bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blood Leukocyte ROS Production Reflects Seminal Fluid Oxidative Stress and Spermatozoa Dysfunction in Idiopathic Infertile Men
Authors: Becatti Matteo , Cito Gianmartin , Argento Flavia Rita , Fini Eleonora , Bettiol Alessandra , Borghi Serena , Mannucci Amanda , Fucci Rossella , Giachini Claudia , Picone Rita , Emmi Giacomo , Taddei Niccolò , Coccia Maria Elisabetta , Fiorillo Claudia
Published: February 2023

A large proportion of infertile men do not receive a clear diagnosis, being considered as idiopathic or unexplained cases due to infertility diagnosis based on standard semen parameters. Particularly in unexplained cases, the search for new indicators seems mandatory to provide specific information. In the etiopathogenesis of male infertility oxidative stress displays important roles by negatively affecting sperm quality and function. In this study, performed in a population of 34 idiopathic infertile men and in 52 age-matched controls, redox parameters were assessed in blood, leukocytes, spermatozoa, and seminal fluid and related to semen parameters. The main findings indicate that blood oxidative stress markers reflect seminal oxidative stress. Interestingly, blood leukocyte ROS production was significantly correlated to sperm ROS production and to semen parameters. Overall, these results suggest the potential employ of blood redox markers as a relevant and adjunctive tool for sperm quality evaluation aimed to preconception care.
Analysis of the Seismic Performance of a Masonry Structure with RC Frames on the First Story with Concrete-Filled Steel Tubular Dampers
Authors: Yang Youfa , Li Feihu , Wang Feiyu
Published: February 2023

The concrete shear walls of masonry structures with RC frames on the first story are low-rise shear walls with a height–width ratio of less than 1. The strength, stiffness, and ductility of these low-rise shear walls are not matched, resulting in poor seismic performance. Based on the idea of the passive control theory and multi-seismic defensive lines, the scheme of a masonry structure with RC frames on the first story with a concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) dampers is proposed in this paper. To explore the seismic mitigation effect of CFST dampers applied to a masonry structure with RC frames on the first story, the seismic performance under low-reversed cyclic loading of the frame with the CFST dampers is first compared with that of the energy-dissipated low-rise concrete shear wall proposed by previous researchers and the ordinary low-rise concrete shear wall. Furthermore, the response of the masonry structure model with RC frames on the first story with CFST dampers and two other comparative structural models under earthquake action are discussed. The results show that a masonry structure with RC frames on the first story with CFST dampers has a fuller hysteretic loop, lighter pinching, better energy dissipation ability, and better seismic performance. Compared with the other two structures, the energy dissipation capacity of the masonry structure with RC frames on the first story with CFST dampers is significantly improved, by 1.25~1.5 times. The amplification effect of the deformation angle allows the CFST dampers to play a significant role in energy dissipation, whereas the main structure still undergoes a small deformation. The CFST dampers can dissipate more seismic energy to protect the main structure from damage and improve the seismic performance of masonry structures with RC frames on the first story.
Study on the Mechanical Properties and Durability of Hydraulic Lime Mortars Based on Limestone and Potassium Feldspar
Authors: Zhang Shaoyun , Sun Manli , Guo Qinglin , Zhao Linyi , Li Zhipeng
Published: February 2023

Natural hydraulic lime (NHL) can be used as an inorganic cementitious material, as it exhibits low shrinkage, salt-alkali resistance, moderate strength, and good durability with cultural relics. There has been increasing interest in NHL, as it is considered an appropriate material for the restoration and reinforcement of architectural cultural relics. In this study, limestone and potassium feldspar were mixed and calcined at different ratios and high temperatures, and artificial hydraulic lime (HL) was produced. According to the X-ray diffraction (XRD) results, the resulting products after high-temperature calcination were mainly composed of calcium oxide, dicalcium silicate (C2S), and dicalcium aluminosilicate (C2AS). As a compromise, when potassium feldspar accounted for 30% of the total mass, HL contains a more suitable air-hardening component and hydraulic component. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) analyses show that the phases of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and hydrated calcium silicate (C-S-H) gradually increased with prolonged curing time for HL. To study the partial mechanical properties and durability of HL, a comparison was made with NHL. The mechanical properties were investigated with the flexural and compressive strengths and shrinkage. The results show that HL has higher strength than NHL, but NHL has smaller shrinkage. Accelerated aging tests indicated that HL and NHL5 led to higher resistance to water immersion, fluctuations in temperature and humidity, sulphate decay, an alkali environment, and frost–thaw action than NHL2. HL has excellent mechanical properties and durability and can be considered a conservation material for stone relics in the future.
Quality Improvement of Green Saba Banana Flour Steamed Cake
Authors: Lee Jau-Shya , Yusoff NurDiyana , Ho Ai Ling , Siew Chee Kiong , Akanda Jahurul Haque , Tan Wan Xin
Published: February 2023

