bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Phase Ib Study of the Simmitecan Single Agent and in Combination With 5-Fluorouracil/Leucovorin or Thalidomide in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumor
Authors: Zhang Qi , Deng Ting , Yang Fen , Guo Weijian , Liu Dan , Yuan Jiajia , Qi Changsong , Cao Yanshuo , Yu Qiuqiong , Cai Huiming , Peng Zhi , Wang Xicheng , Zhou Jun , Lu Ming , Gong Jifang , Li Jian , Ba Yi , Shen Lin
Published: July 2022

Background: Simmitecan is a potent inhibitor of topoisomerase I with anti-tumor activity. This phase Ib trial was conducted to investigate the safety and anti-tumor effect of simmitecan alone or in combination with other drugs.

Methods: Eligible patients with advanced solid tumor had no further standard treatment options. Patients were allocated to receive simmitecan alone, simmitecan in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin (LV), or simmitecan in combination with thalidomide, 14 days a cycle, until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurred.

Results: A total of 41 patients were enrolled, with a median age of 55 (range 29–69) years. Among them, 13 patients received simmitecan monotherapy, 10 received simmitecan + 5-FU/LV, and 18 received simmitecan + thalidomide. No dose-limiting toxicity occurred. Overall, the most common grade 3/4 adverse event (AE) was neutropenia (46.2, 70.0, and 88.9%, respectively, in simmitecan, simmitecan + 5-FU/LV, and simmitecan + thalidomide cohorts), and treatment-related severe AEs included anemia and febrile neutropenia (7.7% each in simmitecan cohort), diarrhea (10% in simmitecan +5-FU/LV cohort), and febrile neutropenia (5.6% in simmitecan + thalidomide cohort). The majority of patients (24/41, 58.3%) had progressed on prior irinotecan; nevertheless, partial response was achieved in one colorectal cancer patients treated with simmitecan + thalidomide. The disease control rates of simmitecan, simmitecan + 5-FU/LV, and simmitecan + thalidomide cohorts were 46.2, 80.0, and 61.1%, respectively.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated a manageable safety profile of simmitecan as a single agent or as part of a combination therapy. There have not been any safety concerns with simmitecan in combination when compared to simmitecan alone. Simmitecan + 5-FU/LV regimen seemed to have a better efficacy. Nonetheless, the efficacy of this regimen needs to be further explored in the subsequent study.
An Integrated Pharmacological Counselling Approach to Guide Decision-Making in the Treatment with CDK4/6 Inhibitors for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Roncato Rossana , Gerratana Lorenzo , Palmero Lorenza , Gagno Sara , Poetto Ariana Soledad , Peruzzi Elena , Zanchetta Martina , Posocco Bianca , De Mattia Elena , Canil Giovanni , Alberti Martina , Orleni Marco , Toffoli Giuseppe , Puglisi Fabio , Cecchin Erika
Published: July 2022

A wide inter-individual variability in the therapeutic response to cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 inhibitors (CDKis) has been reported. We herein present a case series of five patients treated with either palbociclib or ribociclib referred to our clinical pharmacological counselling, including therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), pharmacogenetics, and drug–drug interaction analysis to support clinicians in the management of CDKis treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Patients’ plasma samples for TDM analysis were collected at steady state and analyzed by an LC-MS/MS method for minimum plasma concentration (Cmin) evaluation. Under and overexposure to the drug were defined based on the mean Cmin values observed in population pharmacokinetic studies. Polymorphisms in selected genes encoding for proteins involved in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination were analyzed (CYP3A4, CYP3A5, ABCB1, SLCO1B1, and ABCG2). Three of the five reported cases presented a CDKi plasma level above the population mean value and were referred for toxicity. One of them presented a low function ABCB1 haplotype (ABCB1-rs1128503, rs1045642, and rs2032582), possibly causative of both increased drug oral absorption and plasmatic concentration. Two patients showed underexposure to CDKis, and one of them was referred for early progression. In one patient, a CYP3A5*1/*3 genotype was found to be potentially responsible for more efficient drug metabolism and lower drug plasma concentration. This intensified pharmacological approach in clinical practice has been shown to be potentially effective in supporting prescribing oncologists with dose and drug selection and could be ultimately useful for increasing both the safety and efficacy profiles of CDKi treatment.
Identification of Anti-HIV Biomarkers of Helichrysum Species by NMR-Based Metabolomic Analysis
Authors: Emamzadeh Yazdi Simin , Heyman Heino Martin , Prinsloo Gerhard , Klimkait Thomas , Meyer Jacobus Johannes Marion
Published: July 2022

