bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Characterization of the Methyl CpG Binding Domain-Containing Proteins in Watermelon and Functional Analysis of Their Roles in Disease Resistance Through Ectopic Overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Liang Jiayu , Li Xiaodan , Wen Ya , Wu Xinyi , Wang Hui , Li Dayong , Song Fengming
Published: May 2022

Methyl-CPG-Binding Domain (MBD) proteins play important roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. The present study characterized the MBD families in watermelon and other cucurbit plants regarding the gene numbers and structures, phylogenetic and syntenic relationships, evolution events, and conserved domain organization of the MBD proteins. The watermelon ClMBD proteins were found to be localized in nucleus, and ClMBD2 and ClMBD3 interacted with ClIDM2 and ClIDM3. ClMBD2 bound to DNA harboring methylated CG sites but not to DNA with methylated CHG and CHH sites in vitro. The ClMBD genes exhibited distinct expression patterns in watermelon plants after SA and MeJA treatment and after infection by fungal pathogens Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum and Didymella bryoniae. Overexpression of ClMBD2, ClMBD3, or ClMBD5 in Arabidopsis resulted in attenuated resistance against Botrytis cinerea, accompanied by down-regulated expression of AtPDF1.2 and increased accumulation of H2O2 upon B. cinerea infection. Overexpression of ClMBD1 and ClMBD2 led to down-regulated expression of AtPR1 and decreased resistance while overexpression of ClMBD5 resulted in up-regulated expression of AtPR1 and increased resistance against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Transcriptome analysis revealed that overexpression of ClMBD2 in Arabidopsis up-regulated the expression of a small set of genes that negatively regulate Arabidopsis immunity. These data suggest the importance of some ClMBD genes in plant immunity and provide the possibility to improve plant immunity through modification of specific ClMBD genes.
Development and Application of Intragenic Markers for 14 Nitrogen-Use Efficiency Genes in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Li Pingbo , Li Zhen , Liu Xu , Zhang Hua , Wang Qingguo , Li Nana , Ding Hanfeng , Yao Fangyin
Published: May 2022

Asian cultivated rice consists of two main subspecies, xian/indica (XI) and geng/japonica (GJ), and GJ accessions have significantly lower nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) than XI accessions. In order to facilitate genetic improvement of NUE in GJ accessions, we conducted haplotype analysis of 14 cloned NUE genes using 36 rice germplasm accessions with high-quality reference genome and developed 18 intragenic markers for elite haplotypes, which were then used to evaluate NUE genes in another 41 genetically diverse germplasm accessions from 12 countries and 71 approved GJ cultivars from northern provinces of China. Our results show that elite haplotypes of 12 NUE genes are mainly existed in XI accessions, but few is distributed in GJ accessions. The number of elite haplotypes carried by an XI accession can reach 10, while that carried by a GJ accession is less than 3. Surprisingly, the elite haplotype of gene DEP1 is nearly fixed in approved GJ cultivars, and elite haplotypes of gene MYB61 and NGR5 have been introduced into some approved GJ cultivars. The developed intragenic markers for NUE genes and evaluated 77 genetically diverse rice accessions could be of great use in the improvement of NUE in GJ cultivars.
Peroxisomal Proteome Mining of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Fruit Ripening Through Whole Isobaric Tags for Relative and Absolute Quantitation Analysis
Authors: González-Gordo Salvador , Palma José M. , Corpas Francisco J.
Published: May 2022

Peroxisomes are ubiquitous organelles from eukaryotic cells characterized by an active nitro-oxidative metabolism. They have a relevant metabolic plasticity depending on the organism, tissue, developmental stage, or physiological/stress/environmental conditions. Our knowledge of peroxisomal metabolism from fruits is very limited but its proteome is even less known. Using sweet pepper (Capsicum annuumL.) fruits at two ripening stages (immature green and ripe red), it was analyzed the proteomic peroxisomal composition by quantitative isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based protein profiling. For this aim, it was accomplished a comparative analysis of the pepper fruit whole proteome obtained by iTRAQ versus the identified peroxisomal protein profile fromArabidopsis thaliana. This allowed identifying 57 peroxisomal proteins. Among these proteins, 49 were located in the peroxisomal matrix, 36 proteins had a peroxisomal targeting signal type 1 (PTS1), 8 had a PTS type 2, 5 lacked this type of peptide signal, and 8 proteins were associated with the membrane of this organelle. Furthermore, 34 proteins showed significant differences during the ripening of the fruits, 19 being overexpressed and 15 repressed. Based on previous biochemical studies using purified peroxisomes from pepper fruits, it could be said that some of the identified peroxisomal proteins were corroborated as part of the pepper fruit antioxidant metabolism (catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductaseglutathione reductase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase), the β-oxidation pathway (acyl-coenzyme A oxidase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, enoyl-CoA hydratase), while other identified proteins could be considered “new” or “unexpected” in fruit peroxisomes like urate oxidase (UO), sulfite oxidase (SO), 5-methyltetrahydropteroyltriglutamate-homocysteine methyltransferase (METE1), 12-oxophytodienoate reductase 3 (OPR3) or 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL), which participate in different metabolic pathways such as purine, sulfur,L-methionine, jasmonic acid (JA) or phenylpropanoid metabolisms. In summary, the present data provide new insights into the complex metabolic machinery of peroxisomes in fruit and open new windows of research into the peroxisomal functions during fruit ripening.
I Have Had Enough: When and How Customer Mistreatment Leads to Coworker Undermining
Authors: Huilian Zhou , Waqas Muhammad , Yahya Farzan , Ahmad Qadri Usman , Zahid Fatima
Published: May 2022

