bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of double loci of BnFAD2 increased the seed oleic acid content of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)
Authors: Liu Han , Lin Baogang , Ren Yun , Hao Pengfei , Huang Lan , Xue Bowen , Jiang Lixi , Zhu Yang , Hua Shuijin
Published: November 2022

Seed oleic acid is an important quality trait sought in rapeseed breeding programs. Many methods exist to increase seed oleic acid content, such as the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing system, yet there is no report on seed oleic acid content improvement via this system’s precise editing of the double loci of BnFAD2. Here, a precise CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing of the encoded double loci (A5 and C5) of BnFAD2 was established. The results demonstrated high efficiency of regeneration and transformation, with the rapeseed genotype screened in ratios of 20.18% and 85.46%, respectively. The total editing efficiency was 64.35%, whereas the single locus- and double locus-edited ratios were 21.58% and 78.42%, respectively. The relative proportion of oleic acid with other fatty acids in seed oil of mutants was significantly higher for those that underwent the editing on A5 copy than that on C5 copy, but it was still less than 80%. For double locus-edited mutants, their relative proportion of oleic acid was more than 85% in the T1 and T4 generations. A comparison of the sequences between the double locus-edited mutants and reference showed that no transgenic border sequences were detected from the transformed vector. Analysis of the BnFAD2 sequence on A5 and C5 at the mutated locus of double loci mutants uncovered evidence for base deletion and insertion, and combination. Further, no editing issue of FAD2 on the copy of A1 was detected on the three targeted editing regions. Seed yield, yield component, oil content, and relative proportion of oleic acid between one selected double loci-edited mutant and wild type were also compared. These results showed that although the number of siliques per plant of the wild type was significantly higher than those of the mutant, the differences in seed yield and oil content were not significant between them, albeit with the mutant having a markedly higher relative proportion of oleic acid. Altogether, our results confirmed that the established CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing of double loci (A5 and C5) of the BnFAD2 can precisely edit the targeted genes, thereby enhancing the seed oleic acid content to a far greater extent than can a single locus-editing system.
Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the antifungal mechanism of the compound phenazine-1-carboxamide on Rhizoctonia solani AG1IA
Authors: Zhang Ya , Li Qiufeng , Wang Chong , Liu Shuangqing
Published: November 2022

To explore the molecular mechanisms of the antifungal compound phenazine-1-carboxamide (PCN) inhibits Rhizoctonia solani and discover potential targets of action, we performed an integrated analysis of transcriptome and metabolome in R. solani mycelium by whether PCN treating or not. A total of 511 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the PCN treatment and control groups. The fluorescence-based quantitative PCR (qPCR) got the accordant results of the gene expression trends for ten randomly selected DEGs. The Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that fatty acid metabolic process, fatty acid oxidation, and lipid oxidation were among the most enriched in the biological process category, while integral component of membrane, plasma membrane, and extracellular region were among the most enriched in the cellular component category and oxidoreductase activity, cofactor binding, and coenzyme binding were among the most enriched in the molecular function category. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed the most prominently enriched metabolic pathways included ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, nitrogen metabolism, aminobenzoate degradation. The DEGs related functions of cellular structures, cell membrane functions, cellular nutrition, vacuole-mitochondrion membrane contact site and ATPase activity, pH, anti-oxidation, were downregulated. A total of 466 differential metabolites were found between the PCN treatment and control groups after PCN treatment. KEGG enrichment found purine, arachidonic acid, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways were mainly affected. Further results proved PCN decreased the mycelial biomass and protein content of R. solani, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity reduced while peroxidase (POD) and cytochrome P450 activities increased. The molecule docking indicted that NADPH nitrite reductase, ATP-binding cassette transporter, alpha/beta hydrolase family domain-containing protein, and NADPH–cytochrome P450 reductase maybe the particular target of PCN. In conclusion, the mechanisms via which PCN inhibits R. solani AG1IA may be related to cell wall damage, cell membrane impairment, intracellular nutrient imbalance, disturbed antioxidant system, and altered intracellular pH, which laid foundation for the further new compound designing to improve antifungal efficacy.
Rhizosphere microorganisms of Crocus sativus as antagonists against pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum
Authors: Zhang Jiahao , Lu Jiemiao , Zhu Yichun , Huang Qinger , Qin Luping , Zhu Bo
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Several microorganisms in the plant root system, especially in the rhizosphere, have their own compositions and functions. Corm rot is the most severe disease of Crocus sativus, leading to more than 50% mortality in field production.

Methods

In this study, metagenomic sequencing was used to analyze microbial composition and function in the rhizosphere of C. sativus for possible microbial antagonists against pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum.

