bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Addressing Uncertainty in Informal Familial Caregivers of Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Meta-Ethnography
Authors: Ponzini Gabriella T. , Kirk Brenna , Segear Sarah E. , Claydon Elizabeth A. , Engler-Chiurazzi Elizabeth B. , Steinman Shari A.
Published: September 2022

Background: Informal familial caregivers of stroke survivors experience uncertainty that begins at the time of the stroke event and continues into home-based care. The uncertainty faced by caregivers contributes to poor mental and physical health outcomes. Objective: This review details the factors associated with, impacts of, and coping skills used to manage uncertainty across the caregiving trajectory. By defining uncertainty reduction and tolerance recommendations, this review also builds upon the Stroke Caregiver Readiness Model to improve preparedness following the stroke event. Methods: A meta-ethnographic review was systematically conducted on thirteen qualitative studies with 218 participants from four countries. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) was used to assess study quality. Results: Following the stroke event, caregivers reported a lack of knowing (e.g., about the cause of the stroke event and survivor prognoses) as contributing to post-stroke uncertainty. As a result of this uncertainty, caregivers expressed concerns about their abilities to navigate caregiving responsibilities and how to plan for the future. Longer-term concerns (e.g., managing finances) and feelings of hopelessness occurred after discharge. Still, caregivers identified strategies to manage uncertainty. Caregiver coping skills included present-focused thinking, gratitude, faith, humor, and social support. Conclusions: The uncertainty faced by informal familial caregivers of stroke survivors is pervasive and changes across time. Uncertainty reduction and tolerance interventions can be used to build upon caregiver strengths and promote preparedness across the caregiving trajectory.
Aerobic Capacity and Restitution Efficiency Level in Relation to the Training Experience and Weekly Training Volume of Male and Female Judo National Team Members in the Cadet Age Group (U18) during the Preparatory Period
Authors: Prokopczyk Adam , Sokołowski Marek
Published: September 2022

This study aims to analyze the relationship between the level of aerobic capacity and post-exercise restitution during the preparation period, with training experience and weekly training volume. All (12) athletes (six women; six men) participating in the training camp of the Polish national judo team in the cadet age group were tested. The Maximal Multistage 20-m Shuttle Run Test was used to investigate the level of aerobic capacity, and the Klonowicz coefficient of restitution (COR) 3 min after exercise (COR 3′) and 5 min after exercise (COR 5′) was used to determine the level of post-exercise restitution efficiency. The results showed that higher training experience significantly affected the deterioration of COR 3′ in female athletes and improved the results in the capacity test of male athletes. Female and male athletes with a higher weekly training volume had a higher HR at the end of the performance test. Considering the demonstrated correlations, special attention should be paid to matching the loads in training programs to the age of the athletes, introducing into training programs the teaching of body management during fatigue. Failing to adjust this may make participation impossible in competitions at the international level for older age groups.
Impact of IoT on Achieving Smart Primary Healthcare Building Facilities in Gauteng, South Africa
Authors: Gambo Nuru , Musonda Innocent
Published: September 2022

Processes and services undertaken in smart primary healthcare building facilities capture operational data through advanced monitoring and enable experts to use these building facilities for efficient healthcare service delivery. This study assessed the impact of Internet of Things (IoT) services on achieving efficient primary healthcare in the rural areas of South Africa. The study identified three (3) basic constructs of IoT services. They include IoT location recognition and tracking services, the application of the IoT high-speed communication network-based services, and the application of IoT-based services. The study is quantitative, and a questionnaire was used to collect data from the project managers and healthcare practitioners working with the primary healthcare agency in South Africa. The study found a variable degree of impact between the three (3) IoT constructs and the successful development of primary healthcare building facility services in South Africa. The study recommends adopting IoT essential services for achieving efficient primary healthcare services in the rural areas of South Africa and other developing countries facing similar primary healthcare delivery challenges.
Factors Affecting Green Purchase Intention: A Perspective of Ethical Decision Making
Authors: Tian Ziyuan , Sun Xixiang , Wang Jianguo , Su Weihuan , Li Gen
Published: September 2022

Environmental protection issues are closely related to moral factors, but little research has explored the factors affecting green purchase intention from the aspect of morality. Based on a perspective of ethical decision making, this study investigates the impacts of perceived quality and perceived price on moral intensity and moral judgment, through the moderation of products’ green degree, as well as the impacts of moral intensity and moral judgment on green purchase intention. Research data was collected through a questionnaire survey of 368 consumers in China, and analyzed using a hierarchical linear model. The empirical results reveal that moral intensity and moral judgment significantly promoted green purchase intention. Perceived quality and perceived price both positively affected moral intensity and moral judgment. Products’ green degree positively moderated the relationship between perceived price and moral judgment as well as the relationship between perceived quality and moral judgment. This study provides a new insight into promoting green purchase intention, and the findings may also assist marketers in developing future tactics to increase consumers’ green purchase intention.
Mental Health Patient-Reported Outcomes and Experiences Assessment in Portugal
Authors: Coelho Anabela , de Bienassis Katherine , Klazinga Niek , Santo Susan , Frade Patrícia , Costa Andreia , Gaspar Tânia
Published: September 2022

