bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimized complete cytoreduction in ovarian cancer through intraoperative real-time tumor visualization by 5-ALA – a case report
Authors: Tascón Padrón Laura , Egger Eva K. , Ralser Damian Johannes , Otten Lucia , Toksöz Özer-Altan , Kristiansen Glen , Stummer Walter , Mustea Alexander
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Complete macroscopic cytoreduction represents the most important prognostic parameter for overall survival in ovarian cancer. This dogma remains tenacious despite significant improvements in adjuvant systemic treatment. Hence, optimization of surgical therapy is an overarching goal to improve patients’ outcomes. In this context, intraoperative tumor-specific imaging might facilitate optimized cytoreduction. In neurosurgery, intraoperative 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) guided imaging is applied in clinical routine to assess surgical resection margins. Here, we report the case of a patient with ovarian cancer in whom intraoperative 5-ALA tumor visualization led to optimized complete cytoreduction.

Objective

Intraoperative administration of 5-ALA led to improved complete cytoreduction by identification and resection of additional ovarian cancer tumor manifestations.

Case

The 39-year-old patient, Jehovah`s witness, presented to our department with a left sided ovarian mass, suspicious of ovarian cancer, based on clinical examination, sonographic suspicious features and a CA12-5 elevation. The patient’s medical history and family history was unremarkable. Preoperative CT imaging of the thorax and abdomen showed no pathology besides the adnexal mass. Surgery was performed by a midline laparotomy with hysterectomy, bilateral adnexectomy, pelvic peritonectomy, omentectomy, ureterolysis, diaphragm stripping, adhesiolysis and the collection of peritoneal and rectal samples. Intraoperative 5-ALA imaging using a dedicated excitation and detection loupe system (Reveal, DVI) led to tumor detection at the diaphragm, the omentum and the rectum that was not detectable by palpation and visualization using white light. The pathology results revealed that the 5-ALA positive samples (diaphragm, rectum and omentum) obtained by intraoperative 5-ALA were positive for ovarian cancer.

Conclusion

Intraoperative administration of 5-ALA represents a promising approach to improve complete cytoreduction in ovarian cancer surgery thereby improving clinical outcomes. Hence, further research and clinical trials are required to investigate the potential of intraoperative 5-ALA imaging in ovarian cancer debulking surgery and its impact on long-term clinical outcomes.
Economic evaluation of breast MRI in screening - a systematic review and basic approach to cost-effectiveness analyses
Authors: Tollens Fabian , Baltzer Pascal A.T. , Froelich Matthias F. , Kaiser Clemens G.
Published: December 2023

Background

Economic evaluations have become an accepted methodology for decision makers to allocate resources in healthcare systems. Particularly in screening, where short-term costs are associated with long-term benefits, and adverse effects of screening intermingle, cost-effectiveness analyses provide a means to estimate the economic value of screening.

Purpose

To introduce the methodology of economic evaluations and to review the existing evidence on cost-effectiveness of MR-based breast cancer screening.

Materials and methods

The various concepts and techniques of economic evaluations critical to the interpretation of cost-effectiveness analyses are briefly introduced. In a systematic review of the literature, economic evaluations from the years 2000-2022 are reviewed.

Results

Despite a considerable heterogeneity in the reported input variables, outcome categories and methodological approaches, cost-effectiveness analyses report favorably on the economic value of breast MRI screening for different risk groups, including both short- and long-term costs and outcomes.

Conclusion

Economic evaluations indicate a strongly favorable economic value of breast MRI screening for women at high risk and for women with dense breast tissue.
Regulatory mechanisms of autophagy-related ncRNAs in bone metabolic diseases
Authors: Yan Binghan , Li Zhichao , Su Hui , Xue Haipeng , Qiu Daodi , Xu Zhanwang , Tan Guoqing
Published: December 2023

Bone metabolic diseases have been tormented and are plaguing people worldwide due to the lack of effective and thorough medical interventions and the poor understanding of their pathogenesis. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are heterogeneous transcripts that cannot encode the proteins but can affect the expressions of other genes. Autophagy is a fundamental mechanism for keeping cell viability, recycling cellular contents through the lysosomal pathway, and maintaining the homeostasis of the intracellular environment. There is growing evidence that ncRNAs, autophagy, and crosstalk between ncRNAs and autophagy play complex roles in progression of metabolic bone disease. This review investigated the complex mechanisms by which ncRNAs, mainly micro RNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), regulate autophagic pathway to assist in treating bone metabolism disorders. It aimed at identifying the autophagy role in bone metabolism disorders and understanding the role, potential, and challenges of crosstalk between ncRNAs and autophagy for bone metabolism disorders treatment.
Molecular cytogenetic identification and nutritional composition evaluation of newly synthesized Triticum turgidum-Triticum boeoticum amphiploids (AABBAbAb)
Authors: Liu Xin , Jiang Xiaomei , Zhang Junqing , Ye Hong , Shen Mang , Wu Lei , Miao Yongping , Chen Longyu , Zhou Ke , Hao Ming , Jiang Bo , Huang Lin , Ning Shunzong , Chen Xuejiao , Chen Xue , Liu Dengcai , Zhang Lianquan
Published: December 2023

