bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generation of Neutral Chemically Reactive Species in Low-Pressure Plasma
Authors: Primc Gregor
Published: May 2022

The surface finish of organic and inorganic materials treated by gaseous plasma usually depends on the fluxes and fluencies of chemically reactive species such as molecular radicals. In low-pressure plasmas, the dissociation of molecules to parent atoms depends on the production rate in the gas phase and on the loss rate on surfaces. The processing will be efficient if the loss rate is minimized. The methods for minimizing the loss rate and thus increasing the processing efficiency are presented and discussed. The dissociation fraction of simple molecules exceeds 10% providing the plasma-facing materials are smooth with a low coefficient for heterogeneous surface recombination. The density of atoms in a plasma reactor increases with increasing pressure reaching a maximum and decreases with further pressure increase, which is explained by two competing processes. The energy efficiency also exhibits a maximum, which may be as high as 30% if plasma is sustained by electrodeless high-frequency discharges. Optimization of energy efficiency is not only beneficial for the costs of material processing but also for the prevention of excessive heating of treated materials. The latter is particularly important for organic materials because the surface functional groups are not stable but decay with increasing surface temperature.
Integrated Fecal Microbiome and Metabolomics Reveals a Novel Potential Biomarker for Predicting Tibial Dyschondroplasia in Chickens
Authors: Huang Shucheng , Zhang Chaodong , Xu Tingting , Shaukat Aftab , He Yanfeng , Chen Pan , Lin Luxi , Yue Ke , Cao Qinqin , Tong Xishuai
Published: May 2022

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a metabolic tibial-tarsal disorder occurring in fast-growing poultry, and its diagnosis is mainly based on an invasive method. Here, we profiled the fecal gut microbiome and metabolome of broilers with and without TD to identify potential non-invasive and non-stress biomarkers of TD. First, TD broilers with the most pronounced clinical signs during the experiment were screened and faecal samples were collected for integrated microbiome and metabolomics analysis. Moreover, the diagnostic potential of identified biomarkers was further validated throughout the experiment. It was noted that the microbial and metabolic signatures of TD broilers differed from those of normal broilers. TD broilers were characterized by enriched bacterial OTUs of the genus Klebsiella, and depleted genera [Ruminococcus], Dorea, Ruminococcus, Oscillospira, Ochrobactrum, and Sediminibacterium. In addition, a total of 189 fecal differential metabolites were identified, mainly enriched in the purine, vitamin and amino acid metabolism, which were closely associated with differential microbiota and tibia-related indicators. Furthermore, three fecal metabolites were screened, including 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, which distinguished TD from normal broilers with extremely high specificity and was superior to serum bone markers. These results indicated that gut microbiota equilibrium might influence the pathogenesis of TD by modulating host metabolism, and the identified fecal metabolite 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde might be a potential and non-invasive biomarker for predicting TD in chickens.
Advance of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-Cas9 System and Its Application in Crop Improvement
Authors: Rao Yuchun , Yang Xi , Pan Chenyang , Wang Chun , Wang Kejian
Published: May 2022

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 is the third generation of novel targeted genome editing technology after zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) and transcription activator like effector nucleases (TALENs). It is also one of the most promising techniques for mutating and modifying genes. The CRISPR-Cas9 system has the advantages of simplicity, high efficiency, high specificity, and low production cost, thus greatly promoting the study of gene function. Meanwhile, it has attracted the attention of biologists. After the development and improvement in recent years, CRISPR-Cas9 system has become increasingly mature and has been widely used in crop improvement. Firstly, this review systematically summarizes the generation and advantages of CRISPR-Cas9 system. Secondly, three derivative technologies of the CRISPR-Cas9 system are introduced. Thirdly, this review focuses on the application of CRISPR-Cas9 system in gene knockout, gene knock-in, and gene regulation, as well as the improvement of yield, quality, and biological resistance of important crops such as rice, wheat, soybean, corn, and potato. Finally, this review proposes the potential challenges of CRISPR-Cas9 system, and discusses the future development of CRISPR-Cas9 system.
Ubiquitination and Ubiquitin-Like Modifications as Mediators of Alternative Pre-mRNA Splicing in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Lan Wei , Qiu Yuhao , Xu Yun , Liu Yalin , Miao Ying
Published: May 2022

Alternative splicing (AS) is a common post-transcriptional regulatory process in eukaryotes. AS has an irreplaceable role during plant development and in response to environmental stress as it evokes differential expression of downstream genes or splicing factors (e.g., serine/arginine-rich proteins). Numerous studies have reported that loss of AS capacity leads to defects in plant growth and development, and induction of stress-sensitive phenotypes. A role for post-translational modification (PTM) of AS components has emerged in recent years. These modifications are capable of regulating the activity, stability, localization, interaction, and folding of spliceosomal proteins in human cells and yeast, indicating that PTMs represent another layer of AS regulation. In this review, we summarize the recent reports concerning ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like modification of spliceosome components and analyze the relationship between spliceosome and the ubiquitin/26S proteasome pathway in plants. Based on the totality of the evidence presented, we further speculate on the roles of protein ubiquitination mediated AS in plant development and environmental response.
Heat Stress-Mediated Constraints in Maize (Zea mays) Production: Challenges and Solutions
Authors: El-Sappah Ahmed H. , Rather Shabir A. , Wani Shabir Hussain , Elrys Ahmed S. , Bilal Muhammad , Huang Qiulan , Dar Zahoor Ahmad , Elashtokhy Mohamed M. A. , Soaud Nourhan , Koul Monika , Mir Reyazul Rouf , Yan Kuan , Li Jia , El-Tarabily Khaled A. , Abbas Manzar
Published: May 2022

