bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Yield, phenology and triterpene saponins in Colombian quinoa
Authors: Manjarres Hernández Elsa Helena , Morillo Coronado Ana Cruz , Cárdenas Chaparro Agobardo , Merchán López Claudia
Published: November 2022

Exploring yield, phenology and their relationship with secondary metabolites in seeds provides a fundamental analysis that expands knowledge on the nutritional quality of seeds and the effect on productive potential. This knowledge is fundamental when improving or selecting nutritionally important crops, including Chenopodium quinoa Willd, which has excellent nutritional properties and contributes to global food security. This species contains saponins, a metabolite that imparts a bitter taste and can be highly toxic to consumers in large quantities. Therefore, the identification and selection of genotypes according to their saponin contents and outstanding agronomic characteristics are fundamental objectives for the genetic improvement programs of these species. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the characteristics of the grain, the phenology and the saponin content of 30 C. quinoa accessions with an aim to select or relate genotypes according to their yield and grain quality. The accessions were sown using randomized complete blocks (RCB) with nine repetitions for each material. Seven FAO-defined descriptors were evaluated to characterize the grain and physiological maturity. Saponin was extracted using microwave, and the quantification was done with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) which a UV-VIS detector at 277 nm wavelength. The accessions were classified according to their phenology: semi-late (56.7%), late (36.7%), and semi-early (3.3%). The total triterpene saponin content varied from 0.018 to 0.537%. The multivariate and cluster analyses formed groups of accessions with good yields (>62.02 g of seeds per plant) and desirable grain morphological characteristics. The more suitable accessions for the production of saponins are Quinoa semiamarga (0.537%), Quinoa peruana (0.412%) and Amarilla de maranganí (0.305%). Quinoa real and Quinoa primavera are more suitable for food products, which can be used as parents in future quinoa genetic improvement programs in Colombia.
Meta-analytic effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on dry matter intake, milk yield and components of lactating goats
Authors: Ogbuewu Ifeanyi Princewill , Mbajiorgu Christian Anayo
Published: November 2022

The results of investigations on the impact of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) on performance characteristics of lactating goats are inconsistent. Thus, this study aimed to summarize available evidence on the effect of SC supplementation on dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield and composition in lactating goats using meta-analysis. A systematic search performed on Scopus, Google Scholar and PubMed databases yielded 1,368 studies of which 18 were used for the meta-analysis. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity in response to dietary SC supplementation. A random-effects model showed that SC had a moderate effect on milk yield [standardized mean differences (SMD) = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.82, p = 0.001] and milk fat (SMD = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.55, p = 0.02) in lactating goats when compared to the controls. Subgroup analysis by SC type indicated that live SC had a large to moderate effect on milk yield (SMD = 1.46; 95% CI: 0.96 to 1.96, p < 0.001) and milk fat (SMD = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.84, p = 0.002), whereas dead SC had a large negative effect on DMI (SMD = −0.82; 95% CI: −1.28 to −0.7, p < 0.001) and a moderate reduction effect on milk yield (SMD = −0.55; 95% CI: −0.99 to −1.96, p = 0.015). We found significant heterogeneity across studies that evaluated the effect of SC treatment on DMI and milk yield in lactating goats and meta-regression analysis explained most of the sources of heterogeneity. In conclusion, pooled results showed that dietary SC supplementation increased milk yield and fat in lactating goats. In addition, subgroup analysis revealed that both live and fermented SC increased milk yield and fat in lactating goats, while dead SC reduced DMI and milk yield.
Understanding Social Media Usage at Work from the Perspective of Social Capital Theory
Authors: Kasim Nur Muneerah , Fauzi Muhammad Ashraf , Wider Walton , Yusuf Muhammad Fakhrul
Published: November 2022

With the pervasive use of social media (SM) in organizations, it is regarded as a relevant driver that can influence an employee’s job performance. This study fills in the gap that extends the job performance concept by discovering the role of SM in innovative performance in introducing new ideas beyond standard specifications to produce novel and valuable organizational outcomes. By adopting the social capital theory (SCT), the present study investigates the roles of social media use at work in predicting social capital (network ties, shared vision, and trust) that might promote work engagement and subsequently affect employees’ innovative job performance. The data was collected through an online survey, and 291 Malaysian employees participated. The partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique was applied in data analysis for the measurement model and structural model used in this study. Findings show that SM use at work significantly predicts network ties, shared vision, and trust. Besides, network ties and trust positively promoted work engagement except for shared vision. Subsequently, work engagement was associated with innovative job performance. This study provides theoretical and practical implications for extending knowledge, as well as mitigating plans and efforts to resolve employees’ performance concerning the issues of SM use at work.
Cactus Cladodes Opuntia or Nopalea and By-Product of Low Nutritional Value as Solutions to Forage Shortages in Semiarid Areas
Authors: Siqueira Michelle C. B. , Chagas Juana C. C. , Monnerat João Paulo I. S. , Monteiro Carolina C. F. , Mora-Luna Robert E. , Felix Silas B. , Rabelo Milena N. , Mesquita Fernando L. T. , Ferreira Juliana C. S. , Ferreira Marcelo A.
Published: November 2022

