bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increasing the Dietary Concentration of Lupinus albus L. Decreased Feed Intake and Daily Gain of Immunocastrated Male Pigs
Authors: Moore Karen L. , Loudon Emalyn , Dunshea Frank R.
Published: June 2021

An experiment was conducted to determine the appropriate dietary concentration of albus lupins that would lower feed intake and decrease backfat while optimizing the effect on the growth rate of immunocastrated male pigs. The pigs were fed albus lupins (varying from 0 to 200 g/kg) from 2 weeks after the last immunization against GnRF for 14 d prior to slaughter (where d 0 is the day of the last immunization against GnRF). Increasing the dietary albus lupin concentration decreased daily gain for d 15 to 28 (p = 0.004). Daily feed intake also decreased as the concentration of the albus lupins increased for d 15 to 28 (p < 0.001). Carcass weight and backfat decreased as the concentration of dietary albus lupins increased (p = 0.011 and p = 0.024, respectively). The albus lupin concentration to maximize growth rate, minimize feed intake, maximize carcass weight and minimize backfat depth was 120, 142, 62.7 and 138 g/kg, respectively.
Influence of Housing and Management on Claw Health in Swiss Dairy Goats
Authors: Sailer Lisa Marie , Holinger Mirjam , Burla Joan-Bryce , Wechsler Beat , Zanolari Patrik , Friedli Katharina
Published: June 2021

Due to a rising demand for goat milk and goat milk products worldwide, it is likely that dairy goat production will be intensified in the future, with larger herds per farm. In Switzerland, as in many other countries with intensive farming systems, dairy goats are typically housed on deep litter, with little access to hard abrasive surfaces. Such housing conditions will result in wall horn overgrowth. The aim of this study was to gain profound knowledge on the occurrence of overgrown wall horn, its impact on claw health and locomotor behavior, and possible adverse effects on animal welfare. Additionally, housing and management factors that may contribute to non-physiological claw conditions were evaluated. To compare claw conditions after the summer grazing period and the winter indoor housing period, data were collected on 28 Swiss dairy goat farms in autumn and spring (621 goats in total). Claw lesions were recorded with the help of a “claw card” documenting each claw. Furthermore, pictures were taken of each claw to determine the severity of wall horn overgrowth. Locomotion behavior (activity, lying time and lying bouts) was recorded with three-dimensional accelerometers fixed to the goats’ hind legs. In autumn, 66.7% of the examined claws showed moderate overgrowth, 32.4% severe overgrowth and 0.9% no overgrowth. In spring, 47.4% of the examined claws were affected with moderate overgrowth, 52.6% with severe overgrowth and 0.0% with no overgrowth. Horn separation (48.1% of examined claws) and sole hemorrhages (16.0% of examined claws) were the most frequent lesions. In goats with severely overgrown claws, the risk of developing sole hemorrhages was doubled compared with moderate overgrowth. The occurrence rate of horn separation was lower if the trimmer had attended a special skills training course (p < 0.001). Furthermore, locomotor activity (p < 0.01) and the number of lying bouts per day (p < 0.01) were higher in spring than autumn. Neither the goats’ activity nor the number of lying bouts per day differed before and after claw trimming. Finally, season and trimming were not associated with the goats’ total lying time. A certain extent of wall horn overgrowth in dairy goat claws cannot be avoided under the housing conditions typical for Swiss farms. Severe wall horn overgrowth is associated with an increase in the proportion of claws with sole hemorrhages. Therefore, regular and careful functional claw trimming, taking the housing situation (deep bedding, access to pasture, grazing on alpine pasture) into account, should be promoted.
Drinking Water with Saccharin Sodium Alters the Microbiota-Gut-Hypothalamus Axis in Guinea Pig
Authors: Li Junrong , Zhu Shanli , Lv Zengpeng , Dai Hongjian , Wang Zhe , Wei Quanwei , Hamdard Enayatullah , Mustafa Sheeraz , Shi Fangxiong , Fu Yan
Published: June 2021

The effects of saccharin, as a type of sweetener additive, on the metabolism and development of mammals are still controversial. Our previous research revealed that saccharin sodium (SS) promoted the feed intake and growth of guinea pigs. In this experiment, we used the guinea pig model to study the physiological effect of SS in the microbiota-gut-hypothalamus axis. Adding 1.5 mM SS to drinking water increased the serum level of glucose, followed by the improvement in the morphology and barrier function of the ileal villus, such as SS supplementation which increased the villus height and villus height/crypt depth ratio. Saccharin sodium (SS) treatment activated the sweet receptor signaling in the ileum and altered GHRP hormone secretion. In the hypothalamus of SS and control (CN) group, RNA-seq identified 1370 differently expressed genes (796 upregulated, 574 downregulated), enriching into the taste signaling transduction, and neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction. LEfSe analysis suggested that Lactobacillaceae-Lactobacillus was the microbe with significantly increased abundance of ileum microorganisms in the SS-treated group, while Brevinema-Andersonii and Erysipelotrichaceae-Ilebacterium were the microbes with significantly increased abundance of the control. Furthermore, SS treatment significantly enhanced the functions of chemoheterotrophy and fermentation of ileal microflora compared to the CN group. Accordingly, SS treatment increased levels of lactic acid and short-chain fatty acids (acetic acid, propionic acid and N-valeric acid) in the ileal digesta. In summary, drinking water with 1.5 mM SS activated sweet receptor signaling in the gut and altered GHRP hormone secretion, followed by the taste signaling transduction in the hypothalamus.
Curcuma longa L. Water Extract Improves Dexamethasone-Induced Sarcopenia by Modulating the Muscle-Related Gene and Oxidative Stress in Mice
Authors: Kim Shintae , Kim Kyungmi , Park Jeongjin , Jun Woojin
Published: June 2021

