bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Land Cover Change in the Yellow River Basin over the Past Millennium
Authors: Wang Yafei , Yang Fan , He Fanneng
Published: February 2024

Investigating the ecological and environmental impacts stemming from historical land use and land cover change (LUCC) holds paramount importance in systematically comprehending the fundamental human-land relationship, a pivotal focus within geographical research. The Yellow River Basin (YRB), often referred to as the cradle of Chinese civilization, ranks as the fifth-largest river basin globally. Early inhabitants made significant alterations to the landscape, resulting in substantial damage to natural vegetation, giving rise to prominent regional ecological challenges. By now, the examination of historical LUCC in the YRB over the past millennium remains in the qualitative research stage, primarily due to the limited availability of high-confidence gridded historical LUCC data. This study aims to advance the current historical LUCC research in the YRB from primarily qualitative analysis to an exploration incorporating timing, positioning, and quantification. Based on reconstructed historical cropland, forest, and grassland grid data of 10 km × 10 km from 1000 AD to 2000 AD, the degree of cropland development and the depletion of forests and grasslands were calculated, respectively. Then, the kernel density method was employed for spatiotemporal analysis and interpretation of dynamic changes in land cover. Subsequently, a cartographic visualization depicting the migration trajectories of the land cover gravity centers was generated, allowing for an assessment of the distance and direction of the centroids’ movement of cropland, forest, and grassland. The results indicate that the cropland coverage in the YRB escalated from the initial 11.65% to 29.97%, while the forest and grassland coverage dropped from 63.36% to 44.49%. The distribution of cultivated land continually expanded outward from the southeast of the Loess Plateau and the southwest of the North China Plain. All three types of land cover experienced a westward shift in their gravity centers between 1000 and 2000 AD. Besides the population growth and technological advancements, the regime shifts induced by wars, along with land use policies in distinct periods, always served as the predominant factors influencing the conversion between different land covers. This research will present a paradigmatic regional case study contributing to the investigation of historical changes in land use and land cover. Additionally, it will offer historical perspectives beneficial for the advancement of China’s objectives in “Ecological Conservation and High-Quality Development of the Yellow River Basin”.
Spatial–Temporal Evolution Analysis of the Development of Jingdang and Famen Townships in the Vicinity of the Capital City Site of the Western Zhou Dynasty in China
Authors: Chen Jian , Wang Kai , Yuan Yingqiang , Li Peiyao , Niu Lixin , Song Jiangning , Zhang Yanlong
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to explore the evolution of Jingdang and Famen towns near the Zhouyuan site, the capital city site of the Western Zhou Dynasty in China, to elucidate the relationship between township development and the essential ancient relics conservation areas. Based on the remote sensing satellite images from 1982 to 2022, combining with historical demographic data, this study used four methods, including land use classification, land use transfer matrix, landscape pattern center of gravity changes, and population count statistics, to study the spatial–temporal evolution of land, population, and ecology in the region over the past 40 years. The results showed that under the strict relic conservation regimen, these two towns are in a declining stage. To improve their decaying status, some potential strategies valuable for township development are proposed to balance the relationship between relic conservation and township development for their mutual benefit and coexistence.
Molecular Assessment of Methylglyoxal-Induced Toxicity and Therapeutic Approaches in Various Diseases: Exploring the Interplay with the Glyoxalase System
Authors: Alhujaily Muhanad
Published: February 2024

This comprehensive exploration delves into the intricate interplay of methylglyoxal (MG) and glyoxalase 1 (GLO I) in various physiological and pathological contexts. The linchpin of the narrative revolves around the role of these small molecules in age-related issues, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. Methylglyoxal, a reactive dicarbonyl metabolite, takes center stage, becoming a principal player in the development of AGEs and contributing to cell and tissue dysfunction. The dual facets of GLO I—activation and inhibition—unfold as potential therapeutic avenues. Activators, spanning synthetic drugs like candesartan to natural compounds like polyphenols and isothiocyanates, aim to restore GLO I function. These molecular enhancers showcase promising outcomes in conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, kidney disease, and beyond. On the contrary, GLO I inhibitors emerge as crucial players in cancer treatment, offering new possibilities in diseases associated with inflammation and multidrug resistance. The symphony of small molecules, from GLO I activators to inhibitors, presents a nuanced understanding of MG regulation. From natural compounds to synthetic drugs, each element contributes to a molecular orchestra, promising novel interventions and personalized approaches in the pursuit of health and wellbeing. The abstract concludes with an emphasis on the necessity of rigorous clinical trials to validate these findings and acknowledges the importance of individual variability in the complex landscape of health.
Head CT Scans in the Emergency Department during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Use or Overuse?
Authors: Covino Marcello , Piccioni Andrea , Merra Giuseppe , Giordano Carolina , Russo Rosellina , Infante Amato , Ausili Cefaro Luca , Natale Luigi , Franceschi Francesco , Gaudino Simona
Published: February 2024

