bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hybrid Wood Composites with Improved Mechanical Strength and Fire Retardance Due to a Delignification–Mineralization–Densification Strategy
Authors: Liu Xiaorong , Fang Xinyu , Sun Chen , Zhang Tao , Wang Kaili , Dong Youming
Published: July 2023

The shortage of wood resources and the policy of logging restrictions have hindered the development of the wood industry. The development of fast-growing wood can effectively solve the problem of wood shortages and the discrepancy between supply and demand; however, the softness and poor strength of fast-growing wood make it difficult to use directly and restrict its applications. Meanwhile, the inflammability of wood is also a crucial hindrance to its application. In this work, hybrid wood composites with high strength and excellent fire retardance were developed by using a combined strategy of “delignification–mineralization–densification”. Delignification promoted the deposition of minerals inside the wood, and the mineralization process was able to significantly increase the fire retardance performance of the hybrid wood. The densification treatment made the wood and minerals closely packed, which was conducive to the improvement of the strength and fire retardance performance of the hybrid wood. The resulting hybrid wood composites showed enhanced mechanical strength (the tensile strength, flexural strength, and compressive strength were 180.6 MPa, 159.8 MPa, and 86.5 MPa, respectively) and outstanding fire retardance, and this strategy provided a feasible pathway towards the high-value application of fast-growing wood.
Using Social Media Text Data to Analyze the Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Daily Urban Green Space Usage—A Case Study of Xiamen, China
Authors: Fan Chenjing , Li Shiqi , Liu Yuxin , Jin Chenxi , Zhou Lingling , Gu Yueying , Gai Zhenyu , Liu Runhan , Qiu Bing
Published: July 2023

While urban green spaces (UGSs) are important places for residents’ leisure activities, studies describing the long-term daily UGS usage of residents (including the total number of activities, the types of activities, and the touring experience) have not been conducted due to difficulties in data collection. Based on social media text data (SMTD), in this study, the total number of daily activities, the intensities of optional and social activities, and the daily touring experience in 100 UGSs in Xiamen, China, were inferred based on the ERNIE 3.0 text pre-training semantic classification model. Based on this, linear regression modeling was applied to analyze the internal environmental factors of the effects of places and external urban form factors regarding daily UGS usage. The research results revealed the following. (1) A descriptive study was conducted on the total numbers, types, and touring experience of activities using SMTD, and the results were verified by line transect surveys, management statistics, and a publicly available dataset. (2) The number of human activities in UGSs was found to be significantly influenced by historical and cultural facilities, nighttime lighting, population density, and the proportion of the floating population. (3) During the daytime, optional activities were found to be significantly influenced by the park type and historical and cultural facilities, and social activities were found to be significantly influenced by historical and cultural facilities and population density. In the evening, optional activities were found to be significantly influenced by the park type, historical and cultural facilities, nighttime lighting, and the proportion of the floating population, and social activities were found to be influenced by the proportion of the floating population. (4) Regarding the touring experience, in the daytime, the park type, green space ratio, and proportion of the floating population had significant effects on the touring experience. In the evening, the park type, historical and cultural facilities, and security factors were found to have significant effects on the touring experience. The methodology and findings of this study aid in the understanding of the differences in daytime and nighttime activities, and in the discovery of planning tools to promote human leisure activities in UGSs.
Fertilization and Residue Management Improved Soil Quality of Eucalyptus Plantations
Authors: Zhu Zhiyuan , Wu Lichao
Published: July 2023

The problem of soil degradation caused by continuous planting of Eucalyptus has a long history in southwest China. It is of great significance to explore reasonable management methods to improve soil quality and forest productivity in Eucalyptus plantations. In this study, the third-generation Eucalyptus plantation in the Qipo state-owned forest farm of Shangsi County, Guangxi Autonomous Region, was used as the research object to explore the effects of fertilization and residue management on soil quality. Therefore, a cross-over test between fertilization (In-O, inorganic fertilizer; O, organic fertilizer; M, mixed fertilizer) and residue management (T, residues were tiled; R, residues were removed; S, residues were stacked) was designed. One-way ANOVA was used to detect the difference in each soil indicator between the three fertilization groups or between the three residue management groups, and two-way ANOVA was used to test whether the indicators were affected by the interaction of these two variables. The soil quality of Eucalyptus plantations was evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA) and the minimum data set (MDS). The results showed that inorganic fertilizer significantly increased the soil nutrient content, such as N, P and K, while organic fertilizer significantly increased soil enzyme activity. Compared with Group R, the retention of residues (T, S) improved the soil pore structure and promoted soil biochemical reactions. The order of soil quality indexing (SQI) was O × T (0.697) > M × T (0.618) > In-O × T (0.557) > O × S (0.490) > M × S (0.439) > O × R (0.362) > In-O × S (0.324) > M × R (0.290) > In-O × R (0.138). Fertilization, residue management and their interaction had significant effects on the soil quality index; among them, residue management was the main factor in the variation of SQI, with a variance contribution rate of 41.6%. In the management of Eucalyptus plantations, soil quality can be improved by applying organic fertilizer and tiling plant residues.
A Review of ARIMA vs. Machine Learning Approaches for Time Series Forecasting in Data Driven Networks
Authors: Kontopoulou Vaia I. , Panagopoulos Athanasios D. , Kakkos Ioannis , Matsopoulos George K.
Published: July 2023

