bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time Perspective as a Mediator of Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Adamczak Agnieszka , Płotek Włodzimierz , Głowińska Aleksandra , Sobol Małgorzata , Wysocka Ewa , Polak Grzegorz , Dymanowska-Dyjak Izabela , Spaczyńska Julia , Adamczak Łukasz , Banaszewska Beata
Published: March 2023

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a chronic endocrinopathy characterized by oligo- or anovulation, clinical and/or biochemical markers of hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries, and it is associated with an increased prevalence of depression. Research conducted on psychiatric patients has shown correlations between depression and decreased cognitive function. The aim of this study was to examine the possible mediation of the time perspective (TP) in the development of depressive symptoms in patients with PCOS. Methods: A study was conducted on 83 patients with PCOS and 65 healthy women. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory—BDI-II) and time perspective (Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory—ZTPI). Results: Our study revealed an indirect influence of depressive symptoms on PCOS through the positive future time perspective. In the logistic regression model, which included depression and a given time perspective as predictors of PCOS, only the future TP (β = −0.004, p < 0.003, OR = 1.004, 95% CI [1.001, 1.008]) was significantly independently related to the occurrence of PCOS. Conclusions: Our result is another argument for the role of psychoeducation and appropriate communication with a patient from the risk group in a way that builds hope and allows to regain influence on life situation.
The Widening Gap between the Digital Capability of the Care Workforce and Technology-Enabled Healthcare Delivery: A Nursing and Allied Health Analysis
Authors: Morris Meg E. , Brusco Natasha K. , Jones Jeff , Taylor Nicholas F. , East Christine E. , Semciw Adam I. , Edvardsson Kristina , Thwaites Claire , Bourke Sharon L. , Raza Khan Urooj , Fowler-Davis Sally , Oldenburg Brian
Published: March 2023

There is a need to ensure that healthcare organisations enable their workforces to use digital methods in service delivery. This study aimed to evaluate the current level of digital understanding and ability in nursing, midwifery, and allied health workforces and identify some of the training requirements to improve digital literacy in these health professionals. Representatives from eight healthcare organizations in Victoria, Australia participated in focus groups. Three digital frameworks informed the focus group topic guide that sought to examine the barriers and enablers to adopting digital healthcare along with training requirements to improve digital literacy. Twenty-three participants self-rated digital knowledge and skills using Likert scales and attended the focus groups. Mid-range scores were given for digital ability in nursing, midwifery, and allied health professionals. Focus group participants expressed concern over the gap between their organizations’ adoption of digital methods relative to their digital ability, and there were concerns about cyber security. Participants also saw a need for the inclusion of consumers in digital design. Given the widening gap between digital innovation and health workforce digital capability, there is a need to accelerate digital literacy by rapidly deploying education and training and policies and procedures for digital service delivery.
Relationship between Falls and the Use of Medications and Diseases in an Otago Exercise Programme in Old People Living in the Community in Spain
Authors: González-Pisano Ana Covadonga , Company-Sancho Maria Consuelo , Abad-Corpa Eva , Solé-Agusti Maria Cristina , Cidoncha-Moreno Maria Ángeles , González Marta M Pisano
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: Falls are a significant health problem among older adults, and can result in severe injuries, disability, and even death. In Spain, the prevalence of falls is lower if the person lives in the community than if they are institutionalized. Research has shown that exercise is an effective strategy for reducing the risk of falls among older adults. The objective of this study was to study the influence of a multicomponent exercise intervention on falls in people between 65 and 80 years of age despite the presence of diseases and drug use that are risk factors for falls; (2) Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study that focuses on people aged 65–80 who attended 21 primary healthcare centres. Target: Inclusion criteria were people between 65 and 80 years of age, living in the community with independent ambulation, and who were served by the healthcare centre of their region. Variables analysed: The number and characteristics of falls, sociodemographic, drug use, and previous diseases; (3) Results: The drugs associated with falls are benzodiazepines (OR 2.58), vasodilators (OR = 2.51), and psychotropics (OR = 1.61). For one of the years, a relationship was found between the consumption of antidepressants and falls (OR = 1.83). The associated diseases were mental and behavioural (OR = 2.53); (4) Discussion: The intervention has been related to the reduction in falls in people who consumed benzodiazepines, vasodilators, and psychotropics and in people with mental disorders; (5) Conclusion: This research concludes the importance of the implementation of the Otago Exercise Programme in the prevention of falls in the elderly.
Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Psychometric Evaluation of the Brazilian Portuguese Version of the Quality in Psychiatric Care—Outpatients Instrument
Authors: Lundqvist Lars-Olov , Silva Naiara Gajo , Barros Sônia , Schröder Agneta
Published: March 2023

