bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short-term severe drought influences root volatile biosynthesis in eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L)
Authors: Chandrasekaran Umashankar , Byeon Siyeon , Kim Kunhyo , Kim Seo Hyun , Park Chan Oh , Han Ah reum , Lee Young-Sang , Kim Hyun Seok
Published: October 2022

Climate change-related drought stress is expected to shift carbon partitioning toward volatile organic compound (VOC) biosynthesis. The effect of drought stress on VOC synthesis remains unknown in several tree species. Therefore, we exposed eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) plants to severe drought for 32 days and performed physiological analysis (chlorophyll content, leaf water content, and root/shoot index), biochemical analysis (non-structural carbohydrates, proline, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant assay), and total root VOC analysis. Drought stress decreased the relative water and soil moisture contents. Root proline accumulation and antioxidant activity increased significantly, whereas leaf chlorophyll synthesis and fresh weight decreased significantly in drought-treated plants. A non-significant increase in sugar accumulation (leaves and roots), proline accumulation (leaves), antioxidant activity (leaves), and lipid peroxidation (leaves and roots) was observed in drought-treated plants. Drought stress caused a non-significant decline in root/shoot ratio and starch accumulation (leaves and roots) and caused a significant increase in root abscisic acid content. Drought-treated plants showed an increase in overall monoterpene synthesis (16%) and decline in total sesquiterpene synthesis (3%). Our findings provide an overall assessment of the different responses of VOC synthesis to severe water deficit that may help unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying drought tolerance in P. strobus.
Plastid methylerythritol phosphate pathway participates in the hypersensitive response-related cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Lee Sanghun , Jo Sung Hee , Hong Chi Eun , Lee Jiyoung , Cha Byeongjin , Park Jeong Mee
Published: October 2022

Programmed cell death (PCD), a characteristic feature of hypersensitive response (HR) in plants, is an important cellular process often associated with the defense response against pathogens. Here, the involvement ofLytB, a gene encoding 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase that participates in the final step of the plastid methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, in plant HR cell death was studied. InNicotiana benthmianaplants, silencing of theNbLytBgene using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) caused plant growth retardation and albino leaves with severely malformed chloroplasts. InNbLytB-silenced plants, HR-related cell death mediated by the expression of either the human proapoptotic protein geneBaxor anRgene with its cognateAvreffector gene was inhibited, whereas that induced by the nonhost pathogenPseudomonas syringaepv.syringae61 was enhanced. To dissect the isoprenoid pathway and avoid the pleiotropic effects of VIGS, chemical inhibitors that specifically inhibit isoprenoid biosynthesis in plants were employed. Treatment ofN. benthamianaplants with fosmidomycin, a specific inhibitor of the plastid MEP pathway, effectively inhibited HR-related PCD, whereas treatment with mevinolin (a cytoplasmic mevalonate pathway inhibitor) and fluridone (a carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitor) did not. Together, these results suggest that the MEP pathway as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the chloroplast play an important role in HR-related PCD, which is not displaced by the cytosolic isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway.
Characterization of a new splicing variant of powdery mildew resistance gene Pm4 in synthetic hexaploid wheat YAV249
Authors: Jin Yuli , Gu Tiantian , Li Xiuquan , Liu Hong , Han Guohao , Shi Zhipeng , Zhou Yilin , Fan Jieru , Wang Jing , Liu Wei , Zhao He , An Diaoguo
Published: October 2022

Powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), is a destructive fungal disease of wheat throughout the world. Utilization of effective powdery mildew resistance genes and cultivars is considered as the most economic, efficient, and environmental-friendly method to control this disease. Synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW), which was developed through hybridization of diploid Aegilops and tetraploid wheat, is a valuable genetic resource for resistance to powdery mildew. SHW line YAV249 showed high levels of resistance to powdery mildew at both the seedling and adult stages. Genetic analysis indicated that the resistance was controlled by a single dominant gene, temporarily designated PmYAV. Bulked segregant analysis with wheat 660K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array scanning and marker analysis showed that PmYAV was located on chromosome 2AL and flanked by markers Xgdm93 and Xwgrc763, respectively, with genetic distances of 0.8 cM and 1.2 cM corresponding to a physic interval of 1.89 Mb on the Chinese Spring reference genome sequence v1.0. Sequence alignment analysis demonstrated that the sequence of PmYAV was consistent with that of Pm4a but generated an extra splicing event. When inoculated with different Bgt isolates, PmYAV showed a significantly different spectrum from Pm4a, hence it might be a new resistant resource for improvement of powdery mildew resistance. The flanked markers GDM93 and WGRC763, and the co-segregated markers BCD1231 and JS717/JS718 were confirmed to be easily performed in marker-assisted selection (MAS) of PmYAV. Using MAS strategy, PmYAV was transferred into the commercial cultivar Kenong 199 (KN199) and a wheat line YK13 was derived at generation BC3F3 from the population of YAV249/4*KN199 due to its excellent agronomic traits and resistance to powdery mildew. In conclusion, an alternative splicing variant of Pm4 was identified in this study, which informed the regulation of Pm4 gene function.
Evaluation of the resistance to Chinese predominant races of Puccinia triticina and analysis of effective leaf rust resistance genes in wheat accessions from the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System
Authors: Zhang Lin , Zhao Xuefang , Liu Jingxian , Wang Xiaolu , Gong Wenping , Zhang Quanguo , Liu Yuping , Yan Hongfei , Meng Qingfang , Liu Daqun
Published: October 2022

