bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cluster Method: Effects on Performance in Handball
Authors: Eler Serdar , Eler Nebahat
Published: November 2023

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of six week traditional and cluster training method applied in female handball players on speed, strength and throwing power. 32 handball players participated in this study. 16 athletes were assigned in the Cluster Training Group (CTG), 16 athletes in the Traditional Training Group (TTG). The training continued for six weeks, three days a week, during the preparation period of the annual training program. Both groups practiced leg extension/flexion, pulldown, butterfly, bench press, deep squat. The CTG performed 80% of repetition maximum (1RM), 4 repetitions with a 20-second rest, total of 12 repetitions and 2 sets. The TTG, on the other hand, performed 80% of 1RM, 12 repetitions, 2-3-minute rest between sets, and again 2 sets. At the beginning and end of the training, 10 and 20 m speed, hand grip strength, standing long jump, vertical jump, throwing speed, squat and bench press performance measurements were recorded. A statistically significant difference was found in the performance values within the group (p<0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between groups in the vertical jump and standing long jump (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of the other performances (p>0.05). As a result, it was seen that the cluster method was effective on the development of the jump force. Considering the difference between cluster and traditional training methods, we can say that the cluster method provides more advantages than the traditional method in branches that require explosive strength.
Macroinvertebrate community composition and river health assessment in plateau rivers of Guizhou Province, China
Authors: Ge S , Fan Z , Su Y
Published: November 2023

Plateau rivers are considered regional water resource depots, hydropower energy bases, cradles of aquatic dispersal, and barriers to invasive alien species. In this study, 20 major plateau rivers from Guizhou Province, China, were studied to (1) investigate the composition, functional feeding group distribution, and diversity of macroinvertebrates; and (2) assess the ecosystem health of the rivers using the macroinvertebrate Family Biotic Index. Among the macroinvertebrate species, the dammed river sections primarily contained Corbicula fluminea and C. nitens from the Lamellibranchia, the urban river sections harbored Bellamya aeruginosa and Semisulcospira cancellata from the Gastropoda, and the reference river sections contained sensitive taxa including mayfly Ecdyonurus yoshidae and caddisfly Stenopsyche tlenmushanensis. Among the major plateau rivers in Guizhou, urban river sections exhibited the highest density of macrobenthic organisms. The Shannon-Wiener index was lowest in dammed sections, followed by urban sections, while reference sections exhibited the highest diversity. As for functional feeding groups, the density of filter feeders was significantly higher than that of other groups. In contrast, the density of gatherer-collectors and the shredders was relatively low. Assessment of the aquatic ecosystem health in Guizhou Plateau rivers showed that dammed sections were primarily in an unhealthy state, urban sections mainly fell into the sub-healthy category, and reference sections had a relatively good health status. The results from this study provide baseline data that is useful for water resources management, hydropower energy utilization, and ecological and environmental protection of the plateau rivers.
Integrating genetic and demographic data to refine indices of abundance for Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River, New York
Authors: White SL , Pendleton RM , Higgs AL , Lubinski BA , Johnson RL , Kazyak DC
Published: November 2023

Critical to Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus recovery and monitoring is the ability to estimate abundance and identify age- and stock-specific threats to survival. As adult Atlantic sturgeon spend much of their lives broadly distributed in marine and estuarine environments, it is challenging to collect data needed to estimate these demographic parameters in the adult population. Alternatively, data collected from juveniles and subadults before emigration may be used to calculate indices of abundance and provide insights into recruitment dynamics and stage-specific survival. However, uncertainty about stock mixture during early life stages may limit the use of juvenile and subadult data for monitoring recovery. To better understand early life stage stock composition, we conducted a genetic mixed-stock analysis of over 500 juvenile and subadult Atlantic sturgeon captured in an overwintering area in the Hudson River, New York, USA, from 2017 to 2022. The majority of Atlantic sturgeon in our study were natal to the Hudson River population, regardless of sex, size, or age. As such, indices of relative abundance estimated from survey data are expected to primarily characterize the demographic trends of Hudson River juvenile and subadult Atlantic sturgeon. We also found a small proportion of individuals that were most likely to have originated from more distantly located rivers, highlighting the potential for long-distance migration in juvenile and subadult Atlantic sturgeon. Results of this study strengthen our understanding of juvenile and subadult Atlantic sturgeon habitat use in the Hudson River and improve our ability to use data from early age classes to monitor recovery and stage-specific survival.
Hyperdominance and habitat composition drive reef fish foraging at Atlantic oceanic islands
Authors: Ferrari DS , Nunes LT , Mendes TC , Ferreira CEL , Floeter SR
Published: November 2023

