bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic Growth, Industrialization, Trade, Electricity Production and Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Evidence from Ghana
Authors: Appiah Kingsley , Appah Rhoda , Mintah Oware Kofi , Yeboah Benjamin
Published: March 2021

The study scrutinized correlation between electricity production, trade, economic growth, industrialization and carbon dioxide emissions in Ghana. Our study disaggregated trade into export and import to spell out distinctive and individual variable contribution to emissions in Ghana. In an attempt to investigate, the study used time-series data set of World Development Indicators from 1971 to 2014. By means of Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) cointegrating technique, study established that variables are co-integrated and have long-run equilibrium relationship. Results of long-term effect of explanatory variables on carbon dioxide emissions indicated that 1% each increase of economic growth and industrialization, will cause an increase of emissions by 16.9% and 79% individually whiles each increase of 1% of electricity production, trade exports, trade imports, will cause a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions by 80.3%, 27.7% and 4.1% correspondingly. In the pursuit of carbon emissions’ mitigation and achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13, Ghana need to increase electricity production and trade exports.
An Analysis of Jargon Used on Facebook Found in Account “Mark Zuckerberg”
Authors: Kartika Yuni , Rohmah Ainur , Andriani Dwi
Published: March 2021

This study discusses An Analysis of Jargon Used on Facebook Found in account “Mark Zuckerberg”. Hopefully, this study useful for students of English Education, particularly to help them understand the jargon that is used in social media especially on Facebook. The goal of this study to find out the jargon used by "Mark Zuckerberg" in account Facebook. This analysis used the descriptive method because it is to describe the jargon meaning in the "Mark Zuckerberg" account on Facebook. The procedure of collecting the data are: (1) Reading and finding the status of “Mark Zuckerberg” account, (2) Identifying the jargon used in the status, (3) Marking and finding the meaning of jargon found in the status, and (4) Concluding the data analysis. Based on the finding, the writer found Fifteen jargons, ten jargons abbreviation, one jargon phrase, three jargon words, and one jargon acronym in the edition of January till May in 2020.
Penerapan Computational Thinking pada Pelajaran Matematika di Madratsah Ibtidaiyah Nurul Islam Sekarbela Mataram
Authors: Apriani Apriani , Ismarmiaty Ismarmiaty , Susilowati Dyah , Kartarina Kartarina , Suktiningsih Wiya
Published: March 2021

This service activity aims to contribute knowledge to teachers to be able to understand and implement computational thinking in the subjects they are taught. The lack of trained personnel and the lack of understanding in implementing computational thinking gives the Bebras Bureau the opportunity to contribute. This is in line with Mendikbud's desire to implement computational thinking in the children's education curriculum as a provision for more innovative learning to answer the needs of the industrial era 4.0. Computational thinking is the process of thinking in formulating a problem and its solution so that the solution can be represented in a form that can be executed by an information-processing agent. The implementation of the service was carried out on the Mathematics subject teacher at Nurul Islam Mataram Elementary School. The implementation stages consist of planning, preparation, socialization, training, and evaluation. The results of the evaluation showed that most of the teacher participants agreed to apply the results of the training to students and most participants agreed to join the follow-up programs from Bebras. It is hoped that this activity can run continuously and be supported positively by the parties involved.
The targets of all treachery: Delusional ideation, paranoia, and the need for uniqueness as mediators between two forms of narcissism and conspiracy beliefs
Authors: Kay Cameron Stuart
Published: March 2021

A number of recent studies have examined whether those high in grandiose narcissism are morelikely to believe in conspiracy theories. Few studies have, however, considered whether those high in vulnerable narcissism are also apt to believe in conspiracy theories, and none have attempted to identify the mechanisms that link these two forms of narcissism to conspiracy beliefs. The present study (N Participants = 397; N Informants = 460) investigated the relation of both grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism with conspiracist ideation in the context of four theoretically-relevant mediators: (a) delusional ideation, (b) paranoia, (c) the need for uniqueness, and (d) the desire for control. Participants who were higher in grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism were more likely to believe in conspiracy theories, seemingly because they were more likely to hold odd and unusual beliefs. There was, likewise, some evidence to suggest that those high in vulnerable narcissism believe in conspiracy theories because they suffer from paranoia, whereas those high in grandiose narcissism believe in conspiracy theories because of a desire to be unique. Together, these results suggest that the conspiracist ideation seen among those high in grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism is a consequence of features that are shared between and unique to each of the two traits.
An integrative framework for conceptualizing and assessing social, emotional, and behavioral skills: The BESSI
Authors: Soto Christopher J. , Napolitano Christopher , Sewell Madison Nicole , Yoon Heejun Roy , Roberts Brent
Published: March 2021

