bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Antioxidant Properties of Selenium and Vitamin E; Their Role in Periparturient Dairy Cattle Health Regulation
Authors: Xiao Jianxin , Khan Muhammad Zahoor , Ma Yulin , Alugongo Gibson Maswayi , Ma Jiaying , Chen Tianyu , Khan Adnan , Cao Zhijun
Published: September 2021

Dairy cattle experience health risks during the periparturient period. The continuous overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the transition from late gestation to peak lactation leads to the development of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is usually considered the main contributor to several diseases such as retained placenta, fatty liver, ketosis, mastitis and metritis in periparturient dairy cattle. The oxidative stress is generally balanced by the naturally available antioxidant system in the body of dairy cattle. However, in some special conditions, such as the peripariparturient period, the natural antioxidant system of a body is not able to balance the ROS production. To cope with this situation, the antioxidants are supplied to the dairy cattle from external sources. Natural antioxidants such as selenium and vitamin E have been found to restore normal health by minimizing the harmful effects of excessive ROS production. The deficiencies of Se and vitamin E have been reported to be associated with various diseases in periparturient dairy cattle. Thus in the current review, we highlight the new insights into the Se and vitamin E supplementation as antioxidant agents in the health regulation of periparturient dairy cattle.
Dieckol Reduces Muscle Atrophy by Modulating Angiotensin Type II Type 1 Receptor and NADPH Oxidase in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Oh Seyeon , Yang Jin Young , Park Chul Hyun , Son Kuk Hui , Byun Kyunghee
Published: September 2021

The renin–angiotensin system is involved in the development of hypertension and sarcopenia. Increased levels of angiotensin II (Ang II) lead to upregulation of Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R), which results in increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) by NAD(P)H oxidase (Nox). Increased ROS led to increased helper T17 (Th17) and decreased regulatory T (Treg) cells through HIF-1α. Increased Th17 secretes more IL-17, leading to increased NF-κB and muscle atrophy. We evaluated the effect of Ecklonia cava extracts (ECE) and dieckol (DK) on attenuating muscle atrophy by decreasing AT1R and NOX activity in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs). The serum levels of Ang II and expression of AT1R in the muscle were higher in SHRs than in normotensive animals of Wistar–Kyoto rats (2.4 and 1.8 times higher than WKY, respectively). The expression of AT1R decreased by ECE or DK (0.62 and 0.84 times lower than SHR, respectively). In SHRs, the expression of Nox 1, 2, and 4 were increased (1.2–1.15 times higher than WKY) but were decreased by the administration of ECE (0.8–0.9 times lower than SHR) or DK (0.7–0.9 times lower than SHR). The Nox activity was increased in SHRs (2.3 times more than WKY) and it was decreased by ECE (0.9 times lower than SHRs) and DK (0.9 times lower than SHRs). The expression of HIF-1α, a marker of Th17 (RORγt), and cytokine secreted by Th17 (IL-17) was increased in SHRs and was decreased by ECE or DK. The marker of Treg (Foxp3) and cytokine secreted from Treg cells (IL-10) was decreased in SHRs and was increased by ECE or DK. The expression of NF-κB/IL-1β/TNF-α and MuRF-1/MAFbx/atrogin-1 was increased in SHRs and these were decreased by ECE or DK. The cross-sectional area of muscle fiber was decreased in SHRs (0.7 times lower than WKY) and was increased by ECE (1.3 times greater than SHR) or DK (1.5 times greater than SHR). In conclusion, ECE or DK leads to a decreased expression of AT1R and Nox activity which modulates Th17/Treg balance and consequently, decreased muscle atrophy.
Role of Food Antioxidants in Modulating Gut Microbial Communities: Novel Understandings in Intestinal Oxidative Stress Damage and Their Impact on Host Health
Authors: Riaz Rajoka Muhammad Shahid , Thirumdas Rohit , Mehwish Hafiza Mahreen , Umair Muhammad , Khurshid Mohsin , Hayat Hafiz Fakhar , Phimolsiripol Yuthana , Pallarés Noelia , Martí-Quijal Francisco J. , Barba Francisco J.
Published: September 2021

Dietary components have an important role on the structure and function of host gut microbial communities. Even though, various dietary components, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, fibers, and vitamins, have been studied in depth for their effect on gut microbiomes, little attention has been paid regarding the impact of several food antioxidants on the gut microbiome. The long-term exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause microbial dysbiosis which leads to numerous intestinal diseases such as microbiota dysbiosis, intestinal injury, colorectal cancers, enteric infections, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Recently, it has been shown that the food derived antioxidant compounds might protect the host from intestinal oxidative stress via modulating the composition of beneficial microbial species in the gut. The present review summarizes the impact of food antioxidants including antioxidant vitamins, dietary polyphenols, carotenoids, and bioactive peptides on the structure as well as function of host gut microbial communities. Several in vitro, animal model, and clinical studies indicates that food antioxidants might modify the host gut microbial communities and their health status. However, still further clarification is needed as to whether changes in certain microbial species caused by food additives may lead to changes in metabolism and immune function.
Systematic Approaches and Analyses on Voltage Uprating of 132 kV Transmission Lines: A Case Study in Malaysia
Authors: Nor Shamsul Fahmi Mohd , Ab Kadir Mohd Zainal Abidin , Mohd Ariffin Azrul , Osman Miszaina , Rahman Muhammad Syahmi Abd , Zainuddin Noorlina Mohd
Published: September 2021

