bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Follow-Up Chest X-rays in Minor Chest Trauma with Fewer Than Three Rib Fractures: A Justifiable, Habitual Re-Imaging Industry?
Authors: Deluca Amelie , Deininger Susanne , Wichlas Florian , Hofmann Valeska , Amelunxen Berndt , Diepold Julian , Freude Thomas , Deininger Christian
Published: December 2022

Objective: We evaluated the necessity of follow-up chest X-rays (CXRs) to exclude a pneumothorax after 1 week of initial hospital presentation in patients with no signs of respiratory distress and fewer than three rib fractures. Materials and Methods: Adult patients with fewer than three fractured ribs who presented at our Level I trauma center between 2015 and 2017 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients with sternal fractures, who had suffered a polytrauma, or were primarily treated with a chest tube were excluded. The patients’ and fractures’ characteristics, trauma mechanism, median follow-up time, and the number of required secondary interventions were recorded. Results: This study included 249 patients, 137 (55.0%) of whom were male, with a median age of 64.34 years. In 150 patients (60.2%) one rib was affected, in 99 patients (39.8%) two ribs were affected, with the fractured ribs being true ribs (1–7) in 72 cases (28.9%), false ribs (8–12) in 151 cases (60.6%), and both in 26 cases (10.4%). The affected thorax half was the left side in 124 cases (49.8%) and both thorax halves in 4 cases (1.6%). The median follow-up time was 9 ± 4 days. In the follow-up CXRs, six patients (1.6%) required delayed intervention (tube thoracostomy): one case of hemopneumothorax and five cases of pneumothorax. All of the patients fully recovered. Conclusions: Planned CXR follow-ups revealed only a small number of complications that needed intervention and therefore seem not to be necessary. Symptom-triggered reappearance seems to be more sufficient and economical compared to habitual reimaging.
Role of CA-125 Level as a Marker in the Management of Severe Pre-Eclampsia
Authors: Balint Oana , Secosan Cristina , Pirtea Laurențiu
Published: December 2022

Background and Objectives: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy remain one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in maternal–fetal medicine worldwide, particularly in low-resource settings. Despite extensive research in the last decades, pre-eclampsia prediction and, thus, effective prevention remains an unsolved problem. Current evidence suggests that CA-125, an already recognised tumoral marker and, lately, a valuable severity marker of heart failure, can be used to evaluate pre-eclampsia severity and thus improve the identification and management of high-risk patients; Materials and Methods: This is a case–control study involving 100 pregnant patients over 25 weeks of gestation, grouped based on the severity of hypertension in gestational hypertension (n = 22), non-severe pre-eclampsia (n = 11), severe pre-eclampsia (n = 17), and a control group (normotensive) (n = 50). Clinical and biochemical parameters recommended by the international guidelines for evaluating hypertensive pregnant patients were gathered from every patient in addition to CA-125 levels. The correlation was analysed. Results: Mean CA-125 levels increased with the severity of hypertension from a mean of 8.97 U/mL (±2.84) in the normotensive group to a mean of 21.23 U/mL (±11.18) in the severe pre-eclampsia group. Significant differences were observed between each group. The correlation of CA-125 levels with the assessed clinical and biochemical parameters showed positive correlations with MAP, 24 h proteinuria, and LDH values and negative correlations with platelet count, gestational age at birth, and birth weight Conclusions: The reported results support this marker’s promising role as a severity marker and its potential to improve pre-eclampsia management allowing a better selection of high-risk patients, aiding in decision making related to hospitalisation and/or timing of birth. Further studies are needed to improve the accuracy of the obtained results, identify an accurate cut-off and an optimal time of measurement, and achieve standardisation in measuring the marker.
Genome-Wide Characterization and Expression Profiling of NBS-LRR-Encoding Gene Family in Radish (Raphanus sativus L.)
Authors: Xu Liang , Zhang Wei , Tang Mingjia , Zhang Xiaoli , Wang Juanjuan , Wang Yan , Liu Liwang
Published: December 2022

Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is an important root vegetable crop that is easily infected by various pathogens that result in decreased yield and quality. Nucleotide-binding site and leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) genes play vital roles in resisting pathogen infection in plants. However, the genome-wide characterization and functional roles of NBS-LRR genes remain largely unexplored in radish. Here, a total of 187 RsNBS-LRR genes were identified at the whole-genome level in radish, among which 80 RsNBS-LRR genes were unevenly distributed on nine radish chromosomes. Interestingly, 15 clusters containing 36 RsNBS-LRR genes occurred in eight chromosomes. RNA-Seq data showed that several RsNBS-LRR genes exhibited significant differential expression profiles in different radish tissues. Moreover, a range of cis-acting regulatory elements associated with ABA, MeJA, or SA were identified in the promoter region of some RsNBS-LRR genes. RT-qPCR analysis showed that the expression of a few RsNBS-LRR genes (e.g., RsNBS021 and RsNBS163) was significantly induced under Peronospora parasitica infection and/or ABA treatment, indicating that they might play critical roles in ABA-dependent defense resistance processes. These results could enhance our understanding of the evolutionary relationship of RsNBS-LRR genes and facilitate the genetic manipulation of disease resistance in radish breeding programs.
Trivariate Joint Distribution Modelling of Compound Events Using the Nonparametric D-Vine Copula Developed Based on a Bernstein and Beta Kernel Copula Density Framework
Authors: Latif Shahid , Simonovic Slobodan P.
Published: December 2022

