bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Superconductor Meissner Effects for Gravito-Electromagnetic Fields in Harmonic Coordinates Due to Non-Relativistic Gravitational Sources
Authors: Inan Nader A.
Published: November 2022

There is much discrepancy in the literature concerning the possibility of a superconductor expelling gravito-electromagnetic fields just as it expels electromagnetic fields in the Meissner effect. Contradicting results are found in at least 18 papers written collectively by more than 20 authors and published over the course of more than 55 years (from 1966 to the present year of 2022). The primary purpose of this paper is to carefully explain the reason for the discrepancies, and provide a single conclusive treatment which may bring coherence to the subject. The analysis begins with a covariant Lagrangian for spinless charged particles (Cooper pairs) in the presence of electromagnetic fields in curved space-time. It is known that such a Lagrangian can lead to a vanishing Hamiltonian. Alternatively, it is shown that using a “space + time” Lagrangian leads to an associated Hamiltonian with a canonical momentum and minimal coupling rule. Discrepancies between Hamiltonians obtained by various authors are resolved. The canonical momentum leads to a modified form of the London equations and London gauge that includes the effects of gravity. A key result is that the gravito-magnetic field is expelled from a superconductor with a penetration depth on the order of the London penetration depth only when an appropriate magnetic field is also present. The gravitational flux quantum (fluxoid) in the body of a superconductor, and the quantized supercurrent in a superconducting ring, are also derived. Lastly, the case of a superconducting ring in the presence of a charged rotating mass cylinder is used as an example of applying the formalism developed.
Developmental exposure to sertraline impaired zebrafish behavioral and neurochemical profiles
Authors: Faria Melissa , Bellot Marina , Soto Oscar , Prats Eva , Montemurro Nicola , Manjarrés Diana , Gómez-Canela Cristian , Raldúa Demetrio
Published: November 2022

The number of people suffering from mental health problems is rising, with anxiety and depression now the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric conditions. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are one of the most prescribed pharmaceuticals to treat these conditions, which has led to their common detection in many aquatic ecosystems. As the monoaminergic system shows a high degree of structural conservation across diverse animal phyla, a reasonable assumption is that the environmental levels of SSRIs in surface water can lead to adverse effects on fish and other aquatic wildlife. For instance, Sertraline (SER), a widely prescribed SSRI, has been shown to induce adverse effects in fish, albeit most of the reports used exposure concentrations exceeding those occurring in natural environments. Therefore, there is still a great lack of knowledge regarding SERs effects in fish species, especially during early life stages. This study describes the evaluation of developmental exposure of zebrafish (Danio rerio) to environmentally relevant concentrations of SER (from 0.01 to 10 μg/L), using a battery of key survival behaviors and further relating them with the expression of genes and neurochemical profiles of the monoaminergic system. We found that developmental exposure to SER did not affect embryo morphogenesis and growth. However, concentrations as low as 0.1 μg/L induced hypolocomotion and delayed learning. The observed behavioral impairment was associated with augmented serotonin levels rather than other neurochemicals and molecular markers, highlighting the relationship between serotonin signaling and behavior in zebrafish.
Chronic sleep loss disrupts rhythmic gene expression in Drosophila
Authors: Wang Zikun , Lincoln Samantha , Nguyen Andrew D. , Li Wanhe , Young Michael W.
Published: November 2022

Genome-wide profiling of rhythmic gene expression has offered new avenues for studying the contribution of circadian clock to diverse biological processes. Sleep has been considered one of the most important physiological processes that are regulated by the circadian clock, however, the effects of chronic sleep loss on rhythmic gene expression remain poorly understood. In the present study, we exploited Drosophila sleep mutants insomniac1 (inc1) and wide awakeD2 (wakeD2) as models for chronic sleep loss. We profiled the transcriptomes of head tissues collected from 4-week-old wild type flies, inc1 and wakeD2 at timepoints around the clock. Analysis of gene oscillation revealed a substantial loss of rhythmicity in inc1 and wakeD2 compared to wild type flies, with most of the affected genes common to both mutants. The disruption of gene oscillation was not due to changes in average gene expression levels. We also identified a subset of genes whose loss of rhythmicity was shared among animals with chronic sleep loss and old flies, suggesting a contribution of aging to chronic, sleep-loss-induced disruption of gene oscillation.
The calcium-sensing receptor in inflammation: Recent updates
Authors: Iamartino Luca , Brandi Maria Luisa
Published: November 2022

