bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is Performance of Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed tomography (CT) or Contrast-enhanced CT Efficient Enough to Guide the Hilar Lymph Node Staging for Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
Authors: Chu Li , Liu Shuai , Guo Tiantian , Zou Liqing , Li Bin , Ni Jianjiao , Yang Xi , Chu Xiao , Liang Fei , Li Yida , Sun Yuyun , Li Qiao , Yin Fang , Li Guodong , Zhu Zhengfei
Published: February 2022

Introduction

We evaluated the diagnostic performance of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and contrast-enhanced CT in the detection of hilar lymph node metastasis (LNM) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to determine their value in guiding hilar lymph node staging and delineating radiation target volume.

Methods

Consecutive patients with ESCC who underwent both PET/CT and contrast-enhanced CT before radical lymphadenectomy and esophagectomy at our institution from September 2009 to November 2018 were enrolled. The sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of FDG-PET/CT and contrast-enhanced CT for diagnosing hilar LNM were calculated.

Results

Of the 174 patients included, contrast-enhanced CT predicted nine positive cases, while PET/CT predicted one, and eight (4.6%) were identified as pathologically positive for their resected hilar lymph nodes. The SE, SP, PPV, and NPV of PET/CT and contrast-enhanced CT were 0.000, 0.994, 0.000, and 0.954; and 0.125, 0.952, 0.111, and 0.958, respectively. The specificity showed a significant difference (P=0.037). PET/CT is slightly more specific than contrast-enhanced CT.

Conclusions

PET/CT and contrast-enhanced CT may be useful tools for predicting the negativity of hilar LN status, but they are not recommended for guiding the hilar lymph node staging and the delineating of hilar LNM in radiotherapy planning of ESCC patients based on their low PPV.
Cryptogenic Ischemic Stroke in Migraine: Role of Patent Foramen Ovale
Authors: Gollion Cédric , Lerebours Fleur , Barbieux-Guillot Marianne , Fabry Vincent , Larrue Vincent
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Migraine with aura (MWA) has been associated with cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS) after adjustment for the presence of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) assessed by a transcranial Doppler. This study aimed at evaluating the association of MWA with causal PFO assessed by Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in CIS.

Methods

Patients aged 18–54 years consecutively treated for first acute ischemic stroke in a university hospital stroke unit, between January 2017 and December 2019, were included in this cross-sectional study. Associations between migraine subtypes and PFO were tested for all PFO, possibly causal PFO (PFO with large shunt and/or atrial septal aneurysm [ASA]), and the probably causal PFO subset (large shunt and/or ASA, plus risk of paradoxical embolism [RoPE] score ≥ 7). We adjusted the association between migraine subtypes and possibly causal PFO, which included the probably causal subset for age, sex, large artery atherosclerosis, and small vessel disease.

Results

A total of two hundred and two patients with CIS were included, of whom 42/202 (20%) had MWA, 32/202 (15%) had migraine without aura, and 128/202 (63%) had no migraine. MWA was associated with possibly causal PFO (OR = 4.0, 95%CI [1.78–9.3], P < 0.001) and with probably causal PFO (OR = 5.4, 95%CI [2.37–13], P < 0.001). In a multinomial logistic regression analysis, MWA remained associated with possibly causal PFO (OR = 3.24, 95% CI [1.45–7.2], P = 0.004).

Conclusion

In a young adult population with CIS, MWA was strongly associated with possibly causal PFO, i.e., with a large shunt or combined with an interatrial septal aneurysm.
Non-Spinal Neuromodulation of the Lumbar Medial Branch Nerve for Chronic Axial Low Back Pain: A Narrative Review
Authors: Tieppo Francio Vinicius , Westerhaus Benjamin D. , Rupp Adam , Sayed Dawood
Published: February 2022

Chronic low back pain remains highly prevalent, costly, and the leading cause of disability worldwide. Symptoms are complex and treatment involves an interdisciplinary approach. Due to diverse anatomical etiologies, treatment outcomes with interventional options are highly variable. A novel approach to treating chronic axial low back pain entails the use of peripheral nerve stimulation to the lumbar medial branch nerve, and this review examines the clinical data of the two different, commercially available, non-spinal neuromodulation systems. This review provides the clinician a succinct narrative that presents up-to-date data objectively. Our review found ten clinical studies, including one report of two cases, six prospective studies, and three randomized clinical trials published to date. Currently, there are different proposed mechanisms of action to address chronic axial low back pain with different implantation techniques. Evidence suggests that peripheral nerve stimulation of the lumbar medial branch nerve may be effective in improving pain and function in patients with chronic axial low back pain symptoms at short and long term follow up, with good safety profiles. Further long-term data is needed to consider this intervention earlier in the pain treatment algorithm, but initial data are promising.
Case Report: Disseminated Mycobacterium intracellulare Infection With More Than 1-Year Follow-Up in a Young Boy With IFNGR1 Deficiency
Authors: Jia Jihang , Zhu Yu , Guo Qin , Wan Chaomin
Published: February 2022