Service workers are more prone to experience customer mistreatment because of their frequent interactions with them. Hence, it compels them to the level where their performance is compromised. Employees who face customer mistreatment feel ill-treated and develop the desire for revenge. Based on the social exchange and displaced revenge perspective, this study examined the relationship between customer mistreatment and coworker undermining, and individual-level resource-based moderator service rule commitment (SRC) for this relationship. An analysis of time-lagged, dyadic data (81 supervisors and 410 subordinates) from the Chinese service industry confirmed that customer mistreatment significantly predicted coworker undermining. In addition, in support of the resource perspective, employees’ SRC effectively restricts an effect of customer mistreatment on coworker undermining. Finally, this study contributes to the customer mistreatment and coworker undermining literature by highlighting their relationship. This study also shows the importance of SRC in restraining the adverse effects of customer mistreatment.
Measuring the Candidates' Emotions in Political Debates Based on Facial Expression Recognition Techniques
Authors: Rodríguez-Fuertes Alfredo , Alard-Josemaría Julio , Sandubete Julio E.
Published: May 2022

This article presents the analysis of the main Spanish political candidates for the elections to be held on April 2019. The analysis focuses on the Facial Expression Analysis (FEA), a technique widely used in neuromarketing research. It allows to identify the micro-expressions that are very brief, involuntary. They are signals of hidden emotions that cannot be controlled voluntarily. The video with the final interventions of every candidate has been post-processed using the classification algorithms given by the iMotions's AFFDEX platform. We have then analyzed these data. Firstly, we have identified and compare the basic emotions showed by each politician. Second, we have associated the basic emotions with specific moments of the candidate's speech, identifying the topics they address and relating them directly to the expressed emotion. Third, we have analyzed whether the differences shown by each candidate in every emotion are statistically significant. In this sense, we have applied the non-parametric chi-squared goodness-of-fit test. We have also considered the ANOVA analysis in order to test whether, on average, there are differences between the candidates. Finally, we have checked if there is consistency between the results provided by different surveys from the main media in Spain regarding the evaluation of the debate and those obtained in our empirical analysis. A predominance of negative emotions has been observed. Some inconsistencies were found between the emotion expressed in the facial expression and the verbal content of the message. Also, evidences got from statistical analysis confirm that the differences observed between the various candidates with respect to the basic emotions, on average, are statistically significant. In this sense, this article provides a methodological contribution to the analysis of the public figures' communication, which could help politicians to improve the effectiveness of their messages identifying and evaluating the intensity of the expressed emotions.
Emotional and Sexual Adaptation to Colon Cancer: Perceptual Congruence of Dyadic Coping Among Couples
Authors: Stulz Alexandra , Favez Nicolas , Flahault Cécile
Published: May 2022

Context

Colon cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in the world. The diagnosis leads the patient and his relatives into a process of mourning for their health and previous life. The literature highlights the impact of the disease on couples. Cancer can either alter or strengthen the relationship. The disease will directly or indirectly affect both partners. Such impact starts with the diagnosis and lasts long after treatments. No study has analyzed both emotional and sexual interactions between partners throughout the illness so far.

Objective

This research aims to identify and describe whether congruence within couples tends to improve emotional and sexual adjustment.

Method

Thirteen couples took part in this research by answering a set of questionnaires investigating, in particular, dyadic coping strategies, marital and sexual satisfaction. Non-parametric analyses were performed on the quantitative data.

Results

Emotional satisfaction is good among the couples in our study. There are important similarities in partners’ emotional adjustment. Patients who are most satisfied with their couple typically have a partner who is also satisfied. This was an expected result based on the literature. Overall, sexual satisfaction is described as average, which is either related to a low frequency of sexual intercourse, or a gap between the ideal and actual frequency of intercourse. In terms of dyadic coping, similarities within couples tend to improve emotional and sexual adjustment. Couples in which communication about stress between the patient and their partner is congruent tend to report good marital satisfaction. We found the same results for delegated coping of both the patient and the partner, and for negative coping of the partner. Sexual adjustment is linked to a similar perception within the couple of a common dyadic coping.

