bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced phenolic content and antioxidant activity of broad bean natto following simulated in vitro digestion
Authors: Zhao YueHong , Yang XiJuan , Liu Yu , Wu Jing , Zhang Jie , Dang Bin
Published: April 2024

Broad bean can be processed into various forms such as steamed broad beans (SBB) and broad bean natto (BBN), with potential variations in their nutritional profiles upon digestion. This study aimed to explore the differences in phenolic content, composition, and antioxidant activity between SBB and BBN during simulated in vitro digestion. Findings demonstrated that BBN exhibited a significant surge in total phenolic and flavonoid contents post‐gastrointestinal digestion compared to SBB. UHPLC‐MS/MS analyses identified major phenolic compounds in BBN including protocatechuic acid and p‐hydroxybenzoic acid and key flavonoids like luteolin and catechins. P‐hydroxybenzoic acid and catechins underwent significant changes throughout the digestion. Furthermore, BBN's antioxidant activity was higher than that of SBB after digestion, with superior DPPH, ABTS +· scavenging abilities, and FRAP reducing power. A correlation emerged between antioxidant activity and phenolic contents, notably with p‐hydroxybenzoic and benzoic acids. BBN's digestive stage exhibited superior polyphenol release and antioxidant capacity than SBB, offering insights into polyphenol‐rich food consumption.
Women's empowerment and tourism: Emerging determinants of poverty in low and middle‐income countries
Authors: Zafar Mahwish , Bashir Muhammad Farhan , Bukhari Azaz Ali Ather
Published: April 2024

This study examines the impact of women's empowerment and tourism on poverty in the developing economies of South Asia, sub‐Saharan Africa and Latin America. Current study formulates a vector autoregression (VAR) model to estimate the long‐run association between emerging determinants of poverty reduction. Our empirical findings show that tourism and women's empowerment have significant and negative long‐term associations with poverty in South Asia, Latin America and Africa. Moreover, this study found that women's empowerment is relatively more important in poverty reduction than tourism in South Asia and Africa, whereas in Latin America, tourism has a relatively greater contribution to poverty. Similarly, the results of the vector error‐correction (VECM) Granger Causality/Block Exogeneity Wald test indicated unidirectional causality between women's empowerment and poverty, tourism and poverty in South Asia. Similarly, unidirectional causality exists between women's empowerment and poverty in Latin America and Africa. Our econometric discussion helps suggest policy suggestions to overcome the challenges of poverty in developing economies.
Analysing students' concept mapping style and its association with task performance in computer‐based inquiry learning
Authors: Chen Juanjuan , Wang Minhong , Grotzer Tina A. , Dede Chris
Published: April 2024

Background

In scientific inquiry learning, students often have difficulties conducting hypothetical reasoning with multiple intertwined variables. Concept maps have a potential to facilitate complex thinking and reasoning. However, there is little investigation into the content of student‐constructed concept maps and its association with inquiry task performance.

Objectives

This study explored students' concept mapping style and its association with task performance in computer‐based inquiry learning.

Methods

An exploratory study was conducted with 80 Grade 11 students, who collaboratively constructed concept maps in a free style to support inquiry learning with a virtual ecosystem. Student‐constructed concept maps was analysed by firstly identifying different types of propositions formed in the maps and then determining the style of each concept map based on the dominant type of propositions in the map. Finally, the association between the concept map style and inquiry task performance was explored.

Results and Conclusions

Two major concept map styles were identified: (1) knowledge‐oriented concept maps (KCMs) mainly representing problem‐related subject knowledge as a set of concepts and their relationships, and (2) problem‐oriented concept maps (PCMs) mainly representing problem situation as a sequence of changes and their causal relationships. Compared with those constructing KCMs, the students constructing PCMs formed higher‐quality propositions in their maps and performed better in hypothesising, reasoning, and drawing conclusions in the inquiry task.

Implications

Besides KCMs, students in inquiry learning can be encouraged to construct PCMs to foster effective thinking and reasoning; that is, constructing a concept map to represent the problem situation as a sequence of changes and the causal relationships between the changes.
Left atrial low‐voltage areas, but not volume, predict the recurrence of atrial fibrillation in repeat ablation procedures
Authors: Georgi Christian , Bannehr Marwin , Lochmann Marlene , Reiners David , Haase‐Fielitz Anja , Butter Christian , Seifert Martin
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Left atrial (LA) low voltage areas (LVA) are a controversial target in atrial fibrillation ablation procedures. However, LVA and LA volume are good predictors of arrhythmia recurrence in ablation‐naïve patients. Their predictive value in progressively diseased pre‐ablated atria is uncertain.

Methods

Consecutive patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial tachycardia (AT), who were scheduled for repeat LA ablation, were enrolled in the prospective Bernau ablation registry between 2016 and 2020. All patients received a complete LA ultrahigh‐density map before ablation. Maps were analyzed for LA size, LVA percentage and distribution. The predictive value of demographic, anatomic, and mapping variables on AF recurrence was analyzed.

