bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Estrogen and Thyroid Hormones in Zebrafish Visual System Function
Authors: Cohen Annastelle , Popowitz Jeremy , Delbridge-Perry Mikayla , Rowe Cassie J. , Connaughton Victoria P.
Published: February 2022

Visual system development is a highly complex process involving coordination of environmental cues, cell pathways, and integration of functional circuits. Consequently, a change to any step, due to a mutation or chemical exposure, can lead to deleterious consequences. One class of chemicals known to have both overt and subtle effects on the visual system is endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). EDCs are environmental contaminants which alter hormonal signaling by either preventing compound synthesis or binding to postsynaptic receptors. Interestingly, recent work has identified neuronal and sensory systems, particularly vision, as targets for EDCs. In particular, estrogenic and thyroidogenic signaling have been identified as critical modulators of proper visual system development and function. Here, we summarize and review this work, from our lab and others, focusing on behavioral, physiological, and molecular data collected in zebrafish. We also discuss different exposure regimes used, including long-lasting effects of developmental exposure. Overall, zebrafish are a model of choice to examine the impact of EDCs and other compounds targeting estrogen and thyroid signaling and the consequences of exposure in visual system development and function.
Potent Inhibition of Human Cytochrome P450 3A4 by Biflavone Components from Ginkgo Biloba and Selaginella Tamariscina
Authors: Wang Bo , Shi Chao , Feng Lei , Pan Wei , Tian Xiang-Ge , Sun Cheng-Peng , Wang Chao , Ning Jing , Lv Xia , Wang Yan , Yuan Qian-Hui , Guan Rui-Xuan , Zhang Hou-Li , Ma Xiao-Chi , Ma Tong-Hui
Published: February 2022

CYP3A4-mediated Phase I biotransformation is the rate-limiting step of elimination for many commonly used clinically agents. The modulatory effects of herbal medicines on CYP3A4 activity are one of the risk factors affecting the safe use of drug and herbal medicine. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of nearly hundred kinds of herbal medicines against CYP3A4 were evaluated based on a visual high-throughput screening method. Furthermore, biflavone components including bilobetin (7-demethylginkgetin, DGK), ginkgetin (GK), isoginkgetin (IGK), and amentoflavone (AMF) were identified as the main inhibitory components of Ginkgo biloba L. (GB) and Selaginella tamariscina (P. Beauv.) Spring (ST), which displayed very strong inhibitory effects toward CYP3A4. The inhibitory effects of these biflavones on clinical drugs that mainly undergo CYP3A4-dependent metabolism were evaluated. The IC50 of GK toward tamoxifen, gefitinib and ticagrelor were found to be of 0.478 ± 0.003, 0.869 ± 0.001, and 1.61 ± 0.039 μM, respectively. These results suggest the potential pharmacokinetic interactions between the identified biflavones and clinical drugs undergoing CYP3A4-mediated biotransformation. The obtained information is important for guiding the rational use of herbal medicine in combination with synthetic pharmaceuticals.
The Association Between Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and Neonatal Cerebral Metabolism, Hemodynamics, and Brain Injury as Determined by Physiological Imaging
Authors: Qi Ying , Lin Zixuan , Lu Hanzhang , Zhao Pengfei , Hou Yang , Mao Jian
Published: February 2022

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is common and may affect maternal and children’s healthcare. However, the neurobiological status of neonates born from mothers with PIH has yet to be elucidated. The present study employed physiological imaging to investigate the association between maternal PIH and a number of neonatal health parameters, including cerebral metabolism, hemodynamics, and pathophysiological vulnerabilities. Following the acquisition of ethical approval, we recruited 16 neonates with maternal PIH and 22 normal neonates (non-PIH) as controls. All neonates underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Phase-contrast (PC) MRI and T2-relaxation-under-spin-tagging (TRUST) MRI were performed to determine global cerebral blood flow, oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2). These physiological parameters were then compared between PIH neonates and controls. Linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the associations between maternal PIH and each of the physiological parameters. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs) were used to determine whether maternal systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) which could facilitate the diagnosis of neonatal brain injuries. PIH neonates showed significantly lower OEF (25.5 ± 8.8% vs. 32.6 ± 7.3%, P = 0.01) and CMRO2 (29.7 ± 9.4 vs. 40.9 ± 15.0 μmol/100 g/min, P = 0.01) compared to the controls. Maternal blood pressure levels [PIH or non-PIH groups, each one standard deviation (SD) increase in SBP, DBP, and MAP, respectively] were negatively associated with OEF [regression coefficient (β) = −7.9, P = 0.007; β = −4.2, P = 0.004; β = −3.6, P = 0.02; β = −4.0, P = 0.008, respectively). Furthermore, each one SD increase in maternal DBP and MAP was negatively associated with CMRO2 (β = −4.7, P = 0.03; β = −4.4, P = 0.04, respectively). The areas under the curves (AUCs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for maternal SBP, DBP, and MAP were 0.90 (0.80–0.97), 0.85 (0.73–0.97), and 0.89 (0.76–0.99), respectively. The AUC values for maternal SBP, DBP, and MAP indicated good diagnostic ability for identifying neonatal brain injuries. The present study demonstrated that maternal PIH may be associated with a lower oxygen extraction and lower cerebral metabolism in neonates.
The Molecular Mechanism of Aerobic Exercise Improving Vascular Remodeling in Hypertension
Authors: Song Yinping , Jia Hao , Hua Yijie , Wu Chen , Li Sujuan , Li Kunzhe , Liang Zhicheng , Wang Youhua
Published: February 2022

