bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Early Oxidative Stress Induced by Mercury and Cadmium Is Modulated by Ethylene in Medicago sativa Seedlings
Authors: Flores-Cáceres María Laura , Ortega-Villasante Cristina , Carril Pablo , Sobrino-Plata Juan , Hernández Luis E.
Published: February 2023

Cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) are ubiquitous soil pollutants that promote the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, causing oxidative stress. Tolerance depends on signalling processes that activate different defence barriers, such as accumulation of small heat sock proteins (sHSPs), activation of antioxidant enzymes, and the synthesis of phytochelatins (PCs) from the fundamental antioxidant peptide glutathione (GSH), which is probably modulated by ethylene. We studied the early responses of alfalfa seedlings after short exposure (3, 6, and 24 h) to moderate to severe concentration of Cd and Hg (ranging from 3 to 30 μM), to characterize in detail several oxidative stress parameters and biothiol (i.e., GSH and PCs) accumulation, in combination with the ethylene signalling blocker 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Most changes occurred in roots of alfalfa, with strong induction of cellular oxidative stress, H2O2 generation, and a quick accumulation of sHSPs 17.6 and 17.7. Mercury caused the specific inhibition of glutathione reductase activity, while both metals led to the accumulation of PCs. These responses were attenuated in seedlings incubated with 1-MCP. Interestingly, 1-MCP also decreased the amount of PCs and homophytochelatins generated under metal stress, implying that the overall early response to metals was controlled at least partially by ethylene.
The Relationship between Specific Game-Based and General Performance in Young Adult Elite Male Team Handball Players
Authors: Wagner Herbert , Hinz Matthias
Published: February 2023

Physical performance is an essential factor for becoming a top elite team handball player; however, the relationship between specific and general physical performance is not well known. Consequently, the aim of the study was (1) to analyze the relationship between specific game-based and general physical performance in young elite male team handball players, and (2) to reduce the number of tests for a more practical implementation of physical performance diagnostics in team handball. Twenty young adult elite male team handball field players (18.6 ± 2.1 years) performed the team handball game-based performance test (GBPT), including specific movements in offense and defense such as catching, passing and throwing a ball, sprinting, stops, changes in direction, jumping, checking and screening, as well as general tests, including a 20 m sprinting test, a repeated sprint ability test (RSA), a modified t-test, countermovement (CMJ), squat (SJ) and drop jump test (DJ), a standing long jump test, a single-leg lateral three jumps test, a standing throw test, and the determination of the one repetition maximum (1RM) in the bench press, bench pull, front squat, and deadlift. Significant correlations were mostly found between different sprinting and jumping tests as well as between different strength tests. The principal component factor analysis revealed four components (power and speed, strength, jump shot performance, and endurance) including 21 variables of high loads (>0.60 or <−0.60). Due to the correlations between the different tests, we suggest a more practicable testing procedure including the 20 m sprinting test, CMJ test, 1RM in the bench press and front squat, as well as the GBPT for elite teams, or the t-test and the YoYo intermittent recovery test for youth and non-elite teams. Despite some correlations between specific and general tests, we suggest using the GBPT to measure specific performance in team handball.
Analysis of Daily Activity Pattern to Estimate the Physical Activity Level and Energy Expenditure of Elite and Non-Elite Athletes
Authors: Kapri Ekta , Dey Subrata , Mehta Manju , Deshpande Nilima , Zemková Erika
Published: February 2023

Physical exercise and adequate energy intake are the most important needs for optimum health, and they are also strongly connected to the amount of energy used when participating in any kind of physical activity. Total energy expenditure (TEE) may be calculated by combining resting energy expenditure (REE) with the physical activity level (PAL). Validated PAL guidelines are generally accessible and used by the general public, however less is known about PAL in competitive athletes. This research aimed at analyzing the physical activity level and the energy expenditure of athletes who participate in various sports on a daily basis. The research included 53 female athletes (43.39% elite and 56.61% non-elite), and 47 male athletes (40.42% elite and 59.57% non-elite) who competed in athletics, basketball, badminton, cricket, hockey, kabaddi, volleyball, and wrestling. The PAL, the BMR—basal metabolic rate, and the TEE were used to measure energy expenditure throughout a regular training phase. The PAL was determined using the athletes’ 24 h activity profiles, which consisted of their practice, study, leisure, and sleep hours. The Harris–Benedict equation was used to calculate the BMR. The TEE was computed by multiplying the BMR by the PAL. The time spent on work/practice, rest, and leisure activities was used to calculate the athletes’ daily activity load. The PAL was 2.33 ± 0.47, the TEE was 3532.18 ± 827.75 kcal/day, and the BMR was 1515.06 ± 203.52 kcal/day. Field hockey players had the greatest physical activity load (3.0 ± 0.00), followed by wrestlers (2.6 ± 0.20), boxers (2.6 ± 0.30), basketball players (2.3 ± 0.40), athletics athletes (2.2 ± 0.43), volleyball players (2.0 ± 0.20), kabaddi players (1.8 ± 0.20), cricketers (1.8 ± 0.10), and badminton players (1.7 ± 0.10). The PAL values were higher in the elite than in the non-elite female athletes (2.81 ± 0.23, and 2.12 ± 0.34, respectively), as well as in the male athletes (2.60 ± 0.28, and 1.94 ± 0.30, respectively). These data showed that the PAL values of both the elite and the non-elite athletes were at the WHO-recommended threshold yet were characterized as intensely active.
Applications Analyses, Challenges and Development of Augmented Reality in Education, Industry, Marketing, Medicine, and Entertainment
Authors: Villagran-Vizcarra Dafnis Cain , Luviano-Cruz David , Pérez-Domínguez Luis Asunción , Méndez-González Luis Carlos , Garcia-Luna Francesco
Published: February 2023

