bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of Oral Mucosal Lesions and Their Association With Socioeconomic Status and Systemic Health: A Cross-Sectional Study of Consecutively Collected Oral Medicine Clinic Data in a Remote Rural Area of China
Authors: Yao Hui , Zhang Qiongyue , Song Qianqian , Liu Mingshan , Tang Guoyao
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Epidemiological data of oral mucosal lesions (OMLs) are required to develop practical oral care policies. However, limited data are available for rural areas in China. We aimed to estimate the spectrum and frequency of OMLs and to identify their associated socioeconomic status (SES) and systemic health in a remote rural area in Yunnan, China.

Methods

We screened patients for OMLs in an oral medicine clinic in rural Yunnan, China, from August 2020 to February 2021. OMLs were documented. SES, including the highest education level achieved and the previous month's household income, as well as the patient's systemic health, including a history of smoking, alcohol use, and chronic disease, were obtained from the Medical History/Health Questionnaire Form and patient medical records.

Results

A total of 146 patients were found to have OMLs. The most frequent OML was aphthous ulcer (n = 41, 28.1%), followed by burning mouth syndrome (BMS) (n = 16, 11.0%), viral ulcer (n = 14, 9.6%), and oral lichen planus (OLP) (n = 9, 6.2%). In these patients, the most common chronic diseases were sleep apnea (n = 35, 24.0%), hypertension (n = 23, 15.8%), bronchitis (n = 16, 11.0%), reflux (including gastroesophageal reflux disease) (n = 12, 8.2%), and arthritis (n = 11, 7.5%). On adjusted regression, the patients without chronic diseases had a lower risk of BMS than those with chronic diseases [odds ratio (OR), 0.2; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.03–0.9]. Age was an independent protective factor for viral ulcers (OR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.9–1.0). Patients with low-income levels had a lower risk of OLP than those with high-income levels (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.05–0.9).

Conclusions

Our oral medicine clinic data in remote Yunnan, China, showed the most frequent OML was aphthous ulcer, which was followed by BMS, viral ulcer, and OLP. Oral care policies should be prioritized among patients with aphthous ulcer. Preventive strategy of BMS should be targeted to people with chronic disease for health equalities. Therefore, an individualized strategy for interventions of OMLs might be optimal, based on the specific epidemiologic characteristics in rural settings.
The FGFR4 Homolog KIN-9 Regulates Lifespan and Stress Responses in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Mallick Avijit , Xu Leo , Mehta Sakshi , Taylor Shane K. B. , Hosein Hannah , Gupta Bhagwati P.
Published: May 2022

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) regulate diverse biological processes in eukaryotes. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a good animal model for studying the roles of FGFR signaling and its mechanism of regulation. In this study, we report that KIN-9 is an FGFR homolog in C. elegans that plays essential roles in aging and stress response maintenance. kin-9 was discovered as a target of miR-246, a microRNA that is positively regulated by the Axin family member pry-1. We found that animals lacking kin-9 function were long-lived and resistant to chemically induced stress. Furthermore, they showed a reduced expression of endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response (ER-UPR) pathway genes, suggesting that kin-9 is required to maintain a normal ER-UPR. The analysis of GFP reporter-based expression in transgenic animals revealed that KIN-9 is localized in the intestine. Overall, our findings demonstrate that kin-9 is regulated by miR-246 and may function downstream of pry-1. This study prompts future investigations to understand the mechanism of miRNA-mediated FGFR function in maintaining aging and stress response processes.
Does Your Organization Assess Risk Culture? If Not, It Should. Here's How
Authors: Miller Paul
Published: May 2022

Risk culture is an important subset of organizational culture that Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program managers should assess. Insights into the organization's risk culture can be found in behavioral metrics. Valuable behavioral metrics are present in workforce climate assessments such the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS). Training evaluation frameworks, such as the Kirkpatrick Model, set the foundation for collecting and analyzing behavioral metrics. These sources of behavioral metrics should be utilized in making ERM program decisions, especially regarding risk management policies, training, and communications. A good risk culture assessment offers clues into the risk mentality of decision makers in the organization. ERM program managers would serve their organizations well by knowing the risk mentality of people before important decisions are made.
Unmet Dental Needs Among Mid-to-Older Deaf and Hard of Hearing Women in the U.S.
Authors: Donald Andrew , Rao Sowmya R. , Jacobs Katja , MacDonald Nthabeleng , Kushalnagar Poorna
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Despite the significant number of deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) people living in the U.S., oral health research on DHH people who use American Sign Language (ASL) is virtually nonexistent. This study aims to investigate dental needs among mid-to-older DHH women and identify social determinants of health that may place them at higher risk for unmet dental health needs as the primary outcome.

Methods

This cross-sectional study uses data drawn from Communication Health domain in the PROMIS-DHH Profile and oral health data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Both measures were administered in ASL and English between November 2019 and March 2020. Univariate and bivariate analysis included only complete data, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted on multiply imputed data.

Results

Out of 197 DHH women (41 to 71+ years old) who answered the dental visit question, 48 had unmet dental needs and 149 had met dental needs. Adjusting for sociodemographic variables, disparity in dental needs was observed across education [OR (95% CI): 0.45(0.15, 1.370)] and communication health [0.95 (0.90, 1.01)].

