bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linking Abusive Supervision to Promotive and Prohibitive Voice Behavior: Testing the Mediating Roles of Work Engagement and Negative Reciprocity
Authors: Wu Jialong , Du Yuechao
Published: May 2022

As an important type of extra-role behavior, employee voice behavior is of great significance to the sustainable development of organizations. Employee voice behavior has two different dimensions, namely promotive voice and prohibitive voice, both of which are conducive to decision making, innovation, and improvements to the work process. Among the antecedents of voice behavior, abusive supervision is one of the most essential influencing factors. In response to the call to further explore the antecedents and influencing mechanisms of different dimensions of voice behaviors, this study aims to investigate the different paths of abusive supervision on the two types of voice behavior. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory and social exchange theory, we identified an expanded array of mediators, including work engagement and negative reciprocity, which link abusive supervision to promotive voice behavior and prohibitive voice behavior separately. Data were collected through two-wave questionnaire surveys of 334 employees of 14 enterprises in China. The results show that (a) abusive supervision is negatively correlated with employees’ promotive and prohibitive voice behaviors; (b) work engagement mediates the negative relationship between abusive supervision and promotive voice; and negative reciprocity mediates the negative relationship between abusive supervision and prohibitive voice. These findings clearly reveal the influencing mechanisms of abusive supervision on both promotive and prohibitive voice behavior, which not only enriches relevant theoretical research but also provides feasible insights into how to reduce abusive supervision to motivate voice behavior in management practice.
Resilience at Work, Burnout, Secondary Trauma, and Compassion Satisfaction of Social Workers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ratzon Anva , Farhi Moshe , Ratzon Navah , Adini Bruria
Published: May 2022

Social workers during the COVID-19 pandemic are at risk due to exposure to varied populations in need, which may impact their resilience, burnout, secondary trauma, and compassion satisfaction. The study assessed resilience at work, burnout, secondary trauma, and compassion satisfaction among social workers in Israel during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (May to June 2020). A convenience sample of 332 social workers (291 women (87.6%)) filled out an online, structured questionnaire that included demographics, a professional quality of life scale (ProQOL) (including three subscales), and resilience at work (RAW) (including seven subscales). The overall mean of the RAW was medium (M = 71, SD ± 8.9) compared to standardized scores. The mean scores of two of the subscales of the RAW, maintaining perspective and staying healthy, were low. The mean scores of the sub-scales of ProQOL were: compassion satisfaction was close to the 50th percentile (M = 48.25); burnout (M = 30.18) and secondary trauma (M = 26.27) were below the 25th percentile. Significant low to medium positive associations were found between all the dependent variables, except for staying healthy. A negative association was identified between compassion satisfaction and burnout, as well as between compassion satisfaction and secondary trauma. High levels of compassion satisfaction and contentment, low levels of secondary trauma, and having a managerial position were predicted to be 40% of the RAW. Lower levels of maintaining perspective, secondary trauma, and being younger predicted 27% of burnout. Higher levels of finding your calling, living authentically, maintaining perspective, interacting cooperatively, being older, and not being a manager predicted 58% of compassion satisfaction. Lower levels of burnout, maintaining perspective, and being younger predicted 36% of secondary trauma. As the COVID-19 pandemic still challenges most societies, policymakers should consider ways to integrate mechanisms that will enhance social workers’ resilience at work.
Teasing and Internet Harassment among Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Envy and the Moderating Role of the Zhong-Yong Thinking Style
Authors: Wang Qiong , Tu Ruilin , Jiang Yihe , Hu Wei , Luo Xiao
Published: May 2022

Extant research studies have documented that teen victims of traditional bullying are more likely to be perpetrators of Internet harassment. Teasing is a typical form of verbal bullying, but, unfortunately, its link with Internet harassment perpetration has rarely been investigated to date. Therefore, this study constructed two moderated mediation models to explore the relation between weight-related/competency-related teasing (the two main types of teasing) and Internet harassment, and whether these associations are mediated by envy and moderated by the Zhong-Yong thinking style. A total of 1811 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 13.22 years, SD = 0.97) were investigated to examine the two models. The results clarified that: (1) weight-related/competency-related teasing was positively predictive of adolescent Internet harassment; (2) envy acted a partially mediating role in the associations between weight-related/competency-related teasing and Internet harassment; (3) the Zhong-Yong thinking style not only moderated the link between weight-related/competency-related teasing and envy, with the effect being more profound for a high-level Zhong-Yong thinking style possessed by adolescents, but also moderated the direct link between competency-related teasing and Internet harassment, with the relation being more potent when the level of Zhong-Yong thinking style was low. Nevertheless, the direct link between weight-related teasing and Internet harassment was not moderated by the Zhong-Yong thinking style. These findings are important to comprehend the psychological mechanisms linking weight-related/competency-related teasing to Internet harassment, and provide some enlightenment for preventing and intervening in adolescent Internet harassment perpetration.
Developing Forest Therapy Programmes Based on the Health Benefits of Terpenes in Dominant Tree Species in Tara National Park (Serbia)
Authors: Zorić Martina , Farkić Jelena , Kebert Marko , Mladenović Emina , Karaklić Dragić , Isailović Gorana , Orlović Saša
Published: May 2022

