Valentinehughes9428

Bibliometric quantification is frequently used as metrics for the evaluation of the scientific performance of researchers and institutions. The researchers' merit is usually assessed by the analysis of quantitative parameters such as the number of publications, the impact factor of journals, the total number of citations, or the h-index, although the limitations in translating these indicators into the impact of the outcome of scientific production are a matter of harsh criticism. To assess, based on factual evidences, the validity of traditional bibliometric analyses to conclude on the impact of papers to advance the state of the art, we carried out an innovative methodology on selected publications (test set). This methodology is based on identifying those citations of the test set papers that truly embed the methods, concepts, or hypotheses to build new knowledge and formulate conclusions. The results show that the percentage of citations that reflect the real impact of the papers of the test set has an average value of 12.4% of total citations and is not related to the impact factor of the journal where the test set papers were published. In conclusion, our analysis demonstrates factually, using experimental data, the total failure of using quantitative bulk citation analyses to conclude on the scientific impact of publications. Only a careful analysis of how the work described in papers was embedded on the subsequent work and/or conclusions of others can tell about the real contribution of a published work to the development of new knowledge and advancement of science. © 2020 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.Haemolysis is a very common phenomenon and is referred as the release of intracellular components from red blood cells to the extracellular fluid. Haemolysed samples are often rejected in clinics due to the interference of haemoglobin and intracellular components in laboratory measurements. Plasma and serum based vibrational spectroscopy studies are extensively applied to generate spectral biomarkers for various diseases. However, no studies have reported the effect of haemolysis in blood based vibrational spectroscopy studies. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of haemolysis on infrared and Raman spectra of blood plasma. In this study, prostate cancer plasma samples (n = 30) were divided into three groups (non-haemolysed, mildly haemolysed and moderately hemolysed) based on the degree of haemolysis and FTIR and Raman spectra were recorded using high throughput (HT)-FTIR and HT-Raman spectroscopy. Discrimination was observed between the infrared and Raman spectra of non-haemolysed and haemolysed plasma samples using principal component analysis. A classical least square fitting analysis showed differences in the weighing of pure components in non-haemolysed and haemolysed plasma samples. Therefore, it is worth to consider the changes in spectral features due to haemolysis when comparing the results within and between experiments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.BACKGROUND The human skin microbiome is represented by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and mites. AIMS Every human being possess their own unique skin microbiome because intrinsic and environmental factors have a significant impact on the quality and quantity of microorganism. Every site of the body is a separate microbial niche. PATIENTS The feet are one of the most unique and heterogeneous microbial niches of human body with areas that differ by skin thickness, anatomical features, distribution of sweat glands, pH, and the availability of oxygen. RESULTS Healthy skin of the foot is inhabited by Corynebacteriaceae, Micrococcaceae, Propionibacteriaceae, Actinobacteria, Clostridiales, Lactobacillaceae, Streptococcaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Moravellaceae, Neisseriaceae, Pastereullaceae, and Proteobacteria. The most common fungi present on the feet are Malassezzia, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus, Rhodotorula, Epicoccum, Saccharomyces, Candida, Epidermophyton Microsporum, and Trichophyton. CONCLUSIONS The disturbance of the foot microbiome causes dysbiosis and may lead to pitted keratolysis, fungal, and viral infections or even to protothecosis. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.The effect of choline chloride on the conformational dynamics of the 11-mer repeat unit P1LEA-22 of group 3 Late Embryogenesis Abundant (G3LEA) proteins was studied. Circular dichroism data of aqueous solutions of P1LEA-22 revealed that the peptide favors a polyproline II (PPII) helix structure at low temperature, with increasing temperature promoting a gain of unstructured conformations. Furthermore, increases in sample FeCl3 or choline chloride concentrations causes a gain in PPII helical structure at low temperature. The potential role of PPII structure in intrinsically disordered and G3LEA proteins is discussed, including its ability to easily access other secondary structural conformations such as α-helix and β-sheet, which have been observed for dehydrated G3LEA proteins. The observed effect of FeCl3 and choline chloride salts on P1LEA-22 suggests favorable cation interactions with the PPII helix, supporting ion sequestration as a G3LEA protein function. As choline chloride is suggested to improve salt tolerance and protect cell membrane in plants at low temperature, our results support adoption of the PPII structure as a possible damage-preventing measure of Late Embryogenesis Abundant proteins. © 2020 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Hearts are usually procured from brain-dead (BD) donors. However, brain death may induce hemodynamic instability, which may contribute to posttransplant graft dysfunction. We hypothesized that BD-donor heart preservation with a conditioned medium (CM) from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) would improve graft function after transplantation. Additionally, we explored the PI3K-pathway's potential role. Rat MSCs-derived CM was used for conservation purposes. Temsirolimus Donor rats were either exposed to sham-operation or BD by inflation of a subdural balloon-catheter for 5.5h. Then, the hearts were explanted, stored in cardioplegic solution-supplemented with either a medium vehicle (BD and sham), CM (BD+CM), or LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K (BD+CM+LY), and finally transplanted. Systolic performance and relaxation parameters were significantly reduced in BD-donors compared to sham. After transplantation, systolic and diastolic functions were significantly decreased, TUNEL-positive cells and endonuclease-G positive cells were increased in the BD-group compared to sham.