bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gene Expression in Porcine Bulbourethral Glands
Authors: Noto Victoria , Nitta-Oda Barbara Jean , Berger Trish
Published: April 2024

The porcine bulbourethral glands produce a gel-type secretion. Although the role of these contributions to reproductive success remains murky, the bulbourethral glands are major accessory sex glands in this species. Isometric growth in the early neonatal interval is followed by allometric growth in the late juvenile interval (6 to 11 weeks of age), while circulating endogenous steroids are low. The rate of allometric growth increases during the peripuberal interval (16 to 20 weeks of age) when systemic testosterone is relatively high. Gene expression for androgen receptor (AR) and for the steroid 5 alpha-reductase 2 (SRD5A2) enzyme that synthesizes the more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone from its precursor was evaluated by qPCR analyses of bulbourethral gland tissue. Tissues were collected from control boars (2 weeks to 40 weeks of age) and from littermates of these boars treated with letrozole to suppress endogenous estrogen synthesis. Gene expression for these two key proteins in androgen signaling was quite low during the initial allometric growth in the late juvenile and prepuberal intervals, suggesting that this initial growth was not primarily stimulated by androgens. These observations are consistent with a more direct estrogen-mediated inhibition of growth via GPER previously proposed, with the sensitivity extending into the late juvenile interval when estrogens as well as androgens are normally relatively low.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of the Hepatopancreas from Macrobrachium rosenbergii Exposed to the Heavy Metal Copper
Authors: Zhang Jiayuan , Bao Zhiming , Guo Jieyu , Su Xianbin , Zou Yongfeng , Guo Hui
Published: April 2024

The contamination of aquatic ecosystems by the heavy metal copper (Cu) is an important environmental issue and poses significant risks to the physiological functions of aquatic organisms. Macrobrachium rosenbergii is one of the most important freshwater-cultured prawns in the world. The hepatopancreas of crustaceans is a key organ for immune defense, heavy metal accumulation, and detoxification, playing a pivotal role in toxicological research. However, research on the molecular response of the hepatopancreas in M. rosenbergii to Cu exposure is still lacking. In this study, the transcriptomic response in the hepatopancreas of M. rosenbergii was studied after Cu exposure for 3 and 48 h. Compared with the control group, 11,164 (7288 up-regulated and 3876 down-regulated genes) and 10,937 (6630 up-regulated and 4307 down-regulated genes) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified after 3 and 48 h exposure, respectively. Most of these DEGs were up-regulated, implying that gene expressions were largely induced by Cu. Functional enrichment analysis of these DEGs revealed that immunity, copper homeostasis, detoxification, DNA damage repair, and apoptosis were differentially regulated by Cu. Seven genes involved in immunity, detoxification, and metabolism were selected for validation by qRT-PCR, and the results confirmed the reliability of RNA-Seq. All these findings suggest that M. rosenbergii attempts to resist the toxicity of Cu by up-regulating the expression of genes related to immunity, metabolism, and detoxification. However, with the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the antioxidant enzyme system was destroyed. As a result, DNA damage repair and the cellular stress response were inhibited, thereby exacerbating cell damage. In order to maintain the normal function of the hepatopancreas, M. rosenbergii removes damaged cells by activating the apoptosis mechanism. Our study not only facilitates an understanding of the molecular response mechanisms of M. rosenbergii underlying Cu toxicity effects but also helps us to identify potential biomarkers associated with the stress response in other crustaceans.
Investigation of the Effect of Physical Ability on the Fall Mitigation Motion Using the Combination of Experiment and Simulation
Authors: Akiyama Yasuhiro , Yamada Shuto , Okamoto Shogo , Yamada Yoji
Published: April 2024

The simulation of fall plays a critical role in estimating injuries caused by fall. However, implementing human fall mitigation motions on a simulator proves challenging due to the complexity and variability of fall movement. Our simulator estimates fall motion by extrapolating the motion observed in fall experiments. By incorporating actual fall motion data for the upper limbs, we enhanced the realism of the fall simulation. The application of forward dynamics control to the lower limbs allowed for the adjustment of mitigation motions, taking into account individual physical capabilities. In this study, fall simulations were conducted under the constraints of maximum joint torque and maximum torque change rate, emulating the physical capabilities of both the elderly and young adults. Our results successfully demonstrated the mitigation motion facilitated by the stance leg reduced the descent velocity of the center of mass by 0.75 m/s for elderly individuals and by 1.25 m/s for young adults, compared to a zero torque condition. This indicates that our study introduced a novel method for quantifying the impact of the lower limbs’ physical capabilities on fall velocity. Such a method represents a significant advancement in understanding how mitigation motions can influence fall injury simulations.
Comparative Analysis of Gait Kinematics in Older Adults: Free Walking vs. Nordic Walking with Classic and Mechatronic Poles
Authors: Szpala Agnieszka , Winiarski Sławomir , Kołodziej Małgorzata , Pietraszewski Bogdan , Jasiński Ryszard , Niebudek Tadeusz , Lejczak Andrzej , Lorek Karolina , Bałchanowski Jacek , Wudarczyk Sławomir , Woźniewski Marek
Published: April 2024

