bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unravelling oncosis: morphological and molecular insights into a unique cell death pathway
Authors: Guo Jie , Yang Wen-tao , Mai Feng-yi , Liang Jing-rong , Luo Jiao , Zhou Ming-chao , Yu Dong-dong , Wang Yu-long , Li Chen-guang
Published: August 2024

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a fundamental biological process for maintaining cellular equilibrium and regulating development, health, and disease across all living organisms. Among the various types of PCD, apoptosis plays a pivotal role in numerous diseases, notably cancer. Cancer cells frequently develop mechanisms to evade apoptosis, increasing resistance to standard chemotherapy treatments. This resistance has prompted extensive research into alternative mechanisms of programmed cell death. One such pathway is oncosis, characterized by significant energy consumption, cell swelling, dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial swelling, and nuclear chromatin aggregation. Recent research suggests that oncosis can impact conditions such as chemotherapeutic cardiotoxicity, myocardial ischemic injury, stroke, and cancer, mediated by specific oncosis-related proteins. In this review, we provide a detailed examination of the morphological and molecular features of oncosis and discuss various natural or small molecule compounds that can induce this type of cell death. Additionally, we summarize the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying oncosis and its role in both normal physiology and pathological conditions. These insights aim to illuminate future research directions and propose innovative strategies for leveraging oncosis as a therapeutic tool against human diseases and cancer resistance.
Unlocking the potential of iPSC-derived immune cells: engineering iNK and iT cells for cutting-edge immunotherapy
Authors: Fang Minggang , Allen Alexander , Luo Chong , Finn Jonathan D.
Published: August 2024

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have emerged as a revolutionary tool in cell therapies due to their ability to differentiate into various cell types, unlimited supply, and potential as off-the-shelf cell products. New advances in iPSC-derived immune cells have generated potent iNK and iT cells which showed robust killing of cancer cells in animal models and clinical trials. With the advent of advanced genome editing technologies that enable the development of highly engineered cells, here we outline 12 strategies to engineer iPSCs to overcome limitations and challenges of current cell-based immunotherapies, including safety switches, stealth edits, avoiding graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), targeting, reduced lymphodepletion, efficient differentiation, increased in vivo persistence, stemness, metabolic fitness, homing/trafficking, and overcoming suppressive tumor microenvironment and stromal cell barrier. With the development of advanced genome editing techniques, it is now possible to insert large DNA sequences into precise genomic locations without the need for DNA double strand breaks, enabling the potential for multiplexed knock out and insertion. These technological breakthroughs have made it possible to engineer complex cell therapy products at unprecedented speed and efficiency. The combination of iPSC derived iNK, iT and advanced gene editing techniques provides new opportunities and could lead to a new era for next generation of cell immunotherapies.
Study on the response mechanism of the Yellow River delta region to the cold wave process
Authors: Shi Hongyuan , Ma Pengcheng , Sun Jiwei , Zhao Shengnian , Ma Ruiqian , Li Longsheng , Zhan Chao , Liang Hui
Published: August 2024

Cold waves, as a common natural disaster, have a significant impact on economic development and living environment in coastal areas, especially in estuary regions. This paper utilizes the Delft3D software based on a rectangular grid, driven by the eight major tidal harmonic constituents of M2, S2, N2, K2, K1, O1, P1, and Q1, to construct a hydrodynamics and sediment numerical model. The study focuses on the morphodynamic changes in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) during a severe cold wave and strong wind event. By simulating the intense cold wave from November 28 to 30, 2022, the effects on the sedimentation in the YRD were analyzed. Results show that the cold wave process increases the water levels in the nearshore areas, with a general rise of more than 0.2 m in the YRD waters, particularly severe at the old Yellow River (YR) estuary and the northwest part of Laizhou Bay, reaching 0.25-0.35 m. This increase leads to intensified erosion and sedimentation in different areas near the YR estuary, especially near the old YR estuary and in the northwest part of Laizhou Bay. After a cold wave process, the erosion and sedimentation increase significantly by 0.05-0.1m. Furthermore, by comparing the flow speed differences and tidal-induced Eulerian residual currents with and without cold waves, it was found that around the YRD, from the current river estuary to the old YR estuary, the maximum flow speed increased by more than 0.35 m/s during the cold wave, and the maximum Eulerian residual currents also increased by 0.13 m/s. The direction of the residual currents changed from northwest-southeast to south-north, further confirming the significant impact of cold waves on the morphodynamic evolution of the YRD. This study provides new perspectives and methods for understanding and predicting morphodynamic changes in estuarine regions during cold waves, which is significant for disaster prevention, mitigation, and management of estuarine areas.
Case report: Characterizing of free-floating pigmented vitreous cyst using swept-source optical coherence tomography
Authors: Shi Kexin , Yin Qichuan , Huang Yuxin , Zheng Sifan , Wang Yao , Shentu Xingchao
Published: August 2024

Aim

A free-floating vitreous cyst is a rare eye disease. This study aimed to find diagnostic imaging methods and imaging features for vitreous cysts.

