bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acordos entre Espanha e países do Norte da África como mecanismos de controle das migrações irregulares nos anos 2000 | Agreements between Spain and North African countries as a mechanism of irregular migration control in the 2000s
Authors: Da Costa Mangueira Ana Beatriz , Reis Melo Filipe
Published: November 2021

Este artigo analisa como a Espanha securitizou fluxos migratórios irregulares do Norte da África na primeira década dos anos 2000. Esse processo realizou-se com medidas de segurança nas fronteiras, especialmente nas regiões de Ceuta e Melila. Por outro lado, os governos espanhóis ao longo daquela década reavivaram acordos firmados com os africanos ainda nos anos 1990 para readmissão de migrantes e para admissão de indivíduos no mercado de trabalho espanhol. A relação entre Espanha e países africanos foi contraditória, pois enquanto se buscava conter as migrações indesejadas, pretendia-se usar a mão de obra estrangeira para reduzir os custos trabalhistas. Essas contradições são influenciadas pela presença da União Europeia que delibera e atua na temática de migrações na região, um assunto que tem sido um dos principais interesses da agenda de segurança europeia nos últimos anos. Palavras-Chave: Espanha. Fluxos migratórios. Norte da África. ABSTRACTThis paper analyses how Spain securitized irregular migratory flows from North Africa in the 2000s first decade. This process was carried out by security actions at the borders, specially at Ceuta and Melilla regions. On other hand, over the years of 2000s Spanish governments renewed agreements that were signed with Africans in the 1990s to foster readmission of migrants and promote the admission of individuals to the Spanish labor market. Furthermore, the relationship between Spain and African countries was inconsistent due to the fact that at the moment which the contention of unwanted migration was the focus, it was intended to use foreign labor to reduce labor costs. These contradictions are influenced by the presence of the European Union, which deliberates and acts on the issue of migration in the region, a subject that has been one of the main interests of the European security agenda in recent years. Keywords: Spain. Migration flows. North Africa. Recebido em: 24 mai. 2021 | Aceito em: 01 out. 2021.
IDEOLOGIAS GEOGRÁFICAS E INDÚSTRIA CULTURAL
Authors: Setin Monique Fernanda
Published: November 2021

Este artigo procura contribuir com o estudo proposto por Moraes (1988) sobre ideologias geográficas. O objetivo é pensar o tema da cultura, dos meios de comunicação e da indústria cultural. A valorização subjetiva do espaço se constrói e se dissemina por meio da cultura e é fundamental compreendê-la para entender a valorização objetiva do espaço. A metodologia utilizada para a realização deste artigo é a pesquisa bibliográfica, leitura e interpretação de texto. Defendemos a importância dos autores da Teoria Crítica a fim de contribuir com o aprimoramento do pensamento geográfico.
Saberes docentes em educação ambiental na Escola Família Agroecológica do Macacoari
Authors: Pereira Walquíria De Araújo , Gomes Raimunda Kelly Silva
Published: November 2021

O presente artigo discute como a educação ambiental é desenvolvida a partir dos saberes e vivências docentes na Escola Família Agroecológica do Macacoari na Amazônia amapaense. A fundamentação metodológica ancora-se em um estudo de caso que se desenvolveu através de observação direta, entrevistas semiestruturadas e roda de conversa com educadores. Os resultados indicam que este processo formativo por alternância, através de saberes e vivências docentes sobre a EA, ainda que com algumas limitações conceituais, metodológicas e mesmo referentes à formação inicial e continuada, se constitui em um campo propício ao desenvolvimento da temática ambiental, contribuindo para a transposição do desafio que é a efetivação da EA no ambiente formal.
Percepções de trabalho e formação: tessituras do quefazer com a cultura de paz
Authors: Santos Madson Pinto , Nakashima Rosária Helena Ruiz
Published: November 2021

O presente artigo tem como objetivo perceber relações e equivalências dos temas geradores (trabalho, escola e paz0 e suas pertinências para a humanização dos interlocutores da pesquisa.   Para esta finalidade fez-se uso da metodologia qualitativa, orientada por princípios da pesquisa participante, tendo como técnica o círculo de cultura, além de um objeto artístico. Os teóricos Freire (2015), Galtung (2003), Delors (2006) e Morin (2011) nos ajudaram a entender que o trabalho e a escola são categorias importantes no movimento dialético para o ser mais, mas um terceiro elemento, a cultura de paz, faz-se necessário para o avançar na humanização de homens e mulheres.
Aprendendo com os processos revolucionários no continente africano: práticas pedagógicas de Paulo Freire
Authors: Dos Santos José Francisco
Published: November 2021

O artigo faz reflexões sobre o pensamento de Paulo Freire, que, se tivesse vivo, estaria completando, em 2021, o seu centenário de nascimento. Referência na área da educação, seu método de alfabetização é, inclusive, recomendado e premiado por várias entidades, a exemplo da UNESCO. No momento atual, sofre críticas por parte de setores da sociedade brasileira ligados a grupo conservadores, que sustentam que a sua prática pedagógica está ligada a ideologias de esquerda e, portanto, não é adequada ao ensino. Este trabalho se baseia na revisão bibliográfica de artigos, capítulos de livros e um documento de relatório da embaixada brasileira em Lisboa produzido pelo então embaixador Carlos Alberto da Fontoura. Por meio desses materiais, será trabalhada a prática pedagógica de Freire no continente africano, especialmente na Angola, em Guiné-Bissau e em Cabo Verde, no processo após independência desses países, e debatido o destombamento para Freire e para os países envolvidos.
Paulo Freire e a escola necessária à inclusão
Authors: Esquinsani Rosimar Serena Siqueira
Published: November 2021

