bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delineation of Grade II and III Gliomas Investigated by 7T MRI: An Inter-Observer Pilot Study
Authors: Prener Martin , Opheim Giske , Simonsen Helle Juhl , Engelmann Christina Malling , Ziebell Morten , Carlsen Jonathan , Paulson Olaf B.
Published: April 2023

Purpose: Diffuse low-grade gliomas (DLGGs) are low-malignancy brain tumors originating from the glial cells of the brain growing continuously and infiltratively along the neural axons and infiltrating the surrounding brain tissue. DLGGs usually transform into higher malignancy, causing progressive disability and premature death. MRI scans are valuable when assessing soft tissue abnormalities, but, due to the infiltrative properties of DLGGs, delineating the tumor borders is a challenging task. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the difference in gross tumor volume (GTV) of DLGGs delineated from 7 Tesla and 3 Tesla MRI scans. Method: Patients were recruited at the department of neurosurgery and were scanned in both a 7T and a 3T MRI scanner prior to the operation. Two observers delineated the tumors using semi-automatic delineation software. The results from each observer were blinded to the other observer’s delineation. Results: Comparing GTVs from 7T and 3T, the percentage difference varied up to 40.4% on the T2-weighted images. The percentage difference in GTV varied up to 15.3% on the fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images. On the T2-weighted images, most cases varied by approximately 15%; on the FLAIR sequence, half of the cases varied by approximately 5% and the other half by approximately 15%. The overall inter-observer agreement was near perfect, with an intraclass correlation of 0.969. The intraclass correlation was better on the FLAIR sequence than on the T2 sequence. Conclusion: Overall, the GTVs delineated from 7T images were smaller. The increase in field strength improved the inter-observer agreement only on the FLAIR sequence.
Parallel Stochastic Computing Architecture for Computationally Intensive Applications
Authors: Kim Jeongeun , Jeong Won Sik , Jeong Youngwoo , Lee Seung Eun
Published: April 2023

Stochastic computing requires random number generators to generate stochastic sequences that represent probability values. In the case of an 8-bit operation, a 256-bit length of a stochastic sequence is required, which results in latency issues. In this paper, a stochastic computing architecture is proposed to address the latency issue by employing parallel linear feedback shift registers (LFSRs). The proposed architecture reduces the latency in the stochastic sequence generation process without losing accuracy. In addition, the proposed architecture achieves area efficiency by reducing 69% of flip-flops and 70.4% of LUTs compared to architecture employing shared LFSRs, and 74% of flip-flops and 58% of LUTs compared to the architecture applying multiple LFSRs with the same computational time.
MalDBA: Detection for Query-Based Malware Black-Box Adversarial Attacks
Authors: Kong Zixiao , Xue Jingfeng , Liu Zhenyan , Wang Yong , Han Weijie
Published: April 2023

The increasing popularity of Industry 4.0 has led to more and more security risks, and malware adversarial attacks emerge in an endless stream, posing great challenges to user data security and privacy protection. In this paper, we investigate the stateful detection method for artificial intelligence deep learning-based malware black-box attacks, i.e., determining the presence of adversarial attacks rather than detecting whether the input samples are malicious or not. To this end, we propose the MalDBA method for experiments on the VirusShare dataset. We find that query-based black-box attacks produce a series of highly similar historical query results (also known as intermediate samples). By comparing the similarity among these intermediate samples and the trend of prediction scores returned by the detector, we can detect the presence of adversarial samples in indexed samples and thus determine whether an adversarial attack has occurred, and then protect user data security and privacy. The experimental results show that the attack detection rate can reach 100%. Compared to similar studies, our method does not require heavy feature extraction tasks or image conversion and can be operated on complete PE files without requiring a strong hardware platform.
Channel Estimation for High-Speed Railway Wireless Communications: A Generative Adversarial Network Approach
Authors: Zhang Qingmiao , Dong Hanzhi , Zhao Junhui
Published: April 2023

In high-speed railways, the wireless channel and network topology change rapidly due to the high-speed movement of trains and the constant change of the location of communication equipment. The topology is affected by channel noise, making accurate channel estimation more difficult. Therefore, the way to obtain accurate channel state information (CSI) is the greatest challenge. In this paper, a two-stage channel-estimation method based on generative adversarial networks (cGAN) is proposed for MIMO-OFDM systems in high-mobility scenarios. The complex channel matrix is treated as an image, and the cGAN is trained against it to generate a more realistic channel image. In addition, the noise2noise (N2N) algorithm is used to denoise the pilot signal received by the base station to improve the estimation quality. Simulation experiments have shown the proposed N2N-cGAN algorithm has better robustness. In particular, the N2N-cGAN algorithm can be adapted to the case of fewer pilot sequences.
RETRACTED: Development of a Platform for Learning Cybersecurity Using Capturing the Flag Competitions
Authors: Ortiz-Garces Iván , Gutierrez Rommel , Guerra David , Sanchez-Viteri Santiago , Villegas-Ch. William
Published: April 2023

