bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF IGNITION TIMING CHANGES ON EXHAUST EMISSIONS IN KEN AROK URBAN CAR FUELED BY ETHANOL E100
Authors: Herda Herda Bimantara
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT
The depletion of fossil fuel reserves, as well as the increasing air pollution that occurs in Indonesia, greatly affects the energy crisis. This study aims to test, analyze, and determine the right ignition timing and injection timing so as to reduce HC and CO exhaust emissions pollution with E100 ethanol fuel. The test method in this study uses ignition timing independent variables (10.5⁰, 12.5⁰, 14.5⁰, 16.5⁰) and is carried out at 1500, 2000, 3000, 4000 RPM engine speed. The results of this study can be seen that the ignition timing variable has an influence on HC and CO exhaust emissions. at 1500 RPM rotation, the lowest HC and CO exhaust emissions are obtained at 16.5⁰ ignition timing with a value of HC 260 ppm and CO 0.12%. Then for the highest exhaust gas results there is at 12.5⁰ ignition timing with a value of HC 310 ppm and CO 0.16%.
 
Keywords: exhaust emissions, ethanol, ignition timing
Apakah Teori Agensi Belum Diterapkan Secara maksimal pada Bank BUMN?
Authors: Nurmuzakki Naufal , Mulawarman Aji Dedi
Published: June 2024

Abstract: Has Agency Theory Not Been Applied Maximally in State-Owned Banks?Purpose: To determine the impact of Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Non-performing Loans (NPL), and Loan to Deposit Ratio (LDR) on Return on Assets (ROA). Method: Using multiple regression analysis in 4 state-owned bank Indonesia at 2004-2022.Results: CAR has no effect on ROA while NPL and LDR have a significant negative effect on ROA. Simultaneously CAR, NPL, LDR have a significant effect on ROA.Novelty: This research support signaling theory but doesn't support the agency theory because state-owned banks management in Indonesia only giving positive signal to investor by nonperforming loan ratio and loan to deposit ratio. Contribution: This research suggest that management need to act more professionally by considering capital adequacy and not only focusing on nonperforming loan and liquidity.
Abstrak: Apakah Teori Agensi Belum Diterapkan Secara maksimal Pada Bank BUMN?Tujuan: Untuk mengetahui pengaruh Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Non-performing Loan (NPL), dan Loan to Deposit Ratio (LDR) terhadap Return on Aset (ROA).Metode: Menggunakan analisis regresi berganda dengan 4 Bank BUMN di Indonesia selama 2004-2022.Hasil: CAR tidak berpengaruh terhadap ROA sementara NPL dan LDR memiliki pengaruh negatif yang signifikan terhadap ROA dan secara simultan CAR, NPL, dan LDR berpengaruh terhadap ROA.Kebaruan: Penelitian ini mendukung teori sinyal dan belum dapat mendukung teori agensi karena kecukupan modal bukan menjadi pertimbangan manajemen Bank BUMN karena mereka hanya mempertimbangkan sinyal positif kepada para investor melalui tingkat kredit macet serta likuiditas.Kontribusi: Penelitian ini menyarankan kepada manajemen bank agar lebih bersikap professional dengan mempertimbangkan kecukupan modal dan tidak hanya berfokus pada kredit macet serta likuiditas.
Performance of Employees in Agriculture and Plantation Agency of Aceh
Authors: Iis Em Yusuf , Thayib Armanu , Yunus Mukhlis M. , Adam Muhammad , Sofyan Hijzir
Published: June 2024

Purpose – The objective of this study is examining the influence of organizational culture, work discipline, as well as self-esteem on employee performance in Agriculture and Plantation Agency in Aceh, with work motivation as a mediating variable.
Methodology – Census sampling method is used to obtain a total of 380 employees as the respondents and the data analysis is conducted through Structural Equation Model (SEM).
Findings – The results show that organizational culture, work discipline, self-esteem, knowledge management, and knowledge management, significantly influence work motivation. Organizational culture, self-esteem, and work motivation, significantly influence employee performance while work discipline does not affect the variable. Organizational culture partially influences mediation toward employee performance with intervening variable of work motivation. However, work motivation does not qualify as a mediation between work discipline as well as employee performance. Self-esteem and knowledge management partially influence mediation on the variable with intervening variable of work motivation.
Originality – Organizational culture on employee performance is utilized in this study.
A comprehensive multi-omics analysis reveals unique signatures to predict Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Vacher Michael , Canovas Rodrigo , Laws Simon M. , Doecke James D.
Published: June 2024

Background

Complex disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), result from the combined influence of multiple biological and environmental factors. The integration of high-throughput data from multiple omics platforms can provide system overviews, improving our understanding of complex biological processes underlying human disease. In this study, integrated data from four omics platforms were used to characterise biological signatures of AD.

Method

The study cohort consists of 455 participants (Control:148, Cases:307) from the Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project (ROSMAP). Genotype (SNP), methylation (CpG), RNA and proteomics data were collected, quality-controlled and pre-processed (SNP = 130; CpG = 83; RNA = 91; Proteomics = 119). Using a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)/AD combined as the target phenotype, we first used Partial Least Squares Regression as an unsupervised classification framework to assess the prediction capabilities for each omics dataset individually. We then used a variation of the sparse generalized canonical correlation analysis (sGCCA) to assess predictions of the combined datasets and identify multi-omics signatures characterising each group of participants.