Results

The microbial diversity and composition were different in the C. sativus rhizosphere from different habitats. The diversity index (Simpson index) was significantly lower in the C. sativus rhizospheric soil from Chongming (Rs_CM) and degenerative C. sativus rhizospheric soil from Chongming (RsD_CM) than in others. Linear discriminant analysis effect size results showed that differences among habitats were mainly at the order (Burkholderiales, Micrococcales, and Hypocreales) and genus (Oidiodendron and Marssonina) levels. Correlation analysis of the relative lesion area of corm rot showed that Asanoa was the most negatively correlated bacterial genus (ρ = −0.7934, p< 0.001), whereas Moniliophthora was the most negatively correlated fungal genus (ρ = −0.7047, p< 0.001). The relative lesion area result showed that C. sativus from Qiaocheng had the highest resistance, followed by Xiuzhou and Jiande. C. sativus groups with high disease resistance had abundant pathogen resistance genes, such as chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase genes, from rhizosphere microorganisms. Further, 13 bacteria and 19 fungi were isolated from C. sativus rhizosphere soils, and antagonistic activity against pathogenic F. oxysporum was observed on potato dextrose agar medium. In vivo corm experiments confirmed that Trichoderma yunnanense SR38, Talaromyces sp. SR55, Burkholderia gladioli SR379, and Enterobacter sp. SR343 displayed biocontrol activity against corm rot disease, with biocontrol efficiency of 20.26%, 31.37%, 39.22%, and 14.38%, respectively.

Discussion

This study uncovers the differences in the microbial community of rhizosphere soil of C. sativus with different corm rot disease resistance and reveals the role of four rhizospheric microorganisms in providing the host C. sativus with resistance against corm rot. The obtained biocontrol microorganisms can also be used for application research and field management.
The Arabidopsis thylakoid chloride channel ClCe regulates ATP availability for light-harvesting complex II protein phosphorylation
Authors: Dukic Emilija , Gollan Peter J. , Grebe Steffen , Paakkarinen Virpi , Herdean Andrei , Aro Eva-Mari , Spetea Cornelia
Published: November 2022

Coping with changes in light intensity is challenging for plants, but well-designed mechanisms allow them to acclimate to most unpredicted situations. The thylakoid K+/H+ antiporter KEA3 and the voltage-dependent Cl− channel VCCN1 play important roles in light acclimation by fine-tuning electron transport and photoprotection. Good evidence exists that the thylakoid Cl− channel ClCe is involved in the regulation of photosynthesis and state transitions in conditions of low light. However, a detailed mechanistic understanding of this effect is lacking. Here we report that the ClCe loss-of-function in Arabidopsis thaliana results in lower levels of phosphorylated light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) proteins as well as lower levels of the photosystem I-LHCII complexes relative to wild type (WT) in low light conditions. The phosphorylation of the photosystem II core D1/D2 proteins was less affected either in low or high light conditions. In low light conditions, the steady-state levels of ATP synthase conductivity and of the total proton flux available for ATP synthesis were lower in ClCe loss-of-function mutants, but comparable to WT at standard and high light intensity. As a long-term acclimation strategy, expression of the ClCe gene was upregulated in WT plants grown in light-limiting conditions, but not in WT plants grown in standard light even when exposed for up to 8 h to low light. Taken together, these results suggest a role of ClCe in the regulation of the ATP synthase activity which under low light conditions impacts LHCII protein phosphorylation and state transitions.
Mining key genes related to root morphogenesis through genome-wide identification and expression analysis of RR gene family in citrus
Authors: Zhang Manman , Wang Fusheng , Wang Xiaoli , Feng Jipeng , Yi Qian , Zhu Shiping , Zhao Xiaochun
Published: November 2022

Morphogenesis of root is a vital factor to determine the root system architecture. Cytokinin response regulators (RRs) are the key transcription factors in cytokinin signaling, which play important roles in regulating the root morphogenesis. In this study, 29 RR proteins, including 21 RRs and 8 pseudo RRs, were identified from the genome of citrus, and termed as CcRR1-21 and CcPRR1-8, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 29 CcRRs could be classified into four types according to their representative domains. Analysis of cis-elements of CcRRs indicated that they were possibly involved in the regulation of growth and abiotic stress resistance in citrus. Within the type A and type B CcRRs, CcRR4, CcRR5, CcRR6 and CcRR16 highly expressed in roots and leaves, and dramatically responded to the treatments of hormones and abiotic stresses. CcRR2, CcRR10, CcRR14 and CcRR19 also highly expressed in roots under different treatments. Characteristic analysis revealed that the above 8 CcRRs significantly and differentially expressed in the three zones of root, suggesting their functional differences in regulating root growth and development. Further investigation of the 3 highly and differentially expressed CcRRs, CcRR5, CcRR10 and CcRR14, in 9 citrus rootstocks showed that the expression of CcRR5, CcRR10 and CcRR14 was significantly correlated to the length of primary root, the number of lateral roots, and both primary root and the number of lateral roots, respectively. Results of this study indicated that CcRRs were involved in regulating the growth and development of the root in citrus with different functions among the members.
Go for zero tolerance: Cultural values, trust, and acceptance of zero-COVID policy in two Chinese societies
Authors: Huang Yi-Hui Christine , Li Jun , Liu Ruoheng , Liu Yinuo
Published: November 2022

