bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Terminology of materials about new religious movements in print media
Authors: Martinovich Vladimir A.
Published: November 2020

This article analyses the results of a study of the terminology of articles on new religious movements in the print media of the Republic of Belarus in 1988–2015. The sample included 631 press articles; 76 different special terms were used by the press to name organised forms of unconventional religiosity. It is shown that practically all, including initially neutral terms, acquire negative connotations rather quickly after getting into the press. Negatively loaded terms can be used even in neutral articles on new religious movements. At the same time, terminology as a whole turned out to be a secondary component in the process of covering the problems of unconventional religiosity. In a significant group of articles (48.5 %), there are no special terms at all. Print media criticise new religious movements and identify religious communities, both with and without specific terms without any substantive difference. The discourse of the print media is distinguished by the least sensitivity to the simplest semantic shades and differences between special terms among all other institutions of society. The degree of prevalence and frequency of use in the press of all found special terms was revealed.
Danger of cyberbullying and Internet dependence of teenagers: interrelations and properties
Authors: Sheinov Viktor P. , Karpievich Viktor А. , Dyatchik Natal’ya V. , Polkhovskaya Galina N.
Published: November 2020

Cyberbullying is a form of violence through bullying, harassment, bullying, humiliation, intimidation carried out using the Internet, mobile phones and other electronic devices. Cyberbullying is very common in modern society and causes significant harm to its victims, negatively affecting their mental and physical health. The purpose of this study is to identify in the Russian-speaking society the connections and properties of insecurity from cyberbullying and Internet addiction. The article shows that vulnerability to cyberbullying of adolescents is positively associated with Internet addiction and negatively with life satisfaction, while in girls it is also positively associated with stress, anxiety and depression, a craving for smoking and negatively associated with self-efficacy in affairs. Internet addiction of adolescents is positively associated with anxiety, depression and stress and negatively with self-esteem, life satisfaction and self-efficacy in business relationships, and in girls – also with self-efficacy in interpersonal relationships. Internet addiction in girls is stronger than in young men associated with insecurity from cyberbullying, with stress, with a decrease in self-efficacy in business and in interpersonal relationships, therefore, for girls, Internet addiction and insecurity from cyberbullying is more likely than for boys, is fraught with negative consequences. The connection between academic performance and Internet addiction turned out to be statistically insignificant, which differs from the conclusions of a number of foreign psychologists who found that there is a negative correlation between Internet addiction and academic performance. A negative relationship between academic performance and smoking in girls and a positive relationship between academic performance and stress in boys and girls were revealed. Craving for smoking in girls positively correlates with stress. Most of the relationships established in this study in Russian-speaking society between insecurity from cyberbullying and Internet addiction on the one hand and anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem, self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and craving for smoking are consonant with foreign results on the corresponding relationships of cyberbullying and Internet addiction.
Deletion of miRNA-22 Induces Cardiac Hypertrophy in Females but Attenuates Obesogenic Diet-Mediated Metabolic Disorders.
Authors: de Oliveira Silva Tábatha , Lino Caroline A. , Buzatto Vanessa C. , Fontes Asprino Paula , Lu Yao Wei , Lima Vanessa M. , Fonseca Renata I. B. , Jensen Leonardo , Murata Gilson M. , Filho Sidney V. , Ribeiro Márcio A. C. , Donato Jr. Jose , Ferreira Julio C. B. , Rodrigues Alice C. , Irigoyen Maria Cláudia , Barreto-Chaves Maria Luiza M. , Huang Zhan-Peng , Favoretto Galante Pedro A. , Wang Da-Zhi , Diniz Gabriela P.
Published: November 2020

Background/Aims: Obesity is a risk factor associated with cardiometabolic complications. Recently, we reported that miRNA-22 deletion attenuated high-fat diet-induced adiposity and prevented dyslipidemia without affecting cardiac hypertrophy in male mice. In this study, we examined the impact of miRNA-22 in obesogenic diet-induced cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in females. Methods: Wild type (WT) and miRNA-22 knockout (miRNA-22 KO) females were fed a control or an obesogenic diet. Body weight gain, adiposity, glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, and plasma levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured. Cardiac and white adipose tissue remodeling was assessed by histological analyses. Echocardiography was used to evaluate cardiac function and morphology. RNA-sequencing analysis was employed to characterize mRNA expression profiles in female hearts. Results: Loss of miRNA-22 attenuated body weight gain, adiposity, and prevented obesogenic diet-induced insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in females. WT obese females developed cardiac hypertrophy. Interestingly, miRNA-22 KO females displayed cardiac hypertrophy without left ventricular dysfunction and myocardial fibrosis. Both miRNA-22 deletion and obesogenic diet changed mRNA expression profiles in female hearts. Enrichment analysis revealed that genes associated with regulation of the force of heart contraction, protein folding and fatty acid oxidation were enriched in hearts of WT obese females. In addition, genes related to thyroid hormone responses, heart growth and PI3K signaling were enriched in hearts of miRNA-22 KO females. Interestingly, miRNA-22 KO obese females exhibited reduced mRNA levels of Yap1, Egfr and Tgfbr1 compared to their respective controls. Conclusion: This study reveals that miRNA-22 deletion induces cardiac hypertrophy in females without affecting myocardial function. In addition, our findings suggest miRNA-22 as a potential therapeutic target to treat obesity-related metabolic disorders in females.
Perencanaan Enterprise Architecture Sistem Pelayanan Menggunakan Metode TOGAF (Studi Kasus : BPJS Kesehatan Cabang Kendal)
Authors: Marini Marini , Kusumawati Yupie , Nilawati Florentina Esti
Published: November 2020

