bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Machine Learning-Based Ensemble Framework for Forecasting PM2.5 Concentrations in Puli, Taiwan
Authors: Yin Peng-Yeng , Yen Alex Yaning , Chao Shou-En , Day Rong-Fuh , Bhanu Bir
Published: February 2022

Forecasting of PM2.5 concentration is a global concern. Evidence has shown that the ambient PM2.5 concentrations are harmful to human health, climate change, plant species mortality, etc. PM2.5 concentrations are caused by natural and anthropogenic activities, and it is challenging to predict them due to many uncertain factors. Current research has focused on developing a new model while overlooking the fact that every single model for PM2.5 prediction has its own strengths and weaknesses. This paper proposes an ensemble framework which combines four diverse learning models for PM2.5 forecasting in Puli, Taiwan. It explores the synergy between parametric and non-parametric learning, and short-term and long-term learning. The feature set covers periodic, meteorological, and autoregression variables which are selected by a spiral validation process. The experimental dataset, spanning from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2019, from Puli Township in central Taiwan, is used in this study. The experimental results show the proposed multi-model framework can synergize the advantages of the embedded models and obtain an improved forecasting result. Further, the benefit obtained by blending short-term learning with long-term learning is validated, in surpassing the performance obtained by using just single type of learning. Our multi-model framework compares favorably with deep-learning models on Puli dataset. It also shows high adaptivity, such that our multi-model framework is comparable to the leading methods for PM2.5 forecasting in Delhi, India.
Intraseasonal Oscillation of Summer Extreme High Temperature in Northeast China and Associated Atmospheric Circulation Anomalies
Authors: Tang Yue , Zeng Gang , Yang Xiaoye , Iyakaremye Vedaste , Li Zhongxian
Published: February 2022

Previous studies have demonstrated the important effects of intraseasonal oscillations in the tropics on the occurrence of extreme-high-temperature events (EHTs), whereas the influence of intraseasonal oscillations in mid-high latitudes on EHTs has been less discussed. In this study, the intraseasonal oscillation of summer extreme high temperatures from 1981 to 2019 in northeast China and its associated atmospheric circulation were studied using conventional statistic methods. The results show that the summer extreme-high-temperature distribution in northeast China is consistent throughout the whole region, with a low-frequency oscillation period of 10–30 d. The low-frequency extreme-high-temperature events (LFEHTs) in northeast China account for 88.8% of all EHTs during the summer. The corresponding low-frequency circulation anomalies with 10–30 d oscillations exhibit a barotropic wave-train moving from west to east in the mid-high latitudes of Eurasia. A low-frequency wave-train index (LFWI) was defined to characterize the wave-train anomaly system in the mid-high latitudes of the Eurasian continent. The LFWI may be a potential precursor for forecasting LFEHTs about 7 days in advance. It could explain 15–30% of the summertime low-frequency daily maximum temperature variability in northeast China.
Modeling the Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Public Transport
Authors: Matheis Christina , Norrefeldt Victor , Will Harald , Herrmann Tobias , Noethlichs Ben , Eckhardt Michael , Stiebritz André , Jansson Mattias , Schön Martin
Published: February 2022

This study presents the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the main types of public transport vehicles and stations to comparatively assess the relative theoretical risk of infection of travelers. The presented approach benchmarks different measures to reduce potential exposure in public transport and compares the relative risk between different means of transport and situations encountered. Hence, a profound base for the selection of measures by operators, travelers and staff is provided. Zonal modeling is used as the simulation method to estimate the exposure to passengers in the immediate vicinity as well as farther away from the infected person. The level of exposure to passengers depends on parameters such as the duration of stay and travel profile, as well as the ventilation situation and the wearing of different types of masks. The effectiveness of technical and behavioral measures to minimize the infection risk is comparatively evaluated. Putting on FFP2 (N95) masks and refraining from loud speech decreases the inhaled viral load by over 99%. The results show that technical measures, such as filtering the recirculated air, primarily benefit passengers who are a few rows away from the infected person by reducing exposure 84–91%, whereas near-field exposure is only reduced by 30–69%. An exception is exposure in streetcars, which in the near-field is 17% higher due to the reduced air volume caused by the filter. Thus, it can be confirmed that the prevailing measures in public transport protect passengers from a high theoretical infection risk. At stations, the high airflows and the large air volume result in very low exposures (negligible compared to the remaining means of transport) provided that distance between travelers is kept. The comparison of typical means of transport indicates that the inhaled quanta dose depends primarily on the duration of stay in the vehicles and only secondarily on the ventilation of the vehicles. Due to the zonal modeling approach, it can also be shown that the position of infected person relative to the other passengers is decisive in assessing the risk of infection.
Study of the Adhesion of the Human Gut Microbiota on Electrospun Structures
Authors: Biagini Francesco , Calvigioni Marco , De Maria Carmelo , Magliaro Chiara , Montemurro Francesca , Mazzantini Diletta , Celandroni Francesco , Mattioli-Belmonte Monica , Ghelardi Emilia , Vozzi Giovanni
Published: February 2022

