bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interacting active surfaces: A model for three-dimensional cell aggregates
Authors: Torres-Sánchez Alejandro , Kerr Winter Max , Salbreux Guillaume
Published: December 2022

We introduce a modelling and simulation framework for cell aggregates in three dimensions based on interacting active surfaces. Cell mechanics is captured by a physical description of the acto-myosin cortex that includes cortical flows, viscous forces, active tensions, and bending moments. Cells interact with each other via short-range forces capturing the effect of adhesion molecules. We discretise the model equations using a finite element method, and provide a parallel implementation in C++. We discuss examples of application of this framework to small and medium-sized aggregates: we consider the shape and dynamics of a cell doublet, a planar cell sheet, and a growing cell aggregate. This framework opens the door to the systematic exploration of the cell to tissue-scale mechanics of cell aggregates, which plays a key role in the morphogenesis of embryos and organoids.
Availability, affordability and access to essential medications for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in three low- and middle-income country settings
Authors: Siddharthan Trishul , Robertson Nicole M. , Rykiel Natalie A. , Underhill Lindsay J. , Rahman Nihaal , Kafle Sujan , Mohan Sakshi , Padalkar Roma , McKeown Sarah , Flores-Flores Oscar , Quaderi Shumonta A. , Alupo Patricia , Kalyesubula Robert , Kirenga Bruce , Luo Jing , Cárdenas Maria Kathia , Gianella Gonzalo , Miranda J. Jaime , Checkley William , Hurst John R. , Pollard Suzanne L.
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Despite the rising burden of chronic respiratory disease globally, and although many respiratory medications are included in the World Health Organization Essential Medications List (WHO-EML), there is limited information concerning the availability and affordability of treatment drugs for respiratory conditions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods

All public and private pharmacies in catchment areas of the Global Excellence in COPD outcomes (GECo) study sites in Bhaktapur, Nepal, Lima, Peru, and Nakaseke, Uganda, were approached in 2017–2019 to assess pricing and availability of medications for the management of asthma and COPD.

Results

We surveyed all 63 pharmacies in respective study areas in Nepal (95.2% private), 104 pharmacies in Peru (94.2% private) and 53 pharmacies in Uganda (98.1% private). The availability of any medication for respiratory disease was higher in private (93.3%) compared to public (73.3%) pharmacies. Salbutamol (WHO-EML) monotherapy in any formulation was the most commonly available respiratory medication among the three sites (93.7% Nepal, 86.5% Peru and 79.2% Uganda) while beclomethasone (WHO-EML) was only available in Peru (33.7%) and Nepal (22%). LABA-LAMA combination therapy was only available in Nepal (14.3% of pharmacies surveyed). The monthly treatment cost of respiratory medications was lowest in Nepal according to several cost metrics: the overall monthly cost, the median price ratio comparing medication costs to international reference prices at time of survey in dollars, and in terms of days’ wages of the lowest-paid government worker. For the treatment of intermittent asthma, defined as 100 mcg Salbutamol/Albuterol inhaler, days’ wages ranged from 0.47 days in Nepal and Peru to 3.33 days in Uganda.

Conclusion

The availability and pricing of respiratory medications varied across LMIC settings, with medications for acute care of respiratory diseases being more widely available than those for long-term management.
Detecting Leishmania in dogs: A hierarchical-modeling approach to investigate the performance of parasitological and qPCR-based diagnostic procedures
Authors: Vital Tamires , Teixeira Ana Izabel Passarella , Silva Débora Marcolino , de Carvalho Bruna Caroline , Dallago Bruno , Hagström Luciana , Hecht Mariana Machado , Nitz Nadjar , Abad-Franch Fernando
Published: December 2022

Background

Domestic dogs are primary reservoir hosts of Leishmania infantum, the agent of visceral leishmaniasis. Detecting dog infections is central to epidemiological inference, disease prevention, and veterinary practice. Error-free diagnostic procedures, however, are lacking, and the performance of those available is difficult to measure in the absence of fail-safe “reference standards”. Here, we illustrate how a hierarchical-modeling approach can be used to formally account for false-negative and false-positive results when investigating the process of Leishmania detection in dogs.

Methods/Findings

We studied 294 field-sampled dogs of unknown infection status from a Leishmania-endemic region. We ran 350 parasitological tests (bone-marrow microscopy and culture) and 1,016 qPCR assays (blood, bone-marrow, and eye-swab samples with amplifiable DNA). Using replicate test results and site-occupancy models, we estimated (a) clinical sensitivity for each diagnostic procedure and (b) clinical specificity for qPCRs; parasitological tests were assumed 100% specific. Initial modeling revealed qPCR specificity < 94%; we tracked the source of this unexpected result to some qPCR plates having subtle signs of possible contamination. Using multi-model inference, we formally accounted for suspected plate contamination and estimated qPCR sensitivity at 49–53% across sample types and dog clinical conditions; qPCR specificity was high (95–96%), but fell to 81–82% for assays run in plates with suspected contamination. The sensitivity of parasitological procedures was low (~12–13%), but increased to ~33% (with substantial uncertainty) for bone-marrow culture in seriously-diseased dogs. Leishmania-infection frequency estimates (~49–50% across clinical conditions) were lower than observed (~60%).

