bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical characteristics of children with omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection in Changchun, China from march to april 2022: A retrospective study
Authors: Li Yan-chun , Ma Zhen , Zhong Hua-ying , You Hai-long
Published: November 2022

Background

Recently, there was an outbreak in China of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, the corresponding clinical characteristics of Chinese children with the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were then reviewed and summarized retrospectively.

Methods

From March to April 2022, a total of 134 children infected with the Omicron variant were included in the study. Data such as sex, age, clinical symptoms, laboratory examinations, and imaging features were collected for further analyses.

Results

Half of the children were male and the median age was 5.67 years. The most SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant was identified in mild (122, 91%), and the most three frequent symptoms were as cough (108, 80.6%), fever (75, 56%), and sore throat (38, 28.4%). Among age groups, no significant difference was observed in the distribution of symptoms, and no statistical difference was found in different clinical types among sex or age groups. Laboratory examinations revealed that white blood cells, neutrophils, and hemoglobin decreased; and monocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased. Further analyses showed that neutrophils, hemoglobin, CRP, and AST exhibited significant differences among age groups. Radiological abnormalities were found in nine cases, with small patchy high-density shadows. Of the 76 cured cases discharged from the hospital, the median hospital stay was 13 days (mean, 12 days).

Conclusions

In China, most children with Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection have mild presentation. The findings of this study may help other districts improve the management of children with Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection in China.
Ponatinib modulates the metabolic profile of obese mice by inhibiting adipose tissue macrophage inflammation
Authors: Lin Zhuomiao , Lin Xiaochun , Lai Ying , Han Congcong , Fan Xinran , Tang Jie , Mo Shiqi , Su Jiahui , Liang Sijia , Shang Jinyan , Lv Xiaofei , Guo Siwan , Pang Ruiping , Zhou Jiaguo , Zhang Tingting , Zhang Feiran
Published: November 2022

Obesity-induced metabolic syndrome is a rapidly growing conundrum, reaching epidemic proportions globally. Chronic inflammation in obese adipose tissue plays a key role in metabolic syndrome with a series of local and systemic effects such as inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammatory cytokine secretion. Adipose tissue macrophages (ATM), as one of the main regulators in this process, are particularly crucial for pharmacological studies on obesity-related metabolic syndrome. Ponatinib, a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor originally used to treat leukemia, has recently been found to improve dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis, suggesting that it may have profound effect on metabolic syndrome, although the mechanisms underlying have not yet been revealed. Here we discovered that ponatinib significantly improved insulin sensitivity in leptin deficient obese mice. In addition to that, ponatinib treatment remarkably ameliorated high fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia and inhibited ectopic lipid deposition in the liver. Interestingly, although ponatinib did not reduce but increase the weight of white adipose tissue (WAT), it remarkably suppressed the inflammatory response in WAT and preserved its function. Mechanistically, we showed that ponatinib had no direct effect on hepatocyte or adipocyte but attenuated free fatty acid (FFA) induced macrophage transformation from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory phenotype. Moreover, adipocytes co-cultured with FFA-treated macrophages exhibited insulin resistance, while pre-treat these macrophages with ponatinib can ameliorate this process. These results suggested that the beneficial effects of ponatinib on metabolic disorders are achieved by inhibiting the inflammatory phenotypic transformation of ATMs, thereby maintaining the physiological function of adipose tissue under excessive obesity. The data here not only revealed the novel therapeutic function of ponatinib, but also provided a theoretical basis for the application of multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitors in metabolic diseases.
Serum kisspeptin levels mainly depend on ovarian expression of Kiss1 mRNA in female rats
Authors: Kwon Ahreum , Eom Ji Young , Lee Woo Jung , Choi Han Saem , Song Kyungchul , Suh Junghwan , Chae Hyun Wook , Kim Ho-Seong
Published: November 2022

The hypothalamic kisspeptin/KISS1 receptor system is essential for puberty onset and reproductive development. Although serum kisspeptin might be associated with puberty, its levels, according to developmental stage, and its origin still remain unclear. This study evaluated the changes in serum kisspeptin levels during puberty and the corresponding Kiss1 mRNA and protein expression in various organs of female rats to identify the source of serum kisspeptin. Tissues from several organs, including the ovaries and anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) and arcuate nucleus (ARC) in the hypothalamus, were obtained for assessing Kiss1 mRNA and protein expressions. Serum kisspeptin levels progressively increased with developmental stages until the peripubertal stage. The ovaries showed the highest Kiss1 expression among the organs examined. Next, we explored the changes in serum kisspeptin levels and hypothalamic Kiss1 expression in ovariectomized and estradiol-treated ovariectomized rats. Serum kisspeptin levels decreased regardless of estradiol treatment; Kiss1 expression was enhanced by ovariectomy and estradiol treatment in the ARC, while it was decreased by ovariectomy and enhanced by estradiol in the AVPV, suggesting that serum kisspeptin may be associated with pubertal development and mainly depended on ovarian Kiss1 expression. Thus, serum kisspeptin levels are associated with puberty and may serve as a downstream marker of ovarian reproductive function.
Effects of low temperature on flowering and the expression of related genes in Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum
Authors: Zhang Damao , Chen Qianru , Zhang Xia , Lin Ling , Cai Ming , Cai Wenqi , Liu Yang , Xiang Lili , Sun Ming , Yu Xiaoying , Li Yanlin
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum blooms 2-3 times a year, among which the autumn flowering period has great potential for exploitation, but the number of flowers in the autumn flowering period is much smaller than that in the spring flowering period.

