bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exercise Does Not Independently Improve Histological Outcomes in Biopsy-Proven Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen George , Banini Bubu A. , Do Albert , Gunderson Craig , Zaman Saif , Lim Joseph K.
Published: September 2023

Introduction: The independent effect of exercise on liver histology in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unclear. As such, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of exercise alone on histological endpoints in biopsy-proven NAFLD. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to include controlled clinical trials investigating the effect of exercise alone on liver histology in biopsy-proven NAFLD. Meta-analysis was conducted for histological outcomes with available data from a minimum of three studies. Pooled estimates of the effect of exercise on histological endpoints were calculated using random-effects models. Results: We identified three controlled clinical trials that assessed the independent effect of exercise on histological outcomes in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD. The studies consisted of 72 total participants, including 40 subjects in the exercise intervention and 32 individuals in the comparison group. Meta-analysis showed that exercise did not significantly improve Brunt grade, NAFLD activity score, and fibrosis in NAFLD. Discussion: Exercise alone may not lead to significant histopathological improvement in NAFLD. Future well-powered randomized controlled trials are needed to better characterize the impact of exercise on histological outcomes and clinical endpoints.
Virtual Craft: Experiences and Aesthetics of Immersive Making Culture
Authors: Kim Minhyoung
Published: September 2023

As immersive media, including VR, AR, MR, and XR, continues to expand rapidly during the pandemic era, there remains limited research on its comprehensive characteristics and its potential to create new forms of experience and aesthetics. This may be attributed to a lack of an understanding that immersive technologies exist encompassing both realms of reality and virtuality, leading to misconceptions that they are radically disconnected from traditional notions of materiality. In contrast, this study identifies an emerging trend characterized by the material implementation of immersive technologies in the domain of making culture in VR, which is referred to as “virtual craft” in this research. By reviewing studies on immersive media, materiality, making culture, and triadic semiotics, an integrated conceptual framework was developed to assess the experiences, aesthetics, and potential of immersive making culture. This framework is then applied to a specific case study involving virtual craft, with a particular focus on the 3D painting application, Tilt Brush, and related applications that the author has observed and tested. In conclusion, this paper presents a vision of the future of virtual craft and discusses the sustainability of immersive making culture, highlighting the potential for continued innovation and integration in various fields.
Health Science Students’ Perceptions of Hand Hygiene Education and Practice in a South African University: Introducing the University Hand Hygiene Improvement Model
Authors: Singh Atheesha , Barnard Tobias George
Published: September 2023

Hand hygiene serves as a critical preventative measure against the spread of acquired infections in healthcare facilities and is an integral component of patient safety programs. While healthcare students in training are typically introduced to the principles underlying hand hygiene, the translation of this understanding into practice is often lacking, and compliance has remained low. This study aimed to evaluate health science students’ in biomedical sciences, chiropractic and emergency medical care, environmental health, complementary medicine, medical imaging and radiation sciences, nursing, optometry, podiatry, and sports and movement studies perceptions regarding hand hygiene education (knowledge and attitude) and practice at a university in South Africa. Consenting students were asked to complete an online questionnaire that tested their knowledge, practices, and skills in handwashing. The ANOVA analysis results suggested significant differences in hand hygiene scores across departments and years of study. The multiple regression analyses confirmed these findings, suggesting that the department of study significantly influenced all aspects of hand hygiene, while the year of study affected hand hygiene skills, and age group influenced hand hygiene practices. Based on these findings, a conceptual model, the University Hand Hygiene Improvement Model (UHHIM), was proposed to enhance the teaching and learning of hand hygiene at the university level. The model underscores the necessity of targeted education, continuous monitoring, and feedback, and the pivotal roles of hand hygiene facilitators and student participation in enhancing hand hygiene behaviors.
Nurses’ Experience Implementing an Automated Video Monitoring System to Decrease the Risk of Patient Falls during a Global Pandemic
Authors: Allen Joseph A. , Reiter-Palmon Roni , Jones Katherine J. , Sabalka Lucas , Ciagala Kelsey , Meens Andrea
Published: September 2023

Healthcare is a complex sociotechnical system where information systems (IS) and information technology (IT) intersect to solve problems experienced by patients and providers alike. One example of IS/IT in hospitals is the Ocuvera automated video monitoring system (AVMS), which has been implemented in more than 30 hospitals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate nurses’ attitudes toward AVMS implementation over time as they received the training program developed for this intervention. Consistent with the job demands–resources (JDR) model, we found that perceptions of AVMS usefulness increased over time and were positively associated with perceptions of social influence and behavioral control. These results were consistent with our finding that there was a significant decrease in the risk of unassisted falls from the bed from baseline to intervention. Leaders in hospital systems and healthcare organizations may want to consider implementing an AVMS as researchers continue to test, verify, and demonstrate the effectiveness of these interventions for improving patient well-being.
The Changes in Menstrual and Menstrual-Related Symptoms among Japanese Female University Students: A Prospective Cohort Study from Three Months to Nine Months after Admission
Authors: Matsuura Yukie , Tran Nam Hoang , Yasui Toshiyuki
Published: September 2023

