bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome wide association analysis for grain micronutrients and anti-nutritional traits in mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] using SNP markers
Authors: Sinha Mayank Kumar , Aski Muraleedhar S. , Mishra Gyan Prakash , Kumar M. B. Arun , Yadav Prachi S. , Tokas Jayanti P. , Gupta Sanjeev , Pratap Aditya , Kumar Shiv , Nair Ramakrishnan M. , Schafleitner Roland , Dikshit Harsh Kumar
Published: February 2023

Mungbean is an important food grain legume for human nutrition and nutritional food due to its nutrient-dense seed, liked palatability, and high digestibility. However, anti-nutritional factors pose a significant risk to improving nutritional quality for bio-fortification. In the present study, genetic architecture of grain micronutrients (grain iron and zinc concentration) and anti-nutritional factors (grain phytic acid and tannin content) in association mapping panel of 145 diverse mungbean were evaluated. Based on all four parameters genotypes PUSA 1333 and IPM 02-19 were observed as desired genotypes as they had high grain iron and zinc concentration but low grain phytic acid and tannin content. The next generation sequencing (NGS)-based genotyping by sequencing (GBS) identified 14,447 genome-wide SNPs in a diverse selected panel of 127 mungbean genotypes. Population admixture analysis revealed the presence of four different ancestries among the genotypes and LD decay of ∼57.6 kb kb physical distance was noted in mungbean chromosomes. Association mapping analysis revealed that a total of 20 significant SNPs were shared by both GLM and Blink models associated with grain micronutrient and anti-nutritional factor traits, with Blink model identifying 35 putative SNPs. Further, this study identified the 185 putative candidate genes. Including potential candidate genes Vradi07g30190, Vradi01g09630, and Vradi09g05450 were found to be associated with grain iron concentration, Vradi10g04830 with grain zinc concentration, Vradi08g09870 and Vradi01g11110 with grain phytic acid content and Vradi04g11580 and Vradi06g15090 with grain tannin content. Moreover, two genes Vradi07g15310 and Vradi09g05480 showed significant variation in protein structure between native and mutated versions. The identified SNPs and candidate genes are potential powerful tools to provide the essential information for genetic studies and marker-assisted breeding program for nutritional improvement in mungbean.
Modeling lacto-vegetarian, pescatarian, and “pescavegan” USDA food patterns and assessing nutrient adequacy for healthy non-pregnant, non-lactating adults
Authors: Hess Julie M. , Comeau Madeline E.
Published: February 2023

Introduction

The 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) includes a Healthy Vegetarian Dietary Pattern (HVDP) with dairy foods and eggs as one of its three recommended dietary patterns for non-pregnant, non-lactating healthy adults. This study evaluates whether pescatarian, lacto-vegetarian, and “pescavegan” adaptations of the HVDP can be nutritionally adequate if modeled with foods recommended by the DGA.

Methods

The nutrient composition of these three alternative models of the HVDP were assessed at 1, 800-, 2, 000-, 2, 200-, and 2,400- kcal/day using similar food pattern modeling procedures as the 2020 DGA. For the pescatarian and pescavegan models, 0.5 ounce-equivalent of refined grains per day was replaced with seafood. For the lacto-vegetarian and pescavegan models, eggs were replaced with equal proportions of the other vegetarian protein foods. In the pescavegan model, dairy foods were replaced by a dairy alternative group comprised of fortified soy milk and soy yogurt.

Results

All models at all energy levels were within Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDRs) for all macronutrients, contained ≤5% of total kcal from saturated fat, and met recommendations for most micronutrients. Nutrients provided below the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) in these models included iron, sodium, vitamin D, vitamin E, and choline. Micronutrients provided at less than 50% of their respective DRIs included vitamin D and choline.

Discussion

Adapting the HVDP for lactovegetarian, pescatarian, and pescavegan dietary patterns provided adequate amounts of macronutrients and most micronutrients.
Earlier anti-TNF therapy reduces the risk of malnutrition associated with alterations in body composition in patients with Crohn’s disease
Authors: Wang Yuexin , Yao Danhua , He Yining , He Qi , Li Yousheng
Published: February 2023

Background

Anti-TNF therapy has been found to exert an influence on long-term nutritional status and even reverse malnutrition in patients with Crohn’s disease.

Aims

to observe the effect of anti-TNF therapy on nutritional status in patients with Crohn’s disease, investigate the correlation between the timing of anti-TNF therapy and the human body composition and examine independent body composition factors for predicting malnutrition in these patients.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of 115 patients with Crohn’s disease. Body composition parameters were assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The nutritional status of the patients was determined by NRS2002 and MNA.

Results

The BMI, BFMI, FFMI, BCMI, SMI, BMC, intracellular water, protein and BMR were significantly lower in patients without any biologic agents (p < 0.05). Negative correlations were found between BMC, intracellular water, extracellular water, protein and BMR and the interval between the first symptom and first dose by Spearman’s correlation analysis (r < 0, p < 0.05). Low BMI (OR 0.602, 95% CI 0.434–0.836, p = 0.002), low FFMI (OR 0.678, 95% CI 0.507–0.906, p = 0.009), and low BCMI (OR 0.564, 95% CI 0.367–0.868, p = 0.009) were independent risk factors for malnutrition in Crohn’s disease patients. Anti-TNF therapy tended to reduce the malnutrition probability as assessed by Cox regression analysis (OR: 0.217, 95% CI 0.057–0.821, p = 0.024).

