bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Training Programme for Developing Social and Personal Resources and Its Effects on the Perceived Stress Level in Adults in Daily Life—Study Protocol for a Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Janka Christoph , Stamm Tanja , Heinze Georg , Dorner Thomas E.
Published: December 2022

Persistent stress and insufficient coping strategies have negative consequences for physical and mental health. Teaching adults the skills needed to sustainably improve stress-buffering aspects of their character could contribute to the prevention of stress-related diseases. In this non-randomised, observational, prospective cohort study, participants of a training programme for developing social and personal skills, to which they previously self-assigned, are assessed. The 12-month training programme focuses on improving perceived stress level (primary outcome), health behaviour, presence of common somatic symptoms, satisfaction with life, quality of social relationships, and wellbeing by addressing life goals, meaning in life, sense of coherence, social and personal resources, and transcendence. Study participants are recruited from the training groups via the training organiser. Companions, persons with whom they share a close relationship, are recruited to assess the interpersonal diffusion effects of the training. Matched individuals not participating in the training are the control group. Parameter assessment follows a pre-, post-, and follow-up (6 months) design. Designed to improve health-related outcomes in adults by addressing personality characteristics and using Lozanov’s superlearning principles to improve learning efficiency, this training programme is, to the study team’s knowledge, the first of its kind. From a research perspective, the outcomes of this study can provide new insights into primary prevention of stress-related diseases and how the effects of these measures are passed on through common personal interaction. The trial has been pre-registered (registration number: NCT04165473).
Prediction of Multiple Clinical Complications in Cancer Patients to Ensure Hospital Preparedness and Improved Cancer Care
Authors: Padmanabhan Regina , Elomri Adel , Taha Ruba Yasin , El Omri Halima , Elsabah Hesham , El Omri Abdelfatteh
Published: December 2022

Reliable and rapid medical diagnosis is the cornerstone for improving the survival rate and quality of life of cancer patients. The problem of clinical decision-making pertaining to the management of patients with hematologic cancer is multifaceted and intricate due to the risk of therapy-induced myelosuppression, multiple infections, and febrile neutropenia (FN). Myelosuppression due to treatment increases the risk of sepsis and mortality in hematological cancer patients with febrile neutropenia. A high prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms is also noted in such patients, which implies that these patients are left with limited or no-treatment options amidst severe health complications. Hence, early screening of patients for such organisms in their bodies is vital to enable hospital preparedness, curtail the spread to other weak patients in hospitals, and limit community outbreaks. Even though predictive models for sepsis and mortality exist, no model has been suggested for the prediction of multidrug-resistant organisms in hematological cancer patients with febrile neutropenia. Hence, for predicting three critical clinical complications, such as sepsis, the presence of multidrug-resistant organisms, and mortality, from the data available from medical records, we used 1166 febrile neutropenia episodes reported in 513 patients. The XGboost algorithm is suggested from 10-fold cross-validation on 6 candidate models. Other highlights are (1) a novel set of easily available features for the prediction of the aforementioned clinical complications and (2) the use of data augmentation methods and model-scoring-based hyperparameter tuning to address the problem of class disproportionality, a common challenge in medical datasets and often the reason behind poor event prediction rate of various predictive models reported so far. The proposed model depicts improved recall and AUC (area under the curve) for sepsis (recall = 98%, AUC = 0.85), multidrug-resistant organism (recall = 96%, AUC = 0.91), and mortality (recall = 86%, AUC = 0.88) prediction. Our results encourage the need to popularize artificial intelligence-based devices to support clinical decision-making.
Healthcare University Courses Fail to Improve Opinions, Knowledge, and Attitudes toward Vaccines among Healthcare Students: A Southern Italy Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Palella Marco , Copat Chiara , Grasso Alfina , Cristaldi Antonio , Oliveri Conti Gea , Ferrante Margherita , Fiore Maria
Published: December 2022

(1) Background: Healthcare providers have a crucial role in contrasting vaccine hesitancy (VH). We aimed to investigate opinions, knowledge, and attitudes toward vaccines in healthcare students (HS) at the University of Catania (Italy). (2) Methods: A survey was conducted from 1 October 2019 to 31 January 2020. Data on the opinions, knowledge, and attitudes of HS toward vaccinations were collected using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. The opinion answers were added to calculate the VH index (<18 = low, 19–22 = medium, >23 = high). Data were summarized by the VH index, degree, year of study, and sex differences, using descriptive statistics. (3) Results: A total of 1275 students (53.7% females) participated in the study, with a median (IQR) age of 21 (19–22) years. The median level of VH was 20 (17–23), with slightly higher values in males. We found an inverse trend between VH and opinions, knowledge, and attitudes toward vaccines. The same trend was confirmed in all study courses. Furthermore, the comparison between sexes revealed a higher level of knowledge in women. (4) Conclusions: The results highlight a lack of knowledge about vaccines, as well as contrasting opinions and attitudes among future health professionals. Therefore, future interventions on these topics in the preparation of future healthcare providers are needed.
Gender and Empowerment by Nursing Students: Representations, Discourses and Perspectives
Authors: Nogueira Isabela , Spagnol Gabriela , Rocha Fernanda , Lopes Maria Helena , Marques Dalvani , Santos Debora
Published: December 2022

