bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associação de esteatose hepática em pacientes em pré-operatório de cirurgia bariátrica com apneia obstrutiva do sono
Authors: Frare Letícia , Pantano Alves Daniela , Farias Isabela Resende , Medeiros Giuliana Moreira de , Soares Carolina Ferraz de Paula
Published: June 2021

A apneia obstrutiva do sono (AOS) é uma doença global que se associa à síndrome metabólica, especialmente à obesidade. A hipoxemia intermitente decorrente da AOS pode levar a um aumento na resistência à insulina e a uma alteração no metabolismo lipídico, podendo precipitar o desenvolvimento de esteatose hepática, caracterizada pelo acúmulo de lipídeos no interior dos hepatócitos, considerada provável causa principal de morbidade e mortalidade ligada a doenças do fígado. Dessa forma, este estudo retrospectivo buscou avaliar uma possível relação entre a AOS e a esteatose hepática em pacientes obesos no pré-operatório para cirurgia bariátrica. A partir da coleta de dados de 1.416 prontuários de pacientes em avaliação pré-operatória, obteve-se dados dos exames de ultrassonografia (USG) e polissonografia (PSG), resultando em uma amostra de 87 indivíduos avaliados. Desta amostra, 61% dos indivíduos eram do sexo feminino, com idade média de 39 anos de idade, com desvio padrão (d.p.) de 11,4 e IMC de 39.3 (d.p. 4,4). A ultrassonografia classificou como portadores de esteatose hepática 74 indivíduos (85%). O valor médio do Índice de apneia-hipopneia (IAH) foi de 33.5 (d.p. 28.9) e do Índice de dessaturação da oxihemoglobina (IDO) foi de 41.4 (d.p. 34,1). Os pacientes foram divididos em 2 grupos: um grupo com IAH menor ou igual 15 eventos/hora e outro com IAH maior ou igual 16 eventos/hora. O grau de esteatose diferiu entre os grupos pelo IAH (p <0,001) e sexo (p <0,001).  Após o ajuste de várias variáveis por meio de regressão múltipla, apenas o sexo masculino foi um preditor de graus mais elevados de esteatose. Concluímos que há maior prevalência de esteatose hepática entre portadores de AOS, sendo que os principais fatores associados a esteatose foram o IAH e sexo masculino, porém após regressão apenas o sexo feminino seria preditor de proteção à esteatose na amostra estudada.
Experience and sexuality education in creation of audiovisual installation
Authors: Muclisin Alif Sukma
Published: June 2021

Experience and education on sexuality is a unity of things / events experienced by individuals / groups regarding sex and sexuality which are then reduced to an informal educational structure. The purpose of this research is to explain  the concept of artwork that underlies the creation of the audiovisual installation and the process of visualization of artwork on the creation of audiovisual installation. The media for creating works that are applied is an audiovisual installation art. Inspired by the previous works of Julian Rosefeldt (Manifesto), Gerda Wegener (Solitaire), Mella Jaarsma (Potong Waktu) and Halsey (Album Manic). The method of creation is based on Laura H. Chapman's theory with three stages, namely Inception of Idea, Elaboration and Refinement, and Execution in a Medium.
Energetic values of animal by-products for broiler chickens of different ages
Authors: Schneiders José Luiz , Avila André Sanches de , Broch Jomara , Frank Rafael , Schöne Rodrigo André , Hofferber Tiago Rafael , Tesser Guilherme Luis Silva , Cirilo Edinan Hagdon , Rohloff Junior Nilton , Souza Cleison de , Nunes Ricardo Vianna
Published: June 2021

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition and apparent metabolizable energy (AME), AME corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) and its respective metabolizable coefficients of animal byproducts for broiler chickens with different ages. Meat and bone meal, poultry by-product meal, tilapia processing residue and poultry fat were evaluated. A total of 760 male broiler chickens were used and evaluated and the phases: pre-starter (1 to 8 d of age); starter (11 to18 d); grower 1 (21 to 28 d); grower 2 (31 to 38 d), and finisher (41 to 48 d). Total excreta collection method was performed in five metabolism assays. The experimental design was completely randomized, and data were submitted to analysis of variance, posteriorly, the four feeds were compared by Tukey test and a regression analysis was performed with broiler chickens age. The significance was considered at 5% probability. The values of AME and AMEn were higher in older birds for all ingredients. The lesser CAME and CAMEn were obtained for meat and bone meal, for the regression analysis poultry by-product meal, tilapia processing residue and poultry fat had an increased linear effect with birds age and there was no adjust for meat and bone meal for regression analysis.
Obesidade infantil: Uma problemática da sociedade atual
Authors: Zigarti Pedro Victor Ramos , Barata Junior Idelmar da Silva , Ferreira José Carlos de Sales
Published: June 2021

