bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selected Critical Raw Materials in Waste from Coal Gasification in Poland
Authors: Bielowicz Barbara
Published: December 2021

In an effort to identify new sources of critical raw materials (CRMs) possibility of recovering selected CRMs from Polish coals, chars, and ashes resulting from the combustion of coals and chars was investigated. The samples were collected from pilot fluidized bed gasification systems. The search for CRMs in coal gasification wastes has not been widely reported before. The study used 2 bituminous coal and 1 lignite sample; the concentration of individual critical raw materials (CRMs) was analyzed using the ICP-MS method. The obtained results were compared with Clarke values in coal ash and in the Earth’s crust, and with the adopted cut-off grade. As shown by the analysis, the highest concentrations of CRMs can be found in fly ash, mainly in samples from the eastern part of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. This applies mostly to Be, Cs, or Sb due to the fact that their concentrations were found to be higher than the Clarke value in the Earth’s crust; the mentioned fly ashes could be used as potential sources of critical elements if appropriate recovery technologies are developed. In addition, the tested materials have elevated Se, Pb, Ni concentrations, but their recovery is currently not economically viable. Compared to the currently adopted cut-off grade levels, there are no critical elements in the analyzed coal gasification waste that could be recovered.
Advancements in the Energy Sector and the Socioeconomic Development Nexus
Authors: Cirella Giuseppe T. , Pawłowska Barbara
Published: December 2021

Contemporary societies, in conjunction with economies from around the world, show an increasing demand for energy [...]
Pitch Control of Three Bladed Large Wind Energy Converters—A Review
Authors: Gambier Adrian
Published: December 2021

Modern multi-megawatt wind turbines are currently designed as pitch-regulated machines, i.e., machines that use the rotation of the blades (pitching) in order to adjust the aerodynamic torque, such that the power is maintained constantly throughout a wide range of wind speeds when they exceed the design value (rated wind speed). Thus, pitch control is essential for optimal performance. However, the pitching activity is not for free. It introduces vibrations to the tower and blades and generates fatigue loads. Hence, pitch control requires a compromise between wind turbine performance and safety. In the past two decades, many approaches have been proposed to achieve different objectives and to overcome the problems of a wind energy converter using pitch control. The present work summarizes control strategies for problem of wind turbines, which are solved by using different approaches of pitch control. The emphasis is placed on the bibliographic information, but the merits and demerits of the approaches are also included in the presentation of the topics. Finally, very large wind turbines have to simultaneously satisfy several control objectives. Thus, approaches like collective and individual pitch control, tower and blade damping control, and pitch actuator control must coexist in an integrated control system.
Hydraulic Characterization of the Full Scale Mock-Up of the DEMO Divertor Outer Vertical Target
Authors: Tincani Amelia , Castrovinci Francesca Maria , Cuzzani Moreno , Di Maio Pietro Alessandro , Di Piazza Ivan , Martelli Daniele , Mazzone Giuseppe , Quartararo Andrea , Vallone Eugenio , You Jeong-Ha
Published: December 2021

In the frame of the pre-conceptual design activities of the DEMO work package DIV-1 “Divertor Cassette Design and Integration” of the EUROfusion program, a mock-up of the divertor outer vertical target (OVT) was built, mainly in order to: (i) demonstrate the technical feasibility of manufacturing procedures; (ii) verify the hydraulic design and its capability to ensure a uniform and proper cooling for the plasma facing units (PFUs) with an acceptable pressure drop; and (iii) experimentally validate the computational fluid-dynamic (CFD) model developed by the University of Palermo. In this context, a research campaign was jointly carried out by the University of Palermo and ENEA to experimentally and theoretically assess the hydraulic performances of the OVT mock-up, paying particular attention to the coolant distribution among the PFUs and the total pressure drop across the inlet and outlet sections of the mock-up. The paper presents the results of the steady-state hydraulic experimental test campaign performed at ENEA Brasimone Research Center as well as the relevant numerical analyses performed at the Department of Engineering at the University of Palermo. The test facility, the experimental apparatus, the test matrix and the experimental results, as well as the theoretical model, its assumptions, and the analyses outcomes are herewith reported and critically discussed.
Heteroblastic Foliage Affects the Accumulation of Non-Structural Carbohydrates and Biomass in Pinus massoniana (Lamb.) Seedlings
Authors: Wang Haoyun , Wu Feng , Li Min , Liang Daqu , Ding Guijie
Published: December 2021

