bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Possibilities for Harmonisation between Recreation Services and Their Production within the Forest Sector—A Case Study of Municipal Forest Enterprise Hradec Králové (CZ)
Authors: Jůza Radek , Jarský Vilém , Riedl Marcel , Zahradník Daniel , Šišák Luděk
Published: December 2020

This paper deals with the possibility of harmonising the needs of society and the possibilities of the forest property manager. The Municipal forest enterprise of the city of Hradec Králové (MLHK) in the Czech Republic (CZ) is an example of this principle, which proves that the intensive development of a recreational service is possible without limiting this principle. The forest enterprise manages 3707 ha of forest in the immediate vicinity of the city with 92,000 inhabitants. The forest enterprise pays the city rent and makes a profit. The data were obtained by analysing the economic data of the surveyed company, the annual observation of the forest attendance, the surveys of the characteristics of the forest visitors and the surveys of selected 16 companies (from seven countries) managing the forests of some European cities. The main results concerning MLHK are as follows: the share of recreational service costs in the total costs of the forestry activities is 19.7%. The recreational services of the forest are financed from 71.5% from revenues from the sale of raw wood, 17.5% from revenues from the sale of sand from its own quarry, 3.9% from revenues from the recreational services and 7.1% from subsidies. The operation of the gravel quarry contributes to the economic result of the forest enterprise roughly by an amount corresponding to the costs of the recreational services. An average annual forest attendance is 243 people/ha. The inhabitants of the city account for 61.5% of the visitors, 20.4% of the visitors live within a distance of up to 30 km, and 18.1% of the visitors live at a distance of more than 30 km. The main results of the survey among the forest enterprises managing the forests of the selected European cities are as follows: the share of costs for the recreational services in the total costs of the forestry activities is 21–72% for cities with a population of over 100,000, and 3–14% for cities with less than 100,000 inhabitants. As a source of financing recreational services, the forest enterprises from mentioned cities with over 100,000 inhabitants, the money especially came from the city budget (70–100%). Forest enterprises from cities under 100,000 inhabitants stated that they fund a recreational service with 95–100% of the revenues from the sale of raw wood. Data on the MLHK show that it is possible to finance a recreational forest service from its own resources if this is the owner’s priority. However, this only applies under certain conditions, such as that, in addition to the income from forest management, there are other sources of income (in this case, sand mining or subsidies from public programmes). If the forest owner did not have these resources, they would have to pay for the recreational service from their own other resources (e.g., from the city budget).
Beijing Resident’s Preferences of Ecosystem Services of Urban Forests
Authors: Zhi-Ying Han , Yeo-Chang Youn
Published: December 2020

This paper aims to investigate the Beijing resident’s preferences over various options of urban forest management strategies. The literature investigation and expert Delphi method were conducted to classify the ecosystem services of urban forests into six categories: (1) fresh water provision, (2) noise reduction, (3) moderation of extreme events, (4) air quality regulation, (5) species diversity and wildlife habitat, and (6) recreation and spiritual experience. To elicit the relative preferences to ecosystem service (hereafter referred to as ES) of Beijing residents, we employed the choice experiment method. The data were collected by interviews with questionnaires conducted in October 2017, and a total of 483 valid questionnaires were analyzed. The subjects of this experiment were residents older than 19 years old who have lived in Beijing for more than 1 year and have visited any one of the urban forests located in Beijing more than once during 2016. The results were as follows: Firstly, the air quality regulation ES was considered as the most important service for Beijing residents in terms of their choices of urban forest. In addition, Beijing residents regarded the fresh water provision ES as the second most important ES. Beijing residents were willing to pay up to 1.84% of the average monthly income of Chinese households annually to expand urban forest ecosystems in order to improve air quality. Secondly, apartment owners were willing to pay more municipality tax for forest ESs than residents who did not own an apartment. Thirdly, residents were more willing to pay for urban forest ESs as their income increases. The results indicated that Beijing residents were willing to pay more tax in support of urban forestry for air quality improvement. This research suggests that urban environmental policy makers in Beijing should pay more attention to the regulation function of forests (especially improving air quality) when designing and managing urban forests.
Exploring the Biodiversity of Red Yeasts for In Vitro and In Vivo Phenotypes Relevant to Agri-Food-Related Processes
Authors: Zara Giacomo , Farbo Maria Grazia , Multineddu Chiara , Migheli Quirico , Budroni Marilena , Zara Severino , Mannazzu Ilaria
Published: December 2020

