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Fulltext Consumer Flow Experience of Senior Citizens in Using Social Media for Online Shopping

Xu Y, Wang Y, Khan A, Zhao R

Front Psychol, 2021;12:732104.
PMID: 34603153 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.732104

The senior market signifies an enormous, rapidly expanding segment, and this research aimed to investigate this segment by proposing a theoretical model incorporating the antecedents of consumer flow experience, flow theory, and technology acceptance model (TAM) devised for determining social media purchase intention. This study focuses on the senior citizens engaged in shopping using social media located in Pakistan. A total of 300 senior citizens were selected. An online survey was conducted with the help of a marketing research agency located in Pakistan. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares (PLS) method. According to the results, the antecedents, such as feedback, enjoyment, and time distortion were found to be in a positive relationship with flow experience, however, the concentration did not have a significant effect on the flow. Furthermore, the flow was found to be in a significant relationship with social media purchase intention and TAM. Finally, TAM was also found to be in a positive significant relationship with social media purchase intention. This research contributes to the constantly expanding volume of the utilization of social media by the senior market segment population for buying and producing the highly valuable knowledge for manufacturers, wholesalers, vendors, and a huge number of senior customers.
Burden and trends of iodine deficiency in Asia from 1990 to 2019

Wei R, Wang Z, Zhang X, Wang X, Xu Y, Li Q

Public Health, 2023 Sep;222:75-84.
PMID: 37531713 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.06.034

OBJECTIVES: Understanding iodine deficiency (ID) burdens and trends in Asia can help guide effective intervention strategies. This study aims to report the incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of ID in 48 Asian countries during the period 1990-2019.
STUDY DESIGN: Data on ID were retrieved from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 and estimated by age, sex, geographical region, and sociodemographic index (SDI).
METHODS: The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was calculated to evaluate the changing trend of age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), and age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) related to ID during the period 1990-2019.
RESULTS: In Asia, there were 126,983,965.8 cases with 5,466,213.1 new incidence and 1,765,995.5 DALYs of ID in 2019. Between 1999 and 2019, the EAPC in ASIR, ASPR and ASDR were -0.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.8 to -0.4), -0.9 (95% CI, -1.2 to -0.7), and -1.6 (95% CI, -1.8 to -1.5), respectively. Malaysia charted the largest decrease in ASIR, ASPR, and ASDR (82.4%, 85.3%, and 80.9% separately), whereas the Philippines and Pakistan were the only two countries that witnessed an increase in ASIR and ASPR. ID burdens were more pronounced in women, countries located to the south of the Himalayas, and low-middle SDI regions.
CONCLUSIONS: The incidence, prevalence, and DALYs of ID in Asia substantially decreased from 1990 to 2019. Women and low-middle SDI countries have relatively high ID burdens. Governments need to pay constant attention to the implementation and monitoring of universal salt iodization.
Fulltext Study on the Construction and Development Path of Gymnasiums considering Ecological Environment Restrictions

Chen X, Zheng L, Xu Y

J Environ Public Health, 2022;2022:2700957.
PMID: 35978586 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2700957

Under the restriction of ecological and environmental factors, our requirements have improved for the development path of gymnasium construction. According to the previous way to carry out the development path of gymnasium construction will make our construction work encounter a lot of unnecessary troubles, so we can improve the success rate of the development path of gymnasium construction under the constraints of the ecological environment by carrying out relevant evasive operations according to the constraints of ecological environment. The topological path and path algorithm used to improve the efficiency of stadium construction and development path under the constraints of ecological environment, TEG algorithm, Q-TEG model, Q-TEG algorithm, Dtra algorithm, TraD algorithm, ResR algorithm, and Q-TED algorithm used in resource reservation plus time slot plus hosting bring the following advantages: (1) we use topological path and path algorithm to explore topological representation methods suitable for development path. The overview provides a theoretical basis for guidance, for forwarding technology scheduling mechanisms and multi-path forwarding mechanisms to provide higher flexibility. (2) We use the TEG algorithm of resource reservation plus time slot plus trusteeship, Q-TEG model, and Q-TEG algorithm under multi-model model can deal with the capacity and link of queue in each stadium construction development path well. It is more convenient to set the packet loss threshold for the propagation experiment tested in the simulation. Better help gymnasium construction and development path transmission is successful. (3) The use of the Dtra algorithm, TraD algorithm, ResR algorithm, and Q-TED algorithm in our stadium construction development path of a good deal of the transmission link structure between each node, so that the transmission efficiency between nodes becomes higher, making our stadium construction development path operation more efficient and convenient.
Fulltext How Determinants of Employee Innovation Behavior Matter During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Investigating Cross-Regional Role via Multi-Group Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

