bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atezolizumab Induces Necroptosis and Contributes to Hepatotoxicity of Human Hepatocytes
Authors: Endo Yukinori , Winarski Katie L. , Sajib Md Sanaullah , Ju Anna , Wu Wen Jin
Published: July 2023

Atezolizumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) targeting PD-L1 for treatment of solid malignancies. Immune checkpoints control the immune tolerance, and the adverse events such as hepatotoxicity induced by ICIs are often considered as an immune-related adverse event (irAE). However, PD-L1 is also highly expressed in normal tissues, e.g., hepatocytes. It is still not clear whether, targeting PD-L1 on hepatocytes, the atezolizumab may cause damage to liver cells contributing to hepatotoxicity. Here, we reveal a novel mechanism by which the atezolizumab induces hepatotoxicity in human hepatocytes. We find that the atezolizumab treatment increases a release of LDH in the cell culture medium of human hepatocytes (human primary hepatocytes and THLE-2 cells), decreases cell viability, and inhibits the THLE-2 and THLE-3 cell growth. We demonstrate that both the atezolizumab and the conditioned medium (T-CM) derived from activated T cells can induce necroptosis of the THLE-2 cells, which is underscored by the fact that the atezolizumab and T-CM enhance the phosphorylation of RIP3 and MLKL proteins. Furthermore, we also show that necrostatin-1, a necrosome inhibitor, decreases the amount of phosphorylated RIP3 induced by the atezolizumab, resulting in a reduced LDH release in the culture media of the THLE-2 cells. This finding is further supported by the data that GSK872 (a RIP3 inhibitor) significantly reduced the atezolizumab-induced LDH release. Taken together, our data indicate that the atezolizumab induces PD-L1-mediated necrosome formation, contributing to hepatotoxicity in PD-L1+-human hepatocytes. This study provides the molecular basis of the atezolizumab-induced hepatotoxicity and opens a new avenue for developing a novel therapeutic approach to reducing hepatotoxicity induced by ICIs.
Acceptance of Illness and Coping with Stress among Patients Undergoing Alcohol Addiction Therapy
Authors: Curyło Mateusz , Rynkiewicz-Andryśkiewicz Marlena , Andryśkiewicz Przemysław , Mikos Marcin , Lusina Dariusz , Raczkowski Jan W. , Partyka Olga , Pajewska Monika , Sygit Katarzyna , Sygit Marian , Cipora Elżbieta , Kaczmarski Mateusz , Gawiński Łukasz , Banaś Tomasz , Strzępek Łukasz , Juszczyk Grzegorz , Krzych-Fałta Edyta , Bandurska Ewa , Ciećko Weronika , Zabojszcz Michał , Zdziarski Krzysztof , Knyszyńska Anna , Kosior Dariusz A. , Marczak Michał , Czerw Aleksandra , Kozłowski Remigiusz
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: Acceptance of illness is a process in which a person with an illness accepts its presence and treats it as an integral part of their life. With regard to alcoholism, acceptance of illness is one of the important elements of the healing process. (2) Methods: The study group consisted of 104 residents in an addiction treatment ward. Questionnaires SOC-29, AIS and PSS-10 were used to check levels of coherence, stress and acceptance of illness. The analysis was based on regression analysis. Patient age was analysed as a moderator of correlations between perceived indicators. Moderation analysis was based on the simple moderation model. (3) Results: The level of perceived stress correlated negatively with all areas of the sense of coherence and with acceptance of illness. All areas of the sense of coherence correlated with acceptance of illness positively. (4) Conclusions: The acceptance of illness by the patient is a factor that can be motivating for further treatment, through a positive approach to illness and strengthening the sense of control in experiencing it. The combination of strengthening behavioural, cognitive and motivational resources can be used in the treatment of people experiencing the challenges of addiction to alcohol.
The Diagnostics and Treatment of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Authors: Tomkiewicz Julia , Darmochwał-Kolarz Dorota
Published: July 2023

Recurrent pregnancy loss is a common problem in the reproductive age population of women. It can be caused by many different conditions. This problem is addressed in international guidelines that take a slightly different approach to its diagnosis and treatment. The guidelines used in this review mainly use the guidelines of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). This review shows how much the approach to miscarriages has changed and how much more needs to be explored and refined. The review also addresses the topic of unexplained pregnancy loss, which continues to be a challenge for clinicians.
Priapism at Diagnosis of Pediatric Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Data Derived from a Large Cohort of Children and Teenagers and a Narrative Review on Priapism Management
Authors: Suttorp Meinolf , Sembill Stephanie , Kalwak Krzysztof , Metzler Markus , Millot Frederic
Published: July 2023