Methods

Using ‘Hei Zhenzhu’ and ‘Xiangnong Xiangyun’ as experimental materials, the winter growth environment of L. chinense var. rubrum in Changsha, Hunan Province was simulated by setting a low temperature of 6-10°C in an artificial climate chamber to investigate the effect of winter low temperature on the flowering traits and related gene expression of L. chinense var. rubrum.

Results

The results showed that after 45 days of low temperature culture and a subsequent period of 25°C greenhouse culture, flower buds and flowers started to appear on days 24 and 33 of 25°C greenhouse culture for ‘Hei Zhenzhu’, and flower buds and flowers started to appear on days 21 and 33 of 25°C greenhouse culture for ‘Xiangnong Xiangyun’. The absolute growth rate of buds showed a ‘Up-Down’ pattern during the 7-28 days of low temperature culture; the chlorophyll fluorescence decay rate (Rfd) of both materials showed a ‘Down-Up-Down’ pattern during this period. The non-photochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ) showed the same trend as Rfd, and the photochemical quenching coefficient (QP) fluctuated above and below 0.05. The expression of AP1 and FT similar genes of L. chinense var. rubrum gradually increased after the beginning of low temperature culture, reaching the highest expression on day 14 and day 28, respectively, and the expression of both in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group. The expressions of FLC, SVP and TFL1 similar genes all decreased gradually with low temperature culture, among which the expressions of FLC similar genes and TFL1 similar genes in the experimental group were extremely significantly lower than those in the control group; in the experimental group, the expressions of GA3 similar genes were all extremely significantly higher than those in the control group, and the expressions all increased with the increase of low temperature culture time.

Discussion

We found that the high expression of gibberellin genes may play an important role in the process of low temperature promotion of L. chinense var. rubrum flowering, and in the future, it may be possible to regulate L. chinense var. rubrum flowering by simply spraying exogenous gibberellin instead of the promotion effect of low temperature.
Modified screening method of middle american dry bean genotypes reveals new genomic regions on Pv10 associated with anthracnose resistance
Authors: Simons Kristin J. , Schröder Stephan , Oladzad Atena , McClean Phillip E. , Conner Robert L. , Penner Waldo C. , Stoesz Dennis B. , Osorno Juan M.
Published: November 2022

Anthracnose, caused by the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. & Magnus) Lams.-Scrib., is one of the most devastating diseases in dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with seed yield losses up to 100%. Most anthracnose resistance genes thus far identified behave in a dominant manner and were identified by seedling screening. The Middle American Diversity Panel (MDP; n=266) was screened with a modified greenhouse screening method to evaluate the response to anthracnose race 73. Thirty MDP genotypes exhibited resistance to the race of which 16 genotypes were not known to contain anthracnose resistance genes to race 73. GWAS with ~93,000 SNP markers identified four genomic regions, two each on Pv01 and Pv10, associated race 73 resistance. A likelihood-ratio-based R2 analysis indicated the peak four SNP markers are responsible for 26% of the observed phenotypic variation, where one SNP, S10_072250, explains 23% of the total variation. SNP S10_072250 is associated with a new region of anthracnose resistance and is in an intron of a ZPR1-like gene. Further greenhouse testing of the 16 resistant lines without previously known resistance to race 73 revealed various levels of resistance under various levels of disease pressure. Disease resistance was further characterized in the field using four representative genotypes. GTS-900 and Remington exhibited field resistance while Merlot and Maverick were susceptible. Field testing with two different fungicide regimes revealed the resistant genotypes had no significant disease differences. The results suggest resistance to anthracnose may differ at various growth stages and that breeders have been selecting for major genes at early seedling stages while ignoring the effect of alternative genes that may be active at later stages. The newly identified resistant lines may be related to Age Related Resistance (ARR) and could be exploited as parental sources of anthracnose resistance in addition to already known major genes. The physical localization of the multiple regions of resistance confirms the presence of two clusters of disease resistance genes on Pv01 and identifies two new regions of anthracnose resistance on Pv10 possibly associated with ARR. Future research should look at the mode of inheritance of this resistance and its effect when combined with other anthracnose resistance loci.
Metabolome and transcriptome integration reveals insights into the process of delayed petal abscission in rose by STS
Authors: Zhang Jingjing , Zhang Yuyun , He Yongmei , Du Tingting , Shan Duoxiu , Fan Houdong , Wang Wenyu , Qin Zhe , Xin Cuihua , Pei Haixia
Published: November 2022

