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BackgroundAlthough COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, it remains pervasive in Singapore, a city-state situated in Southeast Asia, with periodic waves of infection. In addition to disease management, strong communication strategies are critical in the government’s response to the pandemic to keep the public updated and equip them in protecting themselves. ObjectiveGrounded in the crisis and emergency risk communication (CERC) framework and emotional appeals, this study aimed to analyze public health communication strategies in Singapore during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsQuantitative content analysis was conducted on 696 Facebook (Meta Platforms Inc) posts and 83 website articles published by Singapore-based public health institutions between January 2020 and September 2022. ResultsThe results showed that increasing communication on message themes, such as inquisitive messaging and clarification, can enhance communication strategies. The use of emotional appeals also varies with time and should be carefully used as they are context-specific. ConclusionsTheoretically, this study contributes to advancements in the CERC framework and concepts of emotional appeals by exploring the applications and changes of CERC message types and emotional appeals at different phases. The findings can provide practical guidance for authorities and communication practitioners in developing effective communication strategies.

In this paper, we study the degenerate unipoly-Dedekind sums rising from the type 2 degenerate unipoly Bernoulli functions and degenerate unipoly-Bernoulli functions of arbitrary indices, respectively.

The aim of this paper is to study the $ \lambda $-Stirling numbers of both kinds, which are $ \lambda $-analogues of Stirling numbers of both kinds. These numbers have nice combinatorial interpretations when $ \lambda $ are positive integers. If $ \lambda = 1 $, then the $ \lambda $-Stirling numbers of both kinds reduce to the Stirling numbers of both kinds. We derive new types of generating functions of the $ \lambda $-Stirling numbers of both kinds which are related to the reciprocals of the generalized rising factorials. Furthermore, some related identities are also derived from those generating functions. In addition, all the corresponding results to the $ \lambda $-Stirling numbers of both kinds are obtained for the $ \lambda $-analogues of $ r $-Stirling numbers of both kinds, which are generalizations of those numbers.

The aim of this paper is to introduce several degenerate hyperbolic functions as degenerate versions of the hyperbolic functions, to evaluate Volkenborn and the fermionic $ p $-adic integrals of the degenerate hyperbolic cosine and the degenerate hyperbolic sine functions and to derive from them some identities involving the degenerate Bernoulli numbers, the degenerate Euler numbers and the Cauchy numbers of the first kind.

We introduce the generalized degenerate Euler–Genocchi polynomials as a degenerate version of the Euler–Genocchi polynomials. In addition, we introduce their higher-order version, namely the generalized degenerate Euler–Genocchi polynomials of order α, as a degenerate version of the generalized Euler–Genocchi polynomials of order α. The aim of this paper is to study certain properties and identities involving those polynomials, the generalized falling factorials, the degenerate Euler polynomials of order α, the degenerate Stirling numbers of the second kind, and the ‘alternating degenerate power sum of integers’.

The paper has two main objectives. Firstly, it explores the properties of hyperbolic cosine and hyperbolic sine functions by using Volkenborn and the fermionic p-adic integrals, respectively. It also investigates interesting identities involving Bernoulli and degenerate Bernoulli numbers from differential equations with their solutions. Secondly, it introduces a random variable whose mass function is given in terms of Euler polynomials and find some expressions for the expectation of the random variable.

It is remarkable that, in recent years, intensive studies have been done for degenerate versions of many special polynomials and numbers and have yielded many interesting results. The aim of this paper is to study the generalized degenerate $ (r,s) $ -Stirling numbers of the second and their natural extensions to polynomials, namely the generalized degenerate $ (r,s) $ -Bell polynomials, arising from certain ‘degenerate boson normal ordering.’ We derive some properties, explicit expressions and generating functions for those numbers and polynomials. The generalized degenerate $ (r,s) $ -Stirling numbers of the second and the degenerate boson normal ordering are respectively degenerate versions of the generalized $ (r,s) $ -Stirling numbers of the second and the boson normal ordering studied earlier by Blasiak-Person-Solomon.

The normal ordering of an integral power of the number operator in terms of boson operators is expressed with the help of the Stirling numbers of the second kind. As a ‘degenerate version’ of this, we consider the normal ordering of a degenerate integral power of the number operator in terms of boson operators, which is represented by means of the degenerate Stirling numbers of the second kind. As an application of this normal ordering, we derive two equations defining the degenerate Stirling numbers of the second kind and a Dobinski-like formula for the degenerate Bell polynomials.

The nth Fubini number enumerates the number of ordered partitions of a set with n elements and is the number of possible ways to write the Fubini formula for a summation of integration of order n. Further, Fubini polynomials are natural extensions of the Fubini numbers. There are many variants of Fubini numbers and polynomials. Recently, the degenerate Fubini polynomials were introduced by Kim-Kim-Jang as a degenerate version of the Fubini polynomials. The aim of this article is by using generating functions and certain differential operators to further study some identities and properties on the degenerate Fubini polynomials and the higher-order degenerate Fubini polynomials.

Degenerate Dowling and degenerate r-Dowling polynomials were introduced earlier as degenerate versions and further generalizations of Dowling and r-Dowling polynomials. The aim of this paper is to show their connections with Poisson degenerate central moments for a Poisson random variable with a certain parameter and with Charlier polynomials.

In this paper, we derive some identities and recurrence relations for the degenerate Stirling numbers of the first kind and of the second kind, which are degenerate versions of the ordinary Stirling numbers of the first kind and of the second kind. They are deduced from the normal orderings of degenerate integral powers of the number operator and their inversions, certain relations of boson operators and the recurrence relations of the Stirling numbers themselves. Here we note that, while the normal ordering of an integral power of the number operator is expressed with the help of the Stirling numbers of the second kind, that of a degenerate integral power of the number operator is represented by means of the degenerate Stirling numbers of the second kind.

