bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Changes in Leaf Biomass and the Modeling of Individual Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houz) under Intensive Management
Authors: Zhou Zhongsheng , Tang Yan , Xu Huaixing , Wang Juzhong , Hu Lulu , Xu Xiaojun
Published: April 2022

Accurate estimations of leaf biomass are required to quantify the amount of material and energy exchanged between vegetation and the atmosphere, to enhance the primary productivity of forest stands, and to assess the contributions of vegetation towards the mitigation of global climate change. The leaf biomass of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houz) changes dramatically during the year owing to changes in the leaves and the growth of new shoots. Furthermore, the relationship between the leaf biomass of Moso bamboo under cutting the top of the culm and the diameter at breast height (D) and culm height is decoupling, which increases the difficulty of estimating leaf biomass. Consequently, an effective method to accurately estimate the leaf biomass of Moso bamboo under cutting the top of the culm is required. In this study, leaf biomass and other factors (age, D, culm height, crown length, and crown width) were measured for 54 bamboo samples collected from December 2019 to December 2020. Models for predicting the leaf biomass of the Moso bamboo were established using multiple linear regression with two strategies, and their accuracies were evaluated using leave-one-out cross-validation. The results showed that crown length, crown width, and age were highly correlated with leaf biomass, and these were important factors when making estimations. Variation in monthly averaged leaf biomass is significant, with a decreasing trend from January to May and an increasing trend from June to December in off-years. The leaf biomass model that utilized data from the three leaf change periods had a better fit and accuracy, with R2 values of 0.583–0.848 and prediction errors between 8.59% and 24.19%. The model that utilized data for all months had a worse fit and accuracy, with an R2 value of 0.228 and prediction error of 46.79%. The results of this study provide reference data and technical support to help clarify the dynamic changes in Moso bamboo leaf biomass, and therefore, aid in the development of accurate simulations.
Characterizing Global Fire Regimes from Satellite-Derived Products
Authors: García Mariano , Pettinari M. Lucrecia , Chuvieco Emilio , Salas Javier , Mouillot Florent , Chen Wentao , Aguado Inmaculada
Published: April 2022

We identified four global fire regimes based on a k-means algorithm using five variables covering the spatial, temporal and magnitude dimensions of fires, derived from 19-year long satellite burned area and active fire products. Additionally, we assessed the relation of fire regimes to forest fuels distribution. The most extensive fire regime (35% of cells having fire activity) was characterized by a long fire season, medium size fire events, small burned area, high intensity and medium variability. The next most extensive fire regime (25.6%) presented a long fire season, large fire events and the highest mean burned area, yet it showed the lowest intensity and the least variability. The third group (22.07%) presented a short fire season, the lowest burned area, with medium-low intensity, the smallest fire patches and large variability. The fourth group (17.3%) showed the largest burned area with large fire patches of moderate intensity and low variability. Fire regimes and fuel types showed a statistically significant relation (CC = 0.58 and CC’ = 0.67, p < 0.001), with most fuel types sustaining all fire regimes, although a clear prevalence was observed in some fuel types. Further efforts should be directed towards the standardization of the variables in order to facilitate comparison, analysis and monitoring of fire regimes and evaluate whether fire regimes are effectively changing and the possible drivers.
The Influence of Age on the Wood Properties of Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud.
Authors: Esteves Bruno , Cruz-Lopes Luísa , Viana Hélder , Ferreira José , Domingos Idalina , Nunes Leonel J. R.
Published: April 2022

Forests in Portugal are highly dependent on a short number of wood species, and new species with higher profitability are needed. The Paulownia species has generated great interest due to its fast-growing and relatively good wood properties. However, environmental factors have shown that Paulownia grows differently in each case. This study intends to determine the properties of young Paulownia trees from Portuguese plantations to determine the best age to cut the trees according to their use. The chemical composition (extractives in dichloromethane, ethanol and water, lignin, α-cellulose, and hemicelluloses), heating value, elemental analysis (CHNO), inorganic elements and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), and the most important mechanical and physical properties (density, MOE, bending strength, water absorption equilibrium, moisture content, and dimensional changes) were determined for 1-, 3-, and 5-year-old trees. The results show that, chemically, the extractives increased while hemicelluloses decreased with age, and no trend was found for lignin and α-cellulose. The physical and mechanical properties increased with age, except for the MOE and bending strength. The 5-year-old samples presented the best features for pellet production, namely, calorific power, elemental composition CHNO and sulfur, and inorganic elements.
An Optimization Approach to Assess the Impact of Drying and Dry Matter Losses of Eucalyptus globulus Roundwood and Biomass on Supply Chains Costs and GHG Emissions
Authors: Acuna Mauricio , Sánchez-García Sandra , Canga Elena
Published: April 2022

