Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 85 in total

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  1. Distribution and assessment of heavy metal contents in surface sediments of the western Sunda Shelf
    Zhang H, Liu S, Wu K, Cui J, Zhu A, Zhang Y, et al.
    Mar Pollut Bull, 2021 Jul;168:112433.
    PMID: 33962084 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112433
    The heavy metal contents (Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg, and As) of 88 surface sediment samples from the western Sunda Shelf were analyzed to determine their spatial distribution patterns and contamination status. The results demonstrated that high enrichment regions of heavy metals were focused in the Kelantan, Pahang, and Ambat river estuaries, and deep water regions of the study area. These high enrichment regions were mainly controlled by riverine inputs and their hydrodynamic conditions. The enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), and potential ecological risk index (PERI) were used to assess heavy metal accumulation. The results indicated that the study area was not significantly contaminated overall at the time of the study; however, Cd, As, and Hg were at levels corresponding to moderate contamination at many stations located in the Pahang River estuary, Kelantan River estuary, and north-eastern region of the study area, primarily because of anthropogenic activities.
  2. Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Provides Insights into Differentially Expressed Genes and Long Non-Coding RNAs between Ovary and Testis of the Mud Crab (Scylla paramamosain)
    Yang X, Ikhwanuddin M, Li X, Lin F, Wu Q, Zhang Y, et al.
    Mar Biotechnol (NY), 2018 Feb;20(1):20-34.
    PMID: 29152671 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-017-9784-2
    The molecular mechanism underlying sex determination and gonadal differentiation of the mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) has received considerable attention, due to the remarkably biological and economic differences between sexes. However, sex-biased genes, especially non-coding genes, which account for these differences, remain elusive in this crustacean species. In this study, the first de novo gonad transcriptome sequencing was performed to identify both differentially expressed genes and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) between male and female S. paramamosain by using Illumina Hiseq2500. A total of 79,282,758 and 79,854,234 reads were generated from ovarian and testicular cDNA libraries, respectively. After filtrating and de novo assembly, 262,688 unigenes were produced from both libraries. Of these unigenes, 41,125 were annotated with known protein sequences in public databases. Homologous genes involved in sex determination and gonadal development pathways (Sxl-Tra/Tra-2-Dsx/Fru, Wnt4, thyroid hormone synthesis pathway, etc.) were identified. Three hundred and sixteen differentially expressed unigenes were further identified between both transcriptomes. Meanwhile, a total of 233,078 putative lncRNAs were predicted. Of these lncRNAs, 147 were differentially expressed between sexes. qRT-PCR results showed that nine lncRNAs negatively regulated the expression of eight genes, suggesting a potential role in sex differentiation. These findings will provide fundamental resources for further investigation on sex differentiation and regulatory mechanism in crustaceans.
  3. Protective effect of daidzein against streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer's disease via improving cognitive dysfunction and oxidative stress in rat model
    Wei J, Yang F, Gong C, Shi X, Wang G
    J Biochem Mol Toxicol, 2019 Jun;33(6):e22319.
    PMID: 30897277 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.22319
    Oxidative stress is performing an essential role in developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), and age-related disorder and other neurodegenerative diseases. In existing research, we have aimed at investigating the daidzein (4',7-dihydroxyisoflavone) effect (10 and 20 mg/kg of body weight), as a free radical scavenger and antioxidant in streptozotocin (STZ) infused AD in rat model. Daidzein treatment led to significant improvement in intracerebroventricular-streptozotocin (ICV-STZ)-induced memory and learning impairments that was evaluated by Morris water maze test and spontaneous locomotor activity. It significantly restored the alterations in malondialdehyde, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione levels. In addition, histopathological observations in cerebral cortex and hippocampal areas confirmed the neuroprotective effect of daidzein. These outcomes provide experimental proof showing preventive effect of daidzein on memory, learning dysfunction and oxidative stress in case of ICV-STZ rats. In conclusion, daidzein offers a potential treatment module for various neurodegenerative disorders with regard to mental deficits like AD.