Introdução: É observado ao decorrer das últimas décadas que houve um crescimento no mundo todo da obesidade infantil, e devido ao seu evidente crescimento ela vem se caracterizando como uma nova epidemia mundial Objetivo: analisar os aspectos que cercam a obesidade infantil e a sua prevalência na sociedade atual. Metodologia: Este estudo trata-se de uma pesquisa de revisão integrativa da literatura.  Resultados e Discussão: A obesidade, já na infância, está relacionada a várias complicações, como também a uma maior taxa de mortalidade. E, quanto mais tempo o indivíduo se mantém obeso, maior é a chance de as complicações ocorrerem, assim como mais precocemente. Conclusão: Ações no âmbito coletivo devem envolver políticas públicas que promovam a saúde, o bem-estar e a qualidade de vida das populações.
Introduction: The dynamics of digital communication in the Philippines: legacies and potentials
Authors: Lorenzana Jozon , Soriano Cheryll Ruth
Published: June 2021

This special issue brings together six research articles that speak to the dynamics of digital communication in the Philippines, a country firmly located in the global geography of the digital economy and an early adopter and innovator in mobile communication. Increasingly, the rise of digital platforms is spurring on new business models and applications that find a wide range of appropriations in a developing economy with a high level of communication skills and a high level of inequality. These dynamics have, in turn, fuelled the popularity of social media and the populism that has gained international attention and, more critically, taken the country into uncharted political terrain. We introduce this Special Issue by taking stock of the legacies and potentials of digital communication in the country and highlighting how the articles sustain and extend past conversations. Drawing from the articles that cover a range of topics (entertainment, intimacy, labour, journalism and politics, scandals and pornography), we identify three overlapping themes that capture the socio-technical dynamics of digital communication in the Philippines: (1) how digital communication is emplaced in material, social and structural conditions; (2) the potentials of networked publics and communication; and (3) the convertibility of capitals and emergence of new competencies. These dynamics and potentials point to the contradictions, continuities and changes that relate to Philippine modernity in the context of global digital capitalism.
An Explorative Study on the Null Secondary Science Curriculum in Bangladesh
Authors:   Dialogue Associate Centre for Policy Dialogue Lalmatia, Dhaka, Chowdhury Tapashi Binte Mahmud , Siddique Mohammad Nure Alam ,   Associate Professor Institute of Education and Research University of Dhaka
Published: June 2021

The aim of this study was to identify the content of secondary Science curriculum excluded in teaching and learning activities, the reasons behind the omission and its impact on students' learning in the context of Bangladesh. This study used qualitative methodology. Eight teachers were selected and interviewed to investigate what they excluded from their teaching and what the reasons behind the exclusion were. Data were collected from participating teachers' students using a focus group discussion. Data collected from students and teachers were analyzed first. Then purposefully selected curriculum developers, textbook authors and teacher educators were interviewed to understand the impact of the null curriculum on students' learning. Analysis of data revealed that all the participant teachers excluded a chapter in grades IX-X General Science textbook. This chapter included information about reproductive organs, physical and psychological changes during puberty, pregnancy, evolution and related topics. Teachers argued that the topics were uncomfortable for them to teach, contradicted with religion, and students might misinterpret and practice unethical relationships if these topics were taught. However, the curriculum developers and the textbook authors asserted that including these topics would solve problems like adolescent mistakes, child rape, child pregnancy and distorted fantasies. This study concluded that excluding the chapter on adolescence, sexual and reproductive health and evolution obstructs achievement of students' scientific literacy.
The Affordances of Fiction for Teaching Chemistry
Authors:   Associate Dean for the Graduate School of Educaiton, State Univeristy of New York, University at Buffalo, Yerrick Randy , Simons Tiffany ,   Chemistry teacher
Published: June 2021

As science fiction has a way of capturing the human imagination that few other genres can rival, this study sought to investigate the effects of using science fiction on the performance and interest of high school chemistry students. An action research approach was used to guide the first author’s practice as she studied two college preparatory chemistry classrooms. One class was used as a control group and received traditional chemistry instruction through lecture and labs. The second class was provided with supplemental excerpts of science fictional reading and film. Student scores on a pre-assessment and post-assessment achievement test items were analyzed and supplemented with student interviews and field note observations, and a teacher reflective journal was used to complement achievement data and inform findings regarding the effectiveness of including fiction as a pedagogical choice. Implications for this study on teaching tools, methodologies, and curriculum development are discussed.
Clostridium acetobutylicum Biofilm: Advances in Understanding the Basis
Authors: Zhang Huifang , Yang Pengpeng , Wang Zhenyu , Li Mengting , Zhang Jie , Liu Dong , Chen Yong , Ying Hanjie
Published: June 2021

Clostridium acetobutylicum is an important industrial platform capable of producing a variety of biofuels and bulk chemicals. Biofilm of C. acetobutylicum renders many production advantages and has been long and extensively applied in fermentation. However, molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying the biofilm have been much less studied and remain largely unknown. Here, we review studies to date focusing on C. acetobutylicum biofilms, especially on its physiological and molecular aspects, summarizing the production advantages, cell physiological changes, extracellular matrix components and regulatory genes of the biofilm. This represents the first review dedicated to the biofilm of C. acetobutylicum. Hopefully, it will deepen our understanding toward C. acetobutylicum biofilm and inspire more research to learn and develop more efficient biofilm processes in this industrially important bacterium.
RNA Network Interactions During Differentiation of Human Trophoblasts
Authors: Chu Tianjiao , Mouillet Jean-Francois , Cao Zhishen , Barak Oren , Ouyang Yingshi , Sadovsky Yoel
Published: June 2021

