bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Control de la transmisión de la tuberculosis en los Establecimientos de Salud
Authors: Huaroto Valdivia Luz María
Published: March 2023

A pesar de los esfuerzos mundiales en controlar la tuberculosis (TB) ésta aún sigue siendo la primera causa de muerte por un agente infeccioso a nivel mundial. Esta situación presenta retos importantes al personal de salud que brinda atención a los pacientes afectados por esta enfermedad, los cuales además desempeñan un rol fundamental en su control . Numerosos estudios han demostrado que los trabajadores de salud tienen tasas más altas de TB latente y activa que la población general, principalmente en entornos de alta prevalencia de tuberculosis no diagnosticada o con programas de control de infecciones ausentes o mal implementados
Infección de tuberculosis latente: ¿Cuál es el límite entre infección y enfermedad?
Authors: Huamán Moisés A.
Published: March 2023

Aproximadamente una cuarta parte de la población mundial tiene infección de tuberculosis latente (ITBL) . Se estima que el 5 a 15% de estas personas infectadas con Mycobacterium tuberculosis desarrollarán TB activa en algún momento de su vida . Ciertas condiciones como infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) o uso de drogas inmunosupresoras incrementan el riesgo de progresión a TB activa . Definir el límite entre el estadio de infección (ITBL) y la progresión a enfermedad (TB activa) es complicado. Actualmente, esta distinción se basa en la premisa clínica de que la persona con ITBL carece de síntomas y evidencia microbiológica del bacilo, mientras que la persona con TB activa presenta síntomas y posee bacilo detectable, por ejemplo, en muestras de esputo. Sin embargo, existen situaciones donde la distinción entre ITBL y TB activa no es clara, e incluso se conoce que algunos pacientes con TB activa pueden presentar enfermedad “oculta” o “sub-clínica”, donde el paciente niega síntomas a pesar de que los estudios microbio- lógicos y/o radiológicos confirman la presencia de enfermedad.
Dr. Fernando Quevedo Ganoza
Authors: Aliaga Arauco José del Carmen
Published: March 2023

Mi agradecimiento a la Fundación Instituto Hipólito Unanue por la oportunidad de realizar el In Memoriam del doctor Fernando Quevedo Ganoza a quien considero un gran maestro.
Rancang Bangun Alat Monitoring Daya Listrik di Asrama Berbasis Web Menggunakan ESP32
Authors: Tresna Umar Syamsuri  , Rahma Nur Amalia  , Mudjiono  , Aly Imron
Published: March 2023

This study aims to design and build tools that can measure current, voltage, and electricity in thedormitory using a current sensor and voltage sensor controlled by a microcontroller. This device can be monitoredand controlled on a real-time scale through the Blynk website and displayed through the LCD size. The tools thatwere built were placed centrally in the dormitory. Through the Blynk website, the dormitory owner gets theauthority to determine the limit of the use of electricity in a room and increase the number of rooms as much asneeded, while the room owner can monitor the mutation of electricity use. Every time the total power reaches theupper limit, relay will be active to decide on the electric current. This device is expected to be able to help thehomeowner of the dormitory in calculating the cost of monthly electricity tokens. The simulation is carried outusing a dormitory house model consisting of three rooms with a maximum power of 500 VA per room. Loadsimulation using lamps, fans, laptops, etc. The test results show a difference in sensor accuracy. The current sensorACS712 in room 1 has a percentage of error of 11.88%, room 2 has 10.63%, and room 3 has 9.38%. ThreeZMPT101B voltage sensors, considered quite accurate with a percentage of error 0.16%. So that the power valueobtained has a percentage of power error for room 1 has 24.30%; Room 2 has 13.24%; While room 3 has 18.76%.The percentage of error is still large, indicating that the device has poor accuracy. So, this device requires furtherdevelopment to be more accurate.
Murine colon organoids as a novel model to study Trypanosoma cruzi infection and interactions with the intestinal epithelium
Authors: Daghero Hellen , Pagotto Romina , Quiroga Cristina , Medeiros Andrea , Comini Marcelo A. , Bollati-Fogolín Mariela
Published: March 2023

Chagas disease (CD) is a life-threatening illness caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). With around seven million people infected worldwide and over 50,000 deaths per year, CD is a major public health issue in Latin America. The main route of transmission to humans is through a triatomine bug (vector-borne), but congenital and oral transmission have also been reported. The acute phase of CD presents mild symptoms but may develop into a long-lasting chronic illness, characterized by severely impaired cardiac, digestive, and neurological functions. The intestinal tissue appears to have a key role during oral transmission and chronic infection of CD. In this immune-privileged reservoir, dormant/quiescent parasites have been suggested to contribute to disease persistence, infection relapse, and treatment failure. However, the interaction between the intestinal epithelium and T. cruzi has not been examined in depth, in part, due to the lack of in vitro models that approximate to the biological and structural complexity of this tissue. Therefore, to understand the role played by the intestinal tissue during transmission and chronic infection, physiological models resembling the organ complexity are needed. Here we addressed this issue by establishing and characterizing adult stem cell-derived colonoid infection models that are clinically relevant for CD. 3D and 2D systems of murine intestinal organoids infected with T. cruzi Dm28c (a highly virulent strain associated with oral outbreaks) were analyzed at different time points by confocal microscopy. T. cruzi was able to invade and replicate in intestinal epithelial primary cells grown as intact organoids (3D) and monolayers (2D). The permissiveness to pathogen infection differed markedly between organoids and cell lines (primate and intestinal human cell lines). So far, this represents the first evidence of the potential that these cellular systems offer for the study of host-pathogen interactions and the discovery of effective anti-chagasic drugs.
Responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference of EQ-5D-5L in patients with coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention: A longitudinal study
Authors: Zheng Yu , Dou Lei , Fu Qiang , Li Shunping
Published: March 2023