Although the adhesion of bacteria on surfaces is a widely studied process, to date, most of the works focus on a single species of microorganisms and are aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial properties of biomaterials. Here, we describe how a complex microbial community, i.e., the human gut microbiota, adheres to a surface to form stable biofilms. Two electrospun structures made of natural, i.e., gelatin, and synthetic, i.e., polycaprolactone, polymers were used to study their ability to both promote the adhesion of the human gut microbiota and support microbial growth in vitro. Due to the different wettabilities of the two surfaces, a mucin coating was also added to the structures to decouple the effect of bulk and surface properties on microbial adhesion. The developed biofilm was quantified and monitored using live/dead imaging and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that the electrospun gelatin structure without the mucin coating was the optimal choice for developing a 3D in vitro model of the human gut microbiota.
Machine Learning and Deep Learning Algorithms for Skin Cancer Classification from Dermoscopic Images
Authors: Bechelli Solene , Delhommelle Jerome
Published: February 2022

We carry out a critical assessment of machine learning and deep learning models for the classification of skin tumors. Machine learning (ML) algorithms tested in this work include logistic regression, linear discriminant analysis, k-nearest neighbors classifier, decision tree classifier and Gaussian naive Bayes, while deep learning (DL) models employed are either based on a custom Convolutional Neural Network model, or leverage transfer learning via the use of pre-trained models (VGG16, Xception and ResNet50). We find that DL models, with accuracies up to 0.88, all outperform ML models. ML models exhibit accuracies below 0.72, which can be increased to up to 0.75 with ensemble learning. To further assess the performance of DL models, we test them on a larger and more imbalanced dataset. Metrics, such as the F-score and accuracy, indicate that, after fine-tuning, pre-trained models perform extremely well for skin tumor classification. This is most notably the case for VGG16, which exhibits an F-score of 0.88 and an accuracy of 0.88 on the smaller database, and metrics of 0.70 and 0.88, respectively, on the larger database.
Exosomes in the Pathogenesis, Progression, and Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Authors: Fan Yishu , Li Zhong , He Yuchen
Published: February 2022

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent and debilitating age-related joint disease characterized by articular cartilage degeneration, synovial membrane inflammation, osteophyte formation, as well as subchondral bone sclerosis. OA drugs at present are mainly palliative and do not halt or reverse disease progression. Currently, no disease-modifying OA drugs (DMOADs) are available and total joint arthroplasty remains a last resort. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of efficacious treatments for OA management. Among all novel pharmaco-therapeutical options, exosome-based therapeutic strategies are highly promising. Exosome cargoes, which include proteins, lipids, cytokines, and various RNA subtypes, are potentially capable of regulating intercellular communications and gene expression in target cells and tissues involved in OA development. With extensive research in recent years, exosomes in OA studies are no longer limited to classic, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived vesicles. New origins, structures, and functions of exosomes are constantly being discovered and investigated. This review systematically summarizes the non-classic origins, biosynthesis, and extraction of exosomes, describes modification and delivery techniques, explores their role in OA pathogenesis and progression, and discusses their therapeutic potential and hurdles to overcome in OA treatment.
Critical Evaluation of Specific Efficacy of Preparations Produced According to European Pharmacopeia Monograph 2371
Authors: Ücker Annekathrin , Baumgartner Stephan , Martin David , Jäger Tim
Published: February 2022

European Pharmacopoeia monograph 2371 describes the production of homeopathic preparations. A specific efficacy of these preparations in high dilution levels is questionable in view of basic scientific principles. There is empirical evidence for such effects, for example in a Lemna-intoxication bioassay published 2010. To test the replicability and robustness of this bioassay, we conducted two experimental series (five independent blinded and randomised experiments each). The specimen of Lemna gibba L., clone-number 9352, were stressed in arsenic solution for 48 h (158 mg/L AsNa2HO4 (250 mg/L in series 2)), then grew in either As2O3 preparations produced according to Eu. Pharm. Monogr. 2371 or control solution. Comparing the area-related relative growth rate of day 3–9 (rgr 3–9) between treatment and control groups for each series showed differences that were not significant in series 1 (p = 0.10), significant in series 2 (p = 0.04) and significant in the pooled data of both series (p < 0.01). The effect direction (rgr 3–9 increase) was comparable to experiments of 2010, but the effect size was smaller, likely due to a changed light cycle. These results are not compatible with the hypothesis that the application of European Pharmacopoeia monograph 2371 results in pharmaceutical preparations without specific effects. Further studies are needed to investigate a potential mode of action explaining these effects.
Effects of Artificial Intelligence-Derived Body Composition on Kidney Graft and Patient Survival in the Eurotransplant Senior Program
Authors: Beetz Nick Lasse , Geisel Dominik , Shnayien Seyd , Auer Timo Alexander , Globke Brigitta , Öllinger Robert , Trippel Tobias Daniel , Schachtner Thomas , Fehrenbach Uli
Published: February 2022

