bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomic Characterization of Enterococcus hirae From Beef Cattle Feedlots and Associated Environmental Continuum
Authors: Zaidi Sani-e-Zehra , Zaheer Rahat , Barbieri Ruth , Cook Shaun R. , Hannon Sherry J. , Booker Calvin W. , Church Deirdre , Van Domselaar Gary , Zovoilis Athanasios , McAllister Tim A.
Published: June 2022

Enterococci are commensal bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract of humans, animals, and insects. They are also found in soil, water, and plant ecosystems. The presence of enterococci in human, animal, and environmental settings makes these bacteria ideal candidates to study antimicrobial resistance in the One-Health continuum. This study focused on Enterococcus hirae isolates (n = 4,601) predominantly isolated from beef production systems including bovine feces (n = 4,117, 89.5%), catch-basin water (n = 306, 66.5%), stockpiled bovine manure (n = 24, 0.5%), and natural water sources near feedlots (n = 145, 32%), and a few isolates from urban wastewater (n = 9, 0.2%) denoted as human-associated environmental samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiling of a subset (n = 1,319) of E. hirae isolates originating from beef production systems (n = 1,308) showed high resistance to tetracycline (65%) and erythromycin (57%) with 50.4% isolates harboring multi-drug resistance, whereas urban wastewater isolates (n = 9) were resistant to nitrofurantoin (44.5%) and tigecycline (44.5%) followed by linezolid (33.3%). Genes for tetracycline (tetL, M, S/M, and O/32/O) and macrolide resistance erm(B) were frequently found in beef production isolates. Antimicrobial resistance profiles of E. hirae isolates recovered from different environmental settings appeared to reflect the kind of antimicrobial usage in beef and human sectors. Comparative genomic analysis of E. hirae isolates showed an open pan-genome that consisted of 1,427 core genes, 358 soft core genes, 1701 shell genes, and 7,969 cloud genes. Across species comparative genomic analysis conducted on E. hirae, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium genomes revealed that E. hirae had unique genes associated with vitamin production, cellulose, and pectin degradation, traits which may support its adaptation to the bovine digestive tract. E. faecium and E. faecalis more frequently harbored virulence genes associated with biofilm formation, iron transport, and cell adhesion, suggesting niche specificity within these species.
Impacts of Delivery Mode and Maternal Factors on Neonatal Oral Microbiota
Authors: Xu Tiansong , Yan Lihuang , Sun Bohui , Xu Qi , Zhang Jieni , Zhu Wenhui , Zhang Qian , Chen Ning , Liu Guoli , Chen Feng
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Initial oral microbial colonization has complicatedly interacted with growth and development. The aim of our study was to discover links between oral microbiota community structure and mode of delivery, maternal factors, such as systemic diseases, abortion history, and pregnancy complications.

Methods

A total of 177 pregnant women and their neonates were enrolled at Peking university people’s hospital. We collected oral samples, medical history, and development phenotype and used a 16S rRNA gene sequence to analyze microbial diversity at all taxonomic levels, network structure, and metabolic characteristics.

Results

Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota were the most predominant bacteria of neonatal oral samples among these phyla. Alpha-diversity of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), abortion history, and without immune diseases was higher than in control groups, and no significant dissimilarity in beta-diversity was observed between different maternal factors. Obvious separation or trend failed to be seen in different development phenotype groups. Besides, Oscillospirales were significantly more abundant in a natural delivery group than in the cesarean section group.

Conclusion

Our study indicated that maternal factors and mode of delivery influenced the oral microbial structure, but longitudinal studies were indispensable for capturing the long-term effects on neonatal development phenotype and oral microbiota.
Novel Pseudomonas sp. SCA7 Promotes Plant Growth in Two Plant Families and Induces Systemic Resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Kuhl-Nagel Theresa , Rodriguez Patricia Antonia , Gantner Isabella , Chowdhury Soumitra Paul , Schwehn Patrick , Rosenkranz Maaria , Weber Baris , Schnitzler Jörg-Peter , Kublik Susanne , Schloter Michael , Rothballer Michael , Falter-Braun Pascal
Published: June 2022

Pseudomonas sp. SCA7, characterized in this study, was isolated from roots of the bread wheat Triticum aestivum. Sequencing and annotation of the complete SCA7 genome revealed that it represents a potential new Pseudomonas sp. with a remarkable repertoire of plant beneficial functions. In vitro and in planta experiments with the reference dicot plant A. thaliana and the original monocot host T. aestivum were conducted to identify the functional properties of SCA7. The isolate was able to colonize roots, modify root architecture, and promote growth in A. thaliana. Moreover, the isolate increased plant fresh weight in T. aestivum under unchallenged conditions. Gene expression analysis of SCA7-inoculated A. thaliana indicated a role of SCA7 in nutrient uptake and priming of plants. Moreover, confrontational assays of SCA7 with fungal and bacterial plant pathogens revealed growth restriction of the pathogens by SCA7 in direct as well as indirect contact. The latter indicated involvement of microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) in this interaction. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses revealed 1-undecene as the major mVOC, and octanal and 1,4-undecadiene as minor abundant compounds in the emission pattern of SCA7. Additionally, SCA7 enhanced resistance of A. thaliana against infection with the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. In line with these results, SA- and JA/ET-related gene expression in A. thaliana during infection with Pst DC3000 was upregulated upon treatment with SCA7, indicating the ability of SCA7 to induce systemic resistance. The thorough characterization of the novel Pseudomonas sp. SCA7 showed a remarkable genomic and functional potential of plant beneficial traits, rendering it a promising candidate for application as a biocontrol or a biostimulation agent.
microRNA-140 Regulates PDGFRα and Is Involved in Adipocyte Differentiation
Authors: Yan Yi , Yuan Jiahui , Luo Xiaomao , Yu Xiuju , Lu Jiayin , Hou Wei , He Xiaoyan , Zhang Liping , Cao Jing , Wang Haidong
Published: June 2022

