bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management of Oxidative Stress: Crosstalk Between Brown/Beige Adipose Tissues and Skeletal Muscles
Authors: Pan Ruping , Chen Yong
Published: September 2021

Exercise plays an important role in the physiology, often depending on its intensity, duration, and frequency. It increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Meanwhile, it also increases antioxidant enzymes involved in the oxidative damage defense. Prolonged, acute, or strenuous exercise often leads to an increased radical production and a subsequent oxidative stress in the skeletal muscles, while chronic regular or moderate exercise results in a decrease in oxidative stress. Notably, under pathological state, such as obesity, aging, etc., ROS levels could be elevated in humans, which could be attenuated by proper exercise. Significantly, exercise stimulates the development of beige adipose tissue and potentially influence the function of brown adipose tissue (BAT), which is known to be conducive to a metabolic balance through non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) and may protect from oxidative stress. Exercise-related balance of the ROS levels is associated with a healthy metabolism in humans. In this review, we summarize the integrated effects of exercise on oxidative metabolism, and especially focus on the role of brown and beige adipose tissues in this process, providing more evidence and knowledge for a better management of exercise-induced oxidative stress.
An Implementation of Patient-Specific Biventricular Mechanics Simulations With a Deep Learning and Computational Pipeline
Authors: Miller Renee , Kerfoot Eric , Mauger Charlène , Ismail Tevfik F. , Young Alistair A. , Nordsletten David A.
Published: September 2021

Parameterised patient-specific models of the heart enable quantitative analysis of cardiac function as well as estimation of regional stress and intrinsic tissue stiffness. However, the development of personalised models and subsequent simulations have often required lengthy manual setup, from image labelling through to generating the finite element model and assigning boundary conditions. Recently, rapid patient-specific finite element modelling has been made possible through the use of machine learning techniques. In this paper, utilising multiple neural networks for image labelling and detection of valve landmarks, together with streamlined data integration, a pipeline for generating patient-specific biventricular models is applied to clinically-acquired data from a diverse cohort of individuals, including hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy patients and healthy volunteers. Valve motion from tracked landmarks as well as cavity volumes measured from labelled images are used to drive realistic motion and estimate passive tissue stiffness values. The neural networks are shown to accurately label cardiac regions and features for these diverse morphologies. Furthermore, differences in global intrinsic parameters, such as tissue anisotropy and normalised active tension, between groups illustrate respective underlying changes in tissue composition and/or structure as a result of pathology. This study shows the successful application of a generic pipeline for biventricular modelling, incorporating artificial intelligence solutions, within a diverse cohort.
Effects of Three Preseason Training Programs on Speed, Change-of-Direction, and Endurance in Recreationally Trained Soccer Players
Authors: Koral Jérôme , Lloria Varella Jaume , Lazaro Romero Fernando , Foschia Clément
Published: September 2021

Background: Modern coaches experience a drastic reduction of the available training time with an increasingly large number of competitions during the competitive season. Thus, they must choose wisely the most efficient methods to improve the physical fitness of their players during the preseason. Among all the methods, this study compared the effects of plyometric training (PT), sprint interval training (SIT), and small-sided games (SSGs) on the performance of recreationally trained soccer players.

Methods: Seventy-three participants were randomly assigned in one of the three experimental groups (i.e., PT [n = 23], SIT [n = 26] or SSGs [n = 24]) and completed two sessions per week for a total of 3 weeks. Meanwhile, the whole group maintained their habitual soccer-specific training program who do not interfere in the preparation of the season. Repeated sprint ability (RSA), maximal aerobic speed (MAS), and a 30-m sprint were assessed at baseline (PRE) and post-training (POST).

Results: Performance in SSGs decreased for the average speed from 0 to 10 m (V0−10m; −0.84 km h−1, −4 ± 5%, p < 0.001), the maximal distance (Dmax) covered in the 30-s RSA test (−3.65 m, −3 ± 6%, p < 0.01) and MAS (−0.52 km h−1, −3 ± 6%, p < 0.01). PT increased the mean distance (Dmean) covered in the 30-s RSA test (+5.98 m, 5 ± 4%, p < 0.001) and MAS (+0.58 km h−1, 7 ± 5%, p < 0.01) while an improvement of all parameters but the maximal sprint speed reached during the 30-m trip (Vmax) was found in the SIT group (V0−10m: +1.462 km h−1, 8 ± 5%, p < 0.001; Dmax: +7.89 m, 6 ± 5%, p < 0.001; Dmean: +8.69 m, 7 ± 5%, p < 0.001 and MAS: +1.74 km h−1, 12 ± 8%, p < 0.001). All SSG POST values were significantly lower than PT and SIT (p < 0.01). Dmean and MAS in POST were also significantly higher in SIT than in the PT group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study suggests that both PT and SIT could be a better alternative to SSGs to boost performances during preseason. Moreover, SIT seems to produce higher improvements in physical performances than PT.
RNase A Inhibits Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Früh Anton , Tielking Katharina , Schoknecht Felix , Liu Shuheng , Schneider Ulf C. , Fischer Silvia , Vajkoczy Peter , Xu Ran
Published: September 2021

Background: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) caused by rupture of an intracranial aneurysm, is a life-threatening emergency that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Emerging evidence suggests involvement of the innate immune response in secondary brain injury, and a potential role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) for SAH-associated neuroinflammation. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal patterns of NETs in SAH and the potential role of the RNase A (the bovine equivalent to human RNase 1) application on NET burden.

