bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in smoking-attributable cardiovascular mortality in Germany
Authors: Mons Ute , Lohner Valerie , Seuthe Katharina
Published: January 2025

We quantified the fraction of cardiovascular deaths attributable to smoking in Germany over time, accounting for population ageing. We calculated population-attributable fractions to quantify cardiovascular deaths attributable to smoking for 1992 to 2021, and compared actual with age-standardized figures. We found a significant decline in the number of cardiovascular deaths attributable to smoking: from about 71 900 cases in 1992 to around 42 000 cases in 2021, with a steeper decline in men. Age-standardized figures suggest that population ageing partially offset this trend. Forward projections indicate increasing trends over the next decade. The results highlight the need for targeted smoking cessation programmes.
Fungal communities in boreal soils are influenced by land use, agricultural soil management, and depth
Authors: Häkkinen Laura , Pessi Igor S , Salonen Anna-Reetta , Uhlgren Oona , Soinne Helena , Hultman Jenni , Heinonsalo Jussi
Published: January 2025

Land use and agricultural soil management affect soil fungal communities that ultimately influence soil health. Subsoils harbor nutrient reservoir for plants and can play a significant role in plant growth and soil carbon sequestration. Typically, microbial analyses are restricted to topsoil (0–30 cm) leaving subsoil fungal communities underexplored. To address this knowledge gap, we analyzed fungal communities in the vertical profile of four boreal soil treatments: long-term (24 years) organic and conventional crop rotation, meadow, and forest. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) amplicon sequencing revealed soil-layer-specific land use or agricultural soil management effects on fungal communities down to the deepest measured soil layer (40–80 cm). Compared to other treatments, higher proportion of symbiotrophs, saprotrophs, and pathotrophs + plant pathogens were found in forest, meadow and crop rotations, respectively. The proportion of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was higher in deeper (>20 cm) soil than in topsoil. Forest soil below 20 cm was dominated by fungal functional groups with proposed interactions with plants or other soil biota, whether symbiotrophic or pathotrophic. Ferrous oxide was an important factor shaping fungal communities throughout the vertical profile of meadow and cropping systems. Our results emphasize the importance of including subsoil in microbial community analyses in differently managed soils.
Rice husk- and lemongrass-derived eco-enzymes as potential food contact surface disinfectants against biofilm-forming foodborne pathogens
Authors: Vimalanathan Vickneish , Hasan Hanan , Kunasegaran Vickineshwari , Sarawanan Kausalyaa , Ilangovan Monisha , Sandrasaigaran Pratheep
Published: January 2025

This study aims to evaluate the rice husk (EE-R)- and lemongrass (EE-L)-derived eco-enzymes (EE) as alternatives to chemical-based disinfectants. The EE-R’s and EE-L’s antimicrobial activity were tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus using a broth microdilution method. The antibiofilm activities of EE were determined using crystal violet staining. Lastly, the minimal contact time of EE for effectively reducing biofilm-forming pathogens (<25 CFU/ml) was assessed on various food contact surfaces (wood, glass, plastic, stainless steel, and marble). The results show that EE-R at 25%–50% concentration significantly inhibited P. aeruginosa and S. aureus while reducing the initial biofilm formation by 61% and 58%, respectively. In contrast, EE-L inhibited S. Typhimurium at a concentration of 12.5%–50% and P. aeruginosa at 25%–50%, with a strong preformed biofilm inhibition noticed for S. Typhimurium (70%). For the minimal contact time, EE-R superiorly inhibited P. aeruginosa (60 s) and S. aureus (120 s) on all contact surfaces, while EE-L needed 120 s to reduce P. aeruginosa and S. Typhimurium. These outcomes were comparable to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl, 2.5%). The study’s outcomes implicate the potential application of EE-R and EE-L as surface disinfectants against biofilm-forming bacteria, thus promoting safer food processing practices while minimizing environmental impacts.
Resilience Through Social Connectedness and Cognition: Is Theory of Mind a Form of Enrichment for Older adults?
Authors: Krendl Anne C , Hamilton Lucas J , Apostolova Liana G , Perry Brea L
Published: January 2025

Objective

Social connectedness is a modifiable lifestyle factor that delays age-related cognitive decline. Using cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental approaches, we examined whether theory of mind—inferring what others think or feel—is a potential mechanism underlying this relationship.

Methods

In Study 1, 305 community-dwelling older adults participating in two different, but related, studies completed comprehensive measures of general cognition, theory of mind, and personal social networks. We examined whether theory of mind mediated the relationship between older adults’ social connectedness and cognition. One hundred and ten of those participants completed follow-up social network interviews and cognitive assessments about 1.5 years later to determine whether baseline social connectedness and theory of mind predicted cognitive change. In Study 2, 55 other older adults completed a procedural discourse task targeting a close and distant network member. We predicted that higher theory of mind would be reflected through providing more details to distant, versus close, others, especially among older adults with larger, less interconnected, personal social networks.