Several species of theHelichrysumgenus have been used ethnobotanically to treat conditions that we today know have been caused by viral infections. Since HIV is a modern disease with no ethnobotanical history, we commenced with a study on the anti-HIV activity of severalHelichrysumspecies. Drug discovery of small molecules from natural resources that is based on the integration of chemical and biological activity by means of metabolomical analyses, enables faster and a more cost-effective path to identify active compounds without the need for a long process of bioassay-guided fractionation. This study used metabolomics to identify anti-HIV compounds as biomarkers from 57Helichrysumspecies in a combined study of the chemical and biological data of two previous studies. In the OPLS-DA and hierarchical cluster analyses, anti-HIV activity data was included as a secondary observation, which assisted in the correlation of the phytochemical composition and biological activity of the samples. Clear grouping revealed similarity in chemical composition and bioactivity of the samples. Based on the biological activity of polar extracts, there was a distinct phytochemical difference between active and non-active groups of extracts. This NMR-based metabolomic investigation showed that the chlorogenic acids, compounds with cinnamoyl functional groups, and quinic acid were the most prominent compounds in theHelichrysumspecies with anti-HIV activity. This study further revealed that the chlorogenic acid type compounds and quinic acid are biomarkers for anti-HIV activity.
Repurposing of substances with lactone moiety for the treatment of γ-Hydroxybutyric acid and γ-Butyrolactone intoxication through modulating paraoxonase and PPARγ
Authors: Fateh Sepand Tehrani , Salehi-Najafabadi Amir
Published: July 2022

GHB and GBL are highly accessible recreational drugs of abuse with a high risk of adverse effects and mortality while no specific antidotes exist. These components can also be found in the clinical setting, beverages, and cosmetic products, leading to unwanted exposures and further intoxications. As the structural analogue of GABA, GHB is suggested as the primary mediator of GHB/GBL effects. We further suggest that GBL might be as critical as GHB in this process, acting through PPARγ as its receptor. Moreover, PPARγ and PON (i.e., the GHB-GBL converting enzyme) can be targeted for GHB/GBL addiction and intoxication, leading to modulation of the GHB-GBL balance and blockage of their effects. We suggest that repurposing substances with lactone moiety such as bacterial lactones, sesquiterpene lactones, and statins might lead to potential therapeutic options as they occupy the active sites of PPARγ and PON and interfere with the GHB-GBL balance. In conclusion, this hypothesis improves the GHB/GBL mechanism of action, suggests potential therapeutic options, and highlights the necessity of classifying GBL as a controlled substance.
The incidence and risk factors analysis of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients received diuretics: A single-center retrospective study
Authors: Zhang Ruiqiu , Liu Yanxin , Cao Jia , Lao Jiahui , Wang Baobao , Li Siwen , Huang Xin , Tang Fang , Li Xiao
Published: July 2022

Diuretics have been one of the well-known nephrotoxic drugs which can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI). However, there are few real-world studies on the incidence of AKI in hospitalized patients received diuretics. In the present study, a single-center retrospective study was conducted in our center. The clinical data of hospitalized patients received diuretics from January 2018 to December 2020 was retrospectively analyzed. Among the 18,148 hospitalized patients included in the study, 2,589 patients (14.26%) were judged as incidence with AKI, while only 252 patients were diagnosed with AKI in the medical record. Among diuretics drugs in the study, the incidence rate of AKI with torasemide was the highest with 21.62%, and hydrochlorothiazide had the lowest incidence rate (6.80%). The multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that complicated with hypertension, anemia, pneumonia, shock, sepsis, heart failure, neoplastic diseases, combined use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) were independent risk factors for AKI related to diuretics. The logic regression models for diuretics related AKI were developed based on the included data. The model for diuretics-AKI achieved the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) with 0.79 on 10-fold cross validation. It is urgent to improve the understanding and attention of AKI in patients received diuretics for medical workers, and the assessment of risk factors before the use of diuretics should be contributed to the early prevention, diagnosis and treatment of AKI, and ultimately reducing morbidity and improving prognosis.
Drug development progress in duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Deng Jiexin , Zhang Junshi , Shi Keli , Liu Zhigang
Published: July 2022

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe, progressive, and incurable X-linked disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. Patients with DMD have an absence of functional dystrophin protein, which results in chronic damage of muscle fibers during contraction, thus leading to deterioration of muscle quality and loss of muscle mass over time. Although there is currently no cure for DMD, improvements in treatment care and management could delay disease progression and improve quality of life, thereby prolonging life expectancy for these patients. Furthermore, active research efforts are ongoing to develop therapeutic strategies that target dystrophin deficiency, such as gene replacement therapies, exon skipping, and readthrough therapy, as well as strategies that target secondary pathology of DMD, such as novel anti-inflammatory compounds, myostatin inhibitors, and cardioprotective compounds. Furthermore, longitudinal modeling approaches have been used to characterize the progression of MRI and functional endpoints for predictive purposes to inform Go/No Go decisions in drug development. This review showcases approved drugs or drug candidates along their development paths and also provides information on primary endpoints and enrollment size of Ph2/3 and Ph3 trials in the DMD space.
The common regulatory pathway of COVID-19 and multiple inflammatory diseases and the molecular mechanism of cepharanthine in the treatment of COVID-19
Authors: Jiang Ping , Ye Jingyao , Jia Menglong , Li Xiaopeng , Wei Shujun , Li Nianhu
Published: July 2022

