bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CHLNET: A novel hybrid 1D CNN-SVR algorithm for estimating ocean surface chlorophyll-a
Authors: Fan Donglin , He Hongchang , Wang Ruisheng , Zeng You , Fu Bolin , Xiong Yuankang , Liu Lilong , Xu Yong , Gao Ertao
Published: August 2022

Developing a unified chlorophyll-a (Chla) inversion algorithm for cross-water types is a significant challenge owing to the insufficiency of input features and training samples. Although machine learning algorithms can build a consistent model for different trophic waters, the accuracy of the inversion is dependent on the quality of the extended features. Here, we designed a novel hybrid framework called CHLNET, which combines a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D CNN) and support vector regression (SVR). The 1D CNN is used to extract features from the original band features, and the SVR is used to perform a fit of Chla. CHLNET is trained and tested using match-up pairs of SeaWiFS remote sensing reflectance [Rrs(λ)] in situ with Chla ranging from 0.009 mg/m³ to 138.046 mg/m³, which covers mostly ocean water types. Performance metrics in the log space of CHLNET were better than those of the state-of-the-art algorithms on the testing dataset, and CHLNET had the best overall performance with the largest cover area in the star plot. The frequency distribution of predicted Chla by CHLNET was more consistent with that of in situ Chla. While the spatial pattern was not smooth in low Chla concentration waters, CHLNET demonstrated excellent mapping ability at the global and local scales in high Chla concentration waters. Through the band-shift method, which transfers the Rrs(λ) of MERIS and MODIS-Aqua to the Rrs(λ) of SeaWiFS in the visible spectral range, CHLNET obtained better accuracy than the blended algorithm of OCx and CI on MERIS and MODIS-Aqua matchups, which validates the generalization of CHLNET on cross-sensor types. The results indicate that CHLNET avoids the drawbacks of manually constructing extended features and the need for merging water type-appropriate algorithms for Chla retrieval, as well as provides a new idea for unified Chla concentration inversion across water types. Thus, CHLNET may serve as an alternative approach for Chla inversion.
Synthesis and characterization of low-carbon cementitious materials from suspended calcined coal gangue
Authors: Jiu Shaowu , Wang Mingming , Chen Yanxin , Chen Jingyi , Gao Qianwen
Published: August 2022

Coal gangue is used to replace cement clinker to prepare cementitious material via activation techniques. Thus, the solid waste can be effectively disposed, and the carbon emission from cement production processes can be significantly reduced. In this paper, the product transformation, reaction mechanism, and thermal activation kinetics of coal gangue were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, infrared analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. We employed a suspension calcination process to prepare high-activity metakaolin. A cementitious material was prepared from the metakaolin and cement, and the mechanical properties and hydration products were analyzed. The results show that metakaolin was formed by the dehydroxylation of kaolinite in the coal gangue during calcination, and the reaction was based on the Z–L–T three-dimensional diffusion mechanism with an activation energy of 190.2 kJ/mol. Metakaolin with dissolution rates of 69.5%–76.3% and 44.5%–52.3% of activated alumina and silica, respectively, were synthesized by calcining the coal gangue at 750°C–850°C for approximately 5 s via suspension calcination. The prepared cementitious material showed 28-days compressive strength of 57.5–61.5 MPa and an activity index of 114%–135%. The cementitious material participated in the hydration of cement and formed a structurally dense hardened body, which resulted in a high replacement volume and high strength of the specimens. The preparation of low-carbon cementitious materials by activating gangue via suspension calcination provides a basis for gangue utilization and reduction of carbon emissions during cement production.
“A Comparative Analysis of the Number of Organ Retrievals in Relation to Potential Donation Qualifications in Populations of Patients From a Single Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit in 2017-2018”
Authors: Kudliński Bartosz , Trosiak Marta , Wojciech Magdalena , Zaborniak Gabriel , Kania Jagoda , Buczek Aleksandra , Fedorowicz Olga , Myślak Marek
Published: August 2022

The population of patients declared as brain dead and qualified for organ donation is relatively low in Poland. The main causes of brain death include cerebral vascular diseases and brain trauma (54 and 34%, respectively, according to Poltransplant registry data). The number of organ procurements in Poland is constantly recorded on average at 14 donations per 1 million citizens (14/mln) in 2017 and 12 donations per one million in 2018. It is difficult to precisely define the number of patients who meet the criteria for brain death certification. The authors have retrospectively analyzed the medical data of 229 patients from 2017 and 2018 records with the aim of identifying potential organ donors among patients of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the University Hospital in Western Poland. Brain death was suspected in 53 patients (23.14%). Brain imaging to confirm no cerebral flow (which is consistent with brain death) was performed in 17 patients (7.45%) and this, as a result, led to organ donation in 9 cases (3.93%). The factors identified as having a positive influence on organ donation included: daily thorough physical examination, (Glasgow Coma Scale) GCS assessment, depth and duration of sedation, ICU length of stay and early performance of a CT-angiogram.
Current status of pesticide effects on environment, human health and it’s eco-friendly management as bioremediation: A comprehensive review
Authors: Pathak Vinay Mohan , Verma Vijay K. , Rawat Balwant Singh , Kaur Baljinder , Babu Neelesh , Sharma Akansha , Dewali Seeta , Yadav Monika , Kumari Reshma , Singh Sevaram , Mohapatra Asutosh , Pandey Varsha , Rana Nitika , Cunill Jose Maria
Published: August 2022