People differ in their social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) skills: their capacities to maintain social relationships, regulate emotions, and manage goal- and learning-directed behaviors. In five studies using data from seven independent samples (N = 6,309), we address three key questions about the nature, structure, assessment, and outcomes of SEB skills. First, how can SEB skills be defined and distinguished from other kinds of psychological constructs, such as personality traits? We propose that SEB skills represent how someone is capable of thinking, feeling, and behaving when the situation calls for it, whereas traits represent how someone tends to think, feel, and behave averaged across situations. Second, how can specific SEB skills be organized within broader domains? We find that many skill facets can be organized within five major domains representing Social Engagement, Cooperation, Self-Management, Emotional Resilience, and Innovation Skills. Third, how should SEB skills be measured? We develop and validate the Behavioral, Emotional, and Social Skills Inventory (BESSI) to measure individuals’ capacity to enact specific behaviors representing 32 skill facets. We then use the BESSI to investigate the nomological network of SEB skills. We show that both skill domains and facets converge in conceptually meaningful ways with socioemotional competencies, character and developmental strengths, and personality traits, and predict consequential outcomes including academic achievement and engagement, occupational interests, social relationships, and well-being. We believe that this work provides the most comprehensive model currently available for conceptualizing SEB skills, as well as the most psychometrically robust tool available for assessing them.
Inferential social learning: Cognitive foundations of human social learning and teaching
Authors: Gweon Hyowon
Published: March 2021

Social learning is often portrayed as a passive process of copying and trusting others. This view, however, does not fully capture what makes human social learning so powerful: Social information is often “curated” by helpful teachers. Inferential social learning explains our abilities as learners and teachers as interpretation and generation of evidence in social contexts, characterizing both as probabilistic inference guided by an intuitive understanding of how people think, plan, and act. Consistent with its predictions, even young children draw rich inferences from others’ behaviors and communicate information that helps others learn. By studying social learning and teaching through a common theoretical lens, this account paints an integrated picture of how human cognition supports acquisition and communication of abstract knowledge.
Pengembangan Penilaian Otentik Berbasis Website
Authors: Munajah Robiatul
Published: March 2021

Perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi semakin lama semakin pesat dibidang teknologi informasi, salah satu contohnya adalah teknologi internet. Pada tingkat pendidikan Sekolah Dasar belum banyak sekolah yang memanfaatkan dengan baik teknologi ini. Seperti layanan untuk mengetahui informasi nilai. Penilaian otentik dalam konteks penilaian karakter merupakan penilaian yang berdasarkan atas kegiatan atau aktivitas yang dilakukan oleh peserta didik. Hal tersebut untuk mengetahui perkembangan kreatifitas, kemampuan, belajar dan karakter peserta didik. Maka dari itu, guru harus mampu mengatur strategi dan mengembangkan model penilaian karakter dalam penilaian otentik berbasis website guna meningkatkan komunikasi antara guru siswa dan orang tua murid. Selain itu, guru berusaha mampu berlaku adil dan mampu menilai atau mengidentifikasi karakteristik yang dimiliki peserta didik. Pengolahan data nilai otentik atau penilaian karakter saat ini masih menggunakan cara manual, proses ini dinilai cukup lamban dan dibutuhkan ketelitian yang tinggi untuk menjaga keakuratan data tersebut. Oleh karena itu diperlukannya pengembangan sistem untuk mengefisienkan waktu dan keakuratan data. Melalui penelitian ini peneliti berusaha untuk mengembangkan suatu produk instrumen penilaian berbasis website yang berdaya guna. Pada penelitian ini produk yang dihasilkan adalah model instrumen penilaian berbasis website sebagai alternatif alat penilaian yang mudah di akses dan bersifat otentik
Peranan United Nations Joint Program On HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Terhadap Penurunan Tingkat Penderita HIV/AIDS Di Zimbabwe
Authors: Asri Nurul Anisa , Badu Muhammad Nasir , Syahdan Pusparida
Published: March 2021

This study aims to examine the role of UNAIDS in efforts to reduce the rate of HIV / AIDS sufferers in Zimbabwe. The research method used is qualitative with secondary data techniques in the form of books, journals, documents, and various valid sources. All data were analyzed qualitatively. The results of this study indicate that UNAIDS as an international organization has become an aid and channel of foreign aid to Zimbabwe in collaboration with the Zimbabwean government to reduce the level of sufferers in the country. The existence of UNAIDS in Zimbabwe has affected the reduction of HIV / AIDS sufferers. However, this collaborative effort has constraints on Zimbabwe's unfavorable economic and human resource conditions. Apart from that, the cultural factor of society which is quite difficult to accept changes in something is also an obstacle.

 

