bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spiritualitas dan Religiusitas Pada Pasien Kanker
Authors: Wiksuarini Erwin , Amrullah Muhammad , Haerani Beti , Khairani Fuji
Published: January 2023

Spirituality is something that is very important to be realized in the health service setting and has a positive impact on cancer patients, especially in the lives of cancer patients themselves. Spirituality can reduce depressive symptoms and improve quality of life in cancer patients. A phenomenon that is still happening today is that many health services only focus on physical problems without paying attention to the psychological and spiritual problems of their patients. So that data on spirituality and religiosity in Indonesia is still not comprehensive. The purpose of the research this is to find out how the image of spirituality and religiosity in cancer patients. Deep method study This study used a quantitative descriptive design with a cross-sectional approach which was taken using accidental sampling which was carried out from early February to early April 2022 with a total sample of 115 cancer patients treated at the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial General Hospital. Resultsfrom research This shows that the average cancer patient has high spirituality with an average score of 98.81 and the highest is 120. Producing a religious value of well being is higher than the existential well being score with an average value of 52.09. The conclusion from this study is that the majority of cancer patients always worship according to their beliefs, this is shown by 91% of cancer patients who always worship according to their respective beliefs.
Load Redistribution-based Reliability Enhancement for Storage Area Networks
Authors: Lv Guixiang , Xing Liudong , Wang Honggang , Liu Hong
Published: January 2023

Storage area networks (SANs) are one of the prevalent reliable data storage solutions. However, cascading failures triggered by data overloading have become a major threat to SANs, preventing the desired quality of service from being delivered to users. Based on our preliminary works on studying the impacts of data loading on the reliability performance of SANs, this paper advances the state of the art by implementing node degree-based load redistribution strategies to enhance the SAN reliability, thus mitigating or even preventing the occurrence of cascading failures during the mission time. Load-based and reliability-based node selection rules are considered, which choose nodes with the highest load level and the lowest reliability for load redistribution, respectively. The relationship between data loading and reliability of an individual SAN component is modeled using the accelerated failure-time model with the power law. The SAN reliability is assessed using a combinatorial decision diagram-based approach. The application and effectiveness of the proposed load redistribution strategies are demonstrated and compared through a case study of an SAN with the mesh topology.
Blockchain in Supply Chain Management: A Synthesis of Barriers and Enablers for Managers
Authors: Kafeel Huzaifa , Kumar Vikas , Duong Linh
Published: January 2023

Blockchain is an emerging and disruptive technology and has the potential to change how supply chains manage their information. However, Blockchain is accompanied by challenges, such as increased information technology complexity, issues of scalability, incompatibility with existing laws and regulations, and a lack of awareness among organisations and customers. This research conducts a bibliometric analysis based on a sample of 68 papers which address the barriers and enablers of blockchain adoption in supply chain management. A recurring theme in the papers was managers’ lack of understanding of Blockchain, which acted as a barrier to adoption. This study proposes a possible explanation by arguing that the academic models used in literature are too obscure from a manager’s perspective and that there is a need to synthesise literature into a framework which is easily understood and familiar. Therefore, the barriers and enablers identified in this study were grouped into the robust Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environment (PESTLE) framework. A key finding from this framework was the absence of political barriers or enablers, which is surprising since blockchain adoption challenges the current status quo in multiple ways. Furthermore, the environmental enablers and barriers were scarcely discussed, with little empirical evidence.
Investigation of the Change of Acoustic Pressure in an Element of Acoustic Barrier with an Elliptical Shape
Authors: Nedelchev Krasimir , Gieva Elitsa , Kralov Ivan , Ruskova Ivelina
Published: January 2023

In the presented article we have investigated the variation of the sound pressure level in characteristic areas around an element of an acoustic barrier with an elliptical shape at different frequencies (from 100 Hz to 2000 Hz). The variation of the sound pressure level in four characteristic areas located on the axis of symmetry of the acoustic barrier element is investigated. The purpose of the research is to determine in which of the areas it is most efficient to place devices for generating electrical energy from acoustic noise. The results were analyzed and relevant conclusions were drawn.
Impact-Rebound Momentum Excitation Based Inertial Parameters and State Estimation of Defunct Space Object
Authors: Xu Bingyu , Wang Shuquan , Zhao Liping , Zhang Long
Published: January 2023

Obtaining the inertia tensors of defunct space objects is essential in on-orbit missions. When the inertia tensor of the space object is non-diagonal, the problem becomes challenging. In this case, the system does not have enough information to estimate the six independent parameters of the inertia tensor. In this paper, the problem of estimating the inertial parameters of a defunct space object with non-diagonal inertia tensor is studied. An excitation method of ejecting an impact ball from the tracking spacecraft to the object is proposed to estimate the complete inertial parameters of the object. The impact ball rebounds after colliding with the object and crashes into the atmosphere finally. After the collision, the angular momentum of the space object changes. The change is used to construct the estimation model. This paper designs an estimation model which consists of two Unscented Kalman-based estimators to estimate the inertial parameters and the motion states of the object. The observability of the estimators is proved through the observability theorem of nonlinear systems. Numerical simulations show that the estimation model is effective in estimating the complete inertial parameters of defunct objects, as well as reducing the measurement errors of the position and attitude of the object.
Sociality of Cats toward Humans Can Be Influenced by Hormonal and Socio-Environmental Factors: Pilot Study
Authors: Koyasu Hikari , Takahashi Hironobu , Sasao Ikuto , Takagi Saho , Nagasawa Miho , Kikusui Takefumi
Published: January 2023