Triticum boeoticum Boiss. (AbAb, 2n = 2x = 14) is a wheat-related species with the blue aleurone trait. In this study, 18 synthetic Triticum turgidum-Triticum boeoticum amphiploids were identified, which were derived from crosses between T. boeoticum and T. turgidum. Three probes (Oligo-pTa535, Oligo-pSc119.2, and Oligo-pTa713) for multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (mc-FISH) were combined with genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) to identify chromosomal composition. Seven nutritional indices (anthocyanins, protein, total essential amino acids TEAA, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu) were measured, and the nutritional components of 18 synthetic amphiploids were comprehensively ranked by principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that all three synthetic amphiploids used for cytological identification contained 42 chromosomes, including 14 A, 14 B, and 14 Ab chromosomes. The average anthocyanin content was 82.830 μg/g to 207.606 μg/g in the whole meal of the 17 blue-grained lines (Syn-ABAb-1 to Syn-ABAb-17), which was obviously higher than that in the yellow-grained line Syn-ABAb-18 (6.346 μg/g). The crude protein content was between 154.406 and 180.517 g/kg, and the EAA content was 40.193-63.558 mg/g. The Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu levels in the 17 blue-grained lines were 60.55 to 97.41 mg/kg, 60.55-97.41 mg/kg, 35.11 to 65.20 mg/kg and 5.74 to 7.22 mg/kg, respectively, which were higher than those in the yellow-grained line. The contribution of the first three principal components reached 84%. The first principal component was mainly anthocyanins, Fe, Zn and Mn. The second principal component contained protein and amino acids, and the third component contained only Cu. The top 5 Triticum turgidum-Triticum boeoticum amphiploids were Syn-ABAb-11, Syn-ABAb-17, Syn-ABAb-5, Syn-ABAb-8 and Syn-ABAb-4. These amphidiploids exhibited the potential to serve as candidates for hybridization with common wheat, as indicated by comprehensive score rankings, toward enhancing the nutritional quality of wheat.
Classification of crop disease-pest questions based on BERT-BiGRU-CapsNet with attention pooling
Authors: Zhang Ting , Wang Dengwu
Published: December 2023

Crop disease-pest question classification is an essential part of pest knowledge intelligent question answering system. A crop disease-pest question classification method is proposed on the basis of bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT), bidirectional gated unit (BiGRU), capsule network (CapsNet), and BERT-BiGRU-CapsNet with attention pooling (BBGCAP). In BBGCAP, the unstructured text data are preprocessed vectorically using BERT, BiGRU is used to extract the deep features of the text, attention pooling is used to assign the corresponding weights to the extracted deep information, and CapsNet is used to route the right alternative. BBGCAP is a synthetic model by integrating the advantages of BERT, BiGRU, CapsNet, and attention pooling. The experimental results on the cucumber-pest question database show that the proposed method is superior to the methods based on traditional template matching, support vector machines (SVM), and convolutional neural network–long short-term memory (LSTM), and the accuracy rates of precision, recall, and F1 are all above 902.15%. This method provides technical support for intelligent question answering system of crop disease-pests.
Athlete anxiety questionnaire: the development and validation of a new questionnaire for assessing the anxiety, concentration and self-confidence of athletes
Authors: Trpkovici Melinda , Pálvölgyi Ágnes , Makai Alexandra , Prémusz Viktória , Ács Pongrác
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent issues among athletes. Therefore, measuring the stress caused by high-stakes situations could be important for investigating the issue. In sports psychology literature, no valid and reliable questionnaire is available in Hungarian for assessing the anxiety experienced by athletes in high-stakes situations. This study aimed to create a new Hungarian questionnaire to measure anxiety, self-confidence, and concentration during high-stakes contests.

Methods

263 athletes of various sports participated in the cross-sectional study (age: 16.18 ± 3.46 years). The structure of the Anxiety Athletes Questionnaire (AAQ) was examined through factor analysis, where exploratory factor analysis (EFA) as well as confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were carried out. The internal consistency of the subscales of AAQ was measured by Cronbach’s alpha. Through a convergent validity test, the AAQ questionnaire was compared to the subscales of the CSAI-2 and ACSI-28 questionnaire subscales by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients. Through a discriminant validity analysis, the differences by age group, sex, and sport variables were examined by AAQ scores. The Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were utilized in the analysis. The SPSS 28.0 software was used for the statistical analysis, and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

Four factors have been identified through the EFA. The CFA analysis showed the four-factor model an acceptable model fit (SRMR, RMSEA CFI, TLI). Cronbach’s alpha of the four subscales showed acceptable internal consistency (cognitive anxiety: α = 0.871; somatic anxiety: α = 0.700; self-confidence: α = 0.832; concentration: α = 0.747). The convergent validity showed a weak or moderate, significant relationship between AAQ subscales and subscales of CSAI and ACSI (R = −0.398–0.412).

