bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of ERN1 on gene expression during early rhizobial infection in Lotus japonicus
Authors: Liu Meng , Kameoka Hiromu , Oda Akiko , Maeda Taro , Goto Takashi , Yano Koji , Soyano Takashi , Kawaguchi Masayoshi
Published: January 2023

Legumes develop root nodules in association with compatible rhizobia to overcome nitrogen deficiency. Rhizobia enter the host legume, mainly through infection threads, and induce nodule primordium formation in the root cortex. Multiple transcription factors have been identified to be involved in the regulation of the establishment of root nodule symbiosis, including ERF Required for Nodulation1 (ERN1). ERN1 is involved in a transcription network with CYCLOPS and NODULE INCEPTION (NIN). Mutation of ERN1 often results in misshapen root hair tips, deficient infection thread formation, and immature root nodules. ERN1 directly activates the expression of ENOD11 in Medicago truncatula to assist cell wall remodeling and Epr3 in Lotus japonicus to distinguish rhizobial exopolysaccharide signals. However, aside from these two genes, it remains unclear which genes are regulated by LjERN1 or what role LjERN1 plays during root nodule symbiosis. Thus, we conducted RNA sequencing to compare the gene expression profiles of wild-type L. japonicus and Ljern1-6 mutants. In total, 234 differentially expressed genes were identified as candidate LjERN1 target genes. These genes were found to be associated with cell wall remodeling, signal transduction, phytohormone metabolism, and transcription regulation, suggesting that LjERN1 is involved in multiple processes during the early stages of the establishment of root nodule symbiosis. Many of these candidate genes including RINRK1 showed decreased expression levels in Ljnin-2 mutants based on a search of a public database, suggesting that LjERN1 and LjNIN coordinately regulate gene expression. Our data extend the current understanding of the pleiotropic role of LjERN1 in root nodule symbiosis.
“I am very critical of my body, but I am not a worthless person”: A qualitative investigation of internalized weight stigma in Denmark
Authors: Davidsen Emma , Pico Majken Lillholm , Sandøe Peter , Lund Thomas Bøker
Published: January 2023

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore how two of the main dimensions of internalized weight stigma (IWS), namely weight-related self-devaluation and distress, play out in the lives of people with excess weight (EW), and to study whether there are further dimensions of IWS.

Method

Ten informants with EW were included in this study. The sample size was determined prior to data collection based on available resources at the time of data collection. All informants both participated in in-depth interviews and responded to the questionnaire WBIS-2F consisting of the two subscales: weight-related self-devaluation and distress. The interview accounts were thematically coded and compared with the informants’ scoring on WBIS-2F.

Findings

Seven themes were identified from the in-depth interviews: (1) devaluation of competencies, (2) self-blame, (3) bodily devaluation, (4) ambivalence, (5) anticipated stigma, (6) coping strategies, and (7) mental well-being. Overall, the informants scored low on the WBIS-2F subscale weight-related self-devaluation and high on the subscale weight-related distress. The qualitative findings echo the informants’ scoring on WBIS-2F. However, novel aspects of IWS not covered by WBIS-2F were also identified. In particular, bodily devaluation presented itself as an integral part of IWS.

Conclusion

The two current dimensions of WBIS-2F were retrieved, but important additional aspects of IWS were also identified. Future research is needed to evaluate and test both qualitatively and quantitatively whether the additional aspects of IWS identified in this exploratory examination are separate constructs of IWS.
Factors influencing women’s entrepreneurial success: A multi-analytical approach
Authors: Feng Jiaying , Ahmad Zeeshan , Zheng Wei
Published: January 2023

Women entrepreneurs are significant contributors to the economic development of any country and their role becomes more vital in improving the economic condition of developing countries. This highlights the important role of women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and their entrepreneurial success. Therefore, the current study extends the entrepreneurship literature by examining the effects of factors like personality traits (PT), motivation and commitment (MC), availability of financial resources (AFR), and government support (GS) on entrepreneurial success (ES) of women-owned SMEs. Using a purposive sampling technique data from 255 women-owned SMEs were collected. A multi-analytical approach was employed to analyze the data. The Structural equation modeling (SEM) results indicated that PT, MC, AFR, and GS have a direct effect of ES whereas MC also mediated the link between PT and ES, and the results reveal that in presence of MC the effects of PT on ES become more significant. SEM results revealed that PT and AFR are the most important factors related to entrepreneurial success. On the contrary, ANN analysis revealed that “motivation and commitment” is the most influencing factor. These findings can guide business practitioners and policymakers in the envisioned strategy formulation to encourage women entrepreneurs who can contribute to their country’s sustainable economic growth.
The effect of abusive supervision variability on work–family conflict: The role of psychological detachment and optimism
Authors: Wang Shuwei , Lin Xiaoxin , Wu Jun
Published: January 2023

