bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hermetia illucens larvae fat vs coconut oil to obtain free lauric acid-rich products by chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis
Authors: Vázquez L. , Hurtado-Ribeira R. , López de Haro C.S. , Martin D.
Published: May 2024

Lauric acid is present in various vegetable fats and has been shown to be beneficial for human health and well-being. The interest in the properties of this fatty acid has led to an increase in the production and consumption of oils rich in lauric acid, primarily coconut oil. Despite being less known, there is an atypical animal source of lauric acid that can be considered more sustainable and that has levels of this fatty acid comparable to coconut oil, as the case of the larvae of the edible insect black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is. Due to the fact that some of the bioactive properties of lauric acid are linked to its free form, and also to facilitate subsequent concentration processes, the release of the fatty acid from the triacylglycerols present in fats becomes necessary. In this study, chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis for transforming both lauric acid-rich fats into a product rich in free fatty acids (FFA) were investigated. Different variables were studied, such as reaction time and the amount of catalyst used, resulting in maximum conversions to FFA in the case of chemical hydrolysis in just 20 min for both fats. Furthermore, the efficiency of the lipase Eversa® Transform 2.0 in generating a lauric acid-rich product from both oils was demonstrated, but in this case, a longer time was needed. The products obtained through both types of hydrolysis contained high percentages of free lauric acid, also exhibiting high stability against oxidation. This makes H. illucens larvae fat a comparable and alternative source to coconut oil to produce lauric-acid rich products useful for different applications.
Review of archaic nymphomyiids (Diptera, Nymphomyiidae) of the Russian Far East and bordering territories, with describing of new taxa and DNA barcoding of known species
Authors: MAKARCHENKO EUGENYI A. , SEMENCHENKO ALEXANDER A. , KRASHENINNIKOV ANDREY B. , YANYGINA LUBOV V. , YAVORSKAYA NADEZHDA M.
Published: May 2024

Nymphomyiidae from the Russian Far East and bordering territories are revised, including data on taxonomy, redescriptions, and results of DNA barcoding. Nymphomyia orientalis sp. nov. with two subspecies N orientalis orientalis subsp. nov. and N. orientalis makcha subsp. nov. are described and information on biology, ecology and distribution are presented. Key of Nymphomyia species for adult males and females of the world is provided. Three species delimitation approaches (ASAP, mPTP, GMYC) using the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) confirm validity of described taxa as well as available nymphomyiids in GenBank. Morphologically indistinguishable specimens of N. orientalis sp. nov. from Makcha and Polovinka rivers belongs to separate mOTUs with the lowest distances in the genus 1.99% that is the lower interspecific threshold.
On three species of the genus Habrocestum Simon, 1876 (Araneae: Salticidae: Hasariini) from India
Authors: JOSE ATHIRA , CALEB JOHN T.D. , SUDHIKUMAR AMBALAPARAMBIL VASU
Published: May 2024

Two new species of the ground-dwelling jumping spider genus Habrocestum Simon, 1876 from the wet evergreen forests of the southern Western Ghats, India are described: H. benjamin sp. nov. (♂♀) and H. swaminathan sp. nov. (♂♀). Furthermore, H. emanasakgrensis Kadam & Tripathi, 2023 is synonymized with Chinattus validus (Xie, Peng & Kim, 1993) syn. nov.. Diagnoses, digital illustrations, morphological descriptions, natural history notes and discussion are provided.
Descriptions of six new Mexican species of the genus Blepharoneura (Diptera, Tephritidae) belonging to the femoralis species-group
Authors: HERNÁNDEZ-LÓPEZ MÓNICA , HERNÁNDEZ-ORTIZ VICENTE
Published: May 2024

The genus Blepharoneura currently contains 52 described species distributed throughout the Americas. Currently, 16 species are recorded from Mexico, of which 13 belong to the femoralis group. In this study we describe six new species of the femoralis group from several localities in Mexico: B. martyae, n. sp.; B. alleni, n. sp.; B. zapoteca n. sp.; B. xalapensis, n. sp.; B. isabelae, n. sp.; and B. dzuli, n. sp. A key for the identification of all species of the femoralis group is also provided, based on modifications of the key originally published by Norrbom and Condon (2010) to include the new species described here.
Scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) reared from Spodoptera exigua (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Iran
Authors: DISNEY R. HENRY L. , KARIMZADEH JAVAD , BESHARATNEJAD MOHAMMAD-HASSAN , GILASIAN EBRAHIM , SHEIKHIGARJAN AZIZ
Published: May 2024

The present study on scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) revealed six species of Megaselia, which are all new for the insect fauna of Iran. All six Megaselia species are reared from larvae of Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) feeding on cauliflower (Brassica cretica Lam.). Four species of Megaselia are described as new to science: M. exspodopera sp. n., M. necalbiclava sp. n., M. nocttuidpasco sp. n. and M. tubuslonga sp. n. We also discovered two females of Megaselia which at the present stage of investigation cannot be linked to the conspecific males.
Four new spider species of Cubanops Sánchez-Ruiz, Platnick & Dupérré from Eastern Cuba (Araneae: Caponiidae)
Authors: SÁNCHEZ-RUIZ ALEXANDER , BONALDO ALEXANDRE B.
Published: May 2024

