bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography-Based Quantitative Assessment of Morphologic Changes in Active Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization During Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy
Authors: Wang Yao , Hu Zhongli , Zhu Tiepei , Su Zhitao , Fang Xiaoyun , Lin Jijian , Chen Zhiqing , Su Zhaoan , Ye Panpan , Ma Jian , Zhang Li , Li Jinyu , Feng Lei , Sun Chuan-bin , Zhang Zhiyong , Shentu Xingchao
Published: May 2021

Purpose: To establish quantitative profile of the morphologic changes among patients with active myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) before and after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to assess the therapeutic response.

Methods: Patients with active mCNV who received anti-VEGF injections between February 2017 to October 2020 and fit the study criteria were retrospectively reviewed. Quantitative analysis of their OCTA images were carried out to evaluate the morphologic features and vascular changes of mCNV lesions in response to anti-VEGF therapy. For further quantitative profiling, mCNV area, fractal dimension, vessel area, vessel density, vessel diameter, vessel length, vessel junction, junction density, and vessel tortuosity were obtained by means of advanced skeletonization postprocessing analyses.

Results: Thirty-one eyes of 29 consecutive patients with OCTA-positive mCNV lesions (mean spherical equivalent: −12.55 ± 3.24 diopters) were included. The 31 cases were divided into two phenotypes at baseline: organized interlacing pattern (83.87%) and disorganized vascular loops pattern (16.13%). The values of mCNV area, fractal dimension, vessel area, vessel length, vessel junction, and junction density decreased remarkably 1 month after the initial anti-VEGF injection (p < 0.001). Although, vessel density, vessel diameter, and vessel tortuosity increased meanwhile, only vessel diameter displayed statistical significance (p = 0.027). Of note, relative ratio analysis showed that vessel junction was the most sensitive biomarker in response to anti-VEGF therapy, reflecting a mean decrease of 50.36%. Sensitivity lowered successively in biomarkers of vessel length, vessel area, junction density, mCNV area, and fractal dimension. In addition, percent change of mCNV area (r = 0.552, p = 0.002), fractal dimension (r = 0.446, p = 0.017), vessel area (r = 0.518, p = 0.005), and vessel length (r = 0.440, p = 0.019) were moderately associated with that of central retinal thickness.

Conclusions: The study showed morphological as well as quantitative changes on OCTA responding to anti-VEGF treatment in mCNV patients, among which vessel junctions might be the most predictive biomarker. OCTA-based analysis, providing intuitive images and a large spectrum of quantitative data at the same time, could promote new insights into the therapeutic response assessment in mCNV patients.
HLA Variants and Inhibitor Development in Hemophilia A: A Retrospective Case-Controlled Study Using the ATHNdataset
Authors: McGill Joseph R. , Simhadri Vijaya L. , Sauna Zuben E.
Published: May 2021

In hemophilia A (HA) patients, F8 gene-defects as genetic risk-factors for developing inhibitors to Factor VIII have been extensively studied. Here we provide estimates of inhibitor-risk associated with the patient's Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA). We used next generation sequencing for high-resolution HLA Class II typing of 997 HA patients. Using inhibitor prevalence reports from the My Life Our Future (MLOF) research repository, we calculated Odds Ratios (OR) for inhibitor development in a multivariate model considering HLA-DRB1/3/4/5, HLA-DPB1, HLA-DQB1, race, F8 pathogenic variant type, and age. Participants with 1 HLA variant (DPB1*02:02) had developed inhibitors at a higher rate while participants with 2 HLA variants (DRB1*04:07; DRB1*11:04) had developed inhibitors at a lower rate. Additionally, patients with missense variants had developed inhibitors at a lower rate and participants with large structural changes (>50 bp) had developed inhibitors at a higher rate (both compared to Intron 22 inversion). Using a cohort of participants with a distribution of HLA-DRB1 alleles comparable to that in the North American population we show that the HLA repertoire of a HA patient can be a risk-factor for inhibitor development.
Theory: Treatments for Prolonged ICU Patients May Provide New Therapeutic Avenues for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Authors: Stanculescu Dominic , Larsson Lars , Bergquist Jonas
Published: May 2021

We here provide an overview of treatment trials for prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) patients and theorize about their relevance for potential treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Specifically, these treatment trials generally target: (a) the correction of suppressed endocrine axes, notably through a “reactivation” of the pituitary gland's pulsatile secretion of tropic hormones, or (b) the interruption of the “vicious circle” between inflammation, oxidative and nitrosative stress (O&NS), and low thyroid hormone function. There are significant parallels in the treatment trials for prolonged critical illness and ME/CFS; this is consistent with the hypothesis of an overlap in the mechanisms that prevent recovery in both conditions. Early successes in the simultaneous reactivation of pulsatile pituitary secretions in ICU patients—and the resulting positive metabolic effects—could indicate an avenue for treating ME/CFS. The therapeutic effects of thyroid hormones—including in mitigating O&NS and inflammation and in stimulating the adreno-cortical axis—also merit further studies. Collaborative research projects should further investigate the lessons from treatment trials for prolonged critical illness for solving ME/CFS.
Drug Repurposing: In vitro and in vivo Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Effects of Bithionol Against Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium
Authors: She Pengfei , Wang Yangxia , Li Yingjia , Zhou Linying , Li Shijia , Zeng Xianghai , Liu Yaqian , Xu Lanlan , Wu Yong
Published: May 2021

