bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pengolahan Data Statistika dengan Menggunakan SPSS Bagi Guru Sekolah Menengah di Kota Kendari pada Masa Pandemi Covid-19
Authors: Yahya Irma , Makkulau Makkulau , Pattih Iskandar , Laome Lilis , Juharsah Juharsah , Amirullah Amirullah , Umar Muhammad Zakaria , Nur Muh Nadzirin Anshari
Published: October 2022

Animo  guru  khususn y a   Guru  SMA/SMK/MA  dan  SMP/sederajat  di  Kota  Kendari  untuk membuat karya tulis sangatlah minim, ini dikarenakan kesulitan guru   dalam menulis karya ilmiah. Ini disebabkan karena kesibukan sehari-hari mengajar   di luar jam mengajar, serta kendala pemahaman software antara lain SPSS beserta praktik/operasi dan interpretasinya sebagai salah satu software yang banyak digunakan untuk membantu pengolah data mereka. Kesulitan lain dari mereka adalah menentukan metode atau analisis apa yang cocok untuk menyelesaikan problem yang diperoleh di lapangan. Kemampuan analisis dan keterampilan menggunakan software SPSS diharapkan mampu meningkatkan motivasi guru melakukan penelitian. Oleh karena itu, maka Guru Sekolah Menengah perlu pendampingan yang bisa membantu mengarahkan dan mengopersikan pengolahan data mereka. Oleh karena itu, solusi yang ditawarkan adalah membuat MoU antara Universitas Halu Oleo dengan Sekolah Menengah di Kota Kendari, sehingga ada peluang untuk berdiskusi  dan  berkolaborasi  antara  Universitas  Halu  Oleo  dan  Sekolah  Menengah  di  Kota Kendari.  Di sampingitu, Guru Sekolah Menengah di Kota Kendari pada Masa Pandemi Covid-19 ini perlu  belajar dan memahami lebih banyak lagi tentang konsep dasar Statistika, pengolahan data, serta interpretasinya. Juga perlu dilakukan pendampingan dantutorial menggunakan SPSS. Hasil program kemitraan masyarakat ini berupa materi petunjuk menggunakan SPSS, pengolahan data dengan SPSS, serta interpretasi dari output SPSS tersebut. Oleh karena itu, diharapkan Guru Sekolah Menengah di Kota Kendari perlu belajar lebih banyak bengan mempelajari buku statistika   dan buku penuntun penggunaan SPSS yang banyak dijual di took buku.  Dari hasil evaluasi pelaksanaan pelatihan, telihat antusias peserta yang positif, baik dalam bentuk bertanya maupun pada saat praktek.
Pemanfaatan Pekarangan Kelompok Dasawisma Dengan Introduksi Budidaya Hidroponik
Authors: Bafadal Azhar , Wijayanto Teguh , Taridala Sitti Aida A. , Sudarmo Hadi , Zohorman Zohorman
Published: October 2022

Mitra dalam kegiatan Program Kemitraaan Masyarakat (PKM) ini adalah kelompok dasawisma Rambutan. Tujuan kegiatan ini adalah memberikan pengetahuan dan keterampilan kepada kelompok dasawisma dalam hal teknik budidaya hidroponik dan pemahaman pemasaran produk hidroponik, membuka wawasan anggota kelompok dasawisma dalam dalam hal pemanfaatan pekarangan secara produktif melalui wirausaha hidroponik untuk meningkatkan pendapatan keluarga. Pendekatan yang dilakukan adalah dengan menyeleggarakan pelatihan dan bimbingan teknis di dalam ruangan dan di luar ruangan. Pelatihan tersebut menyangkut konsep berwirausaha, teknik budidaya hidroponik yang dimulai dari transfer pengetahuan di dalam kelas. Selain itu dilakukan juga bimbingan teknis pembuatan perangkat dan perakitan instalasi hidroponik yang dilaksanakan di luar ruangan sehingga lebih memudahkan peserta pelatihan dalam memahami materi yang diberikan di dalam ruangan. Setelah instalasi dibuat maka dilakukan uji coba penanaman. Kondisi tanaman yang dipanen menunjukkan hasil pada kisaran 75% dari potensi yang dapat dicapai. Peserta dapat mengikuti dengan baik materi pelatihan dan bimbingan teknis perakitan instalasi serta praktek budidaya hidroponik. Peserta pelatihan telah memahami pentingnya pemanfaatan pekarangan yang ditunjukkan dengan kesediaan untuk menanam kembali tanaman hidroponik setelah panen perdana. Kata kunci : hidroponik, kemitraan, dasawisma
Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Dalam Peningkatan Dan Pemeliharaan Irigasi Di Desa Lupia Kecamatan Kabangka Kabupaten Muna
Authors: Sukri Ahmad Syarif , Welendo La , Kimsan Maskur , Nasrul Nasrul , Fitriah Fitriah , Nuhun Ridwan Syah , Mursidi Baso , Putra Adris A. , Ahmad Siti Nurjanah
Published: October 2022

