bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
24-Epibrassinolide Promotes Fatty Acid Accumulation and the Expression of Related Genes in Styrax tonkinensis Seeds
Authors: Chen Chen , Chen Hong , Han Chao , Liu Zemao , Yu Fangyuan , Wu Qikui
Published: August 2022

Styrax tonkinensis, whose seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), is a high oil value tree species, and the seed oil has perfect biodiesel properties. Therefore, the elucidation of the effect of 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) on fatty acid (FA) concentration and the expression of FA biosynthesis-related genes is critical for deeply studying the seed oil in S. tonkinensis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the changing trend of FA concentration and composition and identify candidate genes involved in FA biosynthesis under EBL treatment using transcriptome sequencing and GC-MS. The results showed that 5 μmol/L of EBL (EBL5) boosted the accumulation of FA and had the hugest effect on FA concentration at 70 days after flowering (DAF). A total of 20 FAs were identified; among them, palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid were the main components. In total, 117,904 unigenes were detected, and the average length was 1120 bp. Among them, 1205 unigenes were assigned to ‘lipid translations and metabolism’ in COG categories, while 290 unigenes were assigned to ‘biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid’ in KEGG categories. Twelve important genes related to FA biosynthesis were identified, and their expression levels were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. KAR, KASIII, and accA, encoding FA biosynthesis-related enzymes, all expressed the highest at 70 DAF, which was coincident with a rapid rise in FA concentration during seed development. FAD2 and FATB conduced to UFA and saturated fatty acids (SFA) accumulation, respectively. EBL5 induced the expression of FA biosynthesis-related genes. The concentration of FA was increased after EBL5 application, and EBL5 also enhanced the enzyme activity by promoting the expression of genes related to FA biosynthesis. Our research could provide a reference for understanding the FA biosynthesis of S. tonkinensis seeds at physiological and molecular levels.
In Vitro Models of Biological Barriers for Nanomedical Research
Authors: Carton Flavia , Malatesta Manuela
Published: August 2022

Nanoconstructs developed for biomedical purposes must overcome diverse biological barriers before reaching the target where playing their therapeutic or diagnostic function. In vivo models are very complex and unsuitable to distinguish the roles plaid by the multiple biological barriers on nanoparticle biodistribution and effect; in addition, they are costly, time-consuming and subject to strict ethical regulation. For these reasons, simplified in vitro models are preferred, at least for the earlier phases of the nanoconstruct development. Many in vitro models have therefore been set up. Each model has its own pros and cons: conventional 2D cell cultures are simple and cost-effective, but the information remains limited to single cells; cell monolayers allow the formation of cell–cell junctions and the assessment of nanoparticle translocation across structured barriers but they lack three-dimensionality; 3D cell culture systems are more appropriate to test in vitro nanoparticle biodistribution but they are static; finally, bioreactors and microfluidic devices can mimicking the physiological flow occurring in vivo thus providing in vitro biological barrier models suitable to reliably assess nanoparticles relocation. In this evolving context, the present review provides an overview of the most representative and performing in vitro models of biological barriers set up for nanomedical research.
Characterization of the SWEET Gene Family in Longan (Dimocarpus longan) and the Role of DlSWEET1 in Cold Tolerance
Authors: Fang Ting , Rao Ya , Wang Mengzhen , Li Yun , Liu Yujun , Xiong Pengpeng , Zeng Lihui
Published: August 2022

Sugars will eventually be exported transporters (SWEET), a group of relatively novel sugar transporters, that play important roles in phloem loading, seed and fruit development, pollen development, and stress response in plants. Longan (Dimocarpus longan), a subtropic fruit tree with high economic value, is sensitive to cold. However, whether the SWEET gene family plays a role in conferring cold tolerance upon longan remains unknown. Here, a total of 20 longan SWEET (DlSWEET) genes were identified, and their phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, cis-acting elements, and tissue-specific expression patterns were systematically analyzed. This family is divided into four clades. Gene structures and motifs analyses indicated that the majority of DlSWEETs in each clade shared similar exon–intron organization and conserved motifs. Tissue-specific gene expression suggested diverse possible functions for DlSWEET genes. Cis-elements analysis and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that DlSWEET1 responded to cold stress. Notably, the overexpression of DlSWEET1 improved cold tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis, suggesting that DlSWEET1 might play a positive role in D. longan’s responses to cold stress. Together, these results contribute to a better understanding of SWEET genes, which could serve as a foundation for the further functional identification of these genes.
Association of Antihypertensive Effects of Esaxerenone with the Internal Sodium Balance in Dahl Salt-Sensitive Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Hattori Mai , Rahman Asadur , Kidoguchi Satoshi , Jahan Nourin , Fujisawa Yoshihide , Morisawa Norihiko , Ohsaki Hiroyuki , Kobara Hideki , Masaki Tsutomu , Hossain Akram , Steeve Akumwami , Nishiyama Akira
Published: August 2022