Dexamethasone (DEX) promotes proteolysis, which causes muscle atrophy. Muscle atrophy is connected to sarcopenia. We evaluated the effect of Curcuma longa L. water extract (CLW) on DEX-induced muscle atrophy. ICR mice were divided into three groups (eight mice per group) to investigate the capability of CLW in inhibiting muscle atrophy. The control group (Ex-CON) was administered distilled water (DW) by gavage and subjected to exercise; the muscle atrophy group (Ex-DEX) was administered DW by gavage, an injection of DEX (1 mg/kg body weight/day) intraperitoneally (IP), and subjected to exercise; and the treatment group (Ex-CLW) was administered CLW (1 g/kg body weight/day) by gavage, DEX IP injection, and subjected to exercise. Following the injection of DEX, the expression levels of myostatin, MuRF-1, and Atrogin-1 were increased. However, these expression levels were decreased in the Ex-CLW group, thereby leading to the conclusion that CLW inhibits muscle atrophy. ROS (that was overproduced by DEX) decreased antioxidant enzyme activity and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, which led to muscle atrophy. When CLW was ingested, the antioxidant enzyme activities increased while the MDA levels decreased. These findings suggest that CLW could serve as a natural product for the prevention of muscle atrophy by modulating muscle atrophy-related genes and increasing antioxidant potential.
Irinotecan Induces Disease Remission in Xenograft Mouse Models of Pediatric MLL-Rearranged Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Kerstjens Mark , Garrido Castro Patricia , Pinhanços Sandra S. , Schneider Pauline , Wander Priscilla , Pieters Rob , Stam Ronald W.
Published: June 2021

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in infants (<1 year of age) remains one of the most aggressive types of childhood hematologic malignancy. The majority (~80%) of infant ALL cases are characterized by chromosomal translocations involving the MLL (or KMT2A) gene, which confer highly dismal prognoses on current combination chemotherapeutic regimens. Hence, more adequate therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. To expedite clinical transition of potentially effective therapeutics, we here applied a drug repurposing approach by performing in vitro drug screens of (mostly) clinically approved drugs on a variety of human ALL cell line models. Out of 3685 compounds tested, the alkaloid drug Camptothecin (CPT) and its derivatives 10-Hydroxycamtothecin (10-HCPT) and 7-Ethyl-10-hydroxycamtothecin (SN-38: the active metabolite of the drug Irinotecan) appeared most effective at very low nanomolar concentrations in all ALL cell lines, including models of MLL-rearranged ALL (n = 3). Although the observed in vitro anti-leukemic effects of Camptothecin and its derivatives certainly were not specific to MLL-rearranged ALL, we decided to further focus on this highly aggressive type of leukemia. Given that Irinotecan (the pro-drug of SN-38) has been increasingly used for the treatment of various pediatric solid tumors, we specifically chose this agent for further pre-clinical evaluation in pediatric MLL-rearranged ALL. Interestingly, shortly after engraftment, Irinotecan completely blocked leukemia expansion in mouse xenografts of a pediatric MLL-rearranged ALL cell line, as well as in two patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of MLL-rearranged infant ALL. Also, from a more clinically relevant perspective, Irinotecan monotherapy was able to induce sustainable disease remissions in MLL-rearranged ALL xenotransplanted mice burdened with advanced leukemia. Taken together, our data demonstrate that Irinotecan exerts highly potent anti-leukemia effects against pediatric MLL-rearranged ALL, and likely against other, more favorable subtypes of childhood ALL as well.
Genotype Load Modulates Amyloid Burden and Anxiety-Like Patterns in Male 3xTg-AD Survivors despite Similar Neuro-Immunoendocrine, Synaptic and Cognitive Impairments
Authors: Muntsant Aida , Giménez-Llort Lydia
Published: June 2021

The wide heterogeneity and complexity of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients’ clinical profiles and increased mortality highlight the relevance of personalized-based interventions and the need for end-of-life/survival predictors. At the translational level, studying genetic and age interactions in a context of different levels of expression of AD-genetic-load can help to understand this heterogeneity better. In the present report, a singular cohort of long-lived (19-month-old survivors) heterozygous and homozygous male 3xTg-AD mice were studied to determine whether their AD-genotype load can modulate the brain and peripheral pathological burden, behavioral phenotypes, and neuro-immunoendocrine status, compared to age-matched non-transgenic controls. The results indicated increased amyloid precursor protein (APP) levels in a genetic-load-dependent manner but convergent synaptophysin and choline acetyltransferase brain levels. Cognitive impairment and HPA-axis hyperactivation were salient traits in both 3xTg-AD survivor groups. In contrast, genetic load elicited different anxiety-like profiles, with hypoactive homozygous, while heterozygous resembled controls in some traits and risk assessment. Complex neuro-immunoendocrine crosstalk was also observed. Bodyweight loss and splenic, renal, and hepatic histopathological injury scores provided evidence of the systemic features of AD, despite similar peripheral organs’ oxidative stress. The present study provides an interesting translational scenario to study further genetic-load and age-dependent vulnerability/compensatory mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease.
Human Monocytes Plasticity in Neurodegeneration
Authors: Savinetti Ilenia , Papagna Angela , Foti Maria
Published: June 2021

