bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pulsed Laser Ablation: A Facile and Low-Temperature Fabrication of Highly Oriented n-Type Zinc Oxide Thin Films
Authors: Ciolan Mihai Alexandru , Motrescu Iuliana
Published: January 2022

Eco-friendly and facile zinc oxide (ZnO) synthesis of zinc-oxide-based nanomaterials with specific properties is a great challenge due to its excellent industrial applications in the field of semiconductors and solar cells. In this paper, we report the production of zinc oxide thin films at relatively low deposition temperature employing a simple and non-toxic method at low substrate temperature: pulsed laser ablation, as a first step for developing a n-ZnO/p-Si heterojunction. Single-phase n-type zinc oxide thin films are confirmed by an X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern revealed by the maximum diffraction intensity from the (002) plane. Absorbance measurements indicate an increase in the band gap energy close to the bulk ZnO. A 350 °C substrate temperature led to obtaining a highly porous film with high crystallinity and high bandgap, showing good premises for further applications.
Numerical Investigation into Lateral Behavior of Monopile Due to Scour Enhanced: Role of State-Dependent Dilatancy
Authors: Jia Ning , Liu Junwei , Wang Xuetao
Published: January 2022

The removal of soil during scouring is crucial to the lateral resistance of piles in bridges of railways or highways. In this process, dilatancy of the interface soil induces variation in normal stress, which in turn influences the interface soil lateral resistance. Due to the lack of analysis in previous studies in terms of cohesionless soil state (i.e., relative density and stress level) in remaining soil after scouring, it is difficult to simulate the properties and behavior of interface soil. The objective of this study is to explain the change of the sand state at the compression interface after scouring, quantify the stress-strain characteristics of the pile during this period and eventually present the prediction p-y curves of the lateral service capacity. The state-dependent constitutive model for saturated sand is employed, combined with the 3D finite element simulation, and the state development of the remaining soil is exhibited. The enhancement of dilation and stress relief of the remaining shallow horizon eventually gives rise to the reduction of the lateral resistance. In addition, the remaining overburden soil surrounding the pile restricts the interface soil, enlarging the normal stress and strengthening the deep horizon. Then, the friction angle considered the influence of state-dependent changes is used to quantify the hyperbolic p-y curves.
An Enhanced Discrete Element Modeling Method Considering Spatiotemporal Correlations for Investigating Deformations and Failures of Jointed Rock Slopes
Authors: Zhang Xiaona , Sun Yan , Mei Gang
Published: January 2022

The discrete element method (DEM) is commonly employed to analyze the deformations and failures of jointed rock slopes. However, when the iterative calculation process of the DEM modeling should be terminated is still unclear. To solve the above problem, in this paper, a discrete element modeling method based on the energy correlation coefficient is proposed to determine when the iterative calculation process could be terminated, and then applied the proposed method to analyze the deformations and failures of jointed rock slopes. Compared with the existing discrete element modeling method based on the displacement variation coefficient, the proposed method based on the energy correlation coefficient is much more applicable for jointed rock slopes. The main advantage of the proposed method is that there is no need to determine the position of the potential sliding surface, and the displacements of all blocks are no longer counted as statistics, but the spatiotemporal correlations between all blocks are considered. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by comparing with the existing method based on the displacement variation coefficient for an abbreviated jointed rock slope. Moreover, the proposed method is successfully applied to analyze a real-world jointed rock slope without an obvious potential sliding surface in which the existing method cannot work.
Climate Change and Livestock Production: A Literature Review
Authors: Cheng Muxi , McCarl Bruce , Fei Chengcheng
Published: January 2022

Globally, the climate is changing, and this has implications for livestock. Climate affects livestock growth rates, milk and egg production, reproductive performance, morbidity, and mortality, along with feed supply. Simultaneously, livestock is a climate change driver, generating 14.5% of total anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Herein, we review the literature addressing climate change and livestock, covering impacts, emissions, adaptation possibilities, and mitigation strategies. While the existing literature principally focuses on ruminants, we extended the scope to include non-ruminants. We found that livestock are affected by climate change and do enhance climate change through emissions but that there are adaptation and mitigation actions that can limit the effects of climate change. We also suggest some research directions and especially find the need for work in developing country settings. In the context of climate change, adaptation measures are pivotal to sustaining the growing demand for livestock products, but often their relevance depends on local conditions. Furthermore, mitigation is key to limiting the future extent of climate change and there are a number of possible strategies.
Effects of Air Pollutants on Summer Precipitation in Different Regions of Beijing
Authors: Yang Yan , Zhou Wei , Gao Qian , Zhao Delong , Liu Xiange , Wang Yongqing
Published: January 2022

