bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum) Supplementation on Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Does
Authors: Andoni Egon , Curone Giulio , Agradi Stella , Barbato Olimpia , Menchetti Laura , Vigo Daniele , Zelli Riccardo , Cotozzolo Elisa , Ceccarini Maria Rachele , Faustini Massimo , Quattrone Alda , Castrica Marta , Brecchia Gabriele
Published: June 2021

Goji berry shows a wide range of beneficial properties in human health, but only a few studies evaluated its effects in livestock animals. The objective of this research was to assess the effects of goji berry supplementation on the hormonal profile, productive, and reproductive performance of does. Two months before artificial insemination, 105 nulliparous does were randomly divided into three groups (n = 35) based on the dietary treatment: commercial diet (C), or a diet supplemented with either 1% (G1), or 3% (G3) of goji berry, respectively. The results showed that receptivity was higher in G1 than in the C group (p < 0.05). Trends toward significance for differences between the G1 and G3 groups in marginal means of LH concentrations (p = 0.059), and between G1 and C in LH AUC values (p = 0.078), were evidenced. Estrogen concentrations showed a more fluctuating trend but a significant interaction effect (p < 0.001). The G1 group showed higher litter weight than C at birth (p = 0.008) and weaning (p < 0.001), as well as higher litter size at weaning (p = 0.020). The G1 group also exhibited the highest mean milk production (p < 0.01). In conclusion, goji berry influenced reproductive and productive performance, probably via modulating hormonal patterns and milk production in rabbits. However, further studies are needed to validate these preliminary results.
Loss of WTAP Impairs Early Parthenogenetic Embryo Development
Authors: Hao Jindong , Huang Siyi , Wang Dongxu , Jin Yongxun , Zhang Mingjun , Zhang Jiabao , Yu Xianfeng
Published: June 2021

m6A is one of the most common and abundant modifications of RNA molecules present in eukaryotes. The methyltransferase complex, consisting of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), METTL14, and WTAP, is responsible for the m6A modification of RNA. WTAP was identified as an mRNA splicing regulator. Its role as a regulatory subunit of the m6A methyltransferase complex in embryonic development remains largely unknown. To investigate the role of WTAP in porcine early embryonic development, si-WTAP was microinjected into porcine parthenogenetic zygotes. WTAP knockdown significantly reduced the blastocyst rate and global m6A levels, but did not affect the cleavage rate. Betaine was supplemented into the in vitro culture (IVC) to increase the m6A levels. Betaine significantly increased the global m6A levels but did not affect the blastocyst rate. Furthermore, the pluripotency genes, including OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG, were downregulated following WTAP knockdown. The apoptotic genes BAX and CASPASE 3 were upregulated, while the anti-apoptotic gene BCL2 was downregulated in WTAP knockdown blastocysts. TUNEL staining revealed that the number of apoptotic cells was significantly increased following WTAP knockdown. Our study indicated that WTAP has an indispensable role in porcine early embryonic development.
Biomechanical–Structural Correlation of Chordae tendineae in Animal Models: A Pilot Study
Authors: Gach Justyn , Janus Izabela , Mackiewicz Agnieszka , Klekiel Tomasz , Noszczyk-Nowak Agnieszka
Published: June 2021

The mitral valve apparatus is a complex structure consisting of the mitral ring, valve leaflets, papillary muscles and Chordae tendineae (CT). The latter are mainly responsible for the mechanical functions of the valve. Our study included investigations of the biomechanical and structural properties of CT collected from canine and porcine hearts, as there are no studies about these properties of canine CT. We performed a static uniaxial tensile test on CT samples and a histopathological analysis in order to examine their microstructure. The results were analyzed to clarify whether the changes in mechanical persistence of Chordae tendineae are combined with the alterations in their structure. This study offers clinical insight for future research, allowing for an understanding of the process of Chordae tendineae rupture that happens during degenerative mitral valve disease—the most common heart disease in dogs.
Carcass Characteristics, Proximate Composition, Fatty Acid Profile, and Oxidative Stability of Pectoralis major and Flexor cruris medialis Muscle of Broiler Chicken Subjected to with or without Level of Electrical Stunning, Slaughter, and Subsequent Bleeding
Authors: Bostami A. B. M. Rubayet , Mun Hong-Seok , Dilawar Muhammad Ammar , Baek Kwang-Soo , Yang Chul-Ju
Published: June 2021

