bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Translational Potential of Epigenetic-Based Markers on Fine-Needle Aspiration Thyroid Specimens
Authors: Canberk Sule , Lima Ana Rita , Pinto Mafalda , Máximo Valdemar
Published: March 2021

The awareness of epigenetic alterations leading to neoplasia attracted the attention of researchers toward its potential use in the management of cancer, from diagnosis to prognosis and prediction of response to therapies. Our group has focused its attention on the epigenomics of thyroid neoplasms. Although most of the epigenetic studies have been applied on histological samples, the fact is that cytology, through fine-needle aspiration, is a primary diagnostic method for many pathologies, of which thyroid nodules are one of the most paradigmatic examples. This has led to an increasing literature report of epigenetic studies using these biological samples over the past decade. In this review, our group aimed to document recent research of epigenetic alterations and its associated assessment techniques, based on cytology material. Our review covers the main epigenetic categories—DNA methylation, histone modification, and RNA-silencing—whose evidence in thyroid cytology samples may represent solid soil for future prospectively designed studies aiming at validating patterns of epigenetic alterations and their potential use in the clinical management of thyroid neoplasms.
Weaning Age Affects the Development of the Ruminal Bacterial and Archaeal Community in Hu Lambs During Early Life
Authors: Mao Huiling , Zhang Yanfang , Yun Yan , Ji Wenwen , Jin Zhao , Wang Chong , Yu Zhongtang
Published: March 2021

Weaning plays an important role in many animal processes, including the development of the rumen microbiota in ruminants. Attaining a better understanding of the development of the rumen microbial community at different weaning stages can aid the identification of the optimal weaning age. We investigated the effects of weaning age on ruminal bacterial and archaeal communities in Hu lambs. Thirty male Hu lambs were randomly assigned to two weaning-age groups: a group weaned at 30 days of age (W30) and a group weaned at 45 days of age (W45), with each group having five replicate pens. On the weaning day (day 30 for W30 and day 45 for W45) and at 5 days postweaning [day 35 for W30 (PW30) and day 50 for W45 (PW45)], one lamb from each replicate was randomly selected and sacrificed. Rumen contents were collected to examine the ruminal microbiota. Compared to W30, PW30 had a decreased relative abundance of Bacteroidetes. At genus level, the extended milk replacer feeding (W45 vs. W30) increased the relative abundance of Ruminococcus while decreased that of Prevotella and Dialister. Compared to W30, PW30 exhibited decreased relative abundances of Prevotella, Dialister and Bacteroides but an increased unclassified Coriobacteriaceae. No significant difference was noted in the detected archaeal taxa among the animals. The function “biosynthesis of secondary metabolites” was less predominant in PW30 than in W30, whereas the opposite held true for “metabolism of cofactors and vitamins.” Some bacterial genera were significantly correlated with rumen volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration or other animal measures, including negative correlations between ruminal VFA concentration and unclassified Mogibacteriaceae and unclassified Veillonellaceae; positive correlations of ruminal papillae length with Fibrobacter and unclassified Lachnospiraceae, but negative correlations with Mitsuokella and Succiniclasticum; and negative correlations between plasma D-lactate concentration and Prevotella, unclassified Paraprevotellaceae, and Desulfovibrio. Our results revealed that the ruminal bacterial community underwent larger changes over time in lambs weaned at 30 days of age than in lambs weaned half a month later. Thus, extending milk replacer feeding to 45 days weaning was recommended from the perspective of the rumen microbial community in the Hu lamb industry.
Emergence of High Level Carbapenem and Extensively Drug Resistant Escherichia coli ST746 Producing NDM-5 in Influent of Wastewater Treatment Plant, Seoul, South Korea
Authors: Shin Hanseob , Kim Yeonghyeon , Han Dukki , Hur Hor-Gil
Published: March 2021

High level carbapenem and extensively drug resistant (XDR) Escherichia coli strain N7, which produces a variant of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM-5), was isolated from the influent of the Jungnang wastewater treatment plant located on Han River, Seoul, South Korea. Phenotypic and genotypic resistances to carbapenem were tested using agar and broth dilution methods, and polymerase chain reaction. Whole-genome sequencing was performed to characterize the genetic structure of strain N7. E. coli strain N7, which harbors the blaNDM–5 gene, showed high level of carbapenem resistance at concentrations of doripenem (512 mg/L) and meropenem (256 mg/L), and XDR to 15 antibiotics. Based on the genomic sequence analysis, two plasmids, a hybrid IncHI2/N-type and an IncX3 type, were present. The former contains a cluster (blaNDM–5-bleMBL-trpF-dsbD) bracketed by multi-insertional sequences, IS3000, ISAba125, IS5, and IS26. The latter carries the following resistance genes: blaCTX–14, aac(3)-IV, aadA1, aadA2, aph(3′)-Ia, aph(4)-Ia, sul1, sul2, sul3, dfrA12, fosA3, oqxA, oqxB, mph(A), and floR, and cmlA1. The chromosome, contig3, and contig5 also carry blaCTX–64 and mdf(A), tet(A), and erm(B), tet(M) and aadA22, respectively. Strain N7 also harbors virulence factors such as fimH, flu, ecpABCDE, sfmA, hlyE, and gadA. This study demonstrates the emergence of high level carbapenem resistant XDR E. coli strain N7 containing blaNDM–5 in aquatic environment, Seoul, South Korea. Due to the presence of mobile genetic elements, this strain could horizontally transfer resistance genes, including blaNDM–5 to environmental bacteria. Thus, it is necessary to conduct continuous surveillance for carbapenem resistance in various aquatic environments.
Paroxysmal Genetic Movement Disorders and Epilepsy
Authors: de Gusmão Claudio M. , Garcia Lucas , Mikati Mohamad A. , Su Samantha , Silveira-Moriyama Laura
Published: March 2021