Pediatric chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a very rare malignancy (age-related incidence 0.1/100,000) typically presenting with leucocyte counts >100,000/µL. However, clinical signs of leukostasis are observed at diagnosis in only approximately 10% of all cases and among these, priapism is infrequent. Here, we analyze data from pediatric CML registries on the occurrence of priapism heralding diagnosis of CML in 16/491 (3.2%) boys (median age 13.5 years, range 4–18) with pediatric CML. In the cohort investigated, duration of priapism resulting in a diagnosis of CML was not reported in 5 patients, and in the remaining 11 patients, occurred as stuttering priapism over 3 months (n = 1), over 6 weeks (n = 1), over 1–2 weeks (n = 2), over several days (n = 2), or 24 h (n = 1), while the remaining 4 boys reported continuous erection lasting over 11–12 h. All patients exhibited splenomegaly and massive leukocytosis (median WBC 470,000/µL, range 236,700–899,000). Interventions to treat priapism were unknown in 5 patients, and in the remaining cohort, comprised intravenous fluids ± heparin (n = 2), penile puncture (n = 5) ± injection of sympathomimetics (n = 4) ± intracavernous shunt operation (n = 1) paralleled by leukocyte-reductive measures. Management without penile puncture by leukapheresis or exchange transfusion was performed in 3 boys. In total, 7 out 15 (47%) long-term survivors (median age 20 years, range 19–25) responded to a questionnaire. All had maintained full erectile function; however, 5/7 had presented with stuttering priapism while in the remaining 2 patients priapism had lasted <12 h until intervention. At its extreme, low-flow priapism lasting for longer than 24 h may result in partial or total impotence by erectile dysfunction. This physical disability can exert a large psychological impact on patients’ lives. In a narrative review fashion, we analyzed the literature on priapism in boys with CML which is by categorization stuttering or persisting as mostly painful, ischemic (low-flow) priapism. Details on the pathophysiology are discussed on the background of the different blood rheology of hyperleukocytosis in acute and chronic leukemias. In addition to the data collected, instructive case vignettes demonstrate the diagnostic and treatment approaches and the outcome of boys presenting with priapism. An algorithm for management of priapism in a stepwise fashion is presented. All approaches must be performed in parallel with cytoreductive treatment of leukostasis in CML which comprises leukapheresis and exchange transfusions ± cytotoxic chemotherapy.
Detection of Antibodies against the Acetylcholine Receptor in Patients with Myasthenia Gravis: A Comparison of Two Enzyme Immunoassays and a Fixed Cell-Based Assay
Authors: Gambino Caterina Maria , Agnello Luisa , Ciaccio Anna Maria , Scazzone Concetta , Vidali Matteo , Di Stefano Vincenzo , Milano Salvatore , Brighina Filippo , Candore Giuseppina , Lo Sasso Bruna , Ciaccio Marcello
Published: July 2023

The detection of serum anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies is currently an important tool for diagnosing myasthenia gravis (MG) since they are present in about 85% of MG patients. Many serological tests are now available. Nevertheless, results from these tests can be different in some patients. The aim of this study is to compare the sensitivity of a commercially available fixed cell-based assay (F-CBA) to that of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits for anti-AChR detection in patients with a diagnosis of MG. Overall, 143 patients with a confirmed MG diagnosis were included in the study. The detection and measurement of serum anti-AChR antibodies were performed by three analytical methods, namely, a competitive ELISA (cELISA), an indirect ELISA (iELISA), and an F-CBA, according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Anti-AChR antibody titers were positive in 94/143 (66%) using the cELISA, in 75/143 (52%) using the iELISA and in 61/143 (43%) using the F-CBA (adult and/or fetal). Method agreement, evaluated by concordant pairs and Cohen’s kappa, was as follows: cELISA-iELISA: 110/143 (77%), k = 0.53 (95%CI 0.40–0.66); cELISA-F-CBA: 108/143 (76%), k = 0.53 (95%CI 0.41–0.66); iELISA-F-CBA: 121/143 (85%), k = 0.70 (95%CI 0.57–0.80). Our findings show that the cELISA has better analytical performance than the iELISA and F-CBA. However, the iELISA and F-CBA show the highest concordance.
Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Elderly Patients Following Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Liver Metastasis
Authors: Mahamid Ahmad , Abu-Zaydeh Omar , Mattar Samar , Kazlow Esther , Froylich Dvir , Sawaied Muneer , Goldberg Natalia , Berger Yael , Sadot Eran , Haddad Riad
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) has engendered growing attention as a safe procedure for the resection of metastatic liver disease. However, there is little data available regarding the outcomes of HALS for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) in patients over the age of 75. (2) Methods: We compare the short- and long-term outcomes of patients >75-years-old (defined in our study as “elderly patients” and referred to as group 1, G1), with patients <75-years-old (defined in our study as “younger patients” and referred to as group 2, G2). (3) Results: Of 145 patients, 28 were in G1 and 117 were in G2. The most common site of the primary tumor was the right colon in G1, and the left colon in G2 (p = 0.05). More patients in G1 underwent laparoscopic anterior segment resection compared with G2 (43% vs. 39% respectively) (p = 0.003). 53% of patients in G1 and 74% of patients in G2 completed neoadjuvant therapy (p = 0.04). The median size of the largest metastasis was 32 (IQR 19–52) mm in G1 and 20 (IQR 13–35) mm in G2 (p = 0.001). The rate of complications (Dindo-Clavien grade ≥ III) was slightly higher in G1 (p = 0.06). The overall 5-year survival was 30% in G1 and 52% in G2 (p = 0.12). (4) Conclusions: Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery for colorectal liver metastasis is safe and effective in an elderly patient population.
The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score for Prediction of Microvascular Flap Complications in Reconstructive Surgery
Authors: Rocans Rihards P. , Zarins Janis , Bine Evita , Deksnis Renars , Citovica Margarita , Donina Simona , Mamaja Biruta
Published: July 2023