Spatial and temporal patterns of benthic community structure play a crucial role in shaping reef habitats and have a direct impact on fish foraging dynamics, alongside density-dependent effects on the whole community. At isolated oceanic islands, the relatively low fish species richness often leads to the hyperdominance of a few species and a general reduced trophic redundancy. However, the influence of benthic habitat features and hyperdominant species on foraging selection at oceanic islands has been largely overlooked. We used remote underwater videos (RUVs) to investigate whether reef fishes consistently forage on specific habitats across 5 different oceanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, especially focusing on the importance of the role of hyperdominant species. We analysed 295 RUVs, within 2 m2 areas (3-15 m deep), totalling 49 h of video. Photoquadrats were utilised to gauge benthic group coverage in the same habitats. Our results revealed 5 prevalent habitats and 6 fish trophic groups interacting with reef benthos. The intensity of feeding pressure varied across islands, depending on the diversity of habitats. Herbivores and omnivores exhibited the highest feeding pressure, with omnivores foraging on crustose coralline algae and macroalgae habitats, while herbivores primarily fed on habitats dominated by the epilithic algal matrix. Hyperdominant species forage in multiple habitats, indicating a comparatively high degree of dietary plasticity. Our findings also demonstrated that fish feeding pressure is influenced by both habitat features and fish biomass. Therefore, our study can provide valuable insights for prioritising the management of key species in isolated oceanic reefs.
Size-fractioned zooplankton biomass in the Barents Sea: macroecological patterns across biogeography, climate, and varying ecosystem state (1989-2020)
Authors: Skjoldal HR , Sperfeld E
Published: November 2023

The zooplankton community in the Barents Sea was monitored during autumn cruises from 1989-2020, with biomass determined as the depth-integrated dry weight (g m-2) of 3 size fractions (>2 mm, 1-2 mm, <1 mm). A large data set of 4543 sampling stations encompassing a subdivision of the Barents Sea was spatially averaged into 15 polygons based on topography. The resulting data set is used to describe relationships between the biomass of size fractions as expressions of the size structure of the zooplankton communities. Each of the 3 size fractions was positively related to the total zooplankton biomass (sum of fractions). The medium size fraction, which contained on average 48% of the total biomass, showed a strong linear correlation with total biomass (R2 ≈ 0.8). The medium fraction contained the older copepodite stages of Calanus species (C. finmarchicus and C. glacialis), which are dominant species interpreted to drive the overall changes in zooplankton biomass. The biomass of the small size fraction decreased with decreasing total biomass, but less so than the medium fraction. Thus, the small/medium biomass ratio increased as the total biomass decreased. This trend was most pronounced for shallow and central polygons, which coincide with the core feeding area of the large Barents Sea stock of capelin Mallotus villosus. The change in the small/medium biomass ratio is interpreted to reflect a shift from Calanus to smaller zooplankton in response to predation by capelin and other planktivorous predators, and possibly also by warming due to climate change.
Butterflies Recognition using Enhanced Transfer Learning and Data Augmentation
Authors: Adityawan Harish Trio , Farroq Omar , Santosa Stefanus , Islam Hussain Md Mehedul , Sarker Md Kamruzzaman , Setiadi De Rosal Ignatius Moses
Published: November 2023

Butterflies’ recognition serves a crucial role as an environmental indicator and a key factor in plant pollination. The automation of this recognition process, facilitated by Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), can expedite this task. Several pre-trained CNN models, such as VGG, ResNet, and Inception, have been widely used for this purpose. However, the scope of previous research has been somewhat constrained, focusing only on a maximum of 15 classes. This study proposes to modify the CNN InceptionV3 model and combine it with three data augmentations to recognize up to 100 butterfly species. To curb overfitting, this study employs a series of data augmentation techniques. In parallel, we refine the InceptionV3 model by reducing the number of layers and integrating four new layers. The test results demonstrate that our proposed model achieves an impressive accuracy of 99.43% for 15 classes with only 10 epochs, exceeding prior models by approximately 5%. When extended to 100 classes, the model maintains a high accuracy rate of 98.49% with 50 epochs. The proposed model surpasses the performance of standard pre-trained models, including VGG16, ResNet50, and InceptionV3, illustrating its potential for broader application.
Epistolary precepts and the expressions of friendship in More’s 1535 letter to Bonvisi
Authors: Beier Benjamin V.
Published: November 2023

The essay examines More’s 1535 letter to Antonio Bonvisi. It compares the epistle, as a whole and in its salutation and valediction, with the humanist epistolary conventions expressed by Erasmus and discovers that More often, but not always, ignores Erasmian precepts. The essay argues that More’s rhetorical choices deepen our understanding of his enactment of friendship in the letter and of More’s self-understanding near the end of his life.
Mobilya endüstrisinde döngüsel ekonomiye geçiş: değerlendirme yaklaşımı
Authors: ŞENKAL Habibe
Published: November 2023

