bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modification of gasification slag-based functional soil for oat grass cultivation
Authors: Liu Tengteng , Han Fenglan , Yang Baoguo , Xing Zhibing , Wang Jiaqi , An Changcong , Dong Xiongwei
Published: December 2022

Gasification furnace slag is a substrate that can be used effectively in plant ecological restoration projects. Using this substrate can contribute to sustainable development in the ecological environment construction. This study used a gasification furnace slag sample as the matrix material of functional soil based on an evaporation experiment of functional soil and a pot experiment of oat grass. Therefore, fly ash, YJF (organic nutrient regulator), and SJJXWS (water retaining agent) amendments were applied to study the physical, chemical, and agronomic characteristics of the functional soil, such as the seedling emergence rate and plant weight. The results showed that the water evaporation capacity, pH, conductivity, bulk density, available phosphorus, available potassium, organic matter, and other relevant agronomic properties of the functional soil changed according to the amendment type used. Also, it was found that the functional soil amended with YJF and SJJXWS could promote plant growth compared to the control. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for further development of functional soil for ecological cycle restoration purposes.
What was the China’s spatial-temporal evolution characteristics of cross-sensitivity of ecosystem service value under land use transition? A case study of the Jiangjin, Chongqing
Authors: Zhang Chuanhua , Tan Hongmei , Zhou Miao , Wang Zhongshu
Published: December 2022

Exploring the sensitivity of ecosystem service value (ESV) under land use transformation (LUT) is helpful to promote the rational use of regional land, improve the regional ecological environment carrying capacity, and realize the sustainable development of human beings. Using land use data of Jiangjin Chongqing from 2009 to 2019, this study measured the effect of ecological service value under land use transition in Jiangjin, and analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of ecosystem service value based on the land use transfer matrix, change contribution rate (ESVab) and Coefficient of improved cross-sensitivity (CICS). The results showed that 1) the total ESV increased year by year, the ESV change of woodland was the largest, followed by water bodies and cultivated land from 2009 to 2019 in Jiangjin; 2) taking the Yangtze River as the boundary, the ESV in the south was higher than that in the north, but the ESV in the north and south of the Yangtze River increased to different degrees; 3) the contribution rate of forest land was the largest, the contribution rate of cultivated land and woodland was highly correlated with topography and slope, and the contribution rate of water bodies had no obvious spatial distribution characteristics from 2009 to 2019; 4) the CICS between cultivated land, woodland and other land types was higher, and mainly in the medium-high ecological sensitive areas, while the conversion between water bodies, built-up land and other land types was mainly in the medium-low ecological sensitive areas; and 5) the ecologically sensitive areas of the conversion between grassland, unused land and other land types were scattered, and the highly ecologically sensitive areas of the conversion between unused land and other land types were mainly distributed in the southern mountainous area of Jiangjin. It aims to provide important guidance for solving the contradiction between humanity and land and regional environmental problems, so as to realize the sustainable development of the region and environment.
Patch-level processes of vegetation underlying site-level restoration patterns in a megatidal salt marsh
Authors: Norris Gregory S. , Virgin Spencer D. S. , Schneider Dylan W. , McCoy Emily M. , Wilson Jessica M. , Morrill Kirby L. , Hayter Lionel , Hicks Meagan E. , Barbeau Myriam A.
Published: December 2022

Vegetation patterns during salt marsh restoration reflect underlying processes related to colonization, reproduction, and interactions of halotolerant plants. Examining both pattern and process during recovery is valuable for understanding and managing salt marsh restoration projects. We present a decade of vegetation dynamics during salt marsh restoration (2011–2020) at a study site in the Bay of Fundy with megatidal amplitudes, strong currents, cold winter temperatures, and ice. We mainly investigated reproduction (asexual and sexual) and associated spread rates of Spartina grasses, and their health-related states (stem density, canopy height, and percent flowering) which help inform the probability of processes occurring. We also estimated modes of colonization and began quantifying the effects of interspecific interactions and environmental conditions on plant state. Spartina pectinata was the only pastureland plant to survive dike-breaching and saltwater intrusion in 2010; however, it was stunted compared to reference plants. Spartina pectinata patches remained consistent initially, before decreasing in size, and disappearing by the fifth year (2015). This early dynamic may provide initial protection to a developing salt marsh before Spartina alterniflora becomes established. Spartina alterniflora first colonized the sites in year 2 (2012), likely via deposition of rhizomal material, and then spread asexually before seedlings (sexual reproduction) appeared in year 4 (2014). Vegetation cover subsequently increased greatly until near-complete in year 9 (2019). The early successional dynamics of S. pectinata and S. alterniflora occurred spatially independently of each other, and likely contributed to sediment retention, creating an improved environment for S. patens, the dominant high marsh species in our region. Spartina patens have been slowly spreading into restoration sites from high elevation areas since year 6 (2016). We expect that competition between S. alterniflora and S. patens will result in the typical distinct zonation between high and low marsh zones. A next study will use the quantified processes for spatial-explicit modeling to simulate patterns of vegetation recovery, and to evaluate different salt marsh restoration strategies for the Bay of Fundy and elsewhere. Thus, proper identification and quantification of pattern-building processes in salt marsh vegetation recovery, the focus of our present study, was an essential step.
Surface newt Calotriton asper acclimation to cave conditions improved their foraging ability in darkness
Authors: Guillaume Olivier
Published: December 2022