Pesticides are either natural or chemically synthesized compounds that are used to control a variety of pests. These chemical compounds are used in a variety of sectors like food, forestry, agriculture and aquaculture. Pesticides shows their toxicity into the living systems. The World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes them based on their detrimental effects, emphasizing the relevance of public health. The usage can be minimized to a least level by using them sparingly with a complete grasp of their categorization, which is beneficial to both human health and the environment. In this review, we have discussed pesticides with respect to their global scenarios, such as worldwide distribution and environmental impacts. Major literature focused on potential uses of pesticides, classification according to their properties and toxicity and their adverse effect on natural system (soil and aquatic), water, plants (growth, metabolism, genotypic and phenotypic changes and impact on plants defense system), human health (genetic alteration, cancer, allergies, and asthma), and preserve food products. We have also described eco-friendly management strategies for pesticides as a green solution, including bacterial degradation, myco-remediation, phytoremediation, and microalgae-based bioremediation. The microbes, using catabolic enzymes for degradation of pesticides and clean-up from the environment. This review shows the importance of finding potent microbes, novel genes, and biotechnological applications for pesticide waste management to create a sustainable environment.
Deciphering the microbial diversity associated with healthy and wilted Paeonia suffruticosa rhizosphere soil
Authors: Jia Manman , Sun Xin , Chen Man , Liu Shuang , Zhou Jinxing , Peng Xiawei
Published: August 2022

Plant health is closely related to the soil, where microorganisms play a critical and unique role. For instance, Paeonia suffruticosa is an emerging woody oil crop in China with attractive development and utilization prospects. However, black root rot causes wilting of the aboveground plant parts, which significantly affected its seed yield and quality. Studies found that soil microorganisms are critical in maintaining plant health, but how changes in the soil microbial communities affect the healthy and diseased oil peony is unclear. Therefore, our present study used high throughput sequencing and BIOLOG to analyze the rhizosphere soil microbial communities of healthy and diseased oil peonies. Our results revealed that the physical and chemical properties of the soil of the diseased plants had changed, with the ability to metabolize the carbon source being enhanced. Moreover, our research highlighted that the oil peony-infecting fungal pathogenic genus (Fusarium, Cylindrocarpon, and Neocosmospora) was closely associated with oil peony yield reduction and disease aggravation. Further network analysis demonstrated that the bacterial and fungal networks of the diseased plants were more complex than those of the healthy plants. Finally, the inter-kingdom network among the diseased plants further indicated that the lesions destroyed the network and increased the intraspecific correlation between the fungal groups.
Multi-tissue metabolomic profiling reveals potential mechanisms of cocoon yield in silkworms (Bombyx mori) fed formula feed versus mulberry leaves
Authors: Wu Xuehui , Chen Xuedong , Ye Aihong , Cao Jinru , He Ruimin , Pan Meiliang , Jin Feng , Ma Huanyan , Zhou Wenlin
Published: August 2022

Use of formula feed (FF) for silkworms for all instars, has promoted transformation and progress in traditional sericulture. However, the cocoon yield of FF silkworms has failed to reach that of silkworms fed mulberry leaves (ML). The biological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have not been well described. This study aimed to identify metabolic mechanisms and potential biomarkers relating to the poor cocoon yield of FF silkworms. In this study, silkworms received treatments of either ML (ML group) or FF (FF group) for all instars. At the 3rd day of the 5th instar, the midgut (MG), hemolymph (HL) and posterior silk gland (PSG) were collected for the metabolome profiles detection. The remaining silkworms were fed ML or FF until cocooning for investigation. The whole cocoon yield (WCY) was significantly higher in the FF group than the ML group (p < 0.05), whereas the cocoon shell weight (CSW) and cocoon shell rate (CSR) were significantly lower in the FF group (p < 0.05). A total of 845, 867 and 831 metabolites were qualified and quantified in the MG, HL and PSG of the FF silkworms, respectively. Correspondingly, 789, 833 and 730 metabolites were quantified in above three tissues of the ML group. Further, 230, 249 and 304 significantly different metabolites (SDMs) were identified in the MG, HL and PSG between the FF and ML group, respectively. Eleven metabolic pathways enriched by the SDMs were mutual among the three tissues. Among them, cysteine and methionine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and arginine and proline metabolism were the top three pathways with the highest impact value in the PSG. Six biomarkers were obtained through biomarker analysis and Pearson correlation calculation. Among them, homocitrulline, glycitein, valyl-threonine, propyl gallate and 3-amino-2,3-dihydrobenzoic acid were positively correlated with WCY, but negatively correlated with CSW and CSR (p < 0.05). An opposite correlation pattern was observed between 3-dimethylallyl-4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate and the three cocoon performance traits. Overall, three key metabolic pathways and six biomarkers associated with cocoon yield were interpreted, and should provide directions for formula feed optimization in factory-raised silkworms.
Astrocytes profiling in acute hepatic encephalopathy: Possible enrolling of glial fibrillary acidic protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, inwardly rectifying potassium channel (Kir 4.1) and aquaporin-4 in rat cerebral cortex
Authors: Elsherbini Dalia Mahmoud Abdelmonem , Ghoneim Fatma M. , El-Mancy Eman Mohammed , Ebrahim Hasnaa Ali , El-Sherbiny Mohamed , El-Shafey Mohamed , Al-Serwi Rasha Hamed , Elsherbiny Nehal M.
Published: August 2022

