to manage Internet use are critical for addressing these issues in high risk populations.

Aims

The purpose of the current study was to test the efficacy of a time-limited group training program aimed at improving social skills and reducing addictive Internet behaviors among university students.

Methods and results

The sample consisted of 30 university students who self-reported high scores on an Internet addiction scale. Participants were randomly assigned to either wait list or treatment group (15 in each condition). Results demonstrated that using a social skills training program over an 8-week period improved the level of social skills and reduced addictive Internet behaviors significantly in those who experienced the intervention when compared with a wait list control group.

Conclusions

These findings support the implementation of time limited training programs targeting social skills and addictive patterns of Internet use with university students identified with high levels of Internet addictive behaviors.
Lidocaine and dexmedetomidine combined infusion as an alternative to propofol for sedation in colonoscopy
Authors: Ibrahim Tamer Hamed
Published: June 2021

Background

Colonoscopy is one of the commonly performed procedures for the diagnosis of colonic disorders. Several sedation regimens are administered during colonoscopy. To date, the propofol-based sedation regimen is commonly used, although it may have some risks. I studied the efficacy of dexmedetomidine–lidocaine combination as a substitution for propofol for sedation in colonoscopy procedures.

It is a prospective randomized controlled study; 62 patients were recruited and divided into two equal groups: group P is the propofol group which included patients who received sedation with IV propofol using a loading dose of 50–100 mg of propofol and were continued on propofol IV infusion 25–75 μg/kg/min and group D-L is the dexmedetomidine–lidocaine group where patients received a loading dose of dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg infused over 10 min followed by infusion of dexmedetomidine 0.2–0.7 μg/kg/h and lidocaine 1 mg/kg IV followed by an infusion of 1.5 mg/kg/h. The primary outcome was the median patients’ satisfaction scores after recovery assessed by the Likert 5-item scoring system. Other outcomes included postprocedure pain score, mean arterial blood pressure, saturation, heart rate during the procedure, amount of fentanyl and midazolam used during the procedure, and the number of apneic attacks.

Results

Patients in both groups were satisfied by the procedure, and the median and 1st–3rd IQ satisfaction scores were 5 (4.0–5.0) in group P and 4 (4.0–5.0) in group D-L; however, this difference was statistically significant (P value = 0.014), reflecting more satisfaction in patients who received propofol. Patients in group D-L required significantly more doses of midazolam and fentanyl to achieve an adequate sedation score, had a more significant drop in heart rate, and had significantly more postoperative pain scores than those in group P. Patients in group P had significantly more apneic attacks and lower intraprocedural oxygen saturation levels than those in group D-L.

Conclusion

Dexmedetomidine–lidocaine combined IV infusion was found to be effective and safe for sedation in colonoscopy with less side effects in terms of apneic attacks and desaturation, although patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the propofol group, yet as per the sedation scores this was considered to be clinically non-significant.

Trial registration

The study was registered by the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (trial ID: 12620000249954).
Co-thermal degradation characteristics of rice straw and sewage sludge
Authors: Ngo Thi Ngoc Lan Thao , Chiang Kung-Yuh
Published: June 2021

Co-thermal treatment of binary biomass mixture is an alternative to enhance the refractory decomposition of biomass thermal degradation efficiency resulted in the synergistic reaction. Rice straw (RS) containing a large amount of fixed carbon (FC) is quite difficult to thermally decompose at a lower temperature. Considering the RS and sewage sludge (SS), co-thermal treatment for enhancing energy conversion efficiency was feasible. This study investigates the kinetic behaviors and gas evolution of RS, SS, and their blends under co-thermal decomposition processes using Thermogravimetric analysis combined with Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The experimental results indicate that SS could enhance the volatile matter decomposition in RS co-thermal process at lower temperatures. Activation energy decreases from 53 to 49 kJ mol− 1 with an increase in SS addition from 50 to 80% under pyrolysis conditions. The major volatile components were aliphatic chains with double bonds, as well as carbonyl, hydroxyl, and C–H groups in organic compounds by FTIR identification. The tested materials characteristics in terms of volatile matter (VM)-to-FC ratio significantly affected the thermal degradation performance. Activation energy was decreased with increasing the VM/FC ratio. It implied that co-thermal reaction could be accelerated. In summary, the results could provide the important information for co-thermal treatment of SS and RS in application for commercial-scale plant design.
Effects of Tamiflu and Adamine on histology and ultrastructure of the liver of albino mice
Authors: El-Alfy Nagla Zaky Ibrahim , Sakr Samia Mohamed , Mahmoud Mahmoud Fathy , Omar Heba Ahmed
Published: June 2021

