bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reduction of Feedback Availability Limits Self-Control Effects
Authors: von Lindern Aaron D. , Fairbrother Jeffrey T.
Published: March 2022

A growing body of research has demonstrated that providing learners with self-control over aspects of the learning environment facilitates the learning of a motor skill. In applied group settings, however, the provision of feedback is at times constrained by factors such as instructor availability. The purpose of the present study, therefore, was to examine how learners ostensibly provided self-control over feedback responded when the actual availability of feedback was constrained by a predetermined schedule of a virtual coach's availability to provide feedback. Participants were divided into four feedback groups and completed 72 practice trials of a sequential key-pressing task, with three different goal movement times (900, 1,200, 1,500 ms). The KR100 group received knowledge of results (KR) after every practice trial. The KR50 group received KR on an evenly distributed quasi-randomly determined schedule after 50% of the trials. The SC group had the opportunity to request KR after every trial, but KR was only available for 50% of practice trials according to the same schedule used for the KR50 group. The YK (i.e., yoked) group received KR according to the schedule of KR received by counterparts in the SC group. Approximately 24 h after acquisition, each participant returned to complete retention and transfer tests. The retention test consisted of 15 no-KR trials of the acquisition tasks (five trials for each goal time−900, 1,200, 1,500 ms). The transfer test consisted of 15 no-KR trials with new time goals (1,300, 1,600, 1,900 ms). Results revealed a significantly lower absolute constant error (ACE) score for the SC group during transfer (p < 0.05), suggesting that SC effects can occur in a reduced feedback availability environment. Other measures, however, failed to show significant advantages for the SC group during any phase of the study suggesting that effects were not as robust as previous research has indicated. The results also provided some indication that perceived scarcity might have played a role in elevating the number of feedback requests in response to the reduced autonomy environment.
Listening to Athletes' Voices: National Team Athletes' Perspectives on Advancing Safe Sport in Canada
Authors: Willson Erin , Kerr Gretchen , Battaglia Anthony , Stirling Ashley
Published: March 2022

With increased media scrutiny, public awareness, and research on the prevalence of maltreatment experiences in sport, sport organizations have faced increased pressures to combat unsafe practices in sport. A consequence has been the emergence of the Safe Sport movement whereby organizations including the International Olympic Committee, Safe Sport International, US Center for SafeSport, Sport Canada, and others, have developed policies, initiatives, and education intended to create safer sport environments for all participants. Most of these policies have been implemented using a top-down approach, driven by government officials and sport leaders. However, if safe sport initiatives are to benefit athletes, consideration and incorporation of athletes' perspectives in the development and implementation of initiatives are imperative. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine athletes' perspectives on the challenges and recommendations to advancing safe sport. As part of a large-scale survey of current and retired Canadian National Team Athletes' experiences of maltreatment, open-ended questions were asked about athletes' recommendations and considerations for safe sport. Responses to these questions (n = 386) were analyzed using thematic analysis. According to the participants, barriers and challenges to safe sport included emphasizing performance excellence at-all-costs, normalization and complicity of harm, lack of attention to equity, diversity and inclusion, a culture of fear and silence, and a lack of trust in organizations to handle cases of harm. In an effort to advance safe sport, participants recommended prioritizing holistic athlete development, improving and strengthening accountability measures, implementing an independent 3rd party for disclosure, reporting and support, increased attention to equity, diversity and inclusion, stakeholder education, prohibition of sexual relations between athletes and those in positions of power and authority, and adoption of a broader perspective of harms and perpetrators. Findings are interpreted and critiqued in light of previous literature and recommendations for future research and practice are suggested.
Nutrient and Nitrate Composition of Greenhouse-Grown Leafy Greens: A Trial Comparison Between Conventional and Organic Fertility Treatments
Authors: Swanson Erin O. , Carlson Justin L. , Perkus Liz A. , Grossman Julie , Rogers Mary A. , Erwin John E. , Slavin Joanne L. , Rosen Carl J.
Published: March 2022

Arugula (Eruca sativa), mizuna (Brassica rapa var. nipponsinca), red giant mustard (Brassica juncea), and spinach (Spinaciaoleracea “Tyee”) are fresh produce crops high in nutritive value that provide shortfall and high interest nutrients addressed in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. The primary objective of this project was to evaluate fertility treatments unique to these crops that optimize their nutritional capacity. Measurements discussed include: vitamin C, dietary fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, and nitrate. Plants were grown at the University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus (St. Paul, MN) in a greenhouse from November to April under an 18 h photoperiod and a 24/13°C day/night temperature. Plants were grown using five different fertility treatments, including four organic treatments and one conventional control. The plant treatment combinations were replicated three times and the entire experiment was duplicated. Fertility treatments had a high impact on vitamin C (with over a 3-fold difference in treatments in the first experiment), nitrate (over 10-fold difference among fertility treatments in some species) and potassium concentrations (over 5-fold difference among fertility treatments in some species) in analyzed plant tissue. No consistent differences were found for fiber, calcium, iron and sodium concentrations in tissue analyzed. This is the first study to analyze the impact that different organic treatments can have on multiple nutrients and compounds addressed by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for high-impact, highly-consumed produce crops.
Mezcal Production in Mexico: Between Tradition and Commercial Exploitation
Authors: Arellano-Plaza Melchor , Paez-Lerma Jesús Bernardo , Soto-Cruz Nicolás Oscar , Kirchmayr Manuel R. , Gschaedler Mathis Anne
Published: March 2022

