bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pengaruh Penambahan Karagenan Terhadap Nilai Stabilitas Emulsi dan Daya Ikat Air Pada Sosis Ikan Patin
Authors: Fitriasholikah Adikka Qia , Hafizah Ellyna , Sari Mella Mutika
Published: September 2023

Sosis ikan patin merupakan salah satu produk makanan sistem emulsi yang membutuhkan emulsifier yang baik untuk menjaga kestabilan emulsi dalam adonannya agar tidak mudah pecah saat proses pengolahan atau penyimpananya. Karagenan termasuk emulsifier alami karena memiliki peran sebagai pembentuk gel yang baik dalam makanan sistem emulsi. Keterlaksaan penelitian ini dilakukan sebagai upaya untuk mengetahui pengaruh konsentrasi karagenan pada nilai stabilitas emulsi, daya ikat air (DIA) dan hasil uji organoleptik dari sosis ikan patin yang telah diolah. Penelitian ini bersifat eksperimen dengan percobaan di rancang menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) sebanyak 3 buah perlakuan yang berbeda dari pemberian karagenan pada adonan sosis ikan patin yaitu 0%; 1,5% dan 2,5% dengan data dianalisis menggunakan aplikasi SPSS menggunakan uji One-Way ANOVA untuk hasil uji stabilitas emulsi dan uji daya ikat air (DIA) serta menggunakan uji Kruskal-Wallis untuk hasil data uji organoleptik. Berdasarkan hasil dan analisis penelitian menyatakan terdapat pengaruh nyata dari penambahan konsentrasi karagenan terhadap nilai stabilitas emulsi (0,00<0,05) dan sifat organoleptik seperti kenampakan, rasa dan tekstur sosis ikan patin. Sedangkan penambahan karagenan pada sosis ikan patin tidak berpengaruh nyata terhadap hasil daya ikat air (0,522>0,05) dan sifat organoleptik bau (0.772>0,05).

 

 

Kata Kunci: Ikan patin, karagenan, sosis ikan
Pengaruh Pupuk Organik Cair Limbah Sawi Dan Air Cucian Beras Terhadap Pertumbuhan Tanaman Cabai Rawit (Capsicum frutescens)
Authors: Riyati Riyati , Sauqina Sauqina , Irhasyuarna Yudha
Published: September 2023

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk untuk mengetahui pengaruh pupuk organik cair limbah sawi (Brassica chinensis var.parachinensis) dan air cucian beras dalam mempercepat pertumbuhan tanaman cabai rawit (Capsicum frutescens). Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian eksprimen dengan pendekatan kuantitatif,  menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL). Penelitian ini mennggunakan parameter tinggi tanaman, jumlah daun dan jumlah buah. Data hasil pengamatan dianalisis menggunakan rata-rata laju pertumbuhan cabai rawit, dan uji ANOVA satu jalur dengan taraf signifikan 5%. Pada rata-rata pertambahan di setiap parameter, terlihat bahwa perlakuan POC 100 ml lebih menunjukkan pengaruh terhadap pertumbuhan tanaman. Kemudian hasil uji one-way ANOVA, pengaruh pemanfaatan POC limbah sawi dan air cucian beras menjukkan bahwa  terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan pada pertumbuhan tanaman cabai rawit yang mendapatkan perlakuan berbeda dengan (p-value < 0,05). Selain itu, uji lanjutan Duncan juga menunjukkan bahwa P3 dengan dosis POC 100 ml konsisten berbeda nyata dibandingkan dengan perlakuan lain, baik untuk tinggi tanaman, jumlah daun dan jumlah buah. Penelitian ini menyarankan bagi petani cabai rawit lokal untuk mempertimbangkan penggunaan poc limbah sawi dan air cucian beras dengan dosis yang optimal untuk mencapai hasil yang diinginkan.
Etnobotani Pemanfaatan Tumbuhan Obat Oleh Masyarakat Desa Sabah Balau Kecamatan Tanjung Bintang Kabupaten Lampung Selatan
Authors: Maretta Gres , Manurung Lilis Martines , Nurhayu Winati
Published: September 2023

Tumbuhan obat adalah pemanfaatan keanekaragaman hayati yang ada di sekitar kita, baik tumbuhan yang dibudidayakan atapun tumbuhan liar. Informasi tanaman obat di Desa Sabah Balau, Kecamatan Tanjung Bintang, Kabupaten Lampung Selatan belum ditemukan serta tidak diketahui apakah masyarakat di Desa Sabah Balau masih menggunakan tumbuhan obat dalam menyembuhkan penyakit. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui tumbuhan obat apa saja dan bagian yang dimanfaatkan oleh masyarakat di Desa Sabah Balau serta bagaimana cara masyarakat Desa Sabah Balau mengolah tumbuhan obat. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode random sampling, dalam menentukan responden dengan menggunakan rumus slovin. Wawancara dilakukan terhadap 100 orang masyarakat di Desa Sabah Balau. Data diambil dengan tabel isian kuisioner meliputi: jenis tumbuhan yang digunakan, macam penggunaan, bagian yang digunakan, dan cara penggunaannya. Analisis data menggunakan teknik analisa deskriptif kualitatif. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian diketahui 46 jenis tumbuhan yang dapat dijadikan obat dengan jenis tumbuhan yang paling dominan dimanfaatkan sebagai tumbuhan obat yaitu temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza), alang-alang (Imperata cylindrica), alpukat (Persea americana), mengkudu (Morinda citrifolia) dan jambu biji (Psidium guajava). Bagian tumbuhan daun yang paling banyak digunakan sebanyak 45,6% dengan cara pengolahan paling banyak dengan direbus sebanyak 32 jenis tumbuhan serta cara perolehan tumbuhan obat yaitu dari tumbuhan liar sebanyak 37%.
Potensi Air pada Genangan Air Hujan di Desa Teba Timur untuk Keperluan Higiene Sanitasi
Authors: Santiari Made , Tuas Maria Angelina
Published: September 2023