Red yeasts grow on food wastes, show antagonistic activity against food-spoilage microorganisms, produce food supplements, and may be utilized as feed-supplements themselves to positively modulate the quali-quantitative composition of intestinal microbiota. Therefore, they show a variety of possible biotechnological applications in agri-food-related processes. Here, to further explore the biotechnological potential of red yeasts, eleven strains ascribed to different species of the genera Rhodotorula and Sporobolomyces, differing for biomass and carotenoids production, were characterized in vitro for biofilm formation, invasive growth, and growth at the temperature range of 20–40 °C and in vivo for their antagonistic activity against the fungal pathogen and patulin producer Penicillium expansum. Most of them formed cellular MAT and showed invasive growth as well as adhesion to plastic materials. Four strains determined a significant reduction of fruit decay caused by P. expansum on apple fruit while the remaining seven showed different degrees of biocontrol activity. Finally, none of them grew at body temperature (>37 °C). Statistical analyses of both qualitative and quantitative phenotypic data, including biomass and carotenoids production, gathered further information on the most interesting strains for the biotechnological exploitation of red yeasts in agri-food-related process.
Authorship Identification of a Russian-Language Text Using Support Vector Machine and Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Romanov Aleksandr , Kurtukova Anna , Shelupanov Alexander , Fedotova Anastasia , Goncharov Valery
Published: December 2020

The article explores approaches to determining the author of a natural language text and the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches. The importance of the considered problem is due to the active digitalization of society and reassignment of most parts of the life activities online. Text authorship methods are particularly useful for information security and forensics. For example, such methods can be used to identify authors of suicide notes, and other texts are subjected to forensic examinations. Another area of application is plagiarism detection. Plagiarism detection is a relevant issue both for the field of intellectual property protection in the digital space and for the educational process. The article describes identifying the author of the Russian-language text using support vector machine (SVM) and deep neural network architectures (long short-term memory (LSTM), convolutional neural networks (CNN) with attention, Transformer). The results show that all the considered algorithms are suitable for solving the authorship identification problem, but SVM shows the best accuracy. The average accuracy of SVM reaches 96%. This is due to thoroughly chosen parameters and feature space, which includes statistical and semantic features (including those extracted as a result of an aspect analysis). Deep neural networks are inferior to SVM in accuracy and reach only 93%. The study also includes an evaluation of the impact of attacks on the method on models’ accuracy. Experiments show that the SVM-based methods are unstable to deliberate text anonymization. In comparison, the loss in accuracy of deep neural networks does not exceed 20%. Transformer architecture is the most effective for anonymized texts and allows 81% accuracy to be achieved.
Rapid Authentication of Potato Chip Oil by Vibrational Spectroscopy Combined with Pattern Recognition Analysis
Authors: Yao Siyu , Aykas Didem Peren , Rodriguez-Saona Luis
Published: December 2020

The objective of this study was to develop a rapid technique to authenticate potato chip frying oils using vibrational spectroscopy signatures in combination with pattern recognition analysis. Potato chip samples (n = 118) were collected from local grocery stores, and the oil was extracted by a hydraulic press and characterized by fatty acid profile determined by gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Spectral data was collected by a handheld Raman system (1064 nm) and a miniature near-infrared (NIR) sensor, further being analyzed by SIMCA (Soft Independent Model of Class Analogies) and PLSR (Partial Least Square Regression) to develop classification algorithms and predict the fatty acid profile. Supervised classification by SIMCA predicted the samples with a 100% sensitivity based on the validation data. The PLSR showed a strong correlation (Rval > 0.97) and a low standard error of prediction (SEP = 1.08–3.55%) for palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid. 11% of potato chips (n = 13) indicated a single oil in the label with a mislabeling problem. Our data supported that the new generation of portable vibrational spectroscopy devices provided an effective tool for rapid in-situ identification of oil type of potato chips in the market and for surveillance of accurate labeling of the products.
Impact of Genetic Variability in ACE2 Expression on the Evolutionary Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Spike D614G Mutation
Authors: Huang Szu-Wei , Miller Sorin O. , Yen Chia-Hung , Wang Sheng-Fan
Published: December 2020

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) glycoprotein D614G mutation became the predominant globally circulating variant after its emergence in the early coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Studies showed that this mutation results in an open conformation of the S glycoprotein receptor-binding domain (RBD), and increased angiotensin 1-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding and fusion, which result in an increase in SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility and infectivity. Dynamic tracking of SARS-CoV-2 showed that the D614G variant became predominant after emergence in Europe and North America, but not in China. The current absence of selective pressures from antiviral treatment suggests that the driving force for viral evolution could be variations in human population genetics. Results show that ACE2 expression is higher in Asian populations than that in European, North American, and African populations. This supports the idea that lower ACE2 expression is a driving force in the positive selection for the D614G mutation. This study suggests that the dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 D614G mutation during the early-to-mid pandemic is associated with enhanced transmission efficiency in populations with lower ACE2 expression. Understanding the role that human genetic diversity plays in the adaptive evolution of SARS-CoV-2 may have an important impact on public health and measures to control the pandemic.
Structural Variability, Expression Profile, and Pharmacogenetic Properties of TMPRSS2 Gene as a Potential Target for COVID-19 Therapy
Authors: Zarubin Aleksei , Stepanov Vadim , Markov Anton , Kolesnikov Nikita , Marusin Andrey , Khitrinskaya Irina , Swarovskaya Maria , Litvinov Sergey , Ekomasova Natalia , Dzhaubermezov Murat , Maksimova Nadezhda , Sukhomyasova Aitalina , Shtygasheva Olga , Khusnutdinova Elza , Radzhabov Magomed , Kharkov Vladimir
Published: December 2020