Methods

This article presents a case report along with a literature review of published cases of vitreous cysts. The case report describes a highly myopic 60-year-old woman with a pigmented, free-floating vitreous cyst in her right eye. A search of the PubMed database using the keywords “vitreous cyst” was performed to identify other cases reported in the literature and to summarize the imaging methods used to diagnose and visualize vitreous cysts and the imaging features of vitreous cysts.

Results

A thorough ophthalmic examination was performed in the present case, including slit-lamp photography, B-scan ultrasound, broad line fundus imaging, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and ultra-wide field SS-OCT. The literature review revealed the imaging methods used in previously reported cases of vitreous cysts in which ultra-wide field SS-OCT has the advantages of wide scanning depth and high imaging clarity.

Conclusion

SS-OCT has an advantage over SD-OCT in providing intuitive morphological characteristic images for the diagnosis of posterior vitreous cysts. The comprehensive assessment of multimodal imaging examinations, including SS-OCT, is of significant value for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of vitreous cysts.
Lactobacillus plantarum alleviates high-fat diet-induced obesity by altering the structure of mice intestinal microbial communities and serum metabolic profiles
Authors: Zhu Junwen , Liu Xueying , Liu Naiyuan , Zhao Ruochi , Wang Shuangshuang
Published: August 2024

Obesity, which is always accompanied by disorders of lipid metabolism and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, has become a global epidemic recognised by the World Health Organisation, necessitating innovative strategies and a globally accepted agreement on treating obesity and its related complications. Probiotics, as major active ingredients in many foods, offer potential as biological treatments for obesity prevention and management. Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) possesses a wide range of biological activities and is widely used to alleviate and ameliorate various diseases. This research demonstrated that Lactobacillus plantarum reduces the weight increase and fat build-up caused by a high-fat diet (HFD) in mice, while also improving glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in obese mice. Results indicated that L. plantarum effectively controlled the intestinal microbial community’s structure, counteracted disruptions in gut flora caused by HFD, normalized the Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio (F/B), and decreased the prevalence of detrimental bacteria Desulfovibrio and Clostridia. Serum metabolomics findings indicate notable alterations in serum metabolites across various groups, notably the increased levels of Isoprothiolane and Inosine, key regulators of lipid metabolism disorders and enhancers of fat burning. These differential metabolites were mainly enriched in unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, sulfur metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and purine metabolism. Consequently, we propose that L. plantarum has the potential to alter the gut microbial community’s composition, positioning it as a promising option for obesity therapy.
Transcriptome-based identification of key actin-binding proteins associated with high metastatic potential in breast cancer
Authors: Müller Christian , Oliveira-Ferrer Leticia , Müller Volkmar , Schmalfeldt Barbara , Windhorst Sabine
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Actin-binding proteins (ABPs) are essential for the regulation of morphological plasticity required for tumor cells to metastasize. The aim of this study was to perform an unbiased bioinformatic approach to identify the key ABPs significantly associated with the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells.

Methods

Microarray data from 181 primary breast cancer samples from our hospital were used, and all genes belonging to the Gene Ontology term actin cytoskeleton organization were obtained from QuickGO. Association with metastasis-free survival probability was tested using Cox proportional hazards regression, and pairwise co-expression was tested by Pearson correlations. Differential expression between different subgroups was analyzed using Wilcoxon tests for dichotomous traits and Kruskal–Wallis tests for categorical traits. Validation was performed using four publicly available breast cancer datasets.

Results

ARHGAP25 was significantly associated with a low metastatic potential, and CFL1, TMSB15A, and ACTL8 were significantly associated with a high metastatic potential. A significantly higher expression of CFL1, TMSB15A, and ACTL8 mRNA was found in the more aggressive Her2-positive and triple-negative subtypes as well as in ER-negative samples. Also, these genes were co-expressed in the same tumors. However, only mRNA levels of CFL1 were increased in pN1 compared to pN0 patients. External validation revealed that CFL1 and TMSB15A had significant associations with consistent hazard ratios in two breast cancer cohorts, and among these, CFL1 exhibited the highest hazard ratios.

Conclusion

CFL1 showed the strongest correlation with the metastatic potential of breast tumors. Thus, targeted inhibition of CFL1 might be a promising approach to treat malignant breast cancer cells.
An overview of systematic reviews of acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Xue Hua , He Hong-xian , Wu Dan , Fan Wen-hui , Li Ya-xin
Published: August 2024

Background

Many systematic reviews (SRs) have reported the efficacy of acupuncture in improving Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the quality of evidence is unknown. Therefore, it is necessary to comprehensively summarize and objectively evaluate the evidence of acupuncture for PD.

Methods

Seven databases were searched to retrieve SRs on the acupuncture for PD. Two reviewers independently completed literature retrieval, screening, and data extraction. The methodological quality, risk of bias (RoB), evidence quality of the included SRs were assessed by the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2), the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS), the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool.

