bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Did the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Lockdown Phase Influence Coastal Water Quality Parameters off Major Indian Cities and River Basins?
Authors: Lotliker Aneesh Anandrao , Baliarsingh Sanjiba Kumar , Shesu R. Venkat , Samanta Alakes , Naik R. Chandrasekhar , Balakrishnan Nair T. M.
Published: April 2021

The end of the current decade experienced an outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus classified as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) [coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)] that spread across the globe within a short span of time and was declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. In order to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Indian Government imposed lockdown in various phases, namely, the strict lockdown period (SLP) and relaxed lockdown period (RLP). The present study addresses changes in the magnitude of satellite-derived water quality parameters in the coastal waters off major Indian cities (Mumbai and Chennai) and river basins (Narmada, Mandovi-Zuari, Netravathi, Periyar, Kaveri, Krishna-Godavari, Mahanadi, and Hooghly) along the eastern Arabian Sea (EAS) and western Bay of Bengal (WBoB) during SLP and RLP. The daily climatology (2003–2019) and anomaly (2020) of different water quality parameters, viz., chlorophyll-a (chl-a), downwelling diffused attenuation coefficient (kd490), and particulate organic carbon (POC) were used in the present study to eliminate seasonal biases and to unravel the signature of lockdown-induced changes in the magnitude of the above water quality parameters. During the total lockdown period, the magnitude of the above parameters reduced significantly in the coastal waters of both the EAS and the WBoB. However, this reduction was more significant in the coastal waters of the WBoB, attributed to a reduction in the supply of anthropogenic nutrients. Among different studied locations, the magnitude of water quality parameters significantly decreased off Chennai and Hooghly, during SLP, which subsequently increased during RLP probably due to reduction in anthropogenic material influx during SLP and increase during RLP. During RLP, the coastal waters off Mahanadi showed a maximum decrease in the magnitude of water quality parameters followed by Mandovi-Zuari, irrespective of these regions’ quantum of anthropogenic material input, possibly due to the higher response time of the ecosystem to reflect the reduction in anthropogenic perturbations. The satellite-retrieved water quality parameters have provided valuable insight to efficiently describe the changes in the health of the Indian coastal environment in terms of phytoplankton biomass and water clarity.
An Inductive Logistic Matrix Factorization Model for Predicting Drug-Metabolite Association With Vicus Regularization
Authors: Ma Yuanyuan , Liu Lifang , Chen Qianjun , Ma Yingjun
Published: April 2021

Metabolites are closely related to human disease. The interaction between metabolites and drugs has drawn increasing attention in the field of pharmacomicrobiomics. However, only a small portion of the drug-metabolite interactions were experimentally observed due to the fact that experimental validation is labor-intensive, costly, and time-consuming. Although a few computational approaches have been proposed to predict latent associations for various bipartite networks, such as miRNA-disease, drug-target interaction networks, and so on, to our best knowledge the associations between drugs and metabolites have not been reported on a large scale. In this study, we propose a novel algorithm, namely inductive logistic matrix factorization (ILMF) to predict the latent associations between drugs and metabolites. Specifically, the proposed ILMF integrates drug–drug interaction, metabolite–metabolite interaction, and drug-metabolite interaction into this framework, to model the probability that a drug would interact with a metabolite. Moreover, we exploit inductive matrix completion to guide the learning of projection matricesUandVthat depend on the low-dimensional feature representation matrices of drugs and metabolites:FmandFd. These two matrices can be obtained by fusing multiple data sources. Thus,FdUandFmVcan be viewed as drug-specific and metabolite-specific latent representations, different from classical LMF. Furthermore, we utilize the Vicus spectral matrix that reveals the refined local geometrical structure inherent in the original data to encode the relationships between drugs and metabolites. Extensive experiments are conducted on a manually curated “DrugMetaboliteAtlas” dataset. The experimental results show that ILMF can achieve competitive performance compared with other state-of-the-art approaches, which demonstrates its effectiveness in predicting potential drug-metabolite associations.
Snoring Is Associated With Increased Risk of Stroke: A Cumulative Meta-Analysis
Authors: Bai Jing , He Bing , Wang Nan , Chen Yifei , Liu Junxiang , Wang Haoran , Liu Dongliang
Published: April 2021

Background:Several studies have suggested that snoring is associated with an increased risk of stroke; however, the results are inconsistent. We aim to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies assessing the association between snoring and the risk of stroke in adults.

Methods:We searched PubMed for relevant studies. A random-effect model was adopted to summary relative risks (RRs), and forest plots from a cumulative meta-analysis method were used for a better presentation of how the pooled RRs changed as updated evidence accumulated.

Results:The literature search yielded 16 articles that met our inclusion criteria, and a total of 3,598 stroke patients and 145,901 participants were finally included in our analysis. A consistent trend toward association was found after the initial discovery, and the summary analysis indicated that snoring is associated with a 46% (RR, 1.46; 95%CI, 1.29–1.63;p< 0.001) increased risk of stroke.