We aimed to evaluate the effect of the cactus cladodes Nopalea cochenillifera (L). Salm-Dyck. (NUB) and cactus cladodes Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. (OUB), both combined with sugarcane bagasse (SB) plus urea, Tifton hay (TH), corn silage (CS), and sorghum silage (SS) plus urea on nutrient intake and digestibility, ruminal dynamics, and parameters. Five male sheep, fistulated in the rumen, were assigned in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. The NUB provided a higher intake of dry matter (DM) and any nutrients than SS. TH provided larger pools of DM and iNDF. The OUB and CS provided a higher DM degradation. CS provided a higher NDF degradation rate. OUB provided a lower ruminal pH. Depending on the collection time, the lowest pH value was estimated at 3.79 h after the morning feeding. There was an interaction between treatments and collection time on VFA concentrations. Due to the high degradation rate, greater energy intake, less change in rumen pH, greater volatile fatty acid production, and feasibility, we recommend using cactus associated with sugarcane bagasse plus urea in sheep diets.
Iron Chelator DIBI Suppresses Formation of Ciprofloxacin-Induced Antibiotic Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Allan David S. , Holbein Bruce E.
Published: November 2022

Antibiotic resistance of bacterial pathogens results from their exposure to antibiotics and this has become a serious growing problem that limits effective use of antibiotics. Resistance can arise from mutations induced by antibiotic-mediated damage with these mutants possessing reduced target sensitivity. We have studied ciprofloxacin (CIP)-mediated killing of Staphylococcus aureus and the influence of the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) inactivator, thiourea and the iron chelator DIBI, on initial killing by CIP and their effects on survival and outgrowth upon prolonged exposure to CIP. CIP at 2× MIC caused a rapid initial killing which was not influenced by initial bacterial iron status and which was followed by robust recovery growth over 96 h exposure. Thiourea and DIBI did slow the initial rate of CIP killing but the overall extent of kill by 24 h exposure was like CIP alone. Thiourea permitted recovery growth whereas this was strongly suppressed by DIBI. Small Colony Variant (SCV) survivors were progressively enriched in the survivor population during CIP exposure, and these were found to have stable slow-growth phenotype and acquired resistance to CIP and moxifloxacin but not to other non-related antibiotics. DIBI totally suppressed SCV formation with all survivors remaining sensitive to CIP and to DIBI. DIBI exposure did not promote resistance to DIBI. Our evidence indicates a high potential for DIBI as an adjunct to CIP and other antibiotics to both improve antibiotic efficacy and to thwart antibiotic resistance development.
Drilling Parameters Optimization for Horizontal Wells Based on a Multiobjective Genetic Algorithm to Improve the Rate of Penetration and Reduce Drill String Drag
Authors: Zang Chuanzhen , Lu Zongyu , Ye Shanlin , Xu Xinniu , Xi Chuanming , Song Xianzhi , Guo Yong , Pan Tao
Published: November 2022

With the development of China’s oil and gas exploration and development to complex oil and gas fields, the drilling efficiency and safety of complex formations with large hardness and strong abrasiveness have become increasingly significant. Optimizing drilling parameters is an effective means to increase the rate of penetration (ROP) and improve drilling efficiency. However, traditional drilling parameter optimization methods with only a single objective of increasing the ROP lack consideration of the drill string’s drag which may also be increased when drilling parameters change. When drilling a horizontal well, increased drag can reduce drilling efficiency. Aiming at this problem, this paper uses the logging data of the oil field as the data source, establishes an intelligent ROP prediction model through the random forest algorithm, and calculates the string drag using the “hard-string” model. Finally, the nondominant sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II), which is a domination-based multiobjective optimization algorithm, is used to optimize the drilling parameters to increase the ROP and reduce the drag at the same time. The optimized drilling parameters guide the drilling operations. We used the proposed method to optimize the parameters during the drilling of a new horizontal well. The results show that the ROP of the horizontal section of the new well increases by 10.3%, and the drag reduces by 4.5% on average compared with the adjacent well.
Ultra-Fine Particle Emissions Characterization and Reduction Technologies in a NG Heavy Duty Engine
Authors: Napolitano Pierpaolo , Di Domenico Davide , Di Maio Dario , Guido Chiara , Golini Stefano
Published: November 2022

This paper describes some strategies to deal with the arduous challenge of reducing emissions from the transport sector. Two different approaches in particle emissions reduction from natural gas (NG) heavy duty (HD) engines were evaluated. The focus was on reducing the ultra-fine sub 23 nm particles, a key aspect in the vehicles’ impact on human health and environment. To this end, an experimental research activity was carried out on a NG HD engine that was EURO VI regulation compliant. Lubricant oils characterized by different base compositions and ash contents were compared to provide a preferred path to develop formulations. The performed activity on world harmonized transient cycles (WHTCs) have demonstrated a high reduction potential (≈70%) that is reachable by acting on the lube formulation. A CNG particle filter (CPF), derived from the diesel and gasoline engines technology, was fully characterized in terms of its filtration efficiency. Three different types of tests were carried out: steady state, WHTCs, and several idle-to-load step maneuvers. The CPF was highly efficient in reducing solid particles over 10 nm diameter in all the different tests. During WHTCs, the mean abatement efficiency was about 85%. Both technologies provide interesting insights to make NG HD engines compliant with the upcoming Euro VII regulation.
Atmosphere Critical Processes Sensing with ACP
Authors: Pulinets Sergey , Budnikov Pavel
Published: November 2022