The Eurotransplant Senior Program allocates kidneys to elderly transplant patients. The aim of this retrospective study is to investigate the use of computed tomography (CT) body composition using artificial intelligence (AI)-based tissue segmentation to predict patient and kidney transplant survival. Body composition at the third lumbar vertebra level was analyzed in 42 kidney transplant recipients. Cox regression analysis of 1-year, 3-year and 5-year patient survival, 1-year, 3-year and 5-year censored kidney transplant survival, and 1-year, 3-year and 5-year uncensored kidney transplant survival was performed. First, the body mass index (BMI), psoas muscle index (PMI), skeletal muscle index (SMI), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) served as independent variates. Second, the cut-off values for sarcopenia and obesity served as independent variates. The 1-year uncensored and censored kidney transplant survival was influenced by reduced PMI (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively) and reduced SMI (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively); 3-year uncensored kidney transplant survival was influenced by increased VAT (p = 0.04); and 3-year censored kidney transplant survival was influenced by reduced SMI (p = 0.05). Additionally, sarcopenia influenced 1-year uncensored kidney transplant survival (p = 0.05), whereas obesity influenced 3-year and 5-year uncensored kidney transplant survival. In summary, AI-based body composition analysis may aid in predicting short- and long-term kidney transplant survival.
Cre/LoxP Genetic Recombination Sustains Cartilage Anabolic Factor Expression in Hyaluronan Encapsulated MSCs Alleviates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Authors: Chan Long-Yi , Chang Cheng-Chung , Lai Po-Liang , Maeda Tomoji , Hsu Horng-Chaung , Lin Chin-Yu , Kuo Shu-Jui
Published: February 2022

(1) Background: Inexplicable low back and neck pain frequently results from spinal disc degeneration with an imbalanced intervertebral disc (IVD) cell homeostasis. We hypothesize that introducing MSC expressing a sustained cartilage-anabolic factor in the IVD may stimulate the mucoid materials secreted from the IVD cells, promote the MSC’s chondrogenesis and maintain the hydration content providing mechanical strength to decelerate the disc degeneration progression; (2) Methods: This study expressed a cartilage-anabolic factor runx1 by a baculoviral vector (BV) transduced MSCs through a Cre/LoxP gene editing and recombination system for sustained recombinant runx1 transcription factor production. The Cre/LoxP BV modified MSCs were encapsulated by hyaluronan hydrogel, due to its’ vital composition in ECM of a healthy disc and transplanted to a punctured coccygeal disc in rats through micro-injection, followed by X-ray radiography and histological analysis at the 4- and 12-weeks post-transplantation; (3) Results: Data reveals the Cre/LoxP BV system-mediated long-termed runx1 gene expression, possessing good biosafety characteristics in the in vitro cell transduction and in vivo MSCs transplantation, and maintained superior hydration content in the disc than that of mock transduced MSCs; (4) Conclusions: This proof-of-concept study fulfills the need of implanting therapeutic cells accompanied with microinjection in the disc, such as a discography and paves a road to manufacture composite hyaluronan, such as peptide modified hyaluronan as an MSC carrier for IVD regeneration in the future study.
Contribution of Endothelial Laminin-Binding Integrins to Cellular Processes Associated with Angiogenesis
Authors: Xu Hao , LaFlamme Susan E.
Published: February 2022

Endothelial cells engage extracellular matrix and basement membrane components through integrin-mediated adhesion to promote angiogenesis. Angiogenesis involves the sprouting of endothelial cells from pre-existing vessels, their migration into surrounding tissue, the upregulation of angiogenesis-associated genes, and the formation of new endothelial tubes. To determine whether the endothelial laminin-binding integrins, α6β4, and α3β1 contribute to these processes, we employed RNAi technology in organotypic angiogenesis assays, as well in migration assays, in vitro. The endothelial depletion of either α6β4 or α3β1 inhibited endothelial sprouting, indicating that these integrins have non-redundant roles in this process. Interestingly, these phenotypes were accompanied by overlapping and distinct changes in the expression of angiogenesis-associated genes. Lastly, depletion of α6β4, but not α3β1, inhibited migration. Taken together, these results suggest that laminin-binding integrins regulate processes associated with angiogenesis by distinct and overlapping mechanisms.
Emerging Role of Oxidative Stress on EGFR and OGG1-BER Cross-Regulation: Implications in Thyroid Physiopathology
Authors: Moscatello Carmelo , Di Marcantonio Maria Carmela , Savino Luca , D’Amico Emira , Spacco Giordano , Simeone Pasquale , Lanuti Paola , Muraro Raffaella , Mincione Gabriella , Cotellese Roberto , Aceto Gitana Maria
Published: February 2022

