bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Glucose Control in Post-hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome Diabetes: A New Approach Offered by Sensor-Augmented Pump Therapy
Authors: Grancini Valeria , Vianello Federica Alessandra , Colosimo Santo , Gaglio Alessia , Resi Veronica , Arosio Maura , Ardissino Gianluigi , Montini Giovanni , Orsi Emanuela
Published: June 2022

We report the case of a 3-year-old girl admitted to her town emergency department for fever (39°C) associated with diarrhea, generalized edema, oliguria, and drowsiness. The blood test revealed metabolic acidosis, leucocytosis, increased inflammatory markers, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney failure. Based on the diagnosis of hemolytic-uremic syndrome, the patient was referred to a third-level children hospital. Assisted ventilation, hemodialysis, and parenteral nutrition were instituted. The blood glucose levels increased above 200 mg/dl with peaks at 500 mg/dl. Islet auto-antibodies were negative and C-peptide was undetectable, thus ruling out the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Multiple-daily-injection insulin therapy was then instituted with the following regimen: Detemir 2 U once daily and Aspart 0.5 U if blood glucose >200 mg/dl. Despite the very low insulin dosage, the patient experienced frequent and severe hypoglycemic events during the following 24 h and was therefore switched to sensor-augmented pump therapy. Optimal glucose control was achieved without further hypoglycemic episodes. Moreover, thanks to the possibility to customize insulin therapy hour by hour during the day and the use of a pre-low glucose suspend system, glucose control was maintained even despite the continuous modifications in the nutritional scheme due to the multiple complications that arose during hospitalization. This rare case of post-hemolytic-uremic syndrome diabetes, treated with sensor-augmented therapy from its outbreak, suggests for the first time the potential of this therapeutic strategy in achieving glucose control without significant hypoglycemic episodes in children with secondary forms of diabetes associated with very low insulin requirement.
A Dual-Labeling Probe for Super-Resolution Imaging to Detect Mitochondrial Reactive Sulfur Species in Live Cells
Authors: Hu Maomao , Wang Boyang , Zhang Hongdan , Wang Han , Li Huixin , Zhang Xinyu , Zhang Jinjin , Lu Qianrun , Fang Guiqian , Wang Juan , Dong Bo
Published: June 2022

Background: Mitochondria are the main sites of reactive sulfur species (RSS) production in living cells. RSS in mitochondria play an important role in physiological and pathological processes of life. In this study, a dual-labeling probe that could simultaneously label the mitochondrial membrane and matrix was designed to quantitatively detect RSS of mitochondria in living cells using nano-level super-resolution imaging.

Methods: A fluorescent probe CPE was designed and synthesized. The cytotoxicity of CPE was determined and co-localization of CPE with a commercial mitochondrial probe was analyzed in HeLa cells. Then, the uptake patterns of CPE in HeLa cells at different temperatures and endocytosis levels were investigated. The staining characteristics of CPE under different conditions were imaged and quantitated under structured illumination microscopy.

Results: A fluorescence probe CPE reacting to RSS was developed, which could simultaneously label the mitochondrial membrane with green fluorescence and the mitochondrial matrix with red fluorescence. CPE was able to demonstrate the mitochondrial morphology and detect the changes of RSS in mitochondria. With the increase of mitochondrial RSS concentration, the light of the red matrix will be quenched.

Conclusion: CPE provides a strategy for the design of probes and an attractive tool for accurate examination to changes of mitochondrial morphology and RSS in mitochondria in living cells at the nanoscale.
S-Nitroso-L-Cysteine Stereoselectively Blunts the Deleterious Effects of Fentanyl on Breathing While Augmenting Antinociception in Freely-Moving Rats
Authors: Getsy Paulina M. , Baby Santhosh M. , Gruber Ryan B. , Gaston Benjamin , Lewis Tristan H. J. , Grossfield Alan , Seckler James M. , Hsieh Yee-Hsee , Bates James N. , Lewis Stephen J.
Published: June 2022

