bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Gender-Related Impact of a Violence Management Training Program on Medical School Students—Preliminary Results
Authors: Lickiewicz Jakub , Jagielski Paweł , Hughes Patricia Paulsen , Makara-Studzińska Marta
Published: September 2020

Phenomenon: Patient aggression directed toward medical personnel, including medical school students during their internships, is an increasingly important issue. To minimize this phenomenon, violence management training programs were carried out. Approach: To assess the efficacy of a violence management training program among medical school students and evaluate changes in the perception of aggressive behavior in relation to the participants’ sense of self-efficacy and self-confidence by sex. A quasi-experimental examination of medical school students was performed before and after completion of a training program. Two hundred seventy-six students, including students of medicine, nursing, emergency medical services, and physiotherapy, participated in the study. Three standardized questionnaires were used: The Perception of Aggression Scale (POAS), the Hope for Success Questionnaire (HSQ), and the General Self -Efficacy Scale (GSES). Findings: The training program had a positive impact on the sense of self-efficacy in both men and women. However, the perception of aggressive behavior changed only in women and the impact of such intervention was higher for women. Further studies should look at the long-term outcomes.
Association between Lifestyle Behaviors and Health-Related Quality of Life in a Sample of Brazilian Adolescents
Authors: da Costa Bruno Gonçalves Galdino , Chaput Jean-Philippe , Lopes Marcus Vinicius Veber , da Costa Rafael Martins , Malheiros Luís Eduardo Argenta , Silva Kelly Samara
Published: September 2020

This study aimed to analyze the association between lifestyle behaviors and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Brazilian adolescents. We evaluated 739 adolescents (51.0% girls; mean age, 16.4 ± 1.0 years) from the mesoregion Grande Florianópolis, Brazil. Participants were asked to complete an online questionnaire and sex, age, mother’s education, health-related quality of life, physical activity, screen time indicators, sleep duration, diet, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and drug experimentation were retrieved. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Kidscreen-10 instrument. Measures of body mass and height were taken by trained researchers. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used. Self-reported health-related quality of life was higher in males (β = 3.68, 95%CI: 2.75; 4.61) compared to females, and no association was observed for age and mother’s education level. Practicing sports (β = 1.19, 95%CI: 0.29; 2.08) was associated with better HRQoL, while processed food score (β = −0.45, 95%CI: −0.78; −0.13), working using screen devices for more than 4 h/day (β = −2.38, 95%CI: −4.52; −0.25), having experimented illicit drugs (β = −2.05, 95%CI: −3.20; −0.90), and sleeping less than 8 h/night (β = −1.35, 95%CI: −2.27; −0.43) were unfavorably associated with HRQoL. Non-sport physical activities, unprocessed food, studying, watching videos, playing videogames, using social media, alcohol drinking, and smoking were not associated with health-related quality of life. These findings suggest that promoting sports and adequate sleep, and preventing excessive workloads and the use of drugs among adolescents may be effective strategies to improve HRQoL.
Evaluating the Performance of Three Popular Web Mapping Libraries: A Case Study Using Argentina’s Life Quality Index
Authors: Zunino Alejandro , Velázquez Guillermo , Celemín Juan , Mateos Cristian , Hirsch Matías , Rodriguez Juan
Published: September 2020

Recent Web technologies such as HTML5, JavaScript, and WebGL have enabled powerful and highly dynamic Web mapping applications executing on standard Web browsers. Despite the complexity for developing such applications has been greatly reduced by Web mapping libraries, developers face many choices to achieve optimal performance and network usage. This scenario is even more complex when considering different representations of geographical data (raster, raw data or vector) and variety of devices (tablets, smartphones, and personal computers). This paper compares the performance and network usage of three popular JavaScript Web mapping libraries for implementing a Web map using different representations for geodata, and executing on different devices. In the experiments, Mapbox GL JS achieved the best overall performance on mid and high end devices for displaying raster or vector maps, while OpenLayers was the best for raster maps on all devices. Vector-based maps are a safe bet for new Web maps, since performance is on par with raster maps on mid-end smartphones, with significant less network bandwidth requirements.
Activation of Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) in Human Endothelial Cells Infected with Pathogenic Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae
Authors: Sahni Abha , Narra Hema P. , Sahni Sanjeev K.
Published: September 2020

