bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Target-aware transformer tracking with hard occlusion instance generation
Authors: Xiao Dingkun , Wei Zhenzhong , Zhang Guangjun
Published: January 2024

Visual tracking is a crucial task in computer vision that has been applied in diverse fields. Recently, transformer architecture has been widely applied in visual tracking and has become a mainstream framework instead of the Siamese structure. Although transformer-based trackers have demonstrated remarkable accuracy in general circumstances, their performance in occluded scenes remains unsatisfactory. This is primarily due to their inability to recognize incomplete target appearance information when the target is occluded. To address this issue, we propose a novel transformer tracking approach referred to as TATT, which integrates a target-aware transformer network and a hard occlusion instance generation module. The target-aware transformer network utilizes an encoder-decoder structure to facilitate interaction between template and search features, extracting target information in the template feature to enhance the unoccluded parts of the target in the search features. It can directly predict the boundary between the target region and the background to generate tracking results. The hard occlusion instance generation module employs multiple image similarity calculation methods to select an image pitch in video sequences that is most similar to the target and generate an occlusion instance mimicking real scenes without adding an extra network. Experiments on five benchmarks, including LaSOT, TrackingNet, Got10k, OTB100, and UAV123, demonstrate that our tracker achieves promising performance while running at approximately 41 fps on GPU. Specifically, our tracker achieves the highest AUC scores of 65.5 and 61.2% in partial and full occlusion evaluations on LaSOT, respectively.
Impact of ferroptosis-related risk genes on macrophage M1/M2 polarization and prognosis in glioblastoma
Authors: Xu Xin , Zhang Yue , Liao Chenlong , Zhou Han , Wu Yiwei , Zhang Wenchuan
Published: January 2024

Objective

To explore the effect impact of ferroptosis on macrophage polarization and patient prognosis in glioblastoma.

Methods

We screened ferroptosis-related risk from the public datasets of primary and recurrent glioblastoma, combined with reported ferroptosis genes, calculated the risk genes among the ferroptosis-related genes using the LASSO Cox regression model, and investigated the relationship between these ferroptosis-related risk genes in the tumor and the spectrum of infiltrating M1/M2 macrophages. Macrophages were analyzed using the CIBERSORTx deconvolution algorithm. Samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) and a single-cell RNA sequencing dataset (GSE84465) were included. The expression levels of ferroptosis-related risk genes and molecular markers of M1 and M2 macrophages were detected by qPCR and western blot.

Results

A total of fourteen ferroptosis-related risk genes were obtained and the patients’ risk scores were calculated. Compared with patients in the low-risk group, patients in the high-risk group had worse prognosis. The M1/M2 macrophage ratio and risk score were negatively correlated, indicating that the tumor microenvironment of glioblastoma in the high-risk group contained more M2 than M1 macrophages. In the single-cell RNA sequencing dataset, the risk score of ferroptosis-related genes in tumor cells was positively correlated with the proportion of high M2 macrophages. The expression of eight ferroptosis-related risk genes was increased in glioblastoma cell, which promoted the polarization of M1 macrophages to M2.

Conclusion

We investigated the fourteen ferroptosis-related risk genes in glioblastoma for the first time, and clarified the impact of ferroptosis-related risk genes on M1/M2 macrophage polarization and patient prognosis.
Influenza vaccine effect on risk of stroke occurrence: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zahhar Jalal A. , Salamatullah Hassan K. , Almutairi Maher B. , Faidah Dania E. , Afif Lena M. , Banjar Toka A. , Alansari Nayef , Betar Manar , Alghamdi Saeed , Makkawi Seraj
Published: January 2024

Background

Stroke is a significant global cause of mortality and long-term disability, potentially influenced by infections that heighten systemic inflammation and thrombotic events. The full impact of influenza vaccination on stroke remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between influenza immunization and stroke incidence.

Methods

We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), case–control, and cohort studies published in PubMed/Medline, Cochrane-Central-Register-of-Controlled-Trials (CENTRAL), and Embase until 5 December 2022, and identified articles investigating the effect of influenza vaccine on stroke occurrence. All articles were screened by two independent reviewers. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the risk of stroke occurrence in vaccinated vs. unvaccinated individuals. The random-effects model was used in all statistical analyses.

Results

Among the 26 articles meeting our criteria, 10 were retrospective cohort studies, 9 were case–control studies, 3 were prospective cohort studies, 3 were RCTs and 1 case-series. Overall, the studies showed a significant decrease in the risk of stroke incidence/hospitalization among vaccinated patients (OR = 0.81, 95% CI [0.77–0.86], p = 0.00001). Furthermore, studies showed flu vaccine decreases the occurrence of mortality among stroke patients (OR = 0.50, 95% CI [0.37–0.68], p = 0.00001). Sub-group analysis revealed significant protective effect for patients with specific comorbidities including atrial fibrillation (OR = 0.68, 95% CI [0.57–0.81], p = 0.0001), diabetes (OR = 0.76, 95% CI [0.66–0.87], p = 0.0001), Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 0.70, 95% CI [0.61–0.81], p = 0.00001), and hypertension (OR = 0.76, 95% CI [0.70–83], p = 0.00001).