BPJS Kesehatan selama ini belum memanfaatkan teknologi informasi secara maksimal dalam mendukung proses bisnisnya. Proses bisnis yang belum dilakukkan secara optimal antara lain proses pendaftaran bayi baru lahir, proses konfirmasi kepesertaan dan proses cetak kartu sementara bayi baru lahir. Hal ini disebabkan karena masih ada ketidaksamaan antara arsitektur bisnis, arsitektur sistem informasi dan arsitekture teknologi informasi.Permasalahan tersebut mengakibatkan pelayanan terhadap peserta BPJS Kesehatan tidak efisien. Adapun tujuan yang akan dicapai yaitu menghasilkan blueprint enterprise architecture Sistem Pelayanan BPJS Kesehatan berbasis web dengan framework TOGAF. Penelitian ini menggunakan kerangka kerja TOGAF dengan metode ADM (Architecture Development Method) berdasarkan data kualitatif yang didapat dari hasil wawancara. Hasil akhir dari penelitian ini berupa blueprint enterprise architecture yang diharapkan dapat mempermudah dan mengintegrasikan proses bisnis pelayanan pada BPJS Kesehatan Cabang Kendal. Kata kunci: TOGAF, Enterprise Architecture, Blueprint, Sistem Pelayanan BPJS Kesehatan, Ptototype System
Game Edukasi Pembelajaran IPA Berbasis Visual Novel Studi Kasus: SDN Cibalongsari IV Karawang
Authors: Kurniawan Hafiz Abdul Fatah , Jamaludin Asep , Heryana Nono
Published: November 2020

Saat ini media yang digunakan dalam pembelajaran ekosistem makhluk hidup kelas 5 pada SDN Cibalongsari IV Karawang hanya berupa buku, papan tulis dan beberapa alat peraga sehingga siswa menjadi kurang tertarik serta cepat merasa bosan,  Game edukasi visual novel merupakan alternatif lain dalam meningkatkan minat dan ketertaikan siswa terhadap materi tersebut. Metodelogi yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini  yaitu Mulitimedia Development Life Cycle. Game ini  memuat materi ekosistem makhluk hidup dengan 3 sub bagian yaitu pengertian, jenis golongan hewan, dan jenis ekosistem. Uji coba game edukasi  ini menggunakan uji-t berpasangan dan UAT, yang menghasilkan persentase tingkat signifikan t hitung =  > nilai t tabel  sehingga Ho berada didaerah penolakan dan H1 diterima, serta dalam uji rata-rata menggunakan persentase nilai pre test dan post test  menggunakan game edukasi sebagai media pembelajaran mengalami peningkatan dari  menjadi sebesar  dengan selisih  dan dalam pengujian menggunakan UAT berdasarkan penilaian siswa mendapat hasil positif dalam setiap pertanyaan yang menyatakan game ini memiliki fitur yang cukup untuk menarik siswa paham akan materi dan juga game edukasi ini dapat diterima sebagai media alternatif pada proses pembelajaran.Kata kunci: Game Edukasi, MDLC, Visual novel, Unity, Ekosistem Makhluk Hidup
Decoding the Alice Alington-Margaret More Roper Letters
Authors: McCutcheon Elizabeth
Published: November 2020

Interpreting the letters characterized as written by Alice Alington and Margaret Roper in 1534 has proved perplexing since their first publication (1557), when the editor wrote, “It is not certainly known” whether Thomas More or Roper wrote the letter to Alington. Did Roper, More, or both write it? This study looks at both letters from a variety of perspectives, pointing out many reasons that complicate reading them before focusing on the personal and political circumstances, the structural knot of wise/foolish, and the writing styles of father and daughter, including an analysis of Roper's known writing, characteristically empathic (rather than concerned with organization or structure). It agrees that More was the chief writer, but that Roper might well have written some, though not all, of her speeches, and that she was involved in their discussions and as More's personal representative. Finally, it suggests both letters constitute a mini-dialogue.
PERANAN SULTAN MARDAN ALI DI KESULTANAN BUTON : 1647 -1654
Authors: Asniati Asniati , Syahrun Syahrun , Marhini La Ode
Published: November 2020

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui profil Sultan Mardan Ali, mengetahui peranan Sultan Mardan Ali terhadap Kesultanan Buton pada tahun 1647-1654, serta untuk mengetahui penyebab Sultan Mardan Ali bekerja sama dengan Kompeni Belanda. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode sejarah menurut Kuntowijoyo dengan tahapan-tahapan sebagai berikut: (1) pemilihan topik; (2) pengumpulan sumber; (3) verifikasi sumber; (4) interpretasi sumber; (5) historiografi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Sultan Mardan Ali atau La Cila lahir pada 5 hari bulan Maulid 980 Hijriah tahun 1573 M. Sebelum menjadi sultan, Mardan Ali menjabat sebagai Kapitalau atau panglima wilayah Timur Kesultanan Buton. Mardan Ali dilantik menjadi Sultan Buton ke-8 oleh Bhonto Siolimbona pada tahun 1647 dengan gelar Sultan Mardan Ali. Peranan Sultan Mardan Ali dalam Kesultanan Buton meliputi bidang politik, ekonomi, dan pemerintahan. Sultan Mardan Ali juga melakukan hubungan kerja sama dengan Belanda. Sultan Mardan Ali bekerja sama dengan bangsa Belanda sebab Sultan ingin melakukan pemulihan hubungan antara Buton dengan VOC yang sebelumnya kurang baik melalui perantara Sultan Ternate.
Rancang Bangun Sistem Pendataan Penduduk Berbasis Website di Nepa Sampang
Authors: Kurniastuti Ima , Rohman Abdur , Kamil Ahmad syafiq
Published: November 2020