The treatment and prevention of hypertension has been a worldwide medical challenge. The key pathological hallmark of hypertension is altered arterial vascular structure and function, i.e., increased peripheral vascular resistance due to vascular remodeling. The aim of this review is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of vascular remodeling in hypertension and the protective mechanisms of aerobic exercise against vascular remodeling during the pathological process of hypertension. The main focus is on the mechanisms of oxidative stress and inflammation in the pathological condition of hypertension and vascular phenotypic transformation induced by the trilaminar structure of vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and extracellular matrix, and the peripheral adipose layer of the vasculature. To further explore the possible mechanisms by which aerobic exercise ameliorates vascular remodeling in the pathological process of hypertension through anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and thus inhibiting vascular phenotypic transformation. It provides a new perspective to reveal the intervention targets of vascular remodeling for the prevention and treatment of hypertension and its complications.
Renal Function Recovery Strategies Following Marathon in Amateur Runners
Authors: Hernando Carlos , Hernando Carla , Panizo Nayara , Collado-Boira Eladio , Folch-Ayora Ana , Martínez-Navarro Ignacio , Hernando Barbara
Published: February 2022

Long distance races have a physiological impact on runners. Up to now, studies analyzing these physiological repercussions have been mainly focused on muscle and cardiac damage, as well as on its recovery. Therefore, a limited number of studies have been done to explore acute kidney failure and recovery after performing extreme exercises. Here, we monitored renal function in 76 marathon finishers (14 females) from the day before participating in a marathon until 192 h after crossing the finish line (FL). Renal function was evaluated by measuring serum creatinine (sCr) and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). We randomly grouped our cohort into three intervention groups to compare three different strategies for marathon recovery: total rest (REST), continuous running at their ventilatory threshold 1 (VT1) intensity (RUN), and elliptical workout at their VT1 intensity (ELLIPTICAL). Interventions in the RUN and ELLIPTICAL groups were performed at 48, 96, and 144 h after marathon running. Seven blood samples (at the day before the marathon, at the FL, and at 24, 48, 96, 144, and 192 h post-marathon) and three urine samples (at the day before the marathon, at the finish line, and at 48 h post-marathon) were collected per participant. Both heart rate monitors and triaxial accelerometers were used to control the intensity effort during both the marathon race and the recovery period. Contrary to our expectations, the use of elliptical machines for marathon recovery delays renal function recovery. Specifically, the ELLIPTICAL group showed a significantly lower ∆GFR compared to both the RUN group (p = 4.5 × 10−4) and the REST group (p = 0.003). Hence, we encourage runners to carry out an active recovery based on light-intensity continuous running from 48 h after finishing the marathon. In addition, full resting seems to be a better strategy than performing elliptical workouts.
Drivers of Sinoatrial Node Automaticity in Zebrafish: Comparison With Mechanisms of Mammalian Pacemaker Function
Authors: Stoyek Matthew R. , MacDonald Eilidh A. , Mantifel Melissa , Baillie Jonathan S. , Selig Bailey M. , Croll Roger P. , Smith Frank M. , Quinn T. Alexander
Published: February 2022

Cardiac excitation originates in the sinoatrial node (SAN), due to the automaticity of this distinct region of the heart. SAN automaticity is the result of a gradual depolarisation of the membrane potential in diastole, driven by a coupled system of transarcolemmal ion currents and intracellular Ca2+ cycling. The frequency of SAN excitation determines heart rate and is under the control of extra- and intracardiac (extrinsic and intrinsic) factors, including neural inputs and responses to tissue stretch. While the structure, function, and control of the SAN have been extensively studied in mammals, and some critical aspects have been shown to be similar in zebrafish, the specific drivers of zebrafish SAN automaticity and the response of its excitation to vagal nerve stimulation and mechanical preload remain incompletely understood. As the zebrafish represents an important alternative experimental model for the study of cardiac (patho-) physiology, we sought to determine its drivers of SAN automaticity and the response to nerve stimulation and baseline stretch. Using a pharmacological approach mirroring classic mammalian experiments, along with electrical stimulation of intact cardiac vagal nerves and the application of mechanical preload to the SAN, we demonstrate that the principal components of the coupled membrane- Ca2+ pacemaker system that drives automaticity in mammals are also active in the zebrafish, and that the effects of extra- and intracardiac control of heart rate seen in mammals are also present. Overall, these results, combined with previously published work, support the utility of the zebrafish as a novel experimental model for studies of SAN (patho-) physiological function.
DNA Methylation Can Mediate Local Adaptation and Response to Climate Change in the Clonal Plant Fragaria vesca: Evidence From a European-Scale Reciprocal Transplant Experiment
Authors: Sammarco Iris , Münzbergová Zuzana , Latzel Vít
Published: February 2022

