bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulatory mechanisms of macrophage polarization in adipose tissue
Authors: Pan Dun , Li Guo , Jiang Chunlin , Hu Jinfeng , Hu Xiangming
Published: May 2023

In adipose tissue, macrophages are the most abundant immune cells with high heterogeneity and plasticity. Depending on environmental cues and molecular mediators, adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) can be polarized into pro- or anti-inflammatory cells. In the state of obesity, ATMs switch from the M2 polarized state to the M1 state, which contributes to chronic inflammation, thereby promoting the pathogenic progression of obesity and other metabolic diseases. Recent studies show that multiple ATM subpopulations cluster separately from the M1 or M2 polarized state. Various factors are related to ATM polarization, including cytokines, hormones, metabolites and transcription factors. Here, we discuss our current understanding of the potential regulatory mechanisms underlying ATM polarization induced by autocrine and paracrine factors. A better understanding of how ATMs polarize may provide new therapeutic strategies for obesity-related diseases.
Uncoding the interdependency of tumor microenvironment and macrophage polarization: insights from a continuous network approach
Authors: Avila-Ponce de León Ugo , Vázquez-Jiménez Aarón , Padilla-Longoria Pablo , Resendis-Antonio Osbaldo
Published: May 2023

The balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory immune system responses is crucial to preventing complex diseases like cancer. Macrophages are essential immune cells that contribute to this balance constrained by the local signaling profile of the tumor microenvironment. To understand how pro- and anti-inflammatory unbalance emerges in cancer, we developed a theoretical analysis of macrophage differentiation that is derived from activated monocytes circulating in the blood. Once recruited to the site of inflammation, monocytes can be polarized based on the specific interleukins and chemokines in the microenvironment. To quantify this process, we used a previous regulatory network reconstructed by our group and transformed Boolean Network attractors of macrophage polarization to an ODE scheme, it enables us to quantify the activation of their genes in a continuous fashion. The transformation was developed using the interaction rules with a fuzzy logic approach. By implementing this approach, we analyzed different aspects that cannot be visualized in the Boolean setting. For example, this approach allows us to explore the dynamic behavior at different concentrations of cytokines and transcription factors in the microenvironment. One important aspect to assess is the evaluation of the transitions between phenotypes, some of them characterized by an abrupt or a gradual transition depending on specific concentrations of exogenous cytokines in the tumor microenvironment. For instance, IL-10 can induce a hybrid state that transits between an M2c and an M2b macrophage. Interferon- γ can induce a hybrid between M1 and M1a macrophage. We further demonstrated the plasticity of macrophages based on a combination of cytokines and the existence of hybrid phenotypes or partial polarization. This mathematical model allows us to unravel the patterns of macrophage differentiation based on the competition of expression of transcriptional factors. Finally, we survey how macrophages may respond to a continuously changing immunological response in a tumor microenvironment.
Hyperprogressive disease in non-small cell lung cancer after PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors immunotherapy: underlying killer
Authors: Li Yanping , Chen Tianhong , Nie Tian Yi , Han Juyuan , He Yunyan , Tang Xingxing , Zhang Li
Published: May 2023

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) target the negative regulatory pathway of T cells and effectively reactive the anti-tumor immune function of T cells by blocking the key pathway of the immune escape mechanism of the tumor—PD-1/PD-L1, and fundamentally changing the prospect of immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer patients. However, such promising immunotherapy is overshadowed by Hyperprogressive Disease, a response pattern associated with unwanted accelerated tumor growth and characterized by poor prognosis in a fraction of treated patients. This review comprehensively provides an overview of Hyperprogressive Disease in immune checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer including its definition, biomarkers, mechanisms, and treatment. A better understanding of the black side of immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy will provide a more profound insight into the pros and cons of immunotherapy.
First report of Stephanostomum cesticillus (Molin, 1858) Looss, 1899 in Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Tyrrhenian Sea (Southern Italy)
Authors: De Benedetto Giovanni , Gervasi Claudio , Riolo Kristian , Abbate Jessica Maria , Natale Sabrina , Di Paola Davide , Falleti Rosa , Iaria Carmelo
Published: May 2023

The genus Stephanostomum consists of digenean trematodes found in many marine teleosts. In this study, Stephanostomum cesticillus (Molin, 1858) Looss, 1899 metacercariae were identified in European hake (Merluccius merluccius, Linnaeus, 1758) caught in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The metacercariae were found encapsulated in the muscle, close to the spine and gills. Out of 131 specimens, 111 (P = 84.7%, mI = 25.1 mA = 21.3) were infected by digenean trematode metacercariae. Morphological and histological evaluations were carried out. The members of this genus are characterised by a double crown of spines close to the oral sucker. For identification of the parasite, molecular analysis was performed via 28S and 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) genes. Partial rDNA sequences of Stephanostomum highly matched to S. cesticillus for the percentage of similar identity from the nucleotide database of BLAST. The present survey reports the presence of S. cesticillus metacercariae in M. merluccius for the first time. Our results improve current knowledge on hake parasites to better understand the distribution of S. cesticillus in M. merluccius caught in the Mediterranean Sea and shed light on the life cycle of the parasite adding other possible hosts.
Altered gut microbiota in temporal lobe epilepsy with anxiety disorders
Authors: Wei Shouchao , Mai Yingren , Hu Li , Zheng Ruxing , Zheng Dongming , Chen Wenrong , Cai Yan , Wang Junjun
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Patients with epilepsy are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of anxiety disorders. In particular, temporal lobe epilepsy with anxiety disorders (TLEA) has attracted more attention in epilepsy research. The link between intestinal dysbiosis and TLEA has not been established yet. To gain deeper insight into the link between gut microbiota dysbiosis and factors affecting TLEA, the composition of the gut microbiome, including bacteria and fungi, has been examined.