Menstrual and menstrual-related symptoms can significantly impact an individual’s physical and psychological health. Understanding how these symptoms evolve over time is crucial to provide appropriate support and healthcare services to young women. This study aimed to investigate changes in menstrual and menstrual-related symptoms among first-year female university students. A prospective longitudinal design was used to compare the symptom profiles between two time points (three and nine months after admission). Out of 100 female university students, 30 responses were analyzed. Data on menstrual and menstrual-related symptoms were collected using standardized questionnaires focusing on menstrual status and the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ); no notable changes occurred between the time points. Approximately half reported having irregular menstruation during the three time periods. Among the sub-scales, premenstrual “impaired concentration” showed a tendency to be lower, whereas menstrual “water retention” tended to be higher in timepoint 2 compared to timepoint 1. “Distractible” was found to be significantly lower in timepoint 2 compared to timepoint 1. There was a significant association between a sleep duration of <7 h and worsened MDQ scores. These findings may underscore the importance of providing comprehensive lifestyle and menstrual education to new university students, along with access to appropriate medical care.
The Effects of Foliar Salicylic Acid and Zinc Treatments on Proline, Carotenoid, and Chlorophyll Content and Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Activity in Galanthus elwesii Hook
Authors: Kırgeç Yasemin , Batı-Ay Ebru , Açıkgöz Muhammed Akif
Published: September 2023

Galanthus elwesii Hook. is an important plant species of the Amaryllidaceae family and is used for the medicinal purposes of its valuable bioactive compounds. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of foliar salicylic acid (SA) and zinc (Zn) treatments on the proline, carotenoid, and chlorophyll content and the anti-oxidant enzyme activity in G. elwesii. The ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzyme activity, catalase (CAT) enzyme activity, and protein contents were determined with ascorbate oxidation, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and Bradford experiments, respectively. The plants were treated with three different concentrations of SA (0.5, 1, and 2 mM) and Zn (40, 80, and 120 mM) and were compared with the control. Fresh leaves were harvested in the study. APX (3.99 ± 0.58 EU/mg protein) and CAT (154.64 ± 4.10 EU/mg protein) were obtained from Zn 80 and 120 mM treatments at the highest level, respectively. The proline, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid content increased 12.4, 1.54, and 3.95-fold, respectively, in 0.5 mM SA treatments, when matched with the control group. It was found that increasing doses of SA and Zn increased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), but this was not at a significant level. The total chlorophyll content increased 2.27-fold in Zn 120 mM + SA 2 mM treatment and the chlorophyll content increased 2.41-fold in Zn 40 mM + SA 1 mM treatment.
Combining Ability on Yields, Capsinoids and Capsaicinoids in Pepper Varieties (Capsicum annuum L.)
Authors: Tarinta Tanyarat , Chanthai Saksit , Nawata Eiji , Techawongstien Suchila
Published: September 2023

The requirement for good parental lines of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) with high phytochemicals, especially for capsinoids (CATs) and capsaicinoids (CAPs), is rapidly increasing, and plant breeders are encouraged to develop new pepper varieties. The objective of this study was to estimate the general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for the contents of CATs and CAPs in pepper in two different environments. The mean performances for fresh yield, dry yield and phytochemical contents in C. annuum L. were significantly affected by the environment. The effect of additive gene action was significant in determining the traits of CAT, Sum CATs, CAT yield and Sum CAPs. Conversely, non-additive gene action played a crucial role in the accumulation of DI-CAT in this population. The parental lines 203, 201, 101 and 202 were identified as the best parents for fruit yield, sum CAPs, sum CATs and CAT yield, respectively, based on their high positive GCA values and mean actual values. The SCA estimates for fruit yield, sum CAPs and sum CATs were positive and high for the hybrids 102/203, 101/201 and 102/202, indicating that they hold promise for use in commercial hybrids.
Emergence and Structural Characteristic of the Solanum pimpinellifolium in Trays under Different Levels and Types of Substrates
Authors: dos Santos Erivaldo Erbo Alves , Barbosa Nathália Maria Laranjeira , dos Santos Francisco Gauberto Barros , Duarte Antonia Eliene , Mateus Lucas Souza , de Oliveira Gertrudes Macário , da Paz Cristiane Domingos
Published: September 2023

The cultivated tomato is one of the most consumed vegetables in the world, and the preparation of seedlings plays a fundamental role in the success of the crop, which is often plagued by fungi and bacteria from its earliest stages. This study aimed to analyze the emergence speed index and morphological parameters of Wanda hybrid cherry tomato seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum var. pimpinellifolium) in trays with two different types and levels of substrates in a protected environment using certified seeds. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse of the IFCE—Campus Crato during the months of August and September 2022. Two basic substrates were used to promote germination and emergence: one was the commercial Vivato Slim Plus®, and the other was based on worm humus produced in Minhobuckets kits. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of five doses of commercial substrate (SBC) and earthworm humus (HDM) in the following proportions: S1—HDM; S2—SBC; S3—HDM + SBC (1:1), S4—HDM + SBC (1:3), and S5—HDM + SBC (3:1). The ESI, morphological parameters (SD, PH, ROOTL, and NL), and the dry biomass of the seedlings (LDB, SDB, RDB, and TDB) were determined. Data were subjected to an analysis of variance, and Tukey’s test (0.05) was used; dry biomass data were submitted to square root transformation. For the emergence speed index, SBC (S2) outperformed the others. Regarding the morphological parameters and dry biomass, all substrates yielded satisfactory results, despite not showing a statistical difference between the averages. The substrate S4 produced the best results in all evaluated parameters.
Assessment of the Drought-Tolerance Criteria for Screening Peach Cultivars
Authors: Tsiupka Valentina , Tsiupka Sergei , Plugatar Yuri , Bulavin Iliya , Komar-Tyomnaya Larisa
Published: September 2023

