bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization and Antagonistic Effect of Culturable Apple-Phyllosphere Endophytic Bacteria from the Cold Plateau in Yunnan, China
Authors: Pan Xinlong , He Pengbo , Zhou Cong , Cun Haichun , He Pengfei , Munir Shahzad , Wu Yixin , Ahmed Ayesha , Asad Suhail , Ma Jun , Ma Yongcui , Zhang Yanming , Cao Keqiang , Kong Baohua , He Yueqiu
Published: October 2022

The endophytic bacteria in apple leaves from apple-producing areas of Yunnan, China were isolated and identified on the basis of bacterial colony morphology and nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA and rpoB genes. The endophytic bacterial isolates with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium utilization abilities were screened by culturing on functional media. A total of 5709 isolates of culturable endophytic bacteria (CEB) were isolated from 30 apple leaf samples collected from different regions. A total of 39 CEB representative isolates were identified as Bacillus velezensis, B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. safensis, B. pumilus, and Priestia megaterium. Among them, B. velezensis and B. subtilis were the main CEB, accounting for 55.00% and 34.37%, respectively, which exhibited potential inhibition on not only the main apple disease pathogens of Alternaria alternata, Valsa mali, Fusarium oxysporum, and Rosellinia necatrix, but also some important and uncontrollable phytopathogens, including F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense that causes banana Fusarium wilt, and Phytophthora nicotianae that causes tobacco black shank. Among these isolated endophytic bacteria species, a total of 10 strains, including b3, b4, b16, b17, b20, and b23 of B. subtilis, b7, b24, and b28 of B. licheniformis, and b38 of B. velezensis, can fix nitrogen; 8 strains, including b7 and b28 of B. licheniformis, b5, b10, and b23 of B. subtilis, b8 of B. safensis, and b6 of Priestia megaterium, could dissolve inorganic phosphorus; 11 strains, including b9, b12, b14, b30, b34, and b43 of B. velezensis, b6 of Priestia megaterium, and b17, b18, b20, and b26 of B. subtilis, could degrade organic phosphorus; and 5 strains, including b4, b5, and b26 of B. subtilis, and b7 and b28 of B. licheniformis could dissolve potassium. These strains are valuable resources of endophytic bacteria that have adapted to the ecological environment of the Cold Plateau apple-production area and could be used as plant disease biocontrol agents and biofertilizers of crops. The culturable phyllosphere endophytes in apple leaves relate to geographic locations, apple varieties, and environment, providing the basis to explain the mechanisms underlying the establishment of apple endophyte diversity and may help to devise apple disease management strategies.
Preharvest Foliar Application of Si–Ca-Based Biostimulant Affects Postharvest Quality and Shelf-Life of Clementine Mandarin (Citrus clementina Hort. Ex Tan)
Authors: Ziogas Vasileios , Bravos Nikos , Hussain Syed Bilal
Published: October 2022

Citriculture and the postharvest industry are in the quest for biostimulants that favour fruit quality and extend shelf-life. Recently, Si has emerged as a biostimulant and its impact on fruit quality and postharvest shelf-life needs to be elucidated. The experiment is conducted for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020) in a commercial citrus orchard. In the present study, a Si–Ca-based product (Gravital® Force SC, AGROLOGY SA, Sindos, Greece) is foliar sprayed upon clementine mandarin (Citrus clementina Hort. Ex Tan cv. SRA 63) trees from August to November, while unsprayed trees are kept as controls. At commercial maturity, both sprayed and unsprayed fruits are harvested and stored for thirty (30) days at 5 °C with 90–95% relative humidity. Afterwards, they are kept at shelf temperature (20 °C) for six (6) days (shelf-life). At different intervals [at harvest, after cold storage (30 d at 5 °C), at the third day of shelf-life (30 d at 5 °C plus 3 d at 20 °C) and sixth day of shelf-life (30 d at 5 °C plus 6 d at 20 °C)], fruits are sampled and analysed for their qualitative characteristics. According to the results, the preharvest foliar application of the Si–Ca-based product delayed fruit maturation, increased peel firmness, total soluble content, total acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenols and antioxidant capacity, and reduced fruit decay during shelf storage. Results suggest that the preharvest foliar spray of Si–Ca products is able to maintain the postharvest quality of mid-ripening mandarin fruit.
Hydropedological Characteristics of the Cathedral Peak Research Catchments
Authors: Harrison Rowena , van Tol Johan , Amiotte Suchet Philippe
Published: October 2022

It has long been recognised that the role of soils is critical to the understanding of the way catchments store and release water. This study aimed to gain an understanding of the hydropedological characteristics and flow dynamics of the soils of three mountain catchment areas. Digital soil maps of the hydropedological characteristics of the catchments were interpreted and a conceptual response of these watersheds to precipitation was formed. This conceptual response was then tested with the use of site-specific precipitation and streamflow data. Furthermore, piezometers were installed in soils classified as the interflow hydropedological soil group as well as the saturated responsive hydropedological soil group and water table depth data for the three catchments were analysed. Climatic data indicated that there is a lag time effect in the quantity of precipitation that falls in the catchment and the corresponding rise in streamflow value. This lag time effect coupled with data obtained from the piezometers show that the various hydropedological soil groups play a pivotal role in the flow dynamics. Of importance is the unique influence of different wetland systems on the streamflow dynamics of the catchments. The drying and wetting cycles of individual wetland systems influenced both the baseflow connectivity and the overland flow during wetter periods. They are the key focus in understanding the connectivity between the hydropedological flow paths and the contribution of soil water to the stream networks of the three catchments.
Do Recreationally-Trained Women of Different Ages Perceive Symptoms of the Menstrual Cycle and Adjust Their Training According to Phases?
Authors: Righi Isabella , Barroso Renato
Published: October 2022

