bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Identification of DOF Gene Family and the Mechanism Dissection of SbDof21 Regulating Starch Biosynthesis in Sorghum
Authors: Xiao Qianlin , Liu Tingting , Ling Min , Ma Qiannan , Cao Wan , Xing Fangyu , Huang Tianhui , Zhang Yingyi , Duan Hong , Liu Zhizhai
Published: October 2022

Starch is one of the main utilization products of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), the fifth largest cereal crop in the world. Up to now, the regulation mechanism of starch biosynthesis is rarely documented in sorghum. In the present study, we identified 30 genes encoding the C2-C2 zinc finger domain (DOF), with one to three exons in the sorghum genome. The DOF proteins of sorghum were divided into two types according to the results of sequence alignment and evolutionary analysis. Based on gene expressions and co-expression analysis, we identified a regulatory factor, SbDof21, that was located on chromosome 5. SbDof21 contained two exons, encoding a 36.122 kD protein composed of 340 amino acids. SbDof21 co-expressed with 15 genes involved in the sorghum starch biosynthesis pathway, and the Pearson correlation coefficients (PCCs) with 11 genes were greater than 0.9. The results of qRT-PCR assays indicated that SbDof21 is highly expressed in sorghum grains, exhibiting low relative expression levels in the tissues of roots, stems and leaves. SbDOF21 presented as a typical DOF transcription factor (TF) that was localized to the nucleus and possessed transcriptional activation activity. Amino acids at positions 182–231 of SbDOF21 formed an important structure in its activation domain. The results of EMSA showed that SbDOF21 could bind to four tandem repeats of P-Box (TGTAAAG) motifs in vitro, such as its homologous proteins of ZmDOF36, OsPBF and TaPBF. Meanwhile, we also discovered that SbDOF21 could bind and transactivate SbGBSSI, a key gene in sorghum amylose biosynthesis. Collectively, the results of the present study suggest that SbDOF21 acts as an important regulator in sorghum starch biosynthesis, exhibiting potential values for the improvement of starch contents in sorghum.
Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR) and Human Leucocyte Antigen C (HLA-C) Increase the Risk of Long-Term Chronic Liver Graft Rejection
Authors: Legaz Isabel , Bolarín Jose Miguel , Campillo Jose Antonio , Moya-Quiles María R. , Miras Manuel , Muro Manuel , Minguela Alfredo , Álvarez-López María R.
Published: October 2022

Chronic liver rejection (CR) represents a complex clinical situation because many patients do not respond to increased immunosuppression. Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors/Class I Human Leukocyte Antigens (KIR/HLA-I) interactions allow for predicting Natural Killer (NK) cell alloreactivity and influence the acute rejection of liver allograft. However, its meaning in CR liver graft remains controversial. KIR and HLA genotypes were studied in 513 liver transplants using sequence-specific oligonucleotides (PCR-SSO) methods. KIRs, human leucocyte antigen C (HLA-C) genotypes, KIR gene mismatches, and the KIR/HLA-ligand were analyzed and compared in overall transplants with CR (n = 35) and no-chronic rejection (NCR = 478). Activating KIR (aKIR) genes in recipients (rKIR2DS2+ and rKIR2DS3+) increased CR compared with NCR groups (p = 0.013 and p = 0.038). The inhibitory KIR (iKIR) genes in recipients rKIR2DL2+ significantly increased the CR rate compared with their absence (9.1% vs. 3.7%, p = 0.020). KIR2DL3 significantly increases CR (13.1% vs. 5.2%; p = 0.008). There was no influence on NCR. CR was observed in HLA-I mismatches (MM). The absence of donor (d) HLA-C2 ligand (dC2−) ligand increases CR concerning their presence (13.1% vs. 5.6%; p = 0.018). A significant increase of CR was observed in rKIR2DL3+/dC1− (p = 0.015), rKIR2DS4/dC1− (p = 0.014) and rKIR2DL3+/rKIR2DS4+/dC1− (p = 0.006). Long-term patient survival was significantly lower in rKIR2DS1+rKIR2DS4+/dC1− at 5–10 years post-transplant. This study shows the influence of rKIR/dHLA-C combinations and aKIR gene-gene mismatches in increasing CR and KIR2DS1+/C1-ligands and the influence of KIR2DS4+/C1-ligands in long-term graft survival.
Temperature Rise Inside Shear Bands in a Simple Model Glass
Authors: Lagogianni Alexandra E. , Varnik Fathollah
Published: October 2022

One of the key factors, which hampers the application of metallic glasses as structural components, is the localization of deformation in narrow bands of a few tens up to one hundred nanometers thickness, the so-called shear bands. Processes, which occur inside shear bands are of central importance for the question whether a catastrophic failure of the material is unavoidable or can be circumvented or, at least, delayed. Via molecular dynamics simulations, this study addresses one of these processes, namely the local temperature rise due to viscous heat generation. The major contribution to energy dissipation is traced back to the plastic work performed by shear stress during steady deformation. Zones of largest strain contribute the most to this process and coincide with high-temperature domains (hottest spots) inside the sample. Magnitude of temperature rise can reach a few percent of the sample’s glass transition temperature. Consequences of these observations are discussed in the context of the current research in the field.
Combined Hybridization and Evaluation of High-Lysine Rice: Nutritional and Physicochemical Qualities and Field Performance
Authors: Ye Ying , Tan Yan , Meng Yuquan , You Qi , Zhao Dongsheng , Yang Qingqing
Published: October 2022