Discussion

Our study is the first to describe DHH mid-to-older women's access to oral health care. DHH women who do not have a college degree may be impacted. Further research is needed to elucidate the particular risk factors, including cultural, to which DHH individuals from marginalized racial groups are susceptible to unmet oral health needs.

Conclusions

Evidence shows that DHH ASL users who have less years of education or are single experience barriers in accessing dental care.
Mediastinal Nodal Staging Performance of Combined Endobronchial and Esophageal Endosonography in Lung Cancer Cases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Xiaozhen , Yang Kun , Guo Weihong , Ye Muqi , Liu Shaozhong
Published: May 2022

By searching lliteratures till January 5, 2022, we evaluated the role of the mediastinal nodal staging of endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EBUS) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS) in lung cancer. A total of 20 studies with 2,961 patients were included in this study. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, and NLR for EBUS were 0.79, 0.97, 27.29, and 0.25, respectively. EUS showed staging performance similar to EBUS. The staging performance was significantly improved when combining EBUS + EUS.
Occurrence of Intestinal Parasites and Its Impact on Growth Performance and Carcass Traits of Pigs Raised Under Near-Organic Conditions
Authors: Li Yuzhi Z. , Hernandez Alexander D. , Major Sara , Carr Rick
Published: May 2022

Parasite infection is a common problem in organic pig production, which can compromise health and growth of pigs, threaten food safety of pork products, and cause economic losses to organic farmers. To develop management strategies for controlling parasites, we evaluated intestinal parasite infection in pigs at different ages and of different sexes, and investigated whether parasite infection influences growth performance and carcass traits in a cross-sectional study. Fecal samples were collected from pigs (n = 298) raised under near-organic standards during nursery, growing, finishing, and gestating phases for analysis of fecal egg counts (FEC) of Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis, and Oesophagostomum spp. Ascaris suum eggs were not detected in the feces of nursery pigs. Eggs of Ascaris suum were found in 45%, 74%, and 0% of fecal samples of growing pigs, finishing pigs, and gestating sows, respectively, after false-positive adjustment (P < 0.001). Mean FEC of Ascaris suum was higher in infected finishing pigs than in infected growing pigs [2,502 vs. 724 eggs per gram (epg), P < 0.001]. No differences in percent of Ascaris suum positive samples or FEC of Ascaris suum were detected between sexes. Growth performance and carcass traits were not different between non-infected pigs and those infected with Ascaris suum. All pigs (n = 32) examined at slaughter had white spots on the liver, and 78% harbored Ascaris suum worms. Trichuris suis eggs were not detected in any fecal samples. Eggs of Oesophagostomum spp. were found in 7%, 0%, 1%, and 9% of fecal samples of nursery pigs, growing pigs, finishing pigs, and gestating sows, respectively, with a maximum FEC of 40 epg in all age groups. These results indicate Ascaris suum was the predominant parasite infecting growing and finishing pigs in the herds studied. To control A. suum infection, future research should investigate the efficacy of treating pigs with organically approved anthelmintics during the growing phase of production.
Study on Poultry Pose Estimation Based on Multi-Parts Detection
Authors: Fang Cheng , Zheng Haikun , Yang Jikang , Deng Hongfeng , Zhang Tiemin
Published: May 2022

Poultry pose estimation is a prerequisite for evaluating abnormal behavior and disease prediction in poultry. Accurate pose-estimation enables poultry producers to better manage their poultry. Because chickens are group-fed, how to achieve automatic poultry pose recognition has become a problematic point for accurate monitoring in large-scale farms. To this end, based on computer vision technology, this paper uses a deep neural network (DNN) technique to estimate the posture of a single broiler chicken. This method compared the pose detection results with the Single Shot MultiBox Detector (SSD) algorithm, You Only Look Once (YOLOV3) algorithm, RetinaNet algorithm, and Faster_R-CNN algorithm. Preliminary tests show that the method proposed in this paper achieves a 0.0128 standard deviation of precision and 0.9218 ± 0.0048 of confidence (95%) and a 0.0266 standard deviation of recall and 0.8996 ± 0.0099 of confidence (95%). By successfully estimating the pose of broiler chickens, it is possible to facilitate the detection of abnormal behavior of poultry. Furthermore, the method can be further improved to increase the overall success rate of verification.
Biochemical and Botanical Aspects of Allium sativum L. Sowing
Authors: Ammarellou Ali , Yousefi Ali Reza , Heydari Moslem , Uberti Daniela , Mastinu Andrea
Published: May 2022

