bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arsenic Trioxide Therapy During Pregnancy: ATO and Its Metabolites in Maternal Blood and Amniotic Fluid of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Patients
Authors: Guo Meihua , Lv Jian , Chen Xiaotong , Wu Mengliang , Zhao Qilei , Hai Xin
Published: May 2022

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is extremely fatal if treatment is delayed. Management of APL in pregnancy is a challenging situation. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is successfully applied to treat APL. ATO can be transformed into different arsenic species [arsenite (AsIII), monomethylated arsenic (MMA, consists of MMAIII and MMAV), dimethylated arsenic (DMA, consists of DMAIII and DMAV), and arsenate (AsV)], which produce different toxic effects. Investigating the maternal and fetal exposure to arsenic species is critical in terms of assessing maternal and fetal outcomes, choice of optimal treatment, and making decisions for attempting to preserve the obstetrical and fetal wellbeing. In this study, maternal blood and amniotic fluid (AF) from APL patients treated with ATO in pregnancy and blood samples of non-pregnant patients were collected. Concentrations of inorganic arsenic (iAs, iAs = AsIII+AsV), MMA, and DMA were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography–hydride generation–atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HPLC–HG–AFS). The difference in arsenic species of plasma between pregnant patients and non-pregnant patients, distribution of arsenic compounds in AF and maternal plasma, and arsenic penetration into AF were explored. The outcomes of pregnant women treated with ATO and their fetus were analyzed. No significant differences in arsenic concentration, percentage, and methylation index [PMI: primary methylation index (MMA/iAs); SMI: secondary methylation index (DMA/MMA)] between pregnant women and non-pregnant women (p > 0.05) were observed. The mean ratios of AF to maternal plasma were as follows: iAs, 2.09; DMA, 1.04; MMA, 0.49; and tAs, 0.98. Abortion rate is higher with the diagnosis at an earlier gestational age, with 0%, 67%, and 100% of pregnancies ending in abortion during the third, second, and first trimester, respectively. The age of the pregnant women, the dose of ATO, and the duration of fetal exposure in utero had no influence on fetal outcomes. All APL women achieved complete remission (CR). Collectively, ATO and its metabolites can easily cross the placenta. Levels and distribution of arsenic species in maternal plasma and AF gave evidence that arsenic species had a different ability to penetrate the placenta into AF (iAs > DMA > MMA) and indicated a relatively high fetal exposure to ATO and its metabolites in utero. Gestational age at diagnosis was more likely to be closely related to fetal outcomes, but had no effects on mother outcomes.
Radiomics Based on DCE-MRI Improved Diagnostic Performance Compared to BI-RADS Analysis in Identifying Sclerosing Adenosis of the Breast
Authors: Ruan Mei , Ding Zhongxiang , Shan Yanna , Pan Shushu , Shao Chang , Xu Wen , Zhen Tao , Pang Peipei , Shen Qijun
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Sclerosing adenosis (SA) is a benign lesion that could mimic breast carcinoma and be evaluated as malignancy by Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) analysis. We aimed to construct and validate the performance of radiomic model based on dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) compared to BI-RADS analysis to identify SA.

Methods

Sixty-seven patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and 58 patients with SA were included in this retrospective study from two institutions. The 125 patients were divided into a training cohort (n= 88) from institution I and a validation cohort from institution II (n=37). Dynamic contrast-enhanced sequences including one pre-contrast and five dynamic post-contrast series were obtained for all cases with different 3T scanners. Single-phase enhancement, multi-phase enhancement, and dynamic radiomic features were extracted from DCE-MRI. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression and cross-validation was performed to build the radscore of each single-phase enhancement and the final model combined multi-phase and dynamic radiomic features. The diagnostic performance of radiomics was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and compared to the performance of BI-RADS analysis. The classification performance was tested using external validation.

Results

In the training cohort, the AUCs of BI-RADS analysis were 0.71 (95%CI [0.60, 0.80]), 0.78 (95%CI [0.67, 0.86]), and 0.80 (95%CI [0.70, 0.88]), respectively. In single-phase analysis, the second enhanced phase radiomic signature achieved the highest AUC of 0.88 (95%CI [0.79, 0.94]) in distinguishing SA from IDC. Nine multi-phase radiomic features and two dynamic radiomic features showed the best predictive ability for final model building. The final model improved the AUC to 0.92 (95%CI [0.84, 0.97]), and showed statistically significant differences with BI-RADS analysis (p<0.05 for all). In the validation cohort, the AUC of the final model was 0.90 (95%CI [0.75, 0.97]), which was higher than all BI-RADS analyses and showed statistically significant differences with one of the BI-RADS analysis observers (p = 0.03).

