bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sexual dimorphic response to rituximab treatment: A longitudinal observational study in a large cohort of patients with primary membranous nephropathy and persistent nephrotic syndrome
Authors: Perna Annalisa , Ruggiero Barbara , Podestà Manuel Alfredo , Perico Luca , Orisio Silvia , Debiec Hanna , Remuzzi Giuseppe , Ruggenenti Piero
Published: September 2022

Rituximab is one of the first-line therapies for patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) at high risk of progression towards kidney failure. We investigated whether the response to Rituximab was affected by sex and anti-PLA2R antibody levels in 204 consecutive patients (148 males and 56 females) with biopsy-proven MN who were referred to the Nephrology Unit of the Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Papa Giovanni XXIII from March 2001 to October 2016 and managed conservatively for at least 6 months. The primary outcome was a combined endpoint of complete (proteinuria <0.3 g/24 h) or partial (proteinuria <3.0 g/24 h and >50% reduction vs. baseline) remission. Patients gave written informed consent to Rituximab treatment. The study was internally funded. No pharmaceutical company was involved. Anti-PLA2R antibodies were detectable in 125 patients (61.3%). At multivariable analyses, female gender (p = 0.0198) and lower serum creatinine levels (p = 0.0108) emerged as independent predictors of better outcome (p = 0.0198). The predictive value of proteinuria (p = 0.054) and anti-PLA2R titer (p = 0.0766) was borderline significant. Over a median (IQR) of 24.8 (12.0–36.0) months, 40 females (71.4%) progressed to the combined endpoint compared with 73 males (49.3%). Anti-PLA2R titers at baseline [127.6 (35.7-310.8) vs. 110.1 (39.9–226.7) RU/ml] and after Rituximab treatment were similar between the sexes. However, the event rate was significantly higher in females than in males [HR (95%): 2.12 (1.44–3.12), p = 0.0001]. Forty-five of the 62 patients (72.3%) with anti-PLA2R titer below the median progressed to the combined endpoint versus 35 of the 63 (55.6%) with higher titer [HR (95%): 1.97 (1.26–3.07), p < 0.0029]. The highest probability of progressing to the combined endpoint was observed in females with anti-PLA2R antibody titer below the median (86.7%), followed by females with anti-PLA2R antibody titer above the median (83.3%), males with titer below the median (68.1%), and males with titer above the median (44.4%). This trend was statistically significant (p = 0.0023). Similar findings were observed for complete remission (proteinuria <0.3 g/24 h) and after analysis adjustments for baseline serum creatinine. Thus, despite similar immunological features, females were more resilient to renal injury following Rituximab therapy. These findings will hopefully open new avenues to identify the molecular pathways underlying sex-related nephroprotective effects.
Reaction wavefront theory of notochord segment patterning
Authors: Fernández Arancibia Sol M. , Oates Andrew C. , Schulte-Merker Stefan , Morelli Luis G.
Published: September 2022

The vertebrate axis is segmented into repetitive structures, the vertebrae. In fish, these segmented structures are thought to form from the paraxial mesoderm and the adjacent notochord. Recent work revealed an autonomous patterning mechanism in the zebrafish notochord, with inputs from the segmented paraxial mesoderm. The notochord pattern is established in a sequential manner, progressing from anterior to posterior. Building on this previous work, here, we propose a reaction wavefront theory describing notochord patterning in zebrafish. The pattern is generated by an activator–inhibitor reaction–diffusion mechanism. Cues from the paraxial mesoderm are introduced as a profile of inhibitor sinks. Reactions are turned on by a wavefront that advances from anterior to posterior. We show that this reaction wavefront ensures that a pattern is formed sequentially, in register with the cues, despite the presence of fluctuations. We find that the velocity and shape of the reaction wavefront can modulate the prevalence of defective patterns. Normal patterning is supported in a wide range of sink profile wavelengths, while a minimum sink strength is required for the pattern to follow the cues. The theory predicts that distinct defect types occur for small or large wavelengths. Thus, the reaction wavefront theory provides a possible scenario for notochord patterning, with testable predictions that prompt future experiments.
A comprehensive insight on the main physiological biochemical and related genes expression changes during the development of superficial scald in “Yali” pear
Authors: He Jingang , Feng Yunxiao , Cheng Yudou , Wang Meng , Guan Junfeng
Published: September 2022