Four new species of Cubanops are described from Eastern Cuba: C. chamarreta sp. nov. (male and female), C. glochidiosus sp. nov. (male and female), C. guama sp. nov. (male and female) and C. serrucho sp. nov. (male). Also, an updated distribution map for all nine Cubanops species known from Eastern Cuba is included.
Accuracy of Polarimetric Radar ZDR Estimates: Implications for the Quantitative Observation of Meteorological and Nonmeteorological Echoes
Authors: May Peter T. , Guyot Adrien , Protat Alain , Curtis Mark
Published: May 2024

This paper considers theoretical and observed uncertainties in the estimates of ZDR and ρHV(0) using data from an operational S-band radar and a mobile X-band radar. Cases of widespread uniform precipitation including bright-band, clear air, and ash echoes from forest fires are all considered in order to obtain a wide range of ρHV(0) values as this along with the radar frequency and spectrum width determines the uncertainties. The theoretical uncertainties in these parameters provide a good estimate of the lower bound of the standard deviations of the observed values where these have been estimated using the adjacent data to the target pixel. The implications for the accuracy of precipitation estimation, particle identification, and estimates of drop-size distributions are discussed.

Significance Statement

High-quality quantitative precipitation and particle size/classification retrievals using weather radar are strongly dependent on the accuracy of ZDR and ρHV(0). This paper examines the theoretical limits to the measurement accuracy and verifies these limits with radar data at 10- and 3-cm wavelengths.
A Review of a Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula for Treating Insomnia with  Depression: Wendan Decoction
Authors: Kong Lingyuan , He Xinyi , Li Xiuyang
Published: May 2024

Background: The relationship between insomnia and depression is complex and two-way. Long-term insomnia may cause, maintain, and aggravate depression, and with the development of the disease, depression patients will also experience insomnia symptoms. Oral medication is currently the main treatment for insomnia with depression (ID). Drugs such as Estazolam have good anti-anxiety and insomnia effects, high safety, and relatively small side effects. They are widely used in the treatment of ID in clinics, but some patients still have adverse reactions or low efficacy when taking Estazolam and other drugs. In recent years, Chinese herbal medicine and TCM prescriptions for the treatment of mental illness have been more and more accepted and studied by international scholars. The efficacy of Wendan Decoction (WDD) has been tested by ancient China for nearly 1,400 years, and with the development of modern pharmacological research, it is widely used in the treatment of insomnia and depression.

Purpose: Therefore, based on the understanding of ID in TCM, this article discusses the pharmacodynamic effect of WDD, and based on existing clinical and experimental studies, comprehensively analyzes the clinical observation, mechanism of action, and pharmacological effect of WDD in the treatment of ID, to provide more clinical experience and experimental theoretical support for WDD in the treatment of ID.

Methods: Retrieve Chinese and English literature on the treatment of ID with WDD from databases such as Web of Science, etc.

Conclusion: WDD has good therapeutic effects on ID.
Phonological Features: Another Crucial Factor in the Labeling Algorithm
Authors: Tian Qilin
Published: May 2024

Labeling is required by the interpretive system. When a head merges with a phrase, the head provides the label. However, lexical heads and T with poor inflectional features are too weak to be labels. Although insightful, this theory leaves at least one problem that needs prompt solutions: are there other kinds of weak heads? In this paper, we address this issue by proposing that phonological features play a crucial role in the labeling algorithm and by putting forward an additional version of weak heads. That is, a head that loses phonological features in the syntax is also weak. This approach to weak heads, together with the constraint that a structure must be labeled for interpretation, can capture the distribution of empty categories in topicalization, relativization, ellipsis, and other phenomena, some of which have not received enough scholarly attention. Therefore, our syntactic-phonological approach to labeling can open up new possibilities to account for the distribution of empty categories in a principled manner.
Effectiveness Test of Rural Revitalization Demonstration Policy on Rural Economic Development in China: Analysis of DID Based on the Data of Henan Province in China
Authors: Xu Zhifen , Guo Yikang , Peng Rongsheng
Published: May 2024

Demonstration Policy on rural revitalization aims at driving the economic development of the entire region through the demonstration effect. Using the panel data of 15 rural revitalization demonstration areas in Henan province of China from 2013 to 2020, this study explores the promotion effect of rural revitalization demonstration policies on rural economy through the Differences-in-Differences (DID) method. The results show that the construction of rural revitalization demonstration areas has significantly promoted the growth of local economy. The demonstration effect is the best in the middle of the economic development, followed by the better economic development of the demonstration, and finally the economic backwardness of the demonstration. More specifically, the order of effect from large to small is as follows: counties (second-level administrative regions), poverty-stricken counties (third-level administrative regions), county-level cities (first-level administrative regions).
Revisiting Colonial Encounters in Maitreyi Devi’s It Does Not Die: A Romance: A Postcolonial Perspective
Authors: Iqbal H. M. Zahid
Published: May 2024