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peran UNAIDS dalam upaya penurunan tingkat penderita HIV/AIDS di Zimbabwe. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah kualitatif dengan teknik pengumpulan data-data sekunder berupa buku, jurnal, dokumen, dan berbagai sumber valid. Seluruh data dianalisa secara kualitatif. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa UNAIDS sebagai sebuah organisasi internasional menjadi bantuan dan penyalur bantuan luar negeri kepada Zimbabwe bekerja sama dengan pemerintah Zimbabwe untuk mengurangi tingkat penderita di negara tersebut. Keberadaan UNAIDS di Zimbabwe telah mempengaruhi penurunan tingkat penderita HIV/AIDS. Namun, upaya kerjasama ini memiliki hambatan yakni kondisi perekonomian dan sumber daya manusia di Zimbabwe yang kurang baik. Selain itu faktor kebudayaan masyarakat yang cukup sulit menerima perubahan akan suatu hal juga menjadi salah satu hambatan.
A Review of Brain Atrophy Subtypes Definition and Analysis for Alzheimer’s Disease Heterogeneity Studies
Authors: Zhang Baiwen , Lin Lan , Wu Shuicai
Published: March 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a heterogeneous disease with different subtypes. Studying AD subtypes from brain structure, neuropathology, and cognition are of great importance for AD heterogeneity research. Starting from the study of constructing AD subtypes based on the features of T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging, this paper introduces the major connections between the subtype definition and analysis strategies, including brain region-based subtype definition, and their demographic, neuropathological, and neuropsychological characteristics. The advantages and existing problems are analyzed, and reasonable improvement schemes are prospected. Overall, this review offers a more comprehensive view in the field of atrophy subtype in AD, along with their advantages, challenges, and future prospects, and provide a basis for improving individualized AD diagnosis.
Blockchain technology based decentralized energy management in multi-microgrids including electric vehicles
Authors: Meghana Pulimamidi , Yammani Chandrasekhar , Salkuti Surender Reddy
Published: March 2021

This paper proposes an energy scheduling mechanism among multiple microgrids (MGs) and also within the individual MGs. In this paper, electric vehicle (EV) energy scheduling is also considered and is integrated in the operation of the microgrid (MG). With the advancements in the battery technologies of EVs, the significance of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) is increasing tremendously. So, designing the strategies for energy management of electric vehicles (EVs) is of paramount importance. The battery degradation cost of an EV is also taken into account. Vickrey second price auction is used for truthful bidding. To enhance the security and trust, blockchain technology can be incorporated. The market is shifted to decentralized state by using blockchain. To encourage the MGs to generate more, contribution index is allotted to each prosumer of a MG and to the MGs as a whole, depending on which priority is given during auction. The system was simulated using IEEE 118 bus feeder which consists of 5 MGs, which in turn contain EVs and prosumers.
Application of multi-attribute group decision-making methods in urban road traffic safety evaluation with interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information
Authors: Tian Zhun , Zhang Shengrui
Published: March 2021

With the development of the social economy, the level of motorization has been greatly improved, and the traffic safety problem has been paid more and more attention. In recent years, China’s road traffic accident rate showed a trend of decline after rising first, suggests that the Chinese road traffic safety level is on the decline. Road traffic safety evaluation has a positive effect in found risk factors of road traffic safety in time and reduce the traffic accident rate, so the study of traffic safety evaluation method is imperative. And the urban road traffic safety evaluation is frequently viewed as the multi-attribute group decision-making (MAGDM) problem. Depending on the conventional VIKOR method and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs), this paper designs a novel IVIF-VIKOR method to assess the urban road traffic safety. In addition, since subjective randomness frequently exists in determining criteria weights, the weights of criteria is [Z1] decided objectively by utilizing CRITIC method. Eventually, an application and some comparative analysis are given. The results show that the designed algorithms are useful for assessing the urban road traffic safety.
Parkinson’s Disease Cognitive Phenotypes Show Unique Clock Drawing Features when Measured with Digital Technology
Authors: Dion Catherine , Frank Brandon E. , Crowley Samuel J. , Hizel Loren P. , Rodriguez Katie , Tanner Jared J. , Libon David J. , Price Catherine C.
Published: March 2021

Background: A companion paper (Crowley et al., 2020) reports on the neuroimaging and neuropsychological profiles of statistically determined idiopathic non-dementia Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective: The current investigation sought to further examine subtle behavioral clock drawing differences within the same PD cohort by comparing 1) PD to non-PD peers on digitally acquired clock drawing latency and graphomotor metrics, and 2) PD memory, executive, and cognitively well phenotypes on the same variables. Methods: 230 matched participants (115 PD, 115 non-PD) completed neuropsychological tests and dCDT. Statistically-derived PD cognitive phenotypes characterized PD participants as PD low executive (PDExe; n = 25), PD low memory (PDMem; n = 34), PD cognitively well (PDWell; n = 56). Using a Bayesian framework and based on apriori hypotheses, we compared groups on: total completion time (TCT), pre-first hand latency (PFHL), post-clock face latency (PCFL), total clock face area (TCFA), and total number of pen strokes. Results: Fewer strokes and slower performance to command were associated with higher odds of PD diagnosis, while a larger clock face in the copy condition was associated with lower odds of PD diagnosis. Within PD cognitive phenotypes, slower performance (TCT, PCFL) and smaller clock face to command were associated with higher odds of being PDExe than PDWell, whereas larger clock faces associated with higher odds of being PDMem than PDWell. Longer disease duration, more pen strokes (command) and smaller clocks (command) associated with higher odds of being PDExe than PDWell. Conclusion: Digitally-acquired clock drawing profiles differ between PD and non-PD peers, and distinguish PD cognitive phenotypes.
Sex-selective abortion in Vietnam during 1999-2009: the first quantitative study at national level
Authors: Nguyen Truc Thi Thanh
Published: March 2021

The sex ratio at birth has dramatically increased since 1999 in Vietnam and stood at 112.7 boys per 100 girls in 2017. This figure alarms many female fetuses are aborted for sex-selection but the numerical evidence is unknown. To depict an accurate picture about the sex-selective abortion, we conducted a study to analyze the national data for sex-abortion in Vietnam.

