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Wu R, Pettersson C, Demirel I. Testosterone increases the virulence traits of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1422747. [PMID: 38863749 PMCID: PMC11165178 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1422747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in humans. Testosterone negatively impacts UTIs by affecting the immune response, leading to higher susceptibility of chronic cystitis in individuals with elevated testosterone levels, regardless of gender. Current research is mostly focused on how testosterone affects the host response to UPEC, but not so much is known about how testosterone directly affect UPEC virulence. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of testosterone exposure on the virulence of UPEC. We found that testosterone directly increases UPEC growth, endotoxin release and biofilm formation. We also found that testosterone-stimulated CFT073 increased colonization and invasion of bladder epithelial cells. Testosterone-stimulated CFT073 also increased the release of IL-1β and LDH from bladder epithelial cells. Additionally, by using a Caenorhabditis elegans survival assay we also showed that testosterone decreased the survival of CFT073 infected C. elegans worms. Taken together, our findings show that testosterone directly increases the virulence traits of UPEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongrong Wu
- School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Carolina Pettersson
- School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Isak Demirel
- School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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Gruba N, Sikora H, Ciesielska J, Rejmak W, Lesner A. Caspase-like activity is associated with bacterial infection of the urine in urinary tract diseases. Anal Biochem 2024; 688:115473. [PMID: 38280678 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2024.115473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a serious public health problem. They can be caused by a number of pathogens, but the most common are Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Bacterial infection is diagnosed by examining a urine sample. The presence of bacteria or white blood cells is determined under a microscope or a urine culture is performed. In this study, we used a panel of chromogenic substrates for the qualitative determination of specific enzyme activity in the urine of patients with confirmed bacterial infection and/or urinary tract disease. Healthy patients were used as a control group. It turned out that in the case of Escherichia coli infection, we observed the activity of the caspase subunit of the human 20S proteasome. We did not observe similar correlations for infections with other types of bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Gruba
- University of Gdansk, Faculty of Chemistry, Wita Stwosza 63 Street, PL 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Honorata Sikora
- University of Gdansk, Faculty of Chemistry, Wita Stwosza 63 Street, PL 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Justyna Ciesielska
- University of Gdansk, Faculty of Chemistry, Wita Stwosza 63 Street, PL 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Wiktoria Rejmak
- University of Gdansk, Faculty of Chemistry, Wita Stwosza 63 Street, PL 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Adam Lesner
- University of Gdansk, Faculty of Chemistry, Wita Stwosza 63 Street, PL 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
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Ali Q, Ma S, Liu B, Niu J, Liu M, Mustafa A, Li D, Wang Z, Sun H, Cui Y, Shi Y. Supplementing Ryegrass Ameliorates Commercial Diet-Induced Gut Microbial Dysbiosis-Associated Spleen Dysfunctions by Gut-Microbiota-Spleen Axis. Nutrients 2024; 16:747. [PMID: 38474875 DOI: 10.3390/nu16050747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The type and composition of food strongly affect the variation and enrichment of the gut microbiota. The gut-microbiota-spleen axis has been developed, incorporating the spleen's function and maturation. However, how short-chain fatty-acid-producing gut microbiota can be considered to recover spleen function, particularly in spleens damaged by changed gut microbiota, is unknown in geese. Therefore, the gut microbial composition of the caecal chyme of geese was assessed by 16S rRNA microbial genes, and a Tax4Fun analysis identified the enrichment of KEGG orthologues involved in lipopolysaccharide production. The concentrations of LPS, reactive oxygen species, antioxidant/oxidant enzymes, and immunoglobulins were measured from serum samples and spleen tissues using ELISA kits. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was employed to detect the Kelch-like-ECH-associated protein 1-Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Keap1-Nrf2), B cell and T cell targeting markers, and anti-inflammatory/inflammatory cytokines from the spleen tissues of geese. The SCFAs were determined from the caecal chyme of geese by using gas chromatography. In this study, ryegrass-enriched gut microbiota such as Eggerthellaceae, Oscillospiraceae, Rikenellaceae, and Lachnospiraceae attenuated commercial diet-induced gut microbial alterations and spleen dysfunctions in geese. Ryegrass significantly improved the SCFAs (acetic, butyric, propionic, isovaleric, and valeric acids), AMPK pathway-activated Nrf2 redox signaling cascades, B cells (B220, CD19, and IgD), and T cells (CD3, CD4, CD8, and IL-2, with an exception of IL-17 and TGF-β) to activate anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, and IgM) in geese. In conclusion, ryegrass-improved reprogramming of the gut microbiota restored the spleen functions by attenuating LPS-induced oxidative stress and systemic inflammation through the gut-microbiota-spleen axis in geese.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qasim Ali
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Sen Ma
