bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contribution of the α5 nAChR Subunit and α5SNP to Nicotine-Induced Proliferation and Migration of Human Cancer Cells
Authors: Papapostolou Irida , Ross-Kaschitza Daniela , Bochen Florian , Peinelt Christine , Maldifassi Maria Constanza
Published: August 2023

Nicotine in tobacco is known to induce tumor-promoting effects and cause chemotherapy resistance through the activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Many studies have associated the α5 nicotinic receptor subunit (α5), and a specific polymorphism in this subunit, with (i) nicotine administration, (ii) nicotine dependence, and (iii) lung cancer. The α5 gene CHRNA5 mRNA is upregulated in several types of cancer, including lung, prostate, colorectal, and stomach cancer, and cancer severity is correlated with smoking. In this study, we investigate the contribution of α5 in the nicotine-induced cancer hallmark functions proliferation and migration, in breast, colon, and prostate cancer cells. Nine human cell lines from different origins were used to determine nAChR subunit expression levels. Then, selected breast (MCF7), colon (SW480), and prostate (DU145) cancer cell lines were used to investigate the nicotine-induced effects mediated by α5. Using pharmacological and siRNA-based experiments, we show that α5 is essential for nicotine-induced proliferation and migration. Additionally, upon downregulation of α5, nicotine-promoted expression of EMT markers and immune regulatory proteins was impaired. Moreover, the α5 polymorphism D398N (α5SNP) caused a basal increase in proliferation and migration in the DU145 cell line, and the effect was mediated through G-protein signaling. Taken together, our results indicate that nicotine-induced cancer cell proliferation and migration are mediated via α5, adding to the characterization of α5 as a putative therapeutical target.
Whey Protein Isolate and Garlic Essential Oil as an Antimicrobial Coating to Preserve the Internal Quality of Quail Eggs
Authors: Vale Igor Rafael Ribeiro , Oliveira Gabriel da Silva , McManus Concepta , de Araújo Maria Viviane , Salgado Cristiane Batista , Pires Paula Gabriela da Silva , de Campos Tatiana Amabile , Gonçalves Laura Fernandes , Almeida Ana Paula Cardoso , Martins Gustavo dos Santos , Leal Ivana Correa Ramos , Santos Vinícius Machado dos
Published: August 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a coating formulation involving whey protein isolate (WPI) and garlic essential oil (GEO) on the internal quality and microbiological and sensory attributes of quail eggs stored for 28 days at room temperature. Unwashed quail eggs (171) were divided into treatments of uncoated eggs (UE), WPI-coated eggs and WPI/GEO-coated eggs and analyzed during the study period. Eggs coated with WPI/GEO had 1.51 log10 CFU/mL−1 less aerobic mesophilic bacteria, 2.02 log10 CFU/mL−1 less Enterobacteriaceae and 1.34 log10 CFU/mL−1 less molds and yeasts on the eggshell when compared to UE. The Haugh unit (HU) in the range of 0–28 days of storage was significantly higher for WPI/GEO- (88.26 ± 4.83, grade AA) coated eggs than WPI-coated (86.55 ± 6.20, grade AA) and UE (85.94 ± 6.46, grade AA). The new coating formulation (WPI/GEO) can be an option to preserve the quality of quail eggs.
Influence of Tuning Potential Parameters on Wettability of Smooth Copper Plate: A Molecular Dynamic Study
Authors: Wu Nini , Zeng Liangcai , Chen Juan , Fu Ting , Zhang Feng , Zeng Yun
Published: August 2023

The influences of interactions between copper plate and nano-water droplets on wettability with different solid–liquid potential parameters were studied, and the spread of droplets was compared and analyzed using the molecular dynamics method. The diameter of droplet spreading and the amount of water molecules adsorbed on the copper gradually increased with the potential parameters, whereas the absolute potential energy value between copper and water also increased. Negative potential energy represents the attraction force between solid atoms and liquid molecules, and the attraction grows stronger with the large absolute value of negative potential energy. The heat transfer performance of the wettability surface can be explained by analyzing the force of solid and liquid from the perspective of energy. These results are of great significance for establishing the wettability model of a smooth plate correctly and the design and manufacture of a special functional surface.
The Applications of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) Ablative Therapy in the Treatment of Primary Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zulkifli Dania , Manan Hanani Abdul , Yahya Noorazrul , Hamid Hamzaini Abdul
Published: August 2023

