bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individual, Family, and Environmental Correlates of Motor Competence in Young Children: Regression Model Analysis of Data Obtained from Two Motor Tests
Authors: Niemistö Donna , Finni Taija , Cantell Marja , Korhonen Elisa , Sääkslahti Arja
Published: April 2020

Physical activity and motor competence (MC) have been considered to be closely related and prevent childhood obesity. The aim of the study was two-fold: to examine MC measured with two different tools in relation to individual, family, and environmental correlates and to investigate gender differences in MC. The Test of Gross Motor Development-Third Edition (TGMD-3) was administered to three- to seven-year-old children (n = 945), while the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) was also used for five- to seven-year-old children (n = 444). The parent questionnaire (n = 936) included questions about individual (e.g., participation in organized sports), family (e.g., parents’ education level), and environmental (e.g., access to sports facilities) correlates. The children’s temperament was assessed using the Colorado Childhood Temperament Inventory (CCTI) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and linear mixed-effects regression models. The regression models explained 57% and 38% of the variance in TGMD-3 and KTK, respectively. Individual correlates, including older age, more frequent participation in sports, and specific temperament traits of activity and attention span-persistence, were the strongest predictors for better MC. Small gender differences were found in both assessment tools, albeit in a different manner. In conclusion, socioecological correlates of MC in young children are multidimensional, and individual correlates appear to be the most important predictors of MC. Importantly, the correlates can differ according to the MC assessment tools.
The Need for an Evidence-Based Encyclopaedia in Health Services Research in Pharmacy
Authors: Babar Zaheer-Ud-Din
Published: April 2020

Pharmacy practice research (PPR) is a specialty field within the wider area of health services research and it focuses on studies of how and why people access pharmacy services. This stream of research is also referred to as more universally recognized term such as health services research in pharmacy. The health services research in pharmacy has increased manifold; however, the impact of this research is not visible at the global level. The editorial explains several issues on quality and quantity of evidence produced including how evidence produced could contribute to improve quality of care and patients’ health outcomes. It also narrates examples from the UK and Australia showing how health services research in pharmacy has made an impact on healthcare service delivery. The editorial argues that building an encyclopaedia in health services research in pharmacy is vital to enhance the visibility and impact of this research.
Decomposing Inequality in Long-Term Care Need Among Older Adults with Chronic Diseases in China: A Life Course Perspective
Authors: Hu Han , Si Yafei , Li Bingqin
Published: April 2020

Background: China has the largest number of aging people in need of long-term care, among whom 70% have chronic diseases. For policy planners, it is necessary to understand the different levels of needs of long-term care and provide long-term care insurance to ensure the long-term care needs of all people can be met. Methods: This study combines the 2013 wave of CHARLS survey and the Life Course Survey of 2014. The combination allows us to factor in both childhood and adulthood data to provide life-course analysis. We identified 7,734 older adults with chronic diseases for analysis. The need for long-term care is defined by the presence of functional limitations based on the performance of basic activities of daily living (ADLs) and of instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Two dummy variables, ADLs disability and IADLs disability, and two count variables, ADLs score and IADLs score, were defined to measure incidence and severity of long-term care need, respectively. The concentration index was used to capture the inequality in long-term care need, and a decomposition method based on Probit Regression and Negative Binomial Regression was exploited to identify the contribution of each determination. Results: At least a little difficulty was reported in ADLs and IADLs in 20.44% and 19.25% of respondents, respectively. The concentration index of ADLs disability, ADLs score, IADLs disability, IADLs score were −0.085, −0.109, −0.095 and −0.120, respectively, all of which were statistically significant, indicating the pro-poor inequality in the incidence and severity of long-term care need. Decomposition analyses revealed that family income, education attainment, aging, and childhood experience played a significant role in explaining the inequalities. Conclusions: The long-term care need among older adults with chronic disease is high in China and low socioeconomic groups had a higher probability of needing long-term care or need more long-term care. It is urgent to implement long-term care insurance, especially for the individuals from lower socioeconomic groups.
Later School Start Time: The Impact of Sleep on Academic Performance and Health in the Adolescent Population
Authors: Alfonsi Valentina , Scarpelli Serena , D’Atri Aurora , Stella Giacomo , De Gennaro Luigi
Published: April 2020