Graphical Abstract

This review summarized heat stress-mediated morphological and physiological changes in maize and elucidated the molecular mechanisms responsible for maize response to heat stress. Furthermore, plausible approaches to dissecting the regulatory network associated with heat stress response and improving maize adaptation to global warming have been discussed. This figure was made using BioRender.
Molecular Cytogenetic Identification of a New Wheat-Rye 6R Addition Line and Physical Localization of Its Powdery Mildew Resistance Gene
Authors: Han Guohao , Yan Hanwen , Wang Jing , Cao Lijun , Liu Shiyu , Li Xiuquan , Zhou Yilin , Fan Jieru , Li Lihui , An Diaoguo
Published: May 2022

Rye (Secale cereale L.), a naturally cross-pollinating relative of wheat, is a tertiary gene donor and of substantial value in wheat improvement. Wheat powdery mildew is caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), which seriously affects yield and quality worldwide. Identifying and transferring new, effective resistance genes against powdery mildew from rye is important for wheat breeding. The current study developed a wheat-rye line YT2 resistant to powdery mildew by crossing, backcrossing, and self-pollination for multiple generations between octoploid triticale 09R2-100 and common wheat cultivar Shixin 616. YT2 was confirmed to be a 6R disomic addition and T1RS⋅1BL translocation line by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (mc-FISH), multicolor-GISH (mc-GISH), and molecular marker analyses. Disease responses to different Bgt isolates and genetic analysis showed that the powdery mildew resistance gene of YT2 was derived from the rye chromosome 6R of 09R2-100, which differed from the previously reported Pm genes from rye including Pm20 on 6RL. Resistance phenotype of different translocation lines and deletion lines derived from YT2 combined with newly developed 6RL-specific markers analysis suggested that the powdery mildew resistance gene of YT2 was localized to the region in chromosome 6RL: 890.09–967.51 Mb and flanked by markers XM189 and X4M19, corresponding to the reference genome of Weining rye. Therefore, YT2 could be used as a promising bridging parent for wheat disease resistance improvement.
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Long Noncoding RNAs in Populus × canescens Roots Treated With Different Nitrogen Fertilizers
Authors: Zhou Jing , Yang Ling-Yu , Chen Xin , Shi Weng-Guang , Deng Shu-Rong , Luo Zhi-Bin
Published: May 2022

Nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) are the primary forms of inorganic nitrogen acquired by plant roots. LncRNAs, as key regulators of gene expression, are a class of non-coding RNAs larger than 200 bp. However, knowledge about the regulatory role of lncRNAs in response to different nitrogen forms remains limited, particularly in woody plants. Here, we performed strand-specific RNA-sequencing of P. × canescens roots under three different nitrogen fertilization treatments. In total, 324 lncRNAs and 6,112 mRNAs were identified as showing significantly differential expression between the NO3− and NH4NO3 treatments. Moreover, 333 lncRNAs and 6,007 mRNAs showed significantly differential expression between the NH4+ and NH4NO3 treatments. Further analysis suggested that these lncRNAs and mRNAs have different response mechanisms for different nitrogen forms. In addition, functional annotation of cis and trans target mRNAs of differentially expressed lncRNAs indicated that 60 lncRNAs corresponding to 49 differentially expressed cis and trans target mRNAs were involved in plant nitrogen metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism. Furthermore, 42 lncRNAs were identified as putative precursors of 63 miRNAs, and 28 differentially expressed lncRNAs were potential endogenous target mimics targeted by 96 miRNAs. Moreover, ceRNA regulation networks were constructed. MSTRG.6097.1, MSTRG.13550.1, MSTRG.2693.1, and MSTRG.12899.1, as hub lncRNAs in the ceRNA networks, are potential candidate lncRNAs for studying the regulatory mechanism in poplar roots under different nitrogen fertilization treatments. The results provide a basis for obtaining insight into the molecular mechanisms of lncRNA responses to different nitrogen forms in woody plants.
Mindfulness and Voluntary Work Behavior: Further Support for an Affect Mediation Model
Authors: Robinson Michael D. , Krishnakumar Sukumarakurup
Published: May 2022