Cao C, Peng MY, Xu Y

Front Psychol, 2022;13:739898.
PMID: 35369246 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.739898

The COVID-19 pandemic cropping up at the end of 2019 started to pose a threat to millions of people's health and life after a few weeks. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to social and economic problems that have changed the progress steps of individuals and the whole nation. In this study, the work conditions for employees from Taiwan, Malaysia, and the Chinese mainland are explored and compared, and the relationship between support mechanisms and innovation behaviors (IB) is evaluated with a view of the social cognitive career theory. This study adopts the cross-sectional survey and purposive sampling to collect questionnaires. A total of 623 copies of a questionnaire from Taiwanese, 440 copies from Malaysians, and 513 copies from mainlanders were collected in this study to compare the three groups in developing employees' IBs. Smart-partial least squares for partial least squares structural equation modeling was applied in the structural model to conduct a verification of the hypotheses and comparative analysis in this study. According to the findings, compared with employees from the Chinese mainland, the Taiwanese and Malaysian samples show more significant paths regarding employee employability, IB, prior knowledge, perceived organizational support, self-efficacy, and job performance. Our results will offer more insights and advice concerning theories of human resource.
Fulltext The impact of social media on the happiness of Chinese college students

Xu Y, Razak RRA, Xiang M

Heliyon, 2024 Mar 30;10(6):e28331.
PMID: 38533043 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28331

BACKGROUND: In the contemporary academic milieu, an array of erudite investigations has meticulously delved into the ramifications of social media paradigms on the nuances of modern societal interactions. Predominantly, these scholarly endeavors have harnessed quantitative methodologies to discern both the advantageous and detrimental implications of social media. Notwithstanding these extensive analyses, there appears to be a conspicuous lacuna in the literature about the subjective repercussions of social media on the well-being and contentment of tertiary education students. In light of this gap, the present qualitative exploration seeks to elucidate the perceptions of Chinese collegiate individuals vis-à-vis the influence of social media platforms on their experiential happiness.
METHOD: Guided by interpretative phenomenological analysis (Jonathan et al., 2022) [1], we conducted 3 semi-structured interviews with 5 university students.
RESULT: Using an interpretive phenomenology analysis approach four themes. They are (1) The Paradox of Temperance and Indulgence, (2) Identity Construction and Presentation, (3) Social Support and Connection, and (4) Social Comparison and Self-Evaluation.
DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that the individual well-being of college students may be affected by ambivalence between moderate and indulgent use of social media, social media interactions to maintain and enhance personal identity, and comparisons between individuals and certain online groups. Therefore, the government, higher education institutions, and college students should work together to build a safe and happy university life.
Fulltext Effect of having a subsequent child on the mental health of women who lost a child in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake: a cross-sectional study

Xu Y, Herrman H, Bentley R, Tsutsumi A, Fisher J

Bull World Health Organ, 2014 May 1;92(5):348-55.
PMID: 24839324 DOI: 10.2471/BLT.13.124677

To assess whether having a subsequent child had an effect on the mental health of Chinese mothers who lost a child during an earthquake.
Analysis of 40 weight loss compounds adulterated in health supplements by liquid chromatography quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry

Zeng Y, Xu Y, Kee CL, Low MY, Ge X

Drug Test Anal, 2016 Mar;8(3-4):351-6.
PMID: 26305055 DOI: 10.1002/dta.1846

In this study, a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with scheduled multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) enhanced product ion (EPI) method was developed for simultaneous determination of 40 compounds with weight loss effect, including bisacodyl, phenolphthalein, and sibutramine and its metabolites, etc. They might be adulterated in health supplements to get prominent weight loss effect. The samples were analyzed using a Q-Trap 5500 coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a CORTECS ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) C18 column (100 mm x 2.1 mm x1.6 µm). Scheduled MRM was used as survey scan, MS2 spectra acquired in the EPI mode were used to perform library searching to increase the confidence of detection. Limits of detection were less than 10 ng/g for the majority of the analytes. A total of 447 weight loss products were tested in our laboratory in the past three years. Among these samples, 119 samples were found to be adulterated with one or more weight loss compounds, including sibutramine, its metabolites benzyl sibutramine and desmethyl sibutramine; phenolphthalein; bisacodyl; furosemide; liothyronine (T3); and thyroxine (T4). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Xanthones from Garcinia parvifolia