Background

Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) and Adamine (Amantadine HCl) are antiviral drugs which are used for prevention and treatment for influenza. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Tamiflu and Adamine on the liver of adult male albino mice from the histological and ultrastructural points of views.

Results

Histological examination of liver sections treated with Tamiflu and Adamine included enlargement and congestion of central and hepatic veins in addition to erosion of their endothelial lining cells, cytoplasmic vacuolation of hepatocytes, pyknosis of their nuclei, and dilatation of hepatic sinusoid. The electron microscopic investigation illustrated mitochondrial swelling, fragmented rough endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasmic vacuolation, the nuclei with irregular envelope and condensed heterochromatin, dilated microvilli in sinusoid, in addition to active Kupffer cells have many lysosomes and filopodia in its membrane.

Conclusion

The study suggested that both drugs induced histopathological and ultrastructural alterations in hepatic tissue. In conclusion, Tamiflu and Adamine have pathological effects on liver of albino mice (Mus musculus).
Cognitive impairments in Polish children and adolescents with perinatal HIV infection
Authors: Zielińska-Wieniawska Anna , Bielecki Maksymilian , Wolańczyk Tomasz , Coupland Urszula , Kruk Małgorzata , Marczyńska Magdalena , Srebnicki Tomasz , Bryńska Anita
Published: June 2021

Cel pracy

Celem realizowanego projektu była ocena częstości występowania zaburzeń poznawczych oraz ustalenie związków pomiędzy ich występowaniem a zmiennymi klinicznymi i socjodemograficznymi u dzieci i młodzieży z wertykalnym zakażeniem HIV.

Metoda

W badaniu udział wzięło: 50 dzieci z wrodzonym zakażeniem HIV (PHIV+), w wieku 6-18 lat, 24 zdrowych dzieci urodzonych przez matki zakażone HIV (PHEU) oraz 43 zdrowych dzieci zdrowych rodziców (HIV-nA). Do oceny zaburzeń poznawczych użyto baterii testów CANTAB Research Suite.

Wyniki

U osób z grupy PHIV+ stwierdzono, istotnie gorsze wyniki w porównaniu z grupą HIV-nA w zakresie przełączania uwagi, elastyczności poznawczej, wykorzystywania informacji zwrotnych oraz pamięci roboczej, a w stosunku do grupy PHEU - dłuższy czas planowania podczas wykonania zadania. Analiza wyników dla grupy wiekowej 12-18 lat wskazuje na pogorszenie funkcji wykonawczych w grupie PHIV+ w stosunku do grupy HIV-nA, widoczne dla każdego z testów. Wyższy logarytm wiremii na początku wdrożonego leczenia ARV związany był ze słabszymi wynikami w zakresie korzystania z informacji zwrotnej, przerzutności uwagi i elastyczności poznawczej oraz z wolniejszym przetwarzaniem.

