bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physiological and molecular insight of microbial biostimulants for sustainable agriculture
Authors: Kaushal Priya , Ali Nilofer , Saini Shivani , Pati Pratap Kumar , Pati Aparna Maitra
Published: January 2023

Increased food production to cater the need of growing population is one of the major global challenges. Currently, agro-productivity is under threat due to shrinking arable land, increased anthropogenic activities and changes in the climate leading to frequent flash floods, prolonged droughts and sudden fluctuation of temperature. Further, warm climatic conditions increase disease and pest incidences, ultimately reducing crop yield. Hence, collaborated global efforts are required to adopt environmentally safe and sustainable agro practices to boost crop growth and productivity. Biostimulants appear as a promising means to improve growth of plants even under stressful conditions. Among various categories of biostimulants, microbial biostimulants are composed of microorganisms such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and/or microbes which stimulate nutrient uptake, produce secondary metabolites, siderophores, hormones and organic acids, participate in nitrogen fixation, imparts stress tolerance, enhance crop quality and yield when applied to the plants. Though numerous studies convincingly elucidate the positive effects of PGPR-based biostimulants on plants, yet information is meagre regarding the mechanism of action and the key signaling pathways (plant hormone modulations, expression of pathogenesis-related proteins, antioxidants, osmolytes etc.) triggered by these biostimulants in plants. Hence, the present review focuses on the molecular pathways activated by PGPR based biostimulants in plants facing abiotic and biotic challenges. The review also analyses the common mechanisms modulated by these biostimulants in plants to combat abiotic and biotic stresses. Further, the review highlights the traits that have been modified through transgenic approach leading to physiological responses akin to the application of PGPR in the target plants.
Detection of tomato water stress based on terahertz spectroscopy
Authors: Zhang Yixue , Wang Xinzhong , Wang Yafei , Hu Lian , Wang Pei
Published: January 2023

China’s tomato cultivation area is nearly 15 thousand km2, and its annual tomato output is about 55 million tons, accounting for 7% of its total vegetable production. Because of the high drought sensitivity of tomatoes, water stress inhibits their nutrient uptake, leading to a decrease in tomato quality and yield. Therefore, the rapid, accurate and non-destructive detection of water status is important for scientifically and effectively managing tomato water and fertilizer, improving the efficiency of water resource utilization, and safeguarding tomato yield and quality. Because of the extreme sensitivity of terahertz spectroscopy to water, we proposed a tomato leaf moisture detection method based on terahertz spectroscopy and made a preliminary exploration of the relationship between tomato water stress and terahertz spectral data. Tomato plants were grown at four levels of water stress. Fresh tomato leaves were sampled at fruit set, moisture content was calculated, and spectral data were collected through a terahertz time-domain spectroscope. The raw spectral data were smoothed using the Savitzky–Golay algorithm to reduce interference and noise. Then the data were divided by the Kennard–Stone algorithm and the sample set was partitioned based on the joint X-Y distance (SPXY) algorithm into a calibration set and a prediction set at a ratio of 3:1. SPXY was found to be the better approach for sample division. On this basis, the stability competitive adaptive re-weighted sampling algorithm was used to extract the feature frequency bands of moisture content, and a multiple linear regression model of leaf moisture content was established under the single dimensions of power, absorbance and transmittance. The absorbance model was the best, with a prediction set correlation coefficient of 0.9145 and a root mean square error of 0.1199. To further improve the modeling accuracy, we used a support vector machine (SVM) to establish a tomato moisture fusion prediction model based on the fusion of three-dimensional terahertz feature frequency bands. As water stress intensified, the power and absorbance spectral values both declined, and both were significantly and negatively correlated with leaf moisture content. The transmittance spectral value increased gradually with the intensification of water stress, showing a significant positive correlation. The SVM-based three-dimensional fusion prediction model showed a prediction set correlation coefficient of 0.9792 and a root mean square error of 0.0531, indicating that it outperformed the three single-dimensional models. Hence, terahertz spectroscopy can be applied to the detection of tomato leaf moisture content and provides a reference for tomato moisture detection.
Xylem anatomical responses of Larix Gmelinii and Pinus Sylvestris influenced by the climate of Daxing’an mountains in Northeastern China
Authors: Farooq Taimoor Hassan , Yasmeen Sumaira , Shakoor Awais , Nawaz Muhammad Farrakh , Rashid Muhammad Haroon U. , Ahmad Sarir , Rasheed Majeeda , Li He , Li Qian
Published: January 2023