Methods

The gut microbiota from 51 temporal lobe epilepsy patients has been subjected to sequencing targeting 16S rDNA (Illumina MiSeq) and from 45 temporal lobe epilepsy patients targeting the ITS-1 region (through pyrosequencing). A differential analysis has been conducted on the gut microbiota from the phylum to the genus level.

Results

TLEA patients' gut bacteria and fungal microbiota exhibited distinct characteristics and diversity as evidenced by high-throughput sequencing (HTS). TLEA patients showed higher abundances of Escherichia-Shigella (genus), Enterobacterales (order), Enterobacteriaceae (family), Proteobacteria (phylum), Gammaproteobacteria (class), and lower abundances of Clostridia (class), Firmicutes, Lachnospiraceae (family), Lachnospirales (order), and Ruminococcus (genus). Among fungi, Saccharomycetales fam. incertae sedis (family), Saccharomycetales (order), Saccharomycetes (class), and Ascomycota (phylum) were significantly more abundant in TLEA patients than in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy but without anxiety. Adoption and perception of seizure control significantly affected TLEA bacterial community structure, while yearly hospitalization frequency affected fungal community structures in TLEA patients.

Conclusion

Here, our study validated the gut microbiota dysbiosis of TLEA. Moreover, the pioneering study of bacterial and fungal microbiota profiles will help in understanding the course of TLEA and drive us toward preventing TLEA gut microbiota dysbiosis.
Interspecies transmission of porcine-originated G4P[6] rotavirus A between pigs and humans: a synchronized spatiotemporal approach
Authors: Kunić Valentina , Mikuletič Tina , Kogoj Rok , Koritnik Tom , Steyer Andrej , Šoprek Silvija , Tešović Goran , Konjik Vlatka , Roksandić Križan Ivana , Prišlin Marina , Jemeršić Lorena , Brnić Dragan
Published: May 2023

As a leading viral cause of acute gastroenteritis in both humans and pigs, rotavirus A (RVA) poses a potential public health concern. Although zoonotic spillover of porcine RVA strains to humans is sporadic, it has been detected worldwide. The origin of chimeric human–animal strains of RVA is closely linked to the crucial role of mixed genotypes in driving reassortment and homologous recombination, which play a major role in shaping the genetic diversity of RVA. To better understand how genetically intertwined porcine and zoonotic human-derived G4P[6] RVA strains are, the present study employed a spatiotemporal approach to whole-genome characterization of RVA strains collected during three consecutive RVA seasons in Croatia (2018–2021). Notably, sampled children under 2 years of age and weanling piglets with diarrhea were included in the study. In addition to samples tested by real-time RT-PCR, genotyping of VP7 and VP4 gene segments was conducted. The unusual genotype combinations detected in the initial screening, including three human and three porcine G4P[6] strains, were subjected to next-generation sequencing, followed by phylogenetic analysis of all gene segments, and intragenic recombination analysis. Results showed a porcine or porcine-like origin for each of the eleven gene segments in all six RVA strains. The G4P[6] RVA strains detected in children most likely resulted from porcine-to-human interspecies transmission. Furthermore, the genetic diversity of Croatian porcine and porcine-like human G4P[6] strains was propelled by reassortment events between porcine and porcine-like human G4P[6] RVA strains, along with homologous intragenotype and intergenotype recombinations in VP4, NSP1, and NSP3 segments. Described concurrent spatiotemporal approach in investigating autochthonous human and animal RVA strains is essential in drawing relevant conclusions about their phylogeographical relationship. Therefore, continuous surveillance of RVA, following the One Health principles, may provide relevant data for assessing the impact on the protectiveness of currently available vaccines.
Evaluation of the multifunctional dipeptidyl-peptidase IV and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory properties of a casein hydrolysate using cell-free and cell-based assays
Authors: Li Jianqiang , Bollati Carlotta , Aiello Gilda , Bartolomei Martina , Rivardo Fabrizio , Boschin Giovanna , Arnoldi Anna , Lammi Carmen
Published: May 2023

