bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk Models for Advanced Melanoma Patients Under Anti-PD-1 Monotherapy—Ad hoc Analyses of Pooled Data From Two Clinical Trials
Authors: Bai Xue , Dai Jie , Li Caili , Cui Chuanliang , Mao Lili , Wei Xiaoting , Sheng Xinan , Chi Zhihong , Yan Xieqiao , Tang Bixia , Lian Bin , Wang Xuan , Zhou Li , Li Siming , Kong Yan , Qi Zhonghui , Xu Huayan , Duan Rong , Guo Jun , Si Lu
Published: May 2021

Background: The best response and survival outcomes between advanced melanoma patients treated with the anti-PD-1 monotherapy vary greatly, rendering a risk model in need to optimally stratify patients based on their likelihood to benefit from the said treatment.

Methods: We performed an ad hoc analysis of 89 advanced melanoma patients treated with the anti-PD-1 monotherapy from two prospective clinical trials at the Peking University Cancer Hospital from April 2016 to May 2018. Clinicodemographical characteristics, baseline and early-on-treatment (median 0.6 months after anti-PD-1 monotherapy initiation) routine laboratory variables, including complete blood count and general chemistry, and best response/survival data were extracted and analyzed in both univariate and multivariate logistic and Cox proportional hazard models.

Results: After three rounds of screening, risk factors associated with a poorer PFS included a high pre-treatment neutrophil, derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), low pre-treatment hemoglobin, and low early-on-/pre-treatment fold change of eosinophil; those with a poorer OS included a high pre-treatment neutrophil, eosinophil, PLT, early-on/pre-treatment fold change of LDH and neutrophil; and those with a poorer best response included a high pre-treatment NLR and early-on-/pre-treatment LDH fold change. Risk models (scale: low, median-low, median high, and high risk) were established based on these risk factors as dichotomous variables and M stage (with vs. without distant metastasis) for PFS (HR 1.976, 95% CI, 1.507–2.592, P < 0.001), OS (HR 2.348, 95% CI, 1.688–3.266), and non-responder (OR 3.586, 95% CI, 1.668–7.713, P = 0.001), respectively. For patients with low, median-low, median-high, and high risks of developing disease progression (PD), six-month PFS rates were 64.3% (95% CI, 43.5–95.0%), 37.5% (95% CI, 22.4–62.9%), 9.1% (95% CI, 3.1–26.7%), and 0%, respectively. For patients with OS risks of low, median-low, median-high, and high, OS rates at 12 months were 82.5% (95% CI, 63.1–100%), 76.6% (95% CI, 58.4–100%), 42.1% (95% CI, 26.3–67.3%), and 23.9% (95% CI, 11.1–51.3%), respectively. For patients with risks of low, median-low, median-high, and high of being a non-responder, objective response rates were 50.0% (95% CI, 15.7–84.3%), 27.8% (95% CI, 9.7–53.5%), 10.3% (95% CI, 2.9–24.2%), and 0%, respectively.

Conclusion: A risk scoring model based on the clinicodemographical characteristics and easily obtainable routinely tested laboratory biomarkers may facilitate the best response and survival outcome prediction and personalized therapeutic decision making for the anti-PD-1 monotherapy treated advanced melanoma patients in Asia.
PPFIA4 Promotes Colon Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration by Enhancing Tumor Glycolysis
Authors: Huang Jia , Yang Meiling , Liu Zhaoxia , Li Xiaoqian , Wang Junfeng , Fu Nian , Cao Ting , Yang Xuefeng
Published: May 2021

Dysregulated glycolysis is one of the mechanisms employed by cancer cells to facilitate growth and metastasis. Here we aimed to characterize the PPFIA4 gene, as a glycolysis-related oncogene in promoting the proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells. Using bioinformatical tools including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), we found that PPFIA4 expression and methylation levels were higher in colon cancer tissues of different stages than in normal tissues. Higher PPFIA4 level was also positively correlated with poorer survival of patients. PPFIA4 upregulation also correlated with poor prognosis and higher clinical stages of colon cancer patients. Colon cancer cell viability, migration and migration were enhanced after PPFIA4 overexpression. EMT markers and glycolysis were upregulated after PPFIA4 overexpression. PPFIA4 expression was found to be positively correlated with PFKFB3 and ENO2 levels, while knockdown of PFKFB3 and ENO2 reduced cell proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis. PPFIA4 upregulation is a potential biomarker in colon cancer which promotes proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis. The upregulation of PFKFB3/ENO2 signaling by PPFIA4 is a potential mechanism underlying the oncogenic effects of PPFIA4.
Anlotinib: A Novel Targeted Drug for Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Authors: Li Shenglong
Published: May 2021