Timor Tengah Utara mengalami musim hujan selama empat bulan yang dapat menyebabkan terbatasnya air, sehingga sumber air yang ada harus dapat dimanfaatkan untuk berbagai kegiatan. Genangan air hujan di Desa Teba Timur merupakan salah satu sumber air yang berpotensi digunakan untuk keperluan higiene sanitasi masyarakat. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menilai potensi air pada genangan air hujan untuk keperluan higiene sanitasi dari segi kualitasnya. Penelitian ini adalah penelitian deksriptif kuantitatif dimana metode pengambilan contoh uji mengacu pada SNI 6989.57:2008 tentang Metoda Pengambilan Contoh Air Permukaan. Titik pengambilan contoh uji yaitu titik yang dekat dengan jalan raya sebanyak 2 titik. Pengujian suhu, pH dan bau dilakukan di lapangan, sedangkan pengujian parameter lain dilakukan di laboratorium. Hasil pengujian dibandingkan dengan baku mutu untuk keperluan Higiene Sanitasi yang termuat dalam Peraturan Menteri Kesehatan Republik Indonesia Nomor 32 Tahun 2017 tentang Standar Mutu Kesehatan Lingkungan dan Persyaratan Kesehatan Air untuk Keperluan Higiene Sanitasi, Kolam Renang, Solus Per Aqua dan Pemandian Umum. Nilai pH pada titik 2 melebihi baku mutu dan air memiliki bau. Air pada Genangan Air Hujan di titik 1 dapat digunakan untuk keperluan higiene sanitasi, sedangkan pada titik 2 tidak dapat digunakan untuk keperluan higiene sanitasi.
Evaluating the influence of old and new rental systems on the physical condition of historic mixed-use buildings: a case study of Lebanon
Authors: Sedki Ali
Published: September 2023

This article investigates the link between the physical condition of built heritage and official local authorities’ legislation in Lebanon. The research analyzed the impact of occupation on the physical condition of dwellings under the prevailing official inherited rental legislation, identifying the scale of the problem and the factors leading to it. The responsibilities of the Lebanese official bodies for rental legislation regarding historical buildings were thoroughly discussed. Moreover, a field survey for the condition of historical dwellings was conducted. To accomplish its objectives, the study employed a three-stage methodology. The first stage involved reviewing archival records, current legislation, and relevant literature to gain a comprehensive understanding of historical dwellings laws and regulations in Lebanon. The second stage was divided into two parts. First, the case study area of the Yacob Al Labban historical square in Tripoli, Lebanon, was selected and justified. This area was examined to understand the impact of local authorities’ legislation and rental regulations on the physical condition of its historical dwellings. Second, a field survey was conducted to gather specific information on building typology, physical condition, and building defects. This data will help establish a connection between legislation and buildings’ physical conditions. In the third stage, the findings were analyzed, interpreted, and compared with the existing literature to draw meaningful conclusions about the relationship between legislation and the condition of historical buildings in Lebanon. The research results revealed a strong relationship between the deterioration of historical dwellings and rental legislation. Additionally, the study found that low rental fees were directly associated with a lack of maintenance across all types of rentals.
Clinical efficacy of hysteroscopic adhesiolysis combined with periodic balloon dilation for intrauterine adhesion in IVF treatment
Authors: Chen Yuanhui , Wang Yiwen , Zhao Yan , Zhang Cuilian
Published: September 2023

Background

Intrauterine adhesions (IUA), arising from diverse etiological factors, pose a significant threat to female fertility, particularly during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of hysteroscopic adhesiolysis (HA) combined with periodic balloon dilation in treating IUA and its impact on reproductive outcomes in women undergoing IVF treatment.

Methods

A total of 234 patients diagnosed with IUA were included in this study. The IUA women were categorized into three subgroups based on the severity of adhesion. All IUA patients underwent HA separation followed by periodic balloon dilation along with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Frozen embryo transfer was performed post-treatment, and a comparative analysis of the general characteristics and clinical outcomes among the subgroups was conducted. The control group consisted of patients who underwent their first embryo transfer of HRT cycle without any uterine abnormalities, as assessed by the propensity score matching (PSM). The clinical outcomes of IUA group and control group were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to investigate the risk factors associated with live birth.