We aimed to investigate the effects of the menstrual cycle (MC) in recreationally trained women athletes, including their perception of training, if age affected their perception of MC symptoms, and if they adjusted their training according to phases of the MC which they would perceive as the best/worst phase to train in. Three hundred- and ten-women amateur athletes with regular MC replied to an online quiz about their perception and the effects of MC on training and how they adjusted training according to their MC. Women were classified into three age groups: 18–25 years-old (n = 108), 26–35 years-old (n = 135), and 36–45 years-old (n = 67). Despite a higher ratio of younger perceived symptoms and the influence of MC phases in training, the group varied their training according to MC phases the least (37%) compared to 26–35 (50%) and 36–45-year-olds (40.2%). Most of athletes perceived the late follicular phase (LF) as the best phase to train in (18–25 = 79.6%; 26–35 = 80.7%; 36–45 = 91%) and the worst phases were early follicular (EF) (54.6%; 58% and 46.2%), and late luteal (LL) (38%; 48% and 47.7%). Regardless of age, most women perceived MC symptoms, and women in the 26–35 group adjusted their training more according to MC phases.
Stroke and TIA Survivors’ Perceptions of the COVID-19 Vaccine and Influences on Its Uptake: Cross Sectional Survey
Authors: Turner Grace M. , Heron Neil , Crow Jennifer , Kontou Eirini , Hughes Sally
Published: October 2022

Background: People who have experienced a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) have greater risks of complications from COVID-19. Therefore, vaccine uptake in this vulnerable population is important. To prevent vaccine hesitancy and maximise compliance, we need to better understand individuals’ views on the vaccine. Objectives: We aimed to explore perspectives of the COVID-19 vaccine and influences on its uptake from people who have experienced a stroke or TIA. Method: A cross-sectional, electronic survey comprising multiple choice and free text questions. Convenience sampling was used to recruit people who have experienced a stroke/TIA in the UK/Ireland. Results: The survey was completed by 377 stroke/TIA survivors. 87% (328/377) had either received the first vaccine dose or were booked to have it. The vaccine was declined by 2% (7/377) and 3% (11/377) had been offered the vaccine but not yet taken it up. 8% (30/377) had not been offered the vaccine despite being eligible. Some people expressed concerns around the safety of the vaccine (particularly risk of blood clots and stroke) and some were hesitant to have the second vaccine. Societal and personal benefits were motivations for vaccine uptake. There was uncertainty and lack of information about risk of COVID-19 related complications specifically for people who have experienced a stroke or TIA. Conclusion: Despite high uptake of the first vaccine, some people with stroke and TIA have legitimate concerns and information needs that should be addressed. Our findings can be used to identify targets for behaviour change to improve vaccine uptake specific to stroke/TIA patients.
Occurrence and Behavior of Methylsiloxanes in Urban Environment in Four Cities of China
Authors: Jiang Yao , Guo Junyu , Zhou Ying , Zhang Boya , Zhang Jianbo
Published: October 2022

Methylsiloxanes (MSs), used in industrial production and personal care products, are released in various environmental media. In this study, we combined monitoring and modeling to investigate the occurrence and behavior of MSs in the urban environment in China. MSs were widely found in the air, water, soil and sediment of four cities in China. The concentrations of MSs in all four environmental media of Zhangjiagang were higher than those in the other three cities (Beijing, Kunming and Lijiang), indicating that the siloxane production plant had a significant impact on the pollution level of MSs in the surrounding environment. The samples with high MS concentrations were all from the sample sites near the outlet of the WWTPs, which showed that the effluent of the WWTPs was the main source of MS pollution in the surrounding environment. The modeling results of the EQC level III model showed that D4 discharged into the environment was mainly distributed in the air, while D5 and D6 were mainly distributed in the sediment. CMSs (D4–D6) discharged into various environmental media could exist in the urban environment for a long time with low temperatures in cities. When the temperature was 0 °C, the residence time of D5 and D6 could be 68.1 days and 243 days in the whole environmental system in Beijing. This study illustrates the importance of CMSs (D4–D6) in low-temperature environments and the potential environmental risks that they may pose.
Understanding Primary Care Physician Vaccination Behaviour: A Systematic Review
Authors: Prieto-Campo Ángela , García-Álvarez Rosa María , López-Durán Ana , Roque Fátima , Herdeiro Maria Teresa , Figueiras Adolfo , Zapata-Cachafeiro Maruxa
Published: October 2022