Methods: A total number of n=81 male C57Bl/6 mice were operated utilizing a filament perforation model to induce SAH, and Sham operation was performed for the corresponding control groups. To confirm the bleeding and exclude stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage, the animals received MRI after 24h. Mice were treated with intravenous injection of RNase A (42μg/kg body weight) or saline solution for the control groups, respectively. Quadruple-immunofluorescence (IF) staining for cell nuclei (DAPI), F-actin (phalloidin), citrullinated H3, and neurons (NeuN) was analyzed by confocal imaging and used to quantify NET abundance in the subarachnoid space (SAS) and brain parenchyma. To quantify NETs in human SAH patients, cerebrospinal spinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples from day 1, 2, 7, and 14 after bleeding onset were analyzed for double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) via Sytox Green.

Results: Neutrophil extracellular traps are released upon subarachnoid hemorrhage in the SAS on the ipsilateral bleeding site 24h after ictus. Over time, NETs showed progressive increase in the parenchyma on both ipsi- and contralateral site, peaking on day 14 in periventricular localization. In CSF and blood samples of patients with aneurysmal SAH, NETs also increased gradually over time with a peak on day 7. RNase application significantly reduced NET accumulation in basal, cortical, and periventricular areas.

Conclusion: Neutrophil extracellular trap formation following SAH originates in the ipsilateral SAS of the bleeding site and spreads gradually over time to basal, cortical, and periventricular areas in the parenchyma within 14days. Intravenous RNase application abrogates NET burden significantly in the brain parenchyma, underpinning a potential role in modulation of the innate immune activation after SAH.
Drosophila melanogaster: A Powerful Tiny Animal Model for the Study of Metabolic Hepatic Diseases
Authors: Moraes Karen C. M. , Montagne Jacques
Published: September 2021

Animal experimentation is limited by unethical procedures, time-consuming protocols, and high cost. Thus, the development of innovative approaches for disease treatment based on alternative models in a fast, safe, and economic manner is an important, yet challenging goal. In this paradigm, the fruit-fly Drosophila melanogaster has become a powerful model for biomedical research, considering its short life cycle and low-cost maintenance. In addition, biological processes are conserved and homologs of ∼75% of human disease-related genes are found in the fruit-fly. Therefore, this model has been used in innovative approaches to evaluate and validate the functional activities of candidate molecules identified via in vitro large-scale analyses, as putative agents to treat or reverse pathological conditions. In this context, Drosophila offers a powerful alternative to investigate the molecular aspects of liver diseases, since no effective therapies are available for those pathologies. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common form of chronic hepatic dysfunctions, which may progress to the development of chronic hepatitis and ultimately to cirrhosis, thereby increasing the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This deleterious situation reinforces the use of the Drosophila model to accelerate functional research aimed at deciphering the mechanisms that sustain the disease. In this short review, we illustrate the relevance of using the fruit-fly to address aspects of liver pathologies to contribute to the biomedical area.
De-novo Domestication for Improving Salt Tolerance in Crops
Authors: Razzaq Ali , Saleem Fozia , Wani Shabir Hussain , Abdelmohsen Shaimaa A. M. , Alyousef Haifa A. , Abdelbacki Ashraf M. M. , Alkallas Fatemah H. , Tamam Nissren , Elansary Hosam O.
Published: September 2021

Global agriculture production is under serious threat from rapidly increasing population and adverse climate changes. Food security is currently a huge challenge to feed 10 billion people by 2050. Crop domestication through conventional approaches is not good enough to meet the food demands and unable to fast-track the crop yields. Also, intensive breeding and rigorous selection of superior traits causes genetic erosion and eliminates stress-responsive genes, which makes crops more prone to abiotic stresses. Salt stress is one of the most prevailing abiotic stresses that poses severe damages to crop yield around the globe. Recent innovations in state-of-the-art genomics and transcriptomics technologies have paved the way to develop salinity tolerant crops. De novo domestication is one of the promising strategies to produce superior new crop genotypes through exploiting the genetic diversity of crop wild relatives (CWRs). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies open new avenues to identifying the unique salt-tolerant genes from the CWRs. It has also led to the assembly of highly annotated crop pan-genomes to snapshot the full landscape of genetic diversity and recapture the huge gene repertoire of a species. The identification of novel genes alongside the emergence of cutting-edge genome editing tools for targeted manipulation renders de novo domestication a way forward for developing salt-tolerance crops. However, some risk associated with gene-edited crops causes hurdles for its adoption worldwide. Halophytes-led breeding for salinity tolerance provides an alternative strategy to identify extremely salt tolerant varieties that can be used to develop new crops to mitigate salinity stress.
Small RNAs: The Essential Regulators in Plant Thermotolerance
Authors: Zuo Zhi-Fang , He Wenbo , Li Jing , Mo Beixin , Liu Lin
Published: September 2021

