bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Simulation of Tiltrotor Flow Field during Shipboard Take-Off and Landing Based on CFD-CSD Coupling
Authors: Yu Peng , Hu Zhiyuan , Xu Guohua , Shi Yongjie
Published: May 2022

Due to the small tilt angle, a tiltrotor operates in non-axial flow conditions during shipboard take-off and landing. The non-uniformity of the blade’s air-load is high, resulting in structural deformation with high fluctuation frequency, affecting the rotor’s aerodynamic characteristics. A new computational fluid-dynamic computational structural dynamics (CFD-CSD) solver is proposed to analyze the effects of the blade’s elastic deformation on the aerodynamic characteristics. This method is suitable for the aeroelastic simulation of shipboard tiltrotor take-offs and landings. The CFD method uses the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations as the control equation, while the CSD solver is based on the Timoshenko beam model. The solvers are combined with a two-way loose coupling strategy to improve the solution efficiency. The reverse overset assembly technique (ROAT) is utilized to eliminate the effects of orphan mesh points after deformation. The simulation is conducted during take-off and landing at different heights and different tilt angles, using the XV-15 tiltrotor as an example. An analysis of the rotor’s air-load and the mutual interference of the vortex and wake indicates that when the tiltrotor takes off or lands with a small tilt angle, the wing shedding vortex causes the rotor’s wake to roll upward before it reaches the ship’s deck, producing strong thrust fluctuations. The elastic deformation of the blade reduces the fluctuations in the thrust amplitude. This phenomenon is more pronounced in areas of high fluctuations in the blade’s air-load.
Novel Assessment of Region-Based CNNs for Detecting Monocot/Dicot Weeds in Dense Field Environments
Authors: Teimouri Nima , Jørgensen Rasmus Nyholm , Green Ole
Published: May 2022

Weeding operations represent an effective approach to increase crop yields. Reliable and precise weed detection is a prerequisite for achieving high-precision weed monitoring and control in precision agriculture. To develop an effective approach for detecting weeds within the red, green, and blue (RGB) images, two state-of-the-art object detection models, EfficientDet (coefficient 3) and YOLOv5m, were trained on more than 26,000 in situ labeled images with monocot/dicot classes recorded from more than 200 different fields in Denmark. The dataset was collected using a high velocity camera (HVCAM) equipped with a xenon ring flash that overrules the sunlight and minimize shadows, which enables the camera to record images with a horizontal velocity of over 50 km h-1. Software-wise, a novel image processing algorithm was developed and utilized to generate synthetic images for testing the model performance on some difficult occluded images with weeds that were properly generated using the proposed algorithm. Both deep-learning networks were trained on in-situ images and then evaluated on both synthetic and new unseen in-situ images to assess their performances. The obtained average precision (AP) of both EfficientDet and YOLOv5 models on 6625 synthetic images were 64.27% and 63.23%, respectively, for the monocot class and 45.96% and 37.11% for the dicot class. These results confirmed that both deep-learning networks could detect weeds with high performance. However, it is essential to verify both the model’s robustness on in-situ images in which there is heavy occlusion with a complicated background. Therefore, 1149 in-field images were recorded in 5 different fields in Denmark and then utilized to evaluate both proposed model’s robustness. In the next step, by running both models on 1149 in-situ images, the AP of monocot/dicot for EfficientDet and YOLOv5 models obtained 27.43%/42.91% and 30.70%/51.50%, respectively. Furthermore, this paper provides information regarding challenges of monocot/dicot weed detection by releasing 1149 in situ test images with their corresponding labels (RoboWeedMap) publicly to facilitate the research in the weed detection domain within the precision agriculture field.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Antifungal Agents in Critically Ill Patients: Is There a Need for Dose Optimisation?
Authors: Baracaldo-Santamaría Daniela , Cala-Garcia Juan David , Medina-Rincón Germán José , Rojas-Rodriguez Luis Carlos , Calderon-Ospina Carlos-Alberto
Published: May 2022

Invasive fungal infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in critically ill patients. Increasing resistance rates and inadequate antifungal exposure have been documented in these patients, due to clinically relevant pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) alterations, leading to treatment failure. Physiological changes such as third spacing (movement of fluid from the intravascular compartment to the interstitial space), hypoalbuminemia, renal failure and hepatic failure, as well as common interventions in the intensive care unit, such as renal replacement therapy and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, can lead to these PK and PD alterations. Consequently, a therapeutic target concentration that may be useful for one patient may not be appropriate for another. Regular doses do not take into account the important PK variations in the critically ill, and the need to select an effective dose while minimising toxicity advocates for the use of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). This review aims to describe the current evidence regarding optimal PK/PD indices associated with the clinical efficacy of the most commonly used antifungal agents in critically ill patients (azoles, echinocandins, lipid complexes of amphotericin B, and flucytosine), provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors affecting the PK of each agent, document the PK parameters of critically ill patients compared to healthy volunteers, and, finally, make recommendations for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of antifungals in critically ill patients.
Arginine-Dependent Nitric Oxide Generation and S-Nitrosation in the Non-Photosynthetic Unicellular Alga Polytomella parva
Authors: Lapina Tatiana , Statinov Vladislav , Puzanskiy Roman , Ermilova Elena
Published: May 2022

