bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of Autophagy Facilitates XY03-EA-Mediated Neuroprotection against the Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rats
Authors: Cui Wenwen , Hao Yuanyuan , Wang Mingye , Zhang Qiuyan , Wang Junmei , Wei Gang , Hou Yunlong
Published: March 2022

Objective. L-3-n-Butylphthalide (NBP) is used to treat moderate and severe acute ischemia stroke. A previous screening study indicates that XY03-EA, a novel derivative of NBP, is more potent than NBP in the oxyradical scavenging capacity. In this study, in vivo and in vitro ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) models were used to test whether the XY03-EA offered therapeutic benefits in the ischemic stroke and explore the underlying mechanism of action. Methods. For this purpose, behavioral scores, cerebral infarct volume, cerebral blood flow, oxidative stress levels, inflammatory factor expression, energy metabolism levels, and autophagy activation were estimated in the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) model. The nonhuman primate MCAO/R model was conducted to validate the therapeutic effect of XY03-EA applied for 3 weeks. The neurological deficit score (NDS) progression rate and the infarct volume were continuously recorded on days 3, 7, 14, and 21. The PC-12 cell OGD/R model was used to assess the cell survival rate, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, the expression of autophagy execution molecules, and the activation of autophagy-related signaling pathways. Results. XY03-EA decreased the cerebral injuries and NDS by increasing cerebral blood flow, improving brain energy metabolism, accelerating ROS clearance, suppressing inflammatory responses, and inhibiting autophagy in the MCAO/R model rats. In the nonhuman primate MCAO/R model, the treatment of XY03-EA for 3 weeks could significantly inhibit the NDS progression rate and indicate a positive trend to reduce the infarct volume in a dose-dependent way. Mechanistically, XY03-EA inhibited ROS-dependent autophagy activation and thereby protected the PC-12 cells from the autophagic cell death induced by OGD/R. Conclusions. In this study, we found that XY03-EA alleviated the cerebral I/R injuries in rats and nonhuman primates. Our results demonstrated that XY03-EA exerted neuroprotective effects against the ROS-mediated autophagic neurocyte death and had great potential for the treatment of ischemic stroke.
A Network Pharmacology‐Based Study on Vital Pharmacological Pathways and Targets of Eucommiae Cortex Acting on Osteoporosis
Authors: Zhou Libo , Wu Tao
Published: March 2022

Background. Eucommiae Cortex is a Chinese herbal medicine with bone protective effects and treats osteoporosis. This study aimed to explore the pharmacological mechanisms of this complex mixture. Methods. The active compounds and disease targets involved in the study were obtained from publicly available websites and databases. Core target genes were identified by protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network and topology analysis and mapped to critical components by a “component‐target” regulatory network. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Pathway analysis and Gene Ontology (GO)analysis were performed to analyze the biological processes of target genes. Moreover, we carried out molecular docking, cell experiments, and quantitative real‐time PCR to propel the research forward. Results. Eucommiae Cortex contained 28 active ingredients and 85 potential targets for antiosteoporosis. PPI networks and topology analysis screened 17 core target genes. The therapeutic mechanism involves a series of biological reactions, including host‐virus response, chemical stress, oxidative stress, and cell cycle control. The KEGG enrichment illustrated that the MAPK signaling pathway might play a significant role. The final experiment detected ten genes (EGF, AKT1, JUN, MAPK8, MAPK1, CASP3, FOS, VEGFA, EGFR, and MYC) and three compounds (quercetin, kaempferol, and beta‐ carotene) in the MAPK pathway. Firstly, the CCK‐8 and ALP activity test results showed that three compounds could enhance the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast‐like MC3T3‐E1 cells. Secondly, molecular docking confirmed the favorable binding potential. Subsequently, we observed that adding 1∗10−6 mol/L quercetin, 1∗10−5  mol/L kaempferol, and 1∗10−5  mol/L beta‐carotene activated the ERK/JNK cascades and the heterodimer complex AP‐1(Fos/Jun) in the MAPK pathway. Conclusion. MAPK pathway might provide an essential mechanism for the antiosteoporosis effect of Eucommiae Cortex. Eucommiae Cortex and its active ingredients have the potential to treat osteoporosis.
Quality Care Alleviates Behavioral Cognitive Impairment and Reduces Complications in Elderly Patients with Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases
Authors: Li Xiaomei , Wang Fangning , Li Rongfen , Tian Hongyan
Published: March 2022

Objective. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CCVD) remains the most common factor of death around the world. Nursing care plays a key role in the recovery of patients with CCVD. This study was to explore the application of quality care in aged patients with CCVD. Methods. Totally, 74 aged CCVD patients admitted from June 2018 to June 2019 in Dongying People’s Hospital were randomly assigned in 2 groups with the same treatment. The control group was treated with routine care intervention, and the observation group was treated with quality care intervention for 12 weeks. Meanwhile, the frequency of agitation behaviors and cognitive ability were assessed, and complication was counted. Results. The observation group showed decreased Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CAMI) scores from 47.31 ± 8.27 to 38.73 ± 6.94, raised Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores from 15.01 ± 3.9 to 19.34 ± 3.15 and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores from 16.92 ± 5.48 to 20.37 ± 4.16, and reduced complications after quality care intervention. Conclusion. Quality care intervention exerted a better application effect on aged CCVD patients, along with reduction of agitation, improvement of mental condition and behavioral cognitive function, and reduced complications.
Effects of Warm Acupuncture Combined with Meloxicam and Comprehensive Nursing on Pain Improvement and Joint Function in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Sun Zhengwen , Qu Xiaoli , Wang Tianmei , Liu Feng , Li Xue
Published: March 2022

