bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential therapeutic applications of infusions and hydroalcoholic extracts of Romanian glutinous sage (Salvia glutinosa L.)
Authors: Nicolescu Alexandru , Babotă Mihai , Ilea Maria , Dias Maria Inês , Calhelha Ricardo C. , Gavrilaș Laura , Rocchetti Gabriele , Crișan Gianina , Mocan Andrei , Barros Lillian , Pârvu Alina Elena
Published: August 2022

Ethnopharmacological relevance:Salvia glutinosa, also known as the glutinous sage, has been used in Romanian folk medicine in the treatment of inflammation, injuries, and mild infections. However, there is no direct scientific evidence to demonstrate these activities.

Aim of the Study: The present research was based on evaluating antioxidant, antiproliferative, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of S. glutinosa extracts, as well as the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity.

Materials and Methods: Infusions and 70% (v:v) ethanol solution extracts of S. glutinosa stems and leaves, collected from two different locations in Romania, were prepared. Ten phenolic compounds were identified and quantified using the LC-DAD-ESI/MSn method, and total phenolic and flavonoid content, as well as in vitro antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays), antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities were determined. A rat model of induced inflammation with turpentine oil was used for the examination of in vivo effects of the extracts, using diclofenac as an anti-inflammatory control.

Results: The highest inhibitory α-glucosidase activity was determined to be IC50 = 0.546 mg/ml for the hydroalcoholic extract made with plant material collected on the road to Sighișoara. The highest cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cell line was determined to be GI50 = 131.68 ± 5.03 μg/ml, for the hydroalcoholic extract made with plant material from Sighișoara. In vivo administration of extract (200 mg lyophilized powder/ml) showed a significant reduction of NO production.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that S. glutinosa extracts exhibit antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, as well as a modest cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cell line. By in vivo administration, the extracts show anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, which correlates with the traditional use of the species. The environmental conditions seemed to induce important changes in the chemical composition and the bioactivity of the herbal preparations derived from S. glutinosa.
The expression and significance of efferocytosis and immune checkpoint related molecules in pancancer samples and the correlation of their expression with anticancer drug sensitivity
Authors: Cheng Lin , Weng Bangbi , Jia Changsheng , Zhang Lin , Hu Bin , Deng Li , Mou Nan , Sun Fengjun , Hu Jing
Published: August 2022

Background: The efferocytosis-related molecules have been considered to be correlated with the resistance to cancer chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and significance of efferocytosis-related molecules in cancers and the correlation of their expression with anticancer drug sensitivity, and provide new potential targets and treatment options for cancers.

Methods: We investigated the differential expression of 15 efferocytosis-related molecules (Axl, Tyro3, MerTK, CX3CL1, Tim-4, BAI1, Stab2, Gas6, IDO1, Rac1, MFGE8, ICAM-1, CD47, CD31, and PD-L1) and other 12 common immune checkpoint-related molecules in tumor and normal tissues, the correlation between their expression and various clinicopathological features in 16 types of cancers using publicly available pancancer datasets in The Cancer Genome Atlas. We also analyzed the correlation of the expression of efferocytosis and immune checkpoint related molecules with 126 types of anticancer drugs sensitivity using drug-RNA-seq data.

Results: There is a panel of circulating molecules among the 27 molecules. Based on the results of differential expression and correlation with various clinicopathological features of efferocytosis-related molecules in cancers, we identified new potential therapeutic targets for anticancer therapy, such as Axl for kidney renal clear cell carcinoma, Tyro3 for liver hepatocellular carcinoma, and IDO1 for renal papillary cell carcinoma. Except for BAI1, CD31, and MerTK, the enhanced expressions of Axl, Tyro3, Gas6, MFGE8, Stab2, Tim-4, CX3CL1, IDO1, Rac1, and PD-L1 were associated with decreased sensitivity of the cancer cells to many anti-cancer drugs; however, for other common immune checkpoint-related molecules, only enhanced expressions of PD-1, CD28, CTLA4, and HVEM were associated with decreased sensitivity of the cancer cells to a few drugs.

Conclusion: The efferocytosis-related molecules were significantly associated with clinical outcomes in many types of cancers and played important roles in resistance to chemotherapy. Combination therapy targeting efferocytosis-related molecules and other immune checkpoint-related molecules is necessary to reduce resistance to chemotherapy.
Formation interval determination method of MPD based on risk aversion and casing level optimization
Authors: Xu Yuqiang , Han Chao , Sun Jiarui , He Baolun , Guan Zhichuan , Zhao Yishu
Published: August 2022

