bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How COVID-19 is Accelerating Energy Transition in Developing Oil-Rich Countries: Nigeria as a Case Study
Authors: Ekeh Chibueze
Published: January 2021

The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has created a lot of challenges as well as opportunities. In oil-rich countries that are considered to developing countries, governments have typically subsidized consumption of electricity and petrol. With dwindling government revenues to low oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic, renewable energy is gaining more attention as a considerable alternative. In this article, the author examines the impact of COVID-19 on reduction in fossil fuel consumption; the acceleration of access to electricity through use of solar home systems and mini-grids; the reduction of environmental pollution; and the ultimately the reduction of energy poverty. The analysis highlights the opportunities for renewable energy businesses to re-assess their business models to ensure that they survive the temporary economic challenges and are better positioned for a post COVID-19 world.
The Impresario in British Cinema: Bernard Delfont at EMI
Authors: Spicer Andrew
Published: January 2021

The article argues that Bernard Delfont played a significant role in the development of the British film industry in the 1970s as head of EMI's entertainment division that included film. In contradistinction to existing accounts, it is contended that Delfont provided dynamic leadership to the corporation's policies through the skills and knowledge he had developed as a highly successful theatrical impresario, even if he lacked a detailed understanding of the film industry. Delfont made a series of bold choices. The first was to appoint Bryan Forbes as Head of Film Production in an imaginative attempt to revitalise the British film industry using indigenous resources and talent. The commercial failure of this initiative occasioned Forbes's departure and a more cautious regime under the direction of Nat Cohen. Faced with a rapidly shrinking domestic market, Delfont decided that a thoroughgoing internationalism was the only way to sustain EMI's film business. He sidelined Cohen by appointing two young ‘buccaneers’, Michael Deeley and Barry Spikings in May 1976 to pursue a policy of investing in Hollywood films and producing ‘American’ films financed by British money. This radical strategy was controversial and reconfigured EMI as a ‘supranational’ rather than national film producer. This was intensified by Delfont's boldest move: establishing Associated Film Distributors (AFD) in July 1979, in partnership with his brother Lew Grade's Associated Communication Company, to distribute their companies' films and become a major Hollywood player. Its failure, after only 20 months, coupled with spectacular production losses effectively ended both companies as important film production units. Delfont's career demonstrates the wider significance of the risk-taking impresario in understanding British film as a business enterprise, the importance of the policies and tastes of studio heads and the need to reposition the film industry as part of wider entertainment and leisure provision.
Modeling Poliovirus Infection Using Human Engineered Neural Tissue Enriched With Motor Neuron Derived From Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Cosset Érika , Hibaoui Youssef , Ilmjärv Sten , Dietrich Pierre-Yves , Tapparel Caroline , Krause Karl-Heinz
Published: January 2021

Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus (PV), a positive strand non-enveloped virus. Since its discovery in the 1950s, several cell culture and molecular methods have been developed to detect and characterize the various strains of PV. Here, we provide an accurate and standardized protocol to differentiate human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) toward engineered neural tissue enriched with motor neurons (MN ENTs). These MN ENTs expressed markers of motor neuron CHAT and Hb-9 as revealed by immunofluorescence staining and quantitative RT-PCR. Interestingly, our results suggest that motor neurons are responsible for the permissiveness of poliovirus within the MN ENTs. Moreover, our study revealed the molecular events occurring upon PV-3 infection in the MN ENTs and highlighted the modulation of a set of genes involved in EGR-EP300 complex. Collectively, we report the development of a reliable in vitro model to investigate the pathophysiology of PV infection, allowing to both design and assess novel therapeutic approaches against PV infection.
Structural Roles for the Juxtamembrane Linker Region and Transmembrane Region of Synaptobrevin 2 in Membrane Fusion
Authors: Hu Yaru , Zhu Le , Ma Cong
Published: January 2021

Formation of the trans-SNARE complex is believed to generate a force transfer to the membranes to promote membrane fusion, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we show that helix-breaking and/or length-increasing insertions in the juxtamembrane linker region of synaptobrevin-2 exert diverse effects on liposome fusion, in a manner dependent on the insertion position relative to the two conserved tryptophan residues (W89/W90). Helical extension of synaptobrevin-2 to W89/W90 is a prerequisite for initiating membrane merger. The transmembrane region of synaptobrevin-2 enables proper localization of W89/W90 at the membrane interface to gate force transfer. Besides, our data indicate that the SNARE regulatory components Munc18-1 and Munc13-1 impose liposome fusion strong demand on tight coupling between the SNARE motif and the transmembrane region of synaptobrevin-2.
CircINSR Regulates Fetal Bovine Muscle and Fat Development
Authors: Shen Xuemei , Tang Jia , Ru Wenxiu , Zhang Xiaoyan , Huang Yongzhen , Lei Chuzhao , Cao Hui , Lan Xianyong , Chen Hong
Published: January 2021

