bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Transcription Factor MYB37 Positively Regulates Photosynthetic Inhibition and Oxidative Damage in Arabidopsis Leaves Under Salt Stress
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Tian Bei , Wang Yue , Wang Jiechen , Zhang Hongbo , Wang Lu , Sun Guangyu , Yu Yongtao , Zhang Huihui
Published: July 2022

MYB transcription factors (TFs) mediate plant responses and defenses to biotic and abiotic stresses. The effects of overexpression of MYB37, an R2R3 MYB subgroup 14 transcription factors in Arabidopsis thaliana, on chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism, and the contents of osmotic regulatory substances were studied under 100 mM NaCl stress. Compared with the wild type (Col-0), MYB37 overexpression significantly alleviated the salt stress symptoms in A. thaliana plants. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) and chlorophyll b (Chl b) contents were significantly decreased in OE-1 and OE-2 than in Col-0. Particularly, the Chl a/b ratio was also higher in OE-1 and OE-2 than in Col-0 under NaCl stress. However, MYB37 overexpression alleviated the degradation of chlorophyll, especially Chl a. Salt stress inhibited the activities of PSII and PSI in Arabidopsis leaves, but did not affect the activity of PSII electron donor side oxygen-evolving complex (OEC). MYB37 overexpression increased photosynthesis in Arabidopsis by increasing PSII and PSI activities. MYB37 overexpression also promoted the transfer of electrons from QA to QB on the PSII receptor side of Arabidopsis under NaCl stress. Additionally, MYB37 overexpression increased Y(II) and Y(NPQ) of Arabidopsis under NaCl stress and decreased Y(NO). These results indicate that MYB37 overexpression increases PSII activity and regulates the proportion of energy dissipation in Arabidopsis leaves under NaCl stress, thus decreasing the proportion of inactivated reaction centers. Salt stress causes excess electrons and energy in the photosynthetic electron transport chain of Arabidopsis leaves, resulting in the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, leading to oxidative damage. Nevertheless, MYB37 overexpression reduced accumulation of malondialdehyde in Arabidopsis leaves under NaCl stress and alleviated the degree of membrane lipid peroxidation caused by ROS. Salt stress also enhanced the accumulation of soluble sugar (SS) and proline (Pro) in Arabidopsis leaves, thus reducing salt stress damage to plants. Salt stress also degraded soluble protein (SP). Furthermore, the accumulation of osmoregulation substances SS and Pro in OE-1 and OE-2 was not different from that in Col-0 since MYB37 overexpression in Arabidopsis OE-1, and OE-2 did not significantly affect plants under NaCl stress. However, SP content was significantly higher in OE-1 and OE-2 than in Col-0. These results indicate that MYB37 overexpression can alleviate the degradation of Arabidopsis proteins under NaCl stress, promote plant growth and improve salt tolerance.
Distinctive in vitro ATP Hydrolysis Activity of AtVIPP1, a Chloroplastic ESCRT-III Superfamily Protein in Arabidopsis
Authors: Ohnishi Norikazu , Sugimoto Manabu , Kondo Hideki , Shioya Ken-ichi , Zhang Lingang , Sakamoto Wataru
Published: July 2022

Vesicle-inducing protein in plastid 1 (VIPP1), characteristic to oxygenic photosynthetic organisms, is a membrane-remodeling factor that forms homo-oligomers and functions in thylakoid membrane formation and maintenance. The cyanobacterial VIPP1 structure revealed a monomeric folding pattern similar to that of endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) III. Characteristic to VIPP1, however, is its own GTP and ATP hydrolytic activity without canonical domains. In this study, we found that histidine-tagged Arabidopsis VIPP1 (AtVIPP1) hydrolyzed GTP and ATP to produce GDP and ADP in vitro, respectively. Unexpectedly, the observed GTPase and ATPase activities were biochemically distinguishable, because the ATPase was optimized for alkaline conditions and dependent on Ca2+ as well as Mg2+, with a higher affinity for ATP than GTP. We found that a version of AtVIPP1 protein with a mutation in its nucleotide-binding site, as deduced from the cyanobacterial structure, retained its hydrolytic activity, suggesting that Arabidopsis and cyanobacterial VIPP1s have different properties. Negative staining particle analysis showed that AtVIPP1 formed particle or rod structures that differed from those of cyanobacteria and Chlamydomonas. These results suggested that the nucleotide hydrolytic activity and oligomer formation of VIPP1 are common in photosynthetic organisms, whereas their properties differ among species.
RppM, Encoding a Typical CC-NBS-LRR Protein, Confers Resistance to Southern Corn Rust in Maize
Authors: Wang Shuai , Wang Xiaqing , Zhang Ruyang , Liu Qian , Sun Xuan , Wang Jidong , Wang Yuandong , Xing Jinfeng , Liu Ya , Zhao Yanxin , Shi Zi , Su Aiguo , Li Chunhui , Xiao Senlin , Jiao Yanyan , Li Zhiyong , Wang Ronghuan , Song Wei , Zhao Jiuran
Published: July 2022