Numerous medical studies have shown the positive effects of forests on different aspects of human health. This study deals with the content of major terpenes in dominant coniferous species in Tara National Park, Serbia, in order to explore the potential for the development of a novel health tourism programme based on forest therapy. Main terpenes were analysed using a headspace-sampling technique coupled with gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (Head-space-GC/MS). Needles of fir and spruce growing in the vicinity of hiking trails were investigated for possibilities to perform such therapy. Major detected terpenes were α-cadinol and spathulenol previously described as antiviral, antitumor, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory agents. The results of the study were favourable and worked well with the existing walking infrastructure in the observed area of the Tara Mountain, as they act as invaluable resources for designing the structured forest bathing walks. The study not only adds to the knowledge in the environmental and public health realm but also to tourism and sustainability studies.
Investigation of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Listeria monocytogenes from 2010 through to 2021
Authors: Hanes Robert M. , Huang Zuyi
Published: May 2022

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious public health issue. Due to resistance to current antibiotics and a low rate of development of new classes of antimicrobials, AMR is a leading cause of death worldwide. Listeria monocytogenes is a deadly foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis for the immunocompromised, the elderly, and pregnant women. Unfortunately, antimicrobial resistance has been reported in L. monocytogenes. This study conducted the first comprehensive statistical analysis of L. monocytogenes isolate data from the National Pathogen Detection Isolate Browser (NPDIB) to identify the trends for AMR genes in L. monocytogenes. Principal component analysis was firstly used to project the multi-dimensional data into two dimensions. Hierarchical clustering was then used to identify the significant AMR genes found in L. monocytogenes samples and to assess changes during the period from 2010 through to 2021. Statistical analysis of the data identified fosX, lin, abc-f, and tet(M) as the four most common AMR genes found in L. monocytogenes. It was determined that there was no increase in AMR genes during the studied time period. It was also observed that the number of isolates decreased from 2016 to 2020. This study establishes a baseline for the ongoing monitoring of L. monocytogenes for AMR genes.
COVID-19 Lockdown in Israel: The Environmental Effect on Ultrafine Particle Content in the Airway
Authors: Fireman Klein Einat , Elimeleh Yotam , Adir Yochai , Majdoub Lana , Shteinberg Michal , Kessel Aharon
Published: May 2022

Inhaled ultrafine particle (UFP) content in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) was observed as an airway inflammatory marker and an indicator of exposure to particulate matter (PM). The exceptional decline in air pollution during the COVID-19 lockdown was an opportunity to evaluate the effect of environmental changes on UFP airway content. We collected EBC samples from 30 healthy subjects during the first lockdown due to COVID-19 in Israel (March–April 2020) and compared them to EBC samples retrieved during April–June 2016 from 25 other healthy subjects (controls) living in the same northern Israeli district. All participants underwent EBC collection and blood sampling. Ambient air pollutant levels were collected from the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection’s online database. Data were acquired from the monitoring station closest to each subject’s home address, and means were calculated for a duration of 1 month preceding EBC collection. UFP contents were measured in the EBC and blood samples by means of the NanoSight LM20 system. There was a dramatic reduction in NO, NO2, SO2, and O3 levels during lockdown compared to a similar period in 2016 (by 61%, 26%, 50%, and 45%, respectively). The specific NO2 levels were 8.3 ppb for the lockdown group and 11.2 ppb for the controls (p = 0.01). The lockdown group had higher UFP concentrations in EBC and lower UFP concentrations in serum compared to controls (0.58 × 108/mL and 4.3 × 108/mL vs. 0.43 × 108/mL and 6.7 × 108/mL, p = 0.05 and p = 0.03, respectively). In this observational study, reduced levels of air pollution during the COVID-19 lockdown were reflected in increased levels of UFP airway contents. The suggested mechanism is that low airway inflammation levels during lockdown resulted in a decreased UFP translocation to serum. Further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Spiritual Distress and Spiritual Needs of Chronically Ill Patients in Poland: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Klimasiński Maciej , Baum Ewa , Praczyk Joanna , Ziemkiewicz Monika , Springer Daria , Cofta Szczepan , Wieczorowska-Tobis Katarzyna
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Spiritual care is needed in a clinical setting to improve the patients’ quality of life. Deep connection with another person and delight with the beauty of nature or art and (in some cases) with God are all transcendental experiences. They may enable patients to ascribe meaning to their life with a chronic illness, find hope and well-being despite burdening symptoms. The opposite situation: lack of inner peace, inability to accept what is happening, feeling disconnected from others is called spiritual distress. Objectives: The aim of this research is to assess spiritual distress and spiritual needs of a group of Polish chronically ill patients and find associations with independent variables in order to provide data for recommendations on spiritual care in Poland. Patients and methods: 204 patients treated at the University Hospital and the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic in Poznan were surveyed in 2017 and 2018 with an original questionnaire. Results: Over half of the patients felt that their illness was life-threatening. A little more than half reported that faith was a resource to cope with suffering. Almost all patients showed signs of spiritual distress, and more than half expressed spiritual needs. The intensity of distress correlated only with the severity of the disease. The most important predictor of having spiritual needs was recognizing faith as a resource. Conclusions: Spiritual needs are associated with personal beliefs; however, spirituality spans beyond the religious context since spiritual distress is unrelated to the level of religious devotion. Therefore, any patient with a severe chronic disease needs basic spiritual care, which includes being treated with compassion.
OSAS Severity and Occlusal Parameters: A Prospective Study among Adult Subjects with Comorbidities
Authors: Luzzi Valeria , Altieri Federica , Di Carlo Gabriele , Guaragna Mariana , Pirro Valentina , Marasca Beatrice , Cotticelli Luisa , Mazur Marta , Di Giacomo Paola , Di Paolo Carlo , Brunori Marco , Piperno Gabriele , Magliulo Giuseppe , Martini Agnese , Pietrafesa Emma , Polimeni Antonella
Published: May 2022

