bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Give Me Five: The Most Important Social Values for Well-Being at Work
Authors: Santos Reinaldo Sousa , Lousã Eva Petiz
Published: August 2022

Social values are very important for well-being at work. This study investigates which and how social values affect well-being at work and contributes to the growing interest that the issue of quality of life at work has aroused in the areas of human resources management (HRM). Semi-structured interviews were held with 21 active employees of a large Portuguese business group in the environmental sector. The study took place in two parts; first, in December 2018 and then two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, in January 2022. Theories and concepts emerged from the thematic analysis and the subsequent consideration of the literature and emerging conceptual understanding. This qualitative interview study examines what employees expect from work experience about the behavior of leaders and supervisors as representatives of the formal structure of the organization and the behavior of co-workers as an expression of an ethical and positive work environment. The findings show the five social values most important for employee well-being: respect, trust, equity with no discrimination, help and gratitude. The knowledge of the social values with more impact on employee well-being constitutes very important information for human resource management and for the employees, themselves.
Biomass Fatty Acid Profile and Fuel Property Prediction of Bagasse Waste Grown Nannochloropsis oculata
Authors: El-Sayed Abo El-Khair B. , Fetyan Nashwa A. , Moghanm Farahat S. , Elbagory Mohssen , Ibrahim Fatma M. , Sadik Mahmoud W. , Shokr Mohamed S.
Published: August 2022

The Chrythophyta alga Nannochloropsis oculata was mixotrophically grown in artificial media enriched with acid-prehydrolyzed bagasse waste as a source of organic carbon. The used growth medium was composed of F2 nutrients, sea salt (22.0 g L−1), and bagasse extract dissolved in sterile tap water. All of the determined growth parameters resulted in their maximums, as the alga was fed with 25% F2 growth medium enriched with 10% bagasse extract, while bagasse-extract-free medium engaged the total chlorophyll and carotenes at the expense of dry weight accumulation during the vegetative growth period. On the contrary, the dry weight under induction growth slightly differed among the different employed treatments; however, all the treatments surpassed the control one, and variation was obviously found in the cases of chlorophyll and carotene. A slight increase in oil content (6.19–11.89%) was observed, as the vegetative cells were grown under induction conditions. The fatty acids ranged between C16 and C20, and the proportions of SFA and MUFA increased from a sum of 63.57% to 88.31%, while the PUFA, including linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid, declined from 36.3 to 11.69%. Concerning the fuel properties, the induction-produced oil surpassed the vegetative one.
Trait Analysis in Domestic Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus f. domesticus) Using SNP Markers from Genotyping-by-Sequencing Data
Authors: Li Congyan , Li Yuying , Zheng Jie , Guo Zhiqiang , Mei Xiuli , Lei Min , Ren Yongjun , Zhang Xiangyu , Zhang Cuixia , Yang Chao , Tang Li , Ji Yang , Yang Rui , Yu Jifeng , Xie Xiaohong , Kuang Liangde
Published: August 2022

The domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus f. domesticus) is a very important variety in biomedical research and agricultural animal breeding. Due to the different geographical areas in which rabbit breeds originated, and the long history of domestication/artificial breeding, rabbits have experienced strong selection pressure, which has shaped many traits of most rabbit varieties, such as color and weight. An efficient genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection strategy is genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), which has been widely used in many organisms. This study attempted to explore bi-allelic SNPs associated with fur color and weight-related traits using GBS in five rabbit breeds. The data consisted of a total 831,035 SNPs in 150 individuals from Californian rabbits (CF), German Zika rabbits (ZK), Qixing rabbits (QX), Sichuan grey rabbits (SG), and Sichuan white rabbits (SW). In addition, these five breeds of rabbits were obviously independent populations, with high genetic differentiation among breeds and low genetic diversity within breeds. A total of 32,144 SNP sites were identified by selective sweep among the different varieties. The genes that carried SNP loci in these selected regions were related to important traits (fur color and weight) and signal pathways, such as the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway and the Hippo signaling pathway. In addition, genes related to fur color and weight were identified, such as ASIPs, MITFs and KITs, ADCY3s, YAPs, FASs, and ACSL5s, and they had more SNP sites. The research offers the foundation for further exploration of molecular genetic markers of SNPs that are related to traits.
Changes in Content of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity Induced in Needles of Different Half-Sib Families of Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst) by Seed Treatment with Cold Plasma
Authors: Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė Vaida , Lučinskaitė Ieva , Mildažienė Vida , Ivankov Anatolii , Koga Kazunori , Shiratani Masaharu , Laužikė Kristina , Baliuckas Virgilijus
Published: August 2022