Mindfulness, defined in terms of greater attention and awareness concerning present experience, seems to have a number of psychological benefits, but very little of this research has focused on possible benefits within the workplace. Even so, mindfulness appears to buffer against stress and negative affect, which often predispose employees to deviant behaviors. Conversely, mindful employees may be more engaged with their jobs, which could support organizational citizenship. Two studies (total N = 418) pursued these ideas. In Study 1, part-time employees who were higher in dispositional mindfulness were less prone to job negative affect, which in turn predicted lower levels of workplace deviance. In Study 2, more mindful full-time employees were more engaged, and less stressed, and these variables mediated a portion of the relationship between mindfulness and organizational citizenship. Collectively, the two studies link mindfulness to both traditional forms of voluntary work behavior while highlighting mediational pathways.
Similar or Different Effects? Quantifying the Effects of Humility and Modesty on Job Performance
Authors: Peng He
Published: May 2022

Humility and modesty are both emphasized in Eastern and Western societies. However, people usually conflate them in everyday usage. To reduce the confusion of the two constructs, it is very vital to carefully differentiate the two constructs and examine whether they lead to similar or different effects on job performance. In this study, we scrutinized the effects of the two constructs on four dimensions of job performance simultaneously, including task performance, citizenship behavior (helping and voicing), unethical pro-organizational behavior, and innovative behavior. Using a dataset of 239 employees and 77 supervisors, we showed that modesty is not related to task performance and voicing, but that it is positively related to unethical pro-organizational behavior and negatively related to helping and innovative behavior. In contrast, we showed that humility is negatively related to unethical pro-organizational behavior and positively related to task performance, helping, voicing, and innovative behavior. Our findings reveal that modesty and humility can lead to very divergent work outcomes. The results strongly support the idea that modesty and humility are distinct constructs embedded in separate nomological networks and strongly suggest that organizations should encourage employees’ humility rather than modesty. The theoretical and practical implications of this work are discussed.
Self-Efficacy, Proxy Efficacy, Media Literacy, and Official Media Use in COVID-19 Pandemic in China: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Li Qingrui , Zheng Yu , Zhang Junqing , Geng Rui
Published: May 2022

Purpose

COVID-19 pandemic is a significant threat toward the public health. However, the discussion of the mechanism of media literacy’s effect in fighting against pandemic is limited. Thus, this study aims to explore the mechanism with a sociocognitive perspective.

Methods

A survey was administrated to 420 college students in China. PROCESS macro of SPSS was applied to analyze the data and test the moderated mediation effect.

Results

The moderated mediation model of media literacy, proxy efficacy, self-efficacy, and official media use was tested and supported. Official media use was a negative moderator on the association between media literacy and proxy efficacy.

Conclusion

The study explored the media literacy’s role as a determinant of proxy efficacy and self-efficacy, which contributed to the sociocognitive theory.
How Workaholic Leadership Affects Employee Self-Presentation: The Role of Workplace Anxiety and Segmentation Supplies
Authors: Zeng Qi , Liu Xin
Published: May 2022

In an increasingly competitive and performance-oriented society, workaholic leadership is becoming increasingly common and is even embraced and supported by many organizations. However, previous studies have not paid sufficient attention to the impact of workaholic leadership on employee psychology and behavior. This study, based on the conservation of resources (COR) theory, explores the effect of workaholic leadership on employee self-presentation. Through an empirical analysis of 256 employees’ questionnaires, we found a significant positive impact between workaholic leaders and employee self-presentation. This process was achieved through the partly mediating mechanisms of employee workplace anxiety. Concurrently, segmentation supplies negatively moderated the relationship between workplace anxiety and self-presentation and the overall mediating mechanism. These findings provide important insights into the underlying mechanisms of workaholic leadership and employee behavior, which can be utilized to improve employee wellbeing and provide positive organizational outcomes.
The Global Landscape of the Burden of Depressive Symptoms/Major Depression in Individuals Living With HIV/AIDs and Its Effect on Antiretroviral Medication Adherence: An Umbrella Review
Authors: Necho Mogesie , Zenebe Yosef , Tiruneh Chalachew , Ayano Getinet , Yimam Bethlehem
Published: May 2022

Background

People living with HIV/AIDS have a higher rate of depression/depressive symptoms and this highly affects antiretroviral medication adherence. Therefore, much stronger evidence weighing the burden of depressive symptoms/major depression is warranted.

Methods

We investigated PubMed, Scopus, Psych-Info, and Embase databases for systematic review studies. A PRISMA flow diagram was used to show the search process. We also used the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) checklist scores. A narrative review and statistical pooling were accompanied to compute the pooled effect size of outcome variables.

Results

Overall, 8 systematic review studies addressing 265 primary studies, 4 systematic review studies addressing 48 primary studies, and six systematic review studies addressing 442 primary studies were included for depressive symptoms, major depression, and their effect on medication non-adherence, respectively. Globally, the average depressive symptoms prevalence using the random effect model was 34.17% (24.97, 43.37). In addition, the average prevalence of major depressive disorder was obtained to be 13.42% (10.53, 16.31). All of the 6 included systematic review studies reported a negative association between depressive symptoms and antiretroviral medication non-adherence. The pooled odds ratio of antiretroviral medication adherence among patients with depressive symptoms was 0.54 (0.36, 0.72) (I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.487).