Caves in temperate regions are characterized by food scarcity compared to surface habitats. Therefore, hypotheses on adaptation to cave life suggest that many characteristics, such as resistance to starvation, reduced energy demand, and increased food-finding ability, have evolved among cave dwellers to cope with food frugality. To test the hypothesis involving increased food-finding ability, the prey detection performances of three surface and three subterranean populations of the Pyrenean newt, Calotriton asper, were compared. First, the rapidity of surface individuals in capturing prey at short distances inside a restricted aquarium under dark and light conditions and their score for capturing prey in a larger aquarium under similar conditions were measured. Simultaneously the scores obtained from individuals in cave populations in darkness were compared. Individuals from one of the surface population were maintained in darkness for approximately five years and retested. The surface C. asper individuals captured prey faster at short distances under light conditions than in total darkness; however, the differences were not significant. The scores of the surface C. asper individuals in the large aquarium were significantly better in darkness than in light conditions. In addition, the scores of cave populations at short distances in darkness were better than those of epigean populations in light conditions; however, the differences were not significant. Finally, the scores of surface individuals maintained in darkness for five years improved. To explain these results, it should be noted that surface C. asper populations forage at night using non-visual cues (e.g., chemical and mechanical cues), further suggesting that vision may somewhat inhibit other senses. This ability to forage at night may be favorable for cave colonization. Moreover, some hypogean populations, when the use of prey-detecting non-visual senses has developed, may start to exhibit adaptivity.
Resistance to thyroid hormone beta coexisting with papillary thyroid carcinoma—two case reports of a thyroid hormone receptor beta gene mutation and a literature review
Authors: Fang Yingxin , Liu Tingting , Hou Huimin , Wang Zhihong , Shan Zhongyan , Cao Yanli , Teng Xiaochun
Published: December 2022

Graphical Abstract

Whole exome sequencing.
S1PR4 deficiency results in reduced germinal center formation but only marginally affects antibody production
Authors: Riese Janik , Hähnel Celine , Menz Jonas , Hannemann Maurice , Khabipov Aydar , Lührs Felix , Schulze Tobias
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Splenic B cells exhibit a high expression of the G protein-coupled sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor type 4 (S1PR4). Little is known about the functional relevance of S1PR4 expression on those cells.

Methods

In this study, S1PR4-deficient mice were used to study the role of S1PR4-mediated S1P signaling in B cell motility in vitro and for the maintenance of the splenic architecture under steady state conditions as well as in polymicrobial abdominal sepsis in vivo. Finally, the impact of S1PR4 deficiency on antibody production after immunization with T cell dependent antigens was assessed.

Results

Loss of S1PR4 resulted in minor alterations of the splenic architecture concerning the presence of B cell follicles. After sepsis induction, the germinal center response was severely impaired in S1PR4-deficient animals. Splenic B cells showed reduced motility in the absence of S1PR4. However, titres of specific antibodies showed only minor reductions in S1PR4-deficient animals.

Discussion

These observations suggest that S1P signaling mediated by S1PR4 modifies chemokine-induced splenic B cell chemotaxis, thus modulating splenic microarchitecture, GC formation and T-cell dependent antibody production.
Trophic structure of micronekton in the Northwest Pacific Ocean
Authors: Zhang Jiaqi , Liu Bilin , Hu Song , Gong Yi
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Stable isotope analysis has been widely used in the study of the trophic structure of marine micronekton in recent years.

Methods

In this study, the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values of fish, cephalopod, shrimp and zooplankton species were measured from samples collected in the Northwest Pacific Ocean in March and September 2019 to construct a continuous trophic spectrum and to compare isotope niches among species. In addition, we compared the variation of isotopic niches of micronekton among different groups and among different species, respectively.

Results

Significant differences of δ13C and δ15N values were detected among fish, cephalopod and shrimp groups with δ13C value ranges of −21.9‰ to −18.7‰, −21.3‰ to −17.7‰ and −20.4‰ to −19.5‰, respectively and the range of δ15N values was 7.0‰ to 12.4‰, 8.2‰ to 12.2‰ and 7.6‰ to 10.6‰, respectively. Using copepods as the baseline for estimating the average trophic level (TL) of micronekton, the TLs ranged from 2.67 to 4.80 and the average TLs for cephalopods, fishes and shrimp were 3.3 ± 0.3, 3.7 ± 0.6 and 4.0 ± 0.3, respectively. Myctophidae and Stomiidae occupied higher TLs. In addition, Oplophorus gracilirostris, Enoploteuthis chunii and Abralia similis had wide isotopic niches.

