bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
C3 and C4 Grass Species: Who Can Reduce Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions in a Continental Arid Region?
Authors: Ning Jiao , He Xiong Z. , Hou Fujiang
Published: September 2020

In order to relieve grazing pressure, drought-tolerant grass species are widely cultivated in arid regions. However, soil N emission is largely neglected while pursuing forage yield. We carried out a randomized block study to investigate whether and how the C3 and C4 grass species differ in soil N emission in a typical salinized field with temperate continental arid climate in the northwest inland regions, China. We quantified soil N2O flux from two C3 (barley and rye) and two C4 grass species [corngrass and sorghum hybrid sudangrass (SHS)] in fields during the growing season (from May to September) by using the static box method, and then determined the relationships between soil N2O fluxes and forage yield and soil properties. Results show that soil available nitrogen, soil temperature, pH, soil organic carbon, and total nitrogen were correlated, but soil water was anti-correlated with soil N2O fluxes. In addition, N2O flux increased significantly faster with soil temperature in C4 than in C3 grass fields. Although the lower total N2O emission fluxes were detected for C3 species, the lower yield-scaled N2O was detected for C4 species. Our study provided insights into the determination of grass species and the understanding of mechanisms regulating N2O fluxes in C3 and C4 species in the continental arid regions.
Impact of Wnt/β-Catenin Inhibition on Cell Proliferation through CDC25A Downregulation in Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Authors: Martinez-Font Esther , Pérez-Capó Marina , Ramos Rafael , Felipe Irene , Garcías Carmen , Luna Pablo , Terrasa Josefa , Martín-Broto Javier , Vögler Oliver , Alemany Regina , Obrador-Hevia Antònia
Published: September 2020

The Wnt signaling pathway is an important cellular mechanism for regulating differentiation processes as well as cell cycle events, and different inhibitors of this pathway, for example, PRI-724, are showing promising results in clinical trials for treatment of advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma or ovarian cancer. Growing evidence suggests that Wnt signaling may also be crucial for tumorigenesis and progression of soft tissue sarcomas (STS), a malignant neoplasm with few therapeutic options at an advanced state. Our study with several STS cell lines and primary cultures shows that inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling with PRI-724 is able to suppress cell viability/proliferation and to increase cell death rates. TCF/β-catenin-mediated transcriptional activity is decreased in treated cells, leading to downregulation of its target genes CCND1 and CDC25A. The latter was critical because its downregulation via siRNA was able to mimic the effect of PRI-724 on cell cycle arrest and cell death induction. An evaluation of NCBI/GenBank data confirmed that CDC25A mRNA is elevated in STS patients. Importantly, PRI-724 in combination with standard STS chemotherapeutics doxorubicin or trabectedin enhanced their antitumoral effect in a synergistic manner according to isobolographic analysis, suggesting that Wnt inhibition through PRI-724 could be a beneficial combination regime in patients with advanced STS.
Treatment of Metastatic Uveal Melanoma: Systematic Review
Authors: Rodriguez-Vidal Cristina , Fernandez-Diaz Daniel , Fernandez-Marta Beatriz , Lago-Baameiro Nerea , Pardo María , Silva Paula , Paniagua Laura , Blanco-Teijeiro María José , Piñeiro Antonio , Bande Manuel
Published: September 2020

Introduction: More than 50% of patients with uveal melanoma end up developing metastases. Currently, there is no standard first-line treatment that facilitates proper management of the metastatic disease. Methods: A systematic review of the last 40 years in PubMed with an exhaustive and strict selection of studies was conducted, in which the unit of measurement was overall survival (OS) expressed in Kaplan–Meier curves or numerically. Results: After the selection process, 110 articles were included. Regional therapies, such as intra-arterial liver chemotherapy (OS: 2, 9–22 months), isolated liver perfusion (OS: 9, 6–27, 4 months), or selective internal radiation therapy (OS: 18 months in monotherapy and 26 months in combination with other therapies) showed some superiority when compared to systemic therapies, such as chemotherapy (OS: 4, 6–17 months), immunotherapy (OS: 5–19, 1 month), immunosuppression (OS: 11 months), or targeted therapy (OS: 6–12 months), without being significant. Conclusions: The results of this review suggest that there are no important differences in OS when comparing the different current treatment modalities. Most of the differences found seem to be explained by the heterogenicity of the different studies and the presence of biases in their design, rather than actual extensions of patient survival.
Measuring High Levels of Total Suspended Solids and Turbidity Using Small Unoccupied Aerial Systems (sUAS) Multispectral Imagery
Authors: Prior Elizabeth M. , O’Donnell Frances C. , Brodbeck Christian , Donald Wesley N. , Runion George Brett , Shepherd Stephanie L.
Published: September 2020

