bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances in the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis and Drug Resistance
Authors: Şahin Füsun
Published: February 2023

Countries in which tuberculosis (TB) is common are countries with lower economical conditions and less laboratory opportunities, so diagnostic tests for tuberculosis should not only be rapid and sensitive, but they should also be cheap, reliable and easily applicable. Current initiatives targeting the development of new diagnostic tests have increased the pace of identification and testing of a number of potentially useful innovations. Novel diagnostic methods for use in TB epidemiological studies are highly desirable. Detection of mycobacterial species (excluding Mycobacterium tuberculosis) using molecular methods is cheaper and simpler than conventional cultural detection, however, culture is still the gold standard in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB); even molecular and non-molecular tests cannot replace it. Results of molecular and non-molecular methods should be evaluated together with culture, microscopy, and clinical findings. When using these tests (conventional methods for example microscopy and culture; phagotypic and chromatographic methods; molecular methods for example nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAAT) and solid-phase hybridisation assays; serology) in a country with limited economical resources, cost/effectiveness analysis should be made carefully. This review examines the recent advances in the diagnosis of MTB in humans.
Questões formais e técnicas a serem observadas na nota técnica SEI 14127/2021-ME no contexto da pandemia da COVID-19
Authors: Horcades Ana Luiza , Abreu Larissa , Wittich Felipe
Published: February 2023

Os desafios decorrentes da pandemia da COVID-19 exigiram diversas adaptações em todas as esferas, na tentativa de reduzir os impactos da disseminação do novo coronavírus. Grande número de normativos foram criados, com o intuito de complementar os dispositivos vigentes e facilitar tanto a atuação da máquina pública, quanto do administrado. A estrutura basilar da legislação de saúde e segurança no trabalho encontra-se nas normas regulamentadoras, que já preveem metodologia de análise de risco e a tomada de medidas com relação aos mais diversos riscos decorrentes da atividade laboral. No entanto, entre os numerosos dispositivos normativos editados visando o combate à pandemia, foi publicada a Nota Técnica SEI 14.127/2021 em março de 2021, gerando grande conflito de entendimentos acerca do risco de exposição ocupacional a este agente biológico, sob a alegação de contrariar dispositivos presentes nas normas regulamentadoras. Tais conflitos foram verificados tanto entre os administrados quanto entre os operadores do direito, em especial com relação ao ponto de que não existiria obrigação legal que imponha a inclusão das medidas para prevenção da COVID-19 no Programa de Controle Médico de Saúde Ocupacional (PCMSO). Nesta seara foram publicadas numerosas manifestações diametralmente distintas, por órgãos e veículos variados, motivo pelo qual faz-se esta análise técnica e legal da obrigatoriedade da inclusão das medidas de prevenção relativas ao novo coronavírus nos programas de saúde e segurança no trabalho desenvolvidos nas organizações, em especial no que diz respeito ao Programa de Gerenciamento de Riscos (PGR) e no Programa de Controle Médico e Saúde Ocupacional (PCMSO).
Autônomos ou empregados? Exame das condições de trabalho na plataforma digital Rappi
Authors: Torres Diogo , Magalhães João Pedro Oliveira , Gomes Silvia Helena Coelho , Souza Vanessa Cunha de
Published: February 2023

O artigo objetiva analisar as condições de trabalho dos entregadores da Rappi em âmbito nacional ao averiguar qual a natureza jurídica da prestação de serviço realizada pelos entregadores no bojo da plataforma. O texto examina 102 questionários de trabalhadores colhidas no Projeto PIBIC na UFBA, sobre as condições de trabalho na plataforma Rappi. Para realizar tal exame, este trabalho apresenta um panorama teórico sobre a plataformização do trabalho, que servirá de base para a análise da realidade observada. A partir disso, investiga-se as contradições presentes entre os termos de uso da plataforma e os relatos dos entregadores sobre seu trabalho. Dessa forma, o trabalho faz um estudo da Rappi como plataforma digital, analisa os termos de uso e o funcionamento da plataforma, apresenta os dados da pesquisa da empírica e, por fim, realiza a análise sobre o enquadramento trabalhista dos entregadores. Os resultados parciais dessa pesquisa indicam que o perfil majoritário dos entregadores corresponde ao entregador que labora mais de 44 (quarenta e quatro) horas semanais, ganha valor aproximado a dois salários-mínimos/hora, não faz o cálculo de abatimento dos custos para desenvolvimento da atividade, sofreu algum tipo de bloqueio ou punição e reconhece que há controle da plataforma, todavia, não se considera empregado.
Beyond sterile neutrinos and Pontecorvo framework
Authors: Ahluwalia Dharam
Published: February 2023