Monocytes play a crucial role in immunity and tissue homeostasis. They constitute the first line of defense during the inflammatory process, playing a role in the pathogenesis and progression of diseases, making them an attractive therapeutic target. They are heterogeneous in morphology and surface marker expression, which suggest different molecular and physiological properties. Recent evidences have demonstrated their ability to enter the brain, and, as a consequence, their hypothetical role in different neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we will discuss the current knowledge about the correlation between monocyte dysregulation in the brain and/or in the periphery and neurological diseases in humans. Here we will focus on the most common neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis.
Acute MPTP Treatment Impairs Dendritic Spine Density in the Mouse Hippocampus
Authors: Weerasinghe-Mudiyanselage Poornima D. E. , Ang Mary Jasmin , Wada Mai , Kim Sung-Ho , Shin Taekyun , Yang Miyoung , Moon Changjong
Published: June 2021

Among the animal models of Parkinson’s disease (PD), the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-lesioned mouse model has shown both dopaminergic (DA) damage and related motor control defects, as observed in patients with PD. Recent studies have suggested that the DA system interacts with the synaptic plasticity of the hippocampus in PD. However, little is known about how alterations in the hippocampal structural plasticity are affected by the DA damage in MPTP-lesioned models. In the present study, we investigated alterations in dendritic complexity and spine density in the mouse hippocampus following acute MPTP treatment (22 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, four times/day, 2-h intervals). We confirmed that acute MPTP treatment significantly decreased initial motor function and persistently reduced the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive DA neurons in the substantia nigra. Golgi staining showed that acute MPTP treatment significantly reduced the spine density of neuronal dendrites in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) apical/basal and dentate gyrus (DG) subregions of the mouse hippocampus at 8 and 16 days after treatment, although it did not affect dendritic complexity (e.g., number of crossing dendrites, total dendritic length, and branch points per neuron) in both CA1 and DG subregions at all time points after treatment. Therefore, the present study provides anatomical evidence that acute MPTP treatment affects synaptic structure in the hippocampus during the late phase after acute MPTP treatment in mice, independent of any changes in the dendritic arborization of hippocampal neurons. These findings offer data for the ability of the acute MPTP-lesioned mouse model to replicate the non-nigrostriatal lesions of clinical PD.
Relationship between Emotional Intelligence, Educational Achievement and Academic Stress of Pre-Service Teachers
Authors: García-Martínez Inmaculada , Pérez-Navío Eufrasio , Pérez-Ferra Miguel , Quijano-López Rocío
Published: June 2021

Emotional intelligence (EI) and stress are constructs that often characterize the teaching profession and are inversely related. There is evidence in the literature that suggests the importance of teachers working on EI in order to learn coping strategies and improve their teaching practices. This descriptive and correlational study had the purpose of examining the social–emotional profile of future teachers based on their EI and academic stress levels in order to provide guidance for future stressful situations that will affect their future professional development. For this purpose, we used a random sampling for convenience in a university population enrolled in degrees of education at Andalusian universities (Spain), getting a sample of 1020 pre-service teachers. The results pointed to a superiority in EI, academic stress, and academic achievement in favor of females compared to males. The relationship among EI, academic stress, and student teachers’ achievement was demonstrated. Furthermore, some components of EI were positioned as important factors to improve student achievement and reduce academic stress. Once the high incidence of these constructs on academic achievement was confirmed, the importance of developing EI and coping and stress skills training programs, aimed at improving academic success and their subsequent professional development, was demonstrated.
Mesothelioma
Authors: Deraco Marcello
Published: June 2021

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease affecting serosal surfaces derived from the mesothelium comprising the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, and tunica vaginalis testis [...]
Analyzing the Opportunities to Target DNA Double-Strand Breaks Repair and Replicative Stress Responses to Improve Therapeutic Index of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Tomasini Paula Pellenz , Guecheva Temenouga Nikolova , Leguisamo Natalia Motta , Péricart Sarah , Brunac Anne-Cécile , Hoffmann Jean Sébastien , Saffi Jenifer
Published: June 2021

Despite the ample improvements of CRC molecular landscape, the therapeutic options still rely on conventional chemotherapy-based regimens for early disease, and few targeted agents are recommended for clinical use in the metastatic setting. Moreover, the impact of cytotoxic, targeted agents, and immunotherapy combinations in the metastatic scenario is not fully satisfactory, especially the outcomes for patients who develop resistance to these treatments need to be improved. Here, we examine the opportunity to consider therapeutic agents targeting DNA repair and DNA replication stress response as strategies to exploit genetic or functional defects in the DNA damage response (DDR) pathways through synthetic lethal mechanisms, still not explored in CRC. These include the multiple actors involved in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) through homologous recombination (HR), classical non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), and microhomology-mediated end-joining (MMEJ), inhibitors of the base excision repair (BER) protein poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), as well as inhibitors of the DNA damage kinases ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR), CHK1, WEE1, and ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM). We also review the biomarkers that guide the use of these agents, and current clinical trials with targeted DDR therapies.
Overview of the Ultrasound Classification Systems in the Field of Thyroid Cytology
Authors: Rossi Esther Diana , Pantanowitz Liron , Raffaelli Marco , Fadda Guido
Published: June 2021

