bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Curcumin as an Adjuvant to Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Paul Silpita , Sa Gaurisankar
Published: August 2021

The components of the immune system play a very sincere and crucial role in combating tumors. However, despite their firm efforts of elimination, tumor cells cleverly escape the surveillance process by adopting several immune evasion mechanisms. The conversion of immunogenicity of tumor microenvironment into tolerogenic is considered as a prime reason for tumor immune escape. Therapeutically, different immunotherapies have been adopted to block such immune escaping routes along with better clinical outcomes. Still, the therapies are haunted by several drawbacks. Over time, curcumin has been considered as a potential anti-cancer molecule. Its potentialities have been recorded against the standard hallmarks of cancer such as continuous proliferation, escaping apoptosis, continuous angiogenesis, insensitivity to growth inhibitors, tissue invasion, and metastasis. Hence, the diversity of curcumin functioning has already been established and exploration of its application with immunotherapies might open up a new avenue for scientists and clinicians. In this review, we briefly discuss the tumor’s way of immune escaping, followed by various modern immunotherapies that have been used to encounter the escaping paths and their minute flaws. Finally, the conclusion has been drawn with the application of curcumin as a potential immune-adjuvant, which fearlessly could be used with immunotherapies for best outcomes.
Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Clinical Characteristics in Patients With Lung Cancer: A Large Single-Centre Retrospective Study
Authors: Zhang Yu , Li Jie , Li Zhi-Ke , Yang Xiyue , Bai Jie , Liu Lihua , Dai Tangzhi , Feng Gang , Li Qiu , Du Xiaobo
Published: August 2021

Lung cancer is the most common cancer malignancy worldwide. With the continuous spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) globally, it is of great significance to explore the impact of this disease on the clinical characteristics of lung cancer. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic had any influence on the clinical characteristics and diagnosis of patients with lung cancer. We collected clinical and demographic data of patients who were newly diagnosed with lung cancer at our hospital between February 2019 and July 2020. Overall, 387 patients with lung cancer were divided into two groups for analysis: epidemic group (from February to July 2020) and pre-epidemic group (from February to July 2019). The source of diagnosis and clinical characteristics of the two groups were analysed. T-test and Mann-Whitney U were used for continuous variables, and Chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variable. We found that during the epidemic period, 110 cases of lung cancer were incidentally diagnosed during COVID-19 screening, accounting for 47.6% of all newly diagnosed lung cancer cases at our hospital. The proportions of patients who were diagnosed based on symptoms and physical examination in the epidemic group were 34.2 and 18.2%, respectively, while that in the pre-epidemic group were 41.7 and 58.3%, respectively. There was significant difference in the source of diagnosis between the two groups. In a subgroup analysis of the epidemic group, the average tumour volume of the patients diagnosed with COVID-19 screening was significantly smaller than that of the patients diagnosed with symptoms and physical examination. In conclusion, the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic may impact the screening and clinical characteristics of lung cancer and require large-scale and longer-term observation.
Chronic Stress Activates PlexinA1/VEGFR2-JAK2-STAT3 in Vascular Endothelial Cells to Promote Angiogenesis
Authors: Lu YanJie , Zhao HanZheng , Liu Ying , Zuo YanZhen , Xu Qian , Liu Lei , Li XiaoMin , Zhu HongBin , Zhang Ying , Zhang Shuling , Zhao XiangYang , Li YuHong
Published: August 2021

It is known that chronic stress modulates multiple processes in a complex microenvironment, such as angiogenesis and immune function. However, the role of chronic stress inducing tumor angiogenesis and how it contributes to tumor progression are not quite clear. The following study assess psychological state from numerous ambulatory cancer cases (n=332), and chronic stress-related hormone levels were further measured. Here, we show that chronic stress not only causes behavioral changes in human, most importantly attributed to an elevated level of stress-related hormones. To address this, isoprenaline, the agonist of β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR), was utilized for simulating chronic stress and demonstrating the mechanism of stress in tumor angiogenesis at molecular level both in vivo and in vitro. As suggested by this study, isoprenaline promote VEGF autocrine of HUVECs, which can induce plexinA1 and VEGFR2 expression. Moreover, we show that isoprenaline promoted the expression of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 in vitro. The results reveal that, isoprenaline enhances the autocrine of VEGF in HUVECs and up-regulating plexinA1 and VEGFR2 levels, thus activating the phosphorylation of JAK2-STAT3 pathway, the two essential parts during angiogenesis. The present work indicates that, the mechanism of chronic stress in enhancing angiogenesis is probably achieved through activating the plexinA1/VEGFR2-JAK2-STAT3 signal transduction pathway within HUVECs, and this is probably a candidate target for developing a strategy against angiogenesis in cancer.
Case Report: A Case of Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency, Type III Presenting With Impaired Platelet Function, Lymphocytosis and Granulocytosis
Authors: Yahya Amal M. , AlMulla Asia A. , AlRufaye Haydar J. , Al Dhaheri Ahmed , Elomami Abdulghani S. , Al-Hammadi Suleiman , Kailas Lalitha , Vijayan Ranjit , Souid Abdul-Kader
Published: August 2021