The Lupia Village irrigation network was formed in 1981 through farmer groups from the results of non-governmental organizations. Currently the government has given attention and assistance both through the village fund budget and central government funding assistance, however, there is still a need for program sustainability from related parties. The results of the identification were carried out, namely that there were still few people who did not understand about the more effective use of irrigation water, so that there was always a crop failure where other plots of rice fields had excess water while the farthest plots did not get water. The area of land used by the community is currently around + 35 hectares, but the available land and the potential to be used as rice fields are around + 90 hectares, so that what has not been functioned as rice fields is about + 55 hectares. Seeing this condition, it is very potential to be developed to be able to increase the production of rice fields in Lupia Village, from this potential, the Lecturer of the Faculty of Engineering, Halu Oleo University as part of the Tridarma of Higher Education, carries out community service activities through the transfer of knowledge so that the community can develop, increase production, and improve community welfare, especially the residents of Lupia Village, Kabangka District, Muna Regency. The methods used are socialization, technical guidance, training on procedures for implementing technical irrigation canal development so that water is not wasted and can be fully utilized by farming communities. The expected result is that the community can increase the yield of lowland rice production. Seeing the potential of Lupia Village in Kabangka District, it is hoped that the program can be carried out continuously so that it can increase income and a better standard of living for its people.
Bimbingan Teknis Pembuatan Pakan Ternak Fermentasi Dan Pupuk Organik Cair Berbasis Bahan Baku Lokal Di Desa Alebo Kecamatan Konda Kabupaten Konawe Selatan
Authors: Sandiah Natsir , Sani La Ode Arsad , Murlina Andi , Auza Fuji Astuty , Syamsuddin Syamsuddin , Badaruddin Rusli , Saili Takdir , Nafiu La Ode , Salido Wa Laili
Published: October 2022

Pengembangan sistem pakan berbasis sumberdaya lokal menjadi pilar yang mendukung perkembangan produksi peternakan di Indonesia yang berkelanjutan, efisien dan kompetitif. Hasil sisa, hasil samping dan limbah berbagai jenis tanaman merupakan sumber bahan baku pakan alternatif yang potensial. Limbah pertanian seperti jerami banyak digunakan sebagai pakan ternak tetapi belum melalui teknologi pengolahan pakan, sedangkan limbah ternak berupa feses digunakan sebagai pupuk tanpa proses pengolahan serta urin hanya dibuang. Dengan demikian diperlukan konsep integrasi pertanian dan peternakan dalam rangka pelaksanaan zero waste farming. Program bina desa ini bertujuan untuk mendampingi masyarakat tani-ternak dalam pembuatan pakan ternak dan pupuk organik cair biokultur dan biourin menggunakan feses dan urin sapi dalam mewujudkan zero waste farming sistem. Penggunaan bahan baku limbah dan bahan baku lokal yang telah diolah terlebih dahulu menggunakan teknik pengolahan memadai serta analisis kandungan nutrien pakan, diharapkan dapat meningkatkan utilitas dari limbah itu sendiri dan dapat menjadi solusi program pemanfaatan limbah dan pengembangan pakan. K
Effects of a 12-week gait retraining program combined with foot core exercise on morphology, muscle strength, and kinematics of the arch: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Shen Bin , Zhang Shen , Cui Kedong , Zhang Xini , Fu Weijie
Published: October 2022

Objective: This study aims to explore the effects of a 12-week gait retraining program combined with foot core exercise on arch morphology, arch muscles strength, and arch kinematics.

Methods: A total of 26 male recreational runners with normal arch structure who used rear-foot running strike (RFS) were divided into the intervention group (INT group) and control group (CON group) (n = 13 in each group). The INT group performed a 12-week forefoot strike (FFS) training combined with foot core exercises. The CON group did not change the original exercise habit. Before and after the intervention, the arch morphology, as well as the strength of hallux flexion, lesser toe flexion, and the metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) flexors were measured in a static position, and changes in the arch kinematics during RFS and FFS running were explored.

Results: After a 12-week intervention, 1) the normalized navicular height increased significantly in the INT group by 5.1% (p = 0.027, Cohen’s d = 0.55); 2) the hallux absolute flexion and relative flexion of the INT group increased significantly by 20.5% and 21.7%, respectively (p = 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.59; p = 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.73), the absolute and relative strength of the MPJ flexors of the INT group were significantly improved by 30.7% and 32.5%, respectively (p = 0.006, Cohen’s d = 0.94; p = 0.006, Cohen’s d = 0.96); 3) and during RFS, the maximum arch angle of the INT group declined significantly by 5.1% (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.49), the arch height at touchdown increased significantly in the INT group by 32.1% (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.98).

Conclusion: The 12-week gait retraining program combined with foot core exercise improved the arch in both static and dynamic positions with a moderate to large effect size, demonstrating the superiority of this combined intervention over the standalone interventions. Thus, runners with weak arch muscles are encouraged to use this combined intervention as an approach to enhance the arch.
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ZIF-8@Rutin nanocomposite as an efficient agent for accelerating infected wound healing
Authors: Xia Xiaomin , Song Xujun , Li Ying , Hou Wenxue , Lv Hanlin , Li Feng , Li Yanan , Liu Jie , Li Xue
Published: October 2022