Attributed to the tropism for host microvascular endothelium lining the blood vessels, vascular inflammation and dysfunction represent salient features of rickettsial pathogenesis, yet the details of fundamentally important pathogen interactions with host endothelial cells (ECs) as the primary targets of infection remain poorly appreciated. Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine/threonine protein kinase of the phosphatidylinositol kinase-related kinase family, assembles into two functionally distinct complexes, namely mTORC1 (Raptor) and mTORC2 (Rictor), implicated in the determination of innate immune responses to intracellular pathogens via transcriptional regulation. In the present study, we investigated activation status of mTOR and its potential contributions to host EC responses during Rickettsia rickettsii and R. conorii infection. Protein lysates from infected ECs were analyzed for threonine 421/serine 424 phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase (p70 S6K) and that of serine 2448 on mTOR itself as established markers of mTORC1 activation. For mTORC2, we assessed phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB or Akt) and protein kinase C (PKC), respectively, on serine 473 and serine 657. The results suggest increased phosphorylation of p70 S6K and mTOR during Rickettsia infection of ECs as early as 3 h and persisting for up to 24 h post-infection. The steady-state levels of phospho-Akt and phospho-PKC were also increased. Infection with pathogenic rickettsiae also resulted in the formation of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3-II) puncta and increased lipidation of LC3-II, a response significantly inhibited by introduction of siRNA targeting mTORC1 into ECs. These findings thus yield first evidence for the activation of both mTORC1 and mTORC2 during EC infection in vitro with Rickettsia species and suggest that early induction of autophagy in response to intracellular infection might be regulated by this important pathway known to function as a central integrator of cellular immunity and inflammation.
Systematic Analysis of Gibberellin Pathway Components in Medicago truncatula Reveals the Potential Application of Gibberellin in Biomass Improvement
Authors: Wang Hongfeng , Jiang Hongjiao , Xu Yiteng , Wang Yan , Zhu Lin , Yu Xiaolin , Kong Fanjiang , Zhou Chuanen , Han Lu
Published: September 2020

Gibberellins (GAs), a class of phytohormones, act as an essential natural regulator of plant growth and development. Many studies have shown that GA is related to rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis in legume species. However, thus far, GA metabolism and signaling components are largely unknown in the model legume Medicago truncatula. In this study, a genome-wide analysis of GA metabolism and signaling genes was carried out. In total 29 components, including 8 MtGA20ox genes, 2 MtGA3ox genes, 13 MtGA2ox genes, 3 MtGID1 genes, and 3 MtDELLA genes were identified in M. truncatula genome. Expression profiles revealed that most members of MtGAox, MtGID1, and MtDELLA showed tissue-specific expression patterns. In addition, the GA biosynthesis and deactivation genes displayed a feedback regulation on GA treatment, respectively. Yeast two-hybrid assays showed that all the three MtGID1s interacted with MtDELLA1 and MtDELLA2, suggesting that the MtGID1s are functional GA receptors. More importantly, M. truncatula exhibited increased plant height and biomass by ectopic expression of the MtGA20ox1, suggesting that enhanced GA response has the potential for forage improvement.
The Potential Role of Irisin in Vascular Function and Atherosclerosis: A Review
Authors: Byun Kyeongho , Lee Sewon
Published: September 2020

Exercise is an effective intervention for both the prevention and the treatment of obesity and insulin resistance because skeletal muscle secretes many bioactive proteins that contribute to the beneficial effect of exercise. It has been revealed that irisin plays an important role in metabolic homeostasis and both acute and chronic exercises increase circulating irisin in experimental animal models and in humans. Although previous studies have reported that the irisin-related signaling mechanism may play a beneficial role in the treatment of metabolic diseases including obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and diabetes mellitus, studies on whether irisin plays a key role in vascular function and vascular complications are still insufficient. Therefore, the current review aims to summarize the accumulating evidence showing the potential role of irisin, especially in vascular reactivity and vascular abnormalities such as atherosclerosis.
Autophagy Dynamics and Modulation in a Rat Model of Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Decuypere Jean-Paul , Hutchinson Shawn , Monbaliu Diethard , Martinet Wim , Pirenne Jacques , Jochmans Ina
Published: September 2020

Renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury leading to cell death is a major cause of acute kidney injury, contributing to morbidity and mortality. Autophagy counteracts cell death by removing damaged macromolecules and organelles, making it an interesting anchor point for treatment strategies. However, autophagy is also suggested to enhance cell death when the ischemic burden is too strong. To investigate whether the role of autophagy depends on the severity of ischemic stress, we analyzed the dynamics of autophagy and apoptosis in an IR rat model with mild (45 min) or severe (60 min) renal ischemia. Following mild IR, renal injury was associated with reduced autophagy, enhanced mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity, and apoptosis. Severe IR, on the other hand, was associated with a higher autophagic activity, independent of mTOR, and without affecting apoptosis. Autophagy stimulation by trehalose injected 24 and 48 h prior to onset of severe ischemia did not reduce renal injury markers nor function, but reduced apoptosis and restored tubular dilation 7 days post reperfusion. This suggests that trehalose-dependent autophagy stimulation enhances tissue repair following an IR injury. Our data show that autophagy dynamics are strongly dependent on the severity of IR and that trehalose shows the potential to trigger autophagy-dependent repair processes following renal IR injury.
Deletion of the Prdm3 Gene Causes a Neuronal Differentiation Deficiency in P19 Cells
Authors: Leszczyński Paweł , Śmiech Magdalena , Salam Teeli Aamir , Haque Effi , Viger Robert , Ogawa Hidesato , Pierzchała Mariusz , Taniguchi Hiroaki
Published: September 2020

