bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The mediation effect analysis of nurse’s mental health status and burnout under COVID-19 epidemic
Authors: Liu Fuzhi , Zhao Yanyan , Chen Yangjia , Tu Zhuote
Published: October 2023

Aim

The objective of this study is to investigate the mental health status of nurses during the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia. Additionally, we aim to analyze the relationship between anxiety, depression, and burnout among nurses. The findings will provide a scientific basis for promoting the psychological health of nurses.

Methods

Using a cross-sectional study, nurses in Quanzhou in May 2020 completed a general information questionnaire, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Data analysis was conducted using structural equation model.

Results

372 questionnaires were returned, with a response rate of 92.5%. The prevalence of anxiety and depression among the participants were 45.2 and 41.4%, respectively. The prevalence of severe burnout among nurses was found to be 7.3%. There was a correlation between nurses’ anxiety, depression, and job burnout. The correlation coefficients between anxiety and job burnout, depression and job burnout, and anxiety and depression were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001). Depression plays a mediating role between anxiety and jod burnout (0.584/1.413, 41.3%).

Conclusion

The COVID-19 epidemic has resulted in moderate to high levels of job burnout among nurses. In this context, depression has been found to play a mediating role in the relationship between anxiety and job burnout. It is imperative for hospital administrators to prioritize the mental health of nurses and the provide necessary support to ensure their well-being.
Socioeconomic status and health behavior in children and adolescents: a systematic literature review
Authors: Gautam Nirmal , Dessie Getenet , Rahman Mohammad Mafizur , Khanam Rasheda
Published: October 2023

Socioeconomic status affects individuals’ health behaviors and contributes to a complex relationship between health and development. Due to this complexity, the relationship between SES and health behaviors is not yet fully understood. This literature review, therefore, aims to assess the association between socioeconomic status and health behaviors in childhood and adolescence. Preferred Reporting for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis protocol guidelines were used to conduct a systematic literature review. The electronic online databases EBSCO Host, PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct were utilized to systematically search published articles. The Joanna Briggs Institute’s critical appeal tool was used to assess the quality of included studies. Eligibility criteria such as study context, study participants, study setting, outcome measures, and key findings were used to identify relevant literature that measured the association between socioeconomic status and health behaviors. Out of 2,391 studies, only 46 met the final eligibility criteria and were assessed in this study. Our review found that children and adolescents with low socioeconomic status face an elevated risk of unhealthy behaviors (e.g., early initiation of smoking, high-energy-dense food, low physical activity, and involvement in drug abuse), in contrast to their counterparts. Conversely, children and adolescents from higher socioeconomic backgrounds exhibit a higher prevalence of health-promoting behaviors, such as increased consumption of fruit and vegetables, dairy products, regular breakfast, adherence to a nutritious diet, and engagement in an active lifestyle. The findings of this study underscore the necessity of implementing specific intervention measures aimed at providing assistance to families from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds to mitigate the substantial disparities in health behavior outcomes in children and adolescents.
General work stress and suicide cognitions in health-care workers: mediating effect of hopelessness and job satisfaction
Authors: Sarigül Abdulselami , Kaya Alican , Aziz Izaddin Ahmad , Yıldırım Murat , Özok Halil Ibrahim , Chirico Francesco , Zaffina Salvatore
Published: October 2023

Individuals with a satisfactory level of job satisfaction are much less likely to feel hopeless about their future and are more likely to perform efficiently in the workplace. General work stress (i.e., the work-related stress subjectively experienced) is a significant predictor of suicide cognitions. Furthermore, it has been posited that satisfaction and hope are fundamental to life from an existential perspective. We, therefore, tested a hypothetical model of general work stress, suicide cognitions, hopelessness, and job satisfaction. The data were collected from 416 health-care workers through a convenience sampling method. The mediation analysis results revealed significant negative and positive relationships among general work stress, suicide conceptions, hopelessness, and job satisfaction. The findings indicate that hopelessness and job satisfaction have a parallel mediating effect in the relationship between general work stress and suicide cognitions. The result of the study is of great importance, which suggests that interventions to alleviate hopelessness and work stress and to boost the job satisfaction of medical staff may help prevent suicide cognitions.
The mobile vaccine equity enhancement program–a model program for enhancing equity in vaccine availability based at a large health care system
Authors: Broach John , Brown Olga , McEachern Caitlin , Forget Janell , Lancette Peter , Soucie Norman , Inzerillo Julie , Klugman Robert , Tosi Stephen , Haddad Abraham , Manor Pamela , Bylund Richard , Dellostritto Gio , Grecchi Max , Camelo Connie , Shirshac Jeanne , Eshghi Katharine , Vega Nardy , Hampson Stacy , Follwell Kassandra , Gonzalez Rafael , Hicks Theresa , McCandless Victoria , VanStratten Timothy , Botros Mina , Jalbert Tracy , Merwin Catherine , Schellhammer Wendy , Pelto Ian , Rodriguez Maggie , LaPriore Cheryl , Lowell Monica , Radigan Elizabeth , Gull Lorie , Gruszecki Alana , Benoit Sarah , Dickson Eric , Muller Michelle
Published: October 2023

The SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic presented unprecedented challenges as communities attempted to respond to the administration of a novel vaccine that faced cold chain logistical requirements and vaccine hesitancy among many, as well as complicated phased rollout plans that changed frequently as availability of the vaccine waxed and waned. The COVID-19 pandemic also disproportionately affected communities of color and communities with barriers to accessing healthcare. In the setting of these difficulties, a program was created specifically to address inequity in vaccine administration with a focus on communities of color and linguistic diversity as well as those who had technological barriers to online sign-up processes common at mass vaccination sites. This effort, the Mobile Vaccine Equity Enhancement Program (MVeeP), delivered over 12,000 vaccines in 24 months through a reproducible set of practices that can inform equity-driven vaccine efforts in future pandemics.
Artificial intelligence as the new frontier in chemical risk assessment
Authors: Hartung Thomas
Published: October 2023

The rapid progress of AI impacts various areas of life, including toxicology, and promises a major role for AI in future risk assessments. Toxicology has shifted from a purely empirical science focused on observing chemical exposure outcomes to a data-rich field ripe for AI integration. AI methods are well-suited to handling and integrating large, diverse data volumes - a key challenge in modern toxicology. Additionally, AI enables Predictive Toxicology, as demonstrated by the automated read-across tool RASAR that achieved 87% balanced accuracy across nine OECD tests and 190,000 chemicals, outperforming animal test reproducibility. AI’s ability to handle big data and provide probabilistic outputs facilitates probabilistic risk assessment. Rather than just replicating human skills at larger scales, AI should be viewed as a transformative technology. Despite potential challenges, like model black-boxing and dataset biases, explainable AI (xAI) is emerging to address these issues.
Tracing a new path in the field of AI and robotics: mimicking human intelligence through chemistry. Part II: systems chemistry
Authors: Gentili Pier Luigi , Stano Pasquale
Published: October 2023

Inspired by some traits of human intelligence, it is proposed that wetware approaches based on molecular, supramolecular, and systems chemistry can provide valuable models and tools for novel forms of robotics and AI, being constituted by soft matter and fluid states as the human nervous system and, more generally, life, is. Bottom-up mimicries of intelligence range from the molecular world to the multicellular level, i.e., from the Ångström (10−10 meters) to the micrometer scales (10−6 meters), and allows the development of unconventional chemical robotics. Whereas conventional robotics lets humans explore and colonise otherwise inaccessible environments, such as the deep oceanic abysses and other solar system planets, chemical robots will permit us to inspect and control the microscopic molecular and cellular worlds. This article suggests that systems made of properly chosen molecular compounds can implement all those modules that are the fundamental ingredients of every living being: sensory, processing, actuating, and metabolic networks. Autonomous chemical robotics will be within reach when such modules are compartmentalised and assembled. The design of a strongly intertwined web of chemical robots, with or without the involvement of living matter, will give rise to collective forms of intelligence that will probably reproduce, on a minimal scale, some sophisticated performances of the human intellect and will implement forms of “general AI.” These remarkable achievements will require a productive interdisciplinary collaboration among chemists, biotechnologists, computer scientists, engineers, physicists, neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, and philosophers to be achieved. The principal purpose of this paper is to spark this revolutionary collaborative scientific endeavour.
Impact of task constraints on a 3D visuomotor tracking task in virtual reality
Authors: Baillet Héloïse , Burin-Chu Simone , Lejeune Laure , Le Chénéchal Morgan , Thouvarecq Régis , Benguigui Nicolas , Leconte Pascale
Published: October 2023

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of different task constraints on the participants’ adaptation when performing a 3D visuomotor tracking task in a virtual environment.

Methods: Twenty-three voluntary participants were tested with the HTC Vive Pro Eye VR headset in a task that consisted of tracking a virtual target moving in a cube with an effector controlled with the preferred hand. Participants had to perform 120 trials according to three task constraints (i.e., gain, size, and speed), each performed according to four randomized conditions. The target-effector distance and elbow range of movement were measured.

Results: The results showed an increase in the distance to the target when the task constraints were the strongest. In addition, a change in movement kinematics was observed, involving an increase in elbow amplitude as task constraints increased. It also appeared that the depth dimension played a major role in task difficulty and elbow amplitude and coupling in the tracking task.