Background: Similar pathogenesis makes Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and gouty arthritis (GA), and it is possible to introduce common drugs for the treatment of RA, AS and GA into the treatment of COVID-19. That is, “homotherapy for heteropathy”, especially cytokine inhibitors. But little is known about the specific link between the diseases. In addition, “new use of old drugs” is an important short-term strategy for the treatment of COVID-19. Cepharanthine (CEP), a monomer component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is mainly used in the treatment of leukopenia and has recently been proved to have a good therapeutic effect on COVID-19, but its specific molecular mechanism has not been clearly explained. The purpose of this work is to explore the common targets and signaling pathways among COVID-19, RA, AS, and GA by means of network pharmacology (NP), and to infer the potential mechanism of CEP in the treatment of COVID-19.

Methods: Firstly, SwissTargetPrediction was used to predict the targets of CEP, and the pathogenic targets of COVID-19, RA, AS and GA were searched in GeneCards, OMIM, TTD, PharmGKB database and literature, respectively. Then, the protein interaction network of CEP and COVID-19 cross targets and the common targets of COVID-19, RA, AS and GA was constructed. Cytosscape 3.7.2 software was used to construct CEP-common targets-signaling pathways-COVID-19 network, module function analysis, gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG). Finally, the molecular docking of hub targets and CEP was carried out by AutoDock software.

Results: The results showed that the common targets of the four diseases were tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β, and involved Coronavirus disease, IL-17 signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway. CEP has a good binding force with AKT Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 (AKT1), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PIK3) CA, PIK3CD and Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and plays a role in the treatment of COVID-19 by regulating PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, Relaxin signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway and HIF-1 signaling pathway.

Conclusion: Therefore, this study not only confirmed the potential mechanism of CEP in the treatment of COVID-19 at the molecular level, but also found that TNF and IL-17 inhibitors, which are commonly used in the treatment of RA, AS and GA, may also affect the treatment of COVID-19, which provides new clues and theoretical basis for the rapid discovery of effective therapeutic drugs for COVID-19.
Transient Turing patterns in a morphogenetic model
Authors: Guisoni Nara , Diambra Luis
Published: July 2022

One of the most surprising mechanisms to explain the symmetry breaking phenomenon linked to pattern formation is known as Turing instabilities. These patterns are self-organising spatial structures resulting from the interaction of at least two diffusive species in specific conditions. The ideas of Turing have been used extensively in the specialised literature both to explain developmental patterns, as well as synthetic biology design. In the present work we study a previously proposed morphogenetic synthetic circuit consisting of two genes controlled by the same regulatory system. The spatial homogeneous version of this simple model presents a rich phase diagram, since it has a saddle-node bifurcation, spirals and limit cycle. Linear stability analysis and numerical simulations of the complete model allow us to determine the conditions for the development of Turing patterns, as well as transient patterns. We found that the parameter region where Turing patterns are found is much smaller than the region where transient patterns occur. We observed that the temporal evolution towards Turing patterns can present one or two different length scales, depending on the initial conditions. Further, we found a parameter region where the persistence time of the transient patterns depends on the distance between the parameters values on which the system is operating and the boundary of Turing patterns. This persistence time has a singularity at a critical distance that gives place to metastable patterns. To the best of our knowledge, transient and metastable patterns associated with Turing instabilities have not been previously reported in morphogenetic models.
Tunable diamond raman lasers for resonance photo-ionization and ion beam production
Authors: Echarri Daniel T. , Chrysalidis Katerina , Fedosseev Valentin N. , Heinke Reinhard , Marsh Bruce A. , Reich Bianca B. , Granados Eduardo
Published: July 2022

Lasers with wide tunability and tailored linewidth are key assets for spectroscopy research and applications. We show that diamond, when configured as a Raman laser, provides agile access to a broad range of wavelengths while being capable of efficient and selective photo-excitation of atomic species and suitable spectroscopic applications thanks to its narrow linewidth. We demonstrate the use of a compact diamond Raman laser capable of efficient ion beam production by resonance ionization of Sm isotopes in a hot metal cavity. The ionization efficiency was compared with a conventional Ti:sapphire laser operating at the same wavelength. Our results show that the overall ion current produced by the diamond Raman laser was comparable -or even superior in some cases-to that of the commonly used Ti:sapphire lasers. This demonstrates the photo-ionization capability of Raman lasers in the Doppler broadening-dominated regime, even with the considerable differences in their spectral properties. In order to theoretically corroborate the obtained data and with an eye on studying the most convenient spectral properties for photo-ionization experiments, we propose a simple excitation model that analyzes and compares the spectral overlap of the Raman and Ti:Sapphire lasers with the Doppler-broadened atomic spectral line. We demonstrate that Raman lasers are a suitable source for resonance photo-ionization applications in this regime.
The Effects of Airway Pressure Release Ventilation on Pulmonary Permeability in Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Pig Models
Authors: Cheng Jiangli , Yang Jing , Ma Aijia , Dong Meiling , Yang Jie , Wang Peng , Xue Yang , Zhou Yongfang , Kang Yan
Published: July 2022

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of APRV and LTV ventilation on pulmonary permeability in severe ARDS.