This manuscript intends to demonstrate the diagnostic value of the previously discussed integrated parameter called atmospheric chemical potential (ACP) for tracking the atmospheric anomalies before strong earthquakes generated by the chain of processes initiated by air ionization due to radon emanation from the Earth’s crust. For this purpose, we considered several kinds of critical processes in the atmosphere using the ACP as an indicator and diagnostic tool: hurricane dynamics, the effects of radioactive pollution (the Chernobyl NPP accident), volcano eruptions and pre-earthquake atmospheric anomalies. We established that in all cases, some unusual features of the studied critical processes were revealed to be invisible when using certain methods of monitoring. This means that the application of ACP may improve the operative monitoring of the critical processes in atmosphere. In the cases of volcano eruptions and earthquakes, ACP can be used for short-term forecast.
Differences in Parents and Teachers’ Perceptions of Behavior Manifested by Gifted Children with ADHD Compared to Gifted Children without ADHD and Non-Gifted Children with ADHD Using the Conners 3 Scale
Authors: François-Sévigny Juliette , Pilon Mathieu , Gauthier Laurie-Anne
Published: November 2022

The potential for the misdiagnosis of giftedness as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been well documented, as has the clinical diagnostic profile of individuals with both giftedness and ADHD. This study aimed to examine parents’ and teachers’ responses to the Conners 3 behavioral rating scale of gifted students with ADHD compared to gifted students without ADHD and non-gifted students with ADHD. Ninety-two children aged 6 to 16 years were included in the study. On the basis of clinical assessments utilizing the K-SADS, the WISC-V, and other neurocognitive tests, the students were split into three groups: gifted/ADHD (n = 35), ADHD (n = 35), and gifted (n = 22). The results revealed that mothers’, fathers’, and teachers’ responses to the Conners 3 rating scale distinguished well between the gifted group and the other two groups, but not between the gifted/ADHD and ADHD groups. The learning difficulties observed by teachers was the most significant element that distinguished gifted/ADHD students from non-gifted ADHD students. Other results indicated that mothers and fathers reported more inattention problems in their gifted/ADHD children than teachers. Additionally, mothers tended to observe more learning and executive function problems in their gifted/ADHD children than teachers did. These findings highlight the importance of multiple informants complementing each other in the assessment process for ADHD in a gifted context to counteract the masking effect between giftedness and ADHD.
Targeting Leukemia-Initiating Cells and Leukemic Niches: The Next Therapy Station for T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia?
Authors: Zhang Ziting , Yang Kun , Zhang Han
Published: November 2022

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive subtype of hematological malignancy characterized by its high heterogeneity and potentially life-threatening clinical features. Despite the advances in risk stratification and therapeutic management of T-ALL, patients often suffer from treatment failure and chemotherapy-induced toxicity, calling for greater efforts to improve therapeutic efficacy and safety in the treatment of T-ALL. During the past decades, increasing evidence has shown the indispensable effects of leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) and leukemic niches on T-ALL initiation and progression. These milestones greatly facilitate precision medicine by interfering with the pathways that are associated with LICs and leukemic niches or by targeting themselves directly. Most of these novel agents, either alone or in combination with conventional chemotherapy, have shown promising preclinical results, facilitating them to be further evaluated under clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the latest discoveries in LICs and leukemic niches in terms of T-ALL, with a particular highlight on the current precision medicine. The challenges and future prospects are also discussed.
Effect of Obesity among Hospitalized Cancer Patients with or without COVID-19 on a National Level
Authors: Cottenet Jonathan , Tapia Solène , Arveux Patrick , Bernard Alain , Dabakuyo-Yonli Tienhan Sandrine , Quantin Catherine
Published: November 2022

Cancer and obesity are well-known prognostic factors in COVID-19. Our objective was to study the effect of obesity (and its severity) on the risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, severe complications, and in-hospital mortality, in a population of cancer patients hospitalized with or without COVID-19. All patients hospitalized in France for cancer from 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2022 were included from the French national administrative database. The effect of obesity was estimated in COVID-19 and in non-COVID-19 cancer patients using logistic and survival regressions, taking into account age, sex, comorbidities, and different types of cancer. Among the 992,899 cancer patients, we identified 53,090 patients with COVID-19 (5.35%), of which 3260 were obese (6.1%). After adjustment, for patients with or without COVID-19, there is an increased risk of ICU admission or severe complications in obese patients, regardless of the type of obesity. Regarding in-hospital mortality, there is no excess risk associated with overall obesity. However, massive obesity appears to be associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality, with a significantly stronger effect in solid cancer patients without COVID-19 and a significantly stronger effect in hematological cancer patients with COVID-19. This study showed that in France, among hospitalized patients with cancer and with or without COVID-19, increased vigilance is needed for obese patients, both in epidemic and non-epidemic periods. This vigilance should be further strengthened in patients with massive obesity for whom the risk of in-hospital mortality is higher, particularly in epidemic periods for patients with hematological cancers.
Manta Ray Foraging Optimization Transfer Learning-Based Gastric Cancer Diagnosis and Classification on Endoscopic Images
Authors: Alrowais Fadwa , S. Alotaibi Saud , Marzouk Radwa , S. Salama Ahmed , Rizwanullah Mohammed , Zamani Abu Sarwar , Atta Abdelmageed Amgad , I. Eldesouki Mohamed
Published: November 2022

