bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real-Time Visualization of Thrombus during Suction Thrombectomy : Contrast-in-Stasis Technique
Authors: Lee Yoon-Soo
Published: November 2023

This report introduces a simple method to visualize the captured thrombus in real-time during suction thrombectomy using “contrast-in-stasis technique”. It enables visualization of the thrombus captured by a suction catheter as it is being retrieved through the tortuous course of the carotid artery eventually into the guiding catheter. It also offers visual identification of important findings such as fragmentation of thrombus into pieces or loss of thrombus during retrieval, and, therefore, helps clinicians to make further critical decisions during the procedure.
Manyetik Kantilever ile IgG antikorlarının tespiti
Authors: İNAN Orhan  Orçun , DİK Gamze , ULU Ahmet , ATEŞ Burhan , ATALAY Selçuk
Published: November 2023

Bu çalışmada, IgG antikorlarını algılamak için kantilever olarak Fe40Ni38Mo4B18 amorf ferromanyetik şerit kullanılmıştır. Sensör yüzeyi IgG dedektesi için fonksiyonel hale getirilmiş ve daha sonra yapılan ölçümlerde ppm ya da ng mertebesinde IgG algılaması yapılmışt
Extreme dietary specialisation in adult male southern elephant seals: determining variation between individual trophic diets
Authors: Cormack A , Slavich E , Negrete J , Bornemann H , Daneri GA , Rogers TL
Published: November 2023

Although dietary studies have provided important insights into the causes and ramifications of diet variation for the southern elephant seal (SES) (Mirounga leonina), adult males are comparatively underrepresented within that literature. Individual males can vary morphologically as well as behaviourally, leading to differences in their life history trajectories and outcomes. Therefore, to improve our understanding of the male diet, we sought to determine the degree of dietary variation between as well as within individuals from the West Antarctic Peninsula. Secondly, we investigated whether individual morphological traits, seasonality, and year influenced their dietary variation. Whiskers were sampled from 31 adult male seals and used to measure the bulk stable isotope nitrogen (δ15N). We sequentially segmented each whisker to create a time series of datapoints for each individual, allowing us to compare δ15N variation within each seal as well as assess variation between the seals. We then investigated the relationships between male dietary variation and body length, girth, season, and year. We found that adult male SESs maintained an extremely specialised diet. Variation between individuals was strongly correlated with their body size, with larger seals feeding higher up the trophic web. Interestingly, seasonality and year both influenced variation within the seals’ diets, but only year was seen to influence the variability between seals. We discuss the possible causes and ramifications of dietary specialisation for the SES and highlight the need for combined tracking and stable isotope investigations to improve our understanding of the ontogeny of the seals’ dietary specialisation.
Constitutive inhibitory action of muscarinic receptors on adenylyl cyclase in cardiac membranes and its stereospecific suppression by hyoscyamine.
Authors: Říčný J , Gualtieri F , Tuček S
Published: November 2023

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the heart have been shown to display agonist-independent spontaneous (constitutive) activity which causes changes in the opening of cardiac ion channels and in the activity of G proteins. We investigated whether an inhibition of the constitutive activity of muscarinic receptors induced by the binding of antagonist brings about a change in the synthesis of cyclic AMP in rat cardiac membranes, and whether the action of the antagonist is stereospecific. Atropine and S-(-)-hyoscyamine were indeed found to enhance the forskolin-stimulated synthesis of cyclic AMP in rat cardiac (both atrial and ventricular) membranes by up to 24%. The effect was stereospecific and the potency of R-(+)-hyoscyamine was 30 fold lower than that of the S-(-) enantiomer, confirming that the action of hyoscyamine is receptor-mediated. The effect did not depend on the presence of endogenous acetylcholine in the system used. The results strongly suggest that the adenylyl cyclase in the heart is exposed to continuous mild inhibition by constitutively active muscarinic receptors in the membranes of cardiomyocytes.
Visual event-related potentials to moving stimuli: normative data.
Authors: Kubová Z , Kremláček J , Szanyi J , Chlubnová J , Kuba M
Published: November 2023

Visual cognitive responses (P300) to moving stimuli were tested in 36 subjects with the aim to find the normal range of P300 parameters. Concomitantly, the circadian intra-individual variability of the P300 was studied in a subgroup of 6 subjects. Visual stimuli consisted of either coherent (frequent stimulus) or non-coherent motion (random stimulus). The oddball paradigm was applied for recording cognitive responses. P300 to rare stimuli had an average latency of 447.3±46.6 ms and amplitude of 12.9±6.0 mV. The average reaction time was in the range from 322 to 611 ms and there was no correlation between the reaction time and P300 latency. We did not find any significant circadian changes of the P300 parameters in the 6 subjects tested four times during the same day. Cognitive (event-related) responses (P300) displayed distinctly greater inter-individual variability (S.D. of 50 ms) when compared with pattern-reversal and motion-onset VEPs (S.D. of 6.0 ms and 14 ms, respectively). For this reason, the clinical use of P300 elicited by this kind of visual stimuli seems to be rather restricted and the evaluation of its intra-individual changes is preferable.
QT dispersion and T-loop morphology in late pregnancy and after delivery.
Authors: Lechmanová M , Kittnar O , Mlček M , Slavíček J , Dohnalová A , Havránek Š , Kolařík J , Pařízek A
Published: November 2023

