bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immune Responses and Transcriptomic Analysis of Nilaparvata lugens against Metarhizium anisopliae YTTR Mediated by Rice Ragged Stunt Virus
Authors: Li Xuewen , Zhang Bang , Zou Jiaxing , Li Qianqian , Liu Jianli , Cai Shouping , Akutse Komivi Senyo , You Minsheng , Lin Sheng
Published: January 2023

Plant viruses and entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) can both elicit immune responses in insects. This study was designed to clarify whether plant viruses could affect the efficacy of EPF and explore the immune responses of brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, in response to different pathogen infections. In this study, a strain of Metarhizium anisopliae YTTR with high pathogenicity against BPH was selected and explored whether rice ragged stunt virus (RRSV) could affect its lethality against BPH. RNA-seq was used to detect the inner responses of BPH in response to RRSV and M. anisopliae YTTR infection. Results showed that M. anisopliae YTTR has strong lethality against BPH (RRSV-carrying and RRSV-free). RRSV invasion did not affect the susceptibility of BPH against M. anisopliae YTTR at all concentrations. At 1 × 108 spores/mL, M. anisopliae YTTR caused a cumulative mortality of 80% to BPH at 7 days post-treatment. The largest numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was obtained in BPH treated with the two pathogens than in other single pathogen treatment. In addition, KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were mostly enriched in immune and physiological mechanisms-related pathways. Both RRSV and M. anisopliae YTTR could induce the expression changes of immune-related genes. However, most of the immune genes had varying expression patterns in different treatment. Our findings demonstrated that RRSV invasion did not have any significant effect on the pathogenicity of M. anisopliae YTTR, while the co-infection of M. anisopliae YTTR and RRSV induced more immune and physiological mechanisms -related genes’ responses. In addition, the presence of RRSV could render the interplay between BPH and M. anisopliae YTTR more intricate. These findings laid a basis for further elucidating the immune response mechanisms of RRSV-mediated BPH to M. anisopliae infection.
Brassica napus Transcription Factor Bna.A07.WRKY70 Negatively Regulates Leaf Senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Liu Tiantian , Li Yuxin , Wang Chang , Zhang Da , Liu Jiajia , He Mingyuan , Chen Mingxun , Guo Yuan
Published: January 2023

Leaf senescence is the final stage of leaf development and is essential for storage properties and crop productivity. WRKY transcription factors have been revealed to play crucial roles in several biological processes during plant growth and development, especially in leaf senescence. However, the functions of Brassica napus WRKY transcription factors in leaf senescence remain unclear. In the present study, Bna.A07.WRKY70, one paralogue of Brassica napus WRKY70, was cloned from the B. napus cultivar “Zhongshuang11 (ZS11)”. We found that Bna.A07.WRKY70 contains a highly conserved WRKY domain and is most closely related to Arabidopsis thaliana WRKY70. The subcellular localization and transcriptional self-activation assays indicated that Bna.A07.WRKY70 functions as a transcription factor. Meanwhile, RT-qPCR and promoter-GUS analysis showed that Bna.A07.WRKY70 is predominantly expressed in the leaves of B. napus and rosette leaves of A. thaliana. In addition, our results demonstrated that ectopic expression of Bna.A07.WRKY70 in A. thaliana wrky70 mutants could restore the senescence phenotypes to wild-type levels. Consistently, the expression levels of three senescence-related marker genes of wrky70 mutants were restored to wild-type levels by ectopic expression of Bna.A07.WRKY70. These findings improve our understanding of the function of Bna.A07.WRKY70 in B. napus and provide a novel strategy for breeding the new stay-green cultivars in rapeseed through genetic manipulation.
Exploring the Ecological Preferences and Essential Oil Variability in Wild-Growing Populations of the Endangered Local Greek Endemic Thymus holosericeus (Lamiaceae)
Authors: Tsiftsoglou Olga S. , Stagiopoulou Rafaela , Krigas Nikos , Lazari Diamanto
Published: January 2023

Thymus holosericeus Čelak. (Lamiaceae) is a taxonomically isolated and endangered local endemic thyme species which is geographically isolated in four Ionian Islands (West Greece). The present study investigated the essential oil (EO) composition, the ecological preferences, and their correlations in three T. holosericeus wild-growing populations from Zakynthos (ΤH-Z), Cephalonia (ΤH-C) and Lefkada (ΤH-L). The variations in essential oil yield and the composition of T. holosericeus populations were evaluated using hydrodistillation, GC/MS, TLC and NMR analysis. The climatic conditions of each sample were organized and analyzed in RStudio with the raster package and in SPSS with Pearson’s Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA), respectively. The aerial parts of the plants varied in EO yields from 1.92 to 2.28% w/v. The analysis of EO constituents revealed noteworthy qualitative and quantitative inter-population variation. The composition of EOs revealed the presence of linalool (82.77%) and borneol (5.95%) as major compounds in ΤH-Z, while carvacrol (35.34%), geraniol (23.98%), linalool (14.37%), borneol (5.66%), thymol (4.27%) and p-cymene (4.08%) were the main compounds in ΤH-C and linalool (40.37%), geraniol (39.42%) and borneol (5.20%) were dominant components in ΤH-L. The results of the gas chromatography procedure have also been confirmed by 1H and 13C-NMR and TLC analysis. The ecological profile showed an average annual precipitation of 942 ± 18.33 mm and the temperature limits in which T. holosericeus seems to adapt to are 6.80± 1.08 °C 27.70 ± 0.70 °C. Regarding the examined samples, TH-C was adapted to the driest summer and coldest winter conditions, TH-Z was adapted to the lowest annual precipitation with the most complex climatic conditions, and TH-L was adapted to the highest summer temperatures with the lowest precipitation in the wettest period of the year. For each sampled population, the CCA identified the association of the samples’ EOs composition with the prevailing local environmental conditions.
Spermine-Salicylic Acid Interplay Restrains Salt Toxicity in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Talaat Neveen B. , Hanafy Alaa M. A.
Published: January 2023