Southern corn rust (SCR) caused by Puccinia polysora Underw. poses a major threat to maize production worldwide. The utilization of host SCR-resistance genes and the cultivation of resistant cultivars are the most effective, economical strategies for controlling SCR. Here, we identified and cloned a new SCR resistance gene, RppM, from the elite maize inbred line Jing2416K. RppM was found to encode a typical CC-NBS-LRR protein localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. This gene was constitutively expressed at all developmental stages and in all tissues examined, with the strongest expression detected in leaves at the mature stage. A transcriptome analysis provided further evidence that multiple defense systems were initiated in Jing2416K, including pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity and effector-triggered immunity, reinforcement of cell walls, accumulation of antimicrobial compounds, and activation of phytohormone signaling pathways. Finally, we developed functional Kompetitive allele-specific PCR markers for RppM using two conserved SNP sites and successfully applied these functional markers for the detection of RppM and the cultivation of resistant maize cultivars, demonstrating their great potential utility in maize breeding.
An Empirical Study on Imagery and Emotional Response in Chinese Poetry Translation—The Visual Grammar Perspective
Authors: Yuan Yuan , Guoyuan Tu
Published: July 2022

The study investigated the evocation of mental imagery and emotional responses when English–Chinese bilinguals read classic Chinese poems and their English translations to examine (1) the target readers' formation of non-verbal text representations of Chinese poetry and (2) whether different translations affect the target readers' imagery cognition. A total of 20 English–Chinese speaker students enrolled in a Chinese university read a classic Chinese poem in Chinese and its four versions of translation in English. Through questionnaires and interviews, participants rated the visualized words used in the poems for the degree of mental imagery and emotional response evoked based on three indicators of narrative process, salience value, and emotive validity in the theoretical framework of visual grammar. Results showed considerable individual variances in the cognitive differences in forming mental imagery in all versions of the poems and there were also effects of translation strategy. Moreover, visual language information in poetry reading and its translations evoked different emotional responses depending on the use of visual words with cultural features. Our study demonstrates the applicability and accessibility of visual language in describing different readers' mental imagery and the interrelation and interaction between the poetry language system and the emotional, social, and cultural contexts involved in poetry translation.
Is Support for Feminism Enough for Change? How Sexism and Gender Stereotypes Might Hinder Gender Justice
Authors: Jiménez-Moya Gloria , Carvacho Héctor , Álvarez Belén , Contreras Camila , González Roberto
Published: July 2022

Even though formal processes (i.e., gender quotes) are necessary to achieve gender justice, attitudinal changes (i.e., support of egalitarian social norms) are also essential. The endorsement of sexism and gender stereotypes perpetuate inequality on a daily basis, and can be seen as barriers that prevent societies from reaching social justice. Therefore, changing sexist social norms can be understood as a fundamental step in accomplishing gender justice. With the aim of studying Chileans’ sexist norms, we conducted a survey with a representative sample (N = 490) exploring levels of sexism and gender stereotypes, as well as support for the feminist movement. Using Latent Profile Analysis, we identified four groups of citizens: (1) a first group that shows high levels of sexism and low support for the feminist movement (9%); (2) a second group, with low levels of sexism and high support for the feminist movement (20%); (3) a third group with high levels of sexism and high support for the feminist movement (65%); and (4) a fourth group with mid-levels of sexism and support of the feminist movement (6%). We called these groups the Sexist, Feminist, Inconsistent, and Moderate Group, respectively. The four groups showed similar high endorsement of gender stereotypes. These results are twofold. First, they hint that although nowadays gender equality seems to be generally accepted, this coexists with a high prevalence of sexist social norms, represented by the inconsistent group being the most prevalent. Second, gender stereotypes are still deeply rooted in Chilean culture, surprisingly even among feminist citizens.
Shadow Education and Its Academic Effects in Bangladesh: A Vygotskian Perspective
Authors: Alam Md. Bayezid , Zhu Zhiyong
Published: July 2022

Private tutoring is a newly emerging field of research, which remains largely under-theorized. Adopting the Vygotskian philosophy of learning as an analytical lens, this qualitative study conceptualized the academic effects of private tutoring in a Bangladeshi higher secondary educational context. The primary data were gathered from 18 semi-structured interviews with tutored students, parents, and teachers. The data from secondary sources were also collected to supplement the primary data. A thematic procedure was used to analyze the data. The analysis demonstrated two important findings. First, students internalized knowledge and skills through scaffolding by their private tutors, which eliminated their learning deficiencies and boosted their academic credentials. Second, private tutoring induced long-term deficiencies as it provided rote learning. It dulled students’ critical thinking and made them dependent on others. The paper carried significant theoretical implications by producing a unique insight into students’ learning in the shadows from a Vygotskian perspective.
Stigma and Relationship Quality: The Relevance of Racial-Ethnic Worldview in Interracial Relationships in the United States
Authors: Brooks James E. , Morrison Megan M.
Published: July 2022