All members of the genus Mycobacterium are collectively labeled as “non-tuberculous mycobacterium” (NTM), with the exception of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and M. leprae. Recently, the incidence of NTM infection and number of cases have been increasing, but their identification remains difficult in some countries. Usually, NTM infections and diseases are associated with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs), and their prognoses can be improved with a timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Here, we report a case of a 3-year-old boy with disseminated NTM disease (Mycobacterium intracellulare) and interferon-γ receptor 1 (IFNGR1) deficiency. He presented with skin and soft-tissue disease, disseminated osteomyelitis, and pulmonary disease. Initially, we suspected an infection due to the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine but later suspected Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Following oral treatment of azithromycin, rifampicin, and ethambutol, his condition improved progressively according to clinical and imaging manifestations. This case highlights the importance of early identification of the pathogen in a timely prescription of specific treatments in PIDs patients. We also discuss our experience of treatment of M. intracellulare disease in patients with IFNGR1 deficiency.
An Artificial Neural Network Model for Pediatric Mortality Prediction in Two Tertiary Pediatric Intensive Care Units in South Africa. A Development Study
Authors: Pienaar Michael A. , Sempa Joseph B. , Luwes Nicolaas , Solomon Lincoln J.
Published: February 2022

Objectives

The performance of mortality prediction models remain a challenge in lower- and middle-income countries. We developed an artificial neural network (ANN) model for the prediction of mortality in two tertiary pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in South Africa using free to download and use software and commercially available computers. These models were compared to a logistic regression model and a recalibrated version of the Pediatric Index of Mortality 3.

Design

This study used data from a retrospective cohort study to develop an artificial neural model and logistic regression model for mortality prediction. The outcome evaluated was death in PICU.

Setting

Two tertiary PICUs in South Africa.

Patients

2,089 patients up to the age of 13 completed years were included in the study.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and Main Results

The AUROC was higher for the ANN (0.89) than for the logistic regression model (LR) (0.87) and the recalibrated PIM3 model (0.86). The precision recall curve however favors the ANN over logistic regression and recalibrated PIM3 (AUPRC = 0.6 vs. 0.53 and 0.58, respectively. The slope of the calibration curve was 1.12 for the ANN model (intercept 0.01), 1.09 for the logistic regression model (intercept 0.05) and 1.02 (intercept 0.01) for the recalibrated version of PIM3. The calibration curve was however closer to the diagonal for the ANN model.

Conclusions

Artificial neural network models are a feasible method for mortality prediction in lower- and middle-income countries but significant challenges exist. There is a need to conduct research directed toward the acquisition of large, complex data sets, the integration of documented clinical care into clinical research and the promotion of the development of electronic health record systems in lower and middle income settings.
Trans-umbilical Single-Site Plus One Robotic Assisted Surgery for Choledochal Cyst in Children, a Comparing to Laparoscope-Assisted Procedure
Authors: Lin Shan , Chen Jianglong , Tang Kunbin , He Yufeng , Xu Xinru , Xu Di
Published: February 2022

Objective

We introduce the trans-umbilical single-site plus one robotic-assisted surgery for the treatment of pediatric choledochal cyst. Compare the intraoperative and postoperative outcomes between the new method and traditional laparoscopy-assisted procedure.

Method

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 51 children diagnosed with choledochal cysts and received surgery from June 2019 to December 2020 at our department. About 24 patients who underwent the robot-assisted procedure were selected as the R group, and 27 patients who underwent the laparoscope-assisted procedure were selected as the L group. We compare the intraoperative and postoperative outcomes between the two groups.

Result

No significant differences were found in demographic information between the two groups (P > 0.05). The median total operative time, median port/trocar installation time, and median wound suture time of the R group were a little longer than the L group (217.63 ± 5.90 vs. 199.37 ± 5.13 min; 30.71 ± 3.18 vs. 6.11 ± 1.15 min; 30.79 ± 1.82 vs. 20.40 ± 3.12 min, respectively; P < 0.001). However, the R group had shorter choledochal cyst excision time and mean hepaticojejunostomy anastomosis time than the L group (52.04 ± 2.74 vs. 59.26 ± 3.23 min; 52.42 ± 2.72 vs. 60.63 ± 3.30 min, respectively, P < 0.001). The mean extracorporeal Roux-y jejunojejunostomy time of two groups has no remarkable difference (P > 0.05). The R group also had less mean volume of blood loss (7.04 ± 1.16 vs. 29.04 ± 18.21 mL; P < 0.001). The R group had a shorter indwelling time of gastric tube, anal exhaust time, water feeding time, solids feeding time, and hospital stay time than the L group (P < 0.05). The R group had a lower early complication rate than the L group (4.2 vs. 29.63%; P = 0.026). No statistical differences were identified between the two groups in late or any single complication (0.00 vs. 11.11%; P > 0.05).