Many studies have shown that air pollutants have complex impacts on urban precipitation. Meteorological weather station and satellite Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) product data from the last 20 years, combined with simulation results from the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem), this paper focuses on the effects of air pollutants on summer precipitation in different regions of Beijing. These results showed that air pollution intensity during the summer affected the precipitation contribution rate (PCR) of plains and mountainous regions in the Beijing area, especially in the plains. Over the past 20 years, plains PCR increased by ~10% when the AOD augmented by 0.15, whereas it decreased with lower pollution levels. In contrast, PCR in mountainous areas decreased with higher pollution levels and increased with lower pollution levels. Our analysis from model results indicated that aerosol increases reduce the effective particle size of cloud droplets and raindrops. Smaller cloud raindrops more readily transport to high air layers and participate in the generation of ice-phase substances in the clouds, increasing the total amount of cloud water in the air in a certain time, which ultimately enhanced precipitation intensity on the plains. The removal of pollutants caused by increased precipitation in the plains decreased rainfall levels in mountainous areas.
Assessment of the Factors Influencing Sulfur Dioxide Emissions in Shandong, China
Authors: Wu Huisheng , Hong Shan , Hu Maogui , Li Yongheng , Yun Wenzheng
Published: January 2022

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a serious air pollutant emitted from different sources in many developing regions worldwide, where the contribution of different potential influencing factors remains unclear. Using Shandong, a typical industrial province in China as an example, we studied the spatial distribution of SO2 and used geographical detectors to explore its influencing factors. Based on the daily average concentration in Shandong Province from 2014 to 2019, we explored the influence of the diurnal temperature range, secondary production, precipitation, wind speed, soot emission, sunshine duration, and urbanization rate on the SO2 concentration. The results showed that the diurnal temperature range had the largest impact on SO2, with q values of 0.69, followed by secondary production (0.51), precipitation (0.46), and wind speed (0.42). There was no significant difference in the SO2 distribution between pairs of sunshine durations, soot emissions, and urbanization rates. The meteorological factors of precipitation, wind speed, and diurnal temperature range were sensitive to seasonal changes. There were nonlinear enhancement relationships among those meteorological factors to the SO2 pollution. There were obvious geographical differences in the human activity factors of soot emissions, secondary production, and urbanization rates. The amount of SO2 emissions should be adjusted in different seasons considering the varied effect of meteorological factors.
Assessment of Different CFD Modeling and Solving Approaches for a Supersonic Steam Ejector Simulation
Authors: Xiao Jingshu , Wu Qiao , Chen Lizhou , Ke Weichang , Wu Cong , Yang Xuelong , Yu Liangying , Jiang Haifeng
Published: January 2022

The effects of different modeling and solving approaches on the simulation of a steam ejector have been investigated with the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. The four most frequently used and recommended turbulence models (standard k-ε, RNG k-ε, realizable k-ε and SST k-ω), two near-wall treatments (standard wall function and enhanced wall treatment), two solvers (pressure- and density-based solvers) and two spatial discretization schemes ( the second-order upwind scheme and the quadratic upstream interpolation for convective kinematics (QUICK) of the convection term have been tested and compared for a supersonic steam ejector under the same conditions as experimental data. In total, more than 185 cases of 17 different modeling and solving approaches have been carried out in this work. The simulation results from the pressure-based solver (PBS) are slightly closer to the experimental data than those from the density-based solver (DBS) and are thus utilized in the subsequent simulations. When a high-density mesh with y+ < 1 is used, the SST k-ω model can obtain the best predictions of the maximum entrainment ratio (ER) and an adequate prediction of the critical back pressure (CBP), while the realizable k-ε model with the enhanced wall treatment can obtain the best prediction of the CBP and an adequate prediction of the ER. When the standard wall function is used with the three k-ε models, the realizable k-ε model can obtain the best predictions of the maximum ER, and the three k-ε models can gain the same CBP value. For a steam ejector with recirculation inside the diffuser, the realizable k-ε model or the enhanced wall treatment is recommended for adoption in the modeling approach. When the spatial discretization scheme of the convection term changes from a second-order upwind scheme to a QUICK scheme, the effect can be ignored for the maximum ER calculation, while only the CBP value from the standard k-ε model with the standard wall function is reduced by 2.13%. The calculation deviation of the ER between the two schemes increases with the back pressure at the unchoked flow region, especially when the standard k-ε model is adopted. The realizable k-ε model with the two wall treatments and the SST k-ω model is recommended, while the standard k-ε is more sensitive to the near-wall treatment and the spatial discretization scheme and is not recommended for an ejector simulation.
Statistical Modeling of RPCA-FCM in Spatiotemporal Rainfall Patterns Recognition
Authors: Che Mat Nor Siti Mariana , Shaharudin Shazlyn Milleana , Ismail Shuhaida , Mohd Najib Sumayyah Aimi , Tan Mou Leong , Ahmad Norhaiza
Published: January 2022