Classically forbidden regions (CFRs) are common to both non-relativistic quantum mechanics, and to relativistic quantum field theory. It is known since 2001 that CFRcontributes roughly sixteen percent of energy to the ground state of a simple harmonic oscillator. Similarly, quantum field theoretic arguments yield a non-zero amplitude for a massive particle to cross the light cone (that is, into the CFR). The sign of these amplitudes are opposite for fermions and antifermions. This has given rise to an erroneous conclusion that amplitude to cross the lightcone is identically zero. This is true as long as a measurement does not reveal the considered object to be a particle or antiparticle. However, neutrino oscillation experiments do measure a neutrino $\nu$, or an antineutrino $\bar\nu$. Here we show that in the context of neutrino oscillations these observations have the potential to resolve various short baseline anomalies for a sufficiently light lowest mass eigenstate
How is Mendelian genetics taught in Malawi?
Authors:   School of Education, University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi, Mbano Nellie , Chitundu Pascal ,   Chinsapo Secondary School, Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Lilongwe, Malawi, Nampota Dorothy Cynthia ,   Malawi National Examination Board, Zomba, Malawi
Published: February 2023

Understanding genetics, an important topic in the study of biology, is critical for scientific literacy in agriculture, health, and forensic investigations. However, it has been observed that teachers find genetics difficult to teach and pupils do not perform well in it. Teachers can use expository teaching or active learning methods, but the secondary school curriculum in Malawi advocates the latter. The aim of this study was to find out how genetics is taught and how teachers justify their choice of method. This study used a multi-case design involving six teachers and observed their Mendelian genetics lessons and asked them to justify their choice of teaching method. The findings show that teachers mostly use expository methods utilising lecture and question and answer teaching techniques. Contextual factors such as large classes, limited teaching time, and lack of resources were cited as reasons for their choice of expository techniques. In addition, they said that the topic was abstract and learners could not construct their own understanding. Furthermore, they indicated that they did not know what activities to arrange for the learners. The paper discusses the difficulties experienced in implementing active learning methods in teaching genetics and recommends possible avenues for teacher education and further research in Malawi.
Lebanese Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions of the Tentativeness and Evidence of the Theory of Evolution
Authors:   Andrews Institute of Mathematics & Science Education, College of Education, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, Hokayem Hayat , Fayad Christelle ,   Andrews Institute of Mathematics & Science Education, College of Education, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas
Published: February 2023

Research has previously examined the role of the epistemological background of students in accepting or rejecting the theory of evolution. In this study, the participants were 11 undergraduate biology major students in a private university in Beirut, Lebanon. We collected data through semi-structured interviews, and we extracted the patterns regarding how they perceived tentativeness, what constituted acceptable evidence for them to accept the theory of evolution and the role of religion in their lives. Our findings indicated that, unlike their professor, students uncertain about the theory or rejecting it did so due to the tentative nature of science. They also rejected historical evidence as valid evidence in science, struggled to form a cooperative relationship between evolution and religion and refused common decent because they considered humans as superior organisms. We discuss the implications of those results for curriculum and instruction.
Transitioning Between Reform-Based Curricula: A Middle School Teacher’s Construction of a Science Teaching Identity
Authors:   Department of Teacher Education, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, Kozoll Richard , Ower Peter ,   Science Department, Wilmette Junior High School District 39, Wilmette, Illinois
Published: February 2023

Research-based science curriculum has become a common means of supporting best practices in science teaching. In response to his middle school’s transition from one such commercially available science curriculum to another, a seventh-grade science teacher elected to make certain changes to the newly adopted curriculum in its first year of use. These curricular adaptations took place despite a district directive to pilot the curriculum without making any such changes. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand this teacher’s lived experience adapting the curriculum. The values that guided this teacher’s curricular decisions situated his lifeworld construction of a science teaching identity around an unremitting pedagogy that maintained his use of best practices. His identity construct further exposed certain self-understandings he held as a science teacher and understandings of his students as science learners. It was the intersection of these pedagogical values with those understandings of his students and himself that supported these curricular changes, providing the backdrop for his identity construct. Therefore, the construction of a science teaching identity, which relies on this intersection, offers deepened insight into teachers’ implementation of reform-based curriculum.
The formation and consequences of cholesterol-rich deposits in atherosclerotic lesions
Authors: Maxfield Frederick R. , Steinfeld Noah , Ma Cheng-I J.
Published: February 2023

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death throughout the world. Accumulation of lipoprotein-associated lipids and their interaction with macrophages are early steps in the development of atherosclerotic lesions. For decades, it has been known that aggregates of lipoproteins in the subendothelial space are found in early plaques, and these aggregates are tightly associated with extracellular matrix fibers. Additionally, most of the cholesterol in these subendothelial aggregates is unesterified, in contrast to the core of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), in which cholesteryl esters predominate. This suggests that the hydrolysis of cholesteryl esters occurs extracellularly. At the cellular level, macrophages in early plaques engage with the LDL and ingest large amounts of cholesterol, which is esterified and stored in lipid droplets. When excessive lipid droplets have accumulated, endoplasmic reticulum stress responses are activated, leading to cell death. The cholesterol-laden dead cells must be cleared by other macrophages. For many years, it was unclear how unesterified (free) cholesterol could be formed extracellularly in early lesions. Papers in the past decade have shown that macrophages form tightly sealed extracellular attachments to aggregates of LDL. These sealed regions become acidified, and lysosomal contents are secreted into these compartments. Lysosomal acid lipase hydrolyzes the cholesteryl esters, and the free cholesterol is transported into the macrophages. High concentrations of cholesterol can also lead to formation of crystals of cholesterol hydrate, and these crystals have been observed in atherosclerotic blood vessels. Characterization of this process may lead to novel therapies for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.
Transcriptome analysis reveals the regulation of cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels in response to exogenous abscisic acid and calcium treatment under drought stress in tomato
Authors: Shi Jinyan , Du Xiangge
Published: February 2023