Background: The nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor blocker esaxerenone is effective in reducing blood pressure (BP). Objective: In this study, we investigated esaxerenone-driven sodium homeostasis and its association with changes in BP in Dahl salt-sensitive (DSS) hypertensive rats. Methods: In the different experimental setups, we evaluated BP by a radiotelemetry system, and sodium homeostasis was determined by an approach of sodium intake (food intake) and excretion (urinary excretion) in DSS rats with a low-salt diet (0.3% NaCl), high-salt diet (HSD, 8% NaCl), HSD plus 0.001% esaxerenone (w/w), and HSD plus 0.05% furosemide. Results: HSD-fed DSS rats showed a dramatic increase in BP with a non-dipper pattern, while esaxerenone treatment, but not furosemide, significantly reduced BP with a dipper pattern. The cumulative sodium excretion in the active period was significantly elevated in esaxerenone- and furosemide-treated rats compared with their HSD-fed counterparts. Sodium content in the skin, skinned carcass, and total body tended to be lower in esaxerenone-treated rats than in their HSD-fed counterparts, while these values were unchanged in furosemide-treated rats. Consistently, sodium balance tended to be reduced in esaxerenone-treated rats during the active period. Histological evaluation showed that esaxerenone, but not furosemide, treatment attenuated glomerulosclerosis, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and urinary protein excretion induced by high salt loading. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings suggest that an esaxerenone treatment-induced reduction in BP and renoprotection are associated with body sodium homeostasis in salt-loaded DSS rats.
High-Risk Obesity Phenotypes: Target for Multimorbidity Prevention at the ROFEMI Study
Authors: Carretero-Gómez Juana , Pérez-Martínez Pablo , Seguí-Ripoll José , Carrasco-Sánchez Francisco , Lois Martínez Nagore , Fernández Pérez Esther , Pérez Hernández Onán , García Ordoñez Miguel , Martín González Candelaria , Vigueras-Pérez Juan , Puchades Francesc , Blasco Avaria María , Pérez Soto María , Ena Javier , Arévalo-Lorido José ,   on behalf of Diabetes, Obesity and Nutrition Working Group of Spanish Society of Internal Medicine
Published: August 2022

Background: Describe the profile of patients with obesity in internal medicine to determine the role of adiposity and related inflammation on the metabolic risk profile and, identify various “high-risk obesity” phenotypes by means of a cluster analysis. This study aimed to identify different profiles of patients with high-risk obesity based on a cluster analysis. Methods: Cross-sectional, multicenter project that included outpatients attended to in internal medicine. A total of 536 patients were studied. The mean age was 62 years, 51% were women. Patients were recruited from internal medicine departments over two weeks in November and December 2021 and classified into four risk groups according to body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). High-risk obesity was defined as BMI > 35 Kg/m2 or BMI 30–34.9 Kg/m2 and a high WC (>102 cm for men and >88 cm for women). Hierarchical and partitioning clustering approaches were performed to identify profiles. Results: A total of 462 (86%) subjects were classified into the high-risk obesity group. After excluding 19 patients missing critical data, two profiles emerged: cluster 1 (n = 396) and cluster 2 (n = 47). Compared to cluster 1, cluster 2 had a worse profile, characterized by older age (77 ± 16 vs. 61 ± 21 years, p < 0.01), a Charlson Comorbidity Index > 3 (53% vs. 5%, p < 0.001), depression (36% vs. 19%, p = 0.008), severe disability (64% vs. 3%, p < 0.001), and a sarcopenia score ≥ 4 (79% vs. 16%, p < 0.01). In addition, cluster 2 had greater inflammation than cluster 1 (hsCRP: 5.8 ± 4.1 vs. 2.1 ± 4.5 mg/dL, p = 0.008). Conclusions: Two profiles of subjects with high-risk obesity were identified. Based on that, older subjects with obesity require measures that target sarcopenia, disability, psychological health, and significant comorbidities to prevent further health deterioration. Longitudinal studies should be performed to identify potential risk factors of subjects who progress from cluster 1 to cluster 2.
Bariatric Surgery and Myocardial Mechanics: A Meta-Analysis of Speckle Tracking Echocardiographic Studies
Authors: Gherbesi Elisa , Cuspidi Cesare , Faggiano Andrea , Sala Carla , Carugo Stefano , Tadic Marijana
Published: August 2022

Aim: Current evidence on the effects of bariatric surgery on cardiac mechanics in patients with obesity is based on a few single studies. We investigated this issue through a meta-analysis of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) studies that reported data on changes in left ventricular (LV) mechanics as assessed by global longitudinal strain (GLS). Methods: The PubMed, OVID-MEDLINE and Cochrane library databases were systematically analysed to search English-language articles published from inception to 31 May 2022. Studies were identified by using Me-SH terms and crossing the following terms: “obesity”, “bariatric surgery”, “left ventricular mechanics”, “left ventricular hypertrophy”, “systolic dysfunction”, “global longitudinal strain”, “echocardiography” and “STE echocardiography”. Results: The meta-analysis, including a total of 512 patients with obesity from 13 studies (follow-up 1–23 months), showed a significant GLS improvement after bariatric procedures, with standard mean difference (SMD) being 0.50 ± 0.08, CI: 0.34/0.65, p < 0.0001. Corresponding SMD value for LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was 0.15 ± 0.09, CI: −0.04/0.34, p = 0.11. A sensitivity analysis restricted to 11 studies with follow-up ≥ 6 months confirmed that GLS (SMD: 0.47 ± 0.08, CI: 0.30/0.63, p < 0.0001) but not LVEF (SMD: 0.14 ± 0.11, CI: −0.08/0.37, p = 0.21) improved after surgery. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis adds a new piece of information on the beneficial effects of bariatric surgery on LV systolic function and, more importantly, suggests that the assessment of myocardial strain should be routinely implemented for a comprehensive evaluation of cardiac functional changes associated with bariatric procedures.
Anti-Diabetic Therapy, Heart Failure and Oxidative Stress: An Update
Authors: Koniari Ioanna , Velissaris Dimitrios , Kounis Nicholas G. , Koufou Eleni , Artopoulou Eleni , de Gregorio Cesare , Mplani Virginia , Paraskevas Themistoklis , Tsigkas Grigorios , Hung Ming-Yow , Plotas Panagiotis , Lambadiari Vaia , Ikonomidis Ignatios
Published: August 2022