Nursing history is marked by stigmas of gender, race and class. Nowadays, this scenario is evidenced by the social disqualification of the profession and biomedical and male supremacy. Nevertheless, the profession has the potential to change this paradigm with an intersectional approach. The current study aims to understand how the relationships of gender, feminism and empowerment are experienced by nursing students at a Brazilian public university. This is a qualitative study, exploratory-explanatory, with the application of interviews with nursing students in their five years of training. The chosen method of analysis was the Discourse of the Collective Subject based on the central ideas categorized after the interviews: (a) Profession—female and stigmatized due to its historical construction influenced by religiosity and moral; (b) Formation—far from gender relations by the perpetuation of stereotypes; and (c) Perspectives—empowerment of the profession if close to the feminist movement. The students’ discourse alert to the historical reflexes of oppressive ideological mechanisms of women and nursing in their ongoing professional training, claiming transversal learning spaces for the critical expansion of gender awareness and consequent empowerment of nursing in a feminist and intersectional perspective.
Ability of Emotional Regulation and Control as a Stress Predictor in Healthcare Professionals
Authors: Kadović Marija , Mikšić Štefica , Lovrić Robert
Published: December 2022

Emotional Regulation and Control implies a person’s ability to respond to stressful demands and emotional experiences in a socially acceptable and adaptive way. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the contribution of the ability of emotional regulation and control in the prediction of workplace stress in healthcare professionals. The study included 203 healthcare professionals employed at a hospital in the Republic of Croatia. Data were collected using two validated questionnaires: Questionnaire on Workplace Stressors for Hospital Professionals and Emotional Regulation and Control Questionnaire (ERC). Most respondents (64%) experienced stress in Workplace Organization and Financial Issues factor, while 52.7% experienced stress in Public Criticism factor. The respondents assessed their ability of emotional regulation and control to be low (mean = 55; range = 20–100). The level of experienced stress was significantly higher if the ability of emotional regulation and control was low (Spearman’s Rho = 0.308; p < 0.001). The multivariate regression model (11.2% explained variances; p = 0.001) indicated a greater possibility of severe stress in respondents who have stronger Memory of Emotionally Saturated Content (odds ratio = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.07–1.30). The results of this study signify the need to establish effective institutional support aimed at objectifying stress and strengthening emotional intelligence and empathy in healthcare professionals.
Air Quality Is Predictive of Mistakes in Professional Baseball and American Football
Authors: Heintz Elizabeth C. , Scott Derek P. , Simms Kolby R. , Foreman Jeremy J.
Published: December 2022

Air quality is a growing environmental concern that has implications for human physical and mental health. While air pollution has been linked to cognitive disease progression and declines in overall health, the impacts of air quality on athletic performance have not been extensively investigated. Much of the previous research focused on endurance sports indicates that air quality negatively impacts athletic performance; however, the effects of air quality on non-endurance elite team performance remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of air quality on errors committed by Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, interceptions thrown by quarterbacks in the National Football League (NFL), and overall quarterback performance in the NFL. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the impact of the median air quality index (AQI) of counties with MLB and NFL teams on errors, interceptions, and overall quarterback performance of players on those MLB and NFL teams. AQI was a significant positive predictor of errors and interceptions, indicating increased errors and interceptions with decreased air quality. Similarly, quarterback performance was significantly reduced for quarterbacks from teams in counties with worse air quality. These findings suggest that air quality has a significant impact on performance in the MLB and NFL, indicating impairments in physical and cognitive performance in professional athletes when competing in areas with poorer air quality. Hence, it is likely that air quality impacts athletic performance in numerous sports that have not yet been investigated.
Agent-Based Simulation for Infectious Disease Modelling over a Period of Multiple Days, with Application to an Airport Scenario
Authors: Harweg Thomas , Wagner Mathias , Weichert Frank
Published: December 2022

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of infectious disease spreading in public places has been brought into focus more than ever. Places that are of particular interest regarding the spread of infectious diseases are international airport terminals, not only for the protection of staff and ground crew members but also to help minimize the risk of the spread of infectious entities such as COVID-19 around the globe. Computational modelling and simulation can help in understanding and predicting the spreading of infectious diseases in any such scenario. In this paper, we propose a model, which combines a simulation of high geometric detail regarding virus spreading with an account of the temporal progress of infection dynamics. We, thus, introduce an agent-based social force model for tracking the spread of infectious diseases by modelling aerosol traces and concentration of virus load in the air. We complement this agent-based model to have consistency over a period of several days. We then apply this model to investigate simulations in a realistic airport setting with multiple virus variants of varying contagiousness. According to our experiments, a virus variant has to be at least twelve times more contagious than the respective control to result in a level of infection of more than 30%. Combinations of agent-based models with temporal components can be valuable tools in an attempt to assess the risk of infection attributable to a particular virus and its variants.
Binge Eating Disorder—The Point Prevalence among Polish Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Validity of Screening Tool for This Population
Authors: Suchta Katarzyna , Smolarczyk Roman , Czajkowski Krzysztof , Rudnicka Ewa , Kokoszka Andrzej
Published: December 2022