Results

Analysing datasets individually we found methylation data provided the best predictions with an accuracy of 0.63 (95%CI = [0.54–0.71]), followed by RNA, 0.61 (95%CI = [0.52–0.69]), SNP, 0.59 (95%CI = [0.51–0.68]) and proteomics, 0.58 (95%CI = [0.51–0.67]). After integration of the four datasets, predictions were dramatically improved with a resulting accuracy of 0.95 (95% CI = [0.89–0.98]).

Conclusion

The integration of data from multiple platforms is a powerful approach to explore biological systems and better characterise the biological signatures of AD. The results suggest that integrative methods can identify biomarker panels with improved predictive performance compared to individual platforms alone. Further validation in independent cohorts is required to validate and refine the results presented in this study.
Epidemiological investigation on diseases of Larimichthys crocea in Ningbo culture area
Authors: Xu Shengwei , Ge Mingfeng , Feng Juan , Wei Xinxian , Tan Honglian , Liang Zheng , Tong Guixiang
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Due to the high-density farming of Larimichthys crocea over the years, diseases caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites frequently occur in Ningbo, posing a huge threat and challenge to the sustainable and healthy development of the L. crocea’s bay farming industry. In order to understand the diseases occurrence in L. crocea farming in Ningbo area, an epidemiological investigation of L. crocea diseases was carried out through regular sampling in 2023.

Methods

From April to October 2023, routine sampling of L. crocea was conducted monthly in various farming areas in Ningbo. Each time, live or dying L. crocea with obvious clinical symptoms were sampled, with a total number of 55 L. crocea collected. The samples were preserved in ice bags and transported to the laboratory for pathogen detection(including bacterial isolation and identification,virus identification, and parasites detection).

Results

A total of fifty-five fish dying L. crocea with obvious clinical symptoms were collected in this study, of which 78.18% (43/55) were detected with symptoms caused by pathogenic infection, while 21.82% (12/55) did not have identified pathogens, which were presumed to be breeding abrasions, nutritional metabolic disorders, unconventional pathogens infection or other reasons. A total of twenty-five pathogenic bacteria strains were isolated, which mainly were Pseudomonas plecoglossicida and Vibrio harveyi, accounting for 52% (13/25) and 32% (8/25) of the pathogenic bacteria strains, respectively. Among them, both V. harveyi and Streptococcus. iniae co-infected one fish. Additionally, three other bacterial strains including Nocardia seriolae, Staphylococcus Saprophyticus, and Photobacterium damselae subsp.damselae were isolated. Microscopic examination mainly observed two parasites, Cryptocaryon irritans and Neobenedenia girellae. In virus detection, the red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV) was mainly detected in L. crocea. Statistical analysis showed that among the fish with detected pathogens, 55.81% (24/43) had bacterial infections, 37.21% (16/43) had parasitic infections, and 37.21% (16/43) had RSIV infections. Among them, five fish had mixed infections of bacteria and parasites, three had mixed infections of bacteria and viruses, three had mixed infections of parasites and viruses, and one L. crocea had mixed infections of viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

Discussion

These findings indicate that these three major types of diseases are very common in the L. crocea farming area in Ningbo, implying the complexity of mixed infections of multiple diseases.
Prebunking earthquake predictions on social media
Authors: Fallou Laure , Bossu Rémy , Cheny Jean-Marc
Published: June 2024

Earthquake misinformation has not only a significant impact on crisis management, but also on trust in scientific information and institutions. As a global center for seismic information, the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) has developed a strategy to combat false information related to earthquakes, particularly on Twitter (now known as X). This strategy includes the automation of prebunking tweets to prevent the spread of false information and, particularly unreliable claims of earthquake predictions. In the field of false information, predictions of earthquakes have a particular characteristic: their appearance follows a specific dynamic and the attention paid to them is predictable, which makes the automation of countermeasures (prebunking and debunking) both possible and relevant. Therefore, the objectives of the EMSC’s automatic tweets are to warn people in advance, particularly those who may be vulnerable to earthquake misinformation, while filling the information void with verified, scientifically-based information in the meantime. This paper seeks to examine the usefulness of such a tool. It does so by analyzing users’ engagement with these tweets. In addition, it focuses on two case studies, the seismic sequence in Turkey following the M7.8 earthquake on February 6, 2023 and the M6.8 Morocco earthquake on September 8, 2023. The results show engagement with the automatically generated tweets but an even greater interaction and engagement with manual tweets, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach. Recommendations include optimizing the visibility of the tweets, extending efforts beyond social media, and exploring alternative platforms. The paper advocates for a comprehensive strategy, combining automated tools with manual engagement and leveraging diverse communication channels to take into account cultural differences.
More haste, less speed? Relationship between response time and response accuracy in gamified online quizzes in an undergraduate engineering course
Authors: Liang Zilu
Published: June 2024