The human serine protease serine 2 TMPRSS2 is involved in the priming of proteins of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and represents a possible target for COVID-19 therapy. The TMPRSS2 gene may be co-expressed with SARS-CoV-2 cell receptor genes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Basigin (BSG), but only TMPRSS2 demonstrates tissue-specific expression in alveolar cells according to single-cell RNA sequencing data. Our analysis of the structural variability of the TMPRSS2 gene based on genome-wide data from 76 human populations demonstrates that a functionally significant missense mutation in exon 6/7 in the TMPRSS2 gene is found in many human populations at relatively high frequencies, with region-specific distribution patterns. The frequency of the missense mutation encoded by rs12329760, which has previously been found to be associated with prostate cancer, ranged between 10% and 63% and was significantly higher in populations of Asian origin compared with European populations. In addition to single-nucleotide polymorphisms, two copy number variants were detected in the TMPRSS2 gene. A number of microRNAs have been predicted to regulate TMPRSS2 and BSG expression levels, but none of them is enriched in lung or respiratory tract cells. Several well-studied drugs can downregulate the expression of TMPRSS2 in human cells, including acetaminophen (paracetamol) and curcumin. Thus, the interactions of TMPRSS2 with SARS-CoV-2, together with its structural variability, gene–gene interactions, expression regulation profiles, and pharmacogenomic properties, characterize this gene as a potential target for COVID-19 therapy.
The Roles of Peptide Hormones and Their Receptors during Plant Root Development
Authors: Hsiao Yu-Chun , Yamada Masashi
Published: December 2020

Peptide hormones play pivotal roles in many physiological processes through coordinating developmental and environmental cues among different cells. Peptide hormones are recognized by their receptors that convey signals to downstream targets and interact with multiple pathways to fine-tune plant growth. Extensive research has illustrated the mechanisms of peptides in shoots but functional studies of peptides in roots are scarce. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to be involved in stress-related events. However, recent studies have shown that they are also associated with many processes that regulate plant development. Here, we focus on recent advances in understanding the relationships between peptide hormones and their receptors during root growth including outlines of how ROS are integrated with these networks.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling of the PDI Gene Family Reveals Their Probable Involvement in Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
Authors: Wai Antt Htet , Waseem Muhammad , Khan A B M Mahbub Morshed , Nath Ujjal Kumar , Lee Do Jin , Kim Sang Tae , Kim Chang Kil , Chung Mi Young
Published: December 2020

Protein disulfide isomerases (PDI) and PDI-like proteins catalyze the formation and isomerization of protein disulfide bonds in the endoplasmic reticulum and prevent the buildup of misfolded proteins under abiotic stress conditions. In the present study, we conducted the first comprehensive genome-wide exploration of the PDI gene family in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). We identified 19 tomato PDI genes that were unevenly distributed on 8 of the 12 tomato chromosomes, with segmental duplications detected for 3 paralogous gene pairs. Expression profiling of the PDI genes revealed that most of them were differentially expressed across different organs and developmental stages of the fruit. Furthermore, most of the PDI genes were highly induced by heat, salt, and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments, while relatively few of the genes were induced by cold and nutrient and water deficit (NWD) stresses. The predominant expression of SlPDI1-1, SlPDI1-3, SlPDI1-4, SlPDI2-1, SlPDI4-1, and SlPDI5-1 in response to abiotic stress and ABA treatment suggested they play regulatory roles in abiotic stress tolerance in tomato in an ABA-dependent manner. Our results provide new insight into the structure and function of PDI genes and will be helpful for the selection of candidate genes involved in fruit development and abiotic stress tolerance in tomato.
Prevalence of Low Testosterone According to Health Behavior in Older Adults Men
Authors: Ko Duk Han , Kim Seong Eon , Lee Ji Young
Published: December 2020

Testosterone is a representative sex hormone for men, and low testosterone causes erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between low testosterone (LTT) and health behaviors, such as alcohol, smoking, and exercise habits. We included 2980 men aged 65 to 80. Total serum testosterone and body composition were measured. A testosterone level less than 300 ng/dL was defined as low testosterone. A questionnaire on smoking, alcohol, and exercise was included. The odds ratio (OR) of LTT was calculated through logistic regression. Model 1 only used age as the adjustment variable, whereas Model 2 adjusted for age, waist circumference, and smoking. The prevalence of LTT was 626 (21.0%). The prevalence of LTT was significant in fat mass (Model 1: OR, 2.133) and muscle mass (Model 1: medium OR, 2.130 and low OR, 3.022; Model 2: medium OR, 1.638 and low OR, 1.740). The prevalence of LTT was also different based on smoking (Model 1: OR, 1.590; Model 2: OR, 1.629) and strength exercise (Model 1: OR, 0.849; Model 2: OR, 0.923). In conclusion, high frequency strength exercise and smoking cessation lower the prevalence of low testosterone, and obesity and low muscle mass increase the prevalence of low testosterone.
Nurses’ Clinical Work Experience during Pregnancy
Authors: Lee Hyunjung , Chang Hyoung Eun , Ha Jiyeon
Published: December 2020