Measuring the quality of care received by patients of mental health services is necessary to determine the effectiveness of prevention programs and mental health treatment. This study translated the original Swedish Quality in Psychiatric Care—Outpatient (QPC-OP) instrument to Brazilian Portuguese, adapted it to the context of Brazilian psychosocial care centers (CAPS), and evaluated its psychometric properties. The instrument was translated and back-translated by two independent professional translators. A seven-person expert group of professionals and 31 psychiatric outpatients verified the content validity of the Brazilian Portuguese QPC-OP, which then was completed by 253 outpatients from 16 CAPS in São Paulo, Brazil. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed adequate goodness of fit for the factor structure corresponding to the original Swedish version, except for the discharge dimension. Three additional items added in the Brazilian Portuguese QPC-OP formed a separate factor. The internal consistency of the entire scale was excellent but low in some dimensions. In conclusion, the translation and cultural adaptation of the Brazilian Portuguese QPC-OP was satisfactory, and the psychometric evaluation demonstrated that the concept of quality of mental health care is similarly understood in the Brazilian and Swedish cultural context. Thus, the Brazilian Portuguese QPC-OP is a useful instrument for assessing the quality of care in the Brazilian CAPS context and will be useful in quality assurance and in cross-cultural research addressing quality of mental health care from the patient’s perspective.
The Effect of Prior Mental Health on Persistent Physical Symptoms after Exposure to a Chemical Disaster
Authors: Min Young-Sun , Kim Soo-Young , Choi Sun-Kyeong , Ahn Yeon-Soon
Published: March 2023

A styrene monomer (SM) oil vapor leak occurred at a chemical plant in Seosan, South Korea on 17 May 2019. A bad odor developed, and many residents complained of various symptoms and visited nearby medical institutions. We analyzed the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients treated at local hospitals and clinics for symptoms related to SM exposure, and identified factors affecting symptom persistence in any organ. Data were collected by the main Seosan office, and 1201 (33.0%) subjects agreed to participate in this study. We used the Assessment of Chemical Exposure toolkit of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Logistic regression was performed to determine whether mental health symptoms prior to the accident were risk factors for symptom persistence. The strongest risk factor for persistence of at least one symptom in any organ was a preexisting mental health symptom (odds ratio [OR] = 5.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.57–11.65). Persistent symptoms of the nervous (OR = 1.54), musculoskeletal (OR = 1.92), and gastrointestinal (OR = 1.45) systems were observed. Prior mental health symptoms are risk factors for persistent physical symptoms after a chemical disaster. After a disaster, management of individuals with preaccident mental symptoms or disease is needed.
Fringe Projection Method for 3D High-Resolution Reconstruction of Oil Painting Surfaces
Authors: Casas Pérez María del Carmen , Moreno Chávez Gamaliel , Castillo Rivera Francisco , Sarocchi Damiano , Mares Carlos , Barrientos Bernardino
Published: March 2023

The fringe projection (FP) method is an outstanding tool for reconstructing painted surfaces. This technique, which has been used for conservation and digitization, does not damage the artwork and can reach sub-millimeter accuracy. To carry out this type of analysis, it is necessary to achieve the most accurate measurements possible. Measuring the precision that a projector-camera-object arrangement can achieve is a complex task. In this paper, we show an experimental method used to measure the accuracy of this technique with instrumentation within the reach of most conservation laboratories. The method consists of capturing, as a reference model, a stepped cylindrical Nylamid® pyramid, as a construction whose shape, size, and manufacturing accuracy are known with high precision. The pyramid has eight well-defined steps, which are fashioned with an accuracy more exact than that of the fringe projection method. The height of each step was measured, obtaining the mean and variance of the height measurements fitted to a Gaussian distribution. In this work, we show the measured heights of the steps, obtained by varying the period of the fringes. The smallest detectable step height was less than 44.1 µm; however, this was obtained with a variance in the order of the step height. The smallest detectable step height with a small variance was 0.1008 mm. In addition to this accuracy measurement, a qualitative evaluation of a painting was carried out, finding the presence of possible superimposed thin layers, fabric, and microcracks, which commonly occur in the drying and aging processes. Further research would provide an experimental measurement of the method’s accuracy and its variance as essential for obtaining a confidence criterion that could then be applied to the model of the painting’s surface.
Scour Reduction around Bridge Pier Using the Airfoil-Shaped Collar
Authors: Gupta Lav Kumar , Pandey Manish , Raj P. Anand , Pu Jaan H.
Published: March 2023

Scouring around the bridge pier is a natural and complex phenomenon that results in bridge failure. Failure of bridges have potential devastation and public safety and economic loss, which lead to political consequences and environmental impacts. Therefore, it is essential to countermeasure the scour around the bridge pier. This paper studies the effects of four different airfoil-shaped collars (i.e., bc1 = 1.5b, bc2 = 2.0b, bc3 = 2.5b and bc4 = 3.0b, where bc and b are the diameter of the airfoil-shaped collar and pier, respectively) as a scour countermeasure. All the experiments are conducted under clear water conditions with uniform sediment and a constant water depth (y) of 10 cm. Airfoil-shaped collar is placed at four elevations, i.e., bed level, y/4, y/2 and 3y/4 above the sediment bed level. It is observed that the maximum percentages of scour reduction of 86, 100 and 100% occurred due to protection provided by the collar bc2, bc3 and bc4, respectively, at sediment bed level. So, collars bc2, bc3 and bc4 are efficient at the sediment bed level. The profiles of scour hole show that the length of the transverse scour hole is greater than that of the longitudinal one. Numerical investigation of the morphological changes in sediment bed and scour depth contours is developed using the FLOW-3D for the pier with and without the airfoil-shaped collar.
Assessing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Access and Use in Nabilatuk District, Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study of Different Data Collection Methods
Authors: Colding-Jørgensen Josefine Tvede , Muheki Edridah , Baayenda Gilbert , Harding-Esch Emma
Published: March 2023

