bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sea Cucumber Hydrolysate Alleviates Immunosuppression and Gut Microbiota Imbalance Induced by Cyclophosphamide in Balb/c Mice through the NF-κB Pathway
Authors: Mao Jing , Li Shunqin , Fu RongRong , Wang Yijin , Meng Jing , Jin Yan , Wu Tao , Zhang Min
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effect of sea cucumber hydrolysate (SCH) on immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide (Cy). Our findings demonstrated that SCH could increase the thymus index and spleen index, decrease the serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, increase the serum IgG and small intestinal sIgA levels, reduce small intestinal and colon tissue damage, and activate the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway by increasing TRAF6 and IRAK1 protein levels, as well as the phosphorylation levels of IκBα and p65, thereby enhancing immunity. In addition, SCH alleviated the imbalance of the gut microbiota by altering the composition of the gut microbiota in immunosuppressed mice. At the genus level, when compared with the model group, the relative abundance of Dubosiella, Lachnospiraceae, and Ligilactobacillus increased, while that of Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Turicibacter decreased in the SCH groups. Moreover, 26 potential bioactive peptides were identified by oligopeptide sequencing and bioactivity prediction. This study’s findings thus provide an experimental basis for further development of SCH as a nutritional supplement to alleviate immunosuppression induced by Cy as well as provides a new idea for alleviating intestinal damage induced by Cy.
Dynamic Alginate Hydrogel as an Antioxidative Bioink for Bioprinting
Authors: Zhang Wenhai , Kuss Mitchell , Yan Yi , Shi Wen
Published: April 2023

3D bioprinting holds great potential for use in tissue engineering to treat degenerative joint disorders, such as osteoarthritis. However, there is a lack of multifunctional bioinks that can not only support cell growth and differentiation, but also offer protection to cells against injuries caused by the elevated oxidative stress; this conditions is a common characteristic of the microenvironment of the osteoarthritis disease. To mitigate oxidative stress-induced cellular phenotype change and malfunction, an anti-oxidative bioink derived from an alginate dynamic hydrogel was developed in this study. The alginate dynamic hydrogel gelated quickly via the dynamic covalent bond between the phenylboronic acid modified alginate (Alg-PBA) and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA). It presented good self-healing and shear-thinning abilities because of the dynamic feature. The dynamic hydrogel supported long-term growth of mouse fibroblasts after stabilization with a secondary ionic crosslinking between introduced calcium ions and the carboxylate group in the alginate backbone. In addition, the dynamic hydrogel showed good printability, resulting in the fabrication of scaffolds with cylindrical and grid structures with good structural fidelity. Encapsulated mouse chondrocytes maintained high viability for at least 7 days in the bioprinted hydrogel after ionic crosslinking. Most importantly, in vitro studies implied that the bioprinted scaffold could reduce the intracellular oxidative stress for embedded chondrocytes under H2O2 exposure; it could also protect the chondrocytes from H2O2-induced downregulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) relevant anabolic genes (ACAN and COL2) and upregulation of a catabolic gene (MMP13). In summary, the results suggest that the dynamic alginate hydrogel can be applied as a versatile bioink for the fabrication of 3D bioprinted scaffolds with an innate antioxidative ability; this technique is expected to improve the regenerative efficacy of cartilage tissues for the treatment of joint disorders.
Effects of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction on Structure and Rheological Properties of Flaxseed Gum
Authors: Ren Xuejiao , Meng Xin , Zhang Zhen , Du Hongyu , Li Tuoping , Wang Na
Published: April 2023

In this study, flaxseed gum (FG) was extracted using hot water extraction and ultrasonic-assisted extraction. The yield, molecular weight distribution, monosaccharide composition, structure, and rheological properties of FG were analyzed. The FG yield (9.18) achieved using ultrasound-assisted extraction (this sample was labeled as UAE) was higher than the yield (7.16) achieved with hot water extraction (this sample was labeled as HWE). The polydispersity, monosaccharide composition, and characteristic absorption peaks of the UAE were similar to that of the HWE. However, the UAE had a lower molecular weight and looser structure than the HWE. Moreover, zeta potential measurements indicated that the UAE exhibited better stability. An analysis of the rheological properties showed that the viscosity of the UAE was lower. Thus, the UAE had an effectively better yield of FG, preliminarily modified structure, and rheological properties, and provided a theoretical basis for its application in food processing.
Silica-Calcium-Alginate Hydrogels for the Co-Immobilization of Glucose Oxidase and Catalase to Reduce the Glucose in Grape Must
Authors: del-Bosque David , Vila-Crespo Josefina , Ruipérez Violeta , Fernández-Fernández Encarnación , Rodríguez-Nogales José Manuel
Published: April 2023

