bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Heritability under Correlated Errors Using the Full-Sib Model
Authors: Paul Amrit Kumar , Roy Himadri Shekhar , Paul Ranjit Kumar , Kumar Prakash , Yeasin Md
Published: March 2023

In plant and animal breeding, sometimes observations are not independently distributed. There may exist a correlated relationship between the observations. In the presence of highly correlated observations, the classical premise of independence between observations is violated. Plant and animal breeders are particularly interested to study the genetic components for different important traits. In general, for estimating heritability, a random component in the model must adhere to specific assumptions, such as random components, including errors, having a normal distribution, and being identically independently distributed. However, in many real-world situations, all of the assumptions are not fulfilled. In this study, correlated error structures are considered errors that are associated to estimate heritability for the full-sib model. The number of immediately preceding observations in an autoregressive series that are used to predict the value at the current observation is defined as the order of the autoregressive models. First-order and second-order autoregressive models i.e., AR(1) and AR(2) error structures, have been considered. In the case of the full-sib model, theoretical derivation of Expected Mean sum square (EMS) considering AR(1) structure has been obtained. A numerical explanation is provided for the derived EMS considering AR(1) structure. The predicted mean squares error (MSE) is obtained after including the AR(1) error structures in the model, and heritability is estimated using the resulting equations. It is noticed that correlated errors have a major influence on heritability estimation. Different correlation patterns, such as AR(1) and AR(2), can be inferred to change heritability estimates and MSE values. To attain better results, several combinations are offered for various scenarios.
The Role of Genetic Testing in Children Requiring Surgery for Ectopia Lentis
Authors: Musleh Mohammud , Bull Adam , Linton Emma , Liu Jingshu , Waller Sarah , Hardcastle Claire , Clayton-Smith Jill , Sharma Vinod , Black Graeme C. , Biswas Susmito , Ashworth Jane L. , Sergouniotis Panagiotis I.
Published: March 2023

Non-traumatic ectopia lentis can be isolated or herald an underlying multisystemic disorder. Technological advances have revolutionized genetic testing for many ophthalmic disorders, and this study aims to provide insights into the clinical utility of genetic analysis in paediatric ectopia lentis. Children that underwent lens extraction for ectopia lentis between 2013 and 2017 were identified, and gene panel testing findings and surgical outcomes were collected. Overall, 10/11 cases received a probable molecular diagnosis. Genetic variants were identified in four genes: FBN1 (associated with Marfan syndrome and cardiovascular complications; n = 6), ADAMTSL4 (associated with non-syndromic ectopia lentis; n = 2), LTBP2 (n = 1) and ASPH (n = 1). Parents appeared unaffected in 6/11 cases; the initial presentation of all six of these children was to an ophthalmologist, and only 2/6 had FBN1 variants. Notably, 4/11 cases required surgery before the age of 4 years, and only one of these children carried an FBN1 variant. In summary, in this retrospective cohort study, panel-based genetic testing pointed to a molecular diagnosis in >90% of paediatric ectopia lentis cases requiring surgery. In a subset of study participants, genetic analysis revealed changes in genes that have not been linked to extraocular manifestations and highlighted that extensive systemic investigations were not required in these individuals. We propose the introduction of genetic testing early in the diagnostic pathway in children with ectopia lentis.
RNA-Seq Profiling between Commercial and Indigenous Iranian Chickens Highlights Differences in Innate Immune Gene Expression
Authors: Sadr Ayeh Sadat , Nassiri Mohammadreza , Ghaderi-Zefrehei Mostafa , Heidari Maryam , Smith Jacqueline , Muhaghegh Dolatabady Mustafa
Published: March 2023

The purpose of the current study was to examine transcriptomic-based profiling of differentially expressed innate immune genes between indigenous and commercial chickens. In order to compare the transcriptome profiles of the different chicken breeds, we extracted RNA from blood samples of the Isfahan indigenous chicken (as indigenous) and Ross broiler chicken (as commercial) breeds. RNA-Seq yielded totals of 36,763,939 and 31,545,002 reads for the indigenous and commercial breeds, respectively, with clean reads then aligned to the chicken reference genome (Galgal5). Overall, 1327 genes were significantly differentially expressed, of which 1013 genes were upregulated in the commercial versus the indigenous breed, while 314 were more highly expressed in the indigenous birds. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that the SPARC, ATP6V0D2, IL4I1, SMPDL3A, ADAM7, TMCC3, ULK2, MYO6, THG1L and IRG1 genes were the most significantly expressed genes in the commercial birds and the PAPPA, DUSP1, PSMD12, LHX8, IL8, TRPM2, GDAP1L1, FAM161A, ABCC2 and ASAH2 genes were the most significant in the indigenous chickens. Of notable finding in this study was that the high-level gene expressions of heat-shock proteins (HSPs) in the indigenous breeds could serve as a guideline for future genetic improvement. This study identified genes with breed-specific expression, and comparative transcriptome analysis helped understanding of the differences in underlying genetic mechanisms between commercial and local breeds. Therefore, the current results can be used to identify candidate genes for further breed improvement.
Computational Biology Helps Understand How Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells Drive Tumor Success
Authors: Casotti Matheus Correia , Meira Débora Dummer , Zetum Aléxia Stefani Siqueira , Araújo Bruno Cancian de , Silva Danielle Ribeiro Campos da , Santos Eldamária de Vargas Wolfgramm dos , Garcia Fernanda Mariano , Paula Flávia de , Santana Gabriel Mendonça , Louro Luana Santos , Alves Lyvia Neves Rebello , Braga Raquel Furlani Rocon , Trabach Raquel Silva dos Reis , Bernardes Sara Santos , Louro Thomas Erik Santos , Chiela Eduardo Cremonese Filippi , Lenz Guido , Carvalho Elizeu Fagundes de , Louro Iúri Drumond
Published: March 2023

