bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microbiologically-Synthesized Nanoparticles and Their Role in Silencing the Biofilm Signaling Cascade
Authors: Lahiri Dibyajit , Nag Moupriya , Sheikh Hassan I. , Sarkar Tanmay , Edinur Hisham Atan , Pati Siddhartha , Ray Rina Rani
Published: February 2021

The emergence of bacterial resistance to antibiotics has led to the search for alternate antimicrobial treatment strategies. Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) for efficient penetration into a living system have become more common in the world of health and hygiene. The use of microbial enzymes/proteins as a potential reducing agent for synthesizing NPs has increased rapidly in comparison to physical and chemical methods. It is a fast, environmentally safe, and cost-effective approach. Among the biogenic sources, fungi and bacteria are preferred not only for their ability to produce a higher titer of reductase enzyme to convert the ionic forms into their nano forms, but also for their convenience in cultivating and regulating the size and morphology of the synthesized NPs, which can effectively reduce the cost for large-scale manufacturing. Effective penetration through exopolysaccharides of a biofilm matrix enables the NPs to inhibit the bacterial growth. Biofilm is the consortia of sessile groups of microbial cells that are able to adhere to biotic and abiotic surfaces with the help extracellular polymeric substances and glycocalyx. These biofilms cause various chronic diseases and lead to biofouling on medical devices and implants. The NPs penetrate the biofilm and affect the quorum-sensing gene cascades and thereby hamper the cell-to-cell communication mechanism, which inhibits biofilm synthesis. This review focuses on the microbial nano-techniques that were used to produce various metallic and non-metallic nanoparticles and their “signal jamming effects” to inhibit biofilm formation. Detailed analysis and discussion is given to their interactions with various types of signal molecules and the genes responsible for the development of biofilm.
Identification of Natural Antisense Transcripts in Mouse Brain and Their Association With Autism Spectrum Disorder Risk Genes
Authors: Koç Baran , Fucile Geoffrey , Schmucki Roland , Giroud Nicolas , Bergauer Tobias , Hall Benjamin J.
Published: February 2021

Genome-wide sequencing technologies have greatly contributed to our understanding of the genetic basis of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Interestingly, a number of ASD-related genes express natural antisense transcripts (NATs). In some cases, these NATs have been shown to play a regulatory role in sense strand gene expression and thus contribute to brain function. However, a detailed study examining the transcriptional relationship between ASD-related genes and their NAT partners is lacking. We performed strand-specific, deep RNA sequencing to profile expression of sense and antisense reads with a focus on 100 ASD-related genes in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and striatum across mouse post-natal development (P7, P14, and P56). Using de novo transcriptome assembly, we generated a comprehensive long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) transcriptome. We conducted BLAST analyses to compare the resultant transcripts with the human genome and identified transcripts with high sequence similarity and coverage. We assembled 32861 de novo antisense transcripts mapped to 12182 genes, of which 1018 are annotated by Ensembl as lncRNA. We validated the expression of a subset of selected ASD-related transcripts by PCR, including Syngap1 and Cntnap2. Our analyses revealed that more than 70% (72/100) of the examined ASD-related genes have one or more expressed antisense transcripts, suggesting more ASD-related genes than previously thought could be subject to NAT-mediated regulation in mice. We found that expression levels of antisense contigs were mostly positively correlated with their cognate coding sense strand RNA transcripts across developmental age. A small fraction of the examined transcripts showed brain region specific enrichment, indicating possible circuit-specific roles. Our BLAST analyses identified 110 of 271 ASD-related de novo transcripts with >90% identity to the human genome at >90% coverage. These findings, which include an assembled de novo antisense transcriptome, contribute to the understanding of NAT regulation of ASD-related genes in mice and can guide NAT-mediated gene regulation strategies in preclinical investigations toward the ultimate goal of developing novel therapeutic targets for ASD.
Lung Metastases in Newly Diagnosed Esophageal Cancer: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Guo Jida , Zhang Shengqiang , Li Huawei , Hassan Mohamed Osman Omar , Lu Tong , Zhao Jiaying , Zhang Linyou
Published: February 2021

Background

Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancer types, with its most common distant metastatic site being the lung. Currently, population-based data regarding the proportion and prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer with lung metastases (ECLM) at the time of diagnosis is insufficient. Therefore, we aimed to determine the proportion of patients with ECLM at diagnosis, as well as to investigate the prognostic parameters of ECLM.

Methods

This population-based observational study obtained data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database registered between 2010 and 2016. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of the presence of ECLM at diagnosis. Multivariable Cox regression and competing risk analysis were used to assess prognostic factors in patients with ECLM. Median survival was estimated using Kaplan–Meier curves.

