bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification and Characterization of circRNAs under Drought Stress in Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis)
Authors: Li Yiqian , Yang Yang , Kong Bo , Song Xiaolong , Gao Zhimin , Li Xueping
Published: March 2022

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of endogenous noncoding RNAs formed by 3′-5′ ligation during splicing. They play an important role in the regulation of transcription and miRNA in eukaryotes. Drought is one of the detrimental abiotic stresses that limit plant growth and productivity. How circRNAs influence the response to drought stress in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) remains elusive. In this study, we investigate the expression pattern of circRNAs in moso bamboo at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after drought treatment by deep sequencing and bioinformatics analysis and identify 4931 circRNAs, 52 of which are differentially expressed (DEcircRNAs) in drought-treated and untreated moso bamboo. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses of the host genes that generate the DEcircRNAs indcate that these DEcircRNAs are predicted to be involved in biochemical processes in response to drought, such as ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, calcium-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation, amino acid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction including abscisic acid. In addition, some circRNAs are shown to act as sponges for 291 miRNAs. Taken together, our results characterize the transcriptome profiles of circRNAs in drought responses and provide new insights into resistance breeding of moso bamboo.
Automatic Assessment of Individual Stem Shape Parameters in Forest Stands from TLS Point Clouds: Application in Pinus pinaster
Authors: Prendes Covadonga , Canga Elena , Ordoñez Celestino , Majada Juan , Acuna Mauricio , Cabo Carlos
Published: March 2022

Tree morphological characteristics, particularly straightness and lean, significantly influence the value of the commercial products that can be obtained. Despite this, they are not usually evaluated in timber field inventories because traditional techniques are labor-intensive and largely subjective, hence the use of these parameters is limited to research and genetic breeding programs. Here, a non-destructive, fully automated methodology is presented that estimates the parameters for describing straightness and lean using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data. It is based on splitting stems into evenly spaced sections and estimating their centers, which are then used to automatically calculate the maximum sagitta, sinuosity, and lean of each tree. The methodology was applied in a breeding trial plot of Pinus pinaster, and the results obtained were compared with field measurements of straightness and lean based on visual classification. The methodology is robust to errors in the estimation of section centers, the basis for calculating shape parameters. Besides, its accuracy compares favorably with traditional field techniques, which often involve problems of misclassification. The new methodology is easy to use, less expensive, and overcomes the drawbacks of traditional field techniques for obtaining straightness and lean measurements. It can be modified to apply to any species and stand typology.
Simulating Potential Impacts of Fuel Treatments on Fire Behavior and Evacuation Time of the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California
Authors: Seto Daisuke , Jones Charles , Trugman Anna T. , Varga Kevin , Plantinga Andrew J. , Carvalho Leila M. V. , Thompson Callum , Gellman Jacob , Daum Kristofer
Published: March 2022

Fuel break effectiveness in wildland-urban interface (WUI) is not well understood during downslope wind-driven fires even though various fuel treatments are conducted across the western United States. The aim of this paper is to examine the efficacy of WUI fuel breaks under the influence of strong winds and dry fuels, using the 2018 Camp Fire as a case study. The operational fire growth model Prometheus was used to show: (1) downstream impacts of 200 m and 400 m wide WUI fuel breaks on fire behavior and evacuation time gain; (2) how the downstream fire behavior was affected by the width and fuel conditions of the WUI fuel breaks; and (3) the impacts of background wind speeds on the efficacy of WUI fuel breaks. Our results indicate that WUI fuel breaks may slow wildfire spread rates by dispersing the primary advancing fire front into multiple fronts of lower intensity on the downstream edge of the fuel break. However, fuel break width mattered. We found that the lateral fire spread and burned area were reduced downstream of the 400 m wide WUI fuel break more effectively than the 200 m fuel break. Further sensitivity tests showed that wind speed at the time of ignition influenced fire behavior and efficacy of management interventions.
The Mixed Boundary Value Problems and Chebyshev Collocation Method for Caputo-Type Fractional Ordinary Differential Equations
Authors: Duan Jun-Sheng , Jing Li-Xia , Li Ming
Published: March 2022

The boundary value problem (BVP) for the varying coefficient linear Caputo-type fractional differential equation subject to the mixed boundary conditions on the interval 0≤x≤1 was considered. First, the BVP was converted into an equivalent differential–integral equation merging the boundary conditions. Then, the shifted Chebyshev polynomials and the collocation method were used to solve the differential–integral equation. Varying coefficients were also decomposed into the truncated shifted Chebyshev series such that calculations of integrals were only for polynomials and can be carried out exactly. Finally, numerical examples were examined and effectiveness of the proposed method was verified.
Novel Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Haplotype of MYF5 Gene Are Associated with Body Measurements and Ultrasound Traits in Grassland Short-Tailed Sheep
Authors: Zhang Zhichao , Liu Cheng , Hao Wenjing , Yin Weiwen , Ai Sitong , Zhao Yanfang , Duan Ziyuan
Published: March 2022