This study seeks to explain the wide acceptance of the stringent zero-COVID policy in two Chinese societies—Mainland China (n = 2,184) and Taiwan (n = 1,128)—from perspectives of cultural values and trust. By employing the efficacy mechanism, this study identifies significant indirect effects of trust in government and key opinion leaders (KOL) on people’s policy acceptance in both societies. Namely, people who interpret the pandemic as a collectivist issue and who trust in government will be more accepting of the zero-COVID policy, whereas those who framed the pandemic as an individual issue tend to refuse the policy. Trust in government and KOLs foster these direct relationships, but trust in government functions as a more important mediator in both societies. The different contexts of the two Chinese societies make the difference when shaping these relationships. These findings provide practical considerations for governmental agencies and public institutions that promote the acceptance of the zero-COVID policy during the pandemic.
Resilience and caregiving ability among caregivers of people with stroke: The mediating role of uncertainty in illness
Authors: Wang Jinyao , Cui Jun , Tu Shuangyan , Yang Rong , Zhao Lihong
Published: November 2022

Background

In China, stroke survivors are usually cared for by their family members. However, the caregiving ability of these informal caregivers remain inadequate during the hospitalization of their family members following a sudden onset of a stroke, and this sudden need for care overwhelms caregivers even after the hospital discharge. Therefore, research is required to identify predictors of caregiving ability that could be targeted in future interventions aimed at improving caregiving skills and reducing the burden on caregivers who care for stroke survivors.

Materials and methods

From August 2019 to February 2020, stroke survivors were hospitalized for the first time, and their family caregivers were registered via convenience sampling. Caregiver demographic information, resilience status, uncertainty in illness, caregiving ability, and patients' severity of stroke were measured using standardized questionnaires. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed model, where caregiver resilience and stroke severity predicted caregiving ability directly, and uncertainty in illness mediated the association between caregiver resilience and caregiving ability.

Results

A total of 306 dyads were included in the study. The tested model fit the data well (χ2 = 118.2, df = 64, RMSEA = 0.053, CFI = 0.946, TLI = 0.923). Statistically significant pathways linked caregivers' resilience status to uncertainty in illness (β = −0.558, S.E. = 0.022, P < 0.01), caregivers' resilience to the status of caregiving ability (β = −0.269, S.E. = 0.013, P < 0.01) and caregivers' uncertainty about the illness to caregiving ability (β = 0.687, S.E. = 0.051, P < 0.01). We also found that caregivers' uncertainty in illness mediated the association between caregivers' resilience and caregiving ability (β = −0.384, S.E. = 0.061, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Our structural equation modeling result identified resilience and uncertainty about the illness as predictors of the caregiving ability of informal family caregivers who suffered from care burdens. Supporting family caregivers to build their resilience and reduce illness uncertainty may improve caregiving for stroke survivors.
Alterations in rat prefrontal cortex kynurenic acid levels are involved in the enduring cognitive dysfunctions induced by tetrahydrocannabinol exposure during the adolescence
Authors: Beggiato Sarah , Ieraci Alessandro , Zuccarini Mariachiara , Di Iorio Patrizia , Schwarcz Robert , Ferraro Luca
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Cannabis abuse during adolescence is a risk factor for cognitive impairments in psychiatric disorders later in life. To date, the possible causal relationship between cannabinoids, kynurenic acid (KYNA; i.e., a neuroactive metabolite of tryptophan degradation) and cognition has not been investigated in adolescence. Early exposure to delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; i.e., the main psychotropic component of cannabis) causes enduring cognitive deficits, which critically involve impaired glutamatergic function in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). In addition, prenatal cannabis exposure results in enduring increases in PFC KYNA levels. Based on these findings, the effects of chronic THC exposure in rats, during another critical period of neurodevelopment particularly sensitive to perturbation by exogenous stimuli, such as adolescence, have been investigated.

Methods

Male Wistar rats were chronically treated with vehicle or ascending intraperitoneal (i.p.) doses of THC starting on postnatal day (PND) 35 until PND 45. In adulthood (PND 75), cognitive assessment (Y-maze) and extracellular KYNA/glutamate levels were measured in the PFC by in vivo microdialysis, before and after a challenge with KYN (5 mg/kg i.p., the biological precursor of KYNA). By using the selective, brain-penetrable KAT II inhibitor PF-04859989, we then examined whether blockade of KYNA neosynthesis prevents the cognitive impairment.

Results

Compared to vehicle-treated controls, extracellular basal KYNA levels were higher in the PFC of adult rats chronically exposed to THC in adolescence (p < 0.01). No changes were observed in extracellular glutamate levels. Following a challenge with KYN, extracellular KYNA levels similarly increased in both groups (i.e., vehicle- and THC-treated; p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Chronic adolescent THC exposure negatively affected short-term memory (reduced spontaneous alternation), in adult animals (p < 0.001), while PF-04859989 (30 mg/kg i.p.) restored the cognitive impairment (p < 0.05).

Discussion

We propose that the observed alterations in PFC KYNA signaling might be involved in the cognitive dysfunction induced by the exposure to THC during the adolescence. In the translational realm, these experiments raise the prospect of prevention of KYNA neosynthesis as a possible novel approach to counteract some of the detrimental long-term effects of adolescence cannabis use.
Prevalence of refractive error among Chinese preschool children: The Changsha children eye study
Authors: You Yuxia , Fu Junxia , Xu Ming , Song Yali , Zhou Huanfen , Wei Shihui
Published: November 2022

Purpose

We aimed to investigate the refractive status and prevalence of refractive error, as well as its characteristics in Chinese preschool children aged 1–6 years old.