Superficial scald is a serious physiological disorder in “Yali” pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd. cv. Yali) after long-term cold storage. Changes in superficial scald, ethylene production, α-farnesene and phenylpropane metabolism with associated gene expression in “Yali” pear treated with and without (control) 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) were investigated. Compared with the control group (without 1-MCP), 1-MCP (1.0 μl L–1) significantly lowered the superficial scald index after 180 days of cold storage. During cold storage and shelf life, the contents of α-farnesene, conjugated trienols, chlorogenic acid, and epicatechin in the peel were reduced, while quercetin was enhanced in 1-MCP-treated fruit, and the expression of genes associated with ethylene synthesis (ACS1, ACO1), receptors (ETR2, ERS1) and signal transduction (ERF1), α-farnesene metabolism (AFS1, HMGR2, GST7), phenolic biosynthesis (PAL1, C4H1, C4H2, HCT3, 4CL2, C3H), and oxidases (PPO1, PPO5, and LAC7) were significantly downregulated by 1-MCP. These results suggested that the onset and development of superficial scald was closely related to the ethylene receptor, conjugated trienols, chlorogenic acid and epicatechin and related genes expression in “Yali” pear.
Lilium pumilum stress-responsive NAC transcription factor LpNAC17 enhances salt stress tolerance in tobacco
Authors: Wang Yiping , Cui Ying , Liu Bin , Wang Ying , Sun Shaoying , Wang Jingwen , Tan Mengmeng , Yan Hao , Zhang Yanni
Published: September 2022

Lilium pumilum is a perennial herb with ornamental edible and medicinal value. It is an excellent wild germplasm resource with wide distribution and strong resistance. The NAC family of transcription factors is unique to higher plants. The NAC family plays a regulatory role in plant growth and development and participates in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. The LpNAC17 gene of L. pumilum was cloned and transformed into tobacco to investigate the response of transgenic tobacco to salt stress. The results showed that the net photosynthetic rate and contents of chlorophyll in LpNAC17 over-expressed tobacco were higher than those in the control plants, while the stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and intercellular CO2 concentration were lower than those in the controls. The activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and the content of proline in LpNAC17 over-expressed tobacco were higher than those in the controls, while the content of malondialdehyde, superoxide anion, and hydrogen peroxide were lower than that in the control. Nitro-blue tetrazolium staining and 3,3′-diaminobenzidine tissue localization showed that the contents of O2- and H2O2 in transgenic tobacco was lower than in the controls. The expression levels of NtSOD, NtPOD, NtCAT, NtHAK1, NtPMA4, and NtSOS1 in the transgenic tobacco were higher than those in the controls. Therefore, this study provides a gene source for molecular breeding of salt-tolerant plants through genetic engineering, and lays a foundation for further research on salt-tolerant Lily.
Exploration of micro-video teaching mode of college students using deep learning and human–computer interaction
Authors: Liu Yao , Cai Na , Zhang Zizai , Fu Hai
Published: September 2022

In order to improve the efficiency of teaching and learning in Colleges and Universities (CAUs), this work combines the Browser/Server (B/S) framework with Model View Presenter (MVP) technology to build a college student–oriented micro-video teaching system based on Deep Learning (DL) and Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) technology. Firstly, it makes an in-depth analysis of the problems in the classroom teaching of Chinese CAUs. Three functional modules are designed for the micro-video online teaching platform: video management, user learning, and system management. Then, it uses MVP technology to analyze the use-cases of these three functional modules in detail. Based on this, the micro-video online teaching platform is designed using the B/S framework. The teaching platform interface layer realizes the HCI between the platform and users. The business logic layer responds to the user requests submitted and returns the processing results to the interface layer. Finally, the function test and stress test of each module of the micro-video online teaching platform is carried out. The test results show that the response time of the proposed micro-video teaching platform increases with the number of users. Under the peak concurrent users, the system response time is 6 s, without abnormalities. Meanwhile, the proposed teaching platform has improved students' satisfaction with classroom teaching by nearly 15% and improved the compactness of the college classroom by nearly 12%. When the number of virtual users increases and the number of services increases linearly, the Random Access Memory and Central Processing Unit growth rate is significantly lower than that of the number of services. These outcomes indicate that many system resources are reused, and the system has good scalability, which can meet users' needs for the network video teaching system. The proposed teaching platform provides a new idea for applying DL and HCI technology in researching college students' micro-video teaching mode.
An empirical study of physical activity and sports affecting mental health of university students
Authors: Congsheng Lu , Kayani Sumaira , Khalid Amna
Published: September 2022

Physical activity (PA) and sports are extremely essential elements for physical and mental health among adolescents. Around 30% of 16 years old and above in Malaysia have mental health issues. For this purpose, 512 university students from Malaysia were surveyed through social media, with 74% response rate. Structural equation model partial least square (SEM-PLS) was used to examine the effect of PA and sports on mental health. The results revealed that both PA (b = 0.402, p < 0.001) and sports (b = 0.330, p < 0.001) significantly predict mental health among university students. The model explained 35.8% variance in mental health. The study suggests that PA and sports activity need to be promoted among university students to control prevailing mental health issues in adolescents.
A comparison of mental arithmetic performance in time and frequency domains
Authors: Abdul-Rahman Anmar
Published: September 2022