Fermitin family homolog 3 (FERMT3), alternatively kindlin-3 (KIND3), is an integrin binding protein (of 667 residues) encoded by the FERMT3 gene. The molecule is essential for activating integrin αIIbβ3 (the fibrinogen receptor) on platelets and for the integrin-mediated hematopoietic cell (including platelets, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and granulocytes) adhesion. Its defects are associated with impaired primary hemostasis, described as “Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (MIM#273800)-like bleeding problem.” The defects are also associated with infections, designated as “LAD1 (leukocyte adhesion deficiency, type I; MIM#116920)-like immune deficiency.” The entity that joins the impaired primary hemostasis with the leukocyte malfunction has been termed “leukocyte adhesion deficiency, type III” (LAD3, autosomal recessive, MIM#612840), representing a defective activation of the integrins β1, β2, and β3 on leukocytes and platelets. Here, we report a male toddler with novel compound heterozygous variants, NM_178443.2(FERMT3):c.1800G>A, p.Trp600* (a non-sense variant) and NM_178443.2(FERMT3):c.2001del p.*668Glufs*106 (a non-stop variant). His umbilical cord separated at about 3 weeks of age. A skin rash (mainly petechiae and purpura) and recurrent episodes of severe epistaxis required blood transfusions in early infancy. His hemostatic work-up was remarkable for a normal platelet count, but abnormal platelet function screen with markedly prolonged collagen-epinephrine and collagen-ADP closure times. The impaired platelet function was associated with reduced platelet aggregation with all agonists. The expression of platelet receptors was normal. Other remarkable findings were persistent lymphocytosis and granulocytosis, representing defects in diapedesis due to the integrin dysfunction. The natural history of his condition, structure and sequence analysis of the variations, and comparison with other LAD3 cases reported in the literature are presented.
FM-CATH, A Novel Cathelicidin From Fejervarya Multistriata, Shows Therapeutic Potential for Treatment of CLP-Induced Sepsis
Authors: Wu Jiena , Zhang Haiyun , Chen Xiaoxin , Chai Jinwei , Hu Yunrui , Xiong Weichen , Lu Wancheng , Tian Maolin , Chen Xin , Xu Xueqing
Published: August 2021

Sepsis is an exacerbated inflammatory reaction induced by severe infection. As important defensive molecules in innate immunity, several AMPs are reported to prevent septic shock. In this study, we characterized a novel cathelicidin, FM-CATH, from the frog skin of F. multistriata. FM-CATH was found to adopt an amphipathic α-helix structural in membrane-mimetic environments and possess favorable antimicrobial effects against bacteria and fungus. In addition, it triggered the agglutination of bacteria. It could also strongly bind to LPS and LTA. Additionally, FM-CATH affected the enzymatic activities of thrombin, plasmin, β-tryptase, and tPA, leading to coagulation inhibition in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we observed that FM-CATH improved survival rate and inhibited pathological alteration, bacterial count, serum biochemistry, and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in the cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis mice. Taken together, these findings suggest that FM-CATH might be served as a promising agent for the treatment of sepsis.
Effect of Sterile Neutrino on Low-Energy Processes in Minimal Extended Seesaw With Δ(96) Symmetry and TM1 Mixing
Authors: Gautam Nayana , Krishnan R. , Das Mrinal Kumar
Published: August 2021

We study the effect of sterile neutrino on some low-scale processes in the framework of the minimal extended seesaw (MES). MES is the extension of the seesaw mechanism with the addition of sterile neutrino of intermediate mass. The MES model in this work is based on Δ(96) ×C2×C3flavor symmetry. The structures of mass matrices in the framework lead toTM1mixing withμ–τsymmetry. The model predicts the maximal value of the Dirac CP phase. We carry out our analysis to study the new physics contributions from the sterile neutrino to different charged lepton flavor violation (cLFV) processes involving muon and tau leptons as well as neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ). The model predicts normal ordering (NO) of neutrino masses, and we perform the numerical analysis considering normal ordering (NO) only. We find that a heavy sterile neutrino can lead to cLFV processes that are within the reach of current and planned experiments. The sterile neutrino present in our model is consistent with the current limits on the effective neutrino mass set by 0νββexperiments.
Epithelial Bone Morphogenic Protein 2 and 4 Are Indispensable for Tooth Development
Authors: Mu Haibin , Liu Xin , Geng Shuoshuo , Su Dian , Chang Heran , Li Lili , Jin Han , Wang Xiumei , Li Ying , Zhang Bin , Xie Xiaohua
Published: August 2021

The Bmp2 and Bmp4 expressed in root mesenchyme were essential for the patterning and cellular differentiation of tooth root. The role of the epithelium-derived Bmps in tooth root development, however, had not been reported. In this study, we found that the double abrogation of Bmp2 and Bmp4 from mouse epithelium caused short root anomaly (SRA). The K14-cre;Bmp2f/f;Bmp4f/f mice exhibited a persistent Hertwig’s Epithelial Root Sheath (HERS) with the reduced cell death, and the down-regulated BMP-Smad4 and Erk signaling pathways. Moreover, the Shh expression in the HERS, the Shh-Gli1 signaling, and Nfic expression in the root mesenchyme of the K14-cre;Bmp2f/f;Bmp4f/f mice were also decreased, indicating a disrupted epithelium- mesenchyme interaction between HERS and root mesenchyme. Such disruption suppressed the Osx and Dspp expression in the root mesenchyme, indicating an impairment on the differentiation and maturation of root odontoblasts. The impaired differentiation and maturation of root odontoblasts could be rescued partially by transgenic Dspp. Therefore, although required in a low dosage and with a functional redundancy, the epithelial Bmp2 and Bmp4 were indispensable for the HERS degeneration, as well as the differentiation and maturation of root mesenchyme.
Network Structure of the Master Clock Is Important for Its Primary Function
Authors: Gu Changgui , Li Jiahui , Zhou Jian , Yang Huijie , Rohling Jos
Published: August 2021