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic seemed to mainly involve the respiratory system, but it was realized that it could affect any organ, including the CNS. The pandemic has followed a wave-like trend, with its peaks being due to the COVID-19 different variants and the introduction of the vaccine, which led to an apparent reduction in hospitalizations but also brought about perplexities related to its adverse effects. The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in the use of head CT/contrast CT and their impacts on the onset of cerebrovascular disease in our emergency department during the COVID-19 period and the vaccine rollout. Methods: Patients ≥ 18 years old admitted to our emergency department from January 2018 to September 2021 were enrolled. The patients were divided into three groups. The COVID-19 period included patients who visited our emergency department from 1 March 2020 to 31 January 2021; the vaccine period was considered to range from 1 February 2021 to 30 September 2021. The patients who visited the emergency department from 1 January 2018 to 31 January 2020 were considered the controls. Results: We found an increase in head CT/contrast CT requests during the COVID-19 period and increase in head contrast CT during the vaccine period, without an increase in the incidence of cerebrovascular disease. Conclusions: The uncertainty regarding the possible thrombotic events associated with COVID-19 and its vaccine increased the relative use of head CT/contrast CT by about 20% compared to the control period
Using Remote Technology to Engage Patients with Interstitial Lung Diseases in a Home Exercise Program: A Pilot Study
Authors: Sarmento Antonio , King Kaitlin , Sanchez-Ramirez Diana C.
Published: February 2024

Introduction: The access and compliance of patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) to exercise programs (EPs) remain challenges. Objectives: We assessed the dropout rate, intervention completion, compliance with data acquisition and submission, safety, and satisfaction of a home EP delivered via video conference (EPVC group) or self-directed (EPSD group) to patients with ILD. Pre- and post-intervention changes in patient outcomes (dyspnea, fatigue, exercise capacity, lung function, and quality of life) were secondarily explored. Material and Methods: Groups performed an eight-week virtual EP three times/week. Video conferences were led by a registered respiratory therapist, whereas self-directed exercises were completed following a pre-recorded video. Participants submitted spirometry, heart rate, and SpO2 results weekly to the research team. Results: Fourteen patients with ILD were equally assigned to the EPVC and EPSD groups, but three from the EPSD group dropped out after the initial assessment (dropout rate of 42.8% in the EPSD group). Eleven patients (mean age of 67 ± 12 years) completed 96.5% of sessions. Compliance with data acquisition and submission was optimal (≥97.6% in both groups), and no adverse events were reported. Changes in overall fatigue severity were significantly different between groups (p = 0.014, Cohen’s r = 0.64). Conclusions: The results suggest that a structured virtual EP delivered via video conference or pre-recorded video can be feasible, safe, and acceptable for patients with ILD.
The Effect of Diet on Vascular Aging: A Narrative Review of the Available Literature
Authors: Theodoridis Xenophon , Chourdakis Michail , Papaemmanouil Androniki , Chaloulakou Stavroula , Georgakou Athina Vasiliki , Chatzis Georgios , Triantafyllou Areti
Published: February 2024

Early vascular aging is related to various cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Healthful lifestyle practices and interventions, including dietary regimens and consistent aerobic exercise, exert favorable modulation on these processes, thereby diminishing the risk of cardiovascular disease with advancing age. The principal objective of this review was to conduct a comprehensive evaluation and synthesis of the available literature regarding the effectiveness of different diets on vascular health, such as arterial stiffness and endothelial function. To conduct this review, a thorough search of electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection was carried out. Based on the existing evidence, the Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and low-calorie diets may have a beneficial effect on vascular health. However, more randomized controlled trials with sufficient sample sizes, longer follow-ups, rigorous methodologies, and, possibly, head-to-head comparisons between the different diets are needed to shed light on this topic.
Epigenetics in Knee Osteoarthritis: A 2020–2023 Update Systematic Review
Authors: Caldo Davide , Massarini Eugenia , Rucci Massimiliano , Deaglio Silvia , Ferracini Riccardo
Published: February 2024

Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability in the world. The scientific literature highlights the critical importance of epigenetic regulatory effects, intertwined with biomechanical and biochemical peculiar conditions within each musculoskeletal district. While the contribution of genetic and epigenetic factors to knee OA is well-recognized, their precise role in disease management remains an area of active research. Such a field is particularly heterogeneous, calling for regular analysis and summarizing of the data that constantly emerge in the scientific literature, often sparse and scant of integration. The aim of this study was to systematically identify and synthesize all new evidence that emerged in human and animal model studies published between 2020 and 2023. This was necessary because, to the best of our knowledge, articles published before 2019 (and partly 2020) had already been included in systematic reviews that allowed to identify the ones concerning the knee joint. The review was carried out in accordance with Preferential Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Only peer-reviewed articles were considered for inclusion. A total of 40 studies were identified, showing promising results in terms either of biomarker identification, new insight in mechanism of action or potential therapeutic targets for knee OA. DNA methylation, histone modification and ncRNA were all mechanisms involved in epigenetic regulation of the knee. Most recent evidence suggests that epigenetics is a most promising field with the long-term goal of improving understanding and management of knee OA, but a variety of research approaches need greater consolidation.
Improvement in the Stability and Enzymatic Activity of Pleurotus sapidus Lipoxygenase Dissolved in Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADESs)
Authors: Garbe Maria , Lehmann Leander Tom , Berger Ralf Günter , Ersoy Franziska
Published: February 2024