Wood anatomy and plant hydraulics play a significant role in understanding species-specific responses and their ability to manage rapid environmental changes. This study used the dendro-anatomical approach to assess the anatomical characteristics and their relation to local climate variability in the boreal coniferous tree species Larix gmelinii (Dahurian larch) and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica (Scots pine) at an altitude range of 660 m to 842 m. We measured the xylem anatomical traits (lumen area (LA), cell wall thickness (CWt), cell counts per ring (CN), ring width (RW), and cell sizes in rings) of both species at four different sites Mangui (MG), Wuerqihan (WEQH), Moredagha (MEDG) and Alihe (ALH) and investigated their relationship with temperature and precipitation of those sites along a latitude gradient. Results showed that all chronologies have strong summer temperature correlations. LA extremes were mostly associated with climatic variation than CWt and RWt. MEDG site species showed an inverse correlation in different growing seasons. The correlation coefficient with temperature indicated significant variations in the May-September months at MG, WEQH, and ALH sites. These results suggest that climatic seasonality changes in the selected sites positively affect hydraulic efficiency (increase in the diameter of the earlywood cells) and the width of the latewood produced in P. sylvestris. In contrast, L. gmelinii showed the opposite response to warm temperatures. It is concluded that xylem anatomical responses of L. gmelinii and P. sylvestris showed varied responses to different climatic factors at different sites. These differences between the two species responses to climate are due to the change of site condition on a large spatial and temporal scale.
Abscisic acid mediated strawberry receptacle ripening involves the interplay of multiple phytohormone signaling networks
Authors: Li Bai-Jun , Shi Yan-Na , Jia Hao-Ran , Yang Xiao-Fang , Sun Yun-Fan , Lu Jiao , Giovannoni James J. , Jiang Gui-Hua , Rose Jocelyn K. C. , Chen Kun-Song
Published: January 2023

As a canonical non-climacteric fruit, strawberry (Fragaria spp.) ripening is mainly mediated by abscisic acid (ABA), which involves multiple other phytohormone signalings. Many details of these complex associations are not well understood. We present an coexpression network, involving ABA and other phytohormone signalings, based on weighted gene coexpression network analysis of spatiotemporally resolved transcriptome data and phenotypic changes of strawberry receptacles during development and following various treatments. This coexpression network consists of 18,998 transcripts and includes transcripts related to phytohormone signaling pathways, MADS and NAC family transcription factors and biosynthetic pathways associated with fruit quality. Members of eight phytohormone signaling pathways are predicted to participate in ripening and fruit quality attributes mediated by ABA, of which 43 transcripts were screened to consist of the hub phytohormone signalings. In addition to using several genes reported from previous studies to verify the reliability and accuracy of this network, we explored the role of two hub signalings, small auxin up-regulated RNA 1 and 2 in receptacle ripening mediated by ABA, which are also predicted to contribute to fruit quality. These results and publicly accessible datasets provide a valuable resource to elucidate ripening and quality formation mediated by ABA and involves multiple other phytohormone signalings in strawberry receptacle and serve as a model for other non-climacteric fruits.
Digital financial and banking competition network: Evidence from China
Authors: Jia Kaiwei , He Ying , Mohsin Mohammad
Published: January 2023

The rapid development of digital finance resulted in fierce competition in the banking industry. The study used Bank-corporate credit data to measure interbank competition based on social network model, and we transformed the regional digital finance index into bank-level digital finance index using each bank’s registry and license information. Furthermore, we employed QAP (quadratic assignment procedure) to empirically test the effects of digital finance on the competitive structure among banks. Based on which, we verified its heterogeneity and investigated the mechanisms through which the digital finance affected the banking competition structure. The study finds that, digital finance reshapes the banking competition structure, and intensifies the inter-bank involution while increasing the evolution. The large nation-owned banks have been in central position in the banking network system, with stronger competitiveness and higher strength of digital finance development. For large banks, digital financial development has no significant impact on inter-bank co-opetition and is only more significantly correlated with banking weighted competitive networks. For small and medium-sized banks, digital finance has a significant impact on both co-opetition and competitive pressure. Meanwhile, digital finance also led to the increasing homogeneous competition. In addition, compared with large nation-owned banks, the competitiveness of small and medium-sized joint-equity commercial banks and urban commercial banks are more vulnerable to digital finance and resulting in homogenization problems. Mechanism analysis showed that (1) digital finance promotes the overall competitiveness of the banking industry by improving the inclusiveness of financial services, which expands the service scope (scale effect); (2) digital finance promotes the competition by improving the pricing ability, risk identification ability and finally the capital allocation ability of banks (Pricing effect). The above findings provide new ideas for the governance of banking competition and the realization of a new pattern of economic development.
Technology supports me: Perceptions of the benefits of digital technology in adolescents
Authors: Bitto Urbanova Laura , Madarasova Geckova Andrea , Dankulincova Veselska Zuzana , Capikova Silvia , Holubcikova Jana , van Dijk Jitse P. , Reijneveld Sijmen A.
Published: January 2023

Background

Technology plays a significant role in the lives of adolescents. Our knowledge is predominantly based on research exploring the risks associated with it, but adolescents also feel that technology supports their lives. This has received less consideration. Therefore, we aim to examine how adolescents perceive the benefits of digital technology.