A master clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) regulates the circadian rhythm of physiological and behavioral activities in mammals. The SCN has two main functions in the regulation: an endogenous clock produces the endogenous rhythmic signal in body rhythms, and a calibrator synchronizes the body rhythms to the external light-dark cycle. These two functions have been determined to depend on either the dynamic behaviors of individual neurons or the whole SCN neuronal network. In this review, we first introduce possible network structures for the SCN, as revealed by time series analysis from real experimental data. It was found that the SCN network is heterogeneous and sparse, that is, the average shortest path length is very short, some nodes are hubs with large node degrees but most nodes have small node degrees, and the average node degree of the network is small. Secondly, the effects of the SCN network structure on the SCN function are reviewed based on mathematical models of the SCN network. It was found that robust rhythms with large amplitudes, a high synchronization between SCN neurons and a large entrainment ability exists mainly in small-world and scale-free type networks, but not other types. We conclude that the SCN most probably is an efficient small-world type or scale-free type network, which drives SCN function.
HIIT'ing or MISS'ing the Optimal Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of High- Versus Moderate-Intensity Exercise Prescription
Authors: Richards Cory T. , Meah Victoria L. , James Philip E. , Rees D. Aled , Lord Rachel N.
Published: August 2021

Introduction: Polycystic Ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic disorder associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Exercise is an effective treatment strategy to manage symptoms and reduce long-term health risk. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been suggested as a more efficient exercise mode in PCOS; however, it is not clear whether HIIT is superior to moderate intensity steady state exercise (MISS).

Methods: We synthesized available data through a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness of isolated HIIT and MISS exercise interventions. Our primary outcome measures were cardiorespiratory fitness and insulin resistance, measured using V˙O2max and HOMA-IR respectively.

Results: A total of 16 studies were included. Moderate-quality evidence from 16 studies identified significant improvements in V˙O2max following MISS (Δ = 1.081 ml/kg/min, p < 0.001, n = 194), but not HIIT (Δ = 0.641 ml/kg/min, p = 0.128, n = 28). Neither HIIT nor MISS improved HOMA-IR [(Δ = −0.257, p = 0.374, n = 60) and (Δ = −0.341, p = 0.078, n = 159), respectively].

Discussion: A significant improvement in V˙O2max was evident following MISS, but not HIIT exercise in women with PCOS. This contrasts with previous literature in healthy and clinical cohorts that report superior benefits of HIIT. Therefore, based on available moderate-quality evidence, HIIT exercise does not provide superior outcomes in V˙O2max compared with MISS, although larger high-quality interventions are needed to fully address this. Additional dietary/pharmacological interventions may be required in conjunction with exercise to improve insulin sensitivity.
Fine-Tuning Florigen Increases Field Yield Through Improving Photosynthesis in Soybean
Authors: Xu Kun , Zhang Xiao-Mei , Chen Haifeng , Zhang Chanjuan , Zhu Jinlong , Cheng Zhiyuan , Huang Penghui , Zhou Xinan , Miao Yuchen , Feng Xianzhong , Fu Yong-Fu
Published: August 2021

Crop yield has been maintaining its attraction for researchers because of the demand of global population growth. Mutation of flowering activators, such as florigen, increases plant biomass at the expense of later flowering, which prevents crop maturity in the field. As a result, it is difficult to apply flowering activators in agriculture production. Here, we developed a strategy to utilize florigen to significantly improve soybean yield in the field. Through the screening of transgenic lines of RNAi-silenced florigen homologs in soybean (Glycine-max-Flowering Locus T Like, GmFTL), we identified a line, GmFTL-RNAi#1, with minor changes in both GmFTL expression and flowering time but with notable increase in soybean yield. As expected, GmFTL-RNAi#1 matured normally in the field and exhibited markedly high yield over multiple locations and years, indicating that it is possible to reach a trade-off between flowering time and high yield through the fine-tuning expression of flowering activators. Further studies uncovered an unknown mechanism by which GmFTL negatively regulates photosynthesis, a substantial source of crop yield, demonstrating a novel function of florigen. Thus, because of the highly conserved functions of florigen in plants and the classical RNAi approach, the findings provide a promising strategy to harness early flowering genes to improve crop yield.
Examining Working Memory Performance in Adult Psychosomatic Inpatients
Authors: Held Judith , Ramadani Laura , Vîslă Andreea , Köllner Volker , Hilpert Peter , Flückiger Christoph
Published: August 2021

Background

There is cumulating evidence that working memory (WM) processing is impaired in individuals suffering from a psychosomatic and a psychological disorder. However, it is unclear how repetitive negative thinking (RNT), depressive symptoms, and patient characteristics (i.e., age and incapability to work) contribute to WM impairments. The present study examines how these factors affect WM performance in highly distressed adult psychosomatic inpatients.

