bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of ocean mixed layer depth on tropical cyclone characteristics: a numerical investigation
Authors: Zhang Yalan , Han Kaifeng , Sun Yuan , Lin Yanluan , Zhai Panmao , Guo Xinwen , Zhong Wei
Published: July 2024

Introduction

The impact of upper-ocean temperature on tropical cyclone (TC) activity is an open issue. Compared to the attention devoted to the effect of sea-surface temperature (SST) on TC activities, much less is known about the effect of ocean mixed layer depth (OMLD) on TC activities, which is determined by the ocean temperature below the surface.

Methods

In this study, a series of idealized numerical experiments were conducted to investigate the possible responses of TC activities to OMLD.

Results

It was found that while OMLD exerts a minor influence on TC track, it evidently affects TC intensity, size, and destructiveness before reaching a certain OMLD threshold (approximately 15 m). Once the OMLD exceeds the threshold, changes in TC intensity, size, and destructiveness become marginal with further increase in OMLD. The threshold of OMLD is largely determined by TC intensity, which in turn is dictated by surface wind speed.

Discussion

Specifically, before reaching the threshold of OMLD, the surface wind, namely TC-related surface wind, may bring the cold water from below the OMLD, and effectively decreases the upper ocean temperature (including the SST). As OMLD increases, the effect of surface wind on SST cooling gradually decreases, leading to an increase of SST below the TC. Subsequently, the SST increase leads to more surface enthalpy flux (SEF) input into the TC by increasing air-sea temperature and moisture differences. By altering TC's thermodynamic and dynamic structures, the increase of SEF eventually results in the increase of TC intensity and size, and thus its destructiveness.
The effects of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate or HMB-rich nutritional supplements on sarcopenia patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Su Hai , Zhou Haojing , Gong Yichen , Xiang Sicheng , Shao Weijie , Zhao Xinzheng , Ling Hao , Chen Guoqian , Tong Peijian , Li Ju
Published: July 2024

Background

Sarcopenia is a progressive, systemic skeletal muscle disorder. Resistance exercise and physical activity have been proven effective in its treatment, but consensus on pharmacological interventions has not yet been reached in clinical practice. β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) is a nutritional supplement that has demonstrated favorable effects on muscle protein turnover, potentially contributing to beneficial impacts on sarcopenia.

Aim

To assess the potential positive effects of HMB or HMB-containing supplements on individuals with sarcopenia, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the treatment of sarcopenia with HMB. Two assessors independently conducted screening, data extraction, and bias risk assessment. Outcome data were synthesized through a random-effects model in meta-analysis, using the mean difference (MD) as the effect measure.

Results

A meta-analysis was conducted on six studies. HMB or HMB-rich nutritional supplements showed a statistically significant difference in Hand Grip Strength (HGS) for sarcopenia patients [MD = 1.26, 95%CI (0.41, 2.21), p = 0.004], while there was no statistically significant difference in Gait Speed (GS) [MD = 0.04, 95%CI (−0.01, 0.08), p = 0.09], Fat Mass (FM) [MD = −0.18, 95%CI (−0.38, 0.01), p = 0.07], Fat-Free Mass (FFM) [MD = 0.09, 95%CI (−0.23, 0.42), p = 0.58], and Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) [MD = 0.01, 95%CI (−0.00, 0.01), p = 0.13].

Conclusion

HMB or HMB-rich nutritional supplements are beneficial for muscle strength in sarcopenia patients. However, there is limited evidence demonstrating significant effects on both muscle strength and physical performance in sarcopenia individuals. HMB may be considered as a treatment option for sarcopenia patients.

Systematic review registration

CRD42024512119.
Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract
Authors: Mahmoud Anfal Hussain , Talaat Iman M. , Tlili Abdelaziz , Hamoudi Rifat
Published: July 2024

Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract (CAKUT) refer to a range of conditions that affect the kidney and urinary tract. These anomalies can be severe, such as kidney agenesis, or milder, such as vesicoureteral reflux. CAKUT affects over 1% of live births and accounts for 40–50% of cases of chronic kidney failure in children. The pathogenesis of CAKUT is caused by various environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors that disrupt normal nephrogenesis. Environmental factors that can lead to CAKUT include maternal diabetes, obesity, malnutrition, alcohol consumption, or medications affecting kidneys development. Genetic factors can cause an imbalance in the metanephros and the ureteric bud interaction. Defects in specific genes such as PAX2, TBX18, NRIP1, REX, SIX2, BMP4, and chromosome 17 cause CAKUT. Over 50 genes have been identified as the root cause of this condition, with monogenetic variants causing up to 20% of all cases. CAKUTs can be diagnosed through fetal ultrasonography, but some anomalies may remain undetected. GWASs, Next Generation Sequencing for targeted and whole exome DNA sequencing may provide additional diagnostic methods. This review article highlights some the leading factors that cause CAKUT, which adversely affects kidney development and urinary tract function.
Transcriptionally induced nucleoid-associated protein-like ccr1 in combined-culture serves as a global effector of Streptomyces secondary metabolism
Authors: Lei Yukun , Onaka Hiroyasu , Asamizu Shumpei
Published: July 2024