Higher temperatures due to climate change are causing greater sugar production in grapes and more alcoholic wines. The use of glucose oxidase (GOX) and catalase (CAT) in grape must is a biotechnological green strategy to produce reduced-alcohol wines. GOX and CAT were effectively co-immobilized by sol-gel entrapment in silica-calcium-alginate hydrogel capsules. The optimal co-immobilization conditions were achieved at a concentration of the colloidal silica, sodium silicate and sodium alginate of 7.38%, 0.49% and 1.51%, respectively, at pH 6.57. The formation of a porous silica-calcium-alginate structure was confirmed by environmental scanning electron microscopy and the elemental analysis of the hydrogel by X-ray spectroscopy. The immobilized GOX showed a Michaelis–Menten kinetic, while the immobilized CAT fits better to an allosteric model. Immobilization also conferred superior GOX activity at low pH and temperature. The capsules showed a good operational stability, as they could be reused for at least 8 cycles. A substantial reduction of 26.3 g/L of glucose was achieved with encapsulated enzymes, which corresponds to a decrease in potential alcoholic strength of must of about 1.5% vol. These results show that co-immobilized GOX and CAT in silica-calcium-alginate hydrogels is a promising strategy to produce reduced-alcohol wines.
IL-21 (rs2055979 and rs2221903)/IL-21R (rs3093301) Polymorphism and High Levels of IL-21 Are Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mexican Patients
Authors: Carreño-Saavedra Noemi Magdalena , Reyes-Pérez Itzel Viridiana , Machado-Sulbaran Andrea Carolina , Martínez-Bonilla Gloria Esther , Ramírez-Dueñas María Guadalupe , Muñoz-Valle José Francisco , Olaya-Valdiviezo Valeria , García-Iglesias Trinidad , Martínez-García Erika Aurora , Sánchez-Hernández Pedro Ernesto
Published: April 2023

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is characterized by joint destruction, chronic inflammation, and autoantibody production. IL-21/IL-21R plays an essential role in the immunopathology of RA. Elevated IL-21 serum levels have been associated with RA and disease activity. Here, we evaluated the association of IL-21/IL-21R polymorphisms and IL-21 serum levels with RA. The study included 275 RA patients and 280 Control subjects (CSs). Single nucleotide polymorphisms IL-21 (rs2055979 and rs2221903) and IL-21R (rs3093301) were genotyped using PCR-RFLP. Clinical activity was evaluated by DAS28-ESR; IL-21 and anti-CCP serum levels were quantified by ELISA. The IL-21 rs2055979 AA genotype was higher in RA patients than in the CS group (p = 0.0216, OR = 1.761, 95% CI = 1.085–2.859); furthermore, RA patients showed anti-CCP elevated levels compared to the CA genotype (p = 0.0296). The IL21R rs3093301 AA genotype was also higher in RA patients than in the CS group (p = 0.0122, OR = 1.965, 95% CI = 1.153–3.348). The AT haplotypes of IL-21 rs2055979 and rs2221903 were more frequent (49%) in the RA group (p = 0.006). IL-21 serum levels were significantly elevated in the RA group, but without an association with IL-21 polymorphisms. In conclusion, IL-21 rs2255979 and IL-21R rs3093301 are associated with a higher risk of RA, and could be a genetic marker. Moreover, the elevated IL-21 levels in RA suggest that IL-21/IL-21R could be a therapeutic target in RA.
What Performative Contradiction Reveals: Plato’s Theaetetus and Gorgias on Sophistry
Authors: Metcalf Robert
Published: April 2023

Socrates’ use of performative contradiction against sophistic theories is a recurrent motif in Plato’s dialogues. In the case of Plato’s Theaetetus and Gorgias, Socrates attempts to show that Protagoras’ homo mensura doctrine and Gorgias’ doctrine of the power of logos are each performatively contradicted by the underlying activity of philosophical dialogue. In the case of the Theaetetus, Socrates’ strategy of performative contradiction hinges on Protagoras’ failure to perform in the way that he theorized the sophist performing—namely, being able to change appearances through logoi (Theaetetus 166d–167d). In parallel fashion, Gorgias’ account of the power of rhetoric is performatively contradicted by the orator’s inability to prevail over Socrates, instead resorting to insincere responses to Socrates’ questions in order to save face—a dialogical “performance” that ties directly to Socrates’ portrait of Gorgianic rhetoric as a matter of pandering to the audience (Gorgias 460a–465a). Plato’s aim in dramatizing these performative contradictions, I argue, is to illuminate both the proximity between Socrates and the great sophists, particularly with respect to Socrates’ practice of elenchos, but also the distance between Socrates and the sophists in how they conceive of our situatedness within the world of human concerns.
Age Group Classification of Dental Radiography without Precise Age Information Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Kim Yu-Rin , Choi Jae-Hyeok , Ko Jihyeong , Jung Young-Jin , Kim Byeongjun , Nam Seoul-Hee , Chang Won-Du
Published: April 2023

Automatic age estimation using panoramic dental radiographic images is an important procedure for forensics and personal oral healthcare. The accuracies of the age estimation have increased recently with the advances in deep neural networks (DNN), but DNN requires large sizes of the labeled dataset which is not always available. This study examined whether a deep neural network is able to estimate tooth ages when precise age information is not given. A deep neural network model was developed and applied to age estimation using an image augmentation technique. A total of 10,023 original images were classified according to age groups (in decades, from the 10s to the 70s). The proposed model was validated using a 10-fold cross-validation technique for precise evaluation, and the accuracies of the predicted tooth ages were calculated by varying the tolerance. The accuracies were 53.846% with a tolerance of ±5 years, 95.121% with ±15 years, and 99.581% with ±25 years, which means the probability for the estimation error to be larger than one age group is 0.419%. The results indicate that artificial intelligence has potential not only in the forensic aspect but also in the clinical aspect of oral care.
Brief COPE Short Version (Mini-COPE): A Proposal of Item and Factorial Reduction in Mexican Population
Authors: Brambila-Tapia Aniel Jessica Leticia , Martínez-Arriaga Reyna Jazmin , González-Cantero Joel Omar , González-Becerra Victor Hugo , Reyes-Domínguez Yesica Arlae , Ramírez-García María Luisa , Macías-Espinoza Fabiola
Published: April 2023

