bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fear of COVID-19, prolonged smartphone use, sleep disturbances, and depression in the time of COVID-19: A nation-wide survey
Authors: Li Gangqin , Liu Hao , Qiu Changjian , Tang Wanjie
Published: October 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide range of behavioral and psychological effects on the general population. This study examined the relationship between fear of COVID-19, daily smartphone use, sleep disturbance, and depression in the general population during the early stage of COVID-19.

Methods

An online nation-wide survey was conducted from March 20 to April 10, 2020. Sociodemographic information, including age, gender, educational attainment, vocation, and duration of self-isolation, was collected; fear of COVID-19 and other objective exposures, daily hours of smartphone use, night sleep duration, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms were measured with structured questions and PHQ-9. There were 1,280 questionnaires in total, and 1,250 valid questionnaires remained.

Results

The prevalence of sleep disturbance and depression were found to be 13.1 and 10.7%, respectively. Feelings of extreme fear, longer smartphone use, difficulty initiating sleep, and early morning awakening were significant risk factors for depression. Daily hours of smartphone use, difficulty initiating sleep, and early morning awakening partially mediated the association between feeling extremely scared of the pandemic and depression.

Conclusion

Psychological interventions in a major public health crisis should focus more on the subjective perception of pandemic fear. At the same time, daily smartphone use and sleep disturbances could serve as targets for monitoring and intervention for depression during a pandemic.
Time series models show comparable projection performance with joinpoint regression: A comparison using historical cancer data from World Health Organization
Authors: Li Jinhui , Chan Nicholas B. , Xue Jiashu , Tsoi Kelvin K. F.
Published: October 2022

Background

Cancer is one of the major causes of death and the projection of cancer incidences is essential for future healthcare resources planning. Joinpoint regression and average annual percentage change (AAPC) are common approaches for cancer projection, while time series models, traditional ways of trend analysis in statistics, were considered less popular. This study aims to compare these projection methods on seven types of cancers in 31 geographical jurisdictions.

Methods

Using data from 66 cancer registries in the World Health Organization, projection models by joinpoint regression, AAPC, and autoregressive integrated moving average with exogenous variables (ARIMAX) were constructed based on 20 years of cancer incidences. The rest of the data upon 20-years of record were used to validate the primary outcomes, namely, 3, 5, and 10-year projections. Weighted averages of mean-square-errors and of percentage errors on predictions were used to quantify the accuracy of the projection results.

Results

Among 66 jurisdictions and seven selected cancers, ARIMAX gave the best 5 and 10-year projections for most of the scenarios. When the ten-year projection was concerned, ARIMAX resulted in a mean-square-error (or percentage error) of 2.7% (or 7.2%), compared with 3.3% (or 15.2%) by joinpoint regression and 7.8% (or 15.0%) by AAPC. All the three methods were unable to give reasonable projections for prostate cancer incidence in the US.

Conclusion

ARIMAX outperformed the joinpoint regression and AAPC approaches by showing promising accuracy and robustness in projecting cancer incidence rates. In the future, developments in projection models and better applications could promise to improve our ability to understand the trend of disease development, design the intervention strategies, and build proactive public health system.
What is “hospital resilience”? A scoping review on conceptualization, operationalization, and evaluation
Authors: Khalil Merette , Ravaghi Hamid , Samhouri Dalia , Abo John , Ali Ahmed , Sakr Hala , Camacho Alex
Published: October 2022

Background

COVID-19 underscored the importance of building resilient health systems and hospitals. Nevertheless, evidence on hospital resilience is limited without consensus on the concept, its application, or measurement, with practical guidance needed for action at the facility-level.

Aim

This study establishes a baseline for understanding hospital resilience, exploring its 1) conceptualization, 2) operationalization, and 3) evaluation in the empirical literature.

Methods

Following Arksey and O'Malley's model, a scoping review was conducted, and a total of 38 articles were included for final extraction.

Findings and discussion

In this review, hospital resilience is conceptualized by its components, capacities, and outcomes. The interdependence of six components (1) space, 2) stuff, 3) staff, 4) systems, 5) strategies, and 6) services) influences hospital resilience. Resilient hospitals must absorb, adapt, transform, and learn, utilizing all these capacities, sometimes simultaneously, through prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery, within a risk-informed and all-hazard approach. These capacities are not static but rather are dynamic and should improve continuously occur over time. Strengthening hospital resilience requires both hard and soft resilience. Hard resilience encompasses the structural (or constructive) and non-structural (infrastructural) aspects, along with agility to rearrange the space while hospital's soft resilience requires resilient staff, finance, logistics, and supply chains (stuff), strategies and systems (leadership and coordination, community engagement, along with communication, information, and learning systems). This ultimately results in hospitals maintaining their function and providing quality and continuous critical, life-saving, and essential services, amidst crises, while leaving no one behind. Strengthening hospital resilience is interlinked with improving health systems and community resilience, and ultimately contributes to advancing universal health coverage, health equity, and global health security. The nuances and divergences in conceptualization impact how hospital resilience is applied and measured. Operationalization and evaluation strategies and frameworks must factor hospitals' evolving capacities and varying risks during both routine and emergency times, especially in resource-restrained and emergency-prone settings.