With the ageing infrastructure and fast-growing demand faced by utilities worldwide, voltage uprating is one of the most effective solutions and strategic approaches in asset management decisions. In this study, a systematic voltage uprating method is used to propose the new voltage level, based on the existing transmission lines’ physical structure, by utilising appropriate techniques. Prior to work conducted, the existing 132 kV transmission line was first examined in terms of the clearances and the components attached, and a technical issue on the clearance under still air was found to be a significant concern, particularly on phase-to-earth arrangements. Next, the proposed techniques and processes, by increasing the insulation strength and improving air conductor clearances, were used for the individual existing 132 kV transmission tower. The proposed voltage uprating of the 132 kV transmission tower comprehensively examines phase-to-earth under normal and extreme wind conditions based on electrical clearance requirements for 275 kV transmission lines. The proposed uprating model was then simulated using the Finite Element Method (FEM)-based commercial software under several lightning conditions, i.e., various basic lightning insulation levels (BIL) and different flashover mechanisms, taking into consideration still air and wind conditions for the voltage profile and its insulation strength analyses. The study found that the voltage profile condition for the proposed voltage uprating model was able to withstand its BIL under all conditions and thus satisfied the electrical requirement needed.
A Novel Adaptive Approach for Autonomous Vehicle Based on Optimization Technique for Enhancing the Communication between Autonomous Vehicle-to-Everything through Cooperative Communication
Authors: Osman Radwa Ahmed , Abdelsalam Ahmed Kadry
Published: September 2021

Recent autonomous intelligent transportation systems commonly adopt vehicular communication. Efficient communication between autonomous vehicles-to-everything (AV2X) is mandatory to ensure road safety by decreasing traffic jamming, approaching emergency vehicle warning, and assisting in low visibility traffic. In this paper, a new adaptive AV2X model, based on a novel optimization method to enhance the connectivity of the vehicular networks, is proposed. The presented model optimizes the inter-vehicle position to communicate with the autonomous vehicle (AV) or to relay information to everything. Based on the system quality-of-service (QoS) being achieved, a decision will be taken whether the transmitting AV communicates directly to the destination or through cooperative communication. To achieve the given objectives, the best position of the relay-vehicle issue was mathematically formulated as a constrained optimization problem to enhance the communication between AV2X under different environmental conditions. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model, the following factors are considered: distribution of vehicles, vehicle density, vehicle mobility and speed. Simulation results show how the proposed model outperforms other previous models and enhances system performance in terms of four benchmark aspects: throughput (S), packet loss rate (PLR), packet delivery ratio (PDR) and average delivery latency (DL).
Study on Soil Displacement Fields around the Expanded Body of Drill-Expanded Concrete Piles Based on DIC Technique
Authors: Xu Lina , Deng Haoyun , Niu Lei , Qian Yongmei , Song Daohan
Published: September 2021

The soil displacement field around a drill-expanded concrete pile is noticeably different from that of an equivalent section pile placed under axial load due to the mutual embedment between the expanded body and the soil. It is important to study the soil displacement field around drill-expanded concrete piles in order to understand the mechanisms of interaction between the pile and the soil. First, the model test of the half-face pile installed in undisturbed soil and the model test of the half-face pile installed in sand were used to study the soil displacement field around the pile. Then, the entire process of the soil displacement field’s formation and development under the load was observed by using digital image correlation (DIC) techniques. Finally, numerical simulation was used to verify the results of the model tests. The results show that the displacement characteristics of the soil around the pile in the undisturbed soil and sand are basically the same. There is a clear soil compression zone under the expanded body, and the magnitude and density of the displaced soil in the compression zone are much higher than in other areas. Both the vertical displacement and the horizontal displacement gradually decrease as the distance from the expanded body and the burial depth increase. The horizontal displacement of the soil under the expanded body follows a trend of first moving toward the pile body and then moving away from it. The results of the numerical simulation are basically consistent with the results of the model test, indicating that the results of the model test are relatively reliable.
Manipulation Planning for Large Objects through Pivoting, Tumbling, and Regrasping
Authors: Zhang Ang , Koyama Keisuke , Wan Weiwei , Harada Kensuke
Published: September 2021

