bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Availability, Toxicology and Medical Significance of Antimony
Authors: Periferakis Argyrios , Caruntu Ana , Periferakis Aristodemos-Theodoros , Scheau Andreea-Elena , Badarau Ioana Anca , Caruntu Constantin , Scheau Cristian
Published: April 2022

Antimony has been known and used since ancient times, but its applications have increased significantly during the last two centuries. Aside from its few medical applications, it also has industrial applications, acting as a flame retardant and a catalyst. Geologically, native antimony is rare, and it is mostly found in sulfide ores. The main ore minerals of antimony are antimonite and jamesonite. The extensive mining and use of antimony have led to its introduction into the biosphere, where it can be hazardous, depending on its bioavailability and absorption. Detailed studies exist both from active and abandoned mining sites, and from urban settings, which document the environmental impact of antimony pollution and its impact on human physiology. Despite its evident and pronounced toxicity, it has also been used in some drugs, initially tartar emetics and subsequently antimonials. The latter are used to treat tropical diseases and their therapeutic potential for leishmaniasis means that they will not be soon phased out, despite the fact the antimonial resistance is beginning to be documented. The mechanisms by which antimony is introduced into human cells and subsequently excreted are still the subject of research; their elucidation will enable us to better understand antimony toxicity and, hopefully, to improve the nature and delivery method of antimonial drugs.
Geospatial Web Services Discovery through Semantic Annotation of WPS
Authors: Halilali Meriem Sabrine , Gouardères Eric , Gaio Mauro , Devin Florent
Published: April 2022

This paper presents an approach to GWS (GeospatialWeb Service) discovery through the semantic annotation of WPS (Web Processing Service) service descriptions. The rationale behind this work is that search engines that use appropriate semantic-based similarity measures in the matching process are more accurate in terms of precision and recall than those based on syntactic matching alone. The lack of semantics in the description of services using a standard such as WPS prevents the use of such a matching process and is considered a limitation of GWS discovery. The GWS discovery approach presented is based on the consideration of semantics in the service description method and in the matching process. The description of services is based on a semantic lightweight meta-model instantiated in the WPS 2.0 standard, extending the description of the service through metadata tags. The matching process is performed in three steps (functionality matching step, I/O (Input/Output) matching step and non-functional matching step). Its core is a semantic similarity measure that combines logical and non-logical matching methods. Finally, the paper presents the results of an experiment applying the proposed discovery approach on a GWS corpus, showing promising results and the added value of the three-step matching process.
The Memory Benefit to Aged APP/PS1 Mice from Long-Term Intranasal Treatment of Low-Dose THC
Authors: Fihurka Oksana , Hong Yuzhu , Yan Jiyu , Brown Breanna , Lin Xiaoyang , Shen Ning , Wang Yanhong , Zhao Haohan , Gordon Marcia N. , Morgan David , Zhou Qingyu , Chang Ping , Cao Chuanhai
Published: April 2022

THC has been used as a promising treatment approach for neurological disorders, but the highly psychoactive effects have largely warned off many scientists from pursuing it further. We conducted an intranasal treatment using low-dose THC on 12-month-old APP/PS1 mice daily for 3 months to overcome any potential psychoactive response induced by the systemic delivery. Our results demonstrate that the THC nasal treatment at 0.002 and 0.02 mg/kg significantly slowed the memory decline compared to that in the vehicle-treated transgenic mouse control group. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the Aβ1–40 and 1–42 peptides decreased in the THC-treated groups. The Western blot data indicate that long-term low-dose THC intranasal administration promoted p-tau level reduction and mitochondrial function marker redistribution. The blood biochemical parameter data demonstrate some insignificant changes in cytokine, immunoglobulin, and immune cell profiles during intranasal THC treatment. Intranasal delivery is a non-invasive and convenient method that rapidly targets therapeutics to the brain, minimizing systemic exposure to avoid unwanted adverse effects. Our study provides new insights into the role of low-dose THC intranasal treatment as a pharmacological strategy to counteract alterations in Alzheimer’s disease-related cognitive performance.
Low Power EEG Data Encoding for Brain Neurostimulation Implants
Authors: Fragkou Aikaterini , Kakarountas Athanasios , Kokkinos Vasileios
Published: April 2022

Neurostimulation devices applied for the treatment of epilepsy that collect, encode, temporarily store, and transfer electroencephalographic (EEG) signals recorded intracranially from epileptic patients, suffer from short battery life spans. The principal goal of this study is to implement strategies for low power consumption rates during the device’s smooth and uninterrupted operation as well as during data transmission. Our approach is organised in three basic levels. The first level regards the initial modelling and creation of the template for the following two stages. The second level regards the development of code for programming integrated circuits and simulation. The third and final stage regards the transmitter’s implementation at the evaluation level. In particular, more than one software and device are involved in this phase, in order to achieve realistic performance. Our research aims to evolve such technologies so that they can transmit wireless data with simultaneous energy efficiency.
Assessing the Impact of Insecticide Resistance on Vector Competence: A Review
Authors: Juache-Villagrana Alan E. , Pando-Robles Victoria , Garcia-Luna Selene M. , Ponce-Garcia Gustavo , Fernandez-Salas Ildefonso , Lopez-Monroy Beatriz , Rodriguez-Sanchez Iram P. , Flores Adriana E.
Published: April 2022