Rice, as a major food crop, provides necessary energy and nutrition for humans and livestock. However, its nutritional value is affected by lysine. Using point mutation, we previously obtained AK2 (aspartokinase) and DHDPS1 (dihydrodipicolinate synthase) genes insensitive to lysine feedback inhibition and constructed transgenic lines AK2-52 and DHDPS1-22, which show increased lysine synthesis, as well as Ri-12, which shows decreased lysine degradation by inhibiting rice lysine ketoglutarate reductase/saccharopine dehydrogenase (LKR/SDH) activity. In this study, further transgenic lines were hybridized and evaluated. The lysine content of mature seeds from pyramid lines PRD and PRA increased 32.5- and 29.8-fold, respectively, compared with the wild-type, while the three-gene pyramiding line PRDA had a moderate lysine content. The total lysine, total free lysine, and total protein contents of PRD and PRA also increased and had no obvious impact on the physical and chemical quality, seed appearance, and main agronomic traits. Meanwhile, comparative analysis with polygenic polymeric lines GR containing bacterial AK (lysC) and DHDPS (dapA) genes revealed differences in the way bacterial and endogenous rice AK and DHDPS regulate lysine biosynthesis. These results provide a reference for further evaluation and commercialization of high-lysine transgenic rice.
Association between Insertion-Deletion Polymorphism of the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Gene and Treatment Response to Antipsychotic Medications: A Study of Antipsychotic-Naïve First-Episode Psychosis Patients and Nonadherent Chronic Psychosis Patients
Authors: Nadalin Sergej , Dević Pavlić Sanja , Peitl Vjekoslav , Karlović Dalibor , Zatković Lena , Ristić Smiljana , Buretić-Tomljanović Alena , Jakovac Hrvoje
Published: October 2022

We investigated whether a functional insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) influenced antipsychotic treatment. At baseline, and after 8 weeks of treatment with various antipsychotic medications, we assessed patients’ Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores, PANSS factors, and metabolic-syndrome-related parameters (fasting plasma lipid and glucose levels, and body mass index). A total of 186 antipsychotic-naïve first-episode psychosis patients or nonadherent chronic psychosis individuals (99 males and 87 females) were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction analysis. The ACE-I/D polymorphism was significantly associated with changes in PANSS psychopathology only (p < 0.05). Compared to ACE-II homozygous males, ACE-DD homozygous and ACE-ID heterozygous males manifested significantly greater decreases in PANSS positive score, PANSS excitement factor, and PANSS cognitive factor. ACE-DD homozygous females manifested higher decreases in PANSS depression factor compared to ACE-II homozygous and ACE-ID heterozygous females. The polymorphism’s effect size was estimated as moderate to strong, while its contribution to the PANSS psychopathology ranged from ~5.4 to 8.7%, with the lowest contribution observed for PANSS positive score changes and the highest for PANSS depressive factor changes. Our results indicate that ACE-I/D polymorphism had a statistically significant but weak gender-specific impact on psychopathology data, and showed no association between ACE-I/D polymorphism and metabolic-syndrome-related parameters.
The Emerging Role of Extracellular Vesicles and Autophagy Machinery in NASH—Future Horizons in NASH Management
Authors: Trifylli Eleni-Myrto , Kriebardis Anastasios G. , Koustas Evangelos , Papadopoulos Nikolaos , Deutsch Melanie , Aloizos Georgios , Fortis Sotirios P. , Papageorgiou Effie G. , Tsagarakis Ariadne , Manolakopoulos Spilios
Published: October 2022

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the most frequent chronic hepatic disease in the general population, while it is the first cause of liver transplantation in the US. NAFLD patients will subsequently develop non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is characterized by aberrant hepatocellular inflammation with or without the presence of fibrosis. The lack of specific biomarkers and therapeutic strategies makes non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) management a difficult task for clinicians. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) constitute a heterogenic population of vesicles produced by inward or outward plasma-membrane budding. There is an emerging connection between autophagy EVs production, via an unconventional non-degradative procedure. Alterations in the amount of the secreted EVs and the cargo they carry are also involved in the disease progression and development of NASH. Autophagy constitutes a multistep lysosomal degradative pathway that reassures cell homeostasis and survival under stressful conditions, such as oxygen and energy deprivation. It prevents cellular damage by eliminating defected proteins or nοn-functional intracellular organelles. At the same time, it reassures the optimal conditions for the cells via a different mechanism that includes the removal of cargo via the secretion of EVs. Similarly, autophagy machinery is also associated with the pathogenetic mechanism of NAFLD, while it has a significant implication for the progression of the disease and the development of NASH. In this review, we will shed light on the interplay between autophagy and EVs in NASH, the emerging connection of EVs production with the autophagy pathway, and their possible manipulation for developing future therapeutic strategies for NASH.
Identity, Prevalence, and Pathogenicity of Entomopathogenic Fungi Infecting Invasive Polistes (Vespidae: Polistinae) Paper Wasps in New Zealand
Authors: Reason Aiden , Bulgarella Mariana , Lester Philip J.
Published: October 2022