Mental ill-health is increasingly recognized by policymakers for its significant human and economic toll. The main objective of this study is to capture patient-reported outcomes and experiences on mental health care in Portugal using methods developed for international benchmarking purposes, such as the OECD Patient-reported Indicators Surveys. The study included 397 participants, 247 (62.2%) women, divided into four age groups: ages 16–24 years, ages 25–44 years, ages 45–65 years, and ages 66 years or older. The data collection procedure and analysis followed the OECD PaRIS Mental Health Working Group 2021 protocol allowing subsequent comparability with data from other OECD member countries. Findings on the WHO-5 Well-Being Index showed that women manifest a lower score in well-being following mental health care services use. This finding may be, at least in part, explained by the study population (mental health services users), including individuals with clinical depression which is more frequently observed in women. In terms of the level of satisfaction with treatment (provided by nurses, doctors, phycologists, etc.) the response “Yes, definitely” varied from 67% of answers regarding “time spent by care providers”, 76.3% “involvement in decisions” to 79.7% regarding “clarity of explanations” and 84.4% regarding the item courtesy and respect. This study shows the feasibility of implementing and using patient-reported metrics (PROM and PREM) in mental health services in Portugal. The study results generate useful clinical information to help meet the expectations and needs of patients, contributing to a continuous improvement of mental health community services.
Are Spanish Surveys Ready to Detect the Social Factors of Obesity?
Authors: Díaz-Méndez Cecilia , Otero-Estévez Sonia , Sánchez-Sánchez Sandra
Published: September 2022

The social origins of obesity are now recognised: a problem that is initially biological is today a public health problem with a social origin. This paper raises the question of whether the official statistical sources used to understand changes in diet are able to detect this shift in analysis. After reviewing the social factors that explain obesity, we examine the official Spanish statistics that can inform about dietary changes: the ENS National Health Survey, the EPF Family Budget Survey, and the EET Time Use Survey, all carried out by the Spanish Statistical Office. All of them include socio-demographic variables and some locational variables. However, the lack of health variables in the economic survey and the lack of social variables in the health survey prevent the gathering of reliable scientific evidence to offer solid support in stopping the obesity epidemic. Food has become particularly important as one of the main areas where unhealthy decisions and choices involve high risk; the situation also demonstrates the relationship between social inequality and obesity. Obesity is now understood in a radically different way and the origin of the problem lies in social and cultural factors. The current surveys do not provide the resources to capture the social causality of obesity, but slight modifications would help expand their capabilities and offer reliable scientific evidence to stop the obesity epidemic.
Spatio-Temporal Sentiment Mining of COVID-19 Arabic Social Media
Authors: Elsaka Tarek , Afyouni Imad , Hashem Ibrahim , Al Aghbari Zaher
Published: September 2022

Since the recent outbreak of COVID-19, many scientists have started working on distinct challenges related to mining the available large datasets from social media as an effective asset to understand people’s responses to the pandemic. This study presents a comprehensive social data mining approach to provide in-depth insights related to the COVID-19 pandemic and applied to the Arabic language. We first developed a technique to infer geospatial information from non-geotagged Arabic tweets. Secondly, a sentiment analysis mechanism at various levels of spatial granularities and separate topic scales is introduced. We applied sentiment-based classifications at various location resolutions (regions/countries) and separate topic abstraction levels (subtopics and main topics). In addition, a correlation-based analysis of Arabic tweets and the official health providers’ data will be presented. Moreover, we implemented several mechanisms of topic-based analysis using occurrence-based and statistical correlation approaches. Finally, we conducted a set of experiments and visualized our results based on a combined geo-social dataset, official health records, and lockdown data worldwide. Our results show that the total percentage of location-enabled tweets has increased from 2% to 46% (about 2.5M tweets). A positive correlation between top topics (lockdown and vaccine) and the COVID-19 new cases has also been recorded, while negative feelings of Arab Twitter users were generally raised during this pandemic, on topics related to lockdown, closure, and law enforcement.
Spatial Interaction Analysis of Shared Bicycles Mobility Regularity and Determinants: A Case Study of Six Main Districts, Beijing
Authors: Hu Lujin , Wen Zheng , Wang Jian , Hu Jing
Published: September 2022

Understanding the regularity and determinants of mobility is indispensable for the reasonable deployment of shared bicycles and urban planning. A spatial interaction network covering streets in Beijing’s six main districts, using bike sharing data, is constructed and analyzed. as Additionally, the exponential random graph model (ERGM) is used to interpret the influencing factors of the network structure and the mobility regularity. The characteristics of the spatial interaction network structure and temporal characteristics between weekdays and weekends show the following: the network structure on weekdays is obvious; the flow edge is always between adjacent blocks; the traffic flow frequently changes and clusters; the network structure on weekends is more complex, showing scattering and seldom changing; and there is a stronger interaction between blocks. Additionally, the predicted result of the ERGM shows that the influencing factors selected in this paper are positively correlated with the spatial interaction network. Among them, the three most important determinants are building density, housing prices and the number of residential areas. Additionally, the determinant of financial services shows greater effects on weekdays than weekends.
Early Detection of Suspicious Behaviors for Safe Residence from Movement Trajectory Data
Authors: Cheng Junyi , Zhang Xianfeng , Chen Xiao , Ren Miao , Huang Jie , Luo Peng
Published: September 2022