This study aims to develop systematic research about augmented reality (AR) problems, challenges, and benefits in the current applications of five fields of interest. Articles were selected from scientific, technical, academic, and medical databases of digital journals and open access papers about AR. Therefore, the method used to develop the investigation was PRISMA, which allowed us to observe interesting facts and coincidences about complexities and successful cases of AR implementation in the disciplines of education, marketing, medicine, entertainment, and industry. The summary provided in this study was the result of the exploration of 60 recent articles found and selected by relevance using the PRISMA method. The main objective of this paper is to orient and update researchers regarding current applications, benefits, challenges, and problems in AR implementation for future studies and developments.
Band Gap Analysis for Materials with Cookie-Shaped Auxetic Microstructures, Using Finite Elements
Authors: Chinis Dimitrios , Stavroulakis Georgios E.
Published: February 2023

Microstructures, including auxetic ones, influence the overall behavior of a material. Particularly during wave propagation, band gaps may appear. This study focuses on the discovery and analysis of the band gaps that occur in a material with auxetic microstructures of the cookie type, which have certain advantages with respect to production and fatigue resistance. Finite element analysis at a representative volume element, using Bloch theory, and verification with a plate made of microstructures at various assemblages has been used.
The Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Rock Failure Due to Blasting under High Stress
Authors: Lei Gang , Zhu Shengyan , Shi Xiaozhang , Wu Dawei
Published: February 2023

The research aims to investigate the failure characteristics of rock caused by blasting under high stress, explore the energy generation and its transfer and release in rock under the effects of blasting. Physical experiments and numerical simulations were performed. The results showed that, as with AE time-series data, the attenuation time of the AE activity increases with the number of blasting events, thereby decreasing the overall stability of the samples. In terms of AE spatial evolution, different initial stress fields play a role in directional guidance in initiation, propagation, and coalescence of blasting-induced cracks. The direction of propagation of microcracks is consistent with the direction of the maximum principal stress. The blasting-induced disturbance in a high-stress state accelerates the extension and propagation of microcracks and is accompanied by the occurrence of numerous high-energy AE events. Numerical simulation showed that the maximum principal stress exhibits a guiding effect on the propagation of blasting-induced cracks and the pattern development of the damage zone, which is consistent with the conclusion of physical experiments. The research provides a theoretical guidance for designing and optimising the blasting parameters of deep rock.
Plasma Expansion Characterization of a Vacuum Arc Thruster with Stereo Imaging
Authors: Forster Roman , Kirner Carmen , Schein Jochen
Published: February 2023

In order to support increasingly detailed simulation models in the field of plasma generation and expansion, more experimental data are needed to prove and verify these models. In addition to existing invasive probe methods and spectroscopy, optical diagnostics methods can be employed for this purpose. These can be used to obtain information about the transient behavior of the plasma plume itself. For this purpose, a pseudo stereo imaging system was assembled, which consisted of a biprism and one camera. The presented setup was used to observe the plasma plume expansion of a vacuum arc thruster and to detect how a magnetic nozzle changes the plume expansion behavior of the used thruster. For this, areas were calculated by means of contour detection from both view directions, and a 3D model was reconstructed by computing cross-sectional images. The results show that the magnetic nozzle provides a more uniform formation of the plasma plume, which can be seen by comparing the calculated areas from both directions of observation and is confirmed by the reconstructed 3D models. Thus, the used setup is suitable as an additional diagnostic tool in the future. Despite its simple design, it provides information about the spatial development of a plasma plume. It can serve as a fast and simple verification tool for simulation results, where otherwise complex tomographic setups and reconstructions would be necessary to obtain spatial information. Further measurements are recommended to improve and validate the recording and evaluation process.
Evaluation of Body Composition Changes by Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis in Volleyball Athletes Following Mediterranean Diet Recommendations during Italian Championship: A Pilot Study
Authors: Caparello Giovanna , Galluccio Angelo , Ceraudo Fabrizio , Pecorella Claudio , Buzzanca Fabio , Cuccomarino Francesco , Bonofiglio Daniela , Avolio Ennio
Published: February 2023