Conclusions

Radiomics based on DCE-MRI could show better diagnostic performance compared to BI-RADS analysis in differentiating SA from IDC, which may contribute to clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Implications of Three-Dimensional Cell Culture in Cancer Therapeutic Research
Authors: Poornima Kolluri , Francis Arul Prakash , Hoda Muddasarul , Eladl Mohamed Ahmed , Subramanian Srividya , Veeraraghavan Vishnu Priya , El-Sherbiny Mohamed , Asseri Saad Mohamed , Hussamuldin Abdulrahman Bashir Ahmed , Surapaneni Krishna Mohan , Mony Ullas , Rajagopalan Rukkumani
Published: May 2022

Replicating the naturalistic biomechanical milieu of cells is a primary requisite to uncover the fundamental life processes. The native milieu is significantly not replicated in the two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures. Alternatively, the current three-dimensional (3D) culture techniques can replicate the properties of extracellular matrix (ECM), though the recreation of the original microenvironment is challenging. The organization of cells in a 3D manner contributes to better insight about the tumorigenesis mechanism of the in vitro cancer models. Gene expression studies are susceptible to alterations in their microenvironment. Physiological interactions among neighboring cells also contribute to gene expression, which is highly replicable with minor modifications in 3D cultures. 3D cell culture provides a useful platform for identifying the biological characteristics of tumor cells, particularly in the drug sensitivity area of translational medicine. It promises to be a bridge between traditional 2D culture and animal experiments and is of great importance for further research in tumor biology. The new imaging technology and the implementation of standard protocols can address the barriers interfering with the live cell observation in a natural 3D physiological environment.
Circulating miRNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in High-Grade Gliomas
Authors: Wu Jianing , Al-Zahrani Abdulrahman , Beylerli Ozal , Sufianov Rinat , Talybov Rustam , Meshcheryakova Svetlana , Sufianova Galina , Gareev Ilgiz , Sufianov Albert
Published: May 2022

Objectives

miR-181a/b and miR-410 downregulation and miR-155 upregulation has been shown to play important roles in the oncogenesis and progression of gliomas including high-grade gliomas. However, the potential role of plasma miR-181a/b, miR-410 and miR-155 in the diagnosis and prognosis of high-grade gliomas remains poorly known.

Methods

We retrieved published articles from the PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science database and obtained different sets of data on microRNAs (miRNAs) expression profiling in glioma and highlighted the most frequently dysregulated miRNAs and their gene-targets (PDCD4, WNT5A, MET, and EGFR) in high-grade gliomas. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was carried out to measure the pre- and postoperative plasma levels of miR-181a/b, miR-410 and miR-155 in 114 Grade 3-4 glioma patients, 77 Grade 1-2 glioma patients and 85 healthy volunteers as control group. The diagnostic and prognostic value of circulating miR-181a/b, miR-410 and miR-155 as biomarker was estimated by the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC) and Kaplan–Meier analysis.

Results

We found a plasma miRNA signature including three downexpressed miRNAs and one overexpressed (miR-181a, miR-181b and miR-410; miR-155) in high-grade glioma patients in comparison with low-grade glioma patients control group. The ROC curve AUC of these four circulating miRNAs were ≥ 0.75 for high-grade glioma patients in before and after surgery. Higher circulating miR-155 and lower miR-181a/b and miR-410 expression is associated with clinical data, clinic pathological variables, worse overall survival (OS) of patients and negative correlated with potential gene-targets expression. Moreover, Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that miR-181a/b, miR-410 and miR-155 were independent predictors of OS in high-grade glioma patients.

Conclusions

Our data, for the first time, demonstrated that circulating miR-181a/b, miR-410 and miR-155 could be a useful diagnostic and prognostic non-invasive biomarkers in high-grade gliomas.
Prediction Models for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review
Authors: Peng Hai-Bo , Zhan Yuan-Li , Chen You , Jin Zhen-Chao , Liu Fang , Wang Bo , Yu Zhang-Bin
Published: May 2022

Objective

To provide an overview and critical appraisal of prediction models for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant studies (up to November 2021). We included studies that reported prediction model development and/or validation of BPD in preterm infants born at ≤32 weeks and/or ≤1,500 g birth weight. We extracted the data independently based on the CHecklist for critical Appraisal and data extraction for systematic Reviews of prediction Modelling Studies (CHARMS). We assessed risk of bias and applicability independently using the Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool (PROBAST).

Results

Twenty-one prediction models from 13 studies reporting on model development and 21 models from 10 studies reporting on external validation were included. Oxygen dependency at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age was the most frequently reported outcome in both development studies (71%) and validation studies (81%). The most frequently used predictors in the models were birth weight (67%), gestational age (62%), and sex (52%). Nearly all included studies had high risk of bias, most often due to inadequate analysis. Small sample sizes and insufficient event patients were common in both study types. Missing data were often not reported or were discarded. Most studies reported on the models’ discrimination, while calibration was seldom assessed (development, 19%; validation, 10%). Internal validation was lacking in 69% of development studies.

Conclusion

The included studies had many methodological shortcomings. Future work should focus on following the recommended approaches for developing and validating BPD prediction models.
De novo Food Allergy After Pediatric Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bergamo Chiara , Argento Emily Claire , Giampetruzzi Stefania , Cutini Maristella , Ciabattoni Francesco , Faggian Giovanna , Gaio Paola , Bosa Luca , Cananzi Mara
Published: May 2022

Background:

Liver transplant (LT) recipients, particularly children, have an increased risk of developing de novo food allergies (FAs) after transplantation both compared to all the other transplant groups and to the general population. Little is known about the pathogenesis underlying this phenomenon and comprehensive recommendations or clinical practice guidelines are still lacking, mainly due to the scarcity of high-quality evidence.