Currently, cybersecurity is a topic of great importance for society. With the increase in the use of technology and the digitization of many activities, the number of cyber threats to which individuals and organizations are exposed has increased. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digitization of many processes, further increasing the risk of cyberattacks. One of the main causes of these problems is the lack of cyber security awareness, as many people and organizations do not have a proper understanding of cyber threats and the measures, they must take to protect themselves. As a solution to the lack of cybersecurity knowledge, this work proposes the development of a Capture the Flag platform for learning about cybersecurity. The objective is to provide a tool that allows the education of future professionals in this field and covers the existing demand for this type of specialist. The platform is made up of two sections, one for learning and the other for CTF. The first section allows teachers to contribute to the teaching of their students using challenges. The second section allows one to carry out competitions with effective results when acquiring knowledge and experience. The platform is evaluated using questionnaires and surveys to measure whether the platform fulfills its purpose.
Facial Pose and Expression Transfer Based on Classification Features
Authors: Cao Zhiyi , Shi Lei , Wang Wei , Niu Shaozhang
Published: April 2023

Transferring facial pose and expression features from one face to another is a challenging problem and an interesting topic in pattern recognition, but is one of great importance with many applications. However, existing models usually learn to transfer pose and expression features with classification labels, which cannot hold all the differences in shape and size between conditional faces and source faces. To solve this problem, we propose a generative adversarial network model based on classification features for facial pose and facial expression transfer. We constructed a two-stage classifier to capture the high-dimensional classification features for each face first. Then, the proposed generation model attempts to transfer pose and expression features with classification features. In addition, we successfully combined two cost functions with different convergence speeds to learn pose and expression features. Compared to state-of-the-art models, the proposed model achieved leading scores for facial pose and expression transfer on two datasets.
Wearable Directional Button Antenna for On-Body Wireless Power Transfer
Authors: Xu Yuanzheng , Mu Lei , Xu Yinfang , Mahmoud Abdelhady , Wang Yiying , Ramahi Omar M.
Published: April 2023

For the future application of wireless power transfer on the human body, a wearable directional button antenna, composed of 2×3 artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) cells, is proposed, where the kinetic energy antenna is put on the elbow, which then charges the receiving communication antenna on the upper arm. The radiator of the button antenna is a monopole antenna, which is top-loaded by two cylindrical substrates with different radii to achieve a low profile, and it is fed by the microstrip line made by textiles, including 100% cotton substrate and conductive textile. The AMC cells are put close to the feeding microstrip line in order to realize directional radiation to the other side. Meanwhile, a real human arm model of a Chinese women is built to accurately analyze the corresponding wave propagations. Consequently, two identical antenna prototypes are fabricated, and the corresponding measurements are implemented, where an on-arm approximate measurement method for the radiation pattern is proposed. The measurements agree well with the simulations. Additionally, the influence of the communication antenna on the kinetic energy antenna and the interactions between the antenna and the arm are analyzed. Finally, the transmission efficiency and the SAR values are investigated.
Machine Learning-Based Solutions for Handover Decisions in Non-Terrestrial Networks
Authors: Dahouda Mwamba Kasongo , Jin Sihwa , Joe Inwhee
Published: April 2023

The non-terrestrial network (NTN) is a network that uses radio frequency (RF) resources mounted on satellites and includes satellite-based communications networks, high altitude platform systems (HAPS), and air-to-ground networks. The fifth generation (5G) and NTN may be crucial in utilizing communication infrastructure to provide 5G services in the future, anytime and anywhere. Based on the outcome of the Rel-16 study, the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) decided to start a work item on an NTN in 5G new radio (NR) Rel-17, and the focus of the study was on mobility management procedures, due to the movements of NTN platforms; especially, low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Handover enhancements were discussed to tackle the frequent handover due to the fast satellite movement. Therefore, the major problem of handover in LEO satellite systems was the signaling storm created by handing over all user equipment (UE) in a cell to a new cell because when the UE crosses the boundary between the neighboring cell of a satellite, an intra-satellite or cell handover occurs; thus, all users in a cell are expected to experience a change of cell due to handover every few seconds. In addition, UE location is not easy to define due to moving cell/beam situations. In this study, we propose machine learning-based solutions for handover decisions in non-terrestrial networks for cell handovers or intra-satellite handovers to reduce signaling storms during handovers where the handover requests will be executed by clustered users. First, the dataset was generated by the simulator that simulates communication between users and satellites. Second, we preprocessed the data, and also used the feature creation technique to create the distance feature using the Haversine formula, and then applied clustering and classification algorithms. The experimental results show that the distance between a user and its cell center is an important parameter for handover decisions in NTN, and the random forest outperforms all models with a higher accuracy of 99% along with a better F1-score of 0.9961.
Conservation and Sustainable Tourism Development of the Natural World Heritage Site Based on Aesthetic Value Identification: A Case Study of the Libo Karst
Authors: Xiong Kangning , Zhang Shirong , Fei Guangyu , Jin Ao , Zhang Haipeng
Published: April 2023