Endogenous and exogenously administered S-nitrosothiols modulate the activities of central and peripheral systems that control breathing. We have unpublished data showing that the deleterious effects of morphine on arterial blood-gas chemistry (i.e., pH, pCO2, pO2, and sO2) and Alveolar-arterial gradient (i.e., index of gas exchange) were markedly diminished in anesthetized Sprague Dawley rats that received a continuous intravenous infusion of the endogenous S-nitrosothiol, S-nitroso-L-cysteine. The present study extends these findings by showing that unanesthetized adult male Sprague Dawley rats receiving an intravenous infusion of S-nitroso-L-cysteine (100 or 200 nmol/kg/min) markedly diminished the ability of intravenous injections of the potent synthetic opioid, fentanyl (10, 25, and 50 μg/kg), to depress the frequency of breathing, tidal volume, and minute ventilation. Our study also found that the ability of intravenously injected fentanyl (10, 25, and 50 μg/kg) to disturb eupneic breathing, which was measured as a marked increase of the non-eupneic breathing index, was substantially reduced in unanesthetized rats receiving intravenous infusions of S-nitroso-L-cysteine (100 or 200 nmol/kg/min). In contrast, the deleterious effects of fentanyl (10, 25, and 50 μg/kg) on frequency of breathing, tidal volume, minute ventilation and non-eupneic breathing index were fully expressed in rats receiving continuous infusions (200 nmol/kg/min) of the parent amino acid, L-cysteine, or the D-isomer, namely, S-nitroso-D-cysteine. In addition, the antinociceptive actions of the above doses of fentanyl as monitored by the tail-flick latency assay, were enhanced by S-nitroso-L-cysteine, but not L-cysteine or S-nitroso-D-cysteine. Taken together, these findings add to existing knowledge that S-nitroso-L-cysteine stereoselectively modulates the detrimental effects of opioids on breathing, and opens the door for mechanistic studies designed to establish whether the pharmacological actions of S-nitroso-L-cysteine involve signaling processes that include 1) the activation of plasma membrane ion channels and receptors, 2) selective intracellular entry of S-nitroso-L-cysteine, and/or 3) S-nitrosylation events. Whether alterations in the bioavailability and bioactivity of endogenous S-nitroso-L-cysteine is a key factor in determining the potency/efficacy of fentanyl on breathing is an intriguing question.
Significance of Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cell in Placenta Development and Implications for Preeclampsia
Authors: Zhang Yang , Zhong Yanqi , Zou Li , Liu Xiaoxia
Published: June 2022

The well-developed placentation is fundamental for the reproductive pregnancy while the defective placental development is the pathogenetic basis of preeclampsia (PE), a dangerous complication of pregnancy comprising the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs) are a group of multipotent stem cells that own a potent capacity of differentiating into constitutive cells of vessel walls. Additionally, with the paracrine secretion of various factors, PMSCs inextricably link and interact with other component cells in the placenta, collectively improving the placental vasculature, uterine spiral artery remolding, and uteroplacental interface immunoregulation. Recent studies have further indicated that preeclamptic PMSCs, closely implicated in the abnormal crosstalk between other ambient cells, disturb the homeostasis and development in the placenta. Nevertheless, PMSCs transplantation or PMSCs exosome therapies tend to improve the placental vascular network and trophoblastic functions in the PE model, suggesting PMSCs may be a novel and putative therapeutic strategy for PE. Herein, we provide an overview of the multifaceted contributions of PMSCs in early placental development. Thereinto, the intensive interactions between PMSCs and other component cells in the placenta were particularly highlighted and further extended to the implications in the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies of PE.
Adenosine Kinase on Deoxyribonucleic Acid Methylation: Adenosine Receptor-Independent Pathway in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Luo Hao-Yun , Shen Hai-Ying , Perkins R. Serene , Wang Ya-Xu
Published: June 2022

Methylation is an important mechanism contributing to cancer pathology. Methylation of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes has been closely associated with tumor occurrence and development. New insights regarding the potential role of the adenosine receptor-independent pathway in the epigenetic modulation of DNA methylation offer the possibility of new interventional strategies for cancer therapy. Targeting DNA methylation of cancer-related genes is a promising therapeutic strategy; drugs like 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-AZA-CdR, decitabine) effectively reverse DNA methylation and cancer cell growth. However, current anti-methylation (or methylation modifiers) are associated with severe side effects; thus, there is an urgent need for safer and more specific inhibitors of DNA methylation (or DNA methylation modifiers). The adenosine signaling pathway is reported to be involved in cancer pathology and participates in the development of tumors by altering DNA methylation. Most recently, an adenosine metabolic clearance enzyme, adenosine kinase (ADK), has been shown to influence methylation on tumor suppressor genes and tumor development and progression. This review article focuses on recent updates on ADK and its two isoforms, and its actions in adenosine receptor-independent pathways, including methylation modification and epigenetic changes in cancer pathology.
Chloroquine Attenuates Asthma Development by Restoring Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype Via the ROS-AKT Pathway
Authors: Ren Yan , Zhong Xiuhua , Wang Hongyu , Chen Zhongqi , Liu Yanan , Zeng Xiaoning , Ma Yuan
Published: June 2022

Switching of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell phenotype from differentiated-contractile to dedifferentiated-proliferative/synthetic state often occurs in asthmatic subjects with airway dysfunction. Evidence has been provided that chloroquine (an agonist of bitter taste receptors) presented benefits to ASM cell function implicated in asthma. However, the underlying mechanism is unclear. House dust mite (HDM)-sensitized mice were administered with chloroquine or dexamethasone before challenge. BALF and lung tissue were obtained for cell counting, histological analysis or ELISA. Primary cultured ASM cells were stimulated with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 or H2O2. Cells and supernatant were collected for the detection of ASM phenotype, ROS level, and proinflammatory cytokine production. In HDM-sensitized mice, chloroquine attenuated airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), inflammation and remodeling with an inhibition of immunoglobulin E, IL-4/-13, and TGF-β1 in BALF. ASM cell proliferation (PCNA), hypertrophy (α-SMA), and parasecretion (MMP-9 and MMP-13) were strongly suppressed by chloroquine, hinting the rebalance of the heterogeneous ASM populations in asthmatic airway. Our data in vitro indicated that chloroquine markedly restrained maladaptive alteration in ASM phenotype in concert with a remission of ROS. Using H2O2 and PI3K inhibitor (LY294002), we found that the inhibition of oxidative stress level and ROS-AKT signal by chloroquine may serve as a potential mechanism that dedicates to the restoration of the phenotypic imbalance in ASM cells. Overall, the present findings suggested that chloroquine improves asthmatic airway function by controlling ASM cell phenotype shift, sketching a novel profile of chloroquine as a new therapeutic candidate for airway remodeling.
Natural Products for the Treatment of Post-stroke Depression
Authors: Fang Chaoyou , Zhang Zeyu , Xu Houshi , Liu Yibo , Wang Xiaoyu , Yuan Ling , Xu Yuanzhi , Zhu Zhengyang , Zhang Anke , Shao Anwen , Lou Meiqing
Published: June 2022