Conclusion

The current meta-analysis further supports prior findings that influenza vaccination reduces stroke risk, particularly in patients with comorbidities. Guidelines should promote vaccination for at-risk individuals.
Influence of monaural auditory stimulation combined with music on brain activity
Authors: Chang Ming , Tanaka Kenta , Naruse Yasushi , Imamura Yasuhiko , Fujii Shinya
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Recently, the increasing attention to mental states and psychophysical health has fueled the research into methods that can aid in relaxation and recovery. Traditional methods like meditation and sauna, while effective, have their limitations; thus, the need for more accessible and convenient alternatives.

Methods

Our innovative approach combines monaural beats with music, attempting to replicate the relaxing effects of a sauna in the auditory domain.

Results

In comparison to normal music and silent condition, the power of the theta active band significantly increased when listening to our modified music. Furthermore, after listening to modified music, there was a significant increase in mismatch negativity (MMN) amplitude in the oddball task. Additionally, participants’ subjective responses to a questionnaire indicated significant changes in body relaxation and other metrics after listening to the processed music.

Discussion

This state is considered similar to the “totonou” state, which manifests in physical and mental feelings of relaxation, pleasure, and mental clarity in the sauna. Thus, the present research proposes a convenient method for achieving relaxation, opening an avenue for individuals to customize their “totonou” music based on personal preferences.
Efficient and generalizable cross-patient epileptic seizure detection through a spiking neural network
Authors: Zhang Zongpeng , Xiao Mingqing , Ji Taoyun , Jiang Yuwu , Lin Tong , Zhou Xiaohua , Lin Zhouchen
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Epilepsy is a global chronic disease that brings pain and inconvenience to patients, and an electroencephalogram (EEG) is the main analytical tool. For clinical aid that can be applied to any patient, an automatic cross-patient epilepsy seizure detection algorithm is of great significance. Spiking neural networks (SNNs) are modeled on biological neurons and are energy-efficient on neuromorphic hardware, which can be expected to better handle brain signals and benefit real-world, low-power applications. However, automatic epilepsy seizure detection rarely considers SNNs.

Methods

In this article, we have explored SNNs for cross-patient seizure detection and discovered that SNNs can achieve comparable state-of-the-art performance or a performance that is even better than artificial neural networks (ANNs). We propose an EEG-based spiking neural network (EESNN) with a recurrent spiking convolution structure, which may better take advantage of temporal and biological characteristics in EEG signals.

Results

We extensively evaluate the performance of different SNN structures, training methods, and time settings, which builds a solid basis for understanding and evaluation of SNNs in seizure detection. Moreover, we show that our EESNN model can achieve energy reduction by several orders of magnitude compared with ANNs according to the theoretical estimation.

Discussion

These results show the potential for building high-performance, low-power neuromorphic systems for seizure detection and also broaden real-world application scenarios of SNNs.
Amino acids and protein profiles of defatted camel and cow milk fractions: correlation with their in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activities
Authors: Harizi Nouha , Zouari Ahmed , Rokbeni Nesrine , Ben Zid Malek , M’hiri Nouha , Salem Ali , Ayadi Mohamed Ali , Boudhrioua Nourhene
Published: January 2024

Introduction

This work presents proteins, amino acids profiles and antioxidant and properties of camel and cow milk fractions produced using an integrated coagulation-centrifugation process.

Methods

Antioxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging assay; and antidiabetic activity antidiabetic activity using in vitro α-amylase inhibitory activity were assessed on defatted milk fractions and their extracts using water/ethanol or HCl/ethanol solvents. Protein profiles and amino acids composition were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Results and discussions

The predominant protein found in cow and camel milk was β-casein in sodium caseinate, β-lactoglobulin was found in the whey of cow milk, whereas α-lactalbumin was detected in the whey fractions of camel. The primary amino acids (comprising 1% to 5.2%) in skim milk and sweet whey milk were leucine, proline, and lysine. However, acid whey, casein fractions (sodium caseinate, and β-casein) from both camel and cow milk exhibited elevated concentrations of histidine, leucine, lysine and proline (1.12 - 6.62%). Camel milk and its different protein fractions showed an interesting in vitro α-amylase inhibitory activity varying, according to different milk fractions and extraction methods, from 19.10 ± 1.40 to 97.40 ± 1.50%. Whatever the used method, the whey fractions from camel milk, both acid and sweet, displayed ed the highest antioxidant activity. Principal components analysis showed a positive correlation between the total phenols content, antioxidant (DPPH assay) and antidiabetic (α amylase inhibition test) activities within the milk fractions. Sweet and acid cow milk fractions seem to be the most promising for deeper exploration of in vivo biological activities and are promising milk derivatives for specific nutritional diet and/or functional food formulation.
Does an alternate-day modified fasting diet improve premenstrual syndrome symptoms and health-related quality of life in obese or overweight women with premenstrual syndrome? A randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Hooshiar Saeedeh Hosseini , Yazdani Akram , Jafarnejad Sadegh
Published: January 2024

Background

Premenstrual syndrome disorder (PMS) is a condition that affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and encompasses a variety of symptoms, including psychological, physical, and behavioral symptoms. Some evidence suggests that an increase in body mass index (BMI) can reduce both HRQoL and menstrual quality. This is because the body fat tissue can affect menstrual cycles by changing the estrogen/progesterone ratio. This study investigated the impact of two diets alternate-day modified fasting (ADMF) and daily calorie restriction (DCR) – on PMS syndrome and HRQoL.

