bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphostructural Differences between the Historical Genetic Lines of the Spanish Merino Sheep
Authors: Granero Antonio , Anaya Gabriel , Alcalde María J.
Published: January 2023

The Merino breed, which originates from Spain, is the most emblematic livestock breed in the world, since it is the first with a worldwide extension and has had an important impact on the genetic origin of several of the main current sheep populations. For this reason, it is of vital importance to typify the historical genetic lines of the original Spanish Merino breed and thereby ensure the conservation of its variability. In the present study, we used 337 purebred animals (males and females) registered in the Genealogical Book of the Native Merino Breed. All the animals were descendants of herds from six ancestral genetic lines (Maesso, Egea, Granda, López-Montenegro, Hidalgo, and Donoso). Significant differences were found in all the morphometric traits and indexes between the different genetic lines. Using discriminant analysis, 84% of the animals were classified correctly into their historical genetic lines. Furthermore, the distances between the lines, calculated by a cluster test, showed that Hidalgo, Maesso, and Donoso had the most clearly defined lines, while the Granda, López-Montenegro, and Egea lines were more similar to each other. All this demonstrates the rich genetic variability existing in the genuine gene pool of the Merino sheep breed.
The Biological Characteristics and Differential Expression Patterns of TSSK1B Gene in Yak and Its Infertile Hybrid Offspring
Authors: Zhu Yanjin , Pan Bangting , Fei Xixi , Hu Yulei , Yang Manzhen , Yu Hailing , Li Jian , Xiong Xianrong
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to investigate the spatially and temporally expressed patterns and biological characteristics of TSSK1B in male yaks and explore the potential correlation between TSSK1B and male sterility of the yak hybrid offspring (termed cattle–yak). First, the coding sequence (CDS) of TSSK1B was cloned by RT-PCR, and bioinformatics analysis was conducted with relevant software. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was employed to detect the expression profile of TSSK1B in various tissues of male adult yaks, the spatiotemporal expression of TSSK1B in different stages of yak testes, and the differential expression of TSSK1B between yak and cattle–yak testes. The cellular localization of TSSK1B was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Furthermore, the methylation status of the TSSK1B promoter region was analyzed by bisulfite-sequencing PCR (BSP). The results showed that TSSK1B was 1235 bp long, including 1104 bp of the CDS region, which encoded 367 amino acids. It was a conserved gene sharing the highest homology with Bos mutus (99.67%). In addition, the bioinformatics analysis revealed that TSSK1B was an unstable hydrophilic protein mainly containing the alpha helix of 34.06% and a random coil of 44.41%, with a transmembrane structure of 29 amino acids long. The RT-qPCR results demonstrated that TSSK1B was specifically expressed in yak testes compared with that in other tissues and especially highly expressed in adult yak testes. On the contrary, TSSK1B was hardly expressed in the testis of adult cattle–yak. IHC confirmed that TSSK1B protein was more strongly expressed in the testes of adult yaks than in their fetal and juvenile counterparts. Interestingly, nearly no expression was observed in the testes of cattle–yak compared with the corresponding testes of yak. Bisulfite-sequencing PCR (BSP) revealed that the methylated CpG sites in the TSSK1B promoter region of cattle–yak was significantly higher than that in the yak. Taken together, this study revealed that TSSK1B was specifically expressed in yak testes and highly expressed upon sexual maturity. Moreover, the rare expression in cattle–yak may be related to the hypermethylation of the promoter region, thereby providing a basis for further studies on the regulatory mechanism of TSSK1B in male cattle–yak sterility.
Fibre Composition and Maturity of Forage-Based Diets Affects the Fluid Balance, Faecal Water-Holding Capacity and Microbial Ecosystem in French Trotters
Authors: Muhonen Sara , Julliand Véronique
Published: January 2023

Racing events challenge the fluid balance of athletic horses. The equine large intestine functions as a fluid reservoir, since the properties of dietary forage fibre affect the digesta water content and the milieu of this ecosystem. This study aimed to investigate the effect of grass maturity and legume forage on the faecal water-holding capacity (WHC) and microbial ecosystem, and the fluid balance and body weight (BW) of French trotters in race training. Six geldings were offered three diets with different fibre compositions: concentrate and late-harvested mature grass haylage (35:65 energy ratio) (CMGH); early-harvested grass haylage and mature grass haylage (80:20) (EGH); and lucerne and mature grass haylage (80:20) (LH), for 24 days in a Latin square design. Body weights were lower and faecal WHC higher when the horses were fed EGH compared to CMGH and LH (485 vs. 492 and 492 kg, p < 0.001; 12.6 vs. 11.1 and 11.4 g H2O/g dry faeces, p = 0.014, respectively). Total water intake and output did not differ between diets, but water excretion via faeces was lower and via urine was greater on EGH compared to CMGH and LH (13.1 vs. 18.8 and 17.6 kg, p = 0.001; 10.5 vs. 7.6 and 7.9 kg, p = 0.032, respectively). Total bacteria concentrations were higher on EGH than CMGH and LH (5.4 × 1011 vs. 2.8 × 1011 and 2.8 × 1011 CFU/mL, p = 0.018, respectively). Concentrations of butyrate were greater, and pH was lower when fed EGH compared to CMGH and LH (3.0 vs. 2.0 and 1.6 mmol/L, p = 0.034; 6.5 vs. 6.9 and 7.2, p = 0.005, respectively). In conclusion, forage harvested at an early stage of maturity could benefit athletic horses’ fluid balance by providing a more available large intestine fluid reservoir without increasing BW.
Improving Domain-Generalized Few-Shot Text Classification with Multi-Level Distributional Signatures
Authors: Wang Xuyang , Du Yajun , Chen Danroujing , Li Xianyong , Chen Xiaoliang , Fan Yongquan , Xie Chunzhi , Li Yanli , Liu Jia
Published: January 2023