Background

Although the five-level version of the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) has been validated in various diseases, no empirical study has evaluated the responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the instrument in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), which limits the interpretability and clinical application of EQ-5D-5L. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the responsiveness and MCID of EQ-5D-5L in patients with CHD who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and identify the relationship between the MCID values and minimal detectable change (MDC).

Methods

Patients with CHD were recruited for this longitudinal study at the Tianjin Medical University’s General Hospital in China. At baseline and 4 weeks after PCI, participants completed the EQ-5D-5L and Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ). Additionally, we used the effect size (ES) to assess the responsiveness of EQ-5D-5L. The anchor-based, distribution-based, and instrument-based methods were used in this study to calculate the MCID estimates. The MCID estimates to MDC ratios were computed at the individual and group levels at a 95% CI.

Results

Seventy-five patients with CHD completed the survey at both baseline and follow-up. The EQ-5D-5L health state utility (HSU) improved by 0.125 at follow-up compared with baseline. The ES of EQ-5D HSU was 0.850 in all patients and 1.152 in those who improved, indicating large responsiveness. The average (range) MCID value of the EQ-5D-5L HSU was 0.071 (0.052–0.098). These values can only be used to determine whether the change in scores were clinically meaningful at the group level.

Conclusion

EQ-5D-5L has large responsiveness among CHD patients after undergoing PCI surgery. Future studies should focus on calculating the responsiveness and MCID for deterioration and examining the health changes at the individual level in CHD patients.
Effect of Bifidobacterium on osteoclasts: TNF-α/NF-κB inflammatory signal pathway-mediated mechanism
Authors: Wu Yue , Yang Yunjiao , Wang Lan , Chen Yiding , Han Xuke , Sun Lisha , Chen Huizhen , Chen Qiu
Published: March 2023

Osteoporosis is a systemic multifactorial bone disease characterized by low bone quality and density and bone microstructure damage, increasing bone fragility and fracture vulnerability. Increased osteoclast differentiation and activity are important factors contributing to bone loss, which is a common pathological manifestation of bone diseases such as osteoporosis. TNF-a/NF-κB is an inflammatory signaling pathway with a key regulatory role in regulating osteoclast formation, and the classical pathway RANKL/RANK/OPG assists osteoclast formation. Activation of this inflammatory pathway promotes the formation of osteoclasts and accelerates the process of osteoporosis. Recent studies and emerging evidence have consistently demonstrated the potential of probiotics to modulate bone health. Secretions of Bifidobacterium, a genus of probiotic bacteria in the phylum Actinobacteria, such as short-chain fatty acids, equol, and exopolysaccharides, have indicated beneficial effects on bone health. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms of the TNF-a/NF-κB inflammatory pathway in regulating osteoclast formation and describes the secretions produced by Bifidobacterium and their potential effects on bone health through this pathway, opening up new directions for future research.
Correction of F8 intron 1 inversion in hemophilia A patient-specific iPSCs by CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene editing
Authors: Hu Zhiqing , Wu Yong , Xiao Rou , Zhao Junya , Chen Yan , Wu Lingqian , Zhou Miaojin , Liang Desheng
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Hemophilia A (HA) is the most common genetic bleeding disorder caused by mutations in the F8 gene encoding coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). As the second predominant pathogenic mutation in hemophilia A severe patients, F8 Intron one inversion (Inv1) completely splits the F8 gene into two parts and disrupts the F8 transcription, resulting in no FVIII protein production. The part which contains exon 2-exon 26 covers 98% of F8 coding region.

Methods: We hypothesized that in situ genetic manipulation of F8 to add a promoter and exon one before the exon two could restore the F8 expression. The donor plasmid included human alpha 1-antitrypsin (hAAT) promoter, exon one and splicing donor site (SD) based on homology-mediated end joining (HMEJ) strategy was targeted addition in hemophilia A patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (HA-iPSCs) using CRISPR/Cas9. The iPSCs were differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells (HPLCs).

Results: The hAAT promoter and exon one were targeted addition in HA-iPSCs with a high efficiency of 10.19% via HMEJ. The FVIII expression, secretion, and activity were detected in HPLCs derived from gene-targeted iPSCs.