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders which is associated with an increased risk of metabolic dysregulation. The elevated prevalence of obesity has been observed in women with PCOS. Since obesity is commonly associated with eating disturbances, including the binge eating disorder (BED), and since the hormonal changes in PCOS patients could influence the food intake model, we decided to estimate the prevalence of BED in PCOS patients and to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the Questionnaire for Binge Eating Screening (QBES) in PCOS patients. Methods: A total of 122 hospitalized women with PCOS aged 16–45 (M = 26; SD = 5.22) took part in the study. Binge eating disorder (BED) was diagnosed according to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. QBES was used as a screening tool for BED. Results: The point prevalence of BED in PCOS women according to DMS-5 criteria was 51 (42%). At least two positive answers to four QBES items had 100% sensitivity and 91% specificity. Positive answers to even only the first two questions from QBES had 98% sensitivity and 85% specificity. Conclusions: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are at a very high risk of binge eating behaviors. Screening for eating disorders should be a routine procedure in women with PCOS. The first two questions from QBES are a brief and relatively reliable screening tool that may be used in everyday practice with POSC patients.
Direct Air Capture of CO2 through Carbonate Alkalinity Generated by Phytoplankton Nitrate Assimilation
Authors: Su Jing , Teng Hui (Henry) , Wan Xiang , Zhang Jianchao , Liu Cong-Qiang
Published: December 2022

Despite the consensus that keeping global temperature rise within 1.5 °C above pre-industrial level by 2100 reduces the chance for climate change to reach the point of no return, the newest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warns that the existing commitment of greenhouse gas emission reduction is only enough to contain the warming to 3–4 °C by 2100. The harsh reality not only calls for speedier deployment of existing CO2 reduction technologies but demands development of more cost-efficient carbon removal strategies. Here we report an ocean alkalinity-based CO2 sequestration scheme, taking advantage of proton consumption during nitrate assimilation by marine photosynthetic microbes, and the ensuing enhancement of seawater CO2 absorption. Benchtop experiments using a native marine phytoplankton community confirmed pH elevation from ~8.2 to ~10.2 in seawater, within 3–5 days of microbial culture in nitrate-containing media. The alkaline condition was able to sustain at continued nutrient supply but reverted to normalcy (pH ~8.2–8.4) once the biomass was removed. Measurements of δ13C in the dissolved inorganic carbon revealed a significant atmospheric CO2 contribution to the carbonate alkalinity in the experimental seawater, confirming the occurrence of direct carbon dioxide capture from the air. Thermodynamic calculation shows a theoretical carbon removal rate of ~0.13 mol CO2/L seawater, if the seawater pH is allowed to decrease from 10.2 to 8.2. A cost analysis (using a standard bioreactor wastewater treatment plant as a template for CO2 trapping, and a modified moving-bed biofilm reactor for nitrate recycling) indicated that a 1 Mt CO2/year operation is able to perform at a cost of ~$40/tCO2, 2.5–5.5 times cheaper than that offered by any of the currently available direct air capture technologies, and more in line with the price of $25–30/tCO2 suggested for rapid deployment of large-scale CCS systems.
Physical Activity versus Selected Health Behaviors, Subjective Physical and Psychological Health and Multimorbidity in a Large Cohort of Polish Seniors during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Results of the National Test for Poles’ Health )
Authors: Szychowska Agnieszka , Zimny-Zając Anna , Dziankowska-Zaborszczyk Elżbieta , Grodzicki Tomasz , Drygas Wojciech , Zdrojewski Tomasz
Published: December 2022

National Test for Poles’ Health is an online study conducted on a large group of Polish Internet users. For the purpose of this study, 64,732 subjects (48.8% female) over 65 years old were included. Subjects provided answers on the level of physical activity (PA) they engage in, prevalence of non-communicable diseases (obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), depression, cancer) and subjective physical and psychological health. Additionally, their Body Mass Index (BMI) and prevalence of multimorbidity was assessed. We found that older people who engage in at least 2 h of physical activity/week had significantly lower prevalence of hypertension, obesity and heart diseases than those who engaged in 1–1.5 h/week or less than 1 h/week. Multimorbidity was present in 33.2% of subjects from the most active group and 52.6% of the least active ones. Subjective physical and psychological health was rated as “very good” by 26.6% and 41.2%, respectively, by subjects from the most active group. Only 9.1% of the least active subjects rated their physical health as “very good” and only 27.4% rated their psychological health as such. Regular physical activity may be a helpful tool in combating the reduced well-being of older people affected by the isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, over 65% of respondents claimed to engage in less than 1 h of PA a week or less.
Sedative Properties of Dexmedetomidine Are Mediated Independently from Native Thalamic Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channel Function at Clinically Relevant Concentrations
Authors: Schwerin Stefan , Westphal Catharina , Klug Claudia , Schneider Gerhard , Kreuzer Matthias , Haseneder Rainer , Kratzer Stephan
Published: December 2022