The r-Lah numbers generalize the Lah numbers to the r-Stirling numbers in the same sense. The Stirling numbers and the central factorial numbers are one of the important tools in enumerative combinatorics. The r-Lah number counts the number of partitions of a set with n+r elements into k+r ordered blocks such that r distinguished elements have to be in distinct ordered blocks. In this paper, the r-central Lah numbers and the r-central Lah-Bell numbers (r∈N) are introduced parallel to the r-extended central factorial numbers of the second kind and r-extended central Bell polynomials. In addition, some identities related to these numbers including the generating functions, explicit formulas, binomial convolutions are derived. Moreover, the r-central Lah numbers and the r-central Lah-Bell numbers are shown to be represented by Riemann integral, respectively.

Many mathematicians have studied degenerate versions of some special polynomials and numbers that can take into account the surrounding environment or a person's psychological burden in recent years, and they've discovered some interesting results. Furthermore, one of the most important approaches for finding the combinatorial identities for the degenerate version of special numbers and polynomials is the umbral calculus. The Catalan numbers and the Daehee numbers play important role in connecting relationship between special numbers. In this paper, we first define the degenerate Catalan-Daehee numbers and polynomials and aim to study the relation between well-known special polynomials and degenerate Catalan-Daehee polynomials of order r as one of the generalizations of the degenerate Catalan-Daehee polynomials by using the degenerate Sheffer sequences. Some of them include the degenerate and other special polynomials and numbers such as the degenerate falling factorials, the degenerate Bernoulli polynomials and numbers of order r, the degenerate Euler polynomials and numbers of order r, the degenerate Daehee polynomials of order r, the degenerate Bell polynomials, and so on.

Bell polynomials are widely applied in many problems arising from physics and engineering. The aim of this paper is to introduce new types of special polynomials and numbers, namely Bell polynomials and numbers of the second kind and poly-Bell polynomials and numbers of the second kind, and to derive their explicit expressions, recurrence relations and some identities involving those polynomials and numbers. We also consider degenerate versions of those polynomials and numbers, namely degenerate Bell polynomials and numbers of the second kind and degenerate poly-Bell polynomials and numbers of the second kind, and deduce their similar results.

In a public health crisis, communication plays a vital role in making sure policies and recommendations from the government level get disseminated accurately to its people and is only considered as effective when the public accepts, supports, complies to, and engages in policies or behaves as per governments’ recommendations. Adopting the multivariate audience segmentation strategy for health communication, this study uses a data-driven analytical method to (1) identify audience segments of public health crisis communication in Singapore based on knowledge, risk perception, emotional responses, and preventive behaviors; and (2) characterize each audience segment according to demographic factors, personality traits, information processing styles, and health information preferences. Results (N = 2033) from a web-based questionnaire executed in August 2021 have identified three audience segments: the less-concerned (n = 650), the risk-anxious (n = 142), and the risk-majority (n = 1,241). This study offers insights to how audiences of public health crisis communication perceive, process, and respond to information directed to them during the pandemic, thereby informing policy makers to tailor more targeted public health communication interventions in promoting positive attitude and behavior change.

Abstract In this paper, we introduce poly-central factorial sequences and poly-central Bell polynomials arising from the polyexponential functions, reducing them to central factorials and central Bell polynomials of the second kind respectively when k = 1 $k = 1$ . We also show some relations: between poly-central factorial sequences and power of x; between poly-central Bell polynomials and power of x; between poly-central Bell polynomials and the poly-Bell polynomials; between poly-central Bell polynomials and higher order type 2 Bernoulli polynomials of second kind; recurrence formula of poly-central Bell polynomials.

Abstract In this paper, we introduce multi-Lah numbers and multi-Stirling numbers of the first kind and recall multi-Bernoulli numbers, all of whose generating functions are given with the help of multiple logarithm. The aim of this paper is to study several relations among those three kinds of numbers. In more detail, we represent the multi-Bernoulli numbers in terms of the multi-Stirling numbers of the first kind and vice versa, and the multi-Lah numbers in terms of multi-Stirling numbers. In addition, we deduce a recurrence relation for multi-Lah numbers.

Abstract The aim of this paper is to introduce the degenerate generalized Laguerre polynomials as the degenerate version of the generalized Laguerre polynomials and to derive some properties related to those polynomials and Lah numbers, including an explicit expression, a Rodrigues type formula, and expressions for the derivatives. The novelty of the present paper is that it is the first paper on degenerate versions of orthogonal polynomials.

Mori Folium (Morus alba leaf, MF) and Mori Cortex Radicis (Morus alba root cortex, MR) have been studied for their anti-obesity effects by enhancing the browning process and inhibiting adipogenesis. However, important aspects of their protective mechanisms have not been thoroughly investigated, which could aid in developing functional food. Thus, this study aims to determine the synergistic effects of MF and MR against obesity and its associated mechanisms. In an in vitro cell culture model of brown adipocytes, a 1:1 mixture of MF and MR showed a synergistic effect on the expression of brown adipocyte-specific genes, including Ucp-1, Ppargc1a, Cbp/p300-interacting transactivator (Cited), Prdm16, Tbx1, and Fgf21 compared with either MF- or MR-treated conditions. Moreover, they demonstrated the involvement of cAMP and Ca2+ in induction of brown adipocyte-specific genes. In an in vivo model using HFD-fed mice, MF/MR significantly inhibited weight gain, plasma cholesterol, LDL, TG content, fat mass, and adipocyte size. Furthermore, MF/MR inhibited morphological alteration and the expressions of fatty acid synthesis genes such as Srebp1 and Fasn in the white adipose tissue. Thermogenesis genes were recovered in the brown adipose tissue with MF/MR supplementation, indicating that MF/MR regulated adipocytic dysmetabolism where AMPK signaling is involved. In conclusion, these results suggested that MF/MR regulates brown and beige adipocyte processes, providing one of the preventive functional food/herbal medicines against obesity and its associated metabolic diseases.

