bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Outdoor Physical Activity and Sports with Life Satisfaction among Women of Reproductive Age According to a European Representative Sample—A Longitudinal Analysis
Authors: Prémusz Viktória , Makai Alexandra , Ács Pongrác , Derkács Evelin , Laczkó Tamás
Published: September 2023

(1) Background: Low life satisfaction (LS) is associated with impaired mental and physical health. Outdoor physical activity (PA) has diverse somatic and psychological benefits. This study aimed to analyse the associations between sports settings and LS in women of reproductive age. (2) Methods: Special Eurobarometer on Sport and Physical Activity (2022, 2018, 2013) data on regularity and settings of sports/PA, LS and sociodemographic variables were analysed. The representative sample consisted of 18,489 women (34.60 ± 9.36 years). Pearson χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted, using IBM SPSS version 28.0 according to the STROBE guidelines. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. (3) There was a significant difference in LS based on sports settings (χ2 = 409.696, p < 0.001). In the outdoor group, a 21.4% higher probability of being “very satisfied” compared to the non-outdoor, 30.0% higher compared to the inactive group, was found (R2N = 0.151). Dividing the sample by age, a significant effect remained in middle adulthood (35–44 years p = 0.002 and 45–49 years p = 0.033). (4) Conclusions: Our results underline the importance of the promotion of outdoor, green exercise and the development of special interventions to maintain or improve the psychological well-being of women in reproductive age.
Physical Fitness and Psychosocial Profiles of Policewomen from Professional Training Courses and Bodyguard Special Police Sub-Unit
Authors: Carrilho Mariana , Santos Vanessa , Rasteiro André , Massuça Luís Miguel
Published: September 2023

Police work demands a high level of physical fitness (PF) and psychosocial well-being (PSWB) to cope with the challenges and demands of the profession. The profession has historically been male-dominated, and female police officers (POs) face unique challenges and stereotypes. This study aims (i) to identify the PF and PSWB attributes that significantly distinguish the women from three different professional training courses (agents, chiefs, and officers) and (ii) to assess the significance of PF and PSWB attributes on the likelihood that women in professional training courses belonging to a special bodyguard police sub-unit. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted, involving 102 female POs (professional PO training courses, n = 94; special bodyguard police sub-unit, n = 8). PF (morphology; fitness, including endurance, strength, and flexibility tests) and PSWB (measured through scales for grit and dispositional resilience) attributes were assessed. Significant differences were observed in age, morphological (height and waist-to-hip ratio), fitness (horizontal jump and endurance tests), and PSWB (perseverance in effort and alienation) attributes among the three professional training courses. Stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, relative fat mass, relative muscle mass, horizontal jump, and endurance on exertion significantly distinguished between the three groups. Complementarily, it was observed that the waist-to-hip ratio and sit-up attributes influence the probability of women from the professional training courses joining the special bodyguard police sub-unit. The study highlights that (i) female POs in different professional training courses showed distinct PF and PSWB profiles, and (ii) only two PF attributes (waist-to-hip ratio and sit-up) were predictors for the special bodyguard police sub-unit. In accordance, these findings provide valuable insights for designing training programs to support female POs in improving their PF, psychological well-being, and overall performance in the police profession.
Aminotransferase Class I and II Gene Family in the Jinjiang Oyster (Crassostrea ariakensis): Genomewide Identification, Phylogenetic Analysis and Expression Profiles after Salinity Stress
Authors: Ge Guangyu , Liu Zhihong , Yu Tao , Zhou Liqing , Sun Xiujun , Li Zhuanzhuan , Zheng Yanxin
Published: September 2023

Aminotransferases are enzymes found in living organisms that catalyze transfer reactions between amino acids and keto acids, crucial for amino acid metabolism and synthesis. Aminotransferase classes I and II play a vital role in regulating osmolarity, protecting cells, and improving metabolic homeostasis and cellular fitness. To investigate the characteristics of the aminotransferase class I and II gene family and their roles in osmotic pressure regulation in the Jinjiang oyster (Crassostrea ariakensis), the gene structure, chromosomal localization, and phylogeny were characterized and the genes’ expression in the gill under high-salt stress was analyzed. In this study, eighteen Aminotransferase class I and II genes, including SPTLCa and SPTLCb, SPTa and SPTb, ALAT2a and ALAT2b, KAT3a and KAT3b, and ASTa, ASTb and ASTc, were identified. The physicochemical properties of 11 family members were stable, with their instability factors less than 40. Subcellular localization prediction showed that aminotransferase classes I and II were localized in the cytoplasm or mitochondria. Chromosomal localization results showed that the 18 aminotransferase class I and II genes were located on eight chromosomes. All members of this gene family had the Aminotran_1_2 structural domain which is associated with osmotic pressure regulation by adjusting the conversion reaction between amino acids and keto acids. Most gene expressions showed an initial increase followed by a decrease from 0 h to 12 h when the oysters were challenged by acute stress using artificial seawater with a salinity of 40. However, the expression of CarAGT2 and CarKAT3b genes showed an increased trend with increasing stress time. This study systematically investigated the bioinformatics characteristics of the aminotransferase class I and II gene family in C. ariakensis and their role in osmotic pressure regulation, which provides scientific data for understanding the potential functions of these genes in physiological adaptation, thereby expanding the research on osmoregulation in bivalves.
Determination, Quality, and Health Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Kumquat in China
Authors: Zhang Yaohai , Li Zhixia , Jiao Bining , Zhao Qiyang , Wang Chengqiu , Cui Yongliang , He Yue , Li Jing
Published: September 2023