This study delves into the relationship between students' response time and response accuracy in Kahoot! quiz games, within the context of an app development course for first year university students. Previous research on response time in standardized tests has suggested that longer response time are often linked to correct answers, a phenomenon known as speed-accuracy trade-off. However, our study represents one of the initial investigations into this relationship within gamified online quizzes. Unlike standardized tests, each of our Kahoot! quiz modules consisted of only five single choice or true/false questions, with a time limit for each question and instantaneous feedback provided during game play. Drawing from data collected from 21 quiz modules spanning from 2022 to 2023, we compiled a dataset comprising 4640 response-time/accuracy entries. Mann-Whitney U tests revealed significant differences in normalized response time between correct answers and wrong answers in 17 out of the 21 quiz modules, with wrong answers exhibiting longer response time. The effect size of this phenomenon varied from modest to moderate. Additionally, we observed significant negative correlations between normalized overall response time and overall accuracy across all quiz modules, with only two exceptions. These findings challenge the notion of the speed-accuracy trade-off but align with some previous studies that have identified heterogeneity speed-accuracy relationships in standardized tests. We contextualized our findings within the framework of dual processing theory and underscored their implications to learning assessment in online quiz environments.
Reassessing type 2 diabetes in adolescents and its management strategies based on insulin resistance
Authors: Jia QianYou , Zhang YanMin , Zhang BaoFeng , An XueDong
Published: June 2024

With changes in lifestyle behaviors, including dietary structure and habits, the prevalence of Youth-onset Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (YODM) has increased 2 to 3 times compared to 30 years ago. YODM patients experience complications earlier, progress faster, and exhibit more severe symptoms. However, limited and inconclusive direct evidence, coupled with poor patient compliance, poses challenges in the clinical management of YODM. Apart from the continuous decline in pancreatic β-cell function and quantity, tissue-specific insulin resistance (IR) is also a typical characteristic of YODM. The main mechanisms of IR in YODM involve different aspects such as obesity, dietary imbalance, abnormal substance metabolism, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormonal fluctuations during adolescence. For the comprehensive management of YODM, besides achieving good control of blood glucose levels, it may be necessary to apply the most appropriate methods considering the uniqueness of the patient population and the specifics of the disease. Early identification and detection of the disease are crucial. Precise screening of patients with well-functioning pancreatic insulin β-cells, primarily characterized by IR and obesity, represents the population most likely to achieve diabetes remission or reversal through lifestyle modifications, medications, or even surgical interventions. Additionally, considering potential emotional disorders or the impact of adolescent hormones in these patients, health education for patients and caregivers is essential to make them aware of the long-term benefits of well-controlled blood glucose. In conclusion, adopting comprehensive management measures to achieve diabetes remission or reversal is the ideal goal. Controlling high blood glucose, obesity, and other risk factors related to diabetes complications is the next priority to delay the occurrence and progression of complications. A comprehensive perspective on IR provides insights and references for identifying YODM and its management strategies.
Immunogenicity of PvCyRPA, PvCelTOS and Pvs25 chimeric recombinant protein of Plasmodium vivax in murine model
Authors: Matos Ada da Silva , Soares Isabela Ferreira , Rodrigues-da-Silva Rodrigo Nunes , Rodolphi Cinthia Magalhães , Albrecht Letusa , Donassolo Rafael Amaral , Lopez-Camacho Cesar , Ano Bom Ana Paula Dinis , Neves Patrícia Cristina da Costa , Conte Fernando de Paiva , Pratt-Riccio Lilian Rose , Daniel-Ribeiro Cláudio Tadeu , Totino Paulo Renato Rivas , Lima-Junior Josué da Costa
Published: June 2024

In the Americas, P. vivax is the predominant causative species of malaria, a debilitating and economically significant disease. Due to the complexity of the malaria parasite life cycle, a vaccine formulation with multiple antigens expressed in various parasite stages may represent an effective approach. Based on this, we previously designed and constructed a chimeric recombinant protein, PvRMC-1, composed by PvCyRPA, PvCelTOS, and Pvs25 epitopes. This chimeric protein was strongly recognized by naturally acquired antibodies from exposed population in the Brazilian Amazon. However, there was no investigation about the induced immune response of PvRMC-1. Therefore, in this work, we evaluated the immunogenicity of this chimeric antigen formulated in three distinct adjuvants: Stimune, AddaVax or Aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) in BALB/c mice. Our results suggested that the chimeric protein PvRMC-1 were capable to generate humoral and cellular responses across all three formulations. Antibodies recognized full-length PvRMC-1 and linear B-cell epitopes from PvCyRPA, PvCelTOS, and Pvs25 individually. Moreover, mice’s splenocytes were activated, producing IFN-γ in response to PvCelTOS and PvCyRPA peptide epitopes, affirming T-cell epitopes in the antigen. While aluminum hydroxide showed notable cellular response, Stimune and Addavax induced a more comprehensive immune response, encompassing both cellular and humoral components. Thus, our findings indicate that PvRMC-1 would be a promising multistage vaccine candidate that could advance to further preclinical studies.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of persistent bacteremia in patients with head and neck cancer in a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Kitaya Shiori , Kanamori Hajime , Ishii Ryo , Katsumi Makoto , Ikeda Ryoukichi , Higashi Kenjiro , Kakuta Risako , Ohkoshi Akira , Katori Yukio
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Compared to other cancers, research on bloodstream infection in head and neck cancer is scarce, lacking comparative studies on persistent versus transient bacteremia outcomes.