The aim of the study was to detect changes of both the QT dispersion and T-loop morphology resulting from the changed spatial position of the heart during pregnancy. Electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic recordings were obtained from 37 healthy women 19-36 years old in the 36th to 40th week of physiological pregnancy and 2 to 6 days after delivery. The same recordings were obtained from 18 healthy women of the same age. The average QT dispersion (±S.D.) in normal subjects was significantly lower (34±12 ms) than in those in late pregnancy (73±18 ms) (P<0.001). The average amplitude of T-loop (Ta) in women in late pregnancy was significantly (P<0.001) smaller (532±98 mV) and the width of T-loop (Tw) was wider (21.24±11.48 deg) than in the control group (793±114 mV and 7.17±3.02 deg, respectively). The partial post-partum restoration of all parameters was not significant. In all groups, the QT dispersion was significantly correlated with Tw but not with Ta. According to these results we can conclude that the QT dispersion is an indirect reflection of the complete process of ventricular repolarization, reflected in the morphology of the T-loop..
Development of a fibroblast activation protein-targeted PET/NIR dual-modality probe and its application in head and neck cancer
Authors: Li Danni , Li Xuran , Li Jiaojiao , Wang Yanhong , Tan Fei , Li Xiao
Published: November 2023

Purpose: The combination of near-infrared (NIR) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging presents an opportunity to utilize the benefits of dual-modality imaging for tumor visualization. Based on the observation that fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is upregulated in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) infiltrating all solid tumors, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), we developed the novel PET/NIR probe [68Ga]Ga-FAP-2286-ICG. Preclinically, the specificity, biodistribution and diagnostic properties were evaluated.

Methods: Cell uptake assays were completed with the U87MG cell to evaluate the specificity of the [68Ga]Ga-FAP-2286-ICG. The tumor-targeting efficiency, biodistribution and optimal imaging time window of the [68Ga]Ga-FAP-2286-ICG were studied in mice bearing U87MG xenografts. HNSCC tumor-bearing mice were used to evaluate the feasibility of [68Ga]Ga-FAP-2286-ICG for tumor localization and guided surgical resection of HNSCC tumors.

Results: The in vitro experiments confirmed that [68Ga]Ga-FAP-2286-ICG showed good stability, specific targeting of the probe to FAP, and the durable retention effect in high-expressing FAP tumors U87MG cell. Good imaging properties such as good tumor uptake, high tumor-to-background ratios (5.44 ± 0.74) and specificity, and tumor contouring were confirmed in studies with mice bearing the U87MG xenograft. PET/CT imaging of the probe in head and neck cancer-bearing mice demonstrated specific uptake of the probe in the tumor with a clear background. Fluorescence imaging further validated the value of the probe in guiding surgical resection and achieving precise removal of the tumor and residual lesions.

Conclusion: In a preclinical model, these attractive [68Ga]Ga-FAP-2286-ICG PET/NIR imaging acquired in head and neck cancer make it a promising FAP-targeted multimodal probe for clinical translation.
impresso Text Reuse at Scale. An interface for the exploration of text reuse data in semantically enriched historical newspapers
Authors: Düring Marten , Romanello Matteo , Ehrmann Maud , Beelen Kaspar , Guido Daniele , Deseure Brecht , Bunout Estelle , Keck Jana , Apostolopoulos Petros
Published: November 2023

Text Reuse reveals meaningful reiterations of text in large corpora. Humanities researchers use text reuse to study, e.g., the posterior reception of influential texts or to reveal evolving publication practices of historical media. This research is often supported by interactive visualizations which highlight relations and differences between text segments. In this paper, we build on earlier work in this domain. We present impresso Text Reuse at Scale, the to our knowledge first interface which integrates text reuse data with other forms of semantic enrichment to enable a versatile and scalable exploration of intertextual relations in historical newspaper corpora. The Text Reuse at Scale interface was developed as part of the impresso project and combines powerful search and filter operations with close and distant reading perspectives. We integrate text reuse data with enrichments derived from topic modeling, named entity recognition and classification, language and document type detection as well as a rich set of newspaper metadata. We report on historical research objectives and common user tasks for the analysis of historical text reuse data and present the prototype interface together with the results of a user evaluation.
Children’s rights and their evidence as a force for inclusion in uncertain times
Authors: Bourke Roseanna
Published: November 2023