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neurological disarray manifested as a sequel to chronic and acute liver failure (ALF). A potentially fatal consequence of ALF is brain edema with concomitant astrocyte enlargement. This study aims to outline the role of astrocytes in acute HE and shed light on the most critical mechanisms driving this role. Rats were allocated into two groups. Group 1, the control group, received the vehicle. Group 2, the TAA group, received TAA (300 mg/kg) for 3 days. Serum AST, ALT, and ammonia were determined. Liver and cerebral cortical sections were processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining. Additionally, mRNA expression and immunohistochemical staining of cortical GFAP, TNFα, Kir4.1, and AQP4 were performed. Cortical sections from the TAA group demonstrated neuropil vacuolation and astrocytes enlargement with focal gliosis. GFAP, TNFα, and AQP4 revealed increased mRNA expression, positive immunoreactivity, and a positive correlation to brain water content. In contrast, Kir 4.1 showed decreased mRNA expression and immunoreactivity and a negative correlation to brain water content. In conclusion, our findings revealed altered levels of TNFα, Kir 4.1, GFAP, and AQP4 in HE-associated brain edema. A more significant dysregulation of Kir 4.1 and TNFα was observed compared to AQP4 and GFAP.
The association between blood MxA mRNA and long-term disease activity in early multiple sclerosis
Authors: Coerver Eline M. E. , Strijbis Eva M. M. , Petzold Laura F. , Van Kempen Zoé L. E. , Jasperse Bas , Barkhof Frederik , Oudejans Cees B. M. , Uitdehaag Bernard M. J. , Teunissen Charlotte E. , Killestein Joep
Published: August 2022

Background

Myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) is a protein that is upregulated by interferon-beta. Homeostatic MxA mRNA levels are potentially correlated with inflammatory disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS) and could have an important role in MS pathology.

Aim

To investigate the association between myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) mRNA levels in blood and disease activity and progression in MS over a long-term follow-up period.

Methods

Baseline blood MxA mRNA levels were determined in a prospective cohort of 116 untreated patients with a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or early relapsing remitting MS (RRMS), and related to long-term relapses, radiological disease activity, clinical scores [Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), timed-25-foot walk (T25FW), 9-hole-peg test (9HPT)], MS type, and disease modifying therapy (DMT) use.

Results

Low MxA mRNA levels were associated with the occurrence of ≥9 T2-lesions on MRI imaging and the occurrence of relapses during long-term follow-up (median 11 years, IQR 5.91–13.69 years). MxA mRNA levels were not associated with EDSS, T25FW, 9HPT, and MS subtype.

Conclusion

Baseline MxA mRNA levels are associated with long-term development of T2-lesions on MRI-scans in our cohort. This confirms the relevance of the endogenous interferon-beta system in the occurrence of MS disease activity.
Immunoexpression of MMP-8 and MMP-9 in chronic subdural hematoma
Authors: Su Gao-Jian , Zhang Di , Wu Jia-Nuo , Deng Yu-Hang , Wu Chu-Wei , Zhang Xie-Jun , Huang Xian-Jian
Published: August 2022

To determine the possible role of matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-8 and MMP-9 in the development of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH), we investigated their expression in CSDH. In our previous study, we analyzed hematoma fluid and peripheral blood of 83 patients with CSDH, including 17 postoperative patients. Based on these results, we included 50 people in the normal group and analyzed 20 markers in the peripheral blood of each person. In order to identify representative markers, it was assessed by using overall differential gene expression. The concentration of MMP-8 was significantly higher in the normal group than that in the preoperative and postoperative groups. The concentration of MMP-9 was significantly lower in the normal group than in both preoperative and postoperative groups. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the expression of MMP-8 and MMP-9 in CSDH membranes. In conclusion, our results provide evidence of the expression of MMP-8 and MMP-9 in CSDH. In addition, the expression of MMP-8 and MMP-9 suggests angiogenesis in CSDH formation.
Dissociable effects of music and white noise on conflict-induced behavioral adjustments
Authors: Pascoe Alexander J. , Haque Zakia Z. , Samandra Ranshikha , Fehring Daniel J. , Mansouri Farshad A.
Published: August 2022