The factorial reduction of Brief COPE has not been successfully replicated by independent studies, and few have been performed in Spanish-speaking populations; therefore, the objective of this study was to perform a factorial reduction of the instrument in a large sample of the Mexican population and perform a convergent and divergent validity of the factors obtained. We distributed a questionnaire via social networks with sociodemographic and psychological variables, including the Brief COPE and the scales of the CPSS, GAD-7, and CES-D to measure stress, anxiety, and depression. A total of 1283 persons were included, most of whom (64.8%) were women and had a bachelor’s degree (55.2%). After performing the exploratory factorial analysis, we did not find a model with an adequate fit and a reduced number of factors; therefore, we decided to reduce the number of items according to the most representative ones of adaptive, maladaptive, and emotional coping strategies. The resulting model with three factors showed good fit parameters and good internal consistency of the factors. In addition, the nature and naming of the factors were confirmed by convergent and divergent validity, with significant negative correlations between factor 1 (active/adaptive) and stress, depression, and anxiety, significant positive correlations between factor 2 (avoidant/maladaptive) and these three variables, and no significant correlation between factor 3 (emotional/neutral) and stress or depression. This shortened version of the brief COPE (Mini-COPE) is a good option to evaluate adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies in Spanish-speaking populations.
Resilience, Stress, and Cortisol Predict Cognitive Performance in Older Adults
Authors: Saez-Sanz Noelia , Peralta-Ramirez Isabel , Gonzalez-Perez Raquel , Vazquez-Justo Enrique , Caracuel Alfonso
Published: April 2023

Objective: to determine the relationship between stress, resilience, and cognitive performance in older people without dementia. Method: multiple linear regressions were performed using measures of cognitive performance as dependent variables, and measures of stress and resilience as predictors in a sample of 63 Spanish elderly people. Results: participants reported low levels of stress during their lifetime. In addition to socio-demographic variables, greater stress was related to better delayed recall and worse letter–number sequencing and block design. Higher capillary cortisol was associated with lower flexibility on the Stroop task. Regarding protective factors, we found that greater psychological resilience was related to higher scores on the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III, letter–number sequencing, and verbal fluency. Conclusion: in older people with low stress, apart from age, gender, and education, psychological resilience is a significant predictor of global cognitive status, working memory, and fluency. Likewise, stress is related to verbal memory functioning, working memory, and visuoconstructive abilities. Capillary cortisol level predicts cognitive flexibility. These findings may help to identify risk and protective factors for cognitive decline in older people. Training-based programs to reduce stress and increase psychological resilience may play an important role in preventing cognitive decline.
Parents’ Fears about Hospital Visits and Trait Anxiety in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Nakano Atsuko , Maeta Akihiro , Takaoka Yuri , Saeki Keigo , Hamada Masaaki , Hiraguchi Yukiko , Kawakami Tomoko , Okafuji Ikuo , Takemura Yutaka , Takahashi Kyoko , Kameda Makoto
Published: April 2023

Anxiety in parents of children with allergic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic may impact hospital visits. This study explored the effect of the pandemic on parents’ fears about hospital visits and their relationship with their personality traits. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted between September 2020 and March 2021, with parents of children aged 0–15 years, who regularly visited 24 outpatient facilities for allergic disease. The survey included patient information, fears about hospital visits, desired information, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Responses were compared between parents with high and low trait anxiety. The response rate was 97.6% (2439/2500). The most common fear was “Fear of getting medical care as usual (85.2%)” and “Fear of COVID-19 infection during hospital visits (87.1%)”. High trait anxiety showed a significant association with “Fear of worsening of children’s allergies” (adjusted OR: 1.31, 95%CI: 1.04 to 1.65, p = 0.022), and “Fear of worsening of COVID-19 due to allergy” (adjusted OR: 1.52, 95%CI: 1.27 to 1.80, p < 0.01). Healthcare professionals should share updates on COVID-19 and healthcare system to reduce parents’ fear. Subsequently, they should communicate the importance of continuing treatment to prevent worsening of COVID-19 and avoid emergency visits, considering parental trait anxiety.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of CAMTA Gene Family Implies PbrCAMTA2 Involved in Fruit Softening in Pear
Authors: Yu Jinshan , Song Bobo , Gu Kaidi , Cao Beibei , Zhao Kejiao , Wu Jun , Li Jiaming
Published: April 2023