  4. Fulltext High-Density Genetic Linkage Maps Provide Novel Insights Into ZW/ZZ Sex Determination System and Growth Performance in Mud Crab (Scylla paramamosain)
    Waiho K, Shi X, Fazhan H, Li S, Zhang Y, Zheng H, et al.
    Front Genet, 2019;10:298.
    PMID: 31024620 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00298
    Mud crab, Scylla paramamosain is one of the most important crustacean species in global aquaculture. To determine the genetic basis of sex and growth-related traits in S. paramamosain, a high-density genetic linkage map with 16,701 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was constructed using SLAF-seq and a full-sib family. The consensus map has 49 linkage groups, spanning 5,996.66 cM with an average marker-interval of 0.81 cM. A total of 516 SNP markers, including 8 female-specific SNPs segregated in two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for phenotypic sex were located on LG32. The presence of female-specific SNP markers only on female linkage map, their segregation patterns and lower female: male recombination rate strongly suggest the conformation of a ZW/ZZ sex determination system in S. paramamosain. The QTLs of most (90%) growth-related traits were found within a small interval (25.18-33.74 cM) on LG46, highlighting the potential involvement of LG46 in growth. Four markers on LG46 were significantly associated with 10-16 growth-related traits. BW was only associated with marker 3846. Based on the annotation of transcriptome data, 11 and 2 candidate genes were identified within the QTL regions of sex and growth-related traits, respectively. The newly constructed high-density genetic linkage map with sex-specific SNPs, and the identified QTLs of sex- and growth-related traits serve as a valuable genetic resource and solid foundation for marker-assisted selection and genetic improvement of crustaceans.
  5. Fulltext Relative Modification of Prompt ψ(2S) and J/ψ Yields from pp to PbPb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV
    Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Asilar E, Bergauer T, Brandstetter J, et al.
    Phys Rev Lett, 2017 Apr 21;118(16):162301.
    PMID: 28474955 DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.162301
    The relative modification of the prompt ψ(2S) and J/ψ yields from pp to PbPb collisions, at the center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV per nucleon pair, is presented. The analysis is based on pp and PbPb data samples collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2015, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 28.0  pb^{-1} and 464  μb^{-1}, respectively. The double ratio of measured yields of prompt charmonia reconstructed through their decays into muon pairs, (N_{ψ(2S)}/N_{J/ψ})_{PbPb}/(N_{ψ(2S)}/N_{J/ψ})_{pp}, is determined as a function of PbPb collision centrality and charmonium transverse momentum p_{T}, in two kinematic intervals: |y|<1.6 covering 6.5
  6. Fulltext Study of dijet events with a large rapidity gap between the two leading jets in pp collisions at s = 7 TeV
    Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Asilar E, Bergauer T, Brandstetter J, et al.
    Eur Phys J C Part Fields, 2018;78(3):242.
    PMID: 31264999 DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-018-5691-6
    Events with no charged particles produced between the two leading jets are studied in proton-proton collisions at s = 7 TeV . The jets were required to have transverse momentum p T jet > 40 GeV and pseudorapidity 1.5 < | η jet | < 4.7 , and to have values of η jet with opposite signs. The data used for this study were collected with the CMS detector during low-luminosity running at the LHC, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 8 pb - 1 . Events with no charged particles with p T > 0.2 GeV in the interval - 1 < η < 1 between the jets are observed in excess of calculations that assume no color-singlet exchange. The fraction of events with such a rapidity gap, amounting to 0.5-1% of the selected dijet sample, is measured as a function of the p T of the second-leading jet and of the rapidity separation between the jets. The data are compared to previous measurements at the Tevatron, and to perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculations based on the Balitsky-Fadin-Kuraev-Lipatov evolution equations, including different models of the non-perturbative gap survival probability.
