bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Simplified Solution Method for End-of-Term Storage Energy Maximization Model of Cascaded Reservoirs
Authors: Wu Xinyu , Cheng Ruixiang , Cheng Chuntian
Published: June 2022

In medium-term scheduling, the end-of-term storage energy maximization model is proposed to create conditions for the safety, stability and economic operation of the hydropower system after control term, which satisfies the system load demand undertaken by the cascaded system in a given scheduling period. This paper presents a simplified solution method based on the Lagrangian relaxation method (LR) to solve the end-of-term storage energy maximization model. The original Lagrange dual problem with multiple Lagrange multipliers is converted to that with only one Lagrange multiplier by an entropy-based aggregate function method, which relaxes the complex cascaded hydropower system load balance constraints. The subgradient method and successive approximation of dynamic programming (DPSA) are adopted to update the Lagrange multiplier iteratively and solve the subproblem of the Lagrange dual problem, respectively. The Wujiang cascaded hydropower system is studied, and the result shows that the simplified solution method for the end-of-term storage energy maximization model both improves solving efficiency and ensures solving accuracy to a great extent.
Immobilization of Zn and Cu in Conditions of Reduced C/N Ratio during Sewage Sludge Composting Process
Authors: Leśniańska Aleksandra , Janowska Beata , Sidełko Robert
Published: June 2022

In this paper we present results of research on the transformation of chemical forms of two elements (Cu, Zn) that occurred at the highest concentration in sewage sludge being processed in a composting process. The factor that had impact on the direction of the observed transformation was the amount of straw added to the mix with sewage sludge at the batch preparation stage including elimination of an additional source of organic carbon (straw). The analysis of contents of Cu and Zn chemical forms was performed applying Tessiere’s methodology. It was ascertained that reduction of supplementation has positive impact on the allocation of tested elements in organic (IV) and residual (V) fractions with a simultaneous decrease of heavy metals mobile forms share in bioavailable fractions, mostly ion exchangeable (I) and carbonate (II). Using an artificial neural network (ANN), a tool was developed to classify composts based on Austrian standards taking into account only I ÷ IV fractions treated as a labile, potentially bioavailable, part of heavy metals bound in various chemical forms in compost. The independent variables that were predictors in the ANN model were the composting time, C/N, and total content of the given element (total Cu, Zn). The sensitivity coefficients for three applied predictors varied around 1, which proves their significant impact on the final result. Correctness of the predictions of the generated network featuring an MLP 3-5-3 structure for the test set was 100%.
Solar Energy Storage in an All-Vanadium Photoelectrochemical Cell: Structural Effect of Titania Nanocatalyst in Photoanode
Authors: Feng Hao , Liu Jian , Zhang Ying , Liu Dong
Published: June 2022

Solar energy storage in the form of chemical energy is considered a promising alternative for solar energy utilization. High-performance solar energy conversion and storage significantly rely on the sufficient active surface area and the efficient transport of both reactants and charge carriers. Herein, the structure evolution of titania nanotube photocatalyst during the photoanode fabrication and its effect on photoelectrochemical activity in a microfluidic all-vanadium photoelectrochemical cell was investigated. Experimental results have shown that there exist opposite variation trends for the pore structure and crystallinity of the photocatalyst. With the increase in calcination temperature, the active surface area and pore volume were gradually declined while the crystallinity was significantly improved. The trade-off between the gradually deteriorated sintering and optimized crystallinity of the photocatalyst then determined the photoelectrochemical reaction efficiency. The optimal average photocurrent density and vanadium ions conversion rate emerged at an appropriate calcination temperature, where both the plentiful pores and large active surface area, as well as good crystallinity, could be ensured to promote the photoelectrochemical activity. This work reveals the structure evolution of the nanostructured photocatalyst in influencing the solar energy conversion and storage, which is useful for the structural design of the photoelectrodes in real applications.
Forest Fire Detection of FY-3D Using Genetic Algorithm and Brightness Temperature Change
Authors: Dong Zhangyu , Yu Jinqiu , An Sen , Zhang Jin , Li Jinhui , Xu Daoli
Published: June 2022

As one of China’s new generation polar-orbiting meteorological satellites, FengYun-3D (FY-3D) provides critical data for forest fire detection. Most of the existing related methods identify fire points by comparing the spatial features and setting thresholds empirically. However, they ignore temporal features that are associated with forest fires. Besides, they are difficult to generalize to multiple areas with different environmental characteristics. A novel method based on FY-3D combining the genetic algorithm and brightness temperature change detection is proposed in this work to improve these problems. After analyzing the spatial features of the FY-3D data, it adaptively detects potential fire points based on these features using the genetic algorithm, then filters the points with contextual information. To address the false alarms resulting from the confusing spectral characteristics between fire pixels and conventional hotspots, temporal information is introduced and the “MIR change rate” based on the multitemporal brightness temperature change is further proposed. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, several fire events occurring in different areas are used for testing. The Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Thermal Anomalies/Fire products (MYD14) is chosen as the validation data to assess the accuracy of the proposed algorithm. A comparison of results demonstrates that the algorithm can identify fire points effectively and obtain a higher accuracy than the previous FY-3D algorithm.
Effect of Hurdle Approaches Using Conventional and Moderate Thermal Processing Technologies for Microbial Inactivation in Fruit and Vegetable Products
Authors: Soni Aswathi , Brightwell Gale
Published: June 2022