Early detection of people’s suspicious behaviors can aid in the prevention of crimes and make the community safer. Existing methods that are focused on identifying abnormal behaviors from video surveillance that are based on computer vision, which are more suitable for detecting ongoing behaviors. While criminals intend to avoid abnormal behaviors under surveillance, their suspicious behaviors prior to crimes will be unconsciously reflected in the trajectories. Herein, we characterize several suspicious behaviors from unusual movement patterns, unusual behaviors, and unusual gatherings of people, and analyze their features that are hidden in the trajectory data. Meanwhile, the algorithms for suspicious behavior detection are proposed based on the main features of the corresponding behavior, which employ spatiotemporal clustering, semantic annotation, outlier detection, and other methods. A practical trajectory dataset (i.e., TucityLife) containing more than 1000 suspicious behaviors was collected, and experiments were conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results indicate that the proposed method for suspicious behavior detection has a recall of 93.5% and a precision of 87.6%, demonstrating its excellent performance in identifying the possible offenders and potential target places. The proposed methods are valuable for preventing city crime and supporting the appropriate allocation of police resources.
The GEM-GECO Calcium Indicator Is Useable in Ogataea parapolymorpha Yeast, but Aggravates Effects of Increased Cytosolic Calcium Levels
Authors: Kulakova Maria V. , Karginov Azamat V. , Alexandrov Alexander I. , Agaphonov Michael O.
Published: September 2022

Ca2+ is a ubiquitous second messenger, which allows eukaryotic cells to respond to external stimuli. The use of genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators allows real-time monitoring of cytosolic Ca2+ levels to study such responses. Here we explored the possibility of using the ratiometric Ca2+ indicator GEM-GECO for monitoring cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) in the yeast Ogataea parapolymorpha. High-level production of GEM-GECO led to a severe growth defect in cells lacking the vacuolar Ca2+ ATPase Pmc1, which is involved in [Ca2+]cyt control, and prompted a phenotype resembling that of Pmc1 deficiency, in a strain with wild-type PMC1. This was likely due to the presence of the calmodulin domain in GEM-GECO. In contrast to previous studies of genetically-encoded calcium indicators in neuronal cells, our results suggest that physiological effects of GEM-GECO expression in yeast cells are due not to Ca2+ depletion, but to excessive Ca2+ signaling. Despite these drawbacks, study of fluorescence in individual cells revealed switching of GEM-GECO from the Ca2+-free to Ca2+-bound state minutes after external addition of CaCl2. This was followed by gradual return of GEM-GECO to a Ca2+-free-state that was impaired in the pmc1-Δ mutant. These results demonstrate GEM-GECO usability for [Ca2+]cyt monitoring in budding yeast.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the NAC Gene Family in Alfalfa Revealed Its Potential Roles in Response to Multiple Abiotic Stresses
Authors: He Fei , Zhang Lixia , Zhao Guoqing , Kang Junmei , Long Ruicai , Li Mingna , Yang Qingchuan , Chen Lin
Published: September 2022

NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factors compose one of the largest families of plant-specific transcription factors; they are widely involved in plant growth and development and have especially important roles in improving stress resistance in plants. However, NAC gene family members in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) have not been systematically identified and analyzed genome-wide due to the complexity of the alfalfa reference genome. In this study, a total of 421 M. sativa NAC genes (MsNACs) were identified from the alfalfa “Xinjiangdaye” reference genome. Basic bioinformatics analysis, including characterization of sequence length, protein molecular weight and genome position and conserved motif analysis, was conducted. Expression analysis showed that 47 MsNACs had tissue-specific expression, and 64 MsNACs were expressed in all tissues. The transcriptomic profiles of the genes were very different, indicating that these MsNACs have various functions in alfalfa growth and development. We identified 25, 42 and 47 MsNACs that respond to cold, drought and salt stress based on transcriptome data analysis and real-time quantitative PCR (RT–qPCR). Furthermore, 22 MsNACs were found to respond to both salt and drought stress, and 15 MsNACs were found to respond to cold, salt and drought stress. The results of this study could provide valuable information for further functional analysis of MsNACs and for the improvement of stress resistance in alfalfa.
Phenotypic and Transcriptional Changes of Pulmonary Immune Responses in Dogs Following Canine Distemper Virus Infection
Authors: Chludzinski Elisa , Klemens Johanna , Ciurkiewicz Małgorzata , Geffers Robert , Pöpperl Pauline , Stoff Melanie , Shin Dai-Lun , Herrler Georg , Beineke Andreas
Published: September 2022