Combined-cultures involving mycolic acid-containing bacteria (MACB) can stimulate secondary metabolite (SM) production in actinomycetes. In a prior investigation, we screened Streptomyces coelicolor JCM4020 mutants with diminished production of SMs, specifically undecylprodigiosin (RED), which was enhanced by introducing the MACB Tsukamurella pulmonis TP-B0596. In this study, we conducted mutational analysis that pinpointed the sco1842 gene, which we assigned the gene name ccr1 (combined-culture related regulatory protein no. 1), as a crucial factor in the deficient phenotype observed in the production of various major SMs in S. coelicolor A3(2). Notably, the Ccr1 (SCO1842) homolog was found to be highly conserved throughout the Streptomyces genome. Although Ccr1 lacked conserved motifs, in-depth examination revealed the presence of a helix–turn–helix (HTH) motif in the N-terminal region and a helicase C-terminal domain (HCTD) motif in the C-terminal region in some of its homologs. Ccr1 was predicted to be a nucleoid-associated protein (NAP), and its impact on gene transcription was validated by RNA-seq analysis that revealed genome-wide variations. Furthermore, RT-qPCR demonstrated that ccr1 was transcriptionally activated in combined-culture with T. pulmonis, which indicated that Ccr1 is involved in the response to bacterial interaction. We then investigated Streptomyces nigrescens HEK616 in combined-culture, and the knockout mutant of the ccr1 homolog displayed reduced production of streptoaminals and 5aTHQs. This finding reveals that the Ccr1 homolog in Streptomyces species is associated with SM production. Our study elucidates the existence of a new family of NAP-like proteins that evolved in Streptomyces species and play a pivotal role in SM production.
Towards sustainable biocontrol: inhibition of soil borne fungi by microalgae from harsh environments
Authors: Eckstien Dikla , Maximov Noga , Margolis Nofet , Raanan Hagai
Published: July 2024

Using microorganisms as biocontrol agents against soilborne plant pathogens is a promising alternative to chemical pesticides. However, only some biocontrol agents have proven effective under field conditions. This study explores the potential of highly resilient microalgae isolated from harsh environments, such as Biological Soil Crusts and agricultural fields in semi-arid regions, as a novel and sustainable approach to biocontrol. Fifty-nine microalgal strains, including thirteen cyanobacteria and forty-six green algae, were isolated and identified. Dual-culture plate assays and toxicity tests of microalgal growth media were conducted to evaluate the antifungal activity of the isolates against eight representative soilborne pathogens. The results showed that many microalgae strains exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the growth of specific fungal pathogens, although the activity varied among different microalgal strains and pathogen species. Some strains even promoted the growth of certain fungi. The lack of a clear pattern in the antifungal activity highlights the complexity and specificity of the interactions between microalgae and soilborne pathogens. An “Inhibition Effectiveness” metric was developed to quantify biocontrol potential based on fungal growth inhibition. The green algal genus Desmodesmus, particularly Desmodesmus subspicatus isolates, showed higher antifungal efficacy than other genera. While the inhibitory mechanisms remain unclear, the results demonstrate the promising biocontrol capabilities of microalgae from extreme environments like BSCs. Further research could unlock novel opportunities for sustainable disease management by harnessing specific microalgal strains or synergistic strain combinations targeting soilborne pathogens.
Optimization of transfer learning based on source sample selection in Euclidean space for P300-based brain-computer interfaces
Authors: Kilani Sepideh , Aghili Seyedeh Nadia , Fathi Yaser , Sburlea Andreea Ioana
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Event-related potentials (ERPs), such as P300, are widely utilized for non-invasive monitoring of brain activity in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) via electroencephalogram (EEG). However, the non-stationary nature of EEG signals and different data distributions among subjects create significant challenges for implementing real-time P300-based BCIs. This requires time-consuming calibration and a large number of training samples.

Methods

To address these challenges, this study proposes a transfer learning-based approach that uses a convolutional neural network for high-level feature extraction, followed by Euclidean space data alignment to ensure similar distributions of extracted features. Furthermore, a source selection technique based on the Euclidean distance metric was applied to measure the distance between each source feature sample and a reference point from the target domain. The samples with the lowest distance were then chosen to increase the similarity between source and target datasets. Finally, the transferred features are applied to a discriminative restricted Boltzmann machine classifier for P300 detection.

Results

The proposed method was evaluated on the state-of-the-art BCI Competition III dataset II and rapid serial visual presentation dataset. The results demonstrate that the proposed technique achieves an average accuracy of 97% for both online and offline after 15 repetitions, which is comparable to the state-of-the-art methods. Notably, the proposed approach requires <½ of the training samples needed by previous studies.