Myogenic factor 5 plays active roles in the regulation of myogenesis. The aim of this study is to expose the genetic variants of the MYF5 and its association with growth performance and ultrasound traits in grassland short-tailed sheep (GSTS) in China. The combination technique of sequencing and SNaPshot revealed seven SNPs in ovine MYF5 from 533 adult individuals (male 103 and female 430), four of which are novel ones located at g.6838G > A, g.6989 G > T, g.7117 C > A in the promoter region and g.9471 T > G in the second intron, respectively. Genetic diversity indexes showed the seven SNPs in low or intermediate level, but each of them conformed HWE (p > 0.05) in genotypic frequencies. Association analysis indicated that g.6838G > A, g.7117 C > A, g.8371 T > C, g.9471 T > G, and g.10044 C > T had significant effects on growth performance and ultrasound traits. The diplotypes of H1H3 and H2H3 had higher body weight and greater body size, and haplotype H3 had better performance on meat production than the others. In addition, the dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that there are two active regions in the MYF5 promoter located at −1799~−1197 bp and −514~−241 bp, respectively, but g.6838G > A and g.7117 C > A were out of the region, suggesting these two SNPs influence the phenotype by other pathway. The results suggest that the MYF5 gene might be applied as a promising candidate of functional genetic marker in GSTS breeding.
Population Structure of a Worldwide Collection of Tropical Japonica Rice Indicates Limited Geographic Differentiation and Shows Promising Genetic Variability Associated with New Plant Type
Authors: Singh Vikram Jeet , Bhowmick Prolay Kumar , Vinod Kunnummal Kurungara , Krishnan Subbaiyan Gopala , Nandakumar Shekharappa , Kumar Amit , Kumar Manoj , Shekhawat Sonu , Dixit Brijesh Kumar , Malik Ankit , Ellur Ranjith Kumar , Bollinedi Haritha , Nagarajan Mariappan , Singh Ashok Kumar
Published: March 2022

Abating the approaching yield plateau in rice requires taking advantage of potential technologies that requires knowledge on genetic diversity. Hybrid breeding, particularly in indica rice, requires the recruitment of large genetic variability from outside because the available genetic diversity of the cultivated pool has already been utilized to a great extent. In this study, we examined an assembly of 200 tropical japonica lines collected worldwide for population genetic structure and variability in yield-associated traits. Tested along with 30 indica and six wild rice lines belonging to India, the tropical japonica lines indicated great phenotypic variability, particularly related to new plant type (NPT) phenology, and formed six clusters. Furthermore, a marker-based characterization using a universal diversity marker panel classified the genotype assembly into four clusters, of which three encompassed tropical japonica lines, while the last cluster included mostly indica lines. The population structure of the panel also revealed a similar pattern, with tropical japonica lines forming three subpopulations. Remarkable variation in the allelic distribution was observed between the subpopulations. Superimposing the geographical sources of the genotypes over the population structure did not reveal any pattern. The genotypes sourced closer to the center of origin of rice showed relatively little diversity compared with the ones obtained from other parts of the world, suggesting migration from a common region of origin. The tropical japonica lines can be a great source of parental diversification for hybrid development after confirming the presence of widely compatible genes.
Doubt, Havelock Ellis, and Bisexuality in Jacob’s Room
Authors: Wells Christopher James
Published: March 2022

This essay examines Virginia Woolf’s experimental representations of bisexuality in her bildungsroman, Jacob’s Room (JR) (1922). This article suggests that we cannot appreciate Woolf’s complex modernist strategies of resistance to restrictive and reductive attitudes to sexual identities if we think only in binary terms of hetero- and homosexuality in Woolf’s work. I argue here that a contemporary gaze of queer theory, one informed by current ideologies on the spectrum of gendered and bi+ sexual identities, is required to unearth in full Woolf’s critique of sexology in her first substantive investment into experimental sexual realism. I aim to show how sexological bisexuality influenced Woolf’s developing aesthetic that was, at the time of writing Jacob’s Room, beginning to adopt a much more innovative and experimental form.
Investigating the Performance of Green Roof for Effective Runoff Reduction Corresponding to Different Weather Patterns: A Case Study in Dublin, Ireland
Authors: Basu Arunima Sarkar , Basu Bidroha , Pilla Francesco , Sannigrahi Srikanta
Published: March 2022

This article aims to analyse the performance of green roof in runoff reduction. A case study has been conducted through a deployed green roof at the custom house quay building in Dublin, Ireland. Modular green roofs have been deployed which have IoT scales associated to it for measuring the effective reduction in runoff. Hydro-meteorological variables such as rainfall, temperature, relative humidity and wind speed values were corresponded to the amount of runoff reduction by means of a regression-based relationship. Comparison of the observed runoff reduction from a modular green roof and that estimated based on the developed regression relationship yielded a R2 value of 0.874. Through this research, a pattern was identified which established that longer records and better weather variables data have the potential to improve the performance of the regression model in predicting the amount of runoff reduction corresponding to different rainfall and weather patterns. In general, performance of green roof was found to be highly positively correlated to the amount of rainfall received; however, low correlation between rainfall and the percentage of runoff reduction indicate that saturated soil in green roofs considerably deteriorates the performance in runoff reduction. Overall, this study can help in identification of locations where installation of green roofs can help mitigate floods at a city scale.
Effects of Urban Vibrancy on an Urban Eco-Environment: Case Study on Wuhan City
Authors: Yu Ruijing , Zeng Chen , Chang Mingxin , Bao Chanchan , Tang Mingsong , Xiong Feng
Published: March 2022