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) can serve as solvents for enzymes, are biodegradable, and have low toxicities. Eight NADESs with different hydrogen bond acceptors and donors were tested to improve the stability and activity of a lipoxygenase from Basidiomycete Pleurotus sapidus (LOXPSA). Betaine:sorbitol:water (1:1:3, BSorbW) and betaine:ethylene glycol (1:3, BEtGly) had the best impact on the peroxidation of linoleic acid and the side reaction of piperine to the vanilla-like scented compound piperonal. The yield of piperonal in NADESs increased by 43% in BSorbW and 40% in BEtGly compared to the control. The addition of BSorbW also enhanced the enzyme’s stability at various temperatures and increased its activity during incubation at 60 °C. The demonstrated improvement in lipoxygenase activity and stability indicates versatile applications in industry, expanding the potential uses of the enzyme.
Retrospective Analysis of Vitamin D Deficiency in an Adult Population of Arad County, Western Romania (2019–2022)
Authors: Marti Daniela Teodora , Nesiu Alexandru , Balta Cornel , Olariu Tudor Rares , Mihu Alin Gabriel , Hermenean Anca , Oatis Daniela Adriana
Published: February 2024

Vitamin D, a steroid hormone synthesized primarily in the skin upon exposure to ultraviolet light, is widely deficient across global populations. This study aimed to fill the data gap in Western Romania by measuring 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels in a cohort of 7141 from Arad County. It was observed that women, younger adults (18–29 years), and older adults (70–79 years) had notably lower vitamin D levels compared to the average population. Additionally, there was a rise in vitamin D levels over the four-year span of 2018–2022, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research provides fresh data on those most susceptible to vitamin D deficiency and lays the groundwork for educational campaigns on vitamin D supplementation benefits.
Study of the Bacterial, Fungal, and Archaeal Communities Structures near the Bulgarian Antarctic Research Base “St. Kliment Ohridski” on Livingston Island, Antarctica
Authors: Doytchinov Vesselin V. , Peykov Slavil , Dimov Svetoslav G.
Published: February 2024

As belonging to one of the most isolated continents on our planet, the microbial composition of different environments in Antarctica could hold a plethora of undiscovered species with the potential for biotechnological applications. This manuscript delineates our discoveries after an expedition to the Bulgarian Antarctic Base “St. Kliment Ohridski” situated on Livingston Island, Antarctica. Amplicon-based metagenomics targeting the 16S rRNA genes and ITS2 region were employed to assess the metagenomes of the bacterial, fungal, and archaeal communities across diverse sites within and proximal to the research station. The predominant bacterial assemblages identified included Oxyphotobacteria, Bacteroidia, Gammaprotobacteria, and Alphaprotobacteria. A substantial proportion of cyanobacteria reads were attributed to a singular uncultured taxon within the family Leptolyngbyaceae. The bacterial profile of a lagoon near the base exhibited indications of penguin activity, characterized by a higher abundance of Clostridia, similar to lithotelm samples from Hannah Pt. Although most fungal reads in the samples could not be identified at the species level, noteworthy genera, namely Betamyces and Tetracladium, were identified. Archaeal abundance was negligible, with prevalent groups including Woesearchaeales, Nitrosarchaeum, Candidatus Nitrosopumilus, and Marine Group II.
The Role of Furin in the Pathogenesis of COVID-19-Associated Neurological Disorders
Authors: Ayyubova Gunel , Gychka Sergiy G. , Nikolaienko Sofia I. , Alghenaim Fada A. , Teramoto Tadahisa , Shults Nataliia V. , Suzuki Yuichiro J.
Published: February 2024

