bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In silico mechanisms of arsenic trioxide-induced cardiotoxicity
Authors: Li Yacong , Wan Runlan , Liu Jun , Liu Weichao , Ma Lei , Zhang Henggui
Published: December 2022

It has been found that arsenic trioxide (ATO) is effective in treating acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, long QT syndrome was reported in patients receiving therapy using ATO, which even led to sudden cardiac death. The underlying mechanisms of ATO-induced cardiotoxicity have been investigated in some biological experiments, showing that ATO affects human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels, coding rapid delayed rectifier potassium current (IKr), as well as L-type calcium (ICaL) channels. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which these channel reconstitutions induced the arrhythmia in ventricular tissue remains unsolved. In this study, a mathematical model was developed to simulate the effect of ATO on ventricular electrical excitation at cellular and tissue levels by considering ATO’s effects on IKr and ICaL. The ATO-dose-dependent pore block model was incorporated into the IKr model, and the enhanced degree of ATO to ICaL was based on experimental data. Simulation results indicated that ATO extended the action potential duration of three types of ventricular myocytes (VMs), including endocardial cells (ENDO), midmyocardial cells (MCELL), and epicardial cells (EPI), and exacerbated the heterogeneity among them. ATO could also induce alternans in all three kinds of VMs. In a cable model of the intramural ventricular strand, the effects of ATO are reflected in a prolonged QT interval of simulated pseudo-ECG and a wide vulnerable window, thus increasing the possibility of spiral wave formation in ventricular tissue. In addition to showing that ATO prolonged QT, we revealed that the heterogeneity caused by ATO is also an essential hazard factor. Based on this, a pharmacological intervention of ATO toxicity by resveratrol was undertaken. This study provides a further understanding of ATO-induced cardiotoxicity, which may help to improve the treatment for APL patients.
Modified Baihu decoction therapeutically remodels gut microbiota to inhibit acute gouty arthritis
Authors: Wang Xianyang , Long Haishan , Chen Ming , Zhou Zongbo , Wu Qinlin , Xu Shijie , Li Geng , Lu Zhifu
Published: December 2022

Background: Acute gouty arthritis (AGA) is the most common first symptom of gout, and the development of gout as a metabolic and immune inflammatory disease is also correlated with the gut microbiota. However, the mechanism of the effect of changes in the gut microbiota on AGA remains unclear. The intestinal flora can not only affect purine metabolism or regulate inflammation, but also influence the therapeutic effect of drugs on AGA. The aim of this study was to investigate the exact mechanism of modified Baihu decoction (MBD) in the treatment of AGA and whether it is related to the regulation of the structure of the intestinal flora.

Methods: On the 21st day of MBD administration by continuous gavage, a rat acute gouty arthritis model was constructed using sodium urate (0.1 mL/rat, 50 mg/mL), and the ankle joint swelling was measured before and 4 h, 8 h, 24 h, and 48 h after the injection of sodium urate. After 48 h of sodium urate injection, serum, liver, kidney, ankle synovial tissue and feces were collected from rats. The collected samples were examined and analyzed using H&E, Elisa, Immunohistochemistry, Histopathology, 16S rDNA, and Biochemical analysis. To investigate the mechanism of MBD to alleviate AGA using pro-inflammatory factors and intestinal flora.

Results: MBD (5.84, 35 g/kg) was administered orally to AGA rats and diclofenac sodium tablets (DS-tablets) were used as standard treatment control. Serum biochemical assessment confirmed that MBD is a safe drug for the treatment of AGA. In addition, our findings confirmed that MBD relieved AGA-related symptoms, such as toe swelling. Lowering serum levels of uric acid, IL-1β, and TGF-β1 immunohistochemical results also confirmed that MBD reduced the expression of inflammatory elements such as IL-1β, NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 in synovial tissue.Furthermore, compared with control group, the 16s rDNA sequencing of AGA rat faeces revealed an increase in the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae, Muribaculaceae, and Bifidobacteriaceae species. While the relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Prevotellaceae and Enterobacteriaceae showed a relative decrease in species abundance. Of these, the reduction in species abundance of Enterobacteriaceae was associated with a reduction in amino acid metabolism and environmental perception. After MBD therapeutic intervention, the disturbance of the intestinal flora caused by AGA was restored.

Conclusion: In summary, MBD is an effective agent for the treatment of AGA, with the potential mechanism being the regulation of intestinal flora to control inflammation. This would help to promote the therapeutic effect of MBD on AGA.
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-induced vasodilation in mouse aorta and mesenteric arteries is not mediated by ATP-sensitive potassium channels
Authors: Bercea Cristiana , Limbu Roshan , Behnam Kamila , Ng Keat-Eng , Aziz Qadeer , Tinker Andrew , Tamagnini Francesco , Cottrell Graeme S , McNeish Alister J
Published: December 2022

