bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Entrepreneurial and modular urbanism in China: New cities and new areas in the 2000s
Authors: Chien Shiuh-Shen , Woodworth Max
Published: October 2022

This article assesses the recent trend in cities across China toward building new towns, new areas, new districts, new cities and other urbanizing projects in suburban areas. We refer to these projects under the generic term “new city and new area” following the Mandarin usage ( xincheng xinqu) (hereafter NCNA). Such projects are commonly on the fringes of urban centers, have significant area size, and are multifunctional in character. Hundreds of NCNA projects have been undertaken in recent years, reshaping metropolitan regions and altering the nature of China’s urbanization. Overall, the NCNA phenomenon emerges within China’s broader transition to a market economy amid the persistence of state land tenure, a Party-based personnel assessment system motivating intense careerism among urban officials, and the need for local administrations to push land development further into metropolitan peripheries to sustain local accumulation. The paper offers two urgent contributions to the existing literature. First, it discusses a panoramic assessment of the pervasive NCNA phenomenon and proposes a four-part typology of projects: (1) new Alpha-cities, (2) middle-class enclaves, (3) techno-poles, and (4) themed cities. Second, we provide an analysis of the underlying political-economic forces driving their development and highlight the variegated development trajectories of so-called modular urbanism in the current day.
Comparison of the simulated seismic behavior of small- and large-scale cripple walls: PEER-CEA Project test programs
Authors: Schiller Brandon , Cobeen Kelly , Hutchinson Tara
Published: October 2022

As part of the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER)-California Earthquake Authority (CEA) project, experimental programs were performed at UC San Diego and UC Berkeley, with the former focusing on small-component testing and the latter focusing on large-component testing. During the small-component testing program, a suite of 28 cripple wall-only specimens was tested under quasi-static reverse cyclic lateral loading with variations in exterior finishes, retrofit condition, cripple wall height, anchorage condition, boundary conditions, vertical load, and loading protocol. In the large-component testing program, cripple wall-first story specimens, load path connections, and combined materials in occupied stories were tested. The more easily performed small-component specimens facilitate comparison with the large-component specimens to allow the assessment of their potential to emulate large-scale specimen behavior, with a particular interest in cross-comparing their global hysteresis and physical damage evolution. This cross-comparison among small- and large-scale specimen test results is intended to offer best practices for the future design of cripple wall seismic retrofits in residential housing, with a particular interest in: (1) supporting the realistic design of small-component specimens that may capture the response of large-component specimens and (2) to qualitatively determine where the small-component tests fall in the range of lower- to upper-bound estimation of strength and deformation capacity for the purposes of numerical modeling. Data from both test programs were utilized in the PEER-CEA project to assist with validating numerical modeling tools, which in turn were used to generate seismic loss models capable of quantifying the reduction of loss achieved by applying state-of-practice retrofit methods as identified in FEMA P-1100 Vulnerability-Base Seismic Assessment and Retrofit of One- and Two-Family Dwellings. The objective of this article is to present an overview of the small- and large-component testing programs and key results pertaining to exterior finishes, boundary conditions, the FEMA P-1100 retrofit, and cripple wall height.
Ground motion simulation for the 21 May 2021 Ms 6.4 Yangbi, China, earthquake using stochastic finite-fault method
Authors: Wang Tianjia , Shen Yonggang , Xie Xu , Weng Weipeng
Published: October 2022

On 21 May 2021, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake occurred in Yangbi County, Yunnan Province, China. To reproduce the ground motion characteristics of this earthquake, the stochastic finite-fault method was adopted. The ground motion records were analyzed to determine the source, path, and site parameters. Based on the optimization algorithm, the stress drop was set to 10 bar. The S-wave attenuation relation ( QS = 122.7 f0.44) was calculated by the spectral decay method. For the site effect, the site amplification was corrected using the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio method, and the zero-distance kappa filter had a value of 0.0328 s. To verify the reliability of the input parameters, the simulated 5%-damped pseudo-spectral acceleration, time history, and Chinese instrumental intensity were compared with those observed at six stations and finding acceptable consistency. Furthermore, the fitted model was used to simulate the ground motion of 2279 nodal points in the area, and the seismic intensity contours were obtained. Finally, the earthquake damage assessment was performed in the Yangbi County, and the difference between the designed spectral acceleration and that simulated at a specific period was regarded as the degree of earthquake damage. It was found that the reinforced concrete structures near the epicenter have sufficient safety reserves, and the earthquake damage was not serious. In summary, the stochastic finite-fault method with calibrated parameters could effectively synthesize the ground motion of specific sites, thus providing a basis for the earthquake damage assessment of engineering buildings.
Transepicondylar distance measured on MRI can predict the length of the graft required for different anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) techniques useful for revision surgery
Authors: Rosso Federica , Rossi Roberto , Faletti Riccardo , Cantivalli Antonino , Blonna Davide , Bonasia Davide Edoardo
Published: October 2022

Background

The aim of this study is to find a correlation between linear measurements and the graft length required for different anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) revision techniques, to extract formulas to predict required graft length during the preoperative planning.

