bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrative physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analysis of Abelmoschus manihot in response to Cd toxicity
Authors: Wu Mengxi , Xu Qian , Tang Tingting , Li Xia , Pan Yuanzhi
Published: June 2024

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have caused severe soil contamination with cadmium (Cd) necessitating effective remediation strategies. Phytoremediation is a widely adopted technology for remediating Cd-contaminated soil. Previous studies have shown that Abelmoschus manihot has a high Cd accumulation capacity and tolerance indicating its potential for Cd soil remediation. However, the mechanisms underlying its response to Cd stress remain unclear. In this study, physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses were conducted to explore the response of A. manihot roots to Cd stress at different time points. The results revealed that Cd stress significantly increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in A. manihot, which simultaneously activated its antioxidant defense system, enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) by 19.73%–50%, 22.87%–38.89%, and 32.31%–45.40% at 12 h, 36 h, 72 h, and 7 days, respectively, compared with those in the control (CK). Moreover, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed 245, 5,708, 9,834, and 2,323 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), along with 66, 62, 156, and 90 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) at 12 h, 36 h, 72 h, and 7 days, respectively. Through weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) of physiological indicators and transcript expression, eight hub genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, signal transduction, and metal transport were identified. In addition, integrative analyses of metabolomic and transcriptomic data highlighted the activation of lipid metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways under Cd stress suggesting that these pathways play crucial roles in the detoxification process and in enhancing Cd tolerance in A. manihot. This comprehensive study provides detailed insights into the response mechanisms of A. manihot to Cd toxicity.
Seed development-related genes contribute to high yield heterosis in integrated utilization of elite autotetraploid and neo-tetraploid rice
Authors: Lu Zijun , Huang Weicong , Ge Qi , Liang Guobin , Sun Lixia , Wu Jinwen , Ghouri Fozia , Shahid Muhammad Qasim , Liu Xiangdong
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Autotetraploid rice holds high resistance to abiotic stress and substantial promise for yield increase, but it could not be commercially used because of low fertility. Thus, our team developed neo-tetraploid rice with high fertility and hybrid vigor when crossed with indica autotetraploid rice. Despite these advances, the molecular mechanisms underlying this heterosis remain poorly understood.

Methods

An elite indica autotetraploid rice line (HD11) was used to cross with neo-tetraploid rice, and 34 hybrids were obtained to evaluate agronomic traits related to yield. WE-CLSM, RNA-seq, and CRISPR/Cas9 were employed to observe endosperm structure and identify candidate genes from two represent hybrids.

Results and discussion

These hybrids showed high seed setting and an approximately 55% increase in 1000-grain weight, some of which achieved grain yields comparable to those of the diploid rice variety. The endosperm observations indicated that the starch grains in the hybrids were more compact than those in paternal lines. A total of 119 seed heterosis related genes (SHRGs) with different expressions were identified, which might contribute to high 1000-grain weight heterosis in neo-tetraploid hybrids. Among them, 12 genes had been found to regulate grain weight formation, including OsFl3, ONAC023, OsNAC024, ONAC025, ONAC026, RAG2, FLO4, FLO11, OsISA1, OsNF-YB1, NF-YC12, and OsYUC9. Haplotype analyses of these 12 genes revealed the various effects on grain weight among different haplotypes. The hybrids could polymerize more dominant haplotypes of above grain weight regulators than any homozygous cultivar. Moreover, two SHRGs (OsFl3 and SHRG2) mutants displayed a significant reduction in 1000-grain weight and an increase in grain chalkiness, indicating that OsFl3 and SHRG2 positively regulate grain weight. Our research has identified a valuable indica autotetraploid germplasm for generating strong yield heterosis in combination with neo-tetraploid lines and gaining molecular insights into the regulatory processes of heterosis in tetraploid rice.
Volatiles of different resistant cotton varieties mediate the host preference of Mirid bug Apolygus lucorum
Authors: Wu Juan , Cao Yang , Teng Dong , Shan Shuang , Geng Ting , Huang Xinzheng , Zhang Yongjun
Published: June 2024

Cotton, a crucial economic crop, is also the preferred host plant of the mirid bug Apolygus lucorum. In our previous field experiments, we found that cotton cultivars Kelin 08–15 and BR-S-10 (healthy and herbivore-damaged plants) exhibit distinct attraction and repellence to A. lucorum, respectively. However, the key plant volatiles determining attraction or repulsion effects remain unknown. Here, we investigated the volatiles emitted by these two cotton cultivars before and after herbivore infestation. We found that susceptible Kelin 08–15 emitted a greater diversity and quantity of volatiles than those of BR-S-10, with herbivore-damaged cottons releasing more volatile substances. Electroantennogram (EAG) recordings further revealed that 15 representative volatiles identified above could elicited electrophysiological responses in female and male A. lucorum antennae. Among them, behavioral assays showed that two compounds, 1,3-Diethylbenzene and 4-Ethylbenzaldehyde, exhibited attractive properties, whereas six volatiles including Hexyl Acrylate, Cumene, 2,4-Dimethylstyrene, Eucalyptol, Linalool and Butyl Acrylate demonstrated repellent effects on A. lucorum. Taken together, our findings suggest the critical role of volatile compounds in mediating bug-plant interactions and provide a foundation for the development of strategies to prevent and control of A. lucorum in cotton fields.
Psychometric assessment of the Chinese adaptation of the patient participation scale targeting inpatients: a validation research
Authors: Zhao Rui , Huo Mingshu , Wang Lei , HuYan Sihan , Li Hongyu , Cai Yan
Published: June 2024

Objective

The objective of this research was to introduce, translate, and verify the Patient Participation Scale (PPS) within a Chinese context.