Spermine (SPM) and salicylic acid (SA) are plant growth regulators, eliciting specific responses against salt toxicity. In this study, the potential role of 30 mgL−1 SPM and/or 100 mgL−1 SA in preventing salt damage was investigated. Wheat plants were grown under non-saline or saline conditions (6.0 and 12.0 dS m−1) with and without SA and/or SPM foliar applications. Exogenously applied SA and/or SPM alleviated the inhibition of plant growth and productivity under saline conditions by increasing Calvin cycle enzyme activity. Foliage applications also improved ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase activities, which effectively scavenged hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radicals in stressed plants. Furthermore, foliar treatments increased antioxidants such as ascorbate and glutathione, which effectively detoxified reactive oxygen species (ROS). Exogenous applications also increased N, P, and K+ acquisition, roots’ ATP content, and H+-pump activity, accompanied by significantly lower Na+ accumulation in stressed plants. Under saline environments, exogenous SA and/or SPM applications raised endogenous SA and SPM levels. Co-application of SA and SPM gave the best response. The newly discovered data suggest that the increased activities of Calvin cycle enzymes, root H+-pump, and antioxidant defense machinery in treated plants are a mechanism for salt tolerance. Therefore, combining the use of SA and SPM can be a superior method for reducing salt toxicity in sustainable agricultural systems.
Influence of Geographical Orchard Location on the Microbiome from the Progeny of a Pecan Controlled Cross
Authors: Cervantes Kimberly , Velasco-Cruz Ciro , Grauke L. , Wang Xinwang , Conner Patrick , Wells Lenny , Bock Clive , Pisani Cristina , Randall Jennifer
Published: January 2023

Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K.Koch production has expanded beyond the native distribution as the genetic diversity of the species, in part, has allowed the trees to grow under broad geographic and climatic ranges. Research in other plant species has demonstrated that the phytobiome enhances their ability to survive and thrive in specific environments and, conversely, is influenced by the prevailing environment and plant genetics, among other factors. We sought to analyze the microbiota of pecan seedlings from the controlled cross ‘Lakota’ × ‘Oaxaca’ that were made in Georgia and Texas, respectively, to determine if the maternal geographical origin influences the microbiome of the resulting progeny. No significant differences in bacterial communities were observed between the seeds obtained from the two different states (p = 0.081). However, seed origin did induce significant differences in leaf fungal composition (p = 0.012). Results suggest that, in addition to some environmental, epigenetics, or host genetic components, ecological processes, such as dispersal mechanisms of the host, differentially impact the pecan microbiome, which may have ramifications for the health of trees grown in different environments. Future studies on the role of the microbiome in plant health and productivity will aid in the development of sustainable agriculture for improved food security.
Extracts from Chlorella vulgaris Protect Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Oxidative Stress Induced by Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Savvidou Maria G. , Georgiopoulou Ioulia , Antoniou Nasia , Tzima Soultana , Kontou Maria , Louli Vasiliki , Fatouros Chronis , Magoulas Kostis , Kolisis Fragiskos N.
Published: January 2023

Microalgae as unicellular eukaryotic organisms demonstrate several advantages for biotechnological and biological applications. Natural derived microalgae products demand has increased in food, cosmetic and nutraceutical applications lately. The natural antioxidants have been used for attenuation of mitochondrial cell damage caused by oxidative stress. This study evaluates the in vitro protective effect of Chlorella vulgaris bioactive extracts against oxidative stress in human mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs). The classical solid-liquid and the supercritical extraction, using biomass of commercially available and laboratory cultivated C. vulgaris, are employed. Oxidative stress induced by 300 μM H2O2 reduces cell viability of MSCs. The addition of C. vulgaris extracts, with increased protein content compared to carbohydrates, to H2O2 treated MSCs counteracted the oxidative stress, reducing reactive oxygen species levels without affecting MSC proliferation. The supercritical extraction was the most efficient extraction method for carotenoids resulting in enhanced antioxidant activity. Pre-treatment of MSCs with C. vulgaris extracts mitigates the oxidative damage ensued by H2O2. Initial proteomic analysis of secretome from licensed (TNFα-activated) MSCs treated with algal extracts reveals a signature of differentially regulated proteins that fall into clinically relevant pathways such as inflammatory signaling. The enhanced antioxidative and possibly anti-inflammatory capacity could be explored in the context of future cell therapies.
Increasing the Salt Stress Tolerance of Some Tomato Cultivars under the Influence of Growth Regulators
Authors: Covașă Mihaela , Slabu Cristina , Marta Alina Elena , Jităreanu Carmenica Doina
Published: January 2023