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the yield and compliance of selected Iranian garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivars, including Tuyserkan (TSN), Heydareh (HDH), Mouien (MUN), and Taroom (TRM), during two growing seasons. The TRM cultivar germination rate is higher than the other cultivars studied. The TRM cultivars have quite remarkable values for the dry weight, fresh weight, stem diameter, and the number of leaves present. The fresh weight and dry weight of the TRM cultivar for the second year are 33.8 t/ha and 16.7 t/ha, respectively. However, on average, the HDH cultivar is the tallest plant in the experiments. Average pyruvic acid content in fresh samples of the TRM and HDH cultivars is 78 µm/gfw and 69.3 µm/gfw, respectively. It is observed that there are remarkable differences in the level of pyruvic acid between the different cultivars. The growth, development, and yield of plants are highly dependent on their genetic characteristics; in this experiment, the TRM cultivar shows a good yield (16.7 t/ha), and the evaluated characteristics improve compared to the other cultivars studied, which could be due to the high compatibility of this cultivar to the environmental conditions of the study. The excellent performance on the yield of TRM makes this cultivar more appreciable on a commercial level.
An Analysis of Transaction Costs Involved in the Urban Village Redevelopment Process in China
Authors: Yuan Dinghuan , Yau Yung , Lin Wenyi , Cheng Jianxin
Published: May 2022

A well-designed institutional arrangement for urban village redevelopment projects (UVRPs) must consider transaction costs, but academic papers discussing it from the perspective of transaction cost economics are lacking. This paper applies theory of transaction cost economics to analyse the types and sizes of transaction costs and who bears these costs during redevelopment when implementing UVRPs in China. This paper finds that transactions in UVRPs have high asset specificity, high uncertainty and low frequency, which easily results in high levels of transaction costs. Based on 439 UVRPs collected from seven cities, this paper finds that UVRPs implemented with top–down institutional arrangements remain prevalent in China. Based on semi-structured interviews with participating parties, this paper proves that the sizes and types of transaction costs and the distribution of these costs borne by different participating parties vary with the change of stage under dissimilar institutional arrangements. This implies that a high level of transaction costs at one stage does not necessarily mean the costs stay high at another stage. Transaction costs have essential implications for process efficiency, so policymakers need to consider transaction costs and use hybrid institutional arrangements to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of policies.
Mechanical Properties Decay of Corroded Reinforcement in Concrete—An Overview
Authors: Imperatore Stefania
Published: May 2022

Among the leading consequences of corrosion in reinforced concrete structures (RCS) the cross section reduction in steel bars should be mentioned, coupled to a decay of their mechanical material properties. This paper recalls the main literature findings on the topic and describes a wide collected database of experimental tensile tests performed on naturally corroded reinforcements. The principal predictive degradation laws available in the scientific literature to assess the residual mechanical properties of the corroded reinforcements are synthesized. A first attempt to evaluate the reliability of the literature decay laws to simulate the mechanical performance of naturally corroded steel reinforcement subjected to both uniform and pitting corrosion is performed. Finally, some remarks are suggested on both the tested naturally corroded steel reinforcement and the available degradation laws.
Impact of Bacterial Infections and Antibiotic Use on Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: An Emerging Infections Network Survey
Authors: Jacobs Anna C. , Khosrowshahi Lynn , Risi George , Beekmann Susan , Polgreen Philip M. ,   the COVID-19 Study Team, Albrecht Mark
Published: May 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a significant impact on the United States healthcare system. This is exacerbated by antimicrobial-resistant bacterial pathogens endemic to healthcare settings. Respiratory viral infections are known to predispose patients to bacterial infections, which were a major contributor to mortality in previous pandemics. This study’s goal was to gain an understanding of bacterial infections in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. A case form for COVID-19 patients with bacterial infections was developed and sent to clinicians on the Emerging Infections Network listserv. The case form included 22 questions on patient demographics, COVID-19 and bacterial infection and treatment, and patient outcome. One hundred and nine patient cases were collected and analyzed. The majority of patients (59.6%) were critically ill, and 66.9% of patients were diagnosed with sepsis. Empiric and directed antibiotics were administered to 81.6% and 94.5% of patients, respectively. Thirty-one infections were not resolved with antibiotics, and of those patients, 74.2% died. Unresolved bacterial infections were found to be a significant contributor to mortality in this case series. These bacterial infections can most likely be attributed to long hospital stays and exposure to nosocomial pathogens. Thus, unresolved nosocomial bacterial infections warrant additional attention during future events where there is a strain on the US healthcare system.
Choroidal Vascular Impairment in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Flores Rita , Carneiro Ângela , Neri Guilherme , Fradinho Ana C. , Quenderra Bruno , Barata Maria João , Tenreiro Sandra , Seabra Miguel C.
Published: May 2022

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial disease, whose complete pathogenesis is still unclear. Local hemodynamics may play a crucial role in its manifestation and progression. To evaluate choroidal and retinal vascular parameters, a total of 134 eyes were analyzed, 100 with intermediate AMD and 34 age matched healthy controls. 131 eyes of 104 patients were eligible for complete image assessment and 3 eyes were excluded for insufficient image quality: Group 1: intermediate AMD (n = 97) and Group 2: healthy controls (n = 34). Spectral domain optic coherence tomography (SD-OCT) with enhanced depth imaging (EDI) and optic coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) were acquired using Spectralis (Heidelberg Engineering). Choroid and retinal capillary plexus were evaluated and image binarization was used to obtain quantitative data. Mean age was 77.67 years old (YO) and 67.2% were women. Total subfoveal choroidal area and luminal area were significantly reduced in Group 1 compared with Group 2 (0.88 mm2 and 0.40 mm2 vs. 1.24 mm2 and 0.55 mm2, respectively) (p < 0.05). Regarding choriocapillary flow density, AMD eyes recorded reduced values (34.83%) compared with controls (36.25%) (p < 0.05). Chorioretinal vasculature is impaired in intermediate AMD patients and vascular parameters could be attractive new prognostic biomarkers. Future therapeutic approaches may target this vascular dysfunction and delay disease progression.
Virtual Reconstruction of the Temple on the Acropolis of Kymissala in Rhodes
Authors: Stamati Zoi , Stefanakis Manolis I. , Kontogianni Georgia , Georgopoulos Andreas
Published: May 2022

