bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances in genomics for diversity studies and trait improvement in temperate fruit and nut crops under changing climatic scenarios
Authors: Manzoor Ikra , Samantara Kajal , Bhat Momin Showkat , Farooq Iqra , Bhat Khalid Mushtaq , Mir Mohammad Amin , Wani Shabir Hussain
Published: January 2023

Genetic improvement of temperate fruit and nut crops through conventional breeding methods is not sufficient alone due to its extreme time-consuming, cost-intensive, and hard-to-handle approach. Again, few other constraints that are associated with these species, viz., their long juvenile period, high heterozygosity, sterility, presence of sexual incompatibility, polyploidy, etc., make their selection and improvement process more complicated. Therefore, to promote precise and accurate selection of plants based on their genotypes, supplement of advanced biotechnological tools, viz., molecular marker approaches along with traditional breeding methods, is highly required in these species. Different markers, especially the molecular ones, enable direct selection of genomic regions governing the trait of interest such as high quality, yield, and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses instead of the trait itself, thus saving the overall time and space and helping screen fruit quality and other related desired traits at early stages. The availability of molecular markers like SNP (single-nucleotide polymorphism), DArT (Diversity Arrays Technology) markers, and dense molecular genetic maps in crop plants, including fruit and nut crops, led to a revelation of facts from genetic markers, thus assisting in precise line selection. This review highlighted several aspects of the molecular marker approach that opens up tremendous possibilities to reveal valuable information about genetic diversity and phylogeny to boost the efficacy of selection in temperate fruit crops through genome sequencing and thus cultivar improvement with respect to adaptability and biotic and abiotic stress resistance in temperate fruit and nut species.
Apple polyphenols delay postharvest senescence and quality deterioration of ‘Jinshayou’ pummelo fruit during storage
Authors: Zhang Ya-Jie , Huang Qiang , Li Ao-Ran , Gan Zeng-Yu , Zeng Jiao-Ke , Kai Wen-Bin , Chen Chu-Ying , Chen Jin-Yin
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Apple polyphenols (AP), derived from the peel of mature-green apples, are widely used as natural plant-derived preservatives in the postharvest preservation of numerous horticultural products.

Methods

The goal of this research was to investigate how AP (at 0.5% and 1.0%) influences senescence-related physiological parameters and antioxidant capacity of ‘Jinshayou’ pummelo fruits stored at 20°C for 90 d.

Results

The treating pummelo fruit with AP could effectively retard the loss of green color and internal nutritional quality, resulting in higher levels of total soluble solid (TSS) content, titratable acidity (TA) content and pericarp firmness, thus maintaining the overall quality. Concurrently, AP treatment promoted the increases in ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, total phenols (TP) and total flavonoids (TF) contents, increased the scavenging rates of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical (•OH), and enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR) as well as their encoding genes expression (CmSOD, CmCAT, CmPOD, CmAPX, and CmGR), reducing the increases in electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde content and hydrogen peroxide level, resulting in lower fruit decay rate and weight loss rate. The storage quality of ‘Jinshayou’ pummelo fruit was found to be maintained best with a 1.0% AP concentration.

Conclusion

AP treatment can be regarded as a promising and effective preservative of delaying quality deterioration and improving antioxidant capacity of ‘Jinshayou’ pummelo fruit during storage at room temperature.
Consequences of intra-canopy and top LED lighting for uniformity of light distribution in a tomato crop
Authors: Schipper R. , van der Meer M. , de Visser P.H.B. , Heuvelink E. , Marcelis L.F.M.
Published: January 2023

In the past decade, the potential of positioning LED lamps in between the canopy (intra-canopy) to enhance crop growth and yield has been explored in greenhouse cultivation. Changes in spatial heterogeneity of light absorption that come with the introduction of intra-canopy lighting have not been thoroughly explored. We calibrated and validated an existing functional structural plant model (FSPM), which combines plant morphology with a ray tracing model to estimate light absorption at leaflet level. This FSPM was used to visualize the light environment in a tomato crop illuminated with intra-canopy lighting, top lighting or a combination of both. Model validation of light absorption of individual leaves showed a good fit (R2 = 0.93) between measured and modelled light absorption of the canopy. Canopy light distribution was then quantified and visualized in three voxel directions by means of average absorbed photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and coefficient of variation (CV) within that voxel. Simulations showed that the variation coefficient within horizontal direction was higher for intra-canopy lighting than top lighting (CV=48% versus CV= 43%), while the combination of intra-canopy lighting and top lighting yielded the lowest CV (37%). Combined intra-canopy and top lighting (50/50%) had in all directions a more uniform light absorption than intra-canopy or top lighting alone. The variation was minimal when the ratio of PPFD from intra-canopy to top lighting was about 1, and increased when this ratio increased or decreased. Intra-canopy lighting resulted in 8% higher total light absorption than top lighting, while combining 50% intra-canopy lighting with 50% top lighting, increased light absorption by 4%. Variation in light distribution was further reduced when the intra-canopy LEDs were distributed over strings at four instead of two heights. When positioning LED lamps to illuminate a canopy both total light absorption and light distribution have to be considered.
Photosynthesis in rice is increased by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated transformation of two truncated light-harvesting antenna
Authors: Caddell Daniel , Langenfeld Noah J. , Eckels Madigan JH. , Zhen Shuyang , Klaras Rachel , Mishra Laxmi , Bugbee Bruce , Coleman-Derr Devin
Published: January 2023