In the broad scientific field of time series forecasting, the ARIMA models and their variants have been widely applied for half a century now due to their mathematical simplicity and flexibility in application. However, with the recent advances in the development and efficient deployment of artificial intelligence models and techniques, the view is rapidly changing, with a shift towards machine and deep learning approaches becoming apparent, even without a complete evaluation of the superiority of the new approach over the classic statistical algorithms. Our work constitutes an extensive review of the published scientific literature regarding the comparison of ARIMA and machine learning algorithms applied to time series forecasting problems, as well as the combination of these two approaches in hybrid statistical-AI models in a wide variety of data applications (finance, health, weather, utilities, and network traffic prediction). Our review has shown that the AI algorithms display better prediction performance in most applications, with a few notable exceptions analyzed in our Discussion and Conclusions sections, while the hybrid statistical-AI models steadily outperform their individual parts, utilizing the best algorithmic features of both worlds.
The mPOC Framework: An Autonomous Outbreak Prediction and Monitoring Platform Based on Wearable IoMT Approach
Authors: Adibi Sasan
Published: July 2023

This paper presents the mHealth Predictive Outbreak for COVID-19 (mPOC) framework, an autonomous platform based on wearable Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices for outbreak prediction and monitoring. It utilizes real-time physiological and environmental data to assess user risk. The framework incorporates the analysis of psychological and user-centric data, adopting a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches. The mPOC mechanism utilizes the bidirectional Mobile Health (mHealth) Disaster Recovery System (mDRS) and employs an intelligent algorithm to calculate the Predictive Exposure Index (PEI) and Deterioration Risk Index (DRI). These indices trigger warnings to users based on adaptive threshold criteria and provide updates to the Outbreak Tracking Center (OTC). This paper provides a comprehensive description and analysis of the framework’s mechanisms and algorithms, complemented by the performance accuracy evaluation. By leveraging wearable IoMT devices, the mPOC framework showcases its potential in disease prevention and control during pandemics, offering timely alerts and vital information to healthcare professionals and individuals to mitigate outbreaks’ impact.
An Optimal Authentication Scheme through Dual Signature for the Internet of Medical Things
Authors: Jamroz Zainab , Ullah Insaf , Hassan Bilal , Amin Noor Ul , Khan Muhammad Asghar , Lorenz Pascal , Innab Nisreen
Published: July 2023

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) overcomes the flaws in the traditional healthcare system by enabling remote administration, more effective use of resources, and the mobility of medical devices to fulfil the patient’s needs. The IoMT makes it simple to review the patient’s cloud-based medical history in addition to allowing the doctor to keep a close eye on the patient’s condition. However, any communication must be secure and dependable due to the private nature of patient medical records. In this paper, we proposed an authentication method for the IoMT based on hyperelliptic curves and featuring dual signatures. The decreased key size of hyperelliptic curves makes the proposed scheme efficient. Furthermore, security validation analysis is performed with the help of the formal verification tool called Scyther, which shows that the proposed scheme is secure against several types of attacks. A comparison of the proposed scheme’s computational and communication expenses with those of existing schemes reveals its efficiency.
Assessment of Spectral Vegetation Indices Performance for Post-Fire Monitoring of Different Forest Environments
Authors: Avetisyan Daniela , Stankova Nataliya , Dimitrov Zlatomir
Published: July 2023

Although wildfires are a common disturbance factor to the environment, some of them can cause significant environmental and socioeconomic losses, affecting ecosystems and people worldwide. The wildfire identification and assessment of their effects on damaged forest areas is of great importance for provision of effective actions on their management and preservation. Forest regrowth after a fire is a continuously evolving and dynamic process, and the accuracy assessment of different remote sensing indices for its evaluation is a complicated task. The implementation of this task cannot rely on the standard procedures. Therefore, we suggested a method involving delineation of dynamic boundaries between conditional categories within burnt forest areas by application of spectral reflectance characteristics (SRC). This study compared the performance of firmly established for fire monitoring differenced vegetation indices—Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (dNDVI) and Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) and tested the capabilities of tasseled cap-derived differenced Disturbance Index (dDI) for post-fire monitoring purposes in different forest environments (Boreal Mountain Forest (BMF), Mediterranean Mountain Forest (MMF), Mediterranean Hill Forest (MHF)). The accuracy assessment of the tree indices was performed using Very High Resolution (VHR) aerial and satellite data. The results show that dDI has an optimal performance in monitoring post-fire disturbances in more difficult-to-be-differentiated classes, whereas, for post-fire regrowth, the more appropriate is dNDVI. In the first case, dDI has an overall accuracy of 50%, whereas the accuracy of dNBR and dNDVI is barely 35% and 36%. Moreover, dDI shows better performance in 16 accuracy metrics (from 17). In the second case, dNDVI has an overall accuracy of 59%, whereas those of dNBR and dDI are 55% and 52%, and the accuracy metrics in which dNDVI shows better performance than the other two indices are 11 (from 13). Generally, the studied indices showed higher accuracy in assessment of post-fire disturbance rather than of the post-fire forest regrowth, implicitly at test areas—BMF and MMF, and contrary opposite result in the accuracy at MHF. This indicates the relation of the indices’ accuracy to the heterogeneity of the environment.
Examination of the Fire Resistance of Construction Materials from Beams in Chemical Warehouses Dealing with Flammable Dangerous Substances
Authors: Kátai-Urbán Lajos , Cimer Zsolt , Lublóy Éva Eszter
Published: July 2023