The Calcium-Sensing Receptor (CaSR) is a member of the class C of G-proteins coupled receptors (GPCRs), it plays a pivotal role in calcium homeostasis by directly controlling calcium excretion in the kidneys and indirectly by regulating parathyroid hormone (PTH) release from the parathyroid glands. The CaSR is found to be ubiquitously expressed in the body, playing a plethora of additional functions spanning from fluid secretion, insulin release, neuronal development, vessel tone to cell proliferation and apoptosis, to name but a few. The present review aims to elucidate and clarify the emerging regulatory effects that the CaSR plays in inflammation in several tissues, where it mostly promotes pro-inflammatory responses, with the exception of the large intestine, where contradictory roles have been recently reported. The CaSR has been found to be expressed even in immune cells, where it stimulates immune response and chemokinesis. On the other hand, CaSR expression seems to be boosted under inflammatory stimulus, in particular, by pro-inflammatory cytokines. Because of this, the CaSR has been addressed as a key factor responsible for hypocalcemia and low levels of PTH that are commonly found in critically ill patients under sepsis or after burn injury. Moreover, the CaSR has been found to be implicated in autoimmune-hypoparathyroidism, recently found also in patients treated with immune-checkpoint inhibitors. Given the tight bound between the CaSR, calcium and vitamin D metabolism, we also speculate about their roles in the pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-19 (SARS-COVID-19) infection and their impact on patients’ prognosis. We will further explore the therapeutic potential of pharmacological targeting of the CaSR for the treatment and management of aberrant inflammatory responses.
Functional characterization of the sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) ammonium transporter AMT2;1 suggests a role in ammonium root-to-shoot translocation
Authors: Koltun Alessandra , Maniero Rodolfo A. , Vitti Marielle , de Setta Nathalia , Giehl Ricardo F. H. , Lima Joni E. , Figueira Antonio
Published: November 2022

AMMONIUM TRANSPORTER/METHYLAMMONIUM PERMEASE/RHESUS (AMT) family members transport ammonium across membranes in all life domains. Plant AMTs can be categorized into AMT1 and AMT2 subfamilies. Functional studies of AMTs, particularly AMT1-type, have been conducted using model plants but little is known about the function of AMTs from crops. Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a major bioenergy crop that requires heavy nitrogen fertilization but depends on a low carbon-footprint for competitive sustainability. Here, we identified and functionally characterized sugarcane ScAMT2;1 by complementing ammonium uptake-defective mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Arabidopsis thaliana. Reporter gene driven by the ScAMT2;1 promoter in A. thaliana revealed preferential expression in the shoot vasculature and root endodermis/pericycle according to nitrogen availability and source. Arabidopsis quadruple mutant plants expressing ScAMT2;1 driven by the CaMV35S promoter or by a sugarcane endogenous promoter produced significantly more biomass than mutant plants when grown in NH4+ and showed more 15N-ammonium uptake by roots and nitrogen translocation to shoots. In A. thaliana, ScAMT2;1 displayed a Km of 90.17 µM and Vmax of 338.99 µmoles h-1 g-1 root DW. Altogether, our results suggest that ScAMT2;1 is a functional high-affinity ammonium transporter that might contribute to ammonium uptake and presumably to root-to-shoot translocation under high NH4+ conditions.
Calcium peroxide alleviates the waterlogging stress of rapeseed by improving root growth status in a rice-rape rotation field
Authors: Wang Zhiyuan , Han Yongliang , Luo Shang , Rong Xiangmin , Song Haixing , Jiang Na , Li Changwei , Yang Lan
Published: November 2022

Waterlogging stress has a negative influence on agricultural production, particularly for rapeseed yield in a rice-rape rotation field. To alleviate the profound impacts of waterlogging stress on rapeseed production, a new fertilization with calcium peroxide (CaO2) was proposed. In this field experiment, with the conventional rape (Brassica napus L.) variety fengyou958 (FY958) and early maturing rape variety xiangyou420 (XY420) as materials, waterlogging was imposed from the bud to flowering stage, and three supplies of CaO2 (0, C1 for the 594 kg hm-2 and C2 for the 864 kg hm-2) were added as basal fertilizer. The results showed that CaO2 significantly reduced the accumulation of fermentation products in roots and alleviated the peroxidation of leaves. The reduced waterlogging stress promoted the root vigor and agronomic characters, such as branches, plant height and stem diameter, accelerated dry matter and nutrients accumulation, and resulting in 22.7% (C1) to 232.8% (C2) higher grain yields in XY420, and 112.4% (C1) to 291.8% (C2) higher grain yields in FY958, respectively. In conclusion, 594 kg hm-2 to 864 kg hm-2 CaO2 application restored the growth of waterlogged rapeseed leaves, and reduced the anaerobic intensity of root, which enhanced the resistance of plants to waterlogging, and improved crop productivity. In a certain range, the higher CaO2 application, the more the yield. This study provides a valid method to prevent damage from flooding in crop fields.
Compared analysis with a high-quality genome of weedy rice reveals the evolutionary game of de-domestication
Authors: Ma Jie , Wei Hua , Yu Xiaoman , Lv Yang , Zhang Yu , Qian Qian , Shang Lianguang , Guo Longbiao
Published: November 2022

The weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) harbors large numbers of excellent traits and genetic diversities, which serves as a valuable germplasm resource and has been considered as a typical material for research about de-domestication. However, there are relatively few reference genomes on weedy rice that severely limit exploiting these genetic resources and revealing more details about de-domestication events. In this study, a high-quality genome (~376.4 Mb) of weedy rice A02 was assembled based on Nanopore ultra-long platform with a coverage depth of about 79.3× and 35,423 genes were predicted. Compared to Nipponbare genome, 5,574 structural variations (SVs) were found in A02. Based on super pan-genome graph, population SVs of 238 weedy rice and cultivated rice accessions were identified using public resequencing data. Furthermore, the de-domestication sites of weedy rice and domestication sites of wild rice were analyzed and compared based on SVs and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Interestingly, an average of 2,198 genes about de-domestication could only be found by FST analysis based on SVs (SV-FST) while not by FST analysis based on SNPs (SNP-FST) in divergent region. Additionally, there was a low overlap between domestication and de-domestication intervals, which demonstrated that two different mechanisms existed in these events. Our finding could facilitate pinpointing of the evolutionary events that had shaped the genomic architecture of wild, cultivated, and weedy rice, and provide a good foundation for cloning of the superior alleles for breeding.
A naturally-occurring phenomenon of flower color change during flower development in Xanthoceras sorbifolium
Authors: Lu Yanan , Wang Hanhui , Liu Zhi , Zhang Tianxu , Li Zongjian , Cao Li , Wu Siyao , Liu Yueying , Yu Song , Zhang Qingzhu , Zheng Zhimin
Published: November 2022

Xanthoceras sorbifolium (yellowhorn) is originated in China and is a unique tree in northern China. Yellowhorn is very popular because of the gradual color change of its flower at different flower developmental stages. During flowering development, the color at the base of yellowhorn flower petals gradually changes from yellow to purple. The mechanism of this miraculous phenomenon is still unclear. Here we show that anthocyanin accumulation during flowering development is the main reason for this color change. RT-PCR results show that the expression level of a variety of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes changes in different flower developmental stages. Realtime results show that the expression changes of these anthocyanin biosynthesis genes are positively regulated by a cluster of R2R3-MYB transcription factor genes, XsMYB113s. Furthermore, the DNA methylation analysis showed that CHH methylation status on the transposon element near the XsMYB113-1 influence its transcript level during flowering development. Our results suggest that dynamic epigenetic regulation of the XsMYB113-1 leads to the accumulation of anthocyanins during yellowhorn flower color change. These findings reemphasize the role of epigenetic regulation in flower development and provide a foundation for further studies of epigenetic regulation in long-lived woody perennials.
Citrus Huanglongbing correlated with incidence of Diaphorina citri carrying Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and citrus phyllosphere microbiome
Authors: Hu Yang , Meng Youqing , Yao Liangjin , Wang Enguo , Tang Tao , Wang Yunsheng , Dai Liangying , Zhao Mingping , Zhang Hong-en , Fan Xiaoyan , Luo Luyun , Xiang Wei , Zhang Zhuo
Published: November 2022

In China, citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) disease is caused by the Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus bacterium, which is carried by the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. It was hypothesized that the epidemic of the HLB may related with the rate of bacterium presence in the insect vector and bacterium content in plant tissues, as well as the phyllosphere microbe communities changes. This study systematically analyzed the presence or absence of Ca. L. asiaticus in citrus tree leaves and in the insect vector D. citri over a 6-year period using real-time PCR. In addition, changes in the number of bacteria carried by D. citri over 12 months were quantified, as well as the relationship between the proportion of D. citri carrying Ca. L. asiaticus and the proportion of plants infected with Ca. L. asiaticus were analyzed. Results showed that the proportion of D. citri carrying bacteria was stable and relatively low from January to September. The bacteria in citrus leaves relatively low in spring and summer, then peaked in December. The proportion of D. citri carrying bacteria gradually declined from 2014 to 2019. The proportion of D. citri carrying Ca. L. asiaticus showed a significant positive correlation with the proportion of diseased citrus. The phyllosphere bacterial and fungal communities on the healthy citrus leaf were significantly different with the disease leaf in April and December. Pathogenic invasions change the citrus phyllosphere microbial community structure. It could be summarized that citrus Huanglongbing correlated with incidence of Diaphorina citri carrying Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and citrus phyllosphere microbiome.
The association of fear of movement and postural sway in people with low back pain
Authors: Meinke Anita , Maschio Cinzia , Meier Michael L. , Karlen Walter , Swanenburg Jaap
Published: November 2022

Background

Fear of movement is thought to interfere with the recovery from low back pain (LBP). To date, the relationship between fear of movement and postural balance has not been adequately elucidated. Recent findings suggest that more specific fears need to be assessed and put in relation to a specific movement task. We propose that the fear to bend the trunk in a certain direction is distinctly related to the amount of postural sway in different directions. Therefore, our aim was to investigate whether fear of movement in general and fear of bending the trunk in a certain plane is related to postural sway.

Methods

Data was collected from participants with LBP during two assessments ~3 weeks apart. Postural sway was measured with a force-platform during quiet standing with the eyes closed. Fear of movement was assessed with an abbreviated version of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11) and custom items referring to fear of bending the trunk in the sagittal and the frontal plane.

