bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance of a whole tree mechanised timber harvesting system when clear-felling a 32-year-old Pinus taeda L. stand
Authors: De Oliveira Pitz Natali , Sampietro Jean Alberto , Tonett Erasmo Luis , Ferrari Luis Henrique , Casemiro Soares Philipe Ricardo , Bonazza Marcelo , Alves de Vargas Daiane , Nicolleti Marcos Felipe , Gonçalves Robert Renato Cesar
Published: October 2021

Background: Work studies are fundamental for the development and assessment of timber harvesting systems aimed at rationalising and improving forest management activities.  
Methods: This study evaluated the operational performance of a mechanised whole-tree harvesting system in 32-year-old Pinus taeda L. stands producing multiple timber products. A time and motion study at the cycle element level was conducted to evaluate the operational performance of each component of the harvesting system. Equations were developed to estimate the productivity of tree extraction activity with a wheeled skidder and log loading with a mechanical loader.
Results: Tree felling with an excavator-based harvester had the highest mean productivity (135 m3 per productive machine hour), followed by tree extraction with a wheeled skidder (117 m3 per productive machine hour), while manually processing larger logs with a chainsaw had the lowest productivity (25.7 m3 per productive machine hour). Operator, extraction distance and mean log volume had a significant effect on the performance of different activities and were included in productivity models.
Conclusions: Operational performance of equipment was variable and dependent on the effect of the operator, extraction distance and log volume. Thus, the use of models to estimate productivity considering such factors, coupled with reduced delays to increase utilisation of equipment, will contribute to the better management and planning of forest harvesting operations under the evaluated conditions.
Crosstalk between tumor-associated macrophages and neighboring cells in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Sung Pil Soo
Published: October 2021

The tumor microenvironment generally shows a substantial immunosuppressive activity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), accounting for the suboptimal efficacy of immune-based treatments for this difficult-to-treat cancer. The crosstalk between tumor cells and various cell types in the tumor microenvironment is strongly related to HCC progression and treatment resistance. Monocytes are recruited to the HCC tumor microenvironment by various factors and become tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) with distinct phenotypes. TAMs often contribute to weakened tumor-specific immune responses and a more aggressive phenotype of malignancy. Recent single-cell RNA-sequencing data have demonstrated the central roles of specific TAMs in tumorigenesis and treatment resistance by their interactions with various cell populations in the HCC tumor microenvironment. This review focuses on the roles of TAMs and the crosstalk between TAMs and neighboring cell types in the HCC tumor microenvironment.
The explanatory potential of the «chronotope» category in social research
Authors: Shaverdo Tamara M.
Published: October 2021

The explanatory possibilities of the «chronotope» concept applied to the social phenomena and processes study are analysed. The concept’s genesis from A. A. Ukhtomsky’s research, dedicated to the space-time aspects of the human body functioning and the environment, to M. M. Bakhtin’s literary criticism, which reveals the space-time organisation of literary works is shown. The specificity of spatio-temporal relations in literature is projected onto the sphere of social. The latent chronotopicity of Spengler’s cultural-historical concept is revealed. According to this concept, the qualitative features of space and time produce fundamentally different pictures of the world and the human existence content. Based on A. Ya. Gurevich’s theoretical propositions and L. Levi-Bruhl’s anthropological studies, the space-time determinism problem of our thinking structure is revealed. The connection between the signs of space-time, the image of the world and a human is explicated. The effectiveness of using the category «chronotope» as an analysing tool of society at the level of structure and action is substantiated; the most promising areas for using the explanatory possibilities of the chronotope in sociology are identified.
Social optimism as epiphenomenon of subjective assessment of Belarusian students’ life quality
Authors: Simkhovich Valentina A. , Naumau Dzmitry I.
Published: October 2021

The article is devoted to the subjective assessment of the Belarusian student youth’s life quality, considered in the context of the implementation of the state youth policy. The concept of life quality is considered within the framework of the subjective approach that attributes to the individual a fundamental role in social life. Measuring of the subjective quality means making use of the index method, designed to reduce social information to a single indicator, regardless of the total number of the object’s indicators. Within the framework of the developed technique for measuring life quality, calculated were individual (particular) indices that describe the characteristics of the student youth’s public consciousness to certain aspects of life quality, as well as the integral index of life quality and aggregate index of the standard of living. The indicators of life quality are as follows: subjective assessment of the material standard of living, subjective assessment of health, accessibility and quality of medical care, subjective assessment of accessibility and quality of education, subjective assessment of accessibility and quality of social infrastructure, subjective assessment of the state of ecological environment, subjective assessment of quality of social environment and satisfaction with quality of life. The given technique enables to diagnose various aspects of the students’ life and identify weaknesses in implementing particular areas of the state youth policy. It was used to measure the quality of life of the Belarus State Economic University students who were the object of the study carried out in two stages – in 2019 and 2020. A comparative analysis of the data showed that the respondents demonstrated a high degree of satisfaction with both objective living conditions and subjective perception of the degree of satisfaction with their needs. The analysis of the general indices of subjective quality of life in retrospective, current and prospective aspects testifies to the respondents’ social optimism since their values do not decrease and in some cases increase. The only exception is the value of the index of subjective assessment of social environment quality: its decrease in 2020 indicates that the respondents fixed a negative impact on their lives and life of the whole society, which was caused by the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the political crisis in the country. Although social optimism is weakly expressed, the given epiphenomenon can be explained by the fact that the young people consider all indicators of life quality as virtually equal that is both conditioned by the results of socialisation and logic of a modern society’s development.
Intensification of Loop Current Frontal Eddies and their Interactions with the Loop Current and Surrounding Flow
Authors:   , Hiron Luna
Published: October 2021

