bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metformin Sensitizes Leukemic Cells to Cytotoxic Lymphocytes by Increasing Expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1)
Authors: Allende-Vega Nerea , Brualla Joaquin Marco , Falvo Paolo , Alexia Catherine , Constantinides Michael , Maudave Alexis Fayd’herbe , Coenon Lois , Gitenay Delphine , Mitola Giulia , Massa Paul , Orecchioni Stefania , Bertolini Francesco , Marzo Isabel , Anel Alberto , Villalba Martin 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Solid tumor cells have an altered metabolism that can protect them from cytotoxic lymphocytes. The antidiabetic drug metformin modifies tumor cell metabolism and several clinical trials are testing its effectiveness for the treatment of solid cancers. The use of metformin in hematologic cancers has received much less attention, although allogeneic cytotoxic lymphocytes are very effective against these tumors. We show here that metformin induces expression of Natural Killer G2-D (NKG2D) ligands (NKG2DL) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a ligand of the lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1). This leads to enhance sensitivity to cytotoxic lymphocytes. Overexpression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family members decrease both metformin effects. The sensitization to activated cytotoxic lymphocytes is mainly mediated by the increase on ICAM-1 levels, which favors cytotoxic lymphocytes binding to tumor cells. Finally, metformin decreases the growth of human hematological tumor cells in xenograft models, mainly in presence of monoclonal antibodies that recognize tumor antigens. Our results suggest that metformin could improve cytotoxic lymphocyte-mediated therapy.
Systemic COVID-19 vaccination also enhances the humoral immune response after SARS CoV-2 infection in the population of an oncology hospital in Poland. Criteria for COVID-19 re-immunization are needed.
Authors: Kosiorek Piotr , Kazberuk Dorota , Hryniewicz Anna , Milewski Robert , Stróż Samuel , Stasiak-Barmuta Anna 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Systemic vaccination of the BNT162b2 mRNA stimulates humoral response. Our study aimed to compare the intensity of humoral immune response, measured by SARS CoV-2 IgG, SARS CoV-2 IgM, and neutralization S-RBD IgG antibodies level, post COVID-19 vaccination versus post-SARS COV-2 infection. We analysed 1060 people in the following groups: convalescents, healthy vaccinated, vaccinated with COMIRNATY, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and vaccinated SARS CoV-2 convalescents. A concentration of SARS CoV-2 IgG, SARS CoV-2 IgM, and neutralizing S-RBD IgG was estimated in hospital laboratory by chemiluminescent immunoassay - CLIA, MAGLUMI. Results: 1. We observed a rise of antibodies response in both convalescent SARS CoV-2 and COVID-19 vaccinated groups 2. The level of all antibodies’ concentrations in vaccinated COVID-19 convalescents was significantly higher. 3. We differentiated asymptomatic SARS CoV-2 convalescents from the control group. Based on our analysis, we suggest that it is essential to monitor SARS CoV-2 antibodies concentrations as an indicator of asymptomatic COVID-19 infection and equivalent to the effectiveness of humoral response in convalescents and vaccinated people. Considering the time-limited nature of the effects of post-infection SARS CoV-2 recovery or vaccination, among others physiological half-life, we suggested monitoring IgG antibodies level as a criterium for the next vaccination.
Criminological characterisation of violent crimes involving firearms, committed against life and well-being of people
Authors: Voitsekhovskyi B. O. 
Published: December 2021