The crucial role of sleep in physical and mental health is well known, especially during the developmental period. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in examining the relationship between sleep patterns and school performance in adolescents. At this stage of life, several environmental and biological factors may affect both circadian and homeostatic regulation of sleep. A large part of this population does not experience adequate sleep, leading to chronic sleep restriction and/or disrupted sleep–wake cycles. Studies investigating the effects of different sleep–wake schedules on academic achievement showed that impaired sleep quality and quantity are associated with decreased learning ability and compromised daytime functioning. This review focuses on the most recent studies that evaluated the effects of modified school start time on sleep patterns and related outcomes. Moreover, based on the available empirical evidence, we intend to propose a direction for future studies targeted to implement prevention or treatment programs by modifying sleep timing.
Reasons for Tooth Extractions and Related Risk Factors in Adult Patients: A Cohort Study
Authors: Passarelli Pier Carmine , Pagnoni Stefano , Piccirillo Giovan Battista , Desantis Viviana , Benegiamo Michele , Liguori Antonio , Papa Raffaele , Papi Piero , Pompa Giorgio , D’Addona Antonio
Published: April 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate oral status, the reasons for tooth extractions and related risk factors in adult patients attending a hospital dental practice. Methods: 120 consecutive patients ranging from 23 to 91 years in age (mean age of 63.3 ± 15.8) having a total of 554 teeth extracted were included. Surveys about general health status were conducted and potential risk factors such as smoking, diabetes and age were investigated. Results: a total of 1795 teeth were missing after extraction procedures and the mean number of remaining teeth after the extraction process was 16.8 ± 9.1 per patient. Caries (52.2%) was the most common reason for extraction along with periodontal disease (35.7%). Males were more prone to extractions, with 394 of the teeth extracted out of the total of 554 (71.1%). Male sex (β = 2.89; 95% CI 1.26, 4.53; p = 0.001) and smoking habit (β = 2.95; 95% CI 1.12, 4.79; p = 0.002) were related to a higher number of teeth extracted. Age (β = −0.24; 95% CI −0.31, −0.16; p < 0.001) and diabetes (β = −4.47; 95% CI −7.61, −1.33; p = 0.006) were related to a higher number of missing teeth at evaluation time. Moreover, periodontal disease was more common as a reason of extraction among diabetic patients than among non-diabetic ones (p = 0.04). Conclusions: caries and periodontal disease were the most common causes of extraction in a relatively old study population: further screening strategies might be required for the early interception of caries and periodontal disease.
Potentials of School Nursing for Strengthening the Health Literacy of Children, Parents and Teachers
Authors: de Buhr Elke , Ewers Michael , Tannen Antje
Published: April 2020

Health literacy (HL) plays a key role in explaining health disparities. School nurses (SN) provide health related expertise within the school setting. A positive effect on the HL of children but also their teachers and parents has been suggested by some research, but gaps persist in the available information. As a pilot project, SN, which are not common in German schools, were placed in 28 public elementary and secondary schools in two German states. Children (11+ years, n = 2773), parents (n = 3978) and teachers (n = 420) participated in a 2017 baseline (T0) survey. Data collection was repeated in 2018 (T1). HL was measured using the Health Literacy for School-Aged Children scale (HLSAC) (children) and the European Health Literacy Short Scale (HLS-EU-Q16) (adults). Descriptive and multivariate data analyses were carried out. The HL of all groups increased between T0 and T1. Low child HL decreased from 17.9% to 14.9%. Problematic and inadequate HL dropped from 43.8% to 38.8% among parents and from 49.9% to 45.8% among teachers. Improvements were significant for children and parents but not for the teachers. Despite the relatively short intervention period and a relatively non-specific spectrum of interventions, there is some evidence that SN may contribute to strengthening HL within the school setting. The longer-term effects of SN on health literacy and child health should be further examined. For this, a clearer conceptualization of the scope of work of the SN in Germany including their educational interventions is imperative.
Associations between the Chronotypes and Eating Habits of Hong Kong School-Aged Children
Authors: Yu Branda Yee-Man , Yeung Wing-Fai , Ho Yuan-Shan , Ho Fiona Yan Yee , Chung Ka Fai , Lee Regina Lai Tong , Lam Mei Yuk , Chen Shucheng
Published: April 2020

Later chronotypes have been found to be associated with unhealthy diets in adolescents and adults, but no study has been conducted in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between the chronotypes and dietary patterns of school-aged children. Children aged 7–11 and their parents were recruited from five mainstream schools in Hong Kong. The parents were told to complete questionnaires on the children’s circadian preferences, food frequency, and dietary behaviors. All of the questionnaires were distributed and collected by schoolteachers. No gender differences in chronotype were observed (all p > 0.05). The evening-type was associated with significantly greater odds of viewing television (TV) during meals (adjusted odds ratios (OR) = 5.62 in boys and 5.39 in girls). Evening-oriented boys were prone to skipping breakfast (adjusted OR = 14.78), whereas evening-oriented girls were at risk of consuming fast food (adjusted OR = 7.74). There are indications of some gender differences in chronotype-related eating patterns. Sleep duration and screen time significantly mediated the associations between later chronotypes and unhealthy eating habits. Individualized dietary recommendations in accordance with circadian preferences may be effective at promoting healthy and nutritious diets for school-aged children.
Missing Data Imputation for Geolocation-based Price Prediction Using KNN–MCF Method
Authors: Sanjar Karshiev , Bekhzod Olimov , Kim Jaesoo , Paul Anand , Kim Jeonghong
Published: April 2020

Accurate house price forecasts are very important for formulating national economic policies. In this paper, we offer an effective method to predict houses’ sale prices. Our algorithm includes one-hot encoding to convert text data into numeric data, feature correlation to select only the most correlated variables, and a technique to overcome the missing data. Our approach is an effective way to handle missing data in large datasets with the K-nearest neighbor algorithm based on the most correlated features (KNN–MCF). As far as we are concerned, there has been no previous research that has focused on important features dealing with missing observations. Compared to the typical machine learning prediction algorithms, the prediction accuracy of the proposed method is 92.01% with the random forest algorithm, which is more efficient than the other methods.
Digital Twin: Research Framework to Support Preventive Conservation Policies
Authors: Jouan Pierre , Hallot Pierre
Published: April 2020