Objective. To observe the effect of warm acupuncture combined with meloxicam and comprehensive nursing on pain improvement and joint function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Method. Eighty-one patients with KOA were randomly divided into control group (CG), traditional Chinese medicine group (TCMG), and combined group (JG). The CG was treated with meloxicam. The TCMG received warm acupuncture treatment. The JG was treated with meloxicam combined with warm acupuncture. Three groups were given comprehensive nursing intervention, and the course of treatment was 4 weeks. Knee function was assessed by knee pain, activity, stability, walking ability, and ability to walk up and down stairs. Improvement time of clinical symptoms of patients was assessed from knee pain, swelling, and movement limitation. Pain mediators (prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), substance P (SP), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Oxidative stress indicators (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA)) of the enrolled patients were detected by water-soluble tetrazolium-1 (WST-1) and the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method. The clinical efficacy was assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS) score. Results. After treatment, the pain scores of the three groups decreased, and the scores of mobility, stability, walking ability, and the ability to walk up and down stairs increased. Compared with the CG and the TCMG, the JG had a greater range of changes in pain, mobility, stability, walking ability, and ability to walk up and down stairs after treatment. After 7 d, 14 d, and 28 d treatment, PGE2, SP, DA, 5-HT, and MDA in the three groups were decreased compared with before treatment, and the decrease in the JG was more obvious than that in the CG and the TCMG. SOD levels in the three groups were increased, and the increase in the JG was more obvious than that in the CG and the TCMG. The total effective rate of the JG (96.30%) was significantly different from that of the CG (77.78%) and the TCMG (81.48%). The improvement time of knee pain, swelling, and movement limitation in the JG was shorter than that in the CG and the TCMG, and the difference in the improvement time of movement limitation in the TCMG was statistically significant. Conclusion. Warm acupuncture combined with meloxicam and comprehensive nursing can effectively improve knee swelling and pain in patients with KOA, and the mechanism may be related to reducing the content of inflammatory mediators.
Knowledge-Based Discovery of the Role and Mechanism of Resveratrol in Improving Glomerular Tether Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis in Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Chi Yangfeng , Liu Shuang , Wu Xinye , Zhu Bingbing , Wang Hao , Liang Yongping , Wang Yunman
Published: March 2022

To investigate the effects and mechanisms of resveratrol on glucolipid metabolism in diabetic humans. In this paper, we introduced the knowledge discovery theory into the data processing of the factors related to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes for the first time, and identified valid, potentially useful, and understandable pathogenesis patterns from a large amount of measured data. A data mining C4.5 algorithm was used to classify 17072 validated cross-sectional health survey data from the whole population according to the characteristics of type ρ diabetes data. A human model of diabetes mellitus was prepared by high sugar and high fat diet plus low dose streptozotocin (STZ, 35 mg/kg) and randomly grouped into four groups: the normal control group, the model group, the resveratrol group, and the pioglitazone group. 8 animals in each group were treated with the corresponding drugs for 8 weeks. Hepatic steatosis and damage were significantly reduced compared with the model group as observed by HE staining. Resveratrol has obvious effects on regulating glucolipid metabolism, and its mechanism of action is associated with its ability to increase the antioxidant activity of the body, activate the Akt signaling pathway, and improve liver pathological damage.
Research on Some Key Technologies of Health Management Cloud Model for Obese Children Based on Social Ecology Theory
Authors: Zhang Li-fang , Zhou Liang
Published: March 2022

This research is aimed at building a new health service model for childhood obesity based on data processing by cloud computing, to effectively utilize existing resources to provide fair, accessible, systematic, and continuous health services for children with obesity. Through the questionnaire, expert interview, and building cloud platform, this research involves cloud computing technology, pushing notification about exercises and nutrition prescriptions, smart wearable devices, exercise monitoring and feedback, Internet technology, social-ecological platform, as well as technology for social-ecological intervention in childhood obesity, realized through deep integration of big data and health file storage. Furthermore, with qualitative research on the demand for social-ecological intervention in childhood obesity-related health service, this research redefines the roles of different players, establishes a cloud service platform, and comes up with an innovative service model. Against the background of the development of modern information technology, this research proposes to change the management mode for sports intervention; apply modern information technology such as big data, cloud technology, and electronic medical testing equipment; integrate resources from family, community, and school; optimize management service process; and explore a practical, efficient, and integrated health management system for obese children, to provide continuous, active, and full-range health management services for obese children, which is an effective way to improve the compliance and effect of exercise intervention for obese children and materialize a lasting mechanism of health management for obese children.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Machine Learning Models and Gene Expression Signatures for Prostate Cancer Prognosis Using Large Population Cohorts
Authors: Li Ruidong , Zhu Jianguo , Zhong Wei-De , Jia Zhenyu
Published: March 2022