The article presents an analysis of the artificial dehydration effect of peach leaf tissues, simulating natural drought, on various physiological, morphological, and anatomical parameters described in the literature, associated with the trait of drought resistance. An investigation aimed to identify the most informative criteria for peach drought resistance which correlate with water loss during dehydration. The results present an assessment of the amount of water loss in 60 peach cultivars selected from different geographical areas and having different genetic origins. Four contrasting genotypes were identified, based on the results of the cluster analysis performed on the cultivar’s water regime. The influence of water regime parameters (leaf water content, water saturation deficit, dynamic of water loss), the morphological and anatomical structure of the leaf, the content of photosynthetic pigments, and the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus on drought resistance were investigated for selected peach cultivars. It was revealed that the most informative criteria for assessing drought resistance were dry and fresh leaf weight, leaf blade length, leaf width, and area (among morphometric parameters); stomatal pore length, stomata density, adaxial and abaxial epidermis thickness, and adaxial cuticle thickness (among anatomical parameters); and Fv/Fm—maximum photochemical quantum yield of PSII, Y(NO)—quantum yield of unregulated non-photochemical light energy dissipation in PS II and Y(NPQ)—controlled quantum losses (among indicators of photosynthetic activity).
Classification and Identification of Apple Leaf Diseases and Insect Pests Based on Improved ResNet-50 Model
Authors: Zhang Xiaohua , Li Haolin , Sun Sihai , Zhang Wenfeng , Shi Fuxi , Zhang Ruihua , Liu Qin
Published: September 2023

Automaticidentification and prevention of leaf diseases and insect pests on fruit crops represent a key trend in the development of smart agriculture. In order to address the limitations of existing models with low identification rates of apple leaf diseases and insect pests, a novel identification model based on an improved ResNet-50 architecture was proposed, which incorporated the coordinate attention (CA) module and weight-adaptive multi-scale feature fusion (WAMFF) to enhance the ResNet-50’s image feature extraction capabilities. Transfer learning and online data enhancement are employed to boost the model’s generalization ability. The proposed model achieved a top-1 accuracy rate of 98.32% on the basis of AppleLeaf9 datasets, which is 4.58% higher than the value from the original model, and the improved model can effectively improve the localization of lesion features. Furthermore, compared with mainstream deep networks, such as AlexNet, VGG16, DenseNet, MNASNet, and GoogLeNet on the same dataset, the top-1 accuracy rate increased by 7.3%, 3.19%, 4.98%, 6.04% and 3.87%, respectively. The experimental results demonstrate that the improved model is effective in improving the identification accuracy of apple leaf diseases and insect pests and enhancing the model’s effective feature extraction capabilities.
Analysis of Groundwater Depletion in the Saskatchewan River Basin in Canada from Coupled SWAT-MODFLOW and Satellite Gravimetry
Authors: Hamdi Mohamed , Goïta Kalifa
Published: September 2023

The Saskatchewan River Basin (SRB) of central Canada plays a crucial role in the Canadian Prairies. Yet, climate change and human action constitute a real threat to its hydrological processes. This study aims to evaluate and analyze groundwater spatial and temporal dynamics in the SRB. Groundwater information was derived and compared using two different approaches: (1) a mathematical modeling framework coupling the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and the Modular hydrologic model (MODFLOW) and (2) gravimetric satellite observations from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission and its follow-on (GRACE-FO). Both methods show generalized groundwater depletion in the SRB that can reach −1 m during the study period (2002–2019). Maximum depletion appeared especially after 2011. The water balance simulated by SWAT-MODFLOW showed that SRB could be compartmented roughly into three main zones. The mountainous area in the extreme west of the basin is the first zone, which is the most dynamic zone in terms of recharge, reaching +0.5 m. The second zone is the central area, where agricultural and industrial activities predominate, as well as potable water supplies. This zone is the least rechargeable and most intensively exploited area, with depletion ranging from +0.2 to −0.4 m during the 2002 to 2011 period and up to −1 m from 2011 to 2019. Finally, the third zone is the northern area that is dominated by boreal forest. Here, exploitation is average, but the soil does not demonstrate significant storage power. Briefly, the main contribution of this research is the quantification of groundwater depletion in the large basin of the SRB using two different methods: process-oriented and satellite-oriented methods. The next step of this research work will focus on the development of artificial intelligence approaches to estimate groundwater depletion from a combination of GRACE/GRACE-FO and a set of multisource remote sensing data.
Chemical Systems for Wetware Artificial Life: Selected Perspectives in Synthetic Cell Research
Authors: Stano Pasquale
Published: September 2023

