bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid Identification of Apple Maturity Based on Multispectral Sensor Combined with Spectral Shape Features
Authors: Zhang Mengsheng , Shen Maosheng , Pu Yuge , Li Hao , Zhang Bo , Zhang Zhongxiong , Ren Xiaolin , Zhao Juan
Published: April 2022

The rapid and convenient detection of maturity is of great significance to determine the harvest time and postharvest storage conditions of apples. In this study, a portable visible and near-infrared (VIS/NIR) analysis device prototype was developed based on a multispectral sensor and applied to ‘Fuji’ apple maturity detection. The multispectral data of apples with maturity variation was measured, and the prediction model was established by a least-square support vector machine and linear discriminant analysis. Due to the low resolution of the multispectral data, regular preprocessing methods cannot improve the prediction accuracy. Instead, the spectral shape features (spectral ratio, spectral difference, and normalized spectral intensity difference) were used for preprocessing and model establishment, and the combination of the three features effectively improved the model performance with a prediction accuracy of 88.46%. In addition, the validation accuracy of the optimal model was 84.72%, and the area under curve (AUC) value of each maturity level was higher than 0.8972. The results show that the multispectral sensor is an appliable choice for the development of the portable detection device of apple maturity, and the data processing method proposed in this study provides a potential solution to improve the detection accuracy for multispectral sensors.
Genome-Wide Analyses of Tea Plant Stress-Associated Proteins (SAPs) Reveal the Role of CsSAP12 in Increased Drought Tolerance in Transgenic Tomatoes
Authors: Fan Shu-Chen , Li Chun , Li Shao-Hua , Tang Jie , Shi Hong-Di , Yang Tian-Ming , Liang Ming-Zhi , Liu Dan-Dan
Published: April 2022

Plant stress-associated proteins (SAPs) contain A20/AN1 zinc finger domains and are involved in plant response to abiotic stresses. In this study, we aimed to explore the biological function of tea plant CsSAPs. A total of 14 CsSAP genes were identified in the tea plant genome using a reference genome database (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis). The CsSAPs were divided into the following two groups: Group I, containing one AN1 domain and/or one A20 domain; and Group II, containing two AN1 domains and/or two C2H2 domains. The sequence alignments and conserved domains analysis indicated that the CsSAPs were highly structurally conserved in terms of amino acid sequence and protein structure. The CsSAPs showed different transcript levels in spatio-temporal expression and in response to cold and drought stress in tea plants. Furthermore, the expression of CsSAP12 was considerably upregulated under drought stress. The overexpression of CsSAP12 in transgenic tomatoes showed increased tolerance to drought stress compared with the wild type. Altogether, the results showed that CsSAP12 might be involved in drought stress. Thus, CsSAP12 might be a target gene in genetic engineering to improve drought tolerance in tea plants.
Plant Cover Stimulates Quicker Dry Matter Accumulation in “Early” Potato Cultivars without Affecting Nutritional or Sensory Quality
Authors: Major Nikola , Goreta Ban Smiljana , Perković Josipa , Žnidarčič Dragan , Peršurić Anita Silvana Ilak , Oplanić Milan , Dumičić Gvozden , Urlić Branimir , Ban Dean
Published: April 2022

“Early” potato crops are grown in the Mediterranean basin and are marketed from March to June, well before main-crop potato in the spring–summer growth period. Different growing technologies have been implemented to enhance potato “earliness” to achieve a better market price, but at the same time, the applied technologies may influence yield and quality of the ‘early potato’. The main goal of this study was to investigate differences in “early” potato nutritional and sensory characteristics after oil-frying influenced by location and plant covering in five potato cultivars. The present investigation was carried out at two planting locations during two seasons. The application of a plant cover significantly increased the potato tubers’ dry matter, starch, and sugar content in the second season. Sensory analysis of the oil-fried “early” potatoes revealed no differences between potatoes grown with or without the plant cover. We also observed significantly higher dry matter content in potatoes grown at the Split location in the second year, while no differences in the sensory scores between oil-fried potatoes grown at the investigated locations were observed. By employing a plant cover or by choosing a warmer planting location the desired potato maturity level could be reached in less time, and one could more effectively exploit the “early” potato market. By employing such techniques there should be no loss in yield, nutritional or sensory quality of potato tubers.
Hormonal Signaling in the Progamic Phase of Fertilization in Plants
Authors: Zakharova Ekaterina V. , Khaliluev Marat R. , Kovaleva Lidia V.
Published: April 2022

