bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Training Intervention through a 360° Multisource Feedback Model
Authors: Sureda Elena , Chacón-Moscoso Salvador , Sanduvete-Chaves Susana , Sesé Albert
Published: August 2021

Physicians and other health sciences professionals need continuous training, not only in technical aspects of their activity but also in nontechnical, transversal competencies with a cost-efficient impact on the proper functioning of healthcare. The objective of this paper is to analyze the behavioral change among health professionals at a large public hospital following a training intervention on a set of core nontechnical competencies: Teamwork, Adaptability-Flexibility, Commitment-Engagement, Results Orientation, and Leadership Skills for Supervisors. The 360° Multisource Feedback (MSF) model was applied using three sources of information: supervisors, co-workers, and the workers themselves (self-assessment). A quasi-experimental pretest–post-test single-group design with two points in time was utilized. The training intervention improved the scores of only one of the trained competencies—the “Results Orientation” competency—although the scores were slightly inflated. Moreover, significant discrepancies were detected between the three sources, with supervisors awarding the highest scores. The magnitude of behavioral change was related to certain sociodemographic and organizational variables. The study was not immune to the ceiling effect, despite control measures aimed at avoiding it. The empirical evidence suggests that the 360° MSF model must be maintained over time to enhance and reinforce an evaluation culture for better patient care.
Developing the Healthy and Competitive Organization in the Sports Environment: Focused on the Relationships between Organizational Justice, Empowerment and Job Performance
Authors: Kim Suk-Kyu , Jeong Yunduk
Published: August 2021

As improving the job performance of employees is becoming increasingly significant for organizational growth, a major challenge for organizational development managers is to understand and explore the important antecedents of job performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the structural relationships between organizational justice, empowerment, and job performance in the South Korean professional sports industry. Recently, many professional sports teams in South Korea have attempted to improve employees’ job performance for the future survival of the teams. The research participants were 371 employees affiliated with 40 male professional sports teams. The validity and reliability of the measures involved were investigated by carrying out confirmatory factor, Cronbach’s alpha, and correlation analyses. A structural equation-modeling test with a maximum likelihood estimation was performed to evaluate the structural relationships between distributive justice, procedural justice, interactional justice, empowerment and job performance, and the mediating effects of empowerment. The findings revealed the positive impacts of (a) distributive justice on empowerment, (b) procedural justice on empowerment, (c) interactional justice on empowerment, (d) procedural justice on job performance, and (e) interactional justice on job performance. Furthermore, empowerment fully mediated the relationship between interactional justice and job performance. These findings highlight the importance of increasing organizational justice and empowering employees when managing professional sports organizations.
Effects of Intended Scapular Posterior Tilt Motion on Trapezius Muscle Electromyography Activity
Authors: Kim Soo-Yong , Yu Il-Young , Oh Jae-Seop , Kang Min-Hyeok
Published: August 2021

The intended scapular motion is a strategy to strengthen the lower trapezius (LT). However, few studies have explored the effects of the intended scapular posterior tilt motion on selective LT activation. Thus, the present study investigated the effect of the intended scapular posterior tilt on the electromyography (EMG) activity of trapezius muscles during prone shoulder horizontal abduction (PSHA). Eighteen asymptomatic men performed three types of PSHA: (1) preferred PSHA, (2) PSHA with the intended scapular posterior tilt, and (3) PSHA with the intended scapular posterior tilt and trunk extension. EMG activity of the upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), and LT were measured during PSHAs. Scapular posterior tilt angle, with and without the intended scapular posterior tilt, were measured using inclinometer. The results indicated that LT muscle activity increased when scapular posterior tilt was applied with and without trunk extension (14–16%), compared to the preferred condition, during PSHA (p < 0.05). However, the addition of trunk extension to PSHA with the intended scapular posterior tilt increased the UT muscle activity (28%) and the UT/LT (29%) and UT/MT (31%) ratios (p < 0.05). The scapular posterior tilt angle was higher (15%) when applying the intended scapular posterior tilt (p = 0.020). These findings suggest that the intended scapular posterior tilt may be a useful strategy for selective LT muscle activation.
Work-Related Injuries Reported toWorkers Compensation Fund in Tanzania from 2016 to 2019
Authors: Shewiyo Brenda S. , Mwanga Hussein H. , Mrema Ezra J. , Mamuya Simon H.
Published: August 2021

Quality data on the magnitude and determinants of work-related injuries is an important element in the development of appropriate preventative strategies. However, there have been many challenges in obtaining quality information on work-related injuries in the developing countries. This archival study based on the data from workers’ compensation registry from the year 2016 to 2019 aimed at determining trends and factors associated with work-related injuries (WRI). Data from 4578 WRI claims reported to Workers Compensation Fund (WCF) in Tanzania were analyzed. As expected, this new workers’ compensation system had increasing participation from inception in 2016 through 2019, resulting in increasing numbers of fatal and non-fatal work-related claims. Motor traffic accidents, machine faults and falls were the most reported causes of WRI. Males had more than 2-fold increased odds of sustaining fatal injuries compared to females. More than 6-fold increased odds of fatal injuries were observed for injuries occurring during conveyance. Explosions, motor traffic accidents, and falls were more likely to result into fatal injuries. Increased odds of fatal injuries were observed in workers from transportation and storage sector; information and technology; construction and building; and electricity, gas, and steam sectors, as well as among teachers, drivers, office workers, and security guards. The current study offers some insights regarding trends and associated factors that are vital in planning and implementation of appropriate preventative strategies for work-related injuries in Tanzania.
The Use of PPGIS: Towards Reaching a Meaningful Public Participation in Spatial Planning
Authors: Bąkowska-Waldmann Edyta , Kaczmarek Tomasz
Published: August 2021

