bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and mediators of change of an online CBT intervention for students with adjustment disorder – study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Juszczyk-Kalina Aleksandra , Holas Paweł , Farchione Todd
Published: May 2023

Background
Adjustment problems and disorders are highly prevalent among university students worldwide. Unfortunately, only half of students in need receive psychological help. Furthermore, there is a paucity of studies evaluating prevalence, predictors and interventions for adjustment disorders in students. For these reasons, new, more scalable forms of treatment for students with adjustment disorder must be developed, evaluated and implemented. The aim of the study is to determine the effectiveness of an online transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural intervention for students experiencing adjustment disorder and to evaluate mediators of change.
Method/Design
In this three-arm randomized controlled trial, we plan to recruit 214 Polish students diagnosed as having an adjustment disorder. Participants who meet initial eligibility criteria will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions: 1) 6-week online cognitive behavioural therapy intervention based on the Unified Protocol, 2) 6-week online progressive muscle relaxation training as an active control group, or 3) waiting-list control group. Both the internet and active interventions are asynchronous, unguided and interactive. Assessments will consist of self-report questionnaires, daily diary measures, neurocognitive tasks for the evaluation of cognitive functioning, and recently received grades at university. Measures will be taken at baseline, at post-treatment and at 1-month follow-up. Daily diary measures will be taken during the first and last week of the interventions. Primary outcome measures will include adjustment disorder severity; secondary outcome measures will include other negative (psychopathology: depression, anxiety and stress) and positive (life satisfaction and level of academic adjustment) indexes of mental health as well as and process measures (e.g., mindfulness, experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion).
Discussion
The current study, to our knowledge, is to be the first evaluating the effectiveness of a psychological intervention for students with adjustment disorder. Therefore, it may have important practical implications for students with this disorder. It has the potential to guide the development of a scalable, validated treatment option.
Trial registration
Clinical Trials, NCT05768308, registered 14 March 2023, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05768308
Oral Health Provider Perspective on Facilitators and Barriers to Rare Disease Diagnosis and Management
Authors: Beisang Arthur Allen , Dupuis Danielle , Cady Rhonda , Nelsen Karl , Beiraghi Soraya , Barnes Erica
Published: May 2023

Background
Approximately 15% of rare diseases present with orofacial manifestations, placing oral health providers in front-line positions for timely diagnosis. A recent study investigated barriers to care from the perspective of people living with a rare disease and found access to oral health care a key barrier. The goal of our study was to investigate this disparity by assessing the ‘state of rare disease management and diagnosis and subsequent barriers,’ as reported by oral health providers actively practicing in a single midwestern state.
Results
Seventy oral health providers completed the survey. Overall, these providers were not at all or somewhat familiar with rare disease, and most felt this knowledge adequate for their practice needs. Most oral health providers referred to specialists and few were comfortable accepting care for a person with a rare disease. Most indicated formal dental training programs did not adequately cover rare disease diagnosis and management and felt additional professional education would be beneficial. Dental insurance was a barrier to all aspects of care (diagnosis, referral, treatment plan) and became more acute for people with rare disease transitioning from pediatric to adult oral health providers.
Conclusions
Oral health providers are often the first point of contact for people experiencing symptoms of rare disease and play a key role in identifying, diagnosing, and treating these conditions. Strategies to enlist oral health providers as equal partners in the rare disease health care team is essential to timely diagnosis and management. This reality is only possible with timely access to knowledgeable and confident oral health providers for both children and adults. For people living with a rare disease in the U.S., oral health access is determined by individual state policies that define a limited set of conditions covered by dental insurance plans. Excluded conditions, which often include congenital anomalies and birth defects, must be deemed medically necessary by the insurer before coverage is applied. The responsibility for ‘making the argument’ for medical necessity disproportionately falls to patients, families, and oral health providers and compounds health inequities experienced by people living with a rare disease.
A New Arbitrary Shaped Spatial Clustering
Authors: prasad saurabh , Tripathi Sony , Yadav Narendra kumar , Tiwari Gaurav
Published: May 2023

Clustering is one of the important and widely used techniques for exploratory data analysis. In this paper we have proposed an arbitrary shaped clustering technique for spatial datasets. This method consists of two phases. In the first phase grid based technique is being applied to get the representative means and then identify the arbitrary shaped clusters with these means in the second phase. We have compared our technique with other techniques for comparison purpose.
Leaf litter contributes to the obstacles of Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight continuous cropping
Authors: Shen Min , Wu Limeng , Zhang Yanzhou , Wang Huanli , Xiao Jiaxin , Kang Yijun
Published: May 2023