Methods

A population-based cross-sectional study—Changsha Children Eye Study (CCES) was conducted. The prevalence of refractive errors among children aged 1–6 years old from 18 community health service centers was surveyed. A handheld child vision screener, Suowei, was used for examination.

Results

A total of 43,105 preschool children were included. The mean spherical equivalent (SE) was 0.42 ± 1.05 D for the right eyes. The mean astigmatism (diopter of cylinder, DC) was −0.83 ± 1.02 D for the right eyes. The magnitude of refractive error was lower in older children, indicating the ongoing of the emmetropization during the 1–6-year-old children. The prevalence of myopia (SE ≤ −1.00 D), hyperopia (SE ≥ +2.00 D) and astigmatism (DC ≥1.50 D) was 2.94, 13.8 and 17.6%, respectively. The prevalence of myopia decreased with the increase of age between the six age groups (P< 0.001). The prevalence of hyperopia was lower in 5–6 years old, whereas, the prevalence of myopia was slightly higher at this period of time. With-the-rule (WTR) astigmatism (+ cylinder axis 90° ± 15°) was the most prevalent type of astigmatism than against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism (+ cylinder axis 180° ± 15°) and oblique (OBL) astigmatism (X2= 209.5,P< 0.001). The binary logistic regression model showed that older age and suffering astigmatism were independently associated with the development of myopia. In addition, there was no significant gender difference in the prevalence of myopia, emmetropia, and hyperopia.

Conclusions

Our population-based cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism in preschool children aged 1–6 years old. The distribution of the refractive error was disperse in the younger group and gradually turned more centralized in older group. Similar to hyperopia, with age increased, the prevalence of myopia was lower in preschool children younger than 5 years old and then slightly increased at 5–6 years, which may indicate an early sign of myopia in school-age children. Therefore, we emphasize that more attention should be given to the children at this age.
Perceptions on a mobile health intervention to improve maternal child health for Syrian refugees in Turkey: Opportunities and challenges for end-user acceptability
Authors: Meyer Christina L. , Surmeli Aral , Hoeflin Hana Caitlyn , Narla Nirmala P.
Published: November 2022

Background

Mobile health (mhealth) technology presents an opportunity to address many unique challenges refugee populations face when accessing healthcare. A robust body of evidence supports the use of mobile phone-based reminder platforms to increase timely and comprehensive access to health services. Yet, there is a dearth of research in their development for displaced populations, as well as refugee perspectives in design processes to improve effective adoptions of mhealth interventions.

Objective

This study aimed to explore healthcare barriers faced by Syrian refugee women in Turkey, and their perceptions of a maternal-child health mobile application designed to provide antenatal care and vaccine services. These findings guided development of a framework for enhancing acceptability of mobile health applications specific to refugee end-users.

Methods

Syrian refugee women who were pregnant or had at least one child under the age of 2 years old at the time of recruitment (n = 14) participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews. Participants had the opportunity to directly interact with an operational maternal-child health mobile application during the interview. Using a grounded theory approach, we identified critical factors and qualities mhealth developers should consider when developing user-friendly applications for refugees.

Results

It was observed that a refugee's perception of the mobile health application's usability was heavily influenced by past healthcare experiences and the contextual challenges they face while accessing healthcare. The in-depth interviews with refugee end-users identified that data security, offline capability, clear-user directions, and data retrievability were critical qualities to build into mobile health applications. Among the features included in the maternal-child health application, participants most valued the childhood vaccination reminder and health information features. Furthermore, the application's multi-lingual modes (Arabic, Turkish, and English) strengthened the application's usability among Syrian refugee populations living in Turkey.

Conclusions

The inclusion of refugee perceptions in mhealth applications offers unique developer insights for building more inclusive and effective tools for vulnerable populations. Basic upfront discussions of the mobile application's health goals and its personal value to the user may improve their long-term use. Further prospective research is needed on retention and use of mobile health applications for refugee women and other displaced populations.
The design and application of an intensive care unit point-of-care nursing handover checklist based on the situation, background, assessment, and recommendation technique
Authors: Wang Lei , Ma Yu-Jie , Chen Xiao-Ting , Zhang Jie , Liu Tao
Published: November 2022

Objective

This study aims to analyze the effect of using an intensive care unit point-of-care nursing handover checklist based on the situation, background, assessment, and recommendation (SBAR) communication technique.

Methods

An intensive care unit point-of-care nursing handover checklist was designed based on the SBAR technique, and standard point-of-care nursing handover procedures and effect assessment indicators were established to compare the occurrence of adverse handover events and nursing risks with those previously observed.

Results

Before and after the application of the intensive care unit point-of-care SBAR checklist, the occurrence of missed items during the handover was 7.26 and 2.02%, inadequate preparation for handover was 28.33 and 5%, and nursing risks were 5 and 1.67%, respectively.