Overtreatment remains a pervasive problem in prostate cancer management due to the highly variable and often indolent course of disease. Molecular signatures derived from gene expression profiling have played critical roles in guiding prostate cancer treatment decisions. Many gene expression signatures have been developed to improve the risk stratification of prostate cancer and some of them have already been applied to clinical practice. However, no comprehensive evaluation has been performed to compare the performance of these signatures. In this study, we conducted a systematic and unbiased evaluation of 15 machine learning (ML) algorithms and 30 published prostate cancer gene expression–based prognostic signatures leveraging 10 transcriptomics datasets with 1,558 primary patients with prostate cancer from public data repositories. This analysis revealed that survival analysis models outperformed binary classification models for risk assessment, and the performance of the survival analysis methods—Cox model regularized with ridge penalty (Cox-Ridge) and partial least squares (PLS) regression for Cox model (Cox-PLS)—were generally more robust than the other methods. Based on the Cox-Ridge algorithm, several top prognostic signatures displayed comparable or even better performance than commercial panels. These findings will facilitate the identification of existing prognostic signatures that are promising for further validation in prospective studies and promote the development of robust prognostic models to guide clinical decision-making. Moreover, this study provides a valuable data resource from large primary prostate cancer cohorts, which can be used to develop, validate, and evaluate novel statistical methodologies and molecular signatures to improve prostate cancer management.

Significance:

This systematic evaluation of 15 machine learning algorithms and 30 published gene expression signatures for the prognosis of prostate cancer will assist clinical decision-making.
Predicting the Future: Machine-Based Learning for MRD Prognostication
Authors: Pawlyn Charlotte , Davies Faith E.
Published: March 2022

The prognostic significance of minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in multiple myeloma is well established. Understanding factors that predict for MRD negativity, such as tumor burden, cytogenetic, and immune-related biomarkers, may enable us to improve outcome prediction at diagnosis, and in the future move toward tailored treatment approaches.

See related article by Guerrero et al., p. 2598
Reconstructing Complex Cancer Evolutionary Histories from Multiple Bulk DNA Samples Using Pairtree
Authors: Wintersinger Jeff A. , Dobson Stephanie M. , Kulman Ethan , Stein Lincoln D. , Dick John E. , Morris Quaid
Published: March 2022

Cancers are composed of genetically distinct subpopulations of malignant cells. DNA-sequencing data can be used to determine the somatic point mutations specific to each population and build clone trees describing the evolutionary relationships between them. These clone trees can reveal critical points in disease development and inform treatment. Pairtree is a new method that constructs more accurate and detailed clone trees than previously possible using variant allele frequency data from one or more bulk cancer samples. It does so by first building a Pairs Tensor that captures the evolutionary relationships between pairs of subpopulations, and then it uses these relations to constrain clone trees and infer violations of the infinite sites assumption. Pairtree can accurately build clone trees using up to 100 samples per cancer that contain 30 or more subclonal populations. On 14 B-progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemias, Pairtree replicates or improves upon expert-derived clone tree reconstructions.

Significance:

Clone trees illustrate the evolutionary history of a cancer and can provide insights into how the disease changed through time (e.g., between diagnosis and relapse). Pairtree uses DNA-sequencing data from many samples of the same cancer to build more detailed and accurate clone trees than previously possible.

See related commentary by Miller, p. 176.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 171.
Outcome Prediction and Inter-Rater Comparison of Four Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scoring Systems of Infants with Perinatal Asphyxia and Therapeutic Hypothermia
Authors: Langeslag Juliette F. , Groenendaal Floris , Roosendaal Stefan D. , de Vries Linda S. , Onland Wes , Leeflang Mariska M.G. , Groot Paul F.C. , van Kaam Anton H. , de Haan Timo R. ,   on behalf of the PharmaCool Study Group
Published: March 2022

Introduction: The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) result is a major predictor for the outcome of term infants with perinatal asphyxia who underwent therapeutic hypothermia. In daily practice, no uniform method is used to assess these images. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine which MRI-score best predicts adverse outcome at 24 months of age and has the highest inter-rater reliability. Methods: Four MRI scoring systems for term infants with perinatal asphyxia were selected: Rutherford score, Trivedi score, Weeke score, and NICHD NRN score. Experienced blinded raters retrospectively evaluated the brain MR Images of 161 infants using all four scoring systems. Long-term outcome (the composite outcome death or adverse outcome, and its separate components) were routinely assessed by standardized testing at the age of 24 months. The predictive accuracy was assessed by logistic regression analyses and expressed as area under the ROC curve (AUC). The inter-rater reliability of the scores was calculated by the weighted Kappa or intraclass correlation. A sensitivity analysis using only high-quality MRI scans was performed. Results: All four MRI scoring systems demonstrated an AUC of >0.66 for the prediction of adverse outcome and ≥0.80 for the prediction of death. The inter-rater reliability analyses demonstrated the highest reliability for the Weeke and Trivedi scores. When only assessing the high-quality scans, the AUC increased further. Conclusion: All four MRI brain scores proved reliable predictors for an adverse outcome at 24 months of age. The Weeke and Trivedi score demonstrated the highest inter-rater reliability. The use of high-quality MRI further improved prediction.
Adrenal Insufficiency Secondary to Abrupt Dose Reduction of Topical Corticosteroid Therapy after Starting Brodalumab for Psoriasis: A Case Report
Authors: Yamane Mariko , Hayashi Hiroaki , Aoyama Yumi
Published: March 2022