Canine distemper virus (CDV), a morbillivirus within the family Paramyxoviridae, is a highly contagious infectious agent causing a multisystemic, devastating disease in a broad range of host species, characterized by severe immunosuppression, encephalitis and pneumonia. The present study aimed at investigating pulmonary immune responses of CDV-infected dogs in situ using immunohistochemistry and whole transcriptome analyses by bulk RNA sequencing. Spatiotemporal analysis of phenotypic changes revealed pulmonary immune responses primarily driven by MHC-II+, Iba-1+ and CD204+ innate immune cells during acute and subacute infection phases, which paralleled pathologic lesion development and coincided with high viral loads in CDV-infected lungs. CD20+ B cell numbers initially declined, followed by lymphoid repopulation in the advanced disease phase. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated an increased expression of transcripts related to innate immunity, antiviral defense mechanisms, type I interferon responses and regulation of cell death in the lung of CDV-infected dogs. Molecular analyses also revealed disturbed cytokine responses with a pro-inflammatory M1 macrophage polarization and impaired mucociliary defense in CDV-infected lungs. The exploratory study provides detailed data on CDV-related pulmonary immune responses, expanding the list of immunologic parameters potentially leading to viral elimination and virus-induced pulmonary immunopathology in canine distemper.
Protective Effects of Flavonoids against Alzheimer’s Disease: Pathological Hypothesis, Potential Targets, and Structure–Activity Relationship
Authors: Li Jiao , Sun Min , Cui Xiaodong , Li Chen
Published: September 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with high morbidity and mortality, for which there is no available cure. Currently, it is generally believed that AD is a disease caused by multiple factors, such as amyloid-beta accumulation, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Multitarget prevention and treatment strategies for AD are recommended. Interestingly, naturally occurring dietary flavonoids, a class of polyphenols, have been reported to have multiple biological activities and anti-AD effects in several AD models owing to their antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-amyloidogenic properties. In this review, we summarize and discuss the existing multiple pathogenic factors of AD. Moreover, we further elaborate on the biological activities of natural flavonoids and their potential mode of action and targets in managing AD by presenting a wide range of experimental evidence. The gathered data indicate that flavonoids can be regarded as prophylactics to slow the advancement of AD or avert its onset. Different flavonoids have different activities and varying levels of activity. Further, this review summarizes the structure–activity relationship of flavonoids based on the existing literature and can provide guidance on the design and selection of flavonoids as anti-AD drugs.
Immunomodulatory Mechanisms of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Potential Clinical Applications
Authors: Huang Yutong , Wu Qiang , Tam Paul Kwong Hang
Published: September 2022

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells with the capacity of self-renewal, homing, and low immunogenicity. These distinct biological characteristics have already shown immense potential in regenerative medicine. MSCs also possess immunomodulatory properties that can maintain immune homeostasis when the immune response is over-activated or under-activated. The secretome of MSCs consists of cytokines, chemokines, signaling molecules, and growth factors, which effectively contribute to the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses. The immunomodulatory effects of MSCs can also be achieved through direct cell contact with microenvironmental factors and immune cells. Furthermore, preconditioned and engineered MSCs can specifically improve the immunomodulation effects in diverse clinical applications. These multifunctional properties of MSCs enable them to be used as a prospective therapeutic strategy to treat immune disorders, including autoimmune diseases and incurable inflammatory diseases. Here we review the recent exploration of immunomodulatory mechanisms of MSCs and briefly discuss the promotion of the genetically engineered MSCs. Additionally, we review the potential clinical applications of MSC-mediated immunomodulation in four types of immune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn’s disease, graft-versus-host disease, and COVID-19.
PTPN2 in the Immunity and Tumor Immunotherapy: A Concise Review
Authors: Song Jiachun , Lan Jinxin , Tang Jiaping , Luo Na
Published: September 2022

PTPN2 (protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor 2), also called TCPTP (T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase), is a member of the PTP family signaling proteins. Phosphotyrosine-based signaling of this non-transmembrane protein is essential for regulating cell growth, development, differentiation, survival, and migration. In particular, PTPN2 received researchers’ attention when Manguso et al. identified PTPN2 as a cancer immunotherapy target using in vivo CRISPR library screening. In this review, we attempt to summarize the important functions of PTPN2 in terms of its structural and functional properties, inflammatory reactions, immunomodulatory properties, and tumor immunity. PTPN2 exerts synergistic anti-inflammatory effects in various inflammatory cells and regulates the developmental differentiation of immune cells. The diversity of PTPN2 effects in different types of tumors makes it a potential target for tumor immunotherapy.
Interactions between the Polysialylated Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule and the Transient Receptor Potential Canonical Channels 1, 4, and 5 Induce Entry of Ca2+ into Neurons
Authors: Amores-Bonet Laura , Kleene Ralf , Theis Thomas , Schachner Melitta
Published: September 2022