Methods

We applied a combination of internal consistency testing, item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The research involved 453 individuals, comprising both outpatients and inpatients, across three Jinzhou Medical University-affiliated hospitals in China. Additionally, a subgroup of 50 patients underwent a retest after a 2-week interval to assess reliability.

Results

The adapted Chinese edition of the PPS included 21 items. Exploratory factor analysis identified four distinct factors, accounting for 66.199% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a suitable four-factor structure (χ/df: 2.045, RMSEA: 0.048, GFI: 0.935, AGFI: 0.914, TLI: 0.958, CFI: 0.965, and PGFI: 0.712). The factor loadings corresponded to each item exceeded 0.6, the average variance extracted (AVE) exceeded 0.5, and the composite reliability (CR) exceeded 0.7. The correlation coefficients stayed below the square root of the AVE, demonstrated relatively favourable convergent and discriminant validity.The Chinese PPS edition demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.919), with dimensional Cronbach’s alpha ranged from 0.732 to 0.918. Split-half as well as retest reliabilities were recorded at 0.737 and 0.864, respectively. The content validity index for the Chinese PPS edition stood at 0.974.

Conclusion

The Chinese edition of the PPS emerges as a valid and reliable tool for assessing patient engagement in their own treatment as well as care, applicable in both inpatient as well as outpatient settings.
Weak central coherence in neurodevelopmental disorders: a comparative study
Authors: Gambra Leyre , Magallon Sara , Crespo-Eguílaz Nerea
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Central coherence is the normal tendency to process and give meaning to incoming information taking into account the context or global view of that information.

Methods

We assessed the central coherence of 252 school children of normal intelligence between 6 and 11 years old. We compared the performance of two groups: (a) a control group (n = 194), and (b) a clinical group (n = 58) comprising children with NVLD+ADHD (n = 24), ADHD alone (n = 16), SCD (n = 8) and level-1ASD (n = 10) (Kluskall-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney U were calculated to make comparisons within groups and between pairs of groups). The effects of medication were studied (Student’s t test).

Results

The NVLD+ADHD, SCD and ASD1 groups showed weak central coherence. The performance of the ADHD group was normal and differed significantly from the NVLD+ADHD group.

Conclusion

Central coherence deficit was not exclusive to ASD1: it also characterizes NVLD and SCD.
Skillful and strategic navigation in soccer – a motor-cognitive dual-task approach for the evaluation of a dribbling task under different cognitive load conditions
Authors: Klotzbier Thomas J. , Schott Nadja
Published: June 2024

Soccer is a competitive sport that relies on distinct motor skills and cognitive processes. However, cognitive aspects are often overlooked, with a focus mainly on motor skills. Limited research has explored screening tests within motor-cognitive navigation dual-task (DT) paradigms. This study aims to validate a sensitive approach for assessing soccer-specific dribbling by evaluating the Trail-Dribbling Test (TDT) as a method to differentiate high-performance (HP) from low-performance (LP) players. Two hundred and seventy-five participants (41 females) aged between 12 and 34 completed the Trail-Making Test (TMT), the Trail-Walking Test (TWT), and the soccer-specific TDT under three levels of cognitive load. Results indicated shorter TDT durations for HP compared to LP players, with increased cognitive load accentuating differences (TDT-M: p = 0.044, d = 0.260; TDT-A: p < 0.001, d = 0.449; TDT-B: p < 0.001, d = 0.653). The TDT effectively discriminated between HP and LP players in the 14–15 (AUC = 0.712–0.820) and 16–17 age groups (AUC = 0.634–0.839). In conclusion, the ecologically valid TDT demonstrates the potential for quantifying soccer-specific dribbling, offering insights into motor and cognitive aspects of dribbling performance, especially among soccer players aged 14–17.
Apples and oranges: PTSD patients and healthy individuals are not comparable in their subjective and physiological responding to emotion induction and bilateral stimulation
Authors: Pape Valeska , Sammer Gebhard , Hanewald Bernd , Schäflein Eva , Rauschenbach Fritz , Stingl Markus
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Bilateral stimulation is a core element of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, a psychotherapeutic intervention for the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Promising previous findings showed measurable physiological effects of bilateral stimulation in healthy individuals, but studies that replicated these findings in PTSD patients are sparse.