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most frequent and important neuropsychiatric consequence of stroke. It is strongly associated with exacerbated deterioration of functional recovery, physical and cognitive recoveries, and quality of life. However, its mechanism is remarkably complicated, including the neurotransmitters hypothesis (which consists of a monoaminergic hypothesis and glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity hypothesis), inflammation hypothesis, dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and neurotrophic hypothesis and neuroplasticity. So far, the underlying pathogenesis of PSD has not been clearly defined yet. At present, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been used as the first-line drugs to treat patients with PSD. Additionally, more than SSRIs, a majority of the current antidepressants complied with multiple side effects, which limits their clinical application. Currently, a wide variety of studies revealed the therapeutic potential of natural products in the management of several diseases, especially PSD, with minor side effects. Accordingly, in our present review, we aim to summarize the therapeutic targets of these compounds and their potential role in-clinic therapy for patients with PSD.
Strontium Regulates the Proliferation and Differentiation of Isolated Primary Bovine Chondrocytes via the TGFβ/SMAD Pathway
Authors: Liu Siqi , Shen Bingyu , Loor Juan J. , Jiang Qianming , Yuan Yang , Kong Yezi , Tan Panpan , Zeng Fangyuan , Zhao Chenxu , Zhu Xiaoyan , Wang Jianguo
Published: June 2022

The present study evaluated the effects of strontium (Sr) on proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes isolated from dairy cows, and whether Sr exerts its effects via transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling. The chondrocytes were isolated from patellar cartilage from newborn Holstein bull calves (n = 3, 1 day old, 38.0 ± 2.8 kg, fasting) within 15 min after euthanasia, and treated with different concentrations of Sr (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 μg/ml, as SrCl2·6H2O). After pretreatment with or without activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5) inhibitor (10 μM SB-505124) for 4 h, chondrocytes were incubated with Sr for another 4 h. Overall effects of Sr were evaluated relative to NaCl as the control. In contrast, the 1 μg/ml Sr-treated group served as the control to determine effects of preincubating with SB-505124. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used for measuring expression of proliferation-, differentiation-, and TGFβ1-responsive factors. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA in GraphPad Prism 7.0. Incubation with all doses of Sr increased TGFβ1/ALK5-induced SMAD3 phosphorylation, and at 10 μg/ml it inhibited ALK1-induced SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation. Expression of mRNA and protein of the proliferation-responsive factors type Ⅱ Collagen α1 (COL2A1) and aggrecan (ACAN) was induced by Sr at 1 μg/ml. In contrast, Sr at 10 μg/ml inhibited the expression of differentiation-responsive factors type Ⅹ Collagen α1 (COL10A1) and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), and at 1 μg/ml it had the same effect on alkaline phosphatase (ALPL) mRNA and protein levels. Cells were stained with PI/RNase Staining buffer to assess cell cycle activity using flow-cytometry. Incubation with Sr at 1 and 10 μg/ml induced an increase in the number of cells in the S-phase, leading to an increase in the proliferation index. Incubation with SB-505124 inhibited phosphorylation of SMAD3. Abundance of ACAN and COL2A1 mRNA and protein was lower when cells were pre-incubated with SB-505124. Overall, data indicated that Sr promotes proliferation and inhibits differentiation of primary chondrocytes by directing TGFβ1 signaling towards SMAD3 phosphorylation rather than SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation. Whether these effects occur in vivo remains to be determined and could impact future application of Sr as an experimental tool in livestock.
Mechanistic Insights Into Inflammation-Induced Arrhythmias: A Simulation Study
Authors: Bi Xiangpeng , Zhang Shugang , Jiang Huasen , Ma Wenjian , Li Yuanfei , Lu Weigang , Yang Fei , Wei Zhiqiang
Published: June 2022