Conclusion: This research is an essential step towards characterizing interactions with a 3D virtual environment and showing how virtual constraints can facilitate arm’s involvement in the depth dimension.
Improving Mental Health Within Indigenous Communities
Authors: Mushquash Christopher
Published: October 2023

In many places in the world, there are communities of Indigenous Peoples—the first Peoples that inhabited those lands. Each community has its own unique history, culture, practices, spiritual beliefs, and worldviews. I work as a psychologist in Indigenous Peoples’ communities in northern Canada, exploring how we can use scientific methods, combined with the traditional wisdom of communities and culture, to improve mental health. In this article, I will tell you about Indigenous Peoples, how many view health and wellness, and what I do to support their mental health—specifically with groups of young people who are having trouble with substance use. I hope that this article will inspire you to find ways to combine scientific approaches with traditional wisdom, to improve your own wellbeing.
Sensor Fault Diagnosis, Isolation, and Accommodation for Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Systems Based on Soft Sensor
Authors: Nie Lei , Ren Yizhu , Wu Rouhui , Tan Mengying
Published: October 2023

Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems often suffer from unscheduled maintenance or abnormal shutdown due to the fault of their interior sensor system. Traditional fault diagnosis methods for HVAC sensor systems primarily focus on sensor fault diagnosis and isolation, lacking fault accommodation. Therefore, to realize effective sensor fault detection, identification, and accommodation (SFDIA), a method for HVAC SFDIA based on the soft sensor is proposed. First, a diagnosis soft sensor with multi-variable input is constructed to estimate the output of the physical sensor being diagnosed. The residual between the estimated value of the diagnosis soft sensor and the measurement of the physical sensor is used as an indicator of the sensor’s condition. If the residual exceeds the fault threshold, the sensor is diagnosed to be faulty. In order to maintain valid sensor output, an accommodation soft sensor is constructed using the historical normal value. The erroneous output of the faulty sensor is substituted by the estimated value from the accommodation soft sensor, thereby realizing sensor fault tolerance control. Experimental results demonstrate that the average false alarm rate for sensor fault diagnosis is 1.57% and the average fault diagnosis rate is 96.51%. The predictive mean absolute error (MAE) and root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the recovered soft sensors are 0.0525 and 0.0738, respectively. Thus, the soft sensors developed in this paper exhibit satisfying ability in HVAC SFDIA.
Active Vibration Control Using Loudspeaker-Based Inertial Actuator with Integrated Piezoelectric Sensor
Authors: Chen Minghao , Mao Qibo , Peng Lihua , Li Qi
Published: October 2023

With the evolution of the aerospace industry, structures have become larger and more complex. These structures exhibit significant characteristics such as extensive flexibility, low natural frequencies, numerous modes, and minimal structural damping. Without implementing vibration control measures, the risk of premature structural fatigue failure becomes imminent. In present times, the installation of inertial actuators and control signal acquisition units typically requires independent setups, which can be cumbersome for practical engineering purposes. To address this issue, this study introduces a novel approach: an independent control unit combining a loudspeaker-based inertial actuator (LBIA) with an integrated piezoelectric ceramic sensor. This unit enables autonomous vibration control, offering the advantages of ease of use, low cost, and lightweight construction. Experimental verification was performed to assess the mechanical properties of the LBIA. Additionally, a mathematical model for the LBIA with an integrated piezoelectric ceramic sensor was developed, and its efficacy as a control unit for thin plate structure vibration control was experimentally validated, showing close agreement with numerical results. Furthermore, the LBIA’s benefits as an actuator for low-frequency mode control were verified through experiments using external sensors. To further enhance control effectiveness, a mathematical model of the strain differential feedback controller based on multi-bandpass filtering velocity improvement was established and validated through experiments on the clamp–clamp thin plate structure. The experimental results demonstrate that the designed LBIA effectively reduces vibration in low-frequency bands, achieving vibration energy suppression of up to 12.3 dB and 23.6 dB for the first and second modes, respectively. Moreover, the LBIA completely suppresses the vibration of the fourth mode. Additionally, the improved control algorithm, employing bandpass filtering, enhances the effectiveness of the LBIA-integrated sensor, enabling accurate multimodal damping control of the structure’s vibrations for specified modes.
Climate-Induced Risk Assessment of Rural and Urban Agroforestry Managers of Aizawl District, Northeast India
Authors: Thong Pentile , Thangjam Uttam , Sahoo Uttam Kumar , Pascalau Raul , Prus Piotr , Smuleac Laura
Published: October 2023

Climate change exerts a substantial influence on global livelihood security. This research aims to elucidate the risk faced by agroforestry managers of urban and rural areas. Adhering to the IPCC risk framework, we structured the experimental design and adopted an indicator-based methodology to delineate the risk dimensions. Altogether, 105 households from 7 villages in Aizawl district, Mizoram, India, were considered for the study. For indicator identification, we conducted a comprehensive literature review and subsequently employed principal component analysis to select relevant indicators. Finally, risk was determined using the index value of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. Additionally, we also developed a regression model and integrated it into ArcGIS to generate a spatial risk map. Out of 69 indicators identified, 52 were selected for final assessment after PCA analysis. Our findings underscore the higher susceptibility of urban agroforestry managers to climate change which was in agreement to our hypothesis that the risk index of agroforestry households increases with altitude while it decreases with the distance from Aizawl headquarter. Furthermore, we observed that households residing at higher altitudes exhibit greater vulnerability. Key determinants contributing to elevated risk in the region encompass land ownership constraints, diminished yields, traditional farming practices with no institutional help, and a dearth of available labour resources. The study advocates the implementation of climate smart agroforestry practices integrated with agricultural credit schemes and an educational policy designed to enrol dropout youths.
Evaluation of Coffee Plants Transplanted to an Area with Surface and Deep Liming Based on Multispectral Indices Acquired Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Barata Rafael Alexandre Pena , Ferraz Gabriel Araújo e Silva , Bento Nicole Lopes , Soares Daniel Veiga , Santana Lucas Santos , Marin Diego Bedin , Mattos Drucylla Guerra , Schwerz Felipe , Rossi Giuseppe , Conti Leonardo , Bambi Gianluca
Published: October 2023