Robotic manipulation of a bulky object is challenging due to the limited kinematics and payload of the manipulator. In this study, a robot realizes the manipulation of general-shaped bulky objects utilizing the contact with the environment. We propose a hierarchical manipulation planner that effectively combined three manipulation styles, namely, pivoting, tumbling, and regrasping. In our proposed method, we first generate a set of superimposed planar segments on the object surface to obtain an object pose in stable contact with the table, and a set of points on the object surface for the end-effectors (EEFs) of a dual-arm manipulator to stably grasp the object. Object manipulation can be realized by solving a graph, considering the kinematic constraints of pivoting and tumbling. For pivoting, we consider two supporting styles: stable support (SP) and unstable support (USP). Our proposed method manipulates large and heavy objects by selectively using the two different support styles of pivoting and tumbling according to the conditions on the table area. In addition, it can effectively avoid the limitation arising due to the arm kinematics by regrasping the object. We experimentally demonstrate that a dual-arm manipulator can move an object from the initial to goal position within a limited area on the table, avoiding obstacles placed on the table.
Application of Inelastic Method and Its Comparison with Elastic Method for the Assessment of In-Box LOCA Event on EU DEMO HCPB Breeding Blanket Cap Region
Authors: Retheesh Anoop , Hernández Francisco A. , Zhou Guangming
Published: September 2021

The Helium Cooled Pebble Bed (HCPB) breeding blanket, being developed by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and its partners is one of the two driver blanket candidates to be selected for the European demonstration fusion power plant (EU DEMO). The in-box Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) is a postulated initiating event of the breeding blanket (BB) that must be accounted within the design basis. In this paper, the BB cap region is analyzed for its ability to withstand an in-box LOCA event. Initially, an assessment is performed using conventional elastic design codes for nuclear pressure vessels. However, it is thought that the elastic rules are not ‘equipped’ to assess the material damage modes which are essentially inelastic. Therefore, a non-linear inelastic analysis is further performed to better understand the damage in the material. Two predominant inelastic failure modes are thought to be relevant and addressed: exhaustion of ductility and plastic flow localization. While the design of HCPB BB has been predominantly based on the elastic design-by-analysis studies, results from the present study show that the elastic rules may be overly conservative for the given material and loading and could lead to inefficient designs. To our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to investigate the structural integrity of the European DEMO blankets under in-box LOCA conditions using the inelastic methods.
Improving Transformer Based End-to-End Code-Switching Speech Recognition Using Language Identification
Authors: Huang Zheying , Wang Pei , Wang Jian , Miao Haoran , Xu Ji , Zhang Pengyuan
Published: September 2021

A Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) based attention model has been used in code-switching speech recognition (CSSR). However, due to the sequential computation constraint of RNN, there are stronger short-range dependencies and weaker long-range dependencies, which makes it hard to immediately switch languages in CSSR. Firstly, to deal with this problem, we introduce the CTC-Transformer, relying entirely on a self-attention mechanism to draw global dependencies and adopting connectionist temporal classification (CTC) as an auxiliary task for better convergence. Secondly, we proposed two multi-task learning recipes, where a language identification (LID) auxiliary task is learned in addition to the CTC-Transformer automatic speech recognition (ASR) task. Thirdly, we study a decoding strategy to combine the LID into an ASR task. Experiments on the SEAME corpus demonstrate the effects of the proposed methods, achieving a mixed error rate (MER) of 30.95%. It obtains up to 19.35% relative MER reduction compared to the baseline RNN-based CTC-Attention system, and 8.86% relative MER reduction compared to the baseline CTC-Transformer system.
Coupled Dynamic Modeling and Control of Aerial Continuum Manipulation Systems
Authors: Samadikhoshkho Zahra , Ghorbani Shahab , Janabi-Sharifi Farrokh
Published: September 2021

Aerial continuum manipulation systems (ACMSs) were newly introduced by integrating a continuum robot (CR) into an aerial vehicle to address a few issues of conventional aerial manipulation systems such as safety, dexterity, flexibility and compatibility with objects. Despite the earlier work on decoupled dynamic modeling of ACMSs, their coupled dynamic modeling still remains intact. Nonlinearity and complexity of CR modeling make it difficult to design a coupled ACMS model suitable for practical applications. This paper presents a coupled dynamic modeling for ACMSs based on the Euler–Lagrange formulation to deal with CR and the aerial vehicle as a unified system. For this purpose, a general vertical take-off and landing vehicle equipped with a tendon-driven continuum arm is considered to increase the dexterity and compliance of interactions with the environment. The presented model is independent of the motor’s configuration and tilt angles and can be applied to model any under/fully actuated ACMS. The modeling approach is complemented with a Lyapunov-wise stable adaptive sliding mode control technique to demonstrate the validity of the proposed method for such a complex system. Simulation results in free flight motion scenarios are reported to verify the effectiveness of the proposed modeling and control techniques.
Study on Wind Field Characteristics in a Coastal Plain Based on a New Three-Dimensional Joint Distribution Model
Authors: Gao Xiaoyue , Xiao Tianbao , Li Jiawu , Hao Jianming , Ma Zhenxing
Published: September 2021