Individual differences in the sociality of cats are influenced by inherited and environmental factors. We recently revealed that hormones can make a difference in intraspecies social behavior. It remains unclear whether cat behavior toward humans is modulated by hormones. Therefore, we analyzed the relationship between cat behavior and their basal hormone concentrations after spending time together with human experimenters. In addition, we analyzed the relationship between cat behavior and the timing of when the individual cats began living with a human because the sociality of cats could be dependent on their developmental experiences. The results showed that male cats that began living with humans earlier had more contact with an experimenter. In addition, individual male cats with low testosterone levels were more likely to interact with an experimenter. These findings of this pilot study suggest that the sociality of male cats toward humans is affected by testosterone and the age at which they begin to live with humans.
Clinical Findings, Management, Imaging, and Outcomes in Sea Turtles with Traumatic Head Injuries: A Retrospective Study of 29 Caretta caretta
Authors: Franchini Delia , Paci Serena , Ciccarelli Stefano , Valastro Carmela , Salvemini Pasquale , Di Bello Antonio
Published: January 2023

Sea turtles are considered endangered species, largely due to anthropogenic activities. Much of the trauma in these species involves the carapace and skull, resulting in several degrees of damage to the pulmonary and nervous systems. Among traumatic injuries, those involving the skull can be complicated by brain exposure, and turtles with severe skull injuries that have nervous system impairment, emaciation, and dehydration can often die. Between July 2014 and February 2022, a total of 1877 loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) were referred for clinical evaluation at the Sea Turtle Clinic (STC) of the Department of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Bari. A retrospective study of 29 consecutive cases of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) with skull lesions of different degrees of severity is reported. On admission, physical and neurological evaluations were performed to assess and grade the lesions and neurological deficits. In 20 of the 29 sea turtles with more serious head trauma, computed tomography (CT) findings in combination with physical and neurological assessment enabled the evaluation of the potential correlation between deficits and the extent of head injuries. All sea turtles underwent curettage of the skull wounds, and the treatment protocol included the use of the plant-derived dressing 1 Primary Wound Dressing® (Phytoceutical AG, Endospin Italia) applied on the wound surface as a primary dressing. Out of 29 sea turtles, 21 were released after a time ranging from a few days to 8 months. To the best of our knowledge, the literature lacks specific data on the incidence, correlations with neurological deficits, complications, and survival rate of loggerhead sea turtles with traumatic head injuries.
Inulin and Chinese Gallotannin Affect Meat Quality and Lipid Metabolism on Hu Sheep
Authors: He Zhaohua , Cheng Long , Li Shaobin , Liu Qiaoling , Liang Xue , Hu Jiang , Wang Jiqing , Liu Xiu , Zhao Fangfang
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of inulin and Chinese gallotannin on the meat fatty acids and urinary metabolites in sheep. Twenty-four healthy (25.80 ± 3.85 kg) weaned Hu lambs of approximately 4.5 months old were equally divided into four groups: control group (basal diet), treatment group I (basal diet + 0.1% inulin), treatment group II (basal diet + 0.1% inulin + 2% Chinese gallotannin), and treatment group III (basal diet + 0.1% inulin + 2% Chinese gallotannin + 4% PEG). The contents of myristic acid (C14:0) and palmitic acid (C16:0) were found to be lower in treatment group II than in the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the palmitoleic acid (C16:1) content in treatment group II was notably higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05), while the elaidic acid (C18:1n9t) content in treatment group II was higher than that in other groups (p < 0.05). Besides, the linoleic acid (C18:2n6c) content was higher in the treatment II and control groups than in the treatment I and III groups. Furthermore, compared with the control group, both 4-pyridoxic acid and creatinine in treatment groups I and II were upregulated (p < 0.05), while other metabolites, such as nicotinuric acid, l-threonine, palmitic acid, and oleic acid, were drastically downregulated (p < 0.05). These differential metabolites were found to be mainly involved in nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism (ko00760), vitamin B6 metabolism (ko00750), and the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway (ko00061). It is concluded that the combination of inulin and Chinese gallotannin in the diet could improve the energy and lipid metabolism of sheep, which may improve both mutton quality and production performance.
De Novo Assembly, Characterization and Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of the Mature Gonads in Spinibarbus hollandi
Authors: Han Chong , Huang Wenwei , Peng Suhan , Zhou Jiangwei , Zhan Huawei , Zhang Yuying , Li Wenjun , Gong Jian , Li Qiang
Published: January 2023