Thermal processing of packaged fruit and vegetable products is targeted at eliminating microbial contaminants (related to spoilage or pathogenicity) and extending shelf life using microbial inactivation or/and by reducing enzymatic activity in the food. The conventional process of thermal processing involves sterilization (canning and retorting) and pasteurization. The parameters used to design the thermal processing regime depend on the time (minutes) required to eliminate a known population of bacteria in a given food matrix under specified conditions. However, due to the effect of thermal exposure on the sensitive nutrients such as vitamins or bioactive compounds present in fruits and vegetables, alternative technologies and their combinations are required to minimize nutrient loss. The novel moderate thermal regimes aim to eliminate bacterial contaminants while retaining nutritional quality. This review focuses on the “thermal” processing regimes for fruit and vegetable products, including conventional sterilization and pasteurization as well as mild to moderate thermal techniques such as pressure-assisted thermal sterilization (PATS), microwave-assisted thermal sterilization (MATS) and pulsed electric field (PEF) in combination with thermal treatment as a hurdle approach or a combined regime.
Roasted Wheat Germ: A Natural Plant Product in Development of Nutritious Milk Pudding; Physicochemical and Nutritional Properties
Authors: Majzoobi Mahsa , Ghiasi Fatemeh , Eskandari Mohammad Hadi , Farahnaky Asgar
Published: June 2022

Wheat germ has been recognized as an economical source of high-quality plant proteins and bioactive compounds for food fortification. Thus, it can be used for valorization of food products as a feasible strategy to enhance the nutritional quality and reduce wheat milling waste. In this research roasted wheat germ (RG) was added in formulation of egg-free milk pudding to enhance its nutritional value and the effects of RG particle size (125, 210 and 354 μm) and quantity (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10%) on the quality, nutritional and sensory properties of the resulting pudding were investigated. Reducing the particle size of RG significantly altered its chemical composition but had no significant effect on its antioxidant activity. Increasing the level of RG in the pudding, reduced pH and syneresis while increased dry matter content, hardness, cohesiveness and gumminess of the product. The quantity of RG had more effects on physicochemical properties of the puddings than changing the particle size. Based on the sensory evaluation results, the most acceptable sample was obtained by addition of 7.5% RG with a particle size of 125 μm.
Polyphenols and Polysaccharides from Morus alba L. Fruit Attenuate High-Fat Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome Modifying the Gut Microbiota and Metabolite Profile
Authors: Wan Meixia , Li Qing , Lei Qianya , Zhou Dan , Wang Shu
Published: June 2022

Morus alba L. fruit, a medicinal and edible fruit in East Asia, showed potential health-promoting effects against metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, both the protective effects and mechanisms of different fractions extracted from Morus alba L. fruit against MetS remain unclear. Additionally, the gut microbiota and its metabolites are regarded as key factors in the development of MetS. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of polyphenols and polysaccharides derived from Morus alba L. fruit against MetS in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice, individually and in combination, focusing on remodeling effects on gut microbiota and metabolite profiles. In the study, polyphenols and polysaccharides derived from Morus alba L. fruit improved the traditional pharmacodynamic parameters of MetS, including reductions in body weight (BW) and fat accumulation, improvement in insulin resistance, regulation of dyslipidemia, prevention of pathological changes in liver, kidney and proximal colon tissue, and suppressive actions against oxidative stress. In particular, the group treated with polyphenols and polysaccharides in combination showed better efficacy. The relative abundance of beneficial bacterial genera Muribaculum and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group were increased to various degrees, while opportunistic pathogens such as Prevotella_2, Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium and Fusobacterium were markedly decreased after treatments. Moreover, fecal metabolite profiles revealed 23 differential metabolites related to treatments with polyphenols and polysaccharides derived from Morus alba L. fruit, individually and in combination. Altogether, these results demonstrated that polyphenols and polysaccharides derived from Morus alba L. fruit attenuated MetS in HFD-fed mice, and improved the gut microbiota composition and fecal metabolite profiles.
Blood Sugar, Haemoglobin and Malondialdehyde Levels in Diabetic White Rats Fed a Diet of Corn Flour Cookies
Authors: Aini Nur , Sustriawan Budi , Wahyuningsih Nadia , Mela Ervina
Published: June 2022

