bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retinoic Acid-Induced Gene G(RIG-G) as a Novel Monitoring Biomarker in Leukemia and Its Clinical Applications
Authors: Wang Fei , Tian Jiale , Pang Li , Wu Junlu , Shang Anquan , Sun Zujun , Li Dong , Yan Jinsong , Quan Wenqiang
Published: July 2021

Retinoic acid inducible gene G (RIG-G) is an inducible gene produced during the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). However, it is unclear the expression level of RIG-G gene in the peripheral blood of healthy subjects and patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL or AML-M3). In the present study, we established the TaqMan-MGB fluorescent probe qPCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction) method for the first time to detect the expression of RIG-G gene in APL. Twenty APL patients were selected, and their RIG-G expression levels were quantified to assess the correlation between the expression of peripheral blood and bone marrow samples. U test was used to analyze the expression level of RIG-G in the peripheral blood of 40 normal specimens and 20 APL patients to observe the prognostic monitoring effect of RIG-G gene in the ATRA treatment process. ROC (receiver operating characteristic curve) was used to analyze and test the diagnostic efficiency of RIG-G gene for APL patients. There is a strong positive correlation between the expression of RIG-G in peripheral blood and bone marrow of APL patients. The expression level of RIG-G in peripheral blood of APL patients is significantly lower than that in healthy controls (p < 0.001). The changes in the expression level of RIG-G in peripheral blood changed indicates the remission and recurrence of APL patients after ATRA treatment, and the ROC curve shows that it has a better diagnostic power for APL. In summary, the TaqMan-MGB real-time PCR method we have established has successfully run. The detection of RIG-G gene expression in peripheral blood can effectively monitor the disease changes of APL patients and avoid harmful bone marrow puncture injury.
Estimation of Water Stress in Potato Plants Using Hyperspectral Imagery and Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Duarte-Carvajalino Julio Martin , Silva-Arero Elías Alexander , Góez-Vinasco Gerardo Antonio , Torres-Delgado Laura Marcela , Ocampo-Paez Oscar Dubán , Castaño-Marín Angela María
Published: July 2021

This work presents quantitative detection of water stress and estimation of the water stress level: none, light, moderate, and severe on potato crops. We use hyperspectral imagery and state of the art machine learning algorithms: random decision forest, multilayer perceptron, convolutional neural networks, support vector machines, extreme gradient boost, and AdaBoost. The detection and estimation of water stress in potato crops is carried out on two different phenological stages of the plants: tubers differentiation and maximum tuberization. The machine learning algorithms are trained with a small subset of each hyperspectral image corresponding to the plant canopy. The results are improved using majority voting to classify all the canopy pixels in the hyperspectral images. The results indicate that both detection of water stress and estimation of the level of water stress can be obtained with good accuracy, improved further by majority voting. The importance of each band of the hyperspectral images in the classification of the images is assessed by random forest and extreme gradient boost, which are the machine learning algorithms that perform best overall on both phenological stages and detection and estimation of water stress in potato crops.
Microbiota of the Tongue and Systemic Connections: The Examination of the Tongue as an Integrated Approach in Oral Medicine
Authors: Casu Cinzia , Mosaico Giovanna , Natoli Valentino , Scarano Antonio , Lorusso Felice , Inchingolo Francesco
Published: July 2021

The tongue is able to quickly reflect the state of health or disease of the human body. Tongue inspection is an important diagnostic approach. It is a unique method that allows to explore the pathogenesis of diseases based on the guiding principles of the holistic concept that involves the observation of changes in the lining of the tongue in order to understand the physiological functions and pathological changes of the body. It is a potential method of screening and early detection of cancer. However, the subjective inspection of the tongue has a low reliability index, and therefore computerized systems of acquisition of diagnostic bioinformation have been developed to analyze the lining of the tongue. Next-generation sequencing technology is used to determine the V2–V4 hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA to study the microbiota. A lot of neoplasms are identified only at an advanced phase, while in the early stages, many subjects remain in an asymptomatic form. On the contrary, the early diagnosis is able to increase the prognosis of cancer and improve the survival rates of subjects. Evidently, it is necessary to develop new strategies in oral medicine for the early diagnosis of diseases, and the diagnosis of the tongue as a minimally invasive method is certainly one of them.
Changes in Health Behaviors, Mental and Physical Health among Older Adults under Severe Lockdown Restrictions during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain
Authors: García-Esquinas Esther , Ortolá Rosario , Gine-Vázquez Iago , Carnicero José A. , Mañas Asier , Lara Elvira , Alvarez-Bustos Alejandro , Vicente-Rodriguez German , Sotos-Prieto Mercedes , Olaya Beatriz , Garcia-Garcia Francisco José , Gusi Narcis , Banegas Jose R. , Rodríguez-Gómez Irene , Struijk Ellen A. , Martínez-Gómez David , Lana Alberto , Haro Josep María , Ayuso-Mateos José Luis , Rodríguez-Mañas Leocadio , Ara Ignacio , Miret Marta , Rodríguez-Artalejo Fernando
Published: July 2021