With an emphasis on the global meat market and considering the ritual requirements and quality aspects, four types of slaughtering treatments were compared: (1) NSHS (without electrical stunning, halal neck cut, and subsequent bleeding for 180 s), (2) LSHS (electrically stunned at 250 mA for five seconds, halal neck cut, and subsequent bleeding for 180 s), (3) MSHS (electrically stunned at 500 mA for 10 s, halal neck cut, and subsequent bleeding for 180 s), and (4) HSHS (electrically stunned at 1000 mA for 20 s, halal neck cut, and subsequent bleeding for 180 s). Four hundred 36 day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens (body weights of 1.4 to 1.8 kg) were divided into four random groups of 100 birds each (ten replicated pens of ten birds). This study examined the livability, bleeding out, Pectoralis major and Flexor cruris medialis proximate composition, cholesterol content, fatty acid profile and post-mortem pH, microbial loads, and oxidative stability. The livability and bleeding out were higher in NSHS and LSHS than MSHS and HSHS (p < 0.05). The Pectoralis major and Flexor cruris medialis proximate composition, cholesterol content and fatty acid profile, post-mortem pH, and microbial loads were unaffected by the slaughter treatments (p > 0.05), but the oxidative stability of Pectoralis major differed during the eight-day post-mortem period (p < 0.05). The results suggest that for capturing the global meat market, the meat industry can consider NSHS and LSHS because the ritual requirements are fulfilled, and there is no negative impact on the nutritional aspects.
High-Level Gene Flow Restricts Genetic Differentiation in Dairy Cattle Populations in Thailand: Insights from Large-Scale Mt D-Loop Sequencing
Authors: Ariyaraphong Nattakan , Laopichienpong Nararat , Singchat Worapong , Panthum Thitipong , Farhan Ahmad Syed , Jattawa Danai , Duengkae Prateep , Muangmai Narongrit , Suwanasopee Thanathip , Koonawootrittriron Skorn , Srikulnath Kornsorn
Published: June 2021

Domestication and artificial selection lead to the development of genetically divergent cattle breeds or hybrids that exhibit specific patterns of genetic diversity and population structure. Recently developed mitochondrial markers have allowed investigation of cattle diversity worldwide; however, an extensive study on the population-level genetic diversity and demography of dairy cattle in Thailand is still needed. Mitochondrial D-loop sequences were obtained from 179 individuals (hybrids of Bos taurus and B. indicus) sampled from nine different provinces. Fifty-one haplotypes, of which most were classified in haplogroup “I”, were found across all nine populations. All sampled populations showed severely reduced degrees of genetic differentiation, and low nucleotide diversity was observed in populations from central Thailand. Populations that originated from adjacent geographical areas tended to show high gene flow, as revealed by patterns of weak network structuring. Mismatch distribution analysis was suggestive of a stable population, with the recent occurrence of a slight expansion event. The results provide insights into the origins and the genetic relationships among local Thai cattle breeds and will be useful for guiding management of cattle breeding in Thailand.
Untargeted Metabolomics and Antioxidant Capacities of Muscadine Grape Genotypes during Berry Development
Authors: Darwish Ahmed G. , Das Protiva Rani , Ismail Ahmed , Gajjar Pranavkumar , Balasubramani Subramani Paranthaman , Sheikh Mehboob B. , Tsolova Violeta , Sherif Sherif M. , El-Sharkawy Islam
Published: June 2021

Three muscadine grape genotypes (Muscadinia rotundifolia (Michx.) Small) were evaluated for their metabolite profiling and antioxidant activities at different berry developmental stages. A total of 329 metabolites were identified using UPLC-TOF-MS analysis (Ultimate 3000LC combined with Q Exactive MS and screened with ESI-MS) in muscadine genotypes throughout different developmental stages. Untargeted metabolomics study revealed the dominant chemical groups as amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and phenolics. Principal component analysis indicated that developmental stages rather than genotypes could explain the variations among the metabolic profiles of muscadine berries. For instance, catechin, epicatechin-3-gallate, and gallic acid were more accumulated in ripening seeds (RIP-S). However, tartaric acid and malonic acid were more abundant during the fruit-set (FS) stage, and malic acid was more abundant in the veraison (V) stage. The variable importance in the projection (VIP > 0.5) in partial least-squares–discriminant analysis described 27 biomarker compounds, representing the muscadine berry metabolome profiles. A heatmap of Pearson’s correlation analysis between the 27 biomarker compounds and antioxidant activities was able to identify nine antioxidant determinants; among them, gallic acid, 4-acetamidobutanoic acid, trehalose, catechine, and epicatechin-3-gallate displayed the highest correlations with different types of antioxidant activities. For instance, DPPH and FRAP conferred a similar antioxidant activity pattern and were highly correlated with gallic acid and 4-acetamidobutanoic acid. This comprehensive study of the metabolomics and antioxidant activities of muscadine berries at different developmental stages is of great reference value for the plant, food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical sectors.
Comparison of Six Machine-Learning Methods for Predicting the Tensile Strength (Brazilian) of Evaporitic Rocks
Authors: Hassan Mohamed Yusuf , Arman Hasan
Published: June 2021

Rock tensile strength (TS) is an important parameter for the initial design of engineering applications. The Brazilian tensile strength (BTS) test is suggested by the International Society of Rock Mechanics and the American Society for Testing Materials and is widely used to assess the TS of rocks indirectly. Evaporitic rock blocks were collected from Al Ain city in the United Arab Emirates. Samples were tested, and a database of 48 samples was created. Although previous studies have applied different methods such as adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system and linear regression for BTS prediction, we are not aware of any study that employed regularization techniques, such as the Elastic Net, Ridge, and Lasso, and Keras based sequential neural network models. These techniques are powerful feature selection tools that can prevent overfitting to improve model performance and prediction accuracy. In this study, six algorithms, namely, the classical best subsets, three regularization techniques, and artificial neural networks with two application-programming interfaces (Keras on TensorFlow and Neural Net) were used to determine the best predictive model for the BTS. The models were compared through ten-fold cross-validation. The obtained results revealed that the model based on Keras on TensorFlow outperformed all the other considered models.
Integrated and Portable Probe Based on Functional Plastic Scintillator for Detection of Radioactive Cesium
Authors: Min Sujung , Kang Hara , Seo Bumkyung , Roh Changhyun , Hong Sangbum , Cheong Jaehak
Published: June 2021