Xu YJ, Lai YH, Imiyabir Z, Goh SH

J Nat Prod, 2001 Sep;64(9):1191-5.
PMID: 11575954

Nine new xanthones, parvixanthones A-I (1-9), isolated from the dried bark of Garcinia parvifolia, were found to have a common 1,3,6,7-oxygenated pattern for their xanthone nucleus, but various oxygenated isoprenyl or geranyl substituent groups. The structures were determined by spectroscopic methods.
Four new clerodane diterpenoids from Callicarpa pentandra

Xu J, Harrison LJ, Vittal JJ, Xu YJ, Goh SH

J Nat Prod, 2000 Aug;63(8):1062-5.
PMID: 10978198

Leaf extracts of Callicarpa pentandra provided four new clerodane-type diterpenoids (1-4), of which 1, 2, and 4 have ring-A-contracted structures. Their structures and stereochemistry were established by spectral data interpretation, and for 3 also by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.
Steam reforming of polystyrene at a low temperature for high H2/CO gas with bimetallic Ni-Fe/ZrO2 catalyst

Zhou H, Saad JM, Li Q, Xu Y

Waste Manag, 2020 Mar 01;104:42-50.
PMID: 31962216 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2020.01.017

Recovery of chemicals and fuels from unrecyclable waste plastics at high temperatures (>800 °C) has received much research attention. Thermodynamic equilibrium calculation suggests that it is possible to perform the low-temperature steam reforming of polystyrene. In this study, we synthesized a Ni-Fe bimetallic catalyst for the low-temperature (500 °C) steam reforming of polystyrene. XRD characterization showed that Ni-Fe alloy was formed in the catalyst. Compared to conventional Ni catalysts, the Ni-Fe bimetallic catalysts can significantly increase the H2/CO ratio in the produced gas with high gas production yield. The online gas analysis revealed that H2, CO, and CO2 were formed in the same temperature range. H2 and CO were formed simultaneously through steam reforming reactions, and CO2 was formed through water-gas shift reaction. New morphologies of carbon deposition on the catalyst surface were found, suggesting that wax could be condensed on the catalyst surface at a low temperature.
Menu labeling influence on purchase behaviors: Applying the theory of planned behavior and health consciousness

Rahamat S, Jeong E, Arendt SW, Xu Y

Appetite, 2022 Feb 11.
PMID: 35157999 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.105967

Mixed findings have been reported in the literature on the effectiveness of menu labeling in assisting consumers to make informed purchase decisions when eating out. Therefore, this study examined factors that influenced consumers' intentions to use menu labeling and whether these intentions influenced caloric purchases relative to actual caloric needs. While other researchers have assessed impacts of menu labeling on total calories purchased, our study assessed the impact relative to caloric needs, therein recognizing that each consumer has different caloric needs. An extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) incorporating health consciousness served as the theoretical underpinning. The TPB addresses reasons why an individual takes action on a certain behavior; in the case of this research, that behavior was purchasing food. Food purchases were further operationalized using the calorie content of foods and comparing that number of calories to caloric needs. Two-step structural equation modeling was used to analyze 316 surveys from restaurant consumers. Results indicated that attitudes, subjective norms, and health consciousness positively influenced intentions to use menu labeling. Intentions to use menu labeling also significantly influenced actual purchase behaviors (measured as the difference between caloric purchases and caloric needs). Overall, the current research findings provide novel insights for researchers to further explore the role of menu labeling on purchase behavior by using the TPB model with integration of health consciousness.
Crystal network structure and stability of beeswax-based oleogels with different polyunsaturated fatty acid oils

Han W, Chai X, Liu Y, Xu Y, Tan CP

Food Chem, 2021 Dec 04;381:131745.
PMID: 35124493 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131745