Microvascular flap surgery is a widely acknowledged procedure for significant defect reconstruction. Multiple flap complication risk factors have been identified, yet there are limited data on laboratory biomarkers for the prediction of flap loss. The controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score has demonstrated good postoperative outcome assessment ability in diverse surgical populations. We aim to assess the predictive value of the CONUT score for complications in microvascular flap surgery. This prospective cohort study includes 72 adult patients undergoing elective microvascular flap surgery. Preoperative blood draws for analysis of full blood count, total plasma cholesterol, and albumin concentrations were collected on the day of surgery before crystalloid infusion. Postoperative data on flap complications and duration of hospitalization were obtained. The overall complication rate was 15.2%. True flap loss with vascular compromise occurred in 5.6%. No differences in flap complications were found between different areas of reconstruction, anatomical flap types, or indications for surgery. Obesity was more common in patients with flap complications (p = 0.01). The CONUT score had an AUC of 0.813 (0.659–0.967, p = 0.012) for predicting complications other than true flap loss due to vascular compromise. A CONUT score > 2 was indicated as optimal during cut-off analysis (p = 0.022). Patients with flap complications had a longer duration of hospitalization (13.55, 10.99–16.11 vs. 25.38, 14.82–35.93; p = 0.004). Our findings indicate that the CONUT score has considerable predictive value in microvascular flap surgery.
The Role of Right Ventriculo–Arterial Coupling in Symptoms Presentation of Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Angelopoulos Andreas , Oikonomou Evangelos , Antonopoulos Alexios S. , Theofilis Panagiotis , Kalogeras Konstantinos , Papanikolaou Paraskevi , Lazaros George , Siasos Gerasimos , Tousoulis Dimitris , Tsioufis Konstantinos , Vlachopoulos Charalambos
Published: July 2023

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiomyopathy. The hallmark of HCM is myocardial fibrosis which contributes to heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Objective: To identify the factors implicated in heart failure symptoms and functional capacity of patients with HCM. Methods: In this cohort study, 43 patients with HCM were recruited. According to functional capacity and symptoms presentation, patients were categorized according to New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, and echocardiographic measurements of left ventricle systolic and diastolic function were conducted. The echocardiographic assessment of right ventriculo–arterial coupling (RVAC) was made by calculating the tricuspid annular peak systolic tissue Doppler velocity (TASV)/estimated RV systolic pressure (RVSP) ratio. Results: Almost half (51%) of our study population present symptoms of heart failure and were categorized as the symptomatic group—NYHA 2 or higher. Maximum LVOT gradient, RVSP, and the ratio of E/e’ were higher in the symptomatic group compared with the asymptomatic group. TASV was lower in the symptomatic group compared with the asymptomatic group (11 ± 1 cm/s vs. 13 ± 2 cm/s, p = 0.04). However, there was no difference in other potentially influential factors, such as heart rate or systemic blood pressure. The SCD risk score does not differ between the two studied groups. The RVAC (estimated with the TASV/RVSP ratio) was lower in the symptomatic group compared with the asymptomatic group (0.32 ± 0.09 vs. 0.46 ± 0.11, p < 0.001). Conclusion: A low RVAC (as estimated with TASV/RVSP ratio) value could represent an echocardiographic marker of right ventricular–arterial uncoupling in patients with HCM and impaired functional status.
Biomarker Effects of Diesel Fuel Hydrocarbons Absorbed to PE-Plastic Debris on Mussel Mytilus trossulus
Authors: Dovzhenko Nadezda Vladimirovna , Chelomin Victor Pavlovich , Mazur Andrey Alexandrovich , Slobodskova Valentina Vladimirovna , Istomina Aleksandra Anatolyevna , Kukla Sergey Petrovich
Published: July 2023

Pollution of global oceans by plastic litter is one of the most important ecological problems of our time. At the same time, the active sorption of highly toxic chemicals dissolved in water by plastic also poses a threat to the marine environment and its inhabitants. This article presents the results of experimental studies on the properties of polyethylene (PE) as a vector of petroleum hydrocarbons (PH) and its influence on the biochemical parameters of tissues in the Pacific mussel Mytilus trossulus. It was shown that the presence of unused polyethylene fragments (PE) and PE fragments with water-soluble fractions of diesel fuel (PE-WSF-DF) in seawater caused the development of oxidative stress in M. trossulus. We observed severe changes in hemolymph lysosome membrane stability (LMS) and a significant increase in DNA fragmentation in the gills and digestive glands of mollusks. The presence of PE-WSF-DF fragments in water increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes: catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). In the experiment, direct contact between plastic fragments and mussels was excluded, meaning the filter-feeding mollusks ingested the desorbed PH and leaching components existing in PE from the water.
Safe Production Strategies for Soil-Covered Cultivation of Morel in Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soils
Authors: Li Xue , Fu Tianhong , Li Hongzhao , Zhang Bangxi , Li Wendi , Zhang Baige , Wang Xiaomin , Wang Jie , Chen Qing , He Xuehan , Chen Hao , Zhang Qinyu , Zhang Yujin , Yang Rende , Peng Yutao
Published: July 2023