Methods

23 patients with PTSD and 30 healthy controls were confronted with affective standard scripts (pleasant, neutral, unpleasant) while bilateral tactile stimulation was applied. Monolateral and no stimulation served as control conditions. Noise-induced startle reflex response (valence measure) and galvanic skin response (arousal measure) were used for physiological responses and the valence and arousal scale of the Self-Assessment-Manikin for subjective responses.

Results

Both groups showed a subjective distress reduction for unpleasant scripts and a subjective attention increase for positive scripts under bilateral stimulation. In healthy individuals, this was also for physiological measures, and a general startle-reducing effect of bilateral stimulation in the absence of affective stimuli was found. In PTSD patients, however, the effects were restricted on the subjective level, and no concomitant physiological effects were observed.

Conclusions and significance

The findings indicate, that generalizing the effects of BLS in healthy individuals to PTSD patients may be problematic. The herein-reported group differences can be explained by PTSD-specific peculiarities in emotion processing and cognitive processing style.
Assessment and validation of the pet-owner relationship scale for Brazil
Authors: Lopes Luis Felipe Dias , Lopes Eduarda Grando , Lima Mauren Pimentel , Lopes Fillipe Grando , Pegoraro Daniela , Saragozo Rosangela de Arruda , Lauz Thais Ribeiro , dos Santos Joana Vieira
Published: June 2024

Introduction

This study aimed to perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the cat-owner/dog-owner relationship scales. The method involved several stages: conceptual, item, semantic, operational, measurement, and functional equivalence. Procedures included translation, synthesis of translations, back-translation, consensus on the English versions, external evaluation by the original authors, expert committee evaluation, and pre-tests.

Methods

The study surveyed 234 pet owners across Brazil using a 20-item questionnaire. Data analysis utilized confirmatory factor analysis, covariance-based modeling, and multigroup analysis.

Results

The study confirmed the content and construct validity of the model, demonstrating good convergent validity. Hypotheses testing revealed significant inverse relationships between Perceived Cost and Perceived Emotional Closeness, and between Perceived Cost and Pet-Owner Interactions. A positive correlation was found between Perceived Emotional Closeness and Pet-Owner Interactions, with Perceived Emotional Closeness also mediating the relationship between Perceived Cost and Pet-Owner Interactions. No significant differences were found across different pet owner groups, indicating the scale’s invariance and reliability across various demographics.

Discussion

The study significantly expands understanding of the complex dynamics in pet-owner relationships and emphasizes the interplay between emotional and practical factors. It offers valuable insights for future research and practices in animal and human welfare.
Post-traumatic stress disorder and associated factors among inpatients at Eastern Command Referral Hospital in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Adugna Desalegn , Yadeta Tesfaye Assebe , Dereje Jerman , Firdisa Dawit , Demissie Darcho Samuel , Kassa Obsan , Kitessa Monas , Gemeda Asefa Tola
Published: June 2024

Background

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by heightened stress and anxiety after experiencing a traumatic event. While numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the magnitude and factors associated with PTSD, there is limited evidence available on specific study populations of military personnel.

Objective

The study aimed to determine the magnitude of post-traumatic stress disorder and associated factors among military personnel admitted to the Eastern Command Referral Hospital in Eastern Ethiopia from May 1 to 30, 2023.

Methods and materials

A cross-sectional study was carried out at an institution. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data using the post-traumatic stress disorder military version checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition. Data were entered and analyzed using EpiData version 3.1 and STATA version 14. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the information. To investigate factors linked with outcome variables, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. The results were presented using odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, with statistical significance given at a p-value of 0.05.

Results

This study found that approximately 23.6% (95% CI = 19.9–27.8) of admitted military members fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Participants’ history of mental illness [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.73, 95% CI = 2.66–12.31], family history of mental illness (AOR = 10.38, 95% CI = 5.36–20.10), current chewing of khat (AOR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.13–4.32), physical trauma (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.00–4.13), moderate social support (AOR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.1–4.53), strong social support (AOR = 0.09, 95% CI = 0.02–0.35), and severe depression (AOR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.74–5.71) were factors significantly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Conclusions

The magnitude of post-traumatic stress disorder is high among military personnel. Factors such as participants’ history of mental illness, family history of mental illness, depression, lack of social support, current use of khat, and physical trauma are significantly associated with PTSD. It is crucial to identify and intervene early in individuals with these risk factors to address PTSD effectively.
Risk factors affecting the utilization of eye care services evaluated by the CDC's behavior risk factor surveillance system from 2018 to 2021
Authors: Powers Adrianna M. , Patel Deepkumar , DeAngelis Margaret M. , Feng Changyong , Allison Karen
Published: June 2024