Two species of entomogenous fungi were discovered infecting the invasive paper wasp Polistes chinensis during an ecological study on Farewell Spit, New Zealand. We sequenced two nuclear ribosomal RDNA genes, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the small ribosomal subunit 18S, and one protein-coding gene, the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (ef1 α). Combining sequence information with morphological examination, we identified these species as Beauveria malawiensis and Ophiocordyceps humbertii. We estimated that these fungi produce infection in approximately 3.3% of colonies in our study population. In bioassays, we successfully infected P. chinensis individuals from healthy colonies with B. malawiensis, with significant effects on adult mortality. This is the first record of both B. malawiensis and O. humbertii from Polistine hosts in New Zealand, and the first investigation into disease causality by these pathogens in P. chinensis. Our findings may contribute to the future development of biological control agents for paper wasps in New Zealand and elsewhere around the world.
Risk Assessment on the Release of Wolbachia-Infected Aedes aegypti in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Authors: Buchori Damayanti , Mawan Amanda , Nurhayati Indah , Aryati Aryati , Kusnanto Hari , Hadi Upik Kesumawati
Published: October 2022

Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti is the latest technology that was developed to eliminate dengue fever. The Ministry of Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenristekdikti) established an expert group to identify future potential risks that may occur over a period of 30 years associated with the release of Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti. The risk assessment consisted of identifying different hazards that may have impacts on humans and the environment. From the consensus among the experts, there were 56 hazards identified and categorized into 4 components, namely, ecological matters, efficacy in mosquito management, economic and sociocultural issues, and public health standards. There were 19 hazards in the ecological group. The overall likelihood in the ecology of the mosquito is very low (0.05), with moderate consequence (0.74), which resulted in negligible risk. For the efficacy in mosquito management group, there were 12 hazards that resulted in very low likelihood (0.11) with high consequence (0.85). The overall risk for mosquito management efficacy was very low (0.09). There were 14 hazards identified in the public health standard with very low likelihood (0.07), moderate consequence (0.50) and negligible risk (0.04). Lastly, 13 hazards were identified in the economic and sociocultural group with low likelihood (0.01) but of moderate consequence (0.5), which resulted in a very low risk (0.09). The risk severity level of the four components leading to the endpoint risk of “cause more harm” due to releasing Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti is negligible (0.01).
Osteoarthritis: New Insight on Its Pathophysiology
Authors: Coaccioli Stefano , Sarzi-Puttini Piercarlo , Zis Panagiotis , Rinonapoli Giuseppe , Varrassi Giustino
Published: October 2022

Understanding of the basis of osteoarthritis (OA) has seen some interesting advancements in recent years. It has been observed that cartilage degeneration is preceded by subchondral bone lesions, suggesting a key role of this mechanism within the pathogenesis and progression of OA, as well as the formation of ectopic bone and osteophytes. Moreover, low-grade, chronic inflammation of the synovial lining has gained a central role in the definition of OA physiopathology, and central immunological mechanisms, innate but also adaptive, are now considered crucial in driving inflammation and tissue destruction. In addition, the role of neuroinflammation and central sensitization mechanisms as underlying causes of pain chronicity has been characterized. This has led to a renewed definition of OA, which is now intended as a complex multifactorial joint pathology caused by inflammatory and metabolic factors underlying joint damage. Since this evidence can directly affect the definition of the correct therapeutic approach to OA, an improved understanding of these pathophysiological mechanisms is fundamental. To this aim, this review provides an overview of the most updated evidence on OA pathogenesis; it presents the most recent insights on the pathophysiology of OA, describing the interplay between immunological and biochemical mechanisms proposed to drive inflammation and tissue destruction, as well as central sensitization mechanisms. Moreover, although the therapeutic implications consequent to the renewed definition of OA are beyond this review scope, some suggestions for intervention have been addressed.
How to Recognize and Treat Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth?
Authors: Skrzydło-Radomańska Barbara , Cukrowska Bożena
Published: October 2022

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a form of dysbiosis that involves increased bacterial colonization of the small intestine with some of the bacteria more characteristic of the colon microbiota. The prevalence of SIBO over recent decades has been estimated to range from 2.5 to 22% (depending on the source) and to increase with age and among individuals with comorbidities. Recently, an increase in the number of diagnosed SIBO cases has been observed, which is primarily due to the availability of noninvasive breath tests that facilitate the diagnostic process. However, SIBO is still both a diagnostic and a therapeutic problem. This review presents the pathophysiology, manifestations, diagnostics, and recommended management of SIBO.
Olfactory and Gustatory Outcomes Including Health-Related Quality of Life 3–6 and 12 Months after Severe-to-Critical COVID-19: A SECURe Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Arndal Elisabeth , Lebech Anne-Mette , Podlekarava Daria , Mortensen Jann , Christensen Jan , Rönsholt Frederikke F. , Lund Thomas Kromann , Katzenstein Terese L. , von Buchwald Christian
Published: October 2022