Discussion

Therefore, this technique offers an efficient solution for developing ERP-based BCIs with robust performance against reduced a number of training data.
U1 snRNA interactions with deep intronic sequences regulate splicing of multiple exons of spinal muscular atrophy genes
Authors: Ottesen Eric W. , Singh Natalia N. , Seo Joonbae , Singh Ravindra N.
Published: July 2024

Introduction

The U1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) forms ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs) such as U1 snRNP and U1-TAF15 snRNP. U1 snRNP is one of the most studied RNPs due to its critical role in pre-mRNA splicing in defining the 5′ splice site (5′ss) of every exon through direct interactions with sequences at exon/intron junctions. Recent reports support the role of U1 snRNP in all steps of transcription, namely initiation, elongation, and termination. Functions of U1-TAF15 snRNP are less understood, though it associates with the transcription machinery and may modulate pre-mRNA splicing by interacting with the 5′ss and/or 5′ss-like sequences within the pre-mRNA. An anti-U1 antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that sequesters the 5′ end of U1 snRNA inhibits the functions of U1 snRNP, including transcription and splicing. However, it is not known if the inhibition of U1 snRNP influences post-transcriptional regulation of pre-mRNA splicing through deep intronic sequences.

Methods

We examined the effect of an anti-U1 ASO that sequesters the 5′ end of U1 snRNA on transcription and splicing of all internal exons of the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) genes, SMN1 and SMN2. Our study was enabled by the employment of a multi-exon-skipping detection assay (MESDA) that discriminates against prematurely terminated transcripts. We employed an SMN2 super minigene to determine if anti-U1 ASO differently affects splicing in the context of truncated introns.

Results

We observed substantial skipping of multiple internal exons of SMN1 and SMN2 triggered by anti-U1 treatment. Suggesting a role for U1 snRNP in interacting with deep intronic sequences, early exons of the SMN2 super minigene with truncated introns were resistant to anti-U1 induced skipping. Consistently, overexpression of engineered U1 snRNAs targeting the 5′ss of early SMN1 and SMN2 exons did not prevent exon skipping caused by anti-U1 treatment.

Discussion

Our results uncover a unique role of the U1 snRNA-associated RNPs in splicing regulation executed through deep intronic sequences. Findings are significant for developing novel therapies for SMA based on deep intronic targets.
DFA-UNet: dual-stream feature-fusion attention U-Net for lymph node segmentation in lung cancer diagnosis
Authors: Zhou Qi , Zhou Yingwen , Hou Nailong , Zhang Yaxuan , Zhu Guanyu , Li Liang
Published: July 2024

In bronchial ultrasound elastography, accurately segmenting mediastinal lymph nodes is of great significance for diagnosing whether lung cancer has metastasized. However, due to the ill-defined margin of ultrasound images and the complexity of lymph node structure, accurate segmentation of fine contours is still challenging. Therefore, we propose a dual-stream feature-fusion attention U-Net (DFA-UNet). Firstly, a dual-stream encoder (DSE) is designed by combining ConvNext with a lightweight vision transformer (ViT) to extract the local information and global information of images; Secondly, we propose a hybrid attention module (HAM) at the bottleneck, which incorporates spatial and channel attention to optimize the features transmission process by optimizing high-dimensional features at the bottom of the network. Finally, the feature-enhanced residual decoder (FRD) is developed to improve the fusion of features obtained from the encoder and decoder, ensuring a more comprehensive integration. Extensive experiments on the ultrasound elasticity image dataset show the superiority of our DFA-UNet over 9 state-of-the-art image segmentation models. Additionally, visual analysis, ablation studies, and generalization assessments highlight the significant enhancement effects of DFA-UNet. Comprehensive experiments confirm the excellent segmentation effectiveness of the DFA-UNet combined attention mechanism for ultrasound images, underscoring its important significance for future research on medical images.
Association between dietary glycine intake and the prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, overweight or obesity in rural northern China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Feng Ying , Gu Xing-bo , Zhou Meng , Wang Hong-lan , Feng Ren-nan , Zhang Zhi-hong
Published: July 2024

Objective

The objective of this research is to investigate the relationship between dietary glycine consumption and the prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and overweight or obesity in economically disadvantaged areas of northern China using a cross-sectional study design.

Methods

A cross-sectional study involving 774 participants utilized a web-based dietary questionnaire (IDQC) and underwent physical measurements. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics software (Version 21). Participants were stratified into four groups based on quartiles of their dietary glycine intake: Q1 (<1.32), Q2 (1.32–1.82), Q3 (1.82–2.26), and Q4 (>2.26). Continuous variables were reported as mean ± standard deviation and compared using ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test, while categorical variables were presented as frequencies (%) and compared using the chi-square test. Finally, multivariable logistic regression with p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Significant differences in dietary glycine intake were observed between the highest quartile group (Q4) and the lowest quartile group (Q1), with corresponding dominance ratios of 0.590 (95% CI, 0.360–0.966), 0.547 (95% CI, 0.327–0.913), and 0.547 (95% CI, 0.353–0.850) for the risk of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and overweight/obesity, respectively. Furthermore, no significant correlation was found between dietary glycine intake and hypertension or hyperlipidemia within each sex and age subgroup.