CAMTA are calcium-modulating binding transcription factors that contribute to plant development. We identified 46 CAMTA genes from eight Rosaceae species and divided them into five subgroups based on a phylogenetic tree. Our analysis indicated that CAMTA is a highly conserved family among Rosaceae species, with a conserved DNA-binding domain (CG-1) and a conserved transcription factor immunoglobulin domain (TIG). Following a recent whole-genome duplication event, the genomes of Chinese white pear, European pear, and apple experienced significant expansion, resulting in the number of CAMTA genes being twice that of the other species. Cis-element identification showed that the distribution of the zein metabolism regulation-responsive element was different in the promoters of Chinese white pear (55.56%) and European pear (11.11%) CAMTA gene families. The gene expression results showed that PbrCAMTA1, 2, 6, 7 was highly expressed in pear fruit. Among them, PbrCAMTA2 may have a key influence on fruit softening, as observed in transient transformation experiments. In conclusion, our results provide crucial insights into the evolution of the CAMTA gene family in pear and other Rosaceae species and identify a candidate PbrCAMTA gene, which is involved in the dynamic development of pear fruits.
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the ANS Gene Family in Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)
Authors: Ni Huihui , Suo Heming , Zhang Xuan , Hu Lei , Yuan Fangyu , Zhang Maowen , Zhang Shuiming
Published: April 2023

Anthocyanidin Synthase (ANS) is a key enzyme in the later stages of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, and its role is to convert colorless leucoanthocyanidins to colored anthocyanidins. In this study, a total of 75 members of the pomegranate ANS family were identified and divided into four groups (Group I, Group Ⅱ, Group Ⅲ and Group Ⅳ) based on evolutionary relationships. The 75 ANS gene family members were unevenly distributed on seven of the eight chromosomes of pomegranate. The results of the physical and chemical property analysis showed that 93.33% of the proteins were acidic proteins, 6.67% were alkaline proteins, 28% of the proteins were stable proteins and 72% were unstable proteins. Protein secondary structure analysis showed that α-Spiral and irregular curl are the main structural elements. Analysis of the conserved structural domains of the proteins showed that all 75 ANS family members contained one DIOX -N subfamily structural domain and one 2OG-FeII_Oxy subfamily structural domain. The results of subcellular localization showed that all 75 ANS family members of pomegranate were localized in the cytoplasm. Analysis of the transcriptome data showed that the expression of the pomegranate ANS genes were variety-specific and period-specific.
Identification of PAL Gene in Purple Cabbage and Functional Analysis Related to Anthocyanin Synthesis
Authors: Tian Jun , Xu Ru , Chang Kaizhen , Yuan Song , Huang Chenxin , Wang Jinwei , Li Shuhao , Liu Fazhong , Zhong Fenglin
Published: April 2023

Anthocyanin is a characteristic nutrient of purple cabbage, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) is the rate-limiting enzyme for the synthesis of anthocyanin by the phenylpropane pathway, which is an important part of plant secondary metabolism. In this research, 7 BrPAL, 8 BoPAL, and 15 BnPAL genes from genomes of Brassica rapa, Brassica oleracea, and Brassica napus, divided into four subgroups, evolved from 4 PAL genes in Arabidopsis. The amplification and evolution of the BrPAL gene are due to segmental duplication and purifying selection. BrPAL genes clustered in the same clade have similar intron/exon structures and motifs. The cis-regulatory elements are divided into four categories: light, growth and development, stress and hormones. The qRT-PCR assays showed that most BrPAL genes were upregulated by UVA, low temperature and MeJA and downregulated by FR, high temperature, salt, PEG, IAA, ABA and GA, and there was a positive correlation between anthocyanin content and gene expression. This study can be used as a source for the function of the cabbage PAL gene and its molecular mechanism of regulating anthocyanin synthesis and provides a theoretical basis for the molecular breeding of cabbage.
Morphological, Phytochemical, and Photosynthetic Performance of Grafted Tomato Seedlings in Response to Different LED Light Qualities under Protected Cultivation
Authors: Soltani Seyedreza , Arouiee Hossein , Salehi Reza , Nemati Seyed Hossein , Moosavi-Nezhad Moein , Gruda Nazim S. , Aliniaeifard Sasan
Published: April 2023

Healing and acclimatization are critical in vegetable grafting under controlled environments. Here, we investigated the impacts of LED light qualities on the morphological traits and photosynthetic performance of grafted tomato seedlings. Seeds of the tomatoes “DRW 7806 F1” and “Maxifort” (Solanum lycopersicum × Solanum habrochaites) used as scion and rootstock were planted in 104-cell plug trays into a mixture of cocopeat and perlite (volume ratio: 3 to 1). Survival ratio, above- and underground growth, photosynthetic performance, soluble carbohydrate content, pigmentation, and antioxidant enzymes activity were evaluated following 20 days of exposure to different light qualities, including white (35% B, 49% intermediate spectra, 16% R) light as control, blue, red, and a combination of red (68%) and blue with the same light intensity of 75 ± 5 µmol m−2 s−1. The lowest scion diameter, leaf area, root and shoot dry weight, SPAD value, and the highest scion length and amount of soluble carbohydrate were detected in R-exposed seedlings. Moreover, R-exposed seedlings showed leaf epinasty and reduced photosynthetic performance. On the other hand, RB-exposed seedlings showed the highest leaf area, shoot and root dry weight, plant fresh and dry weight, scion stem diameter and photosystem II efficiency. In addition, superoxide dismutase activity was increased in R-exposed seedlings, while guaiacol peroxidase activity was enhanced in seedlings grown in RB. In conclusion, a combination of R and B is suggested as the suitable light spectrum to promote plant growth and photosynthetic performance in grafted tomato seedlings.
Effects of Pre-Treatments and Conservation Conditions on Seed Viability and Germination of Two Varieties of an Endangered Species Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) Link (Asteraceae)
Authors: Jawhari Fatima Zahra , Imtara Hamada , El Moussaoui Abdelfattah , Khalis Hind , Es-safi Imane , Saleh Asmaa , Al kamaly Omkulthom , Parvez Mohammad Khalid , Bari Amina
Published: April 2023