Together with technological innovations and the development of a digital society, PPGIS approaches have been rapidly growing popular in the last years, in Poland’s local administration. Local governments take significant interest in online tools; however the principles of public participation, which, in fact, should also be applied to e-consultations, are still missing. One of the assumed roles of PPGIS is to support public participation—not just in terms of the number of stakeholders, but especially in terms of the impact on decision making. The present paper discusses the results of investigations into two decision-making processes, regarding local spatial planning in the Poznań agglomeration, Poland, conducted in 2015–2021. Its aim is to verify the hypothesis that the use of PPGIS facilitates more meaningful involvement of citizens in spatial planning. As a result of the case study analysis, in-depth interviews with local authorities and officials, and analysis of the planning documents and the role of PPGIS in public participation in decision making, was investigated. It was shown that in both processes there was no direct participation of society in decision making. However, the use of PPGIS, according to local authorities, had implications in the context of the wider process of local governance.
An Efficient 2.5D Shadow Detection Algorithm for Urban Planning and Design Using a Tensor Based Approach
Authors: Bhattacharya Sukriti , Braun Christian , Leopold Ulrich
Published: August 2021

Urbanization is leading us to a more chaotic state where healthy living becomes a prime concern. The high-rise buildings influence the urban setting with a high shadow rate on surroundings that can have no positive impact on the general neighborhood. Nevertheless, shadows are the main factor of defeatist virtual settings, they are expensive to render in real-time. This paper investigates how the amount of sunlight varies by season and how seasons can indicate the time of year to understand how shadows vary in length at different times of the day and how they change over the seasons. We propose a novel efficient (fast and scalable) algorithm to calculate a 2.5D cast-shadow map from a given LiDAR-derived Digital Surface Model (DSM). We present a proof-of-concept demonstration to examine the technical practicability of the introduced algorithm. Tensor-based techniques such as singular value decomposition, tensor unfolding are examined and deployed to represent the multidimensional data. The proposed method exploits horizon mapping ideas and extends the method to a modern graphics algorithm (Bresenham’s line drawing algorithm) to account for the DSM’s underlying surface geometry. A proof-of-concept is developed utilizing Python’s TensorFlow library, exploring data flow graphs and the tensor data structure. The heavy computer graphics algorithm used in this paper is parallelized using PySpark. Results explicate significant enhancements in overall performance while preserving accuracy at negligible variations.
NOP53 Suppresses Autophagy through ZKSCAN3-Dependent and -Independent Pathways
Authors: Cho Young-Eun , Kim Yong-Jun , Lee Sun , Park Jae-Hoon
Published: August 2021

Autophagy is an evolutionally conserved process that recycles aged or damaged intracellular components through a lysosome-dependent pathway. Although this multistep process is propagated in the cytoplasm by the orchestrated activity of the mTOR complex, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and a set of autophagy-related proteins (ATGs), recent investigations have suggested that autophagy is tightly regulated by nuclear events. Thus, it is conceivable that the nucleolus, as a stress-sensing and -responding intranuclear organelle, plays a role in autophagy regulation, but much is unknown concerning the nucleolar controls in autophagy. In this report, we show a novel nucleolar–cytoplasmic axis that regulates the cytoplasmic autophagy process: nucleolar protein NOP53 regulates the autophagic flux through two divergent pathways, the ZKSCAN3-dependent and -independent pathways. In the ZKSCAN3-dependent pathway, NOP53 transcriptionally activates a master autophagy suppressor ZKSCAN3, thereby inhibiting MAP1LC3B/LC3B induction and autophagy propagation. In the ZKSCAN3-independent pathway, NOP53 physically interacts with histone H3 to dephosphorylate S10 of H3, which, in turn, transcriptionally downregulates the ATG7 and ATG12 expressions. Our results identify nucleolar protein NOP53 as an upstream regulator of the autophagy process.
Exploring the Role of Skeletal Muscle in Insulin Resistance: Lessons from Cultured Cells to Animal Models
Authors: Feraco Alessandra , Gorini Stefania , Armani Andrea , Camajani Elisabetta , Rizzo Manfredi , Caprio Massimiliano
Published: August 2021

Skeletal muscle is essential to maintain vital functions such as movement, breathing, and thermogenesis, and it is now recognized as an endocrine organ. Muscles release factors named myokines, which can regulate several physiological processes. Moreover, skeletal muscle is particularly important in maintaining body homeostasis, since it is responsible for more than 75% of all insulin-mediated glucose disposal. Alterations of skeletal muscle differentiation and function, with subsequent dysfunctional expression and secretion of myokines, play a key role in the pathogenesis of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases, finally leading to cardiometabolic complications. Hence, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating skeletal muscle function related to energy metabolism is critical for novel strategies to treat and prevent insulin resistance and its cardiometabolic complications. This review will be focused on both cellular and animal models currently available for exploring skeletal muscle metabolism and endocrine function.
Expression Analysis of MaTGA8 Transcription Factor in Banana and Its Defence Functional Analysis by Overexpression in Arabidopsis
Authors: Lin Ping , Dong Tao , Chen Wenliang , Zou Niexia , Chen Yinglong , Li Yuqing , Chen Kelin , Wang Mingyuan , Liu Jianfu
Published: August 2021