Nitric oxide (NO) acts as a key signaling molecule in higher plants, regulating many physiological processes. Several photosynthetic algae from different lineages are also known to produce NO. However, it remains unclear whether this messenger is produced by non-photosynthetic algae. Among these organisms, the colorless alga Polytomella parva is a special case, as it has lost not only its plastid genome, but also nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase. Up to now, the question of whether NO synthesis occurs in the absence of functional nitrate reductase (NR) and the assimilation of nitrates/nitrites in P. parva has not been elucidated. Using spectrofluorometric assays and confocal microscopy with NO-sensitive fluorescence dye, we demonstrate L-arginine-dependent NO synthesis by P. parva cells. Based on a pharmacological approach, we propose the existence of arginine-dependent NO synthase-like activity in this non-photosynthetic alga. GC-MS analysis provides primary evidence that P. parva synthesizes putrescine, which is not an NO source in this alga. Moreover, the generated NO causes the S-nitrosation of protein cysteine thiol groups. Together, our data argue for NR-independent NO synthesis and its active role in S-nitrosation as an essential post-translational modification in P. parva.
Conventional Soybean Meal as Fishmeal Alternative in Diets of Japanese Seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus): Effects of Functional Additives on Growth, Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity and Disease Resistance
Authors: Wang Jie , Mai Kangsen , Ai Qinghui
Published: May 2022

Aiming to optimize soymeal-based diets for Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicas), a 105-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of functional additives, including antioxidants (ethoxyquin, thymol and carvacrol) and chelated trace elements (Cu, Mn and Zn), on the growth, immunity, antioxidant capacity and disease resistance of fish fed diets with conventional soybean meal replacing 50% of fishmeal. Three isonitrogenous (45%) and isolipidic (11%) diets were formulated: (1) standard reference diet (FM, 42% fishmeal); (2) soymeal-based diet (SBM, 21% fishmeal and 30% conventional soybean meal); (3) SBM diet supplemented 0.0665% functional additives (FAS). Each experimental diet was randomly fed to quadruplicate groups of forty feed-trained Japanese seabass (initial average body weight = 125.6 ± 0.6 g) stocked in a saltwater floating cage. Upon the conclusion of the feeding trial, lower feed intake was observed in fish fed SBM compared to those fed FM and FAS. Fish fed FM showed the highest growth performance, estimated as the weight gain rate. Notably, FAS supported faster growth of fish than those fed SBM, indicating the optimal growth performance of dietary functional additives. The feed conversion rate showed the opposite trend among dietary treatments, with the highest value in fish fed SBM. Regarding immunity, fish fed soymeal-based diets suppressed the serum alternative complement pathway activities compared to FM, whereas the respiratory burst activity in macrophages of head kidneys showed a similar picture, but no statistical differences were observed. Further, fish fed soymeal-based diets had lower serum Cu-Zn SOD, CAT and GPx activities as well as liver vitamin E levels and scavenging rates of hydroxyl radical but higher liver MDA contents compared to the FM-fed group. Fish fed FAS had higher serum Cu-Zn SOD and GPx activities and liver vitamin E levels than those fed SBM, suggesting the enhancement of antioxidant capacity of dietary functional additives. For the disease resistance against Vibrio harveyi infection, fish fed SBM had the highest cumulative mortality, followed by the FAS and FM groups. Additionally, the biomarkers related to the immune and antioxidant capacities had a positive correlation with the relative abundance of Paracoccus and Pseudomonas, while liver MDA levels had a negative correlation with the relative abundance of Pseudomonas and Psychrobacter. Collectively, soymeal replacing 50% of fishmeal suppressed the growth, immunity, antioxidant capacity and disease resistance of Japanese seabass, while dietary supplementation of antioxidants and chelated trace elements could mitigate soymeal-induced adverse effects on growth and disease resistance through the improvement in antioxidant capacity and regulation of gut microbiota.
Flavonoid Profiles and Antioxidant Potential of Monochoria angustifolia (G. X. Wang) Boonkerd & Tungmunnithum, a New Species from the Genus Monochoria C. Presl
Authors: Tungmunnithum Duangjai , Drouet Samantha , Garros Laurine , Lorenzo Jose Manuel , Hano Christophe
Published: May 2022

