bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Household Ability of Expenditures on Electricity and Energy Resources in the Countries That Joined the EU after 2004
Authors: Gomółka Krystyna , Kasprzak Piotr
Published: April 2022

The purpose of the following article is to present the situation of the energy market from a household perspective between 2010 and 2020 in selected EU countries (the group of member states which joined EU after 2004). The selected countries when joining the EU had similar economic indicators and to some extent were similar in other macro-economic situations (personal income, unemployment rate, GDP level and annual growth). This article analyzes the past and current situation of the household ability expenditure on electricity and energy resources (petrol—eurosuper 95 and diesel and natural gas), taking into account price, tax conditions and the real possibility to purchase the analyzed energy sources (based on annual net salaries). The paper includes the conclusions and prospects for the future. The main objective of the study is to determine the ability amount of expenditure on electricity, natural gas and liquid fuels by household in the countries that joined the European Union after 2004. The specific objectives of the work include: the evolution of retail prices of energy sources in those countries and prices of electricity, natural gas and liquid fuels—petrol and diesel oil—in the research period from 2010 to 2020. The element that influences the final price, as assessed in this paper, is the share of taxes and compulsory charges imposed by the EU countries covered in this study. The result of the study presented inter alia that energy consumption structure did not change significantly, electricity prices were steadily growing in the countries under assessment, the use of liquid fuels—petrol and diesel oil—in the countries under study, grew over the study period. Furthermore, prices of fuel fluctuated over the period from 2010 to 2020 and during the COVID-19 pandemic, which broke out in March 2020, but did not cause any significant changes in the prices of energy carriers in the analyzed period, apart from the declines in the prices of eurosuper 95 and diesel.
Measurement of Cyclic Variation of the Air-to-Fuel Ratio of Exhaust Gas in an SI Engine by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Authors: Ikeda Yuji , Kawahara Nobuyuki
Published: April 2022

Temporally and spatially resolved laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was applied to a four-stroke, single-cylinder test engine’s cyclic exhaust gas to demonstrate engine performance. The LIBS technique provided quantitative air-to-fuel ratio (A/F) measurements by generating localized breakdown plasma during the compression and exhaust strokes. The results showed that the timing and duration settings of the emission energy ionization and molecular spectra affect the intensity peaks. Optimum measurements performed between 200 ns and 10 ms after breakdown resulted in observed atomic spectra of CI (248 nm), Hβ (485 nm), Hα (656 nm), NI (745, 824 nm), and OI (777, 844 nm). The intensities of CI (248 nm) and Hα (656 nm) decreased with increasing A/F, whereas the intensity ratios of NI and OI remained constant. A decrease in the intensity ratio of C/O and Hα/O was observed as the A/F increased. This study is a major step toward defining a means of using LIBS to control the A/F ratio in gasoline engines by focusing on the exhaust gas rather than the flame.
Energy-Environmental Planning of Electric Vehicles (EVs): A Case Study of the National Energy System of Pakistan
Authors: Nadeem Anam , Rossi Mosè , Corradi Erica , Jin Lingkang , Comodi Gabriele , Sheikh Nadeem Ahmed
Published: April 2022

Energy-environmental planning for road transportation involves a vast investigation of vehicles’ technologies and electricity production. However, in developing countries where the public transportation sector is growing quickly, energy-environmental planning is urgently needed. This paper evaluates the future electricity demand, as well as fuel consumption and CO2 emissions reduction, due to the operation of an expected increasing number of electric vehicles (EVs) in Pakistan. The planning of EVs up to 2040 is performed with the ePop simulator that calculates the future EVs’ electricity demand, while EnergyPLAN® assesses the expected new power capacities. Two scenarios are investigated by penetrating 30% and 90% of 2/3 electric wheelers and cars by 2030 and 2040 compared to 2020, respectively. To fulfill the expected energy demand, PV in the daytime and the national electric grid at nighttime are here considered. Finally, a 9 GW of PV capacity is needed to satisfy the EVs’ electricity demand of 14.7 TWh/year, and a 0.7 GW power plants capacity is needed to fulfill 4.7 TWh/year by 2040. Consequently, EVs’ charging scenarios at daytime and nighttime are assessed. Results indicated a total reduction of 10.4 Mtonnes of CO2 emissions and 9.1 Mtoe of fuel consumption by 2040 in the transportation sector.
COVID-19: Gender and Outcomes
Authors: Ilardi Alfonso
Published: April 2022

The existence of differences in susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection between males and females in both incidence and outcomes is well documented in the scientific literature. These differences, which are still underestimated, may have important implications in terms of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19, with significant prognostic consequences. The greater severity of the infection observed in males, even more so if they are elderly, would seem, according to current knowledge, to be due to multiple influences: immunological and endocrinological, but also genetic and behavioral.
Insights into Cardiovascular Defects and Cardiac Epigenome in the Context of COVID-19
Authors: Sarkar Shreya , Sen Rwik
Published: April 2022