Paroxysmal movement disorders include paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia, paroxysmal non-kinesigenic dyskinesia, paroxysmal exercise-induced dyskinesia, and episodic ataxias. In recent years, there has been renewed interest and recognition of these disorders and their intersection with epilepsy, at the molecular and pathophysiological levels. In this review, we discuss how these distinct phenotypes were constructed from a historical perspective and discuss how they are currently coalescing into established genetic etiologies with extensive pleiotropy, emphasizing clinical phenotyping important for diagnosis and for interpreting results from genetic testing. We discuss insights on the pathophysiology of select disorders and describe shared mechanisms that overlap treatment principles in some of these disorders. In the near future, it is likely that a growing number of genes will be described associating movement disorders and epilepsy, in parallel with improved understanding of disease mechanisms leading to more effective treatments.
Iatrogenic vs. Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A Retrospective Study of Neonatal Outcome Among Very Preterm Infants
Authors: Chen Xi , Zhang Xiaoli , Li Wenhua , Li Wendong , Wang Yong , Zhang Shan , Zhu Changlian
Published: March 2021

Objective: Preterm birth is a leading contributor to childhood morbidity and mortality, and the incidence tends to increase and is higher in developing countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the potential impact of preterm birth in different etiology groups on neonatal complications and outcomes and to gain insight into preventive strategies.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of preterm infants less than 32 weeks' gestation in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2014 to 2019. Preterm births were categorized as spontaneous or iatrogenic, and these groups were compared for maternal and neonatal characteristics, neonatal complications, and outcomes. All infants surviving at discharge were followed up at 12 months of corrected age to compare the neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Results: A total of 1,415 mothers and 1,689 neonates were included, and the preterm population consisted of 1,038 spontaneous preterm infants and 651 iatrogenic preterm infants. There was a significant difference in the incidence of small for gestational age between the two groups. Infants born following spontaneous labor presented with a higher risk of intraventricular hemorrhage, whereas iatrogenic preterm birth was associated with higher risk of necrotizing enterocolitis and coagulopathy and higher risk of pathoglycemia. There was no difference in mortality between the two groups. Follow-up data were available for 1,114 infants, and no differences in neurologic outcomes were observed between the two preterm birth subtypes.

Conclusions: Preterm births with different etiologies were associated with some neonatal complications, but not with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months of corrected age.
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of COVID-19 Explained by SARS-CoV-2 Proteins’ Mimicry of Human Protein Interactions
Authors: Yapici-Eser Hale , Koroglu Yunus Emre , Oztop-Cakmak Ozgur , Keskin Ozlem , Gursoy Attila , Gursoy-Ozdemir Yasemin
Published: March 2021

The first clinical symptoms focused on the presentation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been respiratory failure, however, accumulating evidence also points to its presentation with neuropsychiatric symptoms, the exact mechanisms of which are not well known. By using a computational methodology, we aimed to explain the molecular paths of COVID-19 associated neuropsychiatric symptoms, based on the mimicry of the human protein interactions with SARS-CoV-2 proteins.

Methods: Available 11 of the 29 SARS-CoV-2 proteins’ structures have been extracted from Protein Data Bank. HMI-PRED (Host-Microbe Interaction PREDiction), a recently developed web server for structural PREDiction of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between host and any microbial species, was used to find the “interface mimicry” through which the microbial proteins hijack host binding surfaces. Classification of the found interactions was conducted using the PANTHER Classification System.

Results: Predicted Human-SARS-CoV-2 protein interactions have been extensively compared with the literature. Based on the analysis of the molecular functions, cellular localizations and pathways related to human proteins, SARS-CoV-2 proteins are found to possibly interact with human proteins linked to synaptic vesicle trafficking, endocytosis, axonal transport, neurotransmission, growth factors, mitochondrial and blood-brain barrier elements, in addition to its peripheral interactions with proteins linked to thrombosis, inflammation and metabolic control.

Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2-human protein interactions may lead to the development of delirium, psychosis, seizures, encephalitis, stroke, sensory impairments, peripheral nerve diseases, and autoimmune disorders. Our findings are also supported by the previous in vivo and in vitro studies from other viruses. Further in vivo and in vitro studies using the proteins that are pointed here, could pave new targets both for avoiding and reversing neuropsychiatric presentations.
Differential Spatiotemporal Expression of Type I and Type II Cadherins Associated With the Segmentation of the Central Nervous System and Formation of Brain Nuclei in the Developing Mouse
Authors: Polanco Julie , Reyes-Vigil Fredy , Weisberg Sarah D. , Dhimitruka Ilirian , Brusés Juan L.
Published: March 2021