Plants of the genus Monochoria have long been utilized in food, cosmetics, and traditional herbal treatments. Thailand has the highest species diversity of this genus and a new member, Monochoria angustifolia (G. X. Wang) Boonkerd & Tungmunnithum has been recently described. This plant is called “Siam Violet Pearl” as a common name or “Khimuk Si Muang Haeng Siam” as its vernacular name with the same meaning in the Thai language. Despite their importance, little research on Monochoria species has been conducted. This study, thus, provides the results to fill in this gap by: (i) determining flavonoid phytochemical profiles of 25 natural populations of M. angustifolia covering the whole floristic regions in Thailand, and (ii) determining antioxidant activity using various antioxidant assays to investigate probable mechanisms. The results revealed that M. angustifolia presents a higher flavonoid content than the outgroup, M. hastata. Our results also revealed that flavonoids might be used to investigate Monochoria evolutionary connections and for botanical authentication. The various antioxidant assays revealed that M. angustifolia extracts preferentially act through a hydrogen atom transfer antioxidant mechanism. Pearson correlation analysis indicated significant correlations, emphasizing that the antioxidant capacity is most probably due to the complex action of several phytochemicals rather than that of a single molecule. Together, these results showed that this new species provide an attractive alternative starting material with phytochemical variety and antioxidant potential for the phytopharmaceutical industry.
Antioxidant Genetic Profile Modifies Probability of Developing Neurological Sequelae in Long-COVID
Authors: Ercegovac Marko , Asanin Milika , Savic-Radojevic Ana , Ranin Jovan , Matic Marija , Djukic Tatjana , Coric Vesna , Jerotic Djurdja , Todorovic Nevena , Milosevic Ivana , Stevanovic Goran , Simic Tatjana , Bukumiric Zoran , Pljesa-Ercegovac Marija
Published: May 2022

Understanding the sequelae of COVID-19 is of utmost importance. Neuroinflammation and disturbed redox homeostasis are suggested as prevailing underlying mechanisms in neurological sequelae propagation in long-COVID. We aimed to investigate whether variations in antioxidant genetic profile might be associated with neurological sequelae in long-COVID. Neurological examination and antioxidant genetic profile (SOD2, GPXs and GSTs) determination, as well as, genotype analysis of Nrf2 and ACE2, were conducted on 167 COVID-19 patients. Polymorphisms were determined by the appropriate PCR methods. Only polymorphisms in GSTP1AB and GSTO1 were independently associated with long-COVID manifestations. Indeed, individuals carrying GSTP1 Val or GSTO1 Asp allele exhibited lower odds of long-COVID myalgia development, both independently and in combination. Furthermore, the combined presence of GSTP1 Ile and GSTO1 Ala alleles exhibited cumulative risk regarding long-COVID myalgia in carriers of the combined GPX1 LeuLeu/GPX3 CC genotype. Moreover, individuals carrying combined GSTM1-null/GPX1LeuLeu genotype were more prone to developing long-COVID “brain fog”, while this probability further enlarged if the Nrf2 A allele was also present. The fact that certain genetic variants of antioxidant enzymes, independently or in combination, affect the probability of long-COVID manifestations, further emphasizes the involvement of genetic susceptibility when SARS-CoV-2 infection is initiated in the host cells, and also months after.
Changes in the Plasma and Platelet Nitric Oxide Biotransformation Metabolites during Ischemic Stroke—A Dynamic Human LC/MS Metabolomic Study
Authors: Bladowski Maciej , Szahidewicz-Krupska Ewa , Wiśniewski Jerzy , Fortuna Paulina , Chojdak-Łukasiewicz Justyna , Budrewicz Slawomir , Fleszar Mariusz , Doroszko Adrian
Published: May 2022

Despite improvement in the management of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, ischemic stroke remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the adult population. The aim of this study was to analyze the time-dependent dynamic differences in expression of the nitric oxide (NO) metabolic pathway in the platelet and plasma compartment between subjects with and without ischemic stroke. Additionally, the interplay between these parameters and platelet aggregation was investigated. A total of 418 patients in acute phase of non-cardioembolic stroke were investigated. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, finally 40 subjects with stroke and 39 demographically matched healthy participants were enrolled. Neurological physical examination, followed by assessment of the platelet and plasma levels of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, including asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), as well as NOS substrate-L-Arginine were performed dynamically three times within the first 24-h, then on the 3rd and 7th day after the stroke onset, which was compared with the healthy control. The platelet L-Arginine concentration was significantly higher on the 1st and 3rd day of stroke, while the plasma levels were significantly lower on exact days in comparison to the control. The competitive NOS-inhibitors in platelets were stably elevated in stroke subjects, whereas no significant differences in plasma compartment were noted. The arachidonic-acid-induced platelet aggregation was negatively associated with the platelet NOS substrate bioavailability, as assessed by the L−Arginine ADMA-ratio on the 3rd and 7th day. Subjects with non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke are characterized by elevated platelet levels of NOS inhibitors. Management of stroke results in increasing the platelet L-Arginine concentration and subsequent NO bioavailability in the platelet compartment.
A Score-Guided Regularization Strategy-Based Unsupervised Structural Damage Detection Method
Authors: Que Yunfei , Zhong Shangping , Chen Kaizhi
Published: May 2022

It is critical to use scientific methods to track the performance degradation of in-service buildings over time and avoid accidents. In recent years, both supervised and unsupervised learning methods have yielded positive results in structural health monitoring (SHM). Supervised learning approaches require data from the entire structure and various damage scenarios for training. However, it is impractical to obtain adequate training data from various damage situations in service facilities. In addition, most known unsupervised approaches for training only take response data from the entire structure. In these situations, contaminated data containing both undamaged and damaged samples, typical in real-world applications, prevent the models from fitting undamaged data, resulting in performance loss. This work provides an unsupervised technique for detecting structural damage for the reasons stated above. This approach trains on contaminated data, with the anomaly score of the data serving as the model’s output. First, we devised a score-guided regularization approach for damage detection to expand the score difference between undamaged and damaged data. Then, multi-task learning is incorporated to make parameter adjustment easier. The experimental phase II of the SHM benchmark data and data from the Qatar University grandstand simulator are used to validate this strategy. The suggested algorithm has the most excellent mean AUC of 0.708 and 0.998 on the two datasets compared to the classical algorithm.
Spectroscopic Ellipsometry and Optical Modelling of Structurally Colored Opaline Thin-Films
Authors: Finlayson Chris E. , Rosetta Giselle , Tomes John J.
Published: May 2022