Conclusion

Body composition analysis is predictive of malnutrition in patients with Crohn’s disease. Early application of anti-TNF therapy significantly affected skeletal muscle mass, fat mass and bone mineral content, supporting their long-term nutritional status and reducing their probability of malnutrition.
Comparison of diagnostic and treatment processes among pediatric and adolescents and young adults’ populations suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphomas
Authors: Abdulaziz-Opiela Gazala , Sobieraj Anna , Płotka Anna , Więckowska Barbara , Gil Lidia , Derwich Katarzyna
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphomas affect both pediatric and adult populations, therefore, they might be treated by pediatric or adult centers.It has been proven that the prognosis among adolescents and young adults (AYA) is poorer than among children, which remains a subject of research. Many factors are suspected to affect the diagnostic and treatment processes in adolescents and young adults, one of them being the organization of the healthcare system.The aimof the studywas to compare the time intervals between different events on disease trajectory in pediatric and AYA groups suffering from ALL and lymphomas.

Methods

We collected data on 81 patients diagnosed with ALL (50 children and 31 AYAs) and 100 patients diagnosed with lymphomas (50 children and 50 AYAs). Statistical analysis was performed in order to compare the groups.

Results

The results confirmed the hypothesis that the duration of the diagnostic process differs significantly between groups. For patients with ALL, the analyzed time intervals were significantly shorter in the pediatric group than in the AYA group: first contact with a GP - admission to Hematology Department (2 vs. 5 days; pvalue= 0.004), first contact with a GP - treatment (6 vs. 12 days, p-value=0.001), diagnosis - treatment (1 vs. 3 days, p-value=0.003). In the case of patients suffering from lymphomas, the results were similar. The analyzed time intervals were significantly shorter in the pediatric group than in the AYA group: first contact with a GP- diagnosis (21 vs. 40.5 days, p-value<0.0001), first contact with a GP - treatment (27 vs. 65 days, p-value<0.0001). Trend analysis showed that the longer patients had presented symptoms before contacting the primary care physician, the longer they waited for the beginning of treatment both in ALL and lymphomas groups (p-values=0.0129 and 0.0038 respectively).

Discussion

As the diagnostic and treatment processes are longer for AYA patients, actions must be undertaken in order to ensure equality and improve the healthcare system in Poland and possibly other countries.
Resolving inherited and de novo germline predisposing sequence variants by means of whole exome trio analyses in childhood hematological malignancies
Authors: Brozou Triantafyllia , Yasin Layal , Brandes Danielle , Picard Daniel , Walter Carolin , Varghese Julian , Dugas Martin , Fischer Ute , Borkhardt Arndt , Haas Oskar A.
Published: February 2023

Molecular screening tools have significantly eased the assessment of potential germline susceptibility factors that may underlie the development of pediatric malignancies. Most of the hitherto published studies utilize the comparative analyses of the respective patients' germline and tumor tissues for this purpose. Since this approach is not able to discriminate between de novo and inherited sequence variants, we performed whole exome trio analyses in a consecutive series of 131 children with various forms of hematologic malignancies and their parents. In total, we identified 458 de novo variants with a range from zero to 28 (median value = 3) per patient, although most of them (58%) had only up to three per exome. Overall, we identified bona fide cancer predisposing alterations in five of the investigated 131 (3.8%) patients. Three of them had de novo pathogenic lesions in the SOS1, PTPN11 and TP53 genes and two of them parentally inherited ones in the STK11 and PMS2 genes that are specific for a Peutz-Jeghers and a constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD) syndrome, respectively. Notwithstanding that we did not identify a disease-specific alteration in the two cases with the highest number of de novo variants, one of them developed two almost synchronous malignancies: a myelodysplastic syndrome and successively within two months a cerebral astrocytoma. Moreover, we also found that the rate of de novo sequence variants in the offspring increased especially with the age of the father, but less so with that of the mother. We therefore conclude that trio analyses deliver an immediate overview about the inheritance pattern of the entire spectrum of sequence variants, which not only helps to securely identify the de novo or inherited nature of genuinely disease-related lesions, but also of all other less obvious variants that in one or the other way may eventually advance our understanding of the disease process.
The price of neonatal intensive care outcomes – in-hospital costs of morbidities related to preterm birth
Authors: Rolnitsky Asaph , Unger Sharon , Urbach David , Bell Chaim M.
Published: February 2023

Background

Neonatal care for preterm babies is prolonged and expensive. Our aim was to analyze and report costs associated with common preterm diagnoses during NICU stay.

Methods

We analyzed data from the Ontario healthcare data service. Diagnoses were collated by discharge ICD codes, and categorized by gestational age. We calculated typical non parametric statistics, and for each diagnosis we calculated median shifts and generalized linear mode.