This study was conducted to identify the spatiotemporal torrential rainfall patterns of the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, as it is the region most affected by the torrential rainfall of the Northeast Monsoon season. Dimension reduction, such as the classical Principal Components Analysis (PCA) coupled with the clustering approach, is often applied to reduce the dimension of the data while simultaneously performing cluster partitions. However, the classical PCA is highly insensitive to outliers, as it assigns equal weights to each set of observations. Hence, applying the classical PCA could affect the cluster partitions of the rainfall patterns. Furthermore, traditional clustering algorithms only allow each element to exclusively belong to one cluster, thus observations within overlapping clusters of the torrential rainfall datasets might not be captured effectively. In this study, a statistical model of torrential rainfall pattern recognition was proposed to alleviate these issues. Here, a Robust PCA (RPCA) based on Tukey’s biweight correlation was introduced and the optimum breakdown point to extract the number of components was identified. A breakdown point of 0.4 at 85% cumulative variance percentage efficiently extracted the number of components to avoid low-frequency variations or insignificant clusters on a spatial scale. Based on the extracted components, the rainfall patterns were further characterized based on cluster solutions attained using Fuzzy C-means clustering (FCM) to allow data elements to belong to more than one cluster, as the rainfall data structure permits this. Lastly, data generated using a Monte Carlo simulation were used to evaluate the performance of the proposed statistical modeling. It was found that the proposed RPCA-FCM performed better using RPCA-FCM compared to the classical PCA coupled with FCM in identifying the torrential rainfall patterns of Peninsular Malaysia’s East Coast.
Alginate Hydrogel Microtubes for Salivary Gland Cell Organization and Cavitation
Authors: Jorgensen Matthew , Ramesh Pujhitha , Toro Miriam , Evans Emily , Moskwa Nicholas , Zhang Xulang , Sharfstein Susan T. , Larsen Melinda , Xie Yubing
Published: January 2022

Understanding the different regulatory functions of epithelial and mesenchymal cell types in salivary gland development and cellular organization is essential for proper organoid formation and salivary gland tissue regeneration. Here, we demonstrate a biocompatible platform using pre-formed alginate hydrogel microtubes to facilitate direct epithelial–mesenchymal cell interaction for 3D salivary gland cell organization, which allows for monitoring cellular organization while providing a protective barrier from cell-cluster loss during medium changes. Using mouse salivary gland ductal epithelial SIMS cells as the epithelial model cell type and NIH 3T3 fibroblasts or primary E16 salivary mesenchyme cells as the stromal model cell types, self-organization from epithelial–mesenchymal interaction was examined. We observed that epithelial and mesenchymal cells undergo aggregation on day 1, cavitation by day 4, and generation of an EpCAM-expressing epithelial cell layer as early as day 7 of the co-culture in hydrogel microtubes, demonstrating the utility of hydrogel microtubes to facilitate heterotypic cell–cell interactions to form cavitated organoids. Thus, pre-formed alginate microtubes are a promising co-culture method for further understanding epithelial and mesenchymal interaction during tissue morphogenesis and for future practical applications in regenerative medicine.
In Silico Study to Enhance Delivery Efficiency of Charged Nanoscale Nasal Spray Aerosols to the Olfactory Region Using External Magnetic Fields
Authors: Li Benjamin , Feng Yu
Published: January 2022

Various factors and challenges are involved in efficiently delivering drugs using nasal sprays to the olfactory region to treat central nervous system diseases. In this study, computational fluid dynamics was used to simulate nasal drug delivery to (1) examine effects on drug deposition when various external magnetic fields are applied to charged particles, (2) comprehensively study effects of multiple parameters (i.e., particle aerodynamic diameter; injection velocity magnitude, angle, and position; magnetic force strength and direction), and (3) determine how to achieve the optimal delivery efficiency to the olfactory epithelium. The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations governed airflow, with a realistic inhalation waveform implemented at the nostrils. Particle trajectories were modeled using the one-way coupled Euler–Lagrange model. A current-carrying wire generated a magnetic field to apply force on charged particles and direct them to the olfactory region. Once drug particles reached the olfactory region, their diffusion through mucus to the epithelium was calculated analytically. Particle aerodynamic diameter, injection position, and magnetic field strength were found to be interconnected in their effects on delivery efficiency. Specific combinations of these parameters achieved over 65-fold higher drug delivery efficiency compared with uniform injections with no magnetic fields. The insight gained suggests how to integrate these factors to achieve the optimal efficiency.
Astrocyte Control of Zika Infection Is Independent of Interferon Type I and Type III Expression
Authors: Das Mithun , Smith Monique L. , Furihata Tomomi , Sarker Subir , O’Shea Ross , Helbig Karla J.
Published: January 2022

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a pathogenic neurotropic virus that infects the central nervous system (CNS) and results in various neurological complications. Astrocytes are the dominant CNS cell producer of the antiviral cytokine IFN-β, however little is known about the factors involved in their ability to mediate viral infection control. Recent studies have displayed differential responses in astrocytes to ZIKV infection, and this study sought to elucidate astrocyte cell-specific responses to ZIKV using a variety of cell models infected with either the African (MR766) or Asian (PRVABC59) ZIKV strains. Expression levels of pro-inflammatory (TNF-α and IL-1β) and inflammatory (IL-8) cytokines following viral infection were low and mostly comparable within the ZIKV-resistant and ZIKV-susceptible astrocyte models, with better control of proinflammatory cytokines displayed in resistant astrocyte cells, synchronising with the viral infection level at specific timepoints. Astrocyte cell lines displaying ZIKV-resistance also demonstrated early upregulation of multiple antiviral genes compared with susceptible astrocytes. Interestingly, pre-stimulation of ZIKV-susceptible astrocytes with either poly(I:C) or poly(dA:dT) showed efficient protection against ZIKV compared with pre-stimulation with either recombinant IFN-β or IFN-λ, perhaps indicating that a more diverse antiviral gene expression is necessary for astrocyte control of ZIKV, and this is driven in part through interferon-independent mechanisms.
Metabolic, Cardiac, and Hemorheological Responses to Submaximal Exercise under Light and Moderate Hypobaric Hypoxia in Healthy Men
Authors: Park Hun-Young , Kim Jeong-Weon , Nam Sang-Seok
Published: January 2022