Aim

We aimed to prepare a systematic review on de novo FA in pediatric LT recipients to assess epidemiology and risk factors, evaluate the correlation to specific food groups, describe clinical manifestations, investigate the rate of tolerance acquisition over time and report available therapeutic strategies.

Methods

We conducted this systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Wiley online library, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were systematically searched for studies published from January 1980 to September 2021. All the articles were checked independently by two reviewers in two steps. A total of 323 articles were screened, and 40 were included for data extraction.

Results and Conclusions

We found that de novo FAs develop in the 15% of pediatric LT recipients, especially in the first 2 years after surgery, with higher risk related to younger age at transplantation (especially <2 years of age) and tacrolimus immunosuppression. Subjects are often allergic to multiple foods, and 15% of them suffer from anaphylaxis. The majority of patients do not spontaneously outgrow their symptoms during follow-up. The discontinuation of tacrolimus in favor of cyclosporine or the association of tacrolimus with mycophenolate have been associated with the resolution or the improvement of FA in small retrospective case series and could be considered in case of severe or multiple, difficult to manage FAs. Prospective multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings, guide the risk-based stratification of pediatric LT recipients, and provide for high-evidence therapeutic strategies for children with de novo FA.
Risk Factors of Readmission to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Within 1 Year: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Ding Min , Yang Chunfeng , Li Yumei
Published: May 2022

Background

Research on pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) readmission is lacking in China. This study was conducted to describe the risk factors associated with PICU readmission within 1 year after PICU discharge.

Methods

This retrospective case-control study included patients aged from 1 month to 16 years who were discharged between January 2018 and May 2020. The case group included readmitted patients with two or more PICU admissions within 1 year during the study period. The control group included survivors with only one PICU admission during the same study period, and the controls were matched on age and sex. Demographic and clinical variables were collected from the electronic administrative database. Risk factors were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

From January 2018 to May 2020, 2,529 patients were discharged from the PICU, and 103 (4.07%) were readmitted within 1 year. In the univariate analysis, PICU readmission within 1 year was associated with lower weight, the presence of chronic conditions, a higher StrongKids score on admission, length of PICU stay of more than 2 weeks, the presence of dysfunction at discharge, sedation medications use, vasopressor use, and invasive mechanical ventilation in the first PICU stay. Patients had a higher StrongKids score as a surrogate for increased risk of malnutrition. In the multivariate analysis, the factors most significantly associated with PICU readmission within 1 year were the presence of chronic conditions, a higher StrongKids score on admission, and length of PICU stay of more than 2 weeks in the first PICU stay. In the subgroup analysis, compared with the control group, the factors most significantly associated with readmission within 48 h of discharge were the presence of chronic conditions, a higher StrongKids score on admission, and vasopressor use during the first PICU stay. The mortality rate was 8.74% (9/103) in patients with PICU readmission. The overall PICU mortality rate was 7.39% (201/2,721) during the study period.

Conclusions

Patients with chronic conditions, a higher StrongKids score on admission, and length of PICU stay of more than 2 weeks were at much higher risk for PICU readmission within 1 year. Patients with vasopressor use during the first PICU hospitalization were more likely to be readmitted within 48 h of discharge.
Cinnamaldehyde Suppressed EGF-Induced EMT Process and Inhibits Ovarian Cancer Progression Through PI3K/AKT Pathway
Authors: Wang Yue , Li Ying , Wang Liang , Chen Buze , Zhu Miaolin , Ma Chunyi , Mu Chunyan , Tao Aibin , Li Shibao , Luo Lan , Ma Ping , Ji Shuai , Lan Ting
Published: May 2022

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies in women worldwide with a poor survival rate. Cinnamaldehyde (CA), a bioactive substance isolated from cinnamon bark, is a natural drug and has shown that it can inhibit the progression of other tumors. However, the role of CA in ovarian cancer and its mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, wound healing assays, plate cloning, CCK-8, and transwell assays were used to determine cell proliferation and invasion. Western blot and flow cytometry were used to detect apoptosis levels. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to detect changes in cellular EMT levels. The Western blot was used to detect levels of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In vivo, we established a subcutaneous transplantation tumor model in nude mice to verify the role of CA in the progression and metastasis of ovarian cancer. Our data showed that in vitro CA was able to inhibit the cell viability of ovarian cancer. The results of scratch assay and transwell assay also showed that CA inhibited the proliferation and invasion ability of A2780 and SKOV3 cells. In addition, CA promoted apoptosis by increasing the expression of cleaved-PARP and cleaved-caspase 3 in ovarian cancer cells. Mechanistically, we found that CA inhibited the EGF-induced PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and reduced the phosphorylation levels of mTOR, PI3K, and AKT. The EGF-induced EMT process was also abolished by CA. The EMT process induced by AKT-specific activator SC79 was also suppressed by CA. Furthermore, in in vivo, CA significantly repressed the progression of ovarian cancer as well as liver metastasis. In all, our results suggest that CA inhibits ovarian cancer progression and metastasis in vivo and in vitro and inhibits EGF-induced EMT processes through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Real-World Prescription Patterns For Patients With Young-Onset Parkinson’s Disease in China: A Trend Analysis From 2014 to 2019
Authors: Liu Xiao-qin , Wang Xiao-yu , Shen Hui-ming , Pang Wen-yuan , Zhong Ming-kang , Ma Chun-lai
Published: May 2022