Although few in number, studies on epigenome of the heart of COVID-19 patients show that epigenetic signatures such as DNA methylation are significantly altered, leading to changes in expression of several genes. It contributes to pathogenic cardiac phenotypes of COVID-19, e.g., low heart rate, myocardial edema, and myofibrillar disarray. DNA methylation studies reveal changes which likely contribute to cardiac disease through unknown mechanisms. The incidence of severe COVID-19 disease, including hospitalization, requiring respiratory support, morbidity, and mortality, is disproportionately higher in individuals with co-morbidities. This poses unprecedented strains on the global healthcare system. While their underlying conditions make patients more susceptible to severe COVID-19 disease, strained healthcare systems, lack of adequate support, or sedentary lifestyles from ongoing lockdowns have proved detrimental to their underlying health conditions, thus pushing them to severe risk of congenital heart disease (CHD) itself. Prophylactic vaccines against COVID-19 have ushered new hope for CHD. A common connection between COVID-19 and CHD is SARS-CoV-2’s host receptor ACE2, because ACE2 regulates and protects organs, including the heart, in various ways. ACE2 is a common therapeutic target against cardiovascular disease and COVID-19 which damages organs. Hence, this review explores the above regarding CHDs, cardiovascular damage, and cardiac epigenetics, in COVID-19 patients.
Analysis of Ciliate Community Diversity in Decaying Pinus nigra Logs
Authors: Pastorelli Roberta , Cucu Maria Alexandra , Lagomarsino Alessandra , Paletto Alessandro , De Meo Isabella
Published: April 2022

Ciliates are an important component of the detritus and energy flow in forest ecosystems. The present study aims to provide an early insight into the abundance and composition of the ciliate community inhabiting deadwood in relation to the different decay classes. We took advantage of a mesocosm experiment of black pine deadwood already underway to evaluate changes in chemical properties, microbial communities, and potential CO2 emissions over time. The abundance and the number of ciliate taxa increased as wood decay progressed. Greater diversity was observed in the early stages of decomposition, while similarity in community composition increased along the decomposition gradient with several taxa commonly found in the more decomposed classes 3–5. The identified species were related to soil-inhabiting ciliates and mainly belonged to Colpodea and Spirotrichea classes. Ciliate abundance correlated positively with bacterial abundance, total nitrogen (N), and CO2 potential production, while it correlated negatively with the C/N ratio. Through grazing activity, ciliates contribute to regulate the degrading activity of microbial communities inhabiting deadwood and CO2 emission, enhancing soil fertility. Looking ahead, specific ciliate taxa may be used as indicators of the stage of decomposition and their biodiversity may provide knowledge into deadwood decay activity.
A New Approach to Assess the Retained Value of Functionalized and Stabilized Wood Products through Aging
Authors: Elustondo Diego , Gaunt Douglas
Published: April 2022

Wood stabilization and functionalization is a hot topic towards increasing the use of wood in buildings. Building construction and materials account for around 11% of the global CO2 emissions, thus there is increasing interest in using wood to replace concrete, steel, and aluminium. However, the perceived quality of wood in service decreases quickly in comparison with non-biodegradable alternatives, so aging must be delayed as much as possible through stabilization and functionalization. The question addressed in this paper is how to measure the perceived quality of wood products in service. The concept of wood quality is difficult to define, as it depends on a combination of factors such as customer satisfaction, wood fibre characteristics, products, applications, and so on. This paper proposes a definition of timber quality based on market price. By knowing the market value of a potential range of wood products, the proposed method calculates the loss of value due to developing defects caused by aging. Overall, the proposed methodology allows converting the subjective concept of aging into an objective $ value. A numeric example is presented based on the New Zealand timber grading rules. The results showed that 5.1 m by 150 mm by 50 mm softwood timber can lose up to 61% of its value as appearance grade if a single aging defect develops beyond the maximum allowed size.
Anthropometrics Parameters of the Adult Population as Ergonomics Modifier for the Chainsaw Handle
Authors: Gejdoš Miloš , Hitka Miloš , Kampf Rudolf
Published: April 2022

In the conditions of Slovakia, forest harvesting is largely carried out by hand-held chainsaws. Working with a chainsaw is one of the most demanding tasks in forestry, both in terms of demands on the operator and compliance with technological and work discipline. The aim of this work is the analysis of selected anthropometric dimensions of the upper limbs of the adult male population and their comparison with parameters and approaches in the design of hand-held controls for manual chainsaws. The research was conducted on a sample of 1629 men aged 18 to 25, in whom six anthropometric dimensions related to the upper limbs were measured, which are important for the sizing of the controls on the chainsaw handles. The results of the anthropometric analysis were compared with the recommended values for the design of hand-held chainsaws. Based on the results obtained, we identified some parameters of the front and rear handles that would need to be resized. Most of the recommended dimensions are in a convenient range. However, to take into account user comfort, we suggest, in some cases, increasing their minimum recommended values.
Stand Age Class to Size Class Crosswalk by Forest Type Group in Minnesota, USA
Authors: Zobel John M. , Ek Alan R. , Gifford Tyler S.
Published: April 2022

