bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
No Student Left Behind: Students’ Experiences of a Self-Paced Online Learning Orientation in Undergraduate Studies during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Mshayisa Vusi Vincent , Ivala Eunice Ndeto
Published: June 2022

The rapid transition to remote online learning modality during the COVID-19 pandemic forced traditional brick-and-mortar universities to implement student support mechanisms to ensure that student learning is not impaired. This paper presents data derived from a study aimed at investigating students’ perceptions of a self-paced online learning orientation (OLO) in an undergraduate Food Science and Technology course. To elicit student responses, a mixed-method survey with a five-point Likert scale and open-ended qualitative questions was conducted via the Blackboard learning management system (LMS). In this study, participants reported having access to the LMS: using smartphones (66.3%), followed by a laptop with a webcam (38.55%), and a laptop with no webcam (26.51%). The participants also felt that it was easy to navigate (M = 3.95 ± 0.88) the OLO course, and they were able to locate the required content (M = 3.83 ± 1.03). Furthermore, results also showed that participants expressed a high commitment to accessing the LMS and reviewing course announcements (M = 4.72 ± 0.57) and kept up to date with the course activities (M = 4.58 ± 0.70) after completing the OLO. Therefore, the authors suggest that using a learner-centered OLO with authentic learning activities that mimic course activities is crucial to online students’ success in online learning. These findings have significant implications for educators who intend to re-design their courses and enhance remote online learning experiences for students.
Classification of Glaucoma Based on Elephant-Herding Optimization Algorithm and Deep Belief Network
Authors: Ali Mona A. S. , Balasubramanian Kishore , Krishnamoorthy Gayathri Devi , Muthusamy Suresh , Pandiyan Santhiya , Panchal Hitesh , Mann Suman , Thangaraj Kokilavani , El-Attar Noha E. , Abualigah Laith , Abd Elminaam Diaa Salama
Published: June 2022

This study proposes a novel glaucoma identification system from fundus images through the deep belief network (DBN) optimized by the elephant-herding optimization (EHO) algorithm. Initially, the input image undergoes the preprocessing steps of noise removal and enhancement processes, followed by optical disc (OD) and optical cup (OC) segmentation and extraction of structural, intensity, and textural features. Most discriminative features are then selected using the ReliefF algorithm and passed to the DBN for classification into glaucomatous or normal. To enhance the classification rate of the DBN, the DBN parameters are fine-tuned by the EHO algorithm. The model has experimented on public and private datasets with 7280 images, which attained a maximum classification rate of 99.4%, 100% specificity, and 99.89% sensitivity. The 10-fold cross validation reduced the misclassification and attained 98.5% accuracy. Investigations proved the efficacy of the proposed method in avoiding bias, dataset variability, and reducing false positives compared to similar works of glaucoma classification. The proposed system can be tested on diverse datasets, aiding in the improved glaucoma diagnosis.
Reactive Voltage Control Strategy for PMSG-Based Wind Farm Considering Reactive Power Adequacy and Terminal Voltage Balance
Authors: Dai Jianfeng , Wan Lei , Chang Ping , Liu Lin , Zhou Xia
Published: June 2022

To improve the ability of the power system to accommodate high penetration wind power, wind turbines (WTs) need to realize the mode transformation from grid-following to grid-forming, thus actively participating in the voltage regulation of the power grid with a high proportion of wind power. In this work, a reactive voltage control strategy for wind farms considering reactive power adequacy and terminal voltage balance is proposed. Firstly, the expression of the maximum reactive power regulation capacity of WT, namely reactive power adequacy, is derived under the complete wind condition based on the mathematical model and operating characteristics of WT, to study the influence of wake effect on reactive power adequacy of a wind farm. Then, the point of common coupling (PCC) voltage and terminal voltage are expressed analytically based on the radiative topology equivalent model of a wind farm, to analyze the influence of electrical distance on active power loss of wind farm. Finally, the calculation method of the adaptive gain coefficient of WT is put forward, which comprehensively considers the input wind speed and the electrical distance, to regulate the PCC voltage and terminal voltage simultaneously. The comprehensive effectiveness of the proposed strategy is demonstrated on a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG)-based wind farm integration simulation model. While supporting the PCC voltage, the proposed strategy maintains the balance of the terminal voltage in the wind farm, thereby improving the friendliness of wind power grid connection.
CXAI: Explaining Convolutional Neural Networks for Medical Imaging Diagnostic
Authors: Rguibi Zakaria , Hajami Abdelmajid , Zitouni Dya , Elqaraoui Amine , Bedraoui Anas
Published: June 2022