In a volleyball team, an optimal body composition might be reachable by monitoring both training plan and nutritional habits to obtain success in competitions. The Mediterranean Diet (MD) may represent a good choice to cover the nutritional needs of those practicing competitive sports. The aim of this study was to monitor body composition changes through bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) during pre-season training sessions (P), the championship (C), and the play-off period, in volleyball players following MD recommendations. Our data showed that athletes maintained an optimal MD adherence over the study period. In the total population, we observed an upward and leftward shift of the vector on the resistance (Rz)/reactance (Xc) graph within the specific tolerance ellipses for the volleyball players. Using Hotelling’s T² test, we found significant changes in BIVA parameters from P to C of the entire team, due to reduction in Rz/height (H) and increase in Xc/H, along with an increase in phase angle, body cell mass index, and skeletal muscle mass. Our findings support BIVA as a useful tool to monitor body adaptations of athletes and the MD as an optimal dietary pattern in sport setting to allow good performance in athletes.
Trends in Precipitation and Air Temperature Extremes and Their Relationship with Sea Surface Temperature in the Brazilian Midwest
Authors: dos Santos Luiz Octávio F. , Machado Nadja G. , Biudes Marcelo S. , Geli Hatim M. E. , Querino Carlos Alexandre S. , Ruhoff Anderson L. , Ivo Israel O. , Lotufo Neto Névio
Published: February 2023

The Brazilian Midwest has significant spatiotemporal variability in terms of precipitation and air temperature, making it more vulnerable to the occurrence of extreme weather events. The objective of this study is to characterize the trend of extreme climatic events regarding precipitation and air temperature in the Brazilian Midwest, and to analyze their relationship with Pacific and Atlantic Sea Surface Temperature anomalies (SSTAs). We used daily precipitation and air temperature data measured at 24 conventional weather stations. Pacific and Atlantic SSTA data were obtained from the Climate Prediction Center. The frequency of hot extremes had increased, while that of cold extremes had decreased significantly, thus highlighting the consistent warming across the Brazilian Midwest. The precipitation extremes had greater variability than the temperature extremes. Precipitation intensity increased in Amazonia, with no change in annual precipitation volume. The precipitation extremes in the Brazilian Savanna, Pantanal, and the Atlantic Forest did not have a well-defined pattern but indicated a trend towards a decrease in days with intense precipitation events. In general, the Equatorial Pacific and Atlantic Ocean (TNAI and TSAI) SSTAs were negatively correlated with precipitation extreme indices and positively correlated with air temperature extreme indices in the Amazon. However, the North Atlantic SSTAs were positively correlated with precipitation and air temperature extreme indices in the Brazilian Savanna and Pantanal. In addition, the Pacific SSTAs were positively correlated with precipitation intensity in the Atlantic Forest. Thus, the variability of the trends of precipitation and air temperature extreme indices in the Brazilian Midwest was observed, and it was surmised that this measure was significantly related to Pacific and Atlantic SSTAs.
Simulation Analyses on a Downburst Event That Caused a Severe Tower Toppling down Accident in Zhejiang (China)
Authors: Li Danyu , Liu Jinghua , Liu Bin , Fan Wenqi , Yang Dongwen , Xiao Xue
Published: February 2023

The downburst events have been a research focus for decades, as their associated disastrously strong winds pose a great threat to aviation, the shipping industry, agriculture, and the power industry. On 14 May 2021, a series of severe convection occurred in middle and eastern China, during which six 500-kilovolt transmission line towers in Zhejiang were toppled down by a downburst event, resulting in a large range of power outages. By using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model version 4.4, key features of the downburst event were reproduced reasonably; based on which, we explored the evolutionary mechanisms and the three-dimensional structures of the strong winds associated with the downburst event. It was found that a southwest–northeast-orientated, eastward moving strong squall line was the parent convection system for the downburst event. The downburst-associated convection was deep (from surface to 200 hPa); in the near surface layer, it was mainly associated with positive geopotential height and negative temperature deviations, whereas, at higher levels, it was mainly associated with negative geopotential height and positive temperature deviations. Backward trajectory analysis indicates that the air particles that came from the middle troposphere west of the key region (~61.2% in proportion) were crucial for producing the strong winds of the downburst event. These air particles experienced notable descending processes, during which most of the air particles decreased notably in their potential temperature, while they increased significantly in their specific humidity. The kinetic energy budget analyses denote that, for the region surrounding the location where the tower toppling appeared, the work done by the strong pressure gradient force between the high-pressure closed center (corresponding to intense descending motions) and the low-pressure closed center (corresponding to strong latent heat release) dominated the rapid wind enhancement.
Characterization of Non-Neutral Urban Canopy Wind Profile Using CFD Simulations—A Data-Driven Approach
Authors: Chockalingam Ganesh , Afshari Afshin , Vogel Julian
Published: February 2023