Spinibarbus hollandi is an important commercial aquaculture species in southeastern China, but with long maturity period and low egg laying amount. However, there has been little study of its gonad development and reproductive regulation, which limits aquaculture production. Here, for the first time, gonadal transcriptomes of male and female S. hollandi were analyzed. A total of 167,152 unigenes were assembled, with only 48,275 annotated successfully. After comparison, a total of 21,903 differentially expressed genes were identified between male and female gonads, of which 16,395 were upregulated and 5508 were downregulated in the testis. In addition, a large number of differentially expressed genes participating in reproduction, gonad formation and differentiation, and gametogenesis were screened out and the differential expression profiles of partial genes were further validated using quantitative real-time PCR. These results will provide basic information for further research on gonad differentiation and development in S. hollandi.
Synergistic Inhibition of MRSA by Chenodeoxycholic Acid and Carbapenem Antibiotics
Authors: Cui Kaiyu , Yang Weifeng , Liu Shuang , Li Dongying , Li Lu , Ren Xing , Sun Yanan , He Gaiying , Ma Shuhua , Zhang Jidan , Wei Qing , Wang Yi
Published: January 2023

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has posed a severe global health threat. In this study, we screened an antibiotic and non-antibiotic combination that provides a viable strategy to solve this issue by broadening the antimicrobial spectrum. We found that chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) could synergistically act with carbapenem antibiotics to eradicate MRSA-related infections. This synergy specifically targets MRSA and was also validated using 25 clinical MRSA strains using time–kill analysis. We speculated that the underlying mechanism was associated with the interaction of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). As a result, the synergistic efficiency of CDCA with carbapenems targeting PBP1 was better than that of β-lactams targeting PBPs. Moreover, we showed that CDCA did not affect the expression level of PBPs, but sensitized MRSA to carbapenems by disrupting the cell membrane. In our study, we have revealed a novel synergistic combination of antibiotics and non-antibiotics to combat potential bacterial infections.
In Vitro, In Vivo and In Silico Assessment of the Antimicrobial and Immunomodulatory Effects of a Water Buffalo Cathelicidin (WBCATH) in Experimental Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Palacios Jacqueline Barrios , Barrios-Payán Jorge , Mata-Espinosa Dulce , Lara-Espinosa Jacqueline V. , León-Contreras Juan Carlos , Lushington Gerald H. , Melgarejo Tonatiuh , Hernández-Pando Rogelio
Published: January 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is considered the oldest pandemic in human history. The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains is currently considered a serious global health problem. As components of the innate immune response, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as cathelicidins have been proposed to have efficacious antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). In this work, we assessed a cathelicidin from water buffalo, Bubalus bubalis, (WBCATH), determining in vitro its antitubercular activity (MIC), cytotoxicity and the peptide effect on bacillary loads and cytokines production in infected alveolar macrophages. Our results showed that WBCATH has microbicidal activity against drug-sensitive and MDR Mtb, induces structural mycobacterial damage demonstrated by electron microscopy, improves Mtb killing and induces the production of protective cytokines by murine macrophages. Furthermore, in vivo WBCATH showed decreased bacterial loads in a model of progressive pulmonary TB in BALB/c mice infected with drug-sensitive or MDR mycobacteria. In addition, a synergistic therapeutic effect was observed when first-line antibiotics were administered with WBCATH. These results were supported by computational modeling of the potential effects of WBCATH on the cellular membrane of Mtb. Thus, this water buffalo-derived cathelicidin could be a promising adjuvant therapy for current anti-TB drugs by enhancing a protective immune response and potentially reducing antibiotic treatment duration.
Assessment of Odour and Ammonia Impacts for a Novel Fattening Piggery Tailored for Animal Welfare and Low Emission Rates
Authors: Oettl Dietmar , Zentner Eduard , Zentner Andreas , Mair Robert , Oettl Hannah , Kropsch Michael
Published: January 2023

According to the European Commission, Austria is obliged to reduce ammonia emissions by 12% between 2005 and 2030. Agriculture, in particular livestock buildings and the spreading of manure, is the predominant source of ammonia in most countries, calling for stringent mitigation measures in this area. This study investigated a combination of measures implemented in a newly constructed fattening piggery in Styria (Austria) for reducing ammonia, particulate matter (not subject of this publication), and odour emissions. Additionally, the livestock building should meet standards to enhance animal welfare as well. Based on observed ammonia concentrations at several locations in the vicinity of the farm as well as field inspections for odour according to EN 16841-1, corresponding emission factors were derived using the Lagrangian particle model GRAL and in situ measurements of meteorology. The resulting emission factor for ammonia was found to be 80% lower compared to the standard emission factor of 3.64 kg a−1 for fattening piggeries according to the German guideline VDI 3894-1. Moreover, the emission factor for odour was 95% lower than the standard factor of 0.180 ouE kg−1 s−1 used in Styria for conventional fattening piggeries without any reduction techniques.
Application of New Modified Genetic Algorithm in Inverse Calculation of Strong Source Location
Authors: Yao Jiming , Liu Yajing , Feng Zhengwen , Liu Tong , Zhou Shuai , Liu Hongjian
Published: January 2023