Bone and soft tissue sarcomas account for approximately 15% of pediatric solid malignant tumors and 1% of adult solid malignant tumors. There are over 50 subtypes of sarcomas, each of which is notably heterogeneous and manifested by remarkable phenotypic and morphological variability. Anlotinib is a novel oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) targeting c-kit, platelet-derived growth factor receptors, fibroblast growth factor receptor, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor. In comparison with the placebo, anlotinib was associated with better overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) in a phase III trial of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), albeit with cancer progression after two previous lines of treatment. Recently, the National Medical Products Administration approved anlotinib monotherapy as a third-line treatment for patients with advanced NSCLC. Additionally, a phase IIB randomized trial substantiated that anlotinib is associated with a significant longer median PFS in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma. Moreover, anlotinib is also effective in patients with advanced medullary thyroid carcinoma and metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Anlotinib has similar tolerability to other TKIs targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptors and other tyrosine kinase-mediated pathways. However, anlotinib has a notably lower rate of side effects ≥grade 3 relative to sunitinib. This review discussed the remarkable characteristics and major dilemmas of anlotinib as a targeted therapy for sarcomas.
Minimally-Invasive Versus Abdominal Hysterectomy for Endometrial Carcinoma With Glandular or Stromal Invasion of Cervix
Authors: Jung Jihee , Noh Joseph J. , Choi Chel Hun , Kim Tae-Joong , Lee Jeong-Won , Kim Byoung-Gie , Bae Duk-Soo , Lee Yoo-Young
Published: May 2021

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic approach versus laparotomy in endometrial cancer that extends to the cervix in the form of glandular extension and/or stromal invasion. A retrospective, single-center cohort study was conducted using data between 1995 and 2017 at an urban tertiary academic medical center. We identified patients who were diagnosed with endometrial cancer whose tumor involved the uterine cervix on final pathology. Operative and oncologic outcomes were compared between the patients who underwent minimally-invasive surgery (MIS) versus those who underwent laparotomy. A total of 282 patients with endometrial cancer were reviewed for the study. Among these patients, 76 patients underwent hysterectomy and surgical staging via MIS. There was no conversion from MIS to laparotomy. In the MIS group, shorter hospital stay (4.4 ± 2.3 days for MIS group vs. 7.1 ± 4.7 days for laparotomy group; p-value = 0.002) and less blood loss during the operations (228 mL vs. 478 mL, p-value < 0.001) were observed compared to the laparotomy group. The multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that age at diagnosis, FIGO stage, histology grades, tumor size, lymph-vascular space invasion were independent prognostic markers for poor oncologic outcomes but the types of surgical approach (MIS vs. laparotomy) were not associated with it. The means by which colpotomy was performed (either intracorporeal or transvaginal) among the MIS group also did not affect patient survivals. Among the women with endometrial cancer that involved the uterine cervix, surgical treatment via MIS compared to laparotomy showed no difference in survival outcomes but better perioperative results. These findings support the use of MIS for these patient group.
Curcumin in Osteosarcoma Therapy: Combining With Immunotherapy, Chemotherapeutics, Bone Tissue Engineering Materials and Potential Synergism With Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Xu Chunfeng , Wang Mingjie , Guo Wei , Sun Wei , Liu Yuelian
Published: May 2021

Osteosarcoma is a dominating malignant bone tumor with high mortality due to pulmonary metastases. Furthermore, because of the cancer cell erosion and surgery resection, osteosarcoma always causes bone defects, which means dysfunction and disfigurement are seldom inevitable. Although various advanced treatments (e.g. chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy) are coming up, the 5-year survival rate for osteosarcoma with metastases is still dismal. In line with this, the more potent treatments for osteosarcoma are in high demand. Curcumin, a perennial herb, has been reportedly applied in the therapy of various types of tumors via different mechanisms. In vitro, it has also been reported that curcumin can inhibit the proliferation of osteosarcoma cell lines and can be used to repair bone defects. This seems curcumin is a promising candidate in osteosarcoma treatment. However, due to its congenital property like hydrophobicity, and low bioavailability, affecting its anticancer effect, clinical applications of curcumin are highly limited. To enhance its performance in cancer therapies, some synergist approaches with curcumin have emerged. The present review presents some prospective ones (i.e. combinations with immunotherapy, chemotherapeutics, bone tissue engineering, and biomaterials) applied in osteosarcoma treatment. Additionally, with the advancements of photodynamic therapy in cancer therapy, this review also prospects the combination of curcumin with photodynamic therapy in osteosarcoma treatment.
Targeting Amino Acid Metabolic Vulnerabilities in Myeloid Malignancies
Authors: Fultang Livingstone , Gneo Luciana , De Santo Carmela , Mussai Francis J.
Published: May 2021

Tumor cells require a higher supply of nutrients for growth and proliferation than normal cells. It is well established that metabolic reprograming in cancers for increased nutrient supply exposes a host of targetable vulnerabilities. In this article we review the documented changes in expression patterns of amino acid metabolic enzymes and transporters in myeloid malignancies and the growing list of small molecules and therapeutic strategies used to disrupt amino acid metabolic circuits within the cell. Pharmacological inhibition of amino acid metabolism is effective in inducing cell death in leukemic stem cells and primary blasts, as well as in reducing tumor burden in in vivo murine models of human disease. Thus targeting amino acid metabolism provides a host of potential translational opportunities for exploitation to improve the outcomes for patients with myeloid malignancies.
AZ32 Reverses ABCG2-Mediated Multidrug Resistance in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Liu Kun , Li Yan-Chi , Chen Yu , Shi Xiao-Bao , Xing Zi-Hao , He Zheng-Jie , Wang Sheng-Te , Liu Wei-Jing , Zhang Peng-Wei , Yu Ze-Zhong , Mo Xue-Mei , Chen Mei-Wan , Chen Zhe-Sheng , Shi Zhi
Published: May 2021

