bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional Deficits and Structural Changes Associated With the Visual Attention Network During Resting State in Adult Strabismic and Anisometropic Amblyopes
Authors: Wang Hao , Liang Minglong , Crewther Sheila G. , Yin Zhengqin , Wang Jian , Crewther David P. , Yu Tao
Published: May 2022

Our previous study has shown impaired blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD)/functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activation of the visual attention network in strabismic amblyopia (SA). However, there has been no comparison of resting state fMRI activation and functional connectivity (FC) in brain regions of interest (ROIs) along the visual attention network including visual cortex (V1), intraparietal sulcus (IPS), and frontal eye fields (FEFs) during closed eye resting across the SA (n = 20, 13LE), or anisometropic amblyopes (AA) (n = 20, 13LE) groups. Hence, we compared, gray matter volume (GMV), amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFFs), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and FC in the left and right hemisphere ROIs of the visual attention network in SA, AA, and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 21). Correlation analyses of corrected visual acuity (cVA) of amblyopic eye and MRI results were also performed and showed that the LogMAR cVA of the amblyopic eye positively correlated with right zALFF and zReHo FEF of SA and right IPS of AA only. GMV of both left and right hemisphere V1 areas was significantly greater but ALFF was significantly lower for SA compared to AA and HC groups. zALFF and zReHo analyses in the AA and SA groups indicated significantly higher activation than that in the HC group in the right FEF and IPS but lower than that in the HC group in the left FEF, and only the SA group showed lower activation in both V1 areas than the HC group. FC values of the right FEF–left V1, right FEF–right V1, and right FEF–right IPS pathways in the SA and AA groups were also significantly higher than those in the HC group whereas all other FC values were non-significant. Thus, this study indicates that even during resting-state the visual attention network function is impaired in SA and AA participants with only right hemisphere FEF showing significant activation in SA and IPS in AA suggesting that the slower saccade activation times characteristic of amblyopic eyes lead to the dominant eye controlling activation of the visual attention network.
Sex Differences in Depression Caused by Early Life Stress and Related Mechanisms
Authors: An Xianquan , Guo Wanxu , Wu Huiying , Fu Xiying , Li Ming , Zhang Yizhi , Li Yanlin , Cui Ranji , Yang Wei , Zhang Zhuo , Zhao Guoqing
Published: May 2022

Depression is a common psychiatric disease caused by various factors, manifesting with continuous low spirits, with its precise mechanism being unclear. Early life stress (ELS) is receiving more attention as a possible cause of depression. Many studies focused on the mechanisms underlying how ELS leads to changes in sex hormones, neurotransmitters, hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical (HPA) axis function, and epigenetics. The adverse effects of ELS on adulthood are mainly dependent on the time window when stress occurs, sex and the developmental stage when evaluating the impacts. Therefore, with regard to the exact sex differences of adult depression, we found that ELS could lead to sex-differentiated depression through multiple mechanisms, including 5-HT, sex hormone, HPA axis, and epigenetics.
A Scalable Approach to Modeling on Accelerated Neuromorphic Hardware
Authors: Müller Eric , Arnold Elias , Breitwieser Oliver , Czierlinski Milena , Emmel Arne , Kaiser Jakob , Mauch Christian , Schmitt Sebastian , Spilger Philipp , Stock Raphael , Stradmann Yannik , Weis Johannes , Baumbach Andreas , Billaudelle Sebastian , Cramer Benjamin , Ebert Falk , Göltz Julian , Ilmberger Joscha , Karasenko Vitali , Kleider Mitja , Leibfried Aron , Pehle Christian , Schemmel Johannes
Published: May 2022

Neuromorphic systems open up opportunities to enlarge the explorative space for computational research. However, it is often challenging to unite efficiency and usability. This work presents the software aspects of this endeavor for the BrainScaleS-2 system, a hybrid accelerated neuromorphic hardware architecture based on physical modeling. We introduce key aspects of the BrainScaleS-2 Operating System: experiment workflow, API layering, software design, and platform operation. We present use cases to discuss and derive requirements for the software and showcase the implementation. The focus lies on novel system and software features such as multi-compartmental neurons, fast re-configuration for hardware-in-the-loop training, applications for the embedded processors, the non-spiking operation mode, interactive platform access, and sustainable hardware/software co-development. Finally, we discuss further developments in terms of hardware scale-up, system usability, and efficiency.
An Active Sensing Paradigm for Studying Human Auditory Perception
Authors: Ferreiro Dardo N. , Winhart Valentin R. , Grothe Benedikt , Bahrami Bahador , Pecka Michael
Published: May 2022