Conclusion

Emotional and sexual adjustment is largely linked to the quality of the partner’s support. The congruence of couple support strategies has been identified as an important factor in emotional satisfaction. In addition, the more couples implement joint stress management, the better their sexual satisfaction.
Moderating Effects of Transformational Leadership, Affective Commitment, Job Performance, and Job Insecurity
Authors: Shao Hui , Fu Hai , Ge Yuemeng , Jia Weichen , Li Zhi , Wang Junwei
Published: May 2022

This work explored the mediating effects of affective commitment on transformational leadership and job performance and job insecurity on transformational leadership and affective commitment. Meanwhile, the inter-relationships between the four verified the mediating effect of affective commitment, including job insecurity. The results were as follows: (1) transformational leadership and job performance were positively related. (2) Transformational leadership was proportional to an emotional commitment. (3) The affective commitment had a positive impact on job performance. (4) Transformational leadership indirectly positively affected job performance through the intermediary effect of affective commitment. (5) Transformational leadership regulated affective commitment through job insecurity. The more job security employees have, the higher the impact of transformational leadership on affective commitment; the lower the contrary.
Fostering the Environmental Performance of Hotels in Pakistan: A Moderated Mediation Approach From the Perspective of Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Ahmed Bilal , Xie Hongming , Zia-Ud-Din Malik , Zaheer Muhammad , Ahmad Naveed , Guo Manman
Published: May 2022

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has been a mere victim of climate change in recent years. The country needs emergency measures at every level to mitigate environmental dilapidation. The role of enterprises in the country’s environmental efforts is critical. In this regard, the hotel sector is known for its outsized carbon footprint. Knowing this, the current study aims to improve a hotel enterprise’s environmental performance (ENP) as an outcome of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The study also considers the mediating role of pro-environmental behavior (PEB) of employees and the moderating role of altruistic values (ALT). A hypothesized model was developed, which was validated by employing the structural equation modeling technique. The empirical results confirmed that CSR, directly and indirectly (through PEB), positively induces the ENP of a hotel enterprise. Whereas the conditional indirect role of ALT was also found significant. The study offers different implications for theory and practice, among which one important takeaway for the hotel sector is to realize the importance of employees to spur ENP of a hotel enterprise through their eco-friendly behavior. At the same time, the current work also advances the theory by highlighting the moderating role of ALT between the indirect relationship of CSR and ENP.
Early Word Segmentation Behind the Mask
Authors: Frota Sónia , Pejovic Jovana , Cruz Marisa , Severino Cátia , Vigário Marina
Published: May 2022

Infants have been shown to rely both on auditory and visual cues when processing speech. We investigated the impact of COVID-related changes, in particular of face masks, in early word segmentation abilities. Following up on our previous study demonstrating that, by 4 months, infants already segmented targets presented auditorily at utterance-edge position, and, using the same visual familiarization paradigm, 7–9-month-old infants performed an auditory and an audiovisual word segmentation experiment in two conditions: without and with an FFP2 face mask. Analysis of acoustic and visual cues showed changes in face-masked speech affecting the amount, weight, and location of cues. Utterance-edge position displayed more salient cues than utterance-medial position, but the cues were attenuated in face-masked speech. Results revealed no evidence for segmentation, not even at edge position, regardless of mask condition and auditory or visual speech presentation. However, in the audiovisual experiment, infants attended more to the screen during the test trials when familiarized with without mask speech. Also, the infants attended more to the mouth and less to the eyes in without mask than with mask. In addition, evidence for an advantage of the utterance-edge position in emerging segmentation abilities was found. Thus, audiovisual information provided some support to developing word segmentation. We compared 7–9-monthers segmentation ability observed in the Butler and Frota pre-COVID study with the current auditory without mask data. Mean looking time for edge was significantly higher than unfamiliar in the pre-COVID study only. Measures of cognitive and language development obtained with the CSBS scales showed that the infants of the current study scored significantly lower than the same-age infants from the CSBS (pre-COVID) normative data. Our results suggest an overall effect of the pandemic on early segmentation abilities and language development, calling for longitudinal studies to determine how development proceeds.
Mapping Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and the Interface During Transition to Adult Services in Six Swiss Cantons
Authors: Kilicel Deniz , De Crescenzo Franco , Barbe Remy , Edan Anne , Curtis Logos , Singh Swaran , Micali Nadia , Aubry Jean-Michel , Mégevand Jacqueline , Eliez Stephan , Plessen Kerstin Jessica , Armando Marco
Published: May 2022

Rationale

Transition in psychiatry refers to the period where young people transit from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS). Discontinuity of care during this period is well-documented but little is known about provisions and transition characteristics and policies across Switzerland. The aim of this article is to describe the architecture of public mental health providers in Switzerland and compare it to EU countries.

Method

Two mapping surveys, developed previously for European countries, were adapted and sent to cantonal experts: the adapted European CAMHS Mapping Questionnaire (ECM-Q) assessing the architecture and functioning of CAMHS and the adapted Standardized Assessment Tool for Mental Health Transition (SATMeHT) to map CAMHS-AMHS interface.