We used data from 3041 participants in four cohorts of community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years in Spain collected through a pre-pandemic face-to-face interview and a telephone interview conducted between weeks 7 to 15 after the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown. On average, the confinement was not associated with a deterioration in lifestyle risk factors (smoking, alcohol intake, diet, or weight), except for a decreased physical activity and increased sedentary time, which reversed with the end of confinement. However, chronic pain worsened, and moderate declines in mental health, that did not seem to reverse after restrictions were lifted, were observed. Males, older adults with greater social isolation or greater feelings of loneliness, those with poorer housing conditions, as well as those with a higher prevalence of chronic morbidities were at increased risk of developing unhealthier lifestyles or mental health declines with confinement. On the other hand, previously having a greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet and doing more physical activity protected older adults from developing unhealthier lifestyles with confinement. If another lockdown were imposed during this or future pandemics, public health programs should specially address the needs of older individuals with male sex, greater social isolation, sub-optimal housing conditions, and chronic morbidities because of their greater vulnerability to the enacted movement restrictions.
Self-Reported Use of Personal Protective Equipment among Emergency Department Nurses, Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Seitz Roslyn M. , Yaffee Anna Q. , Peacock Elizabeth , Moran Timothy P. , Pendley Andrew , Rupp Jonathan D.
Published: July 2021

Background: Emergency departments (EDs) have seen dramatic surges in patients infected with COVID-19 and are high-risk transmission environments. Knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) among ED health care workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic have not been studied, thus this study examines this knowledge gap. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of 308 HCWs in two urban EDs in Atlanta, Georgia in April and May of 2020. Results: We surveyed 308 HCWs; 137 responded (44% response rate). All HCWs reported adequate knowledge and 96% reported compliance with PPE guidelines. Reported sources of PPE information: 56.7% charge nurse, 67.3% the institutional COVID-19 website. Frequency of training was positively associated with understanding how to protect themselves and patients (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.0–2.9). Conclusions: Few HCWs are willing to care for patients without PPE, and therefore we should aim for resiliency in the PPE supply chain. EDs should consider multiple communication strategies, including a website with concise information and enhanced training for key personnel, particularly the charge nurse. Attention to frequency in HCW training may be key to improve confidence in protecting themselves and patients. Findings can be leveraged by EDs to implement effective PPE training.
Selected Approaches to the Assessment of Environmental Noise from Railways in Urban Areas
Authors: Němec Miroslav , Gergeľ Tomáš , Gejdoš Miloš , Danihelová Anna , Ondrejka Vojtěch
Published: July 2021

Rail transport is the second most important way of transporting people and freights by land in the European Union. Rail noise affects around 12 million people in the European Union during the day and around 9 million at night. There are two possible ways to assess environmental noise: noise measurement in situ and prediction using mathematical models. The aim of the work is based on the performed measurements and selected noise predictions to evaluate the accuracy of the prediction models and assess their sensitivity to various aspects. Two measuring points in the Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region, within Slovakia, were selected for measurement, which is characterized by increased mobility of the population. For prediction, the two methodologies were selected (Schall 03 and Methodical instructions for the calculation of sound pressure level from transport). The results show that the Schall 03 method is sensitive to the measurement location (the value reaches half of the significance level) and to the location–period interaction. The second prediction method is sensitive to systematic error (absolute term) and, such as Schall 03, to the location–period interaction. This method systematically overestimates the results. Results showed greater accuracy of both prediction models compared to the measured noise values than the results of the authors in other countries and conditions.
Design of a Spark Big Data Framework for PM2.5 Air Pollution Forecasting
Authors: Shih Dong-Her , To Thi Hien , Nguyen Ly Sy Phu , Wu Ting-Wei , You Wen-Ting
Published: July 2021

In recent years, with rapid economic development, air pollution has become extremely serious, causing many negative effects on health, environment and medical costs. PM2.5 is one of the main components of air pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to know the PM2.5 air quality in advance for health. Many studies on air quality are based on the government’s official air quality monitoring stations, which cannot be widely deployed due to high cost constraints. Furthermore, the update frequency of government monitoring stations is once an hour, and it is hard to capture short-term PM2.5 concentration peaks with little warning. Nevertheless, dealing with short-term data with many stations, the volume of data is huge and is calculated, analyzed and predicted in a complex way. This alleviates the high computational requirements of the original predictor, thus making Spark suitable for the considered problem. This study proposes a PM2.5 instant prediction architecture based on the Spark big data framework to handle the huge data from the LASS community. The Spark big data framework proposed in this study is divided into three modules. It collects real time PM2.5 data and performs ensemble learning through three machine learning algorithms (Linear Regression, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Decision Tree) to predict the PM2.5 concentration value in the next 30 to 180 min with accompanying visualization graph. The experimental results show that our proposed Spark big data ensemble prediction model in next 30-min prediction has the best performance (R2 up to 0.96), and the ensemble model has better performance than any single machine learning model. Taiwan has been suffering from a situation of relatively poor air pollution quality for a long time. Air pollutant monitoring data from LASS community can provide a wide broader monitoring, however the data is large and difficult to integrate or analyze. The proposed Spark big data framework system can provide short-term PM2.5 forecasts and help the decision-maker to take proper action immediately.
Optimisation of Fixed-Outlet and Flow-Modulated Pressure Reduction Measures in Looped Water Distribution Networks Constrained by Fire-Fighting Capacity Requirements
Authors: Rokstad Marius Møller
Published: July 2021