Methods: Mini Bama adult pigs were randomized into the APRV group (n = 5) and LTV group (n = 5). A severe ARDS animal model was induced by the whole lung saline lavage. Pigs were ventilated and monitored continuously for 48 h.

Results: Compared with the LTV group, CStat was significantly better (p < 0.05), and the PaO2/FiO2 ratio showed a trend to be higher throughout the period of the experiment in the APRV group. The extravascular lung water index and pulmonary vascular permeability index showed a trend to be lower in the APRV group. APRV also significantly mitigates lung histopathologic injury determined by the lung histopathological injury score (p < 0.05) and gross pathological changes of lung tissues. The protein contents of occludin (p < 0.05), claudin-5 (p < 0.05), E-cadherin (p < 0.05), and VE-cadherin (p < 0.05) in the middle lobe of the right lung were higher in the APRV group than in the LTV group; among them, the contents of occludin (p < 0.05) and E-cadherin (p < 0.05) of the whole lung were higher in the APRV group. Transmission electron microscopy showed that alveolar–capillary barrier damage was more severe in the middle lobe of lungs in the LTV group.

Conclusion: In comparison with LTV, APRV could preserve the alveolar–capillary barrier architecture, mitigate lung histopathologic injury, increase the expression of cell junction protein, improve respiratory system compliance, and showed a trend to reduce extravascular lung water and improve oxygenation. These findings indicated that APRV might lead to more profound beneficial effects on the integrity of the alveolar–capillary barrier architecture and on the expression of biomarkers related to pulmonary permeability.
Environmental Pollutants and Oxidative Stress in Terrestrial and Aquatic Organisms: Examination of the Total Picture and Implications for Human Health
Authors: Anetor Gloria Oiyahumen , Nwobi Nnenna Linda , Igharo Godwin Osaretin , Sonuga Oyebola Oluwagbemiga , Anetor John Ibhagbemien
Published: July 2022

There is current great international concern about the contribution of environmental pollution to the global burden of disease particularly in the developing, low- and medium-income countries. Industrial activities, urbanization, developmental projects as well as various increased anthropogenic activities involving the improper generation, management and disposal of pollutants have rendered today’s environment highly polluted with various pollutants. These pollutants include toxic metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides and diesel exhaust particles most of which appear to be ubiquitous as well as have long-term environmental persistence with a wide range of toxicities such as oxidative stress among others. Oxidative stress, which may arise from increased production of damaging free radicals emanating from increased pollutant burden and depressed bioavailability of antioxidant defenses causes altered biochemical and physiological mechanisms and has been implicated in all known human pathologies most of which are chronic. Oxidative stress also affects both flora and fauna and plants are very important components of the terrestrial environment and significant contributors of nutrients for both man and animals. It is also remarkable that the aquatic environment in which sea animals and creatures are resident is also highly polluted, leading to aquatic stress that may affect the survival of the aquatic animals, sharing in the oxidative stress. These altered terrestrial and aquatic environments have an overarching effect on human health. Antioxidants neutralize the damaging free radicals thus, they play important protective roles in the onset, progression and severity of the unmitigated generation of pollutants that ultimately manifest as oxidative stress. Consequently, human health as well as that of aquatic and terrestrial organisms may be protected from environmental pollution by mitigating oxidative stress and employing the principles of nutritional medicine, essentially based on antioxidants derived mainly from plants, which serve as the panacea of the vicious state of environmental pollutants consequently, the health of the population. Understanding the total picture of oxidative stress and integrating the terrestrial and aquatic effects of environmental pollutants are central to sustainable health of the population and appear to require multi-sectoral collaborations from diverse disciplinary perspectives; basically the environmental, agricultural and health sectors.
Cardiac Arrhythmia classification based on 3D recurrence plot analysis and deep learning
Authors: Zhang Hua , Liu Chengyu , Tang Fangfang , Li Mingyan , Zhang Dongxia , Xia Ling , Zhao Nan , Li Sheng , Crozier Stuart , Xu Wenlong , Liu Feng
Published: July 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) aided cardiac arrhythmia (CA) classification has been an emerging research topic. Existing AI-based classification methods commonly analyze electrocardiogram (ECG) signals in lower dimensions, using one-dimensional (1D) temporal signals or two-dimensional (2D) images, which, however, may have limited capability in characterizing lead-wise spatiotemporal correlations, which are critical to the classification accuracy. In addition, existing methods mostly assume that the ECG data are linear temporal signals. This assumption may not accurately represent the nonlinear, nonstationary nature of the cardiac electrophysiological process. In this work, we have developed a three-dimensional (3D) recurrence plot (RP)-based deep learning algorithm to explore the nonlinear recurrent features of ECG and Vectorcardiography (VCG) signals, aiming to improve the arrhythmia classification performance. The 3D ECG/VCG images are generated from standard 12 lead ECG and 3 lead VCG signals for neural network training, validation, and testing. The superiority and effectiveness of the proposed method are validated by various experiments. Based on the PTB-XL dataset, the proposed method achieved an average F1 score of 0.9254 for the 3D ECG-based case and 0.9350 for the 3D VCG-based case. In contrast, recently published 1D and 2D ECG-based CA classification methods yielded lower average F1 scores of 0.843 and 0.9015, respectively. Thus, the improved performance and visual interpretability make the proposed 3D RP-based method appealing for practical CA classification.
Foliar Application of NH4+/NO3– Ratios Enhance the Lodging Resistance of Soybean Stem by Regulating the Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms Under Shade Conditions
Authors: Raza Ali , Yin Chunying , Asghar Muhammad Ahsan , Ihtisham Muhammad , Shafiq Iram , Cheng Bin , Ghafoor Abuzar , Javed Hafiz Hassan , Iqbal Tauseef , Khan Nawab , Liu Weiguo , Yang Wenyu
Published: July 2022