Introduction Pharmacotherapy is one of the main treatments for patients with young-onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD). Although numerous studies on the treatment of YOPD have been published, the real-world prescription patterns of these populations remain unclear in China.

Methods A national comprehensive evaluation was performed to reveal the pharmacological treatment patterns in Chinese patients with Parkinson’s disease from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2019, with patients aged 21–50 years classified as having YOPD for the subgroup analysis. Information on patients and drugs was extracted to analyse the demographic characteristics, prescription patterns, and levodopa equivalent daily dose (LED) during disease progression.

Results A total of 1,134 patients with YOPD were included, and the majority were aged 41–50 years. Prescription of L-DOPA/benserazide and pramipexole accounted for more than 30 and 20%, respectively, in each year from 2014 to 2019. There was no difference in prescription patterns in terms of age, sex and geographical areas. Half of the patients with YOPD were on monotherapy, but the proportion decreased from 2016. Correspondingly, the proportion of patients receiving polytherapy increased, especially those who were prescribed more than two anti-Parkinson’s disease drugs. During the disease course, LED showed high variability, which increased over time.

Conclusion L-DOPA/benserazide and pramipexole were the most frequently prescribed anti-PD drugs for patients with YOPD in China. There was a slight trend in the transition from monotherapy to polytherapy. LED increased with disease duration. Thus, we provided an overview of the prescription patterns for patients with YOPD in China.
Advances of Heat Shock Family in Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Gong Min , Zhang Fengrui , Miao Yinglei , Niu Junkun
Published: May 2022

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a non-specific and chronic inflammatory disease of colonic mucosa whose exact etiology and mechanisms remain unclear. The incidence rate of UC is increasing year by year worldwide. What followed is that the medical costs are also rising rapidly. Therefore, it is urgent to understand the pathogenesis and find promising therapeutic targets for UC. Intestinal mucosal homeostasis is essential for normal bowel function, and its imbalance may be an important pathogenesis of UC. Endogenous homeostatic regulators play roles in repairing intestinal mucosa injury after stress. Heat shock family proteins are essential endogenous homeostasis factors. They can inhibit inflammation, regulate intestinal epithelial cells’ survival and death, and promote mucosal healing. Thus, they play important roles in sustaining intestinal mucosal homeostasis and protecting against UC progression. However, the heat shock family may promote UC carcinogenesis. Here, we summarize the advances in the research of the functions of the heat shock family in UC. And this review is an attempt to light on the etiopathogenesis of UC, highlighting the endogenous protective mechanisms, hoping to provide a novel therapeutic target for UC treatment.
Time Restricted Feeding to the Light Cycle Dissociates Canonical Circadian Clocks and Physiological Rhythms in Heart Rate
Authors: Schroder Elizabeth A. , Delisle Brian P.
Published: May 2022

Circadian rhythms are approximate 24-h biological cycles that optimize molecular and physiological functions to predictable daily environmental changes in order to maintain internal and organismal homeostasis. Environmental stimuli (light, feeding, activity) capable of altering the phase of molecular rhythms are important tools employed by circadian biologists to increase understanding of the synchronization of circadian rhythms to the environment and to each other within multicellular systems. The central circadian clock, located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is largely responsive to light and is thought to entrain the phase of peripheral clocks via neurohumoral signals. Mice are nocturnal and consume most of their food during the dark cycle. Early studies demonstrated that altered metabolic cues in the form of time restricted feeding, specifically, feeding mice during the light cycle, resulted in an uncoupling of molecular clocks in peripheral tissues with those from the SCN. These studies showed as much as a 12-h shift in gene expression in some peripheral tissues but not others. The shifts occurred without corresponding changes in the central clock in the brain. More recent studies have demonstrated that changes in cardiac physiology (heart rate, MAP) in response to time of food intake occur independent of the cardiac molecular clock. Understanding differences in the physiology/function and gene expression in other organs both independently and in relation to the heart in response to altered feeding will be important in dissecting the roles of the various clocks throughout the body, as well as, understanding their links to cardiovascular pathology.
Chemical Composition of Cuticle and Barrier Properties to Transpiration in the Fruit of Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels
Authors: Huang Hua , Wang Ling , Qiu Diyang , Lu Yusheng
Published: May 2022