Good access and appropriate use of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is important in the control, elimination and eradication of a number of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Poor WASH access and use may explain continued high trachoma prevalence in Nabilatuk district, Uganda. This study aimed to investigate the level of WASH access and use through different WASH data collection methods and the triangulation of their results. A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted in 30 households in Nabilatuk district, from 10 households in each of three nomadic villages. The data collection methods used were: (1) direct observations of routine WASH behaviours; (2) structured quantitative household questionnaires; (3) demonstrations of specific WASH behaviours. With regards to access, observations indicated less WASH access and use compared with questionnaire responses: the questionnaire indicated all households had access to an improved water source, but 70% had a >30-min round-trip, and no households had access to an improved latrine, whereas some observations indicated longer water collection times. In terms of behaviour, there were also differences between the data collection methods, with demonstrations revealing knowledge of good practice, such as thorough handwashing, but this was not routinely observed in the observations. Further systematic investigation of barriers to appropriate WASH access and use in the local context is needed, as is the development of feasible, valid and reliable WASH access and use assessment methods for use in national NTD programmes.
Towards a “New Mothering” Practice? The Life Experiences of Mothers Raising a Child with Autism in Urban Ethiopia
Authors: Asmare Rahel Fentahun , Taye Fasil Nigussie , Kotecho Messay Gebremariam , Mishna Faye , Regehr Cheryl
Published: March 2023

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurological and developmental disorder that has seen an increase in prevalence over the past two decades, particularly in low and middle-income countries. The purpose of the current paper is to examine the experiences of mothers in Ethiopia raising a child with ASD through employing a qualitative research design involving semi-structured interviews with twenty mothers. The experiences of mothers in this study fell into three thematic areas: (1) grieving and experiencing other emotions arising from the diagnosis of their child; (2) developing, understanding and defining autism; and (3) accepting the diagnosis and developing coping strategies for raising their child. The findings revealed that raising a child with autism introduced a new lifelong experience to mothers’ everyday lives, profoundly changing their parenting role and transforming their view of mothering. Recognition of the experience of “new mothering” and mothers’ meaning-making process, stress, coping mechanisms and resilience is critical to informing policies, programs, counseling and other therapeutic efforts to assist children with autism and their families for social workers in Ethiopia and those working with the Ethiopian diaspora in other regions of the world.
The Functioning of Hospice in the Perception of Family Members of Cancer Surgery and Hospice Patients
Authors: Aniśko-Trembecka Paulina , Popławska Magda , Krajewska-Kułak Elżbieta , Mickiewicz Irena , Kułak Wojciech
Published: March 2023

Background: Palliative care in Poland is for all dying people and their families to have timely access to quality care services. The study aimed to assess the perception of the role of hospice care by families of patients treated in oncological surgery departments and hospices. Methods: The study included 211 family members of cancer patients, comprising 108 family members of cancer surgery patients (Group I) and 103 hospice patients (Group II). The study used a diagnostic survey method with a proprietary questionnaire. Results: 74.9% of people in Group I and 84.6% in Group II experienced positive associations with hospice care. 86% of respondents from Group I believed that hospice is a place where patients can die with dignity, while 68.3% of those from Group II believed it is where patients receive professional care. 56.7% from Group I and 65.4% from Group II did not feel anxious about hospice care. According to 68.6% of people in Group I, informing the patient that he or she is in hospice as well as about his or her disease should depend on the patient’s condition. In the opinion of 75% of Group II, the patient should always be informed. In Group I (68.3%) and Group II (91.5%), the dominant opinion was that the family should take part in the care and treatment of the patient. 78.4% of respondents in Group I and 96.4% in Group II recommend hospice to other families. Conclusions: Most families of cancer patients from both the oncological surgery departments (Group I) and hospice (Group II) had positive first associations with hospice care. However, families from Group II had more critical remarks on hospice functioning.
The Effectiveness of Mobility Restrictions on Controlling the Spread of COVID-19 in a Resistant Population
Authors: Albassam Dina , Nouh Mariam , Hosoi Anette
Published: March 2023

Human mobility plays an important role in the spread of COVID-19. Given this knowledge, countries implemented mobility-restricting policies. Concomitantly, as the pandemic progressed, population resistance to the virus increased via natural immunity and vaccination. We address the question: “What is the impact of mobility-restricting measures on a resistant population?” We consider two factors: different types of points of interest (POIs)—including transit stations, groceries and pharmacies, retail and recreation, workplaces, and parks—and the emergence of the Delta variant. We studied a group of 14 countries and estimated COVID-19 transmission based on the type of POI, the fraction of population resistance, and the presence of the Delta variant using a Pearson correlation between mobility and the growth rate of cases. We find that retail and recreation venues, transit stations, and workplaces are the POIs that benefit the most from mobility restrictions, mainly if the fraction of the population with resistance is below 25–30%. Groceries and pharmacies may benefit from mobility restrictions when the population resistance fraction is low, whereas in parks, there is little advantage to mobility-restricting measures. These results are consistent for both the original strain and the Delta variant; Omicron data were not included in this work.
Intergenerational Changes in the Waist Circumference and Selected Associated Indicators among Children and Adolescents from Kraków (Poland), between 1983 and 2020
Authors: Kryst Łukasz , Żegleń Magdalena , Badzińska Julia , Woronkowicz Agnieszka , Kowal Małgorzata
Published: March 2023

