bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical analysis and functional characterization of KCNQ2-related developmental and epileptic encephalopathy
Authors: Ye Jia , Tang Siyang , Miao Pu , Gong Zhefeng , Shu Qiang , Feng Jianhua , Li Yuezhou
Published: July 2023

Background

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) is a condition characterized by severe seizures and a range of developmental impairments. Pathogenic variants in KCNQ2, encoding for potassium channel subunit, cause KCNQ2-related DEE. This study aimed to examine the relationships between genotype and phenotype in KCNQ2-related DEE.

Methods

In total, 12 patients were enrolled in this study for genetic testing, clinical analysis, and developmental evaluation. Pathogenic variants of KCNQ2 were characterized through a whole-cell electrophysiological recording expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The expression levels of the KCNQ2 subunit and its localization at the plasma membrane were determined using Western blot analysis.

Results

Seizures were detected in all patients. All DEE patients showed evidence of developmental delay. In total, 11 de novo KCNQ2 variants were identified, including 10 missense variants from DEE patients and one truncating variant from a patient with self-limited neonatal epilepsy (SeLNE). All variants were found to be loss of function through analysis of M-currents using patch-clamp recordings. The functional impact of variants on M-current in heteromericKCNQ2/3 channels may be associated with the severity of developmental disorders in DEE. The variants with dominant-negative effects in heteromeric channels may be responsible for the profound developmental phenotype.

Conclusion

The mechanism underlying KCNQ2-related DEE involves a reduction of the M-current through dominant-negative effects, and the severity of developmental disorders in DEE may be predicted by the impact of variants on the M-current of heteromericKCNQ2/3 channels.
Meningioma involving the superior sagittal sinus: long-term outcome after robotic radiosurgery in primary and recurrent situation
Authors: Schmutzer Michael , Skrap Benjamin , Thorsteinsdottir Jun , Fürweger Christoph , Muacevic Alexander , Schichor Christian
Published: July 2023

Objective

Treatment for meningiomas involving the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) is challenging and proved to be associated with higher risks compared to other brain locations. Therapeutical strategies may be either microsurgical (sub-)total resection or adjuvant radiation, or a combination of both. Thrombosis or SSS occlusion following resection or radiosurgery needs to be further elucidated to assess whether single or combined treatment is superior. We here present tumor control and side effect data of robotic radiosurgery (RRS) in combination with or without microsurgery.

Methods

From our prospective database, we identified 137 patients with WHO grade I meningioma involving the SSS consecutively treated between 2005 and 2020. Treatment decisions were interdisciplinary. Patients underwent RRS as initial/solitary treatment (group 1), as adjuvant treatment after subtotal resection (group 2), or due to recurrent tumor growth after preceding microsurgery (group 3). Positive tumor response was assessed by MRI and defined as reduction of more than 50% of volume. Study endpoints were time to recurrence (TTR), time to RRS, risk factors for decreased survival, and side effects. Overall and specific recurrence rates for treatment groups were analyzed. Side effect data included therapy-related morbidity during follow-up (FU).

Results

A total of 137 patients (median age, 58.3 years) with SSS meningiomas WHO grade I were analyzed: 51 patients (37.2%) in group 1, 15 patients (11.0%) in group 2, and 71 patients (51.8%) in group 3. Positive MR (morphological response) to therapy was achieved in 50 patients (36.4%), no response was observed in 25 patients (18.2%), and radiological tumor progression was detected in 8 patients (5.8%). Overall 5-year probability of tumor recurrence was 15.8% (median TTR, 41.6 months). Five-year probabilities of recurrence were 0%, 8.3.%, and 21.5% for groups 1–3 (p = 0.06). In multivariate analysis, tumor volume was significantly associated with extent of SSS occlusion (p = 0.026) and sex (p = 0.011). Tumor volume significantly correlated with TTR (p = 0.0046). Acute sinus venous thrombosis or venous congestion-associated bleedings did not occur in any of the groups.

Conclusion

RRS for grade I meningiomas with SSS involvement represents a good option as first-line treatment, occasionally also in recurrent and adjuvant scenarios as part of a multimodal treatment strategy.
Development of o-aminobenzamide salt derivatives for improving water solubility and anti-undifferentiated gastric cancer
Authors: Li Shuang , He Yanli , Li Xuelin , Xiong Yongxia , Peng Yan , Wang Chengkun , Zhuo Linsheng , Jiang Weifan , Lu Xianzhou , Wang Zhen
Published: July 2023

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the cancers with wide incidence, difficult treatment and high mortality in the world, especially in Asia and Africa. In our previous work, a novel o-aminobenzamide analogue F8 was identified as an early preclinical candidate for treatment of undifferentiated gastric cancer (IC50 of 0.26 μM for HGC-27). However, the poor water solubility of compound F8 prevents its further progress in preclinical studies.

Aim: To improve the water solubility and drug-likeness of F8 via salt formation.