Mezcal is a traditional iconic Mexican distilled beverage obtained from varied species of agaves. Regardless of the area of production, the process always consists of five stages: harvesting the agaves, cooking, crushing, fermentation, and distillation. It is produced in a large area of Mexican territory, a large part of which is protected by the Denomination of Origin mezcal (DOM). Over time, the word mezcal has evolved from a generic name to a more specific term used to describe the agave-distilled beverages produced in the territory protected by the DOM under the Mexican official standard NOM-070-SCFI-2016 which defined Mezcal as a “Mexican distilled alcoholic beverage, 100% from maguey or agave, obtained by distillation of fermented juices with spontaneous or cultivated microorganisms, extracted from mature heads of maguey or cooked agaves, harvested in the territory covered by the DOM.” In the last 10 years, official production has increased, from <1 million liters in 2011 to almost 8 million liters. This substantial increase in production puts a lot of pressure on resources, in particular raw material, as part of the production is obtained from wild agave. On the other hand, it exposes tradition at risk by increasing production by modernizing production processes and sacrificing the artisanal aspect of this production. We consider appropriate to address the issue of sustainability in this context of great tradition and growing market demand. The article presents the relevant aspects of mezcal production, highlighting some particularities specific to certain production areas, it also addresses the problem of the official standard. A broad discussion is presented on the sustainability of artisanal processes, and the main points to be taken care of in this framework. Additionally, some elements considered as fundamental in the perspective of the design of a sustainable artisanal distillery are described. In summary, this article aims to review the current state of mezcal production, how sustainability may be addressed in a very artisanal process and what are the challenges of the production chain to satisfy an increase in demand without sacrificing the tradition and culture related to this iconic Mexican beverage.
Comparison of Neuroendoscopic and Microscopic Surgery for Unilateral Hemilaminectomy: Experience of a Single Institution
Authors: Zeng Wei , Jiang Haixiao , He Shiwei , Zhang Yukun , Yu Bo , Wang Hui , Wang Cunzu
Published: March 2022

Objective

This study was designed to compare the safety and efficacy of unilateral hemilaminectomy conducted under complete neuroendoscopic visualization (UHNV) relative to unilateral hemilaminectomy under total microscopic visualization (UHMV) for the treatment of patients diagnosed with intraspinal tumors.

Methods

In total, 41 patients undergoing intraspinal tumor resection at Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital were included in this study, including 20 and 21 patients in the UHNV and UHMV groups, respectively. Intraoperative parameters including incision length, operative duration, number of vertebral laminae removed and intraoperative blood loss, as well as indicators of curative efficacy such as total tumor resection rates and postoperative symptom improvement rates, and safety indicators including complication rates, recurrence rates, spinal deformity rates, spinal instability incidence, and length of stay (LOS), were compared between the two groups.

Results

In contrast to the UHMV group, patients in the UHNV group had a significantly shorter incision length and decreased intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.05), while the operative duration (P > 0.05) showed no statistical difference. Although the postoperative improvement and total tumor resection rates were enhanced, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In comparison, the bedridden time and length of stay (LOS) were significantly shortened (P < 0.05) in the UHNV group. However, there were no significant differences in recurrence, incidence of complications, spinal deformity, and spinal instability (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Collectively, our findings indicate that UHNV is not inferior to the UHMV approach. Moreover, due to its safe and minimally invasive nature, UHNV represents a promising alternative to UHMV as a treatment for patients with intradural extramedullary tumors.
Impact of Dietary Egg Yolk IgY Powder on Behavior, Meat Quality, Physiology, and Intestinal Escherichia coli Colonization of Broiler Chicks
Authors: Rehan Ibrahim F. , Rehan Ahmed F. , Abouelnaga Ahmed F. , Hussein Mohamed A. , El-Ghareeb Waleed R. , Eleiwa Nesreen Z. , Elnagar Asmaa , Batiha Gaber E. , Abdelgawad Mohamed A. , Ghoneim Mohammed M. , Hafiz Amin A. , Gadallah Hossam E. , Abdel-Hamid Shereen El. , El-Naby Gamal R. Hasab , Benowitz Barbara M. , Maky Mohamed A.
Published: March 2022

