bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D deficiency and SARS‑CoV‑2 infection: Big-data analysis from March 2020 to March 2021. D-COVID study
Authors: Neira Álvarez M , Navarro Jiménez G , Anguita Sánchez N , Bermejo Olano M.M , Queipó R , Benavent Nuñez M , Parralejo Jimenez A , López Yepes G , Sáez Nieto C
Published: October 2022

Background

Vitamin D has been proposed to have immunomodulatory functions and therefore play a role in coronavirus infection (COVID-19). However, there is no conclusive evidence on its impact on COVID-19 infection and evolution.

Objective

To study the association between COVID-19 infection and vitamin D deficiency in patients of a terciary university hospital. To investigate the clinical evolution and prognosis of patients with COVID-19 and vitamin D deficiency.

Methods

Using big-data analytics and artificial intelligence through the SAVANA Manager clinical platform, we analysed clinical data from patients with COVID-19 atended in a terciary university hospital from March 2020 to March 2021.

Results

Of the 143.157 analysed patients, 36.261 subjects had COVID-19 infection (25.33%); during this period; of these 2588 had vitamin D deficiency (7.14%). Among subjects with COVID-19 and vitamin D deficiency, there was a higher proportion of women OR 1.45 [95% CI 1.33-1.57], adults older than 80 years OR 2.63 [95%CI 2.38-2.91], people living in nursing homes OR 2.88 [95%CI 2.95-3.45] and walking dependence OR 3.45 [95%CI 2.85-4.26]. Regarding clinical course, a higher number of subjects with COVID-19 and vitamin D deficiency required hospitalitation OR 2.41 [95%CI 2.22-2-61], intensive unit care (ICU) OR 2.22 [95% CI 1.64-3.02], had a longer mean hospital stay 3.94 (2.29) p=0.02 and higher mortality OR 1.82 [95%CI 1.66-2.01].)

Conclusion

Low serum 25 (OH) Vitamin-D level was significantly associated with a worse clinical evolution and prognosis of COVID-19 infection. We found a higher proportion of institutionalised and dependent people over 80 years of age among patients with COVID-19 and vitamin D deficiency.
Two new species ofCrocusseriesScardicifrom the Western Balkans
Authors: Shuka Donald , Kerndorff Helmut , Waminal Nomar , Ranđelovič Vladimir , Harpke Doerte
Published: October 2022

CrocusseriesScardicihas only two members,C. scardicusandC. pelistericusdistributed at higher elevations in the Balkan Peninsula. In the course of our research, we discovered two new species growing on alpine meadows and pastures in the serpentine massifs in Albania and limestones in North Macedonia, respectively. The morphology and phylogenetic analyses (two nuclear single-copy markers, nrITS, two chloroplast markers) place the new species within seriesScardici. Both new species are closely related toC. scardicus, but morphologically and ecologically clearly differentiated. We also measured genome sizes for all seriesScardicispecies and report here the largest genomes found up to now in crocuses. The impact of different habitat types and isolation on separate mountain ranges in this alpine group of plants is discussed, too.
Mitochondrial dysfunction rapidly modulates the abundance and thermal stability of cellular proteins
Authors: Groh Carina , Haberkant Per , Stein Frank , Filbeck Sebastian , Pfeffer Stefan , Savitski Mikhail M. , Boos Felix , Herrmann Johannes M.
Published: October 2022

Cellular functionality relies on a well-balanced, but highly dynamic proteome. Dysfunction of mitochondrial protein import leads to the cytosolic accumulation of mitochondrial precursor proteins which compromise cellular proteostasis and trigger the mitoprotein-induced stress response. To dissect the effects of mitochondrial dysfunction on the cellular proteome as a whole, we developed pre-post thermal proteome profiling (ppTPP). This multiplexed time-resolved proteome-wide thermal stability profiling approach with isobaric peptide tags in combination with a pulsed SILAC labeling elucidated dynamic proteostasis changes in several dimensions: In addition to adaptations in protein abundance, we observed rapid modulations of the thermal stability of individual cellular proteins. Strikingly, different functional groups of proteins showed characteristic response patterns and reacted with group-specific kinetics, allowing the identification of the functional modules that are relevant for mitoprotein-induced stress. Thus, our new ppTPP approach uncovered a complex response network that orchestrates proteome homeostasis in eukaryotic cells by time-controlled adaptations of protein abundance and protein stability.
Daily Artificial Gravity is Associated with Greater Neural Efficiency during Sensorimotor Adaptation
Authors: Tays G.D. , Hupfeld K.E. , McGregor H.R. , Gadd N.E. , Kofman I. S. , De Dios Y. E. , Mulder E.R. , Bloomberg J.J. , Mulavara A.P. , Wood S.J. , Seidler R. D.
Published: October 2022

