bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression of Piezo1 in the Trigeminal Neurons and in the Axons That Innervate the Dental Pulp
Authors: Cho Yi Sul , Han Hye Min , Jeong Soon Youn , Kim Tae Heon , Choi So Young , Kim Yun Sook , Bae Yong Chul
Published: June 2022

Information on the neurons and axons that express the mechanosensitive channel Piezo1 and its expression in axons innervating the dental pulp may help understand the nature of the Piezo1-mediated mechanosensation and the underlying mechanism of dentin sensitivity elicited by mechanical stimuli. For this, we here investigated the neurochemical properties of the neurons in the rat trigeminal ganglion (TG) and their axons in its sensory root that express Piezo1 and the expression of Piezo1 in the rat and human dental pulp by light and electron microscopic immunohistochemistry and quantitative analysis. Piezo1 was expressed mainly in medium-sized and large TG neurons. Piezo1-immunopositive (+) neurons frequently coexpressed the marker for neurons with myelinated axons, NF200, but rarely the markers for neurons with unmyelinated axons, CGRP or IB4. In the sensory root of TG, Piezo1 was expressed primarily in small myelinated axons (Aδ, 60.2%) but also in large myelinated (Aβ, 24.3%) and unmyelinated (C, 15.5%) axons. In the human dental pulp, Piezo1 was expressed in numerous NF200+ axons, which formed a network in the peripheral pulp and often “ascended” toward the dentin. Most Piezo1+ myelinated axons in the radicular pulp became unmyelinated in the peripheral pulp, where Piezo1 immunoreaction product was associated with the axonal plasma membrane, suggesting a functional role of Piezo1 in the peripheral pulp. These findings suggest that Piezo1 is involved primarily in mediating the acute pain elicited by high-threshold mechanical stimuli, and that the Piezo1-mediated dental mechanotransduction occurs primarily in the axons in the peripheral pulp.
Finding the Location of Axonal Activation by a Miniature Magnetic Coil
Authors: Ye Hui
Published: June 2022

Magnetic stimulation for neural activation is widely used in clinical and lab research. In comparison to electric stimulation using an implanted electrode, stimulation with a large magnetic coil is associated with poor spatial specificity and incapability to stimulate deep brain structures. Recent developments in micromagnetic stimulation (μMS) technology mitigates some of these shortcomings. The sub-millimeter coils can be covered with soft, biocompatible material, and chronically implanted. They can provide highly specific neural stimulation in the deep neural structure. Although the μMS technology is expected to provide a precise location of neural stimulation, the exact site of neural activation is difficult to determine. Furthermore, factors that could cause the shifting of the activation site during μMS have not been fully investigated. To estimate the location of axon activation in μMS, we first derived an analytical expression of the activating function, which predicts the location of membrane depolarization in an unmyelinated axon. Then, we developed a multi-compartment, Hodgkin-Huxley (H-H) type of NEURON model of an unmyelinated axon to test the impact of several important coil parameters on the location of axonal activation. The location of axonal activation was dependent on both the parameters of the stimulus and the biophysics properties of the targeted axon during μMS. The activating function analysis predicted that the location of membrane depolarization and activation could shift due to the reversal of the coil current and the change in the coil-axon distance. The NEURON modeling confirmed these predictions. Interestingly, the NEURON simulation further revealed that the intensity of stimulation played a significant role in the activation location. Moderate or strong coil currents activated the axon at different locations, mediated by two distinct ion channel mechanisms. This study reports several experimental factors that could cause a potential shift in the location of neural activation during μMS, which is essential for further development of this novel technology.
Comparing Seizures Captured by Rapid Response EEG and Conventional EEG Recordings in a Multicenter Clinical Study
Authors: Kurup Deepika , Gururangan Kapil , Desai Masoom J. , Markert Matthew S. , Eliashiv Dawn S. , Vespa Paul M. , Parvizi Josef
Published: June 2022

Objective

A recent multicenter prospective study (DECIDE trial) examined the use of Ceribell Rapid Response EEG (Rapid-EEG) in the emergent evaluation and management of critically ill patients suspected to have non-convulsive seizures. We present a detailed, patient-level examination of seizures detected either on initial Rapid-EEG or subsequent conventional EEG within 24 h to investigate whether seizures were missed on Rapid-EEG due to the exclusion of midline/parasagittal coverage.

Methods

We identified from 164 patients studied in the DECIDE trial those who had seizures detected on Rapid-EEG but not conventional EEG (n = 6), conventional EEG but not Rapid-EEG (n = 4), or both Rapid-EEG and conventional EEG (n = 9). We examined the electrographic characteristics of ictal and interictal findings on both devices, especially their detection in lateral or midline/parasagittal chains, and patient clinical histories to identify contributors toward discordant seizure detection.

