bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pericytes: The lung-forgotten cell type
Authors: Garrison Annelise T. , Bignold Rebecca E. , Wu Xinhui , Johnson Jill R.
Published: March 2023

Pericytes are a heterogeneous population of mesenchymal cells located on the abluminal surface of microvessels, where they provide structural and biochemical support. Pericytes have been implicated in numerous lung diseases including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and allergic asthma due to their ability to differentiate into scar-forming myofibroblasts, leading to collagen deposition and matrix remodelling and thus driving tissue fibrosis. Pericyte-extracellular matrix interactions as well as other biochemical cues play crucial roles in these processes. In this review, we give an overview of lung pericytes, the key pro-fibrotic mediators they interact with, and detail recent advances in preclinical studies on how pericytes are disrupted and contribute to lung diseases including PAH, allergic asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Several recent studies using mouse models of PAH have demonstrated that pericytes contribute to these pathological events; efforts are currently underway to mitigate pericyte dysfunction in PAH by targeting the TGF-β, CXCR7, and CXCR4 signalling pathways. In allergic asthma, the dissociation of pericytes from the endothelium of blood vessels and their migration towards inflamed areas of the airway contribute to the characteristic airway remodelling observed in allergic asthma. Although several factors have been suggested to influence this migration such as TGF-β, IL-4, IL-13, and periostin, recent evidence points to the CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway as a potential therapeutic target. Pericytes might also play an essential role in lung dysfunction in response to ageing, as they are responsive to environmental risk factors such as cigarette smoke and air pollutants, which are the main drivers of COPD. However, there is currently no direct evidence delineating the contribution of pericytes to COPD pathology. Although there is a lack of human clinical data, the recent available evidence derived from in vitro and animal-based models shows that pericytes play important roles in the initiation and maintenance of chronic lung diseases and are amenable to pharmacological interventions. Therefore, further studies in this field are required to elucidate if targeting pericytes can treat lung diseases.
GCP16 stabilizes the DHHC9 subfamily of protein acyltransferases through a conserved C-terminal cysteine motif
Authors: Nguyen Phillip L. , Greentree Wendy K. , Kawate Toshimitsu , Linder Maurine E.
Published: March 2023

Protein S-acylation is a reversible lipid post-translational modification that allows dynamic regulation of processes such as protein stability, membrane association, and localization. Palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC9 (DHHC9) is one of the 23 human DHHC acyltransferases that catalyze protein S-acylation. Dysregulation of DHHC9 is associated with X-linked intellectual disability and increased epilepsy risk. Interestingly, activation of DHHC9 requires an accessory protein—GCP16. However, the exact role of GCP16 and the prevalence of a requirement for accessory proteins among other DHHC proteins remain unclear. Here, we report that one role of GCP16 is to stabilize DHHC9 by preventing its aggregation through formation of a protein complex. Using a combination of size-exclusion chromatography and palmitoyl acyltransferase assays, we demonstrate that only properly folded DHHC9-GCP16 complex is enzymatically active in vitro. Additionally, the ZDHHC9 mutations linked to X-linked intellectual disability result in reduced protein stability and DHHC9-GCP16 complex formation. Notably, we discovered that the C-terminal cysteine motif (CCM) that is conserved among the DHHC9 subfamily (DHHC14, -18, -5, and -8) is required for DHHC9 and GCP16 complex formation and activity in vitro. Co-expression of GCP16 with DHHCs containing the CCM improves DHHC protein stability. Like DHHC9, DHHC14 and DHHC18 require GCP16 for their enzymatic activity. Furthermore, GOLGA7B, an accessory protein with 75% sequence identity to GCP16, improves protein stability of DHHC5 and DHHC8, but not the other members of the DHHC9 subfamily, suggesting selectivity in accessory protein interactions. Our study supports a broader role for GCP16 and GOLGA7B in the function of human DHHCs.
GmABR1 encoding an ERF transcription factor enhances the tolerance to aluminum stress in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Wang Hongjie , Li Cheng , Wang Lidan , Zhong Hongying , Xu Xin , Cheng Yanbo , Nian Hai , Liu Wenhua , Chen Pei , Zhang Aixia , Ma Qibin
Published: March 2023