To estimate the number of sex-selective abortions between 1999 and 2009, the 2009 Census and 1999 Life table of Vietnam were adopted. We calculated the actual number of female and male births for ten years using the reverse survival method. Then the number of sex-selective abortions was the gap between the expected and actual numbers of female births.

There was 217,902 sex-selective abortions, which accounted for 11.8% of all causes of abortion in Vietnam from 1999 to 2009. The number of sex-selective abortions was nearly double from 74,179 in 1999-2004 to 143,723 in 2005-2009, even the national punishments on sex-selective abortion were launched since 2003.

Female fetuses are more likely aborted before birth for sex-selection in Vietnam because of the son preference. In the situation of Vietnam, changing the social norm regarding female values and roles in both family and society is the key solution to end this problem.
Budget impact analysis of the HIV/AIDS treatment on a national scale:
a study from the Vietnam Social Security perspective
Authors: Hoang-Thy Nhac-Vu , Tran Thi-Ngoc-Van , Do Thi-Thu-Ha
Published: March 2021

To analyze the budget impact of the HIV/AIDS treatment on a national scale,
from the Vietnam Social Security (VSS) perspective.

A model with a 5-year time horizon was developed. The total first year direct
medical cost (DMC) and its cost components were estimated for HIV-infected
populations each year. Budget impact was described through the proportion of
the DMC over the social health insurance (SHI) budget. A scenario analysis
was conducted with four settings of different proportions of members and
coverage levels of the SHI. All costs were converted to 2020 US dollars.
1-way sensitivity analyses were conducted with variations of mean values in
a range of ±25%.

The total DMC was estimated at $1.8M (10,000 cases) to treat all new
infections and $27.7M (150,000 cases) to reach the treatment goal of
the Ministry of Health (MOH) in 2020. The total DMC accounted for 0.6% of
the SHI budget for the year 2020 to meet the treatment goal. The costs of
CD4-count test and fully suppressive regimen containing Tenofovir Disoproxil
Fumarate (TDF) were identified as key cost drivers. The proportion of the
total DMC over the SHI budget among different scenarios did not vary
significantly.

This is the first-ever study analyzing the budget impact of the HIV/AIDS
treatment on a national scale, from the VSS perspective. The results showed
that the cost of HIV/AIDS care was economical and the impact on the SHI
budget was reasonable. Findings could be used to notify the MOH to allocate
domestic resources and to optimize the current programs.
A scoring scheme prediction model for dengue outbreaks using weather factors in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Thao Thi Thu , Tran Dang Ngoc , Duong Tam Thi Minh , Phung Nhat Duc , Le Nga Hong , Tran Huyen Thi Ai , Nguyen Huy Tien , Dang Chinh Van
Published: March 2021

The dengue infection cases are increasing in Ho Chi Minh city (HCMC), Vietnam. Previous studies have demonstrated the correlation between dengue cases and weather factors, which then are used to built prediction models for dengue outbreaks. However, the association between dengue and weather varies greatly between regions and locations. In HCMC, a tropical climate city in Vietnam, there is no such a weather-based prediction model for dengue outbreaks.

This study aims to determine the correlation between weather factors and a weekly number of dengue cases and to develop a scoring scheme prediction model for dengue outbreaks using weather factors in HCMC, Vietnam.

An ecological study was conducted on the evaluation of weekly time-series data from 1999 to 2017. A Poisson regression model coupled with Distributed Lag Non-Linear Model (DLNM) was constructed to evaluate the effects of weather factors (i.e., temperature, relative humidity, cumulative rainfall, wind speed) and the weekly dengue cases in HCMC with lag 1-12 weeks.

The predictive model was based on the following weather factors: wind speed at lag 5-8 and 9-12 weeks; temperature amplitude and humidity at lag 5-8 weeks; rainfall at lag 1-4, 5-8, and 9-12 weeks. The predictive model using climate predictors explained about 80% of the variance in dengue cases with a small value of the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE= 0.17). The scoring scheme was then developed from the predictive model; it had a good prediction power – with the accuracy rate = 81%, sensitivity = 1, and specificity = 0.80. In summary, our study indicated that weather factors significantly influence and are predictors for the variation of dengue cases in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. We recommend applying this model to improve the prevention of dengue outbreak.
Preventing the Negative Effects of the Covid-19 Epidemic in International Freight Transport
Authors: Vida László , Illés Béla , Bányai Ágota
Published: March 2021

Measures taken to handle the COVID-19 epidemic in the spring of 2020 have had a significant impact on European supply chains. In terms of freight transport, this has led to a decline and congestion in truck traffic due to different restrictions on the internal borders of the EU. As similar situations cannot be avoided in the future, it is worthy to form supply chains that are less affected by different epidemics. Similarly to the physical internet hubs, distribution hubs can be forward-looking, but only if it helps development of rail-road intermodal freight transport. The article describes the possibility of a rail-road freight transport system that allows the application of radically new solutions through a new container handling technology that can be used in the rail-road relationship. The extension of the idea at the EU level could result in a significant increase in the share of rail freight and a sizeable reduction of the negative impact of epidemics on the supply chains. Among other effects, the solution can have a significant impact on the IT development of rail freight transport. The solution can also have effect to the development of the network of rail-road intermodal trans-shipment points, their automation and ultimately the completion of Logistics 4.0.
Examining the Relocation of the Capital City of Indonesia Through the State Perspective in Political Economy
Authors: Azmy Ana Sabhana
Published: March 2021