Introduction: OSAS is an emerging public health problem. Early diagnosis in adults with comorbidities is the gold standard to avoid complications caused by a late diagnosis. The aim of the study, part of the SLeeP@SA project, was to identify within a population with dysmetabolic comorbidities the association of occlusal clinical signs, defined by orthodontic parameters, and of the anthropometric phenotype, with the severity of OSAS. Materials and Methods: A dedicated questionnaire containing questions regarding the presence of deep bite, augmented overjet, partial edentulism, and bruxism was completed by clinic staff. OSAS was evaluated using an unattended home PSG device, which recorded the AHI value. BMI and neck circumference were also measured. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was performed to evaluate the association of the AHI with occlusal clinical signs. The significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. The association of AHI with BMI and neck circumference was evaluated with the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: In total, 199 subjects were evaluated. No statistically significant association between occlusal parameters and AHI was found, while the AHI showed a positive correlation with BMI and neck circumference. The neck circumference seemed to be a better clinical predictor for OSAS severity than BMI, especially for females. Conclusions: These results highlight how the orthodontic clinical data alone are not sufficient to establish an association between occlusal anomalies and OSAS severity, but further investigation involving a specialist orthodontic diagnosis is necessary.
Financial Distress Prediction of Cooperative Financial Institutions—Evidence for Taiwan Credit Unions
Authors: Kang Chien-Min , Wang Ming-Chieh , Lin Lin
Published: May 2022

In response to relatively little evidence on the determinants of the financial distress in cooperative financial institutions (e.g., Credit Unions), this paper proposes a distress indicator of Merton Distance to default (Merton DD), which was constructed with a z-score, possessed improved predictive capability, but reducing equity volatility. This model possesses the advantages of both hazard and modified Merton DD model, which could timely reflect market volatility and predict when distress would occur. As a demonstration, we applied this model to forecast the financial distress of credit unions in Taiwan. The results can provide more information to researchers.
Mapping for Awareness of Indigenous Stories
Authors: Pyne Stephanie , Castron Melissa , Parish Annita , Farrell Peter , Johnston Shawn
Published: May 2022

Joseph Kerski has identified five converging global trends—geo-awareness, geo-enablement, geotechnologies, citizen science, and storytelling—which contribute to the increased relevance of geography for education and society. While these trends are discussed by Kerski in the context of the proliferating significance of geography in teaching and education, they also provide a useful lens for considering the increasing ubiquity of critical approaches to cartography both in general and in the context of teaching and education, where mapping can include participatory collaborations with individuals from a variety of knowledge communities and extend to the mapping of experiences, emotions, and Indigenous perspectives. In this paper, we consider these trends and related ideas such as Kerski’s “geoliteracy” and metaliteracy in light of some relatively current examples and in light of the evolution of research and teaching linked with a series of interrelated map-based projects and courses that take a multidimensional approach to teaching and learning about the Residential Schools Legacy in Canada.
An Integrated Graph Model for Spatial–Temporal Urban Crime Prediction Based on Attention Mechanism
Authors: Hou Miaomiao , Hu Xiaofeng , Cai Jitao , Han Xinge , Yuan Shuaiqi
Published: May 2022

Crime issues have been attracting widespread attention from citizens and managers of cities due to their unexpected and massive consequences. As an effective technique to prevent and control urban crimes, the data-driven spatial–temporal crime prediction can provide reasonable estimations associated with the crime hotspot. It thus contributes to the decision making of relevant departments under limited resources, as well as promotes civilized urban development. However, the deficient performance in the aspect of the daily spatial–temporal crime prediction at the urban-district-scale needs to be further resolved, which serves as a critical role in police resource allocation. In order to establish a practical and effective daily crime prediction framework at an urban police-district-scale, an “online” integrated graph model is proposed. A residual neural network (ResNet), graph convolutional network (GCN), and long short-term memory (LSTM) are integrated with an attention mechanism in the proposed model to extract and fuse the spatial–temporal features, topological graphs, and external features. Then, the “online” integrated graph model is validated by daily theft and assault data within 22 police districts in the city of Chicago, US from 1 January 2015 to 7 January 2020. Additionally, several widely used baseline models, including autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), ridge regression, support vector regression (SVR), random forest, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), LSTM, convolutional neural network (CNN), and Conv-LSTM models, are compared with the proposed model from a quantitative point of view by using the same dataset. The results show that the predicted spatial–temporal patterns by the proposed model are close to the observations. Moreover, the integrated graph model performs more accurately since it has lower average values of the mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) than the other eight models. Therefore, the proposed model has great potential in supporting the decision making for the police in the fields of patrolling and investigation, as well as resource allocation.
Molecular Regulation of Cotton Fiber Development: A Review
Authors: Jan Masood , Liu Zhixin , Guo Chenxi , Sun Xuwu
Published: May 2022