The level of muscle development in livestock directly affects the production efficiency of livestock, and the contents of intramuscular fat (IMF) is an important factor that affects meat quality. However, the molecular mechanisms through which circular RNA (circRNA) affects muscle and IMF development remains largely unknown. In this study, we isolated myoblasts and intramuscular preadipocytes from fetal bovine skeletal muscle. Oil Red O and BODIPY staining were used to identify lipid droplets in preadipocytes, and anti-myosin heavy chain (MyHC) immunofluorescence was used to identify myotubes differentiated from myoblasts. Bioinformatics, a dual-fluorescence reporter system, RNA pull-down, and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation were used to determine the interactions between circINSR and the micro RNA (miR)-15/16 family. Molecular and biochemical assays were used to confirm the roles played by circINSR in myoblasts and intramuscular preadipocytes. We found that isolated myoblasts and preadipocytes were able to differentiate normally. CircINSR was found to serve as a sponge for the miR-15/16 family, which targets CCND1 and Bcl-2. CircINSR overexpression significantly promoted myoblast and preadipocyte proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis. In addition, circINSR inhibited preadipocyte adipogenesis by alleviating the inhibition of miR-15/16 against the target genes FOXO1 and EPT1. Taken together, our study demonstrated that circINSR serves as a regulator of embryonic muscle and IMF development.
Synthesis of the 6-Substituted Imidazo[1,2-a]Pyridine-3-yl-2- Phosphonopropionic Acids as Potential Inhibitors of Rab Geranylgeranyl Transferase
Authors: Kusy Damian , Marchwicka Aleksandra , Małolepsza Joanna , Justyna Katarzyna , Gendaszewska-Darmach Edyta , Błażewska Katarzyna Magdalena
Published: January 2021

Twelve phosphonopropionates derived from 2-hydroxy-3-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl-2-phosphonopropionic acid (3-IPEHPC) were synthesized and evaluated for their activity as inhibitors of protein geranylgeranylation. The nature of the substituent in the C6 position of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine ring was responsible for the compound's activity against Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (RGGT). The most active inhibitors disrupted Rab11A prenylation in the human cervical carcinoma HeLa cell line. The esterification of carboxylic acid in the phosphonopropionate moiety turned the inhibitor into an inactive analog.
The Incidence of Mosaicism for Individual Chromosome in Human Blastocysts Is Correlated With Chromosome Length
Authors: Chuang Tzu-Hsuan , Chang Ya-Ping , Lee Meng-Ju , Wang Huai-Ling , Lai Hsing-Hua , Chen Shee-Uan
Published: January 2021

Mosaicism, known as partial aneuploidies, mostly originates from mitotic errors during the post-zygotic stage; it consists of different cell lineages within a human embryo. The incidence of mosaicism has not been shown to correlate with maternal age, and its correlation with individual chromosome characteristics has not been well investigated. In this study, the results of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) derived from 4,036 blastocysts (930 IVF couples) were collected from 2015 to 2017. Via next-generation sequencing for comprehensive chromosome screening, embryo ploidy was identified as aneuploid, mosaic, and euploid. Total mosaicism was classified into two categories: “mosaic euploid/aneuploidy” (with mosaic aneuploidy between 20 and 80%) and “mosaic and aneuploidy” (a uniformly abnormal embryo superimposed with mosaic aneuploidies). Frequency of mosaicism was analyzed according to the function of chromosomal lengths, which divides involved chromosomes into three groups: group A (156–249 Mb), group B (102–145 Mb), and group C (51–90 Mb). The results show that the aneuploidy was more frequent in group C than in group A and group B (A: 23.7%, B: 35.1, 41.2%, p < 0.0001), while the mosaicism was more frequent in group A and group B than in group C [(Mosaic euploid/aneuploid) A: 14.6%, B: 12.4%, C: 9.9%, p < 0.0001; (mosaic and aneuploid) A: 21.3%, B: 22.9%, C: 18.9%, p < 0.0001; (Total mosaicism) A: 35.9%, B: 35.3%, C: 28.8%, p < 0.0001]. The significantly higher frequency of aneuploidy was on the shorter chromosome (< 90 Mb), and that of mosaicism was on the longer chromosomes (> 100 Mb). The length association did not reach significance in the patients with advanced age (≥ 36 years), and of the chromosome-specific mosaicism rate, the highest prevalence was on chromosome 14 (5.8%), 1 (5.7%), and 9 (5.6%). Although the length association was observed via group comparison, there may be affecting mechanisms other than chromosomes length. Eventually, twenty patients with mosaic embryo cryotransfers resulted in six live births. No significant correlation was observed between the transfer outcomes and chromosome length; however, the analysis was limited by small sample size.
Elemental Composition and Health Risk Assessment of Giant Mudskipper (Periophthalmodon schlosseri) From the Intertidal Zone of the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Looi Ley Juen , Aris Ahmad Zaharin , Isa Noorain Mohd , Yusoff Fatimah Md. , Haris Hazzeman
Published: January 2021