In recent years, the studies of the role of microRNAs in adipogenesis and adipocyte development and the corresponding molecular mechanisms have received great attention. In this work, we investigated the function of miR-140 in the process of adipogenesis and the molecular pathways involved, and we found that adipogenic treatment promoted the miR-140-5p RNA level in preadipocytes. Over-expression of miR-140-5p in preadipocytes accelerated lipogenesis along with adipogenic differentiation by transcriptional modulation of adipogenesis-linked genes. Meanwhile, silencing endogenous miR-140-5p dampened adipogenesis. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα) was shown to be a miR-140-5p target gene. miR-140-5p over-expression in preadipocyte 3T3-L1 diminished PDGFRα expression, but silencing of miR-140-5p augmented it. In addition, over-expression of PDGFRα suppressed adipogenic differentiation and lipogenesis, while its knockdown enhanced these biological processes of preadipocyte 3T3-L1. Altogether, our current findings reveal that miR-140-5p induces lipogenesis and adipogenic differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells by targeting PDGFRα, therefore regulating adipogenesis. Our research provides molecular targets and a theoretical basis for the treatment of obesity-related metabolic diseases.
ATP8B2-Mediated Asymmetric Distribution of Plasmalogens Regulates Plasmalogen Homeostasis and Plays a Role in Intracellular Signaling
Authors: Honsho Masanori , Mawatari Shiro , Fujiki Yukio
Published: June 2022

Plasmalogens are a subclass of glycerophospholipid containing vinyl-ether bond at the sn-1 position of glycerol backbone. Ethanolamine-containing plasmalogens (plasmalogens) are major constituents of cellular membranes in mammalian cells and de novo synthesis of plasmalogens largely contributes to the homeostasis of plasmalogens. Plasmalogen biosynthesis is regulated by a feedback mechanism that senses the plasmalogen level in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane and regulates the stability of fatty acyl-CoA reductase 1 (Far1), a rate-limiting enzyme for plasmalogen biosynthesis. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the localization of plasmalogens in cytoplasmic leaflet of plasma membrane remains unknown. To address this issue, we attempted to identify a potential transporter of plasmalogens from the outer to the inner leaflet of plasma membrane by focusing on phospholipid flippases, type-IV P-type adenosine triphosphatases (P4-ATPase), localized in the plasma membranes. We herein show that knockdown of ATP8B2 belonging to the class-1 P4-ATPase enhances localization of plasmalogens but not phosphatidylethanolamine in the extracellular leaflet and impairs plasmalogen-dependent degradation of Far1. Furthermore, phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT) is downregulated by lowering the expression of ATP8B2, which leads to suppression of cell growth. Taken together, these results suggest that enrichment of plasmalogens in the cytoplasmic leaflet of plasma membranes is mediated by ATP8B2 and this asymmetric distribution of plasmalogens is required for sensing plasmalogens as well as phosphorylation of AKT.
Interfering With Contextual Fear Memories by Post-reactivation Administration of Propranolol in Mice: A Series of Null Findings
Authors: Cox Wouter R. , Faliagkas Leonidas , Besseling Amber , van der Loo Rolinka J. , Spijker Sabine , Kindt Merel , Rao-Ruiz Priyanka
Published: June 2022

Post-reactivation amnesia of contextual fear memories by blockade of noradrenergic signaling has been shown to have limited replicability in rodents. This is usually attributed to several boundary conditions that gate the destabilization of memory during its retrieval. How these boundary conditions can be overcome, and what neural mechanisms underlie post-reactivation changes in contextual fear memories remain largely unknown. Here, we report a series of experiments in a contextual fear-conditioning paradigm in mice, that were aimed at solving these issues. We first attempted to obtain a training paradigm that would consistently result in contextual fear memory that could be destabilized upon reactivation, enabling post-retrieval amnesia by the administration of propranolol. Unexpectedly, our attempts were unsuccessful to this end. Specifically, over a series of experiments in which we varied different parameters of the fear acquisition procedure, at best small and inconsistent effects were observed. Additionally, we found that propranolol did not alter retrieval-induced neural activity, as measured by the number of c-Fos+ cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. To determine whether propranolol was perhaps ineffective in interfering with reactivated contextual fear memories, we also included anisomycin (i.e., a potent and well-known amnesic drug) in several experiments, and measures of synaptic glutamate receptor subunit GluA2 (i.e., a marker of memory destabilization). No post-retrieval amnesia by anisomycin and no altered GluA2 expression by reactivation was observed, suggesting that the memories did not undergo destabilization. The null findings are surprising, given that the training paradigms we implemented were previously shown to result in memories that could be modified upon reactivation. Together, our observations illustrate the elusive nature of reactivation-dependent changes in non-human fear memory.
Event-Related Potential Evidence for Involuntary Consciousness During Implicit Memory Retrieval
Authors: Liang Xiu-Yuan , Guo Zi-Hao , Wang Xiao-Dong , Guo Xiao-Tao , Sun Jing-Wu , Wang Ming , Li Hua-Wei , Chen Lin
Published: June 2022