Pressure management is a pivotal component when reducing leakages from water distribution networks, and can be achieved by sub-dividing existing networks into partitions where the pressure can be reduced effectively. There is a need to develop methods that aid in the identification of cost-effective partitions for pressure reduction, while simultaneously verifying that the topological changes entailed in these solutions do not compromise reliability and (fire-fighting) capacity requirements, especially in systems where the capacity is ensured through looped networks. This paper presents a method that can be used to this end, in which a novel combination of hydraulic simulations and graph theory is used to determine the maximal potential for (dynamic and static) pressure reduction, and this is used as a constraint for multi-objective optimization of pressure reduction measures. Trondheim, Norway, has been used as a case study area, and it is demonstrated how the developed method aids in the process of achieving leakage reduction in Trondheim. The results for Trondheim show that an economically optimal solution for pressure management is predicted to lead to a reduction from 28 to 22% water loss volume, and furthermore that effective pressure management will rely heavily on active (dynamic) regulation in this particular system.
Neighbourhood Social Determinants of Health and Geographical Inequalities in Premature Mortality in Taiwan: A Spatiotemporal Approach
Authors: Weng Shiue-Shan , Chan Ta-Chien , Hsu Pei-Ying , Niu Shu-Fen
Published: July 2021

Geographical inequalities in premature mortality and the role of neighbourhood social determinants of health (SDOH) have been less explored. This study aims to assess the geographical inequalities in premature mortality in Taiwan and how neighbourhood SDOH contribute to them and to examine the place-specific associations between neighbourhood SDOH and premature mortality. We used township-level nationwide data for the years 2015 to 2019, including age-standardized premature mortality rates and three upstream SDOH (ethnicity, education, and income). Space-time scan statistics were used to assess the geographical inequality in premature mortality. A geographical and temporal weighted regression was applied to assess spatial heterogeneity and how neighbourhood SDOH contribute to geographic variation in premature mortality. We found geographical inequality in premature mortality to be clearly clustered around mountainous rural and indigenous areas. The association between neighbourhood SDOH and premature mortality was shown to be area-specific. Ethnicity and education could explain nearly 84% variation in premature mortality. After adjusting for neighbourhood SDOH, only a handful of hotspots for premature mortality remained, mainly consisting of rural and indigenous areas in the central-south region of Taiwan. These findings provide empirical evidence for developing locally tailored public health programs for geographical priority areas.
Disparities in Potentially Preventable Emergency Department Visits for Children with Asthma among Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Whites in Hawai‘i
Authors: Uchima Olivia , Taira Deborah A. , Ahn Hyeong Jun , Choi So Yung , Okihiro May , Sentell Tetine
Published: July 2021

The cost burdens of potentially preventable emergency department visits for pediatric asthma were estimated for Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Whites using Hawai‘i statewide 2015–2016 data. The cost burden of the 3234 preventable emergency department visits over the study period was over $1.9 million. Native Hawaiians had the largest proportion (36.5%) of all preventable emergency department visits and accounted for the highest costs for the two years at $709,698. After adjusting for other factors, costs for preventable pediatric-asthma-related emergency department visits differed significantly by age, insurance provider, and island of residency. Reducing potentially preventable emergency department visits would not only improve health disparities among Native Hawaiians compared to other racial or ethnic populations in Hawai‘i, but could also generate cost savings for public and private insurance payers.
Mediator Effect of Affinity for E-Learning on Mental Health: Buffering Strategy for the Resilience of University Students
Authors: Di Giacomo Dina , Martelli Alessandra , Guerra Federica , Cielo Federica , Ranieri Jessica
Published: July 2021

The pandemic affected the quality of life and wellness of the population, changing living habits through restriction measures. This study aimed to analyze the psychological impact of the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic and the adoption of e-learning for university students. The study was articulated in two research applications: the first application was a rapid review on the psychological effects of the pandemic on the emotional dimension of undergraduate students; the second application was an observational study on the effect of e-learning adoption in the pandemic emergency. In the first step, we performed a systematic search of MEDLINE through PubMed and the Web of Science [Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED); Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI); Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI)] of all scientific literature published from May 2020 to February 2021. The reviewed articles suggest the impact of the pandemic and lockdown measures on university students due to several mental symptoms, including anxiety, stress, depression, event-specific distress, and a decrease in psychological well-being. Psychological symptoms were related to the experience of several stressors, such as the risk for a reduction of academic perspectives, massive e-learning adoption, economic issues, social restrictions, and implications for daily life related to the COVID-19 outbreak. The second scientific application was conducted to evaluate the affinity for e-learning on a sample composed of Italian undergraduates exposed to massive e-learning adoption. The results evidence the positive influence of e-learning in academic programs for the wellbeing of undergraduates. The mediator effect of the affinity of youth for e-learning can be considered to have had a buffering effect for professional advancement and for the mental health of university students in a public health emergency.
Co-Inoculation with Staphylococcus equorum and Lactobacillus sakei Reduces Vasoactive Biogenic Amines in Traditional Dry-Cured Sausages
Authors: Dias Igor , Laranjo Marta , Potes Maria Eduarda , Agulheiro-Santos Ana Cristina , Ricardo-Rodrigues Sara , Fialho Ana Rita , Véstia Joana , Fraqueza Maria J. , Oliveira Margarida , Elias Miguel
Published: July 2021