The recent expansion of logistics capacities entails the installation of chemical warehouses, which operations increase the occurrence of compartment fires involving flammable dangerous substances. The aim of this research was to compare and analyze the fire behavior of beams made of different structural materials but with the same load capacity. It is assumed that wooden beams, which are less commonly used in industrial facilities, may have a similar or even better load-bearing capacity in case of a fire than the generally used steel beams. The authors—based on the relevant EU standards—performed load capacity calculations of three beams prepared from different materials under the influence of fire and analyzed the changes in the material properties. Then, they examined the possibility of reinforcing the beams with carbon fiber lamellae and proposed additional fire protection requirements. The test results not only proved the different degrees of fire resistance of various building materials in the event of a fire and after their reinforcement but also suggested the application of special technical, prevention and response measures for the safe storage of dangerous substances. The study outputs enable warehouse designers, operators and safety experts to ensure a higher fire safety level for chemical warehouses.
Raman Spectroscopic Study of Five Typical Plasticizers Based on DFT and HF Theoretical Calculation
Authors: Sun Tong , Wang Yitao , Li Mingyue , Hu Dong
Published: July 2023

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are the most commonly used plasticizers, and long-term or high levels of exposure to PAEs have a huge potential risk to human health. In this study, the theories of Hartree–Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) with different hybrid methods and basis sets were used to calculate the theoretical Raman spectra of five PAEs, and the comparison of calculated spectra between different theories, hybrid methods, and basis sets was conducted to determine the suitable theory with hybrid method and basis set for PAEs. Also, the Raman vibrations were assigned to the Raman peaks of PAEs according to the theoretical and experimental Raman spectra. The results indicate that DFT is more suitable for the theoretical study of PAEs than HF. In DFT, the hybrid method of B3LYP is more applicable to the theoretical study of PAEs than B3PW91, and the basis set of 6-311G(d, p) obtains the most consistent theoretical Raman spectra with the experimental spectra for PAEs. This study finds the optimal combination of the theoretical method and basis set for PAEs, and it will contribute to the establishment of the Raman fingerprint and the development of rapid detection for PAEs in the future.
Synergistic Fermentation with Functional Microorganisms Improves Safety and Quality of Traditional Chinese Fermented Foods
Authors: Fan Jingya , Qu Guanyi , Wang Datao , Chen Jian , Du Guocheng , Fang Fang
Published: July 2023

Traditional fermented foods are favored by people around the world for their positive health and taste advantages. Many of the fermented foods, including Chinese traditional fermented foods, are produced through mixed-culture fermentation. Apart from reducing the formation of harmful compounds such as ethyl carbamate (EC) and biogenic amines (BAs) during food fermentation, it is also difficult to precisely control and regulate the fermentation process based on the control of environmental conditions alone, due to the complex microbiota and an unclarified fermentation mechanism. In this review, key microorganisms involved in Chinese fermented foods such as baijiu, soy sauce, and vinegar production are elaborated, and relations between microbial composition and the aroma or quality of food are discussed. This review focuses on the interpretation of functions and roles of beneficial (functional) microorganisms that participate in food fermentation and the discussion of the possibilities of the synergistic use of functional microorganisms to improve the safety and quality of Chinese fermented foods. Conducting work toward the isolation of beneficial microorganisms is a challenge for modern food fermentation technology. Thus, methods for the isolation and mutagenesis of functional microbial strains for synergistic food fermentation are summarized. Finally, the limitations and future prospects of the use of functional microorganisms in traditional Chinese fermented foods are reviewed. This review provides an overview of the applications of synergistic fermentation with functional microorganisms in the improvement of the safety or sensory qualities of fermented foods.
Proteomic Profiling of Thigh Meat at Different Ages of Chicken for Meat Quality and Development
Authors: Zhang Jian , Chen Xia , Cao Jing , Chang Cheng , Geng Ailian , Wang Haihong , Chu Qin , Yan Zhixun , Zhang Yao , Liu Huagui
Published: July 2023