Dexmedetomidine is a selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist and appears to disinhibit endogenous sleep-promoting pathways, as well as to attenuate noradrenergic excitation. Recent evidence suggests that dexmedetomidine might also directly inhibit hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide gated (HCN) channels. We analyzed the effects of dexmedetomidine on native HCN channel function in thalamocortical relay neurons of the ventrobasal complex of the thalamus from mice, performing whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Over a clinically relevant range of concentrations (1–10 µM), the effects of dexmedetomidine were modest. At a concentration of 10 µM, dexmedetomidine significantly reduced maximal Ih amplitude (relative reduction: 0.86 [0.78–0.91], n = 10, and p = 0.021), yet changes to the half-maximal activation potential V1/2 occurred exclusively in the presence of the very high concentration of 100 µM (−4,7 [−7.5–−4.0] mV, n = 10, and p = 0.009). Coincidentally, only the very high concentration of 100 µM induced a significant deceleration of the fast component of the HCN activation time course (τfast: +135.1 [+64.7–+151.3] ms, n = 10, and p = 0.002). With the exception of significantly increasing the membrane input resistance (starting at 10 µM), dexmedetomidine did not affect biophysical membrane properties and HCN channel-mediated parameters of neuronal excitability. Hence, the sedative qualities of dexmedetomidine and its effect on the thalamocortical network are not decisively shaped by direct inhibition of HCN channel function.
Structural and Spectroscopic Properties of Isoconazole and Bifonazole—Experimental and Theoretical Studies
Authors: Drabińska Beata , Dettlaff Katarzyna , Ratajczak Tomasz , Kossakowski Kacper , Chmielewski Marcin K. , Cielecka-Piontek Judyta , Kujawski Jacek
Published: December 2022

The paper compares the experimental FT-IR, UV-vis, and 1H NMR spectra of isoconazole and bifonazole with the density functional theory (DFT) calculations using different functionals. The results were compared with previously reported data related to their analogue, posaconazole. The analysis of calculated IR spectra with use of CAM-B3LYP (isoconazole) or B3LYP (bifonazole) functionals shows good accordance with the experimental IR spectrum. The best compatibility between the experimental and theoretical UV spectra was observed with the use of B3LYP or wB97XD functionals for isoconazole or bifonazole, respectively. The reason for the difference in the UV-vis spectra of isoconazole and bifonazole was discussed based on linear response time-dependent DFT and natural bond orbital methods. The calculated 1H NMR spectrum shows that the DFT formalism, particularly the B3LYP functional, give an accurate description of the isoconazole and bifonazole chemical shifts.
Effects of Chicken Serum Metabolite Treatment on the Blood Glucose Control and Inflammatory Response in Streptozotocin-Induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Rats
Authors: Hu Xuan , Liu Xueming , Guo Yujiao , Li Yi , Cao Zhengfeng , Zhang Yu , Zhang Yang , Chen Guohong , Xu Qi
Published: December 2022

Chickens can live healthy without adverse effects despite high blood glucose levels. However, the blood biomolecules responsible for maintaining chronic hyperglycemia are unknown. Here, the effects of chicken serum metabolite treatment on blood glucose control and inflammatory response in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) rats were investigated. First, chicken serum treatment reduced the advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and blood glucose levels in STZ-induced T2DM rats. Second, insulin/glucose-induced acute hypoglycemic/hyperglycemic chickens and the blood biomolecules were screened via nontargeted ultra-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectroscopy (UPLC-MS), identifying 366 key metabolites, including DL-arginine and taurine, as potential markers for chronic hyperglycemia in chickens. Finally, DL-arginine functions for blood glucose control and inflammatory response were evaluated. We found that DL-arginine reduced the levels of blood glucose and AGEs in STZ-induced T2DM rats. In addition, DL-arginine treatment upregulated the glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) expression in the muscles and downregulated the advanced glycation end products receptor-1 (AGER1) expression in the liver and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) expression in the pancreas and thymus tissues. Overall, these results demonstrate that serum metabolite of DL-arginine could maintain blood glucose homeostasis and suppress the inflammatory response in chickens. Therefore, DL-arginine may be a novel target for developing therapeutic agents to regulate hyperglycemia.
Genome-Wide Association Screening Determines Peripheral Players in Male Fertility Maintenance
Authors: Greither Thomas , Behre Hermann M. , Herlyn Holger
Published: December 2022