The abscission of plant organs plays an important role in ensuring the normal life activities. Rose is one of the most important ornamental plants, and its premature abscission of petal has seriously affected the quality and commercial value. Silver Thiosulfate (STS) is an ethylene inhibitor, which is often used preservative to delay the senescence of fresh cut flowers. To understand the regulatory mechanism of petal abscission in rose by STS, integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome profiles was performed in abscission zone (AZ) tissues of rose under different treatments (MOCK, STS, ETH, STS+ETH). The results showed that STS significantly delayed the petal abscission in phenotype and reduced the activity of two enzymes (pectinase and cellulase) associated with cell wall degradation in physiological level. STS affected the contents of five metabolites (shikonin, jasmonic acid, gluconolactone, stachyose and D-Erythrose 4-phosphate), and involved changes in the expression of 39 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with these five metabolites. Five DEGs (LOC112192149, LOC112196726, LOC112189737, LOC112188495, and LOC112188936) were probably directly associated with the biosynthesis of shikonin, jasmonic acid, and D-Erythrose 4-phosphate. Meanwhile, the effect of STS on the abscission process significantly involved in the pentose phosphate pathway and amino acid biosynthesis pathway. In addition, STS had a greater effect on the transcription factors, phytohormone related DEGs represented by auxin and ethylene, DEGs related to disease resistance and amino acid, etc. Above all, STS negatively influences petal abscission of rose, these results maybe provide a reference for subsequent studies on petal abscission of rose by STS.
Exploring the roles of fear and powerlessness in the relationship between perceived risk of the COVID-19 pandemic and information-avoidance behavior
Authors: Zhang Kunying , Zhang Naifu , Wang Jie , Jiang Jie , Xu Sihua
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 has seriously impacted various aspects of the society on a global scale. However, it is still unclear how perceived risk influences epidemic information-avoidance behavior which generally helps us understand public information avoidance. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the perceived epidemic risk and information-avoidance behavior and the mediating role of fear and powerlessness during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. A total of 557 Chinese respondents with COVID-19 treated in modular hospitals ranging from 16 to 72 years old were recruited and completed questionnaires in the face-to-face manner containing scales of the perceived epidemic risk of COVID-19, fear, powerlessness, and information-avoidance behavior. To test the conceptual model, we adopted structural equation modeling (SEM) with the perceived risk of the COVID-19 pandemic as a predictor, fear and powerlessness as mediating variables, and information-avoidance behavior as the outcome. The results indicated a significant and positive association between the perceived epidemic risk of COVID-19 and information-avoidance behavior. Powerlessness acted as the mediator between the perceived epidemic risk of COVID-19 and information-avoidance behavior. The perceived epidemic risk of COVID-19 influenced information-avoidance behavior through fear and powerlessness in turn. Findings from this study implied that public health managers should consider the mediating roles of negative emotions such as fear and powerlessness for coping with behaviors in public health emergencies, especially the information avoidance behaviors related to risk perception.
Effect of virtual group EcoMeditation on psychological conditions and flow states
Authors: Church Dawson , Stapleton Peta , Gosatti Donna , O’Keefe Tom
Published: November 2022

Background

A plethora of literature has delineated the therapeutic benefits of meditation practice on psychological functioning. A novel meditative practice, EcoMeditation, includes elements of four evidence-based techniques: The Quick Coherence Technique for regulating heart rate variability (HRV), Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), mindfulness, and neurofeedback.

Objectives

Changes in psychological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, pain, and happiness were measured following a one-day virtual EcoMeditation training workshop. The current study extended on previous literature by adding measures of transcendent experiences and flow states.

Methods

Participants were drawn from a convenience sample of 151 participants (130 female, 21 male) aged between 26 to 71 years (M = 45.1,SD = 9.19) attending a one-day virtual EcoMeditation workshop. They were assessed pre-workshop, post-workshop, and at 3-months follow-up.

Results

Post-workshop results (N = 111) indicated a significant reduction in anxiety (−42.3%,p < 0.001), depression (−37.5%,p < 0.001), posttraumatic stress (−13.0%,p < 0.001), and pain (−63.2%,p < 0.001) Likert mean scores when compared to pre-workshop. There was also a significant increase in happiness (+111.1%,p < 0.001), flow states (+17.4%,p < 0.001), and transcendent experiences (+18.5%,p < 0.001). At 3-months follow-up, a one-way repeated measures ANOVA (N = 72) found significant decreases in anxiety, depression, and pain symptoms between pre-test and post-test, as well between pre-test and follow-up. Flow, happiness, and transcendent experiences increased significantly between pre-test and post-test, as well as between pre-test and follow-up, with over 71% of participants experiencing clinically significant improvements. Significant reductions in posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms between pre-test and follow-up were also noted.