Dry-cured sausages are traditional in Mediterranean countries, and Paio do Alentejo (PA) is one of the most popular in South Portugal. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of combined starters on the safety and quality of PA preserving its sensory quality. Physicochemical parameters, namely pH and water activity (aW), microbiological parameters, biogenic amines, color, texture, and sensory attributes were assessed. Three starter cultures were used, namely Staphylococcus equorum S2M7 and Lactobacillus sakei CV3C2, both separate and combined with the 2RB4 yeast strain at a concentration of 106 cfu/g. Dextrose 0.25% was added to the meat batter. Starters had a significant effect on the reduction of aW values (0.845 to 0.823). The treatment with L. sakei as well as the co-inoculation of L. sakei with S. equorum effectively reduced the L. monocytogenes counts to undetectable levels. Sausages co-inoculated with S. equorum S2M7/L. sakei CV3C2 showed a significant reduction in the content of vasoactive amines, namely tryptamine (26.21 to 15.70) and β-phenylethylamine (4.80 to 3.69). Regarding texture, control PA showed higher hardness values, and the starters promoted the cohesiveness of the batter while reducing chewiness. The studied starters did not compromise the sensory characteristics of PA.
Improvement in the Cognitive Aspects of Cultural Competence after Short-Term Overseas Study Programs
Authors: Wang Chen , Hou Xiang-Yu , Khawaja Nigar G. , Dunne Michael P. , Shakespeare-Finch Jane
Published: July 2021

Universities are providing short-term overseas study programs for healthcare students to increase their cultural competence (i.e., capacity to work effectively in cross-cultural situations). However, there is limited empirical research evaluating the effects of these programs using well-controlled research designs. In the present research study, undergraduate healthcare students in an Australian university were selected as participants. Group 1 (n = 32) participated in a short-term overseas study program in Asia (i.e., China, Vietnam, Singapore, and Taiwan), whereas Group 2 (n = 46) stayed in Australia to continue their university education as usual. All participants completed a self-developed demographic questionnaire, Cultural Intelligence Scale, and Multicultural Personality Questionnaire. Cultural competence was surveyed pre- and post-short-term overseas programs. After controlling for prior overseas experiences and the open-mindedness trait, an ANCOVA indicated that Group 1 had a significantly higher scores than Group 2 in cultural knowledge (p < 0.05), but not in cultural awareness, attitude, or skills. It is suggested that short-term overseas study programs may increase healthcare students’ cultural knowledge, a component of competence, and that more needs to be accomplished to improve other areas of cultural competence.
Prevalence and Correlates of Likely Major Depressive Disorder among the Adult Population in Ghana during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Adu Medard Kofi , Wallace Lauren J. , Lartey Kwabena F. , Arthur Joshua , Oteng Kenneth Fosu , Dwomoh Samuel , Owusu-Antwi Ruth , Larsen-Reindorf Rita , Agyapong Vincent I. O.
Published: July 2021

Background: Emerging research suggests that the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and associated public health restrictions have caused psychological distress in many contexts. In order for public health authorities and policy makers to effectively address the psychological distress associated with the pandemic, it is important to determine the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders, including depression. Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence, and demographic, social, clinical and other COVID-19 related correlates of major depressive disorder symptoms among the general population in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The study was a cross-sectional survey using online data collection methods. The survey assessed demographic, social and clinical variables as well as COVID-19 related variables. Major depressive disorder symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The survey link was distributed primarily through WhatsApp-based platforms. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The overall prevalence of likely MDD symptoms among the sample population was 12.3%. Variables such as employment, loss of jobs during the pandemic and rate of exposure to COVID-related news were independently and significantly associated with the likelihood that respondents had likely MDD. Variables such as gender, relationship, housing status and having a family member or friend who was sick from COVID-19 were not independently significantly associated with the likelihood that respondents had likely MDD, when all other factors in the model were controlled. Conclusion: This study has identified the prevalence and correlates of depression symptoms in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is the urgent need for mental health policy makers and the government of Ghana to have policies in place to alleviate the potential threat to the mental health of the population.
The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Women’s Mental Health during Pregnancy: A Rapid Evidence Review
Authors: Ahmad Monica , Vismara Laura
Published: July 2021