Results

A total of 24 SRs were included. According to AMSTAR 2, 6 (25%) were rated as high quality, 6 (25%) were rated as moderate quality, and 12 (50%) were rated as very low quality. The application of the ROBIS tool showed that 12 (25%) SRs were at low risk of bias. The results of GRADE showed that 8 (7.62%) outcomes provided high quality evidence, 23 (21.9%) outcomes provided moderate quality evidence, 42 (40%) outcomes provided low quality evidence, and 32 (30.48%) outcomes provided very low quality evidence.

Conclusion

The overview indicates that acupuncture shows promise as a treatment for PD, although the evidence is limited and inconclusive due to methodological flaws and the heterogeneity of existing studies. Future research should focus on fully reporting methodological details and following review guidelines to produce more reliable and consistent evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture for PD.

Systematic review registration

https://inplasy.com, identifier INPLASY202480049.
Incidence of childhood cancers in the North East geopolitical zone of Nigeria
Authors: Suleiman Dauda Eneyamire , Adamu Adamu Saidu , Ezenkwa Uchenna Simon , Yusuf Maimuna Orahachi , Lawan Aliyu Ibrahim , Dachi Rufai Abdu , Bwala Kefas John , Liman Haruna Usman , Kabir Abba , Adamu Adamu Isa , Kolomi Modu Abubakar , Jimoh Abdulrazaq Ajanaku , Garba Ismaila Isa , Abdullahi Yusuf Mohammed , Audu Bala Mohammed
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Cancers are a major cause of childhood mortality worldwide especially in LMICs where underdiagnoses and lack of quality cancer data hampers effective cancer control efforts. This study aimed to document and describe the patterns and characteristics of childhood cancers in the North East geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

Methods

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study that collected cancer data from 4 out of the 6 states in the North East of Nigeria. The data included all malignancies diagnosed in children aged 0-19 years between 2019 and 2022. The age-specific incidence rates were also calculated for the individual 5-year age groups (0–4 years, 5–9 years, 10–14 years, and 15–19 years). The crude incidence rates (CIR) were calculated as the weighted averages of the respective ASRs in each age range within 0-14 years and 0-19 years respectively. The cancers were grouped according to the International Incidence of Childhood Cancers, volume 3 (IICC3).

Results

Cancers in people <20 years accounted for 7.3% of all cancers diagnosed over the same period. The crude incidence rates (CIR) for cancers in children and adolescents were 20.9 per million children aged 0-19 years and 18.8 per million children aged 0-14 years respectively, while the age-standardized rates (ASR) were 1.80 and 1.63 per million person-years respectively. There was a variation in the most commonly diagnosed cancers across all age groups. However, lymphomas were the most commonly diagnosed cancers overall, while CNS tumors were overwhelmingly rare.

Conclusion

Despite data limitations, this study provides useful insights into patterns of cancers in the region and will hopefully provide a basis for the strengthening of pediatric oncology care, childhood cancer control programs and population-based cancer registries.
A Mendelian randomization study of genetic liability to cutaneous melanoma and sunburns
Authors: Lu Fengmin , Wang Ling , Ma Xixing , Li Yanling
Published: August 2024

Background

Some studies have reported that sunburns and cutaneous melanoma (CM) risk is increasing, but a clear causal link has yet to be established.

Methods

This current study conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to clarify the association and causality between sunburn history and CM using large-scale genome-wide association study data.

Results

The inverse-variance weighted method result showed that sunburn might be associated with the risk of CM increasing (p = 2.21 × 10−23, OR = 1.034, 95% CI= 1.027-1.041), causally. The MR-Egger regression, weighted median method, simple mode method, and weighted mode method results showed similar results.

Conclusion

This study offers evidence of sunburn history and increased risk of CM, and it shows that there might be common genetic basics regarding sunburns and CM susceptibility in Caucasian, European, or British ethnic groups.
A real-world disproportionality analysis of FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS) events for denosumab
Authors: He Yue , Zhang Rong , Shen Huarui , Liu Yingqi
Published: August 2024

Background

Denosumab is authorized to treat several diseases, including cancer and bone disorders. Nevertheless, its use in clinical practice has been affected by safety concerns. The work retrospectively investigated adverse events (AEs) of denosumab to better understand toxicities.

Methods

The FAERS data base data from Q1 of 2010 to Q3 of 2023 was chosen. The definition of Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) was dependent on preferred terms (PTs) and system organ class (SOCs). Following the removal of duplicate reports, a disproportionality analysis was conducted to identify safety signals through the calculation of reporting odds ratios (ROR).

Results

During the reporting period, 130611 denosumab-related cases were identified; 670 pTs with a substantial disproportionality were retained. The connective and musculoskeletal tissue disorders, poisoning, injury, and procedural complications, as well as medical and surgical procedures, were among the important SOCs that satisfied the criteria. Reports at PT levels including off-label use, death, osteonecrosis of the jaw, arthralgia, and pain in extremities were determined. Severe consequences in terms of life-threatening injuries and death accounted for 841 and 19704 cases, respectively of the reported cases.