This paper studied the joint probability distribution of wind speed, wind direction, and wind height. The measured wind field data of a coastal plain in Zhongshan city, Guangdong Province, China, were taken as the research object. A three-dimensional joint distribution modeling method, based on the copula function and the AL (angular–linear) model, is proposed. Firstly, the wind speed is modeled by the common distribution model, and the Weibull distribution is selected. Secondly, the mvM (mixed von Mises distribution) was used to fit the wind direction probability density, and the joint distribution of wind speed and wind direction was established based on the AL model. Finally, a three-dimensional joint distribution model of wind speed, wind direction, and height was established by considering the effect of height through the copula function. The results showed that Weibull distribution can better describe the wind speed distribution in this region. The north–south wind prevailed in this region, and the probability of the main wind direction decreased with the increase in height. The joint distribution of wind speed and direction, based on the AL model, fitted well with the measured data, and the final three-dimensional distribution model had a good fitting effect.
Effect of Bioaugmentation with Anaerobic Fungi Isolated from Ruminants on the Hydrolysis of Corn Silage and Phragmites australis
Authors: Ravi Bhargavi , Nkongndem Nkemka Valentine , Hao Xiying , Yanke Jay , McAllister Tim A. , Lee Hung , Veluchamy Chitraichamy , Gilroyed Brandon H.
Published: September 2021

Anaerobic fungi produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes that facilitate degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose in ruminants. The purpose of this work was to study the impact of three different anaerobic fungal species (Anaeromyces mucronatus YE505, Neocallimastix frontalis 27, and Piromyces rhizinflatus YM600) on hydrolysis of two different lignocellulosic substrates, corn (Zea mays L.) silage and reed (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.). Biomass from each plant species was incubated anaerobically for 11 days either in the presence of live fungal inoculum or with heat-inactivated (control) inoculum. Headspace gas composition, dry matter loss, soluble chemical oxygen demand, concentration of volatile fatty acids, and chemical composition were measured before and after hydrolysis. While some microbial activity was observed, inoculation with anaerobic fungi did not result in any significant difference in the degradation of either type of plant biomass tested, likely due to low fungal activity or survival under the experimental conditions tested. While the premise of utilizing the unique biological activities of anaerobic fungi for biotechnology applications remains promising, further research on optimizing culturing and process conditions is necessary.
Sound Localization and Lateralization by Bilateral Bone Conduction Devices, Middle Ear Implants, and Cartilage Conduction Hearing Aids
Authors: Shiraishi Kimio
Published: September 2021

Sound localization in daily life is one of the important functions of binaural hearing. Bilateral bone conduction devices (BCDs), middle ear implants, and cartilage conduction hearing aids have been often applied for patients with conductive hearing loss (CHL) or mixed hearing loss, for example, resulting from bilateral microtia and aural atresia. In this review, factors affecting the accuracy of sound localization with bilateral BCDs, middle ear implants, and cartilage conduction hearing aids were classified into four categories: (1) types of device, (2) experimental conditions, (3) participants, and (4) pathways from the stimulus sound to both cochleae. Recent studies within the past 10 years on sound localization and lateralization by BCDs, middle ear implants, and cartilage conduction hearing aids were discussed. Most studies showed benefits for sound localization or lateralization with bilateral devices. However, the judgment accuracy was generally lower than that for normal hearing, and the localization errors tended to be larger than for normal hearing. Moreover, it should be noted that the degree of accuracy in sound localization by bilateral BCDs varied considerably among patients. Further research on sound localization is necessary to analyze the complicated mechanism of bone conduction, including suprathreshold air conduction with bilateral devices.
Dopamine Modulates Drosophila Gut Physiology, Providing New Insights for Future Gastrointestinal Pharmacotherapy
Authors: El Kholy Samar , Wang Kai , El-Seedi Hesham R. , Al Naggar Yahya
Published: September 2021

Dopamine has a variety of physiological roles in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) through binding to Drosophila dopamine D1-like receptors (DARs) and/or adrenergic receptors and has been confirmed as one of the enteric neurotransmitters. To gain new insights into what could be a potential future promise for GI pharmacology, we used Drosophila as a model organism to investigate the effects of dopamine on intestinal physiology and gut motility. GAL4/UAS system was utilized to knock down specific dopamine receptors using specialized GAL4 driver lines targeting neurons or enterocytes cells to identify which dopamine receptor controls stomach contractions. DARs (Dop1R1 and Dop1R2) were shown by immunohistochemistry to be strongly expressed in all smooth muscles in both larval and adult flies, which could explain the inhibitory effect of dopamine on GI motility. Adult males’ gut peristalsis was significantly inhibited by knocking down dopamine receptors Dop1R1, Dop1R2, and Dop2R, but female flies’ gut peristalsis was significantly repressed by knocking down only Dop1R1 and Dop1R2. Our findings also showed that dopamine drives PLC-β translocation from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane in enterocytes for the first time. Overall, these data revealed the role of dopamine in modulating Drosophila gut physiology, offering us new insights for the future gastrointestinal pharmacotherapy of neurodegenerative diseases associated with dopamine deficiency.
Senescent Thyrocytes, Similarly to Thyroid Tumor Cells, Elicit M2-like Macrophage Polarization In Vivo
Authors: Mazzoni Mara , Mauro Giuseppe , Minoli Lucia , Cleris Loredana , Anania Maria Chiara , Di Marco Tiziana , Minna Emanuela , Pagliardini Sonia , Rizzetti Maria Grazia , Manenti Giacomo , Borrello Maria Grazia , Scanziani Eugenio , Greco Angela
Published: September 2021

