bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dark Knowledge: Deirdre Madden's One by One in the Darkness
Authors: Richtarik Marilynn
Published: October 2020

Deirdre Madden's novel One by One in the Darkness, first published in 1996, marks its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2021. Madden began writing the book in 1993 in anticipation of another anniversary (a quarter century of political and sectarian violence in Northern Ireland) and completed it in 1995. I argue that she was both responding to contemporary events, including the 1994 paramilitary ceasefires, and attempting to shape the way that people would think about the impact of the Troubles in the post-conflict period. One by One in the Darkness is usually read as the story of a family that has suffered a traumatic loss: the violent death of its patriarch. I contend, in contrast, that the family's experience is more representative than exceptional. This essay explores the formal means by which Madden makes her point about the lingering effects of trauma on individuals and Northern Irish society at large.
Dossiê Democracia e Desenvolvimento
Authors: Bazzanella Sandro Luiz , Camarini Gladis
Published: October 2020

Este Editorial apresenta o dossiê temático “Democracia e Desenvolvimento” em parceria com o Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento Regional da Universidade do Contestado – UnC. Os trabalhos envolvem como tema central o desenvolvimento regional a partir de temáticas: políticas públicas e desenvolvimento; direito e desenvolvimento, economia e desenvolvimento; estado de exceção e desenvolvimento; meio ambiente e desenvolvimento; movimentos sociais e desenvolvimento; educação e desenvolvimento, compondo o dossiê. Esperamos que os textos do dossiê contribuam para a divulgação científica proporcionando a formação intelectual e a reflexão crítica dos leitores.
The Future of the Arctic: What Does It Mean for Sea Ice and Small Creatures?
Authors: Kauko Hanna M. , Fernández-Méndez Mar , Meyer Amelie , Rösel Anja , Itkin Polona , Graham Robert M. , Pavlov Alexey K.
Published: October 2020

The warming of our planet is changing the Arctic dramatically. The area covered by sea-ice is shrinking and the ice that is left is younger and thinner. We took part in an expedition to the Arctic, to study how these changes affect organisms living in and under the ice. Following this expedition, we found that storms can more easily break the thinner ice. Storms form cracks in the sea ice, allowing sunlight to pass into the water below, which makes algal growth possible. Algae are microscopic “plants” that grow in water or sea ice. Storms also brought thick heavy snow, which pushed the ice surface below the water. This flooded the snow and created slush. We discovered that this slush is another good habitat for algae. If Arctic sea ice continues to thin, and storms become more common, we expect that these algal habitats will become more important in the future.
Multispectral Fusion Approach for Traffic Target Detection in Bad Weather
Authors: Han Yajing , Hu Dean
Published: October 2020

Visual traffic surveillance using computer vision techniques can be noninvasive, automated and cost effective. Traffic surveillance systems with the ability to detect, count and classify vehicles can be employed in gathering traffic statistics and achieving better traffic control in intelligent transportation systems. This works well in daylight when the road users are clearly visible to the camera, but it often struggles when the visibility of the scene is impaired by insufficient lighting or bad weather conditions such as rain, snow, haze and fog. Therefore, in this paper, we design a dual input faster region-based convolutional neural network (RCNN) to make full use of the complementary advantages of color and thermal images to detect traffic objects in bad weather. Different from the previous detector, we used halfway fusion to fuse color and thermal images for traffic object detection. Besides, we adopt the polling from multiple layers method to adapt the characteristics of large size differences between objects of traffic targets to accurately identify targets of different sizes. The experimental results show that the present method improves the target recognition accuracy by 7.15% under normal weather conditions and 14.2% under bad weather conditions. This exhibits promising potential for implementation with real-world applications.
Exploring the Dynamic Organization of Random and Evolved Boolean Networks
Authors: d’Addese Gianluca , Magrì Salvatore , Serra Roberto , Villani Marco
Published: October 2020

The properties of most systems composed of many interacting elements are neither determined by the topology of the interaction network alone, nor by the dynamical laws in isolation. Rather, they are the outcome of the interplay between topology and dynamics. In this paper, we consider four different types of systems with critical dynamic regime and with increasingly complex dynamical organization (loosely defined as the emergent property of the interactions between topology and dynamics) and analyze them from a structural and dynamic point of view. A first noteworthy result, previously hypothesized but never quantified so far, is that the topology per se induces a notable increase in dynamic organization. A second observation is that evolution does not change dramatically the size distribution of the present dynamic groups, so it seems that it keeps track of the already present organization induced by the topology. Finally, and similarly to what happens in other applications of evolutionary algorithms, the types of dynamic changes strongly depend upon the used fitness function.
Convective and Microwave Assisted Drying of Wet Porous Materials with Prolate Spheroidal Shape: A Finite-Volume Approach
Authors: Silva Edna G. , Gomez Ricardo S. , Gomes Josivanda P. , Figueirêdo Rossana M. F. , Queiroz Alexandre J. M. , Silva Wilton P. , Santiago Ângela M. , Macedo Antonio D. B. , Ferreira João P. L. , Gomes Ítalo A. , Lima Antonio G. B.
Published: October 2020