There is strong evidence that the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have cardioprotective effects. n-3 PUFAs cause vasodilation in hypertensive patients, in part controlled by increased membrane conductance to potassium. As KATP channels play a major role in vascular tone regulation and are involved in hypertension, we aimed to verify whether n-3 PUFA-mediated vasodilation involved the opening of KATP channels. We used a murine model in which the KATP channel pore subunit, Kir6.1, is deleted in vascular smooth muscle. The vasomotor response of preconstricted arteries to physiologically relevant concentrations of DHA and EPA was measured using wire myography, using the channel blocker PNU-37883A. The effect of n-3 PUFAs on potassium currents in wild-type native smooth muscle cells was investigated using whole-cell patch clamping. DHA and EPA induced vasodilation in mouse aorta and mesenteric arteries; relaxations in the aorta were sensitive to KATP blockade with PNU-37883A. Endothelium removal didn’t affect relaxation to EPA and caused a small but significant inhibition of relaxation to DHA. In the knock-out model, relaxations to DHA and EPA were unaffected by channel knockdown but were still inhibited by PNU-37883A, indicating that the action of PNU-37883A on relaxation may not reflect inhibition of KATP. In native aortic smooth muscle cells DHA failed to activate KATP currents. We conclude that DHA and EPA cause vasodilation in mouse aorta and mesenteric arteries. Relaxations in blocker-treated arteries from knock-out mice demonstrate that KATP channels are not involved in the n-3 PUFA-induced relaxation.
TGF-β signaling in lymphatic vascular vessel formation and maintenance
Authors: Itoh Fumiko , Watabe Tetsuro
Published: December 2022

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and its family members, including bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), nodal proteins, and activins, are implicated in the development and maintenance of various organs. Here, we review its role in the lymphatic vascular system (the secondary vascular system in vertebrates), which plays a crucial role in various physiological and pathological processes, participating in the maintenance of the normal tissue fluid balance, immune cell trafficking, and fatty acid absorption in the gut. The lymphatic system is associated with pathogenesis in multiple diseases, including lymphedema, inflammatory diseases, and tumor metastasis. Lymphatic vessels are composed of lymphatic endothelial cells, which differentiate from blood vascular endothelial cells (BECs). Although TGF-β family signaling is essential for maintaining blood vessel function, little is known about the role of TGF-β in lymphatic homeostasis. Recently, we reported that endothelial-specific depletion of TGF-β signaling affects lymphatic function. These reports suggest that TGF-β signaling in lymphatic endothelial cells maintains the structure of lymphatic vessels and lymphatic homeostasis, and promotes tumor lymphatic metastasis. Suppression of TGF-β signaling in lymphatic endothelial cells may therefore be effective in inhibiting cancer metastasis. We highlight recent advances in understanding the roles of TGF-β signaling in the formation and maintenance of the lymphatic system.
Unlocking the genetic diversity of Indian turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) germplasm based on rhizome yield traits and curcuminoids
Authors: Dudekula Mastan Vali , Kandasamy Venkatesan , Balaraman Senthamizh Selvi , Selvamani Selva Babu , Muthurajan Raveendran , Adhimoolam Karthikeyan , Manoharan Bharani , Natesan Senthil
Published: December 2022

Turmeric is an important commercial crop widely grown in Asia due to its pharmacological and nutritional value. India is the centre of turmeric diversity and many turmeric accessions have good rhizome yield, varying curcuminoids content and are well-adapted to various agro-climatic zones. In the present study, we unravel the diversity among 200 Indian turmeric accessions based on rhizome yield traits and curcuminoids content. Clustering and correlation studies were also performed to group the turmeric accessions and to observe the relationship between the traits. Results revealed the presence of large variability among turmeric accessions including the major traits such as yield (24.77 g p-1 to 667.63 g p-1), dry recovery percentage (13.42% to 29.18%), curcumin (0.41% to 2.17%), demethoxycurcumin (0.38% to 1.45%), bisdemethoxycurcumin (0.37% to 1.24%) and total curcuminoid content (1.26% to 4.55%). The superior germplasm identified for curcuminoids content were as follows; curcumin (CL 157 – 2.17% and CL 272 – 2.13%), demethoxycurcumin (CL 253 – 1.45% and CL 157 – 1.31%), bisdemethoxycurcumin (CL 216 – 1.24% and CL 57 – 1.11%) and total curcuminoid content (CL 157 – 4.55% and CL 272 – 4.37%). Clustering based on dendrogram, grouped 200 accessions into seven clusters. Among seven clusters, the maximum number of accessions were grouped into cluster II while cluster VII showed maximum mean value for majority of the traits. Correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between the traits where the total curcuminoid content is significantly and positively correlated with the primary rhizome core diameter and length of the secondary rhizome. The selection of these particular traits may result in the identification of germplasm with high total curcuminoid content. Taken together, it is the first report on the large screening of turmeric accessions for variation in the rhizome yield traits and curcuminoids content. The genetic diversity revealed in this study could be useful for further crop improvement programs in turmeric to develop new varieties with high rhizome yield coupled with high curcuminoids content.
Interplay between rhizospheric Pseudomonas chlororaphis strains lays the basis for beneficial bacterial consortia
Authors: Villar-Moreno Rafael , Tienda Sandra , Gutiérrez-Barranquero Jose A. , Carrión Víctor J. , de Vicente Antonio , Cazorla Francisco M. , Arrebola Eva
Published: December 2022