Activating brown adipose tissue (BAT) and stimulating white adipose tissue (WAT) browning is a prospective obesity treatment method. Dietary components derived from plants are the most effective approach to activate BAT and promote WAT browning in rodents. This study investigated the synergistic effects of Panax ginseng (PG) and Diospyros kaki leaf (DKL) extract on adipocyte differentiation and browning, as well as the molecular mechanism underlying their beneficial effects. The administration of PG and DKL to HFD-induced obese mice significantly decreased body weight and epididymal and abdominal adipose tissue mass. In in vitro, PG inhibited the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes by regulating the expression of key adipogenic regulators, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)-α. In contrast, DKL negligibly influenced the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes but greatly increased the protein expression of UCP-1, PGC-1α, and PPARα in BAT and/or WAT. Moreover, PG and DKL inhibited adipogenesis synergistically and activated white adipocyte browning via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) pathways. These results suggest that a combination of PG and DKL regulates adipogenesis in white adipocytes and browning in brown adipocytes by activating AMPK/SIRT1 axis. The potential use of PG and DKL may represent an important strategy in obesity management that will be safer and more effective.

Abstract Dedekind type DC sums and their generalizations are defined in terms of Euler functions and their generalization. Recently, Ma et al. (Adv. Differ. Equ. 2021:30 2021) introduced the poly-Dedekind type DC sums by replacing the Euler function appearing in Dedekind sums, and they were shown to satisfy a reciprocity relation. In this paper, we consider two kinds of new generalizations of the poly-Dedekind type DC sums. One is a unipoly-Dedekind type DC sum associated with the type 2 unipoly-Euler functions expressed in the type 2 unipoly-Euler polynomials using the modified polyexponential function, and we study some identities and the reciprocity relation for these unipoly-Dedekind type DC sums. The other is a unipoly-Dedekind sums type DC associated with the poly-Euler functions expressed in the unipoly-Euler polynomials using the polylogarithm function, and we derive some identities and the reciprocity relation for those unipoly-Dedekind type DC sums.

Abstract Numerous mathematicians have studied ‘poly’ as one of the generalizations to special polynomials, such as Bernoulli, Euler, Cauchy, and Genocchi polynomials. In relation to this, in this paper, we introduce the degenerate poly-Bell polynomials emanating from the degenerate polyexponential functions which are called the poly-Bell polynomials when λ → 0 $\lambda \rightarrow 0$ . Specifically, we demonstrate that they are reduced to the degenerate Bell polynomials if k = 1 $k = 1$ . We also provide explicit representations and combinatorial identities for these polynomials, including Dobinski-like formulas, recurrence relationships, etc.

Abstract Umbral calculus is one of the important methods for obtaining the symmetric identities for the degenerate version of special numbers and polynomials. Recently, Kim–Kim (J. Math. Anal. Appl. 493(1):124521, 2021) introduced the λ-Sheffer sequence and the degenerate Sheffer sequence. They defined the λ-linear functionals and λ-differential operators, respectively, instead of the linear functionals and the differential operators of umbral calculus established by Rota. In this paper, the author gives various interesting identities related to the degenerate Lah–Bell polynomials and special polynomials and numbers by using degenerate Sheffer sequences, and at the same time derives the inversion formulas of these identities.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, defined as prolonged disturbances in protein folding and accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER. Perturbation of the ER, such as distribution of oxidative stress, iron imbalance, Ca2+ leakage, protein overload, and hypoxia, can cause ER stress. The cell reacts to ER stress by activating protective pathways, called the unfolded protein response (UPR), which is comprised of cellular mechanisms aimed for maintaining cellular homeostasis or, in case of excessively severe stress, at the initiation of cellular apoptosis. The three UPR signaling pathways from the ER stress sensors are initiated by activating transcription factor 6, inositol requiring enzyme 1, and protein kinase RNA-activated-like ER kinase. A number of physiological and pathological conditions, environmental toxicants and variety of pharmacological agents showed disruption of proper ER functions and thereby cause ER stress in male reproductive organ in rat model. The present review summarizes the existing data concerning the molecular and biological mechanism of ER stress in male reproduction and male infertility. ER stress initiated cell death pathway has been related to several diseases, including hypoxia, heath disease, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease. Although there is not enough evidence to prove the relationship between ER stress and male infertility in human, most studies in this review found that ER stress was correlated with male reproduction and infertility in animal models. The ER stress could be novel signaling pathway of regulating male reproductive cellular apoptosis. Infertility might be a result of disturbing the ER stress response during the process of male reproduction.

We describe the epidemiology of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in a call center in South Korea. We obtained information on demographic characteristics by using standardized epidemiologic investigation forms. We performed descriptive analyses and reported the results as frequencies and proportions for categoric variables. Of 1,143 persons who were tested for COVID-19, a total of 97 (8.5%, 95% CI 7.0%–10.3%) had confirmed cases. Of these, 94 were working in an 11th-floor call center with 216 employees, translating to an attack rate of 43.5% (95% CI 36.9%–50.4%). The household secondary attack rate among symptomatic case-patients was 16.2% (95% CI 11.6%– 22.0%). Of the 97 persons with confirmed COVID-19, only 4 (1.9%) remained asymptomatic within 14 days of quarantine, and none of their household contacts acquired secondary infections. Extensive contact tracing, testing all contacts, and early quarantine blocked further transmission and might be effective for containing rapid outbreaks in crowded work settings.