Results

We included data on 12,660 infants between 23 and 30 weeks gestation in 2005-2017. Calculated cost increment with diagnosis were: Intestinal obstruction: $94,738.08 (95%CI: $70,093.3, $117,294.2), Ventriculoperitoneal shunt: $86,456.60 (95%CI: $60,773.7, $111,552.2), Chronic Lung Disease $77,497.70 (95%CI: $74,937.2, $80,012.8), Intestinal perforation $57,997.15 (95%CI:$45,324.7, $70,652.6), Retinopathy of Prematurity: $55,761.80 (95%CI: $53,916.2, $57,620.1), Patent Ductus Arteriosus $53,453.70 (95%CI: $51,206.9, $55692.7, Post-haemorrhagic ventriculomegaly $41,822.50 (95%CI: $34,590.4, $48,872.4), Necrotizing Enterocolitis $39,785 (95%CI: $35,728.9, $43,879), Meningitis $38,871.85 (95%CI: $25,272.7, $52,224.4), Late onset sepsis $32,954.20 (95%CI: $30,403.7, 35.515), Feeding difficulties $24,820.90 (95%CI: $22,553.3, $27,064.7), Pneumonia $23,781.70 (95%CI: $18,623.8, $28,881.6), Grade >2 Intraventricular Haemorrhage $14,777.38 (95%CI: $9,821.7, $20,085.2). Adjusted generalized linear model of diagnoses as coefficients for cost confirmed significance and robustness of the model.

Conclusion

Cost of care for preterm infant is expensive, and significantly increases with prematurity complication. Interventions to reduce those complications may enable resource allocation and better understanding of the needs of the neonatal health services.
Computational analysis to investigate the anti-rheumatic potential of plant-based small molecule inhibitor targeting tumor necrosis factor α
Authors: Rehman Sanaya , Bhatti Attya , John Peter
Published: February 2023

Objective: This study aimed to assess the anti-rheumatic potential of Dodonaea viscosa and to evaluate its bioactive small molecules for their beneficial effects in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods:In vitro bioactivity assays were performed to assess the healing potential of D. viscosa and statistical analysis was performed by using the linear regression technique. In silico analysis was performed to identify the key inhibitors of the disease to target TNF-α. The plant extract was prepared using ethanol solvent via the Soxhlet method. Phytochemical and bioactivity testing was performed. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was conducted for bioactive plant compounds. Disease-specific target was shortlisted by HUB gene analysis. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations were run for validation of the results.

Results: Phytochemical studies verified the presence of phenols, flavonoids, steroids, sterols, saponins, coumarins, tannins, and terpenoids. The significant antioxidant potential of plant extract was evaluated by the DPPH and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assays, while the anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated by the protein denaturation and Human Red Blood Cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization assays. In silico studies revealed that nine of the 480 compounds found in D. viscosa (ethanol extract) had drug-like properties. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was selected as a key disease gene through HUB gene analysis. Results of molecular docking and MD simulation analysis demonstrated that 4-(1-hydroxy-3-oxo-1H-isoindol-2-yl) benzoic acid (PubChemID 18873897), had the best binding affinity with TNF-α amongst all nine compounds.

Conclusion: 4-(1-hydroxy-3-oxo-1H-isoindol-2-yl) benzoic acid (PubChemID 18873897), have the potential to be a good small molecule inhibitor of TNF-α against rheumatoid arthritis.
Persistence and fading of the cognitive and socio-emotional benefits of preschool education in a low-resource setting: Group differences and dose-dependent associations in longitudinal data from Vietnam
Authors: Dinh Phuong Thi Thu , Robinson Julie Ann
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Four analytic approaches examined the effectiveness of preschool education in Vietnam, which provides a context in which national curricula and teaching standards for preschools and schools, high levels of preschool attendance, and fee subsidies for disadvantaged children, limit the heterogeneity in children’s experiences that often obscure the outcomes associated with preschool attendance.

Methods

The Young Lives Study provided longitudinal data on children’s receptive vocabulary, mathematics, and life satisfaction at 5, 8, 12, and 15 years of age, and on their self-concept and relationships at 12 and 15 years.

Results

The first analysis found that children who attended preschool (n = 1,562 at 5 years of age) had larger vocabularies at 5, 8, 12, and 15 years, greater mathematics knowledge at 5, 8, and 12 years, and higher life satisfaction at 5 and 12 years of age than the small number of children who did not attend preschool (n = 164 at 5 years of age). The second, found that the dose of preschool education (hours per week × 4 × months) received by children who attended preschool was positively associated with their receptive vocabulary and mathematics scores at 5, 8, 12, and 15 years of age, and with their life satisfaction at 5 and 15 years of age. Although the magnitude of the effect for vocabulary declined over time, it remained stable for mathematics. The third analysis found that a high dose of preschool education allowed disadvantaged rural children to achieve comparable or better scores than their urban peers for receptive vocabulary at 8, 12, and 15 years, mathematics at 12 years, and life satisfaction at all ages. The final analysis found that even a low dose of preschool education improved rural children’s receptive vocabulary at 5, 8, and 15 years, and their numeracy/mathematics scores at 5, 8, and 12 years.