The purpose of the study was to analyse the chemical composition of corn cookies containing different types of sugar and fat, and determine their effect on physiological parameters in diabetic rats. The experimental animals were studied using a randomised block design with seven groups of rats. The test groups were as follows: group 1, negative control rats (normal) fed standard; group 2, positive control rats (diabetic) fed standard; group 3, diabetic rats fed wheat cookies; group 4, diabetic rats fed C1 corn cookies; group 5, diabetic rats fed C2 corn cookies; group 6, diabetic rats fed C3 corn cookies; and group 7, diabetic rats fed C4 corn cookies. The tests on the rats revealed that the cookies had significant effects on blood sugar, malondialdehyde (MDA) and haemoglobin levels as well as body weight parameters. Corn cookies containing crystalline coconut sugar and virgin coconut oil (VCO) were effective at lowering blood sugar and MDA levels while increasing haemoglobin and body weight in diabetic rats. Significantly, after four weeks on this diet, rats with diabetes mellitus were in the same overall condition as normal rats. These findings suggest that these cookies may be gluten-free functional foods suitable for diabetics. These findings suggest that diabetics can safely consume maize cookies.
Identifying Rare Genetic Variants of Immune Mediators as Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Cai Chunquan , Yin Zhaoqing , Liu Aiping , Wang Hui , Zeng Shujuan , Wang Zhangxing , Qiu Huixian , Li Shijun , Zhou Jiaxiu , Wang Mingbang
Published: June 2022

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects more than 1% of children, and there is no viable pharmacotherapeutic agent to treat the core symptoms of ASD. Studies have shown that children with ASD show changes in their levels of immune response molecules. Our previous studies have shown that ASD is more common in children with folate receptor autoantibodies. We also found that children with ASD have abnormal gut immune function, which was characterized by a significant increase in the content of immunoglobulin A and an increase in gut-microbiota-associated epitope diversity. These studies suggest that the immune mechanism plays an important role in the occurrence of ASD. The present study aims to systematically assess gene mutations in immune mediators in patients with ASD. We collected genetic samples from 72 children with ASD (2–12 years old) and 107 healthy controls without ASD (20–78 years old). We used our previously-designed immune gene panel, which can capture cytokine and receptor genes, the coding regions of MHC genes, and genes of innate immunity. Target region sequencing (500×) and bioinformatics analytical methods were used to identify variants in immune response genes associated with patients with ASD. A total of 4 rare variants were found to be associated with ASD, including HLA-B: p.A93G, HLA-DQB1: p.S229N, LILRB2: p.R322H, and LILRB2: c.956-4C>T. These variants were present in 44.44% (32/72) of the ASD patients and were detected in 3.74% (4/107) of the healthy controls. We expect these genetic variants will serve as new targets for the clinical genetic assessment of ASD, and our findings suggest that immune abnormalities in children with ASD may have a genetic basis.
Study of the Psychometric Properties of the Social Self-Efficacy Scale with Spanish Adolescents by Gender, Age and Family Socioeconomic Level
Authors: Salado Vanesa , Díaz-Milanés Diego , Luna Sara , Velo Sheila
Published: June 2022

Social self-efficacy has been shown to be a key resource for adolescents’ social experiences with peers and a predictor of prosocial behaviour among adolescents. However, differences by gender, age and socioeconomic level have previously been found in social self-efficacy. The objective of this study is to assess the psychometric properties of the subscale of social self-efficacy from the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C) developed by Muris (2001) in a representative sample of Spanish adolescents while considering gender, age and socioeconomic level differences. In general, the results showed good psychometric properties and a one-dimensional structure with high internal consistency, adequate explained variance and evidence of external validity for the subscale. Furthermore, the invariance analysis demonstrated that the social self-efficacy subscale shows no bias when used with populations of adolescents who differ by gender, age and socioeconomic level. The results indicate that the Spanish version of the social self-efficacy subscale of the SEQ-C is an adequate measurement instrument for assessing adolescents’ perception of their own social skills.
Last Aid Course—The Slovenian Experience
Authors: Zelko Erika , Vrbek Larisa , Koletnik Melita
Published: June 2022

Educating and raising awareness among lay members of the public about palliative care can significantly improve the care for terminally ill patients and their quality of life. This paper reports on the survey aimed at assessing the experience and expectations of participants in the Last Aid course launched in Slovenia in 2019 to train hospice volunteers and promote dialogue on death and dying. The course implementation was supported by materials prepared, translated, and/or adapted from German under the PO-LAST project, which linked Slovenian medical and healthcare professionals, hospice representatives, and university students. The Last Aid course follows an international four-module curriculum that has been successfully applied in 18 countries so far. In Slovenia, the course was delivered 30 times with 21 in-person deliveries and 9 online events attended by 450 participants of different sexes, ages, and professions. The surveyed population included 250 people who returned the evaluation questionnaires by October 2020. The aim of the analysis was to gain insight that can be applied broadly in future work and research on adult education on palliative care and the erasure of death-related taboos.
Salicylic Acid Foliar Spray Enhanced Silybum marianum Growth and Yield, as Well as Its Chemical Constituents and Chalcone Synthase Gene Activity
Authors: Khattab Salah , Yap Yun-Kiam , El Sherif Fadia
Published: June 2022