Background: This study evaluates the role of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablative therapy in treating primary breast cancer. Methods: PubMed and Scopus databases were searched according to the PRISMA guidelines to identify studies from 2002 to November 2022. Eligible studies were selected based on criteria such as experimental study type, the use of HIFU therapy as a treatment for localised breast cancer with objective clinical evaluation, i.e., clinical, radiological, and pathological outcomes. Nine studies were included in this study. Results: Two randomised controlled trials and seven non-randomised clinical trials fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The percentage of patients who achieved complete (100%) coagulation necrosis varied from 17% to 100% across all studies. Eight of the nine studies followed the treat-and-resect protocol in which HIFU-ablated tumours were surgically resected for pathological evaluation. Most breast cancers were single, solitary, and palpable breast tumours. Haematoxylin and eosin stains used for histopathological evaluation showed evidence of coagulation necrosis. Radiological evaluation by MRI showed an absence of contrast enhancement in the HIFU-treated tumour and 1.5 to 2 cm of normal breast tissue, with a thin peripheral rim of enhancement indicative of coagulation necrosis. All studies did not report severe complications, i.e., haemorrhage and infection. Common complications related to HIFU ablation were local mammary oedema, pain, tenderness, and mild to moderate burns. Only one third-degree burn was reported. Generally, the cosmetic outcome was good. The five-year disease-free survival rate was 95%, as reported in two RCTs. Conclusions: HIFU ablation can induce tumour coagulation necrosis in localised breast cancer, with a favourable safety profile and cosmetic outcome. However, there is variable evidence of complete coagulation necrosis in the HIFU-treated tumour. Histopathological evidence of coagulation necrosis has been inconsistent, and there is no reliable radiological modality to assess coagulation necrosis confidently. Further exploration is needed to establish the accurate ablation margin with a reliable radiological modality for treatment and follow-up. HIFU therapy is currently limited to single, palpable breast tumours. More extensive and randomised clinical trials are needed to evaluate HIFU therapy for breast cancer, especially where the tumour is left in situ.
Loss or Dilution—A New Diagnostic Method to Assess the Impact of Dilution on Standard Laboratory Parameters
Authors: Innerhofer Nicole , Rajsic Sasa , Ronzani Marco , Breitkopf Robert , Gollmann Tepeköylü Can , Velik-Salchner Corinna , Schlosser Lisa , Fries Dietmar , Streif Werner , Schirmer Michael , Martini Judith
Published: August 2023

Intraoperative fluid therapy is regularly used in patients undergoing cardiac surgery procedures with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Although fluid administration has several advantages, it unavoidably leads to hemodilution. The hemodilution may further influence the interpretation of concentration-based laboratory parameters like hemoglobin (Hgb), platelet count (PLT) or prothrombin time (PT). These all parameters are commonly used to guide blood product substitution. To assess the impact of dilution on these values, we performed a prospective observational study in 174 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. We calculated the total blood volume according to Nadler’s formula, and fluid therapy was correlated with a newly developed dilution coefficient formula at the end of CPB. Intravenously applied fluids were measured from the beginning of the anesthesia (baseline, T0) and 15 min after the end of protamine infusion (end of CPB, T1). The amount of the administered volume (crystalloids or colloids) was calculated according to the percentage of the intravascular fluid effect, and intraoperative diuresis was further subtracted. The median blood volume increased by 148% in all patients at T1 compared to the calculated total blood volume at T0. This led to a dilution-dependent decrease of 38% in all three parameters (Hgb 24%, corrCoeff = 0.53; PLT 41%, corrCoeff = 0.68; PT 44%, corrCoeff = 0.54). The dilution-correlated decrease was significant for all parameters (p < 0.001), and the effect was independent from the duration of CPB. We conclude that the presented calculation-based approach could provide important information regarding actual laboratory parameters and may help in the guidance of the blood product substitution and potential transfusion thresholds. Further research on the impact of dilution and related decision-making for blood product substitution, including its impact on morbidity and mortality, is warranted.
Prognosis Predictive Markers in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and COVID-19
Authors: Motoc Nicoleta Ștefania , Făgărășan Iulia , Urda-Cîmpean Andrada Elena , Todea Doina Adina
Published: August 2023

Some studies have reported that chronic respiratory illnesses in patients with COVID-19 result in an increase in hospitalization and death rates, while other studies reported to the contrary. The present research aims to determine if a predictive model (developed by combing different clinical, imaging, or blood markers) could be established for patients with both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and COVID-19, in order to be able to foresee the outcomes of these patients. A prospective observational cohort of 165 patients with both diseases was analyzed in terms of clinical characteristics, blood tests, and chest computed tomography results. The beta-coefficients from the logistic regression were used to create a score based on the significant identified markers for poor outcomes (transfers to an intensive care unit (ICU) for mechanical ventilation, or death). The severity of COVID-19, renal failure, diabetes, smoking status (current or previous), the requirement for oxygen therapy upon admission, high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and C-reactive protein level (CRP readings), and low eosinophil and lymphocyte counts were all identified as being indicators of a poor prognosis. Higher mortality was linked to the occurrence of renal failure, the number of affected lobes, the need for oxygen therapy upon hospital admission, high LDH, and low lymphocyte levels. Patients had an 86.4% chance of dying if their mortality scores were −2.80 or lower, based on the predictive model. The factors that were linked to a poor prognosis in patients who had both COPD and COVID-19 were the same as those that were linked to a poor prognosis in patients who had only COVID-19.
The Usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Management of Acute Phlegmonous Esophagitis
Authors: Shimizu Motohiro , Adachi Hiroshi , Sai Kenichi
Published: August 2023