In the human placenta, two trophoblast cell layers separate the maternal blood from the villous basement membrane and fetal capillary endothelial cells. The inner layer, which is complete early in pregnancy and later becomes discontinuous, comprises the proliferative mononuclear cytotrophoblasts, which fuse together and differentiate to form the outer layer of multinucleated syncytiotrophoblasts. Because the syncytiotrophoblasts are responsible for key maternal-fetal exchange functions, tight regulation of this differentiation process is critical for the proper development and the functional role of the placenta. The molecular mechanisms regulating the fusion and differentiation of trophoblasts during human pregnancy remain poorly understood. To decipher the interactions of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in this process, we exposed cultured primary human trophoblasts to standardin vitrodifferentiation conditions or to conditions known to hinder this differentiation process, namely exposure to hypoxia (O2< 1%) or to the addition of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, 1.5%) to the culture medium. Using next generation sequencing technology, we analyzed the differential expression of trophoblastic lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs that are concordantly modulated by both hypoxia and DMSO. Additionally, we developed a model to construct a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA co-expression network and inferred the functions of lncRNAs and miRNAs via indirect gene ontology analysis. This study improves our knowledge of the interactions between ncRNAs and mRNAs during trophoblast differentiation and identifies key biological processes that may be impaired in common gestational diseases, such as fetal growth restriction or preeclampsia.
Annexin A4 Is Dispensable for Hair Cell Development and Function
Authors: Li Nana , Xi Yuehui , Du Haibo , Zhou Hao , Xu Zhigang
Published: June 2021

Annexin A4 (ANXA4) is a Ca2+-dependent phospholipid-binding protein that is specifically expressed in the cochlear and vestibular hair cells, but its function in the hair cells remains unknown. In the present study, we show that besides localizing on the plasma membrane, ANXA4 immunoreactivity is also localized at the tips of stereocilia in the hair cells. In order to investigate the role of ANXA4 in the hair cells, we established Anxa4 knockout mice using CRISPR/Cas9 technique. Unexpectedly, the development of both cochlear and vestibular hair cells is normal in Anxa4 knockout mice. Moreover, stereocilia morphology of Anxa4 knockout mice is normal, so is the mechano-electrical transduction (MET) function. Consistently, the auditory and vestibular functions are normal in the knockout mice. In conclusion, we show here that ANXA4 is dispensable for the development and function of hair cells, which might result from functional redundancy between ANXA4 and other annexin(s) in the hair cells.
When the Body Belies the Words: Embodied Agency With darf/kann ich? (“May/Can I?”) in German
Authors: Deppermann Arnulf , Gubina Alexandra
Published: June 2021

Research on multimodal interaction has shown that simultaneity of embodied behavior and talk is constitutive for social action. In this study, we demonstrate different temporal relationships between verbal and embodied actions. We focus on uses of German darf/kann ich? (“may/can I?”) in which speakers initiate, or even complete the embodied action that is addressed by the turn before the recipient's response. We argue that through such embodied conduct, the speaker bodily enacts high agency, which is at odds with the low deontic stance they express through their darf/kann ich?-TCUs. In doing so, speakers presuppose that the intersubjective permissibility of the action is highly probable or even certain. Moreover, we demonstrate how the speaker's embodied action, joint perceptual salience of referents, and the projectability of the action addressed with darf/kann ich? allow for a lean syntactic design of darf/kann ich?-TCUs (i.e., pronominalization, object omission, and main verb omission). Our findings underscore the reflexive relationship between lean syntax, sequential organization and multimodal conduct.
Autumn Warming Delays the Downregulation of Photosynthesis and Does Not Increase the Risk of Freezing Damage in Interior and Coastal Douglas-fir
Authors: Noordermeer Devin , Velasco Vera Marjorie Elauria , Ensminger Ingo
Published: June 2021