Essentially, wound healing is a complicated physiological process in which there exists an interaction between the organism’s immune regulation and antimicrobial therapy. However, multiple drug-resistant bacteria implicated in chronic non-healing wound are not merely impeding the cure process, but more than a burden on economic and social development. Due to the inefficiency of conventional antibiotics, nanomedicine in the biomedical field is emerging as a prospective anti-infective therapy method. Herein, a novel nano-drug with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory characteristics was synthesized by loading Rutin into zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), abided by the principle of electrostatic adsorption. The synthetic ZIF-8 loaded Rutin (ZIF-8@Rutin) was affirmed by testing the changes in the diameter and chemical functional group. Interestingly, the ladened Rutin afforded nanocomposite with anti-inflammatory activity by its antioxidant capacity for the polarization of macrophages. Further, the prepared ZIF-8@Rutin exhibited highly effective antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in vitro. More importantly, it could shorten the infected wound healing process and alleviate the inflammation around the wound in vivo. Also, ZIF-8@Rutin had acceptable cytocompatibility. Thus, ZIF-8@Rutin may become a multifunctional nanomedicine with anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties to promote infected wound healing.
Application and prospect of ROS-related nanomaterials for orthopaedic related diseases treatment
Authors: Yang Wenbo , Zeng Qianwen , Pan Qing , Huang Wei , Hu Hongzhi , Shao Zengwu
Published: October 2022

The importance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the occurrence and development of orthopaedic related diseases is becoming increasingly prominent. ROS regulation has become a new method to treat orthopaedic related diseases. In recent years, the application of nanomaterials has become a new hope for precision and efficient treatment. However, there is a lack of reviews on ROS-regulated nanomaterials for orthopaedic related diseases. Based on the key significance of nanomaterials for the treatment of orthopaedic related diseases, we searched the latest related studies and reviewed the nanomaterials that regulate ROS in the treatment of orthopaedic related diseases. According to the function of nanomaterials, we describe the scavenging of ROS related nanomaterials and the generation of ROS related nanomaterials. In this review, we closely integrated nanomaterials with the treatment of orthopaedic related diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis, wound infection and osteosarcoma, etc., and highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of existing nanomaterials. We also looked forward to the design of ROS-regulated nanomaterials for the treatment of orthopaedic related diseases in the future.
Meta-analysis of active tuberculosis gene expression ascertains host directed drug targets
Authors: Ponnusamy Nirmaladevi , Arumugam Mohanapriya
Published: October 2022

Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis still remains a major public health crisis globally. With the emergence of newer active tuberculosis disease, the requirement of prolonged treatment time and adherence to therapy till its completion necessitates the search of newer therapeutics, targeting human host factors. The current work utilized statistical meta-analysis of human gene transcriptomes of active pulmonary tuberculosis disease obtained from six public datasets. The meta-analysis resulted in the identification of 2038 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the active tuberculosis disease. The gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that these genes were major contributors in immune responses. The pathway enrichment analyses identified from various human canonical pathways are related to other infectious diseases. In addition, the comparison of the DEGs with the tuberculosis genome wide association study (GWAS) datasets revealed the presence of few genetic variants in their proximity. The analysis of protein interaction networks (human and Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and host directed drug-target interaction network led to new candidate drug targets for drug repurposing studies. The current work sheds light on host genes and pathways enriched in active tuberculosis disease and suggest potential drug repurposing targets for host-directed therapies.
Development of a complete blood count with differential—based prediction model for in-hospital mortality among patients with acute myocardial infarction in the coronary care unit
Authors: Wang Yu , Li Changfu , Yuan Miao , Ren Bincheng , Liu Chang , Zheng Jiawei , Lin Zehao , Ren Fuxian , Gao Dengfeng
Published: October 2022

Purpose

In recent years, the complete blood count with differential (CBC w/diff) test has drawn strong interest because of its prognostic value in cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to develop a CBC w/diff-based prediction model for in-hospital mortality among patients with severe acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the coronary care unit (CCU).

Materials and methods

This single-center retrospective study used data from a public database. The neural network method was applied. The performance of the model was assessed by discrimination and calibration. The discrimination performance of our model was compared to that of seven other classical machine learning models and five well-studied CBC w/diff clinical indicators. Finally, a permutation test was applied to evaluate the importance rank of the predictor variables.

Results

A total of 2,231 patient medical records were included. With a mean area under the curve (AUC) of 0.788 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.736–0.838], our model outperformed all other models and indices. Furthermore, it performed well in calibration. Finally, the top three predictors were white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell distribution width-coefficient of variation (RDW-CV), and neutrophil percentage. Surprisingly, after dropping seven variables with poor prediction values, the AUC of our model increased to 0.812 (95% CI, 0.762–0.859) (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

We used a neural network method to develop a risk prediction model for in-hospital mortality among patients with AMI in the CCU based on the CBC w/diff test, which performed well and would aid in early clinical decision-making. The top three important predictors were WBC, RDW-CV and neutrophil percentage.
The relation between computational thinking and logical thinking in the context of robotics education
Authors: Veenman Kim , Tolboom Jos L. J. , van Beekum Olivier
Published: October 2022

Computational thinking is a popular student skill on a steep rise today. Nevertheless, the assessment of this skill is a matter of contention. This pilot study examines whether computational and logical thinking are related. Therefore, we investigated the effect of a robotics course concerning logical thinking and computational thinking on 14-year-old Dutch students. Thirty-five students were pre-tested to assess their logical thinking and post-tested for their logical thinking and their computational thinking. The intervention group (N = 11) followed a robotics course between the pre- and post-test. This study's results show a significant positive correlation between computational and logical thinking. This study, with small sample size, does not show the effect of the robotics course on either logical or computational thinking.
Mouse models and human islet transplantation sites for intravital imaging
Authors: Wagner Leslie E. , Melnyk Olha , Duffett Bryce E. , Linnemann Amelia K.
Published: October 2022