Discussion: Thus, we firstly rescued the 140 kb reversion mutation by gene addition of a 975 bp fragment in the HA-iPSCs with Inv1 mutation, providing a promising gene correction strategy for genetic disease with large sequence variants.
Glioma-associated microglia/macrophages (GAMs) in glioblastoma: Immune function in the tumor microenvironment and implications for immunotherapy
Authors: Lin Chao , Wang Ning , Xu Chengyan
Published: March 2023

Glioma is a mixed solid tumor composed of neoplastic and non-neoplastic components. Glioma-associated macrophages and microglia (GAMs) are crucial elements of the glioma tumor microenvironment (TME), regulating tumor growth, invasion, and recurrence. GAMs are also profoundly influenced by glioma cells. Recent studies have revealed the intricate relationship between TME and GAMs. In this updated review, we provide an overview of the interaction between glioma TME and GAMs based on previous studies. We also summarize a series of immunotherapies targeting GAMs, including clinical trials and preclinical studies. Specifically, we discuss the origin of microglia in the central nervous system and the recruitment of GAMs in the glioma background. We also cover the mechanisms through which GAMs regulate various processes associated with glioma development, such as invasiveness, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, recurrence, etc. Overall, GAMs play a significant role in the tumor biology of glioma, and a better understanding of the interaction between GAMs and glioma could catalyze the development of new and effective immunotherapies for this deadly malignancy.
The prognostic and immune significance of C15orf48 in pan-cancer and its relationship with proliferation and apoptosis of thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Li Chaolin , Tang Yan , Li Qin , Liu Haiyan , Ma Xiaoying , He Liu , Shi Hao
Published: March 2023

Background

C15orf48 was recently identified as an inflammatory response-related gene; however there is limited information on its function in tumors. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the function and potential mechanism of action of C15orf48 in cancer.

Methods

We evaluated the pan-cancer expression, methylation, and mutation data of C15orf48 to analyze its clinical prognostic value. In addition, we explored the pan-cancer immunological characteristics of C15orf48, especially in thyroid cancer (THCA), by correlation analysis. Additionally, we conducted a THCA subtype analysis of C15orf48 to determine its subtype-specific expression and immunological characteristics. Lastly, we evaluated the effects of C15orf48 knockdown on the THCA cell line, BHT101, by in vitro experimentation.

Results

The results of our study revealed that C15orf48 is differentially expressed in different cancer types and that it can serve as an independent prognostic factor for glioma. Additionally, we found that the epigenetic alterations of C15orf48 are highly heterogeneous in several cancers and that its aberrant methylation and copy number variation are associated with poor prognosis in multiple cancers. Immunoassays elucidated that C15orf48 was significantly associated with macrophage immune infiltration and multiple immune checkpoints in THCA, and was a potential biomarker for PTC. In addition, cell experiments showed that the knockdown of C15orf48 could reduce the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis abilities of THCA cells.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that C15orf48 is a potential tumor prognostic biomarker and immunotherapy target, and plays an essential role in the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of THCA cells.
Association and prediction of red blood cell distribution width to albumin ratio in all-cause mortality of acute kidney injury in critically ill patients
Authors: Gao Chen , Peng Longkai
Published: March 2023

Aim

The progression of acute kidney injury (AKI) might be associated with systemic inflammation. Our study aims to explore the association and predictive value of the red blood cell distribution width (RDW) to human serum albumin (ALB) ratio (RDW/ALB ratio), an inflammation-related indicator, in the risk of all-cause mortality and renal replacement therapy (RRT) in AKI patients admitted in intensive care units (ICU).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was designed, and data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III). The primary outcome was the risk of all-cause mortality (1-month, 3-month, and 12-month), and the secondary outcome was the risk of RRT. The association between the RDW/ALB ratio and the risk of all-cause mortality and RRT was assessed using the Cox regression analysis, with results shown as hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The relationship between the RDW/ALB ratio and crude probability of all-cause mortality or RRT was assessed using restricted cubic splines (RCS). The concordance index (C-index) was used to assess the discrimination of the prediction model.

Results

A total of 13,856 patients were included in our study. In the fully adjusted Cox regression model, we found that a high RDW/ALB ratio was associated with an increased risk of 1-month, 3-month, and 12-month all-cause mortality and RRT (all p < 0.05). Moreover, RCS curves showed the linear relationship between the RDW/ALB ratio and the probability of all-cause mortality and RRT, and the probability was elevated with the increase of the ratio. In addition, the RDW/ALB ratio showed a good predictive performance in the risk of 1-month all-cause mortality, 3-month all-cause mortality, 12-month all-cause mortality, and RRT, with a C-index of 0.728 (95%CI: 0.719–0.737), 0.728 (95%CI: 0.721–0.735), 0.719 (95%CI: 0.713–0.725), and 0.883 (95%CI: 0.876–0.890), respectively.