Conclusion

Strengthening hospital resilience requires consensus regarding its conceptualization to inform a roadmap for operationalization and evaluation and guide meaningful and effective action at facility and country level. Further qualitative and quantitative research is needed for the operationalization and evaluation of hospital resilience comprehensively and pragmatically, especially in fragile and resource-restrained contexts.
Death at sea—the true rate of occupational fatality within the Australian commercial fishing industry
Authors: Penney Greg , Byrne William , Cattani Marcus
Published: October 2022

Although the safety performance of the Australian commercial fishing industry has been the subject of multiple investigations, it has ultimately remained undefined. While most Australian industries notify industry regulators of significant workplace incidents and injuries in their operations, the majority of persons in the commercial fishing industry are contractors who are paid piecework and in some jurisdictions specifically excluded from the worker compensation legislation, meaning that most occupational injuries, including fatalities, are not captured in the centralized worker compensation data sets. This study presents the analysis of a systematic review of industry databases, published academic, and, Australian coroners reports to assist improve the definition of the nation's commercial fishing industry safety performance. The analysis shows occupational fatality rates are significantly higher than currently reported, and recurring factors contributing to deaths at sea remain unaddressed. The study is significant as it demonstrates how workplace injuries and deaths can be hidden within data sets applying broad industry classification and provides a foundation for future research in Australian fishing and other industries.
Combating illicit fentanyl: Will increased Chinese regulation generate a public health crisis in India?
Authors: Wang Chao , Lassi Nicholas
Published: October 2022

This study examines how Chinese drug regulations are shifting illicit fentanyl production from China to India. This change has implications for the law, drug enforcement, pharmaceutical industry, and public health, as domestic production increases domestic access to fentanyl, in India. An empirical examination of current trends in fentanyl production and use in the region is conducted, along with an exegesis of the legal and regulatory systems in China and India. There is an accounting of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, the strengths and weaknesses of drug legislation, and the public health consequences of increased production, distribution, and use of fentanyl in India. This study also details how the Indian government meets this challenge through legislative mechanisms, foremost through class-wide legislative control over fentanyl and its precursors. Class-wide control prohibits the unlawful production and distribution of all current and future fentanyl analogs and their precursors, disincentivizing and disrupting their development and production. The Indian government should also reduce domestic demand by promoting harm reduction measures such as opioid substitution therapy, evidence-based treatment, fentanyl test strip and naloxone distribution, and needle exchange programs.
Status quo and problem analysis of cervical cancer screening program in China: Based on RE-AIM framework
Authors: Zhu Jingfen , Ge Zhenghao , Xia Jiawei , Liu Qi , Ran Qingqing , Yang Yongbin
Published: October 2022

Background

An organized cervical cancer screening program is an effective method to prevent and control cervical cancer. This study aims to find barriers and facilitators in the implementation process of National Cervical Cancer Screening Program in Rural Areas (NACCSPRA) in China through program evaluation, and thus propose suggestions for optimization of the program.

Methods

Through stratified sampling, 8 provinces (autonomous cities/districts) in eastern, southern, western, northern, and central China were selected for evaluation of NACCSPRA based on the RE-AIM framework. We obtained 15 program providers' experience and perspectives through semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed using a combination of deductive and inductive analysis methods.

Results

The study found that NACCSPRA mainly serves women with rural household registration or urban minimum living guarantee. Population mobility and certain demographic characteristics such as low education and poor health awareness are common participation barriers, while program publicity acts as a facilitator. A screening program's direct benefit is to promote early detection and treatment of cervical cancer, and its perceived indirect effect is to raise people's health awareness. The proportion of regions adopting the project is relatively high, and factors affecting employees' participation are screening workload, working environment, welfare benefits, degree of preference for grassroots work, and whether the project is included in the performance appraisal; In terms of implementation, there are disparities in screening methods, network informatization levels, and capital investment in various regions. Poor development of screening information system and insufficient screening funds are significant barriers to improvement of project implementation. In contrast, the overall implementation of follow-up is better; related policies issued by the local government and financial subsidies for poor women ensure the maintenance of the project.

Conclusion

Shortage of funds is an important problem faced by current screening project, which negatively influences upgrade of cervical cancer prevention strategy, implementors' working environment, and impedes improvement of information network. In addition, defects in population coverage, especially in mobile population also deserves attention. The study found barriers and facilitators of NACCSPRA perceived by project providers and provided a theoretical foundation for project optimization.
Self-collection of capillary blood and saliva to determine COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and health professionals
Authors: Schmetzer Caroline , Vogt Ekaterina , Stellar Laura , Godonou Elie-Tino , Liphardt Anna-Maria , Muehlensiepen Felix , Vuillerme Nicolas , Hueber Axel J. , Kleyer Arnd , Krönke Gerhard , Schett Georg , Simon David , Knitza Johannes
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Being able to independently determine vaccine induced antibody responses by minimal-invasive methods is of great interest to enable a flexible and effective vaccination strategy. This study aimed to evaluate (1) the accuracy, feasibility, usability and acceptability of capillary blood and saliva self-sampling to determine SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) and health professionals (HP).