The current study explored the associations between relationship stigma, Racial-ethnic Worldview (REW; a construct developed as a comprehensive assessment of individual's perceptions of race and ethnicity), and relationship quality among those in interracial relationships (i. e., participants indicated their race was different than the race of their partner). One type of REW (Color-blind Achieved) was especially susceptible to the negative consequences of stigma from family members. Other significant differences in relationship quality and relationship stigma were found based on REW. Most notable is that individuals who acknowledge institutional racism, have positive intergroup attitudes, and a positive ethnic identity reported better relationship quality than those who denied institutional racism and/or had less positive attitudes toward their own ethnic group. These results demonstrate the utility of REW in contextualizing the experiences of individuals in interracial relationships as it relates to perceived stigma and relationship quality. The study offers a critical account of how individuals understanding of the racial and ethnic social context shapes relationship outcomes for those in interracial relationships in the United States.
Psychedelics, Mystical Experience, and Therapeutic Efficacy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ko Kwonmok , Knight Gemma , Rucker James J. , Cleare Anthony J.
Published: July 2022

The mystical experience is a potential psychological mechanism to influence outcome in psychedelic therapy. It includes features such as oceanic boundlessness, ego dissolution, and universal interconnectedness, which have been closely linked to both symptom reduction and improved quality of life. In this review, 12 studies of psychedelic therapy utilizing psilocybin, ayahuasca, or ketamine were analyzed for association between mystical experience and symptom reduction, in areas as diverse as cancer-related distress, substance use disorder, and depressive disorders to include treatment-resistant. Ten of the twelve established a significant association of correlation, mediation, and/or prediction. A majority of the studies are limited, however, by their small sample size and lack of diversity (gender, ethnic, racial, educational, and socioeconomic), common in this newly re-emerging field. Further, 6 out of 12 studies were open-label in design and therefore susceptible to bias. Future studies of this nature should consider a larger sample size with greater diversity and thus representation by use of randomized design. More in-depth exploration into the nature of mystical experience is needed, including predictors of intensity, in order to maximize its positive effects on treatment outcome benefits and minimize concomitant anxiety.

Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42021261752.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Smoking Consumption: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies
Authors: Almeda Nerea , Gómez-Gómez Irene
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a global health crisis that has negatively impacted the mental health and wellbeing of the population. A large amount of scientific literature has emerged since 2019, but none of these studies have focused on assessing the impact of COVID-19 on smoking consumption. We aimed to analyse the changes in smoking consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic through longitudinal studies. This systematic review follows the PRISMA Statement. This study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021282235). MEDLINE, ERIC, PsycARTICLES, Scopus, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases were searched from inception to 24 October 2021. We completed an extensive assessment of all prospective cohort studies that aimed to explore the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on tobacco consumption habits. According to the PICOS's acronym, we included all population (P) types and studies developed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (I) with a change in nicotine consumption as the outcome (O), as well as prospective cohort studies. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale for observational studies. The results showed that 14 cohorts reported in 11 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A total of 58,052 participants were included in the review. Most of the studies pointed out a reduction in the number of cigarettes and e-cigarettes consumed from baseline (before the pandemic) to follow-up (during the pandemic). Only two studies reported an increase in cigarette or e-cigarette consumption from baseline to follow-up. The majority of studies presented a low risk of bias. In conclusion, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on smoking behavior is complex and uncertain. The decrease in smoking consumption during the pandemic could be related to the fear of becoming infected by COVID-19, the advancement of COVID-19, and the reduction in social gatherings. In several cases, the increases in nicotine consumption can be explained by psychological distress. These findings can be used to create strategies to prevent relapses during the post-vaccination phases of the pandemic.

Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42021282235.
Age-Related Sex Disparities in Esophageal Cancer Survival: A Population-Based Study in the United States
Authors: Xiang Zhen-Fei , Xiong Hua-Cai , Hu Dan-Fei , Li Ming-Yao , Zhang Zhan-Chun , Mao Zheng-Chun , Shen Er-Dong
Published: July 2022

Background

The association between sex and the survival of patients with esophageal cancer (EC) remains controversial. We sought to systematically investigate sex-based disparities in EC survival using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry data from the United States.

Methods

Patients with EC diagnosed from 2004 to 2015 registered in the SEER database were selected. The association between sex and cancer-specific survival (CSS) was evaluated using survival analysis. The Inverse Probability Weighting (IPW) approach was applied to reduce the observed bias between males and females. Subgroup analyses were used to investigate the robustness of the sex-based disparity and to explore potential interaction effects with other variables.

Results

Overall, 29,312 eligible EC patients were analyzed, of whom 5,781 were females, and 23,531 were males. Females had higher crude CSS compared to males (10-year CSS: 24.5 vs. 21.3%; P < 0.001). Similar results were obtained after adjusting for selection bias using the IPW approach and multivariate regression. Subgroup analyses confirmed the relative robustness of sex as a prognostic factor. However, significant interactions were observed between sex and other variables, such as age, race, tumor grade, histology, and treatment modality. In particular, there was no survival advantage for premenopausal females compared to their male counterparts, but the association between sex and EC survival was prominent in 46–55-year-old patients.