Deep learning models have been increasingly applied to medical images for tasks such as lesion detection, segmentation, and diagnosis. However, the field suffers from the lack of concrete definitions for usable explanations in different settings. To identify specific aspects of explainability that may catalyse building trust in deep learning models, we will use some techniques to demonstrate many aspects of explaining convolutional neural networks in a medical imaging context. One important factor influencing clinician’s trust is how well a model can justify its predictions or outcomes. Clinicians need understandable explanations about why a machine-learned prediction was made so they can assess whether it is accurate and clinically useful. The provision of appropriate explanations has been generally understood to be critical for establishing trust in deep learning models. However, there lacks a clear understanding on what constitutes an explanation that is both understandable and useful across different domains such as medical image analysis, which hampers efforts towards developing explanatory tool sets specifically tailored towards these tasks. In this paper, we investigated two major directions for explaining convolutional neural networks: feature-based post hoc explanatory methods that try to explain already trained and fixed target models and preliminary analysis and choice of the model architecture with an accuracy of 98% ± 0.156% from 36 CNN architectures with different configurations.
Study on the Positioning Accuracy of the GNSS/INS System Supported by the RTK Receiver for Railway Measurements
Authors: Specht Mariusz , Specht Cezary , Stateczny Andrzej , Burdziakowski Paweł , Dąbrowski Paweł , Lewicka Oktawia
Published: June 2022

Currently, the primary method for determining the object coordinates is positioning using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) supported by Inertial Navigation Systems (INS). The main goal of this solution is to ensure high positioning availability, particularly when access to satellite signals is limited (in tunnels, areas with densely concentrated buildings and in forest areas). The aim of this article is to determine whether the GNSS/INS system supported by the RTK receiver is suitable for the implementation of selected geodetic and construction tasks in railway engineering, such as determining the place and extent of rail track deformations (1 cm (p = 0.95)), the process of a rapid stocktaking of existing rail tracks (3 cm (p = 0.95)) and for design and construction works (10 cm (p = 0.95)), as well as what the impact of various terrain obstacles have on the obtained positioning accuracy of the tested system. During the research, one INS was used, the Ekinox2-U by the SBG Systems, which was supported by the Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) receiver. GNSS/INS measurements were conducted on three representative sections varying in terms of terrain obstacles that limit the access to satellite signals during mobile railway measurements in Tricity (Poland). The acquired data allowed us to calculate the basic position accuracy measures that are commonly used in navigation and transport applications. On this basis, it was concluded that the Ekinox2-U system can satisfy the positioning accuracy requirements for rapid stocktaking of existing rail tracks (3 cm (p = 0.95)), as well as for design and construction works (10 cm (p = 0.95)). On the other hand, the system cannot be used to determine the place and extent of rail track deformations (1 cm (p = 0.95)).
Structural Optimization of Jet Fish Pump Design Based on a Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Xu Maosen , Zeng Guorui , Wu Dazhuan , Mou Jiegang , Zhao Jianfang , Zheng Shuihua , Huang Bin , Ren Yun
Published: June 2022

Jet fish pumps are efficient hydraulic machinery for fish transportation. Yet, the complex flow phenomenon in it is the major potential risk for damage to fish. The dangerous flow phenomena for fish, such as radial pressure gradient and exposure strain rate, are usually controlled by the structural parameters of jet fish pumps. Therefore, the injury rate of fish can be theoretically decreased by the structural optimization design of jet fish pumps. However, there is a complex nonlinear relation between flow phenomena and key structural parameters. To solve this problem, the present paper established a complex mapping between flow phenomena and structural parameters, based on computational fluid dynamics and a back-propagation neural network. According to this mapping, an NSGA-II multi-objective genetic algorithm was used to optimize the structure of jet fish pumps. The results showed that the optimized jet fish pumps could reduce the internal radial pressure gradient, exposure strain rate and danger zone to 40%, 12.5% and 50% of the pre-optimization level, respectively. Therefore, the optimized jet fish pump could significantly reduce the risk of fish injuries and keep the pump efficiency at a high level. The results could provide a certain reference for relevant structural optimization problems.
Getting Value from Pulp and Paper Industry Wastes: On the Way to Sustainability and Circular Economy
Authors: Amândio Mariana S. T. , Pereira Joana M. , Rocha Jorge M. S. , Serafim Luísa S. , Xavier Ana M. R. B.
Published: June 2022

The pulp and paper industry is recognized as a well-established sector, which throughout its process, generates a vast amount of waste streams with the capacity to be valorized. Typically, these residues are burned for energy purposes, but their use as substrates for biological processes could be a more efficient and sustainable alternative. With this aim, it is essential to identify and characterize each type of waste to determine its biotechnological potential. In this context, this research highlights possible alternatives with lower environmental impact and higher revenues. The bio-based pathway should be a promising alternative for the valorization of pulp and paper industry wastes, in particular for bioproduct production such as bioethanol, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and biogas. This article focuses on state of the art regarding the identification and characterization of these wastes, their main applied deconstruction technologies and the valorization pathways reported for the production of the abovementioned bioproducts.
Identification and Comparative Analysis of Conserved and Species-Specific microRNAs in Four Populus Sections
Authors: Qi Yong-Li , Xue Liang-Jiao , El-Kassaby Yousry A. , Guo Ying
Published: June 2022