Due to land development, high concentrations of suspended sediment are produced from erosion after rain events. Sediment basins are commonly used for the settlement of suspended sediments before discharge. Stormwater regulations may require frequent sampling and monitoring of these basins, both of which are time and labor intensive. Potential remedies are small, unoccupied aerial systems (sUAS). The goal of this study was to demonstrate whether sUAS multispectral imagery could measure high levels of total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity in a sediment basin. The sediment basin at the Auburn University Erosion and Sediment Control Testing Facility was used to simulate a local 2-year, 24-h storm event with a 30-min flow rate. Water samples were collected at three depths in two locations every 15 min for six hours with corresponding sUAS multispectral imagery. Multispectral pixel values were related to TSS and turbidity in separate models using multiple linear regressions. TSS and turbidity regression models had coefficients of determination (r2) values of 0.926 and 0.851, respectively. When water column measurements were averaged, the r2 values increased to 0.965 and 0.929, respectively. The results indicated that sUAS multispectral imagery is a viable option for monitoring and assessing sediment basins during high-concentration events.
Earth—An Open Access Journal
Authors: Jones Charles
Published: September 2020

Connectedness [...]
Study on the Correlation between Partial Discharge Energy and SF6 Decomposition Gas Generation
Authors: Cho Yong Sung , Hong Tae Yoon , Youn Young Woo , Sun Jong Ho , Lee Se-Hee
Published: September 2020

In this paper, the amount of SF6 decomposition gases due to the partial discharge (PD) was studied in the SF6 gas-insulated transformer. The long-term PD degradation experiment was performed while controlling the discharge magnitude using the surface discharge, and the gas generation amount was measured by using gas chromatography for SO2F2, SOF2, SO2, CO, and CF4. In addition, to investigate the relationship between the partial discharge energy and the decomposed gas generation amount, partial discharge energy was calculated by a data processing program and converted to the unit of joule per mole. With the finite element method (FEM), the electric field distribution and SF6 gas decomposition mechanism were explained for the partial discharge energy effect on the gas generation. This study helps understand the relationship between the partial discharge energy and the decomposed gas generation ratio with the experimental results and can be used for the diagnosis of PD and maintenance process for the gas-insulated transformers.
Swing Suppliers and International Natural Gas Market Integration
Authors: Kim Sang-Hyun , Lim Yeon-Yi , Kim Dae-Wook , Kim Man-Keun
Published: September 2020

This study explores the international natural gas market integration using the Engle–Granger cointegration and error correction model. Previous studies have suggested that liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil-linked pricing with a long-term contract have played key roles in gas market integration, especially between European and Asian markets. There is, however, little discussion of the role of the emergence of a swing supplier. A swing supplier, e.g., Qatar or Russia, is flexible to unexpected changes in supply and demand in both European and Asian markets and adapts the gas production/exports swiftly to meet the changes in the markets. Qatar has been a swing supplier since 2005 in the global natural gas market. In 2009, Qatar’s global LNG export share reached above 30% and has remained around 25% since then. Empirical results indirectly support that the emergence of a swing supplier may tighten market integration between Europe and Asia. The swing supplier may have accelerated the degree of market integration as well, particularly after 2009.
Power Loss Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic Integrated Model Predictive Control Based On-Grid Inverter
Authors: Podder Amit Kumer , Habibullah Md. , Tariquzzaman Md. , Hossain Eklas , Padmanaban Sanjeevikumar
Published: September 2020

This paper presents a finite control-set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) based technique to reduce the switching loss and frequency of the on-grid PV inverter by incorporating a switching frequency term in the cost function of the model predictive control (MPC). In the proposed MPC, the control objectives (current and switching frequency) select an optimal switching state for the inverter by minimizing a predefined cost function. The two control objectives are combined with a weighting factor. A trade-off between the switching frequency (average) and total harmonic distortion (THD) of the current was utilized to determine the value of the weighting factor. The switching, conduction, and harmonic losses were determined at the selected value of the weighting factor for both the proposed and conventional FCS-MPC and compared. The system was simulated in MATLAB/Simulink, and a small-scale hardware prototype was built to realize the system and verify the proposal. Considering only 0.25% more current THD, the switching frequency and loss per phase were reduced by 20.62% and 19.78%, respectively. The instantaneous overall power loss was also reduced by 2% due to the addition of a switching frequency term in the cost function which ensures a satisfactory empirical result for an on-grid PV inverter.
Reactant Feeding Strategy Analysis of Sodium Borohydride Hydrolysis Reaction Systems for Instantaneous Hydrogen Generation
Authors: Chen Yih-Hang , Lin Jhih-Cyuan
Published: September 2020

In this study, the operational procedure of an experiment and simulation for a hydrogen-on-demand system using sodium borohydride hydrolysis is proposed. For an isothermal operating condition of a packed-bed reactor, the dynamic response between the input NaBH4 feed (FNaBH4,0(S)) and the output hydrogen flowrate (FH2(S)) of the reactor can be analytically derived and is a first-order transfer function. The time constant of this transfer function is a function of the reciprocal of the product of the reaction rate constant and the catalyst weight into the liquid volume of the reactor. The kinetic parameters of Co-B/IR-200 catalysts are regressed from the experimental NaBH4 hydrolysis reaction. The result shows a 30 °C operating temperature increase (from 40 °C till 70 °C) can shorten the dynamic response time of the hydrogen generation rate by around two-thirds. From theoretical derivation, a feeding strategy which supplies the combination of impulse function and step function of the NaBH4 feed flowrate can produce a hydrogen-on-demand system. However, for real applications, a combined pulse and step function of the NaBH4 feed flowrate is used due to limitations in pump capacity. Hence, a systematic feeding procedure can then be constructed to achieve the US Department of Energy’s fuel cell start-up time target of less than 5 s. to produce hydrogen. Finally, the experiment was set-up to validate the simulation result.
Two Novel Pathogenic Variants Confirm RMND1 Causative Role in Perrault Syndrome with Renal Involvement
Authors: Oziębło Dominika , Pazik Joanna , Stępniak Iwona , Skarżyński Henryk , Ołdak Monika
Published: September 2020