Methods

We used qualitative data collected as part of the international Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study. We conducted online, semi-structured interviews with 15 Slovak adolescents who came from three different types of secondary schools based on their graduation systems (mean age: 15.33; 20% boys). The data were analyzed using consensual qualitative research and thematic analysis.

Results

We identified five main themes based on the comments of adolescents: 1. I know (source of information, formal and non-formal education); 2. I can (smart device, helpful tool); 3. I am connected/included (social interactions); 4. I have my comfortable place (leisure time, creating my alternative world); and 5. I work on my future (self-development).

Conclusion

Adolescents perceived digital technology as mostly supportive and a helpful tool in their lives. The potential benefits of digital technology should be better reflected in public perception and policy, as the societal debate is mostly dominated by perceived disadvantages and risks.
Distance-construal relationship: Mediating role of perceived control and moderating role of locus of control
Authors: Huang Hui-dan , Zhang Qi
Published: January 2023

The construal level theory (CLT) has been supported and applied widely in social psychology. Yet, what remains unclear is the mechanism behind it. The authors extend the current literature by hypothesizing that perceived control mediates and locus of control (LOC) moderates the effect of psychological distance on the construal level. Four experimental studies were conducted. The results indicate that individuals perceive low (vs. high) situational control from a psychological distance (vs. proximity), and the resultant control perception influences their motivation in control pursuit, producing a high (vs. low) construal level. Moreover, LOC (i.e., one’s chronic control belief) affects an individual’s motivation to pursue control and yields a reversal of distance-construal relationship under external (vs. internal) LOC as a result. Overall, this research first identifies perceived control as a closer predictor of construal level, and the findings are expected to help with influencing human behavior by facilitating individuals’ construal level via control-related constructs.
Narrative inquiry of translators’ identities: A study of meaning-making in narrating knowledge
Authors: Geng Qiang
Published: January 2023

Translators have generated retrospective accounts of their working experience, which contribute to an expansive corpus of knowledge on translation. A plethora of research has explored how this knowledge could enrich our perception of varied questions concerning translation process, strategies, norms, and other social and political respects within conflictual settings in which translation has engaged. In contrast, few attempts have been made to gain a translator-centered understanding of what this knowledge could mean for its narrators. In line with narrative inquiry, this article proposes a human-centered approach to translator’s knowledge narrating and a shift from positivistic to post-positivistic investigation into specific questions about how translators make sense of who they are as well as the meaning of their lives by structuring their experiences into a sequential and meaningful narrative. The general question is what strategies are employed to construct what types of identities. A holistic and structured analysis of five narratives by senior Chinese translators involves macro and micro dimensions. With a view to methods employed by scholars in different fields, the study identifies four types of narratives, namely, personal, public, conceptual/disciplinary, and metanarrative, which are used throughout our cases. Micro-analysis of narrative structure demonstrates that life events are often arranged in a chronological sequence, among which critical events are favored to indicate a turning point or crisis for transformation. Storytellers tend to adopt strategies of personalizing, exemplifying, polarizing, and evaluating to construct their identities and what translation experience means to them. This article concludes that apart from communicating translation knowledge, translators make sense of what translation experience means to them as a professional translator and more importantly as a real person living through social–cultural–political vicissitudes, thus contributing to a more translator-centered vision of translation knowledge.
The effect of teacher support on Chinese university students’ sustainable online learning engagement and online academic persistence in the post-epidemic era
Authors: Ma Xinglong , Jiang Man , Nong Liying
Published: January 2023

Since entering the post-epidemic era of COVID-19 at the end of 2021, schools have mostly adopted a combined online and offline teaching mode to effectively respond to the normalized epidemic, which has changed the traditional learning mode of students. Based on the study demand-resources (SD-R) model theory, this study developed a research model and proposed six research hypotheses to explore the relationship between Chinese university students’ perceived teacher support (PTS), online academic self-efficacy (OAS-E), online academic emotions (OAE), sustainable online learning engagement (SOLE), and online academic persistence (OAP) in the post-epidemic era. In this study, 593 Chinese university students were invited to respond to a questionnaire survey using the convenience sampling method. The results of the study showed that: PTS had a positive effect on OAS-E and OAE; OAS-E had a positive effect on OAE; OAS-E and OAE had a positive effect on the students’ SOLE; and SOLE had a positive effect on their OAP. Based on the analysis, it is recommended that teachers provide more support and resources to further enhance students’ academic self-efficacy and academic emotions, and thus ensure students’ SOLE and OAP.
Causal discovery replicates symptomatic and functional interrelations of posttraumatic stress across five patient populations
Authors: Pierce Benjamin , Kirsh Thomas , Ferguson Adam R. , Neylan Thomas C. , Ma Sisi , Kummerfeld Erich , Cohen Beth E. , Nielson Jessica L.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Approximately half of individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may meet criteria for other psychiatric disorders, and PTSD symptoms are associated with diminished health and psychosocial functioning. However, few studies examine the longitudinal progression of PTSD symptoms concurrent with related symptom domains and functional outcomes, such that may neglect important longitudinal patterns of symptom progression beyond PTSD specifically.