Aims
To test a hypothesis that fallen leaf litter results in the continuous cropping obstacle (CCO) in Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight (CA) via growth promotion and invasion reinforcement of soil-borne fungal pathogen.
Methods
Water extracts of leaf (LE) and root (RE) were compared for their effects on seed germination, seedling growth indices, and plant defense enzymes activities. Besides, the impacts of LE on a fungal pathogen were investigated under laboratory conditions following isolation and verification. Then, the effects of LE on soil microbial communities were determined by using high-throughput sequencing technology.
Key Results
A fungal strain D1 belonging to Fusarium solani causing root rot disease was isolated and confirmed for its potential contribution to CCO. Both LE and RE inhibited seed germination, seedling growth, and plant defense enzymes activities. Extracts especially LE coupled with D1 aggravated the impacts. Apart from the induction of propagation of D1 in soil, extracts could also promote hypha weight, spore number, and spore germination rate of D1 under the culture conditions. Compared with RE, LE showed more promoting-effects on the pathogenesis-related enzymes activities of D1. Moreover, caffeic acid and ferulic acid were the possible active substances contributing to the events. Besides, not bacterial but fungal community were shifted by LE especially by LE+D1.
Conclusions
These results suggested that water extract of leaf litter promoted the growth and propagation of strain D1, and enhanced its pathogenicity towards CA, which synthetically contributed to the CCO process.
Modelling the dynamic connectedness among commodity prices, banking sector’s financial soundness, and macroeconomic variables in Ghana
Authors: Kyei Collins Baffour , Cantah William Godfred , Junior Peterson Owusu
Published: May 2023

The study explores the dynamic connectedness among international commodity price, banking sector’s financial soundness (BSFSI) and some selected macroeconomic variables in Ghana. To achieve this, the study employed the TVP-VAR connectedness and a robustness technique: Wavelet Multiple. We utilise monthly data of three (3) commodity prices (cocoa, gold and crude oil), seven BsFSI and six (6) macroeconomic variables in Ghana. In addition, the global economic policy uncertainty (GEPU) was used as a control variable as a gauge of external shock. The monthly data spanned January 2007 to March 2022 to include some major economic, political and health events, yielding 183 datapoints. We found strong degree of connectedness among international commodity prices, BsFSI, and macroeconomic variables in Ghana at an estimate of 68.36% for the total connectedness index. However, the connectedness value changes across time which corroborates the adaptive market hypothesis. We demonstrate strong evidence of interdependence and contagion among the variables. Findings from the study requires that the government should broaden its production and export base to have more diverse sources of economic growth, enabling it to manage the erratic nature of earnings tied to commodities exports on the financial stability of Ghana.
Analysis of three dimensional Rayleigh-type waves in a layered structure
Authors: Saha Shalini , Pramanik Snehamoy , Pradhan Nirakara
Published: May 2023

The present article aims to explore three dimensional Rayleigh-type waves in a layered structure composed of transversely isotropic material. The technique of potential function is utilized to solve the problem. With the aid of appropriate boundary conditions, a dispersion relation (illustrating variation of velocity with frequency) is established for the three dimensional Rayleigh-type waves which depends on the elastic constants. It is worth mentioning that the deduced results are found to be in well agreement with the pre-established and the classical results. Moreover, the obtained results are computed numerically and are illustrated graphically for distinct models. The study further computes the phase velocity of Rayleigh-type waves for the distinct models. The outcomes of the present study provide a better insight into numerous engineering and mechanics problems for various purposes. More specifically, understanding the dispersive nature of Rayleigh waves in three dimensions further help in non-destructive testing, structural health monitoring, exploration of oil, fuels and minerals, and delineating soil properties for geotechnical studies. Hence provides sufficient motivation for exploring the same in similar kinds of structures.
Single-cell characterisation of tissue homing CD4+ and CD8+ T cell clones in immune-mediated refractory arthritis
Authors: Bhattacharya Dipabarna , Theodoropoulos Jason , Nurmi Katariina , Juutilainen Timo , Eklund Kari K. , Koivuniemi Riitta , Kelkka Tiina , Mustjoki Satu , Lönnberg Tapio
Published: May 2023

Background Immune-mediated arthritis is a group of autoinflammatory diseases, where the patient’s own immune system attacks and destroys synovial joints. Sustained remission is not always achieved with available immunosuppressive treatments, warranting more detailed studies of T cell responses that perpetuate synovial inflammation in treatment-refractory patients.Methods In this study, we investigated CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes from the synovial tissue and peripheral blood of patients with treatment-resistant immune-mediated arthritis using paired single-cell RNA and TCR-sequencing. To gain insights into the trafficking of clonal families, we compared the phenotypes of clones with the exact same TCRß amino acid sequence between the two tissues.Results Our results show that both CD4 + and CD8 + T cells display a more activated and inflamed phenotype in the synovial tissue compared to peripheral blood both at the population level and within individual T cell families. Furthermore, we found that both cell subtypes exhibited clonal expansion in the synovial tissue.Conclusions Our findings suggest that the local environment in the synovium drives the proliferation of activated cytotoxic T cells, and both CD4 + and CD8 + T cells may contribute to tissue destruction and disease pathogenesis.
Comparative secondary metabolite expression in callus cultures and mother plant in Barleria prionitis L.
Authors: Ranade Rashmi , Joshi Neelu , Kudale Subhash
Published: May 2023