Although a number of studies have examined the effects of abusive supervision variability, which refers to leaders engaging in differential abuse toward different subordinates within the team on work-related outcomes, scant research has investigated whether and how abusive supervision variability affects non-work outcomes. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, the current study explores how abusive supervision variability affects work–family conflict through psychological detachment, as well as the moderating role of optimism. Results based on a survey of 260 employees from nine companies show that abusive supervision variability is significantly and positively related to work–family conflict. Psychological detachment mediates the effect of abusive supervision variability on work–family conflict. Optimism moderates the relationship between abusive supervision variability and psychological detachment and the indirect effects of abusive supervision variability on work–family conflict through psychological detachment. This study extends the literature on the effects of abusive supervision variability and provides several important practical implications.
Cognitive distortion based explainable depression detection and analysis technologies for the adolescent internet users on social media
Authors: Wang Bichen , Zhao Yanyan , Lu Xin , Qin Bing
Published: January 2023

Nowadays, adolescents would like to share their daily lives via social media platforms, which presents an excellent opportunity for us to leverage these data to develop techniques to measure their mental health status, such as depression. Previous researches focus on the more accurate detection of depression through statistical learning and ignore psychological understanding of depression. However, psychologists have given lots of theoretical evidence for depression. Such as according to cognitive psychology research, cognitive distortions will result in depression. Thus, in this study, we propose a new task, explainable depression detection, to not only automatically detect depression but also try to give clues to depression based on cognitive distortion theory. For this purpose, we construct a multi-task learning model based on a pre-trained model to detect depression and identify cognitive distortion. And we use many analytical means including word clouds for data analysis to draw our conclusion. Previous social media users' depression corpus and our cognitive distortion corpus are utilized for analysis and experiment. Our experimental results outperform the baseline results and interesting conclusions about adolescent depression are drawn.
Effects of perioperative blood transfusion in gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Wanqing , Zhao Lulu , Niu Penghui , Zhang Xiaojie , Luan Xiaoyi , Zhao Dongbing , Chen Yingtai
Published: January 2023

Background

The short-term and long-term effects of perioperative blood transfusion (PBT) on patients with gastric cancer are still intriguing. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of blood transfusion on clinical outcomes in patients with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and The Cochrane Library on December 31th 2021. The main outcomes were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), disease-specific survival (DFS), and postoperative complications. A fixed or random-effects model was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Fifty-one studies with a total of 41,864 patients were included for this review and meta-analysis. Compared with patients who did not receive blood transfusions (NPBT), PBT was associated with worse 5-year OS (HR = 2.39 [95%CI: 2.00, 2.84]; p < 0.001; Multivariate HR = 1.43 [95%CI: 1.24, 1.63]; p < 0. 001), worse 5-year DFS (HR = 2.26 [95%CI: 1.68, 3.05]; p < 0.001; Multivariate HR = 1.45 [95%CI: 1.16, 1.82]; p < 0. 001), and worse 5-year DSS (HR = 2. 23 [95%CI: 1.35, 3.70]; p < 0.001; Multivariate HR = 1.24 [95%CI: 0.96, 1.60]; p < 0.001). Moreover, The PBT group showed a higher incidence of postoperative complications [OR = 2.30 (95%CI:1.78, 2. 97); p < 0.001] than that in the NPBT group, especially grade III-V complications, according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. [OR = 2.50 (95%CI:1.71, 3.63); p < 0.001].

Conclusion

In patients who underwent gastrectomy, PBT was associated with negative survival effects (OS, DFS, DSS) and a higher incidence of perioperative complications. However, more research was expected to further explore the impact of PBT. Meanwhile, strict blood transfusion management should be implemented to minimize the use of PBT.
Graft-to-recipient weight ratio exerts nonlinear effects on prognosis by interacting with donor liver macrosteatosis
Authors: Liu Zhengtao , Lyu Jingting , Li Xiang , Yu Lu , Que Shuping , Xu Jun , Geng Lei , Zheng Shusen
Published: January 2023

Aim

To investigate the interactions between the graft-to-recipient weight ratio (GWRWR) and other risk factors responsible for inferior allograft outcomes.

Methods

A total of 362 patients who received liver transplantation (LT) were enrolled. Indicators such as graft/recipient weight and other prognostic factors were collected. Comparisons of indicators and survival analysis were performed in groups categorized by the GWRWR. Interactions of large-for-size grafts (LFSGs) with graft macrosteatosis (MaS) were evaluated in terms of relative excess risk caused by interaction (RERI) and attributable proportion (AP). Cytoscape visualized the role of LFSGs in the risk profile for poor prognosis.

Results

Based on the GWRWR, LT cases can be categorized into three subgroups, standard (1%–2.5%), optimal (2.5%–3.0%), and inferior prognosis (>3.0%). Survival analysis confirmed clear separations in cases categorized by the above-defined limits on the GWRWR (P < 0.05). LFSGs caused inferior prognosis by initiating positive interactions with MaS severity.