A constante vivificação do pensamento de Paulo Freire permite que questões coetâneas possam ser discutidas à luz do pensamento freireano, ainda que o mesmo não tenha pautado nomeadamente determinado assunto.  Essa premissa aplica-se à Educação Especial.  Mesmo sem escritos específicos sobre o tema, é possível iluminar o debate acerca da Educação Especial a partir das obras de Paulo Freire.  E esta interface caracteriza a intenção do artigo: avigorar o pensamento de Freire no debate acerca da Educação Especial, colocando o tema em diálogo com um autor denso, tomando igualmente Paulo Freire a partir de uma pauta contemporânea.  Metodologicamente o texto trata-se de estudo descritivo, de abordagem qualitativa, pautado em uma revisão sistemática da obra freiriana, com o objetivo buscar excertos e ideias que dialoguem com conceitos atuais de Educação Especial, Educação Inclusiva e Equidade.  O texto está dividido em três seções: ‘Sobre Educação Especial, Educação Inclusiva e Equidade’, onde são expostos os fragmentos legais que assinalam a compreensão dos conceitos designados; ‘Discutindo os conceitos à luz do pensamento de Paulo Freire’, onde os conceitos são tomados sob a ótica do autor, e ‘O pensamento freireano e a escola necessária à inclusão’, tecendo reflexões sobre a escola inclusiva a partir da obra de Paulo Freire.  Como conclusão, a narrativa conduz à compreensão que a escola necessária à inclusão se sustenta em diversas premissas freireanas, assumindo um lugar de curiosidade crítica e contestação, buscando somar esforços ao debate denso (por vezes tenso) em relação à educação Especial na perspectiva da Educação Inclusiva.Palavras-chave: Paulo Freire; educação especial; inclusão.
Educação e conscientização: acerca da concepção freireana de “Ser mais”
Authors: Silva Cleonice Aparecida Raphael da , Galuch Maria Terezinha Bellanda , Bido José Mateus
Published: November 2021

Este artigo, de cunho bibliográfico, apresenta uma reflexão acerca da concepção de “Ser mais” em Paulo Freire, destacando a importância das ideias desse educador, quando se pensa em uma educação que visa à conscientização. A educação pode promover a autorreflexão sobre os limites da emancipação, assim, um instrumento para o fortalecimento da resistência à sociedade fundada em relações de poder e de violência. Freire propõe uma educação que retome a formação do sentido ontológico do ser humano, contrariando e resistindo à dominação político-econômica, ou seja, uma educação inspirada na esperança de um vir a ser que é construção histórica permanente.
Entre Sísifo e Chronos: uma reflexão sobre tempos da docência, da infância e da esperança
Authors: Eckhardt Fabiana , Bernar Aline Praça , Moreira Renato Simões
Published: November 2021

Sísifo, figura da mitologia grega, evoca-nos duas distintas ideias: a sagacidade que ludibria os poderosos — por duas vezes enganou as forças do submundo e escapou à morte — e o sofrimento de um esforço que jamais finda. Condenado a uma pena exemplar por enganar as forças do inferno, Sísifo é submetido a um ordálio cíclico e sem fim. Contudo, fica uma questão: Teria a atuação docente, principalmente durante o isolamento social e suas aulas remotas, seu quê de pena sisífica? Ou existe no aparente castigo do filho de Éolo mais que as aparências sugerem? O presente artigo apresenta uma aproximação entre o mito de Sísifo e o fazer docente voltado ao atendimento às classes populares, revelando um drama sob a ótica do esperançar freireano, sob os auditores de diferentes dimensões do tempo: Chronos, Aión e Kairós. Tal drama surge no tempo aiônico, o tempo da infância, no tempo do fazer sempre de novo sem deixar pesar em vão o fardo da pedra. Pedra esta ressignificada no presente texto, repensada como um fazer sempre novo, mesmo que aparentemente repetitivo. Aludimos ao esforço sísifo de carregar a mesma pedra morro acima a prática docente pautada no ensinar e aprender que se confundem e se complementam em uma espera esperançosa e utópica imbricada no inconformismo e na fé da emancipação social.
O espaço vivido e a pedagogia situada em Paulo Freire
Authors: Serra Enio
Published: November 2021