The effect of different types of oils including camellia oil (CLO), sunflower oil (SFO), corn oil (CO) and linseed oil (LO) on the formation, crystal network structure and mechanical properties of 4%wt beeswax (BW) in oleogel was investigated. BW oleogels containing oils with higher contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids gelled first (1%wt), especially LO with higher contents of linolenic acid rather than CLO with higher contents of monounsaturated fatty acids. In comparison, oils with higher polyunsaturated fatty acid contents exhibited higher Db with more extensive microstructure at different cooling rates, which was related to shorter nucleation induction time of crystal and higher crystallinity. Stronger van der Waals forces were observed in oleogels with higher polyunsaturated fatty acid contents especially for LO oleogel. Rheology also showed that LO oleogel with higher content of linolenic acid had higher crystallinity and lower crystal melting interfacial tension, resulting in the formation of a more stable network structure.
Fulltext Consensus models with aggregation operators for minimum quadratic cost in group decision making

Zhang R, Huang J, Xu Y, Herrera-Viedma E

Appl Intell (Dordr), 2023;53(2):1370-1390.
PMID: 35506044 DOI: 10.1007/s10489-021-02948-5

In group decision making (GDM), to facilitate an acceptable consensus among the experts from different fields, time and resources are paid for persuading experts to modify their opinions. Thus, consensus costs are important for the GDM process. Notwithstanding, the unit costs in the common linear cost functions are always fixed, yet experts will generally express more resistance if they have to make more compromises. In this study, we use the quadratic cost functions, the marginal costs of which increase with the opinion changes. Aggregation operators are also considered to expand the applications of the consensus methods. Moreover, this paper further analyzes the minimum cost consensus models under the weighted average (WA) operator and the ordered weighted average (OWA) operators, respectively. Corresponding approaches are developed based on strictly convex quadratic programming and some desirable properties are also provided. Finally, some examples and comparative analyses are furnished to illustrate the validity of the proposed models.
Fulltext The experiences of female bisexual student-athletes in China: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Xiang M, Soh KG, Xu Y, Ahrari S, Zakaria NS

Front Psychol, 2023;14:1129961.
PMID: 37034921 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1129961

INTRODUCTION: Many scholars have explored the participation of LGBTQ individuals in sports. However, these studies have either categorized homosexuality and bisexuality together or focused only on lesbian, gay, or transgender individuals. There is a lack of research in the literature on bisexual individuals' sports participation and an even more significant lack of Asia perspectives. Therefore, this qualitative study is aimed to explore the experiences of female bisexual student-athletes in China.
METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with four female bisexual student-athletes were conducted and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
RESULTS: Three themes and eight sub-themes were identified. Theme 1. what bisexual identity means, and sub-themes: a struggling journey, emotional attraction, and gender role for female bisexual student-athletes; Theme 2. invalid identity, and sub-themes: lesbian mask, unrecognized identity; Theme 3. perceptions of sports context, and sub-themes: the influence of the sports context on sexual fluidity, relative inclusion, and perceived rejection.
CONCLUSION: This study provides new insights into understanding the experience of female bisexual student-athlete. In addition, the results highlight the importance of the need to study bisexuality as a distinct identity.
Lipidomics insight on differences in lipid profiles and phytosterol compositions of coconut oils extracted by classical and green solvents

Cui J, Yang Z, Xu Y, Tan CP, Zhang W

Food Res Int, 2023 Dec;174(Pt 2):113653.
PMID: 37981374 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113653

Searching for green and ecofriendly solvents to replace classical solvents for industrial scale extraction of coconut oil is of great interest. To explore these possibilities, this study performed comprehensive comparative analyses of lipid profiles and phytosterol compositions in coconut oils obtained by extraction with n-hexane, absolute ethyl alcohol, deep eutectic solvent/n-hexane, dimethyl carbonate (DME) and cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) using a foodomics approach. Results indicated that CPME (64.23 g/100 g dry matter) and DME (65.64 g/100 g dry matter) showed comparable capacity for total lipid extraction of total lipids to classical solvents (63.5-65.66 g/100 g dry matter). Considering the phytosterol yield, CPME (644.26 mg/kg) exhibited higher selectivity than other solvents (535.64-622.13 mg/kg). No significant difference was observed in the fatty acid composition of coconut oil by the different solvents assayed. Additionally, total 468 lipid molecules were identified in the samples. For glycerolipid and sphingolipid, the five solvents showed comparable extraction capabilities. However, CPME exhibited higher extraction efficiency of polar lipids (glycerophospholipid and saccharolipid) than other solvents. Overall, these results may be a useful guide for the application of green solvents in industrial production of coconut oil.
Fulltext Experiences of LGBTQ student-athletes in college sports: A meta-ethnography

Xiang M, Soh KG, Xu Y, Ahrari S, Zakaria NS

Heliyon, 2023 Jun;9(6):e16832.
PMID: 37332967 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16832