Conclusion

Globally, the prevalence of depressive symptoms and major depression is high. There existed a high degree of association between depressive symptoms and antiretroviral medication non-adherence. So, focused intervention modalities should be developed and implemented.
Possible Effects of Bright Light Therapy on Electroencephalogram-Vigilance in the Treatment of Depression in Adolescents: A Pilot Study
Authors: Berger Christoph , Dück Alexander , Gest Stephanie , Jonas Lena , Kölch Michael , Martin Franziska , Reis Olaf , Schroth Jennifer , Legenbauer Tanja , Holtmann Martin
Published: May 2022

Background

Chronotherapeutic treatments for depression, such as bright light therapy (BLT), are non-invasive and produce almost no side effects. However, study evidence for reliable neurobiological changes associated with treatment response is still rare. Several studies using EEG-vigilance indicate higher arousal and a later decline during resting state in adult depressive patients compared to healthy controls. To our knowledge, there are no study reports on EEG-vigilance in depressive youth to date.

Methods

A total of 11 adolescents with depression receiving BLT were compared to 11 age and gender-matched patients with depression receiving treatment as usual (TAU). The BLT was administered in the morning for 2 weeks on five consecutive days per week. The depressive symptomatology was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) of 20 min was recorded. EEG and BDI-II were assessed before and after 10 days of treatment. Vigilance level and vigilance decline were estimated using the VIGALL toolbox.

Results

Brain arousal increased after 10 days of bright light therapy in adolescents with depression. Severe depressive symptoms were associated with higher brain arousal levels; the BDI-II sum score correlated negatively with the amount of drowsiness.

Limitations

The sample size was small and participants’ brain arousal at baseline was not matched and differed between BLT and TAU groups.

Conclusion

The BLT might have an additional effect on brain arousal. EEG-vigilance seems to be a reliable and valid marker for neurobiological changes that are probably associated with depression and its treatment and, therefore, might be of clinical relevance.
A Feasibility Study of a Remotely-Delivered Mindfulness-Based Training for Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Tymofiyeva Olga , Hu Melody Y. , Sipes Benjamin S. , Jakary Angela , Glidden David V. , Jariwala Namasvi , Bhandari Sarina , Parks Kendall C. , Nguyen Ca , Henje Eva , Yang Tony T.
Published: May 2022

Social distancing, home confinement, economic challenges, and COVID-19-related illness and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic can significantly affect mental health in youth. One promising approach to reduce anxiety and depression in adolescents is the neuroscience-based mindfulness intervention Training for Awareness, Resilience, and Action (TARA). The objective of this individually randomized waitlist-controlled trial (RCT) was (1) to test the feasibility of TARA, delivered partially over Zoom, and (2) to assess changes in the emotional wellbeing in healthy adolescents between the ages of 14–18 years old during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Twenty-one healthy adolescents were randomized to the TARA intervention or to the waitlist control group in February 2020, just before the start of the pandemic. The TARA group intervention was delivered in person for the first five sessions and remotely over Zoom for the remaining seven sessions due to the pandemic. The participants’ acceptability of TARA was assessed weekly using the Child Session Rating Scale (CSRS). The primary outcome was the emotional wellbeing measured using emotional symptoms subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) pre/post-TARA. We also explored weekly changes in TARA participants’ wellbeing using the Child Outcome Rating Scale (CORS). Results: The overall session rating in TARA participants improved after the switch to Zoom (Cohen’s d = 1.2, p = 0.008). The results of the two-way ANOVA showed no statistically significant difference in the change of the SDQ emotional symptoms during the 12 weeks between the TARA group and waitlist-control group (timepoint × group interaction: F = 0.77, p = 0.38). The exploratory analysis using the CORS in the TARA participants showed a significant improvement in their functioning over the weeks of training. Conclusion: Our results support the feasibility of TARA delivered over Zoom. While our primary outcome did not provide support for the improvement of the emotional wellbeing with TARA compared to a passive control group, our exploratory analysis in the intervention group indicated an improved functioning over the weeks of TARA training. The important general positive impact of this study lies in the possibility of offering a neuroscience-based mindfulness intervention remotely to youth living in remote areas and for all youth during pandemic times.
Longitudinal Development of Reasons for Living and Dying With Suicide Attempters: A 2-Year Follow-Up Study
Authors: Gysin-Maillart Anja C. , Jansen Rahel , Walther Sebastian , Jobes David A. , Brodbeck Jeannette , Marmet Simon
Published: May 2022

Background

Clinical interventions for patients after a suicide attempt might include a focus on Reasons for Living (RFL) and/or Reasons for Dying (RFD). The present study examined the longitudinal development of RFL and RFD in patients with and without a suicide-specific intervention - the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP).

