bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In-House, Open-Source 3D-Software-Based, CAD/CAM-Planned Mandibular Reconstructions in 20 Consecutive Free Fibula Flap Cases: An Explorative Cross-Sectional Study With Three-Dimensional Performance Analysis
Authors: Ritschl Lucas M. , Kilbertus Paul , Grill Florian D. , Schwarz Matthias , Weitz Jochen , Nieberler Markus , Wolff Klaus-Dietrich , Fichter Andreas M.
Published: September 2021

Background

Mandibular reconstruction is conventionally performed freehand, CAD/CAM-assisted, or by using partially adjustable resection aids. CAD/CAM-assisted reconstructions are usually done in cooperation with osteosynthesis manufacturers, which entails additional costs and longer lead time. The purpose of this study is to analyze an in-house, open-source software-based solution for virtual planning.

Methods and Materials

All consecutive cases between January 2019 and April 2021 that underwent in-house, software-based (Blender) mandibular reconstruction with a free fibula flap (FFF) were included in this cross-sectional study. The pre- and postoperative Digital Imaging and Com munications in Medicine (DICOM) data were converted to standard tessellation language (STL) files. In addition to documenting general information (sex, age, indication for surgery, extent of resection, number of segments, duration of surgery, and ischemia time), conventional measurements and three-dimensional analysis methods (root mean square error [RMSE], mean surface distance [MSD], and Hausdorff distance [HD]) were used.

Results

Twenty consecutive cases were enrolled. Three-dimensional analysis of preoperative and virtually planned neomandibula models was associated with a median RMSE of 1.4 (0.4–7.2), MSD of 0.3 (-0.1–2.9), and HD of 0.7 (0.1–3.1). Three-dimensional comparison of preoperative and postoperative models showed a median RMSE of 2.2 (1.5–11.1), MSD of 0.5 (-0.6–6.1), and HD of 1.5 (1.1–6.5) and the differences were significantly different for RMSE (p < 0.001) and HD (p < 0.001). The difference was not significantly different for MSD (p = 0.554). Three-dimensional analysis of virtual and postoperative models had a median RMSE of 2.3 (1.3–10.7), MSD of -0.1 (-1.0–5.6), and HD of 1.7 (0.1–5.9).

Conclusions

Open-source software-based in-house planning is a feasible, inexpensive, and fast method that enables accurate reconstructions. Additionally, it is excellent for teaching purposes.
Identification of a Gene Signature Closely Related to Immunosuppressive Tumour Microenvironment Predicting Prognosis of Patients in EGFR Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Li Jia , Li Huahua , Zhang Chenyue , Zhang Chenxing , Jiang Lifeng , Wang Haiyong , Liu Huaimin
Published: September 2021

Lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs) harbouring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are generally unable to benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) due to an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME) and a lower tumour mutation burden. Currently, no gene signature can comprehensively evaluate the TME and predict the prognosis of patients with EGFR-mutant LUAD. Using the Cancer Genome Atlas database of EGFR-mutant LUAD based on the immune score derived from the ESTIMATE algorithm, we divided 80 patients with EGFR-mutant LUAD samples into high and low immune score groups with different immune microenvironments. Subsequently, we screened 396 differentially expressed immune-related genes with prognostic value. The top Gene Ontology terms were significantly enriched in biological functions related to T cell differentiation, immune response, cell cycle, and cell proliferation, which are closely related to the immune microenvironment of tumours. In addition, the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis mainly focused on cell cycle, cell adhesion molecules, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, which also had a relationship with the immune response. Subsequently, we identified a three-gene signature including BTLA, BUB1B, and CENPE using the LASSO Cox regression model. The three-gene signature could accurately identify patients at risk of EGFR-mutant LUAD in the training and validation sets and high-risk patients from both the sets exhibited significantly shorter overall survival (p=0.0053 and p=0.035, respectively). CIBERSORT was used to evaluate the abundance of immune cell infiltration in the EGFR-mutant LUAD microenvironment. The immune activity of B cells and macrophages was higher in the low-risk group, while the immune activity of natural killer cells and T cells was higher in the high-risk group. Thus, the three-gene signature closely related to immunosuppressive TME could predict the risk and prognosis in patients with EGFR-mutant LUAD.
Impact of Computed Tomography-Based, Artificial Intelligence-Driven Volumetric Sarcopenia on Survival Outcomes in Early Cervical Cancer
Authors: Han Qingling , Kim Se Ik , Yoon Soon Ho , Kim Taek Min , Kang Hyun-Cheol , Kim Hak Jae , Cho Jeong Yeon , Kim Jae-Weon
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of sarcopenia and body composition change during primary treatment on survival outcomes in patients with early cervical cancer. We retrospectively identified patients diagnosed with 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB1-IIA2 cervical cancer who underwent primary radical hysterectomy between 2007 and 2019. From pre-treatment CT scans (n = 306), the skeletal muscle area at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) and the waist skeletal muscle volume were measured using an artificial intelligence-based tool. These values were converted to the L3 and volumetric skeletal muscle indices by normalization. We defined L3 and volumetric sarcopenia using 39.0 cm2/m2 and the first quartile (Q1) value, respectively. From pre- and post-treatment CT scan images (n = 192), changes (%) in waist skeletal muscle and fat volumes were assessed. With the use of Cox regression models, factors associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Between the L3 sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups, no differences in PFS and OS were observed. In contrast, volumetric sarcopenia was identified as a poor prognostic factor for PFS (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.874; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.028–3.416; p = 0.040) and OS (aHR, 3.001; 95% CI, 1.016–8.869; p = 0.047). During primary treatment, significant decreases in waist skeletal muscle (median, −3.9%; p < 0.001) and total fat (median, −5.3%; p < 0.001) were observed. Of the two components, multivariate analysis revealed that the waist fat gain was associated with worse PFS (aHR, 2.007; 95% CI, 1.009–3.993; p = 0.047). The coexistence of baseline volumetric sarcopenia and waist fat gain further deteriorated PFS (aHR, 2.853; 95% CI, 1.257–6.474; p = 0.012). In conclusion, baseline volumetric sarcopenia might be associated with poor survival outcomes in patients with early cervical cancer undergoing primary RH. Furthermore, sarcopenia patients who gained waist fat during primary treatment were at a high risk of disease recurrence.
Programmed Death Ligand 2 Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated With Lung Adenocarcinoma Risk in Female Never-Smokers
Authors: Liang Sheng-Kai , Chien Li-Hsin , Chang Gee-Chen , Tsai Ying-Huang , Su Wu-Chou , Chen Yuh-Min , Huang Ming-Shyan , Lin Hsien-Chih , Fang Wen-Tsen , Hung Hsiao-Han , Jiang Shih-Sheng , Chen Chih-Yi , Chen Kuan-Yu , Chang I-Shou , Hsiung Chao A. , Chen Chien-Jen , Yang Pan-Chyr ,   the GELAC Study Group
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Lung cancer in never-smokers is a distinct disease associated with a different genomic landscape, pathogenesis, risk factors, and immune checkpoint inhibitor responses compared to those observed in smokers. This study aimed to identify novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of programmed death-1 (encoded by PDCD1) and its ligands, programmed death ligand 1 (CD274) and 2 (PDCD1LG2), associated with lung cancer risk in never-smoking women.