Conclusion

The RDW/ALB ratio performed well to predict the risk of all-cause mortality and RRT in critically ill patients with AKI, indicating that this combined inflammatory indicator might be effective in clinical practice.
Exopolysaccharide-producing bacteria enhanced Pb immobilization and influenced the microbiome composition in rhizosphere soil of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.)
Authors: Cao Ruiwen , Zhang Yiling , Ju Yuhao , Wang Wei , Zhao Yanqiu , Liu Nan , Zhang Gangrui , Wang Xingbao , Xie Xuesong , Dai Cunxi , Liu Yue , Yin Hongfei , Shi Kaiyuan , He Chenchen , Wang Weiyan , Zhao Lingyu , Jeon Che Ok , Hao Lujiang
Published: March 2023

Lead (Pb) contamination of planting soils is increasingly serious, leading to harmful effects on soil microflora and food safety. Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are carbohydrate polymers produced and secreted by microorganisms, which are efficient biosorbent materials and has been widely used in wastewater treatment to remove heavy metals. However, the effects and underlying mechanism of EPS-producing marine bacteria on soil metal immobilization, plant growth and health remain unclear. The potential of Pseudoalteromonas agarivorans Hao 2018, a high EPS-producing marine bacterium, to produce EPS in soil filtrate, immobilize Pb, and inhibit its uptake by pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) was studied in this work. The effects of strain Hao 2018 on the biomass, quality, and rhizospheric soil bacterial community of pakchoi in Pb-contaminated soil were further investigated. The results showed that Hao 2018 reduced the Pb concentration in soil filtrate (16%–75%), and its EPS production increased in the presence of Pb2+. When compared to the control, Hao 2018 remarkably enhanced pakchoi biomass (10.3%–14.3%), decreased Pb content in edible tissues (14.5%–39.2%) and roots (41.3%–41.9%), and reduced the available Pb content (34.8%–38.1%) in the Pb-contaminated soil. Inoculation with Hao 2018 raised the pH of the soil, the activity of several enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, urease, and dehydrogenase), the nitrogen content (NH4+-N and NO3−-N), and the pakchoi quality (Vc and soluble protein content), while also raising the relative abundance of bacteria that promote plant growth and immobilize metals, such as Streptomyces and Sphingomonas. In conclusion, Hao 2018 reduced the available Pb in soil and pakchoi Pb absorption by increasing the pH and activity of multiple enzymes and regulating microbiome composition in rhizospheric soil.
The increased antioxidant action of HDL is independent of HDL cholesterol plasma levels in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Campos Amarilis de Lima , Sawada Maria Isabela Bloise Alves Caldas , Santana Monique Fátima de Mello , Iborra Rodrigo Tallada , de Assis Sayonara Ivana Santos , Reis Mozania , de Carvalho Jacira Xavier , Gebrim Luiz Henrique , Passarelli Marisa
Published: March 2023

Introduction

The association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) with the incidence and progression of breast cancer (BC) is controversial. HDL removes excess cholesterol from cells and acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. BC is a heterogeneous disease, and its molecular classification is important in the prediction of clinical and therapeutic evolution. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents higher malignancy, lower therapeutic response, and survival rate. In the present investigation, the composition and antioxidant activity of isolated HDL was assessed in women with TNBC compared to controls.

Methods

Twenty-seven women with a recent diagnosis of TNBC, without prior treatment, and 27 healthy women (control group) paired by age and body mass index (BMI) were included in the study. HDL and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were isolated from plasma by discontinuous density gradient ultracentrifugation. Plasma lipid profile and HDL composition (total cholesterol, TC; triglycerides, TG; HDLc; phospholipids, PL) were determined by enzymatic colorimetric methods. ApoB and apo A-I were quantified by immunoturbidimetry. The antioxidant activity of HDL was determined by measuring the lag time phase for LDL oxidation and the maximal rate of conjugated dienes formation in LDL incubated with copper sulfate solution. The absorbance (234 nm) was monitored at 37°C, for 4 h, at 3 min intervals.

Results

The control group was similar to the TNBC concerning menopausal status, concentrations, and ratios of plasma lipids. The composition of the HDL particle in TC, TG, PL, and apo A-I was also similar between the groups. The ability of HDL to retard LDL oxidation was 22% greater in the TNBC group as compared to the control and positively correlated with apoA-I in HDL. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of HDL was greater in the advanced stages of TNBC (stages III and IV) compared to the control group. The maximum rate of formation of conjugated dienes was similar between groups and the clinical stages of the disease.

Discussion

The results highlight the role of HDL as an antioxidant defense in TNBC independently of HDLc plasma levels. The improved antioxidant activity of HDL, reflected by retardation in LDL oxidation, could contribute to limiting oxidative and inflammatory stress in advanced stages of TNBC.
The repeatability and consistency of different methods for measuring the volume parameters of the primary rectal cancer on diffusion weighted images
Authors: Qiu Yong-juan , Zhou Lin-Li , Li Jun , Zhang Yi-fei , Wang Yong , Yang Yan-song
Published: March 2023

Background

To determine the reproducibility of measuring the gross total volume (GTV) of primary rectal tumor with manual and semi-automatic delineation on the diffusion-weighted image (DWI), examine the consistency of using the same delineation method on DWI images with different high b-values, and find the optimal delineation method to measure the GTV of rectal cancer.

Methods

41 patients who completed rectal MR examinations in our hospital from January 2020 to June 2020 were prospectively enrolled in this study. The post-operative pathology confirmed the lesions were rectal adenocarcinoma. The patients included 28 males and 13 females, with an average age of (63.3 ± 10.6) years old. Two radiologists used LIFEx software to manually delineate the lesion layer by layer on the DWI images (b=1000 s/mm2 and 1500 s/mm2) and used 10% to 90% of the highest signal intensity as thresholds to semi-automatically delineate the lesion and measure the GTV. After one month, Radiologist 1 performed the same delineation work again to obtain the corresponding GTV.