Results

Seizures detected on both EEG systems had similar electrographic appearance and laterality. Seizures detected only on conventional EEG (within 24 h following Rapid-EEG) were visible in the temporal chains, and external clinical factors (e.g., treatment with anti-seizure medications, sedation, and duration of recordings) explained the delayed presentation of seizures. Patients with seizures detected only by Rapid-EEG were treated with anti-seizure medications, and subsequent conventional EEG detected interictal highly epileptiform patterns with similar laterality.

Conclusions

Our case series demonstrates that electrographic data obtained from initial Rapid-EEG and subsequent conventional EEG monitoring are largely concordant relative to morphology and laterality. These findings are valuable to inform future investigation of abbreviated EEG systems to optimize management of suspected non-convulsive seizures and status epilepticus. Future, larger studies could further investigate the value of Rapid-EEG findings for forecasting and predicting seizures in long-term EEG recordings.
A Multimodal Classification Architecture for the Severity Diagnosis of Glaucoma Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Yi Sanli , Zhang Gang , Qian Chaoxu , Lu YunQing , Zhong Hua , He Jianfeng
Published: June 2022

Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy that leads to characteristic visual field defects. However, there is no cure for glaucoma, so the diagnosis of its severity is essential for its prevention. In this paper, we propose a multimodal classification architecture based on deep learning for the severity diagnosis of glaucoma. In this architecture, a gray scale image of the visual field is first reconstructed with a higher resolution in the preprocessing stage, and more subtle feature information is provided for glaucoma diagnosis. We then use multimodal fusion technology to integrate fundus images and gray scale images of the visual field as the input of this architecture. Finally, the inherent limitation of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) is addressed by replacing the original classifier with the proposed classifier. Our architecture is trained and tested on the datasets provided by the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, and the results show that the proposed architecture achieves superior performance for glaucoma diagnosis.
Expression and Prognostic Role of Glia Maturation Factor-γ in Gliomas
Authors: Liu Junhui , Zhu Xiaonan , Gao Lun , Geng Rongxin , Tao Xiang , Xu Haitao , Chen Zhibiao
Published: June 2022

Background

Glia maturation factor-γ (GMFG) regulates actin cytoskeletal organization and promotes the invasion of cancer cells. However, its expression pattern and molecular function in gliomas have not been clearly defined.

Methods

In this study, public datasets comprising 2,518 gliomas samples were used to explore GMFG expression and its correlation with malignancy in gliomas. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed to determine the expression of GMFG in gliomas using an in-house cohort that contained 120 gliomas samples. Gene ontology enrichment analysis was conducted using the DAVID tool. The correlation between GMFG expression and immune cell infiltration was evaluated using TIMER, Tumor Immune Single-Cell Hub (TISCH) database, and IHC staining assays. The Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to determine the prognostic role of GMFG and its association with temozolomide (TMZ) response in gliomas.

Results

The GMFG expression was higher in gliomas compared with non-tumor brain tissues both in public datasets and in-house cohort. High expression of GMFG was significantly associated with WHO grade IV, IDH 1/2 wild-type, and mesenchymal (ME) subtypes. Bioinformatic prediction and IHC analysis revealed that GMFG expression obviously correlated with the macrophage marker CD163 in gliomas. Moreover, both lower grade glioma (LGG) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients with high GMFG expression had shorter overall survival than those with low GMFG expression. These results indicate that GMFG may be a therapeutic target for the treatment of such patients. Patients with low GMFG expression who received chemotherapy had a longer survival time than those with high GMFG expression. For patients who received ion radiotherapy (IR) only, the GMFG expression level had no effect on the overall survival neither in CGGA and TCGA datasets.

Conclusion

The GMFG is a novel prognostic biomarker for patients with both LGG and GBM. Increased GMFG expression is associated with tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) infiltration and with a bad response to TMZ treatment.
Expenditure and Nutritional Impact of Banning the Promotion of Foods High in Fat, Sugar and Salt in Scotland
Authors: Revoredo-Giha Cesar , McNamee Paul , Norwood Patricia , Akaichi Faical , Dogbe Wisdom
Published: June 2022

The purpose of the paper is to provide an ex-ante evaluation of banning price promotions for discretionary foods (e. g., such as confectionary, crisps, biscuits, sweet and savory snacks, cakes) in Scotland. The methodology consisted of the estimation of demand systems by socioeconomic groups (i.e., lifestage and income groups) for 19 food groups using a highly product disaggregated dataset. These results were used to simulate scenarios consisting of eliminating price promotions on the discretionary food products for the entire sample and by group and analyzing nutritional results. The results indicated a net impact of reducing energy by 651 kcal per capita per week (C.I. −695, −608)1. Similar results were found for macro nutrients. There were some significant differences across different income and lifestage groups, with kcal energy reductions being significantly greater amongst household with lower income, and in households where respondents were aged 45 years or over. The analysis concluded that restrictions on the promotion of foods considered to be high in saturated fat, sugar, or salt (HFSS) are seen as one measure to improve the overall nutritional quality of foods consumed. Results indicate that restricting promotions has the potential to reduce the number of calories, sugar, saturated fats and sodium for most food groups.
Bifidobacterium lactis TY-S01 Prevents Loperamide-Induced Constipation by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Its Metabolites in Mice
Authors: Tang Tian , Wang Jing , Jiang Yuanyuan , Zhu Xu , Zhang Zhen , Wang Yuying , Shu Xi , Deng Yadan , Zhang Feng
Published: June 2022