In the context of rapid urbanisation and an emerging need for a healthy urban environment, revitalising urban spaces and its effects on the urban eco-environment in Chinese cities have attracted widespread attention. This study assessed urban vibrancy from the dimensions of density, accessibility, liveability, diversity, and human activity, with various indicators using an adjusted spatial TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution) method. The study also explored the effects of urban vibrancy on the urban eco-environment by interpreting PM 2.5 and land surface temperature using “big” and “dynamic” data, such as those from mobile and social network data. Thereafter, spatial modelling was performed to investigate the influence of urban vibrancy on air pollution and temperature with inverted and extracted remote sensing data. This process identified spatial heterogeneity and spatial autocorrelation. The majority of the dimensions, such as density, accessibility, liveability, and diversity, are negatively correlated with PM 2.5, thereby indicating that the advancement of urban vibrancy in these dimensions potentially improves air quality. Conversely, improved accessibility increases the surface temperature in most of the districts, and large-scale infrastructure construction generally contributes to the increase. Diversity and human activity appear to have a cooling effect. In the future, applying spatial heterogeneity is advised to assess urban vibrancy and its effect on the urban eco-environment, to provide valuable references for spatial urban planning, improve public health and human wellbeing, and ensure sustainable urban development.
Characteristics Associated with the Dual Behavior of Mask Wearing and Vaccine Acceptance: A Pooled Cross-Sectional Study among Adults in Saskatchewan
Authors: Bukhari Ali , Adeyinka Daniel A. , McCutcheon Jessica , Kallio Natalie , Muhajarine Nazeem
Published: March 2022

While the dual behavior of consistent mask wearing and vaccine acceptance represents an effective method of protecting oneself and others from COVID-19, research has yet to directly examine its predictors. A total of 3347 responses from a pooled cross-sectional survey of adults living in Saskatchewan, Canada, were analyzed using a multinomial logistic regression model. The outcome variable was the combined behavior of mask-wearing and vaccine intention in four combinations, while covariates consisted of socio-demographic factors, risk of exposure to coronavirus, mitigating behaviors, and perceptions of COVID-19. Those who were 65 years and older, financially secure, consistently practiced social distancing and had no or very few contacts with people outside their households, were concerned about spreading the virus, and perceived they would be seriously sick if infected were likely to engage in both mask wearing and vaccine acceptance, rather than one or the other, with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 2.24 to 27.54. Further, within mask wearers, these factors were associated in a graded manner with vaccine intent. By describing the characteristics of those who engage in both mask wearing and vaccine acceptance, these results offer a specific set of characteristics for public health authorities to target and, therefore, contribute to the rapidly evolving body of knowledge on protective factors for COVID-19.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Problematic Internet Use among Hungarian Adult Recreational Esports Players
Authors: Kósa Gábor , Feher Gergely , Horvath Lilla , Zadori Ivan , Nemeskeri Zsolt , Kovacs Miklos , Fejes Éva , Meszaros Janos , Banko Zoltan , Tibold Antal
Published: March 2022

Background: Esports are highly prevalent in modern culture, particularly among young people, and are a healthy hobby for the majority of users. However, there is a possible link between video gaming (including esports) and problematic internet use (so-called internet addiction, IA), mostly involving adolescents. Methods: Here we present an online survey focusing on the prevalence and risk factors of internet addiction among adult esports players. Demographics included age, gender, family type, type of work, working years and daily internet use. Medical conditions associated with IA such as smoking, alcohol and drug intake, hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, musculoskeletal pain and history of depression were also recorded. Results: Overall, 2313 players including 176 females (7.6%) and 2137 males (92.4%) participated in our online survey. Age distribution was the following: 18–25 years 90.3% (2088/2313), 26–35 years 7.95% (184/2313), 36–45 years 0.86% (20/2313), 46–55 years 0.82% (19/2313), 56–62 years 0.04% (1/2313) and 62 years or older 0.04% (1/2313). Internet addiction was detected in 19.9% of players (461/2313) based on the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire. In a multivariate analysis internet addiction was significantly associated with age between 18 and 25 (OR: 1.675, p = 0.002), being single (OR = 1.505, p = 0.014), internet use > 6 h daily (OR = 4.338, p < 0.001), having < 3 children (OR: 2.037, p = 0.023) and having secondary employment (OR = 1.789, p = 0.037). Regular alcohol intake (OR = 18.357, p < 0.001) and history of depression (OR= 5.361, p = 0.032) were also strongly correlated with IA. Conclusion: This is the first study from Hungary investigating the prevalence and risk factors of internet addiction among adult esports players. One out of five adult gamers suffered from IA. Our study also draws attention to increased risk within this group and risk factors such as younger age, family status and type of employment.
Differences between Elite Male and Female Badminton Athletes Regarding Heart Rate Variability, Arterial Stiffness, and Aerobic Capacity
Authors: Tai Ching-Chieh , Chen Yi-Liang , Kalfirt Ludek , Masodsai Kunanya , Su Chia-Ting , Yang Ai-Lun
Published: March 2022