This investigation aimed to scrutinise the kinematic and spatio-temporal characteristics of free and Nordic walking (NW) in older adults, utilising both traditional and biosensor-integrated mechatronic poles. The hypothesis was that including biosensors for gait analysis in NW poles would not disrupt the walking pattern of older adults compared to standard poles. The study involved seniors aged 65–74 who were amateur Nordic Walking (NW) practitioners. They were instructed to traverse a 100-m distance three times: without poles, with traditional NW poles, and with mechatronic poles. The MyoMOTION MR3 system was used to gather biomechanical data. The study revealed differences in eight kinematic parameters and stride time between free walking and walking with poles. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in any of the parameters, regardless of the pole type used. The findings suggest that older NW practitioners tend to employ free walking patterns even when using poles.
A Stay Cable Icing Identification Method Based on the Fusion of U-Net and ResNet50
Authors: Yang Zhiyong , Xiong Feng , Pei Yaoyao , Chen Zhi , Zhan Chuanhai , Hu Enjie , Zhang Guanghao
Published: April 2024

The identification of stay cable icing is crucial for robot deicing to improve efficiency and prevent damage to stay cables. Therefore, it is significant to identify the areas and degree of icing in the images of stay cables. This study proposed a two-stage model that combines U-Net and ResNet50. In the first stage, this model used U-Net to segment the surface ice and icicles from the stay cable. The image of icing obtained after segmentation was used as the input for the second stage. In the second stage, ResNet50 was used to classify the degree of icing. The experimental results show that the proposed model can successfully segment the icicles and surface ice from the stay cable icing image to complete the classification of the icing degree. The mean pixel accuracy and intersection over the union of icing were 96.65% and 82.10%, respectively. The average accuracy of the icing degree classification was 95.71%. The method proposed in this study meets the requirements of robustness, segmentation accuracy, and classification accuracy for stay cable icing recognition, which provides a research basis for the precise icing recognition of cable-deicing robots.
High-Resolution Multi-Scale Feature Fusion Network for Running Posture Estimation
Authors: Xu Xiaobing , Zhang Yaping
Published: April 2024

Running posture estimation is a specialized task in human pose estimation that has received relatively little research attention due to the lack of appropriate datasets. To address this issue, this paper presents the construction of a new benchmark dataset called “Running Human”, which was specifically designed for running sports. This dataset contains over 1000 images along with comprehensive annotations for 1288 instances of running humans, including bounding boxes and keypoint annotations on the human body. Additionally, a Receptive Field Spatial Pooling (RFSP) module was developed to tackle the challenge of joint occlusion, which is common in running sports images. This module was incorporated into the High-Resolution Network (HRNet) model, resulting in a novel network model named the Running Human Posture Network (RHPNet). By expanding the receptive field and effectively utilizing multi-scale features extracted from the multi-branch network, the RHPNet model significantly enhances the accuracy of running posture estimation. On the Running Human dataset, the proposed method achieved state-of-the-art performance. Furthermore, experiments were conducted on two benchmark datasets. Compared to the state-of-the-art ViTPose-L method, when applied to the COCO dataset, RHPNet demonstrated comparable prediction accuracy while utilizing only one tenth of the parameters and one eighth of the floating-point operations (FLOPs). On the MPII dataset, RHPNet achieves a PCKh@0.5 score of 92.0, which is only 0.5 points lower than the state-of-the-art method, PCT. These experimental results provide strong validation for the effectiveness and excellent generalization ability of the proposed method.
Refracted Gravity Solutions from Small to Large Scales
Authors: Cesare Valentina
Published: April 2024

If visible matter alone is present in the Universe, general relativity (GR) and its Newtonian weak field limit (WFL) cannot explain several pieces of evidence, from the largest to the smallest scales. The most investigated solution is the cosmological model Λ cold dark matter (ΛCDM), where GR is valid and two dark components are introduced, dark energy (DE) and dark matter (DM), to explain the ∼70% and ∼25% of the mass–energy budget of the Universe, respectively. An alternative approach is provided by modified gravity theories, where a departure of the gravity law from ΛCDM is assumed, and no dark components are included. This work presents refracted gravity (RG), a modified theory of gravity formulated in a classical way where the presence of DM is mimicked by a gravitational permittivity ϵ(ρ) monotonically increasing with the local mass density ρ, which causes the field lines to be refracted in small density environments. Specifically, the flatter the system the stronger the refraction effect and thus, the larger the mass discrepancy if interpreted in Newtonian gravity. RG presented several encouraging results in modelling the dynamics of disk and elliptical galaxies and the temperature profiles of the hot X-ray emitting gas in galaxy clusters and a covariant extension of the theory seems to be promising.
Effects of Hydrocodone Overdose and Ceftriaxone on Astrocytic Glutamate Transporters and Glutamate Receptors, and Associated Signaling in Nucleus Accumbens as well as Locomotor Activity in C57/BL Mice
Authors: Wong Woonyen , Sari Youssef
Published: April 2024