Conclusion

EcoMeditation is associated with significant improvements in psychological conditions such as anxiety, depression, pain, and posttraumatic stress. EcoMeditation was also shown to enhance flow states and transcendent experiences. The benefits identified were similar to those found in the existing literature and provide support for the use of EcoMeditation as an effective stress reduction method that improves psychological symptoms and enhances transcendent states.
How is circadian preference associated with cyber-victimization? A moderated mediation model of hostile recognition and online self-disclosure in Chinese early adolescent students
Authors: Jia Yanru , Wu Yuntena , Jin Tonglin , Zhang Lu
Published: November 2022

Although circadian preference is widely accepted to be a risk factor in the increase of adolescents’ negative experiences, little is known about its association with cyber-victimization. The current study sought to examine whether eveningness was significantly related to adolescents’ negative experiences. We further examined in-victimization events and whether hostile recognition and online self-disclosure played a vital role in eveningness and adolescents’ cyber-victimization. Study participants included 583 adolescents from four middle schools in China who completed questionnaires regarding their circadian preference, hostile recognition, online self-disclosure, and experience with cyber-victimization. Results indicated that adolescents with a high level of eveningness were more likely to experience cyber-victimization. Hostile recognition significantly mediated the relationship between eveningness and adolescents’ cyber-victimization. Furthermore, online self-disclosure moderated the indirect relationship between eveningness and cyber-victimization. Specifically, the paths from eveningness to hostile recognition and from hostile recognition to cyber-victimization became strengthened when adolescents experienced high levels of online self-disclosure. The results imply that researchers should pay more attention to remote factors, such as adolescents’ circadian preference and their relationship with cyber-victimization, to help them adapt to school requirements and reduce the frequency of victimization.
Going green: Impact of green supply chain management practices on sustainability performance
Authors: Ahmad Azhar , Ikram Amir , Rehan Muhammad Farooq , Ahmad Ayyaz
Published: November 2022

The rising environmental challenges are capturing the attention of stakeholders of corporations due to increasing competition. The sustainable performance of firms does not merely gauge their economic performance but also their sustainable development. Since the environmental supply chain management of firms has an important part in maneuvering their sustainable performance, the present study focuses on assessing the impact of green supply chain management practices on the sustainable performance of the textile, automobile, and tobacco industries. The data were collected from 384 organizations and analyzed through SPSS and AMOS. The results reveal that the impact of green manufacturing, green purchases, eco-design, and green information system are significant and positive on the sustainable performance of the organizations, whereas the impact of cooperation with customers is insignificant. Similarly, the moderation of institutional pressures between green manufacturing, green purchases, eco-design, and sustainability performance is insignificant, whereas it significantly moderates between cooperation with customers, green information systems, and sustainable performance. The study is significant and novel for considering five different factors of green supply chain management (GSCM): green manufacturing, green purchasing, cooperation with customers, eco-design, and green information systems. Furthermore, adding institutional pressures as a moderator between GSCM and sustainable performance adds to the novelty and uniqueness of the research. The managerial implications have also been discussed.
Processing pro-drop features in heritage Turkish
Authors: Uygun Serkan
Published: November 2022

Previous studies have reported that null subject is not completely lost in heritage speakers, but there is an increase in the production and acceptance of overt subjects. Turkish is a pro-drop language and as a typical feature of pro-drop languages, it requires obligatory verb agreement marking for sentences with null subjects. However, Turkish subject-verb agreement marking is an example of optional agreement in which the 3rd person plural subject has optionality and can be used with singular verb forms under certain conditions. The current study investigates the reading times (RTs) of plural-marked and unmarked verbs in sentences with overt and null subjects during real time sentence processing in comparison to non-heritage speakers of Turkish via a self-paced reading experiment. Significant differences were observed between the heritage and non-heritage speakers of Turkish indicating both quantitative and qualitative real-time processing differences between the two groups. These differences suggest that Turkish heritage speakers need more time to integrate the information in real time processing.
Does internet use promote mental health among middle-aged and older adults in China?
Authors: Zhang Chong , Wang Yan , Wang Jing , Liu Xin
Published: November 2022

In recent years, China’s Internet penetration rate has increased, and the scale of middle-aged and older adults’ netizen has continued to expand. However, the impact of internet use on mental health remains controversial. This paper analyzes 14,497 middle-aged and older adults’ valid respondents in the 2018 Chinese Family Panel Study (CFPS2018) to evaluate the impact of Internet use on the mental health of middle-aged and older adults and its intermediary mechanisms. The findings show that moderate use of the Internet can significantly reduce depression levels and boost cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults. But excessive internet use will also lead to increased levels of depression and decreased cognitive function. Different Internet use purposes will also lead to different psychological states. Online socializing, entertainment and business activities can significantly reduce depression levels and promote cognitive functions. Online studying and working only have positive effects on cognitive functions, which have no significant relationship to depression levels. In addition, analysis of the mediation effect found that life satisfaction is a path mechanism for Internet use and affect different dimensions of mental health.
The schizophrenia and gut microbiota: A bibliometric and visual analysis
Authors: Yang Chao , Lin Xiaoxiao , Wang Xianteng , Liu Huanzhong , Huang Jinyu , Wang Shuai
Published: November 2022

Background

Many studies have explored the link between the gut microbiota and schizophrenia. To date, there have been no bibliometric analyses to summarize the association between the gut microbiota and schizophrenia. We aimed to conduct a bibliometric study of this association to determine the current status and areas for advancement in this field.