Background: The perinatal period is a particularly vulnerable period in women’s lives that implies significant physiological and psychological changes that can place women at higher risk for depression and anxiety symptoms. In addition, the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is likely to increase this vulnerability and the prevalence of mental health problems. This review aimed to investigate the existing literature on the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women during pregnancy and the first year postpartum. Method: The literature search was conducted using the following databases: Pubmed, Scopus, WOS—web of science, PsycInfo and Google Scholar. Out of the total of 116 initially selected papers, 17 have been included in the final work, according to the inclusion criteria. Results: The reviewed contributions report a moderate to severe impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the mental health of pregnant women, mainly in the form of a significant increase in depression—up to 58% in Spain—and anxiety symptoms—up to 72% in Canada. In addition to the common psychological symptoms, COVID-19-specific worries emerged with respect to its potential effects on pregnancy and the well-being of the unborn child. Social support and being engaged in regular physical activities appear to be protective factors able to buffer against the effects of the pandemic on maternal mental health. Conclusions: Despite the limitations of the study design, the evidence suggests that it is essential to provide appropriate psychological support to pregnant women during the emergency in order to protect their mental health and to minimize the risks of long-term effects on child development.
Implications of Nonstationary Effect on Geographically Weighted Total Least Squares Regression for PM2.5 Estimation
Authors: Mokhtari Arezoo , Tashayo Behnam , Deilami Kaveh
Published: July 2021

Land use regression (LUR) models are used for high-resolution air pollution assessment. These models use independent parameters based on an assumption that these parameters are accurate and invariable; however, they are observational parameters derived from measurements or modeling. Therefore, the parameters are commonly inaccurate, with nonstationary effects and variable characteristics. In this study, we propose a geographically weighted total least squares regression (GWTLSR) to model air pollution under various traffic, land use, and meteorological parameters. To improve performance, the proposed model considers the dependent and independent variables as observational parameters. The GWTLSR applies weighted total least squares in order to take into account the variable characteristics and inaccuracies of observational parameters. Moreover, the proposed model considers the nonstationary effects of parameters through geographically weighted regression (GWR). We examine the proposed model’s capabilities for predicting daily PM2.5 concentration in Isfahan, Iran. Isfahan is a city with severe air pollution that suffers from insufficient data for modeling air pollution with conventional LUR techniques. The advantages of the model features, including consideration of the variable characteristics and inaccuracies of predictors, are precisely evaluated by comparing the GWTLSR model with ordinary least squares (OLS) and GWR models. The R2 values estimated by the GWTLSR model during the spring and autumn are 0.84 and 0.91, respectively. The corresponding average R2 values estimated by the OLS model during the spring and autumn are 0.74 and 0.69, respectively, and the R2 values estimated by the GWR model are 0.76 and 0.70, respectively. The results demonstrate that the proposed functional model efficiently described the physical nature of the relationships among air pollutants and independent variables.
Social Cognitive Correlates of Physical Activity among Chinese University Employees: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hu Liang , Hu Qia , Xu Yaping
Published: July 2021

Despite the well-documented benefits of leisure time physical activity, university employees are often reported to be at high risk of physical inactivity and low fitness levels. However, few efforts have been made to identify modifiable correlates of physical activity among this population. From the perspective of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), the current study aims to examine the relationship between physical activity and a series of demographic variables (e.g., age, gender, income, education), self-reported fitness, and social cognitive variables. Data were collected through mail-based surveys from a convenience sample consisting of 116 Chinese university employees (age = 36.59 ± 8.7 y). An array of SCT variables, namely, exercise self-efficacy (r = 0.55, p < 0.01), barrier self-efficacy (r = 0.35, p < 0.01), exercise social support (r = 0.37, p < 0.01), importance of physical self (r = 0.30, p < 0.01), outcome expectations (r = 0.24, p < 0.05), and satisfaction with health(r = 0.32, p < 0.01) were found to be positively correlated with physical activity in Chinese faculty and staff, and most of the correlations were moderate to large in magnitude. Further regression analyses indicate that exercise self-efficacy (β = 0.29, p < 0.01) and exercise social support from friends (β = 0.70, p < 0.01) emerge as significant predictors of physical activity after controlling for age, gender, occupation (faculty or staff), and self-reported fitness. It is concluded that these SCT variables are important correlates of university employees’ physical activity behavior. Future physical activity promotion interventions in this population should incorporate strategies to improve one’s confidence in maintaining regular physical activity and enhance social support from friends, which are likely to increase the effectiveness of these programs.
Direct and Stress-Buffering Effects of COVID-19-Related Changes in Exercise Activity on the Well-Being of German Sport Students
Authors: Giessing Laura , Kannen Julia , Strahler Jana , Frenkel Marie Ottilie
Published: July 2021