Plants compete for light partly by over-producing chlorophyll in leaves. The resulting high light absorption is an effective strategy for out competing neighbors in mixed communities, but it prevents light transmission to lower leaves and limits photosynthesis in dense agricultural canopies. We used a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated approach to engineer rice plants with truncated light-harvesting antenna (TLA) via knockout mutations to individual antenna assembly component genes CpSRP43, CpSRP54a, and its paralog, CpSRP54b. We compared the photosynthetic contributions of these components in rice by studying the growth rates of whole plants, quantum yield of photosynthesis, chlorophyll density and distribution, and phenotypic abnormalities. Additionally, we investigated a Poales-specific duplication of CpSRP54. The Poales are an important family that includes staple crops such as rice, wheat, corn, millet, and sorghum. Mutations in any of these three genes involved in antenna assembly decreased chlorophyll content and light absorption and increased photosynthesis per photon absorbed (quantum yield). These results have significant implications for the improvement of high leaf-area-index crop monocultures.
Digitalizing breeding in plants: A new trend of next-generation breeding based on genomic prediction
Authors: Jeon Donghyun , Kang Yuna , Lee Solji , Choi Sehyun , Sung Yeonjun , Lee Tae-Ho , Kim Changsoo
Published: January 2023

As the world’s population grows and food needs diversification, the demand for cereals and horticultural crops with beneficial traits increases. In order to meet a variety of demands, suitable cultivars and innovative breeding methods need to be developed. Breeding methods have changed over time following the advance of genetics. With the advent of new sequencing technology in the early 21st century, predictive breeding, such as genomic selection (GS), emerged when large-scale genomic information became available. GS shows good predictive ability for the selection of individuals with traits of interest even for quantitative traits by using various types of the whole genome-scanning markers, breaking away from the limitations of marker-assisted selection (MAS). In the current review, we briefly describe the history of breeding techniques, each breeding method, various statistical models applied to GS and methods to increase the GS efficiency. Consequently, we intend to propose and define the term digital breeding through this review article. Digital breeding is to develop a predictive breeding methods such as GS at a higher level, aiming to minimize human intervention by automatically proceeding breeding design, propagating breeding populations, and to make selections in consideration of various environments, climates, and topography during the breeding process. We also classified the phases of digital breeding based on the technologies and methods applied to each phase. This review paper will provide an understanding and a direction for the final evolution of plant breeding in the future.
Lysobacter enzymogenes prevents Phytophthora infection by inhibiting pathogen growth and eliciting plant immune responses
Authors: Lin Long , Yang Zixiang , Tao Min , Shen Danyu , Cui Chuanbin , Wang Pingping , Wang Limin , Jing Maofeng , Qian Guoliang , Shao Xiaolong
Published: January 2023

The Phytophthora pathogen causes enormous damage to important agricultural plants. This group of filamentous pathogens is phylogenetically distant from fungi, making them difficult to control by most chemical fungicides. Lysobacter enzymogenes OH11 (OH11) is a biocontrol bacterium that secretes HSAF (Heat-Stable Antifungal Factor) as a broad-spectrum antifungal weapon. Here, we showed that OH11 could also control a variety of plant Phytophthora diseases caused by three major oomycetes (P. sojae, P. capsici and P. infestans). We provided abundant evidence to prove that OH11 protected host plants from Phytophthora pathogen infection by inhibiting mycelial growth, digesting cysts, suppressing cyst germination, and eliciting plant immune responses. Interestingly, the former two processes required the presence of HSAF, while the latter two did not. This suggested that L. enzymogenes could prevent Phytophthora infection via multiple previously unknown mechanisms. Therefore, this study showed that L. enzymogenes could serve as a promising alternative resource for promoting plant resistance to multiple Phytophthora pathogens.
Multiple pressures and vegetation conditions shape the spatiotemporal variations of ecosystem services in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Authors: Liu Yuanxin , Lü Yihe , Zhao Mingyue , Fu Bojie
Published: January 2023