The use of new technologies to monitor and evaluate the management of coffee crops allowed for a significant increase in productivity. Precision coffee farming has leveraged the development of this commodity by using remote sensing and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). However, the success of coffee farming in the country also resulted from management practices, including liming management in the soils. This study aimed to evaluate the response of coffee seedlings transplanted to areas subjected to deep liming in comparison to conventional (surface) liming, using vegetation indices (VIs) generated by multispectral images acquired using UAVs. The study area was overflown bimonthly by UAVs to measure the plant height, crown diameter, and chlorophyll content in the field. The VIs were generated and compared with the data measured in the field using linear time graphs and a correlation analysis. Linear regression was performed to predict the biophysical parameters as a function of the VIs. A significant difference was found only in the chlorophyll content. Most indices were correlated with the biophysical parameters, particularly the green chlorophyll index (GCI) and the canopy area calculated via vectorization. Therefore, UAVs proved to be effective coffee monitoring tools and can be recommended for coffee producers.
Management of Water Supply in the Cultivation of Different Agaricus bisporus Strains
Authors: Caitano Cinthia Elen Cardoso , Vieira Júnior Wagner Gonçalves , Soares Douglas M. M. , Alves Lucas da Silva , Nóbrega Bianca de Barros , Pardo-Giménez Arturo , Stevani Cassius V. , Zied Diego Cunha
Published: October 2023

The objective of this work was to evaluate the water supply method in the cultivation of button mushroom. The strains used were ABI 18/02, ABI 18/04, ABI 19/03, and ABI 11/19. An analysis of the ITS 1 + 2 regions, widely used as a fungal barcode, was performed in order to assess the genetics. The compost was packed in 35 × 50 cm plastic boxes with 10.5 kg m−2, and the inoculum was added (1% in relation to the compost weight). Before the addition of the casing layer, in half of the boxes, 25 L m−² of water was added directly to the colonized compost, resulting in the treatment of the water added to the compost. The yield, number, and weight of the mushrooms were analyzed. A phylogenetic tree for the A. bisporus strains based on ITS sequences confirms a close genetic relationship among the different collections of this species, and additional molecular markers are required to distinguish genotypes related to superior agronomic traits. The water management methods presented similar yields, except for one strain (ABI 18/04). The ABI 18/02 and 11/019 strains were more efficient when considering the method of adding water to the compost. This study suggests that the treatment of water added to the substrate is an alternative tool for reducing the application time and labor involved and as a control treatment to reduce water use.
Characterisation of Organic Olive Farmers in the Framework of M11 of the Common Agricultural Policy
Authors: Parra Rivero Obdulia , Ojeda Roldán Álvaro , González Álvarez-Ossorio Raquel , Staboulis Christos , Natos Dimitrios , Mattas Konstadinos , Bojar Waldemar , Kuśmierek-Tomaszewska Renata , Baranowski Piotr , Krzyszczak Jaromir
Published: October 2023

During the last decade, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has prioritised measures focused on sustainability and quality over production. The purpose of the AGRICORE project is to develop a tool based on agent-based modelling to assist policymakers in the design of improved policies. The present study belongs to a use case of this project that measures the environmental and climate impact of Measure 11—Organic agriculture—from the 2014–2020 Rural Development Programme of the Andalusian olive sector. As part of this study, a survey campaign was conducted, which collected data from 189 organic olive farmers in Andalusia. The data were analysed in order to characterise organic olive farmers and their farms. This paper presents the resulting characterisation, covering some information gaps detected as part of the AGRICORE project, such as their acceptance of M11 and willingness to innovate and take risks. The results highlight that most of the respondents are unaware of important aspects, such as exploitation costs and their belonging to environmentally protected areas. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that most farmers are approximately 60 years old, and more than 35% are women. Furthermore, most of those studied do not intend to return to conventional production methods. These results help to provide a current perspective of the organic olive sector in Andalusia, which can be used by policymakers to design improved policies that entail an increase in organic olive production.
Full-Length Transcriptome and the Identification of lncRNAs Involved in Salicylic Acid-Induced Flowering in Duckweed (Lemna gibba)
Authors: Fu Lili , Tan Deguan , Sun Xuepiao , Ding Zehong , Zhang Jiaming
Published: October 2023

