bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microbial communities changes across aging process of tobacco leaves
Authors: Wang Fan , Jin Yongming , Zhang Yao , Jiang Xinglin , Zhang Ge , Chen Guoqiang , Yang Mingjun , Leng Feifan , Bai Xiaoli , Li Hongtao , Wu Lijun , Zhang Haibo
Published: March 2022

Background: Microbial communities that inhabit aging tobacco leaves play a key role in improving quality by interactions with themselves and tobacco leaves to release tannins, increase sugar levels, promote aromatic taste and degrade harmful compounds. A better understanding of microbial communities on the aging of tobacco leaves could provide an important microbial repository for the industrial applications. Results: Here, we examined the structural and compositional changes of microbial communities and identified the potential metabolic pathways of bacteria and fungi throughout the aging process. The results showed that the diversity and structure of the microbial communities keep changing along with the aging process went on. The richness and diversity of bacterial community decreased, while the richness of fungal community was in an inverse trend. At the phylum level, the bacterial community was dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidete, while Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the dominant species in the fungal community. In the bacterial community, metabolic functions related to the carbon and nitrogen cycles which response to the degradation of harmful components, and the metabolism of aromatic hydrocarbons showed extremely dynamic at different aging periods. The change of the main nutritional mode of the fungal community also led to an increase in the abundance of saprophytic fungi. Conclusion: These results provide information on the succession of microbial community structure and function in the whole process of tobacco aging and suggest that the aging process of tobacco leaves can be a natural microbial collection for target microorganism and their metabolites. It also enables the further investigation of coordination mechanisms between beneficial microbial regulation and pathogenicity during aging process.
Views of general practitioners on end-of-life care learning preferences: A systematic review
Authors: Atreya Shrikant , Datta Soumitra S , Salins Naveen
Published: March 2022

Background
General practitioners (GPs) play a pivotal role in providing end-of-life care in the community. Although they value end-of-life care, they have apprehensions about providing care in view of the limitations in knowledge and skills in end-of-life care. This review aimed to explore, synthesise, and analyse the views of general practitioners on end-of-life care learning preferences.
Methods
MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane were searched for literature on the views of general practitioners on end-of-life care learning preferences from 01/01/1990 to 31/05/2021. Methodological quality was reported.
Results
Of the 10037 articles identified, 23 were included for the review. Five themes developed from the review. The desire to provide palliative care, as well as self-actualization needs, relevance to practice, a sense of responsibility, and a therapeutic bond, motivates general practitioners to learn end-of-life care. Some of the learning needs expressed were pain and symptom management, communication skills, and addressing caregiver needs. Experiential learning and pragmatist learning styles were preferred learning styles. They perceived the need for an amicable learning environment in which they could freely express their deficiencies. The review also identified barriers to learning, challenges at personal and professional level, feelings of disempowerment, and conflicts in care.
Conclusion
GPs’ preference for learning about end-of-life care was influenced by the value attributed to learning, context and content, as well as preference for learning styles and the availability of resources. Thus future trainings must be in alignment with the GPs’ learning preferences.
Water quality, Vegetation, and Management of Stormwater Ponds Draining Three Distinct Urban Land Uses in Central Florida
Authors: Skovira Lindsay M. , Bohlen Patrick
Published: March 2022

Stormwater ponds are a prevalent engineered water feature that are designed to mitigate the effects of urban land use on downstream water bodies. These systems contribute significantly to the total area of aquatic ecosystems in some urban watersheds, making them important integrative features for examining human impacts on water ecosystem services in some urban watersheds. We investigated the distribution of stormwater ponds in relation to different land uses and examined dissolved nutrients in pond water, pond vegetation, and pond management practices in stormwater ponds receiving runoff from distinct urban lands uses in a rapidly developing suburban watershed of Orlando, FL, USA. Stormwater ponds represented 40.2% of the total area of non-forested freshwater systems in the watershed, and were dominated by ponds situated in residential (43.7%), followed by roadways (14.7%), and institutional (2.3%) land uses. We randomly selected 8 ponds receiving runoff from each of these three lands uses, and sampled them monthly from May-Sept. 2015 for nutrient and physical characteristics, and assessed their general cover of emergent and submerged vegetation. Total nitrogen (TN) concentrations differed significantly between expressway and school ponds, with expressway ponds having TN concentrations 51.7% higher than schools. Both TP and TN varied differently through time in the different lands uses and most concentrations of most dissolved nutrients separated out from pond vegetative cover in a principle component analysis. Ponds with higher TN and chlorophyll a (chla) concentrations had lower water clarity. Management intensity for removal of aquatic vegetation and algae was lower in school ponds than in expressway and residential ponds, and school ponds contained the highest abundance and diversity of vegetation. Different urban land uses had varying impacts on water quality, and more intense chemical use to control vegetation and algae was related to greater nutrient and chla concentrations and lower water clarity. Our results indicate that there are important differences in nutrient concentration in stormwater ponds in the different land uses that may be related both to differences in surface runoff, and in management practices use to control overgrowth of vegetation and algae.
In-vitro in-vivo antibacterial and immuno-modulatory effects of probiotics and phytobiotics in egg type birds
Authors: Mushtaq Muhammad , Sadique Umer , Shah Muqadar , Ullah Haq Aman , Anwar Faisal , Nawaz Noor Ul Ain
Published: March 2022