Morel is a popular edible mushroom with considerable medicinal and economic value which has garnered global popularity. However, the increasing heavy metal (HM) pollution in the soil presents a significant challenge to morels cultivation. Given the susceptibility of morels to HM accumulation, the quality and output of morels are at risk, posing a serious food safety concern that hinders the development of the morel industry. Nonetheless, research on the mechanism of HM enrichment and mitigation strategies in morel remains scarce. The morel, being cultivated in soil, shows a positive correlation between HM content in its fruiting body and the HM content in the soil. Therefore, soil remediation emerges as the most practical and effective approach to tackle HM pollution. Compared to physical and chemical remediation, bioremediation is a low-cost and eco-friendly approach that poses minimal threats to soil composition and structure. HMs easily enriched during morels cultivation were examined, including Cd, Cu, Hg, and Pb, and we assessed soil passivation technology, microbial remediation, strain screening and cultivation, and agronomic measures as potential approaches for HM pollution prevention. The current review underscores the importance of establishing a comprehensive system for preventing HM pollution in morels.
Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Tolerability of Nebulized Hyaluronic Acid and Xylitol Based Solution after Septoturbinoplasty
Authors: Baptista Peter , Moffa Antonio , Giorgi Lucrezia , Casale Manuele
Published: July 2023

Septoplasty and turbinate surgery are among the most frequent surgical procedures to improve nasal obstruction and quality of life. These procedures usually imply the presence of congestion, secretions, and crusting related to the movement of the instruments during surgery. However, the use of nasal lavage may reduce this situation. The addition of Hyaluronic acid or Xylitol offers advantages in these washes. This study was a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. All patients underwent endoscopic septoplasty with inferior turbinate submucosal resection without posterior nasal packing. SNOT-22, main VAS, NOSE, Modified Lund-Kennedy endoscopic scale, number of crusts and adhesions were quantified before and on the day of the surgery, visit three (seven days), visit four (fourteen days), and visit five (twenty-eight days). Forty-seven patients completed the study, divided into a standard saline arm (group 1, 22 patients) and normal saline plus HA and Xylitol arm (group 2, 27 patients). Both treatment groups improved their quality of life and objective parameters during the four weeks of the study. All patients tolerated the nasal irrigations well, and none discontinued the treatments. The study concludes that nasal washes of Aluneb Isotónico® offer several benefits to patients as a protective and preventative agent.
Identifying Visual Quality of Rural Road Landscape Character by Using Public Preference and Heatmap Analysis in Sabak Bernam, Malaysia
Authors: Gao Hangyu , Abu Bakar Shamsul , Maulan Suhardi , Mohd Yusof Mohd Johari , Mundher Riyadh , Zakariya Khalilah
Published: July 2023

The rural road landscape is crucial in forming rural areas’ landscape character (LC). As a platform for portraying the rural landscape, the rural roads demonstrate the area’s unique natural and cultural characteristics to visitors. However, with the continuous development of rural areas, the rural LC has been severely impacted, thus impacting visitors’ visual experience. In order to preserve and protect the rural landscape, this study aims to assess the visual quality of rural road landscapes based on public preference and heatmap analysis. The results indicated that most of the participants had a higher level of preference for rural landscapes with open horizontal views represented by agricultural areas, such as paddy fields. It was also found that different paddy field characters based on their planting stages can also positively affect the visual quality of rural road landscapes. The study also revealed that rural LCs with roadside settlements, commercial structures, mixed agricultural crops, and vegetation received low preference ratings. These characters negatively impact the visual quality of the rural road landscape. These findings provide significant insight for planners and decision-makers regarding protecting and preserving the essential rural road landscapes for the rural tourism experience.
Combining Soil Moisture and MT-InSAR Data to Evaluate Regional Landslide Susceptibility in Weining, China
Authors: Yang Qing , Chang Zhanqiang , Xie Chou , Shen Chaoyong , Tian Bangsen , Fang Haoran , Guo Yihong , Zhu Yu , Zhou Daoqin , Yao Xin , Chen Guanwen , Xie Tao
Published: July 2023

Landslide susceptibility maps (LSMs) play an important role in landslide hazard risk assessments, urban planning, and land resource management. While states of motion and dynamic factors are critical in the landslide formation process, these factors have not received due attention in existing LSM-generation research. In this study, we proposed a valuable method for dynamically updating and refining LSMs by combining soil moisture products with Multi-Temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (MT-InSAR) data. Based on a landslide inventory, we used time-series soil moisture data to construct an index system for evaluating landslide susceptibility. MT-InSAR technology was applied to invert the displacement time series. Furthermore, the surface deformation rate was projected in the direction of the steepest slope, and the data was resampled to a spatial resolution consistent with that of the LSM to update the generated LSM. The results showed that varying soil moisture conditions were accompanied by dynamic landslide susceptibility. A total of 22% of the analyzed pixels underwent significant susceptibility changes (either increases or decreases) following the updating and refining processes incorporating soil moisture and MT-InSAR compared to the LSMs derived based only on static factors. The relative landslide density index obtained based on actual landslides and the analyses of Dongfeng, Haila town, and Dajie township confirmed the improved slow landslide prediction reliability resulting from the reduction of the false alarm and omission rates.
Analyzing the Land Use and Cover Change Inside and Outside China’s Ecological Function Area
Authors: Wang Yajuan , Rao Yongheng , Zhu Hongbo
Published: July 2023