Altered vestibular signaling and body unloading in microgravity results in sensory reweighting and adaptation. Microgravity effects are well-replicated in head-down tilt bed rest (HDBR). Artificial gravity (AG) is a potential countermeasure to mitigate effects of microgravity. We examined the effectiveness of daily AG for mitigating brain and/or behavioral changes in 60 days of HDBR. One group received AG for 30 minutes daily (AG; n=16) and a control group spent the same time in HDBR but received no AG (CTRL; n=8). All participants performed a sensorimotor adaptation task 5 times during fMRI scanning: twice prior to HDBR twice during HDBR, and once following HDBR. The AG group showed similar behavioral adaptation effects compared with the CTRLs. We identified decreased brain activation in the AG group from pre to late HDBR in the cerebellum for the task baseline portion and in the thalamus, calcarine, cuneus, premotor cortices, and superior frontal gyrus in the AG group during the early adaptation phase. The two groups also exhibited differential brain-behavior correlations. Together, these results suggest that AG may result in a reduced recruitment of brain activity for basic motor processes and sensorimotor adaptation. These effects may stem from somatosensory and vestibular stimulation from AG.
An inducible explant model for dissecting osteoclast-osteoblast coordination in health and disease
Authors: Whitlock Jarred M. , de Castro Luis F. , Collins Michael T. , Chernomordik Leonid V. , Boyce Alison M.
Published: October 2022

Metabolic bone diseases are a collection of disorders resulting in diminished skeletal integrity and changes in bone mass due to perturbations in the life-long process of bone remodeling. Perturbations in the number, size and nuclear multiplicity of osteoclasts underpin the development of diverse metabolic bone diseases that impact >13% of adults over age 50 world-wide. Each metabolic bone disease (e.g., osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, fibrous dysplasia (FD), osteopetrosis) presents with unique phenotypes, rises from distinct etiologies and progresses with disparate severities, but all are underpinned by a breakdown in osteoclast formation/function. These perturbations of osteoclast formation/function either stem from or cause dysfunctional osteoclast-osteoblast coordination. Unfortunately, a mechanistic understanding of osteoclast-osteoblast coordination and communication is lacking and represents a major barrier to understanding the biology underpinning bone remodeling and the development of effective treatments targeting this process. Here we have developed an inducibleex vivoculture model that models osteoclast-osteoblast coordination in the bone remodeling compartment. Doxycycline addition to cultures activates GαsR201Cexpression and RANKL release from osteoprogenitors, which elicits the differentiation and fusion of neighboring preosteoclasts. In turn, multinucleated osteoclast formation promotes the proliferation of osteoprogenitors, accompanied by the robust release of RANK+extracellular vesicles, all within ∼4 days. This system recapitulates many aspects of the complex osteoclast-osteoblast coordination required for the function of the bone remodeling compartment in both health and diseases underpinned by excessive osteoclast formation. Moreover, based on the ease of isolation, culture, reproducibility and the general adaptability of these cultures to a variety of assays, we expect that this new model will expedite the investigation of osteoclast-osteoblast coordination and osteoclast fusion in bone remodeling and offer a powerful tool for evaluating signaling cascades and novel therapeutic interventions in osteoclast-linked skeletal disease.

One-Sentence Summary

Conditional, inducible,ex vivomarrow explants offer a novel tool for studying osteoclast formation and osteoclast-osteoblast coordination in a rapid convenient culture model.
Intranasal SARS-CoV-2 RBD decorated nanoparticle vaccine enhances viral clearance in the Syrian hamster model
Authors: Patel DR , Minns AM , Sim DG , Field CJ , Kerr AE , Heinly T , Luley EH , Rossi R.M. , Bator C. , Moustafa I.M. , Hafenstein SL , Lindner SE , Sutton TC
Published: October 2022

Multiple vaccines have been developed and licensed for SARS-CoV-2. While these vaccines reduce disease severity, they do not prevent infection, and SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread and evolve. To prevent infection and limit transmission, vaccines must be developed that induce immunity in the respiratory tract. Therefore, we performed proof-of-principle vaccination studies with an intranasal nanoparticle vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine candidate consisted of the self-assembling 60-subunit I3-01 protein scaffold covalently decorated with the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) using the SpyCatcher-SpyTag system. We verified the intended antigen display features by reconstructing the I3-01 scaffold to 3.4A using cryo-EM, and then demonstrated that the scaffold was highly saturated when grafted with RBD. Using this RBD-grafted SpyCage scaffold (RBD+SpyCage), we performed two unadjuvanted intranasal vaccination studies in the “gold-standard” preclinical Syrian hamster model. Hamsters received two vaccinations 28 days apart, and were then challenged 28 days post-boost with SARS-CoV-2. The initial study focused on assessing the immunogenicity of RBD+SpyCage, which indicated that vaccination of hamsters induced a non-neutralizing antibody response that enhanced viral clearance but did not prevent infection. In an expanded study, we demonstrated that covalent bonding of RBD to the scaffold was required to induce an antibody response. Consistent with the initial study, animals vaccinated with RBD+SpyCage more rapidly cleared SARS-CoV-2 from both the upper and lower respiratory tract. These findings demonstrate the intranasal SpyCage vaccine platform can induce protection against SARS-CoV-2 and, with additional modifications to improve immunogenicity, is a versatile platform for the development of intranasal vaccines targeting respiratory pathogens.