Menurut Undang-Undang No 6 Tahun 2014, Pemerintah Pusat menuntut pemerintahan tingkat desa untuk meningkatkan kualitas layanan penduduk dengan mengubah sistem penyelenggaraan pelayanan administrasi desa dari konvensional menjadi digital. Oleh karena itu dalam penelitian ini dilakukan perancangan dan pembangunan sistem pendataan penduduk berbasis web di Desa Nepa Kecamatan Banyuates Kabupaten Sampang dengan tahapan-tahapan diantaranya identifikasi masalah, identifikasi kebutuhan sistem, desain sistem, implementasi, pengujian sistem, serta validasi. Tahap perancangan sistem dilakukan hingga tahap desain sistem sedangkan tahap pembangunan sistem dilakukan dari tahap implementasi hingga validasi. Desain sistem meliputi flowchart, entity relationship diagram, use case diagram, squence diagram, class diagram dan desain antar muka. Hasil validasi menunjukkan sistem pendataan penduduk tidak ada kesalahan dan berjalan sesuai kebutuhan serta pengguna memberikan respon positif pada saat penggunaan sistem
Dyslipidemia in blood pressure control among adult hypertensive patients in Kiambu County Hospital Kenya
Authors: Nderitu Monica. N. , Wala Jonathan , Otieno Otieno O.
Published: November 2020

Introduction: Hypertension is one of the most common non-communicable diseases with about 40% global prevalence in adults and 46% in Africa. Dyslipidemia, among other factors may lead to poor blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. Dyslipidemia occurs when someone has abnormal levels of lipids in their blood However, the role of dyslipidemia in predicting hypertension has not received adequate attention.

Objectives: This study aims to determine the relationship between dyslipidemia and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients in Kiambu County Hospital Kenya.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study assessing independent association between blood pressure control and dyslipidemia in a cohort of 251 hypertensive patients in a hospital set up. Multiple logistic regression model was applied to determine factors associated with poor blood pressure control.

Results: In total, 251 hypertensive patients, mean age 55.7 years, females-majority (80.9%) were considered in the study. The mean systolic blood pressure was 145.1±22.4mmHg and 87.4±13.0mmHg for diastolic blood pressure. Blood pressure was poorly controlled in 56.6% of the patients. High LDL levels was diagnosed in 82.1% of the patients, 23.1% low HDL levels, 31.9% high triglycerides and 59.8% high total cholesterol levels. Patients with poorly controlled hypertension (68.7%) recorded significantly higher mean total cholesterol (221.4 mg/dl) compared to193.4 mg/dl in the wellcontrolled group (mean 193.4 mg/dl), p0.05).

Conclusion: Dyslipidemia was recorded in 68% of adult hypertensive patients and was significantly associated with development of of inadequate blood pressure control. Low density lipids ( LDL) was significantly higher in the poorly controlled group where 68.7% of the patients with high level of total cholesterol had poorly controlled blood pressure. Lifestyle modification, routine lipid profile testing among hypertensive patients, early treatment on high lipid level patients, change of lifestyle and use of statin were recommended for dyslipidemia treatment. Keyword: Hypertension, cardiovascular, blood pressure, diastolic, systolic,non-communicable,disease
The Catalytic Role of RuBisCO for in situ CO2 Recycling in Escherichia coli
Authors: Pang Ju-Jiun , Shin Jong-Shik , Li Si-Yu
Published: November 2020

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) is a key enzyme responsible for biological CO2 assimilation. RuBisCO can be heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli so that glucose and CO2 are co-metabolized to achieve high mixotrophic metabolite production, where the theoretical yield of mixotrophic metabolite production is 2.4 mol(ethanol+acetate+pyruvate)/molglucose. However, RuBisCO is known for its low kcat and for forming inhibited complexes with its substrate ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) and other sugar phosphates, yet the inhibited form of RuBisCO can be reversed by RuBisCO activase (Rca). In this study, RuBisCO forms I and II were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli for in situ CO2 recycling, where CO2 produced during glucose fermentation was recycled and co-metabolized with the glucose. In addition, forms I and II RuBisCO activases were co-expressed with RuBisCO in E. coli to determine their in vivo effects on in situ CO2 recycling. Form I RuBisCO activase (Rca1) was co-expressed with form I RuBisCO and form II RuBisCO activase (Rca2) was co-expressed with form II RuBisCO. The results showed that both form I and form II RuBisCO exhibit comparable activities in E. coli and generated similar levels of in situ CO2 recycling. A significant increase in the total metabolite yield from 1.5 ± 0.1 to 2.2 ± 0.1 mol(ethanol+acetate+pyruvate)/molglucose occurred when Rca2 was co-expressed with form II RuBisCO. Meanwhile, the total metabolite yield increased from 1.7 ± 0.1 to 2.0 ± 0.1 mol(ethanol+acetate+pyruvate)/molglucose when Rca1 was co-expressed with form I RuBisCO. This data suggests that both forms I and II RuBisCO are subject to in vivo RuBP inhibition yet can be relieved by the co-expression of Rca. Interestingly, it is suggested that the in vivo RuBP inhibition of form II RuBisCO can be more easily reversed compared to form I. When the catalytic power of RuBisCO is maintained by Rca, the high activity of phosphoribulokinase (Prk) plays an important role in directing glucose to the RuBisCO-based engineered pathway and fermentation yields of 2.1–2.3 mol(ethanol+acetate+pyruvate)/molglucose can be obtained. This study is the first to demonstrate that in vivo RuBP inhibition of RuBisCO can be a bottleneck for in situ CO2 recycling in E. coli.
Lesion Recognition and Cleavage of Damage-Containing Quadruplexes and Bulged Structures by DNA Glycosylases
Authors: Kuznetsova Alexandra A. , Fedorova Olga S. , Kuznetsov Nikita A.
Published: November 2020