Widespread antibiotic resistance has been reported in enterococcal pathogens that cause life-threatening infections. Enterococci species rapidly acquire resistance and the pace of new antibiotic development is slow. Drug repurposing is a promising approach in solving this problem. Bithionol (BT) is a clinically approved anthelminthic drug. In this study, we found that BT showed significant antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects against Enterococcus faecalis and vancomycin-resistant Entercococcus faecium in vitro, in a dose-dependent manner, by disrupting the integrity of the bacterial cell membranes. Moreover, BT effectively reduced the bacterial load in mouse organs when combined with conventional antibiotics in a peritonitis infection model. Thus, BT has shown potential as a therapeutic agent against E. faecalis- and vancomycin-resistant E. faecium-related infections.
Mapping OMIM Disease–Related Variations on Protein Domains Reveals an Association Among Variation Type, Pfam Models, and Disease Classes
Authors: Savojardo Castrense , Babbi Giulia , Martelli Pier Luigi , Casadio Rita
Published: May 2021

Human genome resequencing projects provide an unprecedented amount of data about single-nucleotide variations occurring in protein-coding regions and often leading to observable changes in the covalent structure of gene products. For many of these variations, links to Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) genetic diseases are available and are reported in many databases that are collecting human variation data such as Humsavar. However, the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms that are leading to diseases is, in many cases, still limited. For understanding the complex mechanisms behind disease insurgence, the identification of putative models, when considering the protein structure and chemico-physical features of the variations, can be useful in many contexts, including early diagnosis and prognosis. In this study, we investigate the occurrence and distribution of human disease–related variations in the context of Pfam domains. The aim of this study is the identification and characterization of Pfam domains that are statistically more likely to be associated with disease-related variations. The study takes into consideration 2,513 human protein sequences with 22,763 disease-related variations. We describe patterns of disease-related variation types in biunivocal relation with Pfam domains, which are likely to be possible markers for linking Pfam domains to OMIM diseases. Furthermore, we take advantage of the specific association between disease-related variation types and Pfam domains for clustering diseases according to the Human Disease Ontology, and we establish a relation among variation types, Pfam domains, and disease classes. We find that Pfam models are specific markers of patterns of variation types and that they can serve to bridge genes, diseases, and disease classes. Data are available as Supplementary Material for 1,670 Pfam models, including 22,763 disease-related variations associated to 3,257 OMIM diseases.
Molecular Mechanisms of Chemotherapy Resistance in Head and Neck Cancers
Authors: Kanno Yuzuka , Chen Chang-Yu , Lee Hsin-Lun , Chiou Jeng-Fong , Chen Yin-Ju
Published: May 2021

Chemotherapy resistance is a huge barrier for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and therefore requires close attention to understand its underlay mechanisms for effective strategies. In this review, we first summarize the molecular mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance that occur during the treatment with cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and docetaxel/paclitaxel, including DNA/RNA damage repair, drug efflux, apoptosis inhibition, and epidermal growth factor receptor/focal adhesion kinase/nuclear factor-κB activation. Next, we describe the potential approaches to combining conventional therapies with previous cancer treatments such as immunotherapy, which may improve the treatment outcomes and prolong the survival of HNC patients. Overall, by parsing the reported molecular mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance within HNC patient’s tumors, we can improve the prediction of chemotherapeutic responsiveness, and reveal new therapeutic targets for the future.
A New Oxaliplatin Resistance-Related Gene Signature With Strong Predicting Ability in Colon Cancer Identified by Comprehensive Profiling
Authors: Lin Qiu , Luo Li , Wang Hua
Published: May 2021

Numerous colon cancer cases are resistant to chemotherapy based on oxaliplatin and suffer from relapse. A number of survival- and prognosis-related biomarkers have been identified based on database mining for patients who develop drug resistance, but the single individual gene biomarker cannot attain high specificity and sensitivity in prognosis prediction. This work was conducted aiming to establish a new gene signature using oxaliplatin resistance-related genes to predict the prognosis for colon cancer. To this end, we downloaded gene expression profile data of cell lines that are resistant and not resistant to oxaliplatin from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Altogether, 495 oxaliplatin resistance-related genes were searched by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and differential expression analysis. As suggested by functional analysis, the above genes were mostly enriched into cell adhesion and immune processes. Besides, a signature was built based on four oxaliplatin resistance-related genes selected from the training set to predict the overall survival (OS) by stepwise regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox analysis. Relative to the low risk score group, the high risk score group had dismal OS (P < 0.0001). Moreover, the area under the curve (AUC) value regarding the 5-year OS was 0.72, indicating that the risk score was accurate in the prediction of OS for colon cancer patients (AUC >0.7). Additionally, multivariate Cox regression suggested that the signature constructed based on four oxaliplatin resistance-related genes predicted the prognosis for colon cancer cases [hazard ratio (HR), 2.77; 95% CI, 2.03–3.78; P < 0.001]. Finally, external test sets were utilized to further validate the stability and accuracy of oxaliplatin resistance-related gene signature for prognosis of colon cancer patients. To sum up, this study establishes a signature based on four oxaliplatin resistance-related genes for predicting the survival of colon cancer patients, which sheds more light on the mechanisms of oxaliplatin resistance and helps identify colon cancer cases with a dismal prognostic outcome.
Efficacy of Laparoscopic Hepatectomy versus Open Surgery for Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Cirrhosis: A Meta-analysis of Case-Matched Studies
Authors: Pan Yu , Xia Shunjie , Cai Jiaqin , Chen Ke , Cai Xiujun
Published: May 2021