Conclusions:Snoring is associated with a significantly increased risk for stroke, up to 46%. The importance of the current study lies in that we provide an imputes to take a more active approach against the increased risk of stroke in snorers.
Unraveling the Big Sleep: Molecular Aspects of Stem Cell Dormancy and Hibernation
Authors: Dias Itamar B. , Bouma Hjalmar R. , Henning Robert H.
Published: April 2021

Tissue-resident stem cells may enter a dormant state, also known as quiescence, which allows them to withstand metabolic stress and unfavorable conditions. Similarly, hibernating mammals can also enter a state of dormancy used to evade hostile circumstances, such as food shortage and low ambient temperatures. In hibernation, the dormant state of the individual and its cells is commonly known as torpor, and is characterized by metabolic suppression in individual cells. Given that both conditions represent cell survival strategies, we here compare the molecular aspects of cellular quiescence, particularly of well-studied hematopoietic stem cells, and torpor at the cellular level. Critical processes of dormancy are reviewed, including the suppression of the cell cycle, changes in metabolic characteristics, and cellular mechanisms of dealing with damage. Key factors shared by hematopoietic stem cell quiescence and torpor include a reversible activation of factors inhibiting the cell cycle, a shift in metabolism from glucose to fatty acid oxidation, downregulation of mitochondrial activity, key changes in hypoxia-inducible factor one alpha (HIF-1α), mTOR, reversible protein phosphorylation and autophagy, and increased radiation resistance. This similarity is remarkable in view of the difference in cell populations, as stem cell quiescence regards proliferating cells, while torpor mainly involves terminally differentiated cells. A future perspective is provided how to advance our understanding of the crucial pathways that allow stem cells and hibernating animals to engage in their ‘great slumbers.’
Long-Term Angiotensin II Infusion Induces Oxidative and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Modulates Na+ Transporters Through the Nephron
Authors: Lins Bruna Bezerra , Casare Fernando Augusto Malavazzi , Fontenele Flávia Ferreira , Gonçalves Guilherme Lopes , Oliveira-Souza Maria
Published: April 2021

High plasma angiotensin II (Ang II) levels are related to many diseases, including hypertension, and chronic kidney diseases (CKDs). Here, we investigated the relationship among prolonged Ang II infusion/AT1 receptor (AT1R) activation, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in kidney tissue. In addition, we explored the chronic effects of Ang II on tubular Na+transport mechanisms. Male Wistar rats were subjected to sham surgery as a control or prolonged Ang II treatment (200 ng⋅kg–1⋅min–1, 42 days) with or without losartan (10 mg⋅kg–1⋅day–1) for 14 days. Ang II/AT1R induced hypertension with a systolic blood pressure of 173.0 ± 20 mmHg (mmHg,n= 9) compared with 108.0 ± 7 mmHg (mmHg,n= 7) in sham animals. Under these conditions, gene and protein expression levels were evaluated. Prolonged Ang II administration/AT1R activation induced oxidative stress and ER stress with increased Nox2, Nox4,CybaandNcf1mRNA expression, phosphorylated PERK and eIF2α protein expression as well asAtf4mRNA expression. Ang II/AT1R also raisedIl1b, Nfkb1andActa2mRNA expression, suggesting proinflammatory, and profibrotic effects. Regarding Na+tubular handling, Ang II/AT1R enhanced cortical non-phosphorylated and phospho/S552/NHE3, NHE1, ENaC β, NKCC2, and NCC protein expression. Our results also highlight the therapeutic potential of losartan, which goes beyond the antihypertensive effect, playing an important role in kidney tissue. This treatment reduced oxidative stress and ER stress signals and recovered relevant parameters of the maintenance of renal function, preventing the progression of Ang II-induced CKD.
Effects of Adding Small Combat Games to Regular Taekwondo Training on Physiological and Performance Outcomes in Male Young Athletes
Authors: Ouergui Ibrahim , Franchini Emerson , Messaoudi Hamdi , Chtourou Hamdi , Bouassida Anissa , Bouhlel Ezdine , Ardigò Luca Paolo
Published: April 2021