Results

The inter- and intra-observer interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of measuring GTV using semi-automatic delineation with 30% to 90% as thresholds were all >0.900. There was a positive correlation between manual delineation and semi-automatic delineation with 10% to 50% thresholds (P < 0.05). However, the manual delineation was not correlated with the semi-automatic delineation with 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90% thresholds. On the DWI images with b=1000 s/mm2 and 1500 s/mm2, the 95% limit of agreement (LOA%) of measuring GTV using semi-automatic delineation with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90% thresholds were -41.2~67.4, -17.8~51.5, -16.1~49.3, -26.2~50.1, -42.3~57.6, -57.1~65.4, -67.3~66.5, -101.6~91.1, -129.4~136.0, and -15.3~33.0, respectively. The time required for GTV measurement by semi-automatic delineation was significantly shorter than that of manual delineation (12.9 ± 3.6s vs 40.2 ± 13.1s).

Conclusions

The semi-automatic delineation of rectal cancer GTV with 30% threshold had high repeatability and consistency, and it was positively correlated with the GTV measured by manual delineation. Therefore, the semi-automatic delineation with 30% threshold could be a simple and feasible method for measuring rectal cancer GTV.
The beneficial role of exercise in preventing doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity
Authors: Gaytan Samantha L. , Lawan Ahmed , Chang Jongwha , Nurunnabi Md , Bajpeyi Sudip , Boyle Jason B. , Han Sung Min , Min Kisuk
Published: March 2023

Doxorubicin is a highly effective chemotherapeutic agent widely used to treat a variety of cancers. However, the clinical application of doxorubicin is limited due to its adverse effects on several tissues. One of the most serious side effects of doxorubicin is cardiotoxicity, which results in life-threatening heart damage, leading to reduced cancer treatment success and survival rate. Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity results from cellular toxicity, including increased oxidative stress, apoptosis, and activated proteolytic systems. Exercise training has emerged as a non-pharmacological intervention to prevent cardiotoxicity during and after chemotherapy. Exercise training stimulates numerous physiological adaptations in the heart that promote cardioprotective effects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for exercise-induced cardioprotection is important to develop therapeutic approaches for cancer patients and survivors. In this report, we review the cardiotoxic effects of doxorubicin and discuss the current understanding of exercise-induced cardioprotection in hearts from doxorubicin-treated animals.
Berberine regulates glucose metabolism in largemouth bass by modulating intestinal microbiota
Authors: Xia Yun , Yang Hui-Ci , Zhang Kai , Tian Jing-Jing , Li Zhi-Fei , Yu Er-Meng , Li Hong-Yan , Gong Wang-Bao , Xie Wen-Ping , Wang Guang-Jun , Xie Jun
Published: March 2023

This study examined the role of intestinal microbiota in berberine (BBR)-mediated glucose (GLU) metabolism regulation in largemouth bass. Four groups of largemouth bass (133.7 ± 1.43 g) were fed with control diet, BBR (1 g/kg feed) supplemented diet, antibiotic (ATB, 0.9 g/kg feed) supplemented diet and BBR + ATB (1g/kg feed +0.9 g/kg feed) supplemented diet for 50 days. BBR improved growth, decreased the hepatosomatic and visceral weight indices, significantly downregulated the serum total cholesterol and GLU levels, and significantly upregulated the serum total bile acid (TBA) levels. The hepatic hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, GLU-6-phosphatase and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase activities in the largemouth bass were significantly upregulated when compared with those in the control group. The ATB group exhibited significantly decreased final bodyweight, weight gain, specific growth rates and serum TBA levels, and significantly increased hepatosomatic and viscera weight indices, hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, phosphofructokinase, and pyruvate carboxylase activities, and serum GLU levels. Meanwhile, the BBR + ATB group exhibited significantly decreased final weight, weight gain and specific growth rates, and TBA levels and significantly increased hepatosomatic and viscera weight indices and GLU levels. High-throughput sequencing revealed that compared with those in the control group, the Chao one index and Bacteroidota contents were significantly upregulated and the Firmicutes contents were downregulated in the BBR group. Additionally, the Shannon and Simpson indices and Bacteroidota levels were significantly downregulated, whereas the Firmicutes levels were significantly upregulated in ATB and BBR + ATB groups. The results of in-vitro culture of intestinal microbiota revealed that BBR significantly increased the number of culturable bacteria. The characteristic bacterium in the BBR group was Enterobacter cloacae. Biochemical identification analysis revealed that E. cloacae metabolizes carbohydrates. The size and degree of vacuolation of the hepatocytes in the control, ATB, and ATB + BBR groups were higher than those in the BBR group. Additionally, BBR decreased the number of nuclei at the edges and the distribution of lipids in the liver tissue. Collectively, BBR reduced the blood GLU level and improved GLU metabolism in largemouth bass. Comparative analysis of experiments with ATB and BBR supplementation revealed that BBR regulated GLU metabolism in largemouth bass by modulating intestinal microbiota.
BrUFO positively regulates the infection of Chinese cabbage by Plasmodiophora brassicae
Authors: Zhang Bo , Feng Hui , Ge Wenjie , Wang Xinlei , Zhang Jing , Ji Ruiqin
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Chinese cabbage is one of the most important vegetable crops in China. However, the clubroot disease caused by the infection of Plasmodiophora brassicae (P. brassicae) has seriously affected the yield and quality of Chinese cabbage. In our previous study, BrUFO gene was found to be significantly up-regulated in diseased roots of Chinese cabbage after inoculation with P. brassicae. UFO (UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGANS) have the properties of substrate recognition during ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. A variety of plant can activate immunity response through the ubiquitination pathway. Therefore, it is very important to study the function of UFO in response to P. brassicae.

