bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low-frequency electrical stimulation alleviates immobilization-evoked disuse muscle atrophy by repressing autophagy in skeletal muscle of rabbits
Authors: Liu A-Ying , Zhang Quan-Bing , Zhu Hua-Long , Xiong Yong-Wei , Wang Feng , Huang Peng-Peng , Xu Qi-Yu , Zhong Hua-Zhang , Wang Hua , Zhou Yun
Published: April 2022

Background

The study aimed to investigate the effect of low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) on disuse muscle atrophy and its mechanism in a rabbit model of knee extension contracture.

Methods

This study involved two experiments. In the time-point experiment, 24 rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control 1 (Ctrl1 group), immobilization for 2 weeks (I-2 group), immobilization for 4 weeks (I-4 group), and immobilization for 6 weeks (I-6 group). In the intervention experiment, 24 rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control 2 (Ctrl2 group), electrical stimulation (ESG group), natural recovery (NRG group), and electrical stimulation treatment (ESTG group). All intervention effects were assessed by evaluating the knee joint range of motion (ROM), cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris muscle, and expression of autophagy-related proteins.

Results

The time-point experiment showed that immobilization reduced the knee ROM, reduced the rectus femoris muscle CSA, and activated autophagy in skeletal muscle. The levels of five autophagy-related proteins [mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), autophagy-related protein 7 (Atg7), p62, and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B-II (LC3B-II)] were significantly elevated in the skeletal muscle of the I-4 group. The intervention experiment further showed that LFES significantly improved the immobilization-induced reductions in ROM and CSA. Additionally, LFES resulted in a significant decrease in the protein expression of mTOR, p-mTOR, Atg7, p62, and LC3B-II in the rectus femoris muscle.

Conclusions

LFES alleviates immobilization-evoked disuse muscle atrophy possibly by inhibiting autophagy in the skeletal muscle of rabbits.
Comprehensive three-dimensional positional and morphological assessment of the temporomandibular joint in skeletal Class II patients with mandibular retrognathism in different vertical skeletal patterns
Authors: Al-hadad Saba Ahmed , ALyafrusee Enas Senan , Abdulqader Abbas Ahmed , Al-gumaei Waseem Saleh , AL-Mohana Rana A. A. M. , Ren Liling
Published: April 2022

Background

Only a few studies have used 3D cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) analysis to evaluate the positional and morphological characteristics of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in adults with skeletal Class II. No studies have focused on the case of skeletal Class II with mandibular retrognathism in different vertical skeletal patterns. As a result, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the position and morphology of TMJ in adults with skeletal Class II with mandibular retrognathism in different vertical skeletal patterns to the position and morphology of TMJ in the normal Chinese adult population in three dimensions.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed CBCT images of 80 adult patients. Subjects with skeletal Class II with a normal sagittal position of the maxilla and mandibular retrognathism were classified according to the mandibular angle and facial height ratio into three groups of 20 subjects each: hypodivergent, normodivergent, and hyperdivergent groups, as well as a control group of 20 subjects. The following 3D measurements of TMJ were evaluated: (1) position, parameters, and inclination of the mandibular fossa; (2) position, parameters, and inclination of the mandibular condyle; (3) condyle centralization in their respective mandibular fossae; (4) anterior, posterior, superior, and medial joint spaces; and (5) 3D volumetric measurements of the TMJ spaces. Measurements were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA test, followed by Tukey’s post hoc test.

Results

Significant differences were found in the hyperdivergent and hypodivergent groups compared with the normal group in the vertical and anteroposterior mandibular fossa position, vertical condylar inclination, and condylar width and length. The hyperdivergent group showed the significantly highest condylar inclination with the midsagittal plane; anterior and superior positioning of the condyle; smallest anterior, superior, and medial joint spaces; and largest volumetric total joint space relative to the two other groups.

Conclusions

The condyle-fossa position and morphology differ with various vertical facial patterns in individuals with skeletal Class II mandibular retrognathism. These differences could be considered during TMD diagnosis and orthodontic treatment.
Outcomes of HPV type-specific serostatus do not associate with oral or genital HPV-carriage in non-vaccinated women followed for three years
Authors: Vuorinen Salla , Syrjänen Kari , Waterboer Tim , Grénman Seija , Syrjänen Stina , Louvanto Karolina
Published: April 2022

Background

The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) antibodies acquired through natural infection and their role in protection for subsequent cervical or oral HPV-carriage remains unclear.

