bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of exercise modality combined with moderate hypoxia on blood glucose regulation in adults with overweight
Authors: Tee Chris Chow Li , Chong Mee Chee , Cooke Matthew B. , Rahmat Nurhamizah , Yeo Wee Kian , Camera Donny M. 
Published: June 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of moderate hypoxia with three different exercise modes on glucose regulation in healthy overweight adults.Methods: Thirteen overweight males (age: 31 ± 4 years; body fat 26.3 ± 3.2%) completed three exercise trials in a randomized crossover design involving 60 min cycling exercise at 90% lactate threshold (LOW), sprint interval training (20 × 4 s all-out; SIT) and lower limb functional bodyweight exercises (8 sets of 4 × 20 s; FEX) under moderate hypoxia (FiO2 = 16.5%). Post-exercise oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed following each trial. Heart rate, oxygen saturation (SpO2), physical activity enjoyment scale (PACES), and perceptual measures were recorded during each exercise session. Venous blood was collected pre-, immediately post-, and 24 h post-exercise and analysed for plasma glucose and insulin, incremental area under curve (iAUC), and circulating microRNA expression (c-miRs-486-5p, -126-5p, and -21-5p). Interstitial glucose concentrations were measured using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).Results: Post-exercise OGTT iAUC for plasma glucose and insulin concentration were lower in SIT and LOW vs. control (p &lt; 0.05) while post-exercise interstitial glucose iAUC and c-miRs were not different between exercise modes. Heart rate was greater in SIT vs. LOW and FEX, and FEX vs. LOW (p &lt; 0.05), SpO2 was lower in SIT, while PACES was not different between exercise modes. Perceptual measures were greater in SIT vs. LOW and FEX.Conclusion: Acute SIT and LOW under moderate hypoxia improved post-exercise plasma insulin compared to FEX exercises. Considering SIT was also time-efficient, well tolerated, and enjoyable for participants, this may be the preferred exercise modality for improving glucose regulation in adult males with overweight when combined with moderate hypoxia.
Metabolomics and physio-chemical analyses of mulberry plants leaves response to manganese deficiency and toxicity reveal key metabolites and their pathways in manganese tolerance
Authors: Li Jianbin , Ackah Michael , Amoako Frank Kwarteng , Cui Zipei , Sun LongWei , Li Haonan , Tsigbey Victor Edem , Zhao Mengdi , Zhao Weiguo 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionManganese (Mn) plays a pivotal role in plant growth and development. Aside aiding in plant growth and development, Mn as heavy metal (HM) can be toxic in soil when applied in excess. Morus alba is an economically significant plant, capable of adapting to a range of environmental conditions and possessing the potential for phytoremediation of contaminated soil by HMs. The mechanism by which M. alba tolerates Mn stresses remains obscure.MethodsIn this study, Mn concentrations comprising sufficiency (0.15 mM), higher regimes (1.5 mM and 3 mM), and deficiency (0 mM and 0.03 mM), were applied to M. alba in pot treatment for 21 days to understand M. alba Mn tolerance. Mn stress effects on the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), chlorophyll content, plant morphological traits, enzymatic and non-enzymatic parameters were analyzed as well as metabolome signatures via non-targeted LC-MS technique.ResultsMn deficiency and toxicity decrease plant biomass, Pn, Ci, Gs, Tr, and chlorophyll content. Mn stresses induced a decline in the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), while peroxidase (POD) activity, and leaf Mn content, increased. Soluble sugars, soluble proteins, malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline exhibited an elevation in Mn deficiency and toxicity concentrations. Metabolomic analysis indicates that Mn concentrations induced 1031 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), particularly amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, benzene and derivatives and secondary metabolites. The DEMs are significantly enriched in alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, galactose metabolism, pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, pentose phosphate pathway, carbon metabolism, etc.Discussion and conclusionThe upregulation of Galactinol, Myo-inositol, Jasmonic acid, L-aspartic acid, Coproporphyrin I, Trigonelline, Pantothenol, and Pantothenate and their significance in the metabolic pathways makes them Mn stress tolerance metabolites in M. alba. Our findings reveal the fundamental understanding of DEMs in M. alba’s response to Mn nutrition and the metabolic mechanisms involved, which may hold potential significance for the advancement of M. alba genetic improvement initiatives and phytoremediation programs.