Conclusions

We provide statistical estimates of key performance parameters for five diagnostic procedures used to detect Leishmania in dogs. Low clinical sensitivies likely reflect the absence of Leishmania parasites/DNA in perhaps ~50–70% of samples drawn from infected dogs. Although qPCR performance was similar across sample types, non-invasive eye-swabs were overall less likely to contain amplifiable DNA. Finally, modeling was instrumental to discovering (and formally accounting for) possible qPCR-plate contamination; even with stringent negative/blank-control scoring, ~4–5% of positive qPCRs were most likely false-positives. This work shows, in sum, how hierarchical site-occupancy models can sharpen our understanding of the problem of diagnosing host infections with hard-to-detect pathogens including Leishmania.
Population structure and genetic connectivity of the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) across nursery grounds from the Eastern Tropical Pacific: Implications for management and conservation
Authors: Elizondo-Sancho Mariana , Rodríguez-Arriatti Yehudi , Albertazzi Federico J. , Bonilla-Salazar Adrián , Arauz-Naranjo Daniel , Arauz Randall , Areano Elisa , Avalos-Castillo Cristopher G. , Brenes Óscar , Chávez Elpis J. , Dominici-Arosemena Arturo , Espinoza Mario , Heidemeyer Maike , Tavares Rafael , Hernández Sebastián
Published: December 2022

Defining demographically independent units and understanding patterns of gene flow between them is essential for managing and conserving exploited populations. The critically endangered scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini, is a coastal semi-oceanic species found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters. Pregnant females give birth in shallow coastal estuarine habitats that serve as nursery grounds for neonates and small juveniles, whereas adults move offshore and become highly migratory. We evaluated the population structure and connectivity of S. lewini in coastal areas and one oceanic island (Cocos Island) across the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) using both sequences of the mitochondrial DNA control region (mtCR) and 9 nuclear-encoded microsatellite loci. The mtCR defined two genetically discrete groups: one in the Mexican Pacific and another one in the central-southern Eastern Tropical Pacific (Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia). Overall, the mtCR data showed low levels of haplotype diversity ranging from 0.000 to 0.608, while nucleotide diversity ranged from 0.000 to 0.0015. More fine-grade population structure was detected using microsatellite loci where Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama differed significantly. Relatedness analysis revealed that individuals within nursery areas were more closely related than expected by chance, suggesting that S. lewini may exhibit reproductive philopatric behaviour within the ETP. Findings of at least two different management units, and evidence of philopatric behaviour call for intensive conservation actions for this highly threatened species in the ETP.
Mapping of UK Biobank clinical codes: Challenges and possible solutions
Authors: Stroganov Oleg , Fedarovich Alena , Wong Emily , Skovpen Yulia , Pakhomova Elena , Grishagin Ivan , Fedarovich Dzmitry , Khasanova Tania , Merberg David , Szalma Sándor , Bryant Julie
Published: December 2022

Objective

The UK Biobank provides a rich collection of longitudinal clinical data coming from different healthcare providers and sources in England, Wales, and Scotland. Although extremely valuable and available to a wide research community, the heterogeneous dataset contains inconsistent medical terminology that is either aligned to several ontologies within the same category or unprocessed. To make these data useful to a research community, data cleaning, curation, and standardization are needed. Significant efforts to perform data reformatting, mapping to any selected ontologies (such as SNOMED-CT) and harmonization are required from any data user to integrate UK Biobank hospital inpatient and self-reported data, data from various registers with primary care (GP) data. The integrated clinical data would provide a more comprehensive picture of one’s medical history.

Materials and methods

We evaluated several approaches to map GP clinical Read codes to International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) terminologies. The results were compared, mapping inconsistencies were flagged, a quality category was assigned to each mapping to evaluate overall mapping quality.

Results

We propose a curation and data integration pipeline for harmonizing diagnosis. We also report challenges identified in mapping Read codes from UK Biobank GP tables to ICD and SNOMED CT.

Discussion and conclusion

Some of the challenges–the lack of precise one-to-one mapping between ontologies or the need for additional ontology to fully map terms–are general reflecting trade-offs to be made at different steps. Other challenges are due to automatic mapping and can be overcome by leveraging existing mappings, supplemented with automated and manual curation.
The public health response to an outbreak of border-spill malaria along China-Myanmar border
Authors: Lin Zu-Rui , Yin Shan-Shan , Yang Jie , Guo Xiang-Rui , Dong Chao-Liang , Lin Ying-Kun , Ding Chun-Li , Sun Xiao-Dong , Yan Run-Xian , Yang Suo-Lan , Zhou Xian-Hua , Xu Jian-Wei
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Malaria importation can be caused by cross-border movement either of both people and anopheline mosquitoes. However, there still lacks robust evidence of imported malaria caused by Plasmodium spp. infected anopheles along international border areas (border-spill malaria). The objectives of this study were to confirm whether an outbreak of Plasmodium vivax malaria is border-spill malaria and assess the effects of China’s public health response along China-Myanmar border.

Methods

Epidemiological, parasitological and entomological investigations were conducted to investigate the outbreak of border-spill malaria. Meanwhile, comprehensive interventions were carried out to prevent further transmission and reintroduction of malaria.