Results

Of 10,965 patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer between 2010 and 2016, 713 (6.50%) presented with initial lung metastasis at diagnosis. Lung metastasis represented 27.15% of all cases with metastatic disease to any distant site. Considering all patients with esophageal cancer, multivariable logistic regression indicated that pathology grade, pathology type, T staging, N staging, race, and number of extrapulmonary metastatic sites were predictive factors for the occurrence of lung metastases at diagnosis. The median survival time of patients with ECLM was 4.0 months. Patients receiving chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy had the longest median overall survival, 7.0 months. Multivariable Cox regression indicated that age, histology type, T2 staging, number of extrapulmonary metastatic sites, and treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or chemoradiotherapy) were independent predictors for overall survival (OS). Multivariable competing risk analysis determined that age, number of extrapulmonary metastatic sites, and treatment were independent predictors for esophageal cancer-specific survival (CSS).

Conclusion

The findings of this study may provide important information for the early diagnosis of ECLM, as well as aid physicians in choosing appropriate treatment regimens for these patients.
Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effect of Adjuvant Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Based on Ki67 After Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surgery
Authors: Zhao Yu-Fei , Xiong Xiu , Chen Kai , Tang Wei , Yang Xu , Shi Zheng-Rong
Published: February 2021

Background and aims

This study aimed to determine the relationship between Ki67 expression and the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (PA-TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods

The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates between the sub-groups in the ki67 low expression group and the ki67 high expression group and analyze the relationship between the expression of Ki67 and the efficacy of TACE.

Results

After PSM, there was no significant difference in the RFS and OS between the surgery + TACE and surgery subgroups after 1, 2, or 3 years (RFS: 63.9%, 55.6%, and 42.9% vs. 83.3%, 63.9%, and 55.6%, respectively, P = 0.279; OS: 91.7%, 83.3%, and 74.3% vs. 91.7%, 88.9%, and 71.4%, respectively, P = 0.890) in the Ki67 low-expression group. The RFS and OS were higher in the surgery + TACE subgroup than the surgery subgroup after 1, 2, and 3 years (RFS: 80.0%, 77.5%, and 69.2% vs. 53.5%, 39.5%, and 32.6%, respectively, P<0.001; OS: 97.5%, 85.0%, and 79.5% vs. 79.1%, 48.8%, and 42.9%, respectively, P = 0.001) in the Ki67 high expression group. The RFS was higher in the Ki67 high-expression subgroup than the low-expression subgroup after 1, 2, and 3 years, and OS had no significant difference (RFS: 80.0%, 79.5%, and 69.2% vs. 67.4%, 56.5%, and 46.7%, respectively, P = 0.035; OS: 97.5%, 85.0%, and 79.5% vs. 93.5%, 82.6%, and 75.6%, respectively, P = 0.665) in the surgery + TACE group.

Conclusions

For patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and high expression of Ki67 (Ki67≥20%), adjuvant hepatic artery chemoembolization after radical liver tumor resection effectively reduced the probability of tumor recurrence after surgery and prolonged the OS of patients. High Ki67 expression during the post-operative follow-up evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma patients is an indicator for adjuvant TACE therapy.
Mining of RNA Methylation-Related Genes and Elucidation of Their Molecular Biology in Gallbladder Carcinoma
Authors: Yang Changhong , Chen Jialei , Yu Zhe , Luo Jing , Li Xuemei , Zhou Baoyong , Jiang Ning
Published: February 2021

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC), which has high invasion and metastasis risks, remains the most common biliary tract malignancy. Surgical resection for GBC is the only effective treatment, but most patients miss the opportunity for curative surgery because of a lack of timely diagnosis. The aim of this study was to identify and verify early candidate diagnostic and prognostic RNA methylation related genes for GBC via integrated transcriptome bioinformatics analysis. Lists of GBC-related genes and methylation-related genes were collected from public databases to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by using the limma package and the RobustRankAggreg (RRA) package. The core genes were collected with batch effects corrected by the RRA algorithm through protein interaction network analysis, signaling pathway enrichment analysis and gene ranking. Four modules obtained from four public microarray datasets were found to be related to GBC, and FGA, F2, HAO1, CFH, PIPOX, ITIH4, GNMT, MAT1A, MTHFD1, HPX, CTH, EPHX2, HSD17B6, AKR1C4, CFHR3, ENNP1, and NAT2 were revealed to be potential hub genes involved in methylation-related pathways and bile metabolism-related pathways. Among these, FGA, CFH, F2, HPX, and PIPOX were predicted to be methylated genes in GBC, but POPIX had no modification sites for RNA methylation. Furthermore, survival analysis of TCGA (the Cancer Genome Atlas) database showed that six genes among the hub genes, FGA, CFH, ENPP1, CFHR3, ITIH4, and NAT2, were highly expressed and significantly correlated with worse prognosis. Gene correlation analysis revealed that the FGA was positively correlated with the ENPP1, NAT2, and CFHR3, while CFH was positively correlated with the NAT2, CFHR3, and FGA. In addition, the results of immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed that the expressions of FGA, F2, CFH, PIPOX, ITIH4, GNMT, MAT1A, MTHFD1, HPX, CFHR3, NAT2, and ENPP1 were higher in GBC tissues than that in control tissues. In conclusion, two genes, FGA and CFH, were identified as RNA methylation-related genes also involved in bile metabolism in GBC, which may be novel biomarkers to early diagnose and evaluate prognosis for GBC.
Hyperglycemia and Chemoresistance in Breast Cancer: From Cellular Mechanisms to Treatment Response
Authors: Qiu Jie , Zheng Qinghui , Meng Xuli
Published: February 2021