The current study investigated the impact of different concentrations of purified egg yolk immunoglobulin Y (IgY) supplemental food on the growth performance, behaviors, cecal contents of Escherichia coli, and the meat quality of broiler chicks. Four dietary groups were given to 180 female Ross broiler chicks at random (n = 45 for each). The control group was fed a standard diet only, whereas the other three experimental groups were fed the same basic diet supplemented with 1,500, 3,000, and 4,000 μg/ml IgY for a duration of 42 days. Significant greater behavioral activities, including, feeding, drinking, and dust bathing (p < 0.05), in the birds fed 4,000 μg/ml of IgY compared to the control group were observed. Greater weight gains of the crop, proventriculus, gizzard, and intestine (p < 0.05) were observed for broiler chicks fed 4,000 μg/ml of IgY when compared to the control group. After 3 weeks of feeding, the groups fed 3,000 and 4,000 μg/ml IgY had significant lower E. coli counts in the muscle and cecal contents (p < 0.05) when compared to the control group. Moreover, dietary supplementation with 4,000 μg/ml IgY in the third week and 3,000 μg/ml IgY in the sixth week resulted in greater weight gain (p < 0.01) when compared to the control group. Also, at week 3, chicks fed 4,000 μg/ml of IgY had a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). At week 6, chicks fed 3,000 μg/ml of IgY had lower FCR than the control (p < 0.05). The circulating heterophile/lymphocyte ratio was simply altered in birds fed variable IgY concentrations (1,500, 3,000, and 4,000 μg/ml), with no significant differences compared to the control group due to the individual resistance of each bird to physiological stress. The addition of 4,000 μg/ml IgY to the diet enhanced the nutritive value of meat, including protein, fat, and ash content (p < 0.05). Our study concluded that dietary supplementation of 3,000 and/or 4,000 μg/ml IgY improved the growth rates, behavioral activities, intestinal health indices, and meat quality of broiler chicks.
Neuropeptide Profiles of Mammalian Male Genital Tract: Distribution and Functional Relevance in Reproduction
Authors: Omirinde Jamiu O. , Azeez Idris A.
Published: March 2022

Neuropeptides are secretory peptides characterized by small chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. They are majorly found in some mammalian neurons and glial cells, where they modulate a variety of physiological homeostasis. In the male genital tract, they are mostly found in the neuronal fibers supplying the vasculature, smooth muscle layer, interstitium, andlamina propriaof the tunica mucosa of the various reproductive organs. Functionally, neuropeptides are strongly implicated in vascular temperature regulations, spermatozoa extrusion, epididymal content transportation, and movement of accessory gland secretions. This review provides an overview of neuropeptides with respect to their synthesis, release, and mechanism of actions, with emphasis on the locally acting neuropeptides, such as substance P (SP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal peptides (VIP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), galanin (GAL), cholecystokinin (CCK), C-terminal flanking peptide of NPY (CPON), peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI), and met- and leu-enkephalins (M-ENK and L-ENK) along the male genital tract (i.e., the spermatic cord, testis, epididymis, ductus deferens, and accessory sex organs) of 14 species of mammals and their marked influence on reproduction. This review also revealed from documented reports that the vast majority of neuropeptides present in the autonomic nerve supply to the male genital tract probably coexist with other peptides or with various neurotransmitters (tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine beta hydroxylase, and 5-hydroxytryptamine). In addition, documented evidence of variation in age, season, and intraspecies differences were identified as notable factors of influence in peptidergic nerve fiber distribution.
Screening of Grain Development Heterosis Candidate Genes by Integrating QTL Mapping and RNA-Seq in Super Hybrid Rice WFYT025
Authors: Huang Tao , Wang Peng , Wang Yanning , Huang Shiying , Cheng Qin , Li Caijing , Wu Guangliang , Zhong Qi , Yang Mengmeng , He Haohua , Bian Jianmin
Published: March 2022

The application of heterosis during plant breeding increases rice grain yield. However, there have been limited studies on heterosis during rice grain development during the grain-filling stage; therefore, the genetic basis of heterosis for grain development during the grain-filling stage should be highly valued. In this study, a hybrid combination with the super hybrid rice WFYT025 was used to perform a transcriptomic dynamic analysis in grains at the beginning and middle grain-filling stages. A total of 1556 and 1507 transcripts that were differentially expressed between WFYT025 and its parents (DGHP) were identified at 1-day post-anthesis (DPA) and at 10 DPA, respectively. The analysis of the genetic effects of heterosis showed that the over-dominant effect (66.90% and 55.87%) was the main mode of action during grain development. The KEGG pathway and GO analysis of the DGHP indicated that the gibberellin biosynthetic, starch metabolic, and diterpenoid biosynthetic signaling pathways may be associated with heterosis during grain development. To further explore the candidate genes for grain development heterosis, a recombinant inbred line (RILs) population with a high-density genetic map of 2578 bin markers was constructed by crossing the parents of WFYT025, and nine stable QTLs for grain weight-related traits were identified. By comparing the DGHP with 20 QTLs, LOC_Os02g28820, LOC_Os02g32580, LOC_Os04g25440, and LOC_Os12g04980 were identified as grain development heterosis-related candidate genes. These findings provide resources for the study of heterosis during the grain development of super hybrid rice and provide valuable theoretical references for the cloning and functional analysis of heterosis-related genes.
Clustering and Regression-Based Analysis of PM2.5 Sensitivity to Meteorology in Cincinnati, Ohio
Authors: Roy Madhumitaa , Brokamp Cole , Balachandran Sivaraman
Published: March 2022