Discussion

Together, the results suggest that preschool attendance had a small but meaningful positive association with Vietnamese children’s cognitive skills and life satisfaction that persisted for at least 10 years. These findings provide insights into the scale, scope, and longevity of effects that can be achieved from scaled-up preschool programs under resource-constrained conditions.
Feasibility analysis of CT-guided thermal ablation of multiple pulmonary nodules combined with intraoperative biopsy
Authors: Shan Yu-Qing , Wang Hai-Yu , He Xiao-Ning , Jiang Shuang-Sheng , Wang Hui-Hui , Lin Fan-Xia
Published: February 2023

Purpose

To analyze the safety and feasibility of computed tomography (CT)-guided thermal ablation of multiple pulmonary nodules combined with intraoperative biopsy.

Methods

The data of 431 patients with 540 lung nodules undergoing CT-guided biopsy or ablation were retrospectively analyzed. Biopsy-only group (A): 107 patients (107 lesions) received CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy only; Ablation-only group (B): 117 cases (117 lesions) only received CT-guided thermal ablation; Single focal ablation combined with biopsy group (C): 103 patients (103 lesions) received CT-guided thermal ablation combined with intraoperative immediate biopsy; Multifocal ablation combined with biopsy group (D): 104 patients (213 lesions) received CT-guided thermal ablation combined with intraoperative biopsy. The success rate of this technique was calculated, the complications were recorded, and the positive rate of pathological diagnosis of the specimens was evaluated (the tissue specimens could be confirmed as positive by pathological diagnosis).

Results

All 431 patients with pulmonary nodules successfully completed the operation, and the technical success rate was 100% (431/431). In group A, hemoptysis occurred in seven cases after operation, while no hemoptysis was observed in the other groups. Pneumothorax occurred in 8 cases in group A, 14 cases in group B, 11 cases in group C, and 13 cases in group D. Hydrothorax occurred in 4 cases in group A, 7 cases in group B, 5 cases in group C and 9 cases in group D, and there were no significant differences between the groups. The positive rate of pathological diagnosis was 84.1% (90/107) in group A, 81.5% (84/103) in group C, and 82.6% (176/213) in group D, and there was no significant difference among the groups (P > 0.05). A total of 15 cases in group C and 23 cases in group D underwent gene testing and analysis, and the biopsy tissue samples all met quality control standards.

Conclusion

CT-guided thermal ablation of multiple pulmonary nodules combined with intraoperative biopsy does not prolong the length of hospital stay or increase the risk of postoperative complications. It can meet the requirements of clinical, pathological and genetic testing, and is safe and reliable.
Comparison of fecal microbiota of SPF and non-SPF Beagle dogs
Authors: Yu Cuilian , Guo Zhongkun , Lei Zhan , Mao Xiaolong , Chen Shumin , Wang Kezhou
Published: February 2023

Microbial colonization of animal intestine impacts host metabolism and immunity. The study was aimed to investigate the diversity of the intestinal microflora in specific pathogen free (SPF) and non-SPF Beagle dogs of different ages by direct sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. Stool samples were collected from four non-SPF and four SPF healthy Beagle dogs. From a total of 792 analyzed Operation taxonomic units, four predominant bacterial phyla were identified: Firmicutes (75.23%), Actinobacteria (10.98%), Bacteroidetes (9.33%), and Proteobacteria (4.13%). At the genus level, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium were dominated. Among which, Alloprevotella, Prevotella_9, and Faecalibacterium were presented exclusively in non-SPF beagles, with potentially anti-inflammatory capability, which could protect non-SPF beagles from complex microbial environment. The number and diversity of intestinal flora for non-SPF Beagle dogs were the highest at birth and gradually decreased with growth, whereas the results for the SPF beagle samples were the opposite, with the number and diversity of intestinal microbiota gradually increases as beagles grow. In a nutshell, the microbial complexity of the rearing environment can enrich the gut microbiota of beagles, many of which are anti-inflammatory microbiota with the potential to increase the adaptability of the animal to the environment. However, the gut microbiota of SPF beagles was more sensitive to environmental changes than that of non-SPF beagles. This study is of great significance for understanding the bionomics of intestinal microflora in non-SPF and SPF beagles, improving the experimental accuracy in scientific research.
Euler–Euler Multi-Scale Simulations of Internal Boiling Flow with Conjugated Heat Transfer
Authors: Butaye Edouard , Toutant Adrien , Mer Samuel
Published: February 2023