The present study is the first report on the quantitative determination of secondary metabolites in callus cultures of B. prionitis L, an important medicinal plant. We examined the stem-derived and leaf-derived callus for their antioxidant potential and accumulation of phenolics, flavonoids, and active principles viz. shanzhiside methyl ester (SME) and squalene and compared these parameters vis a vis mother plant counterpart. Four solvents viz. methanol, ethanol, acetone, and distilled water (aqueous) extracts were prepared for analysis. Callus cultures not only preserved the metabolite profile of the mother plant but also displayed their elevated levels. Leaf-derived callus surpassed stem-derived callus in most of the parameters studied. The highest phenolic content (21.46 mg GAE g− 1 FW) and flavonoid content (24.58 mg of RE g− 1 FW) was observed in methanol extract of leaf-derived callus, representing a 3-fold and 2-fold increase over mother plant leaf, respectively. Antioxidant capacity based on FRAP and DPPH assay was highest in methanol extract of leaf-derived callus (7-fold and 3-fold increase over mother plant, respectively) while ABTS assay showed the highest activity (122-fold increase) in acetone extract of leaf-derived callus. HPTLC analysis revealed an enhanced concentration of squalene (10-fold) and SME (2.3-fold) in acetone and methanol extract of leaf-derived callus, respectively, compared to mother explants. Results of RP-HPLC for phenolics showed the highest gallic acid content (99-fold increase) in ethanol extract of stem-derived callus whereas catechol was maximum (37- fold increase) in aqueous extract of leaf-derived callus. These findings suggest that callus cultures of B. prionitis can be a potential source of active metabolites. Further, cell suspension cultures can be established from the callus which could be an avenue for the large-scale production of bioactive compounds.
Measurement of superoxide dismutase: Clinical usefulness for patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis
Authors: Zhang Zhihuan , Huang Wenhan , Ren Feifeng , Luo Lei , Zhou Jun , Tang Lin
Published: May 2023

Objective
To investigate the clinical usefulness of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) measurement in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).
Methods
In this single-center retrospective study, demographic data, serum SOD levels, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), ANCA, organ involvement, and prognosis were analyzed for 152 AAV patients hospitalized in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. Meanwhile, the serum SOD levels of 150 healthy people were collected as the control group.
Results
Compared to the healthy control group, serum SOD levels of the AAV group were significantly lower (P < 0.001). SOD levels of AAV patients were negatively correlated to ESR, CRP, and BVAS (ESR rho = − 0.367, P < 0.001; CRP rho = − 0.590, P < 0.001; BVAS rho = − 0.488, P < 0.001). SOD levels for the MPO-ANCA group were significantly lower than the PR3-ANCA group (P = 0.045). SOD levels for the pulmonary involvement group and the renal involvement group were significantly lower than those for the non-pulmonary involvement group and the non-renal involvement group (P = 0.006; P < 0.001, respectively). SOD level in the death group were significantly lower than the survival group (P = 0.001).
Conclusions
In AAV patients, low SOD levels might indicate disease associated oxidative stress. SOD levels in AAV patients were decreased with inflammation, suggesting that SOD levels could potentially be a surrogate marker for disease activity. SOD levels in AAV patients were closely related to ANCA serology, pulmonary involvement, and renal involvement, with low SOD levels an important indicator of a poor prognosis for AAV patients.
Self-Consistency Congruence and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in College Students: the Mediating Role of Negative Emotions and Mobile Phone Addiction
Authors: Wang Lingli , Hu Gengdan , Gao Meicai , Li Yang
Published: May 2023

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a critical and widely recognized public issue that has been associated with various psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, maladaptive behavior, and internet addiction, and is a significant predictor of suicide. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mediating effects of negative emotions and mobile phone addiction on self-consistency congruence and NSSI in college students by developing a model. The sample consisted of 1051 college students who completed the Self-Consistency Congruence Questionnaire, the NSSI Questionnaire, the Mobile Phone Addiction Questionnaire, and the Positive and Negative Emotions Questionnaire. Our findings revealed that self-consistency congruence was negatively associated with NSSI in college students. Mediation analysis demonstrated that self-consistency congruence indirectly influenced NSSI among college students through negative emotions and mobile phone addiction. These results suggest that self-consistency congruence can decrease the likelihood of NSSI by reducing negative emotions and mobile phone addiction.
Quantum annealing of a well-defined frustrated magnet
Authors: Li Yuesheng , Zhao Yuqian , Ma Zhaohua , He Zhangzhen , Liao Haijun , Wang Junfeng
Published: May 2023

Quantum annealing, which involves quantum mechanical tunnelling among possible solutions, has state-of-the-art applications not only in quickly finding the lowest-energy configuration of a complex system [1, 2], but also in quantum computing [3, 4]. Despite recent progress in quantum simulators, processors, and algorithms [5, 9], well-defined materials that exhibit many-body quantum annealing phenomena are still unavailable in the real world. Here we report a single-crystal study of spin dynamics and heat-transport properties of the frustrated magnet α-CoV2O6, consisting of a triangular arrangement of ferromagnetic Ising spin chains without evident structural disorder [10-12]. We observe apparent quantum annealing phenomena resulting from time-reversal symmetry breaking in a tiny transverse field. For instance, below～ 1 K and in a longitudinal magnetic field of～2 T, the system exhibits no indication of approaching the lowest-energy state for at least 15 hours in zero transverse field, but quickly converges towards that configuration with a nearly temperature-independent relaxation time of ~10 seconds in a transverse field of ~3.5 mK. Our large-scale classical and quantum Monte Carlo simulations show good agreement with the experimental results, and suggest that a tiny transverse field can profoundly enhance quantum spin fluctuations around domain walls, triggering rapid quantum annealing process from metastable Kosterlitz-Thouless phases, at low temperatures.
Analyzing hydro-meteorological data from Yamuna river basin, western Himalaya: Using a Markov Chain and LSTM approach to forecast future disasters
Authors: chauhan pankaj , Akiner Muhammed Ernur , Sain Kalachand
Published: May 2023

