bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Call for the Return to the Qualities of the Traditional Muslim Mind
Authors: Abdul Razak Mohd Abbas , Shah Hanif Sayed Sikandar , Abdurrahman Muhammad
Published: February 2022

The world we live today has undergone a dramatic change in values, science and technology. In a world so divided with contending ideologies and worldviews, humanity as a whole has derailed from its philosophy of co-existence, tolerance and mutual respect for one another’s faith and culture. The war that should have ended with the formation of the United Nations is still raging in many parts of the world. News and business are controlled by some powerful conglomerates. The gap between the haves and have not’s still persists. In the wake of the present global condition, Muslims and their religion are targeted and falsely labeled as a global threat. This apparent situation of the world calls for the new generation of Muslims to think and re-evaluate on how to respond to the challenges and criticisms that come from others. Moreover, they have to carve out new ways to co-exist with others and on how to preserve their religion and cultural heritage of the past. Through this paper, the researchers intend to investigate the style of thinking of the great Muslim scholars during the heydays of the Islamic civilization and propose the importance of reviving such an orientation of thinking in the contemporary Muslim world. As a qualitative study, the researchers intend to present some historical evidence on the remarkable achievement of the Muslim scholars of the bygone centuries. The textual and document analysis methods will be employed in interpreting the relevant data of the study. Pertinent data related to the research will be retrieved from print and electronic media.
Academic Procrastination of High School Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Review from Self-Regulated Learning and the Intensity of Social Media
Authors: Latipah Eva , Adi Hanif Cahyo , Insani Farah Dina
Published: February 2022

The Covid-19 pandemic has an impact on increasing procrastination of study assignments (academic procrastination) in Islamic Religious Education in Senior High Schools. This occurs because students have low self-regulated learning (SRL), and on the other hand, have high social media intensity. This study aims to examine the relationship between SRL and the intensity of social media with academic procrastination. This research is quantitative using the SRL scale, academic procrastination scale, and social media intensity questionnaire for data collection. The sample was determined using the Slovin formula in order to obtain a sample of 118 students. The data analysis technique used regression analysis. The results showed: 1) There was a significant negative relationship between self-regulated learning and academic procrastination with a value of r = -4.125 and a value of p = 0.00 (p <0.05). 2) There is a significant positive relationship between the intensity of social media and academic procrastination with r=5.111 and p=0.00 (p<0.05). 3) There is a significant positive relationship between self-regulated learning and the intensity of social media simultaneously with academic procrastination with a value of F=15.106 and a value of p=0.00 (p<0.05). 4) The effective contribution (R2) of the two variables is 30.5%. Thus, self-regulated learning and the intensity of social media can be predictors of PAI's academic procrastination.
Professional Madrasah Teachers in Teaching: The Influence of Gender and the Length of Certification of Madrasah Teachers
Authors: Tambak Syahraini , Mahfud Choirul , Latipah Eva , Sukenti Desi
Published: February 2022

Developing professional madrasah teachers are increasingly popular in the teaching classrooms. But regarding developing professional madrasah teacher accuracy in teaching, mixed results are reported without clear reasons for this. This article addresses the impact of gender and length of certification on developing professional madrasah teacher accuracy in teaching classrooms. To develop the accuracy of the developing professional madrasah teacher, madrasah teacher length of certification and gender are used as a reference. A research project, which deals with the developing professional teacher in madrasah teachers using questionnaires, was carried out in two types of Madrasah Aliyah (public and private madrasah) at seventy-five madrasahs. Data from 325 madrasah teachers were collected and involved in this research. This analysis is differentiated based on the level, gender, and level of the length of certification of madrasah teachers in the developing professional teacher competencies being assessed. The results show that the accuracy of the developing professional teacher is low and is related to the gender of the madrasah teacher, that men perceive themselves to be higher in the developing professional teacher than women, and that even length of certification analysis with developing professional competence and implementation in the classroom. Madrasah teacher length certification more than 10 years are higher than teachers who certified between 5-10 years and more accurate than teachers who certified less than 5 years with the ability to developing professional madrasah teacher that is low. It is necessary to examine the reasons behind this difference and to look for steps to improve the accuracy of the developing professional madrasah teacher.
Urban WASH Governance in Pakistan: Impact Evaluation of the Improving Urban WASH Governance and Accountability (IUWGA) project
Authors: Van Hemelrijck Adinda
Published: February 2022

This evaluation is presented as part of the Effectiveness Review Series 2017/18. The Improving Urban WASH Governance and Accountability (IUWGA) project in Pakistan was selected for review under the ‘Sustainable Water’ thematic area. The overall objective of the project was to develop and pilot-test a local urban governance model that builds on a concept of collaborative rights and accountability relations as the basis for developing a new social contract between local authorities and citizens in new urban settlements. The model was piloted over a period of two years (April 2015 - March 2017) in two Union Councils in the Sindh and Punjab Province. This assessment focused on the effectiveness and likely sustainability of the participatory governance model relative to ‘equitable and sustainable access to water’. Participatory Impact Assessment and Learning Approach (PIALA) was used to rigorously assess the impact of system change and engage stakeholders in its processes. Find out more by reading the full report now.
A Final Evaluation of Oxfam's Gendered Enterprise and Markets Programme (2014-18): Summary of findings
Authors: Stewart Alastair , Morgan Miranda
Published: February 2022