A numerical approach was implemented, to study a boiling flow in a horizontal serpentine tube. A NEPTUNE_CFD two-fluid model was used, to study the behavior of the refrigerant R141b in diabatic cases. The model was based on the Euler–Euler formalism of the Navier–Stokes equations, in which governing equations are solved for both phases of the fluid at each time step. The conjugate heat transfer—between the tube wall and the fluid—was considered via a coupling with the SYRTHES 4.3 software, which solves solid conduction in three dimensions. A mesh convergence study was carried out, which found that a resolution of 40 meshes per diameter was necessary for our case. The approach was validated by comparison with an experimental study of the literature, based on the faithful reproduction of the positions of two-phase flow regime transitions in the domain. Original post-processing was used, to unravel the flow characteristics. The mean and RMS fields of void fraction, temperatures and stream wise velocities in several sections were analyzed, when statistical convergence was reached. A thermal equilibrium was reached in the saturated liquid, but not in the vapor phase, due to the flow dynamic and possibly the presence of droplets. Finally, a thermal analysis of the configuration was proposed. It demonstrated the strong coupling between the temperature distribution in the solid, and the two-phase flow regimes at stake in the fluid domain.
SNCA Gene Methylation in Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple System Atrophy
Authors: Fedotova Ekaterina Yu. , Iakovenko Elena V. , Abramycheva Natalia Yu. , Illarioshkin Sergey N.
Published: February 2023

In recent years, epigenetic mechanisms have been implicated in the development of multifactorial diseases including neurodegenerative disorders. In Parkinson’s disease (PD), as a synucleinopathy, most studies focused on DNA methylation of SNCA gene coding alpha-synuclein but obtained results were rather contradictory. In another neurodegenerative synucleinopathy, multiple system atrophy (MSA), very few studies investigated the epigenetic regulation. This study included patients with PD (n = 82), patients with MSA (n = 24), and a control group (n = 50). In three groups, methylation levels of CpG and non-CpG sites in regulatory regions of the SNCA gene were analyzed. We revealed hypomethylation of CpG sites in the SNCA intron 1 in PD and hypermethylation of predominantly non-CpG sites in the SNCA promoter region in MSA. In PD patients, hypomethylation in the intron 1 was associated with earlier age at the disease onset. In MSA patients, hypermethylation in the promotor was associated with shorter disease duration (before examination). These results showed different patterns of the epigenetic regulation in two synucleinopathies—PD and MSA.
Water–Land–Food Nexus for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Main Grain-Producing Areas of North China Plain
Authors: Zhu Lijia , Bai Yuping , Zhang Lijin , Si Wanyi , Wang Anni , Weng Chuyao , Shu Jiayao
Published: February 2023

Stable and sustainable food production is an important guarantee for national security and social stability. The uneven distribution of cultivated land and water resources will threaten national food security. In this study, we adopt the Gini coefficient and water–land matching coefficient for exploring the water–land nexus in the main grain-producing areas of North China Plain (NCP) from 2000 to 2020. The water–land–food nexus considering grain crop production structure is further explored from spatial and temporal multi-scales. The results show the following: (1) The Gini coefficient presents an increasing trend in the NCP, indicating an increasing imbalance in the water–land matching degree among inter-regions. (2) There are significant differences in the WL nexus and WLF nexus among regions, showing a spatial pattern of “worse in the north and better in the south”. (3) The cities which belonged to the low WL-low WLF and high WL-low WLF should be considered as key targets when formulating policies. (4) Adjusting the wheat–maize biannual system, optimizing the grain cultivation structure, promoting semi-dryland farming, and developing low water-consuming and high-yielding crop varieties are essential measures for these regions. The research results provide significant reference for the optimal management and sustainable agricultural development of agricultural land and water resources in NCP.
Analysis of Changes in Herbaceous Peony Growth and Soil Microbial Diversity in Different Growing and Replanting Years Based on High-Throughput Sequencing
Authors: Li Yang , Liu Zemiao , Yang Lijin , Yang Xiao , Shi Yajie , Li Xue , Dong Lingling , Zheng Chengshu , Zhang Dongliang , Sun Xia
Published: February 2023

The herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.), a perennial herbaceous flower, can grows continuously for approximately 10 years. However, a replanting problem can occur during division propagation which reduces the land use rate and restricts the development of the herbaceous peony industry. We investigated microbial community changes and soil chemical properties in herbaceous peony soils during different growing and replanting years. The results indicated that the flowering rate, plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area of replanted herbaceous peony were lower, and decreased gradually with increasing replanting years. Compared with the soil after replanting herbaceous peony for one year, soil pH, nutrient contents (AN, AP, AK, and OM), enzyme activities (Inv, Ure, Pho, and Cat), diversity and richness of fungal and bacterial communities decreased after replanting for five years. Long-term replanting increased the relative abundance of harmful soil microorganisms (e.g., Gibberella), and reduced that of beneficial microorganisms (e.g., Bacillus). Overall, after the long-term replanting of herbaceous peony, the soil environment deteriorated, and the soil microbial community structure changed, resulting in the imbalance of soil microecology, damaging the normal growth of herbaceous peony.
Effects of Root and Foliar Application of Corn Steep Liquor on Pepper Plants: A Physiological, Nutritional, and Morphological Study
Authors: Navarro-Morillo Iván , Navarro-Perez Valeria , Perez-Millan Rafael , Navarro-León Eloy , Blasco Begoña , Cámara-Zapata Jose Maria , Garcia-Sanchez Francisco
Published: February 2023