Cardiovascular health and aerobic capacity play crucial roles in determining the performance of athletes in the highly competitive sport of badminton. Few studies have directly compared heart rate variability (HRV), arterial stiffness, and aerobic capacity between male and female athletes, especially among badminton athletes. This study investigated sex differences in HRV, arterial stiffness, and aerobic capacity in badminton athletes. Elite badminton athletes were recruited and divided into male (n = 20, 21.0 ± 1.8 years old) and female (n = 16, 21.2 ± 2.3 years old) groups. Both groups performed an incremental treadmill running test for the evaluation of maximal oxygen consumption (V.O2max), anaerobic threshold, and time to exhaustion. They started exercising at a treadmill speed of 2.7 km/h and an inclination of 10% gradient for 3 min, and the speed and inclination were gradually increased every 3 min until they were exhausted or fatigued volitionally. HRV was examined using the Polar heart rate monitor over a period of 5 min at rest in the supine position. Subsequently, the index of arterial stiffness was examined under the same condition. Our results revealed significant differences between the male and female athletes in V.O2max (men: 60.38 ± 8.98 mL/kg/min, women: 48.13 ± 7.72 mL/kg/min, p < 0.05), anaerobic threshold (men: 41.50 ± 7.26 mL/kg/min, women: 32.51 ± 6.19 mL/kg/min, p < 0.05), time to exhaustion (men: 902.15 ± 120.15 s, women: 780.56 ± 67.63 s, p < 0.05), systolic blood pressure (men: 125.27 ± 7.76 mmHg, women: 107.16 ± 11.09 mmHg, p < 0.05), and arterial stiffness index (men: 63.56 ± 12.55, women: 53.83 ± 8.03, p < 0.05). However, no significant differences in HRV measures were observed between the two groups. These findings suggested that the male badminton athletes demonstrated significantly higher aerobic capacity than did the female athletes, but there were no significant differences in HRV measures. The female athletes exhibited superior arterial function, compared with their male counterparts.
Influence of Load Knowledge on Biomechanics of Asymmetric Lifting
Authors: Liu Junshi , Qu Xingda , Liu Yipeng
Published: March 2022

Background: Load knowledge has been identified as a factor affecting the risk of low back pain (LBP) during symmetric lifting. However, the effects of load knowledge in asymmetric lifting tasks have not been reported yet. The purpose of this study was to investigate the load knowledge influence on lifting biomechanics in asymmetric lifting tasks; Methods: Twenty-four male adults were recruited to complete a psychophysical lifting capacity test and a simulated asymmetric lifting task. The lifting task was set with load knowledge of ‘no knowledge’ (NK), ‘weight known’ (WK), ‘fragile material known’ (FK), and ‘weight and fragile material known’ (WFK) for different lifting load weights. Trunk kinematics and kinetics were collected and analyzed; Results: When fragility information was presented, trunk sagittal flexion acceleration, lateral flexion velocity and acceleration, and average lateral bending moment were significantly lowered at the deposit phase. Lifting a high load weight was found to significantly increase low back sagittal bending moment at the lifting phase and low back moments of all three dimensions at the deposit phase; Conclusions: The decrease of trunk kinematic load suggests that providing material fragility information to workers in asymmetric lifting tasks would be effective in reducing their risk of LBP.
An Analysis of the Deleterious Impact of the Infodemic during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: A Case Study Considering Possible Correlations with Socioeconomic Aspects of Brazilian Demography
Authors: Harb Maria da Penha de Andrade Abi , Silva Lena Veiga e , Vijaykumar Nandamudi Lankalapalli , Silva Marcelino Silva da , Francês Carlos Renato Lisboa
Published: March 2022

