bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on the low-frequency sound absorption characteristics of coiled Helmholtz cavity acoustic metamaterials
Authors: Cui Hongyu , Hu Zhaoping , Hu Haoming
Published: August 2022

A coiled Helmholtz cavity acoustic metamaterial structure, which consists of three perforated plates, two channel layers and an air back cavity, is designed to address the problem of poor absorption of low-frequency band noise by conventional acoustic materials, and the results demonstrate that the absorption peak frequency of this structure is lower than that of a conventional Helmholtz cavity. The finite element method based on COMSOL multiphysics field coupling software is used to analyze the sound absorption characteristics of the metamaterial single-cell structure and to investigate the effect of structural parameter variations on its sound absorption performance. The problem of broadband sound absorption is solved by synergistically coupling two single-cell structures and then by designing the geometrical parameters of the coiled Helmholtz cavity structure, multiple basic units with absorption peaks at different frequencies are connected in parallel to design a multiunit coupled structure with low-frequency broadband sound absorption performance. In addition, the multiunit coupled structure is embedded in a porous material to design a composite space folding metamaterial structure, which can simultaneously absorb both low- and high-frequency noise and achieve a large broadband sound absorption performance above 200 Hz.
Effects of acteoside on the expressions of MCP-1 and TGF-β1 in the diabetic nephropathy mice
Authors: Xie Ying , Lin Xin , Yuan Jing , Dong Rong , Yu Jiali , Zha Yan
Published: August 2022

Objective: Immune inflammatory cells and cytokines play an important role in the occurrence and development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Acteoside has been reported to regulate the inflammation and immune response. The study aims to investigate the effects of acteoside on the expressions of MCP-1 and TGF-β1 on nephropathy in diabetic mice.

Methods: C57BL/6J mice in the model group were given a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (150 mg/kg). Model mice were divided randomly into two groups: 5 without treatment, 5 treated with acteoside. After continuous administration for 8 weeks, serum, urine, and kidney tissue were collected, then, ralated biochemical parameters, pathological characteristics and MCP-1 and TGF-β1 mRNA or protein were detected. The NRK-52E cells were divided into three groups as follows: the normal control group (NC group), the high glucose group (HS group), the high glucose+acteoside group (HS+ACT group). The expressions of MCP-1 and TGF-β1 in the mRNA and protein levels were assessed with RT-PCR, western blot and ELISA.

Results: The expressions of MCP-1 and TGF-β1 were significantly enhanced in DN group and dramatically reduced after acteoside treatment. Compared with those in NC group, the expressions of MCP-1 and TGF-β1 in NRK-52E cell of HS group were significantly enhanced, while both were significantly decreased in HS+ACT group compared with HS group.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that Acteoside has protective effects on DN via inhibiting the expressions of MCP-1 and TGF-β1.
Effects of TMEM206 on the malignant behavior of HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Song Ling , Feng Dou , Tan Jiajie , Zhang Hong
Published: August 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cancer of the digestive system. Recently, transmembrane proteins (TMEMs) have been extensively studied in different types of malignant tumors. However, the influence of TMEM206 in hepatocellular carcinoma is unclear.

The UALCAN database was used to investigate the expression of TMEM206 mRNA in liver cancer tissues and used the Human Protein Atlas (THPA) to study the expression of TMEM206 in HCC tissues. The expression of TMEM206 was measured in normal liver HL-7702 cells and HepG2, SMMC-7721, and Bel-7402 liver cancer cells. Next, a lentivirus was used to knockdown TMEM206 in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, after verifying knockdown, we studied the effect of TMEM206 downregulation on the malignant behavior of HepG2 and on the PI3K/AKT pathway.

TMEM206 was highly expressed in liver cancer cells ( p < 0.001). Downregulation of TMEM206 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HepG2, significantly promoted the apoptosis of HepG2, and inhibited the expression of P-PI3K and P-AKT.

TMEM206 can affect the malignant behavior of HCC. And the PI3K/AKT pathway was affected. This study provides new ideas for the treatment of HCC.
Differences in maternal and neonatal cardiometabolic markers and placenta status by foetal sex. The GESTAFIT project
Authors: Aparicio Virginia A , Baena-García Laura , Flor-Alemany Marta , Martínez-González Luis J , Varela-López Alfonso , Sánchez Cristina , Quiles José L
Published: August 2022

Aims:

To explore the differences in some maternal-neonatal metabolic markers and placenta status by foetal sex.

Methods:

One hundred thirty-nine Caucasian pregnant women from the GESTAFIT project and their new-borns were included in the present cross-sectional study. Serum cardiometabolic markers (i.e. lipid and glycaemic profile and uric acid) were analysed at late pregnancy and at birth. In placenta, telomeres length, proportion of deleted mitochondrial-DNA and mitochondrial-DNA density, some minerals and interleukin 8, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor were measured. The study was run between November 2015 and April 2018.

