bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk Assessment and Potential Analysis of the Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge in Central Shanxi Province
Authors: Duan Baoling , Feng Qiang
Published: April 2022

The agricultural use of sewage sludge has become an economic disposal method used worldwide. However, heavy metals contained in sewage sludge have become the crucial limiting factors for this way of disposal. This study showed that regulatory limit values are not enough to determine whether sewage sludge is suitable for agricultural use; risk assessment and potential analysis should be applied. Correlation analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) should also be performed to identify heavy metals’ sources and show their influence on sewage sludge utilization. Samples were collected from 13 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in central Shanxi Province. Results indicated that the mean contents of heavy metals in sewage sludge were all less than the limit threshold of China. According to the monomial potential ecological risk coefficient (), the agricultural use of sewage sludge had low ecological risks for all heavy metals, except for Hg and Cd. Based on the potential ecological risk index (RI), only three stations had moderate risk, other nine stations all had higher potential risk. The mean potentials by all heavy metals were all beyond 10 years, which is the limit of the maximum application time specified by China. Combining all heavy metals, only one station’s potential was less than 10 years. Although the contents of heavy metals were all within the threshold values, large quantities of sewage sludge are not suitable for agricultural use. Coal-related industries, which were the main sources of Hg and Cd, greatly affected the agricultural use of sewage sludge.
Efficacy of Nutritional Strategies on the Improvement of the Performance and Health of the Athlete: A Systematic Review
Authors: Perez-Montilla J. , Cuevas-Cervera Maria , Gonzalez-Muñoz Ana , Garcia-Rios Maria , Navarro-Ledesma Santiago
Published: April 2022

Evidence shows that the use of food strategies can impact health, but a clear consensus about how the effects of different food strategies impact improvement in the athlete’s performance and health remain unclear. This study evaluated how food strategies, specifically intermittent fasting and a ketogenic diet affect health and performance in healthy athletes. Study selection for this review was based on clinical trial studies analyzing changes in performance and health in athletes. The Pubmed, Web of Science, PEDro, Dialnet, Scopus, CINAHL, ProQuest, Medline and Cochrane databases were searched. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale, PEDro Internal Validity Scale (IVS) and Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers from a variety of fields (QUALSYT) checklists were used to evaluate the risk of bias of the included studies. Articles were selected based on criteria concerning the effectiveness of nutritional strategies on athletes’ performance; articles should be randomized clinical trials (RCTs) or uncontrolled clinical trials; they should be human studies and they should have been published less than 7 years ago. A total of 15 articles were evaluated, 8 randomised clinical trials and 7 non-randomized clinical studies, with 411 participants who satisfied our inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The results of the study showed intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding as strategies that produce health benefits. On the other hand, the ketogenic diet did not reach an appropriate consensus. The articles presented a medium level of methodological quality in the PEDro scale, low quality in IVS scale and high quality in QUALSYT scale. Despite the lack of studies analyzing changes in the performance and health of athletes after the use of different nutritional strategies, intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding should be considered since they seem to be effective, and further studies are necessary.
Detection of Myosin 1g Overexpression in Pediatric Leukemia by Novel Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: Rodríguez-Téllez Rosa Isela , Ribas-Aparicio Rosa María , Patiño-López Genaro
Published: April 2022

Myosin 1g (Myo1g) is a mechanoenzyme associated with actin filaments, expressed exclusively in hematopoietic cells, and involved in various cellular functions, including cell migration, adhesion, and membrane trafficking. Despite the importance of Myo1g in distinct functions, there is currently no monoclonal antibody (mAb) against Myo1g. mAbs are helpful tools for the detection of specific antigens in tumor cells and other tissues. The development of mAbs against targeted dysregulated molecules in cancer cells remains a crucial tool for aiding in the diagnosis and the treatment of patients. Using hybridoma technology, we generated a panel of hybridomas specific for Myo1g. ELISA, immunofluorescence, and Western blot assay results revealed the recognition of Myo1g by these novel monoclonal antibodies in normal and transformed T and B cells. Here, we report the development and application of new monoclonal antibodies against Myo1g for their potential use to detect its overexpression in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients.
A Shared Nephroprotective Mechanism for Renin-Angiotensin-System Inhibitors, Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors, and Vasopressin Receptor Antagonists: Immunology Meets Hemodynamics
Authors: Capolongo Giovanna , Capasso Giovambattista , Viggiano Davide
Published: April 2022