IMPORTANCE

Despite the availability of efficacious COVID vaccines that reduce disease severity, SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread. To limit SARS-CoV-2 transmission, the next generation of vaccines must induce immunity in the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract. Therefore, we performed proof-of-principle, unadjuvanted intranasal vaccination studies with a recombinant protein nanoparticle scaffold, SpyCage, decorated with the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the S protein (SpyCage+RBD). We show that SpyCage+RBD was immunogenic and enhanced SARS-CoV-2 clearance from the nose and lungs of Syrian hamsters. Moreover, covalent grafting of the RBD to the scaffold was required to induce an immune response when given via the intranasal route. These proof-of-concept findings indicate that with further enhancements to immunogenicity (e.g., adjuvant incorporation, antigen optimization), the SpyCage scaffold has potential as a versatile, intranasal vaccine platform for respiratory pathogens.
The influence of familiarity on the neural coding of face sex
Authors: Foster Celia , Schultz Johannes , Munzing Melissa , Bülthoff Isabelle , Armann Regine
Published: October 2022

In behaviour, humans have been shown to represent the sex of faces categorically when the faces are familiar to them. This leads to them judging faces crossing the category boundary (i.e. from male to female) as more different than faces that are within the same category. In this study, we investigated how faces of different sexes are encoded in the brain, and how familiarity changes the neural coding of sex. We recorded participants’ brain activity using fMRI while they viewed both familiar and unfamiliar faces that were morphed in their sex characteristics (i.e. between male and female). Participants viewed pairs of faces that were either identical, or differed in their sex morph level, with or without a categorical change in perceived sex (i.e. crossing the perceived male/female category boundary). This allowed us to disentangle physical and categorical neural coding of face sex, and to investigate if neural coding of face categories was enhanced by face familiarity. Our results show that the sex of familiar, but not unfamiliar, faces was encoded categorically in the medial prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortex as well as in the right intraparietal sulcus. In contrast, the fusiform face area showed a sensitivity to the physical changes in the sex of faces that was unaffected by face familiarity. The occipital face area showed its highest responses to faces towards the ends of the sex morph continuum (i.e. the most male or most female faces), and these responses were also unaffected by face familiarity. These results suggest that there is a dissociation between the brain regions encoding physical and categorical representations of face sex, with occipital and fusiform face regions encoding physical face sex properties and frontal and parietal regions encoding high-level categorical face sex representations that are linked to face identity.
Bidirectional synaptic changes in deep and superficial hippocampal neurons followingin vivoactivity
Authors: Berndt Marcus , Trusel Massimo , Roberts Todd F. , Volk Lenora J. , Pfeiffer Brad E.
Published: October 2022

Neuronal activity during experience is thought to induce plastic changes within the hippocampal network which underlie memory formation, although the extent and details of such changesin vivoremain unclear. Here, we employed a temporally precise marker of neuronal activity, CaMPARI2, to label active CA1 hippocampal neuronsin vivo, followed by immediate acute slice preparation and electrophysiological quantification of synaptic properties. Recently active neurons in the superficial sublayer ofstratum pyramidaledisplayed larger post-synaptic responses at excitatory synapses from area CA3, with no change in pre-synaptic release probability. In contrast,in vivoactivity weakened both pre- and post-synaptic excitatory weights onto pyramidal cells in the deep sublayer.In vivoactivity of deep and superficial neurons within sharp-wave ripples was bidirectionally changed across experience, consistent with the observed changes in synaptic weights. These findings reveal novel, fundamental mechanisms through which the hippocampal network is modified by experience to store information.
Differential retention of Pfam domains creates long-term evolutionary trends
Authors: James Jennifer , Nelson Paul , Masel Joanna
Published: October 2022

Protein domains that emerged more recently in evolution have higher structural disorder and greater clustering of hydrophobic residues along the primary sequence. It is hard to explain how selection acting via descent with modification could act so slowly as not to saturate over the extraordinarily long timescales over which these trends persist. Here we hypothesize that the trends were created by a higher level of selection that differentially affects the retention probabilities of protein domains with different properties. This hypothesis predicts that loss rates should depend on disorder and clustering trait values. To test this, we inferred loss rates via maximum likelihood for animal Pfam domains, after first performing a set of stringent quality control methods to reduce annotation errors. Intermediate trait values, matching those of ancient domains, are associated with the lowest loss rates, making our results difficult to explain with reference to previously described homology detection biases. Simulations confirm that effect sizes are of the right magnitude to produce the observed long-term trends. Our results support the hypothesis that differential domain loss slowly weeds out those protein domains that have non-optimal levels of disorder and clustering. The same preferences also shape differential diversification of Pfam domains, further impacting proteome composition.
Shadow economy in Palestinian territories using currency demand approach
Authors: Abuamsha Mohammad Kamal , Shumali S.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The study aims at estimating the shadow economy (SE) using the method of demand for currency in Palestine for the period 2008–2018 by studying the relationship between a group of variables that affect the ratio of money traded outside the banking system to the money supply in the broad sense.