  7. Fulltext Measurement of the triple-differential dijet cross section in proton-proton collisions at s = 8 TeV and constraints on parton distribution functions
    Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Asilar E, Bergauer T, Brandstetter J, et al.
    Eur Phys J C Part Fields, 2017;77(11):746.
    PMID: 31999281 DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-017-5286-7
    A measurement is presented of the triple-differential dijet cross section at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV using 19.7 fb -1 of data collected with the CMS detector in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. The cross section is measured as a function of the average transverse momentum, half the rapidity separation, and the boost of the two leading jets in the event. The cross section is corrected for detector effects and compared to calculations in perturbative quantum chromodynamics at next-to-leading order accuracy, complemented with electroweak and nonperturbative corrections. New constraints on parton distribution functions are obtained and the inferred value of the strong coupling constant is α S ( M Z ) = 0.1199 ± 0.0015 ( exp ) - 0.0020 + 0.0031 ( theo ) , where M Z is the mass of the Z boson.
  8. Fulltext Measurement of double-differential cross sections for top quark pair production in pp collisions at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] and impact on parton distribution functions
    Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Asilar E, Bergauer T, Brandstetter J, et al.
    Eur Phys J C Part Fields, 2017;77(7):459.
    PMID: 28943791 DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-017-4984-5
    Normalized double-differential cross sections for top quark pair ([Formula: see text]) production are measured in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8[Formula: see text] with the CMS experiment at the LHC. The analyzed data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.7[Formula: see text]. The measurement is performed in the dilepton [Formula: see text] final state. The [Formula: see text] cross section is determined as a function of various pairs of observables characterizing the kinematics of the top quark and [Formula: see text] system. The data are compared to calculations using perturbative quantum chromodynamics at next-to-leading and approximate next-to-next-to-leading orders. They are also compared to predictions of Monte Carlo event generators that complement fixed-order computations with parton showers, hadronization, and multiple-parton interactions. Overall agreement is observed with the predictions, which is improved when the latest global sets of proton parton distribution functions are used. The inclusion of the measured [Formula: see text] cross sections in a fit of parametrized parton distribution functions is shown to have significant impact on the gluon distribution.
  9. Fulltext Measurement of the jet mass in highly boosted [Formula: see text] events from pp collisions at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]
    Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Asilar E, Bergauer T, Brandstetter J, et al.
    Eur Phys J C Part Fields, 2017;77(7):467.
    PMID: 28943793 DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-017-5030-3
    The first measurement of the jet mass [Formula: see text] of top quark jets produced in [Formula: see text] events from pp collisions at [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] is reported for the jet with the largest transverse momentum [Formula: see text] in highly boosted hadronic top quark decays. The data sample, collected with the CMS detector, corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 19.7[Formula: see text]. The measurement is performed in the lepton+jets channel in which the products of the semileptonic decay [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is an electron or muon, are used to select [Formula: see text] events with large Lorentz boosts. The products of the fully hadronic decay [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] are reconstructed using a single Cambridge-Aachen jet with distance parameter [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]. The [Formula: see text] cross section as a function of [Formula: see text] is unfolded at the particle level and is used to test the modelling of highly boosted top quark production. The peak position of the [Formula: see text] distribution is sensitive to the top quark mass [Formula: see text], and the data are used to extract a value of [Formula: see text] to assess this sensitivity.
  10. Fulltext Measurement of prompt and nonprompt [Formula: see text] production in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text]
    Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Asilar E, Bergauer T, Brandstetter J, et al.
    Eur Phys J C Part Fields, 2017;77(4):269.