The aim of the study was to examine the direction of the secular changes in the waist and hips circumferences, as well as selected associated body proportions, among children and adolescents from Kraków, Poland. The study group included 8–18-year-olds examined in three cross-sectional studies (1983, 2010, and 2020). The analyzed characteristics included body height, circumferences of the waist and hips, which were used to calculate Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR), and Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR). There was a secular increase regarding the majority of the analyzed features, particularly for the younger children (i.e., prepubertal/early pubertal age). The trends were also especially evident when comparing the results of the 1983 series to the results of their peers examined in 2020. An opposite trend was noted in adolescent girls. The observed changes reflect the secular trend resulting from changes in body composition and fat distribution happening due to alterations in the lifestyle and socio-economic environment of the population over the years. It should also be stressed that the increase in the studied characteristics occurred mainly in younger children. This suggests that the observed changes may have resulted from a shift in the age of maturation and also from the personal and social motivators characteristic for late adolescence.
In a Large Healthcare System in the Bronx, Teleretinal Triaging Was Found to Increase Screening and Healthcare Access for an Underserved Population with a High Incidence of T2DM and Retinopathy
Authors: Dahlan Kevin , Suman Pamela , Rubaltelli David , Shrivastava Anurag , Chuck Roy , Mian Umar
Published: March 2023

The early treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) prevents vision-threatening proliferative retinopathy (PDR) and macular edema (DME). Our study evaluates telemedicine (teleretinal) screening for DR in an inner-city healthcare network with a high ethnic diversity and disease burden. Fundus photographs were obtained and graded in a centralized reading center between 2014 and 2016. Patients with positive screenings were referred to a retina specialist. An analysis of sensitivity and specificity and a subgroup analysis of prevalence, disease severity, and follow-up adherence were conducted. In 2251 patients, the ‘1-year’ and ‘Overall’ follow-ups were 35.1% and 54.8%, respectively. Severe grading, male gender, and age were associated with better follow-up compliance. The DR, PDR, and DME prevalence was 24.9%, 4.1%, and 5.9%, respectively, and was significantly associated with HbA1c. The sensitivity and specificity for DR, PDR, and DME were 70% and 87%, 87% and 75%, and 37% and 95%, respectively. No prevalence differences were noted between ethnicities. Annual diabetic eye exam adherence increased from 55% to 85% during the study period. Teleretinal triaging is sensitive and specific for DR and improved diabetic eye exam compliance for underserved populations when integrated into large healthcare networks. The adherence to follow-up recommendations was better among older patients and among those with more severe retinopathy.
New Conceptual Model of Social Sustainability: Review from Past Concepts and Ideas
Authors: Ly Anh M. , Cope Michael R.
Published: March 2023

The social dimension of sustainability has remained relatively underdefined, despite the efforts to specify and integrate this dimension into the general sustainability conversation of scholars and practitioners. This study aims to advance the conversation of social sustainability by examining past the multi-disciplinary literature and policy documents, as well as proposing a comprehensive conceptual model of social sustainability. We present a model with five dimensions: safety and security, equity, adaptability, social inclusion and cohesion, and quality of life. Through these dimensions, we propose social sustainability as a process that strives for effective management and allocation of social capital as a constitutive resource, and the confrontation of such controllable and uncontrollable risks as natural disasters and climate change. Our model was constructed with the purpose of providing scholars, policymakers, and practitioners with a comprehensive guideline to create social sustainability policy with human beings as the priority and cultural awareness as a grounding approach to initiating disaster-related and climate-change resilience.
Correction: Paciej-Gołębiowska et al. Twenty-Year Mortality Trends in Patients with Kidney Disease in Poland with the Use of the Years of Life Lost Measure, 2000–2019. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 2649
Authors: Paciej-Gołębiowska Paulina , Kurnatowska Ilona , Maniecka-Bryła Irena , Pikala Małgorzata
Published: March 2023

Ilona Kurnatowska and Irena Maniecka-Bryła were not included as authors in the original publication [...]
Exploratory Factor Analysis of a French Adapted Version of the Substance Abuse Attitude Survey among Medical Students in Belgium
Authors: Richelle Lou , Dramaix-Wilmet Michèle , Kacenelenbogen Nadine , Kornreich Charles
Published: March 2023