Chicken age contributes to the meat characteristics; however, knowledge regarding the pathways and proteins associated with meat quality and muscle development are still scarce, especially in chicken thigh meat. Hence, the objective of this study was to elucidate the intricate relationship between these traits by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry at three different ages. A total of 341 differential expressed proteins (DEPs) were screened out (fold change ≥ 1.50 or ≤0.67 and p < 0.05) among 45 thigh meat samples (15 samples per age) of Beijing-You chicken (BYC), collected at the age of 150, 300, or 450 days (D150, D300, and D450), respectively. Subsequently, based on the protein interaction network and Markov cluster algorithm (MCL) analyses, 91 DEPs were divided into 26 MCL clusters, which were associated with pathways of lipid transporter activity, nutrient reservoir activity, signaling pathways of PPAR and MAPK, focal adhesion, ECM-receptor interaction, the cell cycle, oocyte meiosis, ribosomes, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, muscle contraction, calcium signaling, nucleic acid binding, and spliceosomes. Overall, our data suggest that the thigh meat of BYC at D450 presents the most desirable nutritional value in the term of free amino acids (FAAs) and intramuscular fat (IMF), and a series of proteins and pathways associated with meat quality and development were identified. These findings also provide comprehensive insight regarding these traits across a wide age spectrum.
Study on the Regulation Mechanism of Quality Deterioration Due to Chilling Stress and Dry Exposure during Anhydrous Storage and Transportation of Yesso Scallop Patinopecten yessoensis
Authors: Jiang Peihong , Chen Dongjie , Chang Xiangyang , Zhang Changfeng , Fan Xiuping , Qin Xiaoming
Published: July 2023

In this paper, the quality change of Yesso scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) in the process of anhydrous storage and transportation after cold acclimation and induced dormancy was studied, and the regulation mechanism of quality degradation during storage and transportation in the process of gradient chilling stress and drying exposure was further explored. The results show that, when transferred from hydrous to anhydrous states, the breathing pattern of the scallops changed from aerobic to anaerobic. Their gill filaments were altered and their apparent vitality constantly declined, which was reflected by the edge shrinkage of the pallium and the direct proportions of the edge reduction rate and the stimulus response period. After being in the anhydrous state for 4 d, the AEC value dropped to 67.59%. At this time, if they were placed under hydration again, the scallops resumed a good growth state. By proteomics analysis, it was revealed that cold acclimation and dry exposure mainly led to changes in biological functions and pathways, such as mitochondrial inner membrane and ATP hydrolysis activity. In addition, it can be seen from the functional annotation and enrichment analysis of the metabolite KEGG that cold acclimation promoted the purine metabolism of scallops, while dry exposure inhibited the metabolism of saturated fatty acids. In this study, the infrared sensing mode was used for the first time, too, in order to record the heart-rate changes of the scallops during circulation, which shows that non-destructive vitality monitoring of Lamellibranchia is feasible.
The Effects of Tea Polyphenol on Chicken Protein Digestion and the Mechanism under Thermal Processing
Authors: Wen Wenjun , Li Shijie , Wang Junping
Published: July 2023

Meat product is the main food and major source of daily protein intake. Polyphenols are always introduced into many meat products during processing. Some complex interactions may occur between polyphenol and meat protein during the processing, especially thermal processing, which may affect the digestion of protein. In this experiment, chicken protein and tea polyphenol were interacted in simulated systems to explore the effects of the interaction between meat protein and polyphenols on the digestion of meat protein. The mechanism of tea polyphenol inhibiting chicken protein digestion was studied by analyzing the changes of chicken protein in intrinsic fluorescence, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), reactive sulfhydryl group, and solubility in different solvents. The results showed that the chicken protein digestion had a negative correlation with tea polyphenol concentration and interaction temperature, and the meat protein has a higher affinity to EGCG than protease. The mechanism of tea polyphenol inhibiting chicken protein digestion was related to the changing spatial structure of chicken protein and the decreasing activity of proteases. In the simulation system, at low-concentration tea polyphenol, the inhibition of the tea polyphenol on the digestibility of chicken protein might be mainly caused by the changes in chicken protein structure, while at high concentration, the changes in protein structure and the inhibition of proteases activity played a role together. This experiment revealed the effect and the mechanism of polyphenols on the digestion performance of meat protein and provide more references for the further application of polyphenols in meat processing.
Local Stability, Global Stability, and Simulations in a Fractional Discrete Glycolysis Reaction–Diffusion Model
Authors: Hamadneh Tareq , Hioual Amel , Alsayyed Omar , AL-Khassawneh Yazan Alaya , Al-Husban Abdallah , Ouannas Adel
Published: July 2023