Pines have heteroblastic foliage (primary and secondary needles) during seedling stage, but how heteroblastic foliage affects carbon storage and biomass accumulation, contributing to seedling quality, is unclear. We investigated the influences of heteroblastic foliage on photosynthetic physiological characteristics, non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) and biomass accumulation in current-year seedlings; the key factors determining biomass accumulation were mainly determined by principal component screening, Spearman correlation, and path analysis. The results indicated that (1) primary needles have high photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll), net photosynthetic rates (Pn), the potential maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), and leaf instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEi), whereas higher non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) suggested that sudden light increases induce the initiation of quenching mechanism in primary needles; additionally, secondary needles had a lower transpiration rate (Tr), limiting stomata (Ls), and light saturation point. (2) Secondary needles promoted soluble sugar (fructose and glucose) increases in leaves compared to that of primary needles and increased the leaf biomass accumulation (from 47.06% to 54.30%), enhancing the overall ability of photosynthetic organs; additionally, secondary needles can enhance the proportion of starch storage in the roots, and NSC accumulation was significantly increasing in the seedling leaves and roots. (3) Photosynthetic pigments (carotenoids, chlorophyll a, and total chlorophyll) had direct positive effects on primary needle seedling (PNS) biomass and promoted biomass by indirectly increasing soluble sugar synthesis in the stems. The Pn was the main physiological factor determining PNS biomass accumulation. In addition, the WUEi, Ls, and NPQ had direct negative effects on PNS biomass accumulation, inhibiting photosynthesis to limit seedling growth. Considering the functional traits in heteroblastic foliage is necessary when assessing different leaf types of Pinus massoniana (Lamb.) seedlings, in particular those threats implicated in light, water, and temperature relations. Our results can be beneficial to guide the establishment of seedling management and afforestation measures.
Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) and Kamchatka Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea var. Kamtschatica) Extract Effects on Technological Properties, Sensory Quality, and Lipid Oxidation of Raw-Cooked Meat Product (Frankfurters)
Authors: Jurčaga Lukáš , Bobko Marek , Kolesárová Adriana , Bobková Alica , Demianová Alžbeta , Haščík Peter , Belej Ľubomír , Mendelová Andrea , Bučko Ondřej , Kročko Miroslav , Čech Matej
Published: December 2021

Oxidation is one of the most prevalent factors responsible for meat product deterioration. Due to their potential health risks, commonly used synthetic antioxidants are beginning to be frowned upon by customers. The industry is searching for a natural replacement. In our study, we incorporated blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) and Kamchatka honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea var. Kamtschatica) extracts into raw-cooked meat products (frankfurters) as natural antioxidants. We observed that both extracts at concentrations of 3 mL·kg−1 were able to significantly (α = 0.05) postpone lipid oxidation in our samples, with results comparable to vitamin C (0.5 mg·kg−1) addition. Moreover, we did not observe negative effects of the extracts on the product’s color, pH, or textural properties. Negative results were reported in the sensory evaluation of honeysuckle addition samples. This could have been caused by the natural strong and bitter taste of honeysuckle, which was transferred to the extracts and, subsequently, into the meat product.
Effects on Consumers’ Subjective Understanding and Liking of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labels: A Study on Slovenian and Dutch Consumers
Authors: Baccelloni Angelo , Giambarresi Andrea , Mazzù Marco Francesco
Published: December 2021

In the context of the ongoing debate on front-of-pack labels (FOPL), extant research highlights a lack of clear indications on which label is most effective in increasing consumers’ knowledge of food nutritional quality, and in favoring informed food choices. In this study, we have compared the effects of two different labels, one nutrient-specific label (i.e., NutrInform Battery) and one summary label (i.e., Nutri-Score), in terms of consumers’ “subjective understanding” and “liking”. Our work advances prior research on FOPL performance by focusing on two different countries—which have different socio-political contexts and which, from previous studies, present limited evidence on the topic—Slovenia, currently utilizing the Protective Food logo, and the Netherlands, who has recently adopted the Nutri-Score. The study also confirms, in line with previous research, a higher effectiveness of the nutrient-specific label, NutrInform Battery, on all analyzed dimensions in tested countries, when compared to the summary label, Nutri-Score.
Selection of Lactic Acid Bacteria with In Vitro Probiotic-Related Characteristics from the Cactus Pilosocereus gounellei (A. Weber ex. K. Schum.) Bly. ex Rowl
Authors: Sampaio Karoliny Brito , de Albuquerque Thatyane Mariano Rodrigues , Rodrigues Noádia Priscila Araújo , de Oliveira Maria Elieidy Gomes , de Souza Evandro Leite
Published: December 2021

Pilosocereus gounellei (A. Weber ex. K. Schum.) Bly. ex Rowl., popularly known as xique-xique, is a cactus from the Caatinga biome, which is rich in bioactive compounds but has not been previously studied as a source of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with probiotic aptitudes. This study aimed to identify, characterize, and select LAB isolates with in vitro probiotic-related characteristics from xique-xique cladodes and fruit. Isolates with the most promising probiotic-related characteristics were evaluated regarding their in vitro technological properties and capability of surviving in chestnut milk, whey protein drink, and mate tea with mint during 21 days of refrigeration storage. Seventeen recovered isolates had typical characteristics of LAB. Six out of these seventeen LAB isolates passed the safety tests and were included in experiments to evaluate the in vitro probiotic-related characteristics. Based on the results of a principal component analysis, the isolates 69, 82, 98, and 108 had the best performances in experiments to evaluate the probiotic-related characteristics. In addition to showing good technological properties, the four selected LAB isolates had high viable counts (>7.3 log cfu/mL) and high sizes of physiologically active cell subpopulations in chestnut milk, whey protein drink, and mate tea during refrigeration storage. These four isolates were identified by 16S-rRNA sequencing as being Lacticaseibacillus paracasei or Lacticaseibacillus casei. The results indicate xique-xique as a source of potentially probiotic LAB isolates.
Quality Traits and Nutritional Value of Pork and Poultry Meat from Animals Fed with Seaweeds
Authors: Ribeiro David Miguel , Martins Cátia Falcão , Costa Mónica , Coelho Diogo , Pestana José , Alfaia Cristina , Lordelo Madalena , de Almeida André Martinho , Freire João Pedro Bengala , Prates José António Mestre
Published: December 2021