Discussion

Our results show that Myctophidae, Stomiidae, Oplophorus gracilirostris, Enoploteuthis chunii and Abralia similis play important roles in maintaining the stability of the Kuroshio-Oyashio ecosystem in the Northwest Pacific Ocean.
An overview of progressive advancement in ultra-high performance concrete with steel fibers
Authors: Alkadhim Hassan Ali , Amin Muhammad Nasir , Ahmad Waqas , Khan Kaffayatullah , Umbreen-us-Sahar  , Al-Hashem Mohammed Najeeb , Mohamed Abdullah
Published: December 2022

A progressive advance in the construction sector is attained by employing ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) technology. Rigorous efforts have been made in this research domain to have remarkable quality levels with 150 MPa or more strength and significant durability, which was impossible previously. Steel fiber incorporation in UHPC is vital in improving its mechanical characteristics. This review on the incorporation of steel fibers in UHPC evaluates, identifies, and synthesizes research outcomes for creating a summary of current evidence that can contribute to evidence-based practice. This study summarized a review of the literature on steel fibers’ effect on UHPC, intending to explore its essential aspects. The aim is to summarize the literature in this research domain and provide guidance for future research. Moreover, the basic requirements and materials, mixing and casting, mechanical properties, modern applications, advantages and disadvantages, and future perspectives associated with steel fibers reinforced UHPC in the construction sector are discussed. It is revealed from the conducted analysis that the most widely applied keyword is “steel fibers.” Due to the graphical illustration of the contributing studies, the current work may benefit academic scholars in sharing novel techniques and ideas and establishing collaborative efforts. Furthermore, the present work reveals that steel fibers have the potential to enhance the mechanical properties of UHPC; however, the large-scale production and applications of steel fiber-reinforced UHPC are controlled by parameters like fiber content and geometry.
Prolonged activity of HERV-K(HML2) in Old World Monkeys accounts for recent integrations and novel recombinant variants
Authors: Chabukswar Saili , Grandi Nicole , Tramontano Enzo
Published: December 2022

Around 8% of the human genome comprises Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) acquired over primate evolution. Some are specific to primates such as HERV-K, consisting of 10 HML subtypes and including the most recently acquired elements. Particularly, HML2 is the youngest clade, having some human-specific integrations, and while it has been widely described in humans its presence and distribution in non-human primates remain poorly characterized. To investigate HML2 distribution in non-human primates, the present study focused on the characterization of HML2 integrations in Macaca fascicularis and Macaca mulatta which are the most evolutionarily distant species related to humans in the Catarrhini parvorder. We identified overall 208 HML2 proviruses for M. fascicularis (77) and M. mulatta (131). Among them, 46 proviruses are shared by the two species while the others are species specific. Only 12 proviruses were shared with humans, confirming that the major wave of HML2 diffusion in humans occurred after macaques’ divergence. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed structural variations between HML2 macaques’ species-specific proviruses, and the ones shared between macaques and humans. The HML2 loci were characterized in terms of structure, focusing on potential residual open reading frames (ORFs) for gag, pol, and env genes for the latter being reported to be expressed in human pathological conditions. The analysis identified highly conserved gag and pol genes, while the env genes had a very divergent nature. Of the 208 HML2 proviral sequences present in Macaca species, 81 sequences form a cluster having a MER11A, a characteristic HML8 LTR sequence, insertion in the env region indicating a recombination event that occurred between the HML2 env gene and the HML8 LTR. This recombination event, which was shown to be present only in a subset of macaques’ shared sequences and species-specific sequences, highlights a recent viral activity leading to the emergence of an env variant specific to the Old World Monkeys (OWMs). We performed an exhaustive analysis of HML2 in two species of OWMs, in terms of its evolutionary history, structural features, and potential residual coding capacity highlighting recent activity of HML2 in macaques that occurred after its split from the Catarrhini parvorder, leading to the emergence of viral variants, hence providing a better understanding of the endogenization and diffusion of HML2 along primate evolution.
Selective activation of the hypothalamic orexinergic but not melanin-concentrating hormone neurons following pilocarpine-induced seizures in rats
Authors: He Zhenquan , Wang Xiao , Ma Kang , Zheng Leyi , Zhang Yan , Liu Chunhong , Sun Tao , Wang Peng , Rong Weifang , Niu Jianguo
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Sleep disorders are common comorbidities in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Since the lateral hypothalamic (LH) and the perifornical orexinergic (ORX) and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons are known to play opposing roles in the regulation of sleep and arousal, dysregulation of ORX and MCH neurons might contribute to the disturbance of sleep-wakefulness following epileptic seizures.

Methods

To test this hypothesis, rats were treated with lithium chloride and pilocarpine to induce status epilepticus (SE). Electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyograph (EMG) were recorded for analysis of sleep-wake states before and 24 h after SE. Double-labeling immunohistochemistry of c-Fos and ORX or MCH was performed on brain sections from the epileptic and control rats. In addition, anterograde and retrograde tracers in combination with c-Fos immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the possible activation of the amygdala to ORX neural pathways following seizures.