The conservation and sustainable tourism development of natural World Heritage has been one of the most challenging topics worldwide. One topic based on the identification of sites’ outstanding universal value is gradually forming a trend. Aesthetic value as a criteria for WH is an important driving force for the tourism development of most natural World Heritage sites and plays a vital role in the sustainable tourism development of heritage sites. However, due to the subjective consciousness involved in the assessment of aesthetic value, it is difficult to quantify. This means that the content of the protection of the aesthetic value of heritage sites is too general, and the exhibition of aesthetic value is inadequate, posing a threat to the sustainable development of heritage sites. This study selected the Libo Karst Heritage Site as the research area, identified and extracted the carriers and characteristics of the aesthetic value of the Karst heritage site through the combination of online text big data, landscape beauty evaluation, and ArcGIS spatial analysis, and analyzed the content and objectives of aesthetic value protection, clarified the scope of the conversation and tourism exhibits, and, finally, puts forward a conservation and sustainable tourism development strategy based on aesthetic value identification. This study was carried out using interdisciplinary technologies and methods, which provide a valuable reference for the construction of a quantitative evaluation system for the aesthetic value of natural World Heritage sites and the protection of outstanding universal value. This study contributes to filling the research gap regarding the comprehensive evaluation of the aesthetic value and protection and tourism development based on the outstanding aesthetic value identification of natural World Heritage sites. The strategy of cooperation between protection and sustainable tourism development based on prominent universal value recognition can be applied to other forms of conservation and development in other World Heritage sites with similar problems.
Forest Health in the Southern Cone of America: State of the Art and Perspectives on Regional Efforts
Authors: Villacide José M. , Gomez Demian F. , Perez Carlos A. , Corley Juan C. , Ahumada Rodrigo , Rodrigues Barbosa Leonardo , Furtado Edson Luiz , González Andrés , Ramirez Nazaret , Balmelli Gustavo , Dias de Souza Caroline , Martínez Gonzalo
Published: April 2023

The plantation and natural forests of South America have been highly impacted by native and exotic pests in recent decades. The interaction of emerging invasive pests, climate change, and timber markets will define the region’s forests, with significant but uncertain ecological changes and economic losses expected. The Southern Cone Forest Health Group (SCFHG), a joint ad hoc initiative run by forest health professionals from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, aims to strengthen relationships between the forestry industry, stakeholders, academia, and government agencies across the region. Here, we highlight regional strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities to address forest health issues in the region. A regional approach with a strong communication network is relevant for future actions. In the current global scenario of invasive species and climate change, the implementation of practices that incorporate the resilience of forest ecosystems and sustainable management needs to be prioritized in forest policy across the region. Understanding that pests and pathogens do not recognize borders, we call on governments and organizations to support joint actions with agreements and adequate resources to enhance our regional capabilities.
Prescribed Burning Effect on the Richness, Diversity and Forest Structure of an Endemic Reforested Pinus canariensis Stand (Canary Islands)
Authors: Arévalo José Ramón , Bernardos María , González-Montelongo Cristina , Grillo Federico
Published: April 2023

Forest fires are considered to play a fundamental role in structuring many forest plant communities. Prescribed burning is a useful tool to reduce fire risk by reducing the amount of fuel. Our main objective was to analyse the effects of prescribed burning on undergrowth species richness and diversity as well as on other characteristic variables in a reforested Pinus canariensis stand. In areas where prescribed burning had been performed in the last 10 years, we established 8 plots of 900 m2. Their respective control plots were in nearby unburned and environmentally similar areas. We systematically selected 10 points in each plot and sampled the presence, richness and diversity of species in 1 m2 grids. For each plot, the basal area, mean canopy height and average height of individuals were measured. In centred 10 × 10 m plots, shrub species were counted as well as the litter depth, litter cover and herb cover. There was no significant change in the number of species richness found when comparing burned vs. control plots. Additionally, we did not find any differences in diversity or shrub composition, nor were we able to determine the species associated with any of the treatments. The basal area and litter depth were the only parameters that revealed significant differences. Ecologically, prescribed fire is a good practice to reduce biomass accumulation in P. canariensis plantations, with little effect on species richness and forest structure but with positive effects for stand management, insofar as biomass reduction can help control summer wildfires.
Molecular Interaction Mechanism and Preservative Effect of Lactone Sophorolipid and Lactoferrin/β-Lactoglobulin Systems
Authors: Chen Yanrong , Li Mingyuan , Kong Jing , Liu Jie , Zhang Qian
Published: April 2023