This study investigated the effect of area sizes (4 × 4, 6 × 6, and 8 × 8 m) and effort-pause ratios (free combat vs. 1:2) variation on the physiological and perceptive responses during taekwondo combats (Study 1). In a second study, the effects on physical performance of 8 weeks of small combat-based training added to regular taekwondo training were investigated (Study 2). In random order, 32 male taekwondo athletes performed six (i.e., two effort-to-pause ratios × three area sizes conditions) different 2-min taekwondo combats (Study 1). Thereafter (Study 2), they were randomly assigned to three experimental groups (4 × 4, 6 × 6, and 8 × 8 m) and an active control group (CG). Regarding Study 1, blood lactate concentration [La] before and after each combat, mean heart rate (HRmean) during each combat, and rating of perceived exertion (CR-10) immediately after each combat were assessed. Regarding Study 2, progressive specific taekwondo (PSTT) to estimate maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), taekwondo-specific agility, and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests were administered before and after 8 weeks of training. Study 1 results showed that 4 × 4 m elicited lower HRmean values compared with 6 × 6 m (d = −0.42 [small], p = 0.030) and free combat induced higher values compared with the 1:2 ratio (d = 1.71 [large], p < 0.001). For [La]post, 4 × 4 m area size induced higher values than 6 × 6 m (d = 0.99 [moderate], p < 0.001) and 8 × 8 m (d = 0.89 [moderate], p < 0.001) and free combat induced higher values than 1:2 ratio (d = 0.69 [moderate], p < 0.001). Higher CR-10 scores were registered after free combat compared with 1:2 ratio (d = 0.44 [small], p = 0.007). For Study 2, VO2max increased after training [F(1, 56) =30.532, p < 0.001; post-hoc: d = 1.27 [large], p < 0.001] with higher values for 4 × 4 m compared with CG (d = 1.15 [moderate], p = 0.009). Agility performance improved after training [F(1, 56) = 4.419, p = 0.04; post-hoc: d = −0.46 [small], p = 0.04] and 4 × 4 m induced lower values in comparison with 6 × 6 m (d = −1.56 [large], p = 0.001) and CG (d = −0.77 [moderate], p = 0.049). No training type influenced CMJ performance. Smaller area size elicited contrasting results in terms of metabolic demand compared with larger sizes (i.e., lower HRmean but higher [La] and CR-10), whereas free combat induced variables' consistently higher values compared with imposed 1:2 ratio (Study 1). Taekwondo training is effective to improve VO2max and agility (Study 2), but small combat training modality should be investigated further.
Small Conductance Ca2 +-Activated K+ (SK) Channel mRNA Expression in Human Atrial and Ventricular Tissue: Comparison Between Donor, Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure Tissue
Authors: Darkow Elisa , Nguyen Thong T. , Stolina Marina , Kari Fabian A. , Schmidt Constanze , Wiedmann Felix , Baczkó István , Kohl Peter , Rajamani Sridharan , Ravens Ursula , Peyronnet Rémi
Published: April 2021

In search of more efficacious and safe pharmacological treatments for atrial fibrillation (AF), atria-selective antiarrhythmic agents have been promoted that target ion channels principally expressed in the atria. This concept allows one to engage antiarrhythmic effects in atria, but spares the ventricles from potentially proarrhythmic side effects. It has been suggested that cardiac small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channels may represent an atria-selective target in mammals including humans. However, there are conflicting data concerning the expression of SK channels in different stages of AF, and recent findings suggest that SK channels are upregulated in ventricular myocardium when patients develop heart failure. To address this issue, RNA-sequencing was performed to compare expression levels of three SK channels (KCNN1, KCNN2, and KCNN3) in human atrial and ventricular tissue samples from transplant donor hearts (no cardiac disease), and patients with cardiac disease in sinus rhythm or with AF. In addition, for control purposes expression levels of several genes known to be either chamber-selective or differentially expressed in AF and heart failure were determined. In atria, as compared to ventricle from transplant donor hearts, we confirmed higher expression of KCNN1 and KCNA5, and lower expression of KCNJ2, whereas KCNN2 and KCNN3 were statistically not differentially expressed. Overall expression of KCNN1 was low compared to KCNN2 and KCNN3. Comparing atrial tissue from patients with AF to sinus rhythm samples we saw downregulation of KCNN2 in AF, as previously reported. When comparing ventricular tissue from heart failure patients to non-diseased samples, we found significantly increased ventricular expression of KCNN3 in heart failure, as previously published. The other channels showed no significant difference in expression in either disease. Our results add weight to the view that SK channels are not likely to be an atria-selective target, especially in failing human hearts, and modulators of these channels may prove to have less utility in treating AF than hoped. Whether targeting SK1 holds potential remains to be elucidated.
Psychological Distance Toward Air Pollution and Purchase Intention for New Energy Vehicles: An Investigation in China
Authors: Liu Wenlong , Zeng Lele , Wang Qunwei
Published: April 2021

Air pollution in China has been drawing considerable attention in recent years. The emergence of new energy vehicles (NEVs) provides hope to reduce air pollutant emission. However, consumers' recognition and acceptance of NEVs remain at the early stage. This research aims to explore how consumers' environmental concern influences their NEV purchase intention. Specifically, this research conducted an online survey and an experiment to address the following issues: (1) how consumers' psychological distance (PD) toward air pollution influences their purchase intention for NEVs, and does their risk perception of the consequences of air pollution mediate this influence; (2) whether consumers' perceived price level of NEVs plays a moderating role in the relationship between risk perception and purchase intention; and (3) whether the construal level of stimulus can be manipulated to influence consumers' PD toward air pollution to increase their purchase intention for NEVs. The results of study 1, based on a total of 293 valid samples, show that consumers' PD toward air pollution significantly affects their purchase intention for NEVs, and risk perception of the consequences of air pollution plays a considerable mediating role. Meanwhile, consumers' perceived price level of NEVs has a significant negative moderating effect on the relationship between risk perception and purchase intention. The results of study 2, based on an online experiment, show that the construal level of stimulus can influence consumers' PD toward air pollution, which in turn affects their purchase intention for NEVs. The findings of this research have implications for businesses' promotional strategies and governments' policies. For instance, low-construal-level promotional materials can be developed to arouse consumers' environmental concern, thereby facilitating their eco-friendly consumption behavior. Governmental financial assistance and other policies can also increase consumers' willingness to purchase NEVs.
“Lights and Shadows”: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Lived Experience of Being Diagnosed With Breast Cancer During Pregnancy
Authors: Facchin Federica , Scarfone Giovanna , Tamanza Giancarlo , Ravani Silvia , Francini Federica , Peccatori Fedro Alessandro , Di Loreto Eugenia , Dell’Acqua Andrea , Saita Emanuela
Published: April 2021