Pesticide residues in kumquat fruits from China, and the quality and chronic/acute intake risks in Chinese consumers, were assessed using the QuEChERS procedure and UHPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS methods. Our 5-year monitoring and survey showed 90% of the 573 samples of kumquat fruits collected from two main production areas contained one or multiple residual pesticides. Overall, 30 pesticides were detected, including 16 insecticides, 7 fungicides, 5 acaricides, and 2 plant growth modulators, of which 2 pesticides were already banned. Two or more residual pesticides were discovered in 81% of the samples, and pesticide residues in 9.4% of the samples surpassed the MRLs, such as profenofos, bifenthrin, triazophos, avermectin, spirodiclofen, difenoconazole, and methidathion. The major risk factors on the safety of kumquat fruits before 2019 were profenofos, bifenthrin, and triazophos, but their over-standard frequencies significantly declined after 2019, which was credited to the stricter supervision and management policies by local governments. Despite the high detection rates and multi-residue occurrence of pesticides in kumquat fruits, about 81% of the samples were assessed as qualified. Moreover, the accumulative chronic diet risk determined from ADI is very low. To better protect the health of customers, we shall formulate stricter organic phosphorus pesticide control measures and stricter use guidelines, especially for methidathion, triazophos, chlorpyrifos, and profenofos. This study provides potential data for the design of kumquat fruit quality and safety control guidelines and for the reduction in health risks to humans.
Optimization of Water Lentil (Duckweed) Leaf Protein Purification: Identification, Structure, and Foaming Properties
Authors: Muller Tristan , Bernier Marie-Ève , Bazinet Laurent
Published: September 2023

Water lentil, commonly known as duckweed, is an aquatic plant with great agronomic potential, as it can double its biomass in less than 24 h and contains up to 45% leaf proteins on a dry matter basis. However, extracting proteins from leaves is an arduous process due to the complexity of the matrix, which limits their uses in the food industry. In this study, water lentil protein extraction by solubilization was maximized using response surface methodology. By heating at 80 °C at pH 11 with a water lentil powder concentration of 2% or 4% for 2 h, up to 77.8% of total proteins were solubilized. Then, by precipitating the solubilized proteins at pH 4, a protein purity of 57.6% combined with a total protein yield of 60.0% was achieved. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest leaf protein extraction yield reported in the literature with such protein purity. Proteomics analyses showed that the protein concentrate was composed of around 85.0% RubisCO, and protein structure analyses using ATR-FTIR and DSC were linked to a high protein solubility in water at pH 7. Moreover, a 1.5% protein solution of the protein concentrate at pH 7 showed excellent foaming properties compared to a 10.3% protein egg white solution. It had a superior foaming capacity (194% vs. 122%, respectively) for the same foaming stability after 60 min, which confirms water lentil proteins’ potential for human nutrition and food formulation.
Food Insecurity during the Pandemic in South Korea: The Effects of University Students’ Perceived Food Insecurity on Psychological Well-Being, Self-Efficacy, and Life Satisfaction
Authors: Lee Yoojin , Yoon Hyehyun , Kim Taehee , Jung Hyosun
Published: September 2023

This study examined the impact of university students’ perceptions of food insecurity on psychological well-being, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction and observed that the students’ gender plays a moderating role in this causal relationship, based on a total of 491 university students who participated in this empirical study. This study used SPSS (Version 22.0) and AMOS (Version 20.0) for the analyses. This study examines the structural relationship of this causal model. Our findings suggest that students’ perceived food insecurity negatively affects the status of their psychological well-being and self-efficacy. However, contrary to expectations, perceived food insecurity has no negative effects on students’ life satisfaction. In addition, the level of students’ psychological well-being positively influences their life satisfaction, while self-efficacy does not. The moderating effects of gender differences in this research were also disclosed. Limitations and future research directions are also discussed.
Sea Cucumber Peptide Alleviates Ulcerative Colitis Induced by Dextran Sulfate Sodium by Alleviating Gut Microbiota Imbalance and Regulating miR-155/SOCS1 Axis in Mice
Authors: Mao Jing , Zhao Yunjiao , Wang Lechen , Wu Tao , Jin Yan , Meng Jing , Zhang Min
Published: September 2023