The Heisenberg-Gabor uncertainty principle defines the limits of information resolution in both time and frequency domains. The limit of resolution discloses unique properties of a time series by frequency decomposition. However, classical methods such as Fourier analysis are limited by spectral leakage, particularly in longitudinal data with shifting periodicity or unequal intervals. Wavelet transformation provides a workable compromise by decomposing the signal in both time and frequency through translation and scaling of a basis function followed by correlation or convolution with the original signal. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of predictive models in mental arithmetic in time and frequency domains. Analysis of the author's response time at mental arithmetic using a soroban was modeled for two periods, an initial period (TI = 68 days), and a return period (TR = 170 days) both separated by an interval of 370 days. The median (min,max) response times in seconds (s) was longer for all tasks during the TI compared to the TR period (p < 0.001), for addition [CTAdd 62 (45, 127) vs 50 (38, 75) s] and summation [CTSum 68 (47, 108) vs 57(43, 109) s]. Response times were longer for errors regardless of the study period or task. There was an increasing phase difference for the addition and summation tasks during the TI period toward the end of the series 49.65o compared to the TR period where the phase difference between the two tasks was only 2.05o, indicating that both tasks are likely demonstrating similar learning rates during the latter study period. A comparison between time and time/frequency domain forecasts for an additional 100 tasks demonstrated higher accuracy of the maximum overlap discrete wavelet transform (MODWT) model, where the mean absolute percentage error ranged between 5.48 and 8.19% and that for the time domain models [autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH)] was 6.16–10.80%.
Generalized linear mixed-effects models for studies using different sets of stimuli across conditions
Authors: He ShunCheng , Lee Wooyeol
Published: September 2022

A non-repeated item (NRI) design refers to an experimental design in which items used in one level of experimental conditions are not repeatedly used at other levels. Recent literature has suggested the use of generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMMs) for experimental data analysis, but the existing specification of GLMMs does not account for all possible dependencies among the outcomes in NRI designs. Therefore, the current study proposed a GLMM with a level-specific item random effect for NRI designs. The hypothesis testing performance of the newly proposed model was evaluated via a simulation study to detect the experimental condition effect. The model with a level-specific item random effect performed better than the existing model in terms of power when the variance of the item effect was heterogeneous. Based on these results, we suggest that experimental researchers using NRI designs consider setting a level-specific item random effect in the model.
Reading psychology and news communication strategies for affective computing
Authors: Xu Beichun
Published: September 2022

Reading psychology is an important basis for formulating news strategies. The purpose of this paper is to study how to analyze and study the psychological mechanism of reading and news communication strategies based on affective computing. It described the conditional random field. This paper put forward the problem of affective computing, which is based on affective computing technology. Then it expounded the concept of conditional random fields and related algorithms, and designed and analyzed cases of news communication strategies. Through the period from April 1, 2022 to June 1, 2022, the 300 short videos of news and information with the highest playback volume respectively released by Z software were used as research samples, and a multi-angle analysis was carried out. Among the 300 selected news information videos, 252 videos are original content, accounting for 84.00%, and the other short videos are from the self-media of the platform. At present, it is necessary to continuously develop intelligent products that meet the needs of users at different stages, and carry out personalized design in strict accordance with the living habits and natural conditions of different groups of people. Then continuously improving the experience of different groups of people using new media products, so that their reading interest can be more effectively stimulated.
RETRACTED: The COVID-19 fear, anxiety, and resilience among emergency nurses
Authors: Karimi Khordeh Negar , Dehvan Fazel , Dalvand Sahar , Repišti Selman , Ghanei Gheshlagh Reza
Published: September 2022

Background

Besides physical complications, COVID-19 is associated with psychological issues such as fear and anxiety. High resilience in nurses enables them to adopt positive coping mechanisms and successfully operate in the stressful environment of COVID-19 wards. The present study aimed to evaluate the correlation between COVID-19 fear and anxiety with resilience in the emergency nurses of the hospital affiliated with Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (west of Iran) in 2021.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 295 emergency nurses of selected hospitals in Kurdistan province, Iran, in 2021. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Data analysis was performed in R software version 3.6.3.

Results

The mean scores of resilience, COVID-19 fear, and COVID-19 anxiety were 55.07 ± 19.82 (ranging from 0 to 100), 20 ± 7.37 (ranging from 7 to 35) and 36.48 ± 13.21 (ranging from 18 to 54) respectively. There was a negative and significant correlation between resilience with COVID-19 fear (r = −0.449, p = 0.001), COVID-19 anxiety (r = 0.458, p = 0.001). A significant correlation was observed between COVID-19 fear and anxiety, which indicated that if the other demographic variables remained unchanged, a one-unit increase in COVID-19 fear and anxiety decreased the mean resilience score by −0.66 (P = 0.008) and −0.34 (P = 0.015), respectively.

Conclusion

COVID-19 fear and anxiety were significantly correlated. Therefore, providing training courses for promoting resilience could reduce the fear and anxiety of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Diet-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among young and middle-aged individuals with high-normal blood pressure: A cross-sectional study in China
Authors: Mu Tingyu , Xu Rixiang , Zhu Qianyin , Chen Lingshan , Dong Die , Xu Jiayi , Shen Cuizhen
Published: September 2022

Background

Dietary modifications play an important role in the prevention and management of high-normal blood pressure (BP). The aim of this study was to investigate diet-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, and the socio-demographic determinants of these, among young and middle-aged Chinese individuals with high-normal BP.