Many forestry models require the input of stand size class information, a variable with multiple definitions across forest inventories. This work describes a crosswalk between stand age class and stand size class for several forest type groups in Minnesota to facilitate consistency and availability of the latter information. Refinements to the crosswalk include ratio adjustments that redistribute the number of plots (or hectares) from one estimated size class to another, based on known crosswalk error rates. The results showed that 61.9% of all plots were correctly classified, and 95.5% were within one size class. Correct classifications for individual forest type/size class combinations ranged from 16.7–79.2%. Applying the crosswalk to a validation dataset produced percent errors from −46.4% to 49.4%, but with the ratio adjustment, errors dropped to −20.1% to 14.4%. These results suggest that the crosswalk and ratio adjustments provide a coarse, yet reasonable, substitute to using more complex stand size classification methodologies, particularly when forecasting future stand conditions.
Implementation of Exome Sequencing in Prenatal Diagnosis and Impact on Genetic Counseling: The Polish Experience
Authors: Kucińska-Chahwan Anna , Geremek Maciej , Roszkowski Tomasz , Bijok Julia , Massalska Diana , Ciebiera Michał , Correia Hildeberto , Pereira-Caetano Iris , Barreta Ana , Obersztyn Ewa , Kutkowska-Kaźmierczak Anna , Własienko Paweł , Krajewska-Walasek Małgorzata , Węgrzyn Piotr , Dudarewicz Lech , Krzeszowski Waldemar , Rybak-Krzyszkowska Magda , Nowakowska Beata
Published: April 2022

Background: Despite advances in routine prenatal cytogenetic testing, most anomalous fetuses remain without a genetic diagnosis. Exome sequencing (ES) is a molecular technique that identifies sequence variants across protein-coding regions and is now increasingly used in clinical practice. Fetal phenotypes differ from postnatal and, therefore, prenatal ES interpretation requires a large amount of data deriving from prenatal testing. The aim of our study was to present initial results of the implementation of ES to prenatal diagnosis in Polish patients and to discuss its possible clinical impact on genetic counseling. Methods: In this study we performed a retrospective review of all fetal samples referred to our laboratory for ES from cooperating centers between January 2017 and June 2021. Results: During the study period 122 fetuses were subjected to ES at our institution. There were 52 abnormal ES results: 31 in the group of fetuses with a single organ system anomaly and 21 in the group of fetuses with multisystem anomalies. The difference between groups was not statistically significant. There were 57 different pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants reported in 33 different genes. The most common were missense variants. In 17 cases the molecular diagnosis had an actual clinical impact on subsequent pregnancies or other family members. Conclusions: Exome sequencing increases the detection rate in fetuses with structural anomalies and improves genetic counseling for both the affected couple and their relatives.
A Machine Learning Approach to Parkinson’s Disease Blood Transcriptomics
Authors: Pantaleo Ester , Monaco Alfonso , Amoroso Nicola , Lombardi Angela , Bellantuono Loredana , Urso Daniele , Lo Giudice Claudio , Picardi Ernesto , Tafuri Benedetta , Nigro Salvatore , Pesole Graziano , Tangaro Sabina , Logroscino Giancarlo , Bellotti Roberto
Published: April 2022

The increased incidence and the significant health burden associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have stimulated substantial research efforts towards the identification of effective treatments and diagnostic procedures. Despite technological advancements, a cure is still not available and PD is often diagnosed a long time after onset when irreversible damage has already occurred. Blood transcriptomics represents a potentially disruptive technology for the early diagnosis of PD. We used transcriptome data from the PPMI study, a large cohort study with early PD subjects and age matched controls (HC), to perform the classification of PD vs. HC in around 550 samples. Using a nested feature selection procedure based on Random Forests and XGBoost we reached an AUC of 72% and found 493 candidate genes. We further discussed the importance of the selected genes through a functional analysis based on GOs and KEGG pathways.
Glucose-Related Traits and Risk of Migraine—A Potential Mechanism and Treatment Consideration
Authors: Islam Md Rafiqul , Nyholt Dale R.
Published: April 2022