Döngüsel ekonomi (DE), malzeme ve ürünlerin çeşitli stratejilerle kullanım ömrünü uzatan bir üretim ve tüketim modelidir. Lineer ekonomi (LE) gibi mevcut ekonomi modellerinin artan çevre sorunlarıyla yeniden sorgulanması sonucu DE’ye geçiş farklı disiplinlerde ele alınmaya başlanmıştır. Bu çalışmada, mobilya endüstrisinde DE’ye geçiş için atılması gereken adımlar ve uygulanması gereken kriterler araştırılmıştır. Çalışma, LE ve DE’nin benimsediği temel ilke ve özelliklerin tanımlanmasına, DE ile sürdürülebilirlik arasındaki ilişki üzerinden DE’nin önemi ve faydalarının sunulmasına, gelişen döngüsel iş modellerinin araştırılmasına, mobilya endüstrisinde DE’ye geçiş stratejileri, bu geçiş önündeki engeller ve sunduğu fırsatlara odaklanılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında, mobilya endüstrisindeki firmaların DE’ye geçiş sürecine hazır olup olmadığının tespiti için değerlendirme yaklaşımı önerilmiştir. Önerilen yaklaşım, mobilya firmalarının tasarım süreci, üretim ve tedarik süreci, atık yönetimi ve iş modeli olmak üzere dört başlığa ayrılmış kriterler üzerinden değerlendirilmesine olanak sağlamaktadır. Yaklaşım, Türkiye’nin önde gelen bir ofis mobilyası firmasıyla yapılan çeşitli görüşmelerle elde edilen bulguların, 8 katılımcı tarafından değerlendirilmesiyle test edilmiştir. Sonuçlar, firma çalışmalarının DE ile büyük oranda örtüştüğünü göstermektedir. Çalışmanın mobilya endüstrisindeki firmalara mevcut durumunun tespiti ve DE’ye geçiş sürecinde destek olacağı düşünülmektedir.
Fecal microbiota as a predictor of acupuncture responses in patients with postpartum depressive disorder
Authors: Zhou Yu-Mei , Yuan Jin-Jun , Xu Yu-Qin , Gou Yan-Hua , Zhu Yannas Y. X. , Chen Chen , Huang Xing-Xian , Ma Xiao-Ming , Pi Min- , Yang Zhuo-Xin
Published: November 2023

Background

There are several clinical and molecular predictors of responses to antidepressant therapy. However, these markers are either too subjective or complex for clinical use. The gut microbiota could provide an easily accessible set of biomarkers to predict therapeutic efficacy, but its value in predicting therapy responses to acupuncture in patients with depression is unknown. Here we analyzed the predictive value of the gut microbiota in patients with postpartum depressive disorder (PPD) treated with acupuncture.

Methods

Seventy-nine PPD patients were enrolled: 55 were treated with acupuncture and 24 did not received any treatment. The 17-item Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD-17) was used to assess patients at baseline and after eight weeks. Patients receiving acupuncture treatment were divided into an acupuncture-responsive group or non-responsive group according to HAMD-17 scores changes. Baseline fecal samples were obtained from the patients receiving acupuncture and were analyzed by high-throughput 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing to characterize the gut microbiome.

Results

47.27% patients responded to acupuncture treatment and 12.5% patients with no treatment recovered after 8-week follow-up. There was no significant difference in α-diversity between responders and non-responders. The β-diversity of non-responders was significantly higher than responders. Paraprevotella and Desulfovibrio spp. were significantly enriched in acupuncture responders, and these organisms had an area under the curve of 0.76 and 0.66 for predicting responder patients, respectively.

Conclusions

Paraprevotella and Desulfovibrioare may be useful predictive biomarkers to predict PPD patients likely to respond to acupuncture. Larger studies and validation in independent cohorts are now needed to validate our findings.
Case Report: Early diagnosis and bevacizumab-based chemotherapy for primary pericardial mesothelioma: a case with occupational asbestos exposure history
Authors: Wang Daniel , Wang Yung Hsuan , Chu Sung Chao
Published: November 2023

Background

Primary pericardial mesothelioma (PPM) is an exceedingly rare malignant cancer and has a poor prognosis, which has been partly attributed to its frequently delayed diagnosis due to its nonspecific syndromes, its similar presentation to benign pericardial diseases, and its non-definitive etiology. In many PPM cases, the time from presentation to definite diagnosis may last for several months or even over one year. Unlike pleural mesothelioma, the relationship between PPM and asbestos exposure remains unsettled. To date, there is no consensus on the treatment of PPM.

Case report

The patient is a 57-year-old male who had nonspecific syndromes and inconclusive image findings. The occupational long-term asbestos exposure history of this patient raised our concerns regarding potential malignancy when confronted with unexplained pericardial effusion accompanied by cardiac tamponade. The heightened suspicion prompted us to perform pericardiocentesis and biopsy on the third day after admission to our department. An early diagnosis of PPM was established by the pathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of the biopsy specimen two weeks after admission. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography revealed that the lesion was localized at the anterior part of the mediastinum without distant metastasis. This patient refused to receive cardiac surgery. He subsequently underwent six cycles of chemotherapy (cisplatin plus pemetrexed) in combination with bevacizumab (a humanized anti-VEGF antibody) as the first-line treatment, resulting in complete relief of symptoms and satisfactory outcomes with no complications. Four months after the first course, the patient initiated a second course of chemotherapy with a similar regimen, but he opted to discontinue the medical treatment after the initiation of the second course. The patient was transferred to the hospice care unit and unfortunately expired one year after the initial presentation.