Background: Long-term follow-up studies of COVID-19 olfactory and gustatory disorders (OGDs) are scarce. OGD, parosmia, and dysgeusia affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the ability to detect potential hazards. Methods: In this study, 29 patients reporting OGD 1 month after severe-to-critical COVID-19 were tested at 3–6 months and retested at 12 months in case of hyposmia/anosmia. We used Sniffin Sticks Threshold, Discrimination, and Identification (TDI) test, Sniffin Sticks Identification Test (SIT16), Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT), taste strips, and HRQoL. The patients were part of the prospective SECURe cohort. Results: Overall, 28% OD (TDI), 12% GD, 24% parosmia, and 24% dysgeusia (questionnaire) at 3–6 months (n = 29) and 28% OD (TDI), 38% parosmia, and 25% dysgeusia (questionnaire) at 12 months (n = 8) were observed. OGD decreased HRQoL: For 13%, it had a negative effect on daily life and, for 17%, it affected nutrition, 17% reported decreased mood, and 87–90% felt unable to navigate everyday life using their sense of smell and taste. A comparison of SIT16 and BSIT to TDI found sensitivity/specificity values of 75%/100% and 88%/86%. Conclusions: This is the first study to examine TDI, SIT16, BSIT, taste strips, and HRQoL up to 1 year after severe-to-critical COVID-19. The patients suffering from prolonged OGD, parosmia, and dysgeusia experienced severely decreasing HRQoL. We recommend including ear–nose–throat specialists in multidisciplinary post-COVID clinics.
Visceral Obesity Is Associated with Shorter Progression-Free Survival in Well-Differentiated Gastro-Entero-Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasia
Authors: Santos Ana P. , Rodrigues Jessica , Henrique Rui , Cardoso M. Helena , Monteiro Mariana P.
Published: October 2022

The association of well-differentiated gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasia (WD GEP-NEN) with metabolic syndrome (MetS), abdominal obesity, and fasting glucose abnormalities was recently described. However, whether obesity and metabolic syndrome risk factors are associated with GEP-NEN adverse outcomes and the poorer prognosis was unknown. The present study aimed to evaluate whether the presence of MetS or any of its individual components at WD GEP-NEN diagnosis influenced disease outcomes. A cohort of patients with non-localized WD GEP-NETs (n = 81), was classified according to the primary tumor site (gastrointestinal or pancreatic), pathological grading (G1 (Ki67 ≤ 2%) and G2 (3% ≤ Ki67 ≤ 20%) (WHO 2010)), disease extension (loco-regional or metastatic disease), presence of hormonal secretion syndrome (functioning or non-functioning), and evaluated for the presence of MetS criteria at diagnosis. MetS was present in 48 (59.3%) patients. During a median follow-up of 95.0 months (16.8–262.5), 18 patients died of the disease (10 with MetS vs. 8 without MetS). Overall survival (OS) at 5 years was 87.1% (95% CI: 73.6–94.0) for MetS and 90.9% (95% CI: 74.4–97.0) for non-Mets group, while OS at 10 years was 72.5% (95% CI: 55.3–84.0) for MetS, and 76.4% (95% CI: 53.6–89.0) for non-MetS group. Progression-Free Survival (PFS) at 5 years was 45.9% (95% CI: 30.8–59.8) for MetS and 40.0% (95% CI: 21.3–58.1) for non-MetS group, and PFS at 10 years was 18.1% (95% CI: 7.0–33.5) for MetS and 24.4% (95% CI: 9.0–43.7) for non-MetS group. Waist circumference (WC), a surrogate measure for visceral obesity, was associated with significantly shorter PFS (HR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01–1.06), although did not influence OS (HR = 1.01; 95% CI: 0.97–1.06). The findings of this study reinforce a potential link between visceral obesity and GEP-NEN and further suggest that obesity could influence disease prognosis.
Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders Are More Prevalent in Patients with Celiac Disease: A Retrospective Case-Control Study
Authors: Dore Maria Pina , Fanciulli Giuseppe , Rouatbi Malik , Mereu Sandro , Pes Giovanni Mario
Published: October 2022

Background. Among patients with celiac disease (CD), there is an increased incidence of autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITDs), with hypothyroidism being more frequent than hyperthyroidism. This retrospective case-control study aimed to explore the prevalence of TDs in a population of adult celiac patients from Northern Sardinia, a geographic area with a high prevalence of autoimmune disorders. Methods. Data were collected from consecutive patients with CD (cases) and without CD (controls) who were undergoing upper endoscopy and referred to a tertiary gastroenterology section of a teaching hospital (University of Sassari, Italy). Thyroid disorders were stratified as (i) autoimmune: including Hashimoto’s disease in euthyroidism or with hypofunction, and Graves’ disease; or (ii) non-autoimmune: thyroid nodules/goiter, iatrogenic thyroid hypo/hyperfunction, and thyroidectomy for any reason, including cancer. Results. Among a total of 8489 participants (females 5839, 64.7%) enrolled, there were 623 (7.3%) celiac patients and 7866 controls (92.7%). The overall frequency of TDs was 1177 (13.9%) and was higher (26.0%) in celiac patients than in controls (12.9%) (p < 0.001). The difference between AITDs (15.4% vs. 7.5%) and no-AITDs (2.7% vs. 1.1%) was statistically significant in CD patients compared with controls, respectively, and prevailed in the fifth and sixth decades. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was more commonly associated with gland hypofunction. Odds ratios with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the presence of AITDs were calculated, adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, smoking habits, occupation, and residence, and they were 2.387 (95% CI 1.857–3.068, p < 0.001) in CD patients, 5.855 (95% CI 4.434–7.731, p < 0.001) for female sex, and 1.012 (95% CI, 1.007–1.017, p < 0.001) for age. Conclusion. These results suggest the need for surveillance for TDs in patients with CD at onset and during follow-up.
A Randomised Controlled Trial of YOGa and Strengthening Exercise for Knee OsteoArthritis: Protocol for a Comparative Effectiveness Trial (YOGA Trial)
Authors: Singh Ambrish , Aitken Dawn , Moonaz Steffany , Palmer Andrew J. , Blizzard Leigh , Ding Changhai , Drummen Stan , Jones Graeme , Bennell Kim , Antony Benny
Published: October 2022