Auditory stimuli, encompassing a continually expanding collection of musical genres and sonic hues, present a safe and easily administrable therapeutic option for alleviating cognitive deficits associated with neuropsychological disorders, but their effects on executive control are yet to be completely understood. To better understand how the processing of certain acoustic properties can influence conflict processing, we had a large of cohort of undergraduate students complete the Stroop colour and word test in three different background conditions: classical music, white noise, and silence. Because of pandemic guidelines and the necessity to run the experiment remotely, participants also completed the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST), so that the reliability and consistency of acquired data could be assessed. We found that white noise, but not classical music increased the response time difference between congruent (low conflict) and incongruent (high conflict) trials (conflict cost), hence impairing performance. Results from the WCST indicated that home-based data collection was reliable, replicating a performance bias reported in our previous laboratory-based experiments. Both the auditory stimuli were played at a similar intensity, thus their dissociable effects may have resulted from differing emotional responses within participants, where white noise, but not music elicited a negative response. Integrated with previous literature, our findings indicate that outside of changes in tempo and valence, classical music does not affect cognitive functions associated with conflict processing, whilst white noise impairs these functions in a manner similar to other stressors, and hence requires further research before its implementation into neuropsychiatric care.
Potential health benefits of blueberry and raspberry pomace as functional food ingredients: Dietetic intervention study on healthy women volunteers
Authors: Popović Tamara , Šarić Bojana , Martačić Jasmina Debeljak , Arsić Aleksandra , Jovanov Pavle , Stokić Edita , Mišan Aleksandra , Mandić Anamarija
Published: August 2022

The fruit juice industry generates pomace as a valuable by-product especially rich in polyphenols, dietary fibers, vitamins, minerals, and unsaturated fatty acids. In the cookies used in this study, 30% of the gluten-free flour was replaced with dried and ground blueberry and raspberry pomace, rich source of polyphenols, dietary fibers, linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid. In order to examine whether the addition of blueberry and raspberry pomace in cookie formulation can have beneficial effects on certain blood parameters and anthropometric measurements, the designed cookies were tested in 20 healthy, normally fed female subjects, aged 30–50 years (41.35 ± 8.58 years) over four-week dietetic intervention study. Significant changes in the composition of fatty acids serum phospholipids, decrease in LDL-cholesterol level (20.16%), increase in adiponectin level (25.52%) and decrease in ALT and AST values were observed, thus indicating that inclusion of cookies containing blueberry and raspberry dried and ground pomace to usual diet might have positive effects on certain cardiovascular risk factors and liver function indicators.
Incidence of bifid pancreatic duct in pancreaticoduodenectomy and its impact on clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula
Authors: Ouyang Liu , Hu Hao , Nie Gang , Yang Li-xue , Huang Zhi-ping , Ni Chen-ming , Shao Zhuo , Zheng Kai-lian , Jing Wei , Song Bin , Li Gang , Hu Xian-gui , Jin Gang
Published: August 2022

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the incidence of bifid pancreatic duct (BPD) in pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and clarify its impact on clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF).

Background

Until now, all the literature about BPD during PD are published as case reports, and the incidence of BPD in PD and its impact on CR-POPF remain unknown.

Results

A total of 438 consecutive PDs were divided into two groups: the former year group and the latter year group. The former year group included 215 consecutive PDs, while the latter year group included 223. In the latter year group, we found 16 BPDs during PD (O-BPD); the incidence of O-BPD is 7.17%. Of them, there were eight patients who had BPD in the preoperative imaging (I-BPD). All the I-BPDs are O-BPDs; which means that 50% of O-BPDs were a single pancreatic duct in the preoperative imaging (I-SPD). There were 17 I-BPDs in the 438 consecutive PDs; the incidence of I-BPD is 3.88%. In the former year group, the rate of severe complications of I-BPD and I-SPD is 77.78% and 27.18%, respectively (p = 0.003); the rate of CR-POPF of I-BPD is higher than I-SPD, 55.56% vs. 27.18%, but there were no statistically significant differences. In the latter year group, the rate of severe complications of O-BPD and O-SPD is 50% and 18.36%, and the rate of CR-POPF of O-BPD and O-SPD is 37.5% and 22.22%, respectively; both of them have statistically significant differences, and the p-value is 0.003 and 0.006, respectively. In the subgroup analysis, both the rate of severe complications and the rate of CR-POPF of I-BPD were higher than O-BPD, 77.78% vs. 50%, and 55.56% vs. 37.5%, but there were no statistically significant differences in both of them; the p-value is 0.174 and 0.434, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that BPD was an independent risk factor of CR-POPF.

Conclusions

The incidence of O-BPD in PD is 7.17%, 50% of O-BPDs were I-SPD, and the incidence of I-BPD is 3.88%. BPD is an independent risk factor of CR-POPF. The suture closure method may be a simple, safe, and effective method in dealing with BPD in PD.
Comparison of clinical outcomes between cone beam CT-guided thermal ablation and helical tomotherapy in pulmonary metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Feihang , Fan Shaonan , Shi Qin , Zhao Danyang , Sun Huiyi , Sothea Yav , Wu Mengfei , Song Huadan , Chen Yi , Cheng Jiemin , Zeng Zhaochong , Yan Zhiping , He Jian , Liu Lingxiao
Published: August 2022

Objective

This retrospective study compares the clinical results of cone beam CT (CBCT)-guided thermal ablation with those of helical tomotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with pulmonary metastases.