The working environment of nurses contains numerous hazards that can be particularly harmful to pregnant women. In addition, pregnancy-induced changes can themselves cause discomfort. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze pregnant nurses’ experiences of clinical work. This qualitative study analyzed data collected through in-depth interviews. From January to June in 2020, 12 shift-work nurses who had experienced pregnancy within three years were interviewed. The main question was “Could you describe your clinical work experience during pregnancy?” Qualitative data from field notes and transcriptions of the interviews were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. Six categories were extracted that described the nurses’ clinical work experience during pregnancy, as follows: “enduring alone,” “organizational characteristics of nursing,” “risky work environment,” “strengths that sustain work during pregnancy,” “growth as a nurse,” and “methods to protect pregnant nurses.” Pregnant nurses experienced various difficulties due to physical and mental changes during pregnancy, and the clinical working environment did not provide them with adequate support. The findings of this study will be helpful for developing and implementing practical maternity protection policies and work guidelines.
The Managerial Implications of the Key Performance Indicators in Healthcare Sector: A Cluster Analysis
Authors: Burlea-Schiopoiu Adriana , Ferhati Koudoua
Published: December 2020

The aim of the paper is to identify a set of the key performance indicators (KPIs) in order to provide managers and employees from the healthcare system with recommendations for evaluating, monitoring, and controlling the critical factors that influence the performance of the healthcare sector in Algeria during a pandemic crisis. During February–August 2020, a cross-sectional survey design was administrated to medical employees from hospitals situated in the northeastern part of Algeria. Our findings proved that the four groups of KPIs correlate to each other, and during this period, the triple relationship among human factor-technology-medication plays a decisive role in reducing the pressure on the medical system and overcoming the crisis. In order to increase the efficiency of the decision-making process, a hierarchy of KPIs is recommended in terms of their impact on the performance of medical staff. The practical importance of our research consists in ranking KPIs on four clusters that support managers to focus on both the human factor (clinical errors, infection rate, and medication errors) and the technical elements of maximum importance (laboratory test time, location of the facility, and sufficient air).
A Qualitative Study of Practitioners’ Views on Family Involvement in Treatment Process of Adolescent Internet Addiction
Authors: Lo Camilla Kin Ming , Yu Lu , Cho Yuet Wing , Chan Ko Ling
Published: December 2020

Despite emerging evidence of the effectiveness of a family-focused approach as an Internet addiction (IA) treatment modality for adolescents, little research has been done to explore family involvement in the treatment process from the clinician’s perspective. This study employed a qualitative design to examine practitioners’ views pertaining to the roles and challenges of family participation in IA intervention. In total, 10 practitioners working with adolescents with IA were interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcribed interviews. Three overreaching themes were synthesized: That family involvement in IA intervention is challenging yet important; shifting the focus from the adolescent to the relationship; and provision of individualized services and intervention to address the heterogeneous nature of cases. The findings show that family participation in IA treatment is successful in enhancing positive outcomes. The needs of adolescents with IA and family members are addressed through individual counseling and psychoeducation, respectively. Conjoint therapy sessions foster effective communication, improve family interactions and functioning, and restore relationships. However, caution regarding family dynamics is required when considering whether family involvement is appropriate. Practitioners need to establish therapeutic alliances and be flexible when working with family members in terms of the degree and arrangement of participation.
Can Individual Attitudes toward Aging Predict Subsequent Physical Disabilities in Older Taiwanese Individuals? A Four-Year Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Sun Chien-Yao , Yeh Chun-Yin , Zhao Yan , Chiu Ching-Ju
Published: December 2020

Individual attitudes toward aging have been regarded as a modifiable risk for physical disability. However, longitudinal cohort studies have not been carried out in countries in Asia. In the present study, we aimed to explore the association between individual attitudes toward aging and subsequent physical disabilities using a nationwide representative cohort, the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (TLSA), over a 4-year follow-up period. In 2003, a baseline survey for 10-item attitudes toward aging scale consisting of widely different domains across financial relationships with children, grandparenting, living arrangements, and remarriage was conducted. Later, physical disabilities, including mobility and activities of daily living (ADL) limitations, were evaluated in 2007. A total of 1635 participants aged 57 and over were analyzed. Older age, self-rated poor health, and those suffering from pain were found to be more likely to have higher risk of physical disabilities. The older adults who expressed a willingness to receive financial support from their adult children were reported to have a lower risk of mobility limitations (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50–0.90), while those who did not want to assist with child care as grandparents had a higher risk of ADL difficulties (aOR: 2.46, 95% CI: 1.31–4.60). Our work shed light on the importance of individual attitudes toward aging in predicting long-term physical disabilities and illuminated the intimate role of grandparents, both financial and participatory, in Chinese families. In the future, culturally adapted attitudes toward aging scale should be developed to identify older Chinese adults at risk of physical disabilities.
Effects of Individualized Aerobic Exercise Training on Physical Activity and Health-Related Physical Fitness among Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Multimorbidity: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Lo Yi-Pang , Chiang Shang-Lin , Lin Chia-Huei , Liu Hung-Chang , Chiang Li-Chi
Published: December 2020