Materials and Methods

During September 2002 and July 2012, we enrolled never-smoking female patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) (n=1153) and healthy women (n=1022) from six tertiary hospitals in Taiwan. SNP data were obtained and analyzed from the genome-wide association study dataset and through an imputation method. The expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis was performed in both tumor and non-tumor tissues for the correlation between genetic expression and identified SNPs.

Results

A total of 12 PDCD1LG2 SNPs related to LUAD risk were identified in never-smoking women, including rs2381282, rs4742103, rs4237162, rs4742104, rs12237624, rs78096119, rs6476988, rs7857315, rs10975178, rs7854413, rs56001683, and rs7858319. Among them, six tagged PDCD1LG2 SNPs rs2381282, rs4742103, rs4237162, rs4742104, rs78096119, and rs56001683 were significantly associated with LUAD risk. Specifically, two PDCD1LG2 SNPs, rs12237624 and rs78096119, were associated with previous pulmonary tuberculosis infection in relation to LUAD susceptibility. Through an eQTL assay, we found that rs2381282 (p < 0.001), rs12237624 (p = 0.019), and rs78096119 (p = 0.019) were associated with the expression levels of programed death ligand 2.

Conclusions

Novel SNPs of programed death ligand 2 associated with lung adenocarcinoma risk were identified. Among them, two SNPs were associated with pulmonary tuberculosis infection in relation to lung adenocarcinoma susceptibility. These SNPs may help to stratify high-risk populations of never-smokers during lung cancer screening.
Biased Opioid Ligands: Revolution or Evolution?
Authors: Noble Florence , Marie Nicolas
Published: September 2021

Opioid are the most powerful analgesics ever but their use is still limited by deleterious side effects such as tolerance, dependence, and respiratory depression that could eventually lead to a fatal overdose. The opioid crisis, mainly occurring in north America, stimulates research on finding new opioid ligands with reduced side effects. Among them, biased ligands are likely the most promising compounds. We will review some of the latest discovered biased opioid ligands and see if they were able to fulfill these expectations.
Identification of Two de novo Variants of CACNA1A in Pediatric Chinese Patients With Paroxysmal Tonic Upgaze
Authors: Zhang Li-Ping , Jia Yu , Wang Yu-Ping
Published: September 2021

Objective: Investigate the clinical manifestations and genotypes of paroxysmal tonic upgaze (PTU) in Chinese children.

Patients and Methods: We report the clinical manifestations and genetic test results of four pediatric PTU patients in China. Recent articles on PTU cases are also summarized and analyzed.

Results: The onset age of all four cases was at early infancy, and they presented as episodic binocular upward gaze with mild growth retardation. Two patients each carried a novel de novo variant in the CACNA1A gene, c.4046C>T (p.R1349X), and c.4415C>T (p.S1472L).