Background: Vaccine hesitancy decreases adult vaccination coverage and has been recognized by WHO as a major health threat. Primary care physicians (PCP) play a key role in vaccination by giving vaccine counselling to their patients. The aim of this systematic review is to identify the knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and barriers (KBAB) associated with own vaccination and patient recommendation in primary care physicians. Methods: MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were used to search and identify relevant studies based on their title and abstract. In the next step, the full text of each previously selected article was read for eligibility. Articles were selected by two independent reviewers and data extraction was performed using tables. The following information was extracted: methodological characteristics, demographic factors, professional characteristics, and intrinsic or extrinsic factors influencing vaccination or recommendation. Results: Our search yielded 41 eligible papers, data-sources, previous practices, belief in the effectiveness or safety of the vaccine, perceived risk, and trust in health authorities were all shown to be related to own vaccination and patient recommendation. Conclusion: Internet is the main source of information for PCP related to vaccine hesitancy. It is therefore essential to increase the presence and access to pro-vaccination content in this area. In addition, involving PCP in the establishment of vaccination recommendations could improve their credibility in the institutions. On the other hand, training in communication skills and establishing reminder systems could reflect higher vaccination coverage among their patients.
Physical Activity Level, Depression, Anxiety, and Self-Perceived Health in Spanish Adults with Migraine: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Denche-Zamorano Ángel , Paredes-Mateos Víctor , Pastor-Cisneros Raquel , Carlos-Vivas Jorge , Contreras-Barraza Nicolás , Iturra-Gonzalez José A. , Mendoza-Muñoz María
Published: October 2022

Background: Of all neurological disorders, migraine is the second most prevalent in the world and the most disabling, affecting approximately 15% of the general population. It is characterized by recurrent headaches, along with other symptoms and comorbidities such as depression and anxiety, compromising the sufferer’s perception of health. Physical activity is a preventive treatment for migraine and its comorbidities. The aim is to analyze the relationship between migraine and physical activity levels (PAL) in the adult Spanish population, as well as PAL and depression, anxiety, and self-perceived health (SPH) in people with migraine. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted including 17,137 participants, 1972 with migraine, using data from the Spanish National Health Survey. Non-parametric statistical tests were performed: z-test for independent proportions (to analyze intergroup differences) and chi-square test (to analyze dependence between categorical variables). Results: Migraine was related to PAL (p < 0.001). Inactive people had a higher prevalence of migraine than active and very active people (p < 0.05). PAL was related to depression, anxiety, SPH, and analgesic use in people with migraine (p < 0.001). Inactive people had a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, analgesic use, and negative SPH than active and very active people (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Increasing PA in the population could reduce the prevalence of migraine. In people with migraine, inactivity could worsen SPH and increase depressive and anxious symptoms.
Development of Microbial Indicators in Ecological Systems
Authors: Ma Fangzhou , Wang Chenbin , Zhang Yanjing , Chen Jing , Xie Rui , Sun Zhanbin
Published: October 2022

Indicators can monitor ecological environment changes and help maintain ecological balance. Bioindicators are divided into animal, plant, and microbial indicators, of which animal and plant indicators have previously been the most researched, but microbial indicators have drawn attention recently owing to their high sensitivity to the environment and their potential for use in monitoring environmental changes. To date, reviews of studies of animals and plants as indicator species have frequently been conducted, but reviews of research on microorganisms as indicator species have been rare. In this review, we summarize and analyze studies using microorganisms as indicator species in a variety of ecosystems, such as forests, deserts, aquatic and plateau ecosystems, and artificial ecosystems, which are contained in wetlands, farmlands, and mining ecosystems. This review provides useful information for the further use of microorganisms as indicators to reflect the changes in different environmental ecosystems.
Decoding Diabetes Biomarkers and Related Molecular Mechanisms by Using Machine Learning, Text Mining, and Gene Expression Analysis
Authors: Elsherbini Amira M. , Alsamman Alsamman M. , Elsherbiny Nehal M. , El-Sherbiny Mohamed , Ahmed Rehab , Ebrahim Hasnaa Ali , Bakkach Joaira
Published: October 2022

The molecular basis of diabetes mellitus is yet to be fully elucidated. We aimed to identify the most frequently reported and differential expressed genes (DEGs) in diabetes by using bioinformatics approaches. Text mining was used to screen 40,225 article abstracts from diabetes literature. These studies highlighted 5939 diabetes-related genes spread across 22 human chromosomes, with 112 genes mentioned in more than 50 studies. Among these genes, HNF4A, PPARA, VEGFA, TCF7L2, HLA-DRB1, PPARG, NOS3, KCNJ11, PRKAA2, and HNF1A were mentioned in more than 200 articles. These genes are correlated with the regulation of glycogen and polysaccharide, adipogenesis, AGE/RAGE, and macrophage differentiation. Three datasets (44 patients and 57 controls) were subjected to gene expression analysis. The analysis revealed 135 significant DEGs, of which CEACAM6, ENPP4, HDAC5, HPCAL1, PARVG, STYXL1, VPS28, ZBTB33, ZFP37 and CCDC58 were the top 10 DEGs. These genes were enriched in aerobic respiration, T-cell antigen receptor pathway, tricarboxylic acid metabolic process, vitamin D receptor pathway, toll-like receptor signaling, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) unfolded protein response. The results of text mining and gene expression analyses used as attribute values for machine learning (ML) analysis. The decision tree, extra-tree regressor and random forest algorithms were used in ML analysis to identify unique markers that could be used as diabetes diagnosis tools. These algorithms produced prediction models with accuracy ranges from 0.6364 to 0.88 and overall confidence interval (CI) of 95%. There were 39 biomarkers that could distinguish diabetic and non-diabetic patients, 12 of which were repeated multiple times. The majority of these genes are associated with stress response, signalling regulation, locomotion, cell motility, growth, and muscle adaptation. Machine learning algorithms highlighted the use of the HLA-DQB1 gene as a biomarker for diabetes early detection. Our data mining and gene expression analysis have provided useful information about potential biomarkers in diabetes.
Differences in Medial and Lateral Gastrocnemius Stiffness after Exercise-Induced Muscle Fatigue
Authors: Lall Prarthana Sanya , Alsubiheen Abdulrahman M. , Aldaihan Mishal M. , Lee Hanuel
Published: October 2022