Precision and organization govern the cell cycle, ensuring normal proliferation. However, some cells may undergo abnormal cell divisions (neosis) or variations of mitotic cycles (endopolyploidy). Consequently, the formation of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), critical for tumor survival, resistance, and immortalization, can occur. Newly formed cells end up accessing numerous multicellular and unicellular programs that enable metastasis, drug resistance, tumor recurrence, and self-renewal or diverse clone formation. An integrative literature review was carried out, searching articles in several sites, including: PUBMED, NCBI-PMC, and Google Academic, published in English, indexed in referenced databases and without a publication time filter, but prioritizing articles from the last 3 years, to answer the following questions: (i) “What is the current knowledge about polyploidy in tumors?”; (ii) “What are the applications of computational studies for the understanding of cancer polyploidy?”; and (iii) “How do PGCCs contribute to tumorigenesis?”
Nucleotide Context Can Modulate Promoter Strength in Genes Transcribed by RNA Polymerase III
Authors: Stasenko Danil V. , Tatosyan Karina A. , Borodulina Olga R. , Kramerov Dmitri A.
Published: March 2023

The small nuclear RNAs 4.5SH and 4.5SI were characterized only in mouse-like rodents; their genes originate from 7SL RNA and tRNA, respectively. Similar to many genes transcribed by RNA polymerase III (pol III), the genes of 4.5SH and 4.5SI RNAs include boxes A and B, forming an intergenic pol III-directed promoter. In addition, their 5′-flanking sequences have TATA-like boxes at position −31/−24, also required for efficient transcription. The patterns of the three boxes notably differ in the 4.5SH and 4.5SI RNA genes. The A, B, and TATA-like boxes were replaced in the 4.5SH RNA gene with the corresponding boxes in the 4.5SI RNA gene to evaluate their effect on the transcription of transfected constructs in HeLa cells. Simultaneous replacement of all three boxes decreased the transcription level by 40%, which indicates decreased promoter activity in a foreign gene. We developed a new approach to compare the promoter strength based on the competition of two co-transfected gene constructs when the proportion between the constructs modulates their relative activity. This method demonstrated that the promoter activity of 4.5SI is 12 times that of 4.5SH. Unexpectedly, the replacement of all three boxes of the weak 4.5SH promoter with those of the strong 4.5SI gene significantly reduced, rather than enhanced, the promoter activity. Thus, the strength of a pol III-directed promoter can depend on the nucleotide environment of the gene.
Rock Joint Roughness Measurement and Quantification—A Review of the Current Status
Authors: Kulatilake Pinnaduwa H. S. W. , Ankah Mawuko Luke Yaw
Published: March 2023

This paper provides a review of the present status of the topic dealt with. The contact and non-contact methods used for rock joint roughness measurement are summarized including their salient features, advantages, and disadvantages. A critical review is given of the empirical, statistical, and fractal-based methods used for rock joint roughness quantification identifying their salient features, shortcomings, and strong attributes. The surface topography of rough rock joints is highly erratic. Fractional geometry is better suited than Euclidean geometry in representing highly erratic rock joint surfaces. The influence of non-stationarity on accurate quantification of roughness is discussed. The existence of heterogeneity of natural rock joint roughness and its effect on computed roughness parameters are well illustrated. The controversial findings that have been appearing in the literature on roughness scale effects during the last 40 years have resulted from neglecting the effect of roughness heterogeneity on scale effects. The roughness heterogeneity controls the rock joint roughness scale effect, and it can be either negative, positive, or no scale effect depending on the type and level of the roughness heterogeneity of the rock joint surface. The importance of consideration of the existence of possible anisotropy in the quantification of roughness is well illustrated. The indices available to quantify the level of anisotropy are given. Effects of sampling interval and measurement resolution on the accurate quantification of roughness are discussed. A comparison of results obtained by using different quantification methods is discussed. A few recommendations are given for future research to address the shortcomings that exist on the topic dealt with in the paper.
Development of Innovative Plate Load Testing Equipment for In-Situ Saturated Clays Soils
Authors: Umaru Ibrahim , Alhaji Mustapha Mohammed , Alhassan Musa , Adejumo Taiye Elisha , Alkali Babawuya , Birniwa Abdullahi Haruna , Jagaba Ahmad Hussaini
Published: March 2023