Methods

The study was a randomized controlled, open-label trial that lasted for 8 weeks and involved 60 obese/overweight women. Participants were recruited from the Health Service Centers of Kashan University of Medical Sciences using simple random sampling. The study compared the impact of the ADMF and DCR diets on HRQoL and PMS symptoms. Patients were classified based on their BMI and age and then allocated to either the intervention (ADMF) or control (DCR) group using a random numbers table. The study measured HRQoL, PMS severity, weight, BMI, body fat mass, waist circumference, fat-free mass, and skeletal muscle mass before and after the study. The study had an almost 18% dropout rate.

Results

Significant improvements were observed in mood lability (p = 0.044) and expressed anger (p < 0.001) in relation to PMS symptoms. However, no significant differences were detected in the changes of other COPE subscales. The ADMF diet had a significant impact on the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) total score (p < 0.001) and physical function subscales (p = 0.006) as well as mental health (p < 0.001) when compared to the control diet. This implies that the ADMF diet increased both SF-12 total score and its subscales. The intervention led to improvements in HRQoL, physical function, and mental health. Additionally, significant improvements in BMI and weight were observed between the two groups pre- and post-study (p < 0.001). Anthropometric data, including body fat mass and waist circumference, showed a significant improvement (p < 0.001 and p = 0.029, respectively) before and after the study. However, there were no significant changes in fat-free mass (p = 0.936) and skeletal muscle mass (p = 0.841) between the two groups.

Conclusion

The study suggested that ADMF can improve HRQoL, mood lability, and expressed anger. It also showed that ADMF can reduce waist circumference, weight, and body fat mass in obese/overweight women.

Clinical trial registration

The Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20220522054958N1).
Long-term response to sequential anti-HER2 therapies including trastuzumab-deruxtecan in a patient with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer with leptomeningeal metastases: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: de Bernardi Axel , Bachelot Thomas , Larrouquère Louis
Published: January 2024

The incidence of leptomeningeal metastases (LM) is increasing among breast cancer patients, but their prognosis remains dismal. Many therapeutic options are now available to treat HER2-positive (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) involving the central nervous system (CNS). This case report illustrates a long-lasting response of more than 2 years in a patient with HER2+ MBC with LM after sequential administration of systemic and intrathecal (IT) anti-HER2 therapies and highlights that an appropriate treatment of HER2+ LM can result in durable survival.
Perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy versus open partial nephrectomy for complex renal tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Fan , Hu Jiang-sheng , Zhang Kai-yu , Liu Xiao-hua
Published: January 2024

Background

The primary aim of this present study is to undertake a comprehensive comparative analysis of the perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes associated with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) and open partial nephrectomy (OPN) as interventions for the treatment of complex renal tumors, defined as PADUA or RENAL score ≥ 7.

Methods

We systematically carried out an extensive search across four electronic databases, namely PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science. Our objective was to identify pertinent studies published in the English language up to December 2023, and encompassed controlled trials comparing LPN and OPN as interventions for complex renal tumors.

Results

This study encompassed a total of seven comparative trials, involving 934 patients. LPN exhibited a noteworthy reduction in the length of hospital stay (weighted mean difference [WMD] -2.06 days, 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.62, -1.50; p < 0.00001), blood loss (WMD -34.05mL, 95% CI -55.61, -12.48; p = 0.002), and overall complications (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.19, 0.79; p = 0.009). However, noteworthy distinctions did not arise between LPN and OPN concerning parameters such as warm ischemia time, renal function, and oncological outcomes.

Conclusions

This study reveals that LPN presents several advantages over OPN. These benefits encompass a shortened hospital stay, diminished blood loss, and a reduced incidence of complications. Importantly, LPN achieves these benefits while concurrently upholding comparable renal function and oncological outcomes.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=457716, identifier CRD42023453816.
Enhancing outcomes: neurosurgical resection in brain metastasis patients with poor Karnofsky performance score - a comprehensive survival analysis
Authors: Goldberg Maria , Mondragon-Soto Michel G. , Altawalbeh Ghaith , Baumgart Lea , Gempt Jens , Bernhardt Denise , Combs Stephanie E. , Meyer Bernhard , Aftahy Amir Kaywan
Published: January 2024

Background

A reduced Karnofsky performance score (KPS) often leads to the discontinuation of surgical and adjuvant therapy, owing to a lack of evidence of survival and quality of life benefits. This study aimed to examine the clinical and treatment outcomes of patients with KPS < 70 after neurosurgical resection and identify prognostic factors associated with better survival.