This research aims to evaluate hydro-meteorological data from the discharge site at the Dakpathar barrage in the Yamuna River basin, Uttarakhand, India, utilizing Extreme Value Distribution of Frequency Analysis and the Markov Chain Approach. This method assesses persistence and allows for combinatorial probability estimations such as initial and transitional probabilities. The hydrologic data was generated (in-situ) and received from Uttarakhand Jal Vidut Nigam Limited (UJVNL), and meteorological data was acquired from NASA's archives MERRA-2 product. A total of sixteen years (2005-2020) of data was used to foresee daily precipitation from 2020 to 2022. Precipitation data for 2021 and 2022 were also retrieved from MERRA-2 products and utilized as observed and forecast values for daily precipitation throughout the monsoon season, which runs from July to September. Markov Chain and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) findings for 2020, 2021, and 2022 were observed and anticipated values for daily rainfall during the monsoon season between July and September. According to test findings, the artificial intelligence technique cannot anticipate future regional meteorological formations; the correlation coefficient R2 is around 0.12. According to the randomly verified precipitation data findings, the Markov Chain model has a success rate of 79.17 percent. The results suggest that extended return periods should be seen as a warning sign for drought and flood risk in the Himalayan region. This study gives a better knowledge of the water budget and better evaluations of the overall state of the climate change variability, impact for global warning, ultimately leading to improved water resource management and better emergency planning to establishment of the Early Warning System (EWS) for extreme occurrences such as cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and other hydro-meteorological related hazards in the complex Himalayan region.
Assessment of genotypic variability and Genome Wide Association studies for cooking time and canning quality traits in common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Authors: Kesiime Eunice Vasiter , Nkalubo Stanley Tamusange , Ochwo Mildred Ssemakula , Dramadri Isaac Onziga , Mukankusi Clare , Nakimbugwe Dorothy , Edema Richard , Gibson Paul , Badji Arfang
Published: May 2023

Developing common bean genotypes that possess short cooking time and good traits for canning is very key in accelerating bean consumption among both the urban poor and the middle class population. With the objective of assessing the genotypic variability and with Genome wide association studies (GWAS) identify SNP markers associated with the two traits, 250 common bean accessions were evaluated using alpha lattice design with two replications and two seasons. Three months post-harvest, the bean grains were evaluated for the two traits. Analysis from mixed models revealed significant variation for both traits among the 250 accessions tested. Cooking time ranged from 51.56 to 215 minutes, with 11 genotypes cooking in less than 60 minutes and total canning quality score ranged from 41.3 to 84% with 31 genotypes scoring 76% and above. GWAS conducted on 217genotypes revealed a total of 47 significant marker trait associations for the two traits; on chromosome Pv01 for cooking time(CT) and washed drain coefficient (WDC), viscosity, WDC, washed drain solids(WDS), splitting and hydration coefficient(HC) on chromosome Pv02, WDS, HC, free starch(FS) and splitting on Pv03, CT, WDC and WDS on Pv04, viscosity, splitting, FS, colour and CT on Pv05. Clumping on Pv06, visual appeal, colour and viscosity on Pv07, visual appeal, clumping, splitting and WDC on Pv08, clumping, viscosity, FS and on Pv09, colour, FS, WDS and clumping on Pv010, CT, FS, clumping, viscosity and WDS on Pv011. Possible candidate genes including; phvul.007G2803001 and Phvul.007G280700.2 both on chromosome 7 and Phvul.005G161200.1 on chromosome 5, all associated with seed coat colour were identified. Besides their usefulness in breeding research, these studies identified genotypes whose shorter cooking time and good canning quality traits could benefit the consumption and processing industries.
A Novel NODAL variant in a young embolic stroke patient with visceral heterotaxy
Authors: Kaburagi Kei , Hagiwara Yuta , Tachikawa Keiji , Miyake Noriko , Akiyama Hisanao , Kawai Yosuke , Omae Yosuke , Tokunaga Katsushi , Yamano Yoshihisa , Shimizu Takahiro , Mitsuhashi Satomi
Published: May 2023