Deciphering the functional relationships of genes resulting from genome-wide screens for polymorphisms that are associated with phenotypic variations can be challenging. However, given the common association with certain phenotypes, a functional link should exist. We have tested this prediction in newly sequenced exomes of altogether 100 men representing different states of fertility. Fertile subjects presented with normal semen parameters and had naturally fathered offspring. In contrast, infertile probands were involuntarily childless and had reduced sperm quantity and quality. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) linked twelve non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to fertility variation between both cohorts. The SNPs localized to nine genes for which previous evidence is in line with a role in male fertility maintenance: ANAPC1, CES1, FAM131C, HLA-DRB1, KMT2C, NOMO1, SAA1, SRGAP2, and SUSD2. Most of the SNPs residing in these genes imply amino acid exchanges that should only moderately affect protein functionality. In addition, proteins encoded by genes from present GWAS occupied peripheral positions in a protein–protein interaction network, the backbone of which consisted of genes listed in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database for their implication in male infertility. Suggestive of an indirect impact on male fertility, the genes focused were indeed linked to each other, albeit mediated by other interactants. Thus, the chances of identifying a central player in male infertility by GWAS could be limited in general. Furthermore, the SNPs determined and the genes containing these might prove to have potential as biomarkers in the diagnosis of male fertility.
Assembly of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Gelsemium elegans Revealed the Existence of Homologous Conformations Generated by a Repeat Mediated Recombination
Authors: You Chuihuai , Cui Tianzhen , Zhang Chang , Zang Shoujian , Su Yachun , Que Youxiong
Published: December 2022

Gelsemium elegans (G. elegans) is a Chinese medicinal plant with substantial economic and feeding values. There is a lack of detailed studies on the mitochondrial genome of G. elegans. In this study, the mitochondrial genome of G. elegans was sequenced and assembled, and its substructure was investigated. The mitochondrial genome of G. elegans is represented by two circular chromosomes of 406,009 bp in length with 33 annotated protein-coding genes, 15 tRNA genes, and three rRNA genes. We detected 145 pairs of repeats and found that four pairs of repeats could mediate the homologous recombination into one major conformation and five minor conformations, and the presence of conformations was verified by PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing. A total of 124 SSRs were identified in the G. elegans mitochondrial genome. The homologous segments between the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes accounted for 5.85% of the mitochondrial genome. We also predicted 477 RNA potential editing sites and found that the nad4 gene was edited 38 times, which was the most frequent occurrence. Taken together, the mitochondrial genome of G. elegans was assembled and annotated. We gained a more comprehensive understanding on the genome of this medicinal plant, which is vital for its effective utilization and genetic improvement, especially for cytoplasmic male sterility breeding and evolution analysis in G. elegans.
Existing and Novel Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Dec Paweł , Modrzejewski Andrzej , Pawlik Andrzej
Published: December 2022

The treatment of bone defects remains one of the major challenges in modern clinical practice. Nowadays, with the increased incidence of bone disease in an aging population, the demand for materials to repair bone defects continues to grow. Recent advances in the development of biomaterials offer new possibilities for exploring modern bone tissue engineering strategies. Both natural and synthetic biomaterials have been used for tissue repair. A variety of porous structures that promote cell adhesion, differentiation, and proliferation enable better implant integration with increasingly better physical properties. The selection of a suitable biomaterial on which the patient’s new tissue will grow is one of the key issues when designing a modern tissue scaffold and planning the entire treatment process. The purpose of this article is to present a comprehensive literature review of existing and novel biomaterials used in the surgical treatment of bone tissue defects. The materials described are divided into three groups—organic, inorganic, and synthetic polymers—taking into account current trends. This review highlights different types of existing and novel natural and synthetic materials used in bone tissue engineering and their advantages and disadvantages for bone defects regeneration.
Metabolite and Transcriptome Profiles of Proanthocyanidin Biosynthesis in the Development of Litchi Fruit
Authors: Zhong Ruihao , Wei Junbin , Liu Bin , Luo Honghui , Zhang Zhaoqi , Pang Xuequn , Fang Fang
Published: December 2022

The fruit of Litchi chinensis contains high levels of proanthocyanidins (PAs) in the pericarp. These substances can serve as substrates of laccase-mediated rapid pericarp browning after the fruit is harvested. In this study, we found that the major PAs in litchi pericarp were (−)-epicatechin (EC) and several procyanidins (PCs), primarily PC A2, B2, and B1, and the EC and the PC content decreased with the development of the fruit. RNA-seq analysis showed that 43 early and late structure genes related to flavonoid/PA biosynthesis were expressed in the pericarp, including five ANTHOCYANIDIN REDUCTASE (ANR), two LEUCOANTHOCYANIDIN REDUCTASE (LAR), and two ANTHOCYANIDIN SYNTHASE (ANS) genes functioning in the PA biosynthesis branch of the flavonoid pathway. Among these nine PA biosynthesis-related genes, ANR1a, LAR1/2, and ANS1 were highly positively correlated with changes in the EC/PC content, suggesting that they are the key PA biosynthesis-related genes. Several transcription factor (TF) genes, including MYB, bHLH, WRKY, and AP2 family members, were found to be highly correlated with ANR1a, LAR1/2, and ANS1, and their relevant binding elements were detected in the promoters of these target genes, strongly suggesting that these TF genes may play regulatory roles in PA biosynthesis. In summary, this study identified the candidate key structure and regulatory genes in PA biosynthesis in litchi pericarp, which will assist in understanding the accumulation of high levels of browning-related PA substances in the pericarp.
Murine Fibroblasts and Primary Hepatocytes as Tools When Studying the Efficacy of Potential Therapies for Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I
Authors: Węsierska Magdalena , Nowicka Wioletta , Kloska Anna , Jakóbkiewicz-Banecka Joanna , Malinowska Marcelina
Published: December 2022

Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) is a metabolic genetic disease caused by the deficiency of a lysosomal enzyme involved in glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) degradation. MPS I cells have a constant level of GAG synthesis, but disturbed degradation means that GAGs accumulate progressively, impairing cell metabolism. GAG metabolism can be modulated by flavonoids, and these are being studied as therapeutics for MPS. We have optimised the protocol for obtaining fibroblasts and hepatocytes from the MPS I murine model and characterised the cells for their suitability as an in vitro model for testing compounds with therapeutic potential. Methods: Murine primary hepatocytes and fibroblasts were used as a cellular model to study the effect of genistein, biochanin A, and kaempferol on the modulation of the GAG synthesis process. Flavonoids were used individually as well as in two-component mixtures. There were no statistically significant differences in GAG synthesis levels from cell types obtained from either wild-type or MPS I mice. We also showed that MPS I fibroblasts and hepatocytes store GAGs, which makes them useful in vitro models for testing the effectiveness of substrate reduction therapies. Furthermore, tested flavonoids had a different impact on GAG synthesis depending on cell type and whether they were used alone or in a mixture. The tested flavonoids reduce GAG synthesis more effectively in fibroblasts than in hepatocytes, regardless of whether they are used individually or in a mixture. Flavonoids modulate the level of GAG synthesis differently depending on cell types, therefore in vitro experiments performed to assess the effectiveness of potential therapies for metabolic diseases should be carried out using more than one cell model, and only such an approach will allow for full answering scientific questions.
Anti-Melanogenesis Effects of a Cyclic Peptide Derived from Flaxseed via Inhibition of CREB Pathway
Authors: Yoon Ji Hye , Jang Won Young , Park Sang Hee , Kim Han Gyung , Shim Youn Young , Reaney Martin J. T. , Cho Jae Youl
Published: December 2022

Linosorbs (Los) are cyclic peptides from flaxseed oil composed of the LO mixture (LOMIX). The activity of LO has been reported as being anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory. However, the study of skin protection has still not proceeded. In particular, there are poorly understood mechanisms of melanogenesis to LO. Therefore, we investigated the anti-melanogenesis effects of LOMIX and LO, and its activity was examined in mouse melanoma cell lines. The treatment of LOMIX (50 and 100 μg/mL) and LO (6.25–50 μM) suppressed melanin secretion and synthesis, which were 3-fold increased, in a dose-dependent manner, up to 95%. In particular, [1–9-NαC]-linusorb B3 (LO1) and [1-9-NαC]-linusorb B2 (LO2) treatment (12.5 and 25 μM) highly suppressed the synthesis of melanin in B16F10 cell lines up to 90%, without toxicity. LOMIX and LOs decreased the 2- or 3-fold increased mRNA levels, including the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), Tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TYRP2) at the highest concentration (25 μM). Moreover, the treatment of 25 μM LO1 and LO2 inhibited the expression of MITF and phosphorylation of upper regulatory proteins such as CREB and PKA. Taken together, these results suggested that LOMIX and its individual LO could inhibit melanin synthesis via downregulating the CREB-dependent signaling pathways, and it could be used for novel therapeutic materials in hyperpigmentation.
Microbiome and Metabolomics in Liver Cancer: Scientific Technology
Authors: Ganesan Raja , Yoon Sang Jun , Suk Ki Tae
Published: December 2022

Primary liver cancer is a heterogeneous disease. Liver cancer metabolism includes both the reprogramming of intracellular metabolism to enable cancer cells to proliferate inappropriately and adapt to the tumor microenvironment and fluctuations in regular tissue metabolism. Currently, metabolomics and metabolite profiling in liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been in the spotlight in terms of cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy. Metabolomics is the global analysis of small molecules, chemicals, and metabolites. Metabolomics technologies can provide critical information about the liver cancer state. Here, we review how liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and HCC therapies interact with metabolism at the cellular and systemic levels. An overview of liver metabolomics is provided, with a focus on currently available technologies and how they have been used in clinical and translational research. We also list scalable methods, including chemometrics, followed by pathway processing in liver cancer. We conclude that important drivers of metabolomics science and scientific technologies are novel therapeutic tools and liver cancer biomarker analysis.
Functional Characterization of the CpNAC1 Promoter and Gene from Chimonanthus praecox in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhao Xiaoyan , Zhao Jiahui , Yang Qing , Huang Min , Song Yangjing , Li Mingyang , Sui Shunzhao , Liu Daofeng
Published: December 2022