In the last few years, reaction–diffusion models associated with discrete fractional calculus have risen in prominence in scientific fields, not just due to the requirement for numerical simulation but also due to the described biological phenomena. This work investigates a discrete equivalent of the fractional reaction–diffusion glycolysis model. The discrete fractional calculus tool is introduced to the discrete modeling of diffusion problems in the Caputo-like delta sense, and a fractional discretization diffusion model is described. The local stability of the equilibrium points in the proposed discrete system is examined. We additionally investigate the global stability of the equilibrium point by developing a Lyapunov function. Furthermore, this study indicates that the L1 finite difference scheme and the second-order central difference scheme can successfully preserve the characteristics of the associated continuous system. Finally, an equivalent summation representing the model’s numerical formula is shown. The diffusion concentration is further investigated for different fractional orders, and examples with simulations are presented to corroborate the theoretical findings.
A New Ultrafine Luminescent La2O3:Eu3+ Aerogel
Authors: García Ramírez Víctor M. , García Murillo Antonieta , Carrillo Romo Felipe de J. , Alvarez González Rosa I. , Madrigal Bujaidar Eduardo
Published: July 2023

This paper reports on the synthesis and characterization of La2O3:Eu3+ luminescent aerogels fabricated by the sol–gel method and the supercritical drying technique. The % mol concentration of the Eu3+ ion was varied to study the effects on the luminescent properties of the aerogels. XRD and TEM analysis showed that the La2O3:Eu3+ aerogels exhibited a semi-crystalline behavior regardless of whether the concentration of europium was increased. SEM micrographs revealed a porous structure in the aerogels, which were composed of quasi-spherical nanoparticles that were interconnected and formed coral-shaped agglomerates. Photoluminescence spectroscopy characterization showed that the aerogels had an infrared emission located at λ = 793 nm, and the maximum photoluminescence emission intensity was observed for the aerogel with 50% Eu3+. The results demonstrate that, without heat treatment, it is possible to manufacture luminescent aerogels of rare-earth oxides that can be used in opto-electronic devices.
Polyacrylic Acid Hydrogel Coating for Underwater Adhesion: Preparation and Characterization
Authors: Liu Junjie , Hu Nan , Xie Yao , Wang Peng , Chen Jingxiang , Kan Qianhua
Published: July 2023

Underwater adhesion involves bonding substrates in aqueous environments or wet surfaces, with applications in wound dressing, underwater repairs, and underwater soft robotics. In this study, we investigate the underwater adhesion properties of a polyacrylic acid hydrogel coated substrate. The underwater adhesion is facilitated through hydrogen bonds formed at the interface. Our experimental results, obtained through probe-pull tests, demonstrate that the underwater adhesion is rapid and remains unaffected by contact pressure and pH levels ranging from 2.5 to 7.0. However, it shows a slight increase with a larger adhesion area. Additionally, we simulate the debonding process and observe that the high-stress region originates from the outermost bonding region and propagates towards the center, spanning the thickness of the target substrate. Furthermore, we showcase the potential of using the underwater adhesive hydrogel coating to achieve in-situ underwater bonding between a flexible electronic demonstration device and a hydrogel contact lens. This work highlights the advantages of employing hydrogel coatings in underwater adhesion applications and serves as inspiration for the advancement of underwater adhesive hydrogel coatings capable of interacting with a wide range of substrates through diverse chemical and physical interactions at the interface.
Mutations of BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 Genes in Breast Tumor Tissue: Relationship with the Effectiveness of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Disease Prognosis
Authors: Tsyganov Matvey M. , Sorokovikova Sofia S. , Lutzkaya Elizaveta A. , Ibragimova Marina K.
Published: July 2023

It has been shown that the loss of function of the BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 genes due to a number of hereditary mutations or chromosomal aberrations can affect the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatment and disease prognosis in patients with various types of cancer, and in particular in breast cancer. Thus, the aim of the work was to evaluate the predictive and prognostic potential of DNA copy number aberrations and mutations in the BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 genes in breast tumors. Materials and Methods: The study included 66 patients with breast cancer. DNA copy number aberrations (CNA) were assessed by high-density CytoScanHD™ Array micro matrix analysis. Gene mutations were assessed by sequencing on the MiSeq™ Sequencing System using the Accel-Amplicon BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 Panel. Results: It has been established that the presence of a normal copy number of PALB2 is associated with a lack of response to chemotherapy in Taxotere-containing treatment regimens (p = 0.05). In addition, the presence of a PALB2 deletion is associated with 100% metastatic survival rates (log-rank test p = 0.04). As a result of sequencing, 25 mutations were found in the BRCA1 gene, 42 mutations in BRCA2, and 27 mutations in the PALB2 gene. The effect of mutations on the effectiveness of treatment is controversial, but an effect on the survival of patients with breast cancer has been shown. So, in the presence of pathogenic mutations in the BRCA2 gene, 100% metastatic survival is observed (log-rank test p = 0.05), as well as in the elimination of PALB2 mutations during treatment (log-rank test p = 0.07). Conclusion: Currently, there is little data on the effect of chromosomal aberrations and mutations in the BRCA1/2 and PALB2 genes on the effectiveness of treatment and prognosis of the disease. At the same time, the study of these genes has great potential for testing focused on a personalized approach to the treatment of patients with breast cancer.
TRIM25 Suppresses Rabies Virus Fixed HEP-Flury Strain Production by Activating RIG-1-Mediated Type I Interferons
Authors: Zhang Boyue , Cai Ting , He Hongling , Huang Xuezhe , Luo Yongwen , Huang Shile , Luo Jun , Guo Xiaofeng
Published: July 2023