The method of spectroscopic ellipsometry is applied to complex periodic nanomaterials, consisting of shear-ordered polymeric nanosphere composites, with intense resonant structural color. A corresponding multilayer optical quasi-model of the system, parametrizing the inherent degree of sample disorder and encompassing key properties of effective refractive-index and index-contrast, is developed to elucidate the correlation between the ∆ and Ψ ellipsometric parameters and the shear-induced opaline crystallinity. These approaches offer reliable means of in-line tracking of the sample quality of such “polymer opals” in large scale processing and applications.
Research on Equalization Strategy of Lithium Battery Pack Based on Multi-Layer Circuit
Authors: Wang Lijun , Lu Xu , Li Hao , Li Xiangyang , Shen Jie , Chen Changxin
Published: May 2022

Effective balanced management of battery packs can not only increase the available capacity of a battery pack but reduce attenuation and capacity loss caused by cell inconsistencies and remove safety hazards caused by abnormal use such as overcharge and over-discharge. This research considers both the equilibration period and the battery operating current. The State of Charge (SOC), current, and equalization current of batteries are all limited. Based on the existing multi-layer equalization model, the equalization current of the equalizer was tuned with restrictions. It can equalize multiple batteries simultaneously and ensure the normal operation of the batteries. A layered control strategy was then found to solve the optimal equalization current of the equalizer layer by layer. The proposed control method reduces computation time and guarantees that the equalization approach can be employed in practice. Finally, through MATLAB simulation analysis, this technique can limit the cell current to (−3 A, 3 A), which improves the balancing efficiency by 23.55% compared with the balancing of adjacent cells.
Detection of Critical Conditions in Pouch Cells Based on Their Expansion Behavior
Authors: Vorwerk Pascal , Hahn Sarah-Katharina , Daniel Christian , Krause Ulrich , Keutel Karola
Published: May 2022

The present work examines 75 Ah nickel–cobalt–manganese (NMC)/graphite-based pouch cells with respect to their expansion behavior. The focus is on cell expansion due to critical cells according to the installation conditions of a battery module. Strain gauges were used for monitoring. By comparing the cell expansion in standard conditioning to that in an abuse (overcharging), information can be acquired about the suitability of the expansion behavior for early detection of critical cell states and to avoid resulting damage, e.g., cell opening or cell fire. The sequence of critical cell events has been shown to be easily reproducible; especially the first significant cell expansion due to internal gas formation, which was a reliable detection criterion for critical cell states.
Research Progress on the Synthetic Biology of Botanical Biopesticides
Authors: Zhao Jianbo , Liang Dongmei , Li Weiguo , Yan Xiaoguang , Qiao Jianjun , Caiyin Qinggele
Published: May 2022

The production and large-scale application of traditional chemical pesticides will bring environmental pollution and food safety problems. With the advantages of high safety and environmental friendliness, botanical biopesticides are in line with the development trend of modern agriculture and have gradually become the mainstream of modern pesticide development. However, the traditional production of botanical biopesticides has long been faced with prominent problems, such as limited source and supply, complicated production processes, and excessive consumption of resources. In recent years, the rapid development of synthetic biology will break through these bottlenecks, and many botanical biopesticides are produced using synthetic biology, such as emodin, celangulin, etc. This paper reviews the latest progress and application prospect of synthetic biology in the development of botanical pesticides so as to provide new ideas for the analysis of synthetic pathways and heterologous and efficient production of botanical biopesticides and accelerate the research process of synthetic biology of natural products.
Spine Posture, Mobility, and Stability of Top Mobile Esports Athletes: A Case Series
Authors: Lam Wing-Kai , Chen Bob , Liu Rui-Tan , Cheung James Chung-Wai , Wong Duo Wai-Chi
Published: May 2022

Professional esports athletes spend a long time in the same sitting posture during training and competition. Mobile esports may exacerbate potential postural problems because of the closer and unsupported arms and because athletes spend more time in a forward-/flexed-head posture. Prolonged sitting in these postures carries significant health risks and may lead to musculoskeletal problems and injuries. The objective of this retrospective study is to assess the posture, mobility, and stability of the spine for professional mobile esports athletes. We collected spine-assessment data from 48 athletes participating in a top-tier league on a real-time-strategy battle-arena online game. The spinal assessment was conducted using the SpinalMouse® under upright standing and trunk flexion in addition to the Matthiass test. Measurements were converted into Idiag Scores by the SpinalMouse® software. The Idiag Posture, Idiag Mobility, and Idiag Stability scores were 62.50 (IQR: 21), 63.50 (IQR: 19.5), and 54.50 (IQR: 14.5), respectively, and were significantly lower (p < 0.001) than the reference normative value (100). Age was found to have a weak positive correlation with the posture score (ρ = 0.29, p = 0.048). Although career duration appeared to lower the scores, the association was insignificant (p > 0.05). The scores also had no significant association with body height, body mass, body mass index, and esports team (p > 0.05). It was anticipated that mobile-based esports would attenuate the biomechanics of the spine and increase the likelihood of musculoskeletal problems, such as neck and back pain.
Correction: Díaz-Talavera et al. PrimPol: A Breakthrough among DNA Replication Enzymes and a Potential New Target for Cancer Therapy. Biomolecules 2022, 12, 248
Authors: Díaz-Talavera Alberto , Montero-Conde Cristina , Leandro-García Luis Javier , Robledo Mercedes
Published: May 2022