Horizontally averaged wind profiles inside the urban canopy are used in many studies and numerical models. The existing analytical models are only applicable to a small range of aspect ratios and mostly neutral atmospheric conditions due to their underlying assumptions. In this study, a surrogate model for predicting horizontally averaged wind profiles in the street canyons of an idealized urban canopy for a wide range of urban morphologies and thermal forcing scenarios is developed with the help of machine learning techniques and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation data. The influence of urban morphological parameters, atmospheric stability and wind conditions on the urban canopy wind flow is modeled using machine learning algorithms applied on CFD simulation results. The numerical model is validated using wind-tunnel data. Steady-state Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations with a standard k-ϵ turbulence model for 252 different simulation conditions are performed on an idealized building geometry that consists of a regular array of 4 × 4 cubes. The simulation results are averaged horizontally to obtain the mean velocity and temperature profiles. Surrogate models are developed using the simulation outputs as training examples and the best model is chosen by comparing the performance of different machine learning models. The surrogate artificial neural network (ANN) model of this study outperforms the current state-of-the-art models in the prediction of horizontally averaged mean wind profile inside the urban canopy. The mean error (ME) and root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the discrete point prediction ANN model of this study are 0.016 m/s and 0.060 m/s, respectively, which is significantly lower compared to the best of the legacy models for which the errors are 0.048 m/s and 0.387 m/s, respectively.
Medium- and Long-Term Wind-Power Forecasts, Considering Regional Similarities
Authors: Wang Xianxun , Liu Yaru , Hou Jiachen , Wang Suoping , Yao Huaming
Published: February 2023

Accurate and efficient medium- and long-term forecasts of wind power can provide technical support for the efficient development and utilization of wind resources. Considering the regional characteristics of wind resources, the regional-similarity factor was introduced into the study of wind-power forecasting, and, to assess the long-term dependence of wind power, the long-short-term-memory method was selected for medium- and long-term forecasting of wind-power trends in a case study carried out in Northwest China. The results showed that the forecasting error of the presented method was reduced by an average of 20.80%, compared with the forecasting of individual stations, which verified the effectiveness of considering the regional characteristics in wind-resource prediction. Different area-division methods resulted in different effects on prediction accuracy. This study provides a new approach and a reference for medium- and long-term wind-resource prediction.
Atmospheric Instability and Its Associated Oscillations in the Tropics
Authors: Zeng Xiping
Published: February 2023

The interaction between tropical clouds and radiation is studied in the context of the weak temperature gradient approximation, using very low order systems (e.g., a two-column two-layer model) as a zeroth-order approximation. Its criteria for the instability are derived in the systems. Owing to the connection between the instability (unstable fixed point) and the oscillation (limit cycle) in physics (phase) space, the systems suggest that the instability of tropical clouds and radiation leads to the atmospheric oscillations with distinct timescales observed. That is, the instability of the boundary layer quasi-equilibrium leads to the quasi-two-day oscillation, the instability of the radiative convective equilibrium leads to the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), and the instability of the radiative convective flux equilibrium leads to the El Niño–southern oscillation. In addition, a linear model as a first-order approximation is introduced to reveal the zonal asymmetry of the atmospheric response to a standing convective/radiative heating oscillation. Its asymmetric resonance conditions explain why a standing ~45-day oscillation in the systems brings about a planetary-scale eastward travelling vertical circulation like the MJO. The systems, despite of their simplicity, replicate the oscillations with the distinct timescales observed, providing a novel cloud parameterization for weather and climate models. Their instability criteria further suggests that the models can successfully predict the oscillations if they properly represent cirrus clouds and convective downdrafts in the tropics.
Knowledge Map of Climate Change and Transportation: A Bibliometric Analysis Based on CiteSpace
Authors: Peng Wang , Haron Nuzul Azam , Alias Aidi Hizami , Law Teik Hua
Published: February 2023

Climate change has become one of the leading problems around the world. The transport sector is one of the major contributors to climate change. At the same time, climate change is also affecting transportation facilities and travel behaviour. This study proposed a bibliometric approach to explore the structure evolution development trends of this knowledge domain with a broader search scope and more objective results compared with a manual review. A total of 4073 peer-reviewed articles were collected from the WoS core collection database to conduct scientometric analysis. The collaboration analysis shows that the US, China, and European countries dominate this field, and international organisations’ and government agencies’ reports on climate change form the basis of this research field. A total of 14 co-citation clusters were identified, and the research on climate change and transportation primarily focused on the topics of policy options, travel behaviour, the COVID-19 lockdown, environmental cost, and air quality. Keyword co-occurrence evolution analysis was also conducted to track the latest research trends. Based on the results, we propose trends in four areas for future research. This study provides a holistic knowledge map for climate change and transportation research’s past, present, and future.
Phenotypic Plasticity in Juvenile Frogs That Experienced Predation Pressure as Tadpoles Does Not Alter Their Locomotory Performance
Authors: Park Junkyu , Do Yuno
Published: February 2023