Conclusion

The Athlete Anxiety Questionnaire can be considered a reliable and valid measurement tool for measuring athletes’ anxiety, self-confidence and concentration in high-stakes situations.
Toward explainable AI (XAI) for mental health detection based on language behavior
Authors: Kerz Elma , Zanwar Sourabh , Qiao Yu , Wiechmann Daniel
Published: December 2023

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) in general and Natural Language Processing (NLP) in particular are paving the new way forward for the automated detection and prediction of mental health disorders among the population. Recent research in this area has prioritized predictive accuracy over model interpretability by relying on deep learning methods. However, prioritizing predictive accuracy over model interpretability can result in a lack of transparency in the decision-making process, which is critical in sensitive applications such as healthcare. There is thus a growing need for explainable AI (XAI) approaches to psychiatric diagnosis and prediction. The main aim of this work is to address a gap by conducting a systematic investigation of XAI approaches in the realm of automatic detection of mental disorders from language behavior leveraging textual data from social media. In pursuit of this aim, we perform extensive experiments to evaluate the balance between accuracy and interpretability across predictive mental health models. More specifically, we build BiLSTM models trained on a comprehensive set of human-interpretable features, encompassing syntactic complexity, lexical sophistication, readability, cohesion, stylistics, as well as topics and sentiment/emotions derived from lexicon-based dictionaries to capture multiple dimensions of language production. We conduct extensive feature ablation experiments to determine the most informative feature groups associated with specific mental health conditions. We juxtapose the performance of these models against a “black-box” domain-specific pretrained transformer adapted for mental health applications. To enhance the interpretability of the transformers models, we utilize a multi-task fusion learning framework infusing information from two relevant domains (emotion and personality traits). Moreover, we employ two distinct explanation techniques: the local interpretable model-agnostic explanations (LIME) method and a model-specific self-explaining method (AGRAD). These methods allow us to discern the specific categories of words that the information-infused models rely on when generating predictions. Our proposed approaches are evaluated on two public English benchmark datasets, subsuming five mental health conditions (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression and psychological stress).
Shift work is associated with extensively disordered sleep, especially when working nights
Authors: Boersma G. J. , Mijnster T. , Vantyghem P. , Kerkhof G. A. , Lancel Marike
Published: December 2023

Background

Shift work is generally associated with working and sleeping out of phase with the endogenous, circadian sleep–wake cycle. This exerts detrimental effects on sleep health. The present study aimed at evaluating the presence of short and long sleep as well as sleep disorders within a broad range of shift work schedules and elucidating the role of sociodemographic factors therein.

Methods

A large dataset containing information on sleep was collected through advertisement in a Belgium newspaper (De Standaard). Adult, working individuals were selected (n = 37,662) and categorized based on their work schedule (regular day, early morning, evening, night, and rotating shift). In this cross-sectional study, prevalence rates of short sleep (≤6 h), long sleep (≥9 h) and sleep disorders (screened with Holland Sleep Disorders Questionnaire), and associations between these sleep variables and sociodemographics (age, sex, education, living companion(s)) were analyzed using binominal logistic regression analyses.

Results

In the total sample all sociodemographic factors affected prevalences of short, long and disordered sleep, consistent with previous studies. Compared to day workers, shift workers more frequently reported short sleep, most prominently night workers (26 vs. 50%) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, all sleep disorders as well as sleep disorder comorbidity were more common in shift workers, again most pronounced in night workers (all p < 0.05). In night shift workers the level of education had the strongest associations with disturbed sleep with a two-fold higher prevalence of short and disordered sleep in low relative to academic educated groups (all p < 0.02).

Conclusion

Shift work is related not only to curtailed sleep and shift work disorder, but also to a plethora of sleep disorders, including insomnia, sleep-related breathing disorders and sleep-related movement disorders. Our findings imply that education on coping strategies may be especially important for young and/or lower educated shift workers.
A time-course prediction model of global COVID-19 mortality
Authors: Ciaccio Mark , Schneiderman Chris , Pandey Abhishek , Fowler Robert , Chiou Kevin , Koeller Gage , Hallett David , Krueger Whitney , Raskin Leon
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused over 6 million deaths worldwide and is a significant cause of mortality. Mortality dynamics vary significantly by country due to pathogen, host, social and environmental factors, in addition to vaccination and treatments. However, there is limited data on the relative contribution of different explanatory variables, which may explain changes in mortality over time. We, therefore, created a predictive model using orthogonal machine learning techniques to attempt to quantify the contribution of static and dynamic variables over time.

Methods

A model was created using Partial Least Squares Regression trained on data from 2020 to rank order the significance and effect size of static variables on mortality per country. This model enables the prediction of mortality levels for countries based on demographics alone. Partial Least Squares Regression was then used to quantify how dynamic variables, including weather and non-pharmaceutical interventions, contributed to the overall mortality in 2020. Finally, mortality levels for the first 60 days of 2021 were predicted using rolling-window Elastic Net regression.