Acute phlegmonous esophagitis is a rare life-threatening disease that often requires surgical intervention in case of complications, including esophageal abscess, perforation, or mediastinitis. We present a case of acute phlegmonous esophagitis, in which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) proved useful in planning the treatment strategy. An 89-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department with painful swallowing and respiratory distress. She was diagnosed with acute phlegmonous esophagitis and a hypopharyngeal abscess based on computed tomography (CT) findings. However, there was a discrepancy between the clinical course and CT findings. Given the improvement of the patient’s condition with conservative treatment with ampicillin/sulbactam, the CT findings suggested an apparent abscess due to increased esophageal wall thickness. However, MR diffusion-weighted images showed a slightly high-intensity signal, suggesting that the enlargement was due to edema rather than an abscess. The patient recovered successfully following conservative treatment. Thus, our findings demonstrate the utility of MRI in the treatment planning of acute phlegmonous esophagitis, especially in cases with unreliable contrast-enhanced CT findings. However, future studies are warranted to explore the utility of MRI in the management of such cases.
Infraspinatus Fascial Dysfunction as a Cause of Painful Anterior Shoulder Snapping: Its Visualization via Dynamic Ultrasound and Its Resolution via Diagnostic Ultrasound-Guided Injection
Authors: Lam King Hei Stanley , Su Daniel Chiung Jui , Wu Yung-Tsan , Fajardo Pérez Mario , Reeves Kenneth Dean , Peng Philip , Fullerton Bradley
Published: August 2023

This report presents the first case of painful anterior shoulder snapping due to a thickened, fibrotic bursa snapping between the subscapularis and the short head of the bicep during external and internal rotation of the humerus. A 46-year-old presented with a 10-month history of on-and-off anterolateral right shoulder pain and snapping. Direct treatment to the anterior suspected lesions partially and temporarily relieved the pain but did not reduce the snapping. Further musculoskeletal examination and dynamic ultrasound scanning showed dysfunction in the scapulothoracic movement and defects of the muscles that interact with the infraspinatus aponeurotic fascia. An ultrasound-guided diagnostic injection to the suspected lesions in the infraspinatus fascia and its muscles attachments improved the scapulothoracic movement, and the snapping and pain were eliminated immediately after the injection, which further shows that the defects in the infraspinatus fascia may be the root cause of the painful anterolateral snapping. The importance of the infraspinatus fascia and its related muscle in maintaining the harmony of the scapulothoracic movement and flexibility of the shoulder is considerable.
The Voice of Teachers about School and the Teaching Profession in Guinea-Bissau
Authors: Dias Filipe , Rodrigues Maria José
Published: August 2023

Teachers’ view of the school is determinant for their action and condition of their activity and their professional development. This study focuses on the voice of teachers at community management schools in Guinea-Bissau in order to know the vision they have of the school and the teaching profession. For data collection, a personal and professional characterization questionnaire and interviews with thirty elementary school teachers were used. The results show that teachers value continuing education as a tool that allows them to perform the profession better. They identified some constraints related to the difficulty in the Portuguese language, the lack of didactic materials and teachers, isolation, and lack of community participation. Teachers refer to the school as a place of transmission of knowledge and values, highlighting the school as the key to development. According to teachers, the need for more infrastructure and materials as well as the greater involvement and commitment of the educational community are the main factors that must be improved. To conclude, we highlight the role that teacher training plays in the quality of their work and the efforts necessary for schools to respond to the needs of society.
TLI-YOLOv5: A Lightweight Object Detection Framework for Transmission Line Inspection by Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Authors: Huang Hanqiang , Lan Guiwen , Wei Jia , Zhong Zhan , Xu Zirui , Li Dongbo , Zou Fengfan
Published: August 2023

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become an important tool for transmission line inspection, and the inspection images taken by UAVs often contain complex backgrounds and many types of targets, which poses many challenges to object detection algorithms. In this paper, we propose a lightweight object detection framework, TLI-YOLOv5, for transmission line inspection tasks. Firstly, we incorporate the parameter-free attention module SimAM into the YOLOv5 network. This integration enhances the network’s feature extraction capabilities, without introducing additional parameters. Secondly, we introduce the Wise-IoU (WIoU) loss function to evaluate the quality of anchor boxes and allocate various gradient gains to them, aiming to improve network performance and generalization capabilities. Furthermore, we employ transfer learning and cosine learning rate decay to further enhance the model’s performance. The experimental evaluations performed on our UAV transmission line inspection dataset reveal that, in comparison to the original YOLOv5n, TLI-YOLOv5 increases precision by 0.40%, recall by 4.01%, F1 score by 1.69%, mean average precision at 50% IoU (mAP50) by 2.91%, and mean average precision from 50% to 95% IoU (mAP50-95) by 0.74%, while maintaining a recognition speed of 76.1 frames per second and model size of only 4.15 MB, exhibiting attributes such as small size, high speed, and ease of deployment. With these advantages, TLI-YOLOv5 proves more adept at meeting the requirements of modern, large-scale transmission line inspection operations, providing a reliable, efficient solution for such demanding tasks.
An APT Event Extraction Method Based on BERT-BiGRU-CRF for APT Attack Detection
Authors: Xiang Ga , Shi Chen , Zhang Yangsen
Published: August 2023

Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) seriously threatens a nation’s cyberspace security. Current defense technologies are typically unable to detect it effectively since APT attack is complex and the signatures for detection are not clear. To enhance the understanding of APT attacks, in this paper, a novel approach for extracting APT attack events from web texts is proposed. First, the APT event types and event schema are defined. Secondly, an APT attack event extraction dataset in Chinese is constructed. Finally, an APT attack event extraction model based on the BERT-BiGRU-CRF architecture is proposed. Comparative experiments are conducted with ERNIE, BERT, and BERT-BiGRU-CRF models, and the results show that the APT attack event extraction model based on BERT-BiGRU-CRF achieves the highest F1 value, indicating the best extraction performance. Currently, there is seldom APT event extraction research, the work in this paper contributes a new method to Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) analysis. By considering the multi-stages, complexity of APT attacks, and the data source from huge credible web texts, the APT event extraction method enhances the understanding of APT attacks and is helpful to improve APT attack detection capabilities.
Transaction Costs and Investment Interest in the U.S. South and the Pacific Northwest Timberland Regions
Authors: Hiegel Andrew , Siry Jacek , Mei Bin , Bettinger Pete
Published: August 2023

In 2020, a survey was conducted of timberland investment professionals. The focus of the survey was collecting and examining transaction cost data within the timberland investment space. The data collected were generally lacking in the public domain, as well as academic literature, yet it provides insight into the significant costs that are involved in timberland investing. The survey revealed that the U.S. South and the Pacific Northwest have significant differences in investor expectations for transaction costs. The objective of the current study was to explore the differences in transaction costs for the two regions and to uncover the relationships between (1) timberland transaction costs; (2) investment interest; and (3) prior experience in owning, investing, or managing timberland in either region. The findings of this work confirmed that transaction costs were a statistically significant predictor of investor interest in the U.S. South and the Pacific Northwest. The findings also showed that prior ownership, investment, or management experience in either region were a statistically significant predictor of investor interest in the U.S. South and the Pacific Northwest. Furthermore, this work explores factors that appear to rationalize the high investor interest in the Pacific Northwest, despite investor expectations of much higher transaction costs associated with timberland acquisition within this region.
Advances in Synthetic Biology Techniques and Industrial Applications of Corynebacterium glutamicum
Authors: Wang Yujue , Wang Qiang , Sha Aobo , Ren Kexin , Hu Mengkai , Xu Meijuan , Zhang Xian , Rao Zhiming
Published: August 2023

Corynebacterium glutamicum is a Gram-positive bacterium (non-spore-forming) that has been wildly used for amino acid production. Due to its stable protein secretion, low extracellular hydrolase activity, and non-toxicity, the application field of C. glutamicum has been greatly expanded. Currently, gene editing technology based on synthetic biology has great potential for synthetic biology research and genetic modification in C. glutamicum because of its ability to efficiently regulate the physiological and metabolic networks of the strain. Therefore, we summarize the gene editing tools and strategies of C. glutamicum from the aspects of genetic modification and expression elements, and we also describe the effects of gene editing techniques on a variety of products such as amino acids and their derivatives, recombinant proteins, and functional sugars, which provide a certain theoretical basis for the research on the modification of C. glutamicum strains and industrial applications. Finally, we prospect the design and industrial application of C. glutamicum genetic modification from multiple perspectives based on gene editing techniques.
Sensitivity of Offline and Inline Indicators for Fiber Stretching in Continuous Polyacrylonitrile Stabilization
Authors: Sadeghi Bogar Mohsen , Wolf Jan , Wolz Daniel Sebastian Jens , Seidel-Greiff Robert , Dmitrieva Evgenia , Israel Noel , Rosenkranz Marco , Behnisch Thomas , Müller Michael Thomas , Gude Maik
Published: August 2023

In carbon fiber (CF) production, the stabilization process step is the most energy- and time-consuming step in comparison with carbonization and graphitization. To develop optimization routes for energy and productivity, the stabilization needs to be monitored continuously via inline analysis methods. To prognose the evolution of high-performance CF, the density of stabilized fibers has been identified as a robust pre-indicator. As the offline analysis of density is not feasible for inline analysis, a density-soft sensor based on the stabilization indices of Fourier Transform Infrared spectrum (FTIR)-analysis and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy could potentially be used for inline monitoring. In this study, a Polyacrylonitrile-based precursor fiber (PF) stabilized in a continuous thermomechanical stabilization line with varying stretching profiles was incrementally analyzed using density, FTIR-based relative cyclization index (RCI), and EPR-based free radical concentration (FRC). Our findings show RCI and EPR dependencies for density, correlated for RCI with sensitivity by stretching to cubic model parameters, while FRC exhibits linear relationships. Therefore, this study identifies two possible soft sensors for inline density measurement, enabling autonomous energy optimization within industry 4.0-based process systems.
Effects of LPS, Poly (I:C) and Edwardsiella tarda on the Expression Patterns of IL-17 Family Members and Their Receptors in Spotted Sea Bass (Lateolabrax maculatus)
Authors: Wan Shuai , Sun Zhaosheng , Zhang Chang , Pan Tingshuang , Yuan Shuya , Chen Yuxi , Zou Jun , Gao Qian
Published: August 2023