Loop Current Frontal Eddies (LCFEs) are cold-core vortices located in the vicinity of the Loop Current (LC) and are known to intensify and play an essential role in the LC shedding. The amplification of the LCFEs also affects the local circulation. During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, part of the oil was entrained around and inside an intensified LCFE. The goal of this research is to characterize the LCFE intensification and understand its effects on the LC and surrounding flow. Firstly, the LC-LCFE interaction was investigated using altimetry and a mooring array. The intensification of the observed LCFEs shows similar characteristics over time, independent of their location: a steep increase in kinetic energy, a corresponding decrease in SSH, and an increase in size. LCFE intensification is dependent on the distance from the LC front. As the LCFE grows, the flow at the interface with the LC becomes stronger and deeper, and the horizontal density gradient between the features increases. Further intensification of the LC front and the LCFEs is suggested to be driven by the advection (nonlinear) term and the pressure-gradient (linear) term in the momentum budget. Secondly, the ageostrophy of the LC meanders during LCFE intensification is assessed using HYCOM velocity and geostrophic velocity from altimetry. The results indicate that during strong meandering, especially before and during LC shedding and in the presence of frontal eddies, the centrifugal force becomes as important as the Coriolis and the pressure-gradient forces, i.e., the LC meanders are in gradient-wind balance. Finally, the ability of LCFEs to transport particles without exchange with the exterior (i.e., material coherence) is investigated. The results show that the frontal eddies can remain coherent for up to 20 days at the surface and up to 25 days at deeper layers. Particles inside the frontal eddies were tracked backward in time and showed that the material coherence of the eddies builds up from Gulf water and can drive cross-shelf exchange of particles, water properties, and nutrients.
Complex structural-geomorphological, structural-morphological and fractal analysis of vertical newest movements of the Kerch Peninsula
Authors: Simonov D. A. , Zakharov V. S. , Bryantseva G. V.
Published: October 2021

A comprehensive analysis was carried out for the Kerch Peninsula using morphostructural, structural and geomorphological methods as well as determining the fractal dimensionDof the driangle system. It has been discovered that increased values of the field of fractal dimension D correlate well with the total uplift amplitude during the Pleistocene and Holocene, and worse with the latest structures formed during the conerosion stage of development. It can be concluded that the fractal approach for the quantitative analysis of the driangle system pattern gives good results in identifying the latest movements, and is less effective in identifying the latest structures. The further development of the fractal analysis method is promising, with the inclusion of other driangle system parameters widely used in structural-geomorphological analysis.
C and O isotope composition of secondary carbonates in the volcanites of the pre-Jurassic complex of the Western-Siberian Plate
Authors: Krasnova A. V. , Rostovtseva Yu. V. , Gavrilov A. E.
Published: October 2021

The carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of secondary carbonates from acidic effusives fro investigated. Ϭ13С (VPDB) and Ϭ18О (VSMOW) values of siderite vary from –6,6 to –2,4‰ m the top of the Western Siberia pre-Jurassic complex (Tomsk Region) was and from 7,8 to 12,3‰, while Ϭ13С and Ϭ18О values of calcite vary from –8,9 to –8,4‰ and from 2,5 to 3,7‰ respectively. Light oxygen isotopic composition indicates formation of studied carbonates from heated hydrothermal solutions.
Characterization of the composition of groundwater, rocks and hydrocarbon gases in sorbed form of riphean oil and gas complex on the example at Kuyumbinskaya structure (Siberia)
Authors: Pitjeva K. E. , Baranovskaya E. I.
Published: October 2021

The article provides information about the chemical composition of groundwater and the data of chemical analysis, the water extracts from rocks, and other information, that characterize water and rocks in the depth range of water-saturated riphean deposits. The article discusses the natural background conditions of distribution of hydrocarbon sorbing gases in atmohydrolithosphere and the conditions of oil and gas accumulations, under the influence of which sorbed hydrocarbon gases acquire specific geochemical features.
Issues of the Cenozoic Stratigraphy of Western Kamchatka and the stages of evolution of the foraminifera paleocommunities
Authors: Bordunov S. I. , Dmitrieva T. V. , Fregatova N. A.
Published: October 2021

The study of the paleocommunities of foraminifera of the reference section of the Paleogene-Neogene of the Kvachin Bay in Western Kamchatka made it possible, based on the qualitative composition and quantitative ratios of the species encountered, to identify 13 layers with foraminifera corresponding to certain section intervals and to establish their successive change. Layers with foraminifera are combined into 4 complex zones. In terms of distribution, the identified zones are regional and can traced in adjacent regions. The change in paleocommunities corresponds to the process of evolutionary development of foraminifera, as well as a change in paleoenvironments. The noted changes in the composition and structure of zonal communities reflected in a certain staged development of microfauna.
Boxite reservoirs of the Paleozoic-Mesozoic transition of the Western Siberian plate
Authors: Krasnova A. V. , Rostovtseva Yu. V.
Published: October 2021