Background: Drought stress can limit the growth and development of tomato seedlings and cause considerable loss of tomato yield. Exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) and calcium (Ca2+) can effectively alleviate the damage of drought stress to plants in part because Ca2+ acts as a second messenger in the drought resistance pathway. Although cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels (CNGCs) are common non-specific Ca2+ osmotic channels in cell membranes, a thorough understanding of the transcriptome characteristics of tomato treated with exogenous ABA and Ca2+ under drought stress is necessary to characterize the molecular mechanism of CNGC involved in tomato drought resistance.

Results: There were 12,896 differentially expressed genes in tomato under drought stress, as well as 11,406 and 12,502 differentially expressed genes after exogenous ABA and Ca2+ application, respectively. According to functional annotations and reports, the 19 SlCNGC genes related to Ca2+ transport were initially screened, with 11 SlCNGC genes that were upregulated under drought stress and downregulated after exogenous ABA application. After exogenous Ca2+ application, the data showed that two of these genes were upregulated, while nine genes were downregulated. Based on these expression patterns, we predicted the role of SlCNGC genes in the drought resistance pathway and their regulation by exogenous ABA and Ca2+ in tomato.

Conclusion: The results of this study provide foundational data for further study of the function of SlCNGC genes and a more comprehensive understanding of drought resistance mechanisms in tomato.
Computer-aided classification of indirect immunofluorescence patterns on esophagus and split skin for the detection of autoimmune dermatoses
Authors: Hocke Jens , Krauth Jens , Krause Christopher , Gerlach Stefan , Warnemünde Nicole , Affeldt Kai , van Beek Nina , Schmidt Enno , Voigt Jörn
Published: February 2023

Autoimmune bullous dermatoses (AIBD) are rare diseases that affect human skin and mucous membranes. Clinically, they are characterized by blister formation and/or erosions. Depending on the structures involved and the depth of blister formation, they are grouped into pemphigus diseases, pemphigoid diseases, and dermatitis herpetiformis. Classification of AIBD into their sub-entities is crucial to guide treatment decisions. One of the most sensitive screening methods for initial differentiation of AIBD is the indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) microscopy on tissue sections of monkey esophagus and primate salt-split skin, which are used to detect disease-specific autoantibodies. Interpretation of IIF patterns requires a detailed examination of the image by trained professionals automating this process is a challenging task with these highly complex tissue substrates, but offers the great advantage of an objective result. Here, we present computer-aided classification of esophagus and salt-split skin IIF images. We show how deep networks can be adapted to the specifics and challenges of IIF image analysis by incorporating segmentation of relevant regions into the prediction process, and demonstrate their high accuracy. Using this semi-automatic extension can reduce the workload of professionals when reading tissue sections in IIF testing. Furthermore, these results on highly complex tissue sections show that further integration of semi-automated workflows into the daily workflow of diagnostic laboratories is promising.
Quantitative pupillary light reflex assessment for prognosis of carbon monoxide poisoning
Authors: Cha Yong Sung , Ko Sang-Bae , Go Tae-Hwa , Lee Dong Keon
Published: February 2023

Background

A non-reactive pupil in standard pupillary light reflex (sPLR) is regarded as a factor predicting neurological sequelae at 1-month after carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. An automated pupillometer is used in the intensive care unit to quantitatively assess PLR. Quantitative PLR (qPLR) was superior to sPLR using penlight for prognosis of various neurological diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze whether quantitative pupillary variables (neurological Pupil index [NPi] and qPLR) are superior to sPLR in predicting 1-month neurocognitive sequelae after acute CO poisoning.

Methods

We performed a prospective observational study of consecutive patients with acute CO poisoning admitted to an emergency department (ED) between August 2019 and December 2020 in a single academic medical center. sPLR and pupillometer examinations (qPLR and NPi) were performed by emergency physicians at the ED on hospital days 0–2. The lowest values among those recorded within 24 h and during the total measurement period were considered the 24-h and total lowest values, respectively. Global Deterioration Scale scores were measured at 1 month as an outcome and were dichotomized into favorable (1–4) or poor (5–7) outcomes.