Methods

IMID patients and HP having received two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, self-collected capillary blood (Tasso+) and saliva samples. Capillary samples were considered interchangeable with venous blood if three criteria were met: Spearman's correlation coefficient (r) > 0.8, non-significant Wilcoxon signed-rank test (i.e., p > 0.05), and a small bias or 95% of tests within 10% difference through Bland-Altman. Participants completed a survey to investigate self-sampling usability (system usability scale; SUS) and acceptability (net promoter score; NPS). Study personnel monitored correct self-sampling completion and recorded protocol deviations.

Results

60 participants (30 IMID patients and 30 HP) were analyzed. We observed interchangeability for capillary samples with an accuracy of 98.3/100% for Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgA antibodies, respectively. Fifty-eight capillary blood samples and all 60 saliva samples were successfully collected within the first attempt. Usability of both self-sampling procedures was rated as excellent, with significantly higher saliva ratings (p < 0.001). Capillary self-sampling was perceived as significantly (p < 0.001) less painful compared to traditional venous blood collection. Participants reported a NPS for capillary and saliva self-sampling of +68% and +63%, respectively. The majority of both groups (73%) preferred capillary self-sampling over professional venous blood collection.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that capillary self-sampling is accurate, feasible and preferred over conventional venous blood collection. Implementation could enable easy access, flexible vaccination monitoring, potentially leading to a better protection of vulnerable patient groups. Self-collection of saliva is feasible and safe however more work is needed to determine its application in clinical practice.
Smokeless tobacco industry's brand stretching through FM radio: A study from Delhi National Capital Region, India
Authors: Singh Prashant Kumar , Jain Rupal , Tyagi Akansha , Yadav Amit , Singh Shalini
Published: October 2022

Smokeless tobacco (SLT) consumption is associated with multiple adverse health effects and mortality, with the highest burden in India. The WHO FCTC has banned tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship via Article 13. Indian laws also prohibit any kind of direct or indirect advertisements in all forms of audio, visual, and print media; brand promotion; and sponsorship of tobacco products. However, the tobacco industry continues to find aggressive marketing ways to advertise their products. This study aims to assess the extent of surrogate advertisement of smokeless tobacco products through frequency modulation (FM) radio stations in the city of Delhi (National Capital Territory of India). In this study, the advertisements broadcasted over FM radio across different channels (private and government owned) in total 162 h were analyzed. The time duration was spread evenly over morning peak hours, off hours, and evening peak hours. It was found that multiple brands including Vimal, Kamla Pasand, and Rajshree have used surrogate advertising to market their brands that are commonly associated with smokeless tobacco products. However, no such advertisement was found to be aired on government-owned FM channels. The total surrogate advertisements broadcasted were over 286 times, where no significant difference was found in distribution among peak and non-peak hours. The study indicated that the tobacco industry is making its way to sell the products through indirect advertisements. The need of the hour is to not only enforce tobacco advertising ban laws in all forms of advertising media but also to strictly regulate smokeless tobacco products.
Effects of nordic walking exercise on gait, motor/non-motor symptoms, and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in individuals with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Harro Cathy C. , Shoemaker Michael J , Coatney Cassandra M. , Lentine Valerie E. , Lieffers Lillian R. , Quigley Jessica J. , Rollins Shannon G. , Stewart Jonathan D. , Hall Julie , Khoo Sok Kean
Published: October 2022

Objective

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate and long-term effects of Nordic Walking (NW) exercise on walking function, motor/non-motor Parkinson's Disease (PD) symptoms, and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in persons with idiopathic PD.

Methods

Twelve community-dwelling participants with mild to moderate idiopathic PD and varied degrees of gait dysfunction were recruited for this prospective, repeated measures design that examined clinical measures and BDNF levels at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1) and 3-month follow-up (T2). Participants engaged in 6 weeks of supervised NW exercise training with individualized instruction, followed by 14 weeks of independent NW exercise with remote coaching. Outcome measurements included daily step counts, 6-Minute Walk Test (6-MinWT), 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), spatiotemporalparameters, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), dual-task TUG, Revised-Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Revised-Freezing of Gait Questionnaire, MDS-Nonmotor Symptom scale (NMS), Parkinson's Fatigue Scale, and serum BDNF levels. The Friedman test with post hoc Wilcoxon sign-ranked pairwise comparisons were used to compare baseline to T1, baseline to T2, and T1 to T2 timepoints with a Benjamini-Hockberg correction applied.

