bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation between Overconfidence and Learning Motivation in Postgraduate Infection Prevention and Control Training
Authors: Trifunovic-Koenig Milena , Bushuven Stefan , Gerber Bianka , Otto Baerbel , Dettenkofer Markus , Salm Florian , Fischer Martin R.
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Training in hand hygiene for health care workers is essential to reduce hospital-acquired infections. Unfortunately, training in this competency may be perceived as tedious, time-consuming, and expendable. In preceding studies, our working group detected overconfidence effects in the self-assessment of hand hygiene competencies. Overconfidence is the belief of being better than others (overplacement) or being better than tests reveal (overestimation). The belief that members of their profession are better than other professionals is attributable to the clinical tribalism phenomenon. The study aimed to assess the correlation of overconfidence effects on hand hygiene and their association with four motivational dimensions (intrinsic, identified, external, and amotivation) to attend hand hygiene training. Methods: We conducted an open online convenience sampling survey with 103 health care professionals (physicians, nurses, and paramedics) in German, combining previously validated questionnaires for (a) overconfidence in hand hygiene and (b) learning motivation assessments. Statistics included parametric, nonparametric, and cluster analyses. Results: We detected a quadratic, u-shaped correlation between learning motivation and the assessments of one’s own and others’ competencies. The results of the quadratic regressions with overplacement and its quadratic term as predictors indicated that the model explained 7% of the variance of amotivation (R2 = 0.07; F(2, 100) = 3.94; p = 0.02). Similarly, the quadratic model of clinical tribalism for nurses in comparison to physicians and its quadratic term explained 18% of the variance of amotivation (R2 = 0.18; F(2, 48) = 5.30; p = 0.01). Cluster analysis revealed three distinct groups of participants: (1) “experts” (n1 = 43) with excellent knowledge and justifiable confidence in their proficiencies but still motivated for ongoing training, and (2) “recruitables” (n2 = 43) who are less competent with mild overconfidence and higher motivation to attend training, and (3) “unawares” (n3 = 17) being highly overconfident, incompetent (especially in assessing risks for incorrect and omitted hand hygiene), and lacking motivation for training. Discussion: We were able to show that a highly rated self-assessment, which was justified (confident) or unjustified (overconfident), does not necessarily correlate with a low motivation to learn. However, the expert’s learning motivation stayed high. Overconfident persons could be divided into two groups: motivated for training (recruitable) or not (unaware). These findings are consistent with prior studies on overconfidence in medical and non-medical contexts. Regarding the study’s limitations (sample size and convenience sampling), our findings indicate a need for further research in the closed populations of health care providers on training motivation in hand hygiene.
Epidemiological Characteristics of COVID-19 Cases in Non-Italian Nationals in Sicily: Identifying Vulnerable Groups in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sicily, Italy
Authors: Immordino Palmira , Genovese Dario , Morales Fatima , Casuccio Alessandra , Amodio Emanuele
Published: May 2022

As in other parts of the world, undocumented migrants in Italy suffer worse health status due to their immigration enforcement situation and other vulnerabilities such as precarious illegal jobs, exploitation and abuse or barriers to higher education, with higher prevalence of chronic noncommunicable diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic, as other pandemics, has not affected everyone equally. The undocumented was one of the most affected groups with regard to hospitalization rates and mortality worldwide. Sicily is one of the gates of entrance to Europe for migrants and asylum seekers from Africa and Asia. Herein, we described the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 cases in Sicily to compare hospitalization rate and mortality between Italian nationals and foreigners. We extracted data from the integrated national surveillance system established by the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS) to collect information on all COVID-19 cases and deaths in Sicily. We found that the hospitalization rates were higher in undocumented foreigners, and they were most likely to present a more severe clinical outcome compared to Italian nationals. Inclusive public health policies should take this population group into consideration to achieve the Health for All goal.
Determinants of Burnout among Teachers: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies
Authors: Mijakoski Dragan , Cheptea Dumitru , Marca Sandy Carla , Shoman Yara , Caglayan Cigdem , Bugge Merete Drevvatne , Gnesi Marco , Godderis Lode , Kiran Sibel , McElvenny Damien M. , Mediouni Zakia , Mesot Olivia , Minov Jordan , Nena Evangelia , Otelea Marina , Pranjic Nurka , Mehlum Ingrid Sivesind , van der Molen Henk F. , Canu Irina Guseva
Published: May 2022