Pseudomonas chlororaphis (Pc) representatives are found as part of the rhizosphere-associated microbiome, and different rhizospheric Pc strains frequently perform beneficial activities for the plant. In this study we described the interactions between the rhizospheric Pc strains PCL1601, PCL1606 and PCL1607 with a focus on their effects on root performance. Differences among the three rhizospheric Pc strains selected were first observed in phylogenetic studies and confirmed by genome analysis, which showed variation in the presence of genes related to antifungal compounds or siderophore production, among others. Observation of the interactions among these strains under lab conditions revealed that PCL1606 has a better adaptation to environments rich in nutrients, and forms biofilms. Interaction experiments on plant roots confirmed the role of the different phenotypes in their lifestyle. The PCL1606 strain was the best adapted to the habitat of avocado roots, and PCL1607 was the least, and disappeared from the plant root scenario after a few days of interaction. These results confirm that 2 out 3 rhizospheric Pc strains were fully compatible (PCL1601 and PCL1606), efficiently colonizing avocado roots and showing biocontrol activity against the fungal pathogen Rosellinia necatrix. The third strain (PCL1607) has colonizing abilities when it is alone on the root but displayed difficulties under the competition scenario, and did not cause deleterious effects on the other Pc competitors when they were present. These results suggest that strains PCL1601 and PCL1606 are very well adapted to the avocado root environment and could constitute a basis for constructing a more complex beneficial microbial synthetic community associated with avocado plant roots.
Knockout of phytoene desaturase gene using CRISPR/Cas9 in highbush blueberry
Authors: Vaia Giuseppe , Pavese Vera , Moglia Andrea , Cristofori Valerio , Silvestri Cristian
Published: December 2022

Among the New Plant Breeding Techniques (NPBTs), the CRISPR/Cas9 system represents a useful tool for target gene editing, improving the traits of the plants rapidly. This technology allows targeting one or more sequences simultaneously, as well as introducing new genetic variations by homology-directed recombination. However, the technology of CRISPR/Cas9 remains a challenge for some polyploid woody species, since all the different alleles for which the mutation is required must be simultaneously targeted. In this work we describe improved protocols adapting the CRISPR/Cas9 system to highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. As a proof of concept, we targeted the gene encoding for phytoene desaturase, whose mutation disrupts chlorophyll biosynthesis allowing for the visual assessment of knockout efficiency. Leaf explants of in vitro-cultured blueberry cv. Berkeley has been transformed with a CRISPR/Cas9 construct containing two guide RNAs (gRNA1 and gRNA2) targeting two conserved gene regions of pds and subsequently maintained on a selection medium enriched with kanamycin. After 4 weeks in culture on the selection medium, the kanamycin-resistant lines were isolated, and the genotyping of these lines through Sanger sequencing revealed successful gene editing. Some of mutant shoot lines included albino phenotypes, even if the editing efficiencies were quite low for both gRNAs, ranging between 2.1 and 9.6% for gRNA1 and 3.0 and 23.8 for gRNA2. Here we showed a very effective adventitious shoot regeneration protocol for the commercial cultivar of highbush blueberry “Berkeley”, and a further improvement in the use of CRISPR/Cas9 system in Vaccinium corymbosum L., opening the way to the breeding mediated by biotechnological approaches.
Integrating GWAS, linkage mapping and gene expression analyses reveal the genetic control of first branch height in Brassica napus L
Authors: Dong Zhixue , Tang Minqiang , Cui Xiaobo , Zhao Chuanji , Tong Chaobo , Liu Yueying , Xiang Yang , Li Zaiyun , Huang Junyan , Cheng Xiaohui , Liu Shengyi
Published: December 2022

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is a crucial oil crop cultivated worldwide. First branch height, an essential component of rapeseed plant architecture, has an important effect on yield and mechanized harvesting; however, the underlying genetic mechanism remains unclear. In this study, based on the 60K single nucleotide polymorphism array and a recombinant inbred lines population derived from M083 and 888-5, a total of 19 QTLs were detected in five environments, distributed on linkage groups A02, A09, A10, C06, and C07, which explained phenotypic variation ranging from 4.87 to 29.87%. Furthermore, 26 significant SNPs were discovered on Chr.A02 by genome-wide association study in a diversity panel of 324 re-sequencing accessions. The major QTL of the first branch height trait was co-located on Chr.A02 by integrating linkage mapping and association mapping. Eleven candidate genes were screened via allelic variation analysis, inter-subgenomic synteny analysis, and differential expression of genes in parental shoot apical meristem tissues. Among these genes, BnaA02g13010D, which encodes a TCP transcription factor, was confirmed as the target gene according to gene function annotation, haplotype analysis, and full-length gene sequencing, which revealed that TATA insertion/deletion in the promoter region was closely linked to significantly phenotypic differences BnaA02.TCP1M083 overexpression resulted in decreased branch height and increased branch number in Arabidopsis. These results provide a genetic basis for first branch height and the ideal architecture of B. napus.
Bacillus cereus EC9 protects tomato against Fusarium wilt through JA/ET-activated immunity
Authors: Pazarlar Sercan , Madriz-Ordeñana Kenneth , Thordal-Christensen Hans
Published: December 2022