In-forest drying of roundwood and biomass (residues) can result in more efficient transport operations from an economical and environmental perspective. On the negative side, in-forest drying may result in dry matter losses (DML), impacting the quantity and quality of residues delivered to energy plants. This paper investigated the impact of roundwood and residues in-forest drying and DML on supply chain costs and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. For the assessment, a short-term optimization planning tool was applied to a supply chain located in Asturias, Spain, consisting of fourteen supply points and two demand points: A pulp mill (demanding roundwood) and a power plant (demanding residues). Four scenarios were included in the analysis comprising different combinations of DML for roundwood and residues resulting from in-forest drying. Our results indicate that in scenarios that include in-forest drying and DML, the negative economic effects are offset by the substantial reductions in transport costs and GHG emissions. In-forest drying of roundwood and residues without DML can result in a 6.5% reduction in supply chain costs, 14.9% fewer truckloads to destination points, and 18.1% less fuel consumption and GHG emissions.
Reducing Nutrient Loss Caused by Thinning: Effects of Four Composts of Forest Thinning Shreds on Soil Nutrients and Tree Growth in Semimature Pinus tabuliformis Carr., Beijing, China
Authors: Li Xuan , Bo Huijuan , Zhu Jialei , Zhang Jiwei , Hu Jun , Mu Fuyong , Nie Lishui
Published: April 2022

Traditional methods to deal with thinning shreds (twigs, bark, etc.) include using them as fuelwood (artificially taken out of the forest) and stacking in situ natural decompositions (slow decomposition and nutrient return to the field). These methods will cause the loss of nutrients in the forest, and composting with additives can effectively promote nutrient circulation effectively. The purpose of our study was to explore the effects of composts of forest thinning shreds with different additives on soil and tree growth in semimature Pinus tabuliformis Carr. We selected four composts of forest thinning shreds (T1 adjustment of C/N and C/P + 0.2% priming; T2: adjustment of C/N and C/P + 0.2% common compost; T3: adjustment of C/N and C/P only; T4: raw material grinding of thinning shreds) and applied them in the volume of 900 g·m−2, which were made in the early stage. The soil nutrient content, microbial characteristics, and growing volume of Pinus tabuliformis were measured at 0.5, 1, and 1.5 years after fertilization. The soil became acid after one year of fertilization, having a great impact on the 0–20 cm soil layer. At 0.5 years of fertilization, the total nitrogen (TN) content of the soil with priming compost (T1) was 1.5 times higher than that of the control group (T5); the soil organic matter (SOM) was increased by 4.93–6.41 mg·kg−1. After one year of fertilization, the difference in the soil microbial carbon and nitrogen (MBC and MBN) content of each treatment decreased gradually. Soil sucrase activity was the highest after fertilization, and different composts had the greatest impact on urease activity in the 0–20 cm layer; the alkaline phosphatase (AKPase) activity of soil with common compost (T2) changed the most, and after 0.5 years of fertilization, the acid phosphatase (APase) activity of T1 in the two layers increased by 0.31 mg·g−1 and 0.1 mg·g−1, and the increase in of T2 was slightly lower than that of T1. There were significant differences in the number of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes compared to T1 and T2 with other treatments. T1 promoted the height growth (H) of trees three times higher than T5 and T2 promoted the growth of diameter at breast height (DBH) by 2.5 cm. The results showed that T1 and T2 had obvious effects on promoting soil nutrient content, microbial biomass accumulation, and forest growth, and the application of compost had no significant effect on promoting understory regeneration. The findings of this study show that using compost with priming can effectively increase the soil nutrient content, microbial activity, and quantity of Pinus tabuliformis effectively in terms of promoting the growth of trees and reducing the nutrient loss caused by thinning.
Enriching Artificial Intelligence Explanations with Knowledge Fragments
Authors: Rožanec Jože , Trajkova Elena , Novalija Inna , Zajec Patrik , Kenda Klemen , Fortuna Blaž , Mladenić Dunja
Published: April 2022

Artificial intelligence models are increasingly used in manufacturing to inform decision making. Responsible decision making requires accurate forecasts and an understanding of the models’ behavior. Furthermore, the insights into the models’ rationale can be enriched with domain knowledge. This research builds explanations considering feature rankings for a particular forecast, enriching them with media news entries, datasets’ metadata, and entries from the Google knowledge graph. We compare two approaches (embeddings-based and semantic-based) on a real-world use case regarding demand forecasting. The embeddings-based approach measures the similarity between relevant concepts and retrieved media news entries and datasets’ metadata based on the word movers’ distance between embeddings. The semantic-based approach recourses to wikification and measures the Jaccard distance instead. The semantic-based approach leads to more diverse entries when displaying media events and more precise and diverse results regarding recommended datasets. We conclude that the explanations provided can be further improved with information regarding the purpose of potential actions that can be taken to influence demand and to provide “what-if” analysis capabilities.
Blockchain Technology Applied in IoV Demand Response Management: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Kapassa Evgenia , Themistocleous Marinos
Published: April 2022

Energy management in the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) is becoming more prevalent as the usage of distributed Electric Vehicles (EV) grows. As a result, Demand Response (DR) management has been introduced to achieve efficient energy management in IoV. Through DR management, EV drivers are allowed to adjust their energy consumption and generation based on a variety of parameters, such as cost, driving patterns and driving routes. Nonetheless, research in IoV DR management is still in its early stages, and the implementation of DR schemes faces a number of significant hurdles. Blockchain is used to solve some of them (e.g., incentivization, privacy and security issues, lack of interoperability and high mobility). For instance, blockchain enables the introduction of safe, reliable and decentralized Peer-to-Peer (P2P) energy trading. The combination of blockchain and IoV is a new promising approach to further improve/overcome the aforementioned limitations. However, there is limited literature in Demand Response Management (DRM) schemes designed for IoV. Therefore, there is a need for a systematic literature review (SLR) to collect and critically analyze the existing relevant literature, in an attempt to highlight open issues. Thus, in this article, we conduct a SLR, investigating how blockchain technology assists the area of DRM in IoV. We contribute to the body of knowledge by offering a set of observations and research challenges on blockchain-based DRM in IoV. In doing so, we allow other researchers to focus their work on them, and further contribute to this area.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Differentially Expressed Genes Associated with Growth in Guangxi Partridge Chickens
Authors: Shao Minghui , Shi Kai , Zhao Qian , Duan Ying , Shen Yangyang , Tian Jinjie , He Kun , Li Dongfeng , Yu Minli , Lu Yangqing , Tang Yanfei , Feng Chungang
Published: April 2022