Female breast cancer is a complex, multifactorial disease. Studies have shown that hyperglycemia is one of the most important contributing factors to increasing the risk of breast cancer that also has a major impact on the efficacy of chemotherapy. At the cellular level, hyperglycemia can promote the proliferation, invasion, and migration of breast cancer cells and can also induce anti-apoptotic responses to enhance the chemoresistance of tumors via abnormal glucose metabolism. In this article, we focus on the latest progress in defining the mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance in hyperglycemic patients including the abnormal behaviors of cancer cells in the hyperglycemic microenvironment and the impact of abnormal glucose metabolism on key signaling pathways. To better understand the advantages and challenges of breast cancer treatments, we explore the causes of drug resistance in hyperglycemic patients that may help to better inform the development of effective treatments.
Toward the Establishment of New Clinical Endpoints for Cystic Fibrosis: The Role of Lung Clearance Index and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
Authors: Hatziagorou Elpis , Kampouras Asterios , Avramidou Vasiliki , Toulia Ilektra , Chrysochoou Elisavet-Anna , Galogavrou Maria , Kirvassilis Fotios , Tsanakas John
Published: February 2021

As Cystic Fibrosis (CF) treatment advances, research evidence has highlighted the value and applicability of Lung Clearance Index and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing as endpoints for clinical trials. In the context of these new endpoints for CF trials, we have explored the use of these two test outcomes for routine CF care. In this review we have presented the use of these methods in assessing disease severity, disease progression, and the efficacy of new interventions with considerations for future research.
Plasticizers and Cardiovascular Health: Role of Adipose Tissue Dysfunction
Authors: Callaghan Mikyla A. , Alatorre-Hinojosa Samuel , Connors Liam T. , Singh Radha D. , Thompson Jennifer A.
Published: February 2021

Since the 1950s, the production of plastics has increased 200-fold, reaching 360 million tonnes in 2019. Plasticizers, additives that modify the flexibility and rigidity of the product, are ingested as they migrate into food and beverages. Human exposure is continuous and widespread; between 75 and 97% of urine samples contain detectable levels of bisphenols and phthalates, the most common plasticizers. Concern over the toxicity of plasticizers arose in the late 1990s, largely focused around adverse developmental and reproductive effects. More recently, many studies have demonstrated that exposure to plasticizers increases the risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In the 2000s, many governments including Canada, the United States and European countries restricted the use of certain plasticizers in products targeted towards infants and children. Resultant consumer pressure motivated manufacturers to substitute plasticizers with analogues, which have been marketed as safe. However, data on the effects of these new substitutes are limited and data available to-date suggest that many exhibit similar properties to the chemicals they replaced. The adverse effects of plasticizers have largely been attributed to their endocrine disrupting properties, which modulate hormone signaling. Adipose tissue has been well-documented to be a target of the disrupting effects of both bisphenols and phthalates. Since adipose tissue function is a key determinant of cardiovascular health, adverse effects of plasticizers on adipocyte signaling and function may underlie their link to cardiovascular disease. Herein, we discuss the current evidence linking bisphenols and phthalates to obesity and CVD and consider how documented impacts of these plasticizers on adipocyte function may contribute to the development of CVD.
Elevated Lactate by High-Intensity Interval Training Regulates the Hippocampal BDNF Expression and the Mitochondrial Quality Control System
Authors: Hu Jingyun , Cai Ming , Shang Qinghui , Li Zhaorun , Feng Yu , Liu Beibei , Xue Xiangli , Lou Shujie
Published: February 2021

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is reported to be beneficial to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) biosynthesis. A key element in this may be the existence of lactate, the most obvious metabolic product of exercise. In vivo, this study investigated the effects of a 6-week HIIT on the peripheral and central lactate changes, mitochondrial quality control system, mitochondrial function and BDNF expression in mouse hippocampus. In vitro, primary cultured mice hippocampal cells were used to investigate the role and the underlying mechanisms of lactate in promoting mitochondrial function during HIIT. In vivo studies, we firstly reported that HIIT can potentiate mitochondrial function [boost some of the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) genes expression and ATP production], stimulate BDNF expression in mouse hippocampus along with regulating the mitochondrial quality control system in terms of promoting mitochondrial fusion and biogenesis, and suppressing mitochondrial fission. In parallel to this, the peripheral and central lactate levels elevated immediately after the training. In vitro study, our results revealed that lactate was in charge of regulating mitochondrial quality control system for mitochondrial function and thus may contribute to BDNF expression. In conclusion, our study provided the mitochondrial mechanisms of HIIT enhancing brain function, and that lactate itself can mediate the HIIT effect on mitochondrial quality control system in the hippocampus.
sGC Activity and Regulation of Blood Flow in a Zebrafish Model System
Authors: Vishnolia Krishan K. , Rakovic Aleksandar , Hoene Celine , Tarhbalouti Karim , Aherrahrou Zouhair , Erdmann Jeanette
Published: February 2021

Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) protein is a heterodimer formed by two subunits encoded by GUCY1A1 and GUCY1B1 genes. The chromosomal locus 4q32.1 harbors both of these genes, which has been previously significantly associated with coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and high blood pressure. Blood pressure is influenced by both the environment and genetics and is complemented by several biological pathways. The underlying mechanisms associated with this locus and its genes still need to be investigated. In the current study, we aimed to establish the zebrafish as a model organism to investigate the mechanisms surrounding sGC activity and blood pressure. A zebrafish mutant gucy1a1 line was generated using the CRISPR-Cas9 system by inducing a 4-bp deletion frameshift mutation. This mutation resulted in a reduction of gucy1a1 expression in both heterozygote and homozygote zebrafish. Blood flow parameters (blood flow, arterial pulse, linear velocity, and vessel diameter) investigated in the gucy1a1 mutants showed a significant increase in blood flow and linear velocity, which was augmented in the homozygotes. No significant differences were observed for the blood flow parameters measured from larvae with individual morpholino downregulation of gucy1a1 and gucy1b1, but an increase in blood flow and linear velocity was observed after co-morpholino downregulation of both genes. In addition, the pharmacological sGC stimulator BAY41-2272 rescued the impaired cGMP production in the zebrafish gucy1a1± mutant larvae. Downregulation of cct7 gene did not show any significant difference on the blood flow parameters in both wild-type and gucy1a1± background larvae. In summary, we successfully established a zebrafish platform for investigating sGC-associated pathways and underlying mechanisms in depth. This model system will have further applications, including for potential drug screening experiments.
Commonly Reported Problems and Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Survey of Graduate and Professional Students
Authors: Wasil Akash R. , Franzen Rose E. , Gillespie Sarah , Steinberg Joshua S. , Malhotra Tanvi , DeRubeis Robert J.
Published: February 2021

Background

The COVID-19 crisis has introduced a variety of stressors, while simultaneously decreasing the availability of strategies to cope with stress. In this context, it could be useful to understand issues that people find most concerning and ways in which they cope with stress. In this study, we explored these questions with a sample of graduate and professional students.

Method

Using open-ended assessments, we asked participants (n = 305) to identify their biggest challenge or concern (“top problem”), their most effective way of handling stress (“effective strategy”), and their most common way of handling stress (“common strategy”). We applied thematic analysis and evaluated whether participants’ strategies corresponded with evidence-based practices (EBPs).

Results

Participants frequently reported top problems relating to productivity (27% of sample), physical health (26%), and emotional health (14%). Distraction was the most frequently classified common strategy (43%), whereas behavioral activation was the most frequently identified effective strategy (50%). Participants who reported a common strategy classified as an EBP reported lower depressive and anxiety symptoms. In contrast, there was no evidence of an association between symptom levels and whether or not participants’ effective strategy was an EBP. Participants who reported the same strategy as both their common and effective strategy (29%) reported lower depressive symptoms than those whose common and effective strategies were different.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight stressors that students are experiencing and ways they are coping during the COVID-19 crisis. We discuss how these findings can inform mental health promotion efforts and future research on coping with stressors.
Stress, Sleep and Psychological Impact in Healthcare Workers During the Early Phase of COVID-19 in India: A Factor Analysis
Authors: Chatterjee Seshadri Sekhar , Chakrabarty Madhushree , Banerjee Debanjan , Grover Sandeep , Chatterjee Shiv Sekhar , Dan Utpal
Published: February 2021

Background: Risks to healthcare workers have escalated during the pandemic and they are likely to experience a greater level of stress. This cross-sectional study investigated mental distress among healthcare workers during the early phase of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in India.

Method: 140 healthcare workers of a tertiary care hospital in India were assessed for perceived stress and insomnia. A factor analysis with principal component method reduced these questions to four components which were categorized as insomnia, stress-related anxiety, stress-related irritability, and stress-related hopelessness. Further statistical analyses were done on these factor scores to identify the predictors and investigate the differences between the different categories of healthcare workers.

Result: Doctors had the highest level of anxiety among the healthcare workers. Both doctors and nurses perceived a greater level of irritability than the other HCWs. Compared to doctors and nurses, other HCWs were more likely to experience insomnia. Lower age, higher education, female gender, and urban habitat were associated with greater perception of anxiety. Older age, being quarantined, and single marital status were the significant predictors of irritability. Female gender, single marital-status, and higher number of medical ailments contributed to perceived hopelessness. Quarantine significantly predicted insomnia.