Results:

Mothers carrying a male showed higher serum triglycerides than mothers carrying a female at late pregnancy ( p < .05). Serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were greater in males’ umbilical cord blood artery compared to females’ new-borns (both, p < .05). Mothers of males and male new-borns presented higher uric acid than mothers of females and female new-borns at birth ( p < .05). Female’s placentas presented greater placental-newborn weight ratio, manganese content and fibroblast growth factor-2 (all, p ⩽ .05), and evidence of statistical significance in telomeres length, which were 17% longer ( p = .076).

Conclusion:

Our findings show weak differences in some cardiometabolic and placental status markers by foetal sex. Notwithstanding, we observed a slightly more proatherogenic profile in both, mothers carrying males’ foetuses and male new-borns. We also found lower serum uric acid and better placenta status in mothers carrying a female. These findings indicate that foetal sex might need to be considered for a more personalized follow-up of pregnancies.
Failure prognosis of the components with unlike degradation trends: A data-driven approach
Authors: Dash Balyogi Mohan , Prakash Om , Samantaray Arun Kumar
Published: August 2022

Precise remaining useful life (RUL) estimation of components is critical for the prognostic and health management (PHM) of the systems to improve reliability and reduce downtime and maintenance costs. One component may show multiple degradation patterns throughout its life cycle. The degradation trends’ occurrence and recurrence are highly unpredictable. This article suggests an RUL prediction model based on artificial neural network (ANN), for components that show different patterns of degradation while operating under similar working conditions. For the ANN learning, some key time-domain features based on the high correlation of the features with the target output, that is, Life ratio (LR) of the components, are extracted from the history of degradation profiles. Prediction intervals are also estimated to account for the various uncertainties in the degradation profile data. In an application involving accelerated aging of capacitors, when the results of the ANN model are compared to the results of conventional machine learning models for example, Linear Regression, Decision Tree, Support Vector Regression, and Bayesian Neural Network (BNN), it is found that the ANN model gives lowest Mean Square Error (MSE) with limited data, thereby demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
Enraptured by this Glorious Media Landscape: Anne with an E and cross-platform coproduction
Authors: Abbiss Will Stanford
Published: August 2022

This article examines the CBC/Netflix coproduction Anne with an E (2017–19), a leading example of cross-platform coproduction whose legacy is disrupted by the drama’s unexpected cancellation. Theories of cultural and media imperialism are discussed to contextualise this circumstance, along with an overview of the Canadian media policy context. The relationship between the CBC’s public service model and Netflix’s subscription service is considered, followed by an analysis of the increased cultural representation of the drama, which incorporates Black, queer and Indigenous identities. The article concludes by suggesting what Anne with an E’s cancellation may mean for the future of cross-platform coproductions.
Disability as performance/curriculum: The subversives mechanization of teaching/performing disability
Authors: Bierdz Brad
Published: August 2022

In this article, there is a cripped arugmentation towards and away from performance as curricular. In other words, what we are trying to more fully grapple with is how curriculum within the school and otherwise becomes and is embodied within the body as a performative action towards and away from “dis”ability as a means of essentializing, normalizing and reifying means of “dis”ability as disability—curriculum as a way of interpreting and enacting “dis”ability within the social as a continual re-performance of normed accesses and “real”ity. Moreover, this argumentation is not only about a curricular and performative connection within the realm of “dis”ability and the like, but in a more robust determination, the article is an issuance of “dis”ability itself as performance, as construction, as imposed “real”ity, rather than something that is simply empirical and taught to “others” for some sense of understanding. Further, such determinations of “dis”ability as performance and as curriculum within educational spaces and outside of them are intimately intertwined with crip theory and a constant questioning of regimentations of power that are subversive and insidious—unspoken, unseen narrativizations of “real”ity that instantiate reality in hegemonizing ways continually and differently.
The Predictive Value of Early Postoperative MRI-Based Bone Marrow Parameters for Mid-Term Outcome after MACI with Autologous Bone Grafting at the Knee
Authors: Jung Matthias , Ruschke Stefan , Karampinos Dimitrios C. , Holwein Christian , Baum Thomas , Gersing Alexandra S. , Bamberg Fabian , Jungmann Pia M.
Published: August 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to longitudinally determine the prognostic value of early postoperative quantitative 3T-MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) parameters of subchondral bone marrow for 2-year clinical and MRI outcome after matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) with autologous bone grafting (ABG) at the knee.

Design

Consecutive subjects who received MACI with ABG for treatment of focal osteochondral defects received MRI follow-up 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Quantitative MRI included bone marrow edema-like lesion (BMEL) volume measurements and single-voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS; n = 9) of the subchondral bone marrow. At 2-year follow-up, morphological MRI outcome included MOCART (magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue) 2.0 scores. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Lysholm scores.

Results

Among a total of 18 subjects (mean age: 28.7 ± 8.4 years, n = 14 males) with defects at the medial or lateral ( n = 15 and n = 3, respectively) condyle, mean BMEL volume decreased from 4.9 cm3 at 3 months to 2.0 cm3 at 2-year follow-up ( P = 0.040). MRS-based bone marrow water T2 showed a decrease from 20.7 ms at 1-year follow-up to 16.8 ms at 2-year follow-up ( P = 0.040). Higher BMEL volume at 6 months correlated with lower 2-year Lysholm (R = −0.616, P = 0.015) and MOCART 2.0 scores (R = −0.567, P = 0.027). Larger early postoperative BMEL volumes at 3 months (R = −0.850, P = 0.007) and 6 months (R = −0.811, P = 0.008) correlated with lower MRS-based unsaturated lipid fractions at 2-year follow-up. Furthermore, patients with early postoperative bony defects showed worse MOCART 2.0 ( P = 0.044) and Lysholm scores ( P = 0.017) after 24 months.