A major paradigm in nephrology states that the loss of filtration function over a long time is driven by a persistent hyperfiltration state of surviving nephrons. This hyperfiltration may derive from circulating immunological factors. However, some clue about the hemodynamic effects of these factors derives from the effects of so-called nephroprotective drugs. Thirty years after the introduction of Renin-Angiotensin-system inhibitors (RASi) into clinical practice, two new families of nephroprotective drugs have been identified: the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and the vasopressin receptor antagonists (VRA). Even though the molecular targets of the three-drug classes are very different, they share the reduction in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at the beginning of the therapy, which is usually considered an adverse effect. Therefore, we hypothesize that acute GFR decline is a prerequisite to obtaining nephroprotection with all these drugs. In this study, we reanalyze evidence that RASi, SGLT2i, and VRA reduce the eGFR at the onset of therapy. Afterward, we evaluate whether the extent of eGFR reduction correlates with their long-term efficacy. The results suggest that the extent of initial eGFR decline predicts the nephroprotective efficacy in the long run. Therefore, we propose that RASi, SGLT2i, and VRA delay kidney disease progression by controlling maladaptive glomerular hyperfiltration resulting from circulating immunological factors. Further studies are needed to verify their combined effects.
Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Chronic Stress
Authors: Noverati Nicholas , Bashir-Hamidu Rukaiya , Halegoua-DeMarzio Dina , Hann Hie-Won
Published: April 2022

The Hepatitis B virus is one of the most significant hepatocarcinogens globally. The carcinogenic mechanisms of this virus are complex, and may include interactions with the host’s immune system. Certain factors, such as stress on the body, can also potentiate these mechanisms. Stress, although adaptive in an acute form, is deleterious to health when chronic and can both suppress and activate the host’s defense system. In hepatocellular carcinoma, this can lead to tumor initiation and progression. Those that are more prone to stress, or exposed to situations that incite stress, may be at higher risk of developing cancer. Racial disparities, for example, are a source of chronic psychosocial stress in America and predispose minorities to poorer outcomes. As it remains perplexing why some individuals with chronic hepatitis B develop feared complications while others do not, it is important to recognize as many risk factors as possible, including those often overlooked such as chronic stress.
Plastid Transformation of Micro-Tom Tomato with a Hemipteran Double-Stranded RNA Results in RNA Interference in Multiple Insect Species
Authors: Kaplanoglu Emine , Kolotilin Igor , Menassa Rima , Donly Cam
Published: April 2022

Plant-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) holds great promise for insect pest control, as plants can be transformed to produce double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to selectively down-regulate insect genes essential for survival. For optimum potency, dsRNA can be produced in plant plastids, enabling the accumulation of unprocessed dsRNAs. However, the relative effectiveness of this strategy in inducing an RNAi response in insects using different feeding mechanisms is understudied. To investigate this, we first tested an in vitro-synthesized 189 bp dsRNA matching a highly conserved region of the v-ATPaseA gene from cotton mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis) on three insect species from two different orders that use leaf-chewing, lacerate-and-flush, or sap-sucking mechanisms to feed, and showed that the dsRNA significantly down-regulated the target gene. We then developed transplastomic Micro-tom tomato plants to produce the dsRNA in plant plastids and showed that the dsRNA is produced in leaf, flower, green fruit, red fruit, and roots, with the highest dsRNA levels found in the leaf. The plastid-produced dsRNA induced a significant gene down-regulation in insects using leaf-chewing and lacerate-and-flush feeding mechanisms, while sap-sucking insects were unaffected. Our results suggest that plastid-produced dsRNA can be used to control leaf-chewing and lacerate-and-flush feeding insects, but may not be useful for sap-sucking insects.
Biophysical Modulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation in the Context of Skeletal Repair
Authors: Hung Clark T. , Racine-Avila Jennifer , Pellicore Matthew J. , Aaron Roy
Published: April 2022

A prominent feature of the skeleton is its ability to remodel in response to biophysical stimuli and to repair under varied biophysical conditions. This allows the skeleton considerable adaptation to meet its physiological roles of stability and movement. Skeletal cells and their mesenchymal precursors exist in a native environment rich with biophysical signals, and they sense and respond to those signals to meet organismal demands of the skeleton. While mechanical strain is the most recognized of the skeletal biophysical stimuli, signaling phenomena also include fluid flow, hydrostatic pressure, shear stress, and ion-movement-related electrokinetic phenomena including, prominently, streaming potentials. Because of the complex interactions of these electromechanical signals, it is difficult to isolate the significance of each. The application of external electrical and electromagnetic fields allows an exploration of the effects of these stimuli on cell differentiation and extra-cellular matrix formation in the absence of mechanical strain. This review takes a distinctly translational approach to mechanistic and preclinical studies of differentiation and skeletal lineage commitment of mesenchymal cells under biophysical stimulation. In vitro studies facilitate the examination of isolated cellular responses while in vivo studies permit the observation of cell differentiation and extracellular matrix synthesis.
Impact of Rutin and Other Phenolic Substances on the Digestibility of Buckwheat Grain Metabolites
Authors: Kreft Ivan , Germ Mateja , Golob Aleksandra , Vombergar Blanka , Bonafaccia Francesco , Luthar Zlata
Published: April 2022

Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.) is grown in eastern and central Asia (the Himalayan regions of China, Nepal, Bhutan and India) and in central and eastern Europe (Luxemburg, Germany, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina). It is known for its high concentration of rutin and other phenolic metabolites. Besides the grain, the other aboveground parts of Tartary buckwheat contain rutin as well. After the mixing of the milled buckwheat products with water, the flavonoid quercetin is obtained in the flour–water mixture, a result of rutin degradation by rutinosidase. Heating by hot water or steam inactivates the rutin-degrading enzymes in buckwheat flour and dough. The low buckwheat protein digestibility is due to the high content of phenolic substances. Phenolic compounds have low absorption after food intake, so, after ingestion, they remain for some time in the gastrointestinal tract. They can act in an inhibitory manner on enzymes, degrading proteins and other food constituents. In common and Tartary buckwheat, the rutin and quercetin complexation with protein and starch molecules has an impact on the in vitro digestibility and the appearance of resistant starch and slowly digestible proteins. Slowly digestible starch and proteins are important for the functional and health-promoting properties of buckwheat products.
Chronic Fibrosis and Its Progression to Cancer
Authors: Yasuma Taro , Gabazza Esteban C.
Published: April 2022

The terminal stage of many chronic inflammatory diseases is organ fibrosis [...]
Sperm Ion Transporters and Channels in Human Asthenozoospermia: Genetic Etiology, Lessons from Animal Models, and Clinical Perspectives
Authors: Cavarocchi Emma , Whitfield Marjorie , Saez Fabrice , Touré Aminata
Published: April 2022

In mammals, sperm fertilization potential relies on efficient progression within the female genital tract to reach and fertilize the oocyte. This fundamental property is supported by the flagellum, an evolutionarily conserved organelle that provides the mechanical force for sperm propulsion and motility. Importantly several functional maturation events that occur during the journey of the sperm cells through the genital tracts are necessary for the activation of flagellar beating and the acquisition of fertilization potential. Ion transporters and channels located at the surface of the sperm cells have been demonstrated to be involved in these processes, in particular, through the activation of downstream signaling pathways and the promotion of novel biochemical and electrophysiological properties in the sperm cells. We performed a systematic literature review to describe the currently known genetic alterations in humans that affect sperm ion transporters and channels and result in asthenozoospermia, a pathophysiological condition defined by reduced or absent sperm motility and observed in nearly 80% of infertile men. We also present the physiological relevance and functional mechanisms of additional ion channels identified in the mouse. Finally, considering the state-of-the art, we discuss future perspectives in terms of therapeutics of asthenozoospermia and male contraception.
Structure–Activity Relationship of Synthetic Ginkgolic Acid Analogs for Treating Type 2 Diabetes by PTPN9 Inhibition
Authors: Kim Jinsoo , Son Jinyoung , Ahn Dohee , Nam Gibeom , Zhao Xiaodi , Park Hyuna , Jeong Woojoo , Chung Sang J.
Published: April 2022

Ginkgolic acid (C13:0) (GA), isolated from Ginkgo biloba, is a potential therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes. A series of GA analogs were designed and synthesized for the evaluation of their structure–activity relationship with respect to their antidiabetic effects. Unlike GA, the synthetic analog 1e exhibited improved inhibitory activity against PTPN9 and significantly stimulated glucose uptake via AMPK phosphorylation in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C2C12 myotubes; it also induced insulin-dependent AKT activation in C2C12 myotubes in a concentration-dependent manner. Docking simulation results showed that 1e had a better binding affinity through a unique hydrophobic interaction with a PTPN9 hydrophobic groove. Moreover, 1e ameliorated palmitate-induced insulin resistance in C2C12 cells. This study showed that 1e increases glucose uptake and suppresses palmitate-induced insulin resistance in C2C12 myotubes via PTPN9 inhibition; thus, it is a promising therapeutic candidate for treating type 2 diabetes.
Site-Directed Immobilization of an Engineered Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2) Variant to Collagen-Based Microspheres Induces Bone Formation In Vivo
Authors: Siverino Claudia , Fahmy-Garcia Shorouk , Mumcuoglu Didem , Oberwinkler Heike , Muehlemann Markus , Mueller Thomas , Farrell Eric , van Osch Gerjo J. V. M. , Nickel Joachim
Published: April 2022

For the treatment of large bone defects, the commonly used technique of autologous bone grafting presents several drawbacks and limitations. With the discovery of the bone-inducing capabilities of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), several delivery techniques were developed and translated to clinical applications. Implantation of scaffolds containing adsorbed BMP2 showed promising results. However, off-label use of this protein-scaffold combination caused severe complications due to an uncontrolled release of the growth factor, which has to be applied in supraphysiological doses in order to induce bone formation. Here, we propose an alternative strategy that focuses on the covalent immobilization of an engineered BMP2 variant to biocompatible scaffolds. The new BMP2 variant harbors an artificial amino acid with a specific functional group, allowing a site-directed covalent scaffold functionalization. The introduced artificial amino acid does not alter BMP2′s bioactivity in vitro. When applied in vivo, the covalently coupled BMP2 variant induces the formation of bone tissue characterized by a structurally different morphology compared to that induced by the same scaffold containing ab-/adsorbed wild-type BMP2. Our results clearly show that this innovative technique comprises translational potential for the development of novel osteoinductive materials, improving safety for patients and reducing costs.
The Role of Axonal Transport in Glaucoma
Authors: Dias Mariana Santana , Luo Xiaoyue , Ribas Vinicius Toledo , Petrs-Silva Hilda , Koch Jan Christoph
Published: April 2022