Conclusion

These findings underscore the critical importance of pharmacovigilance and are consistent with established clinical observations. Notably, osteonecrosis of the jaw, arthralgia, pain in extremities, back pain, myalgia, and bone pain were identified as the most prevalent risk signals associated with denosumab.
The epigenetic signatures of opioid addiction and physical dependence are prevented by D-cysteine ethyl ester and betaine
Authors: McDonough Jennifer , Singhal Naveen K. , Getsy Paulina M. , Knies Katherine , Knauss Zackery T. , Mueller Devin , Bates James N. , Damron Derek S. , Lewis Stephen J.
Published: August 2024

We have reported that D,L-thiol esters, including D-cysteine ethyl ester (D-CYSee), are effective at overcoming opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD) in rats. Our on-going studies reveal that co-injections of D-CYSee with multi-day morphine injections markedly diminish spontaneous withdrawal that usually occurs after cessation of multiple injections of morphine in rats. Chronically administered opioids are known (1) to alter cellular redox status, thus inducing an oxidative state, and (2) for an overall decrease in DNA methylation, therefore resulting in the transcriptional activation of previously silenced long interspersed elements (LINE-1) retrotransposon genes. The first objective of the present study was to determine whether D-CYSee and the one carbon metabolism with the methyl donor, betaine, would maintain redox control and normal DNA methylation levels in human neuroblastoma cell cultures (SH-SY5Y) under overnight challenge with morphine (100 nM). The second objective was to determine whether D-CYSee and/or betaine could diminish the degree of physical dependence to morphine in male Sprague Dawley rats. Our data showed that overnight treatment with morphine reduced cellular GSH levels, induced mitochondrial damage, decreased global DNA methylation, and increased LINE-1 mRNA expression. These adverse effects by morphine, which diminished the reducing capacity and compromised the maintenance of the membrane potential of SH-SY5Y cells, was prevented by concurrent application of D-CYSee (100 µM) or betaine (300 µM). Furthermore, our data demonstrated that co-injections of D-CYSee (250 μmol/kg, IV) and to a lesser extent, betaine (250 μmol/kg, IV), markedly diminished the development of physical dependence induced by multi-day morphine injections (escalating daily doses of 10–30 mg/kg, IV), as assessed by the lesser number of withdrawal phenomena elicited by the injection of the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone (1.5 mg/kg, IV). These findings provide evidence that D-CYSee and betaine prevent the appearance of redox alterations and epigenetic signatures commonly seen in neural cells involved in opioid physical dependence/addiction, and lessen development of physical dependence to morphine.
Capsaicin: a spicy way in liver disease
Authors: Li Shenghao , Hao Liyuan , Yu Fei , Li Na , Deng Jiali , Zhang Junli , Xiong Shuai , Hu Xiaoyu
Published: August 2024

The incidence of liver disease continues to rise, encompassing a spectrum from simple steatosis or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and liver cancer. Dietary habits in individuals with liver disease may significantly impact the treatment and prevention of these conditions. This article examines the role of chili peppers, a common dietary component, in this context, focusing on capsaicin, the active ingredient in chili peppers. Capsaicin is an agonist of the transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily 1 (TRPV1) and has been shown to exert protective effects on liver diseases, including liver injury, NAFLD, liver fibrosis and liver cancer. These protective effects are attributed to capsaicin’s anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-steatosis and anti-fibrosis effects. This article reviewed the different molecular mechanisms of the protective effect of capsaicin on liver diseases.
Efficacy and safety of Ginkgolide with intravenous alteplase thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion: a subgroup analysis of GIANT
Authors: Zhang Zheyu , Zhong Wansi , Zhang Xuting , Ma Xiaodong , Lu Xudong , Zhang Meixia , Tao Anyang , Zhang Bing , Lou Min
Published: August 2024

Aim

This study aims to explore the effectiveness and safety of Ginkgolide® in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) and moderate-to-severe stroke receiving intravenous alteplase thrombolysis (IVT).

Methods

Ginkgolide with Intravenous Alteplase Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke Improving Neurological Function (GIANT) was an open-label, prospective, multicenter, cluster-randomized clinical trial and included AIS patients in 24 centers randomized to the intervention of intravenous Ginkgolide® or control group within the first 24 h after IVT. LVO was defined as any occlusion of the internal carotid artery, M1 or M2 of the middle cerebral artery, A1 or A2 of the anterior cerebral artery, P1 of the posterior cerebral artery, and V4 of the vertebral artery or the basilar artery. Stroke severity was assessed with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (minor ≤5; moderate-to-severe >5). The primary outcome was a good outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–2 at 90 days. Secondary outcomes were early neurological improvement (ENI), defined as ≥18% increase in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at 7 days compared to baseline and distribution of mRS at 3 months.

Results

A total of 1,113 patients were included, with 268/913 (29.4%) presenting LVO and 508 (45.6%) presenting moderate-to-severe stroke. In patients with LVO, Ginkgolide® usage was independently associated with ENI (P = 0.001) but not with a good outcome (P = 0.154). In the moderate-to-severe stroke subgroup, Ginkgolide® was independently associated with both a good outcome (P = 0.009) and ENI (P = 0.028). Ginkgolide® did not increase the risk of hemorrhagic transformation (all P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Using Ginkgolide® within 24-h after intravenous rt-PA is effective and safe in LVO and moderate-to-severe stroke patients.
Multiclass small target detection algorithm for surface defects of chemicals special steel
Authors: Wang Yuanyuan , Yan Shaofeng , Abdullahi Hauwa Suleiman , Gao Shangbing , Zhang Haiyan , Chen Xiuchuan , Zhao Hu
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Chemical special steels are widely used in chemical equipment manufacturing and other fields, and small defects on its surface (such as cracks and punches) are easy to cause serious accidents in harsh environments.