Thyroid diseases have a complex and multifactorial aetiology. Despite the numerous studies on the signals referable to the malignant transition, the molecular mechanisms concerning the role of oxidative stress remain elusive. Based on its strong oxidative power, H2O2 could be responsible for the high level of oxidative DNA damage observed in cancerous thyroid tissue and hyperactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and PI3K/Akt, which mediate ErbB signaling. Increased levels of 8-oxoG DNA adducts have been detected in the early stages of thyroid cancer. These DNA lesions are efficiently recognized and removed by the base excision repair (BER) pathway initiated by 8-oxoG glycosylase1 (OGG1). This study investigated the relationships between the EGFR and OGG1-BER pathways and their mutual regulation following oxidative stress stimulus by H2O2 in human thyrocytes. We clarified the modulation of ErbB receptors and their downstream pathways (PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK) under oxidative stress (from H2O2) at the level of gene and protein expression, according to the mechanism defined in a human non-pathological cell system, Nthy-ori 3-1. Later, on the basis of the results obtained by gene expression cluster analysis in normal cells, we assessed the dysregulation of the relationships in a model of papillary thyroid cancer with RET/PTC rearrangement (TPC-1). Our observations demonstrated that a H2O2 stress may induce a physiological cross-regulation between ErbB and OGG1-BER pathways in normal thyroid cells (while this is dysregulated in the TPC-1 cells). Gene expression data also delineated that MUTYH gene could play a physiological role in crosstalk between ErbB and BER pathways and this function is instead lost in cancer cells. Overall, our data on OGG1 protein expression suggest that it was physiologically regulated in response to oxidative modulation of ErbB, and that these might be dysregulated in the signaling pathway involving AKT in the progression of thyroid malignancies with RET/PTC rearrangements.
Human Sex Matters: Y-Linked Lysine Demethylase 5D Drives Accelerated Male Craniofacial Osteogenic Differentiation
Authors: Merten Madlen , Greiner Johannes F. W. , Niemann Tarek , Grosse Venhaus Meike , Kronenberg Daniel , Stange Richard , Wähnert Dirk , Kaltschmidt Christian , Vordemvenne Thomas , Kaltschmidt Barbara
Published: February 2022

Female sex is increasingly associated with a loss of bone mass during aging and an increased risk of developing nonunion fractures. Hormonal factors and cell-intrinsic mechanisms are suggested to drive these sexual dimorphisms, although underlying molecular mechanisms are still a matter of debate. Here, we observed a decreased capacity of calvarial bone recovery in female rats and a profound sexually dimorphic osteogenic differentiation in human adult neural crest-derived stem cells (NCSCs). Next to an elevated expression of pro-osteogenic regulators, global transcriptomics revealed Lysine Demethylase 5D (KDM5D) to be highly upregulated in differentiating male NCSCs. Loss of function by siRNA or pharmacological inhibition of KDM5D significantly reduced the osteogenic differentiation capacity of male NCSCs. In summary, we demonstrated craniofacial osteogenic differentiation to be sexually dimorphic with the expression of KDM5D as a prerequisite for accelerated male osteogenic differentiation, emphasizing the analysis of sex-specific differences as a crucial parameter for treating bone defects.
Self- and Cross-Pollination in Argane Tree and their Implications on Breeding Programs
Authors: Ait Aabd Naima , Tahiri Abdelghani , Qessaoui Redouan , Mimouni Abdelaziz , Bouharroud Rachid
Published: February 2022

The argane tree (Argania spinosa L.) is a mostly self-incompatible species that must be cross-pollination. However, the cross-pollination is often insufficient to obtain a desirable fruit yield in the absence of compatibility between the orchard’s argane trees. Proper pollination design is therefore essential to ensure a supply of compatible pollen. In this study, pollen germination and pollen development following cross- and self-pollination were investigated in A. spinosa. The choice of compatible parents or a pollinizer is currently a new research topic for the production of argane fruits in the framework of argane farming programs. Different pollination experiments were designed with two main objectives: (i) to study cross/self-(in)compatibility in the argane tree, and (ii) to determine the degree of compatibility between selected superior genotypes for pollination strategies to improve fruit set in argane orchards. Thus, to determine if a pollination deficit exists, experiments were carried out on 14 genotypes, and 5421 flowers served as sampling. The germination rate of pollen was lower than 50% for three genotypes, and only four genotypes bloom twice a year. From cross-pollination trials, traits related to the mother trees, such as the shape of the fruit and fruit ripening duration, are not influenced by the gene flow transmitted by pollens. Self-pollination was very low (0.2%) for both hand- and free self-pollination but the highest fruit set rate observed was 5.3%. Based on the pollen effect study results, it can be concluded that different pollen sources affected the fruit set. Thus, the choice of an efficient pollinizer genotype must be inter-compatible with the main variety, bloom at the same time, and be regular (no alternation). This is the first time that a pollinizer tree was reported and studied for argane. To meet future argane farming requirements, the number and location of compatible pollinizers is very important in the argane orchard design. This design of pollination remains to be checked by alternately planting a row of pollinizer trees or inter-rows with main varieties.
Bauhinia (Leguminosae) Fossils from the Paleogene of Southwestern China and Its Species Accumulation in Asia
Authors: Jia Lin-Bo , Hu Jin-Jin , Zhang Shi-Tao , Su Tao , Spicer Robert A. , Liu Jia , Yang Jiu-Cheng , Zou Pu , Huang Yong-Jiang , Zhou Zhe-Kun
Published: February 2022