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs that consist of 21–24 nucleotides. They have been extensively investigated as critical regulators in a variety of biological processes in plants. sRNAs include two major classes: microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which differ in their biogenesis and functional pathways. Due to global warming, high-temperature stress has become one of the primary causes for crop loss worldwide. Recent studies have shown that sRNAs are involved in heat stress responses in plants and play essential roles in high-temperature acclimation. Genome-wide studies for heat-responsive sRNAs have been conducted in many plant species using high-throughput sequencing. The roles for these sRNAs in heat stress response were also unraveled subsequently in model plants and crops. Exploring how sRNAs regulate gene expression and their regulatory mechanisms will broaden our understanding of sRNAs in thermal stress responses of plant. Here, we highlight the roles of currently known miRNAs and siRNAs in heat stress responses and acclimation of plants. We also discuss the regulatory mechanisms of sRNAs and their targets that are responsive to heat stress, which will provide powerful molecular biological resources for engineering crops with improved thermotolerance.
Overexpression of NtCBL5A Leads to Necrotic Lesions by Enhancing Na+ Sensitivity of Tobacco Leaves Under Salt Stress
Authors: Mao Jingjing , Yuan Jiaping , Mo Zhijie , An Lulu , Shi Sujuan , Visser Richard G. F. , Bai Yuling , Sun Yuhe , Liu Guanshan , Liu Haobao , Wang Qian , van der Linden C. Gerard
Published: September 2021

Many tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cultivars are salt-tolerant and thus are potential model plants to study the mechanisms of salt stress tolerance. The CALCINEURIN B-LIKE PROTEIN (CBL) is a vital family of plant calcium sensor proteins that can transmit Ca2+ signals triggered by environmental stimuli including salt stress. Therefore, assessing the potential of NtCBL for genetic improvement of salt stress is valuable. In our studies on NtCBL members, constitutive overexpression of NtCBL5A was found to cause salt supersensitivity with necrotic lesions on leaves. NtCBL5A-overexpressing (OE) leaves tended to curl and accumulated high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under salt stress. The supersensitivity of NtCBL5A-OE leaves was specifically induced by Na+, but not by Cl−, osmotic stress, or drought stress. Ion content measurements indicated that NtCBL5A-OE leaves showed sensitivity to the Na+ accumulation levels that wild-type leaves could tolerate. Furthermore, transcriptome profiling showed that many immune response-related genes are significantly upregulated and photosynthetic machinery-related genes are significantly downregulated in salt-stressed NtCBL5A-OE leaves. In addition, the expression of several cation homeostasis-related genes was also affected in salt-stressed NtCBL5A-OE leaves. In conclusion, the constitutive overexpression of NtCBL5A interferes with the normal salt stress response of tobacco plants and leads to Na+-dependent leaf necrosis by enhancing the sensitivity of transgenic leaves to Na+. This Na+ sensitivity of NtCBL5A-OE leaves might result from the abnormal Na+ compartmentalization, plant photosynthesis, and plant immune response triggered by the constitutive overexpression of NtCBL5A. Identifying genes and pathways involved in this unusual salt stress response can provide new insights into the salt stress response of tobacco plants.
Disruptive Communication as a Means to Engage Children in Solving Environmental Challenges: A Case Study on Plastic Pollution
Authors: Löfström Erica , Richter Isabel , Nesvold Ine H.
Published: September 2021