To evaluate the impact of a new Substance Use Disorder (SUD) education program on medical students’ attitudes, we selected the Substance Abuse Attitude Survey (SAAS) questionnaire, which we adapted to our curriculum and cultural context. To validate this adapted version, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis following the administration of our 29-item bSAAS questionnaire to 657 medical students in Belgium (response rate: 71.1%). Twenty-three items correlated to three factors; namely, “Stereotypes and moralism”, “Treatment optimism” and “Specialized treatment” were retained (70% of total variance explained, Cronbach’s alpha = 0.80) and constituted the new questionnaire called beSAAS. The factor “Specialized treatment” stood out from previous studies, which could be explained by our target population and the impact of the formal, informal and hidden curricula in medical education. This study was able to highlight certain factors influencing stereotypical representations such as age, gender, origin, personal or professional experience with substance use. Our study allowed us to retain the beSAAS as a good questionnaire to evaluate SUD stigma and highlighted interesting findings to improve SUD training in medicine. Further studies are needed to complete its validity and reliability.
Effects of Two Physical Activity Interventions on Sleep and Sedentary Time in Pregnant Women
Authors: Alomairah Saud Abdulaziz , Knudsen Signe de Place , Roland Caroline Borup , Molsted Stig , Clausen Tine D. , Bendix Jane M. , Løkkegaard Ellen , Jensen Andreas Kryger , Larsen Jakob Eg , Jennum Poul , Stallknecht Bente
Published: March 2023

Pregnancy is often associated with poor sleep and high sedentary time (SED). We investigated the effect of physical activity (PA) interventions on sleep and SED in pregnant women. A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial (n = 219) explored the effect of structured supervised exercise training (EXE) or motivational counseling on PA (MOT) compared to standard prenatal care (CON) on sleep and SED during pregnancy. Three times during pregnancy, sleep was determined by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and SED by the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ). Also, a wrist-worn consumer activity tracker measured sleep and SED continuously. Data from the activity tracker confirmed that sleep time decreases, and SED increases by approx. 30 and 24 min/day, respectively, from baseline (maximum gestational age (GA) week 15) to delivery. Compared to CON, the global PSQI score was better for EXE in GA week 28 (−0.8 [−1.5; −0.1], p = 0.031) and for both EXE and MOT in GA week 34 (−1 [−2; −0.5], p = 0.002; −1 [−2; −0.1], p = 0.026). In GA week 28, SED (h/day) from PPAQ was lower in EXE compared to both CON and MOT (−0.69 [−1; −0.0], p = 0.049; −0.6 [−1.0; −0.02], p = 0.042). In conclusion, PA interventions during pregnancy improved sleep quality and reduced SED.
An Overview on the Use of miRNAs as Possible Forensic Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Albano Giuseppe Davide , Stassi Chiara , Argo Antonina , Zerbo Stefania
Published: March 2023

Determining the cause of death is one of the main goals of forensic pathology. However, conditions can occur in which common approaches—external inspection, autopsy, histology, etc.—might not be conclusive. With the advancement of molecular biology, several investigative techniques have been developed over the years, and the application as approaches complementary to routine procedures has proved useful in these cases. In this context, microRNA (miRNA) profiling has attracted increasing interest due to these molecules’ ability to regulate physiological and pathological processes. The evidence of differential miRNA expression in both animal models and human samples of traumatic brain injury (TBI) has laid the basis for comprehension of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, thus allowing us to identify some of them as possible TBI diagnostic biomarkers. The present narrative review aims to explore the primary miRNAs involved in the mechanisms underlying TBI, which could be considered for future evaluation as possible markers in a post mortem setting.
Genome-Scale Analysis of the Grapevine KCS Genes Reveals Its Potential Role in Male Sterility
Authors: Zheng Huan , Liang Yueting , Hong Ben , Xu Yingyi , Ren Mengfan , Wang Yixu , Huang Liyuan , Yang Lina , Tao Jianmin
Published: March 2023

Very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) synthesis in plants, is primarily rate-limited by the enzyme 3-ketoacyl CoA synthase (KCS), which also controls the rate and carbon chain length of VLCFA synthesis. Disruption of VLCFA during pollen development, may affect the pollen wall formation and ultimately lead to male sterility. Our study identified 24 grapevine KCS (VvKCS) genes and provided new names based on their relative chromosome distribution. Based on sequence alignment and phylogenetic investigation, these genes were grouped into seven subgroups, members of the same subgroup having similar motif structures. Synteny analysis of VvKCS genes, showed that the segmental duplication events played an important role in expanding this gene family. Expression profiles obtained from the transcriptome data showed different expression patterns of VvKCS genes in different tissues. Comparison of transcriptome and RT-qPCR data of the male sterile grape ‘Y−14’ and its fertile parent ‘Shine Muscat’, revealed that 10 VvKCS genes were significantly differentially expressed at the meiosis stage, which is a critical period of pollen wall formation. Further, joint analysis by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), revealed that five of these VvKCS (VvKCS6/15/19/20/24) genes were involved in the fatty acid elongation pathway, which may ultimately affect the structural integrity of the pollen wall in ‘Y−14’. This systematic analysis provided a foundation for further functional characterization of VvKCS genes, with the aim of grapevine precision breeding improvement.
The Role of the Piezo1 Mechanosensitive Channel in the Musculoskeletal System
Authors: Dienes Beatrix , Bazsó Tamás , Szabó László , Csernoch László
Published: March 2023

