bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Water, NaCl and Citric Acid Soaking Pre-Treatments on Acrylamide Content in French Fries Prepared in Domestic Conditions
Authors: Negoiță Mioara , Mihai Adriana Laura , Horneț Gabriela Andreea
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of some pre-treatment applications toward acrylamide mitigation in potatoes fried in domestic conditions modeled after those found in Romania, by using a pan and a fryer. Before being fried in a pan, potato strips were treated in one of the following ways: soaked in cold water for 15, 60, and 120 min (a); soaked in hot water at different combinations of temperatures and durations (60, 70, 80 °C for 5, 10, 15 min) (b); soaked in a NaCl solution (c), and; in a citric acid solution (d) both solutions of 0.05% and 1% concentration for 30 min. For potatoes fried in a fryer, the (a) pre-treatment and soaking in water at 80 °C for 5, 10, and 15 min were applied. Untreated samples were used as a control. French fries were analyzed in terms of moisture and acrylamide content, color, and texture parameters. The pre-treatments applied reduced the acrylamide content in French fries by 4–97% when fried in the pan and by 25–47% when fried in the fryer. Acrylamide content of French fries was negatively correlated with L* parameter and moisture content and positively correlated with a* parameter. The pre-treatments applied can be used successfully by consumers to reduce acrylamide content.
Exploring the Role of Acacia (Acacia seyal) and Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) Gums on the Dough Performance and Quality Attributes of Breads and Cakes
Authors: Hussain Shahzad , Alamri Mohamed Saleh , Mohamed Abdellatif A. , Ibraheem Mohamed A. , Qasem Akram A. Abdo , Shamlan Ghalia , Ababtain Ibrahim A.
Published: April 2022

Two hydrocolloids, acacia gum and cactus gum, were tested in the current study to see if they could improve the quality of the dough or have an effect on the shelf life of pan bread and sponge cake. Both gums considerably (p < 0.05) enhanced the dough development time, softness, and mixing tolerance index while decreasing the water absorption. Although the dough was more stable with the addition of acacia gum than with cactus gum, the control sample had the highest peak, final, breakdown, and setback viscosities. Acacia gum, on the other hand, resulted in a higher wheat-flour-slurry pasting temperature (84.07 °C) than cactus gum (68.53 °C). The inclusion of both gums, particularly 3%, reduces the gel’s textural hardness, gumminess, chewiness, springiness, and adhesiveness. Lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) were both increased by the addition of acacia gum to bread and cake, whereas the addition of cactus gum increased both color parameters for cakes. The use of acacia gum increased the bread and cake’s volume. Cactus gum, on the other hand, caused a decrease in bread hardness after 24 h and 96 h. The cake containing acacia gum, on the other hand, was the least stiff after both storage times. Similarly, sensory attributes such as the crumb color and overall acceptability of the bread and cake were improved by 3% with acacia gum. For these and other reasons, the addition of cactus and acacia gums to bread and cake increased their organoleptic qualities, controlled staining, and made them softer.
Emulsion and Microemulsion Systems to Improve Functional Edible Oils Enriched with Walnut and Pistachio Phenolic Extracts
Authors: Fregapane Giuseppe , Cabezas Fernández Cristina , Salvador María Desamparados
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this research was to improve the properties of functional edible oils with potential health promoting effects, enriched with phenolic-rich extracts obtained from pistachio and walnut (5.1 and 27.4% phenolic contents respectively), by means of emulsion and micro emulsion systems. Stable water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions were obtained employing polyglycerol polyrhizinoleate (PGPR) as emulsifier (0.5, 2% H2O in oil), despite having a whitish and opaque appearance; transparent and stable microemulsions were prepared using proper proportion (e.g., 97:3) between the oily phase and the mixture of aqueous phase and emulsifiers (3:2 lecithin-distilled monoglycerides (DMG). Total polar phenolics contents ranging between 257 and 835 mg/kg were obtained in the novel functional edible oils’ formulations, reaching higher content using walnut as compared to pistachio extracts. Antioxidant capacity determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)hydrazyl (DPPH) method increased approx. 7.5 and 1.5 times using walnut and pistachio extracts respectively. An emulsion using gallic acid and a microemulsion employing hydroxytyrosol, two well-known antioxidants, were also studied to compare antioxidant capacity of the proposed enriched oils. Furthermore, the oxidative stability of these products—very relevant to establish their commercial value—was measured under accelerated testing conditions employing the Rancimat equipment (100 °C) and performing an oven test (at 40 °C for walnut oils and 60 °C for pistachio and refined olive oils). Rancimat oxidative stability greatly increased and better results were obtained with walnut (2–3 times higher) as compared to pistachio extract enriched oils (1.5–2 times higher). On the contrary, under the oven test conditions, both the initial oxidation rate constant and the time required to reach a value of peroxide value equal to 15 (upper commercial category limit), indicated that under these assay conditions the protection against oxidation is higher using pistachio extract (2–4 times higher) than walnut’s (1.5–2 times higher). Stable emulsions and transparent microemulsions phenolic-rich nut oils (250–800 mg/kg) were therefore developed, possessing a higher oxidative stability (1.5–4 times) and DPPH antioxidant capacity (1.5–7.5 times).
Protective Effect of Alkaline Phosphatase Supplementation on Infant Health
Authors: Wu Haoming , Wang Yang , Li Huiying , Meng Lu , Zheng Nan , Wang Jiaqi
Published: April 2022