Human telomeres as well as more than 40% of human genes near the promoter regions have been found to contain the sequence that may form a G-quadruplex structure. Other non-canonical DNA structures comprising bulges, hairpins, or bubbles may have a functionally important role during transcription, replication, or recombination. The guanine-rich regions of DNA are hotspots of oxidation that forms 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine, thymine glycol, and abasic sites: the lesions that are handled by the base excision repair pathway. Nonetheless, the features of DNA repair processes in non-canonical DNA structures are still poorly understood. Therefore, in this work, a comparative analysis of the efficiency of the removal of a damaged nucleotide from various G-quadruplexes and bulged structures was performed using endonuclease VIII-like 1 (NEIL1), human 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase (OGG1), endonuclease III (NTH1), and prokaryotic formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg), and endonuclease VIII (Nei). All the tested enzymes were able to cleave damage-containing bulged DNA structures, indicating their important role in the repair process when single-stranded DNA and intermediate non–B-form structures such as bubbles and bulges are formed. Nevertheless, our results suggest that the ability to cleave damaged quadruplexes is an intrinsic feature of members of the H2tH structural family, suggesting that these enzymes can participate in the modulation of processes controlled by the formation of quadruplex structures in genomic DNA.
Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling Restricts Proximodistal Extension of the Ventral Fin Fold
Authors: Ka Jun , Kim Jun-Dae , Pak Boryeong , Han Orjin , Choi Woosoung , Kim Hwan , Jin Suk-Won
Published: November 2020

Unpaired fins, which are the most ancient form of locomotory appendages in chordates, had emerged at least 500 million years ago. While it has been suggested that unpaired fins and paired fins share structural similarities, cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate the outgrowth of the former have not been fully elucidated yet. Using the ventral fin fold in zebrafish as a model, here, we investigate how the outgrowth of the unpaired fin is modulated. We show that Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling restricts extension of the ventral fin fold along the proximodistal axis by modulating diverse aspects of cellular behaviors. We find that lack of BMP signaling, either caused by genetic or chemical manipulation, prolongs the proliferative capacity of epithelial cells and substantially increases the number of cells within the ventral fin fold. In addition, inhibition of BMP signaling attenuates the innate propensity of cell division along the anteroposterior axis and shifts the orientation of cell division toward the proximodistal axis. Moreover, abrogating BMP signaling appears to induce excessive distal migration of cells within the ventral fin fold, and therefore precipitates extension along the proximodistal axis. Taken together, our data suggest that BMP signaling restricts the outgrowth of the ventral fin fold during zebrafish development.
Machine Learning in Computational Surface Science and Catalysis: Case Studies on Water and Metal–Oxide Interfaces
Authors: Li Xiaoke , Paier Wolfgang , Paier Joachim
Published: November 2020

The goal of many computational physicists and chemists is the ability to bridge the gap between atomistic length scales of about a few multiples of an Ångström (Å), i. e., 10−10 m, and meso- or macroscopic length scales by virtue of simulations. The same applies to timescales. Machine learning techniques appear to bring this goal into reach. This work applies the recently published on-the-fly machine-learned force field techniques using a variant of the Gaussian approximation potentials combined with Bayesian regression and molecular dynamics as efficiently implemented in the Vienna ab initio simulation package, VASP. The generation of these force fields follows active-learning schemes. We apply these force fields to simple oxides such as MgO and more complex reducible oxides such as iron oxide, examine their generalizability, and further increase complexity by studying water adsorption on these metal oxide surfaces. We successfully examined surface properties of pristine and reconstructed MgO and Fe3O4 surfaces. However, the accurate description of water–oxide interfaces by machine-learned force fields, especially for iron oxides, remains a field offering plenty of research opportunities.
Regulation of Host Innate Immunity by Non-Coding RNAs During Dengue Virus Infection
Authors: Rajput Roopali , Sharma Jitender , Nair Mahima T. , Khanna Madhu , Arora Pooja , Sood Vikas
Published: November 2020