Cancer diagnosed during pregnancy is a rare event. The most common type of malignancy diagnosed in pregnant women is breast cancer, whose incidence is expected to raise in the next future due to delayed childbirth, as well as to the increased occurrence of the disease at young age. Pregnant women diagnosed with breast cancer are exposed to multiple sources of stress, which may lead to poorer obstetric outcomes, such as preterm birth and low birth weight. In addition, pregnancy involves physiological changes in the breasts that may blur the signs of cancer, with delayed diagnosis and poor prognosis. However, the lived experience of these women was investigated in very few studies. Given this scenario, we conducted this qualitative study to describe and understand women’s subjective experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy. The study was conducted following the principles of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Participants were five women with breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy, purposefully recruited at a public hospital during medical visits and interviewed at treatment initiation. The interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. The textual analysis led to the identification of three main themes related to: (1) the emotional storm experienced after cancer diagnosis, and the importance of receiving appropriate information and being focused on treatment decisions; (2) physical changes and comparisons with healthy women, associated with feelings of sadness and inadequacy; (3) being positive, feeling free to disclose all kinds of emotions, religion and spirituality as sources of strength. The paradoxical coexistence of pregnancy and cancer represents a stressful experience for women and their loved ones. Adopting a systemic perspective may be important to understand the effects of such a complex condition, also considering its impact on healthcare workers.
Relationship Orientation, Justice Perception, and Opportunistic Behavior in PPP Projects: An Empirical Study From China
Authors: Feng Guoli , Hao Shengyue , Li Xiaoguang
Published: April 2021

An equal and high-quality partnership between public and private sectors is essential to the sustainable development of public–private partnership (PPP) projects. However, in the special social circumstance in China, the public sector has a strong voice in PPP projects. According to the existing research on PPP project failure, the government's dishonest performance and negative cooperative attitude and the private sector's speculative behavior of concealing information will lead to termination or even failure of project. The attitude and behavior that reflect the relationship orientation of public sector may determine whether the private sector adopts an opportunistic behavior. However, few studies have revealed the mechanism of relationship orientation on opportunism in PPP projects. This paper proposes the connotation of the public sector's relationship orientation and designs a measurement scale from three aspects: emotional relationship orientation, instrumental relationship orientation, and rent-seeking relationship orientation. Based on the data from large construction enterprises, financial institutions and investors, and scholars with practical experience in PPP projects, this paper explores the mechanism of the public sector's relationship orientation on the private sector's justice perception and opportunistic behavior by using the structural equation model (SEM). The results show that the public sector's relationship orientation significantly affects the formation and development of the private sector's justice perception and opportunistic behavior, justice perception plays a mediating role in the process of relationship orientation acting on opportunistic behavior, and the instrumental relationship orientation is more conducive to reducing the opportunistic behavior. The results provide new ideas for changing the public sector's concept and attitude and regulating behavior in PPP projects.
Music Listening as a Strategy for Managing COVID-19 Stress in First-Year University Students
Authors: Vidas Dianna , Larwood Joel L. , Nelson Nicole L. , Dingle Genevieve A.
Published: April 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic brought rapid changes to travel, learning environments, work conditions, and social support, which caused stress for many University students. Research with young people has revealed music listening to be among their most effective strategies for coping with stress. As such, this survey of 402 first-year Australian University students (73.9% female, Mage = 19.6; 75% domestic and 25% international) examined the effectiveness of music listening during COVID-19 compared with other stress management strategies, whether music listening for stress management was related to well-being, and whether differences emerged between domestic and international students. We also asked participants to nominate a song that helped them to cope with COVID-19 stress and analyzed its features. Music listening was among the most effective stress coping strategies, and was as effective as exercise, sleep, and changing location. Effectiveness of music listening as a coping strategy was related to better well-being but not to level of COVID-19 related stress. Although international students experienced higher levels of COVID-19 stress than domestic students, well-being was comparable in the two cohorts. Nominated songs tended to be negative in valence and moderate in energy. No correlations were found between any self-report measure and the valence and energy of nominated coping songs. These findings suggest that although domestic and international students experienced different levels of stress resulting from COVID-19, music listening remained an effective strategy for both cohorts, regardless of the type of music they used for coping.
Associations Between Smoking Abstinence, Inhibitory Control, and Smoking Behavior: An fMRI Study
Authors: Bell Spencer , Froeliger Brett
Published: April 2021