Conclusion

The GWRWR exerted nonlinear effects on prognosis in deceased donor LT cases. LFSGs (GWRWR > 3.0%) caused inferior outcomes, while grafts sized within (2.5%–3.0%) had optimal post-transplant prognosis. MaS increased the risk of poor prognosis by exerting positive synergistic effects on LFSGs.
Feasibility of laparoscopic enucleation for hemangioma in special hepatic segments
Authors: Li Huixing , Duan Xuhong , Wu Zhenyu , Qin Yugang
Published: January 2023

Background and aim

This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic enucleation for liver hemangioma in special hepatic segments.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 58 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for hepatic hemangioma at a single center from January 2016 to January 2022. Segments I, IVa, VII, and VIII are defined as special hepatic segments, attributing to the bad visualization and adjacent to important vessels such as hepatic veins and inferior vena cava that lead to a high risk in laparoscopic surgery. Patients were categorized into a special location group (SLG) and a normal location group (NLG) according to the location of hemangioma. General data, intraoperative and postoperative outcomes, and postoperative complications of the two groups were compared and analyzed.

Results

There were no significant differences in age (p = 0.288), gender (p = 0.331), body mass index (p = 0.168), the maximum diameter of hemangioma (p = 0.330), ASA risk grading (p = 0.615), and comorbidities (p > 0.05) between the two groups. The operation time (p < 0.001), intraoperative blood loss (p < 0.001), and intraoperative blood transfusion rate (p = 0.047) were significantly higher in the SLG. The rate of conversion to laparotomy was higher in the SLG, but there was no significant difference (p = 0.089). In addition, the exhaust time (p = 0.03) and postoperative hospital stay (p < 0.01) were significantly shorter in the NLG. The postoperative complications were comparable between the two groups, and there were no perioperative deaths.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic enucleation of hemangioma in special hepatic segments is difficult and has a critical risk of massive bleeding during surgery. Meanwhile, it is also safe, feasible, and effective.
Comparison of navigation systems for total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Luan Yichao , Wang Huizhi , Zhang Min , Li Junwei , Zhang Ningze , Liu Bolun , Su Jian , Fang Chaohua , Cheng Cheng-Kung
Published: January 2023

Background

Component alignment is a crucial factor affecting the clinical outcome of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Accelerometer-based navigation (ABN) systems were developed to improve the accuracy of alignment during surgery. This study aimed to compare differences in component alignment, clinical outcomes, and surgical duration when using conventional instrumentation (CONI), ABN, and computer navigation (CN) systems.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was carried out using the Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases. Articles that met the eligibility criteria were included in the study. Meta-analyses were performed using the Cochrane Collaboration Review Manager based on Cochrane Review Method. The variables used for the analyses were postoperative clinical outcome (PCO), surgical duration, and component alignment, including the hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle, coronal femoral angle (CFA), coronal tibial angle (CTA), sagittal femoral angle (SFA), sagittal tibial angle (STA), and the outliers for the mentioned angles. The mean difference (MD) was calculated to determine the difference between the surgical techniques for continuous variables and the odds ratio (OR) was used for the dichotomous outcomes.

Results

The meta-analysis of the CONI and ABN system included 18 studies involving 2,070 TKA procedures, while the comparison of the ABN and CN systems included 5 studies involving 478 TKA procedures. The results showed that the ABN system provided more accurate component alignment for HKA, CFA, CTA, and SFA and produced fewer outliers for HKA, CFA, CTA, and STA. However, while the ABN system also required a significantly longer surgical time than the CONI approach, there was no statistical difference in PCO for the two systems. For the ABN and CN systems, there was no statistical difference in all variables except for the ABN system having a significantly shorter surgical duration.

Conclusion

There was no significant difference in the accuracy of component alignment between the ABN and CN systems, but the ABN approach had a shorter surgical duration and at lower cost. The ABN system also significantly improved the accuracy of component alignment when compared to the CONI approach, although the surgery was longer. However, there was no significant difference in PCO between the CONI, ABN, and CN systems.
Research Progress of Soil and Vegetation Restoration Technology in Open-Pit Coal Mine: A Review
Authors: Xu Daolong , Li Xiufen , Chen Jian , Li Jianghua
Published: January 2023

Open-pit mining has caused extensive land destruction, including land abandonment and reduction in agricultural land, resulting in serious environmental problems. Ecological restoration and mine reclamation have become important components of the sustainable development strategies in Inner Mongolia, China. Therefore, the rehabilitation of mines and agricultural land is vital and has attracted widespread attention from the Chinese government. In this light, we reviewed the progress of mine restoration technologies in China in recent years and summarized the integrated technology of open-pit mine reclamation with microbial restoration technology as the core, ecological vegetation restoration as the essential, and soil restoration and improvement as the promotion. As a cost-effective and environmentally beneficial technique, combining the microbial recovery technology with vegetation and the recovery of vegetation and the improvement of the soil is widely recommended in the mining reclamation area. At the same time, we comprehensively analyzed the current status and progress of ecological restoration technology and put forward the development direction of green mining in the future. In conclusion, this review can provides guiding the sustainable development of green, ecological mines, as well as provide reference for mining reclamation and agricultural land restoration and other related fields.
Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella enterica Subspecies Isolated from Raised Reptiles in Beijing, China
Authors: Song Dingka , He Xuebai , Chi Yiming , Zhang Zhao , Shuai Jing , Wang Hui , Li Qiuming , Du Mengze
Published: January 2023