Human activities and environmental change can impact the supply of ecosystem services (ESs) as pressures. Understanding the mechanisms of these impacts is crucial to support ecological conservation and restoration policy and applications. In this study, we highlighted the contribution of vegetation to mitigating these impacts on ESs in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) of China. First, we identified hot and cold spots of pressures from human activities and environmental factors and mapped the cumulative provision of five ESs (i.e., water yield, soil retention, carbon sequestration, habitat quality, and landscape aesthetics). Then, we clustered these ESs into five bundles based on their supply level. Furthermore, structural equation modeling was used to quantify the pathways of multiple pressures on ESs. The results indicated that 1) for 2000, 2010 and 2019, the percentages of hot spots with high pressure were 28.88%, 27.59% and 45.66% respectively, with significant spatial heterogeneity from northwest to southeast; 2) both regions with high and low cumulative ES values experienced increased volatility; and 3) the joint effects of multiple pressures shaped ESs through pressure-ES (direct) and pressure-vegetation-ES (indirect) pathways. Specifically, precipitation had the largest positive effect on regulating services (rα ≥ 0.76), and landscape fragmentation had the largest negative effect on cultural services (-0.10 ≤ rα ≤ -0.07). Vegetation played an important role in modulating multiple pressures on ESs. This study contributes to ecosystem management by effectively coping with anthropogenic and environmental pressures and sustaining the supply of ESs, particularly in alpine and plateau regions.
Pride and guilt as place-based affective antecedents to pro-environmental behavior
Authors: Shipley Nathan J. , van Riper Carena J. , Stewart William , Chu Maria , Stedman Richard C. , Dolcos Florin
Published: January 2023

The interrelated concepts of place attachment and place meaning are antecedents to pro-environmental behavior and essential for supporting decisions that foster relationships between people and places. Previous research has argued that affect is instrumental in conceptualizing place-related phenomena but has not yet been considered in terms of discrete emotions. We disentangled the empirical relationships between concepts of place and the emotions of pride and guilt to understand how they collectively contributed to individuals’ decisions about environmental sustainability. Specifically, we conducted an online survey of residents living in the Midwestern US and asked questions about their attachments to places and their place-related behavior. We then tested a latent variable path model with first- and second-order factors that shaped the behavioral intentions of survey respondents, as well as evaluated the psychometric properties of a place meaning scale, to uncover the range of reasons why human-nature relationships were formed. Our findings show that multiple place meanings predicted place attachment, which in turn predicted the discrete emotions of pride and guilt. Place attachment, pride, and guilt positively correlated with pro-environmental behavior. We also observed that the relationships between multi-dimensional conceptualizations of place attachment and behavioral intentions were partially mediated by pride but not guilt, as hypothesized in response to the broaden and build theory of positive emotions. This study develops theoretical insights to clarify how cognitive-emotional bonding can lead people to behave in more environmentally friendly ways.
Evaluating transfer prediction using machine learning for skill acquisition study under various practice conditions
Authors: Aniszewska-Stȩpień Anna , Hérault Romain , Hacques Guillaume , Seifert Ludovic , Gasso Gilles
Published: January 2023

Recent research highlighted the interest in 1) investigating the effect of variable practice on the dynamics of learning and 2) modeling the dynamics of motor skill learning to enhance understanding of individual pathways learners. Such modeling has not been suitable for predicting future performance, both in terms of retention and transfer to new tasks. The present study attempted to quantify, by means of a machine learning algorithm, the prediction of skill transfer for three practice conditions in a climbing task: constant practice (without any modifications applied during learning), imposed variable practice (with graded contextual modifications, i.e., the variants of the climbing route), and self-controlled variable practice (participants were given some control over their variant practice schedule). The proposed pipeline allowed us to measure the fitness of the test to the dataset, i.e., the ability of the dataset to be predictive of the skill transfer test. Behavioral data are difficult to model with statistical learning and tend to be 1) scarce (too modest data sample in comparison with the machine learning standards) and 2) flawed (data tend to contain voids in measurements). Despite these adversities, we were nevertheless able to develop a machine learning pipeline for behavioral data. The main findings demonstrate that the level of learning transfer varies, according to the type of practice that the dynamics pertain: we found that the self-controlled condition is more predictive of generalization ability in learners than the constant condition.
Cognitive bias modification for adult’s depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Jiawei , Ma Hui , Yang Hao , Yu Haoran , Zhang Ning
Published: January 2023

Objects

This study aimed to elucidate the effect of cognitive bias modification on depression.

Methods

This research included 10 randomized studies searching four major databases: PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library, with a total sample size of 467. Moreover, they were examined for quality and possible publication bias.