Conclusion: Patients with infantile-onset paroxysmal binocular upward gaze should be considered to diagnose as PTU.
Herbal Formula SS-1 Increases Tear Secretion for Sjögren’s Syndrome
Authors: Chang Ching-Mao , Wu Po-Chang , Lin Jr-Rung , Jan Wu Yeong-Jian , Luo Shue-Fen , Hsue Yin-Tzu , Lan Joung-Liang , Pan Tai-Long , Wu Yu-Ting , Yu Kuang-Hui , Wei Yau-Huei , Chang Hen-Hong
Published: September 2021

Background: Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that primarily affects the exocrine glands, leading to glandular dysfunction. The hallmark symptoms of SS are dry eyes and mouth, compromising the quality of life of patients and decreasing their capacity to perform their daily activities.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the herbal formula SS-1 for its potential therapeutic benefits for patients with Sjögren’s syndrome.

Materials and Methods: The bioactivity profile of SS-1 was determined using four different SS-1 concentrations across 12 human primary cell systems of the BioMAP profile. After that, a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial was performed including 57 patients treated with SS-1 for 28 weeks.

Results: Biologically multiplexed activity profiling in cell-based models indicated that SS-1 exerted anti-proliferative activity in B cells and promoted anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity. In the clinical trial, Schirmer’s test results revealed significant improvements in both eyes, with increases of 3.42 mm (95% CI, 2.44–4.41 mm) and 3.45 mm (95% CI, 2.32–4.59 mm), respectively, and a significant reduction in artificial tear use, which was −1.38 times/day, 95% CI, −1.95 to −0.81 times/day. Moreover, the increases in B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) levels were dampened by 53.20% (295.29 versus 555.02 pg/ml) and 58.33% (99.16 versus 169.99 pg/ml), respectively.

Conclusion: SS-1 treatment significantly inhibited B-cell maturation antigen. No serious drug-related adverse effects were observed. Oral SS-1 administration may be a complementary treatment for Sjögren’s syndrome.
Fractions of Shen-Sui-Tong-Zhi Formula Enhance Osteogenesis Via Activation of β-Catenin Signaling in Growth Plate Chondrocytes
Authors: Xu Rui , Zeng Qinghe , Xia Chenjie , Chen Jiali , Wang Pinger , Zhao Shan , Yuan Wenhua , Lou Zhaohuan , Lin Houfu , Xia Hanting , Lv Shuaijie , Xu Taotao , Tong Peijian , Gu Mancang , Jin Hongting
Published: September 2021

Background: Shen-sui-tong-zhi formula (SSTZF) has been used to treat osteoporosis for decades and shows excellent clinical efficacy. This article aims to explore the optimal anti-osteoporotic ingredient and its precise mechanisms in mice models.

Methods: In this study, we first screened the optimal anti-osteoporosis fraction of SSTZF extract in vivo, and then further explored the mechanism of its effects both in vivo and in vitro. Ten-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were administrated with each fraction of SSTZF. At 10 weeks after ovariectomy (OVX), femurs were collected for tissue analyses, including histology, micro-CT, biomechanical tests, and immunohistochemistry for ALP, FABP4, and β-catenin. Additionally, we also evaluated the mRNA expression level of ALP and FABP4 and the protein expression level of β-catenin after being treated with SSTZF extract in C3H10T1/2 cells. Moreover, we investigated the anti-osteoporosis effect of SSTZF extract on mice with β-catenin conditional knockout in growth plate chondrocytes (β-cateninGli1ER mice) through μCT, histology, and immunohistochemistry analyzes.

Results: At 10 weeks after treatment, osteoporosis-like phenotype were significantly ameliorated in SSTZF n-butanol extract (SSTZF-NB) group mice, as indicated by increased trabecular bone area and ALP content, and decreased lipid droplet area and FABP4 content. No such improvements were observed after being treated with other extracts, demonstrating that SSTZF-NB is the optimal anti-osteoporosis fraction. Additionally, the elevated β-catenin was revealed in both OVX mice and C3H10T1/2 cells with SSTZF-NB administered. Furthermore, a significant osteoporosis-like phenotype was observed in β-cateninGli1ER mice as expected. However, SSTZF-NB failed to rescue the deterioration in β-cateninGli1ER mice, no significant re-upregulated ALP and downregulated FABP4 were observed after being treated with SSTZF-NB, demonstrating that SSTZF-NB prevents bone loss mainly via β-catenin signaling.

Conclusion: SSTZF-NB enhances osteogenesis mainly via activation of β-catenin signaling in growth plate chondrocytes. SSTZF-NB is the optimal anti-osteoporosis fraction of SSTZF and it can be considered a salutary alternative therapeutic option for osteoporosis.
Targeting the Integrated Stress Response in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Tian Xiaobing , Zhang Shengliang , Zhou Lanlan , Seyhan Attila A. , Hernandez Borrero Liz , Zhang Yiqun , El-Deiry Wafik S.
Published: September 2021

The integrated stress response (ISR) is an evolutionarily conserved intra-cellular signaling network which is activated in response to intrinsic and extrinsic stresses. Various stresses are sensed by four specialized kinases, PKR-like ER kinase (PERK), general control non-derepressible 2 (GCN2), double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) and heme-regulated eIF2α kinase (HRI) that converge on phosphorylation of serine 51 of eIF2α. eIF2α phosphorylation causes a global reduction of protein synthesis and triggers the translation of specific mRNAs, including activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). Although the ISR promotes cell survival and homeostasis, when stress is severe or prolonged the ISR signaling will shift to regulate cellular apoptosis. We review the ISR signaling pathway, regulation and importance in cancer therapy.
Analysis of Climate Change Characteristics in Xi’an Based on the Visibility Graph
Authors: Zhang Pengtao , Ning Pengyi , Cao Runhua , Xu Jiwei
Published: September 2021