This study identified the meteorological parameters that influence PM2.5 concentrations in the Greater Cincinnati area by employing principal components analysis and multi-variable regression. Meteorological and PM2.5 data were collected over several years to derive statistical relationships about the seasonal variability of meteorological parameters and quantify their influence on PM2.5. We studied the effect of meteorological parameters by seasons and by k-means clustering. The results show that outdoor temperature (OT), planetary boundary height (HPBL) and visibility (VIS) have the strongest effect on PM2.5. The distribution of PM2.5 concentrations in each cluster and season was evaluated using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test with data fitting using the lognormal and gamma distributions. To our observation, we found the PM2.5 concentration fits the gamma distribution marginally better than the lognormal distribution.
Efficacy and Safety of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab in the Real-World Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Experience from Four Tertiary Centers
Authors: Himmelsbach Vera , Pinter Matthias , Scheiner Bernhard , Venerito Marino , Sinner Friedrich , Zimpel Carolin , Marquardt Jens U. , Trojan Jörg , Waidmann Oliver , Finkelmeier Fabian
Published: March 2022

The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab (A + B) is the new standard of care for the systemic first-line treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, up to now there are only few data on the safety and efficacy of A + B in real life. We included patients with advanced HCC treated with A + B as first-line therapy at four cancer centers in Germany and Austria between December 2018 and August 2021. Demographics, overall survival (OS), and adverse events were assessed until 15 September 2021. We included 66 patients. Most patients had compensated cirrhosis (n = 34; 52%), while Child–Pugh class B cirrhosis was observed in 23 patients (35%), and class C cirrhosis in 5 patients (8%). The best responses included a complete response (CR) in 7 patients (11%), a partial response (PR) in 12 patients (18%), stable disease (SD) in 22 patients (33%), and progressive disease in 11 patients (17%). The median progression-free (PFS) survival was 6.5 months, while the median overall survival (OS) was not reached in this cohort (6-month OS: 69%, 12-month OS: 60%, 18-month OS: 58%). Patients with viral hepatitis seemed to have a better prognosis than patients with HCC of non-viral etiology. The real-world PFS and OS were comparable to those of the pivotal IMBRAVE trial, despite including patients with worse liver function in this study. We conclude that A + B is also highly effective in a real-life setting, with manageable toxicity, especially in patients with compensated liver disease. In patients with compromised liver function (Child B and C), the treatment showed low efficacy and, therefore, it should be well considered before administration to these patients.
Dietary Fat Intake: Associations with Dietary Patterns and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer—A Case-Control Study
Authors: Stasiewicz Beata , Wadolowska Lidia , Biernacki Maciej , Slowinska Malgorzata Anna , Stachowska Ewa
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study was to assess the associations of dietary fat intake with BC occurrence and dietary patterns. This case-control study involved 420 women aged 40–79 years from northeastern Poland, including 190 newly diagnosed BC cases. Dietary data were collected using a food frequency questionnaire (62-item FFQ-6®). The Quick Food Scan of the National Cancer Institute and the Percentage Energy from Fat Screener scoring procedures were used to estimate the percentage energy from dietary fat (Pfat). The odds of BC occurrence was three times higher in the Pfat > 32%. The Pfat > 32% was positively associated with the ‘Non-Healthy’ DP and inversely associated with the Polish-aMED® score, ‘Prudent’ DP, and ‘Margarine and Sweetened Dairy’ DP. This case-control study suggests that a higher dietary fat intake (>32%) may contribute to an increased occurrence of peri- and postmenopausal breast cancer in women. Given the obtained results, an unhealthy dietary pattern characterized by the consumption of highly processed, high in sugar foods and animal fat foods should be avoided to reduce fat intake. Instead, the frequent consumption of low-processed plant foods, fish, and moderate consumption of low-fat dairy should be recommended since this pro-healthy diet is inversely associated with dietary fat intake.
Interspatial Distribution of Tumor and Immune Cells in Correlation with PD-L1 in Molecular Subtypes of Gastric Cancers
Authors: Dislich Bastian , Mertz Kirsten D. , Gloor Beat , Langer Rupert
Published: March 2022