Methods

A total of 110 patients undergoing thermal ablation or helical tomotherapy for pulmonary metastases from April 2014 to December 2020 were included in the study. The endpoints were local tumor progression-free survival (LTPFS), overall survival (OS), and complications. Univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazard model were conducted to identify independent factors (univariate: P < 0.1; multivariate: P < 0.05). The Kaplan–Meier method was used to calculate the LTPFS and OS rates.

Results

The results of 106 patients were taken into the final analysis. The 1- and 3-year LTPFS rates were 50 and 19% for the thermal ablation group and 65 and 25% for the helical tomotherapy group. The median LTPFS in the thermal ablation group was 12.1 months, while it was 18.8 months in the helical tomotherapy group (P = 0.25). The 1- and 3-year OS rates were 75 and 26% for the thermal ablation group and 77 and 37% for the helical tomotherapy group. The median OS was 18.0 months in the thermal ablation group and 23.4 months in the helical tomotherapy group (P = 0.38). The multivariate analyses found that α-fetoprotein (AFP) at <400 ng/ml (P = 0.003) was significantly associated with better LTPFS. Tumor number <3 and AFP <400 ng/ml were favorable prognostic factors for OS. There were no grades 3–5 adverse events in both groups. Grade 2 was recorded in three patients (4.8%) in the thermal ablation group and two patients (4.7%) in the helical tomotherapy group.

Conclusions

For pulmonary metastases from HCC, CBCT-guided thermal ablation and helical tomotherapy provided comparable clinical effects and safety.
Metabolic management of microenvironment acidity in glioblastoma
Authors: Seyfried Thomas N. , Arismendi-Morillo Gabriel , Zuccoli Giulio , Lee Derek C. , Duraj Tomas , Elsakka Ahmed M. , Maroon Joseph C. , Mukherjee Purna , Ta Linh , Shelton Laura , D'Agostino Dominic , Kiebish Michael , Chinopoulos Christos
Published: August 2022

Glioblastoma (GBM), similar to most cancers, is dependent on fermentation metabolism for the synthesis of biomass and energy (ATP) regardless of the cellular or genetic heterogeneity seen within the tumor. The transition from respiration to fermentation arises from the documented defects in the number, the structure, and the function of mitochondria and mitochondrial-associated membranes in GBM tissue. Glucose and glutamine are the major fermentable fuels that drive GBM growth. The major waste products of GBM cell fermentation (lactic acid, glutamic acid, and succinic acid) will acidify the microenvironment and are largely responsible for drug resistance, enhanced invasion, immunosuppression, and metastasis. Besides surgical debulking, therapies used for GBM management (radiation, chemotherapy, and steroids) enhance microenvironment acidification and, although often providing a time-limited disease control, will thus favor tumor recurrence and complications. The simultaneous restriction of glucose and glutamine, while elevating non-fermentable, anti-inflammatory ketone bodies, can help restore the pH balance of the microenvironment while, at the same time, providing a non-toxic therapeutic strategy for killing most of the neoplastic cells.
Case report: Altered pre-mRNA splicing caused by intronic variant c.1499 + 1G > A in the SLC4A4 gene
Authors: Liu Yan , Sheng Wenchao , Wu Jinying , Zheng Jie , Zhi Xiufang , Zhang Shuyue , Gu Chunyu , Guo Detong , Wang Wenhong
Published: August 2022

Proximal renal tubular acidosis (pRTA) with ocular abnormalities is an autosomal recessive disease caused by variants in the Solute Carrier Family 4 Member 4 (SLC4A4) gene. Patients present with metabolic acidosis and low plasma bicarbonate concentration (3∼17 mmol/L). In addition, they are often accompanied by ocular abnormalities, intellectual disability, and growth retardation. The patient underwent whole exome sequencing (WES) and bioinformatics analysis of variant pathogenicity in this study. Then, a minigene assay was conducted to analyze the splicing site variant further. Compound heterozygous variants in the SLC4A4 gene (NM_003759.3), c.145C > T (p.Arg49*) and c.1499 + 1G > A, were detected by WES. The minigene assay showed an mRNA splicing aberration caused by the c.1499 + 1G > A variant. Compared with the wild type, the mutant type caused 4-base insertion between exons 10 and 11 of SLC4A4 after expression in HEK293 cells. In conclusion, the c.1499 + 1G > A variant in the SLC4A4 gene may be one of the genetic causes in the patient. Moreover, our study provides the foundation for future gene therapy of such pathogenic variants.
Capturing the amplitude and phase profile of the vortex beam based on coherent detection
Authors: Zhao Shengmei , Qiao Quanqing , Wang Le
Published: August 2022