The elemental pollution in the intertidal zone of the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia is of concern because this place is an ultimate sink of anthropogenic contaminants. In this study, the elemental concentrations (Al, Fe, Ba, Co, Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, As, and Cd) in various tissues (muscle, gill, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and scale) of the giant mudskippers (Periophthalmodon schlosseri) from the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia were determined by the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The potential health risks associated with fish muscle consumption were assessed using estimated weekly intake (EWI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and target cancer risk (TR). The results showed that relatively high concentrations of Fe (1,641.91 ± 96.77 mg/kg), Ba (7.07 ± 0.05 mg/kg), Co (0.32 ± 0.00 mg/kg), Mn (36.08 ± 0.04 mg/kg), and Ni (4.43 ± 0.06 mg/kg) were found in the fish scales, suggesting the uptake waterborne elements via dermal exposure. However, all studied elements in the fish muscle were below the national and international food permissible limits. Health risk assessment through the estimation of THQ suggested that long-term exposure of As through fish consumption would cause possible non-carcinogenic risk. Also, the estimation of TR indicated that consumers are susceptible to cancer risks because of Cr and As exposure via fish consumption. Thus, for a developing country like Malaysia, it is recommended to include continuous monitoring of intertidal zones, using potential bioindicators, to assess ecosystem health status and safeguard human health. Additionally, mitigation strategies to address estuaries contamination and efforts to conserve and sustain natural resources should be established.
Nuclear and Nucleolar Localization of Bovine Adenovirus-3 Protein V
Authors: Zhao Xin , Tikoo Suresh K.
Published: January 2021

The L2 region of bovine adenovirus-3 (BAdV-3) encodes aMastadenovirusgenus-specific protein, designated as pV, which is important for the production of progeny viruses. Here, we demonstrate that BAdV-3 pV, expressed as 55 kDa protein, localizes to the nucleus and specifically targets nucleolus of the infected cells. Analysis of deletion mutants of pV suggested that amino acids 81–120, 190–210, and 380–389 act as multiple nuclear localization signals (NLS), which also appear to serve as the binding sites for importin α-3 protein, a member of the importin α/β nuclear import receptor pathway. Moreover, pV amino acids 21–50 and 380–389 appear to act as nucleolar localization signals (NoLs). Interestingly, amino acids 380–389 appear to act both as NLS and as NoLS. The presence of NoLS is essential for the production of infectious progeny virions, as deletion of both NoLs are lethal for the production of infectious BAdV-3. Analysis of mutant BAV.pVd1d3 (isolated in pV completing CRL cells) containing deletion/mutation of both NoLS in non-complementing CRL cells not only revealed the altered intracellular localization of mutant pV but also reduced the expression of some late proteins. However, it does not appear to affect the incorporation of viral proteins, including mutant pV, in BAV.pVd1d3 virions. Further analysis of CsCl purified BAV.pVd1d3 suggested the presence of thermo-labile virions with disrupted capsids, which appear to affect the infectivity of the progeny virions. Our results suggest that pV contains overlapping and non-overlapping NoLS/NLS. Moreover, the presence of both NoLS appear essential for the production of stable and infectious progeny BAV.pVd1d3 virions.
Chemical Characteristics of Three Kinds of Japanese Soy Sauce Based on Electronic Senses and GC-MS Analyses
Authors: Zhao Guozhong , Feng Yixu , Hadiatullah Hadiatullah , Zheng Fuping , Yao Yunping
Published: January 2021

Japanese soy sauce has become more acceptable by Chinese consumers due to its umami taste. However, the volatile flavor compounds and taste characters have not been fully clarified. This study aimed to explore the flavor characteristics of three kinds of Japanese soy sauce, including Koikuchi Shoyu, Usukuchi Shoyu, and Amakuchi Shoyu. The secret of volatile flavor substances was investigated by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and electronic nose, while taste compounds were investigated by silylation GC-MS and electronic tongue (E-tongue). A total of 173 volatile flavor substances and 160 taste compounds were identified. In addition, 28 aroma compounds with odor activity values (OAV) ≥ 1 were considered as the typical flavors. We found that alcohols and aldehydes were in high abundance in Japanese soy sauce, but only a small portion of pyrazines and esters were. Based on electronic nose and GC-MS analysis, Koikuchi Shoyu gives more contribution to aroma compounds, while Usukuchi Shoyu and Amakuchi Shoyu give the sourness and sweetness features based on E-tongue and silylation GC-MS analysis. In this study, 50 kinds of sugars were detected that contributed to the sweetness of soy sauce. This study will provide new insight into the flavor characteristics of Japanese soy sauce that potentially contribute to the innovation and development of soy sauce.
Evidence That Microorganisms at the Animal-Water Interface Drive Sea Star Wasting Disease
Authors: Aquino Citlalli A. , Besemer Ryan M. , DeRito Christopher M. , Kocian Jan , Porter Ian R. , Raimondi Peter T. , Rede Jordan E. , Schiebelhut Lauren M. , Sparks Jed P. , Wares John P. , Hewson Ian
Published: January 2021