Results

Rapid diagnostic testing, microscopy and polymerase chain reaction were performed and the infections were confirmed as P. vivax. A total of 22 (9.21%) of 239 workers contracted P. vivax during the outbreak. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that the distance of worker shelters in China within 300 meters to the internally displaced person (IDP) camps in Myanmar was a risk factors associated with malaria infection (adjusted odds ratio 7.5920; 95% confidence interval, 2.6079–22.1013; P = 0.0002). After comprehensive interventions, malaria transmission was successfully interpreted and prevented at the project site till the completion of project on 14 January 2020, and recurrence of P. vivax malaria was not detected by the end of 2020.

Conclusion

This study provided robust evidence of border-spill malaria along China-Myanmar border. Malaria parasite reservoir and distance travelled by female anopheline mosquitoes are two determinants for border-spill malaria. The public health response to the outbreak indicates that the malaria surveillance and response system works well in preventing reintroduction of malaria. However, prevention of border-spill malaria is still a major challenge in the Yunnan border area, China.
The relationship of potential biomarkers with psychological resilience and post-traumatic growth in female patients with breast cancer
Authors: Gundogmus Ayse Gokcen , Sezer Katar Kubra , Orsel Sibel , Ozturk Gulfer , Yilmaz Kerim Bora
Published: December 2022

While investigating psychosocial factors on resilience and post-traumatic growth draws attention, research on biological correlates is limited. We investigated the relationship between post-traumatic growth, resilience, post-traumatic stress, and potential biomarkers in female patients with breast cancer (n = 71) from the general surgery or oncology clinics. They completed the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Connor Davidson Psychological Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), PTSD Checklist for DSM-V, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Blood samples were collected for NPY, ALLO, DHEA-S, testosterone, cortisol, and hsCRP levels. The relationship between biochemical parameters and the scales was investigated in the whole patient group and in the subgroup of patients who perceived breast cancer as traumatic. When all the patients were evaluated, hsCRP and depression scores were significantly and positively correlated; and hsCRP, BRS score, and PTGI change in self-perception subscale score were significantly and negatively correlated. There was a significant positive correlation between the ALLO level and the psychological resilience (CD-RISC) score in the patient group who perceived breast cancer as traumatic. It was observed that psychological resilience and PTG were positively correlated, and that multiple biomarkers were associated with psychological resilience in female breast cancer patients. Especially findings regarding ALLO levels and psychological resilience could be a new target for future research.
Anti-GRP-R monoclonal antibody antitumor therapy against neuroblastoma
Authors: Qiao Jingbo , Liu Junquan , Jacobson Jillian C. , Clark Rachael A. , Lee Sora , Liu Li , An Zhiqiang , Zhang Ningyan , Chung Dai H.
Published: December 2022

Standard treatment for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma remains multimodal therapy including chemoradiation, surgical resection, and autologous stem cell rescue. Immunotherapy has demonstrated success in treating many types of cancers; however, its use in pediatric solid tumors has been limited by low tumor mutation burdens. Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R) is overexpressed in numerous malignancies, including poorly-differentiated neuroblastoma. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to GRP-R have yet to be developed but could serve as a potential novel immunotherapy. This preclinical study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a novel GRP-R mAb immunotherapy against neuroblastoma. We established four candidate anti-GRP-R mAbs by screening a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) library. GRP-R mAb-1 demonstrated the highest efficacy with the lowest EC50 at 4.607 ng/ml against GRP-R expressing neuroblastoma cells, blocked the GRP-ligand activation of GRP-R and its downstream PI3K/AKT signaling. This resulted in functional inhibition of cell proliferation and anchorage-independent growth, indicating that mAb-1 has an antagonist inhibitory role on GRP-R. To examine the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of GRP-R mAb-1 on neuroblastoma, we co-cultured neuroblastoma cells with natural killer (NK) cells versus GRP-R mAb-1 treatment alone. GRP-R mAb-1 mediated ADCC effects on neuroblastoma cells and induced release of IFNγ by NK cells under co-culture conditions in vitro. The cytotoxic effects of mAb-1 were confirmed with the secretion of cytotoxic granzyme B from NK cells and the reduction of mitotic tumor cells in vivo using a murine tumor xenograft model. In summary, GRP-R mAb-1 demonstrated efficacious anti-tumor effects on neuroblastoma cells in preclinical models. Importantly, GRP-R mAb-1 may be an efficacious, novel immunotherapy in the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma patients.
Effect of a hybrid team-based advanced cardiopulmonary life support simulation program for clinical nurses
Authors: Jeong Hye Won , Ju Deok , Lee Ae Kyong , Lee Jung A , Kang Na Ru , Choi Eun Jeong , Ahn Shin Hye , Moon Sun-Hee
Published: December 2022

Background: During in-hospital cardiac arrest events, clinical nurses are often the first responders; therefore, nurses require sufficient advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) competency. This study aimed to verify the effects of a hybrid team-based ACLS simulation (HTAS) program (developed in this study) on nurses’ ACLS performance, specifically ACLS knowledge, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) self-efficacy, and CPR-related stress. Methods: The developed HTAS comprised four lecture videos, one team-based skills training video, and a team-based ACLS simulation. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a comparison group (CG) was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the HTAS. Of the 226 general ward nurses with more than 6 months of clinical experience, 117 were allocated to the intervention group (IG), which attended the HTAS, and 109 to the CG, which attended only basic ACLS training. Results: The IG’s ACLS performance significantly improved (t = 50.8, p < 0.001) after the training. Relative to the respective pretest conditions, posttest ACLS knowledge (t = 6.92, p < 0.001) and CPR self-efficacy (t = 6.97, p < 0.001) of the IG also significantly increased. However, when the mean difference values were compared, there was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to ACLS knowledge (t = 1.52, p = 0.130), CPR self-efficacy (t = -0.42, p = 0.673), and CPR stress (t = -0.88, p = 0.378). Conclusion: The HTAS for ward nurses was effective at enhancing the nurses’ ACLS performance. It is necessary to develop effective training methods for team-based ACLS and verify the sustained effects of such training.
Does off-farm employment contribute to chemical fertilizer reduction? New evidence from the main rice-producing area in Jilin Province, China
Authors: Lang Yu , Wang Guixia , Attipoe Sonny Gad , Han Dongxu
Published: December 2022