A teosinte-derived allele of ZmSC improves salt tolerance in maize
Authors: Li Xiaofeng , Ma Qiangqiang , Wang Xingyu , Zhong Yunfeng , Zhang Yibo , Zhang Ping , Du Yiyang , Luo Hanyu , Chen Yu , Li Xiangyuan , Li Yingzheng , He Ruyu , Zhou Yang , Li Yang , Cheng Mingjun , He Jianmei , Rong Tingzhao , Tang Qilin 
Published: June 2024

Maize, a salt-sensitive crop, frequently suffers severe yield losses due to soil salinization. Enhancing salt tolerance in maize is crucial for maintaining yield stability. To address this, we developed an introgression line (IL76) through introgressive hybridization between maize wild relatives Zea perennis, Tripsacum dactyloides, and inbred Zheng58, utilizing the tri-species hybrid MTP as a genetic bridge. Previously, genetic variation analysis identified a polymorphic marker on Zm00001eb244520 (designated as ZmSC), which encodes a vesicle-sorting protein described as a salt-tolerant protein in the NCBI database. To characterize the identified polymorphic marker, we employed gene cloning and homologous cloning techniques. Gene cloning analysis revealed a non-synonymous mutation at the 1847th base of ZmSCIL76, where a guanine-to-cytosine substitution resulted in the mutation of serine to threonine at the 119th amino acid sequence (using ZmSCZ58 as the reference sequence). Moreover, homologous cloning demonstrated that the variation site derived from Z. perennis. Functional analyses showed that transgenic Arabidopsis lines overexpressing ZmSCZ58 exhibited significant reductions in leaf number, root length, and pod number, alongside suppression of the expression of genes in the SOS and CDPK pathways associated with Ca2+ signaling. Similarly, fission yeast strains expressing ZmSCZ58 displayed inhibited growth. In contrast, the ZmSCIL76 allele from Z. perennis alleviated these negative effects in both Arabidopsis and yeast, with the lines overexpressing ZmSCIL76 exhibiting significantly higher abscisic acid (ABA) content compared to those overexpressing ZmSCZ58. Our findings suggest that ZmSC negatively regulates salt tolerance in maize by suppressing downstream gene expression associated with Ca2+ signaling in the CDPK and SOS pathways. The ZmSCIL76 allele from Z. perennis, however, can mitigate this negative regulatory effect. These results provide valuable insights and genetic resources for future maize salt tolerance breeding programs.
Narrowing row spacing and adding inter-block promote the grain filling and flag leaf photosynthetic rate of wheat under enlarged drip tube spacing system
Authors: Jing Jianguo , Qian Fu , Chang Xinyi , Li Zhaofeng , Li Weihua 
Published: June 2024

Enlarging the lateral space of drip tubes saves irrigation equipment costs (drip tubes and bypass), but it will lead to an increased risk of grain yield heterogeneity between wheat rows. Adjusting wheat row spacing is an effective cultivation measure to regulate a row’s yield heterogeneity. During a 2-year field experiment, we investigated the variations in yield traits and photosynthetic physiology by utilizing two different water- and fertilizer-demanding spring wheat cultivars (NS22 and NS44) under four kinds of drip irrigation patterns with different drip tube lateral spacing and wheat row spacing [① TR4, drip tube spacing (DTS) was 60 cm, wheat row horizontal spacing (WRHS) was 15 cm; ② TR6, DTS was 90 cm, WRHS was 15 cm; ③ TR6L, DTS was 90 cm, WRHS was 10 cm, inter-block spacing (IBS) was 35 cm; and ④ TR6S, DTS was 80 cm, WRHS was 10 cm, IBS was 25 cm]. The results showed that under 15-cm equal row spacing condition, after the