Results

Results revealed that theory of mind accounted for 32% of the relationship between social connectedness and overall cognition, even when covarying age, gender, education, and a control task. The effects were particularly robust for episodic memory and language. Longitudinal analyses replicated this pattern. In Study 2, older adults with larger, less dense social networks provided more details to distant versus very close network members.

Discussion

Together, these results suggest that theory of mind may provide the mechanism through which social connectedness confers cognitive resilience associated with slower cognitive decline.
Communications Needs of Family Caregivers of Geriatric Unit Residents at End-of-Life
Authors: Cohen Rinat , Maydan Gal , Brill Shai , Cohen-Mansfield Jiska
Published: January 2025

Background and Objectives

There is a dearth of literature regarding the communication needs of family caregivers of institutionalized older adults and the degree to which these needs are fulfilled. This study aimed to clarify those needs regarding communication with staff in geriatric facilities during older noncommunicative residents’ end-of-life.

Research Design and Methods

Personal interviews were conducted with 135 family caregivers from 2 geriatric medical centers and 2 nursing homes in Israel. Questions referred to the quality of available communication and family caregivers’ communication needs. We utilized inductive content analysis to identify these needs.

Results

The first and last authors independently examined all the qualitative data regarding family caregivers’ needs, and identified themes and categories based on similarities. These were further discussed and modified until agreement was reached. Family caregivers wished to have an available staff member to approach when needed, to be kept current on their older relatives’ condition, to feel supported during a difficult time in their lives, and to overcome language and cultural barriers.

Discussion and Implications

This is the first study to examine family caregivers’ communication needs using a broad perspective that relates to overall needs rather than specific ones, thus yielding a fuller understanding of family caregivers’ emotional and practical needs, as well as language and cultural barriers. Translating these needs into practice by offering guidelines on how to fulfill them and developing tailored interventions and tools to assess them may improve not only communication but also end-of-life care for residents of geriatric facilities.
Knowledge graph–based thought: a knowledge graph–enhanced LLM framework for pan-cancer question answering
Authors: Feng Yichun , Zhou Lu , Ma Chao , Zheng Yikai , He Ruikun , Li Yixue
Published: January 2025

Background

In recent years, large language models (LLMs) have shown promise in various domains, notably in biomedical sciences. However, their real-world application is often limited by issues like erroneous outputs and hallucinatory responses.

Results

We developed the knowledge graph–based thought (KGT) framework, an innovative solution that integrates LLMs with knowledge graphs (KGs) to improve their initial responses by utilizing verifiable information from KGs, thus significantly reducing factual errors in reasoning. The KGT framework demonstrates strong adaptability and performs well across various open-source LLMs. Notably, KGT can facilitate the discovery of new uses for existing drugs through potential drug–cancer associations and can assist in predicting resistance by analyzing relevant biomarkers and genetic mechanisms. To evaluate the knowledge graph question answering task within biomedicine, we utilize a pan-cancer knowledge graph to develop a pan-cancer question answering benchmark, named pan-cancer question answering.

Conclusions

The KGT framework substantially improves the accuracy and utility of LLMs in the biomedical field. This study serves as a proof of concept, demonstrating its exceptional performance in biomedical question answering.
Substituting confidence for competence in health literacy: a review of studies, citations, and trial registrations
Authors: Jagemann Inga , Thiele Christian , von Brachel Ruth , Hirschfeld Gerrit
Published: January 2025

Patient health literacy is crucial for effective patient–physician communication, and interventions targeting health literacy can use measures based on either actual performance (competence) or self-ratings (confidence). This paper analyzed the development of these measures through three studies. Study 1 reviewed articles describing the development of novel measures; Study 2 examined the citations of these studies, and Study 3 evaluated data from clinical trials registries. The literature search was conducted from 14 April 2023 to 27 April 2023. PubMed was used as the main database in which studies on health literacy measures were searched for the systematic review (Study 1). We then used Google Scholar and the OpenCitations database to describe citation patterns of the included health literacy measures (Study 2). Finally, we evaluated confidence- or competence-based health literacy measures by extracting and analyzing trial data from ClinicalTrials.gov (Study 3). Our review included 55 health literacy measures, among which 23 (42%) were competence-based, 28 (51%) confidence-based, and 4 (7%) assessed both. Recent trends show a shift toward developing more confidence-based measures and a decline in creating new competence-based measures. Confidence-based measures were increasingly cited, whereas citations for competence-based measures have plateaued. Lastly, our findings showed a steady increase in the use of confidence-based measures in recent clinical trials and a decrease in the use of competence-based measures when controlling for sample size. This shift may be problematic because confidence-based measures do not improve our limited knowledge about patients’ actual ability to meet demands of shared decision-making, especially regarding new technologies like artificial intelligence in healthcare.
The effect of motivational interview-based breastfeeding education on breastfeeding motivation, success, self-efficacy perceptions, and exclusive breastfeeding duration after cesarean section: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bekmezci Ebru , Meram Halime Esra
Published: January 2025