During autumn, evergreen conifers utilize the decrease in daylength and temperature as environmental signals to trigger cold acclimation, a process that involves the downregulation of photosynthesis, upregulation of photoprotection, and development of cold hardiness. Global warming will delay the occurrence of autumn low temperatures while daylength remains unaffected. The impact of autumn warming on cold acclimation and the length of the carbon uptake period of species with ranges that encompass diverse climates, such as Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), remains unclear. Our study investigated intraspecific variation in the effects of autumn warming on photosynthetic activity, photosynthetic pigments, and freezing tolerance in two interior (var. glauca) and two coastal (var. menziesii) Douglas-fir provenances. Following growth under simulated summer conditions with long days (16 h photoperiod) and summer temperatures (22/13°C day/night), Douglas-fir seedlings were acclimated to simulated autumn conditions with short days (8 h photoperiod) and either low temperatures (cool autumn, CA; 4/−4°C day/night) or elevated temperatures (warm autumn, WA; 19/11°C day/night). Exposure to low temperatures in the CA treatment induced the downregulation of photosynthetic carbon assimilation and photosystem II efficiency, increased the size and de-epoxidation of the xanthophyll cycle pigment pool, and caused the development of sustained nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ). Seedlings in the WA treatment exhibited no downregulation of photosynthesis, no change in xanthophyll cycle pigment de-epoxidation, and no development of sustained NPQ. Albeit these changes, freezing tolerance was not impaired under WA conditions compared with CA conditions. Interior Douglas-fir seedlings developed greater freezing tolerance than coastal seedlings. Our findings suggest that autumn warming, i.e., short photoperiod alone, does not induce the downregulation of photosynthesis in Douglas-fir. Although autumn warming delays the downregulation of photosynthesis, the prolonged period of photosynthetic activity does not bear a trade-off of impaired freezing tolerance.
Genomic Prediction of Average Daily Gain, Back-Fat Thickness, and Loin Muscle Depth Using Different Genomic Tools in Canadian Swine Populations
Authors: Salek Ardestani Siavash , Jafarikia Mohsen , Sargolzaei Mehdi , Sullivan Brian , Miar Younes
Published: June 2021

Improvement of prediction accuracy of estimated breeding values (EBVs) can lead to increased profitability for swine breeding companies. This study was performed to compare the accuracy of different popular genomic prediction methods and traditional best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) for future performance of back-fat thickness (BFT), average daily gain (ADG), and loin muscle depth (LMD) in Canadian Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire swine breeds. In this study, 17,019 pigs were genotyped using Illumina 60K and Affymetrix 50K panels. After quality control and imputation steps, a total of 41,304, 48,580, and 49,102 single-nucleotide polymorphisms remained for Duroc (n = 6,649), Landrace (n = 5,362), and Yorkshire (n = 5,008) breeds, respectively. The breeding values of animals in the validation groups (n = 392–774) were predicted before performance test using BLUP, BayesC, BayesCπ, genomic BLUP (GBLUP), and single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP) methods. The prediction accuracies were obtained using the correlation between the predicted breeding values and their deregressed EBVs (dEBVs) after performance test. The genomic prediction methods showed higher prediction accuracies than traditional BLUP for all scenarios. Although the accuracies of genomic prediction methods were not significantly (P > 0.05) different, ssGBLUP was the most accurate method for Duroc-ADG, Duroc-LMD, Landrace-BFT, Landrace-ADG, and Yorkshire-BFT scenarios, and BayesCπ was the most accurate method for Duroc-BFT, Landrace-LMD, and Yorkshire-ADG scenarios. Furthermore, BayesCπ method was the least biased method for Duroc-LMD, Landrace-BFT, Landrace-ADG, Yorkshire-BFT, and Yorkshire-ADG scenarios. Our findings can be beneficial for accelerating the genetic progress of BFT, ADG, and LMD in Canadian swine populations by selecting more accurate and unbiased genomic prediction methods.
Heterogeneity in Regional Damage Detected by Neuroimaging and Neuropathological Studies in Older Adults With COVID-19: A Cognitive-Neuroscience Systematic Review to Inform the Long-Term Impact of the Virus on Neurocognitive Trajectories
Authors: Manca Riccardo , De Marco Matteo , Ince Paul G. , Venneri Annalena
Published: June 2021

Background: Other than its direct impact on cardiopulmonary health, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection affects additional body systems, especially in older adults. Several studies have reported acute neurological symptoms that present at onset or develop during hospitalisation, with associated neural injuries. Whilst the acute neurological phase is widely documented, the long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection on neurocognitive functioning remain unknown. Although an evidence-based framework describing the disease chronic phase is premature, it is important to lay the foundations for future data-driven models. This systematic review aimed at summarising the literature on neuroimaging and neuropathological findings in older over-60 patients with COVID-19 following a cognitive neuroscientific perspective, to clarify the most vulnerable brain areas and speculate on the possible cognitive consequences.

Methods: PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant manuscripts published between 1st March 2020 and 31th December 2020. Outputs were screened and selected by two assessors. Relevant studies not detected by literature search were added manually.

Results: Ninety studies, mainly single cases and case series, were included. Several neuroimaging and neuropathological findings in older patients with COVID-19 emerged from these studies, with cerebrovascular damage having a prominent role. Abnormalities (hyperintensities, hypoperfusion, inflammation, and cellular damage) were reported in most brain areas. The most consistent cross-aetiology findings were in white matter, brainstem and fronto-temporal areas. Viral DNA was detected mainly in olfactory, orbitofrontal and brainstem areas.