The ethylene response factor (ERF) transcription factors, which is one of the largest transcription factor families in plants, are involved in biological and abiotic stress response and play an important role in plant growth and development. In this study, the GmABR1 gene from the soybean inbred line Zhonghuang24 (ZH24)×Huaxia 3 (HX3) was investigated its aluminum (Al) tolerance. GmABR1 protein has a conserved domain AP2, which is located in the nucleus and has transcriptional activation ability. The results of real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that the GmABR1 gene presented a constitutive expression pattern rich in the root tip, stem and leaf tissues of HX3. After Al stress, the GmABR1 transcript was significantly increased in the roots. The transcripts of GmABR1 in the roots of HX3 treated with 50 µM AlCl3 was 51 times than that of the control. The GmABR1 was spatiotemporally specific with the highest expression levels when Al concentration was 50 µM, which was about 36 times than that of the control. The results of hematoxylin staining showed that the root tips of GmABR1-overexpression lines were stained the lightest, followed by the control, and the root tips of GmABR1 RNAi lines were stained the darkest. The concentrations of Al3+ in root tips were 207.40 µg/g, 147.74 µg/g and 330.65 µg/g in wild type (WT), overexpressed lines and RNAi lines, respectively. When AlCl3 (pH4.5) concentration was 100 µM, all the roots of Arabidopsis were significantly inhibited. The taproot elongation of WT, GmABR1 transgenic lines was 69.6%, 85.6%, respectively. When treated with Al, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in leaves of WT increased to 3.03 µg/g, while that of transgenic Arabidopsis increased from 1.66-2.21 µg/g, which was lower than that of WT. Under the Al stress, the Al stress responsive genes such as AtALMT1 and AtMATE, and the genes related to ABA pathway such as AtABI1, AtRD22 and AtRD29A were up-regulated. The results indicated that GmABR1 may jointly regulate plant resistance to Al stress through genes related to Al stress response and ABA response pathways.
The mechanism of silicon on alleviating cadmium toxicity in plants: A review
Authors: Hou Lei , Ji Shengzhe , Zhang Yao , Wu Xiuzhe , Zhang Li , Liu Peng
Published: March 2023

Cadmium is one of the most toxic heavy metal elements that seriously threaten food safety and agricultural production worldwide. Because of its high solubility, cadmium can easily enter plants, inhibiting plant growth and reducing crop yield. Therefore, finding a way to alleviate the inhibitory effects of cadmium on plant growth is critical. Silicon, the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, has been widely reported to promote plant growth and alleviate cadmium toxicity. This review summarizes the recent progress made to elucidate how silicon mitigates cadmium toxicity in plants. We describe the role of silicon in reducing cadmium uptake and transport, improving plant mineral nutrient supply, regulating antioxidant systems and optimizing plant architecture. We also summarize in detail the regulation of plant water balance by silicon, and the role of this phenomenon in enhancing plant resistance to cadmium toxicity. An in-depth analysis of literature has been conducted to identify the current problems related to cadmium toxicity and to propose future research directions.
Genome-wide identification of the MIKCc-type MADS-box gene family in Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium reveals their roles in the capitulum development
Authors: Li Junzhuo , Zhang Qiuling , Kong Deyuan , Pu Ya , Wen Xiaohui , Dai Silan
Published: March 2023

Chrysanthemum ×morifolium is well known throughout the world for its diverse and exquisite flower types. However, due to the complicated genetic background of C. ×morifolium, it is difficult to understand the molecular mechanism of its flower development. And it limits the molecular breeding of improving chrysanthemum flower types. C. ×morifolium has the typical radial capitulum, and many researches showed that the members of the MIKCc-type MADS box gene family play a key role in the formation and development of the capitulum. However, it has been difficult to isolate the important MIKCc and investigate their roles in this process due to the lack of genomic information in chrysanthemum. Here, we identified MIKCc-type MADS box genes at whole genome-wide level in C. lavandulifolium, a diploid species closely related to C. ×morifolium, and investigated their roles in capitulum development by gene expression pattern analysis and protein interaction analysis. A total of 40 ClMIKCc were identified and were phylogenetically grouped into 12 clades. Members of all clades showed different enriched expression patterns during capitulum formation. We speculate that the E-class genes in C. lavandulifolium underwent subfunctionalization because they have a significantly expanded, more diverse expression patterns, and specifically tissue expression than AtSEPs. Meanwhile, we detected the C-class expressed in disc floret corolla, which could be the clue to explore the morphological differences between disc and ray floret corolla. In addition, the potential roles of some MIKCcs in complex inflorescence formation were explored by comparing the number and phylogenetic relationship of MIKCc subfamily members in Asteraceae with different capitulum types. Members of the FLC branch in Asteraceae were found to be possibly related to the differentiation and development of the ray floret.
Mental health trajectories of Brazilian health workers during two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021)
Authors: de Lima Osório Flávia , Zuardi Antônio Waldo , Silveira Isabella Lara Machado , de Souza Crippa José Alexandre , Hallak Jaime Eduardo Cecílio , Pereira-Lima Karina , Loureiro Sonia Regina
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to: (a) monitor the progression of symptoms of mental health burden among frontline workers caring for COVID-19 patients in Brazil during the two waves of the pandemic, considering the number of new cases and deaths, and; (b) to verify the different mental health outcomes and potential associations with current burnout symptoms. A non-probabilistic sample of health professionals was assessed as the pandemic progressed in Brazil (May/2020 August/2021). Standardized instruments focusing on anxiety, depression, insomnia, post-traumatic stress, and burnout symptoms were applied online. The results indicate a decrease in anxiety levels, what was related to when the number of new cases declined (end 1th-wave); symptoms returned to higher levels later. Emotional exhaustion increased when there was a higher incidence of cases, returning to the baseline levels at the end of the second wave. Depersonalization symptoms increased in this phase, characterized by a further decrease in new cases, while professional accomplishment decreased during the follow-up. The highest number of new cases was associated with a higher frequency of anxiety (OR = 1.467;95%CI = 1.109–1.941; p = 0.007) and professional accomplishment (OR = 1.490;95%CI = 1.098–2.023; p = 0.011). The subjects with trajectory of resilience against anxiety presented the lowest level of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (p < 0.05). The conclusion is that the pressure experienced by healthcare professionals throughout the pandemic caused different impacts on their mental health, emphasizing the dynamic nature of this condition and the need for constant monitoring and care. This finding directly affects mental health prevention and intervention measures, which remain a priority and require continuous reinforcement, especially among the most vulnerable groups.
The prevalence and determinant factors of substance use among the youth in Ethiopia: A multilevel analysis of Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Kassew Tilahun , Tarekegn Gebrekidan Ewnetu , Alamneh Tesfa Sewunet , Kassa Selam Fisiha , Liyew Bikis , Terefe Bewuketu
Published: March 2023