Pollen–pistil interaction is a basic process in the reproductive biology of flowering plants and has been the subject of intense fundamental research that has a pronounced practical value. The phytohormones ethylene (ET) and cytokinin (CK) together with other hormones such as auxin, gibberellin (GA), jasmonic acid (JA), abscisic acid (ABA), and brassinosteroids (BRs) influence different stages of plant development and growth. Here, we mainly focus on the information about the ET and CK signaling in the progamic phase of fertilization. This signaling occurs during male gametophyte development, including tapetum (TAP) cell death, and pollen tube growth, including synergid programmed cell death (PCD) and self-incompatibility (SI)-induced PCD. ET joins the coordination of successive events in the developing anther, including the TAP development and cell death, anther dehiscence, microspore development, pollen grain maturation, and dehydration. Both ET and CK take part in the regulation of pollen–pistil interaction. ET signaling accompanies adhesion, hydration, and germination of pollen grains in the stigma and growth of pollen tubes in style tissues. Thus, ET production may be implicated in the pollination signaling between organs accumulated in the stigma and transmitted to the style and ovary to ensure successful pollination. Some data suggest that ET and CK signaling are involved in S-RNase-based SI.
Analysis of the Attitude of Spanish Physical Education Teachers towards Students with Disabilities in Extremadura
Authors: Rojo-Ramos Jorge , González-Becerra María José , Merellano-Navarro Eugenio , Gomez-Paniagua Santiago , Adsuar José Carmelo
Published: April 2022

Inclusive education aims to eliminate barriers in the participation and performance of students, considering their diversity. In this sense, there is a regulation that governs the educational response, being different for each region. Therefore, this study aims to know the attitude of Physical Education teachers of different educational stages in Spain toward students with disabilities. A questionnaire was administered to 272 Physical Education teachers from public schools in a region of Spain. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to determine the relationships between items and dimensions according to sex or center location, and Spearman’s Rho was used to analyze the relationship between dimensions and years of experience. The main results showed that teachers do not feel prepared in terms of training, resources, and infrastructure, although they consider that the integration of students with disabilities in regular classes is beneficial for them.
Physical Exercise as a Non-Pharmacological Intervention for Attenuating Obesity-Related Complications in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Calcaterra Valeria , Zuccotti Gianvincenzo
Published: April 2022

Obesity is the most prevalent nutrition-related disorder among the pediatric population [...]
Digital Form for Assessing Dentists’ Knowledge about Oral Care of People Living with HIV
Authors: de Souza Fonseca Ricardo Roberto , Laurentino Rogério Valois , de Menezes Silvio Augusto Fernandes , Oliveira-Filho Aldemir Branco , Alves Ana Cláudia Braga Amoras , Frade Paula Cristina Rodrigues , Machado Luiz Fernando Almeida
Published: April 2022

Oral lesions are usually the first sign of HIV infection. The present study aimed to determine the level of the knowledge of dentists on the dental care needs of People Living with HIV (PLWH). This cross-sectional study was conducted between February and May 2021, in the Brazilian state of Pará, during which a total of 51 dentists received an anonymous digital form (Google® Forms Platform) composed of four blocks of discursive, dichotomous, and multiple-choice questions. The questions referred to various aspects of the dental care needs of PLWH, together with data on the professional activities of the dentists. After signing the term of informed consent, the dentists were divided into six subgroups according to the time (in years) since completing their bachelor’s degree in dentistry. The data were presented as descriptive statistics and percentages, and then analyzed using the Kappa test. Most (70.6%; 36 of 51) of the dentists were female, the mean age of the dentists was 32.5 years, and a majority (80.2%) were based in the city of Belem; the mean time since graduation was 8.5 years, with 22 (43.1%) having more than 5 years of professional experience, and 31 (60.8%) having graduated from a private dental college. Just over half (51%) of the 51 dentists had completed graduate courses, and the most common dental specialty was orthodontics (19.6%). Most (74.5%) of the dentists work in the private sector, 38 (74.5%) claimed to have already provided oral care to PLWH, and 43 (84.3%) had access to specialist content on the oral care needs of PLWH. In terms of the knowledge of the dentists with regard to the oral care needs of PLWH, four of the ten diagnostic questions obtained more inadequate answers than expected, whereas the final two questions (11–45.1% and 12–31.4%) demonstrated that many of the dentists adopt unnecessary modifications in their oral care protocol for PLWH, due to a fear of contamination. Overall, our results demonstrate a frequent lack of knowledge, especially with regard to the oral healthcare needs of PLWH, which may account for many of the stigmas that persist in the dental care of this vulnerable group.
Thailand Prevalence and Profile of Food Insecurity in Households with under Five Years Children: Analysis of 2019 Multi-Cluster Indicator Survey
Authors: Jankhotkaew Jintana , Chandrasiri Orana , Charoensit Sorasak , Vongmongkol Vuthiphan , Tangcharoensathien Viroj
Published: April 2022

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and profile of food insecurity in households with children under 5 years old using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) in Thailand. We integrated FIES into the 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). A total of 861 households were successfully interviewed with FIES. The Rasch model was applied to examine the validity and reliability. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association between socio-economic status and prevalence of food insecurity, adjusting for geographical regions and characteristics of households. We found that FIES measurement is valid as Infit falls within the normal range of 0.7–1.3 and is reliable (Rasch reliability value of 0.81). The overall prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity was 2.79%. The wealthiest households were less likely to suffer from food insecurity than the poorest households (adjusted OR: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.02–0.34; p-value < 0.05). Households with children under 5 years old living in rural areas had lower food insecurity severity scores. We recommend social protection policies such as food and nutrition subsidies or conditional cash transfer to poor households with children under the age of 5.
Citizenship Matters: Non-Citizen COVID-19 Mortality Disparities in New York and Los Angeles
Authors: Douglas Jason A. , Bostean Georgiana , Miles Nash Angel , John Emmanuel B. , Brown Lawrence M. , Subica Andrew M.
Published: April 2022