Colorectal cancer is a common malignancy with the third highest incidence and second highest mortality rate among all cancers in the world. Chemotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer is an essential factor leading to the high mortality rate. The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) confers multidrug resistance (MDR) to a range of chemotherapeutic agents by decreasing their intracellular content. The development of novel ABCG2 inhibitors has emerged as a tractable strategy to circumvent drug resistance. In this study, an ABCG2-knockout colorectal cancer cell line was established to assist inhibitor screening. Additionally, we found that ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase inhibitor AZ32 could sensitize ABCG2-overexpressing colorectal cancer cells to ABCG2 substrate chemotherapeutic drugs mitoxantrone and doxorubicin by retaining them inside cells. Western blot assay showed that AZ32 did not alter the expression of ABCG2. Moreover, molecule docking analysis predicted that AZ32 stably located in the transmembrane domain of ABCG2. In conclusion, our result demonstrated that AZ32 could potently reverse ABCG2-mediated MDR in colorectal cancer.
Childhood Clear Cell Sarcoma of Kidney: Incidence and Survival
Authors: Gao Hui , Cheng Qi-Yuan , Zhao Qian , Tao Long-Xiang , Zhang Cheng
Published: May 2021

This study is to describe current incidence of childhood clear cell sarcoma of kidney (CCSK) and to investigate the present survival of this cancer. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) data was used to identify children with CCSK and Wilms tumor (WT) aged 0–19 years in the US. Age-adjusted incidences were estimated over the decades. Age- and sex-specific epidemiology was also presented. Propensity score matching was used to balance features of CCSK and WT cases. Log rank test was used to compare survivals and Cox regression was used to evaluate independent effects of factors. The present age-adjusted incidence of childhood CCSK was 0.205 per million, which remained stable for years and ranked third in all pediatric renal tumors. The incidence rate ratios for boy and age under 4 were 3 and 21, respectively. The current 5-year overall survival (OS) rate for CCSK was 87%, which is not evidently inferior to that for WT (90%); however the outcome of CCSK was significantly poorer if both groups were well-balanced (OS rate was 86 vs. 95%). Early year of diagnosis and distant metastasis were independent survival factors. In conclusion, occurrence of CCSK remains stable over the years, with an age-adjusted incidence of 0.205 per million. Boy and age under 4 are risk factors for tumor development. CCSK currently has a favorable outcome but its nature may be more aggressive than common kidney tumor, which in turn proves efficacy of modern treatment.
Turbina oblongata Protects Against Oxidative Cardiotoxicity by Suppressing Lipid Dysmetabolism and Modulating Cardiometabolic Activities Linked to Cardiac Dysfunctions
Authors: Erukainure Ochuko L. , Chukwuma Chika I. , Matsabisa Motlalepula G. , Javu Mirranda T. , Salau Veronica F. , Koorbanally Neil A. , Islam Md. Shahidul
Published: May 2021

Cardiotoxicity leading to cardiovascular dysfunction and ultimately cardiac failure remains a major global health issue irrespective of race, age and country. Several factors including lipotoxicity, oxidative imbalance, exacerbated angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity and altered bioenergetics have been implicated in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. Turbina oblongata (E. Mey. ex Choisy) A. Meeuse is among the medicinal plants commonly used traditionally in the treatment and management of various ailments including cardiovascular dysfunctions in South Africa. In the present study, T. oblongata was investigated for its cardioprotective mechanism on oxidative-mediated cardiotoxicity by determining its effect on redox imbalance, purinergic and cholinergic dysfunction, and ACE activity as well as lipid dysmetabolism and pathways in iron-induced oxidative cardiac injury. Oxidative injury was induced ex vivo in freshly isolated heart by incubating with 0.1 mM FeSO4. Treatment was done by co-incubating with T. oblongata extract or gallic acid which served as the standard antioxidant. Induction of oxidative cardiac injury led to significant depleted levels of glutathione, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, superoxide, catalase and ENTPDase activities, with concomitant elevated levels of malondialdehyde, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, ACE, acetylcholinesterase, ATPase and lipase activities. These levels and activities were significantly reversed following treatment with T. oblongata. Induction of oxidative injury also caused alterations in lipid metabolites, with concomitant activation of beta oxidation of very long chain fatty acids, plasmalogen synthesis and mitochondrial beta-oxidation of long chain saturated fatty acids pathways. Some of the altered metabolites were restored following treatment with T. oblongata, with concomitant inactivation of beta oxidation of very long chain fatty acid pathway. These results indicate the cardioprotective effect of T. oblongata against oxidative-mediated cardiotoxicity. This is evidenced by its ability to mitigate lipotoxicity and modulate dysregulated cardiometabolic activities as portrayed by its antioxidative activity and suppressive effects on ACE, acetylcholinesterase and lipase activities, while modulating cardiac lipid dysmetabolism.
Glucocappasalin Induces G2/M-Phase Arrest, Apoptosis, and Autophagy Pathways by Targeting CDK1 and PLK1 in Cervical Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Xu Guangya , Yan Xueling , Hu Zhongjia , Zheng Lulu , Ding Ke , Zhang Yamei , Qing Yi , Liu Tao , Cheng Lijia , Shi Zheng
Published: May 2021

