To improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlaying seed priming, RNA transcriptome analysis was performed using primed and non-primed seeds of Silene sendtneri. Seed priming was performed by submergence in 1% silicic acid for 24h at 4°C, followed by rinsing with sterilised water and desiccation to original moisture content. Silene sendtneri is a species with no sequenced genome and annotation of de novo assembly of transcriptome was done against several species. Gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated that genes related to heavy metal transporters and heat shock proteins are differentially expressed after priming with silicic acid. Within these gene categories, genes such as heavy metal-associated isoprenylated plant protein 26-like (log2fold -8.79) were downregulated, while others such as heavy metal ATPase 5 (log2fold 6.46), heat shock factor protein HSF30-like isoform X1 (log2fold 5.98) were upregulated.

Abstract Background Glioma accounts for approximately 80% of malignant adult brain cancer and its most common subtype, glioblastoma, has one of the lowest 5-year cancer survivals. Fifty risk-associated variants within 34 glioma genetic risk regions have been found by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with a sex difference reported for 8q24.21 region. We conducted an Australian GWAS by glioma subtype and sex. Methods We analyzed genome-wide data from the Australian Genomics and Clinical Outcomes of Glioma (AGOG) consortium for 7 573 692 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for 560 glioma cases and 2237 controls of European ancestry. Cases were classified as glioblastoma, non-glioblastoma, astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the associations of SNPs with glioma risk by subtype and by sex. Results We replicated the previously reported glioma risk associations in the regions of 2q33.3 C2orf80, 2q37.3 D2HGDH, 5p15.33 TERT, 7p11.2 EGFR, 8q24.21 CCDC26, 9p21.3 CDKN2BAS, 11q21 MAML2, 11q23.3 PHLDB1, 15q24.2 ETFA, 16p13.3 RHBDF1, 16p13.3 LMF1, 17p13.1 TP53, 20q13.33 RTEL, and 20q13.33 GMEB2 (P < .05). We also replicated the previously reported sex difference at 8q24.21 CCDC26 (P = .0024) with the association being nominally significant for both sexes (P < .05). Conclusions Our study supports a stronger female risk association for the region 8q24.21 CCDC26 and highlights the importance of analyzing glioma GWAS by sex. A better understanding of sex differences could provide biological insight into the cause of glioma with implications for prevention, risk prediction and treatment.

Introduction: In Australia and New Zealand, liver allocation is needs based (based on model for end-stage liver disease score). An alternative allocation system is a transplant benefit-based model. Transplant benefit is quantified by complex waitlist and transplant survival prediction models. Research Questions: To validate the UK transplant benefit score in an Australia and New Zealand population. Design: This study analyzed data on listings and transplants for chronic liver disease between 2009 and 2018, using the Australia and New Zealand Liver and Intestinal Transplant Registry. Excluded were variant syndromes, hepatocellular cancer, urgent listings, pediatric, living donor, and multi-organ listings and transplants. UK transplant benefit waitlist and transplant benefit score were calculated for listings and transplants, respectively. Outcomes were time to waitlist death and time to transplant failure. Calibration and discrimination were assessed with Kaplan–Meier analysis and C-statistics. Results: There were differences in the UK and Australia and New Zealand listing, transplant, and donor populations including older recipient age, higher recipient and donor body mass index, and higher incidence of hepatitis C in the Australia and New Zealand population. Waitlist scores were calculated for 2241 patients and transplant scores were calculated for 1755 patients. The waitlist model C-statistic at 5 years was 0.70 and the transplant model C-statistic was 0.56, with poor calibration of both models. Conclusion: The UK transplant benefit score model performed poorly, suggesting that UK benefit-based allocation would not improve overall outcomes in Australia and New Zealand. Generalizability of survival prediction models was limited by differences in transplant populations and practices.

The aim of this study is to investigate the determinants of Germany's OFDI in the last 21 years on the set of top ten Germany’s OFDI destination (United States of America, United Kingdom, China, France, Poland, Mexico, India, Turkey, Spain and Russia (Russian Federation)) by using panel data analysis. The research revealed that Germany’s OFDI are driven by market seeking motives (FDI vertical), and also highlighting the importance of the stable political environment, attractive tax environment, more trade openness, and stable macroeconomic environment of the top ten Germany’s partners for attractiveness of the Germany’s OFDI. It indicates that openness of an economy is statistically significant in attracting FDI.