Gastric cancer (GC) diagnoses using endoscopic images have gained significant attention in the healthcare sector. The recent advancements of computer vision (CV) and deep learning (DL) technologies pave the way for the design of automated GC diagnosis models. Therefore, this study develops a new Manta Ray Foraging Optimization Transfer Learning technique that is based on Gastric Cancer Diagnosis and Classification (MRFOTL-GCDC) using endoscopic images. For enhancing the quality of the endoscopic images, the presented MRFOTL-GCDC technique executes the Wiener filter (WF) to perform a noise removal process. In the presented MRFOTL-GCDC technique, MRFO with SqueezeNet model is used to derive the feature vectors. Since the trial-and-error hyperparameter tuning is a tedious process, the MRFO algorithm-based hyperparameter tuning results in enhanced classification results. Finally, the Elman Neural Network (ENN) model is utilized for the GC classification. To depict the enhanced performance of the presented MRFOTL-GCDC technique, a widespread simulation analysis is executed. The comparison study reported the improvement of the MRFOTL-GCDC technique for endoscopic image classification purposes with an improved accuracy of 99.25%.
Higher Expression of Annexin A2 in Metastatic Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma Promotes Migration and Invasion
Authors: Guo Christina , Trivedi Rucha , Tripathi Amit K. , Nandy Rajesh R. , Wagner Diana C. , Narra Kalyani , Chaudhary Pankaj
Published: November 2022

In this study, we aim to evaluate the significance of AnxA2 in BLCA and establish its metastatic role in bladder cancer cells. Analysis of TCGA data showed that AnxA2 mRNA expression was significantly higher in BLCA tumors than in normal bladder tissues. High mRNA expression of AnxA2 in BLCA was significantly associated with high pathological grades and stages, non-papillary tumor histology, and poor overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and diseases specific survival (DSS). Similarly, we found that AnxA2 expression was higher in bladder cancer cells derived from high-grade metastatic carcinoma than in cells derived from low-grade urothelial carcinoma. AnxA2 expression significantly mobilized to the surface of highly metastatic bladder cancer cells compared to cells derived from low-grade tumors and associated with high plasmin generation and AnxA2 secretion. In addition, the downregulation of AnxA2 cells significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion in bladder cancer along with the reduction in proangiogenic factors and cytokines such as PDGF-BB, ANGPT1, ANGPT2, Tie-2, bFGF, GRO, IL-6, IL-8, and MMP-9. These findings suggest that AnxA2 could be a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for high-grade BLCA.
The Prevalence of Lower Limb and Genital Lymphedema after Prostate Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review
Authors: Clinckaert Andries , Callens Klaas , Cooreman Anne , Bijnens Annabel , Moris Lisa , Van Calster Charlotte , Geraerts Inge , Joniau Steven , Everaerts Wouter
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: Secondary lymphedema is a chronic, progressive, and debilitating condition with an important impact on quality of life. Lymphedema is a frequently reported complication in oncological surgery but has not been systematically studied in the setting of prostate cancer. (2) Methods: Pubmed/MEDLINE and Embase were systematically searched to identify articles reporting on lower limb or genital lymphedema after primary treatment (surgery of radiation therapy) of the prostate and the pelvic lymph nodes in men with prostate cancer. Primary outcome was the prevalence of lower limb and genital lymphedema. (3) Results: Eighteen articles were eligible for qualitative synthesis. Risk of bias was high in all included studies, with only one study providing a prespecified definition of secondary lymphedema. Eleven studies report the prevalence of lower limb (0–14%) and genital (0–1%) lymphedema after radical prostatectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) Seven studies report a low prevalence of lower limb (0–9%) and genital (0–8%) lymphedema after irradiation of the pelvic lymph nodes. However, in the patient subgroups that underwent pelvic irradiation after staging pelvic lymph node dissections, the prevalence of lower limb (18–29%) and genital (2–22%) lymphedema is substantially elevated. (4) Conclusion: Prostate cancer patients undergoing surgery or irradiation of the pelvic lymph nodes are at risk of developing secondary lymphedema in the lower limbs and the genital region. Patients receiving pelvic radiation after pelvic lymph node dissection have the highest prevalence of lymphedema. The lack of a uniform definition and standardized diagnostic criteria for lower limb and genital lymphedema hampers the accurate estimation of their true prevalence. Future clinicals trials are needed to specifically evaluate secondary lymphedema in patients undergoing prostate cancer treatments, to identify potential risk factors and to determine the impact on quality of life.
Signatures of Breast Cancer Progression in the Blood: What Could Be Learned from Circulating Tumor Cell Transcriptomes
Authors: Fina Emanuela
Published: November 2022