Results

It was found that epileptic rats displayed prolonged wake phase and decreased non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) phase compared to the control rats. Prominent neuronal activation was observed in the amygdala and the hypothalamus following seizures. Interestingly, in the LH and the perifornical nucleus, ORX but not MCH neurons were significantly activated (c-Fos+). Neural tracing showed that seizure-activated (c-Fos+) ORX neurons were closely contacted by axon terminals originating from neurons in the medial amygdala.

Discussion

These findings suggest that the spread of epileptic activity from amygdala to the hypothalamus causes selective activation of the wake-promoting ORX neurons but not sleep-promoting MCH neurons, which might contribute to the disturbance of sleep-wakefulness in TLE.
Effect of dietary inflammatory potential on the aging acceleration for cardiometabolic disease: A population-based study
Authors: Hu Yuanlong , Wang Xiaojie , Huan Jiaming , Zhang Lei , Lin Lin , Li Yuan , Li Yunlun
Published: December 2022

Background/Aim

Optimized dietary patterns have been considered an important determinant of delaying aging in cardiometabolic disease (CMD). Dietary pattern with high-level dietary inflammatory potential is a key risk factor for cardiometabolic disease, and has drawn increasing attention. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dietary pattern with high dietary inflammatory potential was associated with aging acceleration in cardiometabolic disease.

Materials and methods

We analyzed the cross-sectional data from six survey cycles (1999–2000, 2001–2002, 2003–2004, 2005–2006, 2007–2008, and 2009–2010) of the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (NHANES). A total of 16,681 non-institutionalized adults and non-pregnant females with CMD were included in this study. Dietary inflammatory index (DII) was used to assess the dietary inflammatory potential. The two age acceleration biomarkers were calculated by the residuals from regressing chronologic age on Klemera-Doubal method biological age (KDM BioAge) or Phenotypic Age (PhenoAge), termed “KDMAccel” and “PhenoAgeAccel.” A multivariable linear regression accounting for multistage survey design and sampling weights was used in different models to investigate the association between DII and aging acceleration. Four sensitivity analyses were used to ensure the robustness of our results. Besides, we also analyzed the anti-aging effects of DASH-type dietary pattern and “Life’s Simple 7”.

Results

For 16,681 participants with CMD, compared with the first tertile of DII after adjusting for all potential confounders, the patients with second tertile of DII showed a 1.02-years increase in KDMAccel and 0.63-years increase in PhenoAgeAccel (KDMAccel, β = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.64 to 1.41, P < 0.001; PhenoAgeAccel, β = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.44 to 0.82, P < 0.001), while the patients with the third tertile of DII showed a 1.48-years increase in KDMAccel and 1.22-years increase in PhenoAgeAccel (KDMAccel, β = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.94, P < 0.001; PhenoAgeAccel, β = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.43, P < 0.001). In addition, DASH-type dietary pattern was associated with a 0.57-years reduction in KDMAccel (β = −0.57, 95% CI = −1.08 to −0.06, P = 0.031) and a 0.54-years reduction in PhenoAgeAccel (β = −0.54, 95% CI = −0.80 to −0.28, P < 0.001). The each one-unit increase in CVH score was associated with a 1.58-years decrease in KDMAccel (β = −1.58, 95% CI = −1.68 to −1.49, P < 0.001) and a 0.36-years in PhenoAgeAccel (β = −0.36, 95% CI = −0.41 to −0.31, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Among CMD, the dietary pattern with high dietary inflammatory potential was association with aging acceleration, and the anti-aging potential of DASH-type dietary pattern and “Life’s Simple 7” should also be given attention, but these observations require future prospective validation.
A pathway towards the development and evolution of consumer behavior: Policy directions for sustainable development and improvement of nutrition
Authors: Su Fang , Chang Jiangbo , Zhang Xing , Fahad Shah , Aslam Shimza Bint
Published: December 2022

Introduction

The virtuality, concealment, uncertainty and complexity of online trading make the online food trading market have security risks, while the lack of information, information asymmetry and imperfect market system make the “lemon problem” in the market increasingly obvious.

Methods

In order to clearly understand and manage the “lemon problem” in the online food trading market, we built an evolutionary game model involving the seller, buyers and online food trading platform, deeply analyzed the formation process of the “lemon problem” in the online food trading market, and revealed the influencing factors and effects of each subject’s strategy choice from the perspectives of subsidy, punishment, cost, and benefit.

Results

Findings of this study reveal that: (1) In the online food trading market, the strategy of the seller, buyer and platform will be stable in six situations, and the “lemon problem” will emerge with the development and evolution of the online food trading market. (2) The strategy of each subject in the online food trading market will be affected by variables like cost difference between positive performance and negative performance of the seller, punishment from the buyer with positive participation to the seller with negative performance, subsidy from the platform with positive regulation to the seller with positive performance, etc., and different factors have different influence directions and degrees on the subject strategy. (3) In the online food trading market, cost, punishment, subsidy and benefit have different effects on the subject’s strategy. Among them, cost and cost difference have the most significant impact on the subject’s strategy, followed by punishment and benefit difference, and subsidy and additional benefit have less impact on the subject’s strategy.