The industrial washing of corn grain during its milling generates a residue known as “corn steep liquor (CSL)”. This residue is rich in amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, and mineral nutrients that can stimulate the vegetative growth when applied to plants. However, the mode of action of this product is not yet known. This work involved the foliar and root application to pepper plants, at a dose of 5 mL L−1, of two CSL products (CSL-H and CSL-B), which differ in the way they have been stabilized. In both cases, the size of the plants was increased, root application being more efficient than foliar. According to the studies carried out, this was because the CSL products increased the synthesis of hormones related to cell division and elongation, the net assimilation rate of CO2, and the concentrations of the amino acids alanine, proline, and tryptophan. In addition, root application of CSL-H also increased the concentrations of arginine, isoleucine, leucine, and cysteine. These data suggest that the mode of action of these products is related to regulation, synthesis of hormones, and the stimulation of carbon and nitrogen metabolism, the CSL-H treatment being the one that produced the most changes in the amino acids analyzed.
Relationships between Physical Activity Frequency and Self-Perceived Health, Self-Reported Depression, and Depressive Symptoms in Spanish Older Adults with Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Denche-Zamorano Angel , Perez-Gomez Jorge , Barrios-Fernandez Sabina , Oliveira Rafael , Adsuar Jose C. , Brito João Paulo
Published: February 2023

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent noncommunicable diseases in the world. This disease can affect both physical and mental health in the population. This study analyzed the prevalence of Self-Perceived Health (SPH), self-reported depression, and depressive symptoms in comparison with the Physical Activity Frequency (PAF) reported by Spanish older adults with diabetes. A cross-sectional study was carried out with data from 2799 self-reported diabetic participants, all of whom were residents of Spain, aged 50–79 years, and included in the European Health Surveys carried out in Spain (EHIS) both in 2014 and 2020. The relationships between the variables were analysed with a chi-squared test. A z-test for independent proportions was performed to analyze differences in proportions between the sexes. A multiple binary logistic regression was carried out on the prevalence of depression. Linear regressions were performed on depressive symptoms and SPH. Dependent relationships were found between the SPH, self-reported depression, and depressive symptoms with PAF. Most of the very active participants reported a higher prevalence of self-reported depression. Physical inactivity increased the risk of depression, major depressive symptoms, and negative SPH.
A Pilot Study on Pharmacists’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards Medication Dysphagia via Asynchronous Online Focus Group Discussion
Authors: Tan Poh Leng , Loh Terence JunHeng , Chan Sui Yung
Published: February 2023

Medication dysphagia (MD) refers to difficulty swallowing oral medications. To cope, patients may inappropriately modify or skip medications, leading to poorer outcomes. Little is known about healthcare professionals’ (HCPs’) perspectives in managing MD. This study investigated pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in caring for patients with MD. An asynchronous online focus group was pilot tested in seven pharmacists, with up to two questions posted daily on an online platform over 15 days. Thematic analysis of the transcripts revealed five interrelated themes: (1) knowledge about MD; (2) management of MD; (3) expectations of patient proactivity; (4) desire for objectivity; (5) professional roles. The findings provided insight into pharmacists’ KAP and may be incorporated into a full-scale study involving various HCPs.
The Level of Burden among Caregivers of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Badawoud Amal Mohammad. , AlQadheeb Yasmin K. , AlZahrani Shahad S. , AlGhamdi Razan A. , Alanazi Elaf A. , AlFozan Sarah M. , AlJafer Norah S. , Asiri Ibrahim M. , Alotaibi Fawaz M.
Published: February 2023

Background: Caregiver burden is a serious global issue associated with the growing number of older adult patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD patients become more dependent on their caregivers and require assistance with basic daily life activities. This study aims to measure the caregiver burden of informal caregivers of AD patients and to determine their characteristics. In addition, it intends to understand caregiver coping techniques and assess their medication knowledge. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including 148 informal caregivers mainly recruited by the Saudi Alzheimer’s Disease Association (SADA). A four-part study questionnaire was used for data collection in the Arabic Language and included the following: socio-demographic characteristics of AD patients and their caregivers, the 12-item version of the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and adapted questions on coping techniques and medication knowledge. Results: A total of 148 caregivers (62% were female) participated in this study, and 79.06% were between 30 and 60 years old. The ZBI average score was 27, indicating a moderate to high burden. Caregivers reported their need for services to improve their quality of life. The medication knowledge was insufficient in most aspects except that more than half were aware of medications’ side effects. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the average burden among informal caregivers of AD patients was moderate–high.
Migration of BPA from Food Packaging and Household Products on the Croatian Market
Authors: Krivohlavek Adela , Mikulec Nataša , Budeč Maja , Barušić Lidija , Bošnir Jasna , Šikić Sandra , Jakasa Ivone , Begović Tajana , Janda Rea , Vitale Ksenija
Published: February 2023