Design/methodology/approach

The study has adopted analytical and descriptive research methods to estimate SE in Palestinian territories. The data has been obtained from the inflation reports issued by the Palestinian Monetary Authority for ten years, from 2008 to 2018. A standard model was constructed using EViews version 8 for statistical data processing after converting the annual data to quarterly data.

Findings

The authors demonstrated that the size of the SE in Palestinian territories has varied over time, and the annual average of its size during the study period reached about $1764.893 (in millions). This amount constitutes about 15.5% of the gross domestic product. The study provides recommendations for reducing the size of the SE in Palestinian territories.

Practical implications

The current study shows that shadow economics could significantly matter for economic policy design by policymakers.

Originality/value

This study deals directly with Tanzi’s “estimation of shadow economy in Palestinian territories” concept and its impact on economic policies.
The macroeconomic impacts of the mobile money: empirical evidence from EVC plus in Somalia
Authors: Mohamed Abdinur Ali , Nor Mohamed Ibrahim
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the macroeconomic impact of mobile money in Somalia using quarterly data from 2010 to 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applied the structural vector autoregressive approach to examine the response of the macroeconomic variables to the mobile money shocks.

Findings

The results show that mobile money increases consumer spending by reducing transaction costs and enhancing access to finance, which promotes the expansion of aggregate output. This study also finds that mobile money helps exchange rate stability and price level maintenance, boosting trade openness. Moreover, mobile money is linked to the rise in real income due to productivity improvement and price stability. The results of this study indicated that mobile money has a short-run relationship with aggregate output, household consumption, price level, trade openness and real income. Through the Granger causality test, this study finds that mobile money has a unidirectional relationship with the exchange rate, price level, household consumption and trade openness.

Originality/value

The empirical findings of this study imply that mobile money can create a wide range of financial services to improve the financial system in rural and urban areas; hence, it enables poor and rural members of society to make payments and receive-and-transfer money using their mobiles.
Mapping of Islamic corporate governance research: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Pahlevi Reza Widhar
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The principles of good corporate governance (GCG) in Islam are more stakeholder oriented than shareholder oriented. If the implementation of GCG always refers to the principles of GCG that are sourced from the values of capitalism, it is necessary to reconstruct corporate governance so that it can be applied to Sharia institutions. Therefore, this study aims to carry out a detailed development of Islamic corporate governance with careful evaluation of the various aspects of the scientific panorama inherent in Islamic business and social finance.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach in this research is Islamic corporate governance research as a reference in “Article Title, Abstract and Keywords” based on Scopus from 1994 to 2021. The analysis was carried out in December 2021. VOSviewer and Excel software were used to analyze the collected data and apply bibliometric analysis.

Findings

The research findings indicate that Islamic corporate governance research can be categorized into subfields, such as research on the basics of Islamic corporate governance, analysis of Islamic corporate governance and research on various applications of Islamic corporate governance in Islamic finance. Although there is some important or fundamental research in Islamic corporate governance, this does not yet answer for such a powerful Islamic financial instrument. This study relies on research in the existing Islamic corporate governance literature and future research.

Research limitations/implications

This study relies on research in the existing Islamic corporate governance literature and future research. The outcome of the current study will provide a strategic perspective to law-making bodies and practitioners of the organization to implement Islamic corporate governance to attain a higher sustainability performance.

Practical implications

GCG practices make companies have better performance; the failure of small and medium enterprises is the result of weak corporate governance practices. Corporate governance is indeed not a solution to all the problems faced, but governance is an unquestionable thing to achieve business success.

Social implications

It discusses above the current state of corporate governance practices in the conventional economy and establishes the measurement of GCG at the functional level, compared from Islamic perspectives. Like any other civilization and religion, Islamic culture also embedded GCG since the early days of Islamization.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to examine the existing Islamic corporate governance literature by bibliometric analysis. The definite results and research areas can help scholars and researchers to conduct future research to enhance the scientific development of Islamic finance and provide alternative instruments to implement corporate governance according to Islamic values.
Manufacturer's servitization level and financial performance: the role of risk management
Authors: Jat Mohsin Nasir , Jajja Muhammad Shakeel Sadiq , Shah Syed Aamir Ali , Farooq Sami
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The objective of this research is to investigate the impact of offering product-linked services on the effectiveness of risk management and, subsequently, on financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation is based on an empirical analysis employing structural equation modeling (SEM) and cross-industry and multi-country survey data of 307 companies. The theorization is guided by the information processing theory (IPT).

Findings

Considering the basic and advanced classification of services, the analysis suggests that only the provision of advanced services influences the effectiveness of risk management. Specifically, the provision of advanced services strengthens the preventive dimension of risk management. Surprisingly, the analysis reveals a negative direct impact of preventive risk management on financial performance. Preventive risk management, however, indirectly enhances financial performance by supporting reactive risk management.