Muscles are affected at the cellular level by exercised-induced fatigue, inducing changes in their stiffness. Examining muscle stiffness can improve the knowledge of various pathologic conditions, such as pain and injury. The objective of this study was to examine the stiffness of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle and the lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscle to determine the changes in stiffness, and to assess the differences in the stiffness between the MG and the LG, as affected by muscle fatigue measured using shear wave elastography (SWE) and a MyotonPRO after inducing muscle fatigue. A total of 35 healthy young adults participated in the study. The stiffness of the MG and the LG were assessed before and after a muscle fatigue protocol (MFP), which included three sets of 50 eccentric contractions of the calf muscles of the dominant leg, at rest, and at maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). The measurements were taken with SWE and the MyotonPRO simultaneously. Compared to baseline, the resting stiffness of the MG and the LG significantly increased immediately, 24 h, and 48 h after muscle fatigue (p < 0.05); however, during MVC, the stiffness of the MG decreased (p < 0.05) and that of the LG showed no change (p > 0.05). When the stiffness of the MG and the LG were compared before and after the MFP, changes in the stiffness of the MG were significantly greater than those in the LG (p < 0.05). This signifies that the MG was more affected by the exercise-induced muscle fatigue than was the LG. The assessment of musculoskeletal tissue and its characteristics, before and after eccentric exercise, is crucial in the prevention of overuse injuries associated with repeated exposure to both low and high levels of force.
Higher Diet Quality in Latina Women during Pregnancy May Be Associated with Sociodemographic Factors
Authors: Teruel Camargo Juliana , Taylor Matthew K. , Gajewski Byron J. , Carlson Susan E. , Sullivan Debra K. , Gibbs Heather D.
Published: October 2022

Acculturation contributes to low diet quality and can foster health inequities for Latina women during pregnancy. Conversely, nutrition literacy (NL) increases diet quality and could promote health equity. This study assessed the associations between the diet quality, acculturation, and NL of Latina women (n = 99) participating in the Assessment of Docosahexaenoic Acid On Reducing Early Preterm Birth (ADORE) study. Acculturation and nutrition literacy factored together tended to modify diet quality, but this was not statistically significant. Diet quality was associated with acculturation, age, and nativity. Most (76.8%) demonstrated low nutrition literacy. Women who were bicultural and were born in Latin American countries other than Mexico had lower diet quality scores than women who had lower acculturation and were born in Mexico. Women who were 35 years or older had better diet quality than those who were younger. Future studies are needed to explore diet quality differences for pregnant Latina women with high nutrition literacy and high acculturation, as well as for women from the Caribbean, Central and South American countries living in the US, to promote nutrition and maternal health for Latina women.
Integrating Genomic Information with Tumor-Immune Microenvironment in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Otohinoyi David , Kuchi Aditi , Wu Jiande , Hicks Chindo
Published: October 2022

Background: the development and progression of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is driven by somatic driver mutations and the tumor-immune microenvironment. To date, data on somatic mutations has not been leveraged and integrated with information on the immune microenvironment to elucidate the possible oncogenic interactions and their potential effects on clinical outcomes. Here, we investigated possible oncogenic interactions between somatic mutations and the tumor-immune microenvironment, and their correlation with patient survival in TNBC. Methods: We performed analysis combining data on 7,875 somatic mutated genes with information on 1,751 immune-modulated genes, using gene-expression data as the intermediate phenotype, and correlated the resulting information with survival. We conducted functional analysis to identify immune-modulated molecular networks and signaling pathways enriched for somatic mutations likely to drive clinical outcomes. Results: We discovered differences in somatic mutation profiles between patients who died and those who survived, and a signature of somatic mutated immune-modulated genes transcriptionally associated with TNBC, predictive of survival. In addition, we discovered immune-modulated molecular networks and signaling pathways enriched for somatic mutations. Conclusions: The investigation revealed possible oncogenic interactions between somatic mutations and the tumor-immune microenvironment in TNBC, likely to affect clinical outcomes.
Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccination on Reduction of Hospitalizations and Deaths in Elderly Patients in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Authors: Sales-Moioli Ana Isabela L. , Galvão-Lima Leonardo J. , Pinto Talita K. B. , Cardoso Pablo H. , Silva Rodrigo D. , Fernandes Felipe , Barbalho Ingridy M. P. , Farias Fernando L. O. , Veras Nicolas V. R. , Souza Gustavo F. , Cruz Agnaldo S. , Andrade Ion G. M. , Gama Lúcio , Valentim Ricardo A. M.
Published: October 2022