Discussion

Based on our study findings, it is proposed that by constructing a complete and standardized system of online food trading market from the aspects of examination and verification institution, reward and punishment institution, and supervision institution, it will be able to provide reference for managing the “lemon problem” in the online food trading market, promoting the sustainable development of the market, and ensuring the safety of online food.
Development and validation a simple scoring system to identify malignant pericardial effusion
Authors: Jin Xiaxia , Hu Lingling , Fang Meidan , Zheng Qiaofei , Yuan Yuan , Lu Guoguang , Li Tao
Published: December 2022

Background

Malignant pericardial effusion (MPE) is a serious complication in patients with advanced malignant tumors, which indicates a poor prognosis. However, its clinical manifestations lack specificity, making it challenging to distinguish MPE from benign pericardial effusion (BPE). The aim of this study was to develop and validate a scoring system based on a nomogram to discriminate MPE from BPE through easy-to-obtain clinical parameters.

Methods

In this study, the patients with pericardial effusion who underwent diagnostic pericardiocentesis in Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province from February 2013 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The eligible patients were divided into a training group (n = 161) and a validation group (n = 66) according to the admission time. The nomogram model was established using the meaningful indicators screened by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate logistic regression. Then, a new scoring system was constructed based on this nomogram model.

Results

The new scoring system included loss of weight (3 points), no fever (4 points), mediastinal lymph node enlargement (2 points), pleural effusion (6 points), effusion adenosine deaminase (ADA≦18U/L) (5 points), effusion lactate dehydrogenase (LDH>1033U/L) (7 points), and effusion carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA>4.9g/mL) (10 points). With the optimal cut-off value was 16 points, the area under the curve (AUC), specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR) for identifying MPE were 0.974, 95.1%, 91.0%, 85.6%, 96.8%, 10.56 and 0.05, respectively, in the training set and 0.950, 83.3%, 95.2%, 90.9%, 90.9%, 17.50, and 0.18, respectively, in the validation set. The scoring system also showed good diagnostic accuracy in differentiating MPE caused by lung cancer from tuberculous pericardial effusion (TPE) and MPE including atypical cell from BPE.

Conclusion

The new scoring system based on seven easily available variables has good diagnostic value in distinguishing MPE from BPE.
Assessment of PD-L1 mRNA expression in gastrointestinal tumors and the response to immunotherapy
Authors: Qiu Qingqing , Li Jieyi , Chen Qiaofeng , Zhao Xiaokai , Zhou Ru , Zhang Wenpeng , Gong Ziying , Zhang Daoyun , Wang Mingliang
Published: December 2022

Background

Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been proposed as a predictive biomarker to predict response to immunotherapy. Given the limitations of IHC test in PD-L1 detection, this study aimed to investigate the technical feasibility of using quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) to replace IHC in PD-L1 detection in gastrointestinal tumors.

Materials and methods

The Cancer Genome Atlas database was used to evaluate the relationship between PD-L1 expression in tumor tissue and the patient prognosis. In addition, 52 patients with gastrointestinal cancer were enrolled and divided into the stomach (STAD), colon (COAD), and rectum (READ) adenocarcinoma cohorts. IHC test was used to determine the PD-L1 level of the tissue specimens, and the qRT-PCR test was used to analyze the mRNA expression in both blood and tissue specimens. Moreover, the correlation between blood PD-L1 mRNA expression and immunotherapy efficacy was investigated in additional 15 patients with gastric cancer that further enrolled.

Results

The expression level of PD-L1 in tumor tissue is related to the tumor stage of COAD (p-value = 0.001) and primary therapy outcomes in patients with READ (p-value = 0.003) but not significantly correlated to the overall survival (OS) time of patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Moreover, the concordance of PD-L1 mRNA expression level of tissue and paired blood samples is low, despite a weak linear relationship that was found in the STAD cohort (r = 0.43, p-value = 0.049). We further demonstrated that qRT-PCR results in both tissue and blood specimens were numerically but not statistically significant consistent with IHC results (corresponding to a p-value of 0.84 and 0.55, respectively). Remarkably, high PD-L1 expression in blood of patients with STAD shows a better response to immunotherapy (p-value = 0.04), which could be well identified at the relative expression cutoff of 1.5 (sensitivity of 85.7%, specificity of 75.0%, and AUC of 0.82).

Conclusions

Our study established a novel strategy for rapidly distinguishing patients with gastrointestinal cancer with the response to immunotherapy and has potential clinical benefits.
Accuracy and image quality of wide-detector revolution CT angiography combined with prospective ECG-triggered CT angiography in the diagnosis of congenital aortic arch anomalies in Chinese children
Authors: Xiao Hui-Jun , Zhan A-Lai , Huang Qing-Wen , Huang Rui-Gang , Lin Wei-Hua
Published: December 2022

Objective

To explore the accuracy and image quality of wide-detector revolution CT angiography combined with prospective ECG-triggered CT angiography in the diagnosis of congenital aortic arch anomalies in Chinese children.