Sea star wasting (SSW) disease describes a condition affecting asteroids that resulted in significant Northeastern Pacific population decline following a mass mortality event in 2013. The etiology of SSW is unresolved. We hypothesized that SSW is a sequela of microbial organic matter remineralization near respiratory surfaces, one consequence of which may be limited O2 availability at the animal-water interface. Microbial assemblages inhabiting tissues and at the asteroid-water interface bore signatures of copiotroph proliferation before SSW onset, followed by the appearance of putatively facultative and strictly anaerobic taxa at the time of lesion genesis and as animals died. SSW lesions were induced in Pisaster ochraceus by enrichment with a variety of organic matter (OM) sources. These results together illustrate that depleted O2 conditions at the animal-water interface may be established by heterotrophic microbial activity in response to organic matter loading. SSW was also induced by modestly (∼39%) depleted O2 conditions in aquaria, suggesting that small perturbations in dissolved O2 may exacerbate the condition. SSW susceptibility between species was significantly and positively correlated with surface rugosity, a key determinant of diffusive boundary layer thickness. Tissues of SSW-affected individuals collected in 2013–2014 bore δ15N signatures reflecting anaerobic processes, which suggests that this phenomenon may have affected asteroids during mass mortality at the time. The impacts of enhanced microbial activity and subsequent O2 diffusion limitation may be more pronounced under higher temperatures due to lower O2 solubility, in more rugose asteroid species due to restricted hydrodynamic flow, and in larger specimens due to their lower surface area to volume ratios which affects diffusive respiratory potential.
Action Modulates the Conscious Reasoning Process of Moral Judgment: Evidence From Behavior and Neurophysiology
Authors: Leng Yue , Zhang Jili , Zhangyu Yanan , Yang Xiaoyuan
Published: January 2021

Moral judgment can be highly affected by the action and intention factors on a behavior level. Previous neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that the intention factor can modulate both the affective and cognitive processing of moral judgment. The present event-related potentials (ERP) study examined how the action factor modulated the neural dynamics of moral judgment under a newly developed moral dilemma paradigm including three different conditions: harm caused by action (i.e., doing harm), harm caused by omission (i.e., allowing harm), and no harm. Behavior data showed that participants preferred utilitarian judgments and spent less time on the allowing harm condition than for the doing harm condition. ERP results revealed that, compared with the doing harm and no harm dilemmas, the allowing harm dilemmas elicited an enhanced N450 response associated with cognitive control and/or cognitive effort processes, but attenuated a late positive potentials (LPP) response associated with top-down control of attention and cognitive “rational” control processes. Such LPP amplitude differences were positively correlated with the C-score of the moral competence test which indexed the cognitive aspect of moral judgment competency. These findings suggested that people have a strong omission bias, and such an action factor modulates the conscious reasoning process during moral judgment, including the cognitive control and/or cognitive effort, and attentional allocation processes.
Case Report: Efficacy of Rituximab in a Patient With Familial Mediterranean Fever and Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Pozzato Mattia , Micaglio Emanuele , Starvaggi Cucuzza Chiara , Cagol Alessandro , Galimberti Daniela , Calandrella Daniela , Cinnante Claudia , Pappone Carlo , Zanussi Monica , Meola Giovanni , Scarpini Elio , Bresolin Nereo , Martinelli Boneschi Filippo
Published: January 2021

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a genetic autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and serositis caused by mutations in the MEFV gene, while Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS with genetic and environmental etiology. The two diseases rarely occur in association with relevant implications for clinical management and drug choice. In this paper, we present the case of a 53-year-old male with an autosomal dominant FMF since childhood who presented acute paresthesia at the right part of the body. He performed a brain and spinal cord MRI, which showed multiple brain lesions and a gd-enhancing lesion in the cervical spinal cord, and then received a diagnosis of MS. He then started Interferonβ-1a which was effective but not tolerated and caused hepatotoxicity, and then shifted to Rituximab with 3-month clinical and neuroradiological efficacy.
Neuromotor Speech Recovery Across Different Behavioral Speech Modifications in Individuals Following Facial Transplantation
Authors: Eshghi Marziye , Perry Bridget J. , Richburg Brian , Ventresca Hayden M. , Pomahac Bohdan , Green Jordan R.
Published: January 2021

