bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conceitos e tecnologias da Indústria 4.0
Authors: Lima Faíque Ribeiro , Gomes Rogério
Published: January 2021

O objetivo geral deste trabalho é avaliar características da produção científica internacional nas tecnologias associadas à Indústria 4.0. A metodologia empregada é composta de duas etapas: (i) seleção das tecnologias (termos) apontadas na literatura específica; e (ii) análise bibliométrica das publicações científicas que contêm os termos característicos da Indústria 4.0 existentes na base de dados Scopus. A hipótese adotada foi que, por ser um processo em andamento, a Indústria 4.0 e seus conceitos ainda estão em construção. Algumas das conclusões do trabalho são: os países que mais se destacam são aqueles que implantaram estratégias nacionais relacionadas às tecnologias da Indústria 4.0 e que obtiveram, nos anos posteriores, um amplo crescimento no número de publicações; e, dentre as instituições de financiamento, as governamentais se destacam no patrocínio das publicações científicas, em especial as chinesas, comprovando o esforço público.
A mediação cultural na biblioteca escolar e o bibliotecário infoeducador
Authors: Pajeú Hélio Márcio , Almeida Arthur Henrique Feijó de
Published: January 2021

Ao longo do tempo, a biblioteca escolar tem modificado o seu perfil, abrindo as portas para a mediação cultural ao tentar deixar para trás o estigma de lugar silencioso e cobrando uma nova atuação do bibliotecário escolar. Este artigo tem por objetivo analisar o caminho trilhado pela biblioteca escolar no Brasil a fim de refletir sobre sua atual configuração como um espaço de mediação cultural e o papel do bibliotecário infoeducador no contexto atual desses espaços, por meio de uma pesquisa exploratória de caráter bibliográfico e documental e de uma revisão diacrônica do conceito de biblioteca escolar. Como resultados podemos afirmar que o papel fundamental da biblioteca escolar na formação de seus usuários por meio de uma prática que vá além do suporte à sala de aula e do incentivo à leitura, como também a necessidade de profissionais capacitados para tal.
A dimensão contemplativa do acesso à informação em uma coleção bibliográfica do século XIX
Authors: Ferreira Rubens da Silva
Published: January 2021

O trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a dimensão contemplativa do acesso à informação em uma coleção bibliográfica do século XIX: os livros da biblioteca do Barão de Guajará. Esta coleção atualmente pertence ao Instituto Histórico e Geográfico do Pará (IHGP) e adquiriu o status de objeto de exposição (expôt). O estudo de caso é orientado pela discussão dos conceitos de acesso e comunicação, este último trabalhado na perspectiva museológica. Os dados qualitativos e quantitativos foram recolhidos entre março de 2018 e janeiro de 2020 na sede do IHGP. O estudo mostra que a passagem do status de biblioteca particular para o status de objeto de museu agrega valor à coleção bibliográfica. O novo status oferece aos visitantes outro tipo de experiência informacional, articulando os elementos livro, mobiliário, prédio e proprietário com a cultura, a história e a política no século XIX. Em conclusão, tem-se uma experiência estética e sensível que remete o observador a Belém Imperial com os seus modos de consumir a cultura impressa que escova das editoras e livrarias da França.
Representação temática em repositórios institucionais de bibliotecas universitárias
Authors: Tartarotti Roberta Cristina Dal'Evedove
Published: January 2021

Na contemporaneidade, os repositórios institucionais possibilitam a reunião, armazenamento, tratamento, preservação e visibilidade dos recursos informacionais produzidos no âmbito acadêmico. Neste contexto, o objetivo da pesquisa foi investigar a representação temática da informação documental em repositórios institucionais no contexto de bibliotecas universitárias, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada de diagnóstico organizacional com gestores e bibliotecários catalogadores-indexadores dos repositórios institucionais da USP, UNESP e UNICAMP, com coleta de documentação. A sistematização da análise comparada no universo de repositórios institucionais investigado revela a necessidade de adequação destes sistemas de recuperação da informação no que tange à representação temática realizada pelo bibliotecário catalogador-indexador. Como considerações finais, salienta-se a importância da qualidade da representação temática dos recursos informacionais em repositórios institucionais, possibilitando a adequada recuperação por assuntos pela comunidade acadêmica.
Pós-humanismo e pós-humano
Authors: Casimiro Adelaide Helena Targino , Araújo Wagner Junqueira de
Published: January 2021

Refletir sobre os conceitos relacionados ao tema “pós-humanismo” e suas abordagens pela Ciência da Informação (CI) e demais áreas da Ciência. Foram analisados os trabalhos sobre pós-humanismo indexados na Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA), Information Science and Technology Abstracts (ISTA), Emerald, Base de Dados Referencial de Artigos de Periódicos em Ciência da Informação (BRAPCI) e Base do Encontro Nacional de Pesquisa em Ciência da Informação (BENANCIB) no período de 2010 a 2020. É de natureza aplicada, com objetivos exploratórios e descritivos. Um estudo bibliométrico com coleta e análise dos dados a revisão sistemática com aplicação do Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyse (PRISMA). Nos resultados tiveram 33 textos analisados, reunidos em 11 áreas, indexados por 108 palavras-chave, com 45 autores dos respectivos textos e 1124 referências, sendo oito pesquisadores recorrentes. O pós-humanismo aponta para uma perspectiva onde o humano perde seu protagonismo como ser dominante do universo e desenvolve parcerias com as máquinas, os animais e o meio ambiente. Os resultados indicam que estamos em um período histórico em que não é válido levantar questões sobre o que faremos quando as pessoas se tornarem pós-humanas, porque já vivenciamos esta realidade, e portanto, os estudos devem ser pautados naquilo que podemos fazer agora para atender aos padrões e exigências de consumo desses indivíduos.
Nas ruas, casas e rocinhas
Authors: Barroso Daniel Souza
Published: January 2021

Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar a estrutura da posse de cativos no núcleo urbano central de Belém (Grão-Pará), entre os anos de 1810 e 1888. A partir da análise serial de 202 inventários post mortem, foram examinadas as transformações nos padrões de distribuição e concentração de posse e nas características demográficas dos cativos da região central da cidade. Esse contexto foi marcado, de um lado, por rearticulações no escravismo brasileiro e, do outro, por profundas mudanças na estrutura urbana, no perfil da população e da economia de Belém, resultantes da consolidação da borracha como o principal produto de exportação paraense.
Letramento, escravidão e mocambos
Authors: Viana Iamara da Silva , Gomes Flávio dos Santos
Published: January 2021

Neste ensaio apresentamos um documento inédito revelando a localização de livros e manuscritos num rancho de quilombola. São evocadas questões iniciais a respeito das expectativas de alfabetização, posse de livros entre escravizados e libertos. Horizontes de letramento podiam estar próximos não só de cativos que trabalhavam na casa grande, mas também de senzalas e mocambos. Mesmo nos quilombos, não havia isolamentos sociais que excluíam o acesso as senzalas, as trocas mercantis e a circulação de notícias atlânticas. Diante das questões de ensino da História da África, da escravidão e da pós-emancipação, assim como do reconhecimento dos territórios, culturas ancestrais e implementação de políticas públicas avaliamos as possibilidades de reflexão sobre o passado da escravidão e o presente da educação quilombola.

.
Pathogens Hijack Host Cell Metabolism: Intracellular Infection as a Driver of the Warburg Effect in Cancer and Other Chronic Inflammatory Conditions
Authors: Proal Amy D. , VanElzakker Michael B.
Published: January 2021

The Warburg effect refers to a metabolic state in which cells preferentially use aerobic glycolysis rather than oxidative phosphorylation to generate ATP and macromolecules. A number of chronic inflammatory conditions are characterized by host cells that adopt a sustained, pathological Warburg-like metabolism. In cancer, previously healthy cells shift into a Warburg state centered on rapid energy production and increased cell proliferation that drives tumor formation. Macrophage in atherosclerotic plaque and in sarcoidosis granuloma can also harbor a Warburg-like phenotype that promotes an inflammatory milieu. The question of why host cells in patients with cancer and other chronic inflammatory conditions adapt a pathological Warburg-like metabolism is a matter of debate. This review/hypothesis piece explores how intracellular infection can contribute to this Warburg metabolism or related pathological metabolic states. We detail molecular mechanisms by which viral, bacterial, and protozoan intracellular pathogens can induce, or contribute to, a Warburg-like metabolism in infected host cells in order to meet their own replication and nutritional needs. We also discuss how host defense towards infection may impact cellular metabolic changes. We then provide examples of how many of these same intracellular pathogens have been identified in tumors, atherosclerotic lesions, granuloma, and other tissues containing cells with a Warburg or altered metabolism. Last, we examine further trends associated with infection and host cell metabolism, including how pathogen-driven hijacking of host cell lipid metabolism can support viral, bacterial, and parasite survival and replication.
Evaluation of Advanced Chemical Oxidation Process for the Pretreatment of Mixed Agro-Food Industrial Wastewater in Nablus, Palestine
Authors: Younis Saja , Al-Sa`ed Rashed
Published: January 2021

This study investigated the reduction of organic loads from mixed agro-food industrial wastewaters (dairy and slaughterhouse) of Nablus city using advanced oxidation process (AOP), a high- rate chemical oxidation reaction. Bench-scale Jar tests using an advanced oxidation process (AOP) were performed as a pretreatment stage. Direct applications of classical Fenton’s process on mixed raw agro-food wastewater samples (COD: 15400-18200 mg/l) revealed unsatisfactory results. The performance of the Fenton process was evaluated using three mixed samples with different pre-treatment trials: (A) coagulant (FeCl3.6H2O) addition, (B) settling (2h) allowed, and use of flocculent (lime Ca(OH)2) in sample (C). Compared with other partial treatments, sample (C), Fenton`s process lime preceded, was the most effective in the removal of organic (89% COD; 80% TKN) and inorganic loads (91% TSS; 62% TS) under H2O2/COD (w/w ratio 2:1), H2O2/Fe+2 (w/w ratio 10:1) and acidic conditions (pH =3). Obtained results comply with Nablus municipal by-law (COD below 2000 mg/l), which help decision-makers within the agro-food industries install pollution reduction systems. Investment in the Fenton-based peroxidation process, allow agro-food industries to obtain connection permits to sewage networks.
The 2-D Cluster Variation Method: Initial Findings and Topography Illustrations
Authors: Maren Alianna J.
Published: January 2021