Conclusion: Different categories of healthcare workers are experiencing varied mental health problems owing to their heterogeneous socio-demographic backgrounds. Tailored and personalized care, as well as policies, might help in alleviating their problems. Further research is warranted to explore the psychological distress and remedies among these frontline workers during and after the ongoing pandemic crisis.
Readiness or Impairment: Cognitive and Linguistic Differences Between Children Who Learn to Read and Those Who Exhibit Difficulties With Reading in Kindergarten Compared to Their Achievements at the End of First Grade
Authors: Ne'eman Ariel , Shaul Shelley
Published: February 2021

Many studies have attempted to identify measures that predict reading abilities. The results of these studies may be inclined to over-identification of children considered at risk in kindergarten but who achieve parity in reading by the end of first grade. Therefore, the current study sought to analyze the specific cognitive and linguistic predictors of reading accuracy and reading speed separately. Additionally, the study examined if it is possible to use empirically validated measures to distinguish between children who are not ready to learn how to read in kindergarten but manage to acquire reading skills by the end of first grade, and those who continue to exhibit difficulties. The study followed 98 kindergarteners (43 boys and 55 girls) aged 4 years 10 months to six years from three different schools, who were taught how to read in kindergarten. Multiple measures of general cognitive skills, linguistic abilities, and reading abilities were measured at three different points in time: the beginning of kindergarten, the end of kindergarten, and the end of first grade. The study found that most of the children with good literacy and cognitive abilities learned how to read by the end of kindergarten. The analysis revealed a significant difference in cognitive abilities, such as executive functions and memory, which distinguished between the ability to acquire fluent reading and accurate reading. The study was able to successfully distinguish between “children with difficulties” and “un-ready” children. These results have various implications, especially in regard to the identification of and intervention with kindergarten children at risk for reading disabilities.
Service Innovation in Human Resource Management During COVID-19: A Study to Enhance Employee Loyalty Using Intrinsic Rewards
Authors: Abdullah Muhammad Ibrahim , Huang Dechun , Sarfraz Muddassar , Sadiq Muhammad Waqas
Published: February 2021

This research focuses on the employee loyalty aspect of private hospitals in Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic, seriously impacted by strict work demand and work-family conflict. To manage this issue, social rewards and psychological rewards played a role as a mediator. The study uses a causal research design with a correlational study design in a non-contrived environment. Minimal researcher interference has been assured. AMOS 24 has been used to deal with the mediation in study design with bootstrap methodology. The study was conducted on 250 nurses of different private hospitals across Punjab province using a proportionate stratified sampling technique. A finding of this study suggests that nurses remain loyal to their organizations despite having uncompromising work demands and facing work-family conflict when they are provided with social and psychological rewards on their job by their organizations.
Electrophysiological Examination of Feedback-Based Learning in 8–11-Year-Old Children
Authors: Arbel Yael , Fox Annie B.
Published: February 2021

The study aimed at evaluating the extent to which the feedback related negativity (FRN), an ERP component associated with feedback processing, is related to learning in school-age children. Eighty typically developing children between the ages of 8 and 11 years completed a declarative learning task while their EEG was recorded. The study evaluated the predictive value of the FRN on learning retention as measured by accuracy on a follow-up test a day after the session. The FRN elicited by positive feedback was found to be predictive of learning retention in children. The relationship between the FRN and learning was moderated by age. The P3a was also found to be associated with learning, such that larger P3a to negative feedback was associated with better learning retention in children.
Predicting Brain Age at Slice Level: Convolutional Neural Networks and Consequences for Interpretability
Authors: Ballester Pedro L. , da Silva Laura Tomaz , Marcon Matheus , Esper Nathalia Bianchini , Frey Benicio N. , Buchweitz Augusto , Meneguzzi Felipe
Published: February 2021

Problem: Chronological aging in later life is associated with brain degeneration processes and increased risk for disease such as stroke and dementia. With a worldwide tendency of aging populations and increased longevity, mental health, and psychiatric research have paid increasing attention to understanding brain-related changes of aging. Recent findings suggest there is a brain age gap (a difference between chronological age and brain age predicted by brain imaging indices); the magnitude of the gap may indicate early onset of brain aging processes and disease. Artificial intelligence has allowed for a narrowing of the gap in chronological and predicted brain age. However, the factors that drive model predictions of brain age are still unknown, and there is not much about these factors that can be gleaned from the black-box nature of machine learning models. The goal of the present study was to test a brain age regression approach that is more amenable to interpretation by researchers and clinicians.

Methods: Using convolutional neural networks we trained multiple regressor models to predict brain age based on single slices of magnetic resonance imaging, which included gray matter- or white matter-segmented inputs. We evaluated the trained models in all brain image slices to generate a final prediction of brain age. Unlike whole-brain approaches to classification, the slice-level predictions allows for the identification of which brain slices and associated regions have the largest difference between chronological and neuroimaging-derived brain age. We also evaluated how model predictions were influenced by slice index and plane, participant age and sex, and MRI data collection site.

Results: The results show, first, that the specific slice used for prediction affects prediction error (i.e., difference between chronological age and neuroimaging-derived brain age); second, the MRI site-stratified separation of training and test sets removed site effects and also minimized sex effects; third, the choice of MRI slice plane influences the overall error of the model.