MPD is one of the effective means to solve the drilling problems in deep-water and deep-stratum complex formations such as narrow pressure window. To reduce the cost, it is mostly implemented only in complex and narrow pressure window strata. However, at present, there is no scientific method to determine the MPD matching stratum interval under the “conventional + MPD” composite drilling mode. Aiming at this problem, by introducing the methods of risk quantitative evaluation and taking the principle of “avoiding risk and reducing MPD cost”, combined with the accurate ECD calculation method considering multiphase flow, this paper puts forward the accurate determination method of matching the stratum interval of MPD, which can reduce the section of MPD construction as much as possible and optimize the casing level on the premise of ensuring safety. Based on the artificial bee colony algorithm, the intelligent determination method of casing level and setting depth under the condition of pressure control is established, which can quickly and accurately obtain the maximum casing setting depth and its corresponding optimal pressure control parameters in the open-hole section. The case analysis shows that, compared with the conventional drilling mode, the “upper conventional + lower MPD” drilling method can save one layer of casing while ensuring safety. The proposed method can provide theoretical and scientific basis for the accurate calculation of MPD matching stratum interval under the “conventional + MPD” compound drilling mode and the scientific and efficient design of casing levels and setting depth under the condition of pressure control.
Time Course of Recovery Following CrossFit® Karen Benchmark Workout in Trained Men
Authors: Sousa Neto Ivo Vieira de , Sousa Nuno Manuel Frade de , Neto Frederico Ribeiro , Falk Neto Joao Henrique , Tibana Ramires Alsamir
Published: August 2022

The establishment of fatigue following the acute exercise stimulus is a complex and multi-factorial process, that might arise due to a range of distinct physiological mechanisms. However, a practical method of assessing CrossFit® athletes’ recovery status has been neglected entirely in real-world sporting practice. The study describes the acute and delayed time course of recovery following the CrossFit® Benchmark Workout Karen. Eight trained men (28.4 ± 6.4 years; 1RM back squat 139.1 ± 26.0 kg) undertook the Karen protocol. The protocol consists of 150 Wall Balls (9 kg), aiming to hit a target 3 m high. Countermovement jump height (CMJ), creatine kinase (CK), and perceived recovery status scale (PRS) (general, lower and upper limbs) were assessed pre, post-0h, 24, 48 and 72 h after the session. The creatine kinase concentration 24 h after was higher than pre-exercise (338.4 U/L vs. 143.3 U/L; p = 0.040). At 48h and 72 h following exercise, CK concentration had returned to baseline levels (p > 0.05). The general, lower and upper limbs PRS scores were lower in the 24-h post-exercise compared to pre-exercise (general PRS: 4.7 ± 1.5 and 7.7 ± 1.7; p = 0.013; upper limbs PRS: 6.6 ± 1.3 and 7.5 ± 1.3; p = 0.037; lower limbs PRS: 3.9 ± 2.5 and 7.3 ± 0.1; p = 0.046). Our findings provide insights into the fatigue profile and recovery in acute CrossFit® and can be useful to coaches and practitioners when planning training programs. Moreover, recovery status can be useful to optimize training monitoring and to minimize the potential detrimental effects associated with the performance of repeated high-intensity sessions of CrossFit®.
Effects of high-intensity interval training with hyperbaric oxygen
Authors: Alvarez Villela Miguel , Dunworth Sophia A. , Kraft Bryan D. , Harlan Nicole P. , Natoli Michael J. , Suliman Hagir B. , Moon Richard E.
Published: August 2022

Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO2) has been proposed as a pre-conditioning method to enhance exercise performance. Most prior studies testing this effect have been limited by inadequate methodologies. Its potential efficacy and mechanism of action remain unknown. We hypothesized that HBO2 could enhance aerobic capacity by inducing mitochondrial biogenesis via redox signaling in skeletal muscle. HBO2 was administered in combination with high-intensity interval training (HIIT), a potent redox stimulus known to induce mitochondrial biogenesis. Aerobic capacity was tested during acute hypobaric hypoxia seeking to shift the limiting site of whole body V̇O2 from convection to diffusion, more closely isolating any effect of improved oxidative capacity. Healthy volunteers were screened with sea-level (SL) V̇O2peak testing. Seventeen subjects were enrolled (10 men, 7 women, ages 26.5±1.3 years, BMI 24.6±0.6 kg m−2, V̇O2peak SL = 43.4±2.1). Each completed 6 HIIT sessions over 2 weeks randomized to breathing normobaric air, “HIIT+Air” (PiO2 = 0.21 ATM) or HBO2 (PiO2 = 1.4 ATM) during training, “HIIT+HBO2” group. Training workloads were individualized based on V̇O2peak SL test. Vastus Lateralis (VL) muscle biopsies were performed before and after HIIT in both groups. Baseline and post-training V̇O2peak tests were conducted in a hypobaric chamber at PiO2 = 0.12 ATM. HIIT significantly increased V̇O2peak in both groups: HIIT+HBO2 31.4±1.5 to 35.2±1.2 ml kg−1·min−1 and HIIT+Air 29.0±3.1 to 33.2±2.5 ml kg−1·min−1 (p = 0.005) without an additional effect of HBO2 (p = 0.9 for interaction of HIIT x HBO2). Subjects randomized to HIIT+HBO2 displayed higher skeletal muscle mRNA levels of PPARGC1A, a regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, and HK2 and SLC2A4, regulators of glucose utilization and storage. All other tested markers of mitochondrial biogenesis showed no additional effect of HBO2 to HIIT. When combined with HIIT, short-term modest HBO2 (1.4 ATA) has does not increase whole-body V̇O2peak during acute hypobaric hypoxia. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02356900; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02356900).
Kidney disease and congenital heart disease: Partnership for life
Authors: El Sayegh Skye , Ephrem Georges , Wish Jay B. , Moe Sharon , Lim Kenneth
Published: August 2022