Conclusions

A resection of the choledochal cyst and a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy can be performed much more precisely by single-site plus one robotic-assisted surgery. Patients can achieve rapid recovery, and the umbilical incision is more concealed and beautiful. Combing the experience of single-site surgery with robot-assisted surgery, the operators can implement the technique in children safely and feasibly.
Endoscopic Treatment for Pediatric Esophageal Stenosis Induced by Chemical Burn, Congenitally, or After Surgical Repair of Esophageal Atresia
Authors: Zhou Bingyi , Peng Hailing , Han Liu , Liang Chengbai , Lv Liang , Wang Xuehong , Liu Deliang , Tan Yuyong
Published: February 2022

Objectives

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic treatment for congenital pediatric esophageal stenosis or pediatric stenosis that develops after a chemical burn or surgical repair of esophageal atresia.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 15 pediatric patients who underwent endoscopic treatments (dilation and/or stenting and/or incision) for congenital esophageal stenosis or esophageal stenosis that developed after a chemical burn or surgical repair of esophageal atresia, between January 2010 and January 2019. The patients were periodically followed-up to assess the safety and efficacy of treatment by comparing the diameter of stricture and dysphagia score before and after procedures, and complications or recurrence.

Results

All children successfully underwent the procedures. Fourteen of the 15 patients received endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) as the first step of treatment, but EBD alone only resolved the symptoms in two patients. The remaining patients received other comprehensive treatments, such as EBD with endoscopic incision (EI), EBD with stent replacement, or a combination of EBD, stent replacement, and EI. Eleven (11/15, 73.3%) patients experienced symptomatic relief after endoscopic treatment, and recurrence was noted in four patients on 3–36 months after the final endoscopic treatment. All four patients underwent esophageal surgery to relieve their symptoms. Until October 2021, all patients experienced symptom relief, and their dysphagia scores decreased from 3–4 to 0–1 during the follow-up period of 8–121 months. The average diameter of stenosis was increased from 0.34 cm (range 0.2–0.7 cm) to 1.03 cm (range 0.8–1.2 cm). No severe complications occurred during endoscopic treatment and follow-up.

Conclusions

Endoscopic treatment is safe and effective for pediatric esophageal stenosis that is congenital or induced by chemical burns or surgical repair of esophageal atresia. Comparative large-scale studies are required to confirm our findings.
Roxadustat (FG-4592) Facilitates Recovery From Renal Damage by Ameliorating Mitochondrial Dysfunction Induced by Folic Acid
Authors: Li Xue , Jiang Bo , Zou Yu , Zhang Jie , Fu Yuan-Yuan , Zhai Xiao-Yue
Published: February 2022

Incomplete recovery from acute kidney injury induced by folic acid is a major risk factor for progression to chronic kidney disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been considered a crucial contributor to maladaptive repair in acute kidney injury. Treatment with FG-4592, an inhibitor of hypoxia inducible factor prolyl-hydroxylase, is emerging as a new approach to attenuate renal damage; however, the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. The current research demonstrated the protective effect of FG-4592 against renal dysfunction and histopathological damage on the 7th day after FA administration. FG-4592 accelerated tubular repair by promoting tubular cell regeneration, as indicated by increased proliferation of cell nuclear antigen-positive tubular cells, and facilitated structural integrity, as reflected by up-regulation of the epithelial inter-cellular tight junction molecule occludin-1 and the adherens junction molecule E-cadherin. Furthermore, FG-4592 ameliorated tubular functional recovery by restoring the function-related proteins aquaporin1, aquaporin2, and sodium chloride cotransporter. Specifically, FG-4592 pretreatment inhibited hypoxia inducible factor-1α activation on the 7th day after folic acid injection, which ameliorated ultrastructural abnormalities, promoted ATP production, and attenuated excessive reactive oxygen species production both in renal tissue and mitochondria. This was mainly mediated by balancing of mitochondrial dynamics, as indicated by down-regulation of mitochondrial fission 1 and dynamin-related protein 1 as well as up-regulation of mitofusin 1 and optic atrophy 1. Moreover, FG-4592 pretreatment attenuated renal tubular epithelial cell death, kidney inflammation, and subsequent interstitial fibrosis. In vitro, TNF-α-induced HK-2 cells injury could be ameliorated by FG-4592 pretreatment. In summary, our findings support the protective effect of FG-4592 against folic acid-induced mitochondrial dysfunction; therefore, FG-4592 treatment can be used as a useful strategy to facilitate tubular repair and mitigate acute kidney injury progression.
Regulation of Lipid Metabolism by Lamin in Mutation-Related Diseases
Authors: Peng Yue , Tang Qianyu , Xiao Fan , Fu Nian
Published: February 2022

Nuclear lamins, known as type 5 intermediate fibers, are composed of lamin A, lamin C, lamin B1, and lamin B2, which are encoded by LMNA and LMNB genes, respectively. Importantly, mutations in nuclear lamins not only participate in lipid disorders but also in the human diseases, such as lipodystrophy, metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, and dilated cardiomyopathy. Among those diseases, the mechanism of lamin has been widely discussed. Thereby, this review mainly focuses on the regulatory mechanism of the mutations in the lamin gene in lipid alterations and the human diseases. Considering the protean actions, targeting nuclear lamins may be a potent therapeutic avenue for lipid metabolic disorders and human diseases in the future.
Nano-Resveratrol: A Promising Candidate for the Treatment of Renal Toxicity Induced by Doxorubicin in Rats Through Modulation of Beclin-1 and mTOR
Authors: Alhusaini Ahlam M. , Fadda Laila M. , Alanazi Abeer M. , Sarawi Wedad S. , Alomar Hatun A. , Ali Hanaa M. , Hasan Iman H. , Ali Rehab Ahmed
Published: February 2022

Background: Although doxorubicin (DXR) is one of the most used anticancer drugs, it can cause life-threatening renal damage. There has been no effective treatment for DXR-induced renal damage until now.