The primary strategy to avoid adverse impacts from insect-mediated pathogen transmission is the chemical control of vector populations through insecticides; its continued use has led to insecticide resistance and unknown consequences on vector competence. This review aims to systematically analyze and synthesize the research on the influence of insecticide resistance (IR) on vector competence (VC). Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria. Twenty studies, conducted either in laboratory or field settings, described the influence of phenotypic insecticide resistance and mechanisms on VC in vectors of human pathogens. Seven studies showed the effect of exposure to insecticides on VC in vectors of human pathogens. Three studies reported the influence of phenotypic resistance and mechanisms on VC in crop pests. The evidence shows that IR could enhance, impair, or have no direct effect on VC in either field or laboratory-designed studies. Similar positive and negative trends are found in pest vectors in crops and studies of insecticide exposure and VC. Even though there is evidence that exposure to insecticides and IR can enhance VC, thus increasing the risk of pathogen transmission, more investigations are needed to confirm the observed patterns and what implications these factors could have in vector control programs.
Characterization of Two Novel Insect-Specific Viruses Discovered in the Green Leafhopper, Cicadella viridis
Authors: Li Li-Li , Ye Zhuang-Xin , Chen Jian-Ping , Zhang Chuan-Xi , Huang Hai-Jian , Li Jun-Min
Published: April 2022

Insect-specific viruses (ISV) are one of the most promising agents for the biological control of insects. The green leafhopper, Cicadella viridis (Linnaeus), is an significant pest in agriculture, and causes economic losses to fruit trees, willows, and field crops. As a representative species of the large family Cicadellidae, ISVs in C. viridis have never been studied, to date. In this study, the full genome sequences of two ISVs, named Cicadella viridis iflavirus1 (CvIfV1), and Cicadella viridis nido-like virus 1 (CvNiLV1), were revealed using a metatranscriptomic approach. A homology search and phylogenetic analysis indicated that CvIfV1 is a new member in the family Iflaviridae (genus Iflavirus) with a typical iflavirus genome organization, whereas CvNiLV1 belongs to the unclassified clade/family of the order Nidovirales. In addition, analysis of virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) was performed to investigate the antiviral RNA interference (RNAi) response of C. viridis. The vsiRNAs exhibit typical patterns produced by host siRNA-mediated antiviral immunity, including a preference of 21-nt vsiRNAs derived equally from the sense and antisense genomic strands, and a strong A/U bias in the 5′-terminus of the viral genomes. Our study provides valuable information for ISVs in leafhoppers for the first time, which might prove useful in the control of C. viridis in future.
Improving Widescale Monitoring of Ectoparasite Presence in Northern Canadian Wildlife with the Aid of Citizen Science
Authors: Chenery Emily S. , Henaff Maud , Magnusson Kristenn , Harms N. Jane , Mandrak Nicholas E. , Molnár Péter K.
Published: April 2022

Sampling hides from harvested animals is commonly used for passive monitoring of ectoparasites on wildlife hosts, but often relies heavily on community engagement to obtain spatially and temporally consistent samples. Surveillance of winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) on moose (Alces alces) and caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) hosts in Yukon, Canada, has relied in part on voluntary submission of hides by hunters since 2011, but few samples were submitted. To enhance sampling efforts on underrepresented moose and caribou hosts, we implemented a three-year citizen science program, the Yukon Winter Tick Monitoring Project (YWTMP), to better engage with hunters in hide sample collection. A combination of in-person and social media outreach, incentivized engagement, and standardized hide sampling kits increased voluntary submissions of moose and caribou hides almost 100-fold since surveillance began. Citizen science samples expanded the northernmost geographic extent of existing sampling efforts for moose by 480 km and for caribou by 650 km to reach 67.5° N latitude. Samples also resulted in new detections of winter ticks on moose hides that are spatially separate to those submitted for other cervids in Yukon. Findings from the YWTMP have provided an essential baseline to monitor future winter tick host–parasite dynamics in the region and highlighted priority areas for ongoing tick surveillance.
Concomitant Hepatectomy and Atrial Thrombectomy under Cardiopulmonary Bypass versus Staged Hepatectomy in the Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Large Right Atrial Tumor Thrombi
Authors: Chao Wen-Shan , Shen Ching-Hui , Luo Shao-Ciao , Wu Feng-Hsu , Wei Hao-Ji , Yu Chu-Leng , Wu Cheng-Chung , Yen Yun , P’eng Fang-Ku
Published: April 2022