Methods

In this secondary analysis of a 2-year follow-up randomized controlled study, participants completed the Suicide Status Form II to assess RFL and RFD, at baseline, as well as at 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-months follow-up. Growth models and latent class analysis were used to investigate longitudinal developments in RFL and RFD. Regression models were used to test the association between RFL, RFD and suicidal reattempts and ideation.

Results

Cross-sectionally and longitudinally, RFD, but not RFL, were associated with suicide reattempts and suicidal ideation. The number of RFD decreased significantly across the 24 month period (from 1.90 at t1 to 1.04 at t5 in the control group and from 2.32 at t1 to 0.51 at t5 in the intervention group), and this decrease was stronger (b = −0.02; p = 0.004) in the ASSIP group than in the control group. There was no overall change in RFL. Three latent trajectories of RFD were identified: a decreasing (n= 77), a steady high (n= 17) and a trajectory with first increasing and then decreasing RFD (n= 26). The proportion of patients in the ASSIP intervention was highest in the decreasing trajectory and lowest in the steady high trajectory. Patients in the steady high trajectory were characterized by worse mental health and fewer social obligations (partner, children) at baseline.

Conclusion

The results confirm the importance of RFD within the suicidal process and show that the number of RFD can be further reduced over the period of 24 months with short interventions such as ASSIP. The relevance of number of RFL in the suicidal process, as protective factor, was not confirmed. In the subgroup of patients whose RFD did not decrease over a long period of time, there is a particularly high risk of suicidal ideation/behavior. Clinical interventions should focus more closely on RFD, their etiology and maintenance.
Studies on the Digital Inclusion Among Older Adults and the Quality of Life—A Nanjing Example in China
Authors: Yang Hui , Chen Hongtu , Pan Tianshu , Lin Yiran , Zhang Ying , Chen Honglin
Published: May 2022

Digital inclusion can bridge the digital divide and reduce the social exclusion of older adults, yet it is understudied in China. This research examined factors influencing the digital inclusion of older adults in China and the relationship between digital inclusion and quality of life. Data collected from 312 older people (M = 69.6 years old) in Nanjing were included in a multinomial logit model to tackle these questions. Their attitudes toward technology were the most significant factor predicting their digital inclusion. Other factors included party affiliation, living situation, personal average monthly income, occupation, and capacity for instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). This study shows digital inclusion has a direct impact on quality of life. It also serves as an intermediate variable that affects older people's attitudes toward technology and their IADL capacities. Most importantly, digital inclusion promotes social integration of older adults and improves the quality of their lives. Hence, it should not be ignored. Older people's attitudes toward technology are one of the keys to promoting their digital inclusion.
Rural Post-Earthquake Resettlement Mode Choices: Empirical Case Studies of Sichuan, China
Authors: Zhao Lei , Zhou Sifan , Zhong Jinglin , Ao Yibin , Wang Yan , Wang Tong , Chen Yunfeng
Published: May 2022

Earthquakes occur frequently in rural areas of Sichuan, China, causing huge damage and high mortality. The built environment plays a significant role in providing residents with safe and resilient settlements in such areas. There is yet little research on how rural families in developing countries cope with geological disasters like earthquakes, and how built environmental factors would influence their resettlement choices which would directly affect their quality of life afterward. Urban planning activities should be accompanied by these insights to design and create human-centric resettlements accordingly. In this study, the resettlement choices after three major earthquakes in Sichuan were studied for this reason. Random sampling and face-to-face questionnaire surveys were combined with factor analysis and binary logistic regression to understand the resettlement modes desired by the residents and the influencing factors. The results show that residents who have lived in their current places long and whose houses were not built recently are more likely to choose the in-situ resettlement. Accessibility to employment and public services has a significant impact on residents' choice of in-situ resettlement or reallocated resettlement, and so does the previous resettlement experience. The research results can provide useful suggestions for Chinese rural area post-earthquake resettlement planning following a human-centric approach with empirical data.
Prevalence and Outcomes of Pancreatic Enzymes Elevation in Patients With COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review
Authors: Zhou You , Ge Yu-Tong , Yang Xiao-Xi , Cai Qian , Ding Yan-Bing , Hu Liang-Hao , Lu Guo-Tao
Published: May 2022

Background:

Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is considered to be a disease that mainly involves the respiratory system, an increasing number of studies have reported that COVID-19 patients had pancreatic enzymes (PE) elevation and even pancreatic injury. The study aims to determine the prevalence of PE elevation, and the relationship between elevated PE and prognosis in COVID-19 patients.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted according to the PRISMA guideline in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies reporting PE elevation in patients with COVID-19 from 1st January 2020 to 24th November 2021.

Results

A total of 13 studies (24,353 participants) were included in our review. The pooled prevalence of PE elevation in COVID-19 patients was 24% (18%–31%), the pooled odds ratio (OR) of mortality was 2.5 (1.7–3.6), the pooled OR of ICU admission was 4.4 (2.8–6.8), and the pooled OR of kidney injury, respiratory failure and liver injury were 3.5 (1.6–7.4), 2.0 (0.5–8.7), and 2.3 (1.4–3.9) respectively. In addition, the subgroup analysis revealed that although PE elevated to > 3 × upper normal limit (ULN) was significantly related to the mortality (OR = 4.4, 2.1–9.4), it seemed that mild elevation of PE to 1–3 ULN also had a considerable risk of mortality (OR = 2.3, 1.5–3.5).

