bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Progress Report on pH-Influenced Photocatalysis for Active Motion
Authors: Heckel Sandra , Hübner Julia , Leutzgen Anne , Jung Gregor , Simmchen Juliane
Published: May 2021

Living systems use catalysis to achieve chemical transformations to comply with their needs in terms of energy and building blocks. The pH is a powerful means to regulate such processes, which also influences synthetic systems. In fact, the pH sensitivity of artificial photocatalysts, such as bismuth vanadate, bears the strong potential of flexibly influencing both the motion pattern and the speed of catalytic microswimmers, but it has rarely been investigated to date. In this work, we first present a comprehensive view of the motion behavior of differently shaped bismuth vanadate microswimmers, discuss influences, such as shape, pH, and conductivity of the solutions, and find that the motion pattern of the swimmers switches between upright and horizontal at their point of zero charge. We then apply an immobilizable hydroxypyrene derivative to our substrates to locally influence the pH of the solution by excited-state proton transfer. We find that the motion pattern of our swimmers is strongly influenced by this functionalization and a third motion mode, called tumbling, is introduced. Taking other effects, such as an increased surface roughness of the modified substrates, into account, we critically discuss possible future developments.
Calcium and Redox Liaison: A Key Role of Selenoprotein N in Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Zito Ester , Ferreiro Ana
Published: May 2021

Selenoprotein N (SEPN1) is a type II glycoprotein of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that senses calcium levels to tune the activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump (SERCA pump) through a redox-mediated mechanism, modulating ER calcium homeostasis. In SEPN1-depleted muscles, altered ER calcium homeostasis triggers ER stress, which induces CHOP-mediated malfunction, altering excitation–contraction coupling. SEPN1 is localized in a region of the ER where the latter is in close contact with mitochondria, i.e., the mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM), which are important for calcium mobilization from the ER to mitochondria. Accordingly, SEPN1-depleted models have impairment of both ER and mitochondria calcium regulation and ATP production. SEPN1-related myopathy (SEPN1-RM) is an inherited congenital muscle disease due to SEPN1 loss of function, whose main histopathological features are minicores, i.e., areas of mitochondria depletion and sarcomere disorganization in muscle fibers. SEPN1-RM presents with weakness involving predominantly axial and diaphragmatic muscles. Since there is currently no disease-modifying drug to treat this myopathy, analysis of SEPN1 function in parallel with that of the muscle phenotype in SEPN1 loss of function models should help in understanding the pathogenic basis of the disease and possibly point to novel drugs for therapy. The present essay recapitulates the novel biological findings on SEPN1 and how these reconcile with the muscle and bioenergetics phenotype of SEPN1-related myopathy.
A Histological and Morphometric Assessment of the Adult and Juvenile Rat Livers after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Prus Ruslan , Appelhans Olena , Logash Maksim , Pokotylo Petro , Nowicki Grzegorz Józef , Ślusarska Barbara
Published: May 2021

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most severe problems of modern medicine that plays a dominant role in morbidity and mortality in economically developed countries. Our experimental study aimed to evaluate the histological and morphological changes occurring in the liver of adult and juvenile mildly traumatized rats (mTBI) in a time-dependent model. The experiment was performed on 70 adult white rats at three months of age and 70 juvenile rats aged 20 days. The mTBI was modelled by the Impact-Acceleration Model-free fall of weight in the parieto-occipital area. For histopathological comparison, the samples were taken on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 14th, and 21st days after TBI. In adult rats, dominated changes in the microcirculatory bed in the form of blood stasis in sinusoidal capillaries and veins, RBC sludge, and adherence to the vessel wall with the subsequent appearance of perivascular and focal leukocytic infiltrates. In juvenile rats, changes in the parenchyma in the form of hepatocyte dystrophy prevailed. In both groups, the highest manifestation of the changes was observed on 5–7 days of the study. On 14–21 days, compensatory phenomena prevailed in both groups. Mild TBI causes changes in the liver of both adult and juvenile rats. The morphological pattern and dynamics of liver changes, due to mild TBI, are different in adult and juvenile rats.
Effects of Coating Materials as a Cleaning Agent on the Performance of Poly-Crystal PV Panels
Authors: Abushgair Khaleel , Al-Waked Rafat
Published: May 2021

Hot and arid areas are considered a harsh environment when it comes to cleaning photovoltaic (PV) modules. Minimizing the panel tilt angle makes it evident that dust and other substances such as airborne dirt (both organic and inorganic) and bird droppings can build up over time and impact the amount of electricity generated by a module. The current study aims to find the most effective and optimum cleaning technique/material based on cleaning performance of the PV panel. The effects of different easy-to-clean materials on the performance of poly crystalline silicon type PV modules were experimentally investigated. As there is no specific recommended material to clean solar panels, the cell surface was coated with different types of easy-to-clean materials available in the Jordanian local market. The cleaning materials utilized were: Crystal glass coating type AJJL-CSS, jiajialy nano energy saving & anti UV solution, GIE (Galsilk 7, isopropanol, ethanol, water), TGIE (TiO2, Galsilk 7, isopropanol, ethanol, water), sodium hexa meta phosphate, and NanoUltra. Results from temperature measurements and output voltage of coated cells showed that all coating materials were able to reduce the cell temperature in different scales. The jiajialy nano energy saving & anti UV solution provided the best cooling effect, while the GIE and TGIE showed good results, too. Output voltage of cells coated with GIE and TGIE materials was the highest.
The Preparation of High-Volume Fraction SiC/Al Composites with High Thermal Conductivity by Vacuum Pressure Infiltration
Authors: Chen Mengqin , Bai Yuelong , Zhang Zhifeng , Zhao Haidong
Published: May 2021