Materials and methods

Publications related to the gut microbiota and schizophrenia were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). The WoSCC literature analysis wire and VOSviewer 1.6.16 were used to conduct the analysis.

Results

In total, 162 publications were included in our study. The publications generally showed an upward trend from 2014. A total of 873 authors from 355 organizations and 40 countries/regions contributed to this field. The leading authors were Timothy Dinan, John F Cryan, and Emily Severance. The leading institutions were Johns Hopkins University, the University College Cork, and the University of Toronto. The most productive countries were the United States (US), China, and Canada. In total, 95 journals contributed to this field. Among them, the top three productive journals were Schizophrenia Research, Progress in Neuro Psychopharmacology Biological Psychiatry, and Frontiers in Psychiatry. The important keywords in the clusters were gut microbiome, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, antipsychotics, weight gain, metabolic syndrome, gut-brain axis, autism, depression, inflammation, and brain.

Conclusion

The main research hotspots involving the connection between schizophrenia and the gut microbiota were the characteristics of the microbiota composition in schizophrenia patients, the gut-brain axis, and microbial-based interventions for schizophrenia. The studies about the association between gut microbiota and schizophrenia are limited, and more studies are needed to provide new insights into the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis and treatment of schizophrenia.
Knowledge of cataracts and eye care utilization among adults aged 50 and above in rural Western China
Authors: Du Kang , Guan Hongyu , Zhang Yunyun , Ding Yuxiu , Wang Decai
Published: November 2022

Background

Cataracts are highly prevalent in rural China, but patient utilization of eye care services is low. Cataract knowledge is regarded as an important factor in eye care utilization. Few studies, however, have been conducted to measure the level of cataract knowledge and its relationship with eye care utilization among older adults in rural China. Hence, we described cataract knowledge and investigated the relationships between cataract knowledge and eye care utilization among adults (≥50 years) in rural Western China.

Methods

A large community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2020 among adults aged 50 years and older in 73 rural villages in Qingcheng County, Western China. The participants underwent an eye examination at their village clinic to determine whether they had cataracts. Participants also answered a questionnaire about cataracts, eye care utilization status, and sociodemographic characteristics. The collected data underwent descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results

The eye examinations revealed that 45.15% (675/1,495) of participants had cataracts in at least one eye, yet 90.67% (612/675) were left untreated. The average score achieved by participants about cataract knowledge was 4.91 points (total score was eight points). Correct knowledge about cataracts was positively associated with cataract screening and cataract surgery. Elders with better cataract knowledge were 2.21 times more likely to undergo cataract screening (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.54–3.16) and 5.61 times more likely to undergo cataract surgery (OR, 5.61; 95% CI, 2.87–10.98). More than half had three fundamental misconceptions about how cataracts should be treated, how much they should cost, and when they should be treated. Participants who did not have these misconceptions were more likely to receive cataract screening by 1.21–2.02 times and cataract surgery by 1.76–3.48 times.

Conclusion

There are misunderstandings about cataract treatment methods, treatment costs and timing in the sample areas. A better understanding of cataracts was significantly positively associated with cataract screening and cataract surgery. Health education on cataracts and regular eye examinations are needed to improve eye care utilization in rural China.
A 12-month projection to September 2022 of the COVID-19 epidemic in the UK using a dynamic causal model
Authors: Bowie Cam , Friston Karl
Published: November 2022

Objectives

Predicting the future UK COVID-19 epidemic allows other countries to compare their epidemic with one unfolding without public health measures except a vaccine program.

Methods

A Dynamic Causal Model was used to estimate key model parameters of the UK epidemic, such as vaccine effectiveness and increased transmissibility of Alpha and Delta variants, the effectiveness of the vaccine program roll-out and changes in contact rates. The model predicts the future trends in infections, long-COVID, hospital admissions and deaths.

Results

Two-dose vaccination given to 66% of the UK population prevents transmission following infection by 44%, serious illness by 86% and death by 93%. Despite this, with no other public health measures used, cases will increase from 37 million to 61 million, hospital admissions from 536,000 to 684,000 and deaths from 136,000 to 142,000 over 12 months. A retrospective analysis (conducted after the original submission of this report) allowed a comparison of these predictions of morbidity and mortality with actual outcomes.