Methods

A total of 267 women, with a 36-months follow-up, from the Finnish Family HPV (FFHPV) study were evaluated to shed more light on persistent HPV-specific antibodies to genital or oral HPV-carriage, clearance or persistence during the three years follow-up. The type-specific seroprevalence for HPV genotypes 6, 11, 16, 18 and 45 in these women was assessed in relation to the detection of the same genotype or any HPV in their oral and genital samples. The following HPV serological outcomes where detected: being always seronegative, seroconversion or persistent seropositivity.

Results

Genital HPV16 infections were most prevalent at the end of the follow-up (24- and 36-month visit) among women who tested always seronegative for HPV16. No such associations between serology and HPV detection were established for the other HPV genotypes in the genital or oral samples. The development of long-term type-specific HPV 6,11,16,18 and 45 persistence (≥ 24 months) or clearance of the genital or oral infections was not different among the women with high HPV genotype specific antibody levels and those testing always HPV-seronegative.

Conclusion

No significant role was disclosed for the acquired natural high-level- or persistent HPV antibodies as determinants of the genital or oral HPV infection outcomes in these young, non-vaccinated women.
Promoting a sense of belonging, engagement, and collegiality to reduce burnout: a mixed methods study among undergraduate medical students in a non-Western, Asian context
Authors: Puranitee Pongtong , Kaewpila Winitra , Heeneman Sylvia , van Mook Walther N. K. A. , Busari Jamiu O.
Published: April 2022

Background

Burnout is a psychological condition induced by work-related chronic interpersonal stressors. Interventions creating a sense of belonging and collegiality have been proposed as approaches for alleviating burnout. The current study aimed to: (1) explore the relationships between burnout, sense of belonging (relatedness with others), and work engagement; and (2) identify the key elements perceived by undergraduate medical students as positively contributing to collegiality, engagement, and a sense of belonging, in an undergraduate medical training setting.

Methods

An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design using questionnaires and semi-structured individual interviews collected quantitative and qualitative data among undergraduate medical students at Mahidol University, Thailand. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey questionnaire was used to measure burnout. The Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction at Work Scale (BPNSS-21) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-Student Version (UWESS-9) measured students’ basic psychological needs satisfaction at work and work engagement, respectively. Descriptive statistical analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed on BPNSS-21 and UWESS-9 data. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to identify the correlation between burnout and other factors. Twenty undergraduate medical students participated in the qualitative study. Qualitative analysis was conducted iteratively using constant comparison and the standard principles of primary, secondary, and tertiary coding for thematic analysis.

Results

Thai versions of the BPNSS-21 and UWESS-9 showed an acceptable fit for the Thai cultural context. Burnout had significant weak inverse associations with engagement (r = − 0.39, p < 0.005) and basic psychological needs satisfaction (r = − 0.37, p < 0.005). Sense of belonging had a significant weak inverse relationship with burnout (r = − 0.25, p < 0.005). The main themes emerging from qualitative analysis were relevant tasks and learning activities, safety in the learning environment, peer interaction, program design factors, dynamics of collegiality while progressing through medical school, and personal stance and social skills.

Conclusions

Sense of belonging, engagement, and collegiality were related to burnout. The key features for promoting collegiality, the sense of belonging, and engagement were relevant tasks and learning activities, safety in the learning environment, peer interaction, program design factors, dynamics of collegiality while progressing through medical school, and personal stance and social skills.
Towards an effective collaboration between the South Western Sydney Local Health District and local councils: insights from a qualitative study
Authors: Kovai Vilas , Mahjabeen Zeenat , Jalaludin Bin , Fox Francis
Published: April 2022

Background

Partnership between local government and local health districts is imperative, given their overlapping goals. However, the need for further evidence-informed actions to address health inequities remains. The effectiveness of such partnerships requires better insight into how local governments perceive partnerships with local health districts, and how well equipped and prepared they are to deal with the health equity opportunities and challenges. It was precisely for these reasons that a qualitative study was conducted by South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) in 2016.

Objective

This study aims to better understand how to improve the effectiveness of collaboration between local governments and the public health sector.