Chronic opioid treatments dysregulate the glutamatergic system, inducing a hyperglutamatergic state in mesocorticolimbic brain regions. This study investigated the effects of exposure to hydrocodone overdose on locomotor activity, expression of target proteins related to the glutamatergic system, signaling kinases, and neuroinflammatory factors in the nucleus accumbens. The locomotor activity of mice was measured using the Comprehensive Laboratory Animal Monitoring System (CLAMS). CLAMS data showed that exposure to hydrocodone overdose increased locomotion activity in mice. This study tested ceftriaxone, known to upregulate major glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1), in mice exposed to an overdose of hydrocodone. Thus, ceftriaxone normalized hydrocodone-induced hyperlocomotion activity in mice. Furthermore, exposure to hydrocodone overdose downregulated GLT-1, cystine/glutamate antiporter (xCT), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity (p-ERK/ERK) expression in the nucleus accumbens. However, exposure to an overdose of hydrocodone increased metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5), neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity (p-nNOS/nNOS), and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) expression in the nucleus accumbens. Importantly, ceftriaxone treatment attenuated hydrocodone-induced upregulation of mGluR5, p-nNOS/nNOS, and RAGE, as well as hydrocodone-induced downregulation of GLT-1, xCT, and p-ERK/ERK expression. These data demonstrated that exposure to hydrocodone overdose can cause dysregulation of the glutamatergic system, neuroinflammation, hyperlocomotion activity, and the potential therapeutic role of ceftriaxone in attenuating these effects.
Methods and Tools to Analyse and Mitigate the Seismic and Flood Risks in Inland Areas: A Case Study in the Campania Region (Southern Italy)
Authors: Galderisi Adriana , Fiore Pierfrancesco , Ferlisi Settimio , Petti Luigi , Plaitano Francesco , D’Andria Emanuela , Ciervo Fabio , Viccione Giacomo
Published: April 2024

The abandonment of inland areas has become a major demographical challenge, causing a condition of local fragility in terms of spatial marginalization. To deal with this issue in Italy, a number of policy actions have been implemented over the time, namely the National Strategy for Inland Areas, established a decade ago, and more recently the Next Generation EU (NGEU) to foster local economic recovery and employment. In this context, RI.P.R.O.VA.RE., a project funded by the former Italian Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea (MATTM), was aimed at strengthening the resilience features of communities and territories, focusing on areas within the Matese and Ufita in the Campania region and the Medio Agri in the Basilicata region (southern Italy). Besides the ability to respond to different pressure factors (e.g., of demographic and economic origin), the project also addressed issues concerning seismic and flood risks. This paper synthesizes the methods and tools provided for their analysis and mitigation as a prerequisite for regenerating inland areas. After presenting the developed methods and tools, the results obtained for the Matese study area are presented and discussed. While, on the one hand, the retrieved risk zoning maps allow individuating those municipalities requiring priority structural interventions, on the other hand, the latter are properly individuated based on the peculiar characteristics of urban fabrics.
Value Engineering Adoption’s Barriers and Solutions: The Case of Saudi Arabia’s Construction Industry
Authors: Alhumaid Abdullah M. , Bin Mahmoud Abdulrahman A. , Almohsen Abdulmohsen S.
Published: April 2024

Several developing countries around the globe have launched their future visions, which include concrete strategic plans that involve many kinds of mega-construction projects. One common goal across these visions is to increase the efficiency of construction projects’ huge expenditures using recent sustainable, practical engineering tools, such as the value engineering (VE) approach. Although the VE approach has been around for a few years now, some barriers prevent the popularity of its application in different construction projects. This research investigates the barriers to adopting VE through a systematic literature review. This study has categorized the application barriers using thematic analysis under three main categories: barriers related to practitioners’ knowledge and background, barriers associated with the behavior of practitioners towards VE, and barriers related to the implementation of VE. Moreover, this research has investigated solutions to overcome these barriers and improve the application of VE in construction projects. Saudi Arabia’s construction industry is used as a case study. A survey was distributed to Saudi construction industry practitioners using the snowballing technique to evaluate the criticality of the found barriers to adopting VE and the best strategic solutions to overcome these barriers using the importance–performance analysis (IPA) approach. Based on the results of this study we have specifically recommended including a VE course in college engineering programs and an incentive clause in construction contracts to encourage VE application on construction projects at the top of the list of proposed solutions. Finally, defining the criticality of barriers and the effectiveness of solutions will help enhance the application of VE and sustainability practices in the Saudi Arabian construction industry and around the globe.
Cisplatin-Resistant Urothelial Bladder Cancer Cells Undergo Metabolic Reprogramming beyond the Warburg Effect
Authors: Afonso Julieta , Barbosa-Matos Catarina , Silvestre Ricardo , Pereira-Vieira Joana , Gonçalves Samuel Martins , Mendes-Alves Camille , Parpot Pier , Pinto Joana , Carapito Ângela , Guedes de Pinho Paula , Santos Lúcio , Longatto-Filho Adhemar , Baltazar Fátima
Published: April 2024