Convective heating is a traditional method used for the drying of wet porous materials. Currently, microwave drying has been employed for this purpose, due to its excellent characteristics of uniform moisture removal and heating inside the material, higher drying rate, and low energy demand. This paper focuses on the study of the combined convective and microwave drying of porous solids with prolate spheroidal shape. An advanced mathematical modeling based on the diffusion theory (mass and energy conservation equations) written in prolate spheroidal coordinates was derived and the numerical solution using the finite-volume method is presented. Here, we evaluated the effect of the heat and mass transport coefficients and microwave power intensity on the moisture removal and heating of the solid. Results of the drying and heating kinetics and the moisture and temperature distribution inside the solid are presented and discussed. It was verified that the higher the convective heat and mass transfer coefficients and microwave power intensity, the faster the solid will dry and heat up.
Increasing Growth of Lettuce and Mizuna under Sole-Source LED Lighting Using Longer Photoperiods with the Same Daily Light Integral
Authors: Palmer Shane , van Iersel Marc W.
Published: October 2020

Light recommendations for horticultural crops often focus on the optimal daily light integral (DLI) without regard to how that light is delivered throughout each day. Because photosynthesis is more efficient at lower photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), we hypothesized that longer photoperiods with lower PPFD results in faster growth than shorter photoperiods with higher PPFD and the same DLI. We quantified the effect of different photoperiods, all providing the same DLI, on photosynthesis and growth of two leafy greens. Mizuna (Brassica rapa var. japonica) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) “Little Gem” were grown from seed in a controlled environment chamber (20 °C and 819 µmol·mol−1 CO2) under six photoperiods (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 h). LED fixtures provided white light and PPFD was adjusted so each treatment received a DLI of 16 mol·m−2·d−1. Mizuna and lettuce were harvested 30 and 41 days after planting, respectively. Longer photoperiods with lower PPFD increased light interception, chlorophyll content index, quantum yield of photosystem II, and aboveground biomass, but decreased instantaneous CO2 assimilation of lettuce and mizuna. Aboveground biomass increased 16.0% in lettuce and 18.7% in mizuna in response to increasing the photoperiod from 10 to 20 h. In summary, extending the photoperiod and lowering PPFD increases growth of lettuce and mizuna by increasing light interception and the quantum yield of photosystem II.
Regeneration of Viburnum dentatum L. from Alginate-Encapsulated Shoot Explants after Short-Term Cold Storage and Assessment of Genetic Stability Using ISSR Analysis
Authors: Hatzilazarou Stefanos , Kostas Stefanos , Joachim Maria , Economou Athanasios
Published: October 2020

The present study demonstrates an efficient protocol for alginate encapsulation, interim cold storing of artificial seeds and conversion to genetically stable plants of Viburnum dentatum L. “Lucidum Aiton”. Explants of shoot tips and first-node segments, excised from in vitro-derived viburnum microshoots, were encapsulated in 2.5% sodium alginate mixed with liquid MS nutrient medium and hardened in 50 mM of calcium chloride producing solid, soft and uniform beads. These artificial seeds achieved 28.9% germination under light, forming 4.3 microshoots per bead. However, with 100 mM of calcium chloride for hardening, the beads were firm and of a uniform globular shape and suitable for handling and exhibited a germination response of 48.9%. Encapsulated shoot tip explants of viburnum, which were stored at 4 °C for 4, 8 or 12 weeks, showed a gradual decline in regeneration response (73.3, 62.2, 51.1%, respectively), while non-encapsulated explants, stored under same conditions, did not survive after the fourth week of cold storage. Microshoots from cold-stored encapsulated explants, which were rooted in solid MS nutrient medium with 0.5 μΜ of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and transplanted to a substrate of peat-perlite (3:1, v/v), acclimatized successfully after application of 75 or 50% shading, which was gradually reduced, and were established with minimum losses in a greenhouse. For the genetic stability of the artificial seed-derived plantlets and compared with the mother plant, an assessment was conducted using Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSRs) analysis. The ISSR profiles proved the genetic uniformity and clonal stability of the regenerated plantlets and their genetic resemblance to the mother plant. The present regeneration procedure could be used as an alternative method for the micropropagation of V. dentatum.
Depression as a Risk Factor for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Cantón-Habas Vanesa , Rich-Ruiz Manuel , Romero-Saldaña Manuel , Carrera-González Maria del Pilar
Published: October 2020

Preventing the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), improving the diagnosis, and slowing the progression of these diseases remain a challenge. The aim of this study was to elucidate the association between depression and dementia/AD and to identify possible relationships between these diseases and different sociodemographic and clinical features. In this regard, a case-control study was conducted in Spain in 2018–2019. The definition of a case was: A person ≥ 65 years old with dementia and/or AD and a score of 5–7 on the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS). The sample consisted of 125 controls; among the cases, 96 had dementia and 74 had AD. The predictor variables were depression, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The results showed that depression, diabetes mellitus, and older age were associated with an increased likelihood of developing AD, with an Odds Ratio (OR) of 12.9 (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.3–39.9), 2.8 (95% CI: 1.1–7.1) and 1.15 (95% CI: 1.1–1.2), respectively. Those subjects with treated dyslipidemia were less likely to develop AD (OR 0.47, 95% CI: 0.22–1.1). Therefore, depression and diabetes mellitus increase the risk of dementia, whereas treated dyslipidemia has been shown to reduce this risk.
Solvent Influence on Selectivity in α-Pinene Oxide Isomerization Using MoO3-Modified Zeolite BETA
Authors: Vrbková Eva , Vyskočilová Eliška , Lhotka Miloslav , Červený Libor
Published: October 2020