The recent and important advances in bottom-up synthetic biology (SB), in particular in the field of the so-called “synthetic cells” (SCs) (or “artificial cells”, or “protocells”), lead us to consider the role of wetware technologies in the “Sciences of Artificial”, where they constitute the third pillar, alongside the more well-known pillars hardware (robotics) and software (Artificial Intelligence, AI). In this article, it will be highlighted how wetware approaches can help to model life and cognition from a unique perspective, complementary to robotics and AI. It is suggested that, through SB, it is possible to explore novel forms of bio-inspired technologies and systems, in particular chemical AI. Furthermore, attention is paid to the concept of semantic information and its quantification, following the strategy recently introduced by Kolchinsky and Wolpert. Semantic information, in turn, is linked to the processes of generation of “meaning”, interpreted here through the lens of autonomy and cognition in artificial systems, emphasizing its role in chemical ones.
Murine Mast Cells That Are Deficient in IFNAR-Signaling Respond to Viral Infection by Producing a Large Amount of Inflammatory Cytokines, a Low Level of Reactive Oxygen Species, and a High Rate of Cell Death
Authors: Mehrani Yeganeh , Knapp Jason P. , Kakish Julia E. , Tieu Sophie , Javadi Helia , Chan Lily , Stegelmeier Ashley A. , Napoleoni Christina , Bridle Byram W. , Karimi Khalil
Published: September 2023

Mat cells (MCs) are located in the skin and mucous membranes at points where the body meets the environment. When activated, MCs release inflammatory cytokines, which help the immune system to fight viruses. MCs produce, and have receptors for interferons (IFNs), which belong to a family of cytokines recognized for their antiviral properties. Previously, we reported that MCs produced proinflammatory cytokines in response to a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSVΔm51) and that IFNAR signaling was required to down-modulate these responses. Here, we have demonstrated that UV-irradiated rVSVΔm51 did not cause any inflammatory cytokines in either in vitro cultured mouse IFNAR-intact (IFNAR+/+), or in IFNAR-knockout (IFNAR−/−) MCs. However, the non-irradiated virus was able to replicate more effectively in IFNAR−/− MCs and produced a higher level of inflammatory cytokines compared with the IFNAR+/+ MCs. Interestingly, MCs lacking IFNAR expression displayed reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared with IFNAR+/+ MCs. Additionally, upon the viral infection, these IFNAR−/− MCs were found to coexist with many dying cells within the cell population. Based on our findings, IFNAR-intact MCs exhibit a lower rate of rVSVΔm51 infectivity and lower levels of cytokines while demonstrating higher levels of ROS. This suggests that MCs with intact IFNAR signaling may survive viral infections by producing cell-protective ROS mechanisms and are less likely to die than IFNAR−/− cells.
AMMVF-DTI: A Novel Model Predicting Drug–Target Interactions Based on Attention Mechanism and Multi-View Fusion
Authors: Wang Lu , Zhou Yifeng , Chen Qu
Published: September 2023

Accurate identification of potential drug–target interactions (DTIs) is a crucial task in drug development and repositioning. Despite the remarkable progress achieved in recent years, improving the performance of DTI prediction still presents significant challenges. In this study, we propose a novel end-to-end deep learning model called AMMVF-DTI (attention mechanism and multi-view fusion), which leverages a multi-head self-attention mechanism to explore varying degrees of interaction between drugs and target proteins. More importantly, AMMVF-DTI extracts interactive features between drugs and proteins from both node-level and graph-level embeddings, enabling a more effective modeling of DTIs. This advantage is generally lacking in existing DTI prediction models. Consequently, when compared to many of the start-of-the-art methods, AMMVF-DTI demonstrated excellent performance on the human, C. elegans, and DrugBank baseline datasets, which can be attributed to its ability to incorporate interactive information and mine features from both local and global structures. The results from additional ablation experiments also confirmed the importance of each module in our AMMVF-DTI model. Finally, a case study is presented utilizing our model for COVID-19-related DTI prediction. We believe the AMMVF-DTI model can not only achieve reasonable accuracy in DTI prediction, but also provide insights into the understanding of potential interactions between drugs and targets.
Helicobacter pylori and Pro-Inflammatory Protein Biomarkers in Myocardial Infarction with and without Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Wärme Jonatan , Sundqvist Martin O. , Hjort Marcus , Agewall Stefan , Collste Olov , Ekenbäck Christina , Frick Mats , Henareh Loghman , Hofman-Bang Claes , Spaak Jonas , Sörensson Peder , Y-Hassan Shams , Svensson Per , Lindahl Bertil , Hofmann Robin , Tornvall Per
Published: September 2023

Myocardial infarction (MI) with obstructive coronary artery disease (MI-CAD) and MI in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) affect different populations and may have separate pathophysiological mechanisms, with greater inflammatory activity in MINOCA compared to MI-CAD. Helicobacter pylori (Hp) can cause systemic inflammation and has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to investigate whether Hp infection is associated with concentrations of protein biomarkers of inflammation and CVD. In a case-control study, patients with MINOCA (n = 99) in Sweden were included, complemented by matched subjects with MI-CAD (n = 99) and controls (n = 100). Protein biomarkers were measured with a proximity extension assay in plasma samples collected 3 months after MI. The seroprevalence of Hp and cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) was determined using ELISA. The associations between protein levels and Hp status were studied with linear regression. The prevalence of Hp was 20.2%, 19.2%, and 16.0% for MINOCA, MI-CAD, and controls, respectively (p = 0.73). Seven proteins were associated with Hp in an adjusted model: tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), myeloperoxidase (MPO), TNF-related activation-induced cytokine (TRANCE), pappalysin-1 (PAPPA), soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1). Hp infection was present in one in five patients with MI, irrespective of the presence of obstructive CAD. Inflammatory proteins were elevated in Hp-positive subjects, thus not ruling out that Hp may promote an inflammatory response and potentially contribute to the development of CVD.
Properties of Plant Virus Protein Encoded by the 5′-Proximal Gene of Tetra-Cistron Movement Block
Authors: Chergintsev Denis A. , Solovieva Anna D. , Atabekova Anastasia K. , Lezzhov Alexander A. , Golyshev Sergei A. , Morozov Sergey Y. , Solovyev Andrey G.
Published: September 2023