To improve the quality of the original article [...]
Impact of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Rheumatoid Arthritis Synovial Fibroblasts Alone and in Co-Culture with Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Authors: Lowin Torsten , Kok Christina , Smutny Sophie , Pongratz Georg
Published: May 2022

δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in animal models of arthritis, but its mechanism of action and cellular targets are still unclear. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the effects of THC (0.1–25 µM) on synovial fibroblasts from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RASF) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors in respect to proliferation, calcium mobilization, drug uptake, cytokine and immunoglobulin production. Intracellular calcium and drug uptake were determined by fluorescent dyes Cal-520 and PoPo3, respectively. Cytokine and immunoglobulin production were evaluated by ELISA. Cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2) were detected by flow cytometry. RASF express CB1 and CB2 and the latter was increased by tumor necrosis factor (TNF). In RASF, THC (≥5 µM) increased intracellular calcium levels/PoPo3 uptake in a TRPA1-dependent manner and reduced interleukin-8 (IL-8) and matrix metalloprotease 3 (MMP-3) production at high concentrations (25 µM). Proliferation was slightly enhanced at intermediate THC concentrations (1–10 µM) but was completely abrogated at 25 µM. In PBMC alone, THC decreased interleukin-10 (IL-10) production and increased immunoglobulin G (IgG). In PBMC/RASF co-culture, THC decreased TNF production when cells were stimulated with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) or CpG. THC provides pro- and anti-inflammatory effects in RASF and PBMC. This is dependent on the activating stimulus and concentration of THC. Therefore, THC might be used to treat inflammation in RA but it might need titrating to determine the effective concentration.
Aldosterone Suppresses Endothelial Mitochondria through Mineralocorticoid Receptor/Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Pathway
Authors: Peng Shih-Yuan , Tsai Cheng-Hsuan , Wu Xue-Ming , Huang Hsin-Hsiu , Chen Zheng-Wei , Lee Bo-Ching , Chang Yi-Yao , Pan Chien-Ting , Wu Vin-Cent , Chou Chia-Hung , Hung Chi-Sheng , Liao Che-Wei , Lin Yen-Hung
Published: May 2022

Excessive aldosterone secretion causes endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, and vascular fibrosis in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). Endothelial function is closely related to endothelial mitochondria. However, the effects of elevated aldosterone levels on endothelial mitochondria remain unclear. In this study, we used primary cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to investigate the effects of aldosterone on endothelial mitochondria. Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) small interfering (si)RNA or glucocorticoid receptor (GR) siRNA were used to confirm the pathway by which aldosterone exerts its effects on the mitochondria of HUVECs. The results showed that excess aldosterone suppressed mitochondrial DNA copy numbers, anti-mitochondrial protein, and SOD2 protein expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These effects were attenuated by treatment with MR siRNA, but not with GR siRNA. Furthermore, it was attenuated by treatment with a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant (Mito-TEMPO, associated with mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production), but not N-acetyl-L-cysteine (associated with cytosolic ROS production), which suggests that the process was through the mitochondrial ROS pathway, but not the cytosolic ROS pathway. In conclusion, aldosterone excess suppressed endothelial mitochondria through the MR/mitochondrial ROS pathway.
Exploiting Catabolite Repression and Stringent Response to Control Delay and Multimodality of Bioluminescence Signal by Metal Whole-Cell Biosensors: Interplay between Metal Bioavailability and Nutritional Medium Conditions
Authors: Delatour Eva , Pagnout Christophe , Zaffino Marie , Duval Jérôme F. L.
Published: May 2022

The time-dependent response of metal-detecting whole-cell luminescent bacterial sensors is impacted by metal speciation/bioavailability in solution. The comprehensive understanding of such connections requires the consideration of the bacterial energy metabolism at stake and the effects of supplied food on cells’ capability to convert bioaccumulated metals into light. Accordingly, we investigated the time response (48 h assay) of PzntA-luxCDABE Escherichia coli Cd biosensors in media differing with respect to sources of amino acids (tryptone or Lysogeny Broth) and carbon (glucose, xylose and mixtures thereof). We show that the resulting coupling between the stringent cell response and glucose/xylose-mediated catabolite repressions lead to well-defined multimodalities and shapes of the bioluminescence signal over time. Based on a recent theory for the time–response of metal-sensing luminescent bacteria, successful theoretical reconstructions of the bioluminescence signals are reported under all Cd concentrations (0–20 nM) and nutritive conditions examined. This analysis leads to the evaluation of time-dependent cell photoactivity and qualitative information on metal speciation/bioavailability in solution. Biosensor performance and the position, shape, number, and magnitude of detected peaks are discussed in relation to the metabolic pathways operative during the successive light emission modes identified here over time. Altogether, the results clarify the contributions of metal/nutrient bio-availabilities and food quality to cell response typology.
Finger-Based Numerical Training Increases Sensorimotor Activation for Arithmetic in Children—An fNIRS Study
Authors: Artemenko Christina , Wortha Silke Maria , Dresler Thomas , Frey Mirjam , Barrocas Roberta , Nuerk Hans-Christoph , Moeller Korbinian
Published: May 2022