Results

① The endometrial thickness was significantly increased post-operation compared to pre-operation in all three IUA subgroups (all P <0.001), with the most pronounced change observed in the severe IUA group. After treatment, normal uterine cavity was restored in 218 women (93.16%). ② The overall clinical pregnancy rate was 49.57% (116/234) and live birth rate was 29.91% (70/234). The clinical outcomes were similar among the three subgroups after first embryo transfer (all P>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that age (aOR 0.878, 95% CI 0.817~0.944, P=0.001) and endometrial thickness after treatment (aOR 1.292, 95% CI 1.046~1.597, P=0.018) were the two significant risk factors for live birth rate. ③ Following the process of matching, a total of 114 patients were successfully enrolled in the control group. The baselines and the clinical outcomes were all comparable between the IUA group and control group (all P>0.05).

Conclusion

The combination of HA and periodic balloon dilation is beneficial for improving endometrial receptivity and has a significant clinical impact on patients with IUA undergoing IVF.
Clinical interpretation of cell-based non-invasive prenatal testing for monogenic disorders including repeat expansion disorders: potentials and pitfalls
Authors: Jeppesen Line Dahl , Hatt Lotte , Singh Ripudaman , Schelde Palle , Ravn Katarina , Toft Christian Liebst , Laursen Maria Bach , Hedegaard Jakob , Christensen Inga Baasch , Nicolaisen Bolette Hestbek , Andreasen Lotte , Pedersen Lars Henning , Vogel Ida , Lildballe Dorte Launholt
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Circulating fetal cells isolated from maternal blood can be used for prenatal testing, representing a safe alternative to invasive testing. The present study investigated the potential of cell-based noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for diagnosing monogenic disorders dependent on the mode of inheritance.

Methods: Maternal blood samples were collected from women opting for prenatal diagnostics for specific monogenic disorders (N = 7). Fetal trophoblasts were enriched and stained using magnetic activated cell sorting and isolated by fluorescens activated single-cell sorting. Individual cells were subject to whole genome amplification, and cells of fetal origin were identified by DNA-profiling using short tandem repeat markers. The amplified fetal DNA was input for genetic testing for autosomal dominant-, autosomal recessive-, X-linked and repeat expansion disorders by direct variant analysis and haplotyping. The cell-based NIPT results were compared with those of invasive testing.

Results: In two cases at risk of skeletal dysplasia, caused by variants in the FGFR3 gene (autosomal dominant disorders), cell-based NIPT correctly stated an affected fetus, but allelic dropout of the normal alleles were observed in both cases. Cell-based NIPT gave an accurate result in two cases at risk of autosomal recessive disorders, where the parents carried either different diastrophic dysplasia causing variants in the SLC26A2 gene or the same cystic fibrosis disease-causing variant in the CFTR gene. Cell-based NIPT accurately identified an affected male fetus in a pregnancy at risk of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD gene, X-linked recessive disorders). In two cases at risk of the myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DMPK gene, repeat expansion disorder), cell-based NIPT correctly detected an affected and an unaffected fetus, respectively.

Discussion: Circulating fetal cells can be used to detect both maternally- and paternally inherited monogenic disorders irrespective of the type of variant, however, the risk of allelic dropout must be considered. We conclude that the clinical interpretation of the cell-based NIPT result thus varies depending on the disorders’ mode of inheritance.
Parallel detection of multiple zoonotic parasites using a real-time fluorogenic loop-mediated isothermal amplification-based quadruple-sample microfluidic chip
Authors: Chen Yu-Xin , Lou Yi-Rong , Duan Li-Jun , Zhou Qian-Jin , Xu Zhong-Jie , Chen Fang-Jie , Chen Hong-Xian , Xu Gui-Zong , Du Ai-Fang , Chen Jiong
Published: September 2023

Zoonotic parasites pose significant health risks globally. In the present study, we combined a microfluidic chip with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (on-chip LAMP) to detect five zoonotic parasites: Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium parvum, Cryptosporidium hominis, Clonorchis sinensis, and Taenia solium. This method enabled the simultaneous parallel analysis of five genetic markers from a maximum of four samples per chip. The on-chip LAMP assay was conducted in a highly automated format via the addition (by pipetting) of each sample in a single operation. The reaction was performed in volumes as low as 5 μL at a temperature of 65°C for 60 min, achieving limits of detection ranging from 10−2 to 10−3 pg./μL of recombinant plasmid DNA. All the time-to-positive values were less than 40 min, and almost all the coefficients of variation were less than 10%, even when using limit of detection concentrations for multiple pathogens, indicating robust reproducibility among replicates. The clinical sensitivity and specificity for detecting 135 field samples were 98.08 and 97.59%, respectively, compared with traditional biological methods, indicating good applicability in the detection of field samples. This on-chip LAMP assay allows for low reagent consumption, ease of operation, and multiple analyses of samples and genetic targets, and is applicable for on-site detection and the routine monitoring of multiple zoonotic parasites.
Antimicrobial peptide temporin derivatives inhibit biofilm formation and virulence factor expression of Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Jiang Shangjun , Zha Yanmei , Zhao Ting , Jin Xiao , Zhu Ruiying , Wei Shuangshuang , Wang Rong , Song Yanting , Li Lushuang , Lyu Junchen , Hu Wenting , Zhang Daqi , Wang Manchuriga , Zhang Yingxia
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Temporin-GHa obtained from the frog Hylarana guentheri showed bactericidal efficacy against Streptococcus mutans. To enhance its antibacterial activity, the derived peptides GHaR and GHa11R were designed, and their antibacterial performance, antibiofilm efficacy and potential in the inhibition of dental caries were evaluated.