The Indian novelist, Maitreyi Devi’s account of her love story with Romanian novelist, Mircea Eliade came out in 1974 as Na Hanyate in the Bengali language and its English version was titled It Does Not Die in 1976 by the author herself. Following Nirmala Menon’s critical insights on Bhabha’s (post)colonial hybridity discourse, this study aims to reinterpret the novel as an illustrative text of postcolonial “interrogative hybridity.” Devi employs hybridity in such a way that it unsettles a linear narrative with constant shifts in focus and style. It is upheld that her ingenious hybridity originates from her position as an off-center postcolonial female writer who critiques colonial stereotypes and mimicry by revisiting/challenging colonial discourse constructed against the colonized by the colonizers. Hence, the study explores how her novel is a postcolonial hybrid counter-narrative text to colonial fantasies. To conclude, postcolonial hybridity can only problematize colonial individuations and representations, if it reverses the seemingly sound effects of colonial discourse in such a way that “other ‘denied’ knowledges” enter upon the dominant discourse and estrange the basis of its authority—its rules of recognition.
Sickle Cell Disease Has No Impact on 10-Year Cumulative Incidence and Indications for Revision Lumbar Fusion
Authors: Seibold B. Tanner , Ramesh Abhisri , Parel Philip M. , Quan Theodore , Ranson Rachel A. , Mesfin Addisu , Patel Tushar Ch.
Published: May 2024

Study Design

Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience distinct physiological challenges that may alter surgical outcomes. There has been no research establishing 10-year lumbar fusion (LF) implant survivorship rates among individuals with SCD. This study aims to determine the 10-year cumulative incidence and indications for revision LF between patients with and without SCD.

Methods

A national database was queried to identify patients with and without SCD who underwent primary LF. SCD patients undergoing LF were propensity-score matched in a 1:4 ratio by age, gender, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to a matched LF control. In total, 246 SCD patients were included along with 981 and 100,000 individuals in the matched and unmatched control cohorts, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was utilized to determine the 10-year cumulative incidence rates of revision LF. Furthermore, multivariable analysis using Cox proportional hazard modeling was performed to compare indications for revisions and surgical complications between cohorts including hardware removal, drainage and evacuation, pseudoarthrosis, and mechanical failure.

Results

No significant differences were found in the cumulative incidence of 10-year all-cause revision LF between patients in the SCD cohort and either of the control cohorts ( P > .05 for each). Additionally, there were no significant differences between the SCD cohort and either of the control cohorts in regards to the indications for revision or surgical complications in LF ( P > .05 for each).

Conclusions

This study indicates that SCD patients do not have increased risk for revision LF, nor any of its indications.
The Invisible Carework of Anti-racist Pedagogy: The Experiences of Graduate Student Teaching Assistants
Authors: Matsuda Rivero Ayumi , Webb Sophie
Published: May 2024

In this essay, we discuss our experience as graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) in a first-year writing program with an explicitly anti-racist pedagogy. The growing literature on critical pedagogy focuses on the instructor-undergraduate student dynamic but does not address the necessary role of GTAs in implementing anti-racist pedagogy. We use feminist theory to contend that care is an inherent component of anti-racist pedagogy and that GTAs are integral actors in providing that care. We highlight the indispensable role of GTAs in navigating the complexities of larger classes as anti-racist pedagogy is scaled up beyond the individual classroom and instructor. We conclude by providing three possible solutions to address this challenge.
The Incremental Propensity Score Approach for Diversity Science
Authors: Loh Wen Wei , Ren Dongning
Published: May 2024

Addressing core questions in diversity science requires quantifying causal effects (e.g., what drives social inequities and how to reduce them). Conventional approaches target the average causal effect (ACE), but ACE-based analyses suffer from limitations that undermine their relevance for diversity science. In this article, we introduce a novel alternative from the causal inference literature: the so-called incremental propensity score (IPS). First, we explain why the IPS is well suited for investigating core queries in diversity science. Unlike the ACE, the IPS does not demand conceptualizing unrealistic counterfactual scenarios in which everyone in the population is uniformly exposed versus unexposed to a causal factor. Instead, the IPS focuses on the effect of hypothetically shifting individuals’ chances of being exposed along a continuum. This allows seeing how the effect may be graded, offering a more realistic and policy-relevant quantification of the causal effect than a single ACE estimate. Moreover, the IPS does not require the positivity assumption, a necessary condition for estimating the ACE but which rarely holds in practice. Next, to broaden accessibility, we provide a step-by-step guide on estimating the IPS using R, a free and popular software. Finally, we illustrate the IPS using two real-world examples. The current article contributes to the methodological advancement in diversity science and offers researchers a more realistic, relevant, and meaningful approach.
CRISPR-based gene expression platform for precise regulation of bladder cancer
Authors: Zhan Tianying , Li Xiao , Liu Jiumin , Ye Chujin
Published: May 2024