This study proposes a method of gradually loading plate load on-site using lever arms to squeeze out pore water from clayey soils, allowing the soil to settle. Several types of tests were conducted, including a conventional field plate load test (CFPLT), a numerical field plate load test (NFPLT) and an innovative field plate load test (IFPLT) proposed in this study. Three trial pits with soils of varied engineering properties were studied using CFPLT, which employed the use of a heavy jack for load application, the NFPLT test using PLAXIS and an IFPLT, which employed a lever arm to magnify the applied static load. Disturbed soil samples collected from these trial pits were tested for index properties while the undisturbed soil samples were tested using the undrained triaxial compression test (UTCT) and laboratory consolidation tests. The results of the index properties classified these three clay soils as silt of low plasticity (ML) for clay from site 1, and clay of low plasticity (CL) for clay from site 2 and 3. The cohesion and angle of internal friction from the UTCT recorded cohesion values were 28, 29 and 37 kN/m2 for sites 1, 2 and 3, respectively, while the angle of internal friction values were 13, 8 and 6° for sites 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The plate load testing using the three methods showed similar graph pattern except that the allowable load occurred at approximately 350 kN/m2 for the CFPLT and 150 kN/m2 for the IFPLT. The high value of bearing capacity in CFPLT is due to the short period of time taken to load from a jack, which allowed the test to be completed within a short period of time. The ultimate bearing capacities computed from the laboratory test have values of 315.0, 231.0 and 270.0 kN/m2 for sites 1, 2 and 3, respectively. These values agree closely with the bearing capacities obtained for CFPLT but higher than the values recorded for the IFPLT. This is probably due to the long period of sustained loading during testing, which allowed for dissipation of pore water during each loading. Settlements obtained using the IFPLT were close to 25 mm, which is recommended as minimum settlements for building structures BS 8004, 1986.
Care Robotics: An Assessment of Professional Perception in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: González Aguña Alexandra , Gonzalo de Diego Blanca , Páez Ramos Sandra , Fernández Batalla Marta , Jiménez Rodríguez María , Santamaría García José
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 crisis accelerated the adoption of technologies. Technological advancement is also expected in robotics applied to any sector, including in healthcare. The aim is to assess the professional perception of care robotics facing COVID-19. This study aimed to (1) select a tool for assessing different aspects of healthcare, (2) analyse the professional perception about the development, usefulness and helpfulness of technologies and robotics in the field of healthcare and (3) evaluate the correlation between the perceived helpfulness of care robotics and the selected tool. We implement five validated clinical tests which integrate 80 items about a person and their clinical situation. From the sample of 46 professionals, 95.65% affirmed that technology was moderately to completely useful for professional performance in the context of the pandemic, lowering to 67.39% when asked only about robotics; 93.48% stated that the inclusion of robotics in at least one health area affected by COVID-19 would have helped them. Finally, the variables extracted from clinical tests corresponded to the most relevant health areas as identified by the professionals. This research shows the potential of care robotics oriented towards healthcare from a care paradigm.
The Impact of Low Back Pain on the Quality of Life of Children between 6 and 12 Years of Age
Authors: Santos Elisiane de Souza , Bernardes João Marcos , Vianna Luana Schneider , Ruiz-Frutos Carlos , Gómez-Salgado Juan , Alonso Melissa Spröesser , Noll Matias , Dias Adriano
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of low back pain on the perceived health-related quality of life of children between 6 and 12 years of age. This is a cross-sectional study of three hundred seventy-seven students from three schools (two private and one public) located in the city of Botucatu, São Paulo. Data were collected using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL, version 4.0), a questionnaire comprising questions on personal background, sociodemographic and socioeconomic information, and a questionnaire about quality of life. Comparisons were made between groups with and without low back pain. The chi-squared test was used for analyzing categorical variables, and the non-parametric Mann–Whitney test was used for continuous variables. According to the findings obtained in this study, it was observed that low back pain in the last month was reported by 27.3% of the total participants. The perceived health-related quality of life was lower among individuals who had low back pain, and the scores of physical and emotional functioning domains were also lower in the presence of low back pain. The prevalence of low back pain among children and adolescents is relatively high. Furthermore, the repercussions of low back pain may lead to a lower overall perception of the health-related quality of life in this population and affect aspects of physical and emotional functioning.
Economic Burdens of Type 2 Diabetes Hospital Visits with Hypoglycemic Episodes in the Tertiary Care Setting in Thailand
Authors: Kosachunhanun Natapong , Wongsa Danil , Permsuwan Unchalee
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to estimate the economic burden of hypoglycemia among people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated in a tertiary care setting. An electronic database of the largest university-affiliated hospital in northern Thailand was retrieved from 2015 to 2020 using the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) code E10.xx–E14.xx, or for patients receiving diabetes treatment at least twice for a 6-month period. All records were screened for hypoglycemia using an ICD-10 code E16.0–E16.2 or for having blood glucose <70 mg/dL. All costs related to outpatient visits or inpatient admissions were recorded. During the study period, T2D visits totaled 861,969. The annual incidence rate of hypoglycemia was 2.3 per 1000 visits, while the admission rate was 3.9 per 10,000 visits. The mean length of stay was 4.5 ± 10.1 days. The costs of hypoglycemia were USD 831.1 per admission and USD 182.2 per outpatient visit. The important cost driver for outpatients was drugs (USD 137.1), while for inpatients, this constituted services (USD 299.9). Hypoglycemia poses a substantial financial burden and increases the use of healthcare resources. Selecting the most cost-effective treatments with clinical evidence of the lower risk of hypoglycemia, especially newer insulin preparations, will provide the greatest likelihood of improving clinical outcomes and reducing the economic burden.
The Beneficial Roles of Elevated [CO2] on Exogenous ABA-Enhanced Drought Tolerance of Cucumber Seedlings
Authors: Sun Qiying , He Xinrui , Wang Tengqi , Qin Hengshan , Yuan Xin , Chen Yunke , Bian Zhonghua , Li Qingming
Published: March 2023