In recent years, the global temperature is continuously rising and has the trend of accelerating. The frequent occurrence of extremely high temperatures and heat waves has caused widespread concern from all walks of life. How to fully understand the change law of temperature becomes very important. In view of the temperature change in Xi’an, this paper introduces a new method called visibility graph to establish the temperature network in Xi’an. On this basis, firstly, this paper studies the relationship between temperature fluctuation and network degree. We find that short-term fluctuations do not cause long-term effects. Then, through the study of network degree distribution, it is revealed that the temperature network conforms to the law of power-law distribution. In addition, this paper also completes the community detection of temperature network, and finds that some communities have fewer nodes (between June and August), which means that the correlation between summer temperature and other seasons in Xi’an is low, and it is easy to form extreme weather. To sum up, the research in this paper provides a new theoretical method and research ideas for mining and mastering the variation law of temperature in Xi’an.
Multilevel Attention Residual Neural Network for Multimodal Online Social Network Rumor Detection
Authors: Wang Zhuang , Sui Jie
Published: September 2021

In recent years, with the rapid rise of social networks, such as Weibo and Twitter, multimodal social network rumors have also spread. Unlike traditional unimodal rumor detection, the main difficulty of multimodal rumor detection is in avoiding the generation of noise information while using the complementarity of different modal features. In this article, we propose a multimodal online social network rumor detection model based on the multilevel attention residual neural network (MARN). First, the features of text and image are extracted by Bert and ResNet-18, respectively, and the cross-attention residual mechanism is used to enhance the representation of images with a text vector. Second, the enhanced image vector and text vector are concatenated and fused by the self-attention residual mechanism. Finally, the fused image–text vectors are classified into two categories. Among them, the attention mechanism can effectively enhance the image representation and further improve the fusion effect between the image and the text, while the residual mechanism retains the unique attributes of each original modal feature while using different modal features. To assess the performance of the MARN model, we conduct experiments on the Weibo dataset, and the results show that the MARN model outperforms the state-of-the-art models in terms of accuracy and F1 value.
Tailorable Stimulated Brillouin Scattering Laser Based on Silicon Ring Waveguides
Authors: Wang Yulei , Li Kai , Yu Yu , Li Sensen , Li Yunfei , Wang Wuyue , Song Changyu , Wang Zhiyong , Wang Gong , Zhang Yong , Lu Zhiwei , Li Yuhai , Liu Tongyu , Yan Xiusheng
Published: September 2021

Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) lasers based on silicon waveguides with large SBS gain, have been widely used in frequency tunable laser emission, mode-locked pulse laser, low-noise oscillator, optical gyroscope, and other fields. However, current SBS lasers still need long waveguide lengths to realize Brillouin laser output, which increases the waveguide losses and is not conductive to be integrated. In this paper, we propose a silicon ring waveguide, in order to tune the frequency of the phonon field of SBS laser based on the silicon substrate of the ring cavity. The simulation results exhibit that the tailorable forward SBS effect is realized in the silicon-based optical waveguide with a large SBS gain up to 1.90 W-1m-1. Particularly, with the mutual restraint between photoelastic and moving boundary effects, the tunable phonon frequencies emitting from 1 to 15 GHz are realized through the conversion among higher order modes by modifying the widths of the ring cavity. Therefore, this silicon waveguide based on ring cavity will provide a new technical scheme for designing tunable SBS lasers by tuning the ring widths. In addition, this enhanced and broadband acoustic radiation will pave the way for hybrid integration in silicon-based optical waveguide, micro-electromechanical system, and CMOS signal processing technology.
Secondhand Smoke Decreased Excitability and Altered Action Potential Characteristics of Cardiac Vagal Neurons in Mice
Authors: Sun Junqing , Pan Shiyue , Karey Emma , Chen Yi-Je , Pinkerton Kent E. , Wilson Christopher G. , Chen Chao-Yin
Published: September 2021

Background: Secondhand smoke (SHS), a major indoor pollutant, is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality including arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Exposure to SHS can produce autonomic imbalance, as evidenced by reduced heart rate variability (HRV)—a clinical metric of cardiac vagal regulation. Currently, the mechanisms through which SHS changes the vagal preganglionic neuronal inputs to the heart to produce this remains unknown.

Objectives: To characterize the effect of SHS on both the excitability and action potential (AP) characteristics of anatomically identified cardiac vagal neurons (CVNs) in the nucleus ambiguus and examine whether SHS alters small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channel activity of these CVNs.

Methods: Adult male mice were exposed to four weeks of filtered air or SHS (3 mg/m3) 6 h/day, 5 day/week. Using patch-clamp recordings on identified CVNs in brainstem slices, we determined neuronal excitability and AP characteristics with depolarizing step- and ramp-current injections.

Results: Four weeks of SHS exposure reduced spiking responses to depolarizing current injections and increased AP voltage threshold in CVNs. Perfusion with apamin (20 nM) magnified these SHS-induced effects, suggesting reduced SK channel activity may serve to minimize the SHS-induced decreases in CVNs excitability. Medium afterhyperpolarization (a measurement of SK channel activity) was smaller in the SHS group, further supporting a lower SK channel activity. AP amplitude, rise rate, fast afterhyperpolarization amplitude (a measurement of voltage-gated channel activity), and decay rate were higher in the SHS group at membrane voltages more positive to 0 mV, suggesting altered inactivation properties of voltage-dependent channels underlying APs.