Methods

Seventy-six inpatients (Mage = 52.7, SD = 8.4) from a psychosomatic rehabilitation clinic performed a two-block WM updating task, with accuracy and reaction time as indicators of WM functioning.

Results

Multivariate mixed effect model results show that accuracy and reaction time significantly decreased from WM Block 1 to WM Block 2. Higher levels of RNT, more severe depressive symptoms and higher age were associated with worse WM accuracy in Block 1. None of these variables were significantly associated with WM reaction time (in Block 1).

Conclusion

From a clinical perspective, the results suggest that screening for the presence of high RNT levels, severe depressive symptoms or higher age may help to identify patients with impaired WM functioning and to intervene on these important patient characteristics early in the rehabilitation process.
Prevalence and Factors Associated With Burnout of Frontline Healthcare Workers in Fighting Against the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From China
Authors: Zhang Xin , Wang Jiahui , Hao Yanhua , Wu Ke , Jiao Mingli , Liang Libo , Gao Lijun , Ning Ning , Kang Zheng , Shan Linghan , He Wenfeng , Wang Yongchen , Wu Qunhong , Yin Wenqiang
Published: August 2021

Objectives

The sudden outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) plunged healthcare workers (HCWs) into warfare. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of burnout and the factors associated with it among frontline HCWs fighting COVID-19.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among frontline HCWs fighting against the COVID-19 in Wuhan, Harbin, and Shenzhen during the period from February 18 to March 4. Finally, HCWs were recruited using cluster sampling, 1,163 HCWs were included in the final analysis. Burnout was measured using a 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory scale (MBI scale).

Results

Of the participants, 48.6% suffered from burnout, and 21.8% showed a high degree of burnout. Doctors (b = 3.954, P = 0.011) and nurses (b = 3.067, P = 0.042) showed higher emotional exhaustion (EE) than administrators. Participants who worked continuously for more than 8 h a day (b = 3.392, P = 0.000), those who were unable to eat three regular daily meals (b = 2.225, P = 0.008), whose daily water intake was no more than 800 ml (b = 3.007, P = 0.000), who slept for no more than 6 h (b = 1.609, P = 0.036), and who were infected or had colleagues who were infected with COVID-19 (b = 4.182, P = 0.000) experienced much higher levels of EE, while those who could adhere to infection control procedures (b = −5.992, P = 0.000), who were satisfied with their hospital’s infection control measures(b = −3.709, P = 0.001), and who could receive sufficient psychological crisis intervention (b = −1.588, P = 0.039) reported lower levels of EE.

Conclusion

The study reveals that burnout is prevalent among frontline HCWs and that the known factors associated with burnout, such as workload, and the factors directly associated with COVID-19, such as having insufficient protection, can affect burnout symptoms in frontline HCWs. Synergized and comprehensive interventions should be targeted at reducing its occurrence among frontline HCWs fighting COVID-19.
Utilizing Instagram Data to Identify Usage Patterns Associated With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Hänsel Katrin , Lin Inna Wanyin , Sobolev Michael , Muscat Whitney , Yum-Chan Sabrina , De Choudhury Munmun , Kane John M. , Birnbaum Michael L.
Published: August 2021

Background and Objectives:Prior research has successfully identified linguistic and behavioral patterns associated with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) from user generated social media activity. Few studies, however, have explored the potential for image analysis to inform psychiatric care for individuals with SSD. Given the popularity of image-based platforms, such as Instagram, investigating user generated image data could further strengthen associations between social media activity and behavioral health.

Methods:We collected 11,947 Instagram posts across 68 participants (mean age = 23.6; 59% male) with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD;n= 34) and healthy volunteers (HV;n= 34). We extracted image features including color composition, aspect ratio, and number of faces depicted. Additionally, we considered social connections and behavioral features. We explored differences in usage patterns between SSD and HV participants.

Results:Individuals with SSD posted images with lower saturation (p= 0.033) and lower colorfulness (p= 0.005) compared to HVs, as well as images showing fewer faces on average (SSD= 1.5,HV= 2.4,p< 0.001). Further, individuals with SSD demonstrated a lower ratio of followers to following compared to HV participants (p= 0.025).

Conclusion:Differences in uploaded images and user activity on Instagram were identified in individuals with SSD. These differences highlight potential digital biomarkers of SSD from Instagram data.
“This Is Something That Changed My Life”: A Qualitative Study of Patients' Experiences in a Clinical Trial of Ketamine Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorders
Authors: Mollaahmetoglu O. Merve , Keeler Johanna , Ashbullby Katherine J. , Ketzitzidou-Argyri Eirini , Grabski Meryem , Morgan Celia J. A.
Published: August 2021

Background: The therapeutic benefits of ketamine have been demonstrated for a variety of psychiatric disorders. However, the role of ketamine induced psychoactive experiences in mediating the therapeutic effects is unclear. Despite the growing quantitative research on the efficacy of ketamine treatment, very few studies examined participant experiences of ketamine infusions in a treatment setting.