Conclusion

Vaccination alone will not control the epidemic. Relaxation of mitigating public health measures carries several risks, which include overwhelming the health services, the creation of vaccine resistant variants and the economic cost of huge numbers of acute and chronic cases.
Minding the GAP: An overview of five years of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) projects under the Global Action Programme (GAP) within Regional Centres of Expertise (RCEs) on ESD
Authors: Vaughter Philip , Noguchi Fumiko , Li Shengru
Published: November 2022

Research on Regional Centers of Expertise (RCEs) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has focused on how multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral partnerships can work to enable ESD projects, with a particular focus on how higher education institutions could effectively collaborate with community partners. However, much of this research has focused onhowpartners worked together (for example, what governance and coordination structures allowed higher education institutions to effectively collaborate with partners) without as much focus of investigation onwhatactivities RCEs were working on. While diverse and compelling research on RCEs already exists, much of this research falls into conceptual theory building or case studies of individual RCE activities. In this article, an overview and analysis of activities from RCEs around the globe is offered to provide some trend analysis for topics and modalities of ESD projects conducted during the Global Action Programme (GAP) on ESD which ran from 2015 to 2019. This empirical analysis can serve as record of where the Global RCE Network has been over the 5 years of the GAP, where it is now, and where it may wish to go in the future.
Case Report: Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the thyroid— A rare encounter
Authors: Shepherd Megan , Lohmann Justin , Nodit Laurentia , Vaghaiwalla Tanaz , Mancini Matthew
Published: November 2022

Background

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for approximately 4% of new adult cancers. By fine needle aspiration, identification of metastatic RCC to thyroid is challenging; therefore, surgical resection is indicated for definitive characterization. Our report surveys metastatic RCC to thyroid in our hospital.

Methods

Twenty years retrospective review of electronic records in our institution identified five patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the thyroid. We analyzed patient charts and pathology reports to evaluate clinical parameters and therapy.

Results

In all cases, the original RCC was of clear cell type. Pathologic tumor stage ranged from pT1a to pT3a, Fuhrman nuclear grade varied from 2 to 4 and angiolymphatic invasion was noted in one case. In three patients, RCC in the thyroid occurred as an oligometastasis with no evidence of disease in the nephrectomy bed or other parts of the body. In two patients, concomitant recurrent RCC and metastases to liver, lung, brain and chest wall were documented. The thyroid metastases were found approximately 10 years after completion of nephrectomy with a range of 0–21 years. Three thyroid fine needle aspirations correctly identified the disease, one was negative, and one was classified as atypical cells present, suspicious for RCC.

Conclusion

The thyroid gland is an uncommon location for RCC metastasis and can appear across a wide range of initial stages and grades of the disease. Thyroid metastases occurred as late as 21 years from the initial tumor resection. Increased awareness and a high index of suspicion are needed to detect metastasis, as they can be found in atypical locations and mimic primary disease.
In vitro synergistic interaction between Melaleuca armillaris essential oil and erythromycin against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from dairy cows
Authors: Buldain Daniel , Gortari Castillo Lihuel , Buchamer Andrea Verónica , Bandoni Arnaldo , Marchetti Laura , Mestorino Nora
Published: November 2022

Staphylococcus aureus frequently causes subclinical mastitis around the world with a high impact on the milk industry and public health. Essential oils (EO) are recognized antimicrobials that can be synergistic with antibiotics. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the essential oil (EO) of Melaleuca armillaris as an adjuvant of erythromycin (ERY) for the alternative treatment of bovine mastitis caused by S. aureus. The Minimum Inhibitory and Bactericidal Concentrations (MIC and MBC) of EO, ERY, and its combinations were established against S. aureus at different pHs (7.4, 6.5 and 5.0), emulating extra and intracellular conditions. Sensitive (N = 3) and resistant (N = 3) strains to ERY and S. aureus ATCC 29213 as control were used. Math models were applied to describe the antibacterial activity of EO and combinations EO-ERY. The EO was bactericidal against all the strains independently of the pH with a slight improvement in acid conditions. The synergism between EO and ERY was estimated by the Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index (FIC) and by mathematical modeling of the bacterial killing data. Synergism was observed with ERY, where combinations had bactericidal activity also even with pH modification. M. armillaris EO is an interesting adjuvant for ERY, being a promissory option for further analysis of intracellular efficacy against S. aureus.
Identification of novel recombinants and proposed standard reference genomes for phylogenetic classification of canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2): Comprehensive analysis revealing global evolutionary trait
Authors: Bahoussi Amina Nawal , Wang Pei-Hua , Ma Zi-Hui , Rani Nikita , Wu Changxin , Xing Li
Published: November 2022

Sustained spread and continuous evolution of CPV-2 generate new genetic information; nevertheless, there is no adopted phylogenetic tool, and parvo virologists still refer to the three antigenic variants. Herein, this report attempted to review the evolutionary trait of CPV-2 and proposed standard reference genomes using the Maximum Likelihood-based phylogenetic analysis and Parsimony-Informative Sites. The analysis revealed three main evolutionary pathways where CPV-2 strains cluster into distinct clades depicted as GI, GII, or GIII, respectively. Furthermore, novel CPV-2 natural recombinants were detected, occurring only between the newly identified strains (2017–2020). Those findings provide unique insights into the evolutionary relatedness of CPV-2, clarify discrepancies between different geographic areas and will contribute to achieving a more reliable CPV-2 genetic and evolutionary genotyping classification.
A Trend Analysis of Adherence to the Muscle Strengthening Exercise Guidelines in US Adolescents
Authors: Chen Sitong , Yan Jin , Zhao Yaping
Published: November 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the trends of the muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) guidelines adherence in adolescents and factors associated with the adherence.