The ongoing climate crisis represents a growing threat for plants and other organisms. However, how and if plants will be able to adapt to future environmental conditions is still debated. One of the most powerful mechanisms allowing plants to tackle the changing climate is phenotypic plasticity, which can be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. Environmentally induced epigenetic variation mediating phenotypic plasticity might be heritable across (a)sexual generations, thus potentially enabling rapid adaptation to climate change. Here, we assessed whether epigenetic mechanisms, DNA methylation in particular, enable for local adaptation and response to increased and/or decreased temperature of natural populations of a clonal plant, Fragaria vesca (wild strawberry). We collected ramets from three populations along a temperature gradient in each of three countries covering the southern (Italy), central (Czechia), and northern (Norway) edges of the native European range of F. vesca. After clonal propagation and alteration of DNA methylation status of half of the plants via 5-azacytidine, we reciprocally transplanted clones to their home locality and to the other two climatically distinct localities within the country of their origin. At the end of the growing season, we recorded survival and aboveground biomass as fitness estimates. We found evidence for local adaptation in intermediate and cold populations in Italy and maladaptation of plants of the warmest populations in all countries. Plants treated with 5-azacytidine showed either better or worse performance in their local conditions than untreated plants. Application of 5-azacytidine also affected plant response to changed climatic conditions when transplanted to the colder or warmer locality than was their origin, and the response was, however, country-specific. We conclude that the increasing temperature will probably be the limiting factor determining F. vesca survival and distribution. DNA methylation may contribute to local adaptation and response to climatic change in natural ecosystems; however, its role may depend on the specific environmental conditions. Since adaptation mediated by epigenetic variation may occur faster than via natural selection on genetic variants, epigenetic adaptation might to some degree help plants in keeping up with the ongoing environmental crisis.
Planthopper-Secreted Salivary Calmodulin Acts as an Effector for Defense Responses in Rice
Authors: Fu Jianmei , Shi Yu , Wang Lihua , Tian Tian , Li Jing , Gong Lei , Zheng Zhouting , Jing Maofeng , Fang Jichao , Ji Rui
Published: February 2022

The brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens, BPH) and small brown planthopper (Laodelphax striatellus, SBPH) are major pests of rice (Oryza sativa) in Asia. These piercing-sucking insects secrete saliva into the host during feeding. Nevertheless, it is largely unknown how planthoppers use salivary effectors to enable continuous feeding on rice. Here, we screened their salivary proteomes and selected eight salivary proteins conserved between SBPH and BPH as candidate effectors. Silencing calmodulin (CaM) impeded BPH and SBPH from penetrating the phloem. Hence, their food intake, survival, and fecundity on rice plants were reduced. By contrast, CaM silencing had a small effect on the survival rate of BPH and SBPH raised on artificial diet. The CaM amino acid sequences were the same for both BPH and SBPH. CaM was highly expressed in their salivary glands and secreted into the rice plants during feeding. Bacterially expressed recombinant CaM protein exhibited calcium-binding activity. In planta expression disclosed that CaM was localized to the plant cytoplasms and nuclei and suppressed plant defenses such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation and callose deposition. CaM-silenced BPH and SBPH nymphs elicited relatively high levels of H2O2 and callose accumulation in rice plants. The foregoing results reveal that CaM is an effector as it enables the planthopper to reach the phloem by suppressing callose deposition and H2O2 accumulation in rice.
Leaf Functional Traits of Two Species Affected by Nitrogen Addition Rate and Period Not Nitrogen Compound Type in a Meadow Grassland
Authors: Sun Lu , Yang Guojiao , Zhang Yang , Qin Siqi , Dong Jibin , Cui Yangzhe , Liu Xiao , Zheng Peiming , Wang Renqing
Published: February 2022

Plasticity of plant functional traits plays an important role in plant growth and survival under changing climate. However, knowledge about how leaf functional traits respond to the multi-level N addition rates, multiple N compound and duration of N application remains lacking. This study investigated the effects of 2-year and 7-year N addition on the leaf functional traits of Leymus chinensis and Thermopsis lanceolata in a meadow grassland. The results showed that the type of N compounds had no significant effect on leaf functional traits regardless of duration of N application. N addition significantly increased the leaf total N content (LN) and specific leaf area (SLA), and decreased the leaf total P content (LP) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) of the two species. Compared with short-term N addition, long-term N addition increased LN, LP, SLA, and plant height, but decreased the LDMC. In addition, the traits of the two species were differentially responsive to N addition, LN and LP of T. lanceolata were consistently higher than those of L. chinensis. N addition would make L. chinensis and T. lanceolata tend to “quick investment-return” strategy. Our results provide more robust and comprehensive predictions of the effects of N deposition on leaf traits.
Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Improve Pleioblastus pygmaeus Plant Tolerance to Arsenic and Mercury by Stimulating Antioxidant Defense and Reducing the Metal Accumulation and Translocation
Authors: Emamverdian Abolghassem , Hasanuzzaman Mirza , Ding Yulong , Barker James , Mokhberdoran Farzad , Liu Guohua
Published: February 2022