Areas with saline soils are in continuous expansion, and in this context, it is very important to find solutions that help plants adapt more easily to these stress conditions, and to identify the main physiological and biochemical mechanisms involved in determining a good adaptability of plants. Biostimulants could be a plausible solution. This study was conducted in 2021 at the IULS (Iasi University of Life Sciences) in Romania, under greenhouse conditions and the biological material consisted of four tomato varieties: Buzau, Elisabeta, Bacovia, and Lillagro. For the treatments, we used natrium chloride (NaCl) 120 mM and an Atonik biostimulant. Three treatments were applied at intervals of 14 days. The Atonik biostimulant was applied by foliar spray, and the saline solution was applied to the root system. We have gathered some observations on the growth and fruiting character of the tomato plants studied: the height of the stems, the number of flowers in the inflorescence, the number of fruits, and the weight of fruits. Chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments as well as proline amino acid from leaves were also measured. Observations were made 14 days after the application of each treatment. Quantitative determinations were made 14 days after the application of the third treatment. The findings of this study made it clear that the Atonik biostimulant presented a positive effect on the physiological processes observed in tomato plants grown under salt stress conditions.
Surface Modified CoCrFeNiMo High Entropy Alloys for Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Seawater
Authors: Chen Zhibin , Huang Kang , Zhang Tianyi , Xia Jiuyang , Wu Junsheng , Zhang Zequn , Zhang Bowei
Published: January 2023

Electrolysis of seawater is a promising technique to desalinate seawater and produce high-purity hydrogen production for freshwater and renewable energy, respectively. For the application of seawater electrolysis technique on a large scale, simplicity of manufacture method, repeatability of catalyst products, and stable product quality is generally required in the industry. In this work, a facile, one-step, and metal salt-free fabrication method was developed for the seawater-oxygen-evolution-active catalysts composed of CoCrFeNiMo layered double hydroxide array self-supported on CoCrFeNiMo high entropy alloy substrate. The obtained catalysts show improved performance for oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline artificial seawater solution. The best-performing sample delivered the current densities of 10, 50, and 100 mA cm−2 at low overpotentials of 260.1, 294.3, and 308.4 mV, respectively. In addition, high stability is also achieved since no degradation was observed over the chronoamperometry test of 24 h at the overpotential corresponding to 100 mA cm−2. Furthermore, a failure mechanism OER activity of multi-element LDHs catalysts was put forward in order to enhance catalytic performance and design catalysts with long-term durability.
An Experimental Study of Wall Effect on a Hot Settling Sphere in a Newtonian-Fluid-Contained Block Using Photography
Authors: Ashouri Mojtaba , Kayhani Mohammad Hasan , Nazari Mohsen
Published: January 2023

In this study, the effect of temperature on the velocity and trajectory of a hot sphere falling in a water block was experimentally investigated. The sphere, 12 mm in diameter, was thrown through the water inside an enclosure at the ambient temperature by an electromagnetic attachment mechanism, and the particle velocity was recorded by a high-speed camera at 2000 fps. Then, using an image-processing algorithm, the real-time particle location was extracted and its velocity was measured. The results of the cold sphere falling test were compared with those obtained from the numerical solving by the governing equations. An electric heater was used to heat the sphere up to 100, 200, and 300 °C in order to investigate the effect of temperature on the sphere. The sphere was thrown upon reaching the desired temperature. By increasing the temperature, the sphere’s velocity was increased up to around 40% of the velocity of the cold sphere. Further, the sphere was thrown from a point in the vicinity of the wall to investigate the wall impact on the particle movement. This led the sphere to deviate from its trajectory, with the deviation in the cold sphere being negligible, i.e., around 30% of the sphere’s diameter. However, the rate of deviation was much more notable upon increasing the temperature. The deviation start point varied depending on the sphere’s temperature, with the highest deviation that was observed for a sphere with a temperature of 100 °C. Ultimately, the sphere traveled in a more extended way, with no deviation from the main trajectory, when its temperature was increased.
Friction Optimization of Talc Powder-Reinforced Elastomers for Prosthetic Foot Application
Authors: Khafidh Muhammad , Suryawan Donny , Kistriyani Lilis , Naufal Muhammad , Ismail Rifky
Published: January 2023

Patients with lower limb amputation usually use prosthetic feet. Elastomeric material is an important part of prosthetic feet since it can determine their safety and lifetime. The elastomeric material should have high friction for safety, and at the same time it should have low wear for a longer lifetime. This research is aimed to study the optimum formulation of talc-powder-reinforced silicone elastomer to obtain high friction during sliding contact. The Taguchi orthogonal array L9 formula is used to achieve the aforementioned goal. The experiments use multiple parameters, namely, the type of silicone, the type of surface texture, the amount of catalyst, and the amount of talc powder. The results show that the combination of RTV 683, a smooth texture, 4% of catalyst, and 60% of talc powder is the most optimum composition to obtain the highest frictional force. It has a higher friction force in comparison with the imported products, and, at the same time, it has comparable wear with the imported products. The hardness of the optimized materials is comparable with the imported products. However, the tensile and tear strengths of the optimized materials need to be improved.
Adversarial Artificial Intelligence in Insurance: From an Example to Some Potential Remedies
Authors: Amerirad Behnaz , Cattaneo Matteo , Kenett Ron S. , Luciano Elisa
Published: January 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a tool that financial intermediaries and insurance companies use or are willing to use in almost all their activities. AI can have a positive impact on almost all aspects of the insurance value chain: pricing, underwriting, marketing, claims management, and after-sales services. While it is very important and useful, AI is not free of risks, including those related to its robustness against so-called adversarial attacks, which are conducted by external entities to misguide and defraud the AI algorithms. The paper is designed to review adversarial AI and to discuss its implications for the insurance sector. We give a taxonomy of adversarial attacks and present an original, fully fledged example of claims falsification in health insurance, as well as some remedies which are consistent with the current regulatory framework.
Microbead-Beating Extraction of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds from Seabird Plasma and Whole Blood
Authors: Moradi Vida , Halldorson Thor , Idowu Ifeoluwa , Xia Zhe , Vitharana Nipuni , Marvin Chris , Thomas Philippe J. , Tomy Gregg T.
Published: January 2023