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and heart failure (HF) are two chronic disorders that affect millions worldwide. Hyperglycemia can induce excessive generation of highly reactive free radicals that promote oxidative stress and further exacerbate diabetes progression and its complications. Vascular dysfunction and damage to cellular proteins, membrane lipids and nucleic acids can stem from overproduction and/or insufficient removal of free radicals. The aim of this article is to review the literature regarding the use of antidiabetic drugs and their role in glycemic control in patients with heart failure and oxidative stress. Metformin exerts a minor benefit to these patients. Thiazolidinediones are not recommended in diabetic patients, as they increase the risk of HF. There is a lack of robust evidence on the use of meglinitides and acarbose. Insulin and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors may have a neutral cardiovascular effect on diabetic patients. The majority of current research focuses on sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. SGLT2 inhibitors induce positive cardiovascular effects in diabetic patients, leading to a reduction in cardiovascular mortality and HF hospitalization. GLP-1 receptor agonists may also be used in HF patients, but in the case of chronic kidney disease, SLGT2 inhibitors should be preferred.
Effectiveness of Nootropics in Combination with Cholinesterase Inhibitors on Cognitive Function in Mild-to-Moderate Dementia: A Study Using Real-World Data
Authors: Kang Minjae , Lee Dan Bee , Kwon Sungchan , Lee Eun , Kim Woo Jung
Published: August 2022

The clinical benefits of nootropics in the treatment of cognitive decline has been either limited or controversial. This study aimed to observe the effectiveness of cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI) and nootropics combination in the treatment of cognitive impairment in dementia. Data were based on electronic medical records in a university health system. Patients with mild-to-moderate dementia and no history of prior cognitive enhancer use were included (n = 583). The subjects were categorized into the ChEI only group and the ChEI and nootropics combination group. The primary outcome measure was the change in cognitive function, as assessed by the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) from baseline to 300–400 days after the first ChEI prescription. Subsequent analyses were conducted in consideration of the dementia type, medical adherence, and type of nootropics. The changes in MMSE scores from baseline to endpoint were not significantly different between the two groups. In Alzheimer’s dementia, the combination group showed significantly less deterioration in MMSE language subscale scores compared to the ChEI only group (F = 6.86, p = 0.009), and the difference was consistent in the highly adherent subjects (F = 10.16, p = 0.002). The choline alfoscerate and the ginkgo biloba extract subgroups in Alzheimer’s dementia showed more significant improvements in the MMSE language subscale scores compared to the other nootropics subgroup (F = 7.04, p = 0.001). The present study showed that the effectiveness of ChEI and nootropics combination on cognition may appear differently according to the dementia type. This emphasizes the need for well-controlled studies to generalize the effectiveness of nootropics across various clinical settings.
Promoting Physical Activity and Reducing Sedentary Behavior to Prevent Chronic Diseases during the COVID Pandemic and Beyond
Authors: Gao Zan , Lee Jung Eun
Published: August 2022

Physical activity is defined as any physical motion produced by skeletal muscle that causes a notable increase in energy used compared to at rest [...]
Evaluation of the Progression of Periodontitis with the Use of Neural Networks
Authors: Ossowska Agata , Kusiak Aida , Świetlik Dariusz
Published: August 2022

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the tissues surrounding the tooth that results in loss of periodontal attachment detected as clinical attachment loss (CAL). The mildest form of periodontal disease is gingivitis, which is a necessary condition for periodontitis development. We can distinguish also some modifying factors which have an influence on the rate of development of periodontitis from which the most important are smoking and poorly controlled diabetes. According to the new classification from 2017, we can identify four stages of periodontitis and three grades of periodontitis. Grades tell us about the periodontitis progression risk and may be helpful in treatment planning and motivating the patients. Artificial neural networks (ANN) are widely used in medicine and in dentistry as an additional tool to support clinicians in their work. In this paper, ANN was used to assess grades of periodontitis in the group of patients. Gender, age, nicotinism approximal plaque index (API), bleeding on probing (BoP), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and pocket depth (PD) were taken into consideration. There were no statistically significant differences in the clinical periodontal assessment in relation to the neural network assessment. Based on the definition of the sensitivity and specificity in medicine we obtained 85.7% and 80.0% as a correctly diagnosed and excluded disease, respectively. The quality of the neural network, defined as the percentage of correctly classified patients according to the grade of periodontitis was 84.2% for the training set. The percentage of incorrectly classified patients according to the grade of periodontitis was 15.8%. Artificial neural networks may be useful tool in everyday dental practice to assess the risk of periodontitis development however more studies are needed.
Immediate-Early Modifications to the Metabolomic Profile of the Perilymph Following an Acoustic Trauma in a Sheep Model
Authors: Boullaud Luc , Blasco Hélène , Caillaud Eliott , Emond Patrick , Bakhos David
Published: August 2022