The mechanisms of action and the limitations of effectiveness of natural biocontrol agents should be determined in order to convert them into end products that can be used in practice. Rhizosphere Bacillus spp. protect plants from various pathogens by displaying several modes of action. However, the ability of Bacillus spp. to control plant diseases depends on the interaction between the bacteria, host, and pathogen, and the environmental conditions. We found that soil drenching of tomato plants with the non-antifungal Bacillus cereus strain EC9 (EC9) enhances plant defense against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol). To study the involvement of plant defense-related phytohormones in the regulation of EC9-activated protection against Fol, we conducted plant bioassays in tomato genotypes impaired in salicylic acid (SA) accumulation, jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis, and ethylene (ET) production, and analyzed the transcript levels of pathways-related marker genes. Our results indicate that JA/ET-dependent signaling is required for EC9-mediated protection against Fol in tomato. We provide evidence that EC9 primes tomato plants for enhanced expression of proteinase inhibitor I (PI-I) and ethylene receptor4 (ETR4). Moreover, we demonstrated that EC9 induces callose deposition in tomato roots. Understanding the involvement of defense-related phytohormones in EC9-mediated defense against Fusarium wilt has increased our knowledge of interactions between non-antifungal plant defense-inducing rhizobacteria and plants.
A deep learning-based model for plant lesion segmentation, subtype identification, and survival probability estimation
Authors: Shoaib Muhammad , Shah Babar , Hussain Tariq , Ali Akhtar , Ullah Asad , Alenezi Fayadh , Gechev Tsanko , Ali Farman , Syed Ikram
Published: December 2022

Plants are the primary source of food for world’s population. Diseases in plants can cause yield loss, which can be mitigated by continual monitoring. Monitoring plant diseases manually is difficult and prone to errors. Using computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) for the early identification of plant illnesses can prevent the negative consequences of diseases at the very beginning and overcome the limitations of continuous manual monitoring. The research focuses on the development of an automatic system capable of performing the segmentation of leaf lesions and the detection of disease without requiring human intervention. To get lesion region segmentation, we propose a context-aware 3D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model based on CANet architecture that considers the ambiguity of plant lesion placement in the plant leaf image subregions. A Deep CNN is employed to recognize the subtype of leaf lesion using the segmented lesion area. Finally, the plant’s survival is predicted using a hybrid method combining CNN and Linear Regression. To evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of our proposed plant disease detection scheme and survival prediction, we utilized the Plant Village Benchmark Dataset, which is composed of several photos of plant leaves affected by a certain disease. Using the DICE and IoU matrices, the segmentation model performance for plant leaf lesion segmentation is evaluated. The proposed lesion segmentation model achieved an average accuracy of 92% with an IoU of 90%. In comparison, the lesion subtype recognition model achieves accuracies of 91.11%, 93.01 and 99.04 for pepper, potato and tomato plants. The higher accuracy of the proposed model indicates that it can be utilized for real-time disease detection in unmanned aerial vehicles and offline to offer crop health updates and reduce the risk of low yield.
Factors influencing the psychological independence of retired community-dwelling older adults in Japan
Authors: Hirano Yuko O. , Tamagawa Ranze , Matsumoto Takako
Published: December 2022

Background

In an aging society, it is necessary to promote successful aging by helping older adults maintain engagement in social activities, especially after retirement. Focusing on psychological independence is critical for helping community-dwelling older adults maintain their ability to do things independently and build appropriate relationships with neighbors. However, shifting one’s mindset from the workplace to the local community can be difficult, especially for Japanese people who prioritize work over local community activities. Few studies have investigated the factors associated with the psychological independence of community-dwelling older adults, so this study examined the factors influencing the psychological independence of older adults in T town, a typical commuter town in Japan.

Methods

A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 246 neighborhood association members aged 65 and older. T-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, Cronbach’s alpha, and multiple regression analysis were used to develop a model for predicting psychological independence and its two subconstructs, purposefulness and personal accountability.

Results

The results demonstrated that psychological independence, purposefulness, and personal accountability were significantly predicted by having abilities that are useful to other people (β = 0.399, p = 0.001; β = 0.277, p = 0.019; and β = 0.394, p = 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

The findings suggest that older adults can maintain psychological independence using their existing characteristics, such as hobbies and life skills that are useful to others in the community.
Bringing our best selves to work: Proactive vitality management and strengths use predicting daily engagement in interaction
Authors: Pap Zselyke , Vîrgă Delia , Lupșa Daria
Published: December 2022