The high-volume fraction SiC/Al composite is the new type of electronic packaging material, which plays an important role in the field of high-power integrated circuits. In this study, SiC/Al composites with high-volume fraction of SiC particles were prepared by vacuum pressure infiltration. The influence of SiC particle size and NH4HCO3 on the pores in the preform was explored, aiming to accurately adjust the volume fraction of SiC to meet the thermal performance requirements in different fields. In addition, the preform was infiltrated with different Al alloys, and the relationship between the porosity and thermal conductivity of SiC/Al was studied. For the SiC preform, the volume fraction of SiC can be adjusted regularly when 12 μm and 100 μm SiC particles are mixed in different proportions, and the volume fraction reaches the maximum when the proportion of coarse particles is about 77%. NH4HCO3 is conducive to the connectivity of pores in the preform, and about 40 vol.% of NH4HCO3 can effectively increase the porosity of the preform. Thermal conductivity is sensitive to the porosity of composites, especially in the range of 2.5–4.5%. A simple application of the Hasselman–Johnson model and a new thermal conductivity model, λd, established in this article, offer a good agreement with the experimental results.
FDTD Electromagnetic and Thermal Simulation of a Metal Oxide Varistor Element Considering the Temperature Dependence of Its Resistivity
Authors: Tanaka Tokuya , Baba Yoshihiro , Tsujimoto Yoshimasa , Tsukamoto Naoyuki
Published: May 2021

Electromagnetic fields and the heat of a metal oxide varistor (MOV), in which a lightning impulse current flows, are calculated using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The MOV is represented with small rectangular parallelepiped cells, each of which has a resistivity dependent on electric field and temperature. For this purpose, the expression of resistivity as a function of the electric field, proposed previously, is extended to include the dependence on temperature. The temperature dependence is based on voltages across an MOV for impulse currents of 0.5 to 10 kA at temperatures in a range from about 300 to 900 K, measured by Andoh et al. (2000). FDTD-calculated waveform of voltage across the MOV agrees well with the corresponding measured one for a short impulse current with a magnitude of about 4 kA and a duration of about 30 μs. In addition, the temperature on the surface of the MOV agrees well with the corresponding measured one. Further, calculations are carried out for the MOV with a nonuniform resistivity distribution, which roughly simulates deterioration or degradation of the MOV, for a long duration current having a magnitude of 5 kA. The proposed expression of resistivity, given as a function of electric field and temperature, is useful in studying electro-thermal calculations, which can provide insights into causes of MOV damages.
Improving the Performance of an Associative Classifier in the Context of Class-Imbalanced Classification
Authors: Rolón-González Carlos Alberto , Castañón-Méndez Rodrigo , Alarcón-Paredes Antonio , López-Yáñez Itzamá , Yáñez-Márquez Cornelio
Published: May 2021

Class imbalance remains an open problem in pattern recognition, machine learning, and related fields. Many of the state-of-the-art classification algorithms tend to classify all unbalanced dataset patterns by assigning them to a majority class, thus failing to correctly classify a minority class. Associative memories are models used for pattern recall; however, they can also be employed for pattern classification. In this paper, a novel method for improving the classification performance of a hybrid associative classifier with translation (better known by its acronym in Spanish, CHAT) is presented. The extreme center points (ECP) method modifies the CHAT algorithm by exploring alternative vectors in a hyperspace for translating the training data, which is an inherent step of the original algorithm. We demonstrate the importance of our proposal by applying it to imbalanced datasets and comparing the performance to well-known classifiers by means of the balanced accuracy. The proposed method not only enhances the performance of the original CHAT algorithm, but it also outperforms state-of-the-art classifiers in four of the twelve analyzed datasets, making it a suitable algorithm for classification in imbalanced class scenarios.
Impact of Municipal, Road Traffic, and Natural Sources on PM10: The Hourly Variability at a Rural Site in Poland
Authors: Mach Tomasz , Rogula-Kozłowska Wioletta , Bralewska Karolina , Majewski Grzegorz , Rogula-Kopiec Patrycja , Rybak Justyna
Published: May 2021

The paper presents data from a monthly campaign studying the elemental composition of PM10, as measured by a specific receptor in Kotórz Mały (Opole Voivodeship)—located in the vicinity of a moderately inhabited rural area—measured in one-hour samples using a Horiba PX-375 analyzer. The hourly variability of SO2, NO, NO2, CO, and O3 concentrations, as well as the variability of meteorological parameters, was also determined. On average, during the entire measurement period, the elements related to PM10 can be arranged in the following order: As < V < Ni < Pb < Cr < Mn < Cu < Ti < Zn < K < Fe < Ca < Al < Si < S. Trace elements, including toxic elements—such as As, V, Ni, Pb, Cr, and Mn—were present in low concentrations, not exceeding 10 ng/m3 (average daily value). These elements had fairly even concentrations, both daily and hourly. The concentrations of the main elements in the PM10, as measured by the receptor, are subject to strong hourly changes related not only to changes in the structures of the sources identified in the statistical analysis, but also to wind speed and direction changes (soil and sand particle pick-up and inflow of pollutants from coal combustion). It has been shown that the transport emissions measured by the receptor can have an intense effect on PM10 in the afternoon.
Combustion Characteristics, Kinetics, SO2 and NO Release of Low-Grade Biomass Materials and Briquettes
Authors: Qi Jianhui , Li Haopeng , Wang Qian , Han Kuihua
Published: May 2021