Seaweeds have caught the attention of the scientific community in recent years. Their production can mitigate the negative impact of anthropogenic activity and their use in animal nutrition reduces the dependency on conventional crops such as maize and soybean meal. In the context of monogastric animals, novel approaches have made it possible to optimise their use in feed, namely polysaccharide extraction, biomass fermentation, enzymatic processing, and feed supplementation with carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Their bioactive properties make them putative candidates as feed ingredients that enhance meat quality traits, such as lipid oxidation, shelf-life, and meat colour. Indeed, they are excellent sources of essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals, and pigments that can be transferred to the meat of monogastric animals. However, their nutritional composition is highly variable, depending on species, harvesting region, local pollution, and harvesting season, among other factors. In this review, we assess the current use and challenges of using seaweeds in pig and poultry diets, envisaging to improve meat quality and its nutritional value.
Inner Properties Estimation of Gala Apple Using Spectral Data and Two Statistical and Artificial Intelligence Based Methods
Authors: Sharabiani Vali Rasooli , Sabzi Sajad , Pourdarbani Razieh , Szymanek Mariusz , Michałek Sławomir
Published: December 2021

Fruits provide various vitamins to the human body. The chemical properties of fruits provide useful information to researchers, including determining the ripening time of fruits and the lack of nutrients in them. Conventional methods for determining the chemical properties of fruits are destructive and time-consuming methods that have no application for online operations. For that, various researchers have conducted various studies on non-destructive methods, which are currently in the research and development stage. Thus, the present paper focusses on a non-destructive method based on spectral data in the 200–1100-nm region for estimation of total soluble solids and BrimA in Gala apples. The work steps included: (1) collecting different samples of Gala apples at different stages of maturity; (2) extracting spectral data of samples and pre-preprocessing them; (3) measuring the chemical properties of TSS and BrimA; (4) selecting optimal (effective) wavelengths using artificial neural network-simulated annealing algorithm (ANN-SA); and (5) estimating chemical properties based on partial least squares regression (PLSR) and hybrid artificial neural network known as the imperialist competitive algorithm (ANN-ICA). It should be noted that, in order to investigate the validity of the methods, the estimation algorithm was repeated 500 times. In the end, the results displayed that, in the best training, the ANN-ICA predicted the TSS and BrimA with correlation coefficients of 0.963 and 0.965 and root mean squared error of 0.167% and 0.596%, respectively.
The Conformational Structural Change of Soy Glycinin via Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermentation Reduced Immunoglobulin E Reactivity
Authors: Liu Zhen , Wang Yaqiong , Liu Yifei , Zhang Qiuqin , Li Wei , Dong Mingsheng , Rui Xin
Published: December 2021

This study investigated the fermentation of isolated soy glycinin by using the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum B1-6 strain, its reduction effect on immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactivity, the relationship with protein aggregation/gelation state and conformational changes. Fermentation was performed under different glycinin concentrations (0.1%, 0.5%, 1% and 2%, w/v) and varied fermentation terminal pH levels (FT-pH) (pH 6.0, 4.5, 4.0 and 3.5). L. plantarum B1-6 showed potency in reducing immunoreactivity to 0.10–69.85%, as determined by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. At a FT-pH of 6.0 and 4.5, extremely low IgE reactivity (0.1–22.32%) was observed. Fermentation resulted in a great increase (2.31–6.8-fold) in particle size and a loss of intensity in A3 and basic subunits. The conformation of glycinin was altered, as demonstrated by improved surface hydrophobicity (1.33–7.39-fold), decreased intrinsic fluorescence intensity and the α-helix structure. Among the four selected concentrations, glycinin at 1% (w/v, G-1) evolved the greatest particles during fermentation and demonstrated the lowest immunoreactivity. Principal component analysis confirmed that particle size, intrinsic fluorescence intensity, α-helix and ionic bond were closely related to immunoreactivity reduction.
Inactivation of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes in Tahini by Microwave Heating
Authors: Osaili Tareq M. , Al-Nabulsi Anas A. , Al Sheikh Yasmeen M. , Alaboudi Akram R. , Olaimat Amin N. , Al-Holy Murad , Al-Rousan Walid M. , Holley Richard
Published: December 2021