Methods

At time 0 and 30 days later, two observers measured eight linear distances on standard 2D knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nine curved distances on 3D MRI sequences, corresponding to different techniques for ACL revision, anatomic anterolateral ligament (ALL) reconstruction, and lateral extrarticular tenodesis (LET). Intra- and interobserver reliability was tested for 2D and 3D measurements. The correlation between 2D and 3D measurements was tested. The 2D measurements with highest repeatability and reproducibility, and with strongest correlation with 3D measurements were used to extract formulas to calculate the graft length from 2D values.

Results

Fifty MRIs acquired with both 2D and 3D sequences were used. The intra- and interobserver reliability of linear 2D measurement was high, with the transepicondylar distance (TD) showing the highest reproducibility and repeatability. The intra- and interobserver reliability of 3D measurements was lower than 2D, but acceptable for all measurements except for ALL reconstruction. The TD showed the strongest correlation with 3D measurements. The formulas extracted to calculate the graft length from the TD proved to be accurate.

Conclusion

Accurate formulas were created to calculate the graft length needed for different ACL revision techniques and ALL reconstruction/LET techniques from TD. These formulas can be used during preoperative planning of ACL revision cases.
Comparative genome analysis of mycobacteria focusing on tRNA and non-coding RNA
Authors: Behra Phani Rama Krishna , Pettersson B. M. Fredrik , Ramesh Malavika , Das Sarbashis , Dasgupta Santanu , Kirsebom Leif A.
Published: October 2022

Background

TheMycobacteriumgenus encompasses at least 192 named species, many of which cause severe diseases such as tuberculosis. Non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) can also infect humans and animals. Some are of emerging concern because they show high resistance to commonly used antibiotics while others are used and evaluated in bioremediation or included in anticancer vaccines.

Results

We provide the genome sequences for 114 mycobacterial type strains and together with 130 available mycobacterial genomes we generated a phylogenetic tree based on 387 core genes and supported by average nucleotide identity (ANI) data. The 244 genome sequences cover most of the species constituting theMycobacteriumgenus. The genome sizes ranged from 3.2 to 8.1 Mb with an average of 5.7 Mb, and we identified 14 new plasmids. Moreover, mycobacterial genomes consisted of phage-like sequences ranging between 0 and 4.64% dependent on mycobacteria while the number of IS elements varied between 1 and 290. Our data also revealed that, depending on the mycobacteria, the number of tRNA and non-coding (nc) RNA genes differ and that their positions on the chromosome varied. We identified a conserved core set of 12 ncRNAs, 43 tRNAs and 18 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases among mycobacteria.

Conclusions

Phages, IS elements, tRNA and ncRNAs appear to have contributed to the evolution of theMycobacteriumgenus where several tRNA and ncRNA genes have been horizontally transferred. On the basis of our phylogenetic analysis, we identified several isolates of unnamed species as new mycobacterial species or strains of known mycobacteria. The predicted number of coding sequences correlates with genome size while the number of tRNA, rRNA and ncRNA genes does not. Together these findings expand our insight into the evolution of theMycobacteriumgenus and as such they establish a platform to understand mycobacterial pathogenicity, their evolution, antibiotic resistance/tolerance as well as the function and evolution of ncRNA among mycobacteria.
Structured expert elicitation to inform long-term survival extrapolations using alternative parametric distributions: a case study of CAR T therapy for relapsed/ refractory multiple myeloma
Authors: Ayers Dieter , Cope Shannon , Towle Kevin , Mojebi Ali , Marshall Thomas , Dhanda Devender
Published: October 2022

Background

Our aim was to extend traditional parametric models used to extrapolate survival in cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) by integrating individual-level patient data (IPD) from a clinical trial with estimates from experts regarding long-term survival. This was illustrated using a case study evaluating survival of patients with triple-class exposed relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma treated with the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel, bb2121) in KarMMa (a phase 2, single-arm trial).

Methods

The distribution of patients expected to be alive at 3, 5, and 10 years given the observed survival from KarMMa (13.3 months of follow-up) was elicited from 6 experts using the SHeffield ELicitation Framework. Quantities of interest were elicited from each expert individually, which informed the consensus elicitation including all experts. Estimates for each time point were assumed to follow a truncated normal distribution. These distributions were incorporated into survival models, which constrained the expected survival based on standard survival distributions informed by IPD from KarMMa.

Results

Models for ide-cel that combined KarMMa data with expert opinion were more consistent in terms of survival as well as mean survival at 10 years (survival point estimates under different parametric models were 29–33% at 3 years, 5–17% at 5 years, and 0–6% at 10 years) versus models with KarMMa data alone (11–39% at 3 years, 0–25% at 5 years, and 0–11% at 10 years).