Results

Based on data from 25 participants, fear of bending the trunk in the frontal plane was positively related to displacement in the sagittal and frontal plane and to velocity in the frontal plane (χ2 = 4.35, p = 0.04; χ2 = 8.15, p = 0.004; χ2 = 9.79, p = 0.002). Fear of bending the trunk in the sagittal plane was not associated with any direction specific measure of sway. A positive relation of the TSK-11 with velocity of the frontal plane (χ2 = 7.14, p = 0.008) was found, but no association with undirected measures of sway.

Discussion

Fear of bending the trunk in the frontal plane may be especially relevant to postural sway under the investigated stance conditions. It is possible that fear of bending the trunk in the frontal plane could interfere with balance control at the hip, shifting the weight from side to side to control balance.

Conclusion

For the first time the directional relationship of fear of movement and postural sway was studied. Fear of bending the trunk in the frontal plane was positively associated with several measures of postural sway.
Association of income relative deprivation and sleep duration in China
Authors: Peng Zijian , Wu Lin
Published: November 2022

In recent years, the rapid development of China’s economy has brought about a serious polarization between rich and poor, which makes people have to bear the impact of social changes on their physical and mental health while enjoying the benefits of social development. It is difficult to maintain normal sleep duration (7–9 h), which has gradually become a social phenomenon. Based on the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS2018), this study explored the relationship between relative income deprivation and sleep duration at the micro-level. This paper empirically tests that the probability of normal sleep duration (7–9 h) decreases by 22.8% for each unit of income relative deprivation. This conclusion is significant at 0.05 level. On this basis, the instrumental variable method is used to overcome the endogenous problem, and a more accurate conclusion is obtained. After the robustness test and heterogeneity analysis of the model, a mediation model is constructed through Mplus: relative income deprivation – social trust – sleep duration. Social trust is considered as a mediation variable. This study believes that in Chinese society, the relative deprivation of individual income will affect their sleep duration by changing their social trust. Therefore, increasing the income of low-income groups, narrowing the gap between rich and poor, alleviating social conflicts, and promoting interpersonal trust are important means to ensure that social members can have normal sleep duration.
Structural analyses in the study of behavior: From rodents to non-human primates
Authors: Casarrubea Maurizio , Leca Jean-Baptiste , Gunst Noëlle , Jonsson Gudberg K. , Portell Mariona , Di Giovanni Giuseppe , Aiello Stefania , Crescimanno Giuseppe
Published: November 2022

The term “structure” indicates a set of components that, in relation to each other, shape an organic complex. Such a complex takes on essential connotations of functionally unitary entity resulting from the mutual relationships of its constituent elements. In a broader sense, we can use the word “structure” to define the set of relationships among the elements of an emergent system that is not determined by the mere algebraic sum of these elements, but by the interdependence relationships of these components from which the function of the entire structure itself derives. The behavior of an integrated living being can be described in structural termsviaan ethogram, defined as an itemized list of behavioral units. Akin to an architectural structure, abehavioral structurearises from the reciprocal relationships that the individual units of behavior establish. Like an architectural structure, thefunctionof the resulting behaving complex emerges from the relationships of the parts. Hence, studying behavior in its wholeness necessitates not only the identification of its constitutive units in their autarchic individuality, but also, and importantly, some understanding of their relationships. This paper aimed to critically review different methods to study behavior in structural terms. First, we emphasized the utilization of T-pattern analysis, i.e., one of the most effective and reliable tools to provide structural information on behavior. Second, we discussed the application of other methodological approaches that are based on the analysis of transition matrices, such as hierarchical clustering, stochastic analyses, and adjusted residuals. Unlike T-pattern analysis, these methods allow researchers to explore behavioral structure beyond its temporal characteristics and through other relational constraints. After an overview of how these methods are used in the study of animal behavior, from rodents to non-human primates, we discussed the specificities, advantages and challenges of each approach. This paper could represent a useful background for all scientists who intend to study behavior both quantitatively and structurally, that is in terms of the reciprocal relationships that the various units of a given behavioral repertoire normally weave together.
Follow or not? Descriptive norms and public health compliance: Mediating role of risk perception and moderating effect of behavioral visibility
Authors: Zhang Shuwei , Wang Yan , Wei Yujie
Published: November 2022