In order to ensure sufficient food resources for a constantly growing human population, new technologies (e.g., cold plasma technologies) are being developed for increasing the germination and seedling growth without negative effects on the environment. Pinaceae species are considered a natural source of antioxidant compounds and are valued for their pharmaceutical and nutraceutical properties. In this study, the seeds of seven different Norway spruce half-sib families were processed for one or two minutes with cold plasma (CP) using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma equipment. At the end of the second vegetation season, the total flavonoid content (TFC), DPPH (2,2- diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate), and ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) antioxidant activity, and the amounts of six organic acids (folic, malic, citric, oxalic, succinic, and ascorbic) were determined in the needles of different half-sib families of Norway spruce seedlings. The results show that the TFC, antioxidant activity, and amounts of organic acids in the seedling needles depended on both the treatment duration and the genetic family. The strongest positive effect on the TFC was determined in the seedlings of the 477, 599, and 541 half-sib families after seed treatment with CP for 1 min (CP1). The TFC in these families increased from 118.06 mg g−1 to 312.6 mg g−1 compared to the control. Moreover, seed treatment with CP1 resulted in the strongest increase in the antioxidant activity of the needles of the 541 half-sib family seedlings; the antioxidant activity, determined by DPPH and ABTS tests, increased by 30 and 23%, respectively, compared to the control. The obtained results indicate that the CP effect on the amount of organic acids in the needles was dependent on the half-sib family. It was determined that treatment with CP1 increased the amount of five organic acids in the needles of the 541 half-sib family seedlings. The presented results show future possibilities for using cold plasma seed treatment in the food and pharmacy industries.
A Plaque Instability Index Calculated by Histological Marker Analysis of the Endarterectomy Carotid Artery
Authors: Butcovan Doina , Mocanu Veronica , Enache Mihai , Ioan Beatrice Gabriela , Tinica Grigore
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: Atherosclerosis is a pandemic condition that causes the development of ischemic syndromes including myocardial infarctions and many strokes, in addition to disabling peripheral artery disease. Progression of atheroma plaques has been associated with an increased risk of mortality. It is a challenge to determine in advance if atherosclerotic plaque will become unstable by calculating an index of instability. We proposed a score of ten parameters for the assessment of high-risk plaques, by quantification of 10 risk factors for acute cardiovascular events, most of them representing histological variables. (2) Methods: Carotid endarterectomy samples were collected from 10 highly symptomatic patients who matched for gender, age, risk factors, and plaque morphology. Samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, elastic van Gieson, Perls, and Mallory. Immunohistochemistry was performed using specific antibodies, such as CD31 for endothelial cells, CD68 for macrophages, and CD3 for T cells. (3) Results: For each plaque, the presence and/or number of histological features (fibrous cap thickness, lipid core size, plaque and cap infiltration with macrophages and lymphocytes, neovessels, intraplaque hemorrhage, parietal thrombi, and calcium deposits) were recorded on a simple semi-quantitative one- or two-grade scale. The study identified four stable plaques (SPs), two vulnerable plaques (VPs), and four unstable plaques (USPs). We found significantly more macrophages and neovessels in unstable plaques compared with stable plaques. The score for unstable plaques was higher than that for VP. (4) Conclusions: The study showed that symptomatic carotid disease is associated with an increased index score. The proposed algorithm for carotid plaque assessment may be useful for an imaging application.
Special Issue on ‘Computer Science in Sport’
Authors: Dawson Christian
Published: August 2022

Computer Science in Sport is a cross-disciplinary topic that brings together the problem-solving capabilities of Computer Science to various theoretical and practical aspects of all sports and physical activities [...]
Multibody Dynamics Simulation and Vibration Test for High Clearance Orchard Sprayer
Authors: Chen Hong , Dai Shiqun , Ou Mingxiong , Li Shengfang , Wang Chenyang , Li Ziyu , Wang Guanqun , Chen Yu , Jia Weidong
Published: August 2022

High clearance sprayer is a high-efficiency pesticide application machine in orchard management. In this paper, operational safety of high clearance sprayers is validated by using finite element simulation and vibration testing. The 3D model of the frame is simplified by using shell units instead of solid units, the static performance of high clearance sprayer frames under static full load and ultimate torsional conditions was studied by means of finite element simulation tests, the mechanical properties of the frame under step excitation were studied by multi-body dynamic simulation test. The simulation results show that, at a safety factor of 1.5, the maximum stress extremes in the frame are within the safe permissible stress range. During the dynamics analysis, a tire-ground contact simplified model was proposed. The results of the modal analysis show that the inherent frequency distribution of the high clearance sprayer is compact, and the vibration test has measured a large difference between the engine vibration frequency with the inherent frequency of the frame, this means that resonance will not occur. The theoretical analysis shows that the designed high clearance sprayer meets the requirements of large cross-row field operations, the study provides a reference for the overall design of the high clearance sprayer.
Field Study on Earth Pressure of Finite Soil Considering Soil Displacement
Authors: Hu Haibo , Yang Feng , Tang Haibin , Zeng Yujie , Zhou Jiajin , Gong Xiaonan
Published: August 2022