The plant cuticle, as a lipid membrane covering aerial plant surfaces, functions primarily against uncontrolled water loss. Herein, the cuticle chemical composition and the transpiration of wampee fruit (Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels) at the green, turning, and yellow stages in cultivars of “Jixin” and “Tianhuangpi” were comprehensively studied. The coverage of wax and cutin monomers per unit of fruit surface area at the green stage was lower in “Jixin” than in “Tianhuangpi” and increased gradually during development. Cutin monomers accumulated ranging from 22.5 μg cm−2 (green) to 52.5 μg cm−2 (turning) in “Jixin” and from 36.5 μg cm−2 (green) to 81.7 μg cm−2 (yellow) in “Tianhuangpi.” The total composition of waxes ranged between 6.0 μg cm−2 (green) and 11.1 μg cm−2 (turning) in “Jixin,” while they increased from 7.4 μg cm−2 (green) to 16.7 μg cm−2 (yellow) in “Tianhuangpi.” Cutin monomers were dominated by ω-, mid-dihydroxy fatty acids (over 40%), followed by multiple monomers of α,ω-dicarboxylic acids with or without added groups, α-monocarboxylic acids with or without ω- or mid-chain hydroxy or mid-epoxy groups, primary alcohols, and phenolics. The very-long-chain (VLC) aliphatic pattern of cuticular waxes was prominently composed of n-alkanes (ranging from 21.4% to 39.3% of total wax content), fatty acids, primary alcohols, and aldehydes. The cyclic waxes were dominated by triterpenoids (between 23.9 and 51.2%), sterols, and phenolics. Water loss in wampee fruit exhibited linear changes over time, indicating an overall monofunctional barrier to transpiration. Permeance for water in wampee fruit was higher at the green stage than at the yellow stage in both “Jixin” and “Tianhuangpi,” which showed a negative correlation with the changes of VLC n-alkanes. The results showed the cuticular chemicals, including cutin monomers and waxes, in wampee fruit and further indicated the potential contributions of the cuticular chemical composition to the physiological functions in fruits.
Detection and Localization of Tip-Burn on Large Lettuce Canopies
Authors: Franchetti Benjamin , Pirri Fiora
Published: May 2022

Recent years have seen an increased effort in the detection of plant stresses and diseases using non-invasive sensors and deep learning methods. Nonetheless, no studies have been made on dense plant canopies, due to the difficulty in automatically zooming into each plant, especially in outdoor conditions. Zooming in and zooming out is necessary to focus on the plant stress and to precisely localize the stress within the canopy, for further analysis and intervention. This work concentrates on tip-burn, which is a plant stress affecting lettuce grown in controlled environmental conditions, such as in plant factories. We present a new method for tip-burn stress detection and localization, combining both classification and self-supervised segmentation to detect, localize, and closely segment the stressed regions. Starting with images of a dense canopy collecting about 1,000 plants, the proposed method is able to zoom into the tip-burn region of a single plant, covering less than 1/10th of the plant itself. The method is crucial for solving the manual phenotyping that is required in plant factories. The precise localization of the stress within the plant, of the plant within the tray, and of the tray within the table canopy allows to automatically deliver statistics and causal annotations. We have tested our method on different data sets, which do not provide any ground truth segmentation mask, neither for the leaves nor for the stresses; therefore, the results on the self-supervised segmentation is even more impressive. Results show that the accuracy for both classification and self supervised segmentation is new and efficacious. Finally, the data set used for training test and validation is currently available on demand.
Label-Free Quantitative Proteomics Unravel the Impacts of Salt Stress on Dendrobium huoshanense
Authors: Song Cheng , Zhang Yunpeng , Chen Rui , Zhu Fucheng , Wei Peipei , Pan Haoyu , Chen Cunwu , Dai Jun
Published: May 2022

Salt stress is a constraint on crop growth and productivity. When exposed to high salt stress, metabolic abnormalities that disrupt reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis result in massive oxygen radical deposition. Dendrobium huoshanense is a perennial orchid herb that thrives in semi-shade conditions. Although lots of studies have been undertaken on abiotic stresses (high temperature, chilling, drought, etc.) of model plants, few studies were reported on the mechanism of salt stress in D. huoshanense. Using a label-free protein quantification method, a total of 2,002 differential expressed proteins were identified in D. huoshanense. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment indicated that proteins involved in vitamin B6 metabolism, photosynthesis, spliceosome, arginine biosynthesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and MAPK signaling were considerably enriched. Remarkably, six malate dehydrogenases (MDHs) were identified from deferentially expressed proteins. (NAD+)-dependent MDH may directly participate in the biosynthesis of malate in the nocturnal crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) pathway. Additionally, peroxidases such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), as well as antioxidant enzymes involved in glutathione biosynthesis and some vitamins biosynthesis were also identified. Taken together, these results provide a solid foundation for the investigation of the mechanism of salt stress in Dendrobium spp.
Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Regulatory Networks and Hub Genes Controlling the Unsaturated Fatty Acid Contents of Developing Seed in Soybean
Authors: Liu Junqi , Dong Liang , Duan Runqing , Hu Li , Zhao Yinyue , Zhang Liang , Wang Xianzhi
Published: May 2022