Human islet transplantations into rodent models are an essential tool to aid in the development and testing of islet and cellular-based therapies for diabetes prevention and treatment. Through the ability to evaluate human islets in anin vivosetting, these studies allow for experimental approaches to answer questions surrounding normal and disease pathophysiology that cannot be answered using otherin vitroandin vivotechniques alone. Intravital microscopy enables imaging of tissues in living organisms with dynamic temporal resolution and can be employed to measure biological processes in transplanted human islets revealing how experimental variables can influence engraftment, and transplant survival and function. A key consideration in experimental design for transplant imaging is the surgical placement site, which is guided by the presence of vasculature to aid in functional engraftment of the islets and promote their survival. Here, we review transplantation sites and mouse models used to study beta cell biologyin vivousing intravital microscopy and we highlight fundamental observations made possible using this methodology.
“Rogue” neutrophil-subset [DEspR+CD11b+/CD66b+] immunotype is an actionable therapeutic target for neutrophilic inflammation-mediated tissue injury – studies in human, macaque and rat LPS-inflammation models
Authors: Carstensen Saskia , Müller Meike , Tan Glaiza L. A. , Pasion Khristine Amber , Hohlfeld Jens M. , Herrera Victoria L. M. , Ruiz-Opazo Nelson
Published: October 2022

Background and objective

The correlation (Rs > 0.7) of neutrophils expressing the dual endothelin1/signal peptide receptor (DEspR+CD11b+/CD66b+) with severity of hypoxemia (SF-ratio) and multi-organ failure (SOFA-score) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) suggest the hypothesis that the DEspR+ neutrophil-subset is an actionable therapeutic target in ARDS. To test this hypothesis, we conducted in vivo studies to validate DEspR+ neutrophil-subset as therapeutic target and test efficacy of DEspR-inhibition in acute neutrophilic hyperinflammation models.

Methods

We performed tests in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute neutrophilic inflammation in three species – human, rhesus macaque, rat – with increasing dose-dependent severity. We measured DEspR+CD66b+ neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in healthy volunteers (HVs) 24-hours after segmental LPS-challenge by ChipCytometry, and DEspR+CD11b+ neutrophils in whole blood and BALF in an LPS-induced transient acute lung injury (ALI) model in macaques. We determined anti-DEspR antibody efficacy in vivo in LPS-ALI macaque model and in high-mortality LPS-induced encephalopathy in hypertensive rats.

Results

ChipCytometry detected increased BALF total neutrophil and DEspR+CD66b+ neutrophil counts after segmental LPS-challenge compared to baseline (P =0.034), as well as increased peripheral neutrophil counts and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) compared to pre-LPS level (P <0.05). In the LPS-ALI macaque model, flow cytometry detected increased DEspR+ and DEspR[-] neutrophils in BALF, which was associated with moderate-severe hypoxemia. After determining pharmacokinetics of single-dose anti-DEspR[hu6g8] antibody, one-time pre-LPS anti-DEspR treatment reduced hypoxemia (P =0.03) and neutrophil influx into BALF (P =0.0001) in LPS-ALI vs vehicle mock-treated LPS-ALI macaques. Ex vivo live cell imaging of macaque neutrophils detected greater “intrinsic adhesion to hard-surface” in DEspR+ vs DEspR[-] neutrophils (P <0.001). Anti-DEspR[hu6g8] antibody abrogated intrinsic high adhesion in DEspR+ neutrophils, but not in DEspR[-] neutrophils (P <0.001). In the LPS-encephalopathy rat model, anti-DEspR[10a3] antibody treatment increased median survival (P =0.0007) and exhibited brain target engagement and bioeffects.

Conclusion

Detection of increased DEspR+ neutrophil-subset in human BALF after segmental LPS-challenge supports the correlation of circulating DEspR+ neutrophil counts with severity measure (SOFA-score) in ARDS. Efficacy and safety of targeted inhibition of DEspR+CD11b+ neutrophil-subset in LPS-induced transient-ALI and high-mortality encephalopathy models identify a potential therapeutic target for neutrophil-mediated secondary tissue injury.
Senescence-associated secretory phenotype and its impact on oral immune homeostasis
Authors: Yue Ziqi , Nie Lulingxiao , Zhao Pengfei , Ji Ning , Liao Ga , Wang Qi
Published: October 2022

The senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which accumulates over the course of normal aging and in age-related diseases, is a crucial driver of chronic inflammation and aging phenotypes. It is also responsible for the pathogenesis of multiple oral diseases. However, the pathogenic mechanism underlying SASP has not yet been fully elucidated. Here, relevant articles on SASP published over the last five years (2017–2022) were retrieved and used for bibliometric analysis, for the first time, to examine SASP composition. More than half of the relevant articles focus on various cytokines (27.5%), growth factors (20.9%), and proteases (20.9%). In addition, lipid metabolites (13.1%) and extracellular vesicles (6.5%) have received increasing attention over the past five years, and have been recognized as novel SASP categories. Based on this, we summarize the evidences demonstrating that SASP plays a pleiotropic role in oral immunity and propose a four-step hypothetical framework for the progression of SASP-related oral pathology—1) oral SASP development, 2) SASP-related oral pathological alterations, 3) pathological changes leading to oral immune homeostasis disruption, and 4) SASP-mediated immune dysregulation escalating oral disease. By targeting specific SASP factors, potential therapies can be developed to treat oral and age-related diseases.
Analgesic efficacy and risk of low-to-medium dose intrathecal morphine in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: An updated meta-analysis
Authors: Chen I-Wen , Sun Cheuk-Kwan , Ko Ching-Chung , Fu Pei-Han , Teng I-Chia , Liu Wei-Cheng , Lin Chien-Ming , Hung Kuo-Chuan
Published: October 2022

Background

To evaluate the analgesic efficacy and risk of low-to-medium dose intrathecal morphine (ITM) (i.e., ≤0.5 mg) following cardiac surgery.