(1) Background: EBV-positive and mismatch repair-deficient (MMRd) gastric cancers (GCs) show higher levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and PD-L1 expression and thus a more profound response to immunotherapy. However, the majority of GCs are EBV-negative (EBV−) and MMR proficient (MMRp). We analyzed PD-L1 expression and TILs in EBV-MMRpGCs in comparison to EBV-positive (EBV+) and MMRdGCs to identify an immunogenic phenotype susceptible to immunotherapy. (2) Methods: A next-generation tissue microarray of 409 primary resected GCs was analyzed by Epstein-Barr encoding region (EBER) in situ hybridization for MSH1, PMS2, MSH2, MSH6, PD-L1, and CD8 immunohistochemistry. PD-L1 positivity was defined as a combined positive score (CPS) of ≥1. CD8+ TILs and their proximity to cancer cells were digitally analyzed on the HALO™ image analysis platform. (3) Results: Eleven cases were EBV+, 49 cases MMRd, and 349 cases EBV-MMRpGCs. The highest rate of PD-L1 positivity was seen in EBV+GCs, followed by MMRdGCs and EBV-MMRpGCs (81.8%, 73.5%, and 27.8%, respectively). EBV+ and MMRdGCs also demonstrated increased numbers and proximity of CD8+ TILs to tumor cells compared to EBV-MMRpGCs (p < 0.001 each). PD-L1 status positively correlated with the total numbers of CD8+ TILs and their proximity to tumor cells in all subtypes, including EBV-MMRpGCs (p < 0.001 each). A total of 28.4% of EBV-MMRpGCs showed high CD8+ TILs independent of PD-L1. (4) Conclusions: PD-L1 and CD8 immunohistochemistry, supplemented by digital image analysis, may identify EBV-MMRpGCs with high immunoreactivity indices, indicating susceptibility to immunotherapy.
Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Hodgkin Lymphoma—Latest Advances in the Era of Novel Therapies
Authors: Samara Yazeed , Mei Matthew
Published: March 2022

Standard treatment for relapsed and/or refractory (r/r) Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) consists of salvage therapy, historically consisting of multiagent cytotoxic chemotherapy, followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (autoHCT) in responding patients. With this approach, most patients can proceed to autoHCT, of whom approximately half are cured. However, the introduction of the novel agents brentuximab vedotin (BV) and the checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) nivolumab and pembrolizumab has changed the decision making and peri-transplant decision making, as early incorporation of one or more of these agents can reduce or even eliminate the need for cytotoxic chemotherapy prior to autoHCT. Furthermore, post-autoHCT maintenance therapy with BV has also been shown to decrease relapse in high-risk rel/ref HL patients. In this review, we survey the current data regarding autoHCT in HL with a focus on pre-autoHCT salvage as well as maintenance strategies, and we also talk about the emerging data challenging the long-held dogma of chemosensitivity being a requirement for successful autoHCT.
Evolving Role of Immunotherapy in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers
Authors: Kang Sandra , El-Rayes Bassel F. , Akce Mehmet
Published: March 2022

Biliary tract cancers (BTC) comprise a rare and diverse group of malignancies that involve the gallbladder and biliary tree. These cancers typically present in later stages because they are aggressive in nature and affected patients are often asymptomatic in earlier stages of disease. Moreover, BTCs are generally refractory to cytotoxic chemotherapy, which further contributes to their associated poor survival outcomes. Novel therapy approaches are clearly needed. Molecular targeted agents have been developed based on our expanding knowledge of the genetic mutations underlying BTCs and represent a promising treatment strategy in molecularly selected subgroups of patients. In addition, the advent of immunotherapy over recent years has dramatically changed the bleak outcomes observed in malignancies such as melanoma. Our growing understanding of the complex tumor microenvironment in BTC has identified mechanisms of tumor immune evasion that could potentially be targeted with immunotherapy. As a result, different immunotherapeutic approaches including immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, and adoptive cell therapy, have been investigated. The use of immunotherapeutic agents is currently only approved for a small subset of treatment-refractory BTCs based on microsatellite instability (MSI) status and tumor mutational burden (TMB), but this will likely change with the potential approval of immunotherapy plus chemotherapy as a result of the TOPAZ-1 trial.
Review of Mausoleopsis amabilis (Schaum, 1844) (Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae), with Description of a New Species and a New Subspecies
Authors: Perissinotto Renzo , Beinhundner Gerhard
Published: March 2022

The extremely variable and widespread cetoniine species Mausoleopsis amabilis (Schaum, 1844) is reviewed here using analyses of over 1500 specimens and observations across its entire distribution range. As a result, M. a. heterospila (Gerstaecker, 1867) is reinstated as a valid subspecies and a new subspecies, M. a. interrupta ssp. nov., is also erected, in order to account for the geographically distinct populations occurring across East Africa and the eastern lowlands of southern Africa, respectively. Mausoleopsis a. ruteri Antoine, 1989 is confirmed as a valid subspecies for the West African populations, while M. lerui Antoine, 2004 is synonymised with M. a. heterospila, as it appears to represent an extreme variation of that subspecies. On the other hand, a new species, M. gariepena sp. nov., is described from the Gariep Desert and surrounding arid areas of South Africa and Namibia and compared to its sister species, M. amabilis s. l. The new species appears to be an arid habitat specialist, adapted to survive in the driest part of the subcontinent.
Matching Qualitative Inquiry Design and Practice to Contemporary Burns Research Questions: Are We Getting It Right?
Authors: Simons Megan , Copley Jodie A.
Published: March 2022