We aimed to review the determinants of burnout onset in teachers. The study was conducted according to the PROSPERO protocol CRD42018105901, with a focus on teachers. We performed a literature search from 1990 to 2021 in three databases: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase. We included longitudinal studies assessing burnout as a dependent variable, with a sample of at least 50 teachers. We summarized studies by the types of determinant and used the MEVORECH tool for a risk of bias assessment (RBA). The quantitative synthesis focused on emotional exhaustion. We standardized the reported regression coefficients and their standard errors and plotted them using R software to distinguish between detrimental and protective determinants. A qualitative analysis of the included studies (n = 33) identified 61 burnout determinants. The RBA showed that most studies had external and internal validity issues. Most studies implemented two waves (W) of data collection with 6–12 months between W1 and W2. Four types of determinants were summarized quantitatively, namely support, conflict, organizational context, and individual characteristics, based on six studies. This systematic review identified detrimental determinants of teacher exhaustion, including job satisfaction, work climate or pressure, teacher self-efficacy, neuroticism, perceived collective exhaustion, and classroom disruption. We recommend that authors consider using harmonized methods and protocols such as those developed in OMEGA-NET and other research consortia.
Long-Lasting Olfactory Dysfunction in Hospital Workers Due to COVID-19: Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Most Affected Odorants
Authors: Delgado-Losada María Luisa , Bouhaben Jaime , Ruiz-Huerta Claudia , Canto Marcelle V. , Delgado-Lima Alice Helena
Published: May 2022

Hospital workers have increased exposure risk of healthcare-associated infections due to the frontline nature of their work. Olfactory dysfunction is highly prevalent. The objectives for this investigation are to study the prevalence of long-lasting olfactory dysfunction associated with COVID-19 infection in hospital workers during the first pandemic wave, to identify clinical characteristics and associated symptomatology, and to analyze how many patients with COVID-19 infection had developed olfactory dysfunction during infection and maintained a reduced olfactory function for approximately 10 weeks after diagnosis. Between June and July of 2020, a cross-sectional study was carried out at the Hospital Central de la Cruz Roja San José and Santa Adela in Madrid, Spain. One hundred sixty-four participants were included, of which 110 were patient-facing healthcare staff and 54 were non-patient-facing healthcare staff. Participants were split into three groups, according to COVID-19 diagnosis and presence of COVID-19 related olfactory symptomatology. Participants were asked to complete a structured online questionnaire along with Sniffin’ Stick Olfactory Test measurements. In this study, 88 participants were confirmed for COVID-19 infection, 59 of those participants also reported olfactory symptomatology. The prevalence of COVID-19 infection was 11.35%, and the prevalence for olfactory dysfunction was 67.05%. Olfactory dysfunction associated with COVID-19 infection leads to long-lasting olfactory loss. Objective assessment with Sniffin’ Stick Olfactory Test points to odor identification as the most affected process. Lemon, liquorice, solvent, and rose are the odors that are worst recognized. Mint, banana, solvent, garlic, coffee, and pineapple, although they are identified, are perceived with less intensity. The findings of this study confirmed a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among the hospital workers.
Factors Associated with Job Stress among Hospital Nurses: A Meta-Correlation Analysis
Authors: Lim Ji-Young , Kim Geun-Myun , Kim Eun-Joo
Published: May 2022

This study aims to investigate research trends concerning job stress among hospital nurses. Articles about job stress among hospital nurses published in English from 2008 to 2018 were searched. In the first search, 2673 articles were extracted from the MEDLINE, EMBASE, KoreaMed, KERIS, KISS, KISTI, and KMbase databases. Altogether, 154 articles were used in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Thirty-nine variables were explored regarding job stress. Among the major variables, insufficient job control, personal conflict, and burnout had a positive correlation. In contrast, intention to stay, job satisfaction, and personal accomplishment had a negative correlation. In the meta-analysis conducted in relation to a specific conceptual framework, the negative-outcome factors showed significant positive correlations with job stress, whereas the positive-outcome factors showed significant negative correlations with job stress. This study identified factors associated with job stress in nurses through a meta-correlation analysis, and the overall correlation coefficient was relatively high at 0.51. Job factors and moderators had significant meta-correlation coefficients. These results can be utilized in clinical practice and research to help develop intervention programs to relieve job stress among nurses.
Too Many Treats or Not Enough to Eat? The Impact of Caregiving Grandparents on Child Food Security and Nutrition
Authors: Mathews Rahel , Nadorff Danielle
Published: May 2022

With the number of grandparent-headed households on the rise, the influence of grandparents needs to be considered in the fight to reduce child obesity. The current study investigated the influence of caregiver type (i.e., grandparents only, parents only, or multi-generational households) on children’s nutrition, food security, and BMI. This was a cross-sectional, secondary analysis based on the 2009–2010 wave of the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey in collaboration with the World Health Organization. This sample included 12,181 students from 10,837 families with only parents present in the household, 238 with only grandparents present, and 1106 multi-generational families. One-way analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were conducted using caregiver type as the independent variable, controlling for SES, on items assessing frequency of breakfast consumption, nutrition intake, hunger, snacking frequency and location, and BMI. Children reported more unhealthy snacking in households with only grandparents. Hunger was reported more often in multi-generational households. These results support that caregiver type, especially caregiving grandparents, is a significant predictor of children’s BMI, nutrition, and food security. Tailoring nutrition education to the needs of grandparents could help both the health of grandparents and the reduction of child obesity.
Parents’ and Children’s Experiences with a Coordinating Professional in Integrated Care for Childhood Overweight and Obesity—A Novel Dutch Approach
Authors: De Laat Sanne A. A. , Jacobs Monique A. M. , Van Mil Edgar G. , Van de Goor Ien A. M.
Published: May 2022