Silymarin, a secondary metabolite found mainly in the Silybum marianum L. fruits, has been associated with the hepatoprotective activity of the plant. Among various elicitors, salicylic acid, a “Generally Regarded As Safe” compound recognized by the Food and Drug Administration, is one of those being used in the induction and enhancement of valuable plant secondary metabolite production in various plant species. In this study, two concentrations (10−4 and 10−3 molar) of salicylic acid have been applied to the S. marianum plants as foliar spray to investigate their effects on plant growth and yield, as well as the production of its bioactive compound, silymarin. Our results indicated that both concentrations of salicylic acid increased the plant height, the number of branches, leaves, and capitula, as well as the dried weight of roots, aerial parts, and fruits. The enhancement effects in plant growth and yield were accompanied by an increase in photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll-a, b, and carotenoids as well as element contents such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The potential of salicylic acid as an elicitor for the enhancement of secondary metabolites in S. marianum was supported by the increase in silymarin’s major components, silybin (A + B), in the salicylic acid-treated plants. Concomitant expressions of CHS1, 2, and 3 genes that have been associated with the production of silymarin in S. marianum were also observed in the salicylic acid-treated plants. A lower concentration (10−4 M) of salicylic acid was found to be a better elicitor as compared with the 10−3 M salicylic acid. An increase of 3.4 times in capitula number and fruit dried weight as well as 2.6 times in silybin (A + B) contents were observed in plants sprayed with 10−4 M of salicylic acid as compared with the control.
Breeding New Premium Quality Cultivars by Citrus Breeding 2.0 in Japan: An Integrative Approach Suggested by Genealogy
Authors: Shimizu Tokurou
Published: June 2022

Developing varieties with diverse features that satisfy varied commercial needs, improving overall fruit quality, and quickly releasing them, are prerequisites in citrus breeding. However, these three goals require trade-offs in conventional breeding, even with the application of the marker-assisted selection technique. Conventional breeding cannot achieve these three goals simultaneously and it has been regarded as a breeding trilemma. Integrating a genomics-assisted breeding (GAB) approach that relies on quantitative trait locus detection by genome-wide association study and genome-wide prediction of a trait by genomic selection using enriched marker genotypes enhances breeding efficiency and contributes to eliminating the trilemma. Besides these efforts, the analysis of the genealogy of indigenous citrus varieties revealed that many high-quality indigenous varieties were selected within a few generations. It suggested that selecting a new premium quality hybrid is possible by integrating it with the GAB technique and helps avoid the trilemma. This review describes how a new approach, “Citrus Breeding 2.0” works for rapidly developing new, premium quality hybrids and introduces three applications of this technique, specifically, rebreeding, complementary breeding, and mimic breeding based on the ongoing citrus breeding program in NARO, Japan.
Livelihood Capital Effects on Famers’ Strategy Choices in Flood-Prone Areas—A Study in Rural China
Authors: Ao Yibin , Tan Ling , Feng Qiqi , Tan Liyao , Li Hongfu , Wang Yan , Wang Tong , Chen Yunfeng
Published: June 2022

The global climate change has resulted in huge flood damages, which seriously hinders the sustainable development of rural economy and society and causes famers’ livelihood problems. In flood-prone areas, it is imperative to actively study short and long-term strategies and solve farmers’ livelihood problems accordingly. Following the sustainable development analysis framework proposed by the Department for International Development (DFID), this study collects empirical data of 360 rural households in six sample villages in the Jialing River Basin of Sichuan Province, China through a village-to-household field questionnaire and applies the Multinominal Logit Model (MNL) to explore the influence of farmer households’ capital on livelihood strategy choice. Research results show that: (1) In human capital category, the education level of the household head has a significant positive impact on the livelihood strategies of farmers’ families; (2) In physical capital category, farmer households with larger space have more funds to choose among flood adaptation strategies; (3) In natural capital category, house location and the sale of family property for cash have the greatest negative impact on farmers’ livelihood strategies; (4) Rural households with more credit opportunities in financial capital are more willing to obtain emergency relief funds; (5) Farmers’ families helped by the village for a long time will probably not choose to move to avoid floods, but are more likely to choose buying flood insurance. This study provides an empirical reference for effective short and long term prevention and mitigation strategies design and application in rural in flood-prone areas.
A Review of the Respiratory Health Burden Attributable to Short-Term Exposure to Pollen
Authors: Idrose Nur Sabrina , Lodge Caroline J. , Erbas Bircan , Douglass Jo A. , Bui Dinh S. , Dharmage Shyamali C.
Published: June 2022

Respiratory diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affect millions worldwide and pose a significant global public health burden. Over the years, changes in land use and climate have increased pollen quantity, allergenicity and duration of the pollen season, thus increasing its impact on respiratory disease. Many studies have investigated the associations between short-term ambient pollen (i.e., within days or weeks of exposure) and respiratory outcomes. Here, we reviewed the current evidence on the association between short-term outdoor pollen exposure and thunderstorm asthma (TA), asthma and COPD hospital presentations, general practice (GP) consultations, self-reported respiratory symptoms, lung function changes and their potential effect modifiers. The literature suggests strong evidence of an association between ambient pollen concentrations and almost all respiratory outcomes mentioned above, especially in people with pre-existing respiratory diseases. However, the evidence on sub-clinical lung function changes, COPD, and effect modifiers other than asthma, hay fever and pollen sensitisation are still scarce and requires further exploration. Better understanding of the implications of pollen on respiratory health can aid healthcare professionals to implement appropriate management strategies.
Identifying the Psychometric Properties of the Malay Version of the WHOQOL-BREF among Employees with Obesity Problem
Authors: Rusyda Mohd Helma , Abdul Kadir Nor Ba’yah , Ismail Wan Nur Khairunnisa , Abdul Jalil Siti Jamiaah , Abdullah Nurul-Azza , Che Kasim Arena , Hoesni Suzana Mohd. , Abdul Manaf Mohd Rizal
Published: June 2022