    PMID: 28515672 DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-017-4828-3
    This paper reports the measurement of [Formula: see text] meson production in proton-proton ([Formula: see text]) and proton-lead ([Formula: see text]) collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of [Formula: see text] by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The data samples used in the analysis correspond to integrated luminosities of 28[Formula: see text] and 35[Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] collisions, respectively. Prompt and nonprompt [Formula: see text] mesons, the latter produced in the decay of [Formula: see text] hadrons, are measured in their dimuon decay channels. Differential cross sections are measured in the transverse momentum range of [Formula: see text], and center-of-mass rapidity ranges of [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) and [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]). The nuclear modification factor, [Formula: see text], is measured as a function of both [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Small modifications to the [Formula: see text] cross sections are observed in [Formula: see text] relative to [Formula: see text] collisions. The ratio of [Formula: see text] production cross sections in [Formula: see text]-going and Pb-going directions, [Formula: see text], studied as functions of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], shows a significant decrease for increasing transverse energy deposited at large pseudorapidities. These results, which cover a wide kinematic range, provide new insight on the role of cold nuclear matter effects on prompt and nonprompt [Formula: see text] production.
  11. Study of Jet Quenching with Z+jet Correlations in Pb-Pb and pp Collisions at sqrt[s]_{NN}=5.02  TeV
    Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Asilar E, Bergauer T, Brandstetter J, et al.
    Phys Rev Lett, 2017 Aug 25;119(8):082301.
    PMID: 28952777 DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.082301
    The production of jets in association with Z bosons, reconstructed via the μ^{+}μ^{-} and e^{+}e^{-} decay channels, is studied in pp and, for the first time, in Pb-Pb collisions. Both data samples were collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV. The Pb-Pb collisions were analyzed in the 0%-30% centrality range. The back-to-back azimuthal alignment was studied in both pp and Pb-Pb collisions for Z bosons with transverse momentum p_{T}^{Z}>60  GeV/c and a recoiling jet with p_{T}^{jet}>30  GeV/c. The p_{T} imbalance x_{jZ}=p_{T}^{jet}/p_{T}^{Z}, as well as the average number of jet partners per Z, R_{jZ}, was studied in intervals of p_{T}^{Z}. The R_{jZ} is found to be smaller in Pb-Pb than in pp collisions, which suggests that in Pb-Pb collisions a larger fraction of partons associated with the Z bosons fall below the 30  GeV/c p_{T}^{jet} threshold because they lose energy.
  12. Fulltext Searches for pair production of third-generation squarks in [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] pp collisions
    Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Asilar E, Bergauer T, Brandstetter J, et al.
    Eur Phys J C Part Fields, 2017;77(5):327.
    PMID: 28943785 DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-017-4853-2
    Searches are presented for direct production of top or bottom squark pairs in proton-proton collisions at the CERN LHC. Two searches, based on complementary techniques, are performed in all-jet final states that are characterized by a significant imbalance in transverse momentum. An additional search requires the presence of a charged lepton isolated from other activity in the event. The data were collected in 2015 at a centre-of-mass energy of 13[Formula: see text] with the CMS detector and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 2.3[Formula: see text]. No statistically significant excess of events is found beyond the expected contribution from standard model processes. Exclusion limits are set in the context of simplified models of top or bottom squark pair production. Models with top and bottom squark masses up to 830 and 890[Formula: see text], respectively, are probed for light neutralinos. For models with top squark masses of 675[Formula: see text], neutralino masses up to 260[Formula: see text] are excluded at 95% confidence level.
  13. Fulltext Measurement of the top quark mass using single top quark events in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV
    Sirunyan AM, Tumasyan A, Adam W, Asilar E, Bergauer T, Brandstetter J, et al.
    Eur Phys J C Part Fields, 2017;77(5):354.
    PMID: 28943789 DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-017-4912-8
    A measurement of the top quark mass is reported in events containing a single top quark produced via the electroweak t channel. The analysis is performed using data from proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb[Formula: see text]. Top quark candidates are reconstructed from their decay to a [Formula: see text] boson and a b quark, with the [Formula: see text] boson decaying leptonically to a muon and a neutrino. The final state signature and kinematic properties of single top quark events in the t channel are used to enhance the purity of the sample, suppressing the contribution from top quark pair production. A fit to the invariant mass distribution of reconstructed top quark candidates yields a value of the top quark mass of [Formula: see text]. This result is in agreement with the current world average, and represents the first measurement of the top quark mass in event topologies not dominated by top quark pair production, therefore contributing to future averages with partially uncorrelated systematic uncertainties and a largely uncorrelated statistical uncertainty.