Conclusion

We present a case of an early multidisciplinary clinical approach to diagnose and manage PPM with consideration of occupational asbestos exposure history and clinical symptoms. Bevacizumab-based chemotherapy remains an option for the treatment of PPM.
A 12-month follow-up of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 primary vaccination: evidence from a real-world study
Authors: Fedele Giorgio , Schiavoni Ilaria , Trentini Filippo , Leone Pasqualina , Olivetta Eleonora , Fallucca Alessandra , Fiore Stefano , Di Martino Angela , Abrignani Sergio , Baldo Vincenzo , Baldovin Tatjana , Bandera Alessandra , Clerici Pierangelo , De Paschale Massimo , Diaco Fabiana , Domnich Alexander , Fortunato Francesca , Giberti Irene , Gori Andrea , Grifantini Renata , Lazzarotto Tiziana , Lodi Vittorio , Mastroianni Claudio Maria , Prato Rosa , Restivo Vincenzo , Vitale Francesco , Brusaferro Silvio , Merler Stefano , Palamara Anna Teresa , Stefanelli Paola ,   the Study Group for the Immunological Monitoring post Covid19 vaccination
Published: November 2023

A real-world population-based longitudinal study, aimed at determining the magnitude and duration of immunity induced by different types of vaccines against COVID-19, started in 2021 by enrolling a cohort of 2,497 individuals at time of their first vaccination. The study cohort included both healthy adults aged ≤65 years and elderly subjects aged >65 years with two or more co-morbidities. Here, patterns of anti-SARS-CoV-2 humoral and cell-mediated specific immune response, assessed on 1,182 remaining subjects, at 6 (T6) and 12 months (T12) after the first vaccine dose, are described. At T12 median anti-Spike IgG antibody levels were increased compared to T6. The determinants of increased anti-Spike IgG were the receipt of a third vaccine dose between T6 and T12 and being positive for anti-Nucleocapside IgG at T12, a marker of recent infection, while age had no significant effect. The capacity of T12 sera to neutralize in vitro the ancestral B strain and the Omicron BA.5 variant was assessed in a subgroup of vaccinated subjects. A correlation between anti-S IgG levels and sera neutralizing capacity was identified and higher neutralizing capacity was evident in healthy adults compared to frail elderly subjects and in those who were positive for anti-Nucleocapside IgG at T12. Remarkably, one third of T12 sera from anti-Nucleocapside IgG negative older individuals were unable to neutralize the BA.5 variant strain. Finally, the evaluation of T-cell mediated immunity showed that most analysed subjects, independently from age and comorbidity, displayed Spike-specific responses with a high degree of polyfunctionality, especially in the CD8 compartment. In conclusion, vaccinated subjects had high levels of circulating antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein 12 months after the primary vaccination, which increased as compared to T6. The enhancing effect could be attributable to the administration of a third vaccine dose but also to the occurrence of breakthrough infection. Older individuals, especially those who were anti-Nucleocapside IgG negative, displayed an impaired capacity to neutralize the BA.5 variant strain. Spike specific T-cell responses, able to sustain immunity and maintain the ability to fight the infection, were present in most of older and younger subjects assayed at T12.
Tox induces T cell IL-10 production in a BATF-dependent manner
Authors: Canaria D. Alejandro , Rodriguez J. Alejandra , Wang Luopin , Yeo Franklin J. , Yan Bingyu , Wang Mengbo , Campbell Charlotte , Kazemian Majid , Olson Matthew R.
Published: November 2023

Tox is a member of the high mobility group (HMG)-Box transcription factors and plays important roles in thymic T cell development. Outside of the thymus, however, Tox is also highly expressed by CD8 and CD4 T cells in various states of activation and in settings of cancer and autoimmune disease. In CD4 T cells, Tox has been primarily studied in T follicular helper (TFH) cells where it, along with Tox2, promotes TFH differentiation by regulating key TFH-associated genes and suppressing CD4 cytotoxic T cell differentiation. However, the role of Tox in other T helper (Th) cell subtypes is less clear. Here, we show that Tox is expressed in several physiologically-activated Th subtypes and its ectopic expression enhances the in vitro differentiation of Th2 and T regulatory (Treg) cells. Tox overexpression in unpolarized Th cells also induced the expression of several genes involved in cell activation (Pdcd1), cellular trafficking (Ccl3, Ccl4, Xcl1) and suppressing inflammation (Il10) across multiple Th subtypes. We found that Tox binds the regulatory regions of these genes along with the transcription factors BATF, IRF4, and JunB and that Tox-induced expression of IL-10, but not PD-1, is BATF-dependent. Based on these data, we propose a model where Tox regulates Th cell chemotactic genes involved in facilitating dendritic cell-T cell interactions and aids in the resolution or prevention of inflammation through the production of IL-10.
Development and pre-clinical evaluation of a Zika virus diagnostic for low resource settings
Authors: Balea Rickyle , Pollak Nina M. , Hobson-Peters Jody , Macdonald Joanne , McMillan David J.
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a re-emerging flavivirus that poses a significant public health threat. ZIKV exhibits a wide array of non-vector borne human transmission routes, such as sexual transmission, transplacental transmission and blood transfusion. Detection and surveillance of ZIKV is considered paramount in prevention of major outbreaks. With the majority of cases reported in low-resource locations, simple, low-cost detection methods are considered highly desirable.

Materials and Methods

Here we have developed a sensitive and specific ZIKV diagnostic using reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification (RT-RAA) coupled with lateral flow detection (LFD) targeting a highly conserved region of the ZIKV NS1 gene.