Aim: This work aims at examining the potential impact of nano-resveratrol (N-Resv), native resveratrol (Resv), and their combination with carvedilol (Card) against DXR-induced renal toxicity in rats and to investigate the mechanisms through which these antioxidants act to ameliorate DXR nephrotoxicity. Method: DXR was administered to rats (2 mg/kg, i.p.) twice weekly over 5 weeks. The antioxidants in question were taken 1 week before the DXR dose for 6 weeks.

Results: DXR exhibited an elevation in serum urea, creatinine, renal lipid peroxide levels, endoglin expression, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), and beclin-1. On the other hand, renal podocin and mTOR expression and GSH levels were declined. In addition, DNA fragmentation was markedly increased in the DXR-administered group. Treatment with either Resv or N-Resv alone or in combination with Card ameliorated the previously measured parameters.

Conclusion: N-Resv showed superior effectiveness relative to Resv in most of the measured parameters. Histopathological examination revealed amelioration of renal structural and cellular changes after DXR by Card and N-Resv, thus validating the previous biochemical and molecular results.
Ginger Constituent 6-Shogaol Inhibits Inflammation- and Angiogenesis-Related Cell Functions in Primary Human Endothelial Cells
Authors: Bischoff-Kont Iris , Primke Tobias , Niebergall Lea S. , Zech Thomas , Fürst Robert
Published: February 2022

Rhizomes from Zingiber officinale Roscoe are traditionally used for the treatment of a plethora of pathophysiological conditions such as diarrhea, nausea, or rheumatoid arthritis. While 6-gingerol is the pungent principle in fresh ginger, in dried rhizomes, 6-gingerol is dehydrated to 6-shogaol. 6-Shogaol has been demonstrated to exhibit anticancer, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory actions more effectively than 6-gingerol due to the presence of an electrophilic Michael acceptor moiety. In vitro, 6-shogaol exhibits anti-inflammatory actions in a variety of cell types, including leukocytes. Our study focused on the effects of 6-shogaol on activated endothelial cells. We found that 6-shogaol significantly reduced the adhesion of leukocytes onto lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), resulting in a significantly reduced transmigration of THP-1 cells through an endothelial cell monolayer. Analyzing the mediators of endothelial cell–leukocyte interactions, we found that 30 µM of 6-shogaol blocked the LPS-triggered mRNA and protein expression of cell adhesion molecules. In concert with this, our study demonstrates that the LPS-induced nuclear factor κB (NFκB) promoter activity was significantly reduced upon treatment with 6-shogaol. Interestingly, the nuclear translocation of p65 was slightly decreased, and protein levels of the LPS receptor Toll-like receptor 4 remained unimpaired. Analyzing the impact of 6-shogaol on angiogenesis-related cell functions in vitro, we found that 6-shogaol attenuated the proliferation as well as the directed and undirected migration of HUVECs. Of note, 6-shogaol also strongly reduced the chemotactic migration of endothelial cells in the direction of a serum gradient. Moreover, 30 µM of 6-shogaol blocked the formation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced endothelial sprouts from HUVEC spheroids and from murine aortic rings. Importantly, this study shows for the first time that 6-shogaol exhibits a vascular-disruptive impact on angiogenic sprouts from murine aortae. Our study demonstrates that the main bioactive ingredient in dried ginger, 6-shogaol, exhibits beneficial characteristics as an inhibitor of inflammation- and angiogenesis-related processes in vascular endothelial cells.
Compact Computational Holographic Display
Authors: Chen Ni , Wang Congli , Heidrich Wolfgang
Published: February 2022

Holographic display is an ultimate three-dimensional (3D) display technique that can produce the wavefront of 3D objects. The dynamic holographic display usually requires a spatial light modulator (SLM) with a following 4f system to eliminate the unnecessary orders produced by the grating structure of the SLM. We present a technique that displays the images without the 4f system. We detect the unnecessary wavefield by phase-shifting holography and suppress it using computational optimization. Experimental results are presented to verify the proposed method.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Steinernema Nematodes Highlights Metabolic Costs Associated to Xenorhabdus Endosymbiont Association and Rearing Conditions
Authors: Lefoulon Emilie , McMullen John G. , Stock S. Patricia
Published: February 2022

Entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Steinernema have a mutualistic relationship with bacteria of the genus Xenorhabdus and together they form an antagonist partnership against their insect hosts. The nematodes (third-stage infective juveniles, or IJs) protect the bacteria from the external environmental stressors and vector them from one insect host to another. Xenorhabdus produce secondary metabolites and antimicrobial compounds inside the insect that protect the cadaver from soil saprobes and scavengers. The bacteria also become the nematodes’ food, allowing them to grow and reproduce. Despite these benefits, it is yet unclear what the potential metabolic costs for Steinernema IJs are relative to the maintenance and vectoring of Xenorhabdus. In this study, we performed a comparative dual RNA-seq analysis of IJs of two nematode-bacteria partnerships: Steinernema carpocapsae-Xenorhabdus nematophila and Steinernema. puntauvense-Xenorhbdus bovienii. For each association, three conditions were studied: (1) IJs reared in the insect (in vivo colonized), (2) colonized IJs reared on liver-kidney agar (in vitro colonized), and (3) IJs depleted by the bacteria reared on liver-kidney agar (in vitro aposymbiotic). Our study revealed the downregulation of numerous genes involved in metabolism pathways, such as carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolism when IJs were reared in vitro, both colonized and without the symbiont. This downregulation appears to impact the longevity pathway, with the involvement of glycogen and trehalose metabolism, as well as arginine metabolism. Additionally, a differential expression of the venom protein known to be secreted by the nematodes was observed when both Steinernema species were depleted of their symbiotic partners. These results suggest Steinernema IJs may have a mechanism to adapt their virulence in absence of their symbionts.
Intrinsic Photosensitivity of the Vulnerable Seagrass Phyllospadix iwatensis: Photosystem II Oxygen-Evolving Complex Is Prone to Photoinactivation
Authors: Wang Mengxin , Zhao Wei , Ma Mingyu , Zhang Di , Wen Yun , Zhong Mingyu , Luo Chengying , Hu Zimin , Zhang Quansheng
Published: February 2022

Phyllospadix iwatensis, a foundation species of the angiosperm-dominated marine blue carbon ecosystems, has been recognized to be a vulnerable seagrass. Its degradation has previously been reported to be associated with environmental changes and human activities, while there has been a limited number of studies on its inherent characteristics. In this study, both the physiological and molecular biological data indicated that the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of P. iwatensis is prone to photoinactivation, which exhibits the light-dependent trait. When exposed to laboratory light intensities similar to typical midday conditions, <10% of the OEC was photoinactivated, and the remaining active OEC was sufficient to maintain normal photosynthetic activity. Moreover, the photoinactivated OEC could fully recover within the same day. However, under harsh light conditions, e.g., light intensities that simulate cloudless sunny neap tide days and continual sunny days, the OEC suffered irreversible photoinactivation, which subsequently resulted in damage to the photosystem II reaction centers and a reduction in the rate of O2 evolution. Furthermore, in situ measurements on a cloudless sunny neap tide day revealed both poor resilience and irreversible photoinactivation of the OEC. Based on these findings, we postulated that the OEC dysfunction induced by ambient harsh light conditions could be an important inherent reason for the degradation of P. iwatensis.
Genome Analysis of the Broad Host Range Necrotroph Nalanthamala psidii Highlights Genes Associated With Virulence
Authors: Severn-Ellis Anita A. , Schoeman Maritha H. , Bayer Philipp E. , Hane James K. , Rees D. Jasper G. , Edwards David , Batley Jacqueline
Published: February 2022

Guava wilt disease is caused by the fungus Nalanthamala psidii. The wilt disease results in large-scale destruction of orchards in South Africa, Taiwan, and several Southeast Asian countries. De novo assembly, annotation, and in-depth analysis of the N. psidii genome were carried out to facilitate the identification of characteristics associated with pathogenicity and pathogen evolution. The predicted secretome revealed a range of CAZymes, proteases, lipases and peroxidases associated with plant cell wall degradation, nutrient acquisition, and disease development. Further analysis of the N. psidii carbohydrate-active enzyme profile exposed the broad-spectrum necrotrophic lifestyle of the pathogen, which was corroborated by the identification of putative effectors and secondary metabolites with the potential to induce tissue necrosis and cell surface-dependent immune responses. Putative regulatory proteins including transcription factors and kinases were identified in addition to transporters potentially involved in the secretion of secondary metabolites. Transporters identified included important ABC and MFS transporters involved in the efflux of fungicides. Analysis of the repetitive landscape and the detection of mechanisms linked to reproduction such as het and mating genes rendered insights into the biological complexity and evolutionary potential of N. psidii as guava pathogen. Hence, the assembly and annotation of the N. psidii genome provided a valuable platform to explore the pathogenic potential and necrotrophic lifestyle of the guava wilt pathogen.
Diurnal and Seasonal Variations of Photosynthetic Energy Conversion Efficiency of Field Grown Wheat
Authors: Song Qingfeng , Van Rie Jeroen , Den Boer Bart , Galle Alexander , Zhao Honglong , Chang Tiangen , He Zhonghu , Zhu Xin-Guang
Published: February 2022