Most children use their fingers when learning to count and calculate. These sensorimotor experiences were argued to underlie reported behavioral associations of finger gnosis and counting with mathematical skills. On the neural level, associations were assumed to originate from overlapping neural representations of fingers and numbers. This study explored whether finger-based training in children would lead to specific neural activation in the sensorimotor cortex, associated with finger movements, as well as the parietal cortex, associated with number processing, during mental arithmetic. Following finger-based training during the first year of school, trained children showed finger-related arithmetic effects accompanied by activation in the sensorimotor cortex potentially associated with implicit finger movements. This indicates embodied finger-based numerical representations after training. Results for differences in neural activation between trained children and a control group in the IPS were less conclusive. This study provides the first evidence for training-induced sensorimotor plasticity in brain development potentially driven by the explicit use of fingers for initial arithmetic, supporting an embodied perspective on the representation of numbers.
Dynamic Data Feeding into BIM for Facility Management: A Prototype Application to a University Building
Authors: Moreno Jonatan Villavicencio , Machete Rita , Falcão Ana Paula , Gonçalves Alexandre B. , Bento Rita
Published: May 2022

Building information modelling (BIM) has demonstrated its potential as a solution providing support to a series of operations related to facility management (FM) through building data retrieval, analysis, and processing. However, some challenges to the effective adoption of BIM-centred FM information systems occur in their design and implementation, causing obstacles to usability. Among these challenges are the customization of the information structure for each application case, the dynamic character of data supporting building maintenance, and the range of FM specialities involved, frequently including persons who are not BIM experts. This paper presents a BIM–FM prototype to support operations and access updated environmental data for a university building. The two contributions of the developed prototype are its ability to register two types of dynamic data, namely, the regularly acquired environmental sensor information and the sporadic building intervention records, and the automation of the data feeding, updating, and retrieval processes, allowing a user-friendly environment for both BIM experts and non-BIM users. Exploring the BIM interoperability and the integration of plug-ins, the proposed solution enables the comprehensive registration of dynamic FM-related data in an updated model while being accessible to all the specialities involved in the building management operations, enhancing its usability as an integrated solution for data maintenance and retrieval.
Type 2 Diabetes-Related Variants Influence the Risk of Developing Prostate Cancer: A Population-Based Case-Control Study and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sánchez-Maldonado José Manuel , Collado Ricardo , Cabrera-Serrano Antonio José , Ter Horst Rob , Gálvez-Montosa Fernando , Robles-Fernández Inmaculada , Arenas-Rodríguez Verónica , Cano-Gutiérrez Blanca , Bakker Olivier , Bravo-Fernández María Inmaculada , García-Verdejo Francisco José , López José Antonio López , Olivares-Ruiz Jesús , López-Nevot Miguel Ángel , Fernández-Puerta Laura , Cózar-Olmo José Manuel , Li Yang , Netea Mihai G. , Jurado Manuel , Lorente Jose Antonio , Sánchez-Rovira Pedro , Álvarez-Cubero María Jesús , Sainz Juan
Published: May 2022

In this study, we have evaluated whether 57 genome-wide association studies (GWAS)-identified common variants for type 2 diabetes (T2D) influence the risk of developing prostate cancer (PCa) in a population of 304 Caucasian PCa patients and 686 controls. The association of selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the risk of PCa was validated through meta-analysis of our data with those from the UKBiobank and FinnGen cohorts, but also previously published genetic studies. We also evaluated whether T2D SNPs associated with PCa risk could influence host immune responses by analysing their correlation with absolute numbers of 91 blood-derived cell populations and circulating levels of 103 immunological proteins and 7 steroid hormones. We also investigated the correlation of the most interesting SNPs with cytokine levels after in vitro stimulation of whole blood, peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and monocyte-derived macrophages with LPS, PHA, Pam3Cys, and Staphylococcus Aureus. The meta-analysis of our data with those from six large cohorts confirmed that each copy of the FTOrs9939609A, HNF1Brs7501939T, HNF1Brs757210T, HNF1Brs4430796G, and JAZF1rs10486567A alleles significantly decreased risk of developing PCa (p = 3.70 × 10−5, p = 9.39 × 10−54, p = 5.04 × 10−54, p = 1.19 × 10−71, and p = 1.66 × 10−18, respectively). Although it was not statistically significant after correction for multiple testing, we also found that the NOTCH2rs10923931T and RBMS1rs7593730 SNPs associated with the risk of developing PCa (p = 8.49 × 10−4 and 0.004). Interestingly, we found that the protective effect attributed to the HFN1B locus could be mediated by the SULT1A1 protein (p = 0.00030), an arylsulfotransferase that catalyzes the sulfate conjugation of many hormones, neurotransmitters, drugs, and xenobiotic compounds. In addition to these results, eQTL analysis revealed that the HNF1Brs7501939, HNF1Brs757210, HNF1Brs4430796, NOTCH2rs10923931, and RBMS1rs7593730 SNPs influence the risk of PCa through the modulation of mRNA levels of their respective genes in whole blood and/or liver. These results confirm that functional TD2-related variants influence the risk of developing PCa, but also highlight the need of additional experiments to validate our functional results in a tumoral tissue context.
Newly Diagnosed Children with Cancer Have Lower 25-Vitamin D Levels than Their Cancer-Free Peers: A Comparison across Age, Race, and Sex
Authors: Fullmer Michell , Su Annelise , Bachrach Steven , Hossain Jobayer , Kecskemethy Heidi H.
Published: May 2022