Gendered Enterprise and Markets (GEM) is Oxfam GB’s approach to market systems development. The GEM approach facilitates change in market systems and social norms, with the aim of ensuring more sustainable livelihood opportunities for marginalized women and men. The GEM DFID AidMatch Programme (June 2014–February 2018) worked within the soya, milk and vegetable value chains targeting women smallholder farmers in areas of poverty. The programme aimed to benefit 63,600 people (10,600 smallholder households) living in Zambia, Tajikistan and Bangladesh through increases in household income, women having greater influence over key livelihood decisions within their households and communities, and engaging in livelihoods more resilient to shocks, such as natural disasters and market volatility. This evaluation was designed to investigate if and how the GEM programme contributed to its intended outcomes – not only in the lives of individual women smallholder farmers targeted by the programme but also in terms of changes in their communities and the larger market system. It also sought to capture any potential unintended outcomes of the programme. This summary report outlines the key findings from the three individual country evaluations in Bangladesh, Tajikistan and Zambia - for which the full reports are also available.
Making Market Systems Work for Women Dairy Farmers in Bangladesh: A final evaluation of Oxfam's Gendered Enterprise and Markets programme in Bangladesh
Authors: Savani Manu , Stewart Alastair
Published: February 2022

Gendered Enterprise and Markets (GEM) is Oxfam GB’s approach to market systems development. The GEM approach facilitates change in market systems and social norms, with the aim of ensuring more sustainable livelihood opportunities for marginalized women and men. The GEM DFID AidMatch Programme (June 2014–February 2018) worked within the soya, milk and vegetable value chains targeting women smallholder farmers in areas of poverty. The programme aimed to benefit 63,600 people (10,600 smallholder households) living in Zambia, Tajikistan and Bangladesh through increases in household income, women having greater influence over key livelihood decisions within their households and communities, and engaging in livelihoods more resilient to shocks, such as natural disasters and market volatility. The GEM programme in Bangladesh was implemented under Oxfam Bangladesh’s flagship REE-CALL programme (Resilience, through Economic Empowerment, Climate Adaptation, Leadership and Learning). GEM operated in seven districts across Bangladesh, with the project activities implemented by seven local partners. The project aimed to establish 84 producer groups for smallholder dairy farmers, and this was achieved during the first year. Building on these local networks, GEM aimed to deliver a suite of training and support covering assertiveness, rights and leadership skills, agricultural practice and disaster risk management. The evaluation was designed to investigate if and how the GEM programme might have contributed to its intended outcomes – not only in the lives of individual women smallholder farmers targeted by the programme but also in changes in their communities and the larger market system. It also sought to capture any potential unintended outcomes of the programme.
The future Alert of Inter-arm blood pressure difference Among young healthy population: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Essa Rawand , Ahmed Sirwan
Published: February 2022

Background: More than 100 years ago, the difference in blood pressure (BP) between arms was first reported. Recent studies have shown that different blood pressure between the right and left arm leads to cardiovascular events. The aim of the present study was to establish of an inter-arm blood pressure difference (IAD) and the dominant hands effect on the elevation blood pressure among young healthy population.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using quantitative method for both data collection and data analysis and carried out at the Sulaimanyah governorate Kurdistan Region, Iraq among a young, healthy population. Data were expressed as percentages of individuals with systolic IAD and diastolic IAD and mean (± standard deviation) for the inter-arm difference in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). To evaluate the association between IAD and age, BMI, heart rate, systolic BP, and diastolic BP Pearson’s correlation test was used. The Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence inter-arm difference category between groups.Results: Three thousand and thirty volunteers participated in our study. The sIABP was equal in 163 of 3030 persons (5.37%), dIABP was equal in 222 out of 3030 persons (7.32%), from a total of 792/3030 persons (26.1 %) sIAD > 10 mmHg, and dIAD > or =10 mmHg was found in 927 out of 3030 persons (33.5%) in the right arm, and 32.4% in the left arm. In 2692 of 3030 volunteers BP, initially recorded in the dominant hand (right arm), showing sIAD> or = 10 mmHg was found in 943 (37.1%) volunteers, and when the first measurement was done in 338 left-handed volunteers it showed sIAD> or = 10 mmHg in 112 of 338 (34.1%), P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval for systolic right hand were (115.73: 116.73), and for systolic left hand 95% confidence interval were (113.17:114.15).Conclusion: significant inter-arm systolic and diastolic BP differences above (10 mm Hg) is common in the young, healthy population. Hand dominance is a significant consideration while measuring blood pressure. It is mandatory to measure blood pressure in both arms in a sitting position with a stable condition.
Heritability and Multipoint Linkage Analysis Suggest the Contribution of Angiopoietin-TEK Pathway to the Variation of Serum Creatinine and Glomerular Filtration Rate
Authors: Zadjali Fahad , Al-Wahaibi Mazin , Hassan Mohammed O. , Bayoumi Riad A. , Zadjali Razan , Albarwani Sulayma , Riyami Nafila B Al , Al-Yahyaee Saeed
Published: February 2022