To move from cell to cell through plasmodesmata, many plant viruses require the concerted action of two or more movement proteins (MPs) encoded by transport gene modules of virus genomes. A tetra-cistron movement block (TCMB) is a newly discovered transport module comprising four genes. TCMB encodes three proteins, which are similar to MPs of the transport module known as the “triple gene block”, and a protein unrelated to known viral MPs and containing a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding domain similar to that found in a family of cell proteins, including AtDRB4 and AtHYL1. Here, the latter TCMB protein, named vDRB for virus dsRNA-binding protein, is shown to bind both dsRNA and single-stranded RNA in vitro. In a turnip crinkle virus-based assay, vDRB exhibits the properties of a viral suppressor of RNA silencing (VSR). In the context of potato virus X infection, vDRB significantly decreases the number and size of “dark green islands”, regions of local antiviral silencing, supporting the VSR function of vDRB. Nevertheless, vDRB does not exhibit the VSR properties in non-viral transient expression assays. Taken together, the data presented here indicate that vDRB is an RNA-binding protein exhibiting VSR functions in the context of viral infection.
The Role of the Circadian Rhythm in Dyslipidaemia and Vascular Inflammation Leading to Atherosclerosis
Authors: Csoma Balazs , Bikov Andras
Published: September 2023

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the leading causes of death worldwide. Many lines of evidence suggest that the disturbances in circadian rhythm are responsible for the development of CVDs; however, circadian misalignment is not yet a treatable trait in clinical practice. The circadian rhythm is controlled by the central clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and clock genes (molecular clock) located in all cells. Dyslipidaemia and vascular inflammation are two hallmarks of atherosclerosis and numerous experimental studies conclude that they are under direct influence by both central and molecular clocks. This review will summarise the results of experimental studies on lipid metabolism, vascular inflammation and circadian rhythm, and translate them into the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. We discuss the effect of time-respected administration of medications in cardiovascular medicine. We review the evidence on the effect of bright light and melatonin on cardiovascular health, lipid metabolism and vascular inflammation. Finally, we suggest an agenda for future research and recommend on clinical practice.
EGCG-Mediated Protection of Transthyretin Amyloidosis by Stabilizing Transthyretin Tetramers and Disrupting Transthyretin Aggregates
Authors: Zou Huizhen , Zhou Shuangyan
Published: September 2023

Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is a progressive and systemic disease caused by the misfolding and amyloid aggregation of transthyretin (TTR). Stabilizing the TTR tetramers and disrupting the formed TTR aggregation are treated as a promising strategy for the treatment of ATTR. Previous studies have reported that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) can participate in the whole process of TTR aggregation to prevent ATTR. However, the interaction mechanism of EGCG in this process is still obscure. In this work, we performed molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interactions between EGCG and TTR tetramers, and between EGCG and TTR aggregates formed by the V30M mutation. The obtained results suggest that EGCG at the binding site of the V30M TTR tetramer can form stable hydrogen bonds with residues in the flexible AB-loop and EF-helix-loop, which reduces the structural mobility of these regions significantly. Additionally, the polyaromatic property of EGCG contributes to the increasement of hydrophobicity at the binding site and thus makes the tetramer difficult to be solvated and dissociated. For V30M-TTR-generated aggregates, EGCG can promote the dissociation of boundary β-strands by destroying key residue interactions of TTR aggregates. Moreover, EGCG is capable of inserting into the side-chain of residues of neighboring β-strands and disrupting the highly structured aggregates. Taken together, this study elucidates the role of EGCG in preventing TTR amyloidosis, which can provide important theoretical support for the future of drug design for ATTR.
Whole-Body Vibration Prevents Neuronal, Neurochemical, and Behavioral Effects of Morphine Withdrawal in a Rat Model
Authors: Jones Gavin C. , Small Christina A. , Otteson Dallin Z. , Hafen Caylor W. , Breinholt Jacob T. , Flora Paul D. , Burris Matthew D. , Sant David W. , Ruchti Tysum R. , Yorgason Jordan T. , Steffensen Scott C. , Bills Kyle B.
Published: September 2023