Background: In the new integrated program of care for childhood overweight and obesity (ICCO), a Youth Health Care (YHC) nurse has the role of a coordinating professional. After a broad assessment of strengths and weaknesses in the family setting, this coordinating professional makes a plan of action with the child and parents and involves other professionals when needed. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of parents and children with the coordinating professional in the ICCO. Material & Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight families. Interview data were analyzed using content analysis. In addition, descriptive data on involved professionals and referrals was collected with an online questionnaire in 38 families. Results: In total, eight families (8 mothers, 2 fathers, four boys and three girls aged 10–12 yrs) were interviewed and 38 children and parents filled in (three consecutive) online questionnaires. Findings: The main themes related to the experiences of parents and children with the CP: parents and children felt supported and understood by the coordinating professional. They appreciated the broad perspective and personal approach. Contacts with the coordinating professional were not always frequent. Major points of improvement concerned the intensity of the follow-up and collaboration. Only few parents experienced collaboration between the coordinating professional and other professionals in the ICCO. Conclusions: Parents and children appreciated the personal approach of the Youth Health Care nurse as a CP. The role of the coordinating professional, however, appears not fully implemented yet. Strengthening the promising role of the coordinating professional in the ICCO is recommended.
Health Literacy among Pregnant Women in a Lifestyle Intervention Trial
Authors: Nawabi Farah , Krebs Franziska , Lorenz Laura , Shukri Arim , Alayli Adrienne , Stock Stephanie
Published: May 2022

Health literacy plays a crucial role during pregnancy, influencing the mother’s health behavior which in turn affects the unborn child’s health. To date, there are only few studies that report on health literacy among pregnant women or even interventions to promote health literacy. GeMuKi (acronym for “Gemeinsam Gesund: Vorsorge plus für Mutter und Kind”—Strengthening health promotion: enhanced check-up visits for mother and child) is a cluster-randomized controlled trial, aimed at improving health literacy in pregnant women by means of a lifestyle intervention in the form of brief counseling. The women in the intervention group receive counseling on lifestyle topics, such as nutrition and physical activity, during their regular prenatal check-ups. The counseling is tailored to the needs of pregnant women. Demographic data is collected at baseline using a paper-based questionnaire. Data on health literacy is collected using the Health Literacy Survey Europe with 16 items (HLS-EU-16) at baseline and the Brief Health Literacy Screener (BHLS) questionnaire at two points during the pregnancy by means of an app, which was developed specifically for the purpose of the project. The results of the study indicate that around 61.9% of the women participating in the GeMuKi study have an adequate level of health literacy at baseline. The regression analyses (general estimating equations) showed no significant effect of the GeMuKi intervention on general health literacy as measured by the BHLS (ß = 0.086, 95% CI [−0.016–0.187]). However, the intervention was significantly positively associated with pregnancy specific knowledge on lifestyle (ß = 0.089, 95% CI [0.024–0.154]). The results of this study indicate that GeMuKi was effective in improving specific pregnancy related knowledge, but did not improve general health literacy.
Associations between Home- and School-Based Violent Experiences and the Development of Sexual Behavior in Young Adolescent Girls in the Rural Southern Region of Malawi
Authors: Muheriwa Matemba Sadandaula Rose , Cianelli Rosina , Leblanc Natalie M. , Zhang Chen , De Santis Joseph , Villegas Rodriguez Natalia , McMahon James M.
Published: May 2022

Studies show that adolescent girls who experience violence grow up with fear and develop survival mechanisms that increase their susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections including HIV. However, the relationship between violence and the development of sexual behavior in young adolescent girls is under-investigated. We examined the Malawi Schooling and Adolescent Study data to explore the associations between home- and school-based violence and sexual behaviors in 416 young adolescent girls in rural Southern Malawi. Bivariate Logistic Regression analysis was applied to determine associations. Of 353 (84.9%) girls who had sex with a male partner, 123 (34.8%) experienced home-based violence, and 53 (15%) experienced school-based violence. The odds of girls who experienced home-based violence (OR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.21, 5.01) and those who first experienced home-based violence between 13 and 14 years (OR = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.35, 5.74) were higher among girls who had multiple sexual partners than those with a single sexual partner. With school-based violence, sexual initiation, having multiple sexual partners, and not using protection were positively associated with experiencing teasing, sexual comments, punching, and touching in private areas in transit to school and by a teacher. These results suggest that home- and school-based violence should be essential components of research and biobehavioral interventions targeting the sexual behaviors of young adolescent girls.
Thermal Performance of School Buildings: Impacts beyond Thermal Comfort
Authors: Su Bin , Jadresin Milic Renata , McPherson Peter , Wu Lian
Published: May 2022