Discussion: SHS exposure reduced neuronal excitability of CVNs with compensatory attenuation of SK channel activity and altered AP characteristics. Neuroplasticity of CVNs could blunt regulatory cardiac vagal signaling and contribute to the cardiovascular consequences associated with SHS exposure, including reduced HRV.
Nocturnal Hypoxemia Rather Than Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Associated With Decreased Red Blood Cell Deformability and Enhanced Hemolysis in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Stauffer Emeric , Poutrel Solène , Cannas Giovanna , Gauthier Alexandra , Fort Romain , Bertrand Yves , Renoux Céline , Joly Philippe , Boisson Camille , Hot Arnaud , Peter-Derex Laure , Pialoux Vincent , PetitJean Thierry , Connes Philippe
Published: September 2021

Background: Although obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could act as a modulator of clinical severity in sickle cell disease (SCD), few studies focused on the associations between the two diseases.

Research Question: The aims of this study were: (1) to explore the associations between OSA, nocturnal oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2) and the history of several acute/chronic complications, (2) to investigate the impact of OSA and nocturnal SpO2 on several biomarkers (hematological, blood rheological, and coagulation) in patients with SCD.

Study Design and Methods: Forty-three homozygous SCD patients underwent a complete polysomnography recording followed by blood sampling.

Results: The proportion of patients suffering from nocturnal hypoxemia did not differ between those with and those without OSA. No association between OSA and clinical severity was found. Nocturnal hypoxemia was associated with a higher proportion of patients with hemolytic complications (glomerulopathy, leg ulcer, priapism, or pulmonary hypertension). In addition, nocturnal hypoxemia was accompanied by a decrease in RBC deformability, enhanced hemolysis and more severe anemia.

Interpretation: Nocturnal hypoxemia in SCD patients could be responsible for changes in RBC deformability resulting in enhanced hemolysis leading to the development of complications such as leg ulcers, priapism, pulmonary hypertension or glomerulopathy.

Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03753854.
Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Novel Genetic Loci for Quantitative Resistance to Septoria Tritici Blotch in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Mekonnen Tilahun , Sneller Clay H. , Haileselassie Teklehaimanot , Ziyomo Cathrine , Abeyo Bekele G. , Goodwin Stephen B. , Lule Dagnachew , Tesfaye Kassahun
Published: September 2021

Septoria tritici blotch, caused by the fungus Zymoseptoria titici, poses serious and persistent challenges to wheat cultivation in Ethiopia and worldwide. Deploying resistant cultivars is a major component of controlling septoria tritici blotch (STB). Thus, the objective of this study was to elucidate the genomic architecture of STB resistance in an association panel of 178 bread wheat genotypes. The association panel was phenotyped for STB resistance, phenology, yield, and yield-related traits in three locations for 2 years. The panel was also genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers using the genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) method, and a total of 7,776 polymorphic SNPs were used in the subsequent analyses. Marker-trait associations were also computed using a genome association and prediction integrated tool (GAPIT). The study then found that the broad-sense heritability for STB resistance ranged from 0.58 to 0.97 and 0.72 to 0.81 at the individual and across-environment levels, respectively, indicating the presence of STB resistance alleles in the association panel. Population structure and principal component analyses detected two sub-groups with greater degrees of admixture. A linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis in 338,125 marker pairs also detected the existence of significant (p ≤ 0.01) linkage in 27.6% of the marker pairs. Specifically, in all chromosomes, the LD between SNPs declined within 2.26–105.62 Mbp, with an overall mean of 31.44 Mbp. Furthermore, the association analysis identified 53 loci that were significantly (false discovery rate, FDR, <0.05) associated with STB resistance, further pointing to 33 putative quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Most of these shared similar chromosomes with already published Septoria resistance genes, which were distributed across chromosomes 1B, 1D, 2A, 2B, 2D, 3A,3 B, 3D, 4A, 5A, 5B, 6A, 7A, 7B, and 7D. However, five of the putative QTLs identified on chromosomes 1A, 5D, and 6B appeared to be novel. Dissecting the detected loci on IWGSC RefSeq Annotation v2.1 revealed the existence of disease resistance-associated genes in the identified QTL regions that are involved in plant defense responses. These putative QTLs explained 2.7–13.2% of the total phenotypic variation. Seven of the QTLs (R2 = 2.7–10.8%) for STB resistance also co-localized with marker-trait associations (MTAs) for agronomic traits. Overall, this analysis reported on putative QTLs for adult plant resistance to STB and some important agronomic traits. The reported and novel QTLs have been identified previously, indicating the potential to improve STB resistance by pyramiding QTLs by marker-assisted selection.
Floral Scents of a Deceptive Plant Are Hyperdiverse and Under Population-Specific Phenotypic Selection
Authors: Gfrerer Eva , Laina Danae , Gibernau Marc , Fuchs Roman , Happ Martin , Tolasch Till , Trutschnig Wolfgang , Hörger Anja C. , Comes Hans Peter , Dötterl Stefan
Published: September 2021