Cardiovascular diseases are the primary cause of death of humans, and among these, ventricular arrhythmias are the most common cause of death. There is plausible evidence implicating inflammation in the etiology of ventricular fibrillation (VF). In the case of systemic inflammation caused by an overactive immune response, the induced inflammatory cytokines directly affect the function of ion channels in cardiomyocytes, leading to a prolonged action potential duration (APD). However, the mechanistic links between inflammatory cytokine-induced molecular and cellular influences and inflammation-associated ventricular arrhythmias need to be elucidated. The present study aimed to determine the potential impact of systemic inflammation on ventricular electrophysiology by means of multiscale virtual heart models. The experimental data on the ionic current of three major cytokines [i.e., tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] were incorporated into the cell model, and the effects of each cytokine and their combined effect on the cell action potential (AP) were evaluated. Moreover, the integral effect of these cytokines on the conduction of excitation waves was also investigated in a tissue model. The simulation results suggested that inflammatory cytokines significantly prolonged APD, enhanced the transmural and regional repolarization heterogeneities that predispose to arrhythmias, and reduced the adaptability of ventricular tissue to fast heart rates. In addition, simulated pseudo-ECGs showed a prolonged QT interval—a manifestation consistent with clinical observations. In summary, the present study provides new insights into ventricular arrhythmias associated with inflammation.
Graph Theory Analysis of the Cortical Functional Network During Sleep in Patients With Depression
Authors: Song Yingjie , Wang Kejie , Wei Yu , Zhu Yongpeng , Wen Jinfeng , Luo Yuxi
Published: June 2022

Depression, a common mental illness that seriously affects the psychological health of patients, is also thought to be associated with abnormal brain functional connectivity. This study aimed to explore the differences in the sleep-state functional network topology in depressed patients. A total of 25 healthy participants and 26 depressed patients underwent overnight 16-channel electroencephalography (EEG) examination. The cortical networks were constructed by using functional connectivity metrics of participants based on the weighted phase lag index (WPLI) between the EEG signals. The results indicated that depressed patients exhibited higher global efficiency and node strength than healthy participants. Furthermore, the depressed group indicated right-lateralization in the δ band. The top 30% of connectivity in both groups were shown in undirected connectivity graphs, revealing the distinct link patterns between the depressed and control groups. Links between the hemispheres were noted in the patient group, while the links in the control group were only observed within each hemisphere, and there were many long-range links inside the hemisphere. The altered sleep-state functional network topology in depressed patients may provide clues for a better understanding of the depression pathology. Overall, functional network topology may become a powerful tool for the diagnosis of depression.
Skeletal Muscle Contractile Function in Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction—A Focus on Nitric Oxide
Authors: Park Lauren K. , Coggan Andrew R. , Peterson Linda R.
Published: June 2022

Despite advances over the past few decades, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains not only a mortal but a disabling disease. Indeed, the New York Heart Association classification of HFrEF severity is based on how much exercise a patient can perform. Moreover, exercise capacity—both aerobic exercise performance and muscle power—are intimately linked with survival in patients with HFrEF. This review will highlight the pathologic changes in skeletal muscle in HFrEF that are related to impaired exercise performance. Next, it will discuss the key role that impaired nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability plays in HFrEF skeletal muscle pathology. Lastly, it will discuss intriguing new data suggesting that the inorganic nitrate ‘enterosalivary pathway’ may be leveraged to increase NO bioavailability via ingestion of inorganic nitrate. This ingestion of inorganic nitrate has several advantages over organic nitrate (e.g., nitroglycerin) and the endogenous nitric oxide synthase pathway. Moreover, inorganic nitrate has been shown to improve exercise performance: both muscle power and aerobic capacity, in some recent small but well-controlled, cross-over studies in patients with HFrEF. Given the critical importance of better exercise performance for the amelioration of disability as well as its links with improved outcomes in patients with HFrEF, further studies of inorganic nitrate as a potential novel treatment is critical.
Multiple Laser Doppler Flowmetry Probes Increase the Reproducibility of Skin Blood Flow Measurements
Authors: Luck J. Carter , Kunselman Allen R. , Herr Michael D. , Blaha Cheryl A. , Sinoway Lawrence I. , Cui Jian
Published: June 2022

Cutaneous microcirculatory perfusion is commonly measured using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) probes, which provide a continuous, non-invasive quantification of skin blood flow (SkBF). However, inhomogeneities in the skin’s microvasculature density contribute to a decrease in reproducibility whenever an LDF probe is removed and replaced, as is the case during pre- and post-intervention or between-day measurements. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether increasing the total number of individual LDF probes in a localized area improves the reproducibility of the measurement. Seven laser Doppler probes were secured in a custom-made acrylic holder designed to attach to the skin’s surface easily. SkBF, local skin temperature (Tsk), and blood pressure (BP) were assessed in 11 participants (6 M, 5 F, 42 ± 15 years). SkBF and Tsk were measured from the dorsal forearm (arm trial) for 5 min. Next, the multi-laser device was moved to the lateral side of the calf (leg trial), and measurements were obtained for 5 min. Each arm and leg trial was cyclically repeated three times, and all trials were separated by intermissions lasting 10–15 min. The average SkBF and the cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) from all possible LDF probe combinations were not statistically different across the three arm and leg trials. Two-way mixed-effects models with absolute agreement were used to compute the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for CVC, and the minimum ICC increased with the addition of LDF probes. The ICC of the average CVC from seven LDF probes was 0.96 between the arm trials and 0.91 between the leg trials, which suggests that there is excellent reliability and little difference between trials following the removal and replacement of the device. Moreover, all individual ICC values from ≥3 LDF probe combinations were greater than 0.70 (i.e., good reliability). These data suggest that SkBF measurements with multiple laser Doppler probes in a custom-made holder have excellent reproducibility after replacing the probes within the same participant. Therefore, this application could provide more reproducible assessments between repeated measurements (e.g., before and after exercise or clinical procedures) where the LDF probes must be removed and replaced within the same location.
Nitrogen Source Matters: High NH4/NO3 Ratio Reduces Cannabinoids, Terpenoids, and Yield in Medical Cannabis
Authors: Saloner Avia , Bernstein Nirit
Published: June 2022