Background:
Ischemic stroke in young adults can be caused by a variety of etiologies including the monogenic disorders. Visceral heterotaxy is a condition caused by abnormal left-right determinations during embryonic development. We aimed to determine the cause of a young ischemic stroke patient with visceral heterotaxy.
Case presentation:
We performed neurological, radiological, and genetic evaluations in a 17-year-old male patient presenting ischemic stroke and visceral heterotaxy to determine the underlying cause of this rare disease combination. Brain MRI showed evidence of embolic stroke, abdominal CT showed visceral heterotaxy, and echocardiogram showed cardiac anomaly with right-to-left-shunt (RLS). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) revealed a heterozygous missense variant (NM_018055.5: c.1016T > C, p.(Met339Val)) in the NODAL gene, which is essential to the determination of the left-right body axis.
Conclusions:
Our study highlights the importance of evaluating genetic causes in young ischemic stroke of unknown cause and the need for stroke risk management in visceral heterotaxy patients with RLS. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first genetically-confirmed case of visceral heterotaxy with young embolic stroke reported to date.
Epigenetic priming targets tumor heterogeneity to shift transcriptomic phenotype of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma towards a Vitamin D susceptible state
Authors: He Bo , Stoffel Lauren , He Clifford , Cho Kumsun , Li Albert , Jiang Haowen , Flowers Brittany , Ferreira Sofia , Zhou Meng-Ning , Attardi Laura , Ye Jiangbin
Published: May 2023

As a highly heterogeneous tumor, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits non-uniform responses to therapies across subtypes. Overcoming therapeutic resistance due to tumor heterogeneity in PDAC remains a challenge. Here, we report that Vitamin D-resistant PDAC cells hijacked Vitamin D signaling to promote tumor progression, whereas epigenetic priming with glyceryl triacetate (GTA) and 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-Aza) overcame Vitamin D resistance and shifted the transcriptomic phenotype of PDAC toward a Vitamin D-susceptible state. Increasing overall H3K27 acetylation with GTA and reducing overall DNA methylation with 5-Aza not only elevated the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression but also reprogrammed the Vitamin D-responsive genes. Consequently, Vitamin D inhibited cell viability and migration in the epigenetically primed PDAC cells by activating genes involved in apoptosis as well as genes involved in negative regulation of cell proliferation and migration, while the opposite effect of Vitamin D was observed in unprimed cells. Studies in genetically engineered mouse PDAC cells further validated the effects of epigenetic priming for enhancing the anti-tumor activity of Vitamin D. Using gain- and loss-of-function experiments, we further demonstrated that VDR was necessary for augmenting original Vitamin D responses, but was insufficient for shifting transcriptomic phenotype of PDAC toward a therapeutic response to Vitamin D, highlighting that both the VDR and Vitamin D-responsive genes were prerequisites for Vitamin D response. These data reveal a previously undefined mechanism in which epigenetic state orchestrates the expression of both VDR and Vitamin D-responsive genes, and determines the response to Vitamin D in PDAC.
Research on the Coordinated Development Path of Green Economy in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration
Authors: WANG Sha , Yude HE , JIANG Yuguo
Published: May 2023

Green development is a model of coordinated and sustainable economic growth and social development. Improving the level of green coordinated development in a region is a basic requirement for urban sustainable development. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is an important core urban agglomeration for economic development in northern China.Taking the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region as an example, this study uses environmental data from 2011 to 2020 to assess the level of green coordinated development between industrial upgrading and the ecological environment based on the theory of coordinated development. And use the system dynamics method to explore the important factors affecting the green coordination in the study area. The main results are as follows: 1. During the research period, the degree of green coordination in the study area has been continuously improved, the growth trend of industrial development is more obvious, and the improvement of the ecological environment is not obvious.2.The gap between Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei has been further widened, Beijing is at a high level of coordination, while Tianjin and Hebei are at a low level of coordination.3.Reducing energy consumption and increasing the labor force in the tertiary industry are both important factors affecting the level of green coordinated development in a region, Moreover, the reduction in energy consumption has a more significant effect on improving the coordination level.
Preparation and characterization of poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate)/poly(lactic acid) blends with enhanced compatibility, mechanical properties, and heat resistance
Authors: Liu Chengkai , Li Chentao , Hao Yanping , Yan Xiangyu , Deng Huiwen , Pan Hongwei , Bian Junjia , Wang Dongmei , Zhao Yan , Zhang Huiliang
Published: May 2023

In this study, an environmental friendly poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA)/ poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blend was prepared with 1,4-bis(tert-butyl peroxy isopropyl) benzene (BIPB) as a reactive compatibilizer. Rheological analysis and gel permeation chromatography analysis showed that the addition of BIPB increased the melt strength and molecular weight of PBSA/PLA blends by reacting with PBSA and PLA during the melt-blending process. The morphology of the cryo-fractured surfaces of PBSA/PLA/BIPB blends showed that adding BIPB could significantly enhance the compatibility between PBSA and PLA. Moreover, the tensile tests showed that adding BIPB could improve the tensile strength, Young's modulus and breaking strain of PBSA/PLA blends. Furthermore, the effect of isothermal treatment on PBSA/PLA/BIPB blends was also studied. WAXD and DSC curves showed that the isothermal treatment could obviously increase the crystallinity of PLA and then increase the heat deflection temperatures of PBSA/PLA/BIPB blends. In addition, adding PLA could significantly improve the hydrolytic properties of PBSA/PLA/BIPB blends.
Dual Modulation Strategy of Mn Donor Doping and Se Vacancy Endows Large Capacity and High-Rate Charge Storage in a Ni3Se4 Battery-Type Cathode
Authors: zhao Jian , He Yinna , Zhang Yuxiao , Song Jiangnan , Wang Yiwei , Feng Jie , Yang Lina , Gao Ge , Liu Ting , Cheng He , Meng Alan , Li Guicun , Wang Lei , Li Zhenjiang
Published: May 2023