Tahini (sesame paste) is a traditional food. Numerous foodborne outbreaks have been associated with it. This study aimed to (i) explore the efficiency of 2450 MHz microwave heating at 220, 330, 440, 550, and 660 W on the inactivation of Salmonella spp, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes in tahini; (ii) determine the impact of desiccation and starvation stresses on pathogen survival; (iii) assess the impact of microwave heating on the physicochemical characteristics of tahini. The inoculated microorganisms in tahini were reduced with higher microwave power levels (p < 0.05) and longer exposure times. The D-values of unstressed Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, and L. monocytogenes ranged from 6.18 to 0.50 min, 6.08 to 0.50 min, and 4.69 to 0.48 min, respectively, at power levels of 220 to 660 W, with z-values of 410, 440, and 460 W, respectively. Generally, desiccation and starvation stress levels prior to heating increased microbial resistance to heat treatment. Microwave heating did not affect acid, peroxide, p-anisidine, or color values of tahini up to 90 °C. These findings reveal microwave heating as a potential method for lowering the risk of Salmonella spp., E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes in tahini with no compromise on quality.
Characterization of Polyphenol and Volatile Fractions of Californian-Style Black Olives and Innovative Application of E-nose for Acrylamide Determination
Authors: Martín-Tornero Elísabet , Sánchez Ramiro , Lozano Jesús , Martínez Manuel , Arroyo Patricia , Martín-Vertedor Daniel
Published: December 2021

Californian-style black olives require a sterilization treatment that produces a carcinogenic contaminant, acrylamide. Thus, this compound was evaluated in two different olive cultivars using an electronic nose (E-nose). The sterilization intensity had a significant influence on the final phenol concentrations, acrylamide content, and volatile compounds. Increasing the sterilization intensity from 10 to 26 min (F0) reduced the phenol content, but it promoted acrylamide synthesis, leading to a wide range of this toxic substance. The Ester and phenol groups of volatile compounds decreased their content when the sterilization treatment increased; however, aldehyde and other volatile compound groups significantly increased their contents according to the thermal treatments. The compounds 4-ethenyl-pyridine, benzaldehyde, and 2,4-dimethyl-hexane are volatile compounds with unpleasant odours and demonstrated a high amount of influence on the differences found after the application of the thermal treatments. The “Manzanilla Cacereña” variety presented the highest amount of phenolic compounds and the lowest acrylamide content. Finally, it was found that acrylamide content is correlated with volatile compounds, which was determined using multiple linear regression analysis (R2 = 0.9994). Furthermore, the aroma of table olives was analysed using an E-nose, and these results combined with Partial Least Square (PLS) were shown to be an accurate method (range to error ratio (RER) >10 and ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) >2.5) for the indirect quantification of this toxic substance.
The Correlation between Nurses’ COVID-19 Infections and Their Emotional State and Work Conditions during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
Authors: Malinowska-Lipień Iwona , Suder Magdalena , Wadas Tadeusz , Gabryś Teresa , Kózka Maria , Gniadek Agnieszka , Brzostek Tomasz
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has significantly influenced the functioning of Polish hospitals, and thus, the working conditions of nurses. Research on the presence of specific negative emotions in nurses may help identify deficits in the future, as well as directing preventive actions. The present research was performed among nurses (n = 158) working in Polish healthcare facilities during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, where Group A (n = 79) consisted of nurses diagnosed with COVID-19, and Group B (n = 79) nurses who have never been infected with COVID-19. To perform the research, the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS), Trait Anxiety Scale (Polish: SL-C) and the authors’ survey questionnaire were used. A positive test result was generally determined more often among nurses who indicated a noninfectious ward as their main workplace, compared to nurses employed in infectious wards (64.55% positive vs 33.45% negative). Over a half of the subjects identified moderate levels of emotion suppression as the method to regulate strong emotions, while one-quarter cited high levels of suppression. Anxiety was suppressed at high and moderate levels by 97% of the subjects, depression by 86.71%, and anger by 79.48%. Infection with COVID-19 results in a higher level of anxiety and depression, as well as a feeling of increased work load.
Hospitalization Trends for Acute Appendicitis in Spain, 1998 to 2017
Authors: Carratalá-Munuera Concepción , Pilco Jessica del Rocio , Orozco-Beltrán Domingo , Compañ Antonio , Quesada Jose A. , Nouni-García Rauf , Gil-Guillén Vicente F. , García-Ortíz Luis , López-Pineda Adriana
Published: December 2021

The incidence of acute appendicitis decreased in Western countries from 1930 to at least the early 1990s, when epidemiological data started becoming scarcer. This study aimed to assess the trend in annual hospitalizations for acute appendicitis in all people Spain for a 20-year period between 1998 and 2017. This observational study analyzing direct age-standardized hospital admission rates by gender and age group (0–14 years, 15–34 years, 35–44 years, 45–64 years, and ≥65 years). Joinpoint regression models were fitted to evaluate changes in trends. There were 789,533 emergency hospital admissions for acute appendicitis between 1998 and 2017: 58.9% in boys and men and 41.1% in girls and women. Overall, there was a significant increase in admissions for this cause from 1998 to 2009, with an annual percent change (APC) of 0.6%. Following the peak in 2009, admission rates decreased by around 1.0% annually until 2017. The length of hospital stay gradually decreased from 4.5 days in 1998 to 3.4 days in 2017. The trends in hospital admissions for acute appendicitis in Spain changed over the study period, decreasing from 2009, especially in people younger than 35 years.
Development of Colorimetric Whole-Cell Biosensor for Detection of Heavy Metals in Environment for Public Health
Authors: Kim Yihyang , Choi Hyeunseok , Shin Weon Ho , Oh Jong-Min , Koo Sang-Mo , Kim Younghun , Lee Taek , Yu Byung Jo , Park Chulhwan
Published: December 2021