Children with cancer have a greater risk for vitamin D concerns because of compromised health before diagnosis, the disease itself, and treatments for the cancer. This IRB-approved retrospective, matched case–control study of children with and without cancer included three race categories: black, other, and Caucasian. This is the first study to directly compare serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and status in newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients with age-, sex-, and race-matched cancer-free children from the same geographic region of the US, all of whom are free from other conditions that negatively impact 25(OH)D levels. Univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regressions were performed. In the 544 children (mean age of 8.5 years, 53% female), there were 136 newly diagnosed children with cancer and 408 matched non-cancer controls. Serum 25(OH)D levels at cancer diagnosis were lower (22.4 ng/mL) than in controls (30.1 ng/mL; p < 0.0001). Differences persisted across race (p < 0.001) and age (p < 0.001), but not sex. Older children exhibited lower 25(OH)D levels. Only 18.4% of the children with cancer had sufficient levels. Black children with cancer had the greatest rate of deficiency (39%). Race differences were evident: children of color (other and black) displayed higher levels of insufficiency; black children were most deficient.
Is Type 2 Diabetes a Primary Mitochondrial Disorder?
Authors: Weksler-Zangen Sarah
Published: May 2022

Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disturbance in inherited mitochondrial diseases. It is essential to increase awareness of the correct diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in these patients and screen for the condition in family members, as diabetes might appear with distinctive clinical features, complications and at different ages of onset. The severity of mitochondrial-related diabetes is likely to manifest on a large scale of phenotypes depending on the location of the mutation and whether the number of affected mitochondria copies (heteroplasmy) reaches a critical threshold. Regarding diabetes treatment, the first-choice treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D), metformin, is not recommended because of the risk of lactic acidosis. The preferred treatment for diabetes in patients with mitochondrial disorders is SGLT-2i and mitochondrial GLP-1-related substances. The tight relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), and diabetes development in human patients is acknowledged. However, despite the well-characterized role of mitochondria in GSIS, there is a relative lack of data in humans implicating mitochondrial dysfunction as a primary defect in T2D. Our recent studies have provided data supporting the significant role of the mitochondrial respiratory-chain enzyme, cytochrome c oxidase (COX), in regulating GSIS in a rodent model of T2D, the Cohen diabetic sensitive (CDs) rat. The nutritionally induced diabetic CDs rat demonstrates several features of mitochondrial diseases: markedly reduced COX activity in several tissues, increased reactive oxygen production, decreased ATP generation, and increased lactate dehydrogenase expression in islets. Moreover, our data demonstrate that reduced islet-COX activity precedes the onset of diabetes, suggesting that islet-COX deficiency is the primary defect causing diabetes in this model. This review examines the possibility of including T2D as a primary mitochondrial-related disease. Understanding the critical interdependence between diabetes and mitochondrial dysfunction, centering on the role of COX, may open novel avenues to diagnose and treat diabetes in patients with mitochondrial diseases and mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetic patients.
Reply to Nyman, U.; Aspelin, P. Regarding Iodixanol for Pediatric CTA. Comment on “Pop, M. Cardiothoracic CTA in Infants Referred for Aortic Arch Evaluation—Retrospective Comparison of Iomeprol 350, Ioversol 350, Iopromide 370 and Iodixanol 320. Children 2021, 8, 949”
Authors: Pop Marian
Published: May 2022

We greatly appreciate the letter by Nyman et al. [...]
The Transition to Adulthood for Youth Living with Rare Diseases
Authors: Sandquist Melanie , Davenport TjaMeika , Monaco Jana , Lyon Maureen
Published: May 2022

More children with rare diseases survive into adulthood. The transition period to adult healthcare presents many challenges for pediatric rare diseases. Few adolescents or their families receive any transitional support for the transition to adult healthcare or for their maturing psychosocial needs. Understanding the challenges in the transition process is critical to ensure that interventions designed to improve the transition are holistic and meet the needs of the youth and their families. Few transition programs are in place to meet the needs of those youth with rare diseases who cannot participate in medical decision making or who live independently because of severe disabilities and comorbidities. We searched the literature on preparation and outcomes for youth living with rare diseases in PubMed, CINAHL, and PsychInfo, excluding publications before 2010. The results revealed seven studies specific to rare diseases, special needs, or chronic conditions. Next, we discussed transition with experts in the field, GotTransition.org, and citation chaining, yielding a total of 14 sources. The barriers and challenges to transition were identified. Articles discussing solutions and interventions for transition in medically complex children were categorized care coordination or transition readiness. A large portion of children with rare disease are underserved and experience health disparities in transition.
Psychometric Evidence for Indirect Assessment of Child Abuse Risk in Child Welfare-Involved Mothers
Authors: Rodriguez Christina M. , Silvia Paul J.
Published: May 2022

