bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Rhodamine B-encrypted Vipericidin Peptide, RhoB-Ctn[1-9], Displays
In vitro Antimicrobial Activity Against Opportunistic Bacteria and Yeasts
Authors: Lima Hilania Valeria Doudou , dos Santos Thales Márcio Cabral , de Sousa Silva Mirelly Mirna Alves , da Silva Albuquerque João Victor , Melo Luciana Magalhães , de Figueirêdo Freitas Vicente José , Rádis-Baptista Gandhi 
Published: March 2021

Background:
Crotalicidin (Ctn), a snake venom cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide,
is a 34-residue-long linear lysine-rich vipericidin obtained from the South American rattlesnake, Crotalus
durissus terrificus. Ctn contains tandem repeats of nine amino acid residues (1KRFKKFFKK9
and 16KRLKKIFKK24; consensus: 1KRhKKhFKK9, h = hydrophobic amino acid) as an integral part
of its structure.

Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the encrypted vipericidin
nonapeptide KRFKKFFKK, designated as Ctn[1-9], and its structural analogue, rhodamine-
B‒conjugated Ctn[1-9], designated as RhoB-Ctn[1-9].

Method:
The susceptibility of representative pathogenic bacteria and yeasts to antimicrobial agents
was determined using the broth microdilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. Cytotoxicity
was estimated using a hemolytic assay. The accumulation of RhoB-Ctn[1-9] in microbial
cells was observed by fluorescence microscopy. The antimicrobial synergism of RhoB-Ctn[1-9] with
antimicrobials was evaluated using a checkerboard analysis.

Results:
RhoB-conjugated Ctn[1-9] displayed selective antimicrobial activity against infectious
gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and pathogenic species of
Candida with low hemolytic effects on human erythrocytes which were not observed with unconjugated
Ctn[1-9]. RhoB-Ctn[1-9] could permeate cell membranes and accumulate intracellularly in
microbial cells. RhoB-Ctn[1-9] exhibits synergistic effects when used with antibiotics or antifungal
agents and reduced the MICs of the peptide and antimicrobials.

Conclusion:
These findings indicate the potential of crotalicidin-related short peptides as structural
motifs for the diversification of biological functionalities. Further, they set the stage to investigate the
molecular mechanisms by which chemically modified vipericidin repeats modulate cell fate.
Herbal Medicines to Fight Against COVID-19: New Battle with an Old
Weapon
Authors: Harwansh Ranjit K. , Bahadur Shiv 
Published: March 2021

Abstract:
The world population has suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The disease has
become life-threatening in a very short time, harming citizens and the economic systems globally. The
novel virus SARS-CoV-2 has been known as the causative agent of COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 is a
single-stranded RNA virus having ~30 kb genomic components, which are 70% identical to SARS-CoV.
The main process of the pathophysiology of COVID-19 has been associated with the interaction of a
novel coronavirus with host cell receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE 2), by fusion. Therapeutic
agents having serine protease inhibitors and ACE-2 blockers may be explored for the treatment by
inhibiting the viral target such as Mpro, RdRp, PLpro, and helicase. Herbal medicine has a wide array of
chemical entities with potential health benefits, including antiviral activity, which may be explored as an
alternative treatment for COVID-19. The herbal bioactives like catechins, andrographolide, hesperidin,
biorobin, scutellarein, silvestrol, shikonin, tryptanthrin, vitexin quercetin, myricetin, caffeic acid, psoralidin,
luteolin, etc. have shown potential inhibitory effect against SARS-CoV-2. Recent research reports
indicate that the various plant secondary metabolites have shown potential antiviral activities. The present
review article highlights the recent information on the mechanism of actions and applications of
herbal medicine in the treatment of COVID-19.
Screening and Development of Transglutaminase-2 Inhibitors and their
Derivative as Anti-lung Cancer Agent by in silico and in vitro Approaches
Authors: Parvatikar Prachi P. , Patil Sumangala , Hoskeri Joy , Swargam Sandeep , Kulkarni Raghvendra V. , Das Kusal K 
Published: March 2021

Aim:
This study aimed at screening and development of TG2 inhibitors as anti lung cancer
agent.