When thinking about major health concerns in the U.S. and around the world, eye care ranks lower compared to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. However, people do not think about the direct connection between diabetes and eye health. Untreated diabetes can lead to visual impairments such as blindness or difficulty seeing. Studies have found that eye health associated with nutrition, occupational exposure, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease are some of the known risk factors. This study aimed to identify the potential risk factors that are associated with visual impairment (VI). The data used for this analysis were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from 2018 to 2021. We found important characteristics, such as the U.S. region, general health perception, employment status, income status, age, and health insurance source, that are associated with VI. Our study confirmed that the common demographical factors including age, race/ethnicity, the U.S. region, and gender are associated with VI. The study also highlights associations with additional risk factors such as health insurance source, general health perceptions, employment status, and income status. Using this information, we can reach out to communities with large numbers of individuals experiencing vision challenges and help educate them on prevention and treatment protocols, thereby effectively addressing VI and blindness challenges within our communities, neighborhoods, and finally, the broader society.
The gap between parental knowledge and children practice of myopia control and challenge under COVID-19: a web-based survey in China
Authors: Yuan Hao , Lv Huibin , Li Xuemin
Published: June 2024

Objective

To evaluate parental knowledge of myopia control, investigate its association with children’s practice and refractive status, and explore their change under the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

In this web-based survey, a self-administered questionnaire was made online available during the COVID-19 outbreak between February 1th, 2022 and August 31th, 2022 in China. Participants were recruited via social media by convenience and snowball sampling. Parents of both sexes whose children aged between 3 and 18 were eligible. The overall questionnaire was composed of four categories: demographic information, parental knowledge of myopia, children’s myopia-related behaviors and their change after the COVID-19 pandemic, and children’s refractive status. SPSS version 18.0 was applied to perform the statistics analysis and p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results

A total of 423 eligible families were included in our online survey. The average age of children was 11.37 ± 2.83y (male 46.1%; female 53.9%), with a myopia incidence of 83.9% (355/423). Both children’s age (OR = –0.6; 95%CI = –1.12 to −0.07; p = 0.026) and family income (OR = 2.60; 95%CI = 1.13 to 4.07; p = 0.001) had independently significant impacts on parental knowledge. Unexpectedly, parental knowledge was negatively correlated with children’s onset age of myopia (p = 0.002, r = −0.165) and positively correlated with spectacles wearing (p = 0.014, r = 0.131), and no correlation was found between parental knowledge and the occurrence of children myopia, current diopter, annual myopia progression and the diopter of the first glasses (all p > 0.05). We found discordance phenomenon between parents’ knowledge and children’s behaviors, with parental knowledge being irrelevant to children’s sleeping time (p = 0.159, r = 0.069), the frequency of lying reading (p = 0.462, r = −0.036) and keeping nutrition diet (p = 0.142, r = 0.072), and positively correlated with daily homework time (p = 0.012, r = 0.123). After the outbreak of COVID-19, 77.8% (329/423) of parents admitted that their children’s daily routine had been changed, with children spending more time on sleeping (p < 0.001) and electronic products (p < 0.001), and taking less time to do outdoor activities (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The ideal interaction mode that establishing positive impact between parental knowledge and children practice has not been reached in China, which might be the result of insufficient parents’ cognition and discordance phenomenon between parental knowledge and children’s behaviors. The pandemic of COVID-19 has obviously changed children’s daily routine. More efforts should be made to narrow the gap between knowledge and behaviors of myopia control, and stay alert to the potential increased risk of myopia during COVID-19.
Etiological surveillance of viral diarrhea from 2017 to 2019 in Zhangzhou city, Fujian province, China
Authors: Guo Yueli , Chen Weide , Wang Guowei , Yang Huicong , Zhou Qiaoling , Zhang Chunbin , Zeng Yuanjun
Published: June 2024

Background

Viral diarrhea is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children. This study aimed to conduct etiological surveillance of viral diarrhea in Zhangzhou city, Fujian province, China, from 2017 to 2019 to identify the prevalence, distribution, and characteristics of viral pathogens causing gastrointestinal infections in the region.

Methods

Stool samples were collected from patients with acute diarrhea in Zhangzhou city, Fujian province, China, from 2017 to 2019. Rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, and adenovirus were detected using fluorescence immunochromatography assay.

Results

Of the total 5,627 samples that were collected, at least one of the viruses (rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus and adenovirus) was found to be positive in 1,422 samples. Rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, and adenovirus, were detected in 53.73, 16.68, 15.52, and 14.97%, respectively. Mixed infections were determined in 17.65% of the positive samples. The predominant mixed infections observed were a combination of norovirus and astrovirus, followed by rotavirus and norovirus, and rotavirus and astrovirus. The highest positive rate was observed in the 12–23-month group for rotavirus and adenovirus, while a significantly higher positive rate was observed for norovirus and astrovirus in the 6–11-month group.