Type I and type II classical cadherins comprise a family of cell adhesion molecules that regulate cell sorting and tissue separation by forming specific homo and heterophilic bonds. Factors that affect cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion include cadherin binding affinity and expression level. This study examines the expression pattern of type I cadherins (Cdh1,Cdh2,Cdh3, andCdh4), type II cadherins (Cdh6,Cdh7,Cdh8,Cdh9,Cdh10,Cdh11,Cdh12,Cdh18,Cdh20, andCdh24), and the atypical cadherin 13 (Cdh13) during distinct morphogenetic events in the developing mouse central nervous system from embryonic day 11.5 to postnatal day 56. Cadherin mRNA expression levels obtained fromin situhybridization experiments carried out at the Allen Institute for Brain Science (https://alleninstitute.org/) were retrieved from the Allen Developing Mouse Brain Atlas.Cdh2is the most abundantly expressed type I cadherin throughout development, whileCdh1,Cdh3, andCdh4are expressed at low levels. Type II cadherins show a dynamic pattern of expression that varies between neuroanatomical structures and developmental ages. AtypicalCdh13expression pattern correlates withCdh2in abundancy and localization. Analyses of cadherin-mediated relative adhesion estimated from their expression level and binding affinity show substantial differences in adhesive properties between regions of the neural tube associated with the segmentation along the anterior–posterior axis. Differences in relative adhesion were also observed between brain nuclei in the developing subpallium (basal ganglia), suggesting that differential cell adhesion contributes to the segregation of neuronal pools. In the adult cerebral cortex, type II cadherinsCdh6,Cdh8,Cdh10, andCdh12are abundant in intermediate layers, whileCdh11shows a gradated expression from the deeper layer 6 to the superficial layer 1, andCdh9,Cdh18, andCdh24are more abundant in the deeper layers. Person’s correlation analyses of cadherins mRNA expression patterns between areas and layers of the cerebral cortex and the nuclei of the subpallium show significant correlations between certain cortical areas and the basal ganglia. The study shows that differential cadherin expression and cadherin-mediated adhesion are associated with a wide range of morphogenetic events in the developing central nervous system including the organization of neurons into layers, the segregation of neurons into nuclei, and the formation of neuronal circuits.
Over-Expression of Centromere Protein U Participates in the Malignant Neoplastic Progression of Breast Cancer
Authors: Hao Xiaomeng , Qiu Yufan , Cao Lixia , Yang Xiaonan , Zhou Dongdong , Liu Jingjing , Shi Zhendong , Zhao Shaorong , Zhang Jin
Published: March 2021

The expression of Centromere Protein U (CENP-U) is closely related to tumor malignancy. Till now, the role of CENP-U in the malignant progression of breast cancer remains unclear. In this study, we found that CENP-U protein was highly expressed in the primary invasive breast cancer tissues compared to the paired adjacent histologically normal tissues and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) tissues. After CENP-U was knocked down, the proliferation and colony-forming abilities of breast cancer cells were significantly suppressed, whereas the portion of apoptotic cells was increased. Meanwhile, the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway was significantly inhibited. In vivo studies showed that, the inhibition of CENP-U repressed the tumor growth in orthotopic breast cancer models. Therefore, our study demonstrated that the CENP-U might act as an oncogene and promote breast cancer progression via activation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway, which suggests a promising direction for targeting therapy in breast cancer.
PTIP Inhibits Cell Invasion in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma via Modulation of EphA2 Expression
Authors: Han Xiao , Zhu Yaning , Shen Li , Zhou Yu , Pang Liqun , Zhou Wubi , Gu Hao , Han Kairong , Yang Yijun , Jiang Chao , Xie Jun , Zhang Chengwan , Ding Lianshu
Published: March 2021

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a highly aggressive malignancy and treatment failure is largely due to metastasis and invasion. Aberrant tumor cell adhesion is often associated with tumor progression and metastasis. However, the exact details of cell adhesion in ESCC progression have yet to be determined. In our study, the clinical relevance of Pax2 transactivation domain-interacting protein (PTIP/PAXIP1) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry of ESCC tissues. We found that low expression of PTIP was associated with lymph node metastasis in ESCC, and loss-of-function approaches showed that depletion of PTIP promoted ESCC cell migration and invasion both in vitro and in vivo. Analysis integrating RNA-seq and ChIP-seq data revealed that PTIP directly regulated ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2) expression in ESCC cells. Moreover, PTIP inhibited EphA2 expression by competing with Fosl2, which attenuated the invasion ability of ESCC cells. These results collectively suggest that PTIP regulates ESCC invasion through modulation of EphA2 expression and hence presents a potential therapeutic target for its treatment.
Peptidoglycan Recognition Peptide 2 Aggravates Weight Loss in a Murine Model of Chemotherapy-Induced Gastrointestinal Toxicity
Authors: Bech Ann-Sophie , Nexoe Anders Bathum , Dubik Magdalena , Moeller Jesper Bonnet , Soerensen Grith Lykke , Holmskov Uffe , Madsen Gunvor Iben , Husby Steffen , Rathe Mathias
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity (CIGT) is a frequent, severe and dose-limiting side effect. Few treatments have proven effective for CIGT. CIGT is characterized by activation of the nuclear factor kappa B pathway which, leads to upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines. The innate immune protein peptidoglycan recognition peptide 2 (PGLYRP2) binds to and hydrolyzes microbial peptidoglycan. Expression of PGLYRP2 is upregulated in the intestine of chemotherapy-treated piglets. In this experimental study, we investigated the role of Pglyrp2 in the development and severity of murine CIGT.