In recent years, the rapid development of technology has offered scientists new powerful tools. Especially in the field of cultural heritage documentation, modern digital media are an integral part, contributing significantly to the process of recording, managing, and displaying architectural monuments, archaeological sites, and art objects in a fast and accurate way. Digital technologies have made it possible to produce accurate digital copies of heritage sites and contribute to their salvation and conservation. At the top of the hill of Agios Fokas, acropolis of the ancient Demos of Kymissaleis, are the remains of a small Hellenistic temple of the 3rd–2nd century BC. This article proposes a virtual reconstruction of the temple on the acropolis of Kymissala. The geometric documentation of the temple and the creation of a three-dimensional model with its virtual reconstruction are analyzed. Modern photogrammetric methods are applied by taking digital images in the context of the experimental application of a relatively simple and semi-automatic method that does not require highly specialized knowledge and therefore can be used by non-specialists. With the use of modeling software, a three-dimensional model of the temple is created with the main goal of its virtual reconstruction.
More Causes Less Effect: Destructive Interference in Decision Making
Authors: Basieva Irina , Pandey Vijitashwa , Khrennikova Polina
Published: May 2022

We present a new experiment demonstrating destructive interference in customers’ estimates of conditional probabilities of product failure. We take the perspective of a manufacturer of consumer products and consider two situations of cause and effect. Whereas, individually, the effect of the causes is similar, it is observed that when combined, the two causes produce the opposite effect. Such negative interference of two or more product features may be exploited for better modeling of the cognitive processes taking place in customers’ minds. Doing so can enhance the likelihood that a manufacturer will be able to design a better product, or a feature within it. Quantum probability has been used to explain some commonly observed “non-classical” effects, such as the disjunction effect, question order effect, violation of the sure-thing principle, and the Machina and Ellsberg paradoxes. In this work, we present results from a survey on the impact of multiple observed symptoms on the drivability of a vehicle. The symptoms are assumed to be conditionally independent. We demonstrate that the response statistics cannot be directly explained using classical probability, but quantum formulation easily models it, as it allows for both positive and negative “interference” between events. Since quantum formalism also accounts for classical probability’s predictions, it serves as a richer paradigm for modeling decision making behavior in engineering design and behavioral economics.
Hardware-In-the-Loop Validation of Direct MPPT Based Cuckoo Search Optimization for Partially Shaded Photovoltaic System
Authors: Al-Shammaa Abdullrahman A. , M. Abdurraqeeb Akram , Noman Abdullah M. , Alkuhayli Abdulaziz , Farh Hassan M. H.
Published: May 2022

During partial shading conditions (PSCs), the power-voltage curve becomes more complex, having one global maximum power (GMP) and many local peaks. Traditional maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms are unable to track the GMP under PSCs. Therefore, several optimization tactics based on metaheuristics or artificial intelligence have been applied to deal with GMP tracking effectively. This paper details how a direct control cuckoo search optimizer (CSO) is used to track the GMP for a photovoltaic (PV) system. The proposed CSO addresses the limitations of traditional MPPT algorithms to deal with the PSCs and the shortcomings of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, such as low tracking efficiency, steady-state fluctuations, and tracking time. The CSO was implemented using MATLAB/Simulink for a PV array operating under PSCs and its tracking performance was compared to that of the PSO-MPPT. Experimental validation of the CSO-MPPT was performed on a boost DC/DC converter using a real-time Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) simulator (OPAL-RT OP4510) and dSPACE 1104. The results show that CSO is capable of tracking GMP within 0.99–1.32 s under various shading patterns. Both the simulation and experimental findings revealed that the CSO outperformed the PSO in terms of steady-state fluctuations and tracking time.
Effect of Volcanic Events on Hydrocarbon Generation of Lacustrine Organic-Rich Shale: An Example of the Upper Triassic Galedesi Formation in the Hala Lake Depression, South Qilian Basin, China
Authors: Wang Jia , Zhu Chaobin , Tan Xianfeng , Luo Long , Jiang Nan , Qu Xuejiao , Gao Xuanbo , Li Shengyu , Xiao Long , Liu Haijun
Published: May 2022