Conclusion

These findings from this etiological surveillance highlight the significant burden of viral diarrhea in Zhangzhou city, with rotavirus being the predominant pathogen. The identification of common mixed infections provides insights into the complex nature of viral diarrhea transmission. Target interventions and public health strategies should be implemented, particularly during the winter and spring seasons, to prevent and control the spread of viral pathogens causing gastrointestinal infections in this region.
HIV seroconversion among female sex workers: retrospective cohort study from a large-scale HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health program in Tanzania
Authors: Mbita Gaspar , Mwanamsangu Amasha , Komba Albert N. , Casalini Caterina , Luponya Maneno , Curran Kelly , Christensen Alice , Kim Young-Mi , Reed Jason , Makyao Neema , Kategile Upendo , Conserve Donaldson F. , van Roosmalen Jos , van den Akker Thomas
Published: June 2024

Introduction

In 2016, UNAIDS set ambitious targets to reduce global HIV infections by 75% by 2020 and 90% by 2030, based on the 2.1 million new infections reported in 2010. However, by 2022, new HIV infections had only decreased by 38%, from 2.1 million in 2010 to 1.3 million in 2022, raising concerns about reaching the 2030 goal. Female sex workers (FSWs) in sub-Saharan Africa face a disproportionately high risk of HIV acquisition, contributing 5%–20% of all new infections in several countries in the region. This analysis investigates HIV seroconversion and associated factors among FSWs, offering insights into critical interventions for preventing HIV transmission in this population and advancing the goal of ending the HIV pandemic by 2030.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 17,977 FSWs who initially tested HIV negative upon enrollment in the Sauti project between October 2016 and September 2018. HIV incidence rates were calculated by dividing the number of new HIV cases by observed person-time within the cohort. Cox regression analysis identified factors associated with seroconversion.

Results

The study revealed an HIV incidence rate of 8.6 per 100 person-years among FSWs [95% confidence interval (CI): 8.1–9.1]. Factors independently associated with HIV seroconversion included age 35 years or older [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 2.53; 95% CI: 2.03–3.14], unprotected sex (aHR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.13–1.42), STI symptoms (aHR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.67–2.38), and alcohol consumption before sex (aHR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.07–1.34).

Conclusion

Targeted interventions are vital in curbing HIV transmission among FSWs, with a focus on expanding access to primary HIV prevention services, particularly for older FSWs who face heightened risk. Tailored sexual health education programs are imperative to encourage consistent condom use and enable informed decision-making. Accessible and timely STI screening and treatment services are crucial to mitigate HIV transmission risk. Collaborative partnerships between healthcare providers, community organizations, and government agencies are essential in implementing these interventions among FSWs.
Innate and adaptive effector immune drivers of cytomegalovirus disease in lung transplantation: a double-edged sword
Authors: Bharti Reena , Calabrese Daniel R.
Published: June 2024

Up to 90% of the global population has been infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV), a herpesvirus that remains latent for the lifetime of the host and drives immune dysregulation. CMV is a critical risk factor for poor outcomes after solid organ transplant, though lung transplant recipients (LTR) carry the highest risk of CMV infection, and CMV-associated comorbidities compared to recipients of other solid organ transplants. Despite potent antivirals, CMV remains a significant driver of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), re-transplantation, and death. Moreover, the extended utilization of CMV antiviral prophylaxis is not without adverse effects, often necessitating treatment discontinuation. Thus, there is a critical need to understand the immune response to CMV after lung transplantation. This review identifies key elements of each arm of the CMV immune response and highlights implications for lung allograft tolerance and injury. Specific attention is paid to cellular subsets of adaptive and innate immune cells that are important in the lung during CMV infection and reactivation. The concept of heterologous immune responses is reviewed in depth, including how they form and how they may drive tissue- and allograft-specific immunity. Other important objectives of this review are to detail the emerging role of NK cells in CMV-related outcomes, in addition to discussing perturbations in CMV immune function stemming from pre-existing lung disease. Finally, this review identifies potential mechanisms whereby CMV-directed treatments may alter the cellular immune response within the allograft.
Treating Cancer From the Inside Out
Authors: Fagerstrom Jessica M. , Van Nest Samantha
Published: June 2024

In this article, we will talk about a special treatment that doctors can use to help people who have cancer. This kind of treatment is called brachytherapy. Brachytherapy uses little pieces of materials that give off radiation to treat cancer from the inside out. We will explore what radiation is, what it means when something is radioactive, and why radiation can be used for cancer treatment. We will discuss different types of brachytherapy, because sometimes doctors use small, implanted capsules and sometimes they use a special robot. Toward the end of the article, we will see how this treatment can be used for different kinds of cancers.
Solution of the dark matter riddle within standard model physics: from black holes, galaxies and clusters to cosmology
Authors: Nieuwenhuizen Theodorus Maria
Published: June 2024