Inflammation plays a critical role in thyroid cancer onset and progression. We previously characterized the in vitro interplay between macrophages and senescent human thyrocytes and thyroid tumor-derived cell lines, modeling the early and the late thyroid tumor phases, respectively. We reported that both models are able to induce pro-tumoral M2-like macrophage polarization, through the activation of the COX2-PGE2 axis. Here, we investigated the presence of macrophage infiltrating cells in mouse xenografts derived from the above described cells models. We showed that subcutaneous injection in immunodeficient mice of both senescent human thyrocytes and thyroid tumor-derived cell lines elicits macrophage recruitment. Furthermore, considering the type of macrophage infiltrate, we observed a stronger infiltration of Arginase I positive cells (M2-like). Overall, these results demonstrate the in vivo capability of senescent and tumor thyroid cells to recruit and polarize macrophages, suggesting that the promotion of a pro-tumoral microenvironment through tumor associated macrophages may occurs in late as well as in early thyroid tumor stages, favoring tumor onset and progression.
Effects of Ibuprofen Use on Lymphocyte Count and Oxidative Stress in Elite Paralympic Powerlifting
Authors: Aidar Felipe J. , Fraga Guacira S. , Getirana-Mota Márcio , Marçal Anderson Carlos , Santos Jymmys L. , de Souza Raphael Fabricio , Ferreira Alexandre Reis Pires , Neves Eduardo Borba , Zanona Aristela de Freitas , Bulhões-Correia Alexandre , de Almeida-Neto Paulo Francisco , Fernandes Tulio Luiz Banja , Garrido Nuno Domingos , Cirilo-Sousa Maria do Socorro , Merino-Fernández María , Díaz-de-Durana Alfonso López , Murawska-Ciałowicz Eugenia , Cabral Breno Guilherme de Araújo Tinoco , Clemente Filipe Manuel
Published: September 2021

Background: Paralympic Powerlifting (PP) training tends to promote fatigue and oxidative stress. Objective: To analyze the effects of ibuprofen use on performance and oxidative stress in post-training PP athletes. Methodology: Ten national level PP athletes (age: 27.13 ± 5.57) were analyzed for oxidative stress in post-training. The study was carried out in three weeks, (1) familiarization and (2 and 3) evaluated the recovery with the use of a placebo (PLA) and ibuprofen (IBU), 800 mg. The Peak Torque (PT), Torque Development Rate (TDR), Fatigue Index (FI), reactive substances to thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) and sulfhydryl groups (SH) were evaluated. The training consisted of five sets of five repetitions (80–90%) 1-Repetition Maximum (1-RM) in the bench press. Results: The IBU showed a higher PT (24 and 48 h, p = 0.04, ɳ2 p = 0.39), a lower FI (24 h, p = 0.01, ɳ2p = 0.74) and an increased lymphocyte count (p < 0.001; ɳ2p = 4.36). There was no change in oxidative stress. Conclusions: The use of IBU provided improvements in strength and did not protect against oxidative stress.
Bisphenol A Induces Accelerated Cell Aging in Murine Endothelium
Authors: Moreno-Gómez-Toledano Rafael , Sánchez-Esteban Sandra , Cook Alberto , Mínguez-Moratinos Marta , Ramírez-Carracedo Rafael , Reventún Paula , Delgado-Marín María , Bosch Ricardo J. , Saura Marta
Published: September 2021

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widespread endocrine disruptor affecting many organs and systems. Previous work in our laboratory demonstrated that BPA could induce death due to necroptosis in murine aortic endothelial cells (MAECs). This work aims to evaluate the possible involvement of BPA-induced senescence mechanisms in endothelial cells. The β-Gal assays showed interesting differences in cell senescence at relatively low doses (100 nM and 5 µM). Western blots confirmed that proteins involved in senescence mechanisms, p16 and p21, were overexpressed in the presence of BPA. In addition, the UPR (unfolding protein response) system, which is part of the senescent phenotype, was also explored by Western blot and qPCR, confirming the involvement of the PERK-ATF4-CHOP pathway (related to pathological processes). The endothelium of mice treated with BPA showed an evident increase in the expression of the proteins p16, p21, and CHOP, confirming the results observed in cells. Our results demonstrate that oxidative stress induced by BPA leads to UPR activation and senescence since pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in BPA-treated cells reduced the percentage of senescent cells prevented the overexpression of proteins related to BPA-induced senescence and reduced the activation of the UPR system. The results suggest that BPA participates actively in accelerated cell aging mechanisms, affecting the vascular endothelium and promoting cardiovascular diseases.
Sequential Dynamics of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase-1(SCD1)/Ligand Binding and Unbinding Mechanism: A Computational Study
Authors: Petroff Anna B. , Weir Rebecca L. , Yates Charles R. , Ng Joseph D. , Baudry Jerome
Published: September 2021