Maintaining or initiating exercise activity in the COVID-19 pandemic may act as a buffer against the observed stress-related deterioration in well-being, with emotion regulation (ER) discussed as a possible moderator. Therefore, the present study investigated the interaction between stress, exercise activity (EA), and ER on mood. In an online survey, 366 German sports science students (56% women, Mage = 23.04, SD = 2.87) reported their stress levels (general and COVID-19-specific), mood (energy, valence, calmness), EA before and during the pandemic, and use of ER strategies in spring 2020. Pandemic-related change in EA was calculated as residual change. Due to gender differences in mental health and EA, the main and interaction effects were tested in twelve hierarchical regression analyses, separately for men and women. Overall, EA significantly decreased during the pandemic and was positively associated with energy in both men and women. ER was positively associated with women’s energy, but negatively with all three mood dimensions in men. Only one three-way interaction appeared significant: in the case of high stress, low levels of EA and high use of ER were associated with the greatest deteriorations in energy in men. Our findings suggest that EA may buffer deteriorations in energy in men with high stress and difficulties in ER.
Pedestrian Flow Prediction in Open Public Places Using Graph Convolutional Network
Authors: Liu Menghang , Li Luning , Li Qiang , Bai Yu , Hu Cheng
Published: July 2021

Open public places, such as pedestrian streets, parks, and squares, are vulnerable when the pedestrians thronged into the sidewalks. The crowd count changes dynamically over time with various external factors, such as surroundings, weekends, and peak hours, so it is essential to predict the accurate and timely crowd count. To address this issue, this study introduces graph convolutional network (GCN), a network-based model, to predict the crowd flow in a walking street. Compared with other grid-based methods, the model is capable of directly processing road network graphs. Experiments show the GCN model and its extension STGCN consistently and significantly outperform other five baseline models, namely HA, ARIMA, SVM, CNN and LSTM, in terms of RMSE, MAE and R2. Considering the computation efficiency, the standard GCN model was selected to predict the crowd. The results showed that the model obtains superior performances with higher prediction precision on weekends and peak hours, of which R2 are above 0.9, indicating the GCN model can capture the pedestrian features in the road network effectively, especially during the periods with massive crowds. The results will provide practical references for city managers to alleviate road congestion and help pedestrians make smarter planning and save travel time.
A Transcriptome-Wide Isoform Landscape of Melanocytic Nevi and Primary Melanomas Identifies Gene Isoforms Associated with Malignancy
Authors: Hakobyan Siras , Loeffler-Wirth Henry , Arakelyan Arsen , Binder Hans , Kunz Manfred
Published: July 2021

Genetic splice variants have become of central interest in recent years, as they play an important role in different cancers. Little is known about splice variants in melanoma. Here, we analyzed a genome-wide transcriptomic dataset of benign melanocytic nevi and primary melanomas (n = 80) for the expression of specific splice variants. Using kallisto, a map for differentially expressed splice variants in melanoma vs. benign melanocytic nevi was generated. Among the top genes with differentially expressed splice variants were Ras-related in brain 6B (RAB6B), a member of the RAS family of GTPases, Macrophage Scavenger Receptor 1 (MSR1), Collagen Type XI Alpha 2 Chain (COLL11A2), and LY6/PLAUR Domain Containing 1 (LYPD1). The Gene Ontology terms of differentially expressed splice variants showed no enrichment for functional gene sets of melanoma vs. nevus lesions, but between type 1 (pigmentation type) and type 2 (immune response type) melanocytic lesions. A number of genes such as Checkpoint Kinase 1 (CHEK1) showed an association of mutational patterns and occurrence of splice variants in melanoma. Moreover, mutations in genes of the splicing machinery were common in both benign nevi and melanomas, suggesting a common mechanism starting early in melanoma development. Mutations in some of these genes of the splicing machinery, such as Serine and Arginine Rich Splicing Factor A3 and B3 (SF3A3, SF3B3), were significantly enriched in melanomas as compared to benign nevi. Taken together, a map of splice variants in melanoma is presented that shows a multitude of differentially expressed splice genes between benign nevi and primary melanomas. The underlying mechanisms may involve mutations in genes of the splicing machinery.
Impact of Sodium–Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors on Cardiac Protection
Authors: Wu Victor Chien-Chia , Li Yan-Rong , Wang Chao-Yung
Published: July 2021

Sodium–glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been approved as a new class of anti-diabetic drugs for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The SGLT2 inhibitors reduce glucose reabsorption through renal systems, thus improving glycemic control in all stages of diabetes mellitus, independent of insulin. This class of drugs has the advantages of no clinically relevant hypoglycemia and working in synergy when combined with currently available anti-diabetic drugs. While improving sugar level control in these patients, SGLT2 inhibitors also have the advantages of blood-pressure improvement and bodyweight reduction, with potential cardiac and renal protection. In randomized control trials for patients with diabetes, SGLT2 inhibitors not only improved cardiovascular and renal outcomes, but also hospitalization for heart failure, with this effect extending to those without diabetes mellitus. Recently, dynamic communication between autophagy and the innate immune system with Beclin 1-TLR9-SIRT3 complexes in response to SGLT2 inhibitors that may serve as a potential treatment strategy for heart failure was discovered. In this review, the background molecular pathways leading to the clinical benefits are examined in this new class of anti-diabetic drugs, the SGLT2 inhibitors.
Selective Inhibition of Genomic and Non-Genomic Effects of Thyroid Hormone Regulates Muscle Cell Differentiation and Metabolic Behavior
Authors: Nappi Annarita , Murolo Melania , Sagliocchi Serena , Miro Caterina , Cicatiello Annunziata Gaetana , Di Cicco Emery , Di Paola Rossella , Raia Maddalena , D’Esposito Lucia , Stornaiuolo Mariano , Dentice Monica
Published: July 2021