One of the biggest challenges in characterizing 2-D image topographies is finding a low-dimensional parameter set that can succinctly describe, not so much image patterns themselves, but the nature of these patterns. The 2-D Cluster Variation Method (CVM), introduced by Kikuchi in 1951, can characterize very local image pattern distributions using configuration variables, identifying nearest-neighbor, next-nearest-neighbor, and triplet configurations. Using the 2-D CVM, we can characterize 2-D topographies using just two parameters; the activation enthalpy and the interaction enthalpy. Initial investigations with two different representative topographies (``scale-free-like'' and ``rich club-like'') produce interesting results when brought to a CVM free energy minimum. Additional phase space investigations, where one of these two parameters has been set to zero, identify useful parameter ranges. Careful comparison of the analytically-predicted configuration variables versus those obtained when performing computational free energy minimization on a 2-D grid show that the computational results differ significantly from the analytic solution. The 2-D CVM can potentially function as a secondary free energy minimization within the hidden layer of a neural network, providing a basis for extending node activations over time and allowing temporal correlation of patterns.
Accelerating Gut Microbiome Research with Robust Sample Collection
Authors: Zreloff Zoe J. , Lange Danielle , Vernon Suzanne D. , Carlin Martha R. , Cano Raul de Jesus
Published: January 2021

Background. Inferior quality of biological material compromises data, slows discovery, and wastes research funds. The gut microbiome plays a critical role in human health and disease, yet little attention has been given to optimizing collection and processing methods of human stool. Methods. We collected the entire bowel movement from 2 healthy volunteers: one to examine stool sample heterogeneity and one to test stool sample handling parameters. Sequencing and bi-oinformatic analyses were used to examine the microbiome composition. Results. The microbiome profile varied depending on where the subsample was obtained from the stool. The exterior cortex of the stool was rich in specific phyla and deficient in others while the interior core of the stool revealed opposite microbiome profiles. Sample processing also re-sulted in varying microbiome profiles. Homogenization and stabilization at 4°C gave superior microbial diversity profiles compared to the fresh or frozen subsamples of the same stool sample. Bacterial proliferation continued in the fresh subsample when processed at ambient temperature. Bacteroidetes proliferated and Firmicutes diminished during the 30-minute processing of fresh sample. The frozen sample had good overall diversity but Proteobacteria diminished likely be-cause of the freeze/thaw. Conclusions. The microbiome profile is specific to the section of the stool being sampled. Stool sample collection, homogenization, and stabilization at 4°C for 24 hours provides a “neat”, high-quality sample of sufficient quantity that can be banked into aliquots with nearly identical microbial diversity profiles. This collection pipeline is essential to accelerate our understanding of the gut microbiome in health and disease.
AutoMH: Automatically Create Evolutionary Metaheuristic Algorithms Using Reinforced Learning
Authors: Almonacid Boris
Published: January 2021

Machine learning research has been able to solve problems in multiple aspects. An open area of research is machine learning for solving optimisation problems. An optimisation problem can be solved using a metaheuristic algorithm, which is able to find a solution in a reasonable amount of time. However, there is a problem, the time required to find an appropriate metaheuristic algorithm, that would have the convenient configurations to solve a set of optimisation problems properly. A solution approach is shown here, using a proposal that automatically creates metaheuristic algorithms aided by a reinforced learning approach. Based on the experiments performed, the approach succeeded in creating a metaheuristic algorithm that managed to solve a large number of different continuous domain optimisation problems. This work's implications are immediate because they describe a basis for the generation of metaheuristic algorithms in real-time.
Balancing costs and benefits of pandemic control in an outbreak phase
Authors: Hondou Tsuyoshi
Published: January 2021

After the first lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, many countries faced difficulties in balancing infection control with economics. Due to limited prior knowledge, economists began researching this issue using cost-benefit analysis and found that infection control processes significantly affect economic efficiency. Rowthorn and Maciejowski [R. Rowthorn and J.A. Maciejowski, Oxford Rev. Econ. Policy 36, S38 (2020)] used economic parameters in the United Kingdom to numerically demonstrate that an optimal balance was found in the process, including keeping the infected population stationary. However, universally applicable knowledge, which is indispensable for the guiding principles of infection control, has not yet been developed because these analyses assume regional parameters and a specific disease. Here, we prove the universal result of economic irreversibility by applying the idea of thermodynamics to pandemic control. It means that delaying infection control measures is more expensive than implementing infection control measures early while keeping infected populations stationary. This implies that once the infected population increases, society cannot return to its previous state without extra expenditures. This universal result is analytically obtained by focusing on the infection-spreading phase of pandemics, which is applicable not only to COVID-19, and whether or not “herd immunity” exists. It also confirms the numerical observation of stationary infected populations in its optimally efficient process. Our findings suggest that economic irreversibility is a guiding principle for balancing infection control with economic effects.
Recurrent Epiphora After Dacryocystorhinostomy Surgery: Structural Abnormalities Identified With Dacryocystography and Long Term Outcomes of Revision Surgery.
Authors: Timlin Hannah , Kang Swan , Jiang Kailun , Ezra Daniel
Published: January 2021