Objective: To compare organ involvement and disease severity between male and female patients with juvenile onset systemic sclerosis. Methods: Demographics, organ involvement, laboratory evaluation, patient-reported outcomes and physician assessment variables were compared between male and female juvenile onset systemic sclerosis patients enrolled in the prospective international juvenile systemic sclerosis cohort at their baseline visit and after 12 months. Results: One hundred and seventy-five juvenile onset systemic sclerosis patients were evaluated, 142 females and 33 males. Race, age of onset, disease duration, and disease subtypes (70% diffuse cutaneous) were similar between males and females. Active digital ulceration, very low body mass index, and tendon friction rubs were significantly more frequent in males. Physician global assessment of disease severity and digital ulcer activity was significantly higher in males. Composite pulmonary involvement was also more frequent in males, though not statistically significantly. After 12 months, they are the pattern of differences changed female patients had significantly more frequent pulmonary involvement. Conclusion: In this cohort, juvenile onset systemic sclerosis had a more severe course in males at baseline and but the pattern changed after 12 months. Some differences from adult findings persisted, there is no increased signal of pulmonary arterial hypertension or heart failure in male pediatric patients. While monitoring protocols of organ involvement in juvenile onset systemic sclerosis need to be identical for males and females.

For a manifold $M$ and an integer $r>1$, the space of $r$-immersions of $M$ in $\mathbb {R}^n$ is defined to be the space of immersions of $M$ in $\mathbb {R}^n$ such that the preimage of every point in $\mathbb {R}^n$ contains fewer than $r$ points. We consider the space of $r$-immersions when $M$ is a disjoint union of $k$ $m$-dimensional discs, and prove that it is equivalent to the product of the $r$-configuration space of $k$ points in $\mathbb {R}^n$ and the $k^{\text {th}}$ power of the space of injective linear maps from $\mathbb {R}^m$ to $\mathbb {R}^n$. This result is needed in order to apply Michael Weiss's manifold calculus to the study of $r$-immersions. The analogous statement for spaces of embeddings is “well-known”, but a detailed proof is hard to find in the literature, and the existing proofs seem to use the isotopy extension theorem, if only as a matter of convenience. Isotopy extension does not hold for $r$-immersions, so we spell out the details of a proof that avoids using it, and applies to spaces of $r$-immersions.

Abstract Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the acute effect of ultrafiltration on the mechanical properties of the aorta using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) before and after hemodialysis (HD). Patients and Methods: This study included 80 patients who were on a long-term HD program. The input variables were anamnestic data, body composition monitor (BCM) parameters, and echocardiography findings. The assessment of hydration status was determined by BCM, whose work is based on the principle of multifrequency bioimpedance spectroscopy. Another diagnostic procedure was the use of an arteriograph apparatus to assess PWV and Augmentation Index (AIx). All measurements were performed before and after dialysis on the middle dialysis day of the week. Results: The participants were divided into two groups based on hydration status: the experimental group consisted of 40 overhydrated participants and the control group consisted of 40 normovolemic participants. Statistically, the following BCM parameters correlated significantly positively with PWV: total body fat (r = 0.222; P < 0.05), overhydration (r = 0.290; P < 0.001), and relative overhydration (r = 0.290; P < 0.001). From echocardiography findings, only left atrial diameter correlated statistically significantly positively with PWV (r = 0.359; P < 0.001). Comparison of the mean PWV values within the experimental group before and after HD showed a statistically significant decrease from 14.32 ± 2.34 m/s to 8.72 ± 1.52 m/s (Z = 3.254; P = 0.0001). Mean PWV values within the control group did not decrease significantly from 13.39 ± 1.32 m/s to 10.39 ± 1.18 m/s (Z = 0.524; P = 0.742). If we compare the mean values of PWV between groups, then before HD treatment, there was no statistically significant difference between groups with PWV values in the experimental group of 14.32 ± 2.34 m/s and the control group of 13.39 ± 1.32 m/s (Z = 0.762; P = 0.852). According to the results of univariate regression analysis before and after HD treatment, only overhydration showed an absolute effect on PWV before and after HD. Conclusion: Overhydration showed an effect on brachial-ankle PWV before and after HD, and brachial-ankle PWV should be followed in HD patients.

