bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geochemistry and geochronology of basic igneous rocks in Bairin Right banner, southeastern inner Mongolia, China: Implications for the final closure of the Paleo—Asian Ocean along the Xar Moron suture zone
Authors: Yang Wenpeng , Li Chenglu , Alam Masroor , Fu Anzong , Zheng Bo , Yang Yuanjiang , Hu Xiaofang
Published: February 2023

This paper reports the first discovery of basic igneous rocks in Bairin Right Banner in southeastern Inner Mongolia, China. To understand the genesis and tectonic evolution of these rocks, we have carried out geochronology and geochemistry research on them. The results show that LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb concordant mean ages of massive basalt, diabase, and pillow basalt are 272.0 ± 2.8 Ma, 261.5 ± 3.2 Ma, and 256.5 ± 2.5 Ma, respectively, suggesting their formation during the Late Permian. The massive basalt, diabase, and pillow basalt are tholeiitic with low Mg# values in the ranges of 46.2–66.8, 54.4–71.0, and 53.5–58.2, respectively. They have similar chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns. The intensity of REE differentiation is similar to that of typical enriched mid-ocean ridge basalts (E-MORB). The pillow basalts are relatively enriched in Ba and U, while slightly depleted in Rb and Th, and show geochemical affinity to E-MORB. The massive basalts and diabases have the same primitive mantle-normalized patterns and are relatively enriched in Rb, Ba, and U, while depleted in Nb and Ta, similar to the typical island arc magmas. Our new findings indicate that the intra-oceanic subduction of the Paleo-Asian Oceanic slab was still ongoing during the late Permian in the Bairin Right Banner area and, combined with previous studies, it might have been closed during the Late Permian to Early Triassic along the Xar Moron suture zone.
Exploring how space, time, and sampling impact our ability to measure genetic structure across Plasmodium falciparum populations
Authors: Arambepola Rohan , Bérubé Sophie , Freedman Betsy , Taylor Steve M. , Prudhomme O’Meara Wendy , Obala Andrew A. , Wesolowski Amy
Published: February 2023

A primary use of malaria parasite genomics is identifying highly related infections to quantify epidemiological, spatial, or temporal factors associated with patterns of transmission. For example, spatial clustering of highly related parasites can indicate foci of transmission and temporal differences in relatedness can serve as evidence for changes in transmission over time. However, for infections in settings of moderate to high endemicity, understanding patterns of relatedness is compromised by complex infections, overall high forces of infection, and a highly diverse parasite population. It is not clear how much these factors limit the utility of using genomic data to better understand transmission in these settings. In particular, further investigation is required to determine which patterns of relatedness we expect to see with high quality, densely sampled genomic data in a high transmission setting and how these observations change under different study designs, missingness, and biases in sample collection. Here we investigate two identity-by-state measures of relatedness and apply them to amplicon deep sequencing data collected as part of a longitudinal cohort in Western Kenya that has previously been analysed to identify individual-factors associated with sharing parasites with infected mosquitoes. With these data we use permutation tests, to evaluate several hypotheses about spatiotemporal patterns of relatedness compared to a null distribution. We observe evidence of temporal structure, but not of fine-scale spatial structure in the cohort data. To explore factors associated with the lack of spatial structure in these data, we construct a series of simplified simulation scenarios using an agent based model calibrated to entomological, epidemiological and genomic data from this cohort study to investigate whether the lack of spatial structure observed in the cohort could be due to inherent power limitations of this analytical method. We further investigate how our hypothesis testing behaves under different sampling schemes, levels of completely random and systematic missingness, and different transmission intensities.
Sequencing technology as a major impetus in the advancement of studies into rheumatism: A bibliometric study
Authors: Huang Runzhi , Tang Jieling , Wang Siqiao , Liu Yifan , Zhang Mengyi , Jin Minghao , Qin Hengwei , Qian Weijin , Lu Yuwei , Yang Yiting , Lu Bingnan , Yao Yuntao , Yan Penghui , Huang Jie , Zhang Wei , Lu Jianyu , Gu Minyi , Zhu Yushu , Guo Xinya , Xian Shuyuan , Liu Xin , Huang Zongqiang
Published: February 2023

Background

Rheumatism covers a wide range of diseases with complex clinical manifestations and places a tremendous burden on humans. For many years, our understanding of rheumatism was seriously hindered by technology constraints. However, the increasing application and rapid advancement of sequencing technology in the past decades have enabled us to study rheumatism with greater accuracy and in more depth. Sequencing technology has made huge contributions to the field and is now an indispensable component and powerful tool in the study of rheumatism.

Methods

Articles on sequencing and rheumatism, published from 1 January 2000 to 25 April 2022, were retrieved from the Web of Science™ (Clarivate™, Philadelphia, PA, USA) database. Bibliometrix, the open-source tool, was used for the analysis of publication years, countries, authors, sources, citations, keywords, and co-words.