The establishment of nature reserves and ecological function areas is crucial for preserving the natural environment and the invaluable services provided by ecosystems. In our study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis using the 2011–2020 Chinese land cover dataset to examine the impact of ecological function areas on regional land use and cover change. This analysis allowed us to quantify and visualize the intensity, aggregation effects, and transformation paths of land cover change while considering China’s ecological function areas. Our findings highlight notable disparities in land cover types between the ecological function area and its surroundings. Within the ecological function area, forest and grassland dominate, constituting 67% of the total land cover. In contrast, outside the ecological function area, there is a greater presence of wasteland, in addition to forest and grassland. Moreover, the abundance of impervious surfaces, which are closely linked to human activities, is significantly higher outside the ecological function area, almost double the amount found inside. By examining specific land cover types, we observed that forests exhibit the least change within the ecological function area, whereas croplands experience the least change outside. Throughout the study period, approximately 8.1% of land cover pixels underwent changes, with some areas displaying a frequency of change reaching up to 2. Interestingly, the number of high-frequency land use and cover change pixels inside the ecological function area is only half of the outside. Notably, a higher percentage of impervious surfaces within the ecological function area (0.13%) were converted into cropland compared to the outside (0.07%). Understanding the dynamics of land cover change within China’s ecological function areas provides valuable insights for effective land resource management and planning. It enables us to make informed decisions to ensure the sustainable development and conservation of these areas.
Exploring the Cutting Edge of Vision Science: New Developments in Diagnostics and Treatment of Ocular Surface in Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Sánchez-González José-María , Rocha-de-Lossada Carlos , Cerviño Alejandro
Published: July 2023

The ocular surface refers to the outermost layer of the eye, which includes the cornea, conjunctiva and eyelids [...]
Release of Selected Metals (Al, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Fe, Zn) from River Bottom Sediments: An Experimental Study
Authors: Senze Magdalena , Kowalska-Góralska Monika , Czyż Katarzyna , Wondołowska-Grabowska Anna
Published: July 2023

Sediments from three rivers in south-western Poland and their tributaries were used in a laboratory experiment on metal (Al, Cu, Ni, Cd, Zn, Fe, Mn) release. Metal migration was studied under different pH (pH 3.93, pH 7.29, pH 9.59) during 96 h. Al concentration was the highest in Bystrzyca and lowest in Strzegomka; other metal concentrations were highest in Nysa Szalona and lowest in Strzegomka. The values of pH and electrolytic conductivity increase throughout the experiment in acidic and neutral environments. Water pH decrease was observed under alkaline conditions, but conductivity reached higher values with time. The aluminum release showed an increase in values followed by a decrease. The highest aluminum amounts were released from the sediment from Nysa Szalona and the lowest from Strzegomka. The greatest aluminum migration was observed in the acidic medium. Similar observations were made for Mn and Zn: Strzegomka < Nysa Szalona < Bystrzyca. For Cu, Cd, Fe and Ni, the highest values were recorded in sediments in alkaline conditions. The amount of metals migrating from sediments to water remains at a similar level as presented by other researchers. More metals are released under acidic conditions. The most intensive migration of metals is noted at the beginning of the experiment. This experiment shows the existing trend of metals migration from the sediments to the over-bottom water, which is important from the point of view of the use of water for drinking purposes. Satisfactorily, the sediments in varied environments behave predictably enough that the quality of raw water under these conditions is not compromised, which is confirmed by environmental and health standards. The research performed concerns a specific area of southwestern Poland, for which this type of research has not been conducted.
A Comparative Study about the Neuroprotective Effects of DHA-Enriched Phosphatidylserine and EPA-Enriched Phosphatidylserine against Oxidative Damage in Primary Hippocampal Neurons
Authors: Wang Yi-Wen , Li Qian , Li Xiao-Yue , Zhao Ying-Cai , Wang Cheng-Cheng , Xue Chang-Hu , Wang Yu-Ming , Zhang Tian-Tian
Published: July 2023

Nerve damage caused by accumulated oxidative stress is one of the characteristics and main mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previous studies have shown that phosphatidylserine (PS) rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plays a significant role in preventing and mitigating the progression of AD. However, whether DHA-PS and EPA-PS can directly protect primary hippocampal neurons against oxidative damage has not been studied. Here, the neuroprotective functions of DHA-PS and EPA-PS against H2O2/t-BHP-induced oxidative damage and the possible mechanisms were evaluated in primary hippocampal neurons. It was found that DHA-PS and EPA-PS could significantly improve cell morphology and promote the restoration of neural network structure. Further studies showed that both of them significantly alleviated oxidative stress-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction. EPA-PS significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK, thus playing an anti-apoptotic role, and EPA-PS significantly increased the protein expressions of p-TrkB and p-CREB, thus playing a neuroprotective role. In addition, EPA-PS, rather than DHA-PS could enhance synaptic plasticity by increasing the expression of SYN, and both could significantly reduce the expression levels of p-GSK3β and p-Tau. These results provide a scientific basis for the use of DHA/EPA-enriched phospholipids in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, and also provide a reference for the development of related functional foods.
1,3,4-Oxadiazole and 1,3,4-Thiadiazole Nortopsentin Derivatives against Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Synthesis, Cytotoxic Activity, and Inhibition of CDK1
Authors: Carbone Daniela , Pecoraro Camilla , Panzeca Giovanna , Xu Geng , Roeten Margot S. F. , Cascioferro Stella , Giovannetti Elisa , Diana Patrizia , Parrino Barbara
Published: July 2023