Background: To investigate the aetiopathology of recurrent epiphora or stickiness after dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery, identifiable on dacryocystography (DCG), and to assess the success rates of secondary corrective surgeries.Methods: Consecutive post-DCR DCG images from patients with recurrent symptoms were reviewed between 2012-2015.Results: 159 eyes of 137 patients were evaluated. 58 DCGs showed normal postoperative findings, 4 an upper/lower canalicular block, 13 a common canalicular block, 31 a completely closed anastomosis, 50 a narrow anastomosis, and 3 an anastomosis draining into a nasal sinus.The most successful corrective procedures for each failure category were: Lester Jones Tube (LJT) for a normal post-operative DCG (17/18 success), Sisler trephination with tubes for upper/lower canalicular block (1/2 success), redo-DCR with tube for common canalicular blockage (5/6 success), redo-DCR +/- tube for completely closed anastomosis (12/16 success), LJT followed by redo-DCR +/- tube for narrow surgical anastomosis (1/1 and 17/27 success respectively), and redo-external-DCR with tube for anastomosis into a nasal sinus (1/1 success). Redo-DCR was ineffective in patients who had good post-DCR anatomical patency (22% success).Conclusion: This is the first study to report success rates of redo-DCR surgery according to anatomical findings confirmed by DCG. The outcome flow diagram help clinicians recommend procedures that are most likely to be successful for their patient’s specific anatomical abnormality. It also provides a visual tool for the shared decision-making process. Notably, symptomatic patients with a normal DCG post DCR are unlikely to benefit from redo-DCR, with a LJT being the recommended next step.
Vaccine Prioritisation Using Bluetooth Exposure Notification Apps
Authors: Penney Mark , Yargic Yigit , Smolin Lee , Thommes Edward , Anand Madhur , Bauch Chris
Published: January 2021

After vaccinating health care workers and vulnerable groups against COVID-19, authorities will need to decide how to vaccinate everyone else. Prioritising individuals with more contacts can be disproportionately effective, in theory, but identifying these individuals is difficult. Here we show that the technology underlying Bluetooth exposure notification applications, such as used for digital contact tracing, can be leveraged to prioritise vaccination based on individual contact data. Our approach is based on the insight that these apps also act as local sensing devices measuring each user's total exposure time to other users, thereby enabling the implementation of a previously impossible strategy that prioritises potential super-spreaders. Furthermore, by generalising percolation theory and introducing a novel measure of vaccination efficiency, we demonstrate that this ``hot-spotting" strategy can achieve herd immunity with up to half as many vaccines as a non-targeted strategy, and is attractive even for relatively low rates of app usage.
Choosing The Adaptive Cardiac Phase for Assessing Cardiac Dimensions Using Cardiac Computed Tomography for Heart Disease
Authors: Wang Li , Zhou Jin-Rong , Chen Dong , Deng Yu-Jiao , Chen Jing
Published: January 2021

Background: Choosing a suitable cardiac cycle to measure cardiac chamber dimensions and wall thickness can be a more accurate assessment of cardiovascular disease.Methods: Cardiac CT was performed on 137 patients for suspected coronary disease. The parameters of left atrium (LA), left ventricle (LV), right atrium (RA), and right ventricle (RV), as well as the wall thickness of LV were measured in different cardiac phases. The general linear mixed model was used to analyze differences in different phases and the correlation between these parameters and traditional risk factors. ROC analysis was performed to estimate LA enlargement. Results:The dimensions of LA, RA, and LV wall thickness achieved the maximum at the phase of 35%–45%, and the dimensions of LV and RV reached the maximum at 95%–5%. Whereas, the changes of LA-B (antero-posterior diameter), LV-D1 (basal dimension), RA-B (minor dimension) and RV-D2 (mid cavity dimension) were relatively more stable during the cardiac cycle. The maximum LA-B diameter(95%CI 36.92,38.48mm), LV-D1 diameter(95%CI 44.36,45.83mm), RA-B diameter(95%CI 48.75,50.61mm), and RV-D2 diameter(95%CI 30.83,32.84mm) and the maximum interventricular septum thickness( 95%CI 10.79,11.51mm) was acquired. Heart rate (HR) and smoking were potential indicators of LVD2 (mid cavity dimension), while HR and LV myocardial mass were potential indicators of LVD3 (apical-basal dimension). In phase 45%, the cut-off value of LA-A with 77.57mm has high specificity.Conclusion: Cardiac chamber dimensions and wall thickness vary with the cardiac phase. Choosing the adaptive cardiac phase for evaluating these parameters obtained by cardiac CT could provide a more accurate clinical measurement.
First absolute seasonal temperature estimates for greenhouse climate from clumped isotopes in bivalve shells
Authors: de Winter Niels , Müller Inigo , Kocken Ilja , Thibault Nicolas , Ullmann Clemens , Farnsworth Alex , Lunt Daniel , Claeys Philippe , Ziegler Martin
Published: January 2021

Seasonal variability in sea surface temperatures plays a fundamental role in climate dynamics and species distribution. As such, it is essential to better understand seasonal variability in climates of the past. Previous reconstructions of seasonality in deep time are poorly constrained, relying on controversial assumptions such as estimates of seawater composition and neglect seasonal bias. This work presents the first absolute seasonal temperature reconstructions based on clumped isotope measurements in bivalve shells which, critically, do not rely on these assumptions. Our new approach reconstructs highly precise higher mid-latitude (~50°N) monthly temperatures from individual oyster and rudist shells of the Campanian (78 million years ago) greenhouse period (15—27 °C seasonal range). Our analysis demonstrates that seasonal bias and previous assumptions about sea water oxygen isotope composition can lead to highly inaccurate temperature reconstructions, distorting our understanding of the behavior of greenhouse climates and our ability to model them. Our results agree with fully coupled climate model simulations showing greenhouse climates outside the tropics were warmer and more seasonal than previously thought.
Wavelet Average Coefficient: a New Statistical Feature for Capturing the Temporal Pattern of Spike Trains, With Application in Brain Machine Interface
Authors: Wen Shixian , Yin Allen , Tseng Po-He , Itti Laurent , Lebedev Mikhail , Nicolelis Miguel
Published: January 2021

