bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
mmu-miR-145a-5p Accelerates Diabetic Wound Healing by Promoting Macrophage Polarization Toward the M2 Phenotype
Authors: Hao Yanhui , Yang Leilei , Liu Ying , Ye Yumeng , Wang Jiayu , Yu Chao , Yan Hua , Xing Yuan , Jia Zhaoqian , Hu Cuicui , Zuo Hongyan , Li Yang
Published: December 2021

Diabetic wounds are recalcitrant to healing. One of the important characteristics of diabetic trauma is impaired macrophage polarization with an excessive inflammatory response. Many studies have described the important regulatory roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in macrophage differentiation and polarization. However, the differentially expressed miRNAs involved in wound healing and their effects on diabetic wounds remain to be further explored. In this study, we first identified differentially expressed miRNAs in the inflammation, tissue formation and reconstruction phases in wound healing using Illumina sequencing and RT-qPCR techniques. Thereafter, the expression of musculus (mmu)-miR-145a-5p (“miR-145a-5p” for short) in excisional wounds of diabetic mice was identified. Finally, expression of miR-145a-5p was measured to determine its effects on macrophage polarization in murine RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and wound healing in diabetic mice. We identified differentially expressed miRNAs at different stages of wound healing, ten of which were further confirmed by RT-qPCR. Expression of miR-145a-5p in diabetic wounds was downregulated during the tissue formation stage. Furthermore, we observed that miR-145a-5p blocked M1 macrophage polarization while promoting M2 phenotype activation in vitro. Administration of miR-145a-5p mimics during initiation of the repair phase significantly accelerated wound healing in db/db diabetic mice. In conclusion, our findings suggest that rectifying macrophage function using miR-145a-5p overexpression accelerates diabetic chronic wound healing.
Biliary Epithelial Senescence in Liver Disease: There Will Be SASP
Authors: Meadows Vik , Baiocchi Leonardo , Kundu Debjyoti , Sato Keisaku , Fuentes Yessenia , Wu Chaodong , Chakraborty Sanjukta , Glaser Shannon , Alpini Gianfranco , Kennedy Lindsey , Francis Heather
Published: December 2021

Cellular senescence is a pathophysiological phenomenon in which proliferative cells enter cell cycle arrest following DNA damage and other stress signals. Natural, permanent DNA damage can occur after repetitive cell division; however, acute stress or other injuries can push cells into premature senescence and eventually a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). In recent years, there has been increased evidence for the role of premature senescence in disease progression including diabetes, cardiac diseases, and end-stage liver diseases including cholestasis. Liver size and function change with aging, and presumably with increasing cellular senescence, so it is important to understand the mechanisms by which cellular senescence affects the functional nature of the liver in health and disease. As well, cells in a SASP state secrete a multitude of inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic factors that modulate the microenvironment. Cellular SASP and the associated, secreted factors have been implicated in the progression of liver diseases, such as cholestatic injury that target the biliary epithelial cells (i.e., cholangiocytes) lining the bile ducts. Indeed, cholangiocyte senescence/SASP is proposed to be a driver of disease phenotypes in a variety of liver injuries. Within this review, we will discuss the impact of cholangiocyte senescence and SASP in the pathogenesis of cholestatic disorders.
Metal-Organic Frameworks and Their Composites Towards Biomedical Applications
Authors: Ma Yana , Qu Xianglong , Liu Cui , Xu Qiuran , Tu Kangsheng
Published: December 2021

Owing to their unique features, including high cargo loading, biodegradability, and tailorability, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and their composites have attracted increasing attention in various fields. In this review, application strategies of MOFs and their composites in nanomedicine with emphasis on their functions are presented, from drug delivery, therapeutic agents for different diseases, and imaging contrast agents to sensor nanoreactors. Applications of MOF derivatives in nanomedicine are also introduced. Besides, we summarize different functionalities related to MOFs, which include targeting strategy, biomimetic modification, responsive moieties, and other functional decorations. Finally, challenges and prospects are highlighted about MOFs in future applications.
In vivo Evidence for Brain Region-Specific Molecular Interactions Between Cannabinoid and Orexin Receptors
Authors: Kim Hye Ji J. , Zagzoog Ayat , Smolyakova Anna Maria , Ezeaka Udoka C. , Benko Michael J. , Holt Teagan , Laprairie Robert B.
Published: December 2021