The highly reliable and direct detection of radioactive cesium has gained potential interest due to in-situ detection and monitoring in environments. In this study, we elucidated an integrated and portable probe based on functional plastic scintillator for detection of radioactive cesium. A functional plastic scintillator with improved detection efficiency was fabricated including CdTe (cadmium telluride) material. Monolith-typed functional plastic scintillator having a diameter of 50 mm and a thickness of 30 mm was manufactured by adding 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO, 0.4 wt%), 1,4 di[2-(5phenyloxazolyl)]benzene (POPOP, 0.01 wt%), and CdTe (0.2 wt%) materials in a styrene-based matrix. To evaluate the applicability of the plastic scintillator manufactured to in-situ radiological measurement, an integrated plastic detection system was created, and the measurement experiment was performed using the Cs-137 radiation source. Additionally, detection efficiency was compared with a commercial plastic scintillator. As results, the efficiency and light yield of a functional plastic scintillator including CdTe were higher than a commercial plastic scintillator. Furthermore, the remarkable performance of the functional plastic scintillator was confirmed through comparative analysis with Monte Carlo simulation.
A Deep Belief Network Classification Approach for Automatic Diacritization of Arabic Text
Authors: Almanaseer Waref , Alshraideh Mohammad , Alkadi Omar
Published: June 2021

Deep learning has emerged as a new area of machine learning research. It is an approach that can learn features and hierarchical representation purely from data and has been successfully applied to several fields such as images, sounds, text and motion. The techniques developed from deep learning research have already been impacting the research on Natural Language Processing (NLP). Arabic diacritics are vital components of Arabic text that remove ambiguity from words and reinforce the meaning of the text. In this paper, a Deep Belief Network (DBN) is used as a diacritizer for Arabic text. DBN is an algorithm among deep learning that has recently proved to be very effective for a variety of machine learning problems. We evaluate the use of DBNs as classifiers in automatic Arabic text diacritization. The DBN was trained to individually classify each input letter with the corresponding diacritized version. Experiments were conducted using two benchmark datasets, the LDC ATB3 and Tashkeela. Our best settings achieve a DER and WER of 2.21% and 6.73%, receptively, on the ATB3 benchmark with an improvement of 26% over the best published results. On the Tashkeela benchmark, our system continues to achieve high accuracy with a DER of 1.79% and 14% improvement.
Use of Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) for Taphonomic Image Augmentation and Model Protocol for the Deep Learning Analysis of Bone Surface Modifications
Authors: Domínguez-Rodrigo Manuel , Fernández-Jaúregui Ander , Cifuentes-Alcobendas Gabriel , Baquedano Enrique
Published: June 2021

Deep learning models are based on a combination of neural network architectures, optimization parameters and activation functions. All of them provide exponential combinations whose computational fitness is difficult to pinpoint. The intricate resemblance of the microscopic features that are found in bone surface modifications make their differentiation challenging, and determining a baseline combination of optimizers and activation functions for modeling seems necessary for computational economy. Here, we experiment with combinations of the most resolutive activation functions (relu, swish, and mish) and the most efficient optimizers (stochastic gradient descent (SGD) and Adam) for bone surface modification analysis. We show that despite a wide variability of outcomes, a baseline of relu–SGD is advised for raw bone surface modification data. For imbalanced samples, augmented datasets generated through generative adversarial networks are implemented, resulting in balanced accuracy and an inherent bias regarding mark replication. In summary, although baseline procedures are advised, these do not prevent to overcome Wolpert’s “no free lunch” theorem and extend it beyond model architectures.
Review of Convective Heat Transfer Modelling in CFD Simulations of Fire-Driven Flows
Authors: Maragkos Georgios , Beji Tarek
Published: June 2021

Progress in fire safety science strongly relies on the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to simulate a wide range of scenarios, involving complex geometries, multiple length/time scales and multi-physics (e.g., turbulence, combustion, heat transfer, soot generation, solid pyrolysis, flame spread and liquid evaporation), that could not be studied easily with analytical solutions and zone models. It has been recently well recognised in the fire community that there is need for better modelling of the physics in the near-wall region of boundary layer combustion. Within this context, heat transfer modelling is an important aspect since the fuel gasification rate for solid pyrolysis and liquid evaporation is determined by a heat feedback mechanism that depends on both convection and radiation. The paper focuses on convection and reviews the most commonly used approaches for modelling convective heat transfer with CFD using Large Eddy Simulations (LES) in the context of fire-driven flows. The considered test cases include pool fires and turbulent wall fires. The main assumptions, advantages and disadvantages of each modelling approach are outlined. Finally, a selection of numerical results from the application of the different approaches in pool fire and flame spread cases, is presented in order to demonstrate the impact that convective heat transfer modelling can have in such scenarios.
The Design and Implementation of an Inertial GNSS Odometer Integrated Navigation System Based on a Federated Kalman Filter for High-Speed Railway Track Inspection
Authors: Zhang Xinchun , Cui Ximin , Huang Bo
Published: June 2021