Practical implications

For practitioners, the research suggests a positive impact of servitization in a long term rather than in form of instant financial benefits. The research attempts to highlight the specific role of supply chain risk management (SCRM) through which servitization has a positive impact on financial performance.

Originality/value

Although there are assumptions about both reduction and increase in risk when manufacturers offer services, the extant literature lacks an empirical investigation on the association between servitization and the effectiveness of risk management. This study addresses the stated gap and offers novel insights into the role of SCRM in the performance consequences of servitization.
Virtual campuses in developing countries: an evaluation of the “right connectors” for effective e-learning in higher education institutions in Zimbabwe
Authors: Nyathi Musa
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the relative effects of three facets or connectors argued to be vital for learners in successful e-learning outcomes in developing economies.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a survey involving 130 learners. A stratified sampling technique was employed. Regression analyses making use of linear, multiple and PROCESS macro in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) were used to analyze data.

Findings

Technological self-efficacy and social presence are the most important facets needed by participants for effective learning in higher education institutions in developing countries. Learning tools meant to enhance teaching and learning and also contribute to learner satisfaction.

Practical implications

The findings of the study provide insights to academic administrators to pay close attention to the three connectors in order to ensure quality learning. The findings guide higher learning institutions to adequately and selectively pay attention to the three connections. Deliberate efforts focusing on students' situations, opinions and concerns are vital for learner satisfaction in developing economies.

Originality/value

This study represents a first attempt to examine the effect of the “right connections” for effective learning in developing economies, using a quantitative approach. The findings bring into attention the role of assessing learner inputs and virtual environment in boosting the effectiveness of e-learning. The findings also result in a model that should lead to increased learner satisfaction through the implementation of right connections. The study “disputes” the relevance of a universal e-learning system.
Impact of psychological capital on mental health, readiness for organizational change, and job insecurity: hotel employees’ perspective in COVID-19
Authors: Al-Ghazali Basheer M. , Afsar Bilal
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The construct of psychological capital or PsyCap (consisting of the positive psychological resources of hope, self-efficacy, optimism and resilience) has been demonstrated to relate to employees’ attitudinal and behavioral outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of positive psychological capital on mental health, readiness for organizational change, and job insecurity in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 567 hotel employees working in hotels in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A quantitative approach was used and employees were requested to fill the questionnaires.

Findings

Results show that psychological capital enhances an employee’s mental health and readiness for the organizational change. Moreover, PsyCap is found to negatively impact the perceptions of job insecurity among hotel employees. The study has useful managerial implications for hoteliers, especially, in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

Originality/value

This is the first study of its kind to link hotel employees’ positive psychological capital with their perceptions about job insecurity and mental health. COVID-19 pandemic has hit the world fiercely and new normal expects employees to be ready to embrace changes in organizations. This study contributes to the literature on hospitality management by linking psychological capital with hotel employees’ readiness for organizational change in the context of Coronavirus.
Creativity development and Mode 2 theory development: Event system and experiential learning perspectives
Authors: Kulichyova Anastasia , Jooss Stefan , Garavan Thomas
Published: October 2022

Literature on academic‐stakeholder collaboration in the context of HRM is scarce and highlights the challenges linking theory to practice. Drawing on Mode 2 research, we theorise how a structured intervention enables the generation of theoretical insights concerning the development of employee creativity knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs). Utilising event system theory, we reveal how the novelty, criticality, and disruption of a structured intervention fuel an experiential learning process. This process facilitates the development of important individual and team‐based creativity KSAs and is sustained through a learning mindset. We develop insights about theories‐in‐use, HRM theory development, and the micro processes involved in an academic‐stakeholder collaboration including areas of potential tension. From a practice perspective, we highlight the value of structured interventions for creativity KSA development and a strategy to facilitate academic‐stakeholder collaboration.
Quantification and purification of procyanidin B1 from food byproducts
Authors: Ma Jian‐Nan , Feng Xu , Shan Cheng‐Bin , Ma Yue , Lu Zhan‐Yuan , Zhang De‐Jian , Ma Chao‐Mei
Published: October 2022

The flavan‐3‐ols of 10 primarily plant food byproducts, including Muscat Hamburg grape seed, hawthorn sarcocarp, litchi pericarp, cocoa bean, peanut skin, lotus seedpod, Xinyang Maojian green tea, Cinnamomi cortex, Sargentodoxa cuneata stem, and Cyperus esculentus, leaves were analyzed. Ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was used for the analysis. Cyperus esculentus leaves contained a high amount of procyanidin B1 (198.9 mg/100 g), second only to Muscat Hamburg grape seed (292.9 mg/100 g). Unlike grape seed that contained several procyanidin B isomers with very similar retention times, C. esculentus leaves contained primarily procyanidin B1 with few isomers. Procyanidin B1 was enriched in the ethyl acetate fraction of a 70% methanol extract of C. esculentus leaves and purified at 95% purity by two runs of open column chromatography. Direct chromatography of the plant extract on octadecylsilane and Sephadex LH20 open columns improved the yield of the resultant leaf procyanidin B1 (95% purity) to 0.21‰. The present research demonstrated that the leaves of C. esculentus, byproducts of tigernut, are ideal plant sources for isolating and providing high‐purity procyanidin B1.