Multispectral and molecular docking methods were used to study the interaction mode and mechanism of two important components of whey proteins, lactoferrin (LF) and β-lactoglobulin (β-LG), and of a lactone sophorolipid (LSL) mixed system. The preservation effect of the mixed system on milk was also studied and compared. The results showed that the quenching mechanism of LSL on both β-LG and LF was static, but that the non-covalent complexes formed were the result of the different interacting forces: hydrogen bonds and the van der Waals force for the LSL-β-LG system, and electrostatic force for the LSL-LF system. The binding constants of LSL-β-LG and LSL-LF were all relatively small, and the interaction of LSL with β-LG was stronger than its interaction with LF. After adding β-LG, LF, or the mixed system with LSL to the milk, the stability of milk emulsion was effectively improved in all cases, while the preservative ability was effectively enhanced only by the addition of LF or LSL-LF. These results provide supportive data and a theoretical basis for enhancing the production of dairy products and other byproducts.
A Cross-Sectional Survey of the Nutritional Quality of Quinoa Food Products Available in the Italian Market
Authors: Melini Francesca , Melini Valentina , Galfo Myriam
Published: April 2023

Quinoa’s (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) status has been recently raised from staple food crop confined to its region of origin to a globally recognized commercial food crop, widely traded in the international market. Claims on food labels may attract consumers who can therefore purchase products with nutrition, allergy/intolerance, or social and ethical claims in an effort to make healthier and more sustainable food choices. The aim of this work was (i) to investigate the nutritional quality of quinoa food products available to the Italian consumer over the e-commerce market, as emerged from nutrition labelling, and (ii) to inquire about the occurrence of nutrition, allergy and intolerance, and social and ethical claims on the packaging. To this aim, a cross-sectional survey of quinoa food products available in the Italian market was conducted. It emerged that several quinoa product categories are available and grains and pasta are the major ones. Nutrition claims are generally displayed in combination with gluten-free and social/ethical claims. Based on the nutrition facts, a higher proportion of products are eligible for nutrition claims. The comparison between the gluten-free labelled and gluten-containing quinoa products showed limited differences in the nutritional quality.
Effect of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Argon Plasma Jet Treatment on the Freeze-Dried Mucilage of Chia Seeds (Salvia hispanica L.)
Authors: Mutlu Sebnem , Kopuk Berkay , Palabiyik Ibrahim
Published: April 2023

In the present study, the effects of the treatment of chia seeds with a cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet (CP) using argon as a working gas for different times (30, 60, and 120 s) on the rheological, structural, and microstructural properties of the freeze-dried mucilages at −54 °C were investigated. All mucilage gels showed pseudoplastic flow behavior, and CP treatment of chia seeds increased the viscosity of mucilages, probably due to the cross-linking between polymer molecules. The dynamic rheological analysis revealed that all mucilages were elastic gels and that CP treatment improved the elastic properties in a treatment time-dependent manner. Large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) results showed that freeze-dried mucilages showed Type I strain-thinning behavior. Similar to small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) results, CP treatment has affected and improved the large deformation behavior of mucilages depending on treatment time. Meanwhile, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the incorporation of hydroxyl groups onto the surface and the formation of C-O-C glycosidic bonds during plasma treatment. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs showed the formation of denser structures with CP treatment time. Regarding color properties, CP treatment decreased the lightness values of mucilages. Overall, this study showed that CP is an effective way to modify both the SAOS and LAOS properties of freeze-dried chia mucilage and improve viscosity.
Evidence of Association between CTLA-4 Gene Polymorphisms and Colorectal Cancers in Saudi Patients
Authors: Al-Harbi Nouf , Abdulla Maha-Hamadien , Vaali-Mohammed Mansoor-Ali , Bin Traiki Thamer , Alswayyed Mohammed , Al-Obeed Omar , Abid Islem , Al-Omar Suliman , Mansour Lamjed
Published: April 2023

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) has been identified as an immunosuppressive molecule involved in the negative regulation of T cells. It is highly expressed in several types of autoimmune diseases and cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). (1) Objective: To explore the association between CTLA-4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and risk to (CRC) in the Saudi population. (2) Methods: In this case-control study, 100 patients with CRC and 100 matched healthy controls were genotyped for three CTLA-4 SNPs: rs11571317 (−658C > T), rs231775 (+49A > G) and rs3087243 (CT60 G > A), using TaqMan assay method. Associations were evaluated using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for five inheritance models (co-dominant, dominant, recessive, over-dominant and log-additive). Furthermore, CTLA-4 expression levels were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR (Q-RT-PCR) in colon cancer and adjacent colon tissues. (3) Results: Our result showed a significant association of the G allele (OR = 2.337, p < 0.0001) and GG genotype of the missense SNP +49A > G with increased risk of developing CRC in codominant (OR = 8.93, p < 0.0001) and recessive (OR = 16.32, p < 0.0001) models. Inversely, the AG genotype was significantly associated with decreased risk to CRC in the codominant model (OR = 0.23, p < 0.0001). In addition, the CT60 G > A polymorphism exhibited a strong association with a high risk of developing CRC for the AA genotype in codominant (OR = 3.323, p = 0.0053) and in allele models (OR = 1.816, p = 0.005). No significant association was found between −658C > T and CRC. The haplotype analysis showed that the G-A-G haplotype of the rs11571317, rs231775 and rs3087243 was associated with high risk for CRC (OR = 57.66; p < 0.001). The CTLA-4 mRNA gene expression was found significantly higher in tumors compared to normal adjacent colon samples (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Our findings support an association between the CTLA-4 rs231775 (+49A > G) and rs3087243 (CT60 G > A) polymorphisms and CRC risk in the Saudi population. Further validation in a larger cohort size is needed prior to utilizing these SNPs as a potential screening marker in the Saudi population.
Occurrence of High-Risk Clonal Lineages ST58, ST69, ST224, and ST410 among Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Healthy Free-Range Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in a Rural Region in Tunisia
Authors: Benlabidi Saloua , Raddaoui Anis , Lengliz Sana , Cheriet Sarah , Hynds Paul , Achour Wafa , Ghrairi Taoufik , Abbassi Mohamed
Published: April 2023

Antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli isolates have emerged in various ecologic compartments and evolved to spread globally. We sought to (1.) investigate the occurrence of ESBL-producing E. coli (ESBL-Ec) in feces from free-range chickens in a rural region and (2.) characterize the genetic background of antimicrobial resistance and the genetic relatedness of collected isolates. Ninety-five feces swabs from free-range chickens associated with two households (House 1/House 2) in a rural region in northern Tunisia were collected. Samples were screened to recover ESBL-Ec, and collected isolates were characterized for phenotype/genotype of antimicrobial resistance, integrons, and molecular typing (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST)). Overall, 47 ESBL-Ec were identified, with the following genes detected: 35 blaCTX-M-1, 5 blaCTX-M-55, 5 blaCTX-M-15, 1 blaSHV-2, and 1 blaSHV-12. Resistance to fluoroquinolones, tetracycline, sulfonamides, and colistin was encoded by aac(6′)-Ib-cr (n = 21), qnrB (n = 1), and qnrS (n = 2); tetA (n = 17)/tetB (n = 26); sul1 (n = 29)/sul2 (n = 18); and mcr-2 (n = 2) genes, respectively. PFGE and MLST identified genetic homogeneity of isolates in House 1; however, isolates from House 2 were heterogeneous. Notably, among nine identified sequence types, ST58, ST69, ST224, and ST410 belong to pandemic high-risk clonal lineages associated with extrapathogenic E. coli. Minor clones belonging to ST410 and ST471 were shared by chickens from both households. The virulence genes fyuA, fimH, papGIII, and iutA were detected in 35, 47, 17, and 23 isolates, respectively. Findings indicate a high occurrence of ESBL-Ec in free-range chickens and highlight the occurrence of pandemic zoonotic clones.
Leri–Weill Dyschondrosteosis Caused by a Leaky Homozygous SHOX Splice-Site Variant
Authors: Vodopiutz Julia , Steurer Lisa-Maria , Haufler Florentina , Laccone Franco , Garczarczyk-Asim Dorota , Hilkenmeier Matthias , Steinbauer Philipp , Janecke Andreas R.
Published: April 2023

SHOX deficiency is a common genetic cause of short stature of variable degree. SHOX haploinsufficiency causes Leri–Weill dyschondrosteosis (LWD) as well as nonspecific short stature. SHOX haploinsufficiency is known to result from heterozygous loss-of-function variants with pseudo-autosomal dominant inheritance, while biallelic SHOX loss-of-function variants cause the more severe skeletal dysplasia, Langer mesomelic dyschondrosteosis (LMD). Here we report for the first time the pseudo-autosomal recessive inheritance of LWD in two siblings caused by a novel homozygous non-canonical, leaky splice-site variant in intron 3 of SHOX: c.544+5G>C. Transcript analyses in patient-derived fibroblasts showed homozygous patients to produce approximately equal amounts of normally spliced mRNA and mRNA with the abnormal retention of intron 3 and containing a premature stop codon (p.Val183Glyfs*31). The aberrant transcript was shown to undergo nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, and thus resulting in SHOX haploinsufficiency in the homozygous patient. Six healthy relatives who are of normal height are heterozygous for this variant and fibroblasts from a heterozygote for the c.544+5G>C variant produced wild-type transcript amounts comparable to healthy control. The unique situation reported here highlights the fact that the dosage of SHOX determines the clinical phenotype rather than the Mendelian inheritance pattern of SHOX variants. This study extends the molecular and inheritance spectrum of SHOX deficiency disorder and highlights the importance of functional testing of SHOX variants of unknown significance in order to allow appropriate counseling and precision medicine for each family individual.
Sex and Age Differences in Association between Physical Activity and Metabolic Syndrome: Results from NHANES 2003–2006
Authors: Li Hanying , Lynn Henry S , Zipunnikov Vadim
Published: April 2023