Sea cucumber peptides have been proven to exhibit a variety of biological activities. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease characterized by diffuse inflammation of the mucosa of the rectum and colon with increasing incidence and long duration, and is difficult to cure. The effect of sea cucumber peptide on UC is currently unknown. In this study, 1.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was added to the drinking water of mice to induce a UC model, and the daily doses of sea cucumber peptide (SP) solution of 200 mg/kg·BW, 500 mg/kg·BW, and 1000 mg/kg·BW were given to UC mice to detect the relieving effect of SP. The results showed that SP can reduce the disease activity index (DAI) of UC mice induced by DSS and can alleviate colon shortening, intestinal tissue damage, and the loss of intestinal tight junction proteins (Claudin-1, Occludin). SP decreased the spleen index, pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in UC mice. SP can alleviate the imbalance of gut microbiota in UC mice, increase the abundance of the Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group, Prevotellaceae UCG-001, and Ligilactobacillus, and reduce the abundance of Bacteroides and the Eubacterium rum group, as well as alleviating the decrease in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content in the feces of UC mice. Notably, SP inhibited miR-155 expression in the colon tissue of UC mice and increased its target protein, suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1), which acts as an inflammatory inhibitor. In summary, the ameliorative effect of SP on UC may be achieved by improving the imbalance of gut microbiota and regulating the miR-155/SOCS1 axis. This study provides a new idea for developing SP as a nutritional supplement to maintain intestinal health.
Existence of Positive Solutions to Boundary Value Problems with Mixed Riemann–Liouville and Quantum Fractional Derivatives
Authors: Nyamoradi Nemat , Ntouyas Sotiris K. , Tariboon Jessada
Published: September 2023

In this paper, by using the Leggett–Williams fixed-point theorem, we study the existence of positive solutions to fractional differential equations with mixed Riemann–Liouville and quantum fractional derivatives. To prove the effectiveness of our main result, we investigate an interesting example.
Increased Expression of CD169 on Monocytes in Adult-Onset Kikuchi–Fujimoto Disease
Authors: Malipiero Giacomo , Machin Piernicola , Ermacora Anna , Pratesi Chiara , Carbone Antonino , Fontana Desre’ Ethel , Vattamattathil Kathreena Paul , De Rosa Rita , Doretto Paolo
Published: September 2023

Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare, benign lymphoproliferative disease of uncertain origin that can mimic other inflammatory or clonal lymphoproliferative disorders. Given the lack of available blood biomarkers, diagnosis is based on the biopsy of an affected lymph node. In recent years, evidence has been mounting that a dysregulated type I INF innate immune response plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of the disease and might be a future therapeutic target. Nonetheless, laboratory assays measuring the expression of interferon alpha (INFα) and INF-stimulated genes (ISGs) are cumbersome and not widely available, limiting their use in clinical and translational research and encouraging the use of more convenient surrogate markers. In this study, a rapid flow cytometry assay detected increased levels of expression of CD169 (Siglec-1), an INFα-induced surface protein involved in innate immunity regulation, on circulating monocytes from two patients with KFD. Our results are in line with previous experiences and set the stage for a more extended investigation into the use of this assay in exploring the pathophysiology of KFD.
Oncogene-Induced Senescence Is a Crucial Antitumor Defense Mechanism of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells
Authors: Toropov Artem L. , Deryabin Pavel I. , Shatrova Alla N. , Borodkina Aleksandra V.
Published: September 2023

Being the major cellular component of highly dynamic tissue, endometrial stromal cells (EnSCs) are exposed to cycles of proliferation upon hormonal stimulation, which might pose risks for the accumulation of mutations and malignization. However, endometrial stromal tumors are rare and uncommon. The present study uncovered defense mechanisms that might underlie the resistance of EnSCs against oncogenic transformation. All experiments were performed in vitro using the following methods: FACS, WB, RT-PCR, IF, molecular cloning, lentiviral transduction, and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. We revealed that the expression of the mutant HRASG12V leads to EnSC senescence. We experimentally confirmed the inability of HRASG12V-expressing EnSCs to bypass senescence and resume proliferation, even upon estrogen stimulation. At the molecular level, the induction of oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) was accompanied by activation of the MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT, p53/p21WAF/CIP/Rb, and p38/p16INK4a/Rb pathways; however, inhibiting either pathway did not prevent cell cycle arrest. PTEN loss was established as an additional feature of HRASG12V-induced senescence in EnSCs. Using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated PTEN knockout, we identified PTEN loss-induced senescence as a reserve molecular mechanism to prevent the transformation of HRASG12V-expressing EnSCs. The present study highlights oncogene-induced senescence as an antitumor defense mechanism of EnSCs controlled by multiple backup molecular pathways.
The Human Ocular Surface Microbiome and Its Associations with the Tear Proteome in Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Schlegel Irina , De Goüyon Matignon de Pontourade Claire M. F. , Lincke Joel-Benjamin , Keller Irene , Zinkernagel Martin S. , Zysset-Burri Denise C.
Published: September 2023