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1 or delta-9 desaturase, D9D) is a key metabolic protein that modulates cellular inflammation and stress, but overactivity of SCD1 is associated with diseases, including cancer and metabolic syndrome. This transmembrane endoplasmic reticulum protein converts saturated fatty acids into monounsaturated fatty acids, primarily stearoyl-CoA into oleoyl-CoA, which are critical products for energy metabolism and membrane composition. The present computational molecular dynamics study characterizes the molecular dynamics of SCD1 with substrate, product, and as an apoprotein. The modeling of SCD1:fatty acid interactions suggests that: (1) SCD1:CoA moiety interactions open the substrate-binding tunnel, (2) SCD1 stabilizes a substrate conformation favorable for desaturation, and (3) SCD1:product interactions result in an opening of the tunnel, possibly allowing product exit into the surrounding membrane. Together, these results describe a highly dynamic series of SCD1 conformations resulting from the enzyme:cofactor:substrate interplay that inform drug-discovery efforts.
Cardiovascular Benefits from Gliflozins: Effects on Endothelial Function
Authors: Salvatore Teresa , Caturano Alfredo , Galiero Raffaele , Di Martino Anna , Albanese Gaetana , Vetrano Erica , Sardu Celestino , Marfella Raffaele , Rinaldi Luca , Sasso Ferdinando Carlo
Published: September 2021

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a known independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and solid epidemiological evidence points to heart failure (HF) as one of the most common complications of diabetes. For this reason, it is imperative to consider the prevention of CV outcomes as an effective goal for the management of diabetic patients, as important as lowering blood glucose. Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is an early event of atherosclerosis involving adhesion molecules, chemokines, and leucocytes to enhance low-density lipoprotein oxidation, platelet activation, and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. This abnormal vascular phenotype represents an important risk factor for the genesis of any complication of diabetes, contributing to the pathogenesis of not only macrovascular disease but also microvascular damage. Gliflozins are a novel class of anti-hyperglycemic agents used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that selectively inhibit the sodium glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) in the kidneys and have provoked large interest in scientific community due to their cardiovascular beneficial effects, whose underlying pathophysiology is still not fully understood. This review aimed to analyze the cardiovascular protective mechanisms of SGLT2 inhibition in patients T2DM and their impact on endothelial function.
Early Chronic Kidney Disease (G1-G3a) in Combination with Steatosis as a Predictor of Incident Ischemic Heart Disease: A Longitudinal Study in Non-Diabetic Koreans
Authors: Lee Sung-Bum , Park Byoung-Jin , Lee Yong-Jae , Jung Dong-Hyuk
Published: September 2021

Hepatic steatosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the advanced stages are closely related to cardiovascular diseases. Despite the potential connection between early CKD (G1-G3a) and hepatic steatosis on cardiometabolic risks, few studies have revealed their causal link to ischemic heart disease (IHD). We prospectively investigated the combined effect of CKD in earlier stages and hepatic steatosis on incident IHD risk in large-scale, non-diabetic Koreans. Data were assessed from 16,531 participants without diabetes from the Health Risk Assessment Study (HERAS) and Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) data. We divided the study population into four groups according to the existence of early CKD and hepatic steatosis: controls, early CKD only, hepatic steatosis only, and both early CKD and hepatic steatosis. We prospectively assessed hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for IHD using multivariate Cox proportional-hazard regression models over a 50-month period. During the follow-up period, 326 (2.0%) patients developed IHD. HRs of IHD in the four groups were 1.00 (controls), 1.26 (95% CI 0.72–2.19), 1.19 (95% CI 0.90–1.57) and 1.76 (95% CI 1.04–2.97), respectively, after adjusting for potential confounding variables. Even less than stage 3A, CKD could precede and predict IHD in patients with hepatic steatosis.
CK2 Regulation: Perspectives in 2021
Authors: Roffey Scott E. , Litchfield David W.
Published: September 2021

The protein kinase CK2 (CK2) family encompasses a small number of acidophilic serine/threonine kinases that phosphorylate substrates involved in numerous biological processes including apoptosis, cell proliferation, and the DNA damage response. CK2 has also been implicated in many human malignancies and other disorders including Alzheimer′s and Parkinson’s diseases, and COVID-19. Interestingly, no single mechanism describes how CK2 is regulated, including activation by external proteins or domains, phosphorylation, or dimerization. Furthermore, the kinase has an elongated activation loop that locks the kinase into an active conformation, leading CK2 to be labelled a constitutively active kinase. This presents an interesting paradox that remains unanswered: how can a constitutively active kinase regulate biological processes that require careful control? Here, we highlight a selection of studies where CK2 activity is regulated at the substrate level, and discuss them based on the regulatory mechanism. Overall, this review describes numerous biological processes where CK2 activity is regulated, highlighting how a constitutively active kinase can still control numerous cellular activities. It is also evident that more research is required to fully elucidate the mechanisms that regulate CK2 and what causes aberrant CK2 signaling in disease.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Enhanced Exogenous Mitochondria into Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Further Preserved Heart Function in Rat Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Sung Pei-Hsun , Lee Mel S. , Chai Han-Tan , Chiang John Y. , Li Yi-Chen , Chu Yi-Ching , Huang Chi-Ruei , Yip Hon-Kan
Published: September 2021