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disorder for which there is no cure. Current treatments are suboptimal. Exercise is a core treatment for knee OA, with muscle strengthening exercise commonly recommended. Yoga is a mind-body exercise intervention that can improve flexibility, muscle strength, balance, and fitness and potentially reduce symptoms of OA. However, there is a scarcity of robust, high-quality conclusive evidence on the efficacy of yoga in knee OA. We are currently conducting the first randomised comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness trial of a yoga program compared with a strengthening exercise program in patients with symptomatic knee OA. This study protocol describes the design and conduct of this trial. The YOGA study is a phase III, single-centre, parallel, superiority, randomised, active-controlled trial which will be conducted in Hobart, Australia. One hundred and twenty-six participants (63 in each arm) aged over 40 years with symptomatic knee OA will be recruited from the community and randomly allocated to receive either a 24-week yoga program (3×/week) or a strengthening exercise program (3×/week). The primary outcome will be change in knee pain over 12 weeks, assessed using a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS). The secondary outcomes include change in knee pain, patient global assessment, physical function, quality of life, gait speed, biomarkers, and others over 12 and 24 weeks. We will also assess whether the presence of neuropathic pain moderates the effects of yoga compared to strengthening exercise. Additional data, such as cost and resource utilization, will be collected for the cost-effectiveness analysis. The primary analysis will be conducted using an intention-to-treat approach. Adverse events will be monitored throughout the study. Once completed, this trial will contribute to the knowledge of whether yoga can be used as a simple, effective, low-cost option for the management of knee OA, thus saving economic costs in the healthcare system.
Allium fistulosum L. Alleviates Apple Replant Disease by Suppressing Fusarium solani
Authors: Tang Weixiao , Wang Gongshuai , Chen Ran , Liu Xin , Chen Xuesen , Shen Xiang , Yin Chengmiao , Mao Zhiquan
Published: October 2022

Fusarium solani has often been isolated from replanted apple roots, suggesting that it is associated with apple replant disease. The mechanism underlying the ability of the mixed cropping of apple trees with Allium fistulosum L. to alleviate apple replant disease remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the pathogenicity of the Fusarium solani isolate HBH 08 isolated from diseased roots and the effect of A. fistulosum L. and its root secretions on Fusarium solani isolate HBH 08 and apple seedings. The field experiment showed that A. fistulosum L. not only significantly reduced the amount of the Fusarium solani isolate HBH 08 in replanted soil but also increased the biomass of the grafted apple seedlings. The GC–MS analysis indicated that dimethyl disulphide and diallyl disulphide were active molecules in the root exudates of A. fistulosum L. They inhibited the growth of the Fusarium solani isolate HBH 08 mycelium and decreased the number of spores germinated. In addition, these compounds reduced the amount of the Fusarium solani isolate HBH 08 under replanted conditions and promoted the growth of grafted apple seedlings. Overall, mixed cropping with A. fistulosum L. might be an effective approach for cultivating apple trees and controlling apple replant disease.
Motivations and Barriers to Participation in a Randomized Trial on Melanoma Genomic Risk: A Mixed-Methods Analysis
Authors: Mercado Gabriela , Newson Ainsley J. , Espinoza David ,   The Managing Your Risk Study Group, Cust Anne E. , Smit Amelia K.
Published: October 2022

The evolution of polygenic scores for use in for disease prevention and control compels the development of guidelines to optimize their effectiveness and promote equitable use. Understanding the motivations and barriers to participation in genomics research can assist in drafting these standards. We investigated these in a community-based randomized controlled trial that examined the health behavioral impact of receiving personalized melanoma genomic risk information. We examined participant responses in a baseline questionnaire and conducted interviews post-trial participation. Motivations differed in two ways: (1) by gender, with those identifying as women placing greater importance on learning about their personal risk or familial risk, and how to reduce risk; and (2) by age in relation to learning about personal risk, and fear of developing melanoma. A barrier to participation was distrust in the handling of genomic data. Our findings provide new insights into the motivations for participating in genomics research and highlight the need to better target population subgroups including younger men, which will aid in tailoring recruitment for future genomic studies.
Contrasting EfficientNet, ViT, and gMLP for COVID-19 Detection in Ultrasound Imagery
Authors: Rahhal Mohamad Mahmoud Al , Bazi Yakoub , Jomaa Rami M. , Zuair Mansour , Melgani Farid
Published: October 2022

