bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustaining Teacher Professional Learning in STEM: Lessons Learned from an 18-Year-Long Journey into TPACK-Guided Professional Development
Authors: Meletiou-Mavrotheris Maria , Paparistodemou Efi
Published: April 2024

This article is a self-narrative of our 18-year research into the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)-guided professional development of teachers in ICT-enhanced mathematics learning. Using autoethnography as the methodology to elucidate our transformative personal evolution in implementing the TPACK model, we describe how we conceptualized and enacted the TPACK framework across three distinct phases of our research trajectory. In the first phase, our efforts focused on offering afternoon seminars and workshops on using educational software. Mathematics teachers attended the seminars and workshops voluntarily. In the second phase, we concentrated on designing programs guided by the principles of adult education, which emphasize the importance of learner autonomy and relevance, and socio-constructivist views of teacher professional growth, which stress the role of collaboration and reflection in learning. In the final phase, we adopted a systemic, school-based approach to investigating and expanding TPACK for mathematics and other STEM/STEAM teachers. At the end of each phase’s description, we delve into the profound lessons learned and how these led to a paradigm shift, expanding our perspective on TPACK as practitioners and researchers. Finally, we present a set of recommendations for future research and practice aimed at facilitating the sustainability of STEM/STEAM teacher professional learning initiatives.
Structural Analysis of Pedagogic Mediation in a Foreign Language Classroom
Authors: Kats Nora , Rubtsova Anna , Bylieva Daria
Published: April 2024

Cultural diffusion and a paradigm shift from a “skill-based” approach to an “action-oriented” approach in language pedagogy transform the functions of an educator in a foreign language classroom. A language instructor accepts an intermediatory role in learners’ interactions with the environment, using language as a primary mediation tool. Thus, by being involved in varied social contexts and activities, a language educator mediates learning, communication, and sociocultural environments. This study relies on a structural analysis to investigate the mediating role of a language educator. It suggests that pedagogic mediation should be viewed as a specific form of language educators’ activity and described through three dimensions: mediating learning, mediating communication, and mediating sociocultural space. In the teaching and learning context, these dimensions manifest themselves as skills to adapt to the instructional and linguistic complexity of texts, manage interaction, facilitate communication in sensitive situations, etc. Drawing upon a phenomenological research design and qualitative methods, the study develops illustrative descriptors that can be used in a foreign language classroom to assess the patterns of social, instructional, and communicative behavior of educators. The developed descriptors allowed for exploring the self-perceptions of pre-service language teachers towards their abilities for pedagogic mediation in a foreign language classroom. The results of the study identified the learning gaps among novice language teachers that can be further addressed as learning objectives while designing a curriculum for professional training in language education.
Mixed Variable Parameter Energy Storage-Assisted Frequency Support Strategy
Authors: Yang Zichu , Zhong Yuanchang , Chen Yu , Li Dalin
Published: April 2024

With the continuous increase in the installed capacity of new energy systems, the impact of power shocks on grid frequency is becoming more significant, seriously affecting the stability of the grid and thermal power units. For this reason, a mixed variable parameter energy storage-assisted frequency support control method is proposed. This method introduces an integral control mode based on the existing control mode and forms a co-ordinated control mode. The impact of the switching point of the mixed control mode is analyzed, and a new mode switching method is used. The model adjusts the frequency regulation parameters according to the different states of the grid frequency, making the frequency regulation more efficient. Finally, a frequency regulation model that integrates various improvement methods is built, and a 10 min continuous load disturbance is applied to compare and verify the frequency regulation performance of the model as a whole. The results indicate that the proposed control method can significantly improve the quality of grid frequency regulation, reduce the frequency deviation amplitude to 0.00096 p.u., reduce the participation time of thermal power units to 190.8393 s, and reduce the peak output to 0.1934 MW, demonstrating its engineering feasibility.
Concurrent Learning-Based Two-Stage Predefined-Time System Identification
Authors: Liu Bojun , Zhang Zhanpeng , Yi Yingmin
Published: April 2024

This paper proposes a novel two-stage predefined-time system identification algorithm for uncertain nonlinear systems based on concurrent learning. The main feature of the algorithm is that the convergence time of estimation error is an exact predefined parameter, which can be known and adjusted directly by users. Historic identification data are stored in the first stage to guarantee that a finite-rank condition is satisfied. In the second stage, the estimation error converges to zero for linearly parameterized uncertain systems, or it is regulated into the neighborhood of zero for unknown systems modeled by neural networks. The identification algorithm takes effect without the restrictive requirement of the persistent excitation condition. Simulation examples verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Enhancing Precision of Telemonitoring of COVID-19 Patients through Expert System Based on IoT Data Elaboration
Authors: Olivelli Martina , Donati Massimiliano , Vianello Annamaria , Petrucci Ilaria , Masi Stefano , Bechini Alessio , Fanucci Luca
Published: April 2024