Conclusion

This case study demonstrates a transparent approach to integrate IPD from trials with expert opinion using traditional parametric distributions to ensure long-term survival extrapolations are clinically plausible.
Community pharmacists’ counseling practices and patient experiences about topical corticosteroids – an online survey in the Klang Valley, Malaysia
Authors: Nathan Abigail Dayang , Shankar Pathiyil Ravi , Sreeramareddy Chandrashekhar T
Published: October 2022

Background

Community Pharmacists (CPs) play an important role in patient counseling regarding the use of topical corticosteroids (TCS). We assessed CP’s self-reported counseling practices regarding TCS and patients’ reported counseling experiences.

Methods

A previously developed questionnaire was adapted to the Malaysian context. A random sample of 364 registered CPs practicing in three states, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya were invited for an online survey. The questionnaire for CPs explored their perceived patient knowledge about topical corticosteroid (TCS) use, their counseling practices, and perceived barriers to counseling. Thirty patients were also selected from five pharmacies i.e., six consecutive patients who consulted each CP were invited to participate in the patient survey by completing a checklist about their experiences regarding the counseling received.

Results

A majority (> 90%) of the CPs mostly explained to the patients that the medication was TCS and the frequency and duration of application but only 10% correctly identified scenarios needing medical referral. Only about half of the CPs always explained about side effects, strength, efficacy, and storage of TCS. The two main barriers were patients’ negative perception of TCS (65.4%) and pharmacists’ lack of time for counseling (49.7%). Counseling practice score was associated with CPs’ age (aOR 0.86, 95%CI 0.78–0.94), pharmacists’ recommendation on TCS use (aOR 0.11, 95%CI 0.02–0.61), and time spent on counseling (aOR 1.42, 95%CI 1.13–1.64). Patients mentioned they were counselled on the frequency and duration of application of TCS, and potential adverse effects. Most were not counselled on action to take when an adverse event occurs and the storage and use of leftover medication.

Conclusion

CPs counseling practices to their patient about the use of TCS requires improvement. Continuing education and hands-on training are needed for CPs regarding counseling about TCS use.
Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia mimicking the systemic metastasis of adrenal cancer: a case report
Authors: Hatakeyama Yuki , Nakakubo Sho , Kusaka Hirotaka , Watanabe Naomi , Yoshida Yukinori , Shinzaki Hitoshi , Hiroumi Hiromitsu , Kishida Naoki , Konno Satoshi
Published: October 2022

Background

Listeria monocytogenes is a causative agent of food poisoning and is also known to cause invasive diseases, such as bacteremia, meningitis, and encephalitis, in neonates, elderly and immunocompromised patients. However, the clinical course of a multi-organ disseminated disease secondary to bacteremia has been rarely reported.

Case presentation

A 76-year-old woman undergoing immunosuppressive therapy for rheumatoid arthritis presented to our outpatient clinic with a chief complaint of weight loss. Computed tomography showed a left adrenal mass, enlarged lymph nodes, and multiple intrahepatic nodules. Positron emission tomography demonstrated accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose F18 in the adrenal mass, lymph nodes, hepatic nodules, and bones, leading to the suspicion of systemic metastasis of adrenal cancer. She subsequently developed a fever. Blood culture results led to the diagnosis of Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia. Percutaneous needle biopsy of the adrenal lesion revealed no malignant findings. After extended treatment with antimicrobial agents, the fever resolved, along with the disappearance of the systemic lesions.

Conclusions

This case shows that listeriosis can lead to lesions in the adrenal gland, which can exhibit clinical presentation that is difficult to differentiate from malignancy on imaging studies.
Pan-cancer analysis of oncogenic TNFAIP2 identifying its prognostic value and immunological function in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Lin Mei-si , Zhong Hui-Yun , Yim Rita Lok-Hay , Chen Qi-Yan , Du Hong-ling , He Hao-qi , Lin Ke , Zhao Peng , Gao Ru , Gao Fei , Zhang Min-Yue
Published: October 2022

Background

Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 2 (TNFAIP2), a TNFα-inducible gene, appears to participate in inflammation, immune response, hematopoiesis, and carcinogenesis. However, the potential role ofTNFAIP2in the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains unknow yet. Therefore, we aimed to study the biological role ofTNFAIP2in leukemogenesis.

Methods

TNFAIP2mRNA level, prognostic value, co-expressed genes, differentially expressed genes, DNA methylation, and functional enrichment analysis in AML patients were explored via multiple public databases, including UALCAN, GTEx portal, Timer 2.0, LinkedOmics, SMART, MethSurv, Metascape, GSEA and String databases. Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Beat AML database were used to determine the associations betweenTNFAIP2expression and various clinical or genetic parameters of AML patients. Moreover, the biological functions ofTNFAIP2in AML were investigated through in vitro experiments.