Probiotics have received widespread attention as a healthy ingredient. The preventive effect of Bifidobacterium lactis TY-S01 on loperamide-induced constipation in mice was investigated in this study. TY-S01 accelerated the peristalsis of intestine, maintained the humidity of faeces, and prevented the destruction of gut barrier. TY-S01 also maintained the 5-HT, MTL and SP at normal levels in constipated mice. Simultaneously, TY-S01 up-regulated the mRNA expressions of 5-HT4R, SERT, and MUC-2, while down-regulated the mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory genes remarkably. The levels of short-chain fatty acids in the feces of constipated mice were also increased because of the intervention with TY-S01. Moreover, TY-S01 prevented gut microbiological dysbiosis in constipated mice. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed that there was an obvious association between metabolic biomarkers and gut microbiota. In summary, TY-S01 regulated gut microbiota and the production of intestinal metabolites to prevent loperamide-induced constipation.
The Biological Activity Mechanism of Chlorogenic Acid and Its Applications in Food Industry: A Review
Authors: Wang Liang , Pan Xiaoqi , Jiang Lishi , Chu Yu , Gao Song , Jiang Xingyue , Zhang Yuhui , Chen Yan , Luo Shajie , Peng Cheng
Published: June 2022

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), also known as coffee tannic acid and 3-caffeoylquinic acid, is a water-soluble polyphenolic phenylacrylate compound produced by plants through the shikimic acid pathway during aerobic respiration. CGA is widely found in higher dicotyledonous plants, ferns, and many Chinese medicine plants, which enjoy the reputation of “plant gold.” We have summarized the biological activities of CGA, which are mainly shown as anti-oxidant, liver and kidney protection, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, regulation of glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism, anti-inflammatory, protection of the nervous system, and action on blood vessels. We further determined the main applications of CGA in the food industry, including food additives, food storage, food composition modification, food packaging materials, functional food materials, and prebiotics. With a view to the theoretical improvement of CGA, biological activity mechanism, and subsequent development and utilization provide reference and scientific basis.
The Network of Tumor Microtubes: An Improperly Reactivated Neural Cell Network With Stemness Feature for Resistance and Recurrence in Gliomas
Authors: Wang Xinyue , Liang Jianhao , Sun Haitao
Published: June 2022

Gliomas are known as an incurable brain tumor for the poor prognosis and robust recurrence. In recent years, a cellular subpopulation with tumor microtubes (TMs) was identified in brain tumors, which may provide a new angle to explain the invasion, resistance, recurrence, and heterogeneity of gliomas. Recently, it was demonstrated that the cell subpopulation also expresses neural stem cell markers and shares a lot of features with both immature neurons and cancer stem cells and may be seen as an improperly reactivated neural cell network with a stemness feature at later time points of life. TMs may also provide a new angle to understand the resistance and recurrence mechanisms of glioma stem cells. In this review, we innovatively focus on the common features between TMs and sprouting axons in morphology, formation, and function. Additionally, we summarized the recent progress in the resistance and recurrence mechanisms of gliomas with TMs and explained the incurability and heterogeneity in gliomas with TMs. Moreover, we discussed the recently discovered overlap between cancer stem cells and TM-positive glioma cells, which may contribute to the understanding of resistant glioma cell subpopulation and the exploration of the new potential therapeutic target for gliomas.
The Onset of In-Vivo Dehydration in Gas -Based Intraperitoneal Hyperthermia and Its Cytotoxic Effects on Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Diakun Agata , Khosrawipour Tanja , Mikolajczyk-Martinez Agata , Nicpoń Jakub , Kiełbowicz Zdzisław , Prządka Przemysław , Liszka Bartłomiej , Kielan Wojciech , Zielinski Kacper , Migdal Pawel , Lau Hien , Li Shiri , Khosrawipour Veria
Published: June 2022

Background

Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is an ongoing challenge in surgical oncology. Current therapeutic options, including intravenous and intraperitoneal (i.p.) chemotherapies display limited clinical efficacy, resulting in an overall poor prognosis in affected patients. Combined hyperthermia and dehydration induced by a high-flow, gas-based i.p. hyperthermic procedure could be a novel approach in PM treatment. Our study is the first to evaluate the therapeutic potential of i.p. dehydration, hyperthermia, as well as the combination of both mechanisms in an in-vivo setting.

Methods

For this study, three swine were subjected to diagnostic laparoscopy under a high-flow air stream at 48°, 49° and 50°Celsius (C). Hygrometry of the in- and outflow airstream was measured to calculate surface evaporation and i.p. dehydration. To analyze the effects of this concept, in vitro colon cancer cells (HT-29) were treated with hyperthermia and dehydration. Cytotoxicity and cell viability were measured at different time intervals. Additionally, structural changes of dehydrated cells were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy.