Gene expression profiling has revolutionized our understanding of cancer biology, showing an unprecedented ability to impact patient management especially in breast cancer. The vast majority of breast cancer gene expression signatures derive from the analysis of the tumor bulk, an experimental approach that limits the possibility to dissect breast cancer heterogeneity thoroughly and might miss the message hidden in biologically and clinically relevant cell populations. During disease progression or upon selective pressures, cancer cells undergo continuous transcriptional changes, which inevitably affect tumor heterogeneity, response to therapy and tendency to disseminate. Therefore, metastasis-associated signatures and transcriptome-wide gene expression measurement at single-cell resolution hold great promise for the future of breast cancer clinical care. Seen from this perspective, transcriptomics of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represent an attractive opportunity to bridge the knowledge gap and develop novel biomarkers. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-science on CTC gene expression analysis in breast cancer, addresses technical and clinical issues related to the application of CTC-derived signatures, and discusses potential research directions.
Clinical Outcomes of Everolimus Rechallenge in Patients with Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms with No Other Treatment Options
Authors: Kurita Yusuke , Kobayashi Noritoshi , Hara Kazuo , Mizuno Nobumasa , Kuwahara Takamichi , Okuno Nozomi , Haba Shin , Tokuhisa Motohiko , Hasegawa Sho , Kubota Kensuke , Nakajima Atsushi , Ichikawa Yasushi
Published: November 2022

Background: The clinical outcomes of everolimus rechallenge in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNENs) are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the treatment outcomes and safety of everolimus rechallenge treatment with PNENs. Methods: Clinical data of everolimus-treated patients with PNENs at two institutions were collected. Patients who underwent everolimus rechallenge were included in the study. We analyzed the progression-free survival (PFS) and treatment response associated with everolimus rechallenge and the adverse events. Results: Between 2008 and 2020, 117 patients received initial treatment with everolimus, of which 14 patients received everolimus rechallenge. With regard to the grade of PNENs, there were 2 cases of G1, 11 cases of G2, and 1 case of G3. The median rechallenge PFS was 5.7 months. The objective response rate was 21.4%. the disease control rate was 71.4%. The only major grade 3 or 4 adverse event was neutropenia (n = 1, 7.1%). No other severe adverse event was observed. Conclusion: The outcomes and safety of everolimus rechallenge were verified, and it was deemed an acceptable treatment. Everolimus rechallenge may provide a new drug therapy for patients with advanced PNENs for whom no other drug treatment option is available.
Ultrastructural Characterization of Human Gingival Fibroblasts in 3D Culture
Authors: Alfonso García Sandra Liliana , Mira Uribe Laura Marcela , Castaño López Susana , Parada-Sanchez Monica Tatiana , Arboleda-Toro David
Published: November 2022

Cell spheroids are applied in various fields of research, such as the fabrication of three-dimensional artificial tissues in vitro, disease modeling, stem cell research, regenerative therapy, and biotechnology. A preclinical 3D culture model of primary human gingival fibroblasts free of external factors and/or chemical inducers is presented herein. The ultrastructure of the spheroids was characterized to establish a cellular model for the study of periodontal tissue regeneration. The liquid overlay technique was used with agarose to generate spheroids. Fibroblasts in 2D culture and cell spheroids were characterized by immunofluorescence, and cell spheroids were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, backscattered electrons, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Ostegenic related genes were analyzed by RT-qPCR. Gingival fibroblasts formed spheroids spontaneously and showed amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticle deposits on their surface. The results suggest that human gingival fibroblasts have an intrinsic potential to generate a mineralized niche in 3D culture.
Transcriptome-Wide Study of mRNAs and lncRNAs Modified by m6A RNA Methylation in the Longissimus Dorsi Muscle Development of Cattle-Yak
Authors: Huang Chun , Dai Rongfeng , Meng Guangyao , Dingkao Renqing , Wang Xingdong , Ren Wenwen , Ma Xiaoming , Wu Xiaoyun , Chu Min , La Yongfu , Bao Pengjia , Guo Xian , Pei Jie , Yan Ping , Liang Chunnian
Published: November 2022