number of wheat rows served by a single tube increased from four (TR4, control) to six (TR6), NS22 and NS44 exhibited a marked decline in yield. The decline of NS22 (9.93%) was higher than that of NS44 (9.04%), and both cultivars also showed a greater decrease in grain weight and average grain-filling rate (AGFR) of inferior grains (NS22: 23.19%, 13.97%; NS44: 7.78%, 5.86%) than the superior grains (NS22: 10.60%, 8.33%; NS44: 4.89%, 4.62%). After the TR6 was processed to narrow WRHS (from 15 to 10 cm) and add IBS (TR6L: 35 cm; TR6S: 25 cm), the grain weight per panicle (GWP) and AGFR of superior and inferior grains in the third wheat row (RW3) of NS22 and NS44 under TR6L increased significantly by 26.05%, 8.22%, 14.05%, 10.50%, 5.09%, and 5.01%, respectively, and under TR6S, they significantly increased by 20.78%, 9.91%, 16.19%, 9.28%, 5.01%, and 4.14%, respectively. The increase in GWP and AGFR was related to the increase in flag leaf area, net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, relative water content, actual photochemical efficiency of PSII, and photochemical quenching coefficient. Among TR4, TR6, TR6L, and TR6S, for both NS22 and NS44, the yield of TR6S was significantly higher than that of TR6 and TR6L. Furthermore, TR6S showed the highest economic benefit.
Comprehensive analyses of the ARF gene family in cannabis reveals their potential roles in regulating cannabidiol biosynthesis and male flower development
Authors: Pan Gen , Yang Xiaojuan , He Jiajia , Liu Zhenyi , Chen Fengming , Chen Jiayi 
Published: June 2024

BackgroundCannabidiol (CBD), as an important therapeutic property of the cannabis plants, is mainly produced in the flower organs. Auxin response factors (ARFs) are play a crucial role in flower development and secondary metabolite production. However, the specific roles of ARF gene family in cannabis remain unknown.MethodsIn this study, various bioinformatics analysis of CsARF genes were conducted using online website and bioinformatics, quantitative real time PCR technology was used to investigate the expression patterns of the CsARF gene family in different tissues of different cannabis varieties, and subcellular localization analysis was performed in tobacco leaf.ResultsIn this study, 22 CsARF genes were identified and found to be unevenly distributed across 9 chromosomes of the cannabis genome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the ARF proteins were divided into 4 subgroups. Duplication analysis identified one pair of segmental/whole-genome duplicated CsARF, and three pairs of tandemly duplicated CsARF. Collinearity analysis revealed that two CsARF genes, CsARF4 and CsARF19, were orthologous in both rice and soybean. Furthermore, subcellular localization analysis showed that CsARF2 was localized in the nucleus. Tissue-specific expression analysis revealed that six genes were highly expressed in cannabis male flowers, and among these genes, 3 genes were further found to be highly expressed at different developmental stages of male flowers. Meanwhile, correlation analysis between the expression level of CsARF genes and CBD content in two cultivars ‘H8’ and ‘Y7’ showed that the expression level of CsARF13 was negatively correlated with CBD content, while the expression levels of six genes were positively correlated with CBD content. In addition, most of CsARF genes were responsive to IAA treatment.ConclusionOur study laid a foundation for the further studies of CsARFs function in cannabis, and provides candidate genes for breeding varieties with high CBD yield in cannabis production.