Floral scent is a key mediator in plant-pollinator interactions. However, little is known to what extent intraspecific scent variation is shaped by phenotypic selection, with no information yet in deceptive plants. In this study, we collected inflorescence scent and fruit set of the deceptive moth fly-pollinatedArum maculatumL. (Araceae) from six populations north vs. five populations south of the Alps, accumulating to 233 samples in total, and tested for differences in scent, fruit set, and phenotypic selection on scent across this geographic barrier. We recorded 289 scent compounds, the highest number so far reported in a single plant species. Most of the compounds occurred both north and south of the Alps; however, plants of the different regions emitted different absolute and relative amounts of scent. Fruit set was higher north than south of the Alps, and some, but not all differences in scent could be explained by differential phenotypic selection in northern vs. southern populations. This study is the first to provide evidence that floral scents of a deceptive plant are under phenotypic selection and that phenotypic selection is involved in shaping geographic patterns of floral scent in such plants. The hyperdiverse scent ofA. maculatummight result from the imitation of various brood substrates of its pollinators.
Comparative Chloroplast Genomics and Phylogenetic Analysis of Zygophyllum (Zygophyllaceae) of China
Authors: Zhang Ling , Wang Shu , Su Chun , Harris AJ , Zhao Liang , Su Na , Wang Jun-Ru , Duan Lei , Chang Zhao-Yang
Published: September 2021

The genus Zygophyllum comprises over 150 species within the plant family Zygophyllaceae. These species predominantly grow in arid and semiarid areas, and about 20 occur in northwestern China. In this study, we sampled 24 individuals of Zygophyllum representing 15 species and sequenced their complete chloroplast (cp) genomes. For comparison, we also sequenced cp genomes of two species of Peganum from China representing the closely allied family, Nitrariaceae. The 24 cp genomes of Zygophyllum were smaller and ranged in size from 104,221 to 106,286 bp, each containing a large single-copy (LSC) region (79,245–80,439 bp), a small single-copy (SSC) region (16,285–17,146 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (3,792–4,466 bp). These cp genomes contained 111–112 genes each, including 74–75 protein-coding genes (PCGs), four ribosomal RNA genes, and 33 transfer RNA genes, and all cp genomes showed similar gene order, content, and structure. The cp genomes of Zygophyllum appeared to lose some genes such as ndh genes and rRNA genes, of which four rRNA genes were in the SSC region, not in the IR regions. However, the SC and IR regions had greater similarity within Zygophyllum than between the genus and Peganum. We detected nine highly variable intergenic spacers: matK-trnQ, psaC-rps15, psbZ-trnG, rps7-trnL, rps15-trnN, trnE-trnT, trnL-rpl32, trnQ-psbK, and trnS-trnG. Additionally, we identified 156 simple sequence repeat (cpSSR) markers shared among the genomes of the 24 Zygophyllum samples and seven cpSSRs that were unique to the species of Zygophyllum. These markers may be useful in future studies on genetic diversity and relationships of Zygophyllum and closely related taxa. Using the sequenced cp genomes, we reconstructed a phylogeny that strongly supported the division of Chinese Zygophyllum into herbaceous and shrubby clades. We utilized our phylogenetic results along with prior morphological studies to address several remaining taxonomic questions within Zygophyllum. Specifically, we found that Zygophyllum kaschgaricum is included within Zygophyllum xanthoxylon supporting the present treatment of the former genus Sarcozygium as a subgenus within Zygophyllum. Our results provide a foundation for future research on the genetic resources of Zygophyllum.
3D Domain Swapping Dimerization of the Receiver Domain of Cytokinin Receptor CRE1 From Arabidopsis thaliana and Medicago truncatula
Authors: Tran Linh H. , Urbanowicz Anna , Jasiński Michał , Jaskolski Mariusz , Ruszkowski Milosz
Published: September 2021

Cytokinins are phytohormones regulating many biological processes that are vital to plants. CYTOKININ RESPONSE1 (CRE1), the main cytokinin receptor, has a modular architecture composed of a cytokinin-binding CHASE (Cyclases/Histidine kinases Associated Sensory Extracellular) domain, followed by a transmembrane fragment, an intracellular histidine kinase (HK) domain, and a receiver domain (REC). Perception of cytokinin signaling involves (i) a hormone molecule binding to the CHASE domain, (ii) CRE1 autophosphorylation at a conserved His residue in the HK domain, followed by a phosphorelay to (iii) a conserved Asp residue in the REC domain, (iv) a histidine-containing phosphotransfer protein (HPt), and (v) a response regulator (RR). This work focuses on the crystal structures of the REC domain of CRE1 from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and from the model legume Medicago truncatula. Both REC domains form tight 3D-domain-swapped dimers. Dimerization of the REC domain agrees with the quaternary assembly of the entire CRE1 but is incompatible with a model of its complex with HPt, suggesting that a considerable conformational change should occur to enable the signal transduction. Indeed, phosphorylation of the REC domain can change the HPt-binding properties of CRE1, as shown by functional studies.
Emotional Well-Being and Traditional Cypriot Easter Games: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Koundourou Christiana , Ioannou Markella , Stephanou Chara , Paparistodemou Maria , Katsigari Theodora , Tsitsas Georgios , Sotiropoulou Kyriaki
Published: September 2021