U.S. non-citizen residents are burdened by inequitable access to socioeconomic resources, potentially placing them at heightened risk of COVID-19-related disparities. However, COVID-19 impacts on non-citizens are not well understood. Accordingly, the current study investigated COVID-19 mortality disparities within New York (NYC) and Los Angeles (LAC) to test our hypothesis that areas with large proportions of non-citizens will have disproportionately high COVID-19 mortality rates. We examined ecological associations between March 2020–January 2021 COVID-19 mortality rates (per 100,000 residents) and percent non-citizens (using ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTA) for NYC and City/Community units of analysis for LAC) while controlling for sociodemographic factors. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed significant positive associations between the percentage of non-citizen residents and COVID-19 mortality rates in NYC (95% CI 0.309, 5.181) and LAC (95% CI 0.498, 8.720). Despite NYC and LAC policies intended to provide sanctuary and improve healthcare access for non-citizen residents, communities with larger proportions of non-citizens appear to endure higher COVID-19 mortality rates. The challenges that non-citizens endure—e.g., inequitable access to public benefits—may discourage help-seeking behaviors. Thus, improved health surveillance, public health messaging, and sanctuary policies will be essential for reducing COVID-19 mortality disparities in communities with large shares of non-citizens.
A Socioecological Perspective of How Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour at Home Changed during the First Lockdown of COVID-19 Restrictions: The HomeSPACE Project
Authors: Richards Amie B. , Minou Masoumeh , Sheldrick Michael P. , Swindell Nils , Griffiths Lucy J. , Hudson Joanne , Stratton Gareth
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic forced school closures, resulting in home schooling, more time spent at home and fewer opportunities for physical activity (PA). This study explored factors influencing PA and sedentary behaviours (SB) within the home environment during the first lockdown, starting in March 2020. Twenty semi-structured interviews (20 parents and 23 children, 12 years ± 1.25) were conducted. Data were coded using thematic analysis on NVivo© and concepts from McLeroy’s socioecological model for health promotion were used to analyse the data. Findings indicate that children’s PA and SB at home were influenced by: (i) individual-level factors (e.g., gender, competence, attitudes and motivation); (ii) interpersonal-level factors (e.g., siblings, parents, pets, friends and coaches); (iii) organisation-level factors (e.g., school, clubs and societies), (iv) community-level factors (e.g., home and local environment, access to facilities, social norms, time constraints and home equipment), and (v) policy-level factors (e.g., lockdown restrictions). Stay-at-home mandates resulted in perceived reductions in PA and increases in SB within the home; however, this provided alternative positive opportunities for families, including more time to spend together and exploring green and blue spaces in the local area.
Anthropometric Equations to Determine Maximum Height in Adults ≥ 60 Years: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ramos-Jiménez Arnulfo , Hernández-Torres Rosa P. , Chávez-Guevara Isaac A. , Alvarez-Sanchez José A. , García-Villalvazo Marco A. , Murguía-Romero Miguel
Published: April 2022

Although it is common to measure bone lengths for study, methodological errors in data measurement and processing often invalidate their clinical and scientific usefulness. This manuscript reviews the validity of several published equations used to determine the maximum height in older adults, since height is an anthropometric parameter widely employed in health sciences. A systematic review of original articles published in the English, Spanish, or Portuguese languages was performed in PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, Springer Link, and two institutional publisher integrators (UACJ and CONRICYT). The search terms were included in the metasearch engines in a combined way and text form using the Boolean connectors AND and OR {(Determination OR Estimation OR Equation) AND Height AND (Elderly OR “Older adults”)}. Eleven manuscripts were selected from 1935 records identified through database searching after applying the following criteria: (1) original articles that designed and validated equations for the determination of height by anthropometric methods in adults 60 years of age and older and (2) manuscripts that presented robust evidence of validation of the proposed regression models. The validity of the reported linear regression models was assessed throughout a manuscript review process called multi-objective optimization that considered the collection of the models, the prediction errors, and the adjustment values (i.e., R2, standard error of estimation, and pure error). A total of 64 equations were designed and validated in 45,449 participants (57.1% women) from four continents: America (85.3%, with 46 equations), Asia (8.1%, with 10), Europe (4.6%, with 7), and Africa (2.0%, with 1); the Hispanic American ethnic group was the most numerous in participants and equations (69.0%, with 28). Due to various omissions and methodological errors, this study did not find any valid and reliable equations to assess the maximum height in older adults by anthropometric methods. It is proposed to adjust allometric mathematical models that can be interpreted in the light of ontogenetic processes.
Food Insecurity and Health Outcomes Other than Malnutrition in Southern Africa: A Descriptive Systematic Review
Authors: Militao Elias M. A. , Salvador Elsa M. , Uthman Olalekan A. , Vinberg Stig , Macassa Gloria
Published: April 2022