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is abundant in raw milk. Because of its high heat resistance, ALP negative is used as an indicator of successful sterilization. However, pasteurized milk loses its immune protection against allergy. Clinically, ALP is also used as an indicator of organ diseases. When the activity of ALP in blood increases, it is considered that diseases occur in viscera and organs. Oral administration or injecting ALP will not cause harm to the body and has a variety of probiotic effects. For infants with low immunity, ALP intake is a good prebiotic for protecting the infant’s intestine from potential pathogenic bacteria. In addition, ALP has a variety of probiotic effects for any age group, including prevention and treatment intestinal diseases, allergies, hepatitis, acute kidney injury (AKI), diabetes, and even the prevention of aging. The prebiotic effects of alkaline phosphatase on the health of infants and consumers and the content of ALP in different mammalian raw milk are summarized. The review calls on consumers and manufacturers to pay more attention to ALP, especially for infants with incomplete immune development. ALP supplementation is conducive to the healthy growth of infants.
Economic Harmony—A Rational Theory of Fairness and Cooperation in Strategic Interactions
Authors: Suleiman Ramzi
Published: April 2022

Experimental studies show that the Nash equilibrium and its refinements are poor predictors of behavior in non-cooperative strategic games. Cooperation models, such as ERC and inequality aversion, yield superior predictions compared to the standard game theory predictions. However, those models are short of providing a general theory of behavior in economic interactions. In two previous articles, we proposed a rational theory of behavior in non-cooperative games, termed Economic Harmony theory (EH). In EH, we retained the rationality principle but modified the players’ utilities by defining them as functions of the ratios between their actual and aspired payoffs. We also abandoned the equilibrium concept in favor of the concept of “harmony,” defined as the intersection of strategies at which all players are equally satisfied. We derived and tested the theory predictions of behavior in the ultimatum game, the bargaining game with alternating offers, and the sequential common-pool resource dilemma game. In this article, we summarize the main tenets of EH and its previous predictions and test its predictions for behaviors in the public goods game and the trust game. We demonstrate that the harmony solutions account well for the observed fairness and cooperation in all the tested games. The impressive predictions of the theory, without violating the rationality principle nor adding free parameters, indicate that the role of benevolent sentiments in promoting fairness and cooperation in the discussed games is only marginal. Strikingly, the Golden Ratio, known for its aesthetically pleasing properties, emerged as the point of fair demands in the ultimatum game, the sequential bargaining game with alternating offers, and the sequential CPR dilemma game. The emergence of the golden ratio as the fairness solution in these games suggests that our perception of fairness and beauty are correlated. Because the harmony predictions underwent post-tests, future experiments are needed for conducting ex ante tests of the theory in the discussed games and in other non-cooperative games. Given the good performance of economic harmony where game theory fails, we hope that experimental economists and other behavioral scientists undertake such a task.
What Non-White Kids Do to White Parents: Whiteness and Secondary Socialization in the Case of White Parents of Mixed-Race and Internationally Adopted Children in France
Authors: Brun Solène
Published: April 2022

International adoptions have rarely been studied from the angle of racial mixedness in France, as opposed to the way the adoption debate is shaped in the United States and the United Kingdom. However, a large majority of adopted children in France come from countries colonized by Europe in the past, and are very likely to be racialized as non-white. Adoptive parents, for their part, belong overwhelmingly to the majority population, racialized as white. As such, adoptive families usually involve, like families formed by mixed-race couples, white parents raising non-white kids. These two types of families can thus provide valuable insights on racial boundaries and how they are negotiated at the microsociological level. Moreover, as whiteness is generally characterized by invisibility and unspeakability, white parents of non-white children occupy a singular and heuristic position. They also experience an atypical whiteness: the norm of intrafamilial racial homogeneity being disrupted in their families, they experience racial alterity in a very intimate way—inaccessible to most whites. Drawing upon an ethnographic study conducted between 2015 and 2017, this article explores what racial mixedness does to the whiteness of white parents raising non-white kids in the French colorblind context. Investigating the different ways their whiteness is not only rendered unusually visible, but also questioned, reshaped, and—partially—disrupted, the article considers the socializing power of racial mixedness. As such, it considers parents not only as socializing agents but also as (re)socialized individuals, arguing that parenthood is a site of racial socialization.
Analysis of Research Directions on the Rehabilitation of Patients with Stroke and Diabetes Using Scientometric Methods
Authors: Pantea Ileana , Repanovici Angela , Cocuz Maria Elena
Published: April 2022