Background

In Ethiopia, the youth are more exposed to substances such as alcohol, Khat, and tobacco than other populations. Despite the seriousness of the situation, low- and middle-income nations, particularly Ethiopia, have intervention gaps. Service providers must be made more aware of relevant evidence to combat these problems. This research focused on finding out how common substance abuse is among teenagers and the factors that influence it.

Methods

The 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data were used for secondary data analysis. This survey includes all young people aged 15 to 24 years. The total sample size was 10,594 people. Due to the hierarchical nature of the survey data, a multilevel logistic regression model was employed to uncover the individual- and community-level characteristics related to substances.

Results

In Ethiopia, the overall current prevalence of occasional or daily substance use 30 days prior to the survey was 46.74%. Of the participants, 36.34, 12.56, and 0.95% were drinking alcohol, chewing Khat, and smoking cigarettes/any tobacco products, respectively. Male sex, 20–24 years of age, exposure to media, having a job, and living in large central and metropolitan regions were the factors associated with the problem.

Conclusion

According to the 2016 EDHS, substance use among young people is widespread in Ethiopia. To lower the prevalence of substance use among youth, policymakers must increase the implementation of official rules, such as restricting alcohol, Khat, and tobacco product marketing to minors, prohibiting smoking in public places, and banning mass-media alcohol advertising. Specific interventions targeting at-risk populations, such as youth, are mainly required in prominent central and metropolitan locations.
Ensemble graph neural network model for classification of major depressive disorder using whole-brain functional connectivity
Authors: Venkatapathy Sujitha , Votinov Mikhail , Wagels Lisa , Kim Sangyun , Lee Munseob , Habel Ute , Ra In-Ho , Jo Han-Gue
Published: March 2023

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by impairments in mood and cognitive functioning, and it is a prominent source of global disability and stress. A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can aid clinicians in their assessments of individuals for the identification of MDD. Herein, we employ a deep learning approach to the issue of MDD classification. Resting-state fMRI data from 821 individuals with MDD and 765 healthy controls (HCs) is employed for investigation. An ensemble model based on graph neural network (GNN) has been created with the goal of identifying patients with MDD among HCs as well as differentiation between first-episode and recurrent MDDs. The graph convolutional network (GCN), graph attention network (GAT), and GraphSAGE models serve as a base models for the ensemble model that was developed with individual whole-brain functional networks. The ensemble's performance is evaluated using upsampling and downsampling, along with 10-fold cross-validation. The ensemble model achieved an upsampling accuracy of 71.18% and a downsampling accuracy of 70.24% for MDD and HC classification. While comparing first-episode patients with recurrent patients, the upsampling accuracy is 77.78% and the downsampling accuracy is 71.96%. According to the findings of this study, the proposed GNN-based ensemble model achieves a higher level of accuracy and suggests that our model produces can assist healthcare professionals in identifying MDD.
The association between dietary inflammation index and depression
Authors: Luo Ling , Hu Jie , Huang Ruixian , Kong Danli , Hu Wei , Ding Yuanlin , Yu Haibing
Published: March 2023

Objective

We aimed to evaluate whether depression is associated with increased risk of dietary inflammatory index (DII) or energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) and whether the association is partly explained by insulin resistance (IR).

Methods

Base on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2018. Univariate analyses of continuous and categorical variables were performed using t-test, ANOVA, and χ2 test, respectively. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between DII or E-DII and depression in three different models. Mediation analysis was used to assess the potential mediation effects of homeostatic model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR).