Natural source turpentine is an available source of α-pinene oxide. This compound’s value is especially given by the possibility of producing important compounds campholenic aldehyde and trans-carveol. In this work, we would like to present the usage of MoO3-modified zeolite BETA in α-pinene oxide isomerization concerning campholenic aldehyde and trans-carveol formation using a wide range of solvents. Catalyst calcination temperature also influenced the reaction course (selectivity to desired compounds and reaction rate). MoO3-zeolite BETA was prepared by the wet impregnation method and characterized by different techniques. The use of polar aprotic solvents had the most positive effect on the reaction course. Solvent basicity and polarity considerably influenced the reaction rate and selectivity to particular products. The combination of high basicity and the high polarity was the most suitable for the studied reaction from the reaction rate point of view. Selectivity to campholenic aldehyde and trans-carveol was the most influenced by solvent basicity. Higher solvent basicity caused the preferential formation of trans–carveol, influence on selectivity to campholenic aldehyde formation was the opposite. The described catalyst may be used for α-pinene oxide rearrangement to both desired products dependently on the used solvent. Molybdenum offers an exciting alternative for previously described modifications of zeolites for this reaction.
Visible-Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Aniline Blue by Stainless-Steel Foam Coated with TiO2 Grafted with Anthocyanins from a Maqui-Blackberry System
Authors: Vásquez Dreidy , Palominos Francisca , Martínez Sebastián
Published: October 2020

Anthocyanins from maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) and blackberry (Rubus glaucus) were used as light harvesters to improve the photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide in visible light. Anthocyanins from both species were obtained using high-frequency ultrasound-assisted liquid-liquid extraction with methanol. Mixtures of anthocyanins were developed to study their effectiveness in the visible light/TiO2 reaction for the oxidation of aniline blue. For this purpose, stainless-steel foams were covered with TiO2 and anthocyanin and characterized by SEM. Different samples were fabricated by varying the ratio of the two anthocyanins in the mixture (100, 75, 50, 25 and 0 vol% of maqui-anthocyanin (delphinidin)). The mixtures of 25 vol% anthocyanin from maqui and 75 vol% anthocyanin from blackberry had higher total anthocyanin content and better photocatalytic activity in visible light: degradation of aniline blue was 40% at pH 7, 56% at pH 3 and 95% at pH 3 with the injection of oxygen for 2 h in comparison with TiO2-foam/UV light, which yielded values of 13% at pH 7 and 73% at pH 3 with and without the addition of oxygen. Natural dyes that are low-cost and environmentally friendly substances are shown to be capable of improving the visible-light photocatalytic activity of TiO2.
A Hybrid Modified Method of the Sine Cosine Algorithm Using Latin Hypercube Sampling with the Cuckoo Search Algorithm for Optimization Problems
Authors: Rosli Siti Julia , Rahim Hasliza A , Abdul Rani Khairul Najmy , Ngadiran Ruzelita , Ahmad R. Badlishah , Yahaya Nor Zakiah , Abdulmalek Mohamedfareq , Jusoh Muzammil , Yasin Mohd Najib Mohd , Sabapathy Thennarasan , Andrew Allan Melvin
Published: October 2020

The metaheuristic algorithm is a popular research area for solving various optimization problems. In this study, we proposed two approaches based on the Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA), namely, modification and hybridization. First, we attempted to solve the constraints of the original SCA by developing a modified SCA (MSCA) version with an improved identification capability of a random population using the Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) technique. MSCA serves to guide SCA in obtaining a better local optimum in the exploitation phase with fast convergence based on an optimum value of the solution. Second, hybridization of the MSCA (HMSCA) and the Cuckoo Search Algorithm (CSA) led to the development of the Hybrid Modified Sine Cosine Algorithm Cuckoo Search Algorithm (HMSCACSA) optimizer, which could search better optimal host nest locations in the global domain. Moreover, the HMSCACSA optimizer was validated over six classical test functions, the IEEE CEC 2017, and the IEEE CEC 2014 benchmark functions. The effectiveness of HMSCACSA was also compared with other hybrid metaheuristics such as the Particle Swarm Optimization–Grey Wolf Optimization (PSOGWO), Particle Swarm Optimization–Artificial Bee Colony (PSOABC), and Particle Swarm Optimization–Gravitational Search Algorithm (PSOGSA). In summary, the proposed HMSCACSA converged 63.89% faster and achieved a shorter Central Processing Unit (CPU) duration by a maximum of up to 43.6% compared to the other hybrid counterparts.
A Survey of Fuzzy Algorithms Used in Multi-Motor Systems Control
Authors: Jerković Štil Vedrana , Varga Toni , Benšić Tin , Barukčić Marinko
Published: October 2020