Since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, vaccination has been the core strategy to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in humans. This paper analyzes the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. We analyzed data from 23,516 hospitalized COVID-19 patients diagnosed between April 2020 and August 2021. We excluded the data from patients hospitalized through direct occupancy, unknown outcomes, and unconfirmed COVID-19 cases, resulting in data from 12,635 patients cross-referenced with the immunization status during hospitalization. Our results indicated that administering at least one dose of the immunizers was sufficient to significantly reduce the occurrence of moderate and severe COVID-19 cases among patients under 59 years. Considering the partially or fully immunized patients, the mean age is similar between the analyzed groups, despite the occurrence of comorbidities and higher than that observed among not immunized patients. Thus, immunized patients present lower Unified Score for Prioritization (USP) levels when diagnosed with COVID-19. Our data suggest that COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduced the hospitalization and death of elderly patients (60+ years) after administration of at least one dose. Comorbidities do not change the mean age of moderate/severe COVID-19 cases and the days required for the hospitalization of these patients.
The Effects of Daily Temperature on Crime Events in Urban Hanoi, Vietnam Using Seven Years of Data (2013–2019)
Authors: Le Vu Thuy Huong , Berman Jesse D. , Tran Quynh Anh , Wattenberg Elizabeth V. , Alexander Bruce H.
Published: October 2022

The effects of temperature on behavior change and mental health have previously been explored, but the association between temperature and crime is less well understood, especially in developing countries. Single-city-level data were used to evaluate the association between the short-term effects of temperature on crime events in urban Hanoi, Vietnam. We used quasi-Poisson regression models to investigate the linear effects and distributed lag non-linear models to investigate the non-linear association between daily temperature and daily crime events from 2013 to 2019. There were 3884 crime events, including 1083 violent crimes and 2801 non-violent crimes during the 7-year study period. For both linear and non-linear effects, there were positive associations between an increase in daily temperature and crime, and the greatest effects were observed on the first day of exposure (lag 0). For linear effects, we estimated that each 5 °C increase in daily mean temperature was associated with a 9.9% (95%CI: 0.2; 20.5), 6.8% (95%CI: 0.6; 13.5), and 7.5% (95%CI: 2.3; 13.2) increase in the risk of violent, non-violent, and total crime, respectively. For non-linear effects, however, the crime risk plateaued at 30 °C and decreased at higher exposures, which presented an inverted U-shape response with a large statistical uncertainty.
Male Victims of Rape: An Observational Study over Four Years in Paris, France
Authors: Liautard Marc , Deguette Céline , Alcaraz Elizabeth , Diot Hélène , Vasseur Patricia , Gorgiard Charlotte , Dufayet Laurène
Published: October 2022

Sexual violence is a common and under-reported form of violence that affects all categories of individuals. We sought to provide epidemiological data on men aged 15 years and over, victims of rape or suspecting a rape, and who reported it to the police. We conducted a retrospective study at the Department of Forensic Medicine of Hôtel-Dieu, Paris, France, between 2018 and 2021. Two-hundred men were included in the study, with an average age of 28.8 years. A vulnerability was mentioned for 17.5% of them. Most of the patients reported anal penetration, committed by a single male assailant, whom they met on the day of the assault. More than 60% of the patients reported the voluntary consumption of alcohol and/or illicit substances prior to the assault. Most patients were examined shortly after the assault (median 1 day). Anal lesions were found on examination in 37.0% of patients reporting anal penetration regardless of the time frame. The presence of anal lesions was statistically higher when patients were examined within 48 h. Our results reinforce the data in the literature on the risk factors associated with sexual violence among men, notably the consumption of alcohol and illicit substances, and psychological, economic, and social vulnerability.
Green Technology Transfer, Environmental Regulation, and Regional Green Development Chasm: Based on the Empirical Evidence from Yangtze River Delta
Authors: Shang Yongmin , Lyu Guoqing , Mi Zefeng
Published: October 2022

In the face of achieving the overall goal of emission peak and carbon neutrality, strengthening green technology transfer and environmental regulation is the key to narrowing the green technology gap and green development chasm between regions. This paper integrates green technology transfer, environmental regulation, and the green development chasm into one model, and analyzes the mechanism by which green technology transfer and environmental regulation impact the green development chasm. An empirical test was conducted by employing green technology transfer patent and panel data of the Yangtze River Delta from 2005–2019. The results are as follows: (1) Although the green development chasm still exists in the Yangtze River Delta, green technology transfer and environmental regulation have a positive impact on narrowing the regional green development chasm. Especially, the superposition of green technology transfer and environmental regulation can effectively make up for the lack of government and market regulation, and significantly promote the narrowing of the green development chasm. (2) Regional heterogeneity exists and developed regions can achieve the goal of narrowing the green development chasm by relying on green technology transfer or environmental regulation, while less developed regions must rely on the synergy of two dimensions. Thus, the coordination of green technology transfer and environmental regulation must be strengthened. Based on the above research, the main contributions of this paper are to analyze the theoretical mechanism of green technology transfer, environmental regulation, and regional green development chasm, to provide a theoretical and empirical basis for realizing the overall goal of regional green development, and suggestions for optimizing China’s current policies.
Prevalence, Characteristics, and Risk Factors of Retinal Hemorrhage among Full-Term Neonates in Southern China
Authors: Yang Tingting , Hu Rongsheng , Chen Jiansu , Lu Yamei , Guo Yonglong , Liu Yao , Yu Ruixia , Jin Guangming
Published: October 2022