Cattle-yak is a hybrid F1 generation of cattle and yak, which has a history of more than 3000 years and has shown better production performance and higher economic benefits than those of yaks. However, up to now, there has been no study on the transcriptome-wide m6A methylation profile of bovine skeletal muscle and its potential biological function during muscle development. Here, we observed significant changes in the expression levels of muscle-related marker genes and methylation-related enzymes during the development of cattle-yak, and the overall m6A content in the Longissimus dorsi muscle of 18-month-old cattle-yak decreased significantly. A total of 36,602 peaks, 11,223 genes and 8388 lncRNAs were identified in the two groups, including 2989 differential peaks (427 up-regulated peaks and 2562 down-regulated peaks), 1457 differentially expressed genes (833 up-regulated genes and 624 down-regulated genes) and 857 differentially expressed lncRNAs (293 up-regulated lncRNAs and 564 down-regulated lncRNAs). GO and KEGG analysis revealed that they were significantly enriched in some muscle-related pathways (Wnt signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway) and high-altitude adaptation-related pathway (HIF-1 signaling pathway). Moreover, m6A abundance was positively correlated with gene expression levels, while it was negatively correlated with lncRNA expression levels. This indicates that m6A modification played an important role in the Longissimus dorsi muscle development of cattle-yak; however, the regulation mechanism of m6A-modified mRNA and lncRNA may be different. This study was the first report of transcriptome-wide m6A-modified mRNAs and lncRNAs atlas in the Longissimus dorsi muscle development of cattle-yak, one which will provide new perspectives for genetic improvement in bovines.
Sanguinarine Enhances the Integrity of the Blood–Milk Barrier and Inhibits Oxidative Stress in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Mastitis
Authors: Zheng Zhijie , Zheng Yonghui , Liang Xiaoben , Xue Guanhong , Wu Haichong
Published: November 2022

Mastitis is a common clinical disease which threatens the welfare and health of dairy cows and causes huge economic losses. Sanguinarine (SG) is a plant-derived alkaloid which has many biological functions, including antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The present study attempted to evaluate the effect of SG on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress reactions and explore its potential mechanisms. The expression profile of SG was analyzed by network pharmacology, and it was found that differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in the Wnt signaling pathway and oxidative stress through GO and KEGG enrichment. In in vitro experiments, the dosage of SG was non-toxic to mouse mammary epithelial cells (mMECs) (p > 0.05). SG not only inhibited the increase in ROS induced by LPS, but also enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes (p < 0.05). Moreover, the results of the in vivo experiments showed that SG alleviated LPS-induced inflammatory damage of mouse mammary glands and enhanced the integrity of the blood–milk barrier (p < 0.05). Further studies suggested that SG promoted Nrf2 expression and suppressed the activation of the Wnt signaling pathway (p < 0.05). Conclusively, this study clarified the protective effect of SG on mastitis and provided evidence for new potential mechanisms. SG exerted its antioxidant function through activating Nrf2 and inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, repairing the blood–milk barrier.
Antibody Levels Poorly Reflect on the Frequency of Memory B Cells Generated following SARS-CoV-2, Seasonal Influenza, or EBV Infection
Authors: Wolf Carla , Köppert Sebastian , Becza Noémi , Kuerten Stefanie , Kirchenbaum Greg A. , Lehmann Paul V.
Published: November 2022

The scope of immune monitoring is to define the existence, magnitude, and quality of immune mechanisms operational in a host. In clinical trials and praxis, the assessment of humoral immunity is commonly confined to measurements of serum antibody reactivity without accounting for the memory B cell potential. Relying on fundamentally different mechanisms, however, passive immunity conveyed by pre-existing antibodies needs to be distinguished from active B cell memory. Here, we tested whether, in healthy human individuals, the antibody titers to SARS-CoV-2, seasonal influenza, or Epstein–Barr virus antigens correlated with the frequency of recirculating memory B cells reactive with the respective antigens. Weak correlations were found. The data suggest that the assessment of humoral immunity by measurement of antibody levels does not reflect on memory B cell frequencies and thus an individual’s potential to engage in an anamnestic antibody response against the same or an antigenically related virus. Direct monitoring of the antigen-reactive memory B cell compartment is both required and feasible towards that goal.
Regorafenib Induces Senescence and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer to Promote Drug Resistance
Authors: Kehagias Pashalina , Kindt Nadège , Krayem Mohammad , Najem Ahmad , Agostini Giulia , Acedo Reina Elena , Bregni Giacomo , Sclafani Francesco , Journe Fabrice , Awada Ahmad , Ghanem Ghanem E. , Hendlisz Alain
Published: November 2022

Potential intrinsic resistance mechanisms to regorafenib were explored after short exposure (3 days) on five CRC cell lines (HCT-116, SW1116, LS-1034, SW480, Caco-2). The observation of senescence-like features led to the investigation of a drug-initiated phenotype switch. Following long-term exposure (12 months) of HCT-116 and SW480 cell lines to regorafenib, we developed resistant models to explore acquired resistance. SW480 cells demonstrated senescent-like properties, including a cell arrest in the late G2/prophase cell cycle stage and a statistically significant decrease in the expression of G1 Cyclin-Dependent Kinase inhibitors and key cell cycle regulators. A specific senescence-associated secretome was also observed. In contrast, HCT-116 treated cells presented early senescent features and developed acquired resistance triggering EMT and a more aggressive phenotype over time. The gained migration and invasion ability by long-exposed cells was associated with the increased expression level of key cellular and extracellular EMT-related factors. The PI3K/AKT pathway was a significant player in the acquired resistance of HCT-116 cells, possibly related to a PI3KCA mutation in this cell line. Our findings provide new insights into the phenotypic plasticity of CRC cells able, under treatment pressure, to acquire a stable TIS or to use an early senescence state to undergo EMT.
Stress Loss Analysis of a Geotechnical Prestressed Anchor under a Corrosive Environment in a Coastal Area
Authors: Liu Dandan , Chen An
Published: November 2022