Extant Bauhinia (Leguminosae) is a genus of 300 species of trees, shrubs, and lianas, widely distributed in pantropical areas, but its diversification history in southeastern Asia, one of its centers of highest diversity, remains unclear. We report new fossils of three Bauhinia species with cuticular preservation from the Paleogene of Puyang Basin, southwestern China. Our finding likely extends the emergence of Bauhinia in Asia to the late Eocene. Together with previously reported fossil records, we show that the diversification of Bauhina in Asia and the phenomenon of a small region harboring multiple Bauhinia species in southwestern China could be traced back to the Paleogene.
Meaningful Secret Image Sharing with Saliency Detection
Authors: Cheng Jingwen , Yan Xuehu , Liu Lintao , Jiang Yue , Wang Xuan
Published: February 2022

Secret image sharing (SIS), as one of the applications of information theory in information security protection, has been widely used in many areas, such as blockchain, identity authentication and distributed cloud storage. In traditional secret image sharing schemes, noise-like shadows introduce difficulties into shadow management and increase the risk of attacks. Meaningful secret image sharing is thus proposed to solve these problems. Previous meaningful SIS schemes have employed steganography to hide shares into cover images, and their covers are always binary images. These schemes usually include pixel expansion and low visual quality shadows. To improve the shadow quality, we design a meaningful secret image sharing scheme with saliency detection. Saliency detection is used to determine the salient regions of cover images. In our proposed scheme, we improve the quality of salient regions that are sensitive to the human vision system. In this way, we obtain meaningful shadows with better visual quality. Experiment results and comparisons demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed scheme.
Cumulative Residual q-Fisher Information and Jensen-Cumulative Residual χ2 Divergence Measures
Authors: Kharazmi Omid , Balakrishnan Narayanaswamy , Jamali Hassan
Published: February 2022

In this work, we define cumulative residual q-Fisher (CRQF) information measures for the survival function (SF) of the underlying random variables as well as for the model parameter. We also propose q-hazard rate (QHR) function via q-logarithmic function as a new extension of hazard rate function. We show that CRQF information measure can be expressed in terms of the QHR function. We define further generalized cumulative residual χ2 divergence measures between two SFs. We then examine the cumulative residual q-Fisher information for two well-known mixture models, and the corresponding results reveal some interesting connections between the cumulative residual q-Fisher information and the generalized cumulative residual χ2 divergence measures. Further, we define Jensen-cumulative residual χ2 (JCR-χ2) measure and a parametric version of the Jensen-cumulative residual Fisher information measure and then discuss their properties and inter-connections. Finally, for illustrative purposes, we examine a real example of image processing and provide some numerical results in terms of the CRQF information measure.
The Multifunctional Nuclear Magnetic Flowmeter for Control to the Consumption and Condition of Coolant in Nuclear Reactors
Authors: Davydov Roman , Davydov Vadim , Myazin Nikita , Dudkin Valentin
Published: February 2022

The necessity of coolant flow consumption measurement accuracy increase in the nuclear reactor primary circuit has been substantiated. Additionally, the need to control the coolant condition in the current flow inside the pipeline is shown. Nowadays, the real-time coolant’s condition control function is not implemented at stationary nuclear power plants or mobile nuclear power plants used in moving objects. It is shown that a coolant consumption measurement error decreases and its condition data availability increases the heat transfer efficiency and the electrical energy generation (without the nuclear reactor and steam generator design change). Problems arising during coolant consumption control using various flowmeters models in the nuclear reactor primary circuit are considered. It has been found that nuclear magnetic flowmeters can solve these problems. New difficulties are noted as emerging when using pulsed nuclear magnetic flowmeters designs developed for measuring hydrocarbons, water, biological compounds consumption, and condition control. A new nuclear magnetic flowmeter design has been developed using a modulation technique for nuclear magnetic resonance signal recording. Methods for measuring the coolant flow’s longitudinal T1 and transverse T2 relaxation times are presented. Investigations of coolant flow parameters (consumption and relaxation times) inside the pipeline have been carried out. It is found that the measurement error for these parameters does not exceed 1%. The prospects of using the developed nuclear magnetic flowmeter-relaxometer design in the nuclear reactor first circuit are shown.
Fungal and Bacterial Communities in Tuber melanosporum Plantations from Northern Spain
Authors: Herrero de Aza Celia , Armenteros Sergio , McDermott James , Mauceri Stefano , Olaizola Jaime , Hernández-Rodríguez María , Mediavilla Olaya
Published: February 2022

Tuber melanosporum (Ascomycota, Pezizales) is an ectomycorrhizal fungus that produces highly appreciated hypogeous fruiting bodies called black truffles. The aim of this paper was to research the composition of ectomycorrhiza-associated fungal and bacterial communities in T. melanosporum oak plantations. Results of this paper showed the competitive effect of T. melanosporum on other fungal species, especially other mycorrhizal and pathogenic species. T. melanosporum was shown to be associated mainly with bacteria, some of them important for their properties as mycorrhizal helper bacteria. A dendrogram analysis of co-occurrence showed that T. melanosporum tended to co-occur with the following bacteria species: Singulisphaera limicola, Nannocistis excedens and Sporosarcina globispora. In addition, it was linked to fungal species such as Mortierella elongata, M. minutissima, Cryptococcus uzbekistanensis, C. chernovii and C. aerius. This study provides an exhaustive analysis of the diversity, structure and composition of fungal and bacterial communities associated with T. melanosporum to enhance understanding of the biology, composition and role of these communities in truffle plantations.
Divergent Seasonal Patterns of Qinghai Spruce Growth with Elevation in Northwestern China
Authors: Wan Yanfang , Yu Pengtao , Li Xiaoqing , Wang Yanhui , Wang Bin , Yu Yipeng , Zhang Lei , Liu Xiande , Wang Shunli
Published: February 2022