Efficiency of crime preventive measures directly depends on the awareness of law enforcement agents about the object of preventive influence. It is especially important to consider this circumstance in relation to violent infringements. Therefore, knowledge concerning the criminological profile of crimes against life and well-being of people that are committed with firearms, under severe criminogenic conditions in the country, has a special value.
As of today, the category “criminological charasteristic of criminality” is yet to receive it’s solid value. Typically, this term consists of descriptions of distinctive features of criminality as a phenomenon, which is composed via analysis of it’s quantitative and qualitative indicators, namely: total amount of offences and perpetrators, coefficient of criminality (coefficients of crime intensity and crime activity), crime dynamics, crime structure, geography of crime and price of crime.
In this research a universally recognized model of criminological characteristic was used, which involves such indicators: crime level, crime coefficient, crime dynamics, crime structure, geography of crime, price of crime and level of latency.
The purpose of this article is to determine the current state and tendencies of crimes against life and well-being of people involving firearms use in Ukraine. The challenge of this article is to provide a criminological characteristic of this phenomenon under modern conditions.
Research results have established a general pattern of lowering levels of certain crimes, qualified by the following articles of Criminal Code of Ukraine: 115 “Homicide”, 116 “Murder commited in the heat of passion”, 118 “Murder in excess of necessary defense or in excess of measures necessary to apprehend an offender”, 119 “Negligent homicide”, 121 “Intended grievous bodily injury”, 122 “Intended bodily injury of medium gravity”, 123 “Intended grievous bodily injury inflicted in the heat of passion”, 124 “Intended grievous bodily injury inflicted in excess of necessary defense or in excess of measures necessary to apprehend an offender”, 125 “Intended minor bodily injury”, 128 “Negligent grievous bodily injury or negligent bodily injury of medium gravity”, 129 “Death threat”
The genesis of the ecosystem concept in the aspect of the implementation of the ecosystem approach to environmental law: from the philosophers of Antiquity to A. Tansley
Authors: Suietnov Ye. P. 
Published: December 2021

The article notes that in the modern environmental legal doctrine in the study of the legal basis for the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems and the implementation of the ecosystem approach to environmental law there is a lack of interdisciplinary scientific search, primarily taking into account the achievements of the relevant natural sciences, which are extremely important for the development of these issues, and therefore need to be thoroughly covered.
With this in mind, the article analyzes the process of formation and development of the ecosystem concept during the historical period from the philosophers of Antiquity to A. Tansley, that is, before the introduction of the term «ecosystem» into scientific circulation. The fateful significance of this event is concluded, despite the fact that some scientists much earlier almost came close to the concept of «ecosystem» and some even proposed other terms which are adequate to «ecosystem» but have not received universal recognition.
It is also hoped that representatives of the ecological-legal science in the study of the conservation and restoration of ecosystems and the implementation of the ecosystem approach will support the idea of the feasibility of interdisciplinary scientific searches.
How Hurricane Katrina influenced the design of hurricane protection and risk reduction systems and national approaches to risk and resilience: Part 1. Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans: A forensic assessment, risk and reliability analysis, and key lessons learned
Authors: Link Lewis E. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
A systems perspective is presented of what happened during and after Hurricane Katrina (2005) and the potential for reducing the likelihood of large losses in the future. This work was the basis for the rapid repair of the damage resulting from Katrina and ultimately the development and construction of a new risk reduction system for the region and a major shift in engineering guidance and practice related to public water infrastructure. The work was primarily accomplished through the Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force (IPET) established by the Chief of Engineers, US Army Corps of Engineers, to conduct a comprehensive forensic analysis of what happened and why, and to an engineering risk and reliability assessment of the hurricane protection system in place when Katrina struck.
Water-related infrastructure investments in a changing environment: a perspective from the World Bank
Authors: Rodríguez Diego J. , Paltán Homero A. , García Luis E. , Ray Patrick , St. George Freeman Sarah 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAt present, there is a global deficit in infrastructure and the World Bank Group (WBG) is one of the major sources of financing to reduce this gap worldwide. The WBG has policies and protocols for approving investments taking into consideration financial and economic indicators while ensuring social and environmental safeguards. In recent years, these safeguards have been updated to include the effects of climate change and robustness and resilience to support climate-informed project investment decision-making. A series of tools for screening projects for climate vulnerabilities and identification of risk management options have been developed to help project teams comply with these requirements. One of these tools is the hierarchical four-phased Decision Tree Framework (DTF) that, beyond screening, helps to analyze plans and project vulnerabilities, climate-related or otherwise, using a decision scaling approach, and explore risk management options, if necessary. The four phases of the DTF are (i) project screening, (ii) initial analysis, (iii) stress test, and (iv) climate risk management. This paper reviews applications of the DTF from the climate change screening phase to non-climate uncertainty screening and decision-making for project investments and prioritization. A peek into work in progress for incorporating resilience in the decision-making process, both for projects and through projects, is also provided, as well as next steps, looking forward.
Effect of Epicatechin on Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Zbinden-Foncea Hermann , Castro-Sepulveda Mauricio , Fuentes Jocelyn , Speisky Hernan 
Published: December 2021