Conclusion: Compared to whole brain-based predictive models of neuroimaging-derived brain age, slice-based approach improves the interpretability and therefore the reliability of the prediction of brain age using MRI data.
Approaches for Efficiently Detecting Frontier Cells in Robotics Exploration
Authors: Quin Phillip , Nguyen Dac Dang Khoa , Vu Thanh Long , Alempijevic Alen , Paul Gavin
Published: February 2021

Many robot exploration algorithms that are used to explore office, home, or outdoor environments, rely on the concept of frontier cells. Frontier cells define the border between known and unknown space. Frontier-based exploration is the process of repeatedly detecting frontiers and moving towards them, until there are no more frontiers and therefore no more unknown regions. The faster frontier cells can be detected, the more efficient exploration becomes. This paper proposes several algorithms for detecting frontiers. The first is called Naïve Active Area (NaïveAA) frontier detection and achieves frontier detection in constant time by only evaluating the cells in the active area defined by scans taken. The second algorithm is called Expanding-Wavefront Frontier Detection (EWFD) and uses frontiers from the previous timestep as a starting point for searching for frontiers in newly discovered space. The third approach is called Frontier-Tracing Frontier Detection (FTFD) and also uses the frontiers from the previous timestep as well as the endpoints of the scan, to determine the frontiers at the current timestep. Algorithms are compared to state-of-the-art algorithms such as Naïve, WFD, and WFD-INC. NaïveAA is shown to operate in constant time and therefore is suitable as a basic benchmark for frontier detection algorithms. EWFD and FTFD are found to be significantly faster than other algorithms.
Bacteria in the Reproductive Tract: They Are Not All Bad!
Authors: Seay Taylor B. , Clemmons Brooke A. , Myer Phillip R. , McLean Kyle J.
Published: February 2021

Bacteria in the reproductive tract were previously thought to be “bad” and it was believed that they decreased the chances of successful pregnancies. However, healthy bacteria have been found in the reproductive tracts of humans and cattle! These “good” bacteria help maintain a healthy reproductive tract by reducing the ability of “bad” bacteria to grow, helping immune cells to function properly, and maintaining an appropriate pH in the environment. Researchers have found that differences in the bacterial communities of the uterus can influence whether cattle get pregnant and give birth to healthy calves. Future studies may evaluate how we can modify these bacterial communities to create the best environment in the reproductive tract for better reproductive success.
Successful Plant Growth-Promoting Microbes: Inoculation Methods and Abiotic Factors
Authors: Lopes Monyck Jeane dos Santos , Dias-Filho Moacyr Bernardino , Gurgel Ely Simone Cajueiro
Published: February 2021

Plant-microbe interactions have been the subject of several biotechnological studies, seeking sustainable development and environmental conservation. The inoculation of plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPM) in agricultural crops is considered an environmental-friendly alternative to chemical fertilization. Microbial inoculants are mainly inoculated onto seeds, roots and soil. PGPM improve plant growth by enhancing the availability of nutrients, the regulation of phytohormones, and by increasing plant tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses. One of the main obstacles with PGPM research are the inconsistent results, which may be the result of inoculation methods and abiotic factors, such as soil (nutrient or heavy metal contents and pH), water availability, light intensity and temperature. This review addresses how the PGPM inoculants act on plant growth, what mechanisms they use to survive under stressful environmental conditions, and how inoculation methods and abiotic factors can interfere on the success of microbial inoculation in plants, serving as a basis for research on plants-microorganisms interaction.
COVID-19 and Air Pollution: Measuring Pandemic Impact to Air Quality in Five European Countries
Authors: Skirienė Akvilė Feiferytė , Stasiškienė Žaneta
Published: February 2021

The rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected the economy, trade, transport, health care, social services, and other sectors. To control the rapid dispersion of the virus, most countries imposed national lockdowns and social distancing policies. This led to reduced industrial, commercial, and human activities, followed by lower air pollution emissions, which caused air quality improvement. Air pollution monitoring data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) datasets were used to investigate how lockdown policies affected air quality changes in the period before and during the COVID-19 lockdown, comparing to the same periods in 2018 and 2019, along with an assessment of the Index of Production variation impact to air pollution changes during the pandemic in 2020. Analysis results show that industrial and mobility activities were lower in the period of the lockdown along with the reduced selected pollutant NO2, PM2.5, PM10 emissions by approximately 20–40% in 2020.
Waist Circumference Is Not Associated with Impaired Fasting Blood Glucose in a Sample of Mexican Children and Teenagers: Results from a State Screening Program
Authors: Jáuregui-Ulloa Edtna , Gaytán-González Alejandro , Elizalde-Villarreal Mayra , González-Navarro Esmeralda , Ocampo-Chavarría Alberto , López-Taylor Juan
Published: February 2021