Aims: The current study aimed to examine participant experiences of ketamine infusions and how these relate to therapeutic mechanisms in a clinical trial setting.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 participants who received up to three ketamine infusions (0.8 mg/kg) as part of a Phase II double blind, randomised controlled trial. The interviews explored participants' acute experiences of ketamine infusions, experiences of psychotherapy/education, and the lasting effects of the trial. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Six key themes were identified. (1) Participants reported multifaceted motivations for trial participation. (2) The set and setting was found to be influential in determining acute ketamine experiences. The acute ketamine experiences included: (3) the inherent contradictions of the experience (e.g., dissociation vs feelings of connection), (4) rapidly fluctuating and changing experiences, (5) meaningful, mystical and spiritual experiences. Finally, the final theme (6) relates to the transformational effects of the infusions and the trial.

Conclusion: Provided in a supportive and professional environment, ketamine treatment led to a significant change in relationship with alcohol. Ketamine induced ego dissolution and dissociation were reported to be related to the transformational effects on relationship with alcohol. The extent to which the acute psychoactive effects of ketamine mediate therapeutic effects on drinking outcomes remain to be investigated in the trial data. The acute effects of ketamine reported by our participants transcend its traditional conceptualisation as a “dissociative anaesthetic”; therefore, we suggest the development or use of new measures alongside ketamine infusions to fully capture the spectrum of these effects which may be crucial in its therapeutic and transformative effects.
A Generation at Risk: The Impacts of Lebanon's Escalating Humanitarian Crisis on Children
Authors: Abouzeid Marian , Halwani Dana A. , Mokdad Ali H. , Habib Rima R.
Published: August 2021

Lebanon is in the midst of a rapidly escalating, unprecedented humanitarian crisis that is plunging the country deep into poverty and threatens population well-being, economic development, social welfare and national and regional stability. The dire situation is due to the compounding effects of the August 2020 Beirut blast, massive economic collapse and the COVID-19 pandemic, in a setting of longstanding entrenched political corruption and a dysfunctional, mismanaged crisis response by the state. This current emergency occurs on the background of a turbulent history and complex regional geopolitical context – including the Syrian refugee crisis, the ongoing influence of foreign actors and their local proxies, the United-States-imposed sanctions, endemic corruption, a culture of nepotism and entitlement among the political dynasties, dysfunctional power-sharing and deep-seated sectarian divides. With over half the population now living in poverty, a generation of children are among those at risk. This Perspective provides a brief overview of Lebanon's current complex humanitarian crisis, discusses the impacts of the evolving situation on youth and proposes a suite of recommendations to mitigate the effects.
ICF Personal Factors Strengthen Commitment to Person-Centered Rehabilitation – A Scoping Review
Authors: Karhula Maarit , Saukkonen Sari , Xiong Essi , Kinnunen Anu , Heiskanen Tuija , Anttila Heidi
Published: August 2021

Background: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) classification is a biopsychosocial frame of reference that contributes to a holistic understanding of the functioning of a client and the factors involved. Personal factors (PFs) are not currently classified in the ICF due to large societal and cultural diversity and lack of clarity in the scope of such factors.

Aims: To ascertain which factors in the ICF classification have been defined as PFs in different studies and what conclusions have been drawn on their role in the ICF classification.

Methods: The study was a scoping review. A systematic search for articles published in 2010–2020 was performed on the Cinahl, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and Sport Discus databases. The PFs specified in the articles were classified according to the seven categories proposed by Geyh et al. socio-demographic factors; position in the immediate social and physical context; personal history and biography; feelings; thoughts and beliefs; motives; and general patterns of experience and behavior.

Results: The search yielded 1,988 studies, of which 226 met the inclusion criteria. The studies had addressed a wide variety of PFs that were linked to all seven categories defined by Geyh et al. Some studies had also defined PFs that were linkable to other components of the ICF or that did not describe functioning. Approximately 22% (51) of the studies discussed the role of PFs in rehabilitation.

Conclusions: The range of PFs in the ICF classification addressed in the reviewed studies is wide. PFs play an important role in rehabilitation. However, according to the reviewed studies, a more precise coding of PFs is not yet warranted.
Authentic Fear Responses in Virtual Reality: A Mobile EEG Study on Affective, Behavioral and Electrophysiological Correlates of Fear
Authors: Kisker Joanna , Lange Leon , Flinkenflügel Kira , Kaup Michael , Labersweiler Nils , Tetenborg Falk , Ott Paula , Gundler Christopher , Gruber Thomas , Osinsky Roman , Schöne Benjamin
Published: August 2021