Environmental degradation and how we care for our planet are some of the greatest challenges the world is up against at this moment. These challenges has received increased focus in both, research and the public sphere. So far, most of this attention revolved around adult’s attitudes and behavior. However, environmental engagement amongst the younger generation gains in popularity. Using plastic pollution as a case, this qualitative study aims to acquire insights into the mental models of children. We collected qualitative data during an innovative, structured workshop according to the “Nature In Your Face” (NIYF) framework. The approach challenges the assumption that the societal change can be achieved gradually, with non-invasive techniques. Instead, we explore the potential of disruption to push citizens out of their comfort zone, thereby making room for co-creation. The disruption was performed by confronting 36 fifth graders from a Norwegian primary school, with disturbing images of plastic contaminating their local shorelines. The data was obtained by using the workshop framework, combined with semi-structured group interviews. The interview data was analyzed by means of thematic analysis. We found that the disruptions triggered emotional reactions like anger and fear. With these emotions as a driving force, the first workshop step was introduced, the Framing of the problem. The next step, Twisting the problem, was reflected in the children developing their own, creative solutions and creatively engaged with them in groups. The last step, Using, was only touched upon in the workshop and is therefore beyond the scope of this paper. Our results indicate that there are three prominent themes reflecting how children discuss plastic pollution. The children talked about their (1) Emotions related to plastic pollution, (2) Attitudes related to plastic, and (3) Perceptions of plastic pollution. These themes were further subdivided into different types of emotions, characteristics of plastic as a material as well as perceptions on different locations of unnecessary plastic. Psychologically, the mechanisms underlying the identified themes were linked to eco-anxiety, denial, self-efficacy, and cognitive dissonance. We conclude that disruptive eco-visualization can create an emotional response amongst children, which can be transformed into co-creation of ideas.
Post-traumatic Growth in the First COVID Outbreak in Hong Kong
Authors: Lau Bobo Hi Po , Chan Cecilia Lai Wan , Ng Siu Man
Published: September 2021

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) emerges from highly stressful situations. The coronavirus (COVID) pandemic may qualify as one. This study investigated the PTG among Hong Kong citizens during the first outbreak in spring 2020, shortly after a large-scale social movement subsided. A longitudinal online survey was launched during the peak (Time 1) and the palliation (Time 2) of the outbreak. Among the 327 participants who completed both waves, 28.4% exhibited probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Time 1, while 18.0% reported significant PTG in at least one domain in Time 2. The interaction between the sense of coherence (SOC) and post-traumatic stress mediated the relationship between Time 1 perceived outbreak severity and Time 2 PTG, such that PTG was more likely among participants with higher post-traumatic stress and SOC. PTG was also associated with a weaker contingency between Time 1 and Time 2 perceived outbreak severity. Echoing the transformational model, our findings show that both experienced stress and coping resources are essential for PTG to emerge. We also demonstrated how PTG might lead to more flexible risk perceptions according to the development of the outbreak.
Competition Reduces Response Times in Multiparty Conversation
Authors: Holler Judith , Alday Phillip M. , Decuyper Caitlin , Geiger Mareike , Kendrick Kobin H. , Meyer Antje S.
Published: September 2021

Natural conversations are characterized by short transition times between turns. This holds in particular for multi-party conversations. The short turn transitions in everyday conversations contrast sharply with the much longer speech onset latencies observed in laboratory studies where speakers respond to spoken utterances. There are many factors that facilitate speech production in conversational compared to laboratory settings. Here we highlight one of them, the impact of competition for turns. In multi-party conversations, speakers often compete for turns. In quantitative corpus analyses of multi-party conversation, the fastest response determines the recorded turn transition time. In contrast, in dyadic conversations such competition for turns is much less likely to arise, and in laboratory experiments with individual participants it does not arise at all. Therefore, all responses tend to be recorded. Thus, competition for turns may reduce the recorded mean turn transition times in multi-party conversations for a simple statistical reason: slow responses are not included in the means. We report two studies illustrating this point. We first report the results of simulations showing how much the response times in a laboratory experiment would be reduced if, for each trial, instead of recording all responses, only the fastest responses of several participants responding independently on the trial were recorded. We then present results from a quantitative corpus analysis comparing turn transition times in dyadic and triadic conversations. There was no significant group size effect in question-response transition times, where the present speaker often selects the next one, thus reducing competition between speakers. But, as predicted, triads showed shorter turn transition times than dyads for the remaining turn transitions, where competition for the floor was more likely to arise. Together, these data show that turn transition times in conversation should be interpreted in the context of group size, turn transition type, and social setting.
Infants’ Selective Visual Attention Is Dependent on Maternal Affect and Emotional Context
Authors: Juvrud Joshua , Haas Sara A. , Fox Nathan A. , Gredebäck Gustaf
Published: September 2021

Development of selective attention during the first year of life is critical to cognitive and socio-emotional skills. It is also a period that the average child’s interactions with their mother dominate their social environment. This study examined how maternal negative affect and an emotion face prime (mother/stranger) jointly effect selective visual attention. Results from linear mixed-effects modeling showed that 9-month olds (N=70) were faster to find a visual search target after viewing a fearful face (regardless of familiarity) or their mother’s angry face. For mothers with high negative affect, infants’ attention was further impacted by fearful faces, resulting in faster search times. Face emotion interacted with mother’s negative affect, demonstrating a capacity to influence what infants attend in their environment.
Study Protocol of the Ten Years Up Project: Mapping the Development of Self-Regulation Strategies in Young Adults Over Time
Authors: Gillebaart Marleen , Brummelman Jantina , de Ridder Denise
Published: September 2021