The conservation and diversity of microRNA (miRNA) families provide insights into the evolution of miRNA genes. However, there are few studies to explore the miRNA genes at the genus level in plants. Here, we identified 1194 miRNA loci in four Populus species P. deltoides, P. euphratica, P. tremula, and P. trichocarpa from Aigeiros, Turanga, Populus, and Tacamahaca sections, respectively, by combining de novo and homolog-based approaches. Our results indicated that a similar number of miRNA loci exist in each species (296–301 miRNA loci). Among the identified 143 miRNA families, 68 families are shared by the studied four species, and 31 families are species-specific, which might be related to local adaptation. Additionally, multiple miRNA-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found, indicating that polymorphisms in pre-miRNA hairpins were likely to affect miRNA biogenesis. This study expanded the breadth and depth of miRNA annotations and provided valuable resources for further exploring the diversity and function of poplar miRNAs.
Global Sensitivity Analysis of the LPJ Model for Larix olgensis Henry Forests NPP in Jilin Province, China
Authors: Li Yun , Wang Yifu , Sun Yujun , Li Jie
Published: June 2022

Parameter sensitivity analysis can determine the influence of the input parameters on the model output. Identification and calibration of critical parameters are the crucial points of the process model optimization. Based on the Extended Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test (EFAST) and the Morris method, this paper analyzes and compares the parameter sensitivity of the annual mean net primary productivity (NPP) of Larix olgensis Henry forests in Jilin Province simulated by the Lund–Potsdam–Jena dynamic global vegetation model (LPJ model) in 2009–2014 and 2000–2019, and deeply examines the sensitivity and influence of the two methods to each parameter and their respective influence on the model’s output. Moreover, it optimizes some selected parameters and re-simulates the NPP of Larix olgensis forests in Jilin Province from 2010 to 2019. The conclusions are the following: (1) For the LPJ model, the sensitive and non-influential parameters could be identified, which could guide the optimization order of the model and was valuable for model area applications. (2) The results of the two methods were similar but not identical. The sensitivity parameters were significantly correlated (p < 0.05); parameter krp was the most sensitive parameter, followed by parameters αm, αa and gm. These sensitive parameters were mainly found in the photosynthesis, water balance, and allometric growth modules. (3) The EFAST method had a higher precision than the Morris method, which could calculate quantitatively the contribution rate of each parameter to the variances of the model results; however, the Morris method involved fewer model running times and higher efficiency. (4) The mean relative error (MRE) and mean absolute error (MAE) of the simulated value of LPJ model after parameter optimization decreases. The optimized annual mean value of NPP from 2010 to 2019 was 580 g C m−2 a−1, with a mean annual growth rate of 2.13%, exhibiting a fluctuating growth trend. The MAE of the simulated value of LPJ model after parameter optimization decreases.
Unsteady Flow Oscillations in a 3-D Ventilated Model Room with Convective Heat Transfer
Authors: Yao Jun , Yao Yufeng
Published: June 2022

Improving indoor air quality and energy consumption is one of the high demands in the building sector. In this study, unsteady flow oscillations in a 3-D ventilated model room with convective heat transfer have been studied for three configurations of an empty room (case 1), a room with an unheated box (case 2) and a room with a heated box (case 3). Computational results are validated against experimental data of airflow velocity, temperature and turbulence kinetic energy. For each case, flow unsteadiness is presented by the time history of airflow velocity and temperature at prescribed monitor points and further analyzed using the Fast Fourier Transform technique. For case 1, the flow oscillation is irregular and less dependent on the monitor points. For case 2, the flow oscillation is still irregular but with increased frequency, possibly due to enhanced flow recirculation around the corners of the unheated box. For case 3, a dominant frequency exists, and thermal energy oscillating is higher than flow kinetic energy. Among the three cases, case 3 has the highest dominant frequency in a range of 4.3–4.6 Hz, but the kinetic energy is the lowest at 1.25 m2⁄s. The unsteady flow oscillation is likely due to a high Grashof number and corner flow recirculation for cases 1 and 2, and a combination effect of a high Grashof number, corner flow recirculation and thermal instability (induced by the formation and movement of the thermal plume) for case 3.
The Healthy Food Environment Policy Index in Poland: Implementation Gaps and Actions for Improvement
Authors: Romaniuk Piotr , Kaczmarek Krzysztof , Brukało Katarzyna , Grochowska-Niedworok Elżbieta , Łobczowska Karolina , Banik Anna , Luszczynska Aleksandra , Poelman Maartje , Harrington Janas M. , Vandevijvere Stefanie ,   on behalf of the PEN Consortium
Published: June 2022