Heavy metals cause various fetal diseases in humans. Heavy metals from factory wastewater can contaminate drinking water, fish, and crops. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) are commonly used to analyze heavy metal contents; however, these methods require pre-treatment processes and are expensive and complex. To overcome these limitations, three metal-sensing materials using a whole-cell biosensor in Escherichia coli (E. coli) were developed. Strains were engineered to harbor three kinds of plasmids containing the copA, zntA, and mer promoters for sensing copper, cadmium, and mercury, respectively. The luciferase (lux) gene was inserted as a reporter into the plasmid, which was later replaced with a fused protein sequence containing OmpA (1–159) and mCherry for optical detection. The constructed strains could detect mercury, cadmium, and copper at 0.1–0.75 ppm, 0.2–0.75 ppm, and 2–7.5 ppm, respectively, with linearity values of 0.99030, 0.99676, and 0.95933, respectively. The immobilization linearity value was 0.99765. Notably, these three heavy metals could be detected by visual analysis of the strains. Overall, these findings establish this novel sensor as a potential approach for heavy metal detection in biological samples and foods.
Mental Health among Higher Education Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey from Lithuania
Authors: Žilinskas Emilijus , Žulpaitė Giedrė , Puteikis Kristijonas , Viliūnienė Rima
Published: December 2021

Mental health issues—anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and behavior—are prevalent among students of higher education. The COVID-19 pandemic further affected students’ daily life through academic and socioeconomic disturbances. We set out to investigate students’ mental health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and conducted a cross-sectional online survey at higher education institutions in Lithuania in 2021. The questionnaire consisted of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) and the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC-3) questionnaires, evaluation of suicidal risk, experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and self-rated health status (SRHS). Among 1001 students who completed the survey, the prevalence of clinically relevant anxiety was high (46.6%) and contrasted with the lower prevalence of depression (11.1%). 37.5% of all students admitted that they had thought about suicide at least once during their lifetime and a similar number of students thought about suicide during the previous year. High levels of anxiety and depression were statistically significant predictors of suicidal ideation and planning during the past year in binary regression models. High SRHS (higher score refers to more positive health status) was the only significant independent variable associated with less frequent suicidal attempts in the past year (p < 0.01, OR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.12 to 0.66). Our study highlights anxiety and suicidality to be burdensome mental health issues among higher education students in Lithuania during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Family Support as Smoking Prevention during Transition from Early to Late Adolescence: A Study in 42 Countries
Authors: Zaborskis Apolinaras , Kavaliauskienė Aistė , Eriksson Charli , Klemera Ellen , Dimitrova Elitsa , Melkumova Marina , Husarova Daniela
Published: December 2021

Family support has a beneficial impact on protecting health-risk behaviour in adolescents. This study aimed to explore whether family support is associated with risk of smoking during transition from early (11 years) to late (15 years) adolescence across 42 countries. The data from the cross-national Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in 2017/2018 were employed (N = 195,966). Family support was measured using the four-item Family dimension of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (sum score 20 or more was categorised as high family support). Smoking was defined as a reported cigarette smoking at least 1–2 days in the last 30 days. The association between smoking and family support was assessed using a prevalence ratio (PR) obtained from the multivariate Poisson regression. Over two thirds of adolescents reported high levels of support from their family. Family support was found to significantly decrease with age in most of the countries, with the boys reported high level of family support more often than girls. The adolescents who reported having low family support also were more likely to smoke compared to their peers who reported having high family support (PR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.71–1.91 in boys, and PR = 2.19; 95% CI: 2.08–2.31 in girls). The countries with a stronger effect of family support in reducing smoking risk indicated lower rates of adolescent smoking as well as lower increases in the cigarette smoking prevalence during the age period from 11 to 15 years. This study reinforces the need for family support, which is an important asset helping adolescents to overcome the risk of smoking during their transition from early to late adolescence.
Evolutionary Analysis of International Scientific Output in Occupational Therapy from 1917 to 2020
Authors: Espinosa-Sempere Maria Cristina , Pérez-Jover Virtudes , Quesada Jose A. , López-Pineda Adriana , Carratalá-Munuera Concepción
Published: December 2021

Published evidence on the progress of occupational therapy research from a broad perspective is limited. The purpose of this study was to analyze the international research productivity on occupational therapy from 1917 to 2020. This was a bibliometric study including articles indexed on MEDLINE, Scopus, and CINAHL. The literature search was conducted in June 2021 using the descriptor “occupational therapy” and the term “Ergotherap*”, and was limited to citable documents. Price’s law and Bradford’s law were applied to analyze a number of bibliometric indicators. Research on occupational therapy had an average annual growth rate of 26.4% and followed an exponential model. The top producing countries were the USA (21.52%) and the UK (6.07%). There is a high transience index of 74.81%. The top producing author was Kielhofner, G. (n = 132). Studies with the highest reported scientific evidence accounted for 1.13% (n = 638) of the total number of publications. More randomized controlled trials are necessary to increase the quality of the evidence base. Moreover, a greater collaboration between authors is needed for the professionalization of this research field.
Transcriptomics Reveals the ERF2-bHLH2-CML5 Module Responses to H2S and ROS in Postharvest Calcium Deficiency Apples
Authors: Sun Hong-Ye , Zhang Wei-Wei , Qu Hai-Yong , Gou Sha-Sha , Li Li-Xia , Song Hui-Hui , Yang Hong-Qiang , Li Wan-Jie , Zhang Hua , Hu Kang-Di , Yao Gai-Fang
Published: December 2021