The grading detection model for fingered citron slices (citrus medica ‘fingered’) based on YOLOv8-FCS
Authors: Zhang Lingtao , Luo Pu , Ding Shaoyun , Li Tingxuan , Qin Kebei , Mu Jiong 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionFingered citron slices possess significant nutritional value and economic advantages as herbal products that are experiencing increasing demand. The grading of fingered citron slices plays a crucial role in the marketing strategy to maximize profits. However, due to the limited adoption of standardization practices and the decentralized structure of producers and distributors, the grading process of fingered citron slices requires substantial manpower and lead to a reduction in profitability. In order to provide authoritative, rapid and accurate grading standards for the market of fingered citron slices, this paper proposes a grading detection model for fingered citron slices based on improved YOLOv8n.MethodsFirstly, we obtained the raw materials of fingered citron slices from a dealer of Sichuan fingered citron origin in Shimian County, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province, China. Subsequently, high-resolution fingered citron slices images were taken using an experimental bench, and the dataset for grading detection of fingered citron slices was formed after manual screening and labelling. Based on this dataset, we chose YOLOv8n as the base model, and then replaced the YOLOv8n backbone structure with the Fasternet main module to improve the computational efficiency in the feature extraction process. Then we redesigned the PAN-FPN structure used in the original model with BiFPN structure to make full use of the high-resolution features to extend the sensory field of the model while balancing the computation amount and model volume, and finally we get the improved target detection algorithm YOLOv8-FCS.ResultsThe findings from the experiments indicated that this approach surpassed the conventional RT-DETR, Faster R-CNN, SSD300 and YOLOv8n models in most evaluation indicators. The experimental results show that the grading accuracy of the YOLOv8-FCS model reaches 98.1%, and the model size is only 6.4 M, and the FPS is 130.3.DiscussionThe results suggest that our model offers both rapid and precise grading for fingered citron slices, holding significant practical value for promoting the advancement of automated grading systems tailored to fingered citron slices.
The relationship between self-stigma and quality of life in long-term hospitalized patients with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Liu Fuquan , Deng Hu , Hu Na , Huang Wenqian , Wang Hong , Liu Lin , Chai Jiabao , Li Ying 
Published: June 2024

ObjectiveTo investigate self-stigma’s influence on schizophrenia patients’ quality of life and its mediated impact by various factors.MethodsThis study adopted a cross-sectional design and randomly selected 170 hospitalized patients with schizophrenia for evaluation. The assessment tools included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale (SQLS), and Coping Questionnaire for Schizophrenia Patients (CQSP), among others. Correlation analysis, regression analysis, and mediation analysis were used to test the correlation and mediation effects.ResultsSelf-stigma had a significant impact on quality of life (T = 8.13, p = 0.00). When self-stigma is used as a mediator, the problem-solving factor in coping strategies has an indirect effect on quality of life, which is significant (AB = -0.16, P = 0.02), while the avoidance factor in coping strategies has a direct effect on quality of life, which is significant (C’ = 0.54, p &lt; 0.001), and an indirect effect, which is also significant (AB = 0.25, p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionThe study highlights the significant impact of self-stigma on the quality of life of schizophrenia patients, emphasizing the crucial roles of self-esteem and coping strategies. These findings suggest clinical interventions to improve quality of life should focus on reducing self-stigma, especially enhancing self-esteem and promoting adaptive coping strategies. By addressing these factors, we can better support the mental health and well-being of those with schizophrenia, offering an effective approach to rehabilitation.
Mental health status and influencing factors of retired teachers
Authors: Luo Pingyun , Liu Yuanzhen , Pan Xianjiang , Huang Liyun 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionThe wellbeing of retired teachers is often easily overlooked. This study aims to explore the mental health status and influencing factors of retired teachers.MethodFrom October to December 2022, a convenient sampling survey was conducted on retired teachers using the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90), mainly using the χ2-test and logistic regression analysis.ResultsA sampling survey was conducted on 353 retired teachers, with an overall positive detection rate of 16.1%. The five factors with the highest positive detection rate were found to be obsessive-compulsive disorder (30.3%), interpersonal sensitivity (21.5%), paranoia (20.1%), anxiety (19.3%), and others (19.3%). The detection rates for the five factors, namely psychosis, depression, hostility, terror, and somatization, are all below 19%. The data on sex (χ2 = 4.626, P = 0.043), professional title (χ2 = 17.670, P = 0.003), income (χ2 = 9.960, P = 0.041), life satisfaction (χ2 = 27.348, P = 0.000), family relationships (χ2 = 51.451, P = 0.000), and physical health status (χ2 = 50.361, P = 0.000) show that the difference in mental health among retired teachers is statistically significant. The multivariate binary logistic regression analysis revealed that family relationships, life satisfaction, and physical health were important factors leading to mental health problems among retired teachers.DiscussionRetired teachers should cultivate a wide range of interests and hobbies, engage in regular physical exercise, develop healthy living habits, foster a positive family atmosphere, establish harmonious family relationships, promote community cultural construction, strengthen psychological intervention, and prevent psychological diseases.