Results

Cognitive bias modification (CBM) had statistically significant results, g = −0.64, 95% CI = [−0.97–0.32]. The interpretation of cognitive bias modification shows the highest effect size, g = −1.45, 95% CI = [−2.05–0.88]. When the training place is located in the laboratory, the training effect is significant, g = −1.11, 95% CI = [−1.62–0.61]. The difference is statistically significant when the training environment was changed to home, g = −0.28, 95% CI = [−0.51–0.05]. CBM has a statistical effect on moderate-to-severe depression, g = −0.70, 95% CI = [−1.04–0.36].

Conclusion

We found that CBM had a moderate therapeutic effect on depression, whether the setting was at home or in the lab. Especially when the interpretation of cognitive bias modification (CBM-I) was used, we got the highest effect value. Furthermore, CBM has a statistical effect on moderate-to-severe depression.
The role of error risk taking and perceived organizational innovation climate in the relationship between perceived psychological safety and innovative work behavior: A moderated mediation model
Authors: Elsayed Ahmed M. , Zhao Bin , Goda Abd El-mohsen , Elsetouhi Ahmed M.
Published: January 2023

To better understand how to motivate innovative work behavior (IWB) at the individual level in organizations, we investigate the link between perceived psychological safety and IWB and the role of error risk taking and perceived organizational innovation climate in this study. In particular, we hypothesize a moderated mediation model in which (a) perceived psychological safety is positively related to IWB, (b) error risk taking mediates the positive relationship between perceived psychological safety and IWB, and (c) perceived organizational innovation climate strengthens the positive link between error risk taking and IWB and the mediated link between perceived psychological safety and IWB via error risk taking. We tested the hypothesized model using data collected from 315 full-time employees working at six information and communication technology companies in a high-technology business district of Egypt. The findings largely support our hypotheses. We conclude by discussing the theoretical and practical implications.
Dictating translations with automatic speech recognition: Effects on translators’ performance
Authors: Wang Lulu , Sun Sanjun
Published: January 2023

Technologies can greatly improve translators’ productivity and reduce their workload. Previous research has found that the use of automatic speech recognition (ASR) tools for dictating translations can increase productivity. However, these studies often had small sample sizes and did not consider other important aspects of translators’ performance, such as translation quality and cognitive effort. This study aims to investigate the impact of text input method on translators’ performance in terms of task duration, time allocation, editing operations, cognitive effort, and translation quality, as well as whether text difficulty affects these factors. To do this, 60 Chinese translation trainees were randomly assigned to either a dictation group or a typing group, and completed two English-Chinese translations of varying levels of source-text difficulty. Data were collected using keylogging, subjective ratings, screen recording, and a questionnaire. The results showed that using ASR reduced the typing effort of participants without negatively affecting translation quality, but did not save time or reduce cognitive effort. No effect of text difficulty was observed. Analysis of the revisions made by the dictation group and the results of the post-test questionnaire provide insights into how ASR systems can be optimized for translation purposes.
Problematic Social Networking Site use-effects on mental health and the brain
Authors: Weinstein Aviv M.
Published: January 2023

The association between excessive use of Social Networking Sites (SNS) and mental health is raising serious concern among health and education professionals. Problematic SNS use has been associated with an increased rate of depression, anxiety, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and propensity to excessive alcohol use. It may also lead to vulnerability to aggression, cyberbullying and fear of missing out (FOMO). There is little evidence for cognitive impairments, but there is some preliminary event-related potentials (ERPs) evidence for inefficiency in allocating and monitoring resources and inhibitory control. Problematic SNS has been associated with the personality traits of conscientiousness agreeableness and neuroticism, and with narcissism. There is evidence for reduced sleep quality and quantity, longer sleeping latency and more sleep disturbance. The few brain imaging studies show some similarity between problematic SNS use and other addictions related to inhibitory-control mechanism, reduced gray matter volumes in the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and the insula, suggesting rewarding effects of SNS use on the brain. Finally, there is preliminary evidence that treatment with Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) can assist in short-term abstinence intervention to treat problematic SNS use. We conclude that problematic SNS use may have deleterious effects on emotional and social relationships, and more research is required on its effects on cognitive and brain function.
Suicidal ideation and behavior among perinatal women and their association with sleep disturbances, medical conditions, and known risk factors
Authors: Arditi-Arbel Bar , Hamdan Sami , Winterman May , Gvion Yari
Published: January 2023

Objective

Suicide is considered one of the leading causes of maternal mortality, especially among women with postpartum depression. In the current systematic review, we conducted a qualitative data synthesis of recent studies exploring novel risk factors including sleep disturbances and medical conditions, alongside known and significant risk factors for perinatal suicidality.

Evidence acquisition

We conducted a systematic search of the literature according to PRISMA guidelines on PubMed, PsycNET, and Scopus databases. Search terms were “pregnancy” “OR” “postpartum” “OR” “peripartum” “OR” “perinatal” “OR” “postnatal” combined with the Boolean “AND” operator with “suicide” “OR” “suicidality” “OR” “suicidal ideation” “OR” “suicidal behavior.”