The multidisciplinary approach to the rehabilitation of patients with stroke and diabetes has been followed in this article by a review of the literature published in the Web of Science in the last ten years. A review of the literature was performed using scientometric methods. VOS Viewer software was used to determine the research directions in this area. Scientometric analysis has extracted relevant published scientific output that treats diabetes and stroke. Studies based on qualitative research and the conclusions of these studies were analyzed. The clusters with the keywords used in the title and abstract by the authors who published in the Web of Science were reviewed and research directions in the field were formulated. The proper care of diabetes and its numerous consequences, including stroke and its neurologic complications, necessitates the fast identification of research findings in various types of medicines and their efficacy when applied to various patient groups, such as diabetic patients, whose recovery after a stroke is similar to that of a nondiabetic patient following hemodynamic stabilization, although it takes longer and has poorer outcomes. The limitations of the study refer to the fact that the data reviewed are from the Web of Science only.
Examining the Impact of Regional Development Policy on Industrial Structure Upgrading: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from China
Authors: Dai Shengli , Zhang Weimin , Wang Yingying , Wang Ge
Published: April 2022

“Guiding Opinions on Relying on the Golden Waterway to Promote the Development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB)”, the “YREB Development Policy”, is a national Chinese policy aiming to promote industrial structure upgrading and high-quality development in the YREB. To test the effects of this policy, we used 2009–2019 data from 283 cities to examine whether its implementation promoted regional industrial structure upgrading. The YREB Development Policy positively impacted industrial structure advancement but scarcely benefited industrial structure rationalization. Moreover, the impacts indicated a temporary, unsustainable influence on industrial structure advancement, presenting a clear U-shaped development trend. The YREB Development Policy can more significantly improve industrial structure upgrading in cities with large populations. The effects of this policy on industrial structure upgrading in the middle and lower reaches of the YREB are almost five times that in the upper reaches. In addition, the policy more greatly impacts the tertiary industry than the primary and secondary industries, especially in the lower reaches. These findings have policy-making implications, enrich the research regarding the YREB Development Policy impacts on industrial structure upgrading, and provide an empirical reference to improve subsequent policies.
Experience-Dependent Effects to Situational Awareness in Police Officers: An Eye Tracking Study
Authors: Huhta Juha-Matti , Di Nota Paula M. , Surakka Veikko , Isokoski Poika , Ropo Eero
Published: April 2022

Police work requires making suitable observations which form the basis of situational awareness (SA) of the encounter in progress. Incomplete early-stage SA (i.e., perception) can lead to errors in subsequent judgement and decision-making that can have severe consequences for performance, learning, and occupational health. SA in police contexts is still relatively understudied and requires closer examination using objective measures. The current preliminary study aimed to measure the gaze and fixation patterns among novice and expert police officers to understand early-stage SA at different levels of professional experience. Participants included 23 novices (10 early, 13 intermediate) and 11 experienced officers and instructors in tactics and use of force. Visit duration and fixation order were measured while participants viewed various static images of staged encounters. Results showed that all participants fixated longer on targets compared to the periphery, and fixated earlier on suspects’ faces compared to hands, bodies, or the environment. Further, experts fixated earlier on hands and spent less time scanning the environment than early novices. The current findings reveal eye movement patterns while officers engaged in typical police encounters. Future research can inform evidence-based police training to achieve optimal SA and minimize negative outcomes in training and operational field settings.
Physiological and Psychological Relaxation Effects of Fir Essential Oil on University Students
Authors: Kim Choyun , Song Chorong
Published: April 2022

Numerous studies have reported a significant increase in stress experienced by students owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, interest in stress management using nature-derived substances has increased. However, studies examining the effects of olfactory stimulation by fir are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological and psychological effects of inhaling fir essential oil. Additionally, differences between male and female participants were compared. Twenty-six university students (16 female and 10 male students; mean age, 21.5 ± 1.9 years) participated in this study. Fir essential oil was used for olfactory stimulation, with normal room air as the control. The odor was administered for 3 min. Heart rate variability and heart rate were used as indicators of autonomic nervous system activity. The Profile of Mood States and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used as psychological indicators. The ln(Low Frequency/High Frequency) ratio, which is an indicator of sympathetic nervous activity reflecting a stressful or aroused state during stimulation with fir essential oil, was significantly lower than during the control condition. Assessment of psychological indicators showed that the positive mood of “vigor” improved significantly and negative moods of “tension–anxiety”, “depression”, “anger–hostility”, “fatigue” and anxiety levels reduced significantly after inhaling fir essential oil compared to the control condition. This study showed that inhalation of fir essential oil has physiologically and psychologically relaxing effects, with differences in results depending on the sex of the participants.
Relationship between Depressive Symptoms and Weather Conditions
Authors: Brazienė Agnė , Venclovienė Jonė , Vaičiulis Vidmantas , Lukšienė Dalia , Tamošiūnas Abdonas , Milvidaitė Irena , Radišauskas Ričardas , Bobak Martin
Published: April 2022