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is an economically important natural fiber crop. The quality of cotton fiber has a substantial effect on the quality of cotton textiles. The identification of cotton fiber development-related genes and exploration of their biological functions will not only enhance our understanding of the elongation and developmental mechanisms of cotton fibers but also provide insights that could aid the cultivation of new cotton varieties with improved fiber quality. Cotton fibers are single cells that have been differentiated from the ovule epidermis and serve as a model system for research on single-cell differentiation, growth, and fiber production. Genes and fiber formation mechanisms are examined in this review to shed new light on how important phytohormones, transcription factors, proteins, and genes linked to fiber development work together. Plant hormones, which occur in low quantities, play a critically important role in regulating cotton fiber development. Here, we review recent research that has greatly contributed to our understanding of the roles of different phytohormones in fiber development and regulation. We discuss the mechanisms by which phytohormones regulate the initiation and elongation of fiber cells in cotton, as well as the identification of genes involved in hormone biosynthetic and signaling pathways that regulate the initiation, elongation, and development of cotton fibers.
Therapeutics Targeting p53-MDM2 Interaction to Induce Cancer Cell Death
Authors: Koo Nayeong , Sharma Arun K. , Narayan Satya
Published: May 2022

Named as the guardian of the genome, p53 is a tumor suppressor that regulates cell function, often through many different mechanisms such as DNA repair, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, senescence, metabolism, and autophagy. One of the genes that p53 activates is MDM2, which forms a negative feedback loop since MDM2 induces the degradation of p53. When p53 activity is inhibited, damaged cells do not undergo cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. As 50% of human cancers inactivate p53 by mutation, current research focuses on reactivating p53 by developing drugs that target the p53-MDM2 interaction, which includes the binding of MDM2 and phosphorylation of p53. The objective of this article is to provide a short list and description of p53-MDM2 antagonists that may be excellent candidates for inducing cancer cell death. Relevant articles were searched for and identified using online databases such as PubMed and ScienceDirect. Increasing p53 levels, by targeting the p53-MDM2 interaction, can help p53 play its role as a tumor suppressor and induce cancer cell death. Researchers have identified different compounds that can act as inhibitors, either by directly binding to MDM2 or by modifying p53 with phosphorylation. The results associated with the drugs demonstrate the importance of targeting such interactions to inhibit cancer cell growth, which indicates that the use of the compounds may improve cancer therapeutics.
Effects of Salt Stress on Transcriptional and Physiological Responses in Barley Leaves with Contrasting Salt Tolerance
Authors: Nefissi Ouertani Rim , Arasappan Dhivya , Ruhlman Tracey A. , Ben Chikha Mariem , Abid Ghassen , Mejri Samiha , Ghorbel Abdelwahed , Jansen Robert K.
Published: May 2022

Salt stress negatively impacts crop production worldwide. Genetic diversity among barley (Hordeum vulgare) landraces adapted to adverse conditions should provide a valuable reservoir of tolerance genes for breeding programs. To identify molecular and biochemical differences between barley genotypes, transcriptomic and antioxidant enzyme profiles along with several morpho-physiological features were compared between salt-tolerant (Boulifa) and salt-sensitive (Testour) genotypes subjected to salt stress. Decreases in biomass, photosynthetic parameters, and relative water content were low in Boulifa compared to Testour. Boulifa had better antioxidant protection against salt stress than Testour, with greater antioxidant enzymes activities including catalase, superoxide dismutase, and guaiacol peroxidase. Transcriptome assembly for both genotypes revealed greater accumulation of differentially expressed transcripts in Testour compared to Boulifa, emphasizing the elevated transcriptional response in Testour following salt exposure. Various salt-responsive genes, including the antioxidant catalase 3, the osmoprotectant betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, and the transcription factors MYB20 and MYB41, were induced only in Boulifa. By contrast, several genes associated with photosystems I and II, and light receptor chlorophylls A and B, were more repressed in Testour. Co-expression network analysis identified specific gene modules correlating with differences in genotypes and morpho-physiological traits. Overall, salinity-induced differential transcript accumulation underlies the differential morpho-physiological response in both genotypes and could be important for breeding salt tolerance in barley.
Characterization of a Thermostable and Surfactant-Tolerant Chondroitinase B from a Marine Bacterium Microbulbifer sp. ALW1
Authors: Mou Mingjing , Hu Qingsong , Li Hebin , Long Liufei , Li Zhipeng , Du Xiping , Jiang Zedong , Ni Hui , Zhu Yanbing
Published: May 2022