The government's decision to move the capital of the Republic of Indonesia from DKI Jakarta to Kalimantan has drawn pros and cons among the public. The government considers the relocation plan to provide comfort, welfare, access to education, health and fair and equitable participation. However, moving the capital city is not easy and must go through a well-planned plan. Using a literature study, this article attempts to review how the state positions itself in the relocation plan, and what are the implications for relocating the capital city in the context of economic development. The conclusion of this discourse is that the state is exercising its autonomy in the plan to move the capital city, or what Caporaso and Levine say as a free state. The government remains focused on relocation plans, although there are a number of people who disagree. The government also ensures that the implications of the capital relocation plan are positive for economic development in Indonesia. distribution of economic equality will occur in Indonesia.
Meningoencephalitis in a common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata associated with Brucella pinnipedialis and gamma-herpesvirus infection
Authors: Davison NJ , Dagleish MP , ten Doeschate M , Muchowski J , Perrett LL , Rocchi M , Whatmore AM , Brownlow A
Published: March 2021

Fatal marine Brucella infections with histologic lesions specific to the central nervous system (CNS), known as neurobrucellosis, have been described in 5 species of odontocete cetaceans in the UK: striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba, Atlantic white-sided dolphins Lagenorhynchus acutus, short-beaked common dolphins Delphinus delphis, long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas and Sowerby’s beaked whale Mesoplodon bidens. To date, these CNS lesions have only been associated with Brucella ceti ST26 and not with B. pinnipedialis, which is rarely isolated from cetaceans and, although commonly found in various seal species, has never been associated with any pathology. This paper describes the first report of neurobrucellosis in a common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata which was associated with the isolation of Brucella pinnipedialis ST24 and co-infection with Balaenoptera acutorostrata gamma-herpesvirus 2. This is the first report of neurobrucellosis in any species of mysticete and the first report of Brucella pinnipedialis in association with any pathology in any species of marine mammal, which may be due to co-infection with a herpesvirus, as these are known to be associated with immunosuppression.
Scalability and performance tradeoffs in quantifying relationships between elevation and tidal wetland plant communities
Authors: Holmquist JR , Schile-Beers L , Buffington K , Lu M , Mozdzer TJ , Riera J , Weller DE , Williams M , Megonigal JP
Published: March 2021

Elevation is a major driver of plant ecology and sediment dynamics in tidal wetlands, so accurate and precise spatial data are essential for assessing wetland vulnerability to sea-level rise and making forecasts. We performed survey-grade elevation and vegetation surveys of the Global Change Research Wetland, a brackish microtidal wetland in the Chesapeake Bay estuary, Maryland (USA), to both intercompare unbiased digital elevation model (DEM) creation techniques and to describe niche partitioning of several common tidal wetland plant species. We identified a tradeoff between scalability and performance in creating unbiased DEMs, with more data-intensive methods such as kriging performing better than 3 more scalable methods involving post-processing of light detection and ranging (LiDAR)-based DEMs. The LiDAR Elevation Correction with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (LEAN) method provided a compromise between scalability and performance, although it underpredicted variability in elevation. In areas where native plants dominated, the sedge Schoenoplectus americanus occupied more frequently flooded areas (median: 0.22, 95% range: 0.09 to 0.31 m relative to North America Vertical Datum of 1988 [NAVD88]) and the grass Spartina patens, less frequently flooded (0.27, 0.1 to 0.35 m NAVD88). Non-native Phragmites australis dominated at lower elevations more than the native graminoids, but had a wide flooding tolerance, encompassing both their ranges (0.19, -0.05 to 0.36 m NAVD88). The native shrub Iva frutescens also dominated at lower elevations (0.20, 0.04 to 0.30 m NAVD88), despite being previously described as a high marsh species. These analyses not only provide valuable context for the temporally rich but spatially restricted data collected at a single well-studied site, but also provide broad insight into mapping techniques and species zonation.
An Accurate Tool for Uncovering Cancer Subtypes by Fast Kernel Learning Method to Integrate Multiple Profile Data
Authors: Zhang Hongyu , Jiang Limin , Tang Jijun , Ding Yijie
Published: March 2021

In recent years, cancer has become a severe threat to human health. If we can accurately identify the subtypes of cancer, it will be of great significance to the research of anti-cancer drugs, the development of personalized treatment methods, and finally conquer cancer. In this paper, we obtain three feature representation datasets (gene expression profile, isoform expression and DNA methylation data) on lung cancer and renal cancer from the Broad GDAC, which collects the standardized data extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Since the feature dimension is too large, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is used to reduce the feature vector, thus eliminating the redundant features and speeding up the operation speed of the classification model. By multiple kernel learning (MKL), we use Kernel target alignment (KTA), fast kernel learning (FKL), Hilbert-Schmidt Independence Criterion (HSIC), Mean to calculate the weight of kernel fusion. Finally, we put the combined kernel function into the support vector machine (SVM) and get excellent results. Among them, in the classification of renal cell carcinoma subtypes, the maximum accuracy can reach 0.978 by using the method of MKL (HSIC calculation weight), while in the classification of lung cancer subtypes, the accuracy can even reach 0.990 with the same method (FKL calculation weight).
The Roles of CircRNAs in Regulating Muscle Development of Livestock Animals
Authors: Yang Zhenguo , He Tianle , Chen Qingyun
Published: March 2021