Conclusions

PE elevation was a common phenomenon in patients with COVID-19, and was associated with poor clinical outcomes. However, due to the limited numbers of included studies, the result of our study still needed to be validated.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=295630, identifier: CRD42021295630.
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Older Adolescents and Young Adults: A National Cross-Sectional Study in China
Authors: Zhang Panpan , Li Yan , Wang Huanchun , Luo Liyan , Wang Ping , Wang Huimin , Li Qing , Meng Zejing , Yang Hui , Liu Yuanhong , Zhou Shiyue , Li Nan , Zhang Shengnan , Bi Jianzhong , Zhang Jiewen , Zheng Xiaolei
Published: May 2022

Background

With promotion of COVID-19 vaccinations, there has been a corresponding vaccine hesitancy, of which older adolescents and young adults represent groups of particular concern. In this report, we investigated the prevalence and reasons for vaccine hesitancy, as well as potential risk factors, within older adolescents and young adults in China.

Methods

To assess these issues, an online survey was administered over the period from March 14 to April 15, 2021. Older adolescents (16–17 years old) and young adults (18–21 years old) were recruited nationwide from Wechat groups and results from a total of 2,414 respondents were analyzed. Socio-demographic variables, vaccine hesitancy, psychological distress, abnormal illness behavior, global well-being and social support were analyzed in this report.

Results

Compared to young adults (n = 1,405), older adolescents (n = 1,009) showed higher prevalence rates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (16.5 vs. 7.9%, p < 0.001). History of physical diseases (p = 0.007) and abnormal illness behavior (p = 0.001) were risk factors for vaccine hesitancy among older adolescents, while only a good self-reported health status (p = 0.048) was a risk factor for young adults. Concerns over COVID-19 vaccine side effects (67.1%) and beliefs of invulnerability regarding infection risk (41.9%) were the most prevalent reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Providing evidence on the vaccine reduction of COVID-19 infection risk (67.5%), ensuring vaccine safety (56.7%) and the low risk of side effects (52.7%) were the most effective persuasions for promoting vaccinations.

Conclusion

In China, older adolescents showed a higher prevalence for vaccine hesitancy than that of young adults. Abnormal illness behavior and history of physical diseases were risk factors for vaccine hesitancy among these older adolescents, while social support represents an important factor which could help to alleviate this hesitancy.
Role of Agile in Digital Public Health Transformation
Authors: Kokol Peter , Blažun Vošner Helena , Kokol Marko , Završnik Jernej
Published: May 2022

The digitalisation of healthcare, fueled by advances in technology and the COVID-19 pandemic can not only empower equitable access to global expert-level healthcare but also make healthcare more patient-centric. Every digital health solution has one common fundamental component: they all run on computing platforms and are powered by complex software. Traditional software development life cycles have often failed in designing complex software; consequently, the agile approach was introduced. To assess the role of agile in digital public health transformation, we used the synthetic knowledge synthesis, a triangulation of bibliometric mapping, and thematic analysis to analyse the available literature harvested from PubMed. The analysis showed that the use of the agile approach is underutilised in developing digital health software. Moreover, the study revealed that health organisations did not yet embrace the agile culture and should adapt using innovative agile solutions to deliver clinical value to patients and public health systems. Following the software industry, where agile software development is becoming the mainstream approach also for sensitive and regulated software, it is becoming even more essential that the digital health software development process should be modernised. Furthermore, a shift to agile collaboration, agile decision-making, trial tolerance, active engagement, purposeful technology adoption, knowledge sharing, and an open agile innovation ecosystem must be achieved.
Using Implementation Mapping to Build Organizational Readiness
Authors: Watson Amber K. , Hernandez Belinda F. , Kolodny-Goetz Jenny , Walker Timothy J. , Lamont Andrea , Imm Pam , Wandersman Abraham , Fernandez Maria E.
Published: May 2022

Organizational readiness is essential for high-quality implementation of innovations (programs, policies, practices, or processes). The R = MC2 heuristic describes three readiness components necessary for implementation—the general functioning of the organization (general capacities), the ability to deliver a particular innovation (innovation-specific capacities), and the motivation to implement the innovation. In this article, we describe how we used the Readiness Building System (RBS) for assessing, prioritizing, and improving readiness and Implementation Mapping (IM), a systematic process for planning implementation strategies, to build organizational readiness for implementation of sexual assault prevention evidence-based interventions (EBIs). While RBS provides an overarching approach for assessing and prioritizing readiness constructs (according to the R = MC2 heuristic; Readiness = Motivation x general Capacity × innovation specific Capacity), it does not provide specific guidance on the development and/or selection and tailoring of strategies to improve readiness. We used the five IM tasks to identify and prioritize specific readiness goals and develop readiness-building strategies to improve subcomponents described in the R = MC2 heuristic. This article illustrates how IM can be used synergistically with the RBS in applied contexts to plan implementation strategies that will improve organizational readiness and implementation outcomes. Specifically, we provide an example of using these two frameworks as part of the process of building organizational readiness for implementation of sexual assault prevention EBIs.
U-Shaped Relationship of Rare Earth Element Lanthanum and Oral Cancer Risk: A Propensity Score-Based Study in the Southeast of China
Authors: Chen Fa , Deng Qingrong , Wu Yuxuan , Wu Yuying , Chen Jinfa , Chen Yujia , Lin Lisong , Qiu Yu , Pan Lizhen , Zheng Xiaoyan , Wei Lihong , Liu Fengqiong , He Baochang , Wang Jing
Published: May 2022