Methods

Patients with a preoperative KPS < 70 who underwent surgical resection for newly diagnosed brain metastases (BM) between 2007 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The KPS, age, sex, tumor localization, cumulative tumor volume, number of lesions, extent of resection, prognostic assessment scores, adjuvant radiotherapy and systemic therapy, and presence of disease progression were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with better survival. Survival > 3 months was considered favorable and ≤ 3 months as poor.

Results

A total of 140 patients were identified. Median overall survival was 5.6 months (range 0-58). There was no difference in the preoperative KPS between the groups of > 3 and ≤ 3 months (50; range, 20–60 vs. 50; range, 10–60, p = 0.077). There was a significant improvement in KPS after surgery in patients with a preoperative KPS of 20% (20 vs 40 ± 20, p = 0.048). In the other groups, no significant changes in KPS were observed. Adjuvant radiotherapy was associated with better survival (44 [84.6%] vs. 32 [36.4%]; hazard ratio [HR], 0.0363; confidence interval [CI], 0.197–0.670, p = 0.00199). Adjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy resulted in prolonged survival (24 [46.2%] vs. 12 [13.6%]; HR 0.474, CI 0.263–0.854, p = 0.013]. Systemic disease progression was associated with poor survival (36 [50%] vs. 71 [80.7%]; HR 5.975, CI 2.610–13.677, p < 0.001].

Conclusion

Neurosurgical resection is an appropriate treatment modality for patients with low KPS. Surgery may improve functional status and facilitate further tumor-specific treatment. Combined treatment with adjuvant radiotherapy and systemic therapy was associated with improved survival in this cohort of patients. Systemic tumor progression has been identified as an independent factor for a poor prognosis. There is almost no information regarding surgical and adjuvant treatment in patients with low KPS. Our paper provides novel data on clinical outcome and survival analysis of patients with BM who underwent surgical treatment.
Neurological abnormalities among pediatric patients with sickle cell disease in Saudi Arabia: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Basuni Ziad T. , Monagel Dania A. , Taha Areej , Ahmed Nehal , Ahmed Amany
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common inherited blood disorder characterized by the production of abnormal sickle-shaped red blood cells. SCD can lead to various complications including neurological issues. Early detection and treatment are crucial for preventing these complications. This study aimed to describe the neurological manifestations, radiological findings, and neurological diagnosis related to SCD in Saudi children with the aim of contributing to the formulation of population-based guidelines for screening and treating SCD-related neurological complications.

Methods

This descriptive retrospective study included pediatric patients aged < 14 years diagnosed with SCD who were regularly followed up at the hematology clinic in KAMC, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from January 2008 to January 2022. Demographic and clinical data were collected from the clinical charts of 101 participants.

Results

This study included 101 patients with SCD with a mean age of 23 months at diagnosis. Among these, 59% had SCD and high fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels. Neurological sequelae, including seizures, stroke, and other abnormalities, were observed in 26.7% of patients. There were no significant differences in the onset of neurological issues between the patients with SCD-high HbF and those with other SCD phenotypes.

Discussion

This study highlights the increased risk of brain injury and neurocognitive deficits in children with SCD. The occurrence of neurological sequelae in many patients emphasizes the need for early detection and intervention. Some patients experience neurological complications despite having high HbF levels, suggesting that further interventions are needed. This study has some limitations, including its small sample size and retrospective nature.

Conclusion

Early detection and intervention are crucial for neurological complications in patients with SCD. This study emphasizes the need for further research and effective treatment strategies considering the presence of neurological complications despite the presence of high HbF levels. Large-scale studies and population-specific guidelines are warranted for better understanding and management of SCD-related neurological complications in the Saudi population.
Risk factors for the development of bronchiolitis obliterans in children after suffering from adenovirus pneumonia
Authors: Yuan Jiahao , Wei Mengyue , Chen Manke , Wang Ruizhu , Diao Jialing , Tian Man , Zhao Deyu , Chen Meng
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is an irreversible chronic obstructive lung disease in small airways. The aim of this study was to identify the relevant risk factors for the development of BO in children after suffering from adenovirus (ADV) pneumonia.

Methods

An observational cohort study that included 112 children suffering from ADV pneumonia in our institution from March 2019 to March 2020 was performed. We divided the children into a BO group and a non-BO group based on whether they did develop BO or not. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were applied to identify risk factors for the development of BO. The prediction probability model was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

Twenty-eight children (25%) did develop BO after suffering from ADV pneumonia, while 84 children did not. Respiratory support (OR 6.772, 95% CI 2.060–22.260, P = 0.002), extended length of wheezing days (OR 1.112, 95% CI 1.040–1.189, P = 0.002) and higher lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (OR 1.002, 95% CI 1.000–1.003, P = 0.012) were independently associated with the development of BO. The predictive value of this prediction probability model was validated by the ROC curve, with an area under the curve of 0.870 (95% CI 0.801–0.939, P < 0.001), a standard error of 0.035, a maximum Youden's index of 0.608, a sensitivity of 0.929, and a specificity of 0.679.