The corrosion of geotechnical prestressed anchor rods directly affects the safety of anchor structure engineering. To this end, an experimental device for measuring the stress loss of an anchor structure was developed, which was used to study the stress loss of a prestressed anchor structure under a corrosive environment, obtain the stress change curve of the anchor structure, and analyze the influence of a corrosive environment on the stress loss of a prestressed anchor structure in coastal areas. The final experimental results show that the degree of stress damage to bolts was determined by the cross effect of the environment and stress, and most of the stress damage occurred in the early stage after loading. The stress loss of the anchor structure resulted mainly from the bond degradation of the anchor section, and partly from the degradation of the elastic modulus of the rod body. Corrosion reduced the bonding force and bolt strength of the bolt–grouting body, and the influence of corrosion on the degradation of bonding strength of the bolt–grouting body was greater than that on the degradation of bolt strength. The maximum degree of axial stress corrosion influence on the rock–soil anchor was 11.6%. When the oxygen concentration was higher, the corrosion rate was greater. Therefore, accelerated corrosion indirectly increases the stress loss of anchor bolts.
Study of the Corrosion Mechanism of Iron-Based Amorphous Composite Coating with Alumina in Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria Solution
Authors: Chu Zhenhua , Shi Haonan , Xu Fa , Xu Jingxiang , Zheng Xingwei , Wang Fang , Zhang Zheng , Hu Qingsong
Published: November 2022

In this work, a composite coating composed of iron-based amorphous material and alumina mixed with 13 wt.% titanium oxide (AT13) ceramic was successfully fabricated by High Velocity Air-fuel Flame Spray (HVAF). The corrosion process of the composite coating in Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB) solution for 31 d was investigated by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The corrosion morphologies and corrosion products were tested by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The corrosion mechanism can be divided into two stages: microbial adhesion and biofilm failure. The microbial adhesion on the surface of the composite coating improved the formation of biofilm, which improved the corrosion resistance. On the other hand, the SRB metabolic process in the biofilm accelerated the formation of corrosion products, which resulted in the failure of the biofilm and thus the composite coating was re-exposed in the corrosion solution.
Spintronics Based Terahertz Sources
Authors: Wang Maorong , Zhang Yifan , Guo Leilei , Lv Mengqi , Wang Peng , Wang Xia
Published: November 2022

Terahertz (THz) sources, covering a range from about 0.1 to 10 THz, are key devices for applying terahertz technology. Spintronics-based THz sources, with the advantages of low cost, ultra-broadband, high efficiency, and tunable polarization, have attracted a great deal of attention recently. This paper reviews the emission mechanism, experimental implementation, performance optimization, manipulation, and applications of spintronic THz sources. The recent advances and existing problems in spintronic THz sources are fully present and discussed. This review is expected to be an introduction of spintronic terahertz sources for novices in this field, as well as a comprehensive reference for experienced researchers.
Ice Cod Arctogadus glacialis (Peters, 1874) in Northeast Greenland—A First Sketch of Spatial Occurrence and Abundance
Authors: Karamushko Oleg V. , Lynghammar Arve , Christiansen Jørgen S.
Published: November 2022

Based on bottom trawl catches during the years 2002–2017, we present the first large-scale baseline on the spatial distribution and abundance of ice cod Arctogadus glacialis (Peters, 1874) in the fjords and on the shelf in Northeast Greenland (latitudes 70 °N–78 °N). Ice cod abundance peaked in the secluded sill fjords such as Bessel Fjord, Brede Fjord, Clavering Ø fjord system and Kong Oscar Fjord as compared to the offshore shelf. The mean biomass was estimated as 3.9 kg/km2 on the shelf and 49.3 kg/km2 in the fjords. Nearly 45% of the biomass was restricted to temperatures < −1.0 °C and almost 90 % of the biomass occurred within 200–600 m depth. This corresponds well with the deep, subzero fjords along the Northeast Greenland coast which, thus, appear the most suitable habitat for ice cod. Moreover, there was a gradual decrease in ice cod biomass on the shelf over the years 2002–2017. This apparent relocation of ice cod matches the ongoing warming of the Northeast Greenland shelf waters. Given that the overall temperature space of ice cod spans less than 4 ºC in Northeast Greenland, it is likely that the species is particularly vulnerable to climate change as warmer waters before long enter the fjords, i.e., the main habitat for ice cod.
Energy, Exergy, Environmental and Economic Analysis (4e) of a Solar Thermal System for Process Heating in Jamshoro, Pakistan
Authors: Ahmed Junaid , Kumar Laveet , Abbasi Abdul Fatah , El Haj Assad Mamdouh
Published: November 2022