:
Loss of skeletal muscle (SkM) quality is associated with different clinical conditions
such as aging, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and heart failure. Nutritional research has
focused on identifying naturally occurring molecules that mitigate the loss of SkM quality
induced by pathology or syndrome. In this context, although few human studies have
been conducted, epicatechin (Epi) is a prime candidate that may positively affect SkM
quality by its potential ability to mitigate muscle mass loss. This seems to be a consequence
of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and its stimulation of mitochondrial
biogenesis to increase myogenic differentiation, as well as its modulation of
key proteins involved in SkM structure, function, metabolism, and growth. In conclusion,
the Epi could prevent, mitigate, delay, and even treat muscle-related disorders caused by
aging and diseases. However, studies in humans are needed.
Combination of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor Gamma (PPARγ) Agonist and PPAR Gamma Co-Activator 1α (PGC-1α) Activator
Ameliorates Cognitive Deficits, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Rodent Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Das Nihar Ranjan , Vaidya Bhupesh , Khare Pragyanshu , Bishnoi Mahendra , Sharma Shyam Sunder 
Published: December 2021

Background:
PPAR gamma co-activator 1α (PGC-1α) is known as the master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. It is also a co-activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) and plays a role in preventing mitochondrial dysfunction in several neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Depletion in the levels of these proteins has been linked to oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage, all of which are known to contribute to the pathogenesis of PD.

Objective:
In the present study, combination therapy of PPARγ agonist (GW1929) and PGC-1α activator (alpha-lipoic acid) was employed to ameliorate cognitive deficits, oxidative stress, and inflammation associated with the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of PD.

Results:
Our study showed that MPTP-induced PD rats exhibited an increase in oxidative stress and inflammation, leading to cognitive deficits. Furthermore, MPTP-induced PD rats also exhibited reduced mitochondrial biogenesis in comparison to control and sham animals. Intraperitoneal administration of GW 1929 and alpha-lipoic acid in doses lower than those earlier reported individually in literature led to an improvement in the cognitive deficits in comparison to MPTP-induced PD rats. These improvements were accompanied by a reduction in the levels of oxidative stress and inflammation. In addition, an increase in mitochondrial biogenesis was also observed after the combination of these pharmacological agents.

Conclusion:
Our results provide a rationale for the development of agents targeting PPARγ and PGC-1α as potent therapeutics for the treatment of neurological diseases like PD.
Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptability among Patients Living
with HIV in Northern Nigeria: A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Iliyasu Zubairu , Kwaku Aminatu A. , Umar Amina A. , Tsiga-Ahmed Fatimah , Nass Nafisa S. , Abdullahi Hadiza M. , Amole Taiwo G. , Salihu Hamisu M. , Aliyu Muktar H. 
Published: December 2021

Background:
People living with HIV (PLHIV) are at increased risk of COVID-19 acquisition,
severe disease, and poor outcomes. Yet, little is known about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy
among PLHIV in high HIV burden countries, such as Nigeria.

Objective:
This study aims to assess the acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine and identify predictors
and reasons for vaccine hesitancy among patients living with HIV and attending a tertiary hospital
in Kano, northern Nigeria.

Methods:
Using a mixed-methods design, structured questionnaires were administered to a clinic-
based sample of patients living with HIV (n = 344), followed by 20 in-depth interviews with a
sub-sample. Logistic regression and the framework approach were used to analyze the data.

Results:
Less than half (46.2 %, n = 159) of the respondents were willing to take the COVID-19
vaccine. Vaccine acceptance was higher among non-Muslim PLHIV (Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR)
= 1.26, 95 % Confidence Interval (95 % CI): 1.10-4.00), persons with high-risk perception (aOR =
2.43, 95 % CI:1.18-5.00), those who were not worried about infertility-related rumors (aOR =
13.54, 95 % CI:7.07-25.94) and persons who perceived antiretroviral drugs are protective against
COVID-19 (aOR = 2.76, 95 % CI: 1.48-5.14). In contrast, vaccine acceptance was lower among
persons who were not concerned about the potential effects of COVID-19-HIV co-infection (aOR
= 0.20, 95 % CI:0.10-0.39). The most common reasons for vaccine hesitancy included doubts
about the existence of COVID-19, low-risk perception, anxiety about antiretroviral treatmentvaccine
interactions, safety concerns, and infertility-related rumors.