Methods:Pglyrp2 wildtype and Pglyrp2 knockout mice received intraperitoneal injections of chemotherapy (Doxorubicin 20 mg/kg) to induce CIGT. Weight was monitored daily, and animals were euthanized after 2 or 7 days. Expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the jejunum was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase-chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Villus height, crypt depth, and histologic inflammation were evaluated on haematoxylin and eosin stained tissue specimens.

Results: Chemotherapeutic treatment induced weight loss (p < 0.05), shortening of the small intestine (p < 0.05), elongation of villus height (p < 0.05), increased crypt depth (p < 0.05), and led to elevated mRNA levels of II1β (p < 0.05), II6 (p < 0.05), and Tnf (p < 0.001) at day 2. Protein levels of IL1β, IL6, and TNFα did not change after exposure to chemotherapy. Doxorubicin treated wildtype mice had a more pronounced weight loss compared to knockout mice from day 3 to day 7 (D3-D6: p < 0.05 and D7: p < 0.01). No other phenotypic differences were detected.

Conclusion:Pglyrp2 aggravates chemotherapy-induced weight loss but does not induce a specific pattern of inflammation and morphological changes in the small intestine.
Oxidative and Proteolytic Inactivation of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Pathogenesis: A Top-Down Proteomic Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Analysis
Authors: Tirone Chiara , Iavarone Federica , Tana Milena , Lio Alessandra , Aurilia Claudia , Costa Simonetta , Castagnola Massimo , Messana Irene , Vento Giovanni
Published: March 2021

The study investigates the role of the oxidative and proteolytic inactivation of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected on the 3rd day of life from mechanically ventilated neonates with gestational age ≤ 30 weeks and analyzed without previous treatment (top-down proteomics) by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. AAT fragments were identified by high-resolution LTQ Orbitrap XL experiments and the relative abundances determined by considering the extracted ion current (XIC) peak area. Forty preterm neonates were studied: 20 (50%) did not develop BPD (no-BPD group), 17 (42.5%) developed mild or moderate new-BPD (mild + moderate BPD group), and 3 (7.5%) developed severe new-BPD (severe BPD group). Eighteen fragments of AAT and a fragment of AAT oxidized at a methionine residue were identified: significantly higher values of AAT fragments 25–57, 375–418, 397–418, 144–171, and 397–418 with oxidized methionine were found in the severe BPD group. The significantly higher levels of several AAT fragments and of the fragment 397–418, oxidized in BALF of preterm infants developing BPD, underlie the central role of an imbalance between proteases and protease inhibitors in exacerbating lung injury and inducing most severe forms of BPD. The study has some limitations, and between them, the small sample size implies the need for further confirmation by larger studies.
Real-World Verification of Artificial Intelligence Algorithm-Assisted Auscultation of Breath Sounds in Children
Authors: Zhang Jing , Wang Han-Song , Zhou Hong-Yuan , Dong Bin , Zhang Lei , Zhang Fen , Liu Shi-Jian , Wu Yu-Fen , Yuan Shu-Hua , Tang Ming-Yu , Dong Wen-Fang , Lin Jie , Chen Ming , Tong Xing , Zhao Lie-Bin , Yin Yong
Published: March 2021

Objective: Lung auscultation plays an important role in the diagnosis of pulmonary diseases in children. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for the detection of breath sounds in a real clinical environment among children with pulmonary diseases.

Method: The auscultations of breath sounds were collected in the respiratory department of Shanghai Children's Medical Center (SCMC) by using an electronic stethoscope. The discrimination results for all chest locations with respect to a gold standard (GS) established by 2 experienced pediatric pulmonologists from SCMC and 6 general pediatricians were recorded. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and F1-score of the AI algorithm and general pediatricians with respect to the GS were evaluated. Meanwhile, the performance of the AI algorithm for different patient ages and recording locations was evaluated.

Result: A total of 112 hospitalized children with pulmonary diseases were recruited for the study from May to December 2019. A total of 672 breath sounds were collected, and 627 (93.3%) breath sounds, including 159 crackles (23.1%), 264 wheeze (38.4%), and 264 normal breath sounds (38.4%), were fully analyzed by the AI algorithm. The accuracy of the detection of adventitious breath sounds by the AI algorithm and general pediatricians with respect to the GS were 77.7% and 59.9% (p < 0.001), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and F1-score in the detection of crackles and wheeze from the AI algorithm were higher than those from the general pediatricians (crackles 81.1 vs. 47.8%, 94.1 vs. 77.1%, and 80.9 vs. 42.74%, respectively; wheeze 86.4 vs. 82.2%, 83.0 vs. 72.1%, and 80.9 vs. 72.5%, respectively; p < 0.001). Performance varied according to the age of the patient, with patients younger than 12 months yielding the highest accuracy (81.3%, p < 0.001) among the age groups.