Glucocappasalin (GCP), a natural product derived from the seeds of Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb. ex Prantl, exhibits potential antitumor activity in HeLa cervical carcinoma cells. In this study, we investigated the anti-cervical cancer property of GCP through the induction of cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy in vitro and in vivo, and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms. We demonstrated that treatment with GCP inhibited the growth of HeLa, Siha, and Ca Ski cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, with HeLa cells displaying particular sensitivity to the GCP treatment. Subsequently, the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and polo like kinase 1 (PLK1) were evaluated in HeLa cells using the CDK1 kinase assay kit, the fluorescence polarization assay, real-time quantitative PCR, and western blotting. Our results demonstrate that GCP could be employed to attenuate the expression of CDK1 and PLK1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The complementary results obtained by flow cytometry and western blotting allowed us to postulate that GCP may exhibit its antitumor effects by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest. Moreover, HeLa cells treated with GCP exhibited a loss in mitochondrial membrane potential, together with the activation of caspases 3 and 9, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). Additionally, we found that GCP could increase the formation of acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs), as well as the levels of Beclin1, LC3-II, p62, and Atg5 proteins in HeLa cells. Further studies indicated that GCP triggered autophagy via the suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. The autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) was used to determine whether autophagy affects the apoptosis induced by GCP. Interestingly, the inhibition of autophagy attenuated apoptosis. In vivo anti-tumor experiments indicated that GCP (60 mg/kg, i.p.) markedly reduced the growth of HeLa xenografts in nude mice without apparent toxicity. Taken together, we demonstrate that GCP induces cell cycle G2/M-phase arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy by acting on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways in cervical carcinoma cells. Thus, GCP may represent a promising agent in the eradication of cervical cancer.
Gaussian Local Phase Approximation in a Cylindrical Tissue Model
Authors: Rotkopf Lukas T. , Wehrse Eckhard , Schlemmer Heinz-Peter , Ziener Christian H.
Published: May 2021

In NMR or MRI, the measured signal is a function of the accumulated magnetization phase inside the measurement voxel, which itself depends on microstructural tissue parameters. Usually the phase distribution is assumed to be Gaussian and higher-order moments are neglected. Under this assumption, only thex-component of the total magnetization can be described correctly, and information about the local magnetization and they-component of the total magnetization is lost. The Gaussian Local Phase (GLP) approximation overcomes these limitations by considering the distribution of the local phase in terms of a cumulant expansion. We derive the cumulants for a cylindrical muscle tissue model and show that an efficient numerical implementation of these terms is possible by writing their definitions as matrix differential equations. We demonstrate that the GLP approximation with two cumulants included has a better fit to the true magnetization than all the other options considered. It is able to capture both oscillatory and dampening behavior for different diffusion strengths. In addition, the introduced method can possibly be extended for models for which no explicit analytical solution for the magnetization behavior exists, such as spherical magnetic perturbers.
Detection of Pipeline Deformation Induced by Frost Heave Using OFDR Technology
Authors: Jiang Tao , Zhu Jing-wen , Shi Yi
Published: May 2021

Oil and gas pipelines are critical structures. For pipelines in the seasonal frozen soil area, frost heave of the ground will result in deformation of the pipeline. If the deformation continually increases, it will seriously threaten the pipeline safety. Therefore, it is important to monitor the deformation of the pipeline in the frozen soil area. Since optic frequency–domain reflectometer (OFDR) technology has many advantages in distributed strain measurement, this paper utilized the OFDR technology to measure the distributed strain and use the plane curve reconstruction algorithm to calculate the deformed pipeline shape. To verify the feasibility of this approach, a test was conducted to simulate the pipeline deformation induced by frost heave. Test results showed that the pipeline shape can be reconstructed well via the combination of the OFDR and curve reconstruction algorithm, providing a valuable approach for pipeline deformation monitoring.
Optimal Implantation Site of Orthodontic Micro-Screws in the Mandibular Anterior Region Based on CBCT
Authors: Wang Yannan , Shi Quan , Wang Feng
Published: May 2021

Background: To determine the optimal implantation site of orthodontic micro-screws based on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) analysis in the mandibular anterior tooth region, provide a theoretical basis for orthodontic implant placement and improve post-implantation stability.

Methods: Forty patients who underwent CBCT scanning were selected for this study. CBCT scanning was applied to measure the interradicular distance, buccolingual dimension, labial cortical bone thickness and lingual cortical bone thickness between mandibular anterior teeth at planes 2, 4, 6, and 8 mm below the alveolar ridge crest. The data were measured and collected to obtain a comprehensive evaluation of the specific site conditions of the alveolar bone.

