bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STEM Professional Development Activities and Their Impact on Teacher Knowledge and Instructional Practices
Authors: Mohamad Hasim Salbiah , Rosli Roslinda , Halim Lilia , Capraro Mary Margaret , Capraro Robert M.
Published: March 2022

The science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field is a crucial global driver for the development of various aspects of modern society, such as the economy, technology, education, and skills of the 21st-century workforce. All countries strive to produce STEM talent to meet future economic markets. Sustained professional development (PD) can support reform in STEM. Teachers need professional training to improve their knowledge, understanding, and teaching practices, which affect the development of their students’ meaningful learning. As a result, a systematic study was carried out to identify STEM PD activities and their influence on teachers’ knowledge and instructional methods. The peer-reviewed publications were published between 2017 and 2021, and Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost databases were used to find them. A comprehensive review of these empirical articles produced a total of 15 subthemes under activities and impact themes. The results exhibited that the dominant activities of STEM PD included engineering activities that indirectly had an extremely high impact on teachers’ knowledge and teaching practices related to engineering design, the problem-solving process as it relates to the engineering design process, and experiences of scientists and engineers. Finally, several recommendations for STEM PD sustainability and future research reference are presented.
Sphingolipid Metabolism as a New Predictive Target Correlated with Aging and AD: A Transcriptomic Analysis
Authors: D’Angiolini Simone , Chiricosta Luigi , Mazzon Emanuela
Published: March 2022

Background and objectives: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia characterized by memory loss and executive dysfunction. To date, no markers can effectively predict the onset of AD and an early diagnosis is increasingly necessary. Age represents an important risk factor for the disease but it is not known whether it is the trigger event. Materials and Methods: We downloaded transcriptomic data related to post-mortem brain of thirty samples gathered as young without AD (Young), old without AD (Old), and old suffering from AD (OAD) groups. Results: Our results showed that steroid biosynthesis was enriched and associated with aging, while sphingolipid metabolism was related to both aging and AD. Specifically, sphingolipid metabolism is involved in the deregulation of CERS2, UGT8, and PLPP2. These genes are downregulated in Young and Old groups as compared with upregulated between Old and OAD groups. Moreover, the analysis of the interaction networks revealed that GABAergic synapse and Hippo signaling pathways were altered in AD condition along with mitochondrial metabolism and RNA processing. Conclusions: Observing the particular trend of genes related to sphingolipid metabolism that are downregulated during normal aging and start to be upregulated with the onset of AD, we suppose that sphingolipids could be early markers for the disease.
In Vivo Biocompatibility Analysis of a Novel Barrier Membrane Based on Bovine Dermis-Derived Collagen for Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR)
Authors: Lindner Carolin , Alkildani Said , Stojanovic Sanja , Najman Stevo , Jung Ole , Barbeck Mike
Published: March 2022

Collagen-based barrier membranes are nowadays the prevalent option for Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) procedures. Xenogeneic collagen is highly biocompatible as it shares a similar structure to native human collagen, which prevents it from eliciting an exaggerated host immune response. Most commercially available collagen barrier membranes are porcine-derived, while bovine-derived alternatives are still rarely available. The aim of the present study was to investigate the tissue responses and the barrier functionality of a novel GBR membrane composed of bovine collagen type I (BM). Therefore, the subcutaneous implantation model in Wistar rats was performed to compare the novel medical device with two already clinically used native porcine-based barrier membranes, i.e., Jason® membrane (JM) and Bio-Gide® (BG), at 10-, 30-, 60-, and 90-days post implantationem. Histochemical and immunohistochemical stains were used for histopathological evaluation including a biocompatibility scoring according to the DIN EN ISO 10993-6 norm as well as histomorphometrical analyses of the occurrence of M1 and M2 macrophages and the transmembraneous vascularization. The bovine membrane exhibited a host tissue reaction that was comparable to both control materials, which was verified by the scoring results and the histomorphometrical macrophage measurements. Moreover, the novel membrane exhibited an integration pattern without material fragmentation up to day 60. At day 90, material fragmentation was observable that allowed for “secondary porosity” including transmembrane vascularization. The results of this study suggest that the novel bovine barrier membrane is fully biocompatible and suitable for indications that require GBR as a suitable alternative to porcine-sourced barrier membranes.
Effect of Minor Co Substitution for Fe on the Formability and Magnetic and Magnetocaloric Properties of the Amorphous Fe88Ce7B5 Alloy
Authors: Zhou Xu , Wang Qiang , Pan Leling , Ding Ding , Tang Benzhen , Yu Peng , Yao Jinlei , Xia Lei
Published: March 2022

A small amount of Co was added to the Fe88Ce7B5 glass forming alloy for the possibility of improving its glass formability and magnetocaloric effect. The Curie temperature of the amorphous Fe88-xCe7B5Cox (x = 0, 1, 2, 3) ribbons increases linearly with the Co content, while the maximum magnetic entropy change (−ΔSmpeak) increases to 3.89 J/(kg × K) under 5 T at x = 1 and subsequently decreases with further Co addition. The mechanism for the influence of Co addition on magnetic properties and the magnetocaloric effect of the amorphous alloys was investigated. Furthermore, a flattened −ΔSm profile was designed in the amorphous laminate composed of the amorphous Fe88-xCe7B5Cox (x = 0, 1, 2) ribbons. The high average −ΔSm from ~287 K to ~320 K indicates the potential application perspective of the amorphous hybrid as a magnetic refrigerant of a domestic refrigerator.
A Particle Size Distribution Model for Tailings in Mine Backfill
Authors: Li Zongnan , Guo Lijie , Zhao Yue , Peng Xiaopeng , Kyegyenbai Khavalbolot
Published: March 2022