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of motivational interview-based breastfeeding education on breastfeeding motivation, breastfeeding success, self-efficacy perceptions, and exclusive breastfeeding duration in primiparous mothers after cesarean section. A parallel-group randomized controlled experimental study. Mothers were randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG; n = 39) and a control group (CG; n = 37). IG was provided with four sessions of motivational interview-based breastfeeding education, while CG did not receive any motivational interview-based education. The research data were collected by using ‘Introductory Information Form’, ‘Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form’, ‘LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool’, ‘The Primipara Breastfeeding Motivation Scale’, and ‘Importance and Confidence-Sufficiency Rulers’. In addition, in the follow-ups except for the pretest, mothers were asked about exclusive breastfeeding. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials database (NCT05562245). Group × time interactions in mothers, breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding success, the value ascribed to breastfeeding, breastfeeding self-effectiveness, and confidence sufficiency in breastfeeding ability were statistically significant (P < 0.05). A motivational interviewing-based breastfeeding education provided to mothers increased their breastfeeding self-efficacy, the value ascribed to breastfeeding, and confidence sufficiency in breastfeeding ability. Therefore, motivational interviewing can contribute to mothers’ positive experience of breastfeeding.
UBE2S, downregulated by miR-152-3p, facilitates prostate cancer progression through the PTEN-mediated AKT/mTOR pathway
Authors: Wang Chunhui , Zhang Gang , Jiang Ying , Bao Guochang , Li Chunsheng
Published: January 2025

Objectives: In recent years, the incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer (PCa) have still not been significantly reduced and the mechanisms of tumor onset and progression are still not fully understood. The pathogenic mechanisms and upstream regulation of UBE2S expression in prostate cancer have not been elucidated. Methods: Here, we performed bioinformatic analysis of public databases to reveal the expression of UBE2S in PCa and its association with Gleason score, tumor staging, biochemical recurrence, and survival. Subsequently, the effect of UBE2S on the proliferation and invasive capacity of PCa cells was explored. Next, miR-152-3p was identified to bind to the 3′-UTR of UBE2S mRNA and down-regulated in PCa through luciferase reporter assays. Dual immunofluorescence assay and co-immunoprecipitation assays were performed to verify the regulatory role of UBE2S on PTEN. Finally, the molecular mechanism of UBE2S regulation of PCa progression was further confirmed by rescue experiments and in vivo nude mouse subcutaneous transplantation tumor experiments. Results: UBE2S expression was upregulated in PCa and correlated with patient Gleason score, TNM stage, biochemical recurrence, and disease-free survival. miR-152-3p regulated UBE2S expression in PCa by binding to the UBE2S mRNA 3′-UTR. Mechanistically, UBE2S combines with PTEN and ubiquitinates it, leading to PTEN degradation and ultimately promoting PCa progression via the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Conclusions: UBE2S, down-regulated by miR-152-3p, plays an important role in the onset and progression of PCa through the PTEN-mediated Akt/mTOR pathway and may become a new diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for PCa.
Changes in traffic-related air pollution exposures and associations with adverse birth outcomes over 20 years in Texas
Authors: Hystad Perry , Hill Elaine L , Larkin Andrew , Schrank David , Harleman Max , Volkin Evan , Campbell Erin J , Molitor John , Harris Lena , Ritz Beate R , Willis Mary D
Published: January 2025

Background

Billions of dollars have been spent implementing regulations to reduce traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) from exhaust pipe emissions. However, few health studies have evaluated the change in TRAP emissions and associations with infant health outcomes. We hypothesize that the magnitude of association between vehicle exposure measures and adverse birth outcomes has decreased over time, parallelling regulatory improvements in exhaust pipe emissions.

Methods

Using birth records in Texas from 1996 to 2016, we calculated residential exposure measures related to TRAP: nitrogen dioxide (NO2, a marker of the TRAP mixture), vehicle miles travelled within 500 m of homes (VMT500), a measure of traffic volume, and highway proximity. Using an accountability study framework, our analysis examined term birthweight, term low birthweight (TLBW) (<2500 g), preterm birth (PTB) (<37 weeks) and very preterm birth (VPTB) (<32 weeks). We implemented linear and logistic regression models to examine overall and time-stratified associations, including trends by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic groups.

Results

Among exposures for 6 158 518 births, NO2 exposures decreased 59% over time but VMT500 remained relatively stable. TRAP-related exposure measures were persistently associated with harmful birth outcomes [e.g. OR1996-2016 of 1.07 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.08) for TLBW comparing the highest vs lowest NO2 quintile]. The magnitude of associations decreased for total VMT500 and TLBW (-60%, OR1996: 1.08 to OR2016: 1.03 for the highest vs lowest quintile) and PTB (-65%) and VTPT (-61%), but not for term birthweight.

Conclusions

We observed evidence of small improvements in birth outcomes associated with reductions in exhaust pipe emissions over a 20-year period in Texas.
Emergence of Ceftriaxone-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae Through Horizontal Gene Transfer Among Neisseria Species
Authors: Shimuta Ken , Ohama Yuki , Ito Shin , Hoshina Shinji , Takahashi Hideyuki , Igawa Gene , Dorin Yamamoto Misato , Akeda Yukihiro , Ohnishi Makoto
Published: January 2025

Background

It has been suggested that the emergence of ceftriaxone-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae involves the incorporation of the penA gene from commensal Neisseria spp that are resistant to ceftriaxone. However, the mechanism of this mosaic penA generation is unknown.