Conclusion: Studies on COVID-19 related neural damage are rich and diverse, but limited to description of hospitalised patients with fatal outcome (i.e., in neuropathological studies) or severe symptoms (i.e., in neuroimaging studies). The damage seen in this population indicates acute and largely irreversible dysfunction to neural regions involved in major functional networks that support normal cognitive and behavioural functioning. It is still unknown whether the long-term impact of the virus will be limited to chronic evolution of acute events, whether sub-clinical pathological processes will be exacerbated or whether novel mechanisms will emerge. Based on current literature, future theoretical frameworks describing the long-term impact of COVID-19 infection on mental abilities will have to factor in major trends of aetiological and topographic heterogeneity.
Retreatment With Flow Diverters and Coiling for Recurrent Aneurysms After Initial Endovascular Treatment: A Propensity Score-Matched Comparative Analysis
Authors: Li Wenqiang , Zhu Wei , Sun Xinguo , Liu Jian , Wang Yang , Wang Kun , Zhang Ying , Yang Xinjian , Zhang Yisen
Published: June 2021

Background: Flow diverters and conventional coiling are established modalities for the retreatment of intracranial recurrent aneurysms after initial endovascular treatment. We aimed to compare the efficacy of these techniques.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data for patients with recurrent aneurysms after initial endovascular treatment retreated in our center with either a pipeline embolization device (PED) or conventional coil embolization from January 2012 to July 2020. We performed 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM) using the nearest neighbor method. We controlled for: initial treatment strategy, aneurysm size, neck diameter, symptom presentation, history of aneurysm rupture, age, sex, fusiform-dissecting aneurysm, bifurcation aneurysm, and aneurysm location. The clinical and morphological factors of all patients at initial treatment and the angiographic and clinical results at the second treatment were collected and compared between the propensity-matched pairs.

Results: A total of 105 intracranial aneurysms were identified; 18 patients (17.1%) were treated with a PED, and 87 (82.9%) were treated via conventional coil embolization. PSM resulted in 12 matched pairs (12 patients in the PED group and 24 in the coiling group). There was no significant difference of ischemic and hemorrhagic complications between the groups, the obliteration rate of branches covered by stent, or modified Rankin Scale scores at the last clinical follow-up. Importantly, the retreatment strategy in the PED group provided significantly different results vs. the coiling group (P < 0.001), with a lower recurrence rate (0.0 vs. 29.2%, respectively; P = 0.037). However, the procedural failure rate and the parent artery stenosis were more frequently in PED group compared with coiling group (both were 16.7 vs. 0.0%; P = 0.040).

Conclusions: Endovascular retreatment for recurrent aneurysms after initial endovascular treatment might be safe and effective. Flow diverters might be associated with reduced risk of recanalization and an increased risk of procedural failure and mild parent artery stenosis.
Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Polarization Phenotype of Rat Microglia After Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Liang Fang , Kang Nan , Li Pinpin , Liu Xuehua , Li Ge , Yang Jing
Published: June 2021

Background: The neurological defect caused by secondary damage following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is considered critical for the management of TBI. Microglia (MG) are a resident brain macrophage that could differentiate into M1 type or M2 type in response to injury and repair. It is known that the MG transition from M1 phenotype to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype might reduce secondary injury of TBI. So, a TBI animal model was established and we compared biomarkers of M1 and M2MG between the controls and experimental animals receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). This study aimed to explore whether HBOT was an effective method to improve neural functional recovery via promoting the polarization of MG into M2 after TBI.

Methods: The rats were randomly divided into four groups: SH (Sham-operated), SH + HBO (hyperbaric oxygen), TBI, and TBI + HBO. Each group included 42 rats, and each of these were divided into the following groups: 1, 6, 12, 24, 72 h, 7, and 14 days. The expression of M1 biomarker inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), M2 biomarker arginase 1 (Arg1), associated cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) was evaluated after the observation time.

Results: TBI significantly increased the expression levels of M1 marker iNOS and M2 markers Arg1 at different time points. The increased expression of iNOS was suppressed, while the expression level of Arg1 was enhanced by HBOT. Moreover, HBOT suppressed the pro-inflammatory TNF-α secreted by M1, and promoting the anti-inflammatory TGF-1β.

Conclusions: In the present study, HBOT showed the effects on shift of M1 toward M2 phenotype with increased expression of M2 biomarkers and decreased expression of M1 biomarkers in the early stage after TBI.
Epilepsy in Onchocerca volvulus Sero-Positive Patients From Northern Uganda—Clinical, EEG and Brain Imaging Features
Authors: Ogwang Rodney , Ningwa Albert , Akun Pamela , Bangirana Paul , Anguzu Ronald , Mazumder Rajarshi , Salamon Noriko , Henning Oliver Johannes , Newton Charles R. , Abbo Catherine , Mwaka Amos Deogratius , Marsh Kevin , Idro Richard
Published: June 2021