Self-regulation is an important predictor of many outcomes relating to health and well-being. Research thus far has not systematically addressed the development of self-regulation strategies during young adulthood, but instead has focused on the predictive value of childhood self-regulation competence for outcomes later in life. The present study protocol describes the Ten Years Up (10YUP) project, a longitudinal cohort of young adults who will be followed for Ten years. By adopting a dynamic approach, we aim to examine how the nature and frequency of self-regulation strategies develop over time, document to what extent the use of strategies is affected by contextual and personal factors, and determine how these strategies affect health and well-being over the course of ten years. The 10YUP project employs a prospective longitudinal design to map the development of self-regulation strategies over time. A sample of 3,000 participants will be recruited by random selection from the general population of 16-year olds to retain a final sample of 1,000 participants after Ten years (accounting for an estimated drop-out rate of 10% each year). A mobile app will be used to collect data every 3 months. Self-regulation strategies will be assessed by means of the Goal Setting and Striving Inventory that asks participants to list their personal goals and then choose their most important goal to answer items about goal perception and strategy use. The resulting composite self-regulation index will be related to a wide range of contextual and personal factors that may act as either antecedents or consequences of self-regulation, depending on their specific time of assessment (either prior to or following self-regulation assessment) by means of cross-lagged panel analyses and other analyses allowing for establishing causal relationships over time. The 10YUP project is likely to generate novel insights into the development of self-regulation in young adulthood, how this development is affected by personal and contextual factors, and how these in turn may be influenced by how young people self-regulate—which is important for public policies aimed at guiding young people's choices and how they affect their health and well-being.
Natural Variability in Parent-Child Puzzle Play at Home
Authors: Pochinki Nicole , Reis Dakota , Casasola Marianella , Oakes Lisa M. , LoBue Vanessa
Published: September 2021

Here, we observed 3- to 4-year-old children (N=31) and their parents playing with puzzles at home during a zoom session to provide insight into the variability of the kinds of puzzles children have in their home, and the variability in how children and their parents play with spatial toys. We observed a large amount of variability in both children and parents’ behaviors, and in the puzzles they selected. Further, we found relations between parents’ and children’s behaviors. For example, parents provided more scaffolding behaviors for younger children and parents’ persistence-focused language was related to more child attempts after failure. Altogether, the present work shows how using methods of observing children at a distance, we can gain insight into the environment in which they are developing. The results are discussed in terms of how variability in spatial toys and spatial play during naturalistic interactions can help us contextualize the conclusions we draw from lab-based studies.
Practical Measures for Dealing With the Struggles of Nurses Caring for People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Comorbid With Cognitive Impairment in Japan
Authors: Ushikubo Mitsuko , Nashiki Emiko , Ohtani Tadahiro , Kawabata Hiromi
Published: September 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease for which there is currently no cure. This study aimed to explore the situations with which nurses struggled, their implemented practical measures, and the challenges they experienced when caring for patients with ALS comorbid with cognitive impairment (hereinafter, targeted patients). In this qualitative study, we conducted a survey with nurses (n= 121) experienced in caring for ALS patients; the survey contained a free-writing section in which participants described their struggles regarding care delivery for these patients. To collect data on practical measures that nurses had already implemented or wanted to propose regarding care delivery for the targeted patients, we conducted four focus group interviews (n= 22). We used a qualitative inductive approach to extract the categories. Fifty-eight nurses (49.6%) completed the free-writing survey section. The situations in which nurses struggled in care for the targeted patients were organized into three categories: “Patients’ strong persistency on specific requirements for nursing assistance in their daily lives,” “Patients’ problematic behaviors toward nurses,” and “Struggles in communicating with and understanding patients’ wishes.” Nurses reported these situations as stressful, and they affected care quality. The practical measures implemented when caring for the targeted patients were organized into five categories: “Cognitive impairment assessment,” “Care delivery to deal with patients’ strong persistency on specific requirements for assistance in their daily lives,” “Communication,” “Supporting the decision-making process,” and “Collaboration between the hospital and the community.” Multidisciplinary collaboration in the hospital, and collaboration between the hospital and the community from an early stage is necessary to share the results of the assessment and diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Our evidence underlines that guideline and care manual establishment may lead to improved care delivery and to the unification of care deliveries to respond to patients’ strong persistency.
The Role of Chinese EMI Teachers’ Clarity and Credibility in Fostering Students’ Academic Engagement and Willingness to Attend Classes
Authors: Zheng Jin
Published: September 2021