The Guangxi Partridge chicken is a well-known chicken breed in southern China with good meat quality, which has been bred as a meat breed to satisfy the increased demand of consumers. Compared with line D whose body weight is maintained at the average of the unselected group, the growth rate and weight of the selected chicken group (line S) increased significantly after breeding for four generations. Herein, transcriptome analysis was performed to identify pivotal genes and signal pathways of selective breeding that contributed to potential mechanisms of growth and development under artificial selection pressure. The average body weight of line S chickens was 1.724 kg at 90 d of age, which showed a significant increase at 90 d of age than line D chickens (1.509 kg), although only the internal organ ratios of lung and kidney changed after standardizing by body weight. The myofiber area and myofiber density of thigh muscles were affected by selection to a greater extent than that of breast muscle. We identified 51, 210, 31, 388, and 100 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hypothalamus, pituitary, breast muscle, thigh muscle, and liver between the two lines, respectively. Several key genes were identified in the hypothalamus-pituitary-muscle axis, such as FST, THSB, PTPRJ, CD36, PITX1, PITX2, AMPD1, PRKAB1, PRKAB2, and related genes for muscle development, which were attached to the cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction signaling pathway, the PPAR signaling pathway, and lipid metabolism. However, signaling molecular pathways and the cell community showed that elevated activity in the liver of line S fowl was mainly involved in focal adhesion, ECM-receptor interaction, cell adhesion molecules, and signal transduction. Collectively, muscle development, lipid metabolism, and several signaling pathways played crucial roles in the improving growth performance of Guangxi Partridge chickens under artificial selection for growth rate. These results support further study of the adaptation of birds under selective pressure.
Utility of Select Gene Mutation Detection in Tumors by the Idylla Rapid Multiplex PCR Platform in Comparison to Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Nkosi Dingani , Casler Vektra L. , Syposs Chauncey R. , Oltvai Zoltán N.
Published: April 2022

Testing of tumors by next generation sequencing (NGS) is impacted by relatively long turnaround times and a need for highly trained personnel. Recently, Idylla oncology assays were introduced to test for BRAF, EGFR, KRAS, and NRAS common hotspot mutations that do not require specialized trained personnel. Moreover, the interpretation of results is fully automated, with rapid turnaround time. Though Idylla testing and NGS have been shown to have high concordance in identifying EGFR, BRAF, KRAS, and NRAS hotspot mutations, there is limited experience on optimal ways the Idylla system can be used in routine practice. We retrospectively evaluated all cases with EGFR, BRAF, KRAS, or NRAS mutations identified in clinical specimens sequenced on two different NGS panels at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) molecular diagnostics laboratory between July 2020 and July 2021 and assessed if these mutations would be detected by the Idylla cartridges if used. We found that the Idylla system could accurately identify Tier 1 or 2 actionable genomic alterations in select associated disease pathologies if used. Yet, in a minority of cases, we would have been unable to detect NGS-identified pathogenic mutations due to their absence on the Idylla panels. We derived algorithmic practice guidelines for the use of the Idylla cartridges. Overall, Idylla molecular testing could be implemented either as a first-line standalone diagnostic tool in select indications or for orthogonal confirmation of uncertain results.
Bioinformatics Analysis of the Interaction of miRNAs and piRNAs with Human mRNA Genes Having di- and Trinucleotide Repeats
Authors: Belkozhayev Ayaz , Niyazova Raigul , Wilson Cornelia , Jainakbayev Nurlan , Pyrkova Anna , Ashirbekov Yeldar , Akimniyazova Aigul , Sharipov Kamalidin , Ivashchenko Anatoliy
Published: April 2022

The variability of nucleotide repeats is considered one of the causes of diseases, but their biological function is not understood. In recent years, the interaction of miRNAs and piRNAs with the mRNAs of genes responsible for developing neurodegenerative and oncological diseases and diabetes have been actively studied. We explored candidate genes with nucleotide repeats to predict associations with miRNAs and piRNAs. The parameters of miRNAs and piRNA binding sites with mRNAs of human genes having nucleotide repeats were determined using the MirTarget program. This program defines the start of the initiation of miRNA and piRNA binding to mRNAs, the localization of miRNA and piRNA binding sites in the 5′-untranslated region (5′UTR), coding sequence (CDS) and 3′-untranslated region (3′UTR); the free energy of binding; and the schemes of nucleotide interactions of miRNAs and piRNAs with mRNAs. The characteristics of miRNAs and piRNA binding sites with mRNAs of 73 human genes were determined. The 5′UTR, 3′UTR and CDS of the mRNAs of genes are involved in the development of neurodegenerative, oncological and diabetes diseases with GU, AC dinucleotide and CCG, CAG, GCC, CGG, CGC trinucleotide repeats. The associations of miRNAs, piRNAs and candidate target genes could be recommended for developing methods for diagnosing diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, oncological diseases and diabetes.
Molecular Background and Disease Prevalence of Biotinidase Deficiency in a Polish Population—Data Based on the National Newborn Screening Programme
Authors: Jezela-Stanek Aleksandra , Suchoń Lidia , Sobczyńska-Tomaszewska Agnieszka , Czerska Kamila , Kuśmierska Katarzyna , Taybert Joanna , Ołtarzewski Mariusz , Sykut-Cegielska Jolanta
Published: April 2022