Caregiver burden among parents of school-age children with asthma: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Yang Fang , Zhou Jingru , Xiao Hongying , Wu Xia , Cui Yingjuan , Huang Houqiang , Zheng Silin , Li Huawei 
Published: June 2024

ObjectiveTo investigate the caregiver burden of parents of school-age children with asthma and analyze the factors influencing their caregiver burden.MethodsA convenience sampling method was used to select 366 parents of school-age children with asthma who visited the outpatient departments of three tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province, China, from January 2021 to July 2021. A general information questionnaire and the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) were used to assess the current caregiver burden and analyze the influencing factors.ResultsThe caregiver burden score of parents of school-age children with asthma was 27 (17, 39), with 40.43% of parents experiencing moderate to high levels of burden. Detailed results of univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in caregiver burden scores based on parents’ gender, highest education level, number of children, occupation, family history of asthma, monthly family income, annual medical expenses for the child, child’s gender, whether the child had undergone lung function tests, number of emergency visits due to asthma exacerbation in the past 3 months, and whether the child had missed school due to asthma exacerbation in the past 3 months (p &lt; 0.1). Detailed results of multivariate analysis showed that parents’ gender, occupation, family history of asthma, monthly family income, annual medical expenses for the child, number of emergency visits due to asthma exacerbation in the past 3 months, and whether the child had missed school due to asthma exacerbation in the past 3 months were independent risk factors for caregiver burden in parents of school-age children with asthma (p &lt; 0.05).ConclusionParents of school-age children with asthma experience a certain level of caregiver burden, with over one-third of parents experiencing moderate to high levels of burden. Being a mother, being a worker, having no family history of asthma, having low monthly family income, having high annual medical expenses for the child, having frequent emergency visits due to asthma exacerbation in the past 3 months, and having missed school due to asthma exacerbation in the past 3 months are independent risk factors for caregiver burden in parents of school-age children with asthma, healthcare providers should develop feasible coping strategies, such as paying attention to caregivers’ psychological condition to reduce the burden of caring for parents of school-age children with asthma. The entire society should also make efforts in improving social support and strengthening healthcare coverage in order to achieve the aforementioned goals.
The link between exposure to violence and psychological distress among middle-aged Muslims in Israel: the role of gender
Authors: Iktilat Khalil , Isacson Michal , Tzemah-Shahar Roy , Agmon Maayan 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionTo date, it is still unclear if exposure to violence affects psychological distress in middle-aged adults and if the effects are gender specific. This age group is of special interest as it is at the onset of the aging process and is often overlooked or understudied in scholarly research. Specifically, targeted research on middle-aged Muslims living in Israel, a unique population exposed to increasing violence, is lacking.MethodsWe examined the relationship between exposure to violence and psychological distress in a cohort of 363 middle-aged adults (223 women) from three Muslim villages in northern Israel, collecting data on violence exposure (Screen for Adolescent Violence Exposure (SAVE) questionnaire), psychological distress (Kessler 6 Psychological Distress questionnaire), and other demographic characteristics including education level and socioeconomic status. We used this data to answer two questions: (1) is exposure to violence a predictor of psychological distress in middle-aged Muslims, and (2) does the relationship between exposure and distress differ between men and women?ResultsWe revealed a positive link between exposure to violence and psychological distress (β = 0.145, p = 0.017) when controlling for gender, age, education level, and socioeconomic level.DiscussionDespite previous evidence of gender-based differences in this interplay in younger cohorts, we did not find a significant interaction between gender and the violence exposure-psychological distress interplay. Our findings are some of the first to focus on middle-aged individuals and show that both men and women exhibit connections between exposure to violence and psychological distress when considering covariates. This research provides insights that can be used when planning community-wide interventions and treatment schemes to support healthy aging.