The classical earth pressure theory assumes a semi-infinite soil behind the wall, which is no longer applicable to the problem of earth pressure in the case of finite soil. A field study was conducted to investigate the earth pressure of finite soil at different excavation depths. The earth pressure cells were used to measure the change in earth pressure along the depth, and the measured earth pressures were compared with the calculation results for finite soil. Moreover, the influence of the width-to-depth ratio, cohesion, and internal friction angle on the earth pressure of finite soil was also analyzed based on the theoretical calculation method. The research results show that compared with the Rankine active earth pressure, the active earth pressure of finite soil was more suitable for the calculation of earth pressure for a finite soil situation. The difference in the earth pressure of finite soil under different width-to-depth ratios would increase with depth, while the cohesion and internal friction angle had little effect on the earth pressure of finite soil.
A Methodological Review of Tools That Assess Dust Microbiomes, Metatranscriptomes and the Particulate Chemistry of Indoor Dust
Authors: Nazzal Yousef , Howari Fares M. , Yaslam Aya , Iqbal Jibran , Maloukh Lina , Ambika Lakshmi Kesari , Al-Taani Ahmed A. , Ali Ijaz , Othman Eman M. , Jamal Arshad , Naseem Muhammad
Published: August 2022

Indoor house dust is a blend of organic and inorganic materials, upon which diverse microbial communities such as viruses, bacteria and fungi reside. Adequate moisture in the indoor environment helps microbial communities multiply fast. The outdoor air and materials that are brought into the buildings by airflow, sandstorms, animals pets and house occupants endow the indoor dust particles with extra features that impact human health. Assessment of the health effects of indoor dust particles, the type of indoor microbial inoculants and the secreted enzymes by indoor insects as allergens merit detailed investigation. Here, we discuss the applications of next generation sequencing (NGS) technology which is used to assess microbial diversity and abundance of the indoor dust environments. Likewise, the applications of NGS are discussed to monitor the gene expression profiles of indoor human occupants or their surrogate cellular models when exposed to aqueous solution of collected indoor dust samples. We also highlight the detection methods of dust allergens and analytical procedures that quantify the chemical nature of indoor particulate matter with a potential impact on human health. Our review is thus unique in advocating the applications of interdisciplinary approaches that comprehensively assess the health effects due to bad air quality in built environments.
A Systematic Review on Farmers’ Adaptation Strategies in Pakistan toward Climate Change
Authors: Saddique Naeem , Jehanzaib Muhammad , Sarwar Abid , Ahmed Ehtesham , Muzammil Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Imran , Faheem Muhammad , Buttar Noman Ali , Ali Sikandar , Bernhofer Christian
Published: August 2022

Pakistan is among the countries that are highly vulnerable to climate change. The country has experienced severe floods and droughts during recent decades. The agricultural sector in Pakistan is adversely affected by climate change. This systematic review paper set out to analyze the existing literature on adaptation measures at the farm level toward climate change in Pakistan. Adopting a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method, a total of 62 articles were identified from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The review paper indicates that the main adaptation strategies adopted by farmers are as follows: changing cropping practices, changing farm management techniques, advanced land use management practices, and nonagriculture livelihood options. Further, this review shows the factors influencing the farmer’s adaptation measures to climate change. Influencing factors were examined and classified into three groups: demographic, socioeconomic, and resources and institutional. Barriers hindering farmers’ adaptive capacity were identified as lack of access to information and knowledge, lack of access to extension services, lack of access to credit facility, and lack of farm resources.
Solving a Generalized Fractional Nonlinear Integro-Differential Equations via Modified Sumudu Decomposition Transform
Authors: Al-Khaled Kamel
Published: August 2022

The Sumudu decomposition method was used and developed in this paper to find approximate solutions for a general form of fractional integro-differential equation of Volterra and Fredholm types. The Caputo definition was used to deal with fractional derivatives. As the method under consideration depends mainly on writing non-linear terms, which are often found inside the kernel of the integral equation, writing it in the form of Adomian’s polynomials in the well-known way. After applying the Sumudu transformation to both sides of the integral equation, the solution was written in the form of a convergent infinite series whose terms can be alternately calculated. The method was applied to three examples of non-linear integral equations with fractional derivatives. The results that were presented in the form of tables and graphs showed that the method is accurate, effective and highly efficient.
The “Infernaccio” Gorges: Microbial Diversity of Black Deposits and Isolation of Manganese-Solubilizing Bacteria
Authors: Farda Beatrice , Djebaili Rihab , Del Gallo Maddalena , Ercole Claudia , Bellatreccia Fabio , Pellegrini Marika
Published: August 2022

The present study explored the microbial diversity of black deposits found in the “Infernaccio” gorge. X-ray Powdered Diffraction (XRPD) was used to investigate the crystallinity of the samples and to identify the minerals. Scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) were used to detect the bacterial imprints, analyze microbe–mineral interactions, and highlight the chemical element distribution in the black deposits. 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding allowed the study of Archaea and Bacteria communities. Mn-oxide-solubilizing isolates were also obtained and characterized by culturable and molecular approaches. The multidisciplinary approach showed the occurrence of deposits composed of birnessite, diopside, halloysite, and leucite. Numerous bacterial imprints confirmed the role of microorganisms in forming these deposits. The Bacteria and Archaea communities associated with these deposits and runoff waters are dynamic and shaped by seasonal changes. The uncultured and unknown taxa are the most common and abundant. These amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were mainly assigned to Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes phyla. Six isolates showed interesting Mn solubilization abilities under microaerophilic conditions. Molecular characterization associated isolates to Brevibacterium, Bacillus, Neobacillus, and Rhodococcus genera. The findings enriched our knowledge of geomicrobiological aspects of one of the Earth’s hidden habitats. The study also unveiled the potential of this environment as an isolation source of biotechnologically relevant bacteria.
Disrupting Effects of Osteogenesis Imperfecta Mutations Could Be Predicted by Local Hydrogen Bonding Energy
Authors: Qiang Shumin , Lu Cheng , Xu Fei
Published: August 2022