Despite signs of facial nerve recovery within a few months following face transplantation, speech deficits persist for years. Behavioral speech modifications (e.g., slower-than-normal speaking rate and increased loudness) have shown promising potential to enhance speech intelligibility in populations with dysarthric speech. However, such evidence-based practice approach is lacking in clinical management of speech in individuals with facial transplantation. Because facial transplantation involves complex craniofacial reconstruction and facial nerve coaptation, it is unknown to what extent individuals with face transplant are capable of adapting their motor system to task-specific articulatory demands. The purpose of this study was to identify the underlying articulatory mechanisms employed by individuals with face transplantation in response to speech modification cues at early and late stages of neuromotor recovery. In addition, we aimed to identify speech modifications that conferred improved speech clarity. Participants were seven individuals who underwent full or partial facial vascularized composite allografts that included lips and muscles of facial animation and were in early (~2 months) or late (~42 months) stages of recovery. Participants produced repetitions of the sentence “Buy Bobby a puppy” in normal, fast, loud, and slow speech modifications. Articulatory movement traces were recorded using a 3D optical motion capture system. Kinematic measures of average speed (mm/s) and range of movement (mm3) were extracted from the lower lip (± jaw) marker. Two speech language pathologists rated speech clarity for each speaker using a visual analog scale (VAS) approach. Results demonstrated that facial motor capacity increased from early to late stages of recovery. While individuals in the early group exhibited restricted capabilities to adjust their motor system based on the articulatory demands of each speech modification, individuals in the late group demonstrated faster speed and larger-than-normal range of movement for loud speech, and slower speed and larger-than-normal range of movement for slow speech. In addition, subjects in both groups showed overreliance on jaw rather than lip articulatory function across all speech modifications, perhaps as a compensatory strategy to optimize articulatory stability and maximize speech function. Finally, improved speech clarity was associated with loud speech in both stages of recovery.
Acute Liver Toxicity Modifies Protein Expression of Glutamate Transporters in Liver and Cerebellar Tissue
Authors: Jiménez-Torres Catya , El-Kehdy Hoda , Hernández-Kelly Luisa C. , Sokal Etienne , Ortega Arturo , Najimi Mustapha
Published: January 2021

Glutamate is the main excitatory amino acid acting at the level of pre and postsynaptic neurons, as well as in glial cells. It is involved in the coordinated modulation of energy metabolism, glutamine synthesis, and ammonia detoxification. The relationship between the functional status of liver and brain has been known for many years. The most widely recognized aspect of this relation is the brain dysfunction caused by acute liver injury that manifests a wide spectrum of neurologic and psychiatric abnormalities. Inflammation, circulating neurotoxins, and impaired neurotransmission have been reported in this pathophysiology. In the present contribution, we report the effect of a hepatotoxic compound like CCl4 on the expression of key proteins involved in glutamate uptake and metabolism as glutamate transporters and glutamine synthetase in mice liver, brain, and cerebellum. Our findings highlight a differential expression pattern of glutamate transporters in cerebellum. A significant Purkinje cells loss, in parallel to an up-regulation of glutamine synthetase, and astrogliosis in the brain have also been noticed. In the intoxicated liver, glutamate transporter 1 expression is up-regulated, in contrast to glutamine synthetase which is reduced in a time-dependent manner. Taken together our results demonstrate that the exposure to an acute CCl4 insult, leads to the disruption of glutamate transporters expression in the liver-brain axis and therefore a severe alteration in glutamate-mediated neurotransmission might be present in the central nervous system.
Neuronal Responses to Short Wavelength Light Deficiency in the Rat Subcortical Visual System
Authors: Orlowska-Feuer Patrycja , Smyk Magdalena Kinga , Alwani Anna , Lewandowski Marian Henryk
Published: January 2021

The amount and spectral composition of light changes considerably during the day, with dawn and dusk being the most crucial moments when light is within the mesopic range and short wavelength enriched. It was recently shown that animals use both cues to adjust their internal circadian clock, thereby their behavior and physiology, with the solar cycle. The role of blue light in circadian processes and neuronal responses is well established, however, an unanswered question remains: how do changes in the spectral composition of light (short wavelengths blocking) influence neuronal activity? In this study we addressed this question by performing electrophysiological recordings in image (dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus; dLGN) and non-image (the olivary pretectal nucleus; OPN, the suprachiasmatic nucleus; SCN) visual structures to determine neuronal responses to spectrally varied light stimuli. We found that removing short-wavelength from the polychromatic light (cut off at 525 nm) attenuates the most transient ON and sustained cells in the dLGN and OPN, respectively. Moreover, we compared the ability of different types of sustained OPN neurons (either changing or not their response profile to filtered polychromatic light) to irradiance coding, and show that both groups achieve it with equal efficacy. On the other hand, even very dim monochromatic UV light (360 nm; log 9.95 photons/cm2/s) evokes neuronal responses in the dLGN and SCN. To our knowledge, this is the first electrophysiological experiment supporting previous behavioral findings showing visual and circadian functions disruptions under short wavelength blocking environment. The current results confirm that neuronal activity in response to polychromatic light in retinorecipient structures is affected by removing short wavelengths, however, with type and structure – specific action. Moreover, they show that rats are sensitive to even very dim UV light.
Time and Emotion During Lockdown and the Covid-19 Epidemic: Determinants of Our Experience of Time?
Authors: Martinelli Natalia , Gil Sandrine , Belletier Clément , Chevalère Johann , Dezecache Guillaume , Huguet Pascal , Droit-Volet Sylvie
Published: January 2021

To fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease, more than 3 billion people in the world have been confined indoors. Although lockdown is an efficient solution, it has had various psychological consequences that have not yet been fully measured. During the lockdown period in France (April 2020), we conducted two surveys on two large panels of participants to examine how the lockdown disrupted their relationship with time and what this change in their experiences of time means. Numerous questions were asked about the experience of time but also the nature of life during the lockdown: the emotions felt, boredom, the activities performed, sleep quality, and the daily rhythm. The participants also completed a series of self-reported scales used to assess depression, anxiety, and impulsivity. The results showed that time seemed to pass more slowly during the lockdown compared to before. This feeling of a slowing down of time has little to do with living conditions during the lockdown and individual psychological characteristics. The main predictor of this time experience was boredom and partly mediated by the lack of activity. The feeling of being less happy and the presence of sleep disturbance also explained this specific experience of time albeit to a lesser extent.
Exploring the Applicability of Robot-Assisted UV Disinfection in Radiology
Authors: McGinn Conor , Scott Robert , Donnelly Niamh , Roberts Kim L. , Bogue Marina , Kiernan Christine , Beckett Michael
Published: January 2021

The importance of infection control procedures in hospital radiology departments has become increasingly apparent in recent months as the impact of COVID-19 has spread across the world. Existing disinfectant procedures that rely on the manual application of chemical-based disinfectants are time consuming, resource intensive and prone to high degrees of human error. Alternative non-touch disinfection methods, such as Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI), have the potential to overcome many of the limitations of existing approaches while significantly improving workflow and equipment utilization. The aim of this research was to investigate the germicidal effectiveness and the practical feasibility of using a robotic UVGI device for disinfecting surfaces in a radiology setting. We present the design of a robotic UVGI platform that can be deployed alongside human workers and can operate autonomously within cramped rooms, thereby addressing two important requirements necessary for integrating the technology within radiology settings. In one hospital, we conducted experiments in a CT and X-ray room. In a second hospital, we investigated the germicidal performance of the robot when deployed to disinfect a CT room in <15 minutes, a period which is estimated to be 2–4 times faster than current practice for disinfecting rooms after infectious (or potentially infectious) patients. Findings from both test sites show that UVGI successfully inactivated all of measurable microbial load on 22 out of 24 surfaces. On the remaining two surfaces, UVGI reduced the microbial load by 84 and 95%, respectively. The study also exposes some of the challenges of manually disinfecting radiology suites, revealing high concentrations of microbial load in hard-to-reach places. Our findings provide compelling evidence that UVGI can effectively inactivate microbes on commonly touched surfaces in radiology suites, even if they were only exposed to relatively short bursts of irradiation. Despite the short irradiation period, we demonstrated the ability to inactivate microbes with more complex cell structures and requiring higher UV inactivation energies than SARS-CoV-2, thus indicating high likelihood of effectiveness against coronavirus.
Non-linearity in the Life Cycle Assessment of Scalable and Emerging Technologies
Authors: Pizzol Massimo , Sacchi Romain , Köhler Susanne , Anderson Erjavec Annika
Published: January 2021

Given a fixed product system model, with the current computational framework of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) the potential environmental impacts associated to demanding one thousand units of a product will be one thousand times larger than what results from demanding 1 unit only – a linear relationship. However, due to economies of scale, industrial synergies, efficiency gains, and system design, activities at different scales will perform differently in terms of life cycle impact – in a non-linear way. This study addresses the issue of using the linear framework of LCA to study scalable and emerging technologies, by looking at different examples where technology scale up reflects non-linearly on the impact of a product. First, a computer simulation applied to an entire database is used to quantitatively estimate the effect of assuming activities in a product system are subject to improvements in efficiency. This provides a theoretical but indicative idea of how much uncertainty can be introduced by non-linear relationships between input values and results at the database level. Then the non-linear relations between the environmental burden per tkm of transport on one end, and the cargo mass and range autonomy on the other end is highlighted using a parametrized LCA model for heavy goods vehicles combined with learning scenarios that reflect different load factors and improvement in battery technology. Finally, a last example explores the case of activities related to the mining of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, an emerging technology, and how the impact of scaling the Bitcoin mining production is affected non-linearly by factors such as increase in mining efficiency and geographical distribution of miners. The paper concludes by discussing the relation between non-linearity and uncertainty and by providing recommendations for accounting for non-linearity in prospective LCA studies.
First Case of Multiple Resistance to EPSPS and PSI in Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. Collected in Rice and Herbicide-Resistant Crops in Colombia
Authors: Plaza Guido , Hoyos Verónica , Vázquez-García José G. , Alcántara-de la Cruz Ricardo , De Prado Rafael
Published: January 2021

Eleusine indica is a highly competitive and difficult-to-control plant in annual and perennial crops. In Colombia, broad-spectrum herbicides, such as paraquat and glyphosate, have begun to present poor levels of control for this weed. The multiple resistance to glyphosate and paraquat, the increase in herbicide performance with adjuvants (Retenol® and Trend® 90), and alternative herbicides were evaluated in a resistant (R) population of E. indica collected in rice fields, which is rotated with herbicide-resistant (HR) crops. Based on plant mortality, the R population was 9.8 and 7.2 times more resistant than susceptible (S) plants to glyphosate and paraquat, respectively. R plants accumulated 4.2 less shikimic acid and had at least 70% less electrolyte leakage than S plants when they were exposed to glyphosate and paraquat, respectively. Both adjuvants increased the foliar retention of herbicides. In addition, adjuvants also increased the performance of glyphosate effectiveness between 22% and 58% and that of paraquat from 61% to 100%. Alternative herbicides (atrazine, clethodim, imazamox, diuron, flazasulfuron, glufosinate, oxyfluorfen, quizalofop, and tembotrione) provided high levels of control in both populations of E. indica. This is the first case of multiple resistant E. indica confirmed in Colombia. Adjuvants improved the leaf retention and efficacy of glyphosate and paraquat. In summary, the alternative herbicides evaluated in this study should be adopted by Colombian farmers and provide additional herbicide modes-of-action to combat future resistance.
Relationship between Prenatal Characteristics and Body Condition and Endocrine Profile in Rabbits
Authors: García María-Luz , Muelas Raquel , Argente María-José , Peiró Rosa
Published: January 2021