Results

The 1,374 articles retrieved came from 62 countries and 350 institutions, with a general increase in article numbers during the last 22 years. The leading countries in terms of publication numbers and active cooperation with other countries were the USA and China. The most prolific authors and most popular documents were identified to establish the historiography of the field. Popular and emerging research topics were assessed by keywords and co-occurrence analysis. Immunological and pathological process in rheumatism, classification, risks and susceptibility, and biomarkers for diagnosis were among the hottest themes for research.

Conclusions

Sequencing technology has been widely applied in the study of rheumatism and propells research in the area of discovering novel biomarkers, related gene patterns and physiopathology. We suggest that further efforts be made to advance the study of genetic patterns related to rheumatic susceptibility, pathogenesis, classification and disease activity, and novel biomarkers.
Using LAMMPS to shed light on Haven’s ratio: Calculation of Haven’s ratio in alkali silicate glasses using molecular dynamics
Authors: Salrin Tyler C. , Johnson Logan , White Seth , Kilpatrick Gregory , Weber Ethan , Bragatto Caio
Published: February 2023

Haven and Verkerk studied the diffusion of ions in ionic conductive glasses with and without an external electric field to better understand the mechanisms behind ionic conductivity. In their work, they introduced the concept now known as Haven’s ratio (HR), which is defined as the ratio of the tracer diffusion coefficient (Dself) of ions to the diffusion coefficient from steady-state ionic conductivity (Dσ), calculated by the Nernst–Einstein equation. Dσ can be challenging to obtain experimentally because the number of charge carriers has to be implied, a subject still under discussion in the literature. Molecular dynamics (MD) allows for direct measurement of the mean squared displacement (r2) of diffusing cations, which can be used to calculate D, avoiding the definition of a charge carrier. Using MD, the authors have calculated the r2 of three alkali ions (Li, Na, and K) at different temperatures and concentrations in silicate glass, with and without the influence of an electric field. Results found for HR generally fell close to 0.6 at lower concentrations (x = 0.1) and close to 0.3 at higher concentrations (x = 0.2 and 0.3), comparable to the literature, implying that the electric field introduces new mechanisms for the diffusion of ions and that MD can be a powerful tool to study ionic diffusion in glasses under external electric fields.
Adiponectin/leptin ratio as a predictor of acute rejection in early post-transplant period in patients after kidney transplantation
Authors: Graňák Karol , Vnučák Matej , Beliančinová Monika , Kleinová Patrícia , Pytliaková Margaréta , Mokáň Marián , Dedinská Ivana
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Adipokines are largely involved in the regulation of immune system activity. While leptin is the main pro-inflammatory marker of adipose tissue, adiponectin is characterized by anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of our study was to determine the risk of acute graft rejection in protocol biopsy depending on the adiponectin/leptin (A/L) ratio in patients after kidney transplantation (KT).

Materials and methods

A total of 104 patients were included in the prospective analysis, in whom the levels of adipokines were examined pre-transplant, in the 3rd month after KT and the A/L ratio was calculated. In the 3rd month after KT, all patients underwent protocol biopsy of the graft and examination of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) using the Luminex method.

Results

After adjusting for differences in the basic characteristics of the donor and recipient, we identified a subgroup with A/L ratio < 0.5 pre-transplant [HR 1.6126, (P = 0.0133)] and 3 months after KT [HR 1.3150, (P = 0.0172)] as independent risk factor for acute graft rejection. In the subsequent specification of the rejection episode, we identified the risk ratio A/L < 0.5 before KT [HR 2.2353, (P = 0.0357)] and 3 months after KT [HR 3.0954, (P = 0.0237)] as independent risk factor for the development of acute humoral rejection with DSA positivity.

Conclusion

This is the first study to investigate the relationship between A/L ratio and immunological risk in terms of the development of rejection changes in patients after KT. In our study, we found that A/L ratio < 0.5 is an independent risk factor for the development of acute humoral rejection and de novo DSA production in the third month after KT.
Exploring taxonomic and functional microbiome of Hawaiian stream and spring irrigation water systems using Illumina and Oxford Nanopore sequencing platforms
Authors: Klair Diksha , Dobhal Shefali , Ahmad Amjad , Hassan Zohaib Ul , Uyeda Jensen , Silva Joshua , Wang Koon-Hui , Kim Seil , Alvarez Anne M. , Arif Mohammad
Published: February 2023