Osteogenesis imperfecta(OI) is a disease caused by substitution in glycine residues with different amino acids in type I collagen (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)n. Collagen model peptides can capture the thermal stability loss of the helix after Gly mutations, most of which are homotrimers. However, a majority of natural collagen exists in heterotrimers. To investigate the effects of chain specific mutations in the natural state of collagen more accurately, here we introduce various lengths of side-chain amino acids into ABC-type heterotrimers. The disruptive effects of the mutations were characterized both experimentally and computationally. We found the stability decrease in the mutants was mainly caused by the disruption of backbone hydrogen bonds. Meanwhile, we found a threshold value of local hydrogen bonding energy that could predict triple helix folding or unfolding. Val caused the unfolding of triple helices, whereas Ser with a similar side-chain length did not. Structural details suggested that the side-chain hydroxyl group in Ser forms hydrogen bonds with the backbone, thereby compensating for the mutants’ decreased stability. Our study contributes to a better understanding of how OI mutations destabilize collagen triple helices and the molecular mechanisms underlying OI.
Interaction of the Emerging Mycotoxins Beauvericin, Cyclopiazonic Acid, and Sterigmatocystin with Human Serum Albumin
Authors: Fliszár-Nyúl Eszter , Faisal Zelma , Skaper Renáta , Lemli Beáta , Bayartsetseg Bayarsaikhan , Hetényi Csaba , Gömbös Patrik , Szabó András , Poór Miklós
Published: August 2022

Beauvericin (BEA), cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), and sterigmatocystin (STC) are emerging mycotoxins. They appear as contaminants in food and animal feed, leading to economic losses and health risks. Human serum albumin (HSA) forms stable complexes with certain mycotoxins, including ochratoxins, alternariol, citrinin, and zearalenone. HSA binding can influence the toxicokinetics of xenobiotics, and albumin can also be considered and applied as a relatively cheap affinity protein. Therefore, we examined the potential interactions of BEA, CPA, and STC with HSA employing fluorescence spectroscopy, ultracentrifugation, ultrafiltration, and molecular modeling. Spectroscopic and ultracentrifugation studies demonstrated the formation of low-affinity BEA–HSA (Ka ≈ 103 L/mol) and moderately strong CPA–HSA and STC–HSA complexes (Ka ≈ 104 L/mol). In ultrafiltration experiments, CPA slightly displaced each site marker (warfarin, naproxen, and camptothecin) tested, while BEA and STC did not affect significantly the albumin binding of these drugs. Modeling studies suggest that CPA occupies Sudlow’s site I, while STC binds to the Heme site (FA1) on HSA. Considering the interactions of CPA with the site markers, the CPA–HSA interaction may have toxicological importance.
Application of Network Analysis to Uncover Variables Contributing to Functional Recovery after Stroke
Authors: Xi Xiao , Li Qianfeng , Wood Lisa J. , Bose Eliezer , Zeng Xi , Wang Jun , Luo Xun , Wang Qing Mei
Published: August 2022

To estimate network structures to discover the interrelationships among variables and distinguish the difference between networks. Three hundred and forty-eight stroke patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. A network analysis was used to investigate the association between those variables. A Network Comparison Test was performed to compare the correlation of variables between networks. Three hundred and twenty-five connections were identified, and 22 of these differed significantly between the high- and low-Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) groups. In the high-FIM network structure, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and length of stay (LOS) had associations with other nodes. However, there was no association with BDNF and LOS in the low-FIM network. In addition, the use of amantadine was associated with shorter LOS and lower FIM motor subscores in the high-FIM network, but there was no such connection in the low-FIM network. Centrality indices revealed that amantadine use had high centrality with others in the high-FIM network but not the low-FIM network. Coronary artery disease (CAD) had high centrality in the low-FIM network structure but not the high-FIM network. Network analysis revealed a new correlation of variables associated with stroke recovery. This approach might be a promising method to facilitate the discovery of novel factors important for stroke recovery.
Integration Method for Response History Analysis of Single-Degree-of-Freedom Systems with Negative Stiffness
Authors: Chatzikonstantinou Nikoleta , Makarios Triantafyllos K. , Athanatopoulou Asimina
Published: August 2022