Methods: In order to solve this problem, this paper proposes an improved defect detection algorithm for chemical special steel based on YOLOv8. Firstly, in order to effectively capture local and global information, a ParC2Net (Parallel-C2f) structure is proposed for feature extraction, which can accurately capture the subtle features of steel defects. Secondly, the loss function is adjusted to MPD-IOU, and its dynamic non-monotonic focusing characteristics are used to effectively solve the overfitting problem of the bounding box of low-quality targets. In addition, RepGFPN is used to fuse multi-scale features, deepen the interaction between semantics and spatial information, and significantly improve the efficiency of cross-layer information transmission. Finally, the RexSE-Head (ResNeXt-Squeeze-Excitation) design is adopted to enhance the positioning accuracy of small defect targets.

Results and discussion: The experimental results show that the mAP@0.5 of the improved model reaches 93.5%, and the number of parameters is only 3.29M, which realizes the high precision and high response performance of the detection of small defects in chemical special steels, and highlights the practical application value of the model. The code is available at https://github.com/improvment/prs-yolo.
Hyperbaric intervention ameliorates the negative effects of long-term high-altitude exposure on cognitive control capacity
Authors: Ren Hong , Zhu Yun-Peng , Su Rui , Li Hao , Pan Yong-Yue
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Hypoxia due to reduced partial pressure of oxygen from high-altitude exposure affects the cognitive function of high-altitude migrants. Executive function is an important component of human cognitive function, characterized by high oxygen consumption during activity, and its level can be measured using cognitive control capacity (CCC). In addition, there is evidence for the potential value of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) interventions in improving cognitive decline on the plateau. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term high-altitude exposure on CCC in high-altitude newcomers and whether hyperbaric oxygen intervention has an ameliorative effect.

Methods

This study measured the magnitude of participants’ CCC using a Backward Masking Majority Function Task (MFT-M). Study 1 was a controlled study of different altitude conditions, with 64 participants in the high-altitude newcomer group and 64 participants in the low-altitude resident group, each completing the MFT-M task once. Study 2 was a controlled HBO intervention study in which newcomers who had lived at a high altitude for 2 years were randomly divided into the HBO group (n = 28) and control group (n = 28). 15 times hyperbaric oxygen interventions were performed in the HBO group. Subjects in both groups completed the MFT-M task once before and once after the intervention.

Results

Study 1 showed that CCC was significantly higher in the low-altitude resident group than in the high-altitude newcomer group (p = 0.031). Study 2 showed that the CCC in the HBO group was significantly higher after 15 hyperbaric interventions than before (p = 0.005), while there was no significant difference in the control group (p = 0.972). The HBO group had significantly higher correct task rates than the control group after the intervention (p = 0.001).

Conclusion

This study confirms that long-term high-altitude exposure leads to impairment of CCC in high-altitude newcomers and that hyperbaric oxygen intervention is effective in improving CCC.
Insights into Bactericera cockerelli and Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum interaction: a tissue-specific transcriptomic approach
Authors: Singh Rajkumar Mohan , Ibanez-Carrasco Freddy , Avila Carlos A. , Mandadi Kranthi K.
Published: August 2024

The tomato-potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc), belonging to the Hemiptera order, is an insect pest of solanaceous crops and vectors a fastidious bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), the presumptive causal agent of zebra chip and vein greening diseases in potatoes and tomatoes, respectively. The genome of B. cockerelli has been sequenced recently, providing new avenues to elucidate mechanistic insights into pathogenesis in vegetable crops. In this study, we performed RNA-sequencing of the critical psyllid organs (salivary glands and ovaries) involved in CLso pathology and transmission to host plants. Transcriptome analysis revealed differentially expressed genes and organ-specific enrichment of gene ontology (GO) terms related to metabolic processes, response to stress/stimulus, phagocytosis, proteolysis, endocytosis, and provided candidate genes encoding transcription factors (TFs). To examine gene regulatory networks across the psyllid organs under CLso(-) and CLso(+) conditions, we performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and unique modules differentiating the psyllid organs were identified. A comparative GO analysis of the unique gene modules revealed functional terms enriched in response to stress, gene regulation, and cell division processes in the ovaries. In contrast, respiration, transport, and neuronal transmission-related GO terms were enriched in the salivary glands. Altogether, this study reveals new insights into tissue-specific expression of the psyllid organs in the absence or presence of CLso bacterium. This knowledge can be leveraged to develop new pest and disease management strategies by delineating the regulatory networks involved in the psyllid-CLso interaction.
Meta-transcriptomic analysis reveals the geographical expansion of known sugarbeet-infecting viruses and the occurrence of a novel virus in sugarbeet in the United States
Authors: Chinnadurai Chinnaraja , Wyatt Nathan A. , Weiland John J. , Neher Oliver T. , Hastings Joe , Bloomquist Mark W. , Chu Chenggen , Chanda Ashok K. , Khan Mohamed , Bolton Melvin D. , Ramachandran Vanitharani
Published: August 2024