The literature on the relationship between kidney and cardiovascular diseases is continuously expanding. Scientists have elucidated many of the neurohormonal and hemodynamic pathways involved in cardiorenal disease. However, little is known about kidney disease in patients with congenital heart disease. Given advances in the medical and surgical care of this highly complex patient population, survival rates have dramatically improved leading to a higher percentage of adults living with congenital heart disease. Accordingly, a noticeable increase in the prevalence of kidney disease is appreciated in these patients. Some of the main risk factors for developing chronic kidney disease in the adult congenital heart disease population include chronic hypoxia, neurohormonal derangements, intraglomerular hemodynamic changes, prior cardiac surgeries from minimally invasive to open heart surgeries with ischemia, and nephrotoxins. Unfortunately, data regarding the prevalence, pathophysiology, and prognosis of chronic kidney disease in the adult congenital heart disease population remain scarce. This has led to a lack of clear recommendations for evaluating and managing kidney disease in these patients. In this review, we discuss contemporary data on kidney disease in adults with congenital heart disease in addition to some of the gaps in knowledge we face. The article highlights the delicate interaction between disease of the heart and kidneys in these patients, and offers the practitioner tools to more effectively manage this vulnerable population.
Genome-wide association analysis of stress tolerance indices in an interspecific population of chickpea
Authors: Kalve Shweta , Gali Krishna Kishore , Tar’an Bunyamin
Published: August 2022

Chickpea is a cool season crop that is highly vulnerable to abiotic stresses such as heat and drought. High temperature during early flowering and pod development stages significantly reduces the crop yield. The wild relatives of chickpeas can be potential donors for the introgression of heat and drought tolerance into cultivated chickpeas for crop improvement. Initially, 600 interspecific lines were derived from crosses between two elite cultivars, CDC Leader (kabuli chickpea) and CDC Consul (desi chickpea), and 20 accessions of Cicer reticulatum. The F5 interspecific lines were tested for agronomic and seed quality traits including reaction to ascochyta blight disease under field conditions at two locations in 2018. A subset of 195 lines were selected based on resistance to ascochyta blight and acceptable seed quality. These lines were evaluated for their performance under suboptimal conditions at Lucky Lake (2019 and 2020) and Moose Jaw (2019), Saskatchewan, Canada, and Yuma, Arizona, United States (2019–2020). The lines were grown and evaluated at two seeding dates, normal (SD1) and late (SD2) seeding dates, at each location and year. The same lines were genotyped using Cicer60K Axiom® SNP chip. The population structure was determined based on 35,431 informative SNPs using fastStructure, and the interspecific lines were clustered at a k-value of 15. Significant marker-trait associations were identified for seed yield from SD1 and SD2 seeding dates, and stress tolerance indices (ATI, K1STI, MP, SSPI, and TOL) using phenotypic values both from individual locations and combined analyses based on BLUP values. SNP marker Ca2_34600347 was significantly associated with yield from both the seeding dates. This and other SNP markers identified in this study may be useful for marker-assisted introgression of abiotic stress tolerance in chickpea.
Analysis of Elymus nutans seed coat development elucidates the genetic basis of metabolome and transcriptome underlying seed coat permeability characteristics
Authors: Zhou Jing , Li Yan , Wang Xun , Liu Yijia , David-Schwartz Rakefet , Weissberg Mira , Qiu Shuiling , Guo Zhenfei , Yang Fulin
Published: August 2022

The seed coat takes an important function in the life cycle of plants, especially seed growth and development. It promotes the accumulation of nutrients inside the seed and protects the seed embryo from mechanical damage. Seed coat permeability is an important characteristic of seeds, which not only affects seed germination, but also hinders the detection of seed vigor by electrical conductivity (EC) method. This research aimed to elucidate the mechanism of seed coat permeability formation through metabolome and transcriptome analysis of Elymus nutans. We collected the samples at 8, 18, and 28 days post-anthesis (dpa), and conducted a seed inclusion exosmosis experiment and observed the seed coat permeability. Moreover, we analyzed the changes in the metabolome and transcriptome during different development stages. Here, taking 8 dpa as control, 252 upregulated and 157 downregulated differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were observed and 886 upregulated unigenes and 1170 downregulated unigenes were identified at 18 dpa, while 4907 upregulated unigenes and 8561 downregulated unigenes were identified at 28 dpa. Meanwhile, we observed the components of ABC transporters, the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, and phenylalanine metabolism pathways. The key metabolites and genes affecting seed coat permeability were thiamine and salicylic acid. Furthermore, there were 13 and 14 genes with correlation coefficients greater than 0.8 with two key metabolites, respectively, and the —log2Fold Change— of these genes were greater than 1 at different development stages. Meanwhile, pathogenesis-related protein 1 and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase play an important role in regulating the formation of compounds. Our results outline a framework for understanding the development changes during seed growth of E. nutans and provide insights into the traits of seed coat permeability and supply a great significance value to seed production and quality evaluation.
Transcriptomic analysis of CO2-treated strawberries (Fragaria vesca) with enhanced resistance to softening and oxidative stress at consumption
Authors: del Olmo Ivan , Romero Irene , Alvarez Maria Dolores , Tarradas Rosa , Sanchez-Ballesta Maria Teresa , Escribano Maria Isabel , Merodio Carmen
Published: August 2022