Background: Weather is a well-known factor worldwide in psychiatric problems such as depression, with the elderly and females being particularly susceptible. The aim of this study was to detect associations between the risk of depressive symptoms (DS) and weather variables. Methods: 6937 participants were assessed in the baseline survey of the Health Alcohol Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) study during 2006–2008. To assess the risk of DS, a multivariate logistic model was created with predictors such as socio-demographic factors, health behaviors, and weather variables. Results: DS were found in 23.4% of the respondents, in 15.6% of males and in 29.9% in females. A higher risk of DS (by 25%) was associated with November–December, a rising wind speed, and relative humidity (RH) < 94% and snowfall during the cold period occurring 2 days before the survey. A higher air temperature (>14.2 °C) predominant during May–September had a protective impact. A higher risk of DS in males was associated with lower atmospheric pressure (<1009 hPa) 2 days before. Females were more sensitive to the monthly variation, snowfall, and RH. Conclusions: The findings of our study suggest that some levels of weather variables have a statistically significant effect on DS.
Analyzing Commute Mode Choice Using the LCNL Model in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Evidence from China
Authors: Luan Siliang , Yang Qingfang , Jiang Zhongtai , Zhou Huxing , Meng Fanyun
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this paper is to gain an insight into commuting and travel mode choices in the post-COVID-19 era. The surveys are divided into two waves in Qingdao, China: the first-wave questionnaires were collected under the background of a three-month zero growth of cases; the second wave was implemented after the new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The latent class nested logit (LCNL) model is applied to capture heterogeneous characteristics among the various classes. The results indicate that age, income, household composition, and the frequency of use of travel modes are latent factors that impact users’ attitudes toward mass transit and the private car nests when undergoing the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals’ trepidation regarding health risks began to fade, but this is still a vital consideration in terms of mode choice and the purchase of vehicles. Moreover, economic reinvigoration, the increase in car ownership, and an increase in the desire to purchase a car may result in great challenges for urban traffic networks.
Sleep and Health-Related Characteristics among Adolescents during COVID-19: An Update
Authors: Albrecht Joëlle N. , Werner Helene , Rieger Noa , Jenni Oskar G. , Huber Reto
Published: April 2022

Two opposing effects on adolescents’ health during COVID-19 lockdown have been described: A beneficial one due to longer sleep times during school closures and a detrimental one of psychological distress. This study investigated how sleep and health changed in the course of the pandemic when schools were open again. Overall, 12,238 adolescents in Switzerland participated in three cross-sectional online surveys: In 2017 under regular conditions (control group), during pandemic school closures in 2020 (closure group), and in 2021 still under pandemic conditions, but schools were open again (postclosure group). Sleep behavior and health-related characteristics (health-related quality of life; caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine use) in all three groups and depressive symptoms in the closure and postclosure groups were assessed. The sleep period on school days was longer in the closure group (median 9.00 h, interquartile range 8.25–9.75) and similar in the postclosure (7.92, 7.00–8.50) compared to the control group (7.75, 7.08–8.33). Health-related characteristics were better during school closures and similar to worse in the postclosure compared to the control group. Depressive symptom levels were higher in the postclosure than in the closure group. Therefore, beneficial effects were specific to school closures and adolescents’ psychological distress increased over the course of the pandemic.
An Investigation on Chinese Public Acceptance of COVID-19 Prevention Measures
Authors: Zhang Ao , Yang Hao , Tong Shuning , Gao Jingqi
Published: April 2022

China has basically succeeded in bringing the COVID-19 epidemic under control, thanks to a timely series of effective prevention and control measures taken by the Chinese government. In this study, a public acceptance questionnaire of epidemic prevention measures was designed to investigate the influencing factors of public acceptance. A total of 2062 samples were collected from 8 March 2020 to 9 April 2020, and Independent-Samples T-Test and One-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data collected in the questionnaire in SPSS version 22.0. The results show that age and educational level have a significant influence on public acceptance. With the development of the epidemic, the acceptability grew generally higher. The public acceptance of traffic measures is the highest. This study summarises China’s scientific experience in the fight against COVID-19 and the differences in public acceptance. It can provide a positive reference for the development of epidemic prevention in other countries.
Suggesting Indicators of Age-Friendly City: Social Participation and Happiness, an Ecological Study from the JAGES
Authors: Ide Kazushige , Jeong Seungwon , Tsuji Taishi , Watanabe Ryota , Miyaguni Yasuhiro , Nakamura Hirotaka , Kimura Miyako , Kondo Katsunori
Published: April 2022