Classical notion claims that a memory is implicit if has nothing to do with consciousness during the information retrieval from storage, or is otherwise explicit. Here, we demonstrate event-related potential evidence for involuntary consciousness during implicit memory retrieval. We designed a passive oddball paradigm for retrieval of implicit memory in which an auditory stream of Shepard tones with musical pitch interval contrasts were delivered to the subjects. These contrasts evoked a mismatch negativity response, which is an event-related potential and a neural marker of implicit memory, in the subjects with long-term musical training, but not in the subjects without. Notably, this response was followed by a salient P3 component which implies involvement of involuntary consciousness in the implicit memory retrieval. Finally, source analysis of the P3 revealed moving dipoles from the frontal lobe to the insula, a brain region closely related to conscious attention. Our study presents a case of involvement of involuntary consciousness in the implicit memory retrieval and suggests a potential challenge to the classical definition of implicit memory.
Associating Flexible Regulation of Emotional Expression With Psychopathological Symptoms
Authors: Gonzalez-Escamilla Gabriel , Dörfel Denise , Becke Miriam , Trefz Janina , Bonanno George A. , Groppa Sergiu
Published: June 2022

Background: Stressful situations and psychopathology symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety) shape how individuals regulate and respond to others’ emotions. However, how emotional expressions influence mental health and impact intrapersonal and interpersonal experiences is still unclear.

Objective: Here, we used the Flexible Regulation of Emotional Expression (FREE) scale to explore the relationship between emotional expression abilities with affective symptoms and mental health markers.

Methods: From a sample of 351 participants, we firstly validate a German version of the FREE scale on a final sample of 222 participants located in Germany, recruited through an online platform. Following this, we performed confirmatory factor analyses to assess the model structure of the FREE-scale. We then utilize a LASSO regression to determine which indicators of psychopathology symptoms and mental health are related to emotional expressive regulation and determine their particular interactions through the general linear model.

Results: We replicated the FREE scale’s four latent factors (i.e., ability to enhance and suppress positive as well as negative emotional expressions). After the selection of relevant instruments through LASSO regression, the suppress ability showed specific negative associations with depression (r = 0.2) and stress symptoms (r = 0.16) and positive associations with readiness to confront distressing situations (r = 0.25), self-support (r = 0.2), and tolerance of emotions (r = 0.2). Both, emotional expressions enhance and suppress abilities positively associated with coping markers (resilience) and emotion regulation skills. Finally, the interaction effects between emotional flexibility abilities and stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms evidenced that consistent with the flexibility theory, enhancing and suppressing abilities may predict psychopathological symptoms.

Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of considering the flexibility to express emotions as a relevant factor for preserved mental health or the development of psychopathological symptoms and indicate that online surveys may serve as a reliable indicator of mental health.
The Role of Remote Monitoring in Evaluating Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: A Review
Authors: Block Valerie J. , Bove Riley , Nourbakhsh Bardia
Published: June 2022

Fatigue is one of the most common multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. Despite this, monitoring and measuring fatigue (subjective lack of energy)– and fatigability (objectively measurable and quantifiable performance decline)– in people with MS have remained challenging. Traditionally, administration of self-report questionnaires during in-person visits has been used to measure fatigue. However, remote measurement and monitoring of fatigue and fatigability have become feasible in the past decade. Traditional questionnaires can be administered through the web in any setting. The ubiquitous availability of smartphones allows for momentary and frequent measurement of MS fatigue in the ecological home-setting. This approach reduces the recall bias inherent in many traditional questionnaires and demonstrates the fluctuation of fatigue that cannot be captured by standard measures. Wearable devices can assess patients' fatigability and activity levels, often influenced by the severity of subjective fatigue. Remote monitoring of fatigue, fatigability, and activity in real-world situations can facilitate quantifying symptom-severity in clinical and research settings. Combining remote measures of fatigue as well as objective fatigability in a single construct, composite score, may provide a more comprehensive outcome. The more granular data obtained through remote monitoring techniques may also help with the development of interventions aimed at improving fatigue and lowering the burden of this disabling symptom.
A Highly Sensitive and Selective Fluorescein-Based Cu2+ Probe and Its Bioimaging in Cell
Authors: Leng Xin , She Mengyao , Jin Xilang , Chen Jiao , Ma Xuehao , Chen Fulin , Li Jianli , Yang Bingqin
Published: June 2022