This study evaluated the relationship between prenatal characteristics and body condition and endocrine profile. A total of 25 non-lactating multiparous females were used. Body condition, measured as body weight and perirenal fat thickness, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), leptin, progesterone and 17β-estradiol were recorded at mating and 12 d of gestation. Ovulation rate, number of foetuses, ovary and foetal weight, length and weight of uterine horn, available space per foetus and maternal and foetal placental morphometry were recorded at 12 d of gestation. Ovulation rate showed a positive linear relationship with number of foetuses, ovary weight and NEFA. A negative linear relationship between ovulation rate and perirenal fat thickness and leptin was obtained. Ovulation rate was maximum when body weight and 17β-estradiol were 4.4 kg and 22.7 pg/mL, respectively. Foetal weight showed a positive relationship with perirenal fat thickness and a negative relationship with leptin. An increase in progesterone and NEFA concentration was related to a positive linear increase in number of foetuses and in uterine horn weight. Space available per foetus was affected both by the number of vessels that reach the implantation site and by position of the foetus in the uterine horn. In conclusion, body condition during mating and early gestation should be maintained within an optimal range to ensure the best prenatal characteristics. While 17β-estradiol, NEFA and leptin affected the ovulation rate, progesterone and NEFA affected foetal development. The number of vessels that reach the implantation site determines early foetal survival.
Effect of Complete Replacement of Dry-Rolled Corn with Unprocessed Rye on Growth Performance, Efficiency of Dietary Net Energy Use, and Carcass Traits of Finishing Heifers
Authors: Buckhaus Elizabeth M. , Rusche Warren C. , Smith Zachary K.
Published: January 2021

Continental crossbred beef heifers were used in a randomized complete block design experiment to evaluate the effects of replacement of dry-rolled corn with unprocessed rye on the finishing-phase growth performance and efficiency of dietary net energy (NE) use. Fifty-six heifers (433 ± 34.0 kg) were transported 241 km from a sale barn in North Central South Dakota to the Ruminant Nutrition Center in Brookings, SD. Heifers were blocked by weight grouping and allotted to treatment pens (n = 7 heifers/pen and 4 pens/treatment). Treatments included a finishing diet that contained 60% grain (diet dry matter basis) as dry-rolled corn (DRC) or unprocessed rye grain (RYE). On study day 14, all heifers were consuming the final diet and were implanted with 200 mg of trenbolone acetate and 28 mg of estradiol benzoate (Synovex-Plus, Zoetis, Parsippany, NJ, USA). The RYE heifers had decreased (p ≤ 0.01) final body weight, average daily gain, and gain efficiency; however, they tended (p = 0.08) to have a greater dry matter intake compared to DRC heifers. RYE heifers had decreased (p ≤ 0.01) observed dietary NE and decreased (p ≤ 0.01) observed-to-expected dietary NE ratio for maintenance and gain compared to DRC heifers. The dressing percentage, 12th rib fat thickness, ribeye area, and the distribution of yield and quality grades were not altered (p ≥ 0.12) by dietary treatment. The hot carcass weight, calculated yield grade, estimated empty body fat (EBF), and body weight at 28% EBF decreased (p ≤ 0.02) and retail yield increased (p = 0.01) in RYE compared to DRC heifers. These data indicate that unprocessed rye is a palatable feed ingredient for inclusion in finishing diets for beef cattle and that rye inclusion only minimally influences the carcass quality grade. The feeding value of unprocessed rye is considerably less (21.4%) than that of dry-rolled corn using current standards and approximately 91% of the NE value of processed rye (processing index = 78.8%). Rye grain fed as processed or unprocessed grain has an NE value that is less than 90% of that of dry-rolled corn.
Differences in Tibia Shape in Organically Reared Chicken Lines Measured by Means of Geometric Morphometrics
Authors: Pulcini Domitilla , Meo Zilio David , Cenci Francesco , Castellini Cesare , Guarino Amato Monica
Published: January 2021