Methods

Bacterial survival assay, fluorescent staining assay and transmission electron microscopy observation were applied to explore how the peptides inhibited and killed S. mutans. The antibiofilm efficacy was assayed by examining exopolysaccharide (EPS) and lactic acid production, bacterial adhesion and cell surface hydrophobicity. The gene expression level of virulence factors of S. mutans was detected by qRT-PCR. Finally, the impact of the peptides on the caries induced ability of S. mutans was measured using a rat caries model.

Results

It has been shown that the peptides inhibited biofilm rapid accumulation by weakening the initial adhesion of S. mutans and reducing the production of EPS. Meanwhile, they also decreased bacterial acidogenicity and aciduricity, and ultimately prevented caries development in vivo.

Conclusion

GHaR and GHa11R might be promising candidates for controlling S. mutans infections.
Rapamycin reduces neuronal mutant huntingtin aggregation and ameliorates locomotor performance in Drosophila
Authors: Roth Jonathan R. , Moraes Ruan Carlos Macedo de , Xu Brittney P. , Crawley Savannah R. , Khan Malghalara A. , Melkani Girish C.
Published: September 2023

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by movement and cognitive dysfunction. HD is caused by a CAG expansion in exon 1 of the HTT gene that leads to a polyglutamine (PQ) repeat in the huntingtin protein, which aggregates in the brain and periphery. Previously, we used Drosophila models to determine that Htt-PQ aggregation in the heart causes shortened lifespan and cardiac dysfunction that is ameliorated by promoting chaperonin function or reducing oxidative stress. Here, we further study the role of neuronal mutant huntingtin and how it affects peripheral function. We overexpressed normal (Htt-PQ25) or expanded mutant (Htt-PQ72) exon 1 of huntingtin in Drosophila neurons and found that mutant huntingtin caused age-dependent Htt-PQ aggregation in the brain and could cause a loss of synapsin. To determine if this neuronal dysfunction led to peripheral dysfunction, we performed a negative geotaxis assay to measure locomotor performance and found that neuronal mutant huntingtin caused an age-dependent decrease in locomotor performance. Next, we found that rapamycin reduced Htt-PQ aggregation in the brain. These results demonstrate the role of neuronal Htt-PQ in dysfunction in models of HD, suggest that brain-periphery crosstalk could be important to the pathogenesis of HD, and show that rapamycin reduces mutant huntingtin aggregation in the brain.
Elevated biomarkers of neural injury in older adults following head-down bed rest: links to cardio-postural deconditioning with spaceflight and aging
Authors: Blaber Andrew P. , Sadeghian Farshid , Naz Divsalar Donya , Scarisbrick Isobel A.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Prolonged physical inactivity with bed rest or spaceflight is associated with cardiovascular and neuromuscular deconditioning; however, its impact on neural integrity of cardio-postural reflexes and possible mitigation with exercise has not been examined. We assessed the association between the physiological deconditioning of bed rest immobilization with neural injury markers and the effects of 60–75 min of daily exercise.

Methods

Data were collected as part of a randomized clinical trial (clinicaltrials.govidentifier: NCT04964999) at the McGill University Medical Centre. Twenty-two 55- to 65-year-old healthy volunteers gave informed consent and took part. Within sex, participants were randomly assigned to exercise (60- to 75-min daily) or control (inactive) groups and spent 14 days in continuous 6° head-down tilt. Neural injury [neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), total tau (t-Tau), myelin basic protein (MBP), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1)], as well as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) biomarkers were measured before, during, and after bed rest. The false discovery rate with Huber M-estimation was used to correlate changes in biomarkers with cardiovascular and muscular function changes over bed rest.

Results

Bed rest elevated NfL, GFAP, TNF-α, and IL-6 in all participants and reduced IGF-1 in females only. With standing, changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and lower limb muscle motoneuron activity correlated with changes in TNF-α and BDNF. Baroreflex control, leg muscle maximal voluntary contraction, and postural sway are correlated with GFAP and NfL. Exercise participants had fewer interactions than control participants, but significant correlations still existed, with both groups exhibiting similar reductions in orthostatic tolerance.