Peripheral mechanoreceptor-based treatments such as acupuncture and chiropractic manipulation have shown success in modulating the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system originating in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the midbrain and projecting to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of the striatum. We have previously shown that mechanoreceptor activation via whole-body vibration (WBV) ameliorates neuronal and behavioral effects of chronic ethanol exposure. In this study, we employ a similar paradigm to assess the efficacy of WBV as a preventative measure of neuronal and behavioral effects of morphine withdrawal in a Wistar rat model. We demonstrate that concurrent administration of WBV at 80 Hz with morphine over a 5-day period significantly reduced adaptations in VTA GABA neuronal activity and NAc DA release and modulated expression of δ-opioid receptors (DORs) on NAc cholinergic interneurons (CINs) during withdrawal. We also observed a reduction in behavior typically associated with opioid withdrawal. WBV represents a promising adjunct to current intervention for opioid use disorder (OUD) and should be examined translationally in humans.
Characterization of Biogenic PbS Quantum Dots
Authors: Okamura Yoshiko , Shimizu Ryo , Tominaga Yoriko , Maki Sachiko , Aki Tsunehiro , Matsumura Yukihiko , Nakashimada Yutaka
Published: September 2023

Heavy metals in a polluted environment are toxic to life. However, some microorganisms can remove or immobilize heavy metals through biomineralization. These bacteria also form minerals with compositions similar to those of semiconductors. Here, this bioprocess was used to fabricate semiconductors with low energy consumption and cost. Bacteria that form lead sulfide (PbS) nanoparticles were screened, and the crystallinity and semiconductor properties of the resulting nanoparticles were characterized. Bacterial consortia that formed PbS nanoparticles were obtained. Extracellular particle size ranged from 3.9 to 5.5 nm, and lattice fringes were observed. The lattice fringes and electron diffraction spectra corresponded to crystalline PbS. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of bacterial PbS exhibited clear diffraction peaks. The experimental and theoretical data of the diffraction angles on each crystal plane of polycrystalline PbS were in good agreement. Synchrotron XRD measurements showed no crystalline impurity-derived peaks. Thus, bacterial biomineralization can form ultrafine crystalline PbS nanoparticles. Optical absorption and current–voltage measurements of PbS were obtained to characterize the semiconductor properties; the results showed semiconductor quantum dot behavior. Moreover, the current increased under light irradiation when PbS nanoparticles were used. These results suggest that biogenic PbS has band gaps and exhibits the general fundamental characteristics of a semiconductor.
The Biocompatibility Analysis of Artificial Mucin-Like Glycopolymers
Authors: Trosan P. , Tang J. S. J. , Rosencrantz R. R. , Daehne L. , Smaczniak A. Debrassi , Staehlke S. , Chea S. , Fuchsluger T. A.
Published: September 2023

The ocular surface is covered by a tear film consisting of an aqueous/mucin phase and a superficial lipid layer. Mucins, highly O-glycosylated proteins, are responsible for lubrication and ocular surface protection. Due to contact lens wear or eye disorders, lubrication of the ocular surface can be affected. Artificial glycopolymers which mimic natural mucins could be efficient in ophthalmic therapy. Various neutral, positively, and negatively charged mucin-mimicking glycopolymers were synthesized (n = 11), cultured in different concentrations (1%, 0.1%, and 0.01% w/v) with human corneal epithelial cells (HCE), and analyzed by various cytotoxicity/viability, morphology, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays. Six of the eleven glycopolymers were selected for further analysis after cytotoxicity/viability assays. We showed that the six selected glycopolymers had no cytotoxic effect on HCE cells in the 0.01% w/v concentration. They did not negatively affect cell viability and displayed both morphology and characteristic markers as untreated control cells. These polymers could be used in the future as mucin-mimicking semi-synthetic materials for lubrication and protection of the ocular surface.
Early Alzheimer’s Disease Screening Approach Using Plasma Biomarkers
Authors: Álvarez-Sánchez Lourdes , Peña-Bautista Carmen , Ferré-González Laura , Cubas Laura , Balaguer Angel , Casanova-Estruch Bonaventura , Baquero Miguel , Cháfer-Pericás Consuelo
Published: September 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent dementia, but it shows similar initial symptoms to other neurocognitive diseases (Lewy body disease (LBD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD)). Thus, the identification of reliable AD plasma biomarkers is required. The aim of this work is to evaluate the use of a few plasma biomarkers to develop an early and specific AD screening method. Plasma p-Tau181, neurofilament light (NfL), and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) were determined by Single Molecule Assay (SIMOA® Quanterix, Billerica, MA, USA) in patients with mild cognitive impairment due to AD (MCI-AD, n = 50), AD dementia (n = 10), FTD (n = 20), LBD (n = 5), and subjective cognitive impairment (SCI (n = 21)). Plasma p-Tau181 and GFAP showed the highest levels in AD dementia, and significant correlations with clinical AD characteristics; meanwhile, NfL showed the highest levels in FTD, but no significant correlations with AD. The partial least squares (PLS) diagnosis model developed between the AD and SCI groups showed good accuracy with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under curve (AUC) of 0.935 (CI 95% 0.87–0.98), sensitivity of 86%, and specificity of 88%. In a first screen, NfL plasma levels could identify FTD patients among subjects with cognitive impairment. Then, the developed PLS model including p-Tau181 and GFAP levels could identify AD patients, constituting a simple, early, and specific diagnosis approach.
A Study on the Use of the Phyto-Courier Technology in Tobacco Leaves Infected by Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Authors: Gutsch Annelie , Berni Roberto , Hausman Jean-Francois , Sutera Flavia Maria , Dehsorkhi Ashkan , Torabi-Pour Nissim , Saffie-Siebert Suzanne , Guerriero Gea
Published: September 2023