Methods

In this study, The expression pattern of BrUFO Gene was measured by qRT-PCR and In situ Hybridization (ISH). The expression location of BrUFO in cells was determined by subcellular localization. The function of BrUFO was verified by Virus-induced Gene Silencing (VIGS). proteins interacting with BrUFO protein were screened by yeast two-hybrid.

Results

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions (qRT-PCR) and in situ hybridization analysis showed that expression of BrUFO gene in the resistant plants was lower than that in susceptible plants. Subcellular localization analysis showed that BrUFO gene was expressed in the nucleus. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) analysis showed that silencing of BrUFO gene reduced the incidence of clubroot disease. Six proteins interacting with BrUFO protein were screened by Y2H assay. Two of them (Bra038955, a B-cell receptor-associated 31-like protein and Bra021273, a GDSL-motif esterase/acyltransferase/lipase Enzyme) were confirmed to strongly interact with BrUFO protein.

Discussion

BrUFO gene should be a key gene of chinese cabbage against the infection of P. brassicae. BrUFO gene silencing improves the resistance of plants to clubroot disease. BrUFO protein may interact with CUS2 to induce ubiquitination in PRR-mediated PTI reaction through GDSL lipases, so as to achieve the effect of Chinese cabbage against the infection of P. brassicae.
Genome-wide identification of BcGRF genes in flowering Chinese cabbage and preliminary functional analysis of BcGRF8 in nitrogen metabolism
Authors: Zhang Shuaiwei , Li Guangguang , Wang Yudan , Anwar Ali , He Bin , Zhang Jiewen , Chen Changming , Hao Yanwei , Chen Riyuan , Song Shiwei
Published: March 2023

Growth-regulating factors (GRFs) are a unique family of transcription factors with well-characterized functions in plant growth and development. However, few studies have evaluated their roles in the absorption and assimilation of nitrate. In this study, we characterized the GRF family genes of flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris), an important vegetable crop in South China. Using bioinformatics methods, we identified BcGRF genes and analyzed their evolutionary relationships, conserved motifs, and sequence characteristics. Through genome-wide analysis, we identified 17 BcGRF genes distributed on seven chromosomes. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that the BcGRF genes could be categorized into five subfamilies. RT-qPCR analysis showed that BcGRF1, 8, 10, and 17 expression clearly increased in response to nitrogen (N) deficiency, particularly at 8 h after treatment. BcGRF8 expression was the most sensitive to N deficiency and was significantly correlated with the expression patterns of most key genes related to N metabolism. Using yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays, we discovered that BcGRF8 strongly enhances the driving activity of the BcNRT1.1 gene promoter. Next, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which BcGRF8 participates in nitrate assimilation and N signaling pathways by expressing it in Arabidopsis. BcGRF8 was localized in the cell nucleus and BcGRF8 overexpression significantly increased the shoot and root fresh weights, seedling root length, and lateral root number in Arabidopsis. In addition, BcGRF8 overexpression considerably reduced the nitrate contents under both nitrate-poor and -rich conditions in Arabidopsis. Finally, we found that BcGRF8 broadly regulates genes related to N uptake, utilization, and signaling. Our results demonstrate that BcGRF8 substantially accelerates plant growth and nitrate assimilation under both nitrate-poor and -rich conditions by increasing the number of lateral roots and the expression of genes involved in N uptake and assimilation, providing a basis for crop improvement.
Gender differences in competitiveness and fear of failure help explain why girls have lower life satisfaction than boys in gender equal countries
Authors: Eriksson Kimmo , Strimling Pontus
Published: March 2023

Among 15-year-olds, boys tend to report higher life satisfaction than girls. Recent research has shown that this gender gap tends to be larger in more gender-egalitarian countries. We shed light on this apparent paradox by examining the mediating role of two psychological dispositions: competitiveness and fear of failure. Using data from the 2018 PISA study, we analyze the life satisfaction, competitiveness, and fear of failure of more than 400,000 15-year-old boys and girls in 63 countries with known levels of gender equality. We find that competitiveness and fear of failure together mediate more than 40 percent of the effects on life satisfaction of gender and its interaction with gender equality. Thus, interventions targeting competitiveness and fear of failure could potentially have an impact on the gender gap in life satisfaction among adolescents in gender equal countries.
Brief moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improves the executive function of Chinese undergraduates regardless of mobile phone addiction: Evidence from the antisaccade task
Authors: Zhou Junyi , Bai Zhanshuang
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Previous studies have shown that brief moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can improve the executive function of healthy adults. The present study sought to examine and compare the effects of brief moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on the executive functions of undergraduates with and without mobile phone addiction.