Biotinidase deficiency (BD) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disease. Previously the disease was identified only by clinical signs and symptoms, and since recently, it has been included in newborn screening programs (NBS) worldwide, though not commonly. In Europe, BD prevalence varies highly among different countries, e.g., from 1:7 116 in Turkey to 1:75 842 in Switzerland. This paper aimed to present the molecular spectrum of BD (profound and partial forms) in Polish patients diagnosed within the national NBS of 1,071,463 newborns. The initial suspicion of BD was based on an abnormal biotinidase activity result determined in a dry blood spot (DBS) by colorimetric and by fluorimetric methods while biochemical verification was determined by serum biotinidase activity (as quantitative analysis). The final diagnosis of BD was established by serum enzyme activity and the BTD gene direct sequencing. The obtained results allowed for the estimation of disease prevalence (1:66,966 births, while 1:178,577 for profound and 1:107,146 for partial forms), and gave novel data on the molecular etiology of BD.
Development and Evaluation of Spatio-Temporal Air Pollution Exposure Models and Their Combinations in the Greater London Area, UK
Authors: Dimakopoulou Konstantina , Samoli Evangelia , Analitis Antonis , Schwartz Joel , Beevers Sean , Kitwiroon Nutthida , Beddows Andrew , Barratt Benjamin , Rodopoulou Sophia , Zafeiratou Sofia , Gulliver John , Katsouyanni Klea
Published: April 2022

Land use regression (LUR) and dispersion/chemical transport models (D/CTMs) are frequently applied to predict exposure to air pollution concentrations at a fine scale for use in epidemiological studies. Moreover, the use of satellite aerosol optical depth data has been a key predictor especially for particulate matter pollution and when studying large populations. Within the STEAM project we present a hybrid spatio-temporal modeling framework by (a) incorporating predictions from dispersion modeling of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter equal or less than 10 μm (PM10) and less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) into a spatio-temporal LUR model; and (b) combining the predictions LUR and dispersion modeling and additionally, only for PM2.5, from an ensemble machine learning approach using a generalized additive model (GAM). We used air pollution measurements from 2009 to 2013 from 62 fixed monitoring sites for O3, 115 for particles and up to 130 for NO2, obtained from the dense network in the Greater London Area, UK. We assessed all models following a 10-fold cross validation (10-fold CV) procedure. The hybrid models performed better compared to separate LUR models. Incorporation of the dispersion estimates in the LUR models as a predictor, improved the LUR model fit: CV-R2 increased to 0.76 from 0.71 for NO2, to 0.79 from 0.57 for PM10, to 0.81 to 0.66 for PM2.5 and to 0.75 from 0.62 for O3. The CV-R2 obtained from the hybrid GAM framework was also increased compared to separate LUR models (CV-R2 = 0.80 for NO2, 0.76 for PM10, 0.79 for PM2.5 and 0.75 for O3). Our study supports the combined use of different air pollution exposure assessment methods in a single modeling framework to improve the accuracy of spatio-temporal predictions for subsequent use in epidemiological studies.
Fit (and Healthy) for Duty: Blood Lipid Profiles and Physical Fitness Test Relationships from Police Officers in a Health and Wellness Program
Authors: Lockie Robert G. , Orr Robin M. , Dawes J. Jay
Published: April 2022

This research analyzed archival health and wellness program data (2018: 169 males, 39 females; 2019: 194 males, 43 females) to document police officer lipid profiles, and correlate lipids with fitness. Bloodwork included total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C), high-density lipoproteins (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG). Fitness data included maximal aerobic capacity (V·O2max); sit-and-reach; push-ups; vertical jump; grip strength; sit-ups; and relative bench press (RBP). Lipid profiles were compared to national standards. Spearman’s correlations derived relationships between lipids and fitness (p < 0.05). Over 2018–2019, 68–76% of officers had desirable TC (<200 mg/dL) and HDL-C (≥60 mg/dL); 67–72% had desirable TG (<150 mg/dL). 54–62% of officers had LDL-C above desirable (≥100 mg/dL); 13–14% had mildly high TG (150–199 mg/dL); 16–18% had high TG (200–499 mg/dL). In 2018, HDL-C correlated with V·O2max, push-ups, grip strength, and RBP in males, and sit-ups in females. TG correlated with V·O2max (both sexes), sit-ups (males), and grip strength (females). In 2019, TG related to V·O2max, push-ups, vertical jump, sit-ups, and RBP in males. TG and LDL-C related to push-ups, and HDL-C to sit-ups and RBP in females. Relationship strengths were trivial-to-small (ρ = ±0.157 − 0.389). Most officers had good lipid profiles relative to cardiovascular disease risk. Nonetheless, the data highlighted the need for comprehensive approaches to decreasing risk.
Effect of Job Stress on Burnout among Nurses Responding to COVID-19: The Mediating Effect of Resilience
Authors: Cha Yoon Jung , Lee Kang-Sook , Cho Jeong Hee , Choi Ik Soon , Lee Dahyeon
Published: April 2022