Our perception is based on active sensing, i.e., the relationship between self-motion and resulting changes to sensory inputs. Yet, traditional experimental paradigms are characterized by delayed reactions to a predetermined stimulus sequence. To increase the engagement of subjects and potentially provide richer behavioral responses, we developed Sensory Island Task for humans (SITh), a freely-moving search paradigm to study auditory perception. In SITh, subjects navigate an arena in search of an auditory target, relying solely on changes in the presented stimulus frequency, which is controlled by closed-loop position tracking. A “target frequency” was played when subjects entered a circular sub-area of the arena, the “island”, while different frequencies were presented outside the island. Island locations were randomized across trials, making stimulus frequency the only informative cue for task completion. Two versions of SITh were studied: binary discrimination, and gradual change of the stimulus frequency. The latter version allowed determining frequency discrimination thresholds based on the subjects’ report of the perceived island location (i.e., target frequency). Surprisingly, subjects exhibited similar thresholds as reported in traditional “stationary” forced-choice experiments after performing only 30 trials, highlighting the intuitive nature of SITh. Notably, subjects spontaneously employed a small variety of stereotypical search patterns, and their usage proportions varied between task versions. Moreover, frequency discrimination performance depended on the search pattern used. Overall, we demonstrate that the use of an ecologically driven paradigm is able to reproduce established findings while simultaneously providing rich behavioral data for the description of sensory ethology.
Implications of Persistent HPV52 and HPV58 Positivity for the Management of Cervical Lesions
Authors: Yi Baozhu , Xu Qian , Zhang Zhixuan , Zhang Jinyi , Xu Yi , Huang Luoqi , Hu Yue , Tu Quanmei , Chen Jingyun
Published: May 2022

Objective

This study aimed to compare the variability of HPV16/18/52/58 subtype infections in patients with different cervical lesions, to explore the guiding significance of persistent positive HPV subtypes 52 and 58 in the stratified management of cervical lesions, and to determine the appropriate management model.

Method

This study was conducted through a retrospective analysis of 244,218 patients who underwent HPV testing at the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from September 2014 to December 2020 to examine the distribution of different types of HPV infection. From March 2015 to September 2017, 3,014 patients with known HPV underwent colposcopy to analyze high-risk HPV infection for different cervical lesions. Meanwhile, from September 2014 to December 2020, 1,616 patients positive for HPV16/18/52/58 alone with normal TCT who underwent colposcopy in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed for the occurrence of cervical and vulvovaginal lesions, with colposcopic biopsy pathology results serving as the gold standard for statistical analysis.

Result

Analysis of 244,218 patients who had HPV tested revealed that the top 3 high-risk HPV types were HPV52, HPV58, and HPV16. Further analysis of 3,014 patients showed that 78.04% of patients referred for colposcopy had HPV16/18/52/58 alone. Among high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and cervical cancer, the most common is HPV16, followed by HPV58 and then HPV52 (p < 0.05). A total of 1,616 patients with normal TCT who were referred for colposcopy due to HPV16/18/52/58 infection were further analyzed. Based on pathological findings in lesions of HSIL and CC, HPV16 is the most common, followed by HPV58 and then HPV18 (p < 0.05). In the 1,616 patients analyzed, high-grade vulvovaginal lesions were detected, with HPV58 being the most common, followed by HPV16 and then HPV52 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

1. In patients with positive HPV58 alone and normal TCT, the indications for colposcopy may be relaxed, with particular attention paid to the possibility of vulvar and vaginal lesions.

2. Patients with a positive HPV type 52 alone and normal TCT may be considered for a follow-up review and, if necessary, a colposcopy.

3. The development of a more suitable HPV vaccine for the Asian population, such as HPV16/18/52/58, may better protect women’s health.
Downstream Regulatory Network of MYBL2 Mediating Its Oncogenic Role in Melanoma
Authors: Zhong Feiliang , Liu Jia , Gao Chang , Chen Tingting , Li Bo
Published: May 2022

The transcription factor MYBL2 is widely expressed in proliferating cells. Aberrant expression of MYBL2 contributes to tumor malignancy and is associated with poor patient prognosis. However, the downstream transcriptional network that mediates its oncogenic properties remains elusive. In the present study, we observed that MYBL2 was overexpressed in malignant and metastatic melanoma patient samples and that the high expression level of MYBL2 was significantly associated with poor prognosis. A loss-of-function study demonstrated that MYBL2 depletion significantly decreased cell proliferation and migration and prevented cell cycle progression. We also determined that MYBL2 promoted the formation of melanoma stem-like cell populations, indicating its potential as a therapeutic target for treating resistant melanoma. Mechanistically, we constructed an MYBL2 regulatory network in melanoma by integrating RNA-seq and ChIP-seq data. EPPK1, PDE3A, and FCGR2A were identified as three core target genes of MYBL2. Importantly, multivariate Cox regression and survival curve analysis revealed that PDE3A and EPPK1 were negatively correlated with melanoma patient survival; however, FCGR2A was positively correlated with patient survival. Overall, our findings elucidate an MYBL2 regulatory network related to cell proliferation and cancer development in melanoma, suggesting that MYBL2 may be potentially targeted for melanoma diagnosis and treatment.
A Novel Combination of Serum Markers in a Multivariate Model to Help Triage Patients Into “Low-” and “High-Risk” Categories for Prostate Cancer
Authors: McNally Christopher J. , Watt Joanne , Kurth Mary Jo , Lamont John V. , Moore Tara , Fitzgerald Peter , Pandha Hardev , McKenna Declan J. , Ruddock Mark W.
Published: May 2022

Background

Almost 50,000 men in the United Kingdom (UK) are diagnosed each year with prostate cancer (PCa). Secondary referrals for investigations rely on serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and digital rectal examination. However, both tests lack sensitivity and specificity, resulting in unnecessary referrals to secondary care for costly and invasive biopsies.