The present research focused on bottom-up, proactive employee behaviors and personal resources that can contribute to more engagement and optimal functioning at work. Based on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) and Conservation of Resources (COR) theories, we tested direct and interactive relationships between strengths use (SU), daily proactive vitality management (PVM), and daily work engagement (WE). Eighty-seven (N = 87) employees from a multinational company completed self-reported questionnaires at the beginning of the study and throughout five consecutive workdays (N = 358), yielding a multilevel dataset. We have found a significant daily positive relationship between PVM and WE, which showed significant inter-individual variation and was significantly enhanced by SU at the individual level. This study showed that PVM as employee-initiated proactive behavior and SU as a proactive personal resource facilitate engagement independently but yield the strongest results when used together, suggesting an interactive mechanism between bottom-up effects postulated in the JD-R theory.
Political attitude change over time following COVID-19 lockdown: Rallying effects and differences between left and right voters
Authors: Satherley Nicole , Zubielevitch Elena , Greaves Lara M. , Barlow Fiona Kate , Osborne Danny , Sibley Chris G.
Published: December 2022

Restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 have required widespread compliance over long periods, but citizens’ attitudes to these often change over time. Here, we examine the time course of political attitudes in New Zealand over the months before and after the announcement of the country’s first nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 using a large-scale national survey (Ns = 41,831-42,663). Government satisfaction increased immediately following the lockdown announcement and remained elevated 5 months later. Trust in institutions and political efficacy also increased gradually over the same period. However, these trends varied by political party vote: Compared to center-left voters who supported the largest governing party, center-right voters who supported the opposition party returned to baseline levels of government satisfaction quicker and showed more pronounced dips in their satisfaction with the economy. These same attitudes also predicted compliance with COVID-19 guidelines. Results illustrate a rally-around-the-flag effect during the pandemic and suggest that support wanes faster among center-right (opposition party) voters.
Formation mechanism of contributors’ self-identity based on social identity in online knowledge communities
Authors: Gu Tongfei , Cheng Zhichao , Zhang Zeqian , Li Cui , Ni Yuan , Wang Xiaokang
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Contributors’ self-identity is a critical element in the sustainable development of online knowledge communities (OKCs). However, research concerning the formation mechanism of contributors’ self-identity remains scarce. This research posits information support, novel posting and sense of self-worth as mediating variables between social identity and self-identity to construct a path model, aiming to explore the way in which self-identity is formed on the basis of social identity in OKCs.

Methods

To examine this mode, an online survey was administered to many different OKCs, and 515 usable questionnaire responses were collected. Structural equation modeling was then employed to examine the model.

Results

The R2 value of self-identity was 0.627, thus indicating that the model was able to explain 62.7% of the variance in self-identity. We find that self-identity emerges through the mediating effects of information support, novel posting and sense of self-worth. In addition, social identity can elicit novel posting and information support, which are all beneficial for enhancing the dynamics of OKCs and further generate sense of self-worth. We also observe that although social identity and individualized behavior (novel posting) are generally incompatible, they can be compatible in the context of OKCs.

Discussion

Self-identity as a contributor can be formed on the basis of social identity via the social path and the psychological path in OKCs, while the two paths for fostering self-identity are not independent of each other, and there is also a very strong link between behavioral and psychological mechanisms.
Daytime naps and depression risk: A meta-analysis of observational studies
Authors: Li Liqing , Zhang Qi , Zhu Liyong , Zeng Guohua , Huang Hongwei , Zhuge Jian , Kuang Xiaorui , Yang Sule , Yang Di , Chen Zhensheng , Gan Yong , Lu Zuxun , Wu Chunmei
Published: December 2022

Background

The relationship between daytime napping and depression remains debatable. Thus, a meta-analysis in this study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between daytime napping and depression.

Methods

The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched up to February 2022, and the reference lists of the included studies were also retrieved. A random-effects model was used to estimate the combined effect size.

Results

Nine studies with 649,111 participants were included in the final analysis. The pooled odds ratio (OR) was 1.15 (95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.31) with a significant heterogeneity (I2 = 91.3%, P for heterogeneity <0.001), and the results demonstrated an increased risk of depressive symptoms among daytime nappers. Visual inspection of the funnel plot and Egger's and Begg's tests identified no obvious evidence of publication bias.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis indicates that daytime naps are a predictor of depression. The effects of daytime napping on depression may vary depending on the characteristics of people, the pattern of naps, and the individual's sleep experience. The findings may have significant implications for future research on depression.
Wearing face masks impairs dyadic micro-activities in nonverbal social encounter: A mixed-methods first-person study on the sense of I and Thou
Authors: Wagemann Johannes , Tewes Christian , Raggatz Jonas
Published: December 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has manifold negative consequences for people around the world, of which the psychosocial ones have been rather underrepresented in the public eye. Regarding social distancing measures, there is already some experimental work demonstrating that the use of face masks has detrimental effects on various aspects of social cognition such as emotion reading, face identification, and perceived closeness of persons. However, while these findings provide important clues, they do not shed light on what people experience when interacting in real life in a masked society. Therefore, in critical distance to cognitivist accounts and taking Direct Social Perception (DSP) approaches seriously, we developed a first-person experimental design and conducted a study with thirty-four participants in a dyadic setting with two conditions (without vs. with face mask). Data were analyzed with mixed methods including in-depth qualitative coding at three levels, code relations analyses, and various statistical tests. Results yielded significant differences across conditions at all qualitative levels, comprising, for example, expressive behavior, and, in particular, significant decreases of content-independent, complimentary mental micro-activities. In the context of DSP, we argue in the paper that these activities suggest the constitution of a quasi-sensory modality – conceived as I-Thou sense – that oscillates between strongly and weakly embodied mental activities, as the analyses show. In sum, this study suggests that mask-wearing impairs both functional directions of mental activity in relation to more or less embodied experience and thus intervenes deeply in fundamental processes of social perception and interaction.
Adverse childhood experiences are associated with increased overdose risk in predominately Latinx adults seeking treatment for substance use disorders
Authors: Tschampl Cynthia A. , Canuto Melisa , De Jesús Diliana , D'Ippolito Melinda , Guzman Micaurys , Larson Mary Jo , Stewart Emily , Lundgren Lena
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Almost no previous studies explored the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and overdose risk for individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs), and these did not focus on a Latinx population. This study examined the relationship between ACEs, reporting PTSD symptoms, and lifetime experience of overdose in a sample (n = 149) of primarily Latinx adults seeking treatment for substance use disorder (SUD).