Methods: Using the Youth Risk Behavioural Survey data, this study assessed the trends of adhering to the MSE guidelines in adolescents. The survey-year-based trends of MSE guidelines adherence was assessed with logistic regression. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the correlates (i.e., sex, grade, race/ethnicity) of the guidelines’ adherence.

Results: 73,074 study participants (female = 36,497, male = 36,108; mean age = 16.04 years) were included for analysis. An overall declining trend of the MSE guidelines in adolescents was found (55.6% in 2011 → 49.5% in 2019, p < 0.001), and similar trends were observed in both sexes. The declining trends varied by sociodemographic factors (e.g., grade). Boys and younger adolescents were more likely to adhere to the MSE guidelines.

Conclusion: The declining trend of adhering to MSE guidelines in US adolescents would be a health concern in this population. Girls and older adolescents should be targeted as intervention priorities.
Factors Influencing Public Higher Education Institutions’ Performance Reporting in the Romanian Context
Authors: Tiron-Tudor Adriana , Nistor Cristina Silvia , Fekete Szilveszter , Alexandru Andreea
Published: November 2022

Our study aims to facilitate a deeper understanding of the factors influencing performance reporting in the specific context of the hybrid higher education system in Romania, a former communist country in Eastern Europe with little experience in managing the notion of public sector performance. Performance reporting impacts higher education institutions’ development. The study’s approach offers opportunities to understand the main factors that influence and are influenced by mandatory elements stipulated in the specific norms in the public-university domain. Institutional and operant theories explain and sustain multilevel (institutional, organizational, and individual) performance-reporting analysis. In terms of research design, the theoretical exploration led us to formulate hypotheses while empirical data were collected from 23 Romanian public universities, ensuring the results’ reliability. The results indicate that the performance-reporting concept and practical demand in public universities depend on both exogenous causes (isomorphic pressures) and endogenous factors (different behaviors of organizations and individual performers). The performance reporting of Romanian public higher education institutions enriches the scientific literature and the practical sphere by offering comprehension of a European country’s evolution with roots in a communist system, having a lot of specific approaches, as a base for comparison with similar Eastern European entities or experienced countries.
Effects of Aeroelastic Walls on the Aeroacoustics in Transonic Cavity Flow
Authors: Nilsson Stefan , Yao Hua-Dong , Karlsson Anders , Arvidson Sebastian
Published: November 2022

The effects of elastic cavity walls on noise generation at transonic speed are investigated for the generic M219 cavity. The flow is simulated with the Spalart–Allmaras (SA) improved delayed detached-eddy simulation (IDDES) turbulence model in combination with a wall function. The structural analysis software uses a modal formulation. The first 50 structural normal mode shapes are included in the simulation, spanning frequencies of 468–2280 Hz. Results are compared with those from a reference simulation with rigid cavity walls. A spectral analysis of pressure fluctuations from a microphone array above the cavity evinces a distinct tone at 816 Hz, which is absent in the reference simulation. Furthermore, the power of the 4th Rossiter mode at 852 Hz is depleted, implying a significant energy transfer from the fluid to the structure. Spectral proper orthogonal decomposition (SPOD) is employed for analyses of cavity wall pressure fluctuations and wall displacements. The SPOD mode energy spectra show results consistent with the spectra of the microphone array with respect to the tone at 816 Hz and the depletion of the energy at the 4th Rossiter mode. Furthermore, the SPOD mode energy spectra show energy spikes at additional frequencies, which coincide with structural eigenfrequencies.
Lagging behind the Joneses: Relative Deprivation and Household Consumption in Rural China
Authors: Qin Xiaodi , Wu Haitao , Xie Yifeng , Zhang Xiaofang
Published: November 2022

Based on the Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS) 2010–2018, this article investigates how relative deprivation influences household consumption in rural China. High-dimensional fixed-effects (HDFE), the instrumental variable (IV), and causal mediation analysis (CMA) are leveraged to estimate the causal effect and mechanisms. Results show that relative deprivation reduces survival-oriented consumption of food, development-oriented consumption of transportation, telecommunication, and education, as well as enjoyment-oriented of durable goods, and increases survival-oriented consumption of residence and development-oriented consumption of healthcare and medical services. Mechanism analysis indicates that relative deprivation decreases household consumption through the anticipated effect and increases it through a cognitive trap effect. On the whole, the anticipated effect prevails over the cognitive trap effect.
Technical Efficiency and Export Potential of the World Palm Oil Market
Authors: Ahmad Hamidi Hakimah Nur , Khalid Norlin , Karim Zulkefly Abdul , Zainuddin Muhamad Rias K. V.
Published: November 2022