Materials and Methods

Serum samples and clinical information were collected from N = 125 age-matched patients (n = 61 non-PCa and n = 64 PCa) and analyzed using Biochip Array Technology on high-sensitivity cytokine array I (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1α, IL-1β, TNFα, MCP-1, INFγ, EGF, and VEGF), cerebral array II (CRP, D-dimer, neuron-specific enolase, and sTNFR1), and tumor PSA oncology array (fPSA, tPSA, and CEA).

Results

The data showed that 11/19 (68.8%) markers were significantly different between the non-PCa and the PCa patients. A combination of EGF, log10 IL-8, log10 MCP-1, and log10 tPSA significantly improved the predictive potential of tPSA alone to identify patients with PCa (DeLong, p < 0.001). This marker combination had an increased area under the receiver operator characteristic (0.860 vs. 0.700), sensitivity (78.7 vs. 68.9%), specificity (76.5 vs. 67.2%), PPV (76.2 vs. 66.7%), and NPV (79.0 vs. 69.4%) compared with tPSA.

Conclusions

The novel combination of serum markers identified in this study could be employed to help triage patients into “low-” and “high-risk” categories, allowing general practitioners to improve the management of patients in primary care settings and potentially reducing the number of referrals for unnecessary, invasive, and costly treatments.
Cost-Effectiveness Analyses of Home Parenteral Nutrition for Incurable Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients
Authors: Li Wenqian , Guo Hanfei , Li Lingyu , Cui Jiuwei
Published: May 2022

Background

Appropriate nutritional support, including supplemental home parenteral nutrition (sHPN), may improve prognosis and quality of life (Qol) of malnourished cancer patients. We aimed to explore the cost-effectiveness of sHPN for incurable gastrointestinal cancer patients from the Chinese healthcare perspective.

Method

Clinical data were extracted from a randomized controlled trial (NCT02066363). Patients were randomized into the sHPN group or the non-sHPN group (receiving best practice nutritional care). A Markov model was established with a 6-week cycle length. Costs were acquired from local hospitals, effect parameters included quality-adjusted life year (QALY), Qol, body mass index, fat-free mass (FFM), FFM index, handgrip strength, and a 6-min walking test. Sensitivity analyses were conducted with a willingness-to-pay (WTP) set at 3 per capita gross domestic product ($29,307/QALY).

Results

When considering QALY as a utility, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was $24,289.17, with an incremental cost of $2,051.18 and an incremental QALY of 0.0844 between the sHPN group and the non-sHPN group. Furthermore, we explored the cost-effectiveness of sHPN from multidimensions, where we analyzed various effect parameters at different visits; the results showed a superior benefit for patients in the sHPN group except for the handgrip parameter at visit 2. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated the influence of utilities in the sHPN group, but the sHPN group was still cost-effective with a WTP of $2,500/QALY.

Conclusion

In China, sHPN was cost-effective for patients with incurable gastrointestinal cancer, which suggested further applications in clinical practice and provided references for clinical decisions and pricing.
Prognostic Value of Aspartate Transaminase/Alanine Transaminase Ratio in Patients With Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Hepatectomy
Authors: Mo Qiuyan , Liu Yingchun , Zhou Zihan , Li Runwei , Gong Wenfeng , Xiang Bangde , Tang Weizhong , Yu Hongping
Published: May 2022

Background

Aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase (De Ritis) ratio is a good predictor of liver function damage, but its prognostic value in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing hepatectomy remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the association of the De Ritis ratio with overall survival (OS) among hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy.

Methods

A total of 1,147 HCC patients were recruited. Cox regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to evaluate the association between the De Ritis ratio and mortality risk. Nomogram was constructed to determine the predictive power of the De Ritis ratio.

Results

Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the tertile of the De Ritis ratio was an independent risk factor for mortality. After adjustment for confounding factors, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% CIs of mortality for the 2nd tertile and 3rd tertile were 1.175 (0.889–1.554) and 1.567 (1.199–2.046), respectively. RCS confirmed a non-linear association between the natural logarithm of the De Ritis ratio and the risk of mortality (p for non-linearity = 0.0375). The nomogram showed that the natural logarithm of the De Ritis ratio contributed the most to the prediction of prognosis in HBV-related HCC patients, and Harrell’s C-index was 0.680 with a 95% CI of 0.645–0.715.

Conclusion

The De Ritis ratio is an independent predictor for OS in HBV-related HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy, which allows for prognostic stratification of patients, hence, individualized treatment and follow-up.
Case Report: Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma Invasion of Extranodal Thyroid Tissue Mimicking Tuberculosis and Confounded by Similar Ultrasonic Appearance
Authors: Wang Ying , Chen Menghan , Ni Chen , Tong Jiahui , Chen Peijun , Zhang Ying , Yang Gaoyi
Published: May 2022

Background

Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is a rare type of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which has significant features that overlap with those of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Ultrasound is a commonly used modality to characterize superficial lymph no5des, and ultrasonic findings are often used to distinguish lymphoma from lymph node tuberculosis in daily clinical practice. Although a common malignancy, lymphoma rarely involves extranodal tissues.