Background

The role of laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cirrhosis remains controversial and needs to be further assessed. The present meta-analysis aimed to compare the surgical and oncological outcomes of LH with those of open hepatectomy (OH) for HCC with cirrhosis.

Methods

The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies comparing LH and OH until Mar 2021. Weighted mean differences (WMDs), odds ratios (ORs), and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated for continuous, dichotomous, and long-term variables, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analysis was performed according to different resection types: major resection and minor resection. The meta-analysis was performed using the STATA 12.0.

Results

A total of 16 case-matched studies (784 patients in the LH group and 1,191 patients in the OH group.) were included in this meta-analysis. In terms of primary outcomes, LH was associated with decreased overall complication rate (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.46 to 0.71; P <0.01), major complication rate (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.33 to 0.82; P < 0.01), postoperative mortality (OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.11 to 0.66; P  <0.01), 1-y overall survival (OS) rate (HR 0.48; 95% CI 0.31 to 0.73; P <0.01), 2-y OS (HR 0.61; 95% CI 0.45 to 0.83; P < 0.01), and 5-y OS (0.67; 95% CI 0.53 to 0.85; P < 0.01). With respect to secondary outcomes, blood loss (WMD −69.16; 95% CI −101.72 to −36.61; P < 0.01), length of hospitalization (LOH) (WMD −2.65; 95% CI −3.41 to −1.89; P < 0.01), minor complication rate (OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.53 to 0.94; P = 0.02), postoperative liver failure (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.38 to 0.95; P = 0.03), and postoperative ascites (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.28 to 0.72; P < 0.01) was lower in LH than in OH. No significant differences in operation time (P = 0.07), transfusion rate (P = 0.05), 1-, 2-, and 5-year DFS rate (1-year, P = 0.08; 2-year, P = 0.08; 5-year, P = 0.23) were noted between LH and OH. Subgroup analysis based on minor resection revealed that LH had similar favored outcomes in comparison with those in the overall pooled analysis. However, LH had a longer operation time than OH in the setting of major resection (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

LH is technically feasible and safe for selected HCC patients with cirrhosis. LH can achieve favored short-term and long-term oncological outcomes in minor liver resection. Laparoscopic major hepatectomy (LMH) seems to offer some advantages over the open approach; however concerns about surgical and oncological safety remain. More evidence on LMH is warranted before expanding its indication to patients with cirrhosis.
Prognostic Value and Related Regulatory Networks of MRPL15 in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Zeng Yangyang , Shi Yingying , Xu Lu , Zeng Yulan , Cui Xiao , Wang Yuan , Yang Ningning , Zhou Fuxiang , Zhou Yunfeng
Published: May 2021

Background

Mitochondrial ribosomal protein L15 (MRPL15), a member of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins whose abnormal expression is related to tumorigenesis. However, the prognostic value and regulatory mechanisms of MRPL15 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear.

Methods

GEPIA, ONCOMINE, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), UALCAN, Kaplan–Meier plotter, PrognoScan, LinkedOmics and GeneMANIA database were utilized to explore the expression and prognostic value of MRPL15 in NSCLC. Additionally, immune infiltration patterns were evaluated via ESTIMATE algorithm and TISIDB database. Furthermore, the expression and prognostic value of MRPL15 in lung cancer were validated via immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays.

Results

In NSCLC, multiple cohorts including GEPIA, ONCOMINE and 8 GEO series (GSE8569, GSE101929, GSE33532, GSE27262, GSE21933, GSE19804, GSE19188, GSE18842) described that MRPL15 was up-regulated. Moreover, MRPL15 was notably linked to gender, clinical stage, lymph node status and the TP53 mutation status. And patients with high MRPL15 expression showed poor overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), disease-free survival (DFS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) in NSCLC. Then, functional network analysis suggested that MRPL15 participated in metabolism-related pathways, DNA replication and cell cycle signaling via pathways involving several kinases, miRNAs and transcription factors. Additionally, it was found that MRPL15 expression was negatively related to immune infiltration, including immune scores, stromal scores and several tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Furthermore, IHC results further confirmed the high MRPL15 expression and its prognostic potential in lung cancer.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that high MRPL15 expression indicates poor prognosis in NSCLC and reveal potential regulatory networks as well as the negative relationship with immune infiltration. Thus, MRPL15 may be an attractive predictor and therapeutic strategy for NSCLC.
Serum Metabolic Profiling Identifies a Biomarker Panel for Improvement of Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Xu Huan , Chen Junyi , He Jingyi , Ji Jin , Cao Zhi , Chen Xi , Xu Yalong , He Xing , Xu Guowang , Zhou Lina , Wei Xuedong , Hou Jianquan , Wang Zhong , Yang Bo , Wang Fubo
Published: May 2021