With the rapid development of intelligent systems, the application of genetic algorithms to quickly and accurately determine the location of hazardous gas leaks is of great practical significance. To further improve the convergence efficiency and stability of the inverse calculation, a new improved genetic algorithm (NMGA) is designed on the basis of the improved genetic algorithm (MGA). The adaptive crossover rate and mutation rate change with the evolution algebra to guide the development trend of good gene genetics and change the genetic crossover ratio of parents and children in the culler’s gene pool to avoid damaging the good group genes by introducing bad genes. This study modified the adaptive crossover rate and mutation rate that change with the evolutionary generations to guide the development of good gene inheritance. Meanwhile, this study changed the genetic crossover ratio of parent and offspring in the elimination gene pool to avoid the introduction of unfavorable genes and the destruction of excellent group genes. Through the calculation simulation of the new improved genetic algorithm (NMGA) in Matlab and the quantitative and qualitative comparative analysis with the MGA statistical results, it is shown that NMGA can improve the slow convergence speed of MGA by reducing the number of iterations on the premise of ensuring the stability of MGA and the accuracy of the inverse calculation. The results indicated that the convergence rate and stability of NMGA greatly improved its convergence efficiency, inverse calculation accuracy, and stability, thereby providing powerful decision-making data for rapid emergency rescue work for sudden light gas leakage accidents.
Improving the Structural Ordering and Particle-Size Homogeneity of Li-Rich Layered Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 Cathode Materials through Microwave Irradiation Solid-State Synthesis
Authors: Karunawan Jotti , Abdillah Oktaviardi Bityasmawan , Floweri Octia , Aji Mahardika Prasetya , Santosa Sigit Puji , Sumboja Afriyanti , Iskandar Ferry
Published: January 2023

Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 (LNCM) has been intensively investigated owing to its high capacity and large voltage window. However, despite its high performance, the synthesis of LNCM can be challenging as it usually contains structural disorders and particle-size inhomogeneities, especially via a solid-state method. This work introduces microwave irradiation treatment on the LNCM fabricated via a solid-state method. The as-treated LNCM has low structural disorders, as indicated by the smaller cation mixing, better hexagonal ordering, and higher c/a ratio compared to the non-treated LNCM. Furthermore, the particle-size homogeneities of as-treated LNCM improved, as characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and particle size analyzer (PSA) measurements. The improved structural ordering and particle-size homogeneity of the treated sample enhances the specific capacity, initial Coulombic efficiency, and rate capability of the cathode material. The LNCM sample with 20 min of microwave treatment exhibits an optimum performance, showing a large specific capacity (259.84 mAh/g), a high first-cycle Coulombic efficiency (81.45%), and good rate capability. It also showed a stable electrochemical performance with 80.57% capacity retention after 200 cycles (at a charge/discharge of 0.2C/0.5C), which is 13% higher than samples without microwave irradiation.
Comprehensive Degradation Analysis of NCA Li-Ion Batteries via Methods of Electrochemical Characterisation for Various Stress-Inducing Scenarios
Authors: Kemeny Martin , Ondrejka Peter , Mikolasek Miroslav
Published: January 2023

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries with Ni-based cathodes are leading storage technology in the fields of electric vehicles and power-grid applications. NCA (LiNiCoAlO2) batteries are known for their troublesome degradation tendencies, and this susceptibility to degradation raises questions regarding the safety of their usage. Hence, it is of vital importance to analyse the degradation of NCA batteries via methods which are applicable to onboard systems, so that the changes in the battery’s state of health can be addressed accordingly. For this purpose, it is crucial to study batteries stressed by various conditions which might induce degradation of different origins or magnitudes. Methods such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT), and incremental capacity analysis (ICA) have been used in battery research for years, however, there is a lack of published studies which would analyse the degradation of NCA batteries by simultaneous usage of these methods, which is essential for a comprehensive and confirmatory understanding of battery degradation. This study intends to fill this research gap by analysing the degradation of NCA batteries via simultaneous usage of EIS, GITT, and ICA methods for common stress-inducing operating conditions (over-charge, over-discharge, and high-current charging).
Current Technical Approaches to Study RNA–Protein Interactions in mRNAs and Long Non-Coding RNAs
Authors: Mattay Johanna
Published: January 2023

It is commonly understood that RNA-binding proteins crucially determine the fate of their target RNAs. Vice versa, RNAs are becoming increasingly recognized for their functions in protein regulation and the dynamics of RNA-protein complexes. Long non-coding RNAs are emerging as potent regulators of proteins that exert unknown RNA-binding properties and moonlighting functions. A vast array of RNA- and protein-centric techniques have been developed for the identification of protein and RNA targets, respectively, including unbiased protein mass spectrometry and next-generation RNA sequencing as readout. Determining true physiological RNA and protein targets is challenging as RNA–protein interaction is highly dynamic, tissue- and cell-type-specific, and changes with the environment. Here I review current techniques for the analysis of RNA–protein interactions in living cells and in vitro. RNA-centric techniques are presented on the basis of cross-linking or the use of alternative approaches. Protein-centric approaches are discussed in combination with high-throughput sequencing. Finally, the impact of mutations in RNA–protein complexes on human disease is highlighted.
Special Issue “Recent Advances in Biomaterials and Dental Disease” Part I
Authors: Kharouf Naji , Sauro Salvatore , Hardan Louis , Haikel Youssef , Mancino Davide
Published: January 2023