Discussion

An hour of daily exercise in older persons otherwise immobilized for 2 weeks did not abate bed rest-induced increases in serum signatures of neural injury or pro-inflammatory markers. Exercise reduced the number of physiological interactions of biomarkers, but significant cardio-postural correlations remained with no protection against post-bed rest orthostatic intolerance. The identification of associations of inflammatory and neural injury biomarkers with changes in cardio-postural physiology and exercise points to biotherapeutic opportunities and improved exercise interventions for astronauts and individuals in bed rest.

Clinical trial registration

https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/search?cond=NCT04964999, identifier: NCT04964999.
Metabolite profiling of peripheral blood plasma in pigs in early postnatal life fed whole bovine, caprine or ovine milk
Authors: Jena Ankita , Montoya Carlos A. , Fraser Karl , Giezenaar Caroline , Young Wayne , Mullaney Jane A. , Dilger Ryan N. , Roy Debashree , McNabb Warren C. , Roy Nicole C.
Published: September 2023

Ruminants’ milk is commonly used for supplying nutrients to infants when breast milk is unavailable or limited. Previous studies have highlighted the differences between ruminants’ milk composition, digestion, absorption, and fermentation. However, whether consuming different ruminants’ milk impact the appearance of the circulatory blood metabolites in the early postnatal life is not well understood. The analysis conducted here aimed to determine the effect of feeding exclusively whole milk from bovine, caprine or ovine species to pigs, approximately 7 days-old for 15 days, on circulatory blood plasma metabolites. Relative intensities of plasma metabolites were detected using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based metabolomic approach. Seven polar and 83 non-polar (lipids) metabolites in plasma were significantly different (false discovery rate < 0.05) between milk treatments. These included polar metabolites involved in amino acid metabolism and lipids belonging to phosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and triglycerides. Compared to the caprine or bovine milk group, the relative intensities of polar metabolites and unsaturated triglycerides were higher in the peripheral circulation of the ovine milk group. In contrast, relative intensities of saturated triglycerides and phosphatidylcholine were higher in the bovine milk group compared to the ovine or caprine milk group. In addition, correlations were identified between amino acid and lipid intake and their appearance in peripheral blood circulation. The results highlighted that consuming different ruminants’ milk influences the plasma appearance of metabolites, especially lipids, that may contribute to early postnatal life development in pigs.
Value of sarcopenia in the resection of colorectal liver metastases—a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wagner D. , Wienerroither V. , Scherrer M. , Thalhammer M. , Faschinger F. , Lederer A. , Hau H. M. , Sucher R. , Kornprat P.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Sarcopenia is defined as a decline in muscle function as well as muscle mass. Sarcopenia itself and sarcopenic obesity, defined as sarcopenia in obese patients, have been used as surrogates for a worse prognosis in colorectal cancer. This review aims to determine if there is evidence for sarcopenia as a prognostic parameter in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and CINAHL databases were searched for articles that were selected in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). A random effects meta-analysis was conducted.

Results

After eliminating duplicates and screening abstracts (n = 111), 949 studies were screened, and 33 publications met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 15 were selected after close paper review, and 10 were incorporated into the meta-analysis, which comprised 825 patients. No significant influence of sarcopenia for OS (odds ratio (OR), 2.802 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.094–1.11); p = 0.4) or DFS (OR, 1.203 (95% CI, 1.162–1.208); p = 0.5) was found, although a trend was defined toward sarcopenia. Sarcopenia significantly influenced postoperative complication rates (OR, 7.905 (95% CI, 1.876–3.32); p = 0.001) in two studies where data were available.

Conclusion

Existing evidence on the influence of sarcopenia on postoperative OS as well as DFS in patients undergoing resection for CRLM exists. We were not able to confirm that sarcopenic patients have a significantly worse OS and DFS in our analysis, although a trend toward this hypothesis was visible. Sarcopenia seems to influence complication rates but prospective studies are needed.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a complementary treatment in neuroblastoma — a narrative review
Authors: Alpuim Costa Diogo , Gonçalves-Nobre J. Guilherme , Sampaio-Alves Mafalda , Guerra Nuno , Arana Ribeiro Joana , Espiney Amaro Carla
Published: September 2023

Neuroblastoma is the most frequently diagnosed cancer during the first year of life. This neoplasm originates from neural crest cells derived from the sympathetic nervous system, adrenal medulla, or paraspinal ganglia. The clinical presentation can vary from an asymptomatic mass to symptoms resulting from local invasion and/or spread of distant disease spread. The natural history of neuroblastoma is highly variable, ranging from relatively indolent biological behavior to a high-risk clinical phenotype with a dismal prognosis. Age, stage, and biological features are important prognostic risk stratification and treatment assignment prognostic factors. The multimodal therapy approach includes myeloablative chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and aggressive surgical resection. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been proposed as a complementary measure to overcome tumor hypoxia, which is considered one of the hallmarks of this cancer treatment resistance. This article aims to review the relevant literature on the neuroblastoma pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and different biological and genetic profiles, and to discuss its management, focusing on HBOT.
Developing inclusive digital health diagnostic for schistosomiasis: a need for guidance via target product profiles
Authors: Onasanya Adeola , Bengtson Michel , de Goeje Ludo , van Engelen Jo , Diehl Jan-Carel , van Lieshout Lisette
Published: September 2023

Introduction

The INSPIRED project aims to develop inclusive Digital Optical Diagnostic Devices (DODDs) for schistosomiasis, to support disease management by enabling rapid diagnostic results, to improve efficient data management to guide decision-making and to provide healthcare workers with critical health information to facilitate follow-up action. Due to the non-availability of Target Product Profiles (TPPs) for guiding the development of digital diagnostics for schistosomiasis, we explored existing diagnostic TPPs.