With an expected annual increase of 1.2%, the industrial sector already consumes over 54% of all the energy generated globally. The majority of industrial sectors presently relies on fossil fuels to fulfil their needs for heat energy, but renewable sources, especially solar energy, can be substituted for them. For an underdeveloped country such as Pakistan, its industrial sector is important for the country’s economic development and long-term growth. The use of solar thermal energy potentially offers a significant and cheap alternative to fossil fuels. The current study focuses on a process heating system based on flat-plate solar collectors, developed to provide low to moderate temperature process heat. The innovative model’s thermal efficiency and economic feasibility have undergone a thorough investigation and analysis through TRNSYS simulations. The system portrayed a 79% thermal energy efficiency and 4.31% exergy efficiency during peak hours. The optimized system for three different temperatures of 60 °C, 70 °C, and 80 °C was designed and evaluated. The system presented a total of 82 tons of CO2 prevention annually. The economic analysis consisting of three parameters, NPV, IRR and PBP, also deemed the FPC-based solar thermal system economically profitable.
Economic Crisis Impact Assessment and Risk Exposure Evaluation of Selected Energy Sector Companies from Bombay Stock Exchange
Authors: Tarczynska-Luniewska Małgorzata , Bak Iwona , Singh Uma Shankar , Singh Guru Ashish
Published: November 2022

The energy sector is one of the most important sectors as it is the producer and supplier of fuel to run other industries and economies. This research aims to present an intertwined structure of risk exposure measuring the performance of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Energy Index and selected companies from the constituents while taking into account two scenarios of risk, namely the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia–Ukraine conflict, in a manner appropriate for energy stock investors, energy companies, and the economy through hedging against investment risk, diversification in operations securing the continuation of energy production, and the risk of fluctuating prices in the energy market, respectively. The research problem is observed as the requirement to choose the representative stocks of the S&P (BSE) Energy Index to evaluate their situations during the period of the two crisis scenarios and to provide the current risk exposure to India’s energy sector. The methodological approach was through the process of selecting the stock market, the reason behind selecting the energy sector, analyzing the crisis situation, and finally providing the risk exposure matrix. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the index and stocks only in the beginning when the market was scared psychologically. The Russia–Ukraine conflict is considered to measure the stock status showing the effect on the index and the effect on selected stocks showing a deviated performance. All ten companies representative of the S&P BSE Energy Index ranked in the increasing order of risk exposure comparatively and concludes a high potential growth and return.
Comparative Study of Wind Energy Potential Estimation Methods for Wind Sites in Togo and Benin (West Sub-Saharan Africa)
Authors: Sedzro Kwami Senam A. , Salami Adekunlé Akim , Agbessi Pierre Akuété , Kodjo Mawugno Koffi
Published: November 2022

The characterization of wind speed distribution and the optimal assessment of wind energy potential are critical factors in selecting a suitable site for wind power plants (WPP). The Weibull distribution law has been used extensively to analyze the wind characteristics of candidate WPP sites, and to estimate the available and deliverable energy. This paper presents a comparative study of five wind energy resource assessment methods as they applied to the context of wind sites in West Sub-Saharan Africa. We investigated three numerical approaches, namely, the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), the multilayer perceptron method (MLP), and support vector regression (SVR), to derive the distribution law of wind speeds and to optimally quantify the corresponding wind energy potential. Next, we compared these three approaches to two well-known Weibull distribution law-based methods: the empirical method of Justus (EMJ) and the maximum likelihood method (MLM). Case study results indicated that the neural network-based methods, ANFIS and MLP, yielded the most accurate distribution fits and wind energy potential estimates, and consequently, are the most recommended methods for the wind sites in Togo and Benin. The orders of magnitude of the root mean squared error (RMSE) in estimating the recoverable energy using ANFIS were, respectively, 10-4 and 10-5 for Lomé and Cotonou, while MLP achieved an RMSE order of magnitude of 10-3 for both sites.
Unlocking the Green Economy in African Countries: An Integrated Framework of FinTech as an Enabler of the Transition to Sustainability
Authors: Tamasiga Phemelo , Onyeaka Helen , Ouassou El houssin
Published: November 2022

The emergence of new transformational technology, known as the fourth industrial revolution, has crucially opened a new window to green economic growth. The transition to low carbon, green economy, and green sustainability has gained momentum simultaneously in developed and developing countries. The greening policy echoes the pending climate change and its entrenching disruptions. Financial technology, or FinTech seems to be a promising direction in unlocking the green dilemma; to be concrete, FinTech and the green economy are separately documented in the literature. Against this background, the current study investigates the intersection between green economic growth and FinTech by conducting a systematic-cum-bibliometric analysis of published papers in the Scopus database with the goal of first examining the role and opportunities of implementing green FinTech as a stimulus for transition towards green economic growth in African countries and, second, identifying knowledge gaps and future policy and research directions by developing an integrated framework to help African countries in the transition to green economic growth and green FinTech. The results illustrate an increasing trend in research attention towards the green FinTech concept and its relationship with green economic growth, climate change, and greening rules and standards. A deep inspection of the mined papers indicates that future research trajectories are oriented into five different mainstreams: technology and instruments in digital finance; regulation, policies, and green FinTech; climate risk mitigation through FinTech; FinTech and environmental quality; green finance and climate change mitigation. Based on these research directions, an integrated framework was conceptualised that aims to deliver green economic growth using FinTech as a vehicle of transition for African countries.