Objectives

To identify and validate a biomarker panel by serum metabolic profiling for improvement of PCa diagnosis.

Materials and Methods

Totally, 134 individuals were included in this study. Among them, 39 PCa patients and 45 control patients (negative prostate biopsy) were involved in the discovery phase and 50 healthy controls were enrolled for validation phase of metabolomics study. LC-MS Analysis was used for the identification of the serum metabolites of patients.

Results

Logistics regression analysis shows that 5 metabolites [dMePE(18:0/18:2), PC(16:0/20:2), PS(15:0/18:2), SM(d16:0/24:1], Carnitine C14:0) were significantly changed in PCa patients compared with control patients. A metabolic panel (MET) was calculated, showing a significantly higher diagnostic performance than PSA in differentiating PCa from control patients [AUC (MET vs. PSA): 0.823 ± 0.046 vs. 0.712 ± 0.057, p<0.001]. Moreover, this panel was superior to PSA in distinguishing PCa from negative prostate biopsies when PSA levels were less than 20 ng/ml [AUC (MET vs. PSA]: 0.836 ± 0.050 vs. 0.656 ± 0.067, p<0.001]. In the validation set, the MET panel yielded an AUC of 0.823 in distinguishing PCa patients from healthy controls, showing a significant improvement of PCa detection.

Conclusions

The metabolite biomarker panel discovered in this study presents a good diagnostic performance for the detection of PCa.
Constituents, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacology of Gegen-Qinlian Decoction
Authors: Lu Jing-Ze , Ye Dan , Ma Bing-Liang
Published: May 2021

Gegen-Qinlian decoction (GQD) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula. It is composed of four TCMs, including Puerariae Lobatae Radix, Scutellariae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle. GQD is traditionally and clinically used to treat both the “external and internal symptoms” of diarrhea with fever. In this review, key words related to GQD were searched in the Web of Science, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and other databases. Literature published mainly from 2000 to 2020 was screened and summarized. The main constituents of GQD could be classified into eight groups according to their structures: flavonoid C-glycosides, flavonoid O-glucuronides, benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, free flavonoids, flavonoid O-glycosides, coumarins, triterpenoid saponins, and others. The parent constituents of GQD that enter circulation mainly include puerarin and daidzein from Puerariae Lobatae Radix, baicalin and wogonoside from Scutellariae Radix, berberine and magnoflorine from Coptidis Rhizoma, as well as glycyrrhetinic acid and glycyrrhizic acid from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle. GQD is effective against inflammatory intestinal diseases, including diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, and intestinal adverse reactions caused by chemotherapeutic agents. Moreover, GQD has significant effects on metabolic diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, GQD can be used to treat lung injury. In brief, the main constituents, the pharmacokinetic and pharmacological profiles of GQD were summarized in this review. In addition, several issues of GQD including effective constituents, interactions between the constituents, pharmacokinetics, interaction potential with drugs and pharmacological effects were discussed, and related future researches were prospected in this review.
Downregulated MicroRNA-327 Attenuates Oxidative Stress–Mediated Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury Through Regulating the FGF10/Akt/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zheng Tao , Yang Jun , Zhang Jing , Yang Chaojun , Fan Zhixing , Li Qi , Zhai Yuhong , Liu Haiyin , Yang Jian
Published: May 2021

Although miR-327 had a protective effect on cardiomyocytes as described previously, the potential mechanism still needs further exploration. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of miR-327 on oxidative stress in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI) process. Oxidative stress and cardiomyocytes injury were detected in rat model of MI/RI, hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R), and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) model of H9c2 cells. In vitro, downregulation of miR-327 inhibited both H/R- and TBHP-induced oxidative stress, and suppressed apoptosis. Meanwhile, fibroblast growth factor 10(FGF10) was enhanced by miR-327 knocked down, followed by the activation of p-PI3K and p-Akt, and the translocation of Nrf2. However, miR-327 overexpression performed with opposite effects. Consistent with the results in vitro, downregulation of miR-327 attenuated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation as well as intrinsic apoptosis, and alleviated I/R injury. In conclusion, inhibition of miR-327 improved antioxidative ability and myocardial cell survival via regulating the FGF10/Akt/Nrf2 pathway.
A Novel Static CT System: The Design of Triple Planes CT and Its Multi-Energy Simulation Results
Authors: Yao Yidi , Li Liang , Chen Zhiqiang
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we propose a novel static CT system: triple planes CT (TPCT) system. Three source-detector planes in different horizontal directions are placed in the system. Line-array carbon nanotube sources with different voltages and sandwich detectors are used. Compared to conventional cone-beam CT and common inverse-geometry CT, the TPCT enables fast scanning and six-energy imaging. 1-D U-Net is applied to correct the severe scatter caused by the special geometry. The limited-view problem is solved by the hybrid reconstruction algorithm. A Monte-Carlo simulation is performed on a thorax phantom. Both the reconstruction results and decomposition results have good image quality and show the feasibility of our proposed TPCT imaging system.
Acoustically-Stimulated Nanobubbles: Opportunities in Medical Ultrasound Imaging and Therapy
Authors: Helfield Brandon , Zou Yiran , Matsuura Naomi
Published: May 2021