Background: Serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are keys to assess kidney function and suggest a propensity for development of renal failure. Genetic factors are reported in different ethnic groups to play a role in the variability of these phenotypes. In this study, we investigate the heritability and quantitative trait loci (QTL) of serum creatinine and eGFR. Multiple phenotypes were collected from a multi-generation pedigree of 281 subjects form Oman family study. Genotype analysis was used to calculate heritability and linkage was performed using variance components decomposition-based methods implemented in SOLAR. Results: The multivariate-adjusted heritability estimates for serum creatinine and eGFR were 0.70 and 0.63 (p-value 2.5x10-11 and 1.8x10-11), respectively. Genome-wide linkage analysis showed significant loci with LOD score ≥2 at chromosomes 9p21.1, 9p21.3, 15p26.3 and 16.p13.3. Functional annotation identified angiopoietin 1-TEK pathway as a candidate pathway where TEK is associated with chronic kidney disease and expressed in renal glomeruli. Conclusion: This study showed high heritability of serum creatinine and eGFR with significant QTLs in chromosomes 9, 15 and 16. Further research is needed to study the genetic association studies of angiopoietin 1-TEK axis with glomerulopathies like type 2 diabetes and to predict and diagnose progression of renal diseases.
Real-Time Indirect Continuous Arterial Blood Pressure Measurements From ECG And PPG Waveforms Using Deep Learning
Authors: Seo Hyo Chang , Kim Hyun Bin , Nam Gi-Byoung , Cho Min Soo , Joo Segyeong
Published: February 2022

It is a well-known fact that it is important to accurately measure blood pressure. In particular, it is an even more important vital sign for the elderly and patients in hospitals. Non-invasive techniques for blood pressure measurement only afford discrete results. Although invasive measurement techniques overcome this issue and provide continuous results, they involve the risk of bleeding or infection and also cause discomfort to the patient. To address this issue, in this study, we developed a deep learning model that can estimate the arterial blood pressure (ABP) in real time using the waveform signals from electrocardiograms (ECGs) and photoplethysmograms (PPGs), without handcraft setting. Data pertaining to patients with various disorders admitted in the intensive care unit (necg, ppg= 1,126,870) were used. The performance of the model was evaluated (RSBP= 0.96, RMAP=0.92, and RDBP = 0.90) and verified to meet international standards. Even if the actual value changes dramatically, the estimated value shows a graph that follows the trend. Additionally, the ABP of patients with atrial fibrillation could be measured continuously and in real time.
De novo transcriptome assembly of the cotyledon of Camellia oleifera for discovery of genes regulating seed germination
Authors: Long Wei , Yao Xiaohua , Wang Kailiang , Sheng Yu , Lv Leyan
Published: February 2022

Background: Camellia oleifera (C. oleifera) is one of the most important wood oil species in the world. It was propagated by nurse seedling graft in C.oleifera. Since morphology of rootstock has a significant impact on grafting efficiency and seedling quality, it is necessary to have a clear understanding molecular mechanism of morphogenesis for cultivating high quality and controllable rootstocks,. However, the genomic resource for this species is relatively limited, thus hampering our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of seed germination in C.oleifera. Results: In this paper, we measured the gene expression in the C.oleifera cotyledon in different development stages and the global gene expression profiles through transcriptome sequencing. Approximately 45.4 gigabases (GB) paired-end clean reads were obtained and assembled into 113,582 unigenes with an average length of 396 bp. 61.5% (68,217) of the unigenes were annotated in six public protein databases. We identified 11,391 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the different stages in the germination process. Enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were mainly involved in hormone signal transduction and starch sucrose metabolism pathways. The gravitropism regulator UNE10, the meristem regulator STM, KNAT1, PLT2, and root-specific transcription factor WOX11 has higher expression level in the CAM2 stage (seed soaking), indicating the cotyledon-regulated program upon seed germination has been initiated to establish in early imbibition. Our data showed that multiple hormone-related genes in cotyledons were differentially reprogrammed during C. oleifera seed germination.Conclusion: The cotyledons play key roles, both as the main nutrient provider and as one of the main instructors for seed germination and seedling growth. Together, our study will remarkably enrich the genomic resources of Camellia and contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the development in the seed germination and seedling growth of C.oleifera. It is helpful to culture in standardizing and superior quality rootstock for C. oleifera breeding.
A High-quality Genome Assembly and Annotation of Quercus Acutissima Carruth
Authors: Liu Dan , Zhou Chengcheng , Tong Boqiang , Xie Xiaoman , Yang Haiping , Han Biao , Lu Yizeng , Li Wei , Li Wenqing
Published: February 2022