Nicotine addiction is associated with dysregulated inhibitory control (IC), mediated by corticothalamic circuitry including the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG). Among sated smokers, worse IC task performance and greater IC-related rIFG activity have been shown to be associated with greater relapse vulnerability. The present study investigated the effects of smoking abstinence on associations between IC task performance, rIFG activation, and smoking behavior. Smokers (N = 26, 15 female) completed an IC task (Go/Go/No-go) during fMRI scanning followed by a laboratory-based smoking relapse analog task (SRT) on two visits: once when sated and once following 24 h of smoking abstinence. During the SRT, smokers were provided with monetary rewards for incrementally delaying smoking. A significant main effect of No-go accuracy on latency to smoke during the SRT was observed when collapsing across smoking states (abstinent vs. sated). Similarly, a significant main effect of IC-related activation in rIFG on SRT performance was observed across states. The main effect of state, however, was non-significant in both of these models. Furthermore, the interaction between smoking state and No-go accuracy on SRT performance was non-significant, indicating a similar relationship between IC and lapse vulnerability under both sated and abstinent conditions. The state X rIFG activation interaction on SRT performance was likewise non-significant. Post-hoc whole brain analyses indicated that abstinence resulted in greater IC-related activity in the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and insula. Activation during IC in these regions was significantly associated with decreased No-go accuracy. Moreover, greater abstinence induced activity in right MFG during IC was associated with smoking sooner on the SRT. These findings are bolstered by the extant literature on the effects of nicotine on executive function and also contribute novel insights on how individual differences in behavioral and neuroimaging measures of IC may influence relapse propensity independent of smoking state.
Role of DNA Methylation in Mediating Genetic Risk of Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Starnawska Anna , Demontis Ditte
Published: April 2021

Psychiatric disorders are common, complex, and heritable conditions estimated to be the leading cause of disability worldwide. The last decade of research in genomics of psychiatry, performed by multinational, and multicenter collaborative efforts on hundreds of thousands of mental disorder cases and controls, provided invaluable insight into the genetic risk variants of these conditions. With increasing cohort sizes, more risk variants are predicted to be identified in the near future, but there appears to be a knowledge gap in understanding how these variants contribute to the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Majority of the identified common risk single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are non-coding but are enriched in regulatory regions of the genome. It is therefore of great interest to study the impact of identified psychiatric disorders' risk SNPs on DNA methylation, the best studied epigenetic modification, playing a pivotal role in the regulation of transcriptomic processes, brain development, and functioning. This work outlines the mechanisms through which risk SNPs can impact DNA methylation levels and provides a summary of current evidence on the role of DNA methylation in mediating the genetic risk of psychiatric disorders.
Emotional Awareness in Schizophrenia Is Associated With Gray Matter Volume of Right Precuneus
Authors: Jáni Martin , Kikinis Zora , Lošák Jan , Pasternak Ofer , Szczepankiewicz Filip , Heller Carina , Swago Sophia , Silva Annelise , Bouix Sylvain , Kubicki Marek , Ustohal Libor , Kudlička Petr , Vojtíšek Lubomír , Westin Carl-Frederik , Kašpárek Tomáš
Published: April 2021

Objectives: We assessed the relationship between emotional awareness (e.g., the ability to identify and differentiate our own feelings and feelings of others) and regional brain volumes in healthy and in schizophrenia groups.

Methods: Magnetic resonance images of 29 subjects with schizophrenia and 33 matched healthy controls were acquired. Brain gray matter was parcellated using FreeSurfer and 28 regions of interest associated with emotional awareness were analyzed. All participants were assessed using the Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS) of Self and of Other. LEAS scores were correlated with gray matter volume for each hemisphere on the 14 brain regions of the emotional awareness network.

Results: Individuals with schizophrenia showed decreased emotional awareness on both LEAS Self and LEAS Other compared to healthy controls. There were no statistically significant between-group differences in gray matter volumes of the emotional awareness network. The performance on LEAS Other correlated negatively with right precuneus gray matter volume only in the schizophrenia group.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest a relationship between gray matter volume of the right precuneus and deficits in understanding of emotional states of others in schizophrenia.
Multimodal Neuroimaging Study of Visual Plasticity in Schizophrenia
Authors: Wijtenburg S. Andrea , West Jeffrey , Korenic Stephanie A. , Kuhney Franchesca , Gaston Frank E. , Chen Hongji , Rowland Laura M.
Published: April 2021

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness with visual learning and memory deficits, and reduced long term potentiation (LTP) may underlie these impairments. Recent human fMRI and EEG studies have assessed visual plasticity that was induced with high frequency visual stimulation, which is thought to mimic an LTP-like phenomenon. This study investigated the differences in visual plasticity in participants with schizophrenia and healthy controls. An fMRI visual plasticity paradigm was implemented, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy data were acquired to determine whether baseline resting levels of glutamatergic and GABA metabolites were related to visual plasticity response. Adults with schizophrenia did not demonstrate visual plasticity after family-wise error correction; whereas, the healthy control group did. There was a significant regional difference in visual plasticity in the left visual cortical area V2 when assessing group differences, and baseline GABA levels were associated with this specific ROI in the SZ group only. Overall, this study suggests that visual plasticity is altered in schizophrenia and related to basal GABA levels.
Production and Molecular Identification of Interspecific Hybrids between Phaius mishmensis (Lindl. and Paxton) Rchb. f. and Phaius tankervilliae (Banks) Blume
Authors: Punjansing Tasanai , Nakkuntod Maliwan , Homchan Somjit , Inthima Phithak , Kongbangkerd Anupan
Published: April 2021