Copper is a vital trace metal in human body, which plays the significant roles in amounts of physiological and pathological processes. The application of copper-selective probe has attracted great interests from environmental tests to life process research, yet a few of sensitive Cu2+ tests based on on-site analysis have been reported. In this paper, a novel fluorescein-based fluorescent probe N4 was designed, synthesized, and characterized, which exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity to Cu2+ comparing with other metal ions in ethanol–water (1/1, v/v) solution. The probe N4 bonded with Cu2+ to facilitate the ring-opening, and an obvious new band at 525 nm in the fluorescence spectroscopy appeared, which could be used for naked-eye detection of Cu2+ within a broad pH range of 6–9. Meanwhile, a good linearity between the fluorescence intensity and the concentrations of Cu2+ ranged 0.1–1.5 eq. was observed, and the limit of detection of N4 to Cu2+ was calculated to be as low as 1.20 μm. In addition, the interaction mode between N4 and Cu2+ was found to be 1:1 by the Job's plot and mass experiment. Biological experiments showed that the probe N4 exhibited low biological toxicity and could be applied for Cu2+ imaging in living cells. The significant color shift associated with the production of the N4-Cu2+ complex at low micromolar concentrations under UV light endows N4 with a promising probe for field testing of trace Cu2+ ions.
Analysis of the Equilibrium Phase in Immune-Controlled Tumors Provides Hints for Designing Better Strategies for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Atsou Kevin , Khou Sokchea , Anjuère Fabienne , Braud Véronique M. , Goudon Thierry
Published: June 2022

When it comes to improving cancer therapies, one challenge is to identify key biological parameters that prevent immune escape and maintain an equilibrium state characterized by a stable subclinical tumor mass, controlled by the immune cells. Based on a space and size structured partial differential equation model, we developed numerical methods that allow us to predict the shape of the equilibrium at low cost, without running simulations of the initial-boundary value problem. In turn, the computation of the equilibrium state allowed us to apply global sensitivity analysis methods that assess which and how parameters influence the residual tumor mass. This analysis reveals that the elimination rate of tumor cells by immune cells far exceeds the influence of the other parameters on the equilibrium size of the tumor. Moreover, combining parameters that sustain and strengthen the antitumor immune response also proves more efficient at maintaining the tumor in a long-lasting equilibrium state. Applied to the biological parameters that define each type of cancer, such numerical investigations can provide hints for the design and optimization of cancer treatments.
Analysis of ARHGAP4 Expression With Colorectal Cancer Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis
Authors: Fu Ming-sheng , Pan Shu-xian , Cai Xun-quan , Hu Yuan-xin , Zhang Wei-jie , Pan Qin-cong
Published: June 2022

Background

This study aims to analyze the correlation between ARHGAP4 in the expression and clinical characteristics of colorectal cancer (CRC), and the influence of ARHGAP4 expression on the prognosis of CRC, and to evaluate whether ARHGAP4 is a potential prognostic oncotarget for CRC.

Methods

ARHGAP4 was identified using the Gene Expression Omnibus database through weighted gene coexpression network analysis. Using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis to perform and analyze the expression and prognosis of ARHGAP4 in CRC. The expression of AGRGAP4 and immune cells was analyzed by the Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource online database. Finally, immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the expression difference and prognosis of ARHGAP4 in CRC and adjacent normal tissues, as well as the relationship between AGRGAP4 expression and clinical features of CRC.

Results

We identified ARHGAP4 that is related to the recurrence of CRC from GSE97781 data. ARHGAP4 has not been reported in CRC. The high expression of ARHGAP4 in select colon adenocarcinoma indicates a poor prognosis by database analysis. In our clinical data results, ARHGAP4 is highly expressed in CRC and lowly expressed in normal tissues adjacent to cancer. Compared with the low-expression group, the high-expression group has a significantly poorer prognosis. In colon cancer, the B-cell, macrophage, neutrophil, and dendritic-cell levels are downregulated after ARHGAP4 gene knockout; the levels of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, neutrophils, and dendritic cells are upregulated after the amplification of the ARHGAP4 gene. In addition, ARHGAP4 expression is related to N,M staging and clinical staging.

Conclusion

ARHGAP4 is highly expressed in CRC, and the high expression of ARHGAP4 has a poor prognosis. The expression of ARHGAP4 in CRC is related to the immune cells such as B cells, CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. ARHGAP4 is correlated with N,M staging and clinical staging in CRC. ARHGAP4 may be a potential biomarker for the prognosis of CRC.
Global Myocardial Strain in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, Kawasaki Disease, and Healthy Children: A Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Kaiwei , Yu Jiahui , Song Guang
Published: June 2022

Background

Nearly 6,000 multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) have been reported in the United States by November 2021. Left ventricular global myocardial strain has been proved to be one of the best evidence of the diagnostic and prognostic implications for cardiac dysfunction. The global myocardial strain change of MIS-C in the acute phase was still unclear.