Gluten avoidance is becoming a popular diet trend around the world. In this study, green Saba banana flour (GSBF) was used to produce a gluten-free (GF) steamed cake. The effects of soy protein isolate (SPI) (0%, 10%, 15%) and Ovalette (0%, 3.5%, 7%) on the quality of the cake were investigated. Physicochemical properties of the flours were measured. The viscosity and specific gravity of the batters; as well as the specific volume, weight loss and texture profile of the resulting cakes were determined. Sensory evaluation was performed to compare the acceptance of the cake formulations. The macronutrient and resistant starch content of the cakes were determined. The use of an appropriate level of SPI and Ovalette was found to effectively enhance the aeration of the cake batter and improved the specific volume and weight loss of the cake. The presence of Ovalette was essential to soften the texture of the cake. GF cake supplemented with 10% SPI and 3.5% Ovalette obtained the highest sensorial acceptance. The nutritional quality of this sample was significantly improved, whereby it contained higher protein than the gluten-containing counterpart. GSBF also contributed to the high dietary fiber and resistant starch content of the cake.
Low-Level Video Features as Predictors of Consumer Engagement in Multimedia Advertisement
Authors: Aslan Oğuz Evin , Košir Andrej , Strle Gregor , Burnik Urban
Published: February 2023

The article addresses modelling of consumer engagement in video advertising based on automatically derived low-level video features. The focus is on a young consumer group (18–24 years old) that uses ad-supported online streaming more than any other group. The reference ground truth for consumer engagement was collected in an online crowdsourcing study (N = 150 participants) using the User Engagement Scale-Short Form (UES-SF). Several aspects of consumer engagement were modeled: focused attention, aesthetic appeal, perceived usability, and reward. The contribution of low-level video features was assessed using both the linear and nonlinear models. The best predictions were obtained for the UES-SF dimension Aesthetic Appeal (R2=0.35) using a nonlinear model. Overall, the results show that several video features are statistically significant in predicting consumer engagement with an ad. We have identified linear relations with Lighting Key and quadratic relations with Color Variance and Motion features (p<0.02). However, their explained variance is relatively low (up to 25%).
Clinical Applications for Dentistry and Oral Health
Authors: Gandini Paola , Scribante Andrea
Published: February 2023

In the last few years, dentistry has expanded the scope of its research and increased its cooperation with other disciplines [...]
Biogenic Nanomagnetic Carriers Derived from Magnetotactic Bacteria: Magnetic Parameters of Magnetosomes Inside Magnetospirillum spp.
Authors: Ryzhov Vyacheslav , Deriglazov Vladimir , Grouzdev Denis , Koziaeva Veronika , Kiselev Igor , Larionov Ivan , Gareev Kamil , Sitkov Nikita , Zimina Tatiana , Marchenko Yaroslav , Shevtsov Maxim
Published: February 2023

Magnetic parameters of magnetosomes inside the bacteria of MSR-1, LBB-42, AMB-1, SP-1, BB-1, and SO-1 strains of the genus Magnetospirillum fixed by 5% formalin in the nutrient medium were estimated by measurements of the nonlinear longitudinal response to a weak ac magnetic field (NLR-M2) at room temperature. For the BB-1, MSR-1, and AMB-1 strains, the measurements of the electron magnetic resonance (EMR) spectra with the special X-band spectrometer for wide-line registration were also carried out. To trace the evolution of the magnetic state of the magnetosomes during the long-term storage, freshly prepared samples (“new”) and samples after a year of storage at 4 °C (“old”) were studied. The assessment of the state of the bacteria ensemble in the medium after the long-term storage was carried out for one typical strain (BB-1) using atomic force microscopy. The stable single-domain state of magnetic centers in the magnetosomes indicating their proximity to a superparamagnetic (SPM) regime was found at the scan frequency 0.02 Hz of the steady magnetic field. This allowed a semi-quantitative analysis of M2 data to be carried out with the formalism based on the numerical solution of the kinetic Fokker–Planck equation for SPM particles. Processing the NLR-M2 data demonstrated the presence of two kinds of magnetosomes in both the “new” and “old” samples: (i) those with the large magnetic moment (the “heavy”, monodisperse mode) and (ii) those with the comparatively small magnetic moment (the “light”, highly dispersed mode). The EMR spectra were formed mostly by the “heavy” fraction for both samples. The presence of two peaks in the spectra evidenced the presence of conventional uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in the magnetosomes. The appearance of one or two additional peaks in the spectra in the “old” fraction of some strains implied their instability at the long-term storage, even when fixed by formalin and sealed in the nitrogen atmosphere.
A Low-Cost Sensorized Vehicle for In-Field Crop Phenotyping
Authors: Antonucci Francesca , Costa Corrado , Figorilli Simone , Ortenzi Luciano , Manganiello Rossella , Santangelo Enrico , Gierz Łukasz , Pallottino Federico
Published: February 2023