Conclusions

Female EC patients had better long-term survival than males. The association between sex and EC survival vary according to age, race, tumor grade, histology, and treatment modality. Sex-based disparity in EC-specific survival was age-related in the United States population.
Health Through a Human Right Lens at the US-Mexico Border: Increasing Access to Healthcare for Central American Immigrants
Authors: Venturi Carolina , Guízar-Sánchez Diana , Ramos-Tovar María Elena , Torres Melissa , Avellaneda Flor D. , Torres-Hostos Luis R. , Matuk-Villazon Omar
Published: July 2022

The number of immigrants seeking entry into the U.S. through asylum requests or through irregular means is increasing, and most come from the Northern Triangle of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Immigrants come fleeing extreme poverty, violence, health and social inequities, and drastic climate changes. Most had limited access to healthcare at home, and even more limited care along the journey. Those that are allowed entry into the U.S., are confronted with feeling unwelcome in many communities, having to navigate an array of local, state, and federal laws that regulate access to healthcare. We need immigration policies that preserve the health, dignity with a multinational policy for provision of healthcare through a human rights lens from point of origin to point of destination.
Bad for Girls and Boys: Gender Does Not Modify the Negative Effect of Physical Inactivity on Life Satisfaction in Adolescents
Authors: Lábiscsák-Erdélyi Zsuzsa , Somhegyi Annamária , Veres-Balajti Ilona , Kósa Karolina
Published: July 2022

Objectives:

Physical activity (PA) has a positive effect on life satisfaction (LS) among adolescents, but the moderating effect of gender and level of PA intensity have been equivocal. Our aim was to examine the pattern of physical activity by grade in high school students, and the role of gender and grade on the association between physical activity and life satisfaction.

Methods

Four repeated cross-sectional online questionnaire surveys between 2011 and 2013 were carried out among all students in one Hungarian high school (N = 3,450). Health status and behavior was assessed by the Hungarian online version of the health behavior of school-aged children (HBSC) questionnaire. Regression with robust variance estimator was used to identify determinants of life satisfaction.

Results

Good self-reported health as opposed to bad increased life satisfaction by 0.30 standard deviation; having very well or well-off family as opposed to not well-off increased LS by 0.16 standard deviation; and being inactive compared to being vigorously active decreased LS by 0.1 standard deviation.

Conclusions

Physical inactivity has a negative effect on life satisfaction in boys and girls regardless of grade but compounded by low perceived family wealth.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Physical Activity Profile and Glycemic Control Among Qatari Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: Effect of Vaccination Status
Authors: Jabbour Georges , Hermassi Souhail , Bragazzi Nicola
Published: July 2022

Objective

To investigate the impact of COVID-19, as an influent barrier on physical activity (PA) patterns and glycemic control in Qatari adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). As the COVID-19 vaccine may have a potential impact on an individual's lifestyle, we also considered this parameter.

Methods

Physical activity level, the exercise barriers (BAPAD1), anthropometric characteristics, the method of insulin administration, and the last glycated hemoglobin in % were completed by 102 Qatari adults with T1D. Moreover, all patients were asked whether they had “been vaccinated” or had a “fear of being infected by COVID-19”.

Results

For the unvaccinated group, weight, BMI and HbA1c (%) were significantly higher than those of vaccinated group (p < 0.01) and engaged in less moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (p < 0.01) per week and had less time in vigorous PA (VPA) (p < 0.01). A significant association between VPA levels and BMI (β = −0.36, p = 0.02) and HbA1C (%) (β = −0.22; p = 0.03) was reported, and “being vaccinated” was significantly associated with MVPA (β = 0.15; p = 0.021) and VPA (β = 0.28; p = 0.032). A higher “Fear of being infected by COVID-19” score was negatively correlated with reduced PA profiles (R2 = −0.71 for MVPA; R2 = −0.69 for VPA, p < 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion

Practicing VPA during the COVID-19 pandemic confer many health benefits for Qatari individual with T1D. As the “Fear of being affected by COVID-19” appeared as a potential barrier to PA practices this latter e.g. PA, could likely not be achieved without the participants being vaccinated.
The Relationship Between Nurses' Quality of Work-Life on Organizational Loyalty and Job Performance in Saudi Arabian Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Al-Dossary Reem N
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between quality of work-life on the organizational loyalty and job performance in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This study used a cross-sectional design for collecting the data related to the nurses' quality of work-life, organizational loyalty, and job performance from nursing staff in Saudi Arabian hospitals. Three questionnaires were used in this study, which includes Quality of Work Life Scale (QWLS), Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ), and Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ). An online version of the survey questionnaire was generated using the Google survey, to which a link is generated for collecting data. At the end of the survey, 243 responses were received. After removing the incomplete responses, 209 responses were considered for the data analysis. The statistical techniques including t-tests and Pearson's correlation were used in the data analysis.