Conclusion: In a real clinical environment, children's breath sounds were collected and transmitted remotely by an electronic stethoscope; these breath sounds could be recognized by both pediatricians and an AI algorithm. The ability of the AI algorithm to analyze adventitious breath sounds was better than that of the general pediatricians.
Ten-Year Trends in the Use of Oral Anticoagulants in Australian General Practice Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Bezabhe Woldesellassie M. , Bereznicki Luke R. , Radford Jan , Wimmer Barbara C. , Curtain Colin , Salahudeen Mohammed S. , Peterson Gregory M.
Published: March 2021

Objective: Appropriate use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) reduces the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The study characterized the prescribing of OACs in people with AF in the Australian primary care setting over 10 years.

Design: Retrospective population study.

Setting and Participants: We performed 10 sequential cross-sectional analyses of patients with a recorded diagnosis of AF between 2009 and 2018 using national general practice data. The proportion of patients with AF who were prescribed an OAC based on their stroke risk was examined.

Primary and secondary outcomes: The primary outcome was the proportion of high stroke risk patients who were prescribed an OAC over a decade. The secondary outcome was variation in OAC prescribing among general practices.

Results: The sample size of patients with AF ranged from 9,874 in 2009 to 41,751 in 2018. The proportion who were prescribed an OAC increased from 39.5% (95% CI 38.6–40.5%) in 2009 to 52.0% (95% CI 51.5–52.4%) in 2018 (p for trend < 0.001). During this time, the proportion of patients with AF and high stroke risk who were prescribed an OAC rose from 41.7% (95% CI 40.7–42.8%) to 55.2% (95% CI 54.7–55.8%; p for trend < 0.001) with the direct-acting oral anticoagulants accounting for over three-quarters of usage by 2018. There was substantial variation in OAC prescribing between general practices. In 2018, the proportion of moderate to high stroke risk patients who were prescribed an OAC was 38.6% (95% CI 37.2–40.1%) in the lowest practice site quintiles and 65.6% (95% CI 64.5–66.7%) in the highest practice site quintiles.

Conclusions: Over the 10 years, OAC prescribing in high stroke risk patients with AF increased by one-third. There was considerable variation in OAC prescribing between general practices.
Potential Residual Contaminants in Edible Bird's Nest
Authors: Yeo Bee-Hui , Tang Teck-Kim , Wong Shew-Fung , Tan Chin-Ping , Wang Yong , Cheong Ling-Zhi , Lai Oi-Ming
Published: March 2021

Edible bird’s nest (EBN) is recognized as a nourishing food among Chinese people. The efficacy of EBN was stated in the records of traditional Chinese medicine and its activities have been reported in many researches. Malaysia is the second largest exporter of EBNs in the world, after Indonesia. For many years, EBN trade to China was not regulated until August 2011, when a safety alert was triggered for the consumption of EBNs. China banned the import of EBNs from Malaysia and Indonesia due to high level of nitrite. Since then, the Malaysia government has formulated Malaysia Standards for swiftlet farming (MS 2273:2012), edible bird’s nest processing plant design and management (MS 2333:2010), and edible bird’s nest product quality (MS 2334:2011) to enable the industry to meet the specified standards for the export to China. On the other hand, Indonesia's EBN industry formulated a standard operating procedure (SOP) for exportation to China. Both countries can export EBNs to China by complying with the standards and SOPs. EBN contaminants may include but not limited to nitrite, heavy metals, excessive minerals, fungi, bacteria, and mites. The possible source of contaminants may come from the swiftlet farms and the swiftlets or introduced during processing, storage, and transportation of EBNs, or adulterants. Swiftlet house design and management, and EBN processing affect the bird’s nest color. Degradation of its optical quality has an impact on the selling price, and color changes are tied together with nitrite level. In this review, the current and future prospects of EBNs in Malaysia and Indonesia in terms of their quality, and the research on the contaminants and their effects on EBN color changes are discussed.
Thermodynamic Curvature of AdS Black Holes with Dark Energy
Authors: Singh Aditya , Ghosh Aritra , Bhamidipati Chandrasekhar
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we study the effect of dark energy on the extended thermodynamic structure and interacting microstructures of black holes in AdS, through an analysis of thermodynamic geometry. Considering various limiting cases of the novel equation of state obtained in charged rotating black holes with quintessence, and taking enthalpy H as the key potential in the extended phase space, we scrutinize the behavior of the Ruppeiner curvature scalar R in the entropy-pressure (S,P)-plane (or equivalently in the temperature-volume (T,V)-plane). Analysis of R empirically reveals that dark energy parameterized by α, significantly alters the dominant interactions of neutral, charged and slowly rotating black hole microstructures. In the Schwarzschild-AdS case: black holes smaller than a certain size continue to have attractive interactions whereas larger black holes are completely dominated by repulsive interactions which arise to due dark energy. For charged or rotating AdS black holes with quintessence, R can change sign at multiple points depending upon the relation between α and charge q or angular momentum J. In particular, above a threshold value of α, R is never negative at all, suggesting heuristically that the repulsive interactions due to quintessence are long ranged as opposed to the previously known short ranged repulsion in charged AdS black holes. A mean field interaction potential is proposed whose extrema effectively capture the points where the curvature R changes sign.
Why Ablation of Sites With Purkinje Activation Is Antiarrhythmic: The Interplay Between Fast Activation and Arrhythmogenesis
Authors: Coronel Ruben , Potse Mark , Haïssaguerre Michel , Derval Nicolas , Rivaud Mathilde R. , Meijborg Veronique M. F. , Cluitmans Matthijs , Hocini Mélèze , Boukens Bastiaan J.
Published: March 2021