Materials and methods

Administrative data from an integrated behavioral health and primary care treatment system in Massachusetts were analyzed through bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regression. The final model examined the association between self-reported ACEs, PTSD screen, and lifetime drug overdose. We controlled for demographic characteristics and heroin use and explored alternative measure specifications.

Results

ACEs scores were high with 58% having experienced 4+ ACEs. Female gender was associated with a 24% higher ACE score than male gender (p < 0.01). In the multiple logistic model each additional ACE was associated with 1.3 times greater odds of overdose (p < 0.01). Those reporting heroin use had 8.8 times greater odds of reporting overdose compared to those reporting no heroin use (p < 0.001). Gender, age, Puerto Rican ethnicity, years of cocaine use, receiving public assistance income, and a positive initial PTSD screen were not significant. Findings were robust in sensitivity testing.

Discussion and conclusion

We found the number of ACEs and reported heroin use significantly and positively associated with self-report of overdose in both bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses. In contrast, a positive initial screen for PTSD was only significantly associated with overdose in the bivariate analysis. Increased screening for ACEs is warranted and ACE-specific treatment is suggested for SUD treatment programs offering trauma-informed services for adults.
Epidemiological trend in scarlet fever incidence in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: A time series analysis
Authors: Ma Yunxia , Gao Shanshan , Kang Zheng , Shan Linghan , Jiao Mingli , Li Ye , Liang Libo , Hao Yanhua , Zhao Binyu , Ning Ning , Gao Lijun , Cui Yu , Sun Hong , Wu Qunhong , Liu Huan
Published: December 2022

Objective

Over the past decade, scarlet fever has caused a relatively high economic burden in various regions of China. Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are necessary because of the absence of vaccines and specific drugs. This study aimed to characterize the demographics of patients with scarlet fever, describe its spatiotemporal distribution, and explore the impact of NPIs on the disease in the era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China.

Methods

Using monthly scarlet fever data from January 2011 to December 2019, seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA), advanced innovation state-space modeling framework that combines Box-Cox transformations, Fourier series with time-varying coefficients, and autoregressive moving average error correction method (TBATS) models were developed to select the best model for comparing between the expected and actual incidence of scarlet fever in 2020. Interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) was used to explore whether NPIs have an effect on scarlet fever incidence, while the intervention effects of specific NPIs were explored using correlation analysis and ridge regression methods.

Results

From 2011 to 2017, the total number of scarlet fever cases was 400,691, with children aged 0–9 years being the main group affected. There were two annual incidence peaks (May to June and November to December). According to the best prediction model TBATS (0.002, {0, 0}, 0.801, {<12, 5>}), the number of scarlet fever cases was 72,148 and dual seasonality was no longer prominent. ITSA showed a significant effect of NPIs of a reduction in the number of scarlet fever episodes (β2 = −61526, P < 0.005), and the effect of canceling public events (c3) was the most significant (P = 0.0447).

Conclusions

The incidence of scarlet fever during COVID-19 was lower than expected, and the total incidence decreased by 80.74% in 2020. The results of this study indicate that strict NPIs may be of potential benefit in preventing scarlet fever occurrence, especially that related to public event cancellation. However, it is still important that vaccines and drugs are available in the future.
Consequences of COVID-19 on adolescents in Arizona: A longitudinal study protocol
Authors: Leybas Nuño Velia , Mantina Namoonga M. , Dawodu Oriyomi , Dykinga Maureen , Carr Dametreea L. , Pogreba-Brown Kristen , Cordova-Marks Felina , Jehn Megan , Peace-Tuskey Kimberly , Barraza Leila , Garcia-Filion Pamela
Published: December 2022

Introduction

The long-term impact of COVID-19 is unknown. We developed a 5-year prospective cohort study designed to generate actionable community-informed research about the consequences of COVID-19 on adolescents ages 12–17 years in Arizona.