The endocannabinoid and orexin neuromodulatory systems serve key roles in many of the same biological functions such as sleep, appetite, pain processing, and emotional behaviors related to reward. The type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) and both subtypes of the orexin receptor, orexin receptor type 1 (OX1R) and orexin receptor type 2 (OX2R) are not only expressed in the same brain regions modulating these functions, but physically interact as heterodimers in recombinant and neuronal cell cultures. In the current study, male and female C57BL/6 mice were co-treated with the cannabinoid receptor agonist CP55,940 and either the OX2R antagonist TCS-OX2-29 or the dual orexin receptor antagonist (DORA) TCS-1102. Mice were then evaluated for catalepsy, body temperature, thermal anti-nociception, and locomotion, after which their brains were collected for receptor colocalization analysis. Combined treatment with the DORA TCS-1102 and CP55,940 potentiated catalepsy more than CP55,940 alone, but this effect was not observed for changes in body temperature, nociception, locomotion, or via selective OX2R antagonism. Co-treatment with CP55,940 and TCS-1102 also led to increased CB1R-OX1R colocalization in the ventral striatum. This was not seen following co-treatment with TCS-OX2-29, nor in CB1R-OX2R colocalization. The magnitude of effects following co-treatment with CP55,940 and either the DORA or OX2R-selective antagonist was greater in males than females. These data show that CB1R-OX1R colocalization in the ventral striatum underlies cataleptic additivity between CP55,940 and the DORA TCS-1102. Moreover, cannabinoid-orexin receptor interactions are sex-specific with regards to brain region and functionality. Physical or molecular interactions between these two systems may provide valuable insight into drug-drug interactions between cannabinoid and orexin drugs for the treatment of insomnia, pain, and other disorders.
Effects of a Very Low-Carbohydrate High-Fat Diet and High-Intensity Interval Training on Visceral Fat Deposition and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Overfat Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Cipryan Lukas , Dostal Tomas , Litschmannova Martina , Hofmann Peter , Maffetone Philip B. , Laursen Paul B.
Published: December 2021

Purpose: This randomized controlled parallel-group study examined the effects of a very low-carbohydrate high-fat (VLCHF) diet and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program over 12 weeks on visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) level in overfat individuals.

Methods: Ninety-one participants were randomly allocated to the HIIT (N = 22), VLCHF (N = 25), VLCHF+HIIT (N = 25), or control (N = 19) groups for 12 weeks. Body composition and CRF were analyzed before the experimental period and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and graded exercise test (GXT) to volitional exhaustion were used for the body composition and CRF assessments, respectively.

Results: There were significant between-group differences in the VAT mass and body composition outcome changes. VAT mass decreased after 12 weeks only in the VLCHF and VLCHF+HIIT groups (p < 0.001, median [95% CI]: VLCHF: −142.0 [−187.0; −109.5] g; VLCHF+HIIT: −104.0 [−135.0; −71.0] g). Similarly, changes in body mass, total body fat, trunk fat mass, waist and hip circumferences were distinctly decreased in the VLCHF and VLCHF+HIIT groups, when compared to HIIT and Control groups. Total lean mass significantly decreased in the VLCHF and VLCHF+HIIT groups (−2.1 [−3.0; −1.6] kg and −2.5 [−3.6; −1.8] kg, respectively) after 12 weeks. While the HIIT program significantly increased total time to exhaustion in the GXT, peak oxygen uptake was unchanged.

Conclusions: A VLCHF diet, either in isolation or in combination with HIIT, was shown to induce a significant reduction in VAT mass and body composition variables. HIIT alone did not cause such effects on body composition, but improved exercise capacity. Our findings indicate that the VLCHF diet and exercise training provoked different and isolated effects on body composition and CRF.

Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03934476, identifier: NCT03934476.
Impaired Antioxidant Defence Status Is Associated With Metabolic-Inflammatory Risk Factors in Preterm Children With Extrauterine Growth Restriction: The BIORICA Cohort Study
Authors: Ordóñez-Díaz María Dolores , Gil-Campos Mercedes , Flores-Rojas Katherine , Muñoz-Villanueva María Carmen , Mesa María Dolores , de la Torre-Aguilar María José , Gil Ángel , Pérez-Navero Juan Luis
Published: December 2021

Introduction: An impaired antioxidant status has been described during foetal growth restriction (FGR). Similarly, the antioxidant defence system can be compromised in preterm children with extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR). The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the antioxidant status in prepubertal children with a history of prematurity without FGR, with and without EUGR, compared to a healthy group.

Methods: In total, 211 children were recruited and classified into three groups: 38 with a history of prematurity and EUGR; 50 with a history of prematurity and adequate extrauterine growth (AEUG); and 123 control children born at term. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities were assessed in lysed erythrocytes with spectrophotometric methods. Plasma levels of the antioxidants α-tocopherol, retinol and β-carotene were determined through solvent extraction and ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

Results: Children with the antecedent of EUGR and prematurity had lower CAT activity than the other two groups and lower GPx activity than the control children. Lower SOD, GPx and GR activities were observed in the AEUG group compared to the controls. However, higher concentrations of α-tocopherol and β-carotene were found in the EUGR group compared to the other groups; retinol levels were also higher in EUGR than in AEUG children. In EUGR and AEUG children, enzymatic antioxidant activities and plasma antioxidants were associated with metabolic syndrome components and pro-inflammatory biomarkers.