Results

A total of 70,190 participants were included, and the DII score was higher in the depressed group. DII score was related to all participant characteristics except age (p < 0.05). After being included in covariates (Model 3), participants in the highest quartile of DII score have increased odds of depression (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.28–2.58) compared with those in the first quartile of DII score. And, a significant dose–response relationship was found (p-trend <0.05). No interaction between DII and HOMA-IR was observed in terms of the risk of depression, and HOMA-IR did not find to play a mediating role in the association between DII and depression. Similar results were obtained for the association between E-DII and depression.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that a higher pro-inflammatory diet increases the risk of depression in U.S. adults, while there was no evidence of a multiplicative effect of DII or E-DII and HOMA-IR on disease risk, nor of a mediating effect of HOMA-IR.
A quality analysis of thyroid cancer videos available on TikTok
Authors: Wang Li , Li Yongjin , Gu Jiali , Xiao Li
Published: March 2023

Background

Thyroid cancer (TC) is becoming an increasing public health problem worldwide. TikTok is a global video-sharing social media app, which can be a source of information on TC. However, the information quality of these videos remains unknown.

Methods

A search of TikTok was performed with the term “甲状腺癌”and “甲状腺肿瘤” (“thyroid cancer” and “thyroid neoplasm” in Chinese). Videos included were independently assessed using six predefined questions for content scores and DISCERN scale for information quality, while the video popularity index (VPI) was also calculated. A correlation analysis was performed among duration, presence of animation, VPI, DISCERN scores, and content scores.

Results

A total of 56 videos were finally included, of which 49 were uploaded by physicians, 4 by health organizations, and 3 by hospitals. While 43 were real content videos, 13 were animated. The mean of DISCERN score and content score was 3.44 ± 0.72 and 5.19 ± 0.95, respectively. Good consistency was found between the two reviewers in terms of both DISCERN scores and content scores. The video duration and presence of animation were positively correlated with VPI, while DISCERN scores and content scores were not correlated with VPI.

Conclusion

The overall quality of TC-related videos was satisfactory, although the quality varies greatly depending on the type of source. Patients should be cautious when using TikTok as a source of TC-related information.
Comparison of COVID-19 home-testers vs. laboratory-testers in New York State (excluding New York City), November 2021 to April 2022
Authors: Dorabawila Vajeera , Barnes Virgile , Ramesh Nirmala , Hoen Rebecca , Sommer Jamie , Robbins Amy , Backenson Byron , Lutterloh Emily , Hoefer Dina , Rosenberg Eli
Published: March 2023

Background

Though the use of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) home testing kits is increasing, individuals who use home tests are not accounted for in publicly reported COVID-19 metrics. As the pandemic and the methods for tracking cases evolve, it is critical to understand who the individuals excluded are, due to their use of home testing kits, relative to those included in the reported metrics.

Methods

Five New York State databases were linked to investigate trends in home-tested COVID-19 cases vs. laboratory-confirmed cases from November 2021 to April 2022. Frequency distributions, multivariate logistic regression adjusted odds ratios (aOR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to compare the characteristics of the home-tested and laboratory-tested people.

Results

Of the 591,227 confirmed COVID-19 cases interviewed, 71,531 (12%) of them underwent home tests, 515,001 (87%) underwent laboratory tests, and 5,695 (1%) underwent both home tests and laboratory tests during this period. Home-tested COVID-19 cases increased from only 1% in November 2021 to 22% in April 2022. Children aged 5–11 years with an aOR of 3.74 (95% CI: 3.53, 3.96) and adolescents aged 12–17 years with an aOR of 3.24 (95% CI: 3.07, 3.43) were more likely to undergo only home tests compared to adults aged 65 years and above. On the one hand, those who were “boosted” (aOR 1.87, 95% CI: 1.82, 1.93), those in K-12 school settings (aOR 2.33, 95% CI: 2.27, 2.40), or those who were possibly infected by a household member (aOR 1.17, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.22) were more likely to report home testing instead of laboratory testing. On the other hand, individuals who were hospitalized (aOR 0.04, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.06), who had underlying conditions (aOR 0.85, 95% CI: 0.83, 0.87), who were pregnant (aOR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.66, 0.86), and who were Hispanic (aOR 0.50: 95% CI: 0.48, 0.53), Asian (aOR 0.31, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.34), or Black (aOR 0.45, 95% CI: 0.42, 047) were less likely to choose home testing over laboratory testing.

Conclusion

The percentage of individuals with confirmed COVID-19 who used only home testing kits continues to rise. People who used only home testing were less likely to be hospitalized and were those with a lower likelihood of developing a severe disease given factors such as age, vaccination status, and underlying conditions. Thus, the official COVID-19 metrics primarily reflected individuals with severe illness or the potential for severe illness. There may be racial and ethnic differences in the use of home testing vs. laboratory testing.
Impact of a nutrition education intervention on nutrition-related self-efficacy and locus of control among women in Lesotho
Authors: Ranneileng Mamotsamai , Nel Mariette , Walsh Corinna May
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Lesotho is one of the poorest countries in the world with high levels of food insecurity and malnutrition. The aim was to evaluate the impact of a nutrition education intervention informed by self-efficacy and locus of control theories among women in Lesotho.

Methods

A randomized pre-test-post-test design was adopted to implement a systematically designed nutrition education intervention in women from Maseru and Berea districts in Lesotho. Women from selected villages were randomly assigned to comparison and intervention groups. Baseline and post assessments were conducted before, and 6 months after the intervention. Nutrition-related self-efficacy and locus of control were assessed using a semi-structured knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices (KABP) questionnaire.