Ascertaining progress in building age-friendly cities (AFCs) requires community diagnostic indicators. This study examines the relationship between social participation and happiness at the municipal level. The data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) from 2013, 2016, and 2019, comprising 442,079 older people from 289 municipalities, are used. We also employ linear mixed-effects models to evaluate the association between social participation and happiness. In these models, we adjust for seven variables as potential confounders. This study reveals that the higher the social participation, except for neighborhood association, the higher the state of happiness (B = 0.14–0.30). Our study suggests that social participation is useful, as a community diagnostic indicator, for monitoring the progress of building AFCs, developing strategies, and creating evidence.
Adenosine Receptor A2B Negatively Regulates Cell Migration in Ovarian Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Campos-Contreras Anaí del Rocío , González-Gallardo Adriana , Díaz-Muñoz Mauricio , Vázquez-Cuevas Francisco G.
Published: April 2022

The purinergic system is fundamental in the tumor microenvironment, since it regulates tumor cell interactions with the immune system, as well as growth and differentiation in autocrine-paracrine responses. Here, we investigated the role of the adenosine A2B receptor (A2BR) in ovarian carcinoma-derived cells’ (OCDC) properties. From public databases, we documented that high A2BR expression is associated with a better prognostic outcome in ovarian cancer patients. In vitro experiments were performed on SKOV-3 cell line to understand how A2BR regulates the carcinoma cell phenotype associated with cell migration. RT-PCR and Western blotting revealed that the ADORA2B transcript (coding for A2BR) and A2BR were expressed in SKOV-3 cells. Stimulation with BAY-606583, an A2BR agonist, induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which was abolished by the antagonist PSB-603. Pharmacological activation of A2BR reduced cell migration and actin stress fibers; in agreement, A2BR knockdown increased migration and enhanced actin stress fiber expression. Furthermore, the expression of E-cadherin, an epithelial marker, increased in BAY-606583-treated cells. Finally, cDNA microarrays revealed the pathways mediating the effects of A2BR activation on SKOV-3 cells. Our results showed that A2BR contributed to maintaining an epithelial-like phenotype in OCDC and highlighted this purinergic receptor as a potential biomarker.
Roles of Neuropeptides in Sleep–Wake Regulation
Authors: Shen Yi-Chen , Sun Xiao , Li Lei , Zhang Hu-Yunlong , Huang Zhi-Li , Wang Yi-Qun
Published: April 2022

Sleep and wakefulness are basic behavioral states that require coordination between several brain regions, and they involve multiple neurochemical systems, including neuropeptides. Neuropeptides are a group of peptides produced by neurons and neuroendocrine cells of the central nervous system. Like traditional neurotransmitters, neuropeptides can bind to specific surface receptors and subsequently regulate neuronal activities. For example, orexin is a crucial component for the maintenance of wakefulness and the suppression of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. In addition to orexin, melanin-concentrating hormone, and galanin may promote REM sleep. These results suggest that neuropeptides play an important role in sleep–wake regulation. These neuropeptides can be divided into three categories according to their effects on sleep–wake behaviors in rodents and humans. (i) Galanin, melanin-concentrating hormone, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide are sleep-promoting peptides. It is also noticeable that vasoactive intestinal polypeptide particularly increases REM sleep. (ii) Orexin and neuropeptide S have been shown to induce wakefulness. (iii) Neuropeptide Y and substance P may have a bidirectional function as they can produce both arousal and sleep-inducing effects. This review will introduce the distribution of various neuropeptides in the brain and summarize the roles of different neuropeptides in sleep–wake regulation. We aim to lay the foundation for future studies to uncover the mechanisms that underlie the initiation, maintenance, and end of sleep–wake states.
Insights into the Molecular Regulation of Lignin Content in Triploid Poplar Leaves
Authors: Xu Tingting , Zhang Shuwen , Du Kang , Yang Jun , Kang Xiangyang
Published: April 2022

After polyploidization, plants usually undergo some morphological and physiological changes, including the lignin content of polyploids usually becoming lower than that of diploids. However, the regulatory mechanism of the variation of lignin content in polyploid plants remains unclear. Therefore, in this research, we used full-sib poplar triploids and diploids to explore the molecular regulatory basis of lignin content in poplar triploid leaves through the determination of lignin content, the observation of xylem cells, and transcriptome sequencing. The results showed that the lignin content of triploid leaves was significantly lower than that of diploid leaves. The xylem cells of triploid leaves were significantly larger than those of diploids. Transcriptome sequencing data show that most lignin biosynthesis genes were significantly downregulated, and genes related to cell growth were mostly upregulated in triploid leaves compared with diploid leaves. In addition, co-expression network analysis showed that several transcription factors might be involved in the regulation of lignin biosynthesis. Consequently, the altered expression of genes related to lignin might lead to the reduced lignin content in triploids. These results provide a theoretical basis for further exploring the molecular mechanism of the variation of polyploid lignin content and the utilization of polyploid lignocellulosic resources.
A Reliable Approach for Revealing Molecular Targets in Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Li Fengxia , Fornasiero Eugenio F. , Dankovich Tal M. , Kluever Verena , Rizzoli Silvio O.
Published: April 2022