Methods

We obtained 10 strains of commensal Neisseria spp showing ceftriaxone minimum inhibitory concentration ≥0.5 mg/L. The similarity of the penA gene region of these commensal Neisseria spp strains and some ceftriaxone-resistant N. gonorrhoeae strains was investigated. To obtain transformants, a commensal Neisseria spp, Neisseria lactamica, genomic DNA was used as donor DNA and a N. gonorrhoeae strain as the recipient.

Results

The sequence similarity in certain regions of penA-murE between some of the commensal Neisseria spp strains and the N. gonorrhoeae FC428 strain was very high. The sequence of these regions was very similar among some ceftriaxone-resistant strains of Neisseria spp. The PenA of the transformants matched the full PenA60 of the original FC428 strain. Furthermore, our findings indicated that the source of resistance could have been a penA fragment derived from Neisseria spp that originally carried the same sequence.

Conclusions

We suggest that FC428 developed ceftriaxone resistance by acquiring part of the penA–murE gene region from N. lactamica through horizontal gene transfer. The ceftriaxone-resistant N. lactamica in this study may also have emerged by acquiring part of penA from other Neisseria spp. Our data provide insights into the understanding of the mechanism underlying the evolution of drug-resistant gonorrhea-causing strains.
Assessing the role of Alnus nepalensis D. Don in stabilizing landslide and its potential distribution: a case study from Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya
Authors: Dwivedi Sanjay Kumar , Chandra Naveen , Mishra Arun Pratap , Bahuguna Sonam , Srivastava Aman , Arya Dhani , Singh Gajendra , Đurin Bojan , Kranjčić Nikola , Singh Raj
Published: January 2025

The rising frequency and severity of landslides in the vulnerable Himalayan region of India threaten human settlements and critical infrastructure. This growing issue demands urgent action and innovative strategies to mitigate risks and bolster the resilience of affected communities and infrastructure in this fragile area. The research explores the use of Alnus nepalensis for slope stabilization, illustrated by a case study near Ukhimath, Uttarakhand, India, and elucidates the potential ecological niche of Alnus in the temperate region of Uttarakhand using well-dispersed species occurrence records along with environment. The study used Sentinel-2 (2021) data for land use and land cover (LULC) mapping and Landsat 4-5, Sentinel-2, and Google Earth imagery from 1998, 2004, 2015, 2019, and 2020 for landslide slope recovery assessment. The Ukhimath landslide, spanning 54.61 ha in August 1998, demonstrated a remarkable recovery, with 98.20% coverage of Alnus by 2020, showcasing the species efficacy in stabilizing slopes without human intervention. The research forecasts a total potential distribution area of Alnus in the temperate region (1,000–2,500 m·asl [above mean sea level]) of Uttarakhand as ∼7,833 km2, with 782.30  km2 highly suitable, 2,104.33  km2 moderately suitable, and the rest showing low suitability. These distribution insights provide a foundation for in situ planning to leverage Alnus-based bioengineering for early slope stabilization, which is especially relevant in landslide-prone areas like Uttarakhand. The study provides a comprehensive and scientifically rigorous strategy for achieving sustainable outcomes in landslide-prone areas, particularly in the lower temperate region of the Himalaya.
Assessing the sustainable development in the European Union: influence of municipal waste, industrial waste, and waste related patents
Authors: Karlilar Pata Selin , Pata Ugur Korkut
Published: January 2025

Waste has emerged as a pressing concern for the environment, primarily stemming from the processes of urbanization and industrialization. The substantial volumes of waste generated pose a serious threat to the environment, as they spread out harmful substances in the soil and release methane emissions into the atmosphere. To effectively address this issue, this study explores the impact of municipal and industrial waste, as well as waste-related innovation on the load capacity factor (LCF) from 2005 to 2020. For this purpose, the augmented mean group method and the half panel jackknife causality approach were conducted by using panel data from 17 European countries. The empirical findings show that (1) the load capacity curve (LCC) hypothesis is confirmed; (2) municipal and industrial waste have a detrimental effect on the LCF; and (3) innovation in waste management practices have no discernible impact on the LCF. In light of these findings, this study emphasizes the importance of efficient waste management for European countries to exploit the potential of waste as a valuable resource rather than a cause of pollution.
Freshwater ecotoxicity characterization factors for PFASs
Authors: Aggarwal Rahul
Published: January 2025