The objective of the study was the evaluation of the potential pleiotropic effect of a commercial casein hydrolysate (CH). After an analysis of the composition, the BIOPEP-UWM database suggested that these peptides contained numerous sequences with potential inhibitory activities on angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPP-IV). The anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive effects of these peptides were thus assessed using either cell-free or cell-based assays. In the cell-free system, CH displayed inhibitory properties against DPP-IV (IC50 value equal to 0.38 ± 0.01 mg/mL) and ACE (IC50 value equal to 0.39 ± 0.01 mg/mL). Further, CH reduced the DPP-IV and ACE activities expressed by human intestinal Caco-2 cells by 61.10 ± 1.70% and 76.90 ± 4.47%, respectively, versus untreated cells, after 6 h of treatment at the concentration of 5 mg/mL. This first demonstration of the multifunctional behavior of this material suggests that it may become an anti-diabetic and/or anti-hypertensive ingredient to be included in the formulation of different functional food or nutraceutics.
Cancer immune exclusion: breaking the barricade for a successful immunotherapy
Authors: Bruni Sofia , Mercogliano María Florencia , Mauro Florencia Luciana , Cordo Russo Rosalia Inés , Schillaci Roxana
Published: May 2023

Immunotherapy has changed the course of cancer treatment. The initial steps were made through tumor-specific antibodies that guided the setup of an antitumor immune response. A new and successful generation of antibodies are designed to target immune checkpoint molecules aimed to reinvigorate the antitumor immune response. The cellular counterpart is the adoptive cell therapy, where specific immune cells are expanded or engineered to target cancer cells. In all cases, the key for achieving positive clinical resolutions rests upon the access of immune cells to the tumor. In this review, we focus on how the tumor microenvironment architecture, including stromal cells, immunosuppressive cells and extracellular matrix, protects tumor cells from an immune attack leading to immunotherapy resistance, and on the available strategies to tackle immune evasion.
Continuous low-dose cyclophosphamide plus prednisone in the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma with severe complications
Authors: Shi Haotian , Wei Wei , Peng Rong , Chen Haimin , Zhou Nian , Wu Lixia , Yu Wenjun , Zhao Wenhao , Hou Jian , Zhou Fan
Published: May 2023

Background/objective

We retrospectively analyzed the effective and safety of continuous low-dose cyclophosphamide combined with prednisone (CP) in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients with severe complications.

Methods

A total of 130 RRMM patients with severe complications were enrolled in this study, among which 41 patients were further given bortezomib, lenalidomide, thalidomide or ixazomib on the basis of CP regimen (CP+X group). The response to therapy, adverse events (AEs), overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were recorded.

Results

Among the 130 patients, 128 patients received therapeutic response assessment, with a complete remission rate (CRR) and objective response rate (ORR) of 4.7% and 58.6%, respectively. The median OS and PFS time were (38.0 ± 3.6) and (22.9±5.2) months, respectively. The most common AEs were hyperglycemia (7.7%), pneumonia (6.2%) and Cushing’s syndrome (5.4%). In addition, we found the pro-BNP/BNP level was obviously decreased while the LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction) was increased in RRMM patients following CP treatment as compared with those before treatment. Furthermore, CP+X regimen further improved the CRR compared with that before receiving the CP+X regimen (24.4% vs. 2.4%, P=0.007). Also, both the OS and PFS rates were significantly elevated in patients received CP+X regimen following CP regimen as compared with the patients received CP regimen only.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the metronomic chemotherapy regimen of CP is effective to RRMM patients with severe complications.
Distinct neural signaling characteristics between fibromyalgia and provoked vestibulodynia revealed by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging in the brainstem and spinal cord
Authors: Ioachim Gabriela , Warren Howard J. M. , Powers Jocelyn M. , Staud Roland , Pukall Caroline F. , Stroman Patrick W.
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Fibromyalgia and provoked vestibulodynia are two chronic pain conditions that disproportionately affect women. The mechanisms underlying the pain in these conditions are still poorly understood, but there is speculation that both may be linked to altered central sensitization and autonomic regulation. Neuroimaging studies of these conditions focusing on the brainstem and spinal cord to explore changes in pain regulation and autonomic regulation are emerging, but none to date have directly compared pain and autonomic regulation in these conditions. This study compares groups of women with fibromyalgia and provoked vestibulodynia to healthy controls using a threat/safety paradigm with a predictable noxious heat stimulus.

Methods

Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired at 3 tesla in the cervical spinal cord and brainstem with previously established methods. Imaging data were analyzed with structural equation modeling and ANCOVA methods during: a period of noxious stimulation, and a period before the stimulation when participants were expecting the upcoming pain.

Results

The results demonstrate several similarities and differences between brainstem/spinal cord connectivity related to autonomic and pain regulatory networks across the three groups in both time periods.

Discussion

Based on the regions and connections involved in the differences, the altered pain processing in fibromyalgia appears to be related to changes in how autonomic and pain regulation networks are integrated, whereas altered pain processing in provoked vestibulodynia is linked in part to changes in arousal or salience networks as well as changes in affective components of pain regulation.
Effect of dexmedetomidine on liver transplantation: a meta-analysis
Authors: Jia Degong , Guo Shanshan , Wu Xinyi , Zhao Minjie , Luo Jiefu , Cheng Mingxiang , Qin Yajun
Published: May 2023

Background: Dexmedetomidine (DEX), an adjuvant anesthetic, may improve the clinical outcomes of liver transplantation (LT).