Background: Poland is facing the growing problem of overweight and obesity in the population, which makes it necessary to conduct a thorough assessment of the existing food environment policies. The aims of the study were: (1) to depict the strength of healthy food environment policies in Poland and identify implementation policies and infrastructure support gaps; (2) to identify and prioritise improvement policies, taking into account their importance, achievability and equity. Methods: We used the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI). An experts’ panel rated Polish policies and infrastructure compared to international best practices and developed a list of recommended improvement actions addressing both components. Results: eight of the twenty-two policy and four of the twenty-two infrastructure indicators achieved the “no/very weak policy” result. Another four policy and five infrastructure indicators were considered “weak”. Another seven and eight indicators, respectively, were assessed as “moderate”. Among the identified actions, the highest priority was given to a food labelling system and training for persons involved in nutrition in schools. Conclusions: The Polish healthy food environment has been assessed as very weak or weak in most aspects. The infrastructure was assessed as slightly better compared to the policies domain, with more indicators receiving the “moderate” score.
Formation of the Lened W-(Be) Skarn Deposit by Neutralization of a Magmatic Fluid—Evidence from H3BO3-Rich Fluids
Authors: Legros Hélène , Elongo Vanessa , Laurent Oscar , Adlakha Erin , Chelle-Michou Cyril , Falck Hendrik , Lecumberri-Sanchez Pilar
Published: June 2022

Magmatic-hydrothermal systems, especially those causing the formation of tungsten deposits, may be enriched in boron, as is suggested by the presence of hydrothermal tourmaline. This study examines the boron and metal (including tungsten) concentrations of quartz-hosted fluid inclusions in the Lened W-(Be) deposit of the Canadian Cordillera and resolves (i) the analytical challenges involved during fluid salinity calculations of B-rich fluids and (ii) the relationship between fluid chemical composition and ore-forming processes involved at Lened. The aqueous fluid inclusions from this study have high CO2 and boron contents, indicated by the presence of a carbonic phase and sassolite crystals (H3BO3) in fluid inclusions. The boron content of the aqueous liquid phase (0.5 wt. %) was determined using microthermometric and Raman spectroscopic analyses. Boron was judged the most appropriate internal standard for quantifying the LA-ICP-MS data from these inclusions after calculation of salinity in the H2O-NaCl-H3BO3 system (3.5 to 5 wt. % NaCleq). Trace element data of the fluids show relatively high concentrations of Li (40 to 474 ppm), Al (56 to 1003 ppm), As (36 to 490 ppm) and Cs (68 to 296 ppm); and lower concentrations of Rb (3.6 to 77 ppm), Sr (0.4 to 23 ppm), Sb (1 to 32 ppm), Ba (0.6 to 163 ppm), Mg (6.9 to 7.6 ppm) and other metals, such as Be (2.4 to 10.2 ppm), W (2.4 to 27 ppm) and Cu (5.1 to 73 ppm). The high Cs and Li concentrations suggest a magmatic origin of the metals, while the moderate concentrations in Sr and Ba are indicative of fluid–rock interaction with the surrounding limestone. The presence of sassolite suggests that these fluids were highly acidic. The neutralization of this fluid through interaction with the surrounding limestone is the most probable trigger for scheelite precipitation. The presence of such high boron content in the magmatic fluid at Lened indicates the potential role in the enrichment of the source melt before fluid exsolution.
An Investigation of Customer Psychological Perceptions of Green Consciousness in a Green Hotel Context: Applying a Extended Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Kim Taeuk , Ha Jungwoo
Published: June 2022

We investigated the relationship between green consciousness and green behavior, and the relationship between psychological state, attitude, and behavior of green hotel customers by applying variables suitable for an expanded theory of planned behavior. The purpose of the study was to predict green behavior based on the theory of planned behavior. Together with preceding research including the correlation between customers’ image perception of green corporate social responsibility (CSR), green psychological benefit, and green consciousness, we added willingness to sacrifice for the environment to define the relationship with green consciousness and green behavior. A survey was conducted with 410 customers of green hotels in Seoul, Korea more than twice over a period of over 6~12 months. Vague and insincere answers were removed. SPSS 18.0 and Amos 20.0 were used to conduct factor and SEM data analysis. Our theory was verified and adopted following validation from our analysis. The results have important theoretical and practical implications for the environment by providing primary data on customers’ perceptions of eco friendliness to support the establishment of corporate management strategies. Moreover, they may encourage green hotels to participate in preventing environmental problems.
Exposure to Airborne Pesticides and Its Residue in Blood Serum of Paddy Farmers in Malaysia
Authors: Rudzi Siti Khairunnisaq , Ho Yu Bin , Tan Eugenie Sin Sing , Jalaludin Juliana , Ismail Patimah
Published: June 2022

Background: Pesticides manage pests and diseases in agriculture, but they harm the health of agricultural workers. Concentrations of thirteen pesticides were determined in personal air and blood serum of 85 paddy farmers and 85 non-farmers, thereafter associated with health symptoms. Method: Samples were analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Results: The median concentration of pesticides in personal air samples ranged from 10.69 to 188.49 ng/m3 for farmers and from 5.79 to 73.66 ng/m3 for non-farmers. The median concentration of pesticides in blood serum was from 58.27 to 210.12 ng/mL for farmers and 47.83 to 62.74 ng/mL for non-farmers. Concentration of eleven pesticides in personal air and twelve pesticides in blood serum were significantly higher in farmers than non-farmers (p < 0.05). All pesticides detected in personal air correlated significantly with concentration in the blood serum of farmers (p < 0.05). Health symptoms reported by farmers were dizziness (49.4%), nausea (47.1%), cough (35.3%), chest pain (30.6%), breathing difficulty (23.5%), sore throat (22.4%), vomiting (18.8%), phlegm (16.5%), and wheezing (15.3%). Concentration of pesticides in personal air, blood serum, and health symptoms were not significantly associated. Conclusion: Occupational exposure to pesticides significantly contaminates blood serum of farmers compared to non-farmers.
Bedside Teaching in Rural Family Medicine Education in Japan
Authors: Ohta Ryuichi , Sano Chiaki
Published: June 2022