An estimated 3.9 billion individuals in 128 nations (about 40% of global population) are at risk of acquiring dengue virus infection. About 390 million cases of dengue are reported each year with higher prevalence in the developing world. A recent modeling-based report suggested that half of the population across the globe is at risk of dengue virus infection. In any given dengue outbreak, a percentage of infected population develops severe clinical manifestations, and this remains one of the “unsolved conundrums in dengue pathogenesis”. Although, host immunity and virus serotypes are known to modulate the infection, there are still certain underlying factors that play important roles in modulating dengue pathogenesis. Advanced genomics-based technologies have led to identification of regulatory roles of non-coding RNAs. Accumulating evidence strongly suggests that viruses and their hosts employ non-coding RNAs to modulate the outcome of infection in their own favor. The foremost ones seem to be the cellular microRNAs (miRNAs). Being the post-transcriptional regulators, miRNAs can be regarded as direct switches capable of turning “on” or “off” the viral replication process. Recently, role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in modulating viral infections via interferon dependent or independent signaling has been recognized. Hence, we attempt to identify the “under-dog”, the non-coding RNA regulators of dengue virus infection. Such essential knowledge will enhance the understanding of dengue virus infection in holistic manner, by exposing the specific molecular targets for development of novel prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic strategies.
Communication Structures and Decision Making Cues and Criteria to Support Effective Drought Warning in Central Malawi
Authors: Calvel Alexia , Werner Micha , van den Homberg Marc , Cabrera Flamini Andrés , Streefkerk Ileen , Mittal Neha , Whitfield Stephen , Langton Vanya Charles , Boyce Clement
Published: November 2020

Early warning systems trigger early action and enable better disaster preparedness. People-centered dissemination and communication are pivotal for the effective uptake of early warnings. Current research predominantly focuses on sudden-onset hazards, such as floods, ignoring considerable differences with slow-onset hazards, such as droughts. We identify the essential factors contributing to effective drought dissemination and communication using the people-centered approach advocated in the WMOs Multi-Hazard Early Warning System Framework (MHEWS). We use semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and focus group discussions with small-scale farmers in the Mangochi and Salima Districts of Malawi. We show that the timely release of seasonal forecast, the tailoring of the drought warning content (and its timing) to agricultural decision making, and the provision of several dissemination channels enhance trust and improve uptake of drought warning information by farmers. Our analysis demonstrates that farmers seek, prepare, and respond to drought warning information when it is provided as advice on agricultural practices, rather than as weather-related information. The information was found to be useful where it offers advice on the criteria and environmental cues that farmers can use to inform their decisions in a timely manner. Based on our findings, we propose that by focusing on enhancing trust, improving information uptake and financial sustainability as key metrics, the MHEWS can be adapted for use in monitoring the effectiveness of early warning systems.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Dynamics in Restored Fens After In-Situ Oil Sands Well Pad Disturbances of Canadian Boreal Peatlands
Authors: Lemmer Meike , Rochefort Line , Strack Maria
Published: November 2020

In-situ oil extraction activities impact the vast mosaic of boreal wetlands and uplands. Peatland restoration in these regions aims at reestablishing crucial peatland functions, such as peat accumulation and carbon (C) sequestration. In order to assess the success of fen restoration, we evaluated the biogeochemical conditions, the seasonal carbon balances via carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes and methane (CH4) emissions, and addressed the global warming potential following different restoration techniques at two restored in-situ oil sands well pads, during two consecutive growing seasons. Restoration work involved: 1) the partial or complete removal of introduced well pad construction materials, and spontaneous revegetation, or 2) the partial removal of foreign clay, in addition to reintroduction of typical fen plant species such as Larix laricina, Salix lutea and Carex aquatilis. Comparisons were done with regional reference ecosystems (REF) consisting of three peatlands: a wooded bog, a wooded rich fen and a wooded extreme-rich fen. While the average electric conductivity of restored sectors (946 μS cm−1) was higher compared to REF (360 μS cm−1), the pH was quite similar (pH 5.8 REF, pH 6 restored). Dissolved organic carbon concentration was lower in all restored sectors (5–11 mg L-1 restored sectors, 15–35 mg L-1 REF), presumably due to the still incomplete recovery of vegetation and lower organic matter content associated with remnant well pad material. Re-establishment of shrub and brown moss species improved significantly the C uptake. However, the active introduction of plant species was no crucial restoration step, in order to return species beneficial for C uptake. Restoration treatments that were leveled closest to the surrounding REF showed the most similar seasonal C balance to REF. In shallow open water areas resulting from the complete removal of all construction materials, we measured the highest methane emissions making these flooded sites net C sources to the atmosphere with elevated global warming potential. The partial removal of the well pad’s mineral soil to near the water table level and the surface elevation of the surrounding ecosystem seems to be the most effective site management method to sequester carbon efficiently. However, further research is needed to evaluate the suitability of this restoration method for the recovery of biodiversity and possible impacts of residual foreign materials on fen ecosystems.
Frameshift Variant in Novel Adenosine-A1-Receptor Homolog Associated With Bovine Spastic Syndrome/Late-Onset Bovine Spastic Paresis in Holstein Sires
Authors: Krull Frederik , Hirschfeld Marc , Wemheuer Wilhelm Ewald , Brenig Bertram
Published: November 2020