Since the recent discovery of the mechanosensitive Piezo1 channels, many studies have addressed the role of the channel in various physiological or even pathological processes of different organs. Although the number of studies on their effects on the musculoskeletal system is constantly increasing, we are still far from a precise understanding. In this review, the knowledge available so far regarding the musculoskeletal system is summarized, reviewing the results achieved in the field of skeletal muscles, bones, joints and cartilage, tendons and ligaments, as well as intervertebral discs.
The Use of Medical Ozone in Chronic Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Can Be an Etiological and Conservative Treatment
Authors: Grangeat Anibal Martin , Erario Maria de los Angeles
Published: March 2023

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc is one of the most frequent causes of lumbar pain, and it puts an extreme strain on worldwide healthcare systems. Finding a solution for this disease is an important challenge as current surgical and conservative treatments fail to bring a short-term or long-term solution to the problem. Medical ozone has yielded excellent results in intervertebral disc pathology. When it comes to extruded disc herniation, ozone is the only etiological treatment because it stimulates the immune system to absorb the herniated portion of the nucleus pulposus, thus resolving discal extrusion. This work aims to examine the biomolecular mechanisms that lead to intervertebral disc degeneration while highlighting the significance of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Considering that ozone is a regulator of oxidative stress and, therefore, of inflammation, we assert that medical ozone could modulate this process and obtain inflammatory stage macrophages (M1) to switch to the repair phase (M2). Consequently, the ozone would be a therapeutic resource that would work on the etiology of the disease as an epigenetic regulator that would help repair the intervertebral space.
Ablation of Death-Associated Protein Kinase 1 Changes the Transcriptomic Profile and Alters Neural-Related Pathways in the Brain
Authors: Li Ruomeng , Zhi Shuai , Lan Guihua , Chen Xiaotong , Zheng Xiuzhi , Hu Li , Wang Long , Zhang Tao , Lee Tae Ho , Rao Shitao , Chen Dongmei
Published: March 2023

Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1), a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine kinase, mediates various neuronal functions, including cell death. Abnormal upregulation of DAPK1 is observed in human patients with neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and epilepsy. Ablation of DAPK1 expression and suppression of DAPK1 activity attenuates neuropathology and behavior impairments. However, whether DAPK1 regulates gene expression in the brain, and whether its gene profile is implicated in neuronal disorders, remains elusive. To reveal the function and pathogenic role of DAPK1 in neurological diseases in the brain, differential transcriptional profiling was performed in the brains of DAPK1 knockout (DAPK1-KO) mice compared with those of wild-type (WT) mice by RNA sequencing. We showed significantly altered genes in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, brain stem, and cerebellum of both male and female DAPK1-KO mice compared to those in WT mice, respectively. The genes are implicated in multiple neural-related pathways, including: AD, Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), neurodegeneration, glutamatergic synapse, and GABAergic synapse pathways. Moreover, our findings imply that the potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 1 (Kcna1) may be involved in the modulation of DAPK1 in epilepsy. Our study provides insight into the pathological role of DAPK1 in the regulatory networks in the brain and new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of neurological diseases.
Electrophysiological Properties of Tetraploid Cardiomyocytes Derived from Murine Pluripotent Stem Cells Generated by Fusion of Adult Somatic Cells with Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Xu Guoxing , Fatima Azra , Breitbach Martin , Kuzmenkin Alexey , Fügemann Christopher J. , Ivanyuk Dina , Kim Kee Pyo , Cantz Tobias , Pfannkuche Kurt , Schöler Hans R. , Fleischmann Bernd K. , Hescheler Jürgen , Šarić Tomo
Published: March 2023

Most cardiomyocytes (CMs) in the adult mammalian heart are either binucleated or contain a single polyploid nucleus. Recent studies have shown that polyploidy in CMs plays an important role as an adaptive response to physiological demands and environmental stress and correlates with poor cardiac regenerative ability after injury. However, knowledge about the functional properties of polyploid CMs is limited. In this study, we generated tetraploid pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) by fusion of murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and somatic cells isolated from bone marrow or spleen and performed a comparative analysis of the electrophysiological properties of tetraploid fusion-derived PSCs and diploid ESC-derived CMs. Fusion-derived PSCs exhibited characteristics of genuine ESCs and contained a near-tetraploid genome. Ploidy features and marker expression were also retained during the differentiation of fusion-derived cells. Fusion-derived PSCs gave rise to CMs, which were similar to their diploid ESC counterparts in terms of their expression of typical cardiospecific markers, sarcomeric organization, action potential parameters, response to pharmacologic stimulation with various drugs, and expression of functional ion channels. These results suggest that the state of ploidy does not significantly affect the structural and electrophysiological properties of murine PSC-derived CMs. These results extend our knowledge of the functional properties of polyploid CMs and contribute to a better understanding of their biological role in the adult heart.
Those That Remain: Sorption/Desorption Behaviour and Kinetics of the Neonicotinoids Still in Use
Authors: Sinčić Modrić Gordana , Petković Didović Mirna , Dubrović Igor , Žurga Paula , Broznić Dalibor
Published: March 2023