Results

We analyzed the data of 104 adult patients with acute CO poisoning. qPLR was significantly higher in the favorable outcome group than in the poor outcome group 24-h and total lowest values (21.2% vs. 15.0%, p = 0.006 and 21.0% vs. 14.8%, p = 0.006). qPLR <18% had fair predictive power for poor neurocognitive outcomes [area under the curve (AUC), 0.70; 95% confidence interval (0.60–0.78)]. Among the patients with decreased mental status (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤12), the power of NPi and qPLR increased [AUC, 0.72 and AUC, 0.80]. NPi < 1 and qPLR <18% showed sensitivity (9.5% vs. 76.2%) and specificity (98.8% vs. 67.5%) for the prediction of poor outcomes. qPLR was significantly superior to sPLR in predicting poor neurocognitive outcomes at 1 month after CO poisoning (p = 0.007).

Conclusion

qPLR and NPi were superior to sPLR in terms of predicting poor neurocognitive outcomes. qPLR and NPi measured from hospital days 0–2 may be valuable in predicting neurocognitive outcome.
Obesity and renal disease: Benefits of bariatric surgery
Authors: Ardiles Leopoldo G.
Published: February 2023

The prevalence of obesity, a preventable and reversible condition with a high impact on health, continues to rise, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Severe overweight is well recognized as a risk factor for diabetes and hypertension, among other conditions, that may increase cardiovascular risk. Obesity has grown simultaneously with a rise in the prevalence of chronic kidney disease, and a pathophysiological link has been established, which explains its role in generating the conditions to facilitate the emergence and maximize the impact of the risk factors of chronic kidney disease and its progression to more advanced stages. Knowing the mechanisms involved and having different tools to reverse the overweight and its consequences, bariatric surgery has arisen as a useful and efficient method, complementary or alternative to others, such as lifestyle changes and/or pharmacotherapy. In a detailed review, the mechanisms involved in the renal consequences of obesity, the impact on risk factors, and the potential benefit of bariatric surgery at different stages of the disease and its progression are exposed and analyzed. Although the observational evidence supports the value of bariatric surgery as a renoprotective measure in individuals with obesity, diabetic or not, randomized studies are expected to establish evidence-based recommendations that demonstrate its positive risk–benefit balance as a complementary or alternative therapeutic tool.
Consequences of spinal cord injury on the sympathetic nervous system
Authors: Wulf Mariah J. , Tom Veronica J.
Published: February 2023

Spinal cord injury (SCI) damages multiple structures at the lesion site, including ascending, descending, and propriospinal axons; interrupting the conduction of information up and down the spinal cord. Additionally, axons associated with the autonomic nervous system that control involuntary physiological functions course through the spinal cord. Moreover, sympathetic, and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons reside in the spinal cord. Thus, depending on the level of an SCI, autonomic function can be greatly impacted by the trauma resulting in dysfunction of various organs. For example, SCI can lead to dysregulation of a variety of organs, such as the pineal gland, the heart and vasculature, lungs, spleen, kidneys, and bladder. Indeed, it is becoming more apparent that many disorders that negatively affect quality-of-life for SCI individuals have a basis in dysregulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Here, we will review how SCI impacts the sympathetic nervous system and how that negatively impacts target organs that receive sympathetic innervation. A deeper understanding of this may offer potential therapeutic insight into how to improve health and quality-of-life for those living with SCI.
Role of LDL-C level alteration in increased mortality risks in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Jing , Li Gang , Zhu Yajun , Lei Xingwei , Chen Guihu , Zhang Jiachun , Sun Xiaochuan
Published: February 2023

Background

Current studies indicate a contradictory relationship between decreased mortality risks of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Thus, this meta-analysis was designed to examine the involvement of high LDL-C levels in a lower mortality risk of sICH patients.

Methods

PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched up to the date of August 3rd, 2022. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated for the higher vs. lower serum LDL-C level groups. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also carried out. Egger's test was applied to detect any potential publication bias.

Results

Of 629 citations reviewed, 8 eligible cohort studies involving 83,013 patients were enrolled in this meta-analysis. Compared with lower serum LDL-C levels containing patients, higher serum LDL-C patients exhibited significantly decreased risks of 3-month mortality (OR: 0.51; 95%CI: 0.33–0.78; I2 = 47.8%); however, the LDL-C level change wasn't significantly associated with in-hospital mortality risks (OR: 0.92; 95%CI: 0.63–1.33; I2 = 91.4%) among sICH subjects. All studies included were classified as high-quality investigations.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis suggests a higher LDL-C level may decrease the mortality risk in sICH patients. LDL-C level increase is inversely associated with the 3-month mortality risks in these patients but not significantly correlated with the in-hospital mortality risks. Further well-designed prospective studies with extended follow-up periods are needed to confirm these findings and explore underlying cross-talks.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022318318, identifier: PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022318318.
Global and local priming in a multi-modal context
Authors: List Alexandra
Published: February 2023