The detection of track geometry parameters is essential for the safety of high-speed railway operation. To improve the accuracy and efficiency of the state detector of track geometry parameters, in this study we propose an inertial GNSS odometer integrated navigation system based on the federated Kalman, and a corresponding inertial track measurement system was also developed. This paper systematically introduces the construction process for the Kalman filter and data smoothing algorithm based on forward filtering and reverse smoothing. The engineering results show that the measurement accuracy of the track geometry parameters was better than 0.2 mm, and the detection speed was about 3 km/h. Thus, compared with the traditional Kalman filter method, the proposed design improved the measurement accuracy and met the requirements for the detection of geometric parameters of high-speed railway tracks.
Characterization of Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk-Associated SNPs and Identification of Novel Therapeutic Sites Using an In-Silico Approach
Authors: Akhtar Mehran , Ali Yasir , Islam Zia-ul , Arshad Maria , Rauf Mamoona , Ali Muhammad , Maodaa Saleh N. , Al-Farraj Saleh A. , El-Serehy Hamed A. , Jalil Fazal
Published: June 2021

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are reported to be associated with many diseases, including autoimmune diseases. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), about 152 SNPs are reported to account for ~15% of its heritability. These SNPs may result in the alteration of gene expression and may also affect the stability of mRNA, resulting in diseased protein. Therefore, in order to predict the underlying mechanism of these SNPs and identify novel therapeutic sites for the treatment of RA, several bioinformatics tools were used. The damaging effect of 23 non-synonymous SNPs on proteins using different tools suggested four SNPs, including rs2476601 in PTPN22, rs5029941 and rs2230926 in TNFAIP3, and rs34536443 in TYK2, to be the most damaging. In total, 42 of 76 RA-associated intronic SNPs were predicted to create or abolish potential splice sites. Moreover, the analysis of 11 RA-associated UTR SNPs indicated that only one SNP, rs1128334, located in 3′UTR of ETS1, caused functional pattern changes in BRD-BOX. For the identification of novel therapeutics sites to treat RA, extensive gene–gene interaction network interactive pathways were established, with the identification of 13 potential target sites for the development of RA drugs, including three novel target genes. The anticipated effect of these findings on RA pathogenesis may be further validated in both in vivo and in vitro studies.
Evaluation of Collagen Alterations in Early Precursor Lesions of High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer by Second Harmonic Generation Microscopy and Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Gant Kristal L. , Jambor Alexander N. , Li Zihui , Rentchler Eric C. , Weisman Paul , Li Lingjun , Patankar Manish S. , Campagnola Paul J.
Published: June 2021

Background: The collagen architecture in high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is highly remodeled compared to the normal ovary and the fallopian tubes (FT). We previously used Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) microscopy and machine learning to classify the changes in collagen fiber morphology occurring in serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) lesions that are concurrent with HGSOC. We now extend these studies to examine collagen remodeling in pure p53 signatures, STICs and normal regions in tissues that have no concurrent HGSOC. This is an important distinction as high-grade disease can result in distant collagen changes through a field effect mechanism. Methods: We trained a linear discriminant model based on SHG texture and image features as a classifier to discriminate the tissue groups. We additionally performed mass spectrometry analysis of normal and HGSOC tissues to associate the differential expression of collagen isoforms with collagen fiber morphology alterations. Results: We quantified the differences in the collagen architecture between normal tissue and the precursors with good classification accuracy. Through proteomic analysis, we identified the downregulation of single α-chains including those for Col I and III, where these results are consistent with our previous SHG-based supramolecular analyses. Conclusion: This work provides new insights into ECM remodeling in early ovarian cancer and suggests the combined use of SHG microscopy and mass spectrometry as a new diagnostic/prognostic approach.
Pharmacological Inhibition of CBP/p300 Blocks Estrogen Receptor Alpha (ERα) Function through Suppressing Enhancer H3K27 Acetylation in Luminal Breast Cancer
Authors: Waddell Aaron , Mahmud Iqbal , Ding Haocheng , Huo Zhiguang , Liao Daiqing
Published: June 2021

Estrogen receptor alpha (ER) is the oncogenic driver for ER+ breast cancer (BC). ER antagonists are the standard-of-care treatment for ER+ BC; however, primary and acquired resistance to these agents is common. CBP and p300 are critical ER co-activators and their acetyltransferase (KAT) domain and acetyl-lysine binding bromodomain (BD) represent tractable drug targets, but whether CBP/p300 inhibitors can effectively suppress ER signaling remains unclear. We report that the CBP/p300 KAT inhibitor A-485 and the BD inhibitor GNE-049 downregulate ER, attenuate estrogen-induced c-Myc and Cyclin D1 expression, and inhibit growth of ER+ BC cells through inducing senescence. Microarray and RNA-seq analysis demonstrates that A-485 or EP300 (encoding p300) knockdown globally inhibits expression of estrogen-regulated genes, confirming that ER inhibition is an on-target effect of A-485. Using ChIP-seq, we report that A-485 suppresses H3K27 acetylation in the enhancers of ER target genes (including MYC and CCND1) and this correlates with their decreased expression, providing a mechanism underlying how CBP/p300 inhibition downregulates ER gene network. Together, our results provide a preclinical proof-of-concept that CBP/p300 represent promising therapeutic targets in ER+ BC for inhibiting ER signaling.
8-Oxoguanine DNA Glycosylase (OGG1) Cys326 Variant: Increased Risk for Worse Outcome of Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer after Multimodal Therapy
Authors: Leu Martin , Riebeling Theresa , Dröge Leif Hendrik , Hubert Laura , Guhlich Manuel , Wolff Hendrik Andreas , Brockmöller Jürgen , Gaedcke Jochen , Rieken Stefan , Schirmer Markus Anton
Published: June 2021