The emergence of the highly contagious coronavirus disease has led to multiple pandemic waves, resulting in a significant number of hospitalizations and fatalities. Even outside of hospitals, general practitioners have faced serious challenges, stretching their resources and putting themselves at risk of infection. Telemonitoring systems based on Internet of things technology have emerged as valuable tools for remotely monitoring disease progression, facilitating rapid intervention, and reducing the risk of hospitalization and mortality. They allow for personalized monitoring strategies and tailored treatment plans, which are crucial for improving health outcomes. However, determining the appropriate monitoring intensity remains the responsibility of physicians, which poses challenges and impacts their workload, and thus, can hinder timely responses. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an expert system designed to recommend and adjust the monitoring intensity for COVID-19 patients receiving home treatment based on their medical history, vital signs, and reported symptoms. The system underwent initial validation using real-world cases, demonstrating a favorable performance (F1-score of 0.85). Subsequently, once integrated with an Internet of Things telemonitoring system, a clinical trial will assess the system’s reliability in creating telemonitoring plans comparable with those of medics, evaluate its effectiveness in reducing medic–patient interactions or hospitalizations, and gauge patient satisfaction and safety.
Winds of Change: A Study on the Resource Viability of Offshore Wind Energy in Montenegro
Authors: Bogdanović Miloš , Ivošević Špiro
Published: April 2024

The energy produced from renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass) provides direct access to clean and safe energy. Offshore wind energy, generated through wind farms, has traditionally relied on fixed structures, whereas innovative floating structures have been commercially applied since 2017. This study investigates offshore areas in Montenegro suitable for wind farm construction. Research on average annual wind speeds has successfully identified a surface area deemed suitable for constructing a wind farm in the Montenegrin part of the Adriatic Sea. Analysis of available bathymetric databases has pinpointed technical solutions for the supporting structures of wind turbines required to construct an offshore wind farm. Applying an assessment method to the defined surface of Montenegrin waters, seven blocks have been identified as suitable for wind farm construction. The research results indicate that wind farms can be built in Montenegrin waters with a technical potential corresponding to a total capacity of 2299.794 MW, which includes 2034.48 MW for floating structures, 126.759 MW for fixed structures, and 138.555 MW for jacket-fixed structures.
Short-Term Simulated Warming Changes the Beta Diversity of Bacteria in Taiga Forests’ Permafrost by Altering the Composition of Dominant Bacterial Phyla
Authors: Jiang Yunbing , Wu Song , Yang Libin , Liu Yongzhi , Gao Mingliang , Ni Hongwei
Published: April 2024

Permafrost is widely degraded in the context of global warming. The spatial distribution of soil microbes in these cold habitats has received a lot of attention. However, knowledge on the changes in permafrost microbial communities following permafrost thaw is still limited. We used permafrost soil from a taiga forest for indoor experiments using pristine soil as a control (CK, −2 °C), simulating warming for 15 days at temperatures of 0 °C (T1), 2 °C (T2), and 4 °C (T3). Amplicons of the hypervariable V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene were sequenced to identify bacterial communities present in the soils of pristine and warming treatments. Warming increased the average relative abundance of Proteobacteria (5.71%) and decreased that of Actinobacteriota (7.82%). The Beta diversity changed (p = 0.001) and significantly correlated with the pH, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and available potassium (AK) of the soil (p < 0.05). Warming further increased the Alpha diversity (Simpson index), changing the functional pathways of the bacterial communities, whereby secondary functional pathways produced significant correlations with bacterial phyla (p < 0.05). Combined, the results indicated that short-term warming altered the Beta diversity of soil bacteria in a taiga forest’s permafrost soil by decreasing the abundance of Actinobacteria and increasing that of Ascomycetes, while pH, MBC, and AK were identified as the soil factors influencing the structure and diversity of the bacterial communities.
Composite Coatings Applied to Fresh and Blanched Chayote (Sechium edule) and Modeling of the Drying Kinetics and Sorption Isotherms
Authors: Estrada-Girón Yokiushirdhilgilmara , Campo-Campos Angelina Martín del , Gutiérrez-García Emmanuel , Fernández-Escamilla Víctor V. , Martínez-Chávez Liliana , Jaime-Ornelas Teresa J.
Published: April 2024

Sustainable methods such as convective drying have regained interest in reducing the loss and waste of food produce. Combined with techniques like blanching and edible coatings, they could serve as useful tools in food processing development. Composite coatings comprising pectin, soy protein isolate, and xanthan gum were optimized using response surface methodology with the Box–Behnken design. This optimization aimed to investigate their effects on the moisture content, water activity, total color, and rehydration ratio of fresh and blanched chayote slices. Additionally, the study explored the modeling of the drying kinetics and sorption isotherms of chayote (Sechium edule) slices. Soy protein and xanthan gum were found to primarily influence the moisture content (ranging from 5.44% to 9.93%), and pectin influenced water activity (033 to 0.53) of the fresh-coated chayote, while pectin affected the aw (2.13–8.28) and rehydration of the blanch-coated chayote. The optimized formulations for both fresh and blanched chayote were utilized to assess the drying kinetics behavior and sorption isotherms. The best fit (R2: 0.996 to 0.999) was achieved with the parabolic model for thin-layer materials. Furthermore, the sorption isotherms of chayote displayed a Type IV behavior, with the BET model being the most suitable for describing the sorption behavior of materials with low water activity. The predicted values offer valuable data for optimizing processing conditions to enhance the quality and stability of dried chayote.
Quality Detection and Grading of Rose Tea Based on a Lightweight Model
Authors: Ding Zezhong , Chen Zhiwei , Gui Zhiyong , Guo Mengqi , Zhu Xuesong , Hu Bin , Dong Chunwang
Published: April 2024