Low-lying coastal communities are often threatened by compound flooding (CF), which can be determined through the joint occurrence of storm surges, rainfall and river discharge, either successively or in close succession. The trivariate distribution can demonstrate the risk of the compound phenomenon more realistically, rather than considering each contributing factor independently or in pairwise dependency relations. Recently, the vine copula has been recognized as a highly flexible approach to constructing a higher-dimensional joint density framework. In these, the parametric class copula with parametric univariate marginals is often involved. Its incorporation can lead to a lack of flexibility due to parametric functions that have prior distribution assumptions about their univariate marginal and/or copula joint density. This study introduces the vine copula approach in a nonparametric setting by introducing Bernstein and Beta kernel copula density in establishing trivariate flood dependence. The proposed model was applied to 46 years of flood characteristics collected on the west coast of Canada. The univariate flood marginal distribution was modelled using nonparametric kernel density estimation (KDE). The 2D Bernstein estimator and beta kernel copula estimator were tested independently in capturing pairwise dependencies to establish D-vine structure in a stage-wise nesting approach in three alternative ways, each by permutating the location of the conditioning variable. The best-fitted vine structure was selected using goodness-of-fit (GOF) test statistics. The performance of the nonparametric vine approach was also compared with those of vines constructed with a parametric and semiparametric fitting procedure. Investigation revealed that the D-vine copula constructed using a Bernstein copula with normal KDE marginals performed well nonparametrically in capturing the dependence of the compound events. Finally, the derived nonparametric model was used in the estimation of trivariate joint return periods, and further employed in estimating failure probability statistics.
Processed Food: Nutrition, Safety, and Public Health
Authors: Albuquerque Tânia Gonçalves , Bragotto Adriana Pavesi Arisseto , Costa Helena S.
Published: December 2022

Food processing comprises the activities involved during the transformation of raw materials from different origins (vegetable, animal) until a final product is achieved that is suitable for human consumption [...]
5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Alleviates Memory Impairment in a Rat Model of Alzheimer’s Disease Induced by D-Galactose and Aluminum Chloride
Authors: Zhang Zhengduo , Wu Hong , Qi Shaojun , Tang Yanjin , Qin Chuan , Liu Rui , Zhang Jiacheng , Cao Yiyao , Gao Xibao
Published: December 2022

The effects of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) on a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) induced by D-galactose (D-gal) and aluminum chloride (AlCl3) were investigated. Wistar rats were given an i.p. injection of 60 mg/kg D-gal and 10 mg/kg AlCl3 to induce AD and three doses of 1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg 5-MTHF by oral gavage. A positive control group was treated with 1 mg/kg donepezil by gavage. Morris water maze performance showed that 5 and 10 mg/kg 5-MTHF significantly decreased escape latency and increased the number of platform crossings and time spent in the target quadrant for AD rats. The administration of 10 mg/kg 5-MTHF decreased the brain content of amyloid β-protein 1-42 (Aβ1-42) and phosphorylated Tau protein (p-Tau) and decreased acetylcholinesterase and nitric oxide synthase activities. Superoxide dismutase activity, vascular endothelial growth factor level and glutamate concentration were increased, and malondialdehyde, endothelin-1, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide decreased. The administration of 10 mg/kg 5-MTHF also increased the expression of disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain 10 mRNA and decreased the expression of β-site amyloid precursor protein cleavage enzyme 1 mRNA. In summary, 5-MTHF alleviates memory impairment in a D-gal- and AlCl3-exposed rat model of AD. The inhibition of Aβ1-42 and p-Tau release, reduced oxidative stress, the regulation of amyloid precursor protein processing and the release of excitatory amino acids and cytokines may be responsible.
The Effect of Progressive Resistance Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Study Protocol
Authors: Elbers Roy G. , de Oude Kirsten I. , Kastanidis Theodore , Maes-Festen Dederieke A. M. , Oppewal Alyt
Published: December 2022

Progressive resistance exercise training (PRET) reduces cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in the general population. It is unknown if PRET also reduces these risk factors in adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). The aim is to present the protocol of an intervention study that investigates the effect of PRET on CVRF in adults with ID. We will use a repeated time series design with one study group. Adults with mild-to-moderate ID and at least two CVRF are eligible (Netherlands Trial Register, NL8382). During a 12-week baseline period, measurements take place at a 6-week interval. After this, the PRET programme starts for 24 weeks, after which all measurements will be repeated. We will use hierarchical regression models, adjusted for sport activity and medication use, to estimate the effect of PRET. After the intervention, the participants will be followed-up for 12 weeks. We will evaluate factors for successful implementation of exercise in daily life. Primary outcomes are: hypertension, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, metabolic syndrome. Secondary outcomes are: physical fitness, sarcopenia, physical activity, activities of daily living, falls, challenging behaviour. If our results show that the PRET programme is effective, it may be a promising non-pharmacological intervention to reduce CVRF in adults with ID.
Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Behaviors of Higher Education Students in Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Amoako Mary , Amoah-Agyei Felicity , Mensah Gideon Okyere , Du Chen , Sergin Selin , Fenton Jenifer I. , Tucker Robin M.
Published: December 2022