Method: Different acids and F8 were reacted to obtain different salt forms. Physicochemical property screening, pharmacokinetic property research, and antitumor biological activity evaluation in vitro and in vivo were used to obtain the optimal salt form with the best druggability.

Results: our continuous efforts have finally confirmed F8·2HCl as the optimal salt form with maintained in vitro antitumor activity, improved water solubility and pharmacokinetic properties. Importantly, the F8·2HCl displayed superior in vivo antitumor efficacy (TGI of 70.1% in 75 mg/kg) in HGC-27 xenograft model. The further immunohistochemical analysis revealed that F8·2HCl exerts an antitumor effect through the regulation of cell cycle-related protein (CDK2 and p21), apoptosis-related protein Cleaved Caspase-3, proliferation marker Ki67, and cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin. In addition, F8·2HCl showed acceptable safety in the in vivo acute toxicity assay.

Conclusion: Salting is an effective means to improve the drug-like properties of compound F8, and F8·2HCl can serve as a promising therapeutic agent against undifferentiated gastric cancer.
The cardioprotective effects of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (flaxseed lignan) against cafeteria diet-induced cardiac fibrosis and vascular injury in rats: an insight into apelin/AMPK/FOXO3a signaling pathways
Authors: Abdelwahab Azza H. , Negm Amira M. , Mahmoud Eman S. , Salama Rania M. , Schaalan Mona F. , El-Sheikh Azza A. K. , Ramadan Basma K.
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Fast food is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world. Apelin, the endogenous adipokine, can protect against cardiovascular disease via activating its receptor, APJ. Concurrently, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), a flaxseed lignan extract (FLE), showed a therapeutic impact on atherosclerosis. The current study aimed to examine the effect of SDG on cafeteria diet (CAFD)-induced vascular injury and cardiac fibrosis via tracking the involvement of the apelin/APJ pathway.

Methods: Thirty male rats were allocated into control, FLE-, CAFD-, CAFD/FLE-, and CAFD/FLE/F13A-treated rats, where F13A is an APJ blocker. All treatments lasted for 12 weeks.

Results and discussion: The CAFD-induced cardiovascular injury was evidenced by histological distortions, dyslipidemia, elevated atherogenic indices, cardiac troponin I, collagen percentage, glycogen content, and apoptotic markers. CAFD increased both the gene and protein expression levels of cardiac APJ, apelin, and FOXO3a, in addition to increasing endothelin-1, VCAM1, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 serum levels and upregulating cardiac MMP-9 gene expression. Moreover, CAFD reduced serum paraoxonase 1 and nitric oxide levels, cardiac AMPK, and nuclear Nrf2 expression. FLE attenuated CAFD-induced cardiovascular injury. Such effect was reduced in rats receiving the APJ blocker, implicating the involvement of apelin/APJ in FLE protective mechanisms.

Conclusion: FLE supplementation abrogated CAFD-induced cardiac injury and endothelial dysfunction in an apelin/APJ-dependent manner.
Neutron clusters in nuclear systems
Authors: Huang Siwei , Yang Zaihong
Published: July 2023

Formation of neutron clusters from strongly correlated neutrons has become one of the hottest topics in nuclear physics. They lie at the heart of understanding the exotic structure of nuclei around the neutron drip line and provide an important basis for testing nuclear interactions due to the absence of Coulomb interaction and further developing theoretical models. Moreover, neutron clusters composed purely of neutrons could serve as a mini prototype of neutron matter to study the still elusive properties of the extremely neutron-rich nuclear matter, building a bridge between finite nuclei and neutron stars. In this paper, we will briefly review the recent highlights of experimental and theoretical works on neutron clusters.
The role of mammalian Sirtuin 6 in cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus
Authors: Wu Kehan , Wang Yaqiao , Liu Runmin , Wang Hao , Rui Tao
Published: July 2023

Cardiovascular diseases are severe diseases posing threat to human health because of their high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The incidence of diabetes mellitus is also increasing rapidly. Various signaling molecules are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Sirtuin 6 (Sirt6), which is a class III histone deacetylase, has attracted numerous attentions since its discovery. Sirt6 enjoys a unique structure, important biological functions, and is involved in multiple cellular processes such as stress response, mitochondrial biogenesis, transcription, insulin resistance, inflammatory response, chromatin silencing, and apoptosis. Sirt6 also plays significant roles in regulating several cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, as well as cardiac remodeling, bringing Sirt6 into the focus of clinical interests. In this review, we examine the recent advances in understanding the mechanistic working through which Sirt6 alters the course of lethal cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus.
Coated, Stabilized Enhanced-Efficiency Nitrogen Fertilizers: Preparation and Effects on Maize Growth and Nitrogen Utilization
Authors: Qi Zenglian , Dong Yuanjie , He Mingrong , Wang Maoying , Li Yu , Dai Xinglong
Published: July 2023