Probiotics and phytobiotics are used as alternatives to antibiotic as growth promoters (AGPs) in monogastric animals. Bioactive compounds of phytobiotics are considered as potential agents by promoting beneficial intestinal-microbiota without influencing the growth of pathogenic microflora spp. It can provide an optimal precondition for effective protection against the zoonotic infectious pathogens and involve in host gut-immune/defense system. The prolonged uses of antibiotics in poultry industry developed the resistance strains of primary pathogenic or opportunistic bacteria and regress the GIT related immunity. Therefore, the present research study was designed to evaluate the synergistic effects of phytobiotics and probiotics during induced mix (E. coli and salmonella) infection in egg type birds. Six different phytobiotic extracts with constant dose level of probiotic were 1st evaluated through in-vitro screening by disk diffusion method against the resisted E. coli and Salmonella paratyphi. Based on in-vitro screening, phytobiotics were further evaluated in-vive trail. The potential of phytobiotics with probiotic were evaluated by observing the feed intake, mortality, morbidity, microbial count and immunoglobulin (Ig) during the induced mixed infection (E.coli and Slamonella). Birds were inoculated with E.coli and salmonella at the rate of 1x108 cfu/ml each. Birds were alienated into 12 groups having three replicates. Phytobiotics extracts at standard rate of 1, 100 and 1000mg/L were used for all the three selected medicinal plants with probiotic @ 0.03ml/L (12×106 spores). On evaluation through in-vitro phase phytobiotics (Fenugreek, B. Lycium and T. arjuna) extracts and probiotic reflect more potential by inhibiting the growth of selected bacterial strains. Feed intake, mortality were significantly different among the experimental groups. It was notice that phytobiotics and probiotic at 1000mg/L+0.03ml/L showed improved health status (Microbial count, Ig and Morbidity) against the infection as compared to control and standard group. It was concluded from the present experiment that phytobiotics and probiotics possess antimicrobial and immune-modulatory properties.
ANFIS Classification based Vegetation Area Detection and Classification using Texture Features
Authors: R shanmuga sundaram , N Santhiya Kumari
Published: March 2022

The main objective of this paper is to classify the satellite image into vegetation and nonvegetation area. Satellite image, taken from National Satellite Meteorological Center has been preprocessed with the colour conversion and histogram equalization process, Color conversion technique helps to determine the accurate representation of the area presented in image with less amount of information in the satellite image. Whereas, histogram equalization helps in increasing the intensity level to visualize the different area details of satellite image clearly. Preprocessed images have been processed by feature extraction technique where five different features have been extracted with Gray level coherence matrix (GLCM) and Local Derivative Pattern (LDP) techniques. In this proposed methodology, Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) classifier has been used to category the satellite image areas into vegetation and Non-vegetation. Analysis was done based on the parameters such as sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. The results obtained with sensitivity of 96.03%, 94.65 of specificity and 96.08% of accuracy shows that better performance as compared to the existing methodologies available. It will help to maintain climate conditions for crop cultivation, overcoming global warming. Ecological cycle will be balanced and life span of human will be extended based on the vegetation area availability
A noble-metal-free metal-organic framework for alkane borylation
Authors: Li Zhe , Zeng Lingzhen , Cao Yonghua , An Bing , Zhang Jingzheng , Zhang Yige , Li Han , Lin Wenbin , Wang Cheng
Published: March 2022

Catalytic borylation of unactivated C(sp3)‒H bond is of great interest but quite challenging. Reported catalysts mostly contain noble metals such as iridium and ruthenium. Here, we report an earth-abundant zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) catalyst with zirconium hydride (Zr‒H) active sites for methane borylation. Isotope exchange experiment and spectroscopic evidence confirm methane activation by Zr‒H active sites to generate Zr‒CH3 and H2, possibly via σ-bond metathesis. Theoretical calculations suggest another σ-bond metathesis step for C‒B bond formation. The MOF catalyst selectively borylates end methyl group in alkanes and other compounds. For example, the MOF catalyst mono-borylated the end methyl group of n-pentane in 87% yield with > 98% selectivity. The selectivity of primary C‒H bond over secondary C‒H bond is attributed to the steric effect around the Zr‒H site in the MOF, as Zr‒H sites on supports with less stringent steric control have poorer selectivity. This work provides new insights into developing catalysts for alkane functionalization.
Identification of the collagen family as prognostic biomarkers in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Niu Juntao , Guo Wenyu , Chen YuZhou , Jiang Ning
Published: March 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to construct a collagen-related prognostic model for thyroid cancer and to investigate prognostic value of collagen family genes for thyroid cancer.Methods: A LASSO Cox regression model for thyroid cancer was developed based on the expression profiles of collagen-related genes. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed for high and low risk groups. The ROC method was used to assess its predictive performance. Predictive independence was verified by multivariate cox regression analysis. The relationship between this feature and immune cell infiltration was analyzed by tumor microenvironment. COL18A1 was validated by immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR in thyroid cancer tissues. The effect of COL18A1 on the immune escape ability of tumor cells was further valuated by cytotoxicity assays.Results: A model including 4 collagen family genes was developed to predict thyroid cancer prognosis. Patients with high-risk score had a poorer prognosis than those with low-risk scores for 1-, 2-, 3- and 5- year survival. The model independently predicted prognosis after adjusting for other prognostic factors. A nomogram combining risk score and age was constructed with high sensitivity and specificity. This feature was significantly associated with immune cell infiltration. COL18A1 was aberrantly over-expressed in thyroid cancer compared with control tissues and significantly increased immune escape ability of tumor cells.Conclusion: Our findings establish a signature associated with collagen family genes that can effectively predict the prognosis of thyroid cancer. High COL18A1 expression significantly correlated with the poor prognosis of patients and enhanced the immune escape ability of tumor cells.
Air Quality During The COVID-19 Epidemic in China
Authors: Lv Shijin , Wen Wen , Wang Chunyi , Chen Chen , Tang Jiake , Cheng Yongran , Zhou Mengyun , Wu Qi , Zhang Xingwei , Wang Ming-wei , Feng Zhanhui , Yang Dong
Published: March 2022