Bedside teaching is essential in family medicine education so that residents may learn about various clinical conditions and develop professional skills. In particular, bedside teaching is useful in a rural context because rural family medicine deals with a broad scope of biopsychosocial problems among older patients. Accordingly, based on an inductive thematic analysis, we propose a framework for bedside teaching in rural family medicine education, which consists of four themes: accommodation of different learners, near-peer learning, the change in engagement of medical teachers in bedside teaching, and driving interpersonal collaboration. Bedside teaching can promote interactions between different medical learners. Near-peer learning in bedside teaching compensates for the limited availability of educators and improves learners’ motivation for self-directed learning. Through bedside teaching, medical learners can observe each other and provide constructive feedback, thereby improving their relationships and learning. For effective bedside teaching, medical educators should facilitate learners and collaborate with other medical professionals. Additionally, bedside teaching should accommodate a variety of learners, facilitate near-peer and self-directed learning, educators’ involvement based on cognitive apprenticeship, along with interprofessional collaboration with nurses. Interprofessional collaboration between rural family medicine teachers, learners, and nurses may improve the quality of patient care due to the increased understanding between patients and other medical staff in hospitals.
Retention in Community Health Screening among Taiwanese Adults: A 9-Year Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Chang Huan-Cheng , Chang Ting-Huan , Kang Hsiao-Yen , Chen Yu-Wei , Chen Sheng-Pyng , Wang Mei-Chin , Liang Jersey
Published: June 2022

Largely conducted in Western developed nations, research on community health screening has mainly been of limited duration. This study aims to ascertain the predictors of retention in a community health screening program, involving multiple admission cohorts over a 9-year period in Taiwan. Retention is defined as the participation in subsequent waves of health screening after being recruited for an initial screening. Data came from a prospective cohort study, named “Landseed Integrated Outreaching Neighborhood Screening (LIONS)”, in Taiwan. This research retrieved 5901 community-dwelling Taiwanese adults aged 30 and over from LIONS and examined their retention in three follow-ups during 2006–2014. Generalized estimating equations were employed to evaluate retention over time as a function of social determinants, health behaviors, and health conditions. Being middle-aged, higher education, and regular exercise were positively associated with retention. Conversely, smoking, betel-nut chewing, psychiatric disorder, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, stroke, and a longer time interval since enrollment were negatively associated with retention. Furthermore, retention rates varied substantially across admission cohorts with more recent cohorts having a lower rate of retention (aOR = 0.33–0.83). Greater attention needs to be directed to retention over time and variations across admission cohorts. Additionally, those who are in either younger or older age groups and have chronic diseases or unhealthy behaviors should be targeted with greater efforts.
Development, Pilot Study, and Psychometric Analysis of the AHRQ Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) Workplace Safety Supplemental Items for Hospitals
Authors: Zebrak Katarzyna , Yount Naomi , Sorra Joann , Famolaro Theresa , Gray Laura , Carpenter Deborah , Caporaso Andrew
Published: June 2022

Workplace safety is critical for advancing patient safety and eliminating harm to both the healthcare workforce and patients. The purpose of this study was to develop and test survey items that can be used in conjunction with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) Hospital Survey to assess how the organizational culture in hospitals supports workplace safety for providers and staff. After conducting a literature review and background interviews with workplace safety experts, we identified key areas of workplace safety culture (workplace hazards, moving/transferring/lifting patients, workplace aggression, supervisor/management support for workplace safety, workplace safety reporting, and work stress/burnout) and drafted survey items to assess these areas. Survey items were cognitively tested and pilot tested with the SOPS Hospital Survey 2.0 among providers and staff in 28 U.S. hospitals. We conducted psychometric analysis on data from 6684 respondents. Confirmatory factor analysis results (item factor loadings and model fit indices), internal consistency reliability, and site-level reliability were acceptable for the 16 survey items grouped into 6 composite measures. Most composite measures were significantly correlated with each other and with the overall rating on workplace safety, demonstrating conceptual convergence among survey measures. Hospitals and researchers can use the Workplace Safety Supplemental items to assess the dimensions of organizational culture that support provider and staff safety and to identify both strengths and areas for improvement.
Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients with Marfan Syndrome—Polish Study
Authors: Trawicka Agnieszka , Lewandowska-Walter Aleksandra , Majkowicz Mikołaj , Sabiniewicz Robert , Woźniak-Mielczarek Lidia
Published: June 2022