Neonatal retinal hemorrhage (RH) is the most common ocular fundus disease among newborns. Early detection and timely intervention are vital for reducing the risk of visual impairment caused by RH. However, little is known about the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of RH in southern China. Full-term infants born in Qingyuan City during the first 10 days of each month in 2021 were included in this study. All infants underwent RetCam III retinal examinations. Detailed information on retinal hemorrhage, including involved eyes, bleeding severity, and affected area (extrafoveal macula, fovea, or optic disc), and clinical information on the neonates and their mothers was collected. The results showed that among the 1072 eligible neonates, 266 (24.8%) had neonatal retinal hemorrhage. Consistent bilateral retinal hemorrhage severity was observed in 83.2% of the cases. The prevalence of optic disc involved RH, extrafoveal macular involved RH and foveal involved RH were 23.7%, 81.2% and 2.63%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lower birth weight (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.40–0.99; p < 0.05) and vaginal delivery (OR, 20.6; 95% CI, 9.10–46.5; p < 0.001) were risk factors of neonatal RH. The area under the ROC curve of vaginal delivery, combined with birth weight, as predictors of neonatal RH was 0.73, with 85.3% sensitivity and 23.9% specificity. The birth weight cutoff was 3460 g. Our results suggested that neonatal RH is common in full-term neonates in southern China. It usually has the same severity in both eyes and mostly involves the extrafoveal macular region. Vaginal delivery and low birth weight are risk factors for neonatal RH.
Social Health and Psychological Safety of Students Involved in Online Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Korneeva Elena , Strielkowski Wadim , Krayneva Raisa , Sherstobitova Anna
Published: October 2022

Our paper focuses on the issues of social health and psychological safety of university students involved in digital sustainable education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, modern education is becoming inclusive due to the advancements in information and communication technologies (ICT), and it is important not only to stress the relevance of sustainable development and the use of digital technologies, but also their impact on students at schools and universities worldwide. Digital literacy is a newly emerging feature that results from the attitude of team members in the field of digital technologies. This paper explores the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ learning and well-being and outlines the potential considerations for educational systems as they support students through the recovery period and beyond. Our study is based on the results of our own survey that was administered using a snowball and convenient sample of 1524 respondents (aged 19–26 years; 56.2% females and 43.8% males) from the Czech Republic (N = 804) and Russia (N = 720). We employed the ANOVA and Dirichlet Process mixtures of Generalized Linear Models (DP-GLM) in order to explain the causes of stress and anxiety after grouping variables represented by gender and the study specializations. Our results demonstrate that more than 87% of the students in the sample expressed a medium to high vulnerability to stress, while 58% of the respondents were affected by severe anxiety during their online education engagement. The most important factors that emerged as significant were the fear of getting infected and social distancing, while the best strategy to cope with the stress was self-control. These results allow us to provide practical recommendations for effectively coping with and controlling stress and anxiety among students in the post-pandemic era. In addition, our findings might contribute considerably to the study of the overall long-term effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the university students, in general, and the use of digital technologies in higher education, as well as on the public health.
Phosphorylated Tau in Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Tauopathies
Authors: Rawat Priyanka , Sehar Ujala , Bisht Jasbir , Selman Ashley , Culberson John , Reddy P. Hemachandra
Published: October 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in elderly people. Amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits and neurofibrillary tangles are the major pathological features in an Alzheimer’s brain. These proteins are highly expressed in nerve cells and found in most tissues. Tau primarily provides stabilization to microtubules in the part of axons and dendrites. However, tau in a pathological state becomes hyperphosphorylated, causing tau dysfunction and leading to synaptic impairment and degeneration of neurons. This article presents a summary of the role of tau, phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in AD, and other tauopathies. Tauopathies, including Pick’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, corticobasal degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, argyrophilic grain disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and Huntington’s disease, are the result of misprocessing and accumulation of tau within the neuronal and glial cells. This article also focuses on current research on the post-translational modifications and genetics of tau, tau pathology, the role of tau in tauopathies and the development of new drugs targeting p-tau, and the therapeutics for treating and possibly preventing tauopathies.
Metformin Improves Ovarian Cancer Sensitivity to Paclitaxel and Platinum-Based Drugs: A Review of In Vitro Findings
Authors: Tossetta Giovanni
Published: October 2022