Background: Reptiles are asymptomatic carriers of Salmonella spp. Reptile-associated Salmonella infections have been noticed as a significant contributor to overall human salmonellosis. However, it remains unclear regarding the prevalence of reptile-associated Salmonella in China. Methods: Fecal and gastrointestinal mucosal samples were taken from 104 snakes, 21 lizards, and 52 chelonians and cultured on selective medium. The positive clones were validated and annotated by biochemical screening and multiplex PCR verification. In addition, the antibiotic resistance of identified Salmonella isolates was detected and followed by cytotoxic activity detection on human colon cells via co-culturation. Results: The overall prevalence of Salmonella in reptiles was 25.99%, with rates of 30.77%, 47.62%, and 7.69% in snakes, lizards, and chelonians, respectively. Further, all isolates showed variable drug-resistant activity to 18 antibiotics, of which 14 strains (30.43%) were resistant to more than eight kinds of antibiotics. More than half of isolated Salmonella strains were more toxic to host cells than the standard strain, SL1344. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) results showed that all lizard-associated strains belong to 4 serovar types, and 7 of them fall into the highly pathogenic serovars “Carmel” and “Pomona.” Conclusions: Our results highlight the potential threat of zoonotic salmonellosis from captive reptiles in the Beijing area of China.
Head Shape Heritability in the Hungarian Meadow Viper Vipera ursinii rakosiensis
Authors: Oliveira Duarte , Halpern Bálint , Martínez-Freiría Fernando , Kaliontzopoulou Antigoni
Published: January 2023

Understanding heritability patterns in functionally relevant traits is a cornerstone for evaluating their evolutionary potential and their role in local adaptation. In this study, we investigated patterns of heritability in the head shape of the Hungarian meadow viper (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis). To this end, we used geometric morphometric data from 12 families composed of 8 mothers, 6 fathers and 221 offspring, bred in captivity at the Hungarian Meadow Viper Conservation Centre (Hungary). We separately evaluated maternal and paternal contributions to the offspring phenotype, in addition to additive genetic effects, all determined using a mixed animal model. Our results indicate a strong genetic and maternal contribution to head shape variations. In contrast, the paternal effects—which are rarely evaluated in wild-ranging species—as well as residual environmental variance, were minimal. Overall, our results indicate a high evolutionary potential for head shape in the Hungarian meadow viper, which suggests a strong contribution of this ecologically important trait in shaping the ability of this endangered species to adapt to changing conditions and/or habitats. Furthermore, our results suggest that maternal phenotypes should be carefully considered when designing captive breeding parental pairs for reinforcing the adaptive capacity of threatened populations, whereas the paternal phenotypes seem less relevant.
Condition and Honey Productivity of Honeybee Colonies Depending on Type of Supplemental Feed for Overwintering
Authors: Přidal Antonín , Musila Jan , Svoboda Jiří
Published: January 2023

Harvested honey is usually replaced by an alternative sugar to overwinter honeybee colonies. Supplementation of winter stores with beet or cane sucrose is safe for colonies and does not cause winter mortality. Despite this, there are hypotheses that supplementation of inverted sugars has the potential to give better results in overwintering, spring growth, and honey production of the colonies, because bees are consuming already cleaved feed. Therefore, we compared the condition parameters and honey production in 70 colonies at four apiaries overwintered with stores from sucrose or inverted sugars. No statistically significant differences in dependence on the type of the supplemental feed were found. Inverted sugar was more expensive than sucrose for feeding colonies. Economic efficiency, physiological consequences, and other disadvantages of using invert syrups are discussed.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Antibodies in 2022
Authors:   Antibodies Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Galactooligosaccharide (GOS) Reduces Branched Short-Chain Fatty Acids, Ammonium, and pH in a Short-Term Colonic Fermentation Model
Authors: Marzorati Massimo , Ghyselinck Jonas , Van den Abbeele Pieter , Maruszak Aleksandra , Harthoorn Lucien
Published: January 2023