Background: Quercus acutissima is an economic and ecological tree species often used for afforestation of arid and semi-arid lands and is considered an excellent tree species for soil and water conservation. However, the Q. acutissima genome sequencing and assembly have not been reported, which limiting molecular biology studies and breeding progress in Q. acutissima.Results: We generated a 956.9 Mb genome with a contig N50 of 1,203,427 bp and 53,304 annotated genes. Meanwhile, the assembled contigs (1,507) assigned to a total of 12 chromosomes. The BUSCO database evaluation accounted for 98.0% of the genome size and the genome heterozygous rate was 0.25%. Repetitive sequences constituted 57.13% of the assembled genome, the most abundant one was long terminal repeats (7.18% of the genome). Phylogenetic analysis showed that Q. acutissima and Fagus sylvatica were differentiated around 54.2 million years ago (Mya), and Q. sober was differentiated around 4.4 Mya. Conclusion: We sequenced, assembled and annotated the first high-quality genome of Q. acutissima. This work not only promises to accelerate molecular biology studies and breeding progress in Q. acutissima, Q. acutissima is one of the important species in Quercus, but also promote evolutionary studies at the genome level in the genus Quercus due to its importance as one of the important species in Quercus.
Preliminary Exploration Of Theory And Practice Training Of 5G Ultrasonic Remote Consultation In The Grassroot Hospitals
Authors: Wang Ceng , Zheng YI , Xiong Cui , Wang Jing
Published: February 2022

Background: Many people in rural areas have not had an ultrasound examination for a long time due to lack of medical resources. So we go through training doctors in grassroot hospitals to explore the clinical and practical value of remote ultrasound.Methods: The Superior hospital will conduct ultrasonic theory and practice training for the grassroot hospitals. After passing the training, remote ultrasonic diagnosis will be carried out at the grassroot level, then feedback and case data will be collected.Results: Through training, the ultrasonic diagnosis level of the grassroot doctors has been significantly improved. At present, a total of 148 cases of consultation have been completed through remote ultrasound "visual apparatus", mainly abdominal ultrasound, and the common cases are fatty liver, hepatic cyst, gallbladder stone, kidney stone and so on . Conclusion: As a "visual apparatus", remote ultrasound can be routinely carried out in the grassroot hospitals, which can promote mutual benefit between doctors and patients and comprehensively promote the construction of healthy villages.
A Nomogram Model Developed and Validated for The Evaluation of Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients with Rectal Cancer
Authors: Su Yexin , Zhao Hongyue , Zhang Linhan , Jiao Yuying , Xu Peng , Lyu Zhehao , Liu Pengfei , Fu Peng
Published: February 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a nomogram model to evaluate lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with rectal cancer (RC).Methods: A total of 162 patients with RC between 2019 and 2021 were included in the study. Patients were allocated to a training set and a validation set at a ratio of 7:3. The lymph node (LN) status was evaluated retrospectively from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images by two radiologists. Based on 103 radiomic features extracted from T2 weighted images (T2WI), the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used to screen and calculate the radiomic feature score (Radscore). The model was constructed using the logistics regression algorithm. The DeLong test and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to compare the prediction performance and clinical utility of the MRI reported model, the Radscore model, and the complex model constructed by combining the MRI reported and Radscore. The nomogram model was constructed to visualize the prediction results of the best model. Model performance was evaluated in the training and validation groups, and the calibration curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test were used to evaluate the calibration.Result: This study included 162 patients with RC, including 54 patients with LNM and 108 patients without LNM. All three models constructed by the logistics regression algorithm were good at identifying LNM. The DeLong test and the DCA results showed that the complex model outperformed the MRI-based model and the Radscore model in relation to their predictive performance and clinical utility. The nomogram of the complex model had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.902 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.848−0.957) in the training group and an AUC of 0.891 (95% CI: 0.799−0.983) in the validation group. Meanwhile, the calibration curve and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed good calibration.Conclusion: The nomogram model constructed based on T2WI radiomics and MRI reported had good diagnostic efficacies for LNM in patients with RC, and provided a new auxiliary method for accurate and individualized clinical management.
The Frequency of Os Acromiale in 751 Shoulder MRI of Saudi Population
Authors: Aldebeyan Wassim , mogbil Ismail , AlShayhan Fahad , Alzahim Mohammed , Alshunaifi Abdullah , Alhowaimel Abdulaziz , Al-Nakshabandi Nizar
Published: February 2022

Objectives: Os acromiale (OA) is an uncommon pathology, with a variable prevalence rate among different populations. reporting the frequency of OA utilizing shoulder MRI of patients with shoulder pathology in our institute. Methods: Retrospective chart review to conduct our research. After obtaining our IRB approval we gathered all shoulder and upper arm MRIs from the radiology department and available in PACS. Results: The prevalence of OA was 3.32%, and the mean age of the affected patients was 50.87 years (25–81). In males there were seven OA conditions
Cyprideis Torosa (Ostracoda, Crustacea): Occurrence Patterns, Carapace Type And Its Relationship To Physicochemical Variables In Kocaçay Delta (Turkey)
Authors: Külköylüoğlu Okan , Yavuzatmaca Mehmet , Akay Enis , Dalkıran Nurhayat
Published: February 2022