We compared the effects of metabolic, cardiac, and hemorheological responses to submaximal exercise under light hypoxia (LH) and moderate hypoxia (MH) versus normoxia (N). Ten healthy men (aged 21.3 ± 1.0 years) completed 30 min submaximal exercise corresponding to 60% maximal oxygen uptake at normoxia on a cycle ergometer under normoxia (760 mmHg), light hypoxia (596 mmHg, simulated 2000 m altitude), and moderate hypoxia (526 mmHg, simulated 3000 m altitude) after a 30 min exposure in the respective environments on different days, in a random order. Metabolic parameters (oxygen saturation (SPO2), minute ventilation, oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide excretion, respiratory exchange ratio, and blood lactate), cardiac function (heart rate (HR), stroke volume, cardiac output, and ejection fraction), and hemorheological properties (erythrocyte deformability and aggregation) were measured at rest and 5, 10, 15, and 30 min after exercise. SPO2 significantly reduced as hypoxia became more severe (MH > LH > N), and blood lactate was significantly higher in the MH than in the LH and N groups. HR significantly increased in the MH and LH groups compared to the N group. There was no significant difference in hemorheological properties, including erythrocyte deformability and aggregation. Thus, submaximal exercise under light/moderate hypoxia induced greater metabolic and cardiac responses but did not affect hemorheological properties.
A TRICk to Improve the Effectiveness of RIC: Role of Limb Temperature in Enhancing the Effectiveness of Remote Ischemic Conditioning
Authors: Penna Claudia , Sorge Matteo , Tullio Francesca , Comità Stefano , Femminò Saveria , Brancaccio Mara , Pagliaro Pasquale
Published: January 2022

Background: Treatment of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury is still an unmet clinical need. A large variability of remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) protection has been reported; however, no studies have considered the temperature of the ischemic limb. We analyzed the effects of temperature on RIC protection. Methods: Left hind-limbs of anesthetized male mice were immersed in warm (40 °C, warm-RIC) or cold (20 °C, cold-RIC) water and subjected to a RIC protocol (4 × 5 min limb ischemia/reperfusion). In the control groups (warm-CTR or cold-CTR), the limbs underwent thermic conditions only. Isolated hearts underwent 30 min ischemia and 60 min reperfusion. A PI3K-inhibitor, LY294002 (5 µM), was infused in warm-RIC hearts before the IR protocol (warm-RIC LY). Infarct size was evaluated by nitro blue tetrazolium staining and expressed as the percent of risk area. Results: While cold-RIC did not reduce the infarct size compared to cold-CTR (51 ± 1.62% vs. 54 ± 1.07% of risk area, p = NS), warm-RIC (44 ± 1.13%) significantly reduced the infarct size with respect to either cold-RIC (p < 0.001) or warm-CTR (58 ± 1.41%, p < 0.0001). LY294002 infusion revealed the PI3K/Akt involvement in the warm-RIC protection. Infarct size reduction was abrogated by LY294002 pretreatment (warm-RIC: 44 ± 1.13% vs. warm-CTR 58 ± 1.41% p < 0.0001; vs. warm-RIC LY 54 ± 1.69% p = 0.0002). Conclusion: our study shows a remarkable difference between warm-RIC and cold-RIC in terms of infarct size reduction, supporting a pivotal role for limb temperature in RIC-induced cardioprotection.
Stem Cell Transplantation Therapy and Neurological Disorders: Current Status and Future Perspectives
Authors: Rahman Md. , Islam Md. , Islam Mohammad , Harun-Or-Rashid Md. , Islam Mahfuzul , Abdullah Sabirin , Uddin Mohammad , Das Sumit , Rahaman Md. , Ahmed Muniruddin , Alhumaydhi Fahad , Emran Talha , Mohamed Amany , Faruque Mohammad , Khandaker Mayeen , Mostafa-Hedeab Gomaa
Published: January 2022

Neurodegenerative diseases are a global health issue with inadequate therapeutic options and an inability to restore the damaged nervous system. With advances in technology, health scientists continue to identify new approaches to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Lost or injured neurons and glial cells can lead to the development of several neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. In recent years, neurons and glial cells have successfully been generated from stem cells in the laboratory utilizing cell culture technologies, fueling efforts to develop stem cell-based transplantation therapies for human patients. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or differentiate into a germ cell with specialized characteristics, such as muscle cells, red blood cells, or brain cells. Although several obstacles remain before stem cells can be used for clinical applications, including some potential disadvantages that must be overcome, this cellular development represents a potential pathway through which patients may eventually achieve the ability to live more normal lives. In this review, we summarize the stem cell-based therapies that have been explored for various neurological disorders, discuss the potential advantages and drawbacks of these therapies, and examine future directions for this field.
Breeding for Economically and Environmentally Sustainable Wheat Varieties: An Integrated Approach from Genomics to Selection
Authors: Paux Etienne , Lafarge Stéphane , Balfourier François , Derory Jérémy , Charmet Gilles , Alaux Michael , Perchet Geoffrey , Bondoux Marion , Baret Frédéric , Barillot Romain , Ravel Catherine , Sourdille Pierre , Le Gouis Jacques ,   on behalf of the BREEDWHEAT Consortium
Published: January 2022