Results: The interradicular distance, buccolingual dimension and labial cortical bone thickness between the mandibular anterior teeth were positively correlated with the distance below the alveolar ridge crest (below 8 mm). The interradicular distance, buccolingual dimension, labial cortical bone thickness, and lingual cortical bone thickness were all greater than those in other areas between the lateral incisor root and canine incisor root 4, 6, and 8 mm below the alveolar ridge crest.

Conclusion: The area between the lateral incisor root and the canine incisor root in planes 4, 6, and 8 mm from the alveolar ridge crest can be used as safe sites for implantation, while 8 mm below the alveolar ridge crest can be the optimal implantation site. An optimal implantation site can be 8 mm below the alveolar ridge crest between the lateral incisor root and the canine incisor root.
Inversion of Winter Wheat Growth Parameters and Yield Under Different Water Treatments Based on UAV Multispectral Remote Sensing
Authors: Han Xin , Wei Zheng , Chen He , Zhang Baozhong , Li Yinong , Du Taisheng
Published: May 2021

In recent years, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing system has been rapidly developed and applied in accurate estimation of crop parameters and yield at farm scale. To develop the major contribution of UAV multispectral images in predicting winter wheat leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll content (called soil and plant analyzer development [SPAD]), and yield under different water treatments (low water level, medium water level, and high water level), vegetation indices (VIs) originating from UAV multispectral images were used during key winter wheat growth stages. The estimation performances of the models (linear regression, quadratic polynomial regression, and exponential and multiple linear regression models) on the basis of VIs were compared to get the optimal prediction method of crop parameters and yield. Results showed that LAI and SPAD derived from VIs both had high correlations compared with measured data, with determination coefficients of 0.911 and 0.812 (multivariable regression [MLR] model, normalized difference VI [NDVI], soil adjusted VI [SAVI], enhanced VI [EVI], and difference VI [DVI]), 0.899 and 0.87 (quadratic polynomial regression, NDVI), and 0.749 and 0.829 (quadratic polynomial regression, NDVI) under low, medium, and high water levels, respectively. The LAI and SPAD derived from VIs had better potential in estimating winter wheat yield by using multivariable linear regressions, compared to the estimation yield based on VIs directly derived from UAV multispectral images alone by using linear regression, quadratic polynomial regression, and exponential models. When crop parameters (LAI and SPAD) in the flowering period were adopted to estimate yield by using multiple linear regressions, a high correlation of 0.807 was found, while the accuracy was over 87%. Importing LAI and SPAD obtained from UAV multispectral imagery based on VIs into the yield estimation model could significantly enhance the estimation performance. This study indicates that the multivariable linear regression could accurately estimate winter wheat LAI, SPAD, and yield under different water treatments, which has a certain reference value for the popularization and application of UAV remote sensing in precision agriculture.
Nitrate Increases Cadmium Accumulation in Sweet Sorghum for Improving Phytoextraction Efficiency Rather Than Ammonium
Authors: Bai Zhenqing , Li Dan , Zhu Lin , Tang Xiaoyu , Wang Yanfeng , Mao Renjun , Wu Jiawen
Published: May 2021

Sweet sorghum has potential for phytoextraction of cadmium (Cd) owning to its large biomass and relatively high Cd tolerance. Nitrogen affects both growth and Cd concentrations in plants. However, different forms of nitrogen effects on Cd accumulation in sweet sorghum to improve efficiency of Cd phytoremediation is still elusive. In this study, nitrate substantially promoted both dry weight and Cd concentrations in leaves, stems + sheaths and roots of sweet sorghum when compared with ammonium. As a result, Cd accumulation in nitrate-supplied sweet sorghum was around 3.7-fold of that in ammonium-supplied plants under unbuffered pH condition, while the fold was about 2.2 under buffered pH condition. We speculated pH values and Cd species in the growth medium to some extent contributed to increased Cd accumulation as affected by nitrate. Net photosynthesis rate and Fv/Fm of nitrate-treated plants under Cd stress were higher than that of ammonium-treated plants when the pH was unbuffered. Responses of antioxidant capacity in roots to Cd stress with nitrate application were stronger than that with ammonium supplementation. Taken together, nitrate is more suitable than ammonium for Cd phytoextraction by using sweet sorghum, which is able to enhance at least double efficiency of phytoextraction.
Effects of Soil Amendment With Wood Ash on Transpiration, Growth, and Metal Uptake in Two Contrasting Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids to Drought Tolerance
Authors: Romdhane Leila , Ebinezer Leonard Barnabas , Panozzo Anna , Barion Giuseppe , Dal Cortivo Cristian , Radhouane Leila , Vamerali Teofilo
Published: May 2021