Results

This model allowed prediction of deaths per day and quantification of the degree of influence of included variables, accounting for timing of occurrence or implementation. We found that the most parsimonious model could be reduced to six variables; three policy-related variables – COVID-19 testing policy, canceled public events policy, workplace closing policy; in addition to three environmental variables – maximum temperature per day, minimum temperature per day, and the dewpoint temperature per day.

Conclusion

Country and population-level static and dynamic variables can be used to predict COVID-19 mortality, providing an example of how broad temporal data can inform a preparation and mitigation strategy for both COVID-19 and future pandemics and assist decision-makers by identifying population-level contributors, including interventions, that have the greatest influence in mitigating mortality, and optimizing the health and safety of populations.
Geography, inequities, and the social determinants of health in transplantation
Authors: Ross-Driscoll Katherine , McElroy Lisa M. , Adler Joel T.
Published: December 2023

Among the causes of inequity in organ transplantation, geography is oft-cited but rarely defined with precision. Traditionally, geographic inequity has been characterized by variation in distance to transplant centers, availability of deceased organ donors, or the consequences of allocation systems that are inherently geographically based. Recent research has begun to explore the use of measures at various geographic levels to better understand how characteristics of a patient’s geographic surroundings contribute to a broad range of transplant inequities. Within, we first explore the relationship between geography, inequities, and the social determinants of health. Next, we review methodologic considerations essential to geographic health research, and critically appraise how these techniques have been applied. Finally, we propose how to use geography to improve access to and outcomes of transplantation.
The relationship between hypertriglyceridemic wait-to-height ratio and hypertension–diabetes comorbidity among older adult
Authors: Zhang Ping , Xiong Yangyang , Chen Menghan , Zhang Huaide , Sun Nan , Wu Fan , Yang Jiayu , Ren Yongcheng
Published: December 2023

Objective

Limited information is available on the effect of hypertriglyceridemic waist-to-height ratio (HTHWH) and hypertension–diabetes comorbidity (HAD) in older adult people. We aimed to explore the relationship between HTHWH and HAD for the co-management of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in the older adult.

Methods

A cross-sectional study, randomized cluster sampling from 10 community health service centers, and multivariate logistic regression were used in this study. A total of 3,501 participants aged 65 years or older recruited between January 2019 and December 2019 completed the study.

Results

Among 3,501 participants, the median age was 69.96 years, and 42.50% were men. A total of 1,207 subjects were in the HTHWH group, and the prevalence rate of HAD was 17.23% in this group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, as compared with the normal group, the risk of HAD in the HTHWH group increased by 2.05 times (OR = 3.05, 95% CI: 2.06–4.51). The risks of hypertension or diabetes mellitus (HOD), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were also increased in the HTHWH group, with their ORs (95%CIs) being 1.82 (1.44–2.29), 1.73 (1.38–2.17), and 2.28 (1.66–3.13), respectively.

Conclusion

HTHWH significantly increases the risk of HAD and can be used as a reliable tool to screen the high-risk population for HAD.
Improving child nutrition in disasters by developing a modeled disaster preparedness nutrition education curriculum
Authors: Adeoya Akindele Abimibayo , Egawa Shinichi , Adeoya Adebayo Sunday , Nagatomi Ryoichi
Published: December 2023

In contemporary global society, largely because of climate change and other natural and human-induced hazards, disasters are an almost daily occurrence. The nutritional impact of disasters on children results in long-term physical and mental health problems. As children are one of the most vulnerable demographic groups, they must be empowered with disaster preparedness nutrition knowledge, and the skills and motivation to survive, prevent/reduce malnutrition, and maintain good health during disasters. A disaster preparedness nutrition education program (DPNEP) was developed in this study to improve children’s nutrition in daily life and during disasters through student-centered education. A consultative approach was used to synthesize the knowledge of a diverse group of four experts in disaster medicine and management, public health, education, and food and nutrition sciences to reach a consensus through discussion. A model DPNEP was developed by targeting grade 4 and 5 students and using interactive teaching methods. This can lead to the implementation of continuous nutrition education to empower children to make healthy food choices in daily life and reduce the risk of disaster-nutrition-related morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, once children acquire the necessary information, they are likely to share this knowledge with their families and communities, thereby enhancing society’s resilience.
JPSS-3 / 4 VIIRS response versus scan angle characterization and performance
Authors: McIntire Jeff , Moyer David , Angal Amit , Xiong Xiaoxiong
Published: December 2023