In this study, meta-transcriptome sequencing was conducted on a total of 18 sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris) sample libraries to profile the virome of field-grown sugarbeet to identify the occurrence and distribution of known and potentially new viruses from five different states in the United States. Sugarbeet roots with symptoms resembling rhizomania caused by beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), or leaves exhibiting leaf-curling, yellowing to browning, or green mosaic were collected from the sugarbeet growing areas of California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, and North Dakota. In silico analysis of de novo assembled contigs revealed the presence of nearly full-length genomes of BNYVV, beet soil-borne virus (BSBV), and beet soil-borne mosaic virus (BSBMV), which represent known sugarbeet-infecting viruses. Among those, BNYVV was widespread across the locations, whereas BSBV was prevalent in Minnesota and Idaho, and BSBMV was only detected in Minnesota. In addition, two recently reported Beta vulgaris satellite virus isoforms (BvSatV-1A and BvSatV-1B) were detected in new locations, indicating the geographical expansion of this known virus. Besides these known sugarbeet-infecting viruses, the bioinformatic analysis identified the widespread occurrence of a new uncharacterized Erysiphe necator-associated abispo virus (En_abispoV), a fungus-related virus that was identified in all 14 libraries. En_abispoV contains two RNA components, and nearly complete sequences of both RNA1 and RNA2 were obtained from RNASeq and were further confirmed by primer-walking RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Phylogenetic comparison of En_abispoV isolates obtained in this study showed varying levels of genetic diversity within RNA1 and RNA2 compared to previously reported isolates. The undertaken meta-transcriptomic approach revealed the widespread nature of coexisting viruses associated with field-grown sugarbeet exhibiting virus disease-like symptoms in the United States.
Optimizing wheat prosperity: innovative drip irrigation and nitrogen management strategies for enhanced yield and quality of winter wheat in the Huang-Huai-Hai region
Authors: Zhao Jinke , Xu Xuexin , Liu Shuai , Jia Jing , Li Menglan , Huang Hanliu , Zhang Guoqing , Zhao Changxing
Published: August 2024

Introduction

To examine the impacts of varied water and nitroge combinations on wheat yield and quality under drip irrigation in the Huang-Huai-Hai area, a field experiment was conducted over two growing seasons of winter wheat from 2019 to 2021.

Methods

Traditional irrigation and fertilization methods served as the control (CK), with two nitrogen application rates set: N1 (180 kg/ha) and N2 (210 kg/ha). The irrigation schedules were differentiated by growth stages: jointing, anthesis (S2); jointing, anthesis, and filling (S3); and jointing, booting, anthesis, and filling (S4), at soil depths of 0-10 cm (M1) and 0-20 cm (M2).

Results

Results indicated that compared to CK, the 3 and 4 times irrigation treatments comprehensively improved grain yield (GY) by 8.0% and 13.6% respectively, increased the average plant partial factor productivity of nitrogen fertilizer (PFPN) and irrigation use efficiency (IUE) by 57.5% and 38.2%, and 62.2% and 35.8%, respectively. The gluten content (GC) of 3 irrigations was 1.6% higher than CK, and other metrics such as dough tenacity (DT), softness (ST), water absorption (WAS), and gluten hardness (GH) also showed improvements. Furthermore, the contents of amylose, amylopectin, and total starch under 3 irrigations significantly increased by 9.4%, 11.4%, and 9.8%, respectively, with higher than 4 irrigations. The crude protein content and soluble sugar content in 3 irrigations rose by 6.5% and 9.8% respectively over two years. These irrigation treatments also optimized gelatinization characteristics of grains, such as breakdown viscosity (BDV), consistency peak viscosity (CPV), consistency setback viscosity (CSV), pasting temperature (PeT), and pasting time (PaT).