The Malay version of the WHOQOL-BREF was published approximately 15 years ago. Since then, no known research has been conducted to identify the psychometric properties of the scale using confirmatory factor analysis. This study aimed to establish a model by applying a scientific approach to the translation and adaptation method. The back translation technique was used for the translation process. This cross-sectional study involved 282 employees at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The instrument received satisfactory Cronbach’s alpha reliability values. The data were analysed with SEM using AMOS. Results showed that the model produced is parsimonious, with CMIN/df = 0.23, CFI = 0.93, SRMR = 0.08, RMSEA = 0.08 and PCLOSE = 0.07. Adopting the Malay version of the WHOQOL-BREF for future research is highly recommended due to its properties.
Factors Associated with Colorectal Polyps in Middle-Aged and Elderly Populations
Authors: Loke Song-Seng , Chuah Seng-Kee
Published: June 2022

Colorectal polyps are the precursor lesions of most colorectal cancers. This study aimed to evaluate associations between bone mineral density (BMD), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and gastrointestinal diseases with colorectal polyps in middle-aged and elderly populations. A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using data from the health examination database of a tertiary medical center in southern Taiwan in 2015. Subjects aged 50 years and older who had been assessed for metabolic factors and had undergone colonoscopy, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan (DEXA) were included. Factors associated with colorectal polyps were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. In total, 1515 subjects were included, with mean age 60.1 years. Among them, 710 (46.9%) had colorectal polyps. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high fasting glucose (OR = 1.08, p = 0.001), high triglycerides (OR = 1.02, p = 0.008), high total cholesterol (OR = 1.004, p = 0.009), reflux esophagitis (OR = 1.44, p = 0.002), duodenal polyps (OR = 1.75, p = 0.026), gastric ulcer (OR = 1.38, p = 0.024), duodenal ulcers (OR = 1.45, p = 0.028), osteopenia (OR = 1.48, p = 0.001), and MetS (OR = 1.46, p < 0.001) were independently associated with colorectal polyps. In conclusion, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, MetS, duodenal polyps, gastric and duodenal ulcers, reflux esophagitis, and low BMD are independent risk factors associated with colorectal polyps in the middle-aged and elderly Taiwanese population.
Predictors of Weight-Control Behavior in Healthy Weight and Overweight Korean Middle-Aged Women
Authors: Chang Ae-Kyung , Kim Sun-Hui
Published: June 2022

Although obesity level is considered to influence weight-control behavior, few studies have examined how predictors of weight-control behavior differ according to obesity level. We compared the predictors of weight-control behavior in healthy weight and overweight middle-aged Korean women. This study used a comparative cross-sectional design. In total, 352 middle-aged women (131 overweight and 221 healthy) who visited community centers in eight Korean cities participated in the study. Participants completed self-report questionnaires concerning perceived health, body dissatisfaction, health-related concerns, self-esteem, and weight-control behavior. Scores for weight-control behavior in the overweight group were higher than those in the healthy weight group. Stepwise multiple regression showed that health-related concerns, body dissatisfaction, socioeconomic status, and self-esteem predicted weight-control behavior in the overweight group. Perceived health, socioeconomic status, meal regularity, health-related concerns, and age predicted weight-control behavior in the healthy weight group. The findings indicate that nursing strategies should differ according to obesity level to improve weight-control behavior in middle-aged women. In community or clinical settings, nurses are advised to develop customized weight control programs based on obesity levels in middle-aged women.
Towards the Validation of an Observational Tool to Detect Impaired Drivers—An Online Video Study
Authors: Baertsch Tanja , Menozzi Marino , Ghelfi Signe Maria
Published: June 2022

Abuse of alcohol and other drugs is a major risk factor at work. To reduce this risk, workplace drug testing is performed in transportation and other industries. VERIFY, an observational method, is one of the key elements in a procedure adopted by the police of the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, for detecting impaired drivers. The observational method has been successfully applied by adequately trained police officers since 2014. The aim of this study is to examine the interrater reliability of the observational method, the effect of training in use of the method, and the role of having experience in the police force and traffic police force on the outcome when rating a driver’s impairment. For this purpose, driver impairment in staged road traffic controls presented in videos was rated by laypeople (n = 81), and police officers without (n = 146) and with training (n = 172) in the VERIFY procedure. In general, the results recorded for police officers with training revealed a moderate to very good interrater reliability of the observational method. Among the three groups, impaired drivers were best identified by officers with training (ranging between 82.6% and 89.5% correct identification). Trained officers reported a higher impairment severity of the impaired drivers than the other two groups, indicating that training increases sensitivity to signs of impairment. Our findings also suggest that online video technology could be helpful in identifying impaired drivers. Trained police officers could be connected to a road traffic control to make observations via live video. By this method efficiency and reliability in detecting abuse of alcohol and other drugs could be improved. Our findings also apply to workplace drug testing in general.
Genome-Wide Analysis and Expression Profiling of the Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Gene Family in Solanum tuberosum
Authors: Mo Fangyu , Li Long , Zhang Chao , Yang Chenghui , Chen Gong , Niu Yang , Si Jiaxin , Liu Tong , Sun Xinxin , Wang Shenglan , Wang Dongdong , Chen Qin , Chen Yue
Published: June 2022