The pathophysiological mechanisms of noise-induced hearing loss remain unknown. Identifying biomarkers of noise-induced hearing loss may increase the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of deafness, allow for a more precise diagnosis, and inform personalized treatment. Emerging techniques such as metabolomics can help to identify these biomarkers. The objective of the present study was to investigate immediate-early changes in the perilymph metabolome following acoustic trauma. Metabolomic analysis was performed using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrophotometry to analyze metabolic changes in perilymph associated with noise-induced hearing loss. Sheep (n = 6) were exposed to a noise designed to induce substantial hearing loss. Perilymph was collected before and after acoustic trauma. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis and a supervised multivariate analysis based on partial least squares discriminant analysis. A metabolomic analysis showed an abundance of 213 metabolites. Four metabolites were significantly changed following acoustic trauma (Urocanate (p = 0.004, FC = 0.48), S-(5’-Adenosyl)-L-Homocysteine (p = 0.06, FC = 2.32), Trigonelline (p = 0.06, FC = 0.46) and N-Acetyl-L-Leucine (p = 0.09, FC = 2.02)). The approach allowed for the identification of new metabolites and metabolic pathways involved with acoustic trauma that were associated with auditory impairment (nerve damage, mechanical destruction, and oxidative stress). The results suggest that metabolomics provides a powerful approach to characterize inner ear metabolites which may lead to identification of new therapies and therapeutic targets.
A Study of Rent Fee Assessment on the Port Railway Station: The Litigation Case Study of a Korean Container Terminal
Authors: Park Nam Kyu , An Yohan
Published: August 2022

This study provides a systematic method for determining the proper rent fee of a port railway station with a litigation case study of Busan port container terminal. The Port Rail Station Operating Company (PRSOC) leases and operates the port railway station of the port authority (PA). The PA wants to receive a rent fee with the goal of recovering the investment cost, and the PRSOC wants to pay rent to the extent that it can generate an appropriate profit. In order to reasonably estimate the rent fee, this study attempted using a method of estimating the capacity-based demand of the rail station. A recent discussion of terminal rentals concerns what to rent. That is, will only the infrastructure be leased, or will the substructure and the superstructure be leased? Will the infrastructure, superstructure, and equipment be leased? Rail station capacity encounters a bottleneck when measuring railroad track capacity, i.e. RMGC capacity. In other words, arbitrary demand estimation leads to operating losses for PRSOC and may also cause losses to investors because investment costs cannot be recovered. In this study, data such as investment cost, operating cost, and sales required for the construction of the rail station were collected from the Ministry of Ocean and Fishery, PA, and PRSOC. Based on these data, a proper rent fee is proposed by analyzing the cash flow on the premise of operation for the next 30 years. This study adopts the discounted cashflow (DCF) method because DCF allows an objective and consistent comparison of rent fee levels from the PA and PRSOC perspectives. Using DCF, this study finds that the proper rent fee from the perspective of the PA is USD 397,045, while the PRSOC’s proper rent fee is USD 355,801. Thus, it is reasonable to set the standard for determining the proper rent fee by calculating and comparing the rent fee level from the perspective of PA’s investment cost recovery and PRSOC’s operating balance maintenance perspective. This study suggests that the DCF method should be applied to standardize the rent fee calculation system for the port railway station.
A Recognition Algorithm of Seismic Signals Based on Wavelet Analysis
Authors: Jiang Wensheng , Ding Weiwei , Zhu Xinke , Hou Fei
Published: August 2022

In order to meet the requirements of mobile marine seismometers to observe and record seismic signals, a study of fast and accurate seismic signal recognition was carried out. This paper introduces the use of the wavelet analysis method for seismic signal processing and recognition, and compares and analyzes the abilities of different wavelet basis functions to detect the seismic signal. By denoising and reconstructing the signal, the distribution law of the wavelet coefficients of seismic signal at different scales was obtained. On this basis, this paper proposes an identification model of seismic signals based on wavelet analysis and thereby solves the conflict between high speed and high accuracy of seismic signal recognition methods. In this study, the simulation was carried out in the Matlab2020b environment, and the feasibility of wavelet recognition algorithm was proven by applying this algorithm to the seismic signal database for experimental verification.
First Two-Year Observational Exploratory Real Life Clinical Phenotyping, and Societal Impact Study of Parkinson’s Disease in Emiratis and Expatriate Population of United Arab Emirates 2019–2021: The EmPark Study
Authors: Metta Vinod , Ibrahim Huzaifa , Loney Tom , Benamer Hani T. S. , Alhawai Ali , Almuhairi Dananir , Al Shamsi Abdulla , Mohan Sneha , Rodriguez Kislyn , Mohan Judith , O’Sullivan Margaret , Muralidharan Neha , Al Mazrooei Sheikha , Dar Mousa Khadeeja , Chung-Faye Guy , Mrudula Rukmini , Falup-Pecurariu Cristian , Rodriguez Bilazquez Carmen , Matar Maryam , Borgohain Rupam , Chaudhuri K. Ray
Published: August 2022