The risk of treating psoriasis with biologic drugs in patients treated with topical corticosteroids over prolonged periods requires careful attention to their underlying adrenal insufficiency because the development of adrenal insufficiency symptoms frequently occurs after cessation of the topical corticosteroids: the dose and duration of topical corticosteroid therapy and etretinate use correlate with risk. In this case report, we present a 65-year-old man with psoriatic erythroderma who developed arthralgia, joint pain, muscle pain, fatigue, and headache after starting brodalumab and a reduction of topical potent corticosteroid doses in the treatment of psoriasis. Because his plasma cortisol levels were decreased and the levels and various signs recovered by administration of physiological doses of hydrocortisone replacement, we concluded that these clinical signs observed after starting brodalumab could be clinical manifestations of adrenal insufficiency secondary to an abrupt reduction in the amount of a topical corticosteroid, but not adverse effects of brodalumab. We found another 2 cases with psoriatic erythroderma who developed secondary to adrenal insufficiency after starting biologic drugs and a reduction of topical corticosteroid doses in the literature. Notably, the side effects of brodalumab include arthralgia, headache, and fatigue, and suspicion of side effects may include the clinical manifestations of adrenal insufficiency. Clinicians have to predict adrenal insufficiency secondary to an abrupt reduction of topical corticosteroids after remarkable improvement of psoriasis by biologics. The routine monitoring of plasma cortisol levels is necessary for all erythrodermic psoriasis patients treated with topical corticosteroids over prolonged periods before starting biologics.
Outcomes of Patients Undergoing PCI of Ostial Coronary Lesions: A Single-Center Study
Authors: Zornitzki Lior , Hochstadt Aviram , Loewenstein Itamar , Erez Johnathan , Wenkert Atalia , Moshkovits Yonatan , Toledano Ella , Chorin Ehud , Ben-Shoshan Jeremy , Halkin Amir , Bazan Samuel , Arbel Yaron , Finkelstein Ariel , Banai Shmuel , Konigstein Maayan
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Ostial coronary lesions are a subset of proximal coronary lesions, which are relatively more difficult to treat and were associated with worse clinical outcomes in the early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) era. Data regarding the outcomes of ostial lesions’ PCI in the contemporary era are lacking. Methods: We conducted a single-center, all-comer, prospective registry study, enrolling patients undergoing PCI with the use of contemporary drug-eluting stents (DES) between July 2016 and February 2018. Included in the present analysis were only patients treated for proximal lesions. Clinical outcomes were compared between patients undergoing PCI of ostial versus proximal nonostial lesions. The primary endpoint was target vessel revascularization (TVR). Secondary endpoints included target lesion revascularization (TLR) and major cardiovascular adverse events (MACE) at 12 months. Results: A total of 334 (84.7% male, 67.3 ± 10.7 years) patients were included, of which 91 patients were treated for ostial lesions and 243 were treated for proximal nonostial lesions. Baseline and procedural characteristics were similar between the two groups. At 12 months, TVR and TLR were numerically higher among patients undergoing PCI of ostial versus nonostial lesions without reaching statistical significance (5.5% vs. 3.3%; p = 0.35 and 4.4% vs. 2.5%; p = 0.47, respectively). The rate of MACE was similar between the two groups. Conclusion: In patients undergoing PCI with the use of contemporary DES, clinical outcomes were similar among patients treated for ostial compared to proximal nonostial lesions. Larger studies are required to further evaluate the performance of contemporary DES in this subset of lesions.
Focal Epilepsy in Individuals with Laron Syndrome
Authors: Goldberg Lotem , Laron Zvi , Kornreich Liora , Scheuerman Oded , Goldberg-Stern Hadassa , Kraus Dror
Published: March 2022

Objective: The aim of the study was to describe focal epilepsy in patients with Laron syndrome (LS). Methods: Data were retrieved from medical records of a single-center cohort of 75 patients with LS. Results: We describe for the first time 4 patients with concomitant focal epilepsy and LS. Two of them experienced episodes of status epilepticus. Electroencephalogram examination in all 4 patients showed interictal epileptiform discharges in the temporal regions. Three achieved long-term seizure freedom on antiseizure medications. Conclusion: Patients with LS may be at risk of developing focal epilepsy, which seems to be unrelated to hypoglycemic episodes in childhood.
Influencing Factors for Choosing Korean Medicine Treatments after Spinal Surgery or Spinal Surgery Recommendation in Patients with Spinal Pain: A Semi-Structured Interview Study
Authors: Kim Doori , Choi Yujin , Yang Changsop , Lee Yoon Jae , Han Chang-Hyun , Ha Inhyuk
Published: March 2022