It is postulated that the energy density of the (quantum) vacuum acts firstly as dark energy and secondly as a part of dark matter. Assisted by electric fields arising from a small charge mismatch in the cosmic plasma, it can condense on mass concentrations. No longer participating in the cosmic expansion, this constitutes “electro-aether-energy” (EAE), “electro-zero-point-energy” or “electro-vacuum-energy”, which solves the dark matter riddle without new physics. A radial electric field of 1 kV/m is predicted in the Galaxy. For proper electric fields, EAE can cover the results deduced with MOND. An instability allows a speedy filling of dark matter cores. Hydrostatic equilibrium in galaxy clusters is obeyed. Flowing in aether energy of explains why black holes become supermassive, do not have mass gaps and overcome the final parsec problem. Rupture of charged clouds reduces, e.g., the primordial baryon cloud to the cosmic web. The large coherence scale of the electric field acts as a scaffold for gentle galaxy formation and their vast polar structures. In galaxy merging and bars, there occurs no dynamical friction. At cosmological scales, EAE acts as pressureless dark matter. Its amount increases in time, which likely solves the Hubble tension by its late time physics. A big crunch can occur. Of the large cosmological constant injected at the Big Bang, a small part kept that form, without fine-tuning.
Analysis of self-perceived use of spectrum of teaching styles in Italian physical education teachers
Authors: Monacis Domenico , Latino Francesca , d’Arando Cristina , Bibba Matteo , Annoscia Sabrina , Pascali Giacomo , Sannicandro Italo , Colella Dario
Published: June 2024

Introduction

The present study aims to assess PE teachers' perception about the use of teaching styles during curricular lessons.

Methods

The sample involved a total of 83 PE teachers (M = 41, F = 42, main age = 43,74 ± 10,76) divided according to years of service (0–4 = 36%, 5–10 = 34%, and over 10 = 30%) and academic training (Higher Institutes of Physical Education = 44% and master's degree = 56%). Teachers complete a digitalized version of a self-produced questionnaire to assess how many times they use each teaching styles during the last month.

Results

Results show that (a) reproduction rather than production teaching styles were often used, while reproduction teachings styles were most frequently used regardless of years of service.

Discussion

Future research should investigate PE teacher's behavior to enhance the quality of physical education in school.
The efficacy and safety of intra-articular injection of corticosteroids in multimodal analgesic cocktails in total knee arthroplasty—a historically controlled study
Authors: Wang Yixiong , Li Zhichang , Gao Xuan , Lin Jianhao
Published: June 2024

Background

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common and effective procedure. Optimizing pain control and reducing postoperative discomfort are essential for patient satisfaction. No studies have examined the safety and efficacy of intra-articular corticosteroid injections following TKA. This study aims to examine the safety and efficacy of corticosteroids in intra-articular multimodal analgesic injections.

Materials and methods

This was a historically controlled study conducted at a single academic institution. Before May 2019, patients received an intra-articular cocktail injection without corticosteroids during surgery, referred to as the non-corticosteroid (NC) group. After June 2019, intraoperatively, patients received an intra-articular cocktail injection containing corticosteroids, referred to as the corticosteroid (C) group. Finally, 738 patients were evaluated, 370 in the C cohort and 368 in the NC cohort. The mean follow-up duration was 30.4 months for the C group and 48.4 months for the NC group.

Results

The mean VAS scores at rest on postoperative day (POD) 1 (2.35) and POD3 (3.88) were significantly lower in the C group than those in the NC group, which were 2.86 (POD1) and 5.26 (POD3) (p < 0.05). Walking pain in the C group (4.42) was also significantly lower than that (5.96) in the NC group on POD3 (p < 0.05). Patients in the C group had a significantly higher mean range of motion (ROM) (92.55) on POD3 than that (86.38) in the NC group. The mean time to straight leg raise for group C (2.77) was significantly shorter than that (3.61) for the NC group (p < 0.05). The C group also had significantly fewer rescue morphine (1.9) and metoclopramide (0.21) uses per patient than the NC group, which were 3.1 and 0.24, respectively. No significant differences in fever or vomiting rates between groups were found. Patients in neither group developed periprosthetic joint infections or skin necrosis. One patient in the C group suffered from wound dehiscence, and the wound healed well after debridement. No patient died or had a re-operation in either group.

Conclusions

This pilot trial found that intra-articular injection of multimodal analgesia (including corticosteroids) reduced initial postoperative pain, increased ROM in the early postoperative days (up to POD3), and did not increase wound complications or infection rates in approximately 30 months of follow-up.
Assessing human carcinogenicity risk of agrochemicals without the rodent cancer bioassay
Authors: Goetz Amber , Ryan Natalia , Sauve-Ciencewicki Alaina , Lord Caleb C. , Hilton Gina M. , Wolf Douglas C.
Published: June 2024