Based on field study data regarding the winter indoor thermal environment of three classrooms with different building envelopes, this study compared and evaluated these environments, not only related to students’ thermal comfort but also to their health. The inadequacy of the conventional New Zealand school building for maintaining a comfortable and healthy winter indoor thermal environment has been identified. A classroom with thermal mass had 31%, 34% and 9% more time than a classroom without thermal mass when indoor temperatures met 16 °C 18 °C and 20 °C respectively and has 21.4% more time than the classroom without thermal mass when indoor relative humidity was in the optimal range of 40% to 60%, in a temperate climate with a mild and humid winter. Adding thermal mass to school building envelopes should be considered as a strategy to improve the winter indoor thermal environment in future school design and development. Adding thermal mass to a school building with sufficient insulation can not only increase winter indoor mean air temperature but can also reduce the fluctuation of indoor air temperatures. This can significantly reduce the incidence of very low indoor temperature and very high indoor relative humidity, and significantly improve the indoor thermal environment.
The Influence of Message Framing on Residents’ Waste Separation Willingness—The Mediating Role of Moral Identity
Authors: Li Wei , Chen Si , Wang Zhihao , Li Guomin , Liu Xiaoguang
Published: May 2022

With serious environmental problems increasing, waste separation has drawn much attention. Message framing is an important way to popularize separation knowledge and increase people’s separation willingness. Message framing was classified into positive and negative frames in this study, and then based on moral identity theory from the social cognitive perspective, two dimensions of moral identity were introduced as mediating variables to construct a mechanism model of the influence of message framing on waste separation willingness. After a comparative study of three groups of subjects (N = 604), the following conclusions were drawn: (1) message framing positively influenced moral identity and waste separation willingness; (2) both positive and negative message framing positively influenced waste separation willingness through the partial mediating role of moral identity symbolization and internalization; and (3) the mediating role of symbolization was stronger in the effect of positive message framing on waste separation willingness, while the mediating role of internalization was stronger in the effect of negative message framing on waste separation willingness. The findings provide significant information for organizations to effectively carry out message strategies.
What Factors Would Make Single-Vehicle Motorcycle Crashes Fatal? Empirical Evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Pervez Amjad , Lee Jaeyoung , Huang Helai , Zhai Xiaoqi
Published: May 2022

The existing research on motorcycle safety has shown that single-vehicle motorcycle crashes (SVMC) account for a higher fatality rate than other types of crashes. Also, motorcycle safety has become one of the critical traffic safety issues in many developing countries, such as Pakistan, due to the growing number of motorcycles and lack of sufficient relevant infrastructure. However, the available literature on SVMC and motorcycle safety in developing countries is limited. Therefore, the present study attempted to investigate the factors that contribute to the injury severity of SVMC in a developing country, Pakistan. For this purpose, a random parameter logit model with heterogeneity in means and variances is developed using two years of data extracted from the road traffic injury research project in Karachi city, Pakistan. The study’s findings show that the presence of pillion passengers and young motorcyclists indicators result in random parameters with heterogeneity in their means and variances. The study’s results also reveal that the summer, morning time, weekends, older motorcyclists, collisions with fixed objects, speeding, and overtaking are positively, while younger motorcyclists and the presence of pillion passengers are negatively associated with fatal crashes. More importantly, in the particular Pakistan’s context, female pillion passenger clothes trapped in the wheel, riding under the influence, intersections, U-turns, and collisions due to loss of control are also found to significantly influence the injury severity of SVMC. Based on these research findings, multiple appropriate countermeasures are recommended to enhance motorcycle safety in Pakistan and other developing countries with similar problems.
Effects of Robot-Assisted Gait Training with Body Weight Support on Gait and Balance in Stroke Patients
Authors: Choi Wonho
Published: May 2022

This study investigated the effects of robot-assisted gait training with body weight support on gait and balance in stroke patients. The study participants comprised 24 patients diagnosed with stroke. Patients were randomly assigned to four groups of six: robot A, B, C, and non-robot. The body weight support (BWS) for the harness of the robot was set to 30% of the patient’s body weight in robot group A, 50% in robot group B, and 70% in robot group C. All experimental groups received robot-assisted gait training and general physical therapy. The non-robot group underwent gait training using a p-bar, a treadmill, and general physical therapy. The intervention was performed for 30 min a day, five times a week, for 6 weeks. All participants received the intervention after the pre-test. A post-test was performed after all of the interventions were completed. Gait was measured using a 10 m Walking test (10MWT) and the timed up and go (TUG) test. Balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Robot groups A, B, and C showed significantly better 10MWT results than did the non-robot group (p < 0.5). TUG was significantly shorter in robot groups A, B, and C than in the non-robot group (p < 0.5). The BBS scores for robot group A improved significantly more than did those for robot groups B and C and the non-robot group (p < 0.5), indicating that robot-assisted gait training with body weight support effectively improved the gait of stroke patients.
New Perspectives in Health: Gut Microbiota
Authors: Cardona Diana , Roman Pablo
Published: May 2022

The gut microbiota has an important role in different physiological functions, exerting effects from energy metabolism to psychiatric well-being [...]
Geo-Enabled Sustainable Municipal Energy Planning for Comprehensive Accessibility: A Case in the New Federal Context of Nepal
Authors: Dhonju Hari Krishna , Uprety Bikash , Xiao Wen
Published: May 2022