At the end of 2019, the COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China. It has since put global public health institutions on high alert. People reduced their traveling, and production has stopped nationwide during the epidemic. This paper explores the effect of these COVID-19-derived changes on the air quality in China. Air quality data of 367 cities around China were included. The daily air pollutants concentration (AQI,CO, O3, NO2, SO2, PM10, and PM2.5) were collected. We compared the air quality changes between three periods (23.1.2019-23.3.2019, 22.11.2019-22.1.2020, and 23.1.2020–23.3.2020). To compare, we calculated the daily average number of cities with pollution, and the trend in air quality index change. Furthermore, Air quality in the top 50 cities with confirmed cases and Wuhan was analyzed. During the period between 23.1.2020 and 23.3.2020, the number of cities with excellent air quality was significantly higher than that in another two periods. The concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and O3 decreased significantly during the COVID-19 epidemic. The most significant decreases were in PM10 and NO2. The number of cities with good air quality in the later period was significantly higher than that a year before. The air quality has improved significantly during the COVID-19 outbreak, The reason for this change may be human activities such as reduced transportation and production stoppage.
Quantifying 18F-sodium fluoride uptake in abdominal aortic aneurysms
Authors: Debono Samuel , Nash Jennifer , Fletcher Alexander J. , Syed Maaz B. J. , Semple Scott I. , Beek Edwin J. R. van , Fletcher Alison , Cadet Sebastien , Williams Michelle C , Dey Damini , Slomka Piotr J. , Forsythe Rachael O. , Dweck Marc R. , Newby David E.
Published: March 2022

Background: Aortic microcalcification activity is a recently described method of measuring aortic 18F-sodium fluoride uptake in the thoracic aorta on positron emission tomography . In this study, we aimed to compare and to modify this method for use within the infrarenal aorta of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms.Methods: Twenty-five patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms underwent an 18F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography and computed tomography scan. Maximum and mean tissue to background ratios (TBR) and abdominal aortic microcalcification activity were determined following application of a thresholding and variable radius method to correct for vertebral 18F-sodium fluoride signal spill-over and the non-linear changes in aortic diameter respectively. Agreement between the methods, and repeatability of these approaches were assessed.Results: The aortic microcalcification activity method was three-fold quicker to perform than the TBR method (14 versus 40 min, p<0.001). There was moderate to good agreement between TBR and aortic microcalcification activity measurements for maximum (interclass correlation co-efficient, 0.67) and mean (interclass correlation co-efficient, 0.88) values. These correlations sequentially improved with the application of thresholding (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.89-0.95) and variable diameter (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.94-0.99) techniques. The optimized method had good intra-observer (mean 1.57 ± 0.42, bias 0.08, co-efficient of repeatability 0.36 and limits of agreement -0.43 to 0.43) and inter-observer (mean 1.57 ± 0.42, bias 0.08, co-efficient of repeatability 0.47 and limits of agreement -0.53 to 0.53) repeatability.Conclusions: Aortic microcalcification activity is a quick and simple method which demonstrates good intra-observer and inter-observer repeatabilities and provides measures of 18F-sodium fluoride uptake that are comparable to established methods.
Relationship between medical students’ perceived instructor role and their approaches to using online learning technologies in a cloud-based virtual classroom
Authors: Wang Rong , Han Jiying , Liu Chuanyong , Wang Lixiang
Published: March 2022

Background
Students can take different approaches to using online learning technologies: deep and surface. It is important to understand the relationship between instructor role and student approaches to using online learning technologies in online learning settings supported by cloud computing techniques.
Methods
A cross-sectional quantitative research was conducted to investigate the characteristics of and relationships between medical students’ perceptions of instructor role (instructor support, instructor student interaction, and instructor innovation) and students’ approaches to using online learning technologies in cloud-based virtual classrooms (n = 192).
Results
The results showed high levels of medical students’ perceived instructor support, instructor-student interaction and instructor innovation. Most students adopted the deep approaches to using online learning technologies. Instructor support and innovation were positively related to students’ deep approaches to using online learning technologies. Instructor support was negatively related to students’ surface approaches to using online learning technologies.
Conclusions
The relationship between instructor role (instructor support, instructor-student interaction and instructor innovation) and students’ approaches to using online learning technologies highlight the importance of the instructor role in facilitating students’ adoption of desirable approaches to learning from the application of technologies rather than course knowledge, and also provide a guideline for online instructors to use effective course design, assessment and facilitation strategies.
Quantifying Dysregulation of fMRI-Derived Control Circuits for Computational Psychiatry
Authors: Sultan Syed , Skiena Steve , Mujica-Parodi Lilianne
Published: March 2022