Conclusions: This study reveals, for the first time, that the EUGR condition and prematurity appear to be linked to an impairment of the antioxidant defence status, which might condition an increased risk of adverse metabolic outcomes later in life.
Comparison of Abiraterone and Combined Androgen Blockade Therapy for High-Risk Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis
Authors: Matsumura Naoki , Fujita Kazutoshi , Nishimoto Mitsuhisa , Yamamoto Yutaka , Kuwahara Ken , Nagai Yasuharu , Minami Takafumi , Hatanaka Yuji , Nozawa Masahiro , Morimoto Yasuhiro , Tahara Hideo , Uejima Shigeya , Esa Atsunobu , Hirayama Akihide , Yoshimura Kazuhiro , Uemura Hirotsugu
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to compare the effects of abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (AAP) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with those of combined androgen blockade (CAB) therapy in patients with high-risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). This study retrospectively identified 163 patients with high-risk mHSPC at Kindai University and affiliated hospitals between January 2014 and December 2020. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to summarize progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to identify the prognostic factors in the overall cohort. Propensity score matching was used to adjust the clinical characteristics, and log-rank test was applied to these propensity score–matched cohorts. Seventy-four patients who received AAP with ADT and 89 patients who received CAB were included in this study. The median follow-up duration was 27 months (range, 2–89 months). The median PFS and OS were not reached by the AAP+ADT group and 15 and 79 months, respectively, in the CAB group. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) score and AAP+ADT were significant prognostic factors for PFS, whereas ECOG PS score, visceral metastasis, and AAP+ADT were significant prognostic factors for OS. The 2-year PFS was 76.1% in the AAP+ADT group and 38.6% in the CAB group (P < 0.0001), and the 2-year OS was 90.2% in the AAP+ADT group and 84.8% in the CAB group (P = 0.015). In conclusion, AAP+ADT had better PFS and OS than CAB in patients with high-risk mHSPC.
MCM2-7 in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: MCM7 Promotes Tumor Cell Proliferation
Authors: Zhang Junneng , Zhang Huanzong , Wang Yinghui , Wang Qingshui
Published: December 2021

Background

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) accounts for 60-70% of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cases. Finding more therapeutic targets for advanced ccRCC is an urgent mission. The minichromosome maintenance proteins 2-7 (MCM2-7) protein forms a stable heterohexamer and plays an important role in DNA replication in eukaryotic cells. In the study, we provide a comprehensive study of MCM2-7 genes expression and their potential roles in ccRCC.

Methods

The expression and prognosis of the MCM2-7 genes in ccRCC were analyzed using data from TCGA, GEO and ArrayExpress. MCM2-7 related genes were identified by weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and Metascape. CancerSEA and GSEA were used to analyze the function of MCM2–7 genes in ccRCC. The gene effect scores (CERES) of MCM2-7, which reflects carcinogenic or tumor suppressor, were obtained from DepMap. We used clinical and expression data of MCM2-7 from the TCGA dataset and the LASSO Cox regression analysis to develop a risk score to predict survival of patients with ccRCC. The correlations between risk score and other clinical indicators such as gender, age and stage were also analyzed. Further validation of this risk score was engaged in another cohort, E-MTAB-1980 from the ArrayExpress dataset.

Results

The mRNA and protein expression of MCM2-7 were increased in ccRCC compared with normal tissues. High MCM2, MCM4, MCM6 and MCM7 expression were associated with a poor prognosis of ccRCC patients. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that MCM2-7 might influence the progress of ccRCC by regulating the cell cycle. Knockdown of MCM7 can inhibit the proliferation of ccRCC cells. A two-gene risk score including MCM4 and MCM6 can predict overall survival (OS) of ccRCC patients. The risk score was successfully verified by further using Arrayexpress cohort.

Conclusion

We analyze MCM2-7 mRNA and protein levels in ccRCC. MCM7 is determined to promote tumor proliferation. Meanwhile, our study has determined a risk score model composed of MCM2-7 can predict the prognosis of ccRCC patients, which may help future treatment strategies.
Nanocarrier-Based Approaches for the Efficient Delivery of Anti-Tubercular Drugs and Vaccines for Management of Tuberculosis
Authors: Rajput Amarjitsing , Mandlik Satish , Pokharkar Varsha
Published: December 2021

Drug-resistant species of tuberculosis (TB), which spread faster than traditiona TB, is a severely infectious disease. The conventional drug therapy used in the management of tuberculosis has several challenges linked with adverse effects. Hence, nanotherapeutics served as an emerging technique to overcome problems associated with current treatment. Nanotherapeutics helps to overcome toxicity and poor solubility issues of several drugs used in the management of tuberculosis. Due to their diameter and surface chemistry, nanocarriers encapsulated with antimicrobial drugs are readily taken up by macrophages. Macrophages play a crucial role as they serve as target sites for active and passive targeting for nanocarriers. The surface of the nanocarriers is coated with ligand-specific receptors, which further enhances drug concentration locally and indicates the therapeutic potential of nanocarriers. This review highlights tuberculosis’s current facts, figures, challenges associated with conventional treatment, different nanocarrier-based systems, and its application in vaccine development.
Computing Effective Mixed Strategies for Protecting Targets in Large-Scale Critical Infrastructure Networks
Authors: Wang Zhen , Jiang Mengting , Yang Yu , Chen Lili , Ding Hong
Published: December 2021