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and leads to progressive vision loss. The first pathological signs can be seen at the optic nerve head (ONH), the structure where RGC axons leave the retina to compose the optic nerve. Besides damage of the axonal cytoskeleton, axonal transport deficits at the ONH have been described as an important feature of glaucoma. Axonal transport is essential for proper neuronal function, including transport of organelles, synaptic components, vesicles, and neurotrophic factors. Impairment of axonal transport has been related to several neurodegenerative conditions. Studies on axonal transport in glaucoma include analysis in different animal models and in humans, and indicate that its failure happens mainly in the ONH and early in disease progression, preceding axonal and somal degeneration. Thus, a better understanding of the role of axonal transport in glaucoma is not only pivotal to decipher disease mechanisms but could also enable early therapies that might prevent irreversible neuronal damage at an early time point. In this review we present the current evidence of axonal transport impairment in glaucomatous neurodegeneration and summarize the methods employed to evaluate transport in this disease.
Di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate Triggers Proliferation, Migration, Stemness, and Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Human Endometrial and Endometriotic Epithelial Cells via the Transforming Growth Factor-β/Smad Signaling Pathway
Authors: Kim Hwi Gon , Lim Ye Seon , Hwang Seonyeong , Kim Hye-Yoon , Moon Yuseok , Song Yong Jung , Na Yong-Jin , Yoon Sik
Published: April 2022

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a frequently used plasticizer that may be linked to the development of endometriosis, a common gynecological disorder with a profound impact on quality of life. Despite its prevalence, vital access to treatment has often been hampered by a lack of understanding of its pathogenesis as well as reliable disease models. Recently, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been suggested to have a significant role in endometriosis pathophysiology. In this study, we found that DEHP treatment enhanced proliferation, migration, and inflammatory responses, along with EMT and stemness induction in human endometrial and endometriotic cells. The selective transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor type 1/2 inhibitor LY2109761 reversed the DEHP-induced cell proliferation and migration enhancement as well as the increased expression of crucial molecules involved in inflammation, EMT, and stemness, indicating that DEHP-triggered phenomena occur via the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Our study clearly defines the role of DEHP in the etiology and pathophysiological mechanisms of endometriosis and establishes an efficient disease model for endometriosis using a biomimetic 3D cell culture technique. Altogether, our data provide novel etiological and mechanistic insights into the role of DEHP in endometriosis pathogenesis, opening avenues for developing novel preventive and therapeutic strategies for endometriosis.
The Interplay of Cohesin and RNA Processing Factors: The Impact of Their Alterations on Genome Stability
Authors: Osadska Michaela , Selicky Tomas , Kretova Miroslava , Jurcik Jan , Sivakova Barbara , Cipakova Ingrid , Cipak Lubos
Published: April 2022

Cohesin, a multi-subunit protein complex, plays important roles in sister chromatid cohesion, DNA replication, chromatin organization, gene expression, transcription regulation, and the recombination or repair of DNA damage. Recently, several studies suggested that the functions of cohesin rely not only on cohesin-related protein–protein interactions, their post-translational modifications or specific DNA modifications, but that some RNA processing factors also play an important role in the regulation of cohesin functions. Therefore, the mutations and changes in the expression of cohesin subunits or alterations in the interactions between cohesin and RNA processing factors have been shown to have an impact on cohesion, the fidelity of chromosome segregation and, ultimately, on genome stability. In this review, we provide an overview of the cohesin complex and its role in chromosome segregation, highlight the causes and consequences of mutations and changes in the expression of cohesin subunits, and discuss the RNA processing factors that participate in the regulation of the processes involved in chromosome segregation. Overall, an understanding of the molecular determinants of the interplay between cohesin and RNA processing factors might help us to better understand the molecular mechanisms ensuring the integrity of the genome.
Iron Reduction in Dermacentor andersoni Tick Cells Inhibits Anaplasma marginale Replication
Authors: Solyman Muna Salem M. , Ujczo Jessica , Brayton Kelly A. , Shaw Dana K. , Schneider David A. , Noh Susan M.
Published: April 2022

Anaplasma spp. are obligate intracellular, tick-borne, bacterial pathogens that cause bovine and human anaplasmosis. We lack tools to prevent these diseases in part due to major knowledge gaps in our fundamental understanding of the tick–pathogen interface, including the requirement for and molecules involved in iron transport during tick colonization. We determine that iron is required for the pathogen Anaplasma marginale, which causes bovine anaplasmosis, to replicate in Dermacentor andersoni tick cells. Using bioinformatics and protein modeling, we identified three orthologs of the Gram-negative siderophore-independent iron uptake system, FbpABC. Am069, the A. marginale ortholog of FbpA, lacks predicted iron-binding residues according to the NCBI conserved domain database. However, according to protein modeling, the best structural orthologs of Am069 are iron transport proteins from Cyanobacteria and Campylobacterjejuni. We then determined that all three A. marginale genes are modestly differentially expressed in response to altered host cell iron levels, despite the lack of a Ferric uptake regulator or operon structure. This work is foundational for building a mechanistic understanding of iron uptake, which could lead to interventions to prevent bovine and human anaplasmosis.
Disease Modeling of Rare Neurological Disorders in Zebrafish
Authors: Son Myeongjoo , Kim Dae Yu , Kim Cheol-Hee
Published: April 2022