Bauxite rocks of the pre-Jurassic complex of the Urmano- Archinskaya area of the West Siberian Plate are considered, which were formed mainly due to proluvial-deluvial-alluvial redeposition of weathering products into karst traps. The parent rocks could be volcanic rock of intermediate composition and clay deposits, drilled by wells into erosion-tectonic uplift of the basement to the north-east of the study area. The reservoir properties and alumina enrichment of study sediments are due to the leaching by hydrothermal solutions of bauxite rocks during deep-burial diagenesis.
Memilih Untuk Tidak Memilih: Protest Voting Dalam Pemilu Lokal di Kabupaten Lebak, Banten
Authors: Mahpudin Mahpudin
Published: October 2021

Artikel ini membahas protest voting dalam konteks pilkada yang mengkontestasikan antara pasangan calon tunggal melawan kotak kosong. Kotak kosong dihadirkan untuk memberikan pilihan alternatif kepada warga negara yang tidak tertarik untuk memilih pasangan calon. Artikel ini berargumen bahwa kotak kosong menjadi instrumen bagi pemilih untuk menyampaikan protes. Menggunakan kasus Pilkada Kabupaten Lebak tahun 2018, artikel ini berusaha mencari jawaban atas pertanyaan mengapa sebagian pemilih tertarik untuk memilih kotak kosong, apa objek utama protes dan bagaimana protes tersebut dilakukan. Jenis penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus dipilih sebagai metode riset. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui wawancara mendalam dan studi literatur. Hasil temuan menunjukkan bahwa kotak kosong menjadi instrumen bagi masyarakat di wilayah Lebak Selatan, khususnya Kecamatan Malingping untuk mengekspresikan ketidakpuasan mereka terhadap calon kandidat yaitu Iti Octavia Jayabaya. Di sisi lain, protest voting menggunakan kotak kosong menyimpan dilema dan paradoks tersendiri. Beberapa pemilih yang protes tetap mengekspresikan ketidakpuasan mereka dengan memilih pasangan calon karena khawatir mendapat intimidasi dan alasan lainnya.
Role of comorbidity in assessment of long-term prognosis after myocardial infarction
Authors: Zykov M. V. , Dyachenko N. V. , Barbarash O. L.
Published: October 2021

The aim of the study. To compare different methods for assessing comorbidity in terms of its long-term predictive value after myocardial infarction (MI).

Materials and methods. The analysis included 1176 patients with MI who were consecutively admitted to the hospital. The incidence of STsegment elevation MI was 60%; every second patient underwent endovascular intervention. All patients underwent an analysis of the severity of comorbidity according to the CIRS system (Cumulative lllness Rating Scale), according to the CCI (the Charlson’s comorbidity index), the CDS scale of chronic diseases (Chronic Disease Score), as well as according to their own model ‘K9’ (patent RU2734993C1 dated 10.27.2020) based on the summation of nine diseases: type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, anemia, stroke, arterial hypertension, obesity, peripheral atherosclerosis, thrombocytopenia.

Results. Long-term mortality was 12.1 %. In Cox regression analysis of long-term survival after MI, the K9 model showed the best operational characteristics with a p < 0.00001 level. In multivariate analysis, when comorbidity data were added to GRACE, an increase in the χ2 value for GARCE + CCI and GRACE + K9 to 102.5 and 99.3, respectively, and the values of the area under the ROC curve to 0.78 (0.74–0, 82) and 0.77 (0.72–0.81), respectively. Regardless of the initial level of risk assessed by the GRACE scale, severe comorbidity (four or more diseases according to the K9) significantly increased the relative risk of mortality. In patients with severe comorbidity, the predictive value of the GRACE scale was the lowest.

Conclusions. Among the analyzed methods of assessing comorbidity, only CCI and its own K9 scale have an acceptable predictive value, allowing better adaptation of the GRACE scale for stratification of the long-term risk of death after MI. At the same time ‘K9’, based on the summation of nine previously described diseases, is much more convenient than CCI in practical application
The Institutional Sources of Economic Transformation: Energy Policy from the Oil Crises to Climate Change
Authors: Finnegan Jared , Lipscy Phillip , Meckling Jonas , Metz Florence
Published: October 2021

Why are some governments more effective in promoting economic change than others? We develop a theory of the institutional sources of economic transformation. Domestic institutions condition the ability of policymakers to impose costs on consumers and producers. We argue that institutions can enable transformation through two central mechanisms: insulation and compensation. The institutional sources of transformation vary across policy types—whether policies impose costs primarily on consumers (demand-side policies) or on producers (supply-side policies). Proportional electoral rules and strong welfare states facilitate demand-side policies, whereas autonomous bureaucracies and corporatist interest intermediation facilitate supply-side policies. We test our theory by leveraging the 1973 oil crisis, an exogenous shock that compelled policymakers to simultaneously pursue transformational change across OECD countries. Panel analysis, case studies, and discourse network analysis support our hypotheses. The findings offer important lessons for contemporary climate change policy and low-carbon transitions.
Enerji Verimli Bina Tasarımı için Yapay Sinir Ağları ile Isıtma Soğutma Yükünün Belirlenmesi
Authors: Yildiz Merve Ertosun , Beyhan Figen , Uçar Muhammed Kürşad
Published: October 2021