Method

Thirty-two healthy undergraduates with mobile phone addiction were recruited and randomly assigned to either an exercise or control group. Likewise, 32 healthy undergraduates without mobile phone addiction were recruited and randomly assigned to either an exercise or control group. Participants were asked to perform moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for 15 minutes for the exercise groups. The executive functions of all participants were assessed via the antisaccade task twice (i.e., pre-test and post-test).

Results

The results showed that the saccade latency, variability of saccade latency, and error rate decreased significantly from pre-test to post-test for all participants. More importantly, after the 15-min moderate-intensity aerobic exercise intervention, participants in the exercise groups showed significantly shorter saccade latency than their counterparts in the control groups, regardless of whether they are with mobile phone addiction.

Discussion

This result is consistent with previous studies demonstrating that brief moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can improve one’s executive function. Furthermore, the absence of significant interaction among Time, Group, and Intervention implies that the effects of brief moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on executive function are comparable between participants with and without mobile phone addiction. The present study supports the previous conclusion that brief moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can improve one’s executive function effectively, and extends it to the population with mobile phone addiction. In summary, the present study has some implications for understanding of the relationship between exercise, executive function, and mobile phone addiction.
Toward explainable AI-empowered cognitive health assessment
Authors: Javed Abdul Rehman , Khan Habib Ullah , Alomari Mohammad Kamel Bader , Sarwar Muhammad Usman , Asim Muhammad , Almadhor Ahmad S. , Khan Muhammad Zahid
Published: March 2023

Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) is of paramount importance to various domains, including healthcare, fitness, skill assessment, and personal assistants, to understand and explain the decision-making process of the artificial intelligence (AI) model. Smart homes embedded with smart devices and sensors enabled many context-aware applications to recognize physical activities. This study presents XAI-HAR, a novel XAI-empowered human activity recognition (HAR) approach based on key features identified from the data collected from sensors located at different places in a smart home. XAI-HAR identifies a set of new features (i.e., the total number of sensors used in a specific activity), as physical key features selection (PKFS) based on weighting criteria. Next, it presents statistical key features selection (SKFS) (i.e., mean, standard deviation) to handle the outliers and higher class variance. The proposed XAI-HAR is evaluated using machine learning models, namely, random forest (RF), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), decision tree (DT), naive Bayes (NB) and deep learning models such as deep neural network (DNN), convolution neural network (CNN), and CNN-based long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM). Experiments demonstrate the superior performance of XAI-HAR using RF classifier over all other machine learning and deep learning models. For explainability, XAI-HAR uses Local Interpretable Model Agnostic (LIME) with an RF classifier. XAI-HAR achieves 0.96% of F-score for health and dementia classification and 0.95 and 0.97% for activity recognition of dementia and healthy individuals, respectively.
Comparison of the Effect of Solid and Liquid Digestate on the Growth of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Plants
Authors: Fedeli Riccardo , Celletti Silvia , Loppi Stefano , Vannini Andrea
Published: March 2023

As a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe is facing a shortage of chemical fertilizers for agriculture. Therefore, the use of byproducts of biomass anaerobic digestion, e.g., solid (SD) and liquid (LD) digestate, could be a key solution to cope with this problem. In this framework, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of both SD and LD, derived from the same feedstock, on the biometric, physiological, and biochemical parameters of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants. Compared to the controls, the plants treated with 3% (w/w) SD showed a reduction in leaf fresh biomass, chlorophyll content, performance index, fractal dimension, and antiradical activity, while vitamin C increased by 18.8%. An opposite response was observed for the lettuce plants treated with 3% (v/w) LD, which showed an increase in all the above-mentioned parameters, except for vitamin C, which decreased by 39.8%. Interestingly, the content of malondialdehyde, which is correlated with cell membrane lipid peroxidation, increased in the SD-treated plants (+39.7%) and decreased (−42.1%) in the LD-treated plants. These results strongly support the use of LD in agriculture as a valuable product to improve the productivity and nutritional quality of crop plants.
Decision Support Tool to Predict Panicle Initiation in Aerobic Rice
Authors: Champness Matthew , Ballester Carlos , Hornbuckle John
Published: March 2023