To understand spatial and temporal continuing occurrence patterns and relationships of Cyprideis torosa to several physicochemical variables, monthly samples from seven stations were collected from Kocaçay Delta (Bursa, Turkey) between 2018 and 2019. Four (C. torosa, Koencypris ornata, Candona lindneri, Candona meerfeldiana) of 14 ostracod taxa are new records for the ostracod fauna of Bursa province where total numbers of recent species increased to 33. Cyprideis torosa was the only dominant species found in almost all samples throughout the sampling. Based on carapace type of the species, three groups can be divided as i) Type-1 (smooth carapaces), ii) Type-2 (noded carapaces), and iii) Type-3 (both carapaces noded on one valve and smooth on the other). Different occurrence patterns of the species with overlapping ecological ranges were observed among the stations. Except for station 1, all the types were encountered from other stations. Beginning from December 2018, nearly all populations had mostly Type-1 individuals until the end of March. During April-May, individuals with Types-2 and 3 appear to increase until the end of October while individuals in Type-2 group were solely found from three stations (2, 3 and 5) in March and May 2018. There was a significant difference in salinity, magnesium, and calcium values among the stations (P < 0.05) but only total nitrogen, temperature and calcium showed a medium correlation to carapace type. In all cases, populations with noded individuals were found in narrower ecological ranges for those variables than other populations with smooth individuals.
Performance, eating behavior and carcass characteristics of feedlot lambs fed diets without forage containing sodium bicarbonate
Authors: VICENTE ANA CAROLINA SILVA , Carlis Matheus Sousa de Paula , Santos Isabela Jorge dos , Silva Adrielly Lais Alves da , Júnior Paulo César Gonzales Dias , de Assis Rhaissa Garcia , Sturion Thamires Ubices , Biava Janaina , Pires Alexandre Vaz , Ferreira Evandro Maia
Published: February 2022

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of inclusion of sodium bicarbonate (SB) in diets based on ground corn without forage for feedlot lambs. Twenty-eight ram lambs (Dorper x Santa Inês), with initial body weight of 30.2 ± 4.5 kg and 94 ± 8.4 days old were used. They were assigned to a randomized complete block design. Experimental diets were positive control, diet without forage containing soybeans hulls replacing ground flint corn in 400g/kg of dry matter (DM) (CONT); and three diets without forage based on ground flint corn containing 10 (10SB), 20 (20SB) or 30 (30SB) g/kg DM of SB. The inclusion of SB quadratically increased final body weight (P = 0.02), dry matter intake (DMI; P < 0.01), average daily gain (P < 0.01), feed eficiency (P < 0.01), slaughter body weight (P = 0.02), hot and cold carcass weight (P = 0.02), loin muscle area (P = 0.05), leg compacity index (P = 0.05) and the weights of: neck (P = 0.01), shoulder (P = 0.02), rib (P = 0.03) and leg (P = 0.01), with higher values for the 20SB. Feeding SB linearly decreased the area (P < 0.01) and height (P = 0.01) of the papillae. The use of SB improved the performance and increased hot and cold carcass weights, with better results observed in the 20 g/kg level (20SB), showing to be efficient in diets without forage for feedlot lambs.
Bacterial Dynamics During the Degradation of Starch-based Bioplastic and Oxo- degradable Plastic in Compost Soil
Authors: Wicaksono Joshua Abednego , Purwadaria Tresnawati , Yulandi Adi , Tan Watumesa Agustina
Published: February 2022

Background: Plastic waste accumulation is one of the main ecological concerns in the past decades. A new generation of plastics that are easier to degrade in the environment compared to conventional plastics, such as starch-based bioplastic and oxo-degradable plastic, is perceived as a solution to this issue. However, the main degraders of such materials and their fate in the environment are unclear. In this study, we monitored the dynamics of bacterial community in soil upon introduction of commercial starch-based bioplastic and oxo-degradable plastic. The plastics were buried separately in compost soil and incubated for 30, 60, 90, and 120 days. Following incubation, soil pH and temperature as well as the weight of remaining plastics were measured. Bacterial diversity in soil surrounding the plastics was analyzed using Illumina high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 region of 16SrDNA. Results: Starch-based bioplastic degraded quicker than oxo-degradable plastic in soil. The bacterial composition in soil fluctuated over time with or without the introduction of either type of plastic. While the major bacterial phyla remained similar for all treatment in this study, different types of plastics led to different soil bacterial community structure. None of these bacteria were abundant continuously, but rather they emerged at specific time points. The introduction of plastics into soil increased not only the population of bacteria with the ability to directly utilize plastic component for their growth, but also the abundance of those that may interact with direct degraders. Interestingly, there were no specific genera that were prevalent throughout the burial period. Conclusions: The degradation of both starch-based bioplastic and oxo-degradable plastic involves a complex set of bacteria that continues to shift over time.
Tensile force promotes osteogenic differentiation via ephrinB2-EphB4 signaling pathway in orthodontic tooth movement
Authors: Yu Hang , Wei Xiaoxi , Wu Zhina , Jiang Huan , Qi Huichuan , Zhang Yi , Hu Min
Published: February 2022