Results

160 patients (50.6% male, 1.3 pre‐ablations, 60% persistent AF) with complete LA voltage maps were included. Mean follow‐up time was 16 ± 11 months. Mean recorded electrograms (EGMs) per map were 9754 ± 5808, mean LA volume was 176.1 ± 35.9 ml and mean rate of LVAs <0.5 mV was 30.6% ± 23.1%. During follow‐up recurrence rate of AF or AT >30 s was 55.6%. Patients with recurrence had a significant higher percentage of LVAs (40.0% vs. 18.8%, p < .001) but no relevant difference in LA volume (172 vs. 178 mL, p = .299). ROC curves revealed LVA as a good predictor for recurrence (AUC = 0.79, p < .001) and a cut‐off of 22% LVAs with highest sensitivity (73.0%) and specificity (71.8%). Based on this cut off, event free survival was significantly higher in the Low LVA group (p < .01).

Conclusion

Total LVA percentage has a good predictive power on arrhythmia recurrence in a cohort of advanced scarred left atria in repeat procedures independent of the applied ablation strategy. Left atrial volume seems to have minor impact on the rhythm outcome in our study cohort.
Making way for the implementation of automated bee counters in regulatory risk assessment
Authors: Odemer Richard , Jakoby Oliver , Barth Markus , Knäbe Silvio , Pistorius Jens , Schmidt Katharina
Published: April 2024

Measuring adverse effects on honey bees and their colonies requires a suitable methodology. For example, due to the large number of bees in a hive and the foraging activity, measuring the mortality of individuals is a difficult task that has not yet been adequately addressed. Knowing the natural daily mortality rate of a bee colony would be of great benefit in assessing whether and to what extent external influences and stress factors affect mortality. More precise mortality data could in turn help refining specific protection goals for regulatory purpose. The European Food Safety Authority recently published a document that estimated such mortality rates based on a systematic literature review, but none of these rates were assessed from continuous monitoring of colonies. Currently, bee mortality is routinely evaluated with various types of dead bee traps that prevent deceased bees from being removed from the colony. Both the literature review and the dead bee traps are relevant to regulatory risk assessment, but in our opinion are not describing the total mortality. Bee counters capable of precisely determining daily loss rates meet the above points and combine them with generating automated and continuous monitoring data. Lately, the field has gained a lot of importance in research and technological advances offer new possibilities in regulatory risk assessment. We will highlight these possibilities and discuss their future application in practice.
Safety incident reporting and barriers (SIRaB) study: Strategies and approaches for investigating patient safety events in a hospital set‐up
Authors: Mukherjee Shatavisa , Roy Siddhartha , Era Nikhil
Published: April 2024

Background

Unsafe patient events not only entail a clinical impact but also lead to economic burden in terms of prolonged hospitalization or unintended harm and delay in care delivery. Monitoring and time‐bound investigation of patient safety events (PSEs) is of paramount importance in a healthcare set‐up.

Objectives

To explore the safety incident reporting behaviour and the barriers in a hospital set‐up.

Methods

The study had two sections: (a) Retrospective assessment of all safety incidents in the past 1 year, and (b) Understanding the barriers of safety reporting by interviewing the major stakeholders in patient safety reporting framework. Further root cause analysis and failure mode effect analysis were performed for the situation observed. Results were statistically analyzed.

Results

Of the total of 106 PSEs reported voluntarily to the system, the highest reporting functional group was that of nurses (40.57%), followed by physicians (18.87%) and pharmacists (17.92%). Among the various factors identified as barriers in safety incident reporting, fear of litigation was the most observed component. The most commonly observed event was those pertaining to medication management, followed by diagnostic delay. Glitches in healthcare delivery accounted for 8.73% of the total reported PSEs, followed by 5.72% of events occurring due to inter‐stakeholder communication errors. 4.22% of the PSEs were attributed to organizational managerial dysfunctionalities. Majority of medication‐related PSE has moderate risk prioritization gradation.

Conclusion

Effective training and sensitization regarding the need to report the patient unsafe incidents or near misses to the healthcare system can help avert many untoward experiences. The notion of ‘No Blame No Shame’ should be well inculcated within the minds of each hospital unit such that even if an error occurs, its prompt reporting does not get harmed.
Diet‐derived circulating antioxidants, periodontitis and dental caries: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Gao Yan , Huang Donghai , Liu Yong , Qiu Yuanzheng , Lu Shanhong
Published: April 2024

Background and Objective

Given the potential association between oxidative stress, periodontitis and dental caries, whether dietary supplementation with antioxidants is beneficial for periodontitis and dental caries has been widely reported, but remains controversial. This study aims to clarify these relationships through two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods

Circulating antioxidants (copper, selenium, zinc, ascorbate, β‐carotene, lycopene, retinol and vitamin E) were derived from absolute circulating antioxidants and circulating antioxidant metabolites. Summary data of periodontitis and dental caries were obtained from two separate databases, respectively. We performed inverse‐variance weighted (IVW) analysis separately in different databases, followed by meta‐analysis. The robustness of results was examined by sensitivity analyses, including three complementary MR methods, heterogeneity and pleiotropy tests, and PhenoScanner query.