Results

According to our results, both dehydration and hyperthermia were cytotoxic to HT-29 cells. However, while dehydration reduced cell viability, hyperthermia did not. However, dehydration effects on cell viability were significantly increased when combined with hyperthermia (p<0.01).

Conclusions

Changes to the physiological milieu of the peritoneal cavity could significantly reduce PM. Therefore, limited dehydration of the abdominal cavity might be a feasible, additional tool in PM treatment. Further studies are required to investigate dehydration effects and their applicability in PM management.
The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation in Children With Asthma: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hao Meiqi , Xu Ruoxin , Luo Nachuan , Liu Miaowen , Xie Junping , Zhang Wenxiong
Published: June 2022

Background

An increasing number of studies have suggested that vitamin D can be used to treat childhood asthma, but its clinical effects are still unclear. We conducted this meta-analysis to examine the latest estimates of the effectiveness and safety of using vitamin D to treat childhood asthma.

Methods

The PubMed, The Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, Embase, Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) describing vitamin D supplementation interventions for asthmatic children. Asthma exacerbation, vitamin D levels, the predicted percentage of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1%) and adverse effects (AEs) were analyzed as the main outcome measures.

Results

After screening, eight RCTs with 738 children were included. Compared with placebos, vitamin D supplementation had a stronger effect on serum vitamin D levels [mean difference (MD) = 13.51 (4.24, 22.79), p = 0.004]. The pooled results indicated that no significant changes were found between the groups in asthma control, as measured by adopting the following indicators: asthma exacerbation [risk ratio (RR) = 0.92 (0.68, 1.25), p = 0.60]; Childhood Asthma Control Test (CACT) scores [MD = 0.15 (−0.43, 0.74), p = 0.61]; hospitalizations for asthma exacerbation [RR = 1.20 (0.48, 2.96), p = 0.70]; acute care visits [RR = 1.13 (0.77, 1.65), p = 0.63]; steroid use [RR = 1.03 (0.41, 2.57), p = 0.95]; and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) [MD =-3.95 (−22.87, 14.97), p = 0.68]. However, vitamin D supplementation might reduce the FEV1% [MD = −4.77 (−9.35, −0.19), p = 0.04] and the percentage of predicted forced vital capacity (FVC%) [MD =-5.01 (−9.99, −0.02), p = 0.05] in patients. Subgroup analysis revealed no difference in AEs between the two groups.

Conclusions

Vitamin D supplementation significantly increased patients' serum vitamin D levels, but it had no benefit for asthma control. However, vitamin D supplementation might reduce patients' lung function. It is essential to systemically search for more large-scale, rigorous, and well-designed RCTs to fully confirm these conclusions.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021288838, PROSPERO CRD42021288838.
Traditional Uses of Animals in the Himalayan Region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Authors: Faiz Maryam , Altaf Muhammad , Umair Muhammad , Almarry Khalid S. , Elbadawi Yahya B. , Abbasi Arshad Mehmood
Published: June 2022

Background:The use of animals and animal-derived products in ethnopharmacological applications is an ancient human practice that continues in many regions today. The local people of the Himalayan region harbor rich traditional knowledge used to treat a variety of human ailments. The present study was intended with the aim of examining animal-based traditional medicine utilized by the population of the Himalayan region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Methods:Data were collected from 2017 to 2019 through individual and group interviews. Data on traditional uses of animal products were analyzed, utilizing following indices such as the frequency of citation, use value, relative importance, similarity index, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis to find the highly preferred species in the area.

Results:Ethnomedicinal uses of 62 species of vertebrates and invertebrates were documented. Flesh, fat, bone, whole body, milk, skin, egg, head, feathers, bile, blood, and honey were all used in these applications. The uses of 25 animals are reported here for the first time from the study area (mainly insects and birds, including iconic species like the kalij pheasant,Lophura leucomelanos; Himalayan monal,L. impejanus; and western tragopon,Tragopan melanocephalus). The diversity and range of animal-based medicines utilized in these communities are indications of their strong connections with local ecosystems.

Conclusion:Our results provide baseline data valuable for the conservation of vertebrate and invertebrate diversity in the region of Himalayan of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It is possible that screening this fauna for medicinally active chemicals could contribute to the development of new animal-based drugs.
Propagation and Focusing Properties of Vortex Beams Based on Light Ray Tracing
Authors: Cai Meng-Qiang , Wang Qiang , Li Yong-Nan , Tu Cheng-Hou
Published: June 2022

By using the ray-tracing method based on geometric optics, we studied the propagating and focusing characteristics of vortex beams with a top-hat intensity distribution. An intuitive mathematical model is established for the propagation and focusing of vortex beams, revealing the mechanisms and physics underlying the spatial evolution, e.g., the dark spot formation in the center of a vortex beam, the relationship between the radius of the dark spot and the propagation distance, and the rotational angle varying with the propagation distance for an azimuthal asymmetric vortex beam. The experimental observations are consistent with theoretical predictions. The results and findings are helpful in intuitively understanding the propagation and evolution of specific vortex beams; therefore, they are of significance for explorations of the novel properties of twisted vortex beams and their applications.
Real-Time Reconstruction of the Complex Field of Phase Objects Based on Off-Axis Interferometry
Authors: Li Xiang , Qin Guanyuan , Yu Wenhui , Li Huixian , Hu Rui , Qu Junle , Liu Liwei
Published: June 2022

Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) can acquire dynamic data from living cells without the need for physical contact. We presented a real-time and stable dynamic imaging system for recording complex fields of transparent samples by using Fourier transform based on off-axis interferometry. We calculated and removed the system phase without sample to obtain the real phase of the sample, so as to ensure that the system has the ability to accurately measure the phase. The temporal and spatial phase sensitivity of the system was evaluated. Benefit from the ability to record the dynamic phase and phase profile of a specimen, a standard sample (polystyrene microspheres) is investigated to demonstrate the efficiency of this imaging system and we have observed the variation of erythrocyte membrane during Red Blood Cells (RBCs) spontaneous hemolysis with different mediums. Experimental results indicate that the phase of non-anticoagulant RBC changed apparently than anticoagulant RBC and the system could be applied to real-time noninvasive and label-free identification of living cells.
New Enclosure for in vivo Medical Imaging of Zebrafish With Vital Signs Monitoring
Authors: Magalhães A. C. M. , Correia P. M. M. , Oliveira R. G. , Encarnação P. M. C. C. , Domingues I. , Veloso J. F. C. A. , Silva A. L. M.
Published: June 2022

Lately, the use of zebrafish has gained increased interest in the scientific community as an animal model in preclinical research. However, there is a lack of in vivo imaging tools that ensure animal welfare during acquisition procedures. The use of functional imaging techniques, like Positron Emission Tomography (PET), in zebrafish is limited since it requires the animal to be alive, representing a higher instrumentation complexity when compared to morphological imaging systems. In the present work, a new zebrafish enclosure was developed to acquire in vivo images while monitoring the animal’s welfare through its heartbeat. The temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH range in a closed aquatic environment were tested to ensure that the conditions stay suitable for animal welfare during image acquisitions. The developed system, based on an enclosure with a bed and heartbeat sensors, was tested under controlled conditions in anesthetized fishes. Since the anesthetized zebrafish do not affect the water quality over time, there is no need to incorporate water circulation for the expected time of PET exams (about 30 min). The range of values obtained for the zebrafish heart rate was 88–127 bpm. The developed system has shown promising results regarding the zebrafish’s heart rate while keeping the fish still during the long imaging exams. The zebrafish enclosure ensures the animal’s well-being during the acquisition of in vivo images in different modalities (PET, Computer Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging), contributing substantially to the preclinical research.
On the Compatibility of Fish Meal Replacements in Aquafeeds for Rainbow Trout. A Combined Metabolomic, Proteomic and Histological Study
Authors: Palomba Antonio , Melis Riccardo , Biosa Grazia , Braca Angela , Pisanu Salvatore , Ghisaura Stefania , Caimi Christian , Biasato Ilaria , Oddon Sara Bellezza , Gasco Laura , Terova Genciana , Moroni Federico , Antonini Micaela , Pagnozzi Daniela , Anedda Roberto
Published: June 2022

The sustainable development of modern aquaculture must rely on a significant reduction of the fish meal (FM) used in aquafeed formulations. However, FM substitution with alternative ingredients in diets for carnivorous fish species often showed reduced nutrient absorption, significantly perturbed metabolisms, and histological changes at both hepatic and intestinal levels. In the present study, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were fed three different experimental aquafeeds. A control diet with higher FM content (27.3%) than two test formulations in which FM was substituted with two more sustainable and promising alternatives: insect meal (Hermetia illucens larvae = 10.1%, FM = 11.6%) and poultry by-products meal (PBM = 14.8%; FM = 11.7%). Combined metabolomics and proteomics analyses of fish liver, together with histological examination of liver and intestine demonstrated that a well-balanced formulation of nutrients in the three diets allowed high metabolic compatibility of either substitution, paving the way for a deeper understanding of the impact of novel raw materials for the fish feed industry. Results show that the main metabolic pathways of nutrient absorption and catabolism were essentially unaltered by alternative feed ingredients, and also histological alterations were negligible. It is demonstrated that the substitution of FM with sustainable alternatives does not have a negative impact on fish metabolism, as long as the nutritional requirements of rainbow trout are fulfilled.
Genome-Guided Analysis of Seven Weed Species Reveals Conserved Sequence and Structural Features of Key Gene Targets for Herbicide Development
Authors: Shah Sarah , Lonhienne Thierry , Murray Cody-Ellen , Chen Yibi , Dougan Katherine E. , Low Yu Shang , Williams Craig M. , Schenk Gerhard , Walter Gimme H. , Guddat Luke W. , Chan Cheong Xin
Published: June 2022