Energy is a fundamental need of modern society and a basis for economic and social development, and one of the major Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG7. However, the UN’s SDG Report 2021 betrays millions of people living without electricity and one-third of the world’s population deprived of using modern energy cooking services (MECS) through access to electricity. Achieving the SDG7 requires standard approaches and tools that effectively address the geographical, infrastructural, and socioeconomic characteristics of a (rural) municipality of Nepal. Furthermore, Nepal’s Constitution 2015 incorporated a federal system under the purview of a municipality as the local government that has been given the mandate to ensure electricity access and clean energy. To address this, a methodology is developed for local government planning in Nepal in order to identify the optimal mix of electrification options by conducting a detailed geospatial analysis of renewable energy (RE) technologies by exploring accessibility and availability ranging from grid extensions to mini-grid and off-grid solutions, based on (a) life cycle cost and (b) levelized cost of energy. During energy assessment, geospatial and socio-economic data are coupled with household and community level data collected from a mobile survey app, and are exploited to garner energy status-quo and enable local governments to assess the existing situation of energy access/availability and planning. In summary, this paper presents a geo-enabled municipal energy planning method and a comprehensive toolkit to facilitate sustainable energy access to local people.
Towards Understanding the Gene-Specific Roles of GATA Factors in Heart Development: Does GATA4 Lead the Way?
Authors: Afouda Boni A.
Published: May 2022

Transcription factors play crucial roles in the regulation of heart induction, formation, growth and morphogenesis. Zinc finger GATA transcription factors are among the critical regulators of these processes. GATA4, 5 and 6 genes are expressed in a partially overlapping manner in developing hearts, and GATA4 and 6 continue their expression in adult cardiac myocytes. Using different experimental models, GATA4, 5 and 6 were shown to work together not only to ensure specification of cardiac cells but also during subsequent heart development. The complex involvement of these related gene family members in those processes is demonstrated through the redundancy among them and crossregulation of each other. Our recent identification at the genome-wide level of genes specifically regulated by each of the three family members and our earlier discovery that gata4 and gata6 function upstream, while gata5 functions downstream of noncanonical Wnt signalling during cardiac differentiation, clearly demonstrate the functional differences among the cardiogenic GATA factors. Such suspected functional differences are worth exploring more widely. It appears that in the past few years, significant advances have indeed been made in providing a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which each of these molecules function during heart development. In this review, I will therefore discuss current evidence of the role of individual cardiogenic GATA factors in the process of heart development and emphasize the emerging central role of GATA4.
The Role of Fibrinolytic System in Health and Disease
Authors: Kwaan Hau C.
Published: May 2022

The fibrinolytic system is composed of the protease plasmin, its precursor plasminogen and their respective activators, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), counteracted by their inhibitors, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2), protein C inhibitor (PCI), thrombin activable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), protease nexin 1 (PN-1) and neuroserpin. The action of plasmin is counteracted by α2-antiplasmin, α2-macroglobulin, TAFI, and other serine protease inhibitors (antithrombin and α2-antitrypsin) and PN-1 (protease nexin 1). These components are essential regulators of many physiologic processes. They are also involved in the pathogenesis of many disorders. Recent advancements in our understanding of these processes enable the opportunity of drug development in treating many of these disorders.
Ablation of Tmcc2 Gene Impairs Erythropoiesis in Mice
Authors: Kumari Ranju , Grzywa Tomasz M. , Małecka-Giełdowska Milena , Tyszkowska Karolina , Wrzesień Robert , Ciepiela Olga , Nowis Dominika , Kaźmierczak Piotr
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: Transcriptomic and proteomic studies provide a wealth of new genes potentially involved in red blood cell (RBC) maturation or implicated in the pathogenesis of anemias, necessitating validation of candidate genes in vivo; (2) Methods: We inactivated one such candidate, transmembrane and coiled-coil domain 2 (Tmcc2) in mice, and analyzed the erythropoietic phenotype by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and flow cytometry of erythrocytes and erythroid precursors; (3) Results: Tmcc2−/− pups presented pallor and reduced body weight due to the profound neonatal macrocytic anemia with numerous nucleated RBCs (nRBCs) and occasional multinucleated RBCs. Tmcc2−/− nRBCs had cytoplasmic intrusions into the nucleus and double membranes. Significantly fewer erythroid cells were enucleated. Adult knockouts were normocytic, mildly polycythemic, with active extramedullary erythropoiesis in the spleen. Altered relative content of different stage CD71+TER119+ erythroid precursors in the bone marrow indicated a severe defect of erythroid maturation at the polychromatic to orthochromatic transition stage; (4) Conclusions: Tmcc2 is required for normal erythropoiesis in mice. While several phenotypic features resemble congenital dyserythropoietic anemias (CDA) types II, III, and IV, the involvement of TMCC2 in the pathogenesis of CDA in humans remains to be determined.
Exploiting the Metabolic Consequences of PTEN Loss and Akt/Hexokinase 2 Hyperactivation in Prostate Cancer: A New Role for δ-Tocotrienol
Authors: Fontana Fabrizio , Anselmi Martina , Limonta Patrizia
Published: May 2022