The increasing application of ultrasound (US) in recent years has led to a greater number of thyroid nodule diagnoses. Consequently, the number of fine needle aspirations performed to evaluate these lesions has increased. Although the majority of thyroid nodules are benign, identifying methods to define specific lesions and tailor risk of malignancy has become vital. Some of the tools employed to stratify thyroid nodule risk include clinical factors, thyroid US findings, and reporting systems for thyroid cytopathology. Establishing high concordance between US features and cytologic diagnoses might help reduce healthcare costs by diminishing unnecessary thyroid procedures and treatment. This review aims to review radiology US classification systems that influence the practice of thyroid cytology.
Inhibition of CREB-CBP Signaling Improves Fibroblast Plasticity for Direct Cardiac Reprogramming
Authors: Bektik Emre , Sun Yu , Dennis Adrienne T. , Sakon Phraew , Yang Dandan , Deschênes Isabelle , Fu Ji-Dong
Published: June 2021

Direct cardiac reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) is a promising approach but remains a challenge in heart regeneration. Efforts have focused on improving the efficiency by understanding fundamental mechanisms. One major challenge is that the plasticity of cultured fibroblast varies batch to batch with unknown mechanisms. Here, we noticed a portion of in vitro cultured fibroblasts have been activated to differentiate into myofibroblasts, marked by the expression of αSMA, even in primary cell cultures. Both forskolin, which increases cAMP levels, and TGFβ inhibitor SB431542 can efficiently suppress myofibroblast differentiation of cultured fibroblasts. However, SB431542 improved but forskolin blocked iCM reprogramming of fibroblasts that were infected with retroviruses of Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT). Moreover, inhibitors of cAMP downstream signaling pathways, PKA or CREB-CBP, significantly improved the efficiency of reprogramming. Consistently, inhibition of p38/MAPK, another upstream regulator of CREB-CBP, also improved reprogramming efficiency. We then investigated if inhibition of these signaling pathways in primary cultured fibroblasts could improve their plasticity for reprogramming and found that preconditioning of cultured fibroblasts with CREB-CBP inhibitor significantly improved the cellular plasticity of fibroblasts to be reprogrammed, yielding ~2-fold more iCMs than untreated control cells. In conclusion, suppression of CREB-CBP signaling improves fibroblast plasticity for direct cardiac reprogramming.
Dual Mode of Action of Acetylcholine on Cytosolic Calcium Oscillations in Pancreatic Beta and Acinar Cells In Situ
Authors: Sluga Nastja , Postić Sandra , Sarikas Srdjan , Huang Ya-Chi , Stožer Andraž , Slak Rupnik Marjan
Published: June 2021

Cholinergic innervation in the pancreas controls both the release of digestive enzymes to support the intestinal digestion and absorption, as well as insulin release to promote nutrient use in the cells of the body. The effects of muscarinic receptor stimulation are described in detail for endocrine beta cells and exocrine acinar cells separately. Here we describe morphological and functional criteria to separate these two cell types in situ in tissue slices and simultaneously measure their response to ACh stimulation on cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations [Ca2+]c in stimulatory glucose conditions. Our results show that both cell types respond to glucose directly in the concentration range compatible with the glucose transporters they express. The physiological ACh concentration increases the frequency of glucose stimulated [Ca2+]c oscillations in both cell types and synchronizes [Ca2+]c oscillations in acinar cells. The supraphysiological ACh concentration further increases the oscillation frequency on the level of individual beta cells, inhibits the synchronization between these cells, and abolishes oscillatory activity in acinar cells. We discuss possible mechanisms leading to the observed phenomena.
Heterochromatin Networks: Topology, Dynamics, and Function (a Working Hypothesis)
Authors: Erenpreisa Jekaterina , Krigerts Jekabs , Salmina Kristine , Gerashchenko Bogdan I. , Freivalds Talivaldis , Kurg Reet , Winter Ruth , Krufczik Matthias , Zayakin Pawel , Hausmann Michael , Giuliani Alessandro
Published: June 2021