Results

By large-scale data mining, our study indicated thatTNFAIP2was differentially expressed across different normal and tumor tissues.TNFAIP2expression was significantly increased in AML, particularly in French–American–British (FAB) classification M4/M5 patients, compared with corresponding control tissues. Overexpression ofTNFAIP2was an independent poor prognostic factor of overall survival (OS) and was associated with unfavorable cytogenetic risk and gene mutations in AML patients. DNA hypermethylation ofTNFAIP2at gene body linked to upregulation ofTNFAIP2and inferior OS in AML. Functional enrichment analysis indicated immunomodulation function and inflammation response ofTNFAIP2in leukemogenesis. Finally, the suppression ofTNFAIPresulted in inhibition of proliferation by altering cell-cycle progression and increase of cell death by promoting early and late apoptosis in THP-1 and U937AML cells.

Conclusion

Collectively, the oncogenicTNFAIP2can function as a novel biomarker and prognostic factor in AML patients. The immunoregulation function ofTNFAIP2warrants further validation in AML.
Self-collected versus medic-collected sampling for human papillomavirus testing among women in Lagos, Nigeria: a comparative study
Authors: Feng Ning , Ezechi Oliver , Uwandu Mabel , Abimbola Bowofoluwa Sharon , Vincent Grace Deborah , Idigbe Ifeoma , Okoli Leona Chika , Adesina Mary , Okwuzu Jane , Ahmed Rahaman Ademolu , Sokei Judith , Shaibu Joseph Ojonugwa , Momoh Abidemi Esther , Sowunmi Omowunmi , Labo-Popoola Olaoniye Habeebat ,   POPGEC Team, Sunday Mfon Victoria , Fayemi Janet , Udoh Hannah Mfon , Omidiji Mayokun , Ogundepo Oluwatobi , Ogbolu Victor , Ohihoin Greg , David Agatha , Nzeribe Emily , Olaleye Olufemi , Dong Xiao-ping , Onwuamah Chika Kingsley
Published: October 2022

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility and performance of self-collected vaginal swab samples for HPV screening among women in Lagos, Nigeria.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was implemented from March to August 2020 among sexually active women. Study participants provided same-day paired vaginal swab samples. Medic-sampling and poster-directed self-sampling methods were used to collect the two samples per participant. A real-time PCR assay detected HPV 16, HPV 18, other-high-risk (OHR) HPV, and the human β-globin gene. The self-collected samples’ sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were determined against the medic-collected samples using the MedCalc Online Diagnostic Calculator.

Results

Of the 213 women aged 16 ~ 63-year-old recruited, 187 (88%) participants had concordant results, while 26 (12%) participants had discordant results. Among the 187 concordant results, 35 (19%) were HPV positive, 150 (80%) participants were HPV negative, and two (1%) were invalid. 18 (69%) out of the 26 discordant samples were invalid. The self-collected sample was invalid for 14 (54%) participants. Two (8%) medic-collected samples were invalid. Compared to the medic-collected sample, the self-collected sample was 89.80% (95% CI: 77.77 ~ 96.60%) sensitive and 98.21% (95% CI: 94.87 ~ 99.63%) specific, with an accuracy of 96.31% (95% CI: 92.87 ~ 98.40%). The mean age for HPV positive and negative participants were 39 and 40, respectively, with an ANOVA p-value of 0.3932. The stratification of HPV infection by the age group was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

With high accuracy of 96%, self-collected sampling is adequate when tested with real-time PCR and may increase the uptake of HPV testing. Though more self-collected samples were invalid than medic-collected samples, most likely due to poor collection, they could be identified for repeat testing. Future implementation can avoid this error with improved guidance and awareness.
COVID-19 surveillance in the Flemish school system: development of systematic data collection within the public health school system and descriptive analysis of cases reported between October 2020 and June 2021
Authors: Merckx Joanna , Crèvecoeur Jonas , Proesmans Kristiaan , Hammami Naïma , Denys Hilde , Hens Niel
Published: October 2022

Background

The age-specific distribution of SARS-CoV-2 cases in schools is not well described. Reported statistics reflect the intensity of community transmission while being shaped by biases from age-dependent testing regimes, as well as effective age-specific interventions. A case surveillance system was introduced within the Flemish school and health-prevention network during the 2020–2021 school year. We present epidemiological data of in-school reported cases in pre-, primary and secondary schools identified by the case surveillance system, in conjunction with test data and community cases from October 2020 to June 2021.

Methods

We describe the development of the surveillance system and provide the number of reported cases and standardized rates per grade over time. We calculated absolute and relative differences in case incidence according to school grade (primary: grades 1–6, and secondary: grades 7–12) using grades 7–8 as a comparator, relating them to non-pharmaceutical infection prevention interventions. Cumulative population incidences (IP) stratified by age, province and socioeconomic status (SES) of the school population are presented with their 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

A total of 59,996 COVID-19 cases were reported in the school surveillance system, with the highest population adjusted IP in grade 11–12 of 7.39% (95%CI 7.24–7.53) and ranging from 2.23% to 6.25% from pre-school through grade 10. Age-specific reductions in mask introduction and in-person teaching were temporally associated with decreased case incidence, while lower pupil SES was associated with an increase in cumulative cases (excess 2,739/100,000 pupils compared to highest SES tertile). Community testing volumes varied more for children compared to adults, with overall higher child test-positivity. Holidays influence capturing of cases by the system, however efficiency increased to above 75% after further automation and integration in existing structures.