Given the fact that students’ absence and disengagement are among the major challenges that teachers experience in educational contexts, investigating factors contributing to students’ academic engagement and willingness to attend classes is of high importance. These challenges are more common in English as a medium of instruction (EMI) classes wherein students are usually not skilled enough to participate in academic tasks and activities. Accordingly, the present study probed into the role of Chinese EMI teachers’ clarity and credibility in fostering students’ academic engagement and willingness to attend classes. In doing so, the E-version of Teacher Clarity Short Inventory, Source Credibility Scale, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale for Students, and Willingness to Attend Classes Questionnaire was virtually distributed among 832 Chinese college students. Performing correlational analyses, strong associations were found between teachers’ clarity and credibility and students’ academic engagement and willingness to attend classes. To assess the power of Chinese EMI teachers’ clarity and credibility in predicting students’ academic engagement and willingness to attend classes, structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed. The results of SEM analysis illuminated that both teacher clarity and credibility are strong predictors of students’ academic engagement and willingness to attend classes. The implications of the findings are also discussed.
Life Events and Adaptive Coping Approaches to Self-Management From the Perspectives of Hospitalized Cardiovascular Patients: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Qiu Ruolin , Tang Leiwen , Wang Xiyi , Ye Zhihong
Published: September 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the association between hospitalized cardiovascular patients' life events and adaptive coping approaches to self-management.

Methods: The study was a qualitative study that was conducted in a cardiology department of one affiliated university hospital in Hangzhou, China. Twenty-eight participants with cardiovascular diseases were recruited through a purposive sampling procedure. Semi-structured interviews were used to gain insights into adaptive coping approaches to self-management when living with different life events. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed, and the data were analyzed by thematic analysis.

Results: Life events reported by hospitalized cardiovascular participants could be summarized in four categories: daily routines, life changes, life-threatening experiences, and emotional sufferings. The adaptive coping approaches were also summarized in four themes: decision-making, avoidance, consistent responses, and episodic responses.

Conclusion: This study described essential insights into the mutual influences between various life events and adaptive coping approaches to self-management by a group of hospitalized cardiovascular patients. Participants coped with their problems flexibly by processing comprehensive information from various and unpredictable life events regarding the situations and contexts. While inequity was cumulated, psychological resilience was a vital mediator between stressful events and their responses. The study illuminated the importance of understanding context, situations, and experiences on how cardiovascular patients adapted to their self-management regimens.
Is Elevated Neutrophil Count and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio a Cause or Consequence of Schizophrenia?—A Scoping Review
Authors: Sandberg Asbjørn Arnesen , Steen Vidar M. , Torsvik Anja
Published: September 2021

Background: Several studies have found an association between elevated neutrophil count or neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in peripheral blood from patients with schizophrenia. The etiology behind this effect is unknown, and it is unclear if changes in neutrophil count and NLR may be induced by antipsychotics or if these parameters relate to the diagnosis and symptoms of schizophrenia. The purpose of this scoping review was to map research that explores this association, and to identify gaps in the current knowledge base.

Method: The work was conducted in accordance with established methodological standards for scoping reviews. Studies on neutrophil count and NLR in schizophrenia were identified through search in relevant databases, and a parallel screening procedure was performed to ensure validity and reproducibility of the search. Articles that included different comparison groups, with differences in medication status (drug-naïve or drug-free vs. medicated), current disease state (relapse vs. remission), or treatment response, were included, as well as studies evaluating the association between symptomatology and neutrophil count or NLR.

Results: The available literature was limited with substantial differences in aims, methods, and outcomes. In total, 13 articles were included for the synthesis of this review. Some interesting trends were identified: Neutrophil count and NLR seem to be elevated in schizophrenia patients regardless of current or past use of antipsychotic therapy. Neutrophil count and NLR correlated significantly with positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Still, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to considerable methodological differences and weaknesses in the literature, particularly concerning the blood sampling procedure.

Conclusion: By including longitudinal studies and by comparing patient groups based on medication status, disease state and response, our study provides a basis for dissecting the associations between increased neutrophil count or NLR and a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Further research should investigate and quantify the apparent strong correlation between neutrophil count or NLR and positive symptoms in schizophrenia, to evaluate its clinical potential to guide diagnostics, treatment, or as a predictor of outcome. This review also exposes important methodological weaknesses in the literature on neutrophil count and NLR measurements. Standardization of blood sampling and processing is crucial to reduce bias, and factors that are known to influence leukocyte levels need to be accounted for.
Chronic Diseases and Labor Force Participation Among Presenile and Senile Chinese
Authors: Qiao Xiaotuo , Wang Bo , Guo Haifeng
Published: September 2021

Background: The incidence of chronic diseases has increased dramatically due to rapid aging and lifestyle changes of China in recent decades. The population aged more than 45 years is an important participant in the labor force market, and the health status directly affects their labor force participation decision. This study aims to explore the relationship between chronic diseases and the labor force participation among the elderly Chinese population aged more than 45 years.

Method: We employ a multivariate probit (MVP) model to construct five structural equations for an analysis. The advantage of this model is that it can deal with the endogeneity of chronic diseases.

Results: Firstly, compared with the elderly, younger people are more likely to participate in the labor force market; the influence of chronic diseases is the largest for presenile women in the decision-making of labor force participation; the impact of psychological problems on labor force participation cannot be ignored, especially for men aged more than 45 years. In addition, sociodemographic factors such as geographical location and marital status also have direct effects on the probability of labor force participation while the impact of both family wealth and family number is much smaller. Finally, unhealthy lifestyles through chronic diseases have negative and indirect marginal effects on labor force participation.