O conhecimento sobre a realidade sociocultural dos educandos, bem como a maneira com que estes a interpretam é uma das principais características da pedagogia freiriana. Em função disso, no processo de construção da práxis pedagógica libertadora, as localidades onde vivem os estudantes precisam ser objeto de investigação por parte dos educadores e educadoras com vistas à definição de temas geradores do conhecimento escolar. Com base nessa perspectiva, o presente artigo tem como objetivo refletir sobre as possibilidades analíticas acerca da realidade vivenciada pelos educandos tendo como pressuposto básico a espacialidade inerente à existência humana. Para tanto, o ensaio estabelece o conceito de espaço vivido como eixo através do qual outras categorias e noções espaciais são abordadas em consonância com os princípios da dialogicidade e da problematização, ambos próprios da concepção de educação preconizada por Paulo Freire. As reflexões e análises têm como base algumas obras do autor, assim como referências de pesquisadores vinculados principalmente ao conhecimento geográfico. Como principais contribuições para práticas pedagógicas emancipadoras, argumenta-se a favor da necessidade de se criar procedimentos metodológicos que possibilitem o levantamento de informações sobre o contexto socioespacial onde o projeto educativo está inserido e promovam a escuta ativa sobre o que os educandos e outros agentes sociais que atuam na localidade têm a dizer sobre suas vivências e práticas socioespaciais.
An Evaluation of Woody Biomass and Pulpwood Market Competition within a Range of Procurement Distances
Authors: Parajuli Manisha , Hiesl Patrick , Smidt Mathew , Mitchell Dana
Published: November 2021

In the Southern United States, a rising number of biomass facilities have created new market opportunities for forest landowners, consulting foresters, and loggers, which could increase the competition between the biomass market and pulpwood market for forest biomass. Thus, comparing the profits from conventional roundwood harvesting and biomass harvesting within a range of procurement distances could be crucial to make a harvest decision. In this study, we considered two harvesting systems: conventional and biomass. We developed a decision support tool to predict and compare the final stumpage value from both harvesting systems based on the stand and site conditions, market conditions, and distance to the nearest market. We grew (simulated) loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations to six different thinning ages (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 yr) at five different site indices (17, 20, 23, 26, and 29 m at a base age of 25 yr) using the PTAEDA4.0 software. Different models were fitted and evaluated for certain training and validating criteria. In both harvesting systems, we select the cube root-transformed model as the best model. Using the models, we predict that the utilization of logging residues and pulpwood as wood chips may yield a higher return to the landowner when the delivered price of the wood chips is comparable to the delivered price of the pulpwood and within the same procurement distance. The selected models thus serve as a decision support tool to inform stakeholders to further maximize their economic return from timber harvesting operations by selecting the most profitable option.
Liquid-liquid separation of Cd (II) from Cu-sulfide cake prepared from sulfate solution of Abu-Thor ore material, Southwestern, Sinai, Egypt
Authors: Awny Elham
Published: November 2021

The present work is concerned with the subsequent liquid-liquid separation of Cu, Zn, and Cd compounds from Cu- sulfide cake prepared from the sulfate solution of Abu-Thor Gibbsite-bearing shale ore material. This ore was found assaying 0.014% of Cd, 0.5% of Cu, and 0.55% of Zn as the elements of interest, by using 25% of H2SO4 solution at a solid/liquid ratio of 1/3 reaction time of 90 min at a temperature of 80 ◦C. About 96.5% of Cu (II), 99.3% of Cd (II), and 95.6% of Zn (II), respectively, were dissolved. After filtration, the prepared sulfate solution was treated with a suitable weight of Na2S to prepare the working Cu-sulfide cake, which was then wholly re-dissolved in 10% of H2SO4 solution to prepare the working sulfate solution, which contained the elements of interest. This solution was gone out to the organic solvent process for complete separating between the Cu (II), Zn (II) ions in the organic phase, and Cd (II) ions in the aqueous phase. The effective extraction parameters such as pH value, LIX concentration, contact time, and organic/aqueous ratio were studied. The obtained data cleared that the pH value of 2.5 was found effective for separating Cd (II) in the aqueous phase and both Zn (II) and Cu (II) in the organic phase. Where Cd (II) ions were precipitated as CdS using Na2S solution at pH 0.89, on the other side, both Zn (II) and Cu (II) were completely separated in the stripping process using Na2CO3 solution.
Incandescent lamp-based facility for measuring the long-term radiometric stability of spectrographs
Authors: Shaw Ping-Shine , Woodward John T. , Johnson B. Carol , Brown Steven W. , Yoon Howard W.
Published: November 2021

The long-term temporal stability of a spectrograph is one of the most important characteristics affecting the spectrograph’s radiometric performance. For many applications, from monitoring ocean color and lunar irradiance to laboratory irradiance measurement standards, the stability of a spectrograph is a primary factor in the overall measurement uncertainty and therefore is the major criterion for the suitability of the spectrograph as an optical-scale transfer standard. Here we report a facility built for testing the long-term radiometric stability of commercial, fiber-coupled spectrographs. The facility uses tungsten quartz-halogen irradiance standard lamps, type “FEL,” of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as light sources. To ensure the highest stability of these lamps during spectrograph tests, parameters such as lamp current, lamp voltage, and signals from an independent filter radiometer were continuously recorded to monitor any possible instability caused by such effects as lamp aging. Using this facility, we report the stability study of four spectrographs with spectral coverage from the UV to short-wave infrared over an interval of two months during which the lamp irradiance was stable to better than 0.02%. The tested spectrographs show good stability in general, ranging from 0.02% to 0.1% in the visible over a span of 11 days. For a longer two-month test, the variation in spectrograph responses increases by less than 0.1% with no discernable long-term drifts. In addition, we measured the response variation of two of the test spectrographs before and after they were sent to remote field locations and subjected to adverse environmental conditions. In this case, a larger response variation of up to 1.0% dependence on the wavelength was observed. We discuss the performance of the facility and the implications for using these spectrographs for several of NIST’s remote sensing projects as radiometric transfer standards based on these stability measurements.
Angle-tolerant polarization controlled continuous color palette from all-dielectric nanograting in reflective mode
Authors: Gao Xufeng , Wang Qi , Luo Na , Xu Banglian , Hong Ruijin , Zhang Dawei , Zhuang Songlin
Published: November 2021