This study tested whether extracorporeal shock wave (ECSW) supported-exogenous mitochondria (Mito) into adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) would preserve left-ventricular-ejection-fraction (LVEF) in doxorubicin/12 mg/kg-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) rat. Adult-male-SD rats were equally categorized into group 1 (sham-control), group 2 (DCM), group 3 (DCM + ECSW/1.5 mJ/mm2 for 140 shots/week × 3 times/since day 14 after DCM induction), group 4 (DCM + ECSW/1.5 mJ/mm2/100 shots-assisted mito delivery (500 μg) into ADMSCs/1.2 × 106 cells, then implanted into LV myocardium day 14 after DCM induction) and group 5 (DCM + ECSW-assisted mito delivery into ADMSCs/1.2 × 106 cells, then implanted into LV, followed by ECSW/1.5 mJ/mm2 for 140 shots/week × 3 times/since day 14 after DCM induction) and euthanized by day 49. Microscopic findings showed mitochondria were abundantly enhanced by ECSW into H9C2 cells. The q-PCR showed a significant increase in relative number of mitDNA in mitochondrial-transferred H9C2 cells than in control group (p < 0.01). The angiogenesis/angiogenesis factors (VEGF/SDF-1α/IG-F1) in HUVECs were significantly progressively increased by a stepwise-increased amount of ECSW energy (0.1/0.25/0.35 mJ/mm2) (all p < 0.001). The 49-day LVEF was highest in group 1 and significantly progressively increased from groups 2 to 5 (all p < 0.0001). Cardiomyocyte size/fibrosis exhibited an opposite pattern of LVEF, whereas cellular/protein levels of angiogenesis factors (VEGF/SDF-1α) in myocardium were significantly progressively increased from groups 1 to 5 (all p < 0.0001). The protein expressions of apoptotic/mitochondrial (cleaved-caspase-3/cleaved-PARP/mitochondrial-Bax/cytosolic-cytochrome-C), fibrotic (p-Smad3/TGF-ß), oxidative-stress (NOX-1/NOX-2) and pressure-overload/heart failure (BNP/ß-MHC) biomarkers exhibited an opposite pattern of LVEF among the five groups (all p < 0.0001). ECSW-assisted mitochondrial-delivery into ADMSCs plus ECSW offered an additional benefit for preserving LVEF in DCM rat.
Genome Profiling of H3k4me3 Histone Modification in Human Adipose Tissue during Obesity and Insulin Resistance
Authors: Castellano-Castillo Daniel , Ramos-Molina Bruno , Oliva-Olivera Wilfredo , Ocaña-Wilhelmi Luis , Queipo-Ortuño María Isabel , Cardona Fernando
Published: September 2021

Background: Adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction is involved in obesity-related comorbidities. Epigenetic alterations have been recently associated with AT deterioration in obesity conditions. In this work, we profiled the H3K4me3 histone mark in human AT, with special emphasis on the changes in the pattern of histone modification in obesity and insulin resistance (IR). Visceral AT (VAT) was collected and subjected to chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) using anti-H3K4me3 antibody and then sequenced to obtain the H3K4me3 genome profile. Results: We found that most of the H3K4me3 enriched regions were located in gene promoters of pathways related to AT biology and function. H3K4me3 enrichment at gene promoters was strongly related to higher mRNA levels. Differentially expressed genes in AT of patients classified as non-obese, obese with low IR, and obese with high IR could be regulated by differentially enriched H3K4me3; these genes encoded for pathways that could in part explain AT functioning during obesity and insulin resistance (e.g., extracellular matrix organization, PPARG signaling or inflammation). Conclusions: In conclusion, we emphasize the importance of the epigenetic mark H3K4me3 in VAT dysfunction in obesity and IR. The understanding of such mechanisms could give rise to the development of new epigenetic-based pharmacological strategies to ameliorate obesity-related comorbidities.
Electrosynthesized Poly(o-aminophenol) Films as Biomimetic Coatings for Dopamine Detection on Pt Substrates
Authors: Ciriello Rosanna , Graziano Martina , Bianco Giuliana , Guerrieri Antonio
Published: September 2021

Dopamine (DA) is a neurotransmitter, and its levels in the human body are associated with serious diseases. The need for a suitable detection method in medical practice has encouraged the development of electrochemical sensors that take advantage of DA electroactivity. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are biomimetic materials able to selectively recognize target analytes. A novel MIP sensor for DA is proposed here based on a thin film of poly(o-aminophenol) electrosynthesized on bare Pt. A fast and easy method for executing the procedure for MIP deposition has been developed based on mild experimental conditions that are able to prevent electrode fouling from DA oxidation products. The MIP exhibited a limit of detection of 0.65 μM, and appreciable reproducibility and stability. The high recognition capability of poly(o-aminophenol) towards DA allowed for the achievement of notable selectivity: ascorbic acid, uric acid, serotonin, and tyramine did not interfere with DA detection, even at higher concentrations. The proposed sensor was successfully applied for DA detection in urine samples, showing good recovery.
Learners’ Voices in Inclusive Education Policy Debates
Authors: Mangiaracina Antonella , Kefallinou Anthoula , Kyriazopoulou Mary , Watkins Amanda
Published: September 2021