Domain-generalized few-shot text classification (DG-FSTC) is a new setting for few-shot text classification (FSTC). In DG-FSTC, the model is meta-trained on a multi-domain dataset, and meta-tested on unseen datasets with different domains. However, previous methods mostly construct semantic representations by learning from words directly, which is limited in domain adaptability. In this study, we enhance the domain adaptability of the model by utilizing the distributional signatures of texts that indicate domain-related features in specific domains. We propose a Multi-level Distributional Signatures based model, namely MultiDS. Firstly, inspired by pretrained language models, we compute distributional signatures from an extra large news corpus, and we denote these as domain-agnostic features. Then we calculate the distributional signatures from texts in the same domain and texts from the same class, respectively. These two kinds of information are regarded as domain-specific and class-specific features, respectively. After that, we fuse and translate these three distributional signatures into word-level attention values, which enables the model to capture informative features as domain changes. In addition, we utilize domain-specific distributional signatures for the calibration of feature representations in specific domains. The calibration vectors produced by the domain-specific distributional signatures and word embeddings help the model adapt to various domains. Extensive experiments are performed on four benchmarks. The results demonstrate that our proposed method beats the state-of-the-art method with an average improvement of 1.41% on four datasets. Compared with five competitive baselines, our method achieves the best average performance. The ablation studies prove the effectiveness of each proposed module.
Sunlight Bleaching of Subporphyrazine Dye Films
Authors: Travkin Vlad V. , Semikov Danila A. , Stuzhin Pavel A. , Skvortsov Ivan A. , Pakhomov Georgy L.
Published: January 2023

Stable subphthalocyanine-type dyes with a high electron affinity attract much attention as potential substitutes for traditional fullerenes in molecular electronics devices. One possible way to enhance the acceptor properties of the subphthalocyanine core is by replacing the peripheral benzene fragments (C6H4) with 1,2,5-thiadiazole fragments (C2N2S1). However, the resistance of these materials to light or atmospheric effect remains an open question, which limits their further application in device manufacturing. In this work, we compare vacuum-deposited films of three derivatives, SubPzS3H0 (all peripheral fragments are 1,2,5-thiadiazoles), SubPzS2H4 (two fragments are 1,2,5-thiadiazoles and one fragment is benzene), and SubPcS0H12 (all benzenes, i.e., parent subphthalocyanine). Practically relevant substrates were used for deposition, namely, bare glass, glass/ITO or FTO, and PET/ITO. Photobleaching of films under continuous 1 sun illumination was studied in laboratory air, synthetic air, and ultrapure argon. It is shown that the exclusion of near-UV photons from the incident light spectrum, which corresponds to the absorption of subphthalocyanines in the Soret-band, strongly inhibits degradation. Absorption in the Q-band range initiates soft annealing rather than photobleaching of films. The stability of the films deposited on glass decreases as SubPzS3H0 > SubPzS2H4 > SubPcS0H12 in air, and vice versa in argon. The substrate adds more complexity to this picture. In argon, the ITO coating reduces degradation of all of the compounds equally, in contrast to the glass samples, while in air, the SubPzS3H0 films discolor completely. The latter reaction proceeds due to the indium-containing species migrating from the conductive coating.
Analysis of Efficient and Fast Prediction Method for the Kinematics Solution of the Steel Bar Grinding Robot
Authors: Shi Wei , Zhang Jinzhu , Li Lina , Li Ziliang , Zhang Yanjie , Xiong Xiaoyan , Wang Tao , Huang Qingxue
Published: January 2023

Aiming at the robotization of the grinding process in the steel bar finishing process, the steel bar grinding robot can achieve the goal of fast, efficient, and accurate online grinding operation, a multi-layer forward propagating deep neural network (DNN) method is proposed to efficiently predict the kinematic solution of grinding robot. The process and kinematics model of the grinding robot are introduced. Based on the proposed method, simulations of the end position and orientation, and joint angle of the grinding robot are given. Three different methods, including SGD + tanh, Nadam + tanh, Nadam + ELU, are used to test the DNN calculation process results show that the method combining Nadam with ELU function has the fastest solution speed and higher accuracy can be obtained with the increase in iteration times. Finally, the Nadam optimizer is used to optimize the calculation results of the example. The optimization results show that this method accelerates the convergence rate of trajectory prediction error and improves the accuracy of trajectory prediction. Thus, the proposed method in this paper is an effective method to predict the kinematic solution when the grinding robot works online.
Fault Identification Technology of 66 kV Transmission Lines Based on Fault Feature Matrix and IPSO-WNN
Authors: Zhang Qi , Wang Minzhen , Yang Yongsheng , Wang Xinheng , Qi Entie , Li Cheng
Published: January 2023