Conclusion

There exists a potential correlation between increased dietary glycine intake and reduced prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and overweight/obesity. However, additional research is necessary to validate this finding through larger-scale studies conducted at a population level.
Acute toxicity of chemotherapy in central nervous system germ cell tumour patients according to age
Authors: Palenzuela Gilles , Schiffler Camille , Frappaz Didier , Peyrl Andreas , Gerber Nicolas U. , Kortmann Rolf-Dieter , Philippe Michael , Zimmermann Martin , Murray Matthew J. , Nicholson James C. , Calaminus Gabriele , Faure-Conter Cécile
Published: July 2024

Background

SIOP-CNS-GCT-II European trial was opened for the treatment of patients of any age with central nervous system germ cell tumour (CNS-GCT). Four courses of pre-irradiation chemotherapy were delivered. The influence of patient age on chemotherapy related acute toxicity (CRAT) was assessed.

Methods

CRAT was analysed according to age-groups: children (aged ≤11 years), adolescents (aged 12-17 years), adults (aged ≥18 years) and to chemotherapy type: CarboPEI (alternating etoposide-carboplatin/etoposide-ifosfamide) for non-metastatic germinoma; PEI (cisplatin-etoposide-ifosfamide) for standard-risk non-germinomatous GCT (NGGCT); PEI and high-dose PEI (HD-PEI), for high-risk or poorly responsive NGGCTs.

Results

296 patients were assessable for CRAT: 105 children, 121 adolescents, 70 adults (max age: 41 years). Median cumulative doses/m² of chemotherapy were similar among age-groups. The proportion of germinoma over NGGCT (and accordingly use of CarboPEI chemotherapy) was higher in the adult groups (79%) versus the other two groups (62%). Delay in chemotherapy ≥7 days was noticed in 27%, 38%, and 19% of children, adolescents, and adults, respectively. Grade ≥3 haematological and non-haematological adverse events (AEs) were observed in 94%/31%, 97%/36%, and 77%/21% of children, adolescents, and adults, respectively. No toxic death was reported. Grade ≥3 AEs and delayed chemotherapies were significantly rarer in adults when compared with adolescents, even when adjusted on chemotherapy type: odds ratio: 0.1 [95%CI 0.02-0.4], and 0.2 [95%CI 0.1-0.4] in the group treated with CarboPEI.

Conclusion

Adult patients can be treated safely with a chemotherapy intensive protocol, with even less toxicity than that observed in adolescents. Further work is required to understand age-related differences regarding toxicity.
Case report: Treatment response of NF-1-associated bladder ganglioneuroma to trametinib
Authors: Chan Marcus C. Y. , Fung Kevin K. F. , Ng Wai-Fu , Luk Ho-Ming , Ku Dennis T. L. , Liu Anthony P. Y.
Published: July 2024

We present the clinical course of a 4-year-old girl with neurofibromatosis type 1-associated, unresectable, symptomatic urinary bladder ganglioneuroma. She was initially trialed on sirolimus without response and subsequently responded to MEK inhibitor trametinib, with improvement clinically and radiographically over 10 months. This report broadens the repertoire of therapeutic strategies for MEK inhibition in diseases related to the MAPK pathway.
How enoxaparin underdosing and sex contribute to achieving therapeutic anti-Xa levels
Authors: Tinchon Alexander , Brait Joana , Klee Sascha , Graichen Uwe , Baumgartner Christian , Friedrich Oliver , Freydl Elisabeth , Oberndorfer Stefan , Struhal Walter , Hain Barbara , Waiß Christoph , Stoiber Dagmar
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Anti-Xa serves as a clinical surrogate for assessing the efficacy and bleeding risk in patients treated with enoxaparin for thromboembolic events. Evidence from the literature and empirical observations suggest that patients are underdosed in clinical practice to avoid bleeding complications. This study aimed to investigate such underdosing of enoxaparin and its potential impact on achieving therapeutic anti-Xa levels.

Methods

This multicentric, retrospective, observational study included patients with acute ischemic stroke due to atrial fibrillation. All patients received enoxaparin in the therapeutic setting with subsequent anti-Xa measurements. The one-sample, one-tailed Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to identify a significant difference between the doses administered and the recommended daily dose. Logistic regression model analysis was performed to identify additional predictors affecting achievement of the therapeutic anti-Xa target range. Stepwise forward-backward selection with Akaike’s information criterion as metric was applied to refine the logistic regression model.