Motor brain machine interfaces (BMI) directly link the brain to artificial actuators and have the potential to mitigate severe body paralysis caused by neurological injury or disease. Most BMI systems involve a decoder that analyzes neural spike counts to infer movement intent. However, many classical BMI decoders 1) fail to take advantage of temporal patterns of spike trains, possibly over long time horizons; 2) are insufficient to achieve good BMI performance at high temporal resolution, as the underlying Gaussian assumption of decoders based on spike counts is violated. Here, we propose a new statistical feature that represents temporal patterns or temporal codes of spike events with richer description - wavelet average coefficients (WAC) - to be used as decoder input instead of spike counts. We constructed a wavelet decoder framework by using WAC features with a sliding-window approach, and compared the resulting decoder against classical decoders (Wiener and Kalman family) using spike count features. We found that the sliding-window approach boosts decoding temporal resolution, and using WAC features significantly improves decoding performance over using spike count features.
Technical Modifications in Parenchymal Transection During Laparoscopic Liver Resection Do Not Confer to an Increased Rate of Cut Surface Complications Compared to Open CUSA Based Liver Resections – A Single Center Comparative Analysis
Authors: Sucher Robert , Recknagel Sebastian , Guice Hanna , Sucher Elisabeth , Lederer Andri , Berg Thomas , Höhne Claudia , Seehofer Daniel
Published: January 2021

Background/AimsBiliary leakage (BL) is a major cause of postoperative morbidity after liver resection. Aim of our study was to analyse surgical parameters and postoperative morbidity with special emphasis on BL, after launching a minimally invasive liver resection program.MethodsA prospectively maintained medical database of patients who required a liver resection was used for analysis.ResultsA total of n=156 patients were divided into a group of n=47 patients (30.1%) receiving laparoscopic (LLR) and n=109 patients (69.9%) undergoing open liver resections (OLR). Patient age (OLR: 59.4 ± 16.0 vs. LLR: 57.9 ± 14.2 years) and male to female ratio (OLR: 63/46 vs. LLR: 25/22) were comparable. We performed n=75 (68.8%) major OLR and n=31 (66.0%) major LLR. Operation time was OLR 342.8 ± 110.5 min vs. LLR 287.3 ± 132.6 min (p=0.014) and the average blood loss was OLR 523.5 ± 428.6 ml vs. LLR 355.5 ± 459.2 ml. Morbidity and mortality was observed in n= 29 (18.6 %) and n= 7 (4.5 %) patients, respectively. The overall biliary leakage (BL) rate was 5.1% (n= 8). Majority of BL were detected in OLR with biliodigestive anastomosis (BDA) (n=2 (11.0%)) followed by OLR without BDA (n=6 (6.5%)). No BL were detected in patients with LLR. Hospital stay was significantly prolonged after OLR in patients with BL (38.4 ± 20.1 vs. 17.4 ± 11.1 days, p< 0.001).ConclusionIn line with previous reports, the introduction of different transection techniques in laparoscopic liver resections did not increase morbidity and BL-rate.
DnaJC7 binds natively folded structural elements in tau to inhibit amyloid formation
Authors: Joachimiak Lukasz , Hou Zhiqiang , Wydorski Pawel , Perez Valerie , Mendoza-Oliva Ayde , Ryder Bryan , Mirbaha Hilda , Kashmer Omar
Published: January 2021

Molecular chaperones, including Hsp70/Hsp40 families, play central roles in binding substrates to prevent their aggregation. How Hsp40s select different conformations of substrates remains poorly understood. Here, we report a novel interaction between the Hsp40 DnaJC7 and tau that efficiently suppresses tau aggregation in vitro and in cells. DnaJC7 binds preferentially to natively folded wild-type tau, but disease-associated mutants in tau reduce chaperone binding affinity. We identify that DnaJC7 uses a single TPR domain to recognize a β-turn element in tau that contains the 275VQIINK280 amyloid motif. Wild-type tau β-turn fragments, but not mutant fragments, can block full-length tau binding to DnaJC7. These data suggest DnaJC7 preferentially binds and stabilizes natively folded conformations of tau to prevent tau conversion into amyloids. This identifies a novel mechanism of tau aggregation regulation that can be exploited as both a diagnostic and a therapeutic intervention.
A Milroy Disease Family Caused by FLT4 Gene Mutation of c.2774 T>A
Authors: Sui Yu , lu Yongping , Lin Meina , Ni Xiang , Chen Xinren , Li Huan , Jiang Miao
Published: January 2021

Background: Milroy disease (MD) is a rare, autosomal dominant disorder. Mutations in the Fms-related tyrosine kinase 4 (FLT4) gene cause the symptoms of this disease. In this report, we investigated the mutations in a large Chinese family with MD.Methods: We conducted Sanger sequencing of exons 17–26 of the FLT4 (NM_182925.4) gene. The primers were as follows: forward, 5' CTTCATCAGCGTCGAGTGG 3' and reverse, 5' ATTATGGGCGGGTTCCTT 3'. The amplification system is as follows: 2×Biotech Power PCR Mix, 10 µl; forward primer, 0.8 µl (10 µM); reverse primer, 0.8 µl (10 µM); DNA template, 1 µl (50 ng/µl); and ddH2O, 13.4 µl. The mutation was evaluated with MutationTaster, SIFT and PolyPhen.Results: A heterozygous substitution was detected in all patients but not in any healthy controls (FLT4 gene: c.2774 T>A, p.V925E). The mutation was predicted to be pathogenic.Conclusions: In this report, we described a large family with MD caused by a missense mutation of the FLT4 gene (c.2774 T>A, p.V925E).
Fire Suppression as Well as Seed Dispersal Play Critical Role in the Establishment of Forest Tree Species in Tropical Woodland
Authors: Fujita Tomohiro
Published: January 2021