The present article deals with the mathematical investigation of a negative-stiffness ideal system that can be used in seismic isolation of civil engineering structures. Negative-stiffness systems can be used in the seismic isolation of structures, because in the case of a strong earthquake, they do not easily allow vibrations to develop. These negative-stiffness systems can be significantly more efficient than the usual seismic isolation systems, as they drastically reduce the vibrational amplitudes of structures, as well as eliminate the inertial seismic structure loadings. The mathematical investigation of a negative-stiffness ideal system provides documented answers about the effect of negative-stiffness systems in the seismic behavior of structures. First, the differential equation of motion of a single-degree-of-freedom oscillator (SDoF) is formulated, without classical damping, but with negative stiffness. Furthermore, the mathematical solution of the equation of motion is given, where it is proven that this solution does not describe a structure vibration. Furthermore, the seismic structure motion follows an exponential increase when the seismic ground excitation is purely sinusoidal. Finally, to calculate the real response of the negative-stiffness system, a suitable modification of the Newmark iterative numerical method is proposed.
Myofibroblastic CAF Density, Not Activated Stroma Index, Indicates Prognosis after Neoadjuvant Therapy of Pancreatic Carcinoma
Authors: Heger Ulrike , Martens Anna , Schillings Lisa , Walter Britta , Hartmann Domenic , Hinz Ulf , Pausch Thomas , Giese Nathalia , Michalski Christoph W. , Hackert Thilo
Published: August 2022

Neoadjuvant therapy (NT) for advanced PDAC is an emerging concept, affecting both stroma and tumor. The Activated Stroma Index (ASI; ratio of activated cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) to collagen deposition) is a prognostic marker in upfront resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We assessed ASI and its prognostic relevance after NT. Tissue from resection specimens of n = 48 PDAC patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX (FOL; n = 31), gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel (GEM; 7) or combination treatment (COMB; 10) was compared with upfront resected matched controls (RES; 69). Activated CAFs were assessed by immunohistochemistry for α-SMA, and collagen was stained with aniline blue; the stained area was then determined by computational imaging analysis and ASI was calculated. In GEM, ASI was significantly higher and collagen deposition lower than in controls and FOL. The lowest quartile of ASI values had significantly longer overall survival (OS) in RES, whereas in FOL, the highest quartile had the best prognosis. After NT, OS was significantly improved in the α-SMA-high group; in RES, however, survival was independent of α-SMA. Reversed prognostic association of ASI thus points to the differing significance of stromal composition after FOL, while improved prognosis with high CAF abundance suggests a synergistic effect of myofibroblasts with chemotherapy. These divergences impede usability of ASI after NT.
Burden of Lung Cancer Attributable to Occupational Carcinogens from 1990 to 2019 and Projections until 2044 in China
Authors: Fan Yaguang , Jiang Yong , Li Xin , Li Xuebing , Li Yang , Wu Heng , Pan Hongli , Wang Ying , Meng Zhaowei , Zhou Qinghua , Qiao Youlin
Published: August 2022

Background: Little is known about trends in the lung cancer burden from the disease that can be attributed to occupational carcinogens in China. Methods: Data regarding the lung cancer burden that can be attributed to occupational carcinogens in China were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study in 2019. Joinpoint regression analysis and an age-period-cohort (APC) analysis were conducted to estimate the trend of lung cancer burden as a result of occupational carcinogens from 1990 to 2019. A Bayesian APC model was used to predict the disease burden until 2044. Results: The average annual percentage changes of age-standardized summary exposure values (SEVs) of occupational lung carcinogens, as well as the age-standardized population attributable fraction (PAF) of lung cancer due to occupational carcinogens, were 0.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.4–0.5%) and 0.1% (95% CI: 0–0.2%), respectively. In addition, both the joinpoint regression analysis and APC analysis demonstrated significantly increased trends of age-standardized lung cancer mortality (ASMR) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (ASDR) as a result of occupational carcinogens. Asbestos and silica accounted for the two most important occupational lung carcinogens in China. The absolute burden is expected to increase, mainly due to population aging and the age-specific rate of illness. Conclusions: The lung cancer burden that could be attributed to occupational carcinogens significantly increased from 1990 to 2019 in China, and the absolute burden will continue to increase in the next 25 years.
BRCA Mutations in Ovarian and Prostate Cancer: Bench to Bedside
Authors: Boussios Stergios , Rassy Elie , Moschetta Michele , Ghose Aruni , Adeleke Sola , Sanchez Elisabet , Sheriff Matin , Chargari Cyrus , Pavlidis Nicholas
Published: August 2022

DNA damage repair (DDR) defects are common in different cancer types, and these alterations can be exploited therapeutically. Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is among the tumours with the highest percentage of hereditary cases. BRCA1 and BRCA2 predisposing pathogenic variants (PVs) were the first to be associated with EOC, whereas additional genes comprising the homologous recombination (HR) pathway have been discovered with DNA sequencing technologies. The incidence of DDR alterations among patients with metastatic prostate cancer is much higher compared to those with localized disease. Genetic testing is playing an increasingly important role in the treatment of patients with ovarian and prostate cancer. The development of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors offers a therapeutic strategy for patients with EOC. One of the mechanisms of PARP inhibitors exploits the concept of synthetic lethality. Tumours with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are highly sensitive to PARP inhibitors. Moreover, the synthetic lethal interaction may be exploited beyond germline BRCA mutations in the context of HR deficiency, and this is an area of ongoing research. PARP inhibitors are in advanced stages of development as a treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. However, there is a major concern regarding the need to identify reliable biomarkers predictive of treatment response. In this review, we explore the mechanisms of DDR, the potential for genomic analysis of ovarian and prostate cancer, and therapeutics of PARP inhibitors, along with predictive biomarkers.
Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole Using a Hybrid CuOx–BiVO4/SPS/Solar System
Authors: Kouvelis Konstantinos , Kampioti Adamantia A. , Petala Athanasia , Frontistis Zacharias
Published: August 2022