Neurological disorders have been reported in a large number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, suggesting that this disease may have long-term adverse neurological consequences. COVID-19 occurs from infection by a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The membrane fusion protein of SARS-CoV-2, the spike protein, binds to its human host receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), to initiate membrane fusion between the virus and host cell. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 contains the furin protease recognition site and its cleavage enhances the infectivity of this virus. The binding of SARS-CoV-2 to the ACE2 receptor has been shown to downregulate ACE2, thereby increasing the levels of pathogenic angiotensin II (Ang II). The furin protease cleaves between the S1 subunit of the spike protein with the binding domain toward ACE2 and the S2 subunit with the transmembrane domain that anchors to the viral membrane, and this activity releases the S1 subunit into the blood circulation. The released S1 subunit of the spike protein also binds to and downregulates ACE2, in turn increasing the level of Ang II. Considering that a viral particle contains many spike protein molecules, furin-dependent cleavage would release many free S1 protein molecules, each of which can downregulate ACE2, while infection with a viral particle only affects one ACE2 molecule. Therefore, the furin-dependent release of S1 protein would dramatically amplify the ability to downregulate ACE2 and produce Ang II. We hypothesize that this amplification mechanism that the virus possesses, but not the infection per se, is the major driving force behind COVID-19-associated neurological disorders.
An Investigation of Residual Stresses after the Turning of High-Tempered Bearing Steel
Authors: Mičietová Anna , Čilliková Mária , Čep Robert , Mičieta Branislav , Uríček Juraj , Neslušan Miroslav
Published: February 2024

This study is focused on analysing residual stresses (RSs) after turning high-tempered bearing steel through the use of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. Phase transformations expressed in terms of the near-surface white layer (WL) and the corresponding microhardness profiles are correlated with the RSs as well as the depth of the RS profiles. Normal and shear components of RS and FWHM (full width at half maximum) of the diffraction peaks are analysed as a function of cutting insert flank wear as well as the cutting speed. It was found that the influence of tool wear prevails over cutting speed, RSs tend to shift into the compressive region with increasing tool flank wear, and the valuable shear components of RSs can be found in the near-surface region when the cutting inserts of lower flank wear are employed. The increasing flank wear also increases the depth in which the compressive RSs can be found. Furthermore, surface RSs are affected by the phase transformation process (formation of re-hardened WL) as well as the superimposing mechanical and thermal load.
A Review of Proposed Models for Cutting Force Prediction in Milling Parts with Low Rigidity
Authors: Radu Petrica , Schnakovszky Carol
Published: February 2024

Milling parts with low rigidity (thin-walled parts) are increasingly attracting the interest of the academic and industrial environment, due to the applicability of these components in industrial sectors of strategic interest at the international level in the aerospace industry, nuclear industry, defense industry, automotive industry, etc. Their low rigidity and constantly changing strength during machining lead on the one hand to instability of the cutting process and on the other hand to part deformation. Solving both types of problems (dynamic and static) must be preceded by prediction of cutting forces as accurately as possible, as they have a significant meaning for machining condition identification and process performance evaluation. Since there are plenty of papers dealing with this topic in the literature, the current research attempts to summarize the models used for prediction of force in milling of thin-walled parts and to identify which are the trends in addressing this issue from the perspective of intelligent production systems.
Design of a Flexible Skill-Based Process Control System Considering Process-Relevant Properties
Authors: Müller Aleksandra , Wurm Steffen , Willecke Phil , Petrovic Oliver , Herfs Werner , Brecher Christian
Published: February 2024

The Industry 4.0 research initiative strives to facilitate globally interconnected, flexible, and highly adaptable production systems. The use of skill-based control mechanisms such as OPC UA skills offers the prospect of a straightforward and flexible interchange, as well as the seamless integration of individual participants and processes through standardized interfaces. Furthermore, by enhancing these skills with evaluation parameters pertinent to the processes, such as CO2 equivalents or the duration of specific skill executions, a foundation is laid for creating a customizable and adaptable composition of processes based on specific production process needs. In this article, the OPC UA skill concept is expanded with process-relevant properties, and a structured procedure for the introduction of skill-based process control is presented. The developed concept was implemented and tested on an industrial use case of glass pane completion. The aim of this publication is to demonstrate the potential of skill-based process control that has an integrated assessment of skills.
Three-Dimensional Model for Bioventing: Mathematical Solution, Calibration and Validation
Authors: Khodabakhshi Soureshjani Mohammad , Eberl Hermann J. , Zytner Richard G.
Published: February 2024

Bioventing is an established technique extensively employed in the remediation of soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. In this study, the objective was to develop an improved foundational bioventing model that characterizes gas flow in vadose zones where aqueous and non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) are present and immobile, accounting for interphase mass transfer and first order biodegradation kinetics. By incorporating a correlation for the biodegradation rate constant, which is a function of soil properties including initial population of petroleum degrader microorganisms in soil, sand content, clay content, water content, and soil organic matter content, this model offers the ability to integrate a specific biodegradation rate constant tailored to the soil properties for each site. The governing equations were solved using the finite volume method in OpenFOAM employing the “porousMultiphaseFoam v2107” (PMF) toolbox. The equation describing gas flow in unsaturated soil was solved using a mixed pressure-saturation method, where calculated values were employed to solve the component transport equations. Calibration was done against a set of experimental data for a meso-scale reactor considering contaminant volatilization rate as the pre-calibration parameter and the mass transfer coefficient between aqueous and NAPL phase as the main calibration parameter. The calibrated model then was validated by simulating a large-scale reactor. The modelling results showed an error of 2.9% for calibrated case and 4.7% error for validation case which present the fitness to the experimental data, proving that the enhanced bioventing model holds the potential to improve predictions of bioventing and facilitate the development of efficient strategies to remediate soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons.
Psoriasis: What Is New in Markers of Disease Severity?
Authors: Tampa Mircea , Mitran Madalina Irina , Mitran Cristina Iulia , Matei Clara , Georgescu Simona Roxana
Published: February 2024