Conclusions

After suffering an ADV pneumonia, children who have needed respiratory support, had a longer length of wheezing days or had higher LDH levels are more likely to develop BO.
Deciphering treatment resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer: roles of drug transports, EGFR mutations, and HGF/c-MET signaling
Authors: Albadari Najah , Xie Yang , Li Wei
Published: January 2024

In 2023, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most diagnosed malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. At the time of the initial visit, 20% of patients diagnosed with CRC have metastatic CRC (mCRC), and another 25% who present with localized disease will later develop metastases. Despite the improvement in response rates with various modulation strategies such as chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, the prognosis of mCRC is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of 14%, and the primary reason for treatment failure is believed to be the development of resistance to therapies. Herein, we provide an overview of the main mechanisms of resistance in mCRC and specifically highlight the role of drug transports, EGFR, and HGF/c-MET signaling pathway in mediating mCRC resistance, as well as discuss recent therapeutic approaches to reverse resistance caused by drug transports and resistance to anti-EGFR blockade caused by mutations in EGFR and alteration in HGF/c-MET signaling pathway.
Silencing of crustacean hyperglycemic hormone gene expression reveals the characteristic energy and metabolic changes in the gills and epidermis of crayfish Procambarus clarkii
Authors: Li Wen-Feng , Zhang Shan , Chiu Kuo-Hsun , Deng Xiao-Yun , Yi Yi
Published: January 2024

The crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) is a multifaceted neuropeptide instrumental in regulating carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, reproduction, osmoregulation, molting, and metamorphosis. Despite its significance, there is a dearth of research on its metabolic impact on the gills and epidermis—key organs in osmoregulation and molting processes. This study employed CHH dsRNA injections to silence CHH gene expression in Procambarus clarkii, followed by a metabolomic analysis of the gills and epidermis using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Metabolic profiling through principal component analysis revealed the most pronounced changes at 24 h post-injection (hpi) in the epidermis and at 48 hpi in the gills. At 24 hpi, the epidermis exhibited significant modulation in 25 enrichment sets and 20 KEGG pathways, while at 48 hpi, 5 metabolite sets and 6 KEGG pathways were prominently regulated. Notably, pathways associated with amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and cofactor and vitamin metabolism were affected. A marked decrease in glucose and other carbohydrates suggested a compromised carbohydrate supply, whereas increased levels of citrate cycle intermediates implied a potential boost in energy provision. The silencing of CHH gene expression hampered the carbohydrate supply, which was possibly the main energy derived substrates. Conversely, the gills displayed significant alterations in 15 metabolite sets and 16 KEGG pathways at 48 hpi, with no significant changes at 24 hpi. These changes encompassed amino acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism pathways. The decline in TCA cycle intermediates pointed to a potential downregulation of the cycle, whereas a decrease in ketone bodies indicated a shift towards lipid metabolism for energy production. Additionally, increased levels of nicotinate, nicotinamide, and quinolinate were observed in both organs. Overall, CHH’s impact on the epidermis was prominent at 24 hpi and diminished thereafter, whereas its influence on metabolism in gills was delayed but intensified at 48 hpi. This differential CHH effect between gills and epidermis in P. clarkii provides new insights into the organ-specific regulatory mechanisms of CHH on energy metabolism and osmoregulation, warranting further comparative studies to elucidate the distinct roles of CHH in these organs.
The silicon regulates microbiome diversity and plant defenses during cold stress in Glycine max L.
Authors: Ahmad Waqar , Coffman Lauryn , Weerasooriya Aruna D , Crawford Kerri , Khan Abdul Latif
Published: January 2024

Introduction

With climate change, frequent exposure of bioenergy and food crops, specifically soybean (Glycine max L.), to low-temperature episodes is a major obstacle in maintaining sustainable plant growth at early growth stages. Silicon (Si) is a quasi-essential nutrient that can help to improve stress tolerance; however, how Si and a combination of cold stress episodes influence plant growth, plant physiology, and microbiome diversity has yet to be fully discovered.

Methods

The soybean plants were exposed to cold stress (8-10°C) with or without applying Si, and the different plant organs (shoot and root) and rhizospheric soil were subjected to microbiome analysis. The plant growth, physiology, and gene expression analysis of plant defenses during stress and Si were investigated.