The development of compact CRISPR systems has facilitated delivery but has concurrently reduced gene editing efficiency, thereby limiting the further utilization of CRISPR systems. Enhancing the efficiency of CRISPR systems poses a challenging task and holds significant implications for the advancement of biotechnology. In our work, we report a synthetic dual-antibody system that can stably exist in the intracellular environment, specifically inhibiting the functions of NF-κB and β-catenin. This not only elevates the transgenic expression of the CRISPR system by suppressing the innate immune response within cells to enhance the gene editing efficiency but also demonstrates a notable tumor inhibitory effect. Based on the specific output expression regulation of CRISPR-CasΦ, we constructed a CRISPR-based gene expression platform, which includes sensor modules for detecting intracellular β-catenin and NF-κB, as well as an SDA module to enhance overall efficiency. In vitro experiments revealed that the CRISPR-based gene expression platform exhibited superior CDK5 expression inhibition efficiency and specific cytotoxicity towards tumor cells. In vitro experiments, we found that CRISPR-based gene expression platforms can selectively kill bladder cancer cells through T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Our design holds significant assistant potential of transgene therapy and may offer the capability to treat other diseases requiring transgene therapy.
Antibiotic-induced microbiome depletion promotes intestinal colonization by Campylobacter jejuni in mice
Authors: Chen Haohao , Zhang Yanfang , Pan Yi , Wu Lin , Wang Wenqian , Zhang Hui , Lou Hongqiang
Published: May 2024

Background

To establish a method to induce Campylobacter jejuni colonization in the intestines of C57BL/6 mice through antibiotic-induced microbiome depletion.

Results

Fifty-four female C57BL/6 mice were divided into the normal, control, and experimental groups. The experimental group was administered intragastric cefoperazone sodium and sulbactam sodium (50 mg/mL) for 2 days; then, the experimental and control mice were intragastrically administered 200 µL C. jejuni, which was repeated once more after 2 days. Animal feces were collected, and the HipO gene of C. jejuni was detected using TaqMan qPCR from day 1 to day 14 after modeling completion. Immunofluorescence was used to detect intestinal C. jejuni colonization on day 14, and pathological changes were observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Additionally, 16S rDNA analyses of the intestinal contents were conducted on day 14. In the experimental group, C. jejuni was detected in the feces from days 1 to 14 on TaqMan qPCR, and immunofluorescence-labeled C. jejuni were visibly discernable in the intestinal lumen. The intestinal mucosa was generally intact and showed no significant inflammatory-cell infiltration. Diversity analysis of the colonic microbiota showed significant inter-group differences. In the experimental group, the composition of the colonic microbiota differed from that in the other 2 groups at the phylum level, and was characterized by a higher proportion of Bacteroidetes and a lower proportion of Firmicutes.

Conclusions

Microbiome depletion induced by cefoperazone sodium and sulbactam sodium could promote long-term colonization of C. jejuni in the intestines of mice.
Morphological and genetic characterization of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) in the Kayunga and Luwero districts of Uganda
Authors: Gwokyalya Racheal , Nanteza Ann , Wagaba Henry , Kayondo Siraj Ismail , Kazigaba Dan , Nakabonge Grace
Published: May 2024

Background

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is an economically valuable fruit tree in Uganda. However, the production of jackfruit in Uganda is low. Additionally, because of deforestation, genetic erosion of the resource is predicted before its exploitation for crop improvement and conservation. As a prerequisite for crop improvement and conservation, 100 A. heterophyllus tree isolates from the Kayunga and Luwero districts in Uganda were characterized using 16 morphological and 10 microsatellite markers.

Results

The results from the morphological analysis revealed variations in tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), and crown diameter, with coefficient of variation (CV) values of 20%, 41%, and 33%, respectively. Apart from the pulp taste, variation was also observed in qualitative traits, including tree vigor, trunk surface, branching density, tree growth habit, crown shape, leaf blade shape, fruit shape, fruit surface, flake shape, flake color, flake flavor and pulp consistency/texture. Genotyping revealed that the number of alleles amplified per microsatellite locus ranged from 2 to 5, with an average of 2.90 and a total of 29. The mean observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity were 0.71 and 0.57, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that 81% of the variation occurred within individual trees, 19% among trees within populations and 0% between the two populations. The gene flow (Nm) in the two populations was 88.72. The results from the ‘partitioning around medoids’ (PAM), principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and genetic cluster analysis further revealed no differentiation of the jackfruit populations. The Mantel test revealed a negligible correlation between the morphological and genetic distances.

Conclusions

Both morphological and genetic analyses revealed variation in jackfruit within a single interbreeding population. This diversity can be exploited to establish breeding and conservation strategies to increase the production of jackfruit and hence boost farmers’ incomes. However, selecting germplasm based on morphology alone may be misleading.
Comparative mineral and biochemical characterization of Citrus reticulata fruits and leaves to citrus canker pathogens, Xanthomonas axonopodis
Authors: Nawaz Rab , Ghani Abdul , Nadeem Muhammad , Abbas Toqeer , Shah Anis Ali , Shaffique Shifa , Elansary Hosam O. , Moussa Ihab Mohamed
Published: May 2024