Rose tea is a type of flower tea in China’s reprocessed tea category, which is divided into seven grades, including super flower, primary flower, flower bud, flower heart, yellow flower, scattered flower, and waste flower. Grading rose tea into distinct quality levels is a practice that is essential to boosting their competitive advantage. Manual grading is inefficient. We provide a lightweight model to advance rose tea grading automation. Firstly, four kinds of attention mechanisms were introduced into the backbone and compared. According to the experimental results, the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) was chosen in the end due to its ultimate capacity to enhance the overall detection performance of the model. Second, the lightweight module C2fGhost was utilized to change the original C2f module in the neck to lighten the network while maintaining detection performance. Finally, we used the SIoU loss in place of the CIoU loss to improve the boundary regression performance of the model. The results showed that the mAP, precision (P), recall (R), FPS, GFLOPs, and Params values of the proposed model were 86.16%, 89.77%, 83.01%, 166.58, 7.978, and 2.746 M, respectively. Compared with the original model, the mAP, P, and R values increased by 0.67%, 0.73%, and 0.64%, the GFLOPs and Params decreased by 0.88 and 0.411 M, respectively, and the speed was comparable. The model proposed in this study also performed better than other advanced detection models. It provides theoretical research and technical support for the intelligent grading of roses.
Recessive GNE Mutations in Korean Nonaka Distal Myopathy Patients with or without Peripheral Neuropathy
Authors: Tamanna Nasrin , Pi Byung Kwon , Lee Ah Jin , Kanwal Sumaira , Choi Byung-Ok , Chung Ki Wha
Published: April 2024

Autosomal recessive Nonaka distal myopathy is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease characterized by progressive degeneration of the distal muscles, causing muscle weakness and decreased grip strength. It is primarily associated with mutations in the GNE gene, which encodes a key enzyme of sialic acid biosynthesis (UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase). This study was performed to find GNE mutations in six independent distal myopathy patients with or without peripheral neuropathy using whole-exome sequencing (WES). In silico pathogenic prediction and simulation of 3D structural changes were performed for the mutant GNE proteins. As a result, we identified five pathogenic or likely pathogenic missense variants: c.86T>C (p.Met29Thr), c.527A>T (p.Asp176Val), c.782T>C (p.Met261Thr), c.1714G>C (p.Val572Leu), and c.1771G>A (p.Ala591Thr). Five affected individuals showed compound heterozygous mutations, while only one patient revealed a homozygous mutation. Two patients revealed unreported combinations of combined heterozygous mutations. We observed some specific clinical features, such as complex phenotypes of distal myopathy with distal hereditary peripheral neuropathy, an earlier onset of weakness in legs than that of hands, and clinical heterogeneity between two patients with the same set of compound heterozygous mutations. Our findings on these genetic causes expand the clinical spectrum associated with the GNE mutations and can help prepare therapeutic strategies.
The Effect of Short-Term Artificial Feed Domestication on the Expression of Oxidative-Stress-Related Genes and Antioxidant Capacity in the Liver and Gill Tissues of Mandarin Fish (Siniperca chuatsi)
Authors: Zhang Zhou , Yuan Xiping , Wu Hao , Gao Jinwei , Wu Jiayu , Xiong Zhenzhen , Feng Zhifeng , Xie Min , Li Shaoming , Xie Zhonggui , Zeng Guoqing
Published: April 2024

To investigate whether Mandarin fish developed oxidative stress after being domesticated with artificial feed, we conducted a series of experiments. Oxidative stress is an important factor leading to diseases and aging in the body. The liver integrates functions such as digestion, metabolism, detoxification, coagulation, and immune regulation, while the gills are important respiratory organs that are sensitive to changes in the water environment. Therefore, we used the liver and gills of Mandarin fish as research materials. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of short-term artificial feed domestication on the expression of oxidative stress genes and the changes in oxidative-stress-related enzyme activity in the liver and gills of Mandarin fish. We divided the Mandarin fish into two groups for treatment. The control group was fed with live bait continuously for 14 days, while the experimental group was fed with half artificial feed and half live bait from 0 to 7 days (T-7 d), followed by solely artificial feed from 7 to 14 days (T-14 d). The experimental results showed that there was no difference in the body weight, length, and standard growth rate of the Mandarin fish between the two groups of treatments; after two treatments, there were differences in the expression of genes related to oxidative stress in the gills (keap1, kappa, gsta, gstt1, gstk1, SOD, and CAT) and in the liver (GPx, keap1, kappa, gsta, gstt1, gr, and SOD). In the liver, GPx activity and the content of MDA were significantly upregulated after 7 days of domestication, while in the gills, SOD activity was significantly upregulated after 7 days of domestication and GPx activity was significantly downregulated after 14 days of domestication. These results suggest that artificial feed domestication is associated with oxidative stress. Moreover, these results provide experimental basic data for increasing the production of aquaculture feed for Mandarin fish.
The Development and Testing of the Hippocratic Heart Failure Self-Care Scale
Authors: Brokalaki Hero , Chatziefstratiou Anastasia A. , Fotos Nikolaos V. , Patelarou Athina , Giakoumidakis Konstantinos
Published: April 2024