This research presents, for the first time, a study of seed germination for two varieties, ‘Anacyclus pyrethrum var. pyrethrum (L.) Link’ and ‘Anacyclus pyrethrum var. depressus (Ball.) Maire’, of an endemic and endangered medicinal species listed in the IUCN red list as Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) Link. Our objective was to provide information for their protection as well as a sustainable development strategy, by understanding whether the seeds germinate easily or have very specific germination requirements, and whether the storage conditions provided for the seeds were sufficiently favorable for the development of the species. A study of seed germination of the two varieties was conducted on lots of 25 seeds for each variety/treatment. Five treatments were used to break seed dormancy, which were chemical scarification with sulphuric acid (H2SO4), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and potassium nitrate (KNO3); hot water (80 °C); and cold scarification at 4 °C. The viability was examined for stored seeds (6 months, 1 year and 2 years) and for those that did not germinate after the germination test at harvest, using the tetrazolium test. The dormancy was broken via cold scarification (4 °C) and chemical scarification (H2O2, H2SO4, NP (KNO3)). The results also showed that a long storage time in wet cold (4 °C) causes a loss of seed viability, whereas a long storage time at −17 °C causes seed dormancy, which can be broken by cold scarification and chemical scarification. It was concluced that the rarity of the species was not due to the reproductive system, but to the overexploitation of the species during the flowering season, which influenced the natural regeneration of the species.
Relationship Functioning and Gut Microbiota Composition among Older Adult Couples
Authors: Cheng Qiwen , Krajmalnik-Brown Rosa , DiBaise John K. , Maldonado Juan , Guest M. Aaron , Todd Michael , Langer Shelby L.
Published: April 2023

An emerging area of research extends work on couple functioning and physical health to gut health, a critical marker of general health and known to diminish with age. As a foray into this area, we conducted a pilot study to (1) determine the feasibility of remote data collection, including a fecal sample, from older adult couples, (2) examine within-couple concordance in gut microbiota composition, and (3) examine associations between relationship functioning and gut microbiota composition. Couples (N = 30) were recruited from the community. The participants’ demographic characteristics were as follows: M (SD) age = 66.6 (4.8), 53% female, 92% White, and 2% Hispanic. Two of the couples were same-sex. All 60 participants completed self-report measures and supplied a fecal sample for microbiome analysis. Microbial DNA was extracted from the samples, and the 16S rRNA gene V4 region was amplified and sequenced. The results indicated that individuals shared more similar gut microbial composition with their partners than with others in the sample, p < 0.0001. In addition, individuals with better relationship quality (greater relationship satisfaction and intimacy and less avoidant communication) had greater microbial diversity, p < 0.05, a sign of healthier gut microbiota. Further research with a larger and more diverse sample is warranted to elucidate mechanisms.
The SUCCESS Peer Mentoring Program for College Students with Concussion: Preliminary Results of a Mobile Technology Delivered Intervention
Authors: O’Brien Katy H. , Pei Yalian , Kemp Amy M. , Gartell Rebecca , Gore Russell K. , Wallace Tracey
Published: April 2023

Concussions are caused by a hit or blow to the head that alters normal brain functioning. The Success in College after Concussion with Effective Student Supports (SUCCESS) program was developed to provide students with psychosocial support and resources—both key components of concussion management—to assist in recovery and return-to-learn following concussion. In this preliminary evaluation of intervention efficacy, SUCCESS was delivered through a mobile application connecting mentors (students who have recovered from concussion and successfully returned to school) with mentees who were currently recovering. Mentor–mentee pairs met virtually through the app, using chat and videoconferencing features to share support, resources, and program-specific educational materials. Results from 16 mentoring pairs showed that mentee symptoms (V = 119, p = 0.009) and academic problems decreased (V = 114.5, p = 0.002), while academic self-efficacy increased (V = 13.5, p = 0.009) following mentoring. As expected, mentor measures were stable, indicating that providing mentoring did not exacerbate previously resolved concussion complaints. Virtual peer mentoring provided through a mobile application may be a feasible intervention to support academic success and psychosocial processing during recovery for college students with concussion.
Validation of the Attitude Scale on Prospective Teachers’ Perceptions of the Consequences on Their Psychological State: Well-Being and Cognition
Authors: Hervás-Gómez Carlos , Díaz-Noguera María Dolores , Martín-Gutiérrez Ángela , Morales-Pérez Gloria Luisa
Published: April 2023