Due to COVID-19, a huge amount of incorrect information has been disseminated on the internet, which may interfere with the disease’s advance. This study analyzes the behavior of the Brazilian population during the pandemic, employing queries of infodemic data searched on Google Trends and relating them to socioeconomic and political indicators in the country. The z-score technique was used to standardize the data; and for multivalued analysis, dendrograms and the Elbow method detected similar patterns among Brazilian states. The result was divided into three analyses. In the analysis of the research trend of infodemic terms, the themes “Prevention and Beliefs” and “Treatment” prevailed. In the exploratory analysis, socioeconomic indicators related to income and education, as well as government programs, showed no impact on infodemic searches; but the results suggest that the states that supported the Brazilian president in the 2018 election, where he obtained more than 50% of the votes, were the states that most searched for infodemic terms: a total of 46.58% more infodemic searches than in the other states. In the multivalued analysis, the socioeconomic indicators used showed similarities in the patterns, highlighting a cluster containing 77% of all Brazilian states. The study concludes that denial about the pandemic and the influence of political leadership can influence infodemic information searches, contributing to a disorganization in the control of disease control and prevention measures.
Soil Organic Carbon Distribution and Its Response to Soil Erosion Based on EEM-PARAFAC and Stable Carbon Isotope, a Field Study in the Rocky Desertification Control of South China Karst
Authors: Wang Xinwen , Liu Ziqi , Xiong Kangning , Li Yuan , Cheng Kun
Published: March 2022

Ecological restoration plays an important role in enhancing carbon sequestration ability in karst areas, and soil organic matter is one of the main carbon reservoirs in karst key zones. The serious soil erosion in karst areas leads to the loss of soil organic matter (SOM). However, the distribution characteristics of SOM and its response mechanism to soil erosion in the process of rocky desertification control have rarely been reported. In this study, soil samples of five restoration types (abandoned land, AL; grassland, GL; peanut cultivated land, PCL; Zanthoxylum bungeanum land, ZBL; forest, FS) were collected in typical karst rocky desertification drainage, south China. By measuring soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and δ13Csoc values and combining with spectral tools, the distribution and isotopic composition of soil shallow organic carbon in definitized karst drainage was definitized and the response of DOM spectral characteristics to soil erosion was explored. The results showed that three kinds of fluorescence components were detected by fluorescence excitation emission matrix (EEM)-parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), C1 and C2 were humus-like, and C2 was protein-like. Abandoned could be a more suitable control measure for enhancing SOC quality in the karst regions of south China. The variation trend of SOC content, δ13Csoc values, spectral indexes, and the distribution of fluorescence components from the midstream to downstream of the drainage indicated the soil redistribution. This study provides basic scientific data for karst rocky desertification control and for enhancing the soil carbon sequestration ability of karst.
Improved Machine Learning-Based Predictive Models for Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Rasool Abdur , Bunterngchit Chayut , Tiejian Luo , Islam Md. Ruhul , Qu Qiang , Jiang Qingshan
Published: March 2022

Breast cancer death rates are higher than any other cancer in American women. Machine learning-based predictive models promise earlier detection techniques for breast cancer diagnosis. However, making an evaluation for models that efficiently diagnose cancer is still challenging. In this work, we proposed data exploratory techniques (DET) and developed four different predictive models to improve breast cancer diagnostic accuracy. Prior to models, four-layered essential DET, e.g., feature distribution, correlation, elimination, and hyperparameter optimization, were deep-dived to identify the robust feature classification into malignant and benign classes. These proposed techniques and classifiers were implemented on the Wisconsin Diagnostic Breast Cancer (WDBC) and Breast Cancer Coimbra Dataset (BCCD) datasets. Standard performance metrics, including confusion matrices and K-fold cross-validation techniques, were applied to assess each classifier’s efficiency and training time. The models’ diagnostic capability improved with our DET, i.e., polynomial SVM gained 99.3%, LR with 98.06%, KNN acquired 97.35%, and EC achieved 97.61% accuracy with the WDBC dataset. We also compared our significant results with previous studies in terms of accuracy. The implementation procedure and findings can guide physicians to adopt an effective model for a practical understanding and prognosis of breast cancer tumors.
The Influence of Land Disposition Derived from Land Finance on Urban Innovation in China: Mechanism Discussion and Empirical Evidence
Authors: Han Siyu , Wang Mengcheng , Liu Qi , Wang Renyang , Ou Guoliang , Zhang Lu
Published: March 2022

As China’s economy advances into a new stage of high-quality development driven by scientific and technological innovation, it is of great practical importance to probe what effects land disposition, which underpinned the previous round of rapid economic growth, and may have an exertion on developing innovation. Based on a deep exploration of the potential positive and negative influences of land disposition in relation to the effects of land finance on urban innovation, we employed a dynamic spatial Durbin model, along with panel data from 266 Chinese prefecture-level cities over the period 2004–2017. The empirical results show that the development of China’s urban innovation has had significant path dependence, spatial agglomeration, and inhibiting effects on neighboring cities, and these effects are attributed to inter-governmental competition and the Matthew effect. Overall, the combined impacts of land disposition modes on urban innovation have changed, from facilitative in the early stage to inhibitory at present. In the developed cities of east China, the facilitative effect of land disposition has weakened gradually, and tends to disappear entirely, while the change in impact over time in less developed mid-western cities is consistent with the national sample. This study broadens our understanding of the role of land disposition in China’s urban innovative development and has meaningful direct implications for policymakers.
Nature-Based Interventions for Psychological Wellbeing in Long-Term Conditions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Taylor Eleanor M. , Robertson Noelle , Lightfoot Courtney J. , Smith Alice C. , Jones Ceri R.
Published: March 2022