Objective: To examine whether and how sex and age modify the association between accelerometer-based physical activity (PA) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among American (US) adults. Method: Adults aged ≥20 years old who participated in the mobile center examination during 2003–2006 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included for analysis. The total minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was estimated using ActiGraph. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of having MetS at an increasing MVPA time. The modification effects of gender and age on the association between MetS and MVPA time were examined by testing for two-way and three-way interaction terms of MVPA time, sex, and age in the model after adjusting for relevant covariates. Results: The prevalence of MetS generally decreased with the MVPA time and was lower in females than in males, although the sex difference varied across age groups. After adjusting for demographic and lifestyle covariates, there was a significant sex difference in how an increased MVPA time lowered the odds of MetS. This interactive effect also varied with age. MVPA benefitted young and middle-age populations up until about 65 years old for both sexes, and the protective effect weakened with age. Although the effect of MVPA was stronger for males than females at young ages, the rate at which it attenuated was quicker in males. The OR of MetS between males and females per unit change of MVPA time was 0.73 (95% CI: [0.57, 0.93]) at age = 25 years, compared to OR = 1.00 (95% CI: [0.88, 1.16]) at age = 60 years. Before the age of 50, the gender difference in the protective effect on MetS was larger at low MVPA levels and became smaller at higher MVPA levels. The male advantage was quite stable with an increasing MVPA time for ages 50–60, and no longer significant at older ages. Conclusions: Young and middle-age populations benefitted from MVPA, lowering the risk of MetS for both sexes. A longer MVPA time was associated with a greater decrease in the risk of MetS in young men than in women, but the sex difference reduced with age and was no longer apparent in older populations.
Comparative Analysis of Glucosinolate and Phenolic Compounds in Green and Red Kimchi Cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) Hairy Roots after Exposure to Light and Dark Conditions
Authors: Lee Sook Young , Kwon Haejin , Kim Jae Kwang , Park Chang Ha , Sathasivam Ramaraj , Park Sang Un
Published: April 2023

Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis (Lour.) Hanelt (kimchi cabbage) is a major vegetable cultivated in Korea, and its hairy roots (HRs) are rich in glucosinolates and phenolic compounds. This study aimed to induce HRs from cotyledon explants via the transformation of the Agroacterium rhizogenes strain R1000 and examine the glucosinolate and phenolic compounds present in the HRs of two kimchi cabbage (green and red) cultivars after exposure to 16 h light/8 h dark conditions (photosynthetic photon flux density of 54.6 µmol m−2 s−1) and continuous dark conditions. The highest HR production was achieved in the green kimchi cabbage grown under dark conditions (0.37 ± 0.01 DW g/30 mL). The highest glucosinolate and phenolic contents were neoglucobrassicin and catechin hydrate, which were highest in the green kimchi HRs grown under dark (GKHD) conditions (5268.29 ± 292.84 µg/g DW) and green HRs grown under light (GKHL) conditions (203.49 ± 4.70 µg/g DW), respectively. A heat map showed that the red kimchi HRs grown under dark conditions (RKHD) and the GKHL condition accumulated the highest glucosinolate and phenolic contents. Principal component (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant (PLS-DA) analyses of the 13 identified metabolites showed a clear separation. According to a variable importance in projection (VIP) analysis, quercetin was the most important metabolite, leading to a clear separation. The most suitable conditions for enhancing the glucosinolate and phenolic contents were the GKHD and GKHL conditions, respectively, whereas both compounds were enhanced in the RKHD condition. HRs cultures cultivated under light and dark conditions are a promising method to enhance the production of specific health-promoting bioactive metabolites, which might be helpful in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.
Differences in Psychological Variables and the Performance of Female Futsal Players according to Playing Position, Match Result and Menstruation
Authors: Rico-Lara Trinidad , Mateo-Orcajada Adrián , Abenza-Cano Lucía , Esparza-Ros Francisco , Vaquero-Cristóbal Raquel
Published: April 2023

Futsal performance has been extensively investigated in previous studies, demonstrating that the psychological state of the players or the playing position condition performance. However, research with female indoor soccer players is scarce; therefore, menstruation has not been considered as a determinant aspect for performance in females. Previous research has shown the influence of menstruation on the psychological state and performance of players of different sports; however, there is no known research on female futsal players. For this reason, the aims of the present research were to establish the differences in pre-match psychological variables and offensive performance as a function of playing position, match result and menstruation. A total of 132 s division Spanish players participated in the research. All participants completed the Questionnaire of Psychological Needs of the Athlete-15, and their regular league matches were recorded and subsequently analyzed to determine their offensive performance. The results showed differences according to playing position: pivots and closers showed greater motivation than wings, while the pivots showed greater activation and shots on goal than the wings and closers. Regarding match results, pivots demonstrated more shots on goals than closers only when the match was lost. In addition, the motivation and activation of the pivots, as well as the number of shots on goal, were higher than that of the wings and closers only when they were not menstruating.
Walk Score from 2D to 3D—Walkability for the Elderly in Two Medium-Sized Cities in Germany
Authors: Schaffert Markus , Geist Konstantin , Albrecht Jonathan , Enners Dorothea , Müller Hartmut
Published: April 2023