Seabirds are widely regarded as an invaluable bioindicator of environmental health. Matrices including eggs and feathers have been used as non-lethal means to assess contaminant burdens. We have developed a new approach for extraction of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) from seabird plasma and serum based on automated microbead-beating homogenization and extraction. Commercially available bovine serum and plasma were purposely fortified with a suite of PACs separately at three dosing levels, placed inside a custom-made stainless-steel tube containing ceramic microbeads, and subjected to an extraction process using a Precellys tissue homogenizer. Tubes were shaken forcefully in three-dimensions, facilitating high mass-transfer of PACs from the matrix into the hexane extraction solvent. The accuracy of the method ranged from 55 to 120% and limits of detection and quantitation ranged from 0.1 to 8 and 0.2 to 27 pg/μL, respectively. The method exhibited good repeatability with both inter- and intra-day repeatability < 30%. The developed method represents an effective and efficient approach to extraction of PACs from important biological matrices.
A Simple Stability-Indicating UPLC Method for the Concurrent Assessment of Paracetamol and Caffeine in Pharmaceutical Formulations
Authors: Ahmad Wasim , Hassan Yousif Amin , Ahmad Ayaz , Suroor Manal , Sarafroz Mohammad , Alam Prawez , Wahab Shadma , Salam Shahana
Published: January 2023

A fixed-dose combination of paracetamol (PCM) and caffeine (CAF) tablets/capsules is the most frequently used over-the-counter medicine for fever and headache. In this paper, a simple, reliable, sensitive, rapid, and stability-indicating ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) analytical method was proposed for simultaneously assessing PCM and CAF in pharmaceutical formulations. The UPLC method was developed on an Acquity UPLC® CSHTM C18 column, and the column oven temperature was maintained at 35 ± 5 °C with isocratic elution by using a solution of methanol and water (30:70, v/v). The maximum absorbance of PCM and CAF was observed at 272.5 nm. The flow rate was 0.2 mL/min, and the injection volume was 1 µL, with the total run time of 2 min for the separation of PCM and CAF. The proposed UPLC method was validated according to the ICH guidelines, and it demonstrated excellent linearity, with correlation coefficients of 0.9995 and 0.9999 over the concentration ranges of 40–400 and 7–70 ng/mL for PCM and CAF, respectively. The mean retention times of 0.82 ± 0.0 and 1.16 ± 0.02 were observed for PCM and CAF, respectively. The limits of detection and quantification were 16.62 and 3.86 for PCM, respectively, and 50.37 and 11.70 for CAF, respectively. PCM and CAF were subjected to acidic, alkali, oxidative, phytochemical, dry-heat, and wet-heat degradation. The method was found to well separate the analytes’ peaks from degradation peaks, with no alterations in retention times. The proposed method is linear, precise, accurate, specific, and robust, and it can indicate stability and be used for the quantitative assessment of pharmaceutical formulations comprising PCM and CAF within a short period of time.
Occupational Health and Safety among Female Commercial Sex Workers in Ghana: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Antwi Andrea A. , Ross Michael W. , Markham Christine
Published: January 2023

The topic of occupational health and safety (OHS) has been investigated for many years and continues to be a concept often researched today. Generally speaking, OHS research has been centered around food safety, construction safety, transportation safety, fire safety, drug and alcohol testing, health and medical management, and industrial hygiene, to name a few. However, the concept of OHS concerning female commercial sex workers (FCSWs) has rarely been investigated, often neglected, seldom discussed, and is lacking in sound research. Although regarded as the “oldest profession”, commercial sex work (CSW) has consistently been ignored, disregarded, and under-researched due to the illegality and stigmatization of prostitution. This paper reviews occupational safety and health issues faced by FCSWs in Tema and Accra, Ghana, through in-depth interviews, visits to women’s homes, fieldwork, informal conversations, and observations with FCSWs during the summer of May 2012–July 2012. Facets of OHS that emerged among FCSWs included: sexually transmissible infections, risks associated with harassment and violence from police and clients, alcohol and drug use, irregular hospital visits or lack of hospital visits, immigration issues, legal hazards, and working conditions. We argue that CSW be viewed as an occupation in great need of interventions to reduce workplace risks.
Changes in Social Interventions after COVID-19: The Experience of Front-Line Social Workers
Authors: Casado Tatiana , Rosselló Maria Victoria , Cañas-Lerma Ana
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way of delivering social services in primary care settings all over the world. In March 2020 the lockdowns in every European country forced the population to adjust their lives to the new scenario. Welfare states had to quickly respond to the urgent social and economic needs of the citizens. Therefore, social workers were compelled to modify their standard procedures to overcome the difficulties they faced during the first months after lockdown orders were issued due to COVID-19. The present research analyzes the interviews conducted with twelve Spanish social workers to find out their perceptions and concerns about the consequences of that period. Results showed great changes in the way of delivering social services (simplifying procedures and managing an increasing workload), but also demonstrated different strategies that these professionals implemented to prevent burnout or compassion fatigue (team spirit, efforts to develop interinstitutional coordination, support to civil society in non-profit initiatives). Implications in organizational aspects are discussed.
Biochip Systems for Intelligence and Integration
Authors: Wang Junhao , Sun Bihao , Zhu Zhiyuan
Published: January 2023