Pakistan’s economy greatly benefits from citrus production since these fruits are sold and consumed all over the world. Although citrus fruits are easy to cultivate, they are susceptible to diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These challenges, as well as difficulties in obtaining the proper nutrients, might negatively impact fruit yields and quality. Citrus canker is another complicated problem caused by the germ Xanthomonas axonopodis. This germ affects many types of citrus fruits all over the world. This study looked closely at how citrus canker affects the leaves and the quality of the fruit in places like Sargodha, Bhalwal, Kotmomin, and Silanwali, which are big areas for growing citrus in the Sargodha district. What we found was that plants without the disease had more chlorophyll in their leaves compared to the sick plants. Also, the healthy plants had better amounts of important minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus in their fruits. But the fruits with the disease had too much sodium, and the iron levels were a bit different. The fruits with the disease also didn’t have as much of something that protects them called antioxidants, which made them more likely to get sick. This study helps us understand how citrus canker affects plants and fruit, so we can think of ways to deal with it.
Patterns and driving factors of functional traits of desert species with different elevational distributions in the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas
Authors: Hu Ya , Li Xiangyun , Wang Shaokun , Lv Peng , Yue Ping , Chen Min , Zuo Xiaoan
Published: May 2024

Variations in functional traits serve as measures of plants’ ability to adapt to environment. Exploring the patterns of functional traits of desert plants along elevational gradients is helpful to understand the responses and adaptation strategies of species to changing environments. However, it is unknown whether the relationship between functional traits and elevation is affected by differences in the species’ elevational distributions (elevation preference and species’ range). Importantly, most researches have concerned with differences in mean trait values and ignored intraspecific trait variation. Here, we measured functional traits of desert plants along a wide elevational gradient in the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas and explored functional trait patterns over elevation in species with different elevational distributions. We decomposed trait variation and further investigated characterizations of intraspecific variation. Ultimately, the main drivers of trait variation were identified using redundancy analysis. We found that species’ elevational distributions significantly influenced the relationship of functional traits such as plant height, leaf dry matter content, leaf thickness, leaf nitrogen and carbon content with elevation. Species with a lower elevational preference showed greater trait variation than species with a higher elevational preference, suggesting that species that prefer high elevation are more conservative facing environmental changes. We provide evidence that interspecific trait variation in leaf thickness and leaf carbon content decreased with increasing species’ range, indicating that increased variations in resistance traits within species make greater responsiveness to environmental changes, enabling species a wider range. Elevation, temperature and precipitation were the main drivers of trait variation in species with a low elevational preference, while the effect of precipitation on trait variation in species with a high elevational preference was not significant. This study sheds new insights on how plants with different elevational distributions regulate their ecological strategies to cope with changing environments.
The potential range of west Asian apple species Malus orientalis Uglitzk. under climate change
Authors: Walas Łukasz , Alipour Shirin , Haq Shiekh Marifatul , Alamri Saud
Published: May 2024

The wild relatives of cultivated apples would be an ideal source of diversity for breeding new varieties, which could potentially grow in diverse habitats shaped by climate change. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the potential distribution of these species. The aim of the presented work was the understand the impacts of climate change on the potential distribution and habitat fragmentation of Caucasian crab apple (Malus orientalis Uglitzk.) and the designation of areas of high interest according to climatic conditions. We used the MaxEnt models and Morphological-Spatial Analysis (MSPA) to evaluate the potential distribution, suitability changes, habitat fragmentation, and connectivity throughout the species range in Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, and Iran. The results revealed that the potentially suitable range of M. orientalis encompasses 858,877 km², 635,279 km² and 456,795 km² under the present, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenario, respectively. The range fragmentation analysis demonstrated a notable shift in the edge/core ratio, which increased from 50.95% in the current scenario to even 67.70% in the future. The northern part of the range (Armenia, northern Georgia, southern Russia), as well as the central and western parts of Hyrcania will be a core of the species range with suitable habitats and a high connectivity between M. orientalis populations and could work as major refugia for the studied species. However, in the Zagros and central Turkey, the potential range will shrink due to the lack of suitable climatic conditions, and the edge/core ratio will grow. In the southern part of the range, a decline of M. orientalis habitats is expected due to changing climatic conditions. The future outlook suggests that the Hyrcanian forest and the Caucasus region could serve as important refuges for M. orientalis. This study helps to understand spatial changes in species’ range in response to climate change and can help develop conservation strategies. This is all the more important given the species’ potential use in future breeding programs aimed at enriching the gene pool of cultivated apple varieties.
High-density genetic map construction and QTL mapping of a zigzag-shaped stem trait in tea plant (Camellia sinensis)
Authors: Liu Dingding , Ye Yuanyuan , Tang Rongjin , Gong Yang , Chen Si , Zhang Chenyu , Mei Piao , Chen Jiedan , Chen Liang , Ma Chunlei
Published: May 2024

The highly unique zigzag-shaped stem phenotype in tea plants boasts significant ornamental value and is exceptionally rare. To investigate the genetic mechanism behind this trait, we developed BC1 artificial hybrid populations. Our genetic analysis revealed the zigzag-shaped trait as a qualitative trait. Utilizing whole-genome resequencing, we constructed a high-density genetic map from the BC1 population, incorporating 5,250 SNP markers across 15 linkage groups, covering 3,328.51 cM with an average marker interval distance of 0.68 cM. A quantitative trait locus (QTL) for the zigzag-shaped trait was identified on chromosome 4, within a 61.2 to 97.2 Mb range, accounting for a phenotypic variation explained (PVE) value of 13.62%. Within this QTL, six candidate genes were pinpointed. To better understand their roles, we analyzed gene expression in various tissues and individuals with erect and zigzag-shaped stems. The results implicated CsXTH (CSS0035625) and CsCIPK14 (CSS0044366) as potential key contributors to the zigzag-shaped stem formation. These discoveries lay a robust foundation for future functional genetic mapping and tea plant genetic enhancement.
Stacked mutations in wheat homologues of rice SEMI-DWARF1 confer a novel semi-dwarf phenotype
Authors: Ndreca Barbora , Huttly Alison , Bibi Sajida , Bayon Carlos , Lund George , Ham Joshua , Alarcón-Reverte Rocío , Addy John , Tarkowská Danuše , Pearce Stephen , Hedden Peter , Thomas Stephen G. , Phillips Andrew L.
Published: May 2024