Herbicides are commonly deployed as the front-line treatment to control infestations of weeds in native ecosystems and among crop plants in agriculture. However, the prevalence of herbicide resistance in many species is a major global challenge. The specificity and effectiveness of herbicides acting on diverse weed species are tightly linked to targeted proteins. The conservation and variance at these sites among different weed species remain largely unexplored. Using novel genome data in a genome-guided approach, 12 common herbicide-target genes and their coded proteins were identified from seven species of Weeds of National Significance in Australia: Alternanthera philoxeroides (alligator weed), Lycium ferocissimum (African boxthorn), Senecio madagascariensis (fireweed), Lantana camara (lantana), Parthenium hysterophorus (parthenium), Cryptostegia grandiflora (rubber vine), and Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth). Gene and protein sequences targeted by the acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors and glyphosate were recovered. Compared to structurally resolved homologous proteins as reference, high sequence conservation was observed at the herbicide-target sites in the ALS (target for ALS inhibitors), and in 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase (target for glyphosate). Although the sequences are largely conserved in the seven phylogenetically diverse species, mutations observed in the ALS proteins of fireweed and parthenium suggest resistance of these weeds to ALS-inhibiting and other herbicides. These protein sites remain as attractive targets for the development of novel inhibitors and herbicides. This notion is reinforced by the results from the phylogenetic analysis of the 12 proteins, which reveal a largely consistent vertical inheritance in their evolutionary histories. These results demonstrate the utility of high-throughput genome sequencing to rapidly identify and characterize gene targets by computational methods, bypassing the experimental characterization of individual genes. Data generated from this study provide a useful reference for future investigations in herbicide discovery and development.
Open Science for Accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals: Status and Prospects in Asia and the Pacific
Authors: Camkin Jeff , Neto Susana , Bhattarai Basundhara , Ojha Hemant , Khan Shahbaz , Sugiura Ai , Lin Jiaying , Nurritasari Fitrie Atviana , Karanja Joseph Muiruri
Published: June 2022

Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is increasingly challenging due to widening inequality in access to scientific and technological knowledge and resources. With science remaining too discipline based, and policymakers too often science averse, there is a need for greater understanding of the opportunities and challenges of open science for science practitioners, policy makers and communities. Acknowledging that open science can be a powerful tool to reduce inequalities, UNESCO has been supporting the shift to open science. Following global multistakeholder consultation, the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science was adopted in November 2021, establishing a universal definition, common standards and shared set of values and principles. In 2021, the UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific partnered with the Institute for Study and Development Worldwide on local and national mapping to identify implementation strategies and mechanisms already in place to enable open science in Asia and the Pacific, and to identify what more is needed. Focused on Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Pakistan, Samoa and Uzbekistan, the study showed that while there are many examples of good practice in aspects of open science, none of the focus countries currently has in place all the policies, infrastructure, awareness and capacity building needed. Typically, clear policies on open science have not yet been articulated and funding mechanisms not yet established. Trust is a key pre-requisite for open science. Current inequities in access to open science infrastructure will need to be addressed or implementation may be unbalanced, exacerbating existing inequities at national, regional, and global scales. There are many opportunities to learn from existing efforts toward open science, but there will be no generic model; each country will need to design an open science model and implementation pathway suited to its context. A predominant message from this research was that the convening power of UNESCO should continue to be harnessed to engage countries on open science implementation. Further, those committed to open science will need to work hard, with UNESCO, to democratize science and encourage an ethos of “policy for science, science for policy - science for society and society for science”.
Exploring the Influencing Paths of Villagers’ Participation in the Creation of Micro-Landscapes: An Integrative Model of Theory of Planned Behavior and Norm Activation Theory
Authors: Cheng Huishan , Rui Quanquan , Yu Kunyong , Li Xiaohe , Liu Jian
Published: June 2022

Villager participation has become a key breakthrough in rural landscape governance. Using the theory of planned behavior and the norm activation theory as frameworks, this study adopts the structural equation model to explore the influencing mechanism of villager participation in rural micro-landscapes based on data gathered from 414 villagers in a rural micro-landscape construction survey in Jinjiang, China. The results indicate that (1) integrated planned behavior theory and norm activation theory can better explain the influencing mechanism of villagers’ participation in rural micro-landscape construction; (2) perception, norm, attitude, and control dimensions significantly influence villagers’ participation behavior intention. The attitude dimension had the greatest influence, followed by the normative and control dimensions, while the perception dimension had the least influence on the procedure; and (3) according to the mediation results, natural environment perception, social environment perception, personal norm, social norm, participation attitude, result awareness, and self-efficacy all exert indirect effects on participation behavior based on villagers’ participation behavioral intention. The largest median effect value was result awareness, followed by personal norm, participation attitude, natural environment awareness, self-efficacy, and social norm. This study expands the theoretical framework and research content of planned behavior and clarifies the mechanism of the influencing factors of villagers’ participation in rural micro-landscapes, extending the theory of planned behavior to the research field of villagers’ participation, which has a guiding role in promoting the co-construction, co-governance, and sharing of rural landscapes.
Chinese English as a Foreign Language Learners’ Individual Differences and Their Willingness to Communicate
Authors: Cheng Ling , Xu Jieping
Published: June 2022