Drought stress severely limits crop growth and yield. With the atmospheric CO2 constantly increasing, plants will be affected by multiple effects of drought and increased CO2 in the future. Abscisic acid (ABA) plays vital roles in plant stress tolerance, especially drought stress. However, little is known about the effects of elevated CO2 concentration (e[CO2]) and exogenous ABA in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) response to drought stress. In the present study, we investigated the effects of e[CO2] and exogenous ABA on the drought tolerance of cucumber seedlings under the simulated drought stress induced by 5% polyethylene glycol 6000. The experiment was a split-plot design, in which the main factor was CO2 concentrations; atmospheric and elevated CO2 concentrations (~400 and 800 ± 40 μmol mol−1, respectively). The subplot factor was the combinations of exogenous ABA and its synthesis inhibitor sodium tungstate (Na2WO4); deionized water (control), 20 μM ABA, 2 mM Na2WO4, and 2 mM Na2WO4 + 20 μM ABA, which were applied to plant leaves. The results showed that compared with exogenous ABA application only, e[CO2] combined with exogenous ABA significantly increased the biomass, chlorophyll content, and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of cucumber seedlings under drought stress. Meanwhile, e[CO2] and exogenous ABA were more efficient in reducing the contents of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde, promoting the accumulation of proline, soluble sugar, soluble protein, free amino acid, ascorbic acid, and glutathione. The ratios of ascorbic acid/dehydroascorbic acid (ASA/DHA), glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG), as well as the activities of antioxidant enzymes were increased. In conclusion, e[CO2] and exogenous ABA synergistically alleviated oxidative damage of drought stress on cucumber seedlings by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities and accelerating the ASA–GSH cycle in cucumber seedlings, which in turn improved the drought tolerance of cucumber seedlings, and provided theoretical and practical support for further studies on the alleviation of drought stress in protected horticulture.
A Complete Micropropagation Protocol for Black-Leaved Zamioculcas zamiifolia (Lodd.) Engl. ‘Dowon’
Authors: Pourhassan Amirhossein , Kaviani Behzad , Kulus Dariusz , Miler Natalia , Negahdar Naser
Published: March 2023

Zamioculcas zamiifolia, a drought-resistant plant in the family Araceae, is a popular ornamental potted foliage plant originating from tropical east and subtropical southeast Africa. The growth and propagation rate of this species is low in conventional propagation methods. Therefore, the current study aimed at developing a complete in vitro propagation protocol of black-leaved Raven® ZZ plant (Z. zamiifolia ‘Dowon’)—a novelty on the floricultural market. In order to initiate an axenic culture, the disinfection of leaf explants was performed with sodium hypochlorite and mercury chloride. Next, leaf segments were cultured on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with the addition of 6-benzyladenine (BA) and/or ɑ-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at various concentrations. The highest number of shoots (11) and leaves (22) per explant was obtained in a medium enriched with 2 mg·L−1 BA together with 0.5 mg·L−1 NAA. The maximum number of roots (3.33) was produced in microshoots cultured on the medium supplemented with 2 mg·L−1 NAA. On the other hand, the longest roots (2.66 cm) were produced on a medium containing 2 mg·L−1 NAA and 0.5 mg·L−1 BA. The combination of 0.5 mg·L−1 BA and 0.5 mg·L−1 NAA was most effective in stimulating callus formation (78.33%). Rooted plantlets were transferred to plastic pots filled with coco peat and acclimatized to ambient greenhouse conditions with an average 68.19% survival rate. This is the first report on a complete micropropagation protocol of black-leaved zamioculcas.
Mechanisms Underlying the Pathogenic and Endophytic Lifestyles in Diaporthe: An Omics-Based Approach
Authors: Hilário Sandra , Gonçalves Micael F. M.
Published: March 2023

The genus Diaporthe encompasses important plant pathogens, endophytes, and saprobes that are widely distributed in tropical and temperate regions. An accurate detection and identification of plant pathogens not only allows correct disease diagnosis but also increases the accuracy of taxonomic ambiguities for fungal-plant interactions purposes. Multi-omics approaches applied to this genus may represent valuable tools to unravel molecular mechanisms involved in the infection processes. Additionally, omics can provide adaptation patterns that make pathogens thrive under changing environmental conditions, and insights into the dual pathogen-endophyte lifestyle. Therefore, all published data covered in this literature review represents an important contribution to deepen the knowledge on the importance of omics in fungal-plant interactions. This accumulating evidence will speed up the research on formulating new strategies to control plant pathologies, to assist in the exploitation of endophytes for their function in plant hosts, and to underline molecular factors of fungal pathogenicity and endophytism in the genus Diaporthe.
The Morpho-Anatomy of Nectaries and Chemical Composition of Nectar in Pear Cultivars with Different Susceptibility to Erwinia amlylovora
Authors: Fotirić Akšić Milica , Mačukanović-Jocić Marina , Radošević Radenko , Nedić Nebojša , Gašić Uroš , Tosti Tomislav , Tešić Živoslav , Meland Mekjell
Published: March 2023