The influence of the briquetting process on SO2 and NO release characteristics, combustion properties and kinetic characteristics during biomass combustion was investigated. Two biomass (Wheat straw and Tree bulk) and two obtained briquettes were analysed. The briquetting process helps to prevent the release of SO2 and NO. The experimental results show that once the biomass is made into a briquette, when the reaction temperature is 900 ∘C, the sulphur release ratio for TB was reduced from 34.7% to 4.3% and for WS was reduced from 12.4% to 1.6%. When the reaction temperature increases to 1000 ∘C, the sulphur release ratio for TB was reduced from 73.4% to 30.4%, for WS it was reduced from 58.4% to 10.2%. SEM micrographs show that the compact structure of the TB-Briquette and WS-Briquette reduce the rate of SO2 and NO release during combustion. The thermogravimetry confirmed that the combustion performance of WS-Briquette is the best, while the TB-Briquette is the worst. According to the Coats-Redfern method, the fitting was performed at segments of 250 ∘C to 550 ∘C, and the correlation coefficient of the fitting degree was above 0.99. The effective collision rate of WS-Briquette is much higher than that of other briquettes. Compared to BR-1 and BR-2, trying to mix TB with WS to make a compound biomass briquette can enhance the combustion performance of TB-Briquette. The results may guide the upgrading of biomass briquettes technology and benefit the efficient application of biomass briquettes.
Numerical Simulation of Low Salinity Water Flooding on Core Samples for an Oil Reservoir in the Nam Con Son Basin, Vietnam
Authors: Hien DoanHuy , Giao Pham Huy , Ngoc Pham Quy , Quy Nguyen Minh , Dung Bui Viet , Huy Dinh Duc , Giang Pham Truong , Long Hoang
Published: May 2021

Low-salinity water flooding (LSWF) is environment-friendly and operates similarly to conventional waterflooding without the need for synthetic chemical materials. The application of LSWF makes sense in Vietnam as HC production has steadily declined since 2002, and the majority of main oil fields have become near mature and mature fields. In the next years, Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) should be a top priority for Petro Vietnam to boost its oil production, for which the key issue is how to select a suitable EOR technology. In this study, LSWF of the Lower Miocene sand using low salinity water from Lower Oligocene sand was investigated. Previously at the Ruby field in the Cuu Long Basin, an LSWF feasibility study was carried out based on a conventional core flooding experiment, which is time-consuming and costly. This study targets the Chim Sao field in the Nam Con Son Basin, for which a cheaper and faster assessing method is required. As a result, a numerical code written in Matlab was developed and successfully validated with the core flooding experiment results obtained at the Ruby field. The LSWF simulation was conducted using the multiple ion-exchange mechanisms (MIE), and the results obtained showed an increase in the oil recovery factor by 2.19% for the Lower Miocene Sand. Another important outcome of this study is the innovative proposal and successful simulation to use the abundant low salinity water from the underlying Lower Oligocene sand as a natural LSW source to inject into the Lower Miocene oil reservoir that can be a decisive factor to help apply LSWF in practice on a wide scale not only for Chim Sao but also other similar oil fields in southern offshore Vietnam.
Why Do Consumers Choose Photovoltaic Panels? Identification of the Factors Influencing Consumers’ Choice Behavior regarding Photovoltaic Panel Installations
Authors: Grębosz-Krawczyk Magdalena , Zakrzewska-Bielawska Agnieszka , Glinka Beata , Glińska-Neweś Aldona
Published: May 2021

Renewable energy sources help in decreasing negative environmental impacts and in reducing energy-import dependency. Among all renewable energy segments, photovoltaic panel (PV) installations are one of the fastest-growing. Growing concern about climate change, as well as public policies promoting the development of PV installations, have changed consumers’ behaviors and attitudes. This study uses the theory of consumption values to identify factors influencing consumers’ choice behavior regarding photovoltaic panel installations. There is little research on consumers’ perception of value related to green energy in Poland, especially in the case of photovoltaic panels. We fill this cognitive gap by testing an extended green consumption values model that includes functional, social, emotional, conditional, epistemic, and environmental values. The research was conducted on 250 Polish consumers using a self-administered questionnaire as the research tool. The results of structural equation modeling showed that only functional value and environmental value had a positive impact on consumers’ choice behavior toward photovoltaic panels. Photovoltaic panel installations are an important investment for Polish households; however, our research results showed that consumers are able to pay for high quality, environmental protection, and future savings. Individuals’ environmentally positive attitude related to environmental concern, environmental knowledge, and responsibility was the strongest determinant of adopting photovoltaic panel installations. New findings concerning Polish consumers’ behaviors can provide references for other countries, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. Our results can be useful for marketing managers and policy marketers in developing strategies concerning the successful promotion of the installation of photovoltaic panels in European countries.
Ecosystem Services Auctions: The Last Decade of Research
Authors: Bingham Logan Robert , Da Re Riccardo , Borges José G.
Published: May 2021