A high waist circumference (WC) is used as a risk factor for impaired fasting blood glucose (IFG) in adults. This association is less studied in children and teenagers. The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between having a high WC and IFG by sex and age in a sample of Mexican children and teenagers. We analyzed the data of 12979 participants aged 5 to 17 years to calculate percentile references for uncorrected WC, corrected for height (WC/HT) and by height squared (WC/HT2) with quantile regression. A subsample of 2309 participants with fasting blood glucose samples (FBG), WC, WC/HT and WC/HT2 values was analyzed with logistic regression. A high WC, WC/HT, and WC/HT2 were considered at the sex- and age-specific 90th percentile from the subsample. The IFG was considered as FBG ≥100 mg/dL. Having a high WC, WC/HT, nor WC/HT2 was not significantly associated with IFG for either sex and age group (all p > 0.05). A high WC, either on its uncorrected or corrected for height values, was not an important assessment for predicting IFG in a sample of Mexican children and teenagers. This study provides percentile reference values specific for sex and age.
Information System for Selection of Conditions and Equipment for Mammalian Cell Cultivation
Authors: Menshutina Natalia , Guseva Elena , Batyrgazieva Diana , Mitrofanov Igor
Published: February 2021

Over the past few decades, animal cell culture technology has advanced significantly. It is now considered a reliable, functional, and relatively well-developed technology. At present, biotherapeutic drugs are synthesized using cell culture techniques by large manufacturing enterprises that produce products for commercial use and clinical research. The reliable implementation of mammalian cell culture technology requires the optimization of a number of variables, including the culture environment and bioreactor conditions, suitable cell lines, operating costs, efficient process management and, most importantly, quality. Successful implementation also requires an appropriate process development strategy, industrial scale, and characteristics, as well as the certification of sustainable procedures that meet the requirements of current regulations. All of this has led to a trend of increasing research in the field of biotechnology and, as a result, to a great accumulation of scientific information which, however, remains fragmentary and non-systematic. The development of information and network technologies allow us to solve this problem. Information system creation allows for implementation of the modern concept of integrating various structured and unstructured data, as well as the collection of information from internal and external sources. We propose and develop an information system which contains the conditions and various parameters of cultivation processes. The associated ranking system is the result of the set of recommendations—both from technological and hardware solutions—which allow for choosing the optimal conditions for the cultivation of mammalian cells at the stage of scientific research, thereby significantly reducing the time and cost of work. The proposed information system allows for the accumulation of experience regarding existing technologies for the cultivation of mammalian cells, along with application to the development of new technologies. The main goal of the present work is to discuss information systems, the organizational support of scientific research in the field of mammalian cell cultivation, and to provide a detailed description of the developed system and its main modules, including the conceptual and logical scheme of the database.
Exsolution Catalysts—Increasing Metal Efficiency
Authors: Lindenthal Lorenz , Buchinger Richard , Drexler Hedda , Schrenk Florian , Ruh Thomas , Rameshan Christoph
Published: February 2021

Exsolution catalysts are perovskite oxide-based materials that can exsolve catalytically active dopant elements as nanoparticles covering the surface, while the perovskite backbone can act as a stable support material. Thus, under proper conditions, a highly catalytically active and stable catalyst surface can be achieved. For many catalytic materials, precious metals or non-abundant elements play a key role in high catalytic activity. As these elements are often expensive or their supply is ecologically and ethically problematic, the replacement, or at the least reduction in the necessary amount used, is a common aim of current research. One strategy to do so is utilizing exsolution catalysts, as the active elements can be very selectively exsolved, and hence only very small doping amounts are sufficient for excellent results. This approach enables catalyst design with very high active metal efficiency.
One-Step Generation of Multiple Gene-Edited Pigs by Electroporation of the CRISPR/Cas9 System into Zygotes to Reduce Xenoantigen Biosynthesis
Authors: Tanihara Fuminori , Hirata Maki , Nguyen Nhien Thi , Sawamoto Osamu , Kikuchi Takeshi , Otoi Takeshige
Published: February 2021

Xenoantigens cause hyperacute rejection and limit the success of interspecific xenografts. Therefore, genes involved in xenoantigen biosynthesis, such as GGTA1, CMAH, and B4GALNT2, are key targets to improve the outcomes of xenotransplantation. In this study, we introduced a CRISPR/Cas9 system simultaneously targeting GGTA1, CMAH, and B4GALNT2 into in vitro-fertilized zygotes using electroporation for the one-step generation of multiple gene-edited pigs without xenoantigens. First, we optimized the combination of guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting GGTA1 and CMAH with respect to gene editing efficiency in zygotes, and transferred electroporated embryos with the optimized gRNAs and Cas9 into recipient gilts. Next, we optimized the Cas9 protein concentration with respect to the gene editing efficiency when GGTA1, CMAH, and B4GALNT2 were targeted simultaneously, and generated gene-edited pigs using the optimized conditions. We achieved the one-step generation of GGTA1/CMAH double-edited pigs and GGTA1/CMAH/B4GALNT2 triple-edited pigs. Immunohistological analyses demonstrated the downregulation of xenoantigens; however, these multiple gene-edited pigs were genetic mosaics that failed to knock out some xenoantigens. Although mosaicism should be resolved, the electroporation technique could become a primary method for the one-step generation of multiple gene modifications in pigs aimed at improving pig-to-human xenotransplantation.
The Influence of Pressure-Induced-Flow Processing on the Morphology, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene Blends
Authors: Li Pengfei , Fei Yanpei , Ruan Shilun , Yang Jianjiang , Chen Feng , Jin Yangfu
Published: February 2021