Methods

Data from the 2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) were analyzed in this study. A total of 1,756 subjects with high-normal BP were included. A chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify the risk factors toward diet-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.

Results

A total of 37.4% of the participants knew about the Chinese Food Pagoda (CFP) or the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (DGCR). Overall, 39.8% of the subjects were classified as having adequate diet-related knowledge literacy, 27.8% reported positive diet-related attitudes to healthy eating, and 35.3% reportedly looked for nutrition knowledge. Of note, 72.4% and 80.1% of the participants reported liking to eat fruits and vegetables, respectively. Individuals with a middle school education [odds ratio (OR) = 1.784, 95% CI = 1.236–2.576], high school/vocational education (OR = 1.944, 95% CI = 1.305–2.896), and college degree or above (OR = 2.089, 95% CI = 1.341–3.322), who were living in a rural area (OR = 1.311, 95% CI = 1.048–1.639), proactively looking for nutrition knowledge (OR = 1.529, 95% CI = 1.227–1.906), and reported liking to eat vegetables (OR = 1.939, 95% CI = 1.409–2.688), were more likely to have sufficient dietary knowledge literacy. Managers (OR = 1.655, 95% CI = 1.039–2.635) were more likely to have positive dietary attitudes. Female gender (OR = 1.396, 95% CI = 1.089–1.790), high school/vocational school education (OR = 2.071, 95% CI = 1.269–3.379), college degree and above (OR = 2.207, 95% CI = 1.262–3.862), knowledge about the CFP or DGCR (OR = 8.138, 95% CI = 6.326–10.468), and sufficient dietary knowledge literacy (OR = 1.338, 95% CI = 1.050–1.705) were associated with an increased likelihood of looking for nutrition knowledge.

Conclusion

Individuals with high-normal BP, predominantly males, living in rural area, with lower education, farmers, workers, service workers, and workers in the non-government employment unit may have poor diet-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.
Applying the Tailored Implementation in Chronic Diseases framework to inform implementation of the Preferences Elicited and Respected for Seriously Ill Veterans through enhanced decision-making program in the United States Veterans Health Administration
Authors: Haverhals Leah M. , Magid Kate H. , Kononowech Jennifer
Published: September 2022

In 2017, the National Center for Ethics in Health Care for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) commenced national roll-out of the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions Initiative. This national VA initiative aimed to promote personalized, proactive, patient-driven care for seriously ill Veterans by documenting Veterans' goals and preferences for life-sustaining treatments in a durable electronic health record note template known as the life-sustaining treatment template. The Preferences Elicited and Respected for Seriously Ill Veterans through Enhanced Decision-Making (PERSIVED) quality improvement program was created to address the high variation in life-sustaining treatment template completion in VA Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) and Community Nursing Home programs. This manuscript describes the program that focuses on improving life sustaining treatment template completion rates amongst HBPC programs. To increase life-sustaining treatment template completion for Veterans receiving care from HBPC programs, the PERSIVED team applies two implementation strategies: audit with feedback and implementation facilitation. The PERSIVED team conducts semi-structured interviews, needs assessments, and process mapping with HBPC programs in order to identify barriers and facilitators to life-sustaining treatment template completion to inform tailored facilitation. Our interview data is analyzed using the Tailored Implementation in Chronic Diseases (TICD) framework, which identifies 57 determinants that might influence practice or implementation of interventions. To quickly synthesize and use baseline data to inform the tailored implementation plan, we adapted a rapid analysis process for our purposes. This paper describes a six-step process for conducting and analyzing baseline interviews through applying the TICD that can be applied and adapted by implementation scientists to rapidly inform tailoring of implementation facilitation.
Better safe than sorry: Evaluating the implementation process of a home-visitation intervention aimed at preventing unintentional childhood injuries in the hospital setting
Authors: Shalev Ligat , Rudolf Mary C. J. , Spitzer Sivan
Published: September 2022

Background

Child home injuries prevention interventions have rarely been implemented in hospitals. The SHABI program (“Keeping our Children Safe”; in Hebrew: “SHomrim Al BetIchut Yeladenu”) recruits at-risk families arriving with child injury to the Emergency Department. Medical/nursing students conduct two home visits four months apart, providing safety equipment and guidance. One hundred thirty-five families had a first visit and 98 completed the second. Fifty percentage of families were ultra-Orthodox Jews, 11% Arab, and 28% had ≥3 preschool children. We investigated SHABI's implementation using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

Methods

Between May 2018 and March 2021 SHABI was implemented in the Emergency Department of a hospital in Israel's northern periphery, an area with high child injury rates. The Implementation process was examined through Emergency Department medical records and tracking registries, hospital management, nurses', and home visitors' meetings notes (n = 9), and a research diary. Hospital's inner setting and SHABI's characteristics were evaluated through interviews with hospital management, nurses, and home visitors 8 months after baseline (n = 18). Home visitors' characteristics were evaluated through interviews, post-visit questionnaire on challenges encountered (n = 233), families' perceptions of SHABI and home visitors' skills through telephone interviews (n = 212); and home visitors awareness of dangers at home (n = 8) baseline and 8 months later. Qualitative data were analyzed through explanatory content analysis according to CFIR constructs. Quantitative data were analyzed using X2 and Wilcoxon test for dependent subgroups.