Shading is one of the most chronic restrains which can lead to the lodging of intercropped plants. In order to increase the soybean stem lodging resistance, a 2-year field trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of different ratios and concentrations of NH4+/NO3– on the morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics of soybean stem under shade conditions. The total 5 ratios of NH4+/NO3– were applied as follows: T0 = 0/0 (control), T1 = 0/100 (higher ratio), T2 = 25/75 (optimum), T3 = 50/50 (optimum), and T4 = 75/25 (higher ratio) as a nitrogen source. Our findings displayed that the T2 (25/75) and T3 (50/50) treatments alleviated the shading stress by improving the photosynthetic activity, biomass accumulation, carbohydrates contents, and lignin related enzymes (POD, CAD, and 4Cl) which led to improvement in stem lodging resistance. The correlation analysis (p ≤ 0.05, p ≤ 0.01) revealed the strong relationship between lodging resistance index and stem diameter, stem strength, lignin content, photosynthesis, and lignin related enzymes (POD, CAD, and 4CL) evidencing the strong contribution of lignin and its related enzymes in the improvement of lodging resistance of soybean stem under shade conditions. Collectively, we concluded that optimum NH4+/NO3– ratios (T2 and T3) can boost up the lodging resistance of soybean stem under shade stress.
Performance comparison of RGB and multispectral vegetation indices based on machine learning for estimating Hopea hainanensis SPAD values under different shade conditions
Authors: Yuan Ying , Wang Xuefeng , Shi Mengmeng , Wang Peng
Published: July 2022

Reasonable cultivation is an important part of the protection work of endangered species. The timely and nondestructive monitoring of chlorophyll can provide a basis for the accurate management and intelligent development of cultivation. The image analysis method has been applied in the nutrient estimation of many economic crops, but information on endangered tree species is seldom reported. Moreover, shade control, as the common seedling management measure, has a significant impact on chlorophyll, but shade levels are rarely discussed in chlorophyll estimation and are used as variables to improve model accuracy. In this study, 2-year-old seedlings of tropical and endangered Hopea hainanensis were taken as the research object, and the SPAD value was used to represent the relative chlorophyll content. Based on the performance comparison of RGB and multispectral (MS) images using different algorithms, a low-cost SPAD estimation method combined with a machine learning algorithm that is adaptable to different shade conditions was proposed. The SPAD values changed significantly at different shade levels (p < 0.01), and 50% shade in the orthographic direction was conducive to chlorophyll accumulation in seedling leaves. The coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and average absolute percent error (MAPE) were used as indicators, and the models with dummy variables or random effects of shade greatly improved the goodness of fit, allowing better adaption to monitoring under different shade conditions. Most of the RGB and MS vegetation indices (VIs) were significantly correlated with the SPAD values, but some VIs exhibited multicollinearity (variance inflation factor (VIF) > 10). Among RGB VIs, RGRI had the strongest correlation, but multiple VIs filtered by the Lasso algorithm had a stronger ability to interpret the SPAD data, and there was no multicollinearity (VIF < 10). A comparison of the use of multiple VIs to estimate SPAD indicated that Random forest (RF) had the highest fitting ability, followed by Support vector regression (SVR), linear mixed effect model (LMM), and ordinary least squares regression (OLR). In addition, the performance of MS VIs was superior to that of RGB VIs. The R2 of the optimal model reached 0.9389 for the modeling samples and 0.8013 for the test samples. These findings reinforce the effectiveness of using VIs to estimate the SPAD value of H. hainanensis under different shade conditions based on machine learning and provide a reference for the selection of image data sources.
Phycochemical and Biological Activities From Different Extracts of Padina antillarum (Kützing) Piccone
Authors: Samar Juveria , Butt Ghazala Yasmeen , Shah Anis Ali , Shah Adnan Noor , Ali Sajad , Jan Basit Latief , Abdelsalam Nader R. , Hussaan Muhammad
Published: July 2022