Despite excellent loco-regional control by multimodal treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer, a substantial portion of patients succumb to this disease. As many treatment effects are mediated via reactive oxygen species (ROS), we evaluated the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ROS-related genes on clinical outcome. Based on the literature, eight SNPs in seven ROS-related genes were assayed. Eligible patients (n = 287) diagnosed with UICC stage II/III rectal cancer were treated multimodally starting with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (N-RCT) according to the clinical trial protocols of CAO/ARO/AIO-94, CAO/ARO/AIO-04, TransValid-A, and TransValid-B. The median follow-up was 64.4 months. The Ser326Cys polymorphism in the human OGG1 gene affected clinical outcome, in particular cancer-specific survival (CSS). This effect was comparable in extent to the ypN status, an already established strong prognosticator for patient outcome. Homozygous and heterozygous carriers of the Cys326 variant (n = 105) encountered a significantly worse CSS (p = 0.0004 according to the log-rank test, p = 0.01 upon multiple testing adjustment). Cox regression elicited a hazard ratio for CSS of 3.64 (95% confidence interval 1.70–7.78) for patients harboring the Cys326 allele. In a multivariable analysis, the effect of Cys326 on CSS was preserved. We propose the genetic polymorphism Ser326Cys as a promising biomarker for outcome in rectal cancer.
Nrf2/Keap1-Pathway Activation and Reduced Susceptibility to Chemotherapy Treatment by Acidification in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Cells
Authors: Storz Lucie , Walther Philipp , Chemnitzer Olga , Lyros Orestis , Niebisch Stefan , Mehdorn Matthias , Jansen-Winkeln Boris , Moulla Yusef , Büch Thomas , Gockel Ines , Thieme René
Published: June 2021

Chronic acid reflux causes cellular damage and inflammation in the lower esophagus. Due to these irritating insults, the squamous epithelium is replaced by metaplastic epithelium, which is a risk factor for the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). In this study, we investigated the acid susceptibility in a Barrett’s cell culture in vitro model, using six cell lines, derived from squamous epithelium (EPC1 and EPC2), metaplasia (CP-A), dysplasia (CP-B), and EAC (OE33 and OE19) cells. Cells exposed to acidic pH showed a decreased viability dependent on time, pH, and progression status in the Barrett’s sequence, with the highest acid susceptibility in the squamous epithelium (EPC1 and EPC2), and the lowest in EAC cells. Acid pulsing was accompanied with an activation of the Nrf2/Keap1- and the NFκB-pathway, resulting in an increased expression of HO1—independent of the cellular context. OE33 showed a decreased responsiveness towards 5-FU, when the cells were grown in acidic conditions (pH 6 and pH 5.5). Our findings suggest a strong damage of squamous epithelium by gastroesophageal reflux, while Barrett’s dysplasia and EAC cells apparently exert acid-protective features, which lead to a cellular resistance against acid reflux.
Tumor-Associated Trypsin Inhibitor (TATI) as a Biomarker of Poor Prognosis in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Irrespective of HPV Status
Authors: Sjöblom Anni , Stenman Ulf-Håkan , Hagström Jaana , Jouhi Lauri , Haglund Caj , Syrjänen Stina , Mattila Petri , Mäkitie Antti , Carpén Timo
Published: June 2021

Background: We studied the role of tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI) in serum and in tumor tissues among human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative OPSCC patients. Materials and methods: The study cohort included 90 OPSCC patients treated at the Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland, in 2012–2016. TATI serum concentrations (S-TATIs) were determined by an immunofluorometric assay. Immunostaining was used to assess tissue expression. HPV status was determined with a combination of p16 immunohistochemistry and HPV DNA PCR genotyping. The survival endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Results: A significant correlation was found between S-TATI positivity and poor OS (p < 0.001) and DSS (p = 0.04) in all patients. In HPV-negative cases, S-TATI positivity was linked to poor OS (p = 0.01) and DSS (p = 0.05). In HPV-positive disease, S-TATI positivity correlated with poor DSS (p = 0.01). S-TATI positivity was strongly associated with HPV negativity. TATI serum was negatively linked to a lower cancer stage. TATI expression in peritumoral lymphocytes was associated with favorable OS (p < 0.025) and HPV positivity. TATI expression in tumor and in peritumoral lymphocytes correlated with lower cancer stages. Conclusion: Our results suggest that S-TATI positivity may be a biomarker of poor prognosis in both HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPSCC.
Inflammation during Percutaneous Coronary Intervention—Prognostic Value, Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Tucker Bradley , Vaidya Kaivan , Cochran Blake J. , Patel Sanjay
Published: June 2021