Migraine and glucose-related (glycaemic) traits (fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and type 2 diabetes) are common and complex comorbid disorders that cause major economic and social burdens on patients and their families. Studies on the relationship between migraine and glucose-related traits have yielded inconsistent results. The purpose of this review is to synthesise and discuss the information from the available literature on the relationship between fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) with migraine. Publications on migraine and fasting glucose, migraine and fasting insulin, and migraine and T2D were identified from a PubMed and Google Scholar database search and reviewed for this article. Multiple publications have suggested that the comorbidity of migraine and glucose-related traits may have a similar complex pathogenic mechanism, including impaired glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance, reduced cerebrovascular reactivity, abnormal brain metabolism, shared genetic factors, neurotransmitters, and sex hormones. Furthermore, several studies have found a bi-directional link between migraine with insulin resistance and T2D. There is strong evidence for a biological association between migraine headache and glucose-related traits, and burgeoning evidence for shared genetic influences. Therefore, genetic research into these comorbid traits has the potential to identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets and provide biological insight into their relationships. We encourage healthcare professionals to consider the co-occurrence of migraine with glucose-related traits in the evaluation and treatment of their patients.
Age, Education, and Stress Affect Ageing Males’ Symptoms More than Lifestyle Does: The Wroclaw Male Study
Authors: Lopuszanska-Dawid Monika , Kołodziej Halina , Lipowicz Anna , Szklarska Alicja
Published: April 2022

An increasing number of subjects are affected by health problems related to the advanced involutional processes. It is extremely important to identify the determinants of the rate of occurrence of physiological, psychological, and social manifestations of aging. The aim was to determine how factors such as lifestyle, level of education, or severity of stressful life events indicate the appearance of aging symptoms in adult men. The material consisted of data of ethnically homogeneous group of 355 men (32–87 years), invited to the study as a part of the Wroclaw Male Study research project. The analyzed features included (1) socioeconomic status: age, educational level, marital status, and having children; (2) elements of lifestyle: alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking, and physical activity; (3) major and most important stressful life events—the Social Readjustment Rating Scale; (4) symptoms related to male aging—the Aging Males’ Symptoms. The backward stepwise regression models, the Kruskal–Wallis test, and multiple comparisons of mean ranks were used. Noncentrality parameter δ (delta), two-tailed critical values of the test, and test power with α = 0.05 were calculated. Among the analyzed variables, age was most strongly associated with the intensity of almost all groups of andropausal symptoms in men (p = 0.0001), followed by the level of education (p = 0.0001) and the intensity of stressful life events (p = 0.0108). Selected lifestyle elements turned out to be much less important (p > 0.01). Preventive actions aimed at slowing down the intensification of involutional processes, including teaching strategies for coping with stressful life events, should be implemented in groups of men with specific risk factors from an early age.
Oral Health Status in Marfan Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 353 Cases
Authors: Alam Mohammad Khursheed , Alfawzan Ahmed Ali , Shrivastava Deepti , Srivastava Kumar Chandan , Alswairki Haytham Jamil , Mussallam Samir , Abutayyem Huda , Ahmed Naseer
Published: April 2022

This meta-analysis aimed to compare Marfan syndrome (MFS) patients with non-MFS populations based on orofacial health status to combine publicly available scientific information while also improving the validity of primary study findings. A comprehensive search was performed in the following databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Medline, and Web of Science, for articles published between 1 January 2000 and 17 February 2022. PRISMA guidelines were followed to carry out this systematic review. We used the PECO system to classify people with MFS based on whether or not they had distinctive oral health characteristics compared to the non-MFS population. The following are some examples of how PECO is used: P denotes someone who has MFS; E stands for a medical or genetic assessment of MFS; C stands for people who do not have MFS; and O stands for the orofacial characteristics of MFS. Using the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale, independent reviewers assessed the articles’ methodological quality and extracted data. Four case-control studies were analyzed for meta-analysis. Due to the wide range of variability, we were only able to include data from at least three previous studies. There was a statistically significant difference in bleeding on probing and pocket depth between MFS and non-MFS subjects. MFS patients are more prone to periodontal tissue inflammation due to the activity of FBN1 and MMPs. Early orthodontic treatment is beneficial for the correction of a narrow upper jaw and a high palate, as well as a skeletal class II with retrognathism of the lower jaw and crowding of teeth.
Did Mindful People Do Better during the COVID-19 Pandemic? Mindfulness Is Associated with Well-Being and Compliance with Prophylactic Measures
Authors: Wen Xinyue , Rafaï Ismaël , Duchêne Sébastien , Willinger Marc
Published: April 2022

This paper investigates the relationship between mindfulness and well-being within the context of compliance with prophylactic measures in the time of COVID-19. We conducted a large-scale survey among a representative sample of the French population. We measured mindfulness, using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, and the extent to which respondents were impacted by COVID-19 in terms of their mood and quality of sleep, as well as how they complied with prophylactic measures. Our results suggest that more mindful individuals were less negatively impacted by COVID-19 with regard to their sleep and mood. Concerning the prophylactic measures, we obtained mixed results: more mindful participants were more likely to respect lockdowns, physical distancing and to cough in their sleeves, but did not wash their hands, wear masks or avoid touching their face more often than less mindful individuals.
Content and Validity of Claims Made about Food Parenting Practices in United Kingdom Online News Articles
Authors: Patel Chloe , Walasek Lukasz , Karasouli Eleni , Meyer Caroline
Published: April 2022