Stressful events can significantly impact health behaviors of tertiary students in various ways. Many studies reported adverse alterations in health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is limited knowledge about students from sub-Saharan African countries. Therefore, this study aimed to assess effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health behaviors of Ghanaian tertiary students, with an emphasis on the association between sleep and other health behaviors. A cross-sectional study with eligible tertiary students from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana (n = 129) was conducted. An online survey assessed quality and duration of sleep, financial stress, dietary risk, alcohol misuse, and physical exercise using validated tools. Health behaviors did not differ by gender. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected health behaviors for many students including dietary intake (20.2%), sleep quality (20.2%) and duration (81.4%), alcohol consumption (3.1%), exercise frequency (4.1%), and exercise intensity (38%). Shorter sleep duration was linked with greater alcohol misuse scores (p < 0.05). A majority of the students (56%) had increased financial stress during the pandemic. This study contributes important insights into the effects that stressful events such as a pandemic have on the health of higher education students in sub-Saharan Africa.
Short-Term Outcome of Unilateral Inspiration-Coupled Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Pordzik Johannes , Seifen Christopher , Ludwig Katharina , Huppertz Tilman , Bahr Katharina , Matthias Christoph , Gouveris Haralampos
Published: December 2022

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) is a therapeutic option for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and intolerance of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. Most reported data are based on multicentre pivotal trials with selected baseline core clinical features. Our aim was to investigate polysomnography (PSG)-based outcomes of HGNS-therapy in a patient cohort with higher average AHI and BMI than previously reported. Data of 29 consecutive patients (nine female; mean age: 55.52 ± 8.6 years, mean BMI 30.13 ± 3.93 kg/m2) were retrospectively evaluated. Numerical values of PSG- based metrics were compared before and after intervention using Wilcoxon’s rank-sum test. AHI (38.57/h ± 12.71, 24.43/h ± 13.3, p < 0.001), hypopnea index (24.05/h ± 9.4, 15.27/h ± 8.23, p < 0.001), apnea index (14.5/h ± 12.05, 9.17/h ± 10.86, p < 0.01), snoring index (262.68/h ± 170.35, 143.48/h ± 162.79, p < 0.001), cortical arousal index (20.8/h ± 10.34 vs. 14.9/h ± 8.36, p < 0.01) and cumulative duration of apnea and hypopnea during sleep (79.79 min ± 40.32 vs. 48.62 min ± 30.56, p < 0.001) were significantly lower after HGNS. HGNS provides an effective therapy option for selected patients not tolerating PAP-therapy with higher average AHI and BMI than usually reported. HGNS-therapy appears to suppress central nervous system arousal circuits while not eliciting peripheral autonomous sympathetic activation. Such metrics as the snoring index and the cumulative duration of respiratory events during sleep may be considered in future HGNS studies.
Predicting Adherence to Walking from Anxiety, Depression, Disease Impact, Catastrophizing, and Cognitive Fusion in Patients with Fibromyalgia: Does Pain Severity Matter?
Authors: Catala Patricia , Écija Carmen , Serrano del Moral Angel , Perez Viejo Estibalitz , Peñacoba Cecilia
Published: December 2022

Aim: This study analyzed whether the contribution of several factors associated with walking adherence in fibromyalgia (FM) patients varies across pain severity levels. Methods: Participants were 228 women with FM (mean age 57 years; SD = 8.49). Results: Bivariate analyses replicated the expected association between predictors (FM impact, anxiety, depression, catastrophizing, and cognitive fusion) and poorer adherence to walking. Multivariate analyses showed a negative contribution of FM impact, catastrophizing, and depression on walking adherence after controlling for pain levels (all p < 0.01). A moderation effect of pain severity in the relationship between predictors and adherence to walking was only found for cognitive fusion (B = −0.01, t = −2.02, p = 0.040). Specifically, cognitive fusion only contributed to poor walking adherence at moderate and severe pain levels, but not when pain was mild. The contribution of the remaining predictors was not moderated by pain levels, which means that they contributed to walking adherence irrespective of the pain severity of the patient. Pain severity did not contribute to walking adherence when controlling for the predictors. Conclusion: Clinical implications are discussed from the perspective of personalized interventions and preferable target interventions when attempting to increase adherence to walking in this population.
Business Model Innovation Paths of Manufacturing Oriented towards Green Development in Digital Economy
Authors: Han Xiao , Zhang Jiayun
Published: December 2022