Evidence synthesis

The initial search yielded 1,458 records, of which 51 research reports that met inclusion criteria were analyzed. These 51 studies sampled a total of 45,942 participants. Clinically, sleep disturbance, psychopathology, and social support have been identified as dominant risk factors for suicidal behavior among pregnant and postpartum women, as well as medical conditions and aversive life events.

Conclusion

Monitoring sleep disturbance, depression, and perceived social support is critical given that they are significant risk factors for suicide among perinatal women. Early identification of perinatal women who may be at risk of suicide, although not depressed, is crucial.

Limitations

The use of tools designed to identify depression to identify suicidal risk, fail to identify women who are at risk but who do not suffer from depression. Other methodological limitations are the lack of longitudinal studies and the complexity of examining suicidal behavior in sample studies.
Altered static and dynamic functional connectivity of habenula in first-episode, drug-naïve schizophrenia patients, and their association with symptoms including hallucination and anxiety
Authors: Xue Kangkang , Chen Jingli , Wei Yarui , Chen Yuan , Han Shaoqiang , Wang Caihong , Zhang Yong , Song Xueqin , Cheng Jingliang
Published: January 2023

Background and objective

The pathogenesis of schizophrenia (SCH) is related to the dysfunction of monoamine neurotransmitters, and the habenula participates in regulating the synthesis and release of dopamine. We examined the static functional connectivity (sFC) and dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) of habenula in first-episode schizophrenia patients using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) in this study.

Methods

A total of 198 first-Episode, drug-Naïve schizophrenia patients and 199 healthy controls (HC) underwent rs-fMRI examinations. The sFC and dFC analysis with habenula as seed was performed to produce a whole-brain diagram initially, which subsequently were compared between SCH and HC groups. Finally, the correlation analysis of sFC and dFC values with the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) were performed.

Results

Compared with the HC groups, the left habenula showed increased sFC with the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, and right temporal pole in the SCH group, and the right habenula exhibited increased sFC with the left middle temporal gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, and left angular gyrus. Additionally, compared with the HC group, the left habenula showed decreased dFC with the bilateral cuneus gyrus and bilateral calcarine gyrus in the SCH group. The PANSS negative sub-scores were positively correlated with the sFC values of the bilateral habenula with the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus and angular gyrus. The PANSS general sub-scores were positively correlated with the sFC values of the right habenula with the left middle temporal gyrus and left superior temporal gyrus. The hallucination scores of PANSS were negatively correlated with the sFC values of the left habenula with the bilateral cuneus gyrus and bilateral calcarine gyrus; The anxiety scores of PANSS were positively correlated with the dFC values of the left habenula with the right temporal pole.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence that the habenula of the first-episode schizophrenia patients presented abnormal static functional connectivity with temporal lobe and angular gyrus, and additionally showed weakened stability of functional connectivity in occipital lobe. This abnormality is closely related to the symptoms of hallucination and anxiety in schizophrenia, which may indicate that the habenula involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia by affecting the dopamine pathway.
Bibliometric study of neuroinflammation in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Shen Yingying , Zhong Jiu-Gen , Lan Wan-Ting , Li Yin-Hua , Gong Jia-Heng , Zhao Ben-Xuan , Hou Xiao-Hui
Published: January 2023

Background

Neuroinflammation is closely associated with the occurrence and development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study aims to describe the global development history and current status of neuroinflammation in ASD from 2004 to 2021 and reveal the research hotspots and frontiers to provide a reference for scholars in related fields to carry out further research.

Methods

Journal articles on ASD and neuroinflammation-related research were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database from its inception to 2021. Literature was analyzed visually by VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R language, including publication analysis, author, institution, national/regional cooperative network analysis, and keyword analysis. We screened the most accumulatively cited 10 experimental papers in the field and the most cited 10 experimental papers in the last 2 years (2020 and 2021) for combing.

Results

A total of 620 publications were included in this study, and the number of publications has increased in recent years. The United States (256, 41.29%) was the country with the largest number of publications. King Saud University (40, 6.45%) was the most published institution; Laila Al-Ayadhi Yousef was the most published researcher; the Brain Behavior and Immunity was the main journal for the study of neuroinflammation in autism, having published 22 related articles. Keyword co-occurrence analysis showed that short chain fatty acid, mast cells, and glial cells have been the focus of recent attention. Burst keywords show that gut microbiota and immune system are the future research trends.