Seaweeds are non-vascular, photosynthetic that inhabit the coastal regions commonly within rocky intertidal or submerged reef-like habitats and have been one of the richest and most promising sources of bioactive primary and secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties. They selectively absorb elements like Na, K, Ca, Mg, I, and Br from the seawater and accumulate them in their thalli. Padina antillarum (Kützing) Piccone is a member of Phaeophycota and has remarkable phycochemistry as well as bioactivity. The phycochemical tests of the different extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, steroids, and phenols. The relative percentage of Oxirane, tetradecyl (C16H32O), and Cyclononasiloxane (C18H54O9Si9) are higher while Tetrasiloxane (C16H50O7Si8) is lowest in Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry analysis. FRAP, %inhibition, the total antioxidant value of P. antillarum was higher in methanolic extract. Hexane, chloroform extracts showed no zone of inhibition against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The methanolic extract of P. antillarum exhibits a maximum zone of inhibition against S. epidermidis (18.66 ± 0.09). Antifungal activity of the P. antillarum in hexane extract exhibited no zone of inhibition against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium notatum while the chloroform extract yields maximum zone (37 ± 0.012, 21.66 ± 0.03). Diabetes mellitus is one of the most familiar chronic diseases associated with carbohydrate metabolism. It is also an indication of co-morbidities such as obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia which are metabolic complications of both clinical and experimental diabetes. The treatment of P. antillarum methanol extract in mice reduced the body weight loss, low level of triglycerides, and elevated HDL cholesterol level as compared to diabetic mice.
Temperature requirements of Colletotrichum spp. belonging to different clades
Authors: Salotti Irene , Ji Tao , Rossi Vittorio
Published: July 2022

The fungal genus Colletotrichum includes plant pathogens that cause substantial economic damage to horticultural, ornamental, and fruit tree crops worldwide. Here, we conducted a systematic literature review to retrieve and analyze the metadata on the influence of temperature on four biological processes: (i) mycelial growth, (ii) conidial germination, (iii) infection by conidia, and (iv) sporulation. The literature review considered 118 papers (selected from a total of 1,641 papers found with the literature search), 19 Colletotrichum species belonging to eight clades (acutatum, graminicola, destructivum, coccodes, dematium, gloeosporioides, and orbiculare), and 27 host plants (alfalfa, almond, apple, azalea, banana, barley, bathurst burr, blueberry, celery, chilli, coffee, corn, cotton, cowpea, grape, guava, jointvetch, lentil, lupin, olive, onion, snap bean, spinach, strawberry, tomato, watermelon, and white bean). We used the metadata to develop temperature-dependent equations representing the effect of temperature on the biological processes for the different clades and species. Inter- and intra-clades similarities and differences are analyzed and discussed. A multi-factor cluster analysis identified four groups of clades with similar temperature dependencies. The results should facilitate further research on the biology and epidemiology of Colletotrichum species and should also contribute to the development of models for the management of anthracnose diseases.
Rice Paddies Reduce Subsequent Yields of Wheat Due to Physical and Chemical Soil Constraints
Authors: Yang Rui , Wang Zhuangzhi , Fahad Shah , Geng Shiying , Zhang Chengxiang , Harrison Matthew Tom , Adnan Muhammad , Saud Shah , Zhou Meixue , Liu Ke , Wang Xiaoyan
Published: July 2022

Yields of wheat crops that succeed rice paddy crops are generally low. To date, it has been unclear whether such low yields were due to rice paddies altering soil physical or mineral characteristics, or both. To investigate this quandary, we conducted field experiments in the Jianghan Plain to analyze differences in the spatial distribution of wheat roots between rice-wheat rotation (RW) and dryland-wheat rotations (DW) using a range of nitrogen treatments. Dryland wheat crops were preceded by either dryland soybean or corn in the prior summer. Biomass of wheat crops in RW systems was significantly lower than that of DW for all N fertilizer treatments, although optimal nitrogen management resulted in comparable wheat yields in both DW and RW. Soil saturated water capacity and non-capillary porosity were higher in DW than RW, whereas soil bulk density was higher in RW. Soil available nitrogen and organic matter were higher in DW than RW irrespective of N application, while soil available P and K were higher under RW both at anthesis and post-harvest stages. At anthesis, root length percentage (RLP) was more concentrated in surface layers (0–20 cm) in RW, whereas at 20–40 cm and 40–60 cm, RLP was higher in DW than RW for all N treatments. At maturity, RLP were ranked 0–20 > 20–40 > 40–60 cm under both cropping systems irrespective of N fertilization. Root length percentage and soil chemical properties at 0–20 cm were positively correlated (r= 0.79 at anthesis,r= 0.68 at post-harvest) with soil available P, while available N (r= −0.59) and soil organic matter (r= −0.39) were negatively correlated with RLP at anthesis. Nitrogen applied at 180 kg ha−1in three unform amounts of 60 kg N ha−1at sowing, wintering and jointing resulted in higher yields than other treatments for both cropping systems. Overall, our results suggest that flooding of rice paddies increased bulk density and reduced available nitrogen, inhibiting the growth and yield of subsequent wheat crops relative to rainfed corn or soybean crops.
Strangers at Home? Informal Hosting of Undocumented Migrants and the Ambivalences of Encounter, Compassion, and Care in the Private Sphere
Authors: Saltiel Rivka
Published: July 2022