PRDM (PRDI-BF1 (positive regulatory domain I-binding factor 1) and RIZ1 (retinoblastoma protein-interacting zinc finger gene 1) homologous domain-containing) transcription factors are a group of proteins that have a significant impact on organ development. In our study, we assessed the role of Prdm3 in neurogenesis and the mechanisms regulating its expression. We found that Prdm3 mRNA expression was induced during neurogenesis and that Prdm3 gene knockout caused premature neuronal differentiation of the P19 cells and enhanced the growth of non-neuronal cells. Interestingly, we found that Gata6 expression was also significantly upregulated during neurogenesis. We further studied the regulatory mechanism of Prdm3 expression. To determine the role of GATA6 in the regulation of Prdm3 mRNA expression, we used a luciferase-based reporter assay and found that Gata6 overexpression significantly increased the activity of the Prdm3 promoter. Finally, the combination of retinoic acid receptors α and β, along with Gata6 overexpression, further increased the activity of the luciferase reporter. Taken together, our results suggest that in the P19 cells, PRDM3 contributed to neurogenesis and its expression was stimulated by the synergism between GATA6 and the retinoic acid signaling pathway.
Transient Changes of Metabolism at the Pronuclear Stage in Mice Influences Skeletal Muscle Phenotype in Adulthood
Authors: Bertrand-Gaday Christelle , Letheule Martine , Blanchet Emilie , Vernus Barbara , Pessemesse Laurence , Bonnet-Garnier Amélie , Bonnieu Anne , Casas François
Published: September 2020

Skeletal muscle has a remarkable plasticity, and its phenotype is strongly influenced by hormones, transcription factors, and physical activity. However, whether skeletal phenotype can be oriented or not during early embryonic stages has never been investigated. Here, we report that pyruvate as the only source of carbohydrate in the culture medium of mouse one cell stage embryo influenced the establishment of the muscular phenotype in adulthood. We found that pyruvate alone induced changes in the contractile phenotype of the skeletal muscle in a sexually dependent manner. For male mice, a switch to a more glycolytic phenotype was recorded, whereas, in females, the pyruvate induced a switch to a more oxidative phenotype. In addition, the influence of pyruvate on the contractile phenotypes was confirmed in two mouse models of muscle hypertrophy: the well-known myostatin deficient mouse (Mstn−/−) and a mouse carrying a specific deletion of p43, a mitochondrial triiodothyronine receptor. Finally, to understand the link between these adult phenotypes and the early embryonic period, we assessed the levels of two histone H3 post-translational modifications in presence of pyruvate alone just after the wave of chromatin reprogramming specific of the first cell cycle. We showed that H3K4 acetylation level was decreased in Mstn−/− 2-cell embryos, whereas no difference was found for H3K27 trimethylation level, whatever the genotype. These findings demonstrate for the first time that changes in the access of energy substrate during the very first embryonic stage can induce a precocious orientation of skeletal muscle phenotype in adulthood.
Trajectories of Hospitalization in COVID-19 Patients: An Observational Study in France
Authors: Boëlle Pierre-Yves , Delory Tristan , Maynadier Xavier , Janssen Cécile , Piarroux Renaud , Pichenot Marie , Lemaire Xavier , Baclet Nicolas , Weyrich Pierre , Melliez Hugues , Meybeck Agnès , Lanoix Jean-Philippe , Robineau Olivier
Published: September 2020

Describing the characteristics of COVID-19 patients in the hospital is of importance to assist in the management of hospital capacity in the future. Here, we analyze the trajectories of 1321 patients admitted to hospitals in northern and eastern France. We found that the time from onset to hospitalization decreased with age, from 7.3 days in the 20–65 year-olds to 4.5 in the >80 year-olds (p < 0.0001). Overall, the length of stay in the hospital was 15.9 days, and the death rate was 20%. One patient out of four was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for approximately one month. The characteristics of trajectories changed with age: fewer older patients were admitted to the ICU and the death rate was larger in the elderly. Admission shortly after onset was associated with increased mortality (odds-ratio (OR) = 1.8, Confidence Interval (CI) 95% [1.3, 2.6]) as well as male sex (OR = 2.1, CI 95% [1.5, 2.9]). Time from admission within the hospital to the transfer to ICU was short. The age- and sex-adjusted mortality rate decreased over the course of the epidemic, suggesting improvement in care over time. In the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, the urgent need for ICU at admission and the prolonged length of stay in ICU are a challenge for bed management and organization of care.
Expression of MTDH and IL-10 Is an Independent Predictor of Worse Prognosis in ER-Negative or PR-Negative Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Chu Pei-Yi , Wang Shin-Mae , Chen Po-Ming , Tang Feng-Yao , Chiang En-Pei Isabel
Published: September 2020

(1) Background: Tumor hypoxia leads to metastasis and certain immune responses, and interferes with normal biological functions. It also affects glucose intake, down-regulates oxidative phosphorylation, and inhibits fatty-acid desaturation regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). Although tumor hypoxia has been found to promote tumor metastasis, the roles of HIF-1α-regulated genes and their application are not completely integrated in clinical practice. (2) Methods: We examined the correlation between HIF-1α, metadherin (MTDH), and interleukin (IL)-10 mRNA expression, as well as their expression patterns in the prognosis of breast cancer using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases via a web interface; tissue microarrays (TMAs) were stained for MTDH and IL-10 protein expression using immunohistochemistry. (3) Results: HIF-1α, MTDH, and IL-10 mRNA expression are highly correlated and strongly associated with poor prognosis. MTDH and IL-10 protein expression of breast cancer patients usually harbored negative estrogen receptor (ER) or progesterone receptor (PR) status, and late-stage tumors have higher IL-10 expression. With regard to MTDH and IL-10 protein expression status for using univariate and multivariate analysis, the results showed that the protein expression of MTDH and IL-10 in ER-negative or PR-negative breast cancer patients have the worse prognosis. (4) Conclusions: we propose a new insight into hypoxia tumors in the metabolism and immune evidence for breast cancer therapy.
Consideration of Migraines Among Risk Factors for Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
Authors: Kim Jong-Ho , Lim Man-sup , Lee Sang-Hwa , Kwon Young-Suk , Lee Jae Jun , Sohn Jong-Hee
Published: September 2020