Nano secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS) imaging is a rapidly growing field in biological sciences, which enables investigators to describe the chemical composition of cells and tissues with high resolution. One of the major challenges of nanoSIMS is to identify specific molecules or organelles, as these are not immediately recognizable in nanoSIMS and need to be revealed by SIMS-compatible probes. Few laboratories have generated such probes, and none are commercially available. To address this, we performed a systematic study of probes initially developed for electron microscopy. Relying on nanoscale SIMS, we found that antibodies coupled to 6 nm gold particles are surprisingly efficient in terms of labeling specificity while offering a reliable detection threshold. These tools enabled accurate visualization and sample analysis and were easily employed in correlating SIMS with other imaging approaches, such as fluorescence microscopy. We conclude that antibodies conjugated to moderately sized gold particles are promising tools for SIMS imaging.
p97/UBXD1 Generate Ubiquitylated Proteins That Are Sequestered into Nuclear Envelope Herniations in Torsin-Deficient Cells
Authors: Prophet Sarah M. , Naughton Brigitte S. , Schlieker Christian
Published: April 2022

DYT1 dystonia is a debilitating neurological movement disorder that arises upon Torsin ATPase deficiency. Nuclear envelope (NE) blebs that contain FG-nucleoporins (FG-Nups) and K48-linked ubiquitin are the hallmark phenotype of Torsin manipulation across disease models of DYT1 dystonia. While the aberrant deposition of FG-Nups is caused by defective nuclear pore complex assembly, the source of K48-ubiquitylated proteins inside NE blebs is not known. Here, we demonstrate that the characteristic K48-ubiquitin accumulation inside blebs requires p97 activity. This activity is highly dependent on the p97 adaptor UBXD1. We show that p97 does not significantly depend on the Ufd1/Npl4 heterodimer to generate the K48-ubiquitylated proteins inside blebs, nor does inhibiting translation affect the ubiquitin sequestration in blebs. However, stimulating global ubiquitylation by heat shock greatly increases the amount of K48-ubiquitin sequestered inside blebs. These results suggest that blebs have an extraordinarily high capacity for sequestering ubiquitylated protein generated in a p97-dependent manner. The p97/UBXD1 axis is thus a major factor contributing to cellular DYT1 dystonia pathology and its modulation represents an unexplored potential for therapeutic development.
Mechanisms by Which Skeletal Muscle Myokines Ameliorate Insulin Resistance
Authors: Balakrishnan Rekha , Thurmond Debbie C.
Published: April 2022

The skeletal muscle is the largest organ in the body and secretes circulating factors, including myokines, which are involved in various cellular signaling processes. Skeletal muscle is vital for metabolism and physiology and plays a crucial role in insulin-mediated glucose disposal. Myokines have autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine functions, serving as critical regulators of myogenic differentiation, fiber-type switching, and maintaining muscle mass. Myokines have profound effects on energy metabolism and inflammation, contributing to the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and other metabolic diseases. Myokines have been shown to increase insulin sensitivity, thereby improving glucose disposal and regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. Many myokines have now been identified, and research on myokine signaling mechanisms and functions is rapidly emerging. This review summarizes the current state of the field regarding the role of myokines in tissue cross-talk, including their molecular mechanisms, and their potential as therapeutic targets for T2D.
Chronic Kidney Disease with Mild and Mild to Moderate Reduction in Renal Function and Long-Term Recurrences of Atrial Fibrillation after Pulmonary Vein Cryoballoon Ablation
Authors: Boriani Giuseppe , Iacopino Saverio , Arena Giuseppe , Pieragnoli Paolo , Verlato Roberto , Manfrin Massimiliano , Molon Giulio , Rovaris Giovanni , Curnis Antonio , Perego Giovanni Battista , Dello Russo Antonio , Landolina Maurizio , Vitolo Marco , Tondo Claudio ,   on behalf of the 1STOP ClinicalService Investigators
Published: April 2022

The aim of this research was to evaluate if patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and mild or mild to moderate depression of renal function have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrences after cryoballoon (CB) ablation. We performed a retrospective analysis of AF patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) by CB. The cohort was divided according to the KDIGO CKD-EPI classification into a (1) normal, (2) mildly decreased, or (3) mild to moderate reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Freedom from AF recurrences was the primary endpoint. A total of 1971 patients were included (60 ± 10 years, 29.0% females, 73.6% paroxysmal AF) in the study. Acute success and complication rates were 99.2% and 3.7%, respectively, with no significant differences among the three groups. After a follow-up of 24 months, AF recurrences were higher in the mildly and mild to moderate CKD groups compared to the normal kidney function group (23.4% vs. 28.3% vs. 33.5%, p < 0.05). Mild to moderate CKD was an independent predictor of AF recurrences after the blanking period (hazard ratio:1.38, 95% CI 1.02–1.86, p = 0.037). In conclusion, a multicenter analysis of AF patients treated with cryoablation revealed mild to moderate reductions in renal functions were associated with a higher risk of AF recurrences. Conversely, the procedural success and complication rates were similar in patients with normal, mildly reduced, or mild to moderate reduction in eGFR.
Time Synchronization of Multimodal Physiological Signals through Alignment of Common Signal Types and Its Technical Considerations in Digital Health
Authors: Xiao Ran , Ding Cheng , Hu Xiao
Published: April 2022