Anuran species can respond to environmental changes via phenotypic plasticity, which can also result in ecological impacts across the life history of such species. We investigated the effects of predation pressure (i.e., the non-consumption effect) from the dragonfly larva (Anax parthenope) on the phenotypical change of tadpoles into juvenile frogs (specifically the black-spotted pond frog, Pelophylax nigromaculatus), and also analyzed the impact of morphological changes on locomotory performance after metamorphosis. The experiments on predator impact were conducted in the laboratory. Body length, weight, development timing, and metamorphosis timing in the presence of dragonfly nymphs were measured in both tadpoles and juvenile frogs. The body and tail shapes of the tadpoles, as well as the skeletal shape of the juvenile frogs, were analyzed using landmark-based geometric morphometrics. Furthermore, the locomotory performance of the juvenile frogs was tested by measuring their jumping and swimming speeds. Tadpoles that had grown with predators possessed smaller bodies, deeper tail fins, and slower development rates, and they waited longer periods of time before commencing metamorphosis. Having said this, however, the effect of predator cues on the body length and weight of juvenile frogs was not found to be significant. These juvenile frogs possessed longer limbs and narrower skulls, with subtle morphological changes in the pelvis and ilium, but there was no subsequent difference in their swimming and jumping speeds. Our results showed that the changes in anatomical traits that can affect locomotor performance are so subtle that they do not affect the jumping or swimming speeds. Therefore, we support the view that these morphological changes are thus by-products of an altered tadpole period, rather than an adaptive response to predator-escape ability or to post-metamorphosis life history. On the other hand, delayed metamorphosis, without an increase in body size, may still be disadvantageous to the reproduction, growth, and survival of frogs in their life history following metamorphosis.
Discovery of GJC1 (Cx45) as a New Gene Underlying Congenital Heart Disease and Arrhythmias
Authors: Li Yan-Jie , Wang Juan , Ye Willy G. , Liu Xing-Yuan , Li Li , Qiu Xing-Biao , Chen Honghong , Xu Ying-Jia , Yang Yi-Qing , Bai Donglin , Huang Ri-Tai
Published: February 2023

As the most prevalent type of birth malformation, congenital heart disease (CHD) gives rise to substantial mortality and morbidity as well as a socioeconomic burden. Although aggregating investigations highlight the genetic basis for CHD, the genetic determinants underpinning CHD remain largely obscure. In this research, a Chinese family suffering from autosomal dominant CHD (atrial septal defect) and arrhythmias was enrolled. A genome-wide genotyping with microsatellite markers followed by linkage assay as well as sequencing analysis was conducted. The functional effects of the discovered genetic mutation were characterized by dual patch-clamp electrophysiological recordings in N2A cells and propidium iodide uptake assays in HeLa cells. As a result, a novel genetic locus for CHD and arrhythmias was located on chromosome 17q21.31-q21.33, a 4.82-cM (5.12 Mb) region between two markers of D17S1861 and D17S1795. Sequencing assays of the genes at the mapped locus unveiled a novel heterozygous mutation in the GJC1 gene coding for connexin 45 (Cx45), NM_005497.4:c.550A>G;p.R184G, which was in co-segregation with the disease in the whole family and was not observed in 516 unrelated healthy individuals or gnomAD. Electrophysiological analyses revealed that the mutation significantly diminished the coupling conductance in homomeric cell pairs (R184G/R184G) and in cell pairs expressing either R184G/Cx45 or R184G/Cx43. Propidium iodide uptake experiments demonstrated that the Cx45 R184G mutation did not increase the Cx45 hemichannel function. This investigation locates a new genetic locus linked to CHD and arrhythmias on chromosome 17q21.31-q21.33 and indicates GJC1 as a novel gene predisposing to CHD and arrhythmias, implying clinical implications for prognostic risk assessment and personalized management of patients affected with CHD and arrhythmias.
Immunoexpression Pattern of Autophagy Markers in Developing and Postnatal Kidneys of Dab1−/−(yotari) Mice
Authors: Maglica Mirko , Kelam Nela , Haque Ejazul , Perutina Ilija , Racetin Anita , Filipović Natalija , Katsuyama Yu , Vukojević Katarina
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this study was to compare the immunofluorescence patterns of autophagic markers: Light chain 3 beta (LC3B), Glucose regulating protein 78 (GRP78), Heat shock cognate 71 (HSC70) and Lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2A (LAMP2A) in the developing and postnatal kidneys of Dab1−/− (yotari) mice to those of wild-type samples. Embryos were obtained on gestation days 13.5 and 15.5 (E13.5 and E15.5), and adult animals were sacrificed at postnatal days 4, 11 and 14 (P4, P11, and P14). After fixation and dehydration, paraffin-embedded kidney tissues were sectioned and incubated with specific antibodies. Using an immunofluorescence microscope, sections were analyzed. For statistical analysis, a two-way ANOVA test and a Tukey’s multiple comparison test were performed with a probability level of p < 0.05. A significant increase in GRP78 and LAMP2A expression was observed in the renal vesicles and convoluted tubules of yotari in embryonic stages. In postnatal kidneys, all observed proteins showed higher signal intensities in proximal and distal convoluted tubules of yotari, while a higher percentage of LC3B-positive cells was also observed in glomeruli. Our findings suggest that all of the examined autophagic markers play an important role in normal kidney development, as well as the potential importance of these proteins in renal pathology, where they primarily serve a protective function and thus may be used as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
Potential Biomarkers and Endometrial Immune Microenvironment in Recurrent Implantation Failure
Authors: Li Fangfang , Gao Wenxin , Li Yanmei , Wang Yiqing , Liu Lin , Zhang Xuehong
Published: February 2023