Since their first description almost 100 years ago, bovine spastic paresis (BSP) and bovine spastic syndrome (BSS) are assumed to be inherited neuronal-progressive diseases in cattle. Affected animals are characterized by (frequent) spasms primarily located in the hind limbs, accompanied by severe pain symptoms and reduced vigor, thus initiating premature slaughter or euthanasia. Due to the late onset of BSP and BSS and the massively decreased lifespan of modern cattle, the importance of these diseases is underestimated. In the present study, BSP/BSS-affected German Holstein breeding sires from artificial insemination centers were collected and pedigree analysis, genome-wide association studies, whole genome resequencing, protein–protein interaction network analysis, and protein-homology modeling were performed to elucidate the genetic background. The analysis of 46 affected and 213 control cattle revealed four significantly associated positions on chromosome 15 (BTA15), i.e., AC_000172.1:g.83465449A>G (–log10P = 19.17), AC_000172.1:g.81871849C>T (–log10P = 8.31), AC_000172.1:g.81872621A>T (–log10P = 6.81), and AC_000172.1:g.81872661G>C (–log10P = 6.42). Two additional loci were significantly associated located on BTA8 and BTA19, i.e., AC_000165.1:g.71177788T>C and AC_000176.1:g.30140977T>G, respectively. Whole genome resequencing of five affected individuals and six unaffected relatives (two fathers, two mothers, a half sibling, and a full sibling) belonging to three different not directly related families was performed. After filtering, a homozygous loss of function variant was identified in the affected cattle, causing a frameshift in the so far unknown gene locus LOC100848076 encoding an adenosine-A1-receptor homolog. An allele frequency of the variant of 0.74 was determined in 3,093 samples of the 1000 Bull Genomes Project.
Hypoxia Shapes Autophagy in LPS-Activated Dendritic Cells
Authors: Monaci Sara , Aldinucci Carlo , Rossi Daniela , Giuntini Gaia , Filippi Irene , Ulivieri Cristina , Marotta Giuseppe , Sozzani Silvano , Carraro Fabio , Naldini Antonella
Published: November 2020

During their lifespan, dendritic cells (DCs) are exposed to different pO2levels that affect their differentiation and functions. Autophagy is one of the adaptive responses to hypoxia with important implications for cell survival. While the autophagic machinery in DCs was shown to impact signaling of TLRs, its regulation by the MD-2/TLR4 ligand LPS is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether LPS can induce autophagy in DCs exposed to either aerobic or hypoxic conditions. Using human monocyte-derived DCs and the combination of immunofluorescence confocal analysis, measure of mitochondrial membrane potential, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR, we showed that the ability of LPS to modulate autophagy was strictly dependent upon pO2levels. Indeed, LPS inhibited autophagy in aerobic conditions whereas the autophagic process was induced in a hypoxic environment. Under hypoxia, LPS treatment caused a significant increase of functional lysosomes, LC3B and Atg protein upregulation, and reduction of SQSTM1/p62 protein levels. This selective regulation was accompanied by activation of signalling pathways and expression of cytokines typically associated with DC survival. Bafilomycin A1 and chloroquine, which are recognized as autophagic inhibitors, confirmed the induction of autophagy by LPS under hypoxia and its impact on DC survival. In conclusion, our results show that autophagy represents one of the mechanisms by which the activation of the MD-2/TLR4 ligand LPS promotes DC survival under hypoxic conditions.
Lessons Learned Comparing Immune System Alterations of Bacterial Sepsis and SARS-CoV-2 Sepsis
Authors: Dong Xijie , Wang Chuntao , Liu Xinghua , Gao Wei , Bai Xiangjun , Li Zhanfei
Published: November 2020

Background

Bacterial sepsis has been used as a prototype to understand the pathogenesis of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In addition, some management programs for critically ill COVID-19 patients are also based on experience with bacterial sepsis. However, some differences may exist between these two types of sepsis.

Methods

This retrospective study investigated whether there are differences in the immune system status of these two types of sepsis. A total of 64 bacterial sepsis patients and 43 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sepsis were included in this study. Demographic data were obtained from medical records. Laboratory results within 24 h after the diagnosis of sepsis were provided by the clinical laboratory.

Results

The results of blood routine (neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts), infection biomarkers (C-reactive protein, ferritin, and procalcitonin levels), lymphocyte subset counts (total T lymphocyte, CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cell, B cell, and NK cell counts), and lymphocyte subset functions (the proportions of PMA/ionomycin-stimulated IFN-γ positive cells in CD4+, CD8+ T cells, and NK cells) were similar in bacterial sepsis patients and SARS-CoV-2 sepsis patients. Cytokine storm was milder, and immunoglobulin and complement protein levels were higher in SARS-CoV-2 sepsis patients.

Conclusions

There are both similarities and differences in the immune system status of bacterial sepsis and SARS-CoV-2 sepsis. Our findings do not support blocking the cytokine storm or supplementing immunoglobulins in SARS-CoV-2 sepsis, at least in the early stages of the disease. Treatments for overactivation of the complement system and lymphocyte depletion may be worth exploring further.
Epifaunal Habitat Associations on Mixed and Hard Bottom Substrates in Coastal Waters of Northern Norway
Authors: Dunlop Katherine , Harendza Astrid , Plassen Liv , Keeley Nigel
Published: November 2020