Background:
Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is multifunctional and ubiquitously expressed protein
from the transglutaminase family. It takes part in various cellular processes and plays an important
role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune, neurodegerative diseases, and also cancer.

Objective :
The proposed study focused on screening potent inhibitors of TG2 by in-silico method
and synthesize their derivative as well as analyse its activity by utilizing an in-vitro approach.

Material and Methods:
Molecular docking studies have been carried out on the different classes
of TG2 inhibitors against the target protein. Nearly thirty TG2 inhibitors were selected from literature
and docking was performed against transglutaminase 2. The computational ADME property
screening was also carried out to check their pharmacokinetic properties. The compounds which exhibited
positive ADME properties with good interaction while possessing the least binding energy
were further validated for their anti-lung cancer inhibition property against A549 cell lines using cytotoxicity
studies.

Results:
The results of the present study indicate that the docked complex formed by cystamine
showed better binding affinity towards target protein, so this derivative of cystamine was formed
using 2,5 dihydrobenzoic acid. Invitro results revealed that both molecules proved to be good cytotoxic
agents against A549 lung cancer (875.10, 553.22 μg/ml), respectively. Further, their activity
needs to be validated on TG2 expressing lung cancer.

Conclusion :
Cystamine and its derivative can act as a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer
but its activity should be further validated on TG2 expressing lung cancer.
The LncRNA MIR155HG is Upregulated by SP1 in Melanoma Cells and Drives
Melanoma Progression via Modulating the MiR-485-3p/PSIP1 Axis
Authors: Zhang Dingwei , Huo Jia , Wang Yuan , Zhang Yanfei , Wang Wei , Yang Peiwen , Zhao Wenwei , Zhang Miaomiao , Cui Lu 
Published: March 2021

Background:
MIR155HG is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that has been shown to be
dysregulated in a range of tumor types, but the functions of this lncRNA in melanoma remain to be explored.

Objectives:
We explored the functions of lncRNA MIR155HG in melanoma progression.

Methods:
The expression of miR155HG was analyzed in clinical melanoma. Bioinformatics analysis was
performed to assess the potential tumor-related functions of miR155HG. The interaction of miR155HG and SP1
and the inhibition of PSIP1 by miR-485-3p were analyzed by ChIP, luciferase reporter experiments, and the
biological effects in melanoma were explored by colony formation assays, EdU cell proliferation assays,
Transwell analysis, and intracranial melanoma mouse model.

Results:
Herein, we found that MIR155HG was markedly upregulated in melanoma cell lines and tissues. We
further determined that the SP1 transcription factor was responsible for driving MIR155HG upregulation in
melanoma. Elevated MIR155HG levels were linked to decreased overall survival (OS) in melanoma patients, and
we further determined that MIR155HG expression was an independent predictor of melanoma patient prognosis.
When MIR155HG was knocked down in melanoma cells, this impaired their proliferative, migratory, and
invasive activity. By using predictive bioinformatics analyses, we identified miR-485-3p as a microRNA
(miRNA) capable of binding to both MIR155HG and the 3’ UTR of PSIP1.

Conclusion:
Together, these results suggest that MIR155HG is capable of promoting melanoma cell proliferation
via the miR-485-3p/PSIP1 axis. These novel findings provide new insights into the development of melanoma,
potentially highlighting future avenues for therapeutic intervention.
Relationship Between Age-Related Postural Hyperkyphosis and Sarcopenia
Authors: Soylu Gülçimen , Çakmak Güzin , Yalvaç Yusuf , Yakaryılmaz Funda Datlı , Öztürk Zeynel Abidin 
Published: March 2021

Background:
Hyperkyphosis is one of the commonly seen disabilities in the elderly.
Loss of muscle mass and function is supposed to be related to age-related hyperkyphosis. We
aimed to explain the relationship between sarcopenia and hyperkyphosis in old patients in this
study.