Although education is a basic child’s right, and in many countries is protected through legislation, children with disabilities or support needs are not always afforded their right to experience an education at their local school alongside their peers. There is even less evidence that their ‘voices’ are sought or heard when decisions are made for them. This silencing of children in education results in their views being invisible in practice. When making decisions about children’s education and opportunities, an evidence-based model could feasibly address this, if the child’s right to have a say was afforded the same weighting as that of the input from practitioners, and research findings. Evidence-based practice in education typically relies on three forms of evidence: (i) systematic research that has been published or disseminated, (ii) specific practitioner knowledge and experience of children and their needs, and (iii) the children’s and their family’s experience of their own lived lives and capabilities. Combined, these forms of evidence can illuminate the decisions made for an individual child, and forge the pathway for interventions, actions, and solutions that are most likely to ‘work’ for the child, their culture, and their context, all things considered. However, there remains a tension when weighing up the relative status of these forms of evidence, where ‘research’ or ‘expert opinion’ is given more credence than the child’s capabilities: that is, less weighting is given to an individual child’s expression of their circumstance, their context, their ethnicity, and the opportunities afforded to them. The recent global pandemic became a catalyst for listening to children about their learning and education, in part because the ‘shut down periods’ meant classrooms and schools were closed for periods of time. Children had views on what this meant for them and their learning, and for the first time, practitioners did not really know what was in the best interest of the child. A case study is presented to foreground their views and goals for learning during this time. This means that while practitioners’ expertise be afforded a place in decision-making around inclusion or educational options for the child, the child’s own experiences must be included if evidence-based practice is realised. Placed against rights-based practice, it becomes even more critical to give every child their ‘voice’, and to act on their views, as the children are the key informant for their own solutions, and of their own interpretation and expression of the ‘problem’.
Training & prompting pre-service teachers’ noticing in a standardized classroom simulation – a mobile eye-tracking study
Authors: Telgmann Leonie , Müller Katharina
Published: November 2023

Numerous events happening in classrooms require a teacher to select important and filter out irrelevant information. This crucial and challenging skill is referred to as noticing. For noticing classroom management events pre-service teachers have a smaller knowledge base and little teaching experience compared to expert teachers. Supporting pre-service teachers in developing their classroom management knowledge and noticing skill is, thus, of great importance for teacher education. Previous research finds positive effects of interventions on teachers’ noticing during video observation. To our knowledge, no studies depict noticing during teaching. We examined N = 46 pre-service teachers’ noticing with regard to classroom management during classroom teaching in a quasi-experimental between-subjects design. Pre-service teachers’ took part in a standardized classroom simulation after a classroom management training, with one group receiving prompting regarding evidence-based classroom management strategies before and during the classroom simulation and one group receiving only training. We also included a control group without classroom management training. To assess differences in pre-service teachers’ noticing, the classroom simulation elicited comparable conditions, including standardized classroom management events and student behavior. Mobile eye-tracking as well as retrospective video observations were used to explore teachers’ event-related and global noticing. Event-related noticing was assessed via count and accuracy of noticed classroom management events. Global noticing included objective parameters of teachers eye movements (visit/fixation counts and duration) onto the students in the standardized classroom simulation. The results show that training and prompting significantly affected pre-service teachers’ event-related noticing, with both experimental groups making fewer target and time errors compared to the control group. No significant differences were found with regard to global noticing. This includes fixation and visit count and duration on students. Correlational analysis showed a positive association between higher noticing accuracy and share of fixations on students. This study expands upon previous empirical research using mobile eye-tracking to obtain objective measures of teachers’ noticing. It sheds light on the relevance of knowledge for teachers’ noticing during teaching. It also takes a first step toward understanding how pre-service teachers’ noticing during classroom teaching can be promoted through fostering knowledge about classroom management through a training.
The association between serum selenium levels and pathological features of papillary thyroid cancer in 284 patients
Authors: Ge Shenghui , Zhao Junyu , Yao Jinming , Fu Hang , Tian Yutian , Shan Yuanyuan , Sun Mengli , Feng Jing , Dong Jianjun , Liao Lin
Published: November 2023

Objective

The relationship between serum selenium levels and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), especially the pathological features, still remains controversial. We conducted this study to investigate the relationship between serum selenium levels and PTC in a Chinese population.

Methods

Cross-sectional data of 284 patients with PTC were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University. The general clinical characteristics, serum selenium levels, and tumor pathological features were described in PTC. The association between serum selenium levels and pathological features in PTC was analyzed using SPSS 26.0 statistical software.

Results

Our results showed that the median serum selenium level was 79.15 μg/L (IQR: 71.00 - 86.98 μg/L) in PTC patients. Serum selenium levels were lower in females than males (p = 0.035). Serum selenium levels were negatively correlated with the number of lymph node metastases (p = 0.048). High serum selenium (OR = 0.397, 95%CI: 0.217 - 0.725) and diastolic blood pressure (OR = 1.028, 95%CI: 1.005 - 1.051) were related factors for the incidence of bilateral tumors. High serum selenium (OR = 0.320, 95%CI: 0.166 - 0.617) and diastolic blood pressure (OR = 1.066, 95%CI: 1.031 - 1.103) were related factors for tumor multifocal incidence.