Wood ash as a soil amendment has gained wide spread acceptance in the recent years as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers, although information regarding the effects of its application on maize growth and yield in the context of climate change and increasing drought severity is lacking till date. In the present study, field and pot trials were carried out at the experimental farm of the University of Padova at Legnaro (NE Italy) in a silty-loam soil in order to investigate the effects of soil amendment with wood ash (0.1% w/w, incorporated into the 0.2-m top soil) on the bioavailability of mineral elements and their uptake by maize. Characteristics analyzed included plant growth, leaf transpiration dynamics, and productivity in two contrasting hybrids, P1921 (drought sensitive) and D24 (drought tolerant). Wood ash contained relevant amounts of Ca, K, Mg, P, and S, and hazardous levels of Zn (732 mg kg−1), Pb (527 mg kg−1), and Cu (129 mg kg−1), although no significant changes in total soil element concentration, pH, and electrical conductivity were detected in open field. Ash application led to a general increasing trend of diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA)-extractable of various elements, bringing to higher grain P in D24 hybrid, and Zn and Ni reductions in P1921 hybrid. Here, the results demonstrated that ash amendment enhanced shoot growth and the number of leaves, causing a reduction of harvest index, without affecting grain yield in both hybrids. The most relevant result was a retarded inhibition of leaf transpiration under artificial progressive water stress, particularly in the drought-tolerant D24 hybrid that could be sustained by root growth improvements in the field across the whole 0–1.5 m soil profile in D24, and in the amended top soil in P1921. It is concluded that woody ash can be profitably exploited in maize fertilization for enhancing shoot and root growth and drought tolerance, thanks to morphological and physiological improvements, although major benefits are expected to be achieved in drought tolerant hybrids. Attention should be payed when using ash derived by metal contaminated wood stocks to avoid any health risk in food uses.
Unravelling the Spatial and Temporal Plasticity of Eelgrass Meadows
Authors: Bertelli Chiara M. , Bull James C. , Cullen-Unsworth Leanne C. , Unsworth Richard K. F.
Published: May 2021

The phenotypic plasticity of seagrasses enables them to adapt to changes in environmental conditions and withstand or recover from disturbance. This plasticity was demonstrated in the large variation recorded throughout a suite of bioindicators measured within Zostera marina meadows around Wales and SW England, United Kingdom. Short-term spatial data were analysed alongside long-term monitoring data to determine which bioindicators best described the status of eelgrass meadows subjected to a range of environmental and anthropogenic drivers. Shoot density, leaf length, leaf nutrients (C:N ratio, %N, %P) including stable isotope of δ13C and δ15N provided insight into the longer-term status of the meadows studied and a good indication of the causes of long-term decline. Meadows ranged from those in the Isles of Scilly with little evidence of impact to those in Littlewick in Milford Haven, Wales that showed the highest levels of impacts of all sites. Bioindicators at Littlewick showed clear warning signs of nutrient loading reflected in the long-term decline in shoot density, and prevalence of wasting disease. This study highlights the need for continuous consistent monitoring and the benefits of using extra tools in the form of shoot nutrient analysis to determine causes of decline.
Adventitious Rooting in Populus Species: Update and Perspectives
Authors: Bannoud Florencia , Bellini Catherine
Published: May 2021

Populus spp. are among the most economically important species worldwide. These trees are used not only for wood and fiber production, but also in the rehabilitation of degraded lands. Since they are clonally propagated, the ability of stem cuttings to form adventitious roots is a critical point for plant establishment and survival in the field, and consequently for the forest industry. Adventitious rooting in different Populus clones has been an agronomic trait targeted in breeding programs for many years, and many factors have been identified that affect this quantitative trait. A huge variation in the rooting capacity has been observed among the species in the Populus genus, and the responses to some of the factors affecting this trait have been shown to be genotype-dependent. This review analyses similarities and differences between results obtained from studies examining the role of internal and external factors affecting rooting of Populus species cuttings. Since rooting is the most important requirement for stand establishment in clonally propagated species, understanding the physiological and genetic mechanisms that promote this trait is essential for successful commercial deployment.
Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Emotional Regulation and the Immune System of Healthcare Workers as a Risk Factor for COVID 19: Practical Recommendations From a Task Force of the Latin American Association of Sleep Psychology
Authors: Almondes Katie Moraes de , Marín Agudelo Hernán Andrés , Jiménez-Correa Ulises
Published: May 2021

Healthcare workers who are on the front line of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and are also undergoing shift schedules face long work hours with few pauses, experience desynchronization of their circadian rhythm, and an imbalance between work hours effort and reward in saving lives, resulting in an impact on work capacity, aggravated by the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), few resources and precarious infrastructure, and fear of contracting the virus and contaminating family members. Some consequences are sleep deprivation, chronic insomnia, stress-related sleep disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These sleep alterations critically affect mental health, precipitating or perpetuating anxiety, stress, and depression, resulting in the inability to regulate positive and negative emotions. Pre-existing sleep disorders are an important risk factor for the development and maintenance of PSTD when individuals are exposed to an important stressor such as a COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, how an individual regulates the emotion associated with worries during daytime functioning impacts nighttime sleep, precipitating and perpetuating difficulties in sleeping. All of these changes in sleep and emotional regulation also alter the immune system. Sleep deprivation is commonly associated with chronic inflammatory diseases, due to the desynchronizations in circadian rhythms, causing possible psychophysiological disorders and impaired neuroimmune-endocrine homeostasis. From this perspective, we clarify in this article how sleep disorders affect the immune system and emotional regulation, explaining their phenomenological and neurobiological mechanisms, and discussing elements of cognitive and behavioral coping for health professionals to adopt and manage a healthier sleep pattern in the COVID-19 outbreak.
Do Emotional Cues Influence the Performance of Domestic Dogs in an Observational Learning Task?
Authors: Albuquerque Natalia , Savalli Carine , Cabral Francisco , Resende Briseida
Published: May 2021