Methods

PubMed and other sources were searched. A network meta-analysis was conducted. MIS-C was divided into two groups according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): MIS-C with depressed ejection fraction (MIS-C dEF) and MIS-C with preserved ejection fraction (MIS-C pEF). Global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS) were compared among MIS-C, Kawasaki disease (KD), and healthy children.

Results

In total, nine case-control studies were included, published between 2014 and 2021. These studies involved 107 patients with MIS-C, 188 patients with KD, and 356 healthy children. After Bayesian analysis, MIS-C dEF group was found to have a lower LVEF, higher GLS and GCS than the KD groups. Both MIS-C pEF and KD had similar GLS and GCS, which were higher than healthy controls. There was no difference of LVEF among MIS-C pEF, KD, and healthy controls.

Conclusion

MIS-C dEF was more severe than KD, both in LVEF and global myocardial strain. MIS-C pEF and KD were similar with mild impaired left ventricular myocardial strain compared with the healthy children. Global myocardial strain may be a monitoring index for MIS-C.

Systematic Review Registration

[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42021264760].
Machine Learning-Based Systems for the Anticipation of Adverse Events After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Garcia-Canadilla Patricia , Isabel-Roquero Alba , Aurensanz-Clemente Esther , Valls-Esteve Arnau , Miguel Francesca Aina , Ormazabal Daniel , Llanos Floren , Sanchez-de-Toledo Joan
Published: June 2022

Pediatric congenital heart disease (CHD) patients are at higher risk of postoperative complications and clinical deterioration either due to their underlying pathology or due to the cardiac surgery, contributing significantly to mortality, morbidity, hospital and family costs, and poor quality of life. In current clinical practice, clinical deterioration is detected, in most of the cases, when it has already occurred. Several early warning scores (EWS) have been proposed to assess children at risk of clinical deterioration using vital signs and risk indicators, in order to intervene in a timely manner to reduce the impact of deterioration and risk of death among children. However, EWS are based on measurements performed at a single time point without incorporating trends nor providing information about patient's risk trajectory. Moreover, some of these measurements rely on subjective assessment making them susceptible to different interpretations. All these limitations could explain why the implementation of EWS in high-resource settings failed to show a significant decrease in hospital mortality. By means of machine learning (ML) based algorithms we could integrate heterogeneous and complex data to predict patient's risk of deterioration. In this perspective article, we provide a brief overview of the potential of ML technologies to improve the identification of pediatric CHD patients at high-risk for clinical deterioration after cardiac surgery, and present the CORTEX traffic light, a ML-based predictive system that Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children's Hospital is implementing, as an illustration of the application of an ML-based risk stratification system in a relevant hospital setting.
Mechanisms Underlying C-type Inactivation in Kv Channels: Lessons From Structures of Human Kv1.3 and Fly Shaker-IR Channels
Authors: Ong Seow Theng , Tyagi Anu , Chandy K. George , Bhushan Shashi
Published: June 2022

Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels modulate the function of electrically-excitable and non-excitable cells by using several types of “gates” to regulate ion flow through the channels. An important gating mechanism, C-type inactivation, limits ion flow by transitioning Kv channels into a non-conducting inactivated state. Here, we highlight two recent papers, one on the human Kv1.3 channel and the second on the Drosophila Shaker Kv channel, that combined cryogenic electron microscopy and molecular dynamics simulation to define mechanisms underlying C-type inactivation. In both channels, the transition to the non-conducting inactivated conformation begins with the rupture of an intra-subunit hydrogen bond that fastens the selectivity filter to the pore helix. The freed filter swings outwards and gets tethered to an external residue. As a result, the extracellular end of the selectivity filter dilates and K+ permeation through the pore is impaired. Recovery from inactivation may entail a reversal of this process. Such a reversal, at least partially, is induced by the peptide dalazatide. Binding of dalazatide to external residues in Kv1.3 frees the filter to swing inwards. The extracellular end of the selectivity filter narrows allowing K+ to move in single file through the pore typical of conventional knock-on conduction. Inter-subunit hydrogen bonds that stabilize the outer pore in the dalazatide-bound structure are equivalent to those in open-conducting conformations of Kv channels. However, the intra-subunit bond that fastens the filter to the pore-helix is absent, suggesting an incomplete reversal of the process. These mechanisms define how Kv channels self-regulate the flow of K+ by changing the conformation of the selectivity filter.
Better Bioactivity, Cerebral Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics of Natural Medicine and Its Advanced Version
Authors: Xie Jiaxi , Zhong Cailing , Wang Tingting , He Dan , Lu Luyang , Yang Jie , Yuan Ziyi , Zhang Jingqing
Published: June 2022