In orthodontic treatment, alveolar bone remodeling is the basis of tooth movement, therefore, exploring the impact of mechanical force on bone remodeling and related signaling pathways are of great importance. EphrinB2-EphB4 bidirectional signaling plays an important role in communication between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. However, whether ephrinB2-EphB4 signaling is involved in the osteogenic differentiation promoted by tensile force (TF) is unclear. Therefore, in this study, we first explored the effect of TF on osteogenic differentiation in cells, and found that TF significantly increased the expression levels of RUNX2, OPN and EphB4 in MC3T3-E1 cells, but when ephrinB2-EphB4 signaling was blocked by NVP-BHG712, TF-induced promotion of osteogenic differentiation was inhibited. Then we established a rat orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) model, through Micro CT and H&E staining, we found that TF improved alveolar bone formation through ephrinB2-EphB4 signaling.MAPK members are involved in osteogenic differentiation, and we found that TF promoted the expression of p-ERK1/2, p-P38 and p-JNK1/2/3. When EphB4 receptor was blocked, the expression of p-ERK1/2 promoted by TF was decreased, and it was the downstream pathway of ephrinB2-EphB4 signaling that mediates TF-induced promotion of osteogenic differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells.
COVID-19 Contact Tracing in Belgium: Main Indicators and Performance, January - September 2021.
Authors: Proesmans Kristiaan , Hancart Sharon , Braeye Toon , Klamer Sofieke , Robesyn Emmanuel , Djiena Achille , De Leeuw Frances , Mahieu Romain , Dreuw Alex , Hammami Naima , Wildemeersch Dirk , Cornelissen Laura , Cauteren Dieter Van
Published: February 2022

Background: Contact tracing is one of the main public health tools in the control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A centralized contact tracing system was developed in Belgium in 2020. We aim to evaluate the performance and describe the results, between January 01, 2021, and September 30, 2021. The characteristics of COVID-19 cases and the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on testing and tracing are also described.Methods: We combined laboratory diagnostic test data (molecular and antigen test), vaccination data, and contact tracing data. A descriptive analysis was done to evaluate the performance of contact tracing and describe insights into the epidemiology of COVID-19 by contact tracing. Results: Between January and September 2021, 555.181 COVID-19 cases were reported to the central contact center and 91% were contacted. The average delay between symptom onset and contact tracing initiation was around 5 days, of which 4 days corresponded to pre-testing delay. High-Risk Contacts (HRC) were reported by 49% of the contacted index cases. The mean number of reported HRC was 2.7. In total, 666.869 HRC were reported of which 91% were successfully contacted and 89% of these were tested at least once following the interview. The estimated average secondary attack rate (SAR) among the contacts of the COVID-19 cases who reported at least one contact, was 27% and was significantly higher among household HRC. The proportion of COVID-19 cases who were previously identified as HRC within the central system was 24%.Conclusions:The contact-tracing system contacted more than 90% of the reported COVID-19 cases and their HRC. This proportion remained stable between January 1 2021 and September 30 2021 despite an increase in cases in March-April 2021. We report high SAR, indicating that through contact tracing a large number of infections were prospectively detected. The system can be further improved by (1) reducing the delay between onset of illness and medical consultation (2) having more exhaustive reporting of HRC by the COVID-19 case.
CYLD and HER3 Regulate Platinum Resistance in Ovarian Cancer via Drug Efflux Pump ABCB1
Authors: Zhang Ye , Jia Xiao-Yu , Wang Wei , Qiu Jian-Ge , Liu Wen-Jing , Ding Chen , Wang Lin , Jiang Bing-Hua
Published: February 2022

Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most pathogenic gynecological malignant tumor in the world. Due to the difficulty of early diagnosis, most of patients developed chemo-resistance and recurrence during and after the chemotherapy. Methods: CCK8 and flow cytometry analysis were used to analyze the drug sensitivity and apoptosis effect in drug resistant and their parental cell lines (A2780, A2780-DDP, OVCAR3, OVCAR3-DDP). Cells with CYLD knockdown or overexpression were used to test its role in DDP resistance. Patient tumor samples were used to study the clinical significance of CYLD and its related molecules. Flow cytometry analysis were used to test the drug efflux effects in CYLD knockdown cells. The drug combination method were used to investigate the drug synergistic effect of cisplatin combination with ABCB1 inhibitor or HER3 inhibitor. The protein and RNA levels were determined by Western blot analysis, PCR and immunoprecipitation. The in vivo experiments were used to verify the role of CYLD in drug resistance of ovarian cancer and tumor growth.Results: we found levels of CYLD were markedly lower in ovarian DDP-resistant cancer cell lines than those of parental cell lines. CYLD knockdown in the parental cells alone was sufficient to induce DDP resistance through inhibiting cell apoptosis and promoting the drug efflux via inducing the expression of ABCB1. HER3 expression levels were much higher in the resistant cells, and HER3 was upstream mediator of CYLD suppression in the cells through STAT3 signaling. Moreover, overexpression of CYLD in the resistant cells alone was sufficient to reverse the resistant cells to become sensible to platinum-based treatment both in vitro and in vivo. Similar result showed that ABCB1 was functional downstream target of CYLD to regulate tumor growth and drug resistance both in vitro and in vivo.Conclusions: In this study, the results demonstrated that CYLD suppression and higher HER3 expression caused cisplatin resistance and poor prognosis by inhibiting cell apoptosis and promoting the drug efflux in OC. Our findings showed that HER3/CYLD/ABCB1 is a new signaling pathway to regulate tumor growth and DDP resistance, which is potential new therapeutic target to overcome DDP resistance.
Association between the IL-7Rα gene polymorphisms of rs6897932 and rs987106 with atopic diseases: A case-control design
Authors: Baghbadorani Parnian Zolfaghari , Damavandi Amirmasoud Rayati , Kardedeh Bahareh , Mostafavi Samaneh , Salehi Rasoul , Kazemi Mohammad , Ghasemi Ramin , Eskandari Nahid , Fathi Farshid
Published: February 2022