  14. Partial oxidation of TiN coating by hydrothermal treatment and ozone treatment to improve its osteoconductivity
    Shi X, Xu L, Le TB, Zhou G, Zheng C, Tsuru K, et al.
    Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl, 2016 Feb;59:542-548.
    PMID: 26652406 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2015.10.024
    Dental implants made of pure titanium suffer from abrasion and scratch during routine oral hygiene procedures. This results in an irreversible surface damage, facilitates bacteria adhesion and increases risk of peri-implantitis. To overcome these problems, titanium nitride (TiN) coating was introduced to increase surface hardness of pure titanium. However, the osteoconductivity of TiN is considered to be similar or superior to that of titanium and its alloys and therefore surface modification is necessary. In this study, TiN coating prepared through gas nitriding was partially oxidized by hydrothermal (HT) treatment and ozone (O3) treatment in pure water to improve its osteoconductivity. The effects of HT treatment and O3 treatment on surface properties of TiN were investigated and the osteoconductivity after undergoing treatment was assessed in vitro using osteoblast evaluation. The results showed that the critical temperature for HT treatment was 100°C since higher temperatures would impair the hardness of TiN coating. By contrast, O3 treatment was more effective in oxidizing TiN surfaces, improving its wettability while preserving its morphology and hardness. Osteoblast attachment, proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression and mineralization were improved on oxidized specimens, especially on O3 treated specimens, compared with untreated ones. These effects seemed to be consequences of partial oxidation, as well as improved hydrophilicity and surface decontamination. Finally, it was concluded that, partially oxidized TiN is a promising coating to be used for dental implant.
  15. Fulltext Female-specific SNP markers provide insights into a WZ/ZZ sex determination system for mud crabs Scylla paramamosain, S. tranquebarica and S. serrata with a rapid method for genetic sex identification
    Shi X, Waiho K, Li X, Ikhwanuddin M, Miao G, Lin F, et al.
    BMC Genomics, 2018 Dec 29;19(1):981.
    PMID: 30594128 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-5380-8
    BACKGROUND: Mud crabs, Scylla spp., are commercially important large-size marine crustaceans in the Indo-West Pacific region. As females have the higher growth rate and economic value, the production of all female stocks is extremely essential in aquaculture. However, the sex determination mechanism is still unclear. Development of sex-specific genetic markers based on next-generation sequencing proved to be an effective tool for discovering sex determination system in various animals.

    RESULTS: Restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) was employed to isolate sex-specific SNP markers for S. paramamosain. A total of 335.6 million raw reads were obtained from 20 individuals, of which 204.7 million were from 10 females and 130.9 million from 10 males. After sequence assembly and female-male comparison, 20 SNP markers were identified to be sex-specific. Furthermore, ten SNPs in a short sequence (285 bp) were confirmed heterozygous in females and homozygous in males in a large population by PCR amplification and sequencing. Subsequently, a female-specific primer was successfully designed according to the female-specific nucleotide which could amplify an expected band from females but not from males. Thus, a rapid and effective method for molecular sexing in S. paramamosain was developed, meanwhile, this method could successfully identify the sex of S. tranquebarica and S. serrata. Finally, nine and four female-specific SNP markers were detected in S. tranquebarica and S. serrata, respectively.

    CONCLUSIONS: Sex-specific SNP markers were firstly identified in crab species and showed female heterogamety and male homogamety, which provided strong genetic evidence for a WZ/ZZ sex determination system in mud crabs S. paramamosain, S. tranquebarica and S. serrata. These findings will lay a solid foundation for the study of sex determination mechanism, sex chromosome evolution, and the development of mono-sex population in crustaceans.