Transition metal selenides (TMSs) have been extensively explored as the most attractive battery-type supercapacitor cathodes. However, TMSs usually exhibit elusive active sites, sluggish reaction/diffusion kinetics, and poor conductivity, which severely degrade their capacity and rate performance. To overcome these shortcomings of TMSs, herein, we employ a synchronous strategy of Mn donor doping and Se vacancy in a flower-like Ni3Se4cathode and optimize the dopant/vacancy concentration (VSe(M)–Mn(M)–Ni3Se4) to maximize electron release from Mn and effectively accumulate the electrons around the vacancy, resulting in maximum electron transfer during the charge–discharge process. Moreover, the proposed strategy can intrinsically tune electronic structure, increase electroactive sites, accelerate OH−diffusion kinetics, and pledge the ion chemisorption–desorption equilibrium verified based on first-principle calculations. Thus, the fabricated cathode exhibits ultrahigh capacity and rate capability (357 and 275 mAh g−1at 1 and 100 A g−1, respectively), and a hybrid supercapacitor with the cathode exhibits sufficient energy density of 118 Wh kg−1at 0.8 kW kg−1and exceptional durability, which is considerably greater than that exhibited by supercapacitors comprising other cathodes. Moreover, the charge–discharge mechanism is elaborated in detail via ex situ techniques. This study provides fundamental guidelines for constructing high-performance battery-type cathodes, which can be used in next-generation supercapacitors.
Effects of mulched drip irrigation and biochar on nitrogen accumulation, yield, water use efficiency, quality, and soil properties of peanut
Authors: Zhang Junxiao , Sun Yidi , Liu Xiaowei , Huang Zhenyu , Wu Qi , Xia Guimin , Chi Daocai
Published: May 2023

Field experiments were carried out in Western Liaoning Province to investigate the effects of biochar on peanut nitrogen accumulation (NA) and soil properties in aeolian sandy soil and the relationship between NA parameters regulated by biochar and peanut quality. A split-plot design was adopted. Drip irrigation and mulched drip irrigation were used in the main plot, and three biochar application rates of B0 (0 t/ha), B1 (24 t/ha), and B2 (48t/ha) were used in the sub-plots. The results showed that different irrigation methods and biochar application significantly increased NA of peanuts, and NA of peanuts was in line with a logistic growth function (R2༞0.97). In 2020 and 2021, the pod NA of MB1 compared with MB0 treatment increased by 52.28% and 32.58% at pod filling stage, respectively. B2 treatment increased soil organic matter by 109.66%, cation exchange capacity by75.94%, total N content by 5% (P༞0.05), and pH by 15.24% compared with no biochar. The correlation coefficient between soil total N and protein content was 0.73, and that between soil pH and oil was 0.83. Compared with MB2 and DB0, MB1 treatment increased yield by 62.50% and 38.30%, respectively. In conclusion, applying biochar (B1) to a peanut cultivation system in aeolian sandy soil area increased peanut NA, improved soil properties related to peanut quality, broke through environmental barriers and improved peanut quality, which is important for peanut N fixation and improving quality in the semi-arid aeolian sandy soil area of western Liaoning Province.
Host factors underlying genetic susceptibility to Xanthomonas infection: a study of a neglected tropical disease in passion fruit (Passiflora alata)
Authors: Cardoso Jéssica Luana Souza , Costa Zirlane Portugal da , de Carvalho Lucas Amoroso Lopes , de Souza Alessandra Alves , Pinheiro Daniel Guariz , Vieira Maria Lucia Carneiro
Published: May 2023

De novo RNA-Seq assembly facilitates the study of transcriptomes of non-model, underutilized crops, enabling researchers to capture the maximum number of genes expressed in plant tissues. We were able to describe the expression profiling of the sweet passion fruit (Passiflora alata) in response to Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. passiflorae(Xap) infection. The crop is appreciated for the typical aroma and characteristic flavor of its fruits. However, yield is impaired by Xap, whose effects are exacerbated by high temperature and humidity. Initially, we provided the P. alata transcriptome assemblies which were shown to have high completeness, based on the expected gene content for a de novo transcriptome assembly. A total of 1,329 were completed genes and 96.6% of the orthologs conserved across Embryophytes were represented in the assembled transcriptome. Genes involved in pathogen recognition such as PRRs, R genes and genes related to the signaling cascade, coding for specific transcription factors and secondary metabolites, were found to be upregulated after infection. P. alata is known to be susceptible to Xap, thus we were interested in identifying possible susceptibility (S) genes. Interestingly, both characterized S genes in other plant species i.e., SWEET10 and LOB1were found to be upregulated in P. alata, suggesting that an effector-triggered susceptibility was achieved through the interaction between Xap and P. alata. Our qPCR results corroborate the role played by these genes, which could potentially be targets for genome editing in order to produce disease-resistant cultivars.
T Cell-mediated Immune Response and Correlates of Inflammation and their relationship with COVID-19 clinical severity: not an intuitive guess.
Authors: Mantovani Nathalia , Santana Luiz , Hunter James , Blum Vinicius , Vergara Tania , Gouvea Celso , Leal Elcio , Bellei Nancy , Schechter Mauro , Diaz Ricardo
Published: May 2023