There is currently a strong societal demand for sustainability, quality, and safety in bread wheat production. To address these challenges, new and innovative knowledge, resources, tools, and methods to facilitate breeding are needed. This starts with the development of high throughput genomic tools including single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, high density molecular marker maps, and full genome sequences. Such powerful tools are essential to perform genome-wide association studies (GWAS), to implement genomic and phenomic selection, and to characterize the worldwide diversity. This is also useful to breeders to broaden the genetic basis of elite varieties through the introduction of novel sources of genetic diversity. Improvement in varieties particularly relies on the detection of genomic regions involved in agronomical traits including tolerance to biotic (diseases and pests) and abiotic (drought, nutrient deficiency, high temperature) stresses. When enough resolution is achieved, this can result in the identification of candidate genes that could further be characterized to identify relevant alleles. Breeding must also now be approached through in silico modeling to simulate plant development, investigate genotype × environment interactions, and introduce marker–trait linkage information in the models to better implement genomic selection. Breeders must be aware of new developments and the information must be made available to the world wheat community to develop new high-yielding varieties that can meet the challenge of higher wheat production in a sustainable and fluctuating agricultural context. In this review, we compiled all knowledge and tools produced during the BREEDWHEAT project to show how they may contribute to face this challenge in the coming years.
Bacterial Communities in Lanna Phak-Gard-Dong (Pickled Mustard Green) from Three Different Ethnolinguistic Groups in Northern Thailand
Authors: Yongsawas Rujipas , Inta Angkana , Kampuansai Jatupol , Pandith Hataichanok , Suwannarach Nakarin , Lamyong Saisamorn , Chantawannakul Panuwan , Chitov Thararat , Disayathanoowat Terd
Published: January 2022

The Lanna region, the main part of northern Thailand, is a place of ethnic diversity. In this study, we investigated phak-gard-dong (PGD), or pickled mustard green (Brassica juncea L. Czern.), for its beneficial bacteria content and to analyse the variations in bacterial compositions among the PGD of three different ethnolinguistic groups, the Karen, Lawa, and Shan. DNA was extracted from the PGD pickled brine, and 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing was performed. Metagenomic data were analysed and the results demonstrated that the dominant bacterial species were Weissella (54.2%, 65.0%, and 10.0%) and Lactobacillus (17.5%, 5.6%, and 79.1%) in the PGD of the Karen, Lawa, and Shan, respectively. Pediococcus was found only in the PGD of the Karen and Shan. Bacterial communities in PGD of the Lawa were distinctive from the other ethnic groups, both in the alpha and beta diversity, as well as the predicted functions of the bacterial communities. In addition, overall network analysis results were correlated to bacterial proportions in every ethnic PGD. We suggest that all ethnic PGDs have the potential to be a good source of beneficial bacteria, warranting its conservation and further development into health food products.
Effects of Green Light on Elongation Do Not Interact with Far-Red, Unless the Phytochrome Photostationary State (PSS) Changes in Tomato
Authors: Zhang Xue , Heuvelink Ep , Melegkou Michaela , Yuan Xin , Jiang Weijie , Marcelis Leo F. M.
Published: January 2022

Green light (G) could trigger a “shade avoidance syndrome” (SAS) similarly to far-red light. We aimed to test the hypothesis that G interacts with far-red light to induce SAS, with this interaction mediated by phytochromes (phys). The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Moneymaker) wild-type (WT) and phyA, phyB1B2, and phyAB1B2 mutants were grown in a climate room with or without 30 µmol m−2 s−1 G on red/blue and red/blue/far-red backgrounds, maintaining the same photosynthetically active radiation (400–700 nm) of 150 µmol m−2 s−1 and red/blue ratio of 3. G hardly affected the dry mass accumulation or leaf area of WT, phyA, and phyB1B2 with or without far-red light. A lower phytochrome photostationary state (PSS) by adding far-red light significantly increased the total dry mass by enhancing the leaf area in WT plants but not in phy mutants. When the background light did not contain far-red light, partially replacing red/blue with G did not significantly affect stem elongation. However, when the background light contained far-red light, partially replacing red/blue with G enhanced elongation only when associated with a decrease in PSS, indicating that G interacts with far-red light on elongation only when the PSS changes.
O-methylated N-glycans Distinguish Mosses from Vascular Plants
Authors: Stenitzer David , Mócsai Réka , Zechmeister Harald , Reski Ralf , Decker Eva L. , Altmann Friedrich
Published: January 2022