Improving canopy photosynthetic light use efficiency and energy conversion efficiency (εc) is a major option to increase crop yield potential. However, so far, the diurnal and seasonal variations of canopy light use efficiency (LUE) and εc are largely unknown due to the lack of an efficient method to estimate εc in a high temporal resolution. Here we quantified the dynamic changes of crop canopy LUE and εc during a day and a growing season with the canopy gas exchange method. A response curve of whole-plant carbon dioxide (CO2) flux to incident photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was further used to calculate εc and LUE at a high temporal resolution. Results show that the LUE of two wheat cultivars with different canopy architectures at five stages varies between 0.01 to about 0.05 mol CO2 mol–1 photon, with the LUE being higher under medium PAR. Throughout the growing season, the εc varies from 0.5 to 3.7% (11–80% of the maximal εc for C3 plants) with incident PAR identified as a major factor controlling variation of εc. The estimated average εc from tillering to grain filling stages was about 2.17%, i.e., 47.2% of the theoretical maximal. The estimated season-averaged radiation use efficiency (RUE) was 1.5–1.7 g MJ–1, which was similar to the estimated RUE based on biomass harvesting. The large variations of LUE and εc imply a great opportunity to improve canopy photosynthesis for greater wheat biomass and yield potential.
Ancient Artworks and Crocus Genetics Both Support Saffron’s Origin in Early Greece
Authors: Kazemi-Shahandashti Seyyedeh-Sanam , Mann Ludwig , El-nagish Abdullah , Harpke Dörte , Nemati Zahra , Usadel Björn , Heitkam Tony
Published: February 2022

Saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) is a male-sterile, triploid flower crop, and source of the spice and colorant saffron. For over three millennia, it was cultivated across the Mediterranean, including ancient Greece, Persia, and other cultures, later spreading all over the world. Despite saffron crocus’ early omnipresence, its origin has been the matter of a century-old debate, in terms of area and time as well as parental species contribution. While remnants of the ancient arts, crafts, and texts still provide hints on its origin, modern genetics has the potential to efficiently follow these leads, thus shedding light on new possible lines of descent. In this review, we follow ancient arts and recent genetics to trace the evolutionary origin of saffron crocus. We focus on the place and time of saffron domestication and cultivation, and address its presumed autopolyploid origin involving cytotypes of wild Crocus cartwrightianus. Both ancient arts from Greece, Iran, and Mesopotamia as well as recent cytogenetic and comparative next-generation sequencing approaches point to saffron’s emergence and domestication in ancient Greece, showing how both disciplines converge in tracing its origin.
Development and Validation of Chinese University Students’ Physical Activity Motivation Scale Under the Constraint of Physical Education Policies
Authors: Lin Bo , Teo Eng Wah , Yan Tingting
Published: February 2022

The accurate measurement of university students’ motivation to participate in physical activity (PA) is a prerequisite to developing better physical fitness programs. However, motivation driven by government policies, i.e., physical education policies, are often excluded from many existing scales. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a psychometric instrument based on self-determination theory that exclusively measures the motivation of Chinese university students to participate in PA. A total of 1,215 university students who regularly participated in PA at five universities in China constituted the final valid sample. Sample 1 (n = 311) was used to determine the underlying factor structure of the initial Chinese University Students’ Physical Activity Motivation Scale (CUSPAMS) through exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Sample 2 (n = 330) was used to test the model fit of the EFA-derived factor structure and data through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and to test the internal consistency of each factor and of the whole scale. Sample 3 (n = 574) was used to confirm the model stability and criterion validity. Finally, 177 individuals were randomly selected from Sample 3 to perform test–retest reliability. Preliminary evidence showed that the nine-factor CUSPAMS, consisting of 32 items, yielded good psychometric characteristics. The development of the CUSPAMS provides an opportunity to improve current theories and practices regarding the assessment of PA motivation. The CUSPAMS is recommended for examining factors that influence motives as well as the impact of motives on PA among Chinese university students.
A Model of Perceived Co-creation Value in Tourism Service Setting: An Application of Structure Equation Modeling
Authors: Tao Kefang , Ye Jiangeng , Xiao Hanjie , Chen Poju
Published: February 2022

This study explores how the perceived co-creation values (PCVs) from tourists’ perspectives are applied in the customized tour arrangement service setting. The sequential qualitative and quantitative methods are adopted for this study. The initial qualitative method in terms of the proactive semi-structured interview is conducted to identify and explore the dimension of the PCV construct and to develop its measurement scale. The quantitative method by the structure equation model is employed for the proposed conceptual model fitness assessment and consolidation. Our work contributes to the progression of value co-creation research in a customized tourism context and provides a valid and reliable PCV instrument to tourism practitioners for a better service platform designing. The mediating role of customer satisfaction (CS) between PCV and customer loyalty (CL) offers service providers a deeper understanding of customer psychology and behavior, and thus, the loyal customer cultivation strategy.
Prioritizing Positivity, Styles of Rumination, Coping Strategies, and Posttraumatic Growth: Examining Their Patterns and Correlations in a Prospective Study
Authors: Zięba Mariusz , Wiecheć Katarzyna , Wójcik Natalia E. , Zięba Michał J.
Published: February 2022

Objectives

A growing number of studies indicate that coping with the experience of a crisis event, which causes a breach in the individual’s fundamental beliefs regarding the world and his/her place in it, can result in posttraumatic growth. Positive emotions can have an undoing effect on negative emotional arousal and broaden an individual’s scope of action, and they can foster posttraumatic growth. This study aimed to examine relations between prioritizing positivity, styles of rumination, coping strategies, and posttraumatic growth.