Results

At baseline, 444 women aged 19–60 years were included. After the intervention, 259 women in the comparison (n = 105) and intervention groups (n = 154) were interviewed. Self-efficacy beliefs that improved significantly in the intervention group but not in the comparison group included increased confidence that they could eat a healthy diet every day [95% CI for the percentage difference (61.5; 76.7)]; an improved ability to secure several healthy foods in the home; increased confidence in engaging in physical activity [95% CI (29.5; 46.6)]; reducing the amount of salt they used in food [95% CI (2.1; 14.0)]; and compiling a budget for food purchases [95% CI (56.1; 72.1)]. Regarding locus of control, the belief in a personal capacity to take charge of one's health through the production and consumption of healthy food improved in the intervention group [95% CI (12.4; 25.0)] but not in the comparison group [95% CI (15.9; 0.4)]. At follow-up, a significantly larger percentage of participants in the intervention group also believed that they could take control of their health and that they could prevent some illnesses by the food they eat.

Conclusion

A nutrition education intervention that is systematically planned and framed on selected theories of health behavior improved nutrition-related beliefs in self-efficacy and locus of control.
The direct effect of exercise on the mental health of scientific and technological professionals and the mediating effects of stress, resilience, and social support
Authors: Wu Kai , Wang Shengnan , Ding Tengyun , Li Yongxin
Published: March 2023

Background

High working pressure is one of the main causes of occupational sub-health problems in scientific and technological professionals. With the development of exercise psychology, an increasing number of scholars have begun to focus on the influence of exercise on mental health. However, a limited number of scholars have investigated the effects of exercise on mental health and related mechanisms among scientific and technological professionals. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between exercise and the mental health of scientific and technological professionals and the mediating roles of stress, resilience, and social support.

Methods

The respondents in this study were recruited using snowball sampling techniques and finally collected a total of 1,248 valid responses. Questionnaires were distributed through “www.wjx.cn (An online questionnaire website in China, which provides similar functions with Amazon MTurk)” in Henan province from November to December 2021. Participants were asked to complete the Positive Mental Health Scale, the stress subscale of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (21 items), the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. A total of 1,248 valid responses were obtained.

Results

The mean exercise time of males was longer than that of females (t = 3.65, p < 0.01). Exercise and mental health were significantly associated with differences in age (F = −8.57, F = −4.66, p < 0.01) and educational background (F = 12.86, F = 7.14, p < 0.01). There were significant correlations among exercise, mental health, stress, resilience, and social support (p < 0.01). The direct effects of exercise on mental health were significant (β = 0.271, t = 9.577, p < 0.001), and the mediating effects of stress, resilience, and social support were also significant (χ2/df = 4.72, CFI = 0.940, TLI = 0.935, SRMR = 0.048, RMSEA = 0.055).

Conclusion

This study explored the effects of exercise on mental health and related mechanisms among scientific and technological professionals, which is beneficial to providing effective suggestions for managing and preventing the mental health of scientific and technological professionals. Future research should include a wider range of participants and adopt a longitudinal follow-up design to more deeply investigate the relationship between exercise and the mental health of scientific and technological professionals.
Analysis of fatal cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Jiangsu province, China, between 2011 and 2022: A retrospective study
Authors: Liang Shuyi , Xie Wei , Li Zhifeng , Zhang Nan , Wang Xiaochen , Qin Yuanfang , Bao Changjun , Hu Jianli
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV), which has a high fatality rate. This disease has become increasingly prevalent in recent years in Jiangsu province, with a noticeable rise in its incidence. Notably, fatal cases have also been increasing. Our study aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors associated with the fatal cases of SFTS in Jiangsu province from 2011 to September 2022.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed among 698 SFTS cases during 2011-2022 in Jiangsu Province, China. Cox regression analyses were used to determine the dependent and independent risk factors that affected patient survival time. ArcGIS 10.7 was used for the visualization of the geographical distribution of the deaths from SFTS.

Results

There were 698 SFTS cases reported, with an increasing incidence, over the 12-year period. Among these cases, 43 deaths were reported. Fatal cases of SFTS were reported in 12 district counties from 2011 to 2022. Notably, most of the deaths occurred in Lishui county of Nanjing City. The median age of those who died was 69 years, with age ranges from 50 to 83 years. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that older age (>70) and living in Lishui county were risk factors for death from SFTS in Jiangsu province. Therefore, older adults aged over 70 years and residing in Lishui county were the high-risk group for SFTS mortality.

Discussion

Over the past 12 years, we have observed a consistent rise in the incidence of SFTS, accompanied by a relatively high case fatality rate, making it a critical public health issue. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to study the impact of meteorological factors on SFTS epidemics and devise prevention and control strategies.
Teleexercise for geriatric patients with failed back surgery syndrome
Authors: Alizadeh Reza , Anastasio Albert Thomas , Shariat Ardalan , Bethell Mikhail , Hassanzadeh Gholamreza
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is defined as back pain which either persists after attempted surgical intervention or originates after a spine surgery. There is a high risk of perioperative morbidity and a high likelihood of extensive revision surgery in geriatric patients with FBSS or post-laminectomy foraminal stenosis.