With the increasing awareness of sustainable mining, the cement tailings backfill (CTB) method has been developed rapidly over the past decades. In the CTB technique, the two main mechanical properties engineers were concerned with are the rheological properties of CTB slurry and the resulting CTB strength after curing. Particle size distribution (PSD) of tailings material or PSD of the slurry is a significant factor that highly influences the rheological of CTB slurry and the strength performance of CTB. However, the concentrically partial size distribution curve and existing mathematical model could not represent the PSD of tailings material. In this study, a mathematical model for the particle size distribution of mine tailings was established using three model coefficients A B and K, which mainly reflect the characteristics of particles from three aspects respectively, the average size of particles, the proportion of the coarse or the fine parts of particles, and the distribution width of particles; meanwhile, an optimal coefficient solution method based on error analysis is given. Twelve tailing materials sourced from metal mines around China were used for the model establishment and validation. The determination coefficient of error analysis (R2) for all twelve modeled PSD lognormal curves was more significant than 0.99, and the modeled PSD lognormal curves are highly consistent with the determined particle size distribution curve.
A Microfluidic PET-Based Electrochemical Glucose Sensor
Authors: Yang Linda , Zhang Zheng , Wang Xin
Published: March 2022

Paper-based microfluidic sensors have gained increased attention in the field of analytical assays in recent years due to their self-driven nature, ease of preparation, high integration, low reagent consumption, and low cost. However, paper-based microfluidic sensors still have many deficiencies when it comes to the detection of some specific detectors such as blood glucose. For example, the processing procedure for microfluidic channels is tedious, the sensor electrodes are easily damaged by bending, and they can only be used as disposable products. To solve the above problems, a PET-based microfluidic sensor was proposed in this paper, the performance of which was tested with glucose as the target detector. The experimental results showed that the analytical performance of this sensor is comparable to that of existing commercial glucose meters. This work provides implications for the substrate selection of microfluidic chips for some biochemical analyses.
A Study on the Adsorption Characteristics of Thiourea by Typical Minerals from the Bio-Oxidation Residue of Gold Ore
Authors: Chen Shaoda , Wu Biao , Shang He , Wang Miao , Wen Jiankang
Published: March 2022

In order to improve the thiourea gold leaching rate of a low-grade arsenic–sulfur-containing refractory gold ore in Xinjiang, a microbial pretreatment was used to oxidize pyrite and arsenopyrite to obtain a bio-oxidation residue. The main minerals were quartz, mica, and some sulfides that were not fully oxidized. In this study, the static adsorption method was applied to simulate the thiourea adsorption by typical minerals. The results showed that the amount of thiourea adsorbed by the three minerals could be ordered as follows: pyrite > mica > quartz. Quartz had hardly any adsorption of thiourea. The thiourea adsorption capacities of pyrite and mica were about 8.93 mg g−1 and 2.30 mg g−1, respectively. The adsorption process for pyrite conformed to the Freundlich isotherm equation and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating that the adsorption process was a monolayer chemisorption. The adsorption process for mica conformed to the Langmuir isotherm equation and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating that the adsorption process was a monolayer physical adsorption. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the adsorption of thiourea on the surface of mica relied on the formation of hydrogen bonds with Si-OH, whereas a new S-S peak was detected on the surface of pyrite, which further indicated that thiourea was chemically adsorbed on the surface of pyrite.
Assessment of the Self-Compaction Effect in Filtered Tailings Disposal under Unsaturated Condition
Authors: Gallardo Sepúlveda Ricardo , Sáez Robert Esteban , Camacho-Tauta Javier
Published: March 2022

Filtered tailing is a relatively-environmentally friendly technique due to the recovery of water during the process of dehydration. This technique was recently developed and therefore there are few studies available compared to research on conventional tailings. This work focuses on the behaviour of a filtered copper tailing under an unsaturated condition, studying the effect of self-compaction by self-weight which is triggered by the deposition process through 1D consolidation tests. In addition, the impact of confinement on the stiffness and shear strength was studied by means of unsaturated drained triaxial tests. The initial matric suction was determined based on soil-water characteristic curves for two initially loose dry densities and the water content at which the material leaves the dehydration process. The unsaturated consolidation tests showed that for vertical stresses above 100 kPa and with ratios between the applied matric suction and air entry value lower than twelve, the material approaches saturated condition, reaching up to 95% degree of saturation. On the other hand, for the unsaturated drained triaxial tests, the effect of the matric suction generates increases in the shear strength and the stiffness of the material up to 200% and 600%, respectively. However, the increase tends to disappear as confinement increases.
Automated Quantitative Characterization REE Ore Mineralogy from the Giant Bayan Obo Deposit, Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Liu Taotao , Song Wenlei , Kynicky Jindrich , Yang Jinkun , Chen Qian , Tang Haiyan
Published: March 2022