Results

Despite alignment between SHABI and the hospital's mission, structural hospital-community disconnect prevented implementation as planned, requiring adaptation and collaboration with the medical school to overcome this barrier. Recruitment was included in the initial patient triage process but was only partially successful. Medical/nursing students were recruited as home visitors, and following training proved competent. Children were a distraction during the visits, but home visitors developed strategies to overcome this.

Conclusions

Injury prevention programs in hospitals have significant benefits. Identifying implementation barriers and facilitators allowed implementers to make adaptations and cope with the innovative implementation setting. Models of cooperation between hospital, community and other clinical settings should be further examined.
Metal 3D printing: Patent law, trade secrets, and additive manufacturing
Authors: Rimmer Matthew
Published: September 2022

There has been significant investment in research and development in respect of metal 3D printing in the United States (as well as a number of other jurisdictions). There has been growing conflict over the ownership of intellectual property in respect of metal 3D printing (involving not only patents but also trade secrets and confidential information, as well as contract law and unfair competition). In 2018, Desktop Metal Inc. launched litigation against Markforged Inc. and Matiu Parangi in relation to intellectual property and metal 3D printing in the United States. As well as complaints of patent infringement, Desktop Metal Inc. has alleged that the defendants had engaged in acts of trade secret misappropriation, unfair and deceptive business practices, and breach of contract. Markforged Inc. made various counter-claims of its own. In July 2018, a Federal Jury found that Markforged Inc. did not infringe two patents held by its rival Desktop Metal Inc. Claims of further violations of trade secrets and contract law were also considered. In the end, the dispute was settled, with neither party obtaining an advantage in the litigation. There was further conflict over whether the terms of the settlement in respect of non-disparagement were honored. The parties have also faced further intellectual property conflict. In 2021, Continuous Composites has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Markforged Inc. In 2021, Desktop Metal Inc. brought legal action against SprintRay in Germany. Drawing upon this case study, this paper considers whether metal 3D printing will disrupt patent law, policy, and practice. It also explores the tension between the use of trade secrets in commercial 3D printing (such as in metal 3D Printing), and the open source ethos of the Maker Movement. This paper considers the larger implications of this intellectual property dispute over metal 3D printing for scarcity, regulation, and the abundance society. It also explores the innovation policies of the Biden administration in respect of advanced manufacturing—with a focus upon metal 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
Remote sensing of river habitat for salmon restoration
Authors: Giroux Chantal , Grant Jon , Brown Craig J. , Barrell Jeffrey
Published: September 2022

Losses of river complexity and viable habitat has led to negative effects on Atlantic salmon. With the rapid population decline of Atlantic salmon, there has been an increase in river restoration and salmon reintroduction projects, and an understanding of substrate is a vital component in the restoration of these habitats. However, the isolation and/or inaccessibility of many of these rivers make the collection of this information challenging and expensive based on conventional survey approaches. This study looks at the feasibility and accuracy of conducting substrate analysis using low-cost uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) at seven transects through macroscale river habitat (riffles, runs and pools) on the Upper Salmon River located in Fundy National Park near Alma, New Brunswick, Canada. Using ArcGIS, a supervised classification was conducted separating the dry and submerged substrate for higher accuracy. An object-based image analysis was conducted in PCI for delineation of substrate size. Small ideal spawning substrate was found to be concentrated in slower flowing pools while large substrate was concentrated in faster flowing riffles. The substrate analysis was conducted with an accuracy of 79% for dry substrate and 86% for submerged substrate, demonstrating the potential of UAV use in salmon habitat analysis.
Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapies in Bladder Cancer
Authors: Chu Carissa E. , Iyer Gopa , Bochner Bernard H.
Published: September 2022

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is often framed as a systemic disease given the risk of occult metastases and clinical under-staging at the time of radical cystectomy. The current standard of care for non-metastatic MIBC combines a cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen followed by radical cystectomy, pelvic lymph node dissection, and urinary reconstruction. Other systemic therapies initially developed for the metastatic setting are being explored in the neoadjuvant space with favorable clinical outcomes. Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the programmed cell death-1/ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) axis have demonstrated promising outcomes for cisplatin-ineligible patients in the neoadjuvant setting. Other novel targeted therapies under investigation in the perioperative setting include fibroblast growth factor receptor or FGFR inhibitors and antibody drug conjugates (enfortumab vedotin targeting Nectin-4 and sacituzumab govitecan targeting Trop-2). Non-chemotherapy-based treatments have the potential to expand the application of neoadjuvant therapy for many patients, particularly those who are cisplatin-ineligible due to comorbidities or who harbor chemotherapy-resistant tumors. The expansion of neoadjuvant therapy options also provides an opportunity to characterize mechanisms of tumor resistance and elucidate tumor biology with ongoing correlative studies.
An internet based virtual reality intervention for preventing posttraumatic stress disorder
Authors: Freedman Sara A. , Dayan Ehud , Eitan Renana
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Research examining the prevention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has shown that selective treatments to those with high symptom levels, using trauma focused CBT are relatively successful in reducing symptoms and preventing chronic PTSD. However, uptake of these early treatments is often low. This study aimed to provide an internet based Virtual Reality treatment to overcome some of these barriers to early treatment.