Binalar tüketilen enerjinin yaklaşık %40’ından sorumludur. Binaların konfor koşulları gözetilerek, ihtiyaç duyacağı enerji talebinin karşılanması önemlidir. Tasarım sürecinde alınan kararlar, binaların enerji verimliliği düzeylerini etkilemektedir. Enerji simülasyon programlarının çoğu zaman alıcı yöntemler içermektedir. Daha hızlı çözüm yöntemlerine duyulan ihtiyaç bağlamında, binaların ısıtma ve soğutma yüklerinin yapay sinir ağları tabanlı yöntemlerle modellenerek enerji verimliliğinin arttırılması amaçlanmıştır. Literatürden elde edilen, binaların duvar ve çatı alanları ile toplam yükseklik, yönelim, cam yüzeylerin alanı ve dağılımı parametrelerinden oluşan 768 veri seti, eğitim ve test olmak üzere iki parçaya ayrılmış, yapay sinir ağları ile ısıtma ve soğutma yüklerinin hesabı için iki ayrı model oluşturulmuştur. Isıtma ve soğutma yüklerinin enerji talebini belirlemek için geliştirilen modellerin R performans değeri sırasıyla 0,99 ve 0,99 olarak tespit edilmiştir. Yapay sinir ağları tabanlı modelin, binalarda ısıtma ve soğutma yükü için ihtiyaç duyulan enerji talebinin hesaplanmasında simülasyon programları yerine kullanılabileceği göstermektedir.
Effect Of Liquid Rubbers On The Thermal And Adhesion Properties Of The Tire Skim Compound
Authors: Celtik Furkan , Kilic Enes , Bora Mustafa Ozgur , Altuncu Ekrem
Published: October 2021

Polymeric textile cords, steel cords and steel cables are mainly reinforcing materials that are used in tire production. Polymeric textile cords such as Polyester (PEs), Nylon, Aramid and Rayon are commonly treated with bi-functional resorcinol formaldehyde latex (RFL) to obtain desired adhesion to rubber matrix. PEs cords are known as their poor adhesion to both RFL and rubber compounds due to limited reactivity on the surface and poor reaction extent between methylol and hydroxyl groups of RFL. Increasing carboxyl content on PEs surface or in the rubber compound is one of the best strategies to overcome this adhesion problem. Liquid rubbers, which can co-vulcanize with solid rubbers, are also strong alternatives of process oils with their excellent plasticizing effect without deterioration in mechanical properties of the resulting material. Co-vulcanization also improves the stability of this additive and prevents possible bleeding and migration during service life of the tire. In this study, carboxylated grafted liquid isoprene rubber has been incorporated to rubber compound to improve adhesion in PEs-RFL-Rubber ternary system. Rheological and dynamic-mechanical properties of reactive liquid rubber containing tire rubber compounds have been evaluated extensively, as well as H-adhesion behaviour of PEs cord-rubber composite matrix.
Analisis Implementasi Pengelolaan Barang Milik Daerah pada Dinas Pekerjaan Umum dan Penataan Ruang Kabupaten Merangin
Authors: Nofriadi Dori
Published: October 2021

Analisis Implementasi Pengelolaan Barang Milik Daerah

pada Dinas Pekerjaan Umum dan Penataan Ruang

Kabupaten Merangin

 Dori Nofriadi

dorinofriadi@yahoo.com

Program Pasca Sarjana Universitas Terbuka

 

Abstrak

 Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimana implementasi pengelolaan barang milik daerah di Dinas Pekerjaan Umum dan Penataan Ruang Kabupaten Merangin, apa saja faktor yang mempengaruhi  implementasi dan upaya yang dilakukan untuk kesuksesan implementasi kebijakan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif, dengan informan berjumlah 16 orang yang dipilih dengan menggunakan metode  purposive sampling. Sedangkan teknik analisis data menggunakan analisis kualitatif dengan tahapan reduksi data, penyajian data, triungulasi, penarikan kesimpulan dan verifikasi. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa implementasi pengelolaan barang milik daerah pada Dinas Pekerjaan Umum dan Penataan Ruang Kabupaten Merangin belum optimal dilaksanakan sesuai kebijakan, adapun factor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kesuksesan implementasi diantaranya (1) masalah lokasi barang milik daerah berada di 24 Kecamatan dalam Kabupaten Merangin dan masih rendahnya kesadaran serta rasa tanggung jawab maupun sikap kooperatif personil dalam pengelolaan barang milik daerah, (2) masalah kebijakan rekrutmen pengelola barang milik daerah belum tepat dan terukur, serta kurangnya pelaksanaan sosialisasi untuk peningkatan kapasitas pengelola barang milik daerah, (3) masalah dukungan lingkungan dimana masih minimnya penggunaan alat teknologi yang dapat memudahkan pekerjaan dan anggaran yang kurang memadai, sehingga terkendala dalam melaksanakan pengelolaan barang milik daerah. Hasil penelitian ini dapat disimpulkan agar (1) Adanya komitmen dari Pemerintah Kabupaten Merangin dalam bidang penganggaran untuk menjalankan amanah Peraturan Daerah Nomor 5 Tahun 2017 tentang Pengelolaan Barang Milik Daerah yang dapat digunakan untuk biaya pengelolaan barang milik di OPD, dan (2) Adanya upaya sosialisasi dan pengadaan alat teknologi serta peningkatan kapasitas pengelola barang milik daerah pada Dinas Pekerjaan Umum dan Penataan Ruang Kabupaten Merangin.