Rare earth elements (REEs) are considered critical elements in modern society due to their irreplaceable role in new innovative and energy technologies. The giant carbonatite-related Bayan Obo deposit contributes most REE resources in the world’s market, while its origin is still unclear because of the complicated and diverse REE ore mineralogy and texture. Thescanning electron mircroscopy SEM)-based automated mineralogy allows for the numeric assessment of rocks and ores’ compositional and textural properties. Here, we use TIMA (TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer) to quantitatively characterize REE ore mineralogy from the deep drill core within the H8 unit (“dolomite marble”) to better understand the deposit. The mineral composition, occurrence, and Ce elemental deportment of the borehole ores at different depths (i.e., 1107 m, 1246 m, 1406 m, 1546 m, and 1682 m) were obtained. The results show that the main types of ores in the investigated samples can be divided into banded REE-Fe ores, banded REE ores, disseminated REE-Fe ores, and veined REE ores. REE and gangue minerals vary significantly in abundance and occurrence. Monazite-(Ce) and bastnäsite-(Ce) are the primary REE host minerals, and both contribute the most to the REE budget. Other REE minerals, such as parisite-(Ce)/synchysite-(Ce), cerite-(Ce), huanghoite-(Ce)/cebaite-(Ce), and aeschynite-(Ce), are significant contributors. The gangue minerals generally include fluorite, barite, magnetite, pyrite, quartz, magnesio-arfvedsonite, and minerals of the biotite and apatite groups, among others. Combined with the newly published mineral-scale chronological and isotopic geochemical analyses, it is reasonable to conclude that the later hydrothermal fluids remobilized and redistributed the original Mesoproterozoic carbonatitic REE minerals and formed a high variable ore mineral assemblage. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the mineralogical study using TIMA can provide accurate and reliable mineralogy data for the comprehensive interpretation of the complex REE ores, and extend our understanding of the deposit.
The Role of Jiningian Pluton in Yanshanian Metallogenic Events in the Dahutang Tungsten Deposit: Evidence from Whole Rock and Zircon Geochemistry
Authors: Xu Guofeng , Li Zhenyu , Yang Xiaoyong , Liu Lei
Published: March 2022

The Dahutang tungsten deposit is one of the largest deposits in the Jiangnan tungsten belt. The Jiningian pluton is widely distributed in the orefield, which is considered an ore-bearing wall rock and Ca source for scheelite mineralization. The Jiningian granodiorite samples near ore have high W contents (average 93 ppm). Moreover, their SiO2 and P2O5 contents are positively correlated in Harker diagrams, and the A/CNK values vary between 1.18–1.71, suggesting that the Jiningian granodiorite is high fractionated S-type granites and has the potential for W mineralization. The zircon U-Pb ages of the Jiningian granodiorite samples (17SWD-1, 17SWD-2) are 845 ± 21 Ma (MSWD = 1.7) and 828.7 ± 7.5 Ma (MSWD = 1.0), respectively, representing the formation ages of the Jiningian pluton. The U-Pb age of hydrothermal zircons (~140 Ma) in the Jiningian granodiorite samples is consistent with the mineralization age (150–139 Ma), indicating the strong superimposed modification of the Yanshanian mineralizing fluids. The positive correlation between Ca and W molarity in the Jiningian granodiorite samples demonstrates that they provide considerable Ca and W during Yanshanian mineralization. The W activation migration due to sodium alteration can be inferred from the inverse correlation between Na and W molarity. The study tries to provide a new perspective on the origin of mineralized material in the world-class Dahutang tungsten deposit.
The Anti-Constipation Effects of Raffino-Oligosaccharide on Gut Function in Mice Using Neurotransmitter Analyses, 16S rRNA Sequencing and Targeted Screening
Authors: Liang Yuxuan , Wang Yu , Wen Peng , Chen Yongchun , Ouyang Dongmei , Wang Da , Zhang Bin , Deng Jie , Chen Yanhong , Sun Yuanming , Wang Hong
Published: March 2022

Raffino-oligosaccharide (ROS), the smallest oligosaccharide of the raffinose family, is a novel food ingredient. However, the anti-constipation effects of ROS remain obscure. This study investigates the anti-constipation effects of ROS based on the loperamide-induced mice model and reveals the underlying mechanism using constipation parameters, neurotransmitter level, 16S rRNA sequencing, and the targeted screening strategy. The prevention effects were firstly investigated by the gastro-intestinal transit rate experiment (50 mice) and defecation status experiment (50 mice), which were divided into five groups (n = 10/group): blank, model, and low-, medium- and high-dose ROS. Furthermore, the slow-transit constipation experiment (blank, model, and high-dose ROS, n = 10/group) was conducted to illustrate the underlying mechanism. The results showed that ROS aided in preventing the occurrence of constipation by improving the gastro-intestinal transit rate and the defecation frequency in mice, and ROS significantly reduced the serum levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). In addition, ROS regulated the diversity and structure of intestinal flora. Among them, one specific family and six specific genera were significantly regulated in constipated mice. The targeted screening revealed that 29 targets related to the anti-constipation effects of ROS, indicating ROS may play a role by regulating multiple targets. Furthermore, the network pharmacology analysis showed that Akt1, Stat3, Mapk8, Hsp90aa1, Cat, Alb, Icam1, Sod2, and Gsk3b can be regarded as the core anti-constipation targets. In conclusion, ROS could effectively relieve constipation, possibly by inhibiting the level of neurotransmitters and regulating the gut flora in mice. This study also provides a novel network pharmacology-based targeted screening strategy to reveal the anti-constipation effects of ROS.
Excitation of Surface Plasmon Polariton Modes with Double-Layer Gratings of Graphene
Authors: Liu Jianping , Wang Weilin , Xie Fang , Zhang Xiaoming , Zhou Xia , Yuan Yijun , Wang Lingling
Published: March 2022