The utilization of nanoparticles to potentially reduce toxicity from metals/metalloids in plants has increased in recent years, which can help them to achieve tolerance under the stressful conditions. An in vitro experiment was conducted to investigate five different levels of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs; 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 μM) both alone and in combination with 150 μM arsenic (As) and 150 μM mercury (Hg) in one-year-old Pleioblastus pygmaeus (Miq.) Nakai plants through four replications. The results demonstrated that As and Hg alone had damaging effects on the plant growth and development. However, the addition of various concentrations of ZnO-NPs led to increased antioxidant activity, proline (79%) content, glycine betaine (71%) content, tyrosine ammonia-lyase (43%) activity, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (69%) activity, chlorophyll indices, and eventually plant biomass, while the lipoxygenase activity, electrolyte leakage, soluble protein, hydrogen peroxide content, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were reduced. We concluded that ZnO-NPs detoxified As and Hg toxicity in the plants through increasing antioxidant activity, reducing As and Hg accumulation, As and Hg translocation from roots to shoots, and adjusting stomatal closure. This detoxification was further confirmed by the reduction of the translocation factor of As and Hg and the enhancement of the tolerance index in combination with ZnO-NPs. However, there is a need for further investigation with different metals/metalloids.
Signaling Mechanisms by Arabidopsis Cryptochromes
Authors: Ponnu Jathish , Hoecker Ute
Published: February 2022

Cryptochromes (CRYs) are blue light photoreceptors that regulate growth, development, and metabolism in plants. In Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), CRY1 and CRY2 possess partially redundant and overlapping functions. Upon exposure to blue light, the monomeric inactive CRYs undergo phosphorylation and oligomerization, which are crucial to CRY function. Both the N- and C-terminal domains of CRYs participate in light-induced interaction with multiple signaling proteins. These include the COP1/SPA E3 ubiquitin ligase, several transcription factors, hormone signaling intermediates and proteins involved in chromatin-remodeling and RNA N6 adenosine methylation. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of Arabidopsis CRY signaling in photomorphogenesis and the recent breakthroughs in Arabidopsis CRY research.
How Did You Sleep Tonight? The Relevance of Sleep Quality and Sleep–Wake Rhythm for Procrastination at Work
Authors: Maier Tabea , Kühnel Jana , Zimmermann Beatrice
Published: February 2022

Recent studies have highlighted the relevance of sleep for procrastination at work. Procrastination at work is defined as the irrational delay of the initiation or completion of work-related activities. In line with recent studies, we offer a self-regulation perspective on procrastination. We argue that procrastination is an outcome of depleted self-regulatory resources and that the restoration of self-regulatory resources during high-quality sleep at night would prevent procrastination.

Aims

In an attempt to further develop this line of research, the current study aimed to achieve a broader understanding of the relevance of sleep and circadian rhythm for procrastination. Therefore, we explored the effect of sleep quality on procrastination for different chronotypes. We also considered the shift to daylight saving time as a phenomenon that aggravates circadian misalignment and thereby later chronotypes' dependence on high-quality sleep. Specifically, we hypothesized that compared to employees with an earlier chronotype (morning types), employees with a later chronotype (evening types) are more dependent on good sleep at night to prevent procrastination the next day. This effect would be especially pronounced after the shift to daylight saving time.

Methods

For this repeated-measures study, participants were 101 full-time employees. They completed a general questionnaire and day-specific questionnaires on the Monday before and the Monday following the shift to daylight saving time.

Results

The multilevel analyses showed that employees procrastinated less on days following nights during which they slept better and that later chronotypes experienced more procrastination than earlier chronotypes. Our findings also supported the hypothesis that the relationship between sleep quality and procrastination is stronger for later chronotypes compared to earlier chronotypes on the Monday following the shift to daylight saving time. In other words, the lower the sleep quality of later chronotypes during the previous night, the more they procrastinated on the Monday following the shift to daylight saving time.

Discussion

Our findings further corroborate the existing findings on the relevance of sleep and chronotype for well-being and performance at work.
Psychological Examination of Political Philosophies: Interrelationship Among Citizenship, Justice, and Well-Being in Japan
Authors: Kobayashi Masaya
Published: February 2022