This study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of LGBTQ student-athletes to identify ways in which athletic staff, coaches, and others can support LGBTQ youth's safe participation in sports. Guided by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews (PRISMA) and eMERGe reporting guidance. We conducted a meta-ethnography to synthesize qualitative research focused on student-athletes' experiences. Fourteen studies were included in the meta-ethnography published between 1973 and 2022. Four themes were identified: (1) experiences of discrimination and violence; (2) perceived stigma; (3) internalized prejudice; and (4) coping and team support, and they were used to generate a line of argument model, which explains the stress process of LGBTQ student-athletes in the sports. LGBTQ student-athletes experience persistent discrimination in college sports, which poses a significant risk to their mental health. Meanwhile, this study identified that qualitative research on LGBTQ youth sports participation is lacking in many regions of the world and lacks knowledge of the sports participation experience of bisexual, gay, and transgender students. These findings revealed a way for research on LGBTQ-related issues and future policy and practice on LGBTQ youth-related issues in sports.
Fulltext Factors Associated With Psychological Outcomes Among Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Health Care Workers Against COVID-19 Infection in Bangladesh

Alam MD, Paul SK, Momi M, Ni L, Xu Y

Front Med (Lausanne), 2022;9:852922.
PMID: 35402432 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.852922

BACKGROUND: Vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) is recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the risk of infection for themselves and their patients, as well as to encourage their patients to get immunized. The present study aimed to investigate the psychological outcomes and associated factors among vaccinated and unvaccinated HCWs against COVID-19 infection in Bangladesh.
METHODS: From March to August 2021, an online nationwide survey was conducted with a total of 2,038 Bangladeshi HCWs. The frequency of symptoms of general health problems, depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, and loneliness was assessed using the Bangla versions of the GHQ-12, PHQ-2, GAD-2, PSS-4, PC-PTSD-5, ISI, and UCLA-LS scales, respectively.
RESULTS: Compared with unvaccinated HCWs (n = 1,058), vaccinated HCWs (n = 980) had a statistically significant lower prevalence of general health problems (16.7 vs. 59.1%), depression (15.6 vs. 31.9%), post-traumatic stress disorder (22.3 vs. 30.8%), insomnia (23.8 vs. 64.9%), and loneliness symptoms (13.9 vs. 21.8%). Among vaccinated HCWs, females were significantly associated with a higher risk of symptoms of general health problems (AOR, 2.71; 95% CI, 0.97-7.60), anxiety (AOR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.14-4.13), and loneliness (AOR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.11-5.73). Except for anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, participants living in urban areas had a significantly lower risk of all psychological outcomes (e.g., depression: AOR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.27-0.67; stress: AOR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.47-0.88). Respondents who were married were significantly less likely to experience symptoms of general health problems (AOR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.02-0.39), depression (AOR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.22-0.82), insomnia (AOR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.20-1.03), and loneliness (AOR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.10-0.92). Participants who worked as doctors were significantly less chance of experiencing symptoms of general health problems (AOR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.08-0.37), depression (AOR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.30-0.87), and anxiety (AOR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.37-0.78). On the other hand, unvaccinated HCWs who were 18-29 years old and had <5 years of work experience were significantly associated with a higher risk of all psychological outcomes except anxiety and insomnia symptoms (e.g., depression among 18-29 years old: AOR, 1.83; 95% CI, 0.27-2.60; stress among those with <5 years of work experience: AOR, 2.37; 95% CI, 0.93-6.07). Participants who worked as nurses were significantly more likely to suffer from depression (AOR, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.84-2.46), anxiety (AOR, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.24-1.73), and stress (AOR, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.31-0.89) symptoms. Except for anxiety and stress symptoms, respondents who worked as frontline workers and provided direct care to infected patients were the significantly higher chance of experiencing all psychological outcomes (e.g., depression among who worked as frontline workers: AOR, 2.41; 95% CI, 0.23-3.73; insomnia among those who provide direct care to infected patients: AOR, 2.60; 95% CI, 0.34-3.06). Participants who were infected with COVID-19 had a significantly less chance of experiencing symptoms of general health problems (AOR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.65-1.22), depression (AOR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.48-0.92), and anxiety (AOR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.46-0.87).
CONCLUSIONS: To control the infection and improve psychological outcomes, this study suggests emphasizing the vaccinated to unvaccinated HCWs as soon as possible. They also required special attention, health-related education, and psychological support.
Fulltext Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 11B91 inoculation enhances the growth of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) under salt stress