The N form supplied to the plant, ammonium (NH4+) or nitrate (NO3–), is a major factor determining the impact of N nutrition on plant function and metabolic responses. We have hypothesized that the ratio of NH4/NO3 supplied to cannabis plants affects the physiological function and the biosynthesis of cannabinoids and terpenoids, which are major factors in the cannabis industry. To evaluate the hypothesis we examined the impact of five supply ratios of NH4/NO3 (0, 10, 30, 50, and 100% N-NH4+, under a uniform level of 200 mg L–1 N) on plant response. The plants were grown in pots, under controlled environment conditions. The results revealed high sensitivity of cannabinoid and terpenoid concentrations and plant function to NH4/NO3 ratio, thus supporting the hypothesis. The increase in NH4 supply generally caused an adverse response: Secondary metabolite production, inflorescence yield, plant height, inflorescence length, transpiration and photosynthesis rates, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll content, were highest under NO3 nutrition when no NH4 was supplied. Ratios of 10–30% NH4 did not substantially impair secondary metabolism and plant function, but produced smaller inflorescences and lower inflorescence yield compared with only NO3 nutrition. Under a level of 50% NH4, the plants demonstrated toxicity symptoms, which appeared only at late stages of plant maturation, and 100% NH4 induced substantial plant damage, resulting in plant death. This study demonstrates a dramatic impact of N form on cannabis plant function and production, with a 46% decrease in inflorescence yield with the increase in NH4 supply from 0 to 50%. Yet, moderate levels of 10–30% NH4 are suitable for medical cannabis cultivation, as they do not damage plant function and show only little adverse influence on yield and cannabinoid production. Higher NH4/NO3 ratios, containing above 30% NH4, are not recommended since they increase the potential for a severe and fatal NH4 toxicity damage.
Gene Editing to Accelerate Crop Breeding
Authors: Dhugga Kanwarpal S.
Published: June 2022

Recent advances in biotechnology have helped increase tissue transformation efficiency and the frequency and specificity of gene editing to an extent that introducing allelic variants directly in elite varieties has become possible. In comparison to the conventional approach of crossing an elite recipient line with an exotic donor parent to introduce the trait of interest followed by repeated backcrossing, direct introduction of major-effect allelic variants into elite varieties saves time and resources, and eliminates yield drag resulting from the residual donor genes at the end of backcrossing.
Estimation of Rice Aboveground Biomass by Combining Canopy Spectral Reflectance and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Based Red Green Blue Imagery Data
Authors: Wang Zhonglin , Ma Yangming , Chen Ping , Yang Yonggang , Fu Hao , Yang Feng , Raza Muhammad Ali , Guo Changchun , Shu Chuanhai , Sun Yongjian , Yang Zhiyuan , Chen Zongkui , Ma Jun
Published: June 2022

Estimating the aboveground biomass (AGB) of rice using remotely sensed data is critical for reflecting growth status, predicting grain yield, and indicating carbon stocks in agroecosystems. A combination of multisource remotely sensed data has great potential for providing complementary datasets, improving estimation accuracy, and strengthening precision agricultural insights. Here, we explored the potential to estimate rice AGB by using a combination of spectral vegetation indices and wavelet features (spectral parameters) derived from canopy spectral reflectance and texture features and texture indices (texture parameters) derived from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) RGB imagery. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the combined spectral and texture parameters and improve rice AGB estimation. Correlation analysis was performed to select the potential variables to establish the linear and quadratic regression models. Multivariate analysis (multiple stepwise regression, MSR; partial least square, PLS) and machine learning (random forest, RF) were used to evaluate the estimation performance of spectral parameters, texture parameters, and their combination for rice AGB. The results showed that spectral parameters had better linear and quadratic relationships with AGB than texture parameters. For the multivariate analysis and machine learning algorithm, the MSR, PLS, and RF regression models fitted with spectral parameters (R2 values of 0.793, 0.795, and 0.808 for MSR, PLS, and RF, respectively) were more accurate than those fitted with texture parameters (R2 values of 0.540, 0.555, and 0.485 for MSR, PLS, and RF, respectively). The MSR, PLS, and RF regression models fitted with a combination of spectral and texture parameters (R2 values of 0.809, 0.810, and 0.805, respectively) slightly improved the estimation accuracy of AGB over the use of spectral parameters or texture parameters alone. Additionally, the bior1.3 of wavelet features at 947 nm and scale 2 was used to predict the grain yield and had good accuracy for the quadratic regression model. Therefore, the combined use of canopy spectral reflectance and texture information has great potential for improving the estimation accuracy of rice AGB, which is helpful for rice productivity prediction. Combining multisource remotely sensed data from the ground and UAV technology provides new solutions and ideas for rice biomass acquisition.
Antioxidative Defense System, Hormones, and Metabolite Accumulation in Different Plant Parts of Two Contrasting Rice Cultivars as Influenced by Plant Growth Regulators Under Heat Stress
Authors: Al-Zahrani Hassan S. , Alharby Hesham F. , Fahad Shah
Published: June 2022