Wnioski

Wyniki badań wskazują na gorsze funkcjonowanie poznawcze młodzieży PHIV+, przy czym deficyty te są związane z zaawansowaniem infekcji przed leczeniem oraz narastają wraz z czasem trwania neuroinfekcji.
Telling refugees’ stories: Testimony and hospitality in graphic novel L’Odyssée d’Hakim by Fabien Toulmé
Authors: Boum Make Jennifer
Published: June 2021

Following the increase in migratory flows since 2015, in the Euro-Mediterranean region, bandes dessinées are mobilized to stir up compassion and prompt engagement with marginalized biographies. It begins with the premise that aesthetic approaches of bandes dessinées reveal a testing zone to juxtapose modalities of representation and expression of refugees and ways to interact with otherness. To interrogate the relationship between aesthetic devices and the formation of solidarity, this article considers the first volume of Fabien Toulmé’s trilogy, L’Odyssée d’Hakim: De la Syrie à la Turquie (2018). How does Toulmé’s use of aesthetic devices make space for the other, in acts of dialogue and exchange? What are the ethical implications for the exercise of bearing witness to migrant and refugee narratives, especially in the transcription and translation in words and drawing of their biographies? This article argues that visual narratives can provide for the creation of a hospitable testimonial space for migrants and refugees’ voices. The article outlines the aesthetic methodology deployed in graphic storytelling, reflects on what it means for the perception of refugees, and questions the use and ethical appeal of visual narratives as a form to curate hospitality.
The marvellous life of a Haitian refugee: James Noël’s Belle merveille
Authors: Walsh John Patrick
Published: June 2021

This article examines the marvellous realism of two Haitian writers, past and present. Building on earlier schools of literary and socio-ethnographic thought, including Haitian indigenism, French surrealism and the Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier’s ‘marvellous real’, Jacques Stephen Alexis theorized marvellous realism at the first Congress of Black Writers and Artists in 1956. Some 60 years later, James Noël published Belle merveille, a novel that depicts a refugee who survives the earthquake of 2010 and embarks on a journey to understand his place among international aid groups that proliferate in the aftermath. The article suggests that Noël’s novel is both a tribute to and a creative rethinking of Alexis’s ideological commitment to the intersection of literary and social realism. It argues that by filtering events through the imaginary of the refugee, Noël interrogates the very categories of the marvellous and the real undergirding Alexis’s aesthetic and political project. After providing theoretical and historical context for Noël’s work, the article carries out close readings of Belle merveille to illuminate the ways in which its redeployment of marvellous realism delivers a critique of humanitarian aid.
Mur Méditerranée, Louis-Philippe Dalembert (2019)
Authors: Dize Nathan H.
Published: June 2021

Review of: Mur Méditerranée, Louis-Philippe Dalembert (2019)

Paris: Sabine Wespieser, 329 pp.,

ISBN 978-2-84805-328-8, p/bk, €22
Border Tuner and Teeter-Totter Wall: Two works of participatory public pedagogy
Authors: Kaplan Heather G.
Published: June 2021

This article looks at two socially engaged art works, Teeter-Totter Wall by Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello and Border Tuner by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer that challenge dualistic notions of self and other, public and private, and national and multinational. Each work proffers a perspective of the US-Mexico border that counters those communicated through national political rhetoric and common in popular media reporting. This article not only recognizes these works as art but also as public pedagogy, or works accessible to the broader public and community that function to teach us something or to reframe or expand our understanding and to question or resist dominant narratives. In addition to questioning totalizing narratives, this article considers intersecting notions of the public on the border. Recognizing that the border occupies simultaneous and varied notions of the public in terms of being a site of local culture, a symbol of national debate, a firestorm of divisive rhetoric and an international marker of global politics and economics, this article considers how differing sites of public pedagogy function.
Columbus Africentric Early College: Building the Black identity through art and culture
Authors: Banner Terron
Published: June 2021

This article examines the Columbus Africentric Early College public school from multiple perspectives, including that of the founder, the architect and a graduate of the school, to better understand the school’s cultural impact. A thematic analysis of those viewpoints, coupled with the philosophical framework outlined in the Kaiwada theory, will provide a theoretical and practical context of effective teaching–learning environments. Furthermore, this article will analyse Columbus Africentric Early College as a physical and virtual space where formal and informal learning occurs through responsive education. Responsive education is a term used to describe the type of education that is sensitive, aware and critical of the lived experiences and societal influences that affect students and their respective communities. Columbus Africentric Early College, founded by Charles Tennant, opened its doors in 1996 in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and recently relocated to a 55-acre, $45-million ‘urban campus’ created by Nigerian architect Kay Onwuke. Columbus Africentric Early College is guided by the African spiritual principles and value systems of Maat and Nguzo Saba, which are reinforced through the school’s teaching, art and architecture that is designed for the transmission of culture. Columbus Africentric Early College is the nation’s only public Africentric school and provides a proven curricular model that implements culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy manifested through a non-western and non-Eurocentric perspective.
Locales of learning and teaching art in pre-service education
Authors: Sutters Justin P.
Published: June 2021