Thyroid hormones (THs) are key regulators of different biological processes. Their action involves genomic and non-genomic mechanisms, which together mediate the final effects of TH in target tissues. However, the proportion of the two processes and their contribution to the TH-mediated effects are still poorly understood. Skeletal muscle is a classical target tissue for TH, which regulates muscle strength and contraction, as well as energetic metabolism of myofibers. Here we address the different contribution of genomic and non-genomic action of TH in skeletal muscle cells by specifically silencing the deiodinase Dio2 or the β3-Integrin expression via CRISPR/Cas9 technology. We found that myoblast proliferation is inversely regulated by integrin signal and the D2-dependent TH activation. Similarly, inhibition of the nuclear receptor action reduced myoblast proliferation, confirming that genomic action of TH attenuates proliferative rates. Contrarily, genomic and non-genomic signals promote muscle differentiation and the regulation of the redox state. Taken together, our data reveal that integration of genomic and non-genomic signal pathways finely regulates skeletal muscle physiology. These findings not only contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms involved in TH modulation of muscle physiology but also add insight into the interplay between different mechanisms of action of TH in muscle cells.
Endophytic Microbiome Responses to Sulfur Availability in Beta vulgaris (L.)
Authors: Bertoldo Giovanni , Della Lucia Maria Cristina , Squartini Andrea , Concheri Giuseppe , Broccanello Chiara , Romano Alessandro , Ravi Samathmika , Cagnin Massimo , Baglieri Andrea , Stevanato Piergiorgio
Published: July 2021

Sulfur is an essential plant macronutrient, and its adequate supply allows an efficient root storage and sugar extractability in sugar beets (Beta vulgaris L.). In this study, we investigated the effect of changes in sulfur availability on the endophytic community structure of sugar beets. Plants were hydroponically grown in a complete nutrient solution (S-supplied), a nutrient solution without MgSO4 (S-deprived), and a nutrient solution without MgSO4 for six days and resupplied with 100 μM MgSO4 for 48 h (S-resupplied). The sulfur status was monitored by inductively coupled plasma ICP–OES, and combustion analysis together with the evaluation of microRNA395 as a biomarker for sulfate status. Metabarcoding of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was carried out in order to determine leaf endophytic community structure. The Shannon diversity index significantly differed (p < 0.05) between sulfate-supplied and sulfate-deprived seedlings. Validation by Real-Time PCR showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) of Burkholderia spp. in sulfate-deprived plants as compared to sulfate-supplied ones. The study sheds new light on the effects of nutrient deficiency on the microbiome of sugar beet plants.
Vertical Trapping of the Coffee Berry Borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Scolytinae), in Coffee
Authors: Ruiz-Diaz Claudia Patricia , Rodrigues José Carlos Verle
Published: July 2021

The coffee industry loses millions of dollars annually worldwide due to the Coffee Berry Borer (CBB); these losses imply a decrease in quality and production. Traps are used to monitor their flight and for pest control. The main objective of this study was to determine the capture pattern and trap capture percentages of the CBB population over time using column traps (CTs) in two independent field experiments. CTs were composed of four traps installed at four different heights 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 m above ground. Our results demonstrated a significant difference in CBB capture by traps placed at different heights above the ground. The CT capture maintained a pattern throughout this study’s lag: the lower the height, the greater the percentage of CBBs captured. The study was conducted in two independent experiments (A and B). In Experiment A and B, the traps placed at 0.5 m caught 67% and 85% of the CBBs captured, respectively. Furthermore, the trap set at 1.5 m above the ground in the multi-level CT showed a higher capture percentage than the single placed trap (ST, also at 1.5 m about ground). The pattern of the capture and proportion of the CBB in the CTs was maintained throughout the study despite the season, changes in temperature, and relative air humidity. We suggest that CTs could be explored as a useful tool for capturing the CBB, considering its monitoring and management.
Microbial Respiration and Enzyme Activity Downstream from a Phosphorus Source in the Everglades, Florida, USA
Authors: Dattamudi Sanku , Chanda Saoli , Scinto Leonard J.
Published: July 2021