Kata Kunci: Implementasi, kebijakan, barang milik daerah.
High Wall Shear Stress can Predict Wall Degradation in Ascending Aortic Aneurysms: An Integrated Biomechanics Study
Authors: Salmasi M. Yousuf , Pirola Selene , Sasidharan Sumesh , Fisichella Serena M. , Redaelli Alberto , Jarral Omar A. , O’Regan Declan P. , Oo Aung Ye , Moore James E. , Xu Xiao Yun , Athanasiou Thanos
Published: October 2021

Background: Blood flow patterns can alter material properties of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (ATAA) via vascular wall remodeling. This study examines the relationship between wall shear stress (WSS) obtained from image-based computational modelling with tissue-derived mechanical and microstructural properties of the ATAA wall using segmental analysis.

Methods: Ten patients undergoing surgery for ATAA were recruited. Exclusions: bicuspid aortopathy, connective tissue disease. All patients had pre-operative 4-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D-MRI), allowing for patient-specific computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and anatomically precise WSS mapping of ATAA regions (6–12 segments per patient). ATAA samples were obtained from surgery and subjected to region-specific tensile and peel testing (matched to WSS segments). Computational pathology was used to characterize elastin/collagen abundance and smooth muscle cell (SMC) count.

Results: Elevated values of WSS were predictive of: reduced wall thickness [coef −0.0489, 95% CI (−0.0905, −0.00727), p = 0.022] and dissection energy function (longitudinal) [−15,0, 95% CI (−33.00, −2.98), p = 0.048]. High WSS values also predicted higher ultimate tensile strength [coef 0.136, 95% CI (0 0.001, 0.270), p = 0.048]. Additionally, elevated WSS also predicted a reduction in elastin levels [coef −0.276, 95% (CI −0.531, −0.020), p = 0.035] and lower SMC count ([oef −6.19, 95% CI (−11.41, −0.98), p = 0.021]. WSS was found to have no effect on collagen abundance or circumferential mechanical properties.

Conclusions: Our study suggests an association between elevated WSS values and aortic wall degradation in ATAA disease. Further studies might help identify threshold values to predict acute aortic events.
A Novel Brighter Bioluminescent Fusion Protein Based on ZZ Domain and Amydetes vivianii Firefly Luciferase for Immunoassays
Authors: Viviani Vadim R. , Silva Jaqueline Rodrigues , Ho Paulo Lee
Published: October 2021

Immunoassays are widely used for detection of antibodies against specific antigens in diagnosis, as well as in electrophoretic techniques such as Western Blotting. They usually rely on colorimetric, fluorescent or chemiluminescent methods for detection. Whereas the chemiluminescence methods are more sensitive and widely used, they usually suffer of fast luminescence decay. Here we constructed a novel bioluminescent fusion protein based on the N-terminal ZZ portion of protein A and the brighter green-blue emittingAmydetes vivianiifirefly luciferase. In the presence of D-luciferin/ATP assay solution, the new fusion protein, displays higher bioluminescence activity, is very thermostable and produces a sustained emission (t1/2> 30 min). In dot blots, we could successfully detect rabbit IgG against firefly luciferases, Limpet Haemocyanin, and SARS-CoV-2 Nucleoprotein (1–250 ng), as well as the antigen bound antibodies using either CCD imaging, and even photography using smartphones. Using CCD imaging, we could detect up to 100 pg of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleoprotein. Using this system, we could also successfully detect firefly luciferase and SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein in Western Blots (5–250 ng). Comparatively, the new fusion protein displays slightly higher and more sustained luminescent signal when compared to commercial HRP-labeled secondary antibodies, constituting a novel promising alternative for Western Blotting and immunoassays.
Enhancement of Activity and Thermostability of Keratinase From Pseudomonas aeruginosa CCTCC AB2013184 by Directed Evolution With Noncanonical Amino Acids
Authors: Pan Xianchao , Yang Jian , Xie Peijuan , Zhang Jing , Ke Famin , Guo Xiurong , Liang Manyu , Liu Li , Wang Qin , Gao Xiaowei
Published: October 2021

A keratinase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (KerPA), which belongs to the M4 family of metallopeptidases, was characterised in this study. This enzyme was engineered with non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) using genetic code expansion. Several variants with enhanced activity and thermostability were identified and the most prominent, Y21pBpF/Y70pBpF/Y114pBpF, showed an increase in enzyme activity and half-life of approximately 1.3-fold and 8.2-fold, respectively. Considering that keratinases usually require reducing agents to efficiently degrade keratin, the Y21pBpF/Y70pBpF/Y114pBpF variant with enhanced activity and stability under reducing conditions may have great significance for practical applications. Molecular Dynamics (MD) was performed to identify the potential mechanisms underlying these improvements. The results showed that mutation with pBpF at specific sites of the enzyme could fill voids, form new interactions, and reshape the local structure of the active site of the enzyme.
A Single-Cell Culture System for Dissecting Microenvironmental Signaling in Development and Disease of Cartilage Tissue
Authors: Tassey Jade , Sarkar Arijita , Van Handel Ben , Lu Jinxiu , Lee Siyoung , Evseenko Denis
Published: October 2021