Periprocedural myocardial injury and myocardial infarction (MI) are not infrequent complications of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and are associated with greater short- and long-term mortality. There is an abundance of preclinical and observational data demonstrating that high levels of pre-, intra- and post-procedural inflammation are associated with a higher incidence of periprocedural myonecrosis as well as future ischaemic events, heart failure hospitalisations and cardiac-related mortality. Beyond inflammation associated with the underlying coronary pathology, PCI itself elicits an acute inflammatory response. PCI-induced inflammation is driven by a combination of direct endothelial damage, liberation of intra-plaque proinflammatory debris and reperfusion injury. Therefore, anti-inflammatory medications, such as colchicine, may provide a novel means of improving PCI outcomes in both the short- and long-term. This review summarises periprocedural MI epidemiology and pathophysiology, evaluates the prognostic value of pre-, intra- and post-procedural inflammation, dissects the mechanisms involved in the acute inflammatory response to PCI and discusses the potential for periprocedural anti-inflammatory treatment.
Mental Health in Schoolchildren in Joint Physical Custody: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Hjern Anders , Urhoj Stine Kjaer , Fransson Emma , Bergström Malin
Published: June 2021

This study investigated mental health in schoolchildren in different living arrangements after parental separation. The study population included 31,519 children from the Danish National Birth Cohort, followed-up at age 11 in 2010–2014. Child mental health was measured with a maternal report of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Associations between living arrangements and mental health were analyzed using logistic and linear regression models, taking into account early childhood indicators of the parents’ relations, income, education and psychiatric care. At age 11, children living in a nuclear family had the lowest rate of total SDQ score, 8.9%. Of the children who had experienced parental separation, children in joint physical custody had the lowest adjusted odds ratio (OR)1.25 (95%-CI 1.09–1.44), for a high SDQ score relative to children living in a nuclear family, with adjusted ORs of 1.63 (1.42–1.86) and OR 1.72 (1.52–1.95) for sole physical custody arrangements with and without a new partner. An analysis of change in SDQ scores between ages 7 and 11 in children showed a similar pattern. This study indicates that joint physical custody is associated with slightly more favorable mental health in schoolchildren after parental separation than sole physical custody arrangements.
Inclusive Design in the Field of Education from the Paradigm of Early Intervention
Authors: Benítez-Lugo María-Luisa , Pinero-Pinto Elena , Leon-Larios Fatima , Medrano-Sánchez Esther María , de-la-Casa-Almeida Maria , Suarez-Serrano Carmen
Published: June 2021

Inclusive education and early intervention go hand in hand in the early educational stages to reach the maximum potential of the student body. The aim of this study was to analyze the inclusive profile of an educational center and assess the effectiveness of an inclusive task (designed for this study) in a group of students of early childhood education. This analytical, prospective, descriptive and longitudinal study was conducted from both qualitative and quantitative approaches. From the qualitative approach, an interview was carried out with early childhood education teachers. A total of nine participants were interviewed. Their mean age was 42.25 ± 9.30 years, with a mean experience of 14.25 ± 9.25 years. The quantitative part of the study was carried out with 97 students of early childhood education. After delivering a learning workshop about awareness of functional diversity, three variables were analyzed: story memory, demonstrated emotion, and game memory. The qualitative study indicates that it is necessary to develop coping strategies, such as including special education tasks in the classroom, prior to specific staff training and programming in specific aspects of awareness. Moreover, it is shown that the perception of treatment among peers is already present at this educational stage. The quantitative study reveals that the task was exciting and motivating for the students, which promotes learning and awareness.
Influence of TGFBR2, TGFB3, DNMT1, and DNMT3A Knockdowns on CTGF, TGFBR2, and DNMT3A in Neonatal and Adult Human Dermal Fibroblasts Cell Lines
Authors: Tomela Katarzyna , Karolak Justyna , Ginter-Matuszewska Barbara , Kabza Michal , Gajecka Marzena
Published: June 2021

Dermal fibroblasts are responsible for the production of the extracellular matrix that undergoes significant changes during the skin aging process. These changes are partially controlled by the TGF-β signaling, which regulates tissue homeostasis dependently on several genes, including CTGF and DNA methyltransferases. To investigate the potential differences in the regulation of the TGF-β signaling and related molecular pathways at distinct developmental stages, we silenced the expression of TGFB1, TGFB3, TGFBR2, CTGF, DNMT1, and DNMT3A in the neonatal (HDF-N) and adult (HDF-A) human dermal fibroblasts using the RNAi method. Through Western blot, we analyzed the effects of the knockdowns of these genes on the level of the CTGF, TGFBR2, and DNMT3A proteins in both cell lines. In the in vitro assays, we observed that CTGF level was decreased after knockdown of DNMT1 in HDF-N but not in HDF-A. Similarly, the level of DNMT3A was decreased only in HDF-N after silencing of TGFBR2, TGFB3, or DNMT1. TGFBR2 level was lower in HDF-N after knockdown of TGFB3, DNMT1, or DNMT3A, but it was higher in HDF-A after TGFB1 silencing. The reduction of TGFBR2 after silencing of DNMT3A and vice versa in neonatal cells only suggests the developmental stage-specific interactions between these two genes. However, additional studies are needed to explain the dependencies between analyzed proteins.
Molecular Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Ethiopian Chickpea Germplasm Accessions
Authors: Getahun Tsegaye , Tesfaye Kassahun , Fikre Asnake , Haileslassie Teklehaimanot , Chitikineni Annapurna , Thudi Mahendar , Varshney Rajeev K.
Published: June 2021