Conclusion

Low subchondral BMEL volume and optimal restoration of the subchondral bone at early postoperative time points predict better 2-year clinical and MRI outcomes after MACI with ABG.
Mesenchymal stem cells establish a pro-regenerative immune milieu after decellularized rat uterus tissue transplantation
Authors: Sehic Edina , Thorén Emy , Gudmundsdottir Ingigerdur , Oltean Mihai , Brännström Mats , Hellström Mats
Published: August 2022

Decellularized tissue is generally considered immune privileged after transplantation and is an attractive scaffold type for tissue regeneration, including applications for infertility treatment. However, the immune response following transplantation of decellularized tissue is insufficiently studied, in particular after they have been recellularized with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Therefore, we replaced a large uterus segment with a bioengineered graft developed from decellularized uterus tissue and analyzed the immune response during the first 4 months in acellular or MSCs-recellularized scaffolds in the rat. Immunohistochemistry-stained infiltrating immune cells and plasma levels for 16 cytokines and chemokines were quantified. Results revealed that MSCs created an advantageous microenvironment by increasing anti-inflammatory interleukin 10 levels, and increasing the population of FOXP3+ TRegs and CD163+ M2 macrophages, and by reducing the CD8+ cytotoxic T cell population. Hence, MSCs should be considered an immunotherapeutic cell source with the ability to dictate regeneration success after decellularized tissue transplantation.
Differentiated “Others”: Representations of the European Union and the United States From Chinese State Media in COVID-19-Related News Reports
Authors: Zhang Zixuan , Li Ke
Published: August 2022

Rarely in recent history has there been a challenge to public health as great as the COVID-19 pandemic. With newer cases still being reported on a daily basis, the media has maintained close track of the development of the outbreak in their news reports. This study analyzes representations of the European Union and the United States in China Daily, one of the major Chinese state media, through a content analysis of 88 news reports concerning the pandemic situations in 2020 from a broad perspective without explicitly elucidating the individual differences of the countries and states within these two global players. It reveals that China Daily represents the EU and the US differently within the global context of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the intensity of the outbreak, coordination and response, and most notably, their amicable and antagonistic relations with China. The results of the analysis epitomize China’s interactions with major global actors from the West, which are increasingly shifting away from the traditional “East versus West” dichotomy, and the EU and the US are viewed as differentiated “others” from China’s perspective according to the reports involved in this study.
Sources of Foreign Language Teaching Anxiety Among Saudi Preservice English Teachers: A Qualitative Inquiry
Authors: Alrashidi Oqab
Published: August 2022

This study sought to explore the sources of foreign language teaching anxiety experienced by non-native preservice English as foreign language (EFL) teachers. Fourteen preservice Saudi EFL teachers enrolled in a public university participated in this study during their teaching practicum. The study used a qualitative research design with an in-depth semi-structured interview as the data collection tool. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques and the findings revealed five main causes of anxiety: (i) fear of making mistakes, (ii) fear of negative evaluation, (iii) teaching unfamiliar topics, (iv) lack of preparation, and (v) a large number of students in one classroom. Generally, the results provide important implications for further research development and educational practices.
Household Income and Older Adult Population Predict Number of Integrative Medicine Providers Around US Hospitals: An Environmental Scan Study
Authors: Hill Jacob D. , Schmucker Abigail M. , Siman Nina , Goldfeld Keith S. , Cuthel Allison M. , Adeyemi Oluwaseun J. , Edwards Eliot , Bouillon-Minois Jean-Baptiste , Grudzen Corita R.
Published: August 2022

Background

Integrative medicine (IM) is a growing subspecialty among the American healthcare system, but little is known about geographical and sociodemographic variability in access to services.

Objective

To better understand access to IM healthcare services, we aim to: 1.) document the number of IM providers within the hospital service area (HSA) of various hospitals across the United States (US) and, 2.) explore the relationship between age, income, and race as predictors of the number of IM providers.

Methods

We conducted an environmental scan to document the number of IM providers including naturopathic, acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage therapy providers within the HSA of 16 US hospitals using state and national search databases. We examined predictors of the number of providers per HSA using population and demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Search database quality was evaluated using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Clear Communication Index.

Results

The number of IM providers varied from 11.6 – 67.4 providers/100,000 persons. Massage therapists were the most prevalent (n = 13.8/100,000), followed by chiropractors (n = 5.2/100,000), acupuncturists (n = 4.6/100,000), and naturopathic physicians (n = .5/100,000). Higher average household income and population >65 years old were associated with more IM providers within an HSA (Rate Ratio (RR) 4.22, 95% CI 1.49-12.01; and 1.14, 1.05 - 1.24, respectively). In addition, the quality of publicly available search databases varied widely among US states (4.84 - 8.00/10), but less so among IM provider types (6.21 - 7.57/10).