Practical Application

Procyanidin B1 has a broad range of health benefits. Cyperus esculentus is cultivated in many countries with nearly 6190 square hectares (hm2) in the Spanish Mediterranean region in 2020–2021 and over 16,700 hm2 in China in recent years, primarily for its tubers. The byproducts, the leaves of C. esculentus, contain high levels of procyanidin B1, with few isomers that interfere with its isolation and purification. Thus, the leaves of this plant provide a viable source for preparing high‐purity procyanidin B1.
A New Type of Rare Metal Deposit: The Yushishan Leptynite‐Type Nb‐Ta Deposit in Eastern Altun, Gansu Province, NW China
Authors: JIANG Shaoyong , LIU Tao , ZHANG Haoxiang , CAO Shuyun , ZHENG Ruohong , LI Tongguo , YU Junpeng , WU Yibu
Published: October 2022

The Yusishan deposit is a newly found leptynite‐type niobium and tantalum (Nb‐Ta) deposit, which is located in the Eastern Altun of Gansu Province. The leptynite of the Neoproterozoic Aoyougou Formation occurs more than 10 km long and 3 km wide. In this paper, we carried out a detailed study of the leptynite and related mineralization. The U‐Pb dating of zircon reveals ages of 831 ± 5 Ma and 790 ± 5 Ma for the unmineralized leptynite and 491 ± 4 Ma and 455 ± 4 Ma for the mineralized leptynite. The petrographic and geochemical evidence identified the protolith of the leptynite as alkaline volcanic rocks that erupted during Neoproterozoic at ca. 830 Ma. At ca. 490 Ma, the tectono‐magmatic and metamorphic event triggered remobilization and enrichment of Nb‐Ta as well as other critical metals (REE, Zr, Hf etc) with the formation of industry orebodies in the leptynite strata. The Yushishan deposit presents many similarities with the alkaline volcanic rocks related rare metal deposits in the south Qinling of China and the Brochman, Toogni and Southern Peak Range deposits in Australian. We therefore propose that the Yushishan deposit is a new type (sub‐type) of Nb‐Ta deposit and termed as leptynite type that represents the metamorphic counterpart of the alkaline volcanic rocks related rare metal deposits.
The role of S100A12 and Toll‐like receptor 4 in assessment of disease activity in familial Mediterranean fever and juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Dumur Seyma , Adrovic Amra , Barut Kenan , Kasapcopur Ozgur , Kucur Mine
Published: October 2022

Objective

Our aim was to investigate the possible relationship between the serum S100A12 and Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) levels, and the activity of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in accordance with the routine biochemical parameters. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these 2 biomarkers in distinguishing FMF from JIA has been evaluated.

Method

Sixty‐nine children with FMF, 68 children with JIA, and 35 healthy children were included in this study. S100A12 and TLR4 levels were measured by the sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay technique.

Results

In the FMF patient group, serum S100A12 level was found to be significantly higher than in both the JIA and control groups (P = .000 and P = .000, respectively). Although S100A12 levels were higher in the attack period compared to the attack‐free period, this increase was not statistically significant (P > .05). TLR4 levels were statistically significantly higher in the attack period compared to the attack‐free period in children with FMF (P < .05). Although there was no relationship between S100A12 levels and disease activity, there is a clear correlation between S100A12 and the Auto‐Inflammatory Disease Activity Index in attack‐free FMF patients (r = 0.612 P = .000).

Conclusion

Serum S100A12 levels were not found to be a potentially valuable biomarker for assessing disease activity in either FMF or JIA. However, TLR4 levels were found to be a valuable biomarker for assessing disease activity in children with FMF. Further research which includes serial monitoring of S100A12 and TLR4 levels in a large cohort will provide detailed information about accuracy of these 2 potential biomarkers in both patients group.
Nurses’ lived experiences in the utilization of standardized nursing languages in documentation of nursing care, in Cross River State, Nigeria
Authors: Enebeli Emmanuel Chukwunwike , Akpan‐Idiok Paulina Ackley , Chukwudozie Chioma Chidiebere
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The concept of standardized nursing languages (SNLs) was introduced to solve the problem created by the use of different terminologies to document care by nurses working in diversified contexts. This study explored professional nurses’ experiences in the utilization of SNL in documenting patients’ care.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive design was adopted for this study, and a purposive sampling technique was used to select eight nurses for the study from a tertiary health facility. Data were collected using an in‐depth interview guide. Rigour and trustworthiness were ensured using the techniques of credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability. Data were analyzed according to Braun and Clarke's six‐step thematic analyses.

Findings

The key finding indicates that nurses appreciate the advantages of utilizing SNLs; however, they encounter some problems in formulating correct nursing diagnoses and several challenges in using SNLs, such as manpower shortage, lack of time, inappropriate materials, inadequate knowledge of NOC and NIC. These challenges have caused the utilization of SNLs among nurses to be poor.