RMND1 (required for meiotic nuclear division 1 homolog) pathogenic variants are known to cause combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency (COXPD11), a severe multisystem disorder. In one patient, a homozygous RMND1 pathogenic variant, with an established role in COXPD11, was associated with a Perrault-like syndrome. We performed a thorough clinical investigation and applied a targeted multigene hearing loss panel to reveal the cause of hearing loss, ovarian dysfunction (two cardinal features of Perrault syndrome) and chronic kidney disease in two adult female siblings. Two compound heterozygous missense variants, c.583G>A (p.Gly195Arg) and c.818A>C (p.Tyr273Ser), not previously associated with disease, were identified in RMND1 in both patients, and their segregation with disease was confirmed in family members. The patients have no neurological or intellectual impairment, and nephrological evaluation predicts a benign course of kidney disease. Our study presents the mildest, so far reported, RMND1-related phenotype and delivers the first independent confirmation that RMND1 is causally involved in the development of Perrault syndrome with renal involvement. This highlights the importance of including RMND1 to the list of Perrault syndrome causative factors and provides new insight into the clinical manifestation of RMND1 deficiency.
Water Enclosure and World-Literature: New Perspectives on Hydro-Power and World-Ecology
Authors: Campbell Alexandra , Paye Michael
Published: September 2020

This editorial introduces the special issue, ‘World Literature and the Blue Humanities’. The authors articulate the commonalities and tensions between world literature, world-ecology, blue humanities, and hydrocultural approaches. Taking megadams, water pollution, and the blue revolution as baselines, we offer short analyses of works by Namwali Serpell, Craig Santos Perez, Jean Arasanayagam, Paul Greengrass, Wyl Menmuir, and Emily St. John Mandel in order to articulate how culture can both contest and normalize water enclosure. The piece ends with a brief summary of the contributions to the special issue.
Types of Cognitive Appraisal and Undertaken Coping Strategies during Sport Competitions
Authors: Litwic-Kaminska Kamila
Published: September 2020

The main aim of the research was to distinguish different types of sport competition appraisals and verify if athletes’ interpretation of a stressful situation changed their choice of coping methods. Athletes change their perception during competitions; thus, we assumed that configuration of different ways of interpreting stressful events is more important for coping than one particular appraisal. In total, 193 athletes filled out The Stress Appraisal Questionnaire and The Sport Stress-Coping Strategies Questionnaire to describe their stress appraisals and undertaken coping strategies during a remembered competition that took place within a month before the study. The athletes most often appraised stressful competitions as a challenge. They preferred the coping strategy of being determined to accomplish the established goal. The athletes hardly applied techniques that constituted the basis of mental training. The cluster analysis of the competitors determined three types of sport competition appraisals: positive, negative, and active. An ANOVA with post hoc comparisons showed that participants who revealed positive appraisals undertook the highest number of actions aimed at reaching goals and least frequently sought support. Athletes should be taught not only specific strategies for coping with stress, but also more frequent use of positive judgments of sports competitions.
First Results: Innovative Solar Disinfection Technology for Treated Wastewater that Integrates Materiality, Geometry, and Reflective Panels
Authors: Cisterna-Osorio Pedro , Quijada-Vera Sergio , Ruiz-Duran Daniela , Peirano-Cuevas Rodrigo , Ortiz-Briones Pamela
Published: September 2020

Climate change is having drastic consequences in Chile. The lack of water in various regions is causing environmental impacts on ecosystems, including the decrease in the productive activities of rural economies and the deterioration in the quality of life of the inhabitants that occupy the affected physical spaces. In this paper, we propose a sustainable, low-cost treatment of wastewater and its reuse as an adaptation and mitigation policy, patented in 2019, that consists of a wastewater disinfection system based on solar energy. This system can work in both continuous and discontinuous modes. The water passes through a canal of reflective material in the continuous regime, and in the batch regime, the water remains in the canal. The panels are located parallel to the lateral faces of the canal. These panels concentrate the radiation in the canal through reflection. The trapezoidal geometry of the disinfectant canal deflects the radiation and reflects in the direction of the front walls of the canal, radiating what is returned and vice versa. The fraction of the radiation reflected outside the canal reaches the reflective side panels that return the radiation to the canal. The synergy of these three considerations increases the radiation in the canal area, augmenting the elimination of the bacterial load. In the trapezoidal reflective canal without panels, only 5% of the measured radiation exceeded the atmospheric radiation, eliminating 83% of the coliforms. The incorporation of panels surpassed the atmospheric radiation over 36% of the measured radiations, and the removal of coliforms exceeded 99.7%.
Engaging Youth in Placemaking: Modified Behavior Mapping
Authors: Little Sarah
Published: September 2020