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is one of the most important crops, which produces about 25% of the world’s edible oil. The nutritional value of soybean oil depends mostly on the relative contents of three unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), i.e., oleic acid, linoleic acid (LA), and linolenic acid. However, the biosynthetic mechanism of UFAs remains largely unknown, and there are few studies on RNA-seq analysis of developing seeds. To identify the candidate genes and related pathways involved in the regulation of UFA contents during seed development in soybean, two soybean lines with different UFA profiles were selected from 314 cultivars and landraces originated from Southern China, and RNA-seq analysis was performed in soybean seeds at three developmental stages. Using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, a series of genes and pathways related to fatty acid metabolism were identified, and 40 days after flowering (DAF) was found to be the crucial period in the formation of UFA profiles. Further, weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified three modules with six genes whose functions were highly associated with the contents of oleic and LA. The detailed functional investigation of the networks and hub genes could further improve the understanding of the underlying molecular mechanism of UFA contents and might provide some ideas for the improvement in fatty acids profiles in soybean.
An NGS-Based Phylogeny of Orthotricheae (Orthotrichaceae, Bryophyta) With the Proposal of the New Genus Rehubryum From Zealandia
Authors: Draper Isabel , Villaverde Tamara , Garilleti Ricardo , Burleigh J. Gordon , McDaniel Stuart F. , Mazimpaka Vicente , Calleja Juan A. , Lara Francisco
Published: May 2022

Phylogenomic data increase the possibilities of resolving the evolutionary and systematic relationships among taxa. This is especially valuable in groups with few and homoplasious morphological characters, in which systematic and taxonomical delimitations have been traditionally difficult. Such is the case of several lineages within Bryophyta, like Orthotrichaceae, the second most diverse family of mosses. Members of tribe Orthotricheae are common in temperate and cold regions, as well as in high tropical mountains. In extratropical areas, they represent one of the main components of epiphytic communities, both in dry and oceanic or hyperoceanic conditions. The epiphytic environment is considered a hostile one for plant development, mainly due to its low capacity of moisture retention. Thus, the diversification of the Orthotrichaceae in this environment could be seen as striking. Over the last two decades, great taxonomic and systematic progresses have led to a rearrangement at the generic level in this tribe, providing a new framework to link environment to patterns of diversification. Here, we use nuclear loci targeted with the GoFlag 408 enrichment probe set to generate a well-sampled phylogeny with well-supported suprageneric taxa and increasing the phylogenetic resolution within the two recognized subtribes. Specifically, we show that several genera with Ulota-like morphology jointly constitute an independent lineage. Within this lineage, the recently described Atlantichella from Macaronesia and Western Europe appears as the sister group of Ulota bellii from Zealandia. This latter species is here segregated in the new genus Rehubryum. Assessment of the ecological and biogeographical affinities of the species within the phylogenetic framework suggests that niche adaptation (including climate and substrate) may be a key evolutionary driver that shaped the high diversification of Orthotricheae.
Masks Start to Drop: Suppressor of MAX2 1-Like Proteins Reveal Their Many Faces
Authors: Temmerman Arne , Guillory Ambre , Bonhomme Sandrine , Goormachtig Sofie , Struk Sylwia
Published: May 2022

Although the main players of the strigolactone (SL) signaling pathway have been characterized genetically, how they regulate plant development is still poorly understood. Of central importance are the SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1-LIKE (SMXL) proteins that belong to a family of eight members in Arabidopsis thaliana, of which one subclade is involved in SL signaling and another one in the pathway of the chemically related karrikins. Through proteasomal degradation of these SMXLs, triggered by either DWARF14 (D14) or KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE2 (KAI2), several physiological processes are controlled, such as, among others, shoot and root architecture, seed germination, and seedling photomorphogenesis. Yet another clade has been shown to be involved in vascular development, independently of the D14 and KAI2 actions and not relying on proteasomal degradation. Despite their role in several aspects of plant development, the exact molecular mechanisms by which SMXLs regulate them are not completely unraveled. To fill the major knowledge gap in understanding D14 and KAI2 signaling, SMXLs are intensively studied, making it challenging to combine all the insights into a coherent characterization of these important proteins. To this end, this review provides an in-depth exploration of the recent data regarding their physiological function, evolution, structure, and molecular mechanism. In addition, we propose a selection of future perspectives, focusing on the apparent localization of SMXLs in subnuclear speckles, as observed in transient expression assays, which we couple to recent advances in the field of biomolecular condensates and liquid–liquid phase separation.
Genetic Diversity Study on Geographical Populations of the Multipurpose Species Elsholtzia stauntonii Using Transferable Microsatellite Markers
Authors: Zhang Chenxing , Jia Chunfeng , Liu Xinru , Zhao Hanqing , Hou Lu , Li Meng , Cui Binbin , Li Yingyue
Published: May 2022