In the present study, the conformation of the tibia of seven genetic lines of broilers was analyzed by Geometric Morphometrics and correlated to carcass weight and walking ability. The used chicken genetic lines were classified as fast, medium, or slow growing and ranked for their walking ability. Six chicken types were reared in an organic farm and slaughtered at 81 days of age while one slow-growing and highly walking line (Naked Neck) was reared in a commercial farm and used as external reference for moving activity and growth speed. A mixed landmarks and semi-landmarks model was applied to the study of tibia shape. Results of this study showed that: (i) body weight gain was positively correlated to the curvature of the antero-posterior axis of the tibia; (ii) the shape of the tibia and the active walking behavior were significantly correlated; (iii) walking and not-walking genetic lines could be discriminated in relation to the overall shape of the tibia; (iv) a prevalence of static behavior was correlated to a more pronounced curvature of the antero-posterior axis of the tibia. Results of this study revealed that the walking genetic types have a more functional and natural tibia conformation. This easy morphologic method for evaluating tibia shape could help to characterize the adaptability of genotypes to organic and outdoor rearing.
pH-Responsive “Smart” Hydrogel for Controlled Delivery of Silver Nanoparticles to Infected Wounds
Authors: Haidari Hanif , Kopecki Zlatko , Sutton Adam T. , Garg Sanjay , Cowin Allison J. , Vasilev Krasimir
Published: January 2021

Persistent wound infections have been a therapeutic challenge for a long time. Current treatment approaches are mostly based on the delivery of antibiotics, but these are not effective for all infections. Here, we report the development of a sensitive pH-responsive hydrogel that can provide controlled, pH-triggered release of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This delivery system was designed to sense the environmental pH and trigger the release of AgNPs when the pH changes from acidic to alkaline, as occurs due to the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the wound. Our results show that the prepared hydrogel restricts the release of AgNPs at acidic pH (pH = 4) but substantially amplifies it at alkaline pH (pH = 7.4 and pH = 10). This indicates the potential use of the hydrogel for the on-demand release of Ag+ depending on the environmental pH. In vitro antibacterial studies demonstrated effective elimination of both Gram-negative and positive bacteria. Additionally, the effective antibacterial dose of Ag+ showed no toxicity towards mammalian skin cells. Collectively, this pH-responsive hydrogel presents potential as a promising new material for the treatment of infected wounds.
Dual Carbonic Anhydrase IX/XII Inhibitors and Carbon Monoxide Releasing Molecules Modulate LPS-Mediated Inflammation in Mouse Macrophages
Authors: Berrino Emanuela , Carradori Simone , Angeli Andrea , Carta Fabrizio , Supuran Claudiu T. , Guglielmi Paolo , Coletti Cecilia , Paciotti Roberto , Schweikl Helmut , Maestrelli Francesca , Cerbai Elisabetta , Gallorini Marialucia
Published: January 2021

Low concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) were reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects when administered in cells by suitable chemotypes such as CO releasing molecules (CO-RMs). In addition, the pH-modulating abilities of specific carbonic anhydrase isoforms played a crucial role in different models of inflammation and neuropathic pain. Herein, we report a series of chemical hybrids consisting of a Carbonic Anhydrase (CA) inhibitor linked to a CO-RM tail (CAI/CO-RMs). All compounds and their precursors were first tested in vitro for their inhibition activity against the human CA I, II, IX, and XII isoforms as well their CO releasing properties, aiming at corroborating the data by means of molecular modelling techniques. Then, their impact on metabolic activity modulation of RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages for 24 and 48 h was assessed with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. The compounds were shown to counteract the inflammatory stimulus as also indicated by the reduced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) release after treatment. All the biological results were compared to those of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as a reference antioxidant compound. Within the series, two CAI/CO-RM hybrids (1 and 2), bearing both the well-known scaffold able to inhibit CAs (acesulfame) and the cobalt-based CO releasing portion, induced a higher anti-inflammatory effect up to 48 h at concentrations lower than NAC.
Inflaming the Brain with Iron
Authors: Urrutia Pamela J. , Bórquez Daniel A. , Núñez Marco Tulio
Published: January 2021

Iron accumulation and neuroinflammation are pathological conditions found in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Iron and inflammation are intertwined in a bidirectional relationship, where iron modifies the inflammatory phenotype of microglia and infiltrating macrophages, and in turn, these cells secrete diffusible mediators that reshape neuronal iron homeostasis and regulate iron entry into the brain. Secreted inflammatory mediators include cytokines and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), notably hepcidin and nitric oxide (·NO). Hepcidin is a small cationic peptide with a central role in regulating systemic iron homeostasis. Also present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), hepcidin can reduce iron export from neurons and decreases iron entry through the blood–brain barrier (BBB) by binding to the iron exporter ferroportin 1 (Fpn1). Likewise, ·NO selectively converts cytosolic aconitase (c-aconitase) into the iron regulatory protein 1 (IRP1), which regulates cellular iron homeostasis through its binding to iron response elements (IRE) located in the mRNAs of iron-related proteins. Nitric oxide-activated IRP1 can impair cellular iron homeostasis during neuroinflammation, triggering iron accumulation, especially in the mitochondria, leading to neuronal death. In this review, we will summarize findings that connect neuroinflammation and iron accumulation, which support their causal association in the neurodegenerative processes observed in AD and PD.