Open systems can only exist by self-organization as pulsing structures exchanging matter and energy with the outer world. This review is an attempt to reveal the organizational principles of the heterochromatin supra-intra-chromosomal network in terms of nonlinear thermodynamics. The accessibility of the linear information of the genetic code is regulated by constitutive heterochromatin (CHR) creating the positional information in a system of coordinates. These features include scale-free splitting-fusing of CHR with the boundary constraints of the nucleolus and nuclear envelope. The analysis of both the literature and our own data suggests a radial-concentric network as the main structural organization principle of CHR regulating transcriptional pulsing. The dynamic CHR network is likely created together with nucleolus-associated chromatin domains, while the alveoli of this network, including springy splicing speckles, are the pulsing transcription hubs. CHR contributes to this regulation due to the silencing position variegation effect, stickiness, and flexible rigidity determined by the positioning of nucleosomes. The whole system acts in concert with the elastic nuclear actomyosin network which also emerges by self-organization during the transcriptional pulsing process. We hypothesize that the the transcriptional pulsing, in turn, adjusts its frequency/amplitudes specified by topologically associating domains to the replication timing code that determines epigenetic differentiation memory.
Proteogenomics Reveals Orthologous Alternatively Spliced Proteoforms in the Same Human and Mouse Brain Regions with Differential Abundance in an Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model
Authors: da Silva Esdras Matheus Gomes , Santos Letícia Graziela Costa , de Oliveira Flávia Santiago , Freitas Flávia Cristina de Paula , Parreira Vinícius da Silva Coutinho , dos Santos Hellen Geremias , Tavares Raphael , Carvalho Paulo Costa , Neves-Ferreira Ana Gisele da Costa , Haibara Andrea Siqueira , de Araujo-Souza Patrícia Savio , Dias Adriana Abalen Martins , Passetti Fabio
Published: June 2021

Alternative splicing (AS) may increase the number of proteoforms produced by a gene. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with well-characterized AS proteoforms. In this study, we used a proteogenomics strategy to build a customized protein sequence database and identify orthologous AS proteoforms between humans and mice on publicly available shotgun proteomics (MS/MS) data of the corpus callosum (CC) and olfactory bulb (OB). Identical proteotypic peptides of six orthologous AS proteoforms were found in both species: PKM1 (gene PKM/Pkm), STXBP1a (gene STXBP1/Stxbp1), Isoform 3 (gene HNRNPK/Hnrnpk), LCRMP-1 (gene CRMP1/Crmp1), SP3 (gene CADM1/Cadm1), and PKCβII (gene PRKCB/Prkcb). These AS variants were also detected at the transcript level by publicly available RNA-Seq data and experimentally validated by RT-qPCR. Additionally, PKM1 and STXBP1a were detected at higher abundances in a publicly available MS/MS dataset of the AD mouse model APP/PS1 than its wild type. These data corroborate other reports, which suggest that PKM1 and STXBP1a AS proteoforms might play a role in amyloid-like aggregate formation. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to describe PKM1 and STXBP1a overexpression in the OB of an AD mouse model. We hope that our strategy may be of use in future human neurodegenerative studies using mouse models.
GC-MS Metabolomics and Antifungal Characteristics of Autochthonous Lactobacillus Strains
Authors: Scano Paola , Pisano M. Barbara , Murgia Antonio , Cosentino Sofia , Caboni Pierluigi
Published: June 2021

Lactobacillus strains with the potential of protecting fresh dairy products from spoilage were studied. Metabolism and antifungal activity of different L. plantarum, L. brevis, and L. sakei strains, isolated from Sardinian dairy and meat products, were assessed. The metabolite fingerprint of each strain was obtained by GC-MS and data submitted to multivariate statistical analysis. The discriminant analysis correctly classified samples to the Lactobacillus species and indicated that, with respect to the other species, L. plantarum had higher levels of organic acids, while L. brevis and L. sakei showed higher levels of sugars than L. plantarum. Partial Least Square (PLS) regression correlated the GC-MS metabolites to the antifungal activity (p < 0.05) of Lactobacillus strains and indicated that organic acids and oleamide are positively related with this ability. Some of the metabolites identified in this study have been reported to possess health promoting proprieties. These overall results suggest that the GC-MS-based metabolomic approach is a useful tool for the characterization of Lactobacillus strains as biopreservatives.
Laboratory Demand Management Strategies—An Overview
Authors: Mrazek Cornelia , Haschke-Becher Elisabeth , Felder Thomas K. , Keppel Martin H. , Oberkofler Hannes , Cadamuro Janne
Published: June 2021

Inappropriate laboratory test selection in the form of overutilization as well as underutilization frequently occurs despite available guidelines. There is broad approval among laboratory specialists as well as clinicians that demand management strategies are useful tools to avoid this issue. Most of these tools are based on automated algorithms or other types of machine learning. This review summarizes the available demand management strategies that may be adopted to local settings. We believe that artificial intelligence may help to further improve these available tools.
PSMA-PET/CT in Patients with Recurrent Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Histopathological Correlations of Imaging Findings
Authors: Gühne Falk , Seifert Philipp , Theis Bernhard , Steinert Matthias , Freesmeyer Martin , Drescher Robert
Published: June 2021

PET/CT with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted tracers has been used in the diagnosis and staging of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). For ccRCC primary tumors, PET parameters were shown to predict histologic grade and features. The aim of this study was to correlate PSMA PET/CT with histopathological findings in patients with metastatic recurrence of ccRCC. Patients with ccRCC who underwent PSMA-targeted PET/CT and subsequent histopathological evaluation of suspicious lesions were included. Specimens underwent immunohistochemical marking. Lesion diameter, volume and tracer uptake were correlated with the extent and intensity of molecular PSMA expression and with clinical findings. Twelve PET-positive lesions of nine patients were evaluated. Eleven ccRCC metastases and one prostate carcinoma were detected histopathologically. Molecular PSMA expression was detected in all lesions, which intensity and distribution did not correlate with PET parameters. PSMA-targeted PET/CT is a feasible tool for the evaluation of patients with ccRCC but cannot reliably predict histologic features of metastases. PSMA may also be expressed in malignant lesions other than ccRCC, leading to incidental detection of these tumors.
Field Theoretical Approach for Signal Detection in Nearly Continuous Positive Spectra II: Tensorial Data
Authors: Lahoche Vincent , Ouerfelli Mohamed , Samary Dine Ousmane , Tamaazousti Mohamed
Published: June 2021