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Grassland Resources, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- Henan Herbage Engineering Technology Research Center, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Boshuai Liu
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Grassland Resources, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- Henan Herbage Engineering Technology Research Center, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Jiakuan Niu
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Mengqi Liu
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Ahsan Mustafa
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Defeng Li
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Grassland Resources, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- Henan Herbage Engineering Technology Research Center, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Zhichang Wang
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Grassland Resources, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- Henan Herbage Engineering Technology Research Center, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Grassland Resources, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- Henan Herbage Engineering Technology Research Center, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yalei Cui
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Grassland Resources, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- Henan Herbage Engineering Technology Research Center, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yinghua Shi
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Grassland Resources, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- Henan Herbage Engineering Technology Research Center, Zhengzhou 450001, China
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Ma C, Huang J, Jiang Y, Liu L, Wang N, Huang S, Li H, Zhang X, Wen S, Wang B, Yang S. Gasdermin D in macrophages drives orchitis by regulating inflammation and antigen presentation processes. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:361-385. [PMID: 38177538 PMCID: PMC10897472 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-023-00016-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammation in the testes induced by infection and autoimmunity contributes significantly to male infertility, a public health issue. Current therapies using antibiotics and broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory drugs are ineffective against non-bacterial orchitis and induce side effects. This highlights the need to explore the pathogenesis of orchitis and develop alternative therapeutic strategies. In this study, we demonstrated that Gasdermin D (GSDMD) was activated in the testes during uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)-induced acute orchitis, and that GSDMD in macrophages induced inflammation and affected spermatogenesis during acute and chronic orchitis. In testicular macrophages, GSDMD promoted inflammation and antigen presentation, thereby enhancing the T-cell response after orchitis. Furthermore, the pharmacological inhibition of GSDMD alleviated the symptoms of UPEC-induced acute orchitis. Collectively, these findings provide the first demonstration of GSDMD's role in driving orchitis and suggest that GSDMD may be a potential therapeutic target for treating orchitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Ma
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiajia Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Avenue, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuying Jiang
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Lu Liu
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Na Wang
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Shaoqiong Huang
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Honghui Li
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhang
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuang Wen
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Bingwei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Avenue, 210023, Nanjing, China.
| | - Shuo Yang
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China.
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Lindblad A, Wu R, Persson K, Demirel I. The Role of NLRP3 in Regulation of Antimicrobial Peptides and Estrogen Signaling in UPEC-Infected Bladder Epithelial Cells. Cells 2023; 12:2298. [PMID: 37759520 PMCID: PMC10526908 DOI: 10.3390/cells12182298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The NLRP3 inflammasome, estrogen and antimicrobial peptides have all been found to have a vital role in the protection of the bladder urothelium. However, the interdependence between these protective factors during a bladder infection is currently unknown. Our aim was to investigate the role of NLRP3 in the regulation of antimicrobial peptides and estrogen signaling in bladder epithelial cells during a UPEC infection. Human bladder epithelial cells and CRISPR/Cas9-generated NLRP3-deficient cells were stimulated with the UPEC strain CFT073 and estradiol. The gene and protein expression were evaluated with microarray, qRT-PCR, western blot and ELISA. Microarray results showed that the expression of most antimicrobial peptides was reduced in CFT073-infected NLRP3-deficient cells compared to Cas9 control cells. Conditioned medium from NLRP3-deficient cells also lost the ability to suppress CFT073 growth. Moreover, NLRP3-deficient cells had lower basal release of Beta-defensin-1, Beta-defensin-2 and RNase7. The ability of estradiol to induce an increased expression of antimicrobial peptides was also abrogated in NLRP3-deficient cells. The decreased antimicrobial peptide expression might be linked to the observed reduced expression and activity of estradiol receptor beta in NLRP3-deficient cells. This study suggests that NLRP3 may regulate the release and expression of antimicrobial peptides and affect estrogen signaling in bladder epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Isak Demirel
- School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, 701 82 Örebro, Sweden; (A.L.); (R.W.); (K.P.)