Conclusions: This article proves that chronic diseases have a negative impact on the labor force participation for Chinese aged more than 45 years. The public should give more tolerance and opportunities to these groups. The population aged more than 45 years are more vulnerable and face more psychological problems, which will lead to a decline in labor force participation. Psychological health counseling and services are urgently needed. As the urban areas enjoy more social welfare, Chinese welfare policy needs to be tilted toward the rural elderly. For individuals, maintaining healthy lifestyles can help you stay away from chronic diseases and stay in the labor force market.
Transcriptome Analysis of Effects of Folic Acid Supplement on Gene Expression in Liver of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Zhang Yujie , Zhang Ningbo , Liu Lin , Wang Yan , Xing Jinyi , Li Xiuling
Published: September 2021

Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin, and plays an important role in regulating gene expression and methylation. The liver is the major site of lipid biosynthesis in the chicken. Nevertheless, how gene expression and regulatory networks are affected by folic acid in liver of broilers are poorly understood. This paper conducted the RNA-seq technology on the liver of broilers under folic acid challenge investigation. First, 405 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 157 significantly upregulated and 248 downregulated, were detected between the control group (C) and the 5 mg folic acid group (M). Second, 68 upregulated DEGs and 142 downregulated DEGs were determined between C group and 10 mg folic acid group (H). Third, there were 165 upregulated genes and 179 downregulated genes between M and H groups. Of these DEGs, 903 DEGs were successfully annotated in the public databases. The functional classification based on GO and KEEGG showed that “general function prediction only” represented the largest functional classes, “cell cycle” (C vs. M; M vs. H), and “neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction” (C vs. H) were the highest unique sequences among three groups. SNP analysis indicated that numbers of C, M and H groups were 145,450, 146,131, and 123,004, respectively. Total new predicted alternative splicing events in C, M, and H groups were 9,521, 9,328, and 8,929, respectively. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and the top 10 hub genes were evaluated among three groups. The results of real time PCR indicated that mRNA abundance of PPARγ and FAS in abdominal fat of M and H groups were reduced compared with the C group (P < 0.05). Ultramicroscopy results showed that folic acid could reduce lipid droplets in livers from chickens. Finally, contents of LPL, PPARγ, and FAS in abdominal fat were decreased with the folic acid supplmented diets (P < 0.01). These findings reveal the effects of folic acid supplemention on gene expression in liver of broilers, which can provide information for understanding the molecular mechanisms of folic acid regulating liver lipid metabolism.
Initial Psychometric Testing and Validation of the Italian Version of the Canine Brief Pain Inventory in Dogs With Pain Related to Osteoarthritis
Authors: della Rocca Giorgia , Di Salvo Alessandra , Medori Cristina , della Valle Maria Federica , Cimino Brown Dottie
Published: September 2021

The Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) is an owner-administered questionnaire, originally developed and validated in English, used to assess canine chronic pain in terms of severity and interference with daily life activities. The aim of the present study was to perform a preliminary validation of an Italian version of the CBPI. Translation was performed and the resulting questionnaire was administered to 45 native Italian speaking owners of dogs suffering from chronic pain due to radiographically confirmed osteoarthritis. Psychometric properties of the Italian CBPI including construct validity, convergent validity and reliability were evaluated. Construct validity was assessed by factor analysis and confirmed a two-factor model (i.e., pain severity and interference factors). The respective scores, that is, the pain severity score (PSS) and pain interference score (PIS), exhibited a substantial negative correlation with overall quality of life score. Pain severity and interference items showed a mean inter-item correlation of 0.90 and 0.80, respectively. For each question, communality ranged from 0.84 to 0.97, highlighting strong internal consistency and suggesting that PSS and PIS can be calculated by averaging the items contained within each factor. Cronbach's α was 0.97 and 0.96 for PSS and PIS, respectively. The present findings confirmed the main psychometric properties of the Italian version of the CBPI, providing clinicians and researchers with a useful metrology instrument to evaluate the severity of chronic pain and its interference with daily life activities in dogs with osteoarthritis owned by Italian speaking people. Further properties of the questionnaire need to be evaluated in future research and larger studies are warranted.
Mosquito Saliva Modulates Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection in Domestic Pigs
Authors: Park So Lee , Huang Yan-Jang S. , Lyons Amy C. , Ayers Victoria B. , Hettenbach Susan M. , McVey D. Scott , Noronha Leela E. , Burton Kenneth R. , Hsu Wei-Wen , Higgs Stephen , Vanlandingham Dana L.
Published: September 2021