Most critical infrastructure networks often suffer malicious attacks, which may result in network failures. Therefore, how to design more robust defense measures to minimize the loss is a great challenge. In recent years, defense strategies for enhancing the robustness of the networks are developed based on the game theory. However, the aforementioned method cannot effectively solve the defending problem on large-scale networks with a full strategy space. In this study, we achieve the purpose of protecting the infrastructure networks by allocating limited resources to monitor the targets. Based on the existing two-person zero-sum game model and the Double Oracle framework, we propose the EMSL algorithm which is an approximation algorithm based on a greedy search to compute effective mixed strategies for protecting large-scale networks. The improvement of our approximation algorithm to other algorithms is discussed. Experimental results show that our approximation algorithm can efficiently compute the mixed strategies on actual large-scale networks with a full strategy space, and the mixed defense strategies bring the highest utility to a defender on different networks when dealing with different attacks.
A Micromechanical Anisotropic Damage Model for Brittle Rocks With Non-Associated Plastic Flow Rule Under True Triaxial Compressive Stresses
Authors: Yuan Shuangshuang , Zhu Qizhi , Zhang Wanlu , Zhang Jin , Zhao Lunyang
Published: December 2021

A micromechanical anisotropic damage model with a non-associated plastic flow rule is developed for describing the true triaxial behaviors of brittle rocks. We combine the Eshelby’s solution to the inclusion problem with the framework of irreversible thermodynamics. The main dissipative mechanisms of inelastic deformation due to the frictional sliding and damage by microcrack propagation are strongly coupled to each other. A Coulomb-type friction criterion is formulated in terms of the local stress applied onto the microcracks as the yielding function. The back-stress term contained in this local stress plays a critical role in describing the material’s hardening/softening behaviors. With a non-associated flow rule, a potential function is involved. Some analytical analysis of the non-associated micromechanical anisotropic damage model are conducted, which are useful for the model parameters calibration. The proposed model is used to simulate the laboratory tests on Westerly granite under true triaxial stresses. Comparing the numerical simulation results provided by the models with associated/non-associated plastic flow rule and experimental results, it is clear that the proposed non-associated model gives a better prediction than the previous associated model.
Insight Into the Multiple Branches Traits of a Mutant in Larix olgensis by Morphological, Cytological, and Transcriptional Analyses
Authors: Cai Kewei , Zhou Xueyan , Li Xiang , Kang Ye , Yang Xiaoming , Cui Yonghong , Li Guangyan , Pei Xiaona , Zhao Xiyang
Published: December 2021

Larix olgensis is a tall deciduous tree species that has many applications in the wood fiber industry. Bud mutations are somatic mutations in plants and are considered an ideal material to identify and describe the molecular mechanism of plant mutation. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms of bud mutations in L. olgensis remain unknown. In this study, dwarfed (or stunted), short-leaved, and multi-branched mutants of L. olgensis were found and utilized to identify crucial genes and regulatory networks controlling the multiple branch structure of L. olgensis. The physiological data showed that the branch number, bud number, fresh and dry weight, tracheid length, tracheid length-width ratio, inner tracheid diameter, and epidermal cell area of mutant plants were higher than that of wild-type plants. Hormone concentration measurements found that auxin, gibberellin, and abscisic acid in the mutant leaves were higher than that in wild-type plants. Moreover, the transcriptome sequencing of all samples using the Illumina Hiseq sequencing platform. Transcriptome analysis identified, respectively, 632, 157, and 199 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in buds, leaves, and stems between mutant plants and wild type. DEGs were found to be involved in cell division and differentiation, shoot apical meristem activity, plant hormone biosynthesis, and sugar metabolism. Furthermore, bZIP, WRKY, and AP2/ERF family transcription factors play a role in bud formation. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of L. olgensis bud and branch formation and establishes a fundamental understanding of the breeding of new varieties in L. olgensis.
Impact of Personality Traits on Knowledge Hiding: A Comparative Study on Technology-Based Online and Physical Education
Authors: Wu Jian
Published: December 2021

Knowledge hiding has been a variable of interest that has led to major intangible losses to organizations, especially in this pandemic era when everything has shifted to online platforms and social media. Knowledge hiding has taken a new turn into the field of knowledge management. Moreover, the major players in knowledge hiding are the personality characteristics of individuals that have now found a way of expression without coming into the spotlight. This study is a necessary one in this time of online working environments where the role of personality traits and psychological ownership has been explored to understand their impact on the knowledge hiding within the organizations of China, and furthermore, to understand what role social status plays in moderating these relationships. The sampling design used is convenient random sampling with a sample size of 298 managers. This study has used the software Smart-PLS 3.3.3 for analyzing the data. The data relied on and was validated using preliminary tests of reliability and discriminant and convergent validities using the measurement model algorithm. Further, the partial least square technique was used to find the equation modeling for the variables, with the help of a structural model algorithm using 500 iterations for bootstrapping. The findings of the current study show that the personality traits of the “BIG FIVE” model positively predict knowledge hiding, except for openness to experience. At the same time, psychological ownership plays a partial mediating role.
COVID-19 Vaccination Did Not Change the Personal Protective Behaviors of Healthcare Workers in China
Authors: Zhang Nan , Lei Hao , Li Li , Jin Tianyi , Liu Xiyue , Miao Doudou , Su Boni , Bu Zhongming , Fan Lin , Xue Peng , Xie Jingchao , Li Yuguo
Published: December 2021