Background

Semi-dwarfing alleles are used widely in cereals to confer improved lodging resistance and assimilate partitioning. The most widely deployed semi-dwarfing alleles in rice and barley encode the gibberellin (GA)-biosynthetic enzyme GA 20-OXIDASE2 (GA20OX2). The hexaploid wheat genome carries three homoeologous copies of GA20OX2, and because of functional redundancy, loss-of-function alleles of a single homoeologue would not be selected in wheat breeding programmes.

Instead, approximately 70% of wheat cultivars carry gain-of-function mutations in REDUCED HEIGHT 1 (RHT1) genes that encode negative growth regulators and are degraded in response to GA. Semi-dwarf Rht-B1b or Rht-D1b alleles encode proteins that are insensitive to GA-mediated degradation. However, because RHT1 is expressed ubiquitously these alleles have pleiotropic effects that confer undesirable traits in some environments.

Results

We have applied reverse genetics to combine loss-of-function alleles in all three homoeologues of wheat GA20OX2 and its paralogue GA20OX1 and evaluated their performance in three years of field trials. ga20ox1 mutants exhibited a mild height reduction (approximately 3%) suggesting GA20OX1 plays a minor role in stem elongation in wheat. ga20ox2 mutants have reduced GA1 content and are 12–32% shorter than their wild-type segregants, comparable to the effect of the Rht-D1b ‘Green Revolution’ allele. The ga20ox2 mutants showed no significant negative effects on yield components in the spring wheat variety ‘Cadenza’.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that chemical mutagenesis can expand genetic variation in polyploid crops to uncover novel alleles despite the difficulty in identifying appropriate mutations for some target genes and the negative effects of background mutations. Field experiments demonstrate that mutations in GA20OX2 reduce height in wheat, but it will be necessary to evaluate the effect of these alleles in different genetic backgrounds and environments to determine their value in wheat breeding as alternative semi-dwarfing alleles.
Weibull parametric model for survival analysis in women with endometrial cancer using clinical and T2-weighted MRI radiomic features
Authors: Li Xingfeng , Marcus Diana , Russell James , Aboagye Eric O. , Ellis Laura Burney , Sheeka Alexander , Park Won-Ho Edward , Bharwani Nishat , Ghaem-Maghami Sadaf , Rockall Andrea G.
Published: May 2024

Background

Semiparametric survival analysis such as the Cox proportional hazards (CPH) regression model is commonly employed in endometrial cancer (EC) study. Although this method does not need to know the baseline hazard function, it cannot estimate event time ratio (ETR) which measures relative increase or decrease in survival time. To estimate ETR, the Weibull parametric model needs to be applied. The objective of this study is to develop and evaluate the Weibull parametric model for EC patients’ survival analysis.

Methods

Training (n = 411) and testing (n = 80) datasets from EC patients were retrospectively collected to investigate this problem. To determine the optimal CPH model from the training dataset, a bi-level model selection with minimax concave penalty was applied to select clinical and radiomic features which were obtained from T2-weighted MRI images. After the CPH model was built, model diagnostic was carried out to evaluate the proportional hazard assumption with Schoenfeld test. Survival data were fitted into a Weibull model and hazard ratio (HR) and ETR were calculated from the model. Brier score and time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were compared between CPH and Weibull models. Goodness of the fit was measured with Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) statistic.

Results

Although the proportional hazard assumption holds for fitting EC survival data, the linearity of the model assumption is suspicious as there are trends in the age and cancer grade predictors. The result also showed that there was a significant relation between the EC survival data and the Weibull distribution. Finally, it showed that Weibull model has a larger AUC value than CPH model in general, and it also has smaller Brier score value for EC survival prediction using both training and testing datasets, suggesting that it is more accurate to use the Weibull model for EC survival analysis.

Conclusions

The Weibull parametric model for EC survival analysis allows simultaneous characterization of the treatment effect in terms of the hazard ratio and the event time ratio (ETR), which is likely to be better understood. This method can be extended to study progression free survival and disease specific survival.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03543215,https://clinicaltrials.gov/, date of registration: 30th June 2017.
Safety analysis of Oseltamivir and Baloxavir Marboxil after market approval: a pharmacovigilance study based on the FDA adverse event reporting system
Authors: Li Yunsong , Wang Xiaoling , Liao Yufang , Zeng Yanbin , Lin Wanlong , Zhuang Wei
Published: May 2024

Background and objectives

Amidst limited influenza treatment options, evaluating the safety of Oseltamivir and Baloxavir Marboxil is crucial, particularly given their comparable efficacy. This study investigates post-market safety profiles, exploring adverse events (AEs) and their drug associations to provide essential clinical references.