Calcium deficiency usually causes accelerated quality deterioration in postharvest fruit, whereas the underlining mechanism is still unclear. Here, we report that calcium deficiency induced the development of bitter pit on the surface of apple peels compared with the healthy appearance in control apples during postharvest storage. Physiological analysis indicates that calcium-deficient peels contained higher levels of superoxide anion (O2•−), malondialdehyde (MDA), total phenol, flavonoid contents and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, and reduced calcium, H2S production, anthocyanin, soluble protein content, and peroxidase (POD) activity compared with those in calcium-sufficient peels. The principal component analysis (PCA) results show that calcium content, ROS, and H2S production were the main factors between calcium-deficient and calcium-sufficient apple peels. Transcriptome data indicated that four calmodulin-like proteins (CMLs), seven AP2/ERFs, and three bHLHs transcripts were significantly differentially expressed in calcium-deficient apple peels. RT-qPCR and correlation analyses further revealed that CML5 expression was significantly positively correlated with the expression of ERF2/17, bHLH2, and H2S production related genes. In addition, transcriptional co-activation of CML5 by ERF2 and bHLH2 was demonstrated by apple transient expression assays and dual-luciferase reporter system experiments. Therefore, these findings provide a basis for studying the molecular mechanism of postharvest quality decline in calcium-deficient apples and the potential interaction between Ca2+ and endogenous H2S.
Unraveling the Spatiotemporal Distribution of VPS13A in the Mouse Brain
Authors: García-García Esther , Chaparro-Cabanillas Nerea , Coll-Manzano Albert , Carreras-Caballé Maria , Giralt Albert , Del Toro Daniel , Alberch Jordi , Masana Mercè , Rodríguez Manuel J.
Published: December 2021

Loss-of-function mutations in the human vacuolar protein sorting the 13 homolog A (VPS13A) gene cause Chorea-acanthocytosis (ChAc), with selective degeneration of the striatum as the main neuropathologic feature. Very little is known about the VPS13A expression in the brain. The main objective of this work was to assess, for the first time, the spatiotemporal distribution of VPS13A in the mouse brain. We found VPS13A expression present in neurons already in the embryonic stage, with stable levels until adulthood. VPS13A mRNA and protein distributions were similar in the adult mouse brain. We found a widespread VPS13A distribution, with the strongest expression profiles in the pons, hippocampus, and cerebellum. Interestingly, expression was weak in the basal ganglia. VPS13A staining was positive in glutamatergic, GABAergic, and cholinergic neurons, but rarely in glial cells. At the cellular level, VPS13A was mainly located in the soma and neurites, co-localizing with both the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. However, it was not enriched in dendritic spines or the synaptosomal fraction of cortical neurons. In vivo pharmacological modulation of the glutamatergic, dopaminergic or cholinergic systems did not modulate VPS13A concentration in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, or striatum. These results indicate that VPS13A has remarkable stability in neuronal cells. Understanding the distinct expression pattern of VPS13A can provide relevant information to unravel pathophysiological hallmarks of ChAc.
Comparison of Aging Resistance and Antimicrobial Properties of Ethylene–Norbornene Copolymer and Poly(Lactic Acid) Impregnated with Phytochemicals Embodied in Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)
Authors: Masek Anna , Cichosz Stefan , Piotrowska Małgorzata
Published: December 2021

The effects of plant-based extracts on the solar aging and antimicrobial properties of impregnated ethylene–norbornene (EN) copolymer and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) were investigated. In this study, the impregnation yield of polyolefin, lacking in active centers capable of phytochemical bonding, and polyester, abundant in active sides, was measured. Moreover, two different extracts plentiful in phytochemicals—thyme (TE) and clove (CE)—were employed in the solvent-based impregnation process. The effect of thymol and eugenol, the two main compounds embodied in the extracts, was studied as well. Interestingly, oxidation induction times (OIT) for the impregnation of EN with thyme and clove extracts were established to be, respectively, 27.7 and 39.02 min, which are higher than for thymol (18.4 min) and eugenol (21.1 min). Therefore, an aging experiment, mimicking the full spectrum of sunlight, was carried out to investigate the resistance to common radiation of materials impregnated with antioxidative substances. As expected, the experiment revealed that the natural extracts increased the shelf-life of the polymer matrix by inhibiting the degradation processes. The aging resistance was assessed based on detected changes in the materials’ behavior and structure that were examined with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, color quantification, tensile tests, and hardness investigation. Such broad results of solar aging regarding materials impregnated with thyme and clove extracts have not been reported to date. Moreover, CE was found to be the most effective modifying agent for enabling material with antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli to be obtained.
Human Adenovirus Type 5 Infection Leads to Nuclear Envelope Destabilization and Membrane Permeability Independently of Adenovirus Death Protein
Authors: Pfitzner Søren , Bosse Jens B. , Hofmann-Sieber Helga , Flomm Felix , Reimer Rudolph , Dobner Thomas , Grünewald Kay , Franken Linda E.
Published: December 2021