In a pandemic context, public health events are receiving unprecedented attention, and identifying ways to enhance individual public health compliance behaviors has become an urgent practical problem. Considering that individual decisions are susceptible to group members’ behaviors and that descriptive norms provide social information about the typical behaviors of others, we focused on the effects of the properties and reference groups of descriptive norms on public health compliance behaviors. We also investigated the mechanism with risk perception as a mediator and the applicable condition with behavioral visibility as a moderator. Through a 2 × 2 × 2 between-subject survey experiment with 529 subjects, we demonstrated that (1) compared with the negative norm, the positive norm was more effective in promoting public health compliance behaviors; (2) compared with the distal group norm, the proximal group norm more significantly promoted public health compliance behaviors; (3) the effect of the property of descriptive norms on public health compliance behaviors was weakened in the treatment of the proximal group norm; (4) risk perception partially mediated the association between the property of descriptive norms and public health compliance behaviors and fully mediated the effect of the interaction of the property and the reference group of descriptive norms on public health compliance behaviors; in the treatment of the negative-proximal group norm, individuals perceived more risk, thus effectively nudging their public health compliance behaviors; (5) compared with low-visibility behaviors, public health compliance behaviors were significantly stronger for high-visibility behaviors; (6) the property of descriptive norms had a weaker effect on public health compliance behaviors for low-visibility behaviors. In terms of theoretical significance, we refined the study of descriptive norms to promote the application of behavioral public policy. Moreover, the new model of public health compliance behaviors constructed in this study explains the mechanism and applicable conditions of public health compliance behaviors. In practical terms, this study has implications for designing intervention programs to nudge public health compliance behaviors.
Dramatic Perezhivanie as a driver of executive functions development through role-play in early childhood: Theoretical framework and experimental evidence
Authors: Sukhikh Vera L. , Veresov Nikolay N. , Veraksa Nikolay E.
Published: November 2022

Role-play in early childhood is associated with development of executive functions (EFs), although study results remain inconsistent. Due to the complex nature of the role-play, the underlying mechanisms of these associations are not obvious. In this article, play is viewed in the framework of the cultural-historical approach as a special social situation that can become the social situation of development if it results in dramatic perezhivanie of a child. In this study, we compared the level of EFs and play behavior between two play contexts: play guided by an adult and one with less adult involvement. Play behavior was analyzed based on five behavioral measures suggested to be the markers of dramatic perezhivanie. Measures of EFs were taken before and after the experimental procedure. Results show that dramatic perezhivanie might be considered a driver of EFs development through role-play in early childhood. As well as this, the involvement of an adult into play was associated with different patterns of EFs dynamics before and after the intervention. Future work can investigate if the construct of dramatic perezhivanie, microsocial situation of development, and micro-crisis might explain variability of the study results on the association between the role-play and child development.
What motivates farmers to adopt low-carbon agricultural technologies? Empirical evidence from thousands of rice farmers in Hubei province, central China
Authors: Jiang Linli , Huang Haoqin , He Surong , Huang Haiyang , Luo Yun
Published: November 2022

Low-carbon agriculture is essential for protecting the global climate and sustainable agricultural economics. Since China is a predominantly agricultural country, the adoption of low-carbon agricultural technologies by local farmers is crucial. The past literature on low-carbon technologies has highlighted the influence of demographic, economic, and environmental factors, while the psychological factors have been underexplored. A questionnaire-based approach was used to assess the psychological process underlying the adoption of low-carbon agricultural technologies by 1,114 Chinese rice farmers in this paper, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was empirically employed to test our theoretical model. The results indicated that farmers’ low-carbon production attitude and behavioral efficiency perception directly and positively affected the adoption of low-carbon agricultural technologies and indirectly affected it via low-carbon production intention. Besides, production implementation cost and socio-environmental factor could moderate the direct effects of low-carbon production attitude, behavioral efficiency perception, and low-carbon production intention on farmers’ adoption of low-carbon agricultural technologies. In this respect, socio-environmental factor yielded more significant moderating effects. Additionally, this research provides policy implications for promoting low-carbon agricultural technologies in developing countries and regions.
Judgment of togetherness in performances by musical duos
Authors: D'Amario Sara , Goebl Werner , Bishop Laura
Published: November 2022

Musicians experience varying degrees of togetherness with their co-performers when playing in ensembles. However, little is known about how togetherness is experienced by audiences and how interpersonal dynamics in body motion and sound support the judgment of togetherness. This research investigates audience sensitivity to audio and visual markers of interperformer coordination and expressivity in ensembles, in relation to modality of stimulus presentation and audience music background. A set of duo ensemble performances, comprising motion capture recordings of the musicians' upper bodies and instruments, were presented to participants with varying music background, including novices and semi-professional musicians. Participants were required to: (i) watch and listen, (ii) only watch, and (iii) only listen to the selected recordings, whilst providing dynamic ratings of how much togetherness between musicians they perceived. Results demonstrate that sound intensity and similarity in right arm motion (quantified using cross-wavelet transform analysis) were significant predictors of rated togetherness in novices, whilst sound synchronization and chest motion coordination predicted togetherness responses in semi-professional musicians. These results suggest the relevance of the quality of body motion coordination and of certain features of the audio outputs in the audience perception of togetherness. This research contributes to a better understanding of the perceptual mechanisms supporting socio-cognitive judgments of joint action activities.
Lifestyle-related risk factors correlated with mental health problems: A longitudinal observational study among 686 male college students in Chongqing, China
Authors: Yang Bin-Wei , Zou Peng , Chen Qing , Sun Lei , Ling Xi , Yang Huan , Zhou Ni-Ya , Wang Li-Hong , Huang Lin-Ping , Liu Jin-Yi , Yang Hui-Fang , Cao Jia , Ao Lin
Published: November 2022

Aim

Public concerns over the mental health problems of college students are rising. Previous research show that female tend to suffer more from mental health problems than males, with few studies focusing on males. This study sought to explore the association of lifestyle-related risk factors with the prevalence of mental health problems among male college students in China.