The rodent cancer bioassays are conducted for agrochemical safety assessment yet they often do not inform regulatory decision-making. As part of a collaborative effort, the Rethinking Carcinogenicity Assessment for Agrochemicals Project (ReCAAP) developed a reporting framework to guide a weight of evidence (WOE)-based carcinogenicity assessment that demonstrates how to fulfill the regulatory requirements for chronic risk estimation without the need to conduct lifetime rodent bioassays. The framework is the result of a multi-stakeholder collaboration that worked through an iterative process of writing case studies (in the form of waivers), technical peer reviews of waivers, and an incorporation of key learnings back into the framework to be tested in subsequent case study development. The example waivers used to develop the framework were written retrospectively for registered agrochemical active substances for which the necessary data and information could be obtained through risk assessment documents or data evaluation records from the US EPA. This exercise was critical to the development of a framework, but it lacked authenticity in that the stakeholders reviewing the waiver already knew the outcome of the rodent cancer bioassay(s). Syngenta expanded the evaluation of the ReCAAP reporting framework by writing waivers for three prospective case studies for new active substances where the data packages had not yet been submitted for registration. The prospective waivers followed the established framework considering ADME, potential exposure, subchronic toxicity, genotoxicity, immunosuppression, hormone perturbation, mode of action (MOA), and all relevant information available for read-across using a WOE assessment. The point of departure was estimated from the available data, excluding the cancer bioassay results, with a proposed use for the chronic dietary risk assessment. The read-across assessments compared data from reliable registered chemical analogues to strengthen the prediction of chronic toxicity and/or tumorigenic potential. The prospective case studies represent a range of scenarios, from a new molecule in a well-established chemical class with a known MOA to a molecule with a new pesticidal MOA (pMOA) and limited read-across to related molecules. This effort represents an important step in establishing criteria for a WOE-based carcinogenicity assessment without the rodent cancer bioassay(s) while ensuring a health protective chronic dietary risk assessment.
Ex vivo biomechanical investigations of combined extra- and intracapsular stabilization in canines with cranial cruciate ligament deficiency
Authors: Sun Cheng-Yuan , Lin Cheng-Chung , Wu Ching-Ho
Published: June 2024

Intracapsular reconstruction (ICR) has long been recommended as a treatment for cranial cruciate ligament deficiency (CCLD) in dogs, but it has fallen out of favor due to its inferior long-term functional outcomes. These outcomes may be attributed to the poor stiffness and strength of the graft in the early period before ligamentization is completed. Additional placement of extracapsular sutures to mechanically protect the graft during the ligamentization process may be a viable method to address this problem. However, the biomechanical effect of this combined surgical approach remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the 3D kinematics of the CCLD stifle in dogs in response to ICR and combined extra- and intracapsular reconstruction (CEICR). Twelve hindlimbs were collected from nine cadavers of mature dogs. The limbs were tested using a custom-made testing apparatus that reproduces their sagittal plane kinematics during the stance phase. Four statuses of stifle joints were tested, namely, (a) cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) intact; (b) CCLD; (c) CCLD stifle stabilized by CEICR; and (d) CCLD stifle stabilized by ICR only. Three-dimensional stifle kinematics at the 5 instances of the stance phase were measured with an optoelectronic system. The results showed that ICR marginally corrects the increased adduction, internal rotation, and caudodistal stifle joint center displacement that occur as a result of CCLD. CEICR led to better restoration of the stifle kinematics, especially with respect to the internal rotation and cranial translation stabilities. Furthermore, CEICR only resulted in minor excessive restraints on other motion components. The findings indicated that the additional lateral fabellotibial suture offers immediate stability to the stifle, consequently lowering the risk of graft over-elongation in the short term postoperatively. Considering the propensity for the extracapsular suture to degrade over time, further in vivo studies are warranted to explore the long-term effects of the CEICR procedure.
Dietary supplementation with Clostridium autoethanogenum protein improves growth performance and promotes muscle protein synthesis by activating the mTOR signaling pathway of the broiler
Authors: Shan Chunqiao , Liu Yan , Ma Chaoxin , Li Chuang , Liu Qiuchen , Liu Sisi , Jiang Guotuo , Tian Jing
Published: June 2024

The experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of different ratios of Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP) used in the diets on the growth performance, muscle quality, serum indexes, and mTOR pathway of white feather broilers. Four hundred and eighty 1-day-old Arbor Acres (AA) broilers, comprising equal numbers of males and females, were randomly assigned to one of four treatments, and each treatment consisted of 12 replicates of 10 birds. Four diets were formulated based on isoenergetic and isonitrogenous principles. The control group (CAP 0) did not receive any CAP, while the experimental groups received 2% (CAP 2), 3% (CAP 3), and 4% (CAP 4) of CAP for six weeks. Compared with the CAP0, (1) The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lower (p < 0.05), and the leg muscle yield was higher (p < 0.05) in the CAP3 and CAP4; (2) The serum levels of TP, ALB, T-AOC, and SOD were improved in the CAP3 (p < 0.05); (3) The expression of Lipin-1 gene was down-regulated and AMPKɑ2, Akt, and 4E-BP1 genes were up-regulated in the experiment group (p < 0.05); (4) The inclusion of 3% CAP in the diet increased the levels of 4E-BP1, S6K1, Akt, and AMPKɑ2 phosphorylation by modulating the mTOR signaling pathway (p < 0.05). In conclusion, broiler diets containing 3% CAP can activate the mTOR signaling pathway to promote muscle synthesis and improve growth performance.
Physiological Indices for the Selection of Drought-Tolerant Safflower Genotypes for Cultivation in Marginal Areas
Authors: Pasban Eslam Bahman , Chenari Bouket Ali , Oszako Tomasz , Belbahri Lassaad
Published: June 2024