Results

IVW analysis showed that elevated levels of absolute circulating retinol reduced the risk of periodontitis (GLIDE: OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.18–0.95, p = .038, power = 100%; FinnGen: OR = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.04–0.54, p = .004, power = 100%). The pooled OR for periodontitis risk per unit increase of retinol is 0.30 (95% CI = 0.15–0.61, p = .001, I2 = 40.3%, power = 100%). No significant associations were noted for genetically predicted circulating antioxidants and dental caries risk. The sensitivity analyses yielded similar estimates.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that a negative causality between circulating retinol and periodontitis risk, and null linkage between circulating antioxidants and dental caries risk, suggesting potential strategies for the prevention and control of periodontitis.
Laboratory VIS–NIR reflectance measurements of heated Vesta regolith analogs: Unraveling the spectral properties of the pitted impact deposits on Vesta
Authors: Michalik T. , Maturilli A. , Cloutis E. A. , Stephan K. , Milke R. , Matz K.‐D. , Jaumann R. , Hecht L. , Hiesinger H. , Otto K. A.
Published: April 2024

Pitted impact deposits on Vesta show higher reflectance and pyroxene absorption band strengths compared to their immediate surroundings and other typical Vestan materials. We investigated whether heating to different temperatures for different durations of Vestan regolith analog materials can reproduce these spectral characteristics using mixtures of HEDs, the carbonaceous chondrite Murchison, and terrestrial analogs. We find no consistent spectral trend due merely to temperature increases, but observed that the interiors of many heated samples show both higher reflectance and pyroxene band I strength than their heated surfaces. With electron probe microanalysis, we additionally observe the formation of hematite, which could account for the higher reflectance. The presence of hematite indicates oxidation occurring in the sample interiors. In combination with heat, this might cause the increase of pyroxene band strengths through migration of iron cations. The effect grows larger with increasing temperature and duration, although temperature appears to play the more dominant role. A higher proportion of Murchison or the terrestrial carbonaceous chondrite analog within our mixtures also appears to facilitate the onset of oxidation. Our observations suggest that both the introduction of exogenic material on Vesta as well as the heating from impacts were necessary to enable the process (possibly oxidation) causing the observed spectral changes.
The Lrs14 family of DNA‐binding proteins as nucleoid‐associated proteins in the Crenarchaeal order Sulfolobales
Authors: De Kock Veerke , Peeters Eveline , Baes Rani
Published: April 2024

Organization of archaeal chromatin combines bacterial, eukaryotic, and unique characteristics. Many archaeal lineages harbor a wide diversity of small and highly expressed nucleoid‐associated proteins, which are involved in DNA structuring. In Sulfolobales, representing model organisms within the Crenarchaeota, Sul7d, Cren7, Sul10a, and Sul12a are well‐characterized nucleoid‐associated proteins. Here, we combine evidence that the Lrs14 family of DNA binders is part of the repertoire of nucleoid‐associated proteins in Sulfolobales. Lrs14‐encoding genes are widespread within genomes of different members of the Sulfolobales, typically encoded as four to nine homologs per genome. The Lrs14 proteins harbor a winged helix‐turn‐helix DNA‐binding domain and are typified by a coiled–coil dimerization. They are characterized by distinct sequence‐ and structure‐based features, including redox‐sensitive motifs and residues targeted for posttranslational modification, allowing a further classification of the family into five conserved clusters. Lrs14‐like proteins have unique DNA‐organizing properties. By binding to the DNA nonsequence specifically and in a highly cooperative manner, with a slight preference for AT‐rich promoter regions, they introduce DNA kinks and are able to affect transcription of adjacent transcription units either positively or negatively. Genes encoding Lrs14‐type proteins display considerable differential expression themselves in response to various stress conditions, with certain homologs being specific to a particular stressor. Taken together, we postulate that members of the Lrs14 family can be considered nucleoid‐associated proteins in Sulfolobales, combining a DNA‐structuring role with a global gene expression role in response to stress conditions.
WhatsApp‐based intervention for people with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yaagoob Esmaeel , Lee Regina , Stubbs Michelle , Shuaib Fatimah , Johar Raja , Chan Sally
Published: April 2024

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by prolonged elevated blood glucose levels. Diabetes self‐management education and support programs are widely used in western countries. The impact of social media education and support interventions such as a WhatsApp‐based program and the nurses' role in supporting and implementing this self‐management program unclear. Using a WhatsApp‐based program, we evaluated the effects of a 6‐week program in improving self‐efficacy and education among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Saudi Arabia. Eligible participants (n = 80) were recruited with the support of nurses into a randomized controlled trial and randomly assigned into self‐management intervention and control groups. The intervention group (n = 40) received the self‐management program support and the usual care. The control group (n = 40) received only the usual care with nurses' support. Results from generalized estimating equation analysis showed a significant increase in self‐efficacy, self‐management, and education in the WhatsApp‐based intervention support group compared with the control group at 6 and 12 weeks (follow‐up). Implementing the program via social media improves self‐efficacy. The use of social media platforms should be promoted for global diabetes management.
The oxidative pentose phosphate pathway in photosynthesis: a tale of two shunts
Authors: Xu Yuan , Schmiege Stephanie C. , Sharkey Thomas D.
Published: April 2024

CO2 release in the light (RL) and its presumed source, oxidative pentose phosphate pathways, were found to be insensitive to CO2 concentration.