Typically excluded from conversations about place, youth are becoming recognized as agents of change in placemaking. This article explores adapting a quantitative research method, behavior mapping, into a more youth-friendly qualitative participatory action research (PAR) method for placemaking projects, namely modified behavior mapping (MBM). The goal of MBM is to instigate placemaking conversations with youth with an understanding of an aspect of the lived experience of place and existing behavior. Sites are divided into observation zones, and youth are led through the zones by a trained facilitator. Like the quantitative method, MBM requires a list of behaviors of interest and a basemap. Behaviors are organized into groups on an observation sheet in a youth-friendly checklist format. A new checklist is printed for each observation zone. Basemaps can be an aerial photo or a downloaded map; however, creating a basemap by taking measurements will create science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning opportunities. While in the observation zone, youth check the behaviors observed. Unlike the quantitative method, MBM does not require strict data collection protocols or a statistical analysis which makes the method more youth-friendly. Instead, MBM affords an opportunity for youth to reflect on their use of space and on others’ use of space. Results are disseminated through focus group discussions in order to create design programs or designs of place.
The Effect of Strict State Measures on the Epidemiologic Curve of COVID-19 Infection in the Context of a Developing Country: A Simulation from Jordan
Authors: Kheirallah Khalid A. , Alsinglawi Belal , Alzoubi Abdallah , Saidan Motasem N. , Mubin Omar , Alorjani Mohammed S. , Mzayek Fawaz
Published: September 2020

COVID-19 has posed an unprecedented global public health threat and caused a significant number of severe cases that necessitated long hospitalization and overwhelmed health services in the most affected countries. In response, governments initiated a series of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) that led to severe economic and social impacts. The effect of these intervention measures on the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic are not well investigated within developing country settings. This study simulated the trajectories of the COVID-19 pandemic curve in Jordan between February and May and assessed the effect of Jordan’s strict NPI measures on the spread of COVID-19. A modified susceptible, exposed, infected, and recovered (SEIR) epidemic model was utilized. The compartments in the proposed model categorized the Jordanian population into six deterministic compartments: suspected, exposed, infectious pre-symptomatic, infectious with mild symptoms, infectious with moderate to severe symptoms, and recovered. The GLEAMviz client simulator was used to run the simulation model. Epidemic curves were plotted for estimated COVID-19 cases in the simulation model, and compared against the reported cases. The simulation model estimated the highest number of total daily new COVID-19 cases, in the pre-symptomatic compartmental state, to be 65 cases, with an epidemic curve growing to its peak in 49 days and terminating in a duration of 83 days, and a total simulated cumulative case count of 1048 cases. The curve representing the number of actual reported cases in Jordan showed a good pattern compatibility to that in the mild and moderate to severe compartmental states. The reproduction number under the NPIs was reduced from 5.6 to less than one. NPIs in Jordan seem to be effective in controlling the COVID-19 epidemic and reducing the reproduction rate. Early strict intervention measures showed evidence of containing and suppressing the disease.
The COVID-19 Crisis: Skills That Are Paramount to Build into Nursing Programs for Future Global Health Crisis
Authors: Peiró Teresa , Lorente Laura , Vera María
Published: September 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic started at the end of 2019 and can be considered one of the most difficult health crises of the past century. It has had a devastating effect around the world, not only for public health, but also for the economy, labor market, and other facets of individual and societal life. Health systems have been put under high strain, and health professionals have experienced unusual and stressful work circumstances. With the aim of drawing lessons for nursing education, the present study analyzed, during the weeks of peak infection in Spain, the stress experience and coping strategies of a sample of 403 nurses from the Spanish health system. Specifically, we analyzed how tenure, stress appraisal, problem-focused coping, and support-seeking coping predicted nurses’ awareness of their education needs, both in terms of technical-professional knowledge and skills and transversal skills. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that more tenure (years of experience) was related to lower stress appraisal (workload, −0.12, p < 0.05; insufficient preparation, −0.33, p < 0.001; and fear of contagion −0.36, p < 0.001) and more problem focused coping (PFC) strategies were related to higher awareness of professional (0.18, p < 0.01) and transversal educational needs (0.17, p < 0.01) while support seeking strategies just related to transversal training needs (0.10, p < 0.05). Moreover, the participants provided valuable input about specific contents to be considered in future nursing education programs. Implications for redesigning the nursing degree curriculum are analyzed in the discussion section.
Impact of Short Foot Muscle Exercises on Quality of Movement and Flexibility in Amateur Runners
Authors: Sulowska-Daszyk Iwona , Mika Anna , Oleksy Łukasz
Published: September 2020