Coated, slow/controlled release, or stabilized enhanced-efficiency nitrogen fertilizers (EENFs) are effective in improving nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) and crop yield. Better performance is expected from coated, stabilized EENFs where urease and nitrification inhibitors are treated in coated fertilizers. Firstly, five coated EENFs with different mass proportions of nature rubber (NR) in coating were prepared: CU0, CU1, CU2, CU3, CU4, and CU5 (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% of NR in coating). The controlled release performance of CU was tested by hydrostatic release test and the microstructure of controlled release urea, so as to screen the optimal addition ratio of NR (ER: NR = 7:3, CU3). Secondly, two coated, stabilized EENFs, CSU1 and CSU2, were prepared with natural rubber-modified epoxy resin (ER: NR = 7:3) as coating material. Seven treatments of different N fertilization were set up: CK (no N fertilization), urea, CU3, SU1, and SU2 (urease and nitrification inhibitors-treated urea fertilizers), CSU1 and CSU2 (urease and nitrification inhibitors-treated natural rubber-modified epoxy resin-coated urea fertilizers). Ammonia volatilization experiment and column leaching experiment showed that compared with conventional urea, NH3 volatilization loss was reduced by 20% and inorganic N leaching loss was reduced by 26% from CSU2, respectively. In the pot experiment, maize grain yield of 162.92 and 206.96 g/pot was achieved by CSU1 and CSU2, respectively, 41 and 79%, respectively, higher than that achieved by conventional urea. SUs treatments were more effective than conventional urea treatment in improving maize grain yield and NUE, but lower than in CSUs. The NUE, nitrogen fertilizer apparent utilization efficiency, partial factor productivity of applied N, and nitrogen utilization efficiency were 46, 30, 46, and 32%, respectively, higher in CSU1 and 58, 62, 58, and 29%, respectively, higher in CSU2 than in the conventional urea treatment. Compared with CSU1, CSU2 had better agronomic effectiveness with a higher NUE. It is recommended that urease and nitrification inhibitors be sandwiched between urea prill and the coating for preparation of novel, environmentally friendly coated, stabilized EENFs with high agronomic effectiveness, high NUE, and low N loss.
Qualitative analyses on the classification model of bystander behavior in cyberbullying
Authors: Rong Kexin , Chu Xiaowei , Zhao Yujing
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Bystanders account for the largest proportion of those involve in cyberbullying and play an important role in the development of cyberbullying incidents. Regarding the classification of bystander behavior in cyberbullying, there exist some limitations in the previous research, such as not considering the complexity of the online environment. Therefore, this study constructed a new classification model of bystander behavior in cyberbullying.

Methods

By separately utilizing questionnaires and experimental methods, the study collected participants’ behavioral intentions and actual behavioral responses to deal with cyberbullying incidents.

Results

Based on two qualitative studies, this study summarized a new classification model, which included three first-level factors and six second-level factors. Specifically, the classification model included positive bystander behavior (i.e., pointing at the victim, bully, and others), neutral bystander behavior (i.e., inaction), and negative bystander behavior (i.e., supporting and excessively confronting the bully).

Discussion

The classification model has important contributions to the research on bystander behavior in cyberbullying. This model helps researchers to develop more effective intervention approaches on cyberbullying from the perspective of each category of bystander behavior.
Speech acts and the communicative functions of emojis in LIHKG online discussion forum amid COVID-19
Authors: Yu Carol , Tay Dennis , Jin Ying , Yuan Xinhua
Published: July 2023

Since the beginning of 2022, the Hong Kong government has imposed strict social distancing measures and changed its stance on various regional policies with the aim to contain the so-called ‘fifth wave’ of COVID-19. In these pandemic and ‘infodemic’ times filled with uncertainty and fear, Hong Kong netizens used local online discussion forums as a resource to establish an innovative form of ‘helping network.’ This study is based on 230 posts from a popular local online discussion forum ‘LIHKG’ in February 2022 when the pandemic was regarded as most critical by the Department of Health. Speech Acts theoretic approach was adopted to explore how forum users employed speech acts to perform various communicative practices such as expressing concerns, asking for information, and engaging with others in a CMC environment amid a global health crisis. Representatives were found to be the most dominant text-based speech acts, followed by directives, expressives and commissives. Speech acts provide forum users a context in which emoji usage occurs. Forum users not only make use of words to ‘do’ things in the online self-help forum, but they also employ emojis to either supplement or complement speech acts. This study also shows that emojis perform multiple functions in the discussion posts and argues that they do not merely function as emotion indicators of their textual company, but also carry significant pragmatic meanings by illustrating how they can also carry illocutionary force and in some cases, even alter the illocutionary force of their preceding texts. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of how forum users communicate via verbal and nonverbal means within the underexplored ‘helping domain’ of online discussion forums. It also suggests that online discussion forum interactions need to be approached differently than other better understood alternatives.
Psychoactive substance use in patients diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: an exploratory study
Authors: Więckiewicz Gniewko , Stokłosa Iga , Stokłosa Maciej , Więckiewicz Włodzimierz , Gorczyca Piotr , Gondek Tomasz M.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was originally treated as a neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs mainly in children and tends to diminish or disappear with age, but we now know that symptoms persist into adulthood in over 50% of ADHD patients. Undiagnosed individuals often turn to psychoactive substance to minimize the negative aspects of functioning and improve quality of life.