Methods

A meticulous analysis of FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) data spanning the first quarter of 2004 to the fourth quarter of 2022 was conducted. Using data mining techniques like reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio, Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network, and Multiple Gamma Poisson Shrinkage, AEs related to Oseltamivir and Baloxavir Marboxil were examined. Venn analysis compared and selected specific AEs associated with each drug.

Results

Incorporating 15,104 Oseltamivir cases and 1,594 Baloxavir Marboxil cases, Wain analysis unveiled 21 common AEs across neurological, psychiatric, gastrointestinal, dermatological, respiratory, and infectious domains. Oseltamivir exhibited 221 significantly specific AEs, including appendicolith [ROR (95% CI), 459.53 (340.88 ∼ 619.47)], acne infantile [ROR (95% CI, 368.65 (118.89 ∼ 1143.09)], acute macular neuroretinopathy [ROR (95% CI), 294.92 (97.88 ∼ 888.64)], proctitis [ROR (95% CI), 245.74 (101.47 ∼ 595.31)], and Purpura senile [ROR (95% CI), 154.02 (81.96 ∼ 289.43)]. designated adverse events (DMEs) associated with Oseltamivir included fulminant hepatitis [ROR (95% CI), 12.12 (8.30-17.72), n=27], ventricular fibrillation [ROR (95% CI), 7.68 (6.01–9.83), n=64], toxic epidermal necrolysis [ROR (95% CI), 7.21 (5.74–9.05), n=75]. Baloxavir Marboxil exhibited 34 specific AEs, including Melaena [ROR (95% CI), 21.34 (14.15–32.18), n = 23], cystitis haemorrhagic [ROR (95% CI), 20.22 (7.57-54.00), n = 4], ileus paralytic [ROR (95% CI), 18.57 (5.98–57.71), n = 3], and haemorrhagic diathesis [ROR (95% CI), 16.86 (5.43–52.40)), n = 3]. DMEs associated with Baloxavir Marboxil included rhabdomyolysis [ROR (95% CI), 15.50 (10.53 ∼ 22.80), n = 26].

Conclusion

Monitoring fulminant hepatitis during Oseltamivir treatment, especially in patients with liver-related diseases, is crucial. Oseltamivir’s potential to induce abnormal behavior, especially in adolescents, necessitates special attention. Baloxavir Marboxil, with lower hepatic toxicity, emerges as a potential alternative for patients with liver diseases. During Baloxavir Marboxil treatment, focused attention on the occurrence of rhabdomyolysis is advised, necessitating timely monitoring of relevant indicators for those with clinical manifestations. The comprehensive data aims to provide valuable insights for clinicians and healthcare practitioners, facilitating an understanding of the safety profiles of these influenza treatments in real-world scenarios.
Improvement effects of transplanting pancreatic islet that previously incubated with biomaterials on the diabetic nephropathy in STZ- diabetic rats
Authors: Nemati Marzieh , Hosseinzadeh Zahra , Nemati Fatemeh , Koohpeyma Farhad
Published: May 2024

Background

Islet transplantation is an effective treatment for diabetes or even its complications. Aim of this study is to investigate efficacy of biomaterial treated islet transplantation on treating diabetic nephropathy.

Methods

Male rats were randomly divided into 6 groups; Control, diabetic control, diabetic transplanted with untreated islets, with platelet rich plasma treated islets, with pancreatic islets homogenate treated islets, or with these biomaterials combination treated islets. Islets cultured with biomaterials and transplanted to diabetic rats. After 60 days, biochemical, oxidative stress, and stereological parameters were assessed.

Results

Serum albumin and BUN concentration, decreased and increased respectively, Oxidative stress of kidney impaired, kidney weight, volume of kidney, cortex, medulla, glomerulus, proximal and distal tubules, collecting ducts, vessels, inflammatory, necrotic and fibrotic tissue in diabetic group increased compared to control group (p < 0.001). In treated groups, especially pancreatic islets homogenate treated islets transplanting animals, there was significant changes in kidney weight, and volume of kidney, proximal and distal tubules, Henle’s loop and collecting ducts compared with diabetic group (p = 0.013 to p < 0.001). Combination treated islets animals showed significant increase in vessel volume compared to diabetic group (p < 0.001). Necrotic and fibrotic tissue significantly decreased in islets treated than untreated islet animals, it was higher in pancreatic islets homogenate, and combination treated islets groups (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Biomaterials treated islets transplanting could improve diabetic nephropathy. Improvement of oxidative stress followed by controlling glucose level, and effects of growth factors presenting in biomaterials can be considered as capable underlying mechanism of ameliorating inflammatory, necrotic and fibrotic tissue volume.
Delivering the diagnosis of multiple system atrophy: a multicenter survey on Japanese neurologists’ perspectives
Authors: Yoshitake Miki , Sugiyama Atsuhiko , Shimohata Takayoshi , Araki Nobuyuki , Suzuki Masahide , Shibuya Kazumoto , Nagashima Kengo , Hattori Nobutaka , Kuwabara Satoshi
Published: May 2024

Background

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a progressive, incurable, life-threatening neurodegenerative disease uniquely characterized by the risk of sudden death, which makes diagnosis delivery challenging for neurologists. Empirical studies on breaking a diagnosis of MSA are scarce, with no guidelines currently established. This study aimed to investigate neurologists’ current practices and experiences in delivering the diagnosis of MSA.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter online survey and employed a mixed-methods (quantitative and qualitative) study design in which responses to open-ended questions were analyzed qualitatively using critical incident technique.