The development of high-throughput field phenotyping, which uses modern detection technologies and advanced data processing algorithms, could increase productivity and make in-field phenotypic evaluation more efficient by collecting large amounts of data with no or minimal human assistance. Moreover, high-throughput plant phenotyping systems are also very effective in selecting crops and characterizing germplasm for drought tolerance and disease resistance by using spectral sensor data in combination with machine learning. In this study, an affordable high-throughput phenotyping platform (phenomobile) aims to obtain solutions at reasonable prices for all the components that make up it and the many data collected. The goal of the practical innovation in field phenotyping is to implement high-performance precision phenotyping under real-world conditions at accessible costs, making real-time data analysis techniques more user-friendly. This work aims to test the ability of a phenotyping prototype system constituted by an electric phenomobile integrated with a MAIA multispectral camera for real in-field plant characterization. This was done by acquiring spectral signatures of F1 hybrid Elisir (Olter Sementi) tomato plants and calculating their vegetation indexes. This work allowed to collect, in real time, a great number of field data about, for example, the morphological traits of crops, plant physiological activities, plant diseases, fruit maturity, and plant water stress.
Image Interpolation Based on Spiking Neural Network Model
Authors: İncetaş Mürsel Ozan
Published: February 2023

Image interpolation is used in many areas of image processing. It is seen that many techniques developed to date have been successful in both protecting edges and increasing image quality. However, these techniques generally detect edges with gradient-based linear calculations. In this study, spiking neural networks (SNNs), which are known to successfully simulate the human visual system (HVS), are used to detect edge pixels instead of the gradient. With the help of the proposed SNN-based model, the pixels marked as edges are interpolated with a 1D directional filter. For the remaining pixels, the standard bicubic interpolation technique is used. Additionally, the success of the proposed method is compared to known methods using various metrics. The experimental results show that the proposed method is more successful than the other methods.
Geographic Variations in Human Mobility Patterns during the First Six Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic in California
Authors: Li Kenan , Eckel Sandrah P. , Garcia Erika , Chen Zhanghua , Wilson John P. , Gilliland Frank D.
Published: February 2023

Human mobility influenced the spread of the COVID-19 virus, as revealed by the high spatiotemporal granularity location service data gathered from smart devices. We conducted time series clustering analysis to delineate the relationships between human mobility patterns (HMPs) and their social determinants in California (CA) using aggregated smart device tracking data from SafeGraph. We first identified four types of temporal patterns for five human mobility indicator changes by applying dynamic-time-warping self-organizing map clustering methods. We then performed an analysis of variance and linear discriminant analysis on the HMPs with 17 social, economic, and demographic variables. Asians, children under five, adults over 65, and individuals living below the poverty line were found to be among the top contributors to the HMPs, including the HMP with a significant increase in the median home dwelling time and the HMP with emerging weekly patterns in full-time and part-time work devices. Our findings show that the CA shelter-in-place policy had varying impacts on HMPs, with socially disadvantaged places showing less compliance. The HMPs may help practitioners to anticipate the efficacy of non-pharmaceutical interventions on cases and deaths in pandemics.
Uncertainty Analysis of Remote Sensing Underlying Surface in Land–Atmosphere Interaction Simulated Using Land Surface Models
Authors: Ling Xiaolu , Gao Hao , Gao Jian , Liu Wenhao , Tang Zeyu
Published: February 2023

This paper reports a comparative experiment using remote sensing underlying surface data (ESACCI) and Community Land Model underlying surface data (CLM_LS) to analyze the uncertainty of land surface types in land–atmosphere interaction. The results showed that the global distribution of ESACCI cropland is larger than that of CLM_LS, and there is a great degree of difference in some regions, which can reach more than 50% regionally. Furthermore, the changes of the underlying surface conditions can be transmitted to the model results through the data itself, resulting in the uncertainty of the surface energy balance, surface micro-meteorological elements, and surface water balance simulated by the model, which further affects the climate simulation effect.
Identification of Chaotic Dynamics in Jerky-Based Systems by Recurrent Wavelet First-Order Neural Networks with a Morlet Wavelet Activation Function
Authors: Magallón-García Daniel Alejandro , Ontanon-Garcia Luis Javier , García-López Juan Hugo , Huerta-Cuéllar Guillermo , Soubervielle-Montalvo Carlos
Published: February 2023

Considering that chaotic systems are immersed in multiple areas of science and nature and that their dynamics are governed by a great sensitivity to the initial conditions and variations in their parameters, it is of great interest for the scientific community to have tools to characterize and reproduce these trajectories. Two dynamic chaotic systems whose equations are based on the jerky system are used as benchmarks, i.e., the Memristive Shaking Chaotic System (MSCS) and the Unstable Dissipative System of type I (UDSI). One characteristic common to them is their simple mathematical structure and the complexity of their solutions. Therefore, this paper presents a strategy for identifying chaotic trajectories using a recurrent wavelet first-order neural network (RWFONN) that is trained online with an error filtering algorithm and considering the Morlet-wavelet as an activation function. The parameters of the network are adjusted considering the Euclidean distance between the solutions. Finally, the results depict proper identification of the chaotic systems studied through analysis and numerical simulation to validate the behavior and functionality of the proposed network.
A Novel Strategy to Enhance Antioxidant Content in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Based on Oxygen Pressure
Authors: Cui Na , Perré Patrick , Michiels Emilie , Pozzobon Victor
Published: February 2023