Results and discussion

We showed that cold stress significantly retarded soybean plants’ growth and biomass, whereas, Si-treated plants showed ameliorated negative impacts on plant growth at early seedling stages. The beneficial effects of Si were also evident from significantly reduced antioxidant activities – suggesting lower cold-induced oxidative stress. Interestingly, Si also downregulated critical genes of the abscisic acid pathway and osmotic regulation (9-cis-epoxy carotenoid dioxygenase and dehydration-responsive element binding protein) during cold stress. Si positively influenced alpha and beta diversities of bacterial and fungal microbiomes with or without cold stress. Results showed significant variation in microbiome composition in the rhizosphere (root and soil) and phyllosphere (shoot) in Si-treated plants with or without cold stress exposures. Among microbiome phyla, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Ascomycota were significantly more abundant in Si treatments in cold stress than in control conditions. For the core microbiome, we identified 179 taxa, including 88 unique bacterial genera in which Edaphobacter, Haliangium, and Streptomyces were highly abundant. Enhanced extracellular enzyme activities in the cold and Si+cold treatments, specifically phosphatase and glucosidases, also reflected the microbiome abundance. In conclusion, this work elucidates cold-mediated changes in microbiome diversity and plant growth, including the positive impact Si can have on cold tolerance at early soybean growth stages – a step toward understanding crop productivity and stress tolerance.
Maize pollen carry bacteria that suppress a fungal pathogen that enters through the male gamete fertilization route
Authors: Shrestha Anuja , Limay-Rios Victor , Brettingham Dylan J. L. , Raizada Manish N.
Published: January 2024

In flowering plants, after being released from pollen grains, the male gametes use the style channel to migrate towards the ovary where they fertilize awaiting eggs. Environmental pathogens exploit the style passage, resulting in diseased progeny seed. The belief is that pollen also transmits pathogens into the style. By contrast, we hypothesized that pollen carries beneficial microbes that suppress environmental pathogens on the style passage. No prior studies have reported pollen-associated bacterial functions in any plant species. Here, bacteria were cultured from maize (corn) pollen encompassing wild ancestors and farmer-selected landraces from across the Americas, grown in a common field in Canada for one season. In total, 298 bacterial isolates were cultured, spanning 45 genera, 103 species, and 88 OTUs, dominated by Pantoea, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Erwinia, and Microbacterium. Full-length 16S DNA-based taxonomic profiling showed that 78% of bacterial taxa from the major wild ancestor of maize (Parviglumis teosinte) were present in at least one cultivated landrace. The species names of the bacterial isolates were used to search the pathogen literature systematically; this preliminary evidence predicted that the vast majority of the pollen-associated bacteria analyzed are not maize pathogens. The pollen-associated bacteria were tested in vitro against a style-invading Fusarium pathogen shown to cause Gibberella ear rot (GER): 14 isolates inhibited this pathogen. Genome mining showed that all the anti-Fusarium bacterial species encode phzF, associated with biosynthesis of the natural fungicide, phenazine. To mimic the male gamete migration route, three pollen-associated bacterial strains were sprayed onto styles (silks), followed by Fusarium inoculation; these bacteria reduced GER symptoms and mycotoxin accumulation in progeny seed. Confocal microscopy was used to search for direct evidence that pollen-associated bacteria can defend living silks against Fusarium graminearum (Fg); bacterial strain AS541 (Kluyvera intermedia), isolated from pollen of ancestral Parviglumis, was observed to colonize the susceptible style/silk entry points of Fg (silk epidermis, trichomes, wounds). Furthermore, on style/silk tissue, AS541 colonized/aggregated on Fg hyphae, and was associated with Fg hyphal breaks. These results suggest that pollen has the potential to carry bacteria that can defend the style/silk passage against an environmental pathogen – a novel observation.
Development of a longevity prediction model for cut roses using hyperspectral imaging and a convolutional neural network
Authors: Kim Yong-Tae , Ha Suong Tuyet Thi , In Byung-Chun
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and deep learning techniques have been widely applied to predict postharvest quality and shelf life in multiple horticultural crops such as vegetables, mushrooms, and fruits; however, few studies show the application of these techniques to evaluate the quality issues of cut flowers. Therefore, in this study, we developed a non-contact and rapid detection technique for the emergence of gray mold disease (GMD) and the potential longevity of cut roses using deep learning techniques based on HSI data.

Methods

Cut flowers of two rose cultivars (‘All For Love’ and ‘White Beauty’) underwent either dry transport (thus impaired cut flower hydration), ethylene exposure, or Botrytis cinerea inoculation, in order to identify the characteristic light wavelengths that are closely correlated with plant physiological states based on HSI. The flower bud of cut roses was selected for HSI measurement and the development of a vase life prediction model utilizing YOLOv5.