Oral cavities provide an entry point for food and nutrients [...]
Functional Validation of the Putative Oncogenic Activity of PLAU
Authors: Sarno Federica , Goubert Désirée , Logie Emilie , Rutten Martijn G. S. , Koncz Mihaly , Deben Christophe , Niemarkt Anita E. , Altucci Lucia , Verschure Pernette J. , Kiss Antal , Berghe Wim Vanden , Rots Marianne G.
Published: January 2023

Plasminogen activator, urokinase (PLAU) is involved in cell migration, proliferation and tissue remodeling. PLAU upregulation is associated with an increase in aggressiveness, metastasis, and invasion of several cancer types, including breast cancer. In patients, this translates into decreased sensitivity to hormonal treatment, and poor prognosis. These clinical findings have led to the examination of PLAU as a biomarker for predicting breast cancer prognosis and therapy responses. In this study, we investigated the functional ability of PLAU to act as an oncogene in breast cancers by modulating its expression using CRISPR-deactivated Cas9 (CRISPR-dCas9) tools. Different effector domains (e.g., transcription modulators (VP64, KRAB)) alone or in combination with epigenetic writers (DNMT3A/3L, MSssI) were fused to dCas9 and targeted to the PLAU promoter. In MDA-MB-231 cells characterized by high PLAU expression downregulation of PLAU expression by CRISPR-dCas9-DNMT3A/3L-KRAB, resulted in decreased cell proliferation. Conversely, CRISPR-dCas9-VP64 induced PLAU upregulation in low PLAU expressing MCF-7 cells and significantly increased aggressiveness and invasion. In conclusion, modulation of PLAU expression affected metastatic related properties of breast cancer cells, thus further validating its oncogenic activity in breast cancer cells.
L-Serine Influences Epigenetic Modifications to Improve Cognition and Behaviors in Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone Knockout Mice
Authors: Zhang Fang , Icyuz Mert , Tollefsbol Trygve , Cox Paul Alan , Banack Sandra Anne , Sun Liou Y.
Published: January 2023

Neurodegenerative diseases feature changes in cognition, and anxiety-like and autism-like behaviors, which are associated with epigenetic alterations such as DNA methylation and histone modifications. The amino acid L-serine has been shown to have beneficial effects on neurological symptoms. Here, we found that growth hormone-releasing hormone knockout (GHRH-KO) mice, a GH-deficiency mouse model characterized by extended lifespan and enhanced insulin sensitivity, showed a lower anxiety symptom and impairment of short-term object recognition memory and autism-like behaviors. Interestingly, L-serine administration exerted anxiolytic effects in mice and ameliorated the behavioral deficits in GHRH-KO. L-serine treatment upregulated histone epigenetic markers of H3K4me, H3K9ac, H3K14ac and H3K18ac in the hippocampus and H3K4me in the cerebral cortex in both GHRH-KO mice and wild type controls. L-serine-modulated epigenetic marker changes, in turn, were found to regulate mRNA expression of BDNF, grm3, foxp1, shank3, auts2 and marcksl1, which are involved in anxiety-, cognitive- and autism-like behaviors. Our study provides a novel insight into the beneficial effects of L-serine intervention on neuropsychological impairments.
Intrarenal Dopaminergic System Is Dysregulated in SS-Resp18mutant Rats
Authors: Ashraf Usman M. , Atari Ealla , Alasmari Fawaz , Waghulde Harshal , Kumar Vikash , Sari Youssef , Najjar Sonia M. , Jose Pedro A. , Kumarasamy Sivarajan
Published: January 2023

The genetic and molecular basis of developing high blood pressure and renal disease are not well known. Resp18mutant Dahl salt-sensitive (SS-Resp18mutant) rats fed a 2% NaCl diet for six weeks have high blood pressure, increased renal fibrosis, and decreased mean survival time. Impairment of the dopaminergic system also leads to hypertension that involves renal and non-renal mechanisms. Deletion of any of the five dopamine receptors may lead to salt-sensitive hypertension. Therefore, we investigated the interaction between Resp18 and renal dopamine in SS-Resp18mutant and Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats. We found that SS-Resp18mutant rats had vascular dysfunction, as evidenced by a decrease in vasorelaxation in response to sodium nitroprusside. The pressure–natriuresis curve in SS-Resp18mutant rats was shifted down and to the right of SS rats. SS-Resp18mutant rats had decreased glomerular filtration rate and dopamine receptor subtypes, D1R and D5R. Renal dopamine levels were decreased, but urinary dopamine levels were increased, which may be the consequence of increased renal dopamine production, followed by secretion into the tubular lumen. The increased renal dopamine production in SS-Resp18mutant rats in vivo was substantiated by the increased dopamine production in renal proximal tubule cells treated with L-DOPA. Overall, our study provides evidence that targeted disruption of the Resp18 locus in the SS rat dysregulates the renal dopaminergic system.
A Spiny Climbing Robot with Dual-Rail Mechanism
Authors: Liu Yanwei , Wang Hao , Hu Chongyang , Zhou Qiang , Li Pengyang
Published: January 2023