Rabies remains a great threat to public health worldwide. So far, the mechanism of rabies virus (RABV) infection is not fully understood, and there is no effective treatment for rabies. Identifying more host restriction factors of RABV will spur the development of novel therapeutic interventions against rabies. Accumulating studies suggest that tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) proteins have great effects on virus replication. TRIMs control the antiviral responses through either direct interaction with viral proteins or indirect regulation of innate immune signaling molecules in the host. The role of TRIM25 in rabies virus (RABV) infection is poorly understood. Using next-generation sequencing, we found that TRIM25 is upregulated during HEP-Flury infection. Knockdown of TRIM25 enhances HEP-Flury production, while overexpression of TRIM25 suppresses HEP-Flury replication. Knockdown of interferon α and interferon β weakens the anti-RABV response induced by TRIM25 overexpression, and potentiates RABV production. Furthermore, we found that TRIM25 regulates type-I interferon response by targeting retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) during HEP-Flury infection. Knockdown of RIG-I weakens the anti-HEP-Flury response induced by TRIM25 overexpression, indicating that TRIM25 regulates RABV production via the RIG-I-IFN axis. In addition, we observed that TRIM25 does not directly interact with HEP-Flury structural proteins, suggesting that TRIM25 regulates HEP-Flury production indirectly. Taken together, our work identifies TRIM25 as a new host factor involved in HEP-Flury infection, which may be a potential target for the development of antiviral drugs against RABV.
Transcriptomic Analysis and Salt-Tolerance Gene Mining during Rice Germination
Authors: Han Xiao , Wu Zhihai , Liu Fangbiao , Wang Yu , Wei Xiaoshuang , Tian Ping , Ling Fenglou
Published: July 2023

Salt stress is an important environmental factor affecting crop growth and development. One of the important ways to improve the salt tolerance of rice is to identify new salt-tolerance genes, reveal possible mechanisms, and apply them to the creation of new germplasm and the breeding of new varieties. In this study, the salt-sensitive japonica variety Tong 35 (T35) and salt-tolerant japonica variety Ji Nongda 709 (JND709) were used. Salt stress treatment with a 150 mmol/L NaCl solution (the control group was tested without salt stress treatment simultaneously) was continued until the test material was collected after the rice germination period. Twelve cDNA libraries were constructed, and 5 comparator groups were established for transcriptome sequencing. On average, 9.57G of raw sequencing data were generated per sample, with alignment to the reference genome above 96.88% and alignment to guanine-cytosine (GC) content above 53.86%. A total of 16,829 differentially expressed genes were present in the five comparison groups, of which 2390 genes were specifically expressed in T35 (category 1), 3306 genes were specifically expressed in JND709 (category 2), and 1708 genes were differentially expressed in both breeds (category 3). Differentially expressed genes were subjected to gene ontology (GO), functional enrichment analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, which revealed that these genes belonged to three main classes: molecular function, cellular components, and biological processes. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the significantly enriched pathways for these differentially expressed genes included phenylpropane biosynthesis, phytohormone signaling, and the interaction of plants with pathogens. In this study, we provided a reference for studying the molecular mechanism underlying salt tolerance during germination.
WSB1 Involvement in Prostate Cancer Progression
Authors: Boldrini Laura , Bardi Massimo
Published: July 2023

Prostate cancer (PC) is polygenic disease involving many genes, and more importantly a host of gene–gene interactions, including transcriptional factors. The WSB1 gene is a transcriptional target of numerous oncoproteins, and its dysregulation can contribute to tumor progression by abnormal activation of targeted oncogenes. Using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas, we tested the possible involvement of WSB1 in PC progression. A multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) model was applied to clarify the association of WSB1 expression with other key genes, such as c-myc, ERG, Enhancer of Zeste 1 and 2 (EHZ1 and EZH2), WNT10a, and WNT 10b. An increased WSB1 expression was associated with higher PC grades and with a worse prognosis. It was also positively related to EZH1, EZH2, WNT10a, and WNT10b. Moreover, MDS showed the central role of WSB1 in influencing the other target genes by its central location on the map. Our study is the first to show a link between WSB1 expression and other genes involved in PC progression, suggesting a novel role for WSB1 in PC progression. This network between WSB1 and EZH2 through WNT/β-catenin may have an important role in PC progression, as suggested by the association between high WSB1 expression and unfavorable prognosis in our analysis.
Brassica rapa Nitrate Transporter 2 (BrNRT2) Family Genes, Identification, and Their Potential Functions in Abiotic Stress Tolerance
Authors: Lv Bingcan , Li Yifan , Wu Xiaoyu , Zhu Chen , Cao Yunyun , Duan Qiaohong , Huang Jiabao
Published: July 2023