Disease is one of the major threats to human life and health, and historically there have been many cases which threatened human life due to infectious diseases. In almost all cases, specific triggers for the emergence of disease can be identified, so there is an urgent need for effective detection and identification of most diseases, including infectious diseases. Therefore, this article proposes biochip systems as a tool for disease detection and risk assessment, and explains why they are effective in detecting disease, in terms of their working mechanisms, advantages and disadvantages, specific application scenarios and future trends.
Epigenetics and Methylmercury-Induced Neurotoxicity, Evidence from Experimental Studies
Authors: Ke Tao , Tinkov Alexey , Skalny Anatoly , Santamaria Abel , Rocha Joao , Bowman Aaron , Chen Wen , Aschner Michael
Published: January 2023

MeHg is an environmental neurotoxin that can adversely affect the development of the nervous system. The molecular integrity of chromatin in the nucleus is an important target of MeHg. Low levels of MeHg trigger epigenetic mechanisms that may be involved in long-lasting and transgenerational neurotoxicity after exposure. Emerging evidence has shown that these mechanisms include histone modification, siRNA, and DNA methylation. The MeHg-induced inhibition of neurodifferentiation and neurogenesis are mechanistically associated with epigenetic alterations in critical genes, such as neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Further, MeHg exposure has been shown to alter the activity and/or expression of the upstream regulators of chromatin structure, including histone deacetylases (HDACs) and DNA methyltransferase (DNMTs), which may trigger permanent alterations in histone modifications and DNA methylation. MeHg-exposure also alters several species of miRNA that are associated with neurodevelopment. Genetic studies in the C. elegans model of MeHg-induced toxicity proposes a potential interplay between exogenous RNAi and antioxidant defense. In this review, we discuss the molecular basis for MeHg exposure-induced alterations in chromatin structure and the roles of histone modifications, siRNA, and DNA methylation in MeHg-induced neurotoxic effects.
Successful Utilization of Kidney Allografts with Diffuse Glomerular Fibrin Thrombi on the Preimplantation Biopsy after Circulatory Death: A Case Series
Authors: Bhusal Sushma , Hardgrave Hailey , Sharma Aparna , Burdine Lyle , Patel Raj , Barone Gary , Gokden Neriman , Giorgakis Emmanouil
Published: January 2023

Background: Kidney allografts with the presence of diffuse glomerular fibrin thrombi are typically rejected by most centers due to concern for poor allograft outcomes in the recipients. The aim of this study was to report our single center experience in the use of such deceased donor allografts. Methods: Retrospective single-center cohort study of kidney transplant recipients who received deceased donor allografts with moderate-to-severe diffuse glomerular fibrin microthrombi on the pre-implantation biopsy. Results: Three adult recipients received deceased donor kidney transplantation from donation after circulatory death donors. One patient was pre-emptive to dialysis at the time of transplant. The donors had moderate-to-severe diffuse glomerular fibrin thrombi on preimplantation biopsies with no evidence of cortical necrosis. Mean follow-up period was 196 days. None of the recipients developed delayed allograft function. The mean 3-month and 6-month creatinine were 1.6 and 1.5 mg/dL, respectively, with corresponding mean eGFRs (estimated glomerular filtration rates) of 45.7 and 47.3 mL/min/1.73m2. Conclusions: After excluding significant cortical necrosis by experienced transplant renal pathologist, otherwise transplantable kidney allografts with diffuse fibrin thrombi may be successfully transplanted in renal transplant recipients with good renal outcomes.
Trichomonas tenax: A Neglected Protozoan Infection in the Oral Cavities of Humans and Dogs—A Scoping Review
Authors: Matthew Maurice A. , Yang Nawu , Ketzis Jennifer , Mukaratirwa Samson , Yao Chaoqun
Published: January 2023

Trichomonas tenax is a flagellated protozoan parasite found in the oral cavities of humans and animals and has been associated with periodontal disease, the most prevalent inflammatory disease affecting them all. Studies have shown that T. tenax can cause damage to mammalian cells and secretes virulent proteins, such as cysteine. It is presently considered zoonotic. Despite the few studies that have been done, the pathogenicity of this oral protozoan is still not fully understood. A database search was performed in July 2022 using PubMed and Google Scholar to retrieve data eligible for this study. PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed to conduct this scoping review. A total of 321 articles were found with 87 included in this review after applying the exclusion criteria. Due to its increasing prevalence worldwide in both humans and dogs, detecting and elucidating the pathogenicity of this parasite is paramount for effective global control and prevention of periodontal disease. However, there is a paucity in the literature on this neglected zoonotic trichomonad, which is in large contrast to the closely related human pathogen T. vaginalis. Here, we comprehensively review the history, morphology and reproduction, host, prevalence, diagnosis, pathogenicity, control, and prevention of T. tenax. Hopefully, this article will call attention to both medical and veterinary professionals as well as epidemiologists on this most neglected and zoonotic protozoan. More epidemiological and clinical studies need to be conducted on T. tenax to gain a better understanding of its pathogenicity, to increase the chances of developing effective drugs to aid in the control of this oral parasite, and reduce the spread of periodontal disease worldwide.
Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Intention among Nurses Who Have Been Fully Vaccinated against COVID-19: Evidence from Greece
Authors: Galanis Petros , Katsiroumpa Aglaia , Vraka Irene , Siskou Olga , Konstantakopoulou Olympia , Katsoulas Theodoros , Kaitelidou Daphne
Published: January 2023