Auctions offer potential cost-effectiveness improvements over other mechanisms for payments for ecosystem services (PES) contract allocation. However, evidence-based guidance for matching design to application is scarce and research priorities are unclear. To take stock of the current state of the art, we conducted a systematic review and thematic content analysis of 56 peer-reviewed journal articles discussing ES auctions published in the last decade. Auctions were approached from three overlapping perspectives: mechanism design, PES, and policy analysis. Five major themes emerged: (1) performance, including measures like cost-effectiveness and PES criteria like additionality; (2) information dynamics like price discovery and communication effects; (3) design innovations like risk-integrating and spatially coordinated mechanisms; (4) contextual variables like policy context and cultural values; and (5) participation factors. Additional attention from policymakers and continued efforts to coordinate research in this diverse and interdisciplinary subfield may be beneficial.
Trees at a Moderately Arid Site Were More Sensitive to Long-Term Drought
Authors: Wang Bin , Yu Pengtao , Yu Yipeng , Wang Yanhui , Zhang Lei , Wan Yanfang , Wang Shunli , Liu Xiande
Published: May 2021

Climate change has dramatically altered the frequency and intensity of droughts, thereby altering tree growth. Understanding whether tree growth in semiarid areas in response to long-term drought and the post-drought recovery rate of tree growth vary along moisture gradients is crucial for predicting future forest change. Here, we assessed the spatial variation in both the growth resistance of Qinghai spruce (Picea crassifolia Kom.) to long-term drought and its post-drought recovery using a stand-total sampling strategy along a moisture gradient that covered three sites (with an annual precipitation of 330.4, 394.2, and 515.9 mm for the western, middle, and eastern sites, respectively) with six plots. Resistance and recovery were evaluated by analyzing the tree growth trends during a long-term drought period (1980–2001) and the subsequent post-drought period (2001–2013), respectively. Our results indicate that the trees with the highest temporal stability were those at the wetter eastern site; specifically, during the long-term drought period, the trees at the wetter eastern site showed the highest resistance (−0.015) and the lowest recovery (0.002). The trees in moderately arid conditions were much more sensitive to climate change than those at the relatively arid western site, showing the lowest resistance (−0.050) and highest recovery (0.020). Climate change had the strongest impact on tree growth at the moderately arid site, contributing 60.6% to the tree growth decreasing trend during the long-term drought period and 65.4% to the tree recovery during the post-drought period, respectively. Climate change had a lower impact on tree growth at the wet and dry sites, contributing less than 50% to the tree growth trends at these sites. The results indicate that a trade-off relationship exists between resistance and recovery at the different sites; that is, the highly resistant trees at the wetter eastern site tend to have lower recovery, whereas the weakly resistant trees at the moderately arid site tend to have higher recovery. These results have implications for predicting tree growth in response to future climate change.
The Inhibitory Concentration of Natural Food Preservatives May Be Biased by the Determination Methods
Authors: Gomes Joana , Barbosa Joana , Teixeira Paula
Published: May 2021

The demand for natural antimicrobials as food preservatives has increased due to the growing interest of the population for a healthy lifestyle. The application of screening methods to identify the antimicrobial activity of natural compounds is of great importance. The in vitro determination of antimicrobial activity requires determining their minimum inhibitory concentrations to assess microbial susceptibility. This study aimed to evaluate the minimum inhibitory concentrations of three natural antimicrobial compounds—chitosan, ethanolic propolis extract, and nisin—against 37 microorganisms (different pathogens and spoilage microorganisms) by the methods of agar dilution and drop diffusion on agar. Culture media at different pH values were used for both methods to simulate different food products. Most of the microorganisms were inhibited by chitosan (0.5% w/v) and propolis (10 mg/mL), and most of the Gram-positive bacteria by nisin (25 μg/mL). Different pH values and the in vitro method used influenced the inhibition of each compound. Generally, lower minimum inhibitory concentrations were observed at lower pH values and for the agar dilution method. Furthermore, some microorganisms inhibited by the compounds on the agar dilution method were not inhibited by the same compounds and at the same concentrations on the drop diffusion technique. This study reinforces the need for using defined standard methods for the in vitro determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations. Natural compounds with potential antimicrobial action are a bet on food preservation. The use of standard techniques such as those used for antimicrobials of clinical applications are crucial to compare results obtained in different studies and different matrices.
Eating in the Amazon: Nutritional Status of the Riverine Populations and Possible Nudge Interventions
Authors: Machado Camila Lorena Rodrigues , Crespo-Lopez Maria Elena , Augusto-Oliveira Marcus , Arrifano Gabriela de Paula , Macchi Barbarella de Matos , Lopes-Araújo Amanda , Santos-Sacramento Letícia , Souza-Monteiro José Rogério , Alvarez-Leite Jacqueline Isaura , Souza Carlos Barbosa Alves de
Published: May 2021