Hard and mixed seafloor substrates are an important benthic habitat in coastal northern Norway and they are known to be colonized by relatively diverse communities of sessile epifauna. These assemblages are highly susceptible to physical damage and stresses imposed by organic material from industrial and municipal sources. However, despite increasing prevalence of stressors, the diversity and distribution of benthic substrates and biological communities in coastal Arctic and sub-Arctic regions remain poorly documented. In response, this study has characterized the composition of mixed and hard bottom substrates and associated sessile epifauna in fjords in Finnmark, northern Norway, using remote sensing and an innovation low-cost towed camera method. The study fjords supported a dense covering (0.1 to 0.68 individuals m–2) of sponge taxa common to deep-water ostur sponge habitats (Geodia sp., Mycale lingua, Polymastia sp., Phakellia ventilabrum, and Axinella infundibuliformis). In addition, aggregations of the soft coral (Duva florida), the tunicate (Ascidia sp.), the seastar (Ceramaster granularis) and anemone (Hormathia digitata) were prominent fauna. The small-scale spatial patterns of the epifaunal communities in this study were primarily influenced by the local hydrodynamic regime, depth, the topographical slope and the presence of hard bedrock substrates. This description of the composition, distribution and the identification of environmental drivers of epibenthic communities is valuable for the development of predictive habitat models to manage the benthic impact of multiple stressor on these ecological valuable and vulnerable Arctic habitats.
Protocol for a Nested Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of the Mindfulness Based Health Promotion Program on the Quality of Life of Older Adults Assisted in Primary Care—“The MBHP-Elderly Study”
Authors: Mapurunga Marcelo Vasconcelos , Andreoni Solange , de Oliveira Daniela Rodrigues , Sarubbi Vicente , Bonilha Ana Cláudia , D'Almeida Vania , Tomita Luciana , Ramos Luiz Roberto , Demarzo Marcelo
Published: November 2020

Introduction: Population aging is a global phenomenon that has grown rapidly and progressively all over the world. Interventions that promote health must be studied and implemented to make the aging process be with quality of life. Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health conditions that compromise the quality of life on the elderly and it can cause damage to the autonomy and activities of daily life. Mindfulness training has been shown to improve psychological health and quality of life on adults. Studies involving Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) with older people are scarce in the literature, but they have been increasing in recent years showing promising results for healthy aging. This trial will investigate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an MBI on the quality of life of elderly assisted in the Primary Care.

Materials and Methods: A cohort-nested randomized controlled trial with 3 assessment points (baseline, post-intervention and 1-year follow up) will be conducted to compare a MBI program (Mindfulness-Based Health Promotion) to a cognitive stimulation control-group in a Primary Care facility. One-hundred and two older adults will be recruited from a cohort of this facility and they will be randomized and allocated into an intervention group (N = 76) and the control group (N = 76). The primary outcome evaluated will be the improvement of quality of life assessed by the WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD. The secondary outcomes will be cognitive function, psychological health, sleep quality, self-compassion, and religiosity. Qualitative data will be assessed by focus group and the word free evocation technique. The feasibility of the program will also be evaluated by adherence and unwanted effects questionnaires.

Discussion: This cohort-nested clinical trial will be the first mixed-methods study with 3 assessment points which will study the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a mindfulness-based program for older people in Latin America population. If the findings of this study confirm the effectiveness of this program in this population it will be possible to consider it as intervention that might be implemented as public policy addressed to older people in healthcare systems.

Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03048708. Registered retrospectively on October 11th 2018.
Case Report: Recurrence of Positive SARS-CoV-2 Results in Patients Recovered From COVID-19
Authors: Zhang Ren-zi , Deng Wang , He Jing , Song Yu-yan , Qian Chun-fang , Yu Qian , Wang Dao-xin
Published: November 2020

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading throughout the world. Limited data are available for recurrence of positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) results in patients with long duration of COVID-19.

Methods: We reported four cases recovered from COVID-19 with recurrence of positive SARS-CoV-2 results during the long-term follow-up.

Results: The four patients recovered from COVID-19 showed recurrence of positive SARS-CoV-2 results for more than 120 days with no symptoms and normal chest CT scan.

Conclusions: The dynamic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 by nucleic acid detection and serological assays is important for asymptomatic patients who might be potentially infectious.
Comparative Genome Analyses of 18 Verticillium dahliae Tomato Isolates Reveals Phylogenetic and Race Specific Signatures
Authors: Ingram Thomas W. , Oh Yeonyee , Adhikari Tika B. , Louws Frank J. , Dean Ralph A.
Published: November 2020

Host resistance is one of the few strategies available to combat the soil borne pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae. Understanding pathogen diversity in populations is key to successfully deploying host resistance. In this study the genomes of 18 V. dahliae isolates of races 1 (n = 2), 2 (n = 4), and 3 (n = 12) from Japan, California, and North Carolina were sequenced and mapped to the reference genome of JR2 (from tomato). The genomes were analyzed for phylogenetic and pathogen specific signatures to classify specific strains or genes for future research. Four highly clonal lineages/groups were discovered, including a lineage unique to North Carolina isolates, which had the rare MAT1-1 mating type. No evidence for recombination between isolates of different mating types was observed, even in isolates of different mating types discovered in the same field. By mapping these 18 isolates genomes to the JR2 reference genome, 193 unique candidate effectors were found using SignalP and EffectorP. Within these effectors, 144 highly conserved effectors, 42 mutable effectors (truncated or present in some isolates but absent in others), and 7 effectors present in highly variable regions of the chromosomes were discovered. Of the 144 core effectors, 21 were highly conserved in V. alfalfae and V. longisporum, 7 of which have no known function. Within the non-core effectors 30 contained large numbers of non-synonymous mutations, while 15 of them contained indels, frameshift mutations, or were present on highly variable regions of the chromosome. Two of these highly variable region effectors (HVREs) were only present in race 2 isolates, but not in race 3 isolates. The race 1 effector Ave1 was also present in a highly variable region. These data may suggest that these highly variable regions are enriched in race determinant genes, consistent with the two-speed genome hypothesis.
Genomic Analysis of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates Belonging to Major Endemic Clones in South America
Authors: Nodari Carolina Silva , Cayô Rodrigo , Streling Ana Paula , Lei Felipe , Wille Julia , Almeida Myriam S. , de Paula Alexandre Inacio , Pignatari Antonio Carlos Campos , Seifert Harald , Higgins Paul G. , Gales Ana Cristina
Published: November 2020