Rare diseases are those which affect a small number of people compared to the general population. However, many patients with a rare disease remain undiagnosed, and a large majority of rare diseases still have no form of viable treatment. Approximately 40% of rare diseases include neurologic and neurodevelopmental disorders. In order to understand the characteristics of rare neurological disorders and identify causative genes, various model organisms have been utilized extensively. In this review, the characteristics of model organisms, such as roundworms, fruit flies, and zebrafish, are examined, with an emphasis on zebrafish disease modeling in rare neurological disorders.
Transcalar Design: An Approach to Biodesign in the Built Environment
Authors: Goidea Ana , Floudas Dimitrios , Andréen David
Published: April 2022

Biodesign holds the potential for radically increasing the sustainability of the built environment and our material culture but comes with new challenges. One of these is the bridging of the vast differences of scale between microbiological processes and architecture. We propose that a transcalar design approach, which weaves together nonlinear dependencies using computational design tools and design methodologies through the biological generation of architectural components, is a way towards successful design implementations. Such design processes were explored in a laboratory-based fabrication and study of a column element. This column, named Protomycokion, serves to illustrate how design methodologies, particularly through the use of a demonstrator artefact, can serve to navigate the multiple scales, disciplines, and experiments that are necessary to engage the complexities of biodesign. Transcalar design processes embrace the adaptability, variability and interdependence of biological organisms and show possible gains with regard to material sustainability and increased performativity.
New Data on the Occurrence of Scarabaeoid Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) in Montenegro
Authors: Byk Adam , Bidas Marek , Gazurek Tomasz , Marczak Dawid , Minkina Łukasz , Tylkowski Sebastian
Published: April 2022

The Montenegrin fauna of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea is not satisfactorily studied. This is evidenced by the small number of species from this superfamily reported from Montenegro, despite the richness of the country’s habitats, especially high-mountain meadows, pastures, lush canyons, riverside, coastal dunes and old forests. Moreover, significant is the greater number of species of scarabaeoid beetles in neighbouring countries. Therefore, we aim to supplement the current information on the distribution of the taxa of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea in the country. The presented scarabaeoid beetles were caught during three expeditions: the first in May/June 2019, the second in May/June 2021, and the third in July 2021. As a result of this study, we have collected 2130 beetles belonging to 107 species and five families of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea: Geotrupidae, Trogidae, Lucanidae, Ochodaeidae and Scarabaeidae. The 28 days of the faunistic study confirmed the occurrence in Montenegro of 54.2% of the scarabaeoid species hitherto known from this country and added 16 new species that had not been previously recorded: Odonteus armiger (Scopoli, 1772), Trox sabulosus (Linnaeus, 1758), Ochodaeus integriceps Semenov, 1891, Agrilinus convexus (Erichson, 1848), Melinopterus reyi (Reitter, 1892), M. sphacelatus (Panzer, 1798), Phalacronothus biguttatus (Germar, 1824), Trichonotulus scrofa (Fabricius, 1787), Psammodius nocturnus Reitter, 1892, Platytomus tibialis (Fabricius, 1798), Pleurophorus mediterranicus Pittino & Mariani, 1986, P. pannonicus Petrovitz, 1961, Rhyssemus berytensis Marseul, 1878, Onthophagus ovatus (Linnaeus, 1767), Rhizotrogus aestivus (Olivier, 1789) and Chaetopteroplia segetum (Herbst, 1783). Six species and three subspecies that are typical for the Balkan Peninsula were also found: Trypocopris alpinus balcanicola (Mikšić, 1954), Onthophagus panici Petrovitz, 1964, Amphimallon solstitiale simplicissimum (Müller, 1902), Omaloplia illyrica (Baraud, 1965), Triodontella dalmatica (Baraud, 1962), Chaetopteroplia segetum straminea (Brullé, 1832), Anomala matzenaueri Reitter, 1918, Exomala adriatica (Petrovitz, 1968) and Oxythyrea dulcis Reitter, 1899. Thus, the number of currently known scarabaeoid species in Montenegro has increased to 184. Twenty-four species of scarabaeoid beetles are illustrated. Our results indicate insufficient knowledge of the Scarabaeoidea of Montenegro and, at the same time, their diversity and the presence of rare species among them. High-mountain and coastal communities of coprophagic scarabaeoid beetles, as well as communities of scarabaeoid beetles inhabiting coastal dunes, are especially valuable, worthy of protection. Therefore, further research and new expeditions to Montenegro are highly desirable.
Preventive Measures against Pandemics from the Beginning of Civilization to Nowadays—How Everything Has Remained the Same over the Millennia
Authors: Vitiello Laura , Ilari Sara , Sansone Luigi , Belli Manuel , Cristina Mario , Marcolongo Federica , Tomino Carlo , Gatta Lucia , Mollace Vincenzo , Bonassi Stefano , Muscoli Carolina , Russo Patrizia
Published: April 2022