Fear is an evolutionary adaption to a hazardous environment, linked to numerous complex behavioral responses, e.g., the fight-or-flight response, suiting their respective environment. However, for the sake of experimental control, fear is mainly investigated under rather artificial laboratory conditions. The latter transform these evolutionary adaptions into artificial responses, like keystrokes. The immersive, multidimensional character of virtual reality (VR) enables realistic behavioral responses, overcoming aforementioned limitations. To investigate authentic fear responses from a holistic perspective, participants explored either a negative or a neutral VR cave. To promote real-life behavior, we built a physical replica of the cave, providing haptic sensations. Electrophysiological correlates of fear-related approach and avoidance tendencies, i.e., frontal alpha asymmetries (FAA) were evaluated. To our knowledge, this is the first study to simultaneously capture complex behavior and associated electrophysiological correlates under highly immersive conditions. Participants in the negative condition exhibited a broad spectrum of realistic fear behavior and reported intense negative affect as opposed to participants in the neutral condition. Despite these affective and behavioral differences, the groups could not be distinguished based on the FAAs for the greater part of the cave exploration. Taking the specific behavioral responses into account, the obtained FAAs could not be reconciled with well-known FAA models. Consequently, putting laboratory-based models to the test under realistic conditions shows that they may not unrestrictedly predict realistic behavior. As the VR environment facilitated non-mediated and realistic emotional and behavioral responses, our results demonstrate VR’s high potential to increase the ecological validity of scientific findings (video abstract:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qROsPOp87l4&feature=youtu.be).
Rescue Rangers: How Bacteria Can Support Plants
Authors: Hernández-León Rocío , Tapia-Torres Yunuen
Published: August 2021

Plants, in addition to being very beautiful, provide us with oxygen and food, among other things. In their ecosystems, plants coexist with various types of bacteria, some of which are friendly and others that are the plant’s enemies. Friendly bacteria can help plants grow by helping the plants to obtain nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen, or by defending the plants from other microbes that can make them sick. Our goal in the lab is to find the bacteria that can help plants grow and defend them from enemy attacks, understand how those bacteria work, and join forces with the bacteria to make agricultural plants produce enough food for everyone’s table. In this article, we discuss four bacteria we have identified that can help and defend some plants.
Facial Cartilaginous Reconstruction—A Historical Perspective, State-of-the-Art, and Future Directions
Authors: Jessop Zita M. , Hague Adam , Dobbs Thomas D. , Stewart Kenneth J. , Whitaker Iain S.
Published: August 2021

Importance: Reconstruction of facial deformity poses a significant surgical challenge due to the psychological, functional, and aesthetic importance of this anatomical area. There is a need to provide not only an excellent colour and contour match for skin defects, but also a durable cartilaginous structural replacement for nasal or auricular defects. The purpose of this review is to describe the history of, and state-of-the-art techniques within, facial cartilaginous surgery, whilst highlighting recent advances and future directions for this continually advancing specialty.

Observations: Limitations of synthetic implants for nasal and auricular reconstruction, such as silicone and porous polyethylene, have meant that autologous cartilage tissue for such cases remains the current gold standard. Similarly, tissue engineering approaches using unrelated cells and synthetic scaffolds have shown limited in vivo success. There is increasing recognition that both the intrinsic and extrinsic microenvironment are important for tissue engineering and synthetic scaffolds fail to provide the necessary cues for cartilage matrix secretion.

Conclusions and Relevance: We discuss the first-in-man studies in the context of biomimetic and developmental approaches to engineering durable cartilage for clinical translation. Implementation of engineered autologous tissue into clinical practise could eliminate donor site morbidity and represent the next phase of the facial reconstruction evolution.
A Defined Antigen Skin Test for Diagnosis of Bovine Tuberculosis in Domestic Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)
Authors: Kumar Tarun , Singh Mahavir , Jangir Babu Lal , Arora Devan , Srinivasan Sreenidhi , Bidhan Devender , Yadav Dipin Chander , Veerasami Maroudam , Bakker Douwe , Kapur Vivek , Jindal Naresh
Published: August 2021

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) remains endemic in domestic water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in India and elsewhere, with limited options for control other than testing and slaughter. The prescribed tuberculin skin tests with purified protein derivative (PPD) for diagnosis of bTB preclude the use of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-based vaccination because of the antigenic cross-reactivity of vaccine strains with Mycobacterium bovis and related pathogenic members of the M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC). For the diagnosis of bTB in domestic water buffaloes, we here assessed a recently described defined-antigen skin test (DST) that comprises overlapping peptides representing the ESAT-6, CFP-10 and Rv3615c antigens, present in disease-causing members of the MTBC but missing in BCG strains. The performance characteristics of three doses (5, 10 or 20 μg/peptide) of the DST were assessed in natural tuberculin skin test reactor (n = 11) and non-reactor (n = 35) water buffaloes at an organized dairy farm in Hisar, India, and results were compared with the single intradermal skin test (SIT) using standard bovine tuberculin (PPD-B). The results showed a dose-dependent response of DST in natural reactor water buffaloes, although the SIT induced a significantly greater (P < 0.001) skin test response than the highest dose of DST used. However, using a cut-off of 2 mm or greater, the 5, 10, and 20 μg DST cocktail correctly classified eight, 10 and all 11 of the SIT-positive reactors, respectively, suggesting that the 20 μg DST cocktail has a diagnostic sensitivity (Se) of 1.0 (95% CI: 0.72–1.0) identical to that of the SIT. Importantly, none of the tested DST doses induced any measurable skin induration responses in the 35 SIT-negative animals, suggesting a specificity point estimate of 1.0 (95% CI: 0.9–1.0), also identical to that of the SIT and compares favorably with that of the comparative cervical test (Se = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.55–0.98). Overall, the results suggest that similar to tuberculin, the DST enables sensitive and specific diagnosis of bTB in water buffaloes. Future field trials to explore the utility of DST as a defined antigen replacement for tuberculin in routine surveillance programs and to enable BCG vaccination of water buffaloes are warranted.
Ex vivo Evaluation of the Dynamic Morphometry of the Caudal Cervical Intervertebral Disc Spaces of Small Dogs and Cats
Authors: Knell Sebastian C. , Smolders Lucas A. , Pozzi Antonio
Published: August 2021