The NAC (NAM, ATAF, and CUC) gene family is one of the largest plant-specific transcription factor families. Its members have various biological functions that play important roles in regulating plant growth and development and in responding to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, their functions in woody plants are not fully understood. In this study, we isolated an NAC family member, the CpNAC1 promoter and gene, from wintersweet. CpNAC1 was localized to the nucleus and showed transcriptional activation activity. qRT-PCR analyses revealed that the gene was expressed in almost all tissues tested, with the highest levels found in mature leaves and flower buds. Moreover, its expression was induced by various abiotic stresses and ABA treatment. Its expression patterns were further confirmed in CpNAC1pro:GUS (β-glucuronidase) plants. Among all the transgenic lines, CpNAC1pro-D2 showed high GUS histochemical staining and activity in different tissues of Arabidopsis. Furthermore, its GUS activity significantly increased in response to various abiotic stresses and ABA treatment. This may be related to the stress-related cis-elements, such as ABRE and MYB, which clustered in the CpNAC1pro-D2 segment, suggesting that CpNAC1pro-D2 is the core segment that responds to abiotic stresses and ABA. In addition, CpNAC1-overexpressed Arabidopsis plants had weaker osmosis tolerance than the wild-type plants, demonstrating that CpNAC1 may negatively regulate the drought stress response in transgenic Arabidopsis. Our results provide a foundation for further analyses of NAC family genes in wintersweet, and they broaden our knowledge of the roles that NAC family genes may play in woody plants.
Pathogenesis of Dementia
Authors: Błaszczyk Janusz Wiesław
Published: December 2022

According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia. Dementia is a disorder that manifests as a set of related symptoms, which usually result from the brain being damaged by injury or disease. The symptoms involve progressive impairments in memory, thinking, and behavior, usually accompanied by emotional problems, difficulties with language, and decreased motivation. The most common variant of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease with symptoms dominated by cognitive disorders, particularly memory loss, impaired personality, and judgmental disorders. So far, all attempts to treat dementias by removing their symptoms rather than their causes have failed. Therefore, in the presented narrative review, I will attempt to explain the etiology of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease from the perspective of energy and cognitive metabolism dysfunction in an aging brain. I hope that this perspective, though perhaps too simplified, will bring us closer to the essence of aging-related neurodegenerative disorders and will soon allow us to develop new preventive/therapeutic strategies in our struggle with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Injectable Strontium-Modified Calcium Phosphate Cement for Bone Defect Repair in Rats
Authors: Xu Hailiang , Zhu Lei , Tian Fang , Wang Chengwen , Wu Weidong , Lu Botao , Yan Liang , Jia Shuaijun , Hao Dingjun
Published: December 2022

Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) has been widely studied, but its lack of osteoinductivity and inadequate mechanical properties limit its application, while strontium is able to promote bone formation and inhibit bone resorption. In this study, different proportions of tristrontium silicate were introduced to create a novel strontium-modified calcium phosphate cement (SMPC). The physicochemical properties of SMPC and CPC were compared, and the microstructures of the bone cements were characterized with scanning electron microscopy assays. Then, the effect of SMPC on cell proliferation and differentiation was examined. Furthermore, local inflammatory response and osteogenesis after SMPC implantation were also confirmed in the study. Finally, a rat model of isolated vertebral defects was used to test the biomechanical properties of the cements. The results showed that SMPC has better injectability and a shorter setting time than CPC. Meanwhile, the addition of tristrontium silicate promoted the mechanical strength of calcium phosphate cement, and the compressive strength of 5% SMPC increased to 6.00 ± 0.74 MPa. However, this promotion effect gradually diminished with an increase in tristrontium silicate, which was also found in the rat model of isolated vertebral defects. Furthermore, SMPC showed a more preferential role in promoting cell proliferation and differentiation compared to CPC. Neither SMPC nor CPC showed significant inflammatory responses in vivo. Histological staining suggested that SMPCs were significantly better than CPC in promoting new bone regeneration. Importantly, this osteogenesis effect of SMPC was positively correlated with the ratio of tristrontium silicate. In conclusion, 5% SMPC is a promising substitute material for bone repair with excellent physicochemical properties and biological activity.
Investigation of the Fuzzy Complex between RSV Nucleoprotein and Phosphoprotein to Optimize an Inhibition Assay by Fluorescence Polarization
Authors: Khodjoyan Silva , Morissette Deborha , Hontonnou Fortune , Checa Ruano Luis , Richard Charles-Adrien , Sperandio Olivier , Eléouët Jean-François , Galloux Marie , Durand Philippe , Deville-Foillard Stéphanie , Sizun Christina
Published: December 2022