China’s manufacturing industry has been confronted with the issue of extensive development with high input, high consumption, and high emissions for a long time, and its green development is the key to reaching carbon neutrality in China. Under the digital economy, business model innovation is the fundamental means of the green development of manufacturing enterprises. Four representative listed companies in China’s manufacturing were selected as typical cases for the case study. Through open, axial, and selective coding that is based on proceduralized grounded theory, this study profoundly explores business model innovation paths of the manufacturing industry oriented towards green development in the digital economy following the research logic of “green development orientation–business model innovation process–business model innovation result”. Moreover, this study further compares the differences among paths and discusses each path’s effectiveness and applicable conditions. Results show that: (1) Four green business model innovation paths are revealed based on the four green development orientations: efficiency-oriented path, value-oriented path, user-oriented path, and ecology-oriented path. (2) Different enterprises pursue distinct business model innovation paths. The scientific premise for enterprises to opt for the optimal innovation path is the matching of upgrading demands, existing conditions, and path characteristics. Ultimately, the following policy implications are offered: First, promote the green innovation of business models in the manufacturing industry. Second, consider enterprises’ heterogeneity and implement differentiated support policies. This study can serve as theoretical support and decision-making reference for business model innovation and green development in manufacturing enterprises.
Noise Disturbance and Well-Being in the North of Spain
Authors: Santurtún Maite , García Tárrago María José , Fdez-Arroyabe Pablo , Zarrabeitia María T.
Published: December 2022

Environmental noise is considered one of the main risks for physical and mental health and well-being, with a significant associated burden of disease in Europe. This work aims to explore the main sources of noise exposure at home and its effect on well-being in northern Spain. A transversal opinion study has been performed through a closed questionnaire. The questionnaire included three different parts: sociodemographic data, noise disturbance, and the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5). A Binary Logistics Regression model was performed to analyze the relationship between noise exposure and well-being. Overall, 16.6% of the participants consider that the noise isolation of their homes is bad or very bad. The noise generated by the neighbors (air and impact noise) is considered the most disturbing indoor noise source, while street works are the most disturbing outdoor noise source in urban areas and road traffic is the most disturbing in rural areas. People who indicate that noise interferes with their life at home have a worse score on the WHO-5 (decreased perception of well-being). The exposure to outdoor noise (specifically the noise coming from the street and trains), internal impact noise produced by neighbors, and in general, the noise that wakes you up, is related to receiving a worse score in the WHO-5 (p < 0.05). Administrative bodies must ensure that laws regulating at-home noise levels, which are continually being updated with stricter restrictions, are enforced.
The Impact of Green Innovation on Enterprise Green Economic Efficiency
Authors: Li Yuan , Huang Nan , Zhao Yang
Published: December 2022

In the process of China’s transformation from high-speed to high-quality development, the role of green innovation has gradually begun to receive attention. Using 2163 observations of 687 listed companies from 2016 to 2020, this paper examined whether green innovation can improve green economic efficiency. The study found that green innovation significantly reduces the green economic efficiency of enterprises. In the case of insufficient protection of innovation achievements, limited knowledge and technology accumulation, and the absence of enterprise engagement in heavily polluting production and operation activities, the negative impact of green innovation on their green economic efficiency is more significant. Moreover, upgraded production processes, a high degree of freedom of technology selection and high market competition can help alleviate the negative impact of green innovation on enterprises’ green economic efficiency, and when the above three conditions are simultaneously met, green innovation significantly promotes the green economic efficiency of enterprises. The above findings are contradictory to the assumption of most literature intuitively. However, after a series of tests, this paper found that green innovation can still stimulate overall environmental and economic performance in some conditions. Starting from the microenterprise level and based on actual emissions data, this paper examines whether and how green innovation affects high-quality development. The findings are of great significance to academic research, policy formulation, and enterprise production and operation.
Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Functional Alteration of P-glycoprotein in the Ex Vivo Rat Inner Blood–Retinal Barrier
Authors: Daikohara Kiyotaka , Akanuma Shin-ichi , Kubo Yoshiyuki , Hosoya Ken-ichi
Published: December 2022

At the inner blood–retinal barrier (BRB), P-glycoprotein (P-gp) contributes to maintaining the homeostasis of substance concentration in the retina by transporting drugs and exogenous toxins from the retina to the circulating blood. Under inflammatory conditions, P-gp activities have been reported to be altered in various tissues. The purpose of this study was to clarify the alterations in P-gp activity at the inner BRB due to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an inflammatory agent, and the molecular mechanisms of the alterations induced by LPS. Ex vivo P-gp activity was evaluated as luminal accumulation of 7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole-cyclosporin A (NBD-CSA), a fluorescent P-gp substrate, in freshly prepared rat retinal capillaries. The luminal NBD-CSA accumulation was significantly decreased in the presence of LPS, indicating that P-gp activity at the inner BRB is reduced by LPS. This LPS-induced attenuation of the luminal NBD-CSA accumulation was abolished by inhibiting toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a receptor for LPS. Furthermore, an inhibitor/antagonist of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, endothelin B receptor, nitric oxide synthase, or protein kinase C (PKC) significantly restored the LPS-induced decrease in the luminal NBD-CSA accumulation. Consequently, it is suggested that the TLR4/PKC pathway is involved in the reduction in P-gp function in the inner BRB by LPS.
Exploring Highly Conserved Regions of SARS-CoV-2 Spike S2 Subunit as Targets for Fusion Inhibition Using Chimeric Proteins
Authors: Polo-Megías Daniel , Cano-Muñoz Mario , Berruezo Alberto G. , Laumond Géraldine , Moog Christiane , Conejero-Lara Francisco
Published: December 2022