Methods

Therefore, we used longitudinal causal discovery analysis to examine the longitudinal interrelations among PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, substance abuse, and various other domains of functioning in five longitudinal cohorts representing veterans (n = 241), civilians seeking treatment for anxiety disorders (n = 79), civilian women seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress and substance abuse (n = 116), active duty military members assessed 0–90 days following TBI (n = 243), and civilians with a history of TBI (n = 43).

Results

The analyses revealed consistent, directed associations from PTSD symptoms to depressive symptoms, independent longitudinal trajectories of substance use problems, and cascading indirect relations from PTSD symptoms to social functioning through depression as well as direct relations from PTSD symptoms to TBI outcomes.

Discussion

Our findings suggest PTSD symptoms primarily drive depressive symptoms over time, tend to show independence from substance use symptoms, and may cascade into impairment in other domains. The results have implications for refining conceptualization of PTSD co-morbidity and can inform prognostic and treatment hypotheses about individuals experiencing PTSD symptoms along with co-occurring distress or impairment.
The evolution of personality disorders: A review of proposals
Authors: Gutiérrez Fernando , Valdesoiro Francisco
Published: January 2023

Personality disorders (PDs) are currently considered dysfunctions. However, personality differences are older than humanity and are ubiquitous in nature, from insects to higher primates. This suggests that a number of evolutionary mechanisms—other than dysfunctions—may be able to maintain stable behavioral variation in the gene pool. First of all, apparently maladaptive traits may actually improve fitness by enabling better survival or successful mating or reproduction, as exemplified by neuroticism, psychopathy, and narcissism. Furthermore, some PDs may harm important biological goals while facilitating others, or may be globally beneficial or detrimental depending on environmental circumstances or body condition. Alternatively, certain traits may form part of life history strategies: Coordinated suites of morphological, physiological and behavioral characters that optimize fitness through alternative routes and respond to selection as a whole. Still others may be vestigial adaptations that are no longer beneficial in present times. Finally, variation may be adaptative in and by itself, as it reduces competition for finite resources. These and other evolutionary mechanisms are reviewed and illustrated through human and non-human examples. Evolutionary theory is the best-substantiated explanatory framework across the life sciences, and may shed light on the question of why harmful personalities exist at all.
Biological and cognitive theories explaining panic disorder: A narrative review
Authors: Kyriakoulis Peter , Kyrios Michael
Published: January 2023

The current narrative review summarizes and examines several theories of panic disorder (PD) including biological theories, encompassing neurochemical factors, metabolic and genetic theories, respiratory and hyperventilation theories and cognitive theory. Biological theories have informed the development of psychopharmacological treatments; however, they may be limited in their utility given the efficacy of psychological treatments. In particular, behavioral and, more recently, cognitive models have garnered support due to the efficacy of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) in treating PD. The role of combination treatments has been found to be superior in the treatment of PD in particular cases, lending support for the need for an integrated approach and model for PD given that the etiology of PD is complex and multifactorial.
COVID-19 outbreak: Impact on global economy
Authors: Naseer Saira , Khalid Sidra , Parveen Summaira , Abbass Kashif , Song Huaming , Achim Monica Violeta
Published: January 2023

COVID-19 has been considered the most significant threat since World War II and the greatest global health disaster of the century. Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, reported a new infection affecting residents in December 2019. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been named by the World Health Organization (WHO). Across the globe, it is spreading rapidly, posing significant health, economic, and social challenges for everyone. The content of this paper is solely intended to provide a visual overview of COVID-19 global economic impact. The Coronavirus outbreak is causing a global economic collapse. Most countries have implemented full or partial lockdown measures to slow the spread of disease. The lockdown has slowed global economic activity substantially, many companies have reduced operations or closed down, and people are losing their jobs at an increasing rate. Service providers are also affected, in addition to manufacturers, agriculture, the food industry, a decline in education, the sports industry, and of entertainment sector also observed. The world trade situation is expected to deteriorate substantially this year.
Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy is more cost-effective than chemotherapy alone as first-line therapy for advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Liang Xueyan , Chen Xiaoyu , Li Huijuan , Li Yan
Published: January 2023

Background and objective

Tislelizumab is a programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor. Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy as first-line option for advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), compared with chemotherapy alone, resulted in significantly prolonged survival outcomes; however, evidence regarding its relative efficacy and cost is lacking. We aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of tislelizumab plus chemotherapy compared with that of chemotherapy alone, from the health care perspective in China.