The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) plays important functional roles in the developing and mature nervous systems. Here, we show that the transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) ion channels TRPC1, −4, and −5 not only interact with the intracellular domains of the transmembrane isoforms NCAM140 and NCAM180, but also with the glycan polysialic acid (PSA) covalently attached to the NCAM protein backbone. NCAM antibody treatment leads to the opening of TRPC1, −4, and −5 hetero- or homomers at the plasma membrane and to the influx of Ca2+ into cultured cortical neurons and CHO cells expressing NCAM, PSA, and TRPC1 and −4 or TRPC1 and −5. NCAM-stimulated Ca2+ entry was blocked by the TRPC inhibitor Pico145 or the bacterial PSA homolog colominic acid. NCAM-stimulated Ca2+ influx was detectable neither in NCAM-deficient cortical neurons nor in TRPC1/4- or TRPC1/5-expressing CHO cells that express NCAM, but not PSA. NCAM-induced neurite outgrowth was reduced by TRPC inhibitors and a function-blocking TRPC1 antibody. A characteristic signaling feature was that extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation was also reduced by TRPC inhibitors. Our findings indicate that the interaction of NCAM with TRPC1, −4, and −5 contributes to the NCAM-stimulated and PSA-dependent Ca2+ entry into neurons thereby influencing essential neural functions.
Revealing the Therapeutic Targets and Mechanism of Ginsenoside Rg1 for Liver Damage Related to Anti-Oxidative Stress Using Proteomic Analysis
Authors: Hou Jiying , Ma Ruoxiang , Zhu Shisheng , Wang Yaping
Published: September 2022

Ginsenoside Rg1 is an important active substance isolated from the root of ginseng. In previous studies, Rg1 has shown excellent therapeutic effects in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic modulation. However, the therapeutic targets of Rg1 are still unknown. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of Rg1 on oxidative stress-related liver damage. The oxidative stress damage model was achieved by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose (D-gal) for 42 consecutive days in C57BL/6J mice. Rg1 treatment started on Day 16. Body weight, liver weight, degree of hepatic oxidative stress damage, serum lipid levels, and hepatic lipid and glucose metabolism were measured. Proteomics analysis was used to measure liver protein expression. The differential expression proteins were analyzed with bioinformatics. The results showed that Rg1 treatment attenuated liver damage from oxidative stress, reduced hepatic fat accumulation, promoted hepatic glycogen synthesis, and attenuated peripheral blood low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol (CHO), and triglycerides (TG) levels. Proteomic analysis suggested that Rg1 may regulate hepatocyte metabolism through ECM–Receptor, the PI3K-AKT pathway. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) may be the key protein. In conclusion, this study provides an experimental basis for further clarifying the specific mechanism of Rg1 in the treatment of oxidative stress damage-related liver disease.
Irrigation with Magnetized Water Alleviates the Harmful Effect of Saline–Alkaline Stress on Rice Seedlings
Authors: Ma Changkun , Li Qian , Song Zhaoxin , Su Lijun , Tao Wanghai , Zhou Beibei , Wang Quanjiu
Published: September 2022

Saline–alkaline stress suppresses rice growth and threatens crop production. Despite substantial research on rice’s tolerance to saline–alkaline stress, fewer studies have examined the impact of magnetic water treatments on saline–alkaline-stressed rice plants. We explored the physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in saline–alkaline stress tolerance enhancement via irrigation with magnetized water using Nipponbare. The growth of Nipponbare plants was inhibited by saline–alkaline stress, but this inhibition was alleviated by irrigating the plants with magnetized water, as evidenced by greater plant height, biomass, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rates, and root system in plants irrigated with magnetized water compared to those irrigated with non-magnetized water. Plants that were irrigated with magnetized water were able to acquire more total nitrogen. In addition, we proved that rice seedlings irrigated with magnetized water had a greater root NO3−-nitrogen concentration and root NH4+-nitrogen concentration than plants irrigated with non-magnetized water. These findings suggest that treatment with magnetized water could increase nitrogen uptake. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the expression levels of genes involved in nitrogen acquisition. The expression levels of OsNRT1;1, OsNRT1;2, OsNRT2;1, OsAMT1;2, OsAMT2;1, OsAMT2;2, OsAMT2;3, OsAMT3;1, OsAMT3;2, and OsAMT3;3 were higher in plants exposed to magnetized water medium compared to those exposed to non-magnetized water media. We further demonstrated that treatment with magnetized water increases available nitrogen, NO3−-nitrogen content, and NH4+-nitrogen content in soil under saline–alkaline stress. Our results revealed that the increased resistance of rice seedlings to saline–alkaline stress may be attributable to a very effective nitrogen acquisition system enhanced by magnetized water.
Genome-Wide Analysis of the SPL Gene Family and Expression Analysis during Flowering Induction in Prunus × yedoensis ‘Somei-yoshino’
Authors: Gao Lan , Lyu Tong , Lyu Yingmin
Published: September 2022

SQUAMOSA Promoter-Binding Protein-Like (SPL) genes encode plant-specific transcription factors which bind to the SQUAMOSA promoter of the MADS-box genes to regulate its expression. It plays important regulatory roles in floral induction and development, fertility, light signals and hormonal transduction, and stress response in plants. In this study, 32 PySPL genes with complete SBP (squamosa promoter binding protein) conserved domain were identified from the genome of Prunus × yedoensis ‘Somei-yoshino’ and analyzed by bioinformatics. 32 PySPLs were distributed on 13 chromosomes, encoding 32 PySPL proteins with different physical and chemical properties. The phylogenetic tree constructed with Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa can be divided into 10 subtribes, indicating PySPLs of different clusters have different biological functions. The conserved motif prediction showed that the number and distribution of motifs on each PySPL is varied. The gene structure analysis revealed that PySPLs harbored exons ranging from 2 to 10. The predictive analysis of acting elements showed that the promoter of PySPLs contain a large number of light-responsive elements, as well as response elements related to hormone response, growth and development and stress response. The analysis of the PySPLs expressions in flower induction and flower organs based on qRT-PCR showed that PySPL06/22 may be the key genes of flower development, PySPL01/06 and PySPL22 may play a role in the development of sepal and pistil, respectively. The results provide a foundation for the study of SPL transcription factors of Prunus × yedoensis ‘Somei-yoshino’ and provide more reference information of the function of SPL gene in flowering.
Antioxidant and Antibacterial Effects of Potential Probiotics Isolated from Korean Fermented Foods
Authors: Sathiyaseelan Anbazhagan , Saravanakumar Kandasamy , Han Kiseok , Naveen Kumar Vishven , Wang Myeong-Hyeon
Published: September 2022