The topography and morpho-anatomical characteristics of floral nectaries and the chemical analysis of nectar have been studied in seven pear cultivars with different susceptibility to Erwinia amylovora. The susceptible cultivar Williams, the moderately resistant cultivars Bella di guigno, Poire de Cure and the low susceptible cultivar Alexander Lucas originated from Pyrus communis, while highly resistant cultivars Chojuro and Nijisseiki from P. pyraster and Kieffer as interspecies hybrid P. communis × P. pyraster were included in this experiment and studied for the first time. Large differences in size and structure of the nectaries were observed in these seven pear cultivars. The epidermal cells were with cuticle being more or less striated in Alexander Lucas, Kieffer and Williams. Resistant cultivars had a narrow, elongated cell shape of epidermal cells while those susceptible had an isodiametric. Stomata were mesomorphic in all cultivars except in Poire de Cure and Williams, being slightly xeromorphic since they were situated in deep hollows. Guard cells of the modified stomata were much larger in resistant cultivars. Hypanthium cells were larger in resistant compared to susceptible cultivars. The most abundant sugars were glucose, fructose, sorbitol and sucrose in nectar of all studied pear cultivars. The resistant cultivars (Chojuro, Kieffer and Nijisseiki) had a ~2-fold higher level of sorbitol and galactose, ~2.2-fold higher isomaltose, ~2.7-fold turanose, ~3.35-fold maltose, ~4.4-fold melibiose and ~12.7-fold higher melesitose compared to susceptible cultivars. The sum of quantified phenolic acids varied from 0.049 (Williams) up to 4.074 µg CAE/mL (Kieffer), while flavonoid glycosides levels ranged from 1.224 (Williams) up to 11.686 µg RE/mL (Nijisseiki). In the nectar of the resistant cultivars, rutin, apigetrin, together with patuletin and luteolin glycosides were detected but not in susceptible cultivars, which could be considered as the markers of resistance.
In Vitro Cultivation of Purple-Fleshed Potato Varieties: Insights into Their Growth and Development
Authors: Nagy Alexandra Mihaela , Oros Paula , Cătană Corina , Antofie Maria Mihaela , Sand Camelia Sava
Published: March 2023

Purple-fleshed potatoes (PFP) are varieties of Solanum tuberosum L., which recently have been recorded to be more and more cultivated and consumed in all European countries, including Romania, as they are promoted for their content in bioactive compounds and benefits to human health. This paper presents a micropropagation protocol study for PFP varieties already traded into the Romanian market, namely Blue Danube (BD), Salad Blue (SB), Violet Negretin (VN), and Violet Queen (VQ). These varieties were tested for in vitro micropropagation also considering asepsis, initiation, callus formation, and microtuberization. To establish the optimum asepsis treatment, a preliminary experiment was performed and, the best results were obtained by using 70% EtOH (1 min) followed by 20% (v/v) Domestos® (20 min). The MS formula (Murashige and Skoog 1962) was tested as the basic culture medium without growth regulators for all tested stages except for callus initiation and its further multiplication stages. The effect of glycine on direct organogenesis and shoot multiplication was evaluated for propagated micro-cuttings. We emphasize that the addition of glycine at a concentration of 15 mg/L to the culture medium induced a better plantlet vigor for all four varieties. Regarding the indirect organogenesis, culture medium supplemented with NAA (5.00 mg/L), GA3 (1.00 mg/L), TDZ (1.00 mg/L) and glycine (15.00 mg/L) induced the best results for shoot cluster regeneration as well as turning of white callus from control to purple callus. Further, the microtuberization was successfully produced when sucrose was supplemented at 8% (w/v) into the culture medium. Among all four tested PFP varieties, SB has proven to give the best results regarding the adaptability for in vitro cultivation.
Variation in Hydric Response of Two Industrial Hemp Varieties (Cannabis sativa) to Induced Water Stress
Authors: Duong Hang , Pearson Brian , Anderson Steven , Berthold Erin , Kjelgren Roger
Published: March 2023