A long-range surface plasmon polariton (SPP) waveguide, composed of double-layer graphene, can be pivotal in transferring and handling mid-infrared electromagnetic waves. However, one of the key challenges for this type of waveguide is how to excite the SPP modes through an incident light beam. In this study, our proposed design of a novel grating, consisting of a graphene-based cylindrical long-range SPP waveguide array, successfully addresses this issue using finite-difference time-domain simulations. The results show that two types of symmetric coupling modes (SCMs) are excited through a normal incident light. The transmission characteristics of the two SCMs can be manipulated by changing the interaction of the double-layer gratings of graphene as well as by varying various parameters of the device. Similarly, four SCMs can be excited and controlled by an oblique incident light because this light source is equivalent to two orthogonal beams of light. Furthermore, this grating can be utilized in the fabrication of mid-infrared optical devices, such as filters and refractive index sensors. This grating, with double-layer graphene arrays, has the potential to excite and manipulate the mid-infrared electromagnetic waves in future photonic integrated circuits.
Patterns of Differentially Expressed circRNAs in Human Thymocytes
Authors: López-Nieva Pilar , Fernández-Navarro Pablo , Cobos-Fernández María Ángeles , González-Vasconcellos Iria , Sánchez Pérez Raúl , Aroca Ángel , Fernández-Piqueras José , Santos Javier
Published: March 2022

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are suggested to play a discriminative role between some stages of thymocyte differentiation. However, differential aspects of the stage of mature single-positive thymocytes remain to be explored. The purpose of this study is to investigate the differential expression pattern of circRNAs in three different development stages of human thymocytes, including mature single-positive cells, and perform predictions in silico regarding the ability of specific circRNAs when controlling the expression of genes involved in thymocyte differentiation. We isolate human thymocytes at three different stages of intrathymic differentiation and determine the expression of circRNAs and mRNA by RNASeq. We show that the differential expression pattern of 50 specific circRNAs serves to discriminate between the three human thymocyte populations. Interestingly, the downregulation of RAG2, a gene involved in T-cell differentiation in the thymus, could be simultaneously controlled by the downregulation of two circRNASs (hsa_circ_0031584 and hsa_circ_0019079) through the hypothetical liberation of hsa-miR-609. Our study provides, for the first time, significant insights into the usefulness of circRNAs in discriminating between different stages of thymocyte differentiation and provides new potential circRNA–miRNA–mRNA networks capable of controlling the expression of genes involved in T-cell differentiation in the thymus.
Association between Dietary Fiber Intake and Hyperuricemia among Chinese Adults: Analysis of the China Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance (2015)
Authors: Zhu Qianrang , Yu Lianlong , Li Yuqian , Man Qingqing , Jia Shanshan , Zhou Yonglin , Zuo Hui , Zhang Jian
Published: March 2022

This study aimed to assess the association of dietary fiber intake with serum uric acid (SUA) levels and risk of hyperuricemia (HUA) among Chinese adults using the latest nationally representative data. A total of 66,427 Chinese adults aged 18 years and over from the China Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance in 2015 were included in this study. Dietary intakes were measured with a 3-day 24 h dietary recall and the household condiment weighing method. Mixed-effect linear and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations of dietary fiber intake with SUA levels and risk of HUA, respectively. Compared to the lowest intake group, the coefficient and 95% confidence in the highest intake group of total fiber were −0.06 (−0.08, −0.04) (p-trend < 0.001), −0.18 (−0.2, −0.16) (p-trend < 0.001) for cereal fiber, 0.03 (0.01, 0.04) (p-trend = 0.051) for legume fiber, 0 (−0.01, 0.02) (p-trend = 0.869) for vegetable fiber and 0.01 (−0.001, 0.04) (p-trend = 0.296) for fruit fiber. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of HUA for the highest vs. lowest intake group of total fiber were 0.88 (0.84, 0.91) (p-trend = 0.001), 0.67 (0.63, 0.71) (p-trend < 0.001) for cereal fiber, 1.05 (1, 1.09) (p-trend = 0.248) for legume fiber, 1.01 (0.97, 1.05) (p-trend = 0.982) for vegetable fiber and 1.06 (1, 1.12) (p-trend = 0.264) for fruit fiber. Our findings suggest that consumption of total fiber and cereal fiber were significantly inversely associated with SUA levels and HUA risk among the Chinese adult population. Developing and implementing effective public education programs are urgently needed to increase the intake of dietary fiber, especially cereal fiber among Chinese adults.
Beneficial Effects of Bovine Milk Exosomes in Metabolic Interorgan Cross-Talk
Authors: García-Martínez Jorge , Pérez-Castillo Íñigo M. , Salto Rafael , López-Pedrosa José M. , Rueda Ricardo , Girón María D.
Published: March 2022