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is the leading cause of pediatric viral encephalitis in Asia. Japanese encephalitis virus is transmitted byCulexspecies mosquitoes that also vector several zoonotic flaviviruses. Despite the knowledge that mosquito saliva contains molecules that may alter flavivirus pathogenesis, whether or not the deposition of viruses by infected mosquitoes has an impact on the kinetics and severity of JEV infection has not been thoroughly examined, especially in mammalian species involved in the enzootic transmission. Most JEV pathogenesis models were established using needle inoculation. Mouse models for West Nile (WNV) and dengue (DENV) viruses have shown that mosquito saliva can potentiate flavivirus infections and exacerbate disease symptoms. In this study, we determined the impact of mosquito salivary components on the pathogenesis of JEV in pigs, a species directly involved in its transmission cycle as an amplifying host. Interestingly, co-injection of JEV and salivary gland extract (SGE) collected fromCulex quinquefasciatusproduced milder febrile illness and shortened duration of nasal shedding but had no demonstrable impact on viremia and neuroinvasion. Our findings highlight that mosquito salivary components can differentially modulate the outcomes of flavivirus infections in amplifying hosts and in mouse models.
Artificial Intelligence Risks and Challenges in the Spanish Public Administration: An Exploratory Analysis through Expert Judgements
Authors: Sobrino-García Itziar
Published: September 2021

The expanding use of artificial intelligence (AI) in public administration is generating numerous opportunities for governments. Current Spanish regulations have established electronic administration and support the expansion and implementation of this new technology, but they may not be adapted to the legal needs caused by AI. Consequently, this research aims to identify the risks associated with AI uses in Spanish public administration and if the legal mechanisms can solve them. We answer these questions by employing a qualitative research approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with several experts in the matter. Despite the benefits that this technology may involve, throughout this research we can confirm that the use of artificial intelligence can generate several problems such as opacity, legal uncertainty, biases, or breaches of personal data protection. The mechanisms already provided by Spanish law are not enough to avoid these risks as they have not been designed to face the use of artificial intelligence in public administration. In addition, a homogeneous legal definition of AI needs to be established.
Effects of Triazole Fungicides on Soil Microbiota and on the Activities of Enzymes Found in Soil: A Review
Authors: Roman Diana Larisa , Voiculescu Denisa Ioana , Filip Madalina , Ostafe Vasile , Isvoran Adriana
Published: September 2021

Triazole fungicides can manifest toxicity to a wide range of non-target organisms. Within this study we present a systematic review of the effects produced on the soil microbiota and activity of soil enzymes by the following triazole fungicides: cyproconazole, difenoconazole, epoxiconazole, flutriafol, hexaconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, paclobutrazole, propiconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimenol, triadimefon, and triticonazole. Known effects of the triazole fungicides on the soil activity are dose dependent. High doses of triazole fungicides strongly affects the structure of the microbial communities in soil and usually decrease the soil microbial population and the activities of enzymes found in soil.
Crop Establishment Methods and Integrated Nutrient Management Improve: Part I. Crop Performance, Water Productivity and Profitability of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the Lower Indo-Gangetic Plain, India
Authors: Midya Ashim , Saren Binoy Kumar , Dey Joy Kumar , Maitra Sagar , Praharaj Subhashisa , Gaikwad Dinkar Jagannath , Gaber Ahmed , Alsanie Walaa F. , Hossain Akbar
Published: September 2021

In the eastern part of India, rice as the most vital staple food crop supports as well the livelihood security of a vast population. Rice is mostly grown under conventional flooded culture without proper nutrient management. Crop performance, water productivity and economic profitability of rice cultivation need to be assessed under water-saving rice production methodologies with proper integrated plant nutrient management strategies using locally available low-cost nutrient sources. A field trial was conducted at the Adaptive Research Farm, Polba (58.57 m msl), Agriculture Department, West Bengal, India, during the rainy/wet seasons of 2014 and 2015 under aerobic culture, the system of rice intensification (SRI) and conventional flooded culture. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of integrated plant nutrition and water-saving rice production methodologies on the crop performance and water productivity of rice and analyse the economic profitability of rice under different nutritional management and crop production methods such as aerobic culture, conventional flooded and SRI with an objective of sustainability in rice cultivation in the agroclimatic region. The results revealed that crop productivity significantly (p ≤ 0.05) varied from 4.68 t ha−1 (average yield recorded under aerobic culture) to 6.21 t ha−1 (average yield as achieved under SRI). Cultivation of rice under aerobic and conventional culture resulted in 24.6% and 20.9% yield reduction respectively as compared to SRI. Integrating 75% of the recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through chemicals with 25% RDN from vermicompost resulted in maximum crop productivity irrespective of crop culture. Aerobic rice culture registered maximum water economy in terms of both irrigation water productivity and total productivity. The study concludes that, for maximization of economic profitability, value cost ratio and partial factor productivity of nutrients the SRI method can be adopted along with integrated nutrient management (75% of RDN through chemicals with 25% RDN from vermicompost) in the lower Indo-Gangetic Plain Zone (IGPZ) of West Bengal, India.