Methods

This retrospective survey examined patients with head and neck cancer undergoing blood culture at our center from June 2009 to May 2023. Blood culture-positive cases suspected of infection were divided into persistent bacteremia and transient bacteremia groups. We investigated their clinical, epidemiological, and microbiological features, including risk factors for persistent bacteremia and mortality. The primary outcome was 90-day mortality.

Results

In this 97-patient cohort, 14 (14%) cases were assigned to the persistent bacteremia group. Catheter-related bloodstream infections were the leading cause of infection in both groups, consistently contributing to a high proportion of overall bloodstream infections. The mortality rate was generally higher in the persistent bacteremia group than in the transient bacteremia group (odds ratio [OR], 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6–11.1), particularly in the non-clearance subgroup (OR, 9; 95% CI, 0.5–155.2). Pyogenic spondylitis was a key risk factor for persistent bacteremia, while hypoalbuminemia increased mortality.

Conclusion

In patients with bacteremia and head and neck cancer, persistent bacteremia was associated with higher mortality than was transient bacteremia. Adittionally, bacteremia clearance in persistent bacteremia is thus crucial for prognostic improvement.
Grazing impact of the calanoid copepods Acartia spp. on the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax in the western coastal waters of Korea
Authors: Lee Moo Joon , Hwang Yeong Jong , Choi Yong Bum , Yoo Yeong Du
Published: June 2024

Marine dinoflagellate species in the genus Alexandrium are well known to produce paralytic shellfish poison as well as common coastal species with cosmopolitan distribution. However, few studies on the feeding of copepods on Alexandrium species have been conducted. The toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax contains goniodomin A and causes red tides in many countries. To investigate the relationship between the toxic dinoflagellate A. pseudogonyaulax and the calanoid copepods Acartia spp., we quantified the ingestion rates of Acartia spp. feeding on A. pseudogonyaulax as a function of prey concentration. Additionally, we estimated grazing coefficients by integrating data from field observations of Acartia spp. and coexisting A. pseudogonyaulax with laboratory measurements of ingestion rates obtained during this investigation. Furthermore, we compared the ingestion rates of Acartia spp. and other predators feeding on Alexandrium species as previously reported. The ingestion rates of Acartia spp. on A. pseudogonyaulax increased continuously with increasing mean prey concentration. The highest values among the ingestion rate of Acartia spp. feeding on A. pseudogonyaulax was 3,407 cells predator−1 d−1 (4,872 ng C predator−1 d−1) at the given prey concentration. The calculated grazing coefficients for Acartia spp. on A. pseudogonyaulax in Shiwha Bay, Korea, were up to 0.073 d−1. The results of this study suggest that A. pseudogonyaulax may decrease or maintain the population of Acartia spp. in marine food webs.
Comprehensive characterization of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production by Levilactobacillus brevis CRL 2013: insights from physiology, genomics, and proteomics
Authors: Cataldo Pablo G. , Urquiza Martínez María Paulina , Villena Julio , Kitazawa Haruki , Saavedra Lucila , Hebert Elvira M.
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Levilactobacillus brevis CRL 2013, a plant-derived lactic acid bacterium (LAB) with immunomodulatory properties, has emerged as an efficient producer of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Notably, not all LAB possess the ability to produce GABA, highlighting the importance of specific genetic and environmental conditions for GABA synthesis. This study aimed to elucidate the intriguing GABA-producing machinery of L. brevis CRL 2013 and support its potential for safe application through comprehensive genome analysis.

Methods

A comprehensive genome analysis of L. brevis CRL 2013 was performed to identify the presence of antibiotic resistance genes, virulence markers, and genes associated with the glutamate decarboxylase system, which is essential for GABA biosynthesis. Then, an optimized chemically defined culture medium (CDM) was supplemented with monosodium glutamate (MSG) and yeast extract (YE) to analyze their influence on GABA production. Proteomic and transcriptional analyses were conducted to assess changes in protein and gene expression related to GABA production.

Results

The absence of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence markers in the genome of L. brevis CRL 2013 supports its safety for potential probiotic applications. Genes encoding the glutamate decarboxylase system, including two gad genes (gadA and gadB) and the glutamate antiporter gene (gadC), were identified. The gadB gene is located adjacent to gadC, while gadA resides separately on the chromosome. The transcriptional regulator gadR was found upstream of gadC, with transcriptional analyses demonstrating cotranscription of gadR with gadC. Although MSG supplementation alone did not activate GABA synthesis, the addition of YE significantly enhanced GABA production in the optimized CDM containing glutamate. Proteomic analysis revealed minimal differences between MSG-supplemented and non-supplemented CDM cultures, whereas YE supplementation resulted in significant proteomic changes, including upregulation of GadB. Transcriptional analysis confirmed increased expression of gadB and gadR upon YE supplementation, supporting its role in activating GABA production.