The oxidative pentose phosphate pathways form glucose 6‐phosphate (G6P) shunts that bypass the nonoxidative pentose phosphate reactions of the Calvin–Benson cycle. Using adenosine diphosphate glucose and uridine diphosphate glucose as proxies for labeling of G6P in the stroma and cytosol respectively, it was found that only the cytosolic shunt was active.

Uridine diphosphate glucose, a proxy for cytosolic G6P, and 6‐phosphogluconate (6PG) were significantly less labeled than Calvin–Benson cycle intermediates in the light. But ADP glucose, a proxy for stromal G6P, is labeled to the same degree as Calvin–Benson cycle intermediates and much greater than 6PG. A metabolically inert pool of sedoheptulose bisphosphate can slowly equilibrate keeping the label in sedoheptulose lower than in other stromal metabolites. Finally, phosphorylation of fructose 6‐phosphate (F6P) in the cytosol can allow some unlabeled carbon in cytosolic F6P to dilute label in phosphenolpyruvate.

The results clearly show that there is oxidative pentose phosphate pathway activity in the cytosol that provides a shunt around the nonoxidative pentose phosphate pathway reactions of the Calvin–Benson cycle and is not strongly CO2‐sensitive.
Saliva and tongue microbiota in burning mouth syndrome: An exploratory study of potential roles
Authors: Wu Shuangshuang , Li Linman , Wang Xu , Yan Zhimin
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic orofacial pain disorder with unclear etiology, in which the tongue is most commonly affected. This study aims to provide implication of the possible relationship between oral microbiota and the pathogenesis of BMS.

Materials and Methods

Saliva and tongue swabs of 15 primary BMS patients and 10 healthy controls were collected and assessed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The microbiota compositions were compared and bioinformatic analysis was conducted.

Results

Differences in microbiota compositions between BMS patients and healthy controls were revealed in both saliva and tongue samples. In saliva, Streptococcus, Rothia, and Neisseria were the predominant genus at the taxonomic level in BMS patients. In tongue samples, Prevotella, Streptococcus, and Neisseria were the dominant genus at the taxonomic level in BMS patients. LEfSe analysis and linear discriminant analysis score showed that Actinobacteria were the predominant phylum in saliva, and Selenomonas were enriched in the dorsum of the tongue of BMS patients.

Conclusions

This study for the first‐time reported saliva and tongue microbiota profiles were distinguished from that of healthy controls, indicating a necessity for further research on the possible relationship between oral microbes and the pathogenesis of BMS.
Rapamycin alleviates irradiation‐induced parotid injury by enhancing the whole gland homeostasis
Authors: Zhu Zhao , Song Jiaxin , Zhang Chunmei , Zhang Jing , Shan Zhaochen
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Salivary gland injury is one of the most common complications of radiotherapy in head‐and‐neck cancers. This study investigated the mechanism by which rapamycin prevents irradiation (IR)‐induced injury in the parotid glands.

Materials and Methods

Miniature pigs either received (a) no treatment (NT), (b) IR in the right parotid gland for 5 consecutive days (IR), or intraperitoneal administration of rapamycin (Rap) 1 h prior to IR (IR + Rap). Tissues were collected at three distinct time points (24 h, 4 weeks, and 16 weeks) after IR. Histological analyses, western blot, and real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction were performed to explore the mechanisms of IR‐induced injury in the parotid gland.

Results

Rapamycin treatment maintained parotid salivary flow 16 weeks post‐IR, preserved the number of acinar cells, and reduced parotid tissue fibrosis, as well as reduced apoptosis levels, decreased cleaved caspase‐3 expression, and increased the Bcl‐2/Bax ratio in the parotid glands. Autophagy marker LC3B was upregulated by rapamycin after IR, while P62 expression was downregulated. Rapamycin reduced the expression of pro‐inflammatory factors and the mesenchymal tissue fibrosis following IR.

Conclusions

Rapamycin maintains gland homeostasis after IR by decreasing apoptosis, reducing the expression of pro‐inflammatory factors, and enhancing autophagy.
Anxiety and depression in young adults: The role of perceived romantic partner drinking
Authors: Himes Katie P. , Victor Sarah E. , Schmidt Adam T. , Littlefield Andrew K.
Published: April 2024

This cross‐sectional study examined how perceived partner drinking relates to relationship satisfaction and symptoms of anxiety and depression across romantic drinking partnerships. Participants included 239 cisgender, heterosexual undergraduate students in current romantic relationships (Mage = 19.74; 76.15% female; 87.87% White) who reported their own and their romantic partner's drinking. Associations between drinking partnerships, identified via K‐medoid cluster analysis, and internalizing symptomatology were examined utilizing hierarchical linear regression. Perceived partner drinking problems were associated with symptoms of depression but not anxiety. Two drinking quantity (concordant light, concordant heavy) and three drinking problem (concordant light, discordant female high, discordant male high) partnerships were identified. Broadly, men's anxiety and relationship satisfaction were significantly impacted by their drinking quantity and problem partnerships, respectively; this effect was not observed for women. The findings of this study extend extant research on the impact of romantic partner drinking to unmarried, collegiate emerging adults who are at an increased risk of internalizing symptomatology and alcohol use and inform conceptualization of drinking partnerships at the drinking quantity and drinking problem level.
Sexual and reproductive health screening and counseling in adolescent and young adult transplant recipients
Authors: Cody Paula
Published: April 2024