Introduction: This study is a qualitative study based on 1:1 semi-structured interviews designed to explore the treatment selection process and factors that influence the treatment decisions of patients with spinal pain undergoing surgery or Korean medicine treatment. Methods: Patients admitted to a Korean hospital for treatment after either undergoing or receiving a recommendation for spinal surgery, aged 19–74 years, able to communicate in Korean, and who provided informed consent were invited to participate in the study. Of the 15 participants selected, 9 underwent spinal surgery, while 6 had spinal surgery recommended but did not choose to have it. Results: Three main themes emerged from the interviews: positive factors for Korean medicine; positive factors for surgery; difficulties in decision-making. Recommendations by and cases of people around them had the greatest influence on patients who chose Korean medicine treatment (their own situation). Patients who chose surgery tended to be influenced by their physicians, whose opinions had the greatest influence on their choice. Conclusions: Treatment decisions are influenced by: recommendation by or cases of personal acquaintances; fear of surgery; trust in physician; physician’s competence; experience of pain; lack of information; patient’s situation. The factors that influence the choice of Korean medicine treatment and surgery clearly differ. The findings would be useful for clinicians and patients who must decide between various treatments modality recommendations.
Effect of Gamma Ray Radiation 60Co Generation M1 on Growth and Production of Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum frutescens L) Prentul Kediri Variety
Authors: Tias Agnes Septiya Nuraning , Moeljani Ida Retno , Guniarti Guniarti
Published: March 2022

Prentul cayenne pepper is a local chili in Kediri which is widely cultivated by local farmers, the continuity of chili needs to be maintained by increasing productivity. This can be overcome by improving local varieties through plant breeding activities. This study aims to determine the effect of radiation and obtain the optimal dose on the growth and production of cayenne pepper plants in the M1 generation. This research was carried out with the single plant method and using the T test, with a radiation dose of 100 Gy to 1000 Gy, and without a radiation dose or 0 Gy. Observation parameters included plant growth percentage, plant height, number of leaves, leaf width, flowering age and fruit weight. The results showed that the LD50 value of chili (Capsicum anuum L) was 572,917 Gy. The irradiation dose of 100 Gy gave the best effect on the growth and production of chili plants which had a plant height of 83.85 cm, a number of 35 leaves, a faster flowering age of 63 DAP and a fruit weight of 10.26. Gamma radiation affects plant growth. Different results were shown in the phenotypic appearance of leaf shape and fruit size. Meanwhile, at a dose of 300 Gy, it gave an effect that caused the plants to become stunted and have a longer harvest age, with the highest diversity value based on the standard deviation value of 23.93.
In Silico Design and Validation of CRISPR-Cas13a System as a Potential Antiviral for SARS-CoV-2 in Indonesia
Authors: Iryanto Alfero Putra , Christy Christy , Ewaldo Muhammad Farrel , Prasetyoputri Anggia , Ningrum Ratih Asmana , Putranto Riza Arief , Atikana Akhirta
Published: March 2022

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Indonesia is one of the countries with large numbers of positive cases in Asia with certain dominant variants. Currently, there are no specific therapeutic agents against SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, the development of specific and effective therapeutic tools is urgently needed to overcome the pandemic. This study designed a CRISPR-Cas13a system strategy as a potential anti-SARS-CoV-2. We utilized comprehensive bioinformatics methods to identify a unique segment in the SARS-CoV-2 consensus sequence from Indonesia that is different from the related segment in the SARS-CoV. This unique segment was used as a specific target for SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein to design a set of crRNA libraries. Off-target analysis and molecular docking simulation were performed to validate the specificity and to analyze interactions among the crRNA candidates, target RNA, and Cas13a. Our study identified a 17 amino acid unique segment on the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) region. By using that unique segment, a total of 12 crRNA candidates were selected based on their GC content. Finally, based on the off-target and molecular docking validation, four crRNAs were selected as potential candidates for CRISPR-Cas13a-based antivirals. Although further validation with in vitro assays is important, the present study provides a comprehensive demonstration regarding the potential of CRISPR-Cas13a as a strategy for SARS-CoV-2 antiviral development. Considering the specific property of the CRISPR system, the present methodology can also be utilized to develop novel antiviral candidates for other RNA viruses.
Indonesian Economic Recovery after COVID-19 Pandemic: Qur'anic Paradigm in Community Economic Development
Authors: Zenrif M. Fauzan , Mustofa M. Lutfi
Published: March 2022

My academic concern is that so far, some studies tend to look at economic recovery, during the COVID-19 period, focusing on planning, economic and social, economic and health, economic and political, economic and distribution, economic and monetary transmission. No researcher focused on the problems: how is the performance of the individual approach used by the government in solving economic problems? What constraints are experienced in problem-solving? and how is the community approach of the Quran as a solution to the economic recovery model? By using participatory action qualitative research and content analysis of the Quranic text, the result shows that community-based, using the qur’anic paradigm, can be a monetary recovery system based on religious, social spirit. This, at the same time, confirms the significance of the community-based development approach, combined with the values of the Qur'an, in solving community economic problems, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of the study term the pattern of economic recovery with the community approach have advantages, compared to the individual approach used by the government. The study also finds that the community's policy in economic recovery opens up more opportunities for the financial independence of the community. By using the community Passing-Loos Management System (CP-LMS), the concept of the Qur'an charity values, as the basis of the religious majority of Indonesian society, the community-based approach can be the foundation of Pancasila's economic development. Thus, the results of this study indicate that the pattern of integration, between the values of the Qur'an and the Pancasila economic system, as the SDGs authorized, can present an independent community economic system.
Özel Bir Sağlık İşletmesinin Finansal Performansının Trend Analizi ile Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: ÇİL KOÇYİĞİT Seyhan , BIYIK Erhan , ERTAŞ Şermin
Published: March 2022