The Amazon is the largest tropical forest in the world and a source of healthy food, such as fruits and fish. Surprisingly, the Amazonian riverine population present an increased prevalence (as high as 58%) of non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension and insulin resistance, even higher than that described for the urban population of the Amazon. Therefore, this work aimed to analyze the nutritional status and associated risk of the riverine population. Body mass index, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio, and neck circumference (NC) were evaluated, and risk analysis was assayed. Furthermore, data about occupation and the prevalence of consumers of the different groups of food were analyzed. All anthropometric parameters revealed high proportions of individuals at risk, WC and NC being the factors that had more high-risk women and men, respectively. Our data confirmed the characteristic profile of the riverine communities with a high number of fish consumers, but also observed different patterns probably associated to a phenomenon of nutrition transition. Based on our data, some nudge interventions that take into account the principles of behavior analysis are discussed and proposed for these populations, aiming to improve the nutritional status and avoid the long-term consequences of the results showed by this work.
McClure, Beuys, Kulik, and the Flux of Pink Indians
Authors: Bonome Antonio J.
Published: May 2021

Looking at different disciplines in the humanities as water-tight compartments is doing a great disservice to knowledge; a comparative angle can do much to solve the situation. History shows how literature and the visual arts have been prone to mutual contagion. This essay will briefly examine a few examples of how performance art was approached by the literary realm during the second half of the 20th century compared to how it was done within the visual arts, and more specifically, regarding non-human creatures. To achieve this purpose, a performance carried out by writer Michael McClure during the 1960s will be collated with two further actions by visual artists who were prominent during the 1970s and 1990s, respectively. The three actions involved animals or pondered on how humans relate to animals and their environment. They differently addressed issues that are still being discussed today and questioned the status quo through their approaches towards animality. A comparative methodology will be used to assess these works under the light of recent publications. Discrepancies in these artworks from the ecocritical ethics and aesthetics viewpoint show a whole different perspective to the topics discussed and provide a worthy contribution to a comparative assessment of performance art.
Initial Clinical Practicum Stress among Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study on Coping Styles
Authors: Hwang Eunhee , Kim Mijung , Shin Sujin
Published: May 2021

Nursing students experience various stressors during their initial clinical practicum. As these stressors negatively affect learning and performance, coping strategies are essential. Therefore, this research study explored the relationship between coping styles and stress levels using a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 184 nursing students. Clinical practicum stress and coping styles were assessed via electronic questionnaires, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and variance analyses. The highest score for clinical practice stress was for the practical education environment and practical work burden. The total stress score differed significantly according to coping style (t = −2.36, p = 0.020), and the total stress score of the passive coping group was higher. Among the sub-categories of stress, the scores of the education environment (t = −2.68, p = 0.008) and having undesirable role models (t = −2.14, p = 0.034) were significantly higher in the passive coping group. Although practical work burden was the highest stress factor in the active coping style group, the stress on the environment was highest in the passive coping group. The findings show that professors and clinical educators should recognize the various coping styles and incorporate different teaching methods in the clinical setting.
Vaginal Aging—What We Know and What We Do Not Know
Authors: Szymański Jacek K. , Słabuszewska-Jóźwiak Aneta , Jakiel Grzegorz
Published: May 2021

The aging of the organism is a complex and multifactorial process. It can be viewed in the context of the whole organism, but also of individual tissues and organs. The problem of vaginal aging and the related genitourinary syndrome of menopause significantly reduces the quality of women’s lives. The aging process of the vagina includes estrogen deficiencies, changes in the microbiome, and changes at the genetic level associated with DNA methylation. During the menopause, the number of Lactobacillus colonies decreases, and the number of pathological bacteria colonies increases. The decrease in estrogen levels results in a decrease in vaginal epithelial permeability, perfusion, and elastin levels, resulting in vaginal dryness and atrophy. Changes at the molecular level are the least clear. It can also be assumed that, similarly to the tissues studied so far, there are changes in cytosine methylation and TET (ten-eleven translocation) expression. The interrelationships between DNA methylation, hormonal changes, and the vaginal microbiome have not yet been fully elucidated.
Analysis of Suicide Methods and Substances Influencing the State of Consciousness of Their Victims in Poland
Authors: Lasota Dorota , Mirowska-Guzel Dagmara , Goniewicz Krzysztof
Published: May 2021

An integral part of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) mental health action plan for 2013–2020 is suicide prevention, and a 10% reduction in the suicide rate. A key element of the preventive measures taken is, among other things, limiting access to means enabling and facilitating committing suicide. However, this requires detailed knowledge of community suicide patterns and preferences. Unfortunately, such information is not usually collected, and the recorded method of committing suicide is often imprecise and untrue, which means that such knowledge has limited application in presuicidal prophylaxis. The statistical data on suicides recorded as part of the Police Statistics in Poland during the years 2009–2019 was analyzed. The analysis included suicide deaths and suicide attempts, taking into account the suicide methods and substances influencing the state of consciousness of their victims. The number of suicides in Poland in the analyzed period tended to increase. The most common method of suicide was hanging, and alcohol was the substance influencing the state of consciousness of suicide victims. The statistics for 2017–2019 showed the presence of new methods of suicide, such as taking drugs other than hypnotics, intoxication with narcotic drugs, poisoning with designer drugs, suffocation and self-immolation, as well as new psychoactive substances affecting the state of consciousness of victims, i.e., drugs and narcotic drugs. The effectiveness of actions taken in Poland in the field of suicide prevention does not bring the desired effects, as evidenced by growing number of suicides. This low effectiveness is mainly due to the lack of a national suicide prevention strategy. The effectiveness of these activities may be improved by creating a uniform database of suicides, which is a source of reliable information which will allow the taking of actions aimed at limiting the availability of means enabling and facilitating the committing of suicide. The study aimed to analyze the types of suicide methods and substances influencing the state of consciousness of their victims in Poland in the years covered by the study.
IFCInfra4OM: An Ontology to Integrate Operation and Maintenance Information in Highway Information Modelling
Authors: Ait-Lamallam Sara , Sebari Imane , Yaagoubi Reda , Doukari Omar
Published: May 2021