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, considerable efforts have been made to develop protective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, immunity tends to decline within a few months, and new virus variants are emerging with increased transmissibility and capacity to evade natural or vaccine-acquired immunity. Therefore, new robust strategies are needed to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection. The viral spike composed of S1 and S2 subunits mediates viral attachment and membrane fusion to infect the host cell. In this process, interaction between the highly conserved heptad repeat 1 and 2 regions (HR1 and HR2) of S2 is crucial and for this reason; these regions are promising targets to fight SARS-CoV-2. Here, we describe the design and characterization of chimeric proteins that structurally imitate the S2 HR1 region in a trimeric coiled-coil conformation. We biophysically characterized the proteins and determined their capacity to bind the HR2 region, as well as their inhibitory activity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. HR1 mimetic proteins showed conformational heterogeneity and a propensity to form oligomers. Moreover, their structure is composed of subdomains with varied stability. Interestingly, the full HR1 proteins showed high affinity for HR2-derived peptides and SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory activity, whereas smaller proteins mimicking HR1 subdomains had a decreased affinity for their complementary HR2 region and did not inhibit the virus. The results provide insight into effective strategies to create mimetic proteins with broad inhibitory activity and therapeutic potential against SARS-CoV-2.
DAMPs Released from Proinflammatory Macrophages Induce Inflammation in Cardiomyocytes via Activation of TLR4 and TNFR
Authors: Neu Carolina , Thiele Yvonne , Horr Fabienne , Beckers Christian , Frank Nadine , Marx Gernot , Martin Lukas , Kraemer Sandra , Zechendorf Elisabeth
Published: December 2022

Cardiac dysfunction is a life-threatening complication in sepsis. Upon infection and cardiac stress, the cardiac macrophage population expands. Recruited macrophages exhibit a predominantly proinflammatory phenotype and release danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that contribute to cardiac dysfunction. However, the underlying pathomechanisms are highly complex and not fully understood. Here, we utilized an indirect macrophage–cardiomyocyte co-culture model to study the effects of proinflammatory macrophages on the activation of different cardiac receptors (TLR3, TLR4, and TNFR) and their role in cardiac inflammation and caspase-3/7 activation. The stimulation of cardiomyocytes with conditioned medium of LPS-stimulated macrophages resulted in elevated IL-6 protein concentrations and relative IL-6 and TNFα mRNA levels. Conditioned medium from LPS-stimulated macrophages also induced NFκB translocation and increased caspase-3/7 activation in cardiomyocytes. Analyzing the role of different cardiac receptors, we found that TLR4 and TNFR inhibition reduces cardiac inflammation and that the inhibition of TNFR prevents NFκB translocation into the nuclei of cardiomyocytes, induced by exposure to conditioned medium of proinflammatory macrophages. Moreover, we demonstrated that TLR3 inhibition reduces macrophage-mediated caspase-3/7 activation. Our results suggest that the immune response of macrophages under inflammatory conditions leads to the release of DAMPs, such as eRNA and cytokines, which in turn induce cardiomyocyte dysfunction. Thus, the data obtained in this study contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of cardiac dysfunction.
RyhB in Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Regulates the Expression of Virulence-Related Genes and Contributes to Meningitis Development in a Mouse Model
Authors: Meng Xia , Chen Yanfei , Wang Peili , He Mengping , Shi Yuxing , Lai Yuxin , Zhu Guoqiang , Wang Heng
Published: December 2022

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is an important member of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC). It shares similar pathogenic strategies with neonatal meningitis E. coli (NMEC) and may threaten human health due to its potential zoonosis. RyhB is a small non-coding RNA that regulates iron homeostasis in E. coli. However, it is unclear whether RyhB regulates meningitis occurrence. To investigate the function of RyhB in the development of meningitis, we constructed the deletion mutant APEC XM∆ryhB and the complemented mutant APEC XM∆ryhB/pryhB, established a mouse meningitis model and evaluated the role of RyhB in virulence of APEC. The results showed that the deletion of ryhB decreased biofilm formation, adhesion to the brain microvascular endothelial cell line bEnd.3 and serum resistance. RNA-seq data showed that the expression of multiple virulence-related genes changed in the ryhB deletion mutant in the presence of duck serum. Deletion of ryhB reduced the clinical symptoms of mice, such as opisthotonus, diarrhea and neurological signs, when challenged with APEC. Compared with the mice infected with the wild-type APEC, fewer histopathological lesions were observed in the brain of mice infected with the ryhB deletion mutant APEC XM∆ryhB. The bacterial loads in the tissues and the relative expression of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in the brain significantly decreased when challenged with the APEC XM∆ryhB. The expressions of tight junction proteins (claudin-5, occludin and ZO-1) were not reduced in the brain of mice infected with APEC XM∆ryhB; that is, the blood-brain barrier permeability of mice was not significantly damaged. In conclusion, RyhB contributes to the pathogenicity of APEC XM in the meningitis-causing process by promoting biofilm formation, adhesion to endothelial cells, serum resistance and virulence-related genes expression.
How the V4 Nations Handle the Idea of Smart Cities
Authors: Blazek Roman , Durana Pavol , Jaros Jaroslav
Published: December 2022