High-performance angle-tolerant polarization tunable reflective color filters with an adopted one-dimensional silicon grating structure are proposed. The polarization-tunable color filtering properties and incident angle-insensitive properties are thoroughly investigated to achieve the angle-tolerant polarization controlled continuous color palettes. Benefiting from high refractive index of silicon, the proposed color filters evidently provide a high angular tolerance of 30° in conjunction with a large polarization-tunable color range. Moreover, full and vivid colors covering the entire visible range can be produced by simply altering the grating thickness. The combination between the all-dielectric nanostructure with a high angular tolerance and the polarization-tunable filtering properties, described in this paper, can be applied in anti-counterfeiting, imaging and filtering technologies, and so forth.
Achieving extreme light confinement in low-index dielectric resonators through quasi-bound states in the continuum
Authors: Wang Wei , Ma Xuedan
Published: November 2021

Obtaining large field enhancement in low-refractive-index dielectric materials is highly relevant to many photonic and quantum optics applications. However, confining light in these materials is challenging, owing to light leakage through coupling to continuum modes in the surrounding environment. We investigate the possibility of achieving high quality factors in low-index dielectric resonators through the bound states in the continuum (BIC). Our simulations demonstrate that destructive interference between leaky modes can be achieved by tuning the geometrical parameters of the resonator arrays, leading to the emergence of quasi-BIC in resonators that have a small index contrast to the underlying substrates. The resultant large field enhancement gives rise to giant quality factors and Purcell effects. By introducing vertical mirror symmetry, the quasi-BIC can be tuned into an ideal BIC. In addition, the quasi-BIC can modify the emission patterns of the coupled emitters, rendering highly directional and focused far-field emission. These findings may provide a path for the practical implementation of photonic and quantum devices based on low-index dielectric materials.
Identification of astroglia-like cardiac nexus glia that are critical regulators of cardiac development and function
Authors: Kikel-Coury Nina L. , Brandt Jacob P. , Correia Isabel A. , O’Dea Michael R. , DeSantis Dana F. , Sterling Felicity , Vaughan Kevin , Ozcebe Gulberk , Zorlutuna Pinar , Smith Cody J.
Published: November 2021

Glial cells are essential for functionality of the nervous system. Growing evidence underscores the importance of astrocytes; however, analogous astroglia in peripheral organs are poorly understood. Using confocal time-lapse imaging, fate mapping, and mutant genesis in a zebrafish model, we identify a neural crest–derived glial cell, termed nexus glia, which utilizes Meteorin signaling via Jak/Stat3 to drive differentiation and regulate heart rate and rhythm. Nexus glia are labeled with gfap, glast, and glutamine synthetase, markers that typically denote astroglia cells. Further, analysis of single-cell sequencing datasets of human and murine hearts across ages reveals astrocyte-like cells, which we confirm through a multispecies approach. We show that cardiac nexus glia at the outflow tract are critical regulators of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic system. These data establish the crucial role of glia on cardiac homeostasis and provide a description of nexus glia in the PNS.
Attention controls multisensory perception via two distinct mechanisms at different levels of the cortical hierarchy
Authors: Ferrari Ambra , Noppeney Uta
Published: November 2021

To form a percept of the multisensory world, the brain needs to integrate signals from common sources weighted by their reliabilities and segregate those from independent sources. Previously, we have shown that anterior parietal cortices combine sensory signals into representations that take into account the signals’ causal structure (i.e., common versus independent sources) and their sensory reliabilities as predicted by Bayesian causal inference. The current study asks to what extent and how attentional mechanisms can actively control how sensory signals are combined for perceptual inference. In a pre- and postcueing paradigm, we presented observers with audiovisual signals at variable spatial disparities. Observers were precued to attend to auditory or visual modalities prior to stimulus presentation and postcued to report their perceived auditory or visual location. Combining psychophysics, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Bayesian modelling, we demonstrate that the brain moulds multisensory inference via two distinct mechanisms. Prestimulus attention to vision enhances the reliability and influence of visual inputs on spatial representations in visual and posterior parietal cortices. Poststimulus report determines how parietal cortices flexibly combine sensory estimates into spatial representations consistent with Bayesian causal inference. Our results show that distinct neural mechanisms control how signals are combined for perceptual inference at different levels of the cortical hierarchy.
COVID-19–associated mucormycosis: Evidence-based critical review of an emerging infection burden during the pandemic’s second wave in India
Authors: Aranjani Jesil Mathew , Manuel Atulya , Abdul Razack Habeeb Ibrahim , Mathew Sam T.
Published: November 2021