Chondroitinase plays an important role in structural and functional studies of chondroitin sulfate (CS). In this study, a new member of chondroitinase B of PL6 family, namely ChSase B6, was cloned from marine bacterium Microbulbifer sp. ALW1 and subjected to enzymatic and structural characterization. The recombinant ChSase B6 showed optimum activity at 40 °C and pH 8.0, with enzyme kinetic parameters of Km and Vmax against chondroitin sulfate B (CSB) to be 7.85 µg/mL and 1.21 U/mg, respectively. ChSase B6 demonstrated thermostability under 60 °C for 2 h with about 50% residual activity and good pH stability under 4.0–10.0 for 1 h with above 60% residual activity. In addition, ChSase B6 displayed excellent stability against the surfactants including Tween-20, Tween-80, Trion X-100, and CTAB. The degradation products of ChSase B6-treated CSB exhibited improved antioxidant ability as a hydroxyl radical scavenger. Structural analysis and site-directed mutagenesis suggested that the conserved residues Lys248 and Arg269 were important for the activity of ChSase B6. Characterization, structure, and molecular dynamics simulation of ChSase B6 provided a guide for further tailoring for its industrial application for chondroitin sulfate bioresource development.
Camelid Single-Domain Antibodies: Promises and Challenges as Lifesaving Treatments
Authors: Arbabi-Ghahroudi Mehdi
Published: May 2022

Since the discovery of camelid heavy-chain antibodies in 1993, there has been tremendous excitement for these antibody domains (VHHs/sdAbs/nanobodies) as research tools, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Commercially, several patents were granted to pioneering research groups in Belgium and the Netherlands between 1996–2001. Ablynx was established in 2001 with the aim of exploring the therapeutic applications and development of nanobody drugs. Extensive efforts over two decades at Ablynx led to the first approved nanobody drug, caplacizumab (Cablivi) by the EMA and FDA (2018–2019) for the treatment of rare blood clotting disorders in adults with acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TPP). The relatively long development time between camelid sdAb discovery and their entry into the market reflects the novelty of the approach, together with intellectual property restrictions and freedom-to-operate issues. The approval of the first sdAb drug, together with the expiration of key patents, may open a new horizon for the emergence of camelid sdAbs as mainstream biotherapeutics in the years to come. It remains to be seen if nanobody-based drugs will be cheaper than traditional antibodies. In this review, I provide critical perspectives on camelid sdAbs and present the promises and challenges to their widespread adoption as diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
Stress-Induced Membraneless Organelles in Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes: Bird’s-Eye View
Authors: Fefilova Anna S. , Fonin Alexander V. , Vishnyakov Innokentii E. , Kuznetsova Irina M. , Turoverov Konstantin K.
Published: May 2022

Stress is an inevitable part of life. An organism is exposed to multiple stresses and overcomes their negative consequences throughout its entire existence. A correlation was established between life expectancy and resistance to stress, suggesting a relationship between aging and the ability to respond to external adverse effects as well as quickly restore the normal regulation of biological processes. To combat stress, cells developed multiple pro-survival mechanisms, one of them is the assembly of special stress-induced membraneless organelles (MLOs). MLOs are formations that do not possess a lipid membrane but rather form as a result of the “liquid–liquid” phase separation (LLPS) of biopolymers. Stress-responsive MLOs were found in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, they form as a reaction to the acute environmental conditions and are dismantled after its termination. These compartments function to prevent damage to the genetic and protein material of the cell during stress. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of stress-induced MLO-like structures in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
Urine-Derived Stem Cell-Secreted Klotho Plays a Crucial Role in the HK-2 Fibrosis Model by Inhibiting the TGF-β Signaling Pathway
Authors: Kim Sang-Heon , Jin Jeong-Ah , So Hyung Joon , Lee Sung Hoon , Kang Tae-Wook , Lee Jae-Ung , Choi Dae Eun , Jeong Jin Young , Chang Yoon-Kyung , Choi Hyunsu , Lee Youngjun , Seo Young-Kwon , Lee Hong-Ki
Published: May 2022

Renal fibrosis is an irreversible and progressive process that causes severe dysfunction in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The progression of CKD stages is highly associated with a gradual reduction in serum Klotho levels. We focused on Klotho protein as a key therapeutic factor against CKD. Urine-derived stem cells (UDSCs) have been identified as a novel stem cell source for kidney regeneration and CKD treatment because of their kidney tissue-specific origin. However, the relationship between UDSCs and Klotho in the kidneys is not yet known. In this study, we discovered that UDSCs were stem cells that expressed Klotho protein more strongly than other mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). UDSCs also suppressed fibrosis by inhibiting transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in HK-2 human renal proximal tubule cells in an in vitro model. Klotho siRNA silencing reduced the TGF-inhibiting ability of UDSCs. Here, we suggest an alternative cell source that can overcome the limitations of MSCs through the synergetic effect of the origin specificity of UDSCs and the anti-fibrotic effect of Klotho.
Lasers in Live Cell Microscopy
Authors: Schneckenburger Herbert
Published: May 2022