Conclusions

The high variability in number of IM providers and search database quality among various HSAs across the US warrants further investigation into factors influencing access to services. Our findings regarding income and older adult population raise concern for inequitable access to care, but are also promising when considering the increasing demand for healthcare services among the older adult population.
The Importance of Centers for Independent Living Supporting Youth With Disabilities: A Critical Contribution to Maximize Transition Service Delivery
Authors: Plotner Anthony J. , Walters Charles B.
Published: August 2022

An integral element of maximizing positive postschool outcomes for youth with disabilities is interagency collaboration. Centers for Independent Living (CILs) can be critical service providers for youth and young adults with disabilities. This study explored CIL professionals’ contributions in supporting transition-age youth. Furthermore, the study examined these professionals’ perspectives of why CIL involvement is vital in transition service delivery. Eight dyads consisting of a CIL administrator and a CIL staff member providing direct services to transition-age youth with disabilities were interviewed from eight U.S. CILs. Thematic analysis of each interview transcript yielded themes related to the scope of services that CILs are providing in tandem with special education professionals, and why CIL professionals believe their involvement in secondary transition is critical. Findings included that interview participants delineated three overarching areas where CILs support transition-age youth while collaborating with schools. Furthermore, the findings showed that the crucial nature of CIL involvement in the transition service delivery process is rooted in several value-based principles. These five value-based principles were as follows: (a) Empowerment-, autonomy-, and independence-based, (b) youth-led and individualized, (c) strengths-based and goal-driven, (d) peer-based and disability-pride-driven, and (e) ensuring services were available and accessible. These findings, implications for practice, and future research directions are also discussed.
The Features of Emerging Adulthood and Individuation: Relations and Differences by College-Going Status, Age, and Living Situation
Authors: Nice Matthew L. , Joseph Matthew
Published: August 2022

This study investigated how emerging adults’ processes of individuation from their parents relate to their perceptions of Arnett’s defining features of emerging adulthood. It specifically examined differences in perceptions of emerging adulthood and individuation as functions of college-going versus non-college-going status, age across the full emerging adult range (18–29), and living situation (independently or with parents), as well as explored these factors’ potential moderating roles. Structural equation modeling analyses showed many of the positive dimensions of individuation (such as self-reliance and support-seeking from parents) related to the more adaptive features of emerging adulthood (such as identity exploration and sense of possibilities), though not all relations suggested developmental desirability. Perceptions of emerging adulthood differed by both college-going status and age; college-going status moderated many of the individuation-emerging adulthood relationships. The findings suggest perceptions of emerging adulthood cannot be fully understood without considering the roles of college-going, age, and individuation.
A Novel Dynamin 2 Mutation Causing Dominant Intermediate Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy: Case Report
Authors: San Luis Carmela V. , Schwartzlow Coreen , Nozaki Kenkichi , Ubogu Eroboghene E.
Published: August 2022

Dynamin 2 mutations are associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy. We report two siblings with a novel missense heterozygous point mutation (c.1609 G>A) in the highly conserved pleckstrin homology domain in exon 15 of Dynamin 2 presenting with progressive length-dependent sensorimotor polyneuropathy with mixed demyelinating and axonal features on electrodiagnostic studies. The previously unrecognized missense point mutation, which was inherited from their symptomatic but previously undiagnosed mother, was determined to be likely pathogenic based on a non-conservative amino acid substitution (p.Gly537Ser) that is predicted to damage secondary protein structure or function. This report emphasizes the importance of recognizing inherited neuropathies in clinical practice and evaluating suspected pathogenic gene variants initially classified to be of undetermined clinical significance in family cohorts. These cases add to the spectrum of pathogenic Dynamin 2 mutations associated with dominant-intermediate Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy.
A Guide to Analyzing Large N, Large T Panel Data
Authors: Thombs Ryan P.
Published: August 2022

Fixed effects estimation of a static model with robust or panel corrected standard errors is commonly used to model large N, large T panel data. However, this approach is biased and inconsistent in the presence of dynamic misspecification, slope heterogeneity, and cross-sectional dependence. Common correlated effects estimation of a dynamic model has been advanced to address these issues but is rarely used in sociology. Here, I provide an overview of the large N, large T panel data literature, and I conduct an array of Monte Carlo experiments to compare the fixed effects estimator to the common correlated effects estimator regarding the aforementioned issues. I show that fixed effects estimation with robust or panel corrected standard errors do not address these problems, which is most evident with high levels of slope heterogeneity and lag misspecification, and its performance worsens as the time dimension expands. In contrast, the common correlated effects estimator produces superior estimates as T increases and is robust to slope heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence. Following the experiments, I present an example by examining the drivers of fossil fuel consumption at the U.S. state level from 1960 to 2018, and I conclude by presenting a decision-making framework for researchers to use to make informed decisions when modeling large N, large T panel data.
Validation of the UK English Oxford cognitive screen-plus in sub-acute and chronic stroke survivors
Authors: Webb Sam S , Hobden Georgina , Roberts Rebecca , Chiu Evangeline G , King Sarah , Demeyere Nele
Published: August 2022

Introduction:

Stroke survivors are routinely screened for cognitive impairment with tools that often fail to detect subtle impairments. The Oxford Cognitive Screen-Plus (OCS-Plus) is a brief tablet-based screen designed to detect subtle post-stroke cognitive impairments. We examined its psychometric properties in two UK English-speaking stroke cohorts (subacute: <3 months post-stroke, chronic: >6 months post-stroke) cross-sectionally.