Preventive strategies for the conservation of heritage sites have gradually been preferred to curative approaches because of their ability to maintain their significance. Furthermore, most experts now agree that conservation management of heritage places based on a common understanding of their cultural values is essential to address all the particularities of their contexts. Recently, significant research has demonstrated the potential of Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) for the collaborative data management in conjunction with conservation projects. The recent development of HBIM web platforms illustrates the value of strengthening the link between the digital model and the physical realm of heritage assets. This paper advocates the application of Digital Twin’s (DT) principles, using HBIM models as a digital replica, to support the preventive conservation of heritage places. Based on an extensive literature review, a comprehensive framework that integrates the DT into the management plan process for the preventive conservation of built heritage is proposed. Several recommendations for its implementation are finally discussed, such as the identification of tangible features of significance, the threats associated with their integrity and the corresponding mitigation strategies, with particular emphasis on the value assessment process. The result is a data model for structuring information on preventive conservation strategies. This framework provides the basis for future implementation and demonstrates the need for a DT approach in this context.
GIS-Based Statistical Analysis of Detecting Fear of Crime with Digital Sketch Maps: A Hungarian Multicity Study
Authors: Jakobi Ákos , Pődör Andrea
Published: April 2020

This study evaluates fear of crime perception and official crime statistics in a spatial context, by applying digital sketch maps and statistical GIS methods. The study aims to determine explanatory motives of fear of crime by comparing results of selected large, medium and small sized Hungarian cities. Fear of crime information of residents were collected by using a web application, which gave the possibility to mark regions on a map, where respondents have a sense of safety or feel fear. These digital sketch maps were processed by GIS tools, and were converted to grid data, in order to calculate comparable explanatory variables for fear of crime analysis. The grid-based normalised model reflected some similarities and differences between the observed cities. According to the outcomes, examples were found both in coincidences and opposite correlations of crime statistics and perception of unsafe places, highlighting the importance of locality in fear of crime research. Additionally, the results mirrored that the size of the city or the respondent’s sex does not significantly influence the overall judgment of places, rather the absolute number of safe markings and the local number of registered crime events could affect local results.
Recognizing Linear Building Patterns in Topographic Data by Using Two New Indices based on Delaunay Triangulation
Authors: He Xianjin , Deng Min , Luo Guowei
Published: April 2020

Building pattern recognition is fundamental to a wide range of downstream applications, such as urban landscape evaluation, social analyses, and map generalization. Although many studies have been conducted, there is still a lack of satisfactory results, due to the imprecision of the relative direction model of any two adjacent buildings and the ineffective extraction methods. This study aims to provide an alternative for quantifying the direction and the spatial continuity of any two buildings on the basis of the Delaunay triangulation for the recognition of linear building patterns. First, constrained Delaunay triangulations (CDTs) are created for all buildings within each block and every two adjacent buildings. Then, the spatial continuity index (SCI), the direction index (DI), and other spatial relations (e.g., distance) of every two adjacent buildings are derived using the CDT. Finally, the building block is modelled as a graph based on derived matrices, and a graph segmentation approach is proposed to extract linear building patterns. In the segmentation process, the edges of the graph are removed first, according to the global thresholds of the SCI and distance, and are subsequently subdivided into subgraphs on direction rules. The proposed method is tested using three datasets. The experimental results suggest that the proposed method can recognize both collinear and curvilinear building patterns, given that the correctness values are all above 92% for the three study areas. The results also demonstrate that the novel SCI can effectively filter many insignificant neighbor relationships in the graph segmentation process. It is noteworthy that the proposed DI is capable of measuring building relative directions accurately and works efficiently in linear building pattern extraction.
Protective Effect of Ocotillol, the Derivate of Ocotillol-Type Saponins in Panax Genus, against Acetic Acid-Induced Gastric Ulcer in Rats Based on Untargeted Metabolomics
Authors: Wang Cuizhu , Yuan Yuze , Pan He , Hsu Alan Chen-Yu , Chen Jinluan , Liu Jinping , Li Pingya , Wang Fang
Published: April 2020

Gastric ulcer (GU), a prevalent digestive disease, has a high incidence and is seriously harmful to human health. Finding a natural drug with a gastroprotective effect is needed. Ocotillol, the derivate of ocotillol-type saponins in the Panax genus, possesses good anti-inflammatory activity. The study aimed to investigate the gastroprotective effect of ocotillol on acetic acid-induced GU rats. The serum levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO), the gastric mucosa levels of epidermal growth factor, superoxide dismutase and NO were assessed. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of gastric mucosa for pathological changes and immunohistochemical staining of ET-1, epidermal growth factor receptors and inducible nitric oxide synthase were evaluated. A UPLC-QTOF-MS-based serum metabolomics approach was applied to explore the latent mechanism. A total of 21 potential metabolites involved in 7 metabolic pathways were identified. The study helps us to understand the pathogenesis of GU and to provide a potential natural anti-ulcer agent.
Spliceosomal Protein Gene BmSPX Regulates Reproductive Organ Development in Bombyx mori
Authors: Wang Yao , Li Juan , Wan Qiu-Xing , Zhao Qin , Wang Kai-Xuan , Zha Xing-Fu
Published: April 2020