(1) Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a large right atrium tumor thrombus (RATT) is a rare and critical presentation. Emergency hepatectomy and thrombectomy under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is life-saving and potentially curative. The aim of this study is to propose an appropriate approach for this condition. (2) Methods: In period A (1998 to 2010, n = 7), hepatectomy and thrombectomy were concomitantly performed, and staged hepatectomy was performed in period B (2011 to 2018, n = 17). (3) Results: The median overall survival time (MOST) in the published studies was 14 months. Moreover, the blood loss, blood transfusion rate, length of ICU stays, and hospital costs were significantly reduced in period B. The MOSTs of patients in period A (n = 6) and period B (n = 17) were 14 vs. 18 months (p = 0.099). The median disease-free survival times (MDFTs) in period A (n = 6) and period B (n = 15) were 8 vs. 14 months (p = 0.073), while the MOSTs in period A and period B were 14 vs. 24 months (p = 0.040). (4) Conclusions: Emergency thrombectomy under CPB and staged hepatectomy 4–6 weeks later may be an appropriate approach for HCC with large RATT. However, the optimal waiting interval requires further investigation.
Variability of Care and Access to Transplantation for Children with Biliary Atresia Who Need a Liver Replacement
Authors: de Ville de Goyet Jean , Illhardt Toni , Chardot Christophe , Dike Peace N. , Baumann Ulrich , Brandt Katherine , Wildhaber Barbara E. , Pakarinen Mikko , di Francesco Fabrizio , Sturm Ekkehard , Cornet Marianna , Lemoine Caroline , Pfister Eva Doreen , Calinescu Ana M. , Hukkinen Maria , Harpavat Sanjiv , Tuzzolino Fabio , Superina Riccardo
Published: April 2022

Background & Aims: Biliary atresia (BA) is the commonest single etiology indication for liver replacement in children. As timely access to liver transplantation (LT) remains challenging for small BA children (with prolonged waiting time being associated with clinical deterioration leading to both preventable pre- and post-transplant morbidity and mortality), the care pathway of BA children in need of LT was analyzed—from diagnosis to LT—with particular attention to referral patterns, timing of referral, waiting list dynamics and need for medical assistance before LT. Methods: International multicentric retrospective study. Intent-to-transplant study analyzing BA children who had indication for LT early in life (aged < 3 years at the time of assessment), over the last 5 years (2016–2020). Clinical and laboratory data of 219 BA children were collected from 8 transplant centers (6 in Europe and 2 in USA). Results: 39 patients underwent primary transplants. Children who underwent Kasai in a specialist -but not transplant- center were older at time of referral and at transplant. At assessment for LT, the vast majority of children already were experiencing complication of cirrhosis, and the majority of children needed medical assistance (nutritional support, hospitalization, transfusion of albumin or blood) while waiting for transplantation. Severe worsening of the clinical condition led to the need for requesting a priority status (i.e., Peld Score exception or similar) for timely graft allocation for 76 children, overall (35%). Conclusions: As LT currently results in BA patient survival exceeding 95% in many expert LT centers, the paradigm for BA management optimization and survival have currently shifted to the pre-LT management. The creation of networks dedicated to the timely referral to a pediatric transplant center and possibly centralization of care should be considered, in combination with implementing all different graft type surgeries in specialist centers (including split and living donor LTs) to achieve timely LT in this vulnerable population.
Identification of Potentially Pathogenic Variants Associated with Recurrence in Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ) Patients Using Whole-Exome Sequencing
Authors: Kim Songmi , Mun Seyoung , Shin Wonseok , Han Kyudong , Kim Moon-Young
Published: April 2022

Background: Bisphosphonates are antiresorptive and antiangiogenic drugs that prevent and treat bone loss and mineralization in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis and cancer patients. Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is commonly caused by tooth extraction and dental trauma. Although genetic and pathological studies about MRONJ have been conducted, the pathogenesis of MRONJ still remains unclear. Methods: We aimed to identify genetic variants associated with MRONJ, using whole-exome sequencing (WES). Ten MRONJ patients prescribed bisphosphonates were recruited for WES, and jawbone tissue and blood samples were collected from the patients. Results: The analysis of the WES data found a total of 1866 SNP and 40 InDel variants which are specific to MRONJ. The functional classification assay using Gene Ontology and pathway analysis discovered that genes bearing the MRONJ variants are significantly enriched for keratinization and calcium ion transport. Some of the variants are potential pathogenic variants (24 missense mutations and seven frameshift mutations) with MAF < 0.01. Conclusions: The variants are located in eight different genes (KRT18, MUC5AC, NBPF9, PABPC3, MST1L, ASPN, ATN1, and SLAIN1). Nine deleterious SNPs significantly associated with MRONJ were found in the KRT18 and PABPC3 genes. It suggests that KRT18 and PABPC3 could be MRONJ-related key genes.
Benefits from Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation
Authors: Starosta Michał , Cichoń Natalia , Saluk-Bijak Joanna , Miller Elżbieta
Published: April 2022

Stroke is an acute neurovascular central nervous system (CNS) injury and one of the main causes of long-term disability and mortality. Post-stroke rehabilitation as part of recovery is focused on relearning lost skills and regaining independence as much as possible. Many novel strategies in neurorehabilitation have been introduced. This review focuses on current evidence of the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS), in post-stroke rehabilitation. Moreover, we present the effects of specific interventions, such as low-frequency or high-frequency rTMS therapy, on motor function, cognitive function, depression, and aphasia in post-stroke patients. Collected data suggest that high-frequency stimulation (5 Hz and beyond) produces an increase in cortical excitability, whereas low-frequency stimulation (≤1 Hz) decreases cortical excitability. Accumulated data suggest that rTMS is safe and can be used to modulate cortical excitability, which may improve overall performance. Side effects such as tingling sensation on the skin of the skull or headache are possible. Serious side effects such as epileptic seizures can be avoided by adhering to international safety guidelines. We reviewed clinical studies that present promising results in general recovery and stimulating neuroplasticity. This article is an overview of the current rTMS state of knowledge related to benefits in stroke, as well as its cellular and molecular mechanisms. In the stroke rehabilitation literature, there is a key methodological problem of creating double-blinding studies, which are very often impossible to conduct.
Biomechanical Effects of Plastic Heel Cup on Plantar Fasciitis Patients Evaluated by Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography
Authors: Lin Che-Yu , Chen Pei-Yu , Wu Shin-Han , Shau Yio-Wha , Wang Chung-Li
Published: April 2022