In the animal kingdom, a stunning variety of N-glycan structures have emerged with phylogenetic specificities of various kinds. In the plant kingdom, however, N-glycosylation appears to be strictly conservative and uniform. From mosses to all kinds of gymno- and angiosperms, land plants mainly express structures with the common pentasaccharide core substituted with xylose, core α1,3-fucose, maybe terminal GlcNAc residues and Lewis A determinants. In contrast, green algae biosynthesise unique and unusual N-glycan structures with uncommon monosaccharides, a plethora of different structures and various kinds of O-methylation. Mosses, a group of plants that are separated by at least 400 million years of evolution from vascular plants, have hitherto been seen as harbouring an N-glycosylation machinery identical to that of vascular plants. To challenge this view, we analysed the N-glycomes of several moss species using MALDI-TOF/TOF, PGC-MS/MS and GC-MS. While all species contained the plant-typical heptasaccharide with no, one or two terminal GlcNAc residues (MMXF, MGnXF and GnGnXF, respectively), many species exhibited MS signals with 14.02 Da increments as characteristic for O-methylation. Throughout all analysed moss N-glycans, the level of methylation differed strongly even within the same family. In some species, methylated glycans dominated, while others had no methylation at all. GC-MS revealed the main glycan from Funaria hygrometrica to contain 2,6-O-methylated terminal mannose. Some mosses additionally presented very large, likewise methylated complex-type N-glycans. This first finding of the methylation of N-glycans in land plants mirrors the presumable phylogenetic relation of mosses to green algae, where the O-methylation of mannose and many other monosaccharides is a common trait.
Association of Angio-LncRNAs MIAT rs1061540/MALAT1 rs3200401 Molecular Variants with Gensini Score in Coronary Artery Disease Patients Undergoing Angiography
Authors: Elwazir Mohamed Y. , Hussein Mohammad H. , Toraih Eman A. , Al Ageeli Essam , Esmaeel Safya E. , Fawzy Manal S. , Faisal Salwa
Published: January 2022

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as essential biomolecules with variable diagnostic and/or prognostic utility in several diseases, including coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed for the first time to investigate the potential association of five angiogenesis-related lncRNAs (PUNISHER, SENCR, MIAT, MALAT1, and GATA6-AS) variants with CAD susceptibility and/or severity. TaqMan Real-Time genotyping for PUNISHER rs12318065A/C, SENCR rs12420823C/T, MIAT rs1061540C/T, MALAT1 rs3200401T/C, and GATA6-AS1 rs73390820A/G were run on the extracted genomic DNA from 100 unrelated patients with stable CAD undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography and from 100 controls. After adjusting covariates, the studied variants showed no association with disease susceptibility; however, MIAT*T/T genotype was associated with a more severe Gensini score. In contrast, MALAT1*T/C heterozygosity was associated with a lower score. The lipid profile, and to a lesser extent smoking status, male sex, weight, hypertension, and MALAT1 (T > C) (negative correlation), explained the variance between patients/control groups via a principal component analysis. Incorporating the principal components into a logistic regression model to predict CAD yielded a 0.92 AUC. In conclusion: MIAT rs1061540 and MALAT1 rs3200401 variants were associated with CAD severity and Gensini score in the present sample of the Egyptian population. Further large multi-center and functional analyses are needed to confirm the results and identify the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Role of Lipopolysaccharide, Derived from Various Bacterial Species, in Pulpitis—A Systematic Review
Authors: Brodzikowska Aniela , Ciechanowska Monika , Kopka Michał , Stachura Albert , Włodarski Paweł K.
Published: January 2022

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is widely used for induction of inflammation in various human tissues, including dental pulp. The purpose of this study was to summarize current medical literature focusing on (1) cell types used by researchers to simulate dental pulp inflammation, (2) LPS variants utilized in experimental settings and how these choices affect the findings. Our study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). We searched for studies reporting outcomes of lipopolysaccharide application on dental pulp cells in vitro using electronic databases: MEDLINE, Web of Science and Scopus. Having gathered data from 115 papers, we aimed to present all known effects LPS has on different cell types present in dental pulp. We focused on specific receptors and particles that are involved in molecular pathways. Our review provides an essential foundation for further research using in vitro models of pulpitis.
β-Synuclein: An Enigmatic Protein with Diverse Functionality
Authors: Hayashi Junna , Carver John A.
Published: January 2022

α-Synuclein (αS) is a small, unstructured, presynaptic protein expressed in the brain. Its aggregated form is a major component of Lewy bodies, the large proteinaceous deposits in Parkinson’s disease. The closely related protein, β-Synuclein (βS), is co-expressed with αS. In vitro, βS acts as a molecular chaperone to inhibit αS aggregation. As a result of this assignation, βS has been largely understudied in comparison to αS. However, recent reports suggest that βS promotes neurotoxicity, implying that βS is involved in other cellular pathways with functions independent of αS. Here, we review the current literature pertaining to human βS in order to understand better the role of βS in homeostasis and pathology. Firstly, the structure of βS is discussed. Secondly, the ability of βS to (i) act as a molecular chaperone; (ii) regulate synaptic function, lipid binding, and the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system; (iii) mediate apoptosis; (iv) participate in protein degradation pathways; (v) modulate intracellular metal levels; and (vi) promote cellular toxicity and protein aggregation is explored. Thirdly, the P123H and V70M mutations of βS, which are associated with dementia with Lewy bodies, are discussed. Finally, the importance of post-translational modifications on the structure and function of βS is reviewed. Overall, it is concluded that βS has both synergistic and antagonistic interactions with αS, but it may also possess important cellular functions independent of αS.
Predictive Factors for Skip Lymph Node Metastasis and Their Implication on Recurrence in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Ryu Young-Jae , Kwon Seong-Young , Lim Soo-Young , Na Yong-Min , Park Min-Ho
Published: January 2022