Methods

One hundred and sixty-four Polish adults took part in the study, filling out questionnaires to measure prioritizing positivity, hope, and self-efficacy. Twelve to fifteen months later, 104 of them accepted the invitation to the second part of the study. The participants reported the intensity of rumination associated with the most critical event in their lives, which took place between the first and second stages of the study and the coping strategies they used. Posttraumatic growth and life satisfaction were also measured.

Results

Results from hierarchical regressions found that higher levels of prioritizing positivity, deliberate ruminations, and religious coping and lower level of intrusive ruminations were associated with posttraumatic growth. The results also indicate that self-esteem was a significant predictor of life satisfaction.

Conclusions

The results of the prospective study confirm that individual differences in prioritizing positivity can relate to a process of posttraumatic growth. Prioritizing positivity was associated with the use of an active coping strategy and deliberate but not intrusive ruminations. Previous studies on the role of prioritizing positivity have focused on the impact on the level of wellbeing of seeking positive emotions in everyday life. Our results show the importance of prioritizing positivity in coping with stress and trauma. These results can be used to design effective psychological intervention techniques to support people experiencing trauma and psychological crises. The results also indicate that life satisfaction has different predictors from posttraumatic growth.
Rethinking Autism Intervention Science: A Dynamic Perspective
Authors: Chen Yun-Ju , Duku Eric , Georgiades Stelios
Published: February 2022

Recent advances in longitudinal methodologies for observational studies have contributed to a better understanding of Autism as a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by within-person and between-person variability over time across behavioral domains. However, this finer-grained approach to the study of developmental variability has yet to be applied to Autism intervention science. The widely adopted experimental designs in the field—randomized control trials and quasi-experimental designs—hold value for inferring treatment effects; at the same time, they are limited in elucidating what works for whom, why, and when, given the idiosyncrasies of neurodevelopmental disorders where predictors and outcomes are often dynamic in nature. This perspective paper aims to serve as a primer for Autism intervention scientists to rethink the way we approach predictors of treatment response and treatment-related change using a dynamic lens. We discuss several empirical gaps, and potential methodological challenges and opportunities pertaining to: (1) capturing finer-grained treatment effects in specific behavioral domains as indexed by micro-level within-person changes during and beyond intervention; and (2) examining and modeling dynamic prediction of treatment response. Addressing these issues can contribute to enhanced study designs and methodologies that generate evidence to inform the development of more personalized interventions and stepped care approaches for individuals on the heterogeneous spectrum of Autism with changing needs across development.
N-Acetylcysteine Mitigates Social Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Autism Normalizing Glutathione Imbalance and the Altered Expression of Genes Related to Synaptic Function in Specific Brain Areas
Authors: Schiavi Sara , La Rosa Piergiorgio , Petrillo Sara , Carbone Emilia , D'Amico Jessica , Piemonte Fiorella , Trezza Viviana
Published: February 2022

Prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) is a risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in humans and it induces autistic-like behaviors in rodents. Imbalances between GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission and increased oxidative stress together with altered glutathione (GSH) metabolism have been hypothesized to play a role in both VPA-induced embriotoxicity and in human ASD. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant precursor of glutathione and a modulator of glutamatergic neurotransmission that has been tested in ASD, although the clinical studies currently available provided controversial results. Here, we explored the effects of repeated NAC (150 mg/kg) administration on core autistic-like features and altered brain GSH metabolism in the VPA (500 mg/kg) rat model of ASD. Furthermore, we measured the mRNA expression of genes encoding for scaffolding and transcription regulation proteins, as well as the subunits of NMDA and AMPA receptors and metabotropic glutamate receptors mGLUR1 and mGLUR5 in brain areas that are relevant to ASD. NAC administration ameliorated the social deficit displayed by VPA-exposed rats in the three-chamber test, but not their stereotypic behavior in the hole board test. Furthermore, NAC normalized the altered GSH levels displayed by these animals in the hippocampus and nucleus accumbens, and it partially rescued the altered expression of post-synaptic terminal network genes found in VPA-exposed rats, such as NR2a, MGLUR5, GLUR1, and GLUR2 in nucleus accumbens, and CAMK2, NR1, and GLUR2 in cerebellum. These data indicate that NAC treatment selectively mitigates the social dysfunction displayed by VPA-exposed rats normalizing GSH imbalance and reestablishing the expression of genes related to synaptic function in a brain region-specific manner. Taken together, these data contribute to clarify the behavioral impact of NAC in ASD and the molecular mechanisms that underlie its effects.
Classification Schemes of COVID-19 High Risk Areas and Resulting Policies: A Rapid Review
Authors: Uthman Olalekan A. , Adetokunboh Olatunji O. , Wiysonge Charles Shey , Al-Awlaqi Sameh , Hanefeld Johanna , El Bcheraoui Charbel
Published: February 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a significant global health threat since January 2020. Policies to reduce human mobility have been recognized to effectively control the spread of COVID-19; although the relationship between mobility, policy implementation, and virus spread remains contentious, with no clear pattern for how countries classify each other, and determine the destinations to- and from which to restrict travel. In this rapid review, we identified country classification schemes for high-risk COVID-19 areas and associated policies which mirrored the dynamic situation in 2020, with the aim of identifying any patterns that could indicate the effectiveness of such policies. We searched academic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, medRxiv, Google Scholar, and EMBASE. We also consulted web pages of the relevant government institutions in all countries. This rapid review's searches were conducted between October 2020 and December 2021. Web scraping of policy documents yielded additional 43 country reports on high-risk area classification schemes. In 43 countries from which relevant reports were identified, six issued domestic classification schemes. International classification schemes were issued by the remaining 38 countries, and these mainly used case incidence per 100,000 inhabitants as key indicator. The case incidence cut-off also varied across the countries, ranging from 20 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the past 7 days to more than 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the past 28 days. The criteria used for defining high-risk areas varied across countries, including case count, positivity rate, composite risk scores, community transmission and satisfactory laboratory testing. Countries either used case incidence in the past 7, 14 or 28 days. The resulting policies included restrictions on internal movement and international travel. The quarantine policies can be summarized into three categories: (1) 14 days self-isolation, (2) 10 days self-isolation and (3) 14 days compulsory isolation.
Developing a Paradigm Model for Resilience of Rural Entrepreneurial Businesses in Dealing With the COVID-19 Crisis; Application of Grounded Theory in Western of Iran
Authors: Mohammadifar Yousef , Naderi Nader , Khosravi Ehsan , Karamian Faranak
Published: February 2022

Pandemic the COVID-19 is a global threat to rural entrepreneurial businesses with an uncertain ending. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a paradigm model to reduce the negative effects of this crisis, increase the resilience of rural entrepreneurial businesses or even turn this threat into an opportunity for the development of rural entrepreneurial businesses in the long run. This study, using a qualitative approach, investigated the resilience of rural entrepreneurial businesses in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis in Kermanshah province using a paradigm model. Using purposeful and theoretical sampling, 26 cases were selected. The tools used for data collection were open questionnaires (unstructured), individual depth interviews, and taking notes. The results provide a relatively comprehensive model that consists of six basic parts: causal conditions (included economic management, health factors, human resources management, and adaptation factors), the phenomenon (included low resilience of rural entrepreneurial businesses in the face of the COVID-19 crisis), contextual conditions (including social factors; cultural factors and psychological factors), interventing conditions (included business management and legal supports), action strategies (included Planned resilient actions and Unplanned resilient actions), finally, the consequences (included adapting to crisis conditions and increasing resilience in the long run, and also lack of adaptation to crisis conditions and lack of continuity of business survival in the long run). In general, rural entrepreneurial businesses in the face of crisis must, through planned resilience measures, both increase their business resilience in the short term, as well as develop the business and gain a competitive advantage in the long run. Finally, based on the findings and in order to developing resilience in rural entrepreneurial businesses during the COVID-19 crisis, some recommendations were presented.
Smart Management of Malnutrition Using Local Foods: A Sustainable Initiative for Developing Countries
Authors: Amadou Issoufou , Lawali Sitou
Published: February 2022

Malnutrition is one of the major challenges the developing world is currently facing, whether it is caused by climate change, terrorism and conflict, or demographic shifts. Poverty is the main cause of malnutrition in this part of the world, and no progress is possible without the alleviation of poverty to reduce malnutrition. Reducing household vulnerability and increasing household resilience is the pathway to sustainable malnutrition management. Malnutrition has been a major threat to the health and development of children in developing countries, presenting as high levels of micronutrient deficiencies, stunting, and global acute malnutrition. The rates of malnutrition of all forms are above the thresholds accepted by the WHO in some regions. To this end, the resilience program on achieving nutrition in a developing country through at-home learning activities for nutritional rehabilitation and dietary promotion (known as FARN) reported, in this case, successful results from both statements from beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries on the reduction and management of malnutrition in their health centers. FARN activity encourages the consumption of locally available foods not only to eradicate malnutrition but also to protect the ecosystem and sustainable nutrition security. This is much like the saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” to the vulnerable people; parents' knowledge of their child's nutritional status and the use of local-based foods diets showed improvement, which is proof of the impact of the resilience program. It can be concluded that the resilience program through its activities at the level of the selected community significantly affected the factors and degree of persistence of malnutrition and the level of resilience of the populations. Thus, the FARN program showed resounding success in its ability to promote sustainable malnutrition management.