Methods

Using a curated open access database (Notion database), we studied a selection of TPPs for diagnosing infectious diseases, focusing on specifications related to digital health products for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

Results

Eighteen TPPs originating from 12 documents, covering 13 specific diseases, were selected and their characteristics were labeled and entered into the database. Further exploration of the database revealed several gaps, including a lack of stakeholder input, sustainability, and TPP availability. Other significant gaps related to digital health platform interconnectivity and data stewardship specifically in relation to digital diagnostics, including DODDs.

Discussion

These findings reflect two possible scenarios: (1) there is currently no need for digital diagnostic devices for schistosomiasis and, by extension for other NTDs; or (2) those needs are not yet covered by TPPs. Therefore, we recommend that digital health diagnostics are included in the use cases for schistosomiasis control and elimination, at least in the ideal/desirable scenario, as this will guide research and incentivize investment in digital health diagnostics for schistosomiasis.
Alleviation of allergic conjunctivitis by (±)5(6)-dihydroxy-8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z-eicosatetraenoic acid in mice
Authors: Nagata Nanae , Suzuki Tomoka , Takenouchi Shinya , Kobayashi Koji , Murata Takahisa
Published: September 2023

Background: Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is a common ophthalmologic disorder that causes symptoms that often reduces a patient’s quality of life (QOL). We investigated the effects of the eicosapentaenoic acid metabolite (±)5(6)-dihydroxy-8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z-eicosatetraenoic acid ((±)5(6)-DiHETE) on AC using a mouse model.

Methods: BALB/c mice were sensitized with two injections of short ragweed pollen in alum, challenged fifth with pollen in eyedrops. The clinical signs and tear volume were evaluated at 15 min after the final challenge. Histamine-induced ocular inflammation model was prepared by instilling histamine onto the surface of the eye. Fifteen minutes after histamine application, tear volume was measured using the Schirmer tear test. Miles assay was performed to investigate vascular permeability. To cause scratching behavior 10 μg of serotonin was injected in the cheek.

Results: Repeated topical application of pollen induced conjunctivitis, accompanied by eyelid edema and tearing in mice. Pollen application typically degranulates mast cells and recruits eosinophils to the conjunctiva. Intraperitoneal administration of 300 μg/kg of (±)5(6)-DiHETE significantly inhibited pollen-induced symptoms. The administration of (±)5(6)-DiHETE also attenuated mast cell degranulation and eosinophil infiltration into the conjunctiva. To assess the effects of (±)5(6)-DiHETE on the downstream pathway of mast cell activation in AC, we used a histamine-induced ocular inflammation model. Topical application of 4 μg/eye histamine caused eyelid edema and tearing and increased vascular permeability, as indicated by Evans blue dye extravasation. Intraperitoneal administration of 300 μg/kg or topical administration of 1 μg/eye (±)5(6)-DiHETE inhibited histamine-induced manifestations. Finally, we assessed the effects of (±)5(6)-DiHETE on itching. An intradermal injection of 10 μg serotonin in the cheek caused scratching behavior in mice. Intraperitoneal administration of 300 μg/kg (±)5(6)-DiHETE significantly inhibited serotonin-induced scratching.

Conclusion: Thus, (±)5(6)-DiHETE treatment broadly suppressed AC pathology and could be a novel treatment option for AC.
Automatic classification of electrospun fiber polarized light images using mueller matrix depolarization parameter
Authors: Guan Sheng , Zou Yuanwen
Published: September 2023

Electrospun fibers are widely used in various fields of biology, medicine, and chemistry due to their unique morphological characteristics that determine their distinct application properties. Accurate and rapid classification of these fibers based on their morphology is critical for their effective utilization. Non-destructive and low-cost imaging methods are highly desirable for this purpose, so we obtained the polarization images of different forms of electrospun fibers (smooth surfaces, microporous, and beaded microspheres) by polarized light microscopy. In this study, we have explored the automatic classification of electrospun fibers based on their Mueller matrix depolarization parameter, which is highly correlated with the rough microporous structures on the surface of the object. To achieve this, we employed transfer learning and various convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Our proposed method outperformed the conventional approach that only utilizes a single Mueller matrix M44 image for classification, thus enabling researchers to effectively classify electrospun fibers. Given the high accuracy of our method, it may find significant utility in fields such as material science, nanotechnology, and bioengineering.
Implementing the edge enhancement with vortex filter in both linear and nonlinear optics
Authors: Xu Diefei , Zhang Wuhong
Published: September 2023