TGA transcription factor is a member of the D subfamily of the basic region-leucine zippers (bZIP) family. It is a type of transcription factor that was first identified in plants and is the main regulator in plant development and physiological processes, including morphogenesis and seed formation in response to abiotic and biotic stress and maintaining plant growth. The present study examined the sequence of the MaTGA8 transcription factor, the sequence of which belonged to subfamily D of the bZIP and had multiple cis-acting elements such as the G-box, TCA-element, TGACG-element, and P-box. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses showed that MaTGA8 was significantly down-regulated by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4 (Foc TR4). Under the induction of salicylic acid (SA), MaTGA8 was down-regulated, while different members of the MaNPR1 family responded significantly differently. Among them, MaNPR11 and MaNPR3 showed an overall upward trend, and the expression level of MaNPR4, MaNPR8, and MaNPR13 was higher than other members. MaTGA8 is a nuclear-localized transcription factor through strong interaction with MaNPR11 or weaker interaction with MaNPR4, and it is implied that the MaPR gene can be activated. In addition, the MaTGA8 transgenic Arabidopsis has obvious disease resistance and higher chlorophyll content than the wild-type Arabidopsis with the infection of Foc TR4. These results indicate that MaTGA8 may enhance the resistance of bananas to Foc TR4 by interacting with MaNPR11 or MaNPR4. This study provides a basis for further research on the application of banana TGA transcription factors in Foc TR4 stress and disease resistance and molecular breeding programs.
Design and Characterization of a Cell-Penetrating Peptide Derived from the SOX2 Transcription Factor
Authors: Gandhi Neha S. , Wang Edina , Sorolla Anabel , Kan Yu Jie , Malik Adil , Batra Jyotsna , Young Kimberly A. , Tie Wan Jun , Blancafort Pilar , Mancera Ricardo L.
Published: August 2021

SOX2 is an oncogenic transcription factor overexpressed in nearly half of the basal-like triple-negative breast cancers associated with very poor outcomes. Targeting and inhibiting SOX2 is clinically relevant as high SOX2 mRNA levels are positively correlated with decreased overall survival and progression-free survival in patients affected with breast cancer. Given its key role as a master regulator of cell proliferation, SOX2 represents an important scaffold for the engineering of dominant-negative synthetic DNA-binding domains (DBDs) that act by blocking or interfering with the oncogenic activity of the endogenous transcription factor in cancer cells. We have synthesized an interference peptide (iPep) encompassing a truncated 24 amino acid long C-terminus of SOX2 containing a potential SOX-specific nuclear localization sequence, and the determinants of the binding of SOX2 to the DNA and to its transcription factor binding partners. We found that the resulting peptide (SOX2-iPep) possessed intrinsic cell penetration and promising nuclear localization into breast cancer cells, and decreased cellular proliferation of SOX2 overexpressing cell lines. The novel SOX2-iPep was found to exhibit a random coil conformation predominantly in solution. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to characterize the interactions of both the SOX2 transcription factor and the SOX2-iPep with FGF4-enhancer DNA in the presence of the POU domain of the partner transcription factor OCT4. Predictions of the free energy of binding revealed that the iPep largely retained the binding affinity for DNA of parental SOX2. This work will enable the future engineering of novel dominant interference peptides to transport different therapeutic cargo molecules such as anti-cancer drugs into cells.
Protective, Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activity of Grapefruit IntegroPectin on SH-SY5Y Cells
Authors: Nuzzo Domenico , Scordino Miriana , Scurria Antonino , Giardina Costanza , Giordano Francesco , Meneguzzo Francesco , Mudò Giuseppa , Pagliaro Mario , Picone Pasquale , Attanzio Alessandro , Raimondo Stefania , Ciriminna Rosaria , Di Liberto Valentina
Published: August 2021

Tested in vitro on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, grapefruit IntegroPectin is a powerful protective, antioxidant and antiproliferative agent. The strong antioxidant properties of this new citrus pectin, and its ability to preserve mitochondrial membrane potential and morphology, severely impaired in neurodegenerative disorders, make it an attractive therapeutic and preventive agent for the treatment of oxidative stress-associated brain disorders. Similarly, the ability of this pectic polymer rich in RG-I regions, as well as in naringin, linalool, linalool oxide and limonene adsorbed at the outer surface, to inhibit cell proliferation or even kill, at high doses, neoplastic cells may have opened up new therapeutic strategies in cancer research. In order to take full advantage of its vast therapeutic and preventive potential, detailed studies of the molecular mechanism involved in the antiproliferative and neuroprotective of this IntegroPectin are urgently needed.
Key Enzymes Involved in the Synthesis of Hops Phytochemical Compounds: From Structure, Functions to Applications
Authors: Hong Kai , Wang Limin , Johnpaul Agbaka , Lv Chenyan , Ma Changwei
Published: August 2021