Methods

The lifestyle information and mental health status of 686 male college students from Chongqing, China, were assessed in 2014, and 582 of them were followed up a year later. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing demographic and lifestyle factors which include sleep quality, computer usage, sedentariness, physical activity, smoking, current alcohol, coke, coffee, and milk tea drinking, and current tea/fried food/baked food consumption. Mental health problems were measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21).

Results

Univariate analyses indicated that age, sleep latency, sleep duration, computer usage time, milk tea drinking, and fried food consumption were potential risk factors for mental health problems (p's < 0.05). Multivariate analysis further revealed that, either at baseline or during follow-up, participants with (i) more computer usage time were at a higher risk of having depression symptoms (p's < 0.05) and (ii) a higher frequency of fried food consumption were associated with a higher risk of having depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms (p's < 0.05). Additionally, the cross-lagged analysis showed that (i) computer usage time in 2014 is positively correlated with depression status (β = 0.106, p < 0.05) but not anxiety (β = 0.047, p > 0.05) and stress (β = 0.019, p > 0.05) status a year later and (ii) fried food consumption in 2014 is positively correlated with depression (β = 0.129, p < 0.01), anxiety (β = 0.168, p < 0.001), and stress (β = 0.113, p < 0.01) status a year later.

Conclusions

Computer usage time and fried food consumption were lifestyle-related risk factors for mental health problems in male college students in Chongqing, China. These results might emphasize further preventive strategies for mental health problems, especially in male college students.
Prevalence of multimorbidity combinations and their association with medical costs and poor health: A population-based study of U.S. adults
Authors: Schiltz Nicholas K.
Published: November 2022

Background

Multimorbidity is common, but the prevalence and burden of the specific combinations of coexisting disease has not been systematically examined in the general U.S. adult population.

Objective

To identify and estimate the burden of highly prevalent combinations of chronic conditions that are treated among one million or more adults in the United States.

Methods

Cross-sectional analysis of U.S. households in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), 2016–2019, a large nationally-representative sample of the community-dwelling population. Association rule mining was used to identify the most common combinations of 20 chronic conditions that have high relevance, impact, and prevalence in primary care. The main measures and outcomes were annual treated prevalence, total medical expenditures, and perceived poor health. Logistic regression models with poor health as the outcome and each multimorbidity combination as the exposure were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results

Frequent pattern mining yielded 223 unique combinations of chronic disease, including 74 two-way (dyad), 115 three-way (triad), and 34 four-way combinations that are treated in one million or more U.S. adults. Hypertension-hyperlipidemia was the most common two-way combination occurring in 30.8 million adults. The combination of diabetes-arthritis-cardiovascular disease was associated with the highest median annual medical expenditures ($23,850, interquartile range: $11,593–$44,616), and the combination of diabetes-arthritis-asthma/COPD had the highest age-race-sex adjusted odds ratio of poor self-rated health (adjusted odd ratio: 6.9, 95%CI: 5.4–8.8).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that many multimorbidity combinations are highly prevalent among U.S. adults, yet most research and practice-guidelines remain single disease focused. Highly prevalent and burdensome multimorbidity combinations could be prioritized for evidence-based research on optimal prevention and treatment strategies.
Serological investigation of plague and brucellosis infection in Marmota himalayana plague foci in the Altun Mountains on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Authors: Qin Shuai , Liang Junrong , Tang Deming , Chen Yuhuang , Duan Ran , Lu Xinmin , Bukai Asaiti , Zheng Xiaojin , Lv Dongyue , He Zhaokai , Wu Weiwei , Han Haonan , Jing Huaiqi , Wang Xin
Published: November 2022

The Altun Mountains are among the most active regions of Marmota himalayana plague foci of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau where animal plague is prevalent, whereas only three human cases have been found since 1960. Animal husbandry is the main income for the local economy; brucellosis appears sometimes in animals and less often in humans. In this study, a retrospective investigation of plague and brucellosis seroprevalence among humans and animals was conducted to improve prevention and control measures for the two diseases. Animal and human sera were collected for routine surveillance from 2018 to 2021 and screened for plague and brucellosis. Yersinia pestis F1 antibody was preliminarily screened by the colloidal gold method at the monitoring site to identify previous infections with positive serology. Previous plague infection was found in 3.2% (14/432) of the studied human population having close contact with livestock, which indicates evidence of exposure to the Yersinia antigen (dead or live pathogenic materials) in the Altun Mountains. Seroprevalence of brucellosis was higher in camels (6.2%) and sheepdogs (1.8%) than in other livestock such as cattle and sheep, suggesting a possible transmission route from secondary host animals to humans.
Empowering American Indian and Alaska Native youth to lead measurement development of an indigenous adolescent wellbeing measure: A protocol paper
Authors: Quintana Sierra , Ivanich Jerreed D. , Pikok Kimberly , Nez Shanoa , Zepeda Zenetta
Published: November 2022

Background

American Indian and Alaska Native youth research has rarely included young people from within these populations as co-designers. In addition to the lack of youth involvement, most findings focus on presenting statistics around disparity vs. focusing on this population's unique strengths and resiliency. The research design of this protocol aims to fill this gap in the current literature.