A total of sixteen bacterial strains were isolated and identified from the fourteen types of Korean fermented foods that were evaluated for their in vitro probiotic potentials. The results showed the highest survivability for Bacillus sp. compared to Lactobacillus sp. in simulated gastric pH, and it was found to be maximum for B. inaquosorum KNUAS016 (8.25 ± 0.08 log10 CFU/mL) and minimum for L. sakei KNUAS019 (0.8 ± 0.02 log10 CFU/mL) at 3 h of incubation. Furthermore, B. inaquosorum KNUAS016 and L. brevis KNUAS017 also had the highest survival rates of 6.86 ± 0.02 and 5.37 ± 0.01 log10 CFU/mL, respectively, in a simulated intestinal fluid condition at 4 h of incubation. The percentage of autoaggregation at 6 h for L. sakei KNUAS019 (66.55 ± 0.33%), B. tequilensis KNUAS015 (64.56 ± 0.14%), and B. inaquosorum KNUAS016 (61.63 ± 0.19%) was >60%, whereas it was lower for L. brevis KNUAS017 (29.98 ± 0.09%). Additionally, B. subtilis KNUAS003 showed higher coaggregation at 63.84 ± 0.19% while B. proteolyticus KNUAS001 found at 30.02 ± 0.33%. Among them, Lactobacillus sp. showed the best non-hemolytic activity. The highest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity was observed in L. sakei KNUAS019 (58.25% and 71.88%). The cell-free supernatant of Lactobacillus sp. considerably inhibited pathogenic growth, while the cell-free supernatant of Bacillus sp. was moderately inhibited when incubated for 24 h. However, the overall results found that B. subtilis KNUAS003, B. proteolyticus KNUAS012, L. brevis KNUAS017, L. graminis KNUAS018, and L. sakei KNUAS019 were recognized as potential probiotics through different functional and toxicity assessments.
3D Lung Tissue Models for Studies on SARS-CoV-2 Pathophysiology and Therapeutics
Authors: Plebani Roberto , Bai Haiqing , Si Longlong , Li Jing , Zhang Chunhe , Romano Mario
Published: September 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has provoked more than six million deaths worldwide and continues to pose a major threat to global health. Enormous efforts have been made by researchers around the world to elucidate COVID-19 pathophysiology, design efficacious therapy and develop new vaccines to control the pandemic. To this end, experimental models are essential. While animal models and conventional cell cultures have been widely utilized during these research endeavors, they often do not adequately reflect the human responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, models that emulate with high fidelity the SARS-CoV-2 infection in human organs are needed for discovering new antiviral drugs and vaccines against COVID-19. Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures, such as lung organoids and bioengineered organs-on-chips, are emerging as crucial tools for research on respiratory diseases. The lung airway, small airway and alveolus organ chips have been successfully used for studies on lung response to infection by various pathogens, including corona and influenza A viruses. In this review, we provide an overview of these new tools and their use in studies on COVID-19 pathogenesis and drug testing. We also discuss the limitations of the existing models and indicate some improvements for their use in research against COVID-19 as well as future emerging epidemics.
Associating Air Pollution with Cytokinesis-Block Micronucleus Assay Parameters in Lymphocytes of the General Population in Zagreb (Croatia)
Authors: Gajski Goran , Gerić Marko , Pehnec Gordana , Matković Katarina , Rinkovec Jasmina , Jakovljević Ivana , Godec Ranka , Žužul Silva , Bešlić Ivan , Cvitković Ante , Wild Pascal , Guseva Canu Irina , Hopf Nancy B.
Published: September 2022