Palm oils have been proven to have the highest yield among vegetable oils, which is one of the critical factors in ensuring global food security. However, the world palm oil market has not been entirely utilised due to intervention policies that disrupt the global trade flow. Hence, this study aims to identify the technical efficiency of palm oil exports and then analyse the export potential of two leading producers and exporters of palm oil, Malaysia and Indonesia. A stochastic frontier model (SFM) has been used to estimate the level of technical efficiency across two countries for a sample of 59 major palm oil importing countries during 2009–2019. Palm oil export potential is then calculated using the value of technical export efficiency obtained from the SFM. The main findings revealed the technical inefficiency of world palm oil exports. Comparing the two countries, the Indonesian average technical efficiency value is higher than Malaysian throughout the year. Moreover, the technical efficiency estimates reveal that Malaysia and Indonesia dominate different markets, except in the Netherlands. In terms of export potential, the study found that both major exporting countries of palm oil have great potential to tap more into the same countries, namely China, India, Thailand and the United States. The policy implications of this study suggest that policymakers from both countries should set up a new combined strategy to maximise the palm oil export to their trading partners. Low technical efficiency values in several importing countries show great potential to explore further. Hence, there is a vast potential market for palm oil export to be tapped in those countries.
Biotransformation of Agricultural Wastes into Lovastatin and Optimization of a Fermentation Process Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)
Authors: Javed Sadia , Azeem Muhammad , Mahmood Saqib , Al-Anazi Khalid Mashay , Farah Mohammad Abul , Ali Sajad , Ali Baber
Published: November 2022

Lovastatin is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA Reductase). The HMG-CoA reductase is responsible for the production of mevalonate by the reduction of HMG-CoA. It is a rate-limiting step in the production of cholesterol. The current study demonstrates the production of lovastatin from an ethidium bromide mutated strain of Aspergillus terreus ATE-120 (saprophytic fungus) that is grown on 1–3% NaOH pretreated substrate of sugar cane bagasse (Saccharum officinarum L.). For the hyperproduction of lovastatin, different optimization parameters such as temperature, pH, inoculum size, fermentation period, and inoculum age were mentioned and analyzed via response surface methodology. The RSM results indicate that the maximum lovastatin yield (156.43 mg/L) was predicted at a 5.5 pH, 35 °C temperature, 4 mL inoculum size, 36 h inoculum age, and 48 h fermentation via solid state fermentation. According to these results, the effect of pH had a significant effect on lovastatin production, while other parameters had an insignificant effect, and coefficients of determination (R2) having a value of 77.24% indicates the goodness of the proposed model. The structure of the obtained drug was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance. Moreover, an X-ray diffraction analysis of the sample was carried out to characterize the physical form of the lovastatin. It can be concluded from the above study that the maximum yield of the drug can be found via RSM and that the selected strain (Aspergillus terreus ATE-120) has good potential for lovastatin production through solid-state fermentation.
Embryo–Uterine Cross-Talk: Exploration of the Immunomodulatory Mechanism in Buffalo
Authors: Huidrom Lakshmi Devi , Dhanaji Shital Nagargoje , Pandey Sriti , Chandra Vikash , Gutulla Taru Sharma
Published: November 2022

Understanding the molecular cross-talk between the embryo and uterine endometrium is crucial for the improvement of IVF outcomes. The present work was undertaken to investigate the effect of pre-implantation embryo on the expression profile of immune-related genes in uterine epithelial cells (UECs) and PBMCs in buffalo. UECs were isolated from slaughterhouse-derived non-gravid uteri, cultured ex vivo and characterized, and buffalo embryos were produced in vitro from slaughterhouse-derived ovaries. Embryos co-cultured with steroid-treated UECs significantly stimulated (p < 0.05) the relative mRNA abundance of PTGS2, ISG15, OAS1, MX2, IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 in UECs while they significantly suppressed the mRNA expression of NFkβIA, NFkβ2, TNFα and IL1B, with no significant change in TGFβ1 and IL10 in the co-culture of embryos with UECs. In vitro treatment of PBMCs with conditioned media (CM) derived from embryos as well as UEC–embryo co-culture upregulated the mRNA abundance of ISG15, TGFβ1, PTGS2OAS1, MX2 and STAT1 while it downregulated IL17 and TNFα expression. The expression of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 was elevated in PBMCs cultured in embryo-derived CM, but there was no significant change in PBMCs cultured in UEC–embryo co-culture CM. Thus, it can be concluded that the developing embryo and its secretions modulate the expression of immune responses by inducing an anti-inflammatory action in uterine epithelial cells for acceptance of the semi-allogenic embryo in the uterus to sustain pregnancy in buffalo.