Results

Nurse managers reflected good quality of life, and high loyalty toward their employers, and also reflected good job performance levels. However, staff nurses reflected poor quality of work-life, organizational loyalty, and job performance. Training and development had strong positive correlation with continuance commitment (r = 0.628, p < 0.01). Job satisfaction and job security held strong positive correlation with task performance (r = 0.601, p < 0.01) and contextual performance (r = 0.601, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Quality of work-life, organization loyalty, and job performance are positively correlated, and poor quality of work-life can negatively impact job performance and organizational loyalty of nurses.
Effect of the Universal Health Coverage Healthcare System on Stock Returns During COVID-19: Evidence From Global Stock Indices
Authors: Tang Chia-Hsien , Lee Yen-Hsien , Liu Win , Wei Li
Published: July 2022

The increased uncertainty caused by a sudden epidemic disease has had an impact on the global financial market. We aimed to assess the primary healthcare system of universal health coverage (UHC) during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its relationship with the financial market. To this end, we employed the abnormal returns of 68 countries from January 2, 2019, to December 31, 2020, to test the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on abnormal returns in the stock market and determine how a country's UHC changes the impact of a sudden pandemic on abnormal returns. Our findings show that the sudden onset of an epidemic disease results in unevenly distributed medical system resources, consequently diminishing the impact of UHC on abnormal returns.
Which Matters More in Fighting COVID-19—Government Policy or Community Participation?
Authors: Qian Ying , Huang Jiaoling , Zhao Laijun , Cheong Io Hong , Cao Siqi , Xiong Li , Zhu Qin
Published: July 2022

Objective

As a heavily populated megacity, Shanghai faces major epidemic risks. However, Shanghai's control of COVID-19 has been successful owing to both the strict government policy and wide community participation. Here, we investigated the impact of these stakeholders and examined who played a major role across different epidemic stages.

Design

We extended the classic susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) model considering the heterogeneous contact structure in four social sceneries, i.e., school, workplace, public entertainment venues, and neighborhood community, which could reflect the impact of lockdown policy and wide participation of residents happened at the community level.

Result

The simulation results showed that without lockdown policy and only with community participation, the daily new confirmed cases would gradually increase to more than 7,000 [292/1,000,000] at the end of Sep. However, without community participation and only with a lockdown policy, the daily new confirmed cases sharply decreased to 30 [1.2/1,000,000] at the end of the 1st month and remained low for several months. However, when a lockdown policy was gradually lifted, the new confirmed cases increased exponentially, eventually reaching more than 17,000 [708/1,000,000]. Therefore, a government lockdown policy was necessary for the rapid control of COVID-19 during the outbreak stage while community participation is more important in keeping the number of new confirmed cases low during the reopening stage.

Conclusion

Government lockdown policy and community participation play different roles in the control of COVID-19 at different stages of the epidemic: although the government played a leading role in setting up policies, the broader participation of community fever clinics (CFCs) and the general public were especially crucial in winning the battle against COVID-19 in the long run.
Pathobiology of the Klotho Antiaging Protein and Therapeutic Considerations
Authors: Prud’homme Gérald J. , Kurt Mervé , Wang Qinghua
Published: July 2022

The α-Klotho protein (henceforth denoted Klotho) has antiaging properties, as first observed in mice homozygous for a hypomorphic Klotho gene (kl/kl). These mice have a shortened lifespan, stunted growth, renal disease, hyperphosphatemia, hypercalcemia, vascular calcification, cardiac hypertrophy, hypertension, pulmonary disease, cognitive impairment, multi-organ atrophy and fibrosis. Overexpression of Klotho has opposite effects, extending lifespan. In humans, Klotho levels decline with age, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions. Low Klotho levels correlate with an increase in the death rate from all causes. Klotho acts either as an obligate coreceptor for fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), or as a soluble pleiotropic endocrine hormone (s-Klotho). It is mainly produced in the kidneys, but also in the brain, pancreas and other tissues. On renal tubular-cell membranes, it associates with FGF receptors to bind FGF23. Produced in bones, FGF23 regulates renal excretion of phosphate (phosphaturic effect) and vitamin D metabolism. Lack of Klotho or FGF23 results in hyperphosphatemia and hypervitaminosis D. With age, human renal function often deteriorates, lowering Klotho levels. This appears to promote age-related pathology. Remarkably, Klotho inhibits four pathways that have been linked to aging in various ways: Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), Wnt and NF-κB. These can induce cellular senescence, apoptosis, inflammation, immune dysfunction, fibrosis and neoplasia. Furthermore, Klotho increases cell-protective antioxidant enzymes through Nrf2 and FoxO. In accord, preclinical Klotho therapy ameliorated renal, cardiovascular, diabetes-related and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as cancer. s-Klotho protein injection was effective, but requires further investigation. Several drugs enhance circulating Klotho levels, and some cross the blood-brain barrier to potentially act in the brain. In clinical trials, increased Klotho was noted with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (losartan, valsartan), a statin (fluvastatin), mTOR inhibitors (rapamycin, everolimus), vitamin D and pentoxifylline. In preclinical work, antidiabetic drugs (metformin, GLP-1-based, GABA, PPAR-γ agonists) also enhanced Klotho. Several traditional medicines and/or nutraceuticals increased Klotho in rodents, including astaxanthin, curcumin, ginseng, ligustilide and resveratrol. Notably, exercise and sport activity increased Klotho. This review addresses molecular, physiological and therapeutic aspects of Klotho.
Dichotomic Pattern Mining Integrated With Constraint Reasoning for Digital Behavior Analysis
Authors: Ghosh Sohom , Yadav Shefali , Wang Xin , Chakrabarty Bibhash , Kadıoğlu Serdar
Published: July 2022