Dryland montane forests are important agents for soil and water resource conservation. The growth of these forests under climate warming is strongly affected by local environmental factors. However, how environmental factors impact intra-annual stem growth dynamics across environmental gradients in these regions remains unclear. This work focused on assessing seasonal patterns of stem growth across different elevations and how environmental factors impact stem growth in the Qilian Mountains, northwestern China. The stem growth of 50 Qinghai spruce trees was monitored for two years across an elevation gradient from 2500 m to 3300 m above sea level (a.s.l.). We found that growth initiation occurred later as the elevation increased, and growth commenced when elevation-specific temperature thresholds were reached. However, growth cessation presented large elevational differences: cessation occurred much earlier at low elevations (2500 m and 2700 m a.s.l.). Exceptionally early growth cessation occurred predominantly at 2700 m a.s.l., which was correlated with seasonal drought/insufficient rainfall and low soil moisture occurring since mid-July 2015. Temperature and soil moisture were the key factors governing the daily rate of stem growth in the beginning, rapid growth, and end stages. Overall, due to effects of seasonal drought and low temperature on growth cessation and growth rate, the annual growth of Qinghai spruce was rather low at both low (2500–2700 m a.s.l.) and high (3100–3300 m a.s.l.) elevations; middle elevations (approximately 2900 m a.s.l.) might be the most favorable Qinghai spruce growth. Our results implied that tree growth will likely decline at low elevations and that the optimal elevation for Qinghai spruce growth in northwestern China is expected to shift upward under future climate warming.
Combustion of Aboveground Wood from Live Trees in Megafires, CA, USA
Authors: Harmon Mark E. , Hanson Chad T. , DellaSala Dominick A.
Published: February 2022

Biomass combustion is a major biogeochemical process, but uncertain in magnitude. We examined multiple levels of organization (twigs, branches, trees, stands, and landscapes) in large, severe forest fires to see how combustion rates for live aboveground woody parts varied with tree species, size, and fire severity in Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) and mixed conifer-dominated forests of the Sierra Nevada, California, USA. In high severity fire patches, most combustion loss was from branches < 2 cm diameter; in low to moderate severity patches, most was from bole charring. Combustion rates decreased as fire severity declined and with increasing tree size. Pinus species had little branch combustion, leading them to have ≈50% the combustion rate of other taxa. Combustion rates could be 100% for small branch segments and up to 57% for small tree aboveground woody biomass in high severity fire patches. However, combustion rates are very low overall at the stand (0.1%–3.2%) and landscape level (0.6%–1.8%), because large trees with low combustion rates comprise the majority of biomass, and high severity fire patches are less than half of the area burned. Our findings of low live wood combustion rates have important implications for policies related to wildfire emissions and forest management.
Pilot-Scale Anaerobic Treatment of Printing and Dyeing Wastewater and Performance Prediction Based on Support Vector Regression
Authors: Qi Zhixin , Wang Zhennan , Chen Meiting , Xiong Deqi
Published: February 2022

Printing and dyeing wastewater is characterized with complex water quality and poor biodegradability. In this study, a pilot-scale anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) with packing was verified to effectively degrade the complex organic pollutants in the wastewater through the hydrolysis and acidification of anaerobic microorganisms. At a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12 h and an organic loading rate (OLR) of 2.0–2.5 kg COD/(m3·d), the ABR stabilized the fluctuation range of pH and achieved an average colority removal rate of 10.5%, which provided favorable conditions for subsequent aerobic treatment. During the early operation period, the reactor increased the alkalinity of the wastewater; after 97 days of operation, the volatile fatty acid (VFA) content in the wastewater decreased. To demonstrate the suitability of the support vector regression (SVR) technology in predicting the performance of the reactor, two SVR algorithms with three kernel functions were employed to relate the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate to its influencing factors, and the predictions of both the training and validation groups agreed with the measurements. The results obtained from this study can contribute to the design and optimal operation of the anaerobic treatment project of the industrial wastewater treatment plant.
Effect of an Environment Friendly Heat and Relative Humidity Approach on γ-Aminobutyric Acid Accumulation in Different Highland Barley Cultivars
Authors: Wang Shanshan , Zhou Sumei , Wang Lili , Liu Xiaojiao , Ma Yuling , Tong Litao , Zhang Yuhong , Wang Fengzhong
Published: February 2022