Multi-motor systems are strong coupled multiple-input–multiple-output systems. The main objective in multi-motor drive control is to achieve synchronized operation of all motors in the system. In this paper, multi-motor systems are classified in accordance with their control demands. This paper also provides a systematic categorization of multi-motor synchronization techniques. The review of recent research literature indicates that fuzzy algorithms are widely used in multi-motor control. Finally, in this paper, a review of fuzzy logic controllers and their functionalities in multi-motor control is given.
Ginger Beer: An Overview of Health Benefits and Recent Developments
Authors: Nutakor Christabel , Essiedu Justice A. , Adadi Parise , Kanwugu Osman N.
Published: October 2020

Since time immemorial, ginger has been widely used as a food spice, providing aromatic odor and pungent taste, and as a medicinal plant, with various therapeutic effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic, among others. It has long been an integral constituent of most herbal medicines in Africa, China and India. Its medicinal properties are largely attributed to its outstanding amount of phenolics which include gingerols, paradols, zingerones, and many others. With consumer preference gradually and remarkably shifting from high-calorie towards low-calorie and functional beverages, the demand for ginger beer is flourishing at a faster rate. Currently, the ginger beer market is dominated by the United States. The demand for ginger beer is, however, debilitated by using artificial ingredients. Nonetheless, the use of natural ginger extract enriches beer with putative bioactive phytoconstituents such as shagaol, gingerone, zingerone, ginger flavonoids and essential oils, as well as essential nutritional components including proteins, vitamins and minerals, to promote general wellbeing of consumer. This paper presents an overview of the phytoconstituents of ginger as well as the overall biological activities they confer to the consumer. In addition, the market trend as well as the production technology of ginger beer using natural ginger extract is described here.
Psychological Variables Related to Developmental Changes during Adolescence—A Comparison between Alpine and Non-Alpine Sport Participants
Authors: Niedermeier Martin , Kogler Claudia , Frühauf Anika , Kopp Martin
Published: October 2020

Alpine sport is a popular form of exercise and provides several skills that are potentially relevant for positive development during adolescence. However, empirical data on differences between alpine and non-alpine sport participants in variables related to developmental changes are lacking. Therefore, the primary aim of the present study was to analyze differences in self-esteem and additional variables between adolescent alpine and non-alpine sport participants. A comparison to non-regular exercisers was conducted for self-esteem. In a cross-sectional design, information on self-esteem, sensation seeking, agency, and emotion regulation was collected in 183 adolescents [(mean age: 15.4 (SD: 2.3) years, 71.0% female)]. Alpine sport participants reported significantly higher self-esteem compared to non-regular exercisers, p = 0.003, d = 0.95, but not compared to non-alpine sport participants, p = 0.774, d = 0.06. When controlling for sex and high-risk sport engagement, alpine sport participants showed a significantly higher experience of agency compared to non-alpine sport participants, p = 0.016, d = 0.46. We conclude that alpine sport participation is less relevant with regard to self-esteem compared to regular exercise. However, the characteristics of alpine sport might provide a trigger for higher experience of agency during sport participation, potentially helping to satisfy the increased need for autonomy and independence in adolescence.
Cervical Cancer Screening Participation among Women of Russian, Somali, and Kurdish Origin Compared with the General Finnish Population: A Register-Based Study
Authors: Idehen Esther E. , Virtanen Anni , Lilja Eero , Tuomainen Tomi-Pekka , Korhonen Tellervo , Koponen Päivikki
Published: October 2020

Migrant-origin women are less prone to cervical screening uptake compared with host populations. This study examined cervical cancer screening participation and factors associated with it in the Finnish mass screening program during 2008–2012 in women of Russian, Somali and Kurdish origin compared with the general Finnish population (Finns) in Finland. The study population consists of samples from the Finnish Migrant Health and Well-being Study 2010–2012 and Health 2011 Survey; aged 30–64 (n = 2579). Data from the Finnish screening register linked with other population-based registry data were utilized. For statistical analysis we employed logistic regression. Age-adjusted screening participation rates were Russians 63% (95% CI: 59.9–66.6), Somalis 19% (16.4–21.6), Kurds 69% (66.6–71.1), and Finns 67% (63.3–69.8). In the multiple-adjusted model with Finns as the reference; odds ratios for screening were among Russians 0.92 (0.74–1.16), Somalis 0.16 (0.11–0.22), and Kurds 1.37 (1.02–1.83). Among all women, the substantial factor for increased screening likelihood was hospital care related to pregnancy/birth 1.73 (1.27–2.35), gynecological 2.47 (1.65–3.68), or other reasons 1.53 (1.12–2.08). Screening participation was lower among students and retirees. In conclusion, screening among the migrant-origin women varies, being significantly lowest among Somalis compared with Finns. Efforts using culturally tailored/population-specific approaches may be beneficial in increasing screening participation among women of migrant-origin.
Subjective Environmental Experiences and Women’s Breastfeeding Journeys: A Survival Analysis Using an Online Survey of UK Mothers
Authors: Brown Laura J. , Myers Sarah , Page Abigail E. , Emmott Emily H.
Published: October 2020