Background: With the global burden of disease increasing, particularly in relation to often preventable chronic diseases, researchers and clinicians are keen to identify interventions that can mitigate ill health and enhance the psychological wellbeing of people living with long-term conditions (LTCs). It is long established that engagement with nature can support human health and wellbeing, and in recent years, nature-based interventions (NBIs) have been advanced as of potential benefit. This review thus sought to systematically appraise published evidence of the application of NBIs to address psychological wellbeing for those living with LTCs. Methods: A systematic search of three databases, PsycINFO, MEDLINE and SCOPUS, was undertaken, and the BestBETs quality assessment checklist was used to appraise methodological quality of elicited studies. Results: Of 913 studies identified, 13 studies (12 using quantitative methods, one qualitative) were used. Included papers reported use of a variety of psychological outcomes alongside more circumscribed physiological outcomes. Quality appraisal showed modest robustness, some methodological weaknesses and a dominance of application in developed countries, yet synthesis of studies suggested that reported psychological and physiological outcomes present a strong argument for NBIs having a promising and positive impact on psychological wellbeing. Conclusions: NBIs have positive psychological and physiological impacts on people with LTCs, suggesting they may be a suitable addition to current maintenance treatment. Future research should focus on minimising study bias and increasing the potential for cross-cultural applications.
Recovery-Oriented Cross-Sectoral Network Meetings between Mental Health Hospital Professionals and Community Mental Health Professionals: A Critical Discourse Analysis
Authors: Jørgensen Kim , Andreasson Kate , Rasmussen Tonie , Hansen Morten , Karlsson Bengt
Published: March 2022

Aims and objectives: In the medical field, we lack knowledge on how interprofessional collaboration across sectors is carried out. This paper explores how healthcare professionals and users perceive recovery-oriented cross-sectoral discharge network meetings between mental health hospital professionals and community mental health professionals and which discourses manifest themselves within the field of mental healthcare. Method: Ten professionals from a mental health hospital and eight community mental health professionals participated. In addition, five users with experience in mental health services in both sectors participated. Fairclough’s discourse analysis framework was used to explore their experiences. The study was designed following the ethical principles of the Helsinki Declaration and Danish law. Each study participant in the two intersectoral sectors gave their informed consent after verbal and written information was provided. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was used as a guideline to secure accurate and complete reporting of the study). Results: The healthcare professionals in both sectors are governed by steering tools, legislation and a strong biomedical tradition to solve illness-related problems, such that users must be offered treatment and support to achieve self-care as soon as possible. This can be seen as a reflection of, and a driving force in, a change in the wider social practice that Fairclough terms the ‘marketisation of discourse’—a social development in late modernity, whereby market discourse colonises the discursive practices of public institutions. The user of psychiatric and social services experiences a structured system that does not offer the necessary time for deep conversations. Users do not consider recovery as something that is only seen in relation to the efforts of the professionals, as recovery largely takes place independently of professionals. Recovery depends on users’ internal resources and a strong network that can support them on the journey. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals perceive recovery-oriented cross-sectoral discharge network meetings to reflect paternalistic and biomedical discourses. Users want to be seen more as whole persons and did not experience sufficient involvement in the intersectoral care. Relevance to clinical practice: Healthcare professionals need to be supported to seek clarity in the understanding and operationalisation of a recovery-oriented approach, if the agenda is to be truly adopted and strengthened.
PAEs Derivatives’ Design for Insulation: Integrated In-Silico Methods, Functional Assessment and Environmentally Friendly Molecular Modification
Authors: Zhang Haigang , Zhao Chengji , Na Hui
Published: March 2022

As a common substance in production and life, phthalic acid esters (PAEs), the main component of plastics, have brought more and more serious problems to the environment. This study normalized the insulation, toxicity, and bioconcentration data of 13 PAEs to eliminate the dimensional coefficients of each index, and then used the comprehensive index method to calculate the comprehensive effect value of PAEs with three properties. The comprehensive effect value was used as the data source to construct the 3D-QSAR model of PAE molecular comprehensive effect. The DAP was selected as the target molecule, the distribution of each force field in the three-dimensional equipotential map was analyzed, and 30 molecular modification schemes were created. The constructed single-effect models of insulation, toxicity, and bioconcentration of PAEs and the scoring function module of DS software were used to evaluate the stability and environmental friendliness of PAE derivative molecules. Four PAE derivatives were screened for increased comprehensive effects, enhanced insulation, and reduced toxicity and bioconcentration. By calculating the binding energy of the target molecule and the derivative molecule with the degrading enzyme under different applied electric fields, it was found that the binding energy of DAP-1-NO2-2-CH2C6H5 decreases more than DAP does when there is an applied electric field, indicating that the degradation ability of degrading enzymes on PAE derivative molecules is reduced, which indirectly proves that the insulation is enhanced. The innovation of this paper lies in the insulation, toxicity, and bioenrichment data of PAEs being processed by mathematical method for the first time, and PAEs with high insulation, low toxicity, and low bioconcentration were designed by building a comprehensive model.
Direct Medical Costs of Parkinson’s Disease in Southern China: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Health Insurance Claims Data in Guangzhou City
Authors: Zhang Hui , Zhou Wenjing , Zhang Donglan
Published: March 2022