Conclusion:
Covid-19 vaccine acceptance was low among PLHIV. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance
was associated with respondents’ faith, risk perception, perception of the protective effects of antiretroviral
treatment, concerns about COVID-19-HIV co-infection, and infertility-related rumors.
Vaccination counseling should be integrated into HIV treatment services to improve COVID-19
vaccine uptake among PLHIV in Kano, Nigeria and similar settings
The Need of E-ticket to Support the Public Bus Service Improvement Policy in a Developing Country
Authors: Sutandi Anastasia C. 
Published: December 2021

Background:
Public buses are a major transportation mode in large cities in the developing country Indonesia. Nevertheless, most societies still use passenger cars. Therefore, the road authority has developed an important policy to improve public bus services soon. One of the public bus services is to change the bus operational system, including the manual ticketing system to an electronic ticket (e-ticket) system. In order to make the policy succeed, the road authority should ask for passengers’ opinions.

Objective:
The purposes of this study are to ensure that the bus e-ticket is needed to support the policy and then to determine important priority factors of bus e-ticket implementation.

Methods:
The data were collected using a direct survey with a questionnaire in large cities, Surabaya and Denpasar in Indonesia. A total of 565 bus passengers participated in this survey. An analysis was conducted through cross tabulation between the respondents’ demographic data and their perceived level of need and priority of implementation with regard to various factors of the e-ticket system. The Simple Additive Weighting method was used to determine the important priority factors.

Results:
Results indicated that a bus e-ticket needed for the cross tabulation average value is more than 3.60 out of 5.00 for all factors. Furthermore, the three highest values of factors based on the Simple Additive Weighting method are ease of access, availability of the bus routes information, and affordability of the e-ticket price.

Conclusion:
Since respondents indicate that the e-ticket is needed and is a priority, then the policy is beneficial not only to improve bus services in Indonesia but also in other developing countries with similar traffic and geometric conditions.
COL1A1 Gene Expression in Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Egyptian's Patients
Authors: Mohamed Amal A. , Abo-Amer Yousry Esam-Eldin , Aalkhalegy Amyan , Fathalla Lamiaa Abdelfattah , Elmaghraby Mostafa Bedair , Elhoseeny Mohamed Mahmoud , Mostafa Sahar Mohamed , El-Abgeegy Mohamed , Khattab Rania Abdelmonem , El-damasy Dalia Ali , Salah Wafaa , Salem Abeer Mohammed , Elmashad Wael Mohamed , Elbahnasawy Mohamed , Abd-Elsalam Sherief 
Published: December 2021

Introduction:
Collagens are the most abundant proteins in the human body, accounting for one-third of total proteins. Over the last few years, accumulated evidence have indicated that some collagens are differentially expressed in cancer. The aim of the study was to assess COL1A1 gene expression as a novel marker for the progression of hepatitis B cirrhosis into hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods:
This cohort study included 348 subjects and was conducted between May 2018 and June 2019. Subjects were divided into 4 groups: group1 included HBV positive hepatocellular carcinoma patients “HCC” (n= 87), group II included HBV positive patients with liver cirrhosis “LC” (n = 87), group III included chronic hepatitis B patients with neither HCC nor cirrhosis “ C-HBV” (n = 87) and group IV consisted of healthy volunteers as controls (n = 87). Fasting venous blood samples (10 ml) were collected from each participant in this study and were used for assessment of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin, albumin and alfa-fetoprotein (AFP). Another portion of blood was collected in 2 vacutainer tubes containing EDTA, one for Complete blood count and the other for gene expression of COL1A1.