Introduction. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease and is the result of the interaction between numerous external and internal factors. Psoriasis presents a wide range of skin manifestations encompassing individual lesions varying from pinpoint to large plaques that can evolve into generalised forms. The lesions mirror the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in psoriasis pathogenesis, such as inflammation, dysregulation of immune response, uncontrolled proliferation of keratinocytes and angiogenesis. In this article, we present the latest advances achieved regarding markers that correlate with psoriasis severity. Material and method. We have performed a narrative review on markers of psoriasis severity, including articles published between March 2018–March 2023. Results. We have identified four categories of markers: inflammation markers, oxidative stress markers, hormonal markers and cancer-related markers. The main focus was on inflammation biomarkers, including immunomodulatory molecules, haematological parameters, inflammatory cells and costimulatory molecules. Conclusions. The analysed data indicate that markers associated with inflammation, oxidative stress and hormones, and cancer-related markers could be useful in assessing the severity of psoriasis. Nevertheless, additional research is required to ascertain the practical importance of these biomarkers in clinical settings.
Clinical Evidence on the Potential Beneficial Effects of Diet and Dietary Supplements against COVID-19 Infection Risk and Symptoms’ Severity
Authors: Pavlidou Eleni , Poulios Efthymios , Papadopoulou Sousana K. , Fasoulas Aristeidis , Dakanalis Antonios , Giaginis Constantinos
Published: February 2024

Background: Diet and dietary supplements aim to add trace elements, vitamins, and minerals to the body to improve human health and boost the immune system. In the previous few years, the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus strain has been threatening the health of individuals and public health more broadly, with rates of intensive care unit cases on the rise, while long-term COVID-19 complications are persisting until today. In the peculiar circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, in combination with disease prevention techniques, the strengthening of the immune system is considered particularly important to enable it to effectively respond to and eliminate the SARS-CoV-2 viral pathogen in the event of infection. The purpose of the current literature review is to thoroughly summarize and critically analyze the current clinical data concerning the potential beneficial effects of diet and dietary supplements against COVID-19 infection risk and symptoms’ severity. The micronutrients/supplements examined in this study in relation to COVID-19 infection are vitamins A, B, C, and D, zinc, selenium, magnesium, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, glutamine, resveratrol, beta-glucans, and probiotics. The potential effects of dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet against SARS-CoV-2 infection risk and symptoms’ severity were also analyzed. Our literature review suggests that micro- and macronutrient supplementation and a healthy diet and lifestyle may provide support to immune system function, with beneficial effects both before and during SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, additional studies are recommended to draw safe conclusions and formulate dietary recommendations concerning dietary supplements and their possible effects on preventing and co-treating COVID-19 disease.
Association of Cannabis Use Disorder with Major Adverse Cardiac and Cerebrovascular Events in Older Non-Tobacco Users: A Population-Based Analysis
Authors: Mondal Avilash , Dadana Sriharsha , Parmar Poojan , Mylavarapu Maneeth , Dong Qiming , Butt Samia Rauf , Kali Abeera , Bollu Bhaswanth , Desai Rupak
Published: February 2024

Background: Tobacco use disorder (TUD) adversely impacts older patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, CVD risk in chronic habitual cannabis users without the confounding impact of TUD hasn’t been explored. We aimed to determine the risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in older non-tobacco smokers with established CVD risk with vs. without cannabis use disorder (CUD). Methods: We queried the 2019 National Inpatient Sample for hospitalized non-tobacco smokers with established traditional CVD risk factors aged ≥65 years. Relevant ICD-10 codes were used to identify patients with vs. without CUD. Using multivariable logistic regression, we evaluated the odds of MACCE in CUD cohorts compared to non-CUD cohorts. Results: Prevalence of CUD in the sample was 0.3% (28,535/10,708,815, median age 69), predominantly male, black, and non-electively admitted from urban teaching hospitals. Of the older patients with CVD risk with CUD, 13.9% reported MACCE. The CUD cohort reported higher odds of MACCE (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.11–1.29, p < 0.001) compared to the non-CUD cohort. Comorbidities such as hypertension (OR 1.9) and hyperlipidemia (OR 1.3) predicted a higher risk of MACCE in the CUD cohort. The CUD cohort also had higher unadjusted rates of acute myocardial infarction (7.6% vs. 6%) and stroke (5.2% vs. 4.8%). Conclusions: Among older non tobacco smokers with known CVD risk, chronic cannabis use had a 20% higher likelihood of MACCE compared to those who did not use cannabis.
African Swine Fever Virus I267L Is a Hemorrhage-Related Gene Based on Transcriptome Analysis
Authors: Wen Yuan , Duan Xianghan , Ren Jingjing , Zhang Jing , Guan Guiquan , Ru Yi , Li Dan , Zheng Haixue
Published: February 2024