Nitrate transporter 2 (NRT2) proteins play vital roles in both nitrate (NO3−) uptake and translocation as well as abiotic stress responses in plants. However, little is known about the NRT2 gene family in Brassica rapa. In this study, 14 NRT2s were identified in the B. rapa genome. The BrNRT2 family members contain the PLN00028 and MATE_like superfamily domains. Cis-element analysis indicated that regulatory elements related to stress responses are abundant in the promoter sequences of BrNRT2 genes. BrNRT2.3 expression was increased after drought stress, and BrNRT2.1 and BrNRT2.8 expression were significantly upregulated after salt stress. Furthermore, protein interaction predictions suggested that homologs of BrNRT2.3, BrNRT2.1, and BrNRT2.8 in Arabidopsis thaliana may interact with the known stress-regulating proteins AtNRT1.1, AtNRT1.5, and AtNRT1.8. In conclusion, we suggest that BrNRT2.1, BrNRT2.3, and BrNRT2.8 have the greatest potential for inducing abiotic stress tolerance. Our findings will aid future studies of the biological functions of BrNRT2 family genes.
Quantifying Who Will Be Affected by Shifting Climate Zones
Authors: Malone Andrew G. O.
Published: July 2023

Climate change is altering the conditions to which communities have adapted. The Köppen–Geiger classification system can provide a compact metric to identify regions with notable changes in climatic conditions. Shifting Köppen–Geiger climate zones will be especially impactful in regions with large populations. This study uses high-resolution datasets on Köppen–Geiger climate zones and populations to quantify the number of people affected by shifting climate zones (i.e., population exposure to shifting climate zones). By the end of this century, 9–15% of the Earth’s land surface is projected to shift its climate zone. These shifts could affect 1.3–1.6 billion people (14–21% of the global population). Many of the affected people live in areas that were classified as temperate in the historical period. These areas are projected to be classified as tropical or arid in the future. This study presents a new metric for exposure to climate change: the number of people living in areas whose climate zone classification is projected to shift. It also identifies populations that may face climatic conditions in the future that deviate from those to which they have adapted.
First Calibrated Methane Bubble Wintertime Observations in the Siberian Arctic Seas: Selected Results from the Fast Ice
Authors: Chernykh Denis , Shakhova Natalia , Yusupov Vladimir , Gershelis Elena , Morgunov Boris , Semiletov Igor
Published: July 2023

This paper presents the results of an acoustic survey carried out from the fast ice in the shallow waters of the East Siberian Arctic Shelf (ESAS) using a single beam echosounder. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate an improved approach to study seafloor seepages in the Arctic coastal zone with an echosounder calibrated on site. During wintertime field observations of natural rising gas bubbles, we recorded three periods of their increased activity with a total of 63 short-term ejections of bubbles from the seabed. This study presents quantitative estimates of the methane (CH4) flux obtained in wintertime at two levels of the water column: (1) at the bottom/water interface and (2) at the water/sea ice interface. In winter, the flux of CH4 transported by rising bubbles to the bottom water in the shallow part of the ESAS was estimated at ~19 g·m−2 per day, while the flux reaching the water/sea ice interface was calculated as ~15 g·m−2 per day taking into account the diffusion of CH4 in the surrounding water and the enrichment of rising bubbles with nitrogen and oxygen. We suggest that this bubble-transported CH4 flux reaching the water /sea ice interface can be emitted into the atmosphere through numerous ice trenches, leads, and polynyas. This CH4 ebullition value detected at the water/sea ice interface is in the mid high range of CH4 ebullition value estimated for the entire ESAS, and two orders higher than the upper range of CH4 ebullition from the northern thermocarst lakes, which are considered as a significant source to the atmospheric methane budget.
Health-Related Quality of Life Assessment in Older Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Volčanšek Špela , Lunder Mojca , Janež Andrej
Published: July 2023

Type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are determinants of health-related outcomes including health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We aimed to determine differences in HRQOL between older adults with T1D and T2D and specific factors influencing HRQOL in this age group. This study used a cross-sectional design with 56 age- and HbA1c-matched T1D and T2D patients (aged 68.9 ± 7.8 years; 55% had T2D). We employed several validated questionnaires (Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the EuroQol-5 Dimensions/Visual Analog Scale (VAS)) to investigate the relationships between HRQOL domains and diabetes type, glycemic control, complications, and comorbidities. T1D was associated with better self-reported general health (assessed with the SF-36 general health domain (p = 0.048) and the EuroQol-5 VAS (p = 0.002), whereas no significant differences in the other SF-36 domains, self-reported diabetes distress, anxiety, or depression were found. Most HRQOL domains were not associated with HbA1c or the presence of diabetes complications. The most significant reduction in HRQOL was experienced by patients with higher BMIs, irrespective of the diabetes type. The obtained HRQOL data could be used in clinical settings for evidence-based patient education focused on specific subgroups of patients, as well as in national healthcare policies, e.g., interventions designed to alleviate obesity.
Senior Immigrant Women and Participation in Voluntary Services in Norway
Authors: Bruland Rakel , Malmedal Wenche , Blekken Lene
Published: July 2023