We examined the metabolic, hormonal, enzymatic, and non-enzymatic responses of various plant components (leaf, root, and xylem sap) to plant growth regulators [methyl jasmonate (MeJA), ascorbic acid (Vc), brassinosteroids (Br), triazoles (Tr), alpha-tocopherol (Ve), and control] under heat stress [ambient temperature (AT), heat stress at night time (HNT), and heat stress at day (HDT)] in heat-sensitive (IR-64) and heat-tolerant (Huanghuazhan) rice cultivars under greenhouse conditions. Our results showed that heat stress altered the antioxidant activities and hormonal balance and rigorously reduced total soluble sugars, proteins, and proline, whereas increases were observed in H2O2 and Malondialdehyde (MDA) content accumulation in the plant xylem sap and leaves of both tested cultivars; however, the impact was more pronounced in IR-64. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), Glutathione (GSH), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) activities were higher in Huanghuazhan than in IR-64 in response to temperature stress, when compared to AT. Additionally, heat stress increased abscisic acid (ABA) levels in both rice cultivars, especially in IR-64. The highest concentrations of hormones were recorded in the roots, followed by the leaves and xylem sap, in both cultivars. HDT and HNT stresses severely reduced the concentrations of all of the cytokinin types (except for iP9G and tZ9G) and IAA in the different plant parts of rice cultivars. Moreover, HNT was more detrimental for hormone and metabolite synthesis in both cultivars. The growth regulators (especially Vc + Br + Ve + MeJA) were comparatively more effective in minimizing the hostile impact of heat stress on most of the studied traits and should be applied to obtain the optimum yield of rice in subtropical and tropical areas under changing climatic conditions.
Sexism and Attitudes Toward Policy Spending in Australia and the United States
Authors: Beauregard Katrine , Holman Mirya , Sheppard Jill
Published: June 2022

Sexist attitudes influence a wide range of political behaviors, including support for explicitly gendered policies like gender quotas. But we know much less about how sexism might broadly shape policy preferences. We argue that some policy domains are implicitly associated with being pro-women or pro-men because of gender socialization, gender segregation in the workforce, and differences in policy preferences in the general population and among political elites. As (hostile) sexists view women as inherently undeserving, making illegitimate claims on government, and getting ahead at the expense of men, we hypothesize that they will oppose policies associated with women, while supporting “male” policies such as defense and law enforcement. We test our hypothesis using the 2019 Australian Election Study and 2018 US Cooperative Congressional Study. We find similar patterns of policy preferences, wherein those holding sexist attitudes (net of other attitudes and demographic characteristics) want to cut funding for pro-women policies like social services, education, and health, while they approve of increased funding for law enforcement and defense.
Case Report: A Functional Approach to Deal With Sexual Harassment Within Families
Authors: Meiling Li , Hania Alishba , Waqas Muhammad
Published: June 2022

Abuse is followed by multiple short- and long-term psychological consequences. Researchers suggest a significant need to design a culturally relevant and competent treatment plan specifically for the Asian context. This research presents an account of therapeutic strategies that were employed to manage the complaints of sexual harassment and associated psychological challenges. This case report dealt with a 16-year-old girl who was self-referred to the psychologist with complaints of getting sexually harassed by her brother-in-law, difficulty in managing academic challenges, communication gap with parents, and difficulty in handling her anger for the past 7 years. The assessment modalities used with the client were Behavioral Observation, Clinical Interview, Baseline Charts, School Children Problem Scale to rule out emotional–behavioral problems, the Adult–Child Interaction Test, and Downward Arrow Technique for cognitive assessment. The management plan was based on trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and constituted of goals, such as having self-protection awareness from harassment, reducing the fear and unexplained emotions of grief, increasing self-esteem, designing a proper schedule for studies, and developing good communication ability. Post-assessment showed that anger reduced to 40%, communication gap with parents reduced to 50%, fear of harassment reduced to 40%, and self-image improved up to 40%. Sessions were based on 9 in-person meetings.
Correcting the Bias Correction for the Bootstrap Confidence Interval in Mediation Analysis
Authors: Tibbe Tristan D. , Montoya Amanda K.
Published: June 2022