Conclusion

These findings provide valuable insights into the influence of nutrient composition on GABA production. Furthermore, they unveil the potential of L. brevis CRL 2013 as a safe, nonpathogenic strain with valuable biotechnological traits which can be further leveraged for its probiotic potential in the food industry.
Comparative genomics of Deinococcus radiodurans: unveiling genetic discrepancies between ATCC 13939K and BAA-816 strains
Authors: Jeong Soyoung , Singh Harinder , Jung Jong-Hyun , Jung Kwang-Woo , Ryu Sangryeol , Lim Sangyong
Published: June 2024

The Deinococcus genus is renowned for its remarkable resilience against environmental stresses, including ionizing radiation, desiccation, and oxidative damage. This resilience is attributed to its sophisticated DNA repair mechanisms and robust defense systems, enabling it to recover from extensive damage and thrive under extreme conditions. Central to Deinococcus research, the D. radiodurans strains ATCC BAA-816 and ATCC 13939 facilitate extensive studies into this remarkably resilient genus. This study focused on delineating genetic discrepancies between these strains by sequencing our laboratory’s ATCC 13939 specimen (ATCC 13939K) and juxtaposing it with ATCC BAA-816. We uncovered 436 DNA sequence differences within ATCC 13939K, including 100 single nucleotide variations, 278 insertions, and 58 deletions, which could induce frameshifts altering protein-coding genes. Gene annotation revisions accounting for gene fusions and the reconciliation of gene lengths uncovered novel protein-coding genes and refined the functional categorizations of established ones. Additionally, the analysis pointed out genome structural variations due to insertion sequence (IS) elements, underscoring the D. radiodurans genome’s plasticity. Notably, ATCC 13939K exhibited a loss of six ISDra2 elements relative to BAA-816, restoring genes fragmented by ISDra2, such as those encoding for α/β hydrolase and serine protease, and revealing new open reading frames, including genes imperative for acetoin decomposition. This comparative genomic study offers vital insights into the metabolic capabilities and resilience strategies of D. radiodurans.
Spatiotemporal patterns and co-occurrence patterns of dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium community in sediments of the Lancang River cascade reservoirs
Authors: Yuan Bo , Guo Mengjing , Zhou Xiaode , Li Miaojie , Xie Shuguang
Published: June 2024

Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) is an important nitrate reduction pathway in freshwater sediments. Many studies have focused on the DNRA process in various natural habitats. However, the joint operation of cascade reservoirs will affect the physical and chemical properties of sediments, which may change the DNRA process and bacterial community pattern in the surface sediments of cascade reservoirs. Our study was the first to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of potential DNRA rate, nrfA gene abundances, and DNRA bacterial community diversity in surface sediments of the Lancang River cascade reservoirs. The results of slurry incubation experiments combined with the 15N isotope tracer experiment ascertained that the potential rates of DNRA were 0.01–0.15 nmol-N cm−3 h−1, and qPCR results indicated that the abundance range of nrfA was 1.08 × 105–2.51 × 106 copies g−1 dry weight. High throughput sequencing of the nrfA gene revealed that the relative abundance of Anaeromyxobacter (4.52% on average), Polyangium (4.09%), Archangium (1.86%), Geobacter (1.34%), and Lacunisphaera (1.32%) were high. Pearson and RDA correlation analysis exhibited that nrfA gene abundance was positively correlated with altitude, pH, OC, and sand concentration. Anaeromyxobacter was positively correlated with reservoir age and DNRA potential rate. The deterministic environmental selection process plays a crucial role in the formation of the DNRA bacterial community. Network analysis displayed that the dominant DNRA genus was the key population of the DNRA microbial community in the sediments of Lancang River cascade reservoirs. This study reveals that the variation of DNRA bacterial activity and community structure is largely driven by the construction of cascade reservoirs, and provides a new idea for further understanding the characteristics of the DNRA community in the cascade reservoir ecosystem.
Recent advances in virulence of a broad host range plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: a mini-review
Authors: Zhu Yangyi , Wu Chenghong , Deng Yun , Yuan Wanlan , Zhang Tao , Lu Junxing
Published: June 2024

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a typical necrotrophic plant pathogenic fungus, which has a wide host range and can cause a variety of diseases, leading to serious loss of agricultural production around the world. It is difficult to control and completely eliminate the characteristics, chemical control methods is not ideal. Therefore, it is very important to know the pathogenic mechanism of S. sclerotiorum for improving host living environment, relieving agricultural pressure and promoting economic development. In this paper, the life cycle of S. sclerotiorum is introduced to understand the whole process of S. sclerotiorum infection. Through the analysis of the pathogenic mechanism, this paper summarized the reported content, mainly focused on the oxalic acid, cell wall degrading enzyme and effector protein in the process of infection and its mechanism. Besides, recent studies reported virulence-related genes in S. sclerotiorum have been summarized in the paper. According to analysis, those genes were related to the growth and development of the hypha and appressorium, the signaling and regulatory factors of S. sclerotiorum and so on, to further influence the ability to infect the host critically. The application of host-induced gene silencing (HIGS)is considered as a potential effective tool to control various fungi in crops, which provides an important reference for the study of pathogenesis and green control of S. sclerotiorum.
The synergistic effects of mechanical ventilation and intrauterine inflammation on cerebral inflammation in preterm fetal sheep
Authors: Tran Nhi T. , Somers Ainsley , Vidinopoulos Kayla , Azman Zahrah , Pham Yen , Zahra Valerie A. , Chan Kyra Y. Y. , Hooper Stuart , Crossley Kelly , Allison Beth J. , Galinsky Robert , Polglase Graeme R.
Published: June 2024

Background

Intrauterine inflammation and the requirement for mechanical ventilation independently increase the risk of perinatal brain injury and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. We aimed to investigate the effects of mechanical ventilation for 24 h, with and without prior exposure to intrauterine inflammation, on markers of brain inflammation and injury in the preterm sheep brain.