Air pollution is recognized as one of the most serious public health issues worldwide and was declared to be a leading environmental cause of cancer deaths. At the same time, the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay serves as a cancer predictive method that is extensively used in human biomonitoring for populations exposed to environmental contamination. The objective of this cross-sectional study is two-fold: to evaluate genomic instability in a sample (N = 130) of healthy, general population residents from Zagreb (Croatia), chronically exposed to different levels of air pollution, and to relate them to air pollution levels in the period from 2011 to 2015. Measured frequencies of CBMN assay parameters were in agreement with the baseline data for the general population of Croatia. Air pollution exposure was based on four factors obtained from a factor analysis of all exposure data obtained for the examined period. Based on the statistical results, we did not observe a significant positive association between any of the CBMN assay parameters tested and measured air pollution parameters for designated time windows, except for benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P) that showed significant negative association. Our results show that measured air pollution parameters are largely below the regulatory limits, except for B[a]P, and as such, they do not affect CBMN assay parameters’ frequency. Nevertheless, as air pollution is identified as a major health threat, it is necessary to conduct prospective studies investigating the effect of air pollution on genome integrity and human health.
Synthetic Secoisolariciresinol Diglucoside (LGM2605) Prevents Asbestos-Induced Inflammation and Genotoxic Cell Damage in Human Mesothelial Cells
Authors: Pietrofesa Ralph A. , Chatterjee Shampa , Kadariya Yuwaraj , Testa Joseph R. , Albelda Steven M. , Christofidou-Solomidou Melpo
Published: September 2022

Although alveolar macrophages play a critical role in malignant transformation of mesothelial cells following asbestos exposure, inflammatory and oxidative processes continue to occur in the mesothelial cells lining the pleura that may contribute to the carcinogenic process. Malignant transformation of mesothelial cells following asbestos exposure occurs over several decades; however, amelioration of DNA damage, inflammation, and cell injury may impede the carcinogenic process. We have shown in an in vitro model of asbestos-induced macrophage activation that synthetic secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (LGM2605), given preventively, reduced inflammatory cascades and oxidative/nitrosative cell damage. Therefore, it was hypothesized that LGM2605 could also be effective in reducing asbestos-induced activation and the damage of pleural mesothelial cells. LGM2605 treatment (50 µM) of huma n pleural mesothelial cells was initiated 4 h prior to exposure to asbestos (crocidolite, 20 µg/cm2). Supernatant and cells were evaluated at 0, 2, 4, and 8 h post asbestos exposure for reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, DNA damage (oxidized guanine), inflammasome activation (caspase-1 activity) and associated pro-inflammatory cytokine release (IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, TNFα, and HMGB1), and markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2a (8-iso-PGF2α). Asbestos induced a time-dependent ROS increase that was significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced (29.4%) by LGM2605 treatment. LGM2605 pretreatment also reduced levels of asbestos-induced DNA damage by 73.6% ± 1.0%. Although levels of inflammasome-activated cytokines, IL-1β and IL-18, reached 29.2 pg/mL ± 0.7 pg/mL and 43.9 pg/mL ± 0.8 pg/mL, respectively, LGM2605 treatment significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced cytokine levels comparable to baseline (non-asbestos exposed) values (3.8 pg/mL ± 0.2 pg/mL and 5.4 pg/mL ± 0.2 pg/mL, respectively). Furthermore, levels of IL-6 and TNFα in asbestos-exposed mesothelial cells were high (289.1 pg/mL ± 2.9 pg/mL and 511.3 pg/mL ± 10.2 pg/mL, respectively), while remaining undetectable with LGM2605 pretreatment. HMGB1 (a key inflammatory mediator and initiator of malignant transformation) release was reduced 75.3% ± 0.4% by LGM2605. Levels of MDA and 8-iso-PGF2α, markers of oxidative cell injury, were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced by 80.5% ± 0.1% and 76.6% ± 0.3%, respectively. LGM2605, given preventively, reduced ROS generation, DNA damage, and inflammasome-activated cytokine release and key inflammatory mediators implicated in asbestos-induced malignant transformation of normal mesothelial cells.
Peroxisome-Mediated Reactive Oxygen Species Signals Modulate Programmed Cell Death in Plants
Authors: Huang Lichao , Liu Yijing , Wang Xiaqin , Jiang Cheng , Zhao Yanqiu , Lu Mengzhu , Zhang Jin
Published: September 2022

Peroxisomes are a class of simple organelles that play an important role in plant reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. Experimental evidence reveals the involvement of ROS in programmed cell death (PCD) in plants. Plant PCD is crucial for the regulation of plant growth, development and environmental stress resistance. However, it is unclear whether the ROS originated from peroxisomes participated in cellular PCD. Enzymes involved in the peroxisomal ROS metabolic pathways are key mediators to figure out the relationship between peroxisome-derived ROS and PCD. Here, we summarize the peroxisomal ROS generation and scavenging pathways and explain how peroxisome-derived ROS participate in PCD based on recent progress in the functional study of enzymes related to peroxisomal ROS generation or scavenging. We aimed to elucidate the role of the peroxisomal ROS regulatory system in cellular PCD to show its potential in terms of accurate PCD regulation, which contribute to environmental stress resistance.
Structural Design and Finite Element Simulation Analysis of Grade 3 Graded Porous Titanium Implant
Authors: Liu Bowen , Xu Wei , Chen Mingying , Chen Dongdong , Sun Guyu , Zhang Ce , Pan Yu , Lu Jinchao , Guo Enbo , Lu Xin
Published: September 2022