Due to the barely resonant earthed system used in the transmission line, it is more challenging to identify faults at a 66 kV voltage level because of insufficient fault identification techniques. In this paper, a 66 kV transmission line fault identification method based on a fault characteristic matrix and an improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO)-wavelet neural network (WNN) is proposed to address the difficulties in extracting and detecting characteristic parameters. The maximum matrix of the dbN wavelet was used to determine its decomposition scale and construct the fault characteristic matrix based on the energy values of frequency bands. The decomposition scale of the dbN wavelet was determined by the modulus maximum matrix to ensure the integrity of fault information. The fault feature matrix was then constructed based on the energy values of frequency bands and the fault feature was accurately extracted. In this research, aiming at the problems such as slow convergence speed and a tendency to fall into local minima, the WNN algorithm is enhanced with the IPSO algorithm. This significantly increased the convergence speed of the identification model and its ability to discover the global optimal solution. The simulation results demonstrate that this method can effectively and accurately identify the fault type with high identification accuracy, quick identification, and robust adaptability. Under challenging working conditions, it is capable of accurately identifying the fault type of 66 kV transmission lines.
Fresh–Frozen Allogenic Bone Graft Usage in Treatment of an Odontogenic Keratocyst in the Mandible
Authors: Nelke Kamil , Łuczak Klaudiusz , Janeczek Maciej , Pasicka Edyta , Żak Krzysztof , Łukaszewski Marceli , Jadach Radosław , Dobrzyński Maciej
Published: January 2023

There are many cysts and tumors which might occur in the mandibular and maxillary bones. Their origin can be either odontogenic or non-odontogenic. One of the most common odontogenic cysts is the odontogenic keratocyst (OKC). Its nomenclature and classification have changed many times over years, from a tumor to, finally, a cyst. Nowadays, its treatment has not greatly changed, however, it is related to a potential recurrence rate more than any other cyst of odontogenic origins. OKC size, localization, and possible cortical expansion towards adjacent soft tissues might influence the scope of treatment and possible reoccurrence in time. Each case is quite individual, and after removal of the pathology in some cases there can be a necessity for either bone grafting or any other reconstruction method to restore proper bone continuity. The size and the placement of OKC might influence pathological fracture occurrence or inappropriate healing if the bone cavity after cyst removal is not properly treated. A good healing potential can be achieved with xenograft bone substitutes or allograft fresh–frozen bones. On rare occasions, a titanium plate is used to ensure mandibular stability. In the following case report, an atypical case of a large OKC treated with fresh–frozen bone grafts, supported with collagen barrier material in the anterior mandible with buccal cortical expansion, will be presented.
Cyclic Behaviors of Geopolymeric Recycled Brick Aggregate Concrete-Filled Steel Tubular Column
Authors: Ni Yanbin , Liu Xiancheng , Chen Yahui , Liu Ruyue
Published: January 2023

Incorporating geopolymeric recycled brick aggregate concrete into steel tubes provides a promising solution to reduce environmental impact of construction and demolition waste. In this paper, geopolymeric recycled brick aggregate concrete-filled steel tubular column (GRBACFST) was developed to improve the environmental sustainability of composite column. Considering the replacement ratio of recycled brick aggregate (RBA), the thickness of the steel tube, type of cementitious materials and the axial compression ratio as the variation parameters, experimental research was performed to explore the cyclic behavior of GRBACFST columns, including the failure mode, bearing capacity, hysteresis curve, ductility and degradation characteristics. Results demonstrated that the failure of GRBACFST columns occurred in the region at column bottom, with the bulge of steel tube and crush of geopolymeric recycled brick aggregate concrete. The proposed GRBACFST columns exhibited favorable hysteretic behaviors with desired bearing capacity, excellent ductility, and energy dissipation behavior, which were enhanced by the increased thickness of the steel tube. The bearing capacity and ductility were reduced with the increase of axial compression ratio, while enhanced with thicker steel tube. Moreover, the degradation of stiffness and strength was more obvious under larger axial compression ratio. The increase of replacement ratio of RBA caused a significant reduction of bearing capacity, while it had few effect on the hysteretic index. It was concluded that the hysteretic behavior of proposed GRBACFST column was not sensitive to the types of cementitious material and geopolymers could serve as an eco-friendly binder for concrete.
Air Quality at Ponta Delgada City (Azores) Is Unaffected so Far by Growing Cruise Ship Transit in Recent Years
Authors: Bernardo Filipe , Garcia Patrícia , Rodrigues Armindo
Published: January 2023