Personal protective behaviors of healthcare workers (HCWs) and dynamic changes in them are known to play a major role in the hospital transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this study, 1,499 HCWs in Chinese hospitals completed an online survey about their knowledge on SARS-CoV-2 transmission and their personal protective behaviors before and after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. Of all the respondents, 89% were vaccinated at the time of the survey and 96% believed that the vaccine was effective or highly effective. Further, 88% of the vaccinated HCWs expressed that they would get revaccinated if the vaccination failed. Compared with HCWs with a lower education level, those with a higher education level had less fear of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 and reported a lower negative impact of the pandemic on how they treated patients. Physicians and nurses were willing to believe that short-range airborne and long-range fomite are possible transmission routes. HCWs with a higher education level had a better knowledge of COVID-19 but worse personal protective behaviors. The fact that HCWs with a longer work experience had worse personal protective behaviors showed that HCWs gradually relax their personal protective behaviors over time. Moreover, vaccination reduced the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on how the HCWs treated patients. Importantly, the survey revealed that after vaccination, HCWs in China did not relax their personal protective behaviors, and it may bring a low potential risk for following waves of variant virus (e.g., delta).
GIS Analysis of Solar PV Locations and Disaster Risk Areas in Japan
Authors: Hao Kazuki , Ialnazov Dimiter , Yamashiki Yosuke
Published: December 2021

Following the global trend of climate change mitigation, Japan has been rapidly increasing its share of renewable energy, in particular, its share of solar energy. However, Japan has limited flat land area that is suitable for solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation and a high risk of natural disasters. There is a possibility that some of its newly built solar power plants are located in areas where landslides and floods are likely to occur. Therefore, it is important to study the locations for solar PV from the perspective of disaster risk management. Previous studies have reported a number of incidents where solar PV installations were damaged as a result of natural disasters. One study utilized geographical analysis technology to reveal the overlapping of solar PV powerplant locations and disaster-prone areas in Fukuoka prefecture in Japan. However, to our best knowledge, no previous research about the solar PV locations' hazard risks has been done on a national scale. This paper investigates the risks stemming from landslides and floods for the existing solar PV power plants in Japan. We compare the geographical data of disaster risks in Japan with the location data of solar PV power plants to investigate the number of solar PV power plants located in disaster risk areas. Our results show that the shares of medium and large-scale solar PV power plants located in areas where landslides and floods are likely to occur are about 8.5 and 9.1% respectively.
The Effect of Visuomotor Latency on Steering Behavior in Virtual Reality
Authors: Rahimian Pooya , Plumert Jodie M. , Kearney Joseph K.
Published: December 2021

Visual feedback latency in virtual reality systems is inherent due to the computing time it takes to simulate the effects of user actions. Depending upon the nature of interaction and amount of latency, the impact of this latency could range from a minor degradation to a major disruption of performance. The goal of this study was to examine how visuomotor latency impacts users’ performance in a continuous steering task and how users adapt to this latency with experience. The task involved steering a bike along an illuminated path in a dark environment viewed in an HTC Vive head-mounted virtual reality display. We examined how users adapt to visuomotor latency in two different conditions: 1) when the user controlled the steering while the bike moved forward at a constant speed, and 2) when the user controlled the steering and the speed of the bike through pedaling and braking. We found that users in both conditions started with a large steering error at the beginning of exposure to visuomotor latency but then quickly adapted to the delay. We also found that when users could control their speed, they adjusted their speed based on the complexity of the path (i.e., proximity to turns) and they gradually increased their speed as they adapted to latency and gained better control over their movement. The current work supports the idea that users can adapt to visual feedback delay in virtual reality regardless of whether they control the pace of movement. The results inform the design of virtual reality simulators and teleoperation systems and give insight into perceptual-motor adaptation in the presence of latency.
Predicting Asteroid Types: Importance of Individual and Combined Features
Authors: Klimczak Hanna , Kotłowski Wojciech , Oszkiewicz Dagmara , DeMeo Francesca , Kryszczyńska Agnieszka , Wilawer Emil , Carry Benoit
Published: December 2021