The aim of this study was to analyse the validated psychometric characteristics of the “Scale of Attitudes towards New Post-Pandemic Scenarios” (SANPS) tool using a short version on Perceptions of Future Teachers towards the New Post-Pandemic Educational Scenarios; describe the attitudes of future teachers towards motivation, collaboration, and emerging active pedagogies; and determine the internal consistency and reliability of the tool. The design structure of the instrument consists of the following three latent factors, which were obtained through an exploratory factor analysis (EFA): empowerment/motivation, autonomy/situated learning and emerging digital pedagogies. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of 966 participants. In the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), a previous hypothesis was established regarding the relationship of the factors and their number and nature, specifying the number of factors and the way in which the variables are related to each other. The 66.53% of total variance was explained. The reliability, calculated with Cronbach’s alpha, reached a global value of over 0.90 (α = 0.94). This valid and reliable questionnaire, which incorporates a dimension that measures the transfer of learning in hybrid and multimodal models of digital ecosystems in Higher Education, can be applied in the evaluation of online education processes.
The Geography of Mental Health, Urbanicity, and Affluence
Authors: Cortina Jeronimo , Hardin Shana
Published: April 2023

Residential location has been shown to significantly impact mental health, with individuals in rural communities experiencing poorer mental health compared to those in urban areas. However, the influence of an individual’s social group on the relationship between residential location and mental health outcomes remains unclear. This study disaggregates the rural-urban binary and investigates how geography and social groupings interact to shape mental health outcomes. Merging data from PLACES and Claritas PRIZM, we conducted a hotspot analysis, generated bivariate choropleth maps, and applied multiscale geographically weighted regressions to examine the spatial distribution of mental health and social groupings. Our findings reveal that mental health is influenced by complex interactions, with social groups playing a critical role. Our study highlights that not all rural and urban areas are alike, and the extent to which social groups influence mental health outcomes varies within and across these areas. These results underscore the need for policies that are tailored to meet the unique mental health needs of individuals from different social groups in specific geographic locations to inform policy interventions that more effectively address mental health disparities across diverse communities.
Diet in Patients with Myocardial Infarction and Coexisting Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Szczepańska Elżbieta , Gacal Magdalena , Sokal Adam , Janota Barbara , Kowalski Oskar
Published: April 2023

Background: Dietary modifications are recommended alongside pharmacotherapy in treating both diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. Aims: The primary aim of our study was to assess the diet in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and myocardial infarction (MI) and to identify dietary differences between patients after the first and subsequent cardiovascular (CV) event. The secondary aim was to analyze the differences between men’s and women’s diets. Methods: The study population consisted of patients with DM/T2DM and MI. The research tool was the original author’s questionnaire which was collected personally by a qualified dietician. Results: The study included 67 patients with a mean age of 69 ± 8 years, hospitalized at the Silesian Centre for Heart Diseases in Zabrze in 2019. The study found that patients consumed less bread, whole-grain cereal products, fermented milk products, and vegetables than was recommended. A total of 32.8% of patients reported an intake of sweetened beverages, while 85.1% of participants consumed sweets despite being diagnosed with DM. Except for sweetened drinks, no differences in dietary behaviors were found in the patients after the first and second MI episode. Most of the included patients assessed their diet as appropriate. Conclusion: The dietary assessment of diabetes and myocardial infarction patients indicates that the diet does not comply with dietary recommendations, thus increasing the risk of a recurrent cardiac event despite a previous MI. No differences between the men’s and the women’s nutritional habits were observed.
Prenatal Exposure to Air Pollutants and Attentional Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Development in Children: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kaur Sharanpreet , Morales-Hidalgo Paula , Arija Victoria , Canals Josefa
Published: April 2023

Up to 9.5% of the world’s population is diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), making it one of the most common childhood disorders. Air pollutants could be considered an environmental risk condition for ADHD, but few studies have specifically investigated the effect of prenatal exposure. The current paper reviews the studies conducted on the association between prenatal air pollutants (PM, NOx, SO2, O3, CO and PAH) and ADHD development in children. From the 890 studies searched through PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, 15 cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. NOS and WHO guidelines were used for quality and risk of bias assessment. The accumulative sample was 589,400 of children aged 3–15 years. Most studies reported an association between ADHD symptoms and prenatal PAH and PM exposure. Data available on NO2 and SO2 were inconsistent, whereas the effect of CO/O3 is barely investigated. We observed heterogeneity through an odd ratio forest plot, and discrepancies in methodologies across the studies. Eight of the fifteen studies were judged to be of moderate risk of bias in the outcome measurement. In a nutshell, future studies should aim to minimize heterogeneity and reduce bias by ensuring a more representative sample, standardizing exposure and outcome assessments.
Significance of Non-Statistically Significant Results in the Prediction of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Orthodontic Patients: A Survey Using Two Linking Questionnaires
Authors: Santiwong Peerapong , Dutsadeeviroj Kantrakorn , Potchanarungvakul Kittithad , Leartchotikul Thanpat , Jiwsiritrakul Thanachot , Sipiyaruk Kawin
Published: April 2023