The plastic heel cup has been adopted to treat plantar heel problems for years. However, its mechanisms and biomechanical effects are yet to be fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the plastic heel cup on the microchamber and macrochamber layers of the heel pad by comparing the stiffness (in terms of the shear wave speed) and thickness of these two layers with and without a plastic heel cup during static standing. Fifteen patients with unilateral plantar fasciitis were recruited. The shear wave speed and thickness of the microchamber and microchamber layers of each symptomatic heel pad during standing measured by ultrasound shear wave elastography were compared between conditions with and without a plastic heel cup. It was found that a plastic heel cup reduced the shear wave speed of the microchamber layer to 55.5% and increased its thickness to 137.5% compared with the condition without a plastic heel cup. For the microchamber layer, the shear wave speed was reduced to 89.7%, and thickness was increased to 113.6% compared with the condition without a plastic heel cup. The findings demonstrate that a plastic heel cup can help to reduce the stiffness and increase the thickness for both layers of the heel pad during standing, suggesting that the mechanism of a plastic heel cup, and its resulting biomechanical effect, is to reduce the internal stress of the heel pad by increasing its thickness through confinement.
The Feasibility and Safety of Temporary Transcatheter Balloon Occlusion of Bilateral Internal Iliac Arteries during Cesarean Section in a Hybrid Operating Room for Placenta Previa with a High Risk of Massive Hemorrhage
Authors: Bae Jin-Gon , Kim Young Hwan , Kim Jin Young , Lee Mu Sook
Published: April 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of temporary transcatheter balloon occlusion of bilateral internal iliac arteries (TBOIIA) during cesarean section in a hybrid operating room (OR) for placenta previa (PP) with a high risk of massive hemorrhage. This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of 62 patients experiencing PP with a high risk of massive hemorrhage (mean age, 36.2 years; age range 28–45 years) who delivered a baby via planned cesarean section with TBOIIA in a hybrid OR between May 2019 and July 2021. Operation time, estimated blood loss (EBL), amount of intra- and postoperative blood transfusion, perioperative hemoglobin level, hospital stay after operation, balloon time, fluoroscopy time, radiation dose, rate of uterine artery embolization (UAE) and hysterectomy, and complication-related TBOIIA were assessed. The mean operation time was 122 min, and EBL was 1290 mL. Nine out of sixty-two patients (14.5%) received a blood transfusion. The mean hemoglobin levels before surgery, immediately after surgery and within 1 week after surgery were 11.3 g/dL, 10.4 g/dL and 9.2 g/dL, respectively. In terms of radiation dose, the mean dose area product (DAP) and cumulative air kerma were 0.017 Gy/cm2 and 0.023 Gy, respectively. Ten out of sixty-two patients (16.1%) underwent UAE postoperatively in the hybrid OR. One out of sixty-two patients had been diagnosed with placenta percreta with bladder invasion based on preoperative ultrasound, and thus underwent cesarean hysterectomy following TBOIIA and UAE. While intra-arterial balloon catheter placement for managing PP with a high risk of hemorrhage remains controversial, a planned cesarean section with TBOIIA in a hybrid OR is effective in eliminating the potential risk of intra-arterial balloon catheter displacement, thus reducing intraoperative blood loss, ensuring safe placental removal and conserving the uterus.
A Kinesin Vdkin2 Required for Vacuole Formation, Mycelium Growth, and Penetration Structure Formation of Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Yang Xing , Guo Cuimei , Chen Chi , Hu Zhijuan , Zheng Xinyao , Xu Shan , Yang Xingyong , Xie Chengjian
Published: April 2022

The soil-borne vascular fungus Verticillium dahliae infects hundreds of dicotyledonous plants, causing severe wilt diseases. During the initial colonization, V. dahliae develops a penetration peg to enable infection of cotton roots. In some phytopathogenic fungi, vacuoles play a critical role in normal formation of the infection structure. Kinesin 2 protein is associated with vacuole formation in Ustilago maydis. To identify the function of vacuoles in the V. dahliae infection structure, we identified VdKin2, an ortholog of kinesin 2, in V. dahliae and investigated its function through gene knockout. VdKin2 mutants showed severe defects in virulence and were suppressed during initial infection and root colonization based on observation of green fluorescent protein-labeled V. dahliae. We also found that deletion of VdKin2 compromised penetration peg formation and the derived septin neck. Disruption strains were viable and showed normal microsclerotia formation, whereas mycelium growth and conidial production were reduced, with shorter and more branched hyphae. Furthermore, the VdKin2 mutant, unlike wild-type V. dahliae, lacked a large basal vacuole, accompanied by a failure to generate concentrated lipid droplets. Taken together, VdKin2 regulates vacuole formation by V. dahliae, which is required for conidiation, mycelium growth, and penetration structure formation during initial plant root infection.
A New Lichenized Fungus, Psoroglaena humidosilvae, from a Forested Wetland of Korea, with a Taxonomic Key to the Species of Psoroglaena
Authors: Lee Beeyoung Gun , Hur Jae-Seoun
Published: April 2022