Methods

The study was conducted online using random sampling through a Facebook group administered by physicians and targeted to patients diagnosed with ADHD. The study was naturalistic and exploratory, therefore no hypothesis was made. 438 correctly completed questionnaires were received. Analysis of the results showed that people with ADHD turn to psychoactive substances relatively frequently.

Results

The most commonly used stimulants include alcohol, marijuana, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), amphetamine/methamphetamine, and psilocybin. In the study population, methylphenidate is the most commonly used drug among patients. After treatment with psychostimulants, the majority of respondents note a decrease in symptoms of hyperactivity disorder, especially in male patients.

Conclusion

It is necessary to perform proper diagnostics and actively look for ADHD symptoms in patients who tend to use psychoactive substances.
Co-occurrence of hypertension and type 2 diabetes: prevalence and associated factors among Haramaya University employees in Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Motuma Aboma , Gobena Tesfaye , Roba Kedir Teji , Berhane Yemane , Worku Alemayehu , Regassa Lemma Demissie , Tolera Abebe
Published: July 2023

Background

Both hypertension (HTN) and diabetes are public health concerns in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries. The co-occurrence of HTN and diabetes is associated with an increased risk of mortality, morbidity, and reduced productivity in the working force. In Ethiopia, there is limited evidence on the co-occurrence of HTN and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the co-occurrence of HTN and T2DM and their associated factors among Haramaya University employees in Eastern Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,200 employees at Haramaya University using a simple random sampling technique from December 2018 to February 2019. Demographic and behavioral factors were collected on a semi-structured questionnaire, followed by measurement of anthropometry and blood pressure. Blood glucose and lipid profile measurements were performed by collecting 6 ml of venous blood samples after 8 h of overnight fasting. Data were entered into EpiData 3.1 version and analyzed using Stata 16 software. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were applied to observe the association between independent variables with co-occurrence of HPN and T2DM using odds ratio, 95% confidence interval (CI), and p-values of ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

The prevalence of HTN and T2DM was 27.3 and 7.4%, respectively. The co-occurrence of HTN and T2DM was 3.8%. The study found that being older (AOR = 3.97; 95 % CI: 1.80–8.74), khat chewing (AOR = 2.76; 95 % CI: 1.23–6.18), body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2 (AOR = 5.11; 95 % CI: 2.06–12.66), and sedentary behavior ≥8 h per day (AOR = 6.44; 95 % CI: 2.89–14.34) were statistically associated with co-occurrence of HTN and T2DM. On the other hand, consuming fruits and vegetables (AOR = 0.10; 95 % CI: 0.04–0.22) and a higher level of education (AOR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.17–0.89) were negatively statistically associated with the co-occurrence of HTN and T2DM.

Conclusion

The co-occurrence of HTN and T2DM was prevalent among the study participants. This may create a substantial load on the healthcare system as an end result of increased demand for healthcare services. Therefore, rigorous efforts are needed to develop strategies for screening employees to tackle the alarming increase in HTN and T2DM in university employees.
LTBI-negative close contacts of tuberculosis are more likely to develop the disease: enlightenment and lessons from a cluster outbreak
Authors: Du Jingli , Su Yue , Dong Enjun , Qiao Juan , Wang Ruilan , Zhao Wenjuan , Liang Jianqin , Gong Wenping
Published: July 2023

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control among groups living together, such as students, workers, older adults in nursing homes, and prisoners, present many challenges due to their particular age and environmental factors, which can make them more susceptible to TB clusters with significant societal impact. This study aimed to evaluate a TB cluster outbreak epidemic in a university and provide suggestions for improving TB control strategies for groups living together.

Methods

Pulmonary TB screening and close-contact investigation were conducted using acid-fast staining, sputum culture, GeneXpert testing, tuberculin skin testing (TST), interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), and chest computed tomography (CT). GraphPad Prism 9.5.1 was utilized for data analysis. Collected epidemic data were comprehensively analyzed by rate comparison.

Results

The TB cluster outbreak epidemic was identified with an index case confirmed positive. The initial screening was conducted on potential close contacts of the index case, and the TST’s positive rate (diameter ≥ 5 mm) and strong positive rate (diameter ≥ 15 mm) among these close contacts were 65.60% (21/32) and 34.40% (11/32), respectively. Moreover, the latent TB infection (LTBI) rate (diameter ≥ 10 mm) was 43.75% (14/32), and the IGRA’s positive rate was 9.30% (3/32). Chest CT scans did not reveal any abnormalities. Surprisingly, 5 of the close contacts developed active TB in the second screening, accompanied by changes from negative to positive TST and/or IGRA results, after 3 months of follow-up. Accordingly, we expanded the screening scope to include another 28 general contacts. We found that the positive rate (78.00%, 25/32), strong positive rate (50.00%, 16/32), and LTBI rate (62.50%, 20/32) of the 32 close contacts were significantly higher than those of the additional general contacts (28.00%, 8/28; 14.3%, 4/28; 25.00%, 7/28), as indicated by p < 0.05.