The objective of this study was to qualitatively summarise the content of online news articles pertaining to food parenting practices and determine whether this content is substantiated by the scientific literature. News article data were identified and collected from United Kingdom online news published during 2010–2017 period using the News on the Web corpus. A coding framework was used to categorise the content of news articles to identify information related to food parenting practices. Then, claims made about food parenting practices were extracted from relevant news articles. Each claim was evaluated to determine the extent to which any claims were supported by the available scientific research evidence. The study identified ten claims across thirty-two relevant online news articles. Claims made across the news articles reported on the following food parenting practices: food restrictions, food-based threats and bribes, pressure to eat, use of food to control negative emotions, food availability, food preparation, and meal and snack routines. Eight out of the ten claims identified did not refer to scientific research evidence. News articles frequently lacked detail and information to explain to readers why and how the use of certain food parenting practices could have a lasting impact on children’s health outcomes. Considering the influence that news media has on parents, the reporting of food parenting practices in news articles should aim to provide a balanced view of the published scientific evidence and recognise the difficulties and barriers that prevent the use of helpful and healthy food parenting practices. The study results in this paper could be used to aid and structure of the dissemination of food parenting practice research findings in the media, inform public health education to influence perceptions of unhelpful food parenting practices, and promote parental use of responsive food parenting practices.
A Solution for Loneliness in Rural Populations: The Effects of Osekkai Conferences during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ohta Ryuichi , Maiguma Koichi , Yata Akiko , Sano Chiaki
Published: April 2022

Social prescribing is an essential solution to the lack of social connection and interaction and provides a key approach to problems faced by communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. One social prescription used in Japan is the Osekkai conference, which has the potential to increase social participation in rural communities. The revitalization of Osekkai can improve social interactions among people involved in the conference, thereby reducing loneliness. This interventional study was conducted with people who participated in the Osekkai conference. The primary outcomes of the degree of loneliness were compared between 2021 and 2022 using the Japanese version of the three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. The demographic data and process outcomes of participants were measured using a questionnaire. The participants’ roles in the Osekkai conference increased between the two periods. Loneliness scores tended to decrease during the study period (4.25 to 4.05, p = 0.099). In the questionnaire on loneliness, the scores for item 2 decreased significantly during the study period (1.36 to 1.25, p = 0.038). In conclusion, this study shows that the continual provision of Osekkai conferences as a social prescription may reduce the degree of loneliness among participants with improved social participation in rural communities. Future studies should investigate comparative interventions to show the effectiveness of social prescription on loneliness in communities.
Shared Virtual Reality Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Gratifications and Effects of Engagement with Immersive Videos
Authors: Cheng Yang , Wang Yuan , Zhao Wen
Published: April 2022

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and recent economic recession have been impacting many people’s mental health. The experience of social distancing created new hardships for people who already reported symptoms of depression or anxiety. In these circumstances, new technologies, such as immersive virtual reality (VR) videos, could serve as useful tools for facilitating interactions, emotional sharing, and information processing within a virtual environment. In this study, researchers aimed to enrich the information processing literature by focusing on the uses and gratifications of 360-degree VR videos during the pandemic. Through employing survey research with 1422 participants located in the U.S. and structural equation modeling for data analysis, this study found that five types of gratification, including utilitarian (i.e., navigation), hedonic (i.e., enjoyment), sensual (i.e., realism), social (i.e., community), and symbolic (i.e., coolness), significantly motivated users to use such immersive videos. Simultaneously, data demonstrated that these five types of gratification could influence users’ cognitive engagement with virtual content. In addition, such VR engagement facilitated users’ positive attitudes toward immersive videos and continued usage of them. The findings provided practical implications for COVID-19 global recovery as well.
Driver’s Visual Attention Characteristics and Their Emotional Influencing Mechanism under Different Cognitive Tasks
Authors: Liu Yaqi , Wang Xiaoyuan , Chen Longfei , Liu Shijie , Han Junyan , Shi Huili , Zhong Fusheng
Published: April 2022

The visual attention system is the gateway to the human information processing system, and emotion is an important part of the human perceptual system. In this paper, the driver’s visual attention characteristics and the influences of typical driving emotions on those were explored through analyzing driver’s fixation time and identification accuracy to different visual cognitive tasks during driving. The results showed that: the increasing complexity of the cognitive object led to the improvement of visual identification speed. The memory and recall process increased drivers’ fixation time to cognitive objects, and the recall accuracy decreased with the increase in time interval. The increase in the number of cognitive objects resulted in the driver improving the visual identification speed for the cognitive object at the end of the sequence consciously. The results also showed that: the visual cognitive efficiency was improved in the emotional states of anger and contempt, and was decreased in the emotional states of surprise, fear, anxiety, helplessness and pleasure, and the emotional state of relief had no significant effect on the visual cognitive efficiency. The findings reveal the driver’s visual information processing mechanism to a certain extent, which are of great significance to understand the inner micro-psychology of driver’s cognition.
The Metabolic Profiles of Metabolically Healthy Obese and Metabolically Unhealthy Obese South African Adults over 10 Years
Authors: Kruger Herculina Salome , De Lange-Loots Zelda , Kruger Iolanthé Marike , Pieters Marlien
Published: April 2022