Using social information is not indiscriminate and being able to choose what to copy and from whom to copy is critical. Dogs are able to learn socially, to recognize, and respond to dog as well as human emotional expressions, and to make reputation-like inferences based on how people behave towards their owner. Yet, the mechanisms dogs use for obtaining and utilizing social information are still to be fully understood, especially concerning whether emotional cues influence dogs’ social learning. Therefore, our main aim was to test the hypothesis that an emotionally charged (negative, positive, or neutral) interaction with the demonstrator of a “V” detour task prior to testing would affect subjects’ performance, by: (i) changing the value of the information provided by the demonstrator or (ii) changing the valence of the learning environment. Our experimental design consisted of three phases: pre-test (subjects were allowed to solve the task alone); emotional display (dogs watched the unfamiliar human behaving in either a positive, negative or neutral way towards their owner); test (demonstrator showed the task and subjects were allowed to move freely). Only dogs that failed in pre-test were considered for analysis (n = 46). We analyzed four dependent variables: success, time to solve the task, latency to reach the fence and matching the side of demonstration. For each, we used four models (GEEs and GLMMs) to investigate the effect of (1) demographic factors; (2) experimental design factors (including emotional group); (3) behavior of the dog; and (4) side chosen and matching. All models took into account all trials (random effect included) and the first trials only. Our findings corroborate previous studies of social learning, but present no evidence to sustain our hypothesis. We discuss the possibility of our stimuli not being salient enough in a task that involves highly motivating food and relies on long and highly distracting interval between phases. Nevertheless, these results represent an important contribution to the study of dog behavior and social cognition and pave the way for further investigations.
Promoting Third Graders’ Executive Functions and Literacy: A Pilot Study Examining the Benefits of Mindfulness vs. Relaxation Training
Authors: Cordeiro Carolina , Magalhães Sofia , Rocha Renata , Mesquita Ana , Olive Thierry , Castro São Luís , Limpo Teresa
Published: May 2021

Research suggested that developing mindfulness skills in children improves proximal outcomes, such as attention and executive functions, as well as distal outcomes, such as academic achievement. Despite empirical evidence supporting this claim, research on the benefits of mindfulness training in child populations is scarce, with some mixed findings in the field. Here, we aimed to fill in this gap, by examining the effects of a mindfulness training on third graders’ proximal and distal outcomes, namely, attention and executive functions (viz., inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) as well as literacy-related achievement (viz., handwriting fluency, text quality, Portuguese grades). These outcomes were measured with behavioral tasks and teacher ratings. Sixty-six Portuguese children were randomly allocated to an experimental group receiving mindfulness training (n= 29) or an active control group receiving relaxation training (n= 37). Both training programs were implemented by psychologists in two 30-min weekly sessions for 8 weeks. All students were assessed before and after the interventions. Three main findings are noteworthy: (a) mindfulness training enhanced teacher-rated cognitive flexibility and a performance-based composite score of executive functions among children with higher pretest scores; (b) relaxation training improved performance-based cognitive flexibility and the composite score of executive functions among children with lower pretest scores; (c) children receiving mindfulness training had higher handwriting fluency and better grades in Portuguese than those receiving relaxation training. These findings provide preliminary evidence on the benefits of mindfulness training in educational settings and highlight the moderating role of baseline performance on those benefits.
COVID-19 Patient Psychological Pain Factors
Authors: Zhengkai Niu , Yajing Shen
Published: May 2021

The level of psychological pain in patients with COVID-19 was investigated in this study by hypothesis testing, one-way ANOVA, multi factor ANOVA, and correlation analysis. The psychological pain thermometer and post-traumatic growth assessment scale were used as research tools. Many factors appear to influence the psychological state of COVID-19 patients including practical problems, communication problems, emotional problems, physical problems, and psychiatric/relative concerns. The severity of the disease, the surrounding environment, family health problems, life perceptions, interpersonal relationships, personal strength, mental changes, new possibilities, and the total post-traumatic growth score are also affected. There is a significant negative correlation between psychological pain and post-traumatic growth. There are significant differences in the degree of psychological pain across the demographic data. Practical problems, communication problems, emotional problems, physical problems, and spiritual/religious concerns show significant effects on the degree of psychological pain.
Examining the Effects of Acute Cognitively Engaging Physical Activity on Cognition in Children
Authors: Bedard Chloe , Bremer Emily , Graham Jeffrey D. , Chirico Daniele , Cairney John
Published: May 2021