Antioxidant foods represent a potent lever to improve diets while creating value. Yet, their cultivation is often tied to a specific area and climate, limiting availability and increasing market cost. Therefore, microorganism-based antioxidant production emerges as a promising technology to solve these problems. In this view, a novel process was investigated for antioxidant accumulation in yeast culture. S. cerevisiae cells were exposed to various hyperbaric air conditions from 1 to 9 bar (A). Yeast cultures exhibited an increased reactive oxygen species content, which induced oxidative defense expression. After a few hours, reactive oxygen species levels decreased while antioxidant contents remained high, leading to a net increase in antioxidant power. At 6 bar (A), yeast achieved the highest net antioxidant power (phenolics content +48.3 ± 18.6 %, reducing power +120 ± 11.4 %) with an acceptable growth rate (0.27 h−1). Regarding time evolution, a 2 h exposure seems to be the optimum: cells have the lowest reactive oxygen species level while their antioxidant power is increased. From a biotechnological perspective, this finding highlights air pressure as an antioxidant-manipulating stress strategy. Moreover, the proposed process led to a patent that could potentially reduce energy and chemical consumption in such antioxidant accumulation processes.
Adverse Pathology after Radical Prostatectomy of Patients Eligible for Active Surveillance—A Summary 7 Years after Introducing mpMRI-Guided Biopsy in a Real-World Setting
Authors: Ebner Benedikt , Apfelbeck Maria , Pyrgidis Nikolaos , Nellessen Tobias , Ledderose Stephan , Pfitzinger Paulo Leonardo , Volz Yannic , Berg Elena , Enzinger Benazir , Rodler Severin , Atzler Michael , Ivanova Troya , Clevert Dirk-André , Stief Christian Georg , Chaloupka Michael
Published: February 2023

Objective: Over the last decade, active surveillance (AS) of low-risk prostate cancer has been increasing. The mpMRI fusion-guided biopsy of the prostate (FBx) is considered to be the gold standard in preoperative risk stratification. However, the role of FBx remains unclear in terms of risk stratification of low-risk prostate cancer outside high-volume centers. The aim of this study was to evaluate adverse pathology after radical prostatectomy (RP) in a real-world setting, focusing on patients diagnosed with Gleason score (GS) 6 prostate cancer (PCa) and eligible for AS by FBx. Subjects and Methods: Between March 2015 and March 2022, 1297 patients underwent FBx at the Department of Urology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany. MpMRI for FBx was performed by 111 different radiology centers. FBx was performed by 14 urologists from our department with different levels of experience. In total, 997/1297 (77%) patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer; 492/997 (49%) of these patients decided to undergo RP in our clinic and were retrospectively included. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate clinical and histopathological parameters associated with adverse pathology comparing FBx and RP specimens. To compare FBx and systematic randomized biopsies performed in our clinic before introducing FBx (SBx, n = 2309), we performed a propensity score matching on a 1:1 ratio, adjusting for age, number of positive biopsy cores, and initial PSA (iPSA). Results: A total of 492 patients undergoing FBx or SBx was matched. In total, 55% of patients diagnosed with GS 6 by FBx were upgraded to clinically significant PCa (defined as GS ≥ 7a) after RP, compared to 52% of patients diagnosed by SBx (p = 0.76). A time delay between FBx and RP was identified as the only correlate associated with upgrading. A total of 5.9% of all FBx patients and 6.1% of all SBx patients would have been eligible for AS (p > 0.99) but decided to undergo RP. The positive predictive value of AS eligibility (diagnosis of low-risk PCa after biopsy and after RP) was 17% for FBx and 6.7% for SBx (p = 0.39). Conclusions: In this study, we show, in a real-world setting, that introducing FBx did not lead to significant change in ratio of adverse pathology for low-risk PCa patients after RP compared to SBx.
Central Apneic Event Prevalence in REM and NREM Sleep in OSA Patients: A Retrospective, Exploratory Study
Authors: Ludwig Katharina , Malatantis-Ewert Sebastian , Huppertz Tilman , Bahr-Hamm Katharina , Seifen Christopher , Pordzik Johannes , Matthias Christoph , Simon Perikles , Gouveris Haralampos
Published: February 2023

Patients with sleep-disordered breathing show a combination of different respiratory events (central, obstructive, mixed), with one type being predominant. We observed a reduced prevalence of central apneic events (CAEs) during REM sleep compared to NREM sleep in patients with predominant obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The aim of this retrospective, exploratory study was to describe this finding and to suggest pathophysiological explanations. The polysomnography (PSG) data of 141 OSA patients were assessed for the prevalence of CAEs during REM and NREM sleep. On the basis of the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), patients were divided into three OSA severity groups (mild: AHI < 15/h; moderate: AHI = 15–30/h; severe: AHI > 30/h). We compared the frequency of CAEs adjusted for the relative length of REM and NREM sleep time, and a significantly increased frequency of CAEs in NREM was found only in severely affected OSA patients. Given that the emergence of CAEs is strongly associated with the chemosensitivity of the brainstem nuclei regulating breathing mechanics in humans, a sleep-stage-dependent chemosensitivity is proposed. REM-sleep-associated neuronal circuits in humans may act protectively against the emergence of CAEs, possibly by reducing chemosensitivity. On the contrary, a significant increase in the chemosensitivity of the brainstem nuclei during NREM sleep is suggested.
Molecular Approaches for Detection of Trichoderma Green Mold Disease in Edible Mushroom Production
Authors: Šašić Zorić Ljiljana , Janjušević Ljiljana , Djisalov Mila , Knežić Teodora , Vunduk Jovana , Milenković Ivanka , Gadjanski Ivana
Published: February 2023