Introduction: Composite materials may be exposed to chemicals in food and beverages in the oral cavity, which can lead to changes in surface roughness. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the surface roughness of two restorative materials after exposure to coffee and green tea followed by a dental bleaching procedure. Methods: For nanofilled composite and microhybrid composite, 15 samples each were fabricated. Five specimens from each composite were stored in instant coffee and green tea for 4 h a day. After 30 days of immersion, specimens received dental at-home bleaching, using 16% carbamide peroxide (CP), for 7 h a day. The control group was stored in deionized water for 30 days. Surface roughness was determined by profilometry 24 h after polymerization, after 30 days of immersion, and after bleaching. The data were analyzed using a t-test for paired samples and mixed analysis of variance, at a 0.05 significance level. Results: Neither beverages nor CP treatment significantly altered the surface roughness of the composites. There was no difference between the tested composite materials regarding roughness. Conclusion: Surface roughness of the microhybrid and nanohybrid composites was not modified by coffee, green tea, and subsequent whitening treatment.

For a manifold $M$ and an integer $r>1$, the space of $r$-immersions of $M$ in $\mathbb {R}^n$ is defined to be the space of immersions of $M$ in $\mathbb {R}^n$ such that the preimage of every point in $\mathbb {R}^n$ contains fewer than $r$ points. We consider the space of $r$-immersions when $M$ is a disjoint union of $k$ $m$-dimensional discs, and prove that it is equivalent to the product of the $r$-configuration space of $k$ points in $\mathbb {R}^n$ and the $k^{\text {th}}$ power of the space of injective linear maps from $\mathbb {R}^m$ to $\mathbb {R}^n$. This result is needed in order to apply Michael Weiss's manifold calculus to the study of $r$-immersions. The analogous statement for spaces of embeddings is “well-known”, but a detailed proof is hard to find in the literature, and the existing proofs seem to use the isotopy extension theorem, if only as a matter of convenience. Isotopy extension does not hold for $r$-immersions, so we spell out the details of a proof that avoids using it, and applies to spaces of $r$-immersions.

Introduction: Fetal central nervous system (CNS) anomalies are among the most severe and common anomalies, with an incidence of 1: 100 to 1: 500 in newborns. Depending on the type of anomaly, the diagnosis can only be made at specifi c periods of pregnancy. The prenatal ultrasound (US) is an eff ective primary imaging modality for depicting these anomalies, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a method that provides useful confi rmation and resolves any doubts regarding the diagnosis made on prenatal ultrasound. In situations where ultrasound examination is diffi cult, fetal MRI can provide superior information owing to its many advantages. The aim of this study was to determine the importance of prenatal MRI in making an accurate diagnosis and assessment of fetal CNS anomalies after neurosonographic doubt and in detecting additional anomalies that might have been overlooked on ultrasound, which infl uences clinical decision making and anomaly outcomes. Material and methods: For this research, which was designed as a systematic review of the primary scientifi c research literature, numerous articles were used, i.e.17 scientifi c research papers, published in relevant scientifi c research online databases such as PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, and the same were published in English in the period from 2015 to 2021. Results: From the assessment of the quality of studies with a cohort design, most studies used in this systematic review are high-quality studies (11 in total) and a smaller number are medium-quality studies (6 in total). Out of 575 cases, MRI confi rmed the ultrasound diagnosis and agreed with it in 59.8% of cases, while in 20.2% of cases, it changed the diagnosis, i.e., in 16.5%, it rejected the ultrasound diagnosis. Additional anomalies detected only on MRI occurred in 236/1225 cases, which totals 19.3% of additional anomalies. Termination of pregnancy was reported in 82/317 cases, accounting for 25.9%, while in 176 cases, the pregnancy continued. A total of 11 cases of neonatal death were reported, and the number of stillbirths or deaths after birth was reported in 8 cases. Conclusion: MRI using T2W SSFSE sequences in 3 planes, T1W and DWI in the axial plane, is a complementary modality to prenatal ultrasound in making an accurate diagnosis and assessment of CNS anomalies and detecting associated anomalies previously overlooked on ultrasound. Keywords: fetal magnetic resonance imaging, fetal neurosonography, fetal central nervous system anomalies, prenatal diagnosis.

Invasive plant species are foreign species that usually have a negative impact to the native flora and vegetation, human health, or that cause damage to agriculture and the economy. Therefore, the spread of invasive species is one of the biggest problems in nature protection. The aim of the work is to determine the invasive plant species in the wider area of the city of Lukavac, to analyze the life forms and the geographical origin. The research was done during the summer months of 2021. This paper presents the results of research on invasive plant species in the wider area of the town of Lukavac, which is located in the northeastern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina and administratively belongs to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Tuzla Canton. Total 12 invasive species from 8 families and 12 genera were recorded. The largest number of species belongs to the Asteraceae family, while the other families are represented by one species. Among life forms, therophytes (58, 33%) and phanerophytes (25%) dominate. Geophytes and hemicryptophytes are represented by only one plant species. Recorded invasive plant species come from North America (75%) and Asia (25%).