Sex determination and differentiation are nearly universal to all eukaryotic organisms, encompassing diverse systems and mechanisms. Here, we identified a spliceosomal protein gene BmSPX involved in sex determination of the lepidopeteran insect, Bombyx mori. In a transgenic silkworm line that overexpressed the BmSPX gene, transgenic silkworm males exhibited differences in their external genitalia compared to wild-type males, but normal internal genitalia. Additionally, transgenic silkworm females exhibited a developmental disorder of the reproductive organs. Upregulation of BmSPX significantly increased the expression levels of sex-determining genes (BmMasc and BmIMP) and reduced the female-type splice isoform of Bmdsx, which is a key switch gene downstream of the sex-determination pathway. Additionally, co-immunoprecipitation assays confirmed an interaction between the BmSPX protein and BmPSI, an upstream regulatory factor of Bmdsx. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that BmSPX over-expression upregulated the expression of the Hox gene abdominal-B (Adb-B), which is required for specification of the posterior abdomen, external genitalia, and gonads of insects, as well as the genes in the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) signaling pathway. In conclusion, our study suggested the involvement of BmSPX, identified as a novel regulatory factor, in the sex-determination pathway and regulation of reproductive organ development in silkworms.
Phosphoinositide-Dependent Signaling in Cancer: A Focus on Phospholipase C Isozymes
Authors: Owusu Obeng Eric , Rusciano Isabella , Marvi Maria Vittoria , Fazio Antonietta , Ratti Stefano , Follo Matilde Yung , Xian Jie , Manzoli Lucia , Billi Anna Maria , Mongiorgi Sara , Ramazzotti Giulia , Cocco Lucio
Published: April 2020

Phosphoinositides (PI) form just a minor portion of the total phospholipid content in cells but are significantly involved in cancer development and progression. In several cancer types, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P3] and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] play significant roles in regulating survival, proliferation, invasion, and growth of cancer cells. Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) catalyze the generation of the essential second messengers diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (InsP3) by hydrolyzing PtdIns(4,5)P2. DAG and InsP3 regulate Protein Kinase C (PKC) activation and the release of calcium ions (Ca2+) into the cytosol, respectively. This event leads to the control of several important biological processes implicated in cancer. PLCs have been extensively studied in cancer but their regulatory roles in the oncogenic process are not fully understood. This review aims to provide up-to-date knowledge on the involvement of PLCs in cancer. We focus specifically on PLCβ, PLCγ, PLCδ, and PLCε isoforms due to the numerous evidence of their involvement in various cancer types.
Activation of PKG and Akt Is Required for Cardioprotection by Ramelteon-Induced Preconditioning and Is Located Upstream of mKCa-Channels
Authors: Torregroza Carolin , Jalajel Osameh , Raupach Annika , Feige Katharina , Bunte Sebastian , Heinen André , Mathes Alexander , Hollmann Markus W. , Huhn Ragnar , Stroethoff Martin
Published: April 2020

Ramelteon is a Melatonin 1 (MT1)—and Melatonin 2 (MT2)—receptor agonist conferring cardioprotection by pharmacologic preconditioning. While activation of mitochondrial calcium-sensitive potassium (mKCa)-channels is involved in this protective mechanism, the specific upstream signaling pathway of Ramelteon-induced cardioprotection is unknown. In the present study, we (1) investigated whether Ramelteon-induced cardioprotection involves activation of protein kinase G (PKG) and/or protein kinase B (Akt) and (2) determined the precise sequence of PKG and Akt in the signal transduction pathway of Ramelteon-induced preconditioning. Hearts of male Wistar rats were randomized and placed on a Langendorff system, perfused with Krebs–Henseleit buffer at a constant pressure of 80 mmHg. All hearts were subjected to 33 min of global ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion. Before ischemia, hearts were perfused with Ramelteon (Ram) with or without the PKG or Akt inhibitor KT5823 and MK2206, respectively (KT5823 + Ram, KT5823, MK2206 + Ram, MK2206). To determine the precise signaling sequence, subsequent experiments were conducted with the guanylate cyclase activator BAY60-2770 and the mKCa-channel activator NS1619. Infarct size was determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Ramelteon-induced infarct size reduction was completely blocked by KT5823 (p = 0.0012) and MK2206 (p = 0.0005). MK2206 with Ramelteon combined with BAY60-2770 reduced infarct size significantly (p = 0.0014) indicating that PKG activation takes place after Akt. Ramelteon and KT5823 (p = 0.0063) or MK2206 (p = 0.006) respectively combined with NS1619 also significantly reduced infarct size, indicating that PKG and Akt are located upstream of mKCa-channels. This study shows for the first time that Ramelteon-induced preconditioning (1) involves activation of PKG and Akt; (2) PKG is located downstream of Akt and (3) both enzymes are located upstream of mKCa-channels in the signal transduction pathway.
Healthspan Maintenance and Prevention of Parkinson’s-like Phenotypes with Hydroxytyrosol and Oleuropein Aglycone in C. elegans
Authors: Brunetti Giovanni , Di Rosa Gabriele , Scuto Maria , Leri Manuela , Stefani Massimo , Schmitz-Linneweber Christian , Calabrese Vittorio , Saul Nadine
Published: April 2020