Results

A total of 145 patients from the university hospitals of St. Pölten and Tulln in Lower Austria were included. The median daily enoxaparin dose administered was 1.23 mg/kg, resulting in an overall target range achievement rate of 66%. As compared to recommended therapeutic doses, significant underdosing of enoxaparin was evident in both participating centers (p < 0.001). The calculated threshold dose to achieve the therapeutic target range with a 90% probability was 1.5 mg/kg enoxaparin daily. Female sex was found to be a strong independent predictor of achieving a therapeutic target range (OR 9.44; 95% CI 3.40–30.05, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Despite the underdosing observed in both centers, therapeutic anti-Xa levels were achieved with lower than recommended doses of enoxaparin, and women required even lower doses than men. These findings warrant further confirmation by prospective studies.
Short-chain fatty acids regulate erastin-induced cardiomyocyte ferroptosis and ferroptosis-related genes
Authors: He Xiaojun , Long Qiang , Zhong Yiming , Zhang Yecen , Qian Bei , Huang Shixing , Chang Lan , Qi Zhaoxi , Li Lihui , Wang Xinming , Yang Xiaomei , Dong Gao Wei , Ye Xiaofeng , Zhao Qiang
Published: July 2024

Background

Ferroptosis has been proven to contribute to the progression of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and can be inhibited or promoted by ATF3. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have shown benefits in various cardiovascular diseases with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, the impact of SCFAs on ferroptosis in ischemic-stimulated cardiomyocytes remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SCFAs on cardiomyocyte ferroptosis, the expression of ATF3, and its potential upstream regulators.

Methods and results

The expression of ATF3, ferroptosis pathway geneset (FPG), and geneset of potential regulators for ATF3 (GPRA, predicted by the PROMO database) was explored in the public human myocardial infarction single-cell RNA-seq (sma) dataset. Cardiomyocyte data was extracted from the dataset and re-clustered to explore the FPG, ATF3, and GPRA expression patterns in cardiomyocyte subclusters. A dose-dependent toxic experiment was run to detect the suitable dose for SCFA treatment. The erastin-induced ferroptosis model and hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) model (10 h of hypoxia followed by 6 h of reoxygenation) were adopted to assess the effect of SCFAs via the CCK8 assay. Gene expression was examined via RT-PCR and western blot. Ferroptosis markers, including lipid peroxides and Fe2+, were detected using the liperfluo and ferroOrange probes, respectively. In the sma dataset, upregulated ferroptosis pathway genes were mainly found in the infarction-stimulated cardiac cells (border zone and fibrotic zone), particularly the cardiomyocytes and adipocytes. The ATF3 and some of its potential transcription factors (VDR, EGR3, PAX5, and SP1) can be regulated by SCFA. SCFA can attenuate erastin-induced lipid peroxidation in cardiomyocytes. SCFA treatment can also reverse erastin-induced Fe2+ increase but may strengthen the Fe2+ in the H/R model. We also precisely defined a ferroptosis subcluster of cardiomyocytes (CM09) that highly expressed FPG, ATF3, and GPRA.

Conclusion

The ATF3 and the ferroptosis pathway are elevated in cardiomyocytes of injury-related cardiac regions (border zone, ischemic zone, and fibrotic zone). SCFA can attenuate cardiomyocyte ferroptosis and regulate the expression of ATF3. Our study offers novel insights into the potential targets of SCFAs in the cardiovascular system.
Feasibility of probing the NEEC process using storage rings
Authors: Yang Yi , Wang Yumiao , Ma Zhiguo , Fu Changbo , He Wanbing , Ma Yugang
Published: July 2024

One of the fundamental processes in nuclear physics is nuclear excitation by electron capture (NEEC). Having been proposed theoretically for almost 50 years, the experimental confirmation of NEEC is still missing, making it imperative to validate this process. In this paper, we propose a new experimental method based on the anti-coincidence principle to search for the long-anticipated NEEC phenomenon, which involve heavy-ion storage rings. Our calculations indicate that the proposed experimental setup, storage ring, have the potential to surmount background noise, particularly Radiative Recombination (RR) and Coulomb Excitation (CE), and offer a high likelihood of discovering the long-awaited NEEC process.
Two-dimensional acoustic analysis using Taylor expansion-based boundary element method
Authors: Yang Yan , Lei Guang , Yang Sen , Xu Yanming
Published: July 2024

The use of boundary elements in two-dimensional acoustic analysis is presented in this study, along with a detailed explanation of how to derive the final discrete equations from the fundamental fluctuation equations. In order to overcome the fictitious eigenfrequency problem that might arise during the examination of the external sound field, this work employs the Burton-Miller approach. Additionally, this work uses the Taylor expansion to extract the frequency-dependent component from the BEM function, which speeds up the computation and removes the frequency dependency of the system coefficient matrix. The effect of the radiated acoustic field generated by underwater structures’ on thin-walled structures such as submarines and ships is inspected in this work. Numerical examples verify the accuracy of the proposed method and the efficiency improvement.
The decrease in panicle number is the main reason for the yield reduction of japonica rice caused by 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene stress
Authors: Yan Feiyu , Zhang Guoliang , Liu Le , Wang Fang , Zhao Hongliang , Huang Zhiwei , Niu Yuan
Published: July 2024