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship of job stress, burnout, and resilience of 271 nurses who worked alternately at a university hospital in South Korea Province and a state-designated inpatient ward for COVID-19 in Korea. Methods: The study sample included nurses who worked at a university hospital in South Korea, during the period between February 2020 and May 2021. The participants (n = 271) responded to an online survey between April 2021 and 12 May 2021. The questionnaire included information related to job stress, burn out, and resilience. Results: In phase 1 of regression, job stress had a significant negative effect on resilience of recovery (β = −0.397, p < 0.001). In phase 2, job stress had a significant positive effect on burnout (β = 0.513, p < 0.001). In phase 3, resilience had a significant negative effect on burnout (β = −0.459, p < 0.001). Seventy-five percent of burnout was directly associated with job stress, while 25% of burnout was indirectly associated through mediated effects, through resilience. Conclusions: The promotion of resilience would not only serve as the basis for active coping in situations where burnout and stress are severe, but also serve as a basic driving force for actively overcoming them. Further study to cope with stress and reduce burnout at the organizational level should be conducted.
The Effects of Horticultural Therapy on Sense of Coherence among Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities: A Quasi Experimental Design
Authors: Jueng Ruo-Nan , Chen I-Ju
Published: April 2022

Promoting positive mental health is crucial for the elderly living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). This study aims to examine the effectiveness of horticultural therapy on the level of sense of coherence (SOC) among older LTCF residents with relatively normal mental function. With convenient sampling, a total of 86 participants were recruited from 12 LTCFs in northeastern Taiwan. In the experimental group (n = 49), the mean (±standard deviation) score of SOC was 50.45 ± 6.07 at baseline and increased to 56.37 ± 7.20 (p < 0.001) after 12-week horticultural intervention. In contrast, the mean SOC score did not change significantly in the control group (n = 37) during the study period. Generalized estimating equation analysis showed that a significant interaction effect between group and time on the SOC score (p < 0.001). Our findings indicate that horticultural therapy is effective to strengthen the SOC level of older LTCF residents without dementia.
Impact of Fortified Infant Cereals on the Burden of Iron Deficiency Anemia in 6- to 23-Month-Old Indonesian Infants and Young Children: A Health Economic Simulation Model
Authors: Prieto-Patron Alberto , Detzel Patrick , Ramayulis Rita , Sudikno  , Irene  , Wibowo Yulianti
Published: April 2022

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are highly prevalent among Indonesian infants and young children (IYC). Severe IDA hampers mental development in young children and is linked to lower quality of life and lower productivity as adults. The consumption of fortified infant cereals (FIC) increases iron intake during the weaning period, thus reducing the social burden of IDA. In this manuscript, we aimed to assess the impact of FIC on the burden of IDA on IYC in Indonesia. We analyzed data for IYC aged 6–23 months from the fifth wave (2014–2015) of the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS) and the Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey 2017 (IDHS-17). We adapted a health economic simulation model to estimate the impact of FIC that accounted for lifetime health and cost consequences in terms of reduced future income and DALYs. The mean Hb level was 10.5 ± 1.4 g/dL. Consumers of FIC had a reduced burden of disease (43,000 DALYs; USD 171 million) compared with non-consumers. The consumption of fortified infant cereals plays an important role in reducing the burden of IDA, and it might complement the available strategy of nutritional interventions to address this problem in Indonesian IYC.
Relationship between Aspiration Pneumonia and Feeding Care among Home Care Patients with an In-Dwelling Nasogastric Tube in Taiwan: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Hsiao Szu-Yu , Yao Ching-Teng , Lin Yi-Ting , Huang Shun-Te , Chiou Chi-Chen , Huang Ching-Yu , Huang Shan-Shan , Yen Cheng-Wei , Liu Hsiu-Yueh
Published: April 2022

Home care patients have swallowing dysfunction and rely on an in-dwelling nasogastric tube (NGT) to complement oral food intake, supplement their diet, and maintain adequate nutritional status. This study explored the relationship between aspiration pneumonia (AP) and feeding care among home care patients with an in-dwelling NGT. This preliminary study employed a cross-sectional design. There were 35 patients who relied on an in-dwelling NGT to complement their oral intake of food (NGT-oral feeding) and their primary caregivers participated in this study. All of them developed AP in the past year. Factors involving food intake performance during mealtime of the home care patients and feeding care provided by the caregivers were simultaneously observed and recorded. Among the six risk factors univariately correlated with the incidence of AP, feeding in a noisy environment, using a large spoon to feed the participants, more than 5 mL of food per mouthful, food intake duration lasting > 30 min, swallowing twice for each mouthful of food, and coughing at least once every day remained significant in the logistic regression model (all p < 0.05). Four risk factors for AP were correlated with feeding care; the adjusted risk ratio ranged from 6.17 to 14.96 (all p < 0.05). In addition to each individual’s food intake ability, improper feeding assistance was related to the risk factors for AP among home care patients with NGT-oral feeding. Thus, home caregivers should receive safe oral feeding education and training.
Development and Psychometric Properties of the Health Belief Scales toward COVID-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study in North-Eastern Poland
Authors: Konaszewski Karol , Muszyńska Jolanta , Skalski Sebastian Binyamin , Surzykiewicz Janusz
Published: April 2022