Smart city is a term that includes digital, information, and communication technologies that contribute to increasing the level and quality of life in individual cities. It focuses primarily on the efficient use of existing resources but also on the discovery of new ones, with the goal of lowering energy consumption while also reducing environmental impact and optimizing traffic in specific areas of the city. This concept is increasingly coming to the fore. Thus, the aim of this article was to determine the level of involvement of Slovak, Czech, Polish, and Hungarian authors in solutions for Smart cities using Web of Science data. The analysis of countries that form the Visegrad Four (V4) region reveals how the region ranks compared to other countries that are actively involved in Smart cities based on VosViewer. To map a specific region of countries, it is necessary to first understand the underlying causes of the problem worldwide. Then, the status of the authors, the number of articles and citations, and universities may be actively discussed and graphically depicted for each nation in Visegrad. Based on the discovered results, academics can identify the contributors and institutions that have solved the issue individually or in co-authorships over a long period. The findings provide data for future testing of selected dependencies and a platform for creating a scientific model to rank countries. In addition, the authorities may focus on identified clusters of key areas that are an essential part of Smart cities and provide a higher quality of life in their city for the people.
Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for pH-Responsive Delivery of Iridium Metallotherapeutics and Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme
Authors: Knežević Nikola Ž. , Ilić Nebojša , Kaluđerović Goran N.
Published: December 2022

Using nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery to cancer, in response to its weakly acidic environment, represents a promising approach toward increasing the effectiveness and reducing the adverse effects of cancer therapy. Hence, the aim of this study is to construct novel mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN)-based acidification-responsive drug delivery systems for targeted cancer therapy. Herein, the surface of MSN is covalently functionalized with Ir(III)-based complex through a pH-cleavable hydrazone-based linker and characterized by nitrogen sorption, SEM, FTIR, EDS, TGA, DSC, DLS, and zeta potential measurements. Enhanced release of Ir(III)-complexes is evidenced by UV/VIS spectroscopy at the weakly acidic environments (pH 5 and pH 6) in comparison to the release at physiological conditions. The in vitro toxicity of the prepared materials is tested on healthy MRC-5 cells while their potential for the efficient treatment of glioblastoma multiforme is demonstrated on the U251 cell line.
Endocardium in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: Implications from In Vitro Study
Authors: Yu Zhiyun , Liu Ziyi , Ravichandran Vidhya , Lami Bonny , Gu Mingxia
Published: December 2022

Endocardium lines the inner layer of the heart ventricle and serves as the source of valve endothelial cells and interstitial cells. Previously, endocardium-associated abnormalities in hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) have been reported, including endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE) and mitral and aortic valve malformation. However, few mechanistic studies have investigated the molecular pathological changes in endocardial cells. Recently, the emergence of a powerful in vitro system—induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)—was applied to study various genetic diseases, including HLHS. This review summarized current in vitro studies in understanding the endocardial pathology in HLHS, emphasizing new findings of the cellular phenotypes and underlying molecular mechanisms. Lastly, a future perspective is provided regarding the better recapitulation of endocardial phenotypes in a dish.
Comparing Differences between Two Groups of Adolescents Hospitalized for Self-Harming Behaviors with and without Personality Disorders
Authors: Wang Ping , Li Chao , Bella-Fernández Marcos , Martin-Moratinos Marina , Castaño Leticia Mallol , del Sol-Calderón Pablo del , Díaz de Neira Mónica Díaz de , Blasco-Fontecilla Hilario
Published: December 2022

Self-harm (non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behavior (SB)) is frequent display during adolescence. Patients with personality disorders (PDs) frequently self-harm. However, few studies have focused on the role of PDs in self-harming adolescents. In this study, we collected 79 adolescents hospitalized due to self-harm (88.6% female; 78.5% Caucasian) and divided them into two groups, with or without a diagnosis of PD. The socio-demographic and psychological-clinical data were collected through a structured interview by clinicians. Univariate, subgroup, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Univariate analysis showed that adolescents with a PD and self-harm had (1) an older age at hospitalization (p < 0.01); (2) experienced physical and sexual abuse (p = 0.05, and p < 0.01, respectively); (3) ADHD (p = 0.05); (4) a greater number of SA (p < 0.01); and (5) probability of being a major NSSI patient (>20 lifetime NSSI episodes) (p < 0.01). After multivariate stratified analysis, the results indicated that an older age, and particularly major NSSI status were predictors of PD diagnosis. Early identification and a better understanding of the characteristics of adolescent PDs can assist clinicians in intervening earlier and developing more rational treatment strategies to reduce the long-term effects of PDs.
Influence of Renal Dysfunction on the Differential Behaviour of Procalcitonin for the Diagnosis of Postoperative Infection in Cardiac Surgery
Authors: de la Varga-Martínez Olga , Martín-Fernández Marta , Heredia-Rodríguez María , Ceballos Francisco , Cubero-Gallego Hector , Priede-Vimbela Juan Manuel , Bardají-Carrillo Miguel , Sánchez-de Prada Laura , López-Herrero Rocío , Jorge-Monjas Pablo , Tamayo Eduardo , Gómez-Sánchez Esther
Published: December 2022