Prebiotics beneficially affect the gut microbiome. Bimuno®, a prebiotic supplement containing galactooligosaccharides (GOS), has multiple demonstrated prebiotic effects. Using short-term colonic incubations, the influence of GOS on the colonic microbiota of three healthy human adults was evaluated. Colonic reactors inoculated with fecal samples were untreated (blank) or supplemented with GOS. pH, gas pressure, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), lactic acid, branched SCFAs, ammonium, and microbial community composition were evaluated at 0 h, 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h. pH decreased and gas pressure increased (+29.01 kPa) with GOS treatment versus blank. Total SCFA (+22.4 mM), acetate (+14.1 mM), propionate (+5.5 mM), and butyrate (+5.8 mM) were higher for GOS than blank. Acetate and propionate production were highest earlier in the experiment, while butyrate production was highest between 24 h and 48 h. With GOS, lactic acid production increased between 0 h and 6 h (+14.4 mM) followed by apparent consumption. Levels of branched SCFAs and ammonium were low with GOS and reduced versus blank (respectively, −2.1 mM and −256.0 mg/L). GOS significantly increased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium longum (LDA = 4; p = 0.006), and significantly increased the absolute abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae (p < 0.001), Lactobacillaceae (p < 0.05), Bifidobacterium adolescentis (LDA = 4.5; p < 0.001), and Bifidobacterium ruminantium (LDA= 3.2; p = 0.01). This in vitro model demonstrated the prebiotic potential of GOS as supplementation resulted in increased beneficial bacteria, SCFA, and lactic acid and decreased branched SCFA, pH, and ammonium.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of ASI in 2022
Authors:   ASI Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Atoms in 2022
Authors:   Atoms Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
What Affects Vocational Teachers’ Acceptance and Use of ICT in Teaching? A Large-Scale Survey of Higher Vocational College Teachers in China
Authors: Yang Chengming , Guo Rifa , Cui Yiran
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to explore what factors affect teachers’ acceptance and instructional use of ICT in Chinese higher vocational colleges. Grounded in the modified UTAUT model, the current study investigated the direct and indirect effects of teachers’ performance expectancy, effort expectancy, external conditions, and behavioral intentions on using ICT in teaching. A total of 6087 teachers from 219 vocational colleges in 28 provinces in China participated in a large-scale survey. Structural equation modeling revealed that the teachers’ psychological perceptions (including performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and intention to use ICT technology) and the external support conditions (including professional development support, infrastructures, the climate of organizational reform and innovation, and teacher performance assessment mechanisms) significantly directly affect the use of ICT in Chinese higher vocational college teachers’ teaching practice. Moreover, this study confirmed the mediating role of teachers’ intention to use ICT in teaching in the relationship between teachers’ psychological perceptions and ICT instructional usage behavior. However, there were differences in the significance of these variables in the chain effect of teachers’ intention to use ICT. These findings expand our understanding of the factors influencing ICT use in teaching among VET teachers in China, thus providing practical implications for higher vocational college managers to promote teachers’ ICT teaching behaviors.
The Impact of Cultural Memory and Cultural Identity in the Brand Value of Agricultural Heritage: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Zheng Qionge , Zhang Sunbowen , Liang Jingxuan , Chen Youcheng , Ye Weijiao
Published: January 2023

Improving the brand value of agricultural cultural heritage can promote the development of the local social economy. Meanwhile, cultural memory and brand value are inseparable. Therefore, this study took the Anxi Tieguanyin Tea Culture System as the research object, collected 679 questionnaires, adopted a structural equation model, and applied SPSS 26.0 and Amos 24.0 software (IBM; Armonk, NY, USA) to study the influence of agricultural heritage cultural memory on brand value. This study innovatively develops a scale of agricultural heritage cultural memory, enriches the outer edge of cultural memory theory research, broadens the vision of agricultural heritage research, and provides a useful reference for the inheritance of agricultural heritage and the promotion of brand value.
End-One-Flange Web Crippling Behavior of Cold-Formed High-Strength Steel Channels with Web Holes at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Fang Zhiyuan , Roy Krishanu , Chandramohan Dinesh Lakshmanan , Yousefi Amirmohammad , Al-Radhi Yazeed , Lim James B. P.
Published: January 2023

This paper investigates the web crippling strength of cold-formed high-strength steel (CHS) channels with centered web holes subjected to end-one-flange (EOF) loading at elevated temperatures, considering both flanges fastened and unfastened to load plates conditions. The stress-strain curve and material properties for CHS (S690QL steel grade) channels were adopted from the literature, where the temperatures ranged from 20 to 800 °C. The material characteristics were incorporated into finite element (FE) models using ABAQUS. The developed FE model was then validated against the published test results to evaluate the effects of various parameters including web hole diameter, bearing length, cross-section sizes, and flange fastening conditions of such channels at elevated temperatures, and a comprehensive parametric investigation including a total of 1710 validated finite element models was performed. From the parametric study results, it was found that the web crippling strength reduction factor is sensitive to the changes of the hole size and the bearing length, with the parameters of hole size having the largest effect on the web crippling reduction factor; however, the web crippling strength reduction factor remains stable when the temperature is changed from 20 to 800 °C. According to the FEA results, new reliable web crippling strength reduction factor equations for such CHS channels were proposed. In the comparison of proposed design strengths to the numerical failure load, the proposed design equations are suitable to predict the web crippling strength for CHS channels subject to EOF loading at ambient and elevated temperatures.
Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics Workflows in Cancer Research: The Relevance of Choosing the Right Steps
Authors: Carrillo-Rodriguez Paula , Selheim Frode , Hernandez-Valladares Maria
Published: January 2023

The qualitative and quantitative evaluation of proteome changes that condition cancer development can be achieved with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). LC-MS-based proteomics strategies are carried out according to predesigned workflows that comprise several steps such as sample selection, sample processing including labeling, MS acquisition methods, statistical treatment, and bioinformatics to understand the biological meaning of the findings and set predictive classifiers. As the choice of best options might not be straightforward, we herein review and assess past and current proteomics approaches for the discovery of new cancer biomarkers. Moreover, we review major bioinformatics tools for interpreting and visualizing proteomics results and suggest the most popular machine learning techniques for the selection of predictive biomarkers. Finally, we consider the approximation of proteomics strategies for clinical diagnosis and prognosis by discussing current barriers and proposals to circumvent them.
Naturally Isolated Sesquiterpene Lactone and Hydroxyanthraquinone Induce Apoptosis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line
Authors: Shams Afshan , Ahmed Ayaz , Khan Ajmal , Khawaja Shariqa , Rehman Najeeb Ur , Qazi Asma Saleem , Khan Adnan , Bawazeer Sami , Ali Syed Abid , Al-Harrasi Ahmed
Published: January 2023