Methods

Medline, Cochrane Library, Google scholar and EMBASE databases were searched from inception to February 2022. The primary outcome was pain intensity at postoperative 24 h, while the secondary outcomes included intravenous morphine consumption (IMC), extubation time, hospital/intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and ITM-associated side effects (e.g., respiratory depression). Subgroup analysis was performed on ITM dosage (low: <0.3 mg vs. medium: 0.3–0.5 mg).

Results

Fifteen RCTs involving 683 patients published from 1988 to 2021 were included. Pooled results showed significantly lower postoperative 24-h pain scores [mean difference (MD) = −1.61, 95% confidence interval: −1.98 to −1.24, p < 0.00001; trial sequential analysis: sufficient evidence; certainty of evidence: moderate] in the ITM group compared to the controls. Similar positive findings were noted at 12 (MD = −2.1) and 48 h (MD = −1.88). Use of ITM was also associated with lower IMC at 24 and 48 h (MD: −13.69 and −14.57 mg, respectively; all p < 0.05) and early tracheal extubation (i.e., 48.08 min). No difference was noted in hospital/ICU LOS, and nausea/vomiting in both groups, but patients receiving ITM had higher risk of pruritus (relative risk = 2.88, p = 0.008). There was no subgroup difference in IMC except a lower pain score with 0.3–0.5 mg than <0.3 mg at postoperative 24 h. Respiratory depression events were not noted in the ITM group.

Conclusion

Our results validated the analgesic efficacy of low-to-medium dose ITM for patients receiving cardiac surgery without increasing the risk of respiratory depression.
Beer fermentation performance and sugar uptake of Saccharomycopsis fibuligera–A novel option for low-alcohol beer
Authors: Methner Yvonne , Magalhães Frederico , Raihofer Luis , Zarnkow Martin , Jacob Fritz , Hutzler Mathias
Published: October 2022

There is a growing trend for beers with novel flavor profiles, as consumers demand a more diversified product range. Such beers can be produced by using non-Saccharomyces yeasts. The yeast species Saccharomycopsis fibuligera is known to produce exceptionally pleasant plum and berry flavors during brewer’s wort fermentation while its mycelia growth is most likely a technological challenge in industrial-scale brewing. To better understand and optimize the physiological properties of this yeast species during the brewing process, maltose and maltotriose uptake activity trials were performed. These revealed the existence of active transmembrane transporters for maltose in addition to the known extracellular amylase system. Furthermore, a single cell isolate of S. fibuligera was cultured, which showed significantly less mycelial growth during propagation and fermentation compared to the mother culture and would therefore be much more suitable for application on an industrial scale due to its better flocculation and clarification properties. Genetic differences between the two cultures could not be detected in a (GTG)5 rep-PCR fingerprint and there was hardly any difference in the fermentation process, sugar utilization and flavor profiles of the beers. Accordingly, the characteristic plum and berry flavor could also be perceived by using the culture from the single cell isolate, which was complemented by a dried fruit flavor. A fermentation temperature of 20°C at an original gravity of 10 °P proved to be optimal for producing a low-alcohol beer at around 0.8% (v/v) by applying the S. fibuligera yeast culture from the single cell isolate.
Microbial community succession in response to sludge composting efficiency and heavy metal detoxification during municipal sludge composting
Authors: Han Weijiang , Chen Shuona , Tan Xiao , Li Xin , Pan Hua , Ma Peijian , Wu Zhihua , Xie Qilai
Published: October 2022

This study researched microbial community succession in response to sludge composting efficiency and heavy metal detoxification during municipal sludge co-composting with spent mushroom and spent bleaching. The change law of key physicochemical properties, the heavy metals contents and forms during composting were analyzed, and the passivation of heavy metals after composting was explored. High-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the microbial community structure of treat 2 during composting, and the correlation analysis of microbial community structure with heavy metal contents and forms were carried out. The results showed that the sludge of each treatment reached composting maturity after 26 days of composting. Organic matter content, electrical conductivity, pH and seed germination index of treat 2 were all in line with the standard limit of agricultural sludge. Because of the presence of compost bacteria addition, the passivating heavy metals performance of treat 2 satisfied the standard limit of agricultural sludge after composting, which was superior to that of treat 1 and treat 3. The diversity of microbial communities in treat 2 decreased during composting. Extensive bacteria such as Bacillus, Geobacter, Lactobacillus, and Pseudomonas, which possessed the abilities of heavy metal passivation and organic oxidizing, were dominant in treat 2 during the heating stage. However, as composting proceeded, Tuberibacillus with ability of organic oxidizing gradually became the most dominant species at the thermophilic and cooling stages. Changes in microbial function varied from changes of microbial community in treat 2, subsequently affected the performances of heavy metal passivation and organic oxidizing during composting.
Molecular dynamics study of tropical calcific pancreatitis (TCP) associated calcium-sensing receptor single nucleotide variation
Authors: Shrivastava Ashish , Mathur Kartavya , Verma Rohit Kumar , Jayadev Magani Sri Krishna , Vyas Deepak Krishna , Singh Ashutosh
Published: October 2022