Results

Statistically significant improvements found post-training and retained at 3-month follow-up included 6-MinWT, daily step count, 10mWT, MDS-UPDRS, and TUG with effect sizes of 0.57 to 1.03. Serum BDNF at T2 was significantly greater than T0 and T1. Although no statistically significant improvements were observed in the MDS-NMS, 9 of 12 participants had improved non-motor symptoms. There was good adherence, sustained independent exercise engagement, and no adverse events over the 5-month study duration.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that NW exercise was a safe, feasible, and sustainable mode of aerobic exercise for this sample of participants with varied Parkinson's disease duration and severity. Following an individualized and progressive NW training intervention, significant improvements in walking function, daily activity level, and motor function were observed. Following the supervised NW training phase, independent three-month engagement in NW exercise was sustained with long-term retention of these clinical improvements and an increase in serum BDNF levels over this five-month NW exercise trial.

Impact

Nordic walking exercise may be a safe, feasible and sustainable mode of independent exercise for improving daily ambulatory activity, gait and motor function, and serum BDNF in individuals with mild to moderate PD with varied gait abilities.

Clinical Trials Registry ID

20-101-H
An imperative to focus the plastic pollution problem on place-based solutions
Authors: Hardesty Britta Denise , Willis Kathryn , Vince Joanna
Published: October 2022

There is an increased focus on plastic pollution and the resultant harms in our oceans and on our shores at local, regional, and global scales. New technologies are being developed and trialed, multilateral agreements are coming into play, and the role of a circular economy is increasingly touted as the key to help solve the plastic pollution crisis. Simultaneously, we are witnessing the disruption of global supply chains from the COVID-19 pandemic, increased fuel prices and increased scope and scale of natural disasters. Individual countries are setting national targets and are developing national plans of action to combat plastic pollution. In this paper, we focus on Australia's National Plastics Plan as a case study of a national approach to addressing this transboundary issue. We discuss the Plan in relation to supply chains, the role of standards and best practices, and principles for a successful circular plastic economy. We explicitly consider the role of reverse logistics and regional approaches that could be developed and implemented within island nations. Overall, we argue for culturally appropriate, economically and environmentally place-based solutions as a necessary approach to help reduce plastic losses to the environment, acknowledging that plastics leakage to the environment is a social equity issue.
Policy interventions to address water security impacted by climate change: Adaptation strategies of three case studies across different geographic regions
Authors: Quandt Amy , O'Shea Bethany , Oke Saheed , Ololade Olusola O.
Published: October 2022

Water shortage in terms of both physical and economic water scarcity is still a major issue globally. The looming climate change threat has increased the adverse threats to water security in different regions. However, policy solutions to water security vary in different geographical regions and at different scales (local, regional, national, etc.). Understanding the successes and challenges of different policy solutions is critical to scaling-up successful policies and addressing water security holistically. This paper aims to explore the effects of implementing policies at different scales in three different case study contexts: 1. two Counties in California in the USA, 2. the City of Cape Town in South Africa and 3. the Country of Bangladesh. These case studies highlight various implemented policies and their effectiveness in each context. We reviewed relevant research papers consisting of peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings and gray literature using a content analysis approach based on keywords such as water scarcity, water shortage, climate change, policies, interventions and solutions. Based on this cross-case analysis, we present key strategies moving forward, including: reallocation of water based on different community and sector needs, the importance of stakeholders engagement and public awareness, and a need to implement both short and long-term management plans. There is no one-size fits all policy solution to water scarcity. Understanding the context, scale, and cultural environment will be a key to future water security-focused interventions and policies.
Recalibrating populism measurement tools: Methodological inconsistencies and challenges to our understanding of the relationship between the supply- and demand-side of populism
Authors: Olivas Osuna José Javier , Rama José
Published: October 2022

The analysis of the congruence between the demand- and supply-side of populism is key to understand the relationship between citizens and populist parties, and to what extent this is mainly a “pull” or “push” phenomenon. Although the study of populism has experienced an unprecedented growth across social sciences during the last decade, research directly addressing this connection remains scarce. Moreover, most existing tools used to measure populism have not been created paying much consideration to their compatibility with those applied in the other side of this demand-supply divide. This article critically revisits the influential Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES) Module 5 dataset to illustrate shortcomings regarding current efforts to measure the demand- and supply-sides of populism. We show that according to CSES data the, often presumed, correspondence between “populist” attitudes and likelihood of voting for “populist parties” is only partial and country specific. But more importantly, we identify three main potential sources of such mismatch linked to instrumental issues: (i) problems with the choice, design and operationalization of attitudinal survey items; (ii) problems in the assessment of parties' populism; and (iii) instrument biases that make them more effective with some varieties of populism than with others. These methodological limitations are hindering our ability to settle longstanding theoretical debates concerning the correspondence between the demand- and supply-side, the relative centrality of attributes, and varieties of populism. Therefore, we invite scholars working in this field to update existing measurement tools, or develop new ones, considering the multidimensionality of this latent construct, the diversity of movements, and the need to apply consistent criteria and operationalization techniques when assessing degrees of populism in citizens and parties.
A multi-lander New Frontiers mission concept study for Enceladus: SILENUS
Authors: Nathan Erica , Balachandran Katiyayni , Cappuccio Paolo , Di Julia , Doerksen Kelsey , Gloder Alessia , Li Monica , Massarweh Lotfi , Peev Thomas , Santra Shreya , Rovira-Navarro Marc , Limonchik Dan
Published: October 2022