The flexibility and proper functioning of all myofascial chains are crucial for athletes, especially for long-distance runners. Due to the continuity of the myofascial structures, restrictions in one part of the body may cause excessive tension in others. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of short foot muscle exercises on muscle flexibility and the quality of movement patterns in amateur runners. Eighty long-distance runners, aged 20–45, were randomly divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 48) and Group 2 (n = 32). Participants in Group 1 performed foot exercises daily for six weeks. Subjects in Group 2 were without any intervention. At baseline and after six weeks, the quality of movement patterns with the Functional Movement Screen and muscle flexibility was evaluated. In Group 1, significantly higher Functional Movement Screen values in individual tasks and in the total score were noted after six weeks. The total score increased from 17 to 18 points (Median (Me) ± half of interquartile range (IQR/2) (Standard Error of Measurement - SEM) 17 ± 1.5 (0.23) at baseline and 18 ± 1.5 (0.24) after six weeks) (p < 0.01), whereas in Group 2, its level remained at 16 points (Me ± IQR/2 (SEM) 16 ± 1.5 (0.31) at baseline and 16 ± 1.25 (0.31) after six weeks). In Group 1, the significant improvement in muscle flexibility was noted (e.g., results for external rotation muscles: (Mean ± SD (SEM) 60.3 ± 0.4 (1.50) at baseline and 62.4 ± 10.3 (1.49) after six weeks) (p = 0.005). In Group 2, significant improvement was observed only for one task in the Active straight leg raise test (p = 0.005 and 0.02). During the measurement of external rotation muscles, a significant decrease in flexibility was observed (Mean ± SD (SEM) 60.1 ± 9.0 (1.60) at baseline and 58.0 ± 8.5 (1.51) after six weeks) (p = 0.001). Plantar short foot muscle exercises may improve muscle flexibility in the upper parts of the body within myofascial chains and influence the quality of fundamental movement patterns. Such exercises may be beneficial for all physically active people and can be performed as part of overall fitness programmes. Moreover, including such exercises in daily training routines of long-distance runners, as well as by athletes in other sport disciplines is also recommended.
Workplace Sedentary Behavior and Productivity: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Rosenkranz Sara K. , Mailey Emily L. , Umansky Emily , Rosenkranz Richard R. , Ablah Elizabeth
Published: September 2020

Reducing sedentary behavior in the workplace has become an important public health priority; however, some employers have expressed concerns regarding the potential for reduced productivity if employees are not seated while at work. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between workplace sedentary behavior (sitting time) and work productivity among full-time office-based employees, and further to investigate other potential factors associated with productivity. A 19-item online self-report survey was completed by 2068 government employees in Kansas. The survey assessed workplace sedentary behavior, work productivity, job satisfaction, and fatigue. Overall, office workers reported high levels of sedentary time (mean > 78%). The primary results indicated that sitting time was not significantly associated with productivity (β = 0.013, p = 0.519), but job satisfaction and fatigue were positively (β = 0.473, p < 0.001) and negatively (β = −0.047, p = 0.023) associated with productivity, respectively. Furthermore, participants with the highest level of sitting time (>91% of the time) reported lower job satisfaction and greater fatigue as compared with the lowest level of sitting time (<75% of the time). Taken together, these results offer promising support that less sitting time is associated with positive outcomes that do not seem to come at the expense of productivity.
Workload, Workaholism, and Job Performance: Uncovering Their Complex Relationship
Authors: Spagnoli Paola , Haynes Nicholas J. , Kovalchuk Liliya Scafuri , Clark Malissa A. , Buono Carmela , Balducci Cristian
Published: September 2020

The current study aimed to test how workload, via workaholism, impacts job performance along with the complex interplay of perfectionistic concerns and work engagement in this mediated relationship. A two-wave, first and second stage dual-moderated mediation model was tested in an SEM framework. Results based on a sample of 208 workers revealed a complex and nuanced relationship among the studied constructs, such that the simple mediation model was not significant, but the indirect effect was negative, nonsignificant, or positive conditional on both moderators. The results offer interesting theoretical and practical implications for future studies to be conducted in this area of research. In particular, lower levels of perfectionistic concerns were associated with a positive relationship between workload and workaholism, and lower levels of work engagement were related to a negative link between workaholism and job performance. Findings suggest work engagement should be monitored and promoted by managers, especially when workload, and consequently, the possible risk of workaholism, cannot be avoided.
Adherence to Hypertension Medications and Lifestyle Recommendations among Underserved African American Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Authors: Adinkrah Edward , Bazargan Mohsen , Wisseh Cheryl , Assari Shervin
Published: September 2020