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) are emerging worldwide. In South America, clinical isolates presenting such a phenotype usually do not belong to the globally distributed international clone 2 (IC2). The majority of these isolates are also resistant to multiple other antimicrobials and are often designated extremely drug-resistant (XDR). The aim of this study was to characterize the resistance mechanisms presented by 18 carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii isolates from five different Brazilian hospitals. Species identification was determined by rpoB sequencing, and antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by broth microdilution. Isolates were submitted to whole genome sequencing using Illumina platform and genetic similarity was determined by PFGE, MLST, and cgMLST. Genome analysis was used to identify intrinsic and acquired resistance determinants, including mutations in the AdeRSABC efflux system and in outer membrane proteins (OMPs). All isolates were identified as A. baumannii and grouped into 4 pulsotypes by PFGE, which belonged to clonal complexes (CC) 15Pas/103Ox (n = 4) and 79Pas/113Ox (n = 14), corresponding to IC4 and IC5, respectively. High MIC values to carbapenems, broad-spectrum cephalosporins, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin were observed in all isolates, while MICs of ampicillin/sulbactam, gentamicin, and tigecycline varied among the isolates. Minocycline was the most active antimicrobial agent tested. Moreover, 12 isolates (66.7%) were considered resistant to polymyxins. Besides intrinsic OXA-51 and ADC variants, all isolates harbored an acquired carbapenem-hydrolyzing class D β-lactamase (CHDL) encoding gene, either blaOXA–23 or blaOXA–72. A diversity of aminoglycoside modifying enzymes and resistance determinants to other antimicrobial classes were found, as well as mutations in gyrA and parC. Non-synonymous mutations have also been identified in the AdeRSABC efflux system and in most OMPs, but they were considered natural polymorphisms. Moreover, resistance to polymyxins among isolates belonging to IC5 were associated to non-synonymous mutations in pmrB, but no known polymyxin resistance mechanism was identified in isolates belonging to IC4. In conclusion, A. baumannii clinical isolates belonging to South America’s major clones present a myriad of antimicrobial resistance determinants. Special attention should be paid to natural polymorphisms observed in each clonal lineage, especially regarding non-synonymous mutations in constitutive genes associated with distinct resistance phenotypes.
A Sec-Dependent Secretory Protein of the Huanglongbing-Associated Pathogen Suppresses Hypersensitive Cell Death in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Zhang Chao , Du Peixiu , Yan Hailin , Zhu Zongcai , Wang Xuefeng , Li Weimin
Published: November 2020

“Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” (CLas) is a phloem-restricted Gram-negative bacterium that is the causal agent of citrus huanglongbing (HLB). In this study, we identified a CLas-encoded Sec-dependent secretory protein CLIBASIA_04405 that could contribute to the pathogenicity of this bacterium. The gene expression level of CLIBASIA_04405 was significantly higher in citrus than in psyllids. Transient overexpression of the mature CLIBASIA_04405 protein (m4405) in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves could suppress hypersensitive response (HR)-based cell death and H2O2 accumulation triggered by the mouse BAX and the Phytophthora infestans INF1. An alanine-substitution mutagenesis assay revealed the essential of amino acid clusters EKR45–47 and DE64–65 in cell death suppression. Challenge inoculation of the transgenic N. benthamiana-expressing m4405 with Pseudomonas syringae DC3000ΔhopQ1-1 demonstrated the greatly reduced bacterial proliferation. Remarkably, transcriptome profiling and RT-qPCR analysis disclosed that the gene expression of six small heat shock proteins (sHSPs), a set of plant defense regulators, were significantly elevated in the transgenic m4405 lines compared with those in wild-type N. benthamiana. In addition, the transgenic m4405 lines displayed phenotypes of dwarfism and leaf deformation. Altogether, these data indicated that m4405 was a virulence factor of CLas.
Refractory Status Epilepticus Responsive to Electroacupuncture at Shuigou Acupoint: A Case Report
Authors: Yuan Fang , Lu Aili , Wu Shibiao , Wang Lixin
Published: November 2020

Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) is a critical and intractable neurological emergency. Around 55% of RSE episodes still persist despite high dose of continuous infusion of anesthetics. It's a clinical urgency and challenge to search for novel alternative treatments to control RSE as soon as possible. Here, we reported a case of RSE in a 67-year-old woman with varicella-zoster virus encephalitis. She had persistent non-convulsive SE despite the continuous infusion of midazolam. On the basis of fundamental treatments, she was given electroacupuncture at Shuigou acupoint for 10 min. An immediate EEG suppression was seen after the electroacupuncture treatment and lasted for 9 min, and lasting epileptic discharges (> 10 s) and clinical seizures were not observed any more. Midazolam was withdrawn gradually 24 h later. This case report may bring an alternative treatment for RSE.