Adolescents and young adults with and without chronic illnesses partake in risk‐taking behavior. Clinicians in transplant clinics should be aware of the prevalence of risk‐taking behavior in their adolescent and young adult solid organ transplant patients in order to provide complete care. Creating an environment where teens and young adults feel comfortable discussing risky behavior is important and includes creating a privacy policy and increasing comfort of the healthcare provider in asking sensitive questions. This review is intended to help the providers in the transplant clinic screen for and counsel about risk‐taking behaviors with their adolescent and young adult patients, specifically around sexual and reproductive health.
Semilunar valve growth and function 10 years after infant heart transplantation: Predicting long‐term outcomes of partial heart transplants
Authors: Rajab Taufiek K. , Abdelrahman Mohamed , Schwartzenburg Elridge J. , Aykut Berk , Turek Joseph W. , McVadon Deani H.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Partial heart transplants are a new type of pediatric transplant that replace defective heart valves with the parts of matched donor hearts containing the necessary valves. Short‐term outcomes of partial heart transplants are excellent, but long‐term outcomes are unknown. In order to predict the long‐term outcomes of partial heart transplants, we evaluated long‐term growth and function of semilunar heart valves transplanted in infancy as part of a heart transplant.

Methods

All children who underwent infant heart transplantation at a single center from 1997 to 2014 were included in this study. Children in whom echocardiograms after heart transplantation and after 10 years were not available for review were excluded. The echocardiograms were reviewed by two authors to analyze semilunar valve annulus diameters, Z‐scores, peak valve gradients, and valve regurgitation. Statistical difference was determined using two‐tailed, paired sample t‐tests with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.

Results

Data from 15 patients were analyzed. The aortic valve annulus averaged 1.3 cm (range 0.7–1.8 cm) immediately after transplantation and grew to an average of 1.7 cm (range 1.4–2.3 cm) after 10 years (p < .001). After 10 years, the aortic valve peak gradient avereraged 5.1 mmHg (range 2.1–15.5 mmHg) and none of the valves had more than trivial regurgitation. The pulmonary valve annulus averaged 1.5 cm (range 1.1–2.5 cm) immediately after transplantation and grew to an average of 2.1 cm (range 1.0–2.9 cm) after 10 years (p < .001). After 10 years, the pulmonary valve peak gradient averaged 4.3 mmHg (range 1.1–13.8 mmHg), and 7% of valves had moderate regurgitation.

Discussion

Semilunar heart valves transplanted in infancy as part of a heart transplant demonstrate statistically significant growth and excellent function after 10 years. This predicts excellent long‐term outcomes of partial heart transplants.
AnDREB5.1, a A5 group DREB gene from desert shrub Ammopiptanthus nanus, confers osmotic and cold stress tolerances in transgenic tobacco
Authors: Zhu Ming , Zheng Lamei , Cao Shilin , Liu Qi , Wei Shanjun , Zhou Yijun , Gao Fei
Published: April 2024

The Dehydration‐Responsive Element Binding (DREB) subfamily of transcription factors plays crucial roles in plant abiotic stress response. Ammopiptanthus nanus (A. nanus) is an eremophyte exhibiting remarkable tolerance to environmental stress and DREB proteins may contribute to its tolerance to water deficit and low‐temperature stress. In the present study, an A. nanus DREB A5 group transcription factor gene, AnDREB5.1, was isolated and characterized in terms of structure and function in abiotic stress tolerance. AnDREB5.1 protein is distributed in the nucleus, possesses transactivation capacity, and is capable of binding to DRE core cis‐acting element. The transcription of AnDREB5.1 was induced under osmotic and cold stress. Tobacco seedlings overexpressing AnDREB5.1 displayed higher tolerance to cold stress, osmotic stress, and oxidative stress compared to wild‐type tobacco (WT). Under osmotic and cold stress, overexpression of AnDREB5.1 increased antioxidant enzyme activity in tobacco leaves, inhibiting excessive elevation of ROS levels. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that overexpression of AnDREB5.1 raised the tolerance of transgenic tobacco seedlings to abiotic stress by regulating multiple genes, including antioxidant enzymes, transcription factors, and stress‐tolerant related functional genes like NtCOR413 and NtLEA14. This study provides new evidence for understanding the potential roles of the DREB A5 subgroup members in plants.
Feedback regulation of the isoprenoid pathway by SsdTPS overexpression has the potential to enhance plant tolerance to drought stress
Authors: Yao Xiangyu , Li Rui , Liu Yanan , Song Peng , Wu Ziyi , Yan Meilin , Luo Jinmei , Fan Fenggui , Wang Yingjuan
Published: April 2024