Methods

From January 2020 to July 2022, the clinical data of 57 children with congenital aortic arch anomalies confirmed by surgery were collected. All patients underwent CT angiography (CTA) with Revolution CT and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) before the operation. The accuracy of CTA and TTE in the diagnosis of aortic arch anomalies was compared with the surgical results.

Result

The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CTA and TTE for congenital aortic arch anomalies (including intracardiac and extracardiac structural abnormalities) were 92.2% and 85.5%, 99.4%, and 99.1%, 97.4% and 95.6%, 98.1% and 96.9%, and 97.2% and 95.2%, respectively. Regarding extracardiac structural malformations, the sensitivity of CTA was 100%, whereas that of TTE was 78.6% (P < 0.001). Regarding intracardiac structural malformations, the sensitivity of CTA was 84.5%, whereas that of TTE was 92.5% (P < 0.001). Regarding satisfaction with the images in aortic arch anomalies, surgeons noted that the CTA images were more useful for diagnosis and operation planning compared with TTE.

Conclusion

Wide-detector revolution CT angiography combined with prospective ECG triggering can be routinely used to assess congenital aortic arch anomalies, providing adequate image quality and high diagnostic accuracy. However, limitations in the identification of intracardiac structural abnormalities are noted.
Splenic rupture and fungal endocarditis in a pediatric patient with invasive fusariosis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for aplastic anemia: A case report
Authors: Hannemann Maurice , Wilmes Dunja , Dombrowski Frank , Löffler Jürgen , Kaminski Alexander , Hummel Astrid , Ulm Lena , Bohnert Jürgen , Rickerts Volker , Springer Jan , Lode Holger N. , Ehlert Karoline
Published: December 2022

Background

Invasive mold infections are a well-known and life-threatening condition after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). While Aspergillus species are recognized as predominant pathogens, Fusarium species should also be considered due to their broad environmental distribution and the expected poor outcome of invasive fusariosis. Particularly, splenic rupture as a complication of disseminated disease has not been reported yet.

Case presentation

Two weeks after allogeneic HSCT for severe aplastic anemia, a 16-year-old boy presented with painful, erythematous skin nodules affecting the entire integument. As disseminated mycosis was considered, treatment with liposomal amphotericin B and voriconazole (VCZ) was initiated. Invasive fusariosis was diagnosed after histological and previously unpublished polymerase chain reaction-based examination of skin biopsies. Microbiological tests revealed Fusarium solani species. Despite stable neutrophil engraftment and uninterrupted treatment with VCZ, he developed mold disease-associated splenic rupture with hypovolemic shock and fungal endocarditis. The latter induced a cardiac thrombus and subsequent embolic cerebral infarctions with unilateral hemiparesis. Following cardiac surgery, the patient did not regain consciousness because of diffuse cerebral ischemia, and he died on day +92 after HSCT.

Conclusion

Invasive fusariosis in immunocompromised patients is a life-threatening condition. Despite antimycotic treatment adapted to antifungal susceptibility testing, the patient reported here developed uncommon manifestations such as splenic rupture and fungal endocarditis.
Analysis of plantar impact characteristics of walking in patients with flatfoot according to basic mechanical features and continuous wavelet transform
Authors: Bai Xiaotian , Huo Hongfeng , Lu Peng , Luan Yisheng , Koga Ami , Liu Jingmin
Published: December 2022

Flatfoot is a common foot deformity, and the collapse of the arch structure affects the foot cushioning during walking. A growing number of scholars have found that the analysis of the impact force should be combined with both the magnitude and the frequency of the impact force. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the plantar impact characteristics of flatfoot patients and normal foot people at different load-bearing buffer stage from the time and frequency domains. Sixteen males with flatfoot and sixteen males with normal foot were recruited to walk on the plantar pressure test system at the same step speed, and the vertical ground reaction force data were collected from the heel contact stage and the arch support stage. The differences in the frequency domain of the ground reaction force between the flatfoot and the normal foot in the two stages were analyzed according to the basic mechanical characteristics and the continuous wavelet transform. Independent sample t-test was used to compare the baseline data of subjects, and the differences in foot impact force characteristics at different stages of foot type and weight-bearing cushion phase were compared by two-factor repeated measures Analysis of Variance. 1) In terms of basic mechanical characteristics, In both groups for flatfoot patients and normal foot people, the peak ground reaction force was higher in the arch support stage compared to the heel contact stage (Pflatfoot<0.001, Pnormal foot<0.001), and the load rate of force change was smaller in this stage (Pflatfoot<0.001, Pnormal foot<0.001). However, no differences in peak ground reaction force and time of occurrence were found between flatfoot and normal foot in the two stages (p > 0.05), in the arch support stage, the force change load rate of patients with flatfoot was lower than that of normal foot people (p = 0.021). 2) The results of time and frequency domain characteristics showed that during the heel contact and the arch support stage, no significant differences in the maximum signal power as well as the corresponding time and the frequency of the main impact force between the normal foot and the flatfoot were found. In both flatfoot and normal foot types, compared with the foot heel contact stage, the maximum signal power in the arch support stage was higher (Pflatfoot < 0.001, Pnormal foot<0.001), and the corresponding impact frequency was smaller (Pflatfoot = 0.002, Pnormal foot = 0.004). Once the step speed was controlled, the flatfoot patients only showed a smaller impact force load rate in the arch support stage, which may be related to their lower arch rigidity. The characteristics of the impact force in different stages of walking support period were different in time and frequency domain, suggesting that there may be differences in the function of various parts of the foot.
Targeted differential photostimulation alters reproductive activities of domestic birds
Authors: Rozenboim I. , Bartman J. , Avital Cohen N. , Mobarkey N. , Zaguri S. , El Halawani M. E. , Chaiseha Y. , Marco A.
Published: December 2022