Patients with a fixed orthodontic appliance may have difficulties in maintaining good oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and evaluating self-perceived OHRQoL in orthodontic patients could be challenging for their orthodontists. Therefore, this research was conducted to investigate whether orthodontic postgraduates would accurately evaluate the OHRQoL of their patients. Two self-administered questionnaires were designed for patients to rate their OHRQoL and for their orthodontic postgraduates to evaluate them on OHRQoL. All pairs of patients and their orthodontic postgraduates were requested to independently complete the questionnaires. Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regression were performed to determine the relationships of the variables and to identify significant predictors on OHRQoL, respectively. There were 132 pairs of orthodontic patients and their residents who completed the questionnaires. There were no significant correlations between OHRQoL perceived by patients and evaluated by their orthodontic postgraduates in all aspects of treatment needs and dietary difficulties (p > 0.05). In addition, the regression model demonstrated no significant predictors for the self-perceived treatment needs and dietary difficulties of orthodontic patients. There seemed to be challenges for orthodontic postgraduates to evaluate their patients’ oral health-related quality of life. Therefore, the OHRQoL measures should be increasingly implemented in orthodontic education and practice in order to enhance the concept of patient-centered care.
Family and Community Obligations Motivate People to Immigrate—A Case Study from the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Authors: Fujikura Ryo , Nakayama Mikiyasu , Sasaki Daisuke , Taafaki Irene , Chen Jichao
Published: April 2023

A questionnaire survey was conducted in the Marshall Islands among 308 citizens of Majuro in order to analyze the factors that led them to immigrate. Using the results from the questionnaire items that indicate the motivations for emigration as independent variables, we extracted the factors with significantly high correlation coefficients; they suggest that the desire to escape from the many obligations within the family and regional community are predominant push factors for migrating overseas while the economic disparity between the United State and their home countries are predominant pull factors. Independently, the Permutation Feature Importance was used to extract the salient factors motivating migration, which provides similar results. Furthermore, the result of structural equation modeling verified the hypothesis that an escape from many obligations and economic disparity is a major motivation for migration at a significance level of 0.1%.
GIS Mapping and Breast Cancer Health Care Access Gaps for African American Women
Authors: White-Means Shelley , Muruako Adole
Published: April 2023

Black women face an unequal opportunity to survive breast cancer compared with White women. One would expect that US metropolitan areas with high percentages of Black people should report similar racial disparities in breast health. Yet, this is not the case. To provide insights about breast cancer disparities in cities with above-average and below-average racial disparities, we use GIS analysis. We depict racial composition and income categories on the same map with mammography facility locations to distinguish unique patterns of mammography access, a critical resource for breast cancer care. Looking more closely at low health disparities cities, a general and consistent pattern arises. Both White and Black people are concentrated in middle-income neighborhoods. Further, MQSA-certified facilities are not clustered in affluent areas but tend to be centrally located in the middle of the city or highly dispersed across the city, regardless of income. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that metropolitan areas that have a preponderance of racially segregated low-income Black households—a characteristic of neighborhoods that have experienced a history of racism and disinvestment—are more likely to experience disparities in access to primary breast care than middle-income Black, middle-income White, or high-income White neighborhoods.
HuR Promotes the Differentiation of Goat Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells by Regulating Myomaker mRNA Stability
Authors: Sun Yanjin , Zhan Siyuan , Zhao Sen , Zhong Tao , Wang Linjie , Guo Jiazhong , Dai Dinghui , Li Dandan , Cao Jiaxue , Li Li , Zhang Hongping
Published: April 2023

Human antigen R (HuR) is an RNA-binding protein that contributes to a wide variety of biological processes and diseases. HuR has been demonstrated to regulate muscle growth and development, but its regulatory mechanisms are not well understood, especially in goats. In this study, we found that HuR was highly expressed in the skeletal muscle of goats, and its expression levels changed during longissimus dorsi muscle development in goats. The effects of HuR on goat skeletal muscle development were explored using skeletal muscle satellite cells (MuSCs) as a model. The overexpression of HuR accelerated the expression of myogenic differentiation 1 (MyoD), Myogenin (MyoG), myosin heavy chain (MyHC), and the formation of myotubes, while the knockdown of HuR showed opposite effects in MuSCs. In addition, the inhibition of HuR expression significantly reduced the mRNA stability of MyoD and MyoG. To determine the downstream genes affected by HuR at the differentiation stage, we conducted RNA-Seq using MuSCs treated with small interfering RNA, targeting HuR. The RNA-Seq screened 31 upregulated and 113 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in which 11 DEGs related to muscle differentiation were screened for quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) detection. Compared to the control group, the expression of three DEGs (Myomaker, CHRNA1, and CAPN6) was significantly reduced in the siRNA-HuR group (p < 0.01). In this mechanism, HuR bound to Myomaker and increased the mRNA stability of Myomaker. It then positively regulated the expression of Myomaker. Moreover, the rescue experiments indicated that the overexpression of HuR may reverse the inhibitory impact of Myomaker on myoblast differentiation. Together, our findings reveal a novel role for HuR in promoting muscle differentiation in goats by increasing the stability of Myomaker mRNA.
Regulation of UV-B-Induced Inflammatory Mediators by Activity-Dependent Neuroprotective Protein (ADNP)-Derived Peptide (NAP) in Corneal Epithelium
Authors: Maugeri Grazia , D’Amico Agata Grazia , Magrì Benedetta , Giunta Salvatore , Musumeci Giuseppe , Saccone Salvatore , Federico Concetta , Scollo Davide , Longo Antonio , Avitabile Teresio , D’Agata Velia
Published: April 2023