Conclusion

We demonstrate that effective integration of case surveillance within an electronic school health system is feasible, provides valuable data regarding the evolution of an epidemic among schoolchildren, and is an integral component of public health surveillance and pandemic preparedness. The relationship towards community transmission needs careful evaluation because of age-different testing regimens. In the Flemish region, case incidence within schools exhibited an age gradient that was mitigated through grade-specific interventions, though differences by SES remain.
Use of mobile data collection systems within large-scale epidemiological field trials: findings and lessons-learned from a vector control trial in Iquitos, Peru
Authors: Elson William H. , Kawiecki Anna B. , Donnelly Marisa A. P. , Noriega Arnold O. , Simpson Jody K. , Syafruddin Din , Rozi Ismail Ekoprayitno , Lobo Neil F. , Barker Christopher M. , Scott Thomas W. , Achee Nicole L. , Morrison Amy C.
Published: October 2022

Vector-borne diseases are among the most burdensome infectious diseases worldwide with high burden to health systems in developing regions in the tropics. For many of these diseases, vector control to reduce human biting rates or arthropod populations remains the primary strategy for prevention. New vector control interventions intended to be marketed through public health channels must be assessed by the World Health Organization for public health value using data generated from large-scale trials integrating epidemiological endpoints of human health impact. Such phase III trials typically follow large numbers of study subjects to meet necessary power requirements for detecting significant differences between treatment arms, thereby generating substantive and complex datasets. Data is often gathered directly in the field, in resource-poor settings, leading to challenges in efficient data reporting and/or quality assurance. With advancing technology, mobile data collection (MDC) systems have been implemented in many studies to overcome these challenges. Here we describe the development and implementation of a MDC system during a randomized-cluster, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating the protective efficacy of a spatial repellent intervention in reducing human infection with Aedes-borne viruses (ABV) in the urban setting of Iquitos, Peru, as well as the data management system that supported it. We discuss the benefits, remaining capacity gaps and the key lessons learned from using a MDC system in this context in detail.
Perspectives on cancer screening participation in a highly urbanized region: a Q-methodology study in The Hague, the Netherlands
Authors: Bongaerts Thomas H. G. , Büchner Frederike L. , Crone Matty R. , van Exel Job , Guicherit Onno R. , Numans Mattijs E. , Nierkens Vera
Published: October 2022

Background

The Netherlands hosts, as many other European countries, three population-based cancer screening programmes (CSPs). The overall uptake among these CSPs is high, but has decreased over recent years. Especially in highly urbanized regions the uptake rates tend to fall below the minimal effective rate of 70% set by the World Health Organization. Understanding the reasons underlying the decision of citizens to partake in a CPS are essential in order to optimize the current screening participation rates. The aim of this study was to explore the various perspectives concerning cancer screening among inhabitants of The Hague, a highly urbanized region of the Netherlands.

Methods

A Q-methodology study was conducted to provide insight in the prevailing perspectives on partaking in CSPs. All respondents were inhabitants of the city of The Hague, the Netherlands. In an online application they ranked a set of 31 statements, based on the current available literature and clustered by the Integrated Change model, into a 9-column forced ranking grid according to level of agreement, followed by a short survey. Respondents were asked to participate in a subsequent interview to explain their ranking. By-person factor analysis was used to identify distinct perspectives, which were interpreted using data from the rankings and interviews.

Results

Three distinct perspectives were identified: 1). “Positive about participation”, 2). “Thoughtful about participation”, and 3). “Fear drives participation”. These perspectives provide insight into how potential respondents, living in an urbanized region in the Netherlands, decide upon partaking in CSPs.

Conclusions

Since CSPs will only be effective when participation rates are sufficiently high, it is essential to have insight into the different perspectives among potential respondents concerning partaking in a CSP. This study adds new insights concerning these perspectives and suggests several ideas for future optimization of the CSPs.
Mapping of lumbar multifidus stiffness Quantification in ankylosing spondylitis with shear-wave elastography
Authors: Wang Mengyu , Liu Jia , Meng Lingcui , Fu Wen , Gao Jing , Ma Ruixia , Luo Yuxuan , Peng Yingjun , Wu Lihua , Li Ziping
Published: October 2022

Background

Lower back pain and stiffness are the typical symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In this study, muscle mass was assessed by muscle density, mechanical elasticity, and area. We investigated the characteristics of lumbar paraspinal-muscle (PSM) mass using muscle ultrasound shear-wave elastography (SWE), as well as the validity of this method for identifying patients with AS.