Globally, epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder. The incidence in sub-Saharan Africa is 2-3 times higher than that in high income countries. Infection by Onchocerca volvulus may be an underlying risk factor for the high burden and based upon epidemiological associations, has been proposed to cause a group of disorders—Onchocerca associated epilepsies (OAE) like nodding syndrome (NS). To improve our understanding of the disease spectrum, we described the clinical, electroencephalographic (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of children with epilepsy and sero-positive for Onchocerca volvulus (possible OAEs other than nodding syndrome). Twenty-nine children and adolescents with non-nodding syndrome OAE in northern Uganda were enrolled. A diagnosis of OAE was made in patients with epilepsy and seizure onset after age 3 years, no reported exposure to perinatal severe febrile illness or traumatic brain injury, no syndromic epilepsy diagnosis and a positive Ov-16 ELISA test. Detailed clinical evaluation including psychiatric, diagnostic EEG, a diagnostic brain MRI (in 10 patients) and laboratory testing were performed. Twenty participants (69%) were male. The mean age was 15.9 (standard deviation [SD] 1.9) years while the mean age at seizure onset was 9.8 (SD 2.9) years. All reported normal early childhood development. The most common clinical presentation was a tonic-clonic seizure. The median number of seizures was 2 (IQR 1–4) in the previous month. No specific musculoskeletal changes, or cranial nerve palsies were reported, neither were any vision, hearing and speech difficulties observed. The interictal EEG was abnormal in the majority with slow wave background activity in 52% (15/29) while 41% (12/29) had focal epileptiform activity. The brain MRI showed mild to moderate cerebellar atrophy and varying degrees of atrophy of the frontal, parietal and occipital lobes. The clinical spectrum of epilepsies associated with Onchocerca may be broader than previously described. In addition, focal onset tonic-clonic seizures, cortical and cerebellar atrophy may be important brain imaging and clinical features.
A Novel Technique to Reject Artifact Components for Surface EMG Signals Recorded During Walking With Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kim Minjae , Moon Yaejin , Hunt Jasmine , McKenzie Kelly A. , Horin Adam , McGuire Matt , Kim Keehoon , Hargrove Levi J. , Jayaraman Arun
Published: June 2021

Transcutaneous spinal cord electrical stimulation (tSCS) is an emerging technology that targets to restore functionally integrated neuromuscular control of gait. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a novel filtering method, Artifact Component Specific Rejection (ACSR), for removing artifacts induced by tSCS from surface electromyogram (sEMG) data for investigation of muscle response during walking when applying spinal stimulation. Both simulated and real tSCS contaminated sEMG data from six stroke survivors were processed using ACSR and notch filtering, respectively. The performance of the filters was evaluated with data collected in various conditions (e.g., simulated artifacts contaminating sEMG in multiple degrees, various tSCS intensities in five lower-limb muscles of six participants). In the simulation test, after applying the ACSR filter, the contaminated-signal was well matched with the original signal, showing a high correlation (r= 0.959) and low amplitude difference (normalized root means square error = 0.266) between them. In the real tSCS contaminated data, the ACSR filter showed superior performance on reducing the artifacts (96% decrease) over the notch filter (25% decrease). These results indicate that ACSR filtering is capable of eliminating artifacts from sEMG collected during tSCS application, improving the precision of quantitative analysis of muscle activity.
Epigenetic Impacts of Early Life Stress in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Shape the Neurodevelopmental Continuum
Authors: Alberry Bonnie , Laufer Benjamin I. , Chater-Diehl Eric , Singh Shiva M.
Published: June 2021

Neurodevelopment in humans is a long, elaborate, and highly coordinated process involving three trimesters of prenatal development followed by decades of postnatal development and maturation. Throughout this period, the brain is highly sensitive and responsive to the external environment, which may provide a range of inputs leading to positive or negative outcomes. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) result from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Although the molecular mechanisms of FASD are not fully characterized, they involve alterations to the regulation of gene expression via epigenetic marks. As in the prenatal stages, the postnatal period of neurodevelopment is also sensitive to environmental inputs. Often this sensitivity is reflected in children facing adverse conditions, such as maternal separation. This exposure to early life stress (ELS) is implicated in the manifestation of various behavioral abnormalities. Most FASD research has focused exclusively on the effect of prenatal ethanol exposure in isolation. Here, we review the research into the effect of prenatal ethanol exposure and ELS, with a focus on the continuum of epigenomic and transcriptomic alterations. Interestingly, a select few experiments have assessed the cumulative effect of prenatal alcohol and postnatal maternal separation stress. Regulatory regions of different sets of genes are affected by both treatments independently, and a unique set of genes are affected by the combination of treatments. Notably, epigenetic and gene expression changes converge at the clustered protocadherin locus and oxidative stress pathway. Functional studies using epigenetic editing may elucidate individual contributions of regulatory regions for hub genes and further profiling efforts may lead to the development of non-invasive methods to identify children at risk. Taken together, the results favor the potential to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes by epigenetic management of children born with FASD using favorable postnatal conditions with or without therapeutic interventions.
A Review of the Clinical Characteristics and Novel Molecular Subtypes of Endometrioid Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Chen Shuangfeng , Li Yuebo , Qian Lili , Deng Sisi , Liu Luwen , Xiao Weihua , Zhou Ying
Published: June 2021