Enceladus, with its subsurface ocean, is amongst the top priority targets in the search for life beyond Earth. Following on discoveries from the Cassini mission that Enceladus possesses a global subsurface ocean containing salt and organic compounds, there are many unconstrained properties of the ocean and ice shell that must be investigated to further assess the habitability of Enceladus and begin the search for biosignatures on Enceladus. In this paper, we present a concept study for a New Frontiers class multi-lander and orbiter mission to Enceladus that investigates if there is or ever was a habitable environment on Enceladus. The mission architecture includes an orbiter for detailed chemical analysis of material erupted from Enceladus’ plumes and four impact landers for geophysical measurements. As part of our mission concept study, we explore key trades for orbital and surface science, as well as assess the scientific potential and hazards of candidate landing sites on Enceladus. The novelty of our mission architecture and consideration of both orbital and surface science elements makes this work directly relevant to a broad range of potential future mission architectures under consideration, such as those identified in the 2023–2032 Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey.
Microcystis sp. AE03 strain in Dal Lake harbors cylindrospermopsin and microcystin synthetase gene cluster
Authors: Bashir Fahim , Bashir Arif , Rajput Vishnu D. , Bouaïcha Noureddine , Fazili Khalid M. , Adhikari Samrat , Negi Yogesh , Minkina Tatiana , Almalki Waleed Hassan , Ganai Bashir Ahmad
Published: October 2022

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CHABs) are increasing at an alarming rate in different water bodies worldwide. In India, CHAB events in water bodies such as Dal Lake have been sporadically reported with no study done to characterize the cyanobacterial species and their associated toxins. We hypothesized that this Lake is contaminated with toxic cyanobacterial species with the possibility of the presence of cyanotoxin biosynthetic genes. We, therefore, used some of the molecular tools such as 16S ribosomal DNA, PCR, and phylogenetic analysis to explore cyanobacterial species and their associated toxins. A 3-year (2018–2020) survey was conducted at three different sampling sites of Dal Lake namely, Grand Palace Gath (S1), Nigeen basin (S2), and Gagribal basin (S3). Two strains of Dolichospermum sp. AE01 and AE02 (S3 and S1 site) and one strain of Microcystis sp. AE03 (S2 site) was isolated, cultured, and characterized phylogenetically by 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing. The presence of cyanotoxin genes from the isolates was evaluated by PCR of microcystins (mcyB), anatoxins (anaC), and cylindrospermopsins (pks) biosynthesis genes. Results revealed the presence of both mcyB and pks gene in Microcystis sp. AE03, and only anaC gene in Dolichospermum sp. AE02 strain. However, Dolichospermum sp. AE01 strain was not found to harbor any such genes. Our findings, for the first time, reported the coexistence of pks and mcyB in a Microcystis AE03 strain. This study has opened a new door to further characterize the unexplored cyanobacterial species, their associated cyanotoxin biosynthetic genes, and the intervention of high-end proteomic techniques to characterize the cyanotoxins.
Comparative analysis of microbial communities in different growth stages of Dermacentor nuttalli
Authors: Zhao Li , Ma Yi-Min , Yang Bo , Han Wen-Xiong , Zhao Wei-Hong , Chai Hai-Liang , Zhang Zhan-Sheng , Zhan Yong-Jie , Wang Li-Feng , Xing Yu , Yu Lu-Fei , Wang Jin-Ling , Ding Yu-Lin , Liu Yong-Hong
Published: October 2022

Ticks were identified as arthropods that are pathogenic vectors. Dermacentor nuttalli is one of the dominant tick species in Inner Mongolia, and it carries and transmits a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms. However, at present, only the detection of D. nuttalli adult ticks and D. nuttalli different developmental stages carrying one specific pathogen, or the next-generation sequencing of D. nuttalli adult ticks were available. In this study, we investigated the microbial community structures of D. nuttalli in different growth stages under laboratory artificial feeding conditions. Total DNA was extracted from seven growth stages (female adult ticks, eggs, larval ticks, engorged larval ticks, nymphal ticks, engorged nymphal ticks, and second-generation adult ticks) obtained from laboratory artificial feeding of engorged D. nuttalli female ticks in Inner Mongolia. Then, the 16S rDNA V3–V4 hypervariable region was amplified to construct an Illumina PE250 library. Finally, 16S rRNA sequencing was performed on Illumina Novaseq 6000 platform. The sequencing data were analyzed using molecular biology software and platforms. The Illumina PE250 sequencing results showed that the egg stage had the highest diversity and number of species (28.74%, 98/341), while the engorged nymph stage had the lowest diversity and number of species (9.72%, 21/216). A total of 387 genera of 22 phyla were annotated in D. nuttalli, with 9 phyla and 57 genera found throughout all 7 growth stages. The dominant phylum was Proteobacteria; the dominant genera were Arsenophonus and Rickettsia; and the genera with the highest relative abundance in the 7 growth stages were Pseudomonas, Paenalcaligenes, Arsenophonus, Arsenophonus, Pseudomonas, Arsenophonus, and Rickettsia, respectively. Among the 23 exact species annotated, Brucella melitensis exhibits pathogeny that poses a serious threat to humans and animals. In this study, the microbial community composition at different growth stages of D. nuttalli was comprehensively analyzed for the first time.
Allogeneic and xenogeneic lymphoid reconstitution in a RAG2−/−IL2RGy/− severe combined immunodeficient pig: A preclinical model for intrauterine hematopoietic transplantation
Authors: Sper Renan B. , Proctor Jessica , Lascina Odessa , Guo Ling , Polkoff Kathryn , Kaeser Tobias , Simpson Sean , Borst Luke , Gleason Katherine , Zhang Xia , Collins Bruce , Murphy Yanet , Platt Jeffrey L. , Piedrahita Jorge A.
Published: October 2022