Sequential pattern mining remains a challenging task due to the large number of redundant candidate patterns and the exponential search space. In addition, further analysis is still required to map extracted patterns to different outcomes. In this paper, we introduce a pattern mining framework that operates on semi-structured datasets and exploits the dichotomy between outcomes. Our approach takes advantage of constraint reasoning to find sequential patterns that occur frequently and exhibit desired properties. This allows the creation of novel pattern embeddings that are useful for knowledge extraction and predictive modeling. Based on dichotomic pattern mining, we present two real-world applications for customer intent prediction and intrusion detection. Overall, our approach plays an integrator role between semi-structured sequential data and machine learning models, improves the performance of the downstream task, and retains interpretability.
Bridging Reinforcement Learning and Iterative Learning Control: Autonomous Motion Learning for Unknown, Nonlinear Dynamics
Authors: Meindl Michael , Lehmann Dustin , Seel Thomas
Published: July 2022

This work addresses the problem of reference tracking in autonomously learning robots with unknown, nonlinear dynamics. Existing solutions require model information or extensive parameter tuning, and have rarely been validated in real-world experiments. We propose a learning control scheme that learns to approximate the unknown dynamics by a Gaussian Process (GP), which is used to optimize and apply a feedforward control input on each trial. Unlike existing approaches, the proposed method neither requires knowledge of the system states and their dynamics nor knowledge of an effective feedback control structure. All algorithm parameters are chosen automatically, i.e. the learning method works plug and play. The proposed method is validated in extensive simulations and real-world experiments. In contrast to most existing work, we study learning dynamics for more than one motion task as well as the robustness of performance across a large range of learning parameters. The method’s plug and play applicability is demonstrated by experiments with a balancing robot, in which the proposed method rapidly learns to track the desired output. Due to its model-agnostic and plug and play properties, the proposed method is expected to have high potential for application to a large class of reference tracking problems in systems with unknown, nonlinear dynamics.
Associations Between Endoscopic Primary Prophylaxis and Rebleeding in Liver Cirrhosis Patients with Esophagogastric Variceal Bleeding
Authors: Gao Yanying , Yuan Haixia , Han Tao , Zhang Xu , Li Fenghui , Tang Fei , Liu Hua
Published: July 2022

Aim

To identify the association between endoscopic primary prophylaxis and the risk of rebleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis receiving endoscopic therapy.

Methods

This cohort study involved in 944 liver cirrhosis patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) receiving endoscopic therapy. All participants were divided into two groups: rebleeding group (n = 425) and non-rebleeding group (n = 519) according to the occurrence of rebleeding in patients. Rebleeding indicated any bleeding after endoscopic therapy for the first bleeding of esophagogastric varices in liver cirrhosis patients. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were employed to identify the association between endoscopic primary prophylaxis and rebleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis after endoscopic therapy.

Results

In total, 425 patients rebleeded at the end of the follow-up. The risk of rebleeding in patients with endoscopic primary prophylaxis decreased by 0.773 times (OR = 0.227, 95%CI: 0.139–0.372, P < 0.001) after adjusting covariables. Subgroups were divided according to the Child-Pugh (CP) score, and the results revealed that the risk of rebleeding in patients with endoscopic primary prophylaxis decreased by 0.858 times in Grade A patients (OR = 0.142, 95%CI: 0.066–0.304, P < 0.001) and 0.804 times in Grade B patients (OR = 0.196, 95%CI: 0.085–0.451, P < 0.001) compared with patients without endoscopic primary prophylaxis, but showed no difference in Grade C patients.

Conclusion

Endoscopic primary prophylaxis was associated with a decreased risk of rebleeding in liver cirrhosis patients with EGVB after endoscopic therapy, which suggested that clinicians should pay more attention to endoscopic primary prophylaxis to prevent the occurrence of rebleeding in these patients.
Case Report: Duodenal Carcinoma in a 40-Year-Old Asian Man With Cowden Syndrome
Authors: Zhao Mingkun , Lin Xiaohan , Fang Yuan , Zhuang Aobo , Tong Hanxing , Lu Weiqi , Zhou Yuhong , Zhang Yong
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Cowden syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disease associated with PTEN mutation and is mainly shown as systemic multisystem lesions. The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the duodenum with Cowden syndrome in Asian males is rare. We hereby describe the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of a patient with duodenal carcinoma and Cowden syndrome.

Case Description

A 40-year-old Chinese man was hospitalized because of gastrointestinal hemorrhage and anemia due to infiltrating adenocarcinoma of the descending part of the duodenum. He also had typical signs of Cowden syndrome, such as multiple polyps of the gastrointestinal tract, macrocephaly, papilloma of the tongue, soles hyperkeratosis, and melanosis spots. After the pancreaticoduodenectomy (classic Whipple), the lesions revealed the presence of hamartomatoid polyps, and some of them mutated into non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (80%) and mucinous adenocarcinoma (20%). Further investigation showed a lack of PTEN protein expression in the duodenal neoplasm, and genetic analysis showed the mutation of p.E242fs in PTEN. The patient was followed up for 1 year. There was no appearance of recurrence or distant metastasis.