In this study, heat and relative humidity (HRH) treatment was applied in highland barley for γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) accumulation. Tibetan highland barley cultivars (25) were selected for comparison and analysis. HRH treatment could accumulate GABA in several hours with low moisture content and high temperature, and the grains were treated for 2.5 h at 65 °C in this study. The GABA content of processed grains under HRH optimal condition ranged from 26.91 to 76.28 mg·100 g−1, which was significantly higher than the initial content (12.78–43.00 mg·100 g−1). The highest GABA accumulation capacity was observed in two-row yellow cultivars (YT1), increasing from 36.52 to 76.28 mg·100 g−1. Correlation analysis showed that the accumulation of GABA after HRH treatment was positively and significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with the contents of protein (0.52), total free amino acids (0.68), threonine (0.53), serine (0.51), glutamate (0.69), glycine (0.49), alanine (0.46), cysteine (0.57), tyrosine (0.50), lysine (0.53), proline (0.40), and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity (0.62), which were closely related to GABA-shunt pathway. The polyamines contents, diamine oxidase (DAO) and polyamine oxidase (PAO) activities, as the substrates and critical enzymes of polyamine degradation pathway, showed no significant correlation with GABA accumulation. The results suggested that the main pathway of GABA accumulation in highland barley under HRH treatment was GABA-shunt pathway.
The Effect of Dicer Knockout on RNA Interference Using Various Dicer Substrate Small Interfering RNA (DsiRNA) Structures
Authors: Song Min-Sun , Alluin Jessica , Rossi John J.
Published: February 2022

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are artificial molecules used to silence genes of interest through the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, mediated by the endoribonuclease Dicer. Dicer-substrate small interfering RNAs (DsiRNAs) are an alternative to conventional 21-mer siRNAs, with an increased effectiveness of up to 100-fold compared to traditional 21-mer designs. DsiRNAs have a novel asymmetric design that allows them to be processed by Dicer into the desired conventional siRNAs. DsiRNAs are a useful tool for sequence-specific gene silencing, but the molecular mechanism underlying their increased efficacy is not precisely understood. In this study, to gain a deeper understanding of Dicer function in DsiRNAs, we designed nicked DsiRNAs with and without tetra-loops to target a specific mRNA sequence, established a Dicer knockout in the HCT116 cell line, and analyzed the efficacy of various DsiRNAs on RNAi-mediated gene silencing activity. The gene silencing activity of all DsiRNAs was reduced in Dicer knockout cells. We demonstrated that tetra-looped DsiRNAs exhibited increased efficacy for gene silencing, which was mediated by Dicer protein. Thus, this study improves our understanding of Dicer function, a key component of RNAi silencing, which will inform RNAi research and applications.
Recombination Mediator Proteins: Misnomers That Are Key to Understanding the Genomic Instabilities in Cancer
Authors: Courcelle Justin , Worley Travis K. , Courcelle Charmain T.
Published: February 2022

Recombination mediator proteins have come into focus as promising targets for cancer therapy, with synthetic lethal approaches now clinically validated by the efficacy of PARP inhibitors in treating BRCA2 cancers and RECQ inhibitors in treating cancers with microsatellite instabilities. Thus, understanding the cellular role of recombination mediators is critically important, both to improve current therapies and develop new ones that target these pathways. Our mechanistic understanding of BRCA2 and RECQ began in Escherichia coli. Here, we review the cellular roles of RecF and RecQ, often considered functional homologs of these proteins in bacteria. Although these proteins were originally isolated as genes that were required during replication in sexual cell cycles that produce recombinant products, we now know that their function is similarly required during replication in asexual or mitotic-like cell cycles, where recombination is detrimental and generally not observed. Cells mutated in these gene products are unable to protect and process replication forks blocked at DNA damage, resulting in high rates of cell lethality and recombination events that compromise genome integrity during replication.
Radiotherapy-Related Fatigue Associated Impairments in Lung Cancer Survivors during COVID-19 Voluntary Isolation
Authors: Heredia-Ciuró Alejandro , Castillo-Pérez Isabel , Lazo-Prados Antonio , Granados-Santiago María , López-López Laura , Ortiz-Rubio Araceli , Valenza Marie Carmen
Published: February 2022

The main objective of this study was to investigate the impairments presented after COVID-19 voluntary isolation by lung cancer survivors that experienced radiotherapy-related fatigue. In this observational study, data were collected after COVID-19 voluntary isolation. Patients were divided into two groups according to their fatigue severity reported with the Fatigue Severity Scale. Health status was assessed by the EuroQol-5D, anxiety and depression by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and disability by the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. A total of 120 patients were included in the study. Patients with severe fatigue obtained higher impairment results compared to patients without severe fatigue, with significant differences in all the variables (p < 0.05). Lung cancer survivors who experienced severe radiotherapy-related fatigue presented higher impairments after COVID-19 voluntary isolation than lung cancer patients who did not experience severe radiotherapy-related fatigue, and showed high levels of anxiety, depression and disability, and a poor self-perceived health status.
Vertical Equity in Healthcare Financing: A Progressivity Analysis for the Italian Regions
Authors: Citoni Guido , De Matteis Domenico , Giannoni Margherita
Published: February 2022