Irrigation water is a common source of contamination that carries plant and foodborne human pathogens and provides a niche for proliferation and survival of microbes in agricultural settings. Bacterial communities and their functions in irrigation water were investigated by analyzing samples from wetland taro farms on Oahu, Hawaii using different DNA sequencing platforms. Irrigation water samples (stream, spring, and storage tank water) were collected from North, East, and West sides of Oahu and subjected to high quality DNA isolation, library preparation and sequencing of the V3–V4 region, full length 16S rRNA, and shotgun metagenome sequencing using Illumina iSeq100, Oxford Nanopore MinION and Illumina NovaSeq, respectively. Illumina reads provided the most comprehensive taxonomic classification at the phylum level where Proteobacteria was identified as the most abundant phylum in the stream source and associated water samples from wetland taro fields. Cyanobacteria was also a dominant phylum in samples from tank and spring water, whereas Bacteroidetes were most abundant in wetland taro fields irrigated with spring water. However, over 50% of the valid short amplicon reads remained unclassified and inconclusive at the species level. In contrast, Oxford Nanopore MinION was a better choice for microbe classification at the genus and species levels as indicated by samples sequenced for full length 16S rRNA. No reliable taxonomic classification results were obtained while using shotgun metagenome data. In functional analyzes, only 12% of the genes were shared by two consortia and 95 antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) were detected with variable relative abundance. Full descriptions of microbial communities and their functions are essential for the development of better water management strategies aimed to produce safer fresh produce and to protect plant, animal, human and environmental health. Quantitative comparisons illustrated the importance of selecting the appropriate analytical method depending on the level of taxonomic delineation sought in each microbiome.
First characterization of cultivable extremophile Chroococcidiopsis isolates from a solar panel
Authors: Baldanta Sara , Arnal Raquel , Blanco-Rivero Amaya , Guevara Govinda , Navarro Llorens Juana María
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Microorganisms colonize a wide range of natural and artificial environments. Even though most of them are unculturable in laboratory conditions, some ecosystems are ideal niches for bioprospecting extremophiles with unique properties. Up today, there are few reports concerning microbial communities found on solar panels, a widespread, artificial, extreme habitat. Microorganisms found in this habitat belong to drought-, heat- and radiation-adapted genera, including fungi, bacteria, and cyanobacteria.

Methods

Here we isolated and identified several cyanobacteria from a solar panel. Then, some strains isolated were characterizated for their resistance to desiccation, UV-C exposition, and their growth on a range of temperature, pH, NaCl concentration or diverse carbon and nitrogen sources. Finally, gene transfer to these isolates was evaluated using several SEVA plasmids with different replicons to assess their potential in biotechnological applications.

Results and discussion

This study presents the first identification and characterization of cultivable extremophile cyanobacteria from a solar panel in Valencia, Spain. The isolates are members of the genera Chroococcidiopsis, Leptolyngbya, Myxacorys, and Oculatella all genera with species commonly isolated from deserts and arid regions. Four of the isolates were selected, all of them Chroococcidiopsis, and characterized. Our results showed that all Chroococcidiopsis isolates chosen were resistant up to a year of desiccation, viable after exposition to high doses of UV-C, and capable of being transformed. Our findings revealed that a solar panel is a useful ecological niche in searching for extremophilic cyanobacteria to further study the desiccation and UV-tolerance mechanisms. We conclude that these cyanobacteria can be modified and exploited as candidates for biotechnological purposes, including astrobiology applications.
Remote scoring models of rigidity and postural stability of Parkinson’s disease based on indirect motions and a low-cost RGB algorithm
Authors: Ma Ling-Yan , Shi Wei-Kun , Chen Cheng , Wang Zhan , Wang Xue-Mei , Jin Jia-Ning , Chen Lu , Ren Kang , Chen Zhong-Lue , Ling Yun , Feng Tao
Published: February 2023

Background and objectives

The Movement Disorder Society’s Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Part III (MDS-UPDRS III) is mostly common used for assessing the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). In remote circumstances, vision-based techniques have many strengths over wearable sensors. However, rigidity (item 3.3) and postural stability (item 3.12) in the MDS-UPDRS III cannot be assessed remotely since participants need to be touched by a trained examiner during testing. We developed the four scoring models of rigidity of the neck, rigidity of the lower extremities, rigidity of the upper extremities, and postural stability based on features extracted from other available and touchless motions.

Methods

The red, green, and blue (RGB) computer vision algorithm and machine learning were combined with other available motions from the MDS-UPDRS III evaluation. A total of 104 patients with PD were split into a train set (89 individuals) and a test set (15 individuals). The light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) multiclassification model was trained. Weighted kappa (k), absolute accuracy (ACC ± 0), and Spearman’s correlation coefficient (rho) were used to evaluate the performance of model.

Results

For model of rigidity of the upper extremities, k = 0.58 (moderate), ACC ± 0 = 0.73, and rho = 0.64 (moderate). For model of rigidity of the lower extremities, k = 0.66 (substantial), ACC ± 0 = 0.70, and rho = 0.76 (strong). For model of rigidity of the neck, k = 0.60 (moderate), ACC ± 0 = 0.73, and rho = 0.60 (moderate). For model of postural stability, k = 0.66 (substantial), ACC ± 0 = 0.73, and rho = 0.68 (moderate).

Conclusion

Our study can be meaningful for remote assessments, especially when people have to maintain social distance, e.g., in situations such as the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Surgical resection of intracranial cavernous hemangioma located at uncommon location: Clinical presentation and management
Authors: Li Jiuhong , Zhang Guisheng , Ma Qiang , Li Xiang , He Jiaojiang
Published: February 2023

Background

Intracranial cavernous hemangiomas (CHs) usually originate from the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres, while the clinical features and optimum treatment of CHs that originate from atypical locations remain unclear.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of CHs that originated from the sellar, suprasellar, or parasellar region, the ventricular system, the cerebral falx, or the meninges in patients who underwent surgery from 2009 to 2019 in our department.