Conclusion

This bibliometric study describes the basic framework for the development in the field of neuroinflammation and ASD through an exploration of key indicators (countries, institutions, journals, authors, and keywords). We found that the key role of neuroinflammation in the development of ASD is attracting more and more researchers’ attention. Future studies can investigate the changes in cytokines and glial cells and their related pathways in ASD neuroinflammation. Immunotherapy to inhibit neuroinflammation may be intensively studied as a direction for ASD treatment or intervention.
“We're on the ground, we know what needs to be done”: Exploring the role of Aboriginal Health Workers in primary health care
Authors: Jeyakumar Ragavi , Patel Bindu , Coombes Julieann , Madden Ty , Joshi Rohina
Published: January 2023

Background

Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs) are core providers of primary health care (PHC) for First Nations peoples in Australia. However, the national AHW workforce is aging and in short supply. There is a poor understanding of the factors contributing to this attrition from the perspectives of AHWs themselves. This study aimed to systematically explore the current functioning and sustainability of AHWs in NSW PHC by amplifying AHW voices.

Materials and methods

This study was co-designed with three Aboriginal health services in NSW. It included a literature review exploring the role of AHWs in NSW, and yarns with AHWs and their supervisors at participating services. Yarning is an Indigenous approach to knowledge generation centered upon storytelling. The yarns were guided by the USAID-developed Community Health Worker Assessment and Improvement Matrix. Yarn transcripts were analyzed using cyclical thematic analysis to identify key facilitators and challenges for AHW practice.

Results

The yarns highlighted five categories of change that are required to ensure AHW sustainability: community connection, recognition, value, support, and an inclusive health system. The yarns revealed that there are both service- and system-level factors influencing each of these categories of change.

Conclusions

The lived experiences of AHWs in NSW emphasize five key categories of change that are required to ensure workforce sustainability. It is evident that a system-wide paradigm shift to better include holistic approaches to health is necessary to truly ensure sustainability. Co-designing similar studies with ACCHOs across NSW can help inform this change.
Social prescription in the US: A pilot evaluation of Mass Cultural Council's “CultureRx”
Authors: Golden Tasha L. , Maier Lokuta Alyson , Mohanty Aanchal , Tiedemann Alyssa , Ng T. W. Cherry , Mendu Maanasa , Morgan Nicole , Kuge Maria Nagae , Brinza Tessa
Published: January 2023

Introduction

As the field of public health strives to address the impacts of social determinants of health, it has seen increasing interest in community-referral practices that expand health care beyond clinical spaces. However, community arts and culture organizations are rarely included in these practices, despite accumulating evidence of associated health benefits. In addition, such inclusion has not been formally studied. In response, this article offers an evaluation of “CultureRx” in Massachusetts (MA): the first US model of arts on prescription. The program is a partnership between 20 healthcare providers and 12 cultural organizations, in which providers can offer “prescriptions” to cultural experiences to support patients' health.

Methods

Evaluation was undertaken to illuminate participant experiences, program successes and barriers, and recommendations for further development. The cultural organizations collected participant data (n = 84) and completed surveys about their own experiences (n = 12). Authors conducted semi-structured focus groups and interviews with healthcare providers (n = 33). Data analysis was customized for each dataset.

Results

Findings indicate that participants enjoyed and hoped to repeat their prescribed experiences, which they saw as beneficial to wellbeing. Providers identified the program as a new and critical addition to their toolkits; they also indicated it had a positive effect on their own wellbeing. Cultural organizations reported varied challenges, learnings, and recommendations.

Conclusion

The CultureRx pilot suggests that integrating arts/culture assets into health and social care approaches can enrich and improve traditional US models of community referral. By including arts/culture resources when addressing social determinants of health, communities will be better positioned to equitably and holistically advance health.
Perceived entrapment predicts first-onset suicidal ideation: A longitudinal study among medical students in China
Authors: Wang Suping , Wei Ting , Zhu Rui , Li Sicong , Liu Xinyi , Cai Yong , Gong Ruijie
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The prevalence of suicidal ideation among medical students is high. Evidence indicates that feelings of entrapment are a predictor of suicidal ideation. In this study, we aimed to (1) investigate the prevalence of first-onset suicidal ideation among Chinese medical students and (2) explore the predictive effects of perceived entrapment on first-onset suicidal ideation.

Methods

This longitudinal study was conducted between 2018 and 2019 among 211 newly enrolled medical students in Shanghai. Using an anonymous questionnaire, we collected information on sociodemographic (sex, major, parents' income, and academic performance) and psychological (entrapment, depression, loneliness, defeat, social support, and interpersonal needs) variables as well as suicidal ideation. Participants were divided into four subgroups based on their exposure to entrapment (control, new-onset, reduced, and persistent). The primary outcome, first-onset suicidal ideation, was defined as suicidal ideation absent at baseline but present at follow-up.