Methods

We recruited a representative cohort of 30 AS patients, and 27 healthy volunteers who were age- and sex-matched to the patient study group, investigated the Young’s modulus (YM), cross-sectional area (CSA) and thickness of lumbar multifidus (LM) muscle using SWE. This study did not need to be randomized. Data were collected at the department of ultrasonography of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine. We analyzed the data using SPSS version 18.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA). Normal distribution was evaluated by the Shapiro–Wilk test and Q–Q plots. Demographic and baseline data will be analyzed with standard descriptive statistics. Data will be presented as the mean ± standard deviation (SD). Non-normally distributed data are presented as medians with interquartile ranges (IQR).

Results

Young’s modulus (YM) of SWE in AS patients was significantly higher than that in volunteers. Percentage change in lumbar multifidus (LM) muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and thickness were significantly lower in AS patients than in healthy volunteers on the left side of the body. Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between percentage change in CSA and thickness in both volunteers and AS patients. In AS patients, YM was negatively correlated with percentage change of CSA and thickness on the right side, while increased disease duration in AS was associated with increased YM on the left.

Conclusion

AS patients showed reductions in LM muscle mass and function as the disease progressed, SWE could reflect these changes well.

Trial registration.

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000031476. Registered 02/04/2020. http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx.
Association of lipid profile and reported edentulism in the elder population: data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
Authors: Wang Shuping , Wang Yutao , Yu Riyue , Yuan Dingxiang , Ni Yaofeng , Wang Lixin , Sun Man , Wang Xin
Published: October 2022

Objectives

Relationship between lipid profile and periodontitis has been reported. However, the association between lipid parameters and edentulism is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between lipid profile and reported edentulism in the elder population using a national cohort.

Methods

A total of 3 100 participants aged 65 or above were enrolled in 2011 from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, which was a national population-based survey. We used adjusted logistics models to investigate the relationship between lipid profile and reported edentulism before and after propensity score matching.

Results

The mean (SD) age was 71.96 (5.63) years, and 1 581 (51.0%) were men. There were 254 (8.2%) individuals reporting edentulism, and the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was significantly higher in the reported edentulism group, compared with the non-edentulism (122.48 vs. 116.91 mg/dl, P = 0.015). In the multivariable model, LDL-C was significantly associated with a higher odds of reported edentulism (adjusted OR [95% CI], 1.004 [1.001–1.008]). In the matched population, LDL-C, non high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, remnant cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides were positively associated with reported edentulism, while HDL-C was negatively associated.

Conclusions

Lipid profiles are probably associated with edentulism, indicating the interaction between oral health and metabolic status in the elder population.
Assessing the added value of context during stress detection from wearable data
Authors: Stojchevska Marija , Steenwinckel Bram , Van Der Donckt Jonas , De Brouwer Mathias , Goris Annelies , De Turck Filip , Van Hoecke Sofie , Ongenae Femke
Published: October 2022

Background

Insomnia, eating disorders, heart problems and even strokes are just some of the illnesses that reveal the negative impact of stress overload on health and well-being. Early detection of stress is therefore of utmost importance. Whereas the gold-standard for detecting stress is by means of questionnaires, more recent work uses wearable sensors to find continuous and qualitative physical markers of stress. As some physiological stress responses, e.g. increased heart rate or sweating and chills, might also occur when doing sports, a more profound approach is needed for stress detection than purely considering physiological data.

Methods

In this paper, we analyse the added value of context information during stress detection from wearable data. We do so by comparing the performance of models trained purely on physiological data and models trained on physiological and context data. We consider the user’s activity and hours of sleep as context information, where we compare the influence of user-given context versus machine learning derived context.

Results

Context-aware models reach higher accuracy and lower standard deviations in comparison to the baseline (physiological) models. We also observe higher accuracy and improved weighted F1 score when incorporating machine learning predicted, instead of user-given, activities as context information.

Conclusions

In this paper we show that considering context information when performing stress detection from wearables leads to better performance. We also show that it is possible to move away from human labeling and rely only on the wearables for both physiology and context.
Trust-based service innovation of municipal home care: a longitudinal mixed methods study
Authors: Eide Tom , Gullslett Monika K. , Eide Hilde , Dugstad Janne H. , McCormack Brendan , Nilsen Etty R.
Published: October 2022

Background

In Scandinavia, various public reforms are initiated to enhance trust in the healthcare services and the public sector in general. This study explores experiences from a two-step service innovation project in municipal home care in Norway, coined as the Trust Model (TM), aiming at developing an alternative to the purchaser-provider split (PPS) and enhancing employee motivation, user satisfaction, and citizen trust. The PPS has been the prevalent model in Norway since the 1990s. There is little empirical research on trust-based alternatives to the PPS in healthcare. The overall objectives of this study were to explore facilitators and barriers to trust-based service innovation of municipal homecare and to develop a framework for how to support the implementation of the TM.

Methods

The TM elements were developed through a comprehensive participatory process, resulting in the decision to organize the home care service in small, self-managed and multidisciplinary teams, and trusting the teams with full responsibility for care decisions and delivery within a limited area. Through a longitudinal mixed methods case study design a) patients’ expressed values and b) factors facilitating or preventing the service innovation process were explored through two iterations. The first included three city districts, three teams and 80 patients. The second included four districts, eight teams and 160 patients.