Climate change results in exceptional environmental conditions and drives the migration of pathogens to which local plants are not adapted. Biotic stress disrupts plants’ metabolism, fitness, and performance, ultimately impacting their productivity. It is therefore necessary to develop strategies for improving plant resistance by promoting stress responsiveness and resilience in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. The aim of this study was to investigate whether priming tobacco plants with a formulation containing silicon-stabilised hybrid lipid nanoparticles functionalised with quercetin (referred to as GS3 phyto-courier) can protect against biotic stress triggered by Agrobacterium tumefaciens leaf infiltration. Tobacco leaves were primed via infiltration or spraying with the GS3 phyto-courier, as well as with a buffer (B) and free quercetin (Q) solution serving as controls prior to the biotic stress. Leaves were then sampled four days after bacterial infiltration for gene expression analysis and microscopy. The investigated genes increased in expression after stress, both in leaves treated with the phyto-courier and control solutions. A trend towards lower values was observed in the presence of the GS3 phyto-courier for genes encoding chitinases and pathogenesis-related proteins. Agroinfiltrated leaves sprayed with GS3 confirmed the significant lower expression of the pathogenesis-related gene PR-1a and showed higher expression of peroxidase and serine threonine kinase. Microscopy revealed swelling of the chloroplasts in the parenchyma of stressed leaves treated with B; however, GS3 preserved the chloroplasts’ mean area under stress. Furthermore, the UV spectrum of free Q solution and of quercetin freshly extracted from GS3 revealed a different spectral signature with higher values of maximum absorbance (Amax) of the flavonoid in the latter, suggesting that the silicon-stabilised hybrid lipid nanoparticles protect quercetin against oxidative degradation.
Bony Fish Arachidonic Acid 15-Lipoxygenases Exhibit Different Catalytic Properties than Their Mammalian Orthologs, Suggesting Functional Enzyme Evolution during Vertebrate Development
Authors: Roigas Sophie , Kakularam Kumar R. , Rothe Michael , Heydeck Dagmar , Aparoy Polamarasetty , Kuhn Hartmut
Published: September 2023

The human genome involves six functional arachidonic acid lipoxygenase (ALOX) genes and the corresponding enzymes (ALOX15, ALOX15B, ALOX12, ALOX12B, ALOXE3, ALOX5) have been implicated in cell differentiation and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory, hyperproliferative, metabolic, and neurological disorders. In other vertebrates, ALOX-isoforms have also been identified, but they occur less frequently. Since bony fish represent the most abundant subclass of vertebrates, we recently expressed and characterized putative ALOX15 orthologs of three different bony fish species (Nothobranchius furzeri, Pundamilia nyererei, Scleropages formosus). To explore whether these enzymes represent functional equivalents of mammalian ALOX15 orthologs, we here compared a number of structural and functional characteristics of these ALOX-isoforms with those of mammalian enzymes. We found that in contrast to mammalian ALOX15 orthologs, which exhibit a broad substrate specificity, a membrane oxygenase activity, and a special type of dual reaction specificity, the putative bony fish ALOX15 orthologs strongly prefer C20 fatty acids, lack any membrane oxygenase activity and exhibit a different type of dual reaction specificity with arachidonic acid. Moreover, mutagenesis studies indicated that the Triad Concept, which explains the reaction specificity of all mammalian ALOX15 orthologs, is not applicable for the putative bony fish enzymes. The observed functional differences between putative bony fish ALOX15 orthologs and corresponding mammalian enzymes suggest a targeted optimization of the catalytic properties of ALOX15 orthologs during vertebrate development.
Review of Applications of Density Functional Theory (DFT) Quantum Mechanical Calculations to Study the High-Pressure Polymorphs of Organic Crystalline Materials
Authors: Napiórkowska Ewa , Milcarz Katarzyna , Szeleszczuk Łukasz
Published: September 2023

Since its inception, chemistry has been predominated by the use of temperature to generate or change materials, but applications of pressure of more than a few tens of atmospheres for such purposes have been rarely observed. However, pressure is a very effective thermodynamic variable that is increasingly used to generate new materials or alter the properties of existing ones. As computational approaches designed to simulate the solid state are normally tuned using structural data at ambient pressure, applying them to high-pressure issues is a highly challenging test of their validity from a computational standpoint. However, the use of quantum chemical calculations, typically at the level of density functional theory (DFT), has repeatedly been shown to be a great tool that can be used to both predict properties that can be later confirmed by experimenters and to explain, at the molecular level, the observations of high-pressure experiments. This article’s main goal is to compile, analyze, and synthesize the findings of works addressing the use of DFT in the context of molecular crystals subjected to high-pressure conditions in order to give a general overview of the possibilities offered by these state-of-the-art calculations.
Hierarchically Porous Carbon Nanosheets from One-Step Carbonization of Zinc Gluconate for High-Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Tian Zhiwei , Weng Zhangzhao , Xiao Junlei , Wang Feng , Zhang Chunmei , Jiang Shaohua
Published: September 2023