In January 2023, the derogation loophole was closed on “emergency authorisations” for the use of three out of five neonicotinoids in all EU states. In this study, we analysed the sorption/desorption behaviour and kinetic parameters of acetamiprid and thiacloprid, the two neonicotinoids that are still approved for use, either regularly or under emergency authorisations in the EU, and widely used worldwide. Sorption and desorption curves in four soils with different organic matter content were analysed using four kinetic models, namely, Lagergren’s pseudo first-order model, two-site model (TSM), Weber–Morris intraparticle diffusion model and Elovich’s model. Kinetic parameters were correlated to soil physico-chemical characteristics. To determine the mutual influence of soil characteristics and sorption/desorption parameters in the analysed soils, a factor analysis based on principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. Even though the two insecticides are very similar in size and chemical structure, the results showed different sorption/desorption kinetics. The model that best fits the experimental data was TSM. Thiacloprid showed a more rapid sorption compared to acetamiprid, and, in all soils, a higher proportion sorbed at equilibrium. Intra-particle diffusion seemed to be a relevant process in acetamiprid sorption, but not for thiacloprid. Desorption results showed that acetamiprid is more easily and more thoroughly desorbed than thiacloprid, in all soils. The kinetic behaviour differences stem from variations in molecular structure, causing disparate water solubility, lipophilicity, and acid–base properties.
Sequence-Dependent Interaction of the Human Papillomavirus E2 Protein with the DNA Elements on Its DNA Replication Origin
Authors: Yilmaz Gulden , Biswas-Fiss Esther E. , Biswas Subhasis B.
Published: March 2023

The human papillomavirus (HPV) E2 protein is essential for regulating the initiation of viral DNA replication as well as the regulation of transcription of certain HPV-encoded genes. Its ability to recognize and bind to its four recognition sequences in the viral origin is a key step in the initiation of HPV DNA replication. Thus, understanding the mechanism of DNA binding by E2 protein and the unique roles played by individual DNA sequence elements of the replication origin is essential. We have purified the recombinant full-length HPV type 11 E2 protein. Quantitative DNA binding analysis indicated E2 protein bound all four DNA binding sites with reasonably high affinities but with distinct preferences. It bound its cognate binding sites 1, 2, and 4 with higher affinities, but bound binding site 3 with lower affinity. Analysis of binding to these sites unraveled multiple sequence elements that appeared to influence E2 binding affinity and target discrimination, including the sequence of spacer region, flanking sequences, and proximity of E2 binding sites. Thermodynamic analysis indicated hydrophobic interaction in the protein-DNA complex formation. Our studies indicate a large multi-protein complex formation on the HPV-origin DNA, likely due to reasonably high binding affinities as well as intrinsic oligomerization propensity of E2 dimers.
Altered Mitochondrial Dynamic in Lymphoblasts and Fibroblasts Mutated for FANCA-A Gene: The Central Role of DRP1
Authors: Bertola Nadia , Bruno Silvia , Capanni Cristina , Columbaro Marta , Mazzarello Andrea Nicola , Corsolini Fabio , Regis Stefano , Degan Paolo , Cappelli Enrico , Ravera Silvia
Published: March 2023

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by bone marrow failure and aplastic anemia. So far, 23 genes are involved in this pathology, and their mutations lead to a defect in DNA repair. In recent years, it has been observed that FA cells also display mitochondrial metabolism defects, causing an accumulation of intracellular lipids and oxidative damage. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the metabolic alterations have not yet been elucidated. In this work, by using lymphoblasts and fibroblasts mutated for the FANC-A gene, oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) and mitochondria dynamics markers expression was analyzed. Results show that the metabolic defect does not depend on an altered expression of the proteins involved in OxPhos. However, FA cells are characterized by increased uncoupling protein UCP2 expression. FANC-A mutation is also associated with DRP1 overexpression that causes an imbalance in the mitochondrial dynamic toward fission and lower expression of Parkin and Beclin1. Treatment with P110, a specific inhibitor of DRP1, shows a partial mitochondrial function recovery and the decrement of DRP1 and UCP2 expression, suggesting a pivotal role of the mitochondrial dynamics in the etiopathology of Fanconi anemia.
Deregulated Transcription and Proteostasis in Adult mapt Knockout Mouse
Authors: Andrés-Benito Pol , Flores África , Busquet-Areny Sara , Carmona Margarita , Ausín Karina , Cartas-Cejudo Paz , Lachén-Montes Mercedes , Del Rio José Antonio , Fernández-Irigoyen Joaquín , Santamaría Enrique , Ferrer Isidro
Published: March 2023