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase is one of the most widely studied enzymes in the plant kingdom. It is a crucial pathway from primary metabolism to significant secondary phenylpropanoid metabolism in plants, and plays an essential role in plant growth, development, and stress defense. Although PAL has been studied in many actual plants, only one report has been reported on potato, one of the five primary staple foods in the world. In this study, 14 StPAL genes were identified in potato for the first time using a genome-wide bioinformatics analysis, and the expression patterns of these genes were further investigated using qRT-PCR. The results showed that the expressions of StPAL1, StPAL6, StPAL8, StPAL12, and StPAL13 were significantly up-regulated under drought and high temperature stress, indicating that they may be involved in the stress defense of potato against high temperature and drought. The expressions of StPAL1, StPAL2, and StPAL6 were significantly up-regulated after MeJa hormone treatment, indicating that these genes are involved in potato chemical defense mechanisms. These three stresses significantly inhibited the expression of StPAL7, StPAL10, and StPAL11, again proving that PAL is a multifunctional gene family, which may give plants resistance to multiple and different stresses. In the future, people may improve critical agronomic traits of crops by introducing other PAL genes. This study aims to deepen the understanding of the versatility of the PAL gene family and provide a valuable reference for further genetic improvement of the potato.
Control of STING Agonistic/Antagonistic Activity Using Amine-Skeleton-Based c-di-GMP Analogues
Authors: Yanase Yuta , Tsuji Genichiro , Nakamura Miki , Shibata Norihito , Demizu Yosuke
Published: June 2022

Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) is a type of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-membrane receptor. STING is activated by a ligand binding, which leads to an enhancement of the immune-system response. Therefore, a STING ligand can be used to regulate the immune system in therapeutic strategies. However, the natural (or native) STING ligand, cyclic-di-nucleotide (CDN), is unsuitable for pharmaceutical use because of its susceptibility to degradation by enzymes and its low cell-membrane permeability. In this study, we designed and synthesized CDN derivatives by replacing the sugar-phosphodiester moiety, which is responsible for various problems of natural CDNs, with an amine skeleton. As a result, we identified novel STING ligands that activate or inhibit STING. The cyclic ligand 7, with a cyclic amine structure containing two guanines, was found to have agonistic activity, whereas the linear ligand 12 showed antagonistic activity. In addition, these synthetic ligands were more chemically stable than the natural ligands.
Genomic Analysis of Waterpipe Smoke-Induced Lung Tumor Autophagy and Plasticity
Authors: Zaarour Rania Faouzi , Sharda Mohak , Azakir Bilal , Hassan Venkatesh Goutham , Abou Khouzam Raefa , Rifath Ayesha , Nizami Zohra Nausheen , Abdullah Fatima , Mohammad Fatin , Karaali Hajar , Nawafleh Husam , Elsayed Yehya , Chouaib Salem
Published: June 2022

The role of autophagy in lung cancer cells exposed to waterpipe smoke (WPS) is not known. Because of the important role of autophagy in tumor resistance and progression, we investigated its relationship with WP smoking. We first showed that WPS activated autophagy, as reflected by LC3 processing, in lung cancer cell lines. The autophagy response in smokers with lung adenocarcinoma, as compared to non-smokers with lung adenocarcinoma, was investigated further using the TCGA lung adenocarcinoma bulk RNA-seq dataset with the available patient metadata on smoking status. The results, based on a machine learning classification model using Random Forest, indicate that smokers have an increase in autophagy-activating genes. Comparative analysis of lung adenocarcinoma molecular signatures in affected patients with a long-term active exposure to smoke compared to non-smoker patients indicates a higher tumor mutational burden, a higher CD8+ T-cell level and a lower dysfunction level in smokers. While the expression of the checkpoint genes tested—PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2 and CTLA-4—remains unchanged between smokers and non-smokers, B7-1, B7-2, IDO1 and CD200R1 were found to be higher in non-smokers than smokers. Because multiple factors in the tumor microenvironment dictate the success of immunotherapy, in addition to the expression of immune checkpoint genes, our analysis explains why patients who are smokers with lung adenocarcinoma respond better to immunotherapy, even though there are no relative differences in immune checkpoint genes in the two groups. Therefore, targeting autophagy in lung adenocarcinoma patients, in combination with checkpoint inhibitor-targeted therapies or chemotherapy, should be considered in smoker patients with lung adenocarcinoma.
Serine Hydrolases in Lipid Homeostasis of the Placenta-Targets for Placental Function?
Authors: Berger Natascha , Allerkamp Hanna , Wadsack Christian
Published: June 2022