Asteroid taxonomies provide a link to surface composition and mineralogy of those objects, although that connection is not fully unique. Currently, one of the most commonly used asteroid taxonomies is that of Bus-DeMeo. The spectral range covering 0.45–2.45 μm is used to assign a taxonomic class in that scheme. Such observations are only available for a few hundreds of asteroids (out of over one million). On the other hand, a growing amount of space and ground-based surveys delivers multi-filter photometry, which is often used in predicting asteroid types. Those surveys are typically dedicated to studying other astronomical objects, and thus not optimized for asteroid taxonomic classifications. The goal of this study was to quantify the importance and performance of different asteroid spectral features, parameterizations, and methods in predicting the asteroid types. Furthermore, we aimed to identify the key spectral features that can be used to optimize future surveys toward asteroid characterization. Those broad surveys typically are restricted to a few bands; therefore, selecting those that best link them to asteroid taxonomy is crucial in light of maximizing the science output for solar system studies. First, we verified that with the increased number of asteroid spectra, the Bus–DeMeo procedure to create taxonomy still produces the same overall scheme. Second, we confirmed that machine learning methods such as naive Bayes, support vector machine (SVM), gradient boosting, and multilayer networks can reproduce that taxonomic classification at a high rate of over 81% balanced accuracy for types and 93% for complexes. We found that multilayer perceptron with three layers of 32 neurons and stochastic gradient descent solver, batch size of 32, and adaptive learning performed the best in the classification task. Furthermore, the top five features (spectral slope and reflectance at 1.05, 0.9, 0.65, and 1.1 μm) are enough to obtain a balanced accuracy of 93% for the prediction of complexes and six features (spectral slope and reflectance at 1.4, 1.05, 0.9, 0.95, and 0.65 μm) to obtain 81% balanced accuracy for taxonomic types. Thus, to optimize future surveys toward asteroid classification, we recommend using filters that cover those features.
Family Composition and Stability for Orphans: A Longitudinal Study of Well-Being in 5 Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Gray Christine L. , Whetten Kathryn , Daniels Julie L. , Hudgens Michael G. , Pettifor Audrey E. , Hobbie Amy M. , Thielman Nathan M. , Dubie Misganaw E. , Itemba Dafrosa , Madan Ira , Vann Vanroth , Wasonga Augustine I. , Manongi Rachel , Ostermann Jan , Whetten Rachel A. , Pence Brian W.
Published: December 2021

Objectives: Many orphaned children in low- and middle-income countries live with family. Yet, their household composition and its stability are not well-characterized, nor is impact of stability on longer-term outcomes.

Methods: We used the longitudinal, multi-country Positive Outcomes for Orphans cohort to describe adult family living with orphans. Stability was measured by changes in presence of six familial relations over time, and related to three outcomes: 1) incident abuse, 2) cognitive functioning, 3) emotional difficulties. Associations were estimated using generalized linear models fit with generalized estimating equations. For abuse, Poisson regression estimated risk ratios. For continuous scores of cognitive functioning and emotional difficulties, linear models estimated mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals.

Results: Among 1,359 orphans, 53–61% reported living with their mother each year; 7–13% with father; nearly 60% reported ≥1 change in composition over follow-up. Compared to 0 changes, difficulties increased with 1 change [MD: 0.23 (−0.33, 0.79)], 2 changes [MD: 0.57 (0.00, 1.16)] and ≥3 changes [MD: 0.73 (0.18, 1.29)]. No associations were found with abuse or cognitive functioning.

Conclusion: Orphan well-being may be improved through supports stabilizing household composition or targeting emotional resilience.
Jaki jest empatyczny lekarz? Obraz empatii lekarza w opiniach
zamieszczonych w portalu znanylekarz.pl .
Authors: Falkowska Marta
Published: December 2021

The paper provides a corpus-based semantic analysis of patients’ opinions
on doctors published on the ZnanyLekarz.pl web portal. The analysis is aimed at
depicting the medical professionals’ traits and behaviours that patients interpret
as expressions of empathy. The fi ndings suggest that while patients value the
doctor’s empathy, they perceive it as a relatively rare quality in doctors. The
sphere where empathy manifests itself to the greatest extent is undoubtedly
doctor–patient communication: unhurried interview, active listening, explaining
the course of the necessary medical procedures, responding to the patient’s
questions, showing emotional support. Although the fi ndings coincide with the
recommendations found in the communication guides addressed to doctors,
taking into account the perspective of the patient is necessary, since patients’
perception of empathy may not correlate perfectly with doctors’ self-assessment.
Пропаганда углубления белорусско-российской интеграции в пророссийских интернет-СМИ Беларуси
Authors: Polovyi Taras
Published: December 2021

The article analyzes the functioning of pro-Russian propaganda Internet media in the Republic of Belarus, which testifies to their purposeful activities designed to promote integration narratives in the country’s information space. It is concluded that the rhetoric used by Russian and pro-Russian Belarusian Internet media is essentially the same and does not differ significantly depending on the considered source of propaganda. It has been determined that the information impact is carried out using a set of identical theses, techniques and formulations that justify the commonality of history, culture and the need for the unity of the Belarusian and Russian peoples. It is noted that the actual identification of Belarusian national interests with Russian interests is used to justify the necessity and inevitability of Belarus’ civilizational choice in favor of Russia.
Дезинтеграция и интеграция как взаимосвязанные этнополитические процессы (на примере Украины)
Authors: Yavir Vera
Published: December 2021