Background: The aim of this paper is to measure for the first time in Italy the progressivity of healthcare financing systems at the regional level by using the Kakwani index (KI), the most widely used summary measure of progressivity in the healthcare financing literature. Methods: KIs were reported by region and by health financing sources for the year 2015. Results: There were significant vertical inequities in healthcare financing at both national and regional level. OOP (out-of-pocket) payments and value added tax were slightly regressive; income taxation on firms and households was progressive. Conclusions: After the introduction of fiscal federalism during the 90s, the healthcare financing system became regressive. A regional divide emerged: Overall regressivity is higher in the south and lower in the north, partly compensated by the interregional equalization mechanism, based on the redistribution of VAT from northern to southern regions. In times of policy interventions aiming at recovering the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to monitor equity in healthcare financing.
Top Ten Most Important U.S.-Regulated and Emerging Plant-Parasitic Nematodes
Authors: Kantor Mihail , Handoo Zafar , Kantor Camelia , Carta Lynn
Published: February 2022

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are important pests that cause an estimated ten billion dollars of crop loss each year in the United States and over 100 billion dollars globally. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture maintains and updates the U.S. Regulated Plant Pest list. Currently, the number of PPNs regulated by APHIS includes more than 60 different species. This review focuses on the top ten most economically important regulated and emerging plant-parasitic nematodes and summarizes the diagnostics of morphological and some molecular features for distinguishing them. These ten major previously described nematode species are associated with various economically important crops from around the world. This review also includes their current distribution in the U.S. and a brief historical background and updated systematic position of these species. The species included in this review include three PPNs considered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as invasive invertebrates Globodera pallida, Globodera rostochiensis, and Heterodera glycines; four regulated PPNs, namely Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, Meloidogyne fallax, Ditylenchus dipsaci, and Pratylenchus fallax; and the three emerging PPNs Meloidogyne chitwoodi, Meloidogyne enterolobii, and Litylenchus crenatae mccannii.
Advances in the Characterization of the Mechanism Underlying Bacterial Canker Development and Tomato Plant Resistance
Authors: Wang Yuqing , Deng Shuozhen , Li Ziyan , Yang Wencai
Published: February 2022

Bacterial canker caused by the Gram-positive actinobacterium Clavibacter michiganensis is one of the most serious bacterial diseases of tomatoes, responsible for 10–100% yield losses worldwide. The pathogen can systemically colonize tomato vascular bundles, leading to wilting, cankers, bird’s eye lesions, and plant death. Bactericidal agents are insufficient for managing this disease, because the pathogen can rapidly migrate through the vascular system of plants and induce systemic symptoms. Therefore, the use of resistant cultivars is necessary for controlling this disease. We herein summarize the pathogenicity of C. michiganensis in tomato plants and the molecular basis of bacterial canker pathogenesis. Moreover, advances in the characterization of resistance to this pathogen in tomatoes are introduced, and the status of genetics-based research is described. Finally, we propose potential future research on tomato canker resistance. More specifically, there is a need for a thorough analysis of the host–pathogen interaction, the accelerated identification and annotation of resistance genes and molecular mechanisms, the diversification of resistance resources or exhibiting broad-spectrum disease resistance, and the production of novel and effective agents for control or prevention. This review provides researchers with the relevant information for breeding tomato cultivars resistant to bacterial cankers.
Combined Transcriptomic and Proteomic Profiling of E. coli under Microaerobic versus Aerobic Conditions: The Multifaceted Roles of Noncoding Small RNAs and Oxygen-Dependent Sensing in Global Gene Expression Control
Authors: Liou Gunn-Guang , Chao Kaberdina Anna , Wang Wei-Syuan , Kaberdin Vladimir R. , Lin-Chao Sue
Published: February 2022

Adaptive mechanisms that facilitate intestinal colonization by the human microbiota, including Escherichia coli, may be better understood by analyzing the physiology and gene expression of bacteria in low-oxygen environments. We used high-throughput transcriptomics and proteomics to compare the expression profiles of E. coli grown under aerobic versus microaerobic conditions. Clustering of high-abundance transcripts under microaerobiosis highlighted genes controlling acid-stress adaptation (gadAXW, gadAB, hdeAB-yhiD and hdeD operons), cell adhesion/biofilm formation (pgaABCD and csgDEFG operons), electron transport (cydAB), oligopeptide transport (oppABCDF), and anaerobic respiration/fermentation (hyaABCDEF and hycABCDEFGHI operons). In contrast, downregulated genes were involved in iron transport (fhuABCD, feoABC and fepA-entD operons), iron-sulfur cluster assembly (iscRSUA and sufABCDSE operons), aerobic respiration (sdhDAB and sucABCDSE operons), and de novo nucleotide synthesis (nrdHIEF). Additionally, quantitative proteomics showed that the products (proteins) of these high- or low-abundance transcripts were expressed consistently. Our findings highlight interrelationships among energy production, carbon metabolism, and iron homeostasis. Moreover, we have identified and validated a subset of differentially expressed noncoding small RNAs (i.e., CsrC, RyhB, RprA and GcvB), and we discuss their regulatory functions during microaerobic growth. Collectively, we reveal key changes in gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels that sustain E. coli growth when oxygen levels are low.