The presence of multimorbidity in middle-aged and older adults, which reduces their physical activity and quality of life, is a global health challenge. Exercise is one of the most important health behaviors that individuals can engage in. Previous studies have revealed that aerobic exercise training is beneficial for healthy middle-aged and older adults and those with various chronic diseases, but few studies have designed individualized aerobic exercise training for individuals with multimorbidity. Although individuals with multimorbidity are considerably less adherent to physical activity interventions, telephone-based motivational interviewing may help in strengthening motivation and promoting behavioral change for increasing physical activity and health-related physical fitness. This study aimed to examine whether a 12-week individualized aerobic exercise training in a rehabilitation center combined with telephone-based motivational interviewing is effective in promoting physical activity and health-related physical fitness among middle-aged and older adults with multimorbidity. A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Forty-three participants (aged > 40) were recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention group, comparison group, or control group. The participants’ physical activity and health-related physical fitness were assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks. The results indicated that after individualized aerobic exercise training combined with telephone-based motivational interviewing, the participants reported increased total physical activity (Fin = 481.3, p = 0.011), vigorous-intensity physical activity (Fin= 298.9, p = 0.007), dominant and nondominant hand grip (kg) (Fin = 1.96, p = 0.019; Fin = 2.19, p = 0.027, respectively), FEV1/FVC (Fin = 0.045, p = 0.043), VO2 max (ml/kg/min) (Fin = 5.30, p = 0.001), VO2 max predicted (%) (Fin = 21.6, p = 0.001), work (watts) (Fin = 22.5, p = 0.001), and anaerobic threshold (L/min) (Fin = 0.165, p = 0.011). Twelve weeks of individualized aerobic exercise training in the rehabilitation center combined with telephone-based motivational interviewing can increase the total physical activity, vigorous physical activity, and cardiorespiratory fitness of middle-aged and older adults with multimorbidity.
Tracking the Genetic Susceptibility Background of B-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas from Genome-Wide Association Studies
Authors: Hernández-Verdin Isaias , Labreche Karim , Benazra Marion , Mokhtari Karima , Hoang-Xuan Khê , Alentorn Agusti
Published: December 2020

B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) risk associations had been mainly attributed to family history of the disease, inflammation, and immune components including human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genetic variations. Nevertheless, a broad range of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have shed light into the identification of several genetic variants presumptively associated with B-cell NHL etiologies, survival or shared genetic risk with other diseases. The present review aims to overview HLA structure and diversity and summarize the evidence of genetic variations, by GWAS, on five NHL subtypes (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma DLBCL, follicular lymphoma FL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia CLL, marginal zone lymphoma MZL, and primary central nervous system lymphoma PCNSL). Evidence indicates that the HLA zygosity status in B-cell NHL might promote immune escape and that genome-wide significance variants can give biological insight but also potential therapeutic markers such as WEE1 in DLBCL. However, additional studies are needed, especially for non-DLBCL, to replicate the associations found to date.
A Human Osteochondral Tissue Model Mimicking Cytokine-Induced Key Features of Arthritis In Vitro
Authors: Damerau Alexandra , Pfeiffenberger Moritz , Weber Marie-Christin , Burmester Gerd-Rüdiger , Buttgereit Frank , Gaber Timo , Lang Annemarie
Published: December 2020

Adequate tissue engineered models are required to further understand the (patho)physiological mechanism involved in the destructive processes of cartilage and subchondral bone during rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, we developed a human in vitro 3D osteochondral tissue model (OTM), mimicking cytokine-induced cellular and matrix-related changes leading to cartilage degradation and bone destruction in order to ultimately provide a preclinical drug screening tool. To this end, the OTM was engineered by co-cultivation of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-derived bone and cartilage components in a 3D environment. It was comprehensively characterized on cell, protein, and mRNA level. Stimulating the OTM with pro-inflammatory cytokines, relevant in RA (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-6, macrophage migration inhibitory factor), caused cell- and matrix-related changes, resulting in a significantly induced gene expression of lactate dehydrogenase A, interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor α in both, cartilage and bone, while the matrix metalloproteases 1 and 3 were only induced in cartilage. Finally, application of target-specific drugs prevented the induction of inflammation and matrix-degradation. Thus, we here provide evidence that our human in vitro 3D OTM mimics cytokine-induced cell- and matrix-related changes—key features of RA—and may serve as a preclinical tool for the evaluation of both new targets and potential drugs in a more translational setup.
Effect of Iron Source and Medium pH on Growth and Development of Sorbus commixta In Vitro
Authors: Xiao Jie , Park Yoo Gyeong , Guo Ge , Jeong Byoung Ryong
Published: December 2020