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, especially in Asian countries. The emergence of its drug resistance and its side effects demands alternatives, to improve prognosis. Since the majority of cancer drugs are derived from natural sources, it provides a window to look for more biocompatible alternatives. In this study, two natural compounds, costunolide (CE) and aloe emodin (AE), were isolated from the stem of Lycium shawii. The compounds were examined for their anticancer and apoptotic potentials against OSCC (CAL 27) cells, using an in vitro analysis, such as a MTT assay, scratch assay, gene, and protein expressions. Both compounds, CE and AE, were found to be cytotoxic against the cancer cells with an IC50 value of 32 and 38 µM, respectively. Moreover, the compounds were found to be non-toxic against normal NIH-3T3 cells and comparable with the standard drug i.e., 5-fluorouracil (IC50 = 97.76 µM). These compounds were active against normal cells at higher concentrations. Nuclear staining displayed the presence of apoptosis-associated morphological changes, i.e., karyopyknosis and karyorrhexis in the treated cancer cells. Flow cytometry results further confirmed that these compounds induce apoptosis rather than necrosis, as the majority of the cells were found in the late apoptotic phase. Gene and protein expression analyses showed an increased expression of apoptotic genes, i.e., BAK, caspase 3, 6, and 9. Moreover, the compounds significantly downregulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic (BCL-2 L1), metastatic (MMP-2), and pro-inflammatory (COX-2) genes. Both compounds have shown promising anticancer, apoptotic, and anti-migratory activities against the OSCC cell line (i.e., CAL-27). However, further in vivo studies are required to explore these compounds as anticancer agents.
Enhanced De Novo Lipid Synthesis Mediated by FASN Induces Chemoresistance in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Han Lingyu , Dai Weixing , Luo Wenqin , Ye Li , Fang Hongsheng , Mo Shaobo , Li Qingguo , Xu Ye , Wang Renjie , Cai Guoxiang
Published: January 2023

Background: Oxaliplatin is one of the most widely used chemotherapy drugs for colorectal cancer (CRC). Resistance to oxaliplatin threatens the prognosis of CRC. Since previous studies have aroused interest in fatty acid metabolism in cancer, in this study, we determined whether fatty acid biosynthesis and the related regulating mechanism contribute to oxaliplatin resistance in CRC. Methods: The effect of the fatty acid synthase (FASN) and its inhibitor Orlistat was characterized in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, oxaliplatin-resistant cell lines, and xenografts. MRNA-seq and analysis identified related pathway changes after the application of Orlistat, which was verified by Western blotting. Results: By leveraging the GEO databases, FASN and closely related gene signatures were identified as being correlated with the response to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy and poor prognosis. Additionally, FASN-upregulated expression promoted oxaliplatin resistance in CRC cell lines. We then applied Orlistat, a typical FASN inhibitor, in cell culture and xenograft models of oxaliplatin-resistant CRC, which attenuated the resistance to oxaliplatin. Additionally, the combination of the FASN inhibitor and oxaliplatin significantly increased cell cycle arrest and facilitated apoptosis, partly due to the diminished phosphorylation of the MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways. In vivo studies showed that inhibiting fatty acid biosynthesis with Orlistat restrained the growth of xenograft tumors and increased the responsiveness to oxaliplatin. Conclusions: Our study revealed that FASN enhanced resistance to oxaliplatin in CRC. The inhibition of FASN could rescue the response to oxaliplatin by regulating MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways.
Current and Future Landscape of Perioperative Treatment for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Esteban-Villarrubia Jorge , Torres-Jiménez Javier , Bueno-Bravo Carolina , García-Mondaray Rebeca , Subiela José Daniel , Gajate Pablo
Published: January 2023

Cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy is the current standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). However, less than half of patients are candidates for this treatment, and 50% will develop metastatic disease. Adjuvant chemotherapy could be offered if neoadjuvant treatment has not been administered for suitable patients. It is important to reduce the risk of systemic recurrence and improve the prognosis of localized MIBC. Systemic therapy for metastatic urothelial carcinoma has evolved in recent years. Immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted agents, such as antibody-drug conjugates or FGFR inhibitors, are new therapeutic alternatives and have shown their benefit in advanced disease. Currently, several clinical trials are investigating the role of these drugs, as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy, in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings with promising outcomes. In addition, the development of predictive biomarkers could predict responses to neoadjuvant therapies.
Palladium Supported on Bioinspired Materials as Catalysts for C–C Coupling Reactions
Authors: Albano Gianluigi , Petri Antonella , Aronica Laura Antonella
Published: January 2023