Advanced urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) patients are tagged by a dismal prognosis and high mortality rates, mostly due to their poor response to standard-of-care platinum-based therapy. Mediators of chemoresistance are not fully elucidated. This work aimed to study the metabolic profile of advanced UBC, in the context of cisplatin resistance. Three isogenic pairs of parental cell lines (T24, HT1376 and KU1919) and the matching cisplatin-resistant (R) sublines were used. A set of functional assays was used to perform a metabolic screening on the cells. In comparison to the parental sublines, a tendency was observed towards an exacerbated glycolytic metabolism in the cisplatin-resistant T24 and HT1376 cells; this glycolytic phenotype was particularly evident for the HT1376/HT1376R pair, for which the cisplatin resistance ratio was higher. HT1376R cells showed decreased basal respiration and oxygen consumption associated with ATP production; in accordance, the extracellular acidification rate was also higher in the resistant subline. Glycolytic rate assay confirmed that these cells presented higher basal glycolysis, with an increase in proton efflux. While the results of real-time metabolomics seem to substantiate the manifestation of the Warburg phenotype in HT1376R cells, a shift towards distinct metabolic pathways involving lactate uptake, lipid biosynthesis and glutamate metabolism occurred with time. On the other hand, KU1919R cells seem to engage in a metabolic rewiring, recovering their preference for oxidative phosphorylation. In conclusion, cisplatin-resistant UBC cells seem to display deep metabolic alterations surpassing the Warburg effect, which likely depend on the molecular signature of each cell line.
Peritumor Mucosa in Advanced Laryngeal Carcinoma Exhibits an Aberrant Proangiogenic Signature Distinctive from the Expression Pattern in Adjacent Tumor Tissue
Authors: Kyurkchiyan Silva G. , Stancheva Gergana , Petkova Veronika , Panova Stiliana , Dobriyanova Venera , Stancheva Iglika , Marinov Venelin , Zahariev Zahari , Kaneva Radka P. , Popov Todor M.
Published: April 2024

The field cancerization theory is an important paradigm in head and neck carcinoma as its oncological repercussions affect treatment outcomes in diverse ways. The aim of this study is to assess the possible interconnection between peritumor mucosa and the process of tumor neoangiogenesis. Sixty patients with advanced laryngeal carcinoma were enrolled in this study. The majority of patients express a canonical HIF-upregulated proangiogenic signature with almost complete predominancy of HIF-1α overexpression and normal expression levels of the HIF-2α isoform. Remarkably, more than 60% of the whole cohort also exhibited an HIF-upregulated proangiogenic signature in the peritumoral benign mucosa. Additionally, the latter subgroup had a distinctly shifted phenotype towards HIF-2α upregulation compared to the one in tumor tissue, i.e., a tendency towards an HIF switch is observed in contrast to the dominated by HIF-1α tumor phenotype. ETS-1 displays stable and identical significant overexpression in both the proangiogenic phenotypes present in tumor and peritumoral mucosa. In the current study, we report for the first time the existence of an abnormal proangiogenic expression profile present in the peritumoral mucosa in advanced laryngeal carcinoma when compared to paired distant laryngeal mucosa. Moreover, we describe a specific phenotype of this proangiogenic signature that is significantly different from the one present in tumor tissue as we delineate both phenotypes, quantitively and qualitatively. This finding is cancer heterogeneity, per se, which extends beyond the “classical” borders of the malignancy, and it is proof of a strong interconnection between field cancerization and one of the classical hallmarks of cancer—the process of tumor neoangiogenesis.
Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging: Analyzing the Performance of ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing in Scoliosis Detection and Cobb Angle Assessment
Authors: Fabijan Artur , Zawadzka-Fabijan Agnieszka , Fabijan Robert , Zakrzewski Krzysztof , Nowosławska Emilia , Polis Bartosz
Published: April 2024