Background: The adoption of self-care behaviors among patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) is essential for the management of their health condition. However, there is a lack of tools for estimating self-care in CHF patients. We aim to develop and validate the Greek version of the Hippocratic heart failure self-care scale (HHFSCS). Methods: The scale includes 22 items which are reviewed by a committee of experts. Individuals indicate the frequency at which they follow each self-behavior on a five-point Likert scale. Adult patients with CHF (n = 250) from a General Hospital in Athens participated in the study from June 2020 to March 2021. Reliability coefficients and an explanatory factor analysis (EFA), using a Varimax rotation and the principal component method, were used to assess the psychometric measurements. Results: The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the HHFSCS was 0.807. The exploratory factor analysis identified two domains that accounted for 88.44% of the variance in the scale items; however, each sub-scale could not be used as an independent scale. Finally, the test–retest showed a significant and strong correlation (r = 0.973, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The HHFSCS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing self-behaviors in CHF patients. Health professionals can use it in their clinical practice to improve the management of a patient’s health conditions.
Exercise-Based Interventions Are Effective in the Management of Patients with Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials
Authors: Karanasios Stefanos , Mertyri Dimitra , Karydis Fotis , Gioftsos George
Published: April 2024

Exercise-based interventions are a common management strategy in patients with thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis (CMCJ OA); however, their exact effect on or the use of an optimal training programme for reducing pain and disability remains unclear. Our purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise-based interventions compared with other conservative interventions in patients with CMCJ OA. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Fourteen randomised clinical trials with 1280 patients were finally included. Exercise-based interventions present statistically and clinically better outcomes in reducing pain intensity (mean difference [MD]: −21.91; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −36.59, −7.24; p = 0.003) and wrist disability (MD: −8.1, 95% CI: −4.6, −11.5; p = 0.02) compared with no treatment at short-term follow-up. Proprioceptive exercises have statistically and clinically better outcomes compared with standard care only in pain intensity at very short-term (standardised mean difference [SMD]: −0.76; 95% CI: −1.30, −0.21; p = 0.007) and short-term (SMD: −0.93; 95% CI: −1.86, −0.01; p = 0.049) follow-up and statistically better results in wrist disability at very short-term (SMD: −0.94; 95% CI: −1.68, −0.21; p = 0.01) follow-up. No differences were found between the comparators at mid- and long-term follow-up. Low to moderate certainty of evidence suggests that exercise-based interventions can provide clinically better outcomes compared with no treatment in patients with thumb CMCJ OA, at least in the short term.
Prevalence of Wheezing and Its Association with Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure among Rural and Urban Preschool Children in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
Authors: Mudau Rodney , Voyi Kuku , Shirinde Joyce
Published: April 2024

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of wheezing and its association with environmental tobacco smoke exposure among rural and urban preschool children in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, an area associated with poor air quality. Methods: In this study, parents/caregivers of preschool children (n = 3145) completed a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. Data were analysed using multiple logistic regression models. Results: The overall prevalence of Wheeze Ever was 15.14%, with a higher prevalence in urban preschoolers than rural preschoolers (20.71% vs. 13.30%, p < 0.000). Moreover, the total prevalence of Asthma Ever was 2.34%. The prevalence was greater in urban preschoolers than in rural preschoolers (3.92% vs. 1.81%, p < 0.001). In the final adjusted model, both urban- and rural-area children who lived with one or more people who smoked in the same household (WE: OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.11–1.86) (CW: OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.38–3.16) and (AE: OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.12–5.54) were found to have an increased likelihood of having Wheeze Ever, Current Wheeze, and Asthma Ever as compared to those who lived with non-smokers. Conclusions: The implementation of smoking limits and prohibition is crucial in areas that are frequented or utilized by children. Hence, it is imperative for healthcare providers to actively champion the rights of those who do not smoke within the society, while also endorsing legislative measures aimed at curtailing the extent of tobacco smoke exposure.
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Infrastructure and Resources in Schools in Belize during the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2021–2023
Authors: Ly Anh N. , McDavid Kelsey , Craig Christina , Maheia Dian , Gongora Yolanda , Medley Alexandra , Morey Francis , Manzanero Russell , Morazan Gerhaldine , Lino Allison , Romero Vickie , Blanco Rosalva , Ishida Kanako , Lozier Matthew , Murray Kristy O.
Published: April 2024

Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) resources in schools is critical for disease prevention and control, especially during public health emergencies. In Belize, systematic, national data on WASH in schools are needed to inform public health decisions and interventions. From December 2021 to January 2022, a national survey was sent electronically to government and government-aided primary and secondary schools in Belize (N = 308) to gather information on WASH services. From the survey, 12 pilot schools were selected based on the highest self-reported need for WASH resources to participate in additional evaluation and intervention, which included environmental nudges, supplemental supply provision, and hand hygiene education. To understand how the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced hand hygiene, facility assessments to evaluate access to hand hygiene resources were conducted in person when most schools reopened for face-to-face learning during the pandemic (March 2022) and 15 months later (June 2023). Among the schools participating in the national survey (N = 221), 55% reported times when water was not available at the schools. Almost 9 in 10 schools (89%) had a functional handwashing station, and 47% reported always having soap for handwashing. Between baseline and follow-up at the 12 pilot schools, we observed decreases in the proportion of functional handwashing access points (−11%), functional handwashing access points accessible for individuals with disabilities (−17%) and small children (−29%), and functional alcohol-based hand rub dispensers (−13%). Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we observed gaps in WASH resources in schools in Belize during the onsite assessments at the pilot schools. Schools should be encouraged and provided with WASH resources to maintain vigilance for disease control measures.
TMT-Based Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Reveals the Key Role of Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis in Intestine Regeneration of Apostichopus japonicus
Authors: Zeng Chuili , Xiao Ke , Shi Qilin , Zhan Xu , Li Chenghua
Published: April 2024

Sea cucumbers are widely known for their powerful regenerative abilities, which allow them to regenerate a complete digestive tract within a relatively short time following injury or autotomy. Recently, even though the histological changes and cellular events in the processes of intestinal regeneration have been extensively studied, the molecular machinery behind this faculty remains unclear. In this study, tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitation was utilized to investigate protein abundance changes during the process of intestine regeneration. Approximately 538, 445, 397, 1012, and 966 differential proteins (DEPs) were detected (p < 0.05) between the normal and 2, 7, 12, 20, and 28 dpe stages, respectively. These DEPs also mainly focus on pathways of cell proliferation and apoptosis, which were further validated by 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) or Tunel-based flow cytometry assay. These findings provide a reference for a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of various stages of intestinal regeneration and provide a foundation for subsequent research on changes in cell fate in echinoderms.
Error-Corrected Deep Targeted Sequencing of Circulating Cell-Free DNA from Colorectal Cancer Patients for Sensitive Detection of Circulating Tumor DNA
Authors: Frydendahl Amanda , Rasmussen Mads Heilskov , Jensen Sarah Østrup , Henriksen Tenna Vesterman , Demuth Christina , Diekema Mathilde , Ditzel Henrik Jørn , Wen Sara Witting Christensen , Pedersen Jakob Skou , Dyrskjøt Lars , Andersen Claus Lindbjerg
Published: April 2024

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising biomarker, reflecting the presence of tumor cells. Sequencing-based detection of ctDNA at low tumor fractions is challenging due to the crude error rate of sequencing. To mitigate this challenge, we developed ultra-deep mutation-integrated sequencing (UMIseq), a fixed-panel deep targeted sequencing approach, which is universally applicable to all colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. UMIseq features UMI-mediated error correction, the exclusion of mutations related to clonal hematopoiesis, a panel of normal samples for error modeling, and signal integration from single-nucleotide variations, insertions, deletions, and phased mutations. UMIseq was trained and independently validated on pre-operative (pre-OP) plasma from CRC patients (n = 364) and healthy individuals (n = 61). UMIseq displayed an area under the curve surpassing 0.95 for allele frequencies (AFs) down to 0.05%. In the training cohort, the pre-OP detection rate reached 80% at 95% specificity, while it was 70% in the validation cohort. UMIseq enabled the detection of AFs down to 0.004%. To assess the potential for detection of residual disease, 26 post-operative plasma samples from stage III CRC patients were analyzed. From this we found that the detection of ctDNA was associated with recurrence. In conclusion, UMIseq demonstrated robust performance with high sensitivity and specificity, enabling the detection of ctDNA at low allele frequencies.
Exploring Potential Biomarkers in Oesophageal Cancer: A Comprehensive Analysis
Authors: Romanowicz Adrianna , Lukaszewicz-Zajac Marta , Mroczko Barbara
Published: April 2024

Oesophageal cancer (OC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. OC is highly aggressive, primarily due to its late stage of diagnosis and poor prognosis for patients’ survival. Therefore, the establishment of new biomarkers that will be measured with non-invasive techniques at low cost is a critical issue in improving the diagnosis of OC. In this review, we summarize several original studies concerning the potential significance of selected chemokines and their receptors, including inflammatory proteins such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs), claudins (CLDNs), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs), adamalysines (ADAMs), as well as DNA- and RNA-based biomarkers, in OC. The presented results indicate the significant correlation between the CXCL12, CXCR4, CXCL8/CXCR2, M-CSF, MMP-2, MMP-9 ADAM17, ADAMTS-6, and CLDN7 levels and tumor stage, as well as the clinicopathological parameters of OC, such as the presence of lymph node and/or distant metastases. CXCL12, CXCL8/CXCR2, IL-6, TIMP-2, ADAM9, and ADAMTS-6 were prognostic factors for the overall survival of OC patients. Furthermore, IL-6, CXCR4, CXCL8, and MMP-9 indicate higher diagnostic utility based on the area under the ROC curve (AUC) than well-established OC tumor markers, whereas CLDN18.2 can be used in novel targeted therapies for OC patients.
Intraphagosomal Free Ca2+ Changes during Phagocytosis
Authors: Dewitt Sharon , Green Joanna , Laffafian Iraj , Lewis Kimberly J. , Hallett Maurice B.
Published: April 2024