Methods

Qualitative data were collected from 14 in-depth interviews with staff representing five of the local councils comprising SWSLHD. These data were then thematically analysed using inductive and deductive reasoning through the application of NVivo software.

Results

While councils recognize the potential value of consulting SWSLHD, limited communication and the absence of a clearly defined process for collaboration needs to be addressed. Moreover, councils perceive knowledge gaps in relation to basic issues, such as who provides what services to whom, and how to access local-government-level data from health experts.

Conclusions

The study confirms the importance of providing locally relevant public health data to help address issues of mutual concern that arise during the consultation process. Moreover, it suggests that proactive and ongoing consultation between SWSLHD and councils is critical if there is to be effective engagement, and coordinated and sustained action. The concerns raised in this study echo findings from studies from other local government settings of Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales. Thus, the study findings may be applied to other councils beyond the SWSLHD.
Building a model for predicting metabolic syndrome using artificial intelligence based on an investigation of whole-genome sequencing
Authors: Hsu Nai-Wei , Chou Kai-Chen , Wang Yu-Ting Tina , Hung Chung-Lieh , Kuo Chien-Feng , Tsai Shin-Yi
Published: April 2022

Background

The circadian system is responsible for regulating various physiological activities and behaviors and has been gaining recognition. The circadian rhythm is adjusted in a 24-h cycle and has transcriptional–translational feedback loops. When the circadian rhythm is interrupted, affecting the expression of circadian genes, the phenotypes of diseases could amplify. For example, the importance of maintaining the internal temporal homeostasis conferred by the circadian system is revealed as mutations in genes coding for core components of the clock result in diseases. This study will investigate the association between circadian genes and metabolic syndromes in a Taiwanese population.

Methods

We performed analysis using whole-genome sequencing, read vcf files and set target circadian genes to determine if there were variants on target genes. In this study, we have investigated genetic contribution of circadian-related diseases using population-based next generation whole genome sequencing. We also used significant SNPs to create a metabolic syndrome prediction model. Logistic regression, random forest, adaboost, and neural network were used to predict metabolic syndrome. In addition, we used random forest model variables importance matrix to select 40 more significant SNPs, which were subsequently incorporated to create new prediction models and to compare with previous models. The data was then utilized for training set and testing set using five-fold cross validation. Each model was evaluated with the following criteria: area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), precision, F1 score, and average precision (the area under the precision recall curve).

Results

After searching significant variants, we used Chi-Square tests to find some variants. We found 186 significant SNPs, and four predicting models which used 186 SNPs (logistic regression, random forest, adaboost and neural network), AUC were 0.68, 0.8, 0.82, 0.81 respectively. The F1 scores were 0.412, 0.078, 0.295, 0.552, respectively. The other three models which used the 40 SNPs (logistic regression, adaboost and neural network), AUC were 0.82, 0.81, 0.81 respectively. The F1 scores were 0.584, 0.395, 0.574, respectively.

Conclusions

Circadian gene defect may also contribute to metabolic syndrome. Our study found several related genes and building a simple model to predict metabolic syndrome.
Mechanism and clinical value of exosomes and exosomal contents in regulating solid tumor radiosensitivity
Authors: Sun Huihui , Sun Rui , Song Xing , Gu Wendong , Shao Yingjie
Published: April 2022

Radiotherapy is among the routine treatment options for malignant tumors. And it damages DNA and other cellular organelles in target cells by using ionizing radiation produced by various rays, killing the cells. In recent years, multiple studies have demonstrated that exosomes are mechanistically involved in regulating tumor formation, development, invasion and metastasis, and immune evasion. The latest research shows that radiation can affect the abundance and composition of exosomes as well as cell-to-cell communication. In the environment, exosome-carried miRNAs, circRNA, mRNA, and proteins are differentially expressed in cancer cells, while these molecules play a role in numerous biological processes, including the regulation of oncogene expression, mediation of signaling pathways in cancer cells, remodeling of tumor-related fibroblasts, regulation of cell radiosensitivity, and so forth. Therefore, elucidation of the mechanism underlying the role of exosomes in radiotherapy of malignant tumors is crucial for improving the efficacy of radiotherapy. This review will summarize the research advances in radiosensitivity of malignant tumors related to exosomes.
TFEB-lysosome pathway activation is associated with different cell death responses to carbon quantum dots in Kupffer cells and hepatocytes
Authors: Pang Yanting , Yao Ying , Yang Mengran , Wu Daming , Ma Ying , Zhang Yuanjian , Zhang Ting
Published: April 2022

Background

Carbon dot has been widely used in biomedical field as a kind of nanomaterial with low toxicity and high biocompatibility. CDs has demonstrated its unique advantages in assisted drug delivery, target diagnosis and targeted therapy with its small size and spontaneous fluorescence. However, the potential biosafety of CDs cannot be evaluated. Therefore, we focused on the study of liver, the target organ involved in CDs metabolism, to evaluate the risk of CDs in vitro.