One of the greatest threats to wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca Mara des Bois) after harvest is the highly perishability at ambient temperature. Breeders have successfully met the quality demands of consumers, but the prevention of waste after harvest in fleshy fruits is still pending. Most of the waste is due to the accelerated progress of senescence-like process after harvest linked to a rapid loss of water and firmness at ambient temperature. The storage life of strawberries increases at low temperature, but their quality is limited by the loss of cell structure. The application of high CO2 concentrations increased firmness during cold storage. However, the key genes related to resistance to softening and cell wall disassembly following transference from cold storage at 20°C remain unclear. Therefore, we performed RNA-seq analysis, constructing a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify which molecular determinants play a role in cell wall integrity, using strawberries with contrasting storage conditions, CO2-cold stored (CCS), air-cold stored (ACS), non-cold stored (NCS) kept at ambient temperature, and intact fruit at harvest (AH). The hub genes associated with the cell wall structural architecture of firmer CO2-treated strawberries revealed xyloglucans stabilization attributed mainly to a down-regulation of Csl E1, XTH 15, Exp-like B1 and the maintenance of expression levels of nucleotide sugars transferases such as GMP and FUT as well as improved lamella integrity linked to a down-regulation of RG-lyase, PL-like and PME. The preservation of cell wall elasticity together with the up-regulation of LEA, EXPA4, and MATE, required to maintain cell turgor, is the mechanisms controlled by high CO2. In stressed air-cold stored strawberries, in addition to an acute softening, there is a preferential transcript accumulation of genes involved in lignin and raffinose pathways. Non-cold stored strawberries kept at 20°C after harvest are characterized by an enrichment in genes mainly involved in oxidative stress and up-expression of genes involved in jasmonate biosynthesis. The present results on transcriptomic analysis of CO2-treated strawberries with enhanced resistance to softening and oxidative stress at consumption will help to improve breeding strategies of both wild and cultivated strawberries.
Reversals of fortune: Shared governance, “democracy,” and reiterated problem-solving
Authors: Thurston T. L.
Published: August 2022

What can the deep past tell us about how “good government” is instituted, replicated, and maintained through time? After a comparative look at late prehistoric political formation in Europe, a case study from Sweden is examined. During the Iron Age, systems of participatory governance developed across Europe, perhaps in response to the autocracies of the previous Bronze Age. Heterarchical structures with systems of checks and balances provided voice for ordinary people, as well as leaders, but there were clear “reversals of fortune,” as autocracy and more egalitarian structures were interspersed through time. The so-called “Long Iron Age” is consequently seen as an extended period of tension between different forms of government, different political ideologies, and the dynamic negotiation of socio-political norms, with repercussions that extend into recent times.
Madness of the crowd: Understanding mass behaviors through a multidisciplinary lens
Authors: Brindal Emily , Kakoschke Naomi , Reeson Andrew , Evans David
Published: August 2022

Mass or crowd behaviors refer to those that occur at a group level and suggest that crowds behave differently to individuals. Mass behaviors are typically triggered by a significant societal event. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has provided many tangible examples of crowd behaviors that have been observed globally, suggesting possible common underlying drivers. It is important to provide a deeper understanding of such behaviors to develop mitigation strategies for future population-level challenges. To gain deeper insight into a variety of crowd behaviors, we perform a conceptual analysis of crowd behaviors using three detailed case studies covering observable behavior (panic buying and health protective actions) and mass beliefs (conspiracy theories) that have resulted or shifted throughout the pandemic. The aim of this review was to explored key triggers, psychological drivers, and possible mitigation strategies through a mixture of theory and published literature. Finally, we create experimental mathematical models to support each case study and to illustrate the effects of manipulating key behavioral factors. Overall, our analyses identified several commonalties across the case studies and revealed the importance of Social Identity Theory and concepts of trust, social connection, and stress.
Analysis of factors influencing public employees' work cognition under a public health crisis: A survey of China's response to COVID-19
Authors: Yang Anhua , Zhou Xue , Sohail Muhammad Tayyab , Rizwanullah Muhammad , Dai Bo
Published: August 2022