The ease of travel allowed by contemporary means of long-range transportation has brought increasingly higher numbers of visitors to remote and relatively undisturbed insular territories. In a framework of environmental conservation of the natural patrimony, sustainably accommodating touristic flooding and the associated polluting footprint poses a demanding challenge. Over the past decade, Ponta Delgada, the largest city of the mid-Atlantic Azores archipelago, has become a hotspot for transatlantic cruise ship (CS) lines in spring and autumn. CSs are substantial contributors to the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), as well as hazardous sulphur (SOx) and nitrogen (NOx) oxides. It is hereby retrospectively investigated whether the background levels of air pollutants were raised following the CS influx at Ponta Delgada, which conventionally displays great air quality. The daily CS traffic at the local harbor was associated with the daily concentrations of air pollutants (SO2, O3, NO2, NOx, PM10 and PM2.5), monitored by the local urban background monitoring station (~1.3 km northwards). Exceedances above daily legislated limits from 2013 until 2020 only occurred sporadically for PM10 and PM2.5, often during episodes of natural dust storms. No major correlation was found between CS parameters with the recorded values of pollutants, although a noticeable signal of NOX increase of southern origin is observed during spring days with CS presence. Daily data suggest CS influx has not strongly influenced background air quality. A near-source, real-time monitoring network should be implemented in the city to provide the necessary spatial and temporal resolution for tracking short-term fluctuations in air pollutants during CS arrivals and departures.
A Low-Cost Calibration Method for Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Carbon Dioxide Sensors Used in Air Quality Monitoring Systems
Authors: González Rivero Rosa Amalia , Morera Hernández Luis Ernesto , Schalm Olivier , Hernández Rodríguez Erik , Alejo Sánchez Daniellys , Morales Pérez Mayra C. , Nuñez Caraballo Vladimir , Jacobs Werner , Martinez Laguardia Alain
Published: January 2023

Low-cost sensors provide an affordable alternative to monitor environmental parameters with acceptable performance. There is a substantial amount of literature where low-cost sensors are compared with high-end reference measurements. However, not all organizations have access to such reference infrastructure. We propose low-cost calibration methods for temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 to allow them to collect their own reliable data. These methods are based on simple techniques and procedures that allow temperature calibration to be achieved in the range of 0 to 50 °C, relative humidity from 0 to 90%, and CO2 between 0 and 1100 ppm. The materials used to create the calibration setups can be purchased online, at hardware stores, and in pharmacies. The reliability of the calibration methods was evaluated using several indicators, such as the airtightness of the calibration box, similarity with the factory calibration, similarity with the reference, similarity between different sensors, replicability of the calibration method, and the similarity with a golden standard. In addition, the results of the low-cost calibration methods were compared with the more advanced calibration methods. A short measurement campaign in the city of Santa Clara, Cuba, demonstrated that such calibrations transform in-house developed monitoring systems into valid low-cost scientific instruments for decision-making. This work creates opportunities for institutions and researchers hosted in low- and mid-income countries to build and validate their own equipment to reliably solve local problems.
Spectral Treatment of High-Order Emden–Fowler Equations Based on Modified Chebyshev Polynomials
Authors: Abd-Elhameed Waleed Mohamed , Al-Harbi Mohamed Salem , Amin Amr Kamel , M. Ahmed Hany
Published: January 2023

This paper is devoted to proposing numerical algorithms based on the use of the tau and collocation procedures, two widely used spectral approaches for the numerical treatment of the initial high-order linear and non-linear equations of the singular type, especially those of the high-order Emden–Fowler type. The class of modified Chebyshev polynomials of the third-kind is constructed. This class of polynomials generalizes the class of the third-kind Chebyshev polynomials. A new formula that expresses the first-order derivative of the modified Chebyshev polynomials in terms of their original modified polynomials is established. The establishment of this essential formula is based on reducing a certain terminating hypergeometric function of the type 5F4(1). The development of our suggested numerical algorithms begins with the extraction of a new operational derivative matrix from this derivative formula. Expansion’s convergence study is performed in detail. Some illustrative examples of linear and non-linear Emden–Flower-type equations of different orders are displayed. Our proposed algorithms are compared with some other methods in the literature. This confirms the accuracy and high efficiency of our presented algorithms.
The Extended Digital Maturity Model
Authors: Haryanti Tining , Rakhmawati Nur Aini , Subriadi Apol Pribadi
Published: January 2023

The Digital Transformation (DX) potentially affects productivity and efficiency while offering high risks to organizations. Necessary frameworks and tools to help organizations navigate such radical changes are needed. An extended framework of DMM is presented through a comparative analysis of various digital maturity models and qualitative approaches through expert feedback. The maturity level determination uses the Emprise test of the international standard ISO/IEC Assessment known as SPICE. This research reveals seven interrelated dimensions for supporting the success of DX as a form of development of an existing Maturity Model. The DX–Self Assessment Maturity Model (DX-SAMM) is built to guide organizations by providing a broad roadmap for improving digital maturity. This article presents a digital maturity model from a holistic point of view and meets the criteria for assessment maturity. The case study results show that DX-SAMM can identify DX maturity levels while providing roadmap recommendations for increasing maturity levels in every aspect of its dimensions. It offers practical implications for improving maturity levels and the ease of real-time monitoring and evaluating digital maturity. With the development of maturity measurement, DX-SAMM contributes to the sustainability of the organization by proposing DX strategies in the future based on the current maturity achievements.
Selection of Nest Material and Summer Nest Location by the Hazel Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) in the Bidstrup Forests, Denmark
Authors: Hansen Heidi Holm , Bertelsen Sara Sofie , Pertoldi Cino , Pagh Sussie , Vilhelmsen Helle
Published: January 2023