Food insecurity (FI) is one of the major causes of malnutrition and is associated with a range of negative health outcomes in low and middle-income countries. The burden of FI in southern Africa is unknown, although FI continues to be a major public health problem across sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. Therefore, this review sought to identify empirical studies that related FI to health outcomes among adults in southern Africa. Altogether, 14 publications using diverse measures of FI were reviewed. The majority of the studies measured FI using modified versions of the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module. A wide range in prevalence and severity of FI was reported (18–91%), depending on the measurement tool and population under investigation. Furthermore, FI was mostly associated with hypertension, diabetes, anxiety, depression and increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition. Based on the findings, future research is needed, especially in countries with as yet no empirical studies on the subject, to identify and standardize measures of FI suitable for the southern African context and to inform public health policies and appropriate interventions aiming to alleviate FI and potentially improve health outcomes in the region.
Sport Activity Load and Skeletomuscular Robustness in Elite Youth Athletes
Authors: Kalabiska Irina , Zsakai Annamaria , Annar Dorina , Malina Robert M. , Szabo Tamas
Published: April 2022

In an earlier report, bone mineral reference values for young athletes were developed. This study addressed variations in bone mineral parameters of young athletes participating in sports with different mechanical loads. The bone mineral status of 1793 male and female athletes, 11 to 20 years of age, in several sports was measured with DEXA. Specific bone mineral parameters were converted to z-scores relative to age- and sex-specific reference values specified by the DEXA software. Z-score profiles and principal components analyses were used to identify body structural components in the young athletes and to evaluate the associations between the identified component and type of sport defined by mechanical load. A unique skeletomuscular robusticity of male wrestlers, pentathletes, and cyclists was noted: wrestlers had significantly more developed skeletomuscular robusticity and bone mineral density compared to the age-group average among elite athletes, while pentathletes and cyclists had lower bone mineral parameters than the age-group references among elite athletes. Among female athletes, bone mineral parameters of both the trunk and extremities of rhythmic gymnasts and pentathletes were significantly lower compared to the age-group means for elite athletes. The bone mineral development of elite young athletes varies with the impact forces associated with their respective sports. The skeletal development of cyclists, pentathletes, and rhythmic gymnasts should be monitored regularly as their bone development lags behind that of their athlete peers and the reference for the general population.
Managing Inhomogeneity in the Control Point Network during Staking Out Cadastral Boundaries in Austria
Authors: Weber Valentin , Navratil Gerhard , Blauensteiner Franz
Published: April 2022

The coordinate system of the Austrian cadastre is physically realised through control points provided by the national institution for surveying. Due to historical development over the centuries and changes in measurement technologies, inhomogeneities can occur within the local control point network. These inhomogeneities affect the derived boundary point coordinates. When staking out boundary points in an area with inhomogeneous control points, deviations from the boundary marks in the field can occur that exceed the accuracy requirements of the ordinance for surveying. Examples show that a suitable approach to tackle this issue has to be selected on a case-based strategy. Different situations might require different approaches. This needs to be considered in the legal framework to enable cadastral experts to select the optimal approach.
AlphaFold2: A Role for Disordered Protein/Region Prediction?
Authors: Wilson Carter J. , Choy Wing-Yiu , Karttunen Mikko
Published: April 2022

The development of AlphaFold2 marked a paradigm-shift in the structural biology community. Herein, we assess the ability of AlphaFold2 to predict disordered regions against traditional sequence-based disorder predictors. We find that AlphaFold2 performs well at discriminating disordered regions, but also note that the disorder predictor one constructs from an AlphaFold2 structure determines accuracy. In particular, a naïve, but non-trivial assumption that residues assigned to helices, strands, and H-bond stabilized turns are likely ordered and all other residues are disordered results in a dramatic overestimation in disorder; conversely, the predicted local distance difference test (pLDDT) provides an excellent measure of residue-wise disorder. Furthermore, by employing molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we note an interesting relationship between the pLDDT and secondary structure, that may explain our observations and suggests a broader application of the pLDDT for characterizing the local dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins and regions (IDPs/IDRs).
The Roles of Ubiquitination in Pathogenesis of Influenza Virus Infection
Authors: Park Eun-Sook , Dezhbord Mehrangiz , Lee Ah Ram , Kim Kyun-Hwan
Published: April 2022

The ubiquitin system denotes a potent post-translational modification machinery that is capable of activation or deactivation of target proteins through reversible linkage of a single ubiquitin or ubiquitin chains. Ubiquitination regulates major cellular functions such as protein degradation, trafficking and signaling pathways, innate immune response, antiviral defense, and virus replication. The RNA sensor RIG-I ubiquitination is specifically induced by influenza A virus (IAV) to activate type I IFN production. Influenza virus modulates the activity of major antiviral proteins in the host cell to complete its full life cycle. Its structural and non-structural proteins, matrix proteins and the polymerase complex can regulate host immunity and antiviral response. The polymerase PB1-F2 of mutated 1918 IAV, adapts a novel IFN antagonist function by sending the DDX3 into proteasomal degradation. Ultimately the fate of virus is determined by the outcome of interplay between viral components and host antiviral proteins and ubiquitination has a central role in the encounter of virus and its host cell.
Mechanism of GAPDH Redox Signaling by H2O2 Activation of a Two−Cysteine Switch
Authors: Hyslop Paul A. , Chaney Michael O.
Published: April 2022