Conclusions

SNLs have been recognized as the gold standard for nursing practice; however, their usage is poor. To ensure the adequate use of SNLs, it is the responsibility of the nurse and the institution to resolve the barriers to the use of SNLs. The study recommends that the utilization of SNLS could be improved with the provision of more seminars, the creation of a policy on SNLs use, and the use of electronic documentation

Implication to nursing

This study contributes by providing a picture of nurses’ experiences in utilizing SNLs in Nigeria, identifying challenges experienced and recommending ways to tackle these challenges.
Getting the message out: Information and communication technologies and agricultural extension
Authors: Giulivi Nicoletta , Harou Aurélie P. , Gautam Shriniwas , Guereña Davíd
Published: October 2022

There has been much optimism about the potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to provide agricultural extension services to remote households. Yet, little is known about how different communication methods fare, and, moreover, whether different segments of the population adopt information communicated via different means equally. We conduct a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of three ICTs—radio, voice response messages, and a smartphone app—with traditional extension training in communicating fertilizer management practices across four districts in rural Nepal. We find that farmers in the smartphone app and the extension training programs are on average 8.4 and 13 percentage points more likely to adopt top dressing fertilizer practices compared to control farmers, statistically significant at the 1% and 5% levels, respectively. Farmers in the smartphone app treatment achieve the highest agronomic literacy test scores, 7.8 percentage points higher than the control, statistically significant at the 1% level. In contrast, farmers receiving radio or voice response messages were not more likely to adopt the same fertilizer recommendations nor show improved specific or general agronomic knowledge relative to control farmers. Our results suggest that smartphone apps are more cost effective at inducing farmer knowledge and technology adoption than extension trainings. Heterogeneous treatment effects, however, reveal that a targeted ICT approach may be more effective in disseminating extension advice.
Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Effective Way of Treating Cancer
Authors: Chen Ling , Shen Shihao
Published: October 2022

The incidence of cancer in the world has been rising in recent years. Although Western medicine has the ability to treat tumors, some Western cancer treatments cause serious and even irreversible damage to the body. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combines the excellence of Chinese philosophy and the cumulative knowledge of thousands of years of clinical practice. TCM has incomparable advantages in the prevention and treatment of tumors. This review summarizes the epidemiological data of tumors and focuses on the pathogenesis theory of tumors. It demonstrates the advantages and shortcomings of TCM in tumor prevention and treatment. Based on our clinical experience, we put forward an optimization plan of TCM treatments of tumors and a plan for the propagation of TCM culture, which we believe will help TCM become more recognized in international medicine.
Growing Chinese Medicinal Herbs to Prevent and Treat Chronic Illness
Authors: Giblette Jean
Published: October 2022

Chronic illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, are on the rise throughout the world due to modern diets and other factors. Western medicine has been ineffective in preventing or treating them. Thus, members of the public have sought alternatives. In the past 50 years, two social movements in the United States have shared an understanding of health in relation to the natural world. Chinese herbal medicine and practitioners of ecological agriculture agree that the nutritional requirements of complex living organisms are interconnected. Empirical findings in these applied sciences are supported by recent discoveries. However, economic constraints inhibit development. Each field is described separately, with notes from the author’s direct experience.
Complete meiosis in rat prepubertal testicular tissue under in vitro sequential culture conditions
Authors: Saulnier Justine , Soirey Mathilde , Kébir Nasreddine , Delessard Marion , Rives‐Feraille Aurélie , Moutard Laura , Dumont Ludovic , Rives Nathalie , Rondanino Christine
Published: October 2022

Background

Testicular tissue cryopreservation before gonadotoxic treatments allows fertility preservation in children suffering from cancer. Fertility restoration strategies, in particular in vitro maturation of prepubertal testicular tissue, are being developed mainly in animal models. The rat, widely used in biomedical research, including in reproductive biology, is a relevant model.

Objectives

To determine whether sequential two‐step culture protocols can improve the efficiency of rat in vitro spermatogenesis.

Materials and methods

Rat prepubertal testicular tissues were cultured on agarose gels with either a one‐step or two‐step protocol with or without polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) ceiling chips. The progression of spermatogenesis, germ/Sertoli cell ratio, cell proliferation, seminiferous tubule area, and intratubular cell density were assessed by histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labeling (TUNEL) assays and Peanut Agglutinin (PNA) lectin labeling were performed to analyze the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) integrity and differentiation step of in vitro‐produced spermatids.

Results

Sequential two‐step protocols allowed the production of spermatids with a higher efficiency compared with the one‐step culture protocol. However, the efficiency was low, as less than 1.5% of tubules contained spermatids. Most of the in vitro‐produced spermatids contained unfragmented DNA and were at an early step of differentiation. Rare elongating spermatids could be detected in the cultured explants. Although complete in vitro spermatogenesis could not be obtained with PDMS ceiling chips, entry into meiosis was promoted in one‐step organotypic cultures.