Discussion

The study demonstrated that appropriate drip irrigation can effectively synchronize water and nitrogen supply during critical growth stages in winter wheat, ensuring robust late-stage development and efficient transfer of photosynthetic products into the grains, thus enhancing grain mass and yield. This also led to improved utilization of water and fertilizer and enhanced the nutritional and processing quality of the grain. However, excessive irrigation did not further improve grain quality. In conclusion, given the goals of saving water and fertilizer, achieving excellent yield, and ensuring high quality, the N1S3M1 treatment is recommended as an effective production management strategy in the Huang-Huai Hai area; N1S3M2 could be considered in years of water scarcity.
Virtual reality and travel anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic: the moderating role of blockade intensity
Authors: Wang Qingjin , Shi Renbo , Zhang Kaiyun , Liu Xiao
Published: August 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has deprived travelers of the right to continue their travel or leisure activities, while creating concerns about the safety of travel. In view of the great impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travelers, we discussed the impact of virtual reality on travel anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, and considered the regulatory effect of blockade intensity. In order to explore the relationship between virtual reality and travel anxiety in depth, this study conducted a questionnaire survey on 299 Chinese tourists who had experienced virtual reality activities related to travel, and empirically analyzed the questionnaire data using SPSS 26 software. The results show that virtual reality has a significant negative effect on travel anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e., virtual reality technology can provide a safer virtual travel experience for people and reduce their travel anxiety. At the same time, the relationship between virtual reality and travel anxiety varied to some extent depending on the intensity of the lockdown in each region, with the mitigating effect of virtual reality on travel anxiety being enhanced by high levels of lockdown. Therefore, we believe that although lockdown policies are necessary for some time to come, travel companies need to make further efforts to provide more convenient virtual reality services to alleviate travel anxiety caused by COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown to tourists. At the same time, virtual reality opens up new ideas for travel businesses under the impact of COVID-19 and contributes to the sustainable development of the travel industry.
Adventure and mental health: an ecological perspective
Authors: Brymer Eric , Sharma-Brymer Vinathe , Willis Royce , Leach Matthew
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we explore the concept of outdoor adventure in the context of mental health, proposing an ecological perspective to redefine adventure beyond its traditional associations with risk and physical challenge. We critically examine current frameworks and definitions of adventure, which often emphasise specific activities and natural environments yet overlook the individual’s experience and potential mental health benefits. From an ecological perspective, we emphasise the dynamic interplay between the individual, the activity, and the environment. This approach, grounded in ecological psychology, considers the multi-dimensional nature of adventure, including social, psychological, physical, and spiritual aspects. The paper challenges the traditional risk-focused view of adventure, advocating for a broader definition that includes diverse experiences and interactions, as well as the transformative potential of adventure in various environments, including urban settings. We highlight the changing demographics and motivations of adventure participants, moving away from the stereotypical young male risk-seeker, to more diverse and inclusive participant profiles. We argue that adventure facilitates the realisation of fundamental human affordances, often untapped in daily life, thereby enhancing mental health and wellbeing. This ecological perspective opens new avenues for understanding the role of adventure in mental health and wellbeing, offering a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to adventure activities as therapeutic interventions. This redefined understanding of adventure emphasises its potential as a powerful tool for enhancing human wellbeing, harmonising the relationship between people, tasks, and the environment, and offering profound implications for mental health contexts.
The influence of cardiac synchronisation on self-attribution to external objects in male participants
Authors: Shibata Hiroshi , Harada Tokiko , Ohira Hideki
Published: August 2024

Interoception, the representation of our bodily state derived from physiological signals, is fundamental to our sense of self. Previous studies using cardiac feedback paradigms demonstrated interoceptive effects on self-perception. However, it remains unclear whether interoceptive information can extend self-attribution to non-bodily objects. This study aimed to elucidate whether cardiac signals can induce self-attribution to non-bodily objects and how interoceptive accuracy modulates this effect. A total of 44 male volunteers participated in an emotion assignment task where they viewed images of palms (bodily targets) and spheres (non-bodily targets) flashing in or out of sync with their heartbeat and assigned emotional images (positive/negative) to these targets. A heartbeat discrimination task was used to measure the interoceptive accuracy. The results showed no significant effect of synchronisation on emotion assignment for either the target type or the valence of the emotional images. However, participants with high interoceptive accuracy attributed both positive and negative images more to synchronised targets than those with low interoceptive accuracy. These findings suggest that although cardiac synchronisation may not uniformly facilitate the self-attribution of external objects, interoceptive accuracy may mediate attention to synchrony. Future studies should explore the conditions under which cardiac signals influence self-attribution.
Relationships between peak alpha frequency, age, and autistic traits in young children with and without autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Kameya Masafumi , Hirosawa Tetsu , Soma Daiki , Yoshimura Yuko , An Kyung-min , Iwasaki Sumie , Tanaka Sanae , Yaoi Ken , Sano Masuhiko , Miyagishi Yoshiaki , Kikuchi Mitsuru
Published: August 2024

Background

Atypical peak alpha frequency (PAF) has been reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, the relationships between PAF, age, and autistic traits remain unclear. This study was conducted to investigate and compare the resting-state PAF of young children with ASD and their typically developing (TD) peers using magnetoencephalography (MEG).

Methods

Nineteen children with ASD and 24 TD children, aged 5-7 years, underwent MEG under resting-state conditions. The PAFs in ten brain regions were calculated, and the associations between these findings, age, and autistic traits, measured using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), were examined.

Results

There were no significant differences in PAF between the children with ASD and the TD children. However, a unique positive association between age and PAF in the cingulate region was observed in the ASD group, suggesting the potential importance of the cingulate regions as a neurophysiological mechanism underlying distinct developmental trajectory of ASD. Furthermore, a higher PAF in the right temporal region was associated with higher SRS scores in TD children, highlighting the potential role of alpha oscillations in social information processing.