Background
Atopy is used to describe the genetic tendency to IgE-mediated responses. Many factors contribute to predisposing individuals to atopy, including cytokines. IL-7 is a cytokine that mediates hypersensitivity responses and proliferation of T cells and has a polymorphic gene for its receptor (CD127). These different alleles may affect the signaling cascade or alter the production of inflammatory cytokines, which may exacerbate atopic conditions, including asthma and allergy.
Objective
Primary objective of our study aimed to explore the linkage between IL-7Rα gene polymorphism at the SNP of rs6897932 and the risk of atopic diseases. Evaluating the association of IL-7Rα SNP of rs987106 and also serum levels of IL-7 with the risk of atopy are among the secondary objectives.
Methods
To seek possible relations of SNPs rs6897932 and rs987106 with the risk of atopy, we recruited 101 atopic patients and 201 sex-age matched healthy controls from Iranian ethnicity and used the data for evaluation.
Results
Statistical analysis revealed that the T allele variant of IL-7Rα gene at the SNP of rs6897932 is more prevalent among the atopic patients (53.5%) than in the controls (26.9%) and have a considerable association with the disease (p < 0.0001, OR: 3.13 (95% CI- 1.90 to 5.16)). Also, the higher frequency of T allele variant of rs987106 in atopic patients (64.4%) versus control (31.3%) was associated with around a 4-fold increase in the risk of atopy (p < 0.0001, OR: 3.95 (95% CI- 2.39 to 6.55)). However, there was no significant association between IL-7 serum levels and atopic disorders (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
Our study in the Iranian population may support that T allele variants of rs6897932 and rs987106 are risk factors for atopy. However, serum levels of IL-7 were not significantly associated with a heightened risk of atopy.
Characteristics of the clinicopathology and immune microenvironment of the basal-like phenotype in HR+/HER2-breast cancer
Authors: Jiehua He , Zhang Jinhui , Pan Lu , Zhou Zhishan , Chen Keming , Lu Jiabin , Li Mei , Chao Xue , Luo Rongzhen , Sun Peng
Published: February 2022

Background Expression of basal-like markers (BMs) is usually observed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and HER2-overexpressing breast cancer and is related to poor prognosis. Recently, some have reported that BM is expressed in 7.8%-27.1% of HR+/HER2- breast cancers (basal-like phenotype, BM+ BCs), but their biological behaviours remain controversial. This study aimed to compare the differences in clinicopathologic features, clinical outcomes and benefit from adjuvant regimens between BM+ BCs and nonbasal-like phenotype breast cancer (BM- BCs) and evaluate their tumour immune microenvironment.Methods BM+ BCs were defined as EGFR- and/or CK5/6-positive (n=150). Overall, 180 BM- BCs were selected as the control cohort. Clinicopathological characteristics were retrospectively collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the relationship between disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS) and BM status. Stromal tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) were evaluated on haematoxylin & eosin-stained slides, and CD3, CD8, FOPX3, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 13 (CXCL13), CD68, PD-1 and PD-L1 were stained by IHC.Results Compared to BM- BCs, BM+ BCs were more frequently diagnosed at a younger age and had a higher tumour stage, histological grade and necrosis. No obvious differences were seen in lymphovascular invasion or lymph node metastasis. Lower ER and PR expression and higher Ki-67 expression were observed in BM+ BCs. Overall, 62.8% BM+ BCs had p53 mutations. Shorter DFS and OS were related to BM+ BCs (p=0.021 and 0.018, respectively). In multivariate analysis, CK5/6 and clinical stage were independent prognostic factors for DFS and OS. BM+ BCs had a higher proportion of high sTILs with increased CD3, CD8, FOXP3, CXCL13 and CD68 expression. PD-1 and PD-L1 expression was positively related to BM+ BCs.Conclusion Our study demonstrated that more aggressive morphologic features and worse prognosis were associated with BM+ BCs, and its immune-activated status may support new therapeutic strategies, such as immunotherapy, as a potential treatment.
On the incompressible behavior in weakly nonlinear elasticity
Authors: Kube Christopher
Published: February 2022

This article considers the influence of incompressibility on the compliance and stiffness constants that appear in the weakly nonlinear theory of elasticity. The formulation first considers the incompressibility constraint applied to compliances, which gives explicit finite limits for the second-, third-, and fourth-order compliance constants. The stiffness/compliance relationships for each order are derived and used to determine the incompressible behavior of the second-, third-, and fourth-order stiffness constants. Unlike the compressible case, the fourth-order compliances are not found to be dependent on the fourth-order stiffnesses.
Split Monotone Variational Inclusion With Errors for Image Feature Extraction With Multiple-image Blends Problem
Authors: TIANCHAI PATTANAPONG
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we introduce a new iterative forward-backward splitting algorithm with errors for solving the split monotone variational inclusion problem of the sum of two monotone operators in real Hilbert spaces. We suggest and analyze this method under some mild appropriate conditions imposed on the parameters such that another strong convergence theorem for this problem is obtained. We also apply our main result to image feature extraction with multiple-image blends problem and the split minimization problem, and provide numerical experiments to illustrate the convergence behavior and show the effectiveness of the sequence constructed by the inertial technique.
A Comparative Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory and Arthritic Effects of bradykinin inhibitor Zaltoprofen over Piroxicam in Murine models: A randomized experimental study.
Authors: Sadasivam. Balakrishnan , Chenchula SANTENNA , kumar Sunil , Jhaj Ratinder , Pathan Saman
Published: February 2022