Methods: We summarized the relevant clinical trials of DEX in patients undergoing LT. As of 30 January 2023, we searched The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Clinical Trial.gov and the WHO ICTRP. The main outcomes were postoperative liver and renal function. The random effect model or fixed effect model was used to summarize the outcomes across centers based on the differences in heterogeneity.

Results: The meta-analysis included nine studies in total. Compared with the control group, the DEX group had a reduced warm ischemia time (MD-4.39; 95% CI-6.74−‐2.05), improved postoperative liver (peak aspartate transferase: MD-75.77, 95% CI-112.81−‐38.73; peak alanine transferase: MD-133.51, 95% CI-235.57−‐31.45) and renal function (peak creatinine: MD-8.35, 95% CI-14.89−‐1.80), and a reduced risk of moderate-to-extreme liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.14-0.60). Finally, the hospital stay of these patients was decreased (MD-2.28, 95% CI-4.00−‐0.56). Subgroup analysis of prospective studies showed that DEX may have better efficacy in living donors and adult recipients.

Conclusion: DEX can improve short-term clinical outcomes and shorten the hospital stay of patients. However, the long-term efficacy of DEX and its interfering factors deserves further study.

Systematic Review: identifier CRD42022351664.
Effect of molecular distillation on the anti-inflammatory activity and neurotoxicity of Asarum essential oil
Authors: Liu Yang , Wang Fang , Guo HuiWen , Zhang Dingkun , Zhang Xiaofei , Wu Zhenfeng , Li Huiting , Xian Yang , Yue Pengfei , Yang Ming
Published: May 2023

Asarum essential oil (AEO) has been shown to have good pharmacological activities for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, but increasing the dose may cause toxicity. Therefore, we studied the toxic and pharmacodynamic components of AEO by molecular distillation (MD). Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using RAW264.7 cells. Neurotoxicity was assessed in PC12 cells and the overall toxicity of AEO was evaluated in the mouse acute toxicity assay. The results showed that AEO is primarily composed of safrole, methyl eugenol, and 3,5-dimethoxytoluene. After MD, three fractions were obtained and contained different proportions of volatile compounds relative to the original oil. The heavy fraction had high concentrations of safrole and methyl eugenol, while the light fraction contained high concentrations of α-pinene and β- pinene. The original oil and all three fractions exhibited anti-inflammatory effects, but the light fraction demonstrated more excellent anti-inflammatory activity than the other fractions. Asarum virgin oil and MD products are all neurotoxic. The exposure of PC12 cells to high concentrations of AEO resulted in abnormal nuclei, an increased number of apoptotic cells, increased ROS formation, and decreased SOD levels. Moreover, the results of acute toxicity tests in mice revealed that the light fractions were less toxic than virgin oils and other fractions. In summary, the data suggest that the MD technology enables the enrichment and separation of essential oil components and contributes to the selection of safe concentrations of AEO.
Evaluation of renal cold ischemia–reperfusion injury with intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging and blood oxygenation level-dependent MRI in a rat model
Authors: Ren Yan , Chen Lihua , Yuan Yizhong , Xu Jipan , Xia Fangjie , Zhu Jinxia , Shen Wen
Published: May 2023

Purpose: Cold ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is one of the most serious complications following renal transplantation. The current study investigated the feasibility of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) imaging and blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) in the evaluation of different degrees of renal cold ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model.

Methods: Seventy five rats were randomly divided into three groups (N = 25 for each group): T0: sham-operated group, T2/T4: CIRI groups with different cold ischemia hours (2, 4 h, respectively). The rat model of CIRI group was established by left kidney cold ischemia with right nephrectomy. All the rats received a baseline MRI before the surgery. Five rats in each group were randomly selected to undergo an MRI examination at 1 h, day 1, day 2 and day 5 after CIRI. The IVIM and BOLD parameters were studied in the renal cortex (CO), the outer stripe of the outer medulla (OSOM), and the inner stripe of the outer medulla (ISOM) followed by histological analysis to examine Paller scores, peritubular capillary (PTC) density, apoptosis rate and biochemical indicators to obtain the contents of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA).

Results: The D, D*, PF and T2* values in the CIRI groups were lower than those in the sham-operated group at all timepoints (all p < 0.05). The prolonged cold ischemia times resulted in gradually lower D, D*, PF and T2* values (all p < 0.05). The D and T2* values of cortex and OSOM in Group T0 and T2 returned to the baseline level (all p > 0.05) except Group T4. The D* and PF values of cortex, OSOM and ISOM in Group T2 and T4 still remained below the normal levels (all p < 0.05) except Group T0. D, D*, PF and T2* values were strongly correlated with histopathological (Paller scores, PTC density and apoptosis rate) and the biochemistry indicators (SOD and MDA) (|r|>0.6, p < 0.001). D*, PF and T2* values were moderately to poorly correlated with some biochemistry indicators (Scr and BUN) (|r|<0.5, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: IVIM and BOLD can serve as noninvasive radiologic markers for monitoring different degrees of renal impairment and recovery after renal CIRI.
Analysis of the molecular composition of humic substances and their effects on physiological metabolism in maize based on untargeted metabolomics
Authors: Wang Yuhong , Lu Yanli , Wang Lei , Song Guipei , Ni Lu , Xu Mengze , Nie Caie , Li Baoguo , Bai Youlu
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Humic substances (HSs), components of plant biostimulants, are known to influence plant physiological processes, nutrient uptake and plant growth, thereby increasing crop yield. However, few studies have focused on the impact of HS on overall plant metabolism, and there is still debate over the connection between HS’ structural characteristics and their stimulatory actions.