Safflower is known as a tolerant plant to abiotic stress factors. This study was conducted to introduce some physiological indices to improve drought-tolerant safflower genotypes for cultivation in marginal and arid areas. Six safflower genotypes were studied for two years (2017–2019) in the East Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Centre of Iran under non-stressed and low-water conditions from flowering to seed maturity. The occurrence of water deficits led to a significant decrease in relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance (gs), osmotic adjustment (Oadj), water potential (WP) and agronomic water use efficiency (WUEa) and an increase in the water stress index (CWSI). In addition, the values of these traits differed significantly between the safflower genotypes. The correlations between the physiological traits and seed yield were significant. The regression relationships between seed yield and the above traits showed that CWSI, WP and WUEa had a strong relationship with seed yield under normal (R2 = 0.854, 0.801 and 0.856, respectively) and water deficit conditions (R2 = 0.931, 0.877 and 0.900, respectively). It can be concluded that the CWSI, WP and WUEa indices are able to select high-yielding and drought-tolerant safflower genotypes for the late season. Among the components of seed yield, the number of capitula per plant (r = 0.86) and seeds per capitula (r = 0.92), which were positively and significantly correlated with seed yield, played the main roles in the formation of seed yield. The Golemehr and Mec.295 genotypes achieved higher seed yields under normal (4676 and 4961 kg h−1, respectively) and water deficit conditions (3211 and 3385 kg h−1, respectively) and can be recommended for cultivation in marginal and arid areas.
Comparison of the Workday and Non-Workday Carbon Emission Reduction Benefits of Bikeshare as a Feeder Mode of Metro Stations
Authors: Li Hao , Wang Zhaofei , Wang Qiuping
Published: June 2024

Bikeshare, as a convenient transport mode, can address the first- and last-mile travel needs of metro trips while generating many environmental benefits, such as reducing the use of environmentally unfriendly transport modes and lowering the carbon emissions of the urban transportation system. This paper takes bikeshare as a feeder mode of metro stations (BS-FMMS) as the research object and compares the spatial and temporal differences in the carbon emission reduction benefits of BS-FMMS on workdays and non-workdays by using the framework of BS-FMMS carbon reduction benefit analysis and the methods of time-series analysis, spatial aggregation analysis, and box plot analysis. The results show that the carbon emission reduction benefit of bikeshare has obvious morning and evening peaks on workdays, while it tends to be stable without obvious peaks during the day on non-workdays. From the perspective of spatial distribution, the carbon emission reduction benefits of BS-FMMS are more significant in the metro station areas in the south of Baoan district, the west of Nanshan district, the central of Longhua district, and the south of Futian district in Shenzhen city, and the metro stations where the carbon emission reduction benefits of the non-workday are greater than those of the workday are mainly concentrated in Nanshan district, Futian district, and Luohu district. There is a significant positive correlation between BS-FMMS ridership and carbon emission reduction. These findings can provide clear policy implications for the decarbonization development of urban transportation systems.
A Layered Method Based on Depth of Focus for Rapid Generation of Computer-Generated Holograms
Authors: Ma Xiandong , Gui Jinbin , Li Junchang , Song Qinghe
Published: June 2024

In this paper, a layered method based on focal depth is proposed for the fast generation of computational holograms. The method layers objects with focal depth as spacing and approximates triangles on the object as projections on the layers based on the physical properties of the focal depth to simplify the computation. Finally, the diffraction distributions of all layers are calculated via angular spectral diffraction and superimposed to obtain the hologram. The proposed method has been proven to be about 20 times faster on a CPU than the analytical polygon-based method. A hologram containing tens of thousands of triangles can be computed on a GPU in a fraction of a second. In addition, this method makes it easy to attach complex textures, which is difficult with polygon-based analysis methods. Finally, holograms of objects with complex textures were generated, and the three-dimensionality of these holograms was confirmed by numerical and optical reconstruction.
Unraveling the Immune Regulatory Functions of USP5: Implications for Disease Therapy
Authors: Gu Jinyi , Chen Changshun , He Pu , Du Yunjie , Zhu Bingdong
Published: June 2024

Ubiquitin-specific protease 5 (USP5) belongs to the ubiquitin-specific protease (USP) family, which uniquely recognizes unanchored polyubiquitin chains to maintain the homeostasis of monoubiquitin chains. USP5 participates in a wide range of cellular processes by specifically cleaving isopeptide bonds between ubiquitin and substrate proteins or ubiquitin itself. In the process of immune regulation, USP5 affects important cellular signaling pathways, such as NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, and IFN, by regulating ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation. These pathways play important roles in immune regulation and inflammatory responses. In addition, USP5 regulates the activity and function of immunomodulatory signaling pathways via the deubiquitination of key proteins, thereby affecting the activity of immune cells and the regulation of immune responses. In the present review, the structure and function of USP5, its role in immune regulation, and the mechanism by which USP5 affects the development of diseases by regulating immune signaling pathways are comprehensively overviewed. In addition, we also introduce the latest research progress of targeting USP5 in the treatment of related diseases, calling for an interdisciplinary approach to explore the therapeutic potential of targeting USP5 in immune regulation.