Due to their unique properties—coherent radiation, diffraction limited focusing, low spectral bandwidth and in many cases short light pulses—lasers play an increasing role in live cell microscopy. Lasers are indispensable tools in 3D microscopy, e.g., confocal, light sheet or total internal reflection microscopy, as well as in super-resolution microscopy using wide-field or confocal methods. Further techniques, e.g., spectral imaging or fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) often depend on the well-defined spectral or temporal properties of lasers. Furthermore, laser microbeams are used increasingly for optical tweezers or micromanipulation of cells. Three exemplary laser applications in live cell biology are outlined. They include fluorescence diagnosis, in particular in combination with Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), photodynamic therapy as well as laser-assisted optoporation, and demonstrate the potential of lasers in cell biology and—more generally—in biomedicine.
Variations in the Gene Expression Profile in Atherosclerotic Patients with Non-Fatal ACS: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Dziedzic Angela , Szelenberger Rafal , Kacprzak Michal , Czarny Piotr , Synowiec Ewelina , Saluk-Bijak Joanna , Sliwinski Tomasz , Zielinska Marzenna , Bijak Michal
Published: May 2022

The pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is related to interactions between immune cells, endothelium, and blood platelets. An increasing number of reports confirm the link between excessive immune activation and cellular cross-talk with ACS incidence. Our genetic and proteomic analysis was performed on strictly selected atherosclerotic patients with non-fatal ACS without typical risk factors and healthy donors. Results showed changes in the gene expression levels of the various inflammatory factors derived from the peripheral blood cells that drive the over-activation of the immune system. The enhanced activation of the immune system may lead to the overexpression of the pro-inflammatory mediators, which causes self-perpetuating machinery of processes associated with thrombosis. In our preliminary study, we confirmed an altered expression of genes associated with the inflammation and overall interaction of the vascular microenvironment. Furthermore, 5 of 92 analyzed genes, CCL2, CCR2, CSF2, GZMB, and ICOS, were expressed only in patients with ACS. In conclusion, the augmented expression of the pro-inflammatory genes from the peripheral blood cells may be a crucial genetic factor leading to the occurrence of acute inflammation and thus be significant in ACS pathogenesis.
Micro-RNAs in Response to Active Forms of Vitamin D3 in Human Leukemia and Lymphoma Cells
Authors: Gleba Justyna Joanna , Kłopotowska Dagmara , Banach Joanna , Mielko Karolina Anna , Turlej Eliza , Maciejewska Magdalena , Kutner Andrzej , Wietrzyk Joanna
Published: May 2022

Non-coding micro-RNA (miRNAs) regulate the protein expression responsible for cell growth and proliferation. miRNAs also play a role in a cancer cells’ response to drug treatment. Knowing that leukemia and lymphoma cells show different responses to active forms of vitamin D3, we decided to investigate the role of selected miRNA molecules and regulated proteins, analyzing if there is a correlation between the selected miRNAs and regulated proteins in response to two active forms of vitamin D3, calcitriol and tacalcitol. A total of nine human cell lines were analyzed: five leukemias: MV-4-1, Thp-1, HL-60, K562, and KG-1; and four lymphomas: Raji, Daudi, Jurkat, and U2932. We selected five miRNA molecules—miR-27b, miR-32, miR-125b, miR-181a, and miR-181b—and the proteins regulated by these molecules, namely, CYP24A1, Bak1, Bim, p21, p27, p53, and NF-kB. The results showed that the level of selected miRNAs correlates with the level of proteins, especially p27, Bak1, NFκB, and CYP24A1, and miR-27b and miR-125b could be responsible for the anticancer activity of active forms of vitamin D3 in human leukemia and lymphoma.
Ethyl Gallate Dual-Targeting PTPN6 and PPARγ Shows Anti-Diabetic and Anti-Obese Effects
Authors: Ahn Dohee , Kim Jinsoo , Nam Gibeom , Zhao Xiaodi , Kwon Jihee , Hwang Ji Young , Kim Jae Kwan , Yoon Sun-Young , Chung Sang J.
Published: May 2022

The emergence of the high correlation between type 2 diabetes and obesity with complicated conditions has led to the coinage of the term “diabesity”. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activators and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ) antagonists have shown therapeutic activity for diabesity, respectively. Hence, the discovery of compounds that activate AMPK as well as antagonize PPARγ may lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic agents for diabesity. In this study, the knockdown of PTPN6 activated AMPK and suppressed adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. By screening a library of 1033 natural products against PTPN6, we found ethyl gallate to be the most selective inhibitor of PTPN6 (Ki = 3.4 μM). Subsequent assay identified ethyl gallate as the best PPARγ antagonist (IC50 = 5.4 μM) among the hit compounds inhibiting PTPN6. Ethyl gallate upregulated glucose uptake and downregulated adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells as anticipated. These results strongly suggest that ethyl gallate, which targets both PTPN6 and PPARγ, is a potent therapeutic candidate to combat diabesity.
A New Generation of Lineage Tracing Dynamically Records Cell Fate Choices
Authors: Yao Mingze , Ren Tinglin , Pan Yuanqing , Xue Xiaoqing , Li Rong , Zhang Lei , Li Yuhang , Huang Ke
Published: May 2022

Reconstructing the development of lineage relationships and cell fate mapping has been a fundamental problem in biology. Using advanced molecular biology and single-cell RNA sequencing, we have profiled transcriptomes at the single-cell level and mapped cell fates during development. Recently, CRISPR/Cas9 barcode editing for large-scale lineage tracing has been used to reconstruct the pseudotime trajectory of cells and improve lineage tracing accuracy. This review presents the progress of the latest CbLT (CRISPR-based Lineage Tracing) and discusses the current limitations and potential technical pitfalls in their application and other emerging concepts.
Radiopharmaceuticals for PET and SPECT Imaging: A Literature Review over the Last Decade
Authors: Crișan George , Moldovean-Cioroianu Nastasia Sanda , Timaru Diana-Gabriela , Andrieș Gabriel , Căinap Călin , Chiș Vasile
Published: May 2022