Open-source artificial intelligence models (OSAIM) find free applications in various industries, including information technology and medicine. Their clinical potential, especially in supporting diagnosis and therapy, is the subject of increasingly intensive research. Due to the growing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) for diagnostic purposes, we conducted a study evaluating the capabilities of AI models, including ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing, in the diagnosis of single-curve scoliosis based on posturographic radiological images. Two independent neurosurgeons assessed the degree of spinal deformation, selecting 23 cases of severe single-curve scoliosis. Each posturographic image was separately implemented onto each of the mentioned platforms using a set of formulated questions, starting from ‘What do you see in the image?’ and ending with a request to determine the Cobb angle. In the responses, we focused on how these AI models identify and interpret spinal deformations and how accurately they recognize the direction and type of scoliosis as well as vertebral rotation. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) with a ‘two-way’ model was used to assess the consistency of Cobb angle measurements, and its confidence intervals were determined using the F test. Differences in Cobb angle measurements between human assessments and the AI ChatGPT model were analyzed using metrics such as RMSEA, MSE, MPE, MAE, RMSLE, and MAPE, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of AI model performance from various statistical perspectives. The ChatGPT model achieved 100% effectiveness in detecting scoliosis in X-ray images, while the Bing model did not detect any scoliosis. However, ChatGPT had limited effectiveness (43.5%) in assessing Cobb angles, showing significant inaccuracy and discrepancy compared to human assessments. This model also had limited accuracy in determining the direction of spinal curvature, classifying the type of scoliosis, and detecting vertebral rotation. Overall, although ChatGPT demonstrated potential in detecting scoliosis, its abilities in assessing Cobb angles and other parameters were limited and inconsistent with expert assessments. These results underscore the need for comprehensive improvement of AI algorithms, including broader training with diverse X-ray images and advanced image processing techniques, before they can be considered as auxiliary in diagnosing scoliosis by specialists.
Some Constructions and Mathematical Properties of Zero-Correlation-Zone Sonar Sequences
Authors: Jin Xiaoxiang , Kim Gangsan , Chae Sangwon , Song Hong-Yeop
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we propose the zero-correlation-zone (ZCZ) of radius r on two-dimensional m×n sonar sequences and define the (m,n,r) ZCZ sonar sequences. We also define some new optimality of an (m,n,r) ZCZ sonar sequence which has the largest r for given m and n. Because of the ZCZ for perfect autocorrelation, we are able to relax the distinct difference property of the conventional sonar sequences, and hence, the autocorrelation of ZCZ sonar sequences outside ZCZ may not be upper bounded by 1. We may sometimes require such an ideal autocorrelation outside ZCZ, and we define ZCZ-DD sonar sequences, indicating that it has an additional distinct difference (DD) property. We first derive an upper bound on the ZCZ radius r in terms of m and n≥m. We next propose some constructions for (m,n,r) ZCZ sonar sequences, which leads to some very good constructive lower bound on r. Furthermore, this construction suggests that for m and r, the parameter n can be as large as possible indefinitely. We present some exhaustive search results on the existence of (m,n,r) ZCZ sonar sequences for some small values of r. For ZCZ-DD sonar sequences, we prove that some variations of Costas arrays construct some ZCZ-DD sonar sequences with ZCZ radius r=2. We also provide some exhaustive search results on the existence of (m,n,r) ZCZ-DD sonar sequences. Lots of open problems are listed at the end.
SOD-YOLO: A High-Precision Detection of Small Targets on High-Voltage Transmission Lines
Authors: Wu Kaijun , Chen Yifu , Lu Yaolin , Yang Zhonghao , Yuan Jiayu , Zheng Enhui
Published: April 2024

Wire clamps and vibration-proof hammers are key components of high-voltage transmission lines. The wire clips and vibration-proof hammers detected in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) power inspections suffer from small size, scarce edge information, and low recognition accuracy. To address these problems, this paper proposes a small object detection (SOD) model based on the YOLOv8n, called SOD-YOLO. Firstly, an extra small target detection layer was added to YOLOv8, which significantly improves the small target detection accuracy. In addition, in order to enhance the detection speed of the model, the RepVGG/RepConv ShuffleNet (RCS) and a OneShot Aggregation of the RCS (RCSOSA) module were introduced to replace the C2f module in the model backbone and neck shallow networks. Finally, to address the excessive focus on low-quality sample bounding boxes during model training, we introduced Wise-CIoU loss instead of CIoU loss, which improved the detection accuracy of the model. The experimental results indicate that SOD-YOLO achieved a mean average precision of 90.1%, surpassing the YOLOv8n baseline model by 7.5% while maintaining a model parameter count of 3.4 M; the inference speed reached 88.7 frames/s, which meets the requirement of real-time recognition.
Multi-Time-Scale Energy Storage Optimization Configuration for Power Balance in Distribution Systems
Authors: Lu Qiuyu , Zhang Xiaoman , Yang Yinguo , Hu Qianwen , Wu Guobing , Huang Yuxiong , Liu Yang , Li Gengfeng
Published: April 2024

As the adoption of renewable energy sources grows, ensuring a stable power balance across various time frames has become a central challenge for modern power systems. In line with the “dual carbon” objectives and the seamless integration of renewable energy sources, harnessing the advantages of various energy storage resources and coordinating the operation of long-term and short-term storage have become pivotal directions for future energy storage deployment. To address the complexities arising from the coupling of different time scales in optimizing energy storage capacity, this paper proposes a method for energy storage planning that accounts for power imbalance risks across multiple time scales. Initially, the Seasonal and Trend decomposition using the Loess (STL) decomposition method is utilized to temporally decouple actual operational data. Subsequently, power balance computations are performed based on the obtained data at various time scales to optimize the allocation of different types of energy storage capacities and assess the associated imbalance risks. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated through hourly applications using real-world data from a province in southern China over recent years.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Alternative Splicing Events during Different Fruit Ripening Stages of Coffea arabica L.
Authors: Yu Haohao , Bi Xiaofei , Li Zhongxian , Fu Xingfei , Li Yanan , Li Yaqi , Yang Yang , Liu Dexin , Li Guiping , Dong Wenjiang , Hu Faguang
Published: April 2024