Cartilage tissue is comprised of extracellular matrix and chondrocytes, a cell type with very low cellular turnover in adults, providing limited capacity for regeneration. However, in development a significant number of chondrocytes actively proliferate and remodel the surrounding matrix. Uncoupling the microenvironmental influences that determine the balance between clonogenic potential and terminal differentiation of these cells is essential for the development of novel approaches for cartilage regeneration. Unfortunately, most of the existing methods are not applicable for the analysis of functional properties of chondrocytes at a single cell resolution. Here we demonstrate that a novel 3D culture method provides a long-term and permissive in vitro niche that selects for highly clonogenic, colony-forming chondrocytes which maintain cartilage-specific matrix production, thus recapitulating the in vivo niche. As a proof of concept, clonogenicity of Sox9IRES–EGFP mouse chondrocytes is almost exclusively found in the highest GFP+ fraction known to be enriched for chondrocyte progenitor cells. Although clonogenic chondrocytes are very rare in adult cartilage, we have optimized this system to support large, single cell-derived chondrogenic organoids with complex zonal architecture and robust chondrogenic phenotype from adult pig and human articular chondrocytes. Moreover, we have demonstrated that growth trajectory and matrix biosynthesis in these organoids respond to a pro-inflammatory environment. This culture method offers a robust, defined and controllable system that can be further used to interrogate the effects of various microenvironmental signals on chondrocytes, providing a high throughput platform to assess genetic and environmental factors in development and disease.
Crosstalk Between microRNAs and the Pathological Features of Secondary Lymphedema
Authors: Yusof Khairunnisa’ Md , Groen Kira , Rosli Rozita , Avery-Kiejda Kelly A.
Published: October 2021

Secondary lymphedema is characterized by lymphatic fluid retention and subsequent tissue swelling in one or both limbs that can lead to decreased quality of life. It often arises after loss, obstruction, or blockage of lymphatic vessels due to multifactorial modalities, such as lymphatic insults after surgery, immune system dysfunction, deposition of fat that compresses the lymphatic capillaries, fibrosis, and inflammation. Although secondary lymphedema is often associated with breast cancer, the condition can occur in patients with any type of cancer that requires lymphadenectomy such as gynecological, genitourinary, or head and neck cancers. MicroRNAs demonstrate pivotal roles in regulating gene expression in biological processes such as lymphangiogenesis, angiogenesis, modulation of the immune system, and oxidative stress. MicroRNA profiling has led to the discovery of the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of auto-immune, inflammation-related, and metabolic diseases. Although the role of microRNAs in regulating secondary lymphedema is yet to be elucidated, the crosstalk between microRNAs and molecular factors involved in the pathological features of lymphedema, such as skin fibrosis, inflammation, immune dysregulation, and aberrant lipid metabolism have been demonstrated in several studies. MicroRNAs have the potential to serve as biomarkers for diseases and elucidation of their roles in lymphedema can provide a better understanding or new insights of the mechanisms underlying this debilitating condition.
Comprehensive Analysis of Regulatory Factors and Immune-Associated Patterns to Decipher Common and BRCA1/2 Mutation-Type-Specific Critical Regulation in Breast Cancer
Authors: Li Yue , Dong Wei , Zhang Pengqian , Zhang Ting , Ma Ling , Qu Meng , Ma Xingcong , Zhou Xiaoyan , He Qian
Published: October 2021

Background:BRCA1/2 mutations are closely related to high lifetime risk of breast cancer (BC). The objective of this study was to identify the genes, regulators, and immune-associated patterns underlying disease pathology in BC with BRCA1/2 somatic mutations and their associations with clinical traits.

Methods: RNA sequencing data and clinical information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; N = 36 BRCA1-mutant BC; N = 49 BRCA2-mutant BC; and N = 117 BRCA1/2-wild-type BC samples) were used for discovery, which included consensus network analysis, function enrichment, and analysis of hub genes; other TCGA data (N = 117 triple-negative BC) and two Gene Expression Omnibus database expression profiles were used as validation cohorts.

Results: Consensus network analysis helped to identify specific co-expressed modules that showed positive correlations with tumor stage, number of positive lymph nodes, and margin status in BRCA1/2-mutant BC but lacking correlations in BRCA1/2-wild-type BC. Functional enrichment suggested potential mechanisms in BRCA1/2 carriers that could regulate the cell cycle, immune response, cellular metabolic processes, and cell migration, via enriched pathways including p53 and JAK–STAT signaling. Consensus network analysis identified the specific and common carcinogenic mechanisms involving BRCA mutations. Regulators cross-linking these modules include E2F or IRF transcription factor family, associated with cell cycle or immune response regulation module, respectively. Eight hub genes, including ISG15, BUB1, and TTK, were upregulated in several BRCA1/2-mutant BC datasets and showed prognostic value in BC. Furthermore, their genetic expression was related to higher levels of immune infiltration in BRCA1/2-mutant BC, which manifested as recruitment of T helper cells (Th1 cells), follicular helper T cells, and regulatory T cells, and T cell exhaustion. Moreover, important indicators for evaluation of BC immunotherapy, tumor mutational burden and neoantigen load also positively correlated with expression of some hub genes.