Humulus lupulus L. is an essential source of aroma compounds, hop bitter acids, and xanthohumol derivatives mainly exploited as flavourings in beer brewing and with demonstrated potential for the treatment of certain diseases. To acquire a comprehensive understanding of the biosynthesis of these compounds, the primary enzymes involved in the three major pathways of hops’ phytochemical composition are herein critically summarized. Hops’ phytochemical components impart bitterness, aroma, and antioxidant activity to beers. The biosynthesis pathways have been extensively studied and enzymes play essential roles in the processes. Here, we introduced the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of hop bitter acids, monoterpenes and xanthohumol derivatives, including the branched-chain aminotransferase (BCAT), branched-chain keto-acid dehydrogenase (BCKDH), carboxyl CoA ligase (CCL), valerophenone synthase (VPS), prenyltransferase (PT), 1-deoxyxylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS), 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (HDR), Geranyl diphosphate synthase (GPPS), monoterpene synthase enzymes (MTS), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), chalcone synthase (CHS_H1), chalcone isomerase (CHI)-like proteins (CHIL), and O-methyltransferase (OMT1). Furthermore, research advancements of each enzyme in terms of reaction conditions, substrate recognition, enzyme structures, and use in engineered microbes are described in depth. Hence, an extensive review of the key enzymes involved in the phytochemical compounds of hops will provide fundamentals for their applications in beer production.
Long-Term Hypoxia Maintains a State of Dedifferentiation and Enhanced Stemness in Fetal Cardiovascular Progenitor Cells
Authors: Knox Cole , Camberos Victor , Ceja Lourdes , Monteon Andrea , Hughes Lorelei , Longo Lawrence , Kearns-Jonker Mary
Published: August 2021

Early-stage mammalian embryos survive within a low oxygen tension environment and develop into fully functional, healthy organisms despite this hypoxic stress. This suggests that hypoxia plays a regulative role in fetal development that influences cell mobilization, differentiation, proliferation, and survival. The long-term hypoxic environment is sustained throughout gestation. Elucidation of the mechanisms by which cardiovascular stem cells survive and thrive under hypoxic conditions would benefit cell-based therapies where stem cell survival is limited in the hypoxic environment of the infarcted heart. The current study addressed the impact of long-term hypoxia on fetal Islet-1+ cardiovascular progenitor cell clones, which were isolated from sheep housed at high altitude. The cells were then cultured in vitro in 1% oxygen and compared with control Islet-1+ cardiovascular progenitor cells maintained at 21% oxygen. RT-PCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, and migration assays evaluated adaptation to long term hypoxia in terms of survival, proliferation, and signaling. Non-canonical Wnt, Notch, AKT, HIF-2α and Yap1 transcripts were induced by hypoxia. The hypoxic niche environment regulates these signaling pathways to sustain the dedifferentiation and survival of fetal cardiovascular progenitor cells.
Drebrin Regulates Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering and Organization of Microtubules at the Postsynaptic Machinery
Authors: Alvarez-Suarez Paloma , Nowak Natalia , Protasiuk-Filipunas Anna , Yamazaki Hiroyuki , Prószyński Tomasz J. , Gawor Marta
Published: August 2021

Proper muscle function depends on the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), which mature postnatally to complex “pretzel-like” structures, allowing for effective synaptic transmission. Postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at NMJs are anchored in the actin cytoskeleton and clustered by the scaffold protein rapsyn, recruiting various actin-organizing proteins. Mechanisms driving the maturation of the postsynaptic machinery and regulating rapsyn interactions with the cytoskeleton are still poorly understood. Drebrin is an actin and microtubule cross-linker essential for the functioning of the synapses in the brain, but its role at NMJs remains elusive. We used immunohistochemistry, RNA interference, drebrin inhibitor 3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl pyrazole (BTP2) and co-immunopreciptation to explore the role of this protein at the postsynaptic machinery. We identify drebrin as a postsynaptic protein colocalizing with the AChRs both in vitro and in vivo. We also show that drebrin is enriched at synaptic podosomes. Downregulation of drebrin or blocking its interaction with actin in cultured myotubes impairs the organization of AChR clusters and the cluster-associated microtubule network. Finally, we demonstrate that drebrin interacts with rapsyn and a drebrin interactor, plus-end-tracking protein EB3. Our results reveal an interplay between drebrin and cluster-stabilizing machinery involving rapsyn, actin cytoskeleton, and microtubules.
High-Payload Buccal Delivery System of Amorphous Curcumin–Chitosan Nanoparticle Complex in Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose and Starch Films
Authors: Lim Li Ming , Hadinoto Kunn
Published: August 2021

Oral delivery of curcumin (CUR) has limited effectiveness due to CUR’s poor systemic bioavailability caused by its first-pass metabolism and low solubility. Buccal delivery of CUR nanoparticles can address the poor bioavailability issue by virtue of avoidance of first-pass metabolism and solubility enhancement afforded by CUR nanoparticles. Buccal film delivery of drug nanoparticles, nevertheless, has been limited to low drug payload. Herein, we evaluated the feasibilities of three mucoadhesive polysaccharides, i.e., hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), starch, and hydroxypropyl starch as buccal films of amorphous CUR–chitosan nanoplex at high CUR payload. Both HPMC and starch films could accommodate high CUR payload without adverse effects on the films’ characteristics. Starch films exhibited far superior CUR release profiles at high CUR payload as the faster disintegration time of starch films lowered the precipitation propensity of the highly supersaturated CUR concentration generated by the nanoplex. Compared to unmodified starch, hydroxypropyl starch films exhibited superior CUR release, with sustained release of nearly 100% of the CUR payload in 4 h. Hydroxypropyl starch films also exhibited good payload uniformity, minimal weight/thickness variations, high folding endurance, and good long-term storage stability. The present results established hydroxypropyl starch as the suitable mucoadhesive polysaccharide for high-payload buccal film applications.
Expression and Regulation of CD73 during the Estrous Cycle in Mouse Uterus
Authors: Lee Jihyun , Park Haeun , Moon Sohyeon , Do Jeong-Tae , Hong Kwonho , Choi Youngsok
Published: August 2021