BPA is a plasticizer for the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins and is widely used in the production of household goods, including food packaging. Free BPA is known to migrate from packaging to food, and its uptake has been associated with adverse health effect, particularly the disruption of endocrine activity. The presence and migration of BPA from plastic consumer products are subject to strict regulation in the EU. The aim of this study is to analyse the migration of BPA from different packaging items and household products sold on the Croatian market. To simulate real life exposure, we treated samples with a food simulant. The analytical performance was confirmed with the EU requirements. BPA levels were assessed in 61 samples by HPLC-FLD and the LOQ of the method was 0.005 mg kg−1 for the food simulant. These results showed that the levels of BPA that migrated to the food simulant were below LOQ and in accordance with the specific migration limit into food, which was defined as 0.05 mg kg−1 for all samples. None of the analysed products presented a health hazard. However, these regulations do not refer to products intended for children’s use, in which BPA is banned. Furthermore, regulations require testing before putting products on the market, and previous research shows that possible BPA migration occurs due to various uses, along with a cumulative effect of exposure from even very small concentrations. Therefore, for accurate BPA consumer exposure evaluation and possible health risks, a comprehensive approach is needed.
Gendered Antecedents and Consequences of Young Women’s Suicidal Acts in Sri Lanka
Authors: Marecek Jeanne , Senadheera Chandanie
Published: February 2023

In the late 1990s, Sri Lanka had a record rate of suicide deaths. Since then, deaths have decreased dramatically due to the restriction of lethal agrochemicals. The number of nonfatal suicidal acts, however, remains extraordinarily high. A disproportionate number of these cases are adolescents and young adults—mainly girls and young women. This paper offers a close look at adolescent girls in rural Sri Lanka who had engaged in nonfatal suicidal acts. We carried out interviews with daughters and mothers while the girls were receiving medical care following a suicidal act. Drawing from these interviews, we describe the circumstances leading to girls’ suicidal acts, the responses and moral judgments made by adult family members, and the reputational and social consequences of these acts. Few girls intended to die; none had previously undertaken a suicidal act, and none gave evidence of “mental illness”. In many cases, girls’ suicidal acts were triggered by acute family conflicts, often concerning situations that were seen to compromise the girl’s sexual respectability and the honor of her family.
Overexpression of Water-Responsive Genes Promoted by Elevated CO2 Reduces ROS and Enhances Drought Tolerance in Coffea Species
Authors: Marques Isabel , Fernandes Isabel , Paulo Octávio S. , Batista Dora , Lidon Fernando C. , Partelli Fábio , DaMatta Fábio M. , Ribeiro-Barros Ana I. , Ramalho José C.
Published: February 2023

Drought is a major constraint to plant growth and productivity worldwide and will aggravate as water availability becomes scarcer. Although elevated air [CO2] might mitigate some of these effects in plants, the mechanisms underlying the involved responses are poorly understood in woody economically important crops such as Coffea. This study analyzed transcriptome changes in Coffea canephora cv. CL153 and C. arabica cv. Icatu exposed to moderate (MWD) or severe water deficits (SWD) and grown under ambient (aCO2) or elevated (eCO2) air [CO2]. We found that changes in expression levels and regulatory pathways were barely affected by MWD, while the SWD condition led to a down-regulation of most differentially expressed genes (DEGs). eCO2 attenuated the impacts of drought in the transcripts of both genotypes but mostly in Icatu, in agreement with physiological and metabolic studies. A predominance of protective and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging-related genes, directly or indirectly associated with ABA signaling pathways, was found in Coffea responses, including genes involved in water deprivation and desiccation, such as protein phosphatases in Icatu, and aspartic proteases and dehydrins in CL153, whose expression was validated by qRT-PCR. The existence of a complex post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism appears to occur in Coffea explaining some apparent discrepancies between transcriptomic, proteomic, and physiological data in these genotypes.
Lamprey Wound Healing and Regenerative Effects: The Collaborative Efforts of Diverse Drivers
Authors: Li Shushen , Zhao Zhiyuan , Li Qingwei , Li Jun , Pang Yue
Published: February 2023

Skin is a natural barrier between the body and the external environment, and this important multifunctional organ plays roles in body temperature regulation, sensory stimulation, mucus secretion, metabolite excretion and immune defense. Lampreys, as ancient vertebrates, rarely experience infection of damaged skin during farming and efficiently promote skin wound healing. However, the mechanism underlying these wound healing and regenerative effects is unclear. Our histology and transcriptomics results demonstrate that lampreys regenerate a nearly complete skin structure in damaged epidermis, including the secretory glands, and will almost not be infected, even if experiencing full-thickness damage. In addition, ATGL, DGL and MGL participate in the lipolysis process to provide space for infiltrating cells. A large number of red blood cells migrate to the site of injury and exert proinflammatory effects, upregulating the expression of proinflammatory factors such as IL-8 and IL-17. Based on a lamprey skin damage healing model, adipocytes and red blood cells in the subcutaneous fat layer can promote wound healing, which provides a new approach for the study of skin healing mechanisms. Transcriptome data reveal that mechanical signal transduction pathways are mainly regulated by focal adhesion kinase and that the actin cytoskeleton plays an important role in the healing of lamprey skin injuries. We identified RAC1 as a key regulatory gene that is necessary and partially sufficient for wound regeneration. Insights into the mechanisms of lamprey skin injury and healing will provide a theoretical basis for overcoming the challenges associated with chronic healing and scar healing in the clinic.
Design of an Autonomous, Sustainable Sharing Mobility Solution Aimed to Mobility-Disabled Individuals
Authors: Frizziero Leonardo , Galiè Giulio , Aldrovandi Martina , Franco Silvia , Rana Elisa
Published: February 2023