Results

We show our rapid, isothermal-ZIKV-diagnostic (Iso-ZIKV-Dx) can detect 500 copies of synthetic ZIKV RNA/μL in under 30 min at a constant 39°C. Using simulated urine samples, we observed that Iso-ZIKV-Dx also detects as low as 34.28 RNA copies/reaction of ZIKV (MR766 strain). Specificity testing confirmed that our test does not detect any co-circulating flaviviruses (dengue, West Nile, Japanese encephalitis, Murray Valley encephalitis and yellow fever viruses) or chikungunya virus. Sample processing results show complete inactivation of ZIKV (MR766 strain) in 5 min at room temperature using our novel viral RNA sample preparation reagent. Furthermore, lateral flow strips testing demonstrates positive diagnoses in as little as 5 min in running buffer.

Discussion

Contrary to conventional RT-qPCR, our Iso-ZIKV-Dx does not require expensive machinery, specialised laboratory settings or extensively trained personnel. Pre-clinical evaluation demonstrates that our test exhibits robust, in-field capabilities without compromising sensitivity or specificity. When compared to the gold-standard RT-qPCR, our Iso-ZIKV-Dx test offers an array of applications that extend beyond diagnostics alone, including potential for surveillance and monitoring of ZIKV vector competency.
Chemical fertilizer reduction combined with organic fertilizer affects the soil microbial community and diversity and yield of cotton
Authors: Shi YingWu , Niu XinXiang , Chen BaoZhu , Pu ShengHai , Ma HongHong , Li Pan , Feng GuangPing , Ma XingWang
Published: November 2023

Introduction

The soil microbial community plays an important role in modulating cotton soil fertility. However, the effects of chemical fertilizer combined with organic fertilizer on soil chemical properties, microbial community structure, and crop yield and quality in arid areas are still unclear. This study aimed to explore the effects of different organic fertilizers on soil microbial community structure and diversity and cotton growth and yield.

Methods

High-throughput sequencing was used to study the soil bacteria and fungi in different growth stages of cotton. The field fertilization experiment had five treatments.

Results

The results indicated that the treatments of chemical fertilizer reduction combined with organic fertilizer significantly increased soil available nitrogen and phosphorus in cotton field. There were significant differences in the abundance of the bacterial and fungal communities in the dominant phyla among the treatments. At the phyla level, there were not significantly different in the diversity of bacteria and fungi among treatments. There were significant differences in the composition and diversity of bacterial and fungal communities during the entire cotton growth period (p = 0.001). The rhizosphere bacterial and fungal community structure was significantly affected by soil TK, NH4+, AK, TP, AN, and NO3−. The different fertilization treatments strongly influenced the modular structure of the soil bacterial and fungal community co-occurrence network. A reduction in chemical fertilizer combined with organic fertilizer significantly improved cotton stem diameter and seed yield, and the effect of the biological organic fertilizer on plant growth and yield formation was greater than that of ordinary organic fertilizer.

Discussion

This study provide a scientific and technical basis for the establishment of environmentally friendly green fertilization technology for cotton in arid areas and the promotion of sustainable development of cotton industry.
Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound enhances neurite growth in serum-starved human neuroblastoma cells
Authors: Ye Xuanjie , Wang Zitong , van Bruggen Rebekah , Li Xin-Min , Zhang Yanbo , Chen Jie
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a recognized tool for promoting nerve regeneration and repair; however, the intracellular mechanisms of LIPUS stimulation remain underexplored.

Method

The present study delves into the effects of varying LIPUS parameters, namely duty cycle, spatial average-temporal average (SATA) intensity, and ultrasound amplitude, on the therapeutic efficacy using SK-N-SH cells cultured in serum-starved conditions. Four distinct LIPUS settings were employed: (A) 50 mW/cm2, 40%, (B) 25 mW/cm2, 10%, (C) 50 mW/cm2, 20%, and (D) 25 mW/cm2, 10%.

Results

Immunochemistry analysis exhibited neurite outgrowth promotion in all LIPUS-treated groups except for Group D. Further, LIPUS treatment was found to successfully promote brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and enhance the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, protein kinase B (Akt), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways, as evidenced by western blot analysis.

Discussion

The study suggests that the parameter combination of LIPUS determines the therapeutic efficacy of LIPUS. Future investigations should aim to optimize these parameters for different cell types and settings and delve deeper into the cellular response mechanism to LIPUS treatment. Such advancements may aid in tailoring LIPUS treatment strategies to specific therapeutic needs.
Demystifying non-invasive approaches for screening jaundice in low resource settings: a review
Authors: Abiha Umme , Banerjee Dip Sankar , Mandal Saptarshi
Published: November 2023