In Norway, there is a rising trend in the number of senior immigrants. Engagement in society is known to be crucial to their well-being and health, with participation in voluntary activities being one way of partaking in a community. A qualitative study was conducted, involving 12 immigrant women aged 50 years and above. Semi-structured interviews were utilized to gain insight into their experiences of participation in activities, aiming to identify both facilitators and barriers to their engagement in activities provided by voluntary organizations. The analysis resulted in two main themes and five sub-themes. According to the women’s experience, learning Norwegian was important for successful integration. They also emphasized the importance of social relationships for improved self-perceived health and a sense of belonging in a community. Language challenges and limited social integration were barriers negatively impacting their participation, with health being a crucial factor determining their capacity to engage in voluntary services. Since most of the women talked about their health, this became an important topic of further investigation. This article is a contribution towards gaining further insight into the experiences of senior immigrant women participating in voluntary services and explores the challenges faced by voluntary organizations in improving information dissemination and minimizing barriers to participation. Public health competence can improve knowledge regarding facilitating health-promoting participation in voluntary services.
Does Physical Activity Affect Clinical Symptoms and the Quality of Life of Mild-Infected Individuals with COVID-19 in China? A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Wang Rong , Jia Yuanyuan , Sun Tingting , Ruan Bing , Zhou Huixuan , Yu Laikang , Hou Xiao
Published: July 2023

Background: Few studies have identified the links between physical activity (PA), clinical symptoms, and the quality of life (QoL) among mildly infected individuals with COVID-19. This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate how PA levels before infections affect the infectious symptoms and the QoL in mildly infected patients with COVID-19. Methods: An online questionnaire link including participants’ sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, clinical symptoms during the COVID-19 infectious period, the QoL of the worst symptomatic day, and PA in the last seven days before COVID-19 infections was disclosed. Logistic regression and multiple linear regression analyses were applied to assess the relationships between PA levels in the last seven days before infections and COVID-19-related outcomes. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Compared to the low-PA-level group, the moderate-PA-level group presented a higher risk of headaches (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.75, and p = 0.03) and the high-PA-level group presented a higher risk of muscle/body aches (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.93, and p = 0.03). The adjusted linear regression analysis showed that no associations were found between PA levels in the last seven days before infections and the QoL index value on the worst symptomatic day (moderate-PA-level group: β = −0.04, and p = 0.08; high-PA-level group: β = −0.04, and p = 0.17). However, for the mobility and usual activities dimensions of EQ-5D-5L, the lower-PA-level group had a lower burden of QoL than the higher-PA-level group did on the worst-symptomatic day. Conclusions: Among mildly infected patients with COVID-19, a higher PA level is associated with a higher risk of experiencing clinical symptoms and a lower QoL.
Factors Associated with Depression, Anxiety, and Somatic Symptoms among International Salespeople in the Medical Device Industry: A Cross-Sectional Study in China
Authors: Mao Beibei , Kanjanarat Penkarn , Wongpakaran Tinakon , Permsuwan Unchalee , O’Donnell Ronald
Published: July 2023

Background: The physical and mental health of corporate employees is equally important, especially for international salespeople in the in vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical device industry. The rapid growth of the IVD market is driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic and infectious diseases. This study aims to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms among international salespeople in China’s IVD industry and identify the association of socio-demographic, occupational, organizational, and psychosocial factors with mental health outcomes for depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms in Chinese IVD international salespeople. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey of international salespeople (ISs) in IVD companies officially registered in China. An online survey was designed to collect data through email contact with IVD companies and social media between August 2022 and March 2023. Measured factors included effort-reward imbalance (ERI), health-promoting leadership (HPL), health climate (HC), inner strength (IS), and perceived social support (PSS). Mental health outcomes assessed using the Core Symptom Index (CSI) were depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. Results: A total of 244 salespeople responded to the survey. CSI scores indicated that 18.4% (n = 45) and 10.2% (n = 25) of the respondents had symptoms of major depression and anxiety, respectively. ERI was positively correlated, while the IS and PSS were negatively correlated with major depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms (p < 0.01). The health climate was negatively correlated with major depression (p < 0.05). Education background was associated with somatic symptoms (p < 0.05). ERI, IS, and gender were significant predictors of major depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of depression and anxiety in China’s IVD international salespeople was considered low compared with the prevalence in Chinese populations during COVID-19 but higher than those before the pandemic. Effort–reward imbalance, inner strength, and gender were significant factors in major depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms among IVD international salespeople.