Medical ultrasound is one of the most widely used imaging modalities worldwide. Microbubbles, typically ~1–8 μm in diameter, are ultrasound contrast agents confined to the vasculature due to their size. Microbubbles have broadened the scope of medical ultrasound, permitting real-time imaging of the microvasculature for blood flow assessment, molecular imaging, and even non-invasive site-specific therapy. Recently, there has been increasing interest in developing submicron, “nanoscale” agents to extend the utility of medical ultrasound. In this review, we discuss the development of lipid-encapsulated, acoustically responsive, nanobubbles (~200–800 nm in diameter), a next-generation ultrasound contrast agent. First, medical ultrasound and bubble-based contrast agents are introduced, followed by the advantages of scaling down bubble size from an acoustic and biological viewpoint. Next, we present how lipid-encapsulated nanobubbles can be developed toward meeting clinically meaningful endpoints, from agent synthesis and characterization to in vivo considerations. Finally, future opportunities of nanobubbles for advanced applications in ultrasound diagnostic and therapeutic medicine are proposed.
Easymap: A User-Friendly Software Package for Rapid Mapping-by-Sequencing of Point Mutations and Large Insertions
Authors: Lup Samuel Daniel , Wilson-Sánchez David , Andreu-Sánchez Sergio , Micol José Luis
Published: May 2021

Mapping-by-sequencing strategies combine next-generation sequencing (NGS) with classical linkage analysis, allowing rapid identification of the causal mutations of the phenotypes exhibited by mutants isolated in a genetic screen. Computer programs that analyze NGS data obtained from a mapping population of individuals derived from a mutant of interest to identify a causal mutation are available; however, the installation and usage of such programs requires bioinformatic skills, modifying or combining pieces of existing software, or purchasing licenses. To ease this process, we developed Easymap, an open-source program that simplifies the data analysis workflows from raw NGS reads to candidate mutations. Easymap can perform bulked segregant mapping of point mutations induced by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) with DNA-seq or RNA-seq datasets, as well as tagged-sequence mapping for large insertions, such as transposons or T-DNAs. The mapping analyses implemented in Easymap have been validated with experimental and simulated datasets from different plant and animal model species. Easymap was designed to be accessible to all users regardless of their bioinformatics skills by implementing a user-friendly graphical interface, a simple universal installation script, and detailed mapping reports, including informative images and complementary data for assessment of the mapping results. Easymap is available at http://genetics.edu.umh.es/resources/easymap; its Quickstart Installation Guide details the recommended procedure for installation.
Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy Reveals That Intercellular Nuclear Migration Occurs in Most Normal Tobacco Male Meiocytes
Authors: Mursalimov Sergey , Ohno Nobuhiko , Matsumoto Mami , Bayborodin Sergey , Deineko Elena
Published: May 2021

Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) was used here to study tobacco male meiosis. Three-dimensional ultrastructural analyses revealed that intercellular nuclear migration (INM) occurs in 90–100% of tobacco meiocytes. At the very beginning of meiosis, every meiocyte connected with neighboring cells by more than 100 channels was capable of INM. At leptotene and zygotene, the nucleus in most tobacco meiocytes approached the cell wall and formed nuclear protuberances (NPs) that crossed the cell wall through the channels and extended into the cytoplasm of a neighboring cell. The separation of NPs from the migrating nuclei and micronuclei formation were not observed. In some cases, the NPs and nuclei of neighboring cells appeared apposed to each other, and the gap between their nuclear membranes became invisible. At pachytene, NPs retracted into their own cells. After that, the INM stopped. We consider INM a normal part of tobacco meiosis, but the reason for such behavior of nuclei is unclear. The results obtained by SBF-SEM suggest that there are still many unexplored features of plant meiosis hidden by limitations of common types of microscopy and that SBF-SEM can turn over a new leaf in plant meiosis research.
The Case Against Leaders: A Moral Reading of Geir Haarde's Conviction for Negligence of Ministerial Duties
Authors: Ólafsson Jón
Published: May 2021