Elsholtzia stauntonii Benth. (Lamiaceae) is an economically important ornamental, medicinal and aromatic plant species. To meet the increasing market demand for E. stauntonii, it is necessary to assess genetic diversity within the species to accelerate the process of genetic improvement. Analysis of the transferability of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers from related species or genera is a fast and economical method to evaluate diversity, and can ensure the availability of molecular markers in crops with limited genomic resources. In this study, the cross-genera transferability of 497 SSR markers selected from other members of the Lamiaceae (Salvia L., Perilla L., Mentha L., Hyptis Jacq., Leonurus L., Pogostemon Desf., Rosmarinus L., and Scutella L.) to E. stauntonii was 9.05% (45 primers). Among the 45 transferable markers, 10 markers revealed relatively high polymorphism in E. stauntonii. The genetic variation among 825 individuals from 18 natural populations of E. stauntonii in Hebei Province of China was analyzed using the 10 polymorphic SSR markers. On the basis of the SSR data, the average number of alleles (NA), expected heterozygosity (HE), and Shannon’s information index (I) of the 10 primers pairs were 7.000, 0.478, and 0.688, respectively. Lower gene flow (Nm = 1.252) and high genetic differentiation (Fst = 0.181) were detected in the populations. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that most of the variation (81.47%) was within the populations. Integrating the results of STRUCTURE, UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean) clustering, and principal coordinate analysis, the 825 samples were grouped into two clusters associated with geographical provenance (southwestern and northeastern regions), which was consistent with the results of a Mantel test (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). Overall, SSR markers developed in related genera were effective to study the genetic structure and genetic diversity in geographical populations of E. stauntonii. The results provide a theoretical basis for conservation of genetic resources, genetic improvement, and construction of a core collection for E. stauntonii.
Impact of Plant Spacing and Nitrogen Rates on Growth Characteristics and Yield Attributes of Egyptian Cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.)
Authors: Ibrahim Ibrahim A. E. , Yehia Waleed M. B. , Saleh Fouad H. , Lamlom Sobhi F. , Ghareeb Rehab Y. , El-Banna Aly A. A. , Abdelsalam Nader R.
Published: May 2022

This current study was performed to determine the influences of plant spacing, Nitrogen (N) fertilization rate and their effect, on growth traits, yield, and yield components of cotton (Gossypium barbadenseL.) cv. Giza 97 during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. A split plot experiment in three replicates was utilized whereas the cotton seeds were planted at 20, 30, and 40 cm, as main plots and nitrogen at 75, 100, and 125%, was in subplots. The results revealed that the planting spacing at 40 cm significantly (p≤ 0.01) increased plant height, number of fruiting branches per plant, number of bolls per plant, boll weight (BW), lint percentage (L%), seed cotton yield (SCY), lint cotton yield (LCY), seed index and lint index by 165.68 cm, 20.92, 23.93, 3.75 g, 42.01%, 4.24 ton/ha, 5.16 ton/ha, 12.05, 7.86, respectively, as average in both seasons. The application of N fertilizer rate at 125% caused a maximum increase in growth and yield parameters i.e., plant height (169.08 cm), number of vegetative branches (2.67), number of fruiting branches per plant (20.82), number bolls per fruiting branch (1.39), number of bolls per plant (23.73), boll weight (4.1 g), lint percent (41.9%), seed index (11.8 g), and lint index (8.2), while the plants treated with 100% N rates exhibited highest seed cotton yield (4.3 ton/ha) and lint cotton yield (5.6 ton/ha), as average in both seasons. Combining plant spacing at 40 cm between plants with a 100% N fertilizer rate recorded the highest lint cotton yield (5.67 ton/ha), while the highest seed cotton yield (4.43 and 4.50 ton/ha) was obtained from 125% N fertilizer rate under planting spacing 20 and 40 cm, respectively. Conclusively, a wide density (40 cm) with 125% N is a promising option for improved biomass, cotton growth, yield, physiological traits, and fiber quality.
Body Image Scale: Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties in Three Indian Head and Neck Cancer Language Groups
Authors: Shunmugasundaram Chindhu , Dhillon Haryana M. , Butow Phyllis N. , Sundaresan Puma , Chittem Mahati , Akula Niveditha , Veeraiah Surendran , Huilgol Nagraj , Rutherford Claudia
Published: May 2022

Background

Body image is a subjective concept encompassing a person’s views and emotions about their body. Head and neck cancer (HNC) diagnosis and treatment affects several psychosocial concepts including body image. Large numbers of HNC patients are diagnosed each year in India but there are no suitable measures in regional languages to assess their body image. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Body Image Scale (BIS), a measure suitable for clinical and research use in HNC populations, translated into Tamil, Telugu and Hindi and compared body image distress between language groups.

Methods

Translated versions of BIS were completed by HNC patients recruited from three cancer centers across India one time only. Psychometric evaluation was conducted including factor analysis using principal component analysis and internal consistency reliability using Cronbach’s alpha. Patients completed the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) C-30 and EORTC QLQ HN-35 measures to enable exploration of convergent and discriminant validity. ANOVA was used to calculate difference in mean values for body image.