As an important rare earth element (REE) extensively applied to industry, agriculture, and medicine, lanthanum (La) has attracted a host of health concerns. This study aimed to explore the relationship between La exposure and the risk of developing oral cancer through a case-control study with a large sample size. Serum La levels of 430 oral cancer patients and 1,118 healthy controls were detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The association of La level with the risk of oral cancer was assessed in two ways: (1) as a continuous scale based on restricted cubic splines (RCS); (2) as a priori defined centile categories using multivariate logistic regression model, based on propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). The RCS revealed a non-linear U-shaped relationship between serum La and oral cancer risk. Serum La deficiency or excess was associated with an increased risk of oral cancer. When the La level was analyzed as a categorical variable, a similar U-shaped association was observed. Of note, compared to those with La concentrations of 0.243–0.341 μg/L (reference quantiles, 41st−60th), the risk was increased in those with the lower or higher quantiles (0.132–0.242 μg/L vs. 0.243–0.341 μg/L: OR = 1.80, 95%CI: 1.07–3.02; 0.342–0.497 μg/L vs. 0.243–0.341 μg/L: OR = 2.30, 95%CI: 1.38–3.84). The results were generally consistent with the PSM and IPTW analyses. This preliminary study provides strong evidence that there was a U-shaped relationship between serum La levels and oral cancer risk. Much additional work is warranted to confirm our findings.
Improving the Diagnosis of Endometrial Hyperplasia Using Computerized Analysis and Immunohistochemical Biomarkers
Authors: Sanderson Peter A. , Esnal-Zufiaurre Arantza , Arends Mark J. , Herrington C. Simon , Collins Frances , Williams Alistair R. W. , Saunders Philippa T. K.
Published: May 2022

Endometrial hyperplasia (EH) is a precursor lesion to endometrial carcinoma (EC). Risks for EC include genetic, hormonal and metabolic factors most notably those associated with obesity: rates are rising and there is concern that cases in pre-menopausal women may remain undetected. Making an accurate distinction between benign and pre-malignant disease is both a challenge for the pathologist and important to the gynecologist who wants to deliver the most appropriate care to meet the needs of the patient. Premalignant change may be recognized by histological changes of endometrial hyperplasia (which may occur with or without atypia) and endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN). In this study we created a tissue resource of EH samples diagnosed between 2004 and 2009 (n = 125) and used this to address key questions: 1. Are the EIN/WHO2014 diagnostic criteria able to consistently identify premalignant endometrium? 2. Can computer aided image analysis inform identification of EIN? 3. Can we improve diagnosis by incorporating analysis of protein expression using immunohistochemistry. Our findings confirmed the inclusion of EIN in diagnostic criteria resulted in a better agreement between expert pathologists compared with the previous WHO94 criteria used for the original diagnosis of our sample set. A computer model based on assessment of stromal:epithelial ratio appeared most accurate in classification of areas of tissue without EIN. From an extensive panel of putative endometrial protein tissue biomarkers a score based on assessment of HAND2, PTEN, and PAX2 was able to identify four clusters one of which appeared to be more likely to be benign. In summary, our study has highlighted new opportunities to improve diagnosis of pre-malignant disease in endometrium and provide a platform for further research on this important topic.
Interactive Mixed-Dimensional Media for Cross-Dimensional Collaboration in Mixed Reality Environments
Authors: Thoravi Kumaravel Balasaravanan , Hartmann Björn
Published: May 2022

Collaboration and guidance are key aspects of many software tasks. In traditional desktop software, such aspects are well supported through built-in collaboration functions or general-purpose techniques such as screen and video sharing. In Mixed Reality environments, where users carry out actions in a three-dimensional space, collaboration and guidance may also be required. However, other users may or may not be using the same Mixed Reality interface. Users may not have access to the same information, the same visual representation, or the same interaction affordances. These asymmetries make communication and collaboration between users harder. To address asymmetries in Mixed Reality environments, we introduce Interactive Mixed-Dimensional Media. In these media, the visual representation of information streams can be changed between 2D and 3D. Different representations can be chosen automatically, based on context, or through associated interaction techniques that give users control over exploring spatial, temporal, and dimensional levels of detail. This ensures that any information or interaction makes sense across different dimensions, interfaces and spaces. We have deployed these techniques in three different contexts: mixed-reality telepresence for physical task instruction, video-based instruction for VR tasks, and live interaction between a VR user and a non-VR user. From these works, we show that Mixed Reality environments that provide users with interactive mixed-dimensional media interfaces improve performance and user experience in collaboration and guidance tasks.
Construction of the waaF Subunit and DNA Vaccine Against Escherichia coli in Cow Mastitis and Preliminary Study on Their Immunogenicity
Authors: Wang Hua , Yuan Ligang , Wang Tao , Cao Lu , Liu Fukang , Song Juanjuan , Zhang Yong
Published: May 2022