Building information modelling (BIM) is increasingly appropriate for infrastructure projects, and in particular for transport infrastructure. It is a digital solution that integrates the practices of the construction industry in facility management during the whole life cycle. This integration is possible through a single tool, which is the 3D digital model. Nevertheless, BIM standards, such as industry foundation classes, are still in the pipeline for infrastructure management. These standards do not fully meet the requirements of operation and maintenance of transport infrastructure. This paper shows how BIM could be implemented to address issues related to the operation and maintenance phase for transport infrastructure management. For this purpose, a new ontological approach, called Industry Foundation Classes for Operation and Maintenance of Infrastructures (IFCInfra4OM), is detailed. This ontology aims to standardise the use of building information modelling for operation and maintenance in road infrastructures. To highlight the interest of the proposed ontological approach, a building information model of a section on the A7 Agadir–Marrakech Highway in Morocco is produced according to IFCInfra4OM. The methodology is presented. The results obtained, including the IFCInfra4OM data model, are submitted. In the last section, an overview of the IFC extension approach is submitted.
Microencapsulated Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus gasseri in Combination with Quercetin Inhibit Colorectal Cancer Development in ApcMin/+ Mice
Authors: Benito Iván , Encío Ignacio J. , Milagro Fermín I. , Alfaro María , Martínez-Peñuela Ana , Barajas Miguel , Marzo Florencio
Published: May 2021

Recent studies have suggested that flavonoids such as quercetin and probiotics such as Bifidobacterium bifidum (Bf) and Lactobacillus gasseri (Lg) could play a relevant role in inhibiting colon cancer cell growth. Our study investigated the role of dietary supplementation with microencapsulated probiotics (Bf and Lg) along with quercetin in the development of mouse colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Adenomatous polyposis coli/multiple intestinal neoplasia (ApcMin/+) mice were fed a standard diet or the same diet supplemented with microencapsulated probiotics (Bf and Lg strains, 107 CFU/100 g food) or both probiotics strains plus microencapsulated quercetin (15 mg/100 g food) for 73 days. Changes in body and organ weights, energy metabolism, intestinal microbiota, and colon tissue were determined. The expression of genes related to the Wnt pathway was also analyzed in colon samples. Results: Dietary supplementation with microencapsulated probiotics or microencapsulated probiotics plus quercetin reduced body weight loss and intestinal bleeding in ApcMin/+ mice. An improvement in energy expenditure was observed after 8 weeks but not after 10 weeks of treatment. A supplemented diet with microencapsulated Bf and Lg reduced the number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and adenomas by 45% and 60%, respectively, whereas the supplementation with Bf, Lg and quercetin decreased the number of ACF and adenomas by 57% and 80%, respectively. Microencapsulated Bf and Lg in combination with quercetin could exert inhibition of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the colon of ApcMin/+ mice Conclusions: The administration of microencapsulated Bf and Lg, individually or in combination with quercetin, inhibits the CRC development in ApcMin/+ mice.
Distinct Fatty Acid Compositions of HDL Phospholipids Are Characteristic of Metabolic Syndrome and Premature Coronary Heart Disease—Family Study
Authors: Paavola Timo , Bergmann Ulrich , Kuusisto Sanna , Kakko Sakari , Savolainen Markku J. , Salonurmi Tuire
Published: May 2021

HDL particles can be structurally modified in atherosclerotic disorders associated with low HDL cholesterol level (HDL-C). We studied whether the lipidome of the main phosphatidylcholine (PC), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and sphingomyelin (SM) species of HDL2 and HDL3 subfractions is associated with premature coronary heart disease (CHD) or metabolic syndrome (MetS) in families where common low HDL-C predisposes to premature CHD. The lipidome was analyzed by LC-MS. Lysophosphatidylcholines were depleted of linoleic acid relative to more saturated and shorter-chained acids containing species in MetS compared with non-affected subjects: the ratio of palmitic to linoleic acid was elevated by more than 30%. A minor PC (16:0/16:1) was elevated (28–40%) in MetS. The contents of oleic acid containing PCs were elevated relative to linoleic acid containing PCs in MetS; the ratio of PC (16:0/18:1) to PC (16:0/18:2) was elevated by 11–16%. Certain PC and SM ratios, e.g., PC (18:0/20:3) to PC (16:0/18:2) and a minor SM 36:2 to an abundant SM 34:1, were higher (11–36%) in MetS and CHD. The fatty acid composition of certain LPCs and PCs displayed a characteristic pattern in MetS, enriched with palmitic, palmitoleic or oleic acids relative to linoleic acid. Certain PC and SM ratios related consistently to CHD and MetS.
Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Provide Insights into the Watercore Disorder on “Akibae” Pear Fruit
Authors: Liu Xiao , Fan Hui-Ming , Liu Dong-He , Liu Jing , Shen Yan , Zhang Jing , Wei Jun , Wang Chun-Lei
Published: May 2021