Methods

A partitioned survival model (PSM) was used for this study. The survival data were obtained from the RATIONALE 304 trial. Cost-effectiveness was defined as incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) less than the willingness to pay (WTP) threshold. Incremental net health benefits (INHB), incremental net monetary benefits (INMB), and subgroup analyses were also assessed. Sensitivity analyses were further established to assess the model stability.

Results

Compared with chemotherapy alone, tislelizumab plus chemotherapy increased by 0.64 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and 1.48 life-years, and yielded an increase of $16,631 in cost per patient. The INMB and INHB were $7,510 and 0.20 QALYs at a WTP threshold of $38,017/QALY, respectively. The ICER was $26,162/QALY. The outcomes were most sensitive to the HR of OS for tislelizumab plus chemotherapy arm. The probability of tislelizumab plus chemotherapy being considered cost-effective was 87.66% and >50% in most of the subgroups at the WTP threshold of $38,017/QALY. At the WTP threshold of $86,376/QALY, the probability achieved 99.81%. Furthermore, the probability of tislelizumab plus chemotherapy being considered cost-effective in subgroups of patients with liver metastases and PD–L1 expression ≥50% were 90.61 and 94.35%, respectively.

Conclusion

Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy is likely to be cost-effective as a first-line treatment for advanced non-squamous NSCLC in China.
Pooled prevalence and determinants of antenatal care visits in countries with high maternal mortality: A multi-country analysis
Authors: Chilot Dagmawi , Belay Daniel Gashaneh , Ferede Tigist Andargie , Shitu Kegnie , Asratie Melaku Hunie , Ambachew Sintayehu , Shibabaw Yadelew Yimer , Geberu Demiss Mulatu , Deresse Melkamu , Alem Adugnaw Zeleke
Published: January 2023

Background

Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the leading causes of maternal and child deaths and disabilities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Timely and frequent antenatal care prevents these burdens by promoting existing disease treatments, vaccination, iron supplementation, and HIV counseling and testing during pregnancy. Many factors could contribute to optimal ANC utilization remaining below targets in countries with high maternal mortality. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of optimal ANC utilization by using nationally representative surveys of countries with high maternal mortality.

Methods

Secondary data analysis was done using recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data of 27 countries with high maternal mortality. The multilevel binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify significantly associated factors. Variables were extracted from the individual record (IR) files of from each of the 27 countries. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-value of ≤0.05 in the multivariable model were used to declare significant factors associated with optimal ANC utilization.

Result

The pooled prevalence of optimal ANC utilization in countries with high maternal mortality was 55.66% (95% CI: 47.48–63.85). Several determinants at the individual and community level were significantly associated with optimal ANC utilization. Mothers aged 25–34 years, mothers aged 35–49 years, mothers who had formal education, working mothers, women who are married, had media access, households of middle-wealth quintile, richest household, history of pregnancy termination, female household head, and high community education were positively associated with optimal ANC visits in countries with high maternal mortality, whereas being rural residents, unwanted pregnancy, having birth order 2–5, and birth order >5 were negatively associated.

Conclusion and recommendations

Optimal ANC utilization in countries with high maternal mortality was relatively low. Both individual-level factors and community-level factors were significantly associated with ANC utilization. Policymakers, stakeholders, and health professionals should give special attention and intervene by targeting rural residents, uneducated mothers, economically poor women, and other significant factors this study revealed.
A bibliometric analysis of inflammatory bowel disease and COVID-19 researches
Authors: Wang Fangfei , Xie Jinliang , Xiong Huifang , Xie Yong
Published: January 2023

Background

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often require immunosuppressive therapy and are hence susceptible to various opportunistic viral and bacterial infections. In this regard, many studies on IBD and COVID-19 have been conducted. However, no bibliometric analysis has been performed. This study provides a general overview of IBD and COVID-19.

Methods

Publications about IBD and COVID-19 from 2020 to 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. Bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and HistCite.

Results

A total of 396 publications were retrieved and considered in this study. The maximum number of publications were from the United States, Italy, and England, and the contributions of these countries were significant. Kappelman ranked first in article citations. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases were the most prolific affiliation and journal, respectively. The most influential research topics were “management”, “impact”, “vaccination”, and “receptor”. The following keywords represented research frontiers: “depression”, “the quality of life of IBD patients”, “infliximab”, “COVID-19 vaccine”, and “second vaccination”.