Patients and methods:

This study included 347 stroke survivors (mean age = 73 years; mean education = 13 years; 43.06% female; 74.42% ischaemic stroke). The OCS-Plus was completed by 181 sub-acute stroke survivors and 166 chronic stroke survivors. All participants also completed the Oxford Cognitive Screen (OCS) and a subset completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and further neuropsychological tests.

Results:

First, convergent construct validity of OCS-Plus tasks to task-matched standardized neuropsychological tests was confirmed ( r > 0.30). Second, we evaluated divergent construct validity of all OCS-Plus subtasks ( r < 0.19). Third, we report the sensitivity and specificity of each OCS-Plus subtask compared to neuropsychological test performance. Fourth, we found that OCS-Plus detected cognitive impairments in a large proportion of those classed as unimpaired on MoCA (100%) and OCS (98.50%).

Discussion and conclusion:

The OCS-Plus provides a valid screening tool for sensitive detection of subtle cognitive impairment in stroke patients. Indeed, the OCS-Plus detected subtle cognitive impairment at a similar level to validated neuropsychological assessments and exceeded detection of cognitive impairment compared to standard clinical screening tools.
Allocating synthetic population to a finer spatial scale: An integer quadratic programming formulation
Authors: Yameogo Boyam Fabrice , Hankach Pierre , Vandanjon Pierre-Olivier , Gastineau Pascal
Published: August 2022

Agent-Based Models (ABMs) are being increasingly used to evaluate urban systems, urban policies and environmental impacts. One prerequisite for using the ABM framework consists of generating a synthetic population representative of the actual population, featuring the appropriate attributes with respect to model objectives. A precise spatial positioning of the synthetic population agents is often key to ensuring ABM modeling quality. This paper considers the problem of allocating synthetic population agents to a finer spatial scale. Such an allocation process is performed from a higher-level statistical area where a synthetic population can be generated, that is, a container statistical area (CSA), to several nested non-overlapping elementary statistical areas (ESAs), where only marginals are available. This allocation step relies not only on common attributes between CSA and ESA, but also on additional discriminatory attributes, that is, attributes of interest, estimated from external data sources. The case study examined herein is based on French census and fiscal data. Common attributes include eight socio-demographic variables, totaling 17 modalities. An additional attribute of interest, that is, income, has also been added. The allocation problem at hand is modeled as an integer quadratic programming problem. An exact algorithm is first applied to solve the problem; the applicability of this algorithm proves to be limited to small-size synthetic populations. A heuristic is proposed to handle the allocation of larger-size synthetic populations. Tests carried out on the case study show that this heuristic yields near-optimal solutions; it is also computationally efficient and may fulfill the needs of a majority of users.
The Fly Blood-Brain Barrier Fights Against Nutritional Stress
Authors: Contreras Esteban G , Sierralta Jimena
Published: August 2022

In the wild, animals face different challenges including multiple events of food scarcity. How they overcome these conditions is essential for survival. Thus, adaptation mechanisms evolved to allow the development and survival of an organism during nutrient restriction periods. Given the high energy demand of the nervous system, the molecular mechanisms of adaptation to malnutrition are of great relevance to fuel the brain. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the interface between the central nervous system (CNS) and the circulatory system. The BBB mediates the transport of macromolecules in and out of the CNS, and therefore, it can buffer changes in nutrient availability. In this review, we collect the current evidence using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model of the role of the BBB in the adaptation to starvation. We discuss the role of the Drosophila BBB during nutrient deprivation as a potential sensor for circulating nutrients, and transient nutrient storage as a regulator of the CNS neurogenic niche.
The Role of Transrectal Sonography in Pregnancy Diagnosis in Cattle
Authors: Bagley Jennifer Elaine , Richter Michelle P. , Lane Taylor Jo
Published: August 2022

Objective:

A reproduction management strategy is an essential component of any cattle production operation. Options include palpation per rectum, transrectal sonography, or biochemical blood tests. To determine the best method, veterinary costs must be weighed against operational costs of maintaining open cattle.

Materials and Methods:

An online literature search using PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, EBSCO, and Google Scholar was completed to find relevant articles regarding pregnancy detection in cattle, costs of reproductive management in cattle, and pregnancy loss in cattle. Priority was given to original research articles pertaining to palpation per rectum, transrectal ultrasound, fetal gender, and pregnancy loss.

Results:

Transrectal sonography can detect a pregnancy up to 15 days earlier than palpation per rectum and has sensitivities and specificities as high as 97% when performed between days 21 and 35 post artificial insemination.