The thermal evolution process of organic matter is associated with the complete hydrocarbon generation and expulsion process in shale, however, the thermal evolution of organic matter is a long process and cannot be realized without experimental simulations. Although several scholars have substantially studied the thermal evolution of organic matter, it remains a challenging and much debated issue in the studies of organic geochemistry. Volcanic events are crucial in the enrichment of organic matter, and appropriate heating accelerates the thermal evolution of organic matter. However, how strong-rock baking restricts the evolution of organic matter in shale has not been specifically studied. The South Qilian Basin in China is a typical superimposed basin where complex tectonic movements have induced multiple volcanic events, which makes it a favorable location to perform the aforementioned research. This study used the Galedesi Formation shale in the Hala Lake Depression of the South Qilian Basin as an example for investigating the constraints of the volcanic events related to the thermal evolution of organic matter by integrating the results obtained using the geochemical and petrological methods. Our results demonstrate that the lacustrine Galedesi Formation shale of the Hala Lake Depression in the Late Triassic is a typical deep-lake facies deposit with good hydrocarbon generation potential. However, because of the influence of regional tectonic evolution, the burial depth of shale is not deep and the thermal evolution of organic matter is insufficient. Due to the influence of multiple volcanic thermal events in the later stages, the thermal maturity of organic matter in the Galedesi Formation shale generally exceeds 3.0%, which is abnormally high. The apparent carbonization of organic matter can be observed via scanning electron microscopy. Rapid magma baking typically cannot effectively promote the hydrocarbon generation of shale organic matter. Finally, the burial depth of lacustrine shale of the Galedesi Formation in the Hala Lake Depression of South Qilian Basin is too shallow. Organic matter hydrocarbon generation and later shale preservation conditions are not conducive to the enrichment, accumulation, exploration, and development of shale gas.
Optimization Design of the Landscape Elements in the Lhasa Residential Area Driven by an Orthogonal Experiment and a Numerical Simulation
Authors: Chen Lixing , Zhang Yingzi , Luo Zhengzheng , Yao Fei
Published: May 2022

Landscape elements have become an important means to improve the quality of life of residents because of their direct influence on the thermal environment, but the selection and configuration of landscape elements have different effects on human thermal comfort in different climate conditions. In this research, the typical residential area of Lhasa in Tibet was taken as the research object, the experimental scheme was prepared using an orthogonal test, and the simulation was carried out using ENVI-met to explore the influences of the green configuration, water area, and ground reflectance, as well as their interaction with the thermal environment in winter and summer under alpine climate conditions. Taking the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) as the optimization index, the optimal design scheme for the synergistic effect of the residential landscape elements was determined. The results were as follows. (1) The order of the landscape configuration factors was as follows: green configuration > water area > leaf area index > ground reflectance in summer. In winter, the order was green configuration > water area > ground reflectance > leaf area index (LAI). (2) With the combined driving of the orthogonal test and the numerical simulation, the optimal scheme of the landscape elements was determined, which was “tree shrub lawn, water area ratio 16%, ground reflectance 0.5, and LAI = 3 m2/m3”. (3) Finally, the optimal design strategy of the landscape configuration was proposed for the typical outdoor active space of the Lhasa residential area.
Chitosan Inhibits the Rehabilitation of Damaged Microbes Induced by Photodynamic Inactivation
Authors: Lin Ching-Hsuan , Chien Hsiung-Fei , Lin Ming-Hsuan , Chen Chueh-Pin , Shen Mandy , Chen Chin-Tin
Published: May 2022

Previously, we showed that chitosan could augment the biocidal efficacy mediated by photodynamic treatment against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. In this study, we showed that the antimicrobial action of chitosan in augmenting photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is related to the increase in cell surface destruction. The microbial cell surfaces exhibit severe irregular shapes after PDI in the presence of chitosan as demonstrated by transmitted electron microscopy. Furthermore, increases in the concentration or incubation time of chitosan significantly reduced the amounts of photosensitizer toluidine blue O required, indicating that chitosan could be an augmenting agent used in conjunction with PDI against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans. A prolonged lag phase was found in microbial cells that survived to PDI, in which chitosan acted to completely eradicate the cells. Once the exponential log stage and cell rebuild began, their cellular functions from PDI-induced damage returned and the increased cytotoxic effect of chitosan disappeared. Together, our results suggest that chitosan can prevent the rehabilitation of PDI-surviving microbial cells, leading to increased biocidal efficacy.
Multiplexed-Based Assessment of DNA Damage Response to Chemotherapies Using Cell Imaging Cytometry
Authors: Vezzio-Vié Nadia , Kong-Hap Marie-Alice , Combès Eve , Andrade Augusto Faria , Del Rio Maguy , Pasero Philippe , Theillet Charles , Gongora Céline , Pourquier Philippe
Published: May 2022

The current methods for measuring the DNA damage response (DDR) are relatively labor-intensive and usually based on Western blotting, flow cytometry, and/or confocal immunofluorescence analyses. They require many cells and are often limited to the assessment of a single or few proteins. Here, we used the Celigo® image cytometer to evaluate the cell response to DNA-damaging agents based on a panel of biomarkers associated with the main DDR signaling pathways. We investigated the cytostatic or/and the cytotoxic effects of these drugs using simultaneous propidium iodide and calcein-AM staining. We also describe new dedicated multiplexed protocols to investigate the qualitative (phosphorylation) or the quantitative changes of eleven DDR markers (H2AX, DNA-PKcs, ATR, ATM, CHK1, CHK2, 53BP1, NBS1, RAD51, P53, P21). The results of our study clearly show the advantage of using this methodology because the multiplexed-based evaluation of these markers can be performed in a single experiment using the standard 384-well plate format. The analyses of multiple DDR markers together with the cell cycle status provide valuable insights into the mechanism of action of investigational drugs that induce DNA damage in a time- and cost-effective manner due to the low amounts of antibodies and reagents required.
Integrated mRNA and miRNA Transcriptome Analysis Suggests a Regulatory Network for UV–B-Controlled Terpenoid Synthesis in Fragrant Woodfern (Dryopteris fragrans)
Authors: Song Chunhua , Guan Yalin , Zhang Dongrui , Tang Xun , Chang Ying
Published: May 2022