Currently, many people are afflicted by cerebral diseases that cause dysfunction in the brain and perturb normal daily life of people. Cerebral diseases are greatly affected by cerebral metabolism, including the anabolism and catabolism of neurotransmitters, hormones, neurotrophic molecules and other brain-specific chemicals. Natural medicines (NMs) have the advantages of low cost and low toxicity. NMs are potential treatments for cerebral diseases due to their ability to regulate cerebral metabolism. However, most NMs have low bioavailability due to their low solubility/permeability. The study is to summarize the better bioactivity, cerebral metabolism and pharmacokinetics of NMs and its advanced version. This study sums up research articles on the NMs to treat brain diseases. NMs affect cerebral metabolism and the related mechanisms are revealed. Nanotechnologies are applied to deliver NMs. Appropriate delivery systems (exosomes, nanoparticles, liposomes, lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, protein conjugation and nanosuspensions, etc.) provide better pharmacological and pharmacokinetic characteristics of NMs. The structure-based metabolic reactions and enzyme-modulated catalytic reactions related to advanced versions of NMs alter the pharmacological activities of NMs.
Morphological and Fractal Properties of Brain Tumors
Authors: Sánchez Jacksson , Martín-Landrove Miguel
Published: June 2022

Tumor interface dynamics is a complex process determined by cell proliferation and invasion to neighboring tissues. Parameters extracted from the tumor interface fluctuations allow for the characterization of the particular growth model, which could be relevant for an appropriate diagnosis and the correspondent therapeutic strategy. Previous work, based on scaling analysis of the tumor interface, demonstrated that gliomas strictly behave as it is proposed by the Family-Vicsek ansatz, which corresponds to a proliferative-invasive growth model, while for meningiomas and acoustic schwannomas, a proliferative growth model is more suitable. In the present work, other morphological and dynamical descriptors are used as a complementary view, such as surface regularity, one-dimensional fluctuations represented as ordered series and bi-dimensional fluctuations of the tumor interface. These fluctuations were analyzed by Detrended Fluctuation Analysis to determine generalized fractal dimensions. Results indicate that tumor interface fractal dimension, local roughness exponent and surface regularity are parameters that discriminate between gliomas and meningiomas/schwannomas.
Challenges of Writing Theses and Dissertations in an EFL Context: Genre and Move Analysis of Abstracts Written by Turkish M.A. and Ph.D. Students
Authors: Sükan Serdar , Mohammadzadeh Behbood
Published: June 2022

Writing a thesis or dissertation is a challenging procedure as it is one of the requirements of getting a graduate and postgraduate diploma. Writing an abstract like other parts of a thesis or dissertation has its criterion. For this reason, due to globalism, those abstracts written by non-native English speakers may lack some of the features of the abstract genre and move that must be included. This study examines the moves of M.A. and Ph.D. abstracts written by Turkish students between the 2009 and 2019 academic years on foreign language education at Cyprus International University. The data consisted of 50 abstracts chosen randomly from the ELT department. For the analysis, Hyland’s five-move model has been used. The study results reveal that 40 abstracts did not follow the five moves that Hyland has put forward. Moreover, it can be stated that the absence of some moves in the abstracts may cause restraint for readers to comprehend these studies in terms of communicative purposes.
Psychological Factors of Tourist Expenditure: Neglected or Negligible?
Authors: Štefko Róbert , Džuka Jozef , Lačný Martin
Published: June 2022

Despite recent progress in identifying the factors of tourist expenditure, knowledge of the psychological characteristics of tourists is necessary to fully understand their impact. Therefore, this study attempts to extend the economic, sociodemographic and trip-related factors by including psychological factors in the econometric models. A total of 1,036 Slovak tourists who paid for summer holidays abroad in the summer of 2021 were interviewed. Three of the six psychological factors analysed (two stable personality characteristics – conscientiousness and agreeableness as well as four tendencies expressing willingness to spend or save – spendthrift, tightwad, thrift and spending propensity) correlated significantly with the amount of expenditure. In addition to income, type of travel, children and duration of the stay, the results of the partial least squares test revealed the net effects of tightwad, spending propensity and thrift. The magnitude of the effects of psychological factors points to the need for further research.
Increased Cortisol Response and Low Quality of Life in Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence With Severe Anxiety and Depression
Authors: Cerda-De la O Beatriz , Cerda-Molina Ana Lilia , Mayagoitia-Novales Lilian , de la Cruz-López Margarita , Biagini-Alarcón Marcela , Hernández-Zúñiga Erika Lucia , Borráz-León Javier I. , Whaley-Sánchez Jesús Alfredo
Published: June 2022

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the most prevalent forms of violence against women globally and it is considered a public health problem. Because the experience of IPV is stressful and traumatic for victims, they are at high risk of developing alteration of the Hypothalamus–Pituitary–Adrenal (HPA) axis functioning as well as anxiety and depression symptoms. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life and changes in cortisol response to an acute stressor between women exposed to IPV and non-exposed women. Differences according to symptoms of anxiety and depression including the risk of suicide thoughts, were also analyzed.

Method

Our sample size consisted of 130 women (ages 18–68) grouped as follows: 71 women experiencing IPV and 59 women without history of IPV as control group. All participants completed a battery of questionnaires including IPV exposure, anxiety, and depression symptoms (Beck Inventories), as well as quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF). Salivary cortisol levels in response to a cognitive test with verbal, mathematical, and abstract reasoning were measured at four time points.