Information on industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) water use and water stress is sparse. We studied water stress impact in two essential-oil hemp cultivars (‘Wife’ and ‘Cherry’) prompted by anecdotal differences in growth and water use. In a greenhouse setting, we measured water relations, water use, growth, and essential oil (CBD-cannabidiol and THC-delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) concentrations. Water stress did not significantly affect THC and CBD concentrations, but both cultivars responded to water stress by reducing transpiration through notably different mechanisms. ‘Cherry’ had more anisohydric behavior, maintaining high stomatal conductance (Gs) and more negative leaf water potential until root zone water depletion triggered partial afternoon stomatal closure to moderate stress, resulting in lower flower and CBD yield. By contrast, water-stressed ‘Wife’ rapidly defoliated half its leaf area in balance with less applied water and so maintained high Gs and flower yield on par with well-watered plants, suggesting potential for deficit irrigation to conserve water and reduce post-harvest vegetation management. Differences in water use translated to provisionally suggested crop coefficients of 1 for ‘Cherry’ and 1.3–1.5 for ‘Wife’, but further research is needed. Because hemp is genetically diverse, and cultivar naming conventions are currently lax, further germplasm screening and research are needed to determine the extent to which either conservative ‘Cherry’ or the water-stress defoliation response of ‘Wife’ is found in the larger population of hemp cultivars.
The Switch to Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Interplay between Personality and Mental Health on University Students
Authors: Alesi Marianna , Giordano Giulia , Gentile Ambra , Caci Barbara
Published: March 2023

The switching from traditional to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging for students, determining an increase in physical and mental health problems. The current paper applied a two-step cluster analysis in a large sample of n = 1028 university students (Mage = 21.10 years, SD = 2.45 years; range: 18–30 years; 78.4% females). Participants responded to an online survey exploring neuroticism, trait/state anxiety, general self-efficacy, academic motivation, fear of COVID-19, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical and mental health, and the help requests. Results showed two significant clusters of students having a Maladaptive Academic Profile (n = 456; 44.4%) or an Adaptive Academic Profile (n = 572; 55.6%). Significant differences were found between the two clusters, where students belonging to the Maladaptive Academic Profile reported higher levels of neuroticism, higher dispositional and situational anxiety, and fear of COVID-19, and lower self-efficacy and academic motivation than students of the Adaptive Academic Profile cluster. In addition, more physical or mental health problems and help requests, mainly to partners during the COVID-19 pandemic, were found in the Maladaptive Academic Profile cluster compared to the Adaptive Academic Profile. Finally, the practical implications of the study’s results in implementing university counseling services as protective measures to contrast psychological distress in the long-term COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.
Salus Platform: A Digital Health Solution Tool for Managing Syphilis Cases in Brazil—A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Brito Talita , Lima Thaísa , Cunha-Oliveira Aliete , Noronha André , Brito Cintia , Farias Fernando , Morais Sedir , Paiva Jailton , Honorato Cintia , Queirós Paulo , Gómez-Cantarino Sagrario , Lucena Márcia , Valentim Ricardo
Published: March 2023

(1) Introduction: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that constitutes a serious public health problem in Brazil and worldwide; (2) Methods: This was a descriptive and exploratory study that sought to analyze and compare the characteristics of Brazilian health systems with a new platform (Salus) developed by the Laboratory of Technological Innovation in Health in the scope of notification and management of disease data, including syphilis. In addition, this analysis aimed to assess whether Salus fully meets the necessary data management fields and can be indicated as a tool to improve health management in the context of syphilis in Brazil. (3) Results: In this study, the Salus functionalities were demonstrated and compared with the current Brazilian systems by discovering the existing gaps in the evaluated systems. The gaps found may explain the delay in meeting demands, the difficulty of making routine therapeutic follow-ups, in addition to interference with the vital purpose of follow-up in the epidemiological surveillance of diseases. As a result, Salus demonstrates functionalities that surpass all others and meet case management demands in a superior way to the systems currently used in the country. (4) Conclusions: The Brazilian health information systems related to the response to syphilis do not fulfill the purpose for which they were developed. Instead, they contribute to the fragmentation of health data and information, delays in diagnosis, incomplete case management, and loss of data due to inconsistencies and inadequate reporting. In addition, they are systems without interconnection, which do not articulate epidemiological surveillance actions with primary health care. All these factors may be obscuring accurate data on syphilis in Brazil, resulting in high and unnecessary public spending and late care for users of the Unified Health System (SUS).
Salivary Adiponectin and Albumin Levels on the Gingival Conditions of Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: A Cohort Study
Authors: Sales-Peres Silvia , Houghton Jack , Meira Gabriela , Moura-Grec Patrícia , Brienze Sergio , Karim Belkais , Carpenter Guy
Published: March 2023

This study analyzed the salivary proteomics, adiponectin and albumin, related to weight loss and periodontitis in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. This study included fourteen patients with morbid obesity (body mass index, BMI > 40 kg/m2) who underwent bariatric surgery Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in System Health Public in Brazil. Data on demographic and anthropometric measures were extracted from medical records preoperatively and 6 and 12 months post-surgery. The variables assessed were: probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), and stimulated whole-mouth saliva. In this study, saliva samples were analyzed by electrophoresis and immunoblotting. The ELISA kit was used to measure the MMP8 levels to determine potential markers for obesity. Adiponectin and albumin levels were also evaluated. Weight loss was associated with significant changes in patients’ periodontal clinical data. Although 7 out of 10 periodontal patients showed an increase in salivary adiponectin levels after root planning treatment, when analyzed by Western blotting, the increase was not statistically significant (21.1 ± 4.8 to 26.3 ± 9.4 arbitrary units, p > 0.99). There was no correlation between albumin levels and salivary adiponectin pre-surgery, nor 6 months or 12 months after surgery. Weight loss was not improved by low-grade inflammation in bariatric patients, since albumin levels were similar between periods. Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease that is modulated by several factors, among which adiponectin plays an important role for the treatment of periodontal disease.
Comparison of Collaborative and Cooperative Schemes in Sensor Networks for Non-Invasive Monitoring of People at Home
Authors: Del-Valle-Soto Carolina , Valdivia Leonardo J. , López-Pimentel Juan Carlos , Visconti Paolo
Published: March 2023