This study aimed at assessing the hybridization feasibility and evaluating genetic fidelity of the hybrid seedlings originated from Phaius mishmensis (Lindl. and Paxton) Rchb. f. and P. tankervilliae (Banks) Blume. Intra- and interspecific hybridization between Phaiusmishmensis (Lindl. and Paxton) Rchb. f. and P. tankervilliae (Banks) Blume were examined to establish the primary hybrid, observe their cross ability and identify the F1 hybrids using sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. Self-incompatibility and cross ability of P. mishmensis and P. tankervilliae were tested before starting the breeding program. Results showed that they were self-compatible orchids. The interspecific hybridization between P. mishmensis and P. tankervilliae was achieved with the highest pod setting (80%), seed germination percentage (94.8%) and the rate of protocorm development into mature seedlings (stage 6) (10.6%), but the smallest size of embryo with width 46.5 μm, length 67.3 μm was also observed when P. mishmensis was taken as the female parent. A comparative study on leaf morphology and anatomy of plantlets regenerated from intra- and interspecific hybrids of P.mishmensis and P. tankervilliae showed a transitional character to the parental species. Herein, the presence of interspecific hybrids between P.mishmensis and P. tankervilliae, as well as their reciprocal cross, was verified using Pmis524 SCAR markers developed by the decamer primer.
Recent Advances on Early Detection of Heat Strain in Dairy Cows Using Animal-Based Indicators: A Review
Authors: Shu Hang , Wang Wensheng , Guo Leifeng , Bindelle Jérôme
Published: April 2021

In pursuit of precision livestock farming, the real-time measurement for heat strain-related data has been more and more valued. Efforts have been made recently to use more sensitive physiological indicators with the hope to better inform decision-making in heat abatement in dairy farms. To get an insight into the early detection of heat strain in dairy cows, the present review focuses on the recent efforts developing early detection methods of heat strain in dairy cows based on body temperatures and respiratory dynamics. For every candidate animal-based indicator, state-of-the-art measurement methods and existing thresholds were summarized. Body surface temperature and respiration rate were concluded to be the best early indicators of heat strain due to their high feasibility of measurement and sensitivity to heat stress. Future studies should customize heat strain thresholds according to different internal and external factors that have an impact on the sensitivity to heat stress. Wearable devices are most promising to achieve real-time measurement in practical dairy farms. Combined with internet of things technologies, a comprehensive strategy based on both animal- and environment-based indicators is expected to increase the precision of early detection of heat strain in dairy cows.
Dairy Cows’ Health during Alpine Summer Grazing as Assessed by Milk Traits, Including Differential Somatic Cell Count: A Case Study from Italy
Authors: Niero Giovanni , Bobbo Tania , Callegaro Simone , Visentin Giulio , Pornaro Cristina , Penasa Mauro , Cozzi Giulio , De Marchi Massimo , Cassandro Martino
Published: April 2021

Extensive summer grazing is a dairy herd management practice frequently adopted in mountainous areas. Nowadays, this activity is threatened by its high labour demand, but it is fundamental for environmental, touristic and economic implications, as well as for the preservation of social and cultural traditions. Scarce information on the effects of such low-input farming systems on cattle health is available. Therefore, the present case study aimed at investigating how grazing may affect the health status of dairy cows by using milk traits routinely available from the national milk recording scheme. The research involved a dairy herd of 52 Simmental and 19 Holstein × Simmental crossbred cows. The herd had access to the pasture according to a rotational grazing scheme from late spring up to the end of summer. A total of 616 test day records collected immediately before and during the grazing season were used. Individual milk yield was registered during the milking procedure. Milk samples were analysed for composition (fat, protein, casein and lactose contents) and health-related milk indicators (electrical conductivity, urea and β-hydroxybutyrate) using mid-infrared spectroscopy. Somatic cell count (SCC) and differential SCC were also determined. Data were analysed with a linear mixed model, which included the fixed effects of the period of sampling, cow breed, stage of lactation and parity, and the random effects of cow nested within breed and the residual. The transition from barn farming to pasture had a negative effect on milk yield, together with a small deterioration of fat and protein percentages. Health-related milk indicators showed a minor deterioration of the fat to protein ratio, differential SCC and electrical conductivity, particularly towards the end of the grazing season, whereas the somatic cell score and β-hydroxybutyrate were relatively constant. Overall, the study showed that, when properly managed, pasture grazing does not have detrimental effects on dairy cows in terms of udder health and efficiency. Therefore, the proper management of cows on pasture can be a valuable solution to preserve the economic, social and environmental sustainability of small dairy farms in the alpine regions, without impairing cows’ health.
British Sheep Breeds as a Part of World Sheep Gene Pool Landscape: Looking into Genomic Applications
Authors: Romanov Michael N. , Zinovieva Natalia A. , Griffin Darren K.
Published: April 2021