Results

In our study, fourteen patients with pathologically confirmed CHs in uncommon locations (UCHs) were enrolled; 5 were located at the sellar or parasellar region, 3 at the suprasellar region, 3 at the ventricular system, 2 at the cerebral falx, and 1 originated from parietal meninges. The most common symptoms were headache and dizziness (10/14); however, none presented with seizures. All UCHs located in the ventricular systems and 2 of the 3 UCHs located in the suprasellar region manifested as hemorrhagic lesions and shared similar radiological features compared with axial CHs; other locations of UCHs did not have a “popcorn” appearance on T2-weighted image. Nine patients achieved GTR, 2 achieved STR, and 3 achieved PR. Four out of five patients who received incomplete resection underwent adjuvant gamma-knife radiosurgery. During the average follow-up of 71.1 ± 43.3 months, no patient died and one patient encountered recurrence and de novo formation of midbrain CH. Most patients had an excellent KPS score of 90–100 (9 of 14) or a good KPS score of 80 (1 of 14).

Conclusion

We suggest that surgery is the optimum therapeutic method for UCHs located at the ventricular system, dura mater, and cerebral falx. Stereotactic radiosurgery plays an important role in the treatment of UCHs located at the sellar or parasellar region and remnant UCHs. Favorable outcomes and lesion control could be achieved by surgery.
Functional networks in prolonged disorders of consciousness
Authors: Li Hui , Zhang Xiaonian , Sun Xinting , Dong Linghui , Lu Haitao , Yue Shouwei , Zhang Hao
Published: February 2023

Prolonged disorders of consciousness (DoC) are characterized by extended disruptions of brain activities that sustain wakefulness and awareness and are caused by various etiologies. During the past decades, neuroimaging has been a practical method of investigation in basic and clinical research to identify how brain properties interact in different levels of consciousness. Resting-state functional connectivity within and between canonical cortical networks correlates with consciousness by a calculation of the associated temporal blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal process during functional MRI (fMRI) and reveals the brain function of patients with prolonged DoC. There are certain brain networks including the default mode, dorsal attention, executive control, salience, auditory, visual, and sensorimotor networks that have been reported to be altered in low-level states of consciousness under either pathological or physiological states. Analysis of brain network connections based on functional imaging contributes to more accurate judgments of consciousness level and prognosis at the brain level. In this review, neurobehavioral evaluation of prolonged DoC and the functional connectivity within brain networks based on resting-state fMRI were reviewed to provide reference values for clinical diagnosis and prognostic evaluation.
Acute deletion of the central MR/GR steroid receptor correlates with changes in LTP, auditory neural gain, and GC-A cGMP signaling
Authors: Calis Dila , Hess Morgan , Marchetta Philine , Singer Wibke , Modro Julian , Nelissen Ellis , Prickaerts Jos , Sandner Peter , Lukowski Robert , Ruth Peter , Knipper Marlies , Rüttiger Lukas
Published: February 2023

The complex mechanism by which stress can affect sensory processes such as hearing is still poorly understood. In a previous study, the mineralocorticoid (MR) and/or glucocorticoid receptor (GR) were deleted in frontal brain regions but not cochlear regions using a CaMKIIα-based tamoxifen-inducible CreERT2/loxP approach. These mice exhibit either a diminished (MRTMXcKO) or disinhibited (GRTMXcKO) auditory nerve activity. In the present study, we observed that mice differentially were (MRTMXcKO) or were not (GRTMXcKO) able to compensate for altered auditory nerve activity in the central auditory pathway. As previous findings demonstrated a link between central auditory compensation and memory-dependent adaptation processes, we analyzed hippocampal paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) and long-term potentiation (LTP). To determine which molecular mechanisms may impact differences in synaptic plasticity, we analyzed Arc/Arg3.1, known to control AMPA receptor trafficking, as well as regulators of tissue perfusion and energy consumption (NO-GC and GC-A). We observed that the changes in PPF of MRTMXcKOs mirrored the changes in their auditory nerve activity, whereas changes in the LTP of MRTMXcKOs and GRTMXcKOs mirrored instead the changes in their central compensation capacity. Enhanced GR expression levels in MRTMXcKOs suggest that MRs typically suppress GR expression. We observed that hippocampal LTP, GC-A mRNA expression levels, and ABR wave IV/I ratio were all enhanced in animals with elevated GR (MRTMXcKOs) but were all lower or not mobilized in animals with impaired GR expression levels (GRTMXcKOs and MRGRTMXcKOs). This suggests that GC-A may link LTP and auditory neural gain through GR-dependent processes. In addition, enhanced NO-GC expression levels in MR, GR, and MRGRTMXcKOs suggest that both receptors suppress NO-GC; on the other hand, elevated Arc/Arg3.1 levels in MRTMXcKOs and MRGRTMXcKOs but not GRTMXcKOs suggest that MR suppresses Arc/Arg3.1 expression levels. Conclusively, MR through GR inhibition may define the threshold for hemodynamic responses for LTP and auditory neural gain associated with GC-A.
Glycemic index and insulin index after a standard carbohydrate meal consumed with live kombucha: A randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover trial
Authors: Atkinson Fiona S. , Cohen Marc , Lau Karen , Brand-Miller Jennie C.
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Kombucha is a complex probiotic beverage made from fermented tea, yet despite extensive historical, anecdotal, and in-vivo evidence for its health benefits, no controlled trials have been published on its effect on humans.