Conclusion

It is suggested that we should pay more attention to the differential diagnosis of duodenal carcinoma combined with gastrointestinal polyps. If multiple gastrointestinal polyps with gastrointestinal bleeding are encountered, Cowden syndrome should be considered, and timely diagnosis and treatment should be implemented.
Case Report: Successful Intravenous Lipid Emulsion Therapy for Canine Amphetamine Toxicosis
Authors: Harris Stephanie , McMichael Maureen A. , Harmon Roy , Boothe Dawn
Published: July 2022

A 4-year-old, female-spayed, mixed breed dog, weighing 24.2 kg, was presented for acute ingestion of ~12.3 mg/kg of Adderall XRⓇ, an extended-release amphetamine medication. In dogs, the oral median lethal dose for amphetamines ranges anywhere from 9–11 mg/kg to 20–27 mg/kg. On presentation, the patient was agitated, tachycardic and hypertensive. Initial treatment was instituted with intravenous lipid emulsion (IVLE) therapy, and baseline and post-treatment amphetamine concentrations were quantified in serum and plasma. In both serum and plasma, post-IVLE concentrations of amphetamine were lower 1 h after treatment and IVLE was the only treatment instituted during this time. The dog improved significantly while in hospital and was discharged <24 h after presentation. This is the first known reported use of IVLE for treatment of amphetamine toxicosis with documented decreases in both serum and plasma amphetamine levels shortly after administration of IVLE.
Photoperiod and Melatonin Supplementation: Variable Effects on the Quality of Chilled Dog Semen
Authors: Mitjana Olga , Ausejo Raquel , Mendoza Noelia , Miguel Joaquin , Tejedor Maria Teresa , Garrido Ana Maria , Falceto Maria Victoria
Published: July 2022

The addition of melatonin in seminal extenders due to its antioxidant properties and its beneficial role in sperm preservation has been previously described, especially in seasonal species. The aim of this study was to study a potential seasonal effect based on photoperiod duration when adding a physiological concentration of melatonin in the canine ejaculate. A total of 24 ejaculates were obtained from 10 healthy dogs during the increasing photoperiod (from December 21 to June 21), whereas 12 ejaculates were collected from five healthy individuals during the decreasing photoperiod (from June 22 to December 20). Each ejaculate was separated into two aliquots, and one of them remained as a control, whereas melatonin (100 pM) was added to the other one (C and M treatment groups, respectively). Diluted semen was refrigerated at 5°C. On days 0, 1, 2, 3, and 6, sperm motility analyses were performed using a CASA system and hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST), osmotic resistance test (ORT), and flow cytometry analysis. No effect of melatonin on motility was detected in either photoperiod. Negative effects of melatonin were found for acrosomal defects, apoptosis, and viability in the decreasing photoperiod. The addition of melatonin to sperm in the decreasing photoperiod could create such a high level that it would cause the described negative effects. We found a beneficial effect of melatonin in the increasing photoperiod on acrosomal defects and apoptosis during 0–6 days. Melatonin treatment also increased viability in the short term (days 1 and 2) for both photoperiods. Also, melatonin can provide certain beneficial effects on mitochondrial activity in the medium term (days 2 and 3) in the decreasing photoperiod.
Genetic Diversity of Fish in Aquaculture and of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Traditional Rice–Fish Coculture
Authors: Ye Yingying , Ren Weizheng , Zhang Shixiang , Zhao Lufeng , Tang Jianjun , Hu Liangliang , Chen Xin
Published: July 2022

The genetic diversity of cultured species (e.g., plants and fish) has decreased as intensive agriculture and aquaculture have increased in recent decades. Maintaining genetic diversity in agriculture is a significant concern. To test whether aquaculture affects the genetic diversity of aquatic animals and whether traditional agriculture could help maintain genetic diversity, we conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the genetic diversity of cultured and wild populations. We also examined the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the traditional rice–fish coculture in the south of Zhejiang Province, China, using 20 microsatellite loci. The results of the meta-analysis showed a negative overall effect size of all cultured aquatic animals that were tested both when weighted by population replicate and when weighted by the inverse of variance. Aquaculture has caused a general decline in the genetic diversity of many cultured aquatic animals. The results from the survey of a traditional rice–fish coculture system in the south of Zhejiang Province of China showed high levels of genetic diversity in all 10 sampled populations (mean Na = 7.40, mean Ne = 4.57, mean I = 1.61, mean He = 0.71, and mean Ho = 0.73). Both the conventional analysis and a model-based analysis revealed a high and significant genetic divergence among the 10 sampled populations all over the three counties (FST value ranged from 0.00 to 0.13, and Nei’s genetic distance ranged from 0.07 to 0.62). Populations within Yongjia and Jingning counties were also genetically differentiated, respectively. Furthermore, molecular variance (AMOVA), membership coefficients estimated by STRUCTURE, PCoA, and migration network analysis supported the findings from pairwise FST values. Our results suggest that the traditional rice–fish coculture plays an important role in maintaining the genetic diversity of carp cocultured in rice paddies and future policies should favor the conservation of the rice–fish system and raise the awareness of farmers on methods to maintain carp genetic diversity.
Curve Skeleton Extraction from Incomplete Point Clouds of Livestock and Its Application in Posture Evaluation
Authors: Hu Yihu , Luo Xinying , Gao Zicheng , Du Ao , Guo Hao , Ruchay Alexey , Marinello Francesco , Pezzuolo Andrea
Published: July 2022