Psoroglaena humidosilvae Lee is described as a new lichen species from a wetland forest in South Korea. The new species is distinct from P. stigonemoides (Orange) Henssen by little projections locally present on the thallus; smaller, paler, and globose perithecia; smaller asci; and smaller ascospores generally 3-septate. Molecular analyses employing internal transcribed spacer (ITS), mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU), and nuclear large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU) sequences strongly support P. humidosilvae as a nonidentical species in the genus Psoroglaena. A surrogate key is provided to assist in the identification of all 22 species of Psoroglaena.
Faster Cryptococcus Melanization Increases Virulence in Experimental and Human Cryptococcosis
Authors: de Sousa Herdson Renney , de Oliveira Getúlio Pereira , Frazão Stefânia de Oliveira , Gorgonha Kaio César de Melo , Rosa Camila Pereira , Garcez Emãnuella Melgaço , Lucas Joaquim , Correia Amabel Fernandes , de Freitas Waleriano Ferreira , Borges Higor Matos , Brito Alves Lucas Gomes de , Paes Hugo Costa , Trilles Luciana , Lazera Márcia dos Santos , Teixeira Marcus de Melo , Pinto Vitor Laerte , Felipe Maria Sueli Soares , Casadevall Arturo , Silva-Pereira Ildinete , Albuquerque Patrícia , Nicola André Moraes
Published: April 2022

Cryptococcus spp. are human pathogens that cause 181,000 deaths per year. In this work, we systematically investigated the virulence attributes of Cryptococcus spp. clinical isolates and correlated them with patient data to better understand cryptococcosis. We collected 66 C. neoformans and 19 C. gattii clinical isolates and analyzed multiple virulence phenotypes and host–pathogen interaction outcomes. C. neoformans isolates tended to melanize faster and more intensely and produce thinner capsules in comparison with C. gattii. We also observed correlations that match previous studies, such as that between secreted laccase and disease outcome in patients. We measured Cryptococcus colony melanization kinetics, which followed a sigmoidal curve for most isolates, and showed that faster melanization correlated positively with LC3-associated phagocytosis evasion, virulence in Galleria mellonella and worse prognosis in humans. These results suggest that the speed of melanization, more than the total amount of melanin Cryptococcus spp. produces, is crucial for virulence.
Mycosynthesis, Characterization, and Mosquitocidal Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Fabricated by Aspergillus niger Strain
Authors: Awad Mohamed A. , Eid Ahmed M. , Elsheikh Tarek M. Y. , Al-Faifi Zarraq E. , Saad Nadia , Sultan Mahmoud H. , Selim Samy , Al-Khalaf Areej A. , Fouda Amr
Published: April 2022

Herein, silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were synthesized using an environmentally friendly approach by harnessing the metabolites of Aspergillus niger F2. The successful formation of Ag-NPs was checked by a color change to yellowish-brown, followed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transforms infrared (FT-IR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Data showed the successful formation of crystalline Ag-NPs with a spherical shape at the maximum surface plasmon resonance of 420 nm with a size range of 3–13 nm. The Ag-NPs showed high toxicity against I, II, III, and IV instar larvae and pupae of Aedes aegypti with LC50 and LC90 values of 12.4–22.9 ppm and 22.4–41.4 ppm, respectively under laboratory conditions. The field assay exhibited the highest reduction in larval density due to treatment with Ag-NPs (10× LC50) with values of 59.6%, 74.7%, and 100% after 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. The exposure of A. aegypti adults to the vapor of burning Ag-NPs-based coils caused a reduction of unfed individuals with a percentage of 81.6 ± 0.5% compared with the positive control, pyrethrin-based coils (86.1 ± 1.1%). The ovicidal activity of biosynthesized Ag-NPs caused the hatching of the eggs with percentages of 50.1 ± 0.9, 33.5 ± 1.1, 22.9 ± 1.1, and 13.7 ± 1.2% for concentrations of 5, 10, 15, and 20 ppm, whereas Ag-NPs at a concentration of 25 and 30 ppm caused complete egg mortality (100%). The obtained data confirmed the applicability of biosynthesized Ag-NPs to the biocontrol of A. aegypti at low concentrations.
Efficacy of Endoscopic and Surgical Treatments for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gong Eun , Park Chan , Jung Da , Kang Sun , Lee Ju , Lim Hyun , Kim Do ,   Endoscopic Therapy and Instrument Research Group under the Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
Published: April 2022