In fish, the immune system plays a crucial role in defending against pathogen-induced infections. The interleukin 17 (IL-17) family, which is a well-studied class of cytokines, serves as a key component of the immune response against external pathogens. In this research, four IL-17 ligands (IL-17A/F1, IL-17B, IL-17C and IL-17D) and one receptor (IL-17RB) genes were identified from spotted sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus). Alignment analysis showed that the C-terminal region of IL-17 ligands in spotted sea bass was highly conserved. The expression of the IL-17 ligand and receptor genes differed in unstimulated tissues. To investigate the impact of various factors on the immune response of spotted sea bass, we assessed the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), polyinosinic–polycytidylic acid [poly (I:C)] and Edwardsiella tarda treatment on the IL-17 ligands and receptor responses. Our results reveal that the expression of the IL-17 ligand and receptor transcripts is modulated by LPS, poly (I:C) and E. tarda, indicating their significant role in the immune system.
Beyond Chemical Preservatives: Enhancing the Shelf-Life and Sensory Quality of Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Hummus with Vinegar and Other Natural Antimicrobials
Authors: Karam Layal , Ghonim Fatma , Dahdah Patricia , Attieh Grace , Al-Ahmad Shama , Ghonim Salma , Osaili Tareq
Published: August 2023

Hummus is a traditional and very popular Mediterranean ready-to-eat (RTE) food, with growing popularity worldwide. However, it has a high water activity and is susceptible to microbial growth and post-process contamination that limit its quality and shelf-life. For this purpose, the present study compared the use of several antimicrobials, alone or in combination, for hummus preservation during storage (4 °C), for up to 45 days. The chemical preservative potassium sorbate 0.09% (S) was evaluated, along with three natural antimicrobials: garlic 1.25% (G); vinegar 5% (V); natamycin 0.002% (N); or their combination: garlic 1.25%–vinegar 5% (GV); vinegar 5%–natamycin 0.002% (VN); garlic 1.25%–natamycin 0.002% (GN); and garlic 1.25%–vinegar 5%–natamycin 0.002% (GVN) to increase the shelf-life of hummus. A thymol and carvacrol mixture 0.2% (O) was also assessed to preserve and develop a new oregano-flavored hummus. All treatments that included vinegar used alone or in combination had significantly higher antimicrobial effectiveness than the other treatments. They achieved 2.2–3.2, 1.8–3.1, and 1.4–2.1 log reductions in total aerobic counts (TAC), Pseudomonas spp., and lactic acid bacteria (LAB), respectively, as compared to the control samples © at day 21. Therefore, the shelf-life of C, S, N, G, GN, and O was around (ca.) 19 days, compared to an extended one of ca. 25 days for V and VN, and ca. 30 days for GV and GVN. Sensory analysis showed the highest acceptability for C, N, S, V, and VN, followed by GV and GVN, and the lowest was for G, GN, and finally O. The findings provide potential alternatives to chemical preservatives, which could be used for natural hummus preservation and shelf-life extension.
DSC Phase Transition Profiles Analyzed by Control Charts to Determine Markers for the Authenticity and Deterioration of Flaxseed Oil during Storage
Authors: Islam Mahbuba , Kaczmarek Anna , Grygier Anna , Tomaszewska-Gras Jolanta
Published: August 2023

An approach of implementing X-bar and R control charts as a statistical control tool to monitor the changes in the melting profile of fresh and stored flaxseed oils by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used. Phase transition melting profiles were collected after 0, 2, 4, and 6 months of storing flaxseed oils, originating from five different cultivars. Four peaks at around −36, −30, −25, and −12 °C were identified using the deconvolution analysis procedure, which enabled the data to be collected at peak temperature (T), peak height (h), the peak area (A), and the percentages of the area (P A), as well as the ratio calculated from these parameters. Control charts obtained for the second peak of the melting profile showed a significant decrease of peak height (h2) from 0.50 to 0.39 W/g and the percentage of the area (P A2) from 50 to 38%, within the storage time (p ≤ 0.05); thus, they were considered to be indicators of oil deterioration. Strong negative correlations of the unstable parameters of DSC with chemical indicators of the oils’ oxidative stability (PV, p-AV, TOTOX) were found. For DSC parameters, related to the first peak (h1, A1) and the third peak (h3, A3), changes were statistically not significant within storage (p > 0.05); thus, they can be used as markers of flaxseed oil authenticity. The study demonstrated that X-bar and R control charts could effectively monitor changes in the specific peaks and calculated ratios from the DSC melting profile of fresh and stored flaxseed oils, serving as reliable indicators of oil deterioration.
Comparative Analysis of miRNA Expression Profiles under Salt Stress in Wheat
Authors: Qiao Hualiang , Jiao Bo , Wang Jiao , Yang Yang , Yang Fan , Geng Zhao , Zhao Guiyuan , Liu Yongwei , Dong Fushuang , Wang Yongqiang , Zhou Shuo
Published: August 2023