Frequent transfer of rural labor to cities in developing countries significantly impacts agricultural production. However, whether off-farm employment can promote chemical fertilizer (CF) reduction is still controversial. This study incorporates business scale (BS) and fragmentation degree of arable land (FDAL) into the theoretical analysis framework, shedding light on regulating effects of arable land resource endowment in the process of off-farm employment which influences CF application under different BS and FDAL scenarios. It also empirically tests the theoretical framework by employing the survey data of 318 rice farmers in Jilin Province. The results indicate that: (1) off-farm employment, in general, promotes the adoption behavior of machinery by farmers, and mechanical tillage can significantly reduce the intensity of CF application. (2) If farmers have large BS and non-dispersed farmland parcels, contiguous cultivation will meet the scale threshold for mechanical farming and obtain economies of scale to reduce the intensity of CF application. (3) If farmers have small BS and dispersed farmland parcels, the scale threshold of mechanical farming cannot be met. In order to stabilize agricultural production, farmers will increase the intensity of CF application. According to the empirical results, we put forward some suggestions.
Interventions and outcomes of COVID-19 patients in a community hospital–A single center study comparing the first and second waves
Authors: Alebna Pamela Lamisi , Chung Jessica , Rashid Muhammad , Hoban Davina , LaForgia Mabel , Khera Surendra , Loftus Michael
Published: December 2022

Background

We have had 3 coronavirus-related pandemics in the last two decades. Each has brought significant toll and with each case there was no cure. Even as vaccines have been developed for the current strain of the virus thereby increasing the prospects of bringing transmissions in communities to a minimum, lessons from this pandemic should be explored in preparation for future pandemics. Other studies have looked at differences in characteristics of patients and mortality rates between the first two waves. In our study we not only identify the differences in outcomes but also explore differences in hospital specific interventions that were implemented at Jersey City Medical Center, NJ, a community-based hospital.

Aim

The aim of this study is to assess the differences between the first two waves of the COVID -19 pandemic in terms of management and outcomes to help identify any key lessons in the handling of future pandemics. We compared the population demographics, interventions and outcomes used during the first two waves of COVID-19 in a community-based hospital.

Methods

This is a retrospective single-center cross-sectional study including Laboratory confirmed COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen supplementation admitted at Jersey City Medical Center during the first wave (April 1 to June 30, 2020) and the second wave between (October 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021). The Chi-squared test was used to assess the relationship between categorical variables and the T- test for continuous variables. A Logistic regression model was built comparing the second to the first wave while accounting for important covariates.

Results

There was a combined total of 473 patients from both waves. Patients in the first wave were older (66.17 years vs 60.38 years, p <0.01), had more comorbidities (2.75 vs 2.29, p 0.003), had more severe disease (50% vs 38.78% p of 0.002), had a longer length of stay (14.18 days vs 8.77 days, p <0.001) and were more likely to be intubated (32.49% vs 21.9 4%, p 0.01). In the univariate model, the odds of mortality in the second wave compared to the first wave was 0.63 (CI, 0.41–0.96) and 1.73 (CI, 0.65–4.66) in the fully adjusted model.

Conclusion

Overall, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality between the two waves. Interventions that were noted to be significantly different between the two waves were, increased likelihood of mechanical intubation in the first wave and increased use of steroids in the second wave compared to the first.
Medical cost of acute diarrhea in children in ambulatory care
Authors: Sánchez Xavier , Leal Gerardine , Padilla Angel , Jimbo Ruth
Published: December 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to estimate the direct medical cost per episode and the annual cost for acute diarrhea (AD) in children under five years of age in Ambulatory Care Centers of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) of Ecuador.

Methods

A cost of illness study with a provider perspective was carried out through a micro-costing of health resources and valuated in international dollars. Medical consultations and laboratory tests were valued using the tariff framework of services for the National Health System and for the prescribed medications, a reported cost registry of pharmacy purchases made in the year of study was used.

Results

A total of 332 electronic health records of children under five years of age were included in the analysis. Laboratory tests were performed on 37.95% (126/332), medications were prescribed to 93.67% (311/332) of the children, and antimicrobials were prescribed to 37.35% (124/332) of the children, representing an antibiotic prescription rate of 26.51% (88/332) and an antiparasitic prescription rate of 10.84% (36/332). The mean cost of the MOPH per child per episode of AD was US$45.24 (2019 dollars) (95% CI:43.71 to 46.76).