This paper examines assumptions concerning the relationship between citizenship, justice, and well-being, based on representative political philosophies, including egoism, utilitarianism, libertarianism, liberalism, and communitarianism. A previous paper raised the possibility of an inter-disciplinary framework for collaboration between psychology and political philosophy. This study picks up that thread and attempts to actualize a collaborative research effort based on a framework grounded in positive political psychology. The first part of this study reflects on the methodology situated between empirical psychology and philosophy in reference to the debates caused by psychological and philosophical situationism. In response to its criticism against virtue ethics, the possibility of reconstructing it on empirical psychology has paradoxically emerged. Similarly, this study validates assumptions on political philosophies employing the psychological method concerning well-being. Accordingly, the central part examines the plausibility of the assumptions by empirical evidence obtained from two internet surveys (2020, N = 5000; 2021, N = 6885) in Japan. The relationships between citizenship, justice, and well-being are the most substantial in the communitarian assumption. The exploratory factor analysis of the two surveys illuminates that the correlations between citizenship, justice, and well-being (or political well-being) are substantial. This relationship denies the egoism assumption. Moreover, almost all correlations between the three are higher based on virtue-related indicators than hedonic ones. These findings are not in tune with the utilitarian assumption and are most congruent to the communitarian assumption. In addition, citizenship and justice correlate more with political well-being than overall well-being. As these are more directly associated with political well-being in the communitarian assumption, this result aligns with the assumption. Furthermore, the positive relationship between disparity elimination and well-being fits the liberal rather than the libertarian assumption. Nevertheless, the substantial correlation between ethical justice and well-being is higher by virtue-related indicators than hedonic indicators, suggesting distributive justice is associated with the ethical dimension. Again, this fits the communitarian assumption rather than the liberal assumption. Thus, philosophical psychology empirically verifies the interdependence of the three conceptions and the relative plausibility of the communitarian assumption. Moreover, as the relationship between the three is essential for political philosophies, the result increases the reliability of communitarianism.
Stigmatization and Interpersonal Deviance Behaviors of Tour Guides: The Influence of Self-Identity Threat and Moral Disengagement
Authors: Deng Aimin , Liu Wenxing , Long Anna , Zhu Yanghao , Gao Kai
Published: February 2022

Severe tour guide stigma is a significant problem hindering tourism development. Based on self-identity threat and moral disengagement theory, this study analyzed the relationship between tour guide stigmatization and tour guides’ interpersonal deviance behavior. Survey data collected from 241 tour guides at three different points in time showed that tour guide stigmatization was positively related to tour guides’ interpersonal deviance behavior and that self-identity threat mediated this effect. The results also show that moral disengagement moderated the effect of tour guides’ self-identity threat on interpersonal deviance behavior, as well as the indirect effect of tour guide stigmatization on tour guides’ interpersonal deviance behaviorviaself-identity threat. This study enriches theoretical research on tour guide stigmatization and offers practical suggestions for solving stigmatization problems for tour guides and organizations.
Reviewing the Effect of English as a Foreign Language Teachers’ Positive and Negative Affectivity on Their Work Engagement
Authors: Fan Yuguo
Published: February 2022

This review strives to illuminate the related studies on the effect of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ positive and negative emotions on their work engagement. The negative correlations among teachers’ boredom, apprehension, shame, frustration, and work engagement have been confirmed in the review of the literature. Furthermore, few studies have validated the effect of teachers’ positive emotions, such as enjoyment and pride, on their work engagement in educational contexts. The studies showed that some factors, such as teacher self-efficacy, teacher self-sufficiency, increased academic challenges, and ambiguity in educational contexts, can mediate the relationship between teachers’ negative emotions and work engagement. The review of literature has emphasized the mediating role of growth mindset in the relationship between teachers’ positive emotions and work engagement. To improve the language teaching quality, the pedagogical implications are explained in the end. Some suggestions for further research are provided to expand the literature about teachers’ emotional variables.
Clinical Implementation and Evaluation of Three Implementation Interventions for a Family-Oriented Care for Children of Mentally Ill Parents (ci-chimps): Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Multicenter Trial
Authors: Laser Carolin , Modarressi Anna , Skogøy Bjørg Eva , Reupert Andrea , Daubmann Anne , Höller Alexandra , Zapf Antonia , Pawils Silke , Taubner Svenja , Winter Sibylle , Maybery Darryl , Wiegand-Grefe Silke
Published: February 2022

Background

In Germany, approximately three million children under the age of eighteen have a mentally ill parent. These children are at an increased risk of developing a mental illness themselves (1) as well as a physical illness (2). While research has identified numerous evidence-based family-oriented interventions, little is known about how to implement such interventions effectively and efficiently in clinical practice in Germany. This implementation study (ci-chimps) evaluates three clinical implementation projects with three different implementation interventions for the optimal implementation of the tailored family-oriented preventive and therapeutic interventions in the CHIMPS-NET (children of mentally ill parents—research network) with an implementation model for children of mentally ill parents.

Methods

A two-group randomized controlled multicenter trial will examine changes in family-oriented practice and aspects of implementation at baseline as well as at 12- and 24-months follow-up. The CHIMPS-Network consists of 20 clinical centers. The centers in the intervention group receive the support of all of the three implementation interventions: (1) optimal pathways to care, (2) education and a training program for professionals, and (3) systematic screening for children. The centers in the control group do not receive this specific implementation support.