Watercore is a physiological disorder that commonly occurs in sand pear cultivars. The typical symptom of watercore tissue is transparency, and it is often accompanied by browning, breakdown and a bitter taste during fruit ripening. To better understand the molecular mechanisms of watercore affecting fruit quality, this study performed transcriptome and metabolome analyses on watercore pulp from “Akibae” fruit 125 days after flowering. The present study found that the “Akibae” pear watercore pulp contained higher sorbitol and sucrose than healthy fruit. Moreover, the structure of the cell wall was destroyed, and the content of pectin, cellulose and hemicellulose was significantly decreased. In addition, the content of ethanol and acetaldehyde was significantly increased, and the content of polyphenol was significantly decreased. Watercore induced up-regulated expression levels of sorbitol synthesis-related (sorbitol-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, S6PDH) and sucrose synthesis-related genes (sucrose synthesis, SS), whereas it inhibited the expression of sorbitol decomposition-related genes (sorbitol dehydrogenase, SDH) and sorbitol transport genes (sorbitol transporter, SOT). Watercore also strongly induced increased expression levels of cell wall-degrading enzymes (polygalactosidase, PG; ellulase, CX; pectin methylesterase, PME), as well as ethanol synthesis-related (alcohol dehydrogenase, ADH), acetaldehyde synthesis-related (pyruvate decarboxylase, PDC) and polyphenol decomposition-related genes (polyphenol oxidase, PPO). Moreover, the genes that are involved in ethylene (1-aminocyclopropane- 1-carboxylate oxidase, ACO; 1-aminocyclopropane- 1-carboxylate synthase, ACS) and abscisic acid (short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase, SDR; aldehyde oxidase, AAO) synthesis were significantly up-regulated. In addition, the bitter tasting amino acids, alkaloids and polyphenols were significantly increased in watercore tissue. Above all, these findings suggested that the metabolic disorder of sorbitol and sucrose can lead to an increase in plant hormones (abscisic acid and ethylene) and anaerobic respiration, resulting in aggravated fruit rot and the formation of bitter substances.
Insulin Resistance Is Not Sustained Following Denervation in Glycolytic Skeletal Muscle
Authors: McMillin Shawna L. , Stanley Erin C. , Weyrauch Luke A. , Brault Jeffrey J. , Kahn Barbara B. , Witczak Carol A.
Published: May 2021

Denervation rapidly induces insulin resistance (i.e., impairments in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and signaling proteins) in skeletal muscle. Surprisingly, whether this metabolic derangement is long-lasting is presently not clear. The main goal of this study was to determine if insulin resistance is sustained in both oxidative soleus and glycolytic extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles following long-term (28 days) denervation. Mouse hindlimb muscles were denervated via unilateral sciatic nerve resection. Both soleus and EDL muscles atrophied ~40%. Strikingly, while denervation impaired submaximal insulin-stimulated [3H]-2-deoxyglucose uptake ~30% in the soleus, it enhanced submaximal (~120%) and maximal (~160%) insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in the EDL. To assess possible mechanism(s), immunoblots were performed. Denervation did not consistently alter insulin signaling (e.g., p-Akt (Thr308):Akt; p-TBC1D1 [phospho-Akt substrate (PAS)]:TBC1D1; or p-TBC1D4 (PAS):TBC1D4) in either muscle. However, denervation decreased glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) levels ~65% in the soleus but increased them ~90% in the EDL. To assess the contribution of GLUT4 to the enhanced EDL muscle glucose uptake, muscle-specific GLUT4 knockout mice were examined. Loss of GLUT4 prevented the denervation-induced increase in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. In conclusion, the denervation results sustained insulin resistance in the soleus but enhanced insulin sensitivity in the EDL due to increased GLUT4 protein levels.
Calcium Dyshomeostasis in Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis
Authors: Cascella Roberta , Cecchi Cristina
Published: May 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by amyloid β-protein deposition in senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles consisting of abnormally phosphorylated tau protein, and neuronal loss leading to cognitive decline and dementia. Despite extensive research, the exact mechanisms underlying AD remain unknown and effective treatment is not available. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain AD pathophysiology; however, there is general consensus that the abnormal aggregation of the amyloid β peptide (Aβ) is the initial event triggering a pathogenic cascade of degenerating events in cholinergic neurons. The dysregulation of calcium homeostasis has been studied considerably to clarify the mechanisms of neurodegeneration induced by Aβ. Intracellular calcium acts as a second messenger and plays a key role in the regulation of neuronal functions, such as neural growth and differentiation, action potential, and synaptic plasticity. The calcium hypothesis of AD posits that activation of the amyloidogenic pathway affects neuronal Ca2+ homeostasis and the mechanisms responsible for learning and memory. Aβ can disrupt Ca2+ signaling through several mechanisms, by increasing the influx of Ca2+ from the extracellular space and by activating its release from intracellular stores. Here, we review the different molecular mechanisms and receptors involved in calcium dysregulation in AD and possible therapeutic strategies for improving the treatment.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling of the WOX Gene Family in Citrus sinensis and Functional Analysis of a CsWUS Member
Authors: Shafique Khan Faiza , Zeng Ren-Fang , Gan Zhi-Meng , Zhang Jin-Zhi , Hu Chun-Gen
Published: May 2021

WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) transcription factors (TFs) are well known for their role in plant development but are rarely studied in citrus. In this study, we identified 11 putative genes from the sweet orange genome and divided the citrus WOX genes into three clades (modern/WUSCHEL(WUS), intermediate, and ancient). Subsequently, we performed syntenic relationship, intron-exon organization, motif composition, and cis-element analysis. Co-expression analysis based on RNA-seq and tissue-specific expression patterns revealed that CsWOX gene expression has multiple intrinsic functions. CsWUS homolog of AtWUS functions as a transcriptional activator and binds to specific DNA. Overexpression of CsWUS in tobacco revealed dramatic phenotypic changes, including malformed leaves and reduced gynoecia with no seed development. Silencing of CsWUS in lemon using the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) system implied the involvement of CsWUS in cells of the plant stem. In addition, CsWUS was found to interact with CsCYCD3, an ortholog in Arabidopsis (AtCYCD3,1). Yeast one-hybrid screening and dual luciferase activity revealed that two TFs (CsRAP2.12 and CsHB22) bind to the promoter of CsWUS and regulate its expression. Altogether, these results extend our knowledge of the WOX gene family along with CsWUS function and provide valuable findings for future study on development regulation and comprehensive data of WOX members in citrus.
Paeonolide as a Novel Regulator of Core-Binding Factor Subunit Alpha-1 in Bone-Forming Cells
Authors: Park Kyung-Ran , Lee Joon Yeop , Cho Myounglae , Hong Jin Tae , Yun Hyung-Mun
Published: May 2021

Paeonia suffruticosa has been extensively used as a traditional medicine with various beneficial effects; paeonolide (PALI) was isolated from its dried roots. This study aimed to investigate the novel effects and mechanisms of PALI in pre-osteoblasts. Here, cell viability was evaluated using an MTT assay. Early and late osteoblast differentiation was examined by analyzing the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and by staining it with Alizarin red S (ARS). Cell migration was assessed using wound healing and Boyden chamber assays. Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses were used to examine the intracellular signaling pathways and differentiation proteins. PALI (0.1, 1, 10, 30, and 100 μM) showed no cytotoxic or proliferative effects in pre-osteoblasts. In the absence of cytotoxicity, PALI (1, 10, and 30 μM) promoted wound healing and transmigration during osteoblast differentiation. ALP staining demonstrated that PALI (1, 10, and 30 μM) promoted early osteoblast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner, and ARS staining showed an enhanced mineralized nodule formation, a key indicator of late osteoblast differentiation. Additionally, low concentrations of PALI (1 and 10 μM) increased the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)–Smad1/5/8 and Wnt–β-catenin pathways in osteoblast differentiation. Particularly, PALI (1 and 10 μM) increased the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 compared with BMP2 treatment, an FDA-approved drug for bone diseases. Furthermore, PALI-mediated early and late osteoblast differentiation was abolished in the presence of the ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126. PALI-induced RUNX2 (Cbfa1) expression and nuclear localization were also attenuated by blocking the ERK1/2 pathway during osteoblast differentiation. We suggest that PALI has biologically novel activities, such as enhanced osteoblast differentiation and bone mineralization mainly through the intracellular ERK1/2-RUNX2 signaling pathway, suggesting that PALI might have therapeutic action and aid the treatment and prevention of bone diseases, such as osteoporosis and periodontitis.
Stretch-Induced Tenomodulin Expression Promotes Tenocyte Migration via F-Actin and Chromatin Remodeling
Authors: Xu Pu , Deng Bin , Zhang Bingyu , Luo Qing , Song Guanbin
Published: May 2021

The mechanosensitive gene tenomodulin (Tnmd) is implicated in tendon maturation and repair. However, the mechanism by which mechanical loading regulates Tnmd’s expression and its role in tenocyte migration is yet to be defined. Here, we show that Tnmd and migration were upregulated in uniaxial cyclic stress-stimulated tenocytes. The knockdown of Tnmd reduced cell migration in the presence and absence of mechanical loading, suggesting that Tnmd is involved in tenocyte migration. Moreover, the treatment of stress-stimulated tenocytes with the actin inhibitor latrunculin (Lat A), histone acetyltransferase inhibitor anacardic acid (ANA), or histone demethylases inhibitor GSK-J4 suppressed Tnmd expression and tenocyte migration. These results show that actin stress fiber formation and chromatin decondensation regulates Tnmd expression, which might then regulate tenocyte migration. Thus, this study proposes the involvement of the actin and chromatin mechanotransduction pathway in the regulation of Tnmd and reveals a novel role of Tnmd in tenocyte migration. The identification of Tnmd function in tenocyte migration provides insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in Tnmd-mediated tendon repair.