In order to maintain the dynamic physiological balance, plants are compelled to adjust their energy metabolism and signal transduction to cope with the abiotic stresses caused by complex and changeable environments. The diterpenoid natural compound and secondary metabolites, sclareol, derived from Salvia sclarea, has gained significant attention owing to its economic value as a spice material and diverse physiological activities. Here, we focused on the roles and regulatory mechanisms of the sclareol diterpene synthase gene SsdTPS in the resistance of S. sclarea to abiotic stresses. Our results suggested that abiotic stresses could induce the response and upregulation of SsdTPS expression and isoprenoid pathway in S. sclarea. Ectopic expression of SsdTPS conferred drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis, compared with wild‐type. Overexpression of SsdTPS enhanced the transcription of ABA signal transduction synthetic regulators and induced the positive feedback upregulating key regulatory genes in the MEP pathway, thereby promoting the increase of ABA content and improving drought tolerance in transgenic plants. In addition, SsdTPS‐overexpressed transgenic Arabidopsis improved the responses of stomatal regulatory genes and ROS scavenging enzyme activities and gene expression to drought stress. This promoted the stomatal closure and ROS reduction, thus enhancing water retention capacity and reducing oxidative stress damage. These findings unveil the potentially positive role of SsdTPS in orchestrating multiple regulatory mechanisms and maintaining homeostasis for improved abiotic stress resistance in S. sclarea, providing a novel insight into strategies for promoting drought resistance and cultivating highly tolerant plants.
Predicting the cryotolerance of boar sperm through antioxidant stress
Authors: Wang Shih‐Chung , Wu Yi‐Ying , Chen Ming‐Cheng
Published: April 2024

High sperm cryotolerance is crucial to the successful cryopreservation of boar sperm. Evaluating the cryotolerance of boar sperm by using a rapid and convenient technique can enhance the commercial viability of these sperm. This study investigated the correlation between sperm parameters for three sample subsets—fresh sperm, sperm with H2O2‐induced oxidative damage (hereinafter referred to as H2O2‐induced sperm), and frozen‐thawed sperm—to identify the potential of these correlations to predict cryotolerance. A total of 64 sperm samples were obtained from 64 Duroc boars. The sperm parameters of the three subsets, where the frozen‐thawed sperm were analysed at 30 or 180 min after thawing, were determined, and the coefficients of correlation between these parameters were calculated. The results indicated that H2O2‐induced oxidative stress resulted in decreases in various sperm parameters—including total motility (TM), viability (VIA), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and live sperm with MMP (LMP)—but increased their coefficients of variation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that the kinematic parameters of the H2O2‐induced sperm effectively predicted those of the frozen‐thawed boar sperm at 30 min after thawing; the corresponding area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.8667 for TM and 0.8733 for progressive motility in the H2O2‐induced sperm. For measurement at 180 min after thawing, the sperm membrane and mitochondrial parameters of the H2O2‐induced sperm effectively predicted the LMP of the frozen‐thawed boar sperm; the corresponding AUC was 0.8489 for VIA, 0.8289 for MMP, and 0.8444 for LMP. To our knowledge, this is the first study to directly establish a strong correlation between post‐thaw boar sperm quality and H2O2‐induced oxidative stress before freezing. Our proposed technique can serve as a valuable reference for the development of practical applications aimed at enhancing techniques for cryopreserving boar sperm.
Identification of two novel HLA‐DRB1 alleles, HLA‐DRB1*08:03:13 and HLA‐DRB1*08:119
Authors: He Yizhen , Dong Lina , Chen Nanying , Zhang Wei , Zhu Faming
Published: April 2024

Compared with HLA‐DRB1*08:03:02:01, the alleles HLA‐DRB1*08:03:13 and HLA‐DRB1*08:119 each show one nucleotide substitution, respectively.
The novel HLA‐DPA1*01:182 allele identified in a Brazilian bone marrow donor
Authors: de Oliveira Anthony Marçal Leão , Massi Fernanda Pelisson , Stelet Vinicius Navega , Hirata Bruna Karina Banin , Visentainer Jeane Eliete Laguila
Published: April 2024

The new HLA‐DPA1*01:182 allele differs from HLA‐DPA1*01:03:01:04 by a single mismatch in exon 4.
Chemical diversity in angiosperms − monoterpene synthases control complex reactions that provide the precursors for ecologically and commercially important monoterpenoids
Authors: Srividya Narayanan , Kim Hoshin , Simone Raugei , Lange Bernd Markus
Published: April 2024

Monoterpene synthases (MTSs) catalyze the first committed step in the biosynthesis of monoterpenoids, a class of specialized metabolites with particularly high chemical diversity in angiosperms. In addition to accomplishing a rate enhancement, these enzymes manage the formation and turnover of highly reactive carbocation intermediates formed from a prenyl diphosphate substrate. At each step along the reaction path, a cationic intermediate can be subject to cyclization, migration of a proton, hydride, or alkyl group, or quenching to terminate the sequence. However, enzymatic control of ligand folding, stabilization of specific intermediates, and defined quenching chemistry can maintain the specificity for forming a signature product. This review article will discuss our current understanding of how angiosperm MTSs control the reaction environment. Such knowledge allows inferences about the origin and regulation of chemical diversity, which is pertinent for appreciating the role of monoterpenoids in plant ecology but also for aiding commercial efforts that harness the accumulation of these specialized metabolites for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.
A corpus‐based analysis of adjective amplification in Hong Kong, Indian and Philippine English
Authors: Schweinberger Martin
Published: April 2024