The objective of this study was to provide a morphometric description of the caudal cervical intervertebral disc (IVD) spaces of small-breed dogs and cats. Specimens consisting of C4 through C7 from five small-breed dogs and six cats were positioned in neutral, flexion, extension, and lateral bending positions; and CT images were acquired. Height and width of the cranial and caudal vertebral endplates (VEPs), angle between the VEPs (IVD wedge angle), and craniocaudal distance (IVD width) between VEPs for the four loading positions were measured and compared for three segments (C4–C5, C5–C6, and C6–C7). VEP size normalized to body weight from medium-sized dogs was retrieved from a previous study and compared with data from small dogs and cats. A linear mixed model was used to compare outcome measures. Significance was set top< 0.05. VEP size normalized to body weight was the largest in small dogs compared with cats (p= 0.0422) and medium-sized dogs (p= 0.0064). Cats and medium-sized dogs were similar (p= 0.2763) in this regard. Flexion and extension induced a reduction of IVD width in the ventral portion of the IVD and the area of the nucleus. The dorsal part of the IVD remained unchanged throughout loading conditions. Unique morphometric characteristics of the caudal cervical IVD space of small dogs and cats were detected that are different from those described in sizes of dogs (medium-sized) typically affected by caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM). These findings may help to understand the different pathomechanisms in cervical spinal disease between small- and medium-sized dogs, including caudal CSM.
Impact of Strain Variation of Dichelobacter nodosus on Disease Severity and Presence in Sheep Flocks in England
Authors: Monaghan Emma M. , Prosser Naomi S. , Witt Jessica , Lewis Katharine E. , Nabb Elizabeth , Keeling Matt J. , Purdy Kevin J. , Green Laura E.
Published: August 2021

AprV2andaprB2are variants of the apr gene ofDichelobacter nodosus, the cause of footrot in sheep. They are putative markers for severe and mild disease expression. The aim of our study was to investigate the distribution ofaprV2andaprB2in flocks with and without footrot. Our hypotheses were that both strains are present in endemically affected flocks, withaprB2andaprV2associated with mild and virulent phenotypes respectively but thatD. nodosusis not present in flocks without footrot. Alternatively,aprB2persists in flocks without footrot. Despite extensive searching over 3 years only three flocks of sheep without footrot were identified.D. nodosuswas not detected in these three flocks. In one further flock, only mild interdigital dermatitis was observed, and onlyaprB2was detected. Twenty-four flocks with endemic footrot of all severities were sampled on three occasions and all were positive forD. nodosusand theaprV2variant;aprB2was detected in only 11 of these flocks.AprB2was detected as a co-infection withaprV2in the 22% of samples positive foraprB2and was more likely in mild footrot phenotypes than severe.Dichelobacter nodosusserogroups were not associated with footrot phenotype. We conclude thatD. nodosus, evenaprB2strains, do not persist in flocks in the absence of footrot. Our results support the hypothesis thataprB2is associated with mild footrot phenotypes. Finally, we conclude that given the small number of flocks without footrot that were identified, footrot is highly endemic in English sheep flocks.
Effect of Feeding Frequency on Intake, Digestibility, Ingestive Behavior, Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Quality of Male Feedlot Lambs
Authors: Saldanha Rodrigo B. , dos Santos Ana C. P. , Alba Henry D. R. , Rodrigues Carlindo S. , Pina Douglas dos S. , Cirne Luis G. A. , Santos Stefanie A. , Pires Aureliano J. V. , Silva Robério R. , Tosto Manuela S. L. , Bento Silvia C. , Grimaldi Amanda B. , Becker Carly A. , de Carvalho Gleidson G. P.
Published: August 2021

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding frequencies (one, two, three, and four times per day) on the performance of male feedlot lambs. Forty Santa Inês male lambs were used with an average age of 120 days approximately and initial body weight of 24.90 ± 1.8 kg (mean ± S.D.). The lambs were distributed to treatment groups in a completely randomized experimental design, with 10 animals per treatment, placed in individual pens. A standard diet consisted of Tifton-85 hay and concentrate with a ratio of 60:40, respectively. The different feeding frequencies did not influence (p > 0.05) the intake of nutritional components, blood parameters, weight gain, ingestive behavior, carcass characteristics, or meat quality of male feedlot lambs. The feeding frequency of 3 and 4 times per day promoted the highest digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF; p = 0.008) and total digestible nutrients (TDN; p = 0.002). The feeding frequency of 3 times per day promoted the highest digestibility of crude protein (CP; p = 0.005). The time devoted to rumination (min/kg DM) was increased (p = 0.029) when the diet was supplied once a day compared to the other feeding frequencies. Based on these results, the recommended feeding frequency for male feedlot lambs is once a day. When feeding at this frequency, the ingestive behavior, productivity, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of male feedlot lambs will not be compromised.
RNA-Seq-Based Analysis of Cortisol-Induced Differential Gene Expression Associated with Piscirickettsia salmonis Infection in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Myotubes
Authors: Zuloaga Rodrigo , Dettleff Phillip , Bastias-Molina Macarena , Meneses Claudio , Altamirano Claudia , Valdés Juan Antonio , Molina Alfredo
Published: August 2021