Conclusion

The total estimated cost of AD in children under five years of age for the MOPH in 2019 was about US$6,645,167.88 million (2019 dollars) (95% CI: 6,420,430.77 to 6,868,436.12). A high proportion of the direct medical cost of AD in children under five years of age in outpatient settings is due to unnecessary laboratory tests.
Classification of bacterial plasmid and chromosome derived sequences using machine learning
Authors: Zou Xiaohui , Nguyen Marcus , Overbeek Jamie , Cao Bin , Davis James J.
Published: December 2022

Plasmids are important genetic elements that facilitate horizonal gene transfer between bacteria and contribute to the spread of virulence and antimicrobial resistance. Most bacterial genome sequences in the public archives exist in draft form with many contigs, making it difficult to determine if a contig is of chromosomal or plasmid origin. Using a training set of contigs comprising 10,584 chromosomes and 10,654 plasmids from the PATRIC database, we evaluated several machine learning models including random forest, logistic regression, XGBoost, and a neural network for their ability to classify chromosomal and plasmid sequences using nucleotide k-mers as features. Based on the methods tested, a neural network model that used nucleotide 6-mers as features that was trained on randomly selected chromosomal and plasmid subsequences 5kb in length achieved the best performance, outperforming existing out-of-the-box methods, with an average accuracy of 89.38% ± 2.16% over a 10-fold cross validation. The model accuracy can be improved to 92.08% by using a voting strategy when classifying holdout sequences. In both plasmids and chromosomes, subsequences encoding functions involved in horizontal gene transfer—including hypothetical proteins, transporters, phage, mobile elements, and CRISPR elements—were most likely to be misclassified by the model. This study provides a straightforward approach for identifying plasmid-encoding sequences in short read assemblies without the need for sequence alignment-based tools.
RC-4BC cells express nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors
Authors: Zhubanova Gulsamal , Filchakova Olena
Published: December 2022

Acetylcholine is one of the most important endogenous neurotransmitters in a range of organisms spanning different animal phyla. Within pituitary gland it acts as autocrine and paracrine signal. In a current study we assessed expression profile of the different subunits of nicotinic as well as muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in RC-4BC cells, which are derived from rat pituitary gland tumor. Our findings indicate that β2, δ, and M2 subunits are expressed by the cells with the lowest Ct values compared to other tested subunits. The detected Ct values were 26.6±0.16, 27.95±0.5, and 28.8±0.25 for β2, δ, and M2 subunits, respectively.
Moringa isothiocyanate-1 inhibits LPS-induced inflammation in mouse myoblasts and skeletal muscle
Authors: Sailaja Badi Sri , Hassan Sohaib , Cohen Evan , Tmenova Irina , Farias-Pereira Renalison , Verzi Michael P. , Raskin Ilya
Published: December 2022

This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of moringa isothiocyanate-1 (MIC-1) extracted from seeds of Moringa oleifera Lam. in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation models. MIC-1 decreased nitric oxide production and reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory markers (TNF-α, Ifn-α, IL-1β, IL-6) in C2C12 myoblasts. The daily oral treatment of MIC-1 (80 mg/kg) for three days significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory markers in gastrocnemius muscle tissue of LPS-treated C57BL/6 male mice. Transcriptomic analysis provided further insights into the inhibitory effects of MIC-1 on the LPS-induced inflammation, which suggested that MIC-1 affects inflammation and immunity-related genes in myoblasts and skeletal muscle tissue. MIC-1 inhibited the nuclear accumulation of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) in the LPS-treated myoblasts. Our data support the hypothesis that the MIC-1’s effects in the muscle cells are mediated through the inhibition of the NF-κB translocation in the nucleus, which, in turn, results in immunomodulating and anti-inflammatory responses at the gene expression levels.
The rpoS gene confers resistance to low osmolarity conditions in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi
Authors: Gibbons Eamon , Tamanna Mehbooba , Cherayil Bobby J.
Published: December 2022

Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium and Typhi are enteropathogens that differ in host range and the diseases that they cause. We found that exposure to a combination of hypotonicity and the detergent Triton X-100 significantly reduced the viability of the S. Typhi strain Ty2 but had no effect on the S. Typhimurium strain SL1344. Further analysis revealed that hypotonicity was the critical factor: incubation in distilled water alone was sufficient to kill Ty2, while the addition of sodium chloride inhibited killing in a dose-dependent manner. Ty2’s loss of viability in water was modified by culture conditions: bacteria grown in well-aerated shaking cultures were more susceptible than bacteria grown under less aerated static conditions. Ty2, like many S. Typhi clinical isolates, has an inactivating mutation in the rpoS gene, a transcriptional regulator of stress responses, whereas most S. Typhimurium strains, including SL1344, have the wild-type gene. Transformation of Ty2 with a plasmid expressing wild-type rpoS, but not the empty vector, significantly increased survival in distilled water. Moreover, an S. Typhi strain with wild-type rpoS had unimpaired survival in water. Inactivation of the wild-type gene in this strain significantly reduced survival, while replacement with an arabinose-inducible allele of rpoS restored viability in water under inducing conditions. Our observations on rpoS-dependent differences in susceptibility to hypotonic conditions may be relevant to the ability of S. Typhi and S. Typhimurium to tolerate the various environments they encounter during the infectious cycle. They also have implications for the handling of these organisms during experimental manipulations.
Intsektuak, etorkizuneko elikadura?
Authors: Santamarina-García Gorka , Amores Gustavo , Virto Mailo
Published: December 2022