The work cognition of public employees lays importance on tackling an escalating health crisis situation. At the micro-level and macro-level, different factors contribute to different degrees of public employees' work cognition. However, there are limited studies examining the work cognition of public employees and its influencing factors, particularly in situations such as a public health crisis. Our research takes China's response to COVID-19 as an example. The data have been taken from six Chinese provinces, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Shanxi, Henan, and Shandong, through a total of 738 questionnaires and telephonic interviews. Furthermore, this study used a logistic multiple regression model to analyze the factors that influenced the public employees' work cognition when working under a public health crisis. The results of our study showed that at a micro-level, the educational background, attitudes, and actions (initiative, responsibility, administrative capacity, and timeliness of feedback), and their level of concern with work influenced the work cognition of the public employees. At a macro-level, we found that it was the anti-epidemic measures that most influenced public employees' work cognition. Our findings provide important policy implications for emergency preparedness and handling of major emergencies, and have important reference value for the management of public employees and the improvement of national governance capabilities under similar major challenges in the future.
The corporate influence on food charity and aid: The “Hunger Industrial Complex” and the death of welfare
Authors: Caraher Martin , Furey Sinéad
Published: August 2022

There is an existing literature on how food companies, including the unhealthy food commodity industries, influence policy through a number of approaches. Direct approaches include lobbying and funding of research. Backdoor or indirect tactics used by food companies to demonstrate engagement include funding community groups, tactics previously used by the tobacco industry. Food industry support for food charities engaged in food donations is an area that has not received attention. This is another backdoor approach and one which may compromise more general public health policy. It is no surprise that the companies that engage in this can be largely fall under the rubric of unhealthy food commodity industries. This link is sometimes referred to as the “hunger industrial complex” and is based on the argument that an alliance exists between the food industry and the food banking movement. With rising levels of food insecurity there is pressure on the food system to donate food to charitable enterprises such as food banks and soups kitchens, which is often encouraged by government policy such as “Good Samaritan legislation”. Food businesses contribute surplus food and often promote it as part of their corporate social responsibility agenda. The argument presented here is not an anti-food charity one but one which challenges the development of charitable food aid as a system and a replacement for public policy. The reasons for this can be summarized under three headings: (1) such donation systems compromise the wider application of public food welfare and give the impression that food poverty is being addressed; (2) the links with food corporations provide a backdoor for influence on wider food policies; and (3) researchers taking money from food charities may be compromised by the direct and indirect relationships with companies. The focus in this paper is on the latter two issues; the first will be established as a context with work we have published elsewhere. This article draws on examples from the UK of how charities have linked with chocolate and soft drink companies. Examples include: “For every Easter egg bought on the Cadbury Worldwide Hide, Cadbury will donate an Easter egg to a food bank in our network”; a Coca-Cola initiative in December 2021 “Win a meal, give a meal on-pack competition across Coca-Cola Original Taste and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar consumption packs, giving consumers the chance to win food-related vouchers, while donating to FareShare”; and an October 2021 initiative where “McDonald's joins forces with FareShare to fund 1 million meals for UK families”. These relationships go beyond companies donating surplus food to food charities such as food banks and pantries to encouraging consumers to buy their products with the promise that the company will contribute products to such charities or provide cash donations in return for the purchase of their product.
Whistler turbulence vs. whistler anisotropy instability: Particle-in-cell simulation and statistical analysis
Authors: Cui Chen , Gary S. Peter , Wang Joseph
Published: August 2022

Particle-in-Cell simulations and statistical analysis are carried out to study the dynamic evolution of a collisionless, magnetized plasma with co-existing whistler turbulence and electron temperature anisotropy as the initial condition, and the competing consequences of whistler turbulence cascade and whistler anisotropy instability growth. The results show that the operation of the whistler instability within whistler turbulence has almost no effects on the fluctuating magnetic field energy and intermittency generated by turbulence. However, it leads to a small reduction of the magnetic field wavevector anisotropy and a major reduction of the intermittency of electron temperature anisotropy. Hence, while the overall effect from whistler instability is minor as compared to that of whistler turbulence due to its much smaller field energy, the whistler instability may act as a regulation mechanism for kinetic-range turbulence through wave-particle interactions.
A combination of cherry juice and cold water immersion does not enhance marathon recovery compared to either treatment in isolation: A randomized placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Difranco Isabella , Cockburn Emma , Dimitriou Lygeri , Paice Katherine , Sinclair Scott , Faki Tanwir , Hills Frank A. , Gondek Marcela B. , Wood Alyssa , Wilson Laura J.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Cherry juice (CJ) and cold water immersion (CWI) are both effective recovery strategies following strenuous endurance exercise. However, athletes routinely combine recovery interventions and less is known about the impact of a combined CJ and CWI protocol. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of combining CWI and CJ (a “cocktail” (CT)) on inflammation and muscle damage following a marathon.

Methods

A total 39 endurance trained males were randomly assigned to a placebo (PL), CWI, CJ, or CT group before completing a trail marathon run. Muscle damage (creatine kinase (CK)), muscle function (maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC)), and inflammation (interleukin-6 (IL-6); C-reactive protein (CRP)) were measured at baseline, immediately after marathon (only IL-6), 24 h, and 48 h after marathon.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences between groups and no group × time interaction effects for any of the dependent variables. Confidence intervals (CI) illustrated that CT had unclear effects on inflammation (IL-6; CRP) and MVIC, but may have increased CK to a greater extent than PL and CJ conditions.