Although dry eye disease (DED) is one of the most common ocular surface diseases worldwide, its pathogenesis is incompletely understood, and treatment options are limited. There is growing evidence that complex interactions between the ocular surface microbiome (OSM) and tear fluid constituents, potentially leading to inflammatory processes, are associated with ocular surface diseases such as DED. In this study, we aimed to find unique compositional and functional features of the OSM associated with human and microbial tear proteins in patients with DED. Applying whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing of forty lid and conjunctival swabs, we identified 229 taxa, with Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria being the most abundant phyla and Propionibacterium acnes the dominating species in the cohort. When DED patients were compared to controls, the species Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum was more abundant in conjunctival samples, whereas the family Propionibacteriaceae was more abundant in lid samples. Functional analysis showed that genes of L-lysine biosynthesis, tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, 5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide biosynthesis, and the super pathway of L-threonine biosynthesis were enriched in conjunctival samples of controls. The relative abundances of Acinetobacter johnsonii correlated with seven human tear proteins, including mucin-16. The three most abundant microbial tear proteins were the chaperone protein DnaK, the arsenical resistance protein ArsH, and helicase. Compositional and functional features of the OSM and the tear proteome are altered in patients with DED. Ultimately, this may help to design novel interventional therapeutics to target DED.
Effects of Different Sources of Culture Substrate on the Growth and Immune Performance of the Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)
Authors: Wan Rong , Zhang Chengfeng , Tang Yongkai , Zhu Jian , Yang Nan , Su Shengyan
Published: September 2023

The substrate in the aquatic environment plays a crucial role in nutrient deposition and recovery for the growth of aquatic organisms. In order to optimize the culture medium of Procambarus Clarkii, culture media from different sources were selected in this study to explore their effects on the growth and immune performance of red swamp crayfish. The results showed that the weight gain rate (WGR), body length growth rate (BLGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) in group I2 were the highest, followed by group I1 and group I3. The WGR and SGR of crayfish in the I1 and I2 groups were significantly higher than those in the I3 group (p < 0.05). The activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were the highest in group I2, followed by group I3, and the lowest in group I1. The expression trends in growth-related genes, nuclear hormone receptor (E75), molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH) and chitinase genes were similar, and the expression levels in the I2 group were higher than those in the I1 and I3 groups. It was noted that the expression levels of E75 and MIH genes in the I2 group were significantly higher than those in the I3 group (p < 0.05). α diversity analysis of 16S rRNA data showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the abundance of intestinal flora among the three culture substrate groups. The β diversity in the Xitangni group, crayfish Tangni group and Shuitangni group was significantly different. These changes in microbiota suggest that using different substrates to culture crayfish leads to differences in gut microbiota diversity. To sum up, the growth in crayfish and immune performance influenced by the culture substrate condition and aquatic breeding sediment substrates, rather than crab pool and paddy field pond sediment substrates, showed a better effect.
Single-Cell Network-Based Drug Repositioning for Discovery of Therapies against Anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor-Resistant Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Kwak Min Seob , Hwang Chang-Il , Cha Jae Myung , Jeon Jung Won , Yoon Jin Young , Park Su Bee
Published: September 2023

Primary and secondary non-response affects approximately 50% of patients with Crohn’s disease treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) monoclonal antibodies. To date, very little single cell research exists regarding drug repurposing in Crohn’s disease. We aimed to elucidate the cellular phenomena underlying resistance to anti-TNF therapy in patients with Crohn’s disease and to identify potential drug candidates for these patients. Single-cell transcriptome analyses were performed using data (GSE134809) from the Gene Expression Omnibus and Library of Integrated Network-Based Cellular Signatures L1000 Project. Data aligned to the Genome Reference Consortium Human Build 38 reference genome using the Cell Ranger software were processed using the Seurat package. To capture significant functional terms, gene ontology functional enrichment analysis was performed on the marker genes. For biological analysis, 93,893 cells were retained (median 20,163 genes). Through marker genes, seven major cell lineages were identified: B-cells, T-cells, natural killer cells, monocytes, endothelial cells, epithelial cells, and tissue stem cells. In the anti-TNF-resistant samples, the top 10 differentially expressed genes were HLA-DQB-1, IGHG1, RPS23, RPL7A, ARID5B, LTB, STAT1, NAMPT, COTL1, ISG20, IGHA1, IGKC, and JCHAIN, which were robustly distributed in all cell lineages, mainly in B-cells. Through molecular function analyses, we found that the biological functions of both monocyte and T-cell groups mainly involved immune-mediated functions. According to multi-cluster drug repurposing prediction, vorinostat is the top drug candidate for patients with anti-TNF-refractory Crohn’s disease. Differences in cell populations and immune-related activity within tissues may influence the responsiveness of Crohn’s disease to anti-TNF agents. Vorinostat may serve as a promising novel therapy for anti-TNF-resistant Crohn’s disease.
Detection and Molecular Characterization of Blastocystis Species in Polish Soldiers Stationed in the Republic of Kosovo
Authors: Pietrzak-Makyła Barbara , Korzeniewski Krzysztof , Gładysz Paweł , Lass Anna
Published: September 2023