In recent years, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) demonstrated great efficiency in eliminating emerging contaminants in aqueous media. However, a majority of scientists believe that one of the main reasons hindering their industrial application is the low efficiencies recorded. This can be partially attributed to reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging from real water matrix constituents. A promising strategy to cost-effectively increase efficiency is the simultaneous use of different AOPs. Herein, photocatalysis and sodium persulfate activation (SPS) were used simultaneously to decompose the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in ultrapure water (UPW) and real water matrices, such as bottled water (BW) and wastewater (WW). Specifically, copper-promoted BiVO4 photocatalysts with variable CuOx (0.75–10% wt.) content were synthesized in powder form and characterized using ΒΕΤ, XRD, DRS, SEM, and HRTEM. Results showed that under simulated solar light irradiation alone, 0.75 Cu.BVO leads to 0.5 mg/L SMX destruction in UPW in a very short treatment time, whereas higher amounts of copper loading decreased SMX degradation. In contrast, the efficiency of all photocatalytic materials dropped significantly in BW and WW. This phenomenon was surpassed using persulfate in the proposed system resulting in synergistic effects, thus significantly improving the efficiency of the combined process. Specifically, when 0.75 Cu.BVO was added in BW, only 40% SMX degradation took place in 120 min under simulated solar irradiation alone, whereas in the solar/SPS/Cu.BVO system, complete elimination was achieved after 60 min. Moreover, ~37%, 45%, and 66% synergy degrees were recorded in WW using 0.75 Cu, 3.0 Cu, and 10.0 Cu.BVO, respectively. Interestingly, experimental results highlight that catalyst screening or process/system examination must be performed in a wide window of operating parameters to avoid erroneous conclusions regarding optimal materials or process combinations for a specific application.
In Vitro Drug Screening Using iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes of a Long QT-Syndrome Patient Carrying KCNQ1 & TRPM4 Dual Mutation: An Experimental Personalized Treatment
Authors: Wang Feifei , Han Yafan , Sang Wanyue , Wang Lu , Liang Xiaoyan , Wang Liang , Xing Qiang , Guo Yankai , Zhang Jianghua , Zhang Ling , Zukela Tuerhong , Xiaokereti Jiasuoer , Lu Yanmei , Zhou Xianhui , Tang Baopeng , Li Yaodong
Published: August 2022

Congenital long QT syndrome is a type of inherited cardiovascular disorder characterized by prolonged QT interval. Patient often suffer from syncopal episodes, electrocardiographic abnormalities and life-threatening arrhythmia. Given the complexity of the root cause of the disease, a combination of clinical diagnosis and drug screening using patient-derived cardiomyocytes represents a more effective way to identify potential cures. We identified a long QT syndrome patient carrying a heterozygous KCNQ1 c.656G>A mutation and a heterozygous TRPM4 c.479C>T mutation. Implantation of implantable cardioverter defibrillator in combination with conventional medication demonstrated limited success in ameliorating long-QT-syndrome-related symptoms. Frequent defibrillator discharge also caused deterioration of patient quality of life. Aiming to identify better therapeutic agents and treatment strategy, we established a patient-specific iPSC line carrying the dual mutations and differentiated these patient-specific iPSCs into cardiomyocytes. We discovered that both verapamil and lidocaine substantially shortened the QT interval of the long QT syndrome patient-specific cardiomyocytes. Verapamil treatment was successful in reducing defibrillator discharge frequency of the KCNQ1/TRPM4 dual mutation patient. These results suggested that verapamil and lidocaine could be alternative therapeutic agents for long QT syndrome patients that do not respond well to conventional treatments. In conclusion, our approach indicated the usefulness of the in vitro disease model based on patient-specific iPSCs in identifying pharmacological mechanisms and drug screening. The long QT patient-specific iPSC line carrying KCNQ1/TRPM4 dual mutations also represents a tool for further understanding long QT syndrome pathogenesis.
Integrated Excitatory/Inhibitory Imbalance and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Association between Dysregulated Synaptic Genes and Anesthetic-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction
Authors: Yan Yasheng , Logan Sarah , Liu Xiaojie , Chen Bixuan , Jiang Congshan , Arzua Thiago , Ramchandran Ramani , Liu Qing-song , Bai Xiaowen
Published: August 2022