Most research on factors related to physical child abuse risk rely heavily on direct self-report measures, which is a methodological strategy susceptible to participant response distortions. Such methodological reliance obfuscates the interpretations rendered about the risk factors predictive of child abuse. Efforts to develop alternative indirect assessment approaches, such as analog tasks, show promise, although most of those studies have applied these methods to community samples rather than with child welfare-involved samples. The present study evaluated the psychometric evidence for four separate analog tasks that have not yet been considered with mothers identified for child maltreatment by child welfare services, also contrasted to a sociodemographically matched sample of mothers. The results indicate acceptable reliability for the analog tasks, with additional evidence of validity. However, the two groups of mothers did not substantively differ across measures, suggesting that identification for abuse through child protective services does not differentiate from those closely matched on critical sociodemographic characteristics. The promising preliminary results of these analog tasks in the current study suggest that indirect analog assessment approaches to estimate child abuse risk could be useful in efforts to minimize dependence on self-report methods.
Punicalagin Targets Atherosclerosis: Gene Expression Profiling of THP-1 Macrophages Treated with Punicalagin and Molecular Docking
Authors: Huwait Etimad , Almowallad Sanaa , Al-Massabi Rehab , Saddeek Salma , Gauthaman Kalamegam , Prola Alexandre
Published: May 2022

Atherosclerosis is an important cause of cardiovascular disorders worldwide. Natural botanical drugs have attracted attention due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiatherogenic properties in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Punicalagin is the major bioactive component of pomegranate peel, and has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti proliferation, and anticancer properties. To explore its antiatherogenic properties at a molecular level, we investigated the genome-wide expression changes that occur in differentiated THP1 cells following treatment with a non-toxic dose of punicalagin. We also conducted a molecular docking simulation study to identify the molecular targets of punicalagin.
Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in the Evaluation of Renal Masses with Histopathological Validation—Results from a Prospective Single-Center Study
Authors: Tufano Antonio , Drudi Francesco Maria , Angelini Flavia , Polito Eleonora , Martino Milvia , Granata Antonio , Di Pierro Giovanni Battista , Kutrolli Eriselda , Sampalmieri Matteo , Canale Vittorio , Flammia Rocco Simone , Fresilli Daniele , Bertolotto Michele , Leonardo Costantino , Franco Giorgio , Cantisani Vito
Published: May 2022

Background: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in characterizing between malignant and benign renal lesions confirmed by histological examination. Methods: Overall, 110 patients, for a total of 118 renal masses previously identified at CT and MRI underwent CEUS. An expert radiologist evaluated morphological, qualitative and quantitative parameters. Acquired data were analyzed to assess the value of each parameter to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions. Results: Histological results of 118 renal masses showed 88 (75%) malignant lesions and 30 (25%) benign lesions. Among morphological features, inhomogeneous echogenicity was the best predictor of malignancy depicting a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 76%, 76%, 88% and 57%, respectively. Among qualitative parameters, the most reliable parameter was the presence of pseudo-capsule. Here, sensitivity, specificity, positive PPV and NPV were 85%, 86%, 94% and 71%, respectively. Among quantitative parameters, the most reliable parameters were peak intensity (PI) and the area under the (AUC) with sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV values of 94%, 92%, 96% and 87% and 99%, 92%, 97% and 97%, respectively. Finally, the most reliable parameters were combined to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. The best combination obtained was restricted to CEUS parameters (PI and AUC). Here, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy rate were 93%, 100%, 100%, 83% and 93%, respectively. Conclusions: CEUS increases the US accuracy to discriminate between benign and malignant renal lesions.
Temporal Frankensteins and Legacy Images
Authors: Dawson Ian , Jones Andrew Meirion , Minkin Louisa , Reilly Paul
Published: May 2022

Digital images are produced by humans and autonomous devices everywhere and, increasingly, ‘everywhen’. Legacy image data, like Mary Shelley’s infamous monster, can be stitched together as either smooth and eloquent, or jagged and abominable, supplementary combinations from various times to create a thought-provoking and/or repulsive Frankensteinian assemblage composed, like most archaeological assemblages, of messy temporal components combining, as Gavin Lucas sums it up, as “a mixture of things from different times and with different life histories but which co-exist here and now”. In this paper, we take a subversive Virtual Art/Archaeology approach, adopting Jacques Derrida’s notion of the ‘supplement’, to explore the temporality of archaeological legacy images, introducing the concept of timesheds or temporal brackets within aggregated images. The focus of this temporally blurred, and time-glitched, study is the World Heritage Site of the Neolithic to Common Era henge monument of Avebury, UK (United Kingdom).