Blastocystis species (sp.) is one of the less well-understood water- and foodborne protozoa of medical and veterinary importance linked to different gastrointestinal disorders. Soldiers participating in military missions are particularly vulnerable to infection with this protozoa. The present study used molecular methods to detect, identify, and subtype (ST) Blastocystis sp. in Polish soldiers stationed in the Republic of Kosovo. Fecal samples were collected from 192 soldiers on arrival and after four months of stay. After DNA extraction, the barcoding region of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) gene was amplified and sequenced. The DNA of Blastocystis sp. was detected in six (3.13%) and thirty (15.16%) samples in the first and second batch, respectively. Sequencing analysis revealed infections with ST 2, 3, 4, and 7. There was no statistical association between Blastocystis sp. infection and the parasite’s ST or the age or rank of soldiers. The results indicate that the visit to a new environment and prolonged stay in the area of military operation in Kosovo resulted in a significant increase in both Blastocystis sp. infections and ST diversity among surveyed soldiers. This shows the need to undertake appropriate countermeasures to reduce Blastocystis infections in the military environment abroad.
Persistence of Coronavirus on Surface Materials and Its Control Measures Using Nonthermal Plasma and Other Agents
Authors: Ashokkumar Sekar , Kaushik Nagendra Kumar , Han Ihn , Uhm Han Sup , Park Jang Sick , Cho Gyu Seong , Oh Young-Jei , Shin Yung Oh , Choi Eun Ha
Published: September 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been responsible for the initiation of the global pandemic since 2020. The virus spreads through contaminated air particles, fomite, and surface-contaminated porous (i.e., paper, wood, and masks) and non-porous (i.e., plastic, stainless steel, and glass) materials. The persistence of viruses on materials depends on porosity, adsorption, evaporation, isoelectric point, and environmental conditions, such as temperature, pH, and relative humidity. Disinfection techniques are crucial for preventing viral contamination on animated and inanimate surfaces. Currently, there are few effective methodologies for preventing SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses without any side effects. Before infection can occur, measures must be taken to prevent the persistence of the coronavirus on the surfaces of both porous and non-porous inanimate materials. This review focuses on coronavirus persistence in surface materials (inanimate) and control measures. Viruses are inactivated through chemical and physical methods; the chemical methods particularly include alcohol, chlorine, and peroxide, whereas temperature, pH, humidity, ultraviolet irradiation (UV), gamma radiation, X-rays, ozone, and non-thermal, plasma-generated reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) are physical methods.
The Role of Cellular Defense Systems of Ferroptosis in Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Chu Jie , Li Jingwen , Sun Lin , Wei Jianshe
Published: September 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are the most common rapidly developing neurodegenerative diseases that lead to serious health and socio-economic consequences. Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of cell death; there is growing evidence to support the notion that ferroptosis is involved in a variety of pathophysiological contexts, and there is increasing interest in the role of ferroptosis in PD and AD. Simultaneously, cells may have evolved four defense systems to counteract the toxic effects of ferroptosis occasioned by lipid peroxidation. This review, which focuses on the analysis of ferroptosis in the PD and AD context, outlines four cellular defense systems against ferroptosis and how each of them is involved in PD and AD.
Menstrual Tampons Are Reliable and Acceptable Tools to Self-Collect Vaginal Microbiome Samples
Authors: Turner Florence , Drury Josephine , Hapangama Dharani K. , Tempest Nicola
Published: September 2023

Many women report embarrassment as the cause for their avoidance of routine gynaecological screening appointments. Methods of self-collection of bio samples would perhaps encourage women to participate in routine screening programs. The vaginal microbiome plays a key role in women’s health and reproductive function. Microbial disturbances can result in the loss of lactobacillus dominance, also known as dysbiosis, associated with an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy complications and infertility. Our primary aim was to determine if vaginal microbiome screening results are comparable between two methods for self-collected sample acquisition: tampons and lower vaginal swabs (LVSs). Secondary aims included the assessment of the effect of pre-analytic storage on the data (to streamline processing), the prevalence of dysbiosis and the acceptability of the tampons to the participants. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in the microbiome data, from tampons versus LVSs or fresh versus frozen samples. The prevalence of dysbiosis in this population of healthy volunteers was 42.9%. The questionnaire data revealed that 52.4% of volunteers use tampons every period, and the majority of volunteers rated the tampons as 5 on a 1–5 Likert scale regarding their perceived comfort using tampons. All (100%) of volunteers were happy to provide a tampon as a sample for testing. The findings from this study show that tampons and LVSs were comparable when analysing the vaginal microbiome, with potential superiority of the tampon with regard to patient acceptability. Self-collection of vaginal secretions for gynaecological screening using tampons warrants further research as this could change the screening landscape, ensuring wider participation and increasing efficacy.
Overexpressing GmCGS2 Improves Total Amino Acid and Protein Content in Soybean Seed
Authors: Zhang Yuchen , Wang Qingyu , Liu Yajing , Dong Shuo , Zhang Yongqiang , Zhu Youcheng , Tian Yu , Li Jingwen , Wang Zhuoyi , Wang Ying , Yan Fan
Published: September 2023