Fragrant woodfern (Dryopteris fragrans) is a medicinal plant rich in terpenoids. Ultraviolet-B (UV–B) light could increase concentration of terpenoids. The aim of this study was to analyze how UV–B regulates the terpenoid synthesis of the molecular regulatory mechanism in fragrant woodfern. In this study, compared with the control group, the content of the terpenes was significantly higher in fragrant woodfern leaves under UV–B treatment for 4 days (d). In order to identify how UV–B regulates the terpenoid metabolic mechanism in fragrant woodfern, we examined the mRNAs and small RNAs in fragrant woodfern leaves under UV–B treatment. mRNA and miRNA–seq identified 4533 DEGs and 17 DEMs in the control group compared with fragrant woodfern leaves under UV–B treatment for 4 d. mRNA–miRNA analysis identified miRNA target gene pairs consisting of 8 DEMs and 115 miRNAs. The target genes were subjected to GO and KEGG analyses. The results showed that the target genes were mainly enriched in diterpene biosynthesis, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, MEP pathway and MVA pathway, in which miR156 and miR160 regulate these pathways by targeting DfSPL and DfARF, respectively. The mRNA and miRNA datasets identified a subset of candidate genes. It provides the theoretical basis that UV–B regulates the terpenoid synthesis of the molecular regulatory mechanism in fragrant woodfern.
Therapeutic Potential of Pretreatment with Exosomes Derived from Stem Cells from the Apical Papilla against Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Huang Te-Yang , Chien Miao-San , Su Wen-Ta
Published: May 2022

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the most serious side effect of treatment with cisplatin in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of exosomes derived from stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) on AKI. The medium from a SCAP culture was collected after 2 d of culture. From this, SCAP-derived exosomes (SCAP-ex), which were round (diameter: 30–150 nm) and expressed the characteristic proteins CD63 and CD81, were collected via differential ultracentrifugation. Rat renal epithelial cells (NRK-52E) were pretreated with SCAP-ex for 30 min and subsequently treated with cisplatin to induce acute injury. The extent of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of SCAP-ex against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. The viability assay showed that the survival of damaged cells increased from 65% to 89%. The levels of reactive oxygen species decreased from 176% to 123%. The glutathione content increased by 78%, whereas the levels of malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) decreased by 35% and 9%, respectively. These results showed that SCAP-ex can retard oxidative stimulation in damaged kidney cells. Quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain-reaction gene analysis showed that they can also reduce the expression of nuclear factor-κβ (NF-κβ), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and p53 in AKI. Further, they increased the gene expression of antiapoptotic factor B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), whereas they reduced that of proapoptotic factors Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) and caspase-8 (CASP8), CASP9, and CASP3, thereby reducing the risk of cell apoptosis.
RNA Sequencing Reveals the Upregulation of FOXO Signaling Pathway in Porphyromonas gingivalis Persister-Treated Human Gingival Epithelial Cells
Authors: Wang Chuan , Li Xuan , Cheng Tianfan , Wang Leilei , Jin Lijian
Published: May 2022

Porphyromonas gingivalis as the keystone periodontopathogen plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, and crucially accounts for inflammatory comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer′s disease. We recently identified the existence of P. gingivalis persisters and revealed the unforeseen perturbation of innate response in human gingival epithelial cells (HGECs) due to these noxious persisters. Herein, RNA sequencing revealed how P. gingivalis persisters affected the expression profile of cytokine genes and related signaling pathways in HGECs. Results showed that metronidazole-treated P. gingivalis persisters (M-PgPs) impaired the innate host defense of HGECs, in a similar fashion to P. gingivalis. Notably, over one thousand differentially expressed genes were identified in HGECs treated with M-PgPs or P. gingivalis with reference to the controls. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analysis demonstrated significantly enriched signaling pathways, such as FOXO. Importantly, the FOXO1 inhibitor rescued the M-PgP-induced disruption of cytokine expression. This study suggests that P. gingivalis persisters may perturb innate host defense, through the upregulation of the FOXO signaling pathway. Thus, the current findings could contribute to developing new approaches to tackling P. gingivalis persisters for the effective control of periodontitis and P. gingivalis-related inflammatory comorbidities.
Loxl2 and Loxl3 Paralogues Play Redundant Roles during Mouse Development
Authors: Santamaría Patricia G. , Dubus Pierre , Bustos-Tauler José , Floristán Alfredo , Vázquez-Naharro Alberto , Morales Saleta , Cano Amparo , Portillo Francisco
Published: May 2022

Lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) and 3 (LOXL3) are members of the lysyl oxidase family of enzymes involved in the maturation of the extracellular matrix. Both enzymes share a highly conserved catalytic domain, but it is unclear whether they perform redundant functions in vivo. In this study, we show that mice lacking Loxl3 exhibit perinatal lethality and abnormal skeletal development. Additionally, analysis of the genotype of embryos carrying double knockout of Loxl2 and Loxl3 genes suggests that both enzymes have overlapping functions during mouse development. Furthermore, we also show that ubiquitous expression of Loxl2 suppresses the lethality associated with Loxl3 knockout mice.
Structural Bases of Prion Variation in Yeast
Authors: Kushnirov Vitaly V. , Dergalev Alexander A. , Alieva Maya K. , Alexandrov Alexander I.
Published: May 2022

Amyloids are protein aggregates with a specific filamentous structure that are related to a number of human diseases, and also to some important physiological processes in animals and other kingdoms of life. Amyloids in yeast can stably propagate as heritable units, prions. Yeast prions are of interest both on their own and as a model for amyloids and prions in general. In this review, we consider the structure of yeast prions and its variation, how such structures determine the balance of aggregated and soluble prion protein through interaction with chaperones and how the aggregated state affects the non-prion functions of these proteins.
Neurotrophin Signaling Impairment by Viral Infections in the Central Nervous System
Authors: Bohmwald Karen , Andrade Catalina A. , Mora Valentina P. , Muñoz José T. , Ramírez Robinson , Rojas María F. , Kalergis Alexis M.
Published: May 2022

Neurotrophins, such as nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin 3 (NT-3), NT-4, and NT-5, are proteins involved in several important functions of the central nervous system. The activation of the signaling pathways of these neurotrophins, or even by their immature form, pro-neurotrophins, starts with their recognition by cellular receptors, such as tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) and 75 kD NT receptors (p75NTR). The Trk receptor is considered to have a high affinity for attachment to specific neurotrophins, while the p75NTR receptor has less affinity for attachment with neurotrophins. The correct functioning of these signaling pathways contributes to proper brain development, neuronal survival, and synaptic plasticity. Unbalanced levels of neurotrophins and pro-neurotrophins have been associated with neurological disorders, illustrating the importance of these molecules in the central nervous system. Furthermore, reports have indicated that viruses can alter the normal levels of neurotrophins by interfering with their signaling pathways. This work discusses the importance of neurotrophins in the central nervous system, their signaling pathways, and how viruses can affect them.
An Abnormal Inflammatory Pattern Associated with Long-Term Non-Progression of HIV Infection Impacts Negatively on Bone Quality
Authors: Soldado-Folgado Jade , Chillarón Juan José , Cañas-Ruano Esperanza , Arrieta-Aldea Itziar , González-Mena Alicia , Blasco-Hernando Fabiola , Knobel Hernando , Garcia-Giralt Natalia , Güerri-Fernández Robert
Published: May 2022

Introduction. Long-term non-progressors (LTNPs) are HIV-infected individuals (HIV+) whose viral replication is controlled. However, these individuals experience complications associated with HIV, among them, bone remodeling impairment. This study aims to perform a comprehensive bone health assessment and its association with the inflammatory status of HIV+ LTNPs. A cross-sectional study was conducted comparing bone strength components (bone mineral density and bone tissue quality) between age-, sex-, and comorbidities-matched groups of HIV+ LTNPs, HIV+ progressors, and HIV-negative individuals. A panel of bone turnover and inflammatory biomarkers was measured in fasting plasma using ELISA. Bone tissue quality was assessed by bone microindentation, a technique that directly measures the bone resistance to fracture and yields a dimensionless quantifiable parameter called bone material strength (BMSi). Thirty patients were included: ten LTNPs, ten HIV+ progressors, and ten HIV-negative individuals. LTNPs showed an abnormal pattern of immune activation that was represented by significantly lower levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (p = 0.03), pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 (p = 0.01), and TNF-α (p < 0.001) with respect to the other groups. Regarding bone health, LTNPs presented lower BMSi, and thus, worse bone tissue quality than HIV-negative individuals (83 (78–85) vs. 90 (89–93), respectively; p = 0.003), and also lower BMSi than HIV+ progressors (83 (78–85) vs. 86 (85–89), respectively; p = 0.022). A trend was found of lower BMSi in HIV+ progressors with respect to the HIV-negative individuals (86 (85–89) vs. 90 (89–93), respectively; p = 0.083). No differences were detected in bone mineral density between groups. In conclusion, LTNPs showed a different inflammatory profile, along with worse bone tissue quality, when compared to HIV+ progressors and HIV-negative individuals. This may contribute to increasing evidence that HIV infection itself has a deleterious effect on bone tissue, likely through a persistent altered inflammation status.
Is Exercise Blood Pressure Putting the Brake on Exercise Rehabilitation after Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Surgery?
Authors: Zhou Na , Mampuya Warner , Iliou Marie-Christine
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: Exercise is recommended to improve physical fitness in patients recovering from acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). However, surgery corrects the diseased blood vessels and reduces the risk of ATAAD, but it does not redefine a safe exercise blood pressure (BP) threshold. This review aimed to discuss whether the safe threshold of exercise BP can be upregulated after ATAAD surgery to increase exercise intensity with additional benefits. (2) Data sources: The PubMed databases were searched with the keywords “type A acute aortic dissection surgery”, “exercise”, “BP”, “stress”, and variations of these terms. (3) Study selection: Data from clinical trials, guidelines, and recent reviews were selected for review. (4) Results: Regular exercise can be considered a cardioprotective intervention for aortic dissection patients by attenuating hemodynamic responses at rest and during exercise. Previous studies have mainly focused on moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. In practice, the exercise systolic BP of some patients was higher than 160 mm Hg without adverse events, which indicates that the training intensity may be underestimated for patients after ATAAD surgery. Limited studies suggest a light-to-moderate resistance training for selected patients because it may cause a greater increase in BP. (5) Conclusions: Moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise supplemented by low-intensity resistance training is appropriate for cardiac rehabilitation after ATAAD surgery. The BP increase based on the normal exercise BP response, corresponding to the moderate-intensity is relatively safe. For high-risk post-ATAAD patients, considering the overall volume of training, personalizing the exercise regimen to remain within “safe” BP limits, and avoiding excessive fluctuations in BP should be the primary considerations for exercise training.
Stochastic Modelling of Selfish Mining in Proof-of-Work Protocols
Authors: Schwarz-Schilling Caspar , Li Sheng-Nan , Tessone Claudio J.
Published: May 2022