This study considers a corpus‐based approach for analysing adjective amplifier systems (very, really, so, etc.) in Hong Kong English (HKE), Indian Englsih (IndE) and Philippine English (PhiE) based on data from the International Corpus of English. The current study adds to existing research by providing insights into the understudied adjective amplifier systems of Asian Englishes. The study describes the amplifier systems in HKE, IndE and PhiE, and it ascertains if these amplifier systems are undergoing change. In the latter context, the analysis assesses if really or so is replacing very as the dominant adjective amplifier in these varieties—a trend shown to be at work in Inner Circle varieties of English. The results of Conditional Inference Trees show that the amplifier systems of HKE and IndE are very stable and amplifier choice in these varieties is determined predominately by intra‐linguistics factors (adjective type, syntactic context and semantic category). In contrast, the amplifier system of PhiE shows notable signs of ongoing change, which is driven predominately by social factors (age and gender of speakers). The results indicate that during stasis and initial stages of change, language‐internal factors determine amplifier choice, while social factors become more important once changes have reached the midrange. The paper argues that once certain variants (really and so) gain social meaning, it is this social meaning (the association with specific social groups) that drives and accelerates change as speakers want to associate with social groups that carry covert prestige.
A network analysis of the local pig supply chain in a repeated outbreak area of human streptococcosis in Thailand
Authors: Tungwongjulaniam Chanatda , Klinman Kitipong , Theerawat Ratana , Wiratsudakul Anuwat
Published: April 2024

Aims

The present study employed a network analysis approach to scrutinize a pig supply chain in a repeated outbreak province for human streptococcosis in Thailand and identified important actors that should be focused on for tailoring appropriate interventions.

Methods and Results

Nakhon Sawan province was chosen as the study site as the cases of human streptococcosis have been consecutively reported since 2014, with the number of cases ranging from 21 to 63. A questionnaire survey was used to collect data from actors along the pig supply chain, including pig farms, slaughterhouses, pork sellers, restaurants and customers. A one‐mode‐directed network was then constructed. Degree and betweenness centrality values were measured. We found that the supply chain of pork products comprised 314 nodes and 296 directed ties. A retailer got the highest overall degree, out‐degree and betweenness centrality values at 35, 34, and 65.3, respectively. For in‐degree centrality, the highest was identified in a customer at 9. Interestingly, this customer bought pork products from nine different mobile groceries.

Conclusions

Both public health and veterinary authorities should extend their surveillance activities to cover all actors in the supply chain to strengthen overall disease prevention and control for streptococcosis.
Motor learning changes the axon initial segment of the spinal motoneuron
Authors: Wang Yu , Chen Yi , Chen Lu , Herron Bruce J. , Chen Xiang Yang , Wolpaw Jonathan R.
Published: April 2024

We are studying the mechanisms of H‐reflex operant conditioning, a simple form of learning. Modelling studies in the literature and our previous data suggested that changes in the axon initial segment (AIS) might contribute. To explore this, we used blinded quantitative histological and immunohistochemical methods to study in adult rats the impact of H‐reflex conditioning on the AIS of the spinal motoneuron that produces the reflex. Successful, but not unsuccessful, H‐reflex up‐conditioning was associated with greater AIS length and distance from soma; greater length correlated with greater H‐reflex increase. Modelling studies in the literature suggest that these increases may increase motoneuron excitability, supporting the hypothesis that they may contribute to H‐reflex increase. Up‐conditioning did not affect AIS ankyrin G (AnkG) immunoreactivity (IR), p‐p38 protein kinase IR, or GABAergic terminals. Successful, but not unsuccessful, H‐reflex down‐conditioning was associated with more GABAergic terminals on the AIS, weaker AnkG‐IR, and stronger p‐p38‐IR. More GABAergic terminals and weaker AnkG‐IR correlated with greater H‐reflex decrease. These changes might potentially contribute to the positive shift in motoneuron firing threshold underlying H‐reflex decrease; they are consistent with modelling suggesting that sodium channel change may be responsible. H‐reflex down‐conditioning did not affect AIS dimensions. This evidence that AIS plasticity is associated with and might contribute to H‐reflex conditioning adds to evidence that motor learning involves both spinal and brain plasticity, and both neuronal and synaptic plasticity. AIS properties of spinal motoneurons are likely to reflect the combined influence of all the motor skills that share these motoneurons.

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Key points

Neuronal action potentials normally begin in the axon initial segment (AIS). AIS plasticity affects neuronal excitability in development and disease. Whether it does so in learning is unknown.

Operant conditioning of a spinal reflex, a simple learning model, changes the rat spinal motoneuron AIS. Successful, but not unsuccessful, H‐reflex up‐conditioning is associated with greater AIS length and distance from soma. Successful, but not unsuccessful, down‐conditioning is associated with more AIS GABAergic terminals, less ankyrin G, and more p‐p38 protein kinase.

The associations between AIS plasticity and successful H‐reflex conditioning are consistent with those between AIS plasticity and functional changes in development and disease, and with those predicted by modelling studies in the literature.