Through a feminist care ethics lens, this paper explores the particular caring relations of Hébergement, an informal hosting initiative for transitory undocumented migrants in Brussels. It elaborates on how the intimate, private setting of hosting at home affects a caring-with relationship. Hosting and being hosted significantly differs from other forms of shelter and migrant (or homeless) support. There is no script for this particular social constellation. Hosting requires trust and a great deal of physical and emotional labor of all involved and often leads to exhaustion. Being together in and sharing the intimate space of the home entails a continuous negotiation of—sometimes conflicting—needs (for space, intimacy, distance, self-care, etc.) of all at home. The informal caring arrangements and the resulting relations of Hébergement are ambivalent and are understood as yet another expression of the lack of sufficient and adequate caring resources on a societal level (‘care crisis’). With its fundamentally relational approach, feminist care ethics unravel the uneven structures that permeate and define both the practice of care and caring relations. Thereby, it challenges the structural organization of care in capitalism that is exclusive, racialized, inherently feminized, domesticized, privatized, and individualized and envisions an alternative, more just social organization of care—in a caring-with society. Drawing on narrative interviews, the paper explores how strangers encounter each other ‘at home’, how they care-with each other, and how they address the potentials, ambivalences, and limits of hosting and caring-with strangers at home.
Professional development short scale: Measurement invariance, stability, and validity in Brazil and Angola
Authors: Mourão Luciana , Tavares Susana M. , Sandall Hugo
Published: July 2022

Professional development is the vital process in the workplace that comprises the growth and maturation of knowledge, skills, and attitudes arising from formal and informal learning at work throughout one’s life. The goal of this research was to present validity evidence and accuracy of the Professional Development Short Scale (PDSS) for different occupational categories. The research was conducted using four cross-sectional questionnaire surveys with convenience samples of different occupational categories (N = 2,547) in 41 cities throughout Brazil and Angola. The first study aimed to explore the factorial structure and internal consistency of the PDSS. The second study aimed to evaluate the cross-cultural validity and measurement invariance of the scale. The third study was to assess concurrent validity and predictive validity. The fourth study was to assess the test–retest reliability. The results indicated a one-factor structure, with six items for both countries’ datasets. This research pointed out the validity of the PDSS as regards its convergence-discriminant pattern with the General Self-Efficacy and Job Self-Efficacy Scales, and also, the relationship of the PDSS with relevant constructs (Bases of Power/leadership styles, In-role performance, Job Satisfaction, and Career Promotion). In this study, we provide psychometric validity of the Professional Development Short Scale to offer it as a resource to measure the construct and allow researchers to apply it in research models easily integrated to other constructs. We covered several different incremental approaches to ensure the scale validity. Besides showing temporal stability to ensure it can be applied from time to time, as one dynamic construct should, we also indicated that social desirability did not influence the measurement of the PDSS. Furthermore, the results indicate that the effects of the method do not generate undue confusion on the scale. Thus, the psychometric properties of the PDSS allow for recommending the use of the scale in extensive studies. This scale therefore contributes to contemporary professional development literature through the comparison of the perceptions of professional development in different professional categories and by providing organizational researchers with a tool to evaluate the effects and predictors of such construct.
Online learning performance and engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic: Application of the dual-continua model of mental health
Authors: Kim Jinwon , Moon Kibum , Lee Jiye , Jeong Yaewon , Lee Seungjin , Ko Young-gun
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an abrupt transition from face-to-face learning to online learning, which has also affected the mental health of college students. In this study, we examined the relationship between students’ adjustment to online learning and their mental health by using the Dual-Continua Model. The model assumes that mental disorder and mental well-being are related yet distinct factors of mental health. For this purpose, 2,933 college students completed an online survey around the beginning of the Fall semester of 2020 (N = 1,724) and the Spring semester of 2021 (N = 1,209). We assessed participants’ mental well-being, mental disorders, and academic distress by means of the online survey. In addition, we incorporated grades and log data accumulated in the Learning Management System (LMS) as objective learning indicators of academic achievement and engagement in online learning. Results revealed that two dimensions of mental health (i.e., mental well-being and mental disorder) were independently associated with all objective and subjective online learning indicators. Specifically, languishing (i.e., low levels of mental well-being) was negatively associated with student engagement derived from LMS log data and academic achievement and was positively associated with self-reported academic distress even after we controlled for the effects of mental disorder. In addition, mental disorder was negatively related to student engagement and academic achievement and was positively related to academic distress even after we controlled for the effects of mental well-being. These results remained notable even when we controlled for the effects of sociodemographic variables. Our findings imply that applying the Dual-Continua Model contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between college students’ mental health and their adaptation to online learning. We suggest that it is imperative to implement university-wide interventions that promote mental well-being and alleviate psychological symptoms for students’ successful adjustment to online learning.
Biobanking in everyday clinical practice in psychiatry—The Munich Mental Health Biobank
Authors: Kalman Janos L. , Burkhardt Gerrit , Adorjan Kristina , Barton Barbara B. , De Jonge Sylvia , Eser-Valeri Daniela , Falter-Wagner Christine M. , Heilbronner Urs , Jobst Andrea , Keeser Daniel , Koenig Christian , Koller Gabi , Koutsouleris Nikolaos , Kurz Carolin , Landgraf Dominic , Merz Katharina , Musil Richard , Nelson Afton M. , Padberg Frank , Papiol Sergi , Pogarell Oliver , Perneczky Robert , Raabe Florian , Reinhard Matthias A. , Richter Almut , Rüther Tobias , Simon Maria Susanne , Schmitt Andrea , Slapakova Lenka , Scheel Nanja , Schüle Cornelius , Wagner Elias , Wichert Sven P. , Zill Peter , Falkai Peter , Schulze Thomas G. , Schulte Eva Christina
Published: July 2022