Positron emission tomography (PET) uses radioactive tracers and enables the functional imaging of several metabolic processes, blood flow measurements, regional chemical composition, and/or chemical absorption. Depending on the targeted processes within the living organism, different tracers are used for various medical conditions, such as cancer, particular brain pathologies, cardiac events, and bone lesions, where the most commonly used tracers are radiolabeled with 18F (e.g., [18F]-FDG and NA [18F]). Oxygen-15 isotope is mostly involved in blood flow measurements, whereas a wide array of 11C-based compounds have also been developed for neuronal disorders according to the affected neuroreceptors, prostate cancer, and lung carcinomas. In contrast, the single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) technique uses gamma-emitting radioisotopes and can be used to diagnose strokes, seizures, bone illnesses, and infections by gauging the blood flow and radio distribution within tissues and organs. The radioisotopes typically used in SPECT imaging are iodine-123, technetium-99m, xenon-133, thallium-201, and indium-111. This systematic review article aims to clarify and disseminate the available scientific literature focused on PET/SPECT radiotracers and to provide an overview of the conducted research within the past decade, with an additional focus on the novel radiopharmaceuticals developed for medical imaging.
PPARs as Key Mediators in the Regulation of Metabolism and Inflammation
Authors: Vázquez-Carrera Manuel , Wahli Walter
Published: May 2022

Nuclear receptors (NRs) form a large family of ligand-dependent transcription factors that control the expression of a multitude of genes involved in diverse, vital biological processes [...]
Molecular Biology of Histamine System, Volume 1
Authors: Chazot Paul
Published: May 2022

Histamine is arguably the most pleiotropic transmitted in the human body [...]
Single-Walled Carbon Nanohorns as Boosting Surface for the Analysis of Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds by SALDI-MS
Authors: Roverso Marco , Seraglia Roberta , Dogra Raghav , Badocco Denis , Pettenuzzo Silvia , Cappellin Luca , Pastore Paolo , Bogialli Sara
Published: May 2022

Limits of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) in the study of small molecules are due to matrix-related interfering species in the low m/z range. Single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNH) were here evaluated as a specific surface for the rapid analysis of amino acids and lipids by Surface-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (SALDI). The method was optimized for detecting twenty amino acids, mainly present as cationized species, with the [M+K]+ response generally 2-time larger than the [M+Na]+ one. The [M+Na]+/[M+K]+ signals ratio was tentatively correlated with the molecular weight, dipole moment and binding affinity, to describe the amino acids’ coordination ability. The SWCNH-based surface was also tested for analyzing triglycerides in olive oil samples, showing promising results in determining the percentage composition of fatty acids without any sample treatment. Results indicated that SWCNH is a promising substrate for the SALDI-MS analysis of low molecular weight compounds with different polarities, enlarging the analytical platforms for MALDI applications.
When the Locus Coeruleus Speaks Up in Sleep: Recent Insights, Emerging Perspectives
Authors: Osorio-Forero Alejandro , Cherrad Najma , Banterle Lila , Fernandez Laura M. J. , Lüthi Anita
Published: May 2022

For decades, numerous seminal studies have built our understanding of the locus coeruleus (LC), the vertebrate brain’s principal noradrenergic system. Containing a numerically small but broadly efferent cell population, the LC provides brain-wide noradrenergic modulation that optimizes network function in the context of attentive and flexible interaction with the sensory environment. This review turns attention to the LC’s roles during sleep. We show that these roles go beyond down-scaled versions of the ones in wakefulness. Novel dynamic assessments of noradrenaline signaling and LC activity uncover a rich diversity of activity patterns that establish the LC as an integral portion of sleep regulation and function. The LC could be involved in beneficial functions for the sleeping brain, and even minute alterations in its functionality may prove quintessential in sleep disorders.
A Review of Toxicity Mechanism Studies of Electronic Cigarettes on Respiratory System
Authors: Wang Lilan , Wang Yao , Chen Jianwen , Liu Peiqing , Li Min
Published: May 2022

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have attracted much attention as a new substitute for conventional cigarettes. E-cigarettes are first exposed to the respiratory system after inhalation, and studies on the toxicity mechanisms of e-cigarettes have been reported. Current research shows that e-cigarette exposure may have potentially harmful effects on cells, animals, and humans, while the safety evaluation of the long-term effects of e-cigarette use is still unknown. Similar but not identical to conventional cigarettes, the toxicity mechanisms of e-cigarettes are mainly manifested in oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and DNA damage. This review will summarize the toxicity mechanisms and signal pathways of conventional cigarettes and e-cigarettes concerning the respiratory system, which could give researchers a better understanding and direction on the effects of e-cigarettes on our health.
Proteomic Analysis Reveals Differential Expression Profiles in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Cell Lines
Authors: Velázquez-Enríquez Juan Manuel , Ramírez-Hernández Alma Aurora , Navarro Luis Manuel Sánchez , Reyes-Avendaño Itayetzi , González-García Karina , Jiménez-Martínez Cristian , Castro-Sánchez Luis , Sánchez-Chino Xariss Miryam , Vásquez-Garzón Verónica Rocío , Baltiérrez-Hoyos Rafael
Published: May 2022