In the aftermath of the Icelandic economic crisis of 2008 Iceland's former Prime Minister Geir Haarde was convicted for negligence of his constitutional duty to consult with his ministers on measures to prepare for the coming crisis. The court ruled that there was sufficient information available to the government to conclude that there was real danger of a major banking crisis in the months preceding the crisis. Mr. Haarde was the only head of government to be convicted in the aftermath of the Financial crisis. His indictment and conviction was hotly debated in Iceland where many people considered the process unfair, primarily because Mr. Haarde was the only minister indicted by Parliament for negligence of duties although a Special Investigative Commission appointed by Parliament had recommended indicting other ministers and officials as well. The paper reviews the case against Haarde and the public reaction to it. It is argued that the majority of judges on the special court which convicted Mr. Haarde used the constitutional clause on the duty to conduct ministerial meetings to present a more wideranging condemnation of Haarde's failure to deal with and acknowledge the threats Iceland was facing. Public opinion changed over time: When the Parliament began its consideration of whether to indict former ministers surveys showed an overwhelming majority favoring indictments, but limited confidence that anyone would actually be indicted. When proceedings against Mr. Haarde started public support was much less. After the conviction opinion polls have shown growing doubts about the special court itself. The whole case is an interesting example of the elusiveness of accountability: The paper argues that a thoroughgoing moral reading of Mr. Haarde's conviction reveals a more damning analysis og his actions (and lack of actions) than has generally been acknowledged by political leaders and in public debates.
A Study on the Competence Characteristics of Psychological Hotline Counselors During the Outbreak of COVID-19
Authors: You Linyu , Jia Xiaoming , Ding Yaping , An Qin , Li Bo
Published: May 2021

Introduction: After the outbreak of COVID-19, psychological hotlines functioned as a main channel of psychological assistance and required a large number of professionals to provide services. These hotlines mostly offered a single-use service with short session times and allowed callers to retain anonymity. They functioned as a psychological counseling service for stress experienced in the COVID-19 public health emergency. Hotline psychological counselors must meet special competency requirements. The selection and evaluation tools for recruiting hotline counselors need to be developed.

Materials and Methods: The initial scale of competence for psychological hotline counselors was formed by expert evaluation based on theoretical constructs and by using the Delphi method. A link to the questionnaire was sent to a WeChat group of counselors from 36 major psychological hotlines in China in two stages. The questionnaire consisted of questions to elicit basic demographic information and the initial competence scale. In the first phase, 343 valid samples were used to perform exploratory factor analysis. In the second phase, 334 valid samples were used to perform confirmatory factor analysis. The status of the competence of psychological hotline counselors was also analyzed.

Results: The factor structure of the Psychological Hotline Counselor Competence Scale was verified and defined in terms of skills, attitude, and knowledge. The results of exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis showed that the scale has good reliability and validity (χ2/df = 1.758, GFI = 0.86, RMSEA = 0.05, CFI = 0.96, NFI = 0.91, NNFI = 0.95). The McDonald’s omega for each factor was calculated (ωF1 = 0.927, 95%CI [0.914, 0.940]; ωF2 = 0.958, 95%CI [0.951, 0.965]; ωF3 = 0.954, 95%CI [0.945, 0.961]). Meanwhile, it was found that the psychological hotline counselors’ self-assessed competence had a high average score (n = 334).

Conclusion: The Competence Scale for Psychological Hotline Counselors for Major Public Emergencies developed in this study has good reliability and validity, and can be a reliable tool for organizing psychological assistance and screening hotline psychological counselors during public emergencies in the future.
A Narrative Review Examining the Utility of Interpersonal Synchrony for the Caregiver-Care Recipient Relationship in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Authors: Gifford Angela , Marmelat Vivien , Beadle Janelle N.
Published: May 2021

The stressful nature of caring for an older adult with a chronic disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), can create barriers between the caregiver-care recipient, as they try to navigate their continuously changing social relationship. Interpersonal synchrony (i.e., matching or similarity of movement, emotions, hormones, or brain activity), is an innovative approach that could help to sustain caregiving relationship dynamics by promoting feelings of connection and empathy through shared behavior and experiences. This review investigates the current literature on interpersonal synchrony from an interdisciplinary perspective by examining interpersonal synchrony through psychological, neural, and hormonal measures across the adult lifespan. We then present a case for examining the degree to which interpersonal synchrony can be used to facilitate affiliation and well-being in the caregiver-care recipient relationship. We find that there is significant evidence in healthy adult populations that interpersonal synchrony can support affiliative feelings, prosocial behavior, and well-being. Characterizing the psychological, neural, and hormonal mechanisms of interpersonal synchrony is a first step towards laying the groundwork for the development of tools to support relational closeness and empathy in the caregiving context. Finally, we explore the strengths and limitations of using interpersonal synchrony to support relational well-being, and discuss possible avenues for future research.
Do Infant Faces Maintain the Attention of Adults With High Avoidant Attachment?
Authors: Long Nü , Yu Wei , Wang Ying , Gong Xiaohan , Zhang Wen , Chen Jia
Published: May 2021