Methods

We conducted a randomised placebo-controlled, cross-over study that examined the Glycemic Index (GI) and Insulin Index (II) responses after a standardised high-GI meal consumed with three different test beverages (soda water, diet lemonade soft drink and an unpasteurised kombucha) in 11 healthy adults. The study was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (anzctr.org.au: 12620000460909). Soda water was used as the control beverage. GI or II values were calculated by expressing the 2-h blood glucose or insulin response as a percentage of the response produced by 50 g of glucose dissolved in water.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference in GI or II between the standard meal consumed with soda water (GI: 86 and II: 85) or diet soft drink (GI: 84 and II: 81, (p = 0.929 for GI and p = 0.374 for II). In contrast, when kombucha was consumed there was a clinically significant reduction in GI and II (GI: 68, p = 0.041 and II: 70, p = 0.041) compared to the meal consumed with soda water.

Discussion

These results suggest live kombucha can produce reductions in acute postprandial hyperglycemia. Further studies examining the mechanisms and potential therapeutic benefits of kombucha are warranted.
Chemo-free maintenance therapy in adult T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A case report and literature review
Authors: Song Yuanbin , Chen Shuzhao , Liu Chenfei , Chen Lezong , Wang Weida , Wu Bingyi , Liang Yang
Published: February 2023

Maintenance therapy in adult T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is the longest phase but with limited option. The classic drugs used in the maintenance phase such as 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate, corticosteroid and vincristine have potentially serious toxicities. Optimizing therapy in the modern age, chemo-free maintenance therapy regimens for patients with T-ALL may dramatically improve the maintenance therapeutic landscape. We report here the combination of Anti-programmed cell death protein 1 antibody and histone deacetylase inhibitor as chemo-free maintenance treatment in a T-ALL patient with literature review, thus providing a unique perspective in addition to valuable information which may inform novel therapeutic approaches.
Scaling laws of out-of-time-order correlators in a non-Hermitian kicked rotor model
Authors: Zhao Wen-Lei , Wang Ru-Ru
Published: February 2023

We investigate the dynamics of the out-of-time-order correlators (OTOCs) via a non-Hermitian extension of the quantum kicked rotor model, where the kicking potential satisfies PT-symmetry. The spontaneous PT-symmetry breaking emerges when the strength of the imaginary part of the kicking potential exceeds a threshold value. We find, both analytically and numerically, that in the broken phase of PT symmetry, the OTOCs rapidly saturate with time evolution. Interestingly, the late-time saturation value scales as a pow-law in the system size. The mechanism of such scaling law results from the interplay between the effects of the nonlocal operator in OTOCs and the time reversal induced by non-Hermitian-driven potential.
Effects of high night temperature on soybean yield and compositions
Authors: Yang Lin , Song Wenwen , Xu Cailong , Sapey Enoch , Jiang Dong , Wu Cunxiang
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Soybean is sensitive to light and temperature. Under the background of global asymmetric climate warming.

Methods

The increase of night temperature may have an important impact on soybean yield. In this study, three varieties with different level of protein were planted under 18°C and 28°C night temperatures for investigating the effects of high night temperatures on soybean yield formation and the dynamic changes of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) during the seed filling period (R5-R7).

Results and discussion

The results indicated that high night temperatures resulted in smaller seed size, lower seed weight, and a reduced number of effective pods and seeds per plant, and thus, a significant reduction in yield per plant. Analysis of the seed composition variations showed carbohydrates were more substantially affected by high night temperature than protein and oil. We observed “carbon hunger” caused by high night temperature increased photosynthesis and sucrose accumulation in the leaves during the early stage of high night temperature treatment. With elongated treated time, the excessive carbon consumption led to the decrease of sucrose accumulation in soybean seeds. Transcriptome analysis of leaves after 7 days of treatment showed that the expression of most sucrose synthase and sucrose phosphatase genes decreased significantly under the high night temperature. Which could be another important reason for the decrease of sucrose. These findings provided a theoretical basis for enhancing the tolerance of soybean to high night temperature.
Variations of freezing tolerance and sugar concentrations of grape buds in response to foliar application of abscisic acid
Authors: Dami Imed , Zhang Yi
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of ABA-induced freezing tolerance increase in grapevines. The specific objectives were to evaluate the impact of ABA treatment on soluble sugar concentration in grape buds and determine the correlations between freezing tolerance and ABA-affected soluble sugar concentration. Vitis spp ‘Chambourcin’ and Vitis vinifera ‘Cabernet franc’ were treated with 400 and 600 mg/L ABA in the greenhouse and field. The freezing tolerance and soluble sugar concentration of grape buds were measured monthly during the dormant season in the field and at 2wk, 4wk, and 6wk after ABA application in the greenhouse. It was observed that fructose, glucose, and sucrose are the main soluble sugars that correlate with freezing tolerance of grape buds and the synthesis of these sugars can be enhanced by ABA treatment. This study also found that ABA application can promote raffinose accumulation, however, this sugar may play a more important role in the early acclimation stage. The preliminary results suggest that raffinose accumulated first in buds, then its decrease in mid-winter corresponded with the increase of smaller sugars, such as sucrose, fructose, and glucose, which in turn, corresponded with reaching maximum freezing tolerance. It is concluded that ABA is a cultural practice tool that can be used to enhance freezing tolerance of grapevines.
Overexpression of soybean trypsin inhibitor genes decreases defoliation by corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) in soybean (Glycine max) and Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Sultana Mst Shamira , Mazarei Mitra , Jurat-Fuentes Juan Luis , Hewezi Tarek , Millwood Reginald J. , Stewart C. Neal
Published: February 2023