Background: For African American middle-aged and older adults with hypertension, poor adherence to medication and lifestyle recommendations is a source of disparity in hypertension outcomes including higher rates of stroke in this population relative to whites. Aims: To study demographic, social, behavioral, cognitive, and medical predictors of adherence to medication and lifestyle recommendations among underserved African American middle-aged and older adults with hypertension. Methods: This was a community-based cross-sectional survey in South Los Angeles with 338 African American middle-aged and older adults with hypertension who were 55 years or older. Age, gender, continuity of care, comorbidity, financial difficulty, self-rated health, depression, educational attainment, adherence knowledge, and adherence worries were the independent variables. Data was analyzed using linear regression with two outcomes, namely, adherence to medication (measured by the first 9 items of the Blood Pressure Self-Care Scale) and adherence to lifestyle recommendations (measured by the second 9 items of the Blood Pressure Self-Care Scale). Results: There were about twice more females than males, with a total mean age of 70 years (range 55–90 years). Various demographic, social, behavioral, and medical factors predicted adherence to medication but not adherence to lifestyle recommendations. Females with hypertension with higher continuity of care, less financial strain, higher knowledge, less negative general beliefs, and concerns about antihypertensive medications had higher adherence to antihypertensive medications. The presence of depressive symptoms, reduced knowledge, and disease management worries were associated with a reduced adherence to lifestyle recommendations. Conclusions: There seem to be fewer demographic, social, behavioral, cognitive, and medical factors that explain adherence to lifestyle recommendations than adherence to medication in economically disadvantaged underserved African American middle-aged and older adults with hypertension. More research is needed on factors that impact adherence to lifestyle recommendations of African American middle-aged and older adults with hypertension.
The Effects of Cognitive Task and Change of Height on Postural Stability and Cardiovascular Stress in Workers Working at Height
Authors: Cyma-Wejchenig Magdalena , Maciaszek Janusz , Marciniak Katarzyna , Stemplewski Rafał
Published: September 2020

The purpose of the study was to analyze the effects of cognitive task and change of height on the postural stability and cardiovascular stress of at-height workers. The study included 32 healthy men aged 25–47. Due to the type of work performed, two groups were identified: at‒height workers, HW (n = 16), and office workers (mainly work at desk with a computer) OW (n = 16). The objective measures of postural stability (posturography) and cardiovascular stress (heart rate monitor) were evaluated for both groups at two different platform heights (ground level and 1 m above the ground) with or without cognitive task (backward counting). The increased height and the cognitive task were found to significantly affect measures of postural stability and cardiovascular stress. It was observed that in inexperienced OW employees, higher platform height and performing a cognitive task meant that posture stability significantly decreased, while cardiovascular stress and difficulties in maintaining balance increased. In HW group postural stability is less affected by distress conditions than in OW group.
Fingolimod (FTY720) Preserves High Energy Phosphates and Improves Cardiac Function in Heterotopic Heart Transplantation Model
Authors: Ahmed Naseer , Farooq Javeria , Sadiq Soban , Meo Sultan Ayoub , Jan Azam , Cheema Faisal H. , Faggian Giuseppe , Rungatscher Alessio
Published: September 2020

During heart transplantation, donor heart leads to reduced oxygen supply resulting in low level of high energy phosphate (HEP) reserves in cardiomyocyte. Lower HEP is one of the underlying reasons of cell death due to ischemia. In this study we investigated the role of Fingolimod (FTY720) in heart transplantation ischemia. Eight groups of Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 5 for each subgroup) were made, A1 and C1 were given FTY720 1 mg/kg while B1 and D1 were given normal saline. The hearts were implanted into another set of similar rats after preservation period of 1 h at 4–8 °C. Significantly higher Left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), dP/dT maximum (p < 0.05), dP/dT minimum (p < 0.05) were recorded in the FTY720 treated group after 24 h of reperfusion while after 1 h of reperfusion, there were no significant differences in LVSP, maximum and negative dP/dT, and Left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) between the control and the FTY720-treated transplant groups. Coronary blood flow (CBF) was enhanced (p < 0.05) in the FTY720 treated group after 1 and 24 h. ATP p < 0.001, p < 0.05 at 1 and 24 h, ADP p < 0.001, p > 0.05 at 1 and 24 h, and phosphocreatine p < 0.05, p > 0.05 at 1 and 24 h were better preserved by FTY720 treatment as compared to control group. The study concluded that pretreatment of grafted hearts with FTY720 improved hemodynamics, CBF, high energy phosphate reserves, reduces the peroxynitrite level and poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition that prevents ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Myelosuppression in Patients Treated with the Telomerase Inhibitor Imetelstat Is Not Mediated through Activation of Toll-Like Receptors
Authors: Baerlocher Gabriela M. , Rusbuldt Joshua , Bussolari Jacqueline , Huang Fei
Published: September 2020

Imetelstat sodium (GRN163L; hereafter, imetelstat) is a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor that has demonstrated activity in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Treatment with imetelstat has been associated with thrombocytopenia and other hematologic adverse effects that were manageable and reversible. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are proteins that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns and stimulate innate immune and pro-apoptotic responses. Because imetelstat is an oligonucleotide, and some oligonucleotides can activate TLRs, we conducted an in vitro study to rule out the possibility of imetelstat-associated thrombocytopenia by off-target effects through activation of TLRs. We used HEK293 cell lines stably co-expressing a human TLR gene and an NFκB-inducible reporter to investigate whether imetelstat can activate TLR signaling. We treated the cells with imetelstat or control oligonucleotides for 20 h, and used absorbance of the culture media to calculate the reporter activity. Treatment with imetelstat within or beyond the clinically relevant concentrations had no stimulatory effect on TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR7, or TLR9. This result was not surprising since the structure of imetelstat does not meet the reported minimal structural requirements for TLR9 activation. Furthermore, imetelstat treatment of the MPN cell line HEL did not impact the expression of TLR signaling pathway target genes that are commonly induced by activation of different TLRs, whereas it significantly reduced its target gene hTERT, human telomerase reverse transcriptase, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Hence, cytopenias, especially thrombocytopenia observed in some patients treated with imetelstat, are not mediated by off-target interactions with TLRs.
Editorial for Special Issue “Gangliosides: Modes of Action and Cell Fates”
Authors: Furukawa Koichi
Published: September 2020