Background: Predictors of the outcome of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) infection remain to be fully determined. We evaluated selected viral characteristics and immunological responses that might predict and/or correlate to the clinical outcome of COVID-19.
Methods: The magnitude and breadth of T cell-mediated responses were measured within 36 hours of symptom onset for individuals developing divergent clinical outcomes. Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) were subjected to in vitro stimulation with SARS-CoV-2-based peptides. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 sequences were generated by metagenome, and HLA typing was performed using Luminex technology.
Findings: CD4+ T cell activation was found to be negatively correlated with SARS-CoV-2 basal viral load in patients with severe COVID-19 (p = 0·043). The overall cellular immune response, as inferred by IFN-γ signal, was higher at baseline for patients that progressed to mild disease compared to patients that progressed to severe disease (p = 0·0044). Subjects with milder disease developed higher T cell responses for MHC class I and II-restricted peptides (p = 0·033).
Interpretation: Mounting specific cellular immune responses in the first days after symptom onset, as inferred by IFN-γ magnitude in the ELISPOT assay, may efficiently favor a positive outcome. In contrast, progression to severe COVID-19 was accompanied by stronger cellular immune responses, higher CD4+ T cell activation, and a higher number of in silico predicted high-affinity class I HLA alleles.
Funding: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) - Grant 2020/10396-2, and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - Grant 441817/2018-1.
Synthesis of artificial cells via biocatalytic polymerisation-induced self-assembly
Authors: Jimaja Sètuhn , Chadwick Robert , Glynn Christopher , Chami Mohamed , Happel Dominic , Guo Chao , Kolmar Harald , Bruns Nico , Belluati Andrea
Published: May 2023

Artificial cells are biomimetic microstructures that mimic functions of natural cells and find application, e.g., as microreactors, as building blocks for molecular systems engineering, and to host synthetic biology pathways. Here, we report enzymatically synthesised polymer-based artificial cells with the ability to express proteins. They are created by biocatalytic atom transfer radical polymerization-induced self-assembly (bioPISA). The metalloprotein myoglobin synthesises amphiphilic block copolymers that self-assemble into structures ranging from micelles over worm-like micelles to polymersomes and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). The GUVs encapsulate cargo during the polymerisation, including enzymes, nanoparticles, microparticles, plasmids and cell lysate. The resulting artificial cells act as microreactors for enzymatic reactions and for osteoblast-inspired biomineralization, and could express proteins when fed with amino acids, as shown by the expression of the fluorescent protein mClover and of actin. Actin polymerises in the vesicles and alters the artificial cell’s internal structure by creating internal compartments. Thus, bioPISA-derived GUVs mimic bacteria as they are composed of a microscopic reaction compartment that contains genetic information which is able to express proteins upon induction. bioPISA not only is a powerful tool in the pursuit of artificial cells but also for the easy and highly efficient encapsulation of biological molecules under mild conditions and in biologically relevant media. Therefore, it could have significant implications for the development of biomaterials and drug-delivery systems, as well as for cell encapsulation, and the in-situ formation of nano-objects.
Alfalfa/maize intercropping has comparable productivity and lower environmental impact than nitrogen fertilizer application
Authors: Zhang Bing , Nasar Jamal , Dong Siqi , zhou xue , Gao Qiang
Published: May 2023

Background and Aims
Due to the unique biological nitrogen fixation of legume crops, intercropping maize with legume/grass crops such as alfalfa becomes an effective way to reduce exogenous nitrogen fertilizer inputs. This study aimed to determine whether intercropping could be compared to nitrogen fertilizer application and identify potential differences.
Methods
The trial was laid out in the field since 2015 in a randomized complete block design. Treatments included maize monocropping without nitrogen (N0M) and with nitrogen (NM), maize/alfalfa intercropping without nitrogen (N0IM). In autumn 2019, crop and rhizosphere soil samples were collected to determine yield, rhizosphere soil properties and microbial indicators.
Results
Results demonstrated that N0IM and NM treatments had the similar effect on the enhancement of maize yield and yield composition factors and the improvement of soil physicochemical properties related to nitrogen and kalium. Additionally, NM treatment significantly increased the Chao1 and ACE indices by 28.1% and 29.49%, while the N0IM treatment significantly increased the Shannon index by 1.90%. The NM and N0IM treatments had significantly different pathways for increasing maize yield. Both NM and N0IM treatments increased the relative abundance of assimilatory nitrate reduction. And the N0IM treatment increased nitrogen fixation as well. At the same time, NM significantly increased nitrogen dissimilation by 23.98% and intercropping significantly increased denitrification by 12.81%.
Conclusion
Intercropping can be considered comparable to nitrogen fertilizer application in terms of yield and yield composition factors, rhizospheric soil physicochemical properties. Moreover, intercropping was found to be more conducive to the stability of rhizospheric soil bacteria and more environmentally friendly.
Hemoadsorption therapy for critically ill patients with acute liver dysfunction: A meta- analysis and systematic review
Authors: Turan Caner , Szigetvary Csenge , Kói Tamás , Engh Marie Anne , Atakan Isil , Zubek László , Terebessy Tamas , Hegyi Peter , Molnár Zsolt
Published: May 2023