The corneal epithelium, representing the outermost layer of the cornea, acts as a barrier to protect the eye against external insults such as ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiations. The inflammatory response induced by these adverse events can alter the corneal structure, leading to visual impairment. In a previous study, we demonstrated the positive effects of NAP, the active fragment of activity-dependent protein (ADNP), against oxidative stress induced by UV-B radiations. Here, we investigated its role to counteract the inflammatory event triggered by this insult contributing to the disruption of the corneal epithelial barrier. The results indicated that NAP treatment prevents UV-B-induced inflammatory processes by affecting IL-1β cytokine expression and NF-κB activation, as well as maintaining corneal epithelial barrier integrity. These findings may be useful for the future development of an NAP-based therapy for corneal disease.
Enhancing Conformational Sampling for Intrinsically Disordered and Ordered Proteins by Variational Autoencoder
Authors: Zhu Jun-Jie , Zhang Ning-Jie , Wei Ting , Chen Hai-Feng
Published: April 2023

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) account for more than 50% of the human proteome and are closely associated with tumors, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegeneration, which have no fixed three-dimensional structure under physiological conditions. Due to the characteristic of conformational diversity, conventional experimental methods of structural biology, such as NMR, X-ray diffraction, and CryoEM, are unable to capture conformational ensembles. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation can sample the dynamic conformations at the atomic level, which has become an effective method for studying the structure and function of IDPs. However, the high computational cost prevents MD simulations from being widely used for IDPs conformational sampling. In recent years, significant progress has been made in artificial intelligence, which makes it possible to solve the conformational reconstruction problem of IDP with fewer computational resources. Here, based on short MD simulations of different IDPs systems, we use variational autoencoders (VAEs) to achieve the generative reconstruction of IDPs structures and include a wider range of sampled conformations from longer simulations. Compared with the generative autoencoder (AEs), VAEs add an inference layer between the encoder and decoder in the latent space, which can cover the conformational landscape of IDPs more comprehensively and achieve the effect of enhanced sampling. Through experimental verification, the Cα RMSD between VAE-generated and MD simulation sampling conformations in the 5 IDPs test systems was significantly lower than that of AE. The Spearman correlation coefficient on the structure was higher than that of AE. VAE can also achieve excellent performance regarding structured proteins. In summary, VAEs can be used to effectively sample protein structures.
Clinicopathological Significance of Cell Adhesion Molecule 4 Expression in Gallbladder Cancer and Its Prognostic Role
Authors: Bang Seongsik , Jee Seungyun , Son Hwangkyu , Cha Hyebin , Song Kihyuk , Park Hosub , Myung Jaekyung , Kim Hyunsung , Paik Seungsam
Published: April 2023

Cell adhesion molecule 4 (CADM4) is involved in intercellular interactions and is a tumor-suppressor candidate. The role of CADM4 in gallbladder cancer (GBC) has not been reported. Therefore, the clinicopathological significance and prognostic value of CADM4 expression in GBC were evaluated in the present study. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on 100 GBC tissues to assess CADM4 expression at the protein level. The association between CADM4 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of GBC was analyzed, and the prognostic significance of CADM4 expression was evaluated. Low CADM4 expression was significantly associated with advanced T category (p = 0.010) and high AJCC stage (p = 0.019). In a survival analysis, low CADM4 expression was associated with shorter overall survival (OS; p = 0.001) and recurrence-free survival (RFS; p = 0.018). In univariate analyses, low CADM4 expression was associated with shorter OS (p = 0.002) and RFS (p = 0.023). In multivariate analyses, low CADM4 expression was an independent prognostic factor of OS (p = 0.013). Low CADM4 expression was associated with tumor invasiveness and poor clinical outcomes in patients with GBC. CADM4 may play an important role in cancer progression and patient survival and can be used as a potential prognostic marker of GBC.
Kaempferol Suppresses Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Damage in Rats via the MAPKs/NF-κB and AMPK/Nrf2 Signaling Pathways
Authors: Lee Changyong , Yoon Sik , Moon Jeon-Ok
Published: April 2023

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the development of liver disease, making antioxidants a promising therapeutic approach for the prevention and management of liver injuries. The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of kaempferol, an antioxidant flavonoid found in various edible vegetables, and its underlying mechanism in male Sprague-Dawley rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver damage. Oral administration of kaempferol at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg body weight resulted in the amelioration of CCl4-induced abnormalities in hepatic histology and serum parameters. Additionally, kaempferol decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, TNF-α and IL-1β, as well as COX-2 and iNOS. Furthermore, kaempferol suppressed nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 activation, as well as the phosphorylation of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase members (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and p38 in CCl4-intoxicated rats. In addition, kaempferol improved the imbalanced oxidative status, as evidenced by the reduction in reactive oxygen species levels and lipid peroxidation, along with increased glutathione content in the CCl4-treated rat liver. Administering kaempferol also enhanced the activation of nuclear factor-E2-related factor (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 protein, as well as the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Overall, these findings suggest that kaempferol exhibits antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects through inhibiting the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway and activating the AMPK/Nrf2 signaling pathway in CCl4-intoxicated rats.