The impact of migraine on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is controversial, and few studies have focused on their relationship. Thus, we investigated the impact of migraine, among other risk factors, on PONV in a large retrospective study. We analyzed 10 years of clinical data from the Smart Clinical Data Warehouse of Hallym University Medical Center. PONV was defined as nausea or vomiting within the first 24 h after surgery. Patients diagnosed by a neurologist and with a history of triptan use before surgery were enrolled into the migraine group. We enrolled 208,029 patients aged > 18 years who underwent general anesthesia (GA), among whom 19,786 developed PONV within 24 h after GA and 1982 had migraine. Before propensity score matching, the unadjusted and fully adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for PONV in subjects with versus without migraine were 1.52 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.34–1.72; p < 0.001) and 1.37 (95% CI, 1.21–1.56; p < 0.001), respectively. The OR for PONV in patients with migraine was also high (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.13–1.66; p = 0.001) after matching. Our findings suggest that migraine is a significant risk factor for PONV.
Effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan on the Right Ventricular Arterial Coupling in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Masarone Daniele , Errigo Vittoria , Melillo Enrico , Valente Fabio , Gravino Rita , Verrengia Marina , Ammendola Ernesto , Vastarella Rossella , Pacileo Giuseppe
Published: September 2020

Background: right ventricle-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling assessed by measuring the tricuspid anular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE)/pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) ratio has been recently proposed as an early marker of right ventricular dysfunction in patients with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: As the effects of sacubitril/valsartan therapy on RV-PA coupling remain unknown, this study aimed to analyse the effect of this drug on TAPSE/PASP in patients with HFrEF. We retrospectively analysed all outpatients with HFrEF referred to our unit between October 2016 and July 2018. Results: At the 1-year follow-up, sacubitril/valsartan therapy was associated with a significant improvement in TAPSE (18.26 ± 3.7 vs. 19.6 ± 4.2 mm, p < 0.01), PASP (38.3 ± 15.7 vs. 33.7 ± 13.6, p < 0.05), and RV-PA coupling (0.57 ± 0.25 vs. 0.68 ± 0.30 p < 0.01). These improvements persisted at the 2-year follow-up. In the multivariable analysis, the improvement in the RV-PA coupling was independent of the left ventricular remodelling. Conclusions: in patients with HFrEF, sacubitril/valsartan improved the RV-PA coupling; however, further trials are necessary to evaluate the role of sacubitril/valsartan in the treatment of right ventricle (RV) dysfunction either associated or not associated with left ventricular dysfunction.
Modeling and Experimental Results of Selected Lightweight Complex Concentrated Alloys, before and after Heat Treatment
Authors: Mitrica Dumitru , Badea Ioana Cristina , Olaru Mihai Tudor , Serban Beatrice Adriana , Vonica Denisa , Burada Marian , Geanta Victor , Rotariu Adrian Nicolae , Stoiciu Florentin , Badilita Viorel , Licu Lidia
Published: September 2020

Lightweight complex concentrated alloys (LWCCA), composed of elements with low density, have become a great area of interest due to the high demand in a large number of applications. Previous research on LWCCAs was focused on high entropy multicomponent alloy systems that provide low density and high capability of solid solution formation. Present research introduces two alloy systems (Al-Cu-Si-Zn-Mg and Al-Mn-Zn-Mg-Si) that contain readily available and inexpensive starting materials and have potential for solid solution formation structures. For the selection of appropriate compositions, authors applied semi-empirical criteria and optimization software. Specialized modeling software (MatCalc) was used to determine probable alloy structures by CALPHAD, non-equilibrium solidification and kinetic simulations. The selected alloys were prepared in an induction furnace. Specimens were heat treated to provide stable structures. Physicochemical, microstructural, and mechanical characterization was performed for the selected alloy compositions. Modeling and experimental results indicated solid solution-based structures in the as-cast and heat-treated samples. Several intermetallic phases were present at higher concentrations than in the conventional alloys. Alloys presented a brittle structure with compression strength of 486–618 MPa and hardness of 268–283 HV. The potential for uniform intermetallic phase distribution in the selected alloys makes them good candidates for applications were low weight and high resistance is required.
Genus Stachys: A Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Bioactivity
Authors: Tomou Ekaterina-Michaela , Barda Christina , Skaltsa Helen
Published: September 2020