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecologic cancers that has the highest mortality rate. Endometrioid ovarian cancer, a distinct subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer, is associated with endometriosis and Lynch syndrome, and is often accompanied by synchronous endometrial carcinoma. In recent years, dysbiosis of the microbiota within the female reproductive tract has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer, with some specific pathogens exhibiting oncogenic having been found to contribute to cancer development. It has been shown that dysregulation of the microenvironment and accumulation of mutations are stimulatory factors in the progression of endometrioid ovarian carcinoma. This would be a potential therapeutic target in the future. Simultaneously, multiple studies have demonstrated the role of four molecular subtypes of endometrioid ovarian cancer, which are of particular importance in the prediction of prognosis. This literature review aims to compile the potential mechanisms of endometrioid ovarian cancer, molecular characteristics, and molecular pathological types that could potentially play a role in the prediction of prognosis, and the novel therapeutic strategies, providing some guidance for the stratified management of ovarian cancer.
The Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Related Gene Calumenin Is an Adverse Prognostic Factor of Bladder Cancer Correlated With Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling, Gene Mutation, and Ferroptosis
Authors: Du YiHeng , Miao WenHao , Jiang Xiang , Cao Jin , Wang Bo , Wang Yi , Yu Jiang , Wang XiZhi , Liu HaiTao
Published: June 2021

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical regulatory role in bladder cancer (BLCA) progression and metastasis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) presents as an essential mechanism of tumor invasion and metastasis. Accumulating pieces of evidence indicated that several microenvironmental factors, including fibroblasts, endothelial, and immune cells, induced EMT in tumor cells. As a hallmark gene of the EMT process, calumenin (CALU) was previously reported to directly impact cancer metastasis. However, the functions and molecular mechanisms of CALU have been rarely reported in BLCA. By multi-omics bioinformatics analysis of 408 TCGA BLCA patients, we demonstrated that CALU was an independent risk factor for BLCA outcome. Subsequently, we verified the correlation of CALU with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor-infiltrating immune cells. The results suggested a positive correlation of CALU with CAFs, CD8+ T cells and macrophages. Also, CALU was significantly associated with multiple immune checkpoint-related genes, which ultimately influenced patients’ responsiveness to immunotherapy. Further, we found that the impact of CALU on BLCA prognosis might also be correlated with gene mutations and ferroptosis. Finally, we validated the roles of CALU by single-cell RNA sequencing, PCR and immunohistochemistry. In conclusion, we found that CALU affected BLCA prognosis associated with multiple mechanisms, including TME remodeling, gene mutation and ferroptosis. Further studies on CALU may provide new targets for BLCA immunotherapy and precision medicine.
Knowledge Domain and Emerging Trends in Ferroptosis Research: A Bibliometric and Knowledge-Map Analysis
Authors: Zhang Jie , Song Luxia , Xu Liyan , Fan Yixuan , Wang Tong , Tian Wende , Ju Jianqing , Xu Hao
Published: June 2021

Objectives

To identify the cooperation and impact of authors, countries, institutions, and journals, evaluate the knowledge base, find the hotspot trends, and detect the emerging topics regarding ferroptosis research.

Methods

The articles and reviews related to ferroptosis were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection on November 1, 2020. Two scientometric software (CiteSpace 5.7 and VOSviewer 1.6.15) were used to perform bibliometric and knowledge-map analysis.

Results

A total of 1,267 papers were included, in 466 academic journals by 6,867 authors in 438 institutions from 61 countries/regions. The ferroptosis-related publications were increasing rapidly. Cell Death & Disease published the most papers on ferroptosis, while Cell was the top co-cited journal, publication journals and co-cited journals were major in the molecular and biology fields. The United States and China were the most productive countries; meanwhile, the University of Pittsburgh, Columbia University and Guangzhou Medical University were the most active institutions. Brent R Stockwell published the most papers, while Scott J Dixon had the most co-citations; simultaneously, active cooperation existed in ferroptosis researchers. Ten references on reviews, mechanisms, and diseases were regarded as the knowledge base. Five main aspects of ferroptosis research included regulation mechanisms, nervous system injury, cancer, relationships with other types of cell death, and lipid peroxidation. The latest hotspots were nanoparticle, cancer therapy, iron metabolism, and in-depth mechanism. Notably Nrf2 might have turning significance. The emerging topics on ferroptosis research were the further molecular mechanism of ferroptosis and the wider application of ferroptosis-related disease with advanced technology.

Conclusion

This study performed a full overview of the ferroptosis research using bibliometric and visual methods. The information would provide helpful references for scholars focusing on ferroptosis.
S100A9 Derived From Myeloma Associated Myeloid Cells Promotes TNFSF13B/TNFRSF13B-Dependent Proliferation and Survival of Myeloma Cells
Authors: Meng Lingzhang , Tang Qiang , Zhao Jingjie , Wang Zechen , Wei Liuzhi , Wei Qiuju , Yin Lianfei , Luo Shiguan , Song Jian
Published: June 2021