To date, genomic and transcriptomic data on Coffea arabica L. in public databases are very limited, and there has been no comprehensive integrated investigation conducted on alternative splicing (AS). Previously, we have constructed and sequenced eighteen RNA-seq libraries of C. arabica at different ripening stages of fruit development. From this dataset, a total of 3824, 2445, 2564, 2990, and 3162 DSGs were identified in a comparison of different fruit ripening stages. The largest proportion of DSGs, approximately 65%, were of the skipped exon (SE) type. Biologically, 9 and 29 differentially expressed DSGs in the spliceosome pathway and carbon metabolism pathway, respectively, were identified. These DSGs exhibited significant variations, primarily in S1 vs. S2 and S5 vs. S6, and they involve many aspects of organ development, hormone transduction, and the synthesis of flavor components. Through the examination of research findings regarding the biological functions and biochemical pathways associated with DSGs and DEGs, it was observed that six DSGs significantly enriched in ABC transporters, namely, LOC113712394, LOC113726618, LOC113739972, LOC113725240, LOC113730214, and LOC113707447, were continually down-regulated at the fruit ripening stage. In contrast, a total of four genes, which were LOC113732777, LOC113727880, LOC113690566, and LOC113711936, including those enriched in the cysteine and methionine metabolism, were continually up-regulated. Collectively, our findings may contribute to the exploration of alternative splicing mechanisms for focused investigations of potential genes associated with the ripening of fruits in C. arabica.
Association between Physical Activity and Health Outcomes (High Body Fatness, High Blood Pressure) in Namibian Adolescents and Adult women
Authors: Nashandi Hilde Liisa , Monyeki Andries Makama , Reilly John J.
Published: April 2024

Regular physical activity (PA) is known to promote the physical and mental health of children and adolescents and further prevent the development of health problems in adulthood. Information on body composition and PA is crucial for health promotion strategies and for epidemiological studies informing policies. However, there is limited data on the association between body composition and PA in Namibia. This dearth of published data is a significant shortcoming in the development of strategies and policies to promote PA in Namibia. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the association between PA as a dependent variable and independent variables such as high blood pressure and body fatness as measured by different methods (gold standard deuterium dilution, body mass index, mid upper arm circumference, and waist circumference). The study included 206 healthy adolescent girls aged 13–19 years and 207 young adult females aged 20–40 years from Windhoek, Namibia. PA was measured using the PACE+ questionnaire in adolescents, and the GPAQ questionnaire was used for adults. In adolescents, only 33% of the participants met the recommended guidelines for PA, compared to only 2% for adults. Nevertheless, the study found no statistically significant association between PA and blood pressure indices (p-value < 0.05) among adolescents and adults. However, there was a significant association between PA and high body fatness (p-value < 0.001) and waist circumference (p-value = 0.014) in adolescents. Among adults, PA was significantly related to waist circumference only. In conclusion, failure to meet recommended PA guidelines is strongly associated with abdominal obesity and high body fatness. The knowledge gained from this study may be used by policymakers in the development of strategic policies and interventions aimed at promoting PA as a public priority and improving health outcomes.
Moderate Salinity Stress Affects Rice Quality by Influencing Expression of Amylose- and Protein-Content-Associated Genes
Authors: Zheng Chongke , Niu Shulin , Yan Ying , Zhou Guanhua , Peng Yongbin , He Yanan , Zhou Jinjun , Li Yaping , Xie Xianzhi
Published: April 2024

Salinity is an environmental stress that severely impacts rice grain yield and quality. However, limited information is available on the molecular mechanism by which salinity reduces grain quality. In this study, we investigated the milling, appearance, eating and cooking, and nutritional quality among three japonica rice cultivars grown either under moderate salinity with an electrical conductivity of 4 dS/m or under non-saline conditions in a paddy field in Dongying, Shandong, China. Moderate salinity affected rice appearance quality predominantly by increasing chalkiness rate and chalkiness degree and affected rice eating and cooking and nutritional quality predominantly by decreasing amylose content and increasing protein content. We compared the expression levels of genes determining grain chalkiness, amylose content, and protein content in developing seeds (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 days after flowering) of plants grown under saline or non-saline conditions. The chalkiness-related gene Chalk5 was up-regulated and WHITE-CORE RATE 1 was repressed. The genes Nuclear factor Y and Wx, which determine amylose content, were downregulated, while protein-content-associated genes OsAAP6 and OsGluA2 were upregulated by salinity in the developing seeds. These findings suggest some target genes that may be utilized to improve the grain quality under salinity stress conditions via gene-pyramiding breeding approaches.
Characterization of Atherosclerotic Mice Reveals a Sex-Dependent Susceptibility to Plaque Calcification but No Major Changes in the Lymphatics in the Arterial Wall
Authors: Christ Carolin , Ocskay Zsombor , Kovács Gábor , Jakus Zoltán
Published: April 2024