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), during the second wave in early 2021, has caused devastating chaos in India. As daily infection rates rise alarmingly, the number of severe cases has increased dramatically. The country has encountered health infrastructure inadequacy and excessive demand for hospital beds, drugs, vaccines, and oxygen. Adding more burden to such a challenging situation, mucormycosis, an invasive fungal infection, has seen a sudden surge in patients with COVID-19. The rhino-orbital-cerebral form is the most common type observed. In particular, approximately three-fourths of them had diabetes as predisposing comorbidity and received corticosteroids to treat COVID-19. Possible mechanisms may involve immune and inflammatory processes. Diabetes, when coupled with COVID-19–induced systemic immune change, tends to cause decreased immunity and an increased risk of secondary infections. Since comprehensive data on this fatal opportunistic infection are evolving against the backdrop of a major pandemic, prevention strategies primarily involve managing comorbid conditions in high-risk groups. The recommended treatment strategies primarily included surgical debridement and antifungal therapy using Amphotericin B and selected azoles. Several India-centric clinical guidelines have emerged to rightly diagnose the infection, characterise the clinical presentation, understand the pathogenesis involved, and track the disease course. Code Mucor is the most comprehensive one, which proposes a simple but reliable staging system for the rhino-orbital-cerebral form. A staging system has recently been proposed, and a dedicated registry has been started. In this critical review, we extensively analyse recent evidence and guidance on COVID-19–associated mucormycosis in India.
Schistosoma mansoni Larval Extracellular Vesicle protein 1 (SmLEV1) is an immunogenic antigen found in EVs released from pre-acetabular glands of invading cercariae
Authors: Gasan Thomas A. , Kuipers Marije E. , Roberts Grisial H. , Padalino Gilda , Forde-Thomas Josephine E. , Wilson Shona , Wawrzyniak Jakub , Tukahebwa Edridah M. , Hoffmann Karl F. , Chalmers Iain W.
Published: November 2021

Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) are an integral component of cellular/organismal communication and have been found in the excreted/secreted (ES) products of both protozoan and metazoan parasites. Within the blood fluke schistosomes, EVs have been isolated from egg, schistosomula, and adult lifecycle stages. However, the role(s) that EVs have in shaping aspects of parasite biology and/or manipulating host interactions is poorly defined. Herein, we characterise the most abundant EV-enriched protein inSchistosoma mansonitissue-migrating schistosomula (Schistosoma mansoniLarval Extracellular Vesicle protein 1 (SmLEV1)). Comparative sequence analysis demonstrates thatlev1orthologs are found in all publishedSchistosomagenomes, yet homologs are not found outside of theSchistosomatidae. Lifecycle expression analyses collectively reveal thatsmlev1transcription peaks in cercariae, is male biased in adults, and is processed by alternative splicing in intra-mammalian lifecycle stages. Immunohistochemistry of cercariae using a polyclonal anti-recombinant SmLEV1 antiserum localises this protein to the pre-acetabular gland, with some disperse localisation to the surface of the parasite.S.mansoni—infected Ugandan fishermen exhibit a strong IgG1response against SmLEV1 (dropping significantly after praziquantel treatment), with 11% of the cohort exhibiting an IgE response and minimal levels of detectable antigen-specific IgG4. Furthermore, mice vaccinated with rSmLEV1 show a slightly reduced parasite burden upon challenge infection and significantly reduced granuloma volumes, compared with control animals. Collectively, these results describe SmLEV1 as aSchistosomatidae-specific, EV-enriched immunogen. Further investigations are now necessary to uncover the full extent of SmLEV1’s role in shaping schistosome EV function and definitive host relationships.
Osteoblast-specific inactivation of p53 results in locally increased bone formation
Authors: Liao Nannan , Koehne Till , Tuckermann Jan , Triviai Ioanna , Amling Michael , David Jean-Pierre , Schinke Thorsten , Luther Julia
Published: November 2021

Inactivation of the tumor suppressor p53 (encoded by the Trp53 gene) is relevant for development and growth of different cancers, including osteosarcoma, a primary bone tumor mostly affecting children and young adolescents. We have previously shown that deficiency of the ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (Rsk2) limits osteosarcoma growth in a transgenic mouse model overexpressing the proto-oncogene c-Fos. Our initial aim for the present study was to address the question, if Rsk2 deficiency would also influence osteosarcoma growth in another mouse model. For that purpose, we took advantage of Trp53fl/fl mice, which were crossed with Runx2Cre transgenic mice in order to inactivate p53 specifically in osteoblast lineage cells. However, since we unexpectedly identified Runx2Cre-mediated recombination also in the thymus, the majority of 6-month-old Trp53fl/fl;Runx2-Cre (thereafter termed Trp53Cre) animals displayed thymic lymphomas, similar to what has been described for Trp53-deficient mice. Since we did not detect osteosarcoma formation at that age, we could not follow our initial aim, but we studied the skeletal phenotype of Trp53Cre mice, with or without additional Rsk2 deficiency. Here we unexpectedly observed that Trp53Cre mice display a unique accumulation of trabecular bone in the midshaft region of the femur and the humerus, consistent with its previously established role as a negative regulator of osteoblastogenesis. Since this local bone mass increase in Trp53Cre mice was significantly reduced by Rsk2 deficiency, we isolated bone marrow cells from the different groups of mice and analyzed their behavior ex vivo. Here we observed a remarkable increase of colony formation, osteogenic differentiation and proliferation in Trp53Cre cultures, which was unaffected by Rsk2 deficiency. Our data thereby confirm a critical and tumorigenesis-independent function of p53 as a key regulator of mesenchymal cell differentiation.
Glycinebetaine mitigates drought stress-induced oxidative damage in pears
Authors: Niu Tiequan , Zhang Tianpeng , Qiao Yue , Wen Pengfei , Zhai Guangqian , Liu Enke , Al-Bakre Dhafer A. , Al-Harbi Mohammad S. , Gao Xiuping , Yang Xinghong
Published: November 2021