The tensorial principal component analysis is a generalization of ordinary principal component analysis focusing on data which are suitably described by tensors rather than matrices. This paper aims at giving the nonperturbative renormalization group formalism, based on a slight generalization of the covariance matrix, to investigate signal detection for the difficult issue of nearly continuous spectra. Renormalization group allows constructing an effective description keeping only relevant features in the low “energy” (i.e., large eigenvalues) limit and thus providing universal descriptions allowing to associate the presence of the signal with objectives and computable quantities. Among them, in this paper, we focus on the vacuum expectation value. We exhibit experimental evidence in favor of a connection between symmetry breaking and the existence of an intrinsic detection threshold, in agreement with our conclusions for matrices, providing a new step in the direction of a universal statement.
Social Influence Maximization in Hypergraphs
Authors: Antelmi Alessia , Cordasco Gennaro , Spagnuolo Carmine , Szufel Przemysław
Published: June 2021

This work deals with a generalization of the minimum Target Set Selection (TSS) problem, a key algorithmic question in information diffusion research due to its potential commercial value. Firstly proposed by Kempe et al., the TSS problem is based on a linear threshold diffusion model defined on an input graph with node thresholds, quantifying the hardness to influence each node. The goal is to find the smaller set of items that can influence the whole network according to the diffusion model defined. This study generalizes the TSS problem on networks characterized by many-to-many relationships modeled via hypergraphs. Specifically, we introduce a linear threshold diffusion process on such structures, which evolves as follows. Let H=(V,E) be a hypergraph. At the beginning of the process, the nodes in a given set S⊆V are influenced. Then, at each iteration, (i) the influenced hyperedges set is augmented by all edges having a sufficiently large number of influenced nodes; (ii) consequently, the set of influenced nodes is enlarged by all the nodes having a sufficiently large number of already influenced hyperedges. The process ends when no new nodes can be influenced. Exploiting this diffusion model, we define the minimum Target Set Selection problem on hypergraphs (TSSH). Being the problem NP-hard (as it generalizes the TSS problem), we introduce four heuristics and provide an extensive evaluation on real-world networks.
Entropy of Badminton Strike Positions
Authors: Galeano Javier , Gomez Miguel-Ángel , Rivas Fernando , Buldú Javier M.
Published: June 2021

The aim of the current study was twofold: (i) to investigate the distribution of the strike positions of badminton players while quantifying the corresponding standard entropy and using an alternative metric (spatial entropy) related to winning and losing points and random positions; and (ii) to evaluate the standard entropy of the receiving positions. With the datasets of 259 badminton matches, we focused on the positions of players’ strokes and the outcome of each point. First, we identified those regions of the court from which hits were most likely to be struck. Second, we computed the standard entropy of stroke positions, and then the spatial entropy, which also considers the order and clustering of the hitting locations in a two-dimensional Euclidean space. Both entropy quantifiers revealed high uncertainty in the striking position; however, specific court locations (i.e., the four corners) are preferred over the rest. When the outcome of each point was taken into account, we observed that the hitting patterns with lower entropy were associated with higher probabilities of winning points. On the contrary, players striking from more random positions were more prone to losing the points.
Cognitive and Energetic Sustainability for Development: Spain and Europe before the Green Deal
Authors: García-Magariño Sergio , Belintxon Unai
Published: June 2021

The paper will examine, in detail, (a) the norms that can be featured under the category “Green Deal” connected to the European Commission, (b) their application to Spain, and (c) the different patterns of action and development models that have been shaped by this framework over the last 20 years. These patterns are particularly relevant currently, as the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of advancing towards new patterns of local sustainability endowed with higher resilience. The notion of cognitive sustainability will be one of the added values to the current reflections on sustainability in general, and energetic sustainability in particular.
Study of the Influence of the Lack of Contact in Plate and Fin and Tube Heat Exchanger on Heat Transfer Efficiency under Periodic Flow Conditions
Authors: Łęcki Marcin , Andrzejewski Dariusz , Gutkowski Artur N. , Górecki Grzegorz
Published: June 2021

Plate fin-tube heat exchangers are widely used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems and other industry fields. Various errors made in the manufacturing process can result in the formation of an air gap between the tube and fin. Several numerical simulations were carried out for a symmetric section of plate fin-tube heat exchanger to study the influence of air gap on heat transfer under periodic flow conditions. Different locations and sizes of an air gap spanning 1/2 circumference of the tube were considered for the range of airflow velocities. Velocity and temperature fields for cases with air gap were compared with ideal thermal contact cases. Blocking of heat flow by the gap leads to the reduction of heat transfer rate. Fin discontinuity in the front of the tube causes the smallest reduction of the heat transfer rate in comparison to the ideal tube-fin contact, especially for thin slits. The rear gap position is the worst in the smallest gap range. Therefore, reversing the flow direction can lead to up to a 15% heat transfer increase, if mainly the rear gaps are present. The introduction of a thin slit in the front of the tube leads to convective heat transfer enhancement, which should be further investigated.
Winter Food Availability for Wild Herbivores Depending on the Type of Forest Regeneration
Authors: Skoták Vlastimil , Turek Kamil , Kamler Jiří , Kloz Jiří , Novotná Petra
Published: June 2021