Although various endoscopic and surgical procedures are available for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the comparative efficacy of these treatments has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of various endoscopic and surgical treatments for GERD. All relevant randomized controlled trials published through August 2021 that compared the efficacy of endoscopic and surgical GERD treatments, including radiofrequency energy delivery, endoscopic plication, reinforcement of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and surgical fundoplication, were searched. A network meta-analysis was performed to analyze treatment outcomes, including the requirement of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) continuation and GERD-health-related quality of life questionnaire score (GERD-HRQL). As such, 25 studies with 2854 patients were included in the analysis. Endoscopic plication, reinforcement of the LES, and surgical fundoplication were effective in reducing the requirement of PPI continuation compared to PPI therapy (pooled risk ratio (RR) (95% confidence interval [CI]): endoscopic plication, 0.34 (0.21–0.56); reinforcement of LES, 0.32 (0.16–0.63), and surgical fundoplication, 0.16 (0.06–0.42)). Radiofrequency energy delivery tended to reduce the requirement of PPI continuation compared to PPI therapy (RR (95% CI): 0.55 (0.25–1.18)). In terms of GERD-HRQL, all endoscopic and surgical treatments were superior to PPI therapy. In conclusion, all endoscopic or surgical treatments, except radiofrequency energy delivery, were effective for discontinuation of PPI medication, especially surgical fundoplication. Quality of life, measured by GERD-HRQL, also improved in patients who underwent endoscopic or surgical treatment compared to those who received PPI therapy.
The Predictive Value of Serum ACE2 and TMPRSS2 Concentrations in Patients with COVID-19—A Prospective Pilot Study
Authors: Kassif Lerner Reut , Stein Yeshurun Michal , Hemi Rina , Zada Nahid , Asraf Keren , Doolman Ram , Benoit Stefanie W. , Santos de Oliveira Maria Helena , Lippi Giuseppe , Henry Brandon Michael , Pessach Itai M. , Pode Shakked Naomi
Published: April 2022

One of the major challenges for healthcare systems during the Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was the inability to successfully predict which patients would require mechanical ventilation (MV). Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) and TransMembrane Protease Serine S1 member 2 (TMPRSS2) are enzymes that play crucial roles in SARS-CoV-2 entry into human host cells. However, their predictive value as biomarkers for risk stratification for respiratory deterioration requiring MV has not yet been evaluated. We aimed to evaluate whether serum ACE2 and TMPRSS2 levels are associated with adverse outcomes in COVID-19, and specifically the need for MV. COVID-19 patients admitted to an Israeli tertiary medical center between March--November 2020, were included. Serum samples were obtained shortly after admission (day 0) and again following one week of admission (day 7). ACE2 and TMPRSS2 concentrations were measured with ELISA. Of 72 patients included, 30 (41.6%) ultimately required MV. Serum ACE2 concentrations >7.8 ng/mL at admission were significantly associated with the need for MV (p = 0.036), inotropic support, and renal replacement therapy. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, elevated ACE2 at admission was associated with the need for MV (OR = 7.49; p = 0.014). To conclude, elevated serum ACE2 concentration early in COVID-19 illness correlates with respiratory failure necessitating mechanical ventilation. We suggest that measuring serum ACE2 at admission may be useful for predicting the risk of severe disease.
Spanish Version of the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (CC-SCHFI): A Psychometric Evaluation
Authors: Antonio-Oriola Rosa , Vellone Ercole , Durante Angela , De Maria Maddalena , Di Nitto Marco , Gea-Caballero Vicente , Santolalla-Arnedo Iván , Czapla Michał , Benavent-Cervera José Vicente , Sánchez-González Juan Luis , Juárez-Vela Raúl
Published: April 2022

Background: The Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Heart Failure (CC-SCHFI) is a theoretically driven instrument to measure the extent to which caregivers support heart failure (HF) patients to perform self-care. The CC-SCHFI measures caregivers’ contribution to self-care maintenance and self-care management and caregiver confidence in contributing to heart failure patients’ self-care. To date, the CC-SCHFI has never been tested in Spanish-speaking populations. Purpose: To translate the CC-SCHFI from English into Spanish and to test its psychometric characteristics. Method: CC-SCHFI translation and back-translation were performed according to the Beaton et al. methodology. Data from a cross-sectional study conducted in an outpatient clinic in Spain were used for the analysis. Psychometric analysis was performed with exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with oblique rotation. Results: Caregivers had a mean age of 60.5 years (SD 14,9) and the majority were female (85%). Data from 220 caregivers were analyzed. From EFA, using the principal axis factoring method, we extracted two factors in the self-care maintenance subscale (“treatment adherence behaviors” and “symptom control and maintenance behaviors”), two in the self-care monitoring subscale (“illness behaviors” and “prevention behaviors”) and one factor for the self-efficacy subscale. The Pearson’s rank correlation coefficients between SCHFI and CCSCHFI showed significant correlation in each subdimension.
Peptide Bond Formation between Aminoacyl-Minihelices by a Scaffold Derived from the Peptidyl Transferase Center
Authors: Kawabata Mai , Kawashima Kentaro , Mutsuro-Aoki Hiromi , Ando Tadashi , Umehara Takuya , Tamura Koji
Published: April 2022