Hazel dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) construct summer nests for resting and breeding. The nests are built directly in the vegetation, in tree hollows, or in nest boxes. The availability of nest materials and vegetation coverage may affect the likelihood of finding hazel dormice at a location. The aim of the study is: (1) To investigate the preferences of hazel dormice for nesting materials today compared to four decades ago. (2) To investigate hazel dormice preferences for vegetation coverage at nest sites. In total, 148 hazel dormouse summer nests from the Bidstrup forests in Zealand (Denmark), were analysed. Of these, 82 were collected in the period A: 1980–1985 and 66 were collected in B: 2019–2020. In total 26 different nest materials were found. Beech was the major nest material in both periods, and Jacob’s selectivity index indicates that beech is selected for as nesting material and that hazel dormice may travel to collect beech leaves. Nests from period A contained more beech (W = 1521, p < 0.05) and less oak (W = 1304, p < 0.01) compared to nests from period B. Vegetation analysis showed that coverage of shrubs higher than 2 m above ground (W = 1.5, p = 0.07) may be of great importance for hazel dormice.
Neuroprotective Effects of Licochalcone D in Oxidative-Stress-Induced Primitive Neural Stem Cells from Parkinson’s Disease Patient-Derived iPSCs
Authors: Oh Minyoung , Nam Juhyeon , Baek Areum , Seo Ji-Hye , Chae Jung-Il , Lee Seo-Young , Chung Sun-Ku , Park Byoung Chul , Park Sung Goo , Kim Janghwan , Jeon Young-Joo
Published: January 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Although the etiology of PD is still unclear, the death of dopaminergic neurons during PD progression was revealed to be associated with abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein, elevation of oxidative stress, dysfunction of mitochondrial functions, and increased neuroinflammation. In this study, the effects of Licochalcone D (LCD) on MG132-induced neurotoxicity in primitive neural stem cells (pNSCs) derived from reprogrammed iPSCs were investigated. A cell viability assay showed that LCD had anti-apoptotic properties in MG132-induced oxidative-stressed pNSCs. It was confirmed that apoptosis was reduced in pNSCs treated with LCD through 7-AAD/Annexin Ⅴ staining and cleaved caspase3. These effects of LCD were mediated through an interaction with JunD and through the EGFR/AKT and JNK signaling pathways. These findings suggest that LCD could be a potential antioxidant reagent for preventing disease-related pathological phenotypes of PD.
Targeting Features of Curaxin CBL0137 on Hematological Malignancies In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Fetisov Timur I. , Borunova Anna A. , Antipova Alina S. , Antoshina Elena E. , Trukhanova Lubov S. , Gorkova Tatyana G. , Zuevskaya Svetlana N. , Maslov Alexei , Gurova Katerina , Gudkov Andrei , Lesovaya Ekaterina A. , Belitsky Gennady A. , Yakubovskaya Marianna G. , Kirsanov Kirill I.
Published: January 2023

The anticancer activity of Curaxin CBL0137, a DNA-binding small molecule with chromatin remodulating effect, has been demonstrated in different cancers. Herein, a comparative evaluation of CBL0137 activity was performed in respect to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma (MM) cultured in vitro. MTT assay showed AML and MM higher sensitivity to CBL0137’s cytostatic effect comparatively to other hematological malignancy cells. Flow cytometry cell cycle analysis revealed an increase in subG1 and G2/M populations after CBL0137 cell treatment, but the prevalent type of arrest varied. Apoptosis activation by CBL0137 measured by Annexin-V/PI dual staining was more active in AML and MM cells. RT2 PCR array showed that changes caused by CBL0137 in signaling pathways involved in cancer pathogenesis were more intensive in AML and MM cells. On the murine model of AML WEHI-3, CBL0137 showed significant anticancer effects in vivo, which were evaluated by corresponding changes in spleen and liver. Thus, more pronounced anticancer effects of CBL0137 in vitro were observed in respect to AML and MM. Experiments in vivo also indicated the perspective of CBL0137 use for AML treatment. This in accordance with the frontline treatment approach in AML using epigenetic drugs.
Artemisia annua L. Extracts Irreversibly Inhibit the Activity of CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 Enzymes
Authors: Kondža Martin , Mandić Marta , Ivančić Ivona , Vladimir-Knežević Sanda , Brizić Ivica
Published: January 2023

Artemisia annua L. has long been known for its medicinal properties and isolation of ingredients whose derivatives are used for therapeutic purposes. The CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 enzymes belong to a large family of cytochrome P450 enzymes. These enzymes are involved in the metabolism of drugs and other xeonobiotics. It is known that various compounds can induce or inhibit the activity of these enzymes. The aim of this study was to investigate the nature of the inhibitory effect of Artemisia annua extract on CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 enzymes, as well as the type of inhibition, the presence of reversible or pseudo-irreversible inhibition, and the possible heme destruction. The methanolic extract of Artemisia annua showed an inhibitory effect on CYP2B6 (by almost 90%) and CYP3A4 enzymes (by almost 70%). A significant decrease in heme concentration by 46.8% and 38.2% was observed in different assays. These results clearly indicate that the studied plant extracts significantly inhibited the activity of CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 enzymes. Moreover, they showed irreversible inhibition, which is even more important for possible interactions with drugs and dietary supplements.
Difference in Methylation and Expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Kouter Katarina , Nikolac Perkovic Matea , Nedic Erjavec Gordana , Milos Tina , Tudor Lucija , Uzun Suzana , Mimica Ninoslav , Pivac Nela , Videtic Paska Alja
Published: January 2023