Ovarian cancer is one of the most dangerous gynecologic cancers worldwide, showing a high fatality rate and recurrence due to diagnosis at an advanced stage of the disease and the occurrence of chemoresistance, which weakens the therapeutic effects of the chemotherapeutic treatments. In fact, although paclitaxel and platinum-based drugs (carboplatin or cisplatin) are widely used alone or in combination to treat ovarian cancer, the occurrence of chemoresistance significantly reduces the effects of these drugs. Metformin is a hypoglycemic agent that is commonly used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, this drug also shows anti-tumor activity, reducing cancer risk and chemoresistance. This review analyzes the current literature regarding the role of metformin in ovarian cancer and investigates what is currently known about its effects in reducing paclitaxel and platinum resistance to restore sensitivity to these drugs.
Nanosheet-Facilitated Spray Delivery of dsRNAs Represents a Potential Tool to Control Rhizoctonia solani Infection
Authors: Chen Xijun , Shi Tong , Tang Tao , Chen Chen , Liang You , Zuo Shimin
Published: October 2022

Rhizoctonia solani is one of the important pathogenic fungi causing several serious crop diseases, such as maize and rice sheath blight. Current methods used to control the disease mainly depend on spraying fungicides because there is no immunity or high resistance available in crops. Spraying double-strand RNA (dsRNA) for induced-gene silencing (SIGS) is a new potentially sustainable and environmentally friendly tool to control plant diseases. Here, we found that fluorescein-labelled EGFP-dsRNA could be absorbed by R. solani in co-incubation. Furthermore, three dsRNAs, each targeting one of pathogenicity-related genes, RsPG1, RsCATA, and RsCRZ1, significantly downregulated the transcript levels of the target genes after co-incubation, leading to a significant reduction in the pathogenicity of the fungus. Only the spray of RsCRZ1 dsRNA, but not RsPG1 or RsCATA dsRNA, affected fungal sclerotium formation. dsRNA stability on leaf surfaces and its efficiency in entering leaf cells were significantly improved when dsRNAs were loaded on layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets. Notably, the RsCRZ1-dsRNA-LDH approach showed stronger and more lasting effects than using RsCRZ1-dsRNA alone in controlling pathogen development. Together, this study provides a new potential method to control crop diseases caused by R. solani.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction as an Underlying Cause of Skeletal Muscle Disorders
Authors: Chen Tsung-Hsien , Koh Kok-Yean , Lin Kurt Ming-Chao , Chou Chu-Kuang
Published: October 2022

Mitochondria are an important energy source in skeletal muscle. A main function of mitochondria is the generation of ATP for energy through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Mitochondrial defects or abnormalities can lead to muscle disease or multisystem disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction can be caused by defective mitochondrial OXPHOS, mtDNA mutations, Ca2+ imbalances, mitochondrial-related proteins, mitochondrial chaperone proteins, and ultrastructural defects. In addition, an imbalance between mitochondrial fusion and fission, lysosomal dysfunction due to insufficient biosynthesis, and/or defects in mitophagy can result in mitochondrial damage. In this review, we explore the association between impaired mitochondrial function and skeletal muscle disorders. Furthermore, we emphasize the need for more research to determine the specific clinical benefits of mitochondrial therapy in the treatment of skeletal muscle disorders.
Decellularized Extracellular Matrix-Based Bioinks for Tendon Regeneration in Three-Dimensional Bioprinting
Authors: Al-Hakim Khalak Fouad , García-Villén Fátima , Ruiz-Alonso Sandra , Pedraz José Luis , Saenz-del-Burgo Laura
Published: October 2022

In the last few years, attempts to improve the regeneration of damaged tendons have been rising due to the growing demand. However, current treatments to restore the original performance of the tissue focus on the usage of grafts; although, actual grafts are deficient because they often cannot provide enough support for tissue regeneration, leading to additional complications. The beneficial effect of combining 3D bioprinting and dECM as a novel bioink biomaterial has recently been described. Tendon dECMs have been obtained by using either chemical, biological, or/and physical treatments. Although decellularization protocols are not yet standardized, recently, different protocols have been published. New therapeutic approaches embrace the use of dECM in bioinks for 3D bioprinting, as it has shown promising results in mimicking the composition and the structure of the tissue. However, major obstacles include the poor structural integrity and slow gelation properties of dECM bioinks. Moreover, printing parameters such as speed and temperature have to be optimized for each dECM bioink. Here, we show that dECM bioink for 3D bioprinting provides a promising approach for tendon regeneration for future clinical applications.
Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Provides Insights into the Heterosis of Yield and Quality Traits in Two Hybrid Rice Varieties (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Zhou Dahu , Zhou Xinyi , Sun Changhui , Tang Guoping , Liu Lin , Chen Le , He Haohua , Xiong Qiangqiang
Published: October 2022