Abstract Recently, some mathematicians have been studying a lot of degenerate versions of special polynomials and numbers in some arithmetic and combinatorial aspects. Our research is also interested in this field. In this paper, we introduce a new type of the degenerate poly-Genocchi polynomials and numbers, based on Kim and Kim’s (J. Math. Anal. Appl. 487(2):124017, 2020) modified polyexponential function. The paper is divided into two parts. In Sect. 2, we consider a new type of the degenerate poly-Genocchi polynomials and numbers constructed from the modified polyexponential function. We also show several combinatorial identities related to the degenerate poly-Genocchi polynomials and numbers. Some of them include the degenerate and other special polynomials and numbers such as the Stirling numbers of the first kind, the degenerate Stirling numbers of the second kind, degenerate Euler polynomials, degenerate Bernoulli polynomials and Bernoulli numbers of order α, etc. In Sect. 3, we also introduce the degenerate unipoly Genocchi polynomials attached to an arithmetic function by using the degenerate polylogarithm function. We give some new explicit expressions and identities related to degenerate unipoly Genocchi polynomials and special numbers and polynomials.

Abstract Kim and Kim (J. Math. Anal. Appl. 487:124017, 2020) introduced the degenerate logarithm function, which is the inverse of the degenerate exponential function, and defined the degenerate polylogarithm function. They also studied a new type of the degenerate Bernoulli polynomials and numbers by using the degenerate polylogarithm function. Motivated by their research, we subdivide this paper into two parts. In Sect. 2, we construct a new type of degenerate Genocchi polynomials and numbers by using the degenerate polylogarithm function, called the degenerate poly-Genocchi polynomials and numbers, deriving several combinatorial identities related to the degenerate poly-Genocchi numbers and polynomials. Then, in Sect. 3, we also consider the degenerate unipoly Genocchi polynomials attached to an arithmetic function by using the degenerate polylogarithm function. In particular, we provide some new explicit computational identities of degenerate unipoly polynomials related to special numbers and polynomials.

Calvatia nipponica, a puffball mushroom (Agaricaceae), is thought to be an aphrodisiac, as this mushroom is traditionally known to improve sexual function in males. As part of the systematic study to determine the bioactive secondary metabolites from C. nipponica responsible for aphrodisiac effects, chemical analysis of methanol (MeOH) extracts of the fruiting bodies of C. nipponica resulted in the isolation of two major compounds: N,N-dimethyl-anthranilic acid (1) and (7Z,10Z)-7,10-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (2). Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for cumulative dose-dependent relaxation responses to precontracted penile corpus smooth muscle (PCCSM). Results show that compounds 1 and 2 exhibited a maximum relaxation effect of 20.33 ± 2.18% and 24.63 ± 3.60%, respectively. These findings indicate that compounds 1 and 2, major components of C. nipponica, could potentially be used to treat erectile dysfunction, functioning as natural aphrodisiacs.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented threat to global human wellbeing, and the proliferation of online misinformation during this critical period amplifies the challenge. This study examines consequences of exposure to online misinformation about COVID-19 preventions. Using a three-wave panel survey involving 1,023 residents in Singapore, the study found that exposure to online misinformation prompts engagement in self-reported misinformed behaviors such as eating more garlic and regularly rinsing nose with saline, while discouraging evidence-based prevention behaviors such as social distancing. This study further identifies information overload and misperception on prevention as important mechanisms that link exposure to online misinformation and these outcomes. The effects of misinformation exposure differ by individuals’ eheath literacy level, suggesting the need for a health literacy education to minimize the counterproductive effects of misinformation online. This study contributes to theory-building in misinformation by addressing potential pathways of and disparity in its possible effects on behavior.

Recently, Kim-Kim introduced the degenerate r-Bell polynomials and investigated some results which are derived from umbral calculus. The aim of this paper is to study some properties of the degenerate r-Bell polynomials and numbers via boson operators. In particular, we obtain two expressions for the generating function of the degenerate r-Bell polynomials in z2, and a recurrence relation and Dobinski-like formula for the degenerate r-Bell numbers. These are derived from the degenerate normal ordering of a degenerate integral power of the number operator in terms of boson operators where the degenerate r-Stirling numbers of the second kind appear as the coefficients.

Many mathematicians studied “poly” as a generalization of the well-known special polynomials such as Bernoulli polynomials, Euler polynomials, Cauchy polynomials, and Genocchi polynomials. In this paper, we define the degenerate poly-Lah-Bell polynomials arising from the degenerate polyexponential functions which are reduced to degenerate Lah-Bell polynomials when k=1. In particular, we call these polynomials the “poly-Lah-Bell polynomials” when λ⟶0. We give their explicit expression, Dobinski-like formulas, and recurrence relation. In addition, we obtain various algebraic identities including Lah numbers, the degenerate Stirling numbers of the first and second kind, the degenerate poly-Bell polynomials, the degenerate poly-Bernoulli numbers, and the degenerate poly-Genocchi numbers.

Abstract Background Monotropein, astragalin, and spiraeoside (MAS) are active compounds extracted from medicinal herbs; monotropein from Morinda officinalis How (Rubiaceae), astragalin (kaempferol 3-O-glucoside) from Cuscuta chinensis Lamark (Convolvulaceae) and spiraeoside from the outer scales of Allium cepa L. (Liliceae) in a ratio of 6.69:0.41:3.61. Monotropein, astragalin, and spiraeoside are well-known antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive agents. The current investigation aims to study the molecular mechanism of varicocele-induced male infertility and the underlying pharmacological mechanisms of MAS. Methods Four groups were included: control (CTR), MAS 200 group (MAS 200 mg/kg), varicocele group (VC), and VC + MAS 200 group (MAS 200 mg/kg). Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were treated with 200 mg/kg MAS or vehicle once daily for 28 days. The possible signaling mechanism and effects of MAS were measured via histological staining, immunohistochemistry, western blot, and biochemical assays. Results Parameters such as sperm motility and count, Johnsen’s scores, spermatogenic cell density, serum testosterone, testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) improved significantly in the VC + MAS 200 group compared with the VC group. MAS treatment of varicocele-induced group significantly decreased the levels of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), as well as testicular interleukin-6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), ROS/RNS, and malondialdehyde (MDA). It also decreased the apoptotic index and reduced the expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein levels (Grp78, p-IRE1α, and p-JNK) and apoptotic markers such as cleaved caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl2 ratio. Conclusion This study suggests that the crosstalk between oxidative stress, ER stress, and mitochondrial pathway mediates varicocele-induced testicular germ cell apoptosis. MAS promotes spermatogenesis in varicocele-induced SD rat, probably by decreasing cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) levels, regulating abnormal sex hormones, and decreasing oxidative stress, ER stress, and apoptosis.