A new series of nortopsentin analogs, in which the central imidazole ring of the natural lead was replaced by a 1,3,4-oxadiazole or 1,3,4-thiadiazole moiety, was efficiently synthesized. The antiproliferative activity of all synthesized derivatives was evaluated against five pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell lines, a primary culture and a gemcitabine-resistant variant. The five more potent compounds elicited EC50 values in the submicromolar–micromolar range, associated with a significant reduction in cell migration. Moreover, flow cytometric analysis after propidium iodide staining revealed an increase in the G2-M and a decrease in G1-phase, indicating cell cycle arrest, while a specific ELISA demonstrated the inhibition of CDK1 activity, a crucial regulator of cell cycle progression and cancer cell proliferation.
Modeling the Effect of Grain Boundary Segregations on the Fracture Toughness of Nanocrystalline and Ultrafine-Grained Alloys
Authors: Sheinerman Alexander G.
Published: July 2023

A theoretical two-dimensional (2D) model is proposed that describes the effect of grain boundary (GB) segregations on the fracture toughness of nanocrystalline or ultrafine-grained alloys. It is shown that GB segregations can lead to crack curvature, providing both crack surface roughness and crack deflection near the crack tip. Within the model, the growth of cracks along GBs under the action of a tensile load is considered. The effects of brittle GB segregations on the crack surface roughness and crack deflection near the crack tip are analyzed, and the associated increase in the fracture toughness of the material is calculated. It is shown that toughening can be achieved if segregations are very brittle and occupy a moderate proportion of GBs. In particular, a sufficiently large (up to 50%) fraction of GBs containing very brittle segregations can increase the fracture toughness by 30–35%. The results of the model can be applied to thin nanocrystalline or ultrafine-grained films.
Microstructure and Phase Transition of Ag50.5Cu33.3Sn16.2-xInx Alloys through Experimental Study and Thermodynamic Calculation
Authors: Tong Qingsong , Rong Maohua , Wang Jiang
Published: July 2023

In this study, the solidified microstructure and phase transition temperatures of Ag50.5Cu33.3Sn16.2-xInx (x = 5.0, 6.6, 8.2, 9.1, 9.9, 10.7, 11.5, 12.3; at.%) alloys were investigated using a scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The experimental microstructure of Ag50.5Cu33.3Sn16.2-xInx alloys demonstrates that the phase fraction of Fcc(Ag) phase increased gradually as the addition of In increased, while the phase fraction of Fcc(Cu) phase decreased. Moreover, the liquidus temperatures of Ag50.5Cu33.3Sn16.2-xInx alloys also decrease with increasing In content. In this work, the Ag-Cu-Sn-In quaternary thermodynamic database was ideally extrapolated from the published literature for Ag-Cu-Sn, Ag-Cu-In, Ag-Sn-In and Cu-Sn-In thermodynamic databases. The calculated vertical section of Ag50.5Cu33.3Sn16.2-Ag50.5Cu33.3In16.2 agreed generally with the phase transition temperatures measured in the present experiment. Finally, the solidification behaviors of Ag50.5Cu33.3Sn16.2-xInx as-cast alloys were analyzed by thermodynamic calculation of the Scheil–Gulliver non-equilibrium model. The simulated solidification processes of some Ag50.5Cu33.3Sn16.2-xInx alloys are, in general, consistent with the experimental results in the present work, which would provide a theoretical basis for the design of novel Ag-Cu-Sn-In brazing alloys.
Melt–Vapor Phase Transition in the Aluminum–Selenium System in Vacuum
Authors: Nitsenko Alina , Volodin Valeriy , Linnik Xeniya , Burabayeva Nurila , Trebukhov Sergey
Published: July 2023

The boundaries of liquid and vapor coexistence fields at pressures of 101.3 and 0.133 kPa were calculated based on the partial vapor pressure values of the components in the Al-Al2Se3 and Al2Se3-Se partial systems. The vapor pressures of the more volatile aluminum selenide and selenium in the above systems were determined by the isothermal version of the boiling-point method. The partial pressures of the fewer volatile components were determined by numerical integration of the Gibbs–Duhem equation. The partial and integral values of the thermodynamic functions of the formation and evaporation of solutions were calculated based on the values of the partial vapor pressure of the system components. Based on the analysis of the complete phase diagram, it was found that the purification of aluminum by vacuum distillation in a single operation can remove aluminum selenide and selenium at an appropriate rate. The distillation of selenium from melts in vacuum in the whole concentration range of the Al2Se3-Se system will proceed from the mixture of the solution with Al2Se3 cryst., with accumulation of the latter in the distillation residue.
The Potential Value of Probiotics after Dental Implant Placement
Authors: Xu Jia , Chen Chenfeng , Gan Shuaiqi , Liao Yihan , Fu Ruijie , Hou Chuping , Yang Shuhan , Zheng Zheng , Chen Wenchuan
Published: July 2023