The molecular mechanisms underlying unexplained recurrent implantation failure (RIF) remain unclear. This study aimed at identifying potential biomarkers, exploring relevant signaling pathways, and analyzing the contribution of immune cell infiltration in RIF. Microarray expression datasets were extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus database to perform bioinformatic analyses. The results showed that ten hub genes may predict RIF with high specificity and sensitivity (area under the curve = 1.000). Protein–protein interaction analysis revealed close interactions between the hub genes and the endometrial receptivity array. The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction further validated three potential biomarkers (RAB32, TRIB2, and FAM155B). Functional enrichment analyses indicated that immune pathways were significantly downregulated and lipid metabolism pathways were significantly upregulated in RIF compared with the controls. Significant negative correlations were observed between fatty acid biosynthesis and the immune pathways. Immune cell infiltration, including those in CD56dim natural killer, dendritic, Th1, Th2, and regulatory T cells, as well as macrophages, was significantly reduced in RIF compared with the controls used herein. This study may provide a novel perspective on the diagnosis and treatment of RIF.
Editorial: Special Issue “Protein Modeling and Simulation: Selected Articles from the Computational Structural Bioinformatics Workshop 2021”
Authors: Forouzesh Negin , Al Nasr Kamal
Published: February 2023

Computational structural biology has demonstrated a key role in improving human health [...]
Insights into the Structure and Function of TRIP-1, a Newly Identified Member in Calcified Tissues
Authors: Arivalagan Jaison , Ganapathy Amudha , Kalishwaralal Kalimuthu , Chen Yinghua , George Anne
Published: February 2023

Eukaryotic initiation factor subunit I (EIF3i), also called as p36 or TRIP-1, is a component of the translation initiation complex and acts as a modulator of TGF-β signaling. We demonstrated earlier that this intracellular protein is not only exported to the extracellular matrix via exosomes but also binds calcium phosphate and promotes hydroxyapatite nucleation. To assess other functional roles of TRIP-1, we first examined their phylogeny and showed that it is highly conserved in eukaryotes. Comparing human EIF3i sequence with that of 63 other eukaryotic species showed that more than 50% of its sequence is conserved, suggesting the preservation of its important functional role (translation initiation) during evolution. TRIP-1 contains WD40 domains and predicting its function based on this structural motif is difficult as it is present in a vast array of proteins with a wide variety of functions. Therefore, bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify putative regulatory functions for TRIP-1 by examining the structural domains and post-translational modifications and establishing an interactive network using known interacting partners such as type I collagen. Insight into the function of TRIP-1 was also determined by examining structurally similar proteins such as Wdr5 and GPSß, which contain a ß-propeller structure which has been implicated in the calcification process. Further, proteomic analysis of matrix vesicles isolated from TRIP-1-overexpressing preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells demonstrated the expression of several key biomineralization-related proteins, thereby confirming its role in the calcification process. Finally, we demonstrated that the proteomic signature in TRIP1-OE MVs facilitated osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. Overall, we demonstrated by bioinformatics that TRIP-1 has a unique structure and proteomic analysis suggested that the unique osteogenic cargo within the matrix vesicles facilitates matrix mineralization.
GABRG2 Variants Associated with Febrile Seizures
Authors: Hernandez Ciria C. , Shen Yanwen , Hu Ningning , Shen Wangzhen , Narayanan Vinodh , Ramsey Keri , He Wen , Zou Liping , Macdonald Robert L.
Published: February 2023

Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common form of epilepsy in children between six months and five years of age. FS is a self-limited type of fever-related seizure. However, complicated prolonged FS can lead to complex partial epilepsy. We found that among the GABAA receptor subunit (GABR) genes, most variants associated with FS are harbored in the γ2 subunit (GABRG2). Here, we characterized the effects of eight variants in the GABAA receptor γ2 subunit on receptor biogenesis and channel function. Two-thirds of the GABRG2 variants followed the expected autosomal dominant inheritance in FS and occurred as missense and nonsense variants. The remaining one-third appeared as de novo in the affected probands and occurred only as missense variants. The loss of GABAA receptor function and dominant negative effect on GABAA receptor biogenesis likely caused the FS phenotype. In general, variants in the GABRG2 result in a broad spectrum of phenotypic severity, ranging from asymptomatic, FS, genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+), and Dravet syndrome individuals. The data presented here support the link between FS, epilepsy, and GABRG2 variants, shedding light on the relationship between the variant topological occurrence and disease severity.
Efficiency of the Brain Network Is Associated with the Mental Workload with Developed Mental Schema
Authors: Gu Heng , Chen He , Yao Qunli , He Wenbo , Wang Shaodi , Yang Chao , Li Jiaxi , Liu Huapeng , Li Xiaoli , Zhao Xiaochuan , Liang Guanhao
Published: February 2023