One of the most significant issues in the success of language students is communication skills. Due to the high importance of the willingness to communicate in foreign language learning, many researchers are looking for effective factors in raising the level of communication among language learners. Reviewing the literature, the researchers explored the role of language learners’ gender, major, age, and proficiency level in their willingness to communicate. To gather the necessary data, the researcher administered a willingness to communicate questionnaire among 860 Chinese english as a foreign language (EFL) students. The results of data analyses demonstrated that gender, major, and age played a significant role in determining language learners’ willingness to communicate. However, the findings showed that learners’ willingness to communicate could be different in all proficiency levels. The results showed that taking into account factors such as students’ gender, background, and age directly helps to improve the willingness to communicate among language learners. Finally, solutions to improve the willingness to communicate are provided.
Retrieval Practices Enhance Computational and Scientific Thinking Skills
Authors: Yaşar Osman , Maliekal Jose , Veronesi Peter , Little Leigh , Meise Michael , Yeter Ibrahim H.
Published: June 2022

The notion of teaching experts’ habits of mind (e.g., computational thinking and scientific thinking) to novices seems to have inspired many educators and researchers worldwide. In particular, a great deal of efforts has been invested in computational thinking (CT) and its manifestations in different fields. However, there remain some troubling spots in CT education as far as how to teach it at different levels of education. The same argument applies to teaching scientific thinking (ST) skills. A remedy has been suggested to narrow CT and ST skillsets down to core cognitive competencies so they can be introduced in early and middle grades and continue to be nurtured during secondary and post-secondary years. Neuroscientists suggest that theact of (computational) thinkingis strongly linked to the acts of informationstorage/retrievalby our brain. Plus, years of research have shown that retrieval practices promote not only knowledge retention but also inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning. Not surprisingly, these reasoning skills are core elements of both CT and ST skillsets. This article will mesh the findings of a teacher professional development with the existing literature to lay a claim that retrieval practices enhance CT and ST skills. The study offered training to secondary school teachers (n = 275) who conducted classroom action research to measure the impact of retrieval practices on teaching and learning of STEM and CT concepts. We used a quasi-experimental research design with purposeful sampling and a sequential mixed-methods approach focusing on the impact of professional development on teacher outcomes and, in turn, on student outcomes. A survey of teacher participants showed that the majority (96%) of survey respondents (n = 232) reported a good understanding of retrieval strategies, and how relevant ideas can be implemented and tested in the classroom. A large number of action research (target-control) studies by teachers (n = 122) showed that students who learned STEM and CS concepts through retrieval practices consistently scored 5–30% higher than those using the usual blocked practice. In most cases, the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). While the study contributes to retrieval practices literature, those looking for best practices to teach core CT and ST skills should benefit from it the most. The study concludes with some recommendations for future research based on the limitations of its current findings.
Cognitive-Behavioral Differences Between Officials and Folks in China's Targeted Poverty Alleviation: An Evolutionary Game Theory Perspective
Authors: Chen Zhi , Yang Chao
Published: June 2022

China has historically eliminated absolute poverty and built a comprehensive well-off society through targeted poverty alleviation, at the end of which, however, many issues are worthy of scholars' attention kept emerging. A significant one was cognitive-behavioral differences between officials and folks regarding the procedure, standards, and methods of removing the poverty hats, which formed a new social dilemma called the official-folk game. Officials did not carry out targeted poverty alleviation work in strict accordance with the criteria specified by the government. In comparison, folks who have reached poverty elimination standards were unwilling to take off their poverty hats after targeted assistance due to the fear of returning to poverty. To fully explain this social dilemma, this study analyzes the causes of cognitive-behavioral differences between officials and folks in China's targeted poverty alleviation from the perspective of evolutionary game theory. The results show that bounded rational officials and folks will eventually get caught up in the prisoner's dilemma without exogenous factors' intervention. Furthermore, the study proposes that the government establish reasonable punishment, incentives, and supervision mechanisms to guide officials and folks and eliminate their cognitive-behavioral differences by investigating the influence of exogenous policy factors on the evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) of the official-folk game. This finding not only reveals the formation mechanism of the cognitive-behavioral differences between officials and folks and presents an effective solution at the individual level but also provides a reference for other developing countries to overcome similar social dilemmas in the process of eliminating absolute poverty.
Area Deprivation Index as a Surrogate of Resilience in Aging and Dementia
Authors: Vassilaki Maria , Petersen Ronald C. , Vemuri Prashanthi
Published: June 2022