Results

Data were gathered from six cantons. Activity data and transition policies were comparable between Swiss regions and European countries. The percentage of young people below 19 years who were in care was above 2% in every responding canton with a higher proportion of boys than girls for patients <12 years of age. The transition occurred at the age of 18 years, civil majority, in each canton, and between 0 and 24% (3/7) and 25% and 49% (4/7) of young people were expected to transition. One canton (1/7) benefitted from written guidelines, at the CAMHS level only, regarding transition but none had guidelines for mapping CAMHS/AMHS interface even at the regional level.

Conclusion

Despite the availability of resources and even if the possibilities of access to care are on average higher than in many European countries, issues regarding transition remain comparable in six Swiss cantons when compared to Europe. Meaning that beyond resources, it is the coordination between services that needs to be worked on. Importantly, implementing those changes would not require investing financial resources but rather working on the coordination between existing teams.
The Association Between Food Addiction and Weight Status in School-Age Children and Adolescents
Authors: Wang Dan , Huang Ke , Schulte Erica , Zhou Wanying , Li Huiwen , Hu Yuzheng , Fu Junfen
Published: May 2022

Background

The association between food addiction (FA) and weight status in children and adolescents remains poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the association between FA and weight status using the validated Chinese version of the dimensional Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children 2.0 (dYFAS-C 2.0).

Methods

Participants were enrolled from clinic visitors for regular physical check in a children’s hospital. The dYFAS-C 2.0 was translated into Chinese and validated using reliability and validity tests. The participants’ body mass index Z score (BMIZ) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were used to characterize weight status. The FA severity was assessed using the translated dYFAS-C 2.0.

Results

Among the 903 children and adolescents enrolled, 426 (47.2%) completed the survey [277 (65%) females and 149 (35%) males]. The Cronbach α of translated dYFAS-C 2.0 was 0.934, and confirmatory factor analysis indicated an acceptable model fit. FA correlated positively with BMIZ and WHtR in the whole sample after adjusting for the effect of gender (p < 0.001). Further analyses showed that the correlation remained significant in participants with BMIZ > 1 (p = 0.006) but not in those with BMIZ ≤ 1 (p = 0.220). However, the correlations between FA and WHtR were statistically significant in both participants with or without abdominal obesity (p < 0.05). The FA could explain 12.1 and 15.8% of variance in BMIZ and WHtR, respectively. The corresponding cutoff points of FA for excessive weight risk were 0.7 (BMIZ) and 0.4 (WHtR).

Conclusion

The dYFAS-C 2.0 has good reliability and validity in the Chinese population. FA is associated with weight status characterized by BMIZ and WHtR, especially in participants with BMIZ > 1 and in those with abdominal obesity.

Clinical Trial Registration

[www.chictr.org.cn], identifier [ChiCTR2100052239].
Suicide After Contact With Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services—A National Registry Study
Authors: Astrup Helene , Myhre Martin Ø. , Kildahl Anine T. , Walby Fredrik A.
Published: May 2022

Background

Research has shown a strong association between suicide and mental disorders, and people in contact with services for mental health and substance use are known to be at high risk of suicide. Still, few studies have previously described suicide among young people in contact with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Aim

The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of contact and suicide rates by gender and age groups, and to describe patient demographics and service utilization in secondary mental health services.

Methods

All young people in contact with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the year prior to death in the period 2008–2018 were identified by linking the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry and the Norwegian Patient Registry. We estimated the prevalence of contact and suicide rates among those with and without contact, by gender and age groups. Characteristics of treatment contact were compared between boys and girls. Variables with significant differences were entered into a multivariate logistic regression model using gender as an outcome.

Results

More girls (39.7%) than boys (11.8%) had contact with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the year prior to death. Among girls, suicide rates per 100,000 patients increased linearly in the age groups 10–13, 14–16, and 17–19 years: 5, 22, and 38 per 100,000 patients, respectively. Among boys, the suicide rate increased sharply from 7 per 100,000 patients in the age group 14–16 years to 40 per 100,000 patients in the 17–19-year-old group. In the age-adjusted multivariate model, boys were 4.07 (1.22–14.44, p = 0.024) times more likely to have terminated contact at the time of death.

Conclusion

This study shows gender differences in both suicide rates and service utilization among young people in contact with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services before suicide, and future studies should focus on identifying the causes of these gender differences in service contact.
Evaluation of Cost-Benefit and Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic for Incoming Travelers Through Tests in Origin in Spain
Authors: Domínguez Conrado , García Rubén , Sánchez Javier , Suárez José Pablo , Dávila-Quintana Carmen Delia
Published: May 2022

Background

The World Health Organization has promoted preventive measures for reducing the impact of the pandemic. One of these measures was tests in origin for travelers. Testing strategies for COVID-19 facilitate the overall public health response to the pandemic and contributes to minimize the infection among the population COVID-19.