Sorbus commixta is a valuable hardwood plant with a high economical value for its medicinal and ornamental qualities. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of the iron (Fe) source and medium pH on the growth and development of S. commixta in vitro. The Fe sources used, including non-chelated iron sulfate (FeSO4), iron ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Fe-EDTA), and iron diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Fe-DTPA), were supplemented to the Multipurpose medium with a final Fe concentration of 2.78 mg·L−1. The medium without any supplementary Fe was used as the control. The pH of the agar-solidified medium was adjusted to either 4.70, 5.70, or 6.70. The experiment was conducted in a culture room for six weeks with 25 °C day and night temperatures, and a 16-h photoperiod with a light intensity of 50 mmol·m−2·s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Both the Fe source and pH affected the growth and development of the micropropagated plants in vitro. The leaves were greener in the pH 4.70 and 5.70 treatments. The tissue Fe content decreased with the increase of the medium pH. The leaf chlorophyll content was similar between plants treated with FeSO4 and those with Fe-EDTA. The numbers of the shoots and roots of plantlets treated with FeSO4 were 2.5 and 2 times greater than those of the control, respectively. The fresh and dry weights of the shoot and the root were the greatest for plants treated with Fe-EDTA combined with pH 5.70. The calcium, magnesium, and manganese contents in the plantlets increased in the pH 5.70 treatments regardless of the Fe source. Supplementary Fe decreased the activity of ferric chelate reductase. Overall, although the plantlets absorbed more Fe at pH 4.70, Fe-EDTA combined with pH 5.70 was found to be the best for the growth and development of S. commixta in vitro.
Circulating tRNA Fragments as a Novel Biomarker Class to Distinguish Acute Stroke Subtypes
Authors: Nguyen T. Truc My , van der Bent M. Leontien , Wermer Marieke J. H. , van den Wijngaard Ido R. , van Zwet Erik W. , de Groot Bas , Quax Paul H. A. , Kruyt Nyika D. , Nossent Anne Yaël
Published: December 2020

Early blood biomarkers to diagnose acute stroke could drastically reduce treatment delays. We investigated whether circulating small non-coding RNAs can serve as biomarkers to distinguish between acute ischemic stroke (IS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and stroke mimics (SM). In an ongoing observational cohort study, we performed small RNA-sequencing in plasma obtained from a discovery cohort of 26 patients (9 IS, 8 ICH and 9 SM) presented to the emergency department within 6 h of symptom onset. We validated our results in an independent dataset of 20 IS patients and 20 healthy controls. ICH plasma had the highest abundance of ribosomal and tRNA-derived fragments, while microRNAs were most abundant in plasma of IS patients. Combinations of four to five tRNAs yielded diagnostic accuracies (areas under the receiver operating characteristics curve) up to 0.986 (ICH vs. IS and SM) in the discovery cohort. Validation of the IS and SM models in the independent dataset yielded diagnostic accuracies of 0.870 and 0.885 to distinguish IS from healthy controls. Thus, we identified tRNA-derived fragments as a promising novel class of biomarkers to distinguish between acute IS, ICH and SM, as well as healthy controls.
How to Build and to Protect the Neuromuscular Junction: The Role of the Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Authors: Stanga Serena , Boido Marina , Kienlen-Campard Pascal
Published: December 2020

The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is at the crossroad between the nervous system (NS) and the muscle. Following neurotransmitter release from the motor neurons (MNs), muscle contraction occurs and movement is generated. Besides eliciting muscle contraction, the NMJ represents a site of chemical bidirectional interplay between nerve and muscle with the active participation of Schwann cells. Indeed, signals originating from the muscle play an important role in synapse formation, stabilization, maintenance and function, both in development and adulthood. We focus here on the contribution of the Glial cell line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) to these processes and to its potential role in the protection of the NMJ during neurodegeneration. Historically related to the maintenance and survival of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, GDNF also plays a fundamental role in the peripheral NS (PNS). At this level, it promotes muscle trophism and it participates to the functionality of synapses. Moreover, compared to the other neurotrophic factors, GDNF shows unique peculiarities, which make its contribution essential in neurodegenerative disorders. While describing the known structural and functional changes occurring at the NMJ during neurodegeneration, we highlight the role of GDNF in the NMJ–muscle cross-talk and we review its therapeutic potential in counteracting the degenerative process occurring in the PNS in progressive and severe diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). We also describe functional 3D neuromuscular co-culture systems that have been recently developed as a model for studying both NMJ formation in vitro and its involvement in neuromuscular disorders.
Comparing Molecular Mechanisms in Solar NH3 Production and Relations with CO2 Reduction
Authors: Mallamace Domenico , Papanikolaou Georgia , Perathoner Siglinda , Centi Gabriele , Lanzafame Paola
Published: December 2020

Molecular mechanisms for N2 fixation (solar NH3) and CO2 conversion to C2+ products in enzymatic conversion (nitrogenase), electrocatalysis, metal complexes and plasma catalysis are analyzed and compared. It is evidenced that differently from what is present in thermal and plasma catalysis, the electrocatalytic path requires not only the direct coordination and hydrogenation of undissociated N2 molecules, but it is necessary to realize features present in the nitrogenase mechanism. There is the need for (i) a multi-electron and -proton simultaneous transfer, not as sequential steps, (ii) forming bridging metal hydride species, (iii) generating intermediates stabilized by bridging multiple metal atoms and (iv) the capability of the same sites to be effective both in N2 fixation and in COx reduction to C2+ products. Only iron oxide/hydroxide stabilized at defective sites of nanocarbons was found to have these features. This comparison of the molecular mechanisms in solar NH3 production and CO2 reduction is proposed to be a source of inspiration to develop the next generation electrocatalysts to address the challenging transition to future sustainable energy and chemistry beyond fossil fuels.
Chaperone-Assisted Mitotic Actin Remodeling by BAG3 and HSPB8 Involves the Deacetylase HDAC6 and Its Substrate Cortactin
Authors: Luthold Carole , Varlet Alice-Anaïs , Lambert Herman , Bordeleau François , Lavoie Josée N.
Published: December 2020