As consumer-grade depth sensors provide an efficient and low-cost way to obtain point cloud data, an increasing number of applications regarding the acquisition and processing of livestock point clouds have been proposed. Curve skeletons are abstract representations of 3D data, and they have great potential for the analysis and understanding of livestock point clouds. Articulated skeleton extraction has been extensively studied on 2D and 3D data. Nevertheless, robust and accurate skeleton extraction from point set sequences captured by consumer-grade depth cameras remains challenging since such data are often corrupted by substantial noise and outliers. Additionally, few approaches have been proposed to overcome this problem. In this paper, we present a novel curve skeleton extraction method for point clouds of four-legged animals. First, the 2D top view of the livestock was constructed using the concave hull algorithm. The livestock data were divided into the left and right sides along the bilateral symmetry plane of the livestock. Then, the corresponding 2D side views were constructed. Second, discrete skeleton evolution (DSE) was utilized to extract the skeletons from those 2D views. Finally, we divided the extracted skeletons into torso branches and leg branches. We translated each leg skeleton point to the border of the nearest banded point cluster and then moved it to the approximate centre of the leg. The torso skeleton points were calculated according to their positions on the side view and top view. Extensive experiments show that quality curve skeletons can be extracted from many livestock species. Additionally, we compared our method with representative skeleton extraction approaches, and the results show that our method performs better in avoiding topological errors caused by the shape characteristics of livestock. Furthermore, we demonstrated the effectiveness of our extracted skeleton in detecting frames containing pigs with correct postures from the point cloud stream.
Toxicity and Sublethal Effects of Fluxametamide on the Key Biological Parameters and Life History Traits of Diamondback Moth Plutella xylostella (L.)
Authors: Gope Amit , Chakraborty Gautam , Ghosh Shanowly Mondal , Sau Sayan , Mondal Krishnendu , Biswas Abhisek , Sarkar Sukamal , Sarkar Pijush Kanti , Roy Debashis
Published: July 2022

Fluxametamide, a novel isoxazoline insecticide, is newly registered for the control of various lepidopteran, coleopteran and thysanopteran insect pests on lethal and sublethal levels. In the present study, the toxicity and sublethal effects of fluxametamide on diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.), an invasive lepidopteran foliage feeder of cruciferous vegetables, were assessed to explore its bio-ecological impact on pest populations. The toxicity of fluxametamide to the third instar larvae of P. xylostella was 0.18 mg L−1 (LC50) at 72 h bioassay. After treatment with LC10 and LC30 concentrations of fluxametamide, the fourth instar larval duration, the rate of deformed pupa and adults, and the adult pre-oviposition period were significantly increased, whereas the pupation rate and pupal weight were significantly decreased in the F0 generation. In the F1 generation, sublethal effects of fluxametamide were indicated by a reduced fecundity, rate of pupation and adult emergence, pupal weight, and adult longevity, however a significant increase in eggs and total larval duration, deformed adults rate, and total longevity and pre-oviposition period was observed in the offspring. The intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ) and net reproductive rate (R0) of sublethal treatments were significantly lower than the control. The relative fitness of F1 was 0.68 and 0.64 in LC10 and LC30 treatments, respectively. The LC30 fluxametamide treatment exhibited increased glutathione S-transferase activities (elevated 1.433-fold) in P. xylostella. Our results suggest that in addition to its high lethal toxicity, the sublethal concentrations of fluxametamide might suppress the reproduction, development and survival of the P. xylostella population and its progeny, which can help to optimize integrated pest management program.
Susceptibility of Cassava Varieties to Disease Caused by Sri Lankan Cassava Mosaic Virus and Impacts on Yield by Use of Asymptomatic and Virus-Free Planting Material
Authors: Malik Al Imran , Sophearith Sok , Delaquis Erik , Cuellar Wilmer J. , Jimenez Jenyfer , Newby Jonathan C.
Published: July 2022

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a rainfed, smallholder-produced crop in mainland Southeast Asia, and is currently facing a serious challenge posed by the introduction of cassava mosaic disease (CMD). This study assessed the susceptibility of popular Asian varieties to CMD, yield penalties associated with the disease, and the efficacy of selecting clean or asymptomatic plants as seed for the following season. Field experiments evaluated agronomic management practices (i.e., fertilizer application, use of symptomatic and asymptomatic seed stakes) in Cambodia with six to nine popular varieties over three seasons under natural disease pressure. Popular cassava varieties KU50 and Huaybong60 showed superior CMD tolerance, with consistently fewer symptomatic plants, lower disease progress measures, and higher yields. Plants demonstrating symptoms at early stages of development, i.e., 60 days after planting, yielded significantly less than those developing symptoms later (i.e., 270 DAP) or not at all. Plants grown from clean stems yielded on average 20% to 2.7-fold higher than those grown from symptomatic planting material. A yield decline of ~50% was recorded with symptomatic planting materials of susceptible varieties (e.g., SC8, ~25 t ha−1) over successive years. The findings emphasize that farmers could use positive selection by choosing asymptomatic plants to significantly reduce yield losses.