Cluster of differentiation 73 (CD73, also known as ecto-5′-nucleotidase) is an enzyme that converts AMP into adenosine. CD73 is a surface enzyme bound to the outside of the plasma membrane expressed in several cells and regulates immunity and inflammation. In particular, it is known to inhibit T cell-mediated immune responses. However, the regulation of CD73 expression by hormones in the uterus is not yet clearly known. In this study, we investigated the expression of CD73 in ovariectomized mice treated with estrogen or progesterone and its regulation in the mouse uterus during the estrous cycle. The level of CD73 expression was dynamically regulated in the uterus during the estrous cycle. CD73 protein expression was high in proestrus, estrus, and diestrus, whereas it was relatively low in the metestrus stage. Immunofluorescence revealed that CD73 was predominantly expressed in the cytoplasm of the luminal and glandular epithelium and the stroma of the endometrium. The expression of CD73 in ovariectomized mice was gradually increased by progesterone treatment. However, estrogen injection did not affect its expression. Moreover, CD73 expression was increased when estrogen and progesterone were co-administered and was inhibited by the pretreatment of the progesterone receptor antagonist RU486. These findings suggest that the expression of CD73 is dynamically regulated by estrogen and progesterone in the uterine environment, and that there may be a synergistic effect of estrogen and progesterone.
Influence of Vitamin D on the Vasoactive Effect of Estradiol in a Rat Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Tarszabó Róbert , Bányai Bálint , Ruisanchez Éva , Péterffy Borbála , Korsós-Novák Ágnes , Lajtai Krisztina , Sziva Réka Eszter , Gerszi Dóra , Hosszú Ádám , Benkő Rita , Benyó Zoltán , Horváth Eszter Mária , Masszi Gabriella , Várbíró Szabolcs
Published: August 2021

We examined the vasoactive effect of estradiol in a rat model of early PCOS and the influence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD). We created a model of chronic hyperandrogenism and VDD in adolescent female Wistar rats (N = 46) with four experimental groups: vitamin D supplemented (T-D+), VDD (T-D-), hyperandrogenic and vitamin D supplemented (T+D+), and hyperandrogenic and VDD (T+D-). T+ groups received an 8-week-long transdermal Androgel treatment, D-animals were on vitamin D-reduced diet and D+ rats were supplemented orally with vitamin D3. Estrogen-induced vasorelaxation of thoracic aorta segments were measured with a wire myograph system with or without the inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) or cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The distribution of estrogen receptor (ER), eNOS and COX-2 in the aortic wall was assessed by immunohistochemistry. VDD aortas showed significantly lower estradiol-induced relaxation independently of androgenic status that was further decreased by COX-2 inhibition. COX-2 inhibition failed to alter vessel function in D+ rats. Inhibition of eNOS abolished the estradiol-induced relaxation in all groups. Changes in vascular function in VDD were accompanied by significantly decreased ER and eNOS staining. Short-term chronic hyperandrogenism failed to, but VDD induced vascular dysfunction, compromised estrogen-dependent vasodilatation and changes in ER and eNOS immunostaining.
The Multi-Elemental Composition of the Aqueous Humor of Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery, Suffering from Coexisting Diabetes, Hypertension, or Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Flieger Jolanta , Dolar-Szczasny Joanna , Rejdak Robert , Majerek Dariusz , Tatarczak-Michalewska Małgorzata , Proch Jędrzej , Blicharska Eliza , Flieger Wojciech , Baj Jacek , Niedzielski Przemysław
Published: August 2021

The aim of the study was the multi-elemental analysis of aqueous humor (AH) collected from patients undergoing cataract surgery. The study included: 16 patients with age-related macular degeneration AMD (99 controls), 10 patients with retinopathy (105 controls), 61 patients with hypertension (54 controls), and 33 patients with coexisting diabetes (82 controls). The control groups were recruited from patients with a lack of co-existing disease characterizing the specified studied group. The measurements were performed by the use of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The statistical analysis was carried out using non-parametric testing (Mann–Whitney U). The level of significance was set at p = 0.05. The data obtained revealed substantial variations in elemental composition between the test groups in comparison to the controls. However, the significant variations concerned only a few elements. The phosphorous (P) level and the ratio of P/Ca were significant in retinopathy and diabetes, whereas cobalt (0.091 ± 0.107 mg/L vs. 0.031 ± 0.075 mg/L; p = 0.004) was significant in AMD. In co-existing hypertension, the levels of tin (0.293 ± 0.409 mg/L vs. 0.152 ± 0.3 mg/L; p = 0.031), titanium (0.096 ± 0.059 mg/L vs. 0.152 ± 0.192 mg/L; p = 0.045), and ruthenium (0.035 ± 0.109 mg/L vs. 0.002 ± 0.007 mg/L; p = 0.006) varied in comparison to the controls. The study revealed inter-elemental interactions. The correlation matrices demonstrated the domination of the positive correlations, whereas negative correlations mainly concerned sodium.
Peripheral Blood-Based Biomarkers for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Authors: An Ho Jung , Chon Hong Jae , Kim Chan
Published: August 2021