Extracellular vesicles are membrane-enclosed secreted vesicles involved in cell-to-cell communication processes, identified in virtually all body fluids. Among extracellular vesicles, exosomes have gained increasing attention in recent years as they have unique biological origins and deliver different cargos, such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, which might mediate various health processes. In particular, milk-derived exosomes are proposed as bioactive compounds of breast milk, which have been reported to resist gastric digestion and reach systemic circulation, thus being bioavailable after oral intake. In the present manuscript, we critically discuss the available evidence on the health benefits attributed to milk exosomes, and we provide an outlook for the potential future uses of these compounds. The use of milk exosomes as bioactive ingredients represents a novel avenue to explore in the context of human nutrition, and they might exert important beneficial effects at multiple levels, including but not limited to intestinal health, bone and muscle metabolism, immunity, modulation of the microbiota, growth, and development.
Vitamin D and Cancer: An Historical Overview of the Epidemiology and Mechanisms
Authors: Muñoz Alberto , Grant William B.
Published: March 2022

This is a narrative review of the evidence supporting vitamin D’s anticancer actions. The first section reviews the findings from ecological studies of cancer with respect to indices of solar radiation, which found a reduced risk of incidence and mortality for approximately 23 types of cancer. Meta-analyses of observational studies reported the inverse correlations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] with the incidence of 12 types of cancer. Case-control studies with a 25(OH)D concentration measured near the time of cancer diagnosis are stronger than nested case-control and cohort studies as long follow-up times reduce the correlations due to changes in 25(OH)D with time. There is no evidence that undiagnosed cancer reduces 25(OH)D concentrations unless the cancer is at a very advanced stage. Meta-analyses of cancer incidence with respect to dietary intake have had limited success due to the low amount of vitamin D in most diets. An analysis of 25(OH)D-cancer incidence rates suggests that achieving 80 ng/mL vs. 10 ng/mL would reduce cancer incidence rates by 70 ± 10%. Clinical trials have provided limited support for the UVB-vitamin D-cancer hypothesis due to poor design and execution. In recent decades, many experimental studies in cultured cells and animal models have described a wide range of anticancer effects of vitamin D compounds. This paper will review studies showing the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, dedifferentiation, and invasion together with the sensitization to proapoptotic agents. Moreover, 1,25-(OH)2D3 and other vitamin D receptor agonists modulate the biology of several types of stromal cells such as fibroblasts, endothelial and immune cells in a way that interferes the apparition of metastases. In sum, the available mechanistic data support the global protective action of vitamin D against several important types of cancer.
Leptin Levels of the Perinatal Period Shape Offspring’s Weight Trajectories through the First Year of Age
Authors: Garofoli Francesca , Mazzucchelli Iolanda , Angelini Micol , Klersy Catherine , Ferretti Virginia Valeria , Gardella Barbara , Carletti Giulia Vittoria , Spinillo Arsenio , Tzialla Chryssoula , Ghirardello Stefano
Published: March 2022

Background: Leptin is a hormone regulating lifetime energy homeostasis and metabolism and its concentration is important starting from prenatal life. We aimed to investigate the association of perinatal leptin concentrations with growth trajectories during the first year of life. Methods: Prospective, longitudinal study, measuring leptin concentration in maternal plasma before delivery, cord blood (CB), and mature breast milk and correlating their impact on neonate’s bodyweight from birth to 1 year of age, in 16 full-term (FT), 16 preterm (PT), and 13 intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) neonates. Results: Maternal leptin concentrations were highest in the PT group, followed by IUGR and FT, with no statistical differences among groups (p = 0.213). CB leptin concentrations were significantly higher in FT compared with PT and IUGR neonates (PT vs. FT; IUGR vs. FT: p < 0.001). Maternal milk leptin concentrations were low, with no difference among groups. Maternal leptin and milk concentrations were negatively associated with all the neonates’ weight changes (p = 0.017 and p = 0.006), while the association with CB leptin was not significant (p = 0.051). Considering each subgroup individually, statistical analysis confirmed the previous results in PT and IUGR infants, with the highest value in the PT subgroup. In addition, this group’s results negatively correlated with CB leptin (p = 0.026) and showed the largest % weight increase. Conclusions: Leptin might play a role in neonatal growth trajectories, characterized by an inverse correlation with maternal plasma and milk. PT infants showed the highest correlation with hormone levels, regardless of source, seeming the most affected group by leptin guidance. Low leptin levels appeared to contribute to critical neonates’ ability to recover a correct body weight at 1 year. An eventual non-physiological “catch-up growth” should be monitored, and leptin perinatal levels may be an indicative tool. Further investigations are needed to strengthen the results.
Low Hemoglobin Levels Are Associated with Reduced Psychomotor and Language Abilities in Young Ugandan Children
Authors: Nampijja Margaret , Mutua Agnes M. , Elliott Alison M. , Muriuki John Muthii , Abubakar Amina , Webb Emily L. , Atkinson Sarah H.
Published: March 2022