Methods

There is a need for less invasive methodologies for the treatment of FBSS, such as patient-tailored exercise training, with attention to the cost and special needs of the geriatric patients with FBSS. This commentary will provide some background regarding teleexercise (utilizing an internet-based platform for the provision of exercise-related care) for FBSS and will propose three exercises which are easy to administer over online-based platforms and can be the subject of future investigation.

Results

Given the documented benefits of regular rehabilitative exercises for patients with FBSS, the high cost of face-to-face services, and the need for infection mitigation in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic, teleexercise may be a practical and cost-beneficial method of exercise delivery, especially for geriatric patients with limitations in mobility and access to care. It should be noted that, prescription of these exercises should be done after face-to-face evaluation by the physician and careful evaluation for any “red flag” symptoms.

Conclusion

In this commentary, we will suggest three practical exercise training methodologies and discuss the benefits of teleexercise for geriatric patients with FBSS. Future research should aim to assess the efficacy of these exercises, especially when administered through telehealth platforms.
Optimal utilization of ecological economic resources and low-carbon economic analysis from the perspective of Public Health
Authors: Wang Qi , Feng Yan , Hu Ao
Published: March 2023

Introduction

China's urbanization process continues to deepen with social development, but the optimal utilization of ecological, economic resources and Public Health (PH) problems are becoming increasingly severe.

Methods

This paper analyses the optimal use of urban resources based on PH. Here, the public space of urban settlements is selected as the research object. Firstly, the connotation and essence of the ecological economy and Low-Carbon Economy (LCE) are analyzed. Secondly, the characteristics of public space in urban settlements are studied based on PH. The public space satisfaction evaluation model in urban settlements is constructed with five first-level and 12 second-level indicators. Finally, a questionnaire is designed to analyze urban households' outdoor activities and evaluate public space in settlements.

Results

The influencing factors of residents' satisfaction with public space in settlements are obtained through regression analysis. The results show that residents' satisfaction with the public space of the settlement is mainly evaluated from three aspects: the accessibility of public space, the integrity of public space, and the pleasure of public space. The influence coefficients are 0.355, 0.346, and 0.223, respectively, indicating that the influence degree of the three principal factors decreases in turn.

Conclusion

We can optimize the utilization of urban residential public space resources from the aspects of accessibility, integrity and pleasure, so as to promote residents to go to public spaces for outdoor activities and physical exercise, which is more conducive to the public health of residents.
Identifying impacts of industrial co-agglomeration on carbon emissions: Evidence from China
Authors: Shen Qiong , Pan Yuxi , Feng Yanchao
Published: March 2023

Based on panel data of 285 cities in China at the prefecture level and above from 2005 to 2020, this paper aims to study the nexus between industrial co-agglomeration and carbon emissions from dual perspectives including space and time. It adopts multiple approaches including a dynamic general method of moment, panel quantile regression model, panel threshold model, and dynamic spatial Durbin model. The non-spatial empirical results support the establishment of the threshold effect and the imbalance effect. The spatial empirical results indicate that industrial co-agglomeration poses a dramatic stimulating effect on urban carbon emissions, and its spatial spillover effect and spatial heterogeneity are conditionally established. Furthermore, heterogeneous effects are supported, such as the positive spillover effects of industrial co-agglomeration are more significant in western cities, resource-oriented cities, and non-low-carbon pilot cities. The heterogeneous influence of cost factors on industrial agglomeration and carbon emissions has also been partially confirmed. In terms of the channels and mechanism of action, the negative externalities of industrial co-agglomeration occupy a dominant position in the current status of economic development. The dynamic equilibrium between government intervention and marketization is a solid foundation for the optimization of carbon emission reduction paths.
Exploring Malaysian parents' and teachers' cultural conceptualization of adolescent social and emotional competencies: A qualitative formative study
Authors: Abd Hadi Nur Hazwani , Midin Marhani , Tong Seng Fah , Chan Lai Fong , Mohd Salleh Sahimi Hajar , Ahmad Badayai Abdul Rahman , Adilun Norsinar
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Global implementation of social and emotional learning (SEL) has been suggested to incorporate a systematic cultural adaptation process which relies on ground-up empirical data of a target cultural group in tailoring a culturally sensitive SEL intervention. Preliminary formative studies among local parents and educators were done to explore the conceptualization of social and emotional competencies (SECs) in various cultural settings, such as the continent of Africa and among the indigenous and refugee groups. Unfortunately, little scholarship has been devoted to studying the SEL adaptation process in Southeast Asian regions. This formative study aimed to explore Malaysian parents' and teachers' cultural conceptualization of adolescent SECs.