The peptidyl transferase center (PTC) in the ribosome is composed of two symmetrically arranged tRNA-like units that contribute to peptide bond formation. We prepared units of the PTC components with putative tRNA-like structure and attempted to obtain peptide bond formation between aminoacyl-minihelices (primordial tRNAs, the structures composed of a coaxial stack of the acceptor stem on the T-stem of tRNA). One of the components of the PTC, P1c2UGGU (74-mer), formed a dimer and a peptide bond was formed between two aminoacyl-minihelices tethered by the dimeric P1c2UGGU. Peptide synthesis depended on both the existence of the dimeric P1c2UGGU and the sequence complementarity between the ACCA-3′ sequence of the minihelix. Thus, the tRNA-like structures derived from the PTC could have originated as a scaffold of aminoacyl-minihelices for peptide bond formation through an interaction of the CCA sequence of minihelices. Moreover, with the same origin, some would have evolved to constitute the present PTC of the ribosome, and others to function as present tRNAs.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Melatonin in Rats with Induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Yapislar Hande , Haciosmanoglu Ebru , Sarioglu Turkan , Degirmencioglu Sevgin , Sogut Ibrahim , Poteser Michael , Ekmekcioglu Cem
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Insulin resistance is associated with a pro-inflammatory state increasing the risk for complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In addition to its chronobiotic effects, the pineal hormone melatonin is known to exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Melatonin was also suggested to affect insulin secretion. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the effect of melatonin on inflammation in diabetic rats and to study the possible involvement of the melatonin receptor, MT2. Materials and Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups (n = 10 per group): (1) control, (2) streptozotocin/nicotinamide induced diabetes type 2 (T2DM), (3) T2DM treated with melatonin (500 µg/kg/day), and (4) T2DM treated with melatonin (500 µg/kg/day for 6 weeks) and the selective MT2 receptor antagonist luzindole (0.25 g/kg/day for 6 weeks). Blood samples were taken for biochemical parameters and various tissue samples (liver, adipose tissue, brain) were removed for immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blot (WB), and Q-PCR analyses, respectively. Results: Melatonin significantly reduced increased blood levels of liver transaminases (AST, ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), triglyceride, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and cholesterol in diabetic rats with luzindole treatment partly reversing this effect regarding the lipids. Furthermore, the liver and adipose tissues of T2DM rats treated with melatonin showed lower expression of the inflammatory markers IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB as compared to the T2DM group without melatonin. The results also showed that the MT2 receptor is at least partly involved in the protective effects of melatonin. Conclusions: Our results suggest that melatonin exerts relevant anti-inflammatory effects on various tissues in type 2 diabetic rats.
Third-Order Superharmonic Resonance Analysis and Control in a Nonlinear Dynamical System
Authors: Kandil Ali , Hamed Yasser S. , Mohamed Mohamed S. , Awrejcewicz Jan , Bednarek Maksymilian
Published: April 2022

The present work discusses the dynamical analysis of the superharmonic resonance in a mass-damper-spring model controlled by a cubic-position negative-velocity feedback (CPNV) controller. Thanks to the harmonic balance technique, the approximate solution of the studied model can be extracted and then checked for stability using Floquet exponents. The cubic-position control gain is adjusted in order to suppress the model’s steady oscillations. In addition, the negative-velocity control gain is adjusted in order to shrink the period of the transient oscillations. Several plots are included to relate the car’s oscillatory amplitude with the model’s different parameters pre- and post-control so that we can determine the optimum conditions for running the model safely.
Effect of Extraction Temperature on Pressurized Liquid Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Fucus vesiculosus
Authors: Getachew Adane Tilahun , Holdt Susan Løvstad , Meyer Anne Strunge , Jacobsen Charlotte
Published: April 2022

This study was aimed at investigating the effect of low polarity water (LPW) on the extraction of bioactive compounds from Fucus vesiculosus and to examine the influence of temperature on the extraction yield, total phenolic content, crude alginate, fucoidan content, and antioxidant activity. The extractions were performed at the temperature range of 120–200 °C with 10 °C increments, and the extraction yield increased linearly with the increasing extraction temperature, with the highest yields at 170–200 °C and with the maximum extraction yield (25.99 ± 2.22%) at 190 °C. The total phenolic content also increased with increasing temperature. The extracts showed a high antioxidant activity, measured with DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radicals scavenging and metal-chelating activities of 0.14 mg/mL and 1.39 mg/mL, respectively. The highest yield of alginate and crude fucoidan were found at 140 °C and 160 °C, respectively. The alginate and crude fucoidan contents of the extract were 2.13% and 22.3%, respectively. This study showed that the extraction of bioactive compounds from seaweed could be selectively maximized by controlling the polarity of an environmentally friendly solvent.
Quantitative Changes in White Blood Cells: Correlation with the Hallmarks of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Almaeen Abdulrahman H. , Alduraywish Abdulrahman Abdulwahab , Nabi Mudasar , Shah Naveed Nazir , Shaik Rahiman , Tantry Bilal Ahmad
Published: April 2022

Background and Objectives: In women of reproductive age, leukocytosis is a risk factor that bridges low-grade chronic inflammation (metabolic inflammation), metabolic changes, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and is a potential early predictor of PCOS. This study aims to explore the predictive role of quantitative changes in white blood cells (WBCs) and neutrophils in PCOS-associated metabolic changes. Materials and Methods: A total number of 176 blood samples were obtained from age-matched women of the reproductive period, comprising 88 PCOS cases and 88 healthy controls. Hematological, metabolic, and anthropometric indices and ultrasonic assessment were recorded. Results: Elevated levels of luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and lipid parameters except HDL-C levels, and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in PCOS were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The neutrophil count and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in PCOS patients were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than their counterparts. The predictive ability of the neutrophil count and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for PCOS, and possibly its associating subclinical inflammation at optimum cut-off values for the neutrophil count and NLR of >46.62% (sensitivity 94.32% and specificity 74.42%) and >1.23 (sensitivity 71.59% and specificity 100%), respectively. With regard to the areas under the curve (AUC) and Youden indices, they constituted 0.922 and 0.697 for neutrophil count and 0.926 and 0.716 for NLR, respectively. The comparative ROC z-statistic value was 2.222 and a p = 0.026. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed no significant influence for hormonal and metabolic independent variables on the neutrophil count in PCOS cases, but, as can be expected, revealed a significant negative relationship with the other components of WBCs. Conclusion: In conclusion, relative neutrophilia and elevated NLR are potential cost-effective, sensitive, and specific predictors of PCOS that may also shed light on the mechanism of chronic low-grade inflammation that is characteristic of the disease.
Numerical and Experimental Research on Similarity Law of the Dynamic Responses of the Offshore Stiffened Plate Subjected to Low Velocity Impact Loading
Authors: Zhou Haibo , Han Yang , Zhang Yi , Luo Wei , Liu Jingxi , Yu Rong
Published: April 2022