All national and international pediatric guidelines universally prescribe meticulous bilirubin screening for neonates as a critical measure to mitigate the incidence of acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE) and Kernicterus. The prevailing gold standard for jaundice detection in neonates necessitates invasive blood collection, followed by subsequent biochemical testing. While the invasive procedure provides dependable bilirubin measurements and continues to be the sole gold standard diagnostic method for assessing bilirubin concentration. There exists a pressing need to innovate non-invasive screening tools that alleviate the sampling stress endured by newborns, mitigate iatrogenic anemia, and expedite the turnaround time for obtaining results. The exploration of non-invasive modalities for bilirubin measurements is gaining momentum, driven by the overarching goal of minimizing the number of pricks inflicted upon neonates, thereby rendering screening a swift, efficient, comfortable, and dependable process. This comprehensive review article delves extensively into the array of non-invasive approaches and digital solutions that have been proposed, implemented, and utilized for neonatal bilirubin screening, with a particular emphasis on their application in low-resource settings. Within this context, the review sheds light on the existing methodologies and their practical applications, with a specific focus on transcutaneous bilirubin meters. Moreover, it underscores the prevailing open challenges in this domain and outlines potential directions for future research endeavors. Notably, the review underscores the imperative need for robust educational programs targeted at both families and healthcare personnel to expedite the process of seeking timely care for neonatal jaundice. Additionally, it underscores the necessity for the development of enhanced screening and diagnostic tools that can offer greater accuracy in clinical practice.
IL-37 counteracts inflammatory injury in the temporomandibular joint via the intracellular pathway
Authors: Li Jun , Peng Sisi , Yan Ying , Yan Shan , Cao Xin , Li Yong , Zhu Luying , Xu Jie
Published: November 2023

Background: The temporomandibular joint is often afflicted by osteoarthritis (TMJOA), causing pain and dysfunction, which is particularly prevalent in the elderly population. IL-37 is effective in avoiding excessive inflammatory damage to the organism. This article investigates the role and mechanism of intracellular IL-37 in TMJOA.

Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, Senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining, immunofluorescence, and lentivirus were performed to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

Results: The results confirmed that IL-37 in synovial cells decreased with aging. Inflammatory stimulus elevated intracellular IL-37 in synoviocytes, while lentiviral knockdown of IL-37 resulted in more inflammatory factor production. Dynamic changes of IL-37 were observed in the nucleus and supernatant. In addition, Caspease-1 inhibitor hindered intracellular IL-37 maturation, and Smad3 inhibitor caused the loss of nuclear translocation of mature IL-37. Transfection of synovial cells with IL-37-expressing lentivirus resulted in relief not only of synovitis but also of the cartilage damage and inflammation caused by synovitis.

Conclusion: This study provides new insights into the intracellular anti-inflammatory mechanism of IL-37. It also confirms that IL-37 decreases with cellular senescence and that increasing intracellular IL-37 can effectively treat synovitis and synovitis-induced inflammatory damage to cartilage.
Increased sinusoidal export of drug glucuronides is a compensative mechanism in liver cirrhosis of mice
Authors: Fendt Rebekka , Ghallab Ahmed , Myllys Maiju , Hofmann Ute , Hassan Reham , Hobloss Zaynab , González Daniela , Brackhagen Lisa , Marchan Rosemarie , Edlund Karolina , Seddek Abdel-Latif , Abdelmageed Noha , Blank Lars M. , Schlender Jan-Frederik , Holland Christian H. , Hengstler Jan G. , Kuepfer Lars
Published: November 2023

Rationale: Liver cirrhosis is known to affect drug pharmacokinetics, but the functional assessment of the underlying pathophysiological alterations in drug metabolism is difficult.

Methods: Cirrhosis in mice was induced by repeated treatment with carbon tetrachloride for 12 months. A cocktail of six drugs was administered, and parent compounds as well as phase I and II metabolites were quantified in blood, bile, and urine in a time-dependent manner. Pharmacokinetics were modeled in relation to the altered expression of metabolizing enzymes. In discrepancy with computational predictions, a strong increase of glucuronides in blood was observed in cirrhotic mice compared to vehicle controls.

Results: The deviation between experimental findings and computational simulations observed by analyzing different hypotheses could be explained by increased sinusoidal export and corresponded to increased expression of export carriers (Abcc3 and Abcc4). Formation of phase I metabolites and clearance of the parent compounds were surprisingly robust in cirrhosis, although the phase I enzymes critical for the metabolism of the administered drugs in healthy mice, Cyp1a2 and Cyp2c29, were downregulated in cirrhotic livers. RNA-sequencing revealed the upregulation of numerous other phase I metabolizing enzymes which may compensate for the lost CYP isoenzymes. Comparison of genome-wide data of cirrhotic mouse and human liver tissue revealed similar features of expression changes, including increased sinusoidal export and reduced uptake carriers.

Conclusion: Liver cirrhosis leads to increased blood concentrations of glucuronides because of increased export from hepatocytes into the sinusoidal blood. Although individual metabolic pathways are massively altered in cirrhosis, the overall clearance of the parent compounds was relatively robust due to compensatory mechanisms.
Farnesol as an antifungal agent: comparisons among MTLa and MTLα haploid and diploid Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Boone Cory H. T. , Parker Kory A. , Gutzmann Daniel J. , Atkin Audrey L. , Nickerson Kenneth W.
Published: November 2023

Aims: Farnesol was identified 20 years ago in a search for Candida albicans quorum sensing molecules (QSM), but there is still uncertainty regarding many aspects of its mode of action including whether it employs farnesol transport mechanisms other than diffusion. Based on the structural similarity between farnesol and the farnesylated portion of the MTLa pheromone, we explored the effects of ploidy and mating type locus (MTL) on the antifungal activity of exogenous farnesol.