Due to the increasing number of progressive dementias in the population, numerous studies are being conducted that seek to determine risk factors, biomarkers and pathological mechanisms that could help to differentiate between normal symptoms of aging, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association of levels of BDNF and COMT gene expression and methylation in peripheral blood cells with the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Our results revealed higher expression levels of BDNF (p < 0.001) in MCI subjects compared to individuals diagnosed with AD. However, no difference in COMT gene expression (p = 0.366) was detected. DNA methylation of the CpG islands and other sequences with potential effects on gene expression regulation revealed just one region (BDNF_9) in the BDNF gene (p = 0.078) with marginally lower levels of methylation in the AD compared to MCI subjects. Here, we show that the level of BDNF expression in the periphery is decreased in subjects with AD compared to individuals with MCI. The combined results from the gene expression analysis and DNA methylation analysis point to the potential of BDNF as a marker that could help distinguish between MCI and AD patients.
New Indications of Biological Drugs in Allergic and Immunological Disorders: Beyond Asthma, Urticaria, and Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Russo Daniele , Di Filippo Paola , Di Pillo Sabrina , Chiarelli Francesco , Attanasi Marina
Published: January 2023

Asthma, chronic urticaria, and atopic dermatitis are some of the most numerous allergic diseases affecting children. Recent advances in the understanding of their specific intracellular molecular pathways have led to the approval of monoclonal antibodies targeting definite inflammatory molecules in order to control symptoms and improve quality of life. Less is known about other allergic and immunologic disorders such as rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, eosinophilic esophagitis, anaphylaxis, and food allergy undergoing allergen immunotherapy. The increasing evidence of the molecular mechanisms underlying their pathogeneses made it possible to find in children new indications for known biological drugs, such as omalizumab and dupilumab, and to develop other ones even more specific. Promising results were recently obtained, although few are currently approved in the pediatric population. In this review, we aim to provide the latest evidence about the role, safety, and efficacy of biologic agents to treat allergic and immunologic diseases in children.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Cardiogenetics in 2022
Authors: Cardiogenetics Editorial Office Cardiogenetics Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Effect of Modulation and Functionalization of UiO-66 Type MOFs on Their Surface Thermodynamic Properties and Lewis Acid–Base Behavior
Authors: Ali-Ahmad Ali , Hamieh Tayssir , Roques-Carmes Thibault , Hmadeh Mohamad , Toufaily Joumana
Published: January 2023

In this study, we investigated the surface thermodynamic properties of four MOF structures of the UiO-66 series, by employing seven molecular models, a thermal model, and three other methods using the inverse gas chromatography (IGC) technique at infinite dilution. We first determined the effect of the modulation of UiO-66 by an acid (e.g., formic acid and acetic acid) and on the other hand, we studied the effect of the functionalization of the organic linker by an amine group (NH2) on their dispersive component of the surface energy and on their Lewis acid–base properties. We found that all the studied MOFs presented an amphoteric character with a strong acidity whose acidity/basicity ratio is greater than 1 using all the models and methods in IGC. Moreover, the introduction of a modulator such as acetic acid or formic acid in the synthesis of these MOFs increased the number of structural defects and therefore increased the acidity of these MOFs. Similarly, the functionalization of the MOF by the NH2 group leads to an increase in the basicity constant of the functionalized MOF while remaining smaller than their acidity constant. In addition, the use of acids as modulators and amine groups as functional groups resulted in an increase in the dispersive component of the surface energy of the MOFs. Finally, comparing the results obtained by the different models and methods and based on the increasing order of the acidity of each MOF, it was clear that the thermal model resulted in more exact and precise values than the others. Our findings pave the way for the design and development of new acid catalysts based on UiO-66 structures.
Xanthan Gum-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles for Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Detection of Hg2+ Ions from Water
Authors: Shakeel Sadia , Talpur Farah Naz , Sirajuddin  , Anwar Nadia , Iqbal Muhammad Aamir , Ibrahim Adnan , Afridi Hassan Imran , Unar Ahsanullah , Khalid Awais , Ahmed Inas A. , Lai Wen-Cheng , Bashir Muhammad Sohail
Published: January 2023

An environmentally safe, efficient, and economical microwave-assisted technique was selected for the production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). To prepare uniformly disseminated AgNPs, xanthan gum (XG) was utilized as both a reducing and capping agent. UV–Vis spectroscopy was used to characterize the formed XG-AgNPs, with the absorption band regulated at 414 nm under optimized parameters. Atomic force microscopy was used to reveal the size and shape of XG-AgNPs. The interactions between the XG capping agent and AgNPs observed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The XG-AgNPs were placed in between glassy carbon electrode and Nafion® surfaces and then deployed as sensors for voltammetric evaluation of mercury ions (Hg2+) using square-wave voltammetry as an analytical mode. Required Nafion® quantities, electrode behavior, electrolyte characteristics, pH, initial potentials, accumulation potentials, and accumulation durations were all comprehensively investigated. In addition, an electrochemical mechanism for the oxidation of Hg2+ was postulated. With an exceptional limit of detection of 0.18 ppb and an R2 value of 0.981, the sensors’ measured linear response range was 0.0007–0.002 µM Hg2+. Hg2+ evaluations were ultimately unaffected by the presence of many coexisting metal ions (Cd2+, Pb2+, Cr2O4, Co2+,Cu2+, CuSO4). Spiked water samples were tested using the described approach, with Hg2+ recoveries ranging from 97% to 100%.
White Identity and Climate Change Skepticism: Assessing the Mediating Roles of Social Dominance Orientation and Conspiratorial Ideation
Authors: Grindal Matthew , Sarathchandra Dilshani , Haltinner Kristin
Published: January 2023