In blockchain-based systems whose consensus mechanisms resort to Proof-of-Work (PoW), it is expected that a miner’s share of total block revenue is proportional to their share of hashing power with respect to the rest of the network. The protocol relies on the immediate broadcast of blocks by miners, to earn precedence in peers’ local blockchains. However, a deviation from this strategy named selfish mining (SM), may lead miners to earn more than their “fair share”. In this paper, we introduce an agent-based model to simulate the dynamics of SM behaviour by a single miner as well as mining pools to understand the influence of (a) mining power distribution, (b) overlay network topology, (c) positioning of the selfish nodes within the peer to peer network. Our minimalistic model allows us to find that in high levels of latency, SM is always a more profitable strategy; our results are very robust to different network topologies and mining nodes’ centrality in the network. Moreover, the power-law distribution of the miners’ hashing power can make it harder for a selfish miner to be profitable. In addition, we analyze the effect of SM on system global efficiency and fairness. Our analysis confirms that SM is always more profitable for hashing powers representing more than one-third of the total computing power. Further, it also confirms that SM behaviour could cause a statistically significant high probability of continuously mined blocks opening the door for empirical verification of the phenomenon.
Insight into the Expected Impact of Sustainable Development in the Context of Industry 4.0: A Documentary Analysis Approach Based on Multiple Case Studies across the World
Authors: Pech-Rodríguez Wilian Jesús , Armendáriz-Mireles Eddie Nahúm , Suárez-Velázquez Gladis Guadalupe , Calles-Arriaga Carlos Adrián , Rocha-Rangel Enrique
Published: May 2022

Although industry 4.0 has gained increased attention in the industry, academic, and governmental fields, there is a lack of information about the relationship between this digital transformation and sustainable development. This work explores the concept of sustainability applied in industry 4.0 and the main advantages that this revolution incorporates into society. To this end, a conscientiously documented investigation was conducted by reviewing actual case studies or scenarios where sustainability was applied in different manufacturing industries, enterprises, or research fields worldwide. A critical and descriptive analysis of the information was performed to identify the main tools and procedures that can be implemented in the industry to address the triple bottom line perspective of industry 4.0, and the results are presented in this document. From the analysis, it was observed that currently, I4.0 has been mainly adopted to improve efficiency and cost reduction in manufacturing companies. However, since only a few enterprises embrace the social paradigm of I4.0, a significant gap in understanding and unbalance is visualized. Therefore, we conclude that there is a lack of information on social benefits and the barriers that must be overcome from the social perspective. On the other hand, this work highlights the importance of adopting industry 4.0 as a positive way to improve the performance of emerging technologies, such as fuel cells, solar cells, and wind turbines, while producing products or services with high efficiency and profitability incomes. For practitioners, this work can provide insightful information about the real implications of I4.0 from a sustainability perspective in our daily life and the possible strategies to improve sustainable development.
Targeted Non-Pharmacological Interventions for People Living with Frailty and Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Mayes Juliet , Young Hannah M. L. , Blacklock Rochelle M. , Lightfoot Courtney J. , Chilcot Joseph , Nixon Andrew C.
Published: May 2022

Frailty is highly prevalent within people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with the increased risk of falls, hospitalisation, and mortality. Alongside this, individuals with CKD report a high incidence of depression and reduced quality of life. The identification of frailty within nephrology clinics is needed to establish comprehensive management plans to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life for people with CKD. Current research exploring the role of non-pharmacological management has primarily focussed on exercise and physical activity interventions in the frail CKD population. However, there is a growing evidence base and interest in this area. This review provides an up-to-date overview of the literature into frailty assessment in CKD and subsequent non-pharmacological treatment approaches.