The metabolic state of pregnant women and their unborn children changes throughout pregnancy and adapts to the specific needs of each gestational week. These adaptions are accomplished by the actions of enzymes, which regulate the occurrence of their endogenous substrates and products in all three compartments: mother, placenta and the unborn. These enzymes determine bioactive lipid signaling, supply, and storage through the generation or degradation of lipids and fatty acids, respectively. This review focuses on the role of lipid-metabolizing serine hydrolases during normal pregnancy and in pregnancy-associated pathologies, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, or preterm birth. The biochemical properties of each class of lipid hydrolases are presented, with special emphasis on their role in placental function or dysfunction. While, during a normal pregnancy, an appropriate tonus of bioactive lipids prevails, dysregulation and aberrant signaling occur in diseased states. A better understanding of the dynamics of serine hydrolases across gestation and their involvement in placental lipid homeostasis under physiological and pathophysiological conditions will help to identify new targets for placental function in the future.
Bacterial Regulatory Proteins
Authors: Kormanec Jan
Published: June 2022

The regulation of gene expression in bacteria occurs predominantly at the level of transcription, which is controlled by RNA polymerase [...]
Microtube Array Membrane Encapsulated Cell Therapy: A Novel Platform Technology Solution for Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Chen Shu-Mei , Hsu Tsung-Chin , Chew Chee-Ho , Huang Wan-Ting , Chen Amanda Lin , Lin Yung-Feng , Eddarkaoui Sabiha , Buee Luc , Chen Chien-Chung
Published: June 2022

Alzheimer’s disease is the most frequent form of dementia in aging population and is presently the world’s sixth largest cause of mortality. With the advancement of therapies, several solutions have been developed such as passive immunotherapy against these misfolded proteins, thereby resulting in the clearance. Within this segment, encapsulated cell therapy (ECT) solutions that utilize antibody releasing cells have been proposed with a multitude of techniques under development. Hence, in this study, we utilized our novel and patented Microtube Array Membranes (MTAMs) as an encapsulating platform system with anti-pTau antibody-secreting hybridoma cells to study the impact of it on Alzheimer’s disease. In vivo results revealed that in the water maze, the mice implanted with hybridoma cell MTAMs intracranially (IN) and subcutaneously (SC) showed improvement in the time spent the goal quadrant and escape latency. In passive avoidance, hybridoma cell loaded MTAMs (IN and SC) performed significantly well in step-through latency. At the end of treatment, animals with hybridoma cell loaded MTAMs had lower phosphorylated tau (pTau) expression than empty MTAMs had. Combining both experimental results unveiled that the clearance of phosphorylated tau might rescue the cognitive impairment associated with AD.
Genome-Wide Identification of the Salvia miltiorrhiza SmCIPK Gene Family and Revealing the Salt Resistance Characteristic of SmCIPK13
Authors: Wang Shuang , Li Qi
Published: June 2022

Members of the CIPK (CBL-interacting protein kinases) gene family play important roles in calcium (Ca2+) signaling pathway-regulated plant resistance to abiotic stresses. Salvia miltiorrhiza, which is widely planted and grown in complex and diverse environments, is mainly focused on the transcriptional regulation of enzyme genes related to the biosynthesis of its bioactive components. However, the excavation of the genes related to the resistance of S.miltiorrhiza and the involved signaling pathways have not been deeply studied. In this study, 20 SmCIPK genes were identified and classified into two families and five subfamilies by biochemical means. Sequence characteristics and conserved motif analysis revealed the conservation and difference of SmCIPK protein in plants. Expression pattern analysis showed that SmCIPKs were mainly expressed in flowers and roots, and more than 90% of gene expression was induced by SA (salicylic acid), and MeJA (methyl jasmonate). Furthermore, the expression level of SmCIPK13 could be significantly increased after stress treatment with NaCl. SmCIPK13 expression in yeast reduces sensitivity to salt, while overexpression of it in Arabidopsis has the same effect and was localized in the cytoplasm, cell membrane and nucleus. In conclusion, the identification of the SmCIPK gene family and the functional characterization of the SmCIPK13 gene provides the basis for clarification of key genes in the Ca2+ signaling pathway and abiotic stress in S.miltiorrhiza.
Dysregulation of the Enteric Nervous System in the Mid Colon of Complement Component 3 Knockout Mice with Constipation Phenotypes
Authors: Choi Yun Ju , Song Hee Jin , Kim Ji Eun , Lee Su Jin , Jin You Jeong , Roh Yu Jeong , Seol Ayun , Kim Hye Sung , Hwang Dae Youn
Published: June 2022