Methods:
142 patients who were in the polyclinic of geriatrics of Gaziantep University Hospital
were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Hyperkyphotic patients were included in the study
group, and non-hyperkyphotic patients were included in the control group by experienced staff.
Their mean age was 72±6.9. Thirty-six of them were male, and 106 of them were female. The
EWGSOP 2 criteria were used for the diagnosis of sarcopenia. SARC-F (sluggishness, assistance
in walking, rising from a chair, climb stairs, falls) test was performed on all patients. The handgrip
test was applied to patients who had a score ≥4 from SARC-F. We conducted bioimpedance analysis
of the probable sarcopenic patients who were diagnosed with handgrip assessment. Four-meter
gait speed test, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) and Tinetti Test were applied to all patients to evaluate
gait speed. Hyperkyphosis was evaluated with the bloc method in the Rancho Bernardo Study.
Numbers of the blocks used for keeping patients in a neutral position were recorded. We defined
hyperkyphosis as the state in that one or more blocks are needed to maintain the patient's neutral position
on the radiology table.

Results:
Hyperkyphosis was positively related to lower extremity dysfunction which was assessed
by 4-m-gait speed test (p=0.018) and TUG (p=0.042). A significant relationship between gait
speed and hyperkyphosis was revealed when evaluated with one-way MANOVA (F [5,92] =2.588,
p=0.031, Wilk's Λ=0.877, partial η2=0.123). We found a significant relationship between TUG
and the number of blocks needed to restore neutral position by linear regression analyses (r2
=0.059, p=0.044). We found a cut-off value of gait speed as 0.65 m/s for the presence of hyperkyphosis
(sensitivity:60%, specificity:70%, CI=95%, p<0.001, AUC=0.710). Tinetti balance, gait
and total test scores were also negatively related to hyperkyphosis (p=0.006; 0,027; 0.031).

Conclusions:
In previous studies, vertebral compression fractures, degenerative disc disease, weakness
of back extensor muscles and genetic predisposition were suggested as predisposing factors
for age-related kyperkyphosis. Different from these in our study, lower extremity muscle function
was found to be related to age-related hyperkyphosis. More studies on this subject could be helpful.
Hyperkifosis prognosis in severe sarcopenic groups might be a new research topic.
Phenytoin induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome-toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Overlap Exacerbated by Cephalexin in a 65-Year-old Neurosurgical Patient:
A Rare Case Report
Authors: Mahalingam Vijayakumar Thangavel , Rathinam Kiran Kumar , Sabarathinam Sarvesh , Nuthalapati Poojith 
Published: March 2021

Objective:
To report a rare case of drug induced overlap of Stevens-Johnson syndrome
and Toxic Epidermal Necrosis Syndrome exacerbated by cephalexin.

Case summary:
In this case report, we present a 65-year-old female who had come to the hospital
with complaints of Sloughing of the skin and redness all over the body with raised body temperature.
She was on therapeutic Phenytoin to prevent the post-surgical complications of Communicating
Hydrocephalus. After a detailed examination, it was found that the patient had misemployed
with an overdose of Phenytoin. The patient was found with nikolsky sign and diagnosed as Stevens-
Johnson syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrosis overlap. This case report emphasizes phenytoin
induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrosis syndrome exacerbated by
cephalexin.

Practice implications:
By witnessing this phenomenon, we could figure out the association between
cephalexin and Stevens-Johnson syndrome- Toxic Epidermal Necrosis syndrome overlap. The Immediate
dismissal of the offending agent and commencement of supportive care was found to be effective.
A Sun Safety Pilot Program Using a Tanning Myths–Focused Video Contest for Utah Adolescents: Cross-sectional Analysis
Authors: Truong Amanda , Forbes Brayden , Zhang Mingyuan , McFadden Molly , Klein Stephanie 
Published: March 2021