This study examined the mechanisms of facilitation and importance of seed dispersal during establishment of forest tree species in a tropical woodland. Seedling survival of Syzygium guineense ssp. afromontanum seedling (forest tree species) was monitored for 2.5 years in four different microsites in savannah-woodland in Malawi under Ficus natalensis (a potential nurse plant), Brachystegia floribunda (a woodland tree), and Uapaca kirkiana (a woodland tree), and in a treeless site. S. guineense ssp. afromontanum seed deposition was also monitored in the four sites, and the natural establishment of forest tree species was observed to confirm the importance of seed dispersal. Protection from fire was found to be the most important facilitation mechanism in this area, with a total fire-induced mortality rate of 43%. However, the rate was comparatively low under F. natalensis, where fire is thought to be inhibited due to the lack of light-demanding C4 grasses. B. floribunda also offered protection from fire, and seedling survival did not differ between these two microsites. However, only a few individual forest tree species naturally established under B. floribunda, indicating that the facilitative mechanism of fire suppression is not the only factor affecting establishment in this tropical woodland. A higher rate of seed dispersal was also observed under F. natalensis compared with the other three microsites, suggesting that dispersal processes are also critical for the establishment of forest tree species in woodland in this region.
Effects of Exposure to Incense Smoke on Airway Function: An in Vitro and in Vivo Study
Authors: Yamamoto Norio , Kan-o Keiko , Tatsuta Miyoko , Ishii Yumiko , Tomohiro Ogawa , Shinozaki Seiji , Fukuyama Satoru , Nakanishi Yoichi , Matsumoto Koichiro
Published: January 2021

Recent clinical studies have suggested that inhalation of incense smoke (IS) may result in impaired lung function and asthma. However, there is little experimental evidence to link IS with airway dysfunction. Using mouse and cell culture models, we evaluated the effects of IS exposure on airway function, such as airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), expression of multiple epithelial tight junction (TJ)- and adherens junction-associated mRNAs and proteins in the lungs, and the barrier function of bronchial epithelial cells assessed by transepithelial electronic resistance (TEER). Exposure of BALB/c mice to IS increased AHR and inflammatory macrophage recruitment to BALF; reduced claudin-1, -2, -3, -7, -10b, -12, -15, and -18, occludin, zonula occludens-1 [ZO-1], and E-cadherin mRNA expression; and caused discontinuity of claudin-2 and ZO-1 protein immunostaining in lung tissue. IS extract dose-dependently decreased TEER and increased reactive oxygen species production in bronchial epithelial cell cultures. Treatment with N-acetyl-l-cysteine, but not glucocorticosteroids or long-acting β2-agonists, prevented the detrimental effects of IS. IS exposure can be problematic for respiratory health, as evidenced by AHR, increased recruitment of inflammatory macrophages and disruption of TJ proteins in the lung, and damage to epithelial barrier integrity. However, antioxidants may be useful for the treatment of IS-induced airway dysfunction.
Effect of antibiotic treatment on Oxalobacter formigenes colonization of the gut microbiome and urinary oxalate excretion
Authors: Nazzal Lama , Francois Fritz , Henderson Nora , Liu Menghan , Li Huilin , Koh Hyunwook , Wang Chan , Gao Zhan , Perez Guillermo , Asplin John , Goldfarb David , Blaser Martin
Published: January 2021

Background: The incidence of kidney stones is increasing in the US population. Oxalate, a major factor for stone formation, is degraded by gut bacteria reducing its intestinal absorption. Intestinal O. formigenes colonization has been associated with a lower risk for recurrent kidney stones in humans. In the current study, we used a clinical trial of the eradication of Helicobacter pylori to assess the effects of an antibiotic course on O. formigenes colonization, urine electrolytes, and the composition of the intestinal microbiome. Methods: Of 69 healthy adult subjects recruited, 19 received antibiotics for H. pylori eradication, while 46 were followed as controls. Serial fecal samples were examined for O. formigenes presence and microbiota characteristics. Urine, collected serially fasting and following a standard meal, was tested for oxalate and electrolyte concentrations. Results: O. formigenes prevalence was 50%. Colonization was significantly and persistently suppressed in antibiotic-exposed subjects but remained stable in controls. Urinary pH increased after antibiotics, but urinary oxalate did not differ between the control and treatment groups. The O. formigenes-positive samples had higher alpha-diversity and significantly differed in Beta-diversity from the O. formigenes-negative samples. Specific taxa varied in abundance in relation to urinary oxalate levels.Conclusions: These studies identified significant antibiotic effects on O. formigenes colonization and urinary electrolytes and showed that overall microbiome structure differed in subjects according to O. formigenes presence. Identifying a consortium of bacterial taxa associated with urinary oxalate may provide clues for the primary prevention of kidney stones in healthy adults.
Age-dependent pathogenic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in ferrets
Authors: Kim Young-Il , Yu Kwang-Min , Koh June-Young , Kim Eun-Ha , Kim Se-Mi , Kim Eun Ji , Casel Mark Anthony , Rollon Rare , Jang Seung-Gyu , Song Min-Suk , Park Su-Jin , Jeong Hye Won , Kim Eung-Gook , Choi Younho , Lee Shin-Ae , Park Su-Hyung , Jung Jae U , Choi Young Ki
Published: January 2021