Methods

In this study, two different HSs (AHA, Aojia humic acid and SHA, Shandong humic acid) screened in a previous experiment were chosen for foliar spraying, and plant samples were collected on the tenth day after spraying (62 days after germination) to investigate the effects of different HSs on photosynthesis, dry matter accumulation, carbon and nitrogen metabolism and overall metabolism in maize leaf.

Results and discussion

The results showed different molecular compositions for AHA and SHA and a total of 510 small molecules with significant differences were screened using an ESI-OPLC-MS techno. AHA and SHA exerted different effects on maize growth, with the AHA inducing more effective stimulation than the SHA doing. Untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed that the phospholipid components of maize leaves treated by SHA generally increased significantly than that in the AHA and control treatments. Additionally, both HS-treated maize leaves exhibited different levels of accumulation of trans-zeatin, but SHA treatment significantly decreased the accumulation of zeatin riboside. Compared to CK treatment, AHA treatment resulted in the reorganization of four metabolic pathways: starch and sucrose metabolism, TCA cycle, stilbenes, diarylheptanes, and curcumin biosynthesis, and ABC transport, SHA treatment modified starch and sucrose metabolism and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. These results demonstrate that HSs exert their function through a multifaceted mechanism of action, partially connected to their hormone-like activity but also involving hormoneindependent signaling pathways.
ASYNAPSIS 1 ensures crossover fidelity in polyploid wheat by promoting homologous recombination and suppressing non-homologous recombination
Authors: Di Dio Chiara , Serra Heïdi , Sourdille Pierre , Higgins James D.
Published: May 2023

During meiosis, the chromosome axes and synaptonemal complex mediate chromosome pairing and homologous recombination to maintain genomic stability and accurate chromosome segregation. In plants, ASYNAPSIS 1 (ASY1) is a key component of the chromosome axis that promotes inter-homolog recombination, synapsis and crossover formation. Here, the function of ASY1 has been cytologically characterized in a series of hypomorphic wheat mutants. In tetraploid wheat, asy1 hypomorphic mutants experience a reduction in chiasmata (crossovers) in a dosage-specific manner, resulting in failure to maintain crossover (CO) assurance. In mutants with only one functional copy of ASY1, distal chiasmata are maintained at the expense of proximal and interstitial chiasmata, indicating that ASY1 is required to promote chiasma formation away from the chromosome ends. Meiotic prophase I progression is delayed in asy1 hypomorphic mutants and is arrested in asy1 null mutants. In both tetraploid and hexaploid wheat, single asy1 mutants exhibit a high degree of ectopic recombination between multiple chromosomes at metaphase I. To explore the nature of the ectopic recombination, Triticum turgidum asy1b-2 was crossed with wheat-wild relative Aegilops variabilis. Homoeologous chiasmata increased 3.75-fold in Ttasy1b-2/Ae. variabilis compared to wild type/Ae. variabilis, indicating that ASY1 suppresses chiasma formation between divergent, but related chromosomes. These data suggest that ASY1 promotes recombination along the chromosome arms of homologous chromosomes whilst suppressing recombination between non-homologous chromosomes. Therefore, asy1 mutants could be utilized to increase recombination between wheat wild relatives and elite varieties for expediting introgression of important agronomic traits.
Effect of empathy training on the empathy level of healthcare providers in Ethiopia: a cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hurissa Bekana Fekecha , Koricha Zewdie Birhanu , Dadi Lelisa Sena
Published: May 2023

Objective

Empathy has deteriorated throughout clinical training and medical practice, and little is known about the effect of empathy training on the empathy level of healthcare providers. To address this gap, we assessed the effect of empathy training on the empathy level of healthcare providers in Ethiopia.

Design

A cluster randomized controlled trial study design was conducted from 20 December 2021 to 20 March 2022. The empathy training intervention was conducted for three consecutive days.

Setting

The study was conducted in five fistula treatment centers in Ethiopia.

Participants

The participants were all randomly selected healthcare providers.

Main outcome measures

Total mean score, percentage changes, and Cohen’s effect size were computed. A linear mixed effects model and independent t-test were used for data analysis.

Results

A majority of the study participants were nurses in the profession, married, and first-degree holders. There was no statistically significant difference in the baseline empathy score of the intervention arm across their socio-demographic features. At the baseline, the mean empathy scores of the control and intervention arms were 102.10 ± 15.38 and 101.13 ± 17.67, respectively. The effect of empathy training on the total mean score changes of empathy of the intervention arm compared to the control arm at each follow-up time had a statistically significant difference. After a week, a month, and three months of post-intervention, the total mean empathy scores between the intervention and control arms were as follows: (intervention 112.65 ± 18.99, control 102.85 ± 15.65, d = 0.55, p = 0.03); (intervention 109.01 ± 17.79, control 100.52 ± 12.57, d = 0.53, p = 0.034); and (intervention 106.28 ± 16.24, control 96.58 ± 14.69, d = 0.60, p = 0.016) with the overall percentage changes of 11, 8, and 5% from the baseline scores, respectively.