Emerging evidence from human epidemiologic and animal studies has demonstrated that developmental anesthesia neurotoxicity could cause long-term cognitive deficits and behavioral problems. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. We conducted an electrophysiological analysis of synapse activity and a transcriptomic assay of 24,881 mRNA expression on hippocampal tissues from postnatal day 60 (P60) mice receiving propofol exposure at postnatal day 7 (P7). We found that developmentally propofol-exposed P60 mouse hippocampal neurons displayed an E/I imbalance, compared with control mice as evidenced by the decreased excitation and increased inhibition. We found that propofol exposure at P7 led to the abnormal expression of 317 mRNAs in the hippocampus of P60 mice, including 23 synapse-related genes. Various bioinformatic analyses revealed that these abnormally expressed synaptic genes were associated with the function and development of synapse activity and plasticity, E/I balance, behavior, and cognitive impairment. Our findings suggest that the altered E/I balance may constitute a mechanism for propofol-induced long-term impaired learning and memory in mice. The transcriptomic and bioinformatic analysis of these dysregulated genes related to synaptic function paves the way for development of therapeutic strategies against anesthetic neurodegeneration through the restoration of E/I balance and the modification of synaptic gene expression.
Zn–Ni Alloy Plating with Trivalent Chromate: Effects of NaF Additive Concentration and Treatment Time on Film Color, Thickness, and Electrochemical Properties
Authors: Son Byung-Ki , Choi Ji-Won , Jeon Su-Byung , Son Injoon
Published: August 2022

Zn–Ni alloy plating is widely applied in manufacturing of automobile and construction material components because it provides better corrosion resistance and wear resistance than Zn plating. Furthermore, chromate coating treatment is gaining attention with respect to improving the corrosion resistance of Zn–Ni alloys. In this study, we investigated the effects of NaF additive concentration and treatment time on trivalent chromate coating, which has been developed as an alternative to hexavalent chromate coating. The chromate post-treatment solution used in this study comprises Cr(NO3)3·9H2O (360 g/L), CoSO4·7H2O (40 g/L), and HNO3 (35 mL/L), to which NaF is added in the concentration range of 0–30 g/L. The as-formed coating films at 1.6 pH and 60 °C treatment temperature for deposition times ranging from 30 to 120 s demonstrated a decreasing corrosion rate as the NaF concentration increased. The electrochemical and morphological analyses inferred that NaF acted as a catalyst, enhancing the rate of film formation. Furthermore, the film thickness increased with the treatment time, and the film color changed in the order of yellow, purple, and green.
Comparative Chloroplast Genomics and Phylogenetic Analysis of Persicaria amphibia (Polygonaceae)
Authors: Choi KyoungSu , Hwang Yong , Hong Jeong-Ki
Published: August 2022

Persicaria amphibia (L.) Delarbre, also known as water knotweed, belongs to the Polygonaceae family and has two types: terrestrial and aquatic. We report the chloroplast genome of P. amphibia obtained through de novo assembly of Illumina paired-end reads produced by total DNA sequencing. We analyzed the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of P. amphibia and found it to be 159,455 bp in length, with a large single-copy region (LSC, 84,281 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC, 13,258 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (IR, 30,956 bp). It contains 79 protein-coding, 29 tRNA and 4 rRNA genes. Comparative analysis of nine Persicaria cp genomes showed a similar genome structure and gene content. However, ycf3 intron II was lost in three Persicaria species (P. hydropiper, P. japonica, and P. pubescens) and the SC/IR regions of four species (P. amphibia, P. hydropiper, P. japonica, and P. pubescens) included the rps19 gene. Phylogenetic analysis of the nine Persicaria species revealed that P. amphibia is sister to P. hydropiper, P. japonica, and P. pubescens. Moreover, we found sequence divergence regions; the largest were rps16-trnQ, trnQ-psbK, trnW-trnP, ndhF-rpl32, and rpl32-trnL regions. This study could be useful for phylogenetic tree analysis of Persicaria and for the identification of Persicaria species.
Herbaceous and Woody Root Biomass, Seasonal Changes in Root Turnover, and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal and Ectomycorrhizal Colonization during Primary Succession in Post-Mining Sites
Authors: Kaneda Satoshi , Zedníková Petra , Frouz Jan
Published: August 2022

Seasonal changes in the biomass and length of fine roots and their growth into ingrowth cores were measured in a chronosequence of post-mining sites represented by 6-, 16-, 22-, and 45-year-old study sites, located on spoil heaps after brown coal mining in the Sokolov coal mining district. The depth distribution of roots differed between herbs and woody species and also with succession age. At the 22-year-old site, the greatest root biomass was found in the fermentation layer (248.9 ± 113.4 g m2) and decreased with depth. In the case of herbaceous root biomass, the greatest root biomass was found in the 16-year-old site (63.7 ± 15.2 g m2), again in the fermentation layer, which decreased with depth. Overall root biomass increased with succession age, reaching its highest value in the 45-year-old site. In younger sites, the root biomass was dominated by herbs and grasses, whereas woody roots dominated in older sites. After one year, the root biomass in ingrowth cores reached up to one quarter of in situ biomass, which would suggest a low turnover rate. However, the difference between the minimum and the maximum value during the course of one year represents more than half of the mean value. Analysis of the number of arbuscules on roots of Plantago lanceolata sown in soil from all succession stages revealed extensive colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in early succession (14.2 ± 0.3 mm root−1), decreasing with succession age, and reaching the lowest value in the 22-year-old site (2.4 ± 0.08 mm root−1) before increasing in the oldest site. Colonization of roots by ectomycorrhizal fungi increased with succession age, reaching a maximum in the 16-year-old site. In comparison with the extent of ectomycorrhizal colonization in relation to root length, the greatest length of ectomycorrhiza-colonized roots was found in the 22-year-old site; hence, the pattern was the opposite of the one observed in arbuscular mycorrhiza-colonized roots.
Laguerre Wavelet Approach for a Two-Dimensional Time–Space Fractional Schrödinger Equation
Authors: Bekiros Stelios , Soradi-Zeid Samaneh , Mou Jun , Yousefpour Amin , Zambrano-Serrano Ernesto , Jahanshahi Hadi
Published: August 2022