Conclusion: We constructed a BRCA1/2 mutation-type-specific co-expressed gene network with related transcription factors and immune-associated patterns that could regulate and influence tumor metastasis and immune microenvironment, providing novel insights into the pathological process of this disease and the corresponding BRCA mutations.
Crosstalk Between MicroRNAs and Circular RNAs in Human Diseases: A Bibliographic Study
Authors: Chen Yu-Meng , Zheng Yi-Li , Su Xuan , Wang Xue-Qiang
Published: October 2021

Background: Crosstalk of circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) refers to the communication and co-regulation between them. circRNAs can act as miRNAs sponges, and miRNAs can mediate circRNAs. They interact to regulate gene expression and participate in the occurrence and development of various human diseases.

Methods: Publications on the crosstalk between miRNAs and circRNAs in human diseases were collected from Web of Science. The collected material was limited to English articles and reviews. CiteSpace and Microsoft Excel were used for bibliographic analysis.

Results: A total of 1,013 papers satisfied the inclusion criteria. The publication outputs and types of researched diseases were analyzed, and bibliographic analysis was used to characterize the most active journals, countries, institutions, keywords, and references. The annual number of publications remarkably increased from 2011 to 2020. Neoplasm was the main research hotspot (n = 750 publications), and Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications published the largest number of papers (n = 64) on this topic. Nanjing Medical University ranked first among institutions actively engaged in this field by publishing 72 papers, and China contributed 96.84% of the 1,013 papers (n = 981 publications) analyzed. Burst keywords in recent years included glioblastoma, miR-7, skeletal muscle, and non-coding RNA.

Conclusion: Crosstalk between miRNAs and circRNAs in human diseases is a popular research topic. This study provides important clues on research trends and frontiers.
Tex13a Optimizes Sperm Motility via Its Potential Roles in mRNA Turnover
Authors: Li Yinchuan , Mi Panpan , Chen Xue , Wu Jiabao , Liu Xiaohua , Tang Yunge , Cheng Jinmei , Huang Yingying , Qin Weibing , Cheng C. Yan , Sun Fei
Published: October 2021

mRNAs have been found to undergo substantial selective degradation during the late stages of spermiogenesis. However, the mechanisms regulating this biological process are unknown. In this report, we have identified Tex13a, a spermatid-specific gene that interacts with the CCR4–NOT complex and is implicated in the targeted degradation of mRNAs encoding particular structural components of sperm. Deletion of Tex13a led to a delayed decay of these mRNAs, lowered the levels of house-keeping genes, and ultimately lowered several key parameters associated with the control of sperm motility, such as the path velocity (VAP, average path velocity), track speed (VCL, velocity curvilinear), and rapid progression.
A Different Facet of p53 Function: Regulation of Immunity and Inflammation During Tumor Development
Authors: Shi Di , Jiang Peng
Published: October 2021

As a key transcription factor, the evolutionarily conserved tumor suppressor p53 (encoded by TP53) plays a central role in response to various cellular stresses. A variety of biological processes are regulated by p53 such as cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, senescence and metabolism. Besides these well-known roles of p53, accumulating evidence show that p53 also regulates innate immune and adaptive immune responses. p53 influences the innate immune system by secreted factors that modulate macrophage function to suppress tumourigenesis. Dysfunction of p53 in cancer affects the activity and recruitment of T and myeloid cells, resulting in immune evasion. p53 can also activate key regulators in immune signaling pathways which support or impede tumor development. Hence, it seems that the tumor suppressor p53 exerts its tumor suppressive effect to a considerable extent by modulating the immune response. In this review, we concisely discuss the emerging connections between p53 and immune responses, and their impact on tumor progression. Understanding the role of p53 in regulation of immunity will help to developing more effective anti-tumor immunotherapies for patients with TP53 mutation or depletion.
Mechanical Stability Is Key for Large-Scale Implementation of Photocatalytic Surface-Attached Film Technologies in Water Treatment
Authors: Ramos D.R. , Iazykov M. , Fernandez M.I. , Santaballa J.A. , Canle M.
Published: October 2021