Introduction
Critically ill patients admitted to the ICU have been shown to be at risk of developing acute liver dysfunction usually as part of multiorgan failure sequelae. Clearing the blood from toxic liver-related metabolites and cytokines could prevent further organ damage. Despite the increasing use of hemoadsorption for this purpose, evidence of its efficacy is lacking.
Objectives
To appraise the evidence for the efficacy of hemoadsorption (HA) treatment for critical illness-associated acute liver dysfunction.
Methods
A systematic search was conducted on Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, CENTRAL, and Web of Science (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022286213). The target population was patients with acute liver dysfunction or failure associated with critical illness and treated with HA. Outcomes of interest were pre- and post-treatment changes in organ functions and mortality.
Results
The search yielded 30eligible publications between 2011 and 2023, which reported the use of HA for a total of 335patients who presented with liver dysfunction related to acute critical illness. Of those, 26are case presentations (n=84), three are observational studies (n=142) and one is a registry analysis (n=109). Analysis of data from individual cases showed a significant reduction in levels of AST (p = 0.03) and vasopressor need (p = 0.03), and a tendency to lower levels of total bilirubin, ALT,CRP, and creatinine. Pooled data showed a significant reduction in total bilirubin (mean difference of -4.79 mg/dL [95% CI: -6.25; -3.33], p=0.002). In the case of creatinine, the post-treatment mean values were smaller as well; however, the difference was not significant (mean difference: -0.38mg/dL [95% CI:-1.27; 0.5],p=0.203). Evidence is lacking on the effect of HA on mortality. No device-related adverse events were reported.
Conclusions
The use of HA for critically ill patients with acute liver dysfunction or failure seems to be safe and yields a trend towards improved liver function after therapy, but more high-quality evidence is crucially needed.
The effects of motivational interviews about activities of daily living on physical adjustment and quality of life in elderly total knee arthroplasty patients: A randomised-controlled trial
Authors: BAKİR GİZEM KUBAT , GÖKTAS SONAY
Published: May 2023

Introduction:
This study was carried out to investigate the effects of motivational interviews about activities of daily living on physical adjustment and quality of life in elderly total knee arthroplasty patients.
Methods
This study is a randomised-controlled trial. This study was carried out with 70 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty. The patients were randomly divided into the intervention group where motivational interviews were held in eight sessions (n = 35) and the control group where routine nursing practices were followed (n = 35). The motivational interview program was applied to the patients in the intervention group for three months. The data of the study were collected using a “Patient Information Form”, a “Postoperative Complication Assessment Form”, the “Functional Assessment Form”, and the “SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire”.
Results
It was determined that the difference between the mean scores of the Functional Evaluation Form and the SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire before the motivational interview of the patients in the experimental and control groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). After the motivational interview, the difference between the Functional Evaluation Form mean scores and the Quality of Life Scale mean scores of the patients in the experimental group was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
It was concluded that motivational interviews about activities of daily living increase physical adjustment and quality of life in elderly total knee arthroplasty patients.
A 3D"Sandwich" Co-culture System with hPPSCs and hUVECs Supports Mouse Embryo Development from E3.5 to E7.5 In Vitro
Authors: Teng Yili , Zhang Linye , Ye Zihui , Chang Binwen , Tu Zheng , Du Xuguang , Wen Xi , XU JUNJUN
Published: May 2023

Background A variety of methods for ex-utero culture systems have been explored, but there remain limitations in terms of in vitro culture platforms used prior to the implantation of mouse embryos, and the ability of mouse blastocysts to develop normally in vitro has not been established. Whether vascular niche support mouse embryo development from embryonic day (E) 3.5 to E7.5 in vitro is unknown.Methods We established a three-dimensional (3D) “sandwich” vascular-niche culture system with in vitro culture medium (IVCM) with human placenta perivascular stem cells (hPPSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (hUVECs), as supportive cells, which were seeded into the bottom layer of Matrigel to test mouse embryos from E3.5 to E7.5 in vitro. Mouse embryos from E3.5 to E7.5 development rates and greatest diameters at each stage were quantitatively determinated using statistics of SPSS software. Pluripotent markers and embryo transplantation in vivo were used to monitor mouse embryo quality and function.Results Embryos in the IVCM + Cells (hPPSCs + hUVECs) showed higher development rates and greatest diameters at each stage than those in the IVCM group. Embryos in the IVCM + Cells group cultured to E5.5 resembled natural egg cylinders in morphology and expressed specific embryonic cell markers, including Oct4 and Nanog, which were features similar to embryos developed in vivo. After transplantation, the embryos could be re-implanted in the internal uterus and continue to develop to a certain stage.Conclusions Therefore, the 3D in vitro culture system enabled the development of embryos from E3.5 to E7.5, and the vascularization microenvironment constructed by Matrigel, hPPSCs, and hUVECs significantly promoted the development of implanted embryos. This system allowed us to further study the physical and molecular mechanisms of embryo implantation in vitro.