Recent analysis has shown deteriorating traffic conditions in urban areas, caused by an increase in the motorization rate, which has risen to 66.6 vehicles per 100 inhabitants. As a result of the pandemic, individuality has grown, hence private vehicles are becoming more prevalent whilst public transport and sharing are negatively affected. Therefore, European policies have encouraged and innovated more sustainable mobility. Thus, the developed project aims to achieve more efficient mobility and more sustainable environments, towards social and economic well-being. The proposed means of transport aims to appeal to an audience with a reduced ability to drive a car as intended. The IDeS methodology was applied to develop a self-driving, urban micro mobility vehicle, aimed to give enough room and equipment for people with moving disabilities. The innovation of the IDeS method is state-of-the-art and ought to satisfy current product needs, which leads to an innovative micromobility vehicle and portrays a design for a car that will help to close the gaps in urban mobility. These design processes, which are distinguished by the fusion of several industrial techniques, enabled the development of a plan that addresses current mobility issues for disabled people and opens to new mobility prospects.
Securing Big Data Integrity for Industrial IoT in Smart Manufacturing Based on the Trusted Consortium Blockchain (TCB)
Authors: Juma Mazen , Alattar Fuad , Touqan Basim
Published: February 2023

The smart manufacturing ecosystem enhances the end-to-end efficiency of the mine-to-market lifecycle to create the value chain using the big data generated rapidly by edge computing devices, third-party technologies, and various stakeholders connected via the industrial Internet of things. In this context, smart manufacturing faces two serious challenges to its industrial IoT big data integrity: real-time transaction monitoring and peer validation due to the volume and velocity dimensions of big data in industrial IoT infrastructures. Modern blockchain technologies as an embedded layer substantially address these challenges to empower the capabilities of the IIoT layer to meet the integrity requirements of the big data layer. This paper presents the trusted consortium blockchain (TCB) framework to provide an optimal solution for big data integrity through a secure and verifiable hyperledger fabric modular (HFM). The TCB leverages trustworthiness in heterogeneous IIoT networks of governing end-point peers to achieve strong integrity for big data and support high transaction throughput and low latency of HFM contents. Our proposed framework drives the fault-tolerant properties and consensus protocols to monitor malicious activities of tunable peers if compromised and validates the signed evidence of big data recorded in real-time HFM operated over different smart manufacturing environments. Experimentally, the TCB has been evaluated and reached tradeoff results of throughput and latency better than the comparative consortium blockchain frameworks.
Delta Radiomics Model Predicts Lesion-Level Responses to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Preliminary Result
Authors: Chen Yuntian , Yuan Enyu , Sun Guangxi , Song Bin , Yao Jin
Published: February 2023

Background: This study aimed to develop and internally validate computed tomography (CT)-based radiomic models to predict the lesion-level short-term response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods: This retrospective study included consecutive patients with RCC that were treated using TKIs as the first-line treatment. Radiomic features were extracted from noncontrast (NC) and arterial-phase (AP) CT images. The model performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: A total of 36 patients with 131 measurable lesions were enrolled (training: validation = 91: 40). The model with five delta features achieved the best discrimination capability with AUC values of 0.940 (95% CI, 0.890‒0.990) in the training cohort and 0.916 (95% CI, 0.828‒1.000) in the validation cohort. Only the delta model was well calibrated. The DCA showed that the net benefit of the delta model was greater than that of the other radiomic models, as well as that of the treat-all and treat-none criteria. Conclusions: Models based on CT delta radiomic features may help predict the short-term response to TKIs in patients with advanced RCC and aid in lesion stratification for potential treatments.
Manufacture and Characterization of Cola Lépidota Reinforcements for Composite Applications
Authors: Ndoumou Rémy Legrand , Soulat Damien , Labanieh Ahmad Rashed , Ferreira Manuela , Meva’a Lucien , Ateba Jean Atangana
Published: February 2023

This study represents the first works on the manufacture of reinforcements for composite applications such as yarns and fabrics using a tropical fiber extracted from the bast of the Cola Lepidota (CL) plant. Different types of products were produced, including twisted and untwisted yarns and woven and quasi-unidirectional fabrics to manufacture composite samples. At each scale, experimental characterizations of textile and mechanical properties were carried out; these properties are compared to those given in the literature concerning natural fiber materials. The results show that the tenacity of twisted and untwisted CL yarns is higher than that of similar products based on flax fibers, which is an important result for the weaveability of these rovings. At the fabric scale, the quasi-unidirectional architecture reduces waviness and shows promising tensile properties compared to woven fabrics. On the scale of composites, these developments made it possible to achieve properties in tensile comparable, particularly in stiffness, to those achieved by composites based on natural fibers. The objectives of this paper are to highlight the advantages and drawbacks of different types of reinforcements, and to present the first characterization of the properties of products based on CL fibers.