Methods and results

Liver macrophage KUP5 cells and normal liver cells AML12 cells were incubated in CDs at the same concentration for 24 h to compare the different effects under the same exposure conditions. The study found that both liver cell models showed ATP metabolism disorder, membrane damage, autophagosome formation and lysosome damage, but the difference was that, KUP5 cells exhibited more serious damage than AML12 cells, suggesting that immunogenic cell type is particularly sensitive to CDs. The underlying mechanism of CDs-induced death of the two hepatocyte types were also assessed. In KUP5 cells, death was caused by inhibition of autophagic flux caused by autophagosome accumulation, this process that was reversed when autophagosome accumulation was prevented by 3-MA. AML12 cells had no such response, suggesting that the accumulation of autophagosomes caused by CDs may be specific to macrophages.

Conclusion

Activation of the TFEB-lysosome pathway is important in regulating autophagy and apoptosis. The dual regulation of ERK and mTOR phosphorylation upstream of TFEB influences the death outcome of AML12 cells. These findings provide a new understanding of how CDs impact different liver cells and contribute to a more complete toxicological safety evaluation of CDs.
Cyclin D1 and PRAME expression in distinguishing melanoma in situ from benign melanocytic proliferation of the nail unit
Authors: Kim Young Jae , Jung Chang Jin , Na Hyoungmin , Lee Woo Jin , Chang Sung Eun , Lee Mi Woo , Park Chan-Sik , Lim Youngkyoung , Won Chong Hyun
Published: April 2022

Background

Distinguishing benign lesion from early malignancy in melanocytic lesions of the nail unit still remains a diagnostic challenge, both clinically and histopathologically. While several immunohistochemistry (IHC) stainings have been suggested to help discriminate benign subungual melanocytic proliferation (SMP) and subungual melanoma in situ (MIS), the diagnostic utility of IHC staining for cyclin D1 and PRAME has not been thoroughly investigated in melanocytic lesions of nail unit.

Methods

This retrospective study included cases of benign SMP and subungual MIS confirmed by biopsy at Asan Medical Center from January 2016 to December 2020. Cases of melanocytic activation without proliferation and melanoma where dermal invasion was identified were excluded. Cyclin D1 and PRAME expression was assessed by counting proportion of melanocytes with nuclear positivity under 200x magnification.

Results

A total of 14 patients with benign SMP and 13 patients with subungual MIS were included in this study. 11 patients with benign SMP (71.4%) and 5 patients with subungual MIS (38.5%) showed > 60% nuclear immunostaining for cyclin D1, respectively. While 13 patients with benign SMP (92.9%) showed totally negative staining for PRAME, 10 patients with subungual MIS (76.9%) exhibited > 50% nuclear immunostaining for PRAME. Using the cutoff of 10%, PRAME exhibited good overall discrimination between benign SMP and subungual MIS (AUC = 0.849, 95% CI = 0.659–0.957).

Conclusions

This study suggests that PRAME IHC staining as a reliable discriminator in distinguishing subungual MIS from benign SMP.
Migrasomes, new vescicles as Hansel and Gretel white pebbles?
Authors: Di Daniele Arianna , Antonucci Ylenia , Campello Silvia
Published: April 2022

Migrasomes, released by migrating cells, belong to the heterogeneous world of extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, they can be distinguished from all other members of EVs by their size, biorigin and protein cargo. As far as we know, they can play important roles in various communication processes, by mediating the release of signals, such as mRNAs, proteins or damaged mitochondria. To extend and better understand the functional roles and importance of migrasomes, it is first essential to well understand the basic molecular mechanisms behind their formation and function. Herein, we endeavor to provide a brief and up-to-date description of migrasome biogenesis, release, characterization, biological properties and functional activities in cell-to-cell communication, and we will discuss and propose putative new functions for these vesicles.
Minimum acceptable diet feeding practice and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in east Africa: a multilevel binary logistic regression analysis of 2008–2018 demographic health survey data
Authors: Worku Misganaw Gebrie , Alamneh Tesfa Sewunet , Tesema Getayeneh Antehunegn , Alem Adugnaw Zeleke , Tessema Zemenu Tadesse , Liyew Alemneh Mekuriaw , Yeshaw Yigizie , Teshale Achamyeleh Birhanu
Published: April 2022