Case Presentation

Here we report the case of a 42-year-old Chinese male patient with PMBCL who was misdiagnosed with tuberculosis because of extranodal invasion. He visited our hospital for a neck mass that he had been noting for 1 week. Ultrasound revealed multiple enlarged lymph nodes on both sides of the neck. The lesions appeared to involve the surrounding soft tissue and thyroid gland, resembling a tuberculous sinus tract formation. Cervical spine computed tomography showed no obvious abnormalities in the cervical cone or bone damage. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound indicated that one of the enlarged lymph nodes in the right neck was rich in blood supply and exhibited centripetal enhancement, with uniform high enhancement at the peak. The patient underwent two ultrasound-guided punctures; the first puncture was performed for an enlarged lymph node in the right neck at Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital. Hodgkin’s lymphoma was suspected based on pathological and immunohistochemical findings, whereas a rare type of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was suspected at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital.

Conclusions

Lymphoma is often misdiagnosed, causing delayed treatment initiation and affecting patient outcomes as the disease progresses. The present case demonstrates that the ultrasonic appearance of lymphoma may sometimes be confused with that of tuberculosis. Although ultrasound-guided needle biopsy has a high diagnostic accuracy, it may also cause diagnostic deviation because of insufficient sampling volume. Moreover, owing to the enlargement of multiple lymph nodes due to lymphoma or lymph node tuberculosis, puncturing different lymph nodes may provide different results.
Critical Reflections on Reimbursement and Access of Advanced Therapies
Authors: Simoens Steven , De Groote Katrien , Boersma Cornelis
Published: May 2022

Background: The health economic literature has questioned the cost-effectiveness and affordability of advanced therapies, proposed adjustments to value assessment frameworks, and discussed the use of outcome-based managed entry agreements and staggered payments in the last few years. The aim of this manuscript is to conduct a critical reflection on assessment criteria and access conditions for reimbursement of advanced therapies.

Methods: A narrative review of the peer-reviewed literature and grey literature was conducted in April 2021 by searching PubMed; Google Scholar; policy and legislative documents; websites of health technology assessment agencies, advanced therapy organisations, governmental advanced therapy innovation programmes, consultancy agencies; ISPOR conference abstracts and presentations.

Results: Based on the available evidence, this manuscript argues that: a) advanced therapies can be cost-effective at high prices set by manufacturers; b) the economic evaluation framework adopted by many payers under-values these products; c) advanced therapies can be affordable and may not require spread payments; d) outcome-based managed entry agreements are theoretically attractive, but challenging in practice; e) the cost-effectiveness of advanced therapies depends on the outcome-based managed entry agreement and payment approach; f) there is a role for multinational collaborations to manage reimbursement and access of advanced therapies.

Conclusions: This manuscript shows that there is no single approach to reimbursement and access of advanced therapies. Instead, we support a more tailored assessment of health economic aspects of advanced therapies, which considers the heterogeneity of these products and their target populations.
An Overview of Systematic Reviews of Herbal Medicine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Jun Hyejin , Ko Seok-Jae , Kim Keumji , Kim Jinsung , Park Jae-Woo
Published: May 2022

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder with abdominal pain and bowel habits changes. Herbal medicines (HMs) are frequently used in the treatment of IBS. Therefore, several systematic reviews (SRs) have been conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of HM in IBS patients. This study aimed to investigate the methodology and quality of evidence of SRs, and to describe the current state of research and evidence for the treatment of IBS with HM.

Methods: SRs published up to January 2022 were searched using six electronic databases. SRs and/or meta-analyses on the use of HMs for IBS were included. The effects of placebo, conventional medicine (CM), and probiotics were compared with those of HMs. Two investigators independently extracted the data and assessed methodological quality using the Measure Tool to Assessment System Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2). Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to evaluate the quality of evidence for each main finding.

Results: Eighteen SRs were included in this overview. Among them, eight SRs reported only specific subtypes of IBS: six SRs reported patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS, and two SRs reported patients with constipation-predominant IBS. In terms of total efficacy, HM was more effective than placebo, CM, or probiotics. HM showed a more significant effect than CM in relieving independent IBS symptom score (abdominal pain score, diarrhea score, abdominal distension score, stool frequency score, etc.) and recurrence rate. The rate of adverse events was significantly lower with HM compared to CM, and no serious adverse events were reported with HM treatment. According to AMSTAR 2, the methodological quality of the included SRs was extremely low. Furthermore, the quality of evidence for total efficacy was considered low or very low according to the GRADE tool.

Conclusion: HM can be considered as an effective and safe treatment for IBS. However, the methodological quality of the included SRs and the quality of evidence was generally low. Therefore, well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed in the future so that a high-quality SR can be used to better assess the safety and efficacy of HM in the treatment of IBS.