Perceptual information can be processed at many different scales, from featural details to entire scenes. Attentional selection of different scales has been studied using hierarchical stimuli, with research elucidating a variety of biases in local and global attentional selection (due to, e.g., stimulus properties, brain injury, and experience). In this study, the emphasis is on biases produced through recent experience, or level-specific priming effects, which have been demonstrated within both the visual and auditory modalities. Namely, when individuals attend to local information, they are subsequently biased to attend locally (and similarly so with global attention). Here, these level-specific priming effects are investigated in a multi-modal context to determine whether cross-modal interactions occur between visual and auditory modalities during hierarchical processing. Specifically, the study addresses if attentional selection of local or global information in the visual modality subsequently biases auditory attentional selection to that level, and vice versa (i.e., level-priming). Though expected identity priming effects emerged in the study, no cross-modal level-priming effects manifested. Furthermore, the multi-modal context eliminated the well-established within-modality level-specific priming effects. Thus, though the study does reveal a multi-modal effect, it was not a level-based effect. Instead, paradoxically, the multi-modal context eliminated attentional scope biases (i.e., level-priming) within uni-modal transitions. In other words, when visual and auditory information are equally likely require attention, no persistence emerges for processing local or global information over time, even within a single modality.
Multivariate analysis differentiates intertemporal choices in both value and cognitive control network
Authors: Ye Yuting , Wang Yanqing
Published: February 2023

Choices between immediate smaller reward and long-term larger reward are referred to as intertemporal choice. Numerous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have investigated the neural substrates of intertemporal choice via conventional univariate analytical approaches, revealing dissociable activations of decisions involving immediately available rewards and decisions involving delayed rewards in value network. With the help of multivariate analyses, which is more sensitive for evaluating information encoded in spatially distributed patterns, we showed that fMRI activity patterns represent viable signatures of intertemporal choice, as well as individual differences while controlling for age. Notably, in addition to value network, regions from cognitive control network play prominent roles in differentiating between different intertemporal choices as well as individuals with distinct discount rates. These findings provide clear evidence that substantiates the important role of value and cognitive control networks in the neural representation of one’s intertemporal decisions.
Multiple step saccades are generated by internal real-time saccadic error correction
Authors: Ma Wenbo , Zhang Mingsha
Published: February 2023

Objectives

Multiple step saccades (MSSs) are an atypical form of saccade that consists of a series of small-amplitude saccades. It has been argued that the mechanism for generating MSS is due to the automatic saccadic plan. This argument was based on the observation that trials with MSS had shorter saccadic latency than trials without MSS in the reactive saccades. However, the validity of this argument has never been verified by other saccadic tasks. Alternatively, we and other researchers have speculated that the function of MSS is the same as that of the corrective saccade (CS), i.e., to correct saccadic errors. Thus, we propose that the function of the MSS is also to rectify saccadic errors and generated by forward internal models. The objective of the present study is to examine whether the automatic theory is universally applicable for the generation of MSSs in various saccadic tasks and to seek other possible mechanisms, such as error correction by forward internal models.

Methods

Fifty young healthy subjects (YHSs) and fifty elderly healthy subjects (EHSs) were recruited in the present study. The task paradigms were prosaccade (PS), anti-saccade (AS) and memory-guided saccade (MGS) tasks.

Results

Saccadic latency in trials with MSS was shorter than without MSS in the PS task but similar in the AS and MGS tasks. The intersaccadic intervals (ISI) were similar among the three tasks in both YHSs and EHSs.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that the automatic theory is not a universal mechanism. Instead, the forward internal model for saccadic error correction might be an important mechanism.
Exposure to a sensory functional ingredient in the pig model modulates the blood-oxygen-level dependent brain responses to food odor and acute stress during pharmacological MRI in the frontostriatal and limbic circuits
Authors: Briard Emmanuelle , Serrand Yann , Dahirel Patrice , Janvier Régis , Noirot Virginie , Etienne Pierre , Coquery Nicolas , Eliat Pierre-Antoine , Val-Laillet David
Published: February 2023

Introduction

In the present study, we examined the effects of a supplementation with a sensory functional ingredient (FI, D16729, Phodé, France) containing vanillin, furaneol, diacetyl and a mixture of aromatic fatty acids on the behavioural and brain responses of juvenile pigs to acute stress.

Methods

Twenty-four pigs were fed from weaning with a standard granulated feed supplemented with the functional ingredient D16729 (FS animals, N = 12) or a control formulation (CT animals, N = 12). After a feed transition (10 days after weaning), the effects of FI were investigated on eating behaviour during two-choice feed preference tests. Emotional reactivity to acute stress was then investigated during openfield (OF), novel suddenly moving object (NSO), and contention tests. Brain responses to the FI and the two different feeds’ odour, as well as to an acute pharmacological stressor (injection of Synacthen®) were finally investigated with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Results

FS animals tended to spend more time above the functional feed (p = 0.06) and spent significantly more time at the periphery of the arena during NSO (p < 0.05). Their latency to contact the novel object was longer and they spent less time exploring the object compared to CT animals (p < 0.05 for both). Frontostriatal and limbic responses to the FI were influenced by previous exposure to FI, with higher activation in FS animals exposed to the FI feed odor compared to CT animals exposed to a similarly familiar feed odor without FI. The pharmacological acute stress provoked significant brain activations in the prefrontal and thalamic areas, which were alleviated in FS animals that also showed more activity in the nucleus accumbens. Finally, the acute exposure to FI in naive animals modulated their brain responses to acute pharmacological stress.