Results:
The gene expression of collagen was 6.9 ± 8.8 in group 1 (HBV positive hepatocellular carcinoma patients) and this was a significant increase in comparison with the other groups. In group 2 (HBV positive patients with liver cirrhosis), the gene expression (collagen) was 3.7±1.5 and it was significantly increased when compared with group 4 (healthy volunteers).

Conclusion:
COL1A1 gene expression can be used as an indicator of the progression of hepatitis B cirrhosis into hepatocellular carcinoma.
Inhibition of Fenton Reaction of Glucose by Alcohols and Tetrahydrofuran
in Catalytic Concentrations: Calculation of the Stability
Constants of ROH/Fe2+ Complexes
Authors: Vitale Arturo Alberto , Bernatene Eduardo Alberto , Pomilio Alicia Beatriz 
Published: December 2021

Background:
The Fenton reaction is of growing interest due to its primary function
in bodily processes and industrial waste disposal. However, the effects of alcohol on
this reaction have not been addressed. Therefore, we analyze for the first time the role that
catalytic concentrations of alcohols play in the Fenton reaction.

Methods:
The Fenton reaction was carried out by measuring oxidation-reduction potential
and pH monitoring under dark conditions to avoid photochemical reactions. The reaction
end point was established using the first derivative of plotting potential versus time. This
point was also checked by the dichromate test for hydrogen peroxide detection. Gas-liquid
chromatography was used to measure alcohol content. The Fenton reaction of glucose was
performed first, and then each alcohol, including ethanol, methanol, iso-propanol, and terbutanol,
was added separately in catalytic amounts, as well as the cyclic ether tetrahydrofuran.
The reaction rate constants and the stability constants of each complex formed were
measured.

Results:
Alcohols were shown to inhibit the Fenton reaction by forming iron-alcohol complexes.
An iron-tetrahydrofuran complex was also formed. The crucial oxygen role in the
functional group of alcohols and ethers is supported by a reaction with tetrahydrofuran.
These results also explain the difficulties in the disposal of sugar-enriched alcoholic industrial
effluents.

Conclusion:
Our findings show that alcohols, such as ethanol, methanol, iso-propanol, and
ter-butanol at catalytic concentrations, slow down the Fenton reaction due to decreased iron
availability by forming iron (II)-alcohol complexes. The method is also useful for calculating
stability constants for iron-alcohol and iron-tetrahydrofuran complexes, which are not
otherwise easy to assess.
Automatic Recognition and Analysis of Balance Activity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Algorithm Validation
Authors: Hsu Yu-Cheng , Wang Hailiang , Zhao Yang , Chen Frank , Tsui Kwok-Leung 
Published: December 2021

Background
Clinical mobility and balance assessments identify older adults who have a high risk of falls in clinics. In the past two decades, sensors have been a popular supplement to mobility and balance assessment to provide quantitative information and a cost-effective solution in the community environment. Nonetheless, the current sensor-based balance assessment relies on manual observation or motion-specific features to identify motions of research interest.

Objective
The objective of this study was to develop an automatic motion data analytics framework using signal data collected from an inertial sensor for balance activity analysis in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods
In total, 59 community-dwelling older adults (19 males and 40 females; mean age = 81.86 years, SD 6.95 years) were recruited in this study. Data were collected using a body-worn inertial measurement unit (including an accelerometer and a gyroscope) at the L4 vertebra of each individual. After data preprocessing and motion detection via a convolutional long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network, a one-class support vector machine (SVM), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and k-nearest neighborhood (k-NN) were adopted to classify high-risk individuals.

Results
The framework developed in this study yielded mean accuracies of 87%, 86%, and 89% in detecting sit-to-stand, turning 360°, and stand-to-sit motions, respectively. The balance assessment classification showed accuracies of 90%, 92%, and 86% in classifying abnormal sit-to-stand, turning 360°, and stand-to-sit motions, respectively, using Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment-Balance (POMA-B) criteria by the one-class SVM and k-NN.

Conclusions
The sensor-based approach presented in this study provided a time-effective manner with less human efforts to identify and preprocess the inertial signal and thus enabled an efficient balance assessment tool for medical professionals. In the long run, the approach may offer a ﬂexible solution to relieve the community’s burden of continuous health monitoring.