Methods and results: We approached this question by examining five MTLa and five MTLα haploid strains with regard to their farnesol sensitivity in comparison to six heterozygous MTLa/α diploids. We examined the haploid and diploid strains for percent cell death after exposure of exponentially growing cells to 0–200 µM farnesol. The heterozygous (MTLa/α) diploids were tolerant of exogenous farnesol whereas the MTLa and MTLα haploids were on average 2- and 4-times more sensitive, respectively. In the critical range from 10–40 µM farnesol their cell death values were in the ratio of 1:2:4. Very similar results were obtained with two matched sets of MATa, MATα, and MATa/α Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains.

Conclusion: We propose that the observed MTL dependence of farnesol is based on differentially regulated mechanisms of entry and efflux which determine the actual cellular concentration of farnesol. The mechanisms by which pathogens such as C. albicans tolerate the otherwise lethal effects of farnesol embrace a wide range of physiological functions, including MTL type, ubiquinone type (UQ6-UQ9), energy availability, and aerobic/anaerobic status.
The role of parenting in developmental trajectories of risk for adolescent substance use: a bioecological systems cascade model
Authors: Marceau Kristine
Published: November 2023

Parenting is a key influence and prevention target for adolescent substance use, and changes dramatically in form and function during adolescence. This theoretical synthesis reviews evidence of associations of substance use-specific parenting behaviors, dimensions, and styles with adolescent substance use, and integrates key developmental and family theories (e.g., bioecological, dynamical systems, family systems, developmental cascades) and methodological-conceptual advances to illustrate the complex role that parenting plays for the development of adolescent substance use in combination with child and contextual influences. The resulting bioecological systems cascade model centers the dynamic co-development of parenting and child influences in developmental cascades that lead to more or less risk for adolescent substance use. These trajectories are initiated by intergenerational influences, including genetics, parents’ familial environments, and child-parent attachment. Culture and context influences are a holistic backdrop shaping parent-adolescent trajectories. Parenting is influences are conceptualized as a complex process by which specific parenting behaviors are informed by and accumulate into parenting dimensions which together comprise general parenting styles and are informed by the broader family context. The co-development of parenting and child biobehavioral risk is shaped by both parents and children, including by the genetics and environments they do and do not share. This co-development is dynamic, and developmental transitions of individuals and the family lead to periods of increased lability or variability that can change the longer-term trajectories of children’s risk for substance use. Methodological avenues for future studies to operationalize the model are discussed.
Exploring the concepts of decent work through the lens of SDG 8: addressing challenges and inadequacies
Authors: Chigbu Bianca Ifeoma , Nekhwevha Fhulu
Published: November 2023

Promoting decent work and sustainable economic growth within the framework of Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) entails addressing gender inequality, the consequences of market economies, and the role of the informal sector while also considering environmental sustainability. Research on SDG 8 remains limited, often adopting an appraisal perspective, and the concept of decent work within this goal remains relatively unexplored. Additionally, the focus on the challenges and inadequacies of achieving sustainable economic growth through decent work in the context of SDG 8 is insufficient, resulting in significant knowledge gaps. To contribute to filling these gaps, this paper adopts a descriptive and critical review perspective, systematically analyzing 108 journal papers and reports to investigate the concept of decent work within SDG 8. The research addresses the challenges and inadequacies related to decent work embedded in SDG 8. The review reveals that while progress has been made in tackling gender inequality in the labor market, gender bias, income discrepancies, and underrepresentation of women in senior positions persist, hindering inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all – SDG 8. Moreover, SDG 8’s focus on inclusive and sustainable development falls short of effectively addressing market economies’ structural disparities, insecure working conditions, and exploitative labor practices. Additionally, support for informal sector workers, who lack essential rights such as legal protection and social security, remains insufficient. Ecological destruction is sometimes an unintended consequence of purely market-based labor markets with an emphasis on economic growth, with SDG 8 lacking sufficient integration of environmental sustainability in its framework. The novelty of this study comes from its in-depth, critical, and policy-focused analysis of the ideas around decent employment in the context of SDG 8. The findings underscore the importance of providing fair, safe, and secure employment opportunities to support economic growth and development while upholding workers’ rights. In conclusion, we emphasize the crucial role of promoting decent work and sustainable growth in achieving SDG 8’s overall objectives, as it directly impacts other SDGs.
Validation of an instrumented mouthguard in rugby union—a pilot study comparing impact sensor technology to video analysis
Authors: Field Byron , Waddington Gordon , McKune Andrew , Goecke Roland , Gardner Andrew J.
Published: November 2023

Background

To better understand the biomechanical profile of direct head impacts and the game scenarios in which they occur in Rugby Union, there is a need for an on-field validation of a new instrumented mouthguard (IMG) against the reference standard. This study considers the potential of a combined biomechanical (IMG) and video analysis approach to direct head impact recognition, both of which in isolation have limitations. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between an instrumented mouthguard and video analysis in detection of direct head impacts in rugby union.