Goal

In this work, we assess the efficiency of diagnostic testing of incoming travelers in the Canary Islands, Spain, during a period of 4 months, with a focus on the economic impact for the regional government. We study the cost-benefit of this measure as well as the potential influence on the number of positive cases in the population.

Methods

We processed the real data in the Canary Islands of pre-flight PCR and antigen tests that were required to the residents when traveling back to the Canaries from anywhere in Spain in a period of 4 months, from 14 December, 2020 to 4 April, 2021. As a result, we calculated the economic impact of doing those tests and compare them with the estimated costs of passengers under the hypothesis of entering the islands without testing. The cost-benefit was obtained for different scenarios, where the incoming passengers generated hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) costs directly and via transmissions.

Results

The incoming testing funded by the government, if applied during the bad evolution of the pandemic with 1.2 ratio of transmission, clearly saved money to the public health system. In addition to the economic impact of this measure, we estimated the potential influence on the number of positive cases in the population according to different scenarios of the propagation of the pandemic. At the beginning of February 2021, the savings were about €130.551,47, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of €24.677,94–236.425,00. By the end of April 2021, the savings were above €2,000,000 (€2.284.788,50 on average and 95% CI of €2.092.914,84–2.476.662,16) and the savings increased as the pandemic evolved. At the end of the period, the savings were twice the expenses.

Conclusions

Testing in origin has proved to be a good measure that helped to mitigate COVID-19 spread among regions. Our results confirm that the free PCR or rapid antigen tests produce relevant savings to the public budget. We studied 61.990 reported data during 2020 and 2021 from the travelers from national flights, against 346.449 of total incoming travelers to the Canary Islands in this period. The measure pursued by the Government of the Canary Islands of providing free tests for residents showed a clear benefit for both, limiting the propagation of COVID-19 and reducing the costs of the hospitalizations and ICU admissions. It should be noted that the free testing measure in this period was before starting the vaccination campaigns. As measure of public health in the airports, testing helped to control and make the mobility of travelers secure.
Social and Regional Factors Predict the Likelihood of Admission to a Nursing Home After Acute Hospital Stay in Older People With Chronic Health Conditions: A Multilevel Analysis Using Routinely Collected Hospital and Census Data in Switzerland
Authors: Bachmann Nicole , Zumbrunn Andrea , Bayer-Oglesby Lucy
Published: May 2022

If hospitalization becomes inevitable in the course of a chronic disease, discharge from acute hospital care in older persons is often associated with temporary or persistent frailty, functional limitations and the need for help with daily activities. Thus, acute hospitalization represents a particularly vulnerable phase of transient dependency on social support and health care. This study examines how social and regional inequality affect the decision for an institutionalization after acute hospital discharge in Switzerland. The current analysis uses routinely collected inpatient data from all Swiss acute hospitals that was linked on the individual level with Swiss census data. The study sample included 60,209 patients 75 years old and older living still at a private home and being hospitalized due to a chronic health condition in 199 hospitals between 2010 and 2016. Random intercept multilevel logistic regression was used to assess the impact of social and regional factors on the odds of a nursing home admission after hospital discharge. Results show that 7.8% of all patients were admitted directly to a nursing home after hospital discharge. We found significant effects of education level (compulsory vs. tertiary education OR = 1.16 (95% CI: 1.03–1.30), insurance class (compulsory vs. private insurance OR = 1.24 (95% CI: 1.09–1.41), living alone vs. living with others (OR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.53–1.76) and language regions (French vs. German speaking part: OR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.37–0.80) on the odds of nursing home admission in a model adjusted for age, gender, nationality, health status, year of hospitalization and hospital-level variance. The language regions moderated the effect of education and insurance class but not of living alone. This study shows that acute hospital discharge in older age is a critical moment of transient dependency especially for socially disadvantaged patients. Social and health care should work coordinated together to avoid unnecessary institutionalizations.
COVID-19 Vaccination Willingness Among People Living With HIV in Wuhan, China
Authors: Wu Songjie , Ming Fangzhao , Xing Zhongyuan , Zhang Zhiyue , Zhu Shanhui , Guo Wei , Zou Shi , Liu Jinli , Liu Yang , Liang Ke
Published: May 2022