Glycinebetaine (GB) is an osmoprotectant found in plants under environmental stresses that incorporates drought and is associated with drought tolerance in several plants, such as the woody pear. However, how GB improves drought tolerance in pears remains unclear. In the current study, we explored the mechanism by which GB enhances drought tolerance of whole pear plants (Pyrus bretschneideriRedh. cv. Suli) supplied with exogenous GB. The results showed that on the sixth day after withholding water, levels of O2·−, H2O2, malonaldehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage in the leaves were substantially increased by 143%, 38%, 134% and 155%, respectively. Exogenous GB treatment was substantially reduced O2·−, H2O2, MDA and electrolyte leakage (38%, 24%, 38% and 36%, respectively) in drought-stressed leaves. Furthermore, exogenous GB induced considerably higher antioxidant enzyme activity in dry-stressed leaves than drought-stressed treatment alone on the sixth day after withholding water, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) (201%) and peroxidase (POD) (127%). In addition, these GB-induced phenomena led to increased endogenous GB levels in the leaves of the GB 100 + drought and GB 500 + drought treatment groups by 30% and 78%, respectively, compared to drought treatment alone. The findings obtained were confirmed by the results of the disconnected leaf tests, in which GB contributed to a substantial increase in SOD activity and parallel dose- and time-based decreases in MDA levels. These results demonstrate that GB-conferred drought resistance in pears may be due in part to minimizing symptoms of oxidative harm incurred in response to drought by the activities of antioxidants and by reducing the build-up of ROS and lipid peroxidation.
Impact of nanodisc lipid composition on cell-free expression of proton-coupled folate transporter
Authors: Do Hoa Quynh , Bassil Carla M. , Andersen Elizabeth I. , Jansen Michaela
Published: November 2021

The Proton-Coupled Folate Transporter (PCFT) is a transmembrane transport protein that controls the absorption of dietary folates in the small intestine. PCFT also mediates uptake of chemotherapeutically used antifolates into tumor cells. PCFT has been identified within lipid rafts observed in phospholipid bilayers of plasma membranes, a micro environment that is altered in tumor cells. The present study aimed at investigating the impact of different lipids within Lipid-protein nanodiscs (LPNs), discoidal lipid structures stabilized by membrane scaffold proteins, to yield soluble PCFT expression in an E. coli lysate-based cell-free transcription/translation system. In the absence of detergents or lipids, we observed PCFT quantitatively as precipitate in this system. We then explored the ability of LPNs to support solubilized PCFT expression when present during in-vitro translation. LPNs consisted of either dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC), palmitoyl-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC), or dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DMPG). While POPC did not lead to soluble PCFT expression, both DMPG and DMPC supported PCFT translation directly into LPNs, the latter in a concentration dependent manner. The results obtained through this study provide insights into the lipid preferences of PCFT. Membrane-embedded or solubilized PCFT will enable further studies with diverse biophysical approaches to enhance the understanding of the structure and molecular mechanism of folate transport through PCFT.
Genomic diversity of bacteriophages infecting Rhodobacter capsulatus and their relatedness to its gene transfer agent RcGTA
Authors: Rapala Jackson , Miller Brenda , Garcia Maximiliano , Dolan Megan , Bockman Matthew , Hansson Mats , Russell Daniel A. , Garlena Rebecca A. , Cresawn Steven G. , Westbye Alexander B. , Beatty J. Thomas , Alvey Richard M. , Bollivar David W.
Published: November 2021

The diversity of bacteriophages is likely unparalleled in the biome due to the immense variety of hosts and the multitude of viruses that infect them. Recent efforts have led to description at the genomic level of numerous bacteriophages that infect the Actinobacteria, but relatively little is known about those infecting other prokaryotic phyla, such as the purple non-sulfur photosynthetic α-proteobacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus. This species is a common inhabitant of freshwater ecosystems and has been an important model system for the study of photosynthesis. Additionally, it is notable for its utilization of a unique form of horizontal gene transfer via a bacteriophage-like element known as the gene transfer agent (RcGTA). Only three bacteriophages of R. capsulatus had been sequenced prior to this report. Isolation and characterization at the genomic level of 26 new bacteriophages infecting this host advances the understanding of bacteriophage diversity and the origins of RcGTA. These newly discovered isolates can be grouped along with three that were previously sequenced to form six clusters with four remaining as single representatives. These bacteriophages share genes with RcGTA that seem to be related to host recognition. One isolate was found to cause lysis of a marine bacterium when exposed to high-titer lysate. Although some clusters are more highly represented in the sequenced genomes, it is evident that many more bacteriophage types that infect R. capsulatus are likely to be found in the future.
Ubiquitous flocculation activity and flocculation production basis of the conglutination mud from Ruditapes philippinarum along the coast of China
Authors: Mu Jun , Wang Yuxia , Cui Xia , Yang Qiao
Published: November 2021