Children living in Sub-Saharan Africa are vulnerable to developmental delay, particularly in the critical first five years due to various adverse exposures including disease and nutritional deficiencies. Anemia and iron deficiency (ID) are highly prevalent in pregnant mothers and young children and are implicated in abnormal brain development. However, available evidence on the association between anemia, ID and neurodevelopment in sub-Saharan Africa is limited. Using data from the Entebbe Mother and Baby Study prospective birth cohort, we examined the effect of maternal and child hemoglobin (Hb) levels and child iron status on developmental scores in 933 and 530 pre-school Ugandan children respectively. Associations between Hb levels, iron status and developmental scores were assessed using regression analyses adjusting for potential confounders. Lower maternal and child Hb levels were associated with reduced psychomotor scores at 15 months, while only lower Hb levels in infancy were associated with reduced language scores. We found no evidence that anemia or ID was associated with cognitive or motor scores at five years. This study emphasizes the importance of managing anemia in pregnancy and infancy and highlights the need for further studies on the effects of anemia and ID in children living in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Expansion of the Beta-Proteobacterial Genus Ca. Ichthyocystis: A Case Report of Epitheliocystis in the Pompano Trachinotus ovatus
Authors: Cascarano Maria Chiara , Katharios Pantelis
Published: March 2022

Epitheliocystis is a disease caused by a wide variety of host-specific intracellular bacteria infecting fish gills. In the Mediterranean Sea, epitheliocystis has been recently associated with a novel genus of beta-proteobacteria, the Ca. Ichthyocystis genus. In the present study, we report a case of epitheliocystis in a wild-caught specimen of pompano Trachinotus ovatus in Crete, Greece. Molecular analysis of partial 16s rRNA sequence led to the discovery of a putative novel species of the Ca. Ichthyocystis genus. Investigation of the phylogenetic relationship between closely related sequences deposited in NCBI suggests that bacterial ancestors in gilthead seabream might have a pivotal role in the differentiation of genus.
Efficacy and Immunomodulating Properties of Eltrombopag in Aplastic Anemia following Autologous Stem Cell Transplant: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Bortolotti Marta , Pettine Loredana , Zaninoni Anna , Croci Giorgio Alberto , Barcellini Wilma , Fattizzo Bruno
Published: March 2022

Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) are currently indicated for the treatment of chronic immune thrombocytopenia and relapsed refractory aplastic anemia. However, the off-label use of these drugs is more and more frequent, including in the setting of aplasia secondary to chemotherapy and hemopoietic stem cell transplant (SCT). Growing evidence suggests that mechanisms of action of TPO-RA go beyond the TPO-receptor stimulation and point at the immunomodulating properties of these drugs. Here, we present a case of prolonged bone marrow aplasia secondary to autologous SCT treated with eltrombopag. We describe the clinical efficacy and the immunomodulating effect of this drug on inflammatory cytokine profile and bone marrow histology. Furthermore, we provide a review of the most recent literature highlighting the efficacy and safety of TPO-RA after SCT and chemotherapy for hematologic conditions.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Tomentosin Derivatives in NMDA-Induced Excitotoxicity
Authors: Zaki Mohamed , Loubidi Mohammed , Bilgiç Tuğçe , Birim Derviş , Akssira Mohamed , Dagcı Taner , Berteina-Raboin Sabine , Saso Luciano , Khouili Mostafa , Armagan Güliz
Published: March 2022

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor stimulation may lead to excitotoxicity, which triggers neuronal death in brain disorders. In addition to current clinical therapeutic approaches, treatment strategies by phytochemicals or their derivatives are under investigation for neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, novel amino and 1,2,3-triazole derivatives of tomentosin were prepared and tested for their protective and anti-apoptotic effects in NMDA-induced excitotoxicity. Amino-tomentosin derivatives were generated through a diastereoselective conjugate addition of several secondary amines to the α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone function, while the 1,2,3-triazolo-tomentosin was prepared by a regioselective Michael-type addition carried out in the presence of trimethylsilyl azide (TMSN3) and the α-methylene-γ-lactone function. The intermediate key thus obtained underwent 1,3-dipolar Huisgen cycloaddition using a wide range of terminal alkynes. The possible effects of the derivatives on cell viability and free-radical production following NMDA treatment were measured by Water-Soluble Tetrazolium Salts (WST-1) and Dichlorofluorescein Diacetate (DCF-DA) assays, respectively. The alterations in apoptosis-related proteins were examined by Western blot technique. Our study provides evidence that synthesized triazolo- and amino-tomentosin derivatives show neuroprotective effects by increasing cellular viability, decreasing ROS production, and increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio in NMDA-induced excitotoxicity. The findings highlight particularly 2e, 2g, and 6d as potential regulators and neuroprotective agents in NMDA overactivation.
The Products of Probiotic Bacteria Effectively Treat Persistent Enterococcus faecalis Biofilms
Authors: Safadi Shatha , Maan Harsh , Kolodkin-Gal Ilana , Tsesis Igor , Rosen Eyal
Published: March 2022