Vaccination is essential to controlling the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). People living with HIV (PLWH) were considered more vulnerable to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection compared with the general population. Therefore, it is urgent to protect PLWH from SARS-CoV-2 infection. For PLWH, vaccine hesitancy could be more common and may compromise vaccine coverage. Our study aimed to investigate the willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccination among PLWH and associated factors. A cross-sectional online survey was performed among PLWH and the general population from 4 April to 18 April 2021 in Wuhan, China. The multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze associated factors for COVID-19 vaccination willingness among PLWH. A total of 556 PLWH and 570 individuals from the general population were enrolled. The COVID-19 vaccine willingness among PLWH was 60.8%, which was relatively lower than that in the general population (80.9%) (P < 0.001). The results of multivariable analysis indicated that PLWH with comorbidities (OR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.25–3.45), those who had idea about PLWH would be more serious if they were infected with SARS-CoV-2 (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.11–2.51) and those who thought their antiretroviral therapy (ART) would be affected by COVID-19 epidemic (OR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.22–3.42) had higher willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination. PLWH who had a monthly income over 5,000 RMB (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.45–0.92) and had a sex orientation as non-homosexual (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.47–0.96) were associated with lower willingness for COVID-19 vaccination. Our findings showed that the PLWH had a lower willingness for COVID-19 vaccination compared with the general population in Wuhan. Targeted interventions such as health education should be conducted to increase the willingness for COVID-19 vaccination among PLWH, thus enhancing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among PLWH.
Comparisons of Multi Resolution Based AI Training Data and Algorithms Using Remote Sensing Focus on Landcover
Authors: Lee Seong-Hyeok , Lee Moung-Jin
Published: May 2022

The purpose of this study was to construct artificial intelligence (AI) training datasets based on multi-resolution remote sensing and analyze the results through learning algorithms in an attempt to apply machine learning efficiently to (quasi) real-time changing landcover data. Multi-resolution datasets of landcover at 0.51- and 10-m resolution were constructed from aerial and satellite images obtained from the Sentinel-2 mission. Aerial image data (a total of 49,700 data sets) and satellite image data (300 data sets) were constructed to achieve 50,000 multi-resolution datasets. In addition, raw data were compiled as metadata in JavaScript Objection Notation format for use as reference material. To minimize data errors, a two-step verification process was performed consisting of data refinement and data annotation to improve the quality of the machine learning datasets. SegNet, U-Net, and DeeplabV3+ algorithms were applied to the datasets; the results showed accuracy levels of 71.5%, 77.8%, and 76.3% for aerial image datasets and 88.4%, 91.4%, and 85.8% for satellite image datasets, respectively. Of the landcover categories, the forest category had the highest accuracy. The landcover datasets for AI training constructed in this study provide a helpful reference in the field of landcover classification and change detection using AI. Specifically, the datasets for AI training are applicable to large-scale landcover studies, including those targeting the entirety of Korea.
Both Physical and Virtual: On Immediacy in Esports
Authors: Ekdahl David
Published: May 2022

This article strives to make novel headway in the debate concerning esports' relationship to sports by focusing on the relationship between esports and physicality. More precisely, the aim of this article is to critically assess the claim that esports fails to be sports because it is never properly “direct” or “immediate” compared to physical sports. To do so, I focus on the account of physicality presented by Jason Holt, who provides a theoretical framework meant to justify the claim that esports is never properly immediate and therefore never sports. I begin by motivating Holt's account of physicality by contrasting it with a more classical way of discussing physicality and sports, namely in terms of physical motor skills. Afterwards, I introduce Holt's account of physicality as immediacy and engage with its assumptions more thoroughly to problematize the claim that esports is fundamentally indirect. Lastly, I argue that the assumption that esports necessarily lacks immediacy is based on a narrow understanding of body and, consequently, of space. In response, I offer a different way of thinking about body and space, focusing on the subjective, bodily engagement of the esports practitioners with their practice, whereby physical space and virtual space can be appreciated as immediately interconnected during performance in a hybrid manner. In providing such an account, the article contributes directly to the broader, growing discussion on the relationship between physicality and virtuality in an increasingly digital world.
Considerations for the Surgical Management of Thoracic Cancers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Rational Strategies for Thoracic Surgeons
Authors: Zhang Jiahao , Han Yichao , Zhang Yajie , Dong Dong , Cao Yuqin , Chen Xiang , Li Hecheng
Published: May 2022

Objective

The novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in a global health crisis since first case was identified in December 2019. As the pandemic continues to strain global public health systems, elective surgeries for thoracic cancer, such as early-stage lung cancer and esophageal cancer (EC), have been postponed due to a shortage of medical resources and the risk of nosocomial transmission. This review is aimed to discuss the influence of COVID-19 on thoracic surgical practice, prevention of nosocomial transmission during the pandemic, and propose modifications to the standard practices in the surgical management of different thoracic cancer.

Methods

A literature search of PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar was performed for articles focusing on COVID-19, early-stage lung cancer, and EC prior to 1 July 2021. The evidence from articles was combined with our data and experience.