Ruditapes philippinarum conglutination mud (RPM) is a typical waste by-product from manila clam R. philippinarum aquaculture. However, RPM from the clam at an aquaculture farm in Zhoushan, China, has been newly reported as a promising natural bioflocculant resource that contains effective flocculating polysaccharides from the clam associated bacteria. With an intent to figure out whether RPM flocculation activity is ubiquitous to the manila clam across a wide geographical range or only the Zhoushan location, and to explore the flocculation production basis and ultimately widen its exploitation scope, in this study, an extensive survey of RPMs from four representative locations along the coast of China was performed to determine their flocculation activity, polysaccharide constitution and bacterial community composition. Frozen preserved RPM samples from Zhoushan, Dalian, Weihai and Zhanjiang exhibited comparable flocculation activities (FRs) ranging from 61.9±2.4% to 73.2±0.9% at dosage of 8 g·L-1; while fresh RPMs from Zhoushan exhibited a much higher flocculation activity of 91.34±1.18% than its frozen counterpart. Polysaccharide extracts from the four locations showed similar monosaccharide constitutions to some extent. The geographical distribution led to certain variation in bacterial community structures. The similarity clustering of the polysaccharide compositions coincided with that of bacterial community structures from RPMs, suggesting that polysaccharides and respective bacterial communities might be the foundation of the flocculation activity for all RPMs. The overlapping OTUs across all the RPMs accounted for 44.6–62.22% of the overall sequences in each sample and contained the vast majority of the most abundant OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units), forming a common "core microbiome" that is probably responsible for polysaccharide production and flocculation activity development.
Magnitude and associated factors of disrespect and abusive care among laboring mothers at public health facilities in Borena District, South Wollo, Ethiopia
Authors: Maldie Mulusew , Egata Gudina , Chanie Muluken Genetu , Muche Amare , Dewau Reta , Worku Nigusu , Alemu Mamo Dereje , Ewunetie Gojjam Eshetie , Birhane Tesfaye , Addisu Elsabeth , Ayele Wolde Melese , Adane Metadel
Published: November 2021

Background

Recent studies have indicated that disrespectful/abusive/coercive service by skilled care providers in health facilities that results in actual or perceived poor quality of care is directly and indirectly associated with adverse maternal and newborn outcomes. According to the 2016 Ethiopian Demography and Health Survey, only 26% of births were attended by qualified clinicians, with a maternal mortality rate of 412 per 100,000 live-births. Using seven categories developed by Bowser and Hill (2010), this study looked at disrespect and abuse experienced by women in labor and delivery rooms in health facilities of Borena Ddistrict, South Wollo, Ethiopia.

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 374 immediate postpartum women in Borena District from January 12 to March 12, 2020. Systematic sampling was used to access respondents to participate in a structured, pre-tested face-to-face exit interview. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Finally, bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed to declare statistically significant factors related to maternal disrespect and abusive care in Borena District at a p-value of < 0.05 and at 95% CI.

Result

Almost four out of five (79.4%) women experienced at least one type of disrespect and abuse during facility-based childbirth. The most frequently reported type of disrespect and abuse was non-consented care 63.7%. Wealth index [AOR = 3.27; 95% CI: (1.47, 7.25)], type of health facility [AOR = 1.96; 95% CI: (1.01, 3.78)], presence of companion(s) [AOR = 0.05; 95% CI: (0.02, 0.12)], and presence of complications [AOR = 2.65; 95% CI: (1.17, 5.99)] were factors found to be significantly related to women experiencing disrespect and abuse.

Conclusion

The results showed that wealth index, type of health facility, presence of companion(s), and birth complications were found to be significant factors. Therefore, health personnel need to develop interventions that integrate provider’s behavior on companionship and prevention of complications across facilities to reduce the impact of disrespectful and abusive care for laboring women.
Recombinant production of a functional SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Berndt Anthony J. , Smalley Tressa N. , Ren Bijie , Simkovsky Ryan , Badary Amr , Sproles Ashley E. , Fields Francis J. , Torres-Tiji Yasin , Heredia Vanessa , Mayfield Stephen P.
Published: November 2021

Recombinant production of viral proteins can be used to produce vaccine antigens or reagents to identify antibodies in patient serum. Minimally, these proteins must be correctly folded and have appropriate post-translation modifications. Here we report the production of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) in the green algae Chlamydomonas. RBD fused to a fluorescent reporter protein accumulates as an intact protein when targeted for ER-Golgi retention or secreted from the cell, while a chloroplast localized version is truncated. The ER-retained RBD fusion protein was able to bind the human ACE2 receptor, the host target of SARS-CoV-2, and was specifically out-competed by mammalian cell-produced recombinant RBD, suggesting that the algae produced proteins are sufficiently post-translationally modified to act as authentic SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Because algae can be grown at large scale very inexpensively, this recombinant protein may be a low cost alternative to other expression platforms.
Electronic control of redox reactions inside Escherichia coli using a genetic module
Authors: Baruch Moshe , Tejedor-Sanz Sara , Su Lin , Ajo-Franklin Caroline M.
Published: November 2021