Similarity laws of scaled models of offshore platform deck structures under low velocity impact loading are proposed in the present research. The similarity laws of scaled models with different scaling factors are established in forms of dimensionless factors with consideration of flow stress differences of the materials. A dimensionless displacement is defined by dividing displacement by plate thickness and a dimensionless force is defined by dividing force by flow stress and plate thickness; then, a dimensionless force-displacement relationship is established. Dynamic responses of three geometrically similar stiffened structures with scaling factors of 1:4, 1:2, and 1:1 subjected to the dropping impact of a rigid triangular pyramidic impactor are investigated by an experimental test and a finite element analysis. Results show that dimensionless force-displacement curves of geometrically similar plates coincide with each other; meanwhile, the difference of maximum impact force for the three structures with various scaling factors is less than 5%, and the difference of maximum impact depth is less than 1%, which definitely show the effectiveness of the scaling laws based on dimensionless factors. The present research provides useful insight into the similarity laws of dynamic responses of deck structures subjected to falling object impact and would be used in the crashworthiness research and design process of the offshore structures.
Comparative Analysis of Electrohydraulic and Electromagnetic Sheet Metal Forming against the Background of the Application as an Incremental Processing Technology
Authors: Heggemann Thomas , Psyk Verena , Oesterwinter Annika , Linnemann Maik , Kräusel Verena , Homberg Werner
Published: April 2022

High-speed forming processes such as electromagnetic forming (EMF) and electrohydraulic forming (EHF) have a high potential for producing lightweight components with complex geometries, but the forming zone is usually limited to a small size for equipment-related reasons. Incremental strategies overcome this limit by using a sequence of local deformations to form larger component areas gradually. Hence, the technological potential of high-speed forming can be exploited for large-area components too. The target-oriented process design of such incremental forming operations requires a deep understanding of the underlying electromagnetic and electrohydraulic forming processes. This article therefore analyzes and compares the influence of fundamental process parameters on the acting loads, the resulting course of deformation, and the forming result for both technologies via experimental and numerical investigations. Specifically, it is shown that for the EHF process considered, the electrode distance and the discharge energy have a significant influence on the resulting forming depth. In the EHF process, the largest forming depth is achieved directly below the electrodes, while the pressure distribution in the EMF depends on the fieldshaper used. The energy requirement for the EHF process is comparatively low, while significantly higher forming speeds are achieved with the EMF process.
Effects of Arachidonic Acid and Its Metabolites on Functional Beta-Cell Mass
Authors: Bosma Karin J. , Kaiser Cecilia E. , Kimple Michelle E. , Gannon Maureen
Published: April 2022

Arachidonic acid (AA) is a polyunsaturated 20-carbon fatty acid present in phospholipids in the plasma membrane. The three primary pathways by which AA is metabolized are mediated by cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes, and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. These three pathways produce eicosanoids, lipid signaling molecules that play roles in biological processes such as inflammation, pain, and immune function. Eicosanoids have been demonstrated to play a role in inflammatory, renal, and cardiovascular diseases as well type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Alterations in AA release or AA concentrations have been shown to affect insulin secretion from the pancreatic beta cell, leading to interest in the role of AA and its metabolites in the regulation of beta-cell function and maintenance of beta-cell mass. In this review, we discuss the metabolism of AA by COX, LOX, and CYP, the roles of these enzymes and their metabolites in beta-cell mass and function, and the possibility of targeting these pathways as novel therapies for treating diabetes.
Role of Polyamines and Hypusine in β Cells and Diabetes Pathogenesis
Authors: Kulkarni Abhishek , Anderson Cara M. , Mirmira Raghavendra G. , Tersey Sarah A.
Published: April 2022

The polyamines—putrescine, spermidine, and spermine—are polycationic, low molecular weight amines with cellular functions primarily related to mRNA translation and cell proliferation. Polyamines partly exert their effects via the hypusine pathway, wherein the polyamine spermidine provides the aminobutyl moiety to allow posttranslational modification of the translation factor eIF5A with the rare amino acid hypusine (hydroxy putrescine lysine). The “hypusinated” eIF5A (eIF5Ahyp) is considered to be the active form of the translation factor necessary for the translation of mRNAs associated with stress and inflammation. Recently, it has been demonstrated that activity of the polyamines-hypusine circuit in insulin-producing islet β cells contributes to diabetes pathogenesis under conditions of inflammation. Elevated levels of polyamines are reported in both exocrine and endocrine cells of the pancreas, which may contribute to endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and autophagy. In this review, we have summarized the existing research on polyamine-hypusine metabolism in the context of β-cell function and diabetes pathogenesis.