Conclusion

In this trial, the empathy training intervention was found to have more than a medium effect size. However, over the follow-up intervals, there was a decreasing trend in the total mean empathy scores of healthcare providers; suggesting that there should be continued empathy training and integration of it into educational and training curriculums to enhance and sustain the empathy of healthcare providers.

Clinical Trial Registration: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry: http://www.edctp.org/panafrican-clinical-trials-registry or https://pactr.samrc.ac.za, PACTR202112564898934.
The Community Rehabilitation Assessment: patient and clinician-reported outcomes in ambulatory rehabilitation
Authors: Turcotte Luke Andrew , McArthur Caitlin , Levy Charissa , Ho Rebecca , Hirdes John P. , Berg Katherine
Published: May 2023

Objectives

The interRAI Community Rehabilitation Assessment (CRA) is a comprehensive health assessment designed to collect essential health and function information for rehabilitation care planning, benchmarking, and evaluation of clinic and home-based programs. A portion of the CRA is completed through patient self-report. The objective of this study was to demonstrate how the CRA can be used to describe the baseline clinical characteristics of patients participating in ambulatory rehabilitation programs and measure change across numerous domains of function, health, and wellbeing over time.

Design

Cohort study.

Setting and participants

In total, 709 patients were assessed with the CRA across 25 ambulatory clinics in Ontario, Canada between January 1st, 2018, to December 31st, 2018. We examined sub-groups of patients receiving rehabilitation following stroke (n = 82) and hip or knee total joint replacement (n = 210).

Methods

Frequency responses and means were compared between admission and discharge from the ambulatory rehabilitation programs. Measures of interest included self-reported difficulty in completing instrumental activities of daily living, locomotion, fear of falling, and pain.

Results

Significant improvement relative to at admission was detected for the overall cohort and both sub-samples on individual instrumental activities of daily living, stair difficulty, use of mobility aides, distance walked, fear of falling, and pain.

Conclusions and implications

The standardized and comparable information collected by the CRA is expected to provide clinicians, clinic, and health system administrators with essential health and function information that can be used for care planning, benchmarking, and evaluation.
From 2D to 3D video conferencing: modular RGB-D capture and reconstruction for interactive natural user representations in immersive extended reality (XR) communication
Authors: Gunkel Simon N. B. , Dijkstra-Soudarissanane Sylvie , Stokking Hans M. , Niamut Omar A.
Published: May 2023

With recent advancements in Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) hardware, many new immersive Extended Reality (XR) applications and services arose. One challenge that remains is to solve the social isolation often felt in these extended reality experiences and to enable a natural multi-user communication with high Social Presence. While a multitude of solutions exist to address this issue with computer-generated “artificial” avatars (based on pre-rendered 3D models), this form of user representation might not be sufficient for conveying a sense of co-presence for many use cases. In particular, for personal communication (for example, with family, doctor, or sales representatives) or for applications requiring photorealistic rendering. One alternative solution is to capture users (and objects) with the help of RGBD sensors to allow real-time photorealistic representations of users. In this paper, we present a complete and modular RGBD capture application and outline the different steps needed to utilize RGBD as means of photorealistic 3D user representations. We outline different capture modalities, as well as individual functional processing blocks, with its advantages and disadvantages. We evaluate our approach in two ways, a technical evaluation of the operation of the different modules and two small-scale user evaluations within integrated applications. The integrated applications present the use of the modular RGBD capture in both augmented reality and virtual reality communication application use cases, tested in realistic real-world settings. Our examples show that the proposed modular capture and reconstruction pipeline allows for easy evaluation and extension of each step of the processing pipeline. Furthermore, it allows parallel code execution, keeping performance overhead and delay low. Finally, our proposed methods show that an integration of 3D photorealistic user representations into existing video communication transmission systems is feasible and allows for new immersive extended reality applications.
The feasibility of using the Körperkoordinationstest fur Kinder (KTK) in a U.S. elementary physical education setting to assess gross motor skills specific to postural balance
Authors: Campbell-Pierre Daryl , Rhea Deborah J.
Published: May 2023

Introduction

For the past ten years, falls have been the leading cause of nonfatal injuries for all age groups less than 15 years old. A significant rise in childhood sedentary behavior in schools and limited opportunities to be outside has led to motor coordination deficits which have contributed to fall injuries.

Method

A German assessment tool, the Körperkoordinationstest fur Kinder (KTK), which has been used for decades in Western European countries, allows researchers and physical education teachers to evaluate typical and atypical children's motor coordination competencies related to dynamic postural balance successfully. No research has been published on the use of this assessment tool in the United States. If its use were found to be feasible in this country for identifying motor coordination deficits in typical and atypical children, it would close the gap in determining motor coordination. Therefore, this study sought in Phase 1 to determine the feasibility of using the KTK assessment in U.S. children and Phase 2 sought to determine the adaptability of the scoring protocol from use in other countries to the United States.