The sero-prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in healthy people is not significantly different among age groups, but persons age 65 years or older had strikingly higher COVID-19 mortality compared to younger individuals. To understand COVID-19 manifestations in patients of different ages, ferrets in three age groups were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Although SARS-CoV-2 was isolated from all ferrets regardless of age, aged ferrets (≥3 years old) showed higher viral load, longer nasal virus shedding, and more severe lung inflammatory cell infiltration and clinical symptom compared to ≤6 months juvenile and 1-2 years young adult groups. Transcriptome analysis of aged ferret lungs revealed strong enrichment of gene sets related to type I interferon, activated T cell, and M1 macrophage responses, mimicking the gene expression profile of severe COVID-19 patients. Thus, SARS-CoV-2-infected aged ferrets highly recapitulate COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms and are useful for understanding an age-associated infection, transmission, and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2.
Adopt, adapt or abandon: Health care providers’ beliefs matter. Using the NASSS framework to analyse the implementation of four technology-supported person-centred care initiatives from the perspectives of health care providers
Authors: Dyb Kari , Berntsen Gro , Kvam Lisbeth
Published: January 2021

Background: Technology support and patient-centred care are the new mantra for health care programmes in Western societies. While few argue with the overarching philosophy of patient-centred care nor with the potential of information technologies, there is less agreement on how to make them a reality in everyday clinical practice. In this paper, we investigate how individual health care providers at four innovation arenas in Scandinavia experienced the implementation of technology-supported person-centred care for persons with long-term care needs by using the new analytical framework Nonadoption, Abandonment and challenges to the Scale-Up, Spread, and Sustainability of health and care technologies (NASSS). We also discuss the usability and sensitivity of the NASSS framework for those seeking to plan, implement and evaluate technology-supported health care programmes. This study is part of an interdisciplinary research and development project called Patients and Professionals in Partnership (2016 - 2020). It originates at one of nine work packages in this project.Method: The main data consist of ethnographic field observations at the four innovations arenas and 29 interviews with involved health care providers. To ensured continuous updates and status on work at the four innovation arenas, we have also participated in a total of six annual networks meeting arrange by the project. Results: While the NASSS framework is very useful indeed for identifying and communicating challenges with adoption and spread of technology-supported person-centred- care initiatives, we find it less sensitive towards capturing the dedication, enthusiasm and passion for care transformation that we found among the health care providers in our study. When it comes to technology-supported person-centred care, the point of no return has passed for the involved health care providers. To them, it is already a definite part of the future of healthcare services. How to overcome barriers and obstacles is pragmatically approached. Conclusion: Increased knowledge about the health care providers and their visions as potential assets for care transformation might be critical for those seeking to plan, implement and evaluate technology-supported health care programmes.
Continuous Deep Sedation Until Death Is Not an Alternative to Assisted Suicide in Palliative Care Units in the French-Speaking Part of Switzerland: A Multicentre Qualitative Study Based on Interviews With Physicians.
Authors: TOMCZYK Martyna , DIEUDONNÉ-RAHM Nathalie , JOX Ralf
Published: January 2021

Background: According to the European Association for Palliative Care, decisions regarding palliative sedation should not be made in response to a request for death. However, several studies show that continuous deep sedation until death (CDSUD) – a particular form of sedation – has been considered as an alternative to active assisted dying in some countries. In Switzerland, where assisted suicide is decriminalized and CDSUD is not legally regulated, no studies have comprehensively investigated if they might be correlated. Our study aimed to identify and describe the experience among palliative care physicians of CDSUD as an alternative to assisted suicide in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.Methods: We performed an exploratory multicentre qualitative study based on interviews with physicians working in palliative care institutions in the French-speaking part of Switzerland and conducted linguistic and thematic analysis of all interview transcripts. The study is described in accordance with COREQ criteria.Results: We included 10 interviews conducted in four palliative care institutions. Our linguistic analysis shows four main types of sedation, which we called ‘rapid CDSUD’, ‘gradual CDSUD’, ‘temporary sedation’ and ‘intermittent sedation’. CDSUD (rapid or gradual) is not considered an alternative to assisted suicide. In contrast, ‘temporary’ or ‘intermittent sedation’, although not medically indicated, is sometimes introduced in response to a request for assisted suicide. This is due to the impossibility of carrying out an assisted suicide at home (e.g., home transfer is impossible or the patient’s wish not to traumatize the family).Conclusion: These preliminary results can guide clinical, ethical, linguistic and legal reflection in this field and be used to explore this question more deeply at the national and international levels in a comparative, interdisciplinary and multiprofessional approach. They can also be useful to update Swiss clinical guidelines on palliative sedation in order to include specific frameworks on various sedation protocols and sedation as an alternative to assisted suicide. Potential negative impacts of considering palliative sedation as an alternative to assisted suicide should be nuanced by open and honest societal debate.
Effect of Parents’ Time With Children on the Relationship Between the Children’s Use of Electronic Devices and Their Sociability
Authors: Lee Ching-Fen , Tang Shain-May
Published: January 2021