In the study, we evaluated the psychometric properties of the Health Belief Scales Toward COVID-19 Vaccine, including the structure, reliability and validity of the scale. Psychometric properties were assessed on a general sample of 472 Polish participants aged between 19 and 69 years (M = 25.43). The procedure consisted of completing the Health Belief Scales Toward COVID-19 Vaccine, the World Health Organization’s 5-item Well-being Index (WHO-5) and demographic questions. The presented research results obtained using the measure indicate that it can be considered to be a reliable and valid research tool. A four-factor solution demonstrated a good fit to the data: χ2/df = 3.90, RMSEA = 0.079, AGFI = 0.913, GFI = 0.951, CFI = 0.960, TLI = 0.941. The reliability measures for the overall index of the Health Belief Scales Toward COVID-19 Vaccine were: Cronbach’s α = 0.88 and McDonald’s ω = 0.87. The Health Belief Scales Toward COVID-19 Vaccine total score correlated negatively and weakly with the WHO-5 score. The Health Belief Scales Toward COVID-19 Vaccine proved to be a valid and a reliable tool to assess attitudes towards vaccination in four dimensions consistent with the HBM.
Atrial Fibrillation’s Influence on Short Sleep Duration Increases the Risk of Fatness in Management Executives
Authors: Wang Richard S. , Huang Shi-Hao , Sun Chien-An , Lin I-Long , Wang Bing-Long , Huang Yao-Ching , Chien Wu-Chien
Published: April 2022

This study explored whether atrial fibrillation (AF)’s influence on short sleep duration (SD) increases the subsequent risk of fatness in management executives. This study included 25,953 healthy individuals working as management executives with ages ranging from 35 to 65 years (19,100 men and 6853 women) who participated in a qualifying physical filter program from 2006 to 2017 in Taiwan. Men and women who slept < 4 h had a 4.35-fold and 5.26-fold higher risk of developing AF than those who slept 7–8 h normally. Men and women who slept < 4 h had a 6.44-fold and 9.62-fold higher risk of fatness than those who slept 7–8 h. Men and women with AF had a 4.52-fold and 6.25-fold higher risk of fatness than those without AF. It showed that AF induced by short SD increases the risk of fatness. A short SD can predict an increased risk of fatness among management executives in Taiwan.
Inactivation of E. coli, S. aureus, and Bacteriophages in Biofilms by Humidified Air Plasma
Authors: Liu Xinni , Wang Zhishang , Li Jiaxin , Wang Yiming , Sun Yuan , Dou Di , Liang Xinlei , Wu Jiang , Wang Lili , Xu Yongping , Liu Dongping
Published: April 2022

In this study, humidified air dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma was used to inactivate Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and bacteriophages in biofilms containing DNA, NaCl, carbohydrates, and proteins. The humidified DBD plasma was very effective in the inactivation of microbes in the (≤1.0 μm) biofilms. The number of surviving E. coli, S. aureus, and bacteriophages in the biofilms was strongly dependent on the constituent and thickness of the biofilms and was greatly reduced when the plasma treatment time increased from 5 s to 150 s. Our analysis shows that the UV irradiation was not responsible for the inactivation of microbes in biofilms. The short-lived RONS generated in the humidified air DBD plasma were not directly involved in the inactivation process; however, they recombined or reacted with other species to generate the long-lived RONS. Long-lived RONS diffused into the biofilms to generate very active species, such as ONOOH and OH. This study indicates that the geminated NO2 and OH pair formed due to the homolysis of ONOOH can cause the synergistic oxidation of various organic molecules in the aqueous solution. Proteins in the biofilm were highly resistant to the inactivation of microbes in biofilms, which is presumably due to the existence of the unstable functional groups in the proteins. The unsaturated fatty acids, cysteine-rich proteins, and sulfur–methyl thioether groups in the proteins were easily oxidized by the geminated NO2 and OH pair.
Strawberry FaSnRK1α Regulates Anaerobic Respiratory Metabolism under Waterlogging
Authors: Luo Jingjing , Yu Wenying , Xiao Yuansong , Zhang Yafei , Peng Futian
Published: April 2022