Aerobic rice cultivation offers the potential to reduce irrigated water use. A multitude of challenges, such as cold sterility, drought stress, and labor shortages, limit its adoption in temperate rice-growing regions. Increasing the duration and extent of soil moisture tension between irrigation events has been demonstrated to slow crop development. Delaying panicle initiation (PI) beyond the optimal window can expose rice to cold nighttime temperatures during the cold sensitive early pollen microspore, severely reducing yield. Tools to assist Australian temperate farmers and researchers in the irrigation management of aerobic rice to ensure PI occurs during the optimal window do not yet exist. Using data collected from an aerobic rice experiment conducted in temperate Australia in 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, a predictive model was built to assist in forecasting PI based on the timing of irrigation. Estimation of the area on an hourly basis of the cumulative evapotranspiration with rainfall subtracted from pre-emergent irrigation to PI, defined as the irrigation deficit integral, was used to account for the frequency, duration, and extent of soil moisture deficit between irrigation events. The relationship between the irrigation deficit integral and the number of days from pre-emergent irrigation to PI (R2 = 0.91) was used to build a model to predict PI with a root mean square error of 1.8 days for the validating data set. Furthermore, an example is provided of how the model can be used as a decision support tool to assist researchers and growers to schedule irrigation of aerobic rice to ensure PI occurs in a timely manner. This will increase the likelihood of high-yielding aerobic rice and may enhance the adoption of water-saving rice cultivation.
Micropropagation of Duboisia Species: A Review on Current Status
Authors: Xue Yuxin , Hiti-Bandaralage Jayeni Chathurika Amarathunga , Mitter Neena
Published: March 2023

Duboisia is an Australian native woody species of the Solanaceae family, a crucial source of alkaloids, and is naturally extracted for pharmaceuticals. The alkaloid content of the four naturally occurring species of Duboisia, i.e., Duboisia myoporoides R. Br., Duboisia leichhardtii F. Muell., Duboisia hopwoodii F. Muell. and Duboisia arenitensis, is not conducive for large-scale commercial extraction. High-value hybrids between D. myoporoides R. Br. and D. leichhardtii F. Muell. have become the commercial crop for the industry. Propagation of these hybrids is key for progression of this industry, especially for the establishment and expansion of plantations and to replenish old plantations. Commercial propagation of Duboisia completely depends on cutting propagation to ensure true-to-type propagules. Cutting propagation of this species is associated with several challenges and has been a hurdle for industry expansion for many years. Micropropagation can be an efficient and sustainable alternative for Duboisia clonal propagation and is a faster and cleaner propagation avenue for elite propagules. This review compiles the research attempts made in the space of Duboisia micropropagation and provides an update on recent advancements to understand the technical capacity, progress and challenges towards a commercial micropropagation platform.
Medicinal Plants as Therapeutic Alternatives to Combat Mycobacterium tuberculosis: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Gautam Silvi , Qureshi Kamal A. , Jameel Pasha Shabaaz Begum , Dhanasekaran Sugapriya , Aspatwar Ashok , Parkkila Seppo , Alanazi Samyah , Atiya Akhtar , Khan Mohd Masih Uzzaman , Venugopal Divya
Published: March 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and a significant health concern worldwide. The main threat to the elimination of TB is the development of resistance by MTB to the currently used antibiotics and more extended treatment methods, which is a massive burden on the health care system. As a result, there is an urgent need to identify new, effective therapeutic strategies with fewer adverse effects. The traditional medicines found in South Asia and Africa have a reservoir of medicinal plants and plant-based compounds that are considered another reliable option for human beings to treat various diseases. Abundant research is available for the biotherapeutic potential of naturally occurring compounds in various diseases but has been lagging in the area of TB. Plant-based compounds, or phytoproducts, are being investigated as potential anti-mycobacterial agents by reducing bacterial burden or modulating the immune system, thereby minimizing adverse effects. The efficacy of these phytochemicals has been evaluated through drug delivery using nanoformulations. This review aims to emphasize the value of anti-TB compounds derived from plants and provide a summary of current research on phytochemicals with potential anti-mycobacterial activity against MTB. This article aims to inform readers about the numerous potential herbal treatment options available for combatting TB.
Knowledge and Attitudes of Small Animal Veterinarians on Antimicrobial Use Practices Impacting the Selection of Antimicrobial Resistance in Dogs and Cats in Illinois, United States: A Spatial Epidemiological Approach
Authors: Yudhanto Setyo , Varga Csaba
Published: March 2023

Inappropriate antimicrobial use in animals and humans has been associated with the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, which has become a global public health concern. Veterinarians’ practice locations and their knowledge and opinions on antimicrobial resistance may influence their antimicrobial prescription practices, which could impact the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This study used a spatial modeling approach to identify areas where veterinarians are knowledgeable about factors that impact the selection of antimicrobial resistance. In addition, we sought to identify regions with higher- and lower-than-expected response rates to our survey to aid future antimicrobial stewardship efforts. A total of 83 veterinarians who treated dogs and/or cats across 34 different Illinois counties responded to our online survey. Most of the responders (90.9%) considered that insufficient doses or duration of antibiotic treatments contribute the most to the selection of antimicrobial resistance. A high proportion of veterinarians (78.7%) attended educational programs on antimicrobial use and resistance; however, only 46.2% were knowledgeable about the current antimicrobial resistance profiles of prevalent bacteria in their area. A mean knowledge score for each county was calculated based on the responses of veterinarians to the survey questions. Local Moran’s I statistic was used to identify counties with high and low knowledge scores. A high knowledge score area in the northeast region and a low knowledge score area in the southeast of Illinois were identified. Using scan statistics with a Poisson model that accounted for the estimated number of veterinarians in a county, a higher-than-expected response rate area was identified in central-east Illinois and a lower-than-expected area in the northeast. This study showed the effectiveness of using geographic analysis and spatial statistics to identify locations where future antimicrobial stewardship programs should focus.