Conclusions

The serum selenium levels of PTC patients in females were lower than males. High serum selenium levels might be a protective factor in PTC patients. Further research is necessary to better understand the influence of selenium on PTC progression.
A novel voting classifier for electric vehicles population at different locations using Al-Biruni earth radius optimization algorithm
Authors: Saeed Mohammed A. , M. El-Kenawy El-Sayed , Ibrahim Abdelhameed , Abdelhamid Abdelaziz A. , Eid Marwa M. , El-Said M. , Abualigah Laith , Alharbi Amal H. , Khafaga Doaa Sami
Published: November 2023

The rising popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) can be attributed to their positive impact on the environment and their ability to lower operational expenses. Nevertheless, the task of determining the most suitable EV types for a specific site continues to pose difficulties, mostly due to the wide range of consumer preferences and the inherent limits of EVs. This study introduces a new voting classifier model that incorporates the Al-Biruni earth radius optimization algorithm, which is derived from the stochastic fractal search. The model aims to predict the optimal EV type for a given location by considering factors such as user preferences, availability of charging infrastructure, and distance to the destination. The proposed classification methodology entails the utilization of ensemble learning, which can be subdivided into two distinct stages: pre-classification and classification. During the initial stage of classification, the process of data preprocessing involves converting unprocessed data into a refined, systematic, and well-arranged format that is appropriate for subsequent analysis or modeling. During the classification phase, a majority vote ensemble learning method is utilized to categorize unlabeled data properly and efficiently. This method consists of three independent classifiers. The efficacy and efficiency of the suggested method are showcased through simulation experiments. The results indicate that the collaborative classification method performs very well and consistently in classifying EV populations. In comparison to similar classification approaches, the suggested method demonstrates improved performance in terms of assessment metrics such as accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and F-score. The improvements observed in these metrics are 91.22%, 94.34%, 89.5%, and 88.5%, respectively. These results highlight the overall effectiveness of the proposed method. Hence, the suggested approach is seen more favorable for implementing the voting classifier in the context of the EV population across different geographical areas.
Circulating tumor cells participate in the formation of microvascular invasion and impact on clinical outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Sun Bin , Ji Wei-Dan , Wang Wen-Chao , Chen Lei , Ma Jun-Yong , Tang Er-Jiang , Lin Mou-Bin , Zhang Xiao-Feng
Published: November 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor worldwide. Although the treatment strategies have been improved in recent years, the long-term prognosis of HCC is far from satisfactory mainly due to high postoperative recurrence and metastasis rate. Vascular tumor thrombus, including microvascular invasion (MVI) and portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT), affects the outcome of hepatectomy and liver transplantation. If vascular invasion could be found preoperatively, especially the risk of MVI, more reasonable surgical selection will be chosen to reduce the risk of postoperative recurrence and metastasis. However, there is a lack of reliable prediction methods, and the formation mechanism of MVI/PVTT is still unclear. At present, there is no study to explore the possibility of tumor thrombus formation from a single circulating tumor cell (CTC) of HCC, nor any related study to describe the possible leading role and molecular mechanism of HCC CTCs as an important component of MVI/PVTT. In this study, we review the current understanding of MVI and possible mechanisms, discuss the function of CTCs in the formation of MVI and interaction with immune cells in the circulation. In conclusion, we discuss implications for potential therapeutic targets and the prospect of clinical treatment of HCC.
SARS-CoV-2 N protein induced acute kidney injury in diabetic db/db mice is associated with a Mincle-dependent M1 macrophage activation
Authors: Wu Wenjing , Wang Wenbiao , Liang Liying , Chen Junzhe , Sun Sifan , Wei Biao , Zhong Yu , Huang Xiao-Ru , Liu Jian , Wang Xiaoqin , Yu Xueqing , Lan Hui-Yao
Published: November 2023

“Cytokine storm” is common in critically ill COVID-19 patients, however, mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we reported that overexpression of SARS-CoV-2 N protein in diabetic db/db mice significantly increased tubular death and the release of HMGB1, one of the damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), to trigger M1 proinflammatory macrophage activation and production of IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1 via a Mincle-Syk/NF-κB-dependent mechanism. This was further confirmed in vitro that overexpression of SARS-CoV-2 N protein caused the release of HMGB1 from injured tubular cells under high AGE conditions, which resulted in M1 macrophage activation and production of proinflammatory cytokines via a Mincle-Syk/NF-κB-dependent mechanism. This was further evidenced by specifically silencing macrophage Mincle to block HMGB1-induced M1 macrophage activation and production of IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1 in vitro. Importantly, we also uncovered that treatment with quercetin largely improved SARS-CoV-2 N protein-induced AKI in db/db mice. Mechanistically, we found that quercetin treatment significantly inhibited the release of a DAMP molecule HMGB1 and inactivated M1 pro-inflammatory macrophage while promoting reparative M2 macrophage responses by suppressing Mincle-Syk/NF-κB signaling in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 N protein-induced AKI in db/db mice is associated with Mincle-dependent M1 macrophage activation. Inhibition of this pathway may be a mechanism through which quercetin inhibits COVID-19-associated AKI.
A comprehensive approach to developing a multi-epitope vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis: from in silico design to in vitro immunization evaluation
Authors: Jiang Fan , Han Yong , Liu Yinping , Xue Yong , Cheng Peng , Xiao Li , Gong Wenping
Published: November 2023

Introduction

The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, currently used against tuberculosis (TB), exhibits inconsistent efficacy, highlighting the need for more potent TB vaccines.