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is an important source of plant protein, the nutritional quality of which is considerably affected by the content of the sulfur-containing amino acid, methionine (Met). To improve the quality of soybean protein and increase the Met content in seeds, soybean cystathionine γ-synthase 2 (GmCGS2), the first unique enzyme in Met biosynthesis, was overexpressed in the soybean cultivar “Jack”, producing three transgenic lines (OE3, OE4, and OE10). We detected a considerable increase in the content of free Met and other free amino acids in the developing seeds of the three transgenic lines at the 15th and 75th days after flowering (15D and 75D). In addition, transcriptome analysis showed that the expression of genes related to Met biosynthesis from the aspartate-family pathway and S-methyl Met cycle was promoted in developing green seeds of OE10. Ultimately, the accumulation of total amino acids and soluble proteins in transgenic mature seeds was promoted. Altogether, these results indicated that GmCGS2 plays an important role in Met biosynthesis, by providing a basis for improving the nutritional quality of soybean seeds.
Advanced Techniques Using In Vivo Electroporation to Study the Molecular Mechanisms of Cerebral Development Disorders
Authors: Yang Chen , Shitamukai Atsunori , Yang Shucai , Kawaguchi Ayano
Published: September 2023

The mammalian cerebral cortex undergoes a strictly regulated developmental process. Detailed in situ visualizations, imaging of these dynamic processes, and in vivo functional gene studies significantly enhance our understanding of brain development and related disorders. This review introduces basic techniques and recent advancements in in vivo electroporation for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying cerebral diseases. In utero electroporation (IUE) is extensively used to visualize and modify these processes, including the forced expression of pathological mutants in human diseases; thus, this method can be used to establish animal disease models. The advent of advanced techniques, such as genome editing, including de novo knockout, knock-in, epigenetic editing, and spatiotemporal gene regulation, has further expanded our list of investigative tools. These tools include the iON expression switch for the precise control of timing and copy numbers of exogenous genes and TEMPO for investigating the temporal effects of genes. We also introduce the iGONAD method, an improved genome editing via oviductal nucleic acid delivery approach, as a novel genome-editing technique that has accelerated brain development exploration. These advanced in vivo electroporation methods are expected to provide valuable insights into pathological conditions associated with human brain disorders.
Crosstalk between Platelets and SARS-CoV-2: Implications in Thrombo-Inflammatory Complications in COVID-19
Authors: Zhao Junyi , Xu Xiafan , Gao Yifei , Yu Yijing , Li Conglei
Published: September 2023

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, causing the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, has been reported to affect platelets and cause increased thrombotic events, hinting at the possible bidirectional interactions between platelets and the virus. In this review, we discuss the potential mechanisms underlying the increased thrombotic events as well as altered platelet count and activity in COVID-19. Inspired by existing knowledge on platelet–pathogen interactions, we propose several potential antiviral strategies that platelets might undertake to combat SARS-CoV-2, including their abilities to internalize the virus, release bioactive molecules to interfere with viral infection, and modulate the functions of immune cells. Moreover, we discuss current and potential platelet-targeted therapeutic strategies in controlling COVID-19, including antiplatelet drugs, anticoagulants, and inflammation-targeting treatments. These strategies have shown promise in clinical settings to alleviate the severity of thrombo-inflammatory complications and reduce the mortality rate among COVID-19 patients. In conclusion, an in-depth understanding of platelet–SARS-CoV-2 interactions may uncover novel mechanisms underlying severe COVID-19 complications and could provide new therapeutic avenues for managing this disease.
FEA Assessment of Contact Pressure and Von Mises Stress in Gasket Material Suitability for PEMFCs in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Park Soo-Hyun , Kareem Akeem Bayo , Joo Woo Jeong , Hur Jang-Wook
Published: September 2023

Ensuring the safety of electric vehicles is paramount, and one critical concern is the potential for hazardous hydrogen fuel leaks caused by the degradation of Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) gasket materials. This study employs advanced techniques to address this issue. We leverage Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to rigorously assess the suitability of gasket materials for PEMFC applications, focusing on two crucial conditions: ageing and tensile stress. To achieve this, we introduce a comprehensive “dual degradation framework” that considers the effects of contact pressure and von Mises stress. These factors are instrumental in evaluating the performance and durability of Liquid Silicon Rubber (LSR) and Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) materials. Our findings reveal the Yeoh model as the most accurate and efficient choice for ageing simulations, boasting a minimal Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and computational time of just 0.27 s. In contrast, the Ogden model, while accurate, requires more computational resources. In assessing overall model performance using MAE, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and R-squared metrics, both LSR and EPDM materials proved promising, with LSR exhibiting superior performance in most areas. Furthermore, our study incorporates uniaxial tensile testing, which yields RMSE and MAE values of 0.30% and 0.40%, respectively. These results provide valuable insights into material behaviour under tensile stress. Our research underscores the pivotal role of FEA in identifying optimal gasket materials for PEMFC applications. Notably, LSR is a superior choice, demonstrating enhanced FEA modelling performance under ageing and tensile conditions. These findings promise to significantly contribute to developing safer and more reliable electric vehicles by advancing gasket material design.
SeaFisher—A Submersible High-Density Polyethylene Offshore Fish Pen
Authors: Wang Chien-Ming , Chu Yun-Il , Baumeister Joerg , Zhang Hong , Qiao Yi-Ping , Karampour Hassan , Jeng Dong-Sheng , Savage Leigh
Published: September 2023