The aim of the current study is to examine the effect of the Traditional Easter Games of Cyprus on the emotional well-being of the participants. Data were collected using a qualitative analysis. It consisted of interviews from 51 participants aged 32–93 years old, and observations were made from audiovisual material of the Traditional Cypriot Easter Games being played by a sample of 20 children aged 6–14 years old and 43 adults aged 18–65 years old. Demographic data were collected by using interviews and analyzed using IBM SPSS program. The observations of the audiovisual material focused on the emotions of the participants and were grouped into prevailing and secondary emotions according to frequency and duration. The results indicate that games produce emotions such as joy, excitement, and euphoria. Emotions such as embarrassment, frustration, and anger were also observed occasionally, specifically in situations of competitiveness and defeat. In addition, the differences and similarities between adults and children were recorded. The findings of the present study extend previous work by demonstrating the positive impact of the traditional games on children’s and adult’s emotional well-being.
Acupuncture for Psychosomatic Symptoms of Hwa-byung, an Anger Syndrome: A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Choi Yujin , Park In-Hye , Kim Jung-Eun , Kwon Ojin , Kim Ae-Ran , Park Hyo-Ju , Lee Jun-Hwan , Kim Joo-Hee
Published: September 2021

Objectives: Emerging studies found the potential effects of acupuncture for treating chronic pain and mental disorders, namely, depressive and anxiety disorders. Acupuncture is widely used for treating culture-related anger syndrome, Hwa-byung. This pilot trial aimed to investigate the feasibility of a clinical trial testing acupuncture for the psychosomatic symptoms of Hwa-byung.

Methods: A total of 26 patients with Hwa-byung planned to be randomly assigned to the acupuncture or sham acupuncture groups. About 10 treatment sessions were applied over 4 weeks. The 100-mm visual analog scale was used to measure the six major Hwa-byung symptoms: stuffiness in the chest, heat sensations, pushing-up in the chest, feeling a mass in the throat, feelings of unfairness, and hard feelings. The criteria for assessing the success of this pilot trial were defined as improvement in three or more of the six Hwa-byung symptoms after treatment, with an effect size >0.2.

Results: A total of 15 patients were finally included and randomly assigned to the acupuncture group (n = 7) or the sham acupuncture group (n = 8). After 10 treatment sessions, the Cohen's d effect sizes for acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture were >0.2 for each one of the six major Hwa-byung symptoms, which met our a priori criteria for success. Also, the effect size for the somatic symptoms of “stuffiness in the chest” was 0.81 (95% CI −0.40, 2.20), referring to a large effect size.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that acupuncture treatment would be regarded as an acceptable intervention for a full-scale study of psychosomatic symptoms in patients with Hwa-byung.

Trial Registration:cris.nih.go.kr, identifier: KCT0001732.
As Strong as We Are United: Effects of Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Emotion Regulation on Quality of Life in Women With Breast Cancer
Authors: Moura Rita , Camilo Cristina , Luís Sílvia
Published: September 2021

Women diagnosed with breast cancer often experience unpleasant emotions, resulting in higher levels of emotional burden and decreased levels of wellbeing and quality of life. The present correlational and cross-sectional study aims to compare the implementation of two regulatory levels, intrapersonal and interpersonal (as social sharing of emotions), and two types of strategies, antecedent-focused and response-focused, and explore their impact on breast cancer patients’ perception of quality of life. Sixty-eight women previously diagnosed with the disease participated in this study, with a mean age of 63years old (SD=11.58). Data were collected through a self-report questionnaire to assess emotional experience, intrapersonal regulation, social sharing of emotions, and breast cancer-related wellbeing and quality of life. Data yielded that most of the participants regulated their negative emotions within social interactions and made more use of antecedent-focused strategies to cognitively reformulate the emotional episode. Social and family wellbeing were positively associated with antecedent-focused strategies, as well as intrapersonal and interpersonal regulatory levels. Moreover, the occurrence of sharing episodes and social interactions played an important and beneficial role on patients’ perceived quality of life. These findings reinforce the importance of promoting an adaptive intrapersonal regulation among breast cancer patients. Results also suggest that social sharing of emotions is an efficient process to help them to better cope with the psychological and emotional burden of the disease, thus positively influencing the way they perceive their social and family wellbeing, as well as their quality of life.
Temporal Coordination in Piano Duet Networked Music Performance (NMP): Interactions Between Acoustic Transmission Latency and Musical Role Asymmetries
Authors: Washburn Auriel , Wright Matthew J. , Chafe Chris , Fujioka Takako
Published: September 2021