2050. urterako 2.000 milioi biztanleko demografia-hazkuntza aurreikusten da. Elikagaien gaur egungo ekoizpenaren ingurumen-inpaktuek eta lortu behar diren elikagaien kantitateen igoerek alternatiba berrien beharrak areagotzen dituzte. 2018. urtean intsektuak elikagai berri gisa onartu dira Europan eta, nahiz eta gutxi ikerturiko baliabidea izan, etorkizuneko elikaduraren giltza izan daitekeela iradoki da. Horrenbestez, lan honen helburu nagusia izango da elikagai gisa onartu diren intsektu motak identifikatzea, aztertzea eta kaltegabetasun eta nutrizio alderdiei buruz hausnartzea eta sakontzea. Intsektuak nutrienteen iturri interesgarria dira, kalitate altuko proteinetan eta gantz-azido poliasegabeetan aberatsak direlako. Gainera, mineralen (esaterako, burdina, magnesioa edo zinka) eta bitaminen (A edo B taldekoak, adibidez) beharrak asetzeko iturri erakargarria dira. Era berean, aipatzekoak dira gaixotasunak ekiditeari eta osasuna sustatzeari begira, intsektuen peptido bioaktibo antioxidatzaileengatik, antihipertentsiboengatik edo antimikrobianoengatik. Teknologikoki, elikagaien industriarako ezaugarri funtzional interesgarriak dituzten konposatuak dituzte; esaterako, proteina gelifikatzaileak. Hala ere, elikagaien kaltegabetasunak kontrol handia eskatzen du kontsumitzailearen osasuna babesteko, intsektuetan aurkitzen direlako, era berean, arrisku biologikoak (mikroorganismo patogenoak, toxinak edo espora termoerresistenteak, adibidez) eta kimikoak (metal astunak, antinutrienteak, plagizidak edo dioxinak, esaterako). Nolanahi ere, funtsezkoa da ikerketan sakontzea, ikertu gabeko espezieen aniztasunagatik, bai eta nutrizioaren eta kaltegabetasunaren arloko datuen urritasunagatik.
A ESTABILIZAÇÃO DA TUTELA PROVISÓRIA DE URGÊNCIA ANTECIPADA CONCEDIDA EM CARÁTER ANTECEDENTE: A (IM)POSSIBILIDADE DE IMPEDIMENTO POR INTERMÉDIO DA CONTESTAÇÃO
Authors: Schappo Natália , Gonçalves Jéssica
Published: December 2022

O vigente Código de Processo Civil, pautado na jurisdição do référé implementou no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro o instituto da estabilização da tutela provisória de urgência antecipada concedida em caráter antecedente, buscando dar celeridade às demandas judiciais.Trata-se de um procedimento autônomo em que a parte, antes da propositura da ação principal e diante de uma situação de urgência, pleiteia tão somente a concessão de uma tutela provisória a fim de satisfazer sua pretensão. A partir da sua concessão, uma vez não interposto o recurso de agravo de instrumento, a tutela concedida sob cognição sumária tornar-se-á estável, só podendo vir a ser novamente discutida em ação revisional a ser interposta no prazo de 2 (dois) anos a contar da extinção do procedimento autônomo. A partir disso, o problema investigado é: é possível impedir a estabilização da tutela antecipada antecedente por intermédio da contestação? Quanto ao problema, duas são as hipóteses: a) é possível, por meio de uma interpretação extensiva e sistemática da norma jurídica; e b) não é possível, mediante uma interpretação restritiva da norma jurídica. A investigação propõe, portanto, discutir as duas hipóteses de modo a responder o problema apresentado. Nessa perspectiva, utiliza-se o método de abordagem dedutivo. Como técnica de pesquisa, é realizada uma pesquisa teórica e exploratória em doutrinas, artigos científicos e jurisprudências.
Migraciones, comunidades etnificadas y consumo de alcohol
Authors: Gaspari Marco , Agrela Romero Belén
Published: December 2022

Este trabajo analiza, desde una perspectiva socioantropológica, el papel que adquieren algunos patrones de consumo de alcohol asociados a la masculinidad entre la comunidad ecuatoriana en Génova, Italia. La práctica del consumo de alcohol, en contextos homosociales de migración y asociada a actividades deportivas, está (re)significada bajo parámetros culturales instituidos como “ritualidad alcohólica de la masculinidad”. Alejándonos de un enfoque de patologización del consumo, y adentrándonos en el estudio de las “culturas del alcohol”, migración y consumo, exploramos sobre los significados del tomar ecuatorianizado en tres escenarios de identidad cultural en tanto que estrategias de territorialización.
Die Zukunft der Endlagerung: Was sind die Entwicklungen und Herausforderungen nach einer Standortentscheidung
Authors: Smeddinck Ulrich , Eckhardt Anne , Kuppler Sophie
Published: December 2022

The future is unpredictable. Under these circumstances, how can we plan and construct a nuclear waste repository that is supposed to safely store the waste for up to a million years – an endeavor that may in itself take more than a hundred years? In this introduction to the special topic on the future of nuclear waste disposal, we take a first look at this question by searching the literature for answers and by giving a short overview of the current status of site selection in different countries, including possible challenges.
TÜKETİM KÜLTÜRÜ BAĞLAMINDA SAĞLIKLI YAŞAM EĞİLİMLERİ VE ETKİLEYİCİ KİŞİLER ÜZERİNE BİR ANALİZ
Authors: AYAN İrem , UZUNÇARŞILI SOYDAŞ Ayda
Published: December 2022