Moving offshore for fish farming poses challenges due to the more energetic sea environment. In this paper, a novel offshore fish pen design named SeaFisher has been proposed. The SeaFisher comprises modular cubic pens that are assembled to form a large 2 × n array offshore fish pen. Its frame structure is made from HDPE, making it flexible and durable against the harsh sea environment. Specially tailored connection brackets and connector pods are designed to assemble bundles of HDPE pipes forming the SeaFisher structure. The SeaFisher is moored using a single point mooring to minimize environmental and collision loads, and for improved waste dispersal. More importantly, the SeaFisher possesses ballast tubes positioned on the top surface to allow it to submerge to a desired water depth to dodge the strong surface waves during severe weather events. This paper presents the engineering design details and hydroelastic analysis of the SeaFisher. Based on a hydrostatic analysis, suitable materials were chosen for the various components of the SeaFisher, and the components were appropriately sized up. By using the software AquaSim v.2.17.3, the SeaFisher’s hydroelastic responses under different sea-state conditions were investigated. It is found that the designed SeaFisher structure and mooring system are adequate with respect to strength and stiffness for the considered sea-state conditions of up to 8 m significant wave height and 0.8 m/s current speed. It is expected that the SeaFisher will be a game changer for offshore fish farming due to its cost-effectiveness and ability to survive in severe storms.
Infinite Weighted p-Norm Sparse Iterative DOA Estimation via Acoustic Vector Sensor Array under Impulsive Noise
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Zhang Yongqing , Wang Weidong , Li Xiangshui , Li Hui , Shi Wentao , Ali Wasiq
Published: September 2023

Recently, many direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation techniques based on sparse representation have been proposed. However, these techniques often suffer from performance degradation issues in the presence of impulsive noise. This paper aims to overcome this challenge in conventional sparse-based techniques on an acoustic vector sensor array (AVSA). Firstly, to remove high outliers from the array output data, the output information of the AVSA is weighted by using the infinite norm. To further suppress outliers, a p-order cost function is formulated by extending the Frobenius norm to lower order, and then the expression of the signal power is quantified. Lastly, the DOA is approximated on the signal power by a spectral peak search mechanism. DOA estimation results based on Monte Carlo simulations validate the accuracy and robustness of the proposed techniques herein compared to the current, available methods in the context of intense impulsive noise, low generalized signal–to–noise ratio (GSNR), and a smaller number of snapshots.
Relationship between Resource Distribution and Vertical Structure of Water Temperature of Purpleback Flying Squid (Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis) in the Northwest Indian Ocean Based on GAM and GBT Models
Authors: Shang Chen , Han Haibin , Chen Junlin , Tang Fenghua , Fan Wei , Zhang Heng , Cui Xuesen
Published: September 2023

The Northwest Indian Ocean is a key fishing ground for China’s pelagic fisheries, with the purpleback flying squid being a significant target. This study uses commercial fishing logs of the Indian Ocean between 2015 and 2021, alongside pelagic seawater temperature and its vertical temperature difference within the 0–200 m depth range, to construct generalized additive models (GAMs) and gradient boosting tree models (GBTs). These two models are evaluated using cross-validation to assess their ability to predict the distribution of purpleback flying squid. The findings show that factors like year, latitude, longitude, and month significantly influence the distribution of purpleback flying squid, while surface water temperature, 200 m water temperature, and the 150–200 m water layer temperature difference also play a role in the GBT model. Similar factors also take effects in the GAM. Comparing the two models, both GAM and GBT align with reality in predicting purpleback flying squid resource distribution, but the precision indices of GBT model outperform those of the GAM. The predicted distribution for 2021 by GBT also has a higher overlap with the actual fishing ground than that by GAM, indicating GBT’s superior forecasting ability for the purpleback flying squid fishing ground in the Northwest Indian Ocean.
Fungi’s Swiss Army Knife: Pleiotropic Effect of Melanin in Fungal Pathogenesis during Cattle Mycosis
Authors: Romero Víctor , Kalinhoff Carolina , Saa Luis Rodrigo , Sánchez Aminael
Published: September 2023

Fungal threats to public health, food security, and biodiversity have escalated, with a significant rise in mycosis cases globally. Around 300 million people suffer from severe fungal diseases annually, while one-third of food crops are decimated by fungi. Vertebrate, including livestock, are also affected. Our limited understanding of fungal virulence mechanisms hampers our ability to prevent and treat cattle mycoses. Here we aim to bridge knowledge gaps in fungal virulence factors and the role of melanin in evading bovine immune responses. We investigate mycosis in bovines employing a PRISMA-based methodology, bioinformatics, and data mining techniques. Our analysis identified 107 fungal species causing mycoses, primarily within the Ascomycota division. Candida, Aspergillus, Malassezia, and Trichophyton were the most prevalent genera. Of these pathogens, 25% produce melanin. Further research is required to explore the involvement of melanin and develop intervention strategies. While the literature on melanin-mediated fungal evasion mechanisms in cattle is lacking, we successfully evaluated the transferability of immunological mechanisms from other model mammals through homology. Bioinformatics enables knowledge transfer and enhances our understanding of mycosis in cattle. This synthesis fills critical information gaps and paves the way for proposing biotechnological strategies to mitigate the impact of mycoses in cattle.
Inhibitory Mechanisms of trans-2-Hexenal on the Growth of Geotrichum citri-aurantii
Authors: Ouyang Qiuli , Shi Shiwei , Liu Yangmei , Yang Yanqin , Zhang Yonghua , Yuan Xingxing , Tao Nengguo , Li Lu
Published: September 2023