Results

The Phase 1 results revealed the KTK assessment was feasible to administer in U.S. physical education class by addressing three challenges for U.S. schools: 1) KTK implementation, 2) time to assess each skill, and 3) the equipment availability and cost to implement the test in a physical education setting. In Phase 2, the researchers were able to determine the raw scores and motor quotient scores in this population and then were able to show similar scoring trends between U.S. children and Flemish children from a previous study.

Conclusion

This assessment tool was deemed feasible and adaptable which is the first step to use the KTK in U.S. physical education elementary school settings.
Can farmland transfer reduce vulnerability as expected poverty? Evidence from smallholder households in rural China
Authors: Chen Jie , Yang Mingwei , Zhang Zhiyong , Wang Zheng , Zhang Jianyu
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Extant literature has extensively explored farmland transfer ‘s impacts, confirming its essential role in poverty alleviation. How-ever, most studies focus on poverty measures that exclusively emphasize current poverty status without adequately addressing the potential of falling into or remaining in poverty. Furthermore, the role of farmland transfer in helping the smallholder house-holds in rural areas appears to be underexamined in the literature.

Methods

To address this knowledge gap, this study investigates whether farmland transfer can reduce household vulnerability to poverty. A theoretical framework is developed to capture the mechanism by which farmland transfer has a vital role in smallholder households and impacts the probability of being poor in the future. The China Family Panel Studies Survey data set from 2010 to 2018 is used to explore this issue.

Results and Discussion

The results show that land transfer-out households are seemingly the most effective at reducing vulnerability, whereas the reduction effect is not obvious among transfer-in households. Specifically, the vulnerability of transfer-out households is reduced by about 39.52%. Furthermore, we analyze the reasons for heterogeneity in the poverty reduction effects and find that the key mechanism is on the labor resource allocation decision the heterogeneity of the effects of different types of income. Actually, for transfer-out households, farmland transfer can increase the probability of migrant work and business opportunities, as well as the labor input for non-agricultural production, which helps to reduce vulnerability to poverty. On the other hand, for transfer-in households, they will invest more labor in agricultural production and increase agricultural inputs, whereas increased inputs to agricultural production do not actually reduce vulnerability to poverty. Transferring out land can significantly increase farmers’ wage income and thus compensate for the loss of farm income; however, the increase in farm income generated by transferring in land roughly offsets the loss of wage income for farmers. This study provides a new research perspective on the long-term effects of farmland transfer on rural poverty.
Rola samorządu lokalnego jako stabilizatora funkcjonowania państwa w okresie kryzysu politycznego i systemowego w Polsce
Authors: Kozłowski Sebastian
Published: May 2023

In the 2018–2022 (2023) term of office of local government bodies, numerous cases of transferring problems generated by national policy to local governments can be indicated. The commune self-government, being the entity closest to the citizens in terms of handling most matters, experiences the effects of actions taken at the level of systemic and national regulations, as well as being the object of specific actions initiated at the central level. Among the numerous challenges in which the local government plays a stabilizing role in the state, taking over responsibility for solving problems in emergency situations, it is worth paying attention to the activities related to helping refugees after the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The decision of the Polish government to open borders to millions of refugees was not preceded by proper preparation. The assumption of this analysis is based on the claim that without bottom-up activation of the local government and its organizational units as well as inhabitants of communes, accepting the largest number of refugees in the history of Poland could have caused the paralysis of the state and a humanitarian crisis. The main question is whether we can talk about the success of the government or the local government in this matter.
Design of Two-Degree-of-Freedom Fractional-Order Internal Model Control Algorithm for Pneumatic Control Valves
Authors: Zhu Min , Chen Siyuan , Xu Zihao , Dong Xueping
Published: May 2023

In response to the problems of the inaccurate pneumatic control valve model, the slow valve position control, and the low precision in the industrial control process, some improvement methods are proposed. Firstly, the fractional-order concept is introduced based on the first-order inertia model and IBBO (improved biogeography-based optimization) is used for iteration to obtain a specific transfer function model. Secondly, a fractional-order and two-degree-of-freedom combined internal model control algorithm is proposed. Finally, semi-physical experiments are carried out on a semi-physical experimental platform. The results show that in the field of pneumatic regulating valves, the fractional-order model has good adaptability and effectiveness, and the two-degree-of-freedom fractional-order internal model control algorithm also effectively improves the accuracy, speed, and robustness of the valve position control.
Molecular Evidence for the Presence of Wisteria Vein Mosaic Virus in Italy: Shedding Light on Genetic Diversity and Evolutionary Dynamics of Virus Geographic Populations
Authors: D’Attoma Giusy , Minafra Angelantonio , Saldarelli Pasquale , Morelli Massimiliano
Published: May 2023