Oxidation of glyceraldehyde−3−phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) by reactive oxygen species such as H2O2 activate pleiotropic signaling pathways is associated with pathophysiological cell fate decisions. Oxidized GAPDH binds chaperone proteins with translocation of the complex to the nucleus and mitochondria initiating autophagy and cellular apoptosis. In this study, we establish the mechanism by which H2O2−oxidized GAPDH subunits undergo a subunit conformational rearrangement. H2O2 oxidizes both the catalytic cysteine and a vicinal cysteine (four residues downstream) to their respective sulfenic acids. A ‘two−cysteine switch’ is activated, whereby the sulfenic acids irreversibly condense to an intrachain thiosulfinic ester resulting in a major metastable subunit conformational rearrangement. All four subunits of the homotetramer are uniformly and independently oxidized by H2O2, and the oxidized homotetramer is stabilized at low temperatures. Over time, subunits unfold forming disulfide−linked aggregates with the catalytic cysteine oxidized to a sulfinic acid, resulting from thiosulfinic ester hydrolysis via the highly reactive thiosulfonic ester intermediate. Molecular Dynamic Simulations provide additional mechanistic insights linking GAPDH subunit oxidation with generating a putative signaling conformer. The low−temperature stability of the H2O2−oxidized subunit conformer provides an operable framework to study mechanisms associated with gain−of−function activities of oxidized GAPDH to identify novel targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Cortactin in Lung Cell Function and Disease
Authors: Bandela Mounica , Belvitch Patrick , Garcia Joe G. N. , Dudek Steven M.
Published: April 2022

Cortactin (CTTN) is an actin-binding and cytoskeletal protein that is found in abundance in the cell cortex and other peripheral structures of most cell types. It was initially described as a target for Src-mediated phosphorylation at several tyrosine sites within CTTN, and post-translational modifications at these tyrosine sites are a primary regulator of its function. CTTN participates in multiple cellular functions that require cytoskeletal rearrangement, including lamellipodia formation, cell migration, invasion, and various other processes dependent upon the cell type involved. The role of CTTN in vascular endothelial cells is particularly important for promoting barrier integrity and inhibiting vascular permeability and tissue edema. To mediate its functional effects, CTTN undergoes multiple post-translational modifications and interacts with numerous other proteins to alter cytoskeletal structures and signaling mechanisms. In the present review, we briefly describe CTTN structure, post-translational modifications, and protein binding partners and then focus on its role in regulating cellular processes and well-established functional mechanisms, primarily in vascular endothelial cells and disease models. We then provide insights into how CTTN function affects the pathophysiology of multiple lung disorders, including acute lung injury syndromes, COPD, and asthma.
Molecular Biomarkers and Their Implications for the Early Diagnosis of Selected Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Doroszkiewicz Julia , Groblewska Magdalena , Mroczko Barbara
Published: April 2022

The degeneration and dysfunction of neurons are key features of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Currently, one of the main challenges facing researchers and clinicians is the ability to obtain reliable diagnostic tools that will allow for the diagnosis of NDs as early as possible and the detection of neuronal dysfunction, preferably in the presymptomatic stage. Additionally, better tools for assessing disease progression in this group of disorders are also being sought. The ideal biomarker must have high sensitivity and specificity, be easy to measure, give reproducible results, and reflect the disease progression. Molecular biomarkers include miRNAs and extracellular microvesicles known as exosomes. They may be measured in two extracellular fluids of the highest importance in NDs, i.e., cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. The aim of the current review is to summarize the pathophysiology of the four most frequent NDs—i.e., Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis (MS)—as well as current progress in the research into miRNAs as biomarkers in these major neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, we discuss the possibility of using miRNA-based therapies in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, and present the limitations of this type of therapy.
A Novel β-Hairpin Peptide Z-d14CFR Enhances Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Clearance in a Murine Model of Mastitis
Authors: Wang Xue , Li Shuxian , Du Mengze , Liu Ning , Shan Qiang , Zou Yunjing , Wang Jiufeng , Zhu Yaohong
Published: April 2022