This study compares the amount of available biomass for wild herbivores (red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.), and hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas)) depending on three different types of forest silvicultural systems—presented using the example of beech and spruce stands in wintertime. During the winter period, spruce provided ten times more biomass for herbivores than beech. However, beech provided more metabolizable energy, 7.38 MJ/kg on average, whereas spruce only provided 6.57 MJ/kg. From the point of view of “risk of damage by herbivores”, artificial regeneration suffered the worst damage after using the Clear Cutting method of forest regeneration, as there was the least amount of biomass available, and thus, herbivores caused the greatest damage. On average, 12% of shoots were damaged in clearings. Most at risk was young forest vegetation up to 1 m tall. In summer, the area was overgrown with available plants, but in winter, the herbivores focused mainly on eating woody shoots. Damage to the natural regeneration when using the Shelterwood Cutting and Strip Cutting regeneration methods ranged up to 3%. At the same time, a high amount of available biomass was measured there, most likely due to its frequent natural regeneration. Thus, both types of trees regenerated in this way were not as susceptible to damage by herbivores as when regenerated using the Clear Cutting method.
Influence of INGER and TORDIS Energetic Willow Clones Planted on Contaminated Soil on the Survival Rates, Yields and Calorific Value
Authors: Scriba Cezar , Lunguleasa Aurel , Spirchez Cosmin , Ciobanu Valentina
Published: June 2021

The paper presents some forestry aspects of using Inger and Tordis willow clones to obtain woody biomass and remedy degraded soils. The methodological aspects regarding the planting of willow seedlings, the evaluation of the survival rate, the evaluation of the biomass quantity and the enrichment of the soil are analyzed. The results of the experiments showed that the degraded soil decreased the viability rate of the cuttings by 16.6% for the Tordis clone and 35.8 for the Inger clone. The analysis of the soil samples showed that it was enriched in nutrients after 2 years of cultivation, by the decomposition of the fallen leaves on the soil and by the absorption of the substances from the soil. Regarding the amount of biomass, its mass per hectare after the first year of cultivation was 0.64 t/ha for the Inger clone and 0.66 t/ha for the Tordis clone, while the calorific values of 19,376 kJ/kg for Inger and 19,355 kJ/kg for Tordis were good values. The final conclusion of the paper highlights that Osier willow is a viable solution for obtaining energetic biomass and putting it back into the productive circuit of degraded soils.
Palliative Care and Oncology in Colombia: The Potential of Integrated Care Delivery
Authors: Reid Joanne , de Vries Esther , Ahmedzai Sam H. , Arias-Rojas Mauricio , Calvache Jose Andrés , Gómez-Sarmiento Susana Carolina , Gomez-Serrano Monica Lucia , Parra-Cubides Sandra Liliana , Prue Gillian , Moreno Luna Socorro
Published: June 2021

Palliative care is on the global health agenda, as only approximately 14% of people who require palliative care receive it [...]
From Messengers to Receptors in Psoriasis: The Role of IL-17RA in Disease and Treatment
Authors: Vidal Silvia , Puig Lluís , Carrascosa-Carrillo José-Manuel , González-Cantero Álvaro , Ruiz-Carrascosa José-Carlos , Velasco-Pastor Antonio-Manuel
Published: June 2021

The paradigm of psoriasis as a Th17-driven disease has evolved in the last years towards a much deeper knowledge of the complex pathways, mechanisms, cells, and messengers involved, highlighting the crucial role played by the IL-17 family of cytokines. All IL-17 isoforms signal through IL-17R. Five subunits of IL-17R have been described to date, which couple to form a homo- or hetero-receptor complex. Characteristically, IL-17RA is a common subunit in all hetero-receptors. IL-17RA has unique structural—containing a SEFIR/TILL domain—and functional—requiring ACT-1 for signaling—properties, enabling Th17 cells to act as a bridge between innate and adaptive immune cells. In psoriasis, IL-17RA plays a key role in pathogenesis based on: (a) IL-17A, IL-17F, and other IL-17 isoforms are involved in disease development; and (b) IL-17RA is essential for signaling of all IL-17 cytokines but IL-17D, whose receptor has not been identified to date. This article reviews current evidence on the biology and role of the IL-17 family of cytokines and receptors, with focus on IL-17RA, in psoriasis and some related comorbidities, and puts them in context with current and upcoming treatments.
A Self-Adaptive and Efficient Context-Aware Healthcare Model for COPD Diseases
Authors: Mcheick Hamid , Sayegh John
Published: June 2021