Ablation of sites showing Purkinje activity is antiarrhythmic in some patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (iVF). The mechanism for the therapeutic success of ablation is not fully understood. We propose that deeper penetrance of the Purkinje network allows faster activation of the ventricles and is proarrhythmic in the presence of steep repolarization gradients. Reduction of Purkinje penetrance, or its indirect reducing effect on apparent propagation velocity may be a therapeutic target in patients with iVF.
Interplay of Biochemical, Genetic, and Immunohistochemical Factors in the Etio-Pathogenesis of Gastric Ulcer in Rats: A Comparative Study of the Effect of Pomegranate Loaded Nanoparticles Versus Pomegranate Peel Extract
Authors: Abd el-Rady Nessren M. , Dahpy Marwa A. , Ahmed Amel , Elgamal Dalia A. , Hadiya Safy , Ahmed Mai A. M. , Sayed Zain El-Abdeen Ahmed , Abdeltawab Doaa , Abdelmohsen Ahmed Shawkat , Farrag Alshaimaa Abdelkhaliq Mohammad , Ashmawy Ahmed M. , Khairallah Marwa K. , Galal Heba M.
Published: March 2021

Background

Few data are available about the role of herbal extract loaded nanoparticles as an alternative safe medicine for the management of a gastric ulcer.

Aim

This work is targeted at exploring the physiological effects of pomegranate loaded nanoparticles (PLN) against an indomethacin IND-induced gastric ulcer and comparing the results with traditional pomegranate peel extract (PPE).

Methods

Twenty-four rats were equally distributed into four groups: control, IND-treated, PLN-treated, and PPE-treated groups. Gross examination of gastric mucosa, and the calculation of ulcer and inhibition indices were done. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-6, IL-10, gastric homogenate prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and nitric oxide (NO) were estimated. Mucosal endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS mRNA) expression was identified by qPCR. Histological and immuno-histochemical staining of Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and eNOS of stomach mucosa were performed.

Results

In comparison with the control group, IND-treated rats showed visible multiple ulcers with ulcer index, serum MDA, IL-2 and IL-6 were elevated while IL-10, PGE2, NO, and eNOS mRNA expression were significantly reduced. Damaged surface epithelium with disrupted glandular architecture and heavy leucocyte infiltration of lamina propria was noticed. Immunohistochemical staining of stomach mucosa revealed marked increased TNF-α and reduced eNOS. Oral administration of PLN and PPE succeeded in improving the gross mucosal picture, and all biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical alterations.

Conclusion

Both PLN and PPE potently alleviated IND-induced gastric ulceration via increasing TAC, PGE2, NO, eNOS mRNA, and protein expression. However, the healing effect of PLN was obviously greater than PPE-treated rats.
Bio-Organic Fertilizer: A Green Technology to Reduce Synthetic N and P Fertilizer for Rice Production
Authors: Naher Umme Aminun , Biswas Jatish Chandra , Maniruzzaman Md. , Khan Faruk Hossain , Sarkar Md. Imran Ullah , Jahan Afsana , Hera Md. Hasibur Rahaman , Hossain Md. Belal , Islam Aminul , Islam Md. Rafiqul , Kabir Md. Shahjahan
Published: March 2021

Decomposed organic materials, in combination with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), are environmentally friendly and reduce synthetic fertilizer use in rice production. A bio-organic fertilizer (BoF) was prepared using kitchen waste (79%), chita-dhan (unfilled rice grain) biochar (15%), rock phosphate (5%), and a consortium of 10 PGPB (1%) to supplement 30% nitrogen and to replace triple superphosphate (TSP) fertilizer in rice production with an improvement of soil health. PGPB were local isolates and identified using 16S ribosomal RNA partial gene sequences asBacillus mycoides,Proteussp.,Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Paenibacillus polymyxa, andPaenibacillusspp. Isolates could fix N2by 0.7–1.4 g kg–1, solubilize 0.1–1.2 g kg–1phosphate, and produce 0.1–40 g kg–1indoleacetic acid. The performance of BoF was evaluated by 16 field experiments and 18 farmers’ field demonstration trials during the year 2017–2020 in different parts of Bangladesh. Performances of BoF were evaluated based on control (T1), full synthetic fertilizer dose of N, P, and K (T2), BoF (2 t ha–1) + 70% N as urea + 100% K as muriate of potash (T3), 70% N as urea + 100% P as TSP + 100% K as muriate of potash (T4), and 2 t ha–1BoF (T5) treatments. At the research station, average grain yield improved by 10–13% in T3compared with T2treatment. Depending on seasons, higher agronomic N use efficiency (19–30%), physiological N use efficiency (8–18%), partial factor productivity (PFP)N(114–150%), recovery efficiency (RE)N(3–31%), N harvest index (HIN) (14–24%), agronomic P use efficiency (22–25%), partial factor productivity of P (9–12%), AREP(15–23%), and HIP(3–6%) were obtained in T3compared with T2treatment. Research results were reflected in farmers’ field, and significant (P< 0.05) higher plant height, tiller, panicle, grain yield, partial factor productivity of N and P were obtained in the same treatment. Application of BoF improved soil organic carbon by 6–13%, along with an increased number of PGPB as compared with full synthetic fertilizer dose. In conclusion, tested BoF can be considered as a green technology to reduce 30% synthetic N and 100% TSP requirements in rice production with improved soil health.
Mutation Types of CYP71P1 Cause Different Phenotypes of Mosaic Spot Lesion and Premature Leaf Senescence in Rice
Authors: Zheng Yuhan , Xu Jiangmin , Wang Fujun , Tang Yongchao , Wei Zheng , Ji Zhiyuan , Wang Chunlian , Zhao Kaijun
Published: March 2021