Conclusions

Over the past 3 years, most studies on IBD and COVID-19 have focused on clinical research. In particular, topics such as “depression”, “the quality of life of IBD patients”, “infliximab”, “COVID-19 vaccine”, and “second vaccination” were noted to have received much attention recently. Future research should focus on our understanding of the immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in biologically treated patients, the psychological impact of COVID-19, IBD management guidelines, and the long-term impact of COVID-19 in IBD patients. This study will provide researchers with a better understanding of research trends on IBD during COVID-19.
A cross-sectional study of smoking and depression among US adults: NHANES (2005–2018)
Authors: Wu Zhaoping , Yue Qiang , Zhao Zhen , Wen Jun , Tang Lanying , Zhong Zhenzhen , Yang Jiahui , Yuan Yingpu , Zhang Xiaobo
Published: January 2023

Background

The relationship between smoking and depression remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association between smoking and depression from three aspects: smoking status, smoking volume, and smoking cessation.

Methods

Data from adults aged ≥20 who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2005 and 2018 were collected. The study gathered information about the participants' smoking status (never smokers, previous smokers, occasional smokers, daily smokers), smoking quantity per day, and smoking cessation. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with a score ≥10 indicating the presence of clinically relevant symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the association of smoking status, daily smoking volume, and smoking cessation duration with depression.

Results

Previous smokers [odds ratio (OR) = 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05–1.48] and occasional smokers (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.39–2.45) were associated with a higher risk of depression compared with never smokers. Daily smokers had the highest risk of depression (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 2.05–2.75). In addition, a tendency toward a positive correlation was observed between daily smoking volume and depression (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.24–2.19) (P for trend < 0.05). Furthermore, the longer the smoking cessation duration, the lower the risk of depression (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.39–0.79) (P for trend < 0.05).

Conclusions

Smoking is a behavior that increases the risk of depression. The higher the smoking frequency and smoking volume, the higher the risk of depression, whereas smoking cessation is associated with decreased risk of depression, and the longer the smoking cessation duration, the lower the risk of depression.
Short-term effects of ambient air pollution on emergency department visits for urolithiasis: A time-series study in Wuhan, China
Authors: Xu Haoyue , Liu Yaqi , Wang Jianing , Jin Xiaoqing
Published: January 2023

Background

Previous studies have explored the correlation between short-term exposure to air pollution and urinary system diseases, but lack of evidence on the correlation between air pollution and urolithiasis.

Methods

Daily data of emergency department visits (EDVs), concentrations of six air pollutants (SO2, NO2, PM2.5, PM10, CO, and O3) and meteorological variables were collected in Wuhan, China, from 2016 to 2018. And a time-series study was conducted to investigate short-term effects of air pollutants on urolithiasis EDVs. In addition, stratified analyses by season, age and gender were also conducted.

Results

A total of 7,483 urolithiasis EDVs were included during the study period. A 10-μg/m3 increase of SO2, NO2, PM2.5, CO, PM10, and O3 corresponded to 15.02% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.69%, 30.11%), 1.96% (95% CI: 0.19%, 3.76%), 1.09% (95% CI:−0.24%, 2.43%), 0.14% (95% CI: 0.02%, 0.26%), 0.72% (95% CI: 0.02%, 1.43%), and 1.17% (95% CI: 0.40%, 1.94%) increases in daily urolithiasis EDVs. Significant positive correlations were observed between SO2, NO2, CO, and O3 and urolithiasis EDVs. The correlations were mainly among females (especially PM2.5 and CO) and younger people (especially SO2, NO2, and PM10) but the effect of CO was more obvious in elders. Furthermore, the effects of SO2 and CO were stronger in warm seasons, while the effects of NO2 were stronger in cool seasons.

Conclusion

Our time-series study indicates that short-term exposure to air pollution (especially SO2, NO2, CO, and O3) was positively correlated with EDVs for urolithiasis in Wuhan, China, and the effects varied by season, age and gender.
A framework to distinguish healthy/cancer renal CT images using the fused deep features
Authors: Rajinikanth Venkatesan , Vincent P. M. Durai Raj , Srinivasan Kathiravan , Ananth Prabhu G. , Chang Chuan-Yu
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Cancer happening rates in humankind are gradually rising due to a variety of reasons, and sensible detection and management are essential to decrease the disease rates. The kidney is one of the vital organs in human physiology, and cancer in the kidney is a medical emergency and needs accurate diagnosis and well-organized management.

Methods

The proposed work aims to develop a framework to classify renal computed tomography (CT) images into healthy/cancer classes using pre-trained deep-learning schemes. To improve the detection accuracy, this work suggests a threshold filter-based pre-processing scheme, which helps in removing the artefact in the CT slices to achieve better detection. The various stages of this scheme involve: (i) Image collection, resizing, and artefact removal, (ii) Deep features extraction, (iii) Feature reduction and fusion, and (iv) Binary classification using five-fold cross-validation.