This research aims to address the data gaps in freshwater ecotoxicological characterization factors (CFs) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). These CFs are essential for incorporating the ecotoxicity impacts of PFAS emissions into life cycle assessments (LCAs). This study has three primary objectives: first, to calculate a comprehensive set of experimental aquatic ecotoxicity CFs for PFASs utilizing the USEtox model (version 2.13); second, to compare these newly derived CFs with those generated using the PFAS-adapted USEtox model; and finally, to test the hypothesis concerning a potential correlation between CFs and effect factors (EFs) with the number of perfluorinated carbons in PFASs. In this study, 367 PFASs were selected from the CompTox Chemicals Dashboard PFAS suspect lists and REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) registration dossiers. Experimental ecotoxicity data were extracted from CompTox Version 2.1.1 and REACH. Using both the USEtox model (version 2.13) and the PFAS-adapted USEtox model, CFs were calculated for 367 PFASs. Of these, 237 CFs were newly calculated using the HC20EC10eq-based methodology, enriching the representation of PFASs in LCA studies. The analysis revealed no correlation between the number of perfluorinated carbons and the calculated EFs and CFs using the USEtox models. This study covers only a small portion of the extensive list of millions of PFASs in PubChem, primarily due to data constraints and scarcity. Discrepancies between CFs generated by USEtox and PFAS-adapted USEtox are attributed to variations in foundational fate and exposure factor calculation methodologies, whereas ecotoxicity factors remained consistent. Consequently, it is suggested that CFs for PFASs are dependent on the modeling approach and require regular updates with the latest data to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Health risk assessment and Sobol’ sensitivity analysis of power plant air pollution (SO2 and NOX): the effect of power plant fuel change
Authors: Fouladi-Fard Reza , Naddafi Kazem , Hosseini Mohammad Reza , Yunesian Masud , Nabizadeh Nodehi Ramin , Dehghani Mohammad Hadi , Hassanvand Mohammad Sadegh , Dehabadi Monireh , Fiore Maria , Rezaei Rahimi Nayereh , Rajabi Saeed
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to evaluate the concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) around the Qom (a province in Iran) combined cycle power plant in relation to seasonal variations and fuel type from December 2014 to May 2015. Passive sampling was used in three monitoring sites around the power plant to assess noncarcinogenic health risks associated with exposure to SO2 and NOX. Results showed the higher concentrations of NOX and SO2 in winter than in spring. The highest concentrations of NOX in winter (when power plants used gasoil) and spring (when power plants used gas fuel) were 52.70 ± 21.70/52.70 ± 13.20 and 22.10 ± 7.00 µg/m3. Similarly, the highest concentrations of SO2 in winter and spring were 5.00 ± 0.20 and 3.90 ± 0.70 µg/m3. There was a moderately significant correlation between NOx and SO2 concentrations when the power plant consumed gasoil (Spearman rho coefficient, 0.68, p < .05). A significant difference was observed between gas concentration and fuel type (p < .05). The hazard quotient values for SO2 exposure were below 1 for all age groups, whereas those for NOx were above 1 for infants and children. The hazard index for NOX was above 1, indicating an unacceptable risk to human health. Sobol’ sensitivity analysis identified the inhalation rate and NOX concentration as the most significant factors determining the noncarcinogenic risks across age groups. In conclusion, the use of gasoil by power plants increases the emission of pollutants, thereby raising the health risks for residents in these regions, particularly vulnerable demographics like children. Therefore, prioritizing air quality management such as using cleaner fuels and emission control technologies in power plants as well as continuous air quality monitoring are of utmost importance.
Is it worth implementing the Blue Sky Defense Battle initiative? A cost-benefit analysis of the Chengdu case
Authors: Li Suli , Wu Dan , Liu Li , Yang Lu , Wang Yining , Cao Shuhui , Jin Yana
Published: January 2025

To mitigate air pollution, China began implementing its Three-Year Action Plan for Winning the Blue Sky Defense Battle in 2018. The rapid decline in the annual average concentration of particulate matter PM2.5 raised the authors’ interest in the cost efficiency of the implementation of the action plan. Taking Chengdu as an example, this study assesses the costs and benefits of the implementation of the Action Plan by investigating the direct abatement costs, the change of PM2.5-related disease burdens, and the resulting health benefits. The results show that the abatement costs of air pollution in Chengdu amounted to 8.77 billion yuan from 2018 to 2020, the number of beneficiaries over three years could reach 353,546, and the health benefits amounted to 9.79 billion yuan. The health benefit outweighs the abatement cost. Furthermore, among the abatement measures, the cost of transportation infrastructure development accounted for 92.83% in the total. Considering its co-benefit of industry development and CO2 abatement, the true benefits should far outweigh the costs. The Monte Carlo simulation further confirms the economic efficiency of the Three-Year Action Plan. Although the direct costs of the Action Plan are significant, the marginal health benefits of further alleviating PM2.5 may still be greater than the marginal costs, because the population is large and densely distributed in Chengdu. Actions on improving air quality still have the potential to further unlock health benefits for large cities like Chengdu.
It has not always been like this: public opinion of climate change in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Authors: Echendu Adaku Jane
Published: January 2025