Results

In total, 54.98% of participants (116/211) were women, and 76.78% (162/211) majored in clinical medicine. In the follow-up survey, 6.16% of participants (16/211) reported first-onset suicidal ideation, 17.54% (37/211) reported new-onset entrapment, and 12.80% (27/211) reported persistent entrapment during follow-up. Compared with the control group who reported no perceived entrapment at baseline and follow-up, participants who reported new-onset entrapment had the highest risk of new-onset suicidal ideation [odds ratio (OR) = 14.700, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.906–74.364; adjusted OR = 8.798; 95% CI = 1.588–48.757; multivariate OR = 8.238, 95% CI = 1.394–48.693).

Conclusion

New-onset entrapment can significantly predict suicidal ideation. Therefore, greater attention is needed for new-onset entrapment, such as intervention for suicidal ideation.
Did the COVID-19 pandemic impact urticaria information-seeking behavior in China? A retrospective longitudinal study
Authors: Zhang Qinzhun , Yu Yi , He Jialu , Yao Xinmeng , He Yinan , Wu Jinghua , Xu Chenjie , Ye Chengyin
Published: January 2023

Purpose

To investigate information-seeking behavior related to urticaria before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.

Methods

Search query data for terms related to urticaria were retrieved using Baidu Index database from October 23, 2017 to April 23, 2022, and daily COVID-19 vaccination doses data were obtained from the website of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Among the 23 eligible urticaria search terms, four urticaria themes were generated as classification, symptom, etiology, and treatment of urticarial, respectively. Baidu Search Index (BSI) value for each term were extracted to analyze and compare the spatial and temporal distribution of online search behavior for urticaria before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and to also explore the correlation between search query and daily COVID-19 vaccination doses.

Results

The classification of urticaria accounted for nearly half of the urticaria queries on the internet. Regular seasonal patterns of BSI were observed in urticaria-related online search, by attaining its highest level in spring and summer and lowest level in winter. The BSIs of all urticaria themes significantly increased after the COVID-19 pandemic than that before the pandemic (all P<0.05). Xizang, Qinghai and Ningxia are the most active geographical areas for increased urticaria-searching activities after the COVID-19 pandemic. There was also a significant positive correlation between daily BSIs and daily COVID-19 vaccination doses in each urticaria theme. Cross-correlation analysis found that the search of symptom, etiology, and treatment attained their strongest correlation with daily COVID-19 vaccination doses at 11–27 days before the injection of vaccine, imply vaccination hesitation related to concerns of urticaria.

Conclusions

This study used the internet as a proxy to provide evidence of public search interest and spatiotemporal characteristics of urticaria, and revealed that the search behavior of urticaria have increased significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19 vaccination. It is anticipated that the findings about such increase in search behavior, as well as the behavior of urticaria-related vaccine-hesitancy, will help guide public health education and policy regulation.
The cost-per-QALY threshold in England: Identifying structural uncertainty in the estimates
Authors: Zamora Bernarda , Towse Adrian
Published: January 2023

Introduction

There are increasing numbers of estimates of opportunity cost to inform the setting of thresholds as ceiling cost-per-quality-adjusted life year (QALY) ratios. To understand their ability to inform policy making, we need to understand the degree of uncertainty surrounding these estimates. In particular, do estimates provide sufficient certainty that the current policy “rules” or “benchmarks” need revision? Does the degree of uncertainty around those estimates mean that further evidence generation is required?

Methods

We analyse uncertainty and methods from three papers that focus on the use of data from the NHS in England to estimate opportunity cost. All estimate the impact of expenditure on mortality in cross-sectional regression analyses and then translate the mortality elasticities into cost-per-QALY thresholds using the same assumptions. All three discuss structural uncertainty around the regression analysis, and report parameter uncertainty derived from their estimated standard errors. However, only the initial, seminal, paper explores the structural uncertainty involved in moving from the regression analysis to a threshold. We discuss the elements of structural uncertainty arising from the assumptions that underpin the translation of elasticities to thresholds and seek to quantify the importance of some of the effects.

Results

We find several sets of plausible structural assumptions that would place the threshold estimates from these studies within the current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) range of £20,000 to £30,000 per QALY. Heterogeneity, an additional source of uncertainty from variability, is also discussed and reported.

Discussion

Lastly, we discuss how decision uncertainty around the threshold could be reduced, setting out what sort of additional research is required, notably in improving estimates of disease burden and of the impact of health expenditure on quality of life. Given the likely value to policy makers of this research it should be a priority for health system research funding.
Construction and validation of a nomogram model to predict the overall survival rate of esophageal cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A population-based study
Authors: Yang Ying , He Changjin
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The development of neoadjuvant chemotherapy(nCT) improves the overall survival (OS) of patients with esophageal cancer(EC). The aim of this study was to determine the independent prognostic factors of EC patients receiving nCT, and to construct a nomogram model for predicting OS.