Lesion mimic mutants (LMMs) are ideal materials for studying programmed cell death and defense response in plants. Here we report investigations on two LMMs (msl-1 and msl-2) from the indica rice cultivar JG30 treated by ethyl methyl sulfone. Both of the mutants showed similar mosaic spot lesions at seedling stage, but they displayed different phenotypes along with development of the plants. At tillering stage, larger orange spots appeared on leaves of msl-2, while only small reddish-brown spots exhibit on leaves of msl-1. At heading stage, the msl-2 plants were completely dead, while the msl-1 plants were still alive even if showed apparent premature senility. For both the mutants, the mosaic spot lesion formation was induced by light; DAB and trypan blue staining showed a large amount of hydrogen peroxide accumulated at the lesion sites, accompanied by a large number of cell death. Consequently, reactive oxygen species were enriched in leaves of the mutants; SOD and CAT activities in the scavenging enzyme system were decreased compared with the wild type. In addition, degraded chloroplasts, decreased photosynthetic pigment content, down-regulated expression of genes associated with chloroplast synthesis/photosynthesis and up-regulated expression of genes related to senescence were detected in the mutants, but the abnormality of msl-2 was more serious than that of msl-1 in general. Genetic analysis and map-based cloning revealed that the lesion mimic and premature senescence traits of both the mutants were controlled by recessive mutated alleles of the SL (Sekiguchi lesion) gene, which encodes the CYP71P1 protein belonging to cytochrome P450 monooxygenase family. The difference of mutation sites and mutation types (SNP-caused single amino acid change and SNP-caused early termination of translation) led to the different phenotypes in severity between msl-1 and msl-2. Taken together, this work revealed that the CYP71P1 is involved in regulation of both premature senescence and cell death in rice, and its different mutation sites and mutation types could cause different phenotypes in terms of severity.
The Effects of Social Perception on Moral Judgment
Authors: Jin Wen Ying , Peng Ming
Published: March 2021

When people express a moral judgment, others make inferences about their personality, such as whether they are warm or competent. People may use this interpersonal process to present themselves in a way that is socially acceptable in the current circumstances. Across four studies, we investigated this hypothesis in Chinese culture and showed that college student participants tended to associate others’ deontological moral judgments with warmth and utilitarian moral judgments with competence (Study 1,Mage= 21.1, SD = 2.45; Study 2,Mage= 20.53, SD = 1.87). In addition, participants made more deontological judgments after preparing to be interviewed for a job requiring them to be in a warm social role, and more utilitarian judgments after preparing for a job requiring them to be in a competent social role (Study 3,Mage= 19.5, SD = 1.63). This effect held true in moral dilemmas involving different degrees of hypothetical personal involvement, and appeared to be mediated by the perception of others’ expectations (Study 4,Mage= 19.92, SD = 1.97). The results suggest an important role for social cognition as an influence on moral judgments in Chinese culture.
Linking Self-Control to Voluntary Behaviors at Workplace: The Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction
Authors: Wang Yu-Jie , Chen Kui-Yun , Dou Kai , Liu Yao-Zhong
Published: March 2021

Voluntary work behavior (VWB) refers to spontaneous workplace behaviors that extend beyond role norms, including extra-role behaviors that benefit the organization (i. e., organizational citizenship behavior, OCB) and negative behaviors that may harm the organization (i.e., counterproductive work behavior, CWB). This study examined the relationship between self-control and VWB and the mediating role of job satisfaction. A total of 1,101 full-time employees from China completed a battery of self-report measures online. The results show that self-control positively predicts employees' OCB and negatively predicts employees' CWB. Moreover, job satisfaction significantly mediates the relationship between self-control and OCB/CWB. The results confirm that employees with high self-control are more public-spirited, which previous studies have described as being “highly committed” (high OCB) or “less harmful” (low CWB). This finding closely relates to the observation that employees with high self-control tend to have more satisfying work outcomes or higher workplace status than those with low self-control.
Political Identity Over Personal Impact: Early U.S. Reactions to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Collins Robert N. , Mandel David R. , Schywiola Sarah S.
Published: March 2021