Mice with severe combined immunodeficiency are commonly used as hosts of human cells. Size, longevity, and physiology, however, limit the extent to which immunodeficient mice can model human systems. To address these limitations, we generated RAG2−/−IL2RGy/− immunodeficient pigs and demonstrate successful engraftment of SLA mismatched allogeneic D42 fetal liver cells, tagged with pH2B-eGFP, and human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells after in utero cell transplantation. Following intrauterine injection at day 42–45 of gestation, fetuses were allowed to gestate to term and analyzed postnatally for the presence of pig (allogeneic) and human (xenogeneic) B cells, T-cells and NK cells in peripheral blood and other lymphoid tissues. Engraftment of allogeneic hematopoietic cells was detected based on co-expression of pH2B-eGFP and various markers of differentiation. Analysis of spleen revealed robust generation and engraftment of pH2B-eGFP mature B cells (and IgH recombination) and mature T-cells (and TCR-β recombination), T helper (CD3+CD4+) and T cytotoxic (CD3+CD8+) cells. The thymus revealed engraftment of pH2B-eGFP double negative precursors (CD4−CD8−) as well as double positive (CD4+, CD8+) precursors and single positive T-cells. After intrauterine administration of human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, analysis of peripheral blood and lymphoid tissues revealed the presence of human T-cells (CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+) but no detectable B cells or NK cells. The frequency of human CD45+ cells in the circulation decreased rapidly and were undetectable within 2 weeks of age. The frequency of human CD45+ cells in the spleen also decreased rapidly, becoming undetectable at 3 weeks. In contrast, human CD45+CD3+T-cells comprised >70% of cells in the pig thymus at birth and persisted at the same frequency at 3 weeks. Most human CD3+ cells in the pig's thymus expressed CD4 or CD8, but few cells were double positive (CD4+ CD8+). In addition, human CD3+ cells in the pig thymus contained human T-cell excision circles (TREC), suggesting de novo development. Our data shows that the pig thymus provides a microenvironment conducive to engraftment, survival and development of human T-cells and provide evidence that the developing T-cell compartment can be populated to a significant extent by human cells in large animals.
Simulation of the Braking Effects of Permanent Magnet Eddy Current Brake and Its Effects on Levitation Characteristics of HTS Maglev Vehicles
Authors: Zhang Gaowei , Zhu Jianmei , Li Yan , Yuan Yuhang , Xiang Yuqing , Lin Peng , Wang Li , Liu Jianxin , Liang Le , Deng Zigang
Published: October 2022

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnetic levitation (maglev) trains for designed high speed need a non-contact braking method that can produce stable and sufficient braking forces to ensure the safety of the train during emergency braking. In order to study the braking effects of permanent magnet eddy current braking (PMECB) used in HTS maglev vehicles and its effects on the levitation performance of HTS maglev vehicles, an equivalent two-dimensional simulation model of PMECB for a HTS maglev test vehicle under different working air gaps of 5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm and 20 mm was established in Maxwell software. Then, a 6 degree of freedom dynamic model of the vehicle was established in Universal Mechanism software. In the dynamic simulation, the normal force of PMECB was not considered, and only the detent force of PMECB was taken as the excitation of the vehicle. The simulation results show that PMECBs can reduce the vehicle to relatively low speed in a few seconds. During the operation of PMECBs, the levitation height and levitation force of the maglev Dewar will be affected, and maximum variations in levitation heights and levitation forces occur on the Dewars at both ends of the vehicle. These help us to understand the braking and levitation performance of HTS maglev vehicles under the action of PMECBs and enrich the design idea of braking and levitation systems of HTS maglev vehicles equipped with PMECBs.
Disruption of the Expression of the Cinnamoyl–CoA Reductase (CCR) Gene OsCCR18 Causes Male Sterility in Rice (Oryza sativa L. japonica)
Authors: Pan Xiangjian , Jiang Xiaoyue , Wen Junli , Huang Menghan , Wang Yanqing , Wang Mei , Dong Hui , Liu Qingpo
Published: October 2022