Systematic Review Registration:https://osf.io/nt6wz, identifier 10.17605/OSF.IO/NT6WZ.
Identification and Validation of a Major Quantitative Trait Locus for Adult Plant Resistance Against Leaf Rust From the Chinese Wheat Landrace Bai Qimai
Authors: Wang Zhen , Jiang Xu , Zhang Yuzhu , Du Ziyi , Feng Jing , Quan Wei , Ren Junda , Che Mingzhe , Zhang Zhongjun
Published: May 2022

Leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks. (Pt) is a common disease of wheat worldwide. The Chinese wheat landrace Bai Qimai (BQM) has shown high resistance to leaf rust for a prolonged period of time; the infected leaves of BQM displayed high infection types (ITs), but they showed low disease severities at the adult plant stage. To find quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to leaf rust, 186 recombinant inbred lines from the cross Nugaines × BQM were phenotyped for leaf rust response in multiple field environments under natural Pt infections and genotyped using the 90K wheat single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. A total of 2,397 polymorphic markers were used for QTL mapping, and a novel major QTL (QLr.cau-6DL) was detected on chromosome 6DL from BQM. The effectiveness of QLr.cau-6DL was validated using the three additional wheat populations (RL6058 × BQM, Aikang58 × BQM, and Jimai22 × BQM). QLr.cau-6DL could significantly reduce leaf rust severities across all tested environments and different genetic backgrounds, and its resistance was more effective than that of Lr34. Moreover, QLr.cau-6DL acted synergistically with Lr34 to confer strong resistance to leaf rust. We believe that QLr.cau-6DL should have high potential value in the breeding of wheat cultivars with leaf rust resistance.
Stronger Spring Phenological Advance in Future Warming Scenarios for Temperate Species With a Lower Chilling Sensitivity
Authors: Hu Zhi , Wang Huanjiong , Dai Junhu , Ge Quansheng , Lin Shaozhi
Published: May 2022

Spring warming could induce earlier leaf-out or flowering of temperate plant species, and decreased chilling in winter has a delaying effect on spring phenology. However, the relative contribution of the decreased chilling and increased forcing on spring phenological change is unclear. Here, we analyzed the experimental data for 14 temperate woody species in Beijing, China and quantified the forcing requirements (FR) of spring phenology and chilling sensitivity (the ratio of the FR at the low chilling condition to the FR at the high chilling condition) for each species. Furthermore, using species-specific functions between the amount of chilling and FR, we established a phenological model to simulate the annual onset dates of spring events during the past 69 years (1952–2020) and in the future (2021–2099) under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 climate scenarios. We also developed a novel method to quantitatively split the predicted phenological change into the effects caused by changes in forcing and those caused by changes in chilling. The results show that the FR of spring events decreased with the increase in the amount of chilling, and this relationship could be described as an exponential decay function. The basic FR (the FR at the high chilling condition) and chilling sensitivity varied greatly among species. In the 1952–2020 period, the advancing effect of increased forcing was stronger than the effect of chilling, leading to earlier spring events with a mean trend of −1.96 days/decade. In future climate scenarios, the spring phenology of temperate species would continue to advance but will be limited by the decreased chilling. The species with lower chilling sensitivities showed stronger trends than those with high chilling sensitivities. Our results suggested that the delaying effect of declining chilling could only slow down the spring phenological advance to a certain extent in the future.
Genomic Regions, Molecular Markers, and Flanking Genes of Metribuzin Tolerance in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Kurya Benjamin , Mia Md Sultan , Liu Hui , Yan Guijun
Published: May 2022

Understanding the genetics of metribuzin (a group C herbicide) tolerance in wheat is vital in developing tolerant cultivars to improve wheat productivity in dryland farming systems. This study investigated metribuzin tolerance in wheat by conducting a Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) with a panel of 150 wheat genotypes of diverse genetic backgrounds and genotyped them with the wheat 90 K SNP genotyping assay. The phenotyping was conducted in a temperature-controlled glasshouse at the University of Western Australia (UWA). Genotypes were sprayed with a metribuzin dose of 400 grams of active ingredient (g. a.i.) ha−1 as pre-emergent in a specialized spraying cabinet and transferred to the glasshouse where the tolerance level of the genotypes was assessed by measuring the relative reduction in chlorophyll content of the leaves. The decrease in chlorophyll content of the treated plants compared to the control was regarded as the phytotoxic effects of metribuzin. GWAS analysis following a mixed linear model revealed 19 genomic regions with significant marker-trait associations (MTAs), including ten on chromosome 6A, three on chromosome 2B, and one on chromosomes 3A, 5B, 6B 6D, 7A, and 7B, respectively. Sequences of the significant markers were blasted against the wheat genome, IWGSC RefSeq V1.0, and candidate genes having annotations related to herbicide tolerance in wheat, especially in pathways reported to be involved in metribuzin tolerance, such as cytochrome P450 pathways and ATP Binding Cassette (ABC) superfamilies, were identified in these genomic regions. These included TraesCS6A01G028800, TraesCS6A02G353700, TraesCS6A01G326200, TraesCS7A02G331000, and TraesCS2B01G465200. These genomic regions were validated on 30 top tolerant and 30 most susceptible genotypes using the five closest SSR makers to the flanked SNPs. Sufficient polymorphism was detected on two markers (wms193 and barc1036) that were found to differentiate between the susceptible and tolerant alleles and a t-test analysis of the phenotypic data shows a significant (value of p < 0.001) difference suggesting that these markers can be used for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in metribuzin studies and wheat breeding programs.
Genome-Wide Association Analyses Track Genomic Regions for Resistance to Ascochyta rabiei in Australian Chickpea Breeding Germplasm
Authors: Raman Rosy , Warren Annie , Krysinska-Kaczmarek Marzena , Rohan Maheswaran , Sharma Niharika , Dron Nicole , Davidson Jenny , Moore Kevin , Hobson Kristy
Published: May 2022