Conclusion

Based on the SBAR technique, the application of an intensive care unit point-of-care nursing checklist reduced the occurrence of adverse handover events and nursing risks.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac implantable electronic device implantation in China: Insights from 2 years of changing pandemic conditions
Authors: Cheng Chen-di , Zhao Shuang , Jiang Jiang , Lin Na , Li Ping , Ning Xiao-hui , Zhang Shu
Published: November 2022

Background

A substantial reduction in the number of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation was reported in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. None of the studies have yet explored changes in CIED implantation during the following pandemic.

Objective

To explore changes in CIED implantation during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021.

Methods

From 2019 to 2021, 177,263 patients undergone CIED implantation from 1,227 hospitals in China were included in the analysis. Generalized linear models measured the differences in CIED implantation in different periods. The relationship between changes in CIED implantation and COVID-19 cases was assessed by simple linear regression models.

Results

Compared with the pre-COVID-19 period, the monthly CIED implantation decreased by 17.67% (95% CI: 16.62–18.72%, p < 0.001) in 2020. In 2021, the monthly number of CIED implantation increased by 15.60% (95% CI: 14.34–16.85%, p < 0.001) compared with 2020. For every 10-fold increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, the monthly number of pacemaker implantation decreased by 429 in 2021, while it decreased by 676 in 2020. The proportion of CIED implantation in secondary medical centers increased from 52.84% in 2019 to 56.77% in 2021 (p < 0.001). For every 10-fold increase in regional accumulated COVID-19 cases, the proportion of CIED implantation in secondary centers increased by 6.43% (95% CI: 0.47–12.39%, p = 0.036).

Conclusion

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of CIED implantation is diminishing in China. Improving the ability of secondary medical centers to undertake more operations may be a critical way to relieve the strain on healthcare resources during the epidemic.
Association of leisure activity changes and reversion from mild cognitive impairment to normal cognitive function among older adults: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Xu Xin Yi , Wang Shan Shan , Niu Li , Leung Isaac Sze Him , Tian Qing Bao
Published: November 2022

Background

Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have the possibility of reverting to normal cognitive function. Leisure activity engagement (LAE) plays a critical role in the progress of the cognitive function. A better understanding of the dynamic relationship between LAE and MCI reversion would inform the implementation of preclinical dementia interventions. This study aimed to investigate the association between change patterns of LAE and MCI reversion among older adults using the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) database.

Study design

Longitudinal population-based study.

Methods

Older adults with MCI at the baseline were enrolled in this study. Information about cognitive function, overall, cognitively stimulating, physically active/demanding, and socially engaged LAE was collected at baseline and follow-up. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for reversion and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by Cox hazard models with time as the underlying time metric. We also assessed potential effect modifications by creating a cross-product of the stratifying variable with LAE change patterns in the fully adjusted model.

Results

The restricted cubic spline showed that the association between LAE change scores and MCI reversion rate was statistically significant and nonlinear (p<0.01). Taking participants in the low–low group as a reference, participants in the low–medium, low–high, medium–medium, medium–high, high–medium, and high–high groups had increased possibilities of MCI reversion with HRs (95% CI) of 2.19 (1.57–3.06), 2.97 (2.13–4.13), 0.87 (0.64–1.19), 2.28 (1.71–3.03), 2.78 (2.10–3.69), 1.93 (1.43–2.59), and 2.74 (2.09–3.60), respectively. Further stratified models showed that the impact of LAE change patterns on MCI reversion varied in different ages (nonagenarian, octogenarian, and younger elderly) and gender.

Conclusions

Participants who maintained the highest LAE had the greatest possibility of MCI reversion. Meanwhile, a higher level of LAE maintenance was associated with the increased possibility of MCI reversion. These results provide a practical message to older adults about how dynamic changes in LAE are associated with improved cognitive function.
BCR-UNet: Bi-directional ConvLSTM residual U-Net for retinal blood vessel segmentation
Authors: Yi Yugen , Guo Changlu , Hu Yangtao , Zhou Wei , Wang Wenle
Published: November 2022

Background

High precision segmentation of retinal blood vessels from retinal images is a significant step for doctors to diagnose many diseases such as glaucoma and cardiovascular diseases. However, at the peripheral region of vessels, previous U-Net-based segmentation methods failed to significantly preserve the low-contrast tiny vessels.

Methods

For solving this challenge, we propose a novel network model called Bi-directional ConvLSTM Residual U-Net (BCR-UNet), which takes full advantage of U-Net, Dropblock, Residual convolution and Bi-directional ConvLSTM (BConvLSTM). In this proposed BCR-UNet model, we propose a novel Structured Dropout Residual Block (SDRB) instead of using the original U-Net convolutional block, to construct our network skeleton for improving the robustness of the network. Furthermore, to improve the discriminative ability of the network and preserve more original semantic information of tiny vessels, we adopt BConvLSTM to integrate the feature maps captured from the first residual block and the last up-convolutional layer in a nonlinear manner.