Numerous studies highlighted the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet (MD) in maintaining health, especially during ageing. Even neurodegeneration, which is part of the natural ageing process, as well as the foundation of ageing-related neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease (PD), was successfully targeted by MD. In this regard, olive oil and its polyphenolic constituents have received increasing attention in the last years. Thus, this study focuses on two main olive oil polyphenols, hydroxytyrosol (HT) and oleuropein aglycone (OLE), and their effects on ageing symptoms with special attention to PD. In order to avoid long-lasting, expensive, and ethically controversial experiments, the established invertebrate model organism Caenorhabditis elegans was used to test HT and OLE treatments. Interestingly, both polyphenols were able to increase the survival after heat stress, but only HT could prolong the lifespan in unstressed conditions. Furthermore, in aged worms, HT and OLE caused improvements of locomotive behavior and the attenuation of autofluorescence as a marker for ageing. In addition, by using three different C. elegans PD models, HT and OLE were shown i) to enhance locomotion in worms suffering from α-synuclein-expression in muscles or rotenone exposure, ii) to reduce α-synuclein accumulation in muscles cells, and iii) to prevent neurodegeneration in α-synuclein-containing dopaminergic neurons. Hormesis, antioxidative capacities and an activity-boost of the proteasome & phase II detoxifying enzymes are discussed as potential underlying causes for these beneficial effects. Further biological and medical trials are indicated to assess the full potential of HT and OLE and to uncover their mode of action.
Changes of Resurgent Na+ Currents in the Nav1.4 Channel Resulting from an SCN4A Mutation Contributing to Sodium Channel Myotonia
Authors: Huang Chiung-Wei , Lai Hsing-Jung , Lin Pi-Chen , Lee Ming-Jen
Published: April 2020

Myotonia congenita (MC) is a rare disorder characterized by stiffness and weakness of the limb and trunk muscles. Mutations in the SCN4A gene encoding the alpha-subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.4 have been reported to be responsible for sodium channel myotonia (SCM). The Nav1.4 channel is expressed in skeletal muscles, and its related channelopathies affect skeletal muscle excitability, which can manifest as SCM, paramyotonia and periodic paralysis. In this study, the missense mutation p.V445M was identified in two individual families with MC. To determine the functional consequences of having a mutated Nav1.4 channel, whole-cell patch-clamp recording of transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells was performed. Evaluation of the transient Na+ current found that a hyperpolarizing shift occurs at both the activation and inactivation curves with an increase of the window currents in the mutant channels. The Nav1.4 channel’s co-expression with the Navβ4 peptide can generate resurgent Na+ currents at repolarization following a depolarization. The magnitude of the resurgent currents is higher in the mutant than in the wild-type (WT) channel. Although the decay kinetics are comparable between the mutant and WT channels, the time to the peak of resurgent Na+ currents in the mutant channel is significantly protracted compared with that in the WT channel. These findings suggest that the p.V445M mutation in the Nav1.4 channel results in an increase of both sustained and resurgent Na+ currents, which may contribute to hyperexcitability with repetitive firing and is likely to facilitate recurrent myotonia in SCM patients.
Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiles of Lactic Acid Bacteria from the Human Vagina and Genetic Basis of Acquired Resistances
Authors: Sirichoat Auttawit , Flórez Ana Belén , Vázquez Lucía , Buppasiri Pranom , Panya Marutpong , Lulitanond Viraphong , Mayo Baltasar
Published: April 2020

Lactic acid bacteria can act as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes that can be ultimately transferred to pathogens. The present work reports on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 16 antibiotics to 25 LAB isolates of five Lactobacillus and one Bifidobacterium species from the human vagina. Acquired resistances were detected to kanamycin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, and ampicillin. A PCR analysis of lactobacilli failed to identify genetic determinants involved in any of these resistances. Surprisingly, a tet(W) gene was detected by PCR in two Bifidobacterium bifidum strains, although they proved to be tetracycline-susceptible. In agreement with the PCR results, no acquired genes were identified in the genome of any of the Lactobacillus spp. strains sequenced. A genome analysis of B. bifidum VA07-1AN showed an insertion of two guanines in the middle of tet(W) interrupting the open reading frame. By growing the strain in the presence of tetracycline, stable tetracycline-resistant variants were obtained. An amino acid substitution in the ribosomal protein S12 (K43R) was further identified as the most likely cause of VA07-1AN being streptomycin resistance. The results of this work expand our knowledge of the resistance profiles of vaginal LAB and provide evidence for the genetic basis of some acquired resistances.
Glomerular Deposition of Nephritis-Associated Plasmin Receptor (NAPlr) and Related Plasmin Activity: Key Diagnostic Biomarkers of Bacterial Infection-related Glomerulonephritis
Authors: Uchida Takahiro , Oda Takashi
Published: April 2020