The study of mental workload has attracted much interest in neuroergonomics, a frontier field of research. However, there appears no consensus on how to measure mental workload effectively because the mental workload is not only regulated by task difficulty but also affected by individual skill level reflected as mental schema. In this study, we investigated the alterations in the functional brain network induced by a 10-day simulated piloting task with different difficulty levels. Topological features quantifying global and local information communication and network organization were analyzed. It was found that during different tests, the global efficiency did not change, but the gravity center of the local efficiency of the network moved from the frontal to the posterior area; the small-worldness of the functional brain network became stronger. These results demonstrate the reconfiguration of the brain network during the development of mental schema. Furthermore, for the first two tests, the global and local efficiency did not have a consistent change trend under different difficulty levels, but after forming the developed mental schema, both of them decreased with the increase in task difficulty, showing sensitivity to the increase in mental workload. Our results demonstrate brain network reconfiguration during the motor learning process and reveal the importance of the developed mental schema for the accurate assessment of mental workload. We concluded that the efficiency of the brain network was associated with mental workload with developed mental schema.
Paraneoplastic Syndrome Presenting Combined Central and Peripheral Demyelination Associated with Anti-CV2/CRMP5 and Anti-NF186 Antibodies: A Case Report
Authors: Liu Bingyou , Zhou Lei , Zheng Yongsheng , Sun Chong , Lin Jie
Published: February 2023

The anti-CV2/CRMP5 antibody is a well-characterized biomarker of paraneoplastic neurological syndrome. The anti-NF186 antibody is a recently discovered antibody associated with central or peripheral demyelination. The co-occurrence of these two antibodies has not been reported. Herein, we report a case with anti-CV2/CRMP5 and anti-NF186 antibodies in a 57-year-old male presenting with progressive numbness and weakness in his four limbs. At first admission, the spinal cord MRI showed a cervical cord demyelinating lesion and electrophysiological examination showed a mixed demyelinating and axonal polyneuropathy. Anti-CV2/CRMP5 and anti-NF186 antibodies were both detected in his serum. Initially, the patient showed a positive response to IVIG and glucocorticoid treatment. However, the syndrome relapsed and mass lesions in lung and mediastinum were detected at second admission. This time the anti-NF186 antibody was not detected but the anti-CV2/CRMP5 antibody was still present. IVIG and glucocorticoid treatment was no longer effective. This case illustrated that paraneoplastic syndrome should be considered when diagnosing patients with central and peripheral demyelination, and that the anti-NF186 antibody may help distinguish a subset of patients who can benefit from immunomodulatory treatments.
The Relationship between Mood Symptom Severity and Perfectionism Subtypes in Mood Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lea Katy , Richardson Thomas , Rauze Nina
Published: February 2023

Background: Previous research suggests that there is a link between perfectionism and symptoms of depression. This study aimed to see if different types of perfectionism are linked differently to symptoms of depression in mood disorders and if there is a relationship between perfectionism and symptoms of mania in bipolar disorder. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the databases PsycINFO, EMBASE, Web of Science, and PubMed to find papers which examined the relationship in clinical depression and bipolar disorder. A meta-analysis pooled the correlation effect sizes for mood symptoms severity and the severity of the perfectionism subtype. Results: Twelve papers were included in the review, with five of these being included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis found statistically significant positive correlations between greater severity of depression symptoms and more severe perfectionism for the following subtypes: concern over mistakes, doubts about actions, other-oriented perfectionism, parental criticism, self-oriented perfectionism, and socially prescribed perfectionism. There was no significant relationship between depression symptoms and perfectionism subtypes of organisation and personal standards. There were not enough studies reporting data for manic symptoms for the meta-analysis or for any firm conclusions to be drawn. Conclusions: The relationship between depression and perfectionism differs depending on the particular type of perfectionism examined. Most studies were cross-sectional and correlational, so causation cannot be inferred, and future longitudinal studies are needed.
Figure–Ground Segmentation and Biological Motion Perception in Peripheral Visual Field
Authors: Ceple Ilze , Skilters Jurgis , Lyakhovetskii Vsevolod , Jurcinska Inga , Krumina Gunta
Published: February 2023

Biological motion perception is a specific type of perceptual organization, during which a clear image of a moving human body is perceptually generated in virtue of certain core light dots representing the major joint movements. While the processes of biological motion perception have been studied extensively for almost a century, there is still a debate on whether biological motion task performance can be equally precise across all visual field or is central visual field specified for biological motion perception. The current study explores the processes of biological motion perception and figure–ground segmentation in the central and peripheral visual field, expanding the understanding of perceptual organization across different eccentricities. The method involved three different tasks of visual grouping: (1) a static visual grouping task, (2) a dynamic visual grouping task, and (3) a biological motion detection task. The stimuli in (1) and (2) were generated from 12–13 dots grouped by proximity and common fate, and, in (3), light dots representing human motion. All stimuli were embedded in static or dynamics visual noise and the threshold value for the number of noise dots in which the elements could still be grouped by proximity and/or common fate was determined. The results demonstrate that biological motion can be differentiated from the scrambled set of moving dots in a more intensive visual noise than static and dynamic visual grouping tasks. Furthermore, in all three visual tasks (static and dynamic grouping, and biological motion detection) the performance was significantly worse in the periphery than in the central visual field, and object magnification could not compensate for the reduced performance in any of the three grouping tasks. The preliminary results of nine participants indicate that (a) human motion perception involves specific perceptual processes, providing the high-accuracy perception of the human body and (b) the processes of figure–ground segmentation are governed by the bottom-up processes and the best performance can be achieved only when the object is demonstrated in the central visual field.
An Attempt to Conceptualize the Phenomenon of Stigma toward Intimate Partner Violence Survivors: A Systematic Review
Authors: Taccini Federica , Mannarini Stefania
Published: February 2023