Abstract Background DA-9401 was prepared as a mixture of Chinese medicinal herb extracts from roots of Morinda officinalis How (Rubiaceae), outer scales of Allium cepa L. (Liliceae) and seeds of Cuscuta chinensis Lamark (Convolvulaceae). The present study was designed to investigate the possible protective role of DA-9401 in adriamycin (ADR)-induced testicular toxicity associated with oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and apoptosis. Methods Fifty healthy 8-week-old male Sprague–Dawley rats were equally divided into five groups. The first CTR group was treated with normal saline 2 ml/day by gavage. The second was treated with DA-100 (DA-9401 100 mg/kg/day). The third (ADR) group received ADR (2 mg/kg/once a week) intraperitoneally, while the combination of ADR and DA-9401 was given to the fourth ADR + DA-100 (100 mg/kg/day p.o) group and fifth ADR + DA-200 (200 mg/kg/day p.o) group. At the end of the 8-week treatment period, body weight, reproductive organ weights, fertility rate, pups per female were recorded, and serum were assayed for hormone concentrations. Tissues were subjected to semen analysis, histopathological changes, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), oxidative stress markers and expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers, apoptosis markers, tight junction protein markers, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cation channel of sperm (CatSper) and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) by western blot. Results DA-9401 administration to ADR-treated rats significantly decreased serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, interleukin-6, TNF-α, MDA level, ROS/RNS level, ER stress response protein levels, tunnel positive cells, cleaved caspase-3, and Bax/Bcl2 ratio. Moreover, pretreatment with DA-9401 significantly increased body weight, reproductive organ weights, fertility rate, pups per female, Johnsen’s score, spermatogenic cell density, sperm count and sperm motility, serum testosterone concentration, testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), tight junction protein markers, star protein level, CatSper, and GSK-3 level. Conclusions ADR treatment can markedly impair testicular function and induce testicular cell death presumably by causing significant changes in oxidative stress, ER stress, and mitochondrial pathway. DA-9401 exerts beneficial effects against oxidative stress, ER stress, and mitochondria-mediated cell death pathway in testis tissue by up-regulating expression levels of tight junction protein markers, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, GSK-3 alpha, and cation channels of sperm.

Invariant NKT (iNKT) cells are thymus-generated innate-like T cells, comprised of three distinct subsets with divergent effector functions. The molecular mechanism that drives the lineage trifurcation of immature iNKT cells into the NKT1, NKT2, and NKT17 subsets remains a controversial issue that remains to be resolved. Because cytokine receptor signaling is necessary for iNKT cell generation, cytokines are proposed to contribute to iNKT subset differentiation also. However, the precise roles and requirements of cytokines in these processes are not fully understood. Here, we show that IL-2Rβ, a nonredundant component of the IL-15 receptor complex, plays a critical role in both the development and differentiation of thymic iNKT cells. While the induction of IL-2Rβ expression on postselection thymocytes is necessary to drive the generation of iNKT cells, surprisingly, premature IL-2Rβ expression on immature iNKT cells was detrimental to their development. Moreover, while IL-2Rβ is necessary for NKT1 generation, paradoxically, we found that the increased abundance of IL-2Rβ suppressed NKT1 generation without affecting NKT2 and NKT17 cell differentiation. Thus, the timing and abundance of IL-2Rβ expression control iNKT lineage fate and development, thereby establishing cytokine receptor expression as a critical regulator of thymic iNKT cell differentiation.

For a simple graph G with a vertex set VG and an edge set EG, a labeling f:VG∪​EG⟶1,2,⋯,k is called a vertex irregular total k−labeling of G if for any two different vertices x and y in VG we have wtx≠wty where wtx=fx+∑u∈VGfxu. The smallest positive integer k such that G has a vertex irregular total k−labeling is called the total vertex irregularity strength of G, denoted by tvsG. The lower bound of tvsG for any graph G have been found by Baca et. al. In this paper, we determined the exact value of the total vertex irregularity strength of the hexagonal cluster graph on n cluster for n≥2. Moreover, we show that the total vertex irregularity strength of the hexagonal cluster graph on n cluster is 3n2+1/2.

Seaweeds are a major source of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. Seaweed can be sustainably harvested through callus culture, which yields homogenous cells and bioproducts under controlled conditions. Callus induction is a crucial early step in callus culture and is influenced by several abiotic factors. This review aims to discuss the influence of abiotic factors on callus induction in seaweeds, a prerequisite for the application and development of seaweed callus culture. We used three online databases (Springer, Science Direct, and Wiley) to search for the literature on seaweed callus induction published between 1987 and 2020. Thirty-three articles for review were identified and analyzed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The analysis covers 56 seaweed species (3% Chlorophyta, 44% Phaeophyta, and 53% Rhodophyta) under various abiotic treatments, including light irradiance (23%), temperature (15%), media type (21%), plant growth regulators (26%), gelling conditions (9%), and other factors (6%). The information on these abiotic factors is intended to be a practical reference and to foster the further study of the callus culture of seaweed. More studies are needed to determine how to maintain and increase callus mass in suspension culture for the industrial production of seaweed and its metabolites.