Objectives: Enterococcus faecalis is a Gram-positive commensal bacterium that possesses various survival and virulence factors, including the ability to compete with other microorganisms, invade dentinal tubules, and resist nutritional deprivation. E. faecalis is associated with persistent endodontic infections where biofilms formed by this bacterium in the root canal frequently resist dental therapies. Aseptic techniques, such as the inclusion of sodium hypochlorite, are the most commonly used methods to treat E. faecalis infections within the root canal system. In this work, we assess the effectiveness of probiotic strains to prevent the regrowth of E. faecalis biofilm cells treated by sodium hypochlorite irrigation. Methods: First, methods are presented that evaluate the effects of short-term exposure to sodium-hypochlorite on established E. faecalis. Next, we evaluate the effects of the secreted products of probiotic strains on biofilm cells and planktonic cells. Results: Sodium hypochlorite, the treatment conventionally used to decontaminate infected root canal systems, was extremely toxic to planktonic bacteria but did not fully eradicate biofilm cells. Furthermore, low concentrations of sodium hypochlorite induced eDNA dependent biofilms. Strikingly, conditioned medium from the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei was sufficient to fully prevent the regrowth of treated biofilms while showing reduced potency towards planktonic cells. Conclusion: Sodium hypochlorite irrigations may contribute to the persistence of biofilm cells if used at concentrations lower than 3%. Probiotic strains and their products represent a new reservoir of biofilm therapies for E. faecalis infections formed in the root canal system.
Model-Informed Precision Dosing of Linezolid in Patients with Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
Authors: Mockeliunas Laurynas , Keutzer Lina , Sturkenboom Marieke G. G. , Bolhuis Mathieu S. , Hulskotte Lotte M. G. , Akkerman Onno W. , Simonsson Ulrika S. H.
Published: March 2022

Linezolid is an efficacious medication for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis but has been associated with serious safety issues that can result in treatment interruption. The objectives of this study were thus to build a population pharmacokinetic model and to use the developed model to establish a model-informed precision dosing (MIPD) algorithm enabling safe and efficacious dosing in patients with multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis. Routine hospital therapeutic drug monitoring data, collected from 70 tuberculosis patients receiving linezolid, was used for model development. Efficacy and safety targets for MIPD were the ratio of unbound area under the concentration versus time curve between 0 and 24 h over minimal inhibitory concentration (fAUC0–24h/MIC) above 119 and unbound plasma trough concentration (fCmin) below 1.38 mg/L, respectively. Model building was performed in NONMEM 7.4.3. The final population pharmacokinetic model consisted of a one-compartment model with transit absorption and concentration- and time-dependent auto-inhibition of elimination. A flat dose of 600 mg once daily was appropriate in 67.2% of the simulated patients from an efficacy and safety perspective. Using the here developed MIPD algorithm, the proportion of patients reaching the efficacy and safety target increased to 81.5% and 88.2% using information from two and three pharmacokinetic sampling occasions, respectively. This work proposes an MIPD approach for linezolid and suggests using three sampling occasions to derive an individualized dose that results in adequate efficacy and fewer safety concerns compared to flat dosing.
High Temperature Alters Anthocyanin Concentration and Composition in Grape Berries of Malbec, Merlot, and Pinot Noir in a Cultivar-Dependent Manner
Authors: de Rosas Inés , Deis Leonor , Baldo Yésica , Cavagnaro Juan B. , Cavagnaro Pablo F.
Published: March 2022

Climate is determinant for grapevine geographical distribution, berry attributes, and wine quality. Due to climate change, a 2–4 °C increase in mean diurnal temperature is predicted by the end of the century for the most important Argentine viticulture region. We hypothesize that such temperature increase will affect color intensity and other quality attributes of red grapes and wines. The present study investigated the effect of high temperature (HT) on anthocyanin concentration and composition, pH, and resveratrol and solids content in berries of three major wine-producing varieties during fruit ripening in two seasons. To this end, a structure that increased mean diurnal temperature by 1.5–2.0 °C at berry sites, compared to Control (C) plants grown without such structure, was implemented in field grown vineyards of Malbec, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. Results revealed a cultivar-dependent response to HT conditions, with Malbec and Pinot Noir berries exhibiting significant decreases in total anthocyanin concentration (TAC) at veraison and harvest, respectively, while Merlot maintained an unaffected pigment content under HT. The decrease in TAC was associated with reduced levels of delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, peonidin, and malvidin glycosides, and increased ratios of acylated (AA)/non-acylated anthocyanins (NAA), suggesting pigment acylation as a possible stress-response mechanism for attenuating HT negative effects. Under HT, Pinot Noir, which does not produce AA, was the only cultivar with lower TAC at harvest (p < 0.05). pH, resveratrol, and solids content were not affected by HT. Our results predict high, medium, and low plasticity with regard to color quality attributes for Malbec, Merlot, and Pinot Noir, respectively, in the context of climate change.
An Annotated Inventory of Tanzanian Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used for the Treatment of Respiratory Bacterial Infections
Authors: Innocent Ester , Marealle Alphonce Ignace , Imming Peter , Moeller Lucie
Published: March 2022