Background: Despite extensive knowledge about the quality of life of people suffering from rare diseases, data on patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) are scarce and inconsistent. Hence, the problem of assessing the quality of life (QOL) and its relationship with the assessment of which ailments are the most burdensome for these patients is still open. Aim: Comparison of the quality of life of patients with MFS and determination as to which of the reported complaints in patients with MFS are related to the QOL of patients. Methods: The study included 35 patients with MFS and 35 healthy controls, matched for gender and age. In the study, the questionnaire of quality of life assessment SF-36 was used to assess the level of health-related quality of life, as well as an interview of the most severe symptoms reported by patients with MFS. Results: The level of the physical dimension of the QOL (p < 0.001) and limiting of roles due to physical health (p = 0.002), as well as the level of general index of the QOL (p < 0.001), were statistically significantly lower in MFS patients when compared to controls. People from both studied groups do not vary in the scope of pain, vitality, social functioning, limiting the roles due to emotional problems, and state of mind but also in the mental dimension of the health-related quality of life (HRQL). Additionally, there has been a correlation between HRQL and the subjective assessment of the effects of orthopedic, ophthalmic, and cardiological problems in life, as well as lower exercise tolerance in the evaluation of people with MFS and QOL in most areas. Conclusions: Patients with MFS present a reduced QOL in the areas of physical functioning, limiting roles due to physical health, general feeling of general health, the physical dimension of the HRQL, and the general index of the QOL; in these areas, they require careful evaluation, as well as medical and psychosocial assistance.
Early Childhood Caries Is Causally Attributed to Developing Psychomotor Deficiency in Pre-School Children: The Resultant Covariate and Confounder Analyses in a Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Liang Chen-Yi , Teng Andy Yen-Tung , Liu Yen Chun
Published: June 2022

Background: Causality has recently been suggested to associate early childhood caries with psychomotor deficiency in preschoolers, where their causal interactions via other risk determinants remain unclear. Methods: To analyze such causality, we randomly recruited 123 three-to-six-year-old children in a three-year longitudinal study, where the caries/dmft measures, age/gender, BMI, amended comprehensive scales for psychomotor development (CCDI-aspects), parental education/vocation, and diet were collected for assessment of their inter-relationships. Subsequently, t-tests, multiple/linear-regressions, and R2-analyses were utilized to compare the differences of variables between age/gender, BMI, and dmft vs. relationships among all variables and CCDI-aspects. Results: In the regression modeling, there were significant differences between gender vs. age (p < 0.05; not BMI) regarding established associations between caries and CCDI manifests for psychomotor deficiency. As for diet vs. socio-economic status, there were significant differences when caries/dmft were at lower- vs. higher-scales (<4 and 6–10), associated with expressive language and comprehension-concept (p~0.0214–0.0417) vs. gross-motor and self-help (p~0.0134–0.0486), respectively. Moreover, diet vs. socio-economic-status contributed significantly different CCDI-spectra via expressive language and comprehension-concept (adjusted-R2~0.0220–0.2463) vs. gross-motor and self-help (adjusted-R2~0.0645–0.0994), respectively, when the caries detected were at lower- vs. higher-scales (<4 and 6–10), in contrast to those depicted without both SES diet variables (adjusted-R2~0.0641–0.0849). Conclusion: These new findings confirm that early childhood caries is causally attributed to developing psychomotor deficiency in preschoolers, whereas biological gender/age, not BMI, may act as viable confounders during interactions, in contrast to diet and socio-economic status, via differential low–high scales of caries activity with significant interference, respectively. Collectively, ECC-psychomotor interactions may underpin some distinct biologic vs. socio-mental/psyche attributes towards different determinants for vulnerable children.
Exosome-Mediated Response to Cancer Therapy: Modulation of Epigenetic Machinery
Authors: Khan Mohammad Imran , Alsayed Reem K. M. E. , Choudhry Hani , Ahmad Aamir
Published: June 2022

Exosomes, the extracellular vesicles produced in the endosomal compartments, facilitate the transportation of proteins as well as nucleic acids. Epigenetic modifications are now considered important for fine-tuning the response of cancer cells to various therapies, and the acquired resistance against targeted therapies often involves dysregulated epigenetic modifications. Depending on the constitution of their cargo, exosomes can affect several epigenetic events, thus impacting post-transcriptional regulations. Thus, a role of exosomes as facilitators of epigenetic modifications has come under increased scrutiny in recent years. Exosomes can deliver methyltransferases to recipient cells and, more importantly, non-coding RNAs, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs), represent an important exosome cargo that can affect the expression of several oncogenes and tumor suppressors, with a resulting impact on cancer therapy resistance. Exosomes often harbor other non-coding RNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs that support resistance. The exosome-mediated transfer of all this cargo between cancer cells and their surrounding cells, especially tumor-associated macrophages and cancer-associated fibroblasts, has a profound effect on the sensitivity of cancer cells to several chemotherapeutics. This review focuses on the exosome-induced modulation of epigenetic events with resulting impact on sensitivity of cancer cells to various therapies, such as, tamoxifen, cisplatin, gemcitabine and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. A better understanding of the mechanisms by which exosomes can modulate response to therapy in cancer cells is critical for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to target cancer drug resistance.
Physical Activity Rewires the Human Brain against Neurodegeneration
Authors: Santiago Jose A. , Quinn James P. , Potashkin Judith A.
Published: June 2022