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. This study aims to evaluate the direct medical costs of patients with PD using a large sample from an entire city and to identity the potential factors correlating with their inpatient costs in Guangzhou City, Southern China. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study uses data obtained from the Urban Employee-based Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) and the Urban Resident-based Basic Medical Insurance (URBMI) administrative claims databases in Guangzhou City from 2008 to 2012. The total sample was comprised of 2660 patients with PD. Costs were evaluated for the total sample and by types of insurance. The composition of costs was compared between the UEBMI and URBMI subgroups. The extended estimating-equations model was applied to identify the potential impact factors influencing the inpatient costs. Results: The direct medical costs per patient with PD were CNY 14,514.9 (USD 2299.4) in 2012, consisting of inpatient costs of CNY 13,551.4 and outpatient costs of CNY 963.5. The medication costs accounted for the largest part (50.3%). The inpatient costs of PD patients under the UEBMI scheme (CNY 13,651.0) were significantly higher than those of patients in the URBMI subgroup (CNY 12,402.2) (p < 0.05). The proportion of out-of-pocket spending out of inpatient and outpatient costs for UEBMI beneficiaries (24.3% and 56.1%) was much lower than that for patients under the URBMI scheme (47.9% and 76.2%). The regression analysis suggested that types of insurance, age, hospital levels, length of stay (LOS) and comorbidities were significantly correlated with the inpatient costs of patients with PD. Conclusions: The direct medical costs of patients with PD in China were high compared to the GDP per capita in Guangzhou City and different between the two evaluated types of insurance. Patients with the UEBMI scheme, of older age, with comorbidities, staying in tertiary hospitals and with longer LOS had significantly higher inpatient costs. Thus, policymakers need to reduce the gaps between the two urban insurance schemes in benefit levels, provide support for the development of a comprehensive long-term care insurance system and promote the use of telemedicine in China.
Location Optimization of VTS Radar Stations Considering Environmental Occlusion and Radar Attenuation
Authors: Huang Chuan , Lu Jing , Sun Li-Qian
Published: March 2022

Waterway traffic monitoring is an important content in waterway traffic management. Taking into account that the number of monitored water areas is growing and that waterway traffic management capabilities are insufficient in the current situation in China, this paper investigates the location optimization of the vessel traffic service (VTS) radar station. During the research process, radar attenuation and environmental occlusion, as well as variable coverage radius and multiple covering are all considered. In terms of the radar attenuation phenomenon in the propagation process and obstacles such as mountains and islands in the real world, judgment and evaluation methods in a three-dimensional space are proposed. Moreover, a bi-objective mathematical model is then developed, as well as a modified adaptive strategy particle swarm optimization algorithm. Finally, a numerical example and a case are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed methods, model, and algorithm. The results show the methods, model, and algorithm proposed in this paper can solve the model efficiently and provide a method to optimize the VTS radar station location in practice.
Predicting Taxi-Calling Demands Using Multi-Feature and Residual Attention Graph Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory Networks
Authors: Mi Chunlei , Cheng Shifen , Lu Feng
Published: March 2022

Predicting taxi-calling demands at the urban area level is vital to coordinate the supply–demand balance of the urban taxi system. Differing travel patterns, the impact of external data, and the expression of dynamic spatiotemporal demand dependence pose challenges to predicting demand. Here, a framework using residual attention graph convolutional long short-term memory networks (RAGCN-LSTMs) is proposed to predict taxi-calling demands. It consists of a spatial dependence (SD) extractor, which extracts SD features; an external dependence extractor, which extracts traffic environment-related features; a pattern dependence (PD) extractor, which extracts the PD of demands for different zones; and a temporal dependence extractor and predictor, which leverages the abovementioned features into an LSTM model to extract temporal dependence and predict demands. Experiments were conducted on taxi-calling records of Shanghai City. The results showed that the prediction accuracies of the RAGCN-LSTMs model were a mean absolute error of 0.8664, a root mean square error of 1.4965, and a symmetric mean absolute percentage error of 43.11%. It outperformed both classical time-series prediction methods and other deep learning models. Further, to illustrate the advantages of the proposed model, we investigated its predicting performance in various demand densities in multiple urban areas and proved its robustness and superiority.
Ubiquitination of Receptorsomes, Frontline of Plant Immunity
Authors: Chen Yongming , Song Yingying , Liu Jing , Xu Guangyuan , Dou Daolong
Published: March 2022