In this study, we propose a scheme to capture the amplitude and phase profile of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) beam based on coherent detection. In the scheme, the OAM beam to be measured is interfered with a local plain wave which is prepared at the receiver, and two charge-coupled devices (CCDs) are used to record the constructive and destructive interference patterns. By setting the phase of the plain wave to π/2 and π, one can extract the amplitude and phase profile of the OAM beam from the two interference patterns. We verify the feasibility of the scheme by simulation and experiments. The results show that both amplitude and phase profiles of single OAM and OAM superposition modes can be captured by using the proposed scheme, and the proposed scheme shows strong robustness even under the presence of atmospheric turbulence.
Replacement in angiogenesis research: Studying mechanisms of blood vessel development by animal-free in vitro, in vivo and in silico approaches
Authors: Laschke Matthias W. , Gu Yuan , Menger Michael D.
Published: August 2022

Angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is an essential process determining numerous physiological and pathological conditions. Accordingly, there is a high demand for research approaches allowing the investigation of angiogenic mechanisms and the assessment of pro- and anti-angiogenic therapeutics. The present review provides a selective overview and critical discussion of such approaches, which, in line with the 3R principle, all share the common feature that they are not based on animal experiments. They include in vitro assays to study the viability, proliferation, migration, tube formation and sprouting activity of endothelial cells in two- and three-dimensional environments, the degradation of extracellular matrix compounds as well as the impact of hemodynamic forces on blood vessel formation. These assays can be complemented by in vivo analyses of microvascular network formation in the chorioallantoic membrane assay and early stages of zebrafish larvae. In addition, the combination of experimental data and physical laws enables the mathematical modeling of tissue-specific vascularization, blood flow patterns, interstitial fluid flow as well as oxygen, nutrient and drug distribution. All these animal-free approaches markedly contribute to an improved understanding of fundamental biological mechanisms underlying angiogenesis. Hence, they do not only represent essential tools in basic science but also in early stages of drug development. Moreover, their advancement bears the great potential to analyze angiogenesis in all its complexity and, thus, to make animal experiments superfluous in the future.
Pharmacophylogenetic study of Scutellaria baicalensis and its substitute medicinal species based on the chloroplast genomics, metabolomics, and active ingredient
Authors: Shen Jie , Li Pei , Wang Yue , Yang Kailing , Li Yue , Yao Hui , Wang Qiang , Xiao Peigen , He Chunnian
Published: August 2022

The genetic relationships among the species in Scutellaria genus remain unclear because of the variation in the number of species and complex trait. The usage of S. baicalensis and its four substitute medicinal species (S. amoena, S. hypericifolia, S. likiangensis, and S. viscidula) in traditional medicines make their specialized metabolism important in China, but interspecific genetic and chemical differences have rarely been reported for these species. In this study, the chloroplast genomes of four substitute species for S. baicalensis were assembled, and comparative and phylogenetic analyses were performed with these species and other Scutellaria relatives. In addition, metabolomics analyses were performed and the contents of the main active compounds were determined to reveal the interspecific chemical diversity of S. baicalensis and its four substitute species. The full lengths of their chloroplast genomes ranged from 151,574 to 151,816 bp with an average GC content of 38.34%, and a total of 113 genes were annotated. In the chloroplast genomes of S. baicalensis and its four substitutes, one hypervariable region (petA-psbL) is proposed as a potential DNA barcode. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the subdivision of the genus Scutellaria should be reconsidered. The metabolomics and content determination analyses showed that the four species exhibit a metabolism similar to that of S. baicalensis in different parts. Except for the roots of S. likiangensis, all parts of the substitute species showed high contents of baicalin. Genetic and chemical analyses of four substitute medicinal species for S. baicalensis were performed here for the first time, and their pharmacophylogenetic relationships were further explored, providing a scientific basis for the subsequent development of the medicinal value and resource utilization of Scutellaria.
Heterogeneities in the latent functions of employment: New findings from a large-scale German survey
Authors: Bähr Sebastian , Batinic Bernad , Collischon Matthias
Published: August 2022

Building on social psychologist Marie Jahoda’s pioneering work, the psychological literature has shown that work fulfills both manifest functions (e.g., monetary returns) and latent functions (e.g., social contact). This article uses data from the German panel study “Labor market and social security” (PASS), which contains information on latent and manifest factors (from a shortened latent and manifest benefits, or LaMB, scale), as well as a large array of other variables for over 9,000 respondents. This probability-sampled data allowed for detailed analyses that have not been previously possible. We investigate differences in these factors by labor market status, among those employed, and among those unemployed. We identify considerable variation between status groups, suggesting that employment, overall, is important and that longer periods of unemployment lead to a gradual decay of the latent and manifest factors. Furthermore, regression analyses show that the LaMB measures account for approximately 70% of the partial correlations between unemployment and various well-being measures.
Physical activity habits and their relationship with sociodemographic factors in Chilean adolescents
Authors: Fuentealba-Urra Sergio , Rubio Andrés , Flores-Rivera Carol , González-Carrasco Mónica , Oyanedel Juan Carlos , Castillo-Quezada Humberto , Céspedes-Carreño Cristian , Pacheco-Carrillo Jaime
Published: August 2022