Design

Pilot Study - Observational Cohort design

Methods

The instrumented mouthguard was worn by ten (3 backs, 7 forwards) professional Rugby Union players during the 2020–21 Gallagher Premiership (UK) season. Game-day video was synchronized with timestamped head acceleration events captured from the instrumented mouthguard. Direct Head Impacts were recorded in a 2 × 2 contingency table to determine sensitivity. Impact characteristics were also collected for all verified head impacts to further the understanding of head biomechanics during the game.

Results

There were 2018 contact events that were reviewed using video analysis. Of those 655 were categorized as direct head impacts which also correlated with a head acceleration event captured by the IMG. Sensitivity analysis showed an overall sensitivity of 93.6% and a positive predictive value (PPV of 92.4%). When false positives were excluded due to ball out of play, mouthguard removal or handling after a scoring situation or stoppage, PPV was improved (98.3%). Most verified head impacts occurred in and around the ruck contest (31.2%) followed by impacts to the primary tackler (28.4%).

Conclusion

This pilot validation study demonstrates that this IMG provides a highly accurate measurement device that could be used to complement video verification in the recognition of on-field direct head impacts. The frequency and magnitude of direct head impacts derived from specific game scenarios has been described and allows for greater recognition of high-risk situations. Further studies with larger sample sizes and in different populations of Rugby Union players are required to develop our understanding of head impact and enable strategies for injury mitigation.
Biochar and Cd Alter the Degradation and Transport of Kasugamycin in Soil and Spinach
Authors: Cui Liqiang , Ma Jingwen , Quan Guixiang , Yan Jinlong , Ippolito James A. , Wang Hui
Published: November 2023

Biochar has been widely studied to reduce multiple contaminant sources in one matrix (e.g., several heavy metals in soils), yet less attention has been paid to accelerating pesticide degradation while in the presence of any heavy metals, such as when kasugamycin (KSM) and cadmium (Cd) are both present in soil. While KSM has low toxicity compared to other pesticides, it can be a potential health risk when applied to vegetable crops, especially when KSM is used or overapplied to achieve rapid reductions in insect and disease pressure. The degradation behavior of KSM (2 kg ha−1) in the presence of Cd (20 mg kg−1) and biochar (5% by wt.) when growing spinach (Spinacia oleracea) was studied. The biochar increased spinach shoot and root biomass by 51.0–54.8% and 24.4–39.0%, respectively, compared to the KSM treatment only. Compared to the treatments that did not receive biochar, the biochar application increased the KSM degradation in the soil by 8.4–68.4% and, subsequently, less KSM was absorbed by the spinach roots (18.0–48.4%) and shoots (33.0–33.2%). The KSM degradation rate, as a function of soil depth, was enhanced in the presence of Cd. The biochar also effectively decreased the KSM concentration with soil depth, reducing downward KSM migration. The KSM degradation, increased by the biochar, led to smaller organic moieties and some macromolecular organic phases. In soils that are contaminated with Cd and where vegetables are raised, biochar may be used as an environmentally friendly proponent for increasing KSM degradation, reducing KSM downward transport and, thus, protecting environmental and human health.
Simulation of Irrigation Strategy Based on Stochastic Rainfall and Evapotranspiration
Authors: Long Tingyuan , Wang Dongqi , Wu Xiaolei , Chen Xinhe , Huang Zhongdong
Published: November 2023

The North China Plain plays a pivotal role in China’s crop production, contributing to 30% of the maize yield. Nevertheless, summer maize in this region faces challenges due to climatic constraints characterized by concurrent high temperatures and rainfall during the growing season, resulting in a relatively high evapotranspiration rate. In this study, we explored eight soil moisture-based threshold irrigation strategies, consisting of two upper limits and four lower limits, along with a rainfed mode (E). The upper and lower irrigation limits are expressed as a percentage of the field’s water-holding capacity (sfc). For the four full irrigation modes (A1, A2, A3, A4), the lower limits were set at 0.6 sfc, 0.6 sfc, 0.5 sfc, and 0.5 sfc, respectively. The upper limits were defined at two levels: 0.8 sfc for A1 and A2 and sfc for A3 and A4. Similarly, for the four deficit irrigation modes (B1, B2, B3, B4), the lower limits were established at 0.4 sfc, 0.4 sfc, 0.3 sfc, and 0.3 sfc, respectively, with the upper limits set at two levels: 0.8 sfc for B1 and B2 and the full sfc for B3 and B4. To investigate the impact of rainfall and potential evapotranspiration on these irrigation modes under long-term fluctuations, we employed a stochastic framework that probabilistically linked rainfall events and irrigation applications. The Monte Carlo method was employed to simulate a long-term series (4000a) of rainfall parameters and evapotranspiration using 62 years of meteorological data from the Xinxiang region, situated in the southern part of the North China Plain. Results showed that the relative yield and net irrigation water requirement of summer maize decreased with decreasing irrigation lower limits. Additionally, the interannual variation of rainfall parameters and evapotranspiration during the growing season were remarkable, which led to the lowest relative yield of the rainfed mode (E) aligned with a larger interannual difference. According to the simulation results, mode A4 (irrigation lower limit equals 0.5 sfc, irrigation upper limit equals 0.8 sfc) could be adopted for adequate water resources. Conversely, mode B2 is more suitable for a lack of water resources.