Obesity is associated with an increased cardiometabolic risk, but some individuals maintain metabolically healthy obesity (MHO). The aims were to follow a cohort of black South African adults over a period of 10 years to determine the proportion of the group that maintained MHO over 10 years, and to compare the metabolic profiles of the metabolically healthy and metabolically unhealthy groups after the follow-up period. The participants were South African men (n = 275) and women (n = 642) from the North West province. The prevalence of obesity and the metabolic syndrome increased significantly. About half of the metabolically healthy obese (MHO) adults maintained MHO over 10 years, while 46% of the women and 43% of men became metabolically unhealthy overweight/obese (MUO) at the end of the study. The metabolic profiles of these MHO adults were similar to those of the metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW) group in terms of most metabolic syndrome criteria, but they were more insulin resistant; their CRP, fibrinogen, and PAI-1act were higher and HDL-cholesterol was lower than the MHNW group. Although the metabolic profiles of the MUO group were less favourable than those of their counterparts, MHO is a transient state and is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk.
Interaction between Digital Economy and Environmental Pollution: New Evidence from a Spatial Perspective
Authors: Xu Sa , Yang Cunyi , Huang Zhehao , Failler Pierre
Published: April 2022

The digital economy and the green economy are two major issues for economic recovery in the post epidemic era. From spatial interaction spillover, we analyze and measure the relationships between the digital economy and environmental pollution in 287 prefecture-level cities in China from 2008 to 2018 using simultaneous spatial equations and the generalized 3-stage least square (GS3SLS) method. The results show that: (1) there is a reverse and complex spatio-temporal evolution of the digital economy and environmental pollution in Chinese cities. (2) There is a spatial interaction spillover effect between the digital economy and environmental pollution. Local digital economy and environmental pollution inhibit each other. The digital economy and environmental pollution have a significant spatial spillover. The digital economy of surrounding regions has a suppressive effect on local environmental pollution. The environmental pollution of surrounding cities has a crowding-out effect on the local digital economy. (3) Digital economy suppresses environmental pollution through the green development effect and innovative development effect; environmental pollution suppresses the digital economy through the talent crowding out effect and the policy tightening effect. The conclusion of this paper provides evidence for the coupling and coordinated development between the digital and green economy, which is of great significance for promoting the transformation of economic development modes and realizing green and high-quality development.
A Moderated Mediation Model of Perceived Effect of Fitspiration Images on Self: The Influence of Media Literacy and BMI
Authors: Ahadzadeh Ashraf Sadat , Wu Shin Ling , Ong Fon Sim , Deng Ruolan , Lee Kam-Fong
Published: April 2022

The present study investigated the relationship between internal locus of control and the perceived impact of Instagram fitspiration images on the self with media literacy as the mediating role in this relationship. This study also examined the importance of body mass index (BMI) as a moderating factor in the mediated model, where higher BMIs could weaken the relationship between internal locus of control and the perceived effect of fitspiration images mediated through media literacy. A sample of 321 Malaysian university students who were fitspiration viewers filled out a self-report questionnaire assessing internal locus of control, media literacy, perceived effect of fitspiration images on self, body satisfaction and BMI. The data analysis was performed using SPSS PROCESS macro. Results show that internal locus of control is negatively associated with the perceived impact of fitspiration images on self, mediated by media literacy. However, BMI moderates the mediated relationship such that the negative relationship between internal locus of control and the perceived effect of fitspiration images through media literacy does not exert an effect on those with high BMI. These results accentuate the value of incorporating a potential mediator and moderator into the direct relationship between internal locus of control and perceived effect of media ideals on self to provide an enhanced understanding of this process and offer practical insights about the protective role of media literacy and negative effects of high BMI.
The Relationship between Attitudes and Satisfaction Concerning the COVID-19 Vaccine and Vaccine Boosters in Urban Bangkok, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kunno Jadsada , Supawattanabodee Busaba , Sumanasrethakul Chavanant , Kaewchandee Chuthamat , Wanichnopparat Wachiraporn , Prasittichok Krit
Published: April 2022