Trypsin inhibitors (TIs) are widely distributed in plants and are known to play a protective role against herbivores. TIs reduce the biological activity of trypsin, an enzyme involved in the breakdown of many different proteins, by inhibiting the activation and catalytic reactions of proteins. Soybean (Glycine max) contains two major TI classes: Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI) and Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI). Both genes encoding TI inactivate trypsin and chymotrypsin enzymes, which are the main digestive enzymes in the gut fluids of Lepidopteran larvae feeding on soybean. In this study, the possible role of soybean TIs in plant defense against insects and nematodes was investigated. A total of six TIs were tested, including three known soybean trypsin inhibitors (KTI1, KTI2 and KTI3) and three genes encoding novel inhibitors identified in soybean (KTI5, KTI7, and BBI5). Their functional role was further examined by overexpression of the individual TI genes in soybean and Arabidopsis. The endogenous expression patterns of these TI genes varied among soybean tissues, including leaf, stem, seed, and root.In vitroenzyme inhibitory assays showed significant increase in trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitory activities in both transgenic soybean and Arabidopsis. Detached leaf-punch feeding bioassays detected significant reduction in corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) larval weight when larvae fed on transgenic soybean and Arabidopsis lines, with the greatest reduction observed in KTI7 and BBI5 overexpressing lines. Whole soybean plant greenhouse feeding bioassays withH. zeaon KTI7 and BBI5 overexpressing lines resulted in significantly reduced leaf defoliation compared to non-transgenic plants. However, bioassays of KTI7 and BBI5 overexpressing lines with soybean cyst nematode (SCN,Heterodera glycines) showed no differences in SCN female index between transgenic and non-transgenic control plants. There were no significant differences in growth and productivity between transgenic and non-transgenic plants grown in the absence of herbivores to full maturity under greenhouse conditions. The present study provides further insight into the potential applications of TI genes for insect resistance improvement in plants.
Is the SES and academic achievement relationship mediated by cognitive ability? Evidence from PISA 2018 using data from 77 countries
Authors: Boman Björn
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Earlier research has suggested that that the international large-scale assessment, PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), may be looked upon as a form of school test that is mostly explained by participating students’ socioeconomic status, non-cognitive factors, and various school factors, whereas another strand of research focuses on the similarities between PISA and cognitive ability assessments such as IQ tests. The latter position does also highlight the strong relationships between PISA scores and IQ test scores, typically aggregated to the country level. The current article adds to this scholarly debate by examining the latest PISA survey from 2018.

Methods

Correlation, regression, moderator, and mediation analyses were run for aggregated country-level data (N = 77) from PISA 2018.

Results

The results indicate that PISA scores indeed are strongly associated with both cognitive ability test scores and socioeconomic status indicators such as average annual national income.

Discussion

A more nuanced position suggests that PISA should be labelled a test that measures cognitive school skills rather than a proxy of national IQ, as the link between country-level abilities and school age abilities is neither causal, nor theoretically and empirically palpable, yet partly robust.
Examining the association between cultural self-construal and dream structures in the United States and Japan
Authors: Konakawa Hisae , Kawai Toshio , Tanaka Yasuhiro , Hatanaka Chihiro , Bowen Kimberly , Koh Alethea
Published: February 2023

Cultural differences in self-construal, human relationships, and values between Western and East Asian people have been suggested. The aim of this article is to investigate cultural difference in dreamers’ self-construal based on their dreams. We examined the dreams sampled via online questionnaires from 300 non-clinical participants from America and Japan, respectively. The free response for the contents of “impressive dreams in childhood” “recent impressive dreams” was categorized into the five general dream structural patterns. Besides, the participants were asked to answer the scales to investigate participants’ cultural self-construal. The current results revealed the prevalence of the independent view of self in American participants and the interdependent view of self in Japanese participants. In addition, we found significant cultural differences in the dream length and structural patterns. For American dreams, the dream-ego had a clear will and strong mobility, and there were obvious ends of dream events. Conversely, for Japanese dreams, the weak agency and vague conscious of the dream-ego were shown, and others could play a main role in one’s dreams. These results suggested that each characteristic of the American and Japanese samples may be influenced by the differences in self-construal or in the process of self-formation between American and Japanese cultures.
How are patterned movements stored in working memory?
Authors: Li Congchong , Tian Wenqing , He Yang , Wang Chaoxian , Wang Xianyang , Xu Xiang , Bai Lifeng , Xue Ting , Liao Yang , Xu Tao , Liu Xufeng , Wu Shengjun
Published: February 2023

Introduction

In this study, the change detection paradigm was used to study the working memory of patterned movements and the relationship of this type of memory with the visuospatial sketchpad in three experiments.