Conclusion

In the event of an epidemic TB outbreak, it is essential to rapidly identify the source of infection and initiate timely screening of close contacts. The initial screening should be focused on individuals without LTBI, who are at higher risk of developing TB. In purified protein derivative-negative individuals living in groups, additional vaccination or revaccination with Bacille Calmette-Guérin may help prevent cluster outbreaks of TB.
City-level meteorological conditions modify the relationships between exposure to multiple air pollutants and the risk of pediatric hand, foot, and mouth disease in the Sichuan Basin, China
Authors: Cai Wennian , Luo Caiying , Geng Xiaoran , Zha Yuanyi , Zhang Tao , Zhang Huadong , Yang Changhong , Yin Fei , Ma Yue , Shui Tiejun
Published: July 2023

Background

Several studies have examined the effects of city-level meteorological conditions on the associations between meteorological factors and hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) risk. However, evidence that city-level meteorological conditions modify air pollutant-HFMD associations is lacking.

Methods

For each of the 17 cities in the Sichuan Basin, we obtained estimates of the relationship between exposures to multiple air pollutants and childhood HFMD risk by using a unified distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM). Multivariate meta-regression models were used to identify the effects of city-level meteorological conditions as effect modifiers. Finally, we conducted subgroup analyses of age and sex to explore whether the modification effects varied in different subgroups.

Results

The associations between PM2.5/CO/O3 and HFMD risk showed moderate or substantial heterogeneity among cities (I2 statistics: 48.5%, 53.1%, and 61.1%). Temperature conditions significantly modified the PM2.5-HFMD association, while relative humidity and rainfall modified the O3-HFMD association. Low temperatures enhanced the protective effect of PM2.5 exposure against HFMD risk [PM2.5 <32.7  μg/m3 or PM2.5 >100  μg/m3, at the 99th percentile: relative risk (RR) = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.03–0.60]. Low relative humidity increased the adverse effect of O3 exposure on HFMD risk (O3 >128.7 μg/m3, at the 99th percentile: RR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.48–4.50). However, high rainfall decreased the risk of HFMD due to O3 exposure (O3: 14.1–41.4  μg/m3). In addition, the modification effects of temperature and relative humidity differed in the female and 3–5  years-old subgroups.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed moderate or substantial heterogeneity in multiple air pollutant-HFMD relationships. Temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall modified the relationships between PM2.5 or O3 exposure and HFMD risk.
AMAnD: an automated metagenome anomaly detection methodology utilizing DeepSVDD neural networks
Authors: Price Colin , Russell Joseph A.
Published: July 2023

The composition of metagenomic communities within the human body often reflects localized medical conditions such as upper respiratory diseases and gastrointestinal diseases. Fast and accurate computational tools to flag anomalous metagenomic samples from typical samples are desirable to understand different phenotypes, especially in contexts where repeated, long-duration temporal sampling is done. Here, we present Automated Metagenome Anomaly Detection (AMAnD), which utilizes two types of Deep Support Vector Data Description (DeepSVDD) models; one trained on taxonomic feature space output by the Pan-Genomics for Infectious Agents (PanGIA) taxonomy classifier and one trained on kmer frequency counts. AMAnD's semi-supervised one-class approach makes no assumptions about what an anomaly may look like, allowing the flagging of potentially novel anomaly types. Three diverse datasets are profiled. The first dataset is hosted on the National Center for Biotechnology Information's (NCBI) Sequence Read Archive (SRA) and contains nasopharyngeal swabs from healthy and COVID-19-positive patients. The second dataset is also hosted on SRA and contains gut microbiome samples from normal controls and from patients with slow transit constipation (STC). AMAnD can learn a typical healthy nasopharyngeal or gut microbiome profile and reliably flag the anomalous COVID+ or STC samples in both feature spaces. The final dataset is a synthetic metagenome created by the Critical Assessment of Metagenome Annotation Simulator (CAMISIM). A control dataset of 50 well-characterized organisms was submitted to CAMISIM to generate 100 synthetic control class samples. The experimental conditions included 12 different spiked-in contaminants that are taxonomically similar to organisms present in the laboratory blank sample ranging from one strain tree branch taxonomic distance away to one family tree branch taxonomic distance away. This experiment was repeated in triplicate at three different coverage levels to probe the dependence on sample coverage. AMAnD was again able to flag the contaminant inserts as anomalous. AMAnD's assumption-free flagging of metagenomic anomalies, the real-time model training update potential of the deep learning approach, and the strong performance even with lightweight models of low sample cardinality would make AMAnD well-suited to a wide array of applied metagenomics biosurveillance use-cases, from environmental to clinical utility.
Interplanetary scintillation observation and space weather modelling
Authors: Xiong Ming , Feng Xueshang , Li Bo , He Jiansen , Wang Wei , Gao Yanchen , Zhang Man , Yang Liping , Huang Zhenghua , Cheng Jun , Su Cang , Yan Yihua , Ying Kairan
Published: July 2023