Background

Despite the proportion of receiving a minimum acceptable diet (minimum meal frequency and minimum dietary diversity) is lower in east Africa, there is limited evidence on minimum acceptable diet. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the minimum acceptable diet and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in east Africa.

Methods

A secondary data analysis of the most recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data of 12 east African countries was done. A total weighted sample of 34, 097 children aged 6–23 months were included. A multilevel binary logistic regression model was applied. The Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Median Odds Ratio (MOR) were calculated to assess the clustering effect. Besides, deviance was used for model comparison as the models are nested models. Both crude and adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were reported as potential predictors of minimum acceptable diet feeding practice.

Results

The prevalence of minimum acceptable diet feeding practice among children in east Africa was 11.56%; [95%CI; 11.22%, 11.90%]. In the multilevel analysis; child age of 12–17 month (AOR = 1.33: 95%CI; 1.20, 1.48), maternal primary (AOR = 1.21: 95%CI; 1.08, 1.35), secondary (AOR = 1.63: 95%CI; 1.44, 1.86) higher (AOR = 2.97: 95%CI; 2.30, 3.38) education level, media exposure (AOR = 1.38, 95%CI; 1.26, 1.51), household wealth statues (AOR = 1.28, 95%CI; 1.15, 1.42 for middle and AOR = 1.50: 95%CI; 1.42, 1.71 foe rich), employed mother (AOR = 1.27: 95%CI; 1.17, 1.37), maternal age 25–34 (AOR = 1.20: 95%CI; 1.09, 1.32) and 35–49 (AOR = 1.22: 95%; 1.06, 1.40) years, delivery in health facility (AOR = 1.43: 95%CI; 1.29, 1.59) and high community education level (AOR = 1.05: 95%CI; 1.01, 1.17) were positively associated with minimum acceptable diet child feeding practice. Meanwhile, the use of wood (AOR = 0.72: 95%CI; 0.61, 0.86) and animal dug (AOR = 0.34: 95%CI; 0.12, 0.95) as a source of cooking fuel and being from female-headed households (AOR = 0.88: 95%CI; 0.81, 0.96) were negatively associated with minimum acceptable diet feeding practice.

Conclusion

Child age, mother’s educational level, source of cooking fuel, exposure to media, sex of household head, household wealth status, mother working status, age of the mother, place of delivery and community-level education were the significant determinants of minimum acceptable diet feeding practices. Therefore, designing public health interventions targeting higher-risk children such as those from the poorest household and strengthening mothers’ education on acceptable child feed practices are recommended.
Metagenome-assembled genomes of phytoplankton microbiomes from the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans
Authors: Duncan Anthony , Barry Kerrie , Daum Chris , Eloe-Fadrosh Emiley , Roux Simon , Schmidt Katrin , Tringe Susannah G. , Valentin Klaus U. , Varghese Neha , Salamov Asaf , Grigoriev Igor V. , Leggett Richard M. , Moulton Vincent , Mock Thomas
Published: April 2022

Background

Phytoplankton communities significantly contribute to global biogeochemical cycles of elements and underpin marine food webs. Although their uncultured genomic diversity has been estimated by planetary-scale metagenome sequencing and subsequent reconstruction of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), this approach has yet to be applied for complex phytoplankton microbiomes from polar and non-polar oceans consisting of microbial eukaryotes and their associated prokaryotes.

Results

Here, we have assembled MAGs from chlorophyllamaximum layers in the surface of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans enriched for species associations (microbiomes) with a focus on pico- and nanophytoplankton and their associated heterotrophic prokaryotes. From 679 Gbp and estimated 50 million genes in total, we recovered 143 MAGs of medium to high quality. Although there was a strict demarcation between Arctic and Atlantic MAGs, adjacent sampling stations in each ocean had 51–88% MAGs in common with most