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial components in regulating the flowering of plants. However, the regulatory mechanism of lncRNAs underlying salicylic acid (SA)-induced flowering remains unknown in duckweed (e.g., Lemna gibba L.), an aquatic model species with significant potential applications in agriculture and industry. In this work, L. gibba plants were collected at four crucial time points during SA-induced flowering and subjected to PacBio full-length sequencing and strand-specific RNA sequencing. A total of 474 lncRNAs were identified, of which 31 were differentially expressed and involved in SA-induced flowering. A trans-regulatory analysis found that these lncRNAs displayed temporal-specific expression trends and mainly participated in stress metabolism, photosynthesis, jasmonate metabolism, and transport under SA treatment. Five lncRNAs were determined to act as targets of miRNAs that played critical roles in regulating flowering. In addition, fifteen lncRNAs showed co-expression with flowering-related genes, and lncRNA03 and lncRNA25 were identified as key players involved in flowering via lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions. Finally, twelve lncRNAs related to trans-regulation, miRNA targets, or co-expression with flowering-related genes were verified by qRT-PCR. These findings deepen our understanding of lncRNAs in SA-induced flowering in duckweed and provide valuable resources for in-depth functional analysis in the future.
Production of Black Cumin via Somatic Embryogenesis, Chemical Profile of Active Compounds in Callus Cultures and Somatic Embryos at Different Auxin Supplementations
Authors: Higazy Ahmed E. , El-Mahrouk Mohammed E. , El-Banna Antar N. , Maamoun Mosaad K. , El-Ramady Hassan , Abdalla Neama , Dobránszki Judit
Published: October 2023

Black cumin or Nigella sativa L. is a medicinal plant of the Ranunculaceae family that has enormous importance. It has traditionally been used to cure a lot of diseases since ancient times. In the current study, the effects of different auxins on callus induction and subsequent somatic embryo formation of N. sativa L. cv. Black Diamond were examined. The best result of callus induction was observed when cotyledon explants were incubated in a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L−1 α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The formation of somatic embryos was achieved efficiently from cotyledon-derived calli cultured on a 2 mg L−1 Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)-containing medium. Furthermore, histological analysis of embryogenic calli was used to detect the presence of different developmental stages of somatic embryos. In contrast to the calli and embryos of N. sativa ‘Black Diamond’, which initiated in the dark, light was necessary for the complete differentiation of callus and embryo cultures into shoots/developed plants. Hypocotyl-derived calli and embryos were successfully differentiated on IBA at 2.0, 1.0 mg L−1, and NAA at 2.0 mg L−1. To the best of our knowledge, this work can be considered the first report on the differentiation of N. sativa ‘Black Diamond’ somatic embryos into developed plants. Moreover, the metabolic profiles of secondary products of N. sativa ‘Black Diamond’ callus and embryo cultures originated from the best auxin treatments identified and were compared with that of intact seeds. Callus cultures of N. sativa ‘Black Diamond’ contained thymoquinone (TQ) in a significant percentage of the peak area (2.76%). Therefore, callus cultures could be used as a perfect alternative source of TQ for pharmaceutical and therapeutic purposes. In addition, fatty acids and/or their esters were recorded as the major components in callus and embryo cultures. These vital compounds could be isolated and used for numerous industrial applications.
Nontrivial Impact of Relative Humidity on Organic New Particle Formation from Ozonolysis of cis-3-Hexenyl Acetate
Authors: Flueckiger Austin C. , Snyder Christopher N. , Petrucci Giuseppe A.
Published: October 2023

The impact of relative humidity (RH) on organic new particle formation (NPF) from the ozonolysis of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) remains an area of active debate. Previous reports provide contradictory results, indicating both the depression and enhancement of NPF under conditions of high RH. Herein, we report on the impact of RH on NPF from the dark ozonolysis of cis-3-hexenyl acetate (CHA), a green-leaf volatile (GLV) emitted by vegetation. We show that RH inhibits NPF by this BVOC, essentially shutting it down at RH levels > 1%. While the mechanism for the inhibition of NPF remains unclear, we demonstrate that it is likely not due to increased losses of CHA to the humid chamber walls. New oxidation products dominant under humid conditions are proposed that, based on estimated vapor pressures (VPs), should enhance NPF; however, it is possible that the vapor phase concentration of these low-volatility products is not sufficient to initiate NPF. Furthermore, the reaction of C3-excited state Criegee intermediates (CIs) with water may lead to the formation of small carboxylic acids that do not contribute to NPF. This hypothesis is supported by experiments with quaternary O3 + CHA + α-pinene + RH systems, which showed decreases in total α-pinene-derived NPF at ~0% RH and subsequent recovery at elevated RH.
Impact of the Application of Gaseous Ozone on Selected Pathogens Found in Animal Shelters and Other Facilities
Authors: Vojtkovská Veronika , Lobová Dana , Voslářová Eva , Večerek Vladimír
Published: October 2023