Sheep farming has been an important sector of the UK’s economy and rural life for many centuries. It is the favored source of wool, meat and milk products. In the era of exponential progress in genomic technologies, we can now address the questions of what is special about UK sheep breed genotypes and how they differ genetically form one another and from other countries. We can reflect how their natural history has been determined at the level of their genetic code and what traces have been left in their genomes because of selection for phenotypic traits. These include adaptability to certain environmental conditions and management, as well as resistance to disease. Application of these advancements in genetics and genomics to study sheep breeds of British domestic selection has begun and will continue in order to facilitate conservation solutions and production improvement.
Identification of Beilschmiedia tsangii Root Extract as a Liver Cancer Cell–Normal Keratinocyte Dual-Selective NRF2 Regulator
Authors: Chen Yi-Siao , Chang Hsun-Shuo , Hsiao Hui-Hua , Chen Yih-Fung , Kuo Yi-Ping , Yen Feng-Lin , Yen Chia-Hung
Published: April 2021

Transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) plays a crucial role in regulating the expression of genes participating in cellular defense mechanisms against oxidative or xenobiotic insults. However, there is increasing evidence showing that hyperactivation of NRF2 is associated with chemoresistance in several cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), thus making NRF2 an attractive target for cancer therapy. Another important issue in cancer medication is the adverse effects of these substances on normal cells. Here, we attempted to identify a dual-selective NRF2 regulator that exerts opposite effects on NRF2-hyperactivated HCC cells and normal keratinocytes. An antioxidant response element driven luciferase reporter assay was established in Huh7 and HaCaT cells as high-throughput screening platforms. Screening of 3,000 crude extracts from the Taiwanese Indigenous Plant Extract Library resulted in the identification of Beilschmiedia tsangii (BT) root extract as a dual-selective NRF2 regulator. Multiple compounds were found to contribute to the dual-selective effects of BT extract on NRF2 signaling in two cell lines. BT extract reduced NRF2 protein level and target gene expression levels in Huh7 cells but increased them in HaCaT cells. Furthermore, notable combinatory cytotoxic effects of BT extract and sorafenib on Huh7 cells were observed. On the contrary, sorafenib-induced inflammatory reactions in HaCaT cells were reduced by BT extract. In conclusion, our results suggest that the combination of a selective NRF2 activator and inhibitor could be a practical strategy for fine-tuning NRF2 activity for better cancer treatment and that plant extracts or partially purified fractions could be a promising source for the discovery of dual-selective NRF2 regulators.
Improvement of Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction by β-Caryophyllene: A Focus on the Nervous System
Authors: Ullah Hammad , Di Minno Alessandro , Santarcangelo Cristina , Khan Haroon , Daglia Maria
Published: April 2021

Mitochondrial dysfunction results in a series of defective cellular events, including decreased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) output, and altered proteastasis and cellular quality control. An enhanced output of ROS may damage mitochondrial components, such as mitochondrial DNA and elements of the electron transport chain, resulting in the loss of proper electrochemical gradient across the mitochondrial inner membrane and an ensuing shutdown of mitochondrial energy production. Neurons have an increased demand for ATP and oxygen, and thus are more prone to damage induced by mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial dysfunction, damaged electron transport chains, altered membrane permeability and Ca2+ homeostasis, and impaired mitochondrial defense systems induced by oxidative stress, are pathological changes involved in neurodegenerative disorders. A growing body of evidence suggests that the use of antioxidants could stabilize mitochondria and thus may be suitable for preventing neuronal loss. Numerous natural products exhibit the potential to counter oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction; however, science is still looking for a breakthrough in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. β-caryophyllene is a bicyclic sesquiterpene, and an active principle of essential oils derived from a large number of spices and food plants. As a selective cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) agonist, several studies have reported it as possessing numerous pharmacological activities such as antibacterial (e.g., Helicobacter pylori), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic (e.g., neuropathic pain), anti-neurodegenerative and anticancer properties. The present review mainly focuses on the potential of β-caryophyllene in reducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, and its possible links with neuroprotection.
Characterization of Optical Coherence Tomography Images for Colon Lesion Differentiation under Deep Learning
Authors: Saratxaga Cristina L. , Bote Jorge , Ortega-Morán Juan F. , Picón Artzai , Terradillos Elena , del Río Nagore Arbide , Andraka Nagore , Garrote Estibaliz , Conde Olga M.
Published: April 2021