Methods

To address this discrepancy, a multipronged approach to youth and young adult participatory research was implemented. These prongs included a virtual gathering where the Nominal Group Technique was conducted and an assembly of a Youth Research Design Team. Lastly, the research team will implement a protocol developed by the Research Design Team. The Research Design Team plans to conduct qualitative interviews and distribute a web-based quantitative survey with a raffle as respondent compensation. This protocol is a preliminary phase to developing a wellbeing measure for AIAN youth.

Discussion

Having an operationalized definition of wellness from AIAN youth will fill a gap in the current body of research with optimism that this will lead to additional studies exploring the AIAN youth voice.
The dynamics of single-to-multi layer transition in bacterial swarms
Authors: Grobas Iago , Asally Munehiro , Polin Marco
Published: November 2022

Wet self-propelled rods at high densities can exhibit a state of mesoscale turbulence: a disordered lattice of vortices with chaotic dynamics and a characteristic length scale. Such a state is commonly studied by a two-dimensional continuum model. However, less is known about the dynamic behaviour of self-propelled rods in three- or quasi-two- dimensions, which can be found in biological systems, for example, during the formation of bacterial aggregates and biofilms. In this study, we characterised the formation of multi-layered islands in a monolayer of swarming cells using the rod-shaped bacteria B. subtilis as a model system. We focused on how bacteria form multiple layers and how the presence of stress affects the multiple layer formation. Following our previous study where we reported that the initiation of the multilayer formation can be accounted by the framework of motility-induced phase separation (MIPS), this study analysed how this phase separation is impacted by the presence of stress, specifically under the exposure to a gradient of antibiotic. The analyses show that in the presence of an antibiotic gradient, the multi-layer formation happens by a nucleation and growth of well-defined multilayered clusters instead of by the uncontrolled emergence of the multilayer, resembling the traditional thermodynamic processes of binodal and spinodal decomposition respectively. Finally, the multilayer gives place to waves of bacteria that can travel towards high concentrations of antibiotics and that resemble travelling waves predicted by simulations of mixtures of passive and active particles.
Near-ultraviolet continuum modeling of the 1985 April 12 great flare of AD Leo
Authors: Kowalski Adam F.
Published: November 2022

White-light stellar flares are now reported by the thousands in long-baseline, high-precision, broad-band photometry from missions like Kepler, K2, and TESS. These observations are crucial inputs for assessments of biosignatures in exoplanetary atmospheres and surface ultraviolet radiation dosages for habitable-zone planets around low-mass stars. A limitation of these assessments, however, is the lack of near-ultraviolet spectral observations of stellar flares. To motivate further empirical investigation, we use a grid of radiative-hydrodynamic simulations with an updated treatment of the pressure broadening of hydrogen lines to predict the λ ≈ 1800 − 3300 Å continuum flux during the rise and peak phases of a well-studied superflare from the dM3e star AD Leo. These predictions are based on semi-empirical superpositions of radiative flux spectra consisting of a high-flux electron beam simulation with a large, low-energy cutoff (≳ 85 keV) and a lower-flux electron beam simulation with a smaller, low-energy cutoff (≲ 40 keV). The two-component models comprehensively explain the hydrogen Balmer line broadening, the optical continuum color temperature, the Balmer jump strength, and the far-ultraviolet continuum strength and shape in the rise/peak phase of this flare. We use spatially resolved analyses of solar flare data from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, combined with the results of previous radiative-hydrodynamic modeling of the 2014 March 29 X1 solar flare (SOL20140329T17:48), to interpret the two-component electron beam model as representing the spatial superposition of bright kernels and fainter ribbons over a larger area.
Animal welfare in Latin America: Trends and characteristics of scientific publications
Authors: Gallo Carmen , Véjar Lorena , Galindo Francisco , Huertas Stella M. , Tadich Tamara
Published: November 2022