Results and discussion

This experimental investigation is executed separately for: (i) CT slices with the artefact and (ii) CT slices without the artefact. As a result of the experimental outcome of this study, the K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) classifier is able to achieve 100% detection accuracy by using the pre-processed CT slices. Therefore, this scheme can be considered for the purpose of examining clinical grade renal CT images, as it is clinically significant.
How should studies using AI be reported? lessons from a systematic review in cardiac MRI
Authors: Maiter Ahmed , Salehi Mahan , Swift Andrew J. , Alabed Samer
Published: January 2023

Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in studies presenting artificial intelligence (AI) tools for cardiac imaging. Amongst these are AI tools that undertake segmentation of structures on cardiac MRI (CMR), an essential step in obtaining clinically relevant functional information. The quality of reporting of these studies carries significant implications for advancement of the field and the translation of AI tools to clinical practice. We recently undertook a systematic review to evaluate the quality of reporting of studies presenting automated approaches to segmentation in cardiac MRI (Alabed et al. 2022 Quality of reporting in AI cardiac MRI segmentation studies—a systematic review and recommendations for future studies. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 9:956811). 209 studies were assessed for compliance with the Checklist for AI in Medical Imaging (CLAIM), a framework for reporting. We found variable—and sometimes poor—quality of reporting and identified significant and frequently missing information in publications. Compliance with CLAIM was high for descriptions of models (100%, IQR 80%–100%), but lower than expected for descriptions of study design (71%, IQR 63–86%), datasets used in training and testing (63%, IQR 50%–67%) and model performance (60%, IQR 50%–70%). Here, we present a summary of our key findings, aimed at general readers who may not be experts in AI, and use them as a framework to discuss the factors determining quality of reporting, making recommendations for improving the reporting of research in this field. We aim to assist researchers in presenting their work and readers in their appraisal of evidence. Finally, we emphasise the need for close scrutiny of studies presenting AI tools, even in the face of the excitement surrounding AI in cardiac imaging.
Phase transitions in complex functional liquid crystals—The entropy effect
Authors: Lehmann Matthias
Published: January 2023

Liquid crystal design and synthesis are being driven towards always more complexity. The self-assembly of poly- and shape-amphiphiles allow tailoring the soft material structures with double and even triple nanosegregation of functional building blocks. Alignment of the anisotropic liquid crystal is crucial, in order to generate a full control over the material’s function and performance. This procedure often needs an isotropic phase at accessible temperatures without decomposition. The impact of thermodynamic factors, such as cohesive energy density difference and entropy contributions, is discussed in this perspective paper using selected examples. In the process of molecular design such considerations can help to adjust transition temperatures and subsequently, to achieve aligned, complex liquid crystalline matter. This will allow access to new fields of liquid crystal applications.
Plasma-neutral interactions in the lower thermosphere-ionosphere: The need for in situ measurements to address focused questions
Authors: Sarris Theodoros , Palmroth Minna , Aikio Anita , Buchert Stephan Christoph , Clemmons James , Clilverd Mark , Dandouras Iannis , Doornbos Eelco , Goodwin Lindsay Victoria , Grandin Maxime , Heelis Roderick , Ivchenko Nickolay , Moretto-Jørgensen Therese , Kervalishvili Guram , Knudsen David , Liu Han-Li , Lu Gang , Malaspina David M. , Marghitu Octav , Maute Astrid , Miloch Wojciech J. , Olsen Nils , Pfaff Robert , Stolle Claudia , Talaat Elsayed , Thayer Jeffrey , Tourgaidis Stelios , Verronen Pekka T. , Yamauchi Masatoshi
Published: January 2023

The lower thermosphere-ionosphere (LTI) is a key transition region between Earth’s atmosphere and space. Interactions between ions and neutrals maximize within the LTI and in particular at altitudes from 100 to 200 km, which is the least visited region of the near-Earth environment. The lack of in situ co-temporal and co-spatial measurements of all relevant parameters and their elusiveness to most remote-sensing methods means that the complex interactions between its neutral and charged constituents remain poorly characterized to this date. This lack of measurements, together with the ambiguity in the quantification of key processes in the 100–200 km altitude range affect current modeling efforts to expand atmospheric models upward to include the LTI and limit current space weather prediction capabilities. We present focused questions in the LTI that are related to the complex interactions between its neutral and charged constituents. These questions concern core physical processes that govern the energetics, dynamics, and chemistry of the LTI and need to be addressed as fundamental and long-standing questions in this critically unexplored boundary region. We also outline the range of in situ measurements that are needed to unambiguously quantify key LTI processes within this region, and present elements of an in situ concept based on past proposed mission concepts.
Influence of bilateral nasal packing on sleep oxygen saturation after general anesthesia: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Guan Shuwen , Zhao Tingting , Ye Jingying , Zhang Junbo
Published: January 2023

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the effect of bilateral nasal packing on sleep oxygen saturation and its influencing factors on the first night after general anesthesia.