Background: procalcitonin is a valuable marker in the diagnosis of bacterial infections; however, the impairment of renal function can influence its diagnostic precision. The objective of this study is to evaluate the differential behaviour of procalcitonin, as well as its usefulness in the diagnosis of postoperative pulmonary infection after cardiac surgery, depending on the presence or absence of impaired renal function. Materials and methods: A total of 805 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation (CBP) were prospectively recruited, comparing the behaviour of biomarkers between the groups with and without postoperative pneumonia and according to the presence or absence of renal dysfunction. Results: Pulmonary infection was diagnosed in 42 patients (5.21%). In total, 228 patients (28.32%) presented postoperative renal dysfunction. Procalcitonin was significantly higher in infected patients, even in the presence of renal dysfunction. The optimal procalcitonin threshold differed markedly in patients with renal dysfunction compared to patients without renal dysfunction (1 vs. 0.78 ng/mL p < 0.05). The diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin increased significantly when the procalcitonin threshold was adapted to renal function. Conclusions: Procalcitonin is an accurate marker of postoperative infection in cardiac surgery, even in the presence of renal dysfunction. Renal function is an important determinant of procalcitonin levels and, therefore, its diagnostic thresholds must be adapted in the presence of renal dysfunction.
Short-Term Trajectory Prediction of Maritime Vessel Using k-Nearest Neighbor Points
Authors: Zhang Minglong , Huang Liang , Wen Yuanqiao , Zhang Jinfen , Huang Yamin , Zhu Man
Published: December 2022

The prediction of ship location has become an increasingly popular research hotspot in the field of maritime transportation engineering, which benefits maritime safety supervision and security. Existing methods of ship location prediction based on motion characteristics have a large uncertainty and cannot guarantee trajectory prediction accuracy of the target ship. An improved method of location prediction using k-nearest neighbor (KNN) is proposed in this paper. An expanded circle area of the latest point of the target ship is first generated to find the reference points with similar movement characteristics in the constraints of distance and time intervals. Then, the top k-nearest neighbors are determined based on the degree of similarity. Relationships between the reference point of each neighbor and the latest points of the target ship are calculated. The predicted location of the target ship can then be determined by a weighted calculation of the locations of all neighbors at the predicted time and their relationships with the target ship. Experiments of ship location prediction in 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min were conducted. The correlation coefficient of the location prediction error for the three experiments was 0.992, 0.99, and 0.9875, respectively. The results show that ship location prediction with reference to multiple nearest neighbors with similar movements can provide better accuracy.
Mycoplanktonic Community Structure and Their Roles in Monitoring Environmental Changes in a Subtropical Estuary in the Beibu Gulf
Authors: Huang Jiongqing , Zhao Huaxian , Yang Shu , Qin Xinyi , Liao Nengjian , Li Xiaoli , Wei Qiuyan , Li Wenjing , Jiang Gonglingxia , Li Nan , Wang Pengbin
Published: December 2022

Mycoplankton are an important component of marine ecosystems and play a key role in material cycling and energy flow in marine ecosystems. In this study, high-throughput sequencing of the 18S rDNA gene was employed to investigate the community structure of mycoplankton during summer and winter and their response to environmental changes in the Dafengjiang River estuary in the Beibu Gulf, Guangxi. The mycoplanktonic community was generally dominated by Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Cryptomycota. However, there were significant seasonal differences in the α-diversity of the mycoplanktonic community (p < 0.05). Random forest modeling also revealed that Paramicrosporidium, Parengyodontium, Arthrinium, Paramycosphaerella, Pestalotia, and Talaromyces were the most effective bioindicators of environmental changes. Spearman’s correlation analysis and distance-based redundancy analysis suggested that the trophic status, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, and salinity were the key environmental factors regulating the mycoplanktonic community structure. Variation partitioning analysis also found that nutrient levels were the main driver of the β-diversity of the mycoplanktonic community, showing a greater effect than the water quality parameters. In conclusion, this study revealed the mycoplanktonic community structure and its key drivers in the Dafengjiang River estuary, thus providing a theoretical reference for ecological environmental monitoring and resource management in the Beibu Gulf.
Concentrations and Characteristics of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Marine Zooplankton from the Gaoping Waters of Southwestern Taiwan
Authors: Hsieh Hung-Yen , Huang Kuang-Ching , Cheng Jing-O , Ko Fung-Chi , Meng Pei-Jie
Published: December 2022