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the major pathogenic bacteria in bovine mastitis, which usually triggers systemic symptoms by releasing lipopolysaccharide (LPS). waaF is the core in LPS pathogenicity. In this study, a new waaF vaccine candidate was identified, constructed with the pcDNA3.1 (+)HisB-waaF plasmid to create to a DNA vaccine (pcwaaF), and transfected into MCF-7 cells to produce recombinant waaF subunit vaccine (rwaaF). After that, the safety of the two vaccine candidates was evaluated in mouse model. Immunogenicity and mortality of challenged mice were compared in 20 and 40 μg per dose, respectively. The results showed that rwaaF and pcwaaF were successfully constructed and the complete blood count and serum biochemical indicated that both of the vaccine candidates were safe (p > 0.05). In addition, histopathological staining showed no obvious pathological changes. The immune response induced by rwaaF was significantly higher than that of pcwaaF (p < 0.01), indicated by levels of serum concentration of IgG IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ, and feces concentration of sIgA. Survival rates of mice in rwaaF groups (both 80%) were also higher than in the pcwaaF groups (40 and 50%, respectively). Comparing the safety, immunogenicity, and E. coli challenge of two vaccine candidates, rwaaF had the better effect and 20 μg rwaaF was more economical. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the utility of a new E. coli vaccine and provides a rationale for further investigation of bovine mastitis therapy and management.
Judgment Bias During Gestation in Domestic Pigs
Authors: Bushby Emily V. , Cotter Sheena C. , Wilkinson Anna , Friel Mary , Collins Lisa M.
Published: May 2022

In humans and rats, changes in affect are known to occur during pregnancy, however it is unknown how gestation may influence mood in other non-human mammals. This study assessed changes in pigs' judgment bias as a measure of affective state throughout gestation. Pigs were trained to complete a spatial judgment bias task with reference to positive and negative locations. We tested gilts before mating, and during early and late gestation, by assessing their responses to ambiguous probe locations. Pigs responded increasingly negatively to ambiguous probes as gestation progressed and there were consistent inter-individual differences in baseline optimism. This suggests that the pigs' affective state may be altered during gestation, although as a non-pregnant control group was not tested, an effect of learning cannot be ruled out. These results suggest that judgment bias is altered during gestation in domestic pigs, consequently raising novel welfare considerations for captive multiparous species.
Brightness Values-Based Discriminant Functions for Classification of Degrees of Organic Matter Decomposition in Soil Thin Sections
Authors: González-Vargas Tania , Gutiérrez-Castorena Ma Del Carmen
Published: May 2022

The decomposition of organic matter represents a fundamental pedogenetic process, since it impacts the carbon cycle and the release of nutrients to the soil. However, quantitative research aimed at micro-scale in situ analysis is scarce, despite its relevance in the decomposition process. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to generate discriminating functions of the degrees of organic matter decomposition, based on the brightness values associated with each morphological stage, and from this step, to generate thematic maps. Soil thin sections of forest and compost soils were selected, and petrographic microscope images with three light sources were taken: plane polarized light (PPL), crossed-polarized light (XPL), and crossed polarizers and a retardation plate (gypsum compensator) inserted (XPLλ). Subsequently, the RGB (red, green, blue) image was broken down into three bands, resulting in nine bands for each image. Two thousand sampling points were generated for each band, obtaining brightness values for each decomposed organic matter stage. The points were classified into four categories based on their degree of decomposition: no (A), light (B), moderate (C), and strong (D), in addition to porosity (P). Linear discriminant analysis was performed to obtain classification models for each level of decomposition. The results show that each degree of organic matter decomposition can be highlighted through specific light sources and a set of bands, with an overall accuracy of >94% and kappa coefficients of >0.75 for all classes. In addition, the resulting functions were validated in training images and high-resolution mosaics to create final thematic maps. The use of linear models automated the production and quality of thematic maps at the microscopic level, which can be useful in monitoring the organic matter decomposition process.
Linking Off-Road Points to Routing Networks
Authors: Köppl Dominik
Published: May 2022

Although graph theory has already been introduced in spatial reasoning, current spatial database systems do not provide out-of-the-box routing on geometric points that are not matched on the graph. Methods that connect new reference locations to the graph render different routing results. Moreover, current solutions break reasoning down to local analysis. We bridge the gap between routing networks and spatial geometry by a global matching of geometric points to routing networks.