The Warburg effect is commonly recognized as a hallmark of nearly all tumors. In prostate cancer (PCa), it has been shown to be driven by PTEN loss- and Akt hyperactivation-associated upregulation of hexokinase 2 (HK2). δ-Tocotrienol (δ-TT) is an extensively studied antitumor compound; however, its role in affecting PCa glycolysis is still unclear. Herein, we demonstrated that δ-TT inhibits glucose uptake and lactate production in PTEN-deficient LNCaP and PC3 PCa cells, by specifically decreasing HK2 expression. Notably, this was accompanied by the inhibition of the Akt pathway. Moreover, the nutraceutical could synergize with the well-known hypoglycemic agent metformin in inducing PCa cell death, highlighting the crucial role of the above metabolic phenotype in δ-TT-mediated cytotoxicity. Collectively, these results unravel novel inhibitory effects of δ-TT on glycolytic reprogramming in PCa, thus providing new perspectives into the mechanisms of its antitumor activity and into its use in combination therapy.
Morphological and Biological Evaluations of Human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts in Contact with Different Bovine Bone Grafts Treated with Low-Temperature Deproteinisation Protocol
Authors: Bianchi Serena , Bernardi Sara , Mattei Antonella , Cristiano Loredana , Mancini Leonardo , Torge Diana , Varvara Giuseppe , Macchiarelli Guido , Marchetti Enrico
Published: May 2022

Several types of deproteinised bovine bone mineral (DBBM) are available on the market, and each one is obtained with a thermic and chemical process that can differ, achieving different results. Currently, several protocols using low temperature are suggested to reduce the possible particle crystallisation during the production process. This study aimed to evaluate the biomorphological reaction of periodontal fibroblast cultures in contact with different DBBM particles treated with a low-temperature protocol (Thermagen®) and without exposure to sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Morphological evaluation was performed using light, confocal laser, and scanning electron microscopy, and the biological reaction in terms of proliferation was performed using an XTT proliferation assay at 24 h (T1), 72 h (T2), and 7 days (T3). The morphological analysis highlighted how the presence of the materials stimulated a change in the morphology of the cells into a polygonal shape, surface reactions with the thickening of the membrane, and expression of actin. In particular, the morphological changes were appreciable from T1, with a progressive increase in the considered morphological characteristics at T2 and T3 follow-ups. The proliferation assay showed a statistical significance between the different experimental materials and the negative control in T2 and T3 follow-ups. The post hoc analysis did not reveal any differences between the materials. In conclusion, the grafts obtained with the low-temperature extractions protocol and not exposed to NaOH solution showed positive morphological reactions with no differences in the sizes of particles.
Dose Rate Effects on the Selective Radiosensitization of Prostate Cells by GRPR-Targeted Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Marques Ana , Belchior Ana , Silva Francisco , Marques Fernanda , Campello Maria Paula Cabral , Pinheiro Teresa , Santos Pedro , Santos Luis , Matos António P. A. , Paulo António
Published: May 2022

For a while, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been recognized as potential radiosensitizers in cancer radiation therapy, mainly due to their physical properties, making them appealing for medical applications. Nevertheless, the performance of AuNPs as radiosensitizers still raises important questions that need further investigation. Searching for selective prostate (PCa) radiosensitizing agents, we studied the radiosensitization capability of the target-specific AuNP-BBN in cancer versus non-cancerous prostate cells, including the evaluation of dose rate effects in comparison with non-targeted counterparts (AuNP-TDOTA). PCa cells were found to exhibit increased AuNP uptake when compared to non-tumoral ones, leading to a significant loss of cellular proliferation ability and complex DNA damage, evidenced by the occurrence of multiple micronucleus per binucleated cell, in the case of PC3 cells irradiated with 2 Gy of γ-rays, after incubation with AuNP-BBN. Remarkably, the treatment of the PC3 cells with AuNP-BBN led to a much stronger influence of the dose rate on the cellular survival upon γ-photon irradiation, as well as on their genomic instability. Overall, AuNP-BBN emerged in this study as a very promising nanotool for the efficient and selective radiosensitization of human prostate cancer PC3 cells, therefore deserving further preclinical evaluation in adequate animal models for prostate cancer radiotherapy.
Central and Local Modulators of Reproduction and Fertility: An Update
Authors: Meccariello Rosaria
Published: May 2022

Infertility is currently one of the most important health troubles in industrialised countries after cardio-vascular diseases and cancer [...]
Surface Modulation of 3D Porous CoNiP Nanoarrays In Situ Grown on Nickel Foams for Robust Overall Water Splitting
Authors: Li Jianpeng , Gao Caiyan , Wang Haiyang , Li Baojun , Zhao Shufang , Kim Young Dok , Liu Zhongyi , Du Xin , Peng Zhikun
Published: May 2022