Due to the evident aggressive nature of green mold and the consequently huge economic damage it causes for producers of edible mushrooms, there is an urgent need for prevention and infection control measures, which should be based on the early detection of various Trichoderma spp. as green mold causative agents. The most promising current diagnostic tools are based on molecular methods, although additional optimization for real-time, in-field detection is still required. In the first part of this review, we briefly discuss cultivation-based methods and continue with the secondary metabolite-based methods. Furthermore, we present an overview of the commonly used molecular methods for Trichoderma species/strain detection. Additionally, we also comment on the potential of genomic approaches for green mold detection. In the last part, we discuss fast screening molecular methods for the early detection of Trichoderma infestation with the potential for in-field, point-of-need (PON) application, focusing on isothermal amplification methods. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives in Trichoderma diagnostics are summarized in the conclusions.
HAMP as a Potential Diagnostic, PD-(L)1 Immunotherapy Sensitivity and Prognostic Biomarker in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Guoming , Zhang Cheng , Li Danyun , Luo Dongqiang , Liao Hui , Huang Peizhen , Wang Ning , Feng Yibin
Published: February 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a global medical problem. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) is a powerful weapon against many cancers, but it is not sensitive to some patients with HCC. We obtained datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database on HCC patients and PD-1 immunotherapy to select seven intersecting DEGs. Through Lasso regression, two intersecting genes were acquired as predictors of HCC and PD-1 treatment prognosis, including HAMP and FOS. Logistic regression was performed to build a prediction model. HAMP had a better ability to diagnose HCC and predict PD1 treatment sensitivity. Further, we adapted the support vector machine (SVM) technique using HAMP to predict triple-classified outcomes after PD1 treatment in HCC patients, which had an excellent classification ability. We also performed external validation using TCGA data, which showed that HAMP was elevated in the early stage of HCC. HAMP was positively correlated with the infiltration of 18 major immune cells and the expression of 2 important immune checkpoints, PDCD1 and CTLA4. We discovered a biomarker that can be used for the early diagnosis, prognosis and PD1 immunotherapy efficacy prediction of HCC for the first time and developed a diagnostic model, prognostic model and prediction model of PD1 treatment sensitivity and treatment outcome for HCC patients accordingly.
The Role of α-Synuclein in the Regulation of Serotonin System: Physiological and Pathological Features
Authors: Miquel-Rio Lluis , Sarriés-Serrano Unai , Pavia-Collado Rubén , Meana J Javier , Bortolozzi Analia
Published: February 2023

In patients affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD), up to 50% of them experience cognitive changes, and psychiatric disturbances, such as anxiety and depression, often precede the onset of motor symptoms and have a negative impact on their quality of life. Pathologically, PD is characterized by the loss of dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and the presence of intracellular inclusions, called Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, composed mostly of α-synuclein (α-Syn). Much of PD research has focused on the role of α-Syn aggregates in the degeneration of SNc DA neurons due to the impact of striatal DA deficits on classical motor phenotypes. However, abundant Lewy pathology is also found in other brain regions including the midbrain raphe nuclei, which may contribute to non-motor symptoms. Indeed, dysfunction of the serotonergic (5-HT) system, which regulates mood and emotional pathways, occurs during the premotor phase of PD. However, little is known about the functional consequences of α-Syn inclusions in this neuronal population other than DA neurons. Here, we provide an overview of the current knowledge of α-Syn and its role in regulating the 5-HT function in health and disease. Understanding the relative contributions to α-Syn-linked alterations in the 5-HT system may provide a basis for identifying PD patients at risk for developing depression and could lead to a more targeted therapeutic approach.
Exploring the Phospholipid Transport Mechanism of ATP8A1-CDC50
Authors: Zhang Honghui , Zhang Yue , Xu Peiyi , Bai Chen
Published: February 2023