African swine fever (ASF) is an acute and severe disease transmitted among domestic pigs and wild boars. This disease is notorious for its high mortality rate and has caused great losses to the world’s pig industry in the past few years. After infection, pigs can develop symptoms such as high fever, inflammation, and acute hemorrhage, finally leading to death. African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the causal agent of ASF; it is a large DNA virus with 150–200 genes. Elucidating the functions of each gene could provide insightful information for developing prevention and control methods. Herein, to investigate the function of I267L, porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) infected with an I267L-deleted ASFV strain (named ∆I267L) and wild-type ASFV for 18 h and 36 h were taken for transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq). The most distinct different gene that appeared at both 18 hpi (hours post-infection) and 36 hpi was F3; it is the key link between inflammation and coagulation cascades. KEGG analysis (Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis) revealed the complement and coagulation cascades were also significantly affected at 18 hpi. Genes associated with the immune response were also highly enriched with the deletion of I267L. RNA-seq results were validated through RT-qPCR. Further experiments confirmed that ASFV infection could suppress the induction of F3 through TNF-α, while I267L deletion partially impaired this suppression. These results suggest that I267L is a pathogenicity-associated gene that modulates the hemorrhages of ASF by suppressing F3 expression. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of ASFV pathogenicity and potential targets for ASFV prevention and control.
Extraction Methods Determine the Quality of Soil Microbiota Acquisition
Authors: Liu Zhuoxin , Zhang Chi , Ma Jiejia , Peng Qianze , Du Xiaohua , Sun Shu’e , Cheng Ju’e , Peng Weiye , Chen Lijie , Gu Zepei , Zhang Weixing , Su Pin , Zhang Deyong
Published: February 2024

The soil microbiome plays a key role in plant health. Native soil microbiome inoculation, metagenomic profiling, and high-throughput cultivation require efficient microbe extraction. Sonication and oscillation are the most common methods used to extract soil microbiomes. However, the extraction efficiency of these methods has not been investigated in full. In this study, we compared the culturable microbe numbers, community structures, and alpha diversities among the different methods, including sonication, oscillation, and centrifugation, and their processing times. The study results showed that sonication significantly increases the culturable colony number compared with oscillation and centrifugation. Furthermore, the sonication strategy was found to be the main factor influencing extraction efficiency, but increased sonication time can aid in recovery from this impact. Finally, the extraction processing times were found to have a significant negative relationship with α-diversity among the extracted microbiota. In conclusion, sonication is the main factor for enriching in situ microbiota, and increased extraction time significantly decreases the α-diversity of the extracted microbiota. The results of this study provide insights into the isolation and utilization of different microorganism sources.
Comparative Study of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis In Vitro Infection in Bovine Bone Marrow Derived Macrophages: Preliminary Results
Authors: Amato Benedetta , Ippolito Dorotea , Vitale Maria , Alduina Rosa , Galluzzo Paola , Gerace Elisabetta , Pruiti Ciarello Flavia , Fiasconaro Michele , Cannella Vincenza , Di Marco Lo Presti Vincenzo
Published: February 2024

Bovine tuberculosis and paratuberculosis are endemic in many areas worldwide. This work aims to study cytokines production and gene expression profiles of bovine macrophages infected with Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium paratuberculosis subsp. avium (MAP) strains to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers. Bovine bone marrow stem cells were differentiated into macrophages and subsequently infected in vitro with different spoligotypes of M. bovis and MAP field strains (as single infections and coinfections), using different multiplicity of infection. Supernatant and cell pellets were collected 24 h, 48 h, and one week post-infection. Preliminarily, gene expression on cell pellets of IL-1β, IL-2, INFγ, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, and TNFα was assessed by qRT-PCR one week p.i. Subsequently, IL-1β and IL-6 were measured by ELISA and qRT-PCR to investigated their production retrospectively 24 h and 48 h p.i. A variability in macrophages response related to the concentration of mycobacteria, the coinfection with MAP, and M. bovis spoligotypes was identified. An early and constant IL-6 increase was observed in the M. bovis infection. A lower increase in IL-1β was also detected at the highest concentration of the two M. bovis spoligotypes one week post-infection. IL-6 and IL-1 β production was reduced and differently expressed in the MAP infection. IL-6 appeared to be the earliest cytokines produced by bovine macrophages infected with M. bovis.
Probiotics’ Effects in the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression: A Comprehensive Review of 2014–2023 Clinical Trials
Authors: Merkouris Ermis , Mavroudi Theodora , Miliotas Daniil , Tsiptsios Dimitrios , Serdari Aspasia , Christidi Foteini , Doskas Triantafyllos K. , Mueller Christoph , Tsamakis Konstantinos
Published: February 2024