Discussion

Overall, these results showed how previous habituation to the FI can modulate the brain areas involved in food pleasure and motivation while alleviating the brain responses to acute stress.
Feeding/Eating problems in children: Who does (not) benefit after behavior therapy? A retrospective chart review
Authors: Dumont Eric , Jansen Anita , Duker Pieter C. , Seys Daniel M. , Broers Nick J. , Mulkens Sandra
Published: February 2023

Background

Treating disordered feeding at a young age reduces risks of future feeding problems, but not all children profit equally; can we define predictors of a worse prognosis?

Objectives

In 252 children, with a mean age of 4; 7 years (SD = 3 years; range 5 months to 17; 10 years), who had undergone behavioral day treatment in the past, several variables were investigated, retrieved from initial consultation (t1) and re-assessed at follow-up (t2).

Method

Logistic regressions were carried out with sex, gastro-intestinal problems, refusal of the first nutrition, syndrome/intellectual disability, Down's syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, comorbidity of medical diseases (other than gastro-intestinal problems), restrictive caloric food intake and selective food intake, as the predictor variables from t1, and age-appropriate food intake at t2 as the dependent variable. The potential role of sensory processing problems was reviewed at t2.

Results

About 73% had improved towards an age-appropriate food intake. Sex (boys), syndrome/intellectual disability, and a lack of varied nutritional intake at t1 were predictors of a worse prognosis. We found a small, but significant correlation between current selective eating patterns and general sensory processing problems.

Conclusion

Feeding disordered children, especially boys, with intellectual disabilities or selective eating patterns are at risk for not achieving an age-adequate food intake at a later age, despite behavioral treatment.
Molecular identification and physiological functional analysis of NtNRT1.1B that mediated nitrate long-distance transport and improved plant growth when overexpressed in tobacco
Authors: Wu Changzheng , Xiang Yucheng , Huang Pingjun , Zhang Mingfa , Fang Ming , Yang Weiqin , Li Wenrui , Cao Fengchun , Liu Lai-Hua , Pu Wenxuan , Duan Shuhui
Published: February 2023

Although recent physiological studies demonstrate that flue-cured tobacco preferentially utilizes nitrate (NO3−) or ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and possesses both high- and low-affinity uptake systems for NO3−, little is known about the molecular component(s) responsible for acquisition and translocation in this crop. Here we provide experimental data showing that NtNRT1.1B with a 1,785-bp coding sequence exhibited a function in mediating NO3− transport associated with tobacco growth on NO3− nutrition. Heterologous expression of NtNRT1.1B in the NO3− uptake-defective yeast Hp△ynt1 enabled a growth recovery of the mutant on 0.5 mM NO3−, suggesting a possible molecular function of NtNRT1.1B in the import of NO3− into cells. Transient expression of NtNRT1.1B::green fluorescent protein (GFP) in tobacco leaf cells revealed that NtNRT1.1B targeted mainly the plasma membrane, indicating the possibility of NO3− permeation across cell membranes via NtNRT1.1B. Furthermore, promoter activity assays using a GFP marker clearly indicated that NtNRT1.1B transcription in roots may be down-regulated by N starvation and induced by N resupply, including NO3−, after 3 days’ N depletion. Significantly, constitutive overexpression of NtNRT1.1B could remarkably enhance tobacco growth by showing a higher accumulation of biomass and total N, NO3−, and even NH4+ in plants supplied with NO3−; this NtNRT1.1B-facilitated N acquisition/accumulation could be strengthened by short-term 15N-NO3− root influx assays, which showed 15%–20% higher NO3− deposition in NtNRT1.1B-overexpressors as well as a high affinity of NtNRT1.1B for NO3− at a Km of around 30–45 µM. Together with the detection of NtNRT1.1B promoter activity in the root stele and shoot–stem vascular tissues, and higher NO3− in both xylem exudate and the apoplastic washing fluid of NtNRT1.1B-transgenic lines, NtNRT1.1B could be considered as a valuable molecular breeding target aiming at improving crop N-use efficiency by manipulating the absorption and long-distance distribution/transport of nitrate, thus adding a new functional homolog as a nitrate permease to the plant NRT1 family.
A MYB-related transcription factor from peanut, AhMYB30, improves freezing and salt stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis through both DREB/CBF and ABA-signaling pathways
Authors: Chen Na , Pan Lijuan , Yang Zhen , Su Maowen , Xu Jing , Jiang Xiao , Yin Xiangzhen , Wang Tong , Wan Feifei , Chi Xiaoyuan
Published: February 2023