ÖZ

Tüketim kültürü her geçen gün yeni boyutlara evrilen özgün bir oluşum durumundadır. Bu noktada oluşan yeni tüketiciler tüketim olgusunu daha bireysel ve gizil anlamlar içeren bir çaba olarak tanımlamaktadırlar. Değişen bu oluşum zamanla tüketim eğilimlerini de etkilemektedir. Aynı zamanda dönemsel bazda karşılaşılan tüketim eğilimlerinden de önemli ölçüde etkilenmektedir. Bu etkileşimin temelinde insanların etkileyici kişiler olarak tanımladıkları bireylerin onlara sundukları güzellik, sağlık ve kusursuzluk kalıpları bulunmaktadır. Özellikle küresel salgın dönemini yaşadığımız son günlerde sağlıklı olma durumunun tartışılmaz bir değer yarattığı gözlemlenmektedir. Çalışmanın amacı, tüketim eğilimlerinin hangi motivasyonlar doğrultusunda değişip dönüştüğünü ve bu dönüşümde medyada yer alan etkileyici kişilerin etkisinin olup olmadığının belirlenmesidir. Bu bağlamda etkileyici kişilerin sağlıklı yaşam eğilimlerine yönelik söylem ve tutumlarının bireylerde nasıl yansımalarının olduğunu eleştirel bir bakış açısıyla göstergebilimsel analiz yöntemiyle incelenmiştir. Yapılan araştırma sonucunda ortaya çıkan veriler alanyazın taraması bağlamında yorumlanmıştır
PANDEMİ SÜRECİNDE TOPLUM GÖRÜŞÜNÜN DUYGU ANALİZİ YÖNTEMİYLE İNCELENMESİ: TÜRKİYE ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: SEL Ahmet
Published: December 2022

Koronavirüs salgını nedeniyle başlayan pandemi süreci toplumun her kesimini fazlasıyla etkilemiştir. Sosyal medya platformları özellikle pandemi sürecinde insanların duygu ve düşüncelerini rahatlıkla yansıttıları mecralar olmuştur. Bu çalışmada Twitter uygulamasında “korona”, “corona”, “covid19” ve “kovid19” anahtar kelimeleri ile 2020 yılı içinde atılan mesajlar duygu analizi ve n-gram yöntemleriyle incelenmiştir. Toplamda yaklaşık 1.2 milyon mesaj ön işleme tabi tutulduktan sonra Google E-tablolar yardımıyla İngilizceye çevrilmiştir. Daha sonra Python programlama dilinde Textblob yazılımı sayesinde duygu analizi yapılmış ve her ay için pozitif ve nagatif duyguları belirten kelimelerin sıklıkları n-gram yöntemiyle incelenmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda pozitif başlıklarda; hastane, yoğun bakım, evde kalma, test, sosyal mesafe ve Dünya Sağlık Örgütü’nün öne çıktığı görülmektedir. Negatif yöndeki ifadelerde ise; ev, salgın, negatif test, kayıp edilen insanlar, sosyal mesafe, sağlık işçileri, vaka sayıları, sınav, aşı ve iş başlıkları öne çıktığı görülmüştür.
Important agricultural and cotton pests detected in the diet of two threatened insectivorous bats in a cotton agroecosystem: insights from a molecular study
Authors: Kolkert Heidi , Andrew Rose , Smith Rhiannon , Rader Romina , Reid Nick
Published: December 2022

Australian insectivorous bats are known to occupy and use resources in agroecosystems, yet little is known about their diets. We analysed a scat sample each from two individual bats, both threatened species (Chalinolobus picatus and Vespadelus baverstocki), in a major dryland cotton production zone. Both bats consumed economically important agricultural and cotton pests such as Helicoverpa sp. (bollworm). Our results suggest that these two bat species share around half of the insect prey resources available whilst consuming a wide range of prey items. This snapshot of dietary data provides further evidence that insectivorous bats consume a wide range of insect prey, including pests in cropping areas.
Bionomic study of the detritic bottoms dominated by macroalgae from the southern coast of Mallorca (Balearic Islands)
Authors: Joher Sergi , Martínez Sergi , Rodríguez-Prieto Conxi
Published: December 2022

This bionomic study of the detritic bottoms dominated by macroalgae from the south of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean) includes a quantitative description of the algal communities found in the area, as well as their bathymetric and geographical distribution. The results presented here are based on data collected in two oceanographic campaigns conducted in July 2012 and September 2014, using a Jennings beam trawl. A hierarchical group average agglomerative clustering, accompanied by the SIMPROF test, allowed the identification of seven different macroalgal communities, of which two are described here for the first time: the Cryptonemia longiarticulata fields and the Maërl beds of indeterminate rhodoliths. Depth and rhodolith abundance were the two main features driving the distribution of these communities. We found that seven species contributed 70% of the similarity between samples (SIMPER test), with the indeterminate species of rhodoliths (23.6%) and the encrusting fleshy red alga, Agissea inamoena (15.6%) being the most important. The methodology used for the sample selection and quantification processes turned out to be very efficient and faster than other methods used for the characterization of macroalgal communities from detritic bottoms, suggesting that this study could serve as a baseline for similar studies and for future management and conservation actions.
Unpacking the mysteries of puberty among school going adolescents in district of East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya
Authors: Ningombam Joenna Devi , Sundaram Shanthosh Priyan , Medhi Gajendra Kumar , Lyngdoh Markordor
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Pubertal age carries the risk of different challenges and experiences. However, lack of data on the subject made it necessary to estimate the magnitude of pubertal problems and its determinants.