Materials and methods

In this study, we employed reverse vaccinology techniques to develop a promising multi-epitope vaccine (MEV) candidate, called PP13138R, for TB prevention. PP13138R comprises 34 epitopes, including B-cell, cytotoxic T lymphocyte, and helper T lymphocyte epitopes. Using bioinformatics and immunoinformatics tools, we assessed the physicochemical properties, structural features, and immunological characteristics of PP13138R.

Results

The vaccine candidate demonstrated excellent antigenicity, immunogenicity, and solubility without any signs of toxicity or sensitization. In silico analyses revealed that PP13138R interacts strongly with Toll-like receptor 2 and 4, stimulating innate and adaptive immune cells to produce abundant antigen-specific antibodies and cytokines. In vitro experiments further supported the efficacy of PP13138R by significantly increasing the population of IFN-γ+ T lymphocytes and the production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 cytokines in active tuberculosis patients, latent tuberculosis infection individuals, and healthy controls, revealing the immunological characteristics and compare the immune responses elicited by the PP13138R vaccine across different stages of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the potential of PP13138R as a promising MEV candidate, characterized by favorable antigenicity, immunogenicity, and solubility, without any toxicity or sensitization.
Mimicking the brain: Epstein-Barr virus and foreign agents as drivers of neuroimmune attack in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Thomas Olivia G. , Olsson Tomas
Published: November 2023

T cells have an essential role in adaptive immunity against pathogens and cancer, but failure of thymic tolerance mechanisms can instead lead to escape of T cells with the ability to attack host tissues. Multiple sclerosis (MS) occurs when structures such as myelin and neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) are the target of autoreactive immune responses, resulting in lesions in the brain and spinal cord which cause varied and episodic neurological deficits. A role for autoreactive T cell and antibody responses in MS is likely, and mounting evidence implicates Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in disease mechanisms. In this review we discuss antigen specificity of T cells involved in development and progression of MS. We examine the current evidence that these T cells can target multiple antigens such as those from pathogens including EBV and briefly describe other mechanisms through which viruses could affect disease. Unravelling the complexity of the autoantigen T cell repertoire is essential for understanding key events in the development and progression of MS, with wider implications for development of future therapies.
GRPR-targeting radiotheranostics for breast cancer management
Authors: D’Onofrio Alice , Engelbrecht Swantje , Läppchen Tilman , Rominger Axel , Gourni Eleni
Published: November 2023

Breast Cancer (BC) is the most common cancer worldwide and, despite the advancements made toward early diagnosis and novel treatments, there is an urgent need to reduce its mortality. The Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor (GRPR) is a promising target for the development of theranostic radioligands for luminal BC with positive estrogen receptor (ER) expression, because GRPR is expressed not only in primary lesions but also in lymph nodes and distant metastasis. In the last decades, several GRPR-targeting molecules have been evaluated both at preclinical and clinical level, however, most of the studies have been focused on prostate cancer (PC). Nonetheless, given the relevance of non-invasive diagnosis and potential treatment of BC through Peptide Receptor Radioligand Therapy (PRRT), this review aims at collecting the available preclinical and clinical data on GRPR-targeting radiopeptides for the imaging and therapy of BC, to better understand the current state-of-the-art and identify future perspectives and possible limitations to their clinical translation. In fact, since luminal-like tumors account for approximately 80% of all BC, many BC patients are likely to benefit from the development of GRPR-radiotheranostics.
SEN1990 is a predicted winged helix-turn-helix protein involved in the pathogenicity of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis and the expression of the gene oafB in the SPI-17
Authors: Hoppe-Elsholz Guillermo , Piña-Iturbe Alejandro , Vallejos Omar P. , Suazo Isidora D. , Sepúlveda-Alfaro Javiera , Pereira-Sánchez Patricia , Martínez-Balboa Yohana , Catalán Eduardo A. , Reyes Pablo , Scaff Valentina , Bassi Franco , Campos-Gajardo Sofia , Avilés Andrea , Santiviago Carlos A. , Kalergis Alexis M. , Bueno Susan M.
Published: November 2023