Conclusion:

Cattle producers can be confident that transrectal sonography is a useful tool in the beef and dairy cattle industry. Its use facilitates reproductive management decisions, such as re-breeding or culling, thus reducing expenses, and increasing profitability.
Integrated use of biomarkers to assess the impact of heavy metal pollution on Solea aegyptiaca fish in Lake Qarun
Authors: El-Agri Asmaa M. , Emam Manal A. , Gaber Hanan S. , Hassan Ekrami A. , Hamdy Soha M.
Published: August 2022

Background

Biomarkers have become a valuable tool in environmental assessment, since they contribute to predicting contaminants in monitoring programmes. This study aimed to investigate the toxicity of heavy metal pollution in Lake Qarun using a multibiomarker approach (morphological, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, stress proteins) in Solea aegyptiaca fish. During the winter and summer seasons, water and fish samples were collected from different locations along Lake Qarun; western and northern sectors were away from any source of pollution, while southern and eastern sectors were exposed to effluents discharged from El-Wadi and El-Bats drains, respectively. The environmental quality, as well as the accumulation of metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni) in fish gills, liver, and muscles were assessed. Data were integrated using the integrated biomarker response index (IBRv2) for biomarker response interpretation.

Results

Water quality and bioaccumulation of heavy metals revealed a highly significant difference between samples collected from polluted sectors and those collected far from drainage water, and, seasonal differences were detected. Growth indices revealed a significant difference between sites and seasons. Fish from the western sector had the highest total antioxidant capacity in their gills, liver, and muscles, with no seasonal differences detected. However, the maximum value of malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, 8-hydroxy-2′deoxyguanosine, metallothionein, heat shock protein 70, and DNA strand breaks in gills, liver, and muscles was detected in the polluting sectors. It revealed a significant difference between seasons, with the highest value during the winter season. According to IBRv2 results, the most effective biomarkers in this study were malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy-2′deoxyguanosine in gills, protein carbonyl and metallothionein in the liver, heat shock protein 70 in gills and liver, and DNA strand break in gills, liver, and muscles.

Conclusions

This multibiomarker approach contributes to distinguishing between locations with varying levels of anthropogenic pollution, identifying the drainage water-exposed sectors as the most stressed and the winter season as the most critical time for Solea aegyptiaca owing to spawning. The biomarkers chosen are effective indicators in Solea aegyptiaca under stress, indicating the potential for environmental monitoring.

Graphical Abstract
Phenotypic screen and transcriptomics approach complement each other in functional genomics of defensive stink gland physiology
Authors: Lehmann Sabrina , Atika Bibi , Grossmann Daniela , Schmitt-Engel Christian , Strohlein Nadi , Majumdar Upalparna , Richter Tobias , Weißkopf Matthias , Ansari Salim , Teuscher Matthias , Hakeemi Muhammad Salim , Li Jianwei , Weißbecker Bernhard , Klingler Martin , Bucher Gregor , Wimmer Ernst A.
Published: August 2022

Background

Functional genomics uses unbiased systematic genome-wide gene disruption or analyzes natural variations such as gene expression profiles of different tissues from multicellular organisms to link gene functions to particular phenotypes. Functional genomics approaches are of particular importance to identify large sets of genes that are specifically important for a particular biological process beyond known candidate genes, or when the process has not been studied with genetic methods before.

Results

Here, we present a large set of genes whose disruption interferes with the function of the odoriferous defensive stink glands of the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. This gene set is the result of a large-scale systematic phenotypic screen using RNA interference applied in a genome-wide forward genetics manner. In this first-pass screen, 130 genes were identified, of which 69 genes could be confirmed to cause phenotypic changes in the glands upon knock-down, which vary from necrotic tissue and irregular reservoir size to irregular color or separation of the secreted gland compounds. Gene ontology analysis revealed that many of those genes are encoding enzymes (peptidases and cytochromes P450) as well as proteins involved in membrane trafficking with an enrichment in lysosome and mineral absorption pathways. The knock-down of 13 genes caused specifically a strong reduction of para-benzoquinones in the gland reservoirs, suggesting a specific function in the synthesis of these toxic compounds. Only 14 of the 69 confirmed gland genes are differentially overexpressed in stink gland tissue and thus could have been detected in a transcriptome-based analysis. However, only one out of eight genes identified by a transcriptomics approach known to cause phenotypic changes of the glands upon knock-down was recognized by this phenotypic screen, indicating the limitation of such a non-redundant first-pass screen.