A timely diagnosis of coronavirus is critical in order to control the spread of the virus. To aid in this, we propose in this paper a deep learning-based approach for detecting coronavirus patients using ultrasound imagery. We propose to exploit the transfer learning of a EfficientNet model pre-trained on the ImageNet dataset for the classification of ultrasound images of suspected patients. In particular, we contrast the results of EfficentNet-B2 with the results of ViT and gMLP. Then, we show the results of the three models by learning from scratch, i.e., without transfer learning. We view the detection problem from a multiclass classification perspective by classifying images as COVID-19, pneumonia, and normal. In the experiments, we evaluated the models on a publically available ultrasound dataset. This dataset consists of 261 recordings (202 videos + 59 images) belonging to 216 distinct patients. The best results were obtained using EfficientNet-B2 with transfer learning. In particular, we obtained precision, recall, and F1 scores of 95.84%, 99.88%, and 24 97.41%, respectively, for detecting the COVID-19 class. EfficientNet-B2 with transfer learning presented an overall accuracy of 96.79%, outperforming gMLP and ViT, which achieved accuracies of 93.03% and 92.82%, respectively.
The Convergence Evolution in Europe from a Complex Networks Perspective
Authors: Papadimitriou Theophilos , Gogas Periklis , Gkatzoglou Fotios
Published: October 2022

The evolution of the convergence among the European countries, including both Eurozone as well as non-Eurozone economies, is investigated in this paper. To do so, we construct correlation-based networks and study them by employing the Threshold Weighted-Minimum Dominating Set (TW–MDS) algorithm and analyzing standard quantitative performance graph theory metrics. Each country is represented by a network node, while the edges represent the cross-correlations calculated for a specific macroeconomic variable, for a given time window. To study the intertemporal evolution of the network’s interconnections, we examine its structure in three consecutive time intervals: 1999–2004, 2005–2010 and 2011–2019. The empirical findings provide a mixed pattern. The European countries exhibit a common behavior over time for some macroeconomic variables, but not for all of them.
Modeling Herbaceous Biomass for Grazing and Fire Risk Management
Authors: Rhodes Edward C. , Tolleson Douglas R. , Angerer Jay P.
Published: October 2022

Both grazing and fine fuels management are dependent on the temporal and spatial distribution of herbaceous biomass production. Rangeland and wildland fire managers can both benefit from knowing when and where there is excessive herbaceous biomass buildup. In this study, we compared modeled herbaceous biomass outputs from the Phytomass Growth Simulator (Phygrow) to observe and predict herbaceous production on desert, juniper, and pine sites on the Coconino National Forest in Arizona. Models were validated with: (a) 2 years of quarterly data, and (b) fire season-only data. The Phygrow model showed strong agreement between observed and predicted values year-round on the desert (r2 = 0.73) and pine sites (r2 = 0.69), and a lower, but positive agreement in the juniper sites (r2 = 0.54). Fire season predictions were strong for all ecosystem types (desert r2 = 0.89; juniper r2 = 0.62; pine r2 = 0.94), suggesting that the Phygrow model is well suited to provide valuable decision support information with which to address both rangeland and fire management objectives.
Eco-Environmental Effects of Changes in Territorial Spatial Pattern and Their Driving Forces in Qinghai, China (1980–2020)
Authors: Wu Xinyan , Ding Jinmei , Lu Bingjie , Wan Yuanyuan , Shi Linna , Wen Qi
Published: October 2022

As urbanization and industrialization have advanced in leaps and bounds, the territorial spatial pattern of Qinghai has experienced profound transformation and reconstruction, which has been directly reflected in land-use changes and affected the eco-environment. In this context, we constructed a functional classification system of “production-living-ecological” (PLE), used remote sensing data for six periods from 1980 to 2020, and employed the land transfer matrix, eco-environmental quality index, ecological contribution rate of land-use transformation and geographical detectors to analyze the changes in the territorial spatial patterns, eco-environmental effects and driving forces of eco-environmental quality. The results revealed that (1) the spatial distribution of the province was characterized by the relative agglomeration of the production and living spaces and the absolute dominance of ecological spaces; (2) The eco-environmental quality of the region portrayed a steady improvement, with a significant reduction in the medium–low and low-quality areas; and (3) the annual average precipitation, proportion of non-agricultural area, and socio-economic factors had a significant impact on the eco-environmental quality of the region, meanwhile, national economy and ecological policies are important indirect driving forces of eco-environmental quality. Our findings will provide guidelines for territorial spatial management and serve as a reference for eco-environmental protection in Qinghai.
Influence of the Market Supply of Construction Land on the Misallocation of Labor Resources: Empirical Evidence from China
Authors: Jiang Changjun , Li Jintao
Published: October 2022

Economic development often leads to the misallocation of labor resources, so reforming the way land is allocated is important for developing a strategy to address the insufficient supply and oversupply of labor in China. This paper uses panel regression analysis to quantitatively measure the effect of the market supply of construction land (MSCL) on labor resources misallocation (LMIS). The results show that LMIS decreased year-by-year during the study period. The development of the MSCL can effectively reduce LMIS. The negative effect of the MSCL in the central region is greater than that in the eastern region, and the negative effect in the western region is the smallest. There is a single-threshold effect on the impact of the MSCL on LMIS. Specifically, when the MSCL is less than 18,045 hectares, the impact effect is −0.324, and when the MSCL is higher than 18,045 hectares, the effect is not significant. Moreover, the impact of the MSCL on LMIS has a spatial spillover effect, which is greater than the direct effect. Labor resources tend to migrate to economically developed areas, not just adjacent areas. These conclusions are of great significance for reducing LMIS from the perspective of land system reform in China.
Citizen Science Approach for Assessing the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Potential of Urban Green Spaces in Ghana
Authors: Damptey Frederick Gyasi , Opuni-Frimpong Nana Yeboaa , Arimiyaw Abdul Wahid , Bentsi-Enchill Felicity , Wiafe Edward Debrah , Abeyie Betty Boante , Mensah Martin Kofi , Debrah Daniel Kwame , Yeboah Augustine Oti , Opuni-Frimpong Emmanuel
Published: October 2022