In recent years, the immobilization of palladium nanoparticles on solid supports to prepare active and stable catalytic systems has been deeply investigated. Compared to inorganic materials, naturally occurring organic solids are inexpensive, available and abundant. Moreover, the surface of these solids is fully covered by chelating groups which can stabilize the metal nanoparticles. In the present review, we have focused our attention on natural biomaterials-supported metal catalysts applied to the formation of C–C bonds by Mizoroki–Heck, Suzuki–Miyaura and Sonogashira reactions. A systematic approach based on the nature of the organic matrix will be followed: (i) metal catalysts supported on cellulose; (ii) metal catalysts supported on starch; (iii) metal catalysts supported on pectin; (iv) metal catalysts supported on agarose; (v) metal catalysts supported on chitosan; (vi) metal catalysts supported on proteins and enzymes. We will emphasize the effective heterogeneity and recyclability of each catalyst, specifying which studies were carried out to evaluate these aspects.
The Formation of Mn-Ce-Zr Oxide Catalysts for CO and Propane Oxidation: The Role of Element Content Ratio
Authors: Afonasenko Tatyana N. , Yurpalova Daria V. , Vinokurov Zakhar S. , Saraev Andrey A. , Aidakov Egor E. , Konovalova Valeriya P. , Rogov Vladimir A. , Bulavchenko Olga A.
Published: January 2023

The MnOх-ZrO2-CeO2 oxide catalysts were synthesized by co-precipitation method with varying (1) Zr/Zr + Ce molar ratio at constant manganese content of 0.3; (2) manganese content at constant Zr/Ce molar ratio of 1; (3) Mn/Mn + Zr molar ratio at constant Ce content of 0.5. Catalysts are characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption, TPR, and XPS. The catalytic activity of all the series was tested in the CO and propane oxidation reactions. In contrast to the variation of the manganese content, the Zr/Zr + Ce molar ratio does not significantly affect the catalytic properties. The dependence of the catalytic activity in CO oxidation on the manganese content has a «volcano» shape, and the best catalytic performance is exhibited by the catalyst with Mn/(Zr + Ce) = 1. In the case of propane oxidation reaction, there is «sigma» like dependence, activity increases with increase of Mn/(Mn + Zr + Ce) molar ratio up to 0.3, stabilizing with a further increase in the manganese content. XRD and XPS have shown that with an increase of the Mn concentration in the MnOx-ZrO2-CeO2 catalysts, the amount of crystalline manganese oxides such as Mn2O3 and Mn3O4, as well as the surface concentration of Mn cations, increases. While the content of MnxZryCe1-x-yO2 solid solution decreases, the concentration of manganese cations (x) in volume of MnxZryCe1-x-yO2 mixed oxide grows. The maximum activity in CO oxidation corresponds to the balance between the amount of the solid solution and the concentration of manganese cations in the volume of mixed oxide. The propane oxidation reaction is less sensitive to the state of manganese ion rather than to its amount. In this case, a decrease in the content of the MnxZryCe1-x-yO2 solid solution with increase in manganese amount in catalyst is compensated by an increase in content of crystalline manganese oxides and the surface concentration of manganese.
Synthesis and Application of Catalytic Materials in Energy and Environment
Authors: Han Dezhi , Wang Wentai , Han Ning
Published: January 2023

Catalytic materials have become prominent in many high-tech fields in recent years [...]
The Complexity of the Post-Burn Immune Response: An Overview of the Associated Local and Systemic Complications
Authors: Korkmaz H. Ibrahim , Flokstra Gwendolien , Waasdorp Maaike , Pijpe Anouk , Papendorp Stephan G. , de Jong Evelien , Rustemeyer Thomas , Gibbs Susan , van Zuijlen Paul P. M.
Published: January 2023

Burn injury induces a complex inflammatory response, both locally and systemically, and is not yet completely unravelled and understood. In order to enable the development of accurate treatment options, it is of paramount importance to fully understand post-burn immunology. Research in the last decades describes insights into the prolonged and excessive inflammatory response that could exist after both severe and milder burn trauma and that this response differs from that of none-burn acute trauma. Persistent activity of complement, acute phase proteins and pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, changes in lymphocyte activity, activation of the stress response and infiltration of immune cells have all been related to post-burn local and systemic pathology. This “narrative” review explores the current state of knowledge, focusing on both the local and systemic immunology post-burn, and further questions how it is linked to the clinical outcome. Moreover, it illustrates the complexity of post-burn immunology and the existing gaps in knowledge on underlying mechanisms of burn pathology.
Short-Term Treatment with Rho-Associated Kinase Inhibitor Preserves Keratinocyte Stem Cell Characteristics In Vitro
Authors: Jayarajan Vignesh , Hall George T. , Xenakis Theodoros , Bulstrode Neil , Moulding Dale , Castellano Sergi , Di Wei-Li
Published: January 2023