Lymphatics participate in reverse cholesterol transport, and their presence in the arterial wall of the great vessels and prior experimental results suggest their possible role in the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to characterize the lymphatic vasculature of the arterial wall in atherosclerosis. Tissue sections and tissue-cleared aortas of wild-type mice unveiled significant differences in the density of the arterial lymphatic network throughout the arterial tree. Male and female Ldlr−/− and ApoE−/− mice on a Western diet showed sex-dependent differences in plaque formation and calcification. Female mice on a Western diet developed more calcification of atherosclerotic plaques than males. The lymphatic vessels within the aortic wall of these mice showed no major changes regarding the number of lymphatic junctions and end points or the lymphatic area. However, female mice on a Western diet showed moderate dilation of lymphatic vessels in the abdominal aorta and exhibited indications of increased peripheral lymphatic function, findings that require further studies to understand the role of lymphatics in the arterial wall during the development of atherosclerosis.
Intranasal Resveratrol Nanoparticles Enhance Neuroprotection in a Model of Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Shamsher Ehtesham , Khan Reas S. , Davis Benjamin M. , Dine Kimberly , Luong Vy , Cordeiro M. Francesca , Shindler Kenneth S.
Published: April 2024

Purpose: Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol which has a very low bioavailability but whose antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Previously, we reported the oral administration of resveratrol nanoparticles (RNs) elicited a neuroprotective effect in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of MS, at significantly lower doses than unconjugated resveratrol (RSV) due to enhanced bioavailability. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the intranasal administration of a cell-derived secretome-based therapy at low concentrations leads to the selective neuroprotection of the optic nerve in EAE mice. The current study sought to assess the potential selective efficacy of lower concentrations of intranasal RNs for attenuating optic nerve damage in EAE mice. Methods: EAE mice received either a daily intranasal vehicle, RNs or unconjugated resveratrol (RSV) for a period of thirty days beginning on the day of EAE induction. Mice were assessed daily for limb paralysis and weekly for visual function using the optokinetic response (OKR) by observers masked to treatment regimes. After sacrifice at day 30, spinal cords and optic nerves were stained to assess inflammation and demyelination, and retinas were immunostained to quantify retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival. Results: Intranasal RNs significantly increased RGC survival at half the dose previously shown to be required when given orally, reducing the risk of systemic side effects associated with prolonged use. Both intranasal RSV and RN therapies enhanced RGC survival trends, however, only the effects of intranasal RNs were significant. RGC loss was prevented even in the presence of inflammatory and demyelinating changes induced by EAE in optic nerves. Conclusions: The intranasal administration of RNs is able to reduce RGC loss independent of the inflammatory and demyelinating effects on the optic nerve and the spinal cord. The concentration of RNs needed to achieve neuroprotection is lower than previously demonstrated with oral administration, suggesting intranasal drug delivery combined with nanoparticle conjugation warrants further exploration as a potential neuroprotective strategy for the treatment of optic neuritis, alone as well as in combination with glucocorticoids.
Conformation-Associated C···dz2-PtII Tetrel Bonding: The Case of Cyclometallated Platinum(II) Complex with 4-Cyanopyridyl Urea Ligand
Authors: Baykov Sergey V. , Katlenok Eugene A. , Baykova Svetlana O. , Semenov Artem V. , Bokach Nadezhda A. , Boyarskiy Vadim P.
Published: April 2024

The nucleophilic addition of 3-(4-cyanopyridin-2-yl)-1,1-dimethylurea (1) to cis-[Pt(CNXyl)2Cl2] (2) gave a new cyclometallated compound 3. It was characterized by NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 195Pt) and high-resolution mass spectrometry, as well as crystallized to obtain two crystalline forms (3 and 3·2MeCN), whose structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. In the crystalline structure of 3, two conformers (3A and 3B) were identified, while the structure 3·2MeCN had only one conformer 3A. The conformers differed by orientation of the N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl moiety relative to the metallacycle plane. In both crystals 3 and 3·2MeCN, the molecules of the Pt(II) complex are associated into supramolecular dimers, either {3A}2 or {3B}2, via stacking interactions between the planes of two metal centers, which are additionally supported by hydrogen bonding. The theoretical consideration, utilizing a number of computational approaches, demonstrates that the C···dz2(Pt) interaction makes a significant contribution in the total stacking forces in the geometrically optimized dimer [3A]2 and reveals the dz2(Pt)→π*(PyCN) charge transfer (CT). The presence of such CT process allowed for marking the C···Pt contact as a new example of a rare studied phenomenon, namely, tetrel bonding, in which the metal site acts as a Lewis base (an acceptor of noncovalent interaction).
Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs)—Toxicity, Safety and Green Synthesis: A Critical Review
Authors: Niżnik Łukasz , Noga Maciej , Kobylarz Damian , Frydrych Adrian , Krośniak Alicja , Kapka-Skrzypczak Lucyna , Jurowski Kamil
Published: April 2024