Persistent organic pollutants seriously affect the growth and development of crops. 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (TCB), as one of the most widely used chlorobenzenes, can affect the yield of japonica rice. However, existing research on the effect of TCB on japonica rice yield is not in-depth, and a basic understanding of commonality has not yet been formed. In this study, 28 conventional japonica rice varieties were selected to investigate the effects of TCB stress on their yield, yield composition, and TCB accumulation. This study also evaluated the efficiency of conventional tolerance indices in evaluating the TCB stress tolerance of japonica rice. The results showed that TCB caused sustained inhibition of the growth of japonica rice, which was considerably manifested in plant height, root length, soil plant analysis development (SPAD), and dry weight at different growth stages. Under TCB stress, TCB accumulation in various tissues of japonica rice increased sharply. TCB stress reduces the yield of japonica rice by reducing the number of panicles per hill, the number of spikelets per panicle, the grain filling percentage, and the grain weight. Overall, the results of this study indicate that TCB stress can cause a decrease in the yield of japonica rice, and the decrease in panicle number is the main reason. The conventional tolerance index can effectively evaluate the tolerance of japonica rice to TCB. The results of this study are substantial for the breeding and cultivation of japonica rice.
Sex-specific associations of muscular fitness with overall academic performance and specific school subjects in adolescents: the EHDLA study
Authors: Manzano-Sánchez David , Gutiérrez-Espinoza Héctor , López-Gil José Francisco
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Overalll, muscular fitness and academic performance are two variables widely studied in the literature. However, evidence on the relationship between muscular fitness and specific school subjects (e.g., physical education), as well as their differences by sex, is scarce.

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between muscular fitness and overall academic performance and between muscular fitness and specific subjects (i.e., language, math, foreign language, and physical education) in a sample of secondary Spanish school students.

Methods

For the present study, a sample of 766 students (45% boys, aged 12-17 years). From the Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities (EHDLA) study was used. The Assessing the Levels of Physical Activity and Fitness (ALPHA-FIT) battery was used to determine handgrip strength and lower body muscular strength. The performance of the different school subjects was provided by the school centers.

Results

Overall, for both boys and girls, higher muscular fitness was associated with greater academic results, with the greatest differences in physical education. However, only significant differences were identified for girls.

Discussion and conclusion

Global muscular fitness is important for contributing to cognitive development, both in physical education and in the rest of the subjects of the educational curriculum for adolescents. At the same time, although the association appears to follow the same trend for both sexes, the results seem more evident for girls.
Indicators of verbal creative thinking: results of a Delphi panel
Authors: López Martínez Olivia , Lorca Garrido Antonio José , de Vicente-Yagüe Jara María Isabel
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Creativity is a fundamental competence that manifests itself in various domains of knowledge, including verbal creativity. The main aim of this study was to identify indicators of verbal creativity for the assessment of three writing tasks.

Methods

Sixteen multidisciplinary and international creativity experts participated in a two-stage Delphi panel. The administered questionnaire asked about the measurement or non-measurement of eight indicators of verbal creative thinking in three tasks: problem posing, creative idea generation, and idea improvement. Originality is the most important indicator of creativity. The indicators identified in the first task were fluency, flexibility, originality, elaboration, and sensitivity to problems. The second task measures flexibility, originality, elaboration, opacity, and dynamic integration. In the third task, fluency, flexibility, originality, elaboration, dynamic integration, and refinement of ideas are considered.

Results

The results of this study are key to progress in the field of measuring verbal creative thinking.

Discussion

The identification of indicators of the construct called verbal creativity allows the determination of its components in order to be able to estimate the creative potential in this specific domain.
Strengthening the meaning in life among college students: the role of self-acceptance and social support - evidence from a network analysis
Authors: Wu Caiyun , Liu Xueting , Liu Jinxin , Tao Yanqiang , Li Yuting
Published: July 2024

Meaning in life, which has two possible sources: self-acceptance and social support, is essential to the mental health and development of college students. The current study aims to further clarify the symptom-level relations between meaning in life, self-acceptance, and social support, finding possible ways to improve meaning in the life of college students. Thousand three hundred and forty-eight Chinese college students completed the online questionnaire, including Self-acceptance Questionnaire, Social Support Rating Scale, and Meaning in Life Questionnaire and the data from 1,263 participants was used. Cross-sectional network analysis was used to examine the relation between self-acceptance and social support. We also explored the relation between dimensions of self-acceptance and social support and meaning in life using the flow network. The results show symptom “SlA” (self-acceptance) is the bridge symptom linking self-acceptance and social support. In the flow diagrams, “SlA” is directly and positively associated with the presence of meaning. Objective Support shares the strongest positive association with the search for meaning. The symptom “SIA” may be an important targeting symptom when trying to improve the meaning in life of college students. Additionally, social support is essential for college students to develop meaning in life.
Clinical and treatment profiles of arterial hypertension in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey endorsed by the “Collaborative Group on Arterial Hypertension”
Authors: Palomo-Piñón Silvia , Antonio-Villa Neftali Eduardo , Rangel-Zertuche Ricardo Alfonso , Berumen-Lechuga María Guadalupe , Medina-Serrano Julio Manuel , García-Cortés Luis Rey , Mejia-Rodríguez Oliva , León-Vázquez María de la Luz , González-Dzib Roxana del Socorro , González-Coronado Vidal José , Álvarez-Aguilar Cleto , Paniagua-Sierra José Ramón , Alcocer Luis ,   the Collaborative Group on Arterial Hypertension from the Mexican Institute of Social Security
Published: July 2024

Background

Arterial hypertension is highly prevalent in Mexico; nevertheless, there are limited insights regarding its management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we estimate the prevalence of clinical and treatment profiles of arterial hypertension and explore associated factors for undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension using a cross-sectional survey endorsed by the Collaborative Group on Arterial Hypertension from the Mexican Institute of Social Security.