Northeast Shark River Slough (NESS), lying at the northeastern perimeter of Everglades National Park (ENP), Florida, USA, has been subjected to years of hydrologic modifications. Construction of the Tamiami Trail (US 41) in 1928 connected the east and west coasts of SE Florida and essentially created a hydrological barrier to southern sheet flow into ENP. Recently, a series of bridges were constructed to elevate a portion of Tamiami Trail, allow more water to flow under the bridges, and attempt to restore the ecological balance in the NESS and ENP. This project was conducted to determine aspects of soil physiochemistry and microbial dynamics in the NESS. We evaluated microbial respiration and enzyme assays as indicators of nutrient dynamics in NESS soils. Soil cores were collected from sites at certain distances from the inflow (near canal, NC (0–150 m); midway, M (150–600 m); and far from canal, FC (600–1200 m)). Soil slurries were incubated and assayed for CO2 emission and β-glucoside (MUFC) or phosphatase (MUFP) activity in concert with physicochemical analysis. Significantly higher TP contents at NC (2.45 times) and M (1.52 times) sites than FC sites indicated an uneven P distribution downstream from the source canal. The highest soil organic matter content (84%) contents were observed at M sites, which was due to higher vegetation biomass observed at those sites. Consequently, CO2 efflux was greater at M sites (average 2.72 µmoles g dw−1 h−1) than the other two sites. We also found that amendments of glucose increased CO2 efflux from all soils, whereas the addition of phosphorus did not. The results indicate that microbial respiration downstream of inflows in the NESS is not limited by P, but more so by the availability of labile C.
Exploring the Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Development of Specialized Agricultural Villages in the Underdeveloped Region of China
Authors: Niu Ning , Li Xiaojian , Li Li
Published: July 2021

The development of specialized agricultural villages (DSAVs) is essential for rural revitalization. However, most current studies focus on the formation of specialized agricultural villages (SAVs), while the interpretation of DSAVs from the perspective of the geographical factors is still missing. In this study, we firstly employed the kernel density estimation to analyze the spatial pattern of DSAVs and then utilized the Geographic Detectors to explore which geographical factor(s) affected the SAVs of Henan, China in the formation (in 2010), steady (2011–2014), and rapid development (2015–2019) period of SAVs. The DSAVs were measured by gross product (GP), the employment rate (ER), and farmers’ income (FI) of SAVs. Eleven indicators described the geographic factors in five categories: terrains, resources, locations, markets, and economy. The results showed that the spatial pattern of DSAVs was from relatively uneven in the early formation to significantly clustering in the development period of SAVs. Specialized shiitake and Chinese herbal villages clustered in the mountain–plain transition zone. The aggregation of specialized coarse cereals villages was in the hill–plain transition zone. Specialized fruit and livestock villages gathered in the plain region. Further analyses were in these regions; compared with SAVs’ formation’s critical factors, the importance of terrain and location factors to DSAVs was decreasing, while market and economic factors were increasing in the development period of SAVs. The strongest changing was the development of specialized shiitake villages in the mountain–plain transition zone. These findings could provide guidance for the direction of DSAVs in underdeveloped areas.
Net Ecosystem Exchange of Carbon Dioxide in Rice-Spring Wheat System of Northwestern Indo-Gangetic Plains
Authors: Kumar Amit , Bhatia Arti , Sehgal Vinay Kumar , Tomer Ritu , Jain Niveta , Pathak Himanshu
Published: July 2021

Rice growing under anaerobic conditions followed by spring wheat under an aerobic environment differentially impact the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of carbon dioxide (CO2) in rice-wheat systems of the north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). This is the first estimation of the NEE in a rice-spring wheat sequence via the eddy covariance technique in the north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains, which was partitioned into gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (RE) and correlated with the environmental variables. Higher CO2 uptake of −10.43 g C m−2 d−1 was observed in wheat during heading as compared to −7.12 g C m−2 d−1 in rice. The net uptake of CO2 was 25% lower in rice. The average daily NEE over the crop season was −3.74 and −5.01 g C m−2 d−1 in rice and wheat, respectively. The RE varied from 0.07–9.00 g C m−2 d−1 in rice and from 0.05–7.09 g C m−2 d−1 in wheat. The RE was positively correlated with soil temperature at 5 cm depth (0.543, p < 0.01) in rice and with air temperature (0.294, p < 0.01) in wheat. The GPP was positively correlated with air temperature (0.129, p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with vapor pressure deficit (VPD) (−0.315, p < 0.01) in rice. In wheat, GPP was positively correlated with air temperature (0.444, p < 0.01) and soil moisture (0.471, p < 0.01). The rate of GPP over the crop duration was nearly the same in both rice and wheat, however, the RE was higher in rice as compared to wheat, thus, the ratio of cumulative RE/GPP was 0.51 in rice and much lower at 0.34 in spring wheat. Rice contributed 46% and 43% to the annual totals of RE and GPP, respectively, while spring wheat contributed 36% and 51%. The NEE of CO2 was higher in spring wheat at −576 g C m−2 d−1 as compared to −368 g C m−2 in rice. Thus, while estimating the carbon sink potential in the intensively cultivated northern IGP, we need to consider that spring wheat may be a moderately stronger sink of CO2 as compared to rice in the rice-wheat system.