Skip lymph node (LN) metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) belong to N1b classification in the absence of central neck LN involvement. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive factors of skip metastases and their impact on recurrence in PTC patients with pN1b. A total of 334 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy with LN dissection (central and lateral neck compartment) followed by radioactive iodine ablation were included. Patients with skip metastases tended to have a small primary tumor (≤1 cm) and single lateral neck level involvement. Tumor size ≤ 1 cm was an important predictive factor for skip metastases. Univariate analysis for recurrence showed that patients with a central LN ratio > 0.68, lateral LN ratio > 0.21, and stimulated thyroglobulin (Tg) levels > 7.3 ng/mL had shorter RFS (recurrence-free survival). The stimulated Tg level was associated with shorter RFS on multivariate analysis (>7.3 vs. ≤7.3 ng/mL; hazard ratio, 4.226; 95% confidence interval, 2.226−8.022; p < 0.001). Although patients with skip metastases tended to have a small primary tumor and lower burden of lateral neck LN involvement, there was no association between skip metastases and RFS in PTC with pN1b. Stimulated Tg level was a strong predictor of recurrence.
A Unique Immune-Related Gene Signature Represents Advanced Liver Fibrosis and Reveals Potential Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Sung Pil-Soo , Kim Chang-Min , Cha Jung-Hoon , Park Jin-Young , Yu Yun-Suk , Wang Hee-Jung , Kim Jin-Kyeoung , Bae Si-Hyun
Published: January 2022

Innate and adaptive immune responses are critically associated with the progression of fibrosis in chronic liver diseases. In this study, we aim to identify a unique immune-related gene signature representing advanced liver fibrosis and to reveal potential therapeutic targets. Seventy-seven snap-frozen liver tissues with various chronic liver diseases at different fibrosis stages (1: n = 12, 2: n = 12, 3: n = 25, 4: n = 28) were subjected to expression analyses. Gene expression analysis was performed using the nCounter PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel (NanoString Technologies, Seattle, WA, USA). Biological meta-analysis was performed using the CBS Probe PINGSTM (CbsBioscience, Daejeon, Korea). Using non-tumor tissues from surgically resected specimens, we identified the immune-related, five-gene signature (CHIT1_FCER1G_OSM_VEGFA_ZAP70) that reliably differentiated patients with low- (F1 and F2) and high-grade fibrosis (F3 and F4; accuracy = 94.8%, specificity = 91.7%, sensitivity = 96.23%). The signature was independent of all pathological and clinical features and was independently associated with high-grade fibrosis using multivariate analysis. Among these genes, the expression of inflammation-associated FCER1G, OSM, VEGFA, and ZAP70 was lower in high-grade fibrosis than in low-grade fibrosis, whereas CHIT1 expression, which is associated with fibrogenic activity of macrophages, was higher in high-grade fibrosis. Meta-analysis revealed that STAT3, a potential druggable target, highly interacts with the five-gene signature. Overall, we identified an immune gene signature that reliably predicts advanced fibrosis in chronic liver disease. This signature revealed potential immune therapeutic targets to ameliorate liver fibrosis.
Impact of Sarcopenia and Myosteatosis in Non-Cirrhotic Stages of Liver Diseases: Similarities and Differences across Aetiologies and Possible Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Cespiati Annalisa , Meroni Marica , Lombardi Rosa , Oberti Giovanna , Dongiovanni Paola , Fracanzani Anna Ludovica
Published: January 2022

Sarcopenia is defined as a loss of muscle strength, mass and function and it is a predictor of mortality. Sarcopenia is not only a geriatric disease, but it is related to several chronic conditions, including liver diseases in both its early and advanced stages. Despite the increasing number of studies exploring the role of sarcopenia in the early stages of chronic liver disease (CLD), its prevalence and the relationship between these two clinical entities are still controversial. Myosteatosis is characterized by fat accumulation in the muscles and it is related to advanced liver disease, although its role in the early stages is still under researched. Therefore, in this narrative review, we firstly aimed to evaluate the prevalence and the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying sarcopenia and myosteatosis in the early stage of CLD across different aetiologies (mainly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcohol-related liver disease and viral hepatitis). Secondly, due to the increasing prevalence of sarcopenia worldwide, we aimed to revise the current and the future therapeutic approaches for the management of sarcopenia in CLD.
Plasma Proteomics in Healthy Subjects with Differences in Tissue Glucocorticoid Sensitivity Identifies A Novel Proteomic Signature
Authors: Nicolaides Nicolas C. , Makridakis Manousos , Stroggilos Rafael , Lygirou Vasiliki , Koniari Eleni , Papageorgiou Ifigeneia , Sertedaki Amalia , Zoidakis Jerome , Charmandari Evangelia
Published: January 2022