The bias-corrected bootstrap confidence interval (BCBCI) was once the method of choice for conducting inference on the indirect effect in mediation analysis due to its high power in small samples, but now it is criticized by methodologists for its inflated type I error rates. In its place, the percentile bootstrap confidence interval (PBCI), which does not adjust for bias, is currently the recommended inferential method for indirect effects. This study proposes two alternative bias-corrected bootstrap methods for creating confidence intervals around the indirect effect: one originally used by Stine (1989) with the correlation coefficient, and a novel method that implements a reduced version of the BCBCI's bias correction. Using a Monte Carlo simulation, these methods were compared to the BCBCI, PBCI, and Chen and Fritz (2021)'s 30% Winsorized BCBCI. The results showed that the methods perform on a continuum, where the BCBCI has the best balance (i.e., having closest to an equal proportion of CIs falling above and below the true effect), highest power, and highest type I error rate; the PBCI has the worst balance, lowest power, and lowest type I error rate; and the alternative bias-corrected methods fall between these two methods on all three performance criteria. An extension of the original simulation that compared the bias-corrected methods to the PBCI after controlling for type I error rate inflation suggests that the increased power of these methods might only be due to their higher type I error rates. Thus, if control over the type I error rate is desired, the PBCI is still the recommended method for use with the indirect effect. Future research should examine the performance of these methods in the presence of missing data, confounding variables, and other real-world complications to enhance the generalizability of these results.
Towards the Sustainability of English Language Teachers Professionalism via Professional Development Programs: Extrinsic and Intrinsic Satisfactions
Authors: Omar Ruzana , Ab Rashid Radzuwan , Yusoff Sarah , Ismail Hanita Hanim , Saed Hadeel , Yassin Baderaddin , Al-Smadi Omar Ali
Published: June 2022

With a great emphasis on understanding teacher satisfaction in designing and improving professional development programs (PDPs), this study investigated the intrinsic and extrinsic aspects of satisfaction among Malaysian English as a Second Language (ESL) primary school teachers after finishing their first-degree program. A mixed-methods design was employed by using both quantitative methods (by administering survey research) and qualitative methods (through the use of items of the semi-structured questionnaire). The survey questionnaire was adapted from OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) questionnaire to measure the level of intrinsic and extrinsic teacher satisfaction among the samples. Descriptive analysis was used to analyse the survey research data collected from 30 secondary school English language teachers in Kuala Terengganu, east coast of Malaysia. The findings revealed that personal gains did not contribute much to PD activities in relation to the level of the teacher's extrinsic satisfaction after following their first-degree PD program. The study indicates that teachers differ from each other in terms of the source of their motivation for PD, whether intrinsic or extrinsic, and the type of development they aim for. This is hoped to show direction to the policymakers and organizers of PD programs in enhancing the program by taking into consideration of the teacher satisfaction, seniority, and professional background.
Product-Centered Language Style in Chinese Women Online Reviews
Authors: Wang Xian , Mu Congjun , Li Huixian , Noble Alison , Wang Qingyi
Published: June 2022

The relationship of language style and online review has drawn increasing academic attention recently as it can provide customers with a guide to make the purchase. Extant research attaches importance to the language style that is presented in the use of function words, instead of product-related content words. This study aimed to examine the language style generated by customers’ comments relating to the product based on content words, that is, product-centered language style (PCLS). We built a corpus of Chinese women clothes online reviews to explore the general picture and distinct features of PCLS and the distinct feature of PCLS. A content-word-centered Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) in terms of product performance is established. PCLS is calculated based on the language style matching (LSM) algorithm. Our results show that the PCLS in women clothes online review is featured by diverse and polarized language styles among three groups of women clothes buyers, and the prioritized arrangement of words of importance contributes to the PCLS. The findings benefit the women clothes industry in which it can help companies quickly find the distinctive and the transition of PCLS and offer an approach for companies to indiscriminately look into the significance of the product category from the linguistic perspective, which can help with product sale strategy and product design.
Functional Impairment in Borderline Personality Disorder: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support
Authors: Thadani Beatriz , Pérez-García Ana M. , Bermúdez José
Published: June 2022

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by instability in relationships, mood fluctuations, and erratic behavior. This study investigates the relationship between pathological personality traits and functional disability, the status of perceived social support in BPD, as well as its mediating role in this relationship. In this cross-sectional study, 192 Spanish women (BPD group,N= 97; healthy control group,N= 95) completed, through two online platforms, a battery of tests including: thePersonality Inventory for DSM-5 Brief Form (PID-5-BF), theWorld Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0(WHODAS 2.0) and thePerceived Social Support subscale of the Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ). The results show that perceived social support was significantly lower in the BPD group, which also presented a significantly higher disability score than the control group. Pathological personality traits affected functionality both directly and indirectly through perceived social support, as this variable was a significant mediator in both groups. We conclude that perceived social support is impaired in BPD patients, and enhancing it as a complementary therapy to evidence-based treatments could help preserve the functionality of patients while pathological traits are regulated. This study also encourages future research to delve into the relevance of other psychosocial variables on the functionality of subjects with BPD, and the need of enhancing them in therapy.
Identification of Minimal Pairs of Japanese Pitch Accent in Noise-Vocoded Speech
Authors: Sugiyama Yukiko
Published: June 2022