Qualitative methodology has continued to develop through scholarly inquiry, with its application to burn scar research progressed substantially since early use. Concerns were raised in 2015 that qualitative inquiry in burn care and rehabilitation used a limited range of qualitative research approaches. The aim of this commentary paper is to consider how broadly the suite of methodologies available within the qualitative research paradigm have been applied to burn scar research since that call. Observations from a scan of qualitative burn scar papers published since 2015 to March 2022 (n = 36) are presented. Less commonly used qualitative methodologies (such as interpretive design, interpretive phenomenological analysis, narrative inquiry, grounded theory, explanatory case study) and their contribution to burn scar research is discussed. Examples are presented to consider how the application of qualitative methodological approaches (including post-qualitative research methodologies) can be ultimately used to inform meaningful outcomes.
Risk Contagion between Global Commodities from the Perspective of Volatility Spillover
Authors: Shen Hong , Pan Qi , Zhao Lili , Ng Pin
Published: March 2022

Prices of oil and other commodities have fluctuated wildly since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is crucial to explore the causes of price fluctuations and understand the source and path of risk contagion to better mitigate systemic risk and maintain economic stability. The paper adopts the method of network topology to examine the path of risk contagion between China’s and foreign commodities, focusing on the dynamic evolution and transmission mechanism of risk contagion during the pandemic. This research found that among China’s commodities, energy, grain, and textiles are net recipients of risk contagion, while chemical products and metals are net risk exporters. Among international commodities, industries have positive risk spillover effects on metals and textiles. During the first phase of the pandemic, China’s commodities were the main exporters of risk contagion. However, international industries and metals became the main risk exporters and exerted risk spillover on China’s commodities in the second phase of the pandemic. Moreover, based on total volatility spillover index of commodities, the risk contagion among the commodities follows three paths: “interest rate → commodities → money supply”, “China’s economic expectation → commodities → foreign economic expectation”, and “commodities → consumer confidence”.
Genomic Survey and Cold-Induced Expression Patterns of bHLH Transcription Factors in Liriodendron chinense (Hemsl) Sarg.
Authors: Li Rongxue , Ahmad Baseer , Hwarari Delight , Li Dong’ao , Lu Ye , Gao Min , Chen Jinhui , Yang Liming
Published: March 2022

bHLH transcription factors play an animated role in the plant kingdom during growth and development, and responses to various abiotic stress. In this current study, we conducted, the genome-wide survey of bHLH transcription factors in Liriodendron chinense (Hemsl) Sarg., 91 LcbHLH family members were identified. Identified LcbHLH gene family members were grouped into 19 different subfamilies based on the conserved motifs and phylogenetic analysis. Our results showed that LcbHLH genes clustered in the same subfamily exhibited a similar conservative exon-intron pattern. Hydrophilicity value analysis showed that all LcbHLH proteins were hydrophilic. The Molecular weight (Mw) of LcbHLH proteins ranged from 10.19 kD (LcbHLH15) to 88.40 kD (LcbHLH50). A greater proportion, ~63%, of LcbHLH proteins had a theoretical isoelectric point (pI) less than seven. Additional analysis on the collinear relationships within species and among dissimilar species illustrated that tandem and fragment duplication are the foremost factors of amplification of this family in the evolution process, and they are all purified and selected. RNA-seq and real-time quantitative PCR analysis of LcbHLH members showed that the expression of LcbHLH35, 55, and 86 are up-regulated, and the expression of LcbHLH9, 20, 39, 54, 56, and 69 is down-regulated during cold stress treatments while the expression of LcbHLH24 was up-regulated in the short term and then later down-regulated. From our results, we concluded that LcbHLH genes might participate in cold-responsive processes of L. chinense. These findings provide the basic information of bHLH gene in L. chinense and their regulatory roles in plant development and cold stress response.
Effects of Litter Decomposition on Soil N in Picea mongolica Forest at Different Forest Ages
Authors: Liu Yunchao , Chen Lixin , Duan Wenbiao , Bai Yongan , Li Xiaolan
Published: March 2022

In order to study the effects of litter decomposition on soil nitrogen of Piceamongolica in different forest ages, young forest (0–5a), middle-aged forest (5–30a), and near-mature forest (30–40a) stands were selected in the Baiyinaobao National Nature Reserve. Litter decomposition was assessed using the decomposition bag method. The seasonal and vertical spatial variation characteristics of total N, NH4+—N, and NO3−—N caused by litter decomposition in P. mongolica forest soil were studied for different stand ages. Results showed that: (1) There was a positive correlation between litter N content and soil organic matter, total N content, and NO3−—N content across different forest ages (p < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between litter N and NH4+—N contents. A negative correlation between litter C content and soil organic matter, total N, and NO3−—N contents was also observed. (2) In this study, the total N and NO3−—N increased with the increase in N content during litter decomposition.NH4+—N in the soil was positively correlated with sample date, soil NO3−—N, and forest age (p < 0.05), and negatively correlated with soil depth (p < 0.01). NO3−—N in the soil was negatively correlated with sample date and forest age (p < 0.05), and significantly negatively correlated with soil depth (p < 0.01). (3) the NH4+—N content is greater than that of NO3−—N in each soil layer for the three forest ages. The correlation analysis indicated which factors influenced NH4+—N and NO3−—N in the soil. The content decreased during February and November and increased in May and August. (4) The total N, NH4+—N, and NO3−—N in the forest soils across the three forest ages increased with the depth of the soil layer (0–50 cm) and showed an overall downward trend. The contents of NH4+—N in the soil layer from the young forest (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm, 30–40 cm, and 40–50 cm) differed significantly (p < 0.05), as did the NO3−—N results (p < 0.05), while results from the middle-aged forest and near-mature forest increased with soil layer depth. There was no significant difference in the NH4+—N soil content. (5) The NH4+—N in the forest soils showed a trend from mature forest > middle-aged forest > young forest. This trend for soil NO3−—N content is consistent with that of the NH4+—N content in the Picea mongolica forest soil.
Genome-Wide Analysis of the Protein Phosphatase 2C Genes in Tomato
Authors: Qiu Jianfang , Ni Lei , Xia Xue , Chen Shihao , Zhang Yan , Lang Min , Li Mengyu , Liu Binman , Pan Yu , Li Jinhua , Zhang Xingguo
Published: March 2022