Urban green spaces are linked to good human health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, life on land and under water, as well as offering a platform for quality nature-based education. Their efficient management will no doubt be necessary if strides are to be made in efforts to protect biodiversity and enhance ecosystem service delivery in urban areas. This will, in part, require building the capacity of community members as citizen scientists to take up conservation roles. This study explored the levels of biodiversity and the proxy-based ecosystem service potential of urban green spaces in Sunyani, Ghana, using citizen science approaches. The green spaces accessed were the University of Energy and Natural Resources Wildlife Sanctuary and Arboretum, the Sunyani Parks and Gardens, the Sunyani Residency Park, and the Sunyani Senior High School Woodlot. The different levels of biodiversity (trees, arthropods) and ecosystem services were observed for the five green spaces assessed, with a significant relationship observed between arthropod communities and vegetation variables. Our results showed that citizen scientists perceived urban green spaces to supply more significant provisioning and regulating services than any other ecosystem services, even though they were highly dissatisfied with how green spaces are managed. The children’s perception of the composition of nature was slightly narrow, as they largely centered on plants and animals only. Even so, their awareness of the value of nature was high, as were the threats of human activities to nature. Citizen science approaches could complement biodiversity studies in data-deficient regions; however, collected data may require additional verification and validation from experts for conclusive and better inferences.
Comprehensive Phytohormone Profiling of Kohlrabi during In Vitro Growth and Regeneration: The Interplay with Cytokinin and Sucrose
Authors: Ćosić Tatjana , Motyka Václav , Raspor Martin , Sajid Sumbal , Devrnja Nina , Dobrev Petre I. , Ninković Slavica
Published: October 2022

The establishment of an efficient protocol for in vitro growth and regeneration of kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes) allowed us to closely examine the phytohormone profiles of kohlrabi seedlings at four growth stages (T1–T4), additionally including the effects of cytokinins (CKs)—trans-zeatin (transZ) and thidiazuron (TDZ)—and high sucrose concentrations (6% and 9%). Resulting phytohormone profiles showed complex time-course patterns. At the T2 stage of control kohlrabi plantlets (with two emerged true leaves), levels of endogenous CK free bases and gibberellin GA20 increased, while increases in jasmonic acid (JA), JA-isoleucine (JA-Ile), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-acetamide (IAM) peaked later, at T3. At the same time, the content of most of the analyzed IAA metabolites decreased. Supplementing growth media with CK induced de novo formation of shoots, while both CK and sucrose treatments caused important changes in most of the phytohormone groups at each developmental stage, compared to control. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that sucrose treatment, especially at 9%, had a stronger effect on the content of endogenous hormones than CK treatments. Correlation analysis showed that the dynamic balance between the levels of certain bioactive phytohormone forms and some of their metabolites could be lost or reversed at particular growth stages and under certain CK or sucrose treatments, with correlation values changing between strongly positive and strongly negative. Our results indicate that the kohlrabi phytohormonome is a highly dynamic system that changes greatly along the developmental time scale and also during de novo shoot formation, depending on exogenous factors such as the presence of growth regulators and different sucrose concentrations in the growth media, and that it interacts intensively with these factors to facilitate certain responses.
A Causal Analysis of the Effect of Age and Sex Differences on Brain Atrophy in the Elderly Brain
Authors: Gómez-Ramírez Jaime , Fernández-Blázquez Miguel A. , González-Rosa Javier J.
Published: October 2022

We studied how brain volume loss in old age is affected by age, the APOE gene, sex, and the level of education completed. The quantitative characterization of brain volume loss at an old age relative to a young age requires—at least in principle—two MRI scans, one performed at a young age and one at an old age. There is, however, a way to address this problem when having only one MRI scan obtained at an old age. We computed the total brain losses of elderly subjects as a ratio between the estimated brain volume and the estimated total intracranial volume. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 890 healthy subjects aged 70 to 85 years were assessed. A causal analysis of factors affecting brain atrophy was performed using probabilistic Bayesian modelling and the mathematics of causal inference. We found that both age and sex were causally related to brain atrophy, with women reaching an elderly age with a 1% larger brain volume relative to their intracranial volume than men. How the brain ages and the rationale for sex differences in brain volume losses during the adult lifespan are questions that need to be addressed with causal inference and empirical data. The graphical causal modelling presented here can be instrumental in understanding a puzzling scientific area of study—the biological aging of the brain.
GC–MS Profiling of Naturally Extracted Essential Oils: Antimicrobial and Beverage Preservative Actions
Authors: El-Kased Reham F. , El-Kersh Dina M.
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the antimicrobial effects of natural essential oils (EO) and determine their preservative action. Eight natural essential oils were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans representing gram positive, gram negative, and fungi, respectively. The plant materials were used in this study viz. Thymus vulgaris—thyme (TV), Mentha virdis (MV), Mentha longifolia (ML), Rosmarinus officinalis—rosemary (RO), Lavandula dentata—lavender (LD), Origanum majorana—oregano (OM), which belong to the Lamiaceae family. The other two plants were Cymbopogon citratus—lemon grass (family Poaceae) (CC), and Eucalyptus globulus (family Myrtaceae) (EG). Employing the disc diffusion susceptibility test, minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations were estimated for each oil, followed by the addition of oils to pasteurized apple juice after microbial induction. The results revealed that thyme oil showed the maximum zone of inhibition against all tested microbes enriched with monoterpenes class viz. eucalyptol (24.3%), thymol (17.4%), and γ-terpinene (15.2%). All other tested oils exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition of growth and their MIC ranged from 0.1 to 100 µL/mL. The recorded minimum bactericidal concentration values were apparently double the minimum inhibitory concentration. The EO of Mentha virdis followed by Mentha longifolia showed maximum antimicrobial activity against the tested organisms in pasteurized apple juice. A gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) analysis of lemon grass, thyme, and Mentha virdis essential oils showed their enrichment with monoterpenes class recording 97.10, 97.04, and 97.61%, respectively.
Temperature Measurement during Abrasive Water Jet Machining (AWJM)
Authors: Bańkowski Damian , Młynarczyk Piotr , Hlaváčová Irena M.
Published: October 2022