P4-ATPase translocates lipids from the exoplasmic to the cytosolic plasma membrane leaflet to maintain lipid asymmetry distribution in eukaryotic cells. P4-ATPase is associated with severe neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases such as neurological and motor disorders. Thus, it is important to understand its transport mechanism. However, even with progress in X-ray diffraction and cryo-electron microscopy techniques, it is difficult to obtain the dynamic information of the phospholipid transport process in detail. There are still some problems required to be resolved: (1) when does the lipid transport happen? (2) How do the key residues on the transmembrane helices contribute to the free energy of important states? In this work, we explore the phospholipid transport mechanism using a coarse-grained model and binding free energy calculations. We obtained the free energy landscape by coupling the protein conformational changes and the phospholipid transport event, taking ATP8A1-CDC50 (the typical subtype of P4-ATPase) as the research object. According to the results, we found that the phospholipid would bind to the ATP8A1-CDC50 at the early stage when ATP8A1-CDC50 changes from E2P to E2Pi-PL state. We also found that the electrostatic effects play crucial roles in the phospholipid transport process. The information obtained from this work could help us in designing novel drugs for P-type flippase disorders.
Autopsies Revealed Pathological Features of COVID-19 in Unvaccinated vs. Vaccinated Patients
Authors: Colombo Daniele , Del Nonno Franca , Marchioni Luisa , Lalle Eleonora , Gallì Paola , Vaia Francesco , Falasca Laura
Published: February 2023

Background: In Italy, by the end of 2021, a new pandemic wave led to increased hospitalizations and death, even in some vaccinated people. We aimed to investigate the death of COVID-19-vaccinated patients who acquired infection and developed severe disease, and to assess differences with fatal COVID-19 in unvaccinated subjects by studying the pathological events triggered by SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Detailed autoptic examination was performed on five fully vaccinated compared to five unvaccinated patients. Histopathological analysis focused on the lung and heart, the two major affected organs. Results: COVID-19 caused, or contributed to death, in all the unvaccinated cases. By contrast, in vaccinated group, pre-existing pathologies played a major role, and death was not COVID-19-related in four out of five patients. These patients did not show the histological features of SARS-CoV-2 lung damage. Diffuse inflammatory macrophages infiltration recently emerged as the main feature of COVID-19 cardiac injury. Interestingly, the most striking difference between the two groups was the absence of increased macrophage infiltration in the heart of vaccinated patients. Conclusions: Results of this study confirm the efficacy of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in protecting organs from injury and support the need to maintain an adequate immune response by booster dose administration.
Genetic Programming by Nitric Oxide-Sensing Gene Switch System in Tumor-Targeting Bacteria
Authors: Qin Yeshan , You Sung-Hwan , Zhang Ying , Venu Akhil , Hong Yeongjin , Min Jung-Joon
Published: February 2023

Recent progress in synthetic biology has enabled bacteria to respond to specific disease signals to perform diagnostic and/or therapeutic tasks. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) colonization of tumors results in increases in nitric oxide (NO) levels, suggesting that NO may act as a candidate inducer of tumor-specific gene expression. The present study describes a NO-sensing gene switch system for triggering tumor-specific gene expression in an attenuated strain of S. Typhimurium. The genetic circuit was designed to sense NO via NorR, thus initiating the expression of FimE DNA recombinase. This was found to lead sequentially to the unidirectional inversion of a promoter region (fimS), which induced the expression of target genes. Target gene expression in bacteria transformed with the NO-sensing switch system was triggered in the presence of a chemical source of NO, diethylenetriamine/nitric oxide (DETA/NO) in vitro. In vivo results revealed that the gene expression is tumor-targeted, and specific to NO generated by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) after S. Typhimurium colonization. These results showed that NO was a promising inducer to finely tune the expression of target genes carried by tumor-targeting bacteria.
Near-Field Communication Tag for Colorimetric Glutathione Determination with a Paper-Based Microfluidic Device
Authors: Ortiz-Gómez Inmaculada , Rivadeneyra Almudena , Salmerón José F. , Orbe-Payá Ignacio de , Morales Diego P. , Capitán-Vallvey Luis Fermín , Salinas-Castillo Alfonso
Published: February 2023

Here, we propose a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µPAD) implemented with a near-field communication (NFC) tag as a portable, simple and fast colorimetric method for glutathione (GSH) determination. The proposed method was based on the fact that Ag+ could oxidize 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) into oxidized blue TMB. Thus, the presence of GSH could cause the reduction of oxidized TMB, which resulted in a blue color fading. Based on this finding, we developed a method for the colorimetric determination of GSH using a smartphone. A µPAD implemented with the NFC tag allowed the harvesting of energy from a smartphone to activate the LED that allows the capture of a photograph of the µPAD by the smartphone. The integration between electronic interfaces into the hardware of digital image capture served as a means for quantitation. Importantly, this new method shows a low detection limit of 1.0 µM. Therefore, the most important features of this non-enzymatic method are high sensitivity and a simple, fast, portable and low-cost determination of GSH in just 20 min using a colorimetric signal.
MRI Tracking of Marine Proliferating Cells In Vivo Using Anti-Oct4 Antibody-Conjugated Iron Nanoparticles for Precision in Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Baghban Neda , Khoradmehr Arezoo , Afshar Alireza , Jafari Nazanin , Zendehboudi Tuba , Rasekh Poorya , Abolfathi Leila Gholamian , Barmak Alireza , Mohebbi Gholamhossein , Akmaral Baspakova , Askerovich Kaliyev Asset , Maratovich Mussin Nadiar , Azari Hossein , Assadi Majid , Nabipour Iraj , Tamadon Amin
Published: February 2023