Easy detachment is as important as reliable an attachment to climbing robots in achieving stable climbing on vertical surfaces. To deal with the difficulty of detachment occurring in wheeled and track-type climbing robots using bio-inspired spines, a novel climbing robot utilizing spiny track and dual-rail mechanism is proposed in this paper. The spiny track consists of dozens of spiny feet, and the movement of each spiny foot is guided by the specially designed dual-rail mechanism to achieve reliable attachment and easy detachment. First, the design of the climbing robot and the dual-rail mechanism are presented. Then, the dual-rail model is constructed to analyze the attaching and detaching movements of the spiny feet, and a mechanical model is established to analyze the force distribution on the spiny track. Finally, a robot prototype is developed, and the analysis results are verified by the experiment results. Experiments on the prototype demonstrated that it could climb on various rough vertical surfaces at a speed of 36 mm/s, including sandpaper, brick surfaces, concrete walls with pebbles, and coarse stucco walls.
Cognitive Deficits among Individuals Admitted to a Post-Acute Pneumological Rehabilitation Unit in Southern Italy after COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Lagravinese Gianvito , Castellana Giorgio , Castellana Fabio , Genco Maddalena , Petrelli Rita , Ruccia Maria , Aliani Maria , Carone Mauro , Sardone Rodolfo , Battista Petronilla
Published: January 2023

(1) Background: We investigated the differences in the neuropsychological profile as well as the pneumological and motor functions in two groups of patients admitted to rehabilitation who received different respiratory support during their COVID-19 infection. (2) Methods: Group-1 (n = 18; 15 male, median age 67.5) consisted of patients who received non-invasive mechanical ventilation; Group-2 (n = 19; 16 male, median age 63) consisted of patients who received invasive mechanical ventilation. All patients underwent a neuropsychological assessment including Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (R-BANS) to evaluate the patients’ cognition. Depression and anxiety were also measured at admission and discharge to rehabilitation. (3) Results: At admission, patients impaired at MMSE were 44% in Group-1 and 5% in Group-2, while patients impaired at FAB were 88% in Group-1 and 26% in Group-2. Wilcoxon’s effect size revealed meaningful differences between groups for FAB, R-BANS global score, immediate and delayed memory, and attention-coding task, with Group-2 performing better than Group-1 across all measures. At discharge, 52% of the 25 patients re-assessed still had mild to moderate cognitive deficits, while 19% had depression and 35% had anxiety. (4) Conclusions: Patients who received oxygen therapy experienced higher levels of acute and chronic stress compared to those who benefitted from invasive mechanical ventilation. Despite patients showing a meaningful improvement at discharge, cognitive impairment persisted in a great number of patients; therefore, long-term neuropsychological follow-up and treatment for COVID-19 patients are recommended.
TED—Trazodone Efficacy in Depression: A Naturalistic Study on the Efficacy of Trazodone in an Extended-Release Formulation Compared to SSRIs in Patients with a Depressive Episode—Preliminary Report
Authors: Siwek Marcin , Gorostowicz Aleksandra , Chrobak Adrian Andrzej , Gerlich Adrian , Krupa Anna Julia , Juryk Andrzej , Dudek Dominika
Published: January 2023

These are the preliminary results of a 12-week non-randomized, open-label, non-inferiority study comparing the effectiveness of trazodone in an extended-release formulation (XR) versus SSRIs in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Participants (n = 76) were recruited, and 42 were assigned to the trazodone XR group and 34 to the SSRIs group. The choice of drug was based on clinical presentation and relied upon the attending physician. Assessments were made at five observation time points, at the following weeks: 0, and after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The evaluations included: symptoms of depression (MADRS, QIDS-clinician, and self-rated versions-primary study endpoints), anhedonia (SHAPS), anxiety (HAM-A), insomnia (AIS), psychosocial functioning (SDS), and therapeutic efficacy (CGI). At baseline, the trazodone group had significantly more severe depressive, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms and worse psychosocial functioning compared to the SSRIs group. After 12 weeks, trazodone XR was more effective than SSRIs in reducing the severity of insomnia and depression. There were no differences between the groups in the frequencies of therapeutic response and remission, which indicated the non-inferiority of the trazodone XR treatment. In conclusion, our results showed that in a “real world” setting, trazodone XR is effective in the treatment of patients with MDD.
Invisible Erosion of Human Capital: The Impact of Emotional Blackmail and Emotional Intelligence on Nurses’ Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention
Authors: Lo Wei-Yuan , Lin Yu-Kai , Lin Chun-Yu , Lee Hsiang-Ming
Published: January 2023