Methods

Experiment 1 measured participants’ working memory capacity for patterned movements and explored the influence of stimulus type with indicators such as response time and accuracy rate. Experiments 2 and 3 explored the relationship between patterned movements and the visual and spatial subsystems, respectively.

Results

The results of Experiment 1 indicated that individuals can store 3–4 patterned movements in working memory; however, a change in stimulus format or an increase in memory load may decrease the speed and efficiency of working memory processing. The results of Experiment 2 showed that working memory and visual working memory are independent when processing patterned movements. The results of Experiment 3 showed that the working memory of patterned movements was affected by spatial working memory.

Discussion

Changes in stimulus type and memory load exerted different effects on the working memory capacity of participants. These results provide behavioral evidence that the storage of patterned movement information is independent of the visual subsystem but requires the spatial subsystem of the visuospatial sketchpad.
Psychological capital and breakthrough innovation: The role of tacit knowledge sharing and task interdependence
Authors: Hu Rui , Li Yingchao , Huang Jiayu , Zhang Ying , Jiang Rong , Dunlop Elizabeth
Published: February 2023

Compared with incremental innovation, breakthrough innovation is essential to sustaining competitive advantage, but breakthrough innovation has the characteristics of high standards and strict requirements. As the main body and foundation of enterprises, the attitude and behavior of employees play a vital role in enterprise innovation. Based on the positive organizational behavior theory and knowledge management theory, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between psychological capital and breakthrough innovation, and we also integrate tacit knowledge sharing and task interdependence into the research framework, so as to further explore the influence mechanism of employees’ psychological capital on breakthrough innovation. Utilizing a quantitative method, this study takes employees of Yunnan coffee enterprises as investigation objects, the data was analyzed using regression analysis through SPSS 24.0, and the existence of mediation was further verified by Bootstrap test. The results showed that the psychological capital of employees have a positive impact on breakthrough innovation; tacit knowledge sharing partially mediates the relationship between psychological capital and breakthrough innovation; and task interdependence plays a moderating role, that is, the stronger the task interdependence, the stronger the influence of employee psychological capital on breakthrough innovation. This study enriches the research on the influencing factors of breakthrough innovation of Yunnan coffee industry, expands the application scenarios of the related theory, emphasizes that the importance of psychological capital and the breakthrough innovation is the result of the interaction and value-added linkage of various internal and external resources.
Association between smoking cessation and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using NAFLD liver fat score
Authors: Jang Yun Seo , Joo Hye Jin , Park Yu Shin , Park Eun-Cheol , Jang Sung-In
Published: February 2023

Background

Smoking is well known to be associated with a higher prevalence and incidence of liver diseases such as advanced fibrosis. However, the impact of smoking on developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease remains controversial, and clinical data on this is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between smoking history and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods

Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019-2020 were used for the analysis. NAFLD was diagnosed according to an NAFLD liver fat score of >-0.640. Smoking status was classified as into nonsmokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between smoking history and NAFLD in the South Korean population.

Results

In total, 9,603 participants were enrolled in this study. The odds ratio (OR) for having NAFLD in ex-smokers and current smokers in males was 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90–1.41) and 1.38 (95% CI: 1.08–1.76) compared to that in nonsmokers, respectively. The OR increased in magnitude with smoking status. Ex-smokers who ceased smoking for <10 years (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.00–1.77) were more likely to have a strong correlation with NAFLD. Furthermore, NAFLD had a dose-dependent positive effect on pack-years, which was 10 to 20 (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.04–1.86) and over 20 (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.14–2.00).

Conclusion

This study found that smoking may contribute to NAFLD. Our study suggests cessation of smoking may help management of NAFLD.
Primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumor associated with hypertension: A case report
Authors: Zhao Bin , Mao Jie , Li Yumin
Published: February 2023

Background

Primary neuroendocrine tumors are exceedingly rare and often misdiagnosed. The combined methods of ultrasonography, computed tomography ,and magnetic resonance imaging are typically applied. The diagnosis of the disease mainly depends on the histopathological examination. Surgical resection is the most effective treatment.

Case presentation

In the report, we describe the case of a patient with a primary hepatic neuroendocrine tumor (PHNET) associated with hypertension. The patient suffered from uncontrolled hypertension before the operation, and the blood pressure was not well controlled by oral antihypertensive drugs such as nifedipine, valsartan, and hydrochlorothiazide, but the patient's blood pressure completely returned to normal after the operation without drug control.