Dental implantation is currently the optimal solution for tooth loss. However, the health and stability of dental implants have emerged as global public health concerns. Dental implant placement, healing of the surgical site, osseointegration, stability of bone tissues, and prevention of peri-implant diseases are challenges faced in achieving the long-term health and stability of implants. These have been ongoing concerns in the field of oral implantation. Probiotics, as beneficial microorganisms, play a significant role in the body by inhibiting pathogens, promoting bone tissue homeostasis, and facilitating tissue regeneration, modulating immune-inflammatory levels. This review explores the potential of probiotics in addressing post-implantation challenges. We summarize the existing research regarding the importance of probiotics in managing dental implant health and advocate for further research into their potential applications.
Impact of the Food-Related Stress Conditions on the Expression of Enterotoxin Genes among Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Gajewska Joanna , Zakrzewski Arkadiusz Józef , Chajęcka-Wierzchowska Wioleta , Zadernowska Anna
Published: July 2023

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important foodborne pathogens. S. aureus has the capability to produce a variety of toxins, including staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival rate of S. aureus cells and analyze enterotoxins gene expression after exposure to osmotic stress and acidic/alkaline stress. To determine survival rates, the traditional plate counting method and flow cytometry were used. The expression levels of the enterotoxin genes were performed by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). Expression changes differed depending on the stressors chosen. The obtained results in this study showed the effect of critical food-related stress conditions on SE gene expression in S. aureus. The study showed different expression levels of the tested enterotoxins genes depending on the stress. The most tested enterotoxin genes (seg, sei, and selo) after exposure to pH = 4.5 stress have similar expression as in the optimal condition. After alkaline treatment (pH = 9.6), a similar expression gene value as for the optimal condition was observed. The analysis of gene expression in response to stress caused by NaCl, showed that the expression of selp decreased, whereas selu, selm, and selo genes increased. A significantly decreased expression of the sea gene was observed.
G6P[8] Rotavirus a Possessing a Wa-like VP3 Gene from a Child with Acute Gastroenteritis Living in the Northwest Amazon Region
Authors: Moraes Marcia Terezinha Baroni de , Silva Mauro França da , Pimenta Yan Cardoso , Cantelli Carina Pacheco , Assis Rosane Maria Santos de , Fialho Alexandre Madi , Bueno Marina Galvão , Olivares Alberto Ignácio Olivares , Svensson Lennart , Leite José Paulo Gagliardi , Nordgren Johan
Published: July 2023

The introduction of rotavirus A (RVA) vaccines has considerably reduced the RVA-associated mortality among children under 5 years of age worldwide. The ability of RVA to reassort gives rise to different combinations of surface proteins G (glycoprotein, VP7) and P (protease sensitive, VP4) RVA types infecting children. During the epidemiological surveillance of RVA in the Northwest Amazon region, an unusual rotavirus genotype G6P[8] was detected in feces of a 2-year-old child with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) that had been vaccinated with one dose of Rotarix® (RV1). The G6P[8] sample had a DS-1-like constellation with a Wa-like VP3 gene mono-reassortment similar to equine-like G3P[8] that has been frequently detected in Brazil previously. The results presented here reinforce the evolutionary dynamics of RVA and the importance of constant molecular surveillance.
Regenerative Shaper of Ultrashort Light Pulses
Authors: Regelskis Kęstutis , Liaugminas Gustas , Želudevičius Julijanas
Published: July 2023

In this article, we propose and demonstrate an ultrashort light pulse regenerative shaper based on a closed-loop double-stage Mamyshev regenerator with an electrically controllable acousto-optic switch. This setup allowed us to apply an initial pulse from an external pulse source and to reshape the pulse to an ultrashort, high-quality, compressible one, the parameters of which were determined by the parameters of the regenerative circuit (RC), due to repeated pulse round-trips in the closed-loop RC. It was found that after 3–7 round-trips the energy of the regenerated pulse was almost independent of the energy of the initial pulse. However, at least 20 round-trips in the RC were required to shape the steady repetitive pulse. In addition, we demonstrated, both experientially and numerically, that the generation of periodic pulse sequences with limited pump power can lead to a rearrangement of the pulse sequences, which results in variations in the length of the pulse sequence from period to period.
Effects of Cadmium Stress on Carbon Sequestration and Oxygen Release Characteristics in A Landscaping Hyperaccumulator—Lonicera japonica Thunb.
Authors: Liu Zhouli , An Jing , Lu Qingxuan , Yang Chuanjia , Mu Yitao , Wei Jianbing , Hou Yongxia , Meng Xiangyu , Zhao Zhuo , Lin Maosen
Published: July 2023

The carbon sequestration and oxygen release of landscape plants are dominant ecological service functions, which can play an important role in reducing greenhouse gases, improving the urban heat island effect and achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. In the present study, we are choosing Lonicera japonica Thunb. as a model plant to show the effects of Cd stress on growth, photosynthesis, carbon sequestration and oxygen release characteristics. Under 5 mg kg−1 of Cd treatment, the dry weight of roots and shoots biomass and the net photosynthetic rate (PN) in L. japonica had a significant increase, and with the increase in Cd treatment concentration, the dry weight of roots and shoots biomass and PN in the plant began to decrease. When the Cd treatment concentration was up to 125 mg kg−1, the dry weight of root and shoots biomass and PN in the plant decreased by 5.29%, 1.94% and 2.06%, and they had no significant decrease compared with the control, indicating that the plant still had a good ability for growth and photoenergy utilization even under high concentrations of Cd stress. The carbon sequestration and oxygen release functions in terms of diurnal assimilation amounts (P), carbon sequestration per unit leaf area (WCO2), oxygen release per unit leaf area (WO2), carbon sequestration per unit land area (PCO2) and oxygen release per unit land area (PO2) in L. japonica had a similar change trend with the photosynthesis responses under different concentrations of Cd treatments, which indicated that L. japonica as a landscaping Cd-hyperaccumulator, has a good ability for carbon sequestration and oxygen release even under high concentrations of Cd stress. The present study will provide a useful guideline for effectively developing the ecological service functions of landscaping hyperaccumulators under urban Cd-contaminated environment.
Genome-Wide Characterization of PEBP Gene Family and Functional Analysis of TERMINAL FLOWER 1 Homologs in Macadamia integrifolia
Authors: Yang Jing , Ning Conghui , Liu Ziyan , Zheng Cheng , Mao Yawen , Wu Qing , Wang Dongfa , Liu Mingli , Zhou Shaoli , Yang Liling , He Liangliang , Liu Yu , He Chengzhong , Chen Jianghua , Liu Jin
Published: July 2023