Local physical and social environmental factors are important drivers of human health and behaviour. Environmental perception has been linked with both reproduction and parenting, but links between subjective environmental experiences and breastfeeding remain unclear. Using retrospective data from an online survey of UK mothers of children aged 0–24 months, Cox-Aalen survival models test whether negative subjective environmental experiences negatively correlated with any and exclusive breastfeeding (max n = 473). Matching predictions, hazards of stopping any breastfeeding were increased, albeit non-significantly, across the five environmental measures (HR: 1.05–1.26) Hazards for stopping exclusive breastfeeding were however (non-significantly) reduced (HR: 0.65–0.87). Score processes found no significant time-varying effects. However, estimated cumulative coefficient graphs showed that the first few weeks postpartum were most susceptible to environmental influences and that contrary to our predictions, mothers with worse subjective environmental experiences were less likely to stop breastfeeding at this time. In addition, the hazard of stopping exclusive breastfeeding declined over time for mothers who thought that littering was a problem. The predicted increased hazards of stopping breastfeeding were only evident in the later stages of any breastfeeding and only for mothers who reported littering as a problem or that people tended not to know each other. Perceived harsher physical and social environmental conditions are assumed to deter women from breastfeeding, but this may not always be the case. Women’s hazards of stopping breastfeeding change over time and there may be particular timepoints in their breastfeeding journeys where subjective environmental experiences play a role.
Does Depression and Anxiety Mediate the Relation between Limited Health Literacy and Diet Non-Adherence?
Authors: Skoumalova Ivana , Geckova Andrea Madarasova , Rosenberger Jaroslav , Majernikova Maria , Kolarcik Peter , Klein Daniel , Winter Andrea F. de , van Dijk Jitse P. , Reijneveld Sijmen A.
Published: October 2020

Limited health literacy (HL), depression and anxiety are common in dialyzed patients and affect health outcomes and self-management. We explored whether depression and anxiety mediate the association of HL with diet non-adherence (DN-A) in dialyzed patients. We performed a cross-sectional study in 20 dialysis clinics in Slovakia (n = 452; mean age: 63.6 years; males: 60.7%). Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to create three HL groups. Logistic regression adjusted for age, gender and education was used to explore whether depression and anxiety mediate the association of HL with DN-A. Patients in the moderate HL group were more likely to be non-adherent to diet (OR (Odds Ratio)/95% CI: 2.19/1.21–3.99) than patients in the high HL group. Patients in the low HL and moderate HL group more likely reported depression or anxiety. Patients reporting depression (OR/95% CI: 1.94/1.26–2.98) or anxiety (OR/95% CI: 1.81/1.22–2.69) were more likely to be non-adherent with diet. Adjustment for depression reduced the association between moderate HL and DN-A by 19.5%. Adjustment for anxiety reduced the association between moderate HL and DN-A by 11.8%. Anxiety and depression partly mediated the association of HL with DN-A. More attention should be paid to treating patients’ psychological distress to ensure adequate adherence with recommended diet.
Risk Prediction Models for Melanoma: A Systematic Review on the Heterogeneity in Model Development and Validation
Authors: Kaiser Isabelle , Pfahlberg Annette B. , Uter Wolfgang , Heppt Markus V. , Veierød Marit B. , Gefeller Olaf
Published: October 2020

The rising incidence of cutaneous melanoma over the past few decades has prompted substantial efforts to develop risk prediction models identifying people at high risk of developing melanoma to facilitate targeted screening programs. We review these models, regarding study characteristics, differences in risk factor selection and assessment, evaluation, and validation methods. Our systematic literature search revealed 40 studies comprising 46 different risk prediction models eligible for the review. Altogether, 35 different risk factors were part of the models with nevi being the most common one (n = 35, 78%); little consistency in other risk factors was observed. Results of an internal validation were reported for less than half of the studies (n = 18, 45%), and only 6 performed external validation. In terms of model performance, 29 studies assessed the discriminative ability of their models; other performance measures, e.g., regarding calibration or clinical usefulness, were rarely reported. Due to the substantial heterogeneity in risk factor selection and assessment as well as methodologic aspects of model development, direct comparisons between models are hardly possible. Uniform methodologic standards for the development and validation of risk prediction models for melanoma and reporting standards for the accompanying publications are necessary and need to be obligatory for that reason.
Learning Strategies Focused on Decision Making and Collaboration on Physical Education
Authors: Ávalos-Ramos M.ª Alejandra , Martínez Ruiz M.ª Ángeles
Published: October 2020

This research analyzes the voices of university students of sport sciences during the implementation of strategies to support autonomy and collaboration in gymnastic learning, from the perspectives of self-determination, self-control, and self-regulation. The methodology is qualitative and the self-reflective journals with their narrative are the tool to collect information. The strategy is well appreciated both in terms of the structure of the work plan and in the guidance of the tasks. The evolution of motivation, autonomy, collaboration, and achievements is highly valued throughout the process. However, the final assessment, despite having little effect on the grade, produces pressure and anxiety in students, so that self-control decreases, action is impaired, and the motivation achieved in the learning process is distorted. Further studies are needed to design coping strategies to help students maintain their motivation and confidence and to decrease students’ resistance to assessment tasks.
Effects of Human Endothelial Progenitor Cell and Its Conditioned Medium on Oocyte Development and Subsequent Embryo Development
Authors: Lee Seok Hee
Published: October 2020