Results

Among the 194 neurologists surveyed, 166 opened the survey (response rate = 85.6%), of whom 144 respondents across various Japanese regions completed the survey. Accordingly, 92.3% and 82.8% of the participating neurologists perceived delivering the diagnosis of MSA and explaining the risk of sudden death as difficult, respectively. Factors independently associated with difficulties in diagnosis delivery included explaining the importance of the family decision making process in life-prolonging treatment, perceived difficulties in delivering information regarding the risk of sudden death, and perceived difficulties in differential diagnosis of MSA.

Conclusions

Our findings showed that the majority of neurologists perceived delivering the diagnosis of MSA and explaining the risk of sudden death as difficult, which could have been associated with the difficulty of breaking the diagnosis of MSA. Difficulty in conveying bad news in MSA are caused by various factors, such as empathic burden on neurologists caused by the progressive and incurable nature of MSA, the need to explain complex and important details, including the importance of the family decision-making process in life-prolonging treatment, difficulty of MSA diagnosis, and communication barriers posed by mental status and cognitive impairment in patients or their family members. Neurologists consider various factors in explaining the risk of sudden death (e.g., patient’s personality, mental state, and degree of acceptance and understanding) and adjust their manner of communication, such as limiting their communication on such matters or avoiding the use of the term “sudden death” in the early stages of the disease. Although neurologists endeavor to meet the basic standards of good practice, there is room for the multiple aspects for improvement.
Relationship between static and dynamic balance in 4-to-5-year-old preschoolers: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Liu Ruqiang , Yang Juan , Xi Feifei , Xu Zichun
Published: May 2024

Background

Balance is crucial for physical development in preschool children. Exploring the relationship between different types of balance can help understand early physical development in children. Currently, research is mostly focused on the relationship between different types of balance in the adult population and lacks exploration of the preschool population. The aim of this study explored the relationship between static and dynamic balance in preschool children aged 4 to 5 years.

Methods

A total of 128 preschool children between the ages of 4 to 5 years were selected. The following tests were conducted as they wore inertial sensors detecting their centers of mass (COM): T1, standing with eyes open; T2, standing with eyes closed; T3, standing with eyes open on foam; T4, standing with eyes closed on foam; and T5, walking on the balance beam. Static balance was measured by the angular velocity modulus (ω−T1–ω−T4) of the shaking COM, as well as the pitch angle (θ−T1–θ−T4) and roll angle (φ−T1–φ−T4) indicators in T1–T4 testing. Dynamic balance was measured by the time (t) and angular velocity modulus (ω−T5), as well as the pitch angle (θ−T5) and roll angle (φ−T5) indicators in the T5 test. The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was used to test the correlation between static and dynamic balance indicators.

Results

There is no correlation between ω−T1–ω−T4 and t (P > 0.05), while ω−T1–ω−T4 and ω−T5 (r = 0.19–0.27, P < 0.05) and ω−T1–ω−T4 and θ−T5, φ−T5 (r = 0.18–0.33, P < 0.05) were weakly correlated. There is no correlation between θ−T1–θ−T4, φ−T1–φ−T4 and t (P > 0.05), while θ−T1–θ−T4, φ−T1–φ−T4, and θ−T5, φ−T5 were weakly correlated (r = 0.01–0.28, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The relationship between static and dynamic balance in preschool children aged 4–5 years is weak. Static and dynamic balance in children needs to be intervened separately for the development of children.
Effects of an early transfer from incubator to a warming crib in very low birthweight preterm infants
Authors: Greve Sandra , Bruns Nora , Dathe Anne-Kathrin , Schuendeln Michael M. , Felderhoff-Mueser Ursula , Stein Anja
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Very low birth weight infants are cared for postnatally in the incubator because of adverse consequences of hypothermia. Data on the optimal weight of transfer to a warming crib are rare. The aim of this study was to determine the course of temperature and body weight during a standardized transfer to a warming crib at a set weight.

Methods

Prospective intervention study in very low birthweight infants who were transferred from the incubator to a warming crib at a current weight between 1500 g and 1650 g.

Results

No infant had to be transferred back to an incubator. Length of hospital stay was equal compared to a historical cohort from the two years directly before the intervention. The intervention group showed an increase in the volume fed orally on the day after transfer to the warming crib, although this did not translate into an earlier discontinuation of gavage feedings. Compared to the historical group, infants in the intervention group could be transferred to an unheated crib at an earlier postmenstrual age and weight.

Conclusions

Early transfer from the incubator to a warming crib between 1500 g and 1650 g is feasible and not associated with adverse short-term events or outcomes.

Trial registration

DRKS-IDDRKS00031832.