Wisteria vein mosaic virus (WVMV) is a member of the genus Potyvirus, found to be associated with the Wisteria mosaic disease (WMD). In 2022, severe symptoms resembling WMD were observed on the foliage of a Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) tree growing in Apulia (Italy). The presence of WVMV was ascertained by RT-PCR using the universal degenerate primers NIb2F/NIb3R in the NIb gene. Next, we derived the complete sequence of the CP gene. MAFFT pairwise alignment of the two target regions showed a high amino acid sequence identity of isolate Bari with other WVMV isolates, confirming they belonged to the same species. NIb phylogenetic analysis placed WVMV Bari within the lineage identified in the genus Potyvirus as the bean common mosaic virus supergroup. Closer analysis based on the CP gene showed that WVMV Bari was part of a sub-clade gathering all WVMV isolates within a larger clade clustering closely related species. An exploratory analysis of the genetic diversity and possible mechanisms underlying the evolution of geographic populations of WVMV was attempted. The analysis was based on the N-terminal coding region of CP, available for 20 isolates from Europe, Asia, and Oceania. A high diversity, mainly found in the European population, led to the identification of 16 different haplotypes. Based on the dN/dS ratio, the target region appears to be under negative selective pressure. Neutrality tests indicated a potential population expansion in Europe and a recent decrease in Asia. The two populations exhibited a high level of gene flow. We found that WVMV Bari may have originated from a recombination event in the NIb gene. To date, the presence of WVMV had never been reported on W. sinensis in Italy, and no molecular information was available on any Italian isolate. Our report draws attention to the further spread of WVMV in the European territory and its rising threat to the ornamental nursery sector.
Continuous Cropping Alters Soil Hydraulic and Physicochemical Properties in the Karst Region of Southwestern China
Authors: Yang Xu , Zhang Ke , Shaghaleh Hiba , Qi Zhiming , Gao Chao , Chang Tingting , Zhang Jie , Zia-ur-Rehman Muhammad , Hamoud Yousef Alhaj
Published: May 2023

Continuous cropping causes soil degradation and decreases crop yield in the karst region of southwestern China. However, the relationship between continuous cropping systems and soil hydraulic and physicochemical properties remains incompletely elucidated. In this study, we performed a comparative investigation on the soil physicochemical properties and soil-water-characteristic-curve-derived parameters from sites subjected to 3, 5, or 7 years of continuous cropping (CC3, CC5, and CC7) and cropping rotation (CC0). Soil organic matter content, clay content, and pH were significantly greater in soils under CC0 and short-term cropping (CC3) than in soils under long-term cropping (CC5 and CC7). This finding illustrated that continuous cropping reduced soil organic matter content, clay content, and pH. Across all continuous cropping durations, soil water holding capacity at 40~60 cm was greater than the 20~40 cm and 0~20 cm layers. The significantly greater soil water characteristics (except saturated moisture) in CC0 and CC3 soils than in CC5 or CC7 soils at all soil depths demonstrated that soil water characteristics deteriorated with the prolongation of cropping duration. The same soil water characteristics were positively correlated with soil organic matter content, clay content, and pH. These correlations, when viewed within the context of continuous cropping, can inform the development of more sustainable cropping systems in similar karst regions.
Deciphering the Impact of Induced Drought in Agriculture Soils: Changes in Microbial Community Structure, Enzymatic and Metabolic Diversity
Authors: Bogati Kalisa Amarsingh , Golińska Patrycja , Sewerniak Piotr , Burkowska-But Aleksandra , Walczak Maciej
Published: May 2023

Prolonged drought stress may have a significant impact on the structure and activity of the soil microbial community. Our study aims to investigate the impact of short-term drought (2 months) on the microbial community structure, enzymes, and metabolic diversity in four agricultural soils (Gniewkowo (G), Lulkowo (L), Wielka Nieszawka (N) and Suchatówka (S) sites) in Poland. These four types of soil were selected based on differences in their texture (gleyic luvisol Phaeozem in G (rich in clay and humus), stagnic luvisol in L, fluvisol in N and haplic luvisol in S (sandy)). We investigated the (1) number of bacteria, actinomycetes (formally phylum Actinomycetota) and fungi; (2) microbial community (16S rRNA and ITS amplicon regions); (3) biological activity by community-level physiological profiling (CLPP); (4) soil enzyme activities (dehydrogenases (DH), phosphatases (acid ACP and alkaline ALP) and urease (UR)); and (5) soil chemical properties. At the end of our experiment, we observed a significant decrease in soil moisture content with the highest in the soil from the S site. Overall, there was no change in total bacteria, but actinomycetes and fungal numbers increased after the 1st week with a decrease in moisture content. ACP activity decreased in three out of four analyzed soil samples. The exception was in sample G, where activity increased for 1–2 weeks and then decreased. ALP activity significantly increased with a decrease in moisture in the 1st week and was lowest at the end of the experiment. DH activity increased up to the 4th week in the G and N samples and up to the 2nd week in the L and S samples. UR activity showed variations in the analyzed samples. A reduction in the utilization of carbon sources (except D-mannitol and L-asparagine) was noted with the highest reduction in the G sample followed by the L, N and S samples. Thus, the pattern of changes was different depending on the analyzed soil type. The 16S rRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing revealed a decrease in the relative abundance of Pseudomonadota, Basidiomycota, Apicomplexa, and increased abundance of Actinomycetota, Bacillota and Ascomycota under prolonged drought conditions. With this, we concluded that drought conditions resulted in a significant alteration of soil microbial communities, enzyme activities, and metabolic diversity in the investigated soils.