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Wu R, Kumawat AK, Demirel I. Trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO) Mediates Increased Inflammation and Colonization of Bladder Epithelial Cells during a Uropathogenic E. coli Infection In Vitro. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12040523. [PMID: 37111409 PMCID: PMC10141729 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infections in humans and are often caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a proinflammatory metabolite that has been linked to vascular inflammation, atherosclerosis, and chronic kidney disease. As of today, no studies have investigated the effects of TMAO on infectious diseases like UTIs. The aim of this study was to investigate whether TMAO can aggravate bacterial colonization and the release of inflammatory mediators from bladder epithelial cells during a UPEC infection. We found that TMAO aggravated the release of several key cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6) and chemokines (IL-8, CXCL1 and CXCL6) from bladder epithelial cells during a CFT073 infection. We also found that CFT073 and TMAO mediate increased release of IL-8 from bladder epithelial cells via ERK 1/2 signaling and not bacterial growth. Furthermore, we showed that TMAO enhances UPEC colonization of bladder epithelial cells. The data suggest that TMAO may also play a role in infectious diseases. Our results can be the basis of further research to investigate the link between diet, gut microbiota, and urinary tract infection.
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TcpC Inhibits M1 but Promotes M2 Macrophage Polarization via Regulation of the MAPK/NF-κB and Akt/STAT6 Pathways in Urinary Tract Infection. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172674. [PMID: 36078080 PMCID: PMC9454685 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract TcpC is a multifunctional virulence factor of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Macrophages can differentiate into two different subsets M1 and M2 that play distinct roles in anti-infection immunity. Here, we investigate the influence of TcpC on M1/M2 polarization and the potential mechanisms. Our data showed that M1 markers CD86 and iNOS were significantly inhibited, while the M2 markers CD163, CD206 and Arg-1 were enhanced in macrophages in kidneys from the TcpC-secreting wild-type CFT073 (CFT073wt)-infected pyelonephritis mouse model, compared with those in macrophages in kidneys from TcpC knockout CFT073 mutant (CFT073Δtcpc)-infected mice. CFT073wt or recombinant TcpC (rTcpC) treatment inhibits LPS + IFN-γ-induced CD80, CD86, TNF-α and iNOS expression, but promotes IL-4-induced CD163, CD206, Arg-1 and IL-10 expression in both human and mouse macrophage cell lines THP-1 and J774A.1. Moreover, rTcpC significantly attenuated LPS + IFN-γ-induced phosphorylation of p38, ERK, p50 and p65 but enhanced IL-4-induced phosphorylation of Akt and STAT6. These data suggest that TcpC inhibits M1 but promotes M2 macrophage polarization by down-regulation of p38, ERK/NF-κB and up-regulation of the Akt/STAT6 signaling pathway, respectively. Our findings not only illuminate the regulatory effects of TcpC on macrophage M1/M2 polarization and its related signaling pathways, but also provide a novel mechanism underlying TcpC-mediated immune evasion of macrophage-mediated innate immunity. Simple Summary We investigate the influence of TcpC, a multifunctional virulence factor of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), on M1/M2 macrophage polarization and the potential mechanisms. TcpC-secreting wild-type CFT073 (CFT073wt) or recombinant TcpC (rTcpC) treatment inhibits LPS + IFN-γ-induced CD80, CD86, TNF-α and iNOS expression, but promotes IL-4-induced CD163, CD206, Arg-1 and IL-10 expression in CFT073wt-infected pyelonephritis model mouse and both human and mouse macrophage cell lines THP-1 and J774A.1, respectively. Moreover, rTcpC significantly attenuated LPS + IFN-γ-induced phosphorylation of p38, ERK, p50 and p65 but en-hanced IL-4-induced phosphorylation of Akt and STAT6. These data suggest that TcpC inhibits M1 but promotes M2 macrophage polarization by down-regulation of p38, ERK/NF-κB and up-regulation of the Akt/STAT6 signaling pathway, respectively. Our findings not only illuminate the regulatory effects of TcpC on macrophage M1/M2 polarization and its related signaling pathways, but also provide a novel mechanism underlying TcpC-mediated immune evasion of macrophage-mediated innate immunity.
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Chukai Y, Ito G, Konno M, Sakata Y, Ozaki T. Mitochondrial calpain-5 truncates caspase-4 during endoplasmic reticulum stress. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 608:156-162. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.03.156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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