Conclusion

Our results indicate the importance of combining diverse and independent methodologies to identify genes necessary for the function of a certain biological tissue, as the different approaches do not deliver redundant results but rather complement each other. The presented phenotypic screen together with a transcriptomics approach are now providing a set of close to hundred genes important for odoriferous defensive stink gland physiology in beetles.
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus replicates in brain tissues and damages neurons in newborn mice
Authors: Chen Rui , Li Qiang , Chen Hongmei , Yang Hongguang , Wei Xuemin , Chen Mengting , Wen Hongling
Published: August 2022

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus (SFTSV) is an emerging tick-borne phlebovirus with a high fatality rate of 12–30%, which has an expanding endemic and caused thousands of infections every year. Central nervous system (CNS) manifestations are an important risk factor of SFTS outcome death. Further understanding of the process of how SFTSV invades the brain is critical for developing effective anti-SFTS encephalitis therapeutics. We obeserved changes of viral load in the brain at different time points after intraperitoneal infection of SFTSV in newborn C57/BL6 mice. The virus invaded the brain at 3 h post-infection (hpi). Notably, the viral load increased exponentially after 24 hpi. In addition, it was found that in addition to macrophages, SFTSV infected neurons and replicated in the brain. These findings provide insights into the CNS manifestations of severe SFTS, which may lead to drug development and encephalitis therapeutics.
A maize heat shock factor ZmHsf11 negatively regulates heat stress tolerance in transgenic plants
Authors: Qin Qianqian , Zhao Yujun , Zhang Jiajun , Chen Li , Si Weina , Jiang Haiyang
Published: August 2022

Background

Heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) are highly conserved among eukaryote and always play vital role in plant stress responses. Whereas, function and mechanism of Hsfs in maize are limited.

Results

In this study, an HSF geneZmHsf11, a member of class B Hsfs, was cloned from maize, and it was up-regulated under heat treatment. ZmHsf11 was a nuclear protein with no transcriptional autoactivation activity in yeast. Overexpression ofZmHsf11gene inArabidopsisand rice significantly reduced the survival rate under heat shock treatment and decreased ABA sensitivity of transgenic plants. Under heat stress, transgenic rice accumulated more H2O2, increased cell death, and decreased proline content compared with wild type. In addition, RT-qPCR analysis revealed thatZmHsf11negatively regulated some oxidative stress-related genesAPX2, DREB2A, HsfA2e, NTL3, GRandHSP17under heat stress treatment.

Conclusions

Our results indicate thatZmHsf11decreases plant tolerance to heat stress by negatively regulating the expression of oxidative stress-related genes, increasing ROS levels and decreasing proline content. It is a negative regulator involved in high temperature stress response.
Grafting enhances drought tolerance by regulating stress-responsive gene expression and antioxidant enzyme activities in cucumbers
Authors: Shehata Said A. , Omar Hanaa S. , Elfaidy Ahmed G. S. , EL-Sayed Shereen S. F. , Abuarab Mohamed E. , Abdeldaym Emad A.
Published: August 2022

Water scarcity is a major limiting factor for crop yield production in arid and water-stressed areas worldwide. Cucumber plants have a high transpiration ratio and are vulnerable to drought. Grafting commercial genotypes onto selected strong rootstocks has been useful in mitigating the effects of drought. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the possibility of using a novel rootstock plant’s tolerance to water-deficit stress in inducing drought tolerance in cucumbers by activating the stress-response gene expression and the antioxidant system, which improved the cucumber quality and yield under water-deficit conditions. This field experiment was conducted for > 2 years, 2020 and 2021, with five drought stress tolerant genotypes (i.e., rootstock) and drought-sensitive genotype Luerans (i.e., a scion). They were subjected to various deficit irrigation levels for 12 days, and their agro-physiological and molecular responses to water-deficit stress were assessed. The results of the study showed that the agronomical parameters, including the leaf area (LA), leaf water content (LWC), number of leaves, plant height, root dry matter shoot dry matter, rates of leaf appearance and stem elongation, and total yield significantly increased with grafted cucumber plants than with non-grafted cucumber plants (control) under normal and stressful conditions.Similar results were observed in the physiological measurements in terms of antioxidant enzymes, abscisic acid levels, gibberellic acid content, and lower lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA). Grafting of Luerans (section) on five rootstocks significantly raised the activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase and peroxidase), improved the gibberellic acid and proline accumulation, and reduced the content of lipid peroxidation and abscisic acid. Furthermore, the real-time polymerase chain reaction expression results revealed that transcript levels of the stress-response genes CsAGO1 and CsDCLs increased rapidly and continuously in five rootstock grafting. Concurrently, these findings suggest that grafting with local varieties of novel drought-tolerant rootstock genotypes could improve drought tolerance in drought-sensitive cucumber genotypes.
Gene-diet interactions and cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review of observational and clinical trials
Authors: Roa-Díaz Zayne M. , Teuscher Julian , Gamba Magda , Bundo Marvin , Grisotto Giorgia , Wehrli Faina , Gamboa Edna , Rojas Lyda Z. , Gómez-Ochoa Sergio A. , Verhoog Sanne , Vargas Manuel Frias , Minder Beatrice , Franco Oscar H. , Dehghan Abbas , Pazoki Raha , Marques-Vidal Pedro , Muka Taulant
Published: August 2022

Background

Both genetic background and diet are important determinants of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Understanding gene-diet interactions could help improve CVD prevention and prognosis. We aimed to summarise the evidence on gene-diet interactions and CVD outcomes systematically.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE® via Ovid, Embase, PubMed®, and The Cochrane Library for relevant studies published until June 6th 2022. We considered for inclusion cross-sectional, case–control, prospective cohort, nested case–control, and case-cohort studies as well as randomised controlled trials that evaluated the interaction between genetic variants and/or genetic risk scores and food or diet intake on the risk of related outcomes, including myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and CVD as a composite outcome. The PROSPERO protocol registration code is CRD42019147031.