The emergence of pervasive computing technology has revolutionized all aspects of life and facilitated many everyday tasks. As the world fights the coronavirus pandemic, it is necessary to find new ways to use technology to fight diseases and reduce their economic burden. Distributed systems have demonstrated efficiency in the healthcare domain, not only by organizing and managing patient data but also by helping doctors and other medical experts to diagnose diseases and take measures to prevent the development of serious conditions. In the case of chronic diseases, telemonitoring systems provide a way to monitor patients’ states and biomarkers in the course of their everyday routines. We developed a Chronical Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) healthcare system to protect patients against risk factors. However, each change in the patient context initiated the execution of the system’s entire rule base, which diminished performance. In this article, we use separation of concerns to reduce the impact of contextual changes by dividing the context, rules and services into software modules (units). We combine healthcare telemonitoring with context awareness and self-adaptation to create an adaptive architecture model for COPD patients. The model’s performance is validated using COPD data, demonstrating the efficiency of the separation of concerns and adaptation techniques in context-aware systems.
Effects of Daily Kelp (Laminaria japonica) Intake on Body Composition, Serum Lipid Levels, and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Healthy Japanese Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind Study
Authors: Aoe Seiichiro , Yamanaka Chiemi , Ohtoshi Hirofumi , Nakamura Fumiko , Fujiwara Suguru
Published: June 2021

To investigate whether supplementation with iodine-reduced kelp (Laminaria japonica) powder decreases body fat composition in overweight Japanese subjects, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study was conducted in 50 Japanese subjects with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 and <30 kg/m2. Subjects were randomly assigned to consume thirty tablets/d (10 tablets orally, 3 times/d) containing either iodine-reduced kelp powder (test, 6 g kelp powder corresponding to 3 g alginate/d) or kelp-free powder (placebo) for 8 weeks. Anthropometric measurements, blood lipids, and serum thyroid hormone levels were obtained before and after the trial. Body fat percentage was significantly decreased in male subjects from the test group compared with the placebo group. The same tendency was observed for body weight (p = 0.065) and BMI (p = 0.072) in male subjects. No significant changes in anthropometric measurements or visceral fat area were observed in female subjects. Serum thyroid hormone concentrations did not increase after 1.03 mg/d of iodine supplementation through kelp intake. The intake of iodine-reduced kelp powder led to significant and safe reductions in body fat percentage in overweight male subjects. The consumption of kelp high in alginate may contribute to preventing obesity without influencing thyroid function in Japanese subjects with a relatively high intake of iodine from seaweed.
A Broad-Specificity Chitinase from Penicillium oxalicum k10 Exhibits Antifungal Activity and Biodegradation Properties of Chitin
Authors: Xie Xing-Huan , Fu Xin , Yan Xing-Yu , Peng Wen-Fang , Kang Li-Xin
Published: June 2021

Penicillium oxalicum k10 isolated from soil revealed the hydrolyzing ability of shrimp chitin and antifungal activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The k10 chitinase was produced from a powder chitin-containing medium and purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and column chromatography. The purified chitinase showed maximal activity toward colloidal chitin at pH 5 and 40 °C. The enzymatic activity was enhanced by potassium and zinc, and it was inhibited by silver, iron, and copper. The chitinase could convert colloidal chitin to N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), (GlcNAc)2, and (GlcNAc)3, showing that this enzyme had endocleavage and exocleavage activities. In addition, the chitinase prevented the mycelial growth of the phytopathogenic fungi S. sclerotiorum and Mucor circinelloides. These results indicate that k10 is a potential candidate for producing chitinase that could be useful for generating chitooligosaccharides from chitinous waste and functions as a fungicide.
Hyper Cross-Linked Polymers as Additives for Preventing Aging of PIM-1 Membranes
Authors: Begni Federico , Lasseuguette Elsa , Paul Geo , Bisio Chiara , Marchese Leonardo , Gatti Giorgio , Ferrari Maria-Chiara
Published: June 2021

Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) are membranes that are composed of polymers embedded with inorganic particles. By combining the polymers with the inorganic fillers, improvements can be made to the permeability compared to the pure polymer membranes due to new pathways for gas transport. However, the fillers, such as hyper cross-linked polymers (HCP), can also help to reduce the physical aging of the MMMs composed of a glassy polymer matrix. Here we report the synthesis of two novel HCP fillers, based on the Friedel–Crafts reaction between a tetraphenyl methane monomer and a bromomethyl benzene monomer. According to the temperature and the solvent used during the reaction (dichloromethane (DCM) or dichloroethane (DCE)), two different particle sizes have been obtained, 498 nm with DCM and 120 nm with DCE. The change in the reaction process also induces a change in the surface area and pore volumes. Several MMMs have been developed with PIM-1 as matrix and HCPs as fillers at 3% and 10wt % loading. Their permeation performances have been studied over the course of two years in order to explore physical aging effects over time. Without filler, PIM-1 exhibits the classical aging behavior of polymers of intrinsic microporosity, namely, a progressive decline in gas permeation, up to 90% for CO2 permeability. On the contrary, with HCPs, the physical aging at longer terms in PIM-1 is moderated with a decrease of 60% for CO2 permeability. 13C spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) indicates that this slowdown is related to the interactions between HCPs and PIM-1.
Mitochondrial Cristae Architecture and Functions: Lessons from Minimal Model Systems
Authors: Joubert Frédéric , Puff Nicolas
Published: June 2021

Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of eukaryotic cells. Energy production occurs in specific dynamic membrane invaginations in the inner mitochondrial membrane called cristae. Although the integrity of these structures is recognized as a key point for proper mitochondrial function, less is known about the mechanisms at the origin of their plasticity and organization, and how they can influence mitochondria function. Here, we review the studies which question the role of lipid membrane composition based mainly on minimal model systems.