Tropical Calcific Pancreatitis (TCP) is a chronic non-alcoholic pancreatitis characterised by extensive calcification. The disease usually appears at a younger age and is more common in tropical regions. This disease’s progression can lead to pancreatic diabetes, which can subsequently lead to pancreatic cancer. The CASR gene encodes a calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), which is a GPCR protein of class C. It is expressed in the islets of Langerhans, the parathyroid gland, and other tissues. It primarily detects small gradients in circulating calcium concentrations and couples this information to intracellular signalling, which helps to regulate PTH (parathyroid hormone) secretion and mineral ion homeostasis. From co-leading insulin release, CaSR modulates ductal HCO3− secretion, Ca2+ concentration, cell-cell communication, β-cell proliferation, and intracellular Ca2+ release. In pancreatic cancer, the CaSR limits cell proliferation. TCP-related four novel missense mutations P163R, I427S, D433H and V477A, found in CaSR extracellular domain (ECD) protein, which were reported in the mutTCPdb Database (https://lms.snu.edu.in/mutTCPDB/index.php). P163R mutation occurs in ligand-binding domain 1 (LBD-1) of the CaSR ECD. To investigate the influence of these variations on protein function and structural activity multiple in-silico prediction techniques such as SIFT, PolyPhen, CADD scores, and other methods have been utilized. A 500 ns molecular dynamic simulation was performed on the CaSR ECD crystal structure and the corresponding mutated models. Furthermore, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Essential Dynamics analysis were used to forecast collective motions, thermodynamic stabilities, and the critical subspace crucial to CaSR functions. The results of molecular dynamic simulations showed that the mutations P163R, I427S, D433H, and V477A caused conformational changes and decreased the stability of protein structures. This study also demonstrates the significance of TCP associated mutations. As a result of our findings, we hypothesised that the investigated mutations may have an effect on the protein’s structure and ability to interact with other molecules, which may be related to the protein’s functional impairment.
The collaborative cross strains and their founders vary widely in cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization
Authors: Schoenrock Sarah A. , Gagnon Leona , Olson Ashley , Leonardo Michael , Philip Vivek M. , He Hao , Reinholdt Laura G. , Sukoff Rizzo Stacey J. , Jentsch James D. , Chesler Elissa J. , Tarantino Lisa M.
Published: October 2022

Cocaine use and overdose deaths attributed to cocaine have increased significantly in the United States in the last 10 years. Despite the prevalence of cocaine use disorder (CUD) and the personal and societal problems it presents, there are currently no approved pharmaceutical treatments. The absence of treatment options is due, in part, to our lack of knowledge about the etiology of CUDs. There is ample evidence that genetics plays a role in increasing CUD risk but thus far, very few risk genes have been identified in human studies. Genetic studies in mice have been extremely useful for identifying genetic loci and genes, but have been limited to very few genetic backgrounds, leaving substantial phenotypic, and genetic diversity unexplored. Herein we report the measurement of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization using a 19-day protocol that captures baseline locomotor activity, initial locomotor response to an acute exposure to cocaine and locomotor sensitization across 5 exposures to the drug. These behaviors were measured in 51 genetically diverse Collaborative Cross (CC) strains along with their inbred founder strains. The CC was generated by crossing eight genetically diverse inbred strains such that each inbred CC strain has genetic contributions from each of the founder strains. Inbred CC mice are infinitely reproducible and provide a stable, yet diverse genetic platform on which to study the genetic architecture and genetic correlations among phenotypes. We have identified significant differences in cocaine locomotor sensitivity and behavioral sensitization across the panel of CC strains and their founders. We have established relationships among cocaine sensitization behaviors and identified extreme responding strains that can be used in future studies aimed at understanding the genetic, biological, and pharmacological mechanisms that drive addiction-related behaviors. Finally, we have determined that these behaviors exhibit relatively robust heritability making them amenable to future genetic mapping studies to identify addiction risk genes and genetic pathways that can be studied as potential targets for the development of novel therapeutics.
Sexually dimorphic role of the locus coeruleus PAC1 receptors in regulating acute stress-associated energy metabolism
Authors: Duesman Samuel J. , Shetty Sanutha , Patel Sanil , Ogale Neha , Mohamed Farzanna , Sparman Njeri , Rajbhandari Prashant , Rajbhandari Abha Karki
Published: October 2022

Severe stress leads to alterations in energy metabolism with sexually dimorphic onset or severity. The locus coeruleus (LC) in the brainstem that mediates fight-or-flight-or-freeze response to stress is sexually dimorphic in morphology, plays a key role in interactions between diet and severe stressors, and has neuronal input to the brown adipose tissue (BAT)—a thermogenic organ important for energy balance. Yet, little is known on how LC coordinates stress-related metabolic adaptations. LC expresses receptors for the neuropeptide PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide) and PACAP signaling through PAC1 (PACAP receptor) are critical regulators of various types of stressors and energy metabolism. We hypothesized that LC-PAC1 axis is a sex-specific central “gatekeeper” of severe acute stress-driven behavior and energy metabolism. Selective ablation of PAC1 receptors from the LC did not alter stress response in mice of either sex, but enhanced food intake in females and was associated with increased energy expenditure and BAT thermogenesis in male mice. These results show a sexually dimorphic role of the LC-PAC1 in regulating acute stress-related energy metabolism. Thus, by disrupting LC-PAC1 signaling, our studies show a unique and previously unexplored role of LC in adaptive energy metabolism in a sex-dependent manner.
Genetic aspects of human prion diseases
Authors: Appleby Brian S. , Shetty Shashirekha , Elkasaby Mohamed
Published: October 2022