The objectives of the present manuscript were to review the literature on stigma toward survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and to identify the most widely used assessment techniques to investigate this issue. The PRISMA guidelines were followed, and the systematic review was registered in PROSPERO, registration number: CRD42022327410. PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed were searched. Two authors selected and extracted data from eligible studies. In total, 4220 hits were returned from the database search, and of them, 24 articles met the inclusion criteria. The articles included in the review confirm the presence of stigma toward IPV survivors, which can be divided into public stigma and self-stigma. Specifically, 17 studies were related only to public stigma, 1 study focused only on self-stigma, and 6 articles investigated aspects related to both public and self-stigma. Both qualitative and quantitative studies have been conducted on this topic. The considerations on the methodologies and assessment measures used in the included studies will be discussed in the results section. Based on the research included, it was possible to develop a contribution to the definition of stigma, which will be discussed in the article.
Preparation and Properties of Double Liquid Grouting Materials (DLGMs) Used for the Regenerated Roof of a Coal Mine
Authors: Wang Aiguo , Li Zheng , Liu Peng , Liu Kaiwei , Yu Guofeng , Zheng Qun , Han Yunchun , Xu Haiyan , Sun Daosheng
Published: February 2023

Double liquid grouting materials (DLGMs) are composed of slurry A and slurry B. In response to the need for sustainable development, there is currently a focus on improving the utilization rate of resources. In this paper, industrial solid waste fly ash, slag, and ordinary Portland cement were used to prepare slurry A, while sodium silicate was used as slurry B. Slurry C was made by adding slurry B to slurry A. The mix design parameters of the DLGMs, with large amounts of fly ash, were optimized based on the response surface method. The results showed that the relative content of cement and the reactivity and morphological effect of supplementary cementitious materials (fly ash and slag) were the main factors affecting the operable time, viscosity, and stability of slurry A. The relative content of cement and the sodium silicate modulus were the main factors affecting the operable time of the DLGMs. Compared to the C30F70S0-Z3.3 group (where C, F, S, and Z represented cement, fly ash, slag, and sodium silicate modulus, respectively), the operable time of the C0F70S30-Z3.3 group increased by approximately 36 min. As the sodium silicate modulus was lowered to 2.3, the operable time of the C0F70S30-Z2.3 group increased by about 32 min compared to that of the C30F70S0-Z2.3 group. The established model and response surface can well reflect the influence of multiple factors on the properties of the DLGMs. When the mass ratio of cement/fly ash/slag in slurry A was 7.5%: 70%: 22.5%, and the sodium silicate modulus and content of slurry B were 2.8 and 10%, respectively, the 28-day compressive strength of the DLGMs can reach up to 11.3 MPa. The content of fly ash was the most significant factor affecting the 28-day compressive strength of the DLGMs, followed by the sodium silicate content. The least influential factor was the sodium silicate modulus. The XRD and SEM results showed that a large amount of Ca2+ produced by cement hydration can quickly react with [SiO4]4- in sodium silicate to form C-S-H gel. Moreover, it also promoted the hydration of C3S and C2S in grouting to produce more C-S-H gel, which was conducive to the alkali activation of slag and fly ash, resulting in a denser microstructure and hence, yielded obvious increases in the compressive strengths of the DLGMs.
Somatic, Genetic and Epigenetic Changes in Nephrogenic Rests and Their Role in the Transformation to Wilms Tumors, a Systematic Review
Authors: Bánki Tessa , Drost Jarno , van den Heuvel-Eibrink Marry M. , Mavinkurve-Groothuis Annelies M. C. , de Krijger Ronald R.
Published: February 2023

Objective: To review somatic genetic changes in nephrogenic rests (NR), which are considered to be precursor lesions of Wilms tumors (WT). Methods: This systematic review is written according to the PRISMA statement. PubMed and EMBASE were systematically searched for articles in the English language studying somatic genetic changes in NR between 1990 and 2022. Results: Twenty-three studies were included in this review, describing 221 NR of which 119 were pairs of NR and WT. Single gene studies showed mutations in WT1 and WTX, but not CTNNB1 to occur in both NR and WT. Studies investigating chromosomal changes showed loss of heterozygosity of 11p13 and 11p15 to occur in both NR and WT, but loss of 7p and 16q occurred in WT only. Methylome-based studies found differential methylation patterns between NR, WT, and normal kidney (NK). Conclusions: Over a 30-year time frame, few studies have addressed genetic changes in NR, likely hampered by technical and practical limitations. A limited number of genes and chromosomal regions have been implicated in the early pathogenesis of WT, exemplified by their occurrence in NR, including WT1, WTX, and genes located at 11p15. Further studies of NR and corresponding WT are urgently needed.