Correctly selecting disinfection procedures is crucial in facilities housing a high number of animals as it directly affects their health. The aim of this study was to verify the virucidal effect of gaseous ozone delivered by commercially available generators under controlled experimental conditions on a selection of viral pathogens (feline coronavirus, canine coronavirus, feline calicivirus, feline parvovirus) commonly found in shelters and other facilities. Two ozone generators with outputs of 3.5 g/h and 20 g/h were used to produce ozone. Virus viability after the application of ozone was evaluated by examining for typical pathogen-specific cytopathic effects on the CRFK (Crandell–Rees Feline Kidney) cell line post-incubation. No cytopathic effect was observed in feline coronavirus after the 2-h application of ozone; in canine coronavirus, the absence of a cytopathic effect was observed after the 4-h application of ozone. The absence of a cytopathic effect in feline calicivirus was observed after the 6-h application of ozone; the viability of feline parvovirus was not impaired even by the 6-h application of ozone. The results of the study confirm lower resistance to the application of gaseous ozone in enveloped viruses.
Rearing European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) Elvers in a Biofloc System
Authors: Vinatea Luis , Carbó Ricard , Andree Karl B. , Gisbert Enric , Estévez Alicia
Published: October 2023

European eel (Anguilla anguilla) elvers (initial body weight (BW) = 3 g) were raised in triplicate for 60 days in a biofloc system (BFT) at 21 °C. Data from the current first study evaluating this farming technology indicated that European eel elvers adapted well to BFT systems as data on growth performance (specific growth rate = 1.48% ± 0.13 BW/day and FCR = 1.05 ± 0.09) indicated, with production costs using BFT being lower than conventional RAS units. The most critical issues associated with this aquaculture system were the maintenance of the biofloc in tanks by the regular addition of refined sugar (46% C) to keep a relationship for C:N of 20:1, and the prevention of emergence of opportunistic pathogens like the monogenean Pseudodactylogyrus sp. The overall results of this study in terms of elvers’ performance and quality and the composition of the biofloc material and its microbial composition indicated that BFT, which is considered to be one of the most cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly farming systems due to its zero water exchange and improvement of feed conversion ratio by the dietary contribution of bioflocs, may be satisfactorily used for farming European eels elvers at a density of 2 kg/m3. However, further studies are needed to test this technology with older eel stages.
Hepatitis E Virus in Livestock—Update on Its Epidemiology and Risk of Infection to Humans
Authors: Turlewicz-Podbielska Hanna , Augustyniak Agata , Wojciechowski Jarosław , Pomorska-Mól Małgorzata
Published: October 2023

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a public health problem worldwide and an important food pathogen known for its zoonotic potential. Increasing numbers of infection cases with human HEV are caused by the zoonotic transmission of genotypes 3 and 4, mainly by consuming contaminated, undercooked or raw porcine meat. Pigs are the main reservoir of HEV. However, it should be noted that other animal species, such as cattle, sheep, goats, and rabbits, may also be a source of infection for humans. Due to the detection of HEV RNA in the milk and tissues of cattle, the consumption of infected uncooked milk and meat or offal from these species also poses a potential risk of zoonotic HEV infections. Poultry infected by avian HEV may also develop symptomatic disease, although avian HEV is not considered a zoonotic pathogen. HEV infection has a worldwide distribution with different prevalence rates depending on the affected animal species, sampling region, or breeding system.
Arterial Blood Gas, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Values as Diagnostic and Prognostic Indicators in Equine Colic
Authors: Viterbo Luisa , Hughes Jodie , Milner Peter I. , Bardell David
Published: October 2023

The study aimed to investigate if arterial blood analysis in conscious horses presenting with signs of colic and breathing ambient air had diagnostic or prognostic value. Arterial blood samples from 352 horses presenting with colic at a university equine referral hospital were analysed for pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), concentrations of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), ionised calcium (Ca2+) and chloride (Cl−), actual and standardised plasma bicarbonate concentration (HCO3− (P) and HCO3− (P, st)), blood and extracellular fluid base excess (Base (B) and Base (ecf)) and anion gap (AG). Results were compared to previously reported values for healthy horses, and comparisons were made between final diagnosis, treatment and survival to hospital discharge. Significant differences were found between colic cases and healthy reference values between some primary aetiologies. Overall, surgical and non-surgical colic cases differed in Ca2+ and Cl− concentrations and Ca2+ differed between cases that survived to discharge and those that did not. PaO2 differed between small intestinal surgical cases that survived and those that did not. From these results, we developed regression models that demonstrated excellent or good predictive value in identifying the likelihood of surgical versus medical management and survival to hospital discharge.
Elucidating Novel Targets for Ovarian Cancer Antibody–Drug Conjugate Development: Integrating In Silico Prediction and Surface Plasmon Resonance to Identify Targets with Enhanced Antibody Internalization Capacity
Authors: Onyido Emenike Kenechi , James David , Garcia-Parra Jezabel , Sinfield John , Moberg Anna , Coombes Zoe , Worthington Jenny , Williams Nicole , Francis Lewis Webb , Conlan Robert Steven , Gonzalez Deyarina
Published: October 2023