Discussion

While we know that children of mentally ill parents are an important target group to be addressed by preventive and therapeutic interventions, there is often a lack of structured implementation of family-oriented interventions in clinical practice in Germany. Using a randomized controlled multicenter trial design with a large and wide-ranging sample (clinics for adult psychiatry and clinics for child and adolescent psychiatry, university clinics and clinics at the real health care) will provide a robust understanding of implementing family-oriented changes in German clinical practice.

Trial Registration

The CHIMPS-NET-study was registered with the German Clinical Trials Register on 2019-12-19 (DRKS00020380) and with Clinical Trials on 2020-4-30 (NCT04369625), the ci-chimps-study was registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00026217) on 2021-08-27, the Clinical Trials registration is in review process.
Post-discharge Mortality in Patients With Delirium and Dementia: A 3-Year Follow Up Study
Authors: Schnorr Thiemo , Fleiner Tim , Schroeder Henning , Reupke Ira , Woringen Frank , Trumpf Rieke , Schroeder Stefan , Zijlstra Wiebren , Haussermann Peter
Published: February 2022

Background

Delirium and dementia are prominent psychiatric diseases in old age and connected with poor outcomes for people affected. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the long-term prognosis of patients with dementia and delirium. This study analyzes mortality, readmission rates and discharge destinations of patients with dementia or delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) within 3 years after discharge from hospital.

Methods

A cross-sectional, monocentric cohort study was conducted at the department of geriatric psychiatry of the LVR hospital cologne, using structured telephone interviews and analyses from the clinical information system. All patients with dementia and DSD, admitted between December 2014 and November 2015, were screened for eligibility.

Results

In total, 113 patients were included, 49 patients with dementia (M 80 years, female 49%) and 64 with DSD (M 82 years, female 47%). Three years after discharge, 66 patients (58%) had died (95% CI 91.9–112.5; p = 0.53). Within the first 3 months, 9 patients (14%) with DSD deceased, but no patient from the dementia group (95% CI 11.3–12.7; p = 0.01). Out of all patients, 17 patients were readmitted and nursing homes were the predominant discharge destination (55%).

Conclusions

This analysis revealed a high post-discharge mortality rate of patients with dementia and DSD. For patients with DSD, a close clinical monitoring, mainly within the first 3 months after discharge, should challenge the significantly increased acute-mortality. These findings should set the pattern for a comprehensive analysis of long-term effects of dementia and DSD. More studies are required for better understanding and comparability in this field of research and healthcare.
Socio-Demographic and Attitudinal Correlates of Problematic Social Media Use: Analysis of Ithra's 30-Nation Digital Wellbeing Survey
Authors: Thomas Justin , Verlinden Marina , Al Beyahi Fahad , Al Bassam Bahiah , Aljedawi Yasmin
Published: February 2022

Time spent on social media continues to rise globally. For some individuals, social media use can become maladaptive and associated with clinically significant social and occupational impairments. This problematic social media use (PSMU) is also linked with poorer health and wellbeing. Much of our existing PSMU knowledge comes from single nation studies, heavily focused on adolescent and college-age samples. This study uses data from Ithra's 2021 global digital wellbeing survey to explore rates of PSMU and identify socio-demographic and attitudinal correlates. Participants (N = 15,000) were representative adult samples (N = 500) drawn from 30 nations. All participants provided socio-demographic data and completed a measure of PSMU, along with questions assessing attitudes toward social media and general usage patterns. PSMU prevalence was 6.82%, varying from 1.7 to 18.4% between nations. Multivariate logistical regression identified several correlates, including national culture, age, parenthood and frequency of use. These findings can help inform public policy and public health initiatives to reduce PSMU prevalence.
Treatment of the Linguistic and Temporal Components of Lexical Activation to Improve Word Retrieval in Aphasia
Authors: Martin Nadine , Obermeyer Jessica , Schlesinger Julie , Wiley Robert W.
Published: February 2022

Current approaches to treatments for word processing impairments in aphasia emphasize two components to target, the linguistic content, semantic or phonological representations of words, and the processing component, access to and retrieval of those representations. In this study, we explore these two components of a treatment to improve lexical activation that supports access and retrieval of word representations. Five people with aphasia participated. The treatment task was repetition of concrete word pairs after a 5-s response delay which was intended to provide practice in maintaining activation of the words for that 5-s period before reproducing them. Two of the five participants demonstrated a difficulty in maintaining activation of single words in repetition, with accuracy decreasing significantly after the 5-s interval. The treatment was applied to all participants, however, to determine if its benefit was specific to those with the activation maintenance impairment. Results confirmed that the activation maintenance treatment in the context of this repetition task led to more treatment gains for the two participants who demonstrated this specific impairment. They made gains on four of the nine measures compared to improvements on one to two measures for the other participants. A second question addressed in this study was the relative importance of the item component (linguistic content) of the treatment and the processing component, maintenance of activation. To that end, there were two conditions of treatment probes, (1) repeated content for all treatment, immediate post-treatment and 3-month maintenance probes and (2) novel content for probes in these three phases of treatment. Only one participant showed significant improvement in treatment when items were novel for all probes. We discuss the possibility that this outcome reflects a more specific deficit in the temporal processing component of lexical activation compared to the two other participants who showed better performance on probes with repeated items in treatment and post-treatment phases. Clinical implications of this study and directions of future research are discussed.
Methods for Uncovering Discourses That Shape the Urban Imaginary in Helsinki's Smart City
Authors: Zaman Sara , Hertweck Corinna
Published: February 2022