Method: The study received IRB approval from Hadassah Hospital (HMO 0056-013); its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier is NCT01760213. Recent survivors of motor vehicle accidents (N = 1,500) were assessed by telephone and online questionnaires. Patients meeting study criteria were randomly assigned to a Virtual Reality internet-based trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or waitlist control.

Results: the majority of subjects recruited did not meet study criteria or were unwilling to participate. 14 subjects were randomly assigned to treatment or waitlist control. Results indicate that both groups show a decline in PTSD symptoms at follow up, with no significant differences between groups.

Discussion: prevention of PTSD is a challenging goal, and internet-based interventions may play a role in this. The current study was not able to recruit sufficient participants to draw conclusions regarding the efficacy of the treatment. Proving services via the internet may not reduce barriers to care in this population.

Clinical Trial Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01760213?term=Freedman&cond=PTSD&cntry=IL&draw=2&rank=2, identifier NCT01760213.
Case report: Primary pleural squamous cell carcinoma in a 68-year-old male
Authors: Zhong Chuan , Zhou Haining , Rami-Porta Ramón , Zhao Yunfei
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Primary pleural squamous cell carcinoma (PPSCC) is a sporadic disease that is rarely reported in the literature. Due to its low incidence, the pathogenesis of PPSCC is unknown.

Case summary

We report a case of a 68-year-old male with PPSCC and sizable pulmonary bullae. Two months after complete resection of both lesions, a total dose of 50 Gy radiotherapy was administered over the operative field. After more than a year of follow-up, the patient is in steady condition without any sign of recurrence.

Conclusion

Since PPSCC is rarely reported, our case proposed that complete surgical resection combined with radiotherapy may be a promising therapeutic approach.
Promising prospective effects of Withania somnifera on broiler performance and carcass characteristics: A comprehensive review
Authors: Salem Heba M. , El-Saadony Mohamed T. , Abd El-Mageed Taia A. , Soliman Soliman M. , Khafaga Asmaa F. , Saad Ahmed M. , Swelum Ayman A. , Korma Sameh A. , Gonçalves Lima Clara Mariana , Selim Samy , Babalghith Ahmad O. , Abd El-Hack Mohamed E. , Omer Fatima A. , AbuQamar Synan F. , El-Tarabily Khaled A. , Conte-Junior Carlos Adam
Published: September 2022

Poultry production contributes markedly to bridging the global food gap. Many nations have limited the use of antibiotics as growth promoters due to increasing bacterial antibiotic tolerance/resistance, as well as the presence of antibiotic residues in edible tissues of the birds. Consequently, the world is turning to use natural alternatives to improve birds' productivity and immunity.Withania somnifera, commonly known as ashwagandha or winter cherry, is abundant in many countries of the world and is considered a potent medicinal herb because of its distinct chemical, medicinal, biological, and physiological properties. This plant exhibits antioxidant, cardioprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-aging, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antistress, antitumor, hepatoprotective, and growth-promoting activities. In poultry, dietary inclusion ofW. somniferarevealed promising results in improving feed intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency, and feed conversion ratio, as well as reducing mortality, increasing livability, increasing disease resistance, reducing stress impacts, and maintaining health of the birds. This review sheds light on the distribution, chemical structure, and biological effects ofW. somniferaand its impacts on poultry productivity, livability, carcass characteristics, meat quality, blood parameters, immune response, and economic efficiency.
Stearic acid induces CCK and GLP-1 upregulation via GPR120/PLC-β, leading to reduced appetite in Hu sheep fed with rice straw
Authors: Chen Xi , Nie Xintian , Wang Huanhuan , Yan Shuping , Zhang Yuanshu
Published: September 2022

Due to the poor palatability of straw, feeding untreated rice straw reduces ruminant feed intake, thus affecting the production efficiency of animal husbandry. However, the detailed mechanism by which straw affects ruminants' feed intake is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which a rice straw (RS)-based diet affects appetite regulation in Hu sheep. We found that RS promoted the secretion of cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and decreased feed intake. Blood metabolomics showed that RS activated the arachidonic acid metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid metabolism, and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism pathways, and the secretion of stearic acid (SA), their metabolic end product, increased significantly. GPR120, one of the classical receptors of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), can be involved in appetite regulation. However, the role of SA in satiety hormone regulation mediated by GPR120 in ruminants is unclear. In this study, in vivo experiments showed that in sheep fed with RS, SA increased significantly and activated GPR120/Ca2+, increasing the secretion of the satiety hormones CCK and GLP-1. In vitro mechanism studies showed that SA promotes GLP-1 and CCK secretion by activating GPR120-mediated downstream PKC and IP3R signaling pathways of PLCβ.
Gut microbiota development in the growing dog: A dynamic process influenced by maternal, environmental and host factors
Authors: Garrigues Quentin , Apper Emmanuelle , Chastant Sylvie , Mila Hanna
Published: September 2022