Emotion is a compelling factor in the retention and job satisfaction of professionals, and the impacts of emotional feelings and reactions have become an indispensable issue in the nursing workforce. Drawing on the cognitive theory of emotions, this study bridges the research gap to investigate the relationships among emotional blackmail, emotional intelligence, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions of nurses. A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from a sample of 374 full-time nurses in Northern Taiwan. Hypotheses were tested and analyzed by means of SPSS 22, structural equation modeling (SEM), and PROCESS v3.3. The results revealed the direct relationships between emotional blackmail, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions, and job satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between emotional blackmail and turnover intentions. However, there is no statistical support that emotional intelligence moderates the relationships between emotional blackmail and job satisfaction and turnover intentions. Healthcare organizations must take the initiative and form strategies that will help balance nurses’ work stresses. These strategies should aim to reduce unnecessary demands from supervisors, patients, and co-workers, as well as in the socio-emotional domain.
Anti-Androgenic Therapies Targeting the Luminal Androgen Receptor of a Typical Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Khadela Avinash , Chavda Vivek P. , Soni Shruti , Megha Kaivalya , Pandya Aanshi J. , Vora Lalitkumar
Published: January 2023

Triple-negative tumors are progressively delineating their existence over the extended spectrum of breast cancers, marked by intricate molecular heterogeneity, a low overall survival rate, and an unexplored therapeutic approach. Although the basal subtype transcends the group and contributes approximately 80% to triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cases, the exceptionally appearing mesenchymal and luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtypes portray an unfathomable clinical course. LAR with a distinct generic profile frequently metastasizes to regional lymph nodes and bones. This subtype is minimally affected by chemotherapy and shows the lowest pathologic complete response. The androgen receptor is the only sex steroid receptor that plays a cardinal role in the progression of breast cancers and is typically overexpressed in LAR. The partial AR antagonist bicalutamide and the next-generation AR inhibitor enzalutamide are being assessed in standard protocols for the mitigation of TNBC. There arises an inevitable need to probe into the strategies that could neutralize these androgen receptors and alleviate the trajectory of concerning cancer. This paper thus focuses on reviewing literature that provides insights into the anti-androgenic elements against LAR typical TNBC that could pave the way for clinical advancements in this dynamic sphere of oncology.
RGD-Coated Polymer Nanoworms for Enriching Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Gu Yushu , Bobrin Valentin , Zhang Dayong , Sun Bing , Ng Chun Ki , Chen Sung-Po R. , Gu Wenyi , Monteiro Michael J.
Published: January 2023

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are primarily responsible for tumour drug resistance and metastasis; thus, targeting CSCs can be a promising approach to stop cancer recurrence. However, CSCs are small in numbers and readily differentiate into matured cancer cells, making the study of their biological features, including therapeutic targets, difficult. The use of three-dimensional (3D) culture systems to enrich CSCs has some limitations, including low sphere forming efficiency, enzymatic digestion that may damage surface proteins, and more importantly no means to sustain the stem properties. A responsive 3D polymer extracellular matrix (ECM) system coated with RGD was used to enrich CSCs, sustain stemness and avoid enzymatic dissociation. RGD was used as a targeting motif and a ligand to bind integrin receptors. We found that the system was able to increase sphere forming efficiency, promote the growth of spheric cells, and maintain stemness-associated properties compared to the current 3D culture. We showed that continuous culture for three generations of colon tumour spheroid led to the stem marker CD24 gradually increasing. Furthermore, the new system could enhance the cancer cell sphere forming ability for the difficult triple negative breast cancer cells, MBA-MD-231. The key stem gene expression for colon cancer also increased with the new system. Further studies indicated that the concentration of RGD, especially at high doses, could inhibit stemness. Taken together, our data demonstrate that our RGD-based ECM system can facilitate the enrichment of CSCs and now allow for the investigation of new therapeutic approaches for colorectal cancer or other cancers.
HIV-1 Protease as DNA Immunogen against Drug Resistance in HIV-1 Infection: DNA Immunization with Drug Resistant HIV-1 Protease Protects Mice from Challenge with Protease-Expressing Cells
Authors: Petkov Stefan , Kilpeläinen Athina , Bayurova Ekaterina , Latanova Anastasia , Mezale Dzeina , Fridrihsone Ilse , Starodubova Elizaveta , Jansons Juris , Dudorova Alesja , Gordeychuk Ilya , Wahren Britta , Isaguliants Maria
Published: January 2023