Background: Phenotypic differences in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) among locals (Emiratis) and Expatriates (Expats) living in United Arab Emirates have not been described and could be important to unravel local aspects of clinical heterogenicity of PD pointing towards genetic and epigenetic variations. Objective: To investigate the range and nature of motor and nonmotor clinical presentations of PD and its impact on time to diagnosis, local service provisions, and quality of life in Emiratis and Expats in UAE, as well as address the presence of current unmet needs on relation to care and etiopathogenesis of PD related to possible genetic and epigenetic factors. Methods: a cross-sectional one point in time prospective, observational real-life study of 171 patients recruited from PD and Neurology clinics across United Arab Emirates from 2019–2021. Primary outcomes were sociodemographic data, motor and nonmotor symptoms (NMS), including cognition and sleep, and quality of life (QOL) assessments, Results: A total of 171 PD patients (52 Emiratis 119 Expats) were included with mean age (Emiratis 48.5 (13.1) Expats 64.15 (13.1)) and mean disease duration (Emiratis 4.8 (3.2) Expats 6.1 (2.9)). In the Emiratis, there was a significant mean delay in initiating treatment after diagnosis (Emiratis 1.2 (0.9) Expats 1.6 (1.1)), while from a clinical phenotyping aspect, there is a high percentage of akinesia 25 (48.1) or tremor dominant (22 (42.3)) phenotypes as opposed to mixed subtype 67 (56.3) in Expat cohorts; double tremor dominant, especially Emirati females (25%), had a predominant lower limb onset PD. Both Emirati (27.9 (24.0)) and Expat 29.4 (15.6) showed moderate NMS burden and the NMS profile is dominated by Sleep, Fatigue, Mood, Emotional well-being 3.0 (1.1) and Social Stigma 3.5 (0.9) aspects of PDQ8 SI measurements are predicted worse QOL in Emiratis, while lack of social support 2.3 (1.3) impaired QOL in Expat population. Awareness for advanced therapies was low and only 25% of Emiratis were aware of deep brain surgery (DBS), compared to 69% Expats. Only 2% of Emiratis, compared to 32% of Expats, heard of Apomorphine infusion (CSAI), and no (0%) Emiratis were aware of intrajejunal levodopa infusion (IJLI), compared to 13% of expats. Conclusion: Our pilot data suggest clinical phenotypic differences in presentation of PD in Emiratis population of UAE compared to expats. Worryingly, the data also show delayed treatment initiation, as well as widespread lack of knowledge of advanced therapies in the Emirati population.
Proteomic Profiling of Outer Membrane Vesicles Released by Escherichia coli LPS Mutants Defective in Heptose Biosynthesis
Authors: Chiu Yaw-Kwan , Yin Ti , Lee Yi-Tzu , Chen Shyi-Jou , Wang Yung-Chih , Ma Kuo-Hsing
Published: August 2022

Escherichia coli releases outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) into the extracellular environment. OMVs, which contain the outer membrane protein, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and genetic material, play an important role in immune response modulation. An isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) analysis was used to investigate OMV constituent proteins and their functions in burn trauma. OMV sizes ranged from 50 to 200 nm. Proteomics and Gene Ontology analysis revealed that ΔrfaC and ΔrfaG were likely involved in the upregulation of the structural constituent of ribosomes for the outer membrane and of proteins involved in protein binding and OMV synthesis. ΔrfaL was likely implicated in the downregulation of the structural constituent of the ribosome, translation, and cytosolic large ribosomal subunit. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis indicated that ΔrfaC and ΔrfaG downregulated ACP, ACEF, and ADHE genes; ΔrfaL upregulated ACP, ACEF, and ADHE genes. Heat map analysis demonstrated upregulation of galF, clpX, accA, fabB, and grpE and downregulation of pspA, ydiY, rpsT, and rpmB. These results suggest that RfaC, RfaG, and RfaL proteins were involved in outer membrane and LPS synthesis. Therefore, direct contact between wounds and LPS may lead to apoptosis, reduction in local cell proliferation, and delayed wound healing.
Adversarial Attacks on Heterogeneous Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning System with Time-Delayed Data Transmission
Authors: Elhami Fard Neshat , Selmic Rastko R.
Published: August 2022

This paper studies the gradient-based adversarial attacks on cluster-based, heterogeneous, multi-agent, deep reinforcement learning (MADRL) systems with time-delayed data transmission. The structure of the MADRL system consists of various clusters of agents. The deep Q-network (DQN) architecture presents the first cluster’s agent structure. The other clusters are considered as the environment of the first cluster’s DQN agent. We introduce two novel observations in data transmission, termed on-time and time-delay observations. The proposed observations are considered when the data transmission channel is idle, and the data is transmitted on time or delayed. By considering the distance between the neighboring agents, we present a novel immediate reward function by appending a distance-based reward to the previously utilized reward to improve the MADRL system performance. We consider three types of gradient-based attacks to investigate the robustness of the proposed system data transmission. Two defense methods are proposed to reduce the effects of the discussed malicious attacks. We have rigorously shown the system performance based on the DQN loss and the team reward for the entire team of agents. Moreover, the effects of the various attacks before and after using defense algorithms are demonstrated. The theoretical results are illustrated and verified with simulation examples.
Lung Function Impairment Is Related to Subclinical Atherosclerosis Only in Active Smokers
Authors: González Jessica , Gracia-Lavedan Esther , Gómez Silvia , Barril Silvia , Godoy Pere , Bermúdez-López Marcelino , Betriu Angels , Fernández Elvira , Lecube Albert , Pamplona Reinald , Purroy Francisco , Farràs Cristina , Barbé Ferran , Torres Gerard , de Batlle Jordi ,   on behalf of the ILERVAS Project Collaborators
Published: August 2022