The pressure-induced-flow (PIF) processing can effectively prepare high-performance polymer materials. This paper studies the influence of pressure-induced-flow processing on the morphology, thermodynamic and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP)/polyamide 6 (PA6) blends, PP/polyolefin elastomer (POE) blends and PP/thermoplastic urethane (TPU) blends. The results show that pressure-induced-flow processing can significantly improve the thermodynamic and mechanical properties of the blends by regulating internal structure. Research shows that the pressure-induced-flow processing can increase the strength and the toughness of the blends, particularly in PP/TPU blends.
Causal Links between Trade Openness and Foreign Direct Investment in Romania
Authors: Rathnayaka Mudiyanselage Malsha Mayoshi , Epuran Gheorghe , Tescașiu Bianca
Published: February 2021

In this increasingly globalized era, foreign direct investments are considered to be one of the most important sources of external financing for all countries. This paper investigates the causal relationship between trade openness and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Romania during the period 1997–2019. Throughout this study, Trade Openness is the main independent variable, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Real Effective Exchange Rate (EXR), Inflation (INF), and Education (EDU) act as control variables for investigating the relationships between trade openness (TOP) and FDI inflow in Romania. The Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds test procedure was adopted to achieve the above-mentioned objective. Trade openness has negative and statistically significant long-run and short-run relationships with FDI inflows in Romania throughout the period. Trade openness negatively affects the FDI inflow, which suggest that the higher the level of openness is, the less likely it is that FDI will be attracted in the long run. The result of the Granger causality test indicated that Romania has a unidirectional relationship between trade openness and FDI. It also showed that the direction of causality ran from FDI to trade openness.
Indoor Radon Concentration and Risk Assessment in 27 Districts of a Public Healthcare Company in Naples, South Italy
Authors: Loffredo Filomena , Savino Federica , Amato Roberto , Irollo Alfredo , Gargiulo Francesco , Sabatino Giuseppe , Serra Marcello , Quarto Maria
Published: February 2021

Radon is a major source of ionizing radiation exposure for the general population. It is known that exposure to radon is a risk factor for the onset of lung cancer. In this study, the results of a radon survey conducted in all districts of a Public Healthcare in Italy, are reported. Measurements of indoor radon were performed using nuclear track detectors, CR-39. The entire survey was conducted according to a well-established quality assurance program. The annual effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risk were also calculated. Results show that the radon concentrations varied from 7 ± 1 Bq/m3 and 5148 ± 772 Bq/m3, with a geometric mean of 67 Bq/m3 and geometric standard deviation of 2.5. The annual effective dose to workers was found to be 1.6 mSv/y and comparable with the worldwide average. In Italy, following the transposition of the European Directive 59/2013, great attention was paid to the radon risk in workplaces. The interest of the workers of the monitored sites was very high and this, certainly contributed to the high return rate of the detectors after exposure and therefore, to the presence of few missing data. Although it was not possible to study the factors affecting radon concentrations, certainly the main advantage of this study is that it was the first in which an entire public health company was monitored in regards to all the premises on the underground and ground floor.
The ICF Classification System to Assess Risk Factors for CVD in Secondary Prevention after Ischemic Stroke and Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Lucki Mateusz , Chlebuś Ewa , Wareńczak Agnieszka , Lisiński Przemysław
Published: February 2021

Background and objectives: Patients with a history of prior stroke have a high risk for subsequent cardiovascular events (CVD). Therefore, the implementation of an effective strategy to reduce risk factors and thereby improve secondary prevention outcomes is crucial in this patient population. The aim of this study was to determine differences in the incidence of risk factors for recurrent CVD events based on clinical type of prior stroke and to characterize them using the ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) classification system. Materials and Methods: The incidence of risk factors for recurrent CVD events were retrospectively analyzed in 109 patients with a history of ischemic stroke (IS) and 80 patients with a history of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) within 14 days poststroke. Results: Atrial fibrillation/flutter (p = 0.031), >70% carotid artery stenosis (p = 0.004), blood pressure >140/90 mmHg (p = 0.025), blood HbA1c levels >7% (p = 0.002), smoking (p = 0.026) and NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) use (p < 0.001) were significantly more common in patients with a history of ischemic stroke. However, liver function test abnormalities were observed more commonly in patients with a history of hemorrhagic stroke (p = 0.025). Conclusions: The incidence and type of risk factors for recurrent CVD events vary according to the clinical type of prior stroke. The ICF classification system is a useful tool for evaluating these risk factors. This may help reduce the risk of subsequent CVD events.