Replacement of classical tertiary water treatment by chemical-free sunlight-driven photocatalytic units has been often proposed. Photocatalysts are required to be cost-effective, inert, chemically stable, reusable, and easy to separate and also that they are mechanically stable. The effect of mechanical stress on a photoactive TiO2 layer, and on its effectivity for degradation of phenol as a model pollutant, has been studied during photocatalytic water treatment using NUV–vis light. Sol–gel (SG) and liquid phase deposition (LPD) methods have been used to coat spherical glass beads with the photocatalyst (TiO2). Physicochemical characterization of coated glass beads has been performed by N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, SEM, EDXS, and AFM. Phenol photocatalyzed degradation was carried out both in stirred batch and flow reactors irradiated with a medium-pressure Hg-vapor lamp (λ > 350 nm). Phenol concentration was determined by HPLC, and its photoproducts were identified using HPLC/MS. In the stirred batch reactor, all LPD-coated glass beads displayed higher catalytic activity than SG-coated ones, which increased with calcination temperature, 700°C being the most efficient temperature. Preliminary etching of the glass beads surface yielded dissimilar results; whereas, phenol photodegradation with SG-coated etched glass beads is twice faster than with unetched SG ones, the rate reduces to one-third using LPD etched instead of unetched LPD glass beads. Phenol photodegradation using LPD is similar both in stirred batch and flow reactors, despite the latter uses a lower catalyst load. LPD-etched catalyst was recovered and reused in the stirred batch reactor; its activity reduced sharply after the first use, and it also lost activity in successive runs, ca. 10% of activity after each “use and recover” cycle. In the flow reactor, activity loss after the first experiment and recycling (ca. 30%) was much larger than in the following runs, where the activity remained rather constant through several cycles. LPD is more adequate than SG for TiO2 immobilization onto glass beads, and their calcination at 700°C leads to relatively strong and reactive photocatalytic films. Still, TiO2-coated glass beads exhibited very low photoactivity compared to TiO2-P25 nanoparticles, though their separation is much easier and almost costless. The durability of the catalytic layer increases when using a flow reactor, with the pollutant solution flowing in a laminar regime through the photocatalyst bed. In this way, the abrasion of the photocatalytic surface is largely reduced and its photoactivity is better maintained.
Obesity and the Bidirectional Risk of Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases in African Americans: Disparity vs. Ancestry
Authors: Guha Avirup , Wang Xiaoling , Harris Ryan A. , Nelson Anna-Gay , Stepp David , Klaassen Zachary , Raval Priyanka , Cortes Jorge , Coughlin Steven S. , Bogdanov Vladimir Y. , Moore Justin X. , Desai Nihar , Miller D. Douglas , Lu Xin-Yun , Kim Ha Won , Weintraub Neal L.
Published: October 2021

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer often occur in the same individuals, in part due to the shared risk factors such as obesity. Obesity promotes adipose inflammation, which is pathogenically linked to both cardiovascular disease and cancer. Compared with Caucasians, the prevalence of obesity is significantly higher in African Americans (AA), who exhibit more pronounced inflammation and, in turn, suffer from a higher burden of CVD and cancer-related mortality. The mechanisms that underlie this association among obesity, inflammation, and the bidirectional risk of CVD and cancer, particularly in AA, remain to be determined. Socio-economic disparities such as lack of access to healthy and affordable food may promote obesity and exacerbate hypertension and other CVD risk factors in AA. In turn, the resulting pro-inflammatory milieu contributes to the higher burden of CVD and cancer in AA. Additionally, biological factors that regulate systemic inflammation may be contributory. Mutations in atypical chemokine receptor 1 (ACKR1), otherwise known as the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC), confer protection against malaria. Many AAs carry a mutation in the gene encoding this receptor, resulting in loss of its expression. ACKR1 functions as a decoy chemokine receptor, thus dampening chemokine receptor activation and inflammation. Published and preliminary data in humans and mice genetically deficient in ACKR1 suggest that this common gene mutation may contribute to ethnic susceptibility to obesity-related disease, CVD, and cancer. In this narrative review, we present the evidence regarding obesity-related disparities in the bidirectional risk of CVD and cancer and also discuss the potential association of gene polymorphisms in AAs with emphasis on ACKR1.
A New Inclusive Volcanic Risk Ranking, Part 2: Application to Latin America
Authors: Guimarães Letícia Freitas , Nieto-Torres Amiel , Bonadonna Costanza , Frischknecht Corine
Published: October 2021

Volcanic Risk Ranking (VRR) methods have been developed worldwide as a way to hierarchize the volcanic systems and help target strategies for risk reduction. Such hierarchization is especially important in areas characterized by a large number of active volcanoes but limited resources. This is the case of Latin America, where large populations live nearby almost 300 active volcanoes. Here we assess the volcanic systems in Latin America with at least one eruption in the last 1,000 years based on the VRR strategy presented in a companion paper that accounts for the 4 main risk factors: hazard, exposure, vulnerability and resilience. Our results reveal that, among the 123 volcanoes analyzed, Santiaguito, Tacaná and Fuego are those with the highest score in the 3-factor VRR (H×E×V), while Ecuador, Marchena and Santiago are among the systems with the lowest score. Bárcena and Pinta score zero as there is no exposure. Although vulnerability significantly contributes to the VRR score, hazard and exposure are the main factors that define the risk of Latin American volcanic systems in the proposed 3-factor VRR, while resilience contributes to its reduction in the proposed 4-factor VRR strategy. In this regard, Arenal, Copahue, Villarrica, Ubinas, Irazú and Poás are the systems with the highest number of risk reduction strategies in place. Atitlán, Almolonga and Tecuamburro are the volcanic systems with the highest score in the 4-factor VRR [(H×E×V)/(Res+1)], combining moderate hazard, exposure and vulnerability and low resilience; Bárcena, Pinta, Ecuador, Marchena and Santiago receive the lowest scores due to no or low exposure. Santiaguito, Tacaná, El Chichón and Ceboruco are characterized by high scores in the 3-factor VRR and also stand out as some of those with few risk reduction strategies implemented; thus they have intermediate to high scores also in the 4-factor VRR. Recognizing that hazard is difficult to mitigate and reducing exposure may depend on hardly feasible relocation of infrastructure and already established communities, we emphasize that measures to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience should be promoted (e.g., creating redundancy/accessibility to infrastructure, carrying out risk assessment studies, implementing early warning systems, developing emergency plans and promoting educational activities).