In modern urban environments the technologies that are basic to everyday life have become further embedded in that life. Smart cities are one example of the acceleration of technological change in order to engage with urban sustainability challenges, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools as one mode of engagement. However, the discourses through which cities engage with smart city growth and management can have long-term consequences for diverse knowledge held within the imaginaries of situated smart urbanism. As the city of Helsinki increasingly focuses on sustainable smart city initiatives, concurrent research suggests that smart urbanism is at a crossroads, where developers must decide how smart cities choose to engage with its residents' knowledge. This research sets out to ask, how are top-down smart city interventions communicated on Twitter (de)legitimizing diverse knowledge in situated smart urbanism? We draw from Foucaudian theory to identify which discourses are elevated, through statements posted on the social media platform Twitter. By answering this question, our goal in this paper is to examine how Foucault's methods can be used to highlight unseen assumptions about smart urbanism in Helsinki. Our objective is to identify overarching narratives and potential contested conceptualizations of smart urbanism in Helsinki. With our methods, we contribute a novel angle to surfacing power relations that are becoming evident in the development of AI-governed smart cities.
Outward Appearance or Inward Significance? On Experts' Perspectives When Studying and Solving Water Scarcity
Authors: Pramana Kharis Erasta Reza , Ertsen Maurits Willem
Published: February 2022

In the first decade of the 21st century, a water harvesting approach based on contour trenches—ditches to catch runoff—from Kenya was proposed as groundwater recharge technology in a semi-arid area in Ninh Phuoc district, Vietnam. In order to modify this solutions to tackle water scarcity, hydrological conditions at the site needed to be known. For such small-scale interventions, finding the most suitable set of (cheap and quick) efforts to study local hydrology is not easy. After our own study, we explored how different experts evaluated the chosen approach. The results from this evaluation suggest that different perspective for appropriate hydrological research can be found within a group of experts. This finding—in line with anthropologically inspired science studies—suggests that integrating different perspectives from stakeholders when working on suitable solutions in real-life water scarcity situations needs to be complemented with attention for different perspectives on the underlying hydrological processes and how they are to be studied. We discuss how this notion on the multiple perspectives intrinsic to hydrological research can be fruitfully included when developing water interventions.
Efficacy of Erector Spinae Nerve Block for Pain Control After Spinal Surgeries: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Duan Mingda , Xu Yuhai , Fu Qiang
Published: February 2022

Background

Erector spinae plane block (ESPB), as a regional anesthesia modality, is gaining interest and has been used in abdominal, thoracic and breast surgeries. The evidence on the efficacy of this block in spinal surgeries is equivocal. Recently published reviews on this issue have concerning limitations in methodology.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that were done in patients undergoing spinal surgery and had compared outcomes of interest among those that received ESPB and those with no block/placebo were considered for inclusion. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA software. GRADE assessment was done for the quality of pooled evidence.

Results

A total of 13 studies were included. Patients receiving ESPB had significantly reduced total opioid use (Standardized mean difference, SMD −2.76, 95% CI: −3.69, −1.82), need for rescue analgesia (Relative risk, RR 0.38, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.66) and amount of rescue analgesia (SMD −5.08, 95% CI: −7.95, −2.21). Patients receiving ESPB reported comparatively lesser pain score at 1 h (WMD −1.62, 95% CI: −2.55, −0.69), 6 h (WMD −1.10, 95% CI: −1.45, −0.75), 12 h (WMD −0.78, 95% CI: −1.23, −0.32) and 24 h (WMD −0.54, 95% CI: −0.83, −0.25) post-operatively. The risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (RR 0.32, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.54) was lower in those receiving ESPB. There were no differences in the duration of surgery, intra-operative blood loss and length of hospital stay between the two groups. The quality of pooled findings was judged to be low to moderate.

Conclusions

ESPB may be effective in patients with spinal surgery in reducing post-operative pain as well as need for rescue analgesic and total opioid use. In view of the low to moderate quality of evidence, more trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Systematic Review Registration:http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42021278133.
Observation of the Effect of Singulair Combined With Ketotifen in the Treatment of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease With Airway Hyperresponsiveness and Its Influence on Th17/Treg
Authors: Wang Haiou , Qu Gaojie
Published: February 2022

Objective

To investigate the effect of montelukast sodium (singulair) combined with ketotifen fumarate on the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) with airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and its effect on helper T cells 17 (Th17)/regulator T cells (Treg).