Günümüzde işletmelerinin varlıklarını sürdürebilmeleri, değer yaratabilmeleri ve rekabet yeteneklerini geliştirmeleri açısından finansal analiz oldukça önemlidir. Bundan dolayı bu çalışma ile Ankara’da faaliyet gösteren özel bir sağlık işletmesine ait finansal tabloların trend analizi sonuçlarına göre finansal yapısının değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu kapsamda 2010-2020 yılları arasındaki 11 yıllık finansal durum tabloları ve kapsamlı gelir tabloları kullanılmıştır. Verilerin enflasyon düzeltmesi yapıldıktan sonra 2010 yılı baz alınarak trend analizi yapılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre sağlık işletmesinin ticari alacakları yıllar itibariyle artış eğilimde iken, nakit ve benzeri değerler ise azalmıştır. İşletmenin alacak tahsilinde sorun yaşadığı tespit edilmiştir. İşletmede alacakların tahsilat süresinin azaltılarak tahsilat gücünün artırılması, likit yapısının güçlendirilmesi ve stok politikasının yeniden gözden geçirmesi önerilmektedir.
Türk Sinemasında Kullanılan İlk Sinema Makineleri ve İlk Projeksiyonistler (1896-1908)
Authors: ZENGİN Ferhat
Published: March 2022

Türk sinema tarihi araştırmalarında öncelikle olarak ilk gösterim mekanlarına ve gösterilen filmlere odaklanılmış; sinemanın başat teknolojisi olan film makinelerine ve onları kullanan kişilere gerçek anlamda yoğunlaşılamamıştır. Halbuki bu eksiklik Osmanlı Devleti’nde bilim ve teknoloji alanındaki gelişmelerin takibi adına oldukça önemlidir. Bu eksiklikten hareketle bu çalışmada, Türk sinemasında kullanılan ilk sinema aygıtları ve onları kullanan film projeksiyonistleri (film makinistleri) araştırılmıştır. Dolayısıyla çalışmanın amacı, büyük bir buluş olarak dönemin bilim ve teknolojisini yansıtan sinema aygıtlarının Türkiye’de kullanılan ilk modellerini ve sahiplik yapılarını kronolojik olarak belirlemek ve bu cihazları kimin kullandığını tespit etmektir. 1896-1908 tarihleri olarak sınırlandırılan çalışmada literatür taraması ve doküman analizi yapılmıştır. Elde edilen veriler ışığında Türk sinema tarihinin ilk döneminde kullanılan film makineleri ve bunları kullanan ilk film projeksiyonistleri tespit edilmiş ve kronolojik olarak sıralanmıştır.
LGBT People’s Experiences of Stigmatization: A Phenomenologic Study
Authors: GÜLEÇ Serap , ORAK Oya Sevcan , GÜLIRMAK Kübra , TUNÇ Ercan , GÜMÜŞ Kübra , EMİRZA Elif , CENGİZHAN Yiğit Tolga
Published: March 2022

This study is an in-depth analysis of LGBT people’s experiences of stigmatization, phenomenological qualitative study. LGBT people were contacted using snowball sampling. Data from 33 participants were collected in face-to-face in-depth interviews using the phenomenological interview technique and semi-structured questionnaires. Content analysis of the participants’ experiences of stigmatization identified three themes and four subthemes: 'being LGBT; otherness', 'pretending: lifein the closet', 'self stigmatization':'Feeling like a problem that needs to be solved'. LGBT people experience intense stigmatization, are subjected to violence and beeing perceived sick, perver or dangerious. LGBT people experience self-stigma. LGBT people are pretended not to be other and live secret life. This study determined that the participants who suffered from family and society were subjected to stigmatizationor they internalized this stigma and they peretended and live secret life.
Türkiye ve AB Ülkelerinde Sosyal Koruma Yardımlarının Yoksulluk Üzerine Etkisi: Bir Panel Veri Analizi
Authors: AKBULUT Eyüp , ALTUNDEMİR Mehmet Emin , GÜVEN Murat
Published: March 2022

Çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye ve AB ülkelerinin sosyal koruma yardımlarının yoksulluk üzerindeki etkisini panel veri analizi kullanarak incelemektir. Bu bağlamda, 2007 ve 2018 yılları arası 27 AB ülkesi ve Türkiye’ye ait sosyal koruma yardımları olan aile, sağlık, emeklilik ve işsizlik yardımlarının bu ülkelerdeki medyan %50 ve %70 yoksulluk oranlarına göre etkisi Driscoll-Kraay tahmincisi kullanılarak analiz edilmektedir. Analiz sonucunda, sosyal koruma yardımlarından aile ve sağlık yardımlarının yoksulluk oranı medyan %50 ve %70 üzerinde negatif ve istatistiksel olarak anlamlı etkisi bulunmaktadır. Bununla birlikte, emeklilik (yaşlılık, dul/yetim ve engelli) yardımlarının yoksulluk oranı medyan %50 ve %70 üzerinde pozitif ve istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir etkisinin olduğunu göstermektedir. Son olarak, işsizlik yardımlarının yoksulluk oranı medyan %50 üzerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir etkisi olmazken, medyan %70 üzerinde yoksulluğu artırıcı etkisi bulunmaktadır.
The Impact of Credit Debtness on Life Satisfaction: An Analysis on Turkey
Authors: ÇIĞŞAR Begüm , ÜNAL Deniz , BOĞA Semra
Published: March 2022