Scientific studies of the Earth’s climate increasingly rely on high-quality satellite observations. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is a key sensor onboard a series of satellites [Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) and Joint Polar-orbiting Satellite System 1–4 (JPSS-1–JPSS-4)] that generate scientific data from land, ocean, and atmosphere used in these climate models. Providing quality scientific data from space-borne sensors requires the instruments to be well-calibrated. While much of the calibration can be maintained on-orbit, some aspects of the calibration can best be measured prior to launch. One VIIRS parameter that needs to be measured pre-launch is the response versus scan angle (RVS). The RVS measures the relative change in the reflectance of the scanning optics as a function of the angle of incidence. With the RVS, the gain calibration measured on-orbit can be transferred to any scan angle. The JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 instruments have undergone ground testing including the RVS measurements, which is the subject of this work. Results indicate that the measurements are comparable to previous VIIRS builds and are expected to contribute to the generation of high-quality science data once JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 are on-orbit.
Agroecologies defined by species distribution models improve model fit of genotype by environment interactions to identify the best performing chicken breeds for smallholder systems
Authors: Kebede Fasil Getachew , Komen Hans , Dessie Tadelle , Hanotte Olivier , Kemp Steve , Alemu Setegn Worku , Bastiaansen John W. M.
Published: December 2023

Animal performance is an outcome of genetic effects, environmental influences, and their interaction. Understanding the influences of the environment on performance is important to identify the right breeds for a given environment. Agroecological zonation is commonly used to classify environments and compare the performance of breeds before their wider introduction into a new environment. Environmental classes, also referred to as agroecologies, are traditionally defined based on agronomically important environmental predictors. We hypothesized that our own classification of agroecologies for livestock at a species level and incorporating the most important environmental predictors may improve genotype by environment interactions (GxE) estimations over conventional methodology. We collected growth performance data on improved chicken breeds distributed to multiple environments in Ethiopia. We applied species distribution models (SDMs) to identify the most relevant environmental predictors and to group chicken performance testing sites into agroecologies. We fitted linear mixed-effects models (LMM) to make model comparisons between conventional and SDM-defined agroecologies. Then we used Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) to visualize the influences of SDM-identified environmental predictors on the live body weight of chickens at species level. The model fit in LMM for GxE prediction improved when agroecologies were defined based on SDM-identified environmental predictors. Partial dependence plots (PDPs) produced by GAMs showed complex relationships between environmental predictors and body weight. Our findings suggest that multi-environment performance evaluations of candidate breeds should be based on SDM-defined environmental classes or agroecologies. Moreover, our study shows that GAMs are well-suited to visualizing the influences of bioclimatic factors on livestock performance.
Comparing trimodal therapy with radical cystectomy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer: an updated meta-analysis
Authors: Al-Qudimat Ahmad R. , Singh Kalpana , Ojha Laxmi K. , Moustafa Diala Alhaj , Elaarag Mai , Al-Zoubi Raed M. , Aboumarzouk Omar M.
Published: December 2023

Background

We conducted this meta-analysis to compare the two muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) treatment modalities in terms of cancer-specific survival (CSS) and other outcome indicators.

Method

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was conducted using various academic databases including Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane database, EMBASE, Chinese biomedical literature database, Wan fang databases, and China National Knowledge Internet databases between 1966 and December 2023. This review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) No. (CRD42023398977).

Result

This study included a total of 54,816 patients diagnosed with bladder cancer from 14 studies, of which 6,228 patients were assigned to the trimodal therapy (TMT) group and 48,588 patients were assigned to the radical cystectomy (RC) group. Based on the results, the RC group exhibited a higher rate of survival than the TMT group [pooled hazard ratio (HR) = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.18–1.28, Z = 1.46, P < 0.001]. In terms of CSS, patients in the RC group had a longer CSS compared with those in the TMT group (pooled HR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.29–1.67, Z = 5.893, P < 0.001). Compared with RC, TMT is significantly associated with an increased risk of both types of mortality (pooled HR: 1.30, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Overall, the findings of this meta-analysis suggest that RC treatment may be associated with improved overall survival. Moreover, it was observed that cancer-specific survival was significantly prolonged among patients in the RC group as opposed to those who received TMT. In addition, it was shown that patients who received TMT exhibited a higher risk of all-cause mortality when compared with those who underwent RC.
An Evaluation of the Absolute Content of Flavonoids and the Identification of Their Relationship with the Flavonoid Biosynthesis Genes in Tartary Buckwheat Seeds
Authors: Ke Jin , Ran Bin , Sun Peiyuan , Cheng Yuanzhi , Chen Qingfu , Li Hongyou
Published: December 2023

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the absolute content and accumulation patterns of flavonoid components; to give insight into the accumulation relationships among flavonoid components; to explore the correlation between the content of flavonoid components and the expression of flavonoid biosynthesis genes in Tartary buckwheat seeds; and to construct a biosynthetic pathway on the major flavonoid components in Tartary buckwheat seeds. In total, 61 flavonoid components were absolutely quantified in five Tartary buckwheat varieties, of which 41 existed in all varieties. The content of most flavonoids varied significantly among different varieties or within the same variety. Rutin, quercetin, nicotiflorin, and kaempferol were the dominant flavonoid components in the Tartary buckwheat seeds, accounting for 73.05–81.79% of the total flavonoids. Significantly positive or negative correlations with content accumulation were found between some flavonoid components. Thirty-six flavonoid components displayed four different accumulation patterns in the developing Tartary buckwheat seeds. Seventeen structural genes for flavonoid biosynthesis displayed a significantly positive correlation with the accumulation of most flavonoid components during the development of Tartary buckwheat seeds, and the F3′5′H-3 gene might be the most crucial contributor in determining the total flavonoid content in Tartary buckwheat seeds. A schematic of the biosynthesis pathways for 30 major flavonoids in Tartary buckwheat seeds was constructed. These findings provide an outlook of the flavonoid components and their biosynthesis in Tartary buckwheat seeds and have potential applications in breeding new cultivars with higher flavonoid contents.
The Effects of Manure Application and Herbivore Excreta on Plant and Soil Properties of Temperate Grasslands—A Review
Authors: Brummerloh Arne , Kuka Katrin
Published: December 2023