Background: Although an association between lung function and subclinical atherosclerosis has been reported, it remains unclear whether this association is only driven by tobacco smoking. We aimed to assess this in a population with at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Methods: We recruited 6209 subjects aged between 45 and 70 years with at least one cardiovascular risk factor (excluding diabetes mellitus) participating in the ILERVAS project 2015–2018. Lung function was determined by spirometry. Subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed with the ankle–brachial index (ABI) and the presence of carotid and femoral plaques measured by ultrasound. Results: A total of 5927 subjects were included: 49% male, median (p25–p75) age 57 years (52–62). Plaques were found in 4337 (73.2%) of the subjects. The patients with atherosclerosis showed worse lung function: median forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 95% and forced vital capacity (FVC) 94% in the patients with plaques vs. 99% and 98% in the other patients (p < 0.001). Adjusted models stratified by smoking status showed that being in the lower quartiles of FEV1 % was associated with carotid and femoral plaques (OR 1.599, p = 0.005; and OR 1.654, p = 0.006), whereas FVC % was inversely associated with carotid plaques (OR 0.967, p = 0.041). A pathological ABI was associated with worse FEV1 (OR 1.971, p = 0.038) and the presence of airway obstruction (OR 1.658, p = 0.015). However, these differences were restricted to current smokers. Conclusions: Lung function impairment was correlated with subclinical atherosclerosis only in current smokers. This highlights the unique role of smoking-related vascular and pulmonary dysfunction in early stages of pulmonary and cardiovascular afflictions.
Inequitable Changes to Time Spent in Urban Nature during COVID-19: A Case Study of Seattle, WA with Asian, Black, Latino, and White Residents
Authors: Nay Audryana , Kahn Peter H. , Lawler Joshua J. , Bratman Gregory N.
Published: August 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone in urban areas. Some of these impacts in the United States have negatively affected People of Color more than their White counterparts. Using Seattle, Washington as a case study, we investigated whether inequitable effects appear in residents’ interactions with urban nature (such as urban green space). Using a 48-question instrument, 300 residents were surveyed, equally divided across four racial/ethnic groups: Asian, Black and African American, Latino/a/x, and White. Results showed that during the span of about 6 months after the onset of the pandemic, Black and Latino residents experienced a significant loss of time in urban nature, while Asian and White residents did not. The implications of these findings, including inequities in the potential buffering effects of urban nature against COVID-19 and the future of urban nature conservation, are discussed. Multiple variables were tested for association with the changes to time spent in urban nature, including themes of exclusion from urban nature spaces found throughout the existing literature. Findings show that decreases in time spent in urban nature among Black and Latino residents may be associated with their feeling as though they did not belong in urban nature. We provide recommendations based on these findings for how government agencies can promote more equitable access to urban nature during the pandemic and beyond. The results of this study have implications that extend beyond the US and are relevant to the international scholarly literature of inequities and urban nature interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Assessing Green Roof Contributions to Tree Canopy Ecosystem Services and Connectivity in a Highly Urbanized Area
Authors: Kim Jongyun , Kang Wanmo
Published: August 2022

Ecosystem services refer to the benefits provided to humans by the natural environment and healthy ecosystems. Green roofs can be used to enhance ecosystem services, which are reduced by urbanization. Moreover, green roofs can improve biodiversity by connecting green spaces. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the multi-dimensional contributions of green roofs to urban ecosystems. To this end, we used i-Tree Canopy to identify changes in land cover and tree canopy ecosystem services from 2003 to 2021 in Suwon City, Republic of Korea. Next, we simulated improved ecosystem service effects of tree canopies by green roofs. Graph theory was also used to analyze connectivity improvement at local and landscape scales. Tree area was found to decrease from 2003 to 2012, alongside the corresponding ecosystem services, which then showed a tendency to increase from 2012 to 2021. The tree area was expected to increase further in the green roof scenario than in 2003. Green roofs were found to improve tree canopy connectivity at the landscape scale more than the local scale, by acting as stepping stones in connecting fragmented forests and trees. Areas with improved connectivity at both scales should be prioritized for green roof development. These results will aid in the strategic planning of urban green infrastructure and provide support for decision-making processes to improve ecosystem services and connectivity using green roofs.
Effects of Soil Map Scales on Estimating Soil Organic Carbon Stocks in Southeastern China
Authors: Zhi Junjun , Cao Xinyue , Wugu Enmiao , Zhang Yue , Wang Lin , Qu Le’an , Wu Jiaping
Published: August 2022