Results and discussion

We conduct experiments on four public retinal blood vessel datasets, and the results show that the proposed BCR-UNet can preserve more tiny blood vessels at the low-contrast peripheral regions, even outperforming previous state-of-the-art methods.
Crisis communication strategies for health officials
Authors: Su Zhaohui , Zhang Huan , McDonnell Dean , Ahmad Junaid , Cheshmehzangi Ali , Yuan Changrong
Published: November 2022

Background

Mixed messaging among health officials are prevalent amid COVID-19. Crisis communication strategies have the potential to help health officials effectively address issues such as mixed messages and improve their crisis communication efficacy. However, there is a dearth of insights in the literature. Therefore, to bridge the research gap, this study aims to examine practical strategies health officials can utilize to improve their crisis communication efficacy.

Methods

A literature review on effective crisis communication strategies amid COVID-19 was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO, with a focus on scholarly literature published in English.

Results

The findings of the study identified the following strategies that health officials can utilize to improve their crisis communication capabilities: (1) develop fact-based, transparent, and accountable messaging, (2) utilize people-centered and empathetic persuasive strategies, and (3) leverage international collaboration for consistent messaging and comprehensive crisis communication.

Conclusion

COVID-19 has challenged health officials with unprecedented crisis communication duties and responsibilities. In this study, we underscored the importance of effective crisis communication amid global health emergencies like COVID-19, and identified communication strategies health officials could adopt or adapt to improve their crisis communication efficacy. Future research could explore strategies health officials can use to better communicate with government officials and media professionals to further help health officials improve their crisis communication capabilities, their abilities to avoid preventable miscommunication or mixed messaging, and in turn, society's collective strengthen in curbing and controlling the pandemic.
Adenosine A1R/A3R agonist AST-004 reduces brain infarction in mouse and rat models of acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Fisher Elizabeth S. , Chen Yanan , Sifuentes Mikaela M. , Stubblefield Jeremy J. , Lozano Damian , Holstein Deborah M. , Ren JingMei , Davenport Matthew , DeRosa Nicholas , Chen Tsung-pei , Nickel Gerard , Liston Theodore E. , Lechleiter James D.
Published: November 2022

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is the second leading cause of death globally. No Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapies exist that target cerebroprotection following stroke. Our group recently reported significant cerebroprotection with the adenosine A1/A3 receptor agonist, AST-004, in a transient stroke model in non-human primates (NHP) and in a preclinical mouse model of traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the specific receptor pathway activated was only inferred based on in vitro binding studies. The current study investigated the underlying mechanism of AST-004 cerebroprotection in two independent models of AIS: permanent photothrombotic stroke in mice and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. AST-004 treatments across a range of doses were cerebroprotective and efficacy could be blocked by A3R antagonism, indicating a mechanism of action that does not require A1R agonism. The high affinity A3R agonist MRS5698 was also cerebroprotective following stroke, but not the A3R agonist Cl-IB-MECA under our experimental conditions. AST-004 efficacy was blocked by the astrocyte specific mitochondrial toxin fluoroacetate, confirming an underlying mechanism of cerebroprotection that was dependent on astrocyte mitochondrial metabolism. An increase in A3R mRNA levels following stroke suggested an intrinsic cerebroprotective response that was mediated by A3R signaling. Together, these studies confirm that certain A3R agonists, such as AST-004, may be exciting new therapeutic avenues to develop for AIS.
MET gene alterations predict poor survival following chemotherapy in patients with advanced cancer
Authors: Ko Jihoon , Jung Jaeyun , Kim Seung Tae , Hong Jung Yong , Park Sehhoon , Park Joon Oh , Park Young Suk , Lim Ho Yeong , Ahn Soomin , Kim Kyoung-Mee , Kang Won Ki , Lee Jeeyun
Published: November 2022

Background: To aid in oncology drug development, we investigated MET proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase gene aberrations in 2,239 oncology patients who underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS) in clinical practice.

Materials and methods: From November 2019 to January 2021, 2,239 patientswith advanced solid tumors who visited oncology clinics underwent NGS. The NGS panel included >500 comprehensive NGS tests using archival tissue specimens. Programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1) 22C3 assay results and clinical records regarding initial chemotherapy were available for 1,137 (50.8%) and 1,761 (78.7%) patients, respectively for overall survival (OS) analysis.

Results: The 2,239 patients represented 37 types of cancer. The NGS panel included >500 genes, microsatellite instability status, tumor mutational burden, and fusions. The most common cancer types were colorectal (N = 702), gastric (N = 481), and sarcoma (N = 180). MET aberrations were detected in 212 patients. All MET-amplified tumors had microsatellite stable status, and 8 had a high tumor mutational burden. Of 46 patients with MET-amplified cancers, 8 had MET-positive protein expression by immunohistochemistry (2+ and 3+). MET fusion was detected in 10 patients. Partner genes of MET fusion included ST7, TFEC, LRRD1, CFTR, CAV1, PCM1, HLA-DRB1, and CAPZA2. In survival analysis, patients with amplification of MET gene fusion had shorter OS and progression-free survival (PFS) than those without. Thus, MET aberration was determined to be a factor of response to chemotherapy.