It is widely known that glomerulonephritis (GN) often develops after the curing of an infection, a typical example of which is GN in children following streptococcal infections (poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis; PSAGN). On the other hand, the term “infection-related glomerulonephritis (IRGN)” has recently been proposed, because infections are usually ongoing at the time of GN onset in adult patients, particularly in older patients with comorbidities. However, there has been no specific diagnostic biomarker for IRGN, and diagnosis is based on the collection of several clinical and pathological findings and the exclusion of differential diagnoses. Nephritis-associated plasmin receptor (NAPlr) was originally isolated from the cytoplasmic fraction of group A streptococcus as a candidate nephritogenic protein for PSAGN and was found to be the same molecule as streptococcal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and plasmin receptor. NAPlr deposition and related plasmin activity were observed with a similar distribution pattern in the glomeruli of patients with PSAGN. However, glomerular NAPlr deposition and plasmin activity could be observed not only in patients with PSAGN but also in patients with other glomerular diseases, in whom a preceding streptococcal infection was suggested. Furthermore, such glomerular staining patterns have been demonstrated in patients with IRGN induced by bacteria other than streptococci. This review discusses the recent advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of bacterial IRGN, which is characterized by NAPlr and plasmin as key biomarkers.
Role of 5-HT1A Receptor in the Anxiolytic-Relaxant Effects of Bergamot Essential Oil in Rodent
Authors: Rombolà Laura , Scuteri Damiana , Watanabe Chizuko , Sakurada Shinobu , Hamamura Kengo , Sakurada Tsukasa , Tonin Paolo , Corasaniti Maria Tiziana , Bagetta Giacinto , Morrone Luigi Antonio
Published: April 2020

The essential oil obtained by the fresh fruit of Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau is used worldwide in aromatherapy to reduce pain, facilitate sleep induction, and/or minimize the effects of stress-induced anxiety. Preclinical pharmacological data demonstrate that bergamot essential oil (BEO) modulates specific neurotransmissions and shows an anxiolytic-relaxant effect not superimposable to that of the benzodiazepine diazepam, suggesting that neurotransmissions, other than GABAergic, could be involved. Several studies on essential oils indicate a role for serotonergic (5-HT) neurotransmission in anxiety. Interestingly, among serotonergic receptors, the 5-HT1A subtype seems to play a key role in the control of anxiety. Here, we report that modulation of the 5-HT1A receptor by selective agonist ((±)8-OH-DPAT) or antagonist (WAY-100635) may influence some of the anxiolytic-relaxant effects of BEO in Open Field and Elevated Plus Maze tests.
Anti-Aging Effects of GDF11 on Skin
Authors: Rochette Luc , Mazini Loubna , Meloux Alexandre , Zeller Marianne , Cottin Yves , Vergely Catherine , Malka Gabriel
Published: April 2020

Human skin is composed of three layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis. The epidermis has four major cell layers made up of keratinocytes in varying stages of progressive differentiation. Skin aging is a multi-factorial process that affects every phase of its biology and function. The expression profiles of inflammation-related genes analyzed in resident immune cells demonstrated that these cells have a strong ability to regenerate adult skin stem cells and to produce endogenous substances such as growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11). GDF11 appears to be the key to progenitor proliferation and/or differentiation. The preservation of youthful phenotypes has been tied to the presence of GDF11 in different human tissues, and, in the skin, this factor inhibits inflammatory responses. The protective role of GDF11 depends on a multi-factorial process implicating various types of skin cells such as keratinocytes, fibroblasts and inflammatory cells. GDF11 should be further studied for the purpose of developing novel therapies for the treatment of skin diseases.
Dysregulation of Epigenetic Control Contributes to Schizophrenia-Like Behavior in Ebp1+/− Mice
Authors: Hwang Inwoo , Ahn Jee-Yin
Published: April 2020

Dysregulation of epigenetic machinery can cause a variety of neurological disorders associated with cognitive abnormalities. In the hippocampus of postmortem Schizophrenia (SZ) patients, the most notable finding is the deregulation of GAD67 along with differential regulation of epigenetic factors associated with glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) expression. As we previously reported, ErbB3-binding protein 1 (EBP1) is a potent epigenetic regulator. EBP1 can induce repression of Dnmt1, a well-studied transcriptional repressor of GAD67. In this study, we investigated whether EBP1 contributes to the regulation of GAD67 expression in the hippocampus, controlling epigenetic machinery. In accordance with SZ-like behaviors in Ebp1(+/−) mice, heterozygous deletion of EBP1 led to a dramatic reduction of GAD67 expression, reflecting an abnormally high level of Dnmt1. Moreover, we found that EBP1 binds to the promoter region of HDAC1, which leads to histone deacetylation of GAD67, and suppresses histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) expression, inversely mirroring an unusually high level of HDAC1 in Ebp1(+/−) mice. However, EBP1 mutant (p.Glu 183 Ter) found in SZ patients did not elevate the expression of GAD67, failing to suppress Dnmt1 and/or HDAC1 expression. Therefore, this data supports the hypothesis that a reduced amount of EBP1 may contribute to an etiology of SZ due to a loss of transcriptional inhibition of epigenetic repressors, leading to a decreased expression of GAD67.
SybilEye: Observer-Assisted Privacy-Preserving Sybil Attack Detection on Mobile Crowdsensing
Authors: Yun Junhyeok , Kim Mihui
Published: April 2020