Excisable genomic islands (EGIs) are horizontally acquired genetic elements that harbor an array of genes with diverse functions. ROD21 is an EGI found integrated in the chromosome of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (Salmonella ser. Enteritidis). While this island is known to be involved in the capacity of Salmonella ser. Enteritidis to cross the epithelial barrier and colonize sterile organs, the role of most ROD21 genes remains unknown, and thus, the identification of their function is fundamental to understanding the impact of this EGI on bacterium pathogenicity. Therefore, in this study, we used a bioinformatical approach to evaluate the function of ROD21-encoded genes and delve into the characterization of SEN1990, a gene encoding a putative DNA-binding protein. We characterized the predicted structure of SEN1990, finding that this protein contains a three-stranded winged helix-turn-helix (wHTH) DNA-binding domain. Additionally, we identified homologs of SEN1990 among other members of the EARL EGIs. Furthermore, we deleted SEN1990 in Salmonella ser. Enteritidis, finding no differences in the replication or maintenance of the excised ROD21, contrary to what the previous Refseq annotation of the protein suggests. High-throughput RNA sequencing was carried out to evaluate the effect of the absence of SEN1990 on the bacterium’s global transcription. We found a downregulated expression of oafB, an SPI-17-encoded acetyltransferase involved in O-antigen modification, which was restored when the deletion mutant was complemented ectopically. Additionally, we found that strains lacking SEN1990 had a reduced capacity to colonize sterile organs in mice. Our findings suggest that SEN1990 encodes a wHTH domain-containing protein that modulates the transcription of oafB from the SPI-17, implying a crosstalk between these pathogenicity islands and a possible new role of ROD21 in the pathogenesis of Salmonella ser. Enteritidis.
Effect of different types of biochar on soil properties and functional microbial communities in rhizosphere and bulk soils and their relationship with CH4 and N2O emissions
Authors: Qi Jian-Qing , Yuan Hai-Yan , Zhuang Qi-Lu , Zama Eric-Fru , Tian Xiao-Fei , Tao Bao-Xian , Zhang Bao-Hua
Published: November 2023

Biochar as an agricultural soil amendment plays vital roles in mediating methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in soils. The link between different types of biochar, bulk soil, and rhizosphere microbial communities in relation to CH4 and N2O emissions is being investigated in this study. The rice pot experiment was conducted using biochar at two temperatures (300°C and 500°C) in combination with three biochar levels (0, 2, 10% w/w). Soil properties and the abundance of genes associated with CH4 and N2O emissions from both rhizosphere and bulk soils were investigated. The study also aimed to examine the structure of microbial communities (pmoA, nosZ) in rhizosphere and bulk soils whereas CH4 and N2O emissions were monitored while growing rice. Results showed that biochar at 300°C and 10% incorporation significantly increased the CH4 emissions by up to 59% rise compared to the control group. Random Forest analysis revealed that the ratio of mcrA/pmoA along with the abundance of mcrA from both rhizosphere and bulk soils, the abundance of AOA, TN, DOC, and the community composition of pmoA-harboring microorganisms from both bulk and rhizosphere soils were important predictors of CH4 emissions. Therefore, the ratio of mcrA/pmoA in rhizosphere soil and the abundance of AOA in bulk soil were the main factors influencing CH4 emissions. Variation Partitioning Analysis (VPA) results indicated that the effects of these factors on bulk soil were 9% of CH4 emissions variations in different treatments, which contributed more than rhizosphere soils’ factors. Moreover, random forest analysis results indicated that the abundance of AOB in bulk soil was the most important predictor influencing N2O emissions. The VPA result revealed that the factors in rhizosphere soil could explain more than 28% of the variations in N2O emissions. Our study highlights that rhizosphere soil has a more significant effect than bulk soil on N2O production. Our findings further the understanding of the link between bulk and rhizosphere attributes, and their impact on CH4 and N2O emissions in paddy soils. In summary, we recommend the application of biochar at 500°C and 2% incorporation rate for agricultural production in the area.
Deletion of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi tolC reduces bacterial adhesion and invasion toward host cells
Authors: Hussain Ashraf , Ong Eugene Boon Beng , Balaram Prabha , Ismail Asma , Kien Phua Kia
Published: November 2023

Background

S. Typhi is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes typhoid fever in humans. Its virulence depends on the TolC outer membrane pump, which expels toxic compounds and antibiotics. However, the role of TolC in the host cell adhesion and invasion by S. Typhi is unclear.

Objective

We aimed to investigate how deleting the tolC affects the adhesion and invasion of HT-29 epithelial and THP-1 macrophage cells by S. Typhi in vitro.

Methods

We compared the adhesion and invasion rates of the wild-type and the tolC mutant strains of S. Typhi using in vitro adhesion and invasion assays. We also measured the expression levels of SPI-1 genes (invF, sipA, sipC, and sipD) using quantitative PCR.

Results

We found that the tolC mutant showed a significant reduction in adhesion and invasion compared to the wild-type strain in both cell types. We also observed that the expression of SPI-1 genes was downregulated in the tolC mutant.

Discussion

Our results suggest that TolC modulates the expression of SPI-1 genes and facilitates the adhesion and invasion of host cells by S. Typhi. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of S. Typhi pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance. However, our study is limited by the use of in vitro models and does not reflect the complex interactions between S. Typhi and host cells in vivo.
CCL5 promotes LFA-1 expression in Th17 cells and induces LCK and ZAP70 activation in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Zhao Jingwei , An Ke , Mao Zhijuan , Qu Yi , Wang Danlei , Li Jiangting , Min Zhe , Xue Zheng
Published: November 2023

Background

Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is associated to autoimmune disorders, is characterized by the pathological deposition of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) and loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Th17 cells are thought to be responsible for the direct loss of DA neurons. C-C chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) specifically induces Th17 cell infiltration into the SN. However, the specific effect of CCL5 on Th17 cells in PD and the relationship between CCL5 and lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) expression in Th17 cells are unknown.