The processes of ethnopolitical integration and disintegration in interconnection with modern realities, challenges and processes are studied. Within the framework of the dialectical approach, they are defined as components of a single multilevel integration-disintegration process. Ethnopolitical integration may contain features, characteristics of ethnopolitical disintegration, and the latter may have integration consequences, contributing to the consolidation of the nation and society, the preservation of territorial integrity. The preconditions and factors of ethnopolitical disintegration of Ukraine and the forthcoming reintegration taking into account foreign experience are studied.
Правопреемство в международном праве после распада СССР
Authors: Goncharov Vitaly , Попова Анна
Published: December 2021

After the collapse of the USSR, a huge superpower that occupied one sixth of the land, the question of succession arose before the states that were part of it. The USSR occupied a vast territory, participated in international obligations, had debts, was a member of international organizations. It was obvious that the relationship between the newly formed states depended on how it was possible to divide the “legacy” of the USSR. The USSR took an active position at the international level, was engaged in the development of weapons. The issue of dividing all assets and liabilities worried the entire international community. His decision was difficult, and the legal basis for making decisions on succession did not seem to everyone to be indisputable. At present, it is obvious to everyone that the Russian Federation became the main heir of the USSR, it was the Russian Federation that continued the policy of the USSR, continued to participate in international relations and in the fulfillment of obligations, despite the equality of all states that were part of the USSR. The issues of the succession of the USSR and Russia are the subject of study of modern international law. Within the framework of this article, some aspects of the indicated topic will be highlighted.
Vertical Farming: The Only Way Is Up?
Authors: Van Gerrewey Thijs , Boon Nico , Geelen Danny
Published: December 2021

Vertical farming is on its way to becoming an addition to conventional agricultural practices, improving sustainable food production for the growing world population under increasing climate stress. While the early development of vertical farming systems mainly focused on technological advancement through design innovation, the automation of hydroponic cultivation, and advanced LED lighting systems, more recent studies focus on the resilience and circularity of vertical farming. These sustainability objectives are addressed by investigating water quality and microbial life in a hydroponic cultivation context. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been shown to improve plant performance and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. The application of PGPRs to plant-growing media increases microbial functional diversity, creating opportunities to improve the circularity and resilience of vertical farming systems by reducing our dependency on chemical fertilizers and crop protection products. Here, we give a brief historical overview of vertical farming, review its opportunities and challenges in an economic, environmental, social, and political context, and discuss advances in exploiting the rhizosphere microbiome in hydroponic cultivation systems.
Olive Landscape Affects Bactrocera oleae Abundance, Movement and Infestation
Authors: Ortega Marta , Moreno Natalia , Fernández Cristina E. , Pascual Susana
Published: December 2021

The economic importance of Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) and the problems associated with insecticides make necessary new management approaches, including deeper biological knowledge and its relationship with landscape structure. Landscape complexity reduces B. oleae abundance in late summer–autumn in areas of high dominance of olive groves, but the effect of landscape structure in spring and in areas less dominated by olive groves has not been studied. It is also unknown whether the insect disperses from olive groves, using other land uses as a refugee in summer. This work evaluates the effect of landscape structure on olive fruit fly abundance and movement in spring and autumn, and infestation in autumn, in central Spain, an area where the olive crop does not dominate the landscape. A cost–distance analysis is used to evaluate the movement of the fly, especially trying to know whether the insects move away from olive groves in summer. The results indicate that B. oleae abundance is consistently lower in complex landscapes with high scrubland area (CAS), patch richness (PR) and Simpson landscape diversity index (SIEI), and low olive grove area (CAO). The cost–distance analysis shows that the fly moves mainly in spring, and amongst olive groves, but there is no evidence that land uses other than olive groves serve as a summer refuge. Olive fly infestation decreased with decreasing CAO and increasing CAS and SIEI, accordingly with the effect of landscape on abundance. Thus, mixing olive groves with other land uses, which are not a source of flies, can help improve control of this important pest.
Olive-Leaf Extracts Modulate Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Associated with Human H. pylori Infection
Authors: Silvan Jose Manuel , Guerrero-Hurtado Esperanza , Gutiérrez-Docio Alba , Alarcón-Cavero Teresa , Prodanov Marin , Martinez-Rodriguez Adolfo J.
Published: December 2021

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the major human pathogens and the main cause of pathological damages that can progress from chronic gastritis to gastric cancer. During the colonization of gastric mucosa, this bacterium provokes a strong inflammatory response and subsequent oxidative process, which are associated with tissue damage. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the ability of two olive-leaf extracts (E1 and E2) to modulate the inflammatory response and oxidative stress in H. pylori-infected human gastric AGS cells. The obtained results showed that both extracts significantly decreased interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in human gastric AGS cells. Both extracts also showed antibacterial activity against different H. pylori strains. HPLC-PAD-MS characterization demonstrated that extract E1 was mainly composed of highly hydrophilic compounds, such as hydroxytyrosol (HT) and its glucosides, and it was the most effective extract as an antibacterial agent. In contrast, extract E2 was composed mostly of moderately hydrophilic compounds, such as oleuropein (OLE), and it was more effective than extract E1 as an anti-inflammatory agent. Both extracts exhibited similar potential to decrease ROS production. These results show the importance of standardizing the extract composition according to the bioactive properties that should be potentiated.
Marina el-Alamein as an Example of Painting Decoration of Main Spaces of Hellenistic-Roman Houses in Egypt
Authors: Bąkowska-Czerner Grażyna , Czerner Rafał
Published: December 2021