Background: The genus Stachys L. (Lamiaceae) includes about 300 species as annual or perennial herbs or small shrubs, spread in temperate regions of Mediterranean, Asia, America and southern Africa. Several species of this genus are extensively used in various traditional medicines. They are consumed as herbal preparations for the treatment of stress, skin inflammations, gastrointestinal disorders, asthma and genital tumors. Previous studies have investigated the chemical constituents and the biological activities of these species. Thus, the present review compiles literature data on ethnomedicine, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, clinical studies and the toxicity of genus Stachys. Methods: Comprehensive research of previously published literature was performed for studies on the traditional uses, bioactive compounds and pharmacological properties of the genus Stachys, using databases with different key search words. Results: This survey documented 60 Stachys species and 10 subspecies for their phytochemical profiles, including 254 chemical compounds and reported 19 species and 4 subspecies for their pharmacological properties. Furthermore, 25 species and 6 subspecies were found for their traditional uses. Conclusions: The present review highlights that Stachys spp. consist an important source of bioactive phytochemicals and exemplifies the uncharted territory of this genus for new research studies.
First Principles Study of Bonding Mechanisms at the TiAl/TiO2 Interface
Authors: Bakulin Alexander V. , Kulkov Sergey S. , Kulkova Svetlana E. , Hocker Stephen , Schmauder Siegfried
Published: September 2020

The adhesion properties of the TiAl/TiO2 interface are estimated in dependence on interfacial layer composition and contact configuration using the projector augmented wave method. It is shown that a higher value of the work of separation is obtained at the interface between the Ti-terminated TiAl(110) surface and the TiO2(110)O one than at that with the Al-terminated alloy. An analysis of structural and electronic factors dominating the chemical bonding at the interfaces is carried out. It is shown that low bond densities are responsible for low adhesion at both considered interfaces, which may affect the spallation of oxide scale from the TiAl matrix.
Compositional Optimization of High-Performance Ferritic (HiperFer) Steels—Effect of Niobium and Tungsten Content
Authors: Fan Xiuru , Kuhn Bernd , Pöpperlová Jana , Bleck Wolfgang , Krupp Ulrich
Published: September 2020

The combined addition of Nb and W provides increased solid solution and precipitation strengthening by (Fe,Cr,Si)2(Nb,W)-Laves phase particles of ferritic, 17 wt.% Cr stainless high-performance ferritic (HiperFer) steel. Based on alloy modifications and the obtained hardness, tensile, and creep testing results; a new high alloying variant is proposed as a candidate steel for future structural application up to approximately 680 °C in power engineering and the process industry.
How Reversible Are the Effects of Fumed Silica on Macrophages? A Proteomics-Informed View
Authors: Torres Anaelle , Dalzon Bastien , Collin-Faure Véronique , Diemer Hélène , Fenel Daphna , Schoehn Guy , Cianférani Sarah , Carrière Marie , Rabilloud Thierry
Published: September 2020

Synthetic amorphous silica is one of the most used nanomaterials, and numerous toxicological studies have studied its effects. Most of these studies have used an acute exposure mode to investigate the effects immediately after exposure. However, this exposure modality does not allow the investigation of the persistence of the effects, which is a crucial aspect of silica toxicology, as exemplified by crystalline silica. In this paper, we extended the investigations by studying not only the responses immediately after exposure but also after a 72 h post-exposure recovery phase. We used a pyrolytic silica as the test nanomaterial, as this variant of synthetic amorphous silica has been shown to induce a more persistent inflammation in vivo than precipitated silica. To investigate macrophage responses to pyrolytic silica, we used a combination of proteomics and targeted experiments, which allowed us to show that most of the cellular functions that were altered immediately after exposure to pyrolytic silica at a subtoxic dose, such as energy metabolism and cell morphology, returned to normal at the end of the recovery period. However, some alterations, such as the inflammatory responses and some aldehyde detoxification proteins, were persistent. At the proteomic level, other alterations, such as proteins implicated in the endosomal/lysosomal pathway, were also persistent but resulted in normal function, thus suggesting cellular adaptation.
The Effects of a Functional Food Breakfast on Gluco-Regulation, Cognitive Performance, Mood, and Satiety in Adults
Authors: Kennedy Sarah J. , Ryan Lisa , Clegg Miriam E.
Published: September 2020

A whole diet which combines multiple functional foods benefits metabolic risk factors and cognition, but evidence supporting meal to meal benefits, which individuals may find easier to implement, is limited. This study developed a functional food breakfast (FB), using polyphenol-rich ingredients selected for their gluco-regulating and cognitive-enhancing properties, and compared it to a control breakfast (CB). For study 1, total polyphenols were determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and sugar release by in vitro digestion, in frozen and fresh samples. In study 2, healthy adults (n = 16) consumed an FB, CB and ready-to-eat breakfast cereal (RTEC) in a randomised crossover design. Glucose (GR) and insulin response (IR), satiety, mood and memory were measured over 180 min. The FB was a rich source of polyphenols (230 mg) compared to the CB (147 mg) (p < 0.05), and using frozen muffins did not compromise the polyphenol content or sugar release. Peak GR was highest after the RTEC (p < 0.05), and the insulin area under the curve (AUC) was lowest in the FB at 60, 120, 180 min and peak (p < 0.05). There were no effects on GR AUC, mood, satiety or memory. Reductions in GR peak and IR following consumption of the FB support the inclusion of functional ingredients at breakfast.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Are Symptoms and Diet Linked?
Authors: Morton Hannah , Pedley Kevin C. , Stewart Robin J. C. , Coad Jane
Published: September 2020