Gangliosides have been considered to play essential roles in the regulation of nervous systems. Novel findings about their functions based on the unique genetic and biochemical approaches have been recently accumulated, and representative results were collected here. In particular, new developments of analytical methods, regulatory mechanisms for ganglioside synthesis and degradation, and novel aspects of their functions in nervous systems and various other organs were introduced in this Special Issue, promoting further fundamental investigation and applied research.
Diabetes Mellitus, Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Ca2+-Dependent Permeability Transition Pore
Authors: Belosludtsev Konstantin N. , Belosludtseva Natalia V. , Dubinin Mikhail V.
Published: September 2020

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic diseases in the developed world, and is associated either with the impaired secretion of insulin or with the resistance of cells to the actions of this hormone (type I and type II diabetes, respectively). In both cases, a common pathological change is an increase in blood glucose—hyperglycemia, which eventually can lead to serious damage to the organs and tissues of the organism. Mitochondria are one of the main targets of diabetes at the intracellular level. This review is dedicated to the analysis of recent data regarding the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the development of diabetes mellitus. Specific areas of focus include the involvement of mitochondrial calcium transport systems and a pathophysiological phenomenon called the permeability transition pore in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. The important contribution of these systems and their potential relevance as therapeutic targets in the pathology are discussed.
Parallelized Manipulation of Adherent Living Cells by Magnetic Nanoparticles-Mediated Forces
Authors: Bongaerts Maud , Aizel Koceila , Secret Emilie , Jan Audric , Nahar Tasmin , Raudzus Fabian , Neumann Sebastian , Telling Neil , Heumann Rolf , Siaugue Jean-Michel , Ménager Christine , Fresnais Jérôme , Villard Catherine , El Haj Alicia , Piehler Jacob , Gates Monte A. , Coppey Mathieu
Published: September 2020

The remote actuation of cellular processes such as migration or neuronal outgrowth is a challenge for future therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine. Among the different methods that have been proposed, the use of magnetic nanoparticles appears to be promising, since magnetic fields can act at a distance without interactions with the surrounding biological system. To control biological processes at a subcellular spatial resolution, magnetic nanoparticles can be used either to induce biochemical reactions locally or to apply forces on different elements of the cell. Here, we show that cell migration and neurite outgrowth can be directed by the forces produced by a switchable parallelized array of micro-magnetic pillars, following the passive uptake of nanoparticles. Using live cell imaging, we first demonstrate that adherent cell migration can be biased toward magnetic pillars and that cells can be reversibly trapped onto these pillars. Second, using differentiated neuronal cells we were able to induce events of neurite outgrowth in the direction of the pillars without impending cell viability. Our results show that the range of forces applied needs to be adapted precisely to the cellular process under consideration. We propose that cellular actuation is the result of the force on the plasma membrane caused by magnetically filled endo-compartments, which exert a pulling force on the cell periphery.
An Increased Burden of Highly Active Retrotransposition Competent L1s Is Associated with Parkinson’s Disease Risk and Progression in the PPMI Cohort
Authors: Pfaff Abigail L. , Bubb Vivien J. , Quinn John P. , Koks Sulev
Published: September 2020

Long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1/L1s) contributes 17% of the human genome with more than 1 million elements present; however, fewer than 100 of these have evidence for being retrotransposition competent (RC). In addition to those RC-L1s present in the reference genome, there are a small number of known non-reference L1 insertions that are also retrotransposition competent. L1 activity, whether through the potentially detrimental effects of their mRNA or protein expression or somatic retrotransposition events, has been linked to several neurological conditions. The polymorphic nature of both reference and non-reference RC-L1s in terms of their presence or absence will result in individuals harboring a different combination of these elements and it is currently unknown if this type of germline variation contributes to the risk of neurological disease. Here, we utilized whole-genome sequencing data from 178 healthy controls and 372 Parkinson’s disease (PD) subjects from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) to investigate the role of RC-L1s in PD. In the PPMI cohort, we identified 22 reference and 50 non-reference polymorphic RC-L1 loci. Focusing on 16 highly active RC-L1 loci, an increased burden of these elements (≥9) was associated with PD (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.03–1.51, p = 0.02). In addition, we identified significant associations of progression markers of PD and the burden of highly active RC-L1s. This study has identified a novel type of genetic element associated with PD risk and disease progression.
Development and Technical Validation of an Immunoassay for the Detection of APP669–711 (Aβ−3–40) in Biological Samples
Authors: Klafki Hans W. , Rieper Petra , Matzen Anja , Zampar Silvia , Wirths Oliver , Vogelgsang Jonathan , Osterloh Dirk , Rohdenburg Lara , Oberstein Timo J. , Jahn Olaf , Beyer Isaak , Lachmann Ingolf , Knölker Hans-Joachim , Wiltfang Jens
Published: September 2020