Mobile crowdsensing is a data collection system using widespread mobile devices with various sensors. The data processor cannot manage all mobile devices participating in mobile crowdsensing. A malicious user can conduct a Sybil attack (e.g., achieve a significant influence through extortion or the generation of fake IDs) to receive an incentive or destroy a system. A mobile crowdsensing system should, thus, be able to detect and block a Sybil attack. Existing Sybil attack detection mechanisms for wireless sensor networks cannot apply directly to mobile crowdsensing owing to the privacy issues of the participants and detection overhead. In this paper, we propose an effective privacy-preserving Sybil attack detection mechanism that distributes observer role to the users. To demonstrate the performance of our mechanism, we implement a Wi-Fi-connection-based Sybil attack detection model and show its feasibility by evaluating the detection performance.
Student Performance Prediction with Short-Term Sequential Campus Behaviors
Authors: Wang Xinhua , Yu Xuemeng , Guo Lei , Liu Fangai , Xu Liancheng
Published: April 2020

As students’ behaviors are important factors that can reflect their learning styles and living habits on campus, extracting useful features of them plays a helpful role in understanding the students’ learning process, which is an important step towards personalized education. Recently, the task of predicting students’ performance from their campus behaviors has aroused the researchers’ attention. However, existing studies mainly focus on extracting statistical features manually from the pre-stored data, resulting in hysteresis in predicting students’ achievement and finding out their problems. Furthermore, due to the limited representation capability of these manually extracted features, they can only understand the students’ behaviors shallowly. To make the prediction process timely and automatically, we treat the performance prediction task as a short-term sequence prediction problem, and propose a two-stage classification framework, i.e., Sequence-based Performance Classifier (SPC), which consists of a sequence encoder and a classic data mining classifier. More specifically, to deeply discover the sequential features from students’ campus behaviors, we first introduce an attention-based Hybrid Recurrent Neural Network (HRNN) to encode their recent behaviors by giving a higher weight to the ones that are related to the students’ last action. Then, to conduct student performance prediction, we further involve these learned features to the classic Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm and finally achieve our SPC model. We conduct extensive experiments in the real-world student card dataset. The experimental results demonstrate the superiority of our proposed method in terms of Accuracy and Recall.
Regulatory T Cells Modulate CD4 Proliferation after Severe Trauma via IL-10
Authors: Sturm Ramona , Xanthopoulos Lara , Heftrig David , Oppermann Elsie , Vrdoljak Teodora , Dunay Ildiko Rita , Marzi Ingo , Relja Borna
Published: April 2020

Objective: Severely injured patients frequently develop an immunological imbalance following the traumatic insult, which might result in infectious complications evoked by a persisting immunosuppression. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain the immune homeostasis by suppressing proinflammatory responses, however, their functionality after trauma is unclear. Here, we characterized the role of Tregs in regulating the proliferation of CD4+ lymphocytes in traumatized patients (TP). Methods: Peripheral blood was obtained daily from 29 severely injured TP (Injury Severity Score, ISS ≥16) for ten days following admission to the emergency department (ED). Ten healthy volunteers (HV) served as controls. The frequency and activity of Tregs were assessed by flow cytometry. Proliferation of CD4+ cells was analyzed either in presence or absence of Tregs, or after blocking of either IL-10 or IL-10R1. Results: The frequencies of CD4+CD25high and CD4+CD25+CD127− Tregs were significantly decreased immediately upon admission of TP to the ED and during the following 10 post-injury days. Compared with HV CD4+ T cell proliferation in TP increased significantly upon their admission and on the following days. As expected, CD4+CD25+CD127− Tregs reduced the proliferation of CD4+ cells in HV, nevertheless, CD4+ proliferation in TP was increased by Tregs. Neutralization of IL-10 as well as blocking the IL-10R1 increased further CD4+ T cell proliferation in Tregs-depleted cultures, thereby confirming an IL-10-mediated mechanism of IL-10-regulated CD4+ T cell proliferation. Neutralization of IL-10 in TP decreased CD4+ T cell proliferation in Tregs-depleted cultures, whereas blocking of the IL-10R1 receptor had no significant effects. Conclusions: The frequency of Tregs in the CD4+ T lymphocyte population is reduced after trauma; however, their inductiveness is increased. The mechanisms of deregulated influence of Tregs on CD4+ T cell proliferation are mediated via IL-10 but not via the IL-10R1.
Musical Training for Auditory Rehabilitation in Hearing Loss
Authors: Pesnot Lerousseau Jacques , Hidalgo Céline , Schön Daniele
Published: April 2020