Background: Despite advancements in digital health, it remains challenging to obtain precise time synchronization of multimodal physiological signals collected through different devices. Existing algorithms mainly rely on specific physiological features that restrict the use cases to certain signal types. The present study aims to complement previous algorithms and solve a niche time alignment problem when a common signal type is available across different devices. Methods: We proposed a simple time alignment approach based on the direct cross-correlation of temporal amplitudes, making it agnostic and thus generalizable to different signal types. The approach was tested on a public electrocardiographic (ECG) dataset to simulate the synchronization of signals collected from an ECG watch and an ECG patch. The algorithm was evaluated considering key practical factors, including sample durations, signal quality index (SQI), resilience to noise, and varying sampling rates. Results: The proposed approach requires a short sample duration (30 s) to operate, and demonstrates stable performance across varying sampling rates and resilience to common noise. The lowest synchronization delay achieved by the algorithm is 0.13 s with the integration of SQI thresholding. Conclusions: Our findings help improve the time alignment of multimodal signals in digital health and advance healthcare toward precise remote monitoring and disease prevention.
The Use of Social Media as a Tool for Learning: Perspectives of Masters in Educational Technologies students at Bisha University, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alshehri Omar Abdullah
Published: April 2022

The current research examines the attitudes towards the use of social media sites to support the learning process among Master's in Educational Technologies students at the University of Bisha in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including perceptions of educational benefits as well as disadvantages and barriers. Forty two students participated in this study and completed a web-based survey. The findings revealed a largely positive attitude toward the usage of social media sites in the classroom, attributing to it many advantages, such as increasing the quality and efficiency of communication between students and teachers, greater access to information, as well as stronger social connections and ease of collaboration among classmates. However, the participants also mentioned cyberbullying, privacy issues and distractions as some difficulties associated with using these tools.
Combating drug trafficking: the international legal dimension
Authors: Kuznietsov Serhii
Published: April 2022

According to the provisions of international legal agreements governing interstate relations at sea, there must be a specific connection between states that release ships flying their flag at sea and those ships that use the attributes of the respective state. This regime provides for the existence of a number of interrelated rights and responsibilities that have both the state and the relevant vessel under its flag. In the event that a seagoing ship violates the rules of international law, the State concerned shall have the right to apply liability to such a ship. It is the purpose of this research that is the analysis of the obligations of the states whose flag ships go to sea that violate the established international legal requirements, in particular - in the field of drugs and psychotropic substances. The author of the article used a number of methods of scientific knowledge to obtain relevant results. Such methods include the dogmatic method, the comparative legal method, the deduction method, and the induction method. As a result of the study, the author concluded that the system of obligations of the "flag state", which includes, inter alia, obligations to stop the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and / or psychotropic substances, is the illegal use of "flag vessels" and constitute the concept of «genuine link».
Determinants and methods of diagnosing criminal proceedings participants false testimony in Ukraine
Authors: Mohilevskyi Leonid , Husieva Vlada , Perlin Stanislav , Chycha Ruslan , Shynkarenko Iryna
Published: April 2022

The purpose of the article is to determine the procedural and non-procedural methods of diagnostics false testimony of criminal proceedings participants’, which can be used in the investigation in Ukraine. The authors use general and special methods that allow obtaining scientifically sound conclusions and suggestions. The dialectical method, system-structural, generalizing, logical and statistical methods were used in the study. According to the results of the study, the number of criminal offenses initiated in Ukraine in connection with the provision of false testimony by victims and witnesses is quite large. If a person is convicted based on false testimony, a new criminal trial must be ordered in connection with the newly discovered circumstances. The authors determined that procedural methods of diagnostics false testimony include investigative (search) actions and forensic examinations, and non-procedural - various types of research, in particular, the use of polygraph and physiognomic research, as well as methods of analyzing nonverbal information. Re-interrogation, additional and simultaneous interrogation of previously interrogated persons, investigative experiment are the most effective procedural means of diagnosing false testimony. Non-procedural means of diagnosing false indications require further research and scientific substantiation, including the development of a mechanism for training relevant specialists.
Analisis Kinerja Karyawan dengan Motivasi Berprestasi Sebagai Variabel Intervening pada Direktorat Operasi PT. Semen Padang
Authors: Tarigan Esron
Published: April 2022