Method

This retrospective analysis was conducted from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results, Clinicopathological data of patients with EC who received nCT from 2004 to 2015. The included patients were randomly divided into the training cohort and the validation cohort. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the patients in the training cohort to determine the independent prognostic factors. Based on the independent prognostic variables, nomogram models for 1-year, 2-year and 3-year OS were constructed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the discriminative ability. The calibration curves, decision curve analysis (DCA) and Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival analysis were used to evaluate the predictive accuracy and clinical application value.

Results

A total of 2,493 patients were enrolled, with 1,748 patients in the training cohort and 745 patients in the validation cohort. Gender, marital status, tumor pathological grade, T stage, N stage, and M stage were identified as independent prognostic factor (P < 0.05). A novel nomogram model was constructed. ROC curve analysis revealed that the model had moderate predictive performance, which was better than that of the AJCC TNM staging system.The calibration curves showed a high agreement between the actual observed values and the predicted values. The DCA suggested that the newly constructed prediction model had good clinical application value. K-M survival analysis showed that the model was helpful to accurately distinguish the prognosis of patients with different risk levels.

Conclusions

Gender, tumor pathological grade, marital status, T stage, N stage and M stage were identified as independent prognostic factors for overall survival of patients with esophageal cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A nomogram prediction model was established, which was helpful to accurately and reliably predict the overall survival rate of patients with esophageal cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy at 1, 2 and 3 years.
Genetic diversity of Newcastle disease viruses circulating in wild and synanthropic birds in Ukraine between 2006 and 2015
Authors: Goraichuk Iryna V. , Gerilovych Anton , Bolotin Vitaliy , Solodiankin Olexii , Dimitrov Kiril M. , Rula Oleksandr , Muzyka Nataliia , Mezinov Oleksandr , Stegniy Borys , Kolesnyk Olena , Pantin-Jackwood Mary J. , Miller Patti J. , Afonso Claudio L. , Muzyka Denys
Published: January 2023

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infects a wide range of bird species worldwide and is of importance to the poultry industry. Although certain virus genotypes are clearly associated with wild bird species, the role of those species in the movement of viruses and the migratory routes they follow is still unclear. In this study, we performed a phylogenetic analysis of nineteen NDV sequences that were identified among 21,924 samples collected from wild and synanthropic birds from different regions of Ukraine from 2006 to 2015 and compared them with isolates from other continents. In synanthropic birds, NDV strains of genotype II, VI, VII, and XXI of class II were detected. The fusion gene sequences of these strains were similar to strains detected in birds from different geographical regions of Europe and Asia. However, it is noteworthy to mention the isolation of vaccine viruses from synanthropic birds, suggesting the possibility of their role in viral transmission from vaccinated poultry to wild birds, which may lead to the further spreading of vaccine viruses into other regions during wild bird migration. Moreover, here we present the first publicly available complete NDV F gene from a crow (genus Corvus). Additionally, our phylogenetic results indicated a possible connection of Ukrainian NDV isolates with genotype XXI strains circulating in Kazakhstan. Among strains from wild birds, NDVs of genotype 1 of class I and genotype I of class II were detected. The phylogenetic analysis highlighted the possible exchange of these NDV strains between wild waterfowl from the Azov-Black Sea region of Ukraine and waterfowl from different continents, including Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Can Nanomaterials Improve the Soil Microbiome and Crop Productivity?
Authors: Rajput Vishnu D. , Kumari Arpna , Upadhyay Sudhir K. , Minkina Tatiana , Mandzhieva Saglara , Ranjan Anuj , Sushkova Svetlana , Burachevskaya Marina , Rajput Priyadarshani , Konstantinova Elizaveta , Singh Jagpreet , Verma Krishan K.
Published: January 2023

Global issues such as soil deterioration, pollution, and soil productivity loss induced by industrialization and intensive agriculture pose a serious danger to agricultural production and sustainability. Numerous technical breakthroughs have been applied to clean up soil or boost the output of damaged soils, but they have failed to restore or improve soil health to desired levels owing to expense, impossibility in a practical setting, or, to a lesser extent, high labor consumption. Recent nanotechnology advancements promise to improve soil quality indicators and crop yields while ensuring environmental sustainability. As previously discovered, the inclusion of nanomaterials (NMs) in soils could manipulate rhizospheric microbes or agriculturally important microbes and improve their functionality, facilitating the availability of nutrients to plants and improving root systems and crop growth in general, opening a new window for soil health improvement. A viewpoint on the difficulties and long-term outcomes of applying NMs to soils is provided, along with detailed statistics on how nanotechnology can improve soil health and crop productivity. Thus, evaluating nanotechnology may be valuable in gaining insights into the practical use of NMs for soil health enhancement.