The widespread prevalence of antimicrobial resistance has spawned the development of novel antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have gained comprehensive attention as one of the major alternatives to antibiotics. However, low antibacterial activity and high-cost production have limited the applications of natural AMPs. In this study, we successfully expressed recombinant Zophobas atratus (Z. atratus) defensin for the first time. In order to increase the antimicrobial activity of peptide, we designed 5 analogues derived from Z. atratus defensin, Z-d13, Z-d14C, Z-d14CF, Z-d14CR and Z-d14CFR. Our results showed that Z-d14CFR (RGCRCNSKSFCVCR-NH2) exhibited a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity to both Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant bacteria. It possessed less than 5% hemolysis and 10% cytotoxicity, even at a high concentration of 1 mg/mL. Antimicrobial mechanism studies indicated that Z-d14CFR performed antimicrobial effect via inhibiting biofilm formation, disrupting bacterial membrane integrity and inducing cellular contents release. Furthermore, Z-d14CFR showed a great therapeutic effect on the treatment of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection by enhancing bacterial clearance, decreasing neutrophils infiltration and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in a murine model of mastitis. Our findings suggest that Z-d14CFR could be a promising candidate against multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Types and Applications of Nicking Enzyme-Combined Isothermal Amplification
Authors: Cao Siyu , Tang Xiaochen , Chen Tianshu , Chen Guifang
Published: April 2022

Due to the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 at the end of 2019, rapid detection has become an urgent need for community clinics and hospitals. The rapid development of isothermal amplification detection technology for nucleic acids in the field of molecular diagnostic point-of-care testing (POCT) has gained a great deal of attention in recent years. Thanks to intensive research on nicking enzymes, nicking enzyme-combined isothermal amplification has become a promising platform for rapid detection. This is a novel technique that uses nicking enzymes to improve ordinary isothermal amplification. It has garnered significant interest as it overcomes the complexity of traditional molecular diagnostics and is not subject to temperature limitations, relying on cleavage enzymes to efficiently amplify targets in a very short time to provide a high level of amplification efficiency. In recent years, several types of nicking enzyme-combined isothermal amplification have been developed and they have shown great potential in molecular diagnosis, immunodiagnosis, biochemical identification, and other fields. However, this kind of amplification has some disadvantages. In this review, the principles, advantages and disadvantages, and applications of several nicking enzyme-combined isothermal amplification techniques are reviewed and the prospects for the development of these techniques are also considered.
The Influence of Selected Antipsychotic Drugs on Biochemical Aspects of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Podsiedlik Maria , Markowicz-Piasecka Magdalena , Sikora Joanna
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study was to assess the potency of selected antipsychotic drugs (haloperidol (HAL), bromperidol (BRMP), benperidol (BNP), penfluridol (PNF), pimozide (PIM), quetiapine (QUET) and promazine (PROM)) on the main pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Binary mixtures of donepezil and antipsychotics produce an anti-BuChE effect, which was greater than either compound alone. The combination of rivastigmine and antipsychotic drugs (apart from PNF) enhanced AChE inhibition. The tested antipsychotics (excluding HAL and PNF) significantly reduce the early stage of Aβ aggregation. BRMP, PIM, QUET and PROM were found to substantially inhibit Aβ aggregation after a longer incubation time. A test of human erythrocytes hemolysis showed that short-term incubation of red blood cells (RBCs) with QUET resulted in decreased hemolysis. The antioxidative properties of antipsychotics were also proved in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC); all tested drugs were found to significantly increase cell viability. In the case of astrocytes, BNP, PNF, PIM and PROM showed antioxidant potential.
Recent Advances in Thyroid Cancer Research
Authors: Grimm Daniela
Published: April 2022

This Special Issue (SI) “Recent Advances in Thyroid Cancer Research” covers research articles and reviews in the field of thyroid cancer research [...]
A Reliable Update of the Ainley and Mathieson Profile and Secondary Correlations
Authors: Liu Yumin , Hendrick Patrick , Zou Zhengping , Buysschaert Frank
Published: April 2022

Empirical correlations are still fundamental in the modern design paradigm of axial turbines. Among these, the prominent Ainley and Mathieson correlation (Ainley D. and Mathieson G., 1951, “A Method of Performance Estimation for Axial-Flow Turbines,” ARC Reports and Memoranda No. 2974) and its derivatives, plays a crucial role. In this paper, the underlying assumptions of the aforementioned models are discussed by means of a descriptive review, whilst an attempt is made to enhance their reliability and, potentially, accuracy in performance estimations. Closer investigation reveals an intriguing misuse of the lift coefficient in the secondary loss. In light of this, an enhanced model that, notably, builds upon the Zweifel criterion and the vortex penetration depth concept is developed and discussed. The obtained accuracy is subsequently assessed through CFD computations, employing a database comprising 109 cascades. The results indicate a 50% probability of achieving the ±15% error interval, which is twice as good as the most recent Aungier model (Aungier R., 2006, “Turbine Aerodynamics: Axial-Flow and Radial-Inflow Turbine Design and Analysis”, ASME Press, New York). Furthermore, the reliability of the proposed model is demonstrated by a reconstruction of the Smith chart, on the one hand, and a performance analysis, on the other. The reconstruction exhibits contours that conform to the original. The results of the performance study are compared with the CFD solutions of eight cascades working in off design conditions and confirm the need of the additionally included turbine design parameters, such as the axial velocity and the meanline radius ratios.
When Does the Prey/Predator Ratio Work for the Effective Biocontrol of Cotton Aphid on Cotton Seedlings?
Authors: Zhang Ping , Lu Yao , Chao Wendi , Dong Zhaoke , Ali Abid , Liu Tong-Xian , Lu Zhaozhi
Published: April 2022