This article is devoted to the determination of numerical solutions for the two-dimensional time–spacefractional Schrödinger equation. To do this, the unknown parameters are obtained using the Laguerre wavelet approach. We discretize the problem by using this technique. Then, we solve the discretized nonlinear problem by means of a collocation method. The method was proven to give very accurate results. The given numerical examples support this claim.
Implementation of Fault-Tolerant Encoding Circuit Based on Stabilizer Implementation and “Flag” Bits in Steane Code
Authors: Quan Dongxiao , Liu Chensong , Lv Xiaojie , Pei Changxing
Published: August 2022

Quantum error correction (QEC) is an effective way to overcome quantum noise and de-coherence, meanwhile the fault tolerance of the encoding circuit, syndrome measurement circuit, and logical gate realization circuit must be ensured so as to achieve reliable quantum computing. Steane code is one of the most famous codes, proposed in 1996, however, the classical encoding circuit based on stabilizer implementation is not fault-tolerant. In this paper, we propose a method to design a fault-tolerant encoding circuit for Calderbank-Shor-Steane (CSS) code based on stabilizer implementation and “flag” bits. We use the Steane code as an example to depict in detail the fault-tolerant encoding circuit design process including the logical operation implementation, the stabilizer implementation, and the “flag” qubits design. The simulation results show that assuming only one quantum gate will be wrong with a certain probability p, the classical encoding circuit will have logic errors proportional to p; our proposed circuit is fault-tolerant as with the help of the “flag” bits, all types of errors in the encoding process can be accurately and uniquely determined, the errors can be fixed. If all the gates will be wrong with a certain probability p, which is the actual situation, the proposed encoding circuit will also be wrong with a certain probability, but its error rate has been reduced greatly from p to p2 compared with the original circuit. This encoding circuit design process can be extended to other CSS codes to improve the correctness of the encoding circuit.
Spillover Network Features from the Industry Chain View in Multi-Time Scales
Authors: Feng Sida , Sun Qingru , Liu Xueyong , Xu Tianran
Published: August 2022

Financial stocks in the industry chain interact notably because of close economic and technical relationships. Some participants pay particular attention to one industry chain and are concerned with different investment horizons. The motivation for this study is to offer more targeted information to various market participants who focus on different time scales in one industry chain from a systematic perspective by combining the GARCH-BEKK, heterogeneous network, and wavelet analysis methods. The findings are as follows: (1) For parties who prefer to take more risks to gain higher returns, scale 2 (4–8 days) is a good option, while long-term investment (32–128 days) is suitable for conservative investors. (2) In most cases, some links in the industry chain are particularly sensitive to changes in stocks in other links. (3) The influence, sensitivity, and intermediary of stocks in the industry chain on different time scales were explored, and participants could use the resulting information to monitor the market or select stocks. (4) The structures, key players, and industry chain attributes of the main transmission paths differ on multi-time scales. Risk transmission can be controlled by intercepting important spillover relations within the paths.
Polar Code Parameter Recognition Algorithm Based on Dual Space
Authors: Liu Hengyan , Wu Zhaojun , Zhang Limin , Yan Wenjun
Published: August 2022

To improve the performance of polar code parameter recognition in the fields of intelligent communication, communication detection, and network countermeasures, we propose a new recognition scheme for the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel. The scheme turns parameter recognition problems into hypothetical tests and is effective due to the check relationship between the received codeword and the dual space determined by the correct parameters. First, a sub-matrix is obtained by removing the frozen-bit-index rows of the polar code generator matrix, and then its dual matrix is calculated. To check the relationship of the dual matrix and codewords, the average likelihood ratio of codewords is introduced as a test statistic, and then the corresponding decision threshold is deduced. Next, the degree of conformity of polar code recognition is defined, and the minimum code length and code rate corresponding to the highest degree of conformity are chosen to calculate the index of information-bit positions by a Gaussian approximation (GA) construction algorithm. Finally, the chosen code length, code rate, and corresponding index are provided as the recognition results. Simulation results show that the algorithm can achieve effective parameter recognition in both high-signal-to-noise (SNR) and low-SNR environments, and that the algorithm’s recognition performance increases with decreasing code rate and code length. The parameter recognition rate with a code length of 128 and code rate of 1/5 is close to 100% when the SNR is 4 dB, and the algorithm complexity increases almost linearly with the decreasing code rate and the increasing length of the intercepted data.