We investigated whether adults have attentional bias toward infant faces, whether it is moderated by infant facial expression, and the predictive effect of the adult attachment state on it. One hundred unmarried nulliparous college students [50 men and 50 women; aged 17–24 years (M = 19.70, SD = 1.35)] were recruited. Each completed a self-report questionnaire—the Chinese version of the State Adult Attachment Measure (SAAM), and a dot-probe task with a stimulus presentation duration of 500 ms, which used 192 black-and-white photographs of 64 people (32 infants and 32 adults; each person displayed three expressions: happy, neutral, and sad) as the experimental stimuli. The results showed that, at the duration of 500 ms, individuals' attentional bias toward infant faces disappeared, regardless of the facial expression. However, when the interaction between avoidant attachment state and face was controlled, the attentional bias was significant again, and the avoidant attachment state negatively predicted individuals' attentional bias toward infant faces. This indicates that at the suprathreshold stage, there are individual differences in the attentional bias toward infant faces, and high avoidant attachment will weaken individuals' attentional bias toward infant faces. This study advances previous studies that focused only on individuals' attention to infant faces occurring at the early processing stage of attention. The results provide direction for interventions; specifically, changing the attachment state of avoidant individuals can affect their attention to infants, which may promote the establishment of parent–child relationships.
Changes in Resilience in Students of Occupational Therapy After Their First Exposure to Practice Placement Education
Authors: Rodríguez-Martínez María Del Carmen , Toledano-González Abel , Triviño-Juárez José-Matías , Polonio-López Begoña , Segura-Fragoso Antonio , López-Martín Olga , Cantero-Garlito Pablo , Rodríguez-Hernández Marta , Corregidor-Sánchez Ana-Isabel , Romero-Ayuso Dulce
Published: May 2021

Introduction: Resilience is a multidimensional and dynamic construct associated with positive growth and the capacity to transform stressful and negative factors into opportunities of personal development and self-improvement when faced with difficult experiences. The resilience process of each individual integrates multiple analysis levels, which range from genetic-environmental interactions to a complex process of adaptation between the individual and his/her family, friends, co-workers, society, and culture.

Objective: To determine whether resilience improves in students of occupational therapy when exposed for the first time to practice placement education.

Methodology: Quasi-experimental, prospective, observational, multi-center study with a sample composed of students from the Degree of Occupational Therapy of the public universities of Málaga (UMA) and Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) (Spain). Two weeks prior to the beginning of the practice education period, the participants completed a questionnaire that included sociodemographic data and the area of their internships. They were also given the Spanish version of the Connor-Davidson's resilience scale (CD-RISC). All these instruments were also completed 1 week after the end of the clinical practice.

Results: There were statistically significant differences between the variables that make up resilience and the different internship areas. On the other hand, there was a significant improvement of global resilience after the clinical practice period, in both women (13.85 points; p < 0.001) and men (7.72 points; p < 0.035), when the internship area was not considered.

Conclusions: The results show that resilient students are more optimistic and work to improve a situation beyond doing simply what is expected of them, knowing how to control their feelings. This is beneficial for students in practice education, since, during these, they face difficult situations that require a resilient pattern, which helps reduce stress and the burnout syndrome.
Implementing Health Apps for Digital Public Health – An Implementation Science Approach Adopting the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research
Authors: Wienert Julian , Zeeb Hajo
Published: May 2021

Apps are becoming an increasingly important component of modern Public Health and health care. However, successful implementation of apps does not come without challenges. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) provides a central typology to support the development of implementation theories and the examination of what works where and why in different contexts. The framework offers a reasonable structure for managing complex, interacting, multi-level, and transient states of constructs in the real world: It draws on constructs from other implementation theories and might be used to conduct formative evaluations or build a common body of knowledge for implementation thru various studies and settings. In a synthesis of the original English language text describing the CFIR, an attempt was made to break the constructs down into the shortest possible concise descriptions for the implementation of health care apps in a structured, selective process. The listed key constructs should help to develop successful implementation plans and models for health apps and show the complexity of a successful implementation. As a perspective article, the aim of the current piece is to present a viewpoint on using the CFIR as a potential support for implementing health apps.
Preventive Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Associations With Perceived Behavioral Control, Attitudes, and Subjective Norm
Authors: Aschwanden Damaris , Strickhouser Jason E. , Sesker Amanda A. , Lee Ji Hyun , Luchetti Martina , Terracciano Antonio , Sutin Angelina R.
Published: May 2021

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious and potentially fatal infectious disease that has swept the globe. To reduce the spread, it is important to engage in preventive behaviors recommended by health authorities, such as washing your hands, wearing a face mask, and social distancing.

Aim: In the present study, we draw from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to examine the associations between perceived behavioral control, attitudes, and subjective norm and whether people engage in eight different preventive behaviors.

Methods: For each of the preventive behaviors (washing hands; using hand sanitizer; not touching your face; social distancing; wearing a face mask; disinfecting surfaces; coughing in your elbow; staying home if sick), we conducted separate logistic regressions predicting whether the participants (N = 2,256; age range = 18–98 years) reported engaging in the behavior from their perceived behavioral control, attitudes, and subjective norm.