Psychiatric disorders are thought to result from dysregulated brain circuits, yet human neuroimaging currently lacks standardized methods for quantifying neural dysregulation. Here, we present a scalable framework for extracting fMRI-derived (generative) control circuits, then use circuit trajectories to estimate their control error. Using synthetic circuits, we first demonstrate that our framework accurately identifies each circuit's architecture and models its dynamics by estimation of transfer functions. As a use case, we then apply the framework to human task-based functional MRI data (UK Biobank, N=19,831). In a purely data-driven manner, without priors, our framework identified thalamus-linked prefrontal-limbic and ventral stream subcircuits, selectively engaged during sensorimotor processing of affective and non-affective stimuli. Finally, we demonstrate that circuit-wide dysregulation, defined by degree of drift from healthy trajectories, tracks symptom severity for neuroticism (ventral subcircuit), depression (prefrontal-limbic subcircuit), and bipolar disorder (full circuit).
Low Result Reporting Rates Of The Clinical Trial Of Regenerative Medicine For Neurological Diseases Registered On Clinicaltrials.Gov: A Pilot Study Using Four Neurological Diseases
Authors: Negoro Takaharu , Okura Hanayuki , Hayashi Shigekazu , Arai Tsutomu , Matsuyama Akifumi
Published: March 2022

Sharing the methods and results of clinical trials with full transparency is an ethical obligation of those involved in clinical research. In our previous trend analysis of regenerative medicine clinical trials for stroke, the result reporting rate of trials on gene and/or cell therapy was suspected to be low. Here a pilot study was conducted, the scope of trials based on four neurological diseases using data registered in ClinicalTrials.gov was expanded, and factors affecting the result reporting rate by multivariate analysis were examined using trials on small-molecule compounds and biologics as controls. As a result, stroke as a disease and gene and/or cell therapy as a modality were identified as factors affecting the low reporting rate to ClinicalTrials.gov. However, none of these factors had an inhibitory effect on the journal reporting rate using PubMed as the index. Therefore, these results indicate that disease and modality affected the reporting rate to ClinicalTrials.gov. We believe that further detailed investigation on the effects of disease area and modality on study result reporting rates is warranted.
Preoperative risk factors for delirium after major amputation: establishment of a nomogram
Authors: Chen Yanzhen , Ma Jinxing , Zeng Junfeng , Pan Zhimin , Nie Tao
Published: March 2022

Background
To investigate the incidence and risk factors of postoperative delirium in patients with major limb amputation and to establish a nomogram prediction model.
Methods
This is a retrospective case-control study. Patients who underwent major limb amputation (limb amputation above ankle or wrist) in a medical center from January 2017 to December 2019 were selected as subjects. The patients were assessed for delirium using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). Patient demographic and clinically relevant data were collected, and independent risk factors were screened using univariate analysis and logistic multivariate regression analysis. Nomograms were constructed using independent risk factors. The validation of the nomogram was assessed by the concordance index (C-index), the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and calibration curves.
Results
A total of 120 patients with major amputation were included, and 46 patients developed postoperative delirium, with an incidence of 38.3%. Results of multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that age, Barthel classification, admission to ICU (intensive care unit) after surgery, and postoperative albumin level were independent risk factors for the occurrence of postoperative delirium. The area under the receiver operator characteristics curve for the constructed model was 0.918(95%CI,0.869–0.967), and the regression model results were reliable.
Conclusion
The incidence of postoperative delirium is high in patients with major amputation, and the incidence of delirium is high in amputation patients with higher age, low Barthel index, postoperative admission to ICU, and low postoperative albumin. The nomogram model constructed based on these risk factors can better predict the occurrence of postoperative delirium after amputation and provide reference for early intervention treatment.
Massively Targeted Evaluation of Therapeutic CRISPR Off-Targets in Cells
Authors: Pan Xiaoguang , Qu Kunli , Yuan Hao , Xiang Xi , Anthon Christian , Pashkova Liubov , Liang Xue , Han Peng , Corsi Giulia , Xu Fengping , Liu Ping , Zhong Jiayan , Zhou Yan , Ma Tao , Jiang Hui , Liu Junnian , Wang Jian , Jessen Niels , Bolund Lars , Yang Huanming , Xu Xun , Church George , Gorodkin Jan , Lin Lin , Luo Yonglun
Published: March 2022