Research suggests political identity has strong influence over individuals’ attitudes and beliefs, which in turn can affect their behavior. Likewise, firsthand experience with an issue can also affect attitudes and beliefs. A large (N = 6,383) survey (Pew Research and Ipsos W64) of Americans was analyzed to investigate the effects of both political identity (i.e., Democrat or Republican) and personal impact (i.e., whether they suffered job or income loss) on individuals’ reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results show that political identity and personal impact influenced the American public’s attitudes about and response to COVID-19. Consistent with prior research, political identity exerted a strong influence on self-reports of emotional distress, threat perception, discomfort with exposure, support for restrictions, and perception of under/overreaction by individuals and institutions. The difference between Democrats and Republican responses were consistent with their normative value differences and with the contemporary partisan messaging. Personal impact exerted a comparatively weaker influence on reported emotional distress and threat perception. Both factors had a weak influence on appraisal of individual and government responses. The dominating influence of political identity carried over into the bivariate relations among these self-reported attitudes and responses. In particular, the appraisal of government response divided along party lines, tied to opposing views of whether there has been over- or under-reaction to the pandemic. The dominance of political identity has important implications for crisis management and reflects the influence of normative value differences between the parties, partisan messaging on the pandemic, and polarization in American politics.
The Experimental Composition Improvisation Continua Model: A Tool for Musical Analysis
Authors: Spence Alister
Published: March 2021

Among improvisers and composers today there is a resurgence of interest in experimental music (EM) practices that welcome contingency; engaging with unforeseen circumstances as an essential component of the music-making process, and a means to sonic discovery. I propose theExperimental Composition Improvisation Continua(ECIC) as a model with which to better understand these experimental musical works. The historical Experimental Music movement of the 1950s and 60s is briefly revisited, and the jazz tradition included as an essential protagonist; both being important historical movements leading to the formulation of ideas around contingent musical practices. The ECIC model is outlined as providing a means to observe the interactions and continua between composition and improvisation on the one hand and more or less experimentally conceived music on the other. This model is applied as an investigative and comparative tool to three distinctive works in order to illuminate the presence or otherwise of various experimental interactions within them. The works are: “Spiral Staircase” – a composition by written by Satoko Fujii in late 2007, John Cage’s4′33″, and a performance of “My Favorite Things” by the John Coltrane Quartet. Further possible applications of the ECIC are suggested in the conclusion.
The Interaction Between Timescale and Pitch Contour at Pre-attentive Processing of Frequency-Modulated Sweeps
Authors: Hsieh I-Hui , Yeh Wan-Ting
Published: March 2021

Speech comprehension across languages depends on encoding the pitch variations in frequency-modulated (FM) sweeps at different timescales and frequency ranges. While timescale and spectral contour of FM sweeps play important roles in differentiating acoustic speech units, relatively little work has been done to understand the interaction between the two acoustic dimensions at early cortical processing. An auditory oddball paradigm was employed to examine the interaction of timescale and pitch contour at pre-attentive processing of FM sweeps. Event-related potentials to frequency sweeps that vary in linguistically relevant pitch contour (fundamental frequency F0 vs. first formant frequency F1) and timescale (local vs. global) in Mandarin Chinese were recorded. Mismatch negativities (MMNs) were elicited by all types of sweep deviants. For local timescale, FM sweeps with F0 contours yielded larger MMN amplitudes than F1 contours. A reversed MMN amplitude pattern was obtained with respect to F0/F1 contours for global timescale stimuli. An interhemispheric asymmetry of MMN topography was observed corresponding to local and global-timescale contours. Falling but not rising frequency difference waveforms sweep contours elicited right hemispheric dominance. Results showed that timescale and pitch contour interacts with each other in pre-attentive auditory processing of FM sweeps. Findings suggest that FM sweeps, a type of non-speech signal, is processed at an early stage with reference to its linguistic function. That the dynamic interaction between timescale and spectral pattern is processed during early cortical processing of non-speech frequency sweep signal may be critical to facilitate speech encoding at a later stage.
Health Equity of Rural Residents in Southwest China
Authors: Li Xiao-Mei , Kou Jing , Yu Zhen , Xiao Yuan-Yuan , Meng Qiong , He Li-Ping
Published: March 2021

The Chinese government stresses healthcare reform to improve the health of all residents in urban and rural areas. However, much research showed that inequities still existed in health status and health services utilization in China, especially in economically disadvantaged areas. Southwest China's Yunnan Province is an ethnic frontier region with lagging economic development. This study analyzed health equity among rural residents with various socio-economic and demographic statuses in Yunnan Province. Research on this area concerns rural residents. Our study was based on a household study sample consisting of 27,395 participants from six counties in Yunnan. For all participants, data on demographic and socio-economic characteristics, and health status were collected. The chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze factors influencing health. The concentration index was used to evaluate health equity. For all respondents, the 2-week prevalence, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and the required hospitalization rate were 7.3, 12.8, and 9.2%, respectively. After adjusting the age proportion of the sixth population census of Yunnan Province, the 2-week prevalence was 7.1%, the prevalence of chronic disease was 10.7%, and the hospitalization rate was 8.4%. The concentration indexes (CIs) reflecting health equity among the respondents with different incomes and educational levels were negative. There was health inequity among respondents with different incomes and educational levels. The respondents with lower incomes and educational levels had worse health. The common influencing factors included gender, age, ethnicity, occupation, marriage status, and the number of family members. Females, the aged, ethnic minorities, farmers, and the divorced or widowed had worse health status than the control groups. Larger numbers of family members correlated with better health. The respondents with lower incomes or educational levels had higher chronic disease prevalences. The associations between the 2-week prevalence, required hospitalization rate, and age were U-shaped; the lowest age group and the highest age group had higher rates. In conclusion, more attention should be paid to females, the aged, ethnic minorities, farmers, the divorced or widowed, residents with low income and low educational level, and those with chronic diseases.