Today’s audio, visual, and internet technologies allow people to interact despite physical distances, for casual conversation, group workouts, or musical performance. Musical ensemble performance is unique because interaction integrity critically depends on the timing between each performer’s actions and when their acoustic outcomes arrive. Acoustic transmission latency (ATL) between players is substantially longer for networked music performance (NMP) compared to traditional in-person spaces where musicians can easily adapt. Previous work has shown that longer ATLs slow the average tempo in ensemble performance, and that asymmetric co-actor roles and empathy-related traits affect coordination patterns in joint action. Thus, we are interested in how musicians collectively adapt to a given latency and how such adaptation patterns vary with their task-related and person-related asymmetries. Here, we examined how two pianists performed duets while hearing each other’s auditory outcomes with an ATL of 10, 20, or 40 ms. To test the hypotheses regarding task-related asymmetries, we designed duets such that pianists had: (1) a starting or joining role and (2) a similar or dissimilar musical part compared to their co-performer, with respect to pitch range and melodic contour. Results replicated previous clapping-duet findings showing that longer ATLs are associated with greater temporal asynchrony between partners and increased average tempo slowing. While co-performer asynchronies were not affected by performer role or part similarity, at the longer ATLs starting performers displayed slower tempos and smaller tempo variability than joining performers. This asymmetry of stability vs. flexibility between starters and joiners may sustain coordination, consistent with recent joint action findings. Our data also suggest that relative independence in musical parts may mitigate ATL-related challenges. Additionally, there may be a relationship between co-performer differences in empathy-related personality traits such as locus of control and coordination during performance under the influence of ATL. Incorporating the emergent coordinative dynamics between performers could help further innovation of music technologies and composition techniques for NMP.
Inhabiting the Body(ies) in Female Soccer Players: The Protective Role of Positive Body Image
Authors: Godoy-Izquierdo Débora , Díaz Isabel
Published: September 2021

In a social and sports world dominated by weight-centred beliefs and highly exigent and gendered athletic and beauty body standards, the vulnerability for eating pathology, i.e., disordered eating and eating disorders (EDs), is elevated among women athletes. The aim of this study was to explore body image facets and ED risk among female athletes in masculinised sports such as soccer. Forty-five federated amateur female soccer players from Spain participated in this study, voluntarily complying with an extensive evaluation protocol on attitudes towards body and appearance and eating practises. The participants overall reported self-representations of their bodies that corresponded to their reality as athletes, but their body ideals were also more demanding in terms of low fat and muscularity, in association with the functionality of their body and the physical demands of their athletic activity. Despite having a fairly high positive body image and body satisfaction, they also expressed negative attitudes towards their bodies. Around 2 out of 10 players were at risk of suffering from an ED. Players with negative attitudes towards their bodies had an odd 12 times likely to develop an ED compared to those with lower self-devaluation, after adjusting for BMI and body perceptions (OR = 12.3, p < 0.01). On the contrary, players who appreciate their bodies and hold a positive body image had an odd 83% lower to suffer from eating pathology, after adjusting for BMI and body satisfaction (OR = 0.17, p < 0.05). Our findings support the healthy and protective role of positive body image in sports contexts. Body attitudes should be addressed in preventive and therapeutic efforts for reducing the prevalence of EDs in women's sports, within both a “negative” and a “positive” paradigm of body image.
Interrelationships and Methods for Improving University Students' Sense of Gain, Sense of Security, and Happiness
Authors: Feng Linlin , Zhong Hao
Published: September 2021

The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China stressed the necessity to “keep up with people's ever-growing needs for a better life. We will continue to promote social fairness and justice, develop effective social governance, and maintain public order. With this we should see that our people will always have a strong sense of gain, happiness, and sense of security.” In this study, 646 university students were surveyed using the Demographic Questionnaire, Sense of Gain Scale, Sense of Security Scale, Orientations to Happiness Scale, and Prosocial Behavior Tendencies Scale to explore the relationships among sense of gain, sense of security and happiness (including meaning, pleasure, and engagement happiness), and to discuss methods for enhancing them on the basis of prosocial behaviors. The results revealed that (1) sense of gain had significant positive correlations with meaning, pleasure, and engagement happiness but a significant negative correlation with sense of security. Sense of security did not have a significant correlation with the three types of happiness. Prosocial behaviors had significant positive correlations with sense of gain and the three types of happiness but shared no significant correlation with sense of security. (2) Sense of gain significantly and positively predicted meaning, pleasure, and engagement happiness, whereas the interaction between sense of security and sense of gain did not yield a significant prediction for the three types of happiness. Prosocial behaviors significantly and positively predicted sense of gain and the three types of happiness. (3) Sense of gain had mediating effects on the relationships between prosocial behaviors and meaning, pleasure, and engagement happiness, whereas sense of security did not have a moderating effect on the relationships between sense of gain and the three types of happiness. Prosocial behaviors directly affect meaning, pleasure, and engagement happiness and can indirectly influence happiness through enhancing a sense of gain. The implementation of prosocial behaviors can not only provide help for others, but also promote the self-satisfaction of the behavior agents and help them get more happiness.
The More Insufficient, the More Avoidance? Cognitive and Affective Factors that Relates to Information Behaviours in Acute Risks
Authors: Zhao Shuguang , Liu Yiming
Published: September 2021

This study examines the relationship between cognitive and affective factors and people's information-seeking and -avoiding behaviours in acute risks with a 1,946-sample online survey conducted in February 2020, during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that perceived information insufficiency correlates negatively with information-seeking behaviour and there was an inverted U-shaped relationship between information insufficiency and avoidance behaviour. As for the risk-related cognitive factors, information seeking increases as perceived severity of risks rises, while information avoiding increases as perceived susceptibility rises. Perceived response efficacy positively correlates with information-seeking and negatively with information-avoidance behaviours. Preliminary results also indicated that different affective factors relate to information-seeking and avoidance behaviours differently.