Results and discussion

We included 59 articles based on data from 29 studies; six articles involved multiple studies, and seven did not report details of their source population. The median sample size of the articles was 2562 participants. Of the 59 articles, 21 (35.6%) were qualified as high quality, while the rest were intermediate or poor. Eleven (18.6%) articles adjusted for multiple comparisons, four (7.0%) attempted to replicate the findings, 18 (30.5%) were based on Han-Chinese ethnicity, and 29 (49.2%) did not present Minor Allele Frequency. Fifty different dietary exposures and 52 different genetic factors were investigated, with alcohol intake and ADH1C variants being the most examined. Of 266 investigated diet-gene interaction tests, 50 (18.8%) were statistically significant, including CETP-TaqIB and ADH1C variants, which interacted with alcohol intake on CHD risk. However, interactions effects were significant only in some articles and did not agree on the direction of effects. Moreover, most of the studies that reported significant interactions lacked replication. Overall, the evidence on gene-diet interactions on CVD is limited, and lack correction for multiple testing, replication and sample size consideration.
NAPSB as a predictive marker for prognosis and therapy associated with an immuno-hot tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Ning Yu-Mei , Lin Kun , Liu Xiao-Ping , Ding Yang , Jiang Xiang , Zhang Zhang , Xuan Yu-Ting , Dong Li , Liu Lan , Wang Fan , Zhao Qiu , Wang Hai-Zhou , Fang Jun
Published: August 2022

Background

Napsin B Aspartic Peptidase, Pseudogene (NAPSB) was associated with CD4 + T cell infiltration in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. However, the biological role of NAPSB in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be determined.

Methods

The expression of NAPSB in HCC as well as its clinicopathological association were analyzed using data from several public datasets. qRT-PCR was used to verify the relative expression of NAPSB in patients with HCC using the Zhongnan cohort. Kaplan–Meier analyses, and univariate and multivariate Cox regression were conducted to determine the prognosis value of NAPSB on patients with HCC. Then enrichment analyses were performed to identify the possible biological functions of NAPSB. Subsequently, the immunological characteristics of NAPSB in the HCC tumor microenvironment (TME) were demonstrated comprehensively. The role of NAPSB in predicting hot tumors and its impact on immunotherapy and chemotherapy responses was also analyzed by bioinformatics methods.

Results

NAPSB was downregulated in patients with HCC and high NAPSB expression showed an improved survival outcome. Enrichment analyses showed that NAPSB was related to immune activation. NAPSB was positively correlated with immunomodulators, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, T cell inflamed score and cancer-immunity cycle, and highly expressed in immuno-hot tumors. High expression of NAPSB was sensitive to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, possibly due to its association with pyroptosis, apoptosis and necrosis.

Conclusions

NAPSB was correlated with an immuno-hot and inflamed TME, and tumor cell death. It can be utilized as a promising predictive marker for prognosis and therapy in HCC.
Associations of BMI with all-cause mortality in normoglycemia, impaired fasting glucose and type 2 diabetes mellitus among an elderly Chinese population: a cohort study
Authors: Song Rui , Chen Xuejiao , He Kun , Hu Xueqi , Bai Kaizhi , Shi Wenlong , Shi Songhe
Published: August 2022

Aim

To explore the associations of body mass index (BMI) and mortality among people with normal fasting glucose (NFG), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in an elderly Chinese population. 

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted that included 59,874 elderly people who were aged 60 and older at baseline. Data for the study came from a health check-up program in China between 2011 and 2019. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models of BMI categories by glycemic status.

Results

During the median of 5.96 years of follow-up, 7928 participants died (6457/49057 with NFG, 712/5898 with IFG and 759/4919 with T2DM). In adjusted Cox models, risk of mortality showed a decreasing trend with BMI < 18.5 kg/m2, 24 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m2, and BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2 compared to 18.5 ≤ BMI < 24 kg/m2: HR (95% CI): 1.33 (1.18 to 1.49), 0.88 (0.83 to 0.93), and 0.90 (0.82 to 0.98), respectively, for NFG; 0.89 (0.55 to 1.46), 0.84 (0.71 to 0.99), and 0.88 (0.70 to 1.11), respectively, for IFG; and 1.42 (0.88 to 2.29), 0.75 (0.64 to 0.89), and 0.76 (0.62 to 0.93), respectively, for T2DM. There were curvilinear-shaped associations between BMI and mortality in the NFG and T2DM groups (P overall < 0.001 and P overall < 0.001, respectively; P nonlinearity < 0.001 and P nonlinearity = 0.027, respectively) and no significantly association between BMI and all-cause mortality was observed in the IFG group (P overall = 0.170).

Conclusion

High BMI compared to normal BMI was associated with decreased mortality, especially in the old populations with NFG and T2DM. Future studies are needed to explain the obesity paradox in elderly patients with T2DM.