The edge enhancement technique, as an effective method to represent the boundary of objects, plays an important role in image processing. Among them, the vortex filtering, which is based on the radial Hilbert transformation, has been paid great attention due to its ability to achieve isotropic and anisotropic edge enhancement. Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in the nonlinear vortex filter to skillfully realize the visualization of the object edge under invisible light irradiation. In this paper, we start from reviewing the achievements have been made with the vortex filtering technique in linear optics, and then discussed the recent processes of the scalar and vector vortex filter in nonlinear optics. We hope that the nonlinear optical vortex filter can motivate some promising applications in biological edge imaging with visible light-sensitive specimens.
Transcriptome analysis provides insight into the regulatory mechanisms underlying pollen germination recovery at normal high ambient temperature in wild banana (Musa itinerans)
Authors: Zhang Chunyu , Zhang Chengyu , Xu Xiaoqiong , Liao Minzhang , Tong Ning , Zhang Zihao , Chen Yukun , Xu Han Xu , Lin Yuling , Lai Zhongxiong
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Cultivated banana are polyploid, with low pollen fertility, and most cultivars are male sterile, which leads to difficulties in banana breeding research. The selection of male parent with excellent resistance and pollen fertility is therefore essential for banana breeding. Wild banana (Musa itinerans) have developed many good characteristics during natural selection and constitute an excellent gene pool for breeding. Therefore, research on wild banana breeding is very important for banana breeding.

Results

In the current analysis, we examined the changes in viability of wild banana pollens at different temperatures by in vitro germination, and found that the germination ability of wild banana pollens cultured at 28°C for 2 days was higher than that of pollens cultured at 23°C (pollens that could not germinate normally under low temperature stress), 24°C (cultured at a constant temperature for 2 days) and 32°C (cultured at a constant temperature for 2 days). To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the germination restoration process in wild banana pollens, we selected the wild banana pollens that had lost its germination ability under low temperature stress (23°C) as the control group (CK) and the wild banana pollens that had recovered its germination ability under constant temperature incubation of 28°C for 2 days as the treatment group (T) for transcriptome sequencing. A total of 921 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in CK vs T, of which 265 were up-regulated and 656 were down-regulated. The combined analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed that the activation, metabolism of various substances (lipids, sugars, amino acids) play a major role in restoring pollen germination capacity. TCA cycle and the sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways were also significantly enriched in the KEGG pathway. And we found that some DEGs may be associated with pollen wall formation, DNA methylation and DNA repair. The cysteine content, free fatty acid (FFA) content, H2O2 content, fructose content, and sucrose content of pollen were increased at treatment of 28°C, while D-Golactose content was decreased. Finally, the GO pathway was enriched for a total of 24 DEGs related to pollen germination, of which 16 DEGs received targeted regulation by 14 MYBs.

Discussions

Our study suggests that the balance between various metabolic processes, pollen wall remodelling, DNA methylation, DNA repairs and regulation of MYBs are essential for germination of wild banana pollens.
Contextual reinstatement affects semantic organization
Authors: Vaknin Dana , Raz-Groman Zohar , Scheuer Alon , Sadeh Talya
Published: September 2023

The Context Dependency Effect is the well-established finding in which memory performance is enhanced under conditions in which the encoding and retrieval contexts overlap (i.e., Same-Context) and diminished when the overlap between encoding and retrieval contexts is low (i.e., Different-Context). Despite much research on context-dependent memory, most prior work examined only mean performance levels. The current experiment examined the influence of context change, manipulated by using three different pieces of background music, on semantic organization during free recall. Recall driven by semantic organization captures an important, ecologically valid aspect of memory retrieval: because narratives of real-life events are typically comprised of semantically related concepts (e.g., “sea,” “bathing suit,” and “sand” when recalling a trip to the beach), their recall is likely driven by semantic organization. Participants in the current study were tested in the same or different context as the material was learned. The results showed that although the mean number of correctly recalled items was numerically greater in the Same-Context condition compared to the Different-Context condition, the Context Dependency Effect was not significant. In contrast, however, semantic clustering—an established measure of semantic organization—was greater in the Different-Context condition compared to the Same-Context condition. Together, these results suggest that when contextual cues at recall are relatively meager, participants instead use semantic information as cues to guide memory retrieval. In line with previous findings, temporal organization, patterns of errors, and serial position analyses showed no differences between the two context conditions. The present experiment provides novel evidence on how external context change affects recall organization.
Morphology and SSR Markers-Based Genetic Diversity Analysis of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Cultivars Released in China
Authors: Wang Zhen , Zhou Fang , Tang Xuehui , Yang Yuanxiao , Zhou Ting , Liu Hongyan
Published: September 2023