Methods

The study has two primary outcomes: 1) acute and long-term outcomes of COVID-19 illness and 2) symptoms of depression and anxiety. Data is collected using an online survey with plans to integrate qualitative data collection methods. The survey is administered at baseline, 4, and 8 months in year one, and annually in years two through five. This study is informed by Intersectionality Theory, which considers the diverse identities adolescents have that are self and socially defined and the influence they have collectively and simultaneously. To this end, a sample of variables collected is race/ethnicity, language usage, generational status, co-occurring health conditions, and gender. Additional measures capture experiences in social contexts such as home (parent employment, food, and housing security), school (remote learning, type of school), and society (racism).

Results

Findings are not presented because the manuscript is a protocol designed to describe the procedure instead of report results.

Discussion

The unique contributions of the study is its focus on COVID-19 the illness and COVID-19 the socially experienced pandemic and the impact of both on adolescents.
Myopia and axial length in school-aged children before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdown–A population-based study
Authors: Pan Wei , Lin Jiang , Zheng Li , Lan Weizhong , Ying Guishuang , Yang Zhikuan , Li Xiaoning
Published: December 2022

Background

Myopic shift had been observed during the COVID-19 lockdown in young school children. It remains unknown whether myopic shift is accompanied with increase in axial length. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on myopia and axial length of school children in China by comparing them before, during and after the lockdown.

Methods

In this population-based cross-sectional study, school-based myopia screenings were conducted in the Fall of 2019, 2020, and 2021 (representing before, during and after COVID-19 lockdown respectively) in Chengdu, China. Myopia screenings were performed on 83,132 students aged 6 to 12 years. Non-cycloplegic refractive error was examined using NIDEK auto-refractor (ARK-510A; NIDEK Corp., Tokyo, Japan) and axial length was measured using AL-Scan (NIDEK Corp., Tokyo, Japan). Spherical equivalent (SER, calculated as sphere+ 0.5*cylinder), prevalence of myopia (SER ≤ -0.50 D), and axial length were compared across 3 years stratified by age.

Results

Myopia prevalence rate was 45.0% (95% CI: 44.6–45.5%) in 2019, 48.7% (95% CI: 48.3–49.1%) in 2020, and 47.5% (95% CI: 47.1–47.9%) in 2021 (p < 0.001). The mean non-cycloplegic SER (SD) was −0.70 (1.39) D, −0.78 (1.44) D, and −0.78 (1.47) D respectively (p < 0.001). The mean (SD) axial length was 23.41 (1.01) mm, 23.45 (1.03) mm, and 23.46 (1.03) mm across 3 years respectively (p < 0.001). From the multivariable models, the risk ratio (RR) of myopia was 1.07 (95% CI: 1.06–1.08) times, the SER was 0.05 D (95% CI: 0.04 D to 0.06 D) more myopic and the mean axial length increased by 0.01 mm (95% CI: 0.01 mm to 0.02 mm) in 2020 compared to 2019. In 2021, the risk ratio (RR) of myopia was 1.05 (95% CI: 1.04–1.06), the mean SER was 0.06 D (95% CI: 0.05 D to 0.07 D) more myopic, and the mean axial length increased by 0.03 mm (95% CI: 0.02 mm to 0.04 mm) compared to 2019.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 lockdown had significant impact on myopia development and axial length, and these impacts remained 1 year after the lockdown. Further longitudinal studies following-up with these students are needed to help understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 lockdown on myopia.
Situation-aware adaptation of choreographies—The DiStOPT approach
Authors: Hirmer Pascal , Breitenbücher Uwe , Del Gaudio Daniel , Képes Kálmán , Leymann Frank , Mitschang Bernhard , Mormul Mathias , Przytarski Dennis
Published: December 2022

The rise of the IoT and Industry 4.0 has increased the complexity of collaborating business processes, i. e., choreographies, as more partners and assets are involved. However, maintaining and executing business choreographies are complex tasks. Moreover, enabling robust and reliable execution is important, as failures or delays cause high costs among partners. For example, manufacturing companies usually depend on different suppliers, and it is crucial to be up-to-date about possible delays in shipments as this leads to delays in the manufacturing of their products. In this case, a choreography needs to be designed and operated in a way that it can adapt to cope with such problems. This requires i) timely recognition and tamper-resistent logging of problems that occur at each involved partner, which are referred to as situations in the scope of this article, and ii) an approach for a timely adaptation of choreographies based on occurring situations. Therefore, in this article, we introduce DiStOPT, an approach to i) model and recognize situations in a distributed and timely manner, and ii) model and execute situation-aware choreographies based on the recognized situations. The contributions are evaluated in a manufacturing scenario and validated by a prototypical implementation.
Effect of adiposity and physical fitness on cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents: A 2-year longitudinal study
Authors: Dring Karah J. , Cooper Simon B. , Williams Ryan A. , Morris John G. , Sunderland Caroline , Foulds Gemma A. , Pockley A. Graham , Nevill Mary E.
Published: December 2022