Supercapacitors, with high energy density, rapid charge–discharge capabilities, and long cycling ability, have gained favor among many researchers. However, the universality of high-performance carbon-based electrodes is often constrained by their complex fabrication methods. In this study, the common industrial materials, zinc gluconate and ammonium chloride, are uniformly mixed and subjected to a one-step carbonization strategy to prepare three-dimensional hierarchical porous carbon materials with high specific surface area and suitable nitrogen doping. The results show that a specific capacitance of 221 F g−1 is achieved at a current density of 1 A g−1. The assembled symmetrical supercapacitor achieves a high energy density of 17 Wh kg−1, and after 50,000 cycles at a current density of 50 A g−1, it retains 82% of its initial capacitance. Moreover, the operating voltage window of the symmetrical device can be easily expanded to 2.5 V when using Et4NBF4 as the electrolyte, resulting in a maximum energy density of up to 153 Wh kg−1, and retaining 85.03% of the initial specific capacitance after 10,000 cycles. This method, using common industrial materials as raw materials, provides ideas for the simple preparation of high-performance carbon materials and also provides a promising method for the large-scale production of highly porous carbons.
Evaluation of Antidepressive-like Behaviours and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Mice Receiving Imipramine-Zinc Complex Compound
Authors: Szopa Aleksandra , Herbet Mariola , Poleszak Ewa , Serefko Anna , Czylkowska Agnieszka , Piątkowska-Chmiel Iwona , Kasperek Kamila , Wróbel Andrzej , Prewencka Paulina , Szewczyk Bernadeta
Published: September 2023

The study aimed to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of an imipramine-zinc (IMI-Zn) complex compound on mice and assess the level of oxidative stress parameters. The research also investigated whether the IMI-Zn complex showed superior antidepressant activity compared to individual treatments of both compounds at effective doses and their joint administration at subtherapeutic doses. The study was conducted on mice. Forced swim (FST), tail suspension (TST), and locomotor activity tests were used for behavioral studies. The results demonstrated the IMI-Zn complex’s dose-dependent antidepressant potential when orally administered to mice. Its efficacy was similar to the separate administration of therapeutic doses of imipramine (IMI) and zinc (Zn) and their joint administration at subtherapeutic doses. Moreover, subjecting mice to acute stress did not significantly affect the activity of on glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), and total antioxidant status (TAS), possibly due to the short exposure time to the stress stimulus. By developing the IMI-Zn complex, it might be possible to simplify the treatment approach, potentially improving patient compliance by combining the therapeutic effects of both IMI and Zn within a single compound, thus addressing one of the contributing factors to non-compliance in depression therapy. The IMI-Zn complex could be a valuable strategy to optimize therapeutic outcomes and balance efficacy and tolerability.
Fisetin—In Search of Better Bioavailability—From Macro to Nano Modifications: A Review
Authors: Szymczak Joanna , Cielecka-Piontek Judyta
Published: September 2023

As secondary plant metabolites, polyphenols are abundant in fruits and vegetables. They are in high demand because of their many health benefits. However, their low bioavailability makes them complex compounds to use for therapeutic purposes. Due to the limited solubility of phytocompounds, dietary supplements made from them may only be partially effective. Such molecules include fisetin, found in strawberries, and have shown great promise in treating Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. Unfortunately, because of their limited water solubility, low absorption, and poor bioavailability, the assistance of nanotechnology is required to allow them to fulfil their potential fully. Here, we provide evidence that nanodelivery methods and structure modifications can improve fisetin bioavailability, which is linked to improvements in therapeutic efficacy. An open question remains as to which nanocarrier should be chosen to meet the abovementioned requirements and be able to enhance fisetin’s therapeutic potential to treat a particular disease.
Mechanisms of Karyotypic Diversification in Ancistrus (Siluriformes, Loricariidae): Inferences from Repetitive Sequence Analysis
Authors: Santos da Silva Kevin , Glugoski Larissa , Vicari Marcelo Ricardo , de Souza Augusto César Paes , Akama Alberto , Pieczarka Julio Cesar , Nagamachi Cleusa Yoshiko
Published: September 2023

Ancistrus is a highly diverse neotropical fish genus that exhibits extensive chromosomal variability, encompassing karyotypic morphology, diploid chromosome number (2n = 34–54), and the evolution of various types of sex chromosome systems. Robertsonian rearrangements related to unstable chromosomal sites are here described. Here, the karyotypes of two Ancistrus species were comparatively analyzed using classical cytogenetic techniques, in addition to isolation, cloning, sequencing, molecular characterization, and fluorescence in situ hybridization of repetitive sequences (i.e., 18S and 5S rDNA; U1, U2, and U5 snDNA; and telomere sequences). The species analyzed here have different karyotypes: Ancistrus sp. 1 (2n = 38, XX/XY) and Ancistrus cirrhosus (2n = 34, no heteromorphic sex chromosomes). Comparative mapping showed different organizations for the analyzed repetitive sequences: 18S and U1 sequences occurred in a single site in all populations of the analyzed species, while 5S and U2 sequences could occur in single or multiple sites. A sequencing analysis confirmed the identities of the U1, U2, and U5 snDNA sequences. Additionally, a syntenic condition for U2-U5 snDNA was found in Ancistrus. In a comparative analysis, the sequences of rDNA and U snDNA showed inter- and intraspecific chromosomal diversification. The occurrence of Robertsonian rearrangements and other dispersal mechanisms of repetitive sequences are discussed.