Physical activity may offset cognitive decline and dementia, but the molecular mechanisms by which it promotes neuroprotection remain elusive. In the absence of disease-modifying therapies, understanding the molecular effects of physical activity in the brain may be useful for identifying novel targets for disease management. Here we employed several bioinformatic methods to dissect the molecular underpinnings of physical activity in brain health. Network analysis identified ‘switch genes’ associated with drastic hippocampal transcriptional changes in aged cognitively intact individuals. Switch genes are key genes associated with dramatic transcriptional changes and thus may play a fundamental role in disease pathogenesis. Switch genes are associated with protein processing pathways and the metabolic control of glucose, lipids, and fatty acids. Correlation analysis showed that transcriptional patterns associated with physical activity significantly overlapped and negatively correlated with those of neurodegenerative diseases. Functional analysis revealed that physical activity might confer neuroprotection in Alzheimer’s (AD), Parkinson’s (PD), and Huntington’s (HD) diseases via the upregulation of synaptic signaling pathways. In contrast, in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) its effects are mediated by restoring mitochondrial function and energy precursors. Additionally, physical activity is associated with the downregulation of genes involved in inflammation in AD, neurogenesis in FTD, regulation of growth and transcriptional repression in PD, and glial cell differentiation in HD. Collectively, these findings suggest that physical activity directs transcriptional changes in the brain through different pathways across the broad spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases. These results provide new evidence on the unique and shared mechanisms between physical activity and neurodegenerative diseases.
Neuroinflammation in Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: Current Evidence, Advances, and Prospects
Authors: Tian Zhengming , Ji Xunming , Liu Jia
Published: June 2022

Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) is a major heterogeneous brain disease caused by multiple factors, and it is the second most common type of dementia in the world. It is caused by long-term chronic low perfusion in the whole brain or local brain area, and it eventually develops into severe cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Because of the disease’s ambiguous classification and diagnostic criteria, there is no clear treatment strategy for VCID, and the association between cerebrovascular pathology and cognitive impairment is controversial. Neuroinflammation is an immunological cascade reaction mediated by glial cells in the central nervous system where innate immunity resides. Inflammatory reactions could be triggered by various damaging events, including hypoxia, ischemia, and infection. Long-term chronic hypoperfusion-induced ischemia and hypoxia can overactivate neuroinflammation, causing apoptosis, blood–brain barrier damage and other pathological changes, triggering or aggravating the occurrence and development of VCID. In this review, we will explore the mechanisms of neuroinflammation induced by ischemia and hypoxia caused by chronic hypoperfusion and emphasize the important role of neuroinflammation in the development of VCID from the perspective of immune cells, immune mediators and immune signaling pathways, so as to provide valuable ideas for the prevention and treatment of the disease.
Autophagy-Mediated Regulation of Different Meristems in Plants
Authors: Cheng Shan , Wang Qi , Manghwar Hakim , Liu Fen
Published: June 2022

Autophagy is a highly conserved cell degradation process that widely exists in eukaryotic cells. In plants, autophagy helps maintain cellular homeostasis by degrading and recovering intracellular substances through strict regulatory pathways, thus helping plants respond to a variety of developmental and environmental signals. Autophagy is involved in plant growth and development, including leaf starch degradation, senescence, anthers development, regulation of lipid metabolism, and maintenance of peroxisome mass. More and more studies have shown that autophagy plays a role in stress response and contributes to maintain plant survival. The meristem is the basis for the formation and development of new tissues and organs during the post-embryonic development of plants. The differentiation process of meristems is an extremely complex process, involving a large number of morphological and structural changes, environmental factors, endogenous hormones, and molecular regulatory mechanisms. Recent studies have demonstrated that autophagy relates to meristem development, affecting plant growth and development under stress conditions, especially in shoot and root apical meristem. Here, we provide an overview of the current knowledge about how autophagy regulates different meristems under different stress conditions and possibly provide new insights for future research.
A Lack of GD3 Synthase Leads to Impaired Renal Expression of Connexins and Pannexin1 in St8sia1 Knockout Mice
Authors: Meter Diana , Racetin Anita , Vukojević Katarina , Balog Marta , Ivić Vedrana , Zjalić Milorad , Heffer Marija , Filipović Natalija
Published: June 2022