Interplanetary scintillation (IPS) refers to random fluctuations in radio intensity of distant small-diameter celestial object, over time periods of the order of 1 s. The scattering and scintillation of emergent radio waves are ascribed to turbulent density irregularities transported by the ubiquitous solar wind streams. The spatial correlation length of density irregularities and the Fresnel radius of radio diffraction are two key parameters in determining the scintillation pattern. Such a scintillation pattern can be measured and correlated between multi-station radio telescopes on the Earth. Using the “phase-changing screen” scenario based on the Born approximation, the bulk-flow speed and turbulent spectrum of the solar wind streams can be extracted from the single-station power spectra fitting and the multi-station cross-correlation analysis. Moreover, a numerical computer-assisted tomography (CAT) model, iteratively fit to a large number of IPS measurements over one Carrington rotation, can be used to reconstruct the global velocity and density structures in the inner heliosphere for the purpose of space weather modelling and prediction. In this review, we interpret the underlying physics governing the IPS phenomenon caused by the solar wind turbulence, describe the power spectrum and cross correlation of IPS signals, highlight the space weather application of IPS-CAT models, and emphasize the significant benefits from international cooperation within the Worldwide IPS Stations (WIPSS) network.
Impacts on manufacturing workers as part of a whole-system energy transition
Authors: Ciez Rebecca E.
Published: July 2023

Providing access to good employment opportunities has become a key area of focus to ensure a just energy transition and to ensure that there is sufficient support for the technology transitions necessary for deep decarbonization. However, a societal transition to a decarbonized energy system will impact workers beyond those involved in energy resource extraction and energy production. Workers involved in manufacturing, especially those working in manufacturing industries that are energy- and emissions-intensive may face additional changes as those industries undergo technological changes. While discussions of the quality of jobs have focused on things like compensation, employment terms, and representation, other job dimensions, like the intrinsic characteristics of the work, health and safety, and work–life balance, stand to be directly impacted by technology change and are largely excluded from consideration. As these new technologies are developed and new energy sources are introduced to support manufacturing, we should also consider sociotechnical solutions that balance worker quality of life among other considerations like the utilization of new capital resources. Incorporating considerations across a wider definition of job quality dimensions will help to ensure that there is a sufficient workforce available to meet the demands of a decarbonization transition.
Is agricultural labour feminizing in South and South East Asia: analysis of Demography and Health Services data on women and work
Authors: Oloo Stephen Owambo , Galiè Alessandra , Teufel Nils
Published: July 2023

Feminisation of agriculture’ is generally utilized to indicate an expansion of women’s engagement in agricultural production, as labourers or decision-makers. Feminization of Agriculture is often reported as a global trend. While literature on feminization of agriculture (FoA) has seen a steady rise in the last decade, there is little consensus on defining feminization of agriculture and consistent approaches that provide comparative quantitative data on FoA are lacking. This compromises the ability to provide a comparative understanding of the extent of feminization across various regions. In this paper, we develop a methodological approach to assessing the extent of FoA and deploying it on DHS data from South and South-East Asia. Our data show that in Cambodia, India, Indonesia and Nepal the trend has been towards a Masculinization of Agriculture between 2005 and 2017, while no trend could be determined for the Philippines. We discuss the implications of our results while highlighting some of the limitations of our approach and suggesting possible next research steps.
Animal welfare deserts: human and nonhuman animal inequities
Authors: Reese Laura , Li Xiaomeng
Published: July 2023

Residents of distressed areas of inner cities have less access to many of life’s necessities and amenities than their more well-off counterparts. Geographic proximity has been identified as a primary barrier to accessing care for pets potentially creating animal welfare deserts. This project addresses three questions: Are there visible animal welfare deserts in distressed urban centers?; What human inequities are most strongly related to animal welfare deserts?; and What might be done to address these inequities? Using business location and census data in the city of Detroit, this research identifies distinct animal welfare deserts finding that more prosperous areas have more pet support resources and that the need for services is not related to the location of pet stores and veterinary offices. The study concludes that the overlap between human economic distress and pet resource deserts presents a threat to the goals of One Health. Potential policy solutions are proposed to address inequities in the distribution of animal welfare resources.
Maternal Pregnancy Intention and Antenatal Care Seeking Behaviors in Bangladesh: Evidence From Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2018
Authors: Islam Md. Hafizul , Jubayer Ahmed , Nayan Md. Moniruzzaman , Nowar Abira , Islam Saiful
Published: July 2023

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between pregnancy intention and antenatal care (ANC)-seeking behaviors among women in Bangladesh.

Methods: ANC-related data of 5,012 women, from the 2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), who had a live birth within 3 years preceding the survey were analyzed in the study. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association of pregnancy intention with ANC utilization.