In this article, we describe the design of a method for measuring walkability and its application in two medium-sized cities in Germany. The method modifies the established Walk Score with regard to the needs of older people. While the original Walk Score takes a 2D approach by calculating the reachability of service facilities on a flat road network, we include 3D information by taking into account slopes and stairs. We also pay attention to the longer walking times of the elderly and adjust the selection and weighting of supply facilities according to their relevance for elderly people. The implementation results in a concentric walkability pattern, with a high Walk Score in the inner-city area that is decreasing towards the periphery, but with many anomalies resulting from local inhomogeneity in population and facility distribution and topography. The study shows that it is possible to refine the Walk Score to meet the needs of older people, as well as to implement the methodology in Germany using a combination of voluntary geographic information and high-quality official datasets. We see our research as a step forward on the way to more realistic walkability metrics for senior-sensitive urban planning.
The Nitric Oxide (NO) Donor Molsidomine Counteract Social Withdrawal and Cognition Deficits Induced by Blockade of the NMDA Receptor in the Rat
Authors: Katsanou Lamprini , Fragkiadaki Evangelia , Kampouris Sotirios , Konstanta Anastasia , Vontzou Aikaterini , Pitsikas Nikolaos
Published: April 2023

The deficiency of the gaseous molecule nitric oxide (NO) seems to be critically involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Thus, molecules that can normalize NO levels, as are NO donors, might be of utility for the medication of this psychiatric disease. The aim of the present study was to detect the ability of the NO donor molsidomine to reduce schizophrenia-like impairments produced by the blockade of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in rats. Molsidomine’s ability to attenuate social withdrawal and spatial recognition memory deficits induced by the NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine were assessed using the social interaction and the object location test, respectively. Further, the efficacy of the combination of sub-effective doses of molsidomine with sub-effective doses of the atypical antipsychotic clozapine in alleviating non-spatial recognition memory deficits was evaluated utilizing the object recognition task. Molsidomine (2 and 4 mg/kg) attenuated social withdrawal and spatial recognition memory deficits induced by ketamine. Co-administration of inactive doses of molsidomine (1 mg/kg) and clozapine (0.1 mg/kg) counteracted delay-dependent and ketamine-induced non-spatial recognition memory deficits. The current findings suggest that molsidomine is sensitive to glutamate hypofunction since it attenuated behavioral impairments in animal models mimicking the negative symptoms and cognitive deficits of schizophrenia. Additionally, the present results support the potential of molsidomine as an adjunctive drug for the therapy of schizophrenia.
Enhancement of the Antioxidant Effect of Natural Products on the Proliferation of Caco-2 Cells Produced by Fish Protein Hydrolysates and Collagen
Authors: Taroncher Mercedes , Rodríguez-Carrasco Yelko , Barba Francisco J. , Ruiz María-José
Published: April 2023

A large amount of fish side streams are produced each year, promoting huge economic and environmental problems. In order to address this issue, a potential alternative is to isolate the high-added-value compounds with beneficial properties on human health. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of hydrolyzed fish protein and collagen samples on cell proliferation, as well as to determine the specific influence of minerals and metals on this effect and whether dietary antioxidants can enhance cell proliferation. The results of hydrolyzed fish protein and collagen samples showed negative effects on Caco-2 cell proliferation at the highest concentrations tested. Moreover, the pre-treatment of these hydrolyzates with vitamin C and E, quercetin and resveratrol increased the proliferation of bioaccessible fractions of hydrolyzated fish protein and collagen samples compared to the bioaccessible fractions without pre-treatment. The highest mineral concentrations were found for P, Ca and Mg. The metals found in the pure hydrolyzates were As, Cd, Hg and Pb; however, they appeared at almost undetectable levels in bioavailable fractions. It can be concluded that the consumption of hydrolyzates of fish by-products is an interesting strategy for complying with EFSA recommendations regarding fish consumption while at the same time reducing fish waste.
Serum Levels of Myonectin Are Lower in Adults with Metabolic Syndrome and Are Negatively Correlated with Android Fat Mass
Authors: Petro Jorge L. , Fragozo-Ramos María Carolina , Milán Andrés F. , Aristizabal Juan C. , Gallo-Villegas Jaime A. , Calderón Juan C.
Published: April 2023

Myonectin has shown beneficial effects on lipid regulation in murine models; therefore, it may have implications in the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome (MS). We evaluated the relationship between serum myonectin and serum lipids, global and regional fat mass, intramuscular lipid content, and insulin resistance (IR) in adults with metabolic risk factors. This was a cross-sectional study in sedentary adults who were diagnosed with MS or without MS (NMS). Serum myonectin was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, lipid profile by conventional techniques, and free fatty acids (FFA) by gas chromatography. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and intramuscular lipid content through proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the right vastus lateralis muscle. IR was estimated with the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR). The MS (n = 61) and NMS (n = 29) groups were comparable in age (median (interquartile range): 51.0 (46.0–56.0) vs. 53.0 (45.5–57.5) years, p > 0.05) and sex (70.5% men vs. 72.4% women). MS subjects had lower serum levels of myonectin than NMS subjects (1.08 (0.87–1.35) vs. 1.09 (0.93–4.05) ng·mL−1, p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, fat mass index and lean mass index showed that serum myonectin was negatively correlated with the android/gynoid fat mass ratio (R2 = 0.48, p < 0.01), but not with the lipid profile, FFA, intramuscular lipid content or HOMA-IR. In conclusion, serum myonectin is lower in subjects with MS. Myonectin negatively correlates with a component relevant to the pathophysiology of MS, such as the android/gynoid fat mass ratio, but not with other components such as FFA, intramuscular fat or IR.
Identification and Characterization of PRE Genes in Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis)
Authors: Zheng Sujin , Shin Kihye , Lin Wenxiong , Wang Wenfei , Yang Xuelian
Published: April 2023

Basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH)/HLH transcription factors are involved in various aspects of the growth and development of plants. Here, we identified four HLH genes, PePRE1-4, in moso bamboo plants that are homologous to Arabidopsis PRE genes. In bamboo seedlings, PePRE1/3 were found to be highly expressed in the internode and lamina joint by using quantitative RT-PCR analysis. In the elongating internode of bamboo shoots, PePRE genes are expressed at higher levels in the basal segment than in the mature top segment. Overexpression of PePREs (PePREs-OX) in Arabidopsis showed longer petioles and hypocotyls, as well as earlier flowering. PePRE1 overexpression restored the phenotype due to the deficiency of AtPRE genes caused by artificial micro-RNA. PePRE1-OX plants showed hypersensitivity to propiconazole treatment compared with the wild type. In addition, PePRE1/3 but not PePRE2/4 proteins accumulated as punctate structures in the cytosol, which was disrupted by the vesicle recycling inhibitor brefeldin A (BFA). PePRE genes have a positive function in the internode elongation of moso bamboo shoots, and overexpression of PePREs genes promotes flowering and growth in Arabidopsis. Our findings provided new insights about the fast-growing mechanism of bamboo shoots and the application of PRE genes from bamboo.
Purkinje Cardiomyocytes of the Adult Ventricular Conduction System Are Highly Diploid but Not Uniquely Regenerative
Authors: Watanabe Hirofumi , Tao Ge , Gan Peiheng , Westbury Baylee C. , Cox Kristie D. , Tjen Kelsey , Song Ruolan , Fishman Glenn I. , Makita Takako , Sucov Henry M.
Published: April 2023

Adult hearts are characterized by inefficient regeneration after injury, thus, the features that support or prevent cardiomyocyte (CM) proliferation are important to clarify. Diploid CMs are a candidate cell type that may have unique proliferative and regenerative competence, but no molecular markers are yet known that selectively identify all or subpopulations of diploid CMs. Here, using the conduction system expression marker Cntn2-GFP and the conduction system lineage marker Etv1CreERT2, we demonstrate that Purkinje CMs that comprise the adult ventricular conduction system are disproportionately diploid (33%, vs. 4% of bulk ventricular CMs). These, however, represent only a small proportion (3%) of the total diploid CM population. Using EdU incorporation during the first postnatal week, we demonstrate that bulk diploid CMs found in the later heart enter and complete the cell cycle during the neonatal period. In contrast, a significant fraction of conduction CMs persist as diploid cells from fetal life and avoid neonatal cell cycle activity. Despite their high degree of diploidy, the Purkinje lineage had no enhanced competence to support regeneration after adult heart infarction.
Ovarian Stimulation with FSH Alone versus FSH plus a GnRH Antagonist for Elective Freezing in an Oocyte Donor/Recipient Programme: A Protocol for a Pilot Multicenter Observational Study
Authors: Messinis Ioannis E. , Messini Christina I. , Papanikolaou Evangelos G. , Makrakis Evangelos , Loutradis Dimitrios , Christoforidis Nikolaos , Arkoulis Theodosis , Anifandis Georgios , Daponte Alexandros , Siristatidis Charalampos
Published: April 2023

Preliminary data have shown that it is possible to attempt in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in fresh cycles without the use of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist or any other medication to prevent the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge during ovarian stimulation. To date, there is no information on this topic in the context of a prospective controlled trial. However, as prevention of the LH surge is an established procedure in fresh cycles, the question is whether such a study can be performed in frozen cycles. We aim to perform a pilot study in order to compare the efficacy of a protocol using FSH alone with that of a protocol using follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) plus a GnRH antagonist for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) in cycles of elective freezing in the context of a donor/recipient program. This is a seven-center, two-arm prospective pilot cohort study conducted at the respective Assisted Reproductive Units in Greece. The hypothesis to be tested is that an ovarian stimulation protocol that includes FSH alone without any LH surge prevention regimens is not inferior to a protocol including FSH plus a GnRH antagonist in terms of the clinical outcome in a donor/recipient model. The results of the present study are expected to show whether the addition of the GnRH antagonist is necessary in terms of the frequency of LH secretory peaks and progesterone elevations >1 ng/mL during the administration of the GnRH antagonist according to the adopted frequency of blood sampling in all Units.