Methods

Chronically instrumented fetal sheep at ~115 days of gestation were randomly allocated to receive a single intratracheal dose of 1 mg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or isovolumetric saline, then further randomly allocated 1 h after to receive mechanical ventilation with room air or no mechanical ventilation (unventilated control + saline [UVC, n = 7]; in utero mechanical ventilation + saline [VENT, n = 8], unventilated control + intratracheal LPS [UVC + LPS, n = 7]; in utero ventilation + intratracheal LPS [VENT + LPS, n = 7]). Serial fetal blood and plasma samples were collected throughout the experimental protocol for assessment of blood biochemistry and plasma interleukin (IL)-6 levels. After 24 h of mechanical ventilation, fetal brains were collected for RT-qPCR and immunohistochemical analyses.

Results

LPS exposure increased numbers of microglia and upregulated pro-inflammatory related genes within the cortical gray matter (GM) and subcortical white matter (SCWM) (pLPS < 0.05). Mechanical ventilation alone increased astrocytic cell density in the periventricular white matter (PVWM) (pVENT = 0.03) but had no effect on pro-inflammatory gene expression. The combination of ventilation and LPS increased plasma IL-6 levels (p < 0.02 vs. UVC and VENT groups), and exacerbated expression of pro-inflammatory-related genes (IL1β, TLR4, PTGS2, CXCL10) and microglial density (p < 0.05 vs. VENT).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that 24 h of mechanical ventilation after exposure to intrauterine inflammation increased markers of systemic and brain inflammation and led to the upregulation of pro-inflammatory genes in the white matter. We conclude that 24 h of mechanical ventilation following intrauterine inflammation may precondition the preterm brain toward being more susceptible to inflammation-induced injury.
Cholinergic modulation in the vertebrate auditory pathway
Authors: Zhang Chao , Burger R. Michael
Published: June 2024

Acetylcholine (ACh) is a prevalent neurotransmitter throughout the nervous system. In the brain, ACh is widely regarded as a potent neuromodulator. In neurons, ACh signals are conferred through a variety of receptors that influence a broad range of neurophysiological phenomena such as transmitter release or membrane excitability. In sensory circuitry, ACh modifies neural responses to stimuli and coordinates the activity of neurons across multiple levels of processing. These factors enable individual neurons or entire circuits to rapidly adapt to the dynamics of complex sensory stimuli, underscoring an essential role for ACh in sensory processing. In the auditory system, histological evidence shows that acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) are expressed at virtually every level of the ascending auditory pathway. Despite its apparent ubiquity in auditory circuitry, investigation of the roles of this cholinergic network has been mainly focused on the inner ear or forebrain structures, while less attention has been directed at regions between the cochlear nuclei and midbrain. In this review, we highlight what is known about cholinergic function throughout the auditory system from the ear to the cortex, but with a particular emphasis on brainstem and midbrain auditory centers. We will focus on receptor expression, mechanisms of modulation, and the functional implications of ACh for sound processing, with the broad goal of providing an overview of a newly emerging view of impactful cholinergic modulation throughout the auditory pathway.
A novel multi-feature fusion attention neural network for the recognition of epileptic EEG signals
Authors: Sun Congshan , Xu Cong , Li Hongwei , Bo Hongjian , Ma Lin , Li Haifeng
Published: June 2024

Epilepsy is a common chronic brain disorder. Detecting epilepsy by observing electroencephalography (EEG) is the main method neurologists use, but this method is time-consuming. EEG signals are non-stationary, nonlinear, and often highly noisy, so it remains challenging to recognize epileptic EEG signals more accurately and automatically. This paper proposes a novel classification system of epileptic EEG signals for single-channel EEG based on the attention network that integrates time-frequency and nonlinear dynamic features. The proposed system has three novel modules. The first module constructs the Hilbert spectrum (HS) with high time-frequency resolution into a two-channel parallel convolutional network. The time-frequency features are fully extracted by complementing the high-dimensional features of the two branches. The second module constructs a grayscale recurrence plot (GRP) that contains more nonlinear dynamic features than traditional RP, fed into the residual-connected convolution module for effective learning of nonlinear dynamic features. The third module is the feature fusion module based on a self-attention mechanism to assign optimal weights to different types of features and further enhance the information extraction capability of the system. Therefore, the system is named HG-SANet. The results of several classification tasks on the Bonn EEG database and the Bern-Barcelona EEG database show that the HG-SANet can effectively capture the contribution degree of the extracted features from different domains, significantly enhance the expression ability of the model, and improve the accuracy of the recognition of epileptic EEG signals. The HG-SANet can improve the diagnosis and treatment efficiency of epilepsy and has broad application prospects in the fields of brain disease diagnosis.
Managing intraoperative rupture of internal carotid pseudoaneurysms during endoscopic transnasal optic canal decompression: a case report
Authors: Yu Zeran , Qi Junhui , Wang Lei , Yang Xiang , Liu Zhengqiao , Chen Xu , Xu Hongling , Li Yajie , Chen Yuyun , Dai Chengguo , Gu Zhen
Published: June 2024

Background

Endoscopic transnasal optic canal decompression is widely used in the treatment of traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) following head and craniofacial trauma. Intraoperative hemorrhage is a catastrophic surgical complication during optic canal decompression.