This review provides an overview of grassland studies on the effects of manure application and herbivore excreta on plant and soil properties in temperate grasslands. Grass biomass from grazing or mowing is mainly used for animal products such as milk or meat, as well as for energy or raw materials for biorefineries. Manure application or grazing has a significant impact on several plant and soil properties. There are effects on soil chemical properties, such as increased carbon sequestration, improved nutrient availability, and increased pH. Additionally, several physical soil properties are improved by manure application or grazing. For example, bulk density is reduced, and porosity and hydraulic conductivity are greatly improved. Some biological parameters, particularly microbial biomass and microbial and enzyme activity, also increase. The use of manure and grazing can, therefore, contribute to improving soil fertility, replacing mineral fertilizers, and closing nutrient cycles. On the other hand, over-application of manure and overgrazing can result in a surplus of nutrients over plant needs and increase losses through emission or leaching. The lost nutrients are not only economically lost from the nutrient cycle of the farm but can also cause environmental damage.
Screening of Varieties Resistant to Late-Spring Coldness in Wheat and Effects of Late-Spring Coldness on the Ultrastructure of Wheat Cells
Authors: Zhang Yan , Cai Hongmei , Liu Lvzhou , Xu Hui , Chen Xiang , Li Jincai
Published: December 2023

Due to global warming, late-spring coldness affecting wheat (LSCW) is one of the major abiotic adversities affecting wheat production. A combination of field and pot trials were conducted in this study. In the field experiment, 20 wheat varieties from the main wheat-producing areas in China were selected as experimental materials. By exploring the effects of LSCW on the spikelet characteristics and yields of different varieties, the evaluation methods and indexes of wheat varieties’ resistance to LSCW were established. Three varieties with strong resistance to LSCW (Yannong19, Guomai9, and Shannong17) and five varieties sensitive to LSCW (Zhengmai895, Xinmai26, Zhengmai366, Zhengmai8329, and Fanmai5) were screened out. The wheat varieties Yannong19 (YN19), with a strong resistance to LSCW, and Xinmai26 (XM26), with LSCW sensitivity, were selected as the test materials for the pot experiment. The ultrastructure changes in the wheat in different low-temperature treatments during the anther differentiation period were observed using an ultra-low-temperature artificial climate incubator set to 4 °C and −4 °C for 4 h (1:00–5:00 a.m.). The average temperature of the field during the low-temperature treatment was 10 °C, which was the control temperature (CK). The results showed that the cell morphology and chloroplast and mitochondrial structures of the functional leaves, young ears, and internodes below the ears were damaged, and the degree of damage was related to the cell location, the extent of low-temperature stress, and the resistance of the varieties. The degree of damage to the wheat cells was found to occur in the following order: young ears > internode belove young ears > functional leaves. The degrees of damage to the wheat cell, chloroplast, and mitochondrial structures increased with the intensification of the low-temperature stress. The damage to the XM26 variety was obviously greater than that inflicted on the YN19 variety. The anatomical mechanism of YN19 cells makes the cell structure more stable during late-spring coldness.
Evaluating Different Factors That Affect the Nesting Patterns of European and Algerian Hedgehogs in Urban and Suburban Environments
Authors: Gago Héctor , Drechsler Robby M. , Monrós Juan S.
Published: December 2023

Small undisturbed patches in urban environments serve as important refuges for wildlife, e.g., hedgehogs. However, the effects of urbanization on certain biological aspects, like nesting behavior, remain unknown. We captured and tracked the movement of 30 male hedgehogs of two co-existing species: Algerian and European hedgehogs. The study was carried out in Valencia (eastern Spain). We distinguished six macrohabitats and five subhabitats. We analyzed the proportions of the macro and subhabitats where nests were found to calculate a resource selection function and fit GLMs. Hedgehog nests tended to concentrate in areas with little human disturbance and were built in hedges or under bush-like vegetation. We did not find any significant differences between species or other considered groups. We noted that nests were distributed around hard-to-find suitable habitat patches. We even recorded a case of two males from both species simultaneously using one nest. Our results suggest that hedgehog conservation in urban environments can be improved by the correct management of forest patches by conserving bush-like vegetation and improving the connectivity between suitable patches with ecological corridors.
Longitudinal Study of Antibiotic Resistance of Staphylococci from Cases of Subclinical Mastitis in Sheep in Greece: Incidence and Risk Factors
Authors: Michael Charalambia K. , Lianou Daphne T. , Tsilipounidaki Katerina , Florou Zoe , Vasileiou Natalia G. C. , Mavrogianni Vasia S. , Petinaki Efthymia , Fthenakis George C.
Published: December 2023