Abiotic stresses such as salinity and low temperature have serious impact on peanut growth and yield. The present work investigated the function of a MYB-related transcription factor gene AhMYB30 obtained from peanut under salt and low temperature stresses by transgenic methods. The results indicated that the overexpression of AhMYB30 in Arabidopsis could enhance the resistance of transgenic plants to freezing and salt stresses. The expression of stress-response genes RD29A (Response-to-Dehydration 29A), COR15A (Cold-Regulated 15A), KIN1 (Kinesin 1) and ABI2 (Abscisic acid Insensitive 2) increased in transgenic plants compared with in wild-type. Subcellular localization and transcriptional autoactivation validation demonstrated that AhMYB30 has essential features of transcription factors. Therefore, AhMYB30 may increase salt and freezing stress tolerance as the transcription factor (TF) in Arabidopsis through both DREB/CBF and ABA-signaling pathways. Our results lay the theoretical foundation for exploring stress resistance mechanisms of peanut and offering novel genetic resources for molecular breeding.
Cognitive bias and how to improve sustainable decision making
Authors: Korteling Johan. E. (Hans) , Paradies Geerte L. , Sassen-van Meer Josephine P.
Published: February 2023

The rapid advances of science and technology have provided a large part of the world with all conceivable needs and comfort. However, this welfare comes with serious threats to the planet and many of its inhabitants. An enormous amount of scientific evidence points at global warming, mass destruction of bio-diversity, scarce resources, health risks, and pollution all over the world. These facts are generally acknowledged nowadays, not only by scientists, but also by the majority of politicians and citizens. Nevertheless, this understanding has caused insufficient changes in our decision making and behavior to preserve our natural resources and to prevent upcoming (natural) disasters. In the present study, we try to explain how systematic tendencies or distortions in human judgment and decision-making, known as “cognitive biases,” contribute to this situation. A large body of literature shows how cognitive biases affect the outcome of our deliberations. In natural and primordial situations, they may lead to quick, practical, and satisfying decisions, but these decisions may be poor and risky in a broad range of modern, complex, and long-term challenges, like climate change or pandemic prevention. We first briefly present the social-psychological characteristics that are inherent to (or typical for) most sustainability issues. These are: experiential vagueness, long-term effects, complexity and uncertainty, threat of the status quo, threat of social status, personal vs. community interest, and group pressure. For each of these characteristics, we describe how this relates to cognitive biases, from a neuro-evolutionary point of view, and how these evolved biases may affect sustainable choices or behaviors of people. Finally, based on this knowledge, we describe influence techniques (interventions, nudges, incentives) to mitigate or capitalize on these biases in order to foster more sustainable choices and behaviors.
Exploration on the optimization of occupational injury and employment protection of takeout workers in the context of public health
Authors: Wang Qifan , Liu Qingyu , Zhu Tianyi
Published: February 2023

With the acceleration of the pace of urban life and the development of information technology, the takeout industry has emerged as the times require, which obtains intermediate costs by distributing goods to consumers. People pay more and more attention to public health, which requires takeout workers to drive as fast as possible to ensure the quality and safety of goods, but it also makes takeout workers suffer from various occupational injuries, such as car accidents, stomach diseases caused by eating disorders and long-term psychological pressure. This paper optimized the employment protection of takeout workers in combination with their professional characteristics. This paper used the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to analyze the indicators that can evaluate the optimization effect of employment protection for takeout workers, and compared the occupation of takeout workers before and after employment protection. The experimental results showed that in Meituan takeout, the rationality of the average delivery management system before and after the optimization of employment protection was 47.2 and 64.4%, respectively; in ELEME takeout, the rationality of the average takeout distribution management system before and after the optimization of employment protection was 55.0% and 69.8%, respectively. Therefore, in the context of public health, the implementation of social security, employment relationship and optimization of service evaluation mechanism for outbound sales personnel can effectively improve the rationality of the delivery management system.
Medical student perceptions of autism education: A qualitative study
Authors: Gallaher Laura , Butler Ceri , Banerjee Sube , Wright Juliet , White Ann , Daley Stephanie
Published: February 2023

Background

The global prevalence of autism is reported to be at least 1% and is rising. Autistic people have a range of comorbidities resulting in a high use of health services. Doctors of nearly all specialties are likely to encounter autistic people in their practice. Autistic people report dissatisfactory care and encounter disproportionately worse health-related outcomes than non-autistic people, which in part has been attributed to a lack of skill and awareness in the medical workforce. At present, autism education is not always included in undergraduate medical curricula. In England, the Department of Health and Social Care has mandated that autism education should be included in all undergraduate medical curricula but current evidence relating to the delivery and receipt of autism education is poor. A greater understanding of medical student perceptions of autism education is required to inform curriculum development. This qualitative study sought to explore the perceptions of autism education in final year medical students at a medical school in South-East England by 1) assessing their perceived preparedness to care for autistic people once they have graduated from medical school and 2) determining their perceived acceptability of a new undergraduate education programme, Time for Autism (TfA).