Methods

168 patients with AECOPD and AHR diagnosed in our hospital from February 2018 to December 2019 were selected, and divided into the observation group (n = 84) and the control group (n = 84). Both groups were given anti infection, bronchodilator, glucocorticoid, phosphodiesterase inhibitor, cough and expectorant. The observation group was additionally treated with singulair tablets and ketotifen tablets for 14 days. The curative effect were observed after treatment. The first second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1 as percentage of predicted value (FEV1% pred), blood oxygen pressure (PaO2) and blood carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT), Th17 and Treg levels were measured in both groups before and after treatment.

Results

Compared with the control group, the total effective rate after treatment in the observation group was increased (94.05 vs. 75.00%, P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment, the FEV1, FVC and FEV1%pred levels of the two groups of patients after treatment were increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the FEV1, FVC and FEV1%pred levels of the observation group were increased after treatment (P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment, the PaCO2, hs-CRP and PCT levels of the two groups of patients were reduced after treatment, and PaO2 levels were increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the PaCO2, hs-CRP and PCT levels in the observation group were reduced after treatment, and the PaO2 level was increased (P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment, Th17 and Th17/Treg levels of the two groups of patients were reduced after treatment, and Treg levels were increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the Th17 and Th17/Treg levels of the observation group were reduced after treatment, and the Treg levels was increased (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Singulair combined with ketotifen in the treatment of patients with AECOPD combined with AHR can significantly improve the efficacy, improve lung function, reduce inflammatory response, and improve the balance of Th17/Treg, effectively controlling the disease.
Application of Preoperative Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Ailong , Wu Shenglan , You Zhenhui , Liu Wenkai
Published: February 2022

Background

The clinical value and application of preoperative ultrasound contrast in the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis in thyroid papillary carcinoma is investigated.

Methods

In total, 126 cases of thyroid papillary carcinoma were selected, the sensitivity and accuracy of color ultrasound and ultrasound contrast were analyzed by comparing preoperative gray-scale ultrasound, color ultrasound, and ultrasound contrast.

Results

The accuracies of preoperative color ultrasound and ultrasound contrast in detecting lymph node metastasis were 74 and 82%, respectively, and their sensitivities were 80 and 94%, respectively. Lymph node metastasis was significantly more severe when the tumor diameter was >4 cm. The lymphatic metastatic rate of the patients with multifocal papillary carcinoma was 96.4%, whereas the lymphatic metastatic rate of the patients with thyroid gland lesions was 87.7%. The central foci of cervical lymph node metastasis included the following pathological subtypes: diffuse sclerosis type (89.3%, 25/28), high-cell type (72.2%, 8/11), and papillary type (40.0%, 4/10).

Conclusion

Ultrasound contrast is more sensitive than color ultrasound in the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis. Primary lesions ≥4 cm, lesion involvement, outer membrane, and high-risk pathologic subtypes and lesions were considered as the criteria for ultrasound contrast application.
Transpiration Responses of Herbicide-Resistant and -Susceptible Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri (S.) Wats.) to Progressively Drying Soil
Authors: Kouame Koffi Badou-Jeremie , Savin Mary C. , Rangani Gulab , Butts Thomas R. , Bertucci Matthew B. , Roma-Burgos Nilda
Published: February 2022

Drought events are predicted to increase in the future. Evaluating the response of herbicide-resistant and -susceptible weed ecotypes to progressive drought can provide insights into whether resistance traits affect the fitness of resistant weed populations. Two experiments were conducted in the greenhouse between January and May 2021 to evaluate drought tolerance differences between Palmer amaranth accessions resistant to S-metolachlor or glyphosate and their susceptible counterparts. The accessions used were S-metolachlor-resistant (17TUN-A), a susceptible standard (09CRW-A), and glyphosate-resistant (22–165 EPSPS copies) and glyphosate-susceptible (3–10 EPSPS copies) plants from accession 16CRW-D. Daily transpiration of each plant was measured. The daily transpiration rate was converted to normalized transpiration ratio (NTR) using a double-normalization procedure. The daily soil water content was expressed as a fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW). The threshold FTSW (FTSWcr), after which NTR decreases linearly, was estimated using a two-segment linear regression analysis. The data showed differences between S-metolachlor-resistant and -susceptible accessions (p ≤ 0.05). The FTSW remaining in the soil at the breakpoint for the S-metolachlor-susceptible accession (09CRW-A) was 0.17 ± 0.007. The FTSW remaining in the soil at the breakpoint for the S-metolachlor-resistant accession (17TUN-A) was 0.23 ± 0.004. The FTSW remaining in the soil at the breakpoint for the glyphosate-resistant and glyphosate-susceptible plants (16CRW-D) was 0.25 ± 0.007 and 0.25 ± 0.008, respectively. Although the mechanism endowing resistance to S-metolachlor might have contributed to increased drought tolerance, follow-up experiments are needed in order to verify this finding. Increased EPSPS copy numbers did not improve the drought tolerance of Palmer amaranth. As droughts are predicted to increase in frequency and severity, these results suggest that S-metolachlor-resistant and glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth populations will not be at a competitive disadvantage compared to susceptible genotypes. Alternative and diverse management strategies will be required for effective Palmer amaranth control, regardless of herbicide resistance status.