New Zealand (NZ) has one of the world’s highest incidence rates of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a group of chronic inflammatory conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with IBD often believe certain foods influence their disease symptoms and consequently may alter their diet considerably. The objective of this study was to determine foods, additives, and cooking methods (dietary elements) that NZ IBD patients identify in the onset, exacerbation, or reduction of their symptoms. A total of 233 participants completed a self-administered questionnaire concerning symptom behaviour in association with 142 dietary elements. Symptom onset and symptom exacerbation were associated with dietary elements by 55% (128) and 70% (164) of all IBD participants, respectively. Fruit and vegetables were most frequently identified, with dairy products, gluten-containing bread, and foods with a high fat content also considered deleterious. Of all IBD participants, 35% (82) associated symptom reduction with dietary elements. The identified foods were typically low in fibre, saturated fatty acids, and easily digestible. No statistically significant differences were seen between the type or number of dietary elements and disease subtype or recent disease activity. The association between diet and symptoms in patients with IBD and the mechanism(s) involved warrant further research and may lead to the development of IBD specific dietary guidelines.
Serum 25 Hydroxyvitamin D Levels During Pregnancy in Women with Asthma: Associations with Maternal Characteristics and Adverse Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes
Authors: Jensen Megan E. , Camargo Carlos A. , Harvey Soriah M. , Gibson Peter G. , Murphy Vanessa E.
Published: September 2020

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels are common in pregnancy and associated with adverse maternal/neonatal outcomes. In pregnant women with asthma, this study examined the association of lifestyle- and asthma-related factors on 25(OH)D levels and maternal/neonatal outcomes by vitamin D status. Serum 25(OH)D was measured at 16 and 35 weeks gestation in women with asthma (n = 103). Body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), smoking status, inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use, asthma control, airway inflammation, and exacerbations, and maternal/neonatal outcomes were collected. Baseline and change (Δ) in 25(OH)D were modelled separately using backward stepwise regression, adjusted for season and ethnicity. Maternal/neonatal outcomes were compared between low (25(OH)D < 75 nmol/L at both time points) and high (≥75 nmol/L at one or both time points) vitamin D status. Fifty-six percent of women had low vitamin D status. Obesity was significantly associated with lower baseline 25(OH)D (Adj-R2 = 0.126, p = 0.008); ICS and airway inflammation were not. Excess GWG and season of baseline sample collection were significantly associated with Δ25(OH)D (Adj-R2 = 0.405, p < 0.0001); asthma-related variables were excluded (p > 0.2). Preeclampsia was more common in the low (8.6%) vs. high (0%) vitamin D group (p < 0.05). Obesity and excess GWG may be associated with gestational 25(OH)D levels, highlighting the importance of antenatal weight management.
Gut Microbiota in Hypertension and Atherosclerosis: A Review
Authors: Verhaar Barbara J. H. , Prodan Andrei , Nieuwdorp Max , Muller Majon
Published: September 2020

Gut microbiota and its metabolites such as short chain fatty acids (SCFA), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) impact cardiovascular health. In this review, we discuss how gut microbiota and gut metabolites can affect hypertension and atherosclerosis. Hypertensive patients were shown to have lower alpha diversity, lower abundance of SCFA-producing microbiota, and higher abundance of gram-negative bacteria, which are a source of LPS. Animal studies point towards a direct role for SCFAs in blood pressure regulation and show that LPS has pro-inflammatory effects. Translocation of LPS into the systemic circulation is a consequence of increased gut permeability. Atherosclerosis, a multifactorial disease, is influenced by the gut microbiota through multiple pathways. Many studies have focused on the pro-atherogenic role of TMAO, however, it is not clear if this is a causal factor. In addition, gut microbiota play a key role in bile acid metabolism and some interventions targeting bile acid receptors tend to decrease atherosclerosis. Concluding, gut microbiota affect hypertension and atherosclerosis through many pathways, providing a wide range of potential therapeutic targets. Challenges ahead include translation of findings and mechanisms to humans and development of therapeutic interventions that target cardiovascular risk by modulation of gut microbes and metabolites.
Dietary Factors and Supplements Influencing Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Concentrations in Men with Prostate Cancer and Increased Cancer Risk: An Evidence Analysis Review Based on Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Grammatikopoulou Maria G. , Gkiouras Konstantinos , Papageorgiou Stefanos Τ. , Myrogiannis Ioannis , Mykoniatis Ioannis , Papamitsou Theodora , Bogdanos Dimitrios P. , Goulis Dimitrios G.
Published: September 2020

The quest for dietary patterns and supplements efficient in down-regulating prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentrations among men with prostate cancer (PCa) or increased PCa risk has been long. Several antioxidants, including lycopene, selenium, curcumin, coenzyme Q10, phytoestrogens (including isoflavones and flavonoids), green tea catechins, cernitin, vitamins (C, E, D) and multivitamins, medicinal mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum), fruit extracts (saw palmetto, cranberries, pomegranate), walnuts and fatty acids, as well as combined supplementations of all, have been examined in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in humans, on the primary, secondary, and tertiary PCa prevention level. Despite the plethora of trials and the variety of examined interventions, the evidence supporting the efficacy of most dietary factors appears inadequate to recommend their use.
The Host-Specific Intestinal Microbiota Composition Impacts Campylobacter coli Infection in a Clinical Mouse Model of Campylobacteriosis
Authors: Heimesaat Markus M. , Genger Claudia , Kløve Sigri , Weschka Dennis , Mousavi Soraya , Bereswill Stefan
Published: September 2020