Geotrichum citri-aurantii (G. citri-aurantii) is one of the most important postharvest pathogens leading to a postharvest loss of citrus by causing sour rot. In this study, the antifungal activity of trans-2-hexenal, a natural component of essential oil, against G. citri-aurantii was evaluated. Trans-2-hexenal treatment inhibited the mycelia growth of G. citri-aurantii with a minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration of trans-2-hexenal at 0.50 and 1.00 μL/mL, respectively. Moreover, trans-2-hexenal efficiently reduced the incidence of sour rot of Satsuma fruit inoculated with G. citri-aurantii. Ultrastructural observations and Fourier transform infrared (FT−IR) results showed that trans-2-hexenal treatment affected the cell wall and cell membrane instructions of G. citri-aurantii. The content of β-1,3-glucan was significantly decreased after trans-2-hexenal treatment, but the cell wall permeability was not changed. The decrease in lipid and ergosterol contents might be responsible for this antifungal activity. Several important genes, FKS1, ERG1, ERG7, and ERG11, showed decreasing expression levels after trans-2-hexenal treatment. Molecule-docking results also indicated that trans-2-hexenal could join with the protein of FKS1, ERG1, ERG7, and ERG11 to impact enzyme activities. These results demonstrated that trans-2-hexenal is a promising fungicide for controlling sour rot of harvested citrus fruit by damaging the membrane integrity of G. citri-aurantii.
Why the High Values for the CAPE Ratio in Recent Years Might Be Justified
Authors: Chan Leo H.
Published: September 2023

In this paper, I propose a tracking error approach using the P/E ratio equation to approximate the CAPE Ratio. After accounting for the recent structural changes in the composition and valuation of the S&P 500 index, along with a persistently low interest rate environment over the last three decades, I show that the average CAPE Ratio had increases over time. Relying solely on historical CAPE averages to forecast equity returns may therefore prove unreliable. The findings in this paper indicate that investors should incorporate multiple factors, including required return and expected earnings growth, when forming capital allocation decisions across asset classes. Rotating out of the equity market simply because the CAPE Ratio shows that the equity market is too expensive might not produce the desire outcome investors hope for.
Some Classification Theorems and Endomorphisms in New Classes
Authors: Alnoghashi Hafedh , Alali Amal S. , Sogutcu Emine Koc , Rehman Nadeem ur , Alqarni Faez A.
Published: September 2023

Let ℧ be a prime ring of char(℧) ≠2 with its center Z. This article introduces new classes of endomorphisms and investigates how they relate to antiautomorphisms of prime rings and the commutativity of prime rings. Additionally, we fully describe and classify some of these endomorphisms. We also give examples to prove the necessity of the numerous restrictions included in the hypotheses of our results.
Levy Flight and Chaos Theory-Based Gravitational Search Algorithm for Image Segmentation
Authors: Rather Sajad Ahmad , Das Sujit
Published: September 2023

Image segmentation is one of the pivotal steps in image processing due to its enormous application potential in medical image analysis, data mining, and pattern recognition. In fact, image segmentation is the process of splitting an image into multiple parts in order to provide detailed information on different aspects of the image. Traditional image segmentation techniques suffer from local minima and premature convergence issues when exploring complex search spaces. Additionally, these techniques also take considerable runtime to find the optimal pixels as the threshold levels are increased. Therefore, in order to overcome the computational overhead and convergence problems of the multilevel thresholding process, a robust optimizer, namely the Levy flight and Chaos theory-based Gravitational Search Algorithm (LCGSA), is employed to perform the segmentation of the COVID-19 chest CT scan images. In LCGSA, exploration is carried out by Levy flight, while chaotic maps guarantee the exploitation of the search space. Meanwhile, Kapur’s entropy method is utilized for segmenting the image into various regions based on the pixel intensity values. To investigate the segmentation performance of ten chaotic versions of LCGSA, firstly, several benchmark images from the USC-SIPI database are considered for the numerical analysis. Secondly, the applicability of LCGSA for solving real-world image processing problems is examined by using various COVID-19 chest CT scan imaging datasets from the Kaggle database. Further, an ablation study is carried out on different chest CT scan images by considering ground truth images. Moreover, various qualitative and quantitative metrics are used for the performance evaluation. The overall analysis of the experimental results indicated the efficient performance of LCGSA over other peer algorithms in terms of taking less computational time and providing optimal values for image quality metrics.