Methods

A mixed methods study was conducted among the school students aged 10–17 years during May 2022 in three selected schools of Shillong. The cross-sectional quantitative component (pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire) included 418 students and eight students were selected purposively for the qualitative component (in-depth interviews).

Results

The mean age of the students was 13.5 years with 52.9% boys. At least one of the pubertal problems was present among 57.2% (95%CI: 52.3–69.2%). With regards to physical, hormonal/behavioural and mental problems, the prevalence was reported to be 34.2, 31.8 and 12.0% respectively. Premenstrual symptoms were present among 89.4% girls. Mental problems were significantly higher among the girls [PR: 1.83 (95%CI: 1.06–3.13; p=0.02)] and the hormonal problems were significantly lesser among the girls [PR: 0.41 (95%CI: 0.29–0.57; p<0.001)]. With regards to age, the mental and hormonal problems was significantly higher among the late adolescents. About 55.2% sought help for their problems of which 56.9% primarily sought help from parents. In-depth interviews yielded five themes for the problems of puberty which included individuals related (hormonal, impulse control etc.), school related (safety, relationship with teachers), family related (behavioural regulations, literacy etc.), friends/peers related (networks/relationships) and coping behaviours.

Conclusions and recommendations

Pubertal problems were reported among a considerable proportion of students which provides policy implications for addressing behavioural problems, interpersonal relationships and cordial school environment.
A comparison of summer insectivory among four sympatric mesocarnivores on Izushima, a small island in northern Japan
Authors: Nagasaki Kaoru , Nakamura Haruka , Shinohara Ayano , Abe Kaede , Minami Masato , Tsukada Hideharu
Published: December 2022

Limited resources intensify interspecific competition and constrain the survival and distribution of species. A restricted, spatially isolated, small island can also pronounce this effect, as predicted in the island biogeography. This study compared the summer diets of sympatric carnivores, red foxes, raccoon dogs, Japanese martens, and Japanese weasels on the small island Izushima and evaluated niche partitioning, especially focusing on their insectivory. The results showed that insects were the main summer food source for all four species, with a significant overlap in their diets. However, in-depth investigation on insectivory down to the level of species and genera revealed that the species differences were more pronounced. Raccoon dogs frequently fed on ground-dwelling beetles, and Japanese martens fed on several arboreal beetles, while red foxes were less dependent on insects and more biased toward larger prey such as mammals and birds, and Japanese weasels foraged more on smaller prey, thereby reflecting niche partitioning between these species owing to differences in foraging ecology under the constrains of their body sizes.
Design of experiments for the optimization of U(VI) reduction with hydrogen over Pt/SiO2
Authors: Ramakrishna Reddy Sareddy , Desigan Narasimhan , Venkatesan Konda Athmaram , Sivaraman Nagarajan , Ananthasivan Krishnamoorthy
Published: December 2022

Significant amount of uranous nitrate is required for reducing Pu(IV) into inextractable Pu(III) for partitioning of U(VI) and Pu(IV) present in the loaded organic phase in PUREX process. Experiments have been conducted for the preparation of uranous nitrate by reducing uranyl nitrate present in nitric acid solution using hydrogen over Pt/SiO2 catalyst. The effect of process variables such as U(VI) concentration, H2 pressure, nitric acid concentration, catalyst quantity, temperature, mixing speed, and hydrazine concentration (for stabilizing U(IV)) on the yield of U(IV) was studied. The process variables were optimized by a two-step statistical approach namely design of experiments. The initial screening of process variables and determination of important variables that affect the production of U(IV) was determined by definitive screening design (DSD) methodology. The DSD yielded three variables affecting the U(VI) reduction to a significant extent were U(VI) concentration, H2 pressure and mixing speed. These significant variables were further optimized using five-level full factorial central composite design (CCD) methodology for understanding the intricate interactions between the variables and the combined effect of all variables at a time influencing the U(VI) reduction. A second-order polynomial equation derived from CCD was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) for estimating the validity of the model and statistical significance of the terms involved in the polynomial. The results revealed that the model can predict the yield of U(IV) generation with 95% confidence in the proposed experimental range.
Wireless Mid-height Pore Water Pressure Sensor
Authors: Witowski Marcin
Published: December 2022

The triaxial apparatus is one of the most widespread testing devices used by geotechnical laboratories for identifying parameters characterizing soil strength and stiffness behavior. In order to do so, the triaxial apparatus has the ability to measure a number of key parameters, among which the measurement of axial force, axial strain, and pore water pressure in the soil play a key role. By default, the measurement of the latter parameter is carried out at the bottom of the sample or, in its more advanced form, at the mid-height of the sample. The second approach, however, introduces the requirement to break the continuity of the membrane surrounding the soil specimen, which can lead to water penetration from the cell into the sample. Nevertheless, this inconvenience can be avoided by using a novel sensor that measures water pressure in the soil pores wirelessly. In addition, as the membrane does not need to be perforated, sample preparation time can be reduced. This article presents the integration of the novel sensor into a triaxial apparatus and its validation in the form of a series of tests performed on several soil types to demonstrate the effectiveness and performance of the wireless water pressure sensor.