Conclusion: Approximately 2.1% and 0.4% of patients with advanced solid tumors demonstrated MET gene amplification and fusion, respectively, and displayed a worse response to chemotherapy and significantly shorter OS and PFS than those without MET gene amplification or fusion.
Venus Life Finder Habitability Mission: Motivation, Science Objectives, and Instrumentation
Authors: Seager Sara , Petkowski Janusz J. , Carr Christopher E. , Saikia Sarag J. , Agrawal Rachana , Buchanan Weston P. , Grinspoon David H. , Weber Monika U. , Klupar Pete , Worden Simon P. , Iakubivskyi Iaroslav , Pajusalu Mihkel , Kaasik Laila ,   on behalf of the Venus Life Finder Mission Team
Published: November 2022

For over half a century, scientists have contemplated the potential existence of life within the clouds of Venus. Unknown chemistry leaves open the possibility that certain regions of the Venusian atmosphere are habitable. In situ atmospheric measurements with a suite of modern instruments can determine whether the cloud decks possess the characteristics needed to support life as we know it. The key habitability factors are cloud particle droplet acidity and cloud-layer water content. We envision an instrument suite to measure not only the acidity and water content of the droplets (and their variability) but additionally to confirm the presence of metals and other non-volatile elements required for life’s metabolism, verify the existence of organic material, and search for biosignature gases as signs of life. We present an astrobiology-focused mission, science goals, and instruments that can be used on both a large atmospheric probe with a parachute lasting about one hour in the cloud layers (40 to 60 km) or a fixed-altitude balloon operating at about 52 km above the surface. The latter relies on four deployable mini probes to measure habitability conditions in the lower cloud region. The mission doubles as a preparation for sample return by determining whether a subset of cloud particles is non-liquid as well as characterizing the heterogeneity of the cloud particles, thereby informing sample collection and storage methods for a return journey to Earth.
Development of SMA Spring Linear Actuator for an Autonomous Lock and Release Mechanism: Application for the Gravity-Assisted Pointing System in Moon to Earth Alignment of Directional Devices
Authors: Costanza Girolamo , Delle Monache Giovanni Ottavio , Tata Maria Elisa , Filosi Stefano
Published: November 2022

The next generation lunar reflector (NGLR) experiment is one of the experiments selected by NASA in the framework of the commercial lunar payload services (CLPS) initiative. The experiment, inspired by the lunar laser ranging (LLR) experiments of the Apollo era, is basically a single cube corner reflector (CCR) capable of reflecting a beam coming from a laser station on Earth that must be deployed on the Moon and pointed toward the mean Earth direction. In this work, a prototype of an actuator for the lock and release system of the reflector package was conceived, built, and tested in laboratory conditions. Since the entire pointing system must be passive, the actuator is designed to be operated by an SMA spring actuated by the thermal radiation of the Sun and regolith on the Moon. In lab conditions, the prototype, activated by a heat gun, showed the capability of the SMA spring to operate a lock and release pin, whose diameter is 4 mm, subjected to a preload of F = 7 N exerted by the releasing spring.
Individualisation of Inflight Catering Meals—An Automation Concept for Integrating Pre-Ordered Meals during the Flight for All Passengers
Authors: Mortensen Ernits Rafael , Reiß Matthias , Bauer Michael , Becker Axel , Freitag Michael
Published: November 2022

Inflight catering services are crucial for air travel. Airlines provide food and beverages to the passengers during the flight with different options depending on, e.g., the flying class, distance, and type of service. Our contribution outlines previous efforts to optimise the inflight catering processes and highlights the possibilities to individualise the current services. Individualisation is a growing trend and may challenge the processes that are possibly not wholly prepared to deliver a customised meal for each passenger onboard the aircraft. We present our passenger survey which confirms the demand for the individualisation of inflight meals; we explored which dimensions can be supported by incorporating automation. We performed an analysis of the current inflight catering process for developing automation concepts. Subsequently, an automation concept for the individualisation of inflight meals through pre-ordering is introduced, followed by an evaluation scenario. Within the evaluation, it was possible to consider the feasibility of the individualisation of inflight catering meals and to deliver requirements for the further development of automated services.
Deep Machine Learning for Forecasting Daily Potential Evapotranspiration in Arid Regions, Case: Atacama Desert Header
Authors: Pino-Vargas Edwin , Taya-Acosta Edgar , Ingol-Blanco Eusebio , Torres-Rúa Alfonso
Published: November 2022

Accurately estimating and forecasting evapotranspiration is one of the most important tasks to strengthen water resource management, especially in desert areas such as La Yarada, Tacna, Peru, a region located at the head of the Atacama Desert. In this study, we used temperature, humidity, wind speed, air pressure, and solar radiation from a local weather station to forecast potential evapotranspiration (ETo) using machine learning. The Feedforward Neural Network (Multi-Layered Perceptron) algorithm for prediction was used under two approaches: “direct” and “indirect”. In the first one, the ETo is predicted based on historical records, and the second one predicts the climate variables upon which the ETo calculation depends, for which the Penman-Monteith, Hargreaves-Samani, Ritchie, and Turc equations were used. The results were evaluated using statistical criteria to calculate errors, showing remarkable precision, predicting up to 300 days of ETo. Comparing the performance of the approaches and the machine learning used, the results obtained indicate that, despite the similar performance of the two proposed approaches, the indirect approach provides better ETo forecasting capabilities for longer time intervals than the direct approach, whose values of the corresponding metrics are MAE = 0.033, MSE = 0.002, RMSE = 0.043 and RAE = 0.016.
Characterisation of Pasting, Structural and Volatile Properties of Potato Flour
Authors: Zhuang Haining , Liu Shiyi , Wang Kexin , Zhong Rui , Aheto Joshua Harington , Bai Junwen , Tian Xiaoyu
Published: November 2022