Results

We review the challenges in the management of different thoracic cancer from the perspectives of thoracic surgeons and propose rational strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of early-stage lung cancer and EC during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the optimization of hospital systems and medical resources is to fight against COVID-19. Indolent early lung cancers, such as pure ground-glass nodules/opacities (GGOs), can be postponed with a lower risk of progression, while selective surgeries of more biologically aggressive tumors should be prioritized. As for EC, we recommend immediate or prioritized surgeries for patients with stage Ib or more advanced stage and patients after neoadjuvant therapy. Routine COVID-19 screening should be performed preoperatively before thoracic surgeries. Prevention of nosocomial transmission by providing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as N-95 respirator masks with eye protection to healthcare workers, is necessary.
Expression and Immunogenicity of Recombinant African Swine Fever Virus Proteins Using the Semliki Forest Virus
Authors: Fang Niran , Yang Bin , Xu Ting , Li Yanpeng , Li Huimin , Zheng Hanghui , Zhang Aiguo , Chen Ruiai
Published: May 2022

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a large DNA virus belonging to the Asfarviridae family that damages the immune system of pigs, resulting in the death or slaughter of millions of animals worldwide. Recent modern techniques in ASFV vaccination have highlighted the potential of viral replicon particles (RPs), which can efficiently express foreign proteins and induce robust cellular and humoral immune responses compared with the existing vaccines. In this study, we established a Semliki Forest virus (SFV) vector by producing replication-defective viral particles. This vector was used to deliver RPs expressing ASFV antigens. SFV-RPs expressing ASFV p32 (SFV-p32) and p54 (SFV-p54) were tested in baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cells. Proteins expression was evaluated via western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence, while immunogenicity was evaluated in BALB/c mice. The resulting RPs exhibited high levels of protein expression and elicited robust humoral and cellular immune responses.
Influence of Fermented-Moutai Distillers' Grain on Growth Performance, Meat Quality, and Blood Metabolites of Finishing Cattle
Authors: Cheng Qiming , Xu Duhan , Chen Yulian , Zhu Mingming , Fan Xueyin , Li Maoya , Tang Xiaolong , Liao Chaosheng , Li Ping , Chen Chao
Published: May 2022

The present study evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation with fermented-Moutai distillers' grain (FMDG) on the growth performance, meat quality, amino acid composition and blood metabolites of finishing cattle. Thirty cattle (2 years old; 237.55 ± 10.72 kg) were randomly assigned to one of three dietary supplementations: 0% FMDG (control), 15% FMDG (R1) and 30% FMDG (R2) [dry matter (DM) basis]. After 60 days, the inclusion of FMDG had no significant (p > 0.05) effects on the growth performance indices (dry matter intake, average daily gain and feed efficiency), meat quality (cooking yield, shear force, L*, a*, and b* values) or bovine blood biochemical indicators (except albumin and immunoglobulin A). Cattle fed R1 had the lowest (p = 0.001) loin eye area. Supplementation with FMDG significantly (p < 0.05) increased the beef contents of various amino acids (except isoleucine and arginine) compared with the control diet. Specifically, R2 significantly increased (p < 0.05) the total amino acid, essential amino acid, non-essential amino acid and umami amino acid contents in beef, while the difference in bitter amino acid content between different treatments was not significant (p = 0.165). These results suggest that it is feasible to include FMDG at up to 30% DM without affecting the growth performance, meat quality or blood metabolites of finishing cattle.
The Optimal and Economic Planning of a Power System Based on the Microgrid Concept with a Modified Seagull Optimization Algorithm Integrating Renewable Resources
Authors: Wang Zhigao , Geng Zhi , Fang Xia , Tian Qianqian , Lan Xinsheng , Feng Jie
Published: May 2022

In the past, planning to develop an electricity generation capacity supply of consumable load, an acceptable level of reliability, and minimum cost has played significant roles. Due to technological development in energy and the support of energy policymakers to make the most of these clean and cheap resources, a significant amount of research has been conducted to make the most of such energy. Constraints such as low capacity, output power uncertainty, and sustainability problems have made using distributed energy sources costly and complex. Theoretically, capacity development planning in a power system is part of macro-energy planning. It is generally based on specific development policies in each country’s national interest. In addition to being economical, the purpose of this planning was to find the best capacity development plan commensurate with the amount of consumption so that the development plan does not go beyond the permissible limits of reliability, environmental issues, and other constraints. On the other hand, due to the considerable growth of divided production, especially energy sources, it is essential to use microgrids. Accordingly, in this research study, in the process of solving the problem of planning and providing load growth by the distributed generation units to maximize reliability and minimize investment costs, the creation of smaller networks was investigated. To optimize zoning, the weighted graph theory method, in which the weight of the edges is the apparent power passing through the lines, was adopted. In addition, reactive power reliability was included in the calculations to improve the economic aspects. Probabilistic modeling for the presence of renewable resources was employed to bring the model to reality. Since the above problem is very complex, a Seagull-based algorithm and chaos theory were utilized to solve this matter. Finally, the suggested method for the sample system is discussed in different scenarios, indicating an improvement in the system’s performance. According to the numerical results, the NSGA, SPEA, and MOPSO have mean values of 68.3%, 50.2%, and 48.3%, which are covered by the proposed optimization algorithm.
Introduction to a New Open Access Journal by MDPI: Journal of Vascular Diseases
Authors: Henkes Hans
Published: May 2022