Method

A total of 36 adult patients who underwent bilateral nasal packing with a nonabsorbable expanding sponge after general anesthesia surgery were prospectively studied. All these patients underwent overnight oximetry tests before and the first night after surgery. The following oximetry variables were collected for analysis: the lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT), the average oxygen saturation (ASAT), the oxygen desaturation index of ≥4% (ODI4), and the percentage of time with oxygen saturation below 90% (CT90).

Results

Among the 36 patients, the incidences of both sleep hypoxemia and moderate-to-severe sleep hypoxemia increased with bilateral nasal packing after general anesthesia surgery. All the pulse oximetry variables we studied deteriorated significantly after surgery: both LSAT and ASAT decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while both ODI4 and CT90 increased significantly (P < 0.05). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, body mass index (BMI), LSAT, and modified Mallampati grade were found to be independently predictive for a larger decrease in LSAT (≥5%) after surgery (all P’s < 0.05).

Conclusion

Bilateral nasal packing after general anesthesia could induce or aggravate sleep hypoxemia, especially in patients with obesity, relatively normal sleep oxygen saturation, and high modified Mallampati grades.
Unexpected arterial thrombosis and acute limb ischemia in a young male patient with COVID-19: A case report
Authors: Aljabri Badr , Aldossary Mohammed Yousef
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has resulted in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, raising significant concerns. COVID-19 can lead to thrombotic complications such as acute limb ischemia (ALI). In patients with COVID-19, thrombotic complications may increase the risk of morbidity and mortality.

Presentation of case

We report the case of a 37-year-old man who presented with a 2 weeks history of right foot pain, toes blackish discoloration, and numbness. He tested positive for COVID-19 10 days prior to his presentation. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the lower limbs revealed near-complete occlusion of the right popliteal artery with single-vessel posterior tibial artery runoff. The patient was brought to a hybrid operating room, and diagnostic angiography confirmed the diagnosis. He underwent popliteal artery thromboembolectomy and intraoperative thrombolysis through a posterior approach. A completion angiography demonstrated a patent popliteal artery with a 2-vessels patency to the foot. His postoperative recovery was uneventful. After surgery, the popliteal, anterior tibial, and posterior tibial arteries were all palpable. The patient was discharged home on antiplatelet therapy with frequent postoperative follow-ups during the last 1 year in our outpatient clinic.

Discussion

The frequency of ALI has reduced worldwide, and the hypercoagulable condition remains an infrequent cause of limb ischemia. Patients with COVID-19 have a 35%–45% thromboembolic complication rate. In many studies, the virus launches a second attack between 7 and 14 days after symptom onset, possibly causing hypercoagulability. If conservative treatment fails, various surgical methods, including thromboembolectomy, thrombolysis, and thrombosuction, can be performed to treat ALI.

Conclusion

In mild ALI symptoms, unfractionated heparin can be used with vigilant follow-up. Open and endovascular procedures are currently used to treat patients with acute limb ischemia, and technological advancements continue to make interventions easier and safer.
Comparison of flexible ureteroscopy in the treatment of 1–2 cm single nephrolithiasis and multiple nephrolithiasis
Authors: Lv Guangda , Zhou Yongheng , Qi Wenqiang , Zhong Minglei , Li Rongyang , Zhu Yaofeng
Published: January 2023

Objective

To compare the efficacy of flexible ureteroscopy for single urinary stones with that of multiple urinary stones.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent flexible ureteroscopy in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from January 2016 to March 2021. Propensity score matching was used to match patients with no statistical difference in preoperative clinical data, and they were divided into solitary calculi and multiple calculi two groups. The postoperative hospital days, operation time, complications and stone free rate were compared between the two groups. And multiple stones were divided into high group (S-ReSc > 4) and non-high group (S-ReSc ≤ 4) for analysis.

Results

313 patients were counted. After propensity score matching, 198 patients were finally included in the study. There were 99 cases in the solitary stone group and the multiple stone group. There were no significant differences in postoperative hospital days, complications and stone free rate between the two groups. The operation time of patients with solitary stone group was significantly shorter than that of patients with multiple stones (65.00 min, 45.00 min VS 90.00 min, 50.00 min, P < 0.001). The SFR of high group in the multiple stones group was significantly lower than that in the non-high group (7, 58.3% VS 78, 89.7%, P = 0.013).

Conclusion

Despite the longer operation time, flexible ureteroscopy has similar outcomes in the treatment of multiple (S-Rec ≤ 4) compared to solitary calculi. Although, this doesn't apply when S-ReSc > 4.