The need for quality assessment of anthropogenic impact on environmental pollution is increasing due to discharge from various industries, the use of chemicals in agriculture and the consumption of fossil fuels. Diminishing resources such as natural waters used for the cultivation of agricultural products, plant and animal habitats are under severe pollution pressure and are at constant risk. Several parameters, such as Pb, Cd, Ni, Hg were listed by Water Framework Directive in Directive (2008/105/EC) in the priority substances. Cadmium and Hg were identified as priority hazardous substances whereas As is an important contaminant for its potential toxicological and carcinogenic effects. An inter-comparison study is organised in EURAMET TC-MC in order to demonstrate the capability participants for measuring five elements in river water. The participants carried out measurements for analytes: Pb, Cd, Ni and As as mandatory elements, and Se as an optional one. Participants were asked to perform the measurements with respect to the protocol provided. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

Background The incidence of the highly morbid and potentially lethal gangrenous cholecystitis was reportedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the ChoCO-W study was to compare the clinical findings and outcomes of acute cholecystitis in patients who had COVID-19 disease with those who did not. Methods Data were prospectively collected over 6 months (October 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021) with 1-month follow-up. In October 2020, Delta variant of SARS CoV-2 was isolated for the first time. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed and reported according to the STROBE guidelines. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients who had COVID-19 were compared with those who did not. Results A total of 2893 patients, from 42 countries, 218 centers, involved, with a median age of 61.3 (SD: 17.39) years were prospectively enrolled in this study; 1481 (51%) patients were males. One hundred and eighty (6.9%) patients were COVID-19 positive, while 2412 (93.1%) were negative. Concomitant preexisting diseases including cardiovascular diseases ( p  < 0.0001), diabetes ( p  < 0.0001), and severe chronic obstructive airway disease ( p  = 0.005) were significantly more frequent in the COVID-19 group. Markers of sepsis severity including ARDS ( p  < 0.0001), PIPAS score ( p  < 0.0001), WSES sepsis score ( p  < 0.0001), qSOFA ( p  < 0.0001), and Tokyo classification of severity of acute cholecystitis ( p  < 0.0001) were significantly higher in the COVID-19 group. The COVID-19 group had significantly higher postoperative complications (32.2% compared with 11.7%, p  < 0.0001), longer mean hospital stay (13.21 compared with 6.51 days, p  < 0.0001), and mortality rate (13.4% compared with 1.7%, p  < 0.0001). The incidence of gangrenous cholecystitis was doubled in the COVID-19 group (40.7% compared with 22.3%). The mean wall thickness of the gallbladder was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group [6.32 (SD: 2.44) mm compared with 5.4 (SD: 3.45) mm; p  < 0.0001]. Conclusions The incidence of gangrenous cholecystitis is higher in COVID patients compared with non-COVID patients admitted to the emergency department with acute cholecystitis. Gangrenous cholecystitis in COVID patients is associated with high-grade Clavien-Dindo postoperative complications, longer hospital stay and higher mortality rate. The open cholecystectomy rate is higher in COVID compared with non -COVID patients. It is recommended to delay the surgical treatment in COVID patients, when it is possible, to decrease morbidity and mortality rates. COVID-19 infection and gangrenous cholecystistis are not absolute contraindications to perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in a case by case evaluation, in expert hands. Graphical abstract

Tungsten belongs to group of refractory metal that possess extraordinary resistance to heat and wear and it is the heaviest engineering material. Because of its properties tungsten is used for special purposes. This paper presents the results of mechanical and microstructure research on the example of the characteristic heavy tungsten alloys 91W-6Ni-1.8Fe-1Co and 93W-5Ni-1.6Fe-0.3Co with different Ni/Co ratios. The proper Ni/Co ratio is important to obtain a favorable microstructure and mechanical properties of these materials. The distribution of the W, Ni, Co and Fe elements in tungsten phase and binder phase, which can influence on mechanical properties of tungsten alloys. The SEM analysis and mechanical results show that the alloy, which has Ni/Co within the given limits,  posses a finer microstructure and better mechanical properties that is very important for the maintenance of the quality of tungsten alloys for special purposes.