Ascochyta blight (AB), caused by a necrotrophic fungus, Ascochyta rabiei (syn. Phoma rabiei) has the potential to destroy the chickpea industry worldwide, due to limited sources of genetic resistance in the cultivated gene pool, high evolutionary potential of the pathogen and challenges with integrated disease management. Therefore, the deployment of stable genetic resistance in new cultivars could provide an effective disease control strategy. To investigate the genetic basis of AB resistance, genotyping-by-sequencing based DArTseq-single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker data along with phenotypic data of 251 advanced breeding lines and chickpea cultivars were used to perform genome-wide association (GWAS) analysis. Host resistance was evaluated seven weeks after sowing using two highly aggressive single spore isolates (F17191-1 and TR9571) of A. rabiei. GWAS analyses based on single-locus and multi-locus mixed models and haplotyping trend regression identified twenty-six genomic regions on Ca1, Ca4, and Ca6 that showed significant association with resistance to AB. Two haplotype blocks (HB) on chromosome Ca1; HB5 (992178–1108145 bp), and HB8 (1886221–1976301 bp) were associated with resistance against both isolates. Nine HB on the chromosome, Ca4, spanning a large genomic region (14.9–56.6 Mbp) were also associated with resistance, confirming the role of this chromosome in providing resistance to AB. Furthermore, trait-marker associations in two F3 derived populations for resistance to TR9571 isolate at the seedling stage under glasshouse conditions were also validated. Eighty-nine significantly associated SNPs were located within candidate genes, including genes encoding for serine/threonine-protein kinase, Myb protein, quinone oxidoreductase, and calmodulin-binding protein all of which are implicated in disease resistance. Taken together, this study identifies valuable sources of genetic resistance, SNP markers and candidate genes underlying genomic regions associated with AB resistance which may enable chickpea breeding programs to make genetic gains via marker-assisted/genomic selection strategies.
Wound-Induced Systemic Responses and Their Coordination by Electrical Signals
Authors: Lee Kyounghee , Seo Pil Joon
Published: May 2022

Wounding not only induces the expression of damage-responsive genes, but also initiates physiological changes, such as tissue repair, vascular reconnection, and de novo organogenesis in locally damaged tissues. Wound-induced signals also propagate from the site of wounding to distal organs to elicit a systemic response. Electrical signaling, which is the most conserved type of systemic signaling in eukaryotes, is triggered by wound-induced membrane potential changes. Changes in membrane potential spread toward systemic tissues in synergy with chemical and hydraulic signals. Here, we review current knowledge on wound-induced local and systemic responses in plants. We focus particularly on how wound-activated plasma membrane-localized ion channels and pumps propagate systemic information about wounding to induce downstream molecular responses in distal tissues. Finally, we propose future studies that could lead to a better understanding of plant electrical signals and their role in physiological responses to wounding.
AfCHIL, a Type IV Chalcone Isomerase, Enhances the Biosynthesis of Naringenin in Metabolic Engineering
Authors: Xu Huanhuan , Lan Yanping , Xing Jiayi , Li Yi , Liu Lecheng , Wang Yongqin
Published: May 2022

Naringenin is an essential precursor for all flavonoids, and effectively promoting naringenin production is crucial in metabolic engineering. The interaction between plant metabolic enzymes ensures metabolic flux. The effect can effectively improve the natural product synthesis of engineering microbial systems. In this study, chalcone isomerase genes in Allium fistulosum have been identified. The expression of AfCHIL is closely related to the accumulation of anthocyanins, and the expression of AfCHIL and AfCHS was highly synchronized. Yeast two-hybrid and firefly luciferase complementation imaging assay further confirmed AfCHIL physically interacted with AfCHS/AfCHI. The bioconversion experiment confirmed that AfCHIL reduced the derailment produced by AfCHS and increased the yield of naringenin. In addition, a system of biosynthesis naringenin involved in AfCHS was constructed, and these results suggested that the potential function between CHS with CHIL advanced naringenin production effectively. In conclusion, this study illustrated the function of AfCHIs in Allium fistulosum and provided new insight into improving the synthesis efficiency of naringenin.
Complete Chloroplast Genomes Provide Insights Into Evolution and Phylogeny of Campylotropis (Fabaceae)
Authors: Feng Yu , Gao Xin-Fen , Zhang Jun-Yi , Jiang Li-Sha , Li Xiong , Deng Heng-Ning , Liao Min , Xu Bo
Published: May 2022