This paper looks at wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in healthcare, where they can monitor patients remotely. WSNs are considered one of the most promising technologies due to their flexibility and autonomy in communication. However, routing protocols in WSNs must be energy-efficient, with a minimal quality of service, so as not to compromise patient care. The main objective of this work is to compare two work schemes in the routing protocol algorithm in WSNs (cooperative and collaborative) in a home environment for monitoring the conditions of the elderly. The study aims to optimize the performance of the algorithm and the ease of use for people while analyzing the impact of the sensor network on the analysis of vital signs daily using medical equipment. We found relationships between vital sign metrics that have a more significant impact in the presence of a monitoring system. Finally, we conduct a performance analysis of both schemes proposed for the home tracking application and study their usability from the user’s point of view.
Street Children in Iran: What Are Their Living and Working Conditions? Findings from a Survey in Six Major Cities
Authors: Vameghi Meroe , Roshanfekr Payam , Ghaedamini Harouni Gholamreza , Takaffoli Marzieh , Bahrami Giti
Published: March 2023

Street children are among the most marginalized children, globally, who experience severe violations of their rights and face multiple deprivations. This study aimed to describe street children’s characteristics and working conditions in Iran. Method: This cross-sectional rapid survey was conducted from March to May 2017 in six major cities in Iran. The sample group consisted of Iranian and non-Iranian girls and boys, aged 10 to 18, who worked on the streets for at least one month prior to the survey. Time–location based sampling was used. A total of 856 Children were randomly selected from 464 venues, including corners of streets, parks, metro gates, bus stations, shopping malls, and shopping centers frequented by street children. Results: Findings showed that 90% of participants were boys, 60% were between 10 and 14 years old, almost 50% attended school, 12% were illiterate, and 32% had quit school. Children of Afghan nationality comprised 54% of the study participants, and the rest were Iranian. Of all participants, 85% resided with family or relatives. Most children (75.5%) worked more than 5 h daily, and vending (71.2%) and waste picking (16.1%) were common activities. Street children suffered, mainly, from harsh weather (22.7%), insults and beatings of everyday people (21%), starvation (20.7%), and police repression (15.4%). More than half of the study participants were not involved in intervention programs, and just 7% of them had attended any health education programs. Conclusion: Street children reported little to no service use, which may contribute to poor health. Street children require immediate attention to improve their wellbeing. Decision-makers and academicians should collaborate on intervention development research to design appropriate health and social interventions targeted at street children.
A Comparison of Machine Learning Models for Mapping Tree Species Using WorldView-2 Imagery in the Agroforestry Landscape of West Africa
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Ejaz Mahnoor , Nichol Janet E. , Farid Muhammad Shahid , Abbas Sawaid , Khan Muhammad Hassan
Published: March 2023

Farmland trees are a vital part of the local economy as trees are used by farmers for fuelwood as well as food, fodder, medicines, fibre, and building materials. As a result, mapping tree species is important for ecological, socio-economic, and natural resource management. The study evaluates very high-resolution remotely sensed WorldView-2 (WV-2) imagery for tree species classification in the agroforestry landscape of the Kano Close-Settled Zone (KCSZ), Northern Nigeria. Individual tree crowns extracted by geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) were used to remotely identify nine dominant tree species (Faidherbia albida, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Azadirachta indica, Diospyros mespiliformis, Mangifera indica, Parkia biglobosa, Piliostigma reticulatum, Tamarindus indica, and Vitellaria paradoxa) at the object level. For every tree object in the reference datasets, eight original spectral bands of the WV-2 image, their spectral statistics (minimum, maximum, mean, standard deviation, etc.), spatial, textural, and color-space (hue, saturation), and different spectral vegetation indices (VI) were used as predictor variables for the classification of tree species. Nine different machine learning methods were used for object-level tree species classification. These were Extra Gradient Boost (XGB), Gaussian Naïve Bayes (GNB), Gradient Boosting (GB), K-nearest neighbours (KNN), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM), Logistic Regression (LR), Multi-layered Perceptron (MLP), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machines (SVM). The two top-performing models in terms of highest accuracies for individual tree species classification were found to be SVM (overall accuracy = 82.1% and Cohen’s kappa = 0.79) and MLP (overall accuracy = 81.7% and Cohen’s kappa = 0.79) with the lowest numbers of misclassified trees compared to other machine learning methods.
Interactions between Malassezia and New Therapeutic Agents in Atopic Dermatitis Affecting Skin Barrier and Inflammation in Recombinant Human Epidermis Model
Authors: Lee Yu-Jin , Yassa Caren , Park Song-Hee , Song Seo Won , Jung Won Hee , Lee Yang Won , Kang Hoon , Kim Jung-Eun
Published: March 2023