Results

Women exposed to IPV, with severe anxiety and depression symptoms as well as suicide thoughts, exhibited heightened cortisol response after the cognitive test and reported lower quality of life compared to (i) women experiencing IPV with moderate symptoms of anxiety and depression, who showed a blunted response, and (ii) women without history of IPV with minimal to moderate symptoms, who showed a decreased cortisol profile. Social relationships dimension was in particular the most affected aspect of quality of life.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the role of cortisol responses as a complementary biological marker to be associated with severe psychiatric disturbances in women exposed to IPV.
Stress, Personality, Attachment, and Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The STERACOVID Prospective Cohort Study Protocol
Authors: Edjolo Arlette , Dorey Jean-Michel , Herrmann Mathieu , Perrot Catherine , Lebrun-Givois Cécile , Buisson Aurélie , El Haouari Hanane , Laurent Bernard , Pongan Elodie , Rouch Isabelle
Published: June 2022

Background

Due to the lockdown linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the French National Authority for Health has recommended reinforced follow-up of psychiatric patients, with particular attention to people over 65 years. Cross-sectional studies reported an increased risk of anxiety, depression, and suicide during this period. Older people with psychiatric disorders are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 and worsening their psychiatric symptoms.

Objective

The main objective is to evaluate the link between coping strategies and the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after lockdown. The secondary objective is to assess the psychological factors influencing lockdown experiences such as personality, attachment type, or coping strategies.

Method/Design

this is a multicenter cohort study including 117 patients followed up by phone in two French geriatric psychiatry units. Sociodemographic variables, psychiatric diagnoses, lockdown conditions, coping strategies, anxiety, and depressive symptoms reported during the first lockdown will be collected retrospectively from the medical file. A first prospective assessment including personality traits, attachment type, and traumatic life events will be conducted at 12 months (T1). Follow-up visits assessing anxious-depressive symptoms and PTSD will be made 18 (T2) and 24 months (T3) after the first lockdown. The primary outcome measure is PTSD symptoms. Secondary outcomes measures are coping strategies, generalized anxiety, anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic, and quality of life.

Discussion

This study aims to determine if the type of coping strategies usually employed have an impact on the onset of PTSD after a lockdown period. It will also determine if these coping strategies are influenced by other factors such as sociodemographic variables, lockdown conditions, particular personality traits, attachment type, and traumatic life events. This study could help identify factors associated with a poorer experience of lockdowns and pandemic crisis in elderly patients followed in a psychiatric center, and guide support in future similar situations.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT04760795, Registered 18 February 2021.
New Insights Into the Social Rumor Characteristics During the COVID-19 Pandemic in China
Authors: Lv Wei , Zhou Wennan , Gao Binli , Han Yefan , Fang Han
Published: June 2022

Background

In the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, several social rumors in the form of false news, conspiracy theories, and magical cures had ever been shared and spread among the general public at an alarming rate, causing public panic and increasing the complexity and difficulty of social management. Therefore, this study aims to reveal the characteristics and the driving factors of the social rumors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Based on a sample of 1,537 rumors collected from Sina Weibo's debunking account, this paper first divided the sample into four categories and calculated the risk level of all kinds of rumors. Then, time evolution analysis and correlation analysis were adopted to study the time evolution characteristics and the spatial and temporal correlation characteristics of the rumors, and the four stages of development were also divided according to the number of rumors. Besides, to extract the key driving factors from 15 rumor-driving factors, the social network analysis method was used to investigate the driver-driver 1-mode network characteristics, the generation driver-rumor 2-mode network characteristics, and the spreading driver-rumor 2-mode characteristics.

Results

Research findings showed that the number of rumors related to COVID-19 were gradually decreased as the outbreak was brought under control, which proved the importance of epidemic prevention and control to maintain social stability. Combining the number and risk perception levels of the four types of rumors, it could be concluded that the Creating Panic-type rumors were the most harmful to society. The results of rumor drivers indicated that panic psychology and the lag in releasing government information played an essential role in driving the generation and spread of rumors. The public's low scientific literacy and difficulty in discerning highly confusing rumors encouraged them to participate in spreading rumors.

Conclusion

The study revealed the mechanism of rumors. In addition, studies involving rumors on different emergencies and social platforms are warranted to enrich the findings.
A Methodology for Investigating Aerosolization of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria From Contaminated Heater Cooler Devices
Authors: Guha Suvajyoti , Wolloscheck David , Abdali Narges , Wentz Catherine , Gillette Nicole , Bauer Kelly A. , Weeks Jon W.
Published: June 2022

Aerosols inadvertently generated by the bubbling of contaminated water in heater cooler devices (HCDs) have been associated with hundreds of patient infections. These aerosols are typically generated by bubbling within the water tanks of HCDs that subsequently escape from the device leading to contamination of the operating room and potentially infect patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. Although these infections are now well-reported in literature, very little research has been done to understand the influence of bubbling frequencies, differences in aerosolization across various species of bacteria, sampling methodologies, infectious dose, etc. Here we report on the development of a miniaturized bubbler with a footprint much smaller than HCDs, that will enable academic researchers and HCD developers to investigate these parameters. Using this bubbler, we found that the aerosolization potential of slow growingMycobacterium chimaerais about one hundred-fold more (p< 0.05) compared to rapid growingM. smegmatisfor low inoculum concentrations (≤106CFU/mL), underscoring the need for using clinically relevantM. chimaerafor evaluating the aerosolization potential of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) from HCDs.
Nuclear Symmetry Energy and Hyperonic Stars in the QMC Model
Authors: Stone Jirina R. , Guichon Pierre A. M. , Thomas Anthony W.
Published: June 2022