  16. Ultrasound wave assisted removal of Ceftriaxone sodium in aqueous media with novel nano composite g-C3N4/MWCNT/Bi2WO6 based on CCD-RSM model
    Shi X, Karachi A, Hosseini M, Yazd MS, Kamyab H, Ebrahimi M, et al.
    Ultrason Sonochem, 2020 Nov;68:104460.
    PMID: 30712851 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2019.01.018
    The aim of this study was ultrasound assisted removal of Ceftriaxone sodium (CS) based on CCD model. Using sonochemical synthesized Bi2WO6 implanted on graphitic carbon nitride/Multiwall carbon nanotube (g-C3N4/MWCNT/Bi2WO6). For this purpose g-C3N4/MWCNT/Bi2WO6 was synthesized and characterized using diverse approaches including XRD, FE-SEM, XPS, EDS, HRTEM, FT-IR. Then, the contribution of conventional variables including pH, CS concentration, adsorbent dosage and ultrasound contact time were studied by central composite design (CCD) under response surface methodology (RSM). ANOVA was employed to the variable factors, and the most desirable operational conditions mass provided. Drug adsorption yield of 98.85% obtained under these defined conditions. Through conducting five experiments, the proper prediction of the optimum point were examined. The respective results showed that RSD% was lower than 5% while the t-test confirmed the high quality of fitting. Langmuir isotherm equation fits the experimental data best and the removal followed pseudo-second order kinetics. The estimation of the experimentally obtained maximum adsorption capacities was 19.57 mg.g- of g-C3N4/MWCNT/Bi2WO6 for CS. Boundary layer diffusion explained the mechanism of removal via intraparticle diffusion.
  17. Construction of DNA nanotubes with controllable diameters and patterns using hierarchical DNA sub-tiles
    Shi X, Wu X, Song T, Li X
    Nanoscale, 2016 Jul 22.
    PMID: 27444699
    The design of DNA nanotubes is a promising and hot research branch in structural DNA nanotechnology, which is rapidly developing as a versatile method for achieving subtle nanometer scale materials and molecular diagnostic/curative devices. Multifarious methods have been proposed to achieve varied DNA nanotubes, such as using square tiles and single-stranded tiles, but it is still a challenge to develop a bottom-up assembly way to build DNA nanotubes with different diameters and patterns using certain universal DNA nanostructures. This work addresses the challenge by assembling three types of spatial DNA nanotubes with different diameters and patterns from the so-called "basic bricks", i.e., hierarchical DNA sub-tiles. A high processing rate and throughput synthesis of DNA nanotubes are observed and analyzed by atomic force microscopy. Experimental observations and data analysis suggests the stability and controllability of DNA nanotubes assembled by hierarchical DNA sub-tiles.
  18. Fulltext Associations between institutional-social-ecological factors and COVID -19 case-fatality: Evidence from 134 countries using multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR)
    Shi X, Ling GHT, Leng PC, Rusli N, Matusin AMRA
    One Health, 2023 Jun;16:100551.