Conclusions

This study emphasizes the importance of regional specificity and developmental factors when investigating neurophysiological markers of ASD. The distinct age-related PAF patterns in the cingulate regions of children with ASD and the association between right temporal PAF and autistic traits in TD children provide novel insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of ASD. These findings pave the way for future research on the functional implications of these neurophysiological patterns and their potential as biomarkers of ASD across the lifespan.
A global scoping review of adaptations in nurturing care interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Godoi Lidia , Schenkman Simone , Baumann Ana A. , Bousquat Aylene , Buccini Gabriela
Published: August 2024

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, children faced a disproportionate burden of malnutrition and poor health outcomes. Nurturing care interventions (NCIs) including actions toward good health, adequate nutrition, responsive care, opportunities for early learning, and security and safety are critical for promoting equity. Due to the need for evidence-based responses and preparedness, we analyzed adaptations in NCIs’ implementation strategies during COVID-19 according to the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-based Implementation Strategies (FRAME-IS).

Method

We conducted a global scoping review including peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed literature. The databases searched were PubMed, Embase, Scopus, BVS, Scielo, and Web of Science. This search was complemented by an extensive examination of relevant websites and an additional internet search via Google Scholar. We extracted and analyzed the data following the seven modules of the FRAME-IS.

Results

Out of 20 records, 27 NCI were identified across Africa (n = 3), Asia (n = 7), Europe (n = 3), North America (n = 11), Oceania (n = 1), and South America (n = 2). NCIs adapted their content (e.g., adding elements), evaluation (e.g., conducting needs assessment), training (e.g., using experts), and context (e.g., setting—shifting from in-person to remote, and population—expanding interventions’ reach). Adaptation goals were to increase acceptability (n = 9, 32.1%), adoption (n = 5, 17.8%), appropriateness (n = 10, 35.7%), feasibility (n = 25, 89.3%), penetration (n = 15, 53.6%), sustainability (n = 23, 82.1%), and fidelity (n = 1, 3.7%). The rationale to adapt varied from sociopolitical (n = 6, 21.4%), organizational (n = 13, 46.4%), implementer (n = 11, 39.3%), practitioner (n = 15, 53.6%), and recipient (n = 11, 39.3%). A quarter were reactive planned adaptations and 75.0% were unplanned modifications. Decisions were led by program leaders (n = 21, 75.0%), funders (n = 9, 32.1%), partners (n = 3, 10.7%), researchers (n = 1, 3.6%), and practitioners (n = 3, 10.7%). Adaptations were widespread from unit (e.g., hospital) (n = 1, 3.6%), organization (n = 4, 14.3%), and community system (e.g., countrywide) (n = 14, 50.0%).

Conclusion

The results from our global scoping review show that it is possible for NCIs to continue and even improve their delivery despite the global crisis, suggesting that remote delivery is feasible and can work as an alternative when in lockdown. Strategic planning taking advantage of existing structures and partnerships may have allowed NCI adaptations to be sustainable as well as facilitated replication within the organization network system.
The influence of exercise adherence on peace of mind among Chinese college students: a moderated chain mediation model
Authors: Liu Feiyang , Yu Ping , Wu Jinlong , Guo Liya
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Exercising adherence constitutes a pivotal approach for college students to maintain physical well-being, while peace of mind serves as a crucial indicator of their psychological health. However, few previous studies have delved into the relationship between these two variables. Our study endeavors to investigate the association between the exercise adherence and the peace of mind of college students.

Methods

The Exercise Adherence Questionnaire, Meaning in Life Questionnaire, Brief Self-Control Scale, Peace of Mind Scale, and Self Acceptance Questionnaire were tested on 1,520 college students from four universities in western China, and SPSS 25.0 and Mplus 8.3 were used for analysis.

Results

The results indicate a significant positive correlation between exercise adherence and meaning in life (r = 0.208, p < 0.001), self-control (r = 0.210, p < 0.001), and peace of mind (r = 0.237, p < 0.001) among college students. Mediation analysis reveals that exercise adherence has a significant direct effect on peace of mind in college students, with an effect size of 0.087. Moreover, meaning in life and self-control independently mediate the relationship between exercise adherence and peace of mind, with mediation effect sizes of 0.046 and 0.052, respectively. Additionally, meaning in life and self-control collectively exhibit a chain mediation effect, with a mediation effect size of 0.032. At the same time, the interaction terms of meaning in life and self-acceptance had a significant predictive effect on self-control (b = 0.090, p = 0.002).

Conclusion

This study reveals both the relationship and intrinsic mechanisms by which exercise adherence influences the peace of mind among college students. Exercise adherence demonstrates a direct positive impact on peace of mind. Additionally, the association between exercise adherence and peace of mind is influenced by the individual mediating effects of meaning in life and self-control, as well as the chain mediation effect of meaning in life and self-control. Moreover, self-acceptance plays a positive role in regulating the relationship between meaning in life and self-control in the chain mediated pathway. This suggests that we need to encourage college students to develop the habit of exercise adherence and to carry out public welfare activities to enhance their meaning in life, self-control and self-acceptance, which will effectively promote their mental health.