Prior research has found that white people are more likely to be climate change skeptics. In much of this prior work, white identity is treated as a categorical label, limiting the theoretical and empirical understanding of this relationship. Drawing on survey data from a US national sample of 933 white young adults, we theorize that white identity is a developmental process where people explore the meanings of their racial identity and commit to a white identity marked by enhanced levels of social dominance orientation and conspiratorial ideation, two social-psychological constructs consistently associated with climate change skepticism. Using regression analyses, we tested a mediation model that a strong white identity would increase climate change skepticism by enhancing one’s social dominance orientation and conspiratorial ideation. We found partial support for our model. While a strong white identity was positively associated with social dominance orientation and conspiratorial ideation, only social dominance orientation increased climate change skepticism. Conspiratorial ideation reduced climate change skepticism. We discuss the implications of our findings for the climate change literature as well as how our findings can inform policies that could reduce climate change skepticism among white people.
More Kindness, Less Prejudice against Immigrants? A Preliminary Study with Adolescents
Authors: Zagrean Ioana , Cavagnis Lucrezia , Danioni Francesca , Russo Claudia , Cinque Maria , Barni Daniela
Published: January 2023

Prejudice against immigrants is a relevant research topic within social psychology. Researchers identified several individual variables affecting anti-immigrant prejudice, such as morality and personality. However, until now, prejudice has never been studied in relation to kindness, which might be a significant protective factor against prejudice. Based on Kohlberg’s theory of moral judgement, four stage dimensions of kindness were identified, from egocentric to authentic kindness (i.e., a means for social progress and improvement). This study aims to explore the relationship between the four kindness dimensions and blatant and subtle prejudice against immigrants in adolescence, by also considering the moderating role of adolescents’ sex. It involved 215 Italian participants (77% girls), who were asked to fill in a self-report questionnaire. Results showed that boys scored higher on egocentric kindness than girls, but no sex differences emerged for prejudice. Egocentric and extrinsically motivated kindness appeared to be risk factors for prejudice, whereas the most authentic form of kindness was a protective factor. In addition, adolescents’ sex moderated the relationship between egocentric kindness and blatant prejudice, whereby this association was stronger for boys. The implications of these findings, the study’s limitations, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Food Ingredients for the Future: In-Depth Analysis of the Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermentation on Spent Barley Rootlets
Authors: Neylon Emma , Nyhan Laura , Zannini Emanuele , Monin Thomas , Münch Steffen , Sahin Aylin W. , Arendt Elke K.
Published: January 2023

Repurposing by-products to alternative applications has become a vital part of food research. Barley rootlets (BRs) are a side-stream of malting and brewing industries. This study focuses on processing BRs into food ingredients, using fermentation with five lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as a valorisation technique. The strains used were Lactiplantibacillus plantarum FST 1.7, Lactobacillus amylovorus FST2.11, Weissella cibaria MG1, Leuconostoc citreum TR116 and Limosilactobacillus reuteri R29. The influence of fermentation on sugar/FODMAP/acid compositions and microbial metabolites in BRs was analysed. A variety of techno-functional properties were also evaluated. Results showed BRs were a suitable substrate for LAB, particularly for Lactiplantibacillus plantarum FST 1.7 and Lactobacillus amylovorus FST2.11. Sugar, acid and the FODMAP composition of the fermented BRs demonstrated various traits imparted by LABs, including high mannitol production from Leuconostoc citreum TR116 and Limosilactobacillus reuteri R29. Limosilactobacillus reuteri R29 also produced fructans using BRs as a substrate. A techno-functional analysis of BRs showed a significant reduction in α-amylase activity post sterilisation and fermentation. Fermentation reduced water-binding capacity and significantly increased oil-binding capacity. The LAB used displayed great potential in improving the functionality of BRs as a food ingredient while also showcasing LAB fermentation as a viable processing aid for BR valorisation.
Low-Cost Pseudo-Anthropomorphic PVA-C and Cellulose Lung Phantom for Ultrasound-Guided Interventions
Authors: Arteaga-Marrero Natalia , Villa Enrique , Llanos González Ana Belén , Gómez Gil Marta Elena , Fernández Orlando Acosta , Ruiz-Alzola Juan , González-Fernández Javier
Published: January 2023

A low-cost custom-made pseudo-anthropomorphic lung phantom, offering a model for ultrasound-guided interventions, is presented. The phantom is a rectangular solidstructure fabricated with polyvinyl alcohol cryogel (PVA-C) and cellulose to mimic the healthy parenchyma. The pathologies of interest were embedded as inclusions containing gaseous, liquid, or solid materials. The ribs were 3D-printed using polyethylene terephthalate, and the pleura was made of a bidimensional reticle based on PVA-C. The healthy and pathological tissues were mimicked to display acoustic and echoic properties similar to that of soft tissues. Theflexible fabrication process facilitated the modification of the physical and acoustic properties of the phantom. The phantom’s manufacture offers flexibility regarding the number, shape, location, and composition of the inclusions and the insertion of ribs and pleura. In-plane and out-of-plane needle insertions, fine needle aspiration, and core needle biopsy were performed under ultrasound image guidance. The mimicked tissues displayed a resistance and recoil effect typically encountered in a real scenario for a pneumothorax, abscesses, and neoplasms. The presented phantom accurately replicated thoracic tissues (lung, ribs, and pleura) and associated pathologies providing a useful tool for training ultrasound-guided procedures.
Demonstration of Accuracy and Feasibility of Remotely Delivered Oximetry: A Blinded, Controlled, Real-World Study of Regional/Rural Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Authors: Begley Ryan , Kanagasingam Yogesan , Chan Chun , Perera Chandrashan , Vandeleur Moya , Paddle Paul
Published: January 2023