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) constitute a rapidly expanding category of biopharmaceuticals that are reshaping the landscape of targeted chemotherapy. The meticulous process of selecting therapeutic targets, aided by specific monoclonal antibodies’ high specificity for binding to designated antigenic epitopes, is pivotal in ADC research and development. Despite ADCs’ intrinsic ability to differentiate between healthy and cancerous cells, developmental challenges persist. In this study, we present a rationalized pipeline encompassing the initial phases of the ADC development, including target identification and validation. Leveraging an in-house, computationally constructed ADC target database, termed ADC Target Vault, we identified a set of novel ovarian cancer targets. We effectively demonstrate the efficacy of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) technology and in vitro models as predictive tools, expediting the selection and validation of targets as ADC candidates for ovarian cancer therapy. Our analysis reveals three novel robust antibody/target pairs with strong binding and favourable antibody internalization rates in both wild-type and cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cell lines. This approach enhances ADC development and offers a comprehensive method for assessing target/antibody combinations and pre-payload conjugation biological activity. Additionally, the strategy establishes a robust platform for high-throughput screening of potential ovarian cancer ADC targets, an approach that is equally applicable to other cancer types.
Multiplex Bioanalytical Methods for Comprehensive Characterization and Quantification of the Unique Complementarity-Determining-Region Deamidation of MEDI7247, an Anti-ASCT2 Pyrrolobenzodiazepine Antibody–Drug Conjugate
Authors: Huang Yue , Yuan Jiaqi , Mu Ruipeng , Kubiak Robert J. , Ball Kathryn , Cao Mingyan , Hussmann G. Patrick , de Mel Niluka , Liu Dengfeng , Roskos Lorin K. , Liang Meina , Rosenbaum Anton I.
Published: October 2023

Deamidation, a common post-translational modification, may impact multiple physiochemical properties of a therapeutic protein. MEDI7247, a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) antibody–drug conjugate (ADC), contains a unique deamidation site, N102, located within the complementarity-determining region (CDR), impacting the affinity of MEDI7247 to its target. Therefore, it was necessary to monitor MEDI7247 deamidation status in vivo. Due to the low dose, a sensitive absolute quantification method using immunocapture coupled with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LBA-LC-MS/MS) was developed and qualified. We characterized the isomerization via Electron-Activated Dissociation (EAD), revealing that deamidation resulted in iso-aspartic acid. The absolute quantification of deamidation requires careful assay optimization in order not to perturb the balance of the deamidated and nondeamidated forms. Moreover, the selection of capture reagents essential for the correct quantitative assessment of deamidation was evaluated. The final assay was qualified with 50 ng/mL LLOQ for ADC for total and nondeamidated antibody quantification, with qualitative monitoring of the deamidated antibody. The impact of deamidation on the pharmacokinetic characteristics of MEDI7247 from clinical trial NCT03106428 was analyzed, revealing a gradual reduction in the nondeamidated form of MEDI7247 in vivo. Careful quantitative biotransformation analyses of complex biotherapeutic conjugates help us understand changes in product PTMs after administration, thus providing a more complete view of in vivo pharmacology.
Identification of Antioxidant Metabolites from Five Plants (Calophyllum inophyllum, Gardenia taitensis, Curcuma longa, Cordia subcordata, Ficus prolixa) of the Polynesian Pharmacopoeia and Cosmetopoeia for Skin Care
Authors: Chambon Marion , Ho Raimana , Baghdikian Beatrice , Herbette Gaëtan , Bun-Llopet Sok-Siya , Garayev Elnur , Raharivelomanana Phila
Published: October 2023

Oxidative stress contributes to impairment of skin health, the wound healing process, and pathologies such as psoriasis or skin cancer. Five Polynesian medicinal plants, among the most traditionally used for skin care (pimples, wounds, burns, dermatoses) are studied herein for their antioxidant properties: Calophyllum inophyllum, Gardenia taitensis, Curcuma longa, Cordia subcordata, and Ficus prolixa. Plant extracts were submitted to in vitro bioassays related to antioxidant properties and their bioactive constituents were identified by a metabolomic analytical approach. High performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analysis was performed leading to the characterization of 61 metabolites. Compounds annotated for F. prolixa and C. subcordata extracts were reported for the first time. Antioxidant properties were evaluated by total phenolic content (TPC), free radical scavenging DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl), and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power activity (FRAP) assays. F. prolixa extract was the most active one and showed antioxidant intracellular activity on keratinocytes by Anti Oxydant Power 1 assay. Online HPLC-DPPH allowed the identification of phenolic bioactive compounds such as quercetin-O-rhamnoside, rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, procyanidins, epicatechin, 5-O-caffeoylshikimic acid, and curcumin as being responsible for the scavenging properties of these plant extracts. These results highlight the potential of F. prolixa aerial roots as a source of antioxidants for skin care applications.
Structural Study of a La(III) Complex of a 1,2,3-Triazole Ligand with Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Alcolea Palafox Mauricio , Belskaya Nataliya P. , Todorov Lozan T. , Kostova Irena P.
Published: October 2023