Case description

We present two cases of patients with TON who suffered unexpected intra-operative massive bleeding during endoscopic transnasal optic canal decompression. After intraoperative hemostasis was achieved, emergent cerebral angiograms demonstrated the formation of internal carotid pseudoaneurysms, which were immediately embolized with coils combined with or without Onyx with balloon assistance. One of these cases was also complicated by a postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak, which failed to be treated with lumbar drainage but was successfully repaired with endoscopic transnasal surgery.

Conclusion

The intra-operative rupture of ICA pseudoaneurysm is a rare but catastrophic complication in TON patients. Intraoperative massive bleeding indicates rupture of ICA pseudoaneurysm. Postoperative emergency angiography and endovascular therapy should be arranged to evaluate and repair the cerebral vascular injury. Endoscopic trans-nasal surgery repairing CSF leaks resistant to lumbar drainage could be efficient and safe following pseudoaneurysm embolization.
Potential causal association of diabetes mellitus and blood glucose related indexes with the onset of epilepsy: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zhu Mengting , Ling Shuying
Published: June 2024

Aim

Diabetes mellitus (DM) may promote the occurrence of epilepsy through mechanisms, such as inflammation, immune imbalance, and cerebrovascular injury, caused by metabolic abnormalities. However, evidence for the effects of DM and blood glucose (BG) on the risk of epilepsy is limited. Herein, this study used the Mendelian randomization (MR) method to investigate the potential causal associations of DM and BG-related indexes with epilepsy.

Methods

In this two-sample MR study, summary statistics data of the genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on exposures, including type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), T2DM, fasting glucose, and glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc), were extracted from the MRC-Integrative Epidemiology Unit (MRC-IEU). The GWAS data on study outcomes, including epilepsy, focal epilepsy, and generalized epilepsy, were obtained from the FinnGen consortium. MR-Egger regression was used to examine horizontal pleiotropism of instrumental variables (IVs), and Cochran's Q statistics was used to quantify the heterogeneity. MR analysis methods including inverse variance weighted (IVW) tests, weighted median, and MR-Egger were utilized to investigate the causal associations between DM and BG-related indexes with epilepsy. The evaluation indexes were odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Reverse causal association analyses were also performed. In addition, IVW-radial and leave-one-out tests were utilized for sensitivity analyses.

Results

IVW estimates suggested that T1DM has potential causal associations with epilepsy (OR = 1.057, 95% CI: 1.031–1.084) and generalized epilepsy (OR = 1.066, 95% CI: 1.018–1.116). No significant reverse causal associations of T1DM with epilepsy or generalized epilepsy were found (all P > 0.05). In addition, sensitivity analysis results identified no outlier, indicating that the associations of T1DM with epilepsy and generalized epilepsy were relatively robust.

Conclusion

Patients with T1DM had a potential risk of developing epilepsy, and prompt treatment of DM and dynamic monitoring may be beneficial to prevent epilepsy in this high-risk population. However, the causal associations of DM and BG with epilepsy may warrant further verification.
Treatment options for patients with CADASIL and large-scale cerebral infarction: mechanical thrombectomy and antiplatelet therapy—A case report
Authors: Xiao Shuyue , Ke Man , Cai Kaiwei , Xu Anding , Chen Menglong
Published: June 2024

Background

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is an autosomal dominant inherited arterial disease, with lacunar infarction resulting from intracranial small vessel lesions being the most prevalent clinical manifestation of CADASIL. However, large-scale cerebral infarction caused by intracranial non-small vessels occlusion is relatively uncommon, and reports of vascular intervention and long-term antiplatelet drug treatment for patients with CADASIL and large-scale cerebral infarction are rarer.

Methods

We reported a 52 year-old male who experienced a significant cerebral infarction due to an occlusion in the second segment of the left middle cerebral artery, 4 months subsequent to being diagnosed with CADASIL. Following the benefit and risk assessment, the patient underwent intracranial vascular thrombectomy and balloon dilation angioplasty. Subsequently, he was administered dual antiplatelet therapy for 3 months, followed by mono antiplatelet therapy.

Results

After undergoing intracranial vascular intervention and receiving antiplatelet therapy, significant improvement in the symptoms were observed. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score decreased from 6 to 2 points, and no bleeding lesions were detected on the head computed tomography during regular follow-up visits after discharge.