Bioaccumulation by zooplankton is the outset for persistent organic pollutants that enter the marine food chain. Owing to a full spectrum of anthropogenic activities, the Gaoping waters of southwestern Taiwan are exposed to large quantities of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). However, information on these contaminants in zooplankton in this study area is lacking. In this study, we analyzed 19 PBDE congeners concentrations in 36 zooplankton samples from the Gaoping waters. A high variation in the total PBDE concentrations in zooplankton (from not detected to 1415 ng g−1 dry weight) was found, with the highest PBDE levels being recorded near the entrance of the Kaohsiung Harbor (KH). Significantly higher levels were noted for the KH transect than for the Gaoping River estuary (GR) and Fengshan Township (FS) transects, indicating that PBDE inputs originate from the ocean sewage outfalls. BDE-15 (43%) and BDE-209 (16%) were the predominant PBDE congeners in the zooplankton. Our results suggest that anthropogenic activities might predominantly contribute to significantly high PBDE concentrations. The traditional food web may easily transport these higher levels of PBDEs in zooplankton to higher trophic levels of marine organisms, since the Gaoping waters serve as essential nursery and spawning grounds for invertebrates and fishes.
Factors Contributing to Fatality and Injury Outcomes of Maritime Accidents: A Comparative Study of Two Accident-Prone Areas
Authors: Zhang Yang , Zhai Yujia , Chen Jihong , Xu Qingjun , Fu Shanshan , Wang Huizhen
Published: December 2022

Shipping, as an important part of the global supply chain, has always been quite sensitive to maritime accidents. Fatality and injury are important metrics indicating an accident’s severity. Understanding the driving factors of fatality and injury outcomes of maritime accidents can help to improve supply chain security. Based on maritime accident data obtained from the Lloyd’s List Intelligence, this paper identifies accident-prone sea areas through kernel density estimation (KDE) and selects two of the areas to conduct a comparative study on factors contributing to fatality and injury outcomes of maritime accidents through zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) and elastic analysis. The results show that collision and ship age significantly impact the number of fatalities and injuries. Specifically, collision and ship age have greater impacts on fatality and injury outcomes of accidents that occurred in the English Channel and North Sea. Whether the accident occurs in ports and whether the accident causes a total loss have more significant impacts on the fatality and injury outcomes of accidents in the Black Sea and the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The research results can potentially support the reduction of fatalities and injuries in maritime accident and help to manage maritime risk.
Nutrition Education to Reduce Metabolic Dysfunction for Spinal Cord Injury: A Module-Based Nutrition Education Guide for Healthcare Providers and Consumers
Authors: Sneij Alicia , Farkas Gary J. , Carino Mason Marisa Renee , Gater David R.
Published: December 2022

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in a high prevalence of neurogenic obesity and metabolic dysfunction. The increased risk for neurogenic obesity and metabolic dysfunction is mainly due to the loss of energy balance because of significantly reduced energy expenditure following SCI. Consequently, excessive energy intake (positive energy balance) leads to adipose tissue accumulation at a rapid rate, resulting in neurogenic obesity, systemic inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction. The purpose of this article is to review the existing literature on nutrition, dietary intake, and nutrition education in persons with SCI as it relates to metabolic dysfunction. The review will highlight the poor dietary intakes of persons with SCI according to authoritative guidelines and the need for nutrition education for health care professionals and consumers. Nutrition education topics are presented in a module-based format with supporting literature. The authors emphasize the role of a diet consisting of low-energy, nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ MyPlate to effectively achieve energy balance and reduce the risk for neurogenic obesity and metabolic dysfunction in individuals with SCI.
Training and Self-Learning: How to Improve Farmers’ Willingness to Adopt Farmland Conservation Technology? Evidence from Jiangsu Province of China
Authors: Xue Zhou , Li Jieqiong , Cao Guangqiao
Published: December 2022

The quality of cultivated land is an important basis for guaranteeing grain yield, and improving the quality of cultivated land is an important initiative of the Chinese government to implement its food security strategy. This paper explores the effects of formal technical training and informal online self-directed learning on farmers’ willingness to adopt cultivated land conservation technology using farmer-level survey data. The results show that farmers’ participation in technical training effectively increased their willingness to adopt straw return technologies, but participation in online self-directed learning did not affect farmers’ willingness to adopt, while farmers who participated in both technical training and online self-directed learning had stronger willingness to adopt. These results show that internet-based self-directed learning is a useful supplement to the formal training system. Further analysis revealed that participation in technical training increased farmers’ awareness of the usefulness of the straw-return technology, which in turn increased their willingness to adopt the conservation technology of cropland. This paper clarifies the impact and mechanisms of the two main existing technology learning modes on farmers’ adoption of new technologies in rural China and provides a reference for the promotion of agricultural technology diffusion and the improvement of the quality of cultivated land in China.