Human Campylobacter-infections are progressively rising globally. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying C. coli–host interactions are incompletely understood. In this study, we surveyed the impact of the host-specific intestinal microbiota composition during peroral C. coli infection applying an established murine campylobacteriosis model. Therefore, microbiota-depleted IL-10−/− mice were subjected to peroral fecal microbiota transplantation from murine versus human donors and infected with C. coli one week later by gavage. Irrespective of the microbiota, C. coli stably colonized the murine gastrointestinal tract until day 21 post-infection. Throughout the survey, C. coli-infected mice with a human intestinal microbiota displayed more frequently fecal blood as their murine counterparts. Intestinal inflammatory sequelae of C. coli-infection could exclusively be observed in mice with a human intestinal microbiota, as indicated by increased colonic numbers of apoptotic epithelial cells and innate as well as adaptive immune cell subsets, which were accompanied by more pronounced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in the colon and mesenteric lymph nodes versus mock controls. However, in extra-intestinal, including systemic compartments, pro-inflammatory responses upon pathogen challenge could be assessed in mice with either microbiota. In conclusion, the host-specific intestinal microbiota composition has a profound effect on intestinal and systemic pro-inflammatory immune responses during C. coli infection.
Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Made of Ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: In Vitro Evaluation of Emerging Nanocarriers to Treat Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Hernando Sara , Herran Enara , Hernandez Rosa Maria , Igartua Manoli
Published: September 2020

Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) are one of the main problems of public health systems in the 21st century. The rise of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems (DDS) has become in an emerging approach to target and treat these disorders related to the central nervous system (CNS). Among others, the use of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) has increased in the last few years. Up to today, most of the developed NLCs have been made of a mixture of solid and liquid lipids without any active role in preventing or treating diseases. In this study, we successfully developed NLCs made of a functional lipid, such as the hydroxylated derivate of docohexaenoic acid (DHAH), named DHAH-NLCs. The newly developed nanocarriers were around 100 nm in size, with a polydispersity index (PDI) value of <0.3, and they exhibited positive zeta potential due to the successful chitosan (CS) and TAT coating. DHAH-NLCs were shown to be safe in both dopaminergic and microglia primary cell cultures. Moreover, they exhibited neuroprotective effects in dopaminergic neuron cell cultures after exposition to 6-hydroxydopamine hydrochloride (6-OHDA) neurotoxin and decreased the proinflammatory cytokine levels in microglia primary cell cultures after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimuli. The levels of the three tested cytokines, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were decreased almost to control levels after the treatment with DHAH-NLCs. Taken together, these data suggest the suitability of DHAH-NLCs to attaining enhanced and synergistic effects for the treatment of NDs.
GC-MS-Based Metabolomics Analysis of Prawn Shell Waste Co-Fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Tan Yun Nian , Zhang Jian Hua , Chen Wei Ning
Published: September 2020

GC-MS-based metabolomics were used to investigate metabolic changes in prawn shell waste during fermentation. Microbial strains Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis were co-fermented in a shake flask comprising of 5% (w/v) prawn shell waste and 20% (w/v) glucose as a carbon source. Analysis of the prawn shell waste fermentation showed a total of 376 metabolites detected in the culture supernatant, including 14 amino acids, 106 organic acids, and 90 antimicrobial molecules. Results show that the liquid fraction of the co-fermentation is promising for harvesting valuable metabolites for probiotics application.
Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity for the Valorization of Elaeocarpus serratus L. Leaves
Authors: Chen Ying-Hsuan , Yang Chun-Yao
Published: September 2020

Elaeocarpus serratus L. leaves contain significant polyphenols, flavonoids, and myricitrin with medicinal property, which are byproducts after harvest and can be recovered for potential food applications. In this study, the effective extraction method for bioactive compounds and myricitrin from Elaeocarpus serratus L. leaves was investigated by comparing ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and shaking-assisted extraction (SAE) for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), myricitrin, and antioxidant capacity (as ferric reducing antioxidant power, FRAP). A first-order kinetic model of extraction was also proposed to correlate the observed extraction rate coefficient and limiting concentration of myricitrin in various solvents. Using defatted leaves (DL) as the substrate at the UAE condition of 95% ethanol with 1/10 (g/mL) of DL to solvent ratio under 40 kHz/300 W of ultrasound, 26.63% of yield of extract, and 199.75 mg-ferrous-sulfate-heptahydrate-equivalent/g-DL of FRAP were obtained. Further, the bioactive compounds extracted were 92.35 mg-gallic-acid-equivalent/g-DL of TPC, 53.14 mg-rutin-equivalent/g-DL of TFC, and 4.41 mg/g-DL of myricitrin, which were 1.53, 1.44, and 1.4 folds using SAE at 120 rpm, respectively. This showed that UAE was more efficient than SAE in bioactive compounds recovery for valorization of Elaeocarpus serratus L. leaves.
Positive Religious Coping and Mental Health among Christians and Muslims in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Thomas Justin , Barbato Mariapaola
Published: September 2020