Heterosis is a common biological phenomenon that is useful for breeding superior lines. Using heterosis to increase the yield and quality of crops is one of the main achievements of modern agricultural science. In this study, we analysed the transcriptome and metabolome of two three-line hybrid rice varieties, Taiyou 871 (TY871), and Taiyou 398 (TY398) and the parental grain endosperm using RNA-seq (three biological repeats per variety) and untargeted metabolomic (six biological repeats per variety) methods. TY871 and TY398 showed specific heterosis in yield and quality. Transcriptome analysis of the hybrids revealed 638 to 4059 differentially expressed genes in the grain when compared to the parents. Metabolome analysis of the hybrids revealed 657 to 3714 differential grain metabolites when compared to the parents. The honeydew1 and grey60 module core genes Os04g0350700 and Os05g0154700 are involved in the regulation of awn development, grain size, and grain number, as well as the regulation of grain length and plant height, respectively. Rice grain length may be an important indicator for improving the quality of three-line hybrid rice. In addition, the rice quality-related metabolite NEG_M341T662 was highly connected to the module core genes Os06g0254300 and Os03g0168100. The functions of Os06g0254300 and Os03g0168100 are EF-hand calcium binding protein and late embroideries absolute protein repeat containing protein, respectively. These genes may play a role in the formation of rice quality. We constructed a gene and metabolite coexpression network, which provides a scientific basis for the utilization of heterosis in producing high-yield and high-quality hybrid rice.
Role of Circadian Transcription Factor Rev-Erb in Metabolism and Tissue Fibrosis
Authors: Raza Ghulam Shere , Sodum Nalini , Kaya Yagmur , Herzig Karl-Heinz
Published: October 2022

Circadian rhythms significantly affect metabolism, and their disruption leads to cardiometabolic diseases and fibrosis. The clock repressor Rev-Erb is mainly expressed in the liver, heart, lung, adipose tissue, skeletal muscles, and brain, recognized as a master regulator of metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis, inflammatory response, and fibrosis. Fibrosis is the response of the body to injuries and chronic inflammation with the accumulation of extracellular matrix in tissues. Activation of myofibroblasts is a key factor in the development of organ fibrosis, initiated by hormones, growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, and mechanical stress. This review summarizes the importance of Rev-Erb in ECM remodeling and tissue fibrosis. In the heart, Rev-Erb activation has been shown to alleviate hypertrophy and increase exercise capacity. In the lung, Rev-Erb agonist reduced pulmonary fibrosis by suppressing fibroblast differentiation. In the liver, Rev-Erb inhibited inflammation and fibrosis by diminishing NF-κB activity. In adipose tissue, Rev- Erb agonists reduced fat mass. In summary, the results of multiple studies in preclinical models demonstrate that Rev-Erb is an attractive target for positively influencing dysregulated metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis, but more specific tools and studies would be needed to increase the information base for the therapeutic potential of these substances interfering with the molecular clock.
Persistence of the Probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Strain GG (LGG) in an In Vitro Model of the Gut Microbiome
Authors: Mahalak Karley K. , Firrman Jenni , Bobokalonov Jamshed , Narrowe Adrienne B. , Bittinger Kyle , Daniel Scott , Tanes Ceylan , Mattei Lisa M. , Zeng Wei-Bin , Soares Jason W. , Kobori Masuko , Lemons Johanna M. S. , Tomasula Peggy M. , Liu LinShu
Published: October 2022

The consumption of probiotics is widely encouraged due to reports of their positive effects on human health. In particular, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) is an approved probiotic that has been reported to improve health outcomes, especially for gastrointestinal disorders. However, how LGG cooperates with the gut microbiome has not been fully explored. To understand the interaction between LGG and its ability to survive and grow within the gut microbiome, this study introduced LGG into established microbial communities using an in vitro model of the colon. LGG was inoculated into the simulated ascending colon and its persistence in, and transit through the subsequent transverse and descending colon regions was monitored over two weeks. The impact of LGG on the existing bacterial communities was investigated using 16S rRNA sequencing and short-chain fatty acid analysis. LGG was able to engraft and proliferate in the ascending region for at least 10 days but was diminished in the transverse and descending colon regions with little effect on short-chain fatty acid abundance. These data suggest that the health benefits of the probiotic LGG rely on its ability to transiently engraft and modulate the host microbial community.
Behavioral Responses to Body Position in Bees: The Interaction of Apis mellifera and Lithurgus littoralis in Prickly Pear Flowers
Authors: Santa Anna-Aguayo Ariadna I. , Celis-López Edmont , Schaffner Colleen M. , Golubov Jordan , Eguiarte Luis E. , Arroyo-Cosultchi Gabriel , Álvarez-Aquino Claudia , Durán-Barradas Zelene , Martínez Armando J.
Published: October 2022

The behavior of bees is modulated by the presence of other bees and potentially by the visual information transmitted by the different body positions of bees while visiting flowers. We tested whether bee body position promoted the attraction and/or antagonistic behavior of con- and hetero-specific bees that interacted on prickly pear flowers of Opuntia huajuapensis. To test this, we placed dummy model bees of Apis mellifera and the native Lithurgus littoralis in flowers in three common body positions: alert, feeding, and horizontal. The results showed that dummy model bees in feeding and horizontal body positions attracted A. mellifera bees, while the alert position attracted native male L. littoralis. Male L. littoralis bees spent more time attacking model bees in horizontal and alert positions. The position of dummy bees also influenced response times. Bees of A. mellifera responded fastest to L. littoralis in the alert and horizontal position, male L. littoralis responded fastest to con-specific bees in the alert and feeding position, and female L. littoralis responded fastest to A. mellifera bees in the feeding position. A. mellifera reacted fastest to their con-specific bees in the alert and horizontal body positions. Our results demonstrate, for the first time in bees, that the position of individuals on a floral resource provides important visual information that modulates bee behavior, and illuminates aspects that likely have implications for bees in access to floral resources.