Discussion and conclusion

Complete in vitro meiosis and the beginning of the elongation phase of spermiogenesis were obtained in a rat model using sequential culture methods. Because of their low efficiency, further work will be necessary to identify the culture conditions allowing the completion of spermiogenesis. These optimizations could pave the way for future applications, including the development of an in vitro fertility restoration procedure for childhood cancer survivors, which is still far from being clinically available.
The prognostic role of advanced hemodynamic variables in patients with left ventricular assist devices
Authors: Kanelidis Anthony J. , Siddiqi Umar , Miller Tamari , Belkin Mark , Li George , Smith Bryan , Kalantari Sara , Nguyen Ann , Chung Ben B. , Sarswat Nitasha , Kim Gene , Salerno Christopher , Jeevanandam Valluvan , Pinney Sean , Grinstein Jonathan
Published: October 2022

Background

Invasive hemodynamic variables obtained from right heart catheterization have been used for risk‐stratifying patients with advanced heart failure (HF). However, there is a paucity of data on the prognostic value of invasive hemodynamic variables in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). We hypothesized that cardiac power output (CPO), cardiac power efficiency (CPE), and left ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI) can serve as prognostic markers in patients with LVADs.

Methods

Baseline hemodynamic data from patients who had LVAD ramp studies at our institution from 4/2014 to 7/2018 were prospectively collected, from which advanced hemodynamic variables (CPO, CPE, and LVSWI) were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed for hemocompatibility‐related adverse events (HRAE), HF admissions, and mortality.

Results

Ninety‐one participants (age 61 ± 11 years, 34% women, 40% Black or African American, and 38% ischemic cardiomyopathy) were analyzed. Low CPE was significantly associated with mortality (HR 2.42, 95% CI 1.02–5.74, p = 0.045) in univariate analysis and Kaplan–Meier analysis (p = 0.04). Low LVSWI was significantly associated with mortality (HR 2.13, 95% CI 1.09–4.17, p = 0.03) in univariate analysis and Kaplan–Meier analysis (p = 0.02). CPO was not associated with mortality. CPO, CPE, and LVSWI were not associated with HRAE or HF admissions.

Conclusions

Advanced hemodynamic variables can serve as prognostic indicators for patients with LVADs. Low CPE and LVSWI are prognostic for higher mortality, but no variables were associated with HF admissions or HRAEs.
An ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantitation of 10 alkaloids of Corydalis Decumbentis Rhizoma preparation in dog plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Yu Ying , Sun Jiahui , Yang Chunjuan , Dong Hongrui , Wang Zhenyue , Wang Zhibin
Published: October 2022

Objective

A sensitive and rapid ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) method was successfully applied to the determination of 10 alkaloids in beagle dog plasma following a single oral dose of Xiatianwu capsules and enteric‐coated capsules, with theophylline serving as the internal standard (IS).

Methods

Plasma samples were preprocessed using liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) with ethyl acetate ahead to separation using a gradient elution procedure on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 column (1.8 μm, 100 × 2.1 mm). The mobile phase was composed of 0.1% formic acid solution and acetonitrile at the flow rate of 0.3 ml/min. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used to determine the analytes in the positive ion mode.

Results

The calibration curves for 10 analytes demonstrated a high degree of linearity (r ≥ 0.9920). The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) values for 10 alkaloids were all more than 1.074 ng/ml, and matrix effects varied from 94.25% to 106.15%. The mean extraction recovery of quality control samples at low (LQC), medium (MQC) and high (HQC) concentrations, as well as IS, was all more than 76.60%. The intra‐day and inter‐day precision (RSD) also satisfied the requirement. Simultaneously, the variation of assay accuracies (RE) was between 13.05% and 9.38%.

Conclusion

The test was validated in accordance with regulatory bioanalytical guidelines and was found to be suitable for use in a pharmacokinetic investigation of these compounds in beagle dogs after oral administration of Xiatianwu general capsules and enteric‐coated capsules. The Cmax of 10 alkaloids ranged from 52.61 to 192.46 ng/ml after oral administration of Xiatianwu capsules, and from 67.50 to 247.36 ng/ml. The Tmax was between 0.59 and 1.33 h of Xiatianwu capsules, and between 1.08 and 2.00 h of enteric‐coated capsules. The t1/2 ranged from 3.18 to 7.47 h of general capsules, and from 6.01 to 11.36 h. AUC0‐t ranged from 181.06 to 722.74 ng·h/ml of Xiatianwu capsules, and from 275.03 to 884.17 ng·h/ml of enteric‐coated capsules. The Cmax of enteric‐coated capsules were significantly increased except for tetrahydropalmatine and berberine. Tmax of general capsules were less than 1 h, and of enteric‐coated capsules were less than 2 h. The t1/2 of dehydrocorydaline, palmatine, tetrahydrojatrorrhizine, jatrorrhizine and coptisine in enteric‐coated capsules was longer than that in ordinary capsule. The AUC0‐t and AUC0‐∞ of bicuculline, dehydrocorydaline, protopine, magnoflorine, tetrahydrojatrorrhizine, jatrorrhizine, berberine and coptisine were all significantly higher in enteric‐coated capsules.