Sessile plants are constantly exposed to myriads of unfavorable invading organisms with different lifestyles. To survive, plants have evolved plasma membrane-resident pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and intracellular nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs) to initiate sophisticated downstream immune responses. Ubiquitination serves as one of the most important and prevalent posttranslational modifications (PTMs) to fine-tune plant immune responses. Over the last decade, remarkable progress has been made in delineating the critical roles of ubiquitination in plant immunity. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the understanding of ubiquitination in the modulation of plant immunity, with a particular focus on ubiquitination in the regulation of receptorsomes, and discuss how ubiquitination and other PTMs act in concert to ensure rapid, proper, and robust immune responses.
GC-MS Metabolite and Transcriptome Analyses Reveal the Differences of Volatile Synthesis and Gene Expression Profiling between Two Apple Varieties
Authors: Yang Shunbo , Li Dongmei , Li Shanshan , Yang Huijuan , Zhao Zhengyang
Published: March 2022

Aroma is a key quality attribute of apples, making major contributions to commercial value and consumer choice. However, the mechanism underlying molecular regulation of aroma formation genes and transcription factors remains poorly understood in apples. Here, we investigated the aroma volatile profiles of two apple varieties with distinctive flavors using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 35 volatile compounds were identified in Granny Smith and Jonagold apples. Aldehydes were the most abundant volatiles contributing to the aroma in Granny Smith apple while esters were the dominant volatile compounds in Jonagold apple. In order to know more about the expression levels of aroma-related genes involved in the metabolic pathways, transcriptome sequencing of these two different apple varieties was conducted utilizing the Illumina platform. In total, 94 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in the fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, the mevalonate pathway and phenylpropanoid pathway. Furthermore, compared to the Granny Smith apple, the expression of multiple genes and transcription factors were upregulated in the Jonagold apple, which might play important roles in the synthesis of aroma volatile compounds. Our study contributes toward better understanding on the molecular mechanism of aroma synthesis in apples and provides a valuable reference for metabolic engineering and flavor improvement in the future.
A Role of Complement in the Pathogenic Sequelae of Mouse Neonatal Germinal Matrix Hemorrhage
Authors: Alshareef Mohammed , Mallah Khalil , Vasas Tyler , Alawieh Ali , Borucki Davis , Couch Christine , Cutrone Jonathan , Shope Chelsea , Eskandari Ramin , Tomlinson Stephen
Published: March 2022

Germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH) is a devastating disease of infancy that results in intraventricular hemorrhage, post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH), periventricular leukomalacia, and neurocognitive deficits. There are no curative treatments and limited surgical options. We developed and characterized a mouse model of GMH based on the injection of collagenase into the subventricular zone of post-natal pups and utilized the model to investigate the role of complement in PHH development. The site-targeted complement inhibitor CR2Crry, which binds deposited C3 complement activation products, localized specifically in the brain following its systemic administration after GMH. Compared to vehicle, CR2Crry treatment reduced PHH and lesion size, which was accompanied by decreased perilesional complement deposition, decreased astrocytosis and microgliosis, and the preservation of dendritic and neuronal density. Complement inhibition also improved survival and weight gain, and it improved motor performance and cognitive outcomes measured in adolescence. The progression to PHH, neuronal loss, and associated behavioral deficits was linked to the microglial phagocytosis of complement opsonized neurons, which was reversed with CR2Crry treatment. Thus, complement plays an important role in the pathological sequelae of GMH, and complement inhibition represents a novel therapeutic approach to reduce the disease progression of a condition for which there is currently no treatment outside of surgical intervention.
The Efficacy of Fibrinogen Concentrates in Relation to Cryoprecipitate in Restoring Clot Integrity and Stability against Lysis
Authors: Whyte Claire S. , Rastogi Akriti , Ferguson Ellis , Donnarumma Michela , Mutch Nicola J.
Published: March 2022

Loss of fibrinogen is a feature of trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC), and restoring this clotting factor is protective against hemorrhages. We compared the efficacy of cryoprecipitate, and of the fibrinogen concentrates RiaSTAP® and FibCLOT® in restoring the clot integrity in models of TIC. Cryoprecipitate and FibCLOT® produced clots with higher maximal absorbance and enhanced resistance to lysis relative to RiaSTAP®. The fibrin structure of clots, comprising cryoprecipitate and FibCLOT®, mirrored those of normal plasma, whereas those with RiaSTAP® showed stunted fibers and reduced porosity. The hemodilution of whole blood reduced the maximum clot firmness (MCF) as assessed by thromboelastography. MCF could be restored with the inclusion of 1 mg/mL of fibrinogen, but only FibCLOT® was effective at stabilizing against lysis. The overall clot strength, measured using the Quantra® hemostasis analyzer, was restored with both fibrinogen concentrates but not cryoprecipitate. α2antiplasmin and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were constituents of cryoprecipitate but were negligible in RiaSTAP® and FibCLOT®. Interestingly, cryoprecipitate and FibCLOT® contained significantly higher factor XIII (FXIII) levels, approximately three-fold higher than RiaSTAP®. Our data show that 1 mg/mL fibrinogen, a clinically achievable concentration, can restore adequate clot integrity. However, FibCLOT®, which contained more FXIII, was superior in normalizing the clot structure and in stabilizing hemodiluted clots against mechanical and fibrinolytic degradation.