This study was undertaken to look for confirmation that heat transfer induced by abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) affects the microstructure of the material cut. The structure of S235JR carbon steel used in the experiments was reported to change locally in the jet impact zone due to the high concentration of energy generated during cutting with the abrasive water jet. It is assumed that some of the energy is transferred into the material in the form of heat. This is particularly true for materials of considerable thickness with a high thermal conductivity coefficient when cutting is performed at low speeds or with high abrasive consumption. The literature on the subject suggests that in AWJM there is little or no thermal energy effect on the microstructure of the material cut. The research described here involved the measurement of the cutting temperature with thermocouples placed at four different distances from the edge. The distances were measured using computed tomography inspection. The thermocouples used in the tests were capable of detecting temperatures of up to 100 °C. Locally, temperatures at the edge may reach much higher values. The results of the X-ray diffraction qualitative phase analysis reveal that locally the temperatures may be much higher than the eutectoid temperature. Phase changes occurred along the edge since austenite was observed. This suggests that the temperature in the jet impact zone was much higher than the eutectoid temperature. Optical microscopy was also employed to study the material microstructure. Finally, the material nanohardness was determined.
Mechanical Performance Study of Beam–Column Connection with U-Shaped Steel Damper
Authors: Qu Chun-Xu , Xu Yu-Wen , Gao Jin-He , Zhou Wei-Hao , Zheng Bao-Zhu , Li Peng
Published: October 2022

The article proposes the use of a semi-rigid energy-dissipation connection combined with a U-shaped metal damper to avoid brittle failure of rigid steel beam–column connections under seismic loading. The U-shaped metal damper connects the H-section column and the H-section beam to form a new energy-dissipation connection as an energy-dissipation member. Compared with the existing research, this connection has a stable energy-dissipation performance and great ductility. To clarify the mechanism of energy dissipation, mechanical models under two U-shaped damping deformation modes are established. The calculation formulas for the yield load and stiffness are derived for the corresponding deformation mode using the unit load method. Taking the T-shaped beam–column connection and the application of U-shaped steel damper in the beam–column connection as an example, the mechanical model of the connection is established and the calculation formulas for the yield load and stiffness are derived. At the same time, the connection is subjected to a quasi-static test under cyclic loading. The results show that the hysteretic curve of the test is complete and that the skeleton curve is accurate compared to the theory. The error range of the initial stiffness and yield load obtained by the test and the theoretical formula is kept within 20%, indicating that the theoretical formula is reasonable and feasible. In addition, the correctness of the finite element model is verified by establishing a finite element model and comparing it with the test. The mechanical responses of purely rigid connections and rigid semi-rigid composite connections are compared and analyzed using a multi-story and multi-span plane frame as an example. The results show that the model with semi-rigid connections, compared to the model with rigid connections, avoids the gradual loss of bearing capacity caused by the failure of the connection area of the second floor of the main structure and improves the seismic performance of the main structure.
Positron Annihilation Study of RPV Steels Radiation Loaded by Hydrogen Ion Implantation
Authors: Slugen Vladimir , Brodziansky Tomas , Simeg Veternikova Jana , Sojak Stanislav , Petriska Martin , Hinca Robert , Farkas Gabriel
Published: October 2022

Specimens of 15Kh2MFAA steel used for reactor pressure vessels V-213 (VVER-440 reactor) were studied by positron annihilation techniques in terms of their radiation resistance and structural recovery after thermal treatment. The radiation load was simulated by experimental implantation of 500 keV H+ ions. The maximum radiation damage of 1 DPA was obtained across a region of 3 µm. Radiation-induced defects were investigated by coincidence Doppler broadening spectroscopy and positron lifetime spectroscopy using a conventional positron source as well as a slow positron beam. All techniques registered an accumulation of small open-volume defects (mostly mono- and di-vacancies) due to the irradiation, with an increase of the defect volume ΔVD ≈ 2.88 × 10−8 cm−3. Finally, the irradiated specimens were gradually annealed at temperatures from 200 to 550 °C and analyzed in detail. The best defect recovery was found at a temperature between 450 and 475 °C, but the final defect concentration of about ΔCD = 0.34 ppm was still higher than in the as-received specimens.