Changes in the gut microbiome can affect cognitive and psychological functions via the microbiota–gut–brain (MGB) axis. Probiotic supplements are thought to have largely positive effects on mental health when taken in sufficient amounts; however, despite extensive research having been conducted, there is a lack of consistent findings on the effects of probiotics on anxiety and depression and the associated microbiome alterations. The aim of our study is to systematically review the most recent literature of the last 10 years in order to clarify whether probiotics could actually improve depression and anxiety symptoms. Our results indicate that the majority of the most recent literature suggests a beneficial role of probiotics in the treatment of depression and anxiety, despite the existence of a substantial number of less positive findings. Given probiotics’ potential to offer novel, personalized treatment options for mood disorders, further, better targeted research in psychiatric populations is needed to address concerns about the exact mechanisms of probiotics, dosing, timing of treatment, and possible differences in outcomes depending on the severity of anxiety and depression.
Targeted Isolation of Antibiofilm Compounds from Halophytic Endophyte Bacillus velezensis 7NPB-3B Using LC-HR-MS-Based Metabolomics
Authors: Singh Sanju , Nwagwu Elizabeth , Young Louise , Kumar Pankaj , Shinde Pramod B. , Edrada-Ebel RuAngelie
Published: February 2024

The discovery of new natural products has become more challenging because of the re-isolation of compounds and the lack of new sources. Microbes dwelling in extreme conditions of high salinity and temperature are huge prospects for interesting natural metabolites. In this study, the endophytic bacteria Bacillus velezensis 7NPB-3B isolated from the halophyte Salicornia brachiata was screened for its biofilm inhibition against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The fractionation of the crude extract was guided by bioassay and LC-HRMS-based metabolomics using multivariate analysis. The 37 fractions obtained by high-throughput chromatography were dereplicated using an in-house MS-Excel macro coupled with the Dictionary of Natural Products database. Successive bioactivity-guided separation yielded one novel compound (1), a diketopiperazine (m/z 469.258 [M − H]−) with an attached saturated decanoic acid chain, and four known compounds (2–5). The compounds were identified based on 1D- and 2D-NMR and mass spectrometry. Compounds 1 and 5 exhibited excellent biofilm inhibition properties of >90% against the MRSA pathogen at minimum inhibition concentrations of 25 and 35 µg/mL, respectively. The investigation resulted in the isolation of a novel diketopiperazine from a bacterial endophyte of an untapped plant using an omics approach.
Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Group B Streptococci Colonization in a Sample Population of Pregnant Women from Romania
Authors: Petca Aida , Șandru Florica , Negoiță Silvius , Dumitrașcu Mihai Cristian , Dimcea Daiana Anne-Marie , Nedelcu Tiberiu , Mehedințu Claudia , Filipov Marinela Magdalena , Petca Răzvan-Cosmin
Published: February 2024

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) represents one of the leading causes of life-threatening invasive disease in pregnant women and neonates. Rates of GBS colonization vary by region, but studies on maternal GBS status are limited in Romania. This study aims to identify the prevalence of colonization with GBS and whether the obstetrical characteristics are statistically associated with the study group’s antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of tested GBS strains. This observational study was conducted between 1 May and 31 December 2021 at The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Elias University Emergency Hospital (EUEH) in Bucharest, Romania. A total of 152 samples were positive for GBS and included in the study according to the inclusion criteria. As a result, the prevalence of colonized patients with GBS was 17.3%. GBS isolated in this population had the highest resistance to erythromycin (n = 38; 25%), followed by clindamycin (n = 36; 23.7%). Regarding the susceptibility patterns of tested strains to penicillin, the 152 susceptible strains had MIC breakpoints less than 0.06 μg/μL. The susceptibility patterns of tested strains to linezolid indicated three resistant strains with low levels of resistance (MICs ranging between 2 and 3 μg/μL). Multidrug resistance (at least three antibiotic classes) was not observed. In conclusion, although GBS naturally displays sensitivity to penicillin, the exact bacterial susceptibility testing should be performed in all cases where second-line therapy is taken into consideration for treatment. We acknowledge the need for future actions to limit multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Mouse Type-I Interferon-Mannosylated Albumin Fusion Protein for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis
Authors: Minayoshi Yuki , Maeda Hitoshi , Hamasaki Keisuke , Nagasaki Taisei , Takano Mei , Fukuda Ryo , Mizuta Yuki , Tanaka Motohiko , Sasaki Yutaka , Otagiri Masaki , Watanabe Hiroshi , Maruyama Toru
Published: February 2024