Methods

This qualitative study interviewed 12 Malaysian parents and 10 Malaysian teachers comprising of Malay (82%), Chinese (9%) and Indian (9%) races in an online focus group discussion. Sampling is purposive to parents of adolescents and teachers at secondary school only. Data were analyzed thematically to determine the culturally sensitive SEL constructs for Malaysian adolescents.

Results

All themes and sub-themes of SEC regarded as crucial for Malaysian adolescents are aligned with CASEL's five domains of competencies. Our findings extended the conceptualization of subskills under CASEL's relationship skills and responsible decision-making domains, which reflect Asian cultural values. The main themes of social competency: (a) preserving interpersonal relationships, (b) utilizing intrapersonal skills, and (c) communicating effectively, are shared with the established CASEL constructs. However, the underlying subthemes denote the unique cultural manifestation of social competency in Malaysia. Two of the emotional competency themes represent the established CASEL constructs: (a) practicing self-regulation, (b) demonstrating help-seeking behavior, and the other two themes signify Asian values: (c) upholding altruism, and (d) maintaining cultural display rules.

Discussions

This formative study revealed the habitual use of experiential and expressive suppressions as adaptive emotion regulation strategies in Malaysian collectivist culture and offered a potential alternative emotion regulation pathway suitable for Malaysian adolescents. It also informed the feasibility of implementing SEL modules developed based on the CASEL framework in Malaysia and suggested two key lessons to enhance the cultural sensitivity of SEL in Malaysia: effective, respectful communication and expressive writing.
A model for representing the semantics of MWEs: From lexical semantics to the semantic annotation of complex predicates
Authors: Giouli Voula
Published: March 2023

Multiword expressions (MWEs) are sequences of words that pose a challenge to the computational processing of human languages due to their idiosyncrasies and the mismatch between their phrasal structure and their semantics. These idiosyncrasies are of lexical, morphosyntactic and semantic 11 nature, namely: non-compositionality, i.e., the meaning of the expression cannot be computed from the meanings of its constituents; discontinuity, i.e., alien elements may intervene; non-13 substitutability, i.e., at least one of the expression constituents is lexicalized and therefore, does not enter in alternations at the paradigmatic axis; and non-modifiability, in that they enter in syntactically 15 rigid structures, posing further constraints over modification, transformations, etc. The paper presents a model for representing MWEs at the level of semantics by taking into account all these inherent idiosyncrasies. The model assumes the form of a linguistic ontology and is applied to Greek verbal multi-word expressions (VMWEs); moreover, the semantics of the lexical entries under scrutiny is also represented via the semantics of their arguments based on corpus evidence. In this regard, modeling the semantics of VMWEs is placed in the lexicon-corpus interface.
Cover crops did not improve soil health but hydroclimatology may guide decisions preventing cash crop yield loss
Authors: Sanyal Debankur , Mukherjee Avik , Rahhal Amin , Wolthuizen Johnathon , Karki David , Clark Jason D. , Bly Anthony
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Cover crop (CC) is an essential tool to improve or maintain soil health, potentially improving cash crop productivity. Several recent reports of cash crop yield reduction following cover cropping necessitated this research to guide efficient CC decisions in the season before corn (Zea mays) or soybean (Glycine max) is to be grown.

Methods

Therefore, we designed this multi-year, multi-location study to include the farmers who plant CC following the harvest of a small grain crop, majorly wheat (Triticum aestivum) or oats (Avena sativa), and then grow corn or soybean cash crop in the subsequent season. We also selected the farmers who used a fall CC mix that was winter-terminated, to avoid further complexities. The major objective of this study was to document soil health changes and cash crop yields following CC in eight selected locations around SD for three consecutive CC seasons between 2017-2020. Experimental plots were laid out at the farmer-cooperators’ CC fields, where no cover (NC) ‘control’ was tested against CC in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Soil samples were analyzed for selected soil health indicators (SHIs): potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), soil respiration (SR), soil microbial biomass (SMB), soil nitrate-nitrogen, soil organic matter (SOM), and other basic soil properties (pH, electrical conductivity, etc.); crop and residue biomass were calculated, and cash crop economic yields were measured.

Results and discussion

No statistically significant (p<0.05) advantage was found for SHIs or cash crop yields under CC plots compared to NC plots as these fields had healthy soils (long-term no-till was practiced, high SOM levels >30 g kg-1). These findings directed us to investigate hydroclimatological parameters and climatological indices such as accumulated precipitation, standardized precipitation index (SPI), and standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI) for their impact on CC’s influence on cash crop yields.