Background: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a global concern. Many individuals are concerned about the potential side-effects of the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine boosters. The purpose of this study was to assess attitudes and satisfaction concerning COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine boosters in the population in Bangkok, Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey measuring COVID-19 vaccine attitudes and satisfaction was distributed from September to December 2021. Multiple linear regression was used to explore associations between demographic variables and questionnaire results. Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to examine associations between attitude and satisfaction scores. Results: A total of 780 questionnaire responses were obtained. The largest groups of participants reported having obtained a first vaccination dose via viral vaccine (52.8%), a second vaccination booster via viral vaccine (49.5%), and a third vaccination booster via mRNA vaccine (28.8%). Multiple linear regression revealed a lower association between vaccine attitude scores and having earned less than a bachelor’s degree (β −0.109; 95% CI −2.541, −0.451) and infection risk without self-isolating (β −0.154; 95% CI −4.152, −0.670) compared with attaining a bachelor’s degree or higher and never having being at risk of infection, respectively. Higher vaccine satisfaction scores were more closely associated with being married than being single (β 0.074; 95% CI −0.073, 3.022), whereas lower vaccine satisfaction scores were less closely associated with non-healthcare workers (β −0.143; 95% CI −4.698, −0.831) and infection risk without self-isolating (β −0.132; 95% CI −6.034, −0.502) compared with non-healthcare workers and never being at risk of infection. There was weak but significant positive correlation between attitude and satisfaction scores (r = 0.338, p-value < 0.001). Hence, a gradual decline in protection following vaccination and the positive effects of a booster dose after primary vaccination have made the decision to administer booster doses. Conclusion: The results suggest that policymakers need to develop more effective strategies to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination.
Functional Rescue of Inactivating Mutations of the Human Neurokinin 3 Receptor Using Pharmacological Chaperones
Authors: Anderson Ross C. , Hanyroup Sharika , Song Yong Bhum , Mohamed-Moosa Zulfiah , van den Bout Iman , Schwulst Alexis C. , Kaiser Ursula B. , Millar Robert P. , Newton Claire L.
Published: April 2022

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) facilitate the majority of signal transductions across cell membranes in humans, with numerous diseases attributed to inactivating GPCR mutations. Many of these mutations result in misfolding during nascent receptor synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), resulting in intracellular retention and degradation. Pharmacological chaperones (PCs) are cell-permeant small molecules that can interact with misfolded receptors in the ER and stabilise/rescue their folding to promote ER exit and trafficking to the cell membrane. The neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) plays a pivotal role in the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal reproductive axis. We sought to determine whether NK3R missense mutations result in a loss of cell surface receptor expression and, if so, whether a cell-permeant small molecule NK3R antagonist could be repurposed as a PC to restore function to these mutants. Quantitation of cell surface expression levels of seven mutant NK3Rs identified in hypogonadal patients indicated that five had severely impaired cell surface expression. A small molecule NK3R antagonist, M8, increased cell surface expression in four of these five and resulted in post-translational receptor processing in a manner analogous to the wild type. Importantly, there was a significant improvement in receptor activation in response to neurokinin B (NKB) for all four receptors following their rescue with M8. This demonstrates that M8 may have potential for therapeutic development in the treatment of hypogonadal patients harbouring NK3R mutations. The repurposing of existing small molecule GPCR modulators as PCs represents a novel and therapeutically viable option for the treatment of disorders attributed to mutations in GPCRs that cause intracellular retention.
Evolutionary Diversity and Function of Metacaspases in Plants: Similar to but Not Caspases
Authors: Huh Sung Un
Published: April 2022

Caspase is a well-studied metazoan protease involved in programmed cell death and immunity in animals. Obviously, homologues of caspases with evolutionarily similar sequences and functions should exist in plants, and yet, they do not exist in plants. Plants contain structural homologues of caspases called metacaspases, which differ from animal caspases in a rather distinct way. Metacaspases, a family of cysteine proteases, play critical roles in programmed cell death during plant development and defense responses. Plant metacaspases are further subdivided into types I, II, and III. In the type I Arabidopsis MCs, AtMC1 and AtMC2 have similar structures, but antagonistically regulate hypersensitive response cell death upon immune receptor activation. This regulatory action is similar to caspase-1 inhibition by caspase-12 in animals. However, so far very little is known about the biological function of the other plant metacaspases. From the increased availability of genomic data, the number of metacaspases in the genomes of various plant species varies from 1 in green algae to 15 in Glycine max. It is implied that the functions of plant metacaspases will vary due to these diverse evolutions. This review is presented to comparatively analyze the evolution and function of plant metacaspases compared to caspases.
Design of DNA Intercalators Based on 4-Carboranyl-1,8-Naphthalimides: Investigation of Their DNA-Binding Ability and Anticancer Activity
Authors: Rykowski Sebastian , Gurda-Woźna Dorota , Orlicka-Płocka Marta , Fedoruk-Wyszomirska Agnieszka , Giel-Pietraszuk Małgorzata , Wyszko Eliza , Kowalczyk Aleksandra , Stączek Paweł , Biniek-Antosiak Katarzyna , Rypniewski Wojciech , Olejniczak Agnieszka B.
Published: April 2022