Salt stress is one of the important environmental factors that inhibit the normal growth and development of plants. Plants have evolved various mechanisms, including signal transduction regulation, physiological regulation, and gene transcription regulation, to adapt to environmental stress. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in regulating mRNA expression. Nevertheless, miRNAs related to salt stress are rarely reported in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this study, using high−throughput sequencing, we analyzed the miRNA expression profile of wheat under salt stress. We identified 360 conserved and 859 novel miRNAs, of which 49 showed considerable changes in transcription levels after salt treatment. Among them, 25 were dramatically upregulated and 24 were downregulated. Using real−time quantitative PCR, we detected significant changes in the relative expression of miRNAs, and the results showed the same trend as the sequencing data. In the salt−treated group, miR109 had a higher expression level, while miR60 and miR202 had lower expression levels. Furthermore, 21 miRNAs with significant changes were selected from the differentially expressed miRNAs, and 1023 candidate target genes were obtained through the prediction of the website psRNATarget. Gene ontology (GO) analysis of the candidate target genes showed that the expressed miRNA may be involved in the response to biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components. In addition, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis confirmed their important functions in RNA degradation, metabolic pathways, synthesis pathways, peroxisome, environmental adaptation, global and overview maps, and stress adaptation and the MAPK signal pathway. These findings provide a basis for further exploring the function of miRNA in wheat salt tolerance.
Association of Sociodemographic Factors with Physical Activity and Sleep Quality in Arab and Non-Arab Individuals of Both Sexes during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Arumugam Ashokan , Murat Danya , Javed Asma , Ali Sara Atef , Mahmoud Ibrahim , Trabelsi Khaled , Ammar Achraf
Published: August 2023

We explored the association of sociodemographic and anthropometric factors with self-reported physical activity (PA) and sleep quality in Arab and non-Arab individuals of both sexes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this cross-sectional study, 638 participants (those recovered from COVID-19 = 149, and non-infected = 489) of both sexes aged 18–55 years were recruited. Their sociodemographic and anthropometric information, PA (self-reported using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-form [IPAQ-SF)]) and sleep quality (self-reported using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]) were documented. The association between participants’ characteristics, PA levels, and sleep quality were determined using the chi-squared test. Variables significantly associated with IPAQ and PSQI in bivariate analyses were included in a multivariate binary logistic regression model. Men were more active than women (odds ratio [OR] = 1.66, p = 0.010), and non-Arab participants were more active than Arab ones (OR = 1.49, p = 0.037). Participants ≥40 years, men, non-Arab participants, and those who were working were more likely to have a good sleep quality than those ≤40 years (OR 1.70, p = 0.048), women (OR 1.10, p = 0.725), Arab individuals (OR 1.95, p = 0.002), and unemployed people (OR 2.76, p = 0.007). Male and non-Arab participants seemed to have a better self-reported PA and sleep quality compared to female and Arab participants, during the pandemic.
Cartography and Geomedia in Pragmatic Dimensions
Authors: Medyńska-Gulij Beata , Forrest David , Kersten Thomas P.
Published: August 2023

This article summarizes the Special Issue of Cartography and Geomedia. Here, Cartography and Geomedia presents a view of cartography as a combination of technology, science, and art, with a focus on the development of geomedia in a geomatic and design-based context. Individual considerations are presented according to the following topics: efficiency of mapping techniques; historical cartographic works in a geomedial context; cartographic pragmatics for cultural heritage, teaching, and tourism; and pragmatism in gaming cartography. The main conclusion is that the two approaches to learning, revealing, and understanding geographic phenomena—starting from a specific geographical phenomenon and starting from maps and geomedia to understand geographical space—have their pragmatic strengths.
Blocking Nonspecific Interactions Using Y-Shape Poly(ethylene glycol)
Authors: Xu Zhengyu , Li Qingtai , Huang Yaying , Guo Kaiqiang , Xue Bin , Cao Yi , Li Yiran
Published: August 2023

Nonspecific interactions play a significant role in physiological activities, surface chemical modification, and artificial adhesives. However, nonspecificity sometimes causes sticky problems, including surface fouling, decreased target specificity, and artifacts in single-molecule measurements. Adjusting the liquid pH, using protein-blocking additives, adding nonionic surfactants, or increasing the salt concentration are common methods to minimize nonspecific binding to achieve high-quality data. Here, we report that grafting heteromorphic polyethylene glycol (Y-shape PEG) with two inert terminates could noticeably decrease nonspecific binding. As a proof-of-concept, we performed single-molecule force spectroscopy and fluorescence staining imaging experiments to verify the feasibility of Y-shape PEG in blocking nonspecific interactions. Our results indicate that Y-shape PEG could serve as a prominent and efficient candidate to minimize nonspecificity for scientific and biomedical applications.
CSB Regulates Pathway Choice in Response to DNA Replication Stress Induced by Camptothecin
Authors: Batenburg Nicole L. , Walker John R. , Zhu Xu-Dong
Published: August 2023