Significant inter-individual variation in terms of susceptibility to several stress-related disorders, such as myocardial infarction and Alzheimer’s disease, and therapeutic response has been observed among healthy subjects. The molecular features responsible for this phenomenon have not been fully elucidated. Proteomics, in association with bioinformatics analysis, offer a comprehensive description of molecular phenotypes with clear links to human disease pathophysiology. The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative plasma proteomics analysis of glucocorticoid resistant and glucocorticoid sensitive healthy subjects and provide clues of the underlying physiological differences. For this purpose, 101 healthy volunteers were given a very low dose (0.25 mg) of dexamethasone at midnight, and were stratified into the 10% most glucocorticoid sensitive (S) (n = 11) and 10% most glucocorticoid resistant (R) (n = 11) according to the 08:00 h serum cortisol concentrations determined the following morning. One month following the very-low dose dexamethasone suppression test, DNA and plasma samples were collected from the 22 selected individuals. Sequencing analysis did not reveal any genetic defects in the human glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) gene. To investigate the proteomic profile of plasma samples, we used Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and found 110 up-regulated and 66 down-regulated proteins in the S compared to the R group. The majority of the up-regulated proteins in the S group were implicated in platelet activation. To predict response to cortisol prior to administration, a random forest classifier was developed by using the proteomics data in order to distinguish S from R individuals. Apolipoprotein A4 (APOA4) and gelsolin (GSN) were the most important variables in the classification, and warrant further investigation. Our results indicate that a proteomics signature may differentiate the S from the R healthy subjects, and may be useful in clinical practice. In addition, it may provide clues of the underlying molecular mechanisms of the chronic stress-related diseases, including myocardial infarction and Alzheimer’s disease.
Butyl Benzyl Phthalate in Urban Sewage by Magnetic-Based Immunoassay: Environmental Levels and Risk Assessment
Authors: Hong Xia , Cui Yin , Li Ming , Xia Yifan , Du Daolin , Yi Chengwu
Published: January 2022

A magnetic-based immunoassay (MBI) combined with biotin-streptavidin amplification was proposed for butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) investigation and risk assessment. The values of LOD (limit of detection, IC10) and IC50 were 0.57 ng/mL and 119.61 ng/mL, with a detection range of 0.57–24,977.71 ng/mL for MBI. The specificity, accuracy and precision are well demonstrated. A total of 36 environmental water samples of urban sewage from Zhenjiang, China, were collected and assessed for BBP contamination. The results show that BBP-positive levels ranged from 2.47 to 89.21 ng/mL, with a positive rate of 77.8%. The health effects of BBP in the urban sewage were within a controllable range, and the ambient severity for health (ASI) was below 1.49. The highest value of AS for ecology (ASII) was 7.43, which indicates a potential harm to ecology. The entropy value of risk quotient was below 100, the highest being 59.47, which poses a low risk to the environment and ecology, indicating that there is a need to strengthen BBP controls. The non-carcinogenic risk of BBP exposure from drinking water was higher for females than that for males, and the non-carcinogenic risk from drinking-water and bathing pathways was negligible. This study could provide an alternative method for detecting BBP and essential information for controlling BBP contamination.
NIR-II Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogens for Tumor Phototheranostics
Authors: Tan Yonghong , Liu Peiying , Li Danxia , Wang Dong , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: January 2022

As an emerging and powerful material, aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens), which could simultaneously provide a precise diagnosis and efficient therapeutics, have exhibited significant superiorities in the field of phototheranostics. Of particular interest is phototheranostics based on AIEgens with the emission in the range of second near-infrared (NIR-II) range (1000–1700 nm), which has promoted the feasibility of their clinical applications by virtue of numerous preponderances benefiting from the extremely long wavelength. In this minireview, we summarize the latest advances in the field of phototheranostics based on NIR-II AIEgens during the past 3 years, including the strategies of constructing NIR-II AIEgens and their applications in different theranostic modalities (FLI-guided PTT, PAI-guided PTT, and multimodal imaging-guided PDT–PTT synergistic therapy); in addition, a brief conclusion of perspectives and challenges in the field of phototheranostics is given at the end.
Restless Legs Syndrome: Known Knowns and Known Unknowns
Authors: Antelmi Elena , Rocchi Lorenzo , Latorre Anna , Belvisi Daniele , Magrinelli Francesca , Bhatia Kailash P. , Tinazzi Michele
Published: January 2022

Although restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder, it remains poorly understood from both clinical and pathophysiological perspectives. RLS is classified among sleep-related movement disorders, namely, conditions characterized by simple, often stereotyped movements occurring during sleep. However, several clinical, neurophysiological and neuroimaging observations question this view. The aim of the present review is to summarize and query some of the current concepts (known knowns) and to identify open questions (known unknowns) on RLS pathophysiology. Based on several lines of evidence, we propose that RLS should be viewed as a disorder of sensorimotor interaction with a typical circadian pattern of occurrence, possibly arising from neurochemical dysfunction and abnormal excitability in different brain structures.