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, irreversible lung disorder of unknown cause. This disease is characterized by profibrotic activation of resident pulmonary fibroblasts resulting in aberrant deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. However, although much is known about the pathophysiology of IPF, the cellular and molecular processes that occur and allow aberrant fibroblast activation remain an unmet need. To explore the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) associated with aberrant activation of these fibroblasts, we used the IPF lung fibroblast cell lines LL97A (IPF-1) and LL29 (IPF-2), compared to the normal lung fibroblast cell line CCD19Lu (NL-1). Protein samples were quantified and identified using a label-free quantitative proteomic analysis approach by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). DEPs were identified after pairwise comparison, including all experimental groups. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Protein–Protein Interaction (PPI) network construction were used to interpret the proteomic data. Eighty proteins expressed exclusively in the IPF-1 and IPF-2 clusters were identified. In addition, 19 proteins were identified up-regulated in IPF-1 and 10 in IPF-2; 10 proteins were down-regulated in IPF-1 and 2 in IPF-2 when compared to the NL-1 proteome. Using the search tool for retrieval of interacting genes/proteins (STRING) software, a PPI network was constructed between the DEPs and the 80 proteins expressed exclusively in the IPF-2 and IPF-1 clusters, containing 115 nodes and 136 edges. The 10 hub proteins present in the IPP network were identified using the CytoHubba plugin of the Cytoscape software. GO and KEGG pathway analyses showed that the hub proteins were mainly related to cell adhesion, integrin binding, and hematopoietic cell lineage. Our results provide relevant information on DEPs present in IPF lung fibroblast cell lines when compared to the normal lung fibroblast cell line that could play a key role during IPF pathogenesis.
Acanthopanax senticosus Polysaccharide Enhances the Pathogen Resistance of Radiation-Damaged Caenorhabditis elegans through Intestinal p38 MAPK-SKN-1/ATF-7 Pathway and Stress Response
Authors: Liu Mengyao , Li Nana , Shan Shan , Shi Yudong , Zhu Yuanbing , Lu Weihong
Published: May 2022

With the advancement of science and technology, humans are chronically exposed to ionizing radiation. It is crucial to look for efficient and low-toxic anti-radiation agents. Through preliminary screening, we found that Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide (ASPS) played a major role in regulating immune damage caused by radiation. The objective of this study was to apply the Caenorhabditis elegans—P. aeruginosa (PA14) infection model to illuminate the mechanism of ASPS increasing the pathogen resistance of radiation-damaged nematodes. Results indicated that ASPS (1 mg/mL) significantly enhanced the pathogen resistance of radiation-damaged nematodes by directly elevating the immune response of nematodes rather than by affecting the bacterial activity. Through further research on the p38 MAPK signaling pathway and related mutants, we found that ASPS functioned by the p38 MAPK pathway in the intestine, and SKN-1, ATF-7 as the downstream targets of PMK-1 participated the regulation of ASPS. In addition, ASPS markedly alleviated the stress status of damaged nematodes by regulating oxidative stress. Collectively, our findings suggest that ASPS enhances the pathogen resistance of radiation-damaged nematodes through the intestinal p38MAPK-SKN-1/ATF-7 pathway and stress response.
Plasma Aldo-Keto Reductase Family 1 Member B10 as a Biomarker Performs Well in the Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis and Fibrosis
Authors: Park Aron , Choi Seung Joon , Park Sungjin , Kim Seong Min , Lee Hye Eun , Joo Minjae , Kim Kyoung Kon , Kim Doojin , Chung Dong Hae , Im Jae Been , Jung Jaehun , Shin Seung Kak , Oh Byung-Chul , Choi Cheolsoo , Nam Seungyoon , Lee Dae Ho
Published: May 2022

We found several blood biomarkers through computational secretome analyses, including aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10), which reflected the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). After confirming that hepatic AKR1B10 reflected the progression of NAFLD in a subgroup with NAFLD, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of plasma AKR1B10 and other biomarkers for the diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis in replication cohort. We enrolled healthy control subjects and patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD (n = 102) and evaluated the performance of various diagnostic markers. Plasma AKR1B10 performed well in the diagnosis of NASH with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.834 and a cutoff value of 1078.2 pg/mL, as well as advanced fibrosis (AUROC curve value of 0.914 and cutoff level 1078.2 pg/mL), with further improvement in combination with C3. When we monitored a subgroup of obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery (n = 35), plasma AKR1B10 decreased dramatically, and 40.0% of patients with NASH at baseline showed a decrease in plasma AKR1B10 levels to below the cutoff level after the surgery. In an independent validation study, we proved that plasma AKR1B10 was a specific biomarker of NAFLD progression across varying degrees of renal dysfunction. Despite perfect correlation between plasma and serum levels of AKR1B10 in paired sample analysis, its serum level was 1.4-fold higher than that in plasma. Plasma AKR1B10 alone and in combination with C3 could be a useful noninvasive biomarker for the diagnosis of NASH and hepatic fibrosis.