Translational research on complex, multifactorial mental health disorders, such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders requires databases with large-scale, harmonized, and integrated real-world and research data. The Munich Mental Health Biobank (MMHB) is a mental health-specific biobank that was established in 2019 to collect, store, connect, and supply such high-quality phenotypic data and biosamples from patients and study participants, including healthy controls, recruited at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (DPP) and the Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany. Participants are asked to complete a questionnaire that assesses sociodemographic and cross-diagnostic clinical information, provide blood samples, and grant access to their existing medical records. The generated data and biosamples are available to both academic and industry researchers. In this manuscript, we outline the workflow and infrastructure of the MMHB, describe the clinical characteristics and representativeness of the sample collected so far, and reveal future plans for expansion and application. As of 31 October 2021, the MMHB contains a continuously growing set of data from 578 patients and 104 healthy controls (46.37% women; median age, 38.31 years). The five most common mental health diagnoses in the MMHB are recurrent depressive disorder (38.78%; ICD-10: F33), alcohol-related disorders (19.88%; ICD-10: F10), schizophrenia (19.69%; ICD-10: F20), depressive episode (15.94%; ICD-10: F32), and personality disorders (13.78%; ICD-10: F60). Compared with the average patient treated at the recruiting hospitals, MMHB participants have significantly more mental health-related contacts, less severe symptoms, and a higher level of functioning. The distribution of diagnoses is also markedly different in MMHB participants compared with individuals who did not participate in the biobank. After establishing the necessary infrastructure and initiating recruitment, the major tasks for the next phase of the MMHB project are to improve the pace of participant enrollment, diversify the sociodemographic and diagnostic characteristics of the sample, and improve the utilization of real-world data generated in routine clinical practice.
Abnormal regional signal in the left cerebellum as a potential neuroimaging biomarker of sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Liu Lei , Fan Jun , Zhan Hui , Huang Junli , Cao Rui , Xiang Xiaoran , Tian Shuai , Ren Hongwei , Tong Miao , Li Qian
Published: July 2022

Objective

While prior reports have characterized visible changes in neuroimaging findings in individuals suffering from sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), the utility of regional homogeneity (ReHo) as a means of diagnosing SSNHL has yet to be established. The present study was thus conducted to assess ReHo abnormalities in SSNHL patients and to establish whether these abnormalities offer value as a diagnostic neuroimaging biomarker of SSNHL through a support vector machine (SVM) analysis approach.

Methods

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) analyses of 27 SSNHL patients and 27 normal controls were conducted, with the resultant imaging data then being analyzed based on a combination of ReHo and SVM approaches.

Results

Relative to normal control individuals, patients diagnosed with SSNHL exhibited significant reductions in ReHo values in the left cerebellum, bilateral inferior temporal gyrus (ITG), left superior temporal pole (STP), right parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), left posterior cingulum cortex (PCC), and right superior frontal gyrus (SFG). SVM analyses suggested that reduced ReHo values in the left cerebellum were associated with high levels of diagnostic accuracy (96.30%, 52/54), sensitivity (92.59%, 25/27), and specificity (100.00%, 27/27) when distinguishing between SSNHL patients and control individuals.

Conclusion

These data suggest that SSNHL patients exhibit abnormal resting-state neurological activity, with changes in the ReHo of the left cerebellum offering value as a diagnostic neuroimaging biomarker associated with this condition.