Physical activity plays an important role in the well-being and development of adolescents. Physical activity habits expressed in terms of frequency and duration are consistently associated with sociodemographic factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status. However, there is less evidence of the relationship between the type and context of physical activity in adolescents. The aim of this article is to analyze physical activity habits and their relationship with sociodemographic factors in Chilean adolescents. The cross-sectional study consisted of 7,263 adolescents aged between 10 and 20 years old, students from both public and private schools in all regions of Chile. Physical activity habits were examined by means of a self-report questionnaire. The age groups were classified according to the three stages of adolescence (early: 10 to 13, middle: 14 to 16, and late: 17 to 20 years old). Socioeconomic level was established based on the school vulnerability index (SVI) of the school attended by each adolescent. In the study it was obvious to the level of physical activity for the adolescents was below the international recommendations. A statistically significant association can also be found between the sociodemographic factors studied and the physical activity habits reported by the young people. The multivariate regression analysis established that the risk of not achieving the physical activity recommendations was 2.8 times higher in females than in males, 2.4 times higher in the older age groups (14–16 and 17–20 years old) compared to the 10–13-year age range and 1.1 times in the medium and high vulnerability groups than in the low socioeconomic vulnerability group. These findings highlight the importance of considering all these factors holistically whenever designing programs or public policies that promote the development of healthy physical activity habits in adolescents.
A techno-psychological approach to understanding problematic use of short-form video applications: The role of flow
Authors: Huang Qing , Hu Mingxin , Zhang Ning
Published: August 2022

Short-form video applications (SVAs) have been gaining increasing popularity among users, which has raised the concern of problematic SVA use. Flow—a positive experience in which individuals feel immersion, enjoyment, temporal dissociation, and curiosity—contributes to the development of problematic SVA use. Most of the prior research examined the motivations of flow and the self-traits that trigger flow, but paid limited attention to the technological affordances of smartphone applications that facilitate users' flow. Algorithm recommendation, multimodality, and low-cost interaction are three affordances of SVAs. Thus, drawing upon the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework, this study proposes a mediation model to examine how these affordances influence problematic SVA use through flow. An online survey (N = 621) showed that algorithm recommendation was negatively associated with problematic SVA use but was not significantly correlated to flow. Multimodality was directly and positively associated with problematic SVA use. Meanwhile, the relationship between these two variables were mediated by flow. Low-cost interaction had an indirect link with problematic SVA use via flow, while the direct link between them was not significant. The results suggest that low-cost interaction is the affordance that is most likely to trigger flow and problematic SVA use, followed by multimodality. However, algorithm recommendation seems to be an affordance that is less likely to facilitate flow or cause problematic SVA use. Our proposed model not only enriches the S-O-R framework in the digital environment, but also denotes a techno-psychological approach to examine problematic use of SVAs and other digital applications. Moreover, the findings offer practical implications for optimizing SVAs' technological affordances to properly manage problematic SVA use.
A deep learning-based prediction model of college students’ psychological problem categories for post-epidemic era—Taking college students in Jiangsu Province, China as an example
Authors: Liu Yongheng , Shen Yajing , Cai Zhiyong
Published: August 2022

For a long time, it takes a lot of time and energy for psychological workers to classify the psychological problems of college students. In order to quickly and efficiently understand the common psychological problems of college students in the region for real-time analysis in the post-epidemic era, 2,000 college students’ psychological problems were selected as research data in the community question section of the “Su Xin” application, a psychological self-help and mutual aid platform for college students in Jiangsu Province. First, word segmentation, removal of stop words, establishment of word vectors, etc. were used for the preprocessing of research data. Secondly, it was divided into 9 common psychological problems by LDA clustering analysis, which also combined with previous researches. Thirdly, the text information was processed into word vectors and transferred to the Attention-Based Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Networks (AB-LSTM). The experimental results showed that the proposed model has a higher test accuracy of 78% compared with other models.
Making Change: Attempts to Reduce or Stop Gambling in a General Population Sample of People Who Gamble
Authors: Hodgins David C. , Williams Robert J. , Belanger Yale D. , Christensen Darren R. , El-Guebaly Nady , McGrath Daniel S. , Nicoll Fiona , Shaw Carrie A. , Stevens Rhys M. G.
Published: August 2022

Objective

This study examined past year attempts to reduce or quit gambling among people who gamble generally and those with gambling problems specifically.

Methods

Regular gamblers recruited from an online panel (N = 10,054) completed a survey of gambling, mental health and substance use comorbidity and attempts to reduce or quit gambling. The sample was weighted to match the gambling and demographic profile for the same subsample (i.e., past month gamblers) in a recent Canadian national survey.

Results

5.7% reported that they tried to cutback or stop gambling in the past year. As predicted, individuals making a change attempt had greater levels of problem gambling severity and were more likely to have a gambling problem. Of individuals with problem gambling, 59.8% made a change attempt. Of those, 90.2% indicated that they did this primarily on their own, and 7.7% accessed formal or informal treatment. Most people attempting self- change indicated that this was a personal preference (55%) but about a third reported feeling too ashamed to seek help. Over a third (31%) reported that their attempt was successful. Of the small group of people accessing treatment, 39% described it as helpful.