Climate change is affecting weather and climate extremes globally. It has been a subject of debate and controversy leading to the emergence of climate deniers and skeptics. It is a subject of great relevance because of its wide-ranging impacts on socioeconomic and natural systems. This necessitates long-term strategic decisions and response measures. There is a gap between the general public and the scientific community in terms of their awareness, understanding, and perception of climate change. Responding to the global climate crisis requires different actions at various levels, including individual. However, the manner in which the public and societies at large act in response to climate change is dependent on their perceptions and beliefs of climate change. This makes understanding the common opinion on climate change salient. There is an overrepresentation of climate change public opinion research in western nations in comparison with developing countries. This work thus contributes to filling this gap by engaging with members of the public who experience flooding in Nigeria to understand their perceptions and opinions on climate change. Qualitative research was carried out with focus group interviews and semistructured one-on-one interviews as primary data collection tools. The research findings indicate that there is a consensus that climate change is occurring, as evidenced by changes in weather patterns over the years. However, there were differences in opinion among the participants on how it was presenting. This work thus yields key insights on the level of awareness of the climate phenomena in a developing African city. Knowledge of climate change can encourage the public to engage more with the climate crisis, act in their own way, and even mobilize to influence and support government policies towards mitigating climate change.
Managing the risks of emerging contaminants—establishing a national strategy guided by Indigenous perspectives
Authors: Sevicke Jones Graham , Ataria James M , Baker Virginia , Northcott Grant L , Brooks Bryan W , Horswell Jacqui , Stewart Michael , Tremblay Louis A
Published: January 2025

Chemicals play an important role in maintaining our quality of life. Unfortunately, inappropriate chemicals and waste management result in the accumulation of contaminants in our environment that pose a risk to exposed biota and humans. Being cognizant of Indigenous knowledge and values within the management of chemicals and waste represent key components of environmental justice, but they are not being included in current global programs. Here, we describe the process leading to the development of an independent and nonpartisan national strategy to manage emerging contaminants in New Zealand that is reflective of Māori cultural perspectives. An inclusive partnership-based approach was used to capture a broad selection of views and perspectives to provide opportunities to engage with representatives from a range of sectors including scientists, members of the wider community, and Māori partners for the development of the strategy. A series of workshops was held over several years that helped refine the strategy document to ensure that it was fit for purpose with a clear implementation pathway to maximize uptake and achieve the inspirational shared vision. This initiative highlighted the need to invest significant time and effort up front to develop strong relationships across sectors required for success. All parties involved must operate with respect to ensure that advantages and reciprocity of all knowledge systems are recognized and valued to achieve objectives for chemical sustainability.
Children’s health impact in a smelter site area in China: modeling approaches for the identification and ranking of the most relevant lead exposure routes
Authors: Giubilato Elisa , Menegozzo Manola , Li Peizhong , Cheng Hongguang , Marcomini Antonio , Duan Xiaoli , Critto Andrea , Lin Chunye
Published: January 2025

Elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in children still represent a major public health problem worldwide. In China, children’s lead (Pb) exposure assessment constitutes a priority issue for research, also due to the scarce availability of human biomonitoring data and limited detailed exposure assessments outside urban areas. This work aims to analyze children’s health impact by exploiting exposure modeling approaches to identify the most relevant Pb sources and exposure routes for 0–7-year-old children in a historical Pb–Zn smelter site in Yunnan province (southwestern China), characterized by heavy environmental pollution conditions. For this purpose, two exposure modeling tools, the Integrated Exposure Uptake Bio-Kinetic and MERLIN-Expo, were applied, using measured Pb concentrations in environmental media and food items from a local field campaign as input data. Simulated BLLs, including probabilistic estimates, were obtained and verified against real biomonitoring data from the literature. Model results for the simulated exposure scenario indicate significantly high children’s BLLs (>10 µg/dl), which reflect the elevated Pb concentrations measured in environmental matrices and are mostly in agreement with previous biomonitoring data from the region. Moreover, soil and dust ingestion resulted to be the dominant exposure pathway, contributing more than 70% to the overall Pb exposure in children in all investigated scenarios. This work showed how tools for internal exposure modeling can contribute to Pb exposure assessment as complementary tools to demanding and invasive biomonitoring studies and can help identify priority exposure routes for improving risk management.
Examination of spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of carbon emission and influencing factors in territorial spatial functional areas: a case study of the mountainous city Chongqing
Authors: Chen Juntao , Hu Lang , Sun Changhui , Fan Yueyue , Zhou Xing , He Yu , Su Xinyue , Wang Yuanping , Hou Lingchun , Ma Weiwen
Published: January 2025