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a lethal hematological malignancy characterized by abundant myeloid cells in the microenvironment that fuel tumor progression. But the mechanism by which myeloid cells support myeloma cells has not been fully explored. We aimed to examine their effect on bone marrow cells of MM patients by scRNA-seq transcriptome analysis and reveal a high-resolution gene profile of myeloma cells and myeloma-associated myeloid cells. Based on correlation analysis of integrated scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq datasets from patients, we confirmed that myeloid-derived S100A9 was involved in TNFSF13B-dependent myeloma cell proliferation and survival. In the animal experiments, S100A9 was found to be critical for MM cell proliferation and survival via TNFSF13B production by myeloid cells, neutrophils, and macrophages. In-vitro analysis of patient primary myeloma cells further demonstrated that enhanced TNFSF13B signaling triggered the canonical NF-κB pathway to boost tumor cell proliferation. All these results suggest that myeloid-derived S100A9 is required for TNFSF13B/TNFRSF13B-dependent cell-fate specification, which provides fresh insights into MM progression.
Heterogeneity and Remodeling of Ion Currents in Cultured Right Atrial Fibroblasts From Patients With Sinus Rhythm or Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Jakob Dorothee , Klesen Alexander , Darkow Elisa , Kari Fabian A. , Beyersdorf Friedhelm , Kohl Peter , Ravens Ursula , Peyronnet Rémi
Published: June 2021

Cardiac fibroblasts express multiple voltage-dependent ion channels. Even though fibroblasts do not generate action potentials, they may influence cardiac electrophysiology by electrical couplingviagap junctions with cardiomyocytes, and through fibrosis. Here, we investigate the electrophysiological phenotype of cultured fibroblasts from right atrial appendage tissue of patients with sinus rhythm (SR) or atrial fibrillation (AF). Using the patch-clamp technique in whole-cell mode, we observed steady-state outward currents exhibiting either no rectification or inward and/or outward rectification. The distributions of current patterns between fibroblasts from SR and AF patients were not significantly different. In response to depolarizing voltage pulses, we measured transient outward currents with fast and slow activation kinetics, an outward background current, and an inward current with a potential-dependence resembling that of L-type Ca2+channels. In cell-attached patch-clamp mode, large amplitude, paxilline-sensitive single channel openings were found in ≈65% of SR and ∼38% of AF fibroblasts, suggesting the presence of “big conductance Ca2+-activated K+(BKCa)” channels. The open probability of BKCawas significantly lower in AF than in SR fibroblasts. When cultured in the presence of paxilline, the shape of fibroblasts became wider and less spindle-like. Our data confirm previous findings on cardiac fibroblast electrophysiology and extend them by illustrating differential channel expression in human atrial fibroblasts from SR and AF tissue.
From Microbial Dynamics to Functionality in the Rhizosphere: A Systematic Review of the Opportunities With Synthetic Microbial Communities
Authors: Marín Olga , González Bernardo , Poupin María Josefina
Published: June 2021

Synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) are a useful tool for a more realistic understanding of the outcomes of multiple biotic interactions where microbes, plants, and the environment are players in time and space of a multidimensional and complex system. Toward a more in-depth overview of the knowledge that has been achieved using SynComs in the rhizosphere, a systematic review of the literature on SynComs was performed to identify the overall rationale, design criteria, experimental procedures, and outcomes of in vitro or in planta tests using this strategy. After an extensive bibliography search and a specific selection process, a total of 30 articles were chosen for further analysis, grouping them by their reported SynCom size. The reported SynComs were constituted with a highly variable number of members, ranging from 3 to 190 strains, with a total of 1,393 bacterial isolates, where the three most represented phyla were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. Only four articles did not reference experiments with SynCom on plants, as they considered only microbial in vitro studies, whereas the others chose different plant models and plant-growth systems; some of them are described and reviewed in this article. Besides, a discussion on different approaches (bottom-up and top-down) to study the microbiome role in the rhizosphere is provided, highlighting how SynComs are an effective system to connect and fill some knowledge gaps and to have a better understanding of the mechanisms governing these multiple interactions. Although the SynCom approach is already helpful and has a promising future, more systematic and standardized studies are needed to harness its full potential.
A Metabolomic Landscape of Maize Plants Treated With a Microbial Biostimulant Under Well-Watered and Drought Conditions
Authors: Nephali Lerato , Moodley Venessa , Piater Lizelle , Steenkamp Paul , Buthelezi Nombuso , Dubery Ian , Burgess Karl , Huyser Johan , Tugizimana Fidele
Published: June 2021

Microbial plant biostimulants have been successfully applied to improve plant growth, stress resilience and productivity. However, the mechanisms of action of biostimulants are still enigmatic, which is the main bottleneck for the fully realization and implementation of biostimulants into the agricultural industry. Here, we report the elucidation of a global metabolic landscape of maize (Zea mays L) leaves in response to a microbial biostimulant, under well-watered and drought conditions. The study reveals that the increased pool of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) intermediates, alterations in amino acid levels and differential changes in phenolics and lipids are key metabolic signatures induced by the application of the microbial-based biostimulant. These reconfigurations of metabolism gravitate toward growth-promotion and defense preconditioning of the plant. Furthermore, the application of microbial biostimulant conferred enhanced drought resilience to maize plants via altering key metabolic pathways involved in drought resistance mechanisms such as the redox homeostasis, strengthening of the plant cell wall, osmoregulation, energy production and membrane remodeling. For the first time, we show key molecular events, metabolic reprogramming, activated by a microbial biostimulant for plant growth promotion and defense priming. Thus, these elucidated metabolomic insights contribute to ongoing efforts in decoding modes of action of biostimulants and generating fundamental scientific knowledgebase that is necessary for the development of the plant biostimulants industry, for sustainable food security.