The 1,2,3-triazole derivative 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-2H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxylic acid with potential anticancer activity was used as a ligand in complex formation with the lanthanum(III) ion. The molecular structure and vibrational spectra of the complex were optimized at three DFT levels, and the scaled IR and Raman spectra were compared to the experimental ones. Several scaling procedures were used. Through a detailed analysis, the structure predicted for the newly synthetized La(III) complex was confirmed by the good accordance of the calculated/experimental IR and Raman spectra. The best DFT method appeared to be M06-2X with the Lanl2mb basis set, followed closely by Lanl2dz. The effect of the lanthanide atom on the molecular structure and atomic charge distribution of the triazole ring was evaluated. The potential free radical scavenging activity of both the ligand and the complex was investigated in several radical-generating model systems. The potential mechanisms of antioxidant action (hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and single-electron transfer (SET)) were elucidated.
Redox-Mediated Rewiring of Signalling Pathways: The Role of a Cellular Clock in Brain Health and Disease
Authors: Vujovic Filip , Shepherd Claire E. , Witting Paul K. , Hunter Neil , Farahani Ramin M.
Published: October 2023

Metazoan signalling pathways can be rewired to dampen or amplify the rate of events, such as those that occur in development and aging. Given that a linear network topology restricts the capacity to rewire signalling pathways, such scalability of the pace of biological events suggests the existence of programmable non-linear elements in the underlying signalling pathways. Here, we review the network topology of key signalling pathways with a focus on redox-sensitive proteins, including PTEN and Ras GTPase, that reshape the connectivity profile of signalling pathways in response to an altered redox state. While this network-level impact of redox is achieved by the modulation of individual redox-sensitive proteins, it is the population by these proteins of critical nodes in a network topology of signal transduction pathways that amplifies the impact of redox-mediated reprogramming. We propose that redox-mediated rewiring is essential to regulate the rate of transmission of biological signals, giving rise to a programmable cellular clock that orchestrates the pace of biological phenomena such as development and aging. We further review the evidence that an aberrant redox-mediated modulation of output of the cellular clock contributes to the emergence of pathological conditions affecting the human brain.
Transcriptional Profiling of Human Endothelial Cells Unveils PIEZO1 and Mechanosensitive Gene Regulation by Prooxidant and Inflammatory Inputs
Authors: Arenas German A. , Valenzuela Jose G. , Peñaloza Estefanía , Paz Adolfo A. , Iturriaga Rodrigo , Saez Claudia G. , Krause Bernardo J.
Published: October 2023

PIEZO1 is a mechanosensitive cation channel implicated in shear stress-mediated endothelial-dependent vasorelaxation. Since altered shear stress patterns induce a pro-inflammatory endothelial environment, we analyzed transcriptional profiles of human endothelial cells to determine the effect of altered shear stress patterns and subsequent prooxidant and inflammatory conditions on PIEZO1 and mechanosensitive-related genes (MRG). In silico analyses were validated in vitro by assessing PIEZO1 transcript levels in both the umbilical artery (HUAEC) and vein (HUVEC) endothelium. Transcriptional profiling showed that PIEZO1 and some MRG associated with the inflammatory response were upregulated in response to high (15 dyn/cm2) and extremely high shear stress (30 dyn/cm2) in HUVEC. Changes in PIEZO1 and inflammatory MRG were paralleled by p65 but not KLF or YAP1 transcription factors. Similarly, PIEZO1 transcript levels were upregulated by TNF-alpha (TNF-α) in diverse endothelial cell types, and pre-treatment with agents that prevent p65 translocation to the nucleus abolished PIEZO1 induction. ChIP-seq analysis revealed that p65 bonded to the PIEZO1 promoter region, an effect increased by the stimulation with TNF-α. Altogether this data showed that NF-kappa B activation via p65 signaling regulates PIEZO1 expression, providing a new molecular link for prooxidant and inflammatory responses and mechanosensitive pathways in the endothelium.
An Investigation of Particle Motion and Energy Dissipation Mechanisms in Soil–Rock Mixtures with Varying Mixing Degrees under Vibratory Compaction
Authors: Wang Wei , Hu Wei , Liu Shunkai
Published: October 2023

Soil–rock mixture (S–RM) is a heterogeneous granular material commonly used in engineering applications, but achieving uniform particle mixing is challenging. This study investigated the effect of mixing homogeneity on the compaction of S–RM using the discrete element method (DEM). Specimens with varying degrees of mixing were modeled under realistic vibration loading. The results showed that a higher degree of mixing resulted in a smaller void ratio after compaction. The analysis of particle motion and energy dissipation revealed that not all particle motion during vibration compaction was aligned with the direction of the particle system. However, rotation was more prevalent and contributed to densification. Dashpot energy dissipation did not solely promote changes in the void ratio, while slip energy dissipation did lead to changes in the void ratio, but not entirely towards compaction. Rolling slip energy dissipation primarily occurred during the stage of void ratio changes and significantly promoted compaction. The change in strain energy aligned with the trend of the void ratio but did not directly contribute to its promotion.