The decision to delay or cancel spraying insecticides against pest aphids is dependent on the ratio of prey/predator, which reflects how well the predator can suppress the aphid population increase in the field. It is challenging to estimate the ratio of prey/predator due to the multiple factors involved in the interaction between prey and predator. Cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover) is a serious pest, widely distributed in cotton-growing areas around the world. We combined different ratios of aphids with aphid oligophagous ladybird beetles (Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus) under laboratory and garden conditions to investigate the critical threshold for prey/predator which effectively reduced the cotton aphid population increase. Two kinds of modeling were developed to understand the relationships between the ratio of prey/predator and the PGR (population growth rate), and with the effectiveness of biocontrol (EBC). We found the critical values of PGR should be less than −0.0806 (predators artificially released after 5 days) and then less than −0.075 (predators released after 10 days) if EBC is less than 50%. We recommend that the ratio of prey/predator should be less than 450 for the effective biocontrol of cotton aphids at the cotton seedling stage. These values can be reference indices for the management of aphids in mid-summer.
Using Corneal Confocal Microscopy to Identify Therapeutic Agents for Diabetic Neuropathy
Authors: Jolivalt Corinne G. , Han May Madi , Nguyen Annee , Desmond Fiona , Alves Jesus Carlos Henrique , Vasconselos Daniela C. , Pedneault Andrea , Sandlin Natalie , Dunne-Cerami Sage , Frizzi Katie E. , Calcutt Nigel A.
Published: April 2022

Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is emerging as a tool for identifying small fiber neuropathy in both peripheral neuropathies and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The value of corneal nerves as biomarkers for efficacy of clinical interventions against small fiber neuropathy and neurodegenerative disease is less clear but may be supported by preclinical studies of investigational agents. We, therefore, used diverse investigational agents to assess concordance of efficacy against corneal nerve loss and peripheral neuropathy in a mouse model of diabetes. Ocular delivery of the peptides ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) or the glucagon-like peptide (GLP) analog exendin-4, both of which prevent diabetic neuropathy when given systemically, restored corneal nerve density within 2 weeks. Similarly, ocular delivery of the muscarinic receptor antagonist cyclopentolate protected corneal nerve density while concurrently reversing indices of systemic peripheral neuropathy. Conversely, systemic delivery of the muscarinic antagonist glycopyrrolate, but not gallamine, prevented multiple indices of systemic peripheral neuropathy and concurrently protected against corneal nerve loss. These data highlight the potential for use of corneal nerve quantification by confocal microscopy as a bridging assay between in vitro and whole animal assays in drug development programs for neuroprotectants and support its use as a biomarker of efficacy against peripheral neuropathy.
Advances in Management of Voice and Swallowing Disorders
Authors: Speyer Renée
Published: April 2022

Dysphagia (swallowing disorders) and dysphonia (voice disorders) are both common disorders within the area of laryngology [...]
Mortality after Sustaining Skeletal Fractures in Relation to Age
Authors: Bergh Camilla , Möller Michael , Ekelund Jan , Brisby Helena
Published: April 2022

Age-related mortality across fractures in different anatomical regions are sparsely described, since most studies focus on specific age groups or fracture locations. The aim here was to investigate mortality at 30 days and 1 year post-fracture within four different age groups. All patients ≥ 16 years registered in the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR) 2012–2018 were included (n = 262,598 patients) and divided into four age groups: 16–49, 50–64, 65–79, and ≥80 years of age. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) at 30 days and 1 year after sustaining a fracture were calculated using age- and gender-specific life tables from Statistics Sweden for each of the 27 fracture locations in the four age groups. Absolute mortality rates for the youngest age group for all locations were below 1% and 2% at 30 days and 1 year, respectively. For the patients in the two oldest age groups (65 and older), mortality rates were as high as 5% at 30 days and up to 25% at 1 year for certain fracture locations. For younger patients a few localizations were associated with high SMRs, whereas for the oldest age group 22 out of 27 fracture locations had an SMR of ≥2 at 30 days. Fractures of the femur (proximal, diaphysis, and distal) and humerus diaphysis fractures were among the fractures associated with the highest mortality rates and SMRs within each age group. Moderately high SMRs were further seen for pelvic, acetabulum, spine, and tibia fractures within all age groups. Regardless of age, any type of femur fractures and humerus diaphysis fractures were associated with increased mortality. In the oldest age groups, about twice as many patients died within 1 year after sustaining a fracture in almost any location, as compared with the expected mortality rates, whereas in the youngest age group only fractures in a few locations were associated with a high SMR.
Deep Convolutional Neural Support Vector Machines for the Classification of Basal Cell Carcinoma Hyperspectral Signatures
Authors: Courtenay Lloyd , González-Aguilera Diego , Lagüela Susana , Pozo Susana , Ruiz Camilo , Barbero-García Innes , Román-Curto Concepción , Cañueto Javier , Santos-Durán Carlos , Cardeñoso-Álvarez María , Roncero-Riesco Mónica , Hernández-López David , Guerrero-Sevilla Diego , Rodríguez-Gonzalvez Pablo
Published: April 2022