Digital soil maps of different scales have been widely used in the estimates of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, exactly how the scale of the soil map impacts SOC dynamics and the key factors influencing SOC estimations during the map generalization process have rarely been assessed. In this research, a newly available soil database of Zhejiang Province in southeastern China, which contains 2154 geo-referenced soil profiles and six digital soil maps at scales of 1:50,000, 1:250,000, 1:500,000, 1:1,000,000, 1:4,000,000, and 1:10,000,000, and three different linkage methods (i.e., the mean, median, and pedological professional knowledge-based (PKB) methods) were used to evaluate their influence on the estimates of SOC. The findings of our study were as follows: (1) The scale of the soil map was identified as being of crucial importance for regional SOC estimations. (2) The linkage method played an important role in the accurate estimates of SOC, and the PKB method could provide the most detailed information on the spatial variability of SOC estimations. (3) The key factors affecting the estimates of SOC during the map generalization process as the soil map scale decreased from 1:50,000 to 1:10,000,000 were determined, including the changes in the number of soil profiles, the conversions between different soil types, the conversions from non-soils to soils, and the linkage methods of aggregating the SOC density values of soil profiles to represent map units. The results suggest that the most detailed 1:50,000-scale soil map coupled with the PKB method would be the optimal choice for regional SOC estimations in China.
Tunicamycin-Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Damages Complex I in Cardiac Mitochondria
Authors: Chen Qun , Thompson Jeremy , Hu Ying , Lesnefsky Edward J.
Published: August 2022

Background: Induction of acute ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress using thapsigargin contributes to complex I damage in mouse hearts. Thapsigargin impairs complex I by increasing mitochondrial calcium through inhibition of Ca2+-ATPase in the ER. Tunicamycin (TUNI) is used to induce ER stress by inhibiting protein folding. We asked if TUNI-induced ER stress led to complex I damage. Methods: TUNI (0.4 mg/kg) was used to induce ER stress in C57BL/6 mice. Cardiac mitochondria were isolated after 24 or 72 h following TUNI treatment for mitochondrial functional analysis. Results: ER stress was only increased in mice following 72 h of TUNI treatment. TUNI treatment decreased oxidative phosphorylation with complex I substrates compared to vehicle with a decrease in complex I activity. The contents of complex I subunits including NBUPL and NDUFS7 were decreased in TUNI-treated mice. TUNI treatment activated both cytosolic and mitochondrial calpain 1. Our results indicate that TUNI-induced ER stress damages complex I through degradation of its subunits including NDUFS7. Conclusion: Induction of the ER stress using TUNI contributes to complex I damage by activating calpain 1.
Improvement in Methane Production from Pelagic Sargassum Using Combined Pretreatments
Authors: Chikani-Cabrera Karla Daniela , Fernandes Patricia Machado Bueno , Tapia-Tussell Raúl , Parra-Ortiz David Leonardo , Hernández-Zárate Galdy , Valdez-Ojeda Ruby , Alzate-Gaviria Liliana
Published: August 2022

The constant golden tides of Sargassum spp., identified to be a mixture of Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans, observed recently in the Mexican Caribbean have affected the marine ecosystem and the local economy and have created the need for solutions for their management and use. The Sargassum arrivals have thus been considered as third-generation feedstock for biofuel. Their potential for energetic conversion to biomethane was investigated, with hydrolysis as the limiting step due to its complex composition; therefore, in the present study, different physical, chemical, and enzymatic pretreatments and a combination of them have been evaluated, with the additional use of granular activated carbon, to determine the best yield and methane quality. The combined pretreatments of 2.5% hydrogen peroxide, followed by an enzymatic pretreatment (enzymatic extract from Trametes hirsuta isolated from decomposing wood in the Yucatán Peninsula-Mexico), was the best option, reaching a biodegradability of 95% and maximum methane yield of 387 ± 3.09 L CH4/kg volatile solid. The use of a conductive material, such as granular activated carbon, did not generate significant changes in performance and methane concentration.
Novel 3D-Printed Cell Culture Inserts for Air–Liquid Interface Cell Culture
Authors: Bauer Magdalena , Metzger Magdalena , Corea Marvin , Schädl Barbara , Grillari Johannes , Dungel Peter
Published: August 2022

In skin research, widely used in vitro 2D monolayer models do not sufficiently mimic physiological properties. To replace, reduce, and refine animal experimentation in the spirit of ‘3Rs’, new approaches such as 3D skin equivalents (SE) are needed to close the in vitro/in vivo gap. Cell culture inserts to culture SE are commercially available, however, these inserts are expensive and of limited versatility regarding experimental settings. This study aimed to design novel cell culture inserts fabricated on commercially available 3D printers for the generation of full-thickness SE. A computer-aided design model was realized by extrusion-based 3D printing of polylactic acid filaments (PLA). Improvements in the design of the inserts for easier and more efficient handling were confirmed in cell culture experiments. Cytotoxic effects of the final product were excluded by testing the inserts in accordance with ISO-norm procedures. The final versions of the inserts were tested to generate skin-like 3D scaffolds cultured at an air–liquid interface. Stratification of the epidermal component was demonstrated by histological analyses. In conclusion, here we demonstrate a fast and cost-effective method for 3D-printed inserts suitable for the generation of 3D cell cultures. The system can be set-up with common 3D printers and allows high flexibility for generating customer-tailored cell culture plastics.
Preventive Effect of Gamma-Oryzanol on Physiopathological Process Related to Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Animals Submitted to High Sugar/Fat Diet
Authors: Francisqueti-Ferron Fabiane Valentini , Silva Janaina Paixão das Chagas , Garcia Jéssica Leite , Ferron Artur Junio Togneri , Kano Hugo Tadashi , Silva Carol Cristina Vágula de Almeida , Costa Mariane Róvero , Nai Gisele Alborghetti , Moreto Fernando , Corrêa Camila Renata
Published: August 2022