Results and discussion

The HSI results revealed that spectral reflectance between 470 to 680 nm was strongly correlated with gray mold disease (GMD), whereas those between 700 to 900 nm were strongly correlated with flower wilting or vase life. To develop a YOLOv5 prediction model that can be used to anticipate flower longevity, the vase life of cut roses was classed into two categories as over 5 d (+5D) and under 5 d (-5D), based on scoring a grading standard on the flower quality. A total of 3000 images from HSI were forwarded to the YOLOv5 model for training and prediction of GMD and vase life of cut flowers. Validation of the prediction model using independent data confirmed its high predictive accuracy in evaluating the vase life of both ‘All For Love’ (r2 = 0.86) and ‘White Beauty’ (r2 = 0.83) cut flowers. The YOLOv5 model also accurately detected and classified GMD in the cut rose flowers based on the image data. Our results demonstrate that the combination of HSI and deep learning is a reliable method for detecting early GMD infection and evaluating the longevity of cut roses.
Ecophysiological response of Populus alba L. to multiple stress factors during the revitalisation of coal fly ash lagoons at different stages of weathering
Authors: Kostić Olga , Jarić Snežana , Pavlović Dragana , Matić Marija , Radulović Natalija , Mitrović Miroslava , Pavlović Pavle
Published: January 2024

The enormous quantities of fly ash (FA) produced by thermal power plants is a global problem and safe, sustainable approaches to reduce the amount and its toxic effects are still being sought. Vegetation cover comprising long-living species can help reduce FA dump-related environmental health issues. However, the synergistic effect of multiple abiotic factors, like drought, low organic matter content, a deficit of essential nutrients, alkaline pH, and phytotoxicity due to high potentially toxic element (PTE) and soluble salt content, limits the number of species that can grow under such stressful conditions. Thus, we hypothesised that Populus alba L., which spontaneously colonised two FA disposal lagoons at the ‘Nikola Tesla A’ thermal power plant (Obrenovac, Serbia) 3 years (L3) and 11 years (L11) ago, has high restoration potential thanks to its stress tolerance. We analysed the basic physical and chemical properties of FA at different weathering stages, while the ecophysiological response of P. alba to multiple stresses was determined through biological indicators [the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) for PTEs (As, B, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Se, and Zn)] and by measuring the following parameters: photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll concentration, non-enzymatic antioxidant defence (carotenoids, anthocyanins, and phenols), oxidative stress (malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations), and total antioxidant capacity (IC50) to neutralise DPPH free radical activity. Unlike at L3, toxic As, B, and Zn concentrations in leaves induced oxidative stress in P. alba at L11, shown by the higher MDA levels, lower vitality, and reduced synthesis of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and total antioxidant activity, suggesting its stress tolerance decreases with long-term exposure to adverse abiotic factors. Although P. alba is a fast-growing species with good metal accumulation ability and high stress tolerance, it has poor stabilisation potential for substrates with high As and B concentrations, making it highly unsuitable for revitalising such habitats.
Exposure to IQOS ads and reduced exposure claims, and association with perceived risk from COVID-19 on IQOS purchase and use intentions: results from a web-based survey
Authors: Sharma Akshika , Fix Brian , Hyland Andrew , Bansal-Travers Maansi , Quisenberry Amanda , O’Connor Richard
Published: January 2024

Introduction

IQOS was authorized to be marketed as a reduced exposure product by the Food and Drug Administration in October 2020 during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Those who smoke may be more sensitive to reduced exposure marketing claims and may have an increased inclination toward IQOS use. We evaluated the likelihood of trying and purchasing IQOS as a function of exposure to ads, product appeal, and COVID-19 risk perceptions using the original IQOS ads with reduced exposure marketing.

Method

An online cross-sectional survey recruited 604 US adults (18–45 years), both who smoke and do not smoke. Participants saw one of the six randomly assigned IQOS ads with or without reduced exposure claims, and they answered questions about product appeal and likelihood to try and purchase IQOS. Generalized linear models were used to examine associations.

Results

A per unit increase in product appeal was associated with a greater likelihood of purchasing (B = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.15–0.18) and trying IQOS (B = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.14–0.18). Current smokers and former e-cigarette users reported greater intentions to try IQOS than never-smokers and never e-cigarette users, respectively. Likelihood to purchase IQOS was associated with greater confidence in not contracting COVID-19 (B = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.01–0.21). No significant differences were observed between different ad conditions. Current (B = −0.34, 95% CI = −0.50-(−0.19)) and former (B = −0.92, 95% CI = −0.15-(−0.68)) cigarette smokers who were someday e-cigarette users reported less intentions to purchase IQOS than never e-cigarette users. However, never smokers who were someday (B = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.27–0.89; B = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.39–0.98) and former e-cigarette (B = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.15–0.61) users reported greater intentions to purchase and try IQOS, respectively.

Discussion

IQOS may have a higher product appeal, especially for those who currently smoke and those who have lower risk perceptions from COVID-19. Among never smokers, those who currently use or have used e-cigarettes in the past may be more receptive to IQOS marketing. The data are informative for potential trends in the use of IQOS in the future and may have implications for marketing regulations of heated tobacco products (HTPs).
Status and associated factors of food and nutrition literacy among young adults aged 15–44 years in Shenzhen City, China
Authors: Zhixue Li , Ying Xu , Zheng Liu , Yan Ma , Yanfang Guo , Dewang Wang , Weijun Yu , Rencheng Zhao , Qing Yuan , Meihong Xu
Published: January 2024

Background

Food and nutrition literacy (FNL) plays an important role in young adults’ dietary habits and nutrition. This study aimed to investigate FNL status and its associated factors among young adults aged 15–44 years in Shenzhen.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of 5,390 participants was conducted in June 2021. FNL was measured using the Food and Nutrition Literacy Questionnaire for Chinese Adults (FNLQ). A generalized linear model was employed to analyze the factors associated with FNL.