Social ontology addresses assertions of the entities’ existence and social scientists bring into question whether particular conventions applied to the entities being studied can subsequently affect them. This study explores existing spatial classifications enacted by federal bodies to identify areas surrounding public schools in the United States. Over a three-year period, participants in a Midwestern university art education programme engaged in field practices that used the school locale codes as a mechanism to critically reflect on how labels such as urban, suburban and rural are understood in relation to their own positionality and pedagogy. Through Manuel DeLanda’s Assemblage Theory, the author analyses participant responses through a framework wherein schools are theorized as assemblages in order to identify the constitutive subcomponents of both material and expressive components in order to bracket perceptions of the locales. Implications are provided related to fieldwork practices in the field of art education.
Synthesis, Characterization, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activity of New
Bidentate Schiff Base Ligand and their Transition Metal(II) Complexes
Authors: Arulmozhi S. , Sasikumar G. , Subramani A. , Sudha A. , Askar Ali S.J.
Published: June 2021

The metal(II) complexes were synthesized by addition of corresponding MCl2 (M = Mn2+, Ni2+, Cu2+
and Zn2+) with 1,2-bis(1H-pyrrol-2-ylmethylene)diazane in methanol. The ligand acts as a bidentate
as confirmed from the mass, IR, UV, NMR and EPR spectral studies. The Schiff base ligand forms
hexa-coordinated complexes having octahedral geometry for Mn(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Cu(II)
complexes. The metal complexes showed an excellent antimicrobial activity spectrum in vitro against
both Gram-negative (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii), Gram-positive
(Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) and human pathogenic bacteria isolates. To find
the binding affinity with protein BSA kinase, for that molecular docking studies were also carried for
all the four synthesized metal(II) complexes. The anticancer activity of the synthesized metal(II)
complexes was also screened against the three human tumor cell lines MCF7 human breast
adenocarcinoma cell line, CaSki human caucasian cervical epidermoid carcinoma and HCT116 human
colon cancer cell lines. The present study showed that Zn(II) complex showed potent inhibition by the
ratio of 80% as compared to the inhibition in the normal cells (L-6).
Synthesis of Biologically Active Novel Indole Fused
Heterocyclic Derivatives: Molecular Modeling Studies
Authors: Shaik Adamshafi , Rao Allaka Tejeswara , Mohan Rao S.V.M. , Kishore Pilli V.V.N.
Published: June 2021

A novel series of fluoro/methoxy indole analogues 6 was synthesized and the final targets were
confirmed by IR, 1H & 13C NMR and mass spectral analysis. Novel 3-substituted indole derivatives
estimate for their antibacterial, antioxidant activities particularly the parent core combined with
benzamides ring significantly. From antibacterial activities, compounds 6c, 6e and 6b show the highest
bacterial activity against S. epidermidis, S. aureus, E. coli, with zone of inhibition 34, 30, 28 mm,
respectively. Novel fluoroindole derivatives 6c, 6b, 6i shows an excellent antioxidant activity with %
of inhibition 150.12, 139.04, 137.08 mmol/mL, respectively. The calculations for ligand-protein flexible
of crystal structure of C(30) carotenoid dehydrosqualene synthase from S. aureus complexed with
bisphosphonate BPH-700 (2ZCS). Among the designed compounds 6c exhibited highest hydrogen
bonding interactions 2.06 Å, 1.85 Å with amino acids Asp27, Lys273 and binding energy -6.38 kcal/
mol, respectively. Fluoroindoles 6i, 6e and 6f shows highest ΔG = -7.90, -7.66, -7.47 kcal/mol with
dissociation constants 10.32, 21.77, 22.68 μM and amino acid Lys273 interactions.
MCF-7 Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Anticancer and Antimicrobial,
in silico Docking and ADME Prediction Studies of Furan Moiety
Containing Substituted 2-Aminopyrimidine Derivatives
Authors: Mathew Manju , Ezhilarasi Muthuvel Ramanathan
Published: June 2021