Human prion diseases are rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative conditions caused by a disease-causing isoform of the native prion protein. The prion protein gene (PRNP) encodes for the cellular prion protein, which is the biological substrate for prion disease transmission and neurotoxicity. Human prion diseases have three etiologies: sporadic, genetic, and acquired. PRNP polymorphisms and pathogenic variants play a large role in the frequency, age at onset, and clinicopathologic phenotype of prion diseases. Genetic prion diseases will be covered in detail and information necessary for clinical care, predictive genetic testing, and genetic counseling will be reviewed. Because the prion protein is necessary for transmission and neurotoxicity, many experimental treatments targeting its production are being investigated and hold potential promise as a disease modifying treatment for all forms of prion disease, including asymptomatic mutation carriers. This article will review genetic aspects of human prion disease and their influence on epidemiology, clinicopathologic phenotype, diagnostics, clinical management, and potential treatment approaches.
Anti-titin antibody is associated with more frequent hospitalization to manage thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis
Authors: Kim Ki Hoon , Kim Seung Woo , Cho Jinhyuk , Chung Hye Yoon , Shin Ha Young
Published: October 2022

Background and purpose

Anti-titin antibodies are antistriational antibodies associated with thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis (MG). We evaluated whether the patients with anti-titin antibody are more frequently hospitalized to manage thymoma-associated MG than those patients without anti-titin antibody.

Methods

Patients with thymoma-associated MG who conducted the serological test for anti-titin antibody were retrospectively included. Disease severity, treatments, MG-related annual hospitalization rate, and MG-related emergency room (ER) visit rate were compared between the patients with anti-titin antibody and those patients without anti-titin antibody. Multivariate analysis was conducted to analyze the association between anti-titin antibody serostatus and multiple admissions (hospitalization or ER visit of ≥2 times).

Results

Of the 64 included patients, 31 (48.4%) patients were positive for anti-titin antibody (titin+ group) and 33 (51.6%) patients were negative for anti-titin antibody (titin– group). Both the annual rate of MG-related hospitalization and ER visit were significantly higher in the titin+ group [0.2 (0.1–0.6) and 0.1 (0–0.2) per year, respectively] than those in the titin– group [0 (0–0.2) and 0 (0–0) per year, p = 0.004 and p = 0.006, respectively]. In multivariate analysis, positive anti-titin antibody was still significantly associated with multiple admissions [odds ratio (OR) 4.11, 95% CI 1.05–16.03] compared to the titin– group as a reference after adjusting for sex, follow-up duration, age at onset, systemic chemotherapy, and the Masaoka staging.

Conclusion

The presence of anti-titin antibody is associated with more frequent hospital utilization. Personalized explanation and careful monitoring strategy could be required in patients with thymoma-associated MG with anti-titin antibody for the timely detection of relapses.
Rhythms of human attention and memory: An embedded process perspective
Authors: Köster Moritz , Gruber Thomas
Published: October 2022

It remains a dogma in cognitive neuroscience to separate human attention and memory into distinct modules and processes. Here we propose that brain rhythms reflect the embedded nature of these processes in the human brain, as evident from their shared neural signatures: gamma oscillations (30–90 Hz) reflect sensory information processing and activated neural representations (memory items). The theta rhythm (3–8 Hz) is a pacemaker of explicit control processes (central executive), structuring neural information processing, bit by bit, as reflected in the theta-gamma code. By representing memory items in a sequential and time-compressed manner the theta-gamma code is hypothesized to solve key problems of neural computation: (1) attentional sampling (integrating and segregating information processing), (2) mnemonic updating (implementing Hebbian learning), and (3) predictive coding (advancing information processing ahead of the real time to guide behavior). In this framework, reduced alpha oscillations (8–14 Hz) reflect activated semantic networks, involved in both explicit and implicit mnemonic processes. Linking recent theoretical accounts and empirical insights on neural rhythms to the embedded-process model advances our understanding of the integrated nature of attention and memory – as the bedrock of human cognition.
Uptake of selected organic ligands by hardened cement paste: Studies on proxy ligands for the degradation of polyacrylonitrile and general considerations on the role of different functionalities in the uptake process
Authors: Szabo P. G. , Tasi A. G. , Gaona X. , Maier A. C. , Hedström S. , Altmaier M. , Geckeis H.
Published: October 2022