Although the idea of including learners in policy-making is gaining ground, their voices still seem to be marginalised. This article focuses on the issue of learners’ voices in inclusive education policy debates. It begins by discussing main policy developments, arguments and key issues around learner voice and participation. It then draws on different aspects of work by the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education (the Agency) that has directly involved young people in exchanges with policy-makers and decision-makers responsible for developing and implementing policy for inclusive education. This includes four European “Hearings” (in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015), involving over 300 young people. It also includes workshops with learners in Cyprus and Poland as part of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support Programme activities. In the Agency’s work, learners with a range of learning needs from across Europe shared their views on their right to education (access), their rights in education (learning and participation) and their rights in wider society (achievement). Key messages from learners included the importance of barrier-free schools, raising awareness, changing attitudes and combating stereotypes to support their longer-term social inclusion and ensure they are able to become full citizens in their local communities. Building on these messages, the article concludes with some important considerations for future work and recommends positioning learners as key agents in policy debates for inclusive education.
Satisfaction Levels of Sport Sciences University Students in Online Workshops for Substituting Practice-Oriented Activities during the COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Iuliano Enzo , Mazzilli Massimiliano , Zambelli Stefano , Macaluso Filippo , Raviolo Paolo , Picerno Pietro
Published: September 2021

Laboratory teaching in sport and exercise sciences universities is of fundamental importance as it provides students with the necessary hands-on skills that are indispensable to future kinesiologists. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students in lockdown missed the opportunity to acquire laboratory skills. Here we report the solutions adopted by a blended exercise science Master’s degree program of an online Italian university to ensure didactic continuity in the practice-oriented activities during the period of the COVID-19 lockdown. In order to mitigate this issue, laboratory sessions were replaced with online workshops and students’ satisfaction levels in this regard were investigated in the present study using an online survey conducted on 101 students during lockdown. The survey consisted of 7-point Likert scale items focusing on computer usage (CU), learning satisfaction (LS), social interaction (SI), and perceived value (PV). The analysis of the results revealed a good level of learning satisfaction of the students. Conversely, students perceived a moderate level of social interaction and had a moderate perception that online workshops can enhance their learning abilities. In conclusion, the results of the present study seem to indicate that online workshops can be considered a good and acceptable compromise during an emergency, although face-to-face activities remain the preferable learning delivery modality when dealing with the acquisition of hands-on skills.
Assessment of Riverbed Clogging in Reservoirs by Analysis of Periodic Oscillation of Reservoir Level and Groundwater Level
Authors: Koren Eva , Veselič Miran , Vižintin Goran
Published: September 2021

In the area of the the Krško alluvial field, the Brežice hydroelectric power plant (BHPP), with its surface water reservoir, was completed in 2017. The new BHPP reservoir dam is located approximately 7 km air distance downstream of the old Krško nuclear power plant (NEK) reservoir dam. The NEK dam was built in the 1970s. The primary purpose of the NEK reservoir is to provide fresh water for cooling the NEK nuclear reactor. To assess the impact of the newly built surface water reservoir on groundwater, we performed a series of data analyses prior to its construction. One part of the analysis relating to data from the monitoring facility of the NEK showed an interesting correspondence between the water level oscillation in the NEK reservoir and the groundwater oscillation in the nearby observation well. Based on measurements taken in 2000, we sought to estimate the clogging of the Sava riverbed sediments in the area of the old NEK surface water reservoir. To determine the permeability of the riverbed sediments, we applied geometry similar to that chosen by Hantush for his pumping test method. Using Fourier analysis, we determined the dominant frequencies from the hydrograph records of the NEK surface water reservoir and from the pressure probe in the nearby observation well. Based on the determination of the dominant frequency, we used the wave equation to compare the influence of different values of the hydraulic transmissivity of the clogged part of the NEK surface water reservoir on the transfer of its water oscillations to the groundwater in the observation well. For the hydraulic values of the non-clogged part of the aquifer (T, S), we assumed the values from the pumping experiments performed in the alluvial aquifer of Krško polje. We also assumed that the aquifer is homogeneous and isotropic, as Hantush had assumed in his method for the determination of semipervious river beds. The results obtained indicated the potential for estimation of the thickness of the clogging layer which, by analogy from applied geophysics, can be called the apparent thickness. This meant that the thickness could be determined on the basis of the default conceptual model rather than on real measurements. The presented method shows the potential for using the analysis of periodic oscillations in river reservoir level and nearby piezometers, as a method of monitoring riverbed clogging, in cases where periodical oscillations in reservoir level occur and observation wells are near enough to detect the oscillations.
Concentrating Solar Power Advances in Geometric Optics, Materials and System Integration
Authors: Arnaoutakis Georgios E. , Katsaprakakis Dimitris Al.
Published: September 2021

In this paper, the technological advances in concentrating solar power are reviewed. A comprehensive system approach within this scope is attempted to include advances of highly specialized developments in all aspects of the technology. Advances in geometric optics for enhancement in solar concentration and temperature are reviewed along with receiver configurations for efficient heat transfer. Advances in sensible and latent heat storage materials, as well as development in thermochemical processes, are also reviewed in conjunction with efficient system integration as well as alternative energy generation technologies. This comprehensive approach aims in highlighting promising concentrating solar power components for further development and wider solar energy utilization.