Modern poultry production systems use environmentally controlled houses providing only artificial illumination. The role of light in reproduction of poultry depends on light quality (photoperiod, intensity/brightness, and spectrum), which enables us to provide custom-made illumination, targeted for the elevation of reproductive activities. Artificial targeted illumination significantly affects poultry reproduction. This phenomenon is based on the mechanism of light absorption in birds, which consists of two main components: the eye (retinal photoreceptors) and brain extraretinal photoreceptors. Several experiments on turkey hens and broiler breeder males and females have shown that photostimulation of brain extraretinal photoreceptors, while maintaining retinal photoreceptors under non-photostimulatory conditions, elevates reproductive activity by increasing egg production of hens and semen quality of roosters. In addition, we found acceleration in all gonadal axis parameters, leading to the acceleration in the production rate. Furthermore, we studied the role of retinal activation in gonadal axis suppuration and identified the role of serotonin in this phenomenon. As for today, several broiler breeder farms use targeted illumination based on our studies with excellent results.
Measurements on the external load acting on aquatic resistance fins during flexion/extension movements using a robotic joint
Authors: Gislason M. K. , Einarsson I. T. , Ingvason S. S. , Saavedra J. M , Waller B.
Published: December 2022

Aquatic resistance training has been proven to be beneficial to many people, in particular those struggling with degenerative joint diseases or recovering from other musculoskeletal issues as the reaction forces acting on the joints become lower, but without compromising the cardiovascular and neuromuscular benefit of the movement. Little has been written on the load produced by or measurements of the devices used in aquatic resistance training. Therefore, uncertainties exist regarding details of how much load can be applied onto the foot when performing the movements and how to quantify progression. In this study, an instrumented robotic arm was designed, built, and used to measure the load acting on the three different types of fins during a simulated flexion/extension movement of a knee. The angular velocities of the knee ranged from 25°/s to 150°/s, which represent the physiological range of in vivo movements. The results demonstrated that the load followed a second-order polynomial with the angular velocities. The load is therefore a function of the angular velocity, the surface area of the fins, and the location of the fins away from the joint center rotation. We modeled the progression of speeds at maximal voluntary movements based on previous studies. The maximum loads measured between 11 kg and 13 kg in extension and 6 kg and 9 kg in flexion at 150°/s rotational velocity.
Resting and exercise metabolic characteristics in obese children with insulin resistance
Authors: Youxiang Cao , Lin Zhu , Zekai Chen , Weijun Xie
Published: December 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the characteristics of resting energy expenditure (REE) and lipid metabolism during incremental load exercise in obese children and adolescents with insulin resistance (IR) to provide evidence for exercise intervention in obese children and adolescents with IR.

Method: From July 2019 to August 2021, 195 obese children and adolescents aged 13–17 were recruited through a summer camp. The participants were divided into IR (n = 67) and no-IR (without insulin resistance, n = 128) groups and underwent morphology, blood indicators, body composition, and resting energy consumption gas metabolism tests. Thirty participants each were randomly selected from the IR and no-IR groups to carry out the incremental treadmill test.

Results: Significant metabolic differences in resting and exercise duration were found between the IR and no-IR groups. In the resting state, the resting metabolic equivalents (4.33 ± 0.94 ml/min/kg vs. 3.91 ± 0.73 ml/min/kg, p = 0.001) and REE (2464.03 ± 462.29 kcal/d vs. 2143.88 ± 380.07 kcal/d, p < 0.001) in the IR group were significantly higher than in the no-IR group. During exercise, the absolute maximal fat oxidation (0.33 ± 0.07 g/min vs. 0.36 ± 0.09 g/min, p = 0.002) in the IR group was significantly lower than in the no-IR group; maximal fat oxidation intensity (130.9 ± 8.9 bpm vs. 139.9 ± 7.4 bpm, p = 0.040) was significantly lower in the IR group.