Seasonal influenza continues to be a significant public health issue causing hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. Nurses are a priority risk group for influenza vaccination and a high vaccine uptake rate among them is crucial to protect public health. Thus, the aim of our study was to estimate the levels of influenza vaccine acceptance, as well as its determinants, among nurses for the 2022/2023 season. We conducted a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample in Greece. We collected data via an online survey in September 2022. Most of the nurses in the study possessed a MSc/PhD diploma (56.2%) and had previously been infected by SARS-CoV-2 (70.3%). Among nurses, 57.3% were willing to accept the influenza vaccine, 19% were hesitant, and 23.7% were unwilling. Older age, higher levels of perceived support from significant others, and higher COVID-19-related physical exhaustion were positively related to influenza vaccination intention. In contrast, more side effects because of COVID-19 vaccination and higher levels of exhaustion due to measures taken against COVID-19 were negatively associated with vaccination intention. Since the influenza vaccination acceptance rate among nurses was moderate, policymakers should develop and implement measures tailored specifically to nurses in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic to decrease vaccine hesitancy.
Autoinflammation in Syndromic Hidradenitis Suppurativa: The Role of AIM2
Authors: Moltrasio Chiara , Cagliani Rachele , Sironi Manuela , Clerici Mario , Pontremoli Chiara , Maronese Carlo Alberto , Tricarico Paola Maura , Crovella Sergio , Marzano Angelo Valerio
Published: January 2023

Background: AIM2 is a key cytoplasmatic pathogen-sensor that detects foreign DNA from viruses and bacteria; it can also recognize damaged or anomalous presence of DNA, promoting inflammasome assembly and activation with the secretion of IL-1β, thus sustaining a chronic inflammatory state, potentially leading to the onset of autoinflammatory skin diseases. Given the implication of the IL-1β pathway in the pathogenesis of syndromic hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), an autoinflammatory immune-mediated skin condition, the potential involvement of AIM2 was investigated. Methods: Sequencing of the whole coding region of the AIM2 gene, comprising 5′- and 3′ UTR and a region upstream of the first exon of ~800 bp was performed in twelve syndromic HS patients. Results: Six out of twelve syndromic HS patients carried a heterozygous variant c.−208 A ≥ C (rs41264459), located on the promoter region of the AIM2 gene, with a minor allele frequency of 0.25, which is much higher than that reported in 1000 G and GnomAD (0.075 and 0.094, respectively). The same variant was found at a lower allelic frequency in sporadic HS and isolated pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) (0.125 and 0.065, respectively). Conclusion: Our data suggest that this variant might play a role in susceptibility to develop syndromic forms of HS but not to progress to sporadic HS and PG. Furthermore, epigenetic and/or somatic variations could affect AIM2 expression leading to different, context-dependent responses.
Genomic Characterization of Dengue Virus Outbreak in 2022 from Pakistan
Authors: Umair Massab , Haider Syed Adnan , Rehman Zaira , Jamal Zunera , Ali Qasim , Hakim Rabia , Bibi Shaheen , Ikram Aamer , Salman Muhammad
Published: January 2023

Pakistan, a dengue-endemic country, has encountered several outbreaks during the past decade. The current study aimed to explore the serotype and genomic diversity of dengue virus responsible for the 2022 outbreak in Pakistan. From August to October 2022, NS-1 positive blood samples (n = 343) were collected from dengue patients, among which, (85%; n = 293) were positive based on RT-PCR. In terms of gender and age, dengue infection was more prevalent in male patients (63%; n = 184), with more adults (21–30 years; n = 94) being infected. The serotyping results revealed DENV-2 to be the most predominant serotype (62%; n = 183), followed by DENV-1 (37%; n = 109) and DENV-3 (0.32%; n = 1). Moreover, a total of 10 samples (DENV-2; n = 8, DENV-1; n = 2) were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Among these, four were collected in early 2022, and six were collected between August and October 2022. Phylogenetic analysis of DENV-2 sequenced samples (n = 8) revealed a monophyletic clade of cosmopolitan genotype IVA, which is closely related to sequences from China and Singapore 2018, and DENV-1 samples (n = 2) show genotype III, which is closely related to Pakistan isolates from 2019. We also reported the first whole genome sequence of a coinfection case (DENV1-DENV2) in Pakistan detected through a meta-genome approach. Thus, dengue virus dynamics reported in the current study warrant large-scale genomic surveillance to better respond to future outbreaks.
Optimal Mileage of Electric Vehicles Considering Range Anxiety and Charging Times
Authors: He Xiuhong , Hu Yingying
Published: January 2023