The muscle growth and development of livestock animals is a complex, multistage process, which is regulated by many factors, especially the genes related to muscle development. In recent years, it has been reported frequently that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved widely in cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and body development (including muscle development). However, the research on circRNAs in muscle growth and development of livestock animals is still in its infancy. In this paper, we briefly introduce the discovery, classification, biogenesis, biological function, and degradation of circRNAs and focus on the molecular mechanism and mode of action of circRNAs as competitive endogenous RNAs in the muscle development of livestock and poultry. In addition, we also discuss the regulatory mechanism of circRNAs on muscle development in livestock in terms of transcription, translation, and mRNAs. The purpose of this article is to discuss the multiple regulatory roles of circRNAs in the process of muscle development in livestock, to provide new ideas for the development of a new co-expression regulation network, and to lay a foundation for enriching livestock breeding and improving livestock economic traits.
Transcriptomics of Meiosis in the Male Mouse
Authors: Geisinger Adriana , Rodríguez-Casuriaga Rosana , Benavente Ricardo
Published: March 2021

Molecular studies of meiosis in mammals have been long relegated due to some intrinsic obstacles, namely the impossibility to reproduce the process in vitro, and the difficulty to obtain highly pure isolated cells of the different meiotic stages. In the recent years, some technical advances, from the improvement of flow cytometry sorting protocols to single-cell RNAseq, are enabling to profile the transcriptome and its fluctuations along the meiotic process. In this mini-review we will outline the diverse methodological approaches that have been employed, and some of the main findings that have started to arise from these studies. As for practical reasons most studies have been carried out in males, and mostly using mouse as a model, our focus will be on murine male meiosis, although also including specific comments about humans. Particularly, we will center on the controversy about gene expression during early meiotic prophase; the widespread existing gap between transcription and translation in meiotic cells; the expression patterns and potential roles of meiotic long non-coding RNAs; and the visualization of meiotic sex chromosome inactivation from the RNAseq perspective.
METTL3 Regulates Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament via the lncRNA XIST/miR-302a-3p/USP8 Axis
Authors: Yuan Xiaoqiu , Shi Lei , Guo Yongfei , Sun Jingchuan , Miao Jinhao , Shi Jiangang , Chen Yu
Published: March 2021

The prevalence of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is increasing, and currently there is no effective medical treatment for OPLL. Methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3), one of the components of the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase complex, regulates gene expression via modification of mRNA. Although METTL3 has been implicated in a variety of diseases, its role in OPLL remains to be elucidated. Primary ligament fibroblasts were used in this study. To investigate the role of METTL3 in OPLL, METTL3 was silenced or overexpressed. m6A RNA methylation was measured by commercially available kits. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to investigate the binding of miR-302a-3p and METTL3, and the binding of miR-302a-3p and USP8. Quantitative RT-PCR and western blots were used to evaluate mRNA and protein expression, respectively. OPLL increases METTL3 and its m6A modification. Overexpressing METTL3 significantly promoted osteogenic differentiation of primary ligament fibroblasts. Mechanism study showed that METTL3 increased m6A methylation of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) X-inactive specific transcript (XIST). Further study showed that lncRNA XIST regulates osteogenic differentiation of primary ligament fibroblasts via miR-302a-3p, which targets ubiquitin-specific protease 8 (USP8). METTL3 enhanced osteogenic differentiation of primary ligament fibroblasts via the lncRNA XIST/miR-302a-3p/USP8 axis. The findings highlight the importance of METTL3-mediated m6A methylation of XIST in OPLL and provide new insights into therapeutic strategies for OPLL.
Absence of Cytochrome P450-1b1 Increases Susceptibility of Pressure-Induced Axonopathy in the Murine Retinal Projection
Authors: Amirmokhtari Naseem , Foresi Brian D. , Dewan Shiv S. , Bouhenni Rachida A. , Smith Matthew A.
Published: March 2021