The interaction between Respiratory Syncytial Virus phosphoprotein P and nucleoprotein N is essential for the formation of the holo RSV polymerase that carries out replication. In vitro screening of antivirals targeting the N-P protein interaction requires a molecular interaction model, ideally consisting of a complex between N protein and a short peptide corresponding to the C-terminal tail of the P protein. However, the flexibility of C-terminal P peptides as well as their phosphorylation status play a role in binding and may bias the outcome of an inhibition assay. We therefore investigated binding affinities and dynamics of this interaction by testing two N protein constructs and P peptides of different lengths and composition, using nuclear magnetic resonance and fluorescence polarization (FP). We show that, although the last C-terminal Phe241 residue is the main determinant for anchoring P to N, only longer peptides afford sub-micromolar affinity, despite increasing mobility towards the N-terminus. We investigated competitive binding by peptides and small compounds, including molecules used as fluorescent labels in FP. Based on these results, we draw optimized parameters for a robust RSV N-P inhibition assay and validated this assay with the M76 molecule, which displays antiviral properties, for further screening of chemical libraries.
Introducing CSP Dataset: A Dataset Optimized for the Study of the Cold Start Problem in Recommender Systems
Authors: Herce-Zelaya Julio , Porcel Carlos , Tejeda-Lorente Álvaro , Bernabé-Moreno Juan , Herrera-Viedma Enrique
Published: December 2022

Recommender systems are tools that help users in the decision-making process of choosing items that may be relevant for them among a vast amount of other items. One of the main problems of recommender systems is the cold start problem, which occurs when either new items or new users are added to the system and, therefore, there is no previous information about them. This article presents a multi-source dataset optimized for the study and the alleviation of the cold start problem. This dataset contains info about the users, the items (movies), and ratings with some contextual information. The article also presents an example user behavior-driven algorithm using the introduced dataset for creating recommendations under the cold start situation. In order to create these recommendations, a mixed method using collaborative filtering and user-item classification has been proposed. The results show recommendations with high accuracy and prove the dataset to be a very good asset for future research in the field of recommender systems in general and with the cold start problem in particular.
Robust Hierarchical Control Design for the Power Sharing in Hybrid Shipboard Microgrids
Authors: Alam Farooq , Haider Zaidi Syed Sajjad , Rehmat Arsalan , Mutarraf Muhammad Umair , Nasir Mashood , Guerrero Josep M.
Published: December 2022

Hybrid microgrid optimization, integration, and control are becoming increasingly important. Renewable energy source integrations are being used more often in shipping ports, as well as on short-distance cruises and ferries. Several seaports presently lack cold ironing services, which are shore-based power stations that provide electricity to ships from the main utility grids. Furthermore, diesel engines and diesel generator-based shipboards must be continuously running and on-line when docking to provide additional loads of ships due to the absence of cold-ironing services at many ports. In this research, we analytically presented the robustness of our proposed hierarchical control design for the hybrid shipboard Microgrid system containing multiple DGs and renewable energy resource (RES) integrations. The performance comparison of the conventional proportional integral (PI) vs. Sliding Mode Controller (SMC)-based control design is validated with simulation tests under different static and dynamical load conditions for both AC and DC types of loads. We further considered multi-DGs and RES integrations into our system to validate our design’s robustness against noise and unwanted faulty load conditions. The complete system stability analysis and designing of the control law are performed. Mathematical derivations and simulation results prove the robustness of the proposed hierarchical control architecture and compare the performance characteristics of two secondary controllers designed using a MATLAB/Simulink environment.
Prevalence and Characterisation of Severe Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Diagnosed by Echocardiography in Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Apitz Anett , Socrates Thenral , Burkard Thilo , Mayr Michael , Vischer Annina S.
Published: December 2022

Background: Arterial hypertension (AHT) is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is one of the most important prognostic markers in hypertension and a predictor for mortality. The goals of this study were to examine the prevalence of LVH detected by echocardiography in patients with AHT and to describe patients with severe LVH. Methods: This is a retrospective monocentric study including patients treated at a tertiary hypertension clinic. Echocardiographic data were taken from written reports from our hospital’s echocardiography laboratories. We compared patients with severe LVH (septum thickness ≥ 15 mm) with patients with normal left ventricular (LV) geometry and with patients with concentric or eccentric hypertrophy regarding age, gender, comorbidities, medication, duration of hypertension, blood pressure (BP) and ECG changes at time of echocardiography. Results: Twenty-nine patients (7.3%) out of four hundred patients showed severe LVH and one hundred and eighty-nine (47.3%) a normal geometry. In comparison to patients with normal geometry, patients with severe LVH were more likely to be male, older, and with more uncontrolled BP, especially regarding asleep values, multi-drug antihypertensive treatment and comorbidities. In comparison to patients with concentric or eccentric hypertrophy, patients with severe LVH had a significantly higher diastolic BP in the 24 h mean, awake and asleep values. A positive Sokolow-Lyon index did not predict LVH. However, patients with severe LVH were more likely to have T-wave-inversions V4–V6 in at least one lead. Conclusions: More than half of the patients with AHT have an abnormal geometry in our study (52.5%) and 7.3% a severe LVH. Patients with severe LVH have more often an uncontrolled AHT than patients with a normal LV geometry, despite more antihypertensive treatment. The Sokolow-Lyon index seems to be insufficient to detect LVH.