Complement component 3 (C3) contributes to neurogenesis, neural migration, and synaptic elimination under normal and disease conditions of the brain, even though it has not been studied in the enteric nervous system (ENS). To determine the role of C3 in the regulatory mechanism of ENS during C3 deficiency-induced constipation, the changes in the markers of neuronal and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs), the markers for excitatory and inhibitory transmission of ENS, and expression of C3 receptors were analyzed in the mid colon of C3 knockout (KO) mice at 16 weeks of age. Prominent constipation phenotypes, including the decrease in stool parameters, changes in the histological structure, and suppression of mucin secretion, were detected in C3 KO mice compared to wildtype (WT) mice. The expression levels of the neuron specific enolase (NSE), protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), and C-kit markers for myenteric neurons and ICCs were lower in the mid colon of C3 KO mice than WT mice. Excitatory transmission analysis revealed similar suppression of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) concentration, expression of 5-HT receptors, acetylcholine (ACh) concentration, ACh esterase (AChE) activity, and expression of muscarinic ACh receptors (mAChRs), despite the mAChRs downstream signaling pathway being activated in the mid colon of C3 KO mice. In inhibitory transmission analysis, C3 KO mice showed an increase in the nitric oxide (NO) concentration and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, while neuronal NOS (nNOS) expression, cholecystokinin (CCK), and gastrin concentration were decreased in the same mice. Furthermore, the levels of C3a receptor (C3aR) and C3bR expression were enhanced in the mid colon of C3 KO mice compared to the WT mice during C3 deficiency-induced constipation. Overall, these results indicate that a dysregulation of the ENS may play an important role in C3 deficiency-induced constipation in the mid colon of C3 KO mice.
IgG from Adult Atopic Dermatitis (AD) Patients Induces Thymic IL-22 Production and CLA Expression on CD4+ T Cells: Possible Epigenetic Implications Mediated by miRNA
Authors: de Sousa Thamires Rodrigues , Fagundes Beatriz Oliveira , Nascimento Andrezza , Fernandes Lorena Abreu , Sgnotto Fábio da Ressureição , Orfali Raquel Leão , Aoki Valéria , Duarte Alberto José da Silva , Sanabani Sabri Saeed , Victor Jefferson Russo
Published: June 2022

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common relapsing inflammatory skin disorder characterized by immune-mediated inflammation and epidermal barrier dysfunction. The pathogenesis of AD is multifactorial and has not been fully elucidated to date. This study aimed to evaluate whether serum IgG from adult AD patients could modulate the thymic maturation of IL-22-producing T cells and CLA+ T cells of non-atopic infants. Given that miRNAs regulate immune response genes, we evaluated whether miRNA expression is also altered in cultured thymocytes. Thymocytes were cultured with purified IgG from AD patients or control conditions (mock, Intravenous-IgG (IVIg), non-atopic IgG, or atopic non-AD IgG). Using flow cytometry analysis, we assessed the expression of CLA and intracellular levels of IL-4, IFN-γ, and IL-22 on double-positive T cells (DP T), CD4 T cells, or CD8 T cells. We also investigated the frequency of IgG isotypes and their direct interaction with the thymic T cells membrane. The miRNA profiles were evaluated by the Illumina small RNA-seq approach. MiRNA target gene prediction and enrichment analyses were performed using bioinformatics. Increased frequencies of IL-22 and CLA+ producing CD4+ T cells cultured with IgG of AD patients was seen in non-atopic infant thymocytes compared to all control conditions. No alterations were observed in the frequency of IgG isotypes among evaluated IgG pools. Evidence for a direct interaction between IgG and thymic DP T, CD4 T, and CD8 T cells is presented. The small RNA-seq analysis identified ten mature miRNAs that were modulated by AD IgG compared to mock condition (miR-181b-5p, hsa-miR-130b-3p, hsa-miR-26a-5p, hsa-miR-4497, has-miR-146a, hsa-let-7i-5p, hsa-miR-342-3p, has-miR-148a-3p, has-miR-92a and has-miR-4492). The prediction of the targetome of the seven dysregulated miRNAs between AD and mock control revealed 122 putative targets, and functional and pathway enrichment analyses were performed. Our results enhance our understanding of the mechanism by which IgG can collaborate in thymic T cells in the setting of infant AD.
Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis of Seedling-Stage Soybean Responses to PEG-Simulated Drought Stress
Authors: Wang Xiyue , Song Shuang , Wang Xin , Liu Jun , Dong Shoukun
Published: June 2022

Soybean is an important crop grown worldwide, and drought stress seriously affects the yield and quality of soybean. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying soybean resistance to drought stress. In this study, RNA-seq technology and ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry were used to analyze the transcriptome and metabolome changes in soybean leaves at the seedling stage under drought stress. The results showed that there were 4790 and 3483 DEGs (differentially expressed genes) and 156 and 124 DAMs (differentially expressed metabolites), respectively, in the HN65CK vs. HN65S0 and HN44CK vs. HN44S0 comparison groups. Comprehensive analysis of transcriptomic and metabolomic data reveals metabolic regulation of seedling soybean in response to drought stress. Some candidate genes such as LOC100802571, LOC100814585, LOC100777350 and LOC100787920, LOC100800547, and LOC100785313 showed different expression trends between the two cultivars, which may cause differences in drought resistance. Secondly, a large number of flavonoids were identified, and the expression of Monohydroxy-trimethoxyflavone-O-(6″-malonyl)glucoside was upregulated between the two varieties. Finally, several key candidate genes and metabolites involved in isoflavone biosynthesis and the TCA cycle were identified, suggesting that these metabolic pathways play important roles in soybean response to drought. Our study deepens the understanding of soybean drought resistance mechanisms and provides references for soybean drought resistance breeding.