Methods

We evaluated the effects of CCL5 on LFA-1 expression in Th17 cells in mice treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and examined Th17 cell differentiation upon CCL5 stimulation in vitro. Furthermore, we assessed the effects of CCL5 on tyrosine kinase zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 (ZAP70) and lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK) activity in CCL5-stimulated Th17 cells in vivo and in vitro.

Results

CCL5 increased the proportion of peripheral Th17 cells in MPTP-treated mice, LFA-1 expression on Th17 cells, and Th17 cell levels in the SN of MPTP-treated mice. CCL5 promoted Th17 cell differentiation and LFA-1 expression in naive T cells in vitro. Moreover, CCL5 increased Th17 cell differentiation and LFA-1 expression by stimulating LCK and ZAP70 activation in naive CD4+ T cells. Inhibiting LCK and ZAP70 activation reduced the proportion of peripheral Th17 cells and LFA-1 surface expression in MPTP-treated mice, and Th17 cell levels in the SN also significantly decreased.

Conclusion

CCL5, which increased Th17 cell differentiation and LFA-1 protein expression by activating LCK and ZAP70, could increase the Th17 cell number in the SN, induce DA neuron death and aggravate PD.
Adoptive NK Cell Therapy - a Beacon of Hope in Multiple Myeloma Treatment
Authors: Vu Son Hai , Pham Ha Hong , Pham Thao Thi Phuong , Le Thanh Thien , Vo Manh-Cuong , Jung Sung-Hoon , Lee Je-Jung , Nguyen Xuan-Hung
Published: November 2023

Major advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) have been achieved by effective new agents such as proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, or monoclonal antibodies. Despite significant progress, MM remains still incurable and, recently, cellular immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment for relapsed/refractory MM. The emergence of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology has transformed immunotherapy by enhancing the antitumor functions of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, leading to effective control of hematologic malignancies. Recent advancements in gene delivery to NK cells have paved the way for the clinical application of CAR-NK cell therapy. CAR-NK cell therapy strategies have demonstrated safety, tolerability, and substantial efficacy in treating B cell malignancies in various clinical settings. However, their effectiveness in eliminating MM remains to be established. This review explores multiple approaches to enhance NK cell cytotoxicity, persistence, expansion, and manufacturing processes, and highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with CAR-NK cell therapy against MM. By shedding light on these aspects, this review aims to provide valuable insights into the potential of CAR-NK cell therapy as a promising approach for improving the treatment outcomes of MM patients.
How do EFL learners process oral tasks with different complexity: an exploratory study
Authors: Xing Jiaxin
Published: November 2023

The effects of task complexity on learners’ performance has been a much-researched issue in SLA field. However, until now many studies fail to provide empirical evidence of the effects of task complexity on learners’ processing. To fill the gap, this study examined how task complexity affects L2 learners’ cognitive processes with reference to Levelt’s speech production model (1989). Ten Chinese EFL learners were asked to complete two narrative tasks with different complexity manipulated by +/− few elements under the same planning conditions. Results revealed that: (1) in the complex task learners showed a slightly lower percentage of cognitive processes at the stage of conceptualization and formulation and a higher percentage linked to monitoring at the stage of comprehension; (2) learners’ fluency in oral performance was affected by the cognitive processes at all the stages of oral production. Accuracy seemed to be most enhanced by learners’ form monitoring at the comprehension stage. The study sheds light on how learners process the tasks with different complexity when producing the language, and is of implication to task-based language teaching.
Adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare professionals working in Ethiopia: a facility-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Asefa Adisu , Derjachew Nitsuh , Belete Abebe Muche , Talargia Feredegn , Melese Daniel Molla , Getachew Bekalu
Published: November 2023

Background of the study

One of the best medical approaches for halting the spread of infectious diseases is vaccination. During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) were a high-risk population. Due to their susceptibility in terms of their working environment, front-line healthcare personnel should receive vaccinations before others.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines among Ethiopian healthcare professionals in 2022.

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in Addis Ababa Health Facilities, Ethiopia. A total of 290 health professionals who were vaccinated during the study period were involved. Data entry was done by Epidata (version 3.1) and analyzed using SPSS software version 26. Bivariable analysis was conducted and a p value of less than 0.25 was selected for further multivariable analysis. A p value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant at a 95% confidence level.

Results

A total of 277 study participants were successfully involved in the study, yielding a response rate of 95.5%. The study participants comprised 123 (44.4%) women and 154 (55.6%) men. The majority of them (202, 72.9%) had received the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. Among the 277 study participants, 142 (51.3%) had developed adverse reactions associated with vaccination. Of these, 81 (29.2%) had moderate adverse reactions. Only 2 (0.7%) had developed adverse reactions that led to hospitalization. The most reported short-term adverse reactions were injection site pain (151, 54.5%), headache (114, 41.2%), fever (104, 37.5%), fatigability and tiredness (94, 33.9%), chills (92, 33.2%), muscle pain (79, 28.5%), and decreased sleep quality (34, 12.3%). The multivariable logistic regression showed that the odds of having an adverse reaction were 1.501 times higher among women than men (AOR = 1.501, 95% CI [1.08, 2.754]).