Positive religious coping has frequently been associated with better mental health outcomes when dealing with stressful life events (e.g., natural disasters, domestic abuse, divorce). The COVID-19 pandemic, and the associated infection prevention and control measures (curfew, quarantine, restricted travel, social distancing), represent a society-wide stressor. This study explored positive religious coping among the Muslim and Christian residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the early stages of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (N = 543) completed an online survey assessing religious coping in response to the pandemic, along with symptom measures of depression, anxiety and history of psychological disorder. Muslims (N = 339) reported significantly higher levels of positive religious coping compared to their Christian counterparts (N = 204). Across the whole sample, positive religious coping was inversely related to having a history of psychological disorders. Among the Muslim cohort, positive religious coping was inversely related to depressive symptoms and having a history of psychological disorders. Positive religious coping during infectious disease outbreaks may help some individuals reduce their risk of depressive illness. National pandemic preparedness plans may benefit from including a focus on religion and religious coping.
Evaluation of a New Merged Sea-Ice Concentration Dataset at 1 km Resolution from Thermal Infrared and Passive Microwave Satellite Data in the Arctic
Authors: Ludwig Valentin , Spreen Gunnar , Pedersen Leif Toudal
Published: September 2020

Sea-ice concentration (SIC) data with fine spatial resolution and spatially continuous coverage are needed, for example, for estimating heat fluxes. Passive microwave measurements of the Advanced Scanning Microwave Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) offer spatial continuity, but are limited to spatial resolutions of 5 km and coarser. Thermal infrared data of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) provide a spatial resolution of 1 km, but are limited to cloud-free scenes. We exploit the benefits of both and present a merged SIC dataset with 1 km spatial resolution and spatially continuous coverage for the Arctic. MODIS and AMSR2 SIC are retrieved separately and then merged by tuning the MODIS SIC to preserve the mean AMSR2 SIC. We first evaluate the variability of the dynamically retrieved MODIS ice tie-point. Varying the starting position of the area used for the tie-point retrieval changes the MODIS SIC by on average 1.9%, which we mitigate by considering different starting positions and using the average as ice tie-point. Furthermore, the SIC datasets are evaluated against a reference dataset derived from Sentinel-2A/B reflectances between February and May 2019. We find that the merged SIC are 1.9% smaller than the reference SIC if thin ice is considered as ice and 4.9% higher if thin ice is considered as water. There is only a slight bias (0.3%) between the MODIS and the merged SIC; however, the root mean square deviation of 5% indicates that the two datasets do yield different results. In an example of poor-quality MODIS SIC, we identify an unscreened cloud and high ice-surface temperature as reasons for the poor quality. Still, the merged SIC are of similar quality as the passive microwave SIC in this example. The benefit of merging MODIS and AMSR2 data is demonstrated by showing that the finer resolution of the merged SIC compared to the AMSR2 SIC allows an enhanced potential for the retrieval of leads. At the same time, the data are available regardless of clouds. Last, we provide uncertainty estimates. The MODIS and merged SIC uncertainty are between 5% and 10% from February to April and increase up to 25% (merged SIC) and 35% (MODIS SIC) in May. They are identified as conservative uncertainty estimates.
An Improved Game Theory-Based Cooperative Localization Algorithm for Eliminating the Conflicting Information of Multi-Sensors
Authors: Tang Chao , Dou Lihua
Published: September 2020

In this article, an improved game theory-based co-localization algorithm is proposed to precisely and cooperatively locate the multi-robot system in the wireless sensor network and efficiently eliminate the information conflict caused by multi-sensor. Specifically, the extended Kalman filter in the original algorithm is replaced by the unscented Kalman filter in the optimized algorithm, which contributes to lower linearization errors and higher localization precision. Then, the computational complexity is analyzed, and the derivative method is introduced to reduce the extra computation burden brought by the unscented Kalman filter. Subsequently, the stability issue resulting from the derivative method is addressed by introducing the singular value decomposition (SVD). In this context, the optimized algorithm is capable of precisely locating the multi-robot system, while maintaining the stability and not increasing the computational burden. Moreover, as demonstrated by the simulation results, the optimized algorithm has greater localization precision than the original algorithm, while they have similar computational burdens.
A Power Amplifier with Large High-Efficiency Range for 5G Communication
Authors: Zhang Zhiwei , Cheng Zhiqun , Liu Guohua
Published: September 2020

This paper presents a new method to design a Doherty power amplifier (DPA) with a large, high-efficiency range for 5G communication. This is through analyzing the drain-to-source capacitance (CDS) of DPAs, and adopting appropriate impedance of the peak device. A closed design process is proposed, to design the extended efficiency range DPA based on derived theories. For validation, a DPA with large efficiency range was designed and fabricated by using two equal devices. The measured results showed that the saturated output power was between 43.4 dBm and 43.7 dBm in the target band. Around 70% saturated drain efficiency is obtained with a gain of greater than 11 dB. Moreover, the obtained drain efficiency is larger than 50% at the 10 dB power back-off, when operating at 3.5 GHz. These superior performances illustrate that the implemented DPA can be applied well in 5G communication.