Sucrose nonfermenting-1-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) is a central integrator of plant stress and energy starvation signalling pathways. We found that the FaSnRK1α-overexpression (OE) roots had a higher respiratory rate and tolerance to waterlogging than the FaSnRK1α-RNAi roots, suggesting that FaSnRK1α plays a positive role in the regulation of anaerobic respiration under waterlogging. FaSnRK1α upregulated the activity of anaerobic respiration-related enzymes including hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK), pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). FaSnRK1α also enhanced the ability to quench reactive oxygen species (ROS) by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities. We sequenced the transcriptomes of the roots of both wild-type (WT) and FaSnRK1α-RNAi plants, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were clearly enriched in the defence response, response to biotic stimuli, and cellular carbohydrate metabolic process. In addition, 42 genes involved in glycolysis and 30 genes involved in pyruvate metabolism were significantly regulated in FaSnRK1α-RNAi roots. We analysed the transcript levels of two anoxia-related genes and three ERFVIIs, and the results showed that FaADH1, FaPDC1, FaHRE2 and FaRAP2.12 were upregulated in response to FaSnRK1α, indicating that FaSnRK1α may be involved in the ethylene signalling pathway to improve waterlogging tolerance. In conclusion, FaSnRK1α increases the expression of ERFVIIs and further activates anoxia response genes, thereby enhancing anaerobic respiration metabolism in response to low-oxygen conditions during waterlogging.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Applied to Human Peripheral Fluids to Assess Potential Biomarkers of Schizophrenia
Authors: Rodrigues João E. , Martinho Ana , Santa Catia , Madeira Nuno , Coroa Manuel , Santos Vítor , Martins Maria J. , Pato Carlos N. , Macedo Antonio , Manadas Bruno
Published: April 2022

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based techniques can be a powerful tool to identify neuropsychiatric disorder biomarkers, improving prediction and diagnosis ability. Here, we evaluate the efficacy of MS proteomics applied to human peripheral fluids of schizophrenia (SCZ) patients to identify disease biomarkers and relevant networks of biological pathways. Following PRISMA guidelines, a search was performed for studies that used MS proteomics approaches to identify proteomic differences between SCZ patients and healthy control groups (PROSPERO database: CRD42021274183). Nineteen articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria, allowing the identification of 217 differentially expressed proteins. Gene ontology analysis identified lipid metabolism, complement and coagulation cascades, and immune response as the main enriched biological pathways. Meta-analysis results suggest the upregulation of FCN3 and downregulation of APO1, APOA2, APOC1, and APOC3 in SCZ patients. Despite the proven ability of MS proteomics to characterize SCZ, several confounding factors contribute to the heterogeneity of the findings. In the future, we encourage the scientific community to perform studies with more extensive sampling and validation cohorts, integrating omics with bioinformatics tools to provide additional comprehension of differentially expressed proteins. The produced information could harbor potential proteomic biomarkers of SCZ, contributing to individualized prognosis and stratification strategies, besides aiding in the differential diagnosis.
Targeting CD10 on B-Cell Leukemia Using the Universal CAR T-Cell Platform (UniCAR)
Authors: Mitwasi Nicola , Arndt Claudia , Loureiro Liliana R. , Kegler Alexandra , Fasslrinner Frederick , Berndt Nicole , Bergmann Ralf , Hořejší Vaclav , Rössig Claudia , Bachmann Michael , Feldmann Anja
Published: April 2022

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing T-cells are without a doubt a breakthrough therapy for hematological malignancies. Despite their success, clinical experience has revealed several challenges, which include relapse after targeting single antigens such as CD19 in the case of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), and the occurrence of side effects that could be severe in some cases. Therefore, it became clear that improved safety approaches, and targeting multiple antigens, should be considered to further improve CAR T-cell therapy for B-ALL. In this paper, we address both issues by investigating the use of CD10 as a therapeutic target for B-ALL with our switchable UniCAR system. The UniCAR platform is a modular platform that depends on the presence of two elements to function. These include UniCAR T-cells and the target modules (TMs), which cross-link the T-cells to their respective targets on tumor cells. The TMs function as keys that control the switchability of UniCAR T-cells. Here, we demonstrate that UniCAR T-cells, armed with anti-CD10 TM, can efficiently kill B-ALL cell lines, as well as patient-derived B-ALL blasts, thereby highlighting the exciting possibility for using CD10 as an emerging therapeutic target for B-cell malignancies.
Characterization of the Wave Phenomenon in Flash-Induced Fluorescence Relaxation and Its Application to Study Cyclic Electron Pathways in Microalgae
Authors: Patil Priyanka Pradeep , Vass Imre , Szabó Milán
Published: April 2022

Photosynthesis is a series of redox reactions, in which several electron transport processes operate to provide the energetic balance of light harvesting. In addition to linear electron flow, which ensures the basic functions of photosynthetic productivity and carbon fixation, alternative electron transport pathways operate, such as the cyclic electron flow (CEF), which play a role in the fine tuning of photosynthesis and balancing the ATP/NADPH ratio under stress conditions. In this work, we characterized the electron transport processes in microalgae species that have high relevance in applied research and industry (e.g., Chlorella sorokiniana, Haematococcus pluvialis, Dunaliella salina, Nannochloropsis sp.) by using flash-induced fluorescence relaxation kinetics. We found that a wave phenomenon appeared in the fluorescence relaxation profiles of microalgae to different extents; it was remarkable in the red cells of H. pluvialis, D. salina and C. sorokiniana, but it was absent in green cells of H. pluvialis and N. limnetica. Furthermore, in microalgae, unlike in cyanobacteria, the appearance of the wave required the partial decrease in the activity of Photosystem II, because the relatively high Photosystem II/Photosystem I ratio in microalgae prevented the enhanced oxidation of the plastoquinone pool. The wave phenomenon was shown to be related to the antimycin A-sensitive pathway of CEF in C. sorokiniana but not in other species. Therefore, the fluorescence wave phenomenon appears to be a species-specific indicator of the redox reactions of the plastoquinone pool and certain pathways of cyclic electron flow.
Probing the Immune System Dynamics of the COVID-19 Disease for Vaccine Designing and Drug Repurposing Using Bioinformatics Tools
Authors: Yadav Deepshikha , Agarwal Shriya , Pancham Pranav , Jindal Divya , Agarwal Vinayak , Dubey Premshankar Kumar , Jha Saurabh K. , Mani Shalini , Rachana  , Dey Abhijit , Jha Niraj Kumar , Kesari Kavindra Kumar , Singh Manisha
Published: April 2022