BackgroundAdolescents are susceptible to excessive ultraviolet exposure due to intentional tanning, outdoor lifestyles, and poor sunscreen adherence. As skin cancer incidence continues to rise in the United States, effective and focused interventions are needed to encourage photoprotective behaviors.ObjectiveThis study seeks to determine poor photoprotective behavior risk factors in adolescents residing in Utah and whether video contest participants have increased sun-protective knowledge and intentions.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we surveyed Utah high school students (n=20) who participated in a tanning myths-themed public service announcement video contest. A control cohort of students who did not participate in the video contest were also surveyed (n=89). Demographics, sun exposure history, intentions to tan, and intentions to use sunscreen were documented. Knowledge of tanning myths was assessed with a 7-question sun safety quiz.ResultsThe survey response rate was 93.2% (109/117). Two-thirds reported at least one sunburn, and 47.7% (52/109) reported intentional tanning within the past 2 years. Higher tanning intentions were associated with a personal (P<.001), family (P=.001), and peer (P<.001) history of tanning. Video contest participants had higher sun safety quiz scores (P<.001) and higher sunscreen use intentions (P=.01), but did not have decreased tanning intentions (P=.47) compared to non–video contest participants. Hispanic and Black students were less likely to participate in the video contest (P<.001 and P=.04, respectively). In a comparison of White students to students of color, there were no differences in sun exposure history, but students of color had lower sun safety knowledge (P=.01) and lower sunscreen use intention (P=.02).ConclusionsSun safety educational disparities exist, and targeted efforts are needed to encourage photoprotective behaviors in high-risk populations. Our findings suggest that video contest participation may encourage sunscreen use and sun protection awareness.
Social Media and Medical Education in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review
Authors: Katz Marc , Nandi Neilanjan 
Published: March 2021

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought virtual web-based learning to the forefront of medical education as training programs adapt to physical distancing challenges while maintaining the rigorous standards of medical training. Social media has unique and partially untapped potential to supplement formal medical education.

Objective
The aim of this review is to provide a summary of the incentives, applications, challenges, and pitfalls of social media–based medical education for both trainees and educators.

Methods
We performed a literature review via PubMed of medical research involving social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and podcasts. Papers were reviewed for inclusion based on the integrity and power of the study.

Results
The unique characteristics of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and podcasts endow them with unique communication capabilities that serve different educational purposes in both formal and informal education settings. However, contemporary medical education curricula lack widespread guidance on meaningful use, application, and deployment of social media in medical education.

Conclusions
Clinicians and institutions must evolve to embrace the use of social media platforms for medical education. Health care professionals can approach social media engagement in the same ethical manner that they would with patients in person; however, health care institutions ultimately must enable their health care professionals to achieve this by enacting realistic social media policies. Institutions should appoint clinicians with strong social media experience to leadership roles to spearhead these generational and cultural changes. Further studies are needed to better understand how health care professionals can most effectively use social media platforms as educational tools. Ultimately, social media is here to stay, influencing lay public knowledge and trainee knowledge. Clinicians and institutions must embrace this complementary modality of trainee education and champion social media as a novel distribution platform that can also help propagate truth in a time of misinformation, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elimination of Angina, Comprehensive Cardio-Metabolic Risk Reduction, and 50-Pound Weight Loss in a US Navy Veteran with Myasthenia Gravis
Authors: Yiaslas Themis A , Taylor June , Embree Janelle , Schaefer Saul 
Published: March 2021

SUMMARY:
The following case report documents the personal story of a 65 year-old male veteran of the US Navy who participated in an interdisciplinary lifestyle intervention called the Heart Disease Reversal Program at his local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. After having two heart attacks within 62 days and feeling demoralized, he adopted a whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diet, as defined by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. His story suggests that patients with multimorbidity, including autoimmune diseases that limit physical activity, may find the WFPB diet to be a feasible and effective treatment for severe angina and comprehensive cardio-metabolic risk reduction.
Know Thy Patient: Enhancing Lifestyle Interventions with Psychological Assessment
Authors: Kitazono Rachel 
Published: March 2021