This review comprehensively covers and analyzes scientific information on plants used in Tanzanian traditional medicine against respiratory diseases. It covers ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological information extracted from SciFinder, Google Scholar, and Reaxys as well as the literature collected at the Institute of Traditional Medicine in Dar-es-Salaam. Crude extracts and fractions of 133 plant species have literature reports on antimicrobial bioassays. Of these, 16 plant species had a minimum inhibitory activity of MIC ≤ 50 µg/mL. Structurally diverse compounds were reported for 49 plant species, of which 7 had constituents with MIC ≤ 5 µg/mL against various bacteria: Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken, Warburgia ugandensis Sprague, Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex DC., Cassia abbreviata Oliv., Entada abyssinica A. Rich., Strychnos spinosa Lam., and Milicia excelsa (Welw.) C.C. Berg. The low number of antimicrobial active extracts and compounds suggests that antibacterial and antimycobacterial drug discovery needs to have a fresh look at ethnobotanical information, diverting from too reductionist an approach and better taking into account that the descriptions of symptoms and concepts of underlying diseases are different in traditional African and modern Western medicine. Nevertheless, some structurally diverse compounds found in anti-infective plants are highlighted in this review as worthy of detailed study and chemical modification.
Characterization of the TCP Gene Family in Chrysanthemum nankingense and the Role of CnTCP4 in Cold Tolerance
Authors: Tian Chang , Zhai Lisheng , Zhu Wenjing , Qi Xiangyu , Yu Zhongyu , Wang Haibin , Chen Fadi , Wang Likai , Chen Sumei
Published: March 2022

Plant-specific TCP transcription factors play a key role in plant development and stress responses. Chrysanthemum nankingense shows higher cold tolerance than its ornamental polyploid counterpart. However, whether the TCP gene family plays a role in conferring cold tolerance upon C. nankingense remains unknown. Here, we identified 23 CnTCP genes in C. nankingense, systematically analyzed their phylogenetic relationships and synteny with TCPs from other species, and evaluated their expression profiles at low temperature. Phylogenetic analysis of the protein sequences suggested that CnTCP proteins fall into two classes and three clades, with a typical bHLH domain. However, differences between C. nankingense and Arabidopsis in predicted protein structure and binding sites suggested a unique function of CnTCPs in C. nankingense. Furthermore, expression profiles showed that expression of most CnTCPs were downregulated under cold conditions, suggesting their importance in plant responses to cold stress. Notably, expression of miR319 and of its predicted target genes, CnTCP2/4/14, led to fast responses to cold. Overexpression of Arabidopsis CnTCP4 led to hypersensitivity to cold, suggesting that CnTCP4 might play a negative role in C. nankingense responses to cold stress. Our results provide a foundation for future functional genomic studies on this gene family in chrysanthemum.
Comparison of Maize Genotypes Using Drought-Tolerance Indices and Graphical Analysis under Normal and Humidity Stress Conditions
Authors: Shojaei Seyed Habib , Mostafavi Khodadad , Omrani Ali , Illés Árpád , Bojtor Csaba , Omrani Saeed , Mousavi Seyed Mohammad Nasir , Nagy János
Published: March 2022

This study aimed to identify drought-tolerant genotypes and to evaluate and compare the response of genotypes under normal conditions and humidity stress. The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) on 12 commercial single cross hybrids of maize (Zea mays L.) with three replications in two separate experiments under normal and stress conditions. GT biplot was used to compare genotypes under normal conditions and humidity stress. Based on the polygon diagrams’ graphical analysis, KSC206, KSC704, KSC705 and KSC706 genotypes were identified as desirable hybrids. The ranking diagram of genotypes based on ideal genotype also showed that the KSC704 genotype had high desirability in all evaluated traits in normal and stress conditions. TOL, MP, HARM, GMP, SSI and STI indices were used to identify drought-tolerant genotypes, and the genotypes were ranked based on this index. Based on this, KSC260, SC302 and KSC400 hybrids were selected as resistant hybrids. Based on the correlation analysis between drought-tolerance indices, a positive correlation was observed between MP, GMP, HARM and STI indices. Based on the analysis of the PCA on the indices, the first and second principal components were given the titles of grain yield tolerance component under humidity stress conditions and grain yield stability component under normal humidity conditions, respectively. KSC704 was superior to other hybrids in terms of grain yield under normal conditions and stress, and the KSC260 hybrid was identified as a tolerant hybrid in terms of all studied traits under drought stress.
Response of Three Miscanthus × giganteus Cultivars to Toxic Elements Stress: Part 2, Comparison between Two Growing Seasons
Authors: Al Souki Karim Suhail , Liné Clarisse , Moravec Jiří , Douay Francis , Pourrut Bertrand
Published: March 2022

The positive impact on restoring soil functionality, decreasing toxic elements (TE) bioaccessibility, and enhancing soil physicochemical and biological parameters established a consensus on considering a Miscanthus × giganteus convenient species for phytomanaging wide TE contaminated areas. Nevertheless, information about the plant’s mode of reaction to elevated soil multi-TE concentrations is still scarce. For the sake of investigating the miscanthus response to stressful TE concentrations, an ex-situ pot experiment was initiated for 18 months, with three miscanthus cultivars referred to as B, U, and A planted in soils with gradient Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations. A non-contaminated control soil was introduced as well, and plants were cultivated within. Results revealed that the long exposure to increasing soil TE concentrations caused the number of tillers per plant to decline and the TE concentrations in the leaves to boost progressively with the soil contamination. The photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids) were negatively affected as well. However, the phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, and anthocyanins, along with the antioxidant enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase elevated progressively with the TE concentration and exposure duration. Conclusively, miscanthus plants demonstrated an intensified and synchronized antioxidative activity against the TE concentration.