Conclusion

Our analyses indicated that hydroclimatology, especially SPEI for the month before CC planting can be used as a tool to guide successful CC decisions, reducing the risk of cash crop yield loss. Further investigations with SPI and SPEI, along with other climatological parameters are needed to explore and design better CC management tools.
Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure of Babesia gibsoni
Authors: Yin Fangyuan , Guo Chuanjiang , Tian Zhuojia , Li Dong , Mu Daoe , Liu Haoting , Guan Guiquan , Yin Hong , Li Facai
Published: March 2023

Babesia gibsoni is a tick-borne apicomplexan protozoan causing canine babesiosis. This parasite has diploid sexual reproduction in ticks, during which genetic exchanges can occur leading to increased genetic diversity, which is an important factor in adapting to environmental changes. Exploring the genetic variation of B. gibsoni population can provide a foundation for understanding the patterns of disease transmission and developing babesiosis control strategies. Partial 18S rRNA fragment sequences were obtained from 11 B. gibsoni isolates collected from different regions in China and 117 publicly available sequences were from 12 geographical areas including China. The genetic variation, demographic expansion and population structure were examined. A total of 34 haplotypes were identified among B. gibsoni populations. Analysis of molecular variance, pairwise Fst and structure analysis showed that high genetic variation within populations, low genetic differentiation and obvious mixture haplotype were apparent in a single continent, but higher genetic differentiation was detected across different continents. Neutrality tests implied that B. gibsoni populations had experienced population extension. These findings will contribute to understand the genetics and evolution of B. gibsoni and will be useful for formulating effective management strategies to prevent and control this parasite.
Conflict (Work-Family and Family-Work) and Task Performance: The Role of Well-Being in This Relationship
Authors: Moreira Ana , Encarnação Tiago , Viseu João , Au-Yong-Oliveira Manuel
Published: March 2023

Recent societal changes have brought new challenges to contemporary organisations, e.g., how to properly manage the work-family/family-work dyad and, thus, promote adequate task performance. This paper aimed to study the relationship between conflict (work-family and family-work) and task performance, and whether this relationship was moderated by well-being. Thus, the following hypotheses were formulated: (1) conflict (work-family and family-work) is negatively associated with task performance; (2) conflict (work-family and family-work) is negatively associated with well-being; (3) well-being is positively associated with task performance; and (4) well-being moderates the relationship between conflict (work-family and family-work) and task performance. A total of 596 subjects participated in this study, all employed in Portuguese organisations. The results underlined that only family-work conflict was negatively and significantly associated with task performance. Work-family conflict established a negative and significant relationship with well-being. Well-being was positively and significantly associated with performance and moderated the relationship between conflict (work-family and family-work) and task performance. These results show that organisations should provide employees with situations that promote their well-being, especially in Portugal, where a relationship culture exists (rather than task culture, which is predominant in the USA and Canada, for example) which means that additional and considerable time must be dedicated to personal and family matters for people to fit in and be accepted harmoniously.
A Review on Soil Nitrogen Sensing Technologies: Challenges, Progress and Perspectives
Authors: Liu Jun , Cai Haotian , Chen Shan , Pi Jie , Zhao Liye
Published: March 2023

Nitrogen is a vital ingredient for plant development and growth. It is one of the most crucial indicators of soil fertility and crop growth conditions. For the monitoring of nitrogen loss patterns and the development of crop nitrogen fertilizer application strategies, an accurate determination of soil nitrogen concentration can be a valuable source of information. For the advancement of precision agriculture and the preservation of the natural ecological environment, an accurate, quick, and low-cost determination of soil nitrogen content and its variations is essential. This paper systematically analyzes and summarizes soil nitrogen detection methods by compiling and analyzing the relevant literature, comparing the advantages and disadvantages of various methods, and concluding with a discussion of the most significant challenges and future research trends in this field. This study provides a helpful resource for understanding the current status, application constraints, and future developments of nitrogen-sensing technologies in precision agriculture.
RETRACTED: Estimating the Crop Acreage of Menthol Mint Crop from Remote Sensing Satellite Imagery Using ANN
Authors: Babu Jampani , Ch Smitha , Bhattacharyya Debnath , Byun Yungcheol
Published: March 2023

Acreage estimates are crucial for forecasting menthol mint acreage, as crop output figures fluctuate from year to year in response to fluctuations in the market price of menthol mint oil. Thus, there are yearly fluctuations in the maximum price that farmers can obtain. Since low production arises from low rates, and high production results from high prices, these acreage estimate studies may be useful in lowering uncertainty regarding menthol mints’ output. The widespread adoption of remote sensing technologies for assessing crop acreage at both the national and international levels can be attributed to their low cost, ease of use, and flexibility. The extent of an area planted with menthol mint in the Vishakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, India, was estimated using Sentinel-2A satellite data for that year. After conducting a comprehensive ground survey, the area of the menthol mint crop was estimated using an adaptive maximum chance-type set of rules for taluk-level statistics. According to the research, the Bheemunipatnam taluk in the Vishakhapatnam district was the most productive in growing menthol mint. Using customer and manufacturer accuracies of 89.13% and 87.23%, along with the average accuracy (90.67%) and kappa rate (0.9), the total acreage of menthol mint crop in the study region was estimated to be around 58,000,284.70 ha (0.844). A further aim in this study was to estimate the acreage planted with early and late menthol mint. Around 26,123.50 ha and 29,911.40 ha were found to be home to early menthol mint and late menthol mint, respectively. This method shows promise for early- and late-stage crop acreage assessment of menthol mint using a localised degree of precision.