The ratio of amyloid precursor protein (APP)669–711 (Aβ−3–40)/Aβ1–42 in blood plasma was reported to represent a novel Alzheimer’s disease biomarker. Here, we describe the characterization of two antibodies against the N-terminus of Aβ−3–x and the development and “fit-for-purpose” technical validation of a sandwich immunoassay for the measurement of Aβ−3–40. Antibody selectivity was assessed by capillary isoelectric focusing immunoassay, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. The analytical validation addressed assay range, repeatability, specificity, between-run variability, impact of pre-analytical sample handling procedures, assay interference, and analytical spike recoveries. Blood plasma was analyzed after Aβ immunoprecipitation by a two-step immunoassay procedure. Both monoclonal antibodies detected Aβ−3–40 with no appreciable cross reactivity with Aβ1–40 or N-terminally truncated Aβ variants. However, the amyloid precursor protein was also recognized. The immunoassay showed high selectivity for Aβ−3–40 with a quantitative assay range of 22 pg/mL–7.5 ng/mL. Acceptable intermediate imprecision of the complete two-step immunoassay was reached after normalization. In a small clinical sample, the measured Aβ42/Aβ−3–40 and Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios were lower in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type than in other dementias. In summary, the methodological groundwork for further optimization and future studies addressing the Aβ42/Aβ−3–40 ratio as a novel biomarker candidate for Alzheimer’s disease has been set.
Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Arthritis in Children and Adults: New Perspectives on Applied Photobiomodulation
Authors: Ailioaie Laura Marinela , Litscher Gerhard
Published: September 2020

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and adult rheumatoid arthritis are two major groups with chronic joint pain and inflammation, extra-articular manifestations, and high risk of comorbidities, which can cause physical and ocular disability, as well as create great socio-economic pressure worldwide. The pathogenesis of arthritis manifested in childhood and adulthood is multifactorial, unclear, and overly complex, in which immunity plays an important role. Although there are more and more biological agents with different mechanisms of action for the treatment of arthritis, the results are not as expected, because there are partial responses or non-responsive patients to these compounds, high therapeutic costs, side effects, and so on; therefore, we must turn our attention to other therapeutic modalities. Updating knowledge on molecular and cellular mechanisms in the comparative pathogenesis of chronic arthritis in both children and adults is necessary in the early and correct approach to treatment. Photobiomodulation (PBM) represents a good option, offering cost-effective advantages over drug therapy, with a quicker, more positive response to treatment and no side effects. The successful management of PBM in arthritis is based on the clinician’s ability to evaluate correctly the inflammatory status of the patient, to seek the optimal solution, to choose the best technology with the best physical parameters, and to select the mode of action to target very precisely the immune system and the molecular signaling pathways at the molecular level with the exact amount of quantum light energy in order to obtain the desired immune modulation and the remission of the disease. Light is a very powerful tool in medicine because it can simultaneously target many cascades of immune system activation in comparison with drugs, so PBM can perform very delicate tasks inside our cells to modulate cellular dysfunctions, helping to initiate self-organization phenomena and finally, healing the disease. Interdisciplinary teams should work diligently to meet these needs by also using single-cell imaging devices for multispectral laser photobiomodulation on immune cells.
Ivabradine-Stimulated Microvesicle Release Induces Cardiac Protection against Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Ramirez-Carracedo Rafael , Tesoro Laura , Hernandez Ignacio , Diez-Mata Javier , Botana Laura , Saura Marta , Sanmartin Marcelo , Zamorano Jose Luis , Zaragoza Carlos
Published: September 2020

Ivabradine can reduce heart rate through inhibition of the current I(f) by still unexplored mechanisms. In a porcine model of ischemia reperfusion (IR), we found that treatment with 0.3 mg/kg Ivabradine increased plasma release of microvesicles (MVs) over Placebo, as detected by flow cytometry of plasma isolated from pigs 7 days after IR, in which a tenfold increase of Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase Inducer (EMMPRIN) containing (both high and low-glycosylated) MVs, was detected in response to Ivabradine. The source of MVs was investigated, finding a 37% decrease of CD31+ endothelial cell derived MVs, while CD41+ platelet MVs remained unchanged. By contrast, Ivabradine induced the release of HCN4+ (mostly cardiac) MVs. While no differences respect to EMMPRIN as a cargo component were found in endothelial and platelet derived MVs, Ivabradine induced a significant release of EMMPRIN+/HCN4+ MVs by day 7 after IR. To test the role of EMMPRIN+ cardiac MVs (EMCMV), H9c2 cell monolayers were incubated for 24 h with 107 EMCMVs, reducing apoptosis, and increasing 2 times cell proliferation and 1.5 times cell migration. The in vivo contribution of Ivabradine-induced plasma MVs was also tested, in which 108 MVs isolated from the plasma of pigs treated with Ivabradine or Placebo 7 days after IR, were injected in pigs under IR, finding a significant cardiac protection by increasing left ventricle ejection fraction and a significant reduction of the necrotic area. In conclusion ivabradine induces cardiac protection by increasing at least the release of EMMPRIN containing cardiac microvesicles.