Marine invertebrates are multicellular organisms consisting of a wide range of marine environmental species. Unlike vertebrates, including humans, one of the challenges in identifying and tracking invertebrate stem cells is the lack of a specific marker. Labeling stem cells with magnetic particles provides a non-invasive, in vivo tracking method using MRI. This study suggests antibody-conjugated iron nanoparticles (NPs), which are detectable with MRI for in vivo tracking, to detect stem cell proliferation using the Oct4 receptor as a marker of stem cells. In the first phase, iron NPs were fabricated, and their successful synthesis was confirmed using FTIR spectroscopy. Next, the Alexa Fluor anti-Oct4 antibody was conjugated with as-synthesized NPs. Their affinity to the cell surface marker in fresh and saltwater conditions was confirmed using two types of cells, murine mesenchymal stromal/stem cell culture and sea anemone stem cells. For this purpose, 106 cells of each type were exposed to NP-conjugated antibodies and their affinity to antibodies was confirmed by an epi-fluorescent microscope. The presence of iron-NPs imaged with the light microscope was confirmed by iron staining using Prussian blue stain. Next, anti-Oct4 antibodies conjugated with iron NPs were injected into a brittle star, and proliferating cells were tracked by MRI. To sum up, anti-Oct4 antibodies conjugated with iron NPs not only have the potential for identifying proliferating stem cells in different cell culture conditions of sea anemone and mouse cell cultures but also has the potential to be used for in vivo MRI tracking of marine proliferating cells.
Progress and Trends of Optical Microfiber-Based Biosensors
Authors: Mustapha Kamil Yasmin , Abu Bakar Muhammad Hafiz , Zainuddin Nurul Hida , Yaacob Mohd Hanif , Mahdi Mohd Adzir
Published: February 2023

Biosensors are central to diagnostic and medicinal applications, especially in terms of monitoring, managing illness, and public health. Microfiber-based biosensors are known to be capable of measuring both the presence and behavior of biological molecules in a highly sensitive manner. In addition, the flexibility of microfiber in supporting a variety of sensing layer designs and the integration of nanomaterials with biorecognition molecules brings immense opportunity for specificity enhancement. This review paper aims to discuss and explore different microfiber configurations by highlighting their fundamental concepts, fabrication processes, and performance as biosensors.
Depression in Major Neurodegenerative Diseases and Strokes: A Critical Review of Similarities and Differences among Neurological Disorders
Authors: Pagonabarraga Javier , Álamo Cecilio , Castellanos Mar , Díaz Samuel , Manzano Sagrario
Published: February 2023

Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent in most neurological disorders and can have a major impact on the patient’s disability and quality of life. However, mostly due to the heterogeneity of symptoms and the complexity of the underlying comorbidities, depression can be difficult to diagnose, resulting in limited recognition and in undertreatment. The early detection and treatment of depression simultaneously with the neurological disorder is key to avoiding deterioration and further disability. Although the neurologist should be able to identify and treat depression initially, a neuropsychiatry team should be available for severe cases and those who are unresponsive to treatment. Neurologists should be also aware that in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, different depression symptoms could develop at different stages of the disease. The treatment options for depression in neurological diseases include drugs, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and somatic interventions, among others, but often, the evidence-based efficacy is limited and the results are highly variable. Here, we review recent research on the diagnosis and treatment of depression in the context of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and strokes, with the aim of identifying common approaches and solutions for its initial management by the neurologist.
Gender Specificities in Sleep Disturbances following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Martens Géraldine , Khosravi Mohammad Hossein , Lejeune Nicolas , Kaux Jean-François , Thibaut Aurore
Published: February 2023

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), or concussion, can lead to persistent cognitive and functional symptoms that impede quality of life to a varying extent. This condition is referred to as post-concussive syndrome (PCS). Sleep disturbances are part of it but their distribution among different genders remains scarcely investigated. This pilot cross-sectional anonymous web-based survey interviewed volunteer 18–55 years old participants with a recent (i.e., less than 5 years) reported history of mTBI. Questionnaires related to persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS; Rivermead post-concussion symptoms questionnaire), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) were administered as part of the survey. Ninety-one participants’ responses were analysed (61 female; 30 male); 43% of them suffered from post-concussive syndrome, 60% reported poor sleep quality and 34% experienced excessive daytime sleepiness. The proportion of PPCS was significantly higher in female participants as compared to males (female: 57%; male: 13%; Fisher’s exact test p < 0.001). Excessive daytime sleepiness was also significantly more present in females (female: 44%; male: 13%; p < 0.001) whereas poor sleep quality was present in similar proportions between females and males (female: 66%; male: 50%; p = 0.176). Even though based on a relatively small sample, these findings highlight important gender differences that should be accounted for in PPCS medical care and management.
An Examination of the Relationships between Psychological Resilience, Organizational Ostracism, and Burnout in K–12 Teachers through Structural Equation Modelling
Authors: Polat Hakan , Karakose Turgut , Ozdemir Tuncay Yavuz , Tülübaş Tijen , Yirci Ramazan , Demirkol Murat
Published: February 2023