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a cheap source of protein and rich in minerals for people living in developing countries. In order to assess the existing molecular genetic diversity and determine population structures in selected Ethiopian chickpea germplasm accessions (118), a set of 46 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers equally distributed on the chickpea genome were genotyped. A total of 572 alleles were detected from 46 SSR markers, and the number of alleles per locus varied from 2 (ICCM0289) to 28 (TA22). The average number of alleles per locus, polymorphism information content, and expected heterozygosity were 12, 0.684, and 0.699, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the 118 chickpea genotypes from diverse sources into three evolutionary and/or biological groups (improved desi, improved kabuli, and landraces). The population structure analysis revealed six sub-populations from 118 chickpea genotypes studied. AMOVA revealed that 57%, 29%, and 14% of the total genetic variations were observed among individuals, within populations, and among populations. The insights into the genetic diversity at molecular levels in the Ethiopian germplasm lines can be used for designing conservation strategies as well as the diverse germplasm lines identified in this study can be used for trait dissection and trait improvement.
Targeted Swabbing of Implant-Associated Biofilm Formation—A Staining-Guided Sampling Approach for Optimizing Routine Microbiological Diagnostics
Authors: Redanz Sylvio , Enz Andreas , Podbielski Andreas , Warnke Philipp
Published: June 2021

Background: Swabbing of implants removed from potentially infected sites represents a time saving and ubiquitously applicable alternative to sonication approaches. The latter bears an elevated risk of processing related contaminations due to the high number of handling steps. Since biofilms are usually invisible to the naked eye, adequate swabbing relies on the chance of hitting the colonized area on the implant. A targeted directed swabbing approach could overcome this detriment. Method: Three dyes were tested at different concentrations for their toxicity on biofilm-associated cells of S. epidermidis, the species most frequently identified as a causative agent of implant-associated infections. Results: Malachite green (0.2%) delivered the highest bacterial recovery rates combined with the best results in biofilm visualization. Its suitability for diagnostic approaches was demonstrated for smooth and rough implant surfaces. Biofilm-covered areas were successfully visualized. Conclusion: Subsequent targeted swab-sampling resulted in a significantly increased bacterial recovery rate compared to a dye-free “random swabbing” diagnostic approach.
Imaging the Morphological Structure of Silk Fibroin Constructs through Fluorescence Energy Transfer and Confocal Microscopy
Authors: Bucciarelli Alessio , Quaranta Alberto , Maniglio Devid
Published: June 2021

Silk fibroin is a well-known biopolymer that is used in several applications in which interactions with biological tissue are required. Fibroin is extremely versatile and can be shaped to form several constructs that are useful in tissue engineering applications. Confocal imaging is usually performed to test cell behavior on a construct, and, in this context, the fibroin intrinsic fluorescence is regarded as a problem. In addition, the intrinsic fluorescence is not intense enough to provide useful morphological images. In fact, to study the construct’s morphology, other techniques are used (i.e., SEM and Micro-CT). In this work, we propose a method based on fluorescence energy transfer (FRET) to suppress the fibroin intrinsic fluorescence and move it to a higher wavelength that is accessible to confocal microscopy for direct imaging. This was done by creating two FRET couples by dispersing two fluorophores (2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) and Lumogen F Violet 570 (LV)) into the fibroin matrix and optimizing their percentages to suppress the fibroin intrinsic fluorescence. With the optimized composition, we produced an electrospun mat, and the dimensions of the fibers were accurately determined by confocal microscopy.
On the Role of LiF in Organic Optoelectronics
Authors: Turak Ayse
Published: June 2021

Organic optoelectronic device behaviour is heavily dependent on interfacial effects due to the device architecture and thickness. Interfaces between the inorganic electrodes and the active organic layers play a defining role in the all of the electronic and stability processes that occur in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic solar cells (OPVs). Amongst the many interlayers introduced at these interfaces to improve charge carrier movement and stability, LiF has proven to be the most successful and it is almost ubiquitous in all organic semiconductor devices. Implemented at both top and bottom contact interfaces, doped into the charge transporting layers, and used as encapsulants, LiF has played major roles in device performance and lifetime. This review highlights the use of LiF at both top and bottom contacts in organic optoelectronics, discusses the various mechanisms proposed for the utility of LiF at each interface, and explores its impact on device lifetimes. From examples relating to charge carrier flow, interfacial electronic level modification, and interfacial stability, a comprehensive picture of the role of LiF in organic devices can be formed. This review begins with a brief overview of the role of the interface in OLEDs and OPVs, and the general properties of LiF. Then, it discusses the implementation of LiF at the top contact electrode interface, followed by the bottom substrate contact electrode, examining both performance and degradation effects in both cases.
An Active and Passive Reputation Method for Secure Wideband Spectrum Sensing Based on Blockchain
Authors: Xie Xinyu , Hu Zhuhua , Chen Min , Zhao Yaochi , Bai Yong
Published: June 2021