The biological process of anther development is very complex. It remains largely unclear how the cinnamoyl–CoA reductase (CCR) encoding genes function in the regulation of anther development in plants. Here, we establish that the CCR family gene OsCCR18 is essential for maintaining male fertility in rice. The OsCCR18 transcripts were greatly abundant in the panicles at the S4 and S5 developmental stages in rice. The subcellular localization of OsCCR18 proteins was in the nucleus of the rice. The knockout of the OsCCR18 gene resulted in a severely abnormal degradation of the tapetum as well as the abnormal development of granular Ubisch bodies, leading to the inability to form normal pollen in the mutants. Compared with the wild–type (WT) rice, the osccr18 mutants had no visible pollen grains and had entirely male sterility. Furthermore, several anther development–related genes, including OsPDA1, OsDTD, OsC6, OsACOS12, OsTDR, OsWDA1, OsDPW, OsCYP703A3, and OsNOP, were significantly lower expressed in the panicles at the stages from S5 to S8 in the osccr18 mutants than in the WT plants. Additionally, hundreds of genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, fatty acid synthesis and metabolism exhibited distinct expression patterns between the WT and mutants, which may be crucial for controlling anther development in rice. These findings add a new regulatory role to CCR family gene–mediated male fertility in rice.
Water Footprint Assessment of Green and Traditional Cultivation of Crops in the Huang-Huai-Hai Farming Region
Authors: Xiong Jinran , Liang Fangting , Yang Xiaolin , Du Taisheng , Pacenka Steven , Steenhuis Tammo S. , Siddique Kadambot H. M.
Published: October 2022

With the increasing consumer awareness and knowledge about safe and healthy food, it is imperative to develop ‘green’ crops with reduced fertilizer application for quality food production, environmental protection and sustainable agricultural development. This study systematically evaluated and compared the water footprint (WF) including WFblue, WFgreen and WFgrey of eight crops including wheat, maize, rice, sweet potato, soybean, millet, mung bean and sorghum under green and traditional cultivation in the Huang-Huai-Hai farming region. The data came from 252 onsite questionnaires conducted in 2018 for land under green and traditional cultivation by 19 green planting companies and farming cooperatives with green food production certification authorized by the government of China. The results revealed that, compared to traditional cultivation, green cultivation under reduced N fertilizer application (1) decreased crop yields by 3–13%; (2) reduced the average WFtotal by 29% to 1168 m3 t−1 and average WFgrey by 57% to 419 m3 t−1 with no significant differences in WFblue and WFgreen; (3) decreased the WFtotal of maize by 55%, rice by 41%, wheat by 27%, mung bean by 31%, sorghum by 24%, sweet potato by 19%, millet by 17% and soybean by 17%. The WFgrey proportion of WFtotal under green cultivation ranged from 27–57% and contributed the most to the decline in WFtotal. This study offers insight into the impact of green cultivation on water requirements and pollution relative to traditional cultivation. Precision N fertilizer application and improved N use efficiencies on-farm are important pathways to sustainable agricultural development.
Impact of Different Rootstocks on Antioxidant Properties and Volatile Profile of Honeydew Melons (Cucumis melo L.) during Postharvest Storage
Authors: Lecholocholo Nkamo , Shoko Tinotenda , Manhivi Vimbainashe E. , Akinola Stephen A. , Maboko Martin M. , Sivakumar Dharini
Published: October 2022

Two rootstock hybrids of sweet melons and watermelons (“Kickstart” and “Carnivor” Cucurbita moschata × Cucurbita maxima) grafted onto two watermelon cultivars (scions), “Honeygoal” and “Honeyval”, were examined in this study to determine whether functional compounds, antioxidant properties, and volatile compounds were retained after five days of cold storage at 5 °C and 85% RH following harvest. An interaction exists between cultivars, rootstocks, and storage for total phenolic content, ascorbic acid, chlorophyll content, antioxidant activities, and volatile compounds. Generally, all functional compounds and antioxidant properties decreased during storage; however, “Honeygoal/Carnivor” in cold storage for 7 days retained the total phenols, ascorbic acid, chlorophyl contents, DPPH (15.47 IC50 mg/mL), ABTS (1.06 IC50 mg/mL) scavenging activities, and antioxidant power (IC50 mg/mL) higher than ungrafted, “Honeyval” or “Honeygoal/Kickstart”, “Honeyval/Carnivor” or “Honeyval/Kickstart” melons. The heat map showed a higher abundance of volatile compounds in “Honeygoal/Carnivor” and “Honeyval/Carnivor” melons stored for 7 and 14 days while “Honeygoal/Kickstart” or “Honeyval/Kickstart” requires 14 days of storage. “Honeygoal/Carnivor” and “Honeyval/Carnivor” melons stored for up to 7 days in cold storage were preferred by panelists. Hence, grafting “Honeygoal” melons onto “Carnivor” rootstocks helped to improve the functional compounds, antioxidant properties, and volatiles during storage for 7 days after harvest.
Multicentre Evaluation of the EUCAST Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (RAST) Extending Analysis to 16–20 Hours Reading Time
Authors: Bianco Gabriele , Lombardo Donatella , Ricciardelli Guido , Boattini Matteo , Comini Sara , Cavallo Rossana , Costa Cristina , Ambretti Simone
Published: October 2022