(1) Background: Clinicians demand new tools for early diagnosis and improved detection of colon lesions that are vital for patient prognosis. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows microscopical inspection of tissue and might serve as an optical biopsy method that could lead to in-situ diagnosis and treatment decisions; (2) Methods: A database of murine (rat) healthy, hyperplastic and neoplastic colonic samples with more than 94,000 images was acquired. A methodology that includes a data augmentation processing strategy and a deep learning model for automatic classification (benign vs. malignant) of OCT images is presented and validated over this dataset. Comparative evaluation is performed both over individual B-scan images and C-scan volumes; (3) Results: A model was trained and evaluated with the proposed methodology using six different data splits to present statistically significant results. Considering this, 0.9695 (±0.0141) sensitivity and 0.8094 (±0.1524) specificity were obtained when diagnosis was performed over B-scan images. On the other hand, 0.9821 (±0.0197) sensitivity and 0.7865 (±0.205) specificity were achieved when diagnosis was made considering all the images in the whole C-scan volume; (4) Conclusions: The proposed methodology based on deep learning showed great potential for the automatic characterization of colon polyps and future development of the optical biopsy paradigm.
Module to Support Real-Time Microscopic Imaging of Living Organisms on Ground-Based Microgravity Analogs
Authors: Neelam Srujana , Lee Audrey , Lane Michael A. , Udave Ceasar , Levine Howard G. , Zhang Ye
Published: April 2021

Since opportunities for spaceflight experiments are scarce, ground-based microgravity simulation devices (MSDs) offer accessible and economical alternatives for gravitational biology studies. Among the MSDs, the random positioning machine (RPM) provides simulated microgravity conditions on the ground by randomizing rotating biological samples in two axes to distribute the Earth’s gravity vector in all directions over time. Real-time microscopy and image acquisition during microgravity simulation are of particular interest to enable the study of how basic cell functions, such as division, migration, and proliferation, progress under altered gravity conditions. However, these capabilities have been difficult to implement due to the constantly moving frames of the RPM as well as mechanical noise. Therefore, we developed an image acquisition module that can be mounted on an RPM to capture live images over time while the specimen is in the simulated microgravity (SMG) environment. This module integrates a digital microscope with a magnification range of 20× to 700×, a high-speed data transmission adaptor for the wireless streaming of time-lapse images, and a backlight illuminator to view the sample under brightfield and darkfield modes. With this module, we successfully demonstrated the real-time imaging of human cells cultured on an RPM in brightfield, lasting up to 80 h, and also visualized them in green fluorescent channel. This module was successful in monitoring cell morphology and in quantifying the rate of cell division, cell migration, and wound healing in SMG. It can be easily modified to study the response of other biological specimens to SMG.
Numerical Modelling and Optimization of Two-Dimensional Phononic Band Gaps in Elastic Metamaterials with Square Inclusions
Authors: Alhammadi Alya , Lu Jin-You , Almheiri Mahra , Alzaabi Fatima , Matouk Zineb , Al Teneiji Mohamed , Al-Rub Rashid K. Abu , Giannini Vincenzo , Lee Dong-Wook
Published: April 2021

A numerical simulation study on elastic wave propagation of a phononic composite structure consisting of epoxy and tungsten carbide is presented for low-frequency elastic wave attenuation applications. The calculated dispersion curves of the epoxy/tungsten carbide composite show that the propagation of elastic waves is prohibited inside the periodic structure over a frequency range. To achieve a wide bandgap, the elastic composite structure can be optimized by changing its dimensions and arrangement, including size, number, and rotation angle of square inclusions. The simulation results show that increasing the number of inclusions and the filling fraction of the unit cell significantly broaden the phononic bandgap compared to other geometric tunings. Additionally, a nonmonotonic relationship between the bandwidth and filling fraction of the composite was found, and this relationship results from spacing among inclusions and inclusion sizes causing different effects on Bragg scatterings and localized resonances of elastic waves. Moreover, the calculated transmission spectra of the epoxy/tungsten carbide composite structure verify its low-frequency bandgap behavior.
Deep Learning Techniques Applied to Predict and Measure Finger Movement in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Viatkin Dmitry , Garcia-Zapirain Begonya , Méndez Zorrilla Amaia
Published: April 2021

This research focuses on the development of a system for measuring finger joint angles based on camera image and is intended for work within the field of medicine to track the movement and limits of hand mobility in multiple sclerosis. Measuring changes in hand mobility allows the progress of the disease and its treatment process to be monitored. A static RGB camera without depth vision was used in the system developed, with the system receiving only the image from the camera and no other input data. The research focuses on the analysis of each image in the video stream independently of other images from that stream, and 12 measured hand parameters were chosen as follows: 3 joint angles for the index finger, 3 joint angles for the middle finger, 3 joint angles for the ring finger, and 3 joint angles for the pinky finger. Convolutional neural networks were used to analyze the information received from the camera, and the research considers neural networks based on different architectures and their combinations as follows: VGG16, MobileNet, MobileNetV2, InceptionV3, DenseNet, ResNet, and convolutional pose machine. The final neural network used for image analysis was a modernized neural network based on MobileNetV2, which obtained the best mean absolute error value of 4.757 degrees. Additionally, the mean square error was 67.279 and the root mean square error was 8.202 degrees. This neural network analyzed a single image from the camera without using other sensors. For its part, the input image had a resolution of 512 by 512 pixels, and was processed by the neural network in 7–15 ms by GPU Nvidia 2080ti. The resulting neural network developed can measure finger joint angle values for a hand with non-standard parameters and positions.