Conclusion

There is no evidence of an additive effect of CJ and CWI when the treatments are used in conjunction with each other. On the contrary, combining CJ and CWI may result in slightly increased circulating CK.
An improved bone transport surgical method for treating chronic ischemic ulcers (thromboangiitis obliterans)
Authors: Zhao Liang , Lei Yu , Pang Mengru , Wei Zairong
Published: August 2022

Introduction

The chronic ischemic injury of the upper/lower limbs caused by thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO, Buerger's disease) is difficult to heal, leading to high morbidity and amputation risk, seriously lowering the quality of life of patients. So far, the pathogenesis of this disease is still not clear, and there are still no effective therapeutic approaches. Here, we first use an improved bone transport technique to treat TAO-related foot ulcers and achieve good therapeutic effects.

Materials and Methods

In this report, 22 patients met the inclusion criteria, and we provide an improved bone transport technique to repair TAO-related chronic lower limb wounds, which have a minimally surgical incision and a satisfying surgical field.

Results

The improved bone transport technique resulted in TAO-related chronic lower extremity wound healing in most patients (18, M:F 16:2) within the first treatment cycle. All wounds healed completely after two treatment cycles. After these cycles, the cold sensation in the patients’ feet was significantly relieved, and the rest pain in the lower extremities was significantly relieved (Visual Analog Scale, P < 0.0001). Furthermore, the Laser Doppler flowmeter showed that the blood perfusion and percutaneous oxygen pressure of the affected foot were higher than in preoperation (P < 0.0001). To conclude, bone transport technology is available for the refractory wounds of the extremity, which may promote healing by increasing blood circulation and tissue oxygen supply.

Conclusions

In summary, the improved surgical method of the bone transport technique is worth considering in the treatment of thromboangiitis obliterans–related foot ulcers.
Clinical sequencing uncovers the genomic characteristics and mutation spectrum of the 2018 African swine fever virus in Guangdong, China
Authors: Xu Zhi-ying , Gao Han , Kuang Qi-yuan , Xing Jia-bao , Wang Zhi-yuan , Cao Xin-yu , Xu Si-jia , Liu Jing , Huang Zhao , Zheng Ze-zhong , Gong Lang , Wang Heng , Shi Mang , Zhang Gui-hong , Sun Yan-kuo
Published: August 2022

African swine fever (ASF) outbreak have caused tremendous economic loss to the pig industry in China since its emergence in August 2018. Previous studies revealed that many published sequences are not suitable for detailed analyses due to the lack of data regarding quality parameters and methodology, and outdated annotations. Thus, high-quality genomes of highly pathogenic strains that can be used as references for early Chinese ASF outbreaks are still lacking, and little is known about the features of intra-host variants of ASF virus (ASFV). In this study, a full genome sequencing of clinical samples from the first ASF outbreak in Guangdong in 2018 was performed using MGI (MGI Tech Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China) and Nanopore sequencing platforms, followed by Sanger sequencing to verify the variations. With 22 sequencing corrections, we obtained a high-quality genome of one of the earliest virulent isolates, GZ201801_2. After proofreading, we improved (add or modify) the annotations of this isolate using the whole genome alignment with Georgia 2007/1. Based on the complete genome sequence, we constructed the methylation profiles of early ASFV strains in China and predicted the potential 5mC and 6mA methylation sites, which are likely involved in metabolism, transcription, and replication. Additionally, the intra-host single nucleotide variant distribution and mutant allele frequency in the clinical samples of early strain were determined for the first time and found a strong preference for A and T substitution mutation, non-synonymous mutations, and mutations that resulted in amino acid substitutions into Lysine. In conclusion, this study provides a high-quality genome sequence, updated genome annotation, methylation profile, and mutation spectrum of early ASFV strains in China, thereby providing a reference basis for further studies on the evolution, transmission, and virulence of ASFV.
Orbital Stability and Invariant Manifolds on Distant Retrograde Orbits around Ganymede and Nearby Higher-Period Orbits
Authors: Li Qingqing , Tao Yuming , Jiang Fanghua
Published: August 2022

In the past few years, distant retrograde orbits (DROs) have become increasingly popular due to their conspicuous stability. Nevertheless, it is this characteristic that results in the challenge to the design of transfer orbits into/out of DROs. This paper investigates the DROs around Ganymede in order to utilize their dynamical characteristics for Jupiter system exploration. In particular, the DRO family is calculated by numerical integration and numerical continuation, higher-period orbits near the DROs are detected using bifurcation theory, and characteristics including orbital stability and invariant manifolds of these orbits are investigated through stability indices and manifold theory. The stability of DROs and the higher-period orbits are first investigated in the circular restricted three-body problem and are then verified in a third-body gravitation perturbation model. The results show that the strong stability of DROs makes it possible to observe the Galilean moons for long periods and that the higher-period orbits that bifurcate from the DROs offer additional insight into the motion of probes approaching/departing from the vicinities of the DROs. Further investigation of the invariant manifolds around higher-period orbits reveals the feasibility of utilizing the DRO family and the nearby unstable structures for multi-target exploration and low-energy transfer between the Galilean moons.
Evaluation of Pollen Production of Common Male Date Palms Grown in the Mexicali Valley, Mexico
Authors: Salomón-Torres Ricardo , Ortiz-Uribe Noé , Krueger Robert , García-Vázquez Juan Pablo , Cohen Yuval , Wright Glenn C. , Samaniego-Sandoval Laura
Published: August 2022