Background and Objective This study has evaluated the pharmacokinetic parameters and bioavailabilities of monotropein, kae-mpferol-3-O-glucoside, and quercetin-4’-O-glucoside after administration of MOTILIPERM in rats. Material and Methods Following the administration of MOTILIPERM, the plasma concentrations of each compound in rats were simultaneously determined by using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results The pharmacokinetic parameters of monotropein in rats were AUCinf 20,020.44±3944.67 and 11,915.53±1190.91 min·ng/mL and Cmax 286.99±38.37 and 56.23±9.02 ng/mL for intravenous and oral administration, respectively. The pharmacokinetic parameters of kaempferol-3-O-glucoside in rats were AUCinf 287.86±126.17 min·ng/mL and not estimated; Cmax 5.80±1.87 and 1.24±0.41 ng/mL for intravenous and oral administration, respectively. The pharmacokinetic parameters of querce-tin-4’-O-glucoside in rats were AUCinf 511.38±248.11 and 481.44±65.72 min·ng/mL; Cmax 10.72±2.70 and 2.83±0.34 ng/mL for intravenous and oral administration, respectively. Conclusion The absolute bioavailabilities of monotropein and quercetin-4’-O-glucoside for oral administration were evaluated and calculated as 3.0 and 4.7%, respectively. The absolute bioavailability of kaemp-ferol-3-O-glucoside was not calculated because the elimination rate constant could not be estimated. These results may be applied to the basic data in a further study in order to develop functional foods or herbal medicinal products.

Context: MOTILIPERM was prepared as a mixture of extracts of three medicinal herbs [roots of Morinda officinalis How (Rubiaceae), outer scales of Allium cepa L. (Liliaceae) and seeds of Cuscuta chinensis Lamark (Convolvulaceae)]. Objective: To investigate the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in a rat model of varicocele and the therapeutic efficacy of MOTILIPERM in this model. Materials and methods: Sixty male rats were divided into five experimental groups: a normal control group (CTR + vehicle), a control group administered MOTILIPERM 200 mg/kg (CTR + M 200), a varicocele-induced control group (VC + vehicle) and two varicocele-induced groups administered MOTILIPERM 100 (VC + M 100) or 200 (VC + M 200) mg/kg for 4 weeks. Testis weights were recorded and serums were assayed for hormone concentrations. Tissues were subjected to semen analysis, histopathology, analyses of ER response protein expression levels and oxidative stress were assessed by measuring ROS, reactive nitrogen species (RNS), malondialdehyde (MDA) level and ratios of total glutathione (GSH)/oxidized GSH (GSSG). Results: MOTILIPERM treatment of varicocele-induced groups significantly increased left testis weight, testosterone level, sperm motility, count and spermatogenic cell density. ER-response protein expression levels were dose-dependently decreased in VC + M 200 group compared with VC + vehicle group. MOTILIPERM treatment also decreased MDA and ROS/RNS level but increased GSH/GSSG ratio. Discussion and conclusions: This study suggests that ROS-related ER stress may play a major role in varicocele-induced infertility and MOTILIPERM, a novel compound targeting ROS-based ER stress, may be therapeutically useful in treatment of varicocele, or as a supplement for the treatment of infertility.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relaxant effect of scoparone from Artemisia capillaris on rabbit penile corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (PCCSM) and to elucidate the mechanism of action of scoparone for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Materials and Methods: PCCSM that had been precontracted with phenylephrine was treated with 3 Artemisia herbs (A. princeps, A. capillaris, and A. iwayomogi) and 3 fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol) with different concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/mL). Four components (esculetin, scopoletin, capillarisin, and scoparone) isolated from A. capillaris were also evaluated. The PCCSM was preincubated with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) and 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo [4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ). Cyclic nucleotides in the perfusate were measured by a radioimmunoassay. The interactions of scoparone with udenafil and rolipram were also evaluated. Results: A. capillaris extract relaxed PCCSM in a concentration-dependent manner. Scoparone had the highest relaxant effect on PCCSM among the 4 components (esculetin, scopoletin, capillarisin, and scoparone) isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction. The application of scoparone on PCCSM pretreated with L-NAME and ODQ led to significantly less relaxation. Scoparone also increased the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in the perfusate in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, scoparone enhanced udenafil- and rolipram-induced relaxation of the PCCSM. Conclusions: Scoparone relaxed the PCCSM mainly by activating the nitric oxide-cGMP signaling pathway, and it may be a new promising treatment for ED patients who do not completely respond to udenafil.

While social media influencers are gleaning increasing trust and investment from brands, advertisers, and followers, insights on the role of influencers in adolescents’ relationship formation and consumption behaviors are still rare. Drawing on the literatures of influencer content value, influencer credibility, parental mediation, and parasocial relationship (PSR), this study proposed a conceptual model that expounds the appeal of influencers among adolescents. To test the model, we administered an online survey – recruited in proportion to demographic quotas (i.e., age, gender and ethnicity) – among 500 United States adolescents (aged 10- to 19-years old) via Qualtrics panel. Results revealed that, the entertainment value of influencer-generated content, influencer expertise, trustworthiness, attractiveness, and followers’ perceived similarity to their favorite influencers, are positively related to the perceived PSR between adolescent followers and their favorite influencers, which in turn, are associated with adolescents’ materialistic views and purchase intentions. We also explored the role of parental mediation of adolescents’ social media use in their PSR with influencers. Results indicate that, neither active mediation nor restrictive mediation is related to the PSR between adolescents and influencers. Active mediation is negatively associated with adolescents’ materialism, whereas restrictive mediation is positively related to adolescents’ purchase intentions toward influencer-promoted products. This study proposed and tested a comprehensive conceptual model that accounts for the role of influencers in adolescent followers’ materialism and purchase intentions. This study yields three major theoretical contributions. First, it adopts and applies the concept of PSR from the literature of media psychology to explicate influencers’ appeal among adolescents, which lays a theoretical foundation for future research on the impact of influencers. Second, it advances the current literature on social media influencers by specifying key contributing factors for the development of adolescents’ PSR with influencers. Lastly, it explores the roles of the two facets of parental mediation – active and restrictive mediation – in the appeal of influencers among adolescents, which offers directions for future research of parental mediation in the influencer context.