Sesame is a highly valuable crop with significant global importance due to its nutritional and economic value. To better understand the genetic diversity of sesame genotypes at both molecular and morphological levels, a comprehensive study was conducted using 25 pairs of simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers and 56 biological traits in a collection of 183 sesame accessions, which comprised 101 Chinese cultivars, 62 landraces, and 20 exotic accessions. The analysis revealed a total of 166 SSR polymorphic bands, with an average of 6.64 bands per marker. The values of Shannon’s information index ranged from 0.2732 to 0.6497, indicating a moderate level of genetic diversity. The polymorphic information index ranged from 0.0859 to 0.6357, further supporting the presence of genetic variation. The average frequency of heterozygous genotypes was calculated as 0.34, suggesting a relatively narrow genetic diversity. The application of the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averaging (UPGMA) clustering and principal component analysis allowed for the categorization of the 183 sesame accessions into three distinct groups. Furthermore, the genetic diversity coefficient of sesame germplasm is generally constrained, with no significant difference observed between the genetic diversity coefficient of Chinese cultivars and that of foreign resources. The results provide valuable data for various applications, including the breeding and promotion of new sesame cultivars in China, the protection of new variety rights, the inquiry and identification of DNA genetic information of cultivars, as well as the development and utilization of sesame germplasm resources both domestically and internationally.
Effects of Different Osmotic Pre-Treatments on the Drying Characteristics, Modeling and Physicochemical Properties of Momordica charantia L. Slices
Authors: Ozsan Kilic Tugce , Boyar Ismail , Dincer Cuneyt , Ertekin Can , Onus Ahmet Naci
Published: September 2023

A significant vegetable in the Cucurbitaceae family, the bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is widely recognized for its beneficial health properties, including anti-diabetic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, antiviral activities. With a total of three Brix values (50, 60, and 70) and three different dipping times (10, 20, and 30 h), the goal of the current study was to identify the proper sugar and grape molasses solutions (pekmez) and dipping times for osmotic pre-treatments of bitter gourd samples to make it sweet and widely consumed. In the present study, mathematical modeling of drying processes, moisture content and water activity, total color changes, total phenolic content-antioxidant activity, and carotenoid contents were assessed. As a result of 13 different mathematical modeling tests, “Diffusion Approach”, “Logarithmic” and “Midilli et al.” models were the best models, giving the highest R2 and lowest X2-RMSE values. There were samples that were dipped at 50 °Brix grape molasses, which decreased below the 10% wet basis (w.b.) limit in the shortest time with 180 min, in a 10 h dipping time. The samples were dipped in 60 °Brix sugar, which fell below the same limit in the shortest time with 135 and 165 min, respectively, at 20 and 30 h dipping times. The highest total phenolic and carotenoid contents were found in 30 h dipping time in 60 °Brix grape molasses with 8296.87 mg/kg and 10 h dipping time in 50 °Brix sugar solutions with 89.22 mg/kg, respectively. While the phenolic content was higher in all samples dipped in grape molasses, the carotenoid content was higher in all samples dipped in sugar, which was one of the most important results of the study.
A Comparative Study of Dogs and Goats with Limited Human Socialization in the Impossible Task Paradigm
Authors: Di Lucrezia Alfredo , Scandurra Anna , Pinelli Claudia , Musco Nadia , D’Aniello Biagio , Mastellone Vincenzo , Zicarelli Fabio , Pero Maria Elena , Lombardi Pietro
Published: September 2023

The study aimed to explore how limited human socialization affects the socio-cognitive abilities and interactions with unfamiliar individuals of a selected group of domesticated dogs and goats. These animals were raised and kept under conditions characterized by limited human socialization, and their behavior was assessed using the “impossible task” paradigm. The study found that dogs, with a history of cooperative interactions and human companionship, exhibited more frequent social engagement with human experimenters in the experimental setting than goats, traditionally domesticated for utilitarian purposes. However, differences in interaction duration and latency were not significant, highlighting the complexity of these interactions. The results suggest that domestication history and behavioral ecology play significant roles in shaping animals’ willingness to engage with humans. However, this study acknowledges limitations, such as the specific population studied, and calls for further research with larger and more diverse samples to generalize these findings. Understanding the interplay between domestication history, behavioral ecology, and human socialization could provide insights into the complex factors influencing animal–human interactions and cognitive behaviors, with implications for animal welfare and human–animal relationships.
Significantly Earlier Spring Migration in Most Bird Species at the Eastern Limit of Europe
Authors: Askeyev Oleg , Askeyev Arthur , Askeyev Igor , Sparks Tim
Published: September 2023

The first arrival dates of 31 species of migrant birds in the Tatarstan Republic of Russia were monitored for the 34-year period from 1989–2022. Trends in first arrival date were evaluated using regression against the year value. Patterns in arrival data with respect to species traits (habitat, migration distance, body weight, etc.) were evaluated using redundancy analysis. Relationships between first arrival dates and Tatarstan temperatures were also evaluated using regression methods of first-arrival date on monthly mean temperatures. Almost all (28 of 31) species revealed a significantly earlier migration arrival date; however, associations between arrival patterns and species traits were equivocal. Warmer temperatures were significantly associated with earlier arrival in 26 of the 31 species, but the relationship was insufficient to explain the average 11-day advance in species. For these species and in this location only the timing and location of arrival are well recorded; the exact wintering areas and migration routes, and the timing of these phases are less well understood. When these become better known, an investigation of the influence of environmental conditions (including temperature) on departure timing and passage timing and speed is recommended.