The aim of this study was the evaluation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) pollen production during the 2021 and 2022 seasons in the Mexicali Valley, Mexico. Twelve seed-propagated male palms of 20 years of age and similar vigor were selected and grouped into four groups with phenotypic characteristics of the common female cultivars in the area (Medjool, Deglet Noor, Khadrawy, and Zahidi). The pollen was extracted manually, with average production among all individuals of 780.94 and 777.11 g, in 26 and 24 inflorescences, respectively, for each year. Likewise, the flowering period on average was 47 and 41 days for each year. The pollen extracted from the earliest four inflorescences averaged 38.7 and 32.55 g, while that of the latest one produced 10.70 g and 18.28 g for each year, respectively. Seedling male palms with a phenotype similar to the Deglet Noor cultivar produced the greatest amount of pollen with 1250.98 and 1114.26 g on average for each year, produced during a late, short flowering period. Likewise, those palms with phenotypes similar to the Medjool cultivar produced the second-highest amount of pollen with 851.28 and 866.43 g on average for each year, produced during an early, long flowering period. Finally, an in vivo viability test through the fruit set percentage, revealed that the use of any of these four pollen sources would be suitable for the pollination of the recipient female cultivar Medjool, the most widely cultivated variety in Mexico. These results will allow date producers to select and propagate better pollen-producing male palms.
Optimizing Deficit Irrigation Management to Improve Water Productivity of Greenhouse Tomato under Plastic Film Mulching Using the RZ-SHAW Model
Authors: Cheng Haomiao , Ji Shu , Ge Hengjun , Abdalhi Mohmed A. M. , Zhu Tengyi , Chen Xiaoping , Ding Wei , Feng Shaoyuan
Published: August 2022

Deficit irrigation (DI) is a widely recognized water-saving irrigation method, but it is difficult to precisely quantify optimum DI levels in tomato production. In this study, the Root Zone Water Quality-Simultaneous Heat and Water (RZ-SHAW) model was used to evaluate the potential effects of different DI levels on tomato growth in a drip-irrigated field. Combinations of five DI scenarios were tested in greenhouse field experiments under plastic film mulching according to the percentage of crop evapotranspiration (ET), i.e., ET50, ET75, ET100, ET125, and ET150. The model was calibrated by using the ET100 scenario, and validated with four other scenarios. The simulation results showed that the predictions of tomato growth parameters and soil water were in good agreement with the observed data. The relative root mean square error (RRMSE), the percent bias (PBIAS), index of agreement (IoA) and coefficient of determination (R2) for leaf area index (LAI), plant height and soil volumetric water content (VWC) along the soil layers were <23.5%, within ±16.7%, >0.72 and >0.56, respectively. The relative errors (REs) of simulated biomass and yield were 3.5–8.7% and 7.0–14.0%, respectively. There was a positive correlation between plant water stress factor (PWSF) and DI levels (p < 0.01). The calibrated model was subsequently run with 45 different DI scenarios from ET0 to ET225 to explore optimal DI management for maximizing water productivity (WP) and yield. It was found that the maximum WP and yield occurred in ET95 and ET200, with values of 28.3 kg/(ha·mm) and 7304 kg/ha, respectively. The RZ-SHAW demonstrated its capacity to evaluate the effects of DI management on tomato growth under plastic film mulching. The parameterized model can be used to optimize DI management for improving WP and yield based on the water stress-based method.
Identification of the Citrus Superoxide Dismutase Family and Their Roles in Response to Phytohormones and Citrus Bacterial Canker
Authors: Yang Wen , Fu Jia , Huang Xin , Fan Jie , Qin Xiujuan , Yu Qiyuan , Zhang Chenxi , Xian Baohang , Chen Shanchun , He Yongrui , Li Qiang
Published: August 2022

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) play critical roles in plants, especially in the maintenance of redox homeostasis. The response of SODs in Citrus (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) to citrus bacterial canker (CBC) infection were investigated. The CsSODs were identified, and their gene structures, phylogeny, conserved domains and motifs, predicted interactions, and chromosomal distribution were analyzed. CsSOD expression in response to stress-related plant hormones (salicylic acid, SA; methyl jasmonate, MeJA; and abscisic acid, ABA) and Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) infection were also investigated. Thirteen CsSODs were identified in C. sinensis, including four Fe/MnSODs and nine Cu/ZnSODs with typical functional domains. The CsSODs were distributed on chromosomes 3, 5, 7, and 8. Specific hormone-response motifs were identified in the gene promoter regions. Ten genes were induced by MeJA treatment, as shown by qRT-PCR, and were upregulated in the CBC-susceptible Wanjincheng citrus variety, while CsSOD06 and CsSOD08 were upregulated by ABA in both the Wanjincheng and the CBC-resistant Kumquat varieties. Xcc infection significantly altered the levels of most CsSODs. The overexpression of CsSOD06 and CsSOD08 resulted in increased hydrogen peroxide levels and SOD activity. Our findings highlight the significance of SOD enzymes in the plant response to pathogen infection and have a potential application for breeding CBC-tolerant citrus varieties.
Soil Inorganic Carbon as a Potential Sink in Carbon Storage in Dryland Soils—A Review
Authors: Naorem Anandkumar , Jayaraman Somasundaram , Dalal Ram C. , Patra Ashok , Rao Cherukumalli Srinivasa , Lal Rattan
Published: August 2022