Naïve and memory T cells co-exist in the peripheral T cell pool, but the cellular mechanisms that maintain the balance and homeostasis of these two populations remain mostly unclear. To address this question, here, we assessed homeostatic proliferation and repopulation kinetics of adoptively transferred naïve and memory T cells in lymphopenic host mice. We identified distinct kinetics of proliferation and tissue-distribution between naïve and memory donor T cells, which resulted in the occupancy of the peripheral T cell pool by mostly naïve-origin T cells in short term (4 weeks). To explain this finding, we assessed utilization of the homeostatic cytokines IL-7 and IL-15 by naïve and memory T cells. We found different efficiencies of IL-7 signaling between naïve and memory T cells, where memory T cells expressed larger amounts of IL-7Rα but were significantly less potent in activation of STAT5 that is downstream of IL-7 signaling. Nonetheless, memory T cells were superior in long-term repopulation of the peripheral T cell pool, presumably, because they preferentially migrated into non-lymphoid tissues upon adoptive transfer and additionally utilized tissue IL-15 for rapid expansion. Consequently, co-utilization of IL-7 and IL-15 provides memory T cells a long-term survival advantage. We consider this mechanism important, as it permits the memory T cell population to be maintained in face of constant influx of naïve T cells to the peripheral T cell pool and under competing conditions for survival cytokines.

Recently, Kim-Kim (J. Math. Anal. Appl. (2021), Vol. 493(1), 124521) introduced the λ-Sheffer sequence and the degenerate Sheffer sequence. In addition, Kim et al. (arXiv:2011.08535v1 17 November 2020) studied the degenerate derangement polynomials and numbers, and investigated some properties of those polynomials without using degenerate umbral calculus. In this paper, the y the degenerate derangement polynomials of order s (s∈N) and give a combinatorial meaning about higher order derangement numbers. In addition, the author gives some interesting identities related to the degenerate derangement polynomials of order s and special polynomials and numbers by using degenerate Sheffer sequences, and at the same time derive the inversion formulas of these identities.

Gui-A-Gra, a commercial insect powder from Gryllus bimaculatus, is registered as an edible insect by the Korean food and drug administration. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Gui-A-Gra on testicular damage induced by experimental left varicocele in male Sprague Dawley rats. A total of 72 rats were randomly divided into the following six groups (12 rats in each group): a normal control group (CTR), a group administrated with Gui-A-Gra 1.63 gm/kg (G1.63), a group administrated with Gui-A-Gra 6.5 gm/kg (G6.5), a varicocele (VC)-induced control group (VC), a VC-induced group administrated with Gui-A-Gra 1.63 gm/kg (VC + G1.63), and a VC-induced group administrated with Gui-A-Gra 6.5 gm/kg (VC + G6.5). Rats were administrated 1.63 or 6.5 gm/kg Gui-A-Gra once daily for 42 days. Indicators of sperm parameters, histopathology, reproductive hormones, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial apoptosis were analyzed to evaluate effects of Gui-A-Gra on VC-induced testicular dysfunction. Gui-A-Gra administration to VC-induced rats significantly (p < 0.05) increased sperm count and sperm motility, Johnsen score, spermatogenic cell density, serum testosterone, testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase, GPx4, and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) level. Moreover, pretreatment with Gui-A-Gra significantly (p < 0.05) decreased terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) positive cells/tubules, serum luteinizing hormone (LH), serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testicular tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS) level, glucose-regulated protein-78 (Grp-78), phosphorylated c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), phosphorylated inositol-requiring transmembrane kinase/endoribonuclease 1α (p-IRE1α), cleaved caspase-3, and BCL2 associated X protein: B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bax: Bcl2) ratio in VC rats. These results suggest that protective effects of Gui-A-Gra on VC-induced testicular injury might be due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and androgenic activities that might be mediated via crosstalk of oxidative stress, ER stress, and mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

This article explores the association between emotional intelligence, mental health, and English proficiency among college students. Survey results reveal that the gender ratio of college students is roughly equal, and the number of participants is stable each year. Humanities majors comprise 31% of the total. The authors collected data from nearly 1000 college students, which was analyzed using a matrix model. Results suggest that while there is a weak correlation between emotional intelligence scores and English grades, there is a strong correlation between mental health scores and English grades. The researchers conducted a 3-month psychological intervention experiment on 60 sophomore students. These students showed improvement in both mental health scores and English scores. Additionally, survey results indicate student satisfaction with the testing and psychological intervention. Overall, this study demonstrates that mental health and English proficiency are closely related, and psychological interventions can positively affect language skills.

The gap in knowledge and information-seeking between high and low socioeconomic status (SES) has been well documented. This study extends this knowledge gap hypothesis to narrative persuasion in the context of parents' knowledge and information-seeking intention concerning adolescents' COVID-19 vaccination. It specifically tests if the gap is moderated by a message type (narrative vs. non-narrative). An online quasi-experiment, with a 2 (participants' education level: high vs. low) × 3 (message type: narrative vs. non-narrative vs. no-message) between-subject design, showed a main effect of education level (i.e., parents with a higher [vs. lower] education level rated a higher intention to seek information and provided more correct answers on questions about adolescents' COVID-19 vaccination) and an interaction between the two factors. The interaction showed that the gap between high- and low-education groups in information-seeking intention disappeared among those who read the narrative or non-narrative, and the gap in knowledge disappeared among those who read the narrative. Study findings suggest the utility of narratives in narrowing the gap in knowledge and information-seeking to improve parents' decisions on child vaccination.