Non-melanoma skin cancer, and basal cell carcinoma in particular, is one of the most common types of cancer. Although this type of malignancy has lower metastatic rates than other types of skin cancer, its locally destructive nature and the advantages of its timely treatment make early detection vital. The combination of multispectral imaging and artificial intelligence has arisen as a powerful tool for the detection and classification of skin cancer in a non-invasive manner. The present study uses hyperspectral images to discern between healthy and basal cell carcinoma hyperspectral signatures. Upon the combined use of convolutional neural networks, with a final support vector machine activation layer, the present study reaches up to 90% accuracy, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve being calculated at 0.9 as well. While the results are promising, future research should build upon a dataset with a larger number of patients.
The “Healthcare Workers’ Wellbeing [Benessere Operatori]” Project: A Longitudinal Evaluation of Psychological Responses of Italian Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Perego Gaia , Cugnata Federica , Brombin Chiara , Milano Francesca , Preti Emanuele , Di Pierro Rossella , De Panfilis Chiara , Madeddu Fabio , Di Mattei Valentina Elisabetta
Published: April 2022

Background: COVID-19 forced healthcare workers to work in unprecedented and critical circumstances, exacerbating already-problematic and stressful working conditions. The “Healthcare workers’ wellbeing (Benessere Operatori)” project aimed at identifying psychological and personal factors, influencing individuals’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: 291 healthcare workers took part in the project by answering an online questionnaire twice (after the first wave of COVID-19 and during the second wave) and completing questions on socio-demographic and work-related information, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, the Insomnia Severity Index, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Brief Cope. Results: Higher levels of worry, worse working conditions, a previous history of psychiatric illness, being a nurse, older age, and avoidant and emotion-focused coping strategies seem to be risk factors for healthcare workers’ mental health. High levels of perceived social support, the attendance of emergency training, and problem-focused coping strategies play a protective role. Conclusions: An innovative, and more flexible, data mining statistical approach (i.e., a regression trees approach for repeated measures data) allowed us to identify risk factors and derive classification rules that could be helpful to implement targeted interventions for healthcare workers.
Impact of Delayed Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Therapy Due to the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic on the Prognosis of Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Kim Jae-Gon , Kim Yu Cheol , Kang Kyung Tae
Published: April 2022

This study estimated the outcome of delayed intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease pandemic on the prognosis of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). This study retrospectively enrolled 57 nAMD patients whose intravitreal anti-VEGF injections were delayed for >2 weeks between February and June 2020. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central subfield thickness (CST), and anatomical characteristics were evaluated before (baseline), on the day, and at 2, 4, and 6 months after the delayed injection, and risk factors were identified. The average injection interval before and after treatment delay was 3.05 ± 1.45 and 2.41 ± 1.46 months, respectively (p = 0.002). The CST at baseline and on the day of delayed injection was 227.82 ± 62.46 and 267.26 ± 77.74 µm, respectively (p < 0.001). The average BCVA decreased from 0.29 ± 0.29 logMAR (baseline) to 0.38 ± 0.31 logMAR (6 months) (p = 0.001). The maximum subretinal fluid (SRF) height increased from 84.32 ± 89.33 µm (baseline) to 121.38 ± 103.36 µm (6 months) (p = 0.027). A higher baseline maximum SRF height was associated with less SRF height deterioration 6 months later (p < 0.001). Delayed intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened BCVA and residual SRF in nAMD patients after a temporary recovery. The baseline SRF reduce the degree of SRF height deterioration.
Relationship between a Self-Reported History of Depression and Persistent Elevation in C-Reactive Protein after Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Bielas Hannes , Meister-Langraf Rebecca E. , Schmid Jean-Paul , Barth Jürgen , Znoj Hansjörg , Schnyder Ulrich , Princip Mary , von Känel Roland
Published: April 2022

Background: Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with both an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression. We aimed to test the hypothesis that a self-report history of depression is associated with a smaller decrease in CRP levels from hospital admission to 3-month follow-up in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: We assessed 183 patients (median age 59 years; 84% men) with verified MI for a self-report history of lifetime depression and plasma CRP levels within 48 h of an acute coronary intervention and again for CRP levels at three months. CRP values were categorized according to their potential to predict CVD risk at hospital admission (acute inflammatory response: 0 to <5 mg/L, 5 to <10 mg/L, 10 to <20 mg/L, and ≥20 mg/L) and at 3 months (low-grade inflammation: 0 to <1 mg/L, 1 to <3 mg/L, and ≥3 mg/L). Additionally, in a subsample of 84 patients showing admission CRP levels below 20 mg/L, changes in continuous CRP values over time were also analyzed. Results: After adjustment for a range of potentially important covariates, depression history showed a significant association with a smaller decrease in both CRP risk categories (r = 0.261, p < 0.001) and log CRP levels (r = 0.340, p = 0.005) over time. Conclusions: Self-reported history of depression may be associated with persistently elevated systemic inflammation three months after MI. This finding warrants studies to test whether lowering of inflammation in patients with an acute MI and a history of depression may improve prognosis.