Psychological resilience, burnout, and ostracism are significant variables that may affect teachers’ performance and well-being. While psychological resilience is the ability of individuals to cope with the challenges of life/work and could support teachers in performing their profession, burnout (i.e., high levels of emotional exhaustion and desensitization) and ostracism (i.e., being ignored by others in the workplace) could lead to serious negative outcomes for both teachers and the educational system. Despite their significance, studies addressing the relationships between these variables are rare. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationships between teachers’ psychological resilience, burnout, and organizational ostracism. The study used structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypothetical relationships between these variables. The participants were selected using a simple random sampling method among K–12 teachers working in Elazig, Turkey. The data were collected using Psychological Resilience Scale—Short Form, Organizational Ostracism Scale, and Burnout Syndrome Inventory—Short Form. Data obtained from 309 K–12 teachers were analyzed using path analysis. The findings showed that teachers’ psychological resilience was quite low, whilst they experienced high levels of burnout and organizational ostracism. The results also showed a negative relationship between their psychological resilience and organizational ostracism and burnout while determining a positive relationship between ostracism and burnout. Psychological resilience was determined to have a moderating role in the relationship between organizational ostracism and burnout. Implications were suggested for both research and practice.
The Entrepreneur’s Multiple Identities Dynamic Interaction and Strategic Entrepreneurial Behavior: A Case Study Based on Grounded Theory
Authors: Yin Qing , Liu Gang
Published: February 2023

Family firms face many uncertainties in a dynamic entrepreneurial context. Previous studies have shown strategic entrepreneurship can help firms effectively cope with uncertainties. There are few studies on how family-firm entrepreneurs make strategic decisions and engage in strategic entrepreneurial behavior. This may prevent managers lacking the necessary action guidelines from effectively implementing entrepreneurial behavior. we aim to explore the micro-behavioral mechanisms of strategic entrepreneurship in family firms. A longitudinal single case study based on grounded theory was conducted to explore these issues. Results show that (i) the entrepreneur’s identity will constantly evolve to adapt to the entrepreneurial context during the life cycle of the corporation; (ii) entrepreneurs influence strategic entrepreneurial activities through the dynamic evolution and interaction of their identities; (iii) different entrepreneurial emotional states affect the strategic entrepreneurial behavior mechanisms. As a result, dynamic interactions between entrepreneurial identities have a significant impact on emotional states such as entrepreneurial well-being, which may significantly affect the implementation pattern of strategic entrepreneurial behaviors and the sustainable development of the firm. This paper provides a novel theoretical perspective on the path and behavioral choices of strategic entrepreneurship in firms, and also provides action guidelines and theoretical references for family business managers to implement strategic entrepreneurial behavior.
Symbolic Regression Model for Predicting Compression Strength of Prismatic Masonry Columns Confined by FRP
Authors: Alotaibi Khalid Saqer , Islam A. B. M. Saiful
Published: February 2023

The use of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials for the external confinement of existing concrete or masonry members is now an established technical solution. Several studies in the scientific literature show how FRP wrapping can improve the mechanical properties of members. Though there are numerous methods for determining the compressive strength of FRP confined concrete, no generalized formulae are available because of the greater complexity and heterogeneity of FRP-confined masonry. There are two main objectives in this analytical study: (a) proposing an entirely new mathematical expression to estimate the compressive strength of FRP confined masonry columns using symbolic regression model approach which can outperform traditional regression models, and (b) evaluating existing formulas. Over 198 tests of FRP wrapped masonry were compiled in a database and used to train the model. Several formulations from the published literature and international guidelines have been compared against experimental data. It is observed that the proposed symbolic regression model shows excellent performance compared to the existing models. The model is easier, has no restriction and thereby it can be feasibly employed to foresee the behavior of FRP confined masonry elements. The coefficient of determination for the proposed symbolic regression model is determined as 0.91.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Eco-Friendly, Ambient-Cured, Geopolymer-Based Bricks Using Industrial By-Products
Authors: Sruthi Subramani , Gayathri Venkataraman
Published: February 2023

Geopolymer-based sustainable red mud bricks (SRMBs) were cast using industrial by-products under ambient curing. The ingredients used were red mud, fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag and alccofine, along with quarry dust and alkali activators as binders. This paper briefly presents the characterization, strength and durability studies conducted on SRMBs. The optimization techniques were used to fix the right mix proportions. The optimized mix proportion was identified as R45F40G10A05: 45% red mud, 40% fly ash, 10% ground granulated blast furnace slag and 5% alccofine. The compressive, flexural and split tensile strength of the ambient-cured specimens after 28 days were observed as 35.38 MPa, 6.4 MPa and 1.67 MPa, respectively. The results were analysed and validated by the finite element method using Analysis of Systems (ANSYS) software. The percentage of water absorption in the SRMBs was less than 6%, and it was an entirely efflorescence-free product with a pleasing appearance and colour. Fifty percent of the targeted compressive strength was acquired after three days of ambient curing. SRMBs are a green product casted by encapsulating industrial by-products into a functional building element. Thus, SRMBs are a suitable and alternative product to conventional clay burnt bricks.