It is well established that physiological stress has an adverse effect on the male reproductive system. Experimental studies have demonstrated the promising effects of MOTILIPERM in male infertility. MOTILIPERM extract is composed of three crude medicinal herbs: Morinda officinalis How (Rubiaceae) roots, Allium cepa L. (Liliaceae) outer scales, and Cuscuta chinensis Lamark (convolvulaceae) seeds. The present study aimed to investigate the possible mechanisms responsible for the effects of MOTILIPERM on testicular dysfunction induced by immobilization stress. Fifty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups (10 rats each): a normal control group (CTR), a control group administered MOTILIPERM 200 mg/kg (M 200), an immobilization-induced stress control group (S), an immobilization-induced stress group administered MOTILIPERM 100 mg/kg (S + M 100), and MOTILIPERM 200 mg/kg (S + M 200). Stressed rats (n = 30) were subjected to stress by immobilization for 6 h by placing them in a Perspex restraint cage, while controls (n = 20) were maintained without disturbance. Rats were administrated 100 or 200 mg/kg MOTILIPERM once daily for 30 days 1 h prior to immobilization. At the end of the treatment period, we measured body and reproductive organ weight; sperm parameters; histopathological damage; reproductive hormone levels; steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR); biomarkers of oxidative stress; and apoptosis markers. MOTILIPERM treatment improved testicular dysfunction by up-regulating (p < 0.05) sperm count, sperm motility, serum testosterone level, StAR protein level, Johnsen score, and spermatogenic cell density in stressed rats. MOTILIPERM decreased oxidative stress by increasing (p < 0.05) testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPx 4), catalase, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) levels and decreasing (p < 0.05) malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) levels. Furthermore, MOTILIPERM down-regulated (p < 0.05) cleaved caspase 3 and BCL2 associated X protein (Bax) levels; increased pro caspase-3 and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) levels; and upregulated testicular germ cell proliferation in stressed rats. The number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells and serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels also significantly (p < 0.05) decreased after pretreatment with MOTILIPERM in stressed rats. Collectively, our results suggest that, in immobilization-mediated stress-induced testicular dysfunction, MOTILIPERM sustains normal spermatogenesis via antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activities by activating the NRF/HO-1 signaling pathway.

In recent years, many mathematicians have studied the degenerate versions of many special polynomials and numbers. The polyexponential functions were introduced by Hardy and rediscovered by Kim, as inverses to the polylogarithms functions. The paper is divided two parts. First, we introduce a new type of the type 2 poly-Euler polynomials and numbers constructed from the modified polyexponential function, the so-called type 2 poly-Euler polynomials and numbers. We show various expressions and identities for these polynomials and numbers. Some of them involving the (poly) Euler polynomials and another special numbers and polynomials such as (poly) Bernoulli polynomials, the Stirling numbers of the first kind, the Stirling numbers of the second kind, etc. In final section, we introduce a new type of the type 2 degenerate poly-Euler polynomials and the numbers defined in the previous section. We give explicit expressions and identities involving those polynomials in a similar direction to the previous section.

In this paper, we consider the degenerate Cauchy numbers of the second kind were defined by Kim (2015). By using modified polyexponential functions, first introduced by Kim-Kim (2019), we define the degenerate poly-Cauchy polynomials and numbers of the second kind and investigate some identities and relationship between various polynomials and the degenerate poly-Cauchy polynomials of the second kind. Using this as a basis of further research, we define the degenerate unipoly-Cauchy polynomials of the second kind and illustrate their important identities.

The present study investigated the effects of egg yolk-derived peptide (YPEP) on osteogenic activities and MAPK-regulation of osteogenic gene expressions. The effects of YPEP on cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen synthesis, and mineralization were measured in human osteoblastic MG-63 cells. Activation of MAPKs and downstream transcription factors such as extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2), p38, ELK1, and cJUN were examined using western blot analysis. YPEP dose-dependently increased MG-63 cell proliferation, ALP activity, collagen synthesis, and calcium deposition. YPEP activated ERK1/2, p38, and ELK1 phosphorylation whereas JNK and cJUN were not affected by YPEP. The COL1A1 (collagen, type I, alpha 1), ALPL (alkaline phosphatase), and SPP1 (secreted phosphoprotein 1, osteopontin) gene expressions were increased while BGLAP (osteocalcin) was not affected by YPEP. The ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98509) blocked the YPEP-induced COL1A1 and ALPL gene expressions as well as ELK1 phosphorylation. The p38 inhibitor (SB203580) blocked YPEP-induced COL1A1 and ALPL gene expressions. SPP1 gene expression was not affected by these MAPK inhibitors. In conclusion, YPEP treatment stimulates the osteogenic differentiation via the MAPK/ELK1 signaling pathway. These results could provide a mechanistic explanation for the bone-strengthening effects of YPEP.

The protective effect of ginsenoside Re, isolated from ginseng berry, against acute gastric mucosal lesions was examined in rats with a single intraperitoneal injection of compound 48/80 (C48/80). Ginsenoside Re (20 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg) was orally administered 0.5 h prior to C48/80 treatment. Ginsenoside Re dose-dependently prevented gastric mucosal lesion development 3 h after C48/80 treatment. Increases in the activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO; an index of neutrophil infiltration) and xanthine oxidase (XO) and the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; an index of lipid peroxidation) and decreases in the contents of hexosamine (a marker of gastric mucus) and adherent mucus, which occurred in gastric mucosal tissues after C48/80 treatment, were significantly attenuated by ginsenoside Re. The elevation of Bax expression and the decrease in Bcl2 expression after C48/80 treatment were also attenuated by ginsenoside Re. Ginsenoside Re significantly attenuated all these changes 3 h after C48/80 treatment. These results indicate that orally administered ginsenoside Re protects against C48/80-induced acute gastric mucosal lesions in rats, possibly through its stimulatory action on gastric mucus synthesis and secretion, its inhibitory action on neutrophil infiltration, and enhanced lipid peroxidation in the gastric mucosal tissue.