Microorganisms regulate the redox state of different biomolecules to precisely control biological processes. These processes can be modulated by electrochemically coupling intracellular biomolecules to an external electrode, but current approaches afford only limited control and specificity. Here we describe specific electrochemical control of the reduction of intracellular biomolecules in Escherichia coli through introduction of a heterologous electron transfer pathway. E. coli expressing cymAmtrCAB from Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 consumed electrons directly from a cathode when fumarate or nitrate, both intracellular electron acceptors, were present. The fumarate-triggered current consumption occurred only when fumarate reductase was present, indicating all the electrons passed through this enzyme. Moreover, CymAMtrCAB-expressing E. coli used current to stoichiometrically reduce nitrate. Thus, our work introduces a modular genetic tool to reduce a specific intracellular redox molecule with an electrode, opening the possibility of electronically controlling biological processes such as biosynthesis and growth in any microorganism.
A non-lethal method for studying scorpion venom gland transcriptomes, with a review of potentially suitable taxa to which it can be applied
Authors: Vonk Freek J. , Bittenbinder Mátyás A. , Kerkkamp Harald M. I. , Grashof Dwin G. B. , Archer John P. , Afonso Sandra , Richardson Michael K. , Kool Jeroen , van der Meijden Arie
Published: November 2021

Scorpion venoms are mixtures of proteins, peptides and small molecular compounds with high specificity for ion channels and are therefore considered to be promising candidates in the venoms-to-drugs pipeline. Transcriptomes are important tools for studying the composition and expression of scorpion venom. Unfortunately, studying the venom gland transcriptome traditionally requires sacrificing the animal and therefore is always a single snapshot in time. This paper describes a new way of generating a scorpion venom gland transcriptome without sacrificing the animal, thereby allowing the study of the transcriptome at various time points within a single individual. By comparing these venom-derived transcriptomes to the traditional whole-telson transcriptomes we show that the relative expression levels of the major toxin classes are similar. We further performed a multi-day extraction using our proposed method to show the possibility of doing a multiple time point transcriptome analysis. This allows for the study of patterns of toxin gene activation over time a single individual, and allows assessment of the effects of diet, season and other factors that are known or likely to influence intraindividual venom composition. We discuss the gland characteristics that may allow this method to be successful in scorpions and provide a review of other venomous taxa to which this method may potentially be successfully applied.
A novel route for identifying starch diagenetic products in the archaeological record
Authors: Oldenburg Thomas , Brown Melisa , Inwood Jamie , Radović Jagoš , Snowdon Ryan , Larter Steve , Mercader Julio
Published: November 2021

This work introduces a novel analytical chemistry method potentially applicable to the study of archaeological starch residues. The investigation involved the laboratory synthesis of model Maillard reaction mixtures and their analysis through Fourier-Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FTICR-MS). Thus, starch from sixteen plant species were matured while reacting it with the amino acid glycine. The FTICR-MS analysis revealed > 5,300 molecular compounds, with numerous unique heteroatom rich compound classes, ranging from 20 (Zea mays) to 50 (Sorghum bicolor). These classes were investigated as repositories of chemical structure retaining source and process-specific character, linked back to botanical provenance. We discussed the Maillard reaction products thus generated, a possible pathway for the preservation of degraded starch, while also assessing diagenetic recalcitrance and adsorption potential to mineral surfaces. In some cases, hydrothermal experimentation on starches without glycine reveals that the chemical complexity of the starch itself is sufficient to produce some Maillard reaction products. The article concludes that FTICR-MS offers a new analytical window to characterize starchy residue and its diagenetic products, and is able to recognize taxonomic signals with the potential to persist in fossil contexts.
The clinical course of hospitalized moderately ill COVID-19 patients is mirrored by routine hematologic tests and influenced by renal transplantation
Authors: Peçanha-Pietrobom Paula M. , Leite Giuseppe Gianini Figueirêdo , Hunter James , Ferreira Paulo R. Abrão , Burattini Marcelo N. , Bellei Nancy , Ota-Arakaki Jaquelina Sonoe , Salomao Reinaldo
Published: November 2021

Several studies of patients with COVID-19 have evaluated biological markers for predicting outcomes, most of them retrospectively and with a wide scope of clinical severity. We followed a prospective cohort of patients admitted in hospital wards with moderate COVID-19 disease, including those with a history of kidney transplantation, and examined the ability of changes in routine hematologic laboratory parameters to predict and mirror the patients’ clinical course regarding the severity of their condition (classified as critical vs. non-critical) and in-hospital mortality or hospital discharge. Among the 68 patients, 20 (29%) were kidney transplanted patients (KT), and they had much higher mortality than non-kidney transplanted patients in this cohort (40% X 8.3%). Lymphocytes, neutrophils and neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio (NLR) at admission and platelets as well as the red blood cells parameters hemoglobin, hematocrit, and RDW by the time of hospital discharge or death clearly differentiated patients progressing to critical disease and those with clinical recovery. Patients with deteriorating clinical courses presented elevated and similar NLRs during the first week of hospitalization. However, they were dramatically different at hospital discharge, with a decrease in the survivors (NLR around 5.5) and sustained elevation in non-survivors (NLR around 21). Platelets also could distinguish survivors from non-survivors among the critical patients. In conclusion, routine hematologic tests are useful to monitor the clinical course of COVID-19 patients admitted with moderate disease. Unexpectedly, changes in hematologic tests, including lymphopenia, were not predictive of complicated outcomes among KT recipients.