The fidelity of actin dynamics relies on protein quality control, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly defined. During mitosis, the cochaperone BCL2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) modulates cell rounding, cortex stability, spindle orientation, and chromosome segregation. Mitotic BAG3 shows enhanced interactions with its preferred chaperone partner HSPB8, the autophagic adaptor p62/SQSTM1, and HDAC6, a deacetylase with cytoskeletal substrates. Here, we show that depletion of BAG3, HSPB8, or p62/SQSTM1 can recapitulate the same inhibition of mitotic cell rounding. Moreover, depletion of either of these proteins also interfered with the dynamic of the subcortical actin cloud that contributes to spindle positioning. These phenotypes were corrected by drugs that limit the Arp2/3 complex or HDAC6 activity, arguing for a role for BAG3 in tuning branched actin network assembly. Mechanistically, we found that cortactin acetylation/deacetylation is mitotically regulated and is correlated with a reduced association of cortactin with HDAC6 in situ. Remarkably, BAG3 depletion hindered the mitotic decrease in cortactin–HDAC6 association. Furthermore, expression of an acetyl-mimic cortactin mutant in BAG3-depleted cells normalized mitotic cell rounding and the subcortical actin cloud organization. Together, these results reinforce a BAG3′s function for accurate mitotic actin remodeling, via tuning cortactin and HDAC6 spatial dynamics.
Transcriptome Changes in Pseudomonas putida KT2440 during Medium-Chain-Length Polyhydroxyalkanoate Synthesis Induced by Nitrogen Limitation
Authors: Dabrowska Dorota , Mozejko-Ciesielska Justyna , Pokój Tomasz , Ciesielski Slawomir
Published: December 2020

Pseudomonas putida’s versatility and metabolic flexibility make it an ideal biotechnological platform for producing valuable chemicals, such as medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHAs), which are considered the next generation bioplastics. This bacterium responds to environmental stimuli by rearranging its metabolism to improve its fitness and increase its chances of survival in harsh environments. Mcl-PHAs play an important role in central metabolism, serving as a reservoir of carbon and energy. Due to the complexity of mcl-PHAs’ metabolism, the manner in which P. putida changes its transcriptome to favor mcl-PHA synthesis in response to environmental stimuli remains unclear. Therefore, our objective was to investigate how the P. putida KT2440 wild type and mutants adjust their transcriptomes to synthesize mcl-PHAs in response to nitrogen limitation when supplied with sodium gluconate as an external carbon source. We found that, under nitrogen limitation, mcl-PHA accumulation is significantly lower in the mutant deficient in the stringent response than in the wild type or the rpoN mutant. Transcriptome analysis revealed that, under N-limiting conditions, 24 genes were downregulated and 21 were upregulated that were common to all three strains. Additionally, potential regulators of these genes were identified: the global anaerobic regulator (Anr, consisting of FnrA, Fnrb, and FnrC), NorR, NasT, the sigma54-dependent transcriptional regulator, and the dual component NtrB/NtrC regulator all appear to play important roles in transcriptome rearrangement under N-limiting conditions. The role of these regulators in mcl-PHA synthesis is discussed.
Newborn Screening for Cystic Fibrosis: Infant and Laboratory Factors Affecting Successful Sweat Test Completion
Authors: Shenoy Ambika , Spyropoulos Dina , Peeke Kathleen , Smith Dawn , Cellucci Michael , Chidekel Aaron
Published: December 2020

Newborn screening (NBS) for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) has revolutionized the diagnosis of this inherited disease. CF NBS goals are to identify, diagnose, and initiate early CF treatment to attain better health outcomes. Abnormal CF NBS infants require diagnostic analysis via sweat chloride testing (ST). During ST, insufficient sweat volume collection causes a “quantity not sufficient” (QNS) test result and may delay CF diagnosis. The CF Foundation recommends QNS rates <10% for infants <3 months, but many CF Centers experience difficulties meeting this standard. Our quality improvement (QI) study assessed infant and laboratory factors contributing to ST success and QNS rates from 2017–2019. Infants’ day of life (DOL) at successful ST completion was analyzed according to infant factors (birth weight (BW), gestational age, ethnicity, and sex). Laboratory factors and procedures affecting ST outcomes were also reviewed. At our institution, BW and gestational age were the infant factors found to significantly affect DOL at ST completion. ST education, reduced number of laboratory technicians, and direct observation during ST completion also improved ST success rates. This study supports QI measures and partnerships between CF centers and laboratory staff to identify and improve ST QNS rates while sustaining practices to ensure timely CF diagnostic testing.
Procedure for the Identification of Existing Roads Alignment from Georeferenced Points Database
Authors: Cantisani Giuseppe , Del Serrone Giulia
Published: December 2020