As of 27 March 2022, the β-coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected more than 487 million individuals worldwide, causing more than 6.14 million deaths. SARS-CoV-2 spreads through close contact, causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); thus, emergency lockdowns have been implemented worldwide to avoid its spread. COVID-19 is not the first infectious disease that humankind has had to face during its history. Indeed, humans have recurrently been threatened by several emerging pathogens that killed a substantial fraction of the population. Historical sources document that as early as between the 10th and the 6th centuries BCE, the authorities prescribed physical–social isolation, physical distancing, and quarantine of the infected subjects until the end of the disease, measures that strongly resemble containment measures taken nowadays. In this review, we show a historical and literary overview of different epidemic diseases and how the recommendations in the pre-vaccine era were, and still are, effective in containing the contagion.
Correlation between Forced Vital Capacity and the Severity of Frailty-Induced Dysphagia
Authors: Lee Byung Joo , Lee Sang Cheol , Choi Ho Yong , Chang Min Cheol , Park Donghwi
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Frailty syndrome is a complex condition characterized by the gradual deterioration of an individual’s physical, mental, and social functions. Dysphagia is a dysfunction triggered by frailty. However, in patients with frailty syndrome, dysphagia is often undermined, and a proper evaluation is not performed. Therefore, we tried to identify the factors that can provide proper information regarding dysphagia in the frail population. Methods: Patients with dysphagia were divided into those with frailty-induced dysphagia and those with brain-lesion-induced dysphagia. Factors related to the participants’ pulmonary function test (PFT) results were evaluated. The severity of dysphagia was evaluated by determining modified videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (mVDS) and penetration–aspiration scale (PAS) scores based on videofluoroscopic swallowing studies. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the correlation between PFT results and the parameters indicating dysphagia severity. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that forced vital capacity (FVC) was significantly correlated with mVDS scores in frailty-induced dysphagia (p < 0.05). However, no such significance was detected in brain-lesion-induced dysphagia (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: FVC was correlated with the severity of dysphagia (mVDS scores) in patients with frailty-induced dysphagia. Thus, serial FVC-based follow-up can be helpful for understanding patients’ dysphagia status. However, studies with a general population of patients with frailty-induced dysphagia are needed for definite generalization.
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Efficacy of Sustained-Release Formula of Mosapride-Plus-Esomeprazole Combination Therapy to Esomeprazole Monotherapy in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Authors: Jeon Hye Kyung , Kim Gwang Ha , Lee Moon Won , Joo Dong Chan , Lee Bong Eun
Published: April 2022

We aimed to evaluate whether adding a sustained-release (SR) formula of mosapride to proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) would be more effective in controlling symptoms than PPI alone in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Sixty patients with heartburn and/or regurgitation were randomly assigned to two groups: mosapride SR 15 mg combined with esomeprazole 20 mg once daily (ME group) and esomeprazole 20 mg once daily alone (E group). The primary endpoint was the complete-resolution rate of GERD symptoms after eight-week medication, and the secondary endpoints were the complete-resolution rate of GERD symptoms after four-week medication, symptom-improvement rates ≥ 50% after four- and eight-week medication, and change in reflux-disease-questionnaire (RDQ) and GERD-health-related quality-of-life (GERD-HRQL) scores from baseline at four- and eight-week medication. No significant differences in complete-symptom-resolution rates at eight weeks and four weeks or in the changes in RDQ and GERD-HRQL scores from baseline at four- and eight-week medication were observed between the ME and E groups. The symptom-improvement rate of ≥50% after four and eight weeks was comparable between both groups. Adding mosapride SR to esomeprazole in patients with GERD provides no additional benefits in controlling GERD symptoms.
Intracranial Haemorrhage in Haemophilia Patients Is Still an Open Issue: The Final Results of the Italian EMO.REC Registry
Authors: Zanon Ezio , Pasca Samantha , Demartis Francesco , Tagliaferri Annarita , Santoro Cristina , Cantori Isabella , Molinari Angelo Claudio , Biasoli Chiara , Coppola Antonio , Luciani Matteo , Sottilotta Gianluca , Ricca Irene , Pollio Berardino , Borchiellini Alessandra , Tosetto Alberto , Peyvandi Flora , Frigo Anna Chiara , Simioni Paolo
Published: April 2022