Conclusion

Our case highlights the possibility that patients with CADASIL may also encounter extensive cerebral infarction resulting from stenosis or occlusion of intracranial non-small vessels. Considering the specific circumstances of the patient, intravascular intervention and antiplatelet therapy can be regarded as viable treatment options for individuals with CADASIL.
In Parkinson’s disease dopaminergic medication and deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus increase motor, but not reflection and cognitive impulsivity
Authors: Hendriks Martijn , Vinke Saman , Berlot Rok , Benedičič Mitja , Jahansahi Marjan , Trošt Maja , Georgiev Dejan
Published: June 2024

Background

Parkinson’s disease is associated with increased impulsivity, which can be divided into several domains: motor (consisting of proactive and reactive subdomains), reflection, and cognitive impulsivity. Evidence suggests that both dopaminergic medication and subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation can affect impulsivity. Therefore, we set out to investigate the effects of dopaminergic medication and subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation on motor, reflection, and cognitive impulsivity in Parkinson’s disease patients.

Methods

Twenty Parkinson’s disease patients who underwent subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation were tested ON and OFF dopaminergic medication and ON and OFF subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation. They performed three different impulsivity tasks: the AX continuous performance task (AX-CPT) to test for motor impulsivity, the Beads task for reflection impulsivity, and the Delay discounting task for cognitive impulsivity.

Results

The combination of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation and dopaminergic medication led to an increase in motor impulsivity (p = 0.036), both proactive (p = 0.045) and reactive (p = 0.006). There was no effect of either dopaminergic medication or subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation on reflection and cognitive impulsivity.

Conclusion

The combination of dopaminergic medication and subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation leads to increased motor, but not cognitive or reflection, impulsivity in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Both proactive and reactive motor impulsivity were impaired by the combination of dopaminergic medication and subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation.
A multimodal dataset for investigating working memory in presence of music: a pilot study
Authors: Khazaei Saman , Parshi Srinidhi , Alam Samiul , Amin Md. Rafiul , Faghih Rose T.
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Decoding an individual's hidden brain states in responses to musical stimuli under various cognitive loads can unleash the potential of developing a non-invasive closed-loop brain-machine interface (CLBMI). To perform a pilot study and investigate the brain response in the context of CLBMI, we collect multimodal physiological signals and behavioral data within the working memory experiment in the presence of personalized musical stimuli.

Methods

Participants perform a working memory experiment called the n-back task in the presence of calming music and exciting music. Utilizing the skin conductance signal and behavioral data, we decode the brain's cognitive arousal and performance states, respectively. We determine the association of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) data with performance state. Furthermore, we evaluate the total hemoglobin (HbT) signal energy over each music session.

Results

A relatively low arousal variation was observed with respect to task difficulty, while the arousal baseline changes considerably with respect to the type of music. Overall, the performance index is enhanced within the exciting session. The highest positive correlation between the HbO concentration and performance was observed within the higher cognitive loads (3-back task) for all of the participants. Also, the HbT signal energy peak occurs within the exciting session.

Discussion

Findings may underline the potential of using music as an intervention to regulate the brain cognitive states. Additionally, the experiment provides a diverse array of data encompassing multiple physiological signals that can be used in the brain state decoder paradigm to shed light on the human-in-the-loop experiments and understand the network-level mechanisms of auditory stimulation.
Novel insights into STIM1's role in store-operated calcium entry and its implications for T-cell mediated inflammation in trigeminal neuralgia
Authors: Cheng Guangyu , Zhao Yu , Sun Fujia , Zhang Qi
Published: June 2024

This investigation aims to elucidate the novel role of Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 (STIM1) in modulating store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) and its subsequent impact on inflammatory cytokine release in T lymphocytes, thereby advancing our understanding of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) pathogenesis. Employing the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, we extracted microarray data pertinent to TN to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A subsequent comparison with SOCE-related genes from the Genecards database helped pinpoint potential target genes. The STRING database facilitated protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis to spotlight STIM1 as a gene of interest in TN. Through histological staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and behavioral assessments, we probed STIM1's pathological effects on TN in rat models. Additionally, we examined STIM1's influence on the SOCE pathway in trigeminal ganglion cells using techniques like calcium content measurement, patch clamp electrophysiology, and STIM1- ORAI1 co-localization studies. Changes in the expression of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) in T cells were quantified using Western blot (WB) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in vitro, while immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were applied in vivo to assess these cytokines and T cell count alterations. Our bioinformatic approach highlighted STIM1's significant overexpression in TN patients, underscoring its pivotal role in TN's etiology and progression. Experimental findings from both in vitro and in vivo studies corroborated STIM1's regulatory influence on the SOCE pathway. Furthermore, STIM1 was shown to mediate SOCE-induced inflammatory cytokine release in T lymphocytes, a critical factor in TN development. Supportive evidence from histological, ultrastructural, and behavioral analyses reinforced the link between STIM1-mediated SOCE and T lymphocyte-driven inflammation in TN pathogenesis. This study presents novel evidence that STIM1 is a key regulator of SOCE and inflammatory cytokine release in T lymphocytes, contributing significantly to the pathogenesis of trigeminal neuralgia. Our findings not only deepen the understanding of TN's molecular underpinnings but also potentially open new avenues for targeted therapeutic strategies.