The rapid development of China's economy and the acceleration of the urbanization process have led to a significant increase in carbon emissions, and more effective policies are urgently needed. As the first city in China to be approved for the overall master plan of territorial space, Chongqing is facing new opportunities in urban construction. This research constructed a classification system of the territorial space functional areas in Chongqing (CQ-TSFA) and matched the corresponding carbon emission and carbon sequestration projects. Under this classification system, the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics of its carbon emissions have been examined, and the main influencing factors have been investigated based on the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology (STIRPAT) model. This study draws the following conclusions: (1) from 2000 to 2020, the carbon emissions of CQ-TSFA increased from 48.87 million tons to 148.05 million tons; (2) the main expansion areas of urban living sub-areas are the central urban area and the vicinity of the seats of various district and county governments. The main expansion areas of the urban production sub-areas are the edges of the central urban area around the Yangtze River Basin within Chongqing, including many industrial parks; and (3) the contributions to carbon emissions in descending order are economic development effect, carbon emission intensity of CQ-TSFA, and population size effect, and the utilization rate of CQ-TSFA plays a strong inhibitory role. Finally, based on these conclusions, this article puts forward some policy suggestions to address the challenges of carbon emissions to provide references for promoting the sustainable development of Chongqing and the whole country.
Assessing bioaccumulation with biomagnification factors from dietary bioaccumulation tests
Authors: Gobas Frank A P C , Berg Nicole M , Redman Aaron D , Parkerton Thomas , Camenzuli Louise
Published: January 2025

Despite the fact that the UN Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants specifically acknowledges that Arctic ecosystems and Indigenous communities are particularly at risk due to biomagnification of contaminants in traditional foods, the bioconcentration factor (BCF) of substances in fish remains the preferred metric for identifying the biomagnification potential of organic substances. The BCF measures uptake of substances from water in water-breathing organisms, but not biomagnification of contaminants from food sources. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the biomagnification factor (BMF) can be used in bioaccumulation assessments. To address this question, data from dietary and aqueous bioaccumulation studies in fish were compiled for a wide range of substances in fish to (i) investigate the potential correlation between the BCF and the BMF for the same substance in the same fish species and (ii) investigate computational methods for deriving both the BMF and BCF from the results of empirical dietary bioaccumulation tests. The analysis concludes that (i) empirical correlations between the BCF and BMF are of limited use for bioaccumulation assessment; (ii) dietary bioaccumulation test results can be used for bioaccumulation screening; and supports the use of both the BMF and the BCF for assessing the bioaccumulation potential of substances in water-breathing organisms.
Partisanship, Military Constituencies, and District Competitiveness: Explaining Congressional Opposition to the International Criminal Court
Authors: Reed Kyle , Broache M P
Published: January 2025

In May 2020, bipartisan groups of US representatives and senators joined public letters criticizing the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it opened an investigation in Afghanistan and moved toward opening an investigation in Palestine. Why did some members of Congress join these letters, while others did not? This paper develops and tests a theory focusing on two factors to address this question: partisanship and the interaction between electoral competitiveness and military constituencies. First, building on literature identifying partisan differences in attitudes toward the ICC and international organizations more generally, we first expect that Democrats should have been less likely to sign these letters. However, partisanship is insufficient to explain intraparty variation among Democrats in joining these letters. To this end, we propose that Democrats representing electorally competitive constituencies with a significant military presence should have been more likely to join these letters in order to appeal to military voters with concerns about ICC prosecutions targeting US military personnel in Afghanistan (and elsewhere). We test this theory with respect to the House letter, and we find evidence supporting our hypotheses. We also find that representatives of districts with substantial Jewish populations were more likely to join the letter, which also called for action to protect Israeli nationals from prosecution in the situation in Palestine. These findings provide insight into not only individual representatives’ positions on the ICC but also the role of partisanship and sources of bipartisan agreement on US foreign policy.
Isolation optimization and screening of halophilic enzymes and antimicrobial activities of halophilic archaea from the high-altitude, hypersaline Da Qaidam Salt Lake, China
Authors: Ma Xin , Lv Jiaxuan , Ma Xiangrong , Zhu Derui , Long Qifu , Xing Jiangwa
Published: January 2025

Aim

The aim of this study is to increase the diversity of culturable halophilic archaea by comparing various isolation conditions and to explore the application of halophilic archaea for enzyme-producing activities and antimicrobial properties.

Methods and results

We systematically compared the isolation performance of various archaeal and bacterial media by isolating halophilic archaea from the Da Qaidam Salt Lake, a magnesium sulfate subtype hypersaline lake on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China, using multiple enrichment culture and gradient dilution conditions. A total of 490 strains of halophilic archaea were isolated, which belonged to five families and 11 genera within the order Halobacteriales of the class Halobacteria of the phylum Euryarchaeota. The 11 genera consisted of nine known genera and two potentially new genera, the former including Halorubrum, Natranaeroarchaeum, Haloplanus, Haloarcula, Halorhabdus, Halomicrobium, Halobacterium, Natrinema, and Haloterrigene. Halorubrum was the dominant genus with a relative abundance of 78.98%. By comparing different culture conditions, we found that bacterial media 2216E and R2A showed much better isolation performance than all archaeal media, and enrichment culture after 60 d and dilution gradients of 10–1 and 10–2 were best fitted for halophilic archaea cultivation. The screening of 40 halophilic archaeal strains of different species indicated that these halophilic archaea had great extracellular enzyme activities, including amylase (62.5%), esterase (50.0%), protease (27.5%), and cellulase (15.0%), and possessed great antimicrobial activities against human pathogens. A total of 34 strains exhibited antimicrobial activity against four or more pathogens, and 19 strains exhibited antimicrobial activity against all six pathogens.