Several studies have reported the pathogenic role of Malassezia in atopic dermatitis (AD); the significance of Malassezia’s influence on AD needs to be further investigated. Dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody to anti-Interleukin (IL) 4Rα, and ruxolitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK)1/2 inhibitor, are the first approved biologics and inhibitors widely used for AD treatment. In this study, we aimed to investigate how Malassezia Restricta (M. restricta) affects the skin barrier and inflammation in AD and interacts with the AD therapeutic agents ruxolitinib and anti-IL4Rα. To induce an in vitro AD model, a reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) was treated with IL-4 and IL-13. M. restricta was inoculated on the surface of RHE, and anti-IL4Rα or ruxolitinib was supplemented to model treated AD lesions. Histological and molecular analyses were performed. Skin barrier and ceramide-related molecules were downregulated by M. restricta and reverted by anti-IL4Rα and ruxolitinib. Antimicrobial peptides, VEGF, Th2-related, and JAK/STAT pathway molecules were upregulated by M. restricta and suppressed by anti-IL4Rα and ruxolitinib. These findings show that M. restricta aggravated skin barrier function and Th2 inflammation and decreased the efficacy of anti-IL4Rα and ruxolitinib.
Investigating the Effects of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide on the Maternal Endothelium to Determine Potential Implications for Preeclampsia
Authors: Binder Natalie K. , Beard Sally , de Alwis Natasha , Fato Bianca R. , Nguyen Tuong-Vi , Kaitu’u-Lino Tu’uhevaha J. , Hannan Natalie J.
Published: March 2023

Preeclampsia is associated with an increased lifelong risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is not clear whether this is induced by persistent systemic organ and vascular damage following preeclampsia or due to a predisposition to both conditions that share cardiovascular pathophysiology. Common to both CVD and preeclampsia is the dysregulation of corin and its proteolytic product, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). ANP, a hypotensive hormone converted from pro-ANP by corin, is involved in blood pressure homeostasis. While corin is predominantly a cardiac enzyme, both corin and pro-ANP are significantly upregulated in the gravid uterus and dysregulated in preeclampsia. Relatively little is known about ANP function in the endothelium during a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia. Here, we investigated the effect of ANP on endothelial cell proliferation and migration, markers of endothelial dysfunction, and receptor expression in omental arteries exposed to circulating preeclamptic toxins. ANP receptor expression is significantly upregulated in preeclamptic vasculature but not because of exposure to preeclampsia toxins tumour necrosis factor α or soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1. The supplementation of endothelial cells with ANP did not promote proliferation or migration, nor did ANP improve markers of endothelial dysfunction. The role of ANP in preeclampsia is unlikely to be via endothelial pathways.
5-Aminolevrinic Acid Exhibits Dual Effects on Stemness in Human Sarcoma Cell Lines under Dark Conditions
Authors: Horii Shohei , Mori Shiori , Ogata Ruiko , Nukaga Shota , Nishida Ryoichi , Kishi Shingo , Sasaki Rika , Ikemoto Ayaka , Owari Takuya , Maesaka Fumisato , Honoki Kanya , Miyake Makito , Tanaka Yasuhito , Fujimoto Kiyohide , Fujiwara-Tani Rina , Kuniyasu Hiroki
Published: March 2023

5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is used for tumor-targeting phototherapy because it is converted to protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) upon excitation and induces phototoxicity. However, the effect of ALA on malignant cells under unexcited conditions is unclear. This information is essential when administering ALA systemically. We used sarcoma cell lines that usually arise deep in the body and are rarely exposed to light to examine the effects of ALA treatment under light (daylight lamp irradiation) and dark (dark room) conditions. ALA-treated human SW872 liposarcoma cells and human MG63 osteosarcoma cells cultured under light exhibited growth suppression and increased oxidative stress, while cells cultured in the dark showed no change. However, sphere-forming ability increased in the dark, and the expression of stem-cell-related genes was induced in dark, but not light, conditions. ALA administration increased heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) expression in both cell types; when carbon monoxide (CO), a metabolite of HO-1, was administered to sarcoma cells via carbon-monoxide-releasing molecule 2 (CORM2), it enhanced sphere-forming ability. We also compared the concentration of biliverdin (BVD) (a co-product of HO-1 activity alongside CO) with sphere-forming ability when HO-1 activity was inhibited using ZnPPIX in the dark. Both cell types showed a peak in sphere-forming ability at 60–80 μM BVD. Furthermore, a cell death inhibitor assay revealed that the HO-1-induced suppression of sphere formation was rescued by apoptosis or ferroptosis inhibitors. These findings suggest that in the absence of excitation, ALA promotes HO-1 expression and enhances the stemness of sarcoma cells, although excessive HO-1 upregulation induces apoptosis and ferroptosis. Our data indicate that systemic ALA administration induces both enhanced stemness and cell death in malignant cells located in dark environments deep in the body and highlight the need to pay attention to drug delivery and ALA concentrations during phototherapy.