Area deprivation index (ADI), a tool used to capture the multidimensional neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage across populations, is highly relevant to the field of aging and Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease related dementias (AD/ADRD). ADI is specifically relevant in the context of resilience, a broad term used to explain why some older adults have better cognitive outcomes than others. The goal of this mini-review is three-fold: (1) to summarize the current literature on ADI and its link to cognitive impairment outcomes; (2) suggest possible mechanisms through which ADI may have an impact on AD/ADRD outcomes, and (3) discuss important considerations when studying relations between ADI and cognitive as well as brain health. Though difficult to separate both the upstream factors that emerge from high (worse) ADI and all the mechanisms at play, ADI is an attractive proxy of resilience that captures multifactorial contributors to the risk of dementia. In addition, a life-course approach to studying ADI may allow us to capture resilience, which is a process developed over the lifespan. It might be easier to build, preserve or improve resilience in an environment that facilitates instead of hindering physical, social, and cognitively beneficial activities. Neighborhood disadvantage can adversely impact cognitive impairment risk but be at the same time a modifiable risk factor, amenable to policy changes that can affect communities.
The Effect of Coronavirus Exposure on CEO Perceptions of Climate Change
Authors: Zhang Jin , Liu Yong
Published: June 2022

CEOs’ personal experiences can influence their perceptions of climate change and their firms’ pro-environmental behavior; a concept termed the experience-perception link. Thus, the experience of the recent COVID-19 pandemic may have caused a change in CEOs’ perceptions of another global threat—climate change. We test this hypothesis by comparing survey measures of climate risk perceptions, self-efficacy, and pro-environmental behaviors among 605 randomly selected CEOs in Wuhan across three phases—(1) before, (2) after the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, and (3) after the COVID-19 had been primarily controlled in Wuhan but was declared a pandemic by the WHO. Harnessing between- and within-subjects variation in COVID-19 exposure, we find a substantial increase in climate change beliefs and actions after the COVID-19 evolved from an epidemic to a pandemic, regardless of subjects’ exposure to the pandemic. We also demonstrate that this change is due to the salience of the global crisis and the feeling of hope elicited by observing effective responses to the crisis, rather than personal experiences solely made from a local health crisis. Our results reveal unexpectedly positive side effects of the abrupt shifts in CEOs’ beliefs and their firms’ pro-environmental behaviors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mother-Child Social Cognition Among Multicultural Families in South Korea
Authors: Lee Joohee , Choi Kee-Hong
Published: June 2022

Objective

Despite the rapidly growing number of multicultural families in South Korea, factors influencing parenting and mother-child interactions have not been well-understood. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to have examined how maternal social-cognitive capacity is associated with children's social cognition (e.g., theory of mind and emotion recognition) among multicultural families dwelling in South Korea.

Methods

Forty-seven multicultural mother-child dyads were recruited. The comprehensive measures on social cognition were administered to both the mothers and children, and social functioning and emotion regulation were administered to the children.

Results

A series of hierarchical regressions indicated that mothers' social cognition significantly explained children's ability to recognize static and dynamic emotional expressions, accounting for 27 and 34% of the variance, respectively. Furthermore, mothers' social cognition was significantly correlated to children's social functioning and emotion regulation. However, mothers' social cognition and children's theory of mind were non-significantly related.

Discussion

The current study examined the effects of social cognition of immigrant mothers on their children's socio-emotional development. As the findings indicated an important role of maternal factors (i.e., social cognition) for children's social cognition and their functions, psycho-social approaches (e.g., social cognition parenting education and training) should be incorporated in services for multicultural families.
Mapping Knowledge Structure and Global Research Trends in Gout: A Bibliometric Analysis From 2001 to 2021
Authors: Wen Pengfei , Luo Pan , Zhang Binfei , Zhang Yumin
Published: June 2022

Background

The incidence and prevalence of gout have been steadily increasing globally, which has resulted in gout research attracting consistently increased attention. This study aimed to visualize the knowledge structure and research trends in gout research through bibliometrics to help understand the future development of basic and clinical research.

Methods

Articles and reviews on gout from 2001 to 2021 were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection database. CiteSpace and VOSviewer software were used to visualize the knowledge network of countries, institutions, authors, references, and keywords in this field. SPSS and Microsoft Excel software were used for curve fitting and correlation analysis.

Results

A total of 3,259 articles and reviews were included. The number of publications about gout significantly increased yearly. Publications were mainly concentrated in North America, Europe, Oceania, and East Asia. The USA contributed most with 1,025 publications, followed by China and New Zealand. After adjusting for publications by population size and Gross Domestic Product (GDP), New Zealand ranked in the first place. GDP and international collaboration were significantly correlated with scientific productivity for gout research. University of Auckland and Professor Dalbeth Nicola were the most prolific institutions and influential authors, respectively. Rheumatology was the most productive journal for gout research. Gout research hotspots have shifted over time in the following order: clinical features, pathological mechanisms, complications, gouty arthritis, epidemiology, and dual-energy computed tomography to drug clinical trials, which can be observed from the keyword analysis and co-cited reference cluster analysis.

Conclusions

This study found that research on gout is flourishing. The development and experimentation of drugs for the prevention and treatment of gouty arthritis would be the focus of current research and developmental trends in future research.