Conclusion: Significant resting and exercise metabolic differences were found between obese IR and no-IR children and adolescents. Obese IR children and adolescents have higher REE and lower maximal fat oxidation intensity than obese no-IR children and adolescents.
Wheat genotypes with higher yield sensitivity to drought overproduced proline and lost minor biomass under severer water stress
Authors: Zhang Xinying , Wang Zhenzhao , Li Yuzhong , Guo Rui , Liu Enke , Liu Xiaoying , Gu Fengxue , Yang Ziguang , Li Shuying , Zhong Xiuli , Mei Xurong
Published: December 2022

To clarify the differences in growth and yield responses to drought stress among genotypes contrasting in environmental background, dryland and irrigated genotypes, as well as the underlying biochemical mechanism would provide valuable information for developing superior dryland cultivars. Pot experiments for the whole life cycle in fifteen genotypes and comparative metabolomics analysis for seedlings between two drought tolerant (DT) dryland genotypes and two drought sensitive (DS) irrigated ones were carried out. The DT dryland genotypes suffered heavy biomass loss during severer drought but showed minor yield loss ultimately, while the DS irrigated ones showed minor biomass loss but greater yield loss. Additionally, the superior DT dryland genotypes showed better yield performance under both drought stress and well-watered conditions, indicating their possessing both drought tolerance and high yield potential traits. Suffering severer drought stress, seedling leaves of the DS irrigated genotypes increased some amino acids and organic acids to maintain cell metabolism and accumulate more biomass. Proline in particular was overproduced, which might cause toxicity to cell systems and lead to enormous yield loss ultimately. In contrast, DT dryland genotypes increased the beneficial amino acid and phenolic acids to enhance cell self-protection for alleviating drought damage and efficiently minimized yield loss ultimately.
State anxiety by itself does not change political attitudes: A threat of shock experiment
Authors: Müller Ulrich W. D. , Bahnsen Oke , Alpers Georg W.
Published: December 2022

Previous research suggests that state anxiety may sway political attitudes. However, previous experimental procedures induced anxiety using political contexts (e.g., social or economic threat). In a pre-registered laboratory experiment, we set out to examine if anxiety that is unrelated to political contexts can influence political attitudes. We induced anxiety with a threat of shock paradigm, void of any political connotation. All participants were instructed that they might receive an electric stimulus during specified threat periods and none during safety periods. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: Political attitudes (implicit and explicit) were assessed under safety in one condition and under threat in the other. Psychometric, as well as physiological data (skin conductance, heart rate), confirmed that anxiety was induced successfully. However, this emotional state did not alter political attitudes. In a Bayesian analytical approach, we confirmed the absence of an effect. Our results suggest that state anxiety by itself does not sway political attitudes. Previously observed effects that were attributed to anxiety may be conditional on a political context of threat.
The effects of psychological distance on spontaneous justice inferences: A construal level theory perspective
Authors: Zhang Qing , Wei Wei , Li Ningchen , Cao Wen
Published: December 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of psychological distance on spontaneous justice inferences.

Methods

Two experiments were conducted using the probe recognition paradigm to directly examine whether psychological distance affects spontaneous justice inferences. In Experiment 1, the spatial distance of justice actions from the perceivers was manipulated. In Experiment 2, temporal distance was manipulated.

Results

Consistent with our expectations, the results of Experiments 1 and 2 (for spatial distance and temporal distance, respectively) consistently demonstrated the effect of psychological distance on spontaneous justice inferences. In concrete terms, participants made stronger spontaneous justice inferences when confronted with situation descriptions of justice-implying events occurring in a spatially distant location than in a proximal location (Experiment 1) and in the distant-future condition than in the near-future condition (Experiment 2).

Conclusion

These findings indicate that psychological distance can influence influence simplicity, unintentional processing of justice inferences.
The impact of working memory capacity on collaborative learning in elementary school students
Authors: Du Xuejiao , Chen Cong , Lin Hongxin
Published: December 2022

Working memory capacity may be a critical factor that influences the effectiveness of collaborative learning; however, no studies have directly explored this effect. Using worked examples as learning tasks, Experiment 1 used a 2 (working memory capacity) × 2 (learning format) factorial design to examine the effects of collaborative learning versus individual learning of 4th-grade Chinese elementary school students with different working memory capacities. High-capacity learners displayed less working memory resource depletion and better transfer performance during collaborative learning than individual learning. In contrast, no differences were found among the low-capacity learners. Collaborative learning benefited high-capacity learners but not low-capacity learners, per our observations. To further optimize collaborative learning for low-capacity learners and expand the findings to heterogeneous collaborative learning, Experiment 2 adopted a 2 (member capacity) × 2 (group capacity) factorial design to explore the effects of member and group working memory capacity on collaborative learning in heterogeneous groups. High-capacity members displayed less working memory resource depletion and better far transfer performance in high-capacity groups compared to low-capacity groups. Simultaneously, all members had better near transfer performance in high-capacity groups compared to low-capacity groups. Both member and group working memory capacities influenced the effect of heterogeneous collaborative learning. However, low-capacity members only partially benefited from collaborative learning in high-capacity heterogeneous groups.