Background: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a highly serious event in patients with haemophilia (PWH) which leads to disability and in some cases to death. ICH occurs among all ages but is particularly frequent in newborns. Aim: The primary aim was to assess the incidence and mortality due to ICH in an Italian population of PWH. Secondary aims were to evaluate the risk factors for ICH, the role of prophylaxis, and the clinical management of patients presenting ICH. Methods: A retrospective-prospective registry was established in the network of the Italian Association of Haemophilia Centers to collect all ICHs in PWH from 2009 to 2019 reporting clinical features, treatments, and outcomes. Results: Forty-six ICHs were collected from 13 Centers. The ICHs occurred in 15 children (10 < 2 years), and in 31 adults, 45.2% of them with mild hemophilia. Overall, 60.9% patients had severe haemophilia (15/15 children). Overall ICH incidence (×1000 person/year) was 0.360 (0.270–0.480 95% CI), higher in children <2 years, 1.995 (1.110–3.442 95% CI). Only 7/46 patients, all with severe haemophilia, had received a prophylactic regimen before the ICH, none with mild. Inhibitors were present in 10.9% of patients. In adult PWHs 17/31 suffered from hypertension; 85.7% of the mild subjects and 29.4% of the moderate/severe ones (p < 0.05). ICH was spontaneous in the 69.6% with lower rate in children (46.7%). Surgery was required in 21/46 patients for cerebral hematoma evacuation. Treatment with coagulation factor concentrates for at least three weeks was needed in 76.7% of cases. ICH was fatal in 30.4% of the cases. Of the survivors, 50.0% became permanently disabled. Only one-third of adult patients received long term prophylaxis after the acute treatment. Conclusion: The results from our Registry confirm the still high incidence of ICH in infants <2 years and in adults, particularly in mild PWHs presenting hypertension and its unfavorable outcomes. The majority of PWHs were treated on-demand before ICH occurred, suggesting the important role of prophylaxis in preventing such life-threatening bleeding.
Balanced Crystalloids versus Normal Saline in Adults with Sepsis: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Beran Azizullah , Altorok Nehaya , Srour Omar , Malhas Saif-Eddin , Khokher Waleed , Mhanna Mohammed , Ayesh Hazem , Aladamat Nameer , Abuhelwa Ziad , Srour Khaled , Mahmood Asif , Altorok Nezam , Taleb Mohammad , Assaly Ragheb
Published: April 2022

The crystalloid fluid of choice in sepsis remains debatable. We aimed to perform a comprehensive meta-analysis to compare the effect of balanced crystalloids (BC) vs. normal saline (NS) in adults with sepsis. A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Sciences databases through 22 January 2022, was performed for studies that compared BC vs. NS in adults with sepsis. Our outcomes included mortality and acute kidney injury (AKI), need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), and ICU length of stay (LOS). Pooled risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained using a random-effect model. Fifteen studies involving 20,329 patients were included. Overall, BC showed a significant reduction in the overall mortality (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81–0.96), 28/30-day mortality (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.79–0.95), and AKI (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.77–0.93) but similar 90-day mortality (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.90–1.03), need for RRT (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.76–1.08), and ICU LOS (MD −0.25 days, 95% CI −3.44, 2.95), were observed between the two groups. However, subgroup analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed no statistically significant differences in overall mortality (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.82–1.02), AKI (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.47–1.06), and need for RRT (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.36–1.41). Our meta-analysis demonstrates that overall BC was associated with reduced mortality and AKI in sepsis compared to NS among patients with sepsis. However, subgroup analysis of RCTs showed no significant differences in both overall mortality and AKI between the groups. There was no significant difference in the need for RRT or ICU LOS between BC and NS. Pending further data, our study supports using BC over NS for fluid resuscitation in adults with sepsis. Further large-scale RCTs are necessary to validate our findings.
Radiomics-Based Image Phenotyping of Kidney Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Maps: Preliminary Feasibility & Efficacy
Authors: Li Lu-Ping , Leidner Alexander S. , Wilt Emily , Mikheev Artem , Rusinek Henry , Sprague Stuart M. , Kohn Orly F. , Srivastava Anand , Prasad Pottumarthi V.
Published: April 2022

Given the central role of interstitial fibrosis in disease progression in chronic kidney disease (CKD), a role for diffusion-weighted MRI has been pursued. We evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of using radiomic features to phenotype apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps and hence to the clinical classification(s) of the participants. The study involved 40 individuals (10 healthy and 30 with CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2)). Machine learning methods, such as hierarchical clustering and logistic regression, were used. Clustering resulted in the identification of two clusters, one including all individuals with CKD (n = 17), while the second one included all the healthy volunteers (n = 10) and the remaining individuals with CKD (n = 13), resulting in 100% specificity. Logistic regression identified five radiomic features to classify participants as with CKD vs. healthy volunteers, with a sensitivity and specificity of 93% and 70%, respectively, and an AUC of 0.95. Similarly, four radiomic features were able to classify participants as rapid vs. non-rapid CKD progressors among the 30 individuals with CKD, with a sensitivity and specificity of 71% and 43%, respectively, and an AUC of 0.75. These promising preliminary data should support future studies with larger numbers of participants with varied disease severity and etiologies to improve performance.
Personality Traits and Inflammation in Depressive Disorders
Authors: Wachowska Katarzyna , Gałecki Piotr , Szemraj Janusz , Śmigielski Janusz , Orzechowska Agata
Published: April 2022

Depression is a psychiatric disorder of heterogeneous etiology. One of the leading theories suggests an inflammatory background to it. It is often found in the scientific literature that certain personality traits, such as high neuroticism, low extroversion and conscientiousness, are being associated with depression. We combined biochemical tests of IL-1 and IL-6 serum levels and scores in the personality test EPQ-R among 50 depressed patients and 37 healthy participants. The results confirmed increased serum levels of IL-1 and IL-6 in a study group when compared to healthy volunteers. Additionally, personality traits (psychoticism and neuroticism) were increased in the depressed group when compared to healthy volunteers. The authors analyzed correlations in both groups. However, only one statistically significant link was observed in IL-6 and K levels (scale associated with the need for social acceptance) in the control group.
The Impact of Fiber Orientation on Structural Dynamics of Short-Fiber Reinforced, Thermoplastic Components—A Comparison of Simulative and Experimental Investigations
Authors: Kriwet Alexander , Stommel Markus
Published: April 2022