Conclusions

Whereas gambling treatment-seeking rates are low, rates of self-change attempts are high. The public health challenge is to promote self-change efforts among people beginning to experience gambling problems, facilitate success at self-change by providing accessible support for use of successful strategies, and provide seamless bridges to a range of other treatments when desired or required.
Resilience and mental health: A longitudinal cohort study of Chinese adolescents before and during COVID-19
Authors: Shi Wei , Zhao Li , Liu Min , Hong Binxue , Jiang Lihua , Jia Peng
Published: August 2022

Background

The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in mental health issues, mainly depression and anxiety, prompted by stressors such as the need to maintain social distance, adapting to quarantine, and lockdown policies. Resilience may be vital in protecting individuals from mental disorders. However, few studies have examined the longitudinal relationships between resilience and mental disorders (i.e., depression and anxiety) among adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective

This study aimed to examine the association between resilience, depression, and anxiety among Chinese adolescents before and during COVID-19 using a longitudinal cross-lagged model.

Methods

A total of 7,958 Chinese adolescents completed a baseline survey in the month before COVID-19 and were followed up after the COVID-19 lockdown. Structural equation modeling analyses were applied to evaluate the associations between resilience, depression, and anxiety after controlling for three covariates (i.e., gender, age, and COVID-19 effect).

Results

A higher level of resilience before COVID-19 significantly predicted decreased severity of depression and anxiety after the lockdown. Moreover, the mean level of resilience and prevalence of mental disorders (i.e., depression and anxiety) among Chinese adolescents decreased after the lockdown. These findings suggest resilience is a vital protective factor against depression and anxiety among adolescents. Furthermore, younger participants and those less affected by the pandemic could be more resilient. No significant link was found between gender and resilience in the second wave.

Conclusions

Resilience is an essential protective factor for reducing mental disorders among Chinese adolescents exposed to COVID-19. Resilience-related interventions should be developed to efficiently promote mental health recovery among youth during pandemics.
Mediating effect of family support on the relationship between acculturation and loneliness among the migrant elderly following children in Jinan, China
Authors: Zong Di , Lu Zhongqian , Shi Xinfei , Shan Ying , Li Shixue , Kong Fanlei
Published: August 2022

The total number of migrant elderly following children (MEFC) has gradually increased along with population aging and urbanization in recent decades in China. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of family support on the relationship between acculturation and loneliness among the MEFC in Jinan, China. A total of 656 MEFC were selected by multistage cluster random sampling. Loneliness was measured using the short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8), while acculturation and family support were assessed using a self-designed questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, univariate analysis, and the structural equation model (SEM) were conducted to illustrate the relationship between the above indicators and loneliness. The average ULS-8 score of the MEFC was 12.82 ± 4.05 in this study. Acculturation of the MEFC exerted a negatively direct effect on loneliness and a positively direct effect on family support simultaneously, while family support exerted a negatively direct effect on loneliness. Family support partially mediated the relationship between acculturation and loneliness [95% CI: −0.079 to 0.013, p < 0.001], while the mediating effect of family support accounted for 14.0% of the total effect. The average ULS-8 score of 12.82 ± 4.05 implied a low level of loneliness in the MEFC in Jinan, China. Acculturation was found to be correlated with loneliness, while the mediating role of family support between acculturation and loneliness was established. Policy recommendations were provided to reduce loneliness and improve the acculturation and family support of the MEFC according to the findings above.
The effects of anthropomorphism and multimodal biometric authentication on the user experience of voice intelligence
Authors: de Kloet Mels , Yang Shengyun
Published: August 2022

Voice intelligence is a revolutionary “zero-touch” type of human-machine interaction based on spoken language. There has been a recent increase in the number and variations of voice assistants and applications that help users to acquire information. The increased popularity of voice intelligence, however, has not been reflected in the customer value chain. Current research on the socio-technological aspects of human-technology interaction has emphasized the importance of anthropomorphism and user identification in the adoption of the technology. Prior research has also pointed out that user perception toward the technology is key to its adoption. Therefore, this research examines how anthropomorphism and multimodal biometric authentication influence the adoption of voice intelligence through user perception in the customer value chain. In this study we conducted a between-subjects online experiment. We designed a 2 × 2 factorial experiment by manipulating anthropomorphism and multimodal biometric authentication into four conditions, namelywithandwithouta combination of these two factors. Subjects were recruited from Amazon MTurk platform and randomly assigned to one of the four conditions. The results drawn from the empirical study showed a significant direct positive effect of anthropomorphism and multimodal biometric authentication on user adoption of voice intelligence in the customer value chain. Moreover, the effect of anthropomorphism is partially mediated by users' perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and perceived security risk. This research contributes to the existing literature on human-computer interaction and voice intelligence by empirically testing the simultaneous impact of anthropomorphism and biometric authentication on users' experience of the technology. The study also provides practitioners who wish to adopt voice intelligence in the commercial environment with insights into the user interface design.