The genus Campylotropis Bunge (Desmodieae, Papilionoideae) comprises about 37 species distributed in temperate and tropical Asia. Despite the great potential in soil conservation, horticulture, and medicine usage, little is known about the evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships of Campylotropis due to insufficient genetic resources. Here, we sequenced and assembled 21 complete chloroplast genomes of Campylotropis species. In combination with the previously published chloroplast genomes of C. macrocarpa and closely related species, we conducted comparative genomics and phylogenomic analysis on these data. Comparative analysis of the genome size, structure, expansion and contraction of inverted repeat (IR) boundaries, number of genes, GC content, and pattern of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) revealed high similarities among the Campylotropis chloroplast genomes. The activities of long sequence repeats contributed to the variation in genome size and gene content in Campylotropis chloroplast genomes. The Campylotropis chloroplast genomes showed moderate sequence variation, and 13 highly variable regions were identified for species identification and further phylogenetic studies. We also reported one more case of matK pseudogene in the legume family. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the monophyly of Campylotropis and the sister relationship between Lespedeza and Kummerowia, the latter two genera were then sister to Campylotropis. The intrageneric relationships of Campylotropis based on genomic scale data were firstly reported in this study. The two positively selected genes (atpF and rps19) and eight fast-evolving genes identified in this study may help us to understand the adaptation of Campylotropis species. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the chloroplast genome evolution and phylogenetic relationships of Campylotropis.
Is Self-Transcendence Philanthropic? Graded Response Model Approach
Authors: Ros Bandos , Kaneko Shinji
Published: May 2022

This study reveals that strong feelings of altruism were found to be statistically significant in explaining prosocial and pro-environmental behaviors. However, this was not the case for the latent trait biosphere in explaining pro-environmental behavior (e.g., past volunteering in clean-up activities). Regardless of whether they are overseas graduates or not, subjects in this study are more altruistic than biospheric by nature. Using the Graded Response Model (GRM) approach, the study found that the biosphere and altruism are obviously independent of each other and merging them into one dimension, in this instance referred to as “self-transcendence,” makes the construct less reliable. That is why this study in consistence with previous studies could not detect the effect of self-transcendence statistically, as it affects both the past volunteering in environmental affairs and the past volunteering in social welfare.
How Individual and Situational Factors Influence Measures of Affective and Cognitive Theory of Mind in Psychiatric Inpatients
Authors: Knopp Magdalena , Burghardt Juliane , Meyer Bernhard , Sprung Manuel
Published: May 2022

Mental disorders are associated with difficulties to correctly infer the mental states of other’s (theory of mind; ToM). These inferences either relate to affective states of others (affective ToM) or to their thoughts, intentions, or beliefs (cognitive ToM) and can be associated with mental disorder. The current study explores the influence of individual and situational effects on the measurement of ToM abilities within two clinical samples, to increase generalizability. We analyzed data from 229 in-patients; 103 patients treated for alcohol use disorder and 126 patients treated for a personality disorder. ToM was assessed with the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC). We analyzed changes in test performance over the course of the test using a logistic linear mixed effects model. Performance on the cognitive ToM items decreased over time, while performance on the affective ToM items increased over time. This difference was more pronounced among older individuals. The results show important moderators of ToM performance that might help to resolve inconsistencies in the current literature about ToM abilities in different clinical or age groups.
Experience-Dependent Egr1 Expression in the Hippocampus of Japanese Quail
Authors: Damphousse Chelsey C. , Miller Noam , Marrone Diano F.
Published: May 2022

The hippocampal formation (HF) is a structure critical to navigation and many forms of memory. In mammals, the firing of place cells is widely regarded as the fundamental unit of HF information processing. Supporting homology between the avian and mammalian HF, context-specific patterns of Egr1 have been reported in birds that are comparable to those produced by place cell firing in mammals. Recent electrophysiological data, however, suggest that many avian species lack place cells, potentially undermining the correspondence between Egr1 and place cell-related firing in the avian brain. To clarify this, the current study examines Egr1 expression in Japanese quail under conditions known to elicit only weakly spatially modulated firing patterns and report robust context-dependent Egr1 expression. These data confirm that context-dependent expression of Egr1 is not dependent on precise place fields and provide insight into how these birds are able to perform complex spatial tasks despite lacking mammalian-like place cells.
The Role of Teacher–Student Relationships in Predicting Teachers’ Occupational Wellbeing, Emotional Exhaustion, and Enthusiasm
Authors: Cui Liying
Published: May 2022

Wellbeing is regarded as a core dimension of an individual’s prosperity in the field of positive psychology. Underlying this multifaceted framework are emotive, mental, and societal forms of wellbeing, which can be based on constructive connections in the workplace. Career wellbeing among educators is linked to optimal mental functioning and their positive career experience is characterized in terms of the existence of constructive dimensions like enthusiasm at the workplace. Also, emotional exhaustion or fatigue is another central element in the research on educator burnout and it has an important effect on educators’ expert lives, alternatively, the excellence of teacher–student relationships is significant in the process of language learning. Due to the significant effect of the above-mentioned construct, this review tries to focus on the prominence of teacher–student relationships in this domain. The results from the review of the literature specified that high-value teacher–student relationships keep educators away from being emotionally exhausted since it can enhance the quantity of enthusiasm and lessen the amount of exhaustion. In a nutshell, this review of literature has suggestions for academics and experts in search of increasing teachers’ occupational wellbeing.
Self-Efficacy and Emotion Regulation as Predictors of Teacher Burnout Among English as a Foreign Language Teachers: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach
Authors: Bing Hang , Sadjadi Bakhtiar , Afzali Maryam , Fathi Jalil
Published: May 2022