The plant protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) plays an irreplaceable role in phytohormone signaling, developmental processes, and manifold stresses. However, information about the PP2C gene family in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is relatively restricted. In this study, a genome-wide investigation of the SlPP2C gene family was performed. A total of 92 SlPP2C genes were identified, they were distributed on 11 chromosomes, and all the SlPP2C proteins have the type 2C phosphatase domains. Based on phylogenetic analysis of PP2C genes in Arabidopsis, rice, and tomato, SlPP2C genes were divided into eight groups, designated A–H, which is also supported by the analyses of gene structures and protein motifs. Gene duplication analysis revealed that the duplication of whole genome and chromosome segments was the main cause of SLPP2Cs expansion. A total of 26 cis-elements related to stress, hormones, and development were identified in the 3 kb upstream region of these SlPP2C genes. Expression profile analysis revealed that the SlPP2C genes display diverse expression patterns in various tomato tissues. Furthermore, we investigated the expression patterns of SlPP2C genes in response to Ralstonia solanacearum infection. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR data reveal that nine SlPP2Cs are correlated with R. solanacearum. The above evidence hinted that SlPP2C genes play multiple roles in tomato and may contribute to tomato resistance to bacterial wilt. This study obtained here will give an impetus to the understanding of the potential function of SlPP2Cs and lay a solid foundation for tomato breeding and transgenic resistance to plant pathogens.
Analysis of Long Non-Coding RNA (lncRNA) uc.38 and uc.63 Expression in Breast Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Zadrożna-Nowak Anna , Romanowicz Hanna , Zadrożny Marek , Bryś Magdalena , Forma Ewa , Smolarz Beata
Published: March 2022

Background. The role of the transcribed ultra-conserved regions (T-UCRs) has not yet been fully discovered, but the studies showed some indications that impaired expression of T-UCRS were present in malignant tumors, including breast cancer. Aim. The presented work assessed the expression of two transcribed-ultra conserved regions–uc.63 and uc.38–in breast cancer tissue samples. Material and methods. The research was carried out on a group of 100 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma and 100 patients (test group) with benign tumors in breast tissue (control group). Results. As a result of the statistical analysis, it was shown that the expression of uc.63 and uc.38 is statistically significant, and, accordingly, higher (p < 0.0001) and lower (p < 0.0001) in the test group than in the control group. Statistical dependency analysis of the expression of uc.63 and uc.38 and the selected clinical and pathological factors showed that the expression of uc.63 statistically drops with the patient’s age (p = 0.04), and is higher in the breast cancer tissue type M1 according to the TNM classification (p = 0.036) and in tissues with overexpressed HER2 (p = 0.035). Conclusion. The obtained results of the statistical analysis indicate a relationship between the expression of uc.63 and uc.38 and the occurrence of breast cancer.
Prognostic Factors of the Inability to Bear Self-Weight at Discharge in Patients with Fragility Femoral Neck Fracture: A 5-Year Retrospective Cohort Study in Thailand
Authors: Tangchitphisut Paween , Khorana Jiraporn , Phinyo Phichayut , Patumanond Jayanton , Rojanasthien Sattaya , Apivatthakakul Theerachai
Published: March 2022

An inability to bear self-weight is one of the unfavorable results in geriatric hip fracture, which needs to be prevented. This study determines pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative prognostic factors of the inability to bear self-weight at discharge in patients with fragility femoral neck fracture. This retrospective study was conducted at Chiang Mai University (CMU) hospital with an observational cohort design. Electronic medical records of patients aged ≥ 50 years old with fragility femoral neck fractures between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2019 were reviewed. Pre-, intra-, and post-operative factors were collected. Ambulation status at discharge time was classified into either ability or inability to bear self-weight. Analysis of prognostic factors was done using multivariable risk ratio regression. In total, 269 patients were recruited in this study. Significantly prognostic factors of inability to bear self-weight at discharge were end-stage renal disease (ESRD), cirrhosis, cerebrovascular disease, pre-fracture ambulatory status, having associated fractures, increasing intra-operative blood loss, and having pressure sore. These prognostic factors could be used to predict patients’ outcomes at discharge. Proper management could then be offered to the patients by the multidisciplinary care team to enhance surgical outcomes.
Empathy as a Factor Conditioning Attitudes towards the Elderly among Physiotherapists—Results from Poland
Authors: Podhorecka Marta , Pyszora Anna , Woźniewicz Agnieszka , Husejko Jakub , Kędziora-Kornatowska Kornelia
Published: March 2022