Topoisomerase inhibitor camptothecin (CPT) induces fork stalling and is highly toxic to proliferating cells. However, how cells respond to CPT-induced fork stalling has not been fully characterized. Here, we report that Cockayne syndrome group B (CSB) protein inhibits PRIMPOL-dependent fork repriming in response to a low dose of CPT. At a high concentration of CPT, CSB is required to promote the restart of DNA replication through MUS81–RAD52–POLD3-dependent break-induced replication (BIR). In the absence of CSB, resumption of DNA synthesis at a high concentration of CPT can occur through POLQ–LIG3-, LIG4-, or PRIMPOL-dependent pathways, which are inhibited, respectively, by RAD51, BRCA1, and BRCA2 proteins. POLQ and LIG3 are core components of alternative end joining (Alt-EJ), whereas LIG4 is a core component of nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). These results suggest that CSB regulates fork restart pathway choice following high-dosage CPT-induced fork stalling, promoting BIR but inhibiting Alt-EJ, NHEJ, and fork repriming. We find that loss of CSB and BRCA2 is a toxic combination to genomic stability and cell survival at a high concentration of CPT, which is likely due to accumulation of ssDNA gaps, underscoring an important role of CSB in regulating the therapy response in cancers lacking functional BRCA2.
Development of Therapeutic Agent for Osteoarthritis via Inhibition of KIAA1199 Activity: Effect of Ipriflavone In Vivo
Authors: Zhang Jiarui , Nishida Yoshihiro , Koike Hiroshi , Zhuo Lisheng , Ito Kan , Ikuta Kunihiro , Sakai Tomohisa , Imagama Shiro
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to clarify the effects of ipriflavone, which effectively reduces KIAA1199 activity, on osteoarthritis (OA) development and progression in an in vivo OA mouse model. The OA model mice were divided into the ipriflavone (200 mg/kg/day) group and the control group. OA onset and progression were evaluated with the Mankin score, and KIAA1199 expression and hyaluronan (HA) accumulation were analyzed by immunostaining. The molecular weight of HA in the cartilage tissue and serum HA concentration were analyzed by chromatography and competitive HA enzyme-linked immunoassay. The effects of ipriflavone on the bovine cartilage explant culture under the influence of IL-1β were also investigated. In the ipriflavone group, Safranin-O stainability was well-preserved, resulting in significant reduction of the Mankin score (p = 0.027). KIAA1199 staining positivity decreased and HA stainability was preserved in the ipriflavone group. The serum HA concentration decreased, and the molecular weight of HA in the cartilage tissue increased in the ipriflavone group. The results of the cartilage explant culture indicated that ipriflavone could reduce GAG losses and increase the molecular weight of HA. Thus, ipriflavone may have an inhibitory effect on OA development/progression. Ipriflavone could be a therapeutic drug for OA by targeting KIAA1199 activity.
Deciphering the Broad Antimicrobial Activity of Melaleuca alternifolia Tea Tree Oil by Combining Experimental and Computational Investigations
Authors: Iacovelli Federico , Romeo Alice , Lattanzio Patrizio , Ammendola Serena , Battistoni Andrea , La Frazia Simone , Vindigni Giulia , Unida Valeria , Biocca Silvia , Gaziano Roberta , Divizia Maurizio , Falconi Mattia
Published: August 2023

Tea Tree Oil (TTO) is an essential oil obtained from the distillation of Melaleuca alternifolia leaves and branches. Due to its beneficial properties, TTO is widely used as an active ingredient in antimicrobial preparations for topical use or in cosmetic products and contains about 100 different compounds, with terpinen-4-ol, γ-terpinene and 1,8-cineole (or eucalyptol) being the molecules most responsible for its biological activities. In this work, the antimicrobial activity of whole TTO and these three major components was evaluated in vitro against fungi, bacteria and viruses. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out on a bacterial membrane model and a Coxsackievirus B4 viral capsid, to propose an atomistic explanation of their mechanism of action. The obtained results indicate that the strong antimicrobial activity of TTO is attributable to the induction of an altered membrane functionality, mediated by the incorporation of its components within the lipid bilayer, and to a possible ability of the compounds to bind and alter the structural properties of the viral capsid.
Corneal Endothelial-like Cells Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Cell Therapy
Authors: Ng Xiao Yu , Peh Gary S. L. , Yam Gary Hin-Fai , Tay Hwee Goon , Mehta Jodhbir S.
Published: August 2023