The aim of this research is to look for an automated, economical and fast method able to identify the elements of an existing road layout, whose original geometric design could date back to distant ages and could have undergone major modifications over the years. The analysis has been directed towards the Italian two-lane rural roads; the national public company ANAS made available its graph, obtained from high-performance surveys, that represents about 90% of these roads’ network. The graph is made up of a collection of georeferenced points but does not recognize or describe the geometric elements making up the roadway. Consequently, it has been necessary to design and develop an original procedure, subsequently implemented in a programming platform, able to identify the characteristics of the several parts, which constitute the reference axes of the existing roads. This research focuses on the horizontal geometry assessing the coherence, consistency and homogeneity of the roads’ layout, through the ex post application of the regulatory model for the design verification. If road sections are identified in which some conditions are not significantly met, further investigation should be conducted in order to ensure road safety and to plan any road upgrading activities.
Influence of Age and Mating Status on Pheromone Production in a Powderpost Beetle Lyctus africanus (Coleoptera: Lyctinae)
Authors: Kartika Titik , Shimizu Nobuhiro , Himmi Setiawan Khoirul , Guswenrivo Ikhsan , Tarmadi Didi , Yusuf Sulaeman , Yoshimura Tsuyoshi
Published: December 2020

Powderpost beetles such as Lyctus africanus are a common pest group for dried cured wood, causing significant harm to wood and wood products. We examined the life span and effects of aging and mating status on pheromone production in the powderpost beetle L. africanus (Coleoptera: Lyctinae). Experiments compared starved and unstarved male groups, and chemical analysis was used to determine factors affecting pheromone production. Regarding lifespan, male beetles provided food survived up to 14 weeks, while starved beetles died before the fifth week. Thus, an adult L. africanus male may require food throughout its lifespan, and food availability may affect pheromone production. There was no significant difference in the quantity of two major pheromone compounds, compound 2 (3-pentyl dodecanoate) and 3 (3-pentyl tetradecanoate) between mated and un-mated males. On the other hand, a minor compound, compound 1 (2-propyl dodecanoate) showed increased quantity after mating. The two major compounds were produced in low amounts by young L. africanus beetles, increasing until the fifth week, and beginning to decrease at the ninth week. The minor compound was produced steadily without significant change up to 9 weeks. Our results represent a step forward in the knowledge of the chemical communication of this important pest.
The Electric Field Detector on Board the China Seismo Electromagnetic Satellite—In-Orbit Results and Validation
Authors: Diego Piero , Huang Jianping , Piersanti Mirko , Badoni Davide , Zeren Zhima , Yan Rui , Rebustini Gianmaria , Ammendola Roberto , Candidi Maurizio , Guan Yi-Bing , Lei Jungang , Masciantonio Giuseppe , Bertello Igor , De Santis Cristian , Ubertini Pietro , Shen Xuhui , Picozza Piergiorgio
Published: December 2020

The aim of this work is to validate the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite 01 (CSES-01) Electric Field Detector (EFD) measurements through the analysis of the instrument response to various inputs: (a) geomagnetic field variations, (b) plasma density depletions, and (c) electromagnetic signals from natural and artificial sources such as Schumann resonance and VLF (Very Low Frequency) antennas. The knowledge of the geomagnetic induced electric field vs×B (where vs is the satellite speed and B and the local magnetic field), and the plasma variations effect, described by the Orbit Motion Limited (OML) theory, are key parameters to determine the expected theoretical values of the EFD sensors potentials data. Based on the CSES on-board measurements of plasma parameters and geomagnetic field, a direct quantitative validation is presented. In addition, the electromagnetic signals detection capability is checked but only qualitatively confirmed, since the ionospheric complexity does not allow an accurate theoretical computation of waves modulation. The quantitative comparison highlights the very good agreement between observed and theoretical potentials values during average condition. Conversely, in case of strong electric fields, the OML theory shows partial inability in reproducing the actual space plasma conditions resulting in a reduced theoretical values reliability. Finally, both natural and artificial electromagnetic signals are satisfactorily identified showing a reliable sensitivity in different frequency bands.
IBS-Symptoms in IBD Patients—Manifestation of Concomitant or Different Entities
Authors: Szałwińska Patrycja , Włodarczyk Jakub , Spinelli Antonino , Fichna Jakub , Włodarczyk Marcin
Published: December 2020

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional heterogenous disease with a multifactorial pathogenesis. It is characterized by abdominal pain, discomfort, and alteration in gut motility. The occurrence of similar symptoms was observed in patients in clinical remission of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that is Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), which pathogenesis is also not fully understood. Hence, arose the question if these symptoms are “true IBS” imposed on IBD, or is it a subclinical form of IBD or even pre-IBD? In this article, based on a narrative overview of the literature, we try to find an answer to this query by discussing the pathogenesis and overlaps between these conditions.