Soil organic carbon (SOC) pool has been extensively studied in the carbon (C) cycling of terrestrial ecosystems. In dryland regions, however, soil inorganic carbon (SIC) has received increasing attention due to the high accumulation of SIC in arid soils contributed by its high temperature, low soil moisture, less vegetation, high salinity, and poor microbial activities. SIC storage in dryland soils is a complex process comprising multiple interactions of several factors such as climate, land use types, farm management practices, irrigation, inherent soil properties, soil biotic factors, etc. In addition, soil C studies in deeper layers of drylands have opened-up several study aspects on SIC storage. This review explains the mechanisms of SIC formation in dryland soils and critically discusses the SIC content in arid and semi-arid soils as compared to SOC. It also addresses the complex relationship between SIC and SOC in dryland soils. This review gives an overview of how climate change and anthropogenic management of soil might affect the SIC storage in dryland soils. Dryland soils could be an efficient sink in C sequestration through the formation of secondary carbonates. The review highlights the importance of an in-depth understanding of the C cycle in arid soils and emphasizes that SIC dynamics must be looked into broader perspective vis-à-vis C sequestration and climate change mitigation.
RNAi Suppression of Hormone Receptor HR3 Blocks Larval Molting and Metamorphosis in the Cigarette Beetle, Lasioderma serricorne
Authors: Ma Li-Xin , He Rong-Tao , Yan Shu-Yan , Yang Wen-Jia
Published: August 2022

Hormone receptor 3 (HR3), an early-late gene of the 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) signaling pathway, plays a critical role in insect metamorphosis and development. In this study, we identified and characterized an HR3 gene (LsHR3) from the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne. The open reading frame of LsHR3 is 1581 bp encoding a 527 amino acid protein that contains a conserved DNA binding domain and a ligand binding domain. LsHR3 was mainly expressed in the fourth-instar larvae, prepupae, and pupae and showed high expression in the fat body. The expression of LsHR3 was induced by 20E, while it was significantly suppressed by silencing of six 20E synthesis and signaling pathway genes. RNA interference (RNAi)-aided knockdown of LsHR3 in the fourth-instar larvae disrupted the larval–pupal molting and caused 100% mortality. The 20E titer of LsHR3-depletion larvae was decreased, and expressions of five 20E synthesis genes were dramatically decreased. Silencing LsHR3 reduced chitin content and downregulated the expression of genes involved in chitin synthesis and degradation. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of abdominal cuticle showed that no apolysis occurred after silencing LsHR3. These results suggest that LsHR3-mediated 20E signaling is involved in the regulation of chitin metabolism during the molting process of L. serricorne, and targeting this gene by RNAi has potential in controlling this pest.
Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Firms’ Financial Performance and Cash Holding: New Evidence from China’s Agri-food Sector
Authors: Xu Jian , Jin Zhenji
Published: August 2022

The objective of this paper is to investigate the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the financial performance and cash holdings of Chinese agri-food companies. We also examine whether or not company ownership, the affected areas, and leverage level affect this relationship. The empirical results show that the COVID-19 outbreak has had no significant impact on financial performance and the cash-holding level of agri-food companies. In addition, the financial performance of state-owned companies is enhanced during such a crisis, whereas COVID-19 reduced the financial performance and cash-holding level of privately owned companies. In middle- and high-risk areas, the pandemic has had a negative impact on financial performance, while it has had a positive impact on financial performance in low-risk areas. The negative impact of COVID-19 on cash holding is greater in highly leveraged companies than it has been in low-leveraged companies. This paper may provide some new insights for managers to ensure smooth operation and improve firms’ performance in order to overcome this crisis.
Does the Use of AI to Create Academic Research Papers Undermine Researcher Originality?
Authors: Nakazawa Eisuke , Udagawa Makoto , Akabayashi Akira
Published: August 2022

Manuscript writing support services using AI technology have become increasingly available in recent years. In keeping with this trend, we need to sort out issues related to authorship in academic writing. Authorship is attached to the contribution of researchers who report innovative research, the originality of which forms the core of their identity. The most important originality is demonstrated in the discussion of study findings. In the discussion section of this paper, we argue that if a researcher uses AI-based manuscript writing support to draft the discussion section, this does not necessarily diminish the researcher’s originality. Rather, AI support may allow the researcher to perform creative work in a more refined fashion. Presumably, selecting which AI support to use or evaluating and properly adjusting AI would still remain an important aspect of research for researchers. It is thus reasonable to view a researcher as a cooperative existence realized through a network of cooperative work that includes the use of AI. Discussions on this topic will be scientifically and socially important as AI technology advances in the future.