Although risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases begin to present in young people, the association between physical fitness and adiposity with traditional and novel risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases across adolescence remains relatively unknown. Following ethical approval, fifty-two adolescents (age 11.6 ± 0.6 years; 32 girls) were recruited for a 2-years longitudinal study. Adiposity was assessed based on sum of skinfolds, waist circumference and body mass index, and physical fitness as distance run on the multi-stage fitness test (MSFT). Risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases (pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, plasma insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance - HOMA-IR, blood pressure) were measured following an overnight fast. Relationships between independent and response variables were analysed using multi-level modelling (final combined models were created using the stepwise backward elimination method). Plasma insulin concentration and HOMA-IR were positively associated with adiposity and inversely associated with distance run on the MSFT (all p < 0.05). The final combined models for plasma insulin concentration and HOMA-IR contained main effects for age, skinfolds and distance run on the MSFT. Levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were inversely related to the sum of skinfolds (p = 0.046), whereas there was a trend for levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α to be positively related to the sum of skinfolds (p = 0.056). Adiposity and physical fitness are important, independent, determinants of metabolic health in adolescents. Furthermore, adiposity influences levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in adolescence, with greater adiposity associated with a poorer inflammatory profile. The present study demonstrates an independent effect of physical fitness on metabolic health longitudinally across adolescence. It is therefore recommended that future work develops therapeutic interventions that reduce adiposity and enhance physical fitness in adolescents, to promote lifelong health.
Feasibility analysis and study of an intrahepatic portal vein infection hepatic alveolar echinococcosis C57 mouse model
Authors: Tian Weili , Ji Wenchao , Li Jun , Liu Wenya , Wen Zhi , Wu Juan
Published: December 2022

Objective

The aim of the study was to establish and study an intrahepatic portal vein infection hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) C57 mouse model and provide a theoretical basis for clinical research on HAE.

Methods

C57 mice were used to establish the HAE mouse model. The location, size, morphology, appearance, and pathological changes in liver lesions in different groups of mice were characterized using ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and haematoxylin and eosin staining.

Results

The mortality rate of the C57 mice was 20%, and the success rate of infection was 75%. The abdominal ultrasound images and MRIs clearly indicated the location, size, shape, and appearance of the liver lesions and the relationship between the lesions and the adjacent organs. The size, morphology, and signal of the livers in the control group were normal. The pathological results of the experimental group indicated a hepatic vesicular acinar cyst, while those of the control group exhibited normal livers.

Conclusion

The intrahepatic portal vein infection HAE mouse model was successfully established.
The Effect of Participative Leadership Style on Employees’ Performance: The Contingent Role of Institutional Theory
Authors: Khassawneh Osama , Elrehail Hamzah
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to examine the moderating role of institutional theory in the association between participative leadership style and various outcomes, such as employee loyalty and job performance in organizations. A cross-sectional research design was employed, where data were gathered from 347 participants from all managerial levels in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The findings demonstrated how the level of complexity of the institutional theory reduces the positive relationship between participative leadership style and employee loyalty, negatively affecting job performance. The current study contributes to the existing leadership literature by showing that participatory leaders do not behave similarly across various degrees of institutional theory complexity. The findings suggest that the higher the complexity of institutionalism, the wider the gap between leaders and subordinates, so implementing the participative style may become problematic in some circumstances.
Emergent Strategy in Higher Education: Postmodern Digital and the Future?
Authors: Hashim Mohamed Ashmel Mohamed , Tlemsani Issam , Matthews Robin , Mason-Jones Rachel , Ndrecaj Vera
Published: December 2022

Mintzberg’s version of emergent strategy is based on the idea that strategies are contingent on circumstances that change from time to time often very rapidly and therefore papers focused on strategy and detailed planning are limited in their practical application. The word strategy as far as Mintzberg is concerned is anathema, therefore, introducing a concept that has a misconception embedded in it. This paper claims that education for sustainable development and higher education institutions’ survival depends on adopting postmodern thinking, in other words, digital transformation. This conceptual paper proposes a blueprint of a process for developing a series of agile potentially short-term conceptual solutions thereby embracing the expectation that the rate of change in societies is accelerating. This paper scrutinizes (a) the applicability of emergent strategy/strategic approach to higher education institutions, (b) how postmodernism influences higher education institutions to become digital hubs of commoditization of knowledge and (c) how the integrated capabilities of digital transformation build sustainability in education delivery. Structural Equation Methodology is proposed to examine the impact of postmodernism on the sustainable delivery of education in higher education institutions, and the need to foster relevant emergent strategies is also justified. The paper also develops new research propositions and managerial implications for driving optimistic digital education. Ultimately, it offers a framework for spear-leading effective and leading post-modernistic digital transformation. Emerging education technology, sustainable digital transformation and advanced use of robotic-human cognitive collaboration are experiencing a significant transformation. Universities play a vital role in enhancing engagement within higher education. One of the managerial implications of the results and discussion is the need for higher education institutions to provide taught leadership and planning in emergent strategy formulation and implementation. The findings confirm the significant importance of linking the Structural Equation Method and the postmodern strategic context in which we argue that higher education institutions require emerging rethinking.