In the present study, we continue our work related to the synthesis of 1,8-naphthalimide and carborane conjugates and the investigation of their anticancer activity and DNA-binding ability. For this purpose, a series of 4-carboranyl-1,8-naphthalimide derivatives, mitonafide, and pinafide analogs were synthesized using click chemistry, reductive amination, amidation, and Mitsunobu reactions. The calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA)-binding properties of the synthesized compounds were investigated by circular dichroism (CD), UV–vis spectroscopy, and thermal denaturation experiments. Conjugates 54–61 interacted very strongly with ct-DNA (∆Tm = 7.67–12.33 °C), suggesting their intercalation with DNA. They were also investigated for their in vitro effects on cytotoxicity, cell migration, cell death, cell cycle, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a HepG2 cancer cell line as well as inhibition of topoisomerase IIα activity (Topo II). The cytotoxicity of these eight conjugates was in the range of 3.12–30.87 µM, with the lowest IC50 value determined for compound 57. The analyses showed that most of the conjugates could induce cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase, inhibit cell migration, and promote apoptosis. Two conjugates, namely 60 and 61, induced ROS production, which was proven by the increased level of 2′-deoxy-8-oxoguanosine in DNA. They were specifically located in lysosomes, and because of their excellent fluorescent properties, they could be easily detected within the cells. They were also found to be weak Topo II inhibitors.
Glioblastoma Stem Cells—Useful Tools in the Battle against Cancer
Authors: Rodriguez Silvia Mara Baez , Staicu Georgiana-Adeline , Sevastre Ani-Simona , Baloi Carina , Ciubotaru Vasile , Dricu Anica , Tataranu Ligia Gabriela
Published: April 2022

Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) are cells with a self-renewal ability and capacity to initiate tumors upon serial transplantation that have been linked to tumor cell heterogeneity. Most standard treatments fail to completely eradicate GSCs, causing the recurrence of the disease. GSCs could represent one reason for the low efficacy of cancer therapy and for the short relapse time. Nonetheless, experimental data suggest that the presence of therapy-resistant GSCs could explain tumor recurrence. Therefore, to effectively target GSCs, a comprehensive understanding of their biology and the survival and developing mechanisms during treatment is mandatory. This review provides an overview of the molecular features, microenvironment, detection, and targeting strategies of GSCs, an essential information required for an efficient therapy. Despite the outstanding results in oncology, researchers are still developing novel strategies, of which one could be targeting the GSCs present in the hypoxic regions and invasive edge of the glioblastoma.
Toxic Effects of Glyphosate on the Nervous System: A Systematic Review
Authors: Costas-Ferreira Carmen , Durán Rafael , Faro Lilian R. F.
Published: April 2022

Glyphosate, a non-selective systemic biocide with broad-spectrum activity, is the most widely used herbicide in the world. It can persist in the environment for days or months, and its intensive and large-scale use can constitute a major environmental and health problem. In this systematic review, we investigate the current state of our knowledge related to the effects of this pesticide on the nervous system of various animal species and humans. The information provided indicates that exposure to glyphosate or its commercial formulations induces several neurotoxic effects. It has been shown that exposure to this pesticide during the early stages of life can seriously affect normal cell development by deregulating some of the signaling pathways involved in this process, leading to alterations in differentiation, neuronal growth, and myelination. Glyphosate also seems to exert a significant toxic effect on neurotransmission and to induce oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, processes that lead to neuronal death due to autophagy, necrosis, or apoptosis, as well as the appearance of behavioral and motor disorders. The doses of glyphosate that produce these neurotoxic effects vary widely but are lower than the limits set by regulatory agencies. Although there are important discrepancies between the analyzed findings, it is unequivocal that exposure to glyphosate produces important alterations in the structure and function of the nervous system of humans, rodents, fish, and invertebrates.
Spectroscopic Evaluation of the Potential Neurotoxic Effects of a New Candidate for Anti-Seizure Medication—TP-315 during Chronic Administration (In Vivo)
Authors: Krysa Mikolaj , Makuch-Kocka Anna , Susniak Katarzyna , Plech Tomasz , Andres-Mach Marta , Zagaja Mirosław , Sroka-Bartnicka Anna
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential neurotoxic effect of the new anti-seizure medication candidate—5-(3-chlorophenyl)-4-hexyl-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione (TP-315), after chronic administration to mice. TP-315 was administered to mice intraperitoneally for 14 days. At 24 h post the last injection, animals were decapitated, their brains were acquired, flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen and cut into 10 µm slices. The FT-IR chemical imaging technique was used for the investigation of the potential neurotoxic effect in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. The effect on the lipidomic and proteomic profile and on oxidative stress was investigated. The results showed no statistically significant changes in the above-mentioned parameters. TP-315 seems to pose no neurotoxic effect on the mouse brain after chronic use, therefore, its use should be safe.