This study aims to test an extensive effect of transformational leadership, and organizational culture on the performance of employees with achievement motivation as the variable intervening comes home PT Semen Padang. Methods of collecting data through surveys and circulating kingdom, with a sample of 100 respondents. The analytical method used is path analysis using STATISTIC SPSS 25. The results of the study were obtained transformational leadership had a positive and significant effect on motivation to face faculty faced. Organizational culture has a positive and significant effect on achievement motivation. Transformational leadership has a positive and significant effect on employee performance. Organizational culture has a positive and significant effect on employee performance. Disconnecting motivation has a positive and insignificant effect on employee performance. Achieving motivation does not mediate transformational leadership on employee performance. Achieving motivation does not mediate organizational culture on employee performance. The contribution of the independent variable contribution of transformational leadership, organizational culture, and motivation faced variables depends on the performance of 85.7%. While the rest is 14.3% influenced by other variables outside of this study
Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Trends Of Pregnant Mother Anxiety Disorders In South Kalimantan In 2021
Authors: Fathony Zaiyidah , Amalia Rizki , Lestari Pratiwi Puji
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on all aspects of life. The Covid-19 pandemic is not only threatening people's health physically, but also mentally. Mental health is one of the impacts that threaten society during the Covid-19 pandemic. Mental health issues are increasingly being recognized as a significant and worrying secondary effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, in this case the tendency for anxiety disorders of pregnant women in South Kalimantan. This research is an observational study. The sample was taken by total sampling from data on pregnant women recorded at the South Kalimantan Provincial Health Office. The COVID-19 pandemic did not have a statistically significant effect on the tendency of anxiety disorders. Of the 3 variables studied, namely age, education and occupation, there was no significant relationship between anxiety disorders in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic
PENGUKURAN KUALITAS SISTEM INFORMASI ADMINISTRASI VAKSIN (SIAVI) IMUNISASI
Authors: Faidul Jihad Fikri , Sediyono Eko , Nurjazuli
Published: April 2022

Latar Belakang: Kualitas informasi administrasi vaksin imunisasi yang akurat, lengkap dan cepat dibutuhkan oleh dinas Kesehatan guna mendukung pencatatan dan pelaporan vaksin imunisasi yang lebih baik. Tujuan: untuk mengukur kualitas informasi administrasi vaksin imunisasi (SIAVI) berdasarkan data penilaian pengguna sistem diukur dengan menggunakan rata-rata tertimbang sebelum pengembangan sistem dan sesudah pengembangan sistem. Metode: Penelitian dilakukan dengan menggunakan kuesioner sebagai istrumen penelitian. Dalam kuesioner yang diberikan kepada 7 responden terdiri dari 15 pertanyaan yang dikelompokkan dalam 5 variabel kelengkapan, kemudahan, kesesuaian,dan ketepatan waktu. Hasil: Berdasarkan pengolahan data diperoleh hasil bahwa nilai rata-rata tertimbang secara keseluruhan kualitas informasi sebelum pengembangan sistem 2,27 dan setelah pengembangan sistem 3,36 dengan selisih 1,09 artinya terdapat perbedaan sebelum pengembangan sistem dan setelah pengembangan sistem.

Kesimpulan: SIAVI telah memiliki aspek kemudahan dalam penggunaan dan dapat diterapkan sebagai aplikasi yang dapat dioperasikan oleh pengelola program imunisasi.

ABSTRACT: Background: To support better recording and reporting of immunization vaccines, the Health Service requires accurate, complete, and timely immunization vaccine administration information. Objective: Measuring the information quality of immunization vaccine administration (SIAVI) based on system user assessment data before and after system development using a weighted average. Methods: A questionnaire was used as a research instrument in this study. The questionnaire, which was given to seven people, had 15 questions divided into five categories: completeness, convenience, suitability, and timeliness. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that the weighted average value of overall information quality before system development was 2.27 and after system development was 3.36, with a difference of 1.09 indicating that there was a difference before and after system development. Conclusion: SIAVI already has a user-friendly aspect to all of it and can be used as an application that can be operated by the user.
PERAN SISTEM INFORMASI MANAJEMEN ORGANISASI DALAM PENGAMBILAN KEPUTUSAN
Authors: Andrian Syahputra  , Ragil Wiranti  , Widiya Astita Widiya Astita
Published: April 2022

Sistem informasi manajemen memberikan informasi yang akurat dan tepat waktu yang diperlukan untuk memudahkan proses pengambilan keputusan dan pemecahan masalah yang memungkinkan penyelenggaraan fungsi perencanaan, pengendalian, dan operasional dapat berjalan secara efektif. Pendekatan dalam penulisan ilmiah ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif metode deskriptif. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa pengembangan dan pengelolaan SIM dalam organisasi mampu memicu keputusan yang tidak hanya cepat dan akurat tetapi juga akan sejalan dengan praktik terbaik dalam organisasi secara efektif dan efisien. Informasi telah menjadi sumber penting untuk mengelola organisasi modern.