Sensitive and high-throughput evaluation of CRISPR RNA-guided nucleases (RGNs) off-targets (OTs) in cells are essential for safety assessment and advancing RGN-based gene therapies. Here we apply a modified library approach, SURRO-seq, for simultaneously evaluating thousands of off-target sites for therapeutic RGNs in cells. The SURRO-seq captures RGN-induced indels in barcoded surrogate off-target sites in cells by a pool of lentiviral vectors and targeted deep sequencing. We first evaluate 170 previously investigated OTs from 11 RGNs with SURRO-seq in HEK293T cells. SURRO-seq captures nearly 100% OTs found by T7E1, most (70%) GUIDEseq-identified OTs, and approximately half (51%) OTs found by CIRCLE-seq. We then apply SURRO-seq to evaluate 7140 OTs from 110 therapeutic RGNs. 105 RGNs are found to introduce significantly detectable indels in 753 OTs, of which 180 OTs have an indel frequency above 3%. Notably, significantly detectable off-target indels are identified in 37 cancer genes including tumor suppressor gene exons. We deep sequence 23 endogenous genome loci in five human cell lines and further validate that SURRO-seq can sensitively capture off-targets with indel frequency below 0.1%. High fidelity RGNs have substantially reduced indel rates introduced at OTs but significantly detectable indels are still found in some OTs. Analyses of OTs with significantly detectable indels indicates that thermodynamically stable wobble base pair (rG•dT) and free binding energy strongly affect RGN specificity. Our study emphasizes the necessity of carefully selecting high fidelity RGNs and evaluating therapeutic RGN to minimize inevitable off-targets.
Hsa_circ_0008500 acts as a hsa-miR-1273h-5p sponge to protect ADSCs from apoptosis in repairing diabetic wounds by upregulation of ELK1
Authors: meng fandong , shen fengjie , chu xuan , ling hongwei , qiao yun , liu deshan
Published: March 2022

Preliminary researches have confirmed that the number of apoptosis of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in patients with diabetes is significantly increased, leading to difficulty healing a wound. More and more researches revealed that the circular RNAs (circRNAs) take part in controlling apoptosis. Whereas, if and how circRNAs are critical for regulating ADSCs apoptosis remain unknown. In this study, we utilized in vitro model in which ADSCs were cultivated with normal glucose (NG) (5.5 mM) or high glucose (HG) (25 mM) medium, respectively, and found that contrast to ADSCs in NG medium, more apoptotic ADSCs were observed in HG medium. In further study, we found that hsa_circ_0008500 attenuated HG-mediated ADSCs apoptosis. In addition, Hsa_circ_0008500 could directly interacted with hsa-miR-1273h-5p, acting as a miRNA sponge, which subsequently suppressed ELK1 expression, the downstream target of hsa-miR-1273h-5p. Thus, these results indicated that targeting the hsa_circ_0008500/ hsa-miR-1273h-5p/ELK1 signaling caspase in ADSCs may be an underlying treatment target for repairing diabetic wounds.
Unusual Oral Teratoma in a Calf: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Maghraby HM El , Gaballa MM , Khalill AH
Published: March 2022

Congenital teratoma is a rare malformation. This report presents a mature teratoma that arose from the hard palate in a Holstein Friesian calf. The case presented with elongated oral mass protruding from the mouth. Physical, Radiological and Ultrasonographic examinations revealed a palatal mass which was excised successfully with surgery. The structure was diagnosed histologically as a mature teratoma. This paper describes the first report of highly differentiated palatal teratoma in a Holstein Friesian calf.
Rapid And Sensitive Magnetic Field Sensor Based On Photonic Crystal Fiber With Magnetic Fluid Infiltrated Nanoholes
Authors: Azad saeed , Mishra Satyendra Kumar , Rezaei Ghasem , Izquierdo Ricardo , Ung Bora
Published: March 2022

A fast response time (0.1s) magnetic field sensor has been demonstrated utilizing a photonic crystal fiber with nano-size air holes infiltrated with polyethylene glycol based magnetic fluid. The effect of magnetic nanoparticles concentration in the fluid on the magneto-optical sensor performance and its dependence under varying magnetic-field loads was investigated in detail. In particular, the sensor response was analytically modelled with a Langevin function with a good fit(R≥0.996). A threshold sensing point as low as 20 Gauss was recorded and a detection range of 0-35 mT was demonstrated by means of optical transmission measurements. The experimental results were validated by theory using a waveguide light transmission model fed by finite-element method simulations of the principal guided modes in the infiltrated fiber sensor. The simple interrogation scheme, high sensitivity and quick response time makes the proposed hybrid fiber-optic magneto-fluidic probe a promising platform for novel biochemical sensing applications.
Factors affecting Farmers' Adoption of and Willingness to Pay for Biodegradable Mulch Films in China
Authors: Yang Wei , Qi Jianling , Lu Yao , Tantiwat Waranan , Guo Jin , Arif Muhammad
Published: March 2022