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the main cause of liver disease. The physiopathological processes involved in the disease are metabolic syndrome (MetS) components (central obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes, hypertension), genetic, and dietary factors, including unsaturated fats and sweetened beverages, which are able to lead to inflammation and oxidative stress, conditions associated with progression and severity of NAFLD. Gamma-oryzanol (γOz) is a nutraceutical obtained from rice brain oil with many benefits to health, from immunological to metabolic. The aim of this study is to test the preventive effect of γOz on the physiopathological process related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in animals submitted to high sugar/fat diet. Male Wistar rats (±187 g) were randomly divided into four experimental groups to receive: control diet (C, n = 6), control diet plus γOz (C + γOz, n = 6), high sugar/fat diet (HSF, n = 6), or high sugar/fat diet plus γOz (HSF + γOz, n = 6) during 30 weeks. HSF groups also received water plus sucrose (25%). γOz was added to diets to reach 0.5% of final concentration. The HSF group presented MetS, liver inflammation and oxidative stress, and micro and macrovesicular steatosis. HSF plus γOz was protected against these changes. It is possible to conclude that gamma-oryzanol was effective in modulating the physiopathological process related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in animals submitted to a high sugar/fat diet.
Fast Removal of Methylene Blue via Adsorption-Photodegradation on TiO2/SBA-15 Synthesized by Slow Calcination
Authors: Ulfa Maria , Al Afif Hafid , Saraswati Teguh Endah , Bahruji Hasliza
Published: August 2022

TiO2/SBA-15 photocatalysts were successfully prepared by impregnating low loading titania to SBA-15 via slow calcination. The photocatalyst is efficient for fast methylene blue removal via adsorption and photodegradation methods. The impregnation of low TiO2 loading via slow calcination enhanced TiO2 dispersion that preserved the SBA-15 porosity and uniform morphology. High interfacial interaction of TiO2/SBA-15 improves TiO2 photoresponse by narrowing the bandgap, resulting in a stronger redox ability. The methylene blue removal on 10%TiO2/SBA-15 followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model that reached 67% removal efficiency in 90 min. The synergy between adsorption and photodegradation is responsible for the fast methylene blue removal. These results indicate the importance of maintaining the adsorption capacity in SBA-15 after impregnation with TiO2 for efficient adsorption-photodegradation processes, which can be achieved by controlling the deposition of TiO2 on SBA-15. A low titania loading further reduced the cost of photocatalysts, thus becoming a potential material for environmental pollution treatment.
Laser Ablation on Isostatic Graphite—A New Way to Create Exfoliated Graphite
Authors: Sierra-Trillo Maria Isabel , Thomann Ralf , Krossing Ingo , Hanselmann Ralf , Mülhaupt Rolf , Thomann Yi
Published: August 2022

In search of a new way to fabricate graphene-like materials, isostatic graphite targets were ablated using high peak power with a nanosecond-pulsed infrared laser. We conducted dry ablations in an argon atmosphere and liquid-phase ablations in the presence of a liquid medium (water or toluene). After the dry ablation, the SEM images of the target showed carbon in the form of a volcano-like grain structure, which seemed to be the result of liquid carbon ejected from the ablation center. No graphite exfoliation could be achieved using dry ablation. When using liquid phase ablation with water or toluene as a liquid medium, no traces of the formation of liquid carbon were found, but cleaner and deeper craters were observed. In particular, when using toluene as a liquid medium, typical graphite exfoliation was found. We believe that due to the extremely high pressure and high temperature induced by the laser pulses, toluene was able to intercalate into the graphite layers. Between the laser pulses, the intercalated toluene was able to flash evaporate and blow-up the graphite, which resulted in exfoliated graphite. Exfoliated graphite was found on the ablated graphite surface, as well as in the toluene medium. The ablation experiments with toluene undertaken in this study demonstrated an effective method of producing micrometer-sized graphene material. When using water as a liquid medium, no massive graphite exfoliation was observed. This meant that under the used laser conditions, toluene was a better intercalant for graphite exfoliation than water.
On the Numerical Modeling of Flax/PLA Bumper Beams
Authors: Jiao-Wang Liu , Loya José A. , Santiuste Carlos
Published: August 2022

Significant progress has been made in green composites developing fully biodegradable composites made of microbially degradable polymers reinforced with natural fibers. However, an improvement in the development of numerical models to predict the damage of green composites is necessary to extend their use in industrial applications of structural responsibility. This paper is focused on developing a numerical model that can predict the failure modes of four types of bumper beams made of flax/PLA green composites with different cross sections. The predictions regarding energy absorption, contact force history, and extension of delamination were compared with experimental results to validate the FEM model, and both results revealed a good agreement. Finally, the FEM model was used to analyze the failure modes of the bumper beams as a function of the impact energy and cross-section roundness. The impact energy threshold defined as the maximum absorbed-energy capability of the beam match with the impact energy that produces delaminations extended through all the cross sections. Experimental and numerical results revealed that the threshold energy, where the maximum energy-absorption capability is reached, for Type A is over 60 J; for Type B and C is around 60 J; and for Type D is at 50 J. Since delamination is concentrated at the cross-section corners, the threshold energy decreases with the cross-section roundness because the higher the roundness ratio, the wider the delamination extension.