Results

The median FNL score (total score = 100) was 68.00, which was below the adequate level of 80. FNL was divided into the two different domains of knowledge and skills, with significantly different scoring rate of 85.30 and 67.77%, respectively. The overall proportion of respondents with adequate FNL was 19.52%. The FNL score was significantly higher among the participants who were female (β = 2.665; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.031–3.299) and with higher education levels (β ranging from 5.632 [CI: 3.845–7.419] to 10.756 [CI: 8.973–12.538]), healthcare-related work experience (β = 4.197; CI: 3.557–4.837) and a higher economic status (β ranging from 0.753 [CI: 0.079–1.426] to 6.217 [CI: 5.208–7.227]). Those who were divorced or with an unknown marital status (β = −8.438; CI: −9.701, −7.175), abnormal body mass index (thin [β = −2.115; CI: −3.063, −1.166], overweight [β = −1.427; CI: −2.254, −0.600]), and suffering from chronic diseases (single disease [β = −3.483; CI: −4.485, −2.480], multimorbidity [β = −5.119; CI: −5.912, −4.327]) had significantly lower FNL scores.

Conclusion

Generally, the level of FNL among young adults in Shenzhen, China, was relatively low. Thus, nutrition education programs targeted at promoting improved FNL status call for additional emphasis, especially in subgroups with lower scores.
Robust Design Optimization of Supersonic Biplane Airfoil Using Efficient Uncertainty Analysis Method for Discontinuous Problem
Authors: Hanazaki Kyohei , Yamazaki Wataru
Published: January 2024

Busemann’s supersonic biplane airfoil can reduce wave drag through shock interactions at its designed freestream Mach number. However, a choking phenomenon occurs with a decrease in the freestream Mach number, and the drag coefficient increases significantly, resulting in an aerodynamic problem with a discontinuous change in the performance function. In this study, an uncertainty analysis method, the divided inexpensive Monte Carlo simulation (IMCS), is proposed to solve discontinuous problems efficiently and is applied to Busemann’s biplane airfoil. In the divided IMCS, the discontinuity point is determined using a simple sampling method. The uncertainty input space is divided at the detected discontinuity point, and a surrogate model is constructed for each space. Uncertainty analysis was performed using the constructed surrogate models, and the results of the divided IMCS showed qualitative agreement with those of the conventional Monte Carlo simulation, which is the most straightforward uncertainty analysis method. Moreover, the divided IMCS significantly reduced the computational cost of the uncertainty analysis. A robust design optimization of the supersonic biplane airfoil was performed using the divided IMCS, yielding more robust designs than Busemann’s biplane airfoil. The usefulness of the divided IMCS for uncertainty analysis of discontinuous problems was confirmed.
Adaptive Responses of Biofortified Common Bean Lines to Acidic Soil and High Temperatures in the Colombian Amazon Region
Authors: Suárez Juan Carlos , Contreras Amara T. , Urban Milan O. , Grajales Miguel A. , Beebe Stephen E. , Rao Idupulapati M.
Published: January 2024

One of the strategies to combat micronutrient malnutrition is by developing biofortified common bean lines (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) capable of tolerating different stress conditions. In this study, the adaptive responses of different biofortified bean lines grown under combined stress of acidic soil and high-temperatures were evaluated in the Colombian Amazon. A total of 247 common bean lines from the Mesoamerican gene pool were used to determine the adaptive response in terms of phenological, physiological, and agronomic behavior under combined stress conditions. The lines tested were obtained from different single crosses, double crosses, and backcrosses between different bean materials, of which 146 were obtained from F4 families with high iron (Fe) content in seed and 99 common bean lines from F5 families. Different bean lines had grain yields (GY) higher than 1400 kg ha−1 from the F5 (lines: 859, 805, 865, and 657) and F4 (lines: 2853 and 2796) families. The superior performance of these lines was related to a higher photosynthate partitioning that has allowed an increase in pod formation (pod partitioning index, PPI) from the canopy biomass (CB) and grain filling (pod harvest index, PHI; harvest index, HI), resulting in higher values of GY. Values of GY were correlated with CB (r = 0.36), PPI (r = 0.6), PHI (r = 0.68), and HI (r = 0.8, p < 0.001). This increase in agronomic performance is due to a greater allocation of energy to the photosynthetic machinery (ΦII) and its dissipation in the form of heat (ΦNPQ), with increases in the leaf temperature difference (LTD). Based on the results obtained, six biofortified lines of common bean (lines F5: 859, 805, 865, and 657; lines F4: 2853 and 2796) showed traits of tolerance to combined stress and can serve as progenitors to increase Fe and Zn concentration in the seeds of lines that tolerate the combined stress from acidic soil and high temperature in the Colombian Amazon region.