The nuclear symmetry energy, together with the other saturation properties of symmetric nuclear matter, plays an important role in low energy nuclear structure of terrestrial systems, as well as astrophysical objects. In particular, its density dependence, both in sub- and supra-saturation regions in high density matter in neutron stars, is of utmost significance and has been a subject of active research for decades, usually within a mean-field framework. We report results obtained using the latest version of Quark-Meson-Coupling Model (QMC-A) with just three variable parameters, the baryon-meson coupling constants in free space. It is shown that these parameters can be determined directly using nuclear matter (NM) properties at saturation; two parameters of symmetric nuclear matter (SNM), the baryon number density and the energy per particle, and the symmetry energy coefficient of asymmetric nuclear matter (ANM). The effects of uncertainties in the these parameters and propagation of these uncertainties through the calculation of properties of dense hyperonic matter and cold neutron stars are demonstrated. This approach leads to new limits on both the NM parameters and the QMC coupling constants. The results, which exploit the unique features of the QMC model, are discussed and future prospects are outlined.
RNAvigator: A Pipeline to Identify Candidates for Functional RNA Structure Elements
Authors: Delli Ponti Riccardo , Wang Jiaxu , Wan Yue , Huber Roland G.
Published: June 2022

Identifying structural elements in long and complex RNAs, such as long non-coding and RNA viruses, can shed light on the functionality and mechanisms of such RNAs. Here we present RNAvigator, a tool able to identify elements of structural importance by using experimental SHAPE data or SHAPE-like predictions in conjunction with stability and entropy assessments. RNAvigator recognizes regions that are the most stable, unambiguous, and structured on RNA molecules, and thus potentially functional. When relying on predictions, RNAvigator uses the CROSS algorithm, a neural network trained on experimental data that achieved an AUC of 0.74 on hepatitis C virus SHAPE-MaP data and which was able to improve the predictive power of Superfold. By using RNAvigator, we can identify known functional regions on the complete hepatitis C virus genome, including the regulatory regions CRE and IRES, and the 3’ UTR of dengue virus, a region known for the presence of structural elements essential for its replication, and functional regions of long non-coding RNAs such as XIST and HOTAIR. We envision that RNAvigator will be a useful tool for studying long and complex RNA molecules using known chemical probing data or, if they are not available, by employing predicted profiles.
Improving Policy for the Prevention of Falls Among Community-Dwelling Older People—A Scoping Review and Quality Assessment of International National and State Level Public Policies
Authors: Natora Aleksandra H. , Oxley Jennifer , Barclay Linda , Taylor Kelvin , Bolam Bruce , Haines Terry P.
Published: June 2022

Objectives: Effective public policy to prevent falls among independent community-dwelling older adults is needed to address this global public health issue. This paper aimed to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement of future policies to increase their likelihood of success.

Methods: A systematic scoping review was conducted to identify policies published between 2005–2020. Policy quality was assessed using a novel framework and content criteria adapted from the World Health Organization’s guideline for Developing policies to prevent injuries and violence and the New Zealand Government’s Policy Quality Framework.

Results: A total of 107 articles were identified from 14 countries. Content evaluation of 25 policies revealed that only 54% of policies met the WHO criteria, and only 59% of policies met the NZ criteria. Areas for improvement included quantified objectives, prioritised interventions, budget, ministerial approval, and monitoring and evaluation.

Conclusion: The findings suggest deficiencies in a substantial number of policies may contribute to a disconnect between policy intent and implementation. A clear and evidence-based model falls prevention policy is warranted to enhance future government efforts to reduce the global burden of falls.
Rapid Identification of HSA Genetically Modified Goats by Combining Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) with Lateral Flow Dipstick (LFD)
Authors: Su Qiuju , Guan Kaifeng , Zhou Xiang , Zhou Yang , Liu Bang
Published: June 2022

Genetically modified (GM) animals have attracted considerable attention and faced challenges. Human serum albumin (HSA) GM goats have been used to produce goat milk with serum albumin from humans, which has shown great potential in the market. Establishing an accurate method to distinguish goats with a genome modified by HSA has become necessary. Here, we established a platform to detect HSA GM goats by combining the advantages of recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and lateral flow dipstick (LFD) strategies. The whole detection process could be completed within 1 h, obtaining a direct result that could be visualized by a characteristic red band after a quick amplification under a constant temperature of 42 °C in the RPA experiments. Moreover, the GM goats could be identified with a detection limit of 0.1 ng using our method. Therefore, this study provided a rapid and convenient RPA-LFD method for the immediate detection of HSA GM goats. This will be useful for the identification of HSA GM goats, which may be used to distinguish the mixture of GM mutton and normal mutton.