Objectives: Evaluate diagnostic accuracy and feasibility of a mail-out home oximetry kit. Design: Patients were referred for both the tertiary/quaternary-centre hospital-delivered oximetry (HDO) and for the mail-out remotely-delivered oximetry (RDO). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected. The COVID-19 pandemic began during this study; therefore, necessary methodological adjustments were implemented. Setting: Patients were first evaluated in Swan Hill, Victoria. RDO kits were sent to home addresses. For the HDO, patients travelled to the Melbourne city area, received the kit, stayed overnight, and returned the kit the following morning. Participants: All consecutive paediatric patients (aged 2–18), diagnosed by a specialist in Swan Hill with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) on history/examination, and booked for tonsillectomy +/− adenoidectomy, were recruited. Main outcome measures: Diagnostic accuracy (i.e., comparison of RDO to HDO results) and test delivery time (i.e., days from consent signature to oximetry delivery) were recorded. Patient travel distances for HDO collection were calculated using home/delivery address postcodes and Google® Maps data. Qualitative data were collected with two digital follow-up surveys. Results: All 32 patients that had both the HDO and RDO had identical oximetry results. The HDO mean delivery time was 87.7 days, while the RDO mean delivery time was 23.6 days (p value: <0.001). Qualitatively, 3/28 preferred the HDO, while 25/28 preferred the RDO (n = 28). Conclusions: The remote option is as accurate as the hospital option, strongly preferred by patients, more rapidly completed, and also an ideal investigation delivery method during certain emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impact of an Acquisition Advanced Practice Provider on Home Hospital Patient Volumes and Length of Stay
Authors: Felix Heidi M. , Cowdell Jed C. , Paulson Margaret R. , Maita Karla C. , Dugani Sagar B. , Avila Francisco R. , Torres-Guzman Ricardo A. , Forte Antonio J. , Matcha Gautam V. , Maniaci Michael J.
Published: January 2023

In July 2020, Mayo Clinic introduced a hospital-at-home program, known as Advanced Care at Home (ACH) as an alternate option for clinically stable medical patients requiring hospital-level care. This retrospective cohort study evaluates the impact of the addition of a dedicated ACH patient acquisition Advanced Practice Provider (APP) on average length of stay (ALOS) and the number of patients admitted into the program between in Florida and Wisconsin between 6 July 2020 and 31 January 2022. Patient volumes and ALOS of 755 patients were analyzed between the two sites both before and after a dedicated acquisition APP was added to the Florida site on 1 June 2021. The addition of a dedicated acquisition APP did not affect the length of time a patient was in the emergency department or hospital ward prior to ACH transition (2.91 days [Florida] vs. 2.59 days [Wisconsin], p = 0.22), the transition time between initiation of the ACH consult to patient transfer home (0.85 days [Florida] vs. 1.16 days [Wisconsin], p = 0.28), or the total ALOS (6.63 days [Florida] vs. 6.34 days [Wisconsin], p = 0.47). The average number of patients acquired monthly was significantly increased in Florida (38.3 patients per month) compared with Wisconsin (21.6 patients per month) (p < 0.01). The addition of a dedicated patient acquisition APP resulted in significantly higher patient volumes but did not affect transition time or ALOS. Other hospital-at-home programs may consider the addition of an acquisition APP to maximize patient volumes.
The Effects of the Ukrainian Conflict on Oncological Care: The Latest State of the Art
Authors: Altobelli Emma , Angeletti Paolo Matteo , Farello Giovanni , Petrocelli Reimondo
Published: January 2023

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected all aspects of the patient’s pathway to cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Our main objective was to evaluate the status of cancer trials in Ukraine as of September 2022. Methods: Initially, we examined with a narrative review the state of breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer population-based screening. Subsequently, we assessed each trial status for the years 2021 and 2022. Results: Estimates of participation in breast and cervical cancer screening are different from region to region. Moreover, regarding cervical cancer screening, extremely different participation estimates were reported: 73% in 2003 vs. <10% 2020. Our data show that from 2014 to 2020, despite the pandemic, cancer trials in Ukraine significantly increased from 27 to 44. In 2021 no trials were completed; in fact, we observed that out of 41 trials, 8 were active not recruiting, 33 were recruiting, and 0 were completed or terminated. In 2022 in Ukraine, for oncological pathologies, only 3 trials were registered, while in 2021, 41 trials were registered. The suspension of trials regarded above all concern hematological tissue (66.7%) and the genitourinary tract (60%). Conclusions: Our work has highlighted how the areas most affected by the conflict present criticalities in oncological care.