Results

The patient survey showed patients valued and trusted the service. The team member survey showed increased motivation for work aligned with TM principles. Both quantitative and qualitative methods revealed a series of facilitators and barriers to the innovation process on different organizational levels (teams, team leaders, system). The key message arising from the two iterations is to keep patients’ values in the centre and recognize the multilevelled organizational complexity of successful trust-based innovation in homecare. Synthesizing the results, a framework for how to support trust-based service innovation was constructed.

Conclusions

Trust-based innovation of municipal homecare is feasible. The proposed framework may serve as a tool when planning trust-based innovation, and as a checklist for implementation and improvement strategies. Further research is needed to explore the validity of the framework and its replicability in other areas of healthcare.
Deep learning-based behavioral profiling of rodent stroke recovery
Authors: Weber Rebecca Z. , Mulders Geertje , Kaiser Julia , Tackenberg Christian , Rust Ruslan
Published: October 2022

Background

Stroke research heavily relies on rodent behavior when assessing underlying disease mechanisms and treatment efficacy. Although functional motor recovery is considered the primary targeted outcome, tests in rodents are still poorly reproducible and often unsuitable for unraveling the complex behavior after injury.

Results

Here, we provide a comprehensive 3D gait analysis of mice after focal cerebral ischemia based on the new deep learning-based software (DeepLabCut, DLC) that only requires basic behavioral equipment. We demonstrate a high precision 3D tracking of 10 body parts (including all relevant joints and reference landmarks) in several mouse strains. Building on this rigor motion tracking, a comprehensive post-analysis (with >100 parameters) unveils biologically relevant differences in locomotor profiles after a stroke over a time course of 3 weeks. We further refine the widely used ladder rung test using deep learning and compare its performance to human annotators. The generated DLC-assisted tests were then benchmarked to five widely used conventional behavioral set-ups (neurological scoring, rotarod, ladder rung walk, cylinder test, and single-pellet grasping) regarding sensitivity, accuracy, time use, and costs.

Conclusions

We conclude that deep learning-based motion tracking with comprehensive post-analysis provides accurate and sensitive data to describe the complex recovery of rodents following a stroke. The experimental set-up and analysis can also benefit a range of other neurological injuries that affect locomotion.
A heterozygous missense variant in the YWHAG gene causing developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 56 in a Chinese family
Authors: Yi Zhi , Song Zhenfeng , Xue Jiao , Yang Chengqing , Li Fei , Pan Hua , Feng Xuan , Zhang Ying , Pan Hong
Published: October 2022

Background

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are a heterogeneous group of severe disorders that are characterized by early-onset, refractory seizures and developmental slowing or regression. Genetic variations are significant causes of these changes. De novo variants in an increasing number of candidate genes have been found to be causal.The YWHAGgene is one such gene that has been reported to cause developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 56 (DEE56). Here, we report a heterozygous missense variant, c.170G > A (p.R57H), in theYWHAGgene that caused early-onset epilepsy and developmental delay in a Chinese family.

Methods

We described the clinical manifestations of the proband and his mother in detail. Then, we use trio-based whole-exome sequencing to search the etiology of this family.

Results

Both the proband and his mother exhibited early-onset seizures, intellectual disability, and developmental delay. While the proband attained seizure control with sodium valproate, his mother's seizures were not well controlled. Trio-based whole-exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous missense variant, c.170G > A (p.R57H), in theYWHAGgene, which was considered as the cause of early-onset epilepsy and developmental delay in this family.

Conclusions

Our report further confirmed thatYWHAGhaploinsufficiency results in developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 56.
COVID-19 vaccine update: vaccine effectiveness, SARS-CoV-2 variants, boosters, adverse effects, and immune correlates of protection
Authors: Chi Wei-Yu , Li Yen-Der , Huang Hsin-Che , Chan Timothy En Haw , Chow Sih-Yao , Su Jun-Han , Ferrall Louise , Hung Chien-Fu , Wu T.-C.
Published: October 2022

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been the most severe public health challenge in this century. Two years after its emergence, the rapid development and deployment of effective COVID-19 vaccines have successfully controlled this pandemic and greatly reduced the risk of severe illness and death associated with COVID-19. However, due to its ability to rapidly evolve, the SARS-CoV-2 virus may never be eradicated, and there are many important new topics to work on if we need to live with this virus for a long time. To this end, we hope to provide essential knowledge for researchers who work on the improvement of future COVID-19 vaccines. In this review, we provided an up-to-date summary for current COVID-19 vaccines, discussed the biological basis and clinical impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants and subvariants, and analyzed the effectiveness of various vaccine booster regimens against different SARS-CoV-2 strains. Additionally, we reviewed potential mechanisms of vaccine-induced severe adverse events, summarized current studies regarding immune correlates of protection, and finally, discussed the development of next-generation vaccines.
Novel lipid indicators and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among Chinese hypertensive patients: findings from the Guangzhou Heart Study
Authors: Deng Hai , Hu Peng , Li Huoxing , Zhou Huanning , Wu Xiuyi , Yuan Maohua , Duan Xueru , Lao Miaochan , Wu Chuchu , Zheng Murui , Lao Xiang Qian , Zhao Wenjing , Liu Xudong
Published: October 2022