Conclusion and recommendations

This study revealed that adverse effects following the COVID-19 vaccine were moderate in magnitude and minimal in severity. This study showed that adverse reactions that led to hospitalization were rare. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that national, multicenter, prospective, and randomized studies be conducted to assess the independent association of each vaccine.
Impact of China’s National Centralized Drug Procurement Policy on pharmaceutical enterprises’ financial performance: a quasi-natural experimental study
Authors: Sun Zhixuan , Na Xin , Chu Shuzhen
Published: November 2023

Introduction

In China, the interest relationship between pharmaceutical enterprises and medical institutions has harmed the healthy development of pharmaceutical enterprises. In November 2018, the National Centralized Drug Procurement (NCDP) policy was published. The NCDP policy severs the interest relationship and significantly impacts on pharmaceutical enterprises’s financial performance.

Methods

Using the implementation of China’s National Centralized Drug Procurement (NCDP) policy as a quasi-natural experiment, this study evaluated the impact of participation in the NCDP policy on pharmaceutical enterprises’ financial performance. We developed a difference-in-difference model to estimate the change in financial performance after NCDP implementation, based on financial data on Chinese listed pharmaceutical enterprises.

Results

We found that the bid-winning enterprises’ financial performance significantly improved after participating in NCDP. This may be related to lower costs, market share expansion, and increased research and development investment by the bid-winning enterprises.

Discussion

To further promote the high-quality development of pharmaceutical enterprises in China, the government should expand the variety of drugs on the NCDP list (NCDP drugs), while improving the drug patent protection system and the policies to support the bid-winning enterprises.
Comprehensive dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents in a juvenile correctional treatment center: a pilot evaluation
Authors: Folk Johanna B. , Yang Phillip , Thomas Anne , Lyon Jayme , Patel Jaisal , Yoon Clara , Robles-Ramamurthy Barbara
Published: November 2023

Background

Incarcerated youth commonly present with emotion dysregulation, aggression, and comorbid psychiatric disorders, yet often do not receive necessary mental health treatment while confined. It is therefore crucial to expand the evidence base regarding empirically supported mental health interventions which are feasible to implement in secure settings to address incarcerated youth's mental health needs. Through a community-academic partnership, the current pilot study evaluated a comprehensive dialectical behavior therapy program implemented in a juvenile correctional treatment center.

Methods

Youth participants (N = 113) were on average 15.37 years old (SD = 1.10, range = 13–17), 68.1% boys, and identified as 69.0% Latinx, 22.1% Black, 8.0% White, and 0.9% Native American. Youth received comprehensive dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents (DBT-A), including individual therapy, skills training groups, family therapy, multi-family skills training groups, and skills coaching in the milieu by direct care staff who participated in extensive training and ongoing consultation team meetings. As part of a facility-designed program evaluation, youth completed a battery of empirically validated assessments of mental health and emotion regulation prior to and following completion of the program.

Results

Results show that comprehensive DBT-A is feasible to implement in a juvenile correctional treatment center and overall, youth improved from pre- to post-treatment in mental health symptoms and emotion regulation, with small to medium effect sizes.

Conclusion

These findings build upon a growing literature showing dialectical behavior therapy is a promising intervention for treating emotion dysregulation and mental health conditions and can be successfully implemented in juvenile forensic settings.
Building upcycling or building reconstruction? The ‘Global Benefit’ perspective to support investment decisions for sustainable cities
Authors: Fregonara Elena
Published: November 2023

Investment decisions on demolition and reconstruction vs. refurbishment of the existing building stock can extend beyond financial and economic criteria. However, they must involve energy savings, environmental preservation, material consumption, and waste management for sustainable cities. The regulatory framework used in the past decades and the correlated research seem more unbalanced toward the containment of building energy consumption than toward embodied energy (EE) management in production processes and environmental impact management. Foreshadowing the perspective of a more restrictive regulatory framework on EE, such as prohibiting the displacement of materials with residual energy potential, such as waste in landfills, some challenging frontier issues are involved when facing the limits of the economic evaluation methodologies for transformation projects. Thus, this study aimed to propose a reasoning and an operative modality to support urban governance policies and investment decisions involving private and public subjects in the construction sector. Circular economy and life cycle thinking principles, through life cycle costing (LCC) and life cycle assessment (LCA), are assumed and harmonized with the discounted cash-flow analysis (DCFA): (1) monetizing and modeling into the DCFA the EE and the embodied carbon (EC); (2) internalizing the Global Cost and the new ‘Global Benefit’ into the net present value (NPV) calculation; and (3) focusing on the residual end-of-life value calculation from the early design and investment decision stages. The reasoning can be extended to single buildings, the urban scale, or even entire portions of existing buildings in urban areas concerning typological sub-segments. The operative modality is yet to be explored in a concrete application for orienting urban governance policies and sustainable public–private partnerships, including environmental and, thus, social externalities even in the private real estate investment decision process, in the scope of evolving regulations.