Li J, Guo X, Cai D, Xu Y, Wang Y

PeerJ, 2023;11:e15925.
PMID: 37641595 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15925

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a highly nutritious food product with a comprehensive development prospect. Here, we discussed the effect of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 11B91 on the growth, development and salt tolerance (salt concentrations: 0, 150, 300 mmol·L-1) of quinoa and highlighted a positive role for the application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria bacteria in quinoa. In this artical, the growth-promoting effect of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 11B91 on quinoa (Longli No.1) and the changes in biomass, chlorophyll content, root activity and total phosphorus content under salt stress were measured. The results revealed that plants inoculated with 11B91 exhibited increased maximum shoot fresh weight (73.95%), root fresh weight (75.36%), root dry weight (136%), chlorophyll a (65.32%) contents and chlorophyll b (58.5%) contents, root activity (54.44%) and total phosphorus content (16.66%). Additionally, plants inoculated with 11B91 under salt stress plants showed significantly improved, fresh weight (107%), dry weight (133%), chlorophyll a (162%) contents and chlorophyll b (76.37%) contents, root activity (33.07%), and total phosphorus content (42.73%).
Organochlorine pesticides in the atmosphere and surface water from the equatorial Indian Ocean: enantiomeric signatures, sources, and fate

Huang Y, Xu Y, Li J, Xu W, Zhang G, Cheng Z, et al.

Environ Sci Technol, 2013;47(23):13395-403.
PMID: 24251554 DOI: 10.1021/es403138p

Nineteen pairs of gaseous and surface seawater samples were collected along the cruise from Malaysia to the south of Bay of Bengal passing by Sri Lanka between April 12 and May 4, 2011 on the Chinese research vessel Shiyan I to investigate the latest OCP pollution status over the equatorial Indian Ocean. Significant decrease of α-HCH and γ-HCH was found in the air and dissolved water phase owing to global restriction for decades. Substantially high levels of p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, trans-chlordane (TC), and cis-chlordane (CC) were observed in the water samples collected near Sri Lanka, indicating fresh continental riverine input of these compounds. Fugacity fractions suggest equilibrium of α-HCH at most sampling sites, while net volatilization for DDT isomers, TC and CC in most cases. Enantiomer fractions (EFs) of α-HCH and o,p'-DDT in the air and water samples were determined to trace the source of these compounds in the air. Racemic or close to racemic composition was found for atmospheric α-HCH and o,p'-DDT, while significant depletion of (+) enantiomer was found in the water phase, especially for o,p'-DDT (EFs = 0.310 ± 0.178). 24% of α-HCH in the lower air over the open sea of the equatorial Indian Ocean is estimated to be volatilized from local seawater, indicating that long-range transport is the main source.
Crystal structures of Nipah and Hendra virus fusion core proteins

Lou Z, Xu Y, Xiang K, Su N, Qin L, Li X, et al.

FEBS J, 2006 Oct;273(19):4538-47.
PMID: 16972940

The Nipah and Hendra viruses are highly pathogenic paramyxoviruses that recently emerged from flying foxes to cause serious disease outbreaks in humans and livestock in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Bangladesh. Their unique genetic constitution, high virulence and wide host range set them apart from other paramyxoviruses. These characteristics have led to their classification into the new genus Henpavirus within the family Paramyxoviridae and to their designation as Biosafety Level 4 pathogens. The fusion protein, an enveloped glycoprotein essential for viral entry, belongs to the family of class I fusion proteins and is characterized by the presence of two heptad repeat (HR) regions, HR1 and HR2. These two regions associate to form a fusion-active hairpin conformation that juxtaposes the viral and cellular membranes to facilitate membrane fusion and enable subsequent viral entry. The Hendra and Nipah virus fusion core proteins were crystallized and their structures determined to 2.2 A resolution. The Nipah and Hendra fusion core structures are six-helix bundles with three HR2 helices packed against the hydrophobic grooves on the surface of a central coiled coil formed by three parallel HR1 helices in an oblique antiparallel manner. Because of the high level of conservation in core regions, it is proposed that the Nipah and Hendra virus fusion cores can provide a model for membrane fusion in all paramyxoviruses. The relatively deep grooves on the surface of the central coiled coil represent a good target site for drug discovery strategies aimed at inhibiting viral entry by blocking hairpin formation.

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