Mutations in the cytochrome P450-1B1 (Cyp1b1) gene is a common genetic predisposition associated with various human glaucomas, most prominently in primary congenital glaucoma (PCG). The role of Cyp1b1 in the eye is largely unknown, however, its absence appears to drive the maldevelopment of anterior eye structures responsible for aqueous fluid drainage in murine models. Nevertheless, vision loss in glaucoma ultimately results from the structural and functional loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Cyp1b1’s influence in the development and support of retinal ganglion cell structure and function under normal conditions or during stress, such as elevated ocular pressure; the most common risk factor in glaucoma, remains grossly unknown. Thus, to determine the role of Cyp1b1 in normal retinal projection development we first assessed the strucutrual integrity of RGCs in the retina, optic nerve, and superior colliculus in un-manipulated (naïve) Cyp1b1-knockout (Cyp1b1–/–) mice. In addition, in a separate cohort of Cyp1b1–/– and wildtype mice, we elevated and maintained intraocular pressure (IOP) at glaucomatous levels for 5-weeks, after which we compared RGC density, node of Ranvier morphology, and axonal transport between the genotypes. Our results demonstrate that naïve Cyp1b1–/– mice develop an anatomically intact retinal projection absent of overt glaucomatous pathology. Following pressure elevation, Cyp1b1–/– accelerated degradation of axonal transport from the retina to the superior colliculus and altered morphology of the nodes of Ranvier and adjacent paranodes in the optic nerves. Together this data suggests the absence Cyp1b1 expression alone is insufficient to drive murine glaucomatous pathology, however, may increase the vulnerability of retinal axons to disease relevant elevations in IOP.
Kinome-Wide RNAi Screen Uncovers Role of Ballchen in Maintenance of Gene Activation by Trithorax Group in Drosophila
Authors: Khan Muhammad Haider Farooq , Akhtar Jawad , Umer Zain , Shaheen Najma , Shaukat Ammad , Munir Muhammad Shahbaz , Mithani Aziz , Anwar Saima , Tariq Muhammad
Published: March 2021

Polycomb group (PcG) and trithorax group (trxG) proteins are evolutionary conserved factors that contribute to cell fate determination and maintenance of cellular identities during development of multicellular organisms. The PcG maintains heritable patterns of gene silencing while trxG acts as anti-silencing factors by conserving activation of cell type specific genes. Genetic and molecular analysis has revealed extensive details about how different PcG and trxG complexes antagonize each other to maintain cell fates, however, the cellular signaling components that contribute to the preservation of gene expression by PcG/trxG remain elusive. Here, we report an ex vivo kinome-wide RNAi screen in Drosophila aimed at identifying cell signaling genes that facilitate trxG in counteracting PcG mediated repression. From the list of trxG candidates, Ballchen (BALL), a histone kinase known to phosphorylate histone H2A at threonine 119 (H2AT119p), was characterized as a trxG regulator. The ball mutant exhibits strong genetic interactions with Polycomb (Pc) and trithorax (trx) mutants and loss of BALL affects expression of trxG target genes. BALL co-localizes with Trithorax on chromatin and depletion of BALL results in increased H2AK118 ubiquitination, a histone mark central to PcG mediated gene silencing. Moreover, BALL was found to substantially associate with known TRX binding sites across the genome. Genome wide distribution of BALL also overlaps with H3K4me3 and H3K27ac at actively transcribed genes. We propose that BALL mediated signaling positively contributes to the maintenance of gene activation by trxG in counteracting the repressive effect of PcG.
Extracellular Mitochondria Signals in CNS Disorders
Authors: Park Ji-Hyun , Hayakawa Kazuhide
Published: March 2021

Mitochondria actively participate in the regulation of cell respiratory mechanisms, metabolic processes, and energy homeostasis in the central nervous system (CNS). Because of the requirement of high energy, neuronal functionality and viability are largely dependent on mitochondrial functionality. In the context of CNS disorders, disruptions of metabolic homeostasis caused by mitochondrial dysfunction lead to neuronal cell death and neuroinflammation. Therefore, restoring mitochondrial function becomes a primary therapeutic target. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that active mitochondria are secreted into the extracellular fluid and potentially act as non-cell-autonomous signals in CNS pathophysiology. In this mini-review, we overview findings that implicate the presence of cell-free extracellular mitochondria and the critical role of intercellular mitochondrial transfer in various rodent models of CNS disorders. We also discuss isolated mitochondrial allograft as a novel therapeutic intervention for CNS disorders.
P2X7 Receptor in Hematological Malignancies
Authors: De Marchi Elena , Pegoraro Anna , Adinolfi Elena
Published: March 2021

The P2X7 receptor is an ion channel gated by the nucleotide ATP, known for its role in immune responses and recently emerging as a critical onco-promoting factor. Lymphocytes, myeloid cells, and their precursors were among the first cells proved to express a functional P2X7 receptor; therefore, it is not surprising that lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative diseases, also known as hematological malignancies, were shown to be related in their insurgence and progression to P2X7 alterations. Here, we overview established and recent literature relating P2X7 with the biological mechanisms underlying leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma development. Particular attention is paid to studies published in the very recent past correlating P2X7 with ATP concentration in the leukemic microenvironment and P2X7 overexpression to acute myeloid leukemia aggressiveness and response to chemotherapy. The described literature strongly suggests that P2X7 and its genetic variants could be regarded as potential new biomarkers in hematological malignancies and that both P2X7 antagonists and agonists could emerge as new therapeutic tools alone or in combination with traditional chemotherapy.
Trends in the Antiviral Chemical Activity of Material Surfaces Associated With the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak
Authors: Schio Aline Lucchesi , Michels Alexandre Fassini , Fongaro Gislaine , Figueroa Carlos Alejandro
Published: March 2021