The present paper extends a previous publication on a field study of subclinical mastitis in sheep and focuses on the following laboratory characteristics of the staphylococcal isolates: antibiotic resistance and association with biofilm formation. The specific objectives of the present study were (a) to describe the incidence of isolation of antibiotic-resistant staphylococci from cases of mastitis throughout the milking period in dairy sheep flocks and (b) to identify relevant risk factors, which would contribute to the sustainable control of the infection. Staphylococcal isolates from subclinical mastitis were evaluated for antibiotic resistance to 18 antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance was detected in 57 of the 179 staphylococcal isolates from subclinical mastitis (31.8%). Resistance was recorded against 11 antibiotics, most often against ampicillin (63.2% of resistant isolates), penicillin (63.2%) and tetracycline (47.4%). Isolates resistant to ampicillin and penicillin were recovered in all 12 farms. Twenty-one multidrug-resistant isolates (11.7%) were also recovered. The incidence risk of isolation of staphylococci resistant to at least one (any) antibiotic throughout the study period was 23.8%. The incidence risk of isolation of staphylococci resistant to oxacillin was 5.0%; that of isolation of multidrug-resistant staphylococci was 8.8%. With regard to increased incidence risk of isolation of staphylococci resistant to at least one (any) antibiotic and increased incidence risk of isolation of staphylococci resistant to oxacillin, the omission of anti-staphylococcal mastitis vaccination of ewes emerged as a risk factor. With regard to increased incidence risk of isolation of multidrug-resistant staphylococci, the following variables emerged as risk factors: (a) higher number of antibiotics used on the farm for the treatment of mastitis and (b) younger age of lambs taken away from their dam. Most biofilm-forming antibiotic-resistant staphylococci were recovered from farms where anti-staphylococcal mastitis vaccination was not applied (55.9% versus 44.1% from farms where anti-staphylococcal mastitis vaccination was applied).
Pharmacodynamics of Doripenem Alone and in Combination with Relebactam in an In Vitro Hollow-Fiber Dynamic Model: Emergence of Resistance of Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and the Inoculum Effect
Authors: Strukova Elena N. , Golikova Maria V. , Dovzhenko Svetlana A. , Kobrin Mikhail B. , Zinner Stephen H.
Published: December 2023

The emergence of bacteria resistant to beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations is insufficiently studied, wherein the role of the inoculum effect (IE) in decreased efficacy is unclear. To address these issues, 5-day treatments with doripenem and doripenem/relebactam combination at different ratios of the agents were simulated in a hollow-fiber dynamic model against carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae at standard and high inocula. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of doripenem alone and in the presence of relebactam at two inocula were determined. Combination MICs were tested using traditional (fixed relebactam concentration) and pharmacokinetic-based approach (fixed doripenem-to-relebactam concentration ratio equal to the therapeutic 24-h area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) ratio). In all experiments, resistant subpopulations were noted, but combined simulations reduced their numbers. With doripenem, the IE was apparent for both K. pneumoniae isolates in combined treatments for one strain. The pharmacokinetic-based approach to combination MIC estimation compared to traditional showed stronger correlation between DOSE/MIC and emergence of resistance. These results support (1) the constraint of relebactam combined with doripenem against the emergence of resistance and IE; (2) the applicability of a pharmacokinetic-based approach to estimate carbapenem MICs in the presence of an inhibitor to predict the IE and to describe the patterns of resistance occurrence.
The Identification of a Novel Spider Toxin Peptide, Lycotoxin-Pa2a, with Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Activities
Authors: Shin Min Kyoung , Hwang In-Wook , Jang Bo-Young , Bu Kyung-Bin , Han Dong-Hee , Lee Seung-Ho , Oh Jin Wook , Yoo Jung Sun , Sung Jung-Suk
Published: December 2023