In recent years, the extensive exploration of Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) has captivated the scientific community due to their versatile applications across various industries. With sizes typically ranging from 1 to 100 nm, AuNPs have emerged as promising entities for innovative technologies. This article comprehensively reviews recent advancements in AuNPs research, encompassing synthesis methodologies, diverse applications, and crucial insights into their toxicological profiles. Synthesis techniques for AuNPs span physical, chemical, and biological routes, focusing on eco-friendly “green synthesis” approaches. A critical examination of physical and chemical methods reveals their limitations, including high costs and the potential toxicity associated with using chemicals. Moreover, this article investigates the biosafety implications of AuNPs, shedding light on their potential toxic effects on cellular, tissue, and organ levels. By synthesizing key findings, this review underscores the pressing need for a thorough understanding of AuNPs toxicities, providing essential insights for safety assessment and advancing green toxicology principles.
D-Allulose Reduces Hypertrophy and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Induced by Palmitic Acid in Murine 3T3-L1 Adipocytes
Authors: Molonia Maria Sofia , Salamone Federica Lina , Speciale Antonio , Saija Antonella , Cimino Francesco
Published: April 2024

Natural rare sugars are an alternative category of sweeteners with positive physiologic and metabolic effects both in in vitro and animal models. D-allulose is a D-fructose epimer that combines 70% sucrose sweetness with the advantage of an extremely low energy content. However, there are no data about the effect of D-allulose against adipose dysfunction; thus, it remains to be confirmed whether D-allulose is useful in the prevention and in treatment of adipose tissue alterations. With this aim, we evaluated D-allulose’s preventive effects on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 murine adipocytes exposed to palmitic acid (PA), a trigger for hypertrophic adipocytes. D-allulose in place of glucose prevented adipocyte hypertrophy and the activation of adipogenic markers C/EBP-β and PPARγ induced by high PA concentrations. Additionally, D-allulose pretreatment inhibited the NF-κB pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress caused by PA, through activation of the Nrf2 pathway. Interestingly, these effects were also observed as D-allulose post PA treatment. Although our data need to be confirmed through in vivo models, our findings suggest that incorporating D-allulose as a glucose substitute in the diet might have a protective role in adipocyte function and support a unique mechanism of action in this sugar as a preventive or therapeutic compound against PA lipotoxicity through the modulation of pathways connected to lipid transport and metabolism.
Mulberry Leaf Compounds and Gut Microbiota in Alzheimer’s Disease and Diabetes: A Study Using Network Pharmacology, Molecular Dynamics Simulation, and Cellular Assays
Authors: Bai Xue , Zhao Xinyi , Liu Kaifeng , Yang Xiaotang , He Qizheng , Gao Yilin , Li Wannan , Han Weiwei
Published: April 2024

Recently, studies have reported a correlation that individuals with diabetes show an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Mulberry leaves, serving as both a traditional medicinal herb and a food source, exhibit significant hypoglycemic and antioxidative properties. The flavonoid compounds in mulberry leaf offer therapeutic effects for relieving diabetic symptoms and providing neuroprotection. However, the mechanisms of this effect have not been fully elucidated. This investigation aimed to investigate the combined effects of specific mulberry leaf flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, rhamnocitrin, tetramethoxyluteolin, and norartocarpetin) on both type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and AD. Additionally, the role of the gut microbiota in these two diseases’ treatment was studied. Using network pharmacology, we investigated the potential mechanisms of flavonoids in mulberry leaves, combined with gut microbiota, in combating AD and T2DM. In addition, we identified protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) as a key target for kaempferol in these two diseases. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations showed that kaempferol has the potential to inhibit PTP1B for indirect treatment of AD, which was proven by measuring the IC50 of kaempferol (279.23 μM). The cell experiment also confirmed the dose-dependent effect of kaempferol on the phosphorylation of total cellular protein in HepG2 cells. This research supports the concept of food–medicine homology and broadens the range of medical treatments for diabetes and AD, highlighting the prospect of integrating traditional herbal remedies with modern medical research.
Identification of PTPN12 Phosphatase as a Novel Negative Regulator of Hippo Pathway Effectors YAP/TAZ in Breast Cancer
Authors: Sarmasti Emami Sahar , Ge Anni , Zhang Derek , Hao Yawei , Ling Min , Rubino Rachel , Nicol Christopher J. B. , Wang Wenqi , Yang Xiaolong
Published: April 2024

The Hippo pathway plays crucial roles in governing various biological processes during tumorigenesis and metastasis. Within this pathway, upstream signaling stimuli activate a core kinase cascade, involving MST1/2 and LATS1/2, that subsequently phosphorylates and inhibits the transcriptional co-activators YAP and its paralog TAZ. This inhibition modulates the transcriptional regulation of downstream target genes, impacting cell proliferation, migration, and death. Despite the acknowledged significance of protein kinases in the Hippo pathway, the regulatory influence of protein phosphatases remains largely unexplored. In this study, we conducted the first gain-of-functional screen for protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) regulating the Hippo pathway. Utilizing a LATS kinase biosensor (LATS-BS), a YAP/TAZ activity reporter (STBS-Luc), and a comprehensive PTP library, we identified numerous novel PTPs that play regulatory roles in the Hippo pathway. Subsequent experiments validated PTPN12, a master regulator of oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), as a previously unrecognized negative regulator of the Hippo pathway effectors, oncogenic YAP/TAZ, influencing breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. In summary, our findings offer valuable insights into the roles of PTPs in the Hippo signaling pathway, significantly contributing to our understanding of breast cancer biology and potential therapeutic strategies.