Biodegradable mulch films (BDMs) technology is an environmentally-friendly substitute to traditional plastic mulch films in agricultural production. Given the high price and it is new to the market, it is not easy for farmers to accept and adopt it. This paper aims to explore the key factors affecting farmers’ adoption of and willingness to pay for BDMs to understand the complex process of farmers’ decision-making. This paper employs a double hurdle model to explore the multi-stage decision-making process in the adoption of BDMs using the sample of 1247 observations from Yunnan province China, where two mechanisms of decision-making (i.e., direct rejection of technology and lack of resources) were used to capture zero willingness to pay (WTP) for BDMs. The results indicate the two-stage decision-making process, where the role of technology-specific characteristics is more important than adopter-specific characteristics in the adoption of BDMs in China – training for understanding and using the technology has a positive effect on both the adoption and willingness to pay. The paper is the first attempt that empirically analyses the determinants of farmers’ WTP for BDMs. It contributes to the literature on adoption analysis by 1) considering farmers’ adoption choices as a two-step process by using a hurdle model and 2) addressing the importance of technology-specific characteristics on farmers’ WTP for BDMs. Understanding the role of factors on different stages of farmers’ decision-making could assist policymakers in designing programs, specifically tackling difficulties confronting farmers at different stages of decision-making.
Thalamic and medial prefrontal cortical circuits mediate social defeat stress-induced depression-like behaviors
Authors: Li Fang , Wang Hanjie , Meng Lianghui , Chen Meiying , Zheng Xuefeng , Hui Yuqing , Liu Danlei , Li Yifei , Xie Keman , Zhang Jifeng , Guo Guoqing
Published: March 2022

The mediodorsal thalamus (MD) is interconnected with the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and works together to promote some forms of behavioral flexibility. But the relationship between the MD-mPFC circuit and depression is remain unknown. Here, we show that in male susceptible mice, MDGLU neuronal calcium signaling activity is reduced. Chemogenetic inhibition of MDGLU neuronal in male C57BL/J mice resulted in behavioral abnormalities, whereas in susceptible mice, activation of MDGLU neuronal ameliorated depression-like behavior. Brain slice electrophysiology and fiber optic recordings reveal elevated excitability of mPFCGLU neurons in male susceptible mice. Furthermore, we found that in susceptible mice, mPFCGLU neurons exhibited decreased inhibitory postsynaptic currents and unchanged excitatory postsynaptic currents, and increased E/I ratios, whereas activation of MDGLU neurons restored these electrophysiological properties abnormal. Optogenetic activation of the MD-mPFC circuit ameliorates depression-like behaviors in susceptible mice. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the MD-mPFC circuit controls distinct aspects of depression-like behavior.
Supercapsular Percutaneously-Assisted Approach Versus Conventional Posterolateral Approach For Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Gan Feng-Ping , Yang Ke-Qin , Zhang Qi-Biao , Lin Xin-Xin , Xie Zhao-Lin , Luo Xiang , Zeng YiRong
Published: March 2022

Background: Supercapsular percutaneously-assisted total hip (SuperPATH) arthroplasty has been proposed to be minimally invasive and tissue sparing, with possible superior postoperative outcomes compared with conventional approaches for total hip arthroplasty (THA).The SuperPATH approach accesses the hip jiont maintaining integrity of the external rotators and capsule.The purpose of this study was to compare the SuperPATH approach with the conventional posterolateral approach in terms of early outcomes and radiological results.Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients who underwent unilateral primary THA between March 2018 and December 2019.The demographic data,perioperative status [operative time, incision length, total blood loss, serum marker, and length of hospital stay (LHS)], pain visual analog scale (VAS), and Harris Score (HS) were evaluated and compared between the groups.Results: Compared with the PLA group, the SuperPATH group had a shorter incision length, lower pain VAS sores within 1 months and better HS within 3 months after operation,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).However, the SuperPATH group had a longer operative time ,more total blood loss,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The mean complication rate , blood transfusion rate and LHS were similar between two groups(P>0.05).The VAS and HS were similar between the two groups at 1 year after surgery(P>0.05). Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and creatine kinase(CK) (within 2 weeks postoperatively) were similar between the groups(P>0.05). The SuperPATH group had a larger acetabular inclination and anteversion(P<0.05),but it was all within Lewinnek’s safe zone.Leg length discrepancy >1 cm were more common in the SuperPATH group,but the difference was not significant(P>0.05).Conclusion: This study reveals that the SuperPATH technique was associated with lower pain levels, and higher physical function than conventional posterolateral approach .However, it had a longer operative time and more blood loss.
Complete genome sequencing and comparison of two nitrogen- metabolizing bacteria isolated from Antarctic deep-sea sediment
Authors: Liu Wenqi , Cong Bailin , Zhao Linlin , Liu Shenghao
Published: March 2022