DNA immunization with HIV-1 protease (PR) is advanced for immunotherapy of HIV-1 infection to reduce the number of infected cells producing drug-resistant virus. A consensus PR of the HIV-1 FSU_A strain was designed, expression-optimized, inactivated (D25N), and supplemented with drug resistance (DR) mutations M46I, I54V, and V82A common for FSU_A. PR variants with D25N/M46I/I54V (PR_Ai2mut) and with D25N/M46I/I54V/V82A (PR_Ai3mut) were cloned into the DNA vaccine vector pVAX1, and PR_Ai3mut, into a lentiviral vector for the transduction of murine mammary adenocarcinoma cells expressing luciferase 4T1luc2. BALB/c mice were DNA-immunized by intradermal injections of PR_Ai, PR_Ai2mut, PR_Ai3mut, vector pVAX1, or PBS with electroporation. All PR variants induced specific CD8+ T-cell responses revealed after splenocyte stimulation with PR-derived peptides. Splenocytes of mice DNA-immunized with PR_Ai and PR_Ai2mut were not activated by peptides carrying V82A, whereas splenocytes of PR_Ai3mut-immunized mice recognized both peptides with and without V82A mutation. Mutations M46I and I54V were immunologically silent. In the challenge study, DNA immunization with PR_Ai3mut protected mice from the outgrowth of subcutaneously implanted adenocarcinoma 4T1luc2 cells expressing PR_Ai3mut; a tumor was formed only in 1/10 implantation sites and no metastases were detected. Immunizations with other PR variants were not protective; all mice formed tumors and multiple metastasis in the lungs, liver, and spleen. CD8+ cells of PR_Ai3mut DNA-immunized mice exhibited strong IFN-γ/IL-2 responses against PR peptides, while the splenocytes of mice in other groups were nonresponsive. Thus, immunization with a DNA plasmid encoding inactive HIV-1 protease with DR mutations suppressed the growth and metastatic activity of tumor cells expressing PR identical to the one encoded by the immunogen. This demonstrates the capacity of T-cell response induced by DNA immunization to recognize single DR mutations, and supports the concept of the development of immunotherapies against drug resistance in HIV-1 infection. It also suggests that HIV-1-infected patients developing drug resistance may have a reduced natural immune response against DR HIV-1 mutations causing an immune escape.
Integrative Methylome and Transcriptome Characterization Identifies SERINC2 as a Tumor-Driven Gene for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Ying Tianxing , Wang Xumeng , Yao Yunjin , Yuan Jimeng , Chen Shitu , Wen Liping , Chen Zhijian , Wang Xiaofeng , Luo Chi , Sheng Jinghao , Wang Weibin , Teng Lisong
Published: January 2023

Most papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) can be diagnosed preoperatively by routine evaluation, such as thyroid ultrasonography and fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Nevertheless, understanding how to differentiate indolent thyroid tumors from aggressive thyroid cancers remains a challenge, which may cause overtreatment. This study aimed to identify papillary thyroid cancer-specific indicators with whole-genome DNA methylation and gene expression profiles utilizing Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip (850k) and RNA arrays. In this paper, we report SERINC2 as a potential tumor-driven indicator in PTC. The up-regulated expression levels of SERINC2 were verified in PTC cell lines via qPCR. Then, cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8), wound healing, and flow cytometric assays were performed to confirm the influence of SERINC2 on proliferation and apoptosis in PTC cell lines after intervention or overexpression. Moreover, the investigation of data from the Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) provided a potential pathway targeted by SERINC2. The activation of the tryptophan metabolic pathway may reduce the dependency of SERINC2 in thyroid cancers. In conclusion, our results demonstrate the whole-genome DNA methylation and gene expression profiles of papillary thyroid carcinoma, identify SERINC2 as a potential tumor-driven biomarker, and preliminarily verify its function in PTC.
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy for Older Patients with Oligometastases: A Proposed Paradigm by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group
Authors: Nguyen Nam P. , Ali Ahmed , Vinh-Hung Vincent , Gorobets Olena , Chi Alexander , Mazibuko Thandeka , Migliore Natália , Vasileiou Maria , Lehrman David , Mohammadianpanah Mohammad , Javadinia Seyed Alireza , Loganadane Gokoulakrichenane , Basu Trinanjan , Bose Satya , Karlsson Ulf , Giap Huan
Published: January 2023

The standard of care for metastatic disease is systemic therapy. A unique subset of patients with limited metastatic disease defined as distant involvement of five anatomic sites or less (oligometastases) have a better chance of remission or improved survival and may benefit from local treatments such as surgery or stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). However, to prevent further spread of disease, systemic treatment such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormonal therapy may be required. Older patients (70 years old or above) or physiologically frail younger patients with multiple co-morbidities may not be able to tolerate the conventional chemotherapy due to its toxicity. In addition, those with a good performance status may not receive optimal chemotherapy due to concern about toxicity. Recently, immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) has become a promising approach only in the management of program death ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive tumors. Thus, a treatment method that elicits induction of PD-L1 production by tumor cells may allow all patients with oligometastases to benefit from immunotherapy. In vitro studies have demonstrated that high dose of radiotherapy may induce formation of PD-L1 in various tumors as a defense mechanism against inflammatory T cells. Clinical studies also corroborated those observations. Thus, SBRT, with its high precision to minimize damage to normal organs, may be a potential treatment of choice for older patients with oligometastases due to its synergy with immunotherapy. We propose a protocol combining SBRT to achieve a minimum radiobiologic equivalent dose around 59.5 Gy to all tumor sites if feasible, followed four to six weeks later by CPI for those cancer patients with oligometastases. All patients will be screened with frailty screening questionnaires to identify individuals at high risk for toxicity. The patients will be managed with an interdisciplinary team which includes oncologists, geriatricians, nurses, nutritionists, patient navigators, and social workers to manage all aspects of geriatric patient care. The use of telemedicine by the team may facilitate patient monitoring during treatment and follow-up. Preliminary data on toxicity, local control, survival, and progression-free survival may be obtained and serve as a template for future prospective studies.