The quality of the fiber orientation of injection molding simulations and the transferred fiber orientation content, due to the process–structure coupling, influence the material modeling and thus the prediction of subsequently performed structural dynamics simulations of short-fiber reinforced, thermoplastic components. Existing investigations assume a reliable prediction of the fiber orientation in the injection molding simulation. The influence of the fiber orientation models and used boundary conditions of the process–structure coupling is mainly not investigated. In this research, the influence of the fiber orientation from injection molding simulations on the resulting structural dynamics simulation of short-fiber reinforced thermoplastic components is investigated. The Advani–Tucker Equation with phenomenological coefficient tensor is used in a 3- and 2.5-dimensional modeling approach for calculating the fiber orientation. The prediction quality of the simulative fiber orientations is evaluated in comparison to experiments. Depending on the material modeling and validation level, the prediction of the simulated fiber orientation differs in the range between 7.3 and 347.2% averaged deviation significantly. Furthermore, depending on the process–structure coupling and the number of layers over the thickness of the model, the Kullback–Leibner divergence differs in a range between 0.1 and 4.9%. In this context, more layers lead to higher fiber orientation content in the model and improved prediction of the structural dynamics simulation. This is significant for local and slightly for global structural dynamics phenomena regarding the mode shapes and frequency response behavior of simulative and experimental investigations. The investigations prove that the influence of the fiber orientation on the structural dynamics simulation is lower than the influence of the material modeling. With a relative average deviation of 2.8% in the frequency and 38.0% in the amplitude of the frequency response function, it can be proven that high deviations between experimental and simulative fiber orientations can lead to a sufficient prediction of the structural dynamics simulation.
Spiky: An ImageJ Plugin for Data Analysis of Functional Cardiac and Cardiomyocyte Studies
Authors: Pasqualin Côme , Gannier François , Yu Angèle , Benoist David , Findlay Ian , Bordy Romain , Bredeloux Pierre , Maupoil Véronique
Published: April 2022

Introduction and objective: Nowadays, investigations of heart physiology and pathophysiology rely more and more upon image analysis, whether for the detection and characterization of events in single cells or for the mapping of events and their characteristics across an entire tissue. These investigations require extensive skills in image analysis and/or expensive software, and their reproducibility may be a concern. Our objective was to build a robust, reliable and open-source software tool to quantify excitation–contraction related experimental data at multiple scales, from single isolated cells to the whole heart. Methods and results: A free and open-source ImageJ plugin, Spiky, was developed to detect and analyze peaks in experimental data streams. It allows rapid and easy analysis of action potentials, intracellular calcium transient and contraction data from cardiac research experiments. As shown in the provided examples, both classical bi-dimensional data (XT signals) and video data obtained from confocal microscopy and optical mapping experiments (XYT signals) can be analyzed. Spiky was written in ImageJ Macro Language and JAVA, and works under Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. Conclusion: Spiky provides a complete working interface to process and analyze cardiac physiology research data.
Convolutional Neural Networks for the Identification of African Lions from Individual Vocalizations
Authors: Trapanotto Martino , Nanni Loris , Brahnam Sheryl , Guo Xiang
Published: April 2022

The classification of vocal individuality for passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) and census of animals is becoming an increasingly popular area of research. Nearly all studies in this field of inquiry have relied on classic audio representations and classifiers, such as Support Vector Machines (SVMs) trained on spectrograms or Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs). In contrast, most current bioacoustic species classification exploits the power of deep learners and more cutting-edge audio representations. A significant reason for avoiding deep learning in vocal identity classification is the tiny sample size in the collections of labeled individual vocalizations. As is well known, deep learners require large datasets to avoid overfitting. One way to handle small datasets with deep learning methods is to use transfer learning. In this work, we evaluate the performance of three pretrained CNNs (VGG16, ResNet50, and AlexNet) on a small, publicly available lion roar dataset containing approximately 150 samples taken from five male lions. Each of these networks is retrained on eight representations of the samples: MFCCs, spectrogram, and Mel spectrogram, along with several new ones, such as VGGish and stockwell, and those based on the recently proposed LM spectrogram. The performance of these networks, both individually and in ensembles, is analyzed and corroborated using the Equal Error Rate and shown to surpass previous classification attempts on this dataset; the best single network achieved over 95% accuracy and the best ensembles over 98% accuracy. The contributions this study makes to the field of individual vocal classification include demonstrating that it is valuable and possible, with caution, to use transfer learning with single pretrained CNNs on the small datasets available for this problem domain. We also make a contribution to bioacoustics generally by offering a comparison of the performance of many state-of-the-art audio representations, including for the first time the LM spectrogram and stockwell representations. All source code for this study is available on GitHub.