Results: We found that perceived behavioral control, attitudes, and subjective norm had independent significant associations with each preventive behavior. Moderation analyses revealed that for most behaviors the associations with perceived behavioral control were stronger for older adults than for younger adults.

Limitation: The present study was cross-sectional; future longitudinal studies and interventions are needed to disentangle directionality.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest several ways to increase adherence to health behaviors that reduce the spread of coronavirus and other infectious diseases.
Klimat i jego pole leksykalne jako słowa klucze współczesnego
dyskursu publicznego
Authors: Łaziński Marek
Published: May 2021

This paper presents increased frequency of vocabulary related to climate
and health in public discourse and the position of this vocabulary in Polish and
foreign word of the year contests. The fi rst part of the text discusses the notion
of keywords, methods of their distinction, and word frequency monitoring works
at the University of Warsaw. These works are composed of: 1) monitoring of the
frequency of the vocabulary in daily newspapers against a comparable corpus
covering 12 months, 2) selection of the word of the month from the most frequent
words and describing it in philological terms, 3) word of the year contests using
the most frequent words as propositions. The second part of the paper presents
individual words from the lexical fi eld of climate selected as words of the month
and of the year, such as upał (heat), nawałnica (a storm), smog (smog), drzewo
(a tree), puszcza (a forest), klimat (climate). Part three demonstrates words from
this lexical fi eld in Polish and foreign word of the year contests. The discussed
lexical fi eld was divided into working categories: 1) “What the nature can do to
a human being”, e.g. nawałnica (a storm), smog (smog), and 2) “What a human
being does to the nature”, e.g. drzewo (a tree), puszcza (a forest) (tree cutting
in a forest), klimat (climate) (climate change). The latter category gathers words
with a greater symbolic power, more abstract, more appropriate as keywords in
the long run.
Keywords: keywords – frequency – word of the year contest – signifi cance of
a word – climate
Gwarowe nazwy roślin jako odbicie nastawienia
użytkowników gwar do przyrody (ujęcie historyczno-porównawcze) ..
Authors: Waniakowa Jadwiga
Published: May 2021

This text discusses Polish dialectal names of plants, which refl ect the human
attitude towards the world of fl ora. Therefore, the basic issue is the motivation
behind plant names. These names are motivated by species characteristics. The
motivations where the human attitude towards the nature are particularly visible
have been taken into consideration. These are primarily medicinal properties
and the attributed (positive or negative) magical properties, harmfulness
of certain species, application and purpose in the homestead, and annoying
negative characteristics. The relation between plant names and folk beliefs and
legends are analysed, religious references are also made. The signifi cant role
of taboos and metaphors in the plant denomination process is emphasised in
the discussions. The names are examined from the historical and comparative
perspective, which is illustrated with examples.
Keywords: folk names of plants – semantic motivation – origin of plant names
– metaphor – taboo
Lingwoekologia – ochrona języka przed człowiekiem i człowieka
przed językiem
Authors: Gajda Stanisław
Published: May 2021

What should be considered the central problem of linguaecology is the issue
of protection of language quality (its various manners of existence: language
use, system as well as individual and collective linguistic awareness) against
destructive human impact, in particular culture, and protection of human health
(individuals and human communities) against harmful language. The ecological
nature of linguistic communication is determined not only by its axiological
(emotional and moral) dimension but also, and foremost, by the intention not to
harm oneself and others.
In order to meet the challenges of our times (from climate crisis to hate
speech), we need to oppose the view that human beings are selfi sh and aggressive
by nature. This view contributes to us becoming like that. However, the true
human nature is different: human beings are decent, they are homo cooperans.
Keywords: ecology – language – human being – emotions – morality – ecological
communication – homo cooperans
Consumer Welfare of Country-of-Origin Labelling and Traceability Policies
Authors: Bruneau Joel , Ugochukwu Albert I.
Published: May 2021

Traceability regulations are a way to protect consumers by forcing firms to identify and track products step-by-step through all stages of production, processing, and distribution. Traceability is often used in conjunction with country-of-origin labelling where products explicitly identify where production takes place. However, such country-of-origin regulations can conflict with WTO provisions. This paper analyzes the impact on consumer welfare of traceability and country-of-origin in an international trading regime to assess whether such regulations actually improve consumer welfare. The paper constructs a theoretical model that highlights the potential market failure that arises from traceability. The paper then introduces a simple international trade regime to identify impacts on consumer surplus. The paper compares outcomes with, and without, traceability and country-of-origin regulations. Given the inherent free-rider problem, the paper shows that, as long as costs associated with traceability are low enough, mandatory regulations are welfare improving. Free trade, in the absence of foreign traceability, can lower consumer welfare so provides a rationale for country-of-origin rules. However, mandatory country-of-origin rules need not be welfare enhancing. We show that country-of-origin rules are similar to import barriers and so are third-best solutions. The better solution is international adoption and recognition of traceability rules which would make country-of-origin rules moot.