Background and Aims: Inflammation is an essential biochemical protective response of vascularized tissues, broadly classified into acute and chronic inflammation. Zaltoprofen, a unique propionic acid group of NSAID, acts by blocking the augmenting effect of bradykinin. The present study was conducted to evaluate the acute and chronic anti-inflammatory (arthritic) potential of Zaltoprofen over piroxicam in murine models. Methods:A total of 24 healthy Wister rats (200–250 g) of either sex (24 in each model) were obtained from the central animal house, AIIMS, Bhopal and categorized into four different groups, six in each. Zaltoprofen was used as a test and Piroxicam as a Standard (Per Os) agent. The anti-inflammatory or arthritic potential was evaluated and compared by acute and chronic inflammation (carrageenan and formalin-induced)models. Results:In the acute inflammation model, Zaltoprofen when compared to Negative control (NaCl 10ml/kg) there was a significant inhibition in paw volume (P< 0.001) at different time scales with two different doses of Test compound (Zaltoprofen 10&20mg/kg). However, in the chronic inflammation model, Zaltoprofen 10 mg/kg & 20mg/kg doses of the Test compound had been shown a significant reduction in the chronic inflammation comparable to the negative control (NaCl 10ml/kg), though the efficacy was lesser than Positive control (Piroxicam 10mg/kg) (P≤ 0.05). Conclusions:Zaltoprofen possesses significant acute and chronic anti-inflammatory and arthritic effects by inhibiting various inflammatory mediators. Therefore, Zaltoprofen can be explored as a potential alternative agent for the treatment of acute inflammatory and chronic inflammatory or arthritis conditions in human beings.
A comprehensive SARS-CoV-2-human protein-protein interactome network reveals novel pathobiology and host-targeting therapies for COVID-19
Authors: Zhou Yadi , Liu Yuan , Gupta Shagun , Paramo Mauricio I. , Hou Yuan , Mao Chengsheng , Luo Yuan , Judd Julius , Wierbowski Shayne , Bertolotti Marta , Nerkar Mriganka , Jehi Lara , Drayman Nir , Nicolaescu Vlad , Gula Haley , Tay Savaş , Randall Glenn , Lis John T. , Feschotte Cédric , Erzurum Serpil C. , Cheng Feixiong , Yu Haiyuan
Published: February 2022

Physical interactions between viral and host proteins are responsible for almost all aspects of the viral life cycle and the host’s immune response. Studying viral-host protein-protein interactions is thus crucial for identifying strategies for treatment and prevention of viral infection. Here, we use high-throughput yeast two-hybrid and affinity purification followed by mass spectrometry to generate a comprehensive SARS-CoV-2-human protein-protein interactome network consisting of both binary and co-complex interactions. We report a total of 739 high-confidence interactions, showing the highest overlap of interaction partners among published datasets as well as the highest enrichment for genes differentially expressed in samples (such as upper airway and bronchial epithelial cells) from patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Showcasing the utility of our network, we describe a novel interaction between the viral accessory protein ORF3a and the host zinc finger transcription factor ZNF579 to illustrate one of the first examples of a viral factor mediating a direct impact on host transcription. Leveraging our interactome, we performed network-based drug screens for over 2,900 FDA-approved/investigational drugs and obtained a curated list of 21 drugs that had significant network proximities to SARS-CoV-2 host factors, one of which, carvedilol, showed promising antiviral properties. We performed electronic health record-based validation using two independent large-scale, longitudinal COVID-19 patient databases and found that carvedilol usage was associated with a significantly lowered probability (17%-20%, P < 0.001) of obtaining a SARS-CoV-2 positive test after adjusting various confounding factors. Carvedilol additionally showed anti-viral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in a human lung epithelial cell line (EC50 value of 4.1 µM), suggesting a mechanism for its beneficial effect in COVID-19. Our study demonstrates the value of large-scale network systems biology approaches for extracting biological insight from complex biological processes.
A study on Morphological and Mechanical Characterization of Al-4032/SiC/GP Hybrid Composites
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Saini Pardeep , Singh Pradeep K.
Published: February 2022

The pattern of metal matrix composites can be enhanced by integrating the concept of hybrid metal matrix composite to produce newer engineering materials with improved properties. The morphological and mechanical characteristics of Al-4032/SiC/GP hybrid composites have been investigated. The aluminium alloy (Al-4032) based hybrid composites have been fabricated through the bottom pouring stir casting set up, by reinforcing the silicon carbide (SiC) and granite powder ceramic particles as the reinforcement material at various fraction level i.e. 0, 3, 6, 9 weight% in equal proportion. The reinforcement particle size is up to 54μm. The microstructural characterization of the hybrid composite samples has been carried out using optical microscope, SEM and XRD. The study reveals that the reinforcement hybrid particles (SiC + GP) are almost uniformly distributed throughout the matrix phase. The mechanical properties (tensile strength, impact strength and microhardness) of the hybrid composite samples have been obtained and found to be better than the unreinforced alloy.