Background: This study explored how parents’ roles of accompanying children influence the relationship between children’s use of electronic devices and their sociability. Methods: This study used data from Kids in Taiwan: National Longitudinal Study of Child Development and Care. Results: The results showed that parents’ time with their children on weekdays moderated the relationship between children using stationary devices and their sociability. However, time with children on weekends and holidays mediated the negative effect of children using mobile devices on their sociability. Conclusion: These findings have implications for future planners of childcare policies and educators regarding how to encourage parents to spend more time with their children and help them acquire sociability.
Is it Safe and Effective to Treat Complex Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Using Piezosurgery in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion?
Authors: Li Yuwei , Zhao Shixin , Wang Haijiao , Zhou Peng , Cui Wei , Xiao Wei , Li Fan , Hu Bingtao
Published: January 2021

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of piezosurgery in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for treating patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) coincident retrovertebral body osteophytes adjacent to the endplate or a free nucleus pulposus migrated to the vertebral body, posteriorly; known as complex cervical spondylotic myelopathy (cCSM) here.Methods Forty-seven patients with cCSM underwent ACDF surgery from 2014 to 2017. Among these patients, 26 underwent ACDF using piezosurgery (group A) and 21 underwent ACDF by traditional tools such as air drill, bone curet and gun-shaped bone forceps (group B). Average operative duration, intraoperative blood loss, surgical complications, preoperative and postoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores and improvement rate were measured.Results Average operative duration and intraoperative blood loss were signiﬁcantly lower in the piezosurgery group than those in the traditional group (P < 0.01). The incidences of surgical complications were 3.8% and 23.8% in the piezosurgery and traditional groups (P < 0.05), respectively. Whereas JOA scores and improvement rate were insigniﬁcantly diﬀerent at each data collection period (P > 0.05); preoperative, postoperative 3 days and postoperative 1 year follow-up were included.Conclusion For treating cCSM, both the piezosurgery and traditional tools led to signiﬁcant neurological improvement. However, the piezosurgery was superior to the traditional tools in terms of operative duration, blood loss, and complication rate. Hence, the piezosurgery was a safe and effective adjunct for ACDF treating cCSM.
ANGPTL3 Gene Variants in Subjects With Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia
Authors: Bea Ana , Franco-Marin Esther , Marco-Benedí Victoria , Jarauta Estíbaliz , Gracia-Rubio Irene , Cenarro Ana , Civeira Fernando , Lamiquiz-Moneo Itziar
Published: January 2021

Angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) plays an important role in lipid metabolism in humans. Loss-of-function variants in ANGPTL3 cause a monogenic disease named familial combined hypolipidemia. However, the potential contribution of ANGPTL3 gene in subjects with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) has not been studied. To study the gain-of-function (GOF) genetic variants in the ANGPTL3 gene in FCHL subjects and to establish the potential contribution of ANGPTL3 in the aetiology of FCHL. ANGPTL3 gene was sequenced in 162 unrelated subjects with severe FCHL and 165 normolipemic controls. Pathogenicity of genetic variants was predicted with PredictSNP2 and FruitFly. Frequency of identified variants in FCHL was compared with that of normolipemic controls and that described in the1000 Genomes Project. No GOF mutations in ANGPTL3 was present in subjects with FCHL. Four variants were identified in FCHL subjects, showing a frequency different from that observed in normolipemic controls: c.607-109T>C, c.607-47_607-46delGT, c.835+41C>A and c.*52_*60del. This last variant, c.*52_*60del, is a microRNA associated sequence in the 3’UTR of ANGPTL3, and it was present 2.7 times more frequently in normolipemic controls than in FCHL subjects. Our research shows that no GOF mutations in ANGPTL3 were found in a large group of unrelated subjects with FCHL.
Synchronization of Boron Application Methods and Rates is Environmental Friendly Approach to Improve Quality Attributes of Mangifera indica L. on Sustainable Basis
Authors: Khan Muhammad Mehboob Hassan , Ahmed Niaz , Ali Muhammad Arif , Danish Subhan , Skalicky Milan , Fahad Shah , Datta Rahul , Hassan Mohamed M. , Brestic Marian , Sabagh Ayman EL
Published: January 2021

Deficiency of micronutrients in soil is one of major cause for poor quality of mango fruit and yield. In addition, consumption of such diet also causes deficiency of micronutrients in humans. Among different micronutrients deficiency of boron is very common. It adversely affects flowering and pollen tube formation, thus played key role in decreasing the yield and quality attributes of mango. To overcome such problem, soil and foliar application of B is considered the efficacious methods. That’s why under changing climatic condition, a field experiment was conducted to explore the most suitable method and application rate of B in mango under current climatic scenario. There were nine treatments applied in three replications. Results showed that application of T8=RD+Borax (75 g plant-1 as basal application)+H3BO3 (0.8% as foliar spray) and T9=RD+Borax (150 g plant-1 as basal application)+H3BO3 (0.8% as foliar spray) significantly enhanced nitrogen, potassium, proteins, ash, fats, fiber and total soluble solids in mango as compared to control. A significant decrease in sodium, total phenolics contents, antioxidant activity and acidity as citric acid also validated the efficacious functioning of T8=RD+Borax (75 g plant-1 as basal application)+H3BO3 (0.8% as foliar spray) and T9=RD+Borax (150 g plant-1 as basal application)+H3BO3 (0.8% as foliar spray)over control. In conclusion T8=RD+Borax (75 g plant-1 as basal application)+H3BO3 (0.8% as foliar spray) and T9=RD+Borax (150 g plant-1 as basal application)+H3BO3 (0.8% as foliar spray)is an effective strategy to improve quality attributes of mango under changing climatic situation.