The uptake of α-hydroxyisobutyric acid (HIBA), 3-hydroxybutyric acid (HBA) and glutaric acid (GTA) by hardened cement paste (HCP) in the degradation stage II was investigated at various ligand concentrations (10−7 M ≤ [L]tot ≤ 0.1 M) and solid-to-liquid ratios (0.2 g⋅dm−3 ≤ S:L ≤ 50 g⋅dm−3). These organic ligands were previously identified as representative of the main degradation products of UP2W, a polyacrylonitrile-based material used as filter aid in nuclear power plants, under repository conditions. Sorption experiments were conducted with inactive (HIBA, HBA, GTA) and active (14C-labelled GTA) organic ligands. Sorption experiments show a weak uptake of HIBA and HBA by HCP, with distribution coefficients determined as Rd (HIBA) = (2.2 ± 1.3)⋅10−3 m3⋅kg−1 and Rd (HBA) = (1.6 ± 0.8)⋅10−3 m3⋅kg−1. A stronger uptake is observed for GTA, i.e. Rd (GTA) = (1.3 ± 0.5)⋅10−2 m3⋅kg−1, likely reflecting the contribution from the ligand’s second carboxylate group. GTA follows a linear sorption behaviour within 10−7 M ≤ [GTA]tot ≤ 0.1 M, which was successfully modelled with a one-site Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption capacity determined for the uptake of GTA by HCP is slightly higher but in line with the capacity previously reported for isosaccharinic acid (ISA), whereas the affinity constant derived for GTA is significantly lower than values reported for stronger binding sites in HCP for the uptake of ISA. HIBA and HBA have a minor impact on the surface charge of HCP up to [L]tot ≈ 0.1 M. On the contrary, GTA induces a clear decrease in the surface charge above [GTA]tot ≈ 10−3 M resulting in an isoelectric point at [GTA]tot ≈ 6⋅10−2 M. Comparison of sorption data obtained in this work and reported in the literature for organic ligands containing the functional groups -COOH and -OH underlines the key role of multiple functionalities as a factor strengthening the interaction with the HCP surface. The participation of alcohol groups is particularly strong when present in their deprotonated state. These results provide information to quantitatively assess the uptake by HCP of organic ligands relevant in the context of nuclear waste disposal, and to understand their impact on the surface properties of cement.
Trimester two gestational exposure to bisphenol A and adherence to mediterranean diet are associated with adolescent offspring oxidative stress and metabolic syndrome risk in a sex-specific manner
Authors: Zamora Astrid N. , Marchlewicz Elizabeth , Téllez-Rojo Martha M. , Burant Charles F. , Cantoral Alejandra , Song Peter X. K. , Mercado Adriana , Dolinoy Dana C. , Peterson Karen E.
Published: October 2022

Background

Exposure to prenatal bisphenol A (BPA) and Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) has been linked to metabolic risk in child offspring. It remains unclear if independent and interactive effects persist in adolescence.

Methods

We examined prenatal BPA and MDS on adolescent offspring metabolic syndrome risk score (MRS) and 8-isoprostane (8-iso), a biomarker of oxidative stress. Data from maternal-adolescent dyads from a Mexico City cohort were utilized, including trimester-specific prenatal BPA from spot urine and MDS from food frequency questionnaires. Offspring socio-demographic data and biomarkers to estimate MRS and 8-iso were obtained during peri-adolescence.

Results

Adjusted linear regression models examined associations between trimester-specific BPA, MDS, and BPA*MDS on outcomes. Sex-stratified analyses revealed a significant association between MDS with increased 8-iso (β = 0.064, p < 0.05), and a marginal association between trimester two BPA with increased 8-iso (β = 0.237), while MDS modified the marginal association between BPA and 8-iso in females (β = 0.046). A negative, marginal association was observed between trimester two BPA and MRS (β = – 0.728), while BPA * MDS was marginally, positively associated with MRS (β = 0.152) in males.

Conclusions

Study findings indicate that trimester two prenatal BPA and maternal adherence to a Mediterranean diet may have sexually dimorphic effects on adolescent offspring oxidative stress and metabolic syndrome risk.
A quantitative model based on gross tumor volume of gastric adenocarcinoma corresponding to N-stage measured at multidetector computed tomography for preoperative determination of resectability: A case control study
Authors: Yu Zi-yi , Gao Dan , Tang Zhao , Zhou Hai-ying , Ou Jing , Li Ke-ying , Chen Xiao-qian , Yang Dan , Yan Lin-li , Li Rui , Zhang Xiao-ming , Chen Tian-wu
Published: October 2022

Purpose

To develop and validate a quantitative model based on gross tumor volume (GTV) of gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) corresponding to N-stage measured at multidetector computed tomography (CT) for preoperative determination of resectability

Materials and methods

493 consecutive patients with confirmed GA undergoing contrast-enhanced CT two weeks before treatments were randomly enrolled into the training cohort (TC, n = 271), internal validation cohort (IVC, n = 107) and external validation cohort (EVC, n = 115). GTV was measured on CT by multiplying sums of all tumor areas by section thickness. In TC, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to select factors associated with resectability. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was to determine if N-stage based GTV could identify resectability. In IVC and EVC, unweighted Cohen’s Kappa tests were to evaluate performances of the ROC models.

Results

According to univariate analysis, age, cT stage, cN stage and GTV were related to resectability in TC (all P-values < 0.05), and multivariate analysis suggested that cN stage and GTV were independent risk factors with odds ratios of 1.594 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.105–2.301) and 1.055 (95%CI: 1.035–1.076), respectively. ROC analysis in TC revealed the cutoffs of 21.81, 21.70 and 36.93 cm3 to differentiate between resectable and unresectable cancers in stages cN0-3, cN2 and cN3 with areas under the curves of more than 0.8, respectively, which was validated in IVC and EVC with average Cohen k-values of more than 0.72.

Conclusions

GTV and cN stage can be independent risk factors of unresectable GA, and N-stage based GTV can help determine resectability.