We are pleased to announce a new journal in the field of vascular medicine [...]
Impact of Land Transition on Landscape and Ecosystem Service Value in Northeast Region of China from 2000–2020
Authors: Wang Xinqing , Pan Tao , Pan Ruoyi , Chi Wenfeng , Ma Chen , Ning Letian , Wang Xiaoyu , Zhang Jiacheng
Published: May 2022

Drastic land pattern change has taken place in the northeast region of China, which may have a significant impact on landscape and ecosystem service. Up to now, insufficient renewal of land use patterns may limit the latest assessment of landscape transition and ecosystem service value. Meanwhile, the adaptive ecosystem service value improvement method should be established. To solve this issue, the integrated methodology of land-use change monitoring—landscape analysis—the promoted ecosystem service measurement is established. Results show that: (1) New evidence is observed that the cultivated land in Northeast China has been reduced, with 309,610.33 km2 in 2010 and 309,417.52 km2 in 2020, showing a net change area of −192.82 km2. This is the opposite of the increase of cultivated land compared to the past. (2) Shannon’s diversity index displays an upward trend, with the richer landscape types and higher fragmentation in the whole region. In addition, the contagion index reduced, with a total decrease of 1.93, indicating that the patches distribute intermittently and the agglomeration degree of these patches is weakened. (3) More precise ecosystem service value is assessed, from 2868.39 billion yuan in 2000 to 2814.06 billion yuan in 2020, and the hydrological regulation, climate regulation, and soil conservation play a dominant role in these functions in 2020. The spatial pattern of ecosystem service value is high-rank in the Northwest and Southeast, and low-rank in other directions. This study provides the new results on land change and landscape pattern and creates an improved ecosystem service value assessment method in Northeast China, to provide a more suitable ecosystem assessment application for Northeast China.
People’s Attitudes and Emotions towards Different Urban Forest Types in the Berlin Region, Germany
Authors: Lippert Henry , Kowarik Ingo , Straka Tanja M.
Published: May 2022

In an era of urbanization, forests are a key component of the urban green infrastructure, providing multiple benefits to urban residents. While emerging forests on urban wasteland could increase the urban forest area, it is unclear how residents view such novel forest types. In a comparative self-administered online survey, we assessed attitudes and emotions of residents (n = 299) from the Berlin region, Germany, towards forest types that represent transformation stages from natural to novel forests: (1) natural remnants, (2) silvicultural plantings, (3) park forests and (4) novel wild forests in wastelands. Respondents expressed positive attitudes and emotions towards all forest types, including the novel wild forest. Ratings were most positive towards natural remnants and least positive towards the novel wild forest. The indicated prevalence of non-native trees (Ailanthus altissima, Robinia pseudoacacia) did not evoke negative responses. Women and younger people were more positive towards the novel wild forest compared to other respondents, and men were most positive towards natural remnants. Place attachment was positively related to the park forest. Results indicate support for a wide range of forest types, including novel wild forests and non-native tree species, which can be used to expand urban forest areas and enhance opportunities for nature experience in cities.
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Facilitates Shift of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Ex Vivo Differentiation toward Osteogenesis among Patients with Obesity
Authors: Agareva Margarita , Stafeev Iurii , Michurina Svetlana , Sklyanik Igor , Shestakova Ekaterina , Ratner Elizaveta , Hu Xiang , Menshikov Mikhail , Shestakova Marina , Parfyonova Yelena
Published: May 2022

Objective: Sedentary behavior with overnutrition provokes the development of obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The main progenitor cells of adipose tissue are adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) which can change differentiation, metabolic, and secretory phenotypes under obesity conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate ADSC osteogenesis activity among patients with obesity in normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and T2DM conditions. Methods: In the study, ADSCs from donors with obesity were used. After clinical characterization, all patients underwent bariatric surgery and ADSCs were isolated from subcutaneous fat biopsies. ADSCs were subjected to osteogenic differentiation, stained with Alizarin Red S, and harvested for real-time PCR and Western blotting. Cell senescence was evaluated with a β-galactosidase-activity-based assay. Results: Our results demonstrated the significantly increased calcification of ADSC on day 28 of osteogenesis in the T2DM group. These data were confirmed by the statistically significant enhancement of RUNX2 gene expression, which is a master regulator of osteogenesis. Protein expression analysis showed the increased expression of syndecan 1 and collagen I before and during osteogenesis, respectively. Moreover, T2DM ADSCs demonstrated an increased level of cellular senescence. Conclusion: We suggest that T2DM-associated cellular senescence can cause ADSC differentiation to shift toward osteogenesis, the impaired formation of new fat depots in adipose tissue, and the development of insulin resistance. The balance between ADSC adipo- and osteogenesis commitment is crucial for the determination of the metabolic fate of patients and their adipose tissue.