Salmonid rickettsial septicemia (SRS) is the major infectious disease of the Chilean salmonid aquaculture industry caused by Piscirickettsia salmonis. Intensive farming conditions generate stress and increased susceptibility to diseases, being skeletal muscle mainly affected. However, the interplay between pathogen infection and stress in muscle is poorly understood. In this study, we perform an RNA-seq analysis on rainbow trout myotubes that are pretreated for 3 h with cortisol (100 ng/mL) and then infected with P. salmonis strain LF-89 for 8 h (MOI 50). Twelve libraries are constructed from RNA samples (n = 3 per group) and sequenced on Illumina HiSeq 4000. A total of 704,979,454 high-quality reads are obtained, with 70.25% mapped against the reference genome. In silico DETs include 175 total genes—124 are upregulated and 51 are downregulated. GO enrichment analysis reveals highly impacted biological processes related to apoptosis, negative regulation of cell proliferation, and innate immune response. These results are validated by RT-qPCR of nine candidate transcripts. Furthermore, cortisol pretreatment significantly stimulated bacterial gene expression of ahpC and 23s compared to infection. In conclusion, for the first time, we describe a transcriptomic response of trout myotubes infected with P. salmonis by inducing apoptosis, downregulating cell proliferation, and intrinsic immune-like response that is differentially regulated by cortisol.
Correlations between Antioxidant and Biochemical Parameters of Blood Serum of Duroc Breed Pigs
Authors: Zaitsev Sergei Yu. , Belous Anna A. , Voronina Oksana A. , Rykov Roman A. , Bogolyubova Nadezhda V.
Published: August 2021

Correlations between the major biochemical (BC) and antioxidant (TAWSA) parameters of pigs’ blood are necessary to study in order to assess physiological–biochemical status (PhBS), animal health, production, etc. Blood samples were obtained from Duroc breed boars (n = 77), divided into groups 1 (n = 25), 2 (n = 40) and 3 (n = 12), which were fattened for 65, 72 and 100 days, respectively. Significant positive and negative correlations were found between TAWSA and BC parameters of pigs’ blood for group 3: very high in the case of total protein (TP) (−0.75) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (−0.79); high in the case of cholesterol (−0.72), glucose (0.66), alkaline phosphatase (0.66), calcium ions (−0.60) and globulins (0.53); moderate in the case of albumins (−0.36), triglycerides (−0.35), magnesium (−0.32) and phosphorus (−0.27). The same was found for group 2: high in the case of TP (0.51); moderate in the case of globulins (0.48), cholesterol (0.33) and phosphates (0.25). The only moderate correlation was found for group 1: magnesium (−0.48), glucose (0.36) and calcium (−0.25). This tendency indicated the stabilization of pig PhBS during growth and fattening, which can be useful for understanding the PhBS and antioxidant features of pigs, the factors of their nutrition, maintenance, etc.
Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Culture on Ruminal Fermentation, Blood Metabolism, and Performance of High-Yield Dairy Cows
Authors: Sun Xiaoge , Wang Yue , Wang Erdan , Zhang Shu , Wang Qianqian , Zhang Yan , Wang Yajing , Cao Zhijun , Yang Hongjian , Wang Wei , Li Shengli
Published: August 2021

High-yield dairy cows with high-concentrate diets are more prone to experiencing health problems associated with rumen microbial imbalance. This study assessed the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture (SC), a food supplement, on ruminal pH, volatile fatty acid (VFA), inflammatory cytokines, and performance of high-yield dairy cows. Forty Holstein cows with similar characteristics (e.g., milk yield, days of milk, and parity) were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group fed the basal ration supplemented with the SC of 100 g of SC per cow per day (hour, SC group), and a control group fed the same basal ration diet without SC (i.e., CON group). On average, the supplementation of SC started at 73 days of lactation. The experimental period lasted approximately 70 days (from 18 January to 27 March 2020), including 10 days for dietary adaptation. Milk yield was recorded daily. Rumen fluid and milk samples were collected after 2 h of feeding in the morning of day 0, 15, 30, and 60. The data showed that rumen pH increased (p < 0.05) when cows were provided with SC. On average, the cows in the SC group produced 1.36 kg (p < 0.05) more milk per day than those in the CON group. Milk fat content of cows in the SC group was also higher (4.11% vs. 3.96%) (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the concentration of acetic acid in the rumen fluid of dairy cows in the SC group was significantly higher (p < 0.05). There were no differences (p > 0.05) found in milk protein content and propionic acid between groups. The SC group had a tendency increase in butyric acid (p = 0.062) and total VFA (p = 0.058). The result showed that SC supplementation also enhanced the ratio between acetic and propionic. Most of the mean inflammatory cytokine (IL-2, IL-6, γ-IFN, and TNF-α) concentrations (p < 0.05) of the SC group were lower than CON group. This study demonstrated that high-yield cows receiving supplemental SC could produce more milk with higher fat content, have higher rumen acetate, and potentially less inflammatory cytokines.