This paper aims to find out the optimal mileage of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by considering the trade-off between range anxiety and charging times, since frequent charging is a customary way to ease range anxiety for BEV drivers in practice, but declines the life cycle of battery and increases the charging cost. We propose a power function to measure the range anxiety and then solve two types of optimal mileages. The results show that the increment of BEVs’ cruising range increases the optimal absolute mileage but decreases the optimal relative mileage, while the improvement of the driver’s tolerance to range anxiety increases both. It is concluded that improving the driver’s tolerance, such as by expanding charging infrastructures and raising drivers’ practical experience with BEVs, is more effective than the increment of BEVs’ cruising range. The findings help to understand the optimal mileage of EVs and provide recommendations on the design of BEVs’ cruising range.
LGBTQ2S+ Youth Perspectives on Mental Healthcare Provider Bias, Standards of Care, and Accountability
Authors: Chaiton Michael , Thorburn Rachel , Sutton Megan , Feng Patrick
Published: January 2023

This study explores the experiences of LGBTQ2S+ youth while accessing mental health and substance use care services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a series of facilitated virtual meetings, 33 LGBTQ2S+ youth from across Ontario participated in collaborative activities to identify barriers they have experienced when accessing mental health services, as well as potential solutions to these barriers. Discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that LGBTQ2S+ youth disproportionately experience bias, discrimination, and heteronormative assumptions when accessing mental health services, resulting in negative care experiences. Youth also reported insufficient availability of quality care, little continuity in care, and a lack of educated providers capable of effectively addressing the needs of the community. Potential solutions proposed by youth include training resources for providers, LGBTQ2S+ specific care centers, better continuity of care, and assessments to ensure care providers are culturally competent. These results show the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the disparities LGBTQ2S+ youth experience when accessing mental health services and highlight the urgent need to implement policies and programs that will advance the standards of care for LGBTQ2S+ youth.
Síndrome de Burnout en residentes de enfermería intensiva y emergencia durante la pandemia de Covid-19
Authors: Sarduy Lugo Mirelys , Sarduy Lugo Anabel , Fernández Rodríguez Yuleidy
Published: January 2023

La formación de especialistas en enfermería intensiva y emergencia se reinició en Cuba durante el desarrollo desbastador de la pandemia de Covid-19. Estos profesionales estuvieron directamente involucrados en la atención de los pacientes graves hospitalizados con la enfermedad, que les exigió alto grado de desempeño desde el punto de vista físico y psíquico. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal en la provincia Villa Clara durante el primer trimestre del año 2022 con el objetivo de determinar la presencia de Síndrome de Burnout en los residentes de segundo año de la especialidad enfermería intensiva y emergencia. A los 15 residentes se les aplicó el Cuestionario Maslach Burnout Inventory después de dar su consentimiento oral y escrito para participar en el estudio. Prevalecieron las mujeres entre 31 a 40 años de edad y con más de 15 años de experiencia profesional en cuidados intensivos, la totalidad de los residentes tuvieron niveles altos de agotamiento emocional y baja realización personal mientras que la mayoría presentaron niveles altos de despersonalización. Se pudo concluir que la totalidad de los residentes de segundo año de la especialidad de enfermería intensiva presentaron Síndrome de Burnout moderado durante la atención a pacientes con Covid-19 en unidades de cuidados intensivos.
Liderazgo en el abastecimiento de vacunas: segmentación y vivencias que afronta Latinoamérica en el contexto de la COVID-19
Authors: Díaz Amador Yanedsy , Soto Rodríguez Maykel , Mena Martínez Francisco , Yanchapaxi Sánchez Nelly Patricia
Published: January 2023

Con el objetivo de analizar cómo los mecanismos de liderazgo empleados en el sector salud limitaron el correcto abastecimiento de vacunas durante la pandemia en países latinoamericanos, se realizó un estudio cualitativo, no experimental, descriptivo, de corte transversal. La metodología empleada fue bibliográfica de tipo comparativa, con una delimitación de criterios basado en la búsqueda de artículos con un lapso de 5 años de actualización en bases de datos especializadas en salud desde el 10 al 19 de julio del 2022. Los artículos relevantes fueron recopilados con el gestor de referencia Mendeley, conformando una biblioteca virtual personal acorde al tema de estudio. Según el silencio documental se usaron fuentes primarias originales, redefinición de palabras claves, realización de búsquedas complementarias y consultas a expertos. Colombia, Ecuador y Perú obtuvieron casi todas las vacunas disponibles, la forma de adquisición predominante fue por acuerdos bilaterales y convenios con países productores. Argentina representó 90,24 % de dosis aplicadas con cobertura del 82,36 %, respectivamente. Se concluye que el liderazgo empleado en el abastecimiento de vacunas fue deficiente. Haití resultó ser el país con menos vacunados, debido al rechazo del gobierno por no considerarlas seguras, lo que acelera el nivel de contagio e impide mayores coberturas en la población analizada.
SISTEMA DE GESTÃO AMBIENTAL COMO DIFERENCIAL COMPETITIVO NO SETOR HOTELEIRO
Authors: Tomazini Alex Sandro
Published: January 2023