The pathogenesis of COVID-19 is complicated by immune dysfunction. The impact of immune-based therapy in COVID-19 patients has been well documented, with some notable studies on the use of anti-cytokine medicines. However, the complexity of disease phenotypes, patient heterogeneity and the varying quality of evidence from immunotherapy studies provide problems in clinical decision-making. This review seeks to aid therapeutic decision-making by giving an overview of the immunological responses against COVID-19 disease that may contribute to the severity of the disease. We have extensively discussed theranostic methods for COVID-19 detection. With advancements in technology, bioinformatics has taken studies to a higher level. The paper also discusses the application of bioinformatics and machine learning tools for the diagnosis, vaccine design and drug repurposing against SARS-CoV-2.
Molecular and Functional Characterization of Peptidoglycan Recognition Proteins OfPGRP-A and OfPGRP-B in Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)
Authors: Wang Zengxia , Zhou Wan , Huang Baohong , Gao Mengyuan , Li Qianqian , Tao Yidong , Wang Zhenying
Published: April 2022

Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are important components of insect immune systems, in which they play key roles. We cloned and sequenced two full-length PGRP, named OfPGRP-A and OfPGRP-B, from the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis. These two genes comprise open reading frames of 658 and 759 bp, encoding proteins of 192 and 218 amino acids, respectively. qPCR showed that OfPGRP-A and OfPGRP-B are prominently expressed in the midgut of O. furnacalis fourth instar larvae. After inoculation with Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus thuringiensis, the expression of OfPGRP-A was significantly upregulated, whereas the expression of OfPGRP-B was enhanced after inoculation with Escherichia coli. This suggests that OfPGRP-A mainly recognizes Gram-positive bacteria and may participate in the Toll signaling pathways, while OfPGRP-B identifies Gram-negative bacteria and may participate in Imd signaling pathways. Our results provide insights into the roles of PGRPs in O. furnacalis immune function and a foundation for using pathogens for the biological control of O. furnacalis.
Acute Effects of Sedentary Behavior on Ankle Torque Assessed with a Custom-Made Electronic Dynamometer
Authors: Dragoi Iulia Iovanca , Popescu Florina Georgeta , Petrita Teodor , Alexa Florin , Barac Sorin , Bondor Cosmina Ioana , Pauncu Elena-Ana , Bowling Frank L. , Reeves Neil D. , Ionac Mihai
Published: April 2022

Inactivity negatively influences general health, and sedentary behaviour is known to impact the musculoskeletal system. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of time spent in active and sedentary behaviour on foot muscle strength. In this observational study, we compared the acute effects of one day of prolonged sitting and one day of low-to-moderate level of activity on ankle torque in one group of eight healthy participants. Peak ankle torque was measured using a portable custom-made electronic dynamometer. Three consecutive maximal voluntary isometric contractions for bilateral plantar flexor and dorsiflexor muscles were captured at different moments in time. The average peak torque significant statistically decreased at 6 h (p = 0.019) in both static and active behaviours, with a higher average peak torque in the active behaviour (p < 0.001). Age, gender, body mass index and average steps did not have any significant influence on the average value of maximal voluntary isometric contraction. The more time participants maintained either static or active behaviour, the less force was observed during ankle torque testation. The static behaviour represented by the sitting position was associated with a higher reduction in the average peak ankle torque during a maximal voluntary isometric contraction when compared to the active behaviour.
Abnormal Dorsal Caudate Activation Mediated Impaired Cognitive Flexibility in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Xu Hui , Zhang Xiuping , Bai Guanghui
Published: April 2022

Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an important but less recognized public health concern. Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with mTBI have impaired executive function, which disrupts the performance of daily activities. Few studies have investigated neural mechanisms of cognitive flexibility in mTBI patients using objective tools such as the psychological experiment paradigm. Here, we aimed to examine neural correlates of cognitive flexibility in mTBI. Methods: Sixteen mTBI patients and seventeen matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent functional MRI during a rule-based task-switching experimental paradigm. Linear models were used to obtain within-group activation maps and areas of differential activation between the groups. In addition, we conducted mediation analyses to evaluate the indirect effect of abnormal dorsal caudate activation on the association between information processing speed and cognitive flexibility in mTBI. Results: mTBI patients exhibited significantly longer reaction time in the task switching (TS) condition compared to HCs, reflecting impaired cognitive flexibility. In addition, the patients showed reduced activation in the dorsal caudate (dCau), anterior cingulate cortex, and other frontal regions during the TS condition. Mediation analysis revealed that the reduced dCau activation had a significant effect on the relationship between information processing speed and cognitive flexibility in mTBI. Conclusions: Abnormal dorsal caudate activation in mTBI mediates impaired cognitive flexibility, which indicated dorsal caudate might be playing a vital role in the cognitive flexibility of mTBI patients. These findings highlight an alternative target for clinical interventions for the improvement of cognitive functions in mTBI.