Results: Approximately one-fifth (20.9%) of the women had unintended pregnancy. Among all the women, 40.4% received their first ANC visit within the first three months of pregnancies, 47% had at least four ANC visits, 26.1% received all the components of ANC services, and 22.2% received an adequate dosage of supplementary iron-folic acid tablets/syrup. Women with unintended pregnancy were less likely to receive their first ANC visit within the first 3 months, four or more ANC visits, and all ANC services than those with intended pregnancy.

Conclusion: Unintended pregnancy was inversely associated with the proper utilization of ANC among women in Bangladesh. Appropriate measures to reduce unintended pregnancy might foster the utilization of optimum antenatal care.
Sustainable and Efficient Water Management for Resilient Regional Development: The Case of Ukraine
Authors: Kucher Anatolii , Krupin Vitaliy , Rudenko Dariia , Kucher Lesia , Serbov Mykola , Gradziuk Piotr
Published: July 2023

Management based on sustainable approaches increases the resilience of systems in which they are implemented. The following study explores the sustainability and efficiency of water management in the regions of Ukraine and the role of these factors in its resilient development. The study conducts a bibliometric analysis of sources on sustainable water management, a comprehensive assessment of water resource efficiency in the regions of Ukraine, identifies and maps regional differences, and analyzes their dynamics over the period 2016–2020. The assessment shows that almost half of the regions (48.3%) have sufficient water management efficiency, 40.8% are very high, and 10.9% are average. Most regions (79.2%) maintained the same level of water resource efficiency. The Kharkiv region was examined in-depth, revealing higher water losses during transport and municipal/household sectors than the national average. Based on the assessment’s results, a differentiated approach to sustainable water management should be taken, depending on the type of regions. For regions with a very high and sufficient level of water efficiency, strategies to maintain the achieved positions should be implemented, while for regions with an average level of efficiency, strategies to improve the respective indices should be implemented. These research findings and policy recommendations can be utilized to guide policy-makers aiming to enhance the economic mechanism of sustainable water management at regional and national levels and improve their resilience to face the intensifying challenges.
The Role of Recent Climate Change in Explaining the Statistical Yield Increase of Maize in Northern Bavaria—A Model Study
Authors: Cetin Kevser , Mauser Wolfram
Published: July 2023

Maize yields in many regions of the world have increased significantly since the 1960s. The increase is mainly attributed to technological improvements and climate change. On a regional scale and in recent decades, climate change has altered growth conditions of maize and this, in turn, has influenced changes in yield. In order to analyze the contribution of different factors to yield changes, and to obtain a model setup that could be used for further analyses of yield development, this study systematically investigated the effects of recent climate change, irrigation, cultivar selection and nutrient availability on historical yields in Northern Bavaria. Four sets of simulations were conducted with the mechanistic plant growth model PROMET, during the time period between 1997 and 2020, and the resulting yields were compared to county statistics. In addition, three scenarios were simulated in order to determine yield increase potentials for the highly mechanized agricultural region of Northern Bavaria. The results showed a good agreement with the observed yields (R2 = 0.76), when considering altered nutrient availability, suggesting that an increase in nutrient uptake by plants plays a key role in reproducing yield statistics and has a main contribution to the observed increasing yield trends. Moreover, other factors considered individually, such as recent climate change, irrigation and cultivar selection, could not explain the yield levels and trends shown by the statistics. The scenario simulations demonstrated potential increases in yield due to irrigation and cultivar adaptation. The yield response to irrigation shows a trend, with recent climate change progressing, of 0–25% when irrigating currently grown cultivars and 10–50% when irrigating an adapted cultivar; rainfed cultivar adaptation consistently increased the level of yields by approximately 10%. This study highlights the importance of a dynamic consideration of growth conditions in the course of climate change, rather than static assumptions of model parameters, and emphasizes the importance of the second-order effects of climate change.
Winter Survivability and Subsequent Performance of Fall-Planted Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) in Mid-Central Virginia
Authors: Rahemi Alireza , Temu Vitalis W. , Kering Maru K.
Published: July 2023

Winter cropping can be used to achieve a double benefit for producers: as soil cover and an additional economic crop cycle. Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is a spring crop growing in the northern region of the US and used as a fall cover crop in some southern states. In this study, eight seed-type flax varieties were evaluated for production as a fall/winter crop for the Commonwealth of Virginia, a mid-latitude region. Mixed results were obtained; however, the crop showed winter tolerance and potential productivity, especially when the frequency of sub-zero winter temperatures was low. Planting too early in the fall allows for significant stem development that increases susceptibility to physical damage by snowstorms and winter frost. Seed yield was low compared to spring-planted crops; however, it reached up to 400 kg ha−1 in some varieties. Seed weights were comparable to those found elsewhere for the same or other varieties, and seed protein and crude fat content ranged from 228–270 and 189–234 g kg−1, respectively. Across years and varieties, P, K, Mg, Ca, and S averaged 7.74, 9.88, 3.88, 2.86, and 2.35 g kg−1, respectively. Mineral elements Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and B averaged 95, 62, 21, and 10 mg kg−1, respectively. However, early maturity in spring ahead of other grains subjected it to significant losses to wild birds. Fall-planted flax has potential as a cover crop and may be harvested for seed, which in addition to a summer crop, provides a producer with economic returns from two crop cycles per year.
A Meta-Analysis in Nine Different Continuous Cropping Fields to Find the Relationship between Plant Species and Rhizosphere Fungal Community
Authors: Pang Qiuling , Alami Mohammad Murtaza , Yu Weilong , Ouyang Zhen , Shu Shaohua , Tu Daiqun , Alami Mohammad Jawad , Wang Xuekui
Published: July 2023