Results

Our sample included 621 HNC patients (Tamil = 205, Telugu = 216, Hindi = 200). Factor analysis revealed a one-factor solution and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged between 0.891 and 0.969 indicating good reliability. Hypothesized correlations between similar and different constructs were as expected, supporting construct validity. On the BIS, we found a statistically significant difference (F= 11.0954,P< 0.05) between means of Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi groups, with higher body image scores in Telugu (M= 12.86;SD= 7.65) and Hindi groups (M= 12.52;SD= 7.36) indicating more symptoms/body image distress, when compared to Tamil population (M= 9.28;SD= 10.04).

Conclusion

The reliability and validity of the three translated Indian versions of the BIS were maintained, providing a method for assessing body image of HNC population worldwide speaking Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi across the illness trajectory.
Research on Consumer Purchasing Channel Choice Based on Product Tolerance: The Mediating Role of Rationalization
Authors: Chen Jinsong , Wu Yumin , Jiang Xue
Published: May 2022

Consumers have subjective psychological expectations of the quality and brand of products before purchasing. There is a certain tolerance for products that do not meet expectations. The discomfort caused by tolerance can be smoothly carried out through “reasonable” self-comfort and explanation mechanisms. Based on the theory of rationalization defense mechanism, a 2 × 2 purchase channel matrix of online and offline purchase, online consultation, and the offline experience was constructed to explore the influence of consumers’ tolerance of product quality and brand on their purchase channel choice. The results show that: (1) consumer product tolerance positively influences consumers’ online purchasing choice; (2) consumer product tolerance influences purchase channel choice through rationalization; and (3) the sweet lemon mechanism mediates consumer product tolerance on online consultation and online purchase and offline experience, but the sour grapes mechanism does not mediate.
Emotional Intelligence and Knowledge Hiding Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Job Stress
Authors: Wang Xiangming , Dong Baobao
Published: May 2022

Emotion is fundamental to human experiences influencing our daily activities including cognition, communication, learning, and decision-making, but the effect of emotion on knowledge management in firms receives a little attention, especially in the field of knowledge hiding behaviors. Drawing on the cognitive appraisal theory of stress and coping as a unique theoretical lens to explicate how knowledge hiding behaviors happen, this study investigates the mediating effect of job stress in the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and knowledge hiding behaviors. We conducted a field study with 193 full-time employees in smart healthcare firms to test our hypotheses. Results supported the mediating effects of job stress in accounting for the relationship between EI and knowledge hiding behaviors. Our study is among the first to examine how emotional intelligence predicts knowledge hiding behaviors. This study contributes to the literature on knowledge management and emotional intelligence.
Computational Process of Sharing Emotion: An Authentic Information Perspective
Authors: Namba Shushi , Sato Wataru , Nakamura Koyo , Watanabe Katsumi
Published: May 2022

Although results of many psychology studies have shown that sharing emotion achieves dyadic interaction, no report has explained a study of the transmission of authentic information from emotional expressions that can strengthen perceivers. For this study, we used computational modeling, which is a multinomial processing tree, for formal quantification of the process of sharing emotion that emphasizes the perception of authentic information for expressers’ feeling states from facial expressions. Results indicated that the ability to perceive authentic information of feeling states from a happy expression has a higher probability than the probability of judging authentic information from anger expressions. Next, happy facial expressions can activate both emotional elicitation and sharing emotion in perceivers, where emotional elicitation alone is working rather than sharing emotion for angry facial expressions. Third, parameters to detect anger experiences were found to be correlated positively with those of happiness. No robust correlation was found between the parameters extracted from this experiment task and questionnaire-measured emotional contagion, empathy, and social anxiety. Results of this study revealed the possibility that a new computational approach contributes to description of emotion sharing processes.
The Effects of Interacting With a Paro Robot After a Stressor in Patients With Psoriasis: A Randomised Pilot Study
Authors: Law Mikaela , Jarrett Paul , Nieuwoudt Michel K. , Holtkamp Hannah , Giglio Cannon , Broadbent Elizabeth
Published: May 2022

Objective

Stress can play a role in the onset and exacerbation of psoriasis. Psychological interventions to reduce stress have been shown to improve psychological and psoriasis-related outcomes. This pilot randomised study investigated the feasibility of a brief interaction with a Paro robot to reduce stress and improve skin parameters, after a stressor, in patients with psoriasis.

Methods

Around 25 patients with psoriasis participated in a laboratory stress task, before being randomised to either interact with a Paro robot or sit quietly (control condition) for 30 min. Raman spectroscopy and trans-epidermal water loss were measured at baseline, after the stressor and after the intervention as indexes of acute skin changes. Psychological variables, including self-reported stress and affect, were also measured at the three time-points.

Results

No statistically significant differences between the two conditions were found for any of the outcomes measured. However, effect sizes suggest significance could be possible with a larger sample size. Changes in the psychological and Raman spectroscopy outcomes across the experimental session were found, indicating the feasibility of the procedures.

Conclusion

This pilot study showed that a brief interaction with a Paro robot was a feasible intervention for patients with psoriasis, but future trials should broaden the inclusion criteria to try to increase recruitment rates. Studying people who are highly stressed, depressed or who are stress-responders may increase the power of the intervention to show effects using a longer-term intervention.