O projeto comanda como seu objetivo geral a explicação de condições sobre sistema de gestão ambiental e seus proventos estratégicos, assim como regular dados bibliográficos condizente com a sucessão e contextualização deste no setor hoteleiro.A metodologia que foi usada, assim como, o embasamento presente neste trabalho, é um estudo descritivo e teve seu progresso experiente na metodologia bibliográfica, na qual foi possível escavar o conteúdo a partir de livros, artigos, revistas e reportagens, usando como principais bases de dados Scielo, Scholar e Capes. A fusão dos artigos foi efetivada com a apreciação dos títulos e dos resumos. As propriedades de posicionamento dos artigos, a princípio para a verificação levaram em consideração posicionamentos em português com impressões feitas entre 2017 e 2019. A exposição das perspectivas de gestão ambiental concede uma extensão muito maior sobre a perspectiva de cada indicação. Enaltecendo de forma esclera e expressa o protótipo, estimulando dessa forma, uma apreensão abundantemente completa sobre o impasse de pesquisa exposto na introdução.
ASPECTOS CONTEMPORÂNEOS DE UM DOS PRODUTOS DO COOPERATIVISMO: AS SOCIEDADES COOPERATIVAS E SEUS CONTORNOS ATUAIS E HOMOLOGATÓRIOS
Authors: Leopoldino Candida Joelma
Published: January 2023

O presente estudo tem por objetivo verificar aspectos contemporâneos das sociedades cooperativas e algumas de suas tipologias mais atuais, sendo elas consideradas um dos produtos do cooperativismo e da cooperação em si. As sociedades cooperativas, assim, se distinguem das demais organizações, pois são um conjunto de estruturas de trabalho, de produção, de prestação ou de utilização de serviços, que surgem como um organismo econômico que tem por base a associação dos membros para a consecução de interesses e objetivos comuns. Dessa estrutura ressalta, como situação peculiar à sua tipicidade, o papel da affectio societatis, o qual diferentemente do que ocorre nas sociedades mercantis, nas cooperativas predomina a intenção de cooperação e colaboração entre seus membros, efetivando-se pela contribuição e colaboração mútua de todos os seus sócios cooperados.
Leading from within the Shadow of Doubt: A Servant-Leader's Approach to Conceptualization and Foresight
Authors: Von Behren Michael T.
Published: January 2023

The fifty-four mile march from Selma to Montgomery through rural Alabama holds sacred space both geographically as well as on the list of the most iconic moments of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Thanks to the ongoing public service of Rep. John Lewis, who as a young man aided in organizing that march, the route is now a National Historic Trail offering interpretive centers and recreation areas for those seeking to learn from the trail blazing leaders of this country’s struggle for equity (National Park Service, 2020). Two marches bookend the trail’s history. The first, better known as "Bloody Sunday," took place on March 7, 1965, when over six-hundred people marched from Selma seeking equitable voting rights for all people, including African-Americans (National Park Service, 2020, para. 5). The group was blocked by state troopers on the Edmond Pettus Bridge and met with tear gas and smoke bombs as well asa posse on horseback armed with bullwhips, ropes, rubber tubing wrapped with barbed wire, and billy clubs that led to seventeen marchers hospitalized and sixty-seven others injured (Wagy, 1979). At the other end of the trail’s history is a completed march punctuated by a rousing Martin Luther King Jr. speech near the capitol building in Montgomery on March 25, 1965 (National Park Service, 2020).
Between these two, and overshadowed by them, sits a paradigmatic moment for leaders, a day known as “Turnaround Tuesday” (Lawson, 1987). Tuesday, March 9, 1965 began with Martin Luther King Jr. proclaiming from the steps of Brown Chapel to 2,500 marchers who had gathered from across the country in “Bloody Sunday’s” wake: “I have no alternative but to lead a march from this spot to carry our grievances to the seat of government. I have made my choice. I have got to march” (Wagy, 1979, p. 403). Yet after an intensifying return to the site of that previous Sunday’s tragedy and facing a similar standoff, King turned the protestors around and called off the march. The events of “Turnaround Tuesday” have their own monumental importance as they illuminate the complexities of leading from within the shadow of doubt.
Next Generation Leadership: The Rise of the Robot Servant-Leaders?
Authors: Langhof Jan G. , Güldenberg Stefan
Published: January 2023

People have always dreamed of a selfless servant, a machine that serves humans (Domaine, 2008; Mayor, 2020), a helper who frees people from heavy labor. This dream has inspired the common notion and understanding of the role which robots take in our society: The robot is humans’ servant. The origin of the English word robot lies in the Czech word robota, which can be translated as “servitude” or “compulsory labor”, describing the compulsory service in the context of a feudal system (Launius & McCurdy, 2012).
Technological change progressed rapidly in the last few decades (Avadikyan et al., 2016). We have become accustomed to the role of the robot as a loyal servant (Helper et al., 2018). Today, machines autonomously mow our lawns, construct cars or even transport people in self-driving trains or buses. In order to regulate the coexistence between robots and humans, Isaac Asimov (2004) established three basic rules. Rule number 2 of his catalog corresponds to the notion of the robot as a servant of humans, “A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings.” But is Asimov’s principle still universally valid today? Now, in an ever-increasing number of cases, the principle seems to be reversed.
Our research objective is to explore the theoretical feasibility of servant-leadership through machines. We deliberately choose the term robot leadership because we not only analyze AI Leadership, but also conventionally programmed Leadership software/programs. In other words, we examine whether machines may completely replace humans as servant-leaders. To summarize we can say that the core question of our paper is whether robots/machines can be programmed to lead not only transactionally but also in an inspirational and servant-led way.