Spectrum is a kind of non-reproducible scarce strategic resource. A secure wideband spectrum sensing technology provides the possibility for the next generation of ultra-dense, ultra-large-capacity communications to realize the shared utilization of spectrum resources. However, for the open collaborative sensing in cognitive radio networks, the collusion attacks of malicious users greatly affect the accuracy of the sensing results and the security of the entire network. To address this problem, this paper proposes a weighted fusion decision algorithm by using the blockchain technology. The proposed algorithm divides the single-node reputation into active reputation and passive reputation. Through the proposed token threshold concept, the active reputation is set to increase the malicious cost of the node; the passive reputation of the node is determined according to the historical data and recent performance of the blockchain. The final node weight is obtained by considering both kinds of reputation. The proposed scheme can build a trust-free platform for the cognitive radio collaborative networks. Compared with the traditional equal-gain combination algorithm and the centralized sensing algorithm based on the beta reputation system, the simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can obtain reliable sensing results with a lower number of assistants and sampling rate, and can effectively resist malicious users’ collusion attacks. Therefore, the security and the accuracy of cooperative spectrum sensing can be significantly improved in cognitive radio networks.
Homocysteine Thiolactone: Biology and Chemistry
Authors: Chubarov Alexey S.
Published: June 2021

Homocysteine thiolactone is a five-membered cyclic thioester of amino acid homocysteine. It is generated from homocysteine as a result of an error-editing reaction, principally, of methionyl-tRNA synthetase. An elevated level of homocysteine thiolactone is associated with cardiovascular diseases, strokes, atherosclerosis, neurological abnormalities, etc., presumably because it reacts to the side chain of protein lysine causing protein damage and autoimmune responses. It is not only an important metabolite but also a versatile building block for organic and bioorganic synthesis. This entry contains data on the homocysteine thiolactone formation, metabolism, toxicity mechanism in vivo, and the bioorganic chemistry applications as a powerful synthetic tool in polymer science, sustainable materials development, and probes.
The Effects of Endometriosis on Ovarian Functions
Authors: Kitajima Michio , Matsumoto Kanako , Kajimura Itsuki , Harada Ayumi , Miyashita Noriko , Matsumura Asako , Kitajima Yuriko , Miura Kiyonori
Published: June 2021

Infertility is a main manifestation of endometriosis, though the exact pathogenesis of endometriosis-associated infertility remains unclear. Compromised ovarian functions may be one of the causes of endometriosis related infertility. The ovarian function can be classified into three basic elements, (1) production of ovarian hormones, (2) maintenance of follicular development until ovulation, and (3) reservoir of dormant oocytes (ovarian reserve). The effects of endometriosis on ovarian hormone production and follicular development are inconclusive. Ovarian endometrioma is common phonotype of endometriosis. Development of endometrioma per se may affect ovarian reserve. Surgery for endometriomas further diminish ovarian reserve, especially women with bilateral involvement. Early intervention with surgery and/or medical treatment may be beneficial, though firm evidence is lacking. When surgery is chosen in women at reproductive age, specific techniques that spare ovarian function should be considered.
Excluding Large Wild Herbivores Reduced Norway Spruce Dominance and Supported Tree Species Richness in a Young, Naturally Regenerated Stand
Authors: Konôpka Bohdan , Šebeň Vladimír , Pajtík Jozef , Shipley Lisa A.
Published: June 2021

Large wild herbivores are important and natural components of forest ecosystems, but through their browsing activities have the potential to influence the structure and composition of forest communities, thus timber production and ecosystem dynamics. To examine the effects of browsing by wild herbivores on a young post-disturbance forest in the Kysuce region of northwestern Slovakia, we established two sets of 2 m radius plots, 15 within a fenced area (5.12 ha) that excluded large wild herbivores, and 15 within an adjacent unfenced area. In each plot, we recorded the species, tree height, stem base diameter, and mutual geographic positions of trees. When we compared tree community characteristics between the unfenced and fenced plots, we found fewer and smaller broadleaved tree species, except silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) in the unfenced plots. Although common rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) was the dominant species within fenced plots, where some individuals were over 6.0 m tall, this species was rare outside the fenced area and usually did not exceed 1.5 m. In contrast, Norway spruce (Picea abies Karts L.) was more abundant and taller within the unfenced area, likely released from competition by suppression of broadleaved trees by herbivores. In addition, fenced plots also showed twice the tree species richness (Shannon index) of unfenced ones. Despite changes in tree communities, total aboveground biomass stock was only slightly but significantly lower in the unfenced than the fenced plots (29.6 kg per 10 m2 vs. 33.5 kg per 10 m2). Our study suggested that browsing pressure by large wild herbivores that focused on most broadleaved trees weakened interspecies competition and allowed the expansion of Norway spruce. As a consequence, converting spruce monocultures to mixed species stands is likely unrealistic when faced with heavy browsing pressure by wild large herbivores.