    PMID: 37153369 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100551
    During the period in which the Omicron coronavirus variant was rapidly spreading, the impact of the institutional-social-ecological dimensions on the case-fatality rate was rarely afforded attention. By adopting the diagnostic social-ecological system (SES) framework, the present paper aims to identify the impact of institutional-social-ecological factors on the case-fatality rate of COVID-19 in 134 countries and regions and test their spatial heterogeneity. Using statistical data from the Our World In Data website, the present study collected the cumulative case-fatality rate from 9 November 2021 to 23 June 2022, along with 11 country-level institutional-social-ecological factors. By comparing the goodness of fit of the multiple linear regression model and the multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model, the study demonstrated that the effects of SES factors exhibit significant spatial heterogeneity in relation to the case-fatality rate of COVID-19. After substituting the data into the MGWR model, six SES factors were identified with an R square of 0.470 based on the ascending effect size: COVID-19 vaccination policy, age dependency ratio, press freedom, gross domestic product (GDP), COVID-19 testing policy, and population density. The GWR model was used to test and confirm the robustness of the research results. Based on the analysis results, it is suggested that the world needs to meet four conditions to restore normal economic activity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic: (i) Countries should increase their COVID-19 vaccination coverage and maximize COVID-19 testing expansion. (ii) Countries should increase public health facilities available to provide COVID-19 treatment and subsidize the medical costs of COVID-19 patients. (iii) Countries should strictly review COVID-19 news reports and actively publicize COVID-19 pandemic prevention knowledge to the public through a range of media. (iv) Countries should adopt an internationalist spirit of cooperation and help each other to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The study further tests the applicability of the SES framework to the field of COVID-19 prevention and control based on the existing research, offering novel policy insights to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic that coexists with long-term human production and life for a long time.
  19. Fulltext PDLLA-Zn-nitrided Fe bioresorbable scaffold with 53-μm-thick metallic struts and tunable multistage biodegradation function
    Shen D, Qi H, Lin W, Zhang W, Bian D, Shi X, et al.
    Sci Adv, 2021 Jun;7(23).
    PMID: 34088662 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf0614
    Balancing the biodegradability and mechanical integrity of a bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) with time after implantation to match the remodeling of the scaffolded blood vessel is important, but a key challenge in doing so remains. This study presents a novel intercalated structure of a metallic BRS by introducing a nanoscale Zn sacrificial layer between the nitrided Fe platform and the sirolimus-carrying poly(d,l-lactide) drug coating. The PDLLA-Zn-FeN BRS shows a multistage biodegradation behavior, maintaining mechanical integrity at the initial stage and exhibiting accelerated biodegradation at the subsequent stage in both rabbit abdominal aortas and human coronary arteries, where complete biodegradation was observed about 2 years after implantation. The presence of the nanoscale Zn sacrificial layer with an adjustable thickness also contributes to the tunable biodegradation of BRS and allows the reduction of the metallic strut thickness to 53 μm, with radial strength as strong as that of the current permanent drug-eluting stents.
  20. Fulltext Heterochely and handedness in the orange mud crab Scylla olivacea: implication for future culture practice optimisation
    Rozaimi R, Shu-Chien AC, Wang Y, Sutikno S, Ikhwanuddin M, Shi X, et al.
    PeerJ, 2023;11:e15143.
    PMID: 37033733 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15143
    Asymmetric body traits in bilateral organisms are common and serve a range of different functions. In crustaceans, specifically among brachyuran crabs, heterochely and handedness in some species are known to aid in behavioural responses such as food acquisition, and sexual and territorial displays. However, the heterochely of the intertidal mud crab genus Scylla is still poorly understood. This study investigated the cheliped morphometric characteristics of orange mud crab Scylla olivacea and the relation of heterochely and handedness to sex. Scylla olivacea is heterochelous, with predominant right-handed (70.2%). Three morphometric variables, i.e., propodus length (PL), propodus depth (PD), and propodus width (PW) were significantly larger in the right cheliped and the estimated handedness based on these three variables were consistent with the presence of molariform teeth. The effect of sex had no influence on the occurrence of heterochely or handedness. The frequency of left-handedness increased with size, especially in males. We postulate that handedness reversal, a phenomenon seen in other crab species when the dominant hand is lost, also occurs in S. olivacea, thereby resulting in a change in left-handedness frequency. The use of chelipeds by males in mate and territorial defenses might provide an explanation for the higher risk of losing a dominant cheliped and thus, higher left-handedness frequency compared to females. Future behavioural research could shed light on the selective forces that affect the handedness distribution in mud crabs. Knowledge on heterochely and handedness of mud crabs could be useful for future development of less aggressive crab populations by claw reversal and the optimisation of limb autotomy techniques.
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