The article is based on the research conducted by the authors. The houses from the ancient town discovered in 1985 on the Mediterranean coast at the location of today’s Marina el-Alamein, are among the rare remains of Egyptian residential buildings from Hellenistic and Roman times. There are few remains of houses from this period in major cities, including the capital of Alexandria. The ancient town, which functioned under the influence of nearby Alexandria, developed from the second century BC to the sixth century AD. Various types of buildings, relatively well preserved here, provide information on a reduced scale about the architecture of Alexandria, as well as the lives of its inhabitants. This also applies in particular to residential houses, their décor and colours. The ancient town of Marina el-Alamein can be seen as demonstrating solutions that are more common. The present article aims to analyse the preserved remains of painting decoration in the main spaces of houses and attempts to reconstruct forms and the principles of their creation on the background of better-known solutions from other regions. Houses in Marina generally implemented layouts defined by flagstone-paved portico courtyards, sporadically taking the form of an incomplete peristyle, and reception halls oikos, which could be accompanied by smaller adjoining rooms. Both the columns and entablature with the cornices of the porticoes as well as the walls of the main rooms were painted. Wall decoration was organised by geometric partitions, filled in variously. The aedicula that served religious purposes, placed centrally in the rear walls of the main reception rooms, was also polychrome. The painted decoration can be reconstructed from the preserved remains, as rich and intensely colourful, similar to Hellenistic and Roman layouts from other regions, but differing in details.
2021 ASI Travel Award: Announcement and Interview with the Winner
Authors:   ASI Editorial Office
Published: December 2021

The ASI editorial office is proud to present the winner of the ASI Travel Award: Mr [...]
AGR4BS: A Generic Multi-Agent Organizational Model for Blockchain Systems
Authors: Roussille Hector , Gürcan Önder , Michel Fabien
Published: December 2021

Blockchain is a very attractive technology since it maintains a public, append-only, immutable and ordered log of transactions which guarantees an auditable ledger accessible by anyone. Blockchain systems are inherently interdisciplinary since they combine various fields such as cryptography, multi-agent systems, distributed systems, social systems, economy, and finance. Furthermore, they have a very active and dynamic ecosystem where new blockchain platforms and algorithms are developed continuously due to the interest of the public and the industries to the technology. Consequently, we anticipate a challenging and interdisciplinary research agenda in blockchain systems, built upon a methodology that strives to capture the rich process resulting from the interplay between the behavior of agents and the dynamic interactions among them. To be effective, however, modeling studies providing insights into blockchain systems, and appropriate description of agents paired with a generic understanding of their components are needed. Such studies will create a more unified field of blockchain systems that advances our understanding and leads to further insight. According to this perspective, in this study, we propose using a generic multi-agent organizational modeling for studying blockchain systems, namely AGR4BS. Concretely, we use the Agent/Group/Role (AGR) organizational modeling approach to identify and represent the generic entities which are common to blockchain systems. We show through four real case studies how this generic model can be used to model different blockchain systems. We also show briefly how it can be used for modeling three well-known attacks on blockchain systems.
Evaluation of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cell (MSC) Functions on a Biomorphic Rattan-Wood-Derived Scaffold: A Comparison between Cultured and Uncultured MSCs
Authors: Ganguly Payal , El-Jawhari Jehan J. , Vun James , Giannoudis Peter V. , Jones Elena A.
Published: December 2021

The reconstruction of large bone defects requires the use of biocompatible osteoconductive scaffolds. These scaffolds are often loaded with the patient’s own bone marrow (BM) cells to facilitate osteoinductivity and biological potency. Scaffolds that are naturally sourced and fabricated through biomorphic transitions of rattan wood (B-HA scaffolds) offer a unique advantage of higher mechanical strength and bioactivity. In this study, we investigated the ability of a biomorphic B-HA scaffold (B-HA) to support the attachment, survival and gene expression profile of human uncultured BM-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs, n = 6) and culture expanded MSCs (cMSCs, n = 7) in comparison to a sintered, porous HA scaffold (S-HA). B-HA scaffolds supported BMSC attachment (average 98%) and their survival up to 4 weeks in culture. Flow cytometry confirmed the phenotype of cMSCs on the scaffolds. Gene expression indicated clear segregation between cMSCs and BMSCs with MSC osteogenesis- and adipogenesis-related genes including RUNX2, PPARγ, ALP and FABP4 being higher expressed in BMSCs. These data indicated a unique transcriptional signature of BMSCs that was distinct from that of cMSCs regardless of the type of scaffold or time in culture. There was no statistical difference in the expression of osteogenic genes in BMSCs or cMSCs in B-HA compared to S-HA. VEGF release from cMSCs co-cultured with human endothelial cells (n = 4) on B-HA scaffolds suggested significantly higher supernatant concentration with endothelial cells on day 14. This indicated a potential mechanism for providing vasculature to the repair area when such scaffolds are used for treating large bone defects.