Primary keratinocytes including keratinocyte stem cells (KSCs) can be cultured as epidermal sheets in vitro and are attractive for cell and gene therapies for genetic skin disorders. However, the initial slow growth of freshly isolated keratinocytes hinders clinical applications. Rho-associated kinase inhibitor (ROCKi) has been used to overcome this obstacle, but its influence on the characteristics of KSC and its safety for clinical application remains unknown. In this study, primary keratinocytes were treated with ROCKi Y-27632 for six days (short-term). Significant increases in colony formation and cell proliferation during the six-day ROCKi treatment were observed and confirmed by related protein markers and single-cell transcriptomic analysis. In addition, short-term ROCKi-treated cells maintained their differentiation ability as examined by 3D-organotypic culture. However, these changes could be reversed and became indistinguishable between treated and untreated cells once ROCKi treatment was withdrawn. Further, the short-term ROCKi treatment did not reduce the number of KSCs. In addition, AKT and ERK pathways were rapidly activated upon ROCKi treatment. In conclusion, short-term ROCKi treatment can transiently and reversibly accelerate initial primary keratinocyte expansion while preserving the holoclone-forming cell population (KSCs), providing a safe avenue for clinical applications.
Pathogenic Role of Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Obesity and Obesity-Related Inflammatory Diseases
Authors: Pestel Julien , Blangero Ferdinand , Eljaafari Assia
Published: January 2023

Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) are adult stem cells, endowed with self-renewal, multipotent capacities, and immunomodulatory properties, as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from other origins. However, in a pathological context, ASCs like MSCs can exhibit pro-inflammatory properties and attract inflammatory immune cells at their neighborhood. Subsequently, this creates an inflammatory microenvironment leading to ASCs’ or MSCs’ dysfunctions. One such example is given by obesity where adipogenesis is impaired and insulin resistance is initiated. These opposite properties have led to the classification of MSCs into two categories defined as pro-inflammatory ASC1 or anti-inflammatory ASC2, in which plasticity depends on the micro-environmental stimuli. The aim of this review is to (i) highlight the pathogenic role of ASCs during obesity and obesity-related inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer; and (ii) describe some of the mechanisms leading to ASCs dysfunctions. Thus, the role of soluble factors, adhesion molecules; TLRs, Th17, and Th22 cells; γδ T cells; and immune checkpoint overexpression will be addressed.
Increased Methylation of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Is Related to Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder and Severity of Suicide Attempt in Women
Authors: Jamshidi Esmail , Boström Adrian E. Desai , Wilczek Alexander , Nilsonne Åsa , Åsberg Marie , Jokinen Jussi
Published: January 2023

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has previously been associated with the pathogenesis of both emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD) and suicidal behavior. No study has yet investigated BDNF-associated epigenetic alterations in a group of severely impaired EUPD and suicidal patients. The discovery cohort consisted of 97 women with emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD) with at least two serious suicide attempts (SAs) and 32 healthy female controls. The genome-wide methylation pattern was measured by the Illumina EPIC BeadChip and analyzed by robust linear regression models to investigate mean BDNF methylation levels in a targeted analysis conditioned upon severity of suicide attempt. The validation cohort encompassed 60 female suicide attempters, stratified into low- (n = 45) and high-risk groups (n = 15) based on degree of intent-to-die and lethality of SA method, and occurrence of death-by-suicide at follow-up. Mean BDNF methylation levels exhibited increased methylation in relation to EUPD (p = 0.0159, percentage mean group difference ~3.8%). Similarly, this locus was confirmed as higher-methylated in an independent cohort of females with severe suicidal behavior (p = 0.0300). Results were independent of age and BMI. This is the first study to reveal emerging evidence of epigenetic dysregulation of BDNF with dependence on features known to confer increased risk of suicide deaths (lethality of suicide-attempt method and presence of EUPD diagnosis with history of recent SAs). Further studies investigating epigenetic and genetic effects of BDNF on severe suicidal behavior and EUPD are needed to further elucidate the role of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms and neurotrophic factors in relation to suicide and EUPD, and hold potential to result in novel treatment methods.
Lung Ultrasound Role in Diagnosis of Neonatal Respiratory Disorders: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ismail Rania , El Raggal Nehal M. , Hegazy Laila A. , Sakr Hossam M. , Eldafrawy Osama A. , Farid Yasmin A.
Published: January 2023

Lung ultrasound (LUS) has become one of the most exciting applications in neonatal point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), yet still lacks routine clinical use. This study assesses the utility of LUS for neonatal respiratory disorders (NRDs) diagnosis and follow-up compared to chest X-ray (CXR). A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 neonates having NRDs with a gestational age ≥28 weeks, excluding those having multiple congenital anomalies, chromosomal aberrations, hydrops fetalis and/or heart failure. CXR and LUS were done on admission for diagnosis and were repeated after 7 days, or if needed earlier within the 7 days. The diagnosis of NRDs by CXR and LUS on admission and after 7 days was comparable (p > 0.05). LUS diagnosis sensitivity and specificity for respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, meconium aspiration syndrome, pneumothorax and pulmonary atelectasis were 94.7/100%, 97.5/95%, 92.3/100%, 90.9/98.9% and 100/97.8%, respectively. The total agreement between LUS and CXR was 98.5% with 95% CI (0.88 to 0.92). LUS and CXR had considerable agreement in the diagnosis of NRDs. Being a reliable bedside modality of diagnosis and safer than CXR, LUS may be considered an alternative method for the diagnosis of neonates with NRDs.