The careful design of nanostructures and multi-compositions of non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts for highly efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction (HER and OER) is of great significance to realize sustainable hydrogen release. Herein, bifunctional electrocatalysts of the three-dimensional (3D) cobalt-nickel phosphide nanoarray in situ grown on nickel foams (CoNiP NA/NF) were synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method followed by phosphorization. Due to the unique self-template nanoarray structure and tunable multicomponent system, the CoNiP NA/NF samples present exceptional activity and durability for HER and OER. The optimized sample of CoNiP NA/NF-2 afforded a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a low overpotential of 162 mV for HER and 499 mV for OER, corresponding with low Tafel slopes of 114.3 and 79.5 mV dec−1, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that modulation active sites with appropriate electronic properties facilitate the interaction between the catalyst surface and intermediates, especially for the adsorption of absorbed H* and *OOH intermediates, resulting in an optimized energy barrier for HER and OER. The 3D nanoarray structure, with a large specific surface area and abundant ion channels, can enrich the electroactive sites and enhance mass transmission. This work provides novel strategies and insights for the design of robust non-precious metal catalysts.
Immunomodulation via MyD88-NFκB Signaling Pathway from Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Acute Lung Injury
Authors: Wu Kang-Hsi , Li Ju-Pi , Chao Wan-Ru , Lee Yi-Ju , Yang Shun-Fa , Cheng Ching-Chang , Chao Yu-Hua
Published: May 2022

Excess inflammatory processes play a key detrimental role in the pathophysiology of acute lung injury (ALI). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were reported to be beneficial to ALI, but the underlying mechanisms have not been completely understood. The present study aimed to examine the involvement of MyD88–NFκB signaling in the immunomodulation of MSCs in mice with lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced ALI. We found that serum concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-1β, and IL-8 were significantly decreased at 6 h after LPS-induced ALI in the MSC group (p < 0.05). For each of the five cytokines, the serum concentration of each individual mouse in either group declined to a similar level at 48 h. The intensity of lung injury lessened in the MSC group, as shown by histopathology and lung injury scores (p < 0.001). The expressions of MyD88 and phospho-NFκB in the lung tissue were significantly decreased in mice receiving MSCs as measured by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Our data demonstrated that human umbilical cord-derived MSCs could effectively alleviate the cytokine storm in mice after LPS-induced ALI and attenuated lung injury. Firstly, we documented the correlation between the down-regulation of MyD88–NFκB signaling and immunomodulatory effects of MSCs in the situation of ALI.
BRITTLE CULM17, a Novel Allele of TAC4, Affects the Mechanical Properties of Rice Plants
Authors: Li Guangzheng , Zeng Xiaofang , Li Yan , Li Jianrong , Huang Xiaozhen , Zhao Degang
Published: May 2022

Lodging resistance of rice (Oryza sativa L.) has always been a hot issue in agricultural production. A brittle stem mutant, osbc17, was identified by screening an EMS (Ethylmethane sulfonate) mutant library established in our laboratory. The stem segments and leaves of the mutant were obviously brittle and fragile, with low mechanical strength. Examination of paraffin sections of flag leaf and internode samples indicated that the number of cell layers in mechanical tissue of the mutant was decreased compared with the wild type, Pingtangheinuo, and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the mechanical tissue cell walls of the mutant were thinner. Lignin contents of the internodes of mature-stage rice were significantly lower in the mutant than in the wild type. By the MutMap method, we found candidate gene OsBC17, which was located on rice chromosome 2 and had a 2433 bp long coding sequence encoding a protein sequence of 810 amino acid residues with unknown function. According to LC-MS/MS analysis of intermediate products of the lignin synthesis pathway, the accumulation of caffeyl alcohol in the osbc17 mutant was significantly higher than in Pingtangheinuo. Caffeyl alcohol can be polymerized to the catechyl lignin monomer by laccase ChLAC8; however, ChLAC8 and OsBC17 are not homologous proteins, which suggests that the osbc17 gene is involved in this process by regulating laccase expression.
Genome-Wide Identification of Auxin Response Factors in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and Functional Analysis in Root Morphology
Authors: Luo Lu , Wan Qian , Yu Zipeng , Zhang Kun , Zhang Xiurong , Zhu Suqing , Wan Yongshan , Ding Zhaojun , Liu Fengzhen
Published: May 2022

Auxin response factors (ARFs) play important roles in plant growth and development; however, research in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is still lacking. Here, 63, 30, and 30 AhARF genes were identified from an allotetraploid peanut cultivar and two diploid ancestors (A. duranensis and A. ipaensis). Phylogenetic tree and gene structure analysis showed that most AhARFs were highly similar to those in the ancestors. By scanning the whole-genome for ARF-recognized cis-elements, we obtained a potential target gene pool of AhARFs, and the further cluster analysis and comparative analysis showed that numerous members were closely related to root development. Furthermore, we comprehensively analyzed the relationship between the root morphology and the expression levels of AhARFs in 11 peanut varieties. The results showed that the expression levels of AhARF14/26/45 were positively correlated with root length, root surface area, and root tip number, suggesting an important regulatory role of these genes in root architecture and potential application values in peanut breeding.
MoWhi2 Mediates Mitophagy to Regulate Conidiation and Pathogenesis in Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Meng Shuai , Jagernath Jane Sadhna , Luo Chaoxi , Shi Huanbin , Kou Yanjun
Published: May 2022