As cancer immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is rapidly evolving in clinical practice, it is necessary to identify biomarkers that will allow the selection of cancer patients who will benefit most or least from ICIs and to longitudinally monitor patients’ immune responses during treatment. Various peripheral blood-based immune biomarkers are being identified with recent advances in high-throughput multiplexed analytical technologies. The identification of these biomarkers, which can be easily detected in blood samples using non-invasive and repeatable methods, will contribute to overcoming the limitations of previously used tissue-based biomarkers. Here, we discuss the potential of circulating immune cells, soluble immune and inflammatory molecules, circulating tumor cells and DNA, exosomes, and the blood-based tumor mutational burden, as biomarkers for the prediction of immune responses and clinical benefit from ICI treatment in patients with advanced cancer.
Role of RNA Motifs in RNA Interaction with Membrane Lipid Rafts: Implications for Therapeutic Applications of Exosomal RNAs
Authors: Mańka Rafał , Janas Pawel , Sapoń Karolina , Janas Teresa , Janas Tadeusz
Published: August 2021

RNA motifs may promote interactions with exosomes (EXO-motifs) and lipid rafts (RAFT-motifs) that are enriched in exosomal membranes. These interactions can promote selective RNA loading into exosomes. We quantified the affinity between RNA aptamers containing various EXO- and RAFT-motifs and membrane lipid rafts in a liposome model of exosomes by determining the dissociation constants. Analysis of the secondary structure of RNA molecules provided data about the possible location of EXO- and RAFT-motifs within the RNA structure. The affinity of RNAs containing RAFT-motifs (UUGU, UCCC, CUCC, CCCU) and some EXO-motifs (CCCU, UCCU) to rafted liposomes is higher in comparison to aptamers without these motifs, suggesting direct RNA-exosome interaction. We have confirmed these results through the determination of the dissociation constant values of exosome-RNA aptamer complexes. RNAs containing EXO-motifs GGAG or UGAG have substantially lower affinity to lipid rafts, suggesting indirect RNA-exosome interaction via RNA binding proteins. Bioinformatics analysis revealed RNA aptamers containing both raft- and miRNA-binding motifs and involvement of raft-binding motifs UCCCU and CUCCC. A strategy is proposed for using functional RNA aptamers (fRNAa) containing both RAFT-motif and a therapeutic motif (e.g., miRNA inhibitor) to selectively introduce RNAs into exosomes for fRNAa delivery to target cells for personalized therapy.
Recent Progress Regarding the Molecular Aspects of Insect Gall Formation
Authors: Takeda Seiji , Hirano Tomoko , Ohshima Issei , Sato Masa H.
Published: August 2021

Galls are characteristic plant structures formed by cell size enlargement and/or cell proliferation induced by parasitic or pathogenic organisms. Insects are a major inducer of galls, and insect galls can occur on plant leaves, stems, floral buds, flowers, fruits, or roots. Many of these exhibit unique shapes, providing shelter and nutrients to insects. To form unique gall structures, gall-inducing insects are believed to secrete certain effector molecules and hijack host developmental programs. However, the molecular mechanisms of insect gall induction and development remain largely unknown due to the difficulties associated with the study of non-model plants in the wild. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing have allowed us to determine the biological processes in non-model organisms, including gall-inducing insects and their host plants. In this review, we first summarize the adaptive significance of galls for insects and plants. Thereafter, we summarize recent progress regarding the molecular aspects of insect gall formation.
Fast, Efficient and Flexible Particle Accelerator Optimisation Using Densely Connected and Invertible Neural Networks
Authors: Bellotti Renato , Boiger Romana , Adelmann Andreas
Published: August 2021

Particle accelerators are enabling tools for scientific exploration and discovery in various disciplines. However, finding optimised operation points for these complex machines is a challenging task due to the large number of parameters involved and the underlying non-linear dynamics. Here, we introduce two families of data-driven surrogate models, based on deep and invertible neural networks, that can replace the expensive physics computer models. These models are employed in multi-objective optimisations to find Pareto optimal operation points for two fundamentally different types of particle accelerators. Our approach reduces the time-to-solution for a multi-objective accelerator optimisation up to a factor of 640 and the computational cost up to 98%. The framework established here should pave the way for future online and real-time multi-objective optimisation of particle accelerators.
What Constitutes Fairness in Games? A Case Study with Scrabble
Authors: Aung Htun Pa Pa , Khalid Mohd Nor Akmal , Iida Hiroyuki
Published: August 2021

The compensation system called komi has been used in scoring games such as Go. In Go, White (the second player) is at a disadvantage because Black gets to move first, giving that player an advantage; indeed, the winning percentage for Black is higher. The perceived value of komi has been re-evaluated over the years to maintain fairness. However, this implies that this static komi is not a sufficiently sophisticated solution. We leveraged existing komi methods in Go to study the evolution of fairness in board games and to generalize the concept of fairness in other contexts. This work revisits the notion of fairness and proposes the concept of dynamic komi Scrabble. We introduce two approaches, static and dynamic komi, in Scrabble to mitigate the advantage of initiative (AoI) issue and to improve fairness. We found that implementing the dynamic komi made the game attractive and provided direct real-time feedback, which is useful for the training of novice players and maintaining fairness for skilled players. A possible interpretation of physics-in-mind is also discussed for enhancing game refinement theory concerning fairness in games.
Demographics and Personality Discovery on Social Media: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Tuomchomtam Sarach , Soonthornphisaj Nuanwan
Published: August 2021