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of altered ganglioside composition on the expression of Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, Cx45, and Panx1 in different kidney regions of St8sia1 gene knockout mice (St8sia1 KO) lacking the GD3 synthase enzyme. Experiments were performed in twelve male 6-month-old mice: four wild-type (C57BL/6-type, WT) and eight St8sia1 KO mice. After euthanasia, kidney tissue was harvested, embedded in paraffin wax, and processed for immunohistochemistry. The expression of connexins and Panx1 was determined in different regions of the kidney: cortex (CTX.), outer stripe of outer medulla (O.S.), inner stripe of outer medulla (IN.S.), and inner medulla (IN.MED.). We determined significantly lower expression of Cx37, Cx40, Cx45, and Panx1 in different parts of the kidneys of St8sia1 KO mice compared with WT. The most consistent decrease was found in the O.S. where all markers (Cx 37, 40, 45 and Panx1) were disrupted in St8si1 KO mice. In the CTX. region, we observed decrease in the expression of Cx37, Cx45, and Panx1, while reduced expression of Cx37 and Panx1 was more specific to IN.S. The results of the present study suggest that deficiency of GD3 synthase in St8sia1 KO mice leads to disruption of renal Cx expression, which is probably related to alteration of ganglioside composition.
Antamanide Analogs as Potential Inhibitors of Tyrosinase
Authors: Honisch Claudia , Gazziero Matteo , Dallocchio Roberto , Dessì Alessandro , Fabbri Davide , Dettori Maria Antonietta , Delogu Giovanna , Ruzza Paolo
Published: June 2022

The tyrosinase enzyme, which catalyzes the hydroxylation of monophenols and the oxidation of o-diphenols, is typically involved in the synthesis of the dark product melanin starting from the amino acid tyrosine. Contributing to the browning of plant and fruit tissues and to the hyperpigmentation of the skin, leading to melasma or age spots, the research of possible tyrosinase inhibitors has attracted much interest in agri-food, cosmetic, and medicinal industries. In this study, we analyzed the capability of antamanide, a mushroom bioactive cyclic decapeptide, and some of its glycine derivatives, compared to that of pseudostellarin A, a known tyrosinase inhibitor, to hinder tyrosinase activity by using a spectrophotometric method. Additionally, computational docking studies were performed in order to elucidate the interactions occurring with the tyrosinase catalytic site. Our results show that antamanide did not exert any inhibitory activity. On the contrary, the three glycine derivatives AG9, AG6, and AOG9, which differ from each other by the position of a glycine that substitutes phenylalanine in the parent molecule, improving water solubility and flexibility, showed tyrosinase inhibition by spectrophotometric assays. Analytical data were confirmed by computational studies.
Unraveling Nitrogen Fixing Potential of Endophytic Diazotrophs of Different Saccharum Species for Sustainable Sugarcane Growth
Authors: Singh Rajesh Kumar , Singh Pratiksha , Sharma Anjney , Guo Dao-Jun , Upadhyay Sudhir K. , Song Qi-Qi , Verma Krishan K. , Li Dong-Ping , Malviya Mukesh Kumar , Song Xiu-Peng , Yang Li-Tao , Li Yang-Rui
Published: June 2022

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is one of the world’s highly significant commercial crops. The amounts of synthetic nitrogen (N2) fertilizer required to grow the sugarcane plant at its initial growth stages are higher, which increases the production costs and adverse environmental consequences globally. To combat this issue, sustainable environmental and economic concerns among researchers are necessary. The endophytic diazotrophs can offer significant amounts of nitrogen to crops through the biological nitrogen fixation mediated nif gene. The nifH gene is the most extensively utilized molecular marker in nature for studying N2 fixing microbiomes. The present research intended to determine the existence of novel endophytic diazotrophs through culturable and unculturable bacterial communities (EDBCs). The EDBCs of different tissues (root, stem, and leaf) of five sugarcane cultivars (Saccharum officinarum L. cv. Badila, S. barberi Jesw.cv Pansahi, S. robustum, S. spontaneum, and S. sinense Roxb.cv Uba) were isolated and molecularly characterized to evaluate N2 fixation ability. The diversity of EDBCs was observed based on nifH gene Illumina MiSeq sequencing and a culturable approach. In this study, 319766 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified from 15 samples. The minimum number of OTUs was recorded in leaf tissues of S. robustum and maximum reads in root tissues of S. spontaneum. These data were assessed to ascertain the structure, diversity, abundance, and relationship between the microbial community. A total of 40 bacterial families with 58 genera were detected in different sugarcane species. Bacterial communities exhibited substantially different alpha and beta diversity. In total, 16 out of 20 genera showed potent N2-fixation in sugarcane and other crops. According to principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering (Bray–Curtis dis) evaluation of OTUs, bacterial microbiomes associated with root tissues differed significantly from stem and leaf tissues of sugarcane. Significant differences often were observed in EDBCs among the sugarcane tissues. We tracked and validated the plethora of individual phylum strains and assessed their nitrogenase activity with a culture-dependent technique. The current work illustrated the significant and novel results of many uncharted endophytic microbial communities in different tissues of sugarcane species, which provides an experimental system to evaluate the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) mechanism in sugarcane. The novel endophytic microbial communities with N2-fixation ability play a remarkable and promising role in sustainable agriculture production.