Mitophagy refers to the specific process of degrading mitochondria, which is an important physiological process to maintain the balance of mitochondrial quantity and quality in cells. At present, the mechanisms of mitophagy in pathogenic fungi remain unclear. Magnaporthe oryzae (Syn. Pyricularia oryzae), the causal agent of rice blast disease, is responsible for the most serious disease of rice. In M. oryzae, mitophagy occurs in the foot cells and invasive hyphae to promote conidiation and infection. In this study, fluorescent observations and immunoblot analyses showed that general stress response protein MoWhi2 is required for mitophagy in M. oryzae. In addition, the activation of the autophagy, pexophagy and cytoplasm-to-vacuole targeting (CVT) pathway upon nitrogen starvation was determined using the GFP-MoATG8, GFP-SRL and MoAPE1-GFP strains and the ΔMowhi2 mutant in these backgrounds. The results indicated that MoWhi2 is specifically required for mitophagy in M. oryzae. Further studies showed that mitophagy in the foot cells and invasive hyphae of the ΔMowhi2 was interrupted, leading to reduced conidiation and virulence in the ΔMowhi2 mutant. Taken together, we found that MoWhi2 contributes to conidiation and invasive growth by regulating mitophagy in M. oryzae.
The Interplay between the Theories of Mode Coupling and of Percolation Transition in Attractive Colloidal Systems
Authors: Mallamace Francesco , Mensitieri Giuseppe , Salzano de Luna Martina , Lanzafame Paola , Papanikolaou Georgia , Mallamace Domenico
Published: May 2022

In the recent years a considerable effort has been devoted to foster the understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying the dynamical arrest that is involved in glass forming in supercooled liquids and in the sol-gel transition. The elucidation of the nature of such processes represents one of the most challenging unsolved problems in the field of material science. In this context, two important theories have contributed significantly to the interpretation of these phenomena: the Mode-Coupling theory (MCT) and the Percolation theory (PT). These theories are rooted on the two pillars of statistical physics, universality and scale laws, and their original formulations have been subsequently modified to account for the fundamental concepts of Energy Landscape (EL) and of the universality of the fragile to strong dynamical crossover (FSC). In this review, we discuss experimental and theoretical results, including Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, reported in the literature for colloidal and polymer systems displaying both glass and sol-gel transitions. Special focus is dedicated to the analysis of the interferences between these transitions and on the possible interplay between MCT and PT. By reviewing recent theoretical developments, we show that such interplay between sol-gel and glass transitions may be interpreted in terms of the extended F13 MCT model that describes these processes based on the presence of a glass-glass transition line terminating in an A3 cusp-like singularity (near which the logarithmic decay of the density correlator is observed). This transition line originates from the presence of two different amorphous structures, one generated by the inter-particle attraction and the other by the pure repulsion characteristic of hard spheres. We show here, combining literature results with some new results, that such a situation can be generated, and therefore experimentally studied, by considering colloidal-like particles interacting via a hard core plus an attractive square well potential. In the final part of this review, scaling laws associated both to MCT and PT are applied to describe, by means of these two theories, the specific viscoelastic properties of some systems.
Exogenous dsRNA Induces RNA Interference of a Chalcone Synthase Gene in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Nityagovsky Nikolay N. , Kiselev Konstantin V. , Suprun Andrey R. , Dubrovina Alexandra S.
Published: May 2022

Recent investigations have shown the possibility of artificial induction of RNA interference (RNAi) via plant foliar treatments with naked double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to silence essential genes in plant fungal pathogens or to target viral RNAs. Furthermore, several studies have documented the downregulation of plant endogenous genes via external application of naked gene-specific dsRNAs and siRNAs to the plant surfaces. However, there are limited studies on the dsRNA processing and gene silencing mechanisms after external dsRNA application. Such studies would assist in the development of innovative tools for crop improvement and plant functional studies. In this study, we used exogenous gene-specific dsRNA to downregulate the gene of chalcone synthase (CHS), the key enzyme in the flavonoid/anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, in Arabidopsis. The nonspecific NPTII-dsRNA encoding the nonrelated neomycin phosphotransferase II bacterial gene was used to treat plants in order to verify that any observed effects and processing of AtCHS mRNA were sequence specific. Using high-throughput small RNA (sRNA) sequencing, we obtained six sRNA-seq libraries for plants treated with water, AtCHS-dsRNA, or NPTII-dsRNA. After plant foliar treatments, we detected the emergence of a large number of AtCHS- and NPTII-encoding sRNAs, while there were no such sRNAs after control water treatment. Thus, the exogenous AtCHS-dsRNAs were processed into siRNAs and induced RNAi-mediated AtCHS gene silencing. The analysis showed that gene-specific sRNAs mapped to the AtCHS and NPTII genes unevenly with peak read counts at particular positions, involving primarily the sense strand, and documented a gradual decrease in read counts from 17-nt to 30-nt sRNAs. Results of the present study highlight a significant potential of exogenous dsRNAs as a promising strategy to induce RNAi-based downregulation of plant gene targets for plant management and gene functional studies.