Since teachers and their psychological factors have a significant share of variance in accounting for success in educational contexts, significant number of empirical studies have investigated the associations among intrapsychic variables of teachers. To further examine the inter-connections between individual teacher constructs in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts, this study explored the role of emotion regulation and teacher self-efficacy in predicting teacher burnout in the Chinese EFL context. In so doing, a sample of 174 EFL teachers completed a survey containing the three valid scales measuring these constructs. Structural Equation Modeling was employed to examine the structural model of the variables under investigation. The findings revealed that teacher self-efficacy accounted for 20% of the variance in burnout, whereas emotion regulation represented 11.2% of the teacher burnout variance. Overall, it was revealed that although both variables exerted a significant unique contribution to teacher burnout, teacher self-efficacy seemed to be a stronger predictor of burnout than emotion regulation of teachers. The results might have remarkable implications for EFL teacher development programs.
Social Media Application as a New Paradigm for Business Communication: The Role of COVID-19 Knowledge, Social Distancing, and Preventive Attitudes
Authors: Yu Songbo , Abbas Jaffar , Draghici Anca , Negulescu Oriana Helena , Ain Noor Ul
Published: May 2022

Business firms and the public have encountered massive consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic has become the most significant challenge and influenced all communities. This research study focuses on exploring the relationship between COVID-19 knowledge, social distancing, individuals' attitudes toward social media use, and practices of using social media amid the COVID-19 crisis. This study examines how attitudes toward social media use mediate the linkage between COVID-19 knowledge, social distancing, and practices for social media use. This survey uses a non-probability convenience sampling approach to collect samples and recruit willing respondents with their consent for data collection. This study recorded the feedback from 348 participants who encountered the indirect/direct effects of nationwide lockdowns, restrictions on social gatherings, and COVID-19 infection. The findings validate the proposed hypotheses for their direct effects and indicate significant β-values, t-statistics, and the p-values at p <0.001. The results validate a relationship between the COVID-19 knowledge of and social distancing practices. Similarly, the results approved a positive link between social distancing and attitudes toward social media use amid COVID-19. The findings validate the relation between social distancing and attitudes toward social media use during COVID-19 challenges (β-value = 0.22 and t-statistics = 3.078). The results show the linkage between attitudes toward social media use and practices of using social media (β-value = 0.41, and t-statistics = 7.175). Individuals' attitude toward social media use during COVID-19 mediates the connection between COVID-19 knowledge and COVID-19 practices of using social media use. The results validate the first mediation at β-value = 0.21 and t-statistic = 5.327. Similarly, the findings approve that attitudes toward social media use in the pandemic have positively mediated the relation between distancing and practices for social media use amid the crisis of COVID-19 (β-value = 0.09 and t-statistic = 2.633). The findings indicate how people have been indulged in social media to pave their business communication needs. The results provide valuable insights for the global business community. This study provides a systematic and holistic research model that helps in exploring the consequences of COVID-19. The generalizability of the findings provides valuable directions for future research related to the current pandemic.
The Psychopathology of Worthlessness in Depression
Authors: Harrison Phillippa , Lawrence Andrew J. , Wang Shu , Liu Sixun , Xie Guangrong , Yang Xinhua , Zahn Roland
Published: May 2022

Background

Despite common dissatisfaction with the syndromic heterogeneity of major depression, investigations into its symptom structure are scarce. Self-worthlessness/inadequacy is a distinctive and consistent symptom of major depression across cultures.

Aims

We investigated whether self-worthlessness is associated with self-blaming attribution-related symptoms or is instead an expression of reduced positive feelings overall, as would be implied by reduced positive affect accounts of depression.

Methods

44,161 undergraduate students in Study 1, and 215 patients with current Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and 237 age-matched healthy control participants in Study 2 completed the well-validated Symptom Check List-90. Depression-relevant items were used to construct regularized partial correlation networks with bootstrap estimates of network parameter variability.

Results

Worthlessness co-occurred more strongly with other symptoms linked to self-blaming attributions (hopelessness, and self-blame), displaying a combined edge weight with these symptoms which was significantly stronger than the edge weight representing its connection with reduced positive emotion symptoms (such as reduced pleasure/interest/motivation, difference in edge weight sum in Study 1 = 2.95, in Study 2 = 1.64; 95% confidence intervals: Study 1: 2.6–3.4; Study 2: 0.02–3.5; Bonferroni-corrected p < 0.05).

Conclusions

This confirms the prediction of the revised learned helplessness model that worthlessness is most strongly linked to hopelessness and self-blame. In contrast, we did not find a strong and direct link between anhedonia items and a reduction in self-worth in either study. This supports worthlessness as a primary symptom rather than resulting from reduced positive affect.