Human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) secrete numerous growth factors, and they have been applied to regenerative medicine for their roles in angiogenesis as well as neovascularization. Angiogenesis is one of the essential factors for the maturation of ovarian follicles; however, the physiological function of EPCs or their derivatives on in vitro culture systems has not been fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of EPCs and their conditioned medium (EPC-CM) on oocyte development and subsequent embryo development. In the results, the oocyte development and subsequent embryo development were significantly improved in EPCs and the EPC-CM group. In addition, markedly increased levels of growth factors/cytokines, such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and epidermal growth factor (EGF), were observed in medium from the EPC-CM group. Additionally, EPC-CM after in vitro maturation (IVM) had significantly decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels compared to those of other groups. Transcriptional levels of growth factor receptor-related genes (FGFR2, IGF1R) and anti-apoptotic-related gene (BCL2) were significantly upregulated in cumulus cells/oocytes from the EPC-CM group compared with those from the control. Furthermore, the expression levels of cumulus expansion-related genes (PTGS2, TNFAIP6, HAS2) and oocyte-maturation-related factors (GDF9, BMP15) were significantly enhanced in the EPC-CM group. Consequently, the present study provides the first evidence that EPC-CM contains several essential growth factors for oocyte development by regulating genes involved in oocyte maturation.
Contact-Dependent Growth Inhibition in Bacteria: Do Not Get Too Close!
Authors: Ikryannikova Larisa N. , Kurbatov Leonid K. , Gorokhovets Neonila V. , Zamyatnin Andrey A.
Published: October 2020

Over millions of years of evolution, bacteria have developed complex strategies for intra-and interspecies interactions and competition for ecological niches and resources. Contact-dependent growth inhibition systems (CDI) are designed to realize a direct physical contact of one bacterial cell with other cells in proximity via receptor-mediated toxin delivery. These systems are found in many microorganisms including clinically important human pathogens. The main purpose of these systems is to provide competitive advantages for the growth of the population. In addition, non-competitive roles for CDI toxin delivery systems including interbacterial signal transduction and mediators of bacterial collaboration have been suggested. In this review, our goal was to systematize the recent findings on the structure, mechanisms, and purpose of CDI systems in bacterial populations and discuss the potential biological and evolutionary impact of CDI-mediated interbacterial competition and/or cooperation.
Critical Role for AMPK in Metabolic Disease-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Juszczak Florian , Caron Nathalie , Mathew Anna V. , Declèves Anne-Emilie
Published: October 2020

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is prevalent in 9.1% of the global population and is a significant public health problem associated with increased morbidity and mortality. CKD is associated with highly prevalent physiological and metabolic disturbances such as hypertension, obesity, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and aging, which are also risk factors for CKD pathogenesis and progression. Podocytes and proximal tubular cells of the kidney strongly express AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK plays essential roles in glucose and lipid metabolism, cell survival, growth, and inflammation. Thus, metabolic disease-induced renal diseases like obesity-related and diabetic chronic kidney disease demonstrate dysregulated AMPK in the kidney. Activating AMPK ameliorates the pathological and phenotypical features of both diseases. As a metabolic sensor, AMPK regulates active tubular transport and helps renal cells to survive low energy states. AMPK also exerts a key role in mitochondrial homeostasis and is known to regulate autophagy in mammalian cells. While the nutrient-sensing role of AMPK is critical in determining the fate of renal cells, the role of AMPK in kidney autophagy and mitochondrial quality control leading to pathology in metabolic disease-related CKD is not very clear and needs further investigation. This review highlights the crucial role of AMPK in renal cell dysfunction associated with metabolic diseases and aims to expand therapeutic strategies by understanding the molecular and cellular processes underlying CKD.
Phospho-Mimetic Mutation at Ser602 Inactivates Human TRPA1 Channel
Authors: Barvikova Kristyna , Barvik Ivan , Sinica Viktor , Zimova Lucie , Vlachova Viktorie
Published: October 2020

The Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel is an integrative molecular sensor for detecting environmental irritant compounds, endogenous proalgesic and inflammatory agents, pressure, and temperature. Different post-translational modifications participate in the discrimination of the essential functions of TRPA1 in its physiological environment, but the underlying structural bases are poorly understood. Here, we explored the role of the cytosolic N-terminal residue Ser602 located near a functionally important allosteric coupling domain as a potential target of phosphorylation. The phosphomimetic mutation S602D completely abrogated channel activation, whereas the phosphonull mutations S602G and S602N produced a fully functional channel. Using mutagenesis, electrophysiology, and molecular simulations, we investigated the possible structural impact of a modification (mutation or phosphorylation) of Ser602 and found that this residue represents an important regulatory site through which the intracellular signaling cascades may act to reversibly restrict or “dampen” the conformational space of the TRPA1 channel and promote its transitions to the closed state.
Coordination between Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II and Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase in Neurons
Authors: Araki Shoma , Osuka Koji , Takata Tsuyoshi , Tsuchiya Yukihiro , Watanabe Yasuo
Published: October 2020

Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is highly abundant in the brain and exhibits broad substrate specificity, thereby it is thought to participate in the regulation of neuronal death and survival. Nitric oxide (NO), produced by neuronal NO synthase (nNOS), is an important neurotransmitter and plays a role in neuronal activity including learning and memory processes. However, high levels of NO can contribute to excitotoxicity following a stroke and neurodegenerative disease. Aside from NO, nNOS also generates superoxide which is involved in both cell injury and signaling. CaMKII is known to activate and translocate from the cytoplasm to the post-synaptic density in response to neuronal activation where nNOS is predominantly located. Phosphorylation of nNOS at Ser847 by CaMKII decreases NO generation and increases superoxide generation. Conversely, NO-induced S-nitrosylation of CaMKII at Cys6 is a prominent determinant of the CaMKII inhibition in ATP competitive fashion. Thus, the “cross-talk” between CaMKII and NO/superoxide may represent important signal transduction pathways in brain. In this review, we introduce the molecular mechanism of and pathophysiological role of mutual regulation between CaMKII and nNOS in neurons.
PD-1 and PD-L1 Expression on Circulating Lymphocytes as a Marker of Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation-Associated Proliferative Glomerulonephritis
Authors: Grywalska Ewelina , Smarz-Widelska Iwona , Korona-Głowniak Izabela , Mertowski Sebastian , Gosik Krzysztof , Hymos Anna , Ludian Jarosław , Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej Paulina , Roliński Jacek , Załuska Wojciech
Published: October 2020

Alterations to the programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) pathway were previously shown to be involved in a poorer prognosis for patients with proliferative glomerulonephritis (PGN). Here, we investigated the association between several infectious agents and the expression of PD-1 and its ligand (PD-L1) on T and B lymphocytes in patients with PGN and nonproliferative glomerulonephritis (NPGN). A cohort of 45 newly-diagnosed patients (23 with PGN and 22 with NPGN) and 20 healthy volunteers was enrolled. The percentage of peripheral blood mononuclear cells expressing PD-1 and PD-L1 antigens was determined by flow cytometry. We found PD-1 and PD-L1 expression on T and B lymphocytes was higher in PGN patients than in NPGN patients and controls. We also found that reactivation of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) correlated with the expression of PD-1/PD-L1 antigens in patients with PGN. Further receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that PD-1 expression could distinguish EBV-positive PGN patients from those with NPGN or healthy controls. The use of PD-1 expression as a non-invasive marker of PGN should be further investigated.
MRI Radiomic Features to Predict IDH1 Mutation Status in Gliomas: A Machine Learning Approach using Gradient Tree Boosting
Authors: Sakai Yu , Yang Chen , Kihira Shingo , Tsankova Nadejda , Khan Fahad , Hormigo Adilia , Lai Albert , Cloughesy Timothy , Nael Kambiz
Published: October 2020

In patients with gliomas, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation status has been studied as a prognostic indicator. Recent advances in machine learning (ML) have demonstrated promise in utilizing radiomic features to study disease processes in the brain. We investigate whether ML analysis of multiparametric radiomic features from preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can predict IDH1 mutation status in patients with glioma. This retrospective study included patients with glioma with known IDH1 status and preoperative MRI. Radiomic features were extracted from Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) and Diffusion-Weighted-Imaging (DWI). The dataset was split into training, validation, and testing sets by stratified sampling. Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) was applied to the training sets. eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) classifiers were trained, and the hyperparameters were tuned. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), accuracy, and f1-scores were collected. A total of 100 patients (age: 55 ± 15, M/F 60/40); with IDH1 mutant (n = 22) and IDH1 wildtype (n = 78) were included. The best performance was seen with a DWI-trained XGBoost model, which achieved ROC with Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.97, accuracy of 0.90, and f1-score of 0.75 on the test set. The FLAIR-trained XGBoost model achieved ROC with AUC of 0.95, accuracy of 0.90, f1-score of 0.75 on the test set. A model that was trained on combined FLAIR-DWI radiomic features did not provide incremental accuracy. The results show that a XGBoost classifier using multiparametric radiomic features derived from preoperative MRI can predict IDH1 mutation status with > 90% accuracy.
Custodiol-N Is Superior to Custodiol® Solution in Experimental Rat Uterus Preservation
Authors: Zitkute Viktorija , Kvietkauskas Mindaugas , Maskoliunaite Vygante , Leber Bettina , Ramasauskaite Diana , Strupas Kestutis , Stiegler Philipp , Schemmer Peter
Published: October 2020