The novel coronavirus designated as SARS-CoV-2 has risen the first pandemic caused by coronavirus and by November 26, 2020 is responsible for more than 1,410 million deaths. This scenario evidences that despite previous pandemics and epidemics in the world’s history, the current worldwide measures to contain and to mitigate viruses’ outbreaks are still disabled and insufficient. Therefore, this perspective reinforces the need for new and practical approaches for antiviral material developments and presents current technologies and its advances in this field of research focusing especially in surface materials since it is one of the most common interaction pathways. Furthermore, the roll that nanotechnology has been playing in the combat of viruses as well as the mechanisms that science has been discovering to inactivate these pathogenic microorganisms is presented. Finally, we suggest introducing new legislation and norms rather more specified on virucidal agents (materials and devices) than bactericidal ones in human environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, buses, and shopping centers to mitigate the current and future virus-based pandemics and epidemics.
Pleiotropic Roles for the Plasmodium berghei RNA Binding Protein UIS12 in Transmission and Oocyst Maturation
Authors: Müller Katja , Silvie Olivier , Mollenkopf Hans-Joachim , Matuschewski Kai
Published: March 2021

Colonization of the mosquito host byPlasmodiumparasites is achieved by sexually differentiated gametocytes. Gametocytogenesis, gamete formation and fertilization are tightly regulated processes, and translational repression is a major regulatory mechanism for stage conversion. Here, we present a characterization of aPlasmodium bergheiRNA binding protein, UIS12, that contains two conserved eukaryotic RNA recognition motifs (RRM). Targeted gene deletion resulted in viable parasites that replicate normally during blood infection, but form fewer gametocytes. Upon transmission toAnopheles stephensimosquitoes, both numbers and size of midgut-associated oocysts were reduced and their development stopped at an early time point. As a consequence, no salivary gland sporozoites were formed indicative of a complete life cycle arrest in the mosquito vector. Comparative transcript profiling in mutant and wild-type infected red blood cells revealed a decrease in transcript abundance of mRNAs coding for signature gamete-, ookinete-, and oocyst-specific proteins inuis12(-)parasites. Together, our findings indicate multiple roles for UIS12 in regulation of gene expression after blood infection in good agreement with the pleiotropic defects that terminate successful sporogony and onward transmission to a new vertebrate host.
Exploring Microbial Biosignatures in Mn-Deposits of Deep Biosphere: A Preliminary Cross-Disciplinary Approach to Investigate Geomicrobiological Interactions in a Cave in Central Italy
Authors: Vaccarelli Ilaria , Matteucci Federica , Pellegrini Marika , Bellatreccia Fabio , Del Gallo Maddalena
Published: March 2021

The terrestrial subsurface offers privileged sites both to search for microbial life and to observe still mostly unknown characteristic lithologies. In particular, caves represent natural laboratories to investigate unique minerogenetic processes and biotic interactions, connected to these phenomena. Manganese mineralization in cave environments provides a window to understand the complex Mn cycle and the development of microbial communities in special conditions, such as low constant temperature, absence of light and, in particular, low-energy environments. In the current study, we isolated and characterized Mn-samples taken from the cave “Grotta Grande dei Cervi,” L’Aquila, Central Italy, and we used a multidisciplinary approach to characterize them, with the purpose of understanding the biogeochemical processes in extreme environments. A chemical characterization of the samples was done by EDS; further investigations are underway with other multidisciplinary methodologies to understand whether the Mn laminae are related to biological processes. SEM investigations revealed microbial imprints, showing cell-like structures and suggesting that the cell-like shapes occur within internal laminae. A culture-independent approach was used to assess the possibility that biotic factors may be involved in the production of these mineralizations and to investigate the nature of the microbial community in these materials. A molecular approach was the first step to investigate the role of microorganisms in forming manganese oxides associated with water bearing rocks. DNA from the black deposits was extracted and sequence analyses of specimens were performed. Our data support the hypothesis that microorganisms may contribute to the mineralizations of manganese in this environment, providing new encouraging insight into the role of microorganisms in the Mn cycle and the processes of energy acquisition in unfavorable conditions, with relevant implications for astrobiology.
Neutronic Calculations for Certain Americium Mixed Fuels and Clads in a Boiling Water Reactor
Authors: Düz Mehtap
Published: March 2021

In this study, a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) design was made using the Monte Carlo (MCNPX) method. The reactor core in the designed BWR system was divided into an 8 × 8 square lattice with a constant pitch of 30.48 cm. In this study, americium (Am), which is found in the minor actinidine (MA) of spent nuclear fuel known as nuclear waste from existing reactors, was used as fuel with the addition of oxygen and fluorine. In this study, AmO2 and AmF3 fuels at the rate of 0.02–0.1% were used as Americium Mixed Fuels, and Zircaloy-2 (Zr-2), SiC, and VC were used as clad. Neutronic calculations for certain Americium Mixed Fuels and clads were compared in the designed BWR system. In the BWR system designed in the study; keff, neutron flux, fission energy, heating, and depleted Am were calculated. The three-dimensional (3-D) modeling of the designed BWR system was performed by using MCNPX-2.7.0 Monte Carlo method and the ENDF/B-VII.0 nuclear data library.