This research proposes a new feature extraction algorithm using aggregated user engagements on social media in order to achieve demographics and personality discovery tasks. Our proposed framework can discover seven essential attributes, including gender identity, age group, residential area, education level, political affiliation, religious belief, and personality type. Multiple feature sets are developed, including comment text, community activity, and hybrid features. Various machine learning algorithms are explored, such as support vector machines, random forest, multi-layer perceptron, and naïve Bayes. An empirical analysis is performed on various aspects, including correctness, robustness, training time, and the class imbalance problem. We obtained the highest prediction performance by using our proposed feature extraction algorithm. The result on personality type prediction was 87.18%. For the demographic attribute prediction task, our feature sets also outperformed the baseline at 98.1% for residential area, 94.7% for education level, 92.1% for gender identity, 91.5% for political affiliation, 60.6% for religious belief, and 52.0% for the age group. Moreover, this paper provides the guideline for the choice of classifiers with appropriate feature sets.
Decoding Methods in Neural Language Generation: A Survey
Authors: Zarrieß Sina , Voigt Henrik , Schüz Simeon
Published: August 2021

Neural encoder-decoder models for language generation can be trained to predict words directly from linguistic or non-linguistic inputs. When generating with these so-called end-to-end models, however, the NLG system needs an additional decoding procedure that determines the output sequence, given the infinite search space over potential sequences that could be generated with the given vocabulary. This survey paper provides an overview of the different ways of implementing decoding on top of neural network-based generation models. Research into decoding has become a real trend in the area of neural language generation, and numerous recent papers have shown that the choice of decoding method has a considerable impact on the quality and various linguistic properties of the generation output of a neural NLG system. This survey aims to contribute to a more systematic understanding of decoding methods across different areas of neural NLG. We group the reviewed methods with respect to the broad type of objective that they optimize in the generation of the sequence—likelihood, diversity, and task-specific linguistic constraints or goals—and discuss their respective strengths and weaknesses.
A New Look at Cultivar Preference in Hoplocampa testudinea (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) on Apple in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada
Authors: Blatt Suzanne , Hiltz Kim
Published: August 2021

(1) Background: The European apple sawfly, Hoplocampa testudinea Klug (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), can be an economically important pest in eastern Canada and shows preference for apple cultivars in Nova Scotia, Canada. We hypothesized that this preference could be due to oviposition by female H. testudinea (preference-performance hypothesis) during the bloom period or differential larval survival during development due to fruitlet physicochemical properties. (2) Methods: Fifteen commercial and experimental apple (Malusdomestica Borkh.; Rosaceae) cultivars located at the Kentville Research and Development Centre (Kentville, Nova Scotia) were chosen and examined for H. testudinea oviposition, larval performance during fruitlet development, fruitlet physicochemical properties and damage assessment at harvest from 2016–2019, inclusive. (3) Results: H. testudinea showed significant cultivar preference during oviposition, during development and at harvest, but the ranking of these cultivars was not the same throughout the season. Total impact by H. testudinea was consistent for most cultivars over multiple years of the study. (4) Conclusion: Correlation of oviposition with damage provided weak evidence for the preference-performance hypothesis. We propose that this relationship is weak due to differential survival of larvae during development.
Effect of Horticultural Mineral Oil on Huanglongbing Transmission by Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) Population in a Commercial Citrus Orchard in Sarawak, Malaysia, Northern Borneo
Authors: Leong Sui S. , Leong Stephen C. T. , Beattie George Andrew Charles
Published: August 2021

Diaphorina citri Kuwayama transmits a destructive citrus disease caused by a fastidious bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) designated as Huanglongbing (HLB) which posed a risk of detrimental threat to the Malaysian citrus industry. All D. citri life stages show a lumped habit on young flushes and its population fluctuations was closely related to accessibility of young flushes. The study aimed to investigate if the appearance of young flush shoots on citrus influences ACP population fluctuation and if horticultural mineral oil (HMO) could reduce spread of HLB transmission by ACP in a commercial healthy orchard. Field research was carried out from 1 April 2011 to 1 December 2014 in a 2-year-old 1 ha citrus farm that consisted of 200 PCR-certified disease-free grafted non-bearing honey tangerine (Citrus reticulata L.) in southwestern Sarawak, Malaysia. The experiment had two treatments namely control (unsprayed) and nC24 HMO with four replications arranged in a simple randomized block design. ACP eggs, nymphs, and adults per flush shoot was assessed and HLB incidence was monitored for visual inspection of the citrus trees for the current existence of usual signs of characteristic symptoms of HLB such as yellowing shoots, leaf mottling, and corky or enlarged veins on leaves. HLB-specific primer was employed in 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction to detect the CLas gene in diseased trees. Increase in abundance of D. citri is mainly affected by the citrus flushing cycles and their life stages are completed on these flush shoots. Relative degree of aggregation index for D. citri adults increased during periods of cyclic production of new flush. HMO-treated plots produced a significantly lower percentage up to 11.43% of diseased trees against 42.20% in untreated control plots. HMO is effective against D. citri and recommended to be incorporated in the IPM program to prevent infection and reduce the spread of HLB.
Antenna Cleaning Is Essential for Precise Behavioral Response to Alarm Pheromone and Nestmate–Non-Nestmate Discrimination in Japanese Carpenter Ants (Camponotus japonicus)
Authors: Mizutani Hitomi , Tagai Kazuhiro , Habe Shunya , Takaku Yasuharu , Uebi Tatsuya , Kimura Toshifumi , Hariyama Takahiko , Ozaki Mamiko
Published: August 2021