Microorganisms of the gastrointestinal tract play a crucial role in the health, metabolism and development of their host by modulating vital functions such as digestion, production of key metabolites or stimulation of the immune system. This review aims to provide an overview on the current knowledge of factors shaping the gut microbiota of young dogs. The composition of the gut microbiota is modulated by many intrinsic (i.e., age, physiology, pathology) and extrinsic factors (i.e., nutrition, environment, medication) which can cause both beneficial and harmful effects depending on the nature of the changes. The composition of the gut microbiota is quickly evolving during the early development of the dog, and some crucial bacteria, mostly anaerobic, progressively colonize the gut before the puppy reaches adulthood. Those bacterial communities are of paramount importance for the host health, with disturbance in their composition potentially leading to altered metabolic states such as acute diarrhea or inflammatory bowel disease. While many studies focused on the microbiota of young children, there is still a lack of knowledge concerning the development of gut microbiota in puppies. Understanding this early evolution is becoming a key aspect to improve dogs' short and long-term health and wellbeing.
House feeding pattern increased male yak fertility by improving gut microbiota and serum metabolites
Authors: Zhu Yanbin , Li Xin , Lousang-zhaxi  , Suolang-zhaxi  , Suolang  , Ciyang  , Sun Guangming , Cidan-yangji  , Basang-wangdui
Published: September 2022

Yaks usually live in an extremely harsh natural environment resulting in low reproductive performance, so the production of yak cannot meet local demand in China. In order to solve this problem, the experiment aims to explore the effect of different feeding modes on the semen quality of male yaks, so as to provide a theoretical basis for improving the yield of yaks in Tibet. We used the combined analysis of metabolomics and microbial sequencing to explore the underlying mechanisms that affect the differences in semen quality between the house feeding (HF) system and the free range (FR). The results showed that the sperm motility (P < 0.001) and sperm concentration (P < 0.05) in the HF group were significantly higher than the FR group, and the abnormal sperm rate (P < 0.01) in HF was significantly lower compared to FR. House feeding modes increased some beneficial materials in blood and testis especially some antioxidants, unsaturated fatty acids, and amino acids. House feeding group increased some gut microbiota at genus level namely Rikenellaceae, Bacteroides, Prevotellaceae_UCG-004, Bacteroidales_RF16, and Alloprevotella, DgA-11. It was interesting that blood metabolites, testicular metabolites, and fecal microbiota were well-correlated with sperm parameters. Meanwhile, the blood metabolites and testicular metabolites were well-correlated with microbes. The result indicated that the HF model was beneficial for yak semen quality by improving the gut microbiota and blood metabolism to increase yak fertility.
Bovine viral diarrhea virus in China: A comparative genomic and phylogenetic analysis with complete genome sequences
Authors: Shah Pir Tariq , Nawal Bahoussi Amina , Ahmad Aftab , Sikandar Muhammad , Xing Li
Published: September 2022

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), causing bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) in cattle, is one of the highly contagious and devastating diseases of cattle. Since 1980, BVDV has been identified all-over China in a variety of animal species including cattle, camels, yaks, sheep, water buffalo, goats, Sika deer and pigs. In this study, 31 BVDV complete genomes reported in China (from 2004 to 2020) with other 112 genomes reported around the world were comparatively analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis shows that BVDV genomes reported worldwide clustered in three major clades i.e., BVDV-1, BVDV-2, and BVDV-3. The BVDV-1 is genetically the most diverged genotype and phylogenetically classified into 7 sub-clades in our study based on full-length genomes. The China BVDV genomes fall into all three major clades, e.g., BVDV-1, BVDV-2 and BVDV-3. China BVDV-1 clustered into five sub-clades, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, where sub-clade 7 clustered as a separate sub-clade. Full-length genome recombination analysis reveals that the BVDV-1 reported in China appears to be mainly involved in recombination events. In addition, comparative analysis of E2 proteins between BVDV-1, BVDV-2, and BVDV-3 reveals that the amino acid variations could affect 12 potential linear B cell epitopes, demonstrating a dramatic antigen drift in the E2 protein. These results provide a thorough view of the information about the genetic and antigenic diversity of BVDVs circulating in China and therefore could benefit the development of suitable strategies for disease control.
Low Concentrations of Oxidized Phospholipids Increase Stress Tolerance of Endothelial Cells
Authors: Mauerhofer Christina , Afonyushkin Taras , Oskolkova Olga V. , Hellauer Klara , Gesslbauer Bernd , Schmerda Jasmin , Ke Yunbo , Zimmer Andreas , Birukova Anna A. , Birukov Konstantin G. , Bochkov Valery
Published: September 2022

Oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs) are generated by enzymatic or autooxidation of esterified polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) residues. OxPLs are present in circulation and atherosclerotic plaques where they are thought to induce predominantly proinflammatory and toxic changes in endothelial (ECs) and other cell types. Unexpectedly, we found that low concentrations of OxPLs were not toxic but protected ECs from stress induced by serum deprivation or cytostatic drugs. The protective effect was observed in ECs obtained from different vessels and was monitored using a variety of readouts based on different biological and chemical principles. Analysis of the structure–activity relationship identified oxidized or missing fatty acid residue (OxPLs or Lyso-PLs, respectively) as a prerequisite for the protective action of a PL. Protective OxPLs or Lyso-PLs acquired detergent-like properties and formed in solution aggregates <10 nm in diameter (likely micelles), which were in striking contrast with large aggregates (>1000 nm, likely multilayer liposomes) produced by nonoxidized precursor PLs. Because surfactants, OxPLs, and Lyso-PLs are known to extract membrane cholesterol, we tested if this effect might trigger the protection of endothelial cells. The protective action of OxPLs and Lyso-PLs was inhibited by cotreatment with cholesterol and mimicked by cholesterol-binding beta-cyclodextrin but not inactive α-cyclodextrin. Wide-scale mRNA expression analysis in four types of ECs showed the induction of genes encoding for heat shock proteins (HSPs) and secreted prosurvival peptides and proteins. Inducers of HSPs, chemical chaperones, and pure prosurvival factors mimicked the protective action of OxPLs/Lyso-PLs. We hypothesize that oxidation changes the physicochemical properties of PLs, thus promoting membrane cholesterol redistribution or extraction leading to the expression of intra- and extracellular prosurvival factors.
Mechanistic Wound Healing and Antioxidant Potential of Moringa oleifera Seeds Extract Supported by Metabolic Profiling, In Silico Network Design, Molecular Docking, and In Vivo Studies
Authors: Shady Nourhan Hisham , Mostafa Nada M. , Fayez Shaimaa , Abdel-Rahman Islam M. , Maher Sherif A. , Zayed Ahmed , Saber Entesar Ali , Khowdiary Manal M. , Elrehany Mahmoud A. , Alzubaidi Mubarak A. , Altemani Faisal H. , Shawky Ahmed M. , Abdelmohsen Usama Ramadan
Published: September 2022

Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) is an adaptable plant with promising phytoconstituents, interesting medicinal uses, and nutritional importance. Chemical profiling of M. oleifera seeds assisted by LC-HRMS (HPLC system coupled to a high resolution mass detector) led to the dereplication of 19 metabolites. Additionally, the wound healing potential of M. oleifera seed extract was investigated in male New Zealand Dutch strain albino rabbits and supported by histopathological examinations. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms were investigated via different in vitro investigations and through analyzing the relative gene and protein expression patterns. When compared to the untreated and MEBO®-treated groups, topical administration of M. oleifera extract on excision wounds resulted in a substantial increase in wound healing rate (p < 0.001), elevating TGF-β1, VEGF, Type I collagen relative expression, and reducing inflammatory markers such as IL-1β and TNF-α. In vitro antioxidant assays showed that the extract displayed strong scavenging effects to peroxides and superoxide free radicals. In silico studies using a molecular docking approach against TNF-α, TGFBR1, and IL-1β showed that some metabolites in M. oleifera seed extract can bind to the active sites of three wound-healing related proteins. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) and compound–protein interaction (CPI) networks were constructed as well. Quercetin, caffeic acid, and kaempferol showed the highest connectivity with the putative proteins. In silico drug likeness studies revealed that almost all compounds comply with both Lipinski’s and Veber’s rule. According to the previous findings, an in vitro study was carried out on the pure compounds, including quercetin, kaempferol, and caffeic acid (identified from M. oleifera) to validate the proposed approach and to verify their potential effectiveness. Their inhibitory potential was evaluated against the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and against the endopeptidase MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) subtype I and II, with highest activity being observed for kaempferol. Hence, M. oleifera seeds could be a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential antioxidant and wound healing capabilities.
Analysis of the Pressure Increase in the Hydraulic Cylinder of the Longwall Powered Roof Support during Use
Authors: Szurgacz Dawid
Published: September 2022

This paper presents the results of lab-simulated tests on longwall powered supports under dynamic loading conditions. The tests were carried out on a test site, where the tested prop was subjected to a dynamic load using a controlled mass falling under gravity onto the support. The loading on the support was therefore determined based on the weight used and the distance of freefall before impact. The operating characteristics of the valve were determined, specifying temporary changes in the pressure and the prop’s dynamic yield rate and total deformation. The research aimed to determine the operational parameters of the valve to be used in new and improved components for powered roof supports. One of the most essential elements of the powered roof support hydraulic system is the safety valve. The results confirm the validity of the concept and the possibility of applying the tested valve to the developed control system of the prop of the powered roof support. The forged safety valve has been designed to significantly improve the safety and efficiency of the powered roof support, especially in conditions of safety hazards.