Motor learning changes neurons and synapses in spinal cord and brain. Because spinal motoneurons are the final common pathway for behaviour, their AIS properties probably reflect the combined impact of all the behaviours that use these motoneurons.
Reducing the Constrained Multibody Dynamics Problem to the Solution of a System of Ordinary Differential Equations Via Velocity Partitioning and Lie Group Integration
Authors: Kissel Alexandra , Bakke Luning , Negrut Dan
Published: April 2024

In multibody dynamics, formulating the equations of motion in absolute Cartesian coordinates results in a set of index-3 differential algebraic equations (DAEs). In this work, we present an approach that bypasses the DAE problem by partitioning the velocities in the system into dependent and independent coordinates, thereby reducing the task of producing the time evolution of the mechanical system to one of solving a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). In this approach, the independent coordinates are integrated directly, while the dependent coordinates are recovered through the kinematic constraint equations at the position and velocity levels. Notably, Lie group integration is employed to directly obtain the orientation matrix A at each time-step of the simulation. This eliminates the need to choose generalized coordinates to capture the orientation of a body, as the matrix A is a by-product of the solution algorithm. Herein, we outline the new approach and demonstrate it in conjunction with four mechanisms: a single pendulum, a double pendulum, a four-link mechanism, and a slider crank. We report on the convergence order behavior of the proposed method and compare its performance with an established method that combines coordinate partitioning with an Euler parameter formulation. The Python code developed to generate the reported results is open-source and available in a public repository for reproducibility studies.
Design and Analysis of a Symmetric Overconstrained Compliant Tilt/Tip Stage Based on a Hybrid Transmission Ratio Model
Authors: Yang Jian , Yan Peng
Published: April 2024

Developing a compliant mechanism that have potential in parasitism suppression and cross-axis decoupling is a major challenge to meet the requirement of spatial micro-/nano positioning. This work introduces a compliant tilt/tip stage design with a symmetric and overconstrained configuration that is equipped with four reverse bridge notch flexure amplifiers (RBNFAs) and five revolute notch flexure hinges as multiaxis decoupled structures. A hybrid transmission ratio model is developed to describe the mechanical behavior of this stage using elastic beam and pseudo-rigid-body theories. Finite element analysis (FEA) confirmed the analytical model results. A comprehensive study is performed based on FEA model to validate the influence of a particular configuration on parasitic motion and decoupling effect. A prototype stage is 3D printed and experimentally tested, which confirmed the predictions of the analytical hybrid model. In addition, further analysis was conducted to examine the static mechanical characteristics and parasitic behavior of the stage.
Particle Bounce Stick Behavior in the Rotating Frame of Reference
Authors: Gaskell Jack G. , McGilvray Matthew , Gillespie David R. H. , Irving John
Published: April 2024

Particle deposition is a major damage mechanism for gas turbine components, especially in the secondary air system. Predicting the transport and deposition of ingested atmospheric contaminants is of great interest in component-level simulations. Bounce stick models predict deposition upon collision with a wall during Lagrangian particle tracking; they consider a range of physical phenomena, including van der Waals forces and plastic deformation. The effect of the rotating frame of reference on particle collision physics has thus far been neglected in the literature despite the significant centrifugal (CF) loads experienced by many components of interest for deposition studies, for example, turbine blades. The collision physics of the rotating frame are discussed here using low-order models and Monte Carlo style simulations. The present work aims to provide a conceptual framework for the inclusion of CF forces in collision physics. No significant effect was found on the rebound velocities of particles experiencing “worst case” CF forces. However, differences were observed in the sticking probability between concave and convex rotating surfaces, where the CF forces act in opposing directions to either push the particle into the surface or detach it. A force-based analogy of the popular critical velocity model was developed to study the phenomenon. It was used in a Monte Carlo style simulation of a rotor disk, finding that the variation of critical velocity due to CF forces was likely to bias deposition toward concave surfaces. The collision physics of the rotating frame were found to be unintuitive, with complex implications for modeling deposition in gas turbine components. However, they were consequential in determining the distribution of deposition through the system, hence should be included in particle deposition simulations in computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
Using Fluid Curtains to Improve Sealing Performance in Turbomachinery Applications
Authors: MacCalman J. A. , Williams R. J. , Ingram G. L. , Hogg S. I.
Published: April 2024

The results from an investigation into the physics of how fluid curtains can be applied to improve the aerodynamic performance of conventional turbomachinery shaft and rotor seals are described in this paper. Computational fluid dynamics and testing on two experimental facilities are used in the study. In the first part of the work, computational fluid dynamics simulations validated against experimental test data demonstrate the fundamental mechanism by which the presence of the curtain can act to reduce leakage flow through conventional seals. These results are consolidated into a single performance carpet map, showing how the leakage reduction performance and the curtain supply pressure needed to achieve it vary with changes in values of key geometrical parameters. In the second part of the work the effect of swirl in the seal inlet flow, as is often encountered in turbomachinery applications, on the performance of the fluid curtain is investigated experimentally. Test results show that if the swirl momentum in the inlet flow is greater than the momentum of the curtain flow, the performance benefit from applying the curtain is greatly diminished. Overall, the results provide some fundamental design rules for applying fluid curtains to enhance turbomachinery sealing performance for the general type of leakage path geometry (cylindrical channel, 45-deg jet angle, curtain upstream of a conventional seal) and working fluid type and conditions (air, ambient temperature, subsonic leakage channel flow) used in the study.