Disease reversal and prevention interventions aim to promote substantial lifestyle changes in patients that are maintained for the long-term. The science of behavior change has identified many factors associated with initiating and maintaining lifestyle changes, many of which are psychosocial in nature. Disease reversal interventions can be significantly enhanced through the incorporation of a comprehensive psychological evaluation. The value of psychological assessment has been firmly established for the purposes of evaluating candidates for bariatric surgery and organ transplant, which necessitate strict and long-term lifestyle modification to maximize surgical outcomes. One of the first Heart Disease Reversal Programs housed within a Cardiology department, started at UC Davis in the early 1990s, included a psychologist and a psychological evaluation that led to a tailored plan for their patients. Psychologists also receive training in both applied research and program development/evaluation, making them well-suited to organize, coordinate, and direct disease reversal and prevention programs. Psychological assessment provides a way to gain a more complete picture of our patients, enabling us to better tailor treatment interventions that work.
The Impact of Juror Knowledge of Deductibility and Defendants' Tax Rates on Punitive Damages Awards: Experimental Evidence
Authors: Church Bryan K. , Davis-Nozemack Karie , Dhooge Lucien , Venkataraman Shankar 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT
The U.S. Tax Code allows corporate defendants to treat punitive damages as a deductible expense. Legal scholars argue that tax-unaware jurors fail to recognize that deductibility significantly reduces defendants' after-tax punishment, leading to an under-punishment problem. They propose that explicitly informing jurors about tax-deductibility could mitigate this problem. We conduct an experiment to test this claim. Compared to a control group of jurors who are told nothing about taxes, jurors who learn about tax-deductibility award higher damages when the defendant's effective tax rate (ETR) is low, but not when ETR is high. Our results highlight the cost of tax avoidance (low ETRs) for firms in a previously unexamined setting. Our findings suggest that allowing jurors to consider tax-deductibility leads to higher damages only under a narrow set of circumstances, offering limited support for the under-punishment hypothesis. Our results should be of interest to scholars in accounting, law, and public policy.
Data Availability: Contact the authors.
Effects of International Migration on Human Socio-Economic Development in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK): A Case Study of District Bhimber
Authors: Hashim Kabir , Mahmood Babak , Hussain Shabbir , Ashraf Muhammad Furqan 
Published: March 2021

Purpose: This study aims to explore the effects of international migration on human socio-economic development in district Bhimber, AJK.
Methodology: Data were collected through a survey with the help of a well-structured questionnaire. Multistage sampling technique was used for selection of study respondents. At the first stage one tehsil (Ambala Barnala) out of three tehsils of district Bhimber was selected randomly. In second stage, five localities (Union Councils) viz; Barnala, Watala, Pangali, Patni and Mallot were selected randomly. At the final stage, migrated families were identified through snowball sampling technique and convenient sample of 200 respondents (40 from each locality) from the emigrants’ family were picked up. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used for data analysis using SPSS software.
Findings: Results revealed that migration increased their income, stabilized their employment, and ensured better living conditions. We also find that various pull factors which negated migration included i.e. opportunities of higher income and better educational facilities and push factor like favored migration included lack of employment opportunities. We also find that age, education, income, duration of migration, and nature of work were associated determinants of human socio-economic development.
Implications: It is recommended that Government should provide basic health, educational and economic opportunities to people in the selected area. Moreover, vocational training and technical institutions for capacity building of people is a workable and viable strategy to change the migration attitude.
Keywords: Migration, Immigrants, determinant factors, Socio-economic development
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MULTIMEDIA IN TEACHING SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE FOR THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Authors: Bimo Djoko Sri , Murni Sri , Dartani Maria Yustina Rensi 
Published: March 2021

The use of multimedia technologies in education has enabled teachers to simulate final outcomes and assist students in applying knowledge learned from textbooks, thereby compensating for the deficiency of traditional teaching methods. It is important to examine how effective the technologies are in practical use. The purpose of the study was to describe the implementation of interactive multimedia and to describe the level of defiance of the eighth grade students of SMP Muhammadiyah 1 Surakarta in learning of Simple Present Tense. The study utilized a teaching experiment with a non-equivalent pretest-posttest experimental group design to test and discuss students’ professional cognition, operating skill cognition, and level of learning achievement during the learning process. No significant differences emerged between the groups in regards to professional cognition or operation skills cognition. However, a significant difference in learning achievement was noted, indicating that the treatment with multimedia produced greater achievement than with traditional learning methods. Results are explained in detail and recommendations for further research provided. The result showed that teaching learning process by using multimedia is not only helping teacher in delivering the target language but also motivating the students in learning where it providesaudio and visual materials that make the students attract to the lesson and give more attention to it.