The perception of lexical pitch accent in Japanese was assessed using noise-excited vocoder speech, which contained no fundamental frequency (fo) or its harmonics. While prosodic information such as in lexical stress in English and lexical tone in Mandarin Chinese is known to be encoded in multiple acoustic dimensions, such multidimensionality is less understood for lexical pitch accent in Japanese. In the present study, listeners were tested under four different conditions to investigate the contribution of non-foproperties to the perception of Japanese pitch accent: noise-vocoded speech stimuli consisting of 10 3-ERBN-wide bands and 15 2-ERBN-wide bands created from a male and female speaker. Results found listeners were able to identify minimal pairs of final-accented and unaccented words at a rate better than chance in all conditions, indicating the presence of secondary cues to Japanese pitch accent. Subsequent analyses were conducted to investigate if the listeners' ability to distinguish minimal pairs was correlated with duration, intensity or formant information. The results found no strong or consistent correlation, suggesting the possibility that listeners used different cues depending on the information available in the stimuli. Furthermore, the comparison of the current results with equivalent studies in English and Mandarin Chinese suggest that, although lexical prosodic information exists in multiple acoustic dimensions in Japanese, the primary cue is more salient than in other languages.
Do Chief Executives Matter in Corporate Financial and Social Responsibility Performance Nexus? A dynamic Model Analysis of Chinese Firms
Authors: Zahid R. M. Ammar , Khurshid Muzammil , Khan Wajid
Published: June 2022

This study examined the relationship between Corporate Financial Performance (CFP) and Corporate Social Responsibility Performance (CSRP). Furthermore, it explored the effectiveness of chief executive characteristics as a moderator in the CFP-CSRP nexus. We employed a dynamic sysGMM regression model on 2,439 firm-year observations of Chinese firms. The results reveal that CFP (market-based) has a significant positive impact on CSRP. However, CFP (historical) is significantly negatively related to CSRP. Furthermore, the study found that CEO turnover and CEO duality negatively moderate the CFP-CSRP relationship, while CEO as CFO positively moderates this relationship. The findings have substantial implications for all stakeholders, including investors, CEOs, corporate regulators, and policymakers.
Prosocial Behavior in Toddlerhood: The Contribution of Emotion Knowledge, Theory of Mind, and Language Ability
Authors: Brazzelli Elisa , Pepe Alessandro , Grazzani Ilaria
Published: June 2022

While scholars have previously investigated the respective contributions of emotional knowledge and language ability to toddlers' prosociality, no studies to date have featured a battery of multiple direct measures assessing both of these abilities plus theory of mind on the one hand, and prosocial behavior on the other hand. In contrast, we conducted the present cross-sectional study with a view to evaluating the unique contributions of each of these three social cognition variables as antecedents of prosocial conduct during toddlerhood, measuring them via a series of individually administered standardized tasks. Furthermore, given that the existing literature documents mixed gender effects, we also set out to explore the role of gender in toddlers' prosociality. Finally, we also controlled for any effects of age on the patterns of association among the key variables. Participants were 127 children aged between 24 and 36 months (M = 29.2 months; SD = 3.5). We identified significant correlations among the variables under study. In addition, stepwise multiple regression analysis suggested that each of the social cognition (SC) abilities – i.e., emotion knowledge, theory of mind, and language - made a unique contribution to explaining variance in prosocial behaviors (PB). These findings show that SC is already associated with PB in toddlerhood and suggest the importance of fostering social cognition competence from the early years, with a view to increasing children's propensity to engage in prosocial conduct.
Commodity Recommendation Model Integrating User Psychological Data Analysis
Authors: Xu Yan , Cui Wantian
Published: June 2022

E-commerce recommendation plays an irreplaceable role in alleviating product information overload and improving consumers’ personalized experience and sales conversion rate. According to the idea of recommendation, e-commerce recommendation can be divided into two types: recommendation based on correlation and recommendation based on causality. The former, such as collaborative filtering and other recommendation methods, is highly dependent on data; the latter, such as product recommendation based on consumer psychology, has great superiority in new product recommendation due to the introduction of such domain knowledge as consumer psychology in the recommendation. In this paper, we select three representative consumer psychologies of “consumer motivation,” “consumer attitude,” and “consumer interest” to explore the recommendation of products with multiple consumer psychologies. On the one hand, according to the theory of consumption psychology and the need of e-commerce recommendation, some product-store attributes are selected as attribute variables. A comprehensive comparison and analysis of the patterns presented by multiple consumer psychology in product recommendations are conducted, and the patterns of multiple consumer psychology product recommendations are analyzed from two perspectives: recommendation stability and recommendation result patterns, respectively, and the reasons for them are analyzed. It is clear that the recommendation method based on dual consumption psychology and triple consumption psychology can also effectively achieve product recommendation. In this paper, we compare and analyze the difference in recommendation accuracy between single consumption psychology, dual consumption psychology, and triple consumption psychology and find that compared with single consumption psychology, product recommendation based on dual consumption psychology and triple consumption psychology can basically improve the accuracy of product recommendation, and the accuracy of dual consumption psychology is generally higher than that of triple consumption psychology, among which the accuracy of product recommendation based on dual consumption motivation–attitude psychology is the highest.