Uterus transplantation (UTx) is the first and only available treatment for women with absolute uterine factor infertility. However, clinical application is limited by the lack of organs, ischemia/reperfusion injury, as well as immunosuppression after UTx. Several different preservation solutions are used in experimental and clinical UTx, including Custodiol® solution. Recently, the novel Custodiol-N solution was developed with superior results in organ preservation. However, the solution was not tested yet in UTx. Therefore, the aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of Custodiol-N in uterus prolonged cold preservation time (8 and 24 h), compared to Custodiol® solution. Uterus tissue samples were obtained from adult Sprague Dawley rats (n = 10/group). Cold ischemic injury was estimated by histology, including immunohistochemistry, and biochemical tissue analyses. After 8 h of cold ischemia, higher percentage of tissue edema, necrosis signs and myeloperoxidase expression, as well as lower superoxide dismutase activity were found in Custodiol® compared to Custodiol-N (p < 0.05). These differences were more pronounced after 24 h of cold preservation time (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that Custodiol-N protects uterus grafts from cold ischemic injury better than standard Custodiol® most likely via inhibition of oxidative stress and tissue edema. It seems that iron chelators in the composition of Custodiol-N play an important protective role against cold ischemia.
The P72R Polymorphism in R248Q/W p53 Mutants Modifies the Mutant Effect on Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Phenotype and Cell Invasion via CXCL1 Expression
Authors: De Souza Cristabelle , Madden Jill A. , Minn Dennis , Kumar Vigneshwari Easwar , Montoya Dennis J. , Nambiar Roshni , Zhu Zheng , Xiao Wen-Wu , Tahmassebi Neeki , Kathi Harikumara , Nelson Nina , Karnezis Anthony N. , Chien Jeremy
Published: October 2020

High-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), the most lethal subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), is characterized by widespread TP53 mutations (>90%), most of which are missense mutations (>70%). The objective of this study was to investigate differential transcriptional targets affected by a common germline P72R SNP (rs1042522) in two p53 hotspot mutants, R248Q and R248W, and identify the mechanism through which the P72R SNP affects the neomorphic properties of these mutants. Using isogenic cell line models, transcriptomic analysis, xenografts, and patient data, we found that the P72R SNP modifies the effect of p53 hotspot mutants on cellular morphology and invasion properties. Most importantly, RNA sequencing studies identified CXCL1 a critical factor that is differentially affected by P72R SNP in R248Q and R248W mutants and is responsible for differences in cellular morphology and functional properties observed in these p53 mutants. We show that the mutants with the P72 SNP promote a reversion of the EMT phenotype to epithelial characteristics, whereas its R72 counterpart promotes a mesenchymal transition via the chemokine CXCL1. These studies reveal a new role of the P72R SNP in modulating the neomorphic properties of p53 mutants via CXCL1, which has significant implications for tumor invasion and metastasis.
Effect of Mechanical Shaking on the Physicochemical Properties of Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Gudkov Sergey V. , Penkov Nikita V. , Baimler Ilya V. , Lyakhov Gennady A. , Pustovoy Vladimir I. , Simakin Alexander V. , Sarimov Ruslan M. , Scherbakov Ivan A.
Published: October 2020

Long-lived luminescence in the blue region was found to occur in deionized water saturated with atmospheric gases following mechanical shaking. Luminescence intensity decreased exponentially after the cessation of stress. During vigorous mechanical shaking, we observed gas bubbles in solution, and the liquid–gas interface area increased noticeably. At the same time, the concentration of molecular oxygen decreased, which could not be attributed to the water warming up with exposure to mechanical stress. However, deaerated water rapidly became saturated with gases following mechanical stress. The recommendation that cell culture media should be mixed after they are removed from the fridge in order to allow saturation with oxygen is probably misleading. It was shown that gases existed in water both in the form of individual molecules and nanobubbles. Mechanical stress did not influence the number or size of nanobubbles. While gas nanobubbles were absent in freshly prepared deaerated water, they appeared following exposure to mechanical stress. In addition, in mechanically treated gas-saturated water, there was seemingly an equilibrium shift towards the decomposition of carbonic acid to water and carbon dioxide. At the same time, the pH of water tended to increase immediately after mechanical stress. It was demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) form in gas-saturated water under mechanical stress (30 Hz, amplitude of 5 mm). The relative generation rate of hydrogen peroxide and of the hydroxyl radical was 1 nM/min and 0.5 nM/min, respectively. It was found that with an increase in the frequency of mechanical action (f), the rate of ROS generation increased in proportion to f 2. The major pathways for hydrogen peroxide generation are probably associated with the formation of singlet oxygen and its further reduction, and the alternative pathway is the formation of hydrogen peroxide as a result of hydroxyl radical recombination.
Role of Polycomb Complexes in Normal and Malignant Plasma Cells
Authors: Varlet Emmanuel , Ovejero Sara , Martinez Anne-Marie , Cavalli Giacomo , Moreaux Jerome
Published: October 2020

Plasma cells (PC) are the main effectors of adaptive immunity, responsible for producing antibodies to defend the body against pathogens. They are the result of a complex highly regulated cell differentiation process, taking place in several anatomical locations and involving unique genetic events. Pathologically, PC can undergo tumorigenesis and cause a group of diseases known as plasma cell dyscrasias, including multiple myeloma (MM). MM is a severe disease with poor prognosis that is characterized by the accumulation of malignant PC within the bone marrow, as well as high clinical and molecular heterogeneity. MM patients frequently develop resistance to treatment, leading to relapse. Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are epigenetic regulators involved in cell fate and carcinogenesis. The emerging roles of PcG in PC differentiation and myelomagenesis position them as potential therapeutic targets in MM. Here, we focus on the roles of PcG proteins in normal and malignant plasma cells, as well as their therapeutic implications.