Self-grooming of the antennae is frequently observed in ants. This antennal maintenance behavior is presumed to be essential for effective chemical communication but, to our knowledge, this has not yet been well studied. When we removed the antenna-cleaning apparatuses of the Japanese carpenter ant (C. japonicus) to limit the self-grooming of the antennae, the worker ants demonstrated the self-grooming gesture as usual, but the antennal surface could not be sufficiently cleaned. By using scanning electron microscopy with NanoSuit, we observed the ants’ antennae for up to 48 h and found that the antennal surfaces gradually became covered with self-secreted surface material. Concurrently, the self-grooming-limited workers gradually lost their behavioral responsiveness to undecane—the alarm pheromone. Indeed, their locomotive response to the alarm pheromone diminished for up to 24 h after the antenna cleaner removal operation. In addition, the self-grooming-limited workers exhibited less frequent aggressive behavior toward non-nestmate workers, and 36 h after the operation, approximately half of the encountered non-nestmate workers were accepted as nestmates. These results suggest that the antennal sensing system is affected by excess surface material; hence, their proper function is prevented until they are cleaned.
Blunt Chest Trauma in Polytraumatized Patients: Predictive Factors for Urgent Thoracotomy
Authors: Stolberg-Stolberg Josef , Katthagen Jan Christoph , Hillemeyer Thomas , Wiebe Karsten , Koeppe Jeanette , Raschke Michael J.
Published: August 2021

Purpose: Current guidelines on urgent thoracotomy of polytraumatized patients are based on data from perforating chest injuries. We aimed to identify predictive factors for urgent thoracotomy after chest-tube placement for blunt chest trauma in a civilian setting. Methods: Polytraumatized patients (Injury Severity Score ≥16) with blunt chest trauma, submitted to a level I trauma centre during a period of 12 years that received at least one chest tube were included. Trauma mechanism, chest-tube output, haemoglobin values, need for cellular blood products, coagulopathies, rib fracture pattern, thoracotomy, and mortality were retrospectively analysed. Results: 235 polytraumatized patients were included. Patients that received urgent thoracotomy (UT, n = 10) showed a higher mean chest-tube output within 24 h with a median (Mdn) of 3865 (IQR 2423–5156) mL compared to the group with no additional thoracic surgery (NT, n = 225) with Mdn 185 (IQR 50–463) mL (p < 0.001). The cut-off 24-h chest-tube output value for recommended thoracotomy was 1270 mL (ROC-Curve). UT showed an initial haemoglobin of Mdn 11.7 (IQR 9.2–14.3) g/dL and an INR value of Mdn 1.27 (IQR 1.11–1.69) as opposed to Mdn 12.3 (IQR 10–13.9) g/dL and Mdn 1.13 (IQR 1.05–1.34) in NT (haemoglobin: p = 0.786; INR: p = 0.215). There was an average number of 7.1(±3.4) rib fractures in UT and 6.7(±4.8) in NT (p = 0.649). Conclusions: Chest-tube output remains the single most important predictive factor for urgent thoracotomy also after blunt chest trauma. Patients with a chest-tube output of more than 1300 mL within 24 h after trauma should be considered for transfer to a level I trauma centre with standby thoracic surgery.
Sclerotherapy on Demand with Polidocanol to Treat HHT Nosebleeds
Authors: Marcos Sol , Botella Luisa María , Albiñana Virginia , Arbia Agustina , de Rosales Anna María
Published: August 2021

Epistaxis is the most prevalent clinical symptom in Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), causing anaemia and decreasing the quality of life (QOL). Since 2013, in Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, more than 150 HHT patients have been treated by nose sclerotherapy on demand. This study shows the results of 105 patients treated with sclerotherapy between 2017 and 2019. HHT-ESS (epistaxis severity score) was used to measure the severity and frequency of epistaxis. QOL was determined before and after treatment by EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) on the health condition. According to HHT-ESS before treatment, 22 patients presented mild, 35 moderate, and 47 severe epistaxes. Sclerotherapy significantly decreased the frequency and severity of epistaxis, with a significant drop of HHT-ESS in 4.6 points, from 6.23 ± 2.3 to 1.64 ± 1.6. Furthermore, the QOL significantly improved, the EQ-5D scale raised from 0.7 ± 0.26 pre- to 0.92 ± 0.16 post-treatment (p < 0.05). Additionally, VAS mean value showed a significant increase from 4.38 ± 2.4 to 8.35 ± 1.2. The QOL improvement was correlated with the ESS decrease. In conclusion, this study shows that on-demand sclerotherapy at the office significantly reduces HHT epistaxis as well as improved the patients’ QOL.