The present study constitutes a review of the scientific articles about animal welfare in terrestrial farmed animals, published in 19 countries of Latin America. The main objectives were to quantify and characterize articles produced between 1992 and 2021 in farm animals' welfare using “Web of Science [v.5.32]” and “CAB Abstracts” databases. A total of 663 articles were found for the period analyzed, which were mainly in English (87%). The countries with the most publications were Brazil (43%), México (25%), Chile (12%), Uruguay (10%), Colombia (4%) and Argentina (2%). Cattle was the farm species most considered in the publications (41%), and the studies addressed mostly the on-farm production stage (76%). There was a rapid increase in the number of articles published in the last 15 years, accounting for 95% of the publications. This could be related to the publication of welfare standards by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) since 2005, the creation of the Collaborating Center for Animal Welfare and Sustainable Livestock Systems—Chile-Uruguay-México in 2009, a Regional Strategy of Animal Welfare prompted by the WOAH in 2012 and the inclusion of animal welfare in the veterinary curriculum. The fact that most articles were in English shows that Latin American researchers have somehow overcome the challenge of publishing in a non-native language and their research can be read/cited worldwide. However considerable gaps in scientific productivity were identified in comparison to European and North American countries. Scientific research concerning the livestock industry in Latin America faces new challenges arising from the need to move toward more sustainable production systems within the One Welfare and One Health frame.
Comparison of the morphology of the anterior cruciate ligament and related bony structures between pigs and humans
Authors: Shi Qinyi , Wang Huizhi , He Kaixin , Tao Mingzhu , Cheng Cheng-Kung
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Pigs are widely used for clinical research on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) because of the similarity of the knee structure to the human knee. But evidence to support the suitability of using porcine samples to guide clinical practices is limited. This study aims to explore the qualitative and quantitative morphological features of the porcine knee and ACL, and to compare these with data on humans reported in literature.

Methods

Nineteen porcine knees were used for this study. The bone structures were measured on coronal X-ray images. The length of the ACL was measured using a caliper. The ACL bone insertion sites were marked and measured on a digital photograph. The lengths of the long and short axis of the ACL isthmus were measured on the X-ray microscopy reconstructed images. The outcomes were compared with previously reported data on humans using an abstract independent-samples T test.

Results

Qualitative observation indicated a similar location, orientation and general morphology of the porcine ACL to human ACLs. The major difference was the location of the ACL tibial insertion with respect to the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus (AHLM). The porcine ACL was split into AM and PL bundles by the AHLM, while the AHLM was adjacent to the anterolateral border of the ACL tibial insertion in human knees. The quantitative comparison showed no significant difference between the human and porcine ACL in terms of the length of the ACL, the width of the femoral condyle and tibial plateau, and the tibial interspinal width. However, the CSA, the lengths of the long and short axis of the ACL isthmus, and the femoral and tibial insertion areas of the porcine ACL were all significantly larger than the reported features in human knees.

Conclusion

The location, orientation and basic morphology of the porcine ACL and knee are similar to humans. However, the two-bundle structure is more distinct in a porcine ACL, and the dimensions of the porcine ACL are generally larger. This study may provide useful information to researchers when assessing the feasibility and limitations of using porcine samples for research on the human ACL and knee.
Thermal manipulation modifies embryonic growth, hepatic free amino acid concentrations, and hatching performance in layer-type chicks
Authors: Han Guofeng , Li Sheng , Li Yansen , Tran Phuong V. , Furuse Mitsuhiro , Bungo Takashi , Chowdhury Vishwajit S. , Bai Zongchun , Li Chunmei
Published: November 2022

Thermal manipulation (TM) of incubation temperature has been demonstrated to alter metabolism and post-hatch thermotolerance in broiler strains (meat-type chickens). Fewer reports were focused on layer-type chickens and there was no report on amino acid metabolism during TM in layer-type embryos. In this study, we investigated the effects of TM on embryonic development, hepatic amino acid metabolism, and hatching performance in layer-type chickens. Fertilized eggs were incubated under control thermoneutral temperature (CT, 37.6°C) and TM with high temperature (TMH, 39°C, 8 h/day) or low temperature (TML, 20°C, 1 h/day) from embryonic day (ED) 8 to ED 15. The embryonic weight and relative embryonic weight (yolk-free embryonic weight to the initial egg weight) significantly declined in the TML group at ED 13 (P < 0.01) and ED 16 (P < 0.0001), and were significantly increased (P < 0.001) in the TMH group at ED 16, in comparison with the embryos in the CT group. The concentrations of all hepatic free amino acids were significantly increased (P < 0.01) with embryonic development. Interestingly, TMH and TML caused similar effects on hepatic amino acid metabolism, in which most of the essential and non-essential amino acids were significantly declined (P < 0.05) under TM treatments at ED 13 but not affected at ED 16. Until hatching, TML, but not TMH, caused a significant (P < 0.05) delay (31–38 min/day from ED 8) in incubation duration. The hatchability in the TML group was lower than the other two groups, which indicated that 20°C as cold stimulation was not suitable for layer embryos. The body weight, yolk weight, yolk-free body mass, and chick quality were not affected by TM treatments. However, the relative weight of the liver, but not the heart, was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) at hatching by TML treatment. In conclusion, TML, but not TMH, caused to delay in embryogenesis and affected the internal organ of chicks at hatch. Similar changes in amino acid metabolism under TMH and TML indicated that thermal stress induced by both high and low extreme ambient temperatures influences embryonic amino acid metabolism in a similar fashion in layer-type embryos.