This study aims to determine the factors affecting life satisfaction in Turkey. The life satisfaction scale of Diener et al. (1985) was used (N=557) in the study. In addition to traditional determinants of life satisfaction such as income, gender, marital status, age, education level, credit debt variable was included in the survey questions. The results of the analysis showed that working status, higher education level, high income level, and the possibility of making savings increase life satisfaction. On the other hand, no significant difference was found among the respondents in terms of life satisfaction by gender, marital status, child ownership, age, and the region of residence. Ordinal logistic regression analysis applied to individuals with credit debt also revealed the credit indebtedness as an important determinant of life satisfaction in Turkey.
Religious Identity and Imperial Security: Arming Catholic Slaves in Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century Portuguese India
Authors: Hassell Stephanie
Published: March 2022

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, enslaved Africans and Asians bolstered the population of Portuguese imperial settlements in India. Purchased for a variety of occupations, their presence partially solved the problem of “peopling the empire” in a context of imperial insecurity. Valued for their capacity to fight in times of crisis, the Portuguese armed their slaves repeatedly. This tendency to arm their slaves has often appeared in the secondary literature. However, the religious dimension of arming slaves has not been explored. In the colonial imagination, conversion to Islam threatened slaves’ military loyalty. Fleeing the empire to Muslim-ruled states, slaves who became renegades represented the fears of Portuguese colonial society – fears of being overtaken by the surrounding states. Imperial anxieties about religion and security shaped inquisitorial responses to slaves’ conversions to Islam and crept into the discourse of ecclesiastical council records advocating for the baptism and Christian instruction of slaves.
The genus Asianthrips, an Oriental fungus-feeding phlaeothripine (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae)
Authors: OKAJIMA SHUJI , MASUMOTO MASAMI
Published: March 2022

The previously monobasic phlaeothripine genus Asianthrips is rediagnosed and revised with the following 17 new species: A. balianus sp. n., A. bamboosielloides sp. n., A. bicolor sp. n., A. borneoensis sp. n., A. dasycornis sp. n., A. dentipes sp. n., A. longior sp. n., A. magnus sp. n., A. malayanus sp. n., A. nobilis sp. n., A. pallens sp. n., A. parvinotus sp. n., A. setifer sp. n., A. sufflavus sp. n., A. sulawesiensis sp. n., A. taiwanus sp. n., A. vietnamensis sp. n. These species, all presumed to be fungus-feeding, are from seven different countries in Southeast Asia. An illustrated key is provided to 18 species in the genus.
Study of the Neotropical genus Bennarella Muir, 1930 with description of six new species (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae)
Authors: VIEGAS EDUARDA FERNANDA GOMES , ALE-ROCHA ROSALY
Published: March 2022

Six new species of Bennarella Muir, 1930 viz. B. guidai sp. nov., B. henriquesi sp. nov., B. maculipennis sp. nov., B. rafaeli sp. nov., B. vittata sp. nov. and B. xavieri sp. nov., are described and illustrated. An updated description of B. bicoloripennis Muir and B. fusca Muir, together with illustrations, pictures, and new data of records, are provided. Additionally, an identification key to males and females of the species is provided.
Antennal sense cone variation in Teuchothrips species of New Caledonia, with one new generic combination (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae)
Authors: MOUND LAURENCE A. , GOLDARAZENA ARTURO
Published: March 2022

Four species of Teuchothrips are recognised as endemic to New Caledonia and distinct from the many species of this genus in Australia. Three of these species are shown to have a variable number of sense cones on antennal segment IV, in contrast to most recorded species in the Liothrips-lineage. One endemic species is removed from Teuchothrips and considered here as Neocecidothrips pacificus (Bianchi) comb.n. together with illustrations and diagnostic notes. A key is provided for the four Teuchothrips species known from New Caledonia.
Hall Current’s Impact on Ionized Ethylene Glycol Containing Metal Nanoparticles Flowing Through Vertical Permeable Channel
Authors: Das S. , Banu A. S. , Jana R. N. , Makinde O. D.
Published: March 2022