Cognitively engaging physical activity (PA) has been suggested to have superior effects on cognition compared to PA with low cognitive demands; however, there have been few studies directly comparing these different types of activities. The aim of this study is to compare the cognitive effects of a combined physically and cognitively engaging bout of PA to a physical or cognitive activity alone in children. Children were randomized in pairs to one of three 20-min conditions: (1) a cognitive sedentary activity; (2) a non-cognitively engaging PA; and a (3) cognitively engaging PA. Executive function (EF) was assessed using a modified Eriksen flanker task immediately before and 10–15 min following the experimental condition. Children ages 6–8 years (n = 48, Mage = 7.04, SD = 1.37; 40% girls) were included in the study. A repeated measures ANOVA found no significant difference between groups with respect to scores on the flanker task. The results do not support the hypotheses that a cognitively engaging bout of PA enhances cognitive performance over non-cognitively engaging PA or sedentary activities. Possible explanations for our findings include overexertion during the acute bout of PA and depletion of positive affect prior to performing the post-intervention EF tasks.
A Longitudinal Study of Mental Wellbeing in Students in Aotearoa New Zealand Who Transitioned Into PhD Study
Authors: Winter Taylor , Riordan Benjamin C. , Hunter John A. , Tustin Karen , Gollop Megan , Taylor Nicola , Kokaua Jesse , Poulton Richie , Scarf Damian
Published: May 2021

Journal editorials, career features, and the popular press commonly talk of a graduate student mental health crisis. To date, studies on graduate student mental health have employed cross-sectional designs, limiting any causal conclusions regarding the relationship between entry into graduate study and mental health. Here, we draw on data from a longitudinal study of undergraduate students in Aotearoa New Zealand, allowing us to compare participants who did, and did not, transition into PhD study following the completion of their undergraduate degree. Using multilevel Bayesian regression, we identified a difference in mental wellbeing between those who entered PhD study and those who did not. This difference, however, was largely due to those not entering PhD study displaying an increase in mental wellbeing. Participants that entered PhD study displayed a small decrease in mental wellbeing, with the posterior distribution of the simple effect heavily overlapping zero. This latter finding was orders of magnitude smaller than one might expect based on previous cross-sectional research and provides an important message; that a marked drop in mental health is not an inevitable consequence of entering graduate study.
Fueling Work Engagement: The Role of Sleep, Health, and Overtime
Authors: Schleupner Ricarda , Kühnel Jana
Published: May 2021

With the current study, we investigate mechanisms linking sleep quality with work engagement. Work engagement is an affective-motivational state of feeling vigorous, absorbed, and dedicated while working. Drawing from both the effort-recovery model and the job demands-resources framework, we hypothesize that sleep quality should be positively related to work engagement via the replenishment of personal resources that become apparent in mental health and physical health. Because personal resources should gain salience especially in the face of job demands, we hypothesize that overtime as an indicator for job demands should strengthen the positive relationship between mental health and work engagement. We gathered data from 152 employees from diverse industries via an online survey. Results showed that sleep quality was positively related to work engagement (r = 0.20, p < 0.05), and that mental health mediated this relationship (indirect effect: β = 0.23, lower limit confidence interval = 0.13, upper limit confidence interval = 0.34). However, physical health did not serve as a mediator. Overtime turned out to be significantly and positively related to work engagement (r = 0.22, p < 0.01), replicating previous findings, but did not significantly interact with mental health or physical health in predicting work engagement. Overall, the study highlights the significance of sleep quality for employees' mental health and work engagement.
Financial Strain and Health Status Among European Workers: Gender and Welfare State Inequalities
Authors: Artazcoz Lucía , Cortès-Franch Imma , Escribà-Agüir Vicenta , Benavides Fernando G.
Published: May 2021

Objectives: Although in-work poverty has been increasing, in Europe policy about poverty and social exclusion tends to focus on labor market participation, independently of the level of remuneration and the quality of work, and studies about financial strain among workers, as well as on its relationship with health status, are still scarce. The objectives of this study were: (1) to compare the prevalence of financial strain among workers among different welfare state typologies, and (2) to examine whether the relationship between financial strain and health status differs by welfare state regime. For both objectives we examined whether there were gender differences.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the 6th European Working Conditions Survey of 2015 and selected a subsample of all employees from the EU28 aged 16–64 years (13,156 men and 13,225 women).

Results: There were large differences in the prevalence of financial strain between welfare state typologies, which were not explained by individual factors. Additionally, differences across welfare regimes were greater among women. Nordic countries had the lowest prevalence (12.1% among men and 12.3% among women) whereas Southern European countries had the highest (49.5% among men and 47.9% among women). In both sexes and in all welfare state typologies, financial strain was associated with poor self-perceived health status and poor psychological well-being. Whereas, Southern European countries had the highest prevalence of financial strain, the magnitude of the association with health status was smaller than in other country typologies.

Conclusion: In Europe, policies are needed to address the specific structural factors leading to financial strain as well as its relationship with health status among workers.