Attitudes of healthcare workers towards the elderly significantly affect the quality of care dedicated to this group of patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the approach of Polish physiotherapists to the elderly and to analyze the factors influencing these attitudes. The study was based on a cross-sectional Internet-based survey that was conducted in the period from May to September 2021. It was completed by 252 subjects: 189 women and 63 men. The study was based on the involvement of physiotherapists with the right to practice their profession in accordance with the law in force in Poland. The tools used in the study were The Kogan Attitudes towards the Elderly (KAOP) score and The Jefferson Empathy Scale (JSE). To model the KOAP score as a function of the predictors, Bayesian linear regression was used. The average KOAP score in the sample was M (SD) = 100.7 (17.46), with the central 50% of the observations ranging from 81 to 113 points. We observed one statistically credible relationship: relevance of contacts with elderly people was positively and moderately related to KOAP. Additionally, we observed that the JSE scale was positively, but very weakly, associated with KOAP. Empathy and own experience of health care providers may protect against negative attitudes towards the elderly, meaning empathy in healthcare professionals is crucial.
The Benefits of Intergenerational Wisdom-Sharing: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Pillemer Karl , Nolte Julia , Schultz Leslie , Yau Harry , Henderson Charles R. , Cope Marie Tillema , Baschiera Barbara
Published: March 2022

Adolescents’ opportunities to benefit from the life wisdom of older persons are very limited. To address this issue, we designed and tested the Building a Community Legacy Together (BCLT) program based on research on the benefits of older people’s wisdom for youth development. In the intervention, the youth participants were trained prior to conducting interviews with older persons regarding their advice for living. The youth participants analyzed the information obtained and presented a summary report to the community. The participants were 93 middle and high school youth who were randomly assigned to the treatment condition with the BCLT program (n = 47) or to the control condition (n = 46). The outcome measures included sense of purpose, self-esteem, attitudes toward older people, confidence interacting with older people, and interest in working with older people. Quantitative and qualitative data were also collected regarding the subjective assessments of the program’s success. We found significant positive effects for the BCLT participants regarding their sense of purpose in life, attitudes toward older people, comfort interacting with older people, and interest in working with older people. The subjective assessments of the participants were overwhelmingly positive. The findings indicate that BCLT had positive effects for the youth participants and support the further development and testing of wisdom-sharing intergenerational programs.
Is Validating the Cutoff Score on Perinatal Mental Health Mood Screening Instruments, for Women and Men from Different Cultures or Languages, Really Necessary?
Authors: Matthey Stephen
Published: March 2022

Background: The most commonly used mood screening instrument in perinatal health is the Edinburgh Depression Scale. The screen-positive cut-off score on this scale, as for others, has been determined, via validation techniques, for over 20 languages/cultures, and for both women and men. While such validation appears to be considered essential, there are studies that could be interpreted to suggest that this is not an important consideration. Methods: Selective studies have been chosen to indicate these opposing points of view. Results: Examples of studies that support the notion of validating cut-off scores are described, as are examples of studies that appear not to support this point of view. Conclusions: (i) Clinical services and researchers need to be mindful of these opposing points of view, and openly discuss them when using screening cut-off scores for their respective populations. (ii) Researchers and Journals need to be more rigorous in ensuring this issue is correctly reported in studies, and/or openly discussed when relevant.
Automated Detection of Hypertension Using Continuous Wavelet Transform and a Deep Neural Network with Ballistocardiography Signals
Authors: Rajput Jaypal Singh , Sharma Manish , Kumar T. Sudheer , Acharya U. Rajendra
Published: March 2022

Managing hypertension (HPT) remains a significant challenge for humanity. Despite advancements in blood pressure (BP)-measuring systems and the accessibility of effective and safe anti-hypertensive medicines, HPT is a major public health concern. Headaches, dizziness and fainting are common symptoms of HPT. In HPT patients, normalcy may be observed at one instant and abnormality may prevail during a long duration of 24 h ambulatory BP. This may cause difficulty in identifying patients with HPT, and hence there is a possibility that individuals may be untreated or administered insufficiently. Most importantly, uncontrolled HPT can lead to severe complications (stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, and heart failure), mainly ignoring the signs in nascent stages. HPT in the beginning stages may not present distinct symptoms and may be difficult to diagnose from standard physiological signals. Hence, ballistocardiography (BCG) signal was used in this study to detect HPT automatically. The processed signals from BCG were converted into scalogram images using a continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and were then fed into a 2-D convolutional neural network model (2D-CNN). The model was trained to learn and recognize BCG patterns of healthy controls (HC) and HPT classes. Our proposed model obtained a high classification accuracy of 86.14% with a ten-fold cross-validation (CV) strategy. Hence, this is the first use of a 2D-CNN model (deep-learning algorithm) to detect HPT employing BCG signals.