Phagocytosis (and endocytosis) is an unusual cellular process that results in the formation of a novel subcellular organelle, the phagosome. This phagosome contains not only the internalised target of phagocytosis but also the external medium, creating a new border between extracellular and intracellular environments. The boundary at the plasma membrane is, of course, tightly controlled and exploited in ionic cell signalling events. Although there has been much work on the control of phagocytosis by ions, notably, Ca2+ ions influxing across the plasma membrane, increasing our understanding of the mechanism enormously, very little work has been done exploring the phagosome/cytosol boundary. In this paper, we explored the changes in the intra-phagosomal Ca2+ ion content that occur during phagocytosis and phagosome formation in human neutrophils. Measuring Ca2+ ion concentration in the phagosome is potentially prone to artefacts as the intra-phagosomal environment experiences changes in pH and oxidation. However, by excluding such artefacts, we conclude that there are open Ca2+ channels on the phagosome that allow Ca2+ ions to “drain” into the surrounding cytosol. This conclusion was confirmed by monitoring the translocation of the intracellularly expressed YFP-tagged C2 domain of PKC-γ. This approach marked regions of membrane at which Ca2+ influx occurred, the earliest being the phagocytic cup, and then the whole cell. This paper therefore presents data that have novel implications for understanding phagocytic Ca2+ signalling events, such as peri-phagosomal Ca2+ hotspots, and other phenomena.
Eldecalcitol Induces Minimodeling-Based Bone Formation and Inhibits Sclerostin Synthesis Preferentially in the Epiphyses Rather than the Metaphyses of the Long Bones in Rats
Authors: Hasegawa Tomoka , Yamamoto Tomomaya , Hongo Hiromi , Yamamoto Tsuneyuki , Haraguchi-Kitakamae Mai , Ishizu Hotaka , Shimizu Tomohiro , Saito Hitoshi , Sakai Sadaoki , Yogo Kenji , Matsumoto Yoshihiro , Amizuka Norio
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to examine minimodeling-based bone formation between the epiphyses and metaphyses of the long bones of eldecalcitol (ELD)-administered ovariectomized rats. Sixteen-week-old female rats were divided into four groups: sham-operated rats receiving vehicle (Sham group), ovariectomized (OVX) rats receiving vehicle (Vehicle group), or ELDs (30 or 90 ng/kg BW, respectively; ELD30 and ELD90 groups). ELD administration increased bone volume and trabecular thickness, reducing the number of osteoclasts in both the epiphyses and metaphyses of OVX rats. The Sham and Vehicle groups exhibited mainly remodeling-based bone formation in both regions. The epiphyses of the ELD groups showed a significantly higher frequency of minimodeling-based bone formation than remodeling-based bone formation. In contrast, the metaphyses exhibited significantly more minimodeling-based bone formation in the ELD90 group compared with the ELD30 group. However, there was no significant difference between minimodeling-based bone formation and remodeling-based bone formation in the ELD90 group. While the minimodeling-induced new bone contained few sclerostin-immunoreactive osteocytes, the underlying pre-existing bone harbored many. The percentage of sclerostin-positive osteocytes was significantly reduced in the minimodeling-induced bone in the epiphyses but not in the metaphyses of the ELD groups. Thus, it seems likely that ELD could induce minimodeling-based bone formation in the epiphyses rather than in the metaphyses, and that ELD-driven minimodeling may be associated with the inhibition of sclerostin synthesis.
NAD-Driven Sirtuin Activation by Cordyceps sinensis Extract: Exploring the Adaptogenic Potential to Promote Skin Longevity
Authors: Di Lorenzo Ritamaria , Falanga Danila , Ricci Lucia , Colantuono Antonio , Greco Giovanni , Angelillo Maura , Nugnes Fiorella , Di Serio Teresa , Costa Dorothea , Tito Annalisa , Laneri Sonia
Published: April 2024