The human adenovirus type 5 (HAdV5) infects epithelial cells of the upper and lower respiratory tract. The virus causes lysis of infected cells and thus enables spread of progeny virions to neighboring cells for the next round of infection. The mechanism of adenovirus virion egress across the nuclear barrier is not known. The human adenovirus death protein (ADP) facilitates the release of virions from infected cells and has been hypothesized to cause membrane damage. Here, we set out to answer whether ADP does indeed increase nuclear membrane damage. We analyzed the nuclear envelope morphology using a combination of fluorescence and state-of-the-art electron microscopy techniques, including serial block-face scanning electron microscopy and electron cryo-tomography of focused ion beam-milled cells. We report multiple destabilization phenotypes of the nuclear envelope in HAdV5 infection. These include reduction of lamin A/C at the nuclear envelope, large-scale membrane invaginations, alterations in double membrane separation distance and small-scale membrane protrusions. Additionally, we measured increased nuclear membrane permeability and detected nuclear envelope lesions under cryoconditions. Unexpectedly, and in contrast to previous hypotheses, ADP did not have an effect on lamin A/C reduction or nuclear permeability.
Developmental Stressors Induce Innate Immune Memory in Microglia and Contribute to Disease Risk
Authors: Carloni Elisa , Ramos Adriana , Hayes Lindsay N.
Published: December 2021

Many types of stressors have an impact on brain development, function, and disease susceptibility including immune stressors, psychosocial stressors, and exposure to drugs of abuse. We propose that these diverse developmental stressors may utilize a common mechanism that underlies impaired cognitive function and neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia, autism, and mood disorders that can develop in later life as a result of developmental stressors. While these stressors are directed at critical developmental windows, their impacts are long-lasting. Immune activation is a shared pathophysiology across several different developmental stressors and may thus be a targetable treatment to mitigate the later behavioral deficits. In this review, we explore different types of prenatal and perinatal stressors and their contribution to disease risk and underlying molecular mechanisms. We highlight the impact of developmental stressors on microglia biology because of their early infiltration into the brain, their critical role in brain development and function, and their long-lived status in the brain throughout life. Furthermore, we introduce innate immune memory as a potential underlying mechanism for developmental stressors’ impact on disease. Finally, we highlight the molecular and epigenetic reprogramming that is known to underlie innate immune memory and explain how similar molecular mechanisms may be at work for cells to retain a long-term perturbation after exposure to developmental stressors.
Comprehensive Analysis of SRO Gene Family in Sesamum indicum (L.) Reveals Its Association with Abiotic Stress Responses
Authors: Liu Aili , Wei Mengyuan , Zhou Yong , Li Donghua , Zhou Rong , Zhang Yanxin , Zhang Xiurong , Wang Linhai , You Jun
Published: December 2021

SIMILAR TO RCD-ONEs (SROs) comprise a small plant-specific gene family which play important roles in regulating numerous growth and developmental processes and responses to environmental stresses. However, knowledge of SROs in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is limited. In this study, four SRO genes were identified in the sesame genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 64 SROs from 10 plant species were divided into two groups (Group I and II). Transcriptome data revealed different expression patterns of SiSROs over various tissues. Expression analysis showed that Group II SROs, especially SiSRO2b, exhibited a stronger response to various abiotic stresses and phytohormones than those in Group I, implying their crucial roles in response to environmental stimulus and hormone signals. In addition, the co-expression network and protein-protein interaction network indicated that SiSROs are associated with a wide range of stress responses. Moreover, transgenic yeast harboring SiSRO2b showed improved tolerance to salt, osmotic and oxidative stress, indicating SiSRO2b could confer multiple tolerances to transgenic yeast. Taken together, this study not only lays a foundation for further functional dissection of the SiSRO gene family, but also provides valuable gene candidates for genetic improvement of abiotic stress tolerance in sesame.
Genome-Wide Mutation Scoring for Machine-Learning-Based Antimicrobial Resistance Prediction
Authors: Májek Peter , Lüftinger Lukas , Beisken Stephan , Rattei Thomas , Materna Arne
Published: December 2021

The prediction of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) based on genomic information can improve patient outcomes. Genetic mechanisms have been shown to explain AMR with accuracies in line with standard microbiology laboratory testing. To translate genetic mechanisms into phenotypic AMR, machine learning has been successfully applied. AMR machine learning models typically use nucleotide k-mer counts to represent genomic sequences. While k-mer representation efficiently captures sequence variation, it also results in high-dimensional and sparse data. With limited training data available, achieving acceptable model performance or model interpretability is challenging. In this study, we explore the utility of feature engineering with several biologically relevant signals. We propose to predict the functional impact of observed mutations with PROVEAN to use the predicted impact as a new feature for each protein in an organism’s proteome. The addition of the new features was tested on a total of 19,521 isolates across nine clinically relevant pathogens and 30 different antibiotics. The new features significantly improved the predictive performance of trained AMR models for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii, and Escherichia coli. The balanced accuracy of the respective models of those three pathogens improved by 6.0% on average.
Synergy in Cystic Fibrosis Therapies: Targeting SLC26A9
Authors: Pinto Madalena C. , Quaresma Margarida C. , Silva Iris A. L. , Railean Violeta , Ramalho Sofia S. , Amaral Margarida D.
Published: December 2021