Transcriptomics and phosphoproteomics were carried out in the cerebral cortex of B6.Cg-Mapttm1(EGFP)Klt (tau knockout: tau-KO) and wild-type (WT) 12 month-old mice to learn about the effects of tau ablation. Compared with WT mice, tau-KO mice displayed reduced anxiety-like behavior and lower fear expression induced by aversive conditioning, whereas recognition memory remained unaltered. Cortical transcriptomic analysis revealed 69 downregulated and 105 upregulated genes in tau-KO mice, corresponding to synaptic structures, neuron cytoskeleton and transport, and extracellular matrix components. RT-qPCR validated increased mRNA levels of col6a4, gabrq, gad1, grm5, grip2, map2, rab8a, tubb3, wnt16, and an absence of map1a in tau-KO mice compared with WT mice. A few proteins were assessed with Western blotting to compare mRNA expression with corresponding protein levels. Map1a mRNA and protein levels decreased. However, β-tubulin III and GAD1 protein levels were reduced in tau-KO mice. Cortical phosphoproteomics revealed 121 hypophosphorylated and 98 hyperphosphorylated proteins in tau-KO mice. Deregulated phosphoproteins were categorized into cytoskeletal (n = 45) and membrane proteins, including proteins of the synapses and vesicles, myelin proteins, and proteins linked to membrane transport and ion channels (n = 84), proteins related to DNA and RNA metabolism (n = 36), proteins connected to the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) (n = 7), proteins with kinase or phosphatase activity (n = 21), and 22 other proteins related to variegated pathways such as metabolic pathways, growth factors, or mitochondrial function or structure. The present observations reveal a complex altered brain transcriptome and phosphoproteome in tau-KO mice with only mild behavioral alterations.
Drought Stress Tolerance in Plants
Authors: González Esther M.
Published: March 2023

The current climate change scenario is accelerating degradation, desertification, and salinisation: all destructive processes that are negatively impacting arable lands and food production [...]
A New ECG Data Processing Approach to Developing an Accurate Driving Fatigue Detection Framework with Heart Rate Variability Analysis and Ensemble Learning
Authors: Halomoan Junartho , Ramli Kalamullah , Sudiana Dodi , Gunawan Teddy Surya , Salman Muhammad
Published: March 2023

More than 1.3 million people are killed in traffic accidents annually. Road traffic accidents are mostly caused by human error. Therefore, an accurate driving fatigue detection system is required for drivers. Most driving fatigue detection studies concentrated on improving feature engineering and classification methods. We propose a novel driving fatigue detection framework concentrating on the development of the preprocessing, feature extraction, and classification stages to improve the classification accuracy of fatigue states. The proposed driving fatigue detection framework measures fatigue using a two-electrode ECG. The resampling method and heart rate variability analysis were used to extract features from the ECG data, and an ensemble learning model was utilized to classify fatigue states. To achieve the best model performance, 40 possible scenarios were applied: a combination of 5 resampling scenarios, 2 feature extraction scenarios, and 4 classification model scenarios. It was discovered that the combination of a resampling method with a window duration of 300 s and an overlap of 270 s, 54 extracted features, and AdaBoost yielded an optimum accuracy of 98.82% for the training dataset and 81.82% for the testing dataset. Furthermore, the preprocessing resampling method had the greatest impact on the model’s performance; it is a new approach presented in this study.
A Review of Time-Based Solar Photovoltaic Tracking Systems
Authors: Musa Abdulwaheed , Alozie Emmanuel , Suleiman Suleiman A. , Ojo John Adedapo , Imoize Agbotiname Lucky
Published: March 2023

Solar energy is the cleanest and most abundant form of energy that can be obtained from the Sun. Solar panels convert this energy to generate solar power, which can be used for various electrical purposes, particularly in rural areas. Maximum solar power can be generated only when the Sun is perpendicular to the panel, which can be achieved only for a few hours when using a fixed solar panel system, hence the development of an automatic solar tracking system. Over the years, different solar tracking systems have been proposed and developed, and a few have been reviewed in the literature. However, the existing review works have not adequately provided a comprehensive survey and taxonomies of these solar tracking systems to show the trends and possible further research direction. This paper aims to bridge these gaps by extensively reviewing these time-based solar tracking systems based on axis rotation and drive types. Lessons learned from the comprehensive review have been highlighted and discussed. Finally, critical open research issues are identified and elaborated.
A Deep Learning Model for Ship Trajectory Prediction Using Automatic Identification System (AIS) Data
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Xiao Yingjie
Published: March 2023

The rapid growth of ship traffic leads to traffic congestion, which causes maritime accidents. Accurate ship trajectory prediction can improve the efficiency of navigation and maritime traffic safety. Previous studies have focused on developing a ship trajectory prediction model using a deep learning approach, such as a long short-term memory (LSTM) network. However, a convolutional neural network (CNN) has rarely been applied to extract the potential correlation among different variables (e.g., longitude, latitude, speed, course over ground, etc.). Therefore, this study proposes a deep-learning-based ship trajectory prediction model (namely, CNN-LSTM-SE) that considers the potential correlation of variables and temporal characteristics. This model integrates a CNN module, an LSTM module and a squeeze-and-excitation (SE) module. The CNN module is utilized to extract data on the relationship among different variables (e.g., longitude, latitude, speed and course over ground), the LSTM module is applied to capture temporal dependencies, and the SE module is introduced to adaptively adjust the importance of channel features and focus on the more significant ones. Comparison experiments of two cargo ships at a time interval of 10 s show that the proposed CNN-LSTM-SE model can obtain the best prediction performance compared with other models on evaluation indexes of average root mean squared error (ARMSE), average mean absolute percentage error (AMAPE), average Euclidean distance (AED), average ground distance (AGD) and Fréchet distance (FD).