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine principles and natural bioactive compounds to combat age-related ailments and enhance longevity. A Cordyceps sinensis mycelium hydroethanolic extract (CsEx), which was standardized in cordycepin and adenosine using UHPLC-DAD, was investigated for its adaptogenic properties using in vitro assays and a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 40 subjects. The CsEx demonstrated activity at a concentration of 0.0006%, significantly increasing sirtuin expression (SirT1: +33%, SirT3: +10%, SirT6: +72%, vs. CTR, p < 0.05) and NAD+ synthesis in HaCat cells (+20% vs. CTR, p < 0.001). Moreover, the CsEx boosted ATP production by 68% in skin cells, correlating with higher skin energy values (+52.0% at D28, p < 0.01) in the clinical trial. Additionally, CsEx notably reduced cytosolic reactive oxygen species (ROS) by 30% in HaCaT cells (p < 0.05) and enhanced collagen production both in vitro (+69% vs. CTR, p < 0.01) and in vivo (+10% vs. D0, p < 0.01), confirmed by ultrasound examination. Furthermore, CsEx’s stimulation of fibroblasts, coupled with its antioxidant and energizing properties, led to a significant reduction in wrinkles by 28.0% (D28, p < 0.001). This study underscores Cordyceps sinensis hydroethanolic extract’s potential in regulating skin cell energy metabolism and positively influencing the mechanisms associated with skin longevity control.
Lipidomics Analysis Unravels Aberrant Lipid Species and Pathways Induced by Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Kidney Cells
Authors: Kim Boyun , Kim Gaeun , Jeon Hyun Pyo , Jung Jewon
Published: April 2024

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are widely used in versatile applications, from high technology to household products. While numerous studies have examined the toxic gene profile of ZnO NPs across various tissues, the specific lipid species associated with adverse effects and potential biomarkers remain elusive. In this study, we conducted a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based lipidomics analysis to uncover potential lipid biomarkers in human kidney cells following treatment with ZnO NPs. Furthermore, we employed lipid pathway enrichment analysis (LIPEA) to elucidate altered lipid-related signaling pathways. Our results demonstrate that ZnO NPs induce cytotoxicity in renal epithelial cells and modulate lipid species; we identified 64 lipids with a fold change (FC) > 2 and p < 0.01 with corrected p < 0.05 in HK2 cells post-treatment with ZnO NPs. Notably, the altered lipids between control HK2 cells and those treated with ZnO NPs were associated with the sphingolipid, autophagy, and glycerophospholipid pathways. This study unveils novel potential lipid biomarkers of ZnO NP nanotoxicity, representing the first lipidomic profiling of ZnO NPs in human renal epithelial cells.
Quercetin Impairs the Growth of Uveal Melanoma Cells by Interfering with Glucose Uptake and Metabolism
Authors: Tura Aysegül , Herfs Viktoria , Maaßen Tjorge , Zuo Huaxin , Vardanyan Siranush , Prasuhn Michelle , Ranjbar Mahdy , Kakkassery Vinodh , Grisanti Salvatore
Published: April 2024

Monosomy 3 in uveal melanoma (UM) increases the risk of lethal metastases, mainly in the liver, which serves as the major site for the storage of excessive glucose and the metabolization of the dietary flavonoid quercetin. Although primary UMs with monosomy 3 exhibit a higher potential for basal glucose uptake, it remains unknown as to whether glycolytic capacity is altered in such tumors. Herein, we initially analyzed the expression of n = 151 genes involved in glycolysis and its interconnected branch, the “pentose phosphate pathway (PPP)”, in the UM cohort of The Cancer Genome Atlas Study and validated the differentially expressed genes in two independent cohorts. We also evaluated the effects of quercetin on the growth, survival, and glucose metabolism of the UM cell line 92.1. The rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme PFKP was overexpressed whereas the ZBTB20 gene (locus: 3q13.31) was downregulated in the patients with metastases in all cohorts. Quercetin was able to impair proliferation, viability, glucose uptake, glycolysis, ATP synthesis, and PPP rate-limiting enzyme activity while increasing oxidative stress. UMs with monosomy 3 display a stronger potential to utilize glucose for the generation of energy and biomass. Quercetin can prevent the growth of UM cells by interfering with glucose metabolism.
Genital Dysbiosis and Different Systemic Immune Responses Based on the Trimester of Pregnancy in SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Campisciano Giuseppina , Sorz Alice , Cason Carolina , Zanotta Nunzia , Gionechetti Fabrizia , Piazza Maria , Carli Petra , Uliana Francesca Maria , Ballaminut Lisa , Ricci Giuseppe , De Seta Francesco , Maso Gianpaolo , Comar Manola
Published: April 2024

Respiratory infections are common in pregnancy with conflicting evidence supporting their association with neonatal congenital anomalies, especially during the first trimester. We profiled cytokine and chemokine systemic responses in 242 pregnant women and their newborns after SARS-CoV-2 infection, acquired in different trimesters. Also, we tested transplacental IgG passage and maternal vaginal–rectal microbiomes. IgG transplacental passage was evident, especially with infection acquired in the first trimester. G-CSF concentration—involved in immune cell recruitment—decreased in infected women compared to uninfected ones: a beneficial event for the reduction of inflammation but detrimental to ability to fight infections at birth. The later the infection was acquired, the higher the systemic concentration of IL-8, IP-10, and MCP-1, associated with COVID-19 disease severity. All infected women showed dysbiosis of vaginal and rectal microbiomes, compared to uninfected ones. Two newborns tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 within the first 48 h of life. Notably, their mothers had acute infection at delivery. Although respiratory infections in pregnancy are reported to affect babies’ health, with SARS-CoV-2 acquired early during gestation this risk seems low because of the maternal immune response. The observed vaginal and rectal dysbiosis could be relevant for neonatal microbiome establishment, although in our series immediate neonatal outcomes were reassuring.
Predicting Individual Well-Being in Teamwork Contexts Based on Speech Features
Authors: Zeulner Tobias , Hagerer Gerhard Johann , Müller Moritz , Vazquez Ignacio , Gloor Peter A.
Published: April 2024