Puccinia triticina, which is the causative agent of wheat leaf rust, is widely spread in China and most other wheat-planting countries around the globe. Cultivating resistant wheat cultivars is the most economical, effective, and environmentally friendly method for controlling leaf rust-caused yield damage. Exploring the source of resistance is very important in wheat resistance breeding programs. In order to explore more effective resistance sources for wheat leaf rust, the resistance of 112 wheat accessions introduced from the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System were identified using a mixture of pathogenic isolates of THTT, THTS, PHTT, THJT and THJS which are the most predominant races in China. As a result, all of these accessions showed high resistance at seedling stage, of which, ninety-nine accessions exhibited resistance at adult plant stage. Eleven molecular markers of eight effective leaf rust resistance genes in China were used to screen the 112 accessions. Seven effective leaf rust resistance genes Lr9, Lr19, Lr24, Lr28, Lr29, Lr38 and Lr45 were detected, except Lr47. Twenty-three accessions had only one of those seven effective leaf rust resistance gene. Eleven accessions carried Lr24+Lr38, and 7 accessions carried Lr9+Lr24+Lr38, Lr24+Lr38+Lr45, Lr24+Lr29+Lr38 and Lr19+Lr38+Lr45 respectively. The remaining seventy-one accessions had none of those eight effective leaf rust resistance genes. This study will provide theoretical guidance for rational utilization of these introduted wheat accessions directly or for breeding the resistant wheat cultivars.
PM2b, a CC-NBS-LRR protein, interacts with TaWRKY76-D to regulate powdery mildew resistance in common wheat
Authors: Jin Yuli , Liu Hong , Gu Tiantian , Xing Lixian , Han Guohao , Ma Pengtao , Li Xiuquan , Zhou Yilin , Fan Jieru , Li Lihui , An Diaoguo
Published: October 2022

Powdery mildew caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) is a destructive disease of wheat throughout the world. Host resistance is considered the most sustainable way to control this disease. Powdery mildew resistance gene Pm2b was mapped to the same genetic interval with Pm2a and PmCH1357 cloned previously, but showed different resistance spectra from them, indicating that they might be caused by different resistance genes or alleles. In this study, Pm2b was delimited to a 1.64 Mb physical interval using a large segregating population containing 4,354 F2:3 families of resistant parent KM2939 and susceptible cultivar Shimai 15. In this interval, TraesCS5D03G0111700 encoding the coiled-coil nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat protein (CC-NBS-LRR) was determined as the candidate gene of Pm2b. Silencing by barley stripe mosaic virus-induced gene silencing (BSMV-VIGS) technology and two independent mutants analysis in KM2939 confirmed the candidate gene TraesCS5D03G0111700 was Pm2b. The sequence of Pm2b was consistent with Pm2a/PmCH1357. Subcellular localization showed Pm2b was located on the cell nucleus and plasma membrane. Pm2b had the highest expression level in leaves and was rapidly up-regulated after inoculating with Bgt isolate E09. The yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and luciferase complementation imaging assays (LCI) showed that PM2b could self-associate through the NB domain. Notably, we identified PM2b interacting with the transcription factor TaWRKY76-D, which depended on the NB domain of PM2b and WRKY domain of TaWRKY76-D. TaWRKY76-D negatively regulated the resistance to powdery mildew in wheat. The specific KASP marker K529 could take the advantage of high-throughput and high-efficiency for detecting Pm2b and be useful in molecular marker assisted-selection breeding. In conclusion, cloning and disease resistance mechanism analysis of Pm2b provided an example to emphasize a need of the molecular isolation of resistance genes, which has implications in marker assisted wheat breeding.
Integrating transcriptomics and metabolomics to analyze quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) responses to drought stress and rewatering
Authors: Huan Xiuju , Li Li , Liu Yongjiang , Kong Zhiyou , Liu Yeju , Wang Qianchao , Liu Junna , Zhang Ping , Guo Yirui , Qin Peng
Published: October 2022

The crop production of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), the only plant meeting basic human nutritional requirements, is affected by drought stress. To better understand the drought tolerance mechanism of quinoa, we screened the drought-tolerant quinoa genotype “Dianli 129” and studied the seedling leaves of the drought-tolerant quinoa genotype after drought and rewatering treatments using transcriptomics and targeted metabolomics. Drought-treatment, drought control, rewatering-treated, and rewatered control were named as DR, DC, RW, and RC, respectively. Among four comparison groups, DC vs. DR, RC vs. RW, RW vs. DR, and RC vs. DC, we identified 10,292, 2,307, 12,368, and 3 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and 215, 192, 132, and 19 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), respectively. A total of 38,670 genes and 142 pathways were annotated. The results of transcriptome and metabolome association analysis showed that gene-LOC110713661 and gene-LOC110738152 may be the key genes for drought tolerance in quinoa. Some metabolites accumulated in quinoa leaves in response to drought stress, and the plants recovered after rewatering. DEGs and DEMs participate in starch and sucrose metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis, which are vital for improving drought tolerance in quinoa. Drought tolerance of quinoa was correlated with gene expression differences, metabolite accumulation and good recovery after rewatering. These findings improve our understanding of drought and rewatering responses in quinoa and have implications for the breeding of new drought-tolerance varieties while providing a theoretical basis for drought-tolerance varieties identification.
Natural variation and domestication selection of ZmSULTR3;4 is associated with maize lateral root length in response to salt stress
Authors: Zhang Xiaomin , Zhu Tianze , Li Zhi , Jia Zhongtao , Wang Yunyun , Liu Runxiao , Yang Mengling , Chen Qing-Bin , Wang Zhenjie , Guo Siyi , Li Pengcheng
Published: October 2022

Soil salinity is a major constraint that restricts crop productivity worldwide. Lateral roots (LRs) are important for water and nutrient acquisition, therefore understanding the genetic basis of natural variation in lateral root length (LRL) is of great agronomic relevance to improve salt tolerance in cultivated germplasms. Here, using a genome-wide association study, we showed that the genetic variation in ZmSULTR3;4, which encodes a plasma membrane-localized sulfate transporter, is associated with natural variation in maize LRL under salt stress. The transcript of ZmSULTR3;4 was found preferentially in the epidermal and vascular tissues of root and increased by salt stress, supporting its essential role in the LR formation under salt stress. Further candidate gene association analysis showed that DNA polymorphisms in the promoter region differentiate the expression of ZmSULTR3;4 among maize inbred lines that may contribute to the natural variation of LRL under salt stress. Nucleotide diversity and neutrality tests revealed that ZmSULTR3;4 has undergone selection during maize domestication and improvement. Overall, our results revealed a regulatory role of ZmSULTR3;4 in salt regulated LR growth and uncovered favorable alleles of ZmSULTR3;4, providing an important selection target for breeding salt-tolerant maize cultivar.
The development of EFL Learners’ willingness to communicate and self-efficacy: The role of flipped learning approach with the use of social media
Authors: Fan Xiangping
Published: October 2022

Promoting English as a Foreign Language (EEL) learners’ willingness to communicate and self-efficacy in different contexts has drawn the attention of many investigators. This review explored the effect of digital-based flipped learning classrooms on enhancing learners’ willingness to communicate and self-efficacy. The related literature indicated that learners’ intention to communicate is affected by social media and digitalized materials used in flipped classrooms. Compared to the traditional educational contexts, this review showed higher levels of self-efficacy in flipped classrooms among EFL learners. Furthermore, the review expounded on the implications and future directions for EFL teachers, teacher educators, educational policy-makers, and advisors. The ideas can improve their awareness of learner self-efficacy, willingness to communicate, and the use of flipped learning approach in educational contexts.
Back to live: Returning to in-person engagement with arts and culture in the Liverpool City Region
Authors: Anisimovich Antonina , Chapple Melissa , Worsley Joanne , Watkins Megan , Billington Josie , Balabanova Ekaterina
Published: October 2022

On July 19th 2021, the UK government lifted the COVID-19 restrictions that had been in place since March 2020, including wearing masks, social distancing, and all other legal requirements. The return to in-person events has been slow and gradual, showing that audiences are still cautious when (and if) they resume engaging in arts and culture. Patterns of audience behavior have also changed, shifting toward local attendance, greater digital and hybrid engagement, and openness to event format changes. As the arts and cultural industry recovers from the pandemic, it is important to adopt an audience-oriented approach and look at the changing patterns of engaging in arts and culture. This study aims to better understand the impact of the pandemic on the patterns of cultural and arts engagement. Eight qualitative interviews were conducted to explore the changes in arts and cultural engagement since the restrictions were lifted, focusing particularly on the audience’s experiences of returning to in-person arts and cultural events in the Liverpool City Region (LCR). Using framework analysis, three themes were identified from the data:The new normal: reframing pre-pandemic and pandemic experiences of arts and culture,Re-adjusting to in-person provision, andMoving forward: online and blended provision. The findings show that the pandemic altered the ways that people engage in arts and culture. The “new normal,” a blend of pandemic and pre-pandemic experiences, illustrates how the pandemic has highlighted and reconfigured the importance of arts and culture, in terms of personal and cultural identity. Resuming in-person engagement after a long break, participants noted that they were able to feel more like themselves again. Arts and culture were perceived to be beneficial in rebuilding personal resilience and confidence. Engaging in arts and culture, following the isolating experience of the pandemic, has also helped participants feel reconnected to others through their shared experiences. Finally, the findings suggest that online provision remains vital for many, ensuring wider inclusivity, particularly for vulnerable audiences. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge the barriers to online inclusion and the possibility of this resulting in a growing digital divide.
“The very interesting finding suggests that…”: A cognitive frame-based analysis of interest markers by authors’ geo-academic location in applied linguistics research articles
Authors: Wang Qian
Published: October 2022

Linguistic expressions of interest instantiated byinteresting,intriguing, andfascinatingthat signal the authorial stance are not uncommon in applied linguistics research articles. Nevertheless, they have received little scholarly attention. This paper, taking a cognitive semantic approach, reports on a study that sought to examine how linguistically expressed interest in applied linguistics research articles is leveraged by researchers’ geo-academic location (the Core vs. the Periphery). Drawing on a semantic frame generated for interest markers in academic writing, this study focused on the incidence of the various elements of the Interest frame in the discipline of applied linguistics based on a mixed-methods approach. The corpus-based quantitative analyses found that academic writers’ geo-academic location was a robust predictor of authors’ overall use of interest markers and some frame elements associated with the Interest frame. Triangulation with the interview data obtained from disciplinary specialists revealed that the observed differences could be attributable to the hierarchical academia featuring periphery-based scholars’ unequal access to the knowledge production market and under-representation.
“Where’s Wally?” Identifying theory of mind in school-based social skills interventions
Authors: O’Grady Aneyn M. , Nag Sonali
Published: October 2022

This mini configurative review links theory of mind (ToM) research with school-based social skills interventions to reframe theoretical understanding of ToM ability based on a conceptual mapping exercise. The review’s aim was to bridge areas of psychology and education concerned with social cognition. Research questions included: how do dependent variables (DVs) in interventions designed to enhance child social-cognitive skills map onto ToM constructs empirically validated within psychology? In which ways do these mappings reframe conceptualization of ToM ability? Thirty-one studies (conducted from 2012 to 2019) on social-cognitive skill with typically-developing children ages 3–11 were included as opposed to explicit ToM trainings in light of an identified performance plateau on ToM tasks in children. Intervention DVs mapped onto the following ToM constructs in at least 87% of studies: “Representation of Others and/or Self,” “Knowledge/Awareness of Mental States,” “Attributions/Explanations of Mental States,” “Social Competence,” “Predicting Behavior,” and “Understanding Complex Social Situations.” The absence of false-belief understanding as an intervention DV indicated a lack of direct training in ToM ability. A hierarchy to further organize the review’s ToM framework constructs as either skills or competences within the construct of ‘Representation of Others and/or Self’ is proposed. Implications for the conceptualization of ToM and social-cognitive research as well as educational practice are discussed, namely how school social skill interventions conceptualize skill along a continuum in contrast to the common artificial dichotomous assessment of ToM skill (i.e., presence or lack), yet the development of ToM can nevertheless be supported by the school environment.
Self- vs. External-Regulation Behavior ScaleTM in different psychological contexts: A validation study
Authors: de la Fuente Jesús , Pachón-Basallo Mónica , Martínez-Vicente José Manuel , Peralta-Sánchez Francisco Javier , Garzón-Umerenkova Angélica , Sander Paul
Published: October 2022

Theself- vs. external-regulation behavior theory, SR-ER Theory (2021) model has postulated the Self-Regulation /Non or De-Regulation/Dys-regulation (SR-NR-DR) continuum in the person and in their context. The model also generates a behavioral heuristic that allows us to predict and explain the variability of other dependent behavioral variables in a range of scenarios (clinical, educational, health and technology contexts). Consequently, the objective of this study was to validate the different scales prepared on the basis of the theory presented. A total of 469 students voluntarily completed at different times the five questionnaires presented, to give a total of 1,385 completed questionnaires. Using anex post factodesign, descriptive, correlational, confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA), reliability, and concurrent validity analyses were carried out. The scales were analyzed individually and as a whole. The results showed the acceptable structure of scale and consistent levels of reliability. The five levels generated by the SR-NR-DR (personal and contextual) combinatory heuristic that arises from the theoretical model determined significant differences in the levels of the variables analyzed for each psychological context. We discuss the theoretical implications and the implications for the assessment and improvement of the behaviors analyzed in function of the personal and contextual regulation levels evaluated.
Neighborhood influences on the development of self-regulation among children of color living in historically disinvested neighborhoods: Moderators and mediating mechanisms
Authors: Ursache Alexandra , Barajas-Gonzalez Rita Gabriela , Dawson-McClure Spring
Published: October 2022

We present a conceptual model of the ways in which built and social environments shape the development of self-regulation in early childhood. Importantly, in centering children of color growing up in historically disinvested neighborhoods, we first describe how systemic structures of racism and social stratification have shaped neighborhood built and social environment features. We then present evidence linking these neighborhood features to children’s development of self-regulation. Furthermore, we take a multilevel approach to examining three potential pathways linking neighborhood contexts to self-regulation: school environment and resources, home environment and resources, and child health behaviors. Finally, we consider how racial-ethnic-cultural strengths and multilevel interventions have the potential to buffer children’s development of self-regulation in disinvested neighborhood contexts. Advancing multilevel approaches to understand the development of self-regulation among children of color living in historically disinvested neighborhoods is an important step in efforts to promote equity in health and education.
Impacts of university lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic on college students’ academic achievement and critical thinking: A longitudinal study
Authors: Lv Xiaojing , Ma Juanjuan , Brinthaupt Thomas M. , Zhao Shaochun , Ren Xuezhu
Published: October 2022

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in widespread university lockdown. However, impacts of the university lockdown on the learning and academic development of university students have not been thoroughly investigated. The current study examined college students’ changes of learning outcomes during the COVID-19 lockdown period and clarified what might explain individual differences in students’ learning outcomes after they had learned from home for a whole semester when universities were physically closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were derived from a longitudinal study examining the development of college students including students’ academic achievement and critical thinking (including both skills and dispositions) before and after the university lockdown. We observed significant decreases in critical thinking skills and dispositions from pre- to post-lockdown. Both perceived academic achievement and critical thinking exhibited greater variability after the lockdown. In addition, students’ readiness for online learning, especially their self-management skills, consistently predicted post-lockdown learning outcomes after controlling for pre-lockdown outcomes and family socioeconomic status (SES). Those who have assumed more responsibilities at home, or who were more vulnerable to emotional distress during the pandemic, performed less well in post-lockdown learning outcomes. These findings call for better management of student learning and development when major changes are required in higher education practices for responding to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis as well as other potential situations.
Associations of physical activity participation trajectories with subsequent motor function declines and incident frailty: A population-based cohort study
Authors: Wang Yang , Li Chenglong , Ma Yanjun , Zheng Fanfan , Xie Wuxiang
Published: October 2022

Background

Maintaining physical function and delaying frailty are of significant importance in both quality of life and health longevity for successful aging. The objective of this study is to investigate whether different trajectories of long-term physical activity (PA) participation are associated with subsequent motor function declines and incident frailty in middle-aged and elderly adults.

Materials and methods

Data from 8,227 aged ≥ 50 years adults enrolled in the English Longitudinal Study of Aging were analyzed. Long-term PA participation trajectories were assessed using group-based trajectory modeling over the first 6-year period from wave 1 (2002–2003) to wave 4 (2008–2009). The longitudinal associations of PA trajectories with motor function declines and incident frailty were evaluated by a linear mixed model and Cox regression model, respectively, with follow-up of 10 years from wave 4 to wave 9 (2018–2019).

Results

Five distinct trajectories of long-term PA participation were identified in the aging cohort, including persistently low-active trajectory (N = 2,039), increasing active trajectory (N = 1,711), declining active trajectory (N = 216), persistently moderate-active trajectory (N = 2,254), and persistently high-active trajectory (N = 2,007). Compared with the persistently low-active group, the participants in persistently moderate- and high-active groups experienced significantly decelerated grip strength decline, decreased gait speed decline, and faster chair rises after multiple-adjustment. Similarly, participants maintaining moderate- and high-active PA were also associated with a lower risk of incident frailty (multiple-adjusted hazard ratio: 0.70, 95% confidence interval: 0.62–0.80, and 0.42, 95% CI: 0.36–0.49, respectively), compared with those with persistently low PA. Notably, the participants with the increasing active trajectory got similar health benefits as those with persistently moderate and high levels of PA.

Conclusion

In addition to persistent PA, increasing PA was linked to a slower decline in motor function and lower risk of incident frailty in the cohort. Our findings suggest that regular PA is never too late.
Study protocol for “MDMA-assisted therapy as a treatment for major depressive disorder: A proof of principle study”
Authors: Kvam Tor-Morten , Goksøyr Ivar W. , Stewart Lowan H. , Repantis Dimitris , Røssberg Jan Ivar , Andreassen Ole A.
Published: October 2022

Background

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a world-leading cause of disability. The available treatments are not effective in all patients, and there is a significant need for more effective treatment options. Here we present the protocol for an investigator-initiated and publicly funded trial of MDMA-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) for MDD. This single-site, open-label study investigates the proof of principle and safety of MDMA-AT in participants with MDD and provides an initial impression of treatment effectiveness.

Methods

A total of 12 participants [>18 years] with DSM-5 diagnosis of MDD will receive a flexible dose of MDMA in a therapeutic setting on two dosing days over a 4 week period preceded by three preparatory sessions. Each MDMA dosing session will be followed by three integration sessions. The primary outcome is change in MDD symptom severity, as measured by the mean change in MADRS scores from Baseline to 8 weeks after the second MDMA session. The secondary outcome is change in functional impairment, as evaluated by the mean change in Sheehan Disability Scale scores from Baseline to 8 weeks after the second MDMA session. Safety measures include vital signs, the incidence of Adverse Events and suicidality as measured by the Colombia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale.

Discussion

This proof of principle trial will inform the development of fully powered clinical trials, optimize the protocol for the administration of MDMA-AT in participants with MDD and explore uncertainties including barriers to recruitment, retention and acceptability of MDMA-AT as a treatment for MDD.

Clinical trial identification

EudraCT number 2021-000805-26.
Gambling-related suicides and suicidality: A systematic review of qualitative evidence
Authors: Marionneau Virve , Nikkinen Janne
Published: October 2022

The relationship between gambling and suicides or suicidality has received much research attention in recent years. Review studies have already mapped the quantitative occurrence of suicide attempts, suicides, and self-harm among gamblers, and found a positive association. Related comorbidities and conditions have also been charted in previous reviews. However, there is still a gap in knowledge regarding the actual processes that connect gambling and suicidal behavior. To understand these processes, the current paper conducts a systematic review of qualitative evidence on gambling-related suicides and suicidality. The aim was to identify the role of gambling as well as of confounding factors in suicidality, and what kind of support suicidal individuals have received or would need. We searched for relevant literature in seven scientific databases. We included all studies that presented empirical qualitative evidence on gambling-related suicide, suicidality and/or self-harm (N= 20). The results show two main processes that connect gambling and suicidal behavior: indebtedness and shame. At the same time, suicide is a multifactorial phenomenon, and related to other confounding factors. These include psychiatric conditions, personality traits, and life conditions. In many cases, these appear to emerge as a consequence of gambling. Treatment for suicidality has been effective in some cases, but indebtedness and shame may also function as barriers to help-seeking. We conclude that effective prevention is needed by adapting a more comprehensive public health approach and population-level interventions.
Association of egg intake with risks of cardiometabolic factors among adults in China
Authors: Jiao Yingying , Li Weiyi , Jiang Hongru , Wang Liusen , Wang Shaoshunzi , Hao Lixin , Jia Xiaofang , Wang Zhihong , Wang Huijun , Zhang Bing , Ding Gangqiang
Published: October 2022

Objective

To explore the association between egg intake and cardiometabolic factors (CMFs) in Chinese adults.

Method

The subjects were 6,182 adults aged 18–64 who had complete survey data and had no CMFs at baseline. Egg intake was assessed with 3 days−24 h dietary recalls in all waves of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Multivariate Cox proportional risk regression model and restricted cubic spline (RCS) model were used to analyze the association and dose-response relationship between egg intake and CMFs.

Results

Of the 6,182 participants who did not have metabolic syndrome (MetS) at baseline, 1,921 developed this disease during an average follow-up of 5.71 years, with an incidence of 31.07%. Central obesity, elevated TG, decreased HDL-C, elevated blood pressure and elevated plasma glucose were 38.65, 26.74, 30.21, 40.64, and 30.64%, respectively. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifestyle, energy and BMI, using the lowest quintile (Q1) as a reference, the risk of central obesity, elevated TG, decreased HDL-C, and elevated plasma glucose in the highest quintile (Q5) were reduced by 15% (HR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.73–0.98, P = 0.16), 33% (HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.57–0.78), 25% (HR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.63 0.90, p = 0.05), and 28% (HR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.63–0.83, p < 0.05), respectively. The risk of elevated blood pressure was reduced by 26% in the fourth quintile (HR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.64–0.85, P = 0.85). RCS analysis show that the overall correlation and nonlinear relationship between egg intake and CMFs were statistically significant (P < 0.05). When the intake was lower than 20 g/days, the risk of MetS, central obesity, elevated blood pressure and elevated plasma glucose were negatively correlated with egg intake, while elevated TG was negatively correlated with eggs when the intake was lower than 60 g/days. There was no statistically significant association between egg intake and CMFs at higher egg intake.

Conclusion

There was a U-shaped association between egg intake and CMFs in Chinese adults.
Change of serum uric acid and progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity among middle aged and older adults: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Li Duanhui , Wang Danyang , Dai Xiaochen , Ni Yujie , Xu Xiaolin
Published: October 2022

Background

Hyperuricemia is prevalent and associated with individual cardiometabolic diseases, highlighting the potential role of serum uric acid (SUA) in the development and progression of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM, the coexistence of diabetes, heart disease, or stroke). This study aimed to examine the role of SUA change in the progression of CMM.

Methods

This prospective cohort study used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, included 4,820 participants aged 45 years or above with three complete surveys at 2011 (baseline), 2015, and 2018. SUA level at survey 2011 and 2015 was used to measure SUA change as keeping or rising to hyperuricemia, and keeping or declining to non-hyperuricemia. CMM progression was defined as the first report of CMM or additional report of cardiometabolic diseases during survey 2015 and 2018. We used logistic regression models to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of SUA change on CMM progression.

Results

During the follow-up of around 7 years, 519 (10.8%) of the participants kept or rose to hyperuricemia from survey 2011 to 2015, and 311 (6.5%) experienced CMM progression from survey 2015 to 2018. Participants who kept or rose to hyperuricemia had 1.86 (95% CI, 1.29, 2.68) increased odds of CMM progression compared with those who kept or declined to non-hyperuricemia. Specifically, keeping or rising to hyperuricemia (vs. keeping or declining to non-hyperuricemia) was associated with 2.01 times higher odds (95% CI, 1.18, 3.43) of incident diabetes and 1.67 times higher odds (OR:1.67; 95% CI, 1.15, 2.43) of incident cardiovascular diseases following diabetes.

Conclusion

Keeping or rising to hyperuricemia was associated with CMM progression, particularly with incident cardiovascular diseases following diabetes. These findings suggest that monitoring SUA change may provide innovative insights into the prevention of CMM, especially in the secondary prevention of CMM (i.e., preventing further progression to cardiovascular diseases among patients with diabetes).
Exploring changes in levels and patterns of physical activity in undergraduate medical and nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Al-Hindawi Ahmed , Kumar Nitya , Gaynor Declan
Published: October 2022

This study reports the physical activity (PA) levels among medical and nursing students at a university in Bahrain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through self-selection sampling of an online survey, participants' data on general demographics, PA levels before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and reasons for PA changes were collected. From the 110 valid responses, 70 participants (63%) experienced a decrease in PA during the COVID-19 lockdown. Fear of contracting COVID-19 and lack of motivation were two significant reasons for reduced PA levels (p < 0.001) compared to those who did not experience a decrease in PA. Other factors significantly associated with reduced PA levels include living alone (p < 0.018) or with roommates (p < 0.006) compared to living with family. Having more time available was associated with positive changes to PA levels (p < 0.001). Significant differences in MET-min/week were seen between students who experienced increased PA (median of 1605 MET-min/week) compared to those who experienced a decrease (424 MET-min/week) or no change (1070 MET-min/week) in PA levels (p < 0.001). In conclusion, low PA levels are prevalent within medical and nursing students in Bahrain (51% reported < 600 MET-min/week), with ~2 in 3 students reporting a decrease in PA levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Support programs and strategies to increase engagement in PA within this population are warranted.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of drug-eluting beads and conventional transarterial chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Shao Guoliang , Wang Jingwen , Zhou Xiaoying , Sun Guojun , Dong Zuojun
Published: October 2022

Objective

To conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of drug-eluting beads transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) and conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (cTACE) for first-line treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system.

Methods

Based on the real-world clinical data of HCC patients receiving interventional therapy, a partitioned survival model was constructed for cost-effectiveness analysis. The model period is 1 month, and the research time limit is 10 years. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) is used as the evaluation index. One-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were used to analyze the uncertainty of parameters to test the stability of the model results.

Results

The ICER of the DEB-TACE group was 11,875.62 $/QALYs, which was lower than the willingness to pay threshold (WTP) of 31,499.23 $/QALYs. One-way sensitivity analysis suggested that the utility value of progression-free survival (PFS) in the DEB-TACE group had the greatest impact. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that at the level of WTP of 31,499.23 $/QALYs, DEB-TACE had a cost-effective probability of 92%.

Conclusion

Under the current economic level in my country, DEB-TACE is more cost-effective than cTACE in the treatment of HCC patients.
Responding to the need of postgraduate education for Planetary Health: Development of an online Master's Degree
Authors: O'Callaghan-Gordo Cristina , Moreno Ariadna , Bosque-Prous Marina , Castro-Sanchez Enrique , Dadvand Payam , Guzmán Carlos A. Faerron , García-Juanatey Ana , Gascon Mireia , Grau Oriol , Jordana Jacint , Lowe Rachel , March Hug , Medina F. Xavier , Mélon Lela , Navas Grettel , Núñez Casal Andrea , Ruiz-Mallén Isabel , Sánchez-Valdivia Nacho , Tonne Cathryn , Triguero-Mas Margarita , Zografos Christos , Antó Josep M.
Published: October 2022

Planetary Health has emerged as a new approach to respond to the existential risks that the clime and global environmental crises pose to human societies. As stated by various stakeholders, the challenges involved in Planetary Health are of such magnitude that education must be at the forefront to obtain a meaningful response. Universities and higher education institutions have been specifically called to embed the concept of planetary stewardship in all curricula and train the next generation of researchers and change makers as a matter of urgency. As a response to this call, the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) developed the first online and asynchronous Master in Science (MSc) in Planetary Health. The aim of the programme is to train a new generation of academics and professionals who understand the challenges of Planetary Health and have tools to tackle them. This article describes the development of the curriculum of this MSc, presents the main characteristics of the programme and discusses some of the challenges encountered in the development of the programme and its implementation. The design of this MSc was based on: the alignment of the programme with the principles for Planetary Health education with a focus on human health; a multi-, inter-, and trans-disciplinary approach; the urgency to respond to the Anthropocene challenges; and the commitment to the 2030 Agenda. The MSc was recognized as an official degree by the Agency for Quality of the Catalan University System, included in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education, and the Spanish National Academic Coordination body in April 2021 and launched in October 2021. There are currently more than 50 students enrolled in the program coming from a broad range of disciplines and geographic locations. The information presented in this article and the discussion on challenges encountered in developing and implementing the programme can be useful for those working in the development of similar programs.
How do moral hazard behaviors lead to the waste of medical insurance funds? An empirical study from China
Authors: Qin Yinghua , Liu Jingjing , Li Jiacheng , Wang Rizhen , Guo Pengfei , Liu Huan , Kang Zheng , Wu Qunhong
Published: October 2022

Objective

The huge loss of health insurance funds has been a topic of concern around the world. This study aims to explore the network of moral hazard activities and the attribution mechanisms that lead to the loss of medical insurance funds.

Methods

Data were derived from 314 typical cases of medical insurance moral hazards reported on Chinese government official websites. Social network analysis (SNA) was utilized to visualize the network structure of the moral hazard activities, and crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis (cs/QCA) was conducted to identify conditional configurations leading to funding loss in cases.

Results

In the moral hazard activity network of medical insurance funds, more than 50% of immoral behaviors mainly occur in medical service institutions. Designated private hospitals (degree centrality = 33, closeness centrality = 0.851) and primary medical institutions (degree centrality = 30, closeness centrality = 0.857) are the main offenders that lead to the core problem of medical insurance fraud (degree centrality = 50, eigenvector centrality = 1). Designated public hospitals (degree centrality = 27, closeness centrality = 0.865) are main contributor to another important problem that illegal medical charges (degree centrality = 26, closeness centrality = 0.593). Non-medical insurance items swap medical insurance items (degree centrality = 28), forged medical records (degree centrality = 25), false hospitalization (degree centrality = 24), and overtreatment (degree centrality = 23) are important immoral nodes. According to the results of cs/QCA, low-economic pressure, low informatization, insufficient policy intervention, and organization such as public medical institutions, were the high-risk conditional configuration of opportunism; and high-economic pressure, insufficient policy intervention, and organizations, such as public medical institutions and high violation rates, were the high-risk conditional configuration of risky adventurism (solution coverage = 31.03%, solution consistency = 90%).

Conclusion

There are various types of moral hazard activities in medical insurance, which constitute a complex network of behaviors. Most moral hazard activities happen in medical institutions. Opportunism lack of regulatory technology and risky adventurism with economic pressure are two types causing high loss of funds, and the cases of high loss mainly occur before the government implemented intervention. The government should strengthen the regulatory intervention and improve the level of informatization for monitoring the moral hazard of medical insurance funds, especially in areas with low economic development and high incident rates, and focus on monitoring the behaviors of major medical services providers.
Fermented foods as alternative functional foods during post-pandemic in Asia
Authors: Wan-Mohtar Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad , Ilham Zul , Jamaludin Adi Ainurzaman , David Wahyudi , Mohd Zaini Nurul Aqilah
Published: October 2022

According to research on the COVID-19 pandemic, consumption of a variety of foods, drinks, nutritional supplements, and other substances that could assist the immune system’s defense against the disease is advised. Among these, fermented foods, an age-old method of food preservation, especially in Asia offer better advantages. Fermented foods provide diversity in food products, having unique flavors and aromas as well as acting as functional foods. In other words, fermentation may lessen the effects of COVID-19 by boosting the antioxidant activity of foods and increase immunity by improving digestion, especially in Asia. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the therapeutic responses of fermented foods and the relationship of respective bioactivities toward disease prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been suggested that traditional fermented foods in Asian countries could increase immunity and act as a first line of defense against the potential COVID-19 infection.
Multi-agent task allocation for harvest management
Authors: Harman Helen , Sklar Elizabeth I.
Published: October 2022

Multi-agent task allocation methods seek to distribute a set of tasks fairly amongst a set of agents. In real-world settings, such as soft fruit farms, human labourers undertake harvesting tasks. The harvesting workforce is typically organised by farm manager(s) who assign workers to the fields that are ready to be harvested and team leaders who manage the workers in the fields. Creating these assignments is a dynamic and complex problem, as the skill of the workforce and the yield (quantity of ripe fruit picked) are variable and not entirely predictable. The work presented here posits that multi-agent task allocation methods can assist farm managers and team leaders to manage the harvesting workforce effectively and efficiently. There are three key challenges faced when adapting multi-agent approaches to this problem: (i) staff time (and thus cost) should be minimised; (ii) tasks must be distributed fairly to keep staff motivated; and (iii) the approach must be able to handle incremental (incomplete) data as the season progresses. An adapted variation of Round Robin (RR) is proposed for the problem of assigning workers to fields, and market-based task allocation mechanisms are applied to the challenge of assigning tasks to workers within the fields. To evaluate the approach introduced here, experiments are performed based on data that was supplied by a large commercial soft fruit farm for the past two harvesting seasons. The results demonstrate that our approach produces appropriate worker-to-field allocations. Moreover, simulated experiments demonstrate that there is a “sweet spot” with respect to the ratio between two types of in-field workers.