Methods

Our survey was conducted from May to November 2021 using the May-Measurement Month 2021 protocols of the International Society of Hypertension. Arterial hypertension (defined as: blood pressure [BP] ≥140/90 mmHg, previous diagnosis, or taking antihypertensives) and its clinical and treatment profiles were classified according to the World Hypertension League Expert Committee. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to explore associated factors for undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension.

Results

Among 77,145 screened participants (women: 62.4%; median age: 46 [IQR: 32–59] years), the prevalence of arterial hypertension was 35.7% (95% CI: 35.3–36.0, n = 27,540). Among participants with arterial hypertension, 30.9% (95% CI: 30.4–31.5, n = 8,533) were undiagnosed, 6.6% (95% CI: 6.3%−6.9%, n = 1,806) were diagnosed but untreated, 43.4% (95% CI: 42.9–44.0, n = 11,965) had uncontrolled hypertension, and only 19% (95% CI: 18.6%−19.5%, n = 5,236) achieved hypertension control (BP < 130/80 mmHg). Explored associated factors for undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension include being men, living in the central and southern regions, lower educational attainments, higher use of pharmacological agents, and previous COVID-19 infection.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that adverse arterial hypertension profiles, mainly undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension, were highly prevalent during the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico.
Equity analysis of older adult resource allocation in China
Authors: Yu Qianqian , Zhang Tiantian , Jiang Luyi , Jia Yun , Dong Yuxing , Luo Li
Published: July 2024

Objective

To evaluate the current status and equity of older adult resource allocation in the 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) of mainland China, and to offer recommendations for the optimization of these allocations.

Methods

Four key indicators, namely, the number of older adult institutions, employees, professionals, and beds in mainland China in the year 2020, were used and analyzed using various methods and tools, including agglomeration analysis, the Gini coefficient, and the Lorenz Curve. These methods were applied to evaluate the equity of older adult resource allocation across the different provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and regions of China, using two dimensions, namely, the geographical area and the older adult population.

Results

Overall, the number of older adult resource allocations was found to be increasing in China, while the number of employees with educational levels of junior college or above was relatively low and the population structure was aging. In terms of the equity of older adult resource allocation, the results showed that this was good according to the dimensions of the older adult population but was on the low side based on the dimension of geographical area, and the Gini coefficient of the western region, in particular, was in an alarming state. Different provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) were found to have an uneven allocation of resources for older adults, with large differences, with some areas having a serious under-allocation of resources, while others showed resource over-allocation.

Conclusion

While China’s allocation of older adult resources is relatively equitable, there is nevertheless a need to take into account recent changes in the older adult population and strengthen the construction of a reasonably structured, high-quality team of professionals and technicians, as well as consider factors such as geographical area and the older adult population, and rationally allocate older adult resources in the eastern, middle, and western regions, to achieve a balanced allocation in terms of equity and efficiency and enhance social capital, to better satisfy the demands for older adult services in older adults at multiple levels.
Biological properties of a novel solution based on silver nanoclusters for arresting dentin caries
Authors: Molina Gustavo Fabián , Cabalén María Belén , Aranguren Juan Pablo , Pino Gustavo Ariel , Burrow Michael Francis
Published: July 2024

Objectives

To test the biological properties of a novel non-restorative treatment method for arresting dentin caries based on silver nanoclusters (AgNCls) synthesized in polymethacrylic acid (PMAA).

Methods

Synthesis of AgNCls was performed by photoreduction of AgNO3 in PMAA with 355 nm/wavelength light. AgNCls/PMAA was characterized by absorption/fluorescence spectroscopy and optical and atomic force microscopy. The stability of the clusters in an aerated PMAA solution was evaluated by means of fluorescence spectroscopy. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay and antibacterial effect was determined for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and colony forming (CFU) of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus). 38% Silver Diammine Fluoride (SDF) was used for the control groups.

Results

Chemical and structural identity of the clusters did not change within 9 months; Cell viability of 92%–89% was found after 24–48 h respectively. MIC and MBC were determined from 1:16 and 1:8 dilutions, respectively. Log CFU counts of S. mutans, and L. acidophilus treated with AgNCls/PMAA (3.4 ppm of silver) were significantly lower than in the control groups and even lower than when the same bacterial strains were treated with SDF (15,525 ppm of silver).