Despite the overall success of cochlear implantation, language outcomes remain suboptimal and subject to large inter-individual variability. Early auditory rehabilitation techniques have mostly focused on low-level sensory abilities. However, a new body of literature suggests that cognitive operations are critical for auditory perception remediation. We argue in this paper that musical training is a particularly appealing candidate for such therapies, as it involves highly relevant cognitive abilities, such as temporal predictions, hierarchical processing, and auditory-motor interactions. We review recent studies demonstrating that music can enhance both language perception and production at multiple levels, from syllable processing to turn-taking in natural conversation.
Impact of Natural Compounds on Neurodegenerative Disorders: From Preclinical to Pharmacotherapeutics
Authors: Sharifi-Rad Mehdi , Lankatillake Chintha , Dias Daniel A. , Docea Anca Oana , Mahomoodally Mohamad Fawzi , Lobine Devina , Chazot Paul L. , Kurt Begum , Boyunegmez Tumer Tugba , Catarina Moreira Ana , Sharopov Farukh , Martorell Miquel , Martins Natália , Cho William C. , Calina Daniela , Sharifi-Rad Javad
Published: April 2020

Among the major neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), are a huge socioeconomic burden. Over many centuries, people have sought a cure for NDDs from the natural herbals. Many medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites are reported with the ability to alleviate the symptoms of NDDs. The major mechanisms identified, through which phytochemicals exert their neuroprotective effects and potential maintenance of neurological health in ageing, include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, antiapoptotic, acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase inhibition and neurotrophic activities. This article reviews the mechanisms of action of some of the major herbal products with potential in the treatment of NDDs according to their molecular targets, as well as their regional sources (Asia, America and Africa). A number of studies demonstrated the beneficial properties of plant extracts or their bioactive compounds against NDDs. Herbal products may potentially offer new treatment options for patients with NDDs, which is a cheaper and culturally suitable alternative to conventional therapies for millions of people in the world with age-related NDDs.
Linezolid Concentrations in Plasma and Subcutaneous Tissue are Reduced in Obese Patients, Resulting in a Higher Risk of Underdosing in Critically Ill Patients: A Controlled Clinical Pharmacokinetic Study
Authors: Simon Philipp , Busse David , Petroff David , Dorn Christoph , Ehmann Lisa , Hochstädt Sophie , Girrbach Felix , Dietrich Arne , Zeitlinger Markus , Kees Frieder , Kloft Charlotte , Wrigge Hermann
Published: April 2020

Background: Linezolid is used for the treatment of soft tissue infections in critically ill patients. However, data for characterizing the pharmacokinetics (PK) and assessing whether effective concentrations are reached at the target site are lacking. We hypothesized that current dosing regimens do not lead to effective concentrations in the plasma and interstitial fluid (ISF) of subcutaneous tissue in obese patients. Methods: As a controlled clinical model, critically ill obese and non-obese patients undergoing intra-abdominal surgery received 600 mg linezolid as a single infusion. Concentrations in the plasma and microdialysate from the ISF of subcutaneous tissue were determined up to 8 h after dosing. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed by non-compartmental methods. As a therapeutic target, we used fAUC/MIC > 80. Results: Fifteen obese (BMI: 48.7 ± 11.2 kg/m2) and 15 non-obese (23.9 ± 2.1 kg/m2) patients were analyzed. AUC0–8 in ISF decreased by −1.69 mg*h/L (95% CI: −2.59 to −0.79, p < 0.001) for every 10 kg increase in weight. PK in obese patients were characterized by lower maximal plasma concentrations (median 3.8 vs. 8.3 mg/L, p < 0.001) and a higher volume of distribution (41.0 vs. 30.8 L, p < 0.001), and the therapeutic target was not reached for MIC ≥ 1 mg/L in ISF and ≥ 2 mg/L in plasma. Conclusions: Increasing the weight led to a decrease of linezolid concentrations in the plasma and subcutaneous tissue. The current dosing regimen does not seem to produce sufficient concentrations to kill bacteria with MIC ≥ 2 mg/L, especially as empirical antimicrobial therapy in critically ill obese patients.
The Effects of Alcohol Hangover on Mood and Performance Assessed at Home
Authors: Alford Chris , Martinkova Zuzana , Tiplady Brian , Reece Rebecca , Verster Joris C.
Published: April 2020

The current study evaluated the next day consequences of a social night of drinking compared to a no alcohol night, with standardised mood and portable screen-based performance measures assessed in the morning at participants’ homes, and a breathalyser screen for zero alcohol. A mixed sex group (n = 20) took part in the study. Participants reported consuming on average 16.9 units (135 g) alcohol, resulting in a hangover rating of 60 (out of 100) compared to 0.3 following the no alcohol night. Statistical significance comparisons contrasting the hangover with the no alcohol condition revealed an increase in negative mood and irritability during hangover and an (unexpected) increase in risk and thrill seeking. Performance scores showed an overall slowing of responses across measures, but with less impact on errors. The results support the description of hangover as a general state of cognitive impairment, reflected in slower responses and reduced accuracy across a variety of measures of cognitive function. This suggests a general level of impairment due to hangover, as well as increased negative mood. The use of a naturalistic design enabled the impact of more typical levels of alcohol associated with real life social consumption to be assessed, revealing wide ranging neurocognitive impairment with these higher doses. This study has successfully demonstrated the sensitivity of home-based assessment of the impact of alcohol hangover on a range of subjective and objective measures. The observed impairments, which may significantly impair daily activities such as driving a car or job performance, should be further investigated and taken into account by policy makers.