Edible Macadamia is one of the most important commercial nut trees cultivated in many countries, but its large tree size and long juvenile period pose barriers to commercial cultivation. The short domestication period and well-annotated genome of Macadamia integrifolia create great opportunities to breed commercial varieties with superior traits. Recent studies have shown that members of the phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein (PEBP) family play pivotal roles in regulating plant architecture and flowering time in various plants. In this study, thirteen members of MiPEBP were identified in the genome of M. integrifolia, and they are highly similarity in both motif and gene structure. A phylogenetic analysis divided the MiPEBP genes into three subfamilies: MFT-like, FT-like and TFL1-like. We subsequently identified two TERMINAL FLOWER 1 homologues from the TFL1-like subfamily, MiTFL1 and MiTFL1-like, both of which were highly expressed in stems and vegetative shoots, while MiTFL1-like was highly expressed in young leaves and early flowers. A subcellular location analysis revealed that both MiTFL1 and MiTFL1-like are localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. The ectopic expression of MiTFL1 can rescue the early-flowering and terminal-flower phenotypes in the tfl1–14 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana, and it indicates the conserved functions in controlling the inflorescence architecture and flowering time. This study will provide insight into the isolation of PEBP family members and the key targets for breeding M. integrifolia with improved traits in plant architecture and flowering time.
Classification of Camellia oleifera Diseases in Complex Environments by Attention and Multi-Dimensional Feature Fusion Neural Network
Authors: Chen Yixin , Wang Xiyun , Chen Zhibo , Wang Kang , Sun Ye , Jiang Jiarong , Liu Xuhao
Published: July 2023

The use of neural networks for plant disease identification is a hot topic of current research. However, unlike the classification of ordinary objects, the features of plant diseases frequently vary, resulting in substantial intra-class variation; in addition, the complex environmental noise makes it more challenging for the model to categorize the diseases. In this paper, an attention and multidimensional feature fusion neural network (AMDFNet) is proposed for Camellia oleifera disease classification network based on multidimensional feature fusion and attentional mechanism, which improves the classification ability of the model by fusing features to each layer of the Inception structure and enhancing the fused features with attentional enhancement. The model was compared with the classical convolutional neural networks GoogLeNet, Inception V3, ResNet50, and DenseNet121 and the latest disease image classification network DICNN in a self-built camellia disease dataset. The experimental results show that the recognition accuracy of the new model reaches 86.78% under the same experimental conditions, which is 2.3% higher than that of GoogLeNet with a simple Inception structure, and the number of parameters is reduced to one-fourth compared to large models such as ResNet50. The method proposed in this paper can be run on mobile with higher identification accuracy and a smaller model parameter number.
A Genomic Evaluation of Six Selected Inbred Lines of the Naturalized Plants of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertn.) in Korea
Authors: Shim Jeehyoung , Hong Su Young , Han Jae-Hyuk , Yu Yeisoo , Yoo Eunae , Sung Jungsook , Chin Joong Hyoun , Lee O New
Published: July 2023

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) belongs to the Asteraceae family and is a medicinal plant native to the Mediterranean Basin. Silymarin in achene is a widely used herbal product for chronic liver disease. There is growing interest in natural medicine using milk thistle in Korea, but the raw material completely relies on imports. Despite its economic importance, phenotypic evaluations of native resources of milk thistle in Korea have not been carried out. In addition, genomic research and molecular marker development are very limited in milk thistle. In this study, we evaluated 220 milk thistle resources consisting of 172 accessions collected from the domestic market, and 48 accessions isolated from 6 accessions distributed by the National Agrobiodiversity Center in Korea. Six plant characteristics (height, seed weight, number of flowers, seed weight per flower, spine length, and color at harvest) were measured, and six samples (M01–M06) were selected to represent the genetic diversity of the population for genomic research. To develop PCR-based and co-dominant insertion/deletion (InDel) markers, we performed genome-wide InDel detection by comparing the whole-genome resequencing data of the six selected accessions with the reference genome sequence (GCA_001541825). As a result, 177 InDel markers with high distinguishability and reproducibility were selected from the 30,845 InDel variants. Unknowingly imported alien plant resources could easily be genetically mixed, and jeopardized seed purity can cause continuous difficulties in the development of high value-added agricultural platforms utilizing natural products. The selected plant materials and 177 validated InDel markers developed via whole-genome resequencing analysis could be valuable resources for breeding, conservation, and ecological studies of natives to Korea, along with acceleration of Silybum marianum industrialization.