Background: As global warming brings challenges, carbon neutralization, controlling CO2 emissions and the carbon peak are receiving increasing attention. The pelagic realm of the dark ocean represents a key site for the remineralization of organic matter, long-term carbon storage and carbon burial in the biosphere. In this paper, we explored the mechanisms of inorganic carbon fixation by deep-sea microorganisms at the genetic level.Results: In this paper, the basic genomic information of two strains was obtained by whole genome sequencing. The Cobetia amphilecti N-80 genome size is 4,160,095 bp, with a GC content of 62.5%. The Halomonas profundus 13 genome size is 5,251,450 bp, with a GC content of 54.84%. Through a comparison of the genomes and functional analyses, we predicted the C and N metabolic pathways of the two strains and determined that Halomonas profundus 13 can use more carbon sources than Cobetia amphilecti N-80. The main genes associated with N metabolism in Halomonas profundus 13 are narG, narY, narI, nirS, norB, norC, nosZ, and nirD. However, nirD, using NH4+ for energy, plays a main role in Cobetia amphilecti N-80. Cobetia amphilecti N-80 and Halomonas profundus 13 have the same genes for fixing inorganic carbon: icd, ppc, fdhA, accC, accB, accD, and accA.Conclusion: In this study, the whole genomes of two strains were sequenced to clarify the basic characteristics of their genomes, laying the foundation for further studying nitrogen-metabolizing bacteria. Halomonas profundus 13 can utilize more carbon sources than Cobetia amphilecti N-80, as indicated by API as well as COG and KEGG prediction results. Finally, through the analysis of the nitrification and denitrification abilities as well as the inorganic carbon fixation ability of the two strains, the related genes were identified, and the possible metabolic pathways were predicted. Together, these results provide molecular markers and theoretical support for the mechanisms of inorganic carbon fixation by deep-sea microorganisms.
Association between playing cards/mahjong and risk of incident dementia among the Chinese older adults: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Tian Gang , Li Rui , Zhou Tong , Shi Yan , Cheng Gang , Yan Yan
Published: March 2022

Studies have shown that late-life frequent participation in cognitively stimulating activities are associated with decreased risk of developing dementia, but prospective evidences regarding an association are limited. We used the prospective cohort study of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), and included 11821 community-living Chinese individuals age 65 years or older at 2008 baseline who were free of dementia, and were followed up every 2–3 years until 2018. A total of 821 participants developed incident dementia during the 10-year follow-up. The mean age of the participants was 89 and 90 years old in dementia and non-dementia older adults, respectively. Compared to participants with rarely or never playing cards/mahjong, those who almost every day playing cards/mahjong had a significant lower risk of dementia (HR = 0.63; 95%CI, 0.42–0.95) after multivariable-adjusted model. Similar results were observed in subgroup analyses based on sex (male:HR = 0.52, 0.28–0.96; female:HR = 0.62, 0.36–0.98), age(< 85years:HR = 0.55, 0.32–0.89), regularly exercise (yes: HR = 0.44, 0.28–0.87) and MMSE score [above median (25): HR = 0.66, 0.41–0.92]. Active participation in playing cards/mahjong may contribute to a reduction of risk of dementia in Chinese older persons over 65 years old.
Sensitivity of simulated mesoscale convective systems over East Asia to the treatment of convection in a high-resolution GCM
Authors: Li Puxi , Muetzelfeldt Mark , Schiemann Reinhard , Chen Haoming , Li Jian , Furtado Kalli , Zhuang Moran
Published: March 2022

Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) downstream of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) exhibit unique precipitation features. These MCSs can have damaging impacts and there is a critical need for improving the representation of MCSs in numerical models. However, most global climate models are typically run at resolutions that are too coarse to reasonably resolve MCSs, and it is still unclear how well higher-resolution global models can reproduce the precipitation characteristics of MCSs. In this study, the sensitivity of MCSs simulated by a global high resolution (~ 10km), atmosphere-only climate model to different treatments of convection (with and without parametrized convection, and a hybrid representation of convection) have been investigated. The results show that explicit convection (i.e., non-parameterized) can better reproduce the observed pattern of MCS precipitation over the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) region. In general, explicit convection better simulates the diurnal variability of MCSs over the eastern China, and is able to represent the distinctive diurnal variations of MCS precipitation over complex terrain particularly well, such as the eastern TP and the complex terrain of central-northern China. It is shown that explicit convection is better at simulating the timing of initiation and subsequent propagating features of the MCS, resulting in better diurnal variations and further a better spatial pattern of summer mean MCS precipitation. All three experiments simulate MCS rainfall areas which are notably smaller than those in observations, but with much stronger rainfall intensities, implying that these biases in simulated MCS morphological characteristics are not sensitive to the different treatment of convection.
Secular trends in Gastrointestinal cancers mortality across China, Japan, the U.S., and India: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis and Join- point
Authors: Cui Yiran , Cheng Gang , Tian Gang , He Simin , Yan Yan
Published: March 2022

Objective: Colon cancer, esophageal cancer, and stomach cancer are the common cause of morbidity and mortality in China, Japan, the U.S. and India. The current study was aimed to assess and compare secular trends of Gastrointestinal cancers mortality during the period (1990-2017) in age-specific, time period and birth cohort effects.Method: We used Joinpoint model to collect age-standardized mortality rates for four countries. And we designed an age-period-cohort (APC) analysis to estimate the independent effects on mortality of three cancers. Result: Joinpoint model shows that in addition to esophageal cancer death rate in Japan, the age-standardized death rate (ASDR) of esophageal cancer and stomach cancer in other countries declined rapidly. APC analysis presented a similar pattern of age effect between four countries for colon cancer and stomach cancer, which increased from 20-89 age groups. Differently, the period effect rapidly increased for esophageal cancer and stomach cancer in U.S., the period effect of China presented a declining volatility, showing its highest value in 2007. The future forecast highest mortality trends were found in China. Conclusion: Therefore, the obvious increase in colon cancer recommended that earlier tactics must be performed to reduce the mortality from specific cause from 2018 to 2027.
Clinical features of Kawasaki disease with atlantoaxial rotatory fixation
Authors: Michihata Nobuaki , Suzuki Takanori , Honda Akira , Oka Itsuhiro , Yoshikawa Tetsushi , Saito Kazuyoshi , Matsui Hiroki , Fushimi Kiyohide , Yasunaga Hideo
Published: March 2022