With the increasing challenge of controlling infectious diseases due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains, the importance of discovering new antimicrobial agents is rapidly increasing. Animal venoms contain a variety of functional peptides, making them a promising platform for pharmaceutical development. In this study, a novel toxin peptide with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities was discovered from the spider venom gland transcriptome by implementing computational approaches. Lycotoxin-Pa2a (Lytx-Pa2a) showed homology to known-spider toxin, where functional prediction indicated the potential of both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory peptides without hemolytic activity. The colony-forming assay and minimum inhibitory concentration test showed that Lytx-Pa2a exhibited comparable or stronger antibacterial activity against pathogenic strains than melittin. Following mechanistic studies revealed that Lytx-Pa2a disrupts both cytoplasmic and outer membranes of bacteria while simultaneously inducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. The peptide exerted no significant toxicity when treated to human primary cells, murine macrophages, and bovine red blood cells. Moreover, Lytx-Pa2a alleviated lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in mouse macrophages by suppressing the expression of inflammatory mediators. These findings not only suggested that Lytx-Pa2a with dual activity can be utilized as a new antimicrobial agent for infectious diseases but also demonstrated the implementation of in silico methods for discovering a novel functional peptide, which may enhance the future utilization of biological resources.
Lactate Mediates High-Intensity Interval Training—Induced Promotion of Hippocampal Mitochondrial Function through the GPR81-ERK1/2 Pathway
Authors: Shang Qinghui , Bian Xuepeng , Zhu Lutao , Liu Jun , Wu Min , Lou Shujie
Published: December 2023

Mitochondrial biogenesis and fusion are essential for maintaining healthy mitochondria and ATP production. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) can enhance mitochondrial function in mouse hippocampi, but its underlying mechanism is not completely understood. Lactate generated during HIIT may mediate the beneficial effects of HIIT on neuroplasticity by activating the lactate receptor GPR81. Furthermore, growing evidence shows that lactate contributes to mitochondrial function. Given that mitochondrial function is crucial for cerebral physiological processes, the current study aimed to determine the mechanism of HIIT in hippocampal mitochondrial function. In vivo, GPR81 was knocked down in the hippocampi of mice via the injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. The GPR81-knockdown mice were subjected to HIIT. The results demonstrated that HIIT increased mitochondria numbers, ATP production, and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in the hippocampi of mice. In addition, HIIT induced mitochondrial biogenesis, fusion, synaptic plasticity, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation but not in GPR81-knockdown mice. In vitro, Neuro-2A cells were treated with L-lactate, a GPR81 agonist, and an ERK1/2 inhibitor. The results showed that both L-lactate and the GPR81 agonist increased mitochondrial biogenesis, fusion, ATP levels, OXPHOS, mitochondrial membrane potential, and synaptic plasticity. However, the inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation blunted L-lactate or the GPR81 agonist-induced promotion of mitochondrial function and synaptic plasticity. In conclusion, our findings suggest that lactate mediates HIIT-induced promotion of mitochondrial function through the GPR81-ERK1/2 pathway.
Natural Substances vs. Approved Drugs in the Treatment of Main Cardiovascular Disorders—Is There a Breakthrough?
Authors: Grujić-Milanović Jelica , Rajković Jovana , Milanović Sladjan , Jaćević Vesna , Miloradović Zoran , Nežić Lana , Novaković Radmila
Published: December 2023

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of diseases with a very high rate of morbidity and mortality. The clinical presentation of CVDs can vary from asymptomatic to classic symptoms such as chest pain in patients with myocardial infarction. Current therapeutics for CVDs mainly target disease symptoms. The most common CVDs are coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, chronic heart failure, arterial hypertension, and valvular heart disease. In their treatment, conventional therapies and pharmacological therapies are used. However, the use of herbal medicines in the therapy of these diseases has also been reported in the literature, resulting in a need for critical evaluation of advances related to their use. Therefore, we carried out a narrative review of pharmacological and herbal therapeutic effects reported for these diseases. Data for this comprehensive review were obtained from electronic databases such as MedLine, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Conventional therapy requires an individual approach to the patients, as when patients do not respond well, this often causes allergic effects or various other unwanted effects. Nowadays, medicinal plants as therapeutics are frequently used in different parts of the world. Preclinical/clinical pharmacology studies have confirmed that some bioactive compounds may have beneficial therapeutic effects in some common CVDs. The natural products analyzed in this review are promising phytochemicals for adjuvant and complementary drug candidates in CVDs pharmacotherapy, and some of them have already been approved by the FDA. There are insufficient clinical studies to compare the effectiveness of natural products compared to approved therapeutics for the treatment of CVDs. Further long-term studies are needed to accelerate the potential of using natural products for these diseases. Despite this undoubted beneficence on CVDs, there are no strong breakthroughs supporting the implementation of natural products in clinical practice. Nevertheless, they are promising agents in the supplementation and co-therapy of CVDs.
Roblox Graffiti Art Using Virtual Reality Devices: Reality and Spatial Presence in a Virtual Space
Authors: Byeon Gongkyu , Yu Sunjin
Published: December 2023

Graffiti makes a city’s landscape beautiful while simultaneously being considered illegal and violating a city’s cleanliness and respect for public spaces. To solve these problems, we present metaverse virtual-world technology. Within the metaverse, graffitists can freely create, share works, and express themselves through graffiti art by virtually reproducing the walls or public facilities of a city. The created virtual space used by the graffitists in this paper is Sungnyemun, a traditional Korean heritage site. When comparing Roblox PC content and VR content experiences through IPQ surveys, it was confirmed that participants in the VR content experienced a high level of realism and local presence. Accordingly, there is a new possibility for graffiti to be recognized as a form of urban culture and artistic expression through the metaverse.