Background

Data are limited on whether several easily measured indices are independent predictors of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in hypertensive patients. This study aimed to assess the association of hypertriglyceridemic-waist phenotype, triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, lipid accumulation product (LAP), and visceral adiposity index (VAI) with T2DM risk in hypertensive patients.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 5321 hypertensive patients from the baseline survey of the Guangzhou Heart Study. Face-to-face questionnaire survey, physical examination, and fasting blood sample collection were completed for all subjects. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated by using the logistic regression model. The potential nonlinear relationship was examined using restricted cubic spline regression.

Results

The prevalence of T2DM was 19.98% among hypertensive patients. After adjusting for confounders, participants with elevated triglyceride levels and enlarged waist circumference (HTGW) were associated with a 2.57-fold risk of T2DM (OR 2.57, 95% CI 2.05, 3.23). When comparing with subjects within the lowest quartile of the indices, those in the highest quartile of TyG, LAP, and VAI were associated with 5.35-fold (95% CI 4.33, 6.64), 2.65-fold (95% CI 2.11, 3.34), and 2.17-fold (95% CI 1.77, 2.67) risk of T2DM after adjusting for confounders. Every 1-unit increment of TyG, LAP, and VAI was associated with 81%, 38%, and 31% increased risk of T2DM, respectively. The nonlinear association was observed for TyG, LAP, and VAI (all PNon-linear < 0.001).

Conclusions

The results found that among hypertensive patients, HTGW and a higher level of TyG, LAP, and VAI were associated with an elevated risk of T2DM. The findings suggested that HTGW, TyG, LAP, and VAI may serve as simple and effective tools for T2DM risk assessment in the prevention and management of main chronic diseases.
Engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the production of dihydroquercetin from naringenin
Authors: Yu Shiqin , Li Mingjia , Gao Song , Zhou Jingwen
Published: October 2022

Background

Dihydroquercetin (DHQ), a powerful bioflavonoid, has a number of health-promoting qualities and shows potential as a treatment for a number of disorders. Dihydroquercetin biosynthesis is a promising solution to meet the rising demand for dihydroquercetin. However, due to the significant accumulation of eriodietyol (ERI), naringenin (NAR), dihydrokaempferol (DHK), and other metabolites, the yield of DHQ biosynthesis is low. As a result, this is the hindrance to the biosynthesis of DHQ.

Results

In this study, we proposed several strategies to enhance the product formation and reduce the metabolites in accumulation. The flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase (F3′H) and cytochrome P450 reductase from different species were co-expressed in S. cerevisiae, and the best strain expressing the P450-reductase enzyme complex (SmF3′H/ScCPR) yielded 435.7 ± 7.6 mg/L of ERI from NAR in the deepwell microplate. The product conversion rate was improved further by mutating the predicted potential ubiquitination sites to improve SmF3′H stability, resulting in a 12.8% increase in titre using the mutant SmF3′H (K290R). Besides, different F3Hs from various sources and promoters were tested for the improved DHQ production, with the best strain producing 381.2 ± 10.7 mg/L of DHQ from 1 g/L of NAR, suggesting the temporal regulation the expression of F3H is important for maximization the function of F3′H and F3H.

Conclusion

This study offers effective strategies for improving DHQ production from NAR and could be used as a reference for related research.
Identification of acetic acid sensitive strains through biosensor-based screening of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae CRISPRi library
Authors: Mormino Maurizio , Lenitz Ibai , Siewers Verena , Nygård Yvonne
Published: October 2022

Background

Acetic acid tolerance is crucial for the development of robust cell factories for conversion of lignocellulosic hydrolysates that typically contain high levels of acetic acid. Screening mutants for growth in medium with acetic acid is an attractive way to identify sensitive variants and can provide novel insights into the complex mechanisms regulating the acetic acid stress response.

Results

An acetic acid biosensor based on the Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription factor Haa1, was used to screen a CRISPRi yeast strain library where dCas9-Mxi was set to individually repress each essential or respiratory growth essential gene. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting led to the enrichment of a population of cells with higher acetic acid retention. These cells with higher biosensor signal were demonstrated to be more sensitive to acetic acid. Biosensor-based screening of the CRISPRi library strains enabled identification of strains with increased acetic acid sensitivity: strains with gRNAs targeting TIF34, MSN5, PAP1, COX10 or TRA1.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that biosensors are valuable tools for screening and monitoring acetic acid tolerance in yeast. Fine-tuning the expression of essential genes can lead to altered acetic acid tolerance.