Purpose
Atlantoaxial rotatory fixation (AARF) is a rare complication of acute Kawasaki disease (KD). Early diagnosis and intervention are important for AARF because delayed diagnoses may incur neurological sequelae. However, previous studies on AARF associated with KD are limited, and its clinical characteristics and course are unknown. This study aimed to examine the clinical features and treatment course of KD with AARF using a Japanese national inpatient database.
Methods
Using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, we identified KD patients who received Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment between July 2010 and March 2020. The clinical characteristics of KD patients with AARF and their risk factors were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression analysis. We also examined the relationship between AARF, the proportion of coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs), IVIG resistance, length of stay, and medical costs.
Results
We identified 71,913 patients with KD, 166 of whom had AARF. The AARF group had older age, heavier bodyweight, and atypical KD. In multivariable analysis, AARF was associated with older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.19–1.29), lower body mass index (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82–0.96), and atypical KD (OR, 1.95; 95%CI, 1.12–3.40). AARF was not associated with CAAs (OR, 0.73; 95%CI, 0.23–2.32) and IVIG resistance (OR, 1.05; 95%CI, 0.74–1.49). However, AARF was associated with higher medical costs (difference, US$1064; 95%CI, 346–1781) and longer hospital stay (difference, 3.1 days; 95%CI 1.7–4.4).
Conclusion
AARF in patients with acute KD should be considered if cervical symptoms present in older patients with atypical KD.
Synthesis and characterization of α-Fe2O3 hollow-spheres through a new hard-template strategy
Authors: Oliveira D. M. , Milani R. , Padron-Hernandez E.
Published: March 2022

A new route to manufacture α-Fe2O3 hollow spheres with 142 nm in diameter was presented. The proposal is based on the methodology described by Yoshikawa in combination with the paper published by Kobayashi and using polystyrene spheres (PS with 200 nm in diameter) as a hard template. The transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and UV-Vis analyses, indicated the intermediate stage with product formed by a spherical 12 nm shell (α-FeOOH) supported on the PS surface (YK200a sample). At the final stage, the α-Fe2O3 hollow spheres without PS template showed some traces of alpha iron hydroxide (YK200b sample). The detection of crystalline phase was possible by using X-ray diffraction combined and Raman spectroscopy.
Is Letrozole During Ovarian Stimulation Useful In Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Fertility Preservation To Reduce Early Luteal Progesterone Levels Following Gnrh-Agonist Trigger?
Authors: Lalami Imane , Labrosse Julie , Cedrin-Durnerin Isabelle , Comtet Marjorie , Vinolas Claire , Krief Fabien , Sifer Christophe , Peigne Maeliss , Grynberg Michael
Published: March 2022

Background: In absence of contraindication, breast cancer patients of reproductive age can undergo fertility preservation with controlled ovarian stimulation for oocyte/embryo cryopreservation before the administration of potentially gonadotoxic treatments. High hormonal levels induced by ovarian stimulation might have an adverse impact on hormone-positive breast cancer. Whether letrozole supplementation during ovarian stimulation (COSTLES) reduces serum progesterone levels after GnRHa trigger remains unknown. We aimed to determine whether COSTLES might be useful for breast cancer patients undergoing fertility preservation to reduce early luteal progesterone levels following GnRH-agonist (GnRHa)trigger.Methods: All women who underwent COS with GnRH antagonist protocol with GnRHa trigger were included. Serum progesterone level measured 12 hours after GnRHa trigger was compared between patients undergoing COS with letrozole supplementation (COSTLES group) and patients undergoing COS without letrozole (Control group) for fertility preservation purposes. Results: A total of 246 patients were included, of which 84 patients (34.1%) in the COSTLES group and 162 patients (65.6%) in the Control group. All patients in the COSTLES group were BC patients (n=84, 100%), while the Control group included 77 BC patients (47.5%). Patients in the two groups were comparable. The mean number of oocytes recovered and vitrified at metaphase 2 stage did not significantly differ between the two groups. Serum progesterone levels on the day after GnRHa trigger were significantly lower in the COSTLES group (8.6 ± 0.7 vs. 10.5 ± 0.5 ng/mL, respectively, p< 0.03), as well as serum E2 levels (650.3 ± 57.7 vs. 2451.4.0 ± 144.0 pg/mL, respectively, p< 0.01). However, the GnRHa-induced LH surge was significantly higher in in the COSTLES group (71.9 ± 4.6 vs. 51.2 ± 2.6 UI/L, respectively, p< 0.01). Conclusions: Our results show that COSTLES for fertility preservation in breast cancer patients using GnRHa trigger reduces serum progesterone levels compared to ovarian stimulation without letrozole. These findings encourage the use of COSTLES in this context to decrease the potential deleterious effect of elevated hormonal levels on hormone-positive breast cancer.