Plant species and cropping systems influence rhizospheric fungal communities’ composition, diversity, and structure. The fungus community is one of the main factors behind soil health and quality. Yet, there is insufficient evidence and research on the effect of plant species with continuous cropping histories on the rhizospheric fungal community. In order to investigate how the fungal community responds to the various plant species and cropping systems, we have chosen one field that is left fallow along with eight continuously farmed areas to research. Among the eight phyla, the relative abundance of Ascomycota was significantly higher in Polygonum multiflorum, which was continuously cropped in fields for two years (P2). Basidiomycota was considerably higher in the fallow field (CK). Among the 1063 genera, the relative abundance of Fusarium was significantly higher in maize continuous-cropped fields for six years (M6), followed by Fritillaria thunbergii continuous-cropped fields for two years (F2), and found lower Fusarium abundance in CK. The alpha diversity observed in taxa, Chao1, and phylogenetic diversity indices were significantly higher in M2. β-diversity found that the fungal communities in the samples clustered from the fields in the same year were quite similar. In all the soil samples, the saprotrophic trophic type was the most common among the OTUs that had been given a function. Our studies have proved that continuous cropping and plant species changed the fungal community’s composition, diversity, and structure. This research may serve as a guide for overcoming significant agricultural challenges and advancing the industry’s sustainable growth.
Distribution Characteristics of Rainfall Erosivity in Jiangsu Coastal Areas
Authors: Chen Feng , Hu Haibo , Pan Defeng , Wang Junyi , Zhang Hua , Pan Zheng
Published: July 2023

The issue of regional soil and water loss caused by human activity is particularly severe in coastal regions. Since coastal reclamation areas are a valuable land reserve resource, it is of practical significance to understand the distribution characteristics of rainfall erosion and its impact on soil erosion for the prediction, evaluation, and management of regional soil and water resources. Rainfall erosivity should be updated and estimated from simplified indices. This paper analyzed the observed rainfall data of field runoff plots in Dongtai City, Jiangsu Province, between 2011 and 2017. According to the standard of erosive rainfall in coastal areas, reporting 10.8 mm of rainfall or 7.6 mm·h−1 of I30 (maximum 30 min rainfall intensity), the annual average erosive rainfall frequency in Dongtai City was 37.7 and the annual erosive rainfall was 1082.0 mm on average, which accounted for 51.6% and 90.6% of the total rainfall frequency and the total rainfall, respectively. Moreover, the annual average rainfall erosivity in the region from 2011 to 2017 was 7717.4 MJ·mm·hm−2·h−1. The annual distribution of rainfall erosivity was irregular, with an average monthly erosivity value of 4501.8 MJ·mm·hm−2·h−1. Since the accumulated rainfall erosivity of Dongtai City in the flood season (May to September) accounted for 88.1% of the total rainfall erosivity, it is essential to focus on preventing soil and water loss in the flood season. This paper established a rainfall-based model and a composite model and intensity appropriate for a single event and monthly rainfall erosivity in the region. Both models can be used to calculate the annual rainfall erosivity, but only the composite model based on rainfall amount and intensity is recommended for calculating single and monthly rainfall erosivity levels in Jiangsu coastal areas. The empirical formulas in Jiangsu coastal areas can be updated using more recent rainfall data and assess soil erosion risk accurately.
Ramifications of Heat Stress on Rabbit Production and Role of Nutraceuticals in Alleviating Its Negative Impacts: An Updated Review
Authors: Ebeid Tarek A. , Aljabeili Hamad S. , Al-Homidan Ibrahim H. , Volek Zdeněk , Barakat Hassan
Published: July 2023

Heat stress has become a widespread concern worldwide, which is a major environmental stress that causes substantial economic loss in the rabbit industry. Compared to other agricultural animals, rabbits are more sensitive to heat stress as they have fewer sweat glands and a thicker coat of fur, increasing the heat dissipation complexity. Thus, heat stress hurts rabbits’ productivity, meat quality, reproductive performance, antioxidative properties, immune responsiveness, intestinal histomorphology, and microbiome. Nutraceuticals include vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, organic acids, fatty acids, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, enzymes, and medicinal plants due to the possible impacts on maintaining common biological situations, strengthening immune response, and preventing illness, which ultimately led to an increase in productivity. Nutraceuticals have recently attracted a lot of attention to alleviate the adverse impacts of heat stress in rabbit farms. The objective of the current review is to provide acquaintance with the recent findings about the impact of heat stress on rabbit productivity and the advantages of dietary supplementation of nutraceuticals in mitigating it.