The metal titanium is often used as a dental implant material, and the elastic modulus of solid titanium implants does not match the biological bone tissue, which can easily produce a stress shielding effect and cause implant failure. In this paper, a three-level gradient porous structure implant was designed, and its mechanical and biological adaptability were studied by finite element simulation analysis. Combined with the comprehensive evaluation of the mechanical and biological properties of implants of various structures, the analysis found that a porous implant with porosity of 59.86% of the gradient was the best structure. The maximum equivalent stress of this structure in the mandible that simulated the oral environment was 154.34 MPa, which was less than half of its theoretical compression yield strength. The strain of the surrounding bone tissue lies in the bone compared with other structures, the proportion of the active state of plastic construction is larger, at 10.51%, and the fretting value of this structure and the bone tissue interface is the smallest, at only 10 μm.
Effect of Delta and Omicron Mutations on the RBD-SD1 Domain of the Spike Protein in SARS-CoV-2 and the Omicron Mutations on RBD-ACE2 Interface Complex
Authors: Ching Wai-Yim , Adhikari Puja , Jawad Bahaa , Podgornik Rudolf
Published: September 2022

The receptor-binding domain (RBD) is the essential part in the Spike-protein (S-protein) of SARS-CoV-2 virus that directly binds to the human ACE2 receptor, making it a key target for many vaccines and therapies. Therefore, any mutations at this domain could affect the efficacy of these treatments as well as the viral-cell entry mechanism. We introduce ab initio DFT-based computational study that mainly focuses on two parts: (1) Mutations effects of both Delta and Omicron variants in the RBD-SD1 domain. (2) Impact of Omicron RBD mutations on the structure and properties of the RBD-ACE2 interface system. The in-depth analysis is based on the novel concept of amino acid-amino acid bond pair units (AABPU) that reveal the differences between the Delta and/or Omicron mutations and its corresponding wild-type strain in terms of the role played by non-local amino acid interactions, their 3D shapes and sizes, as well as contribution to hydrogen bonding and partial charge distributions. Our results also show that the interaction of Omicron RBD with ACE2 significantly increased its bonding between amino acids at the interface providing information on the implications of penetration of S-protein into ACE2, and thus offering a possible explanation for its high infectivity. Our findings enable us to present, in more conspicuous atomic level detail, the effect of specific mutations that may help in predicting and/or mitigating the next variant of concern.
Cow Dung-Based Biochar Materials Prepared via Mixed Base and Its Application in the Removal of Organic Pollutants
Authors: Chen Xiaoxin , Yu Gengxin , Chen Yuanhui , Tang Shanshan , Su Yingjie
Published: September 2022

Cow dung (CD) is a waste product of livestock production. Improper disposal of a large amount of CD will cause environmental pollution. In this work, three biochar materials based on CD (BMCD) were prepared by using three types of base, including KOH, NaOH, and mixed base (MB, a mixture of equal mass NaOH and KOH) as activators to investigate the different physicochemical properties of BMCDs (BMCD-K, BMCD-Na, and BMCD-MB). The objective was to verify the effectiveness of MB activation in the preparation of biochar materials. The results show that MB has an effect on the structural characteristics of BMCDs. In particular, the surface area and total pore volume, the specific surface area, and the total pore volume of BMCD-MB (4081.1 m2 g−1 and 3.0118 cm3 g−1) are significantly larger than those of BMCD-K (1784.6 m2 g−1 and 1.1142 cm3 g−1) and BMCD-Na (1446.1 m2 g−1 and 1.0788 cm3 g−1). While synthetic dye rhodamine B (RhB) and antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) were selected as organic pollutant models to explore the adsorption performances, the maximum adsorption capacities of BMCD-K, BMCD-NA and BMCD-MB were 951, 770, and 1241 mg g−1 for RhB, 975, 1051, and 1105 mg g−1 for TH, respectively, which were higher than those of most adsorbents. This study demonstrated that MB can be used as an effective activator for the preparation of biochar materials with enhanced performance.
Circulating Endothelial Cells: A New Possible Marker of Endothelial Damage in Kawasaki Disease, Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children and Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Fabi Marianna , Petrovic Biljana , Andreozzi Laura , Corinaldesi Elena , Filice Emanuele , Biagi Carlotta , Rizzello Alessia , Mattesini Bianca Elisa , Bugani Simone , Lanari Marcello
Published: September 2022

Background: Kawasaki Disease (KD) and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) are pediatric diseases characterized by systemic inflammation and vascular injury, potentially leading to coronary artery lesions (CALs). Data on vascular injury occurring during acute COVID-19 (AC19) in children are still lacking. The aim of our study was to investigate endothelial injury in KD-, MIS-C- and AC19-dosing circulating endothelial cells (CECs). Methods: We conducted a multicenter prospective study. CECs were enumerated by CellSearch technology through the immunomagnetic capture of CD146-positive cells from whole blood. Results: We enrolled 9 KD, 20 MIS-C and 10 AC19. During the acute stage, the AC19 and KD patients had higher CECs levels than the MIS-C patients. From the acute to subacute phase, a significant CEC increase was observed in the KD patients, while a mild decrease was detected in the MIS-C patients. Cellular clusters/syncytia were more common in the KD patients. No correlation between CECs and CALs were found in the MIS-C patients. The incidence of CALs in the KD group was too low to investigate this correlation. Conclusions: Our study suggests a possible role of CECs as biomarkers of systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in KD and MIS-C and different mechanisms of vascular injury in these diseases. Further larger studies are needed.