Current methods for assessing individual well-being in team collaboration at the workplace often rely on manually collected surveys. This limits continuous real-world data collection and proactive measures to improve team member workplace satisfaction. We propose a method to automatically derive social signals related to individual well-being in team collaboration from raw audio and video data collected in teamwork contexts. The goal was to develop computational methods and measurements to facilitate the mirroring of individuals’ well-being to themselves. We focus on how speech behavior is perceived by team members to improve their well-being. Our main contribution is the assembly of an integrated toolchain to perform multi-modal extraction of robust speech features in noisy field settings and to explore which features are predictors of self-reported satisfaction scores. We applied the toolchain to a case study, where we collected videos of 20 teams with 56 participants collaborating over a four-day period in a team project in an educational environment. Our audiovisual speaker diarization extracted individual speech features from a noisy environment. As the dependent variable, team members filled out a daily PERMA (positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment) survey. These well-being scores were predicted using speech features extracted from the videos using machine learning. The results suggest that the proposed toolchain was able to automatically predict individual well-being in teams, leading to better teamwork and happier team members.
Mass Trapping Lepidopteran Pests with Light Traps, with Focus on Tortricid Forest Pests: What If?
Authors: Rhainds Marc
Published: April 2024

The management of Lepidopteran pests with light traps (LTs) is often achieved by luring adults to death at light sources (light trap-based mass trapping, or LTmt). Large-scale LTmt programs against agricultural pests initiated in the late 1920s in the United States were phased out in the 1970s, coinciding with the rise of pheromone-based management research. The interest in LTmt has surged in recent years with the advent of light emitting diodes, solar power sources, and intelligent design. The first step in implementing LTmt is to identify a trapping design that maximizes the capture of target pests and minimizes the capture of non-target beneficial insects—with a cautionary note that high captures in LTs are not equivalent to the feasibility of mass trapping: the ultimate objective of LTmt is to protect crop plants from pest damage, not to trap adults. The captures of egg-carrying females in light traps have a greater impact on the efficiency of LTmt than the captures of males. When LTmt is defined as a harvesting procedure, the biomass of females in LTs may be viewed as the best estimator of the mass trapping yield; biomass proxy has universal application in LTmt as every living organism can be defined on a per weight basis. While research has largely focused on agricultural pests, an attempt is made here to conceptualize LTmt as a pest management strategy in forest ecosystems, using spruce budworm as a case study. The mass trapping of female budworms is impossible to achieve in endemic populations due to the large spatial scale of forest landscapes (implying the deployment of a prohibitively large number of LTs); in addition, ovipositing female budworms do not respond to light sources at a low density of conspecifics. The light-based mass trapping of female budworms may provide a realistic management option for geographically isolated forest stands heavily infested with budworms, as a tool to prevent tree mortality. Somehow unexpectedly, however, one factor obscuring the feasibility of LTmt is as follows: the complex (‘unknowable’) economic valuation of forest stands as opposed to agricultural landscapes.
Micronutrient Deficiency May Be Associated with the Onset of Chalkbrood Disease in Honey Bees
Authors: Pavlović Ratko , Brodschneider Robert , Goessler Walter , Stanisavljević Ljubiša , Vujčić Zoran , Zarić Nenad M.
Published: April 2024

Chalkbrood is a disease of honey bee brood caused by the fungal parasite Ascosphaera apis. Many factors such as genetics, temperature, humidity and nutrition influence the appearance of clinical symptoms. Poor nutrition impairs the immune system, which favors the manifestation of symptoms of many honey bee diseases. However, a direct link between dietary ingredients and the symptoms of chalkbrood disease has not yet been established. We show here that the elemental composition of chalkbrood mummies and healthy larvae from the same infected hives differ, as well as that mummies differ from larvae from healthy hives. Chalkbrood mummies had the highest concentration of macroelements such as Na, Mg, P, S, K and Ca and some microelements such as Rb and Sn, and at the same time the lowest concentration of B, As, Sr, Ag, Cd, Sb, Ba and Pb. Larvae from infected hives contained less Pb, Ba, Cs, Sb, Cd, Sr, As, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, Cr, V and Al in contrast to healthy larvae from a disease-free apiary. This is the first study to demonstrate such differences, suggesting that an infection alters the larval nutrition or that nutrition is a predisposition for the outbreak of a chalkbrood infection. Though, based on results obtained from a case study, rather than from a controlled experiment, our findings stress the differences in elements of healthy versus diseased honey bee larvae.