SLC26A9, a constitutively active Cl− transporter, has gained interest over the past years as a relevant disease modifier in several respiratory disorders including Cystic Fibrosis (CF), asthma, and non-CF bronchiectasis. SLC26A9 contributes to epithelial Cl− secretion, thus preventing mucus obstruction under inflammatory conditions. Additionally, SLC26A9 was identified as a CF gene modifier, and its polymorphisms were shown to correlate with the response to drugs modulating CFTR, the defective protein in CF. Here, we aimed to investigate the relationship between SLC26A9 and CFTR, and its role in CF pathogenesis. Our data show that SLC26A9 expression contributes to enhanced CFTR expression and function. While knocking-down SLC26A9 in human bronchial cells leads to lower wt- and F508del-CFTR expression, function, and response to CFTR correctors, the opposite occurs upon its overexpression, highlighting SLC26A9 relevance for CF. Accordingly, F508del-CFTR rescue by the most efficient correctors available is further enhanced by increasing SLC26A9 expression. Interestingly, SLC26A9 overexpression does not increase the PM expression of non-F508del CFTR traffic mutants, namely those unresponsive to corrector drugs. Altogether, our data indicate that SLC26A9 stabilizes CFTR at the ER level and that the efficacy of CFTR modulator drugs may be further enhanced by increasing its expression.
Integrated or Independent Actions of Metformin in Target Tissues Underlying Its Current Use and New Possible Applications in the Endocrine and Metabolic Disorder Area
Authors: Tulipano Giovanni
Published: December 2021

Metformin is considered the first-choice drug for type 2 diabetes treatment. Actually, pleiotropic effects of metformin have been recognized, and there is evidence that this drug may have a favorable impact on health beyond its glucose-lowering activity. In summary, despite its long history, metformin is still an attractive research opportunity in the field of endocrine and metabolic diseases, age-related diseases, and cancer. To this end, its mode of action in distinct cell types is still in dispute. The aim of this work was to review the current knowledge and recent findings on the molecular mechanisms underlying the pharmacological effects of metformin in the field of metabolic and endocrine pathologies, including some endocrine tumors. Metformin is believed to act through multiple pathways that can be interconnected or work independently. Moreover, metformin effects on target tissues may be either direct or indirect, which means secondary to the actions on other tissues and consequent alterations at systemic level. Finally, as to the direct actions of metformin at cellular level, the intracellular milieu cooperates to cause differential responses to the drug between distinct cell types, despite the primary molecular targets may be the same within cells. Cellular bioenergetics can be regarded as the primary target of metformin action. Metformin can perturb the cytosolic and mitochondrial NAD/NADH ratio and the ATP/AMP ratio within cells, thus affecting enzymatic activities and metabolic and signaling pathways which depend on redox- and energy balance. In this context, the possible link between pyruvate metabolism and metformin actions is extensively discussed.
Karyotype Diversity, Mode, and Tempo of the Chromosomal Evolution of Attina (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Attini): Is There an Upper Limit to Chromosome Number?
Authors: Cardoso Danon Clemes , Cristiano Maykon Passos
Published: December 2021

Ants are an important insect group that exhibits considerable diversity in chromosome numbers. Some species show only one chromosome, as in the males of the Australian bulldog ant Myrmecia croslandi, while some have as many as 60 chromosomes, as in the males of the giant Neotropical ant Dinoponera lucida. Fungus-growing ants are a diverse group in the Neotropical ant fauna, engaged in a symbiotic relationship with a basidiomycete fungus, and are widely distributed from Nearctic to Neotropical regions. Despite their importance, new chromosome counts are scarcely reported, and the marked variation in chromosome number across species has been poorly studied under phylogenetic and genome evolutionary contexts. Here, we present the results of the cytogenetic examination of fungus-farming ants and compile the cytogenetic characteristics and genome size of the species studied to date to draw insights regarding the evolutionary paths of karyotype changes and diversity. These data are coupled with a fossil-calibrated phylogenetic tree to discuss the mode and tempo of chromosomal shifting, considering whether there is an upper limit for chromosome number and genome size in ants, using fungus-farming ants as a model study. We recognize that karyotypes are generally quite variable across fungus-farming ant phylogeny, mostly between genera, and are more numerically conservative within genera. A low chromosome number, between 10 and 12 chromosomes, seems to present a notable long-term evolutionary stasis (intermediate evolutionary stasis) in fungus-farming ants. All the genome size values were inside a limited spectrum below 1 pg. Eventual departures in genome size occurred with regard to the mean of 0.38 pg, indicating that there is a genome, and likely a chromosome, number upper limit.