Although a lot of effort has been put into creating drugs and combination therapies against chronic hepatitis, no effective treatment has been established. Type-I interferon is a promising therapeutic for chronic hepatitis due to its excellent anti-inflammatory effects through interferon receptors on hepatic macrophages. To develop a type-I IFN equipped with the ability to target hepatic macrophages through the macrophage mannose receptor, the present study designed a mouse type-I interferon-mannosylated albumin fusion protein using site-specific mutagenesis and albumin fusion technology. This fusion protein exhibited the induction of anti-inflammatory molecules, such as IL-10, IL-1Ra, and PD-1, in RAW264.7 cells, or hepatoprotective effects on carbon tetrachloride-induced chronic hepatitis mice. As expected, such biological and hepatoprotective actions were significantly superior to those of human fusion proteins. Furthermore, the repeated administration of mouse fusion protein to carbon tetrachloride-induced chronic hepatitis mice clearly suppressed the area of liver fibrosis and hepatic hydroxyproline contents, not only with a reduction in the levels of inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) and fibrosis-related genes (TGF-β, Fibronectin, Snail, and Collagen 1α2), but also with a shift in the hepatic macrophage phenotype from inflammatory to anti-inflammatory. Therefore, type-I interferon-mannosylated albumin fusion protein has the potential as a new therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis.
Strategies to Improve Therapeutic Adherence in Polymedicated Patients over 65 Years: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Burgos-Alonso Natalia , Torrecilla María , Mendiguren Aitziber , Pérez-Gómez Moreta Marta , Bruzos-Cidón Cristina
Published: February 2024

Background: Part of the population over 65 years of age suffer from several pathologies and are therefore polymedicated. In this systematic review and metanalysis, we aimed to determine the efficacy of several strategies developed to improve adherence to pharmacological treatment in polymedicated elderly people. Design: Web Of Science, PubMed and the Cochrane Library were searched until 2 January 2024. In total, 17 of the 1508 articles found evaluated the efficacy of interventions to improve adherence to medication in polymedicated elderly patients. Methodological quality and the risk of bias were rated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Open Meta Analyst® software was used to create forest plots of the meta-analysis. Results: In 11 of the 17 studies, an improvement in adherence was observed through the use of different measurement tools and sometimes in combination. The most frequently used strategy was using instructions and counselling, always in combination, in a single strategy used to improve adherence; one involved the use of medication packs and the other patient follow-up. In both cases, the results in improving adherence were positive. Five studies using follow-up interventions via visits and phone calls showed improved adherence on the Morisky Green scale compared to those where usual care was received [OR = 1.900; 95% CI = 1.104–3.270] (p = 0.021). Discussion: There is a high degree of heterogeneity in the studies analyzed, both in the interventions used and in the measurement tools for improving adherence to treatment. Therefore, we cannot make conclusions about the most efficacious strategy to improve medication adherence in polymedicated elderly patients until more evidence of single-intervention strategies is available.
Polarization-Based Digital Histology of Human Skin Biopsies Assisted by Deep Learning
Authors: Ivanov Deyan , Zaharieva Lidia , Mircheva Victoria , Troyanova Petranka , Terziev Ivan , Ossikovski Razvigor , Novikova Tatiana , Genova Tsanislava
Published: February 2024

Mueller polarimetry has proven to be a powerful optical technique to complement medical doctors in their conventional histology analysis. In this work, various degenerative and malignant human skin lesions were evaluated ex vivo using imaging Mueller polarimetry. The Mueller matrix images of thin sections of biopsies were recorded and the differential decomposition of Mueller matrices was applied pixel-wise to extract the polarization fingerprint of the specimens under study. To improve the classification accuracy, a deep learning model was created. The results indicate the sensitivity of polarimetry to different skin lesions and healthy skin zones and their differentiation, while using standard histological analysis as a ground truth. In particular, the deep learning model was found sufficiently accurate to detect and differentiate between all eight classes in the data set. Special attention was paid to the overfitting problem and the reduction of the loss function of the model. Our approach is an effort in establishing digital histology for clinical applications by complementing medical doctors in their diagnostic decisions.
APSO-SL: An Adaptive Particle Swarm Optimization with State-Based Learning Strategy
Authors: Gao Mingqiang , Yang Xu
Published: February 2024

Particle swarm optimization (PSO) has been extensively used to solve practical engineering problems, due to its efficient performance. Although PSO is simple and efficient, it still has the problem of premature convergence. In order to address this shortcoming, an adaptive particle swarm optimization with state-based learning strategy (APSO-SL) is put forward. In APSO-SL, the population distribution evaluation mechanism (PDEM) is used to evaluate the state of the whole population. In contrast to using iterations to just the population state, using the population spatial distribution is more intuitive and accurate. In PDEM, the population center position and best position for calculation are used for calculation, greatly reducing the algorithm’s computational complexity. In addition, an adaptive learning strategy (ALS) has been proposed to avoid the whole population’s premature convergence. In ALS, different learning strategies are adopted according to the population state to ensure the population diversity. The performance of APSO-SL is evaluated on the CEC2013 and CEC2017 test suites, and one engineering problem. Experimental results show that APSO-SL has the best performance compared with other competitive PSO variants.