A series of 4(5-(4-chlorophenyl)furan-2-yl)-6-phenylpyrimidin-2-amine derivatives (5a-h) were
synthesized from 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-styrylfuran (3a-h) with guanidine nitrate in absolute ethanol
under conventional method and evaluated for their in vitro anticancer, antimicrobial activities and in
silico studies. The chemical structure of the furan moiety containing substituted amino pyrimidine
derivatives (5a-h) were elucidated from spectroscopic analysis like infrared, 1H & 13C NMR spectral
data and CHN analysis. in silico docking studies were predicted for the synthesized compounds (5a-h)
using bacterial protein 1UAG and in silico ADME predictions were also carried for the synthesized
compounds (5a-h). The in vitro anticancer study was carried the compound 5b by MMT assay.
Compound 5b shows the LC50 value of 120.15 ± 0.003 μg/mL. in vitro Antimicrobial activities were
screened for the compounds (5a-h) using different strains. Compound 5h has electron withdrawing
group in benzene ring substituted in the para position showed good antimicrobial activity against all
the bacterial strains and fungal strains. in silico studies, compound 5h shows excellent docking score
(-9.7 kcal/mol) compared with ciprofloxacin (-7.8 kcal/mol).
Micellar Catalysis of Chemical Reactions by Mixed Surfactant Systems and Gemini Surfactants
Authors: Hassan Mohammed , Al-Hazmi Sadeq M. , Alhagri Ibrahim A. , Alhakimi Ahmed N. , Dahadha Adnan , Al-Dhoun Mohammad , Batineh Yazan
Published: June 2021

Micellar catalysis exhibited by mixed surfactant systems and gemini surfactants was reviewed. The review focused on mixed surfactant systems and tried to correlate the changes in the physico-chemical properties of these systems to the variations of their catalytic activities. Mixed surfactant systems are promising as the catalytic efficiency of some single surfactants was significantly enhanced in the presence of other critically selected surfactants. The selection should consider the charge, size, and structures of the head group as well as an appropriate length of hydrocarbon tail. The overall conclusion has arrived the mixed surfactant systems could be a tool by which the reaction rate can be tuned by changing the composition and/or the components’ structures. The higher catalytic activity of gemini surfactants compared to conventional ones, their facile synthesis and liability for structure control made them of superior choice for micellar catalysis.
Analogy and Comparative Study of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
(HPMC) Biopolymer with Graphene Oxide and Zinc Oxide Nano Fillers
Authors: Padinhattayil Sanoop , Rai K. Sheshappa
Published: June 2021

Present study describes the analogy and comparative study of polymer nanocomposites with the known
polymer matrix hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) and
zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles as nano fillers. The polymer nanocomposite films were carried out
using solution casting method and characterized by IR spectroscopy, XRD analysis, mechanical
properties, thermal characterization and optical microscopy analysis. There were several changes in
the HPMC polymer by the addition of nanoparticles of GO and ZnO in structural, thermal, mechanical
and optical properties. The thermal stability of the composite films increased as compared with the
pure HPMC whereas the mechanical study shows a variation of down values.
An Efficient One Pot Four-Component Synthesis of
Spiro[indoline-3,4′-pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole] Derivatives via Electrochemical Approach
Authors: Upadhyay Abhishek , Singh R.K.P.
Published: June 2021

An efficient, simple and one pot, synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,4′-pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole] derivative by
electrochemically induced condensation of β-keto ester, hydrazine hydrate, malononitrile or ethyl
cyanoacetate and isatin in an undivided cell at constant current where sodium bromide was present as
electrolyte in ethanol medium.