The aim of the study was to evaluate the EUCAST RAST method by extending analysis to 16–20 h reading time and performance with new β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations. A total of 676 positive blood cultures (BCs) were enrolled. Results at 4 h, 6 h, 8 h and 16–20 h were interpreted according to bacterial species using EUCAST RAST breakpoints (version 5.1). For species for which no breakpoints were available, tentative breakpoints were used. Categorical agreement with the Microscan microdilution system was analysed. Among the 676 BCs enrolled, 641 were monomicrobial and were included in the analysis. Categorical agreement ranged from 98.9% at 4 h to 99.4% at 16–20 h. The rates of very major errors were 3.3%, 3.7% and 3.4% at 4 h, 6 h and 8 h, respectively, and decreased to 1% at 16–20 h (p < 0.001). The number of major errors was low for each reading time (0.2% and 0.4% at 4 h and 6 h, respectively, and 0.3% at both 8 h and 16–20 h). The proportions of results in the area of technical uncertainty were 9.9%, 5.9%, 5% and 5.2% for readings at 4 h, 6 h, 8 h and 16–20 h, respectively. Tentative breakpoints proposed for Enterobacterales other than E.coli/K.pneumoniae and coagulase-negative staphylococci showed overall performances comparable to those observed for E. coli/K. pneumoniae and S. aureus. In conclusion, EUCAST RAST has been shown to be reliable to determine microbial susceptibility to main antimicrobials, including ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam. A poorer performance was observed for certain species/antimicrobial agent combinations. The better performance observed at 16–20 h compared to the early readings may confer to the method greater potential for antimicrobial de-escalation interventions.
Bacteraemia Is Associated with Increased ICU Mortality in the Postoperative Course of Lung Transplantation
Authors: Tran-Dinh Alexy , Guiot Marion , Tanaka Sébastien , Lortat-Jacob Brice , Atchade Enora , Zappella Nathalie , Mordant Pierre , Castier Yves , Mal Hervé , Weisenburger Gaelle , Messika Jonathan , Grall Nathalie , Montravers Philippe
Published: October 2022

We aimed to describe the prevalence, risk factors, morbidity and mortality associated with the occurrence of bacteraemia during the postoperative ICU stay after lung transplantation (LT). We conducted a retrospective single-centre study that included all consecutive patients who underwent LT between January 2015 and October 2021. We analysed all the blood cultures drawn during the postoperative ICU stay, as well as samples from suspected infectious sources in case of bacteraemia. Forty-six bacteria were isolated from 45 bacteraemic patients in 33/303 (10.9%) patients during the postoperative ICU stay. Staphylococcus aureus (17.8%) was the most frequent bacteria, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.6%) and Enterococcus faecium (15.6%). Multidrug-resistant bacteria accounted for 8/46 (17.8%) of the isolates. The most common source of bacteraemia was pneumonia (38.3%). No pre- or intraoperative risk factor for bacteraemia was identified. Recipients who experienced bacteraemia required more renal replacement therapy, invasive mechanical ventilation, norepinephrine support, tracheotomy and more days of hospitalization during the ICU stay. After adjustment for age, sex, type of LT procedure and the need for intraoperative ECMO, the occurrence of bacteraemia was associated with a higher mortality rate in the ICU (aOR = 3.55, 95% CI [1.56–8.08], p = 0.003). Bacteraemia is a major source of concern for lung transplant recipients.
Activity of the Lactate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor Oxamic Acid against the Fermentative Bacterium Streptococcus mitis/oralis: Bactericidal Effects and Prevention of Daptomycin Resistance In Vitro and in an Ex Vivo Model
Authors: Kebriaei Razieh , Bayer Arnold S. , Lapitan Christian K. , Rybak Michael J. , Somerville Greg A. , Mishra Nagendra N.
Published: October 2022

Streptococcus mitis/oralis is a fermentative bacterium that relies on lactate dehydrogenase to balance its redox poise and keep glycolysis active. Metabolomic analysis of an in vitro–derived daptomycin-resistant (DAP-R) S. mitis/oralis strain (351-D10) revealed differences in glucose catabolism relative to its DAP-susceptible (DAP-S) parental strain, 351. Metabolic changes associated with the transition to this DAP-R phenotype suggested that inhibiting glycolysis could alter DAP susceptibility. In addition, the strong reliance of S. mitis/oralis on glycolysis for energy and biosynthetic intermediates suggested that inhibiting glycolysis would adversely affect growth and biomass accumulation. To test these hypotheses, we used the lactate dehydrogenase inhibitor oxamic acid (OXA) to assess its efficacy against DAP-S S. mitis/oralis strain 351 during DAP exposures in vitro and ex vivo. As expected, OXA was growth inhibitory to S. mitis/oralis in a dose-dependent manner in vitro; however, it did not alter in vitro DAP susceptibility profiles. In contrast, OXA did prevent the emergence of DAP-R in an ex vivo model of simulated endocardial vegetations. These data suggest that metabolic inhibitors directed against this fermentative bacterium with limited metabolic capabilities could enhance killing and potentially forestall the emergence of DAP resistance.