Corneal endothelial dysfunction is one of the leading causes of corneal blindness, and the current conventional treatment option is corneal transplantation using a cadaveric donor cornea. However, there is a global shortage of suitable donor graft material, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic approaches. A stem cell-based regenerative medicine approach using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offers a promising solution, as they possess self-renewal capabilities, can be derived from adult somatic cells, and can be differentiated into all cell types including corneal endothelial cells (CECs). This review discusses the progress and challenges in developing protocols to induce iPSCs into CECs, focusing on the different media formulations used to differentiate iPSCs to neural crest cells (NCCs) and subsequently to CECs, as well as the characterization methods and markers that define iPSC-derived CECs. The hurdles and solutions for the clinical application of iPSC-derived cell therapy are also addressed, including the establishment of protocols that adhere to good manufacturing practice (GMP) guidelines. The potential risks of genetic mutations in iPSC-derived CECs associated with long-term in vitro culture and the danger of potential tumorigenicity following transplantation are evaluated. In all, this review provides insights into the advancement and obstacles of using iPSC in the treatment of corneal endothelial dysfunction.
Role of Neurotrophins in Orofacial Pain Modulation: A Review of the Latest Discoveries
Authors: Bonomini Francesca , Favero Gaia , Castrezzati Stefania , Borsani Elisa
Published: August 2023

Orofacial pain represents a multidisciplinary biomedical challenge involving basic and clinical research for which no satisfactory solution has been found. In this regard, trigeminal pain is described as one of the worst pains perceived, leaving the patient with no hope for the future. The aim of this review is to evaluate the latest discoveries on the involvement of neurotrophins in orofacial nociception, describing their role and expression in peripheral tissues, trigeminal ganglion, and trigeminal nucleus considering their double nature as “supporters” of the nervous system and as “promoters” of nociceptive transmission. In order to scan recent literature (last ten years), three independent researchers referred to databases PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science to find original research articles and clinical trials. The researchers selected 33 papers: 29 original research articles and 4 clinical trials. The results obtained by the screening of the selected articles show an interesting trend, in which the precise modulation of neurotrophin signaling could switch neurotrophins from being a “promoter” of pain to their beneficial neurotrophic role of supporting the nerves in their recovery, especially when a structural alteration is present, as in neuropathic pain. In conclusion, neurotrophins could be interesting targets for orofacial pain modulation but more studies are necessary to clarify their role for future application in clinical practice.
Utility of Dried Blood Spots for the Diagnosis of Congenital Cytomegaloviruses within the First 21 Days of Life in a Single Center
Authors: Del Valle Penella Ana , Miller Jerry , Rochat Ryan , Demmler-Harrison Gail
Published: August 2023

In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of dried-blood-spot (DBS) testing as a diagnostic method for the congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV). We reviewed the medical records and DBS test results of 89 patients who had also undergone diagnostic cCMV testing within the first 21 days of life. The DBS test had a sensitivity of 83.9%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100%, and a negative predictive value of 73%. Patients with a true-positive DBS had a higher median level of CMV in blood according to PCR than those with a false-negative result. Additionally, all patients with cCMV and hearing loss had a positive DBS test, with higher median viremia levels observed in those with hearing loss compared to those without a CMV PCR blood test. These results suggest that DBS-based testing is useful in the diagnosis of cCMV, and its performance may be related to levels of CMV viremia. DBS testing accurately identified those patients with congenital/early onset hearing loss and those at risk of developing late-onset hearing loss.
The Clinical Validation of a Common Analytical Change Criteria for Cardiac Troponin for Ruling in an Acute Cardiovascular Outcome in Patients Presenting with Ischemic Chest Pain Symptoms
Authors: Kavsak Peter A. , Sharif Sameer , Globe Isabella , Ainsworth Craig , Ma Jinhui , McQueen Matthew , Mehta Shamir , Ko Dennis T. , Worster Andrew
Published: August 2023

Serial cardiac troponin (cTn) testing on patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is primarily to identify those patients with evolving myocardial injury. With the improved analytical performance of the high-sensitivity cTn (hs-cTn) assays, different change criteria have been proposed that are mostly assay dependent. Here, we developed and compared a new Common Change Criteria (3C for the combined criteria of >3 ng/L, >30%, or >15% based on the initial cTn concentration of <10 ng/L, 10 to 100 ng/L, or >100 ng/L, respectively) method, versus the 2 h assay-dependent absolute change criteria endorsed by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), versus the common relative >20% change criterion. These different analytical change criteria were evaluated in 855 emergency department (ED) patients with symptoms of ACS and who had two samples collected 3 h apart. The cTn concentrations were measured with four different assays (Abbott hs-cTnI, Roche hs-cTnT, Ortho cTnI-ES, and Ortho hs-cTnI). The outcomes evaluated were myocardial infarction (MI) and a composite outcome (MI, unstable angina, ventricular arrhythmia, heart failure, or cardiovascular death) within 7 days of ED presentation. The combined change criteria (3C) method yielded higher specificities (range: 93.9 to 97.2%) as compared to the >20% criterion (range: 42.3 to 88.1%) for all four assays for MI. The 3C method only yielded a higher specificity estimate for MI for the cTnI-ES assay (95.9%) versus the absolute change criteria (71.7%). Similar estimates were obtained for the composite outcome. There was also substantial agreement between hs-cTnT and the different cTnI assays for MI with the 3C method, with the percent agreement being ≥95%. The Common Change Criteria (3C) method combining both absolute and different percent changes may be used with cTnI, hs-cTnT, and different hs-cTnI assays to yield similar high-specificity (rule-in) estimates for adverse cardiovascular events for patients presenting to the ED with ACS symptoms.