From engineering and industrial perspectives, the transportation of non-Newtonian nanofluids in a magnetic environment has become an emergent research area. Motivated by its incessant boosting applications in advanced industries and technologies, a mathematical model is proposed to
address the consequences of Hall currents on an unsteady magnetohydrodynamic flow of a partially ionized ethylene glycol (EG) transporting silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) through a vertical permeable channel subject to a strong transverse magnetic field, Darcy’s resistance, and thermal
radiation. Ethylene glycol (EG) is considered as the base fluid. A uniform suction or injection is imposed at the channel walls. The thermal radiation effect is embraced in the energy equation. Closed-form solutions of the leading dimensionless equations are determined. The impacts of emerging
parameters upon the flow profiles are examined and physically argued via profile graphs. The wall shear stresses and the rate of heat transfer are computed numerically, and numerical data on varying thermo-physical parameters are documented in tables. After a detailed analysis, it is documented
that an augmentation in Hall parameter gives rise to the profiles of velocity components and shear stresses. Enlarging Casson parameter and Darcy number both urge the magnitude of the velocity components. A graphical comparison is provided for EG and Ag-EG nanofluid. The relatively lowest
temperature is noted for Ag-EG nanofluid in comparison with EG. The current model may be featured in industrial processes, food processing, intelligent lubrication technology, high-energy cooling systems, auto cooling machines, etc. This study is very prolific to the analysts to understand
the dynamics and heat transfer characteristics of non-Newtonian nanofluids through a straight channel subject to a strong magnetic field.
Significance of Axisymmetric Flow of Casson Darcy Unsteady Slip Flow in a Suspension of Nanoparticles with Contracting Walls
Authors: Ramanuja M. , Raju B. T. , Nagaradhika V. , Madhusudhana Rao B. , Durgaprasad P. , Raju C. S. K.
Published: March 2022

Current research inspects the influences of heat and mass transfer features of a Casson nanofluid flow over a growing or contracting porous medium with distinct permeability and thermal radiation. The free convection of ethylene-glycol and water as SWCNT Casson nanofluid and base fluid and it is impacted by a magnetic force field in two-dimensional flow. We have employed the governing equations of momentum, thermal radiation; boundary layers are lessened into a series of PDEs. And then, they are transformed to a series of non-linear ODEs by using similarity transformation technique. Numerical solutions of these are obtained with the help of shooting method together with the approach of fourth order R-K method. The decent correspondence between the investigative and numerical solutions is observed. Including to this, we contemplate and examine the impact of associated parameters like the coefficient of skin friction, Darcy number, Radiation parameter and Nusselt number on the velocity and temperature profiles. The outcomes demonstrated that ethylene-glycol and water as SWCNT Casson nanofluid and base fluid has the least local Nusselt number, minimum velocity and towering temperature. Moreover, our outcomes are tabulated and presented graphically. Illustrations made excellent agreement with the physical notions like the coefficient of skin friction and the Nusselt number. These outcomes are too analysed completely with existing results. We observed that, hard carbon nanoparticles guide to a greater velocity close to the as compared with the base fluid water ethylene glycol for the case of collective injection in addition to wall contraction. The Brownian motion increases the temperature profile while compare to profiles in the contraction case.
Effect on Entropy Generation Analysis for Heat Transfer Nanofluid Near a Rotating Disk Using Quasilinearization Method
Authors: Magodora Mangwiro , Mondal Hiranmoy , Motsa Sandile , Sibanda Precious
Published: March 2022

The study considers gold-water nanofluid flow past a porous rotating disk while accounting for prescribed heat flux and suction at the boundary layer of the disk. The physical parameters of the nanoparticle volume fraction, magnetic parameter and entropy generation are investigated
and presented in this paper. The numerically solved nonlinear equations by the spectral quasilinearization technique. The main findings are presented in graphical form and discussed for variations of the flow parameters. The findings indicate that increased nanoparticle volume concentration
fall in velocity but a overshoot in temperature, while enhancing the magnetic parameter is associated with reduced velocity distribution and increased skin friction. Among other findings, the results also show that increasing the Brinkman number leads to increased entropy generation but reduced
Bejan number, while the Reynolds number increasing in the generation of elevated levels of entropy production. The reliability, error analysis and accuracy are checked through convergence of the method. The accuracy is further tested through a comparison of results for limiting cases with
those in the literature. The findings of this study have significant applications in engineering, science and technology.
An analysis of foreign residents’ perceptions and behaviors regarding digital government portal services in the Republic of South Korea
Authors: Aftab Muhammad , Myeong Seunghwan
Published: March 2022

Governments have made significant investments to deliver information and services to governmental institutions, citizens, and businesses through e-services. The re-adoption of such governmental services has been focused on in various studies. However, this study focuses on the post-adoption of digital government services and information system quality. Therefore, evaluating the digital government portal services from the user's perspective is important. This study proposes an expanded conceptual framework that includes confirmation of expectation and perceived functional benefits as mediating variables based on continuance literature and information systems’ performance. Online and offline surveys were conducted to get the responses of emigrants in the Republic of Korea to assess the proposed relationship among the variables. Overall, 371 samples were collected and analyzed. The regression and mediation analyses were performed using the Macro PROCESS model. The results indicate that confirmation of expectation and perceived functional benefits significantly predict the foreigners’ continuance intention as Korean digital government websites users. The study also confirms the direct and indirect impacts of digital government services quality factors on continuance intention through perceived functional benefits. However, it does not find evidence for the influence of confirmation of expectation as a mediator. The research concludes with positive implications for academicians, governmental policymakers, and the overall body of knowledge.

Points for practitioners

The results of this study indicate that government officials should concentrate on technical features and psychological characteristics to understand people's intention for e-service continuance. The relation of digital government facilities with perceived functional benefits enables lawmakers to establish responsive and quick service portal systems. Besides, the government can help users by providing 24-hour customer support, electronic assistance desks, and users’ manuals to increase the consistent use and efficiency of government systems.