Conclusions

We encountered a rare case of a PHNET associated with hypertension via careful screening noticed by the patient at work; furthermore, we hope to collect more cases and find the relationship between neuroendocrine tumors and hypertension.
Racing CARs to veterinary immuno-oncology
Authors: Cockey James R. , Leifer Cynthia A.
Published: February 2023

Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have demonstrated remarkable promise in human oncology over the past two decades, yet similar strategies in veterinary medicine are still in development. CARs are synthetically engineered proteins comprised of a specific antigen-binding single chain variable fragment (ScFv) fused to the signaling domain of a T cell receptor and co-receptors. Patient T cells engineered to express a CAR are directed to recognize and kill target cells, most commonly hematological malignancies. The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved multiple human CAR T therapies, but translation of these therapies into veterinary medicine faces many challenges. In this review, we discuss considerations for veterinary use including CAR design and cell carrier choice, and discuss the future promise of translating CAR therapy into veterinary oncology.
Increased Levels of Circulating Iron-Albumin Complexes in Peripheral Arterial Disease Patients
Authors: Schiano Elisabetta , Cappello Enrico , Cecere Domenico , Pompeo Francesco , Novellino Ettore , Stornaiuolo Mariano , Izzo Marcello
Published: February 2023

Under physiological conditions, extracellular iron circulates in the blood bound to transferrin. As a consequence of several pathologies, the circulating level of a Non-Transferrin Bound pool of Iron (NTBI) increases. The NTBI pool is biologically heterogeneous and represented by iron chelated either by small metabolites (citrate, amino acids, or cofactors) or by serum proteins. By promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) formation, NTBI causes oxidative stress and alteration of membrane lipids, seriously compromising the healthy state of organs and tissues. While NTBI involvement in several pathologies has been clarified, its contribution to vascular diseases remains to be investigated. Here we measure and analyze the pool of NTBI in the serum of a small group of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients. We show that: (i) the NTBI pool shifts from low molecular complexes to high-molecular ones in PAD patients compared to healthy controls; (ii) most of this NTBI is bound to the serum protein Albumin; (iii) this NTBI-Albumin complex can be isolated and quantitated following a simple immunoisolation procedure amenable to automation and suitable for clinical screening purposes.
Chemical Characterization of Different Extracts of Justicia secunda Vahl and Determination of Their Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Enzymatic, Anti-Viral, and Cytotoxic Properties
Authors: Świątek Łukasz , Sieniawska Elwira , Sinan Kouadio Ibrahime , Zengin Gokhan , Boguszewska Anastazja , Hryć Benita , Bene Kouadio , Polz-Dacewicz Małgorzata , Dall’Acqua Stefano
Published: February 2023

Justicia secunda Vahl. is a traditional medicinal plant in tropical regions, including West Africa. The present study examined the chemical profiles and biological properties of J. secunda extracts obtained with different solvents (dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanolic and aqueous: macerated and infused). Chemical components were characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and over 50 compounds were identified, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and alkaloids. Antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, cytotoxic, and antiviral properties were selected as biological properties. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents in methanol (58.07 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 13.07 mg rutin equivalent (RE)/g) and water (infused) (36.34 mg GAE/g and 8.52 mg RE/g) were higher than in other extracts. Consistent with the levels of total bioactive components, the methanol and water extracts exhibited stronger antioxidant abilities. However, the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts were more active on α-amylase and α-glucosidase than other extracts. Aqueous extracts exerted selective anticancer properties toward human pharyngeal cancer cell lines, whereas the methanolic extract decreased the human herpesvirus type-1 (HHV-1) infectious titer by 2.16 log and the viral load by 1.21 log. Overall, J. secunda could be considered a multifunctional bioactive raw material in the preparation of potent applications to manage diseases related to oxidative stress, including cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.
Repair of Old Timber Log House Using Cavity Filling with Compatible Natural Materials
Authors: Kloiber Michal , Frankeová Dita , Slížková Zuzana , Kunecký Jiří
Published: February 2023

The paper describes a method of structural repair to damaged elements of protected timber houses. Emphasis is laid on minimum intervention in the valuable material that needs to be preserved to the maximum possible extent, especially without larger interventions in the visible parts. The designs will find application in situations where it is not possible or appropriate to use common building methods, and it is necessary to carefully fill out or substitute bio-damaged parts of structural elements. The material for the production of fillings of structural elements corresponds to the originally used wood species; in the case of contact with the ground, oak is the choice due to its durability. Small caverns are filled with earth-based mortar with lime, casein, and chopped wheat straw. Such mortar mixtures were subjected to laboratory tests, which have shown that earth-based mortar (E) and earth mortar with lime putty modification (EL) have very similar physical, mechanical, and hygric properties. The properties significantly changed when curd cheese/casein was added to fresh mortar (ELC): the mechanical strength of hardened mortar increased substantially, and the diffusion of water vapours dropped, which is very beneficial for careful repairs of timber elements. The combination of timber and mortar filling provides a suitable means of repairing locally decayed timber members.