Conclusions

AgNCls/PMAA presented chemical stability, acceptable cytotoxicity, and a potential antibacterial effect for strains associated with caries lesions at very low concentrations of silver.
Infection Detection: Children Avoid Sick Faces
Authors: Leung Tiffany S. , Zeng Guangyu , Maylott Sarah E. , Martinez Shantalle N. , Jakobsen Krisztina V. , Simpson Elizabeth A.
Published: July 2024

Staying away from germs helps humans stay healthy and avoid dangerous sicknesses. People avoid other people who look or act like they might be feeling sick. For example, adults know when someone is sick just by looking at their face, and they can avoid going near sick people. We wanted to know whether children recognize sick faces. In our study, we asked 4–5-year-olds, 8–9-year-olds, and adults to look at photos of people and decide who was feeling sick and who they wanted to sit next to. Just by looking at the faces, 8–9-year-olds and adults could tell who was feeling sick and said they wanted to sit next to healthy people more than sick people. This study helps us understand that children can recognize and avoid sick faces just like grown-ups can, and that they get better at these skills as they get older.
Differences in left and right lower limb control strategies in coping with visual tracking tasks during bipedal standing
Authors: Minamisawa Tadayoshi , Chiba Noboru , Suzuki Eizaburo
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Differences in motor control between the lower limbs may influence the risk of sports injury and recovery from rehabilitation. In this study, differences in the visual feedback ability of the left and right lower limbs were assessed using visual target tracking tasks.

Methods

Thirty-four healthy young subjects (aged 20.4 ± 1.2 years) were asked to move their bodies back and forth while tracking a visual target displayed on a monitor in front of them for 30 s. The two target motions were sinusoidal (i.e., predictable patterns) and more complex (random) patterns. To assess the ability of the lower limbs to follow visual target tracking, antero-posterior CoP (right limb, CoPap–r; left limb, CoPap–l) and medio-lateral CoP (right limb, CoPml–r; left limb, CoPml–l) data were measured using a stabilometer. Tracking ability by visual feedback ability was calculated as the difference in displacement between the target signal and the trajectories of the right and left pressure centers as trapezoidal areas, and a smaller sum of area (SoA) over the entire measurement time was defined as a greater tracking ability.

Results

Regarding the SoA in the anterior-posterior CoP, the mean SoA in the sinusoidal and random tasks was significantly lower in the CoP-r data than in the CoP-l data, indicating that the right lower limb had a more remarkable ability to follow visual target tracking. Regarding the SoA in the medial-lateral direction (CoP), the mean SoA in the sinusoidal and random tasks did not significantly differ between the two legs.

Discussion

The right lower limb may have a tracking function activated by the target signal when responding to visual stimuli. Identifying the motor strategies of each lower limb in response to visual stimuli will not only help identify potential differences between each lower limb but also suggest the possibility of enhancing the role of each lower limb in balance control.
Topical blood products modulate the effects of ophthalmic antibiotics against common bacterial pathogens in dogs with infectious keratitis
Authors: Kubai Melissa A. , Roy Mackenzie M. , Stinman Chloe C. , Kenne Danielle E. , Allbaugh Rachel A. , Sebbag Lionel
Published: July 2024

Bacterial keratitis is a common and serious condition that often leads to vision impairment and potential loss of the eye if not treated promptly and adequately. Topical blood products are often used concurrently with topical antibiotics, helping to mitigate corneal ‘melt’ from proteases released on the ocular surface. However, blood products are rich in albumin and could affect the efficacy of antibiotics due to drug-protein binding. In this study, serum and plasma samples were harvested from 10 healthy dogs and 10 healthy horses, obtaining fresh and frozen (1 month at −20°C) aliquots for in vitro experiments. Albumin levels were quantified using species-specific ELISA kits. Thirty bacteria (10 Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, 10 Streptococcus canis, 10 Pseudomonas aeruginosa), isolated from canine patients with infectious keratitis, were each tested with blank plates as well as commercial susceptibility plates (Sensititre™ JOEYE2) to assess the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 17 different antibiotics in the absence (control) or presence of eight test groups: serum or plasma (fresh or frozen) from canines or equines. Albumin concentrations ranged from 13.8–14.6 mg/mL and 25.9–26.5 mg/mL in canine and equine blood products, respectively. A direct antimicrobial effect was observed mostly with equine vs. canine blood products (specifically serum and to a lesser degree plasma), and mostly for Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolates. MICs generally increased in the presence of blood products (up to 10.8-fold), although MICs also decreased (down to 0.25-fold) for selected antibiotics and ocular pathogens. Median (range) fold changes in MICs were significantly greater (p = 0.004) with the canine blood products [2 (0.67–8.1)] than the equine blood products [2 (0.5–5)]. In practice, clinicians should consider equine over canine blood products (lesser impact on antimicrobial susceptibility), serum over plasma (greater antimicrobial effects), and administering the blood product ≥15 min following the last antibiotic eyedrop to minimize the amount of albumin-antibiotic binding in tear film.