Conclusions

The diversity of culturable halophilic archaea was significantly increased by enrichment culture and selection of bacterial media, and screening of representative strains showed that halophilic archaea have multiple extracellular enzyme activities and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against human pathogens.
Molecular characterization of an endophytic strain of Bacillus subtilis with plant growth-promoting properties from a wild relative of papaya
Authors: Patil Basavaprabhu L , Gopalkrishna Amulya M , G M Sandeep Kumar , R Umamaheswari
Published: January 2025

Aim

Bacillus subtilis is usually found in soil, and their biocontrol and plant growth-promoting capabilities are being explored more recently than ever. However, knowledge about metabolite production and genome composition of endophytic B. subtilis from seeds is limited. In the present study, B. subtilis EVCu15 strain isolated from the seeds of Vasconcellea cundinamarcensis (mountain papaya) was subjected to whole genome sequencing and detailed molecular and functional characterization.

Methods and results

Whole genome sequencing and sequence analysis of the endophytic bacterium from mountain papaya seed revealed that the bacterium was B. subtilis, strain EVCu15. The genomic sequence had more than 98% nucleotide similarity with two published whole genome sequences of B. subtilis strains. Some of the important secondary metabolite gene clusters involved in production of bioactive compounds such as surfactin, fengycin, plipastatin, bacillibactin, bacillaene, subtilomycin, subtilosin A, and bacilysin were identified from the whole genome sequence analysis. Genes encoding several plant growth-promoting metabolites, mostly involved in the nutrient metabolism, were identified in the bacterial genome. These included factors coding for nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, sulfur, potassium, and trehalose metabolism. Genes involved in auxin, riboflavin, acetoin biosynthesis, ACC deaminase activity, and xylan degradation were also identified. Proteomic analysis confirmed the biosynthesis and release of several bioactive secondary metabolites in the endophytic B. subtilis strain EVCu15. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based profiling for hormones and vitamins identified extracellular secretion of several important plant growth-promoting compounds such as IAA, salicylic acid, zeatin, vitamin D1, D2, E, K1, and pyridoxine. The in vitro and in vivo studies with the endophytic B. subtilis against various plant pathogenic fungi showed moderate to high levels of resistance. The B. subtilis EVCu15 compared to B. amyloliquefaciens showed better control over the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, in terms of egg hatching inhibition and the mortality of J2 juveniles.

Conclusion

Overall, this study underscores the biocontrol and plant growth-promoting potential of B. subtilis EVCu15, an endophyte isolated from mountain papaya seeds. Genomic analysis revealed a significant proportion of genes linked to biocontrol and plant growth promotion, corroborating its efficacy against M. incognita and various plant pathogens in vitro and in greenhouse studies. Furthermore, the bacterium’s ability to produce diverse bioactive compounds, including proteins, hormones, and vitamins, was confirmed, highlighting its complex interactions within the plant system.
The Effects of Compound Starter Culture and Sugar and Soy Milk on the Quality and Probiotic Activity of Milk-soy Mixed Yogurt
Authors: Jiang Wenxie , Han Sungjun , Wang Lu , Li Xinxin
Published: January 2025

Background

Yogurt has emerged as an essential nutritional food in contemporary diets, and the development of new multi-component yogurt formulations has become a focal point of current research.

Objective

In this study, the effects of fermentation compounds and the addition of sugar, soy milk on the quality and probiotic activity of milk-soy mixed yogurt were studied to determine the optimal formation of mixed yogurt.

Methods

The various fermentation compounds (YO-MIX 883, Lactobacillus Casei complex starter cultures, Lactobacillus Paracasei compound starter cultures), different concentrations of milk-soy additions (0, 25, 50, 75, 100%) and sugar (2, 4, 6, 8%) were tested within each experimental group, and the pH, appropriate acidity, and total viable bacterial count of the fermented milk-soy mixed yogurt were determined throughout the fermentation and refrigeration processes.

Results

The obtained results showed that the Lactobacillus Paracasei complex was particularly effective for the fermentation of soy milk. The mixed yogurt formulation, comprising 50% soy milk and 4∼6% sucrose, exhibited enhanced acidity, superior sensory evaluation scores, and overall improved product quality. It was observed that during refrigeration, an increase in the milk content of yogurt corresponded to a more pronounced post-acidification effect. The optimal formulation for the milk-soy mixed yogurt identified in this research consisted of 0.3% Lactobacillus Paracasei compound fermenter, 6% sucrose, and 40% soy milk. Under these optimal conditions, the mixed yogurt achieved an acidity level of 76°T, a sensory score of 92 points, and a survival rate index of 1.25. Additionally, the yogurt exhibited a distinctive soybean aroma in its aftertaste, contributing to its overall quality. Furthermore, the probiotic survival index of the mixed yogurt containing 40% soy milk, following simulated gastrointestinal fluid digestion, was recorded at 0.767, indicating that the probiotic activity in this yogurt was significantly higher than that of other yogurts.

Conclusion

The obtained results provide a theoretical foundation for the future industrial production of milk-soy mixed yogurt products.