Potato flour is an important raw material for potato staple food products; nevertheless, the quality and flavor vary significantly due to process changes. In this study, the physicochemical features of fresh and five different dehydration temperature potato samples, including the degree of starch gelatinization (DG), pasting, structure properties and volatile components, were compared to investigate the effect of hot air drying (HAD) on potato flour. The results showed that the degree of pasting, viscosity and volatile aroma components changed significantly with differences in drying temperature. With the increase in drying temperature, the gelatinization degree and peak viscosity of potato powder increased or decreased, the breakdown viscosity of HAD-50 was higher, the setback viscosity of HAD-90 was higher, while the crystallization zone of HAD-90 was destroyed due to the high temperature. The flavor components of potato flour are increased during processing due to lipid oxidation, Maillard reaction and thermal degradation. The level of aldehydes,3,5-Octadien-2-one and E,E)-3,5-Octadien-2-one gradually reduced as the processing temperature increased, while the content of furans grew and then decreased, nonanal and 2-Penty-l-Furan increased. Overall, lower HAD temperatures are beneficial for the quality and flavor of potato flour. The information presented here will be useful for the further development of potato flour products.
Fish Effluent as a Source of Water and Nutrients for Sustainable Urban Agriculture
Authors: Cerozi Brunno S. , Arlotta Caitlin G. , Richardson Matthew L.
Published: November 2022

Integrating urban agriculture with aquaculture can reduce the use and cost of water, competition for water, chemical fertilizers, and environmental impact of discharging nutrient-rich agricultural water into fresh and saltwater bodies. In addition, aquaculture in cities can directly benefit human health by providing a local source of lean protein. Despite the potential advantages, few studies have demonstrated the feasibility and production advantages of using aquaculture wastewater to fertigate specialty crops in an urban environment. Therefore, we grew four spring crops (bok choy, tatsoi, radish, turnip) and two fall crops (pole beans, sugar snap peas) in nutrient-rich effluent from fish aquaculture versus well or municipal water to evaluate whether the effluent improved soil fertility and crop production. The fish effluent resulted in changes to the soil through an increase in pH and potassium and to crop production through a 9.1% increase in the number of pole beans (mass of beans also trended toward significance). The soils we used were relatively nutrient-rich prior to the application of the fish effluent, which may be responsible for the limited impact, and differences may be more apparent in acidic and nutrient-poor soils or when fertigation is used over a longer duration.
Improving the Extraction Process of Mehlich 3 Method for Calcareous Soil Nutrients
Authors: Li Changqing , Wang Shuo , Sun Mengyu , Li Dongxiao , Xu Huasen , Zhang Liangyu , Xue Cheng , Ma Wenqi , Sun Zhimei
Published: November 2022

Soil nutrient testing is an effective way to uncover soil nutrient status. However, the conventional testing method (CT method) and Mehlich 3 method (M3 method) demand long-time consumption, tedious testing steps, high testing cost, dangerous chemicals contained in extractant, etc. Therefore, it is important to develop a new rapid test method or improve the existing rapid test method of soil available nutrients. In this study, an improved Mehlich3 method (IM3 method) with the new combined extractant were developed and evaluated on the testing feasibility, precision, efficiency, and cost. The results showed that: (1) IM3 method avoided the usage of two hazardous chemicals, i.e., ammonium nitrate and nitric acid, which were difficult in purchase and storage but contained in the combined extractant of M3 method. (2) The correlation coefficients of available P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn in calcareous soil between M3 and CT, and between IM3 and CT methods all reached highly significant level. The correlation coefficient of available Zn between IM3 and CT method was significantly higher than that between M3 and CT method, and those of the other elements had not obviously changed. (3) The variation coefficients of available P, K, Fe and Cu determined by M3 and IM3 methods were all lower than those determined by CT method. The variation coefficients of available Mn and Zn determined by IM3 were 3.67% and 6.43%, which were slightly higher than those determined by CT method with 2.72% and 5.29%, but were lower than those determined by M3 method. (4) Under the premise of ensuring testing precision, IM3 method took only 6.3 min/piece for determining six elements, reducing testing time by 70.7% and 3.08% compared with CT (21.5 min/piece) and M3 (6.5 min/piece) methods, respectively. The testing cost of IM3 method was reduced by 26% and 61.2% compared with M3 and CT methods, respectively. In conclusion, IM3 method is an ideal rapid measurement method for the simultaneous determination of available soil nutrients in calcareous soil.