Materials and methods

A purposeful sample of ten final-year medical students were recruited. Students completed in-depth, individual interviews. Data was analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Four key themes were identified: Learning environment, Exposure, Relevance and Curricular priority. The findings of this study indicate that medical students perceived greatest value in autism education when it was directly relevant to developing preparedness for practice. Value was influenced by the perceived curricular priority attached to autism education. The new autism programme, Time for Autism was perceived to add relevance and priority to autism education in the existing curriculum in this medical school setting.

Discussion

The study findings shed new light on medical education literature, emphasising the importance of congruence between the provision of autism education and the prioritisation of autism education within the curriculum. Consideration of relevance and curricular priority can be used to support the development of autism education in future medical curricula.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of the Differential Effects of Florpyrauxifen-Benzyl Treatment on Phytohormone Transduction between Florpyrauxifen-Benzyl-Resistant and -Susceptible Barnyard Grasses (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv)
Authors: Jin Wenyong , Sun Jinqiu , Tang Wei , Yang Yongjie , Zhang Jianping , Lu Yongliang , Yu Xiaoyue
Published: February 2023

Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv (common name: barnyard grass) is a major weed in rice-growing areas and has evolved resistance to multiple herbicides. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl (trade name Rinskor) is a novel synthetic auxin herbicide that was approved in China in 2017 and is widely used in rice production to control resistant weeds, including barnyard grass. We identified a florpyrauxifen-benzyl-resistant E. crus-galli biotype with a resistance index (RI) of 11.89 using screen house herbicide experiments. To understand the phytotoxicity mechanisms of florpyrauxifen-benzyl, we used transcriptomics technologies to compare the gene expression profiles of florpyrauxifen-benzyl treatment on phytohormone transduction between florpyrauxifen-benzyl-resistant and -susceptible barnyard grasses (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv). A total of 1810 DEGs were identified in the S comparison setting (FTS vs. UTS), and 915 DEGs were identified in the R comparison setting (FTR vs. UTR); 464 genes overlapped between the two comparison groups. Approximately sixty-nine hormone-related DEGs were detected after treatment with florpyrauxifen-benzyl in both R and S biotypes. At 24 h after florpyrauxifen-benzyl treatment, compared with the R biotype, the S biotype showed a stronger auxin response and higher expression of related genes involved in ethylene and abscisic acid biosynthesis and signal transduction. In addition, a brassinolide receptor gene was upregulated after florpyrauxifen-benzyl treatment and had higher expression in the S biotype than in the R biotype. This study is the first transcriptome analysis of the differential effects of florpyrauxifen-benzyl treatment between florpyrauxifen-benzyl-resistant and -susceptible E. crus-galli. It reflects the difference in phytohormone biosynthesis and signal transduction between R and S barnyard grasses in response to florpyrauxifen-benzyl treatment and will be helpful for understanding the phytotoxicity mechanisms of florpyrauxifen-benzyl.
Grazing Regulates Changes in Soil Microbial Communities in Plant-Soil Systems
Authors: Zhang Yu , Wang Miao , Wang Xu , Li Ruiqiang , Zhang Ruifu , Xun Weibing , Li Hui , Xin Xiaoping , Yan Ruirui
Published: February 2023

Soil microorganisms promote material transformation and energy flow in the entire ecological environment and play a key role in the stability and development of grassland ecosystems. Studies on the impacts of grazing on the soil microbial community and the establishment of a reasonable grazing intensity are crucial to improve our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying grassland degradation and to accurately assess the influence of grazing management on grassland functions and the nutrient cycle. Based on the grassland grazing control experimental platform, we compared the structure and diversity characteristics of soil microbial communities under six grazing intensities (0.00, 0.23, 0.34, 0.46, 0.69, and 0.92 AU ha−1) (1 AU = 500 kg of adult cattle) on the Hulunbuir Leymus chinensis meadow steppe. The results showed that soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) decreased with increasing soil depth. The 0–10 cm soil layer of G0.34 had the highest MBC and MBN, and the G0.92 treatment had the lowest MBC and MBN. Heavy grazing significantly decreased the MBC and MBN contents in the soil surface layer. The soil bacterial diversity under light grazing treatment (0.23 AU ha−1) was higher than that under heavy grazing, and the fungal diversity under the no-grazing treatment was higher than that under the grazing treatment. Overgrazing reduced the bacterial species in the soil. The plant belowground biomass significantly (p = 0.039) influenced the bacterial community structure, and the soil pH (p = 0.032), total nitrogen (p = 0.011), and litter (p = 0.007) significantly influenced the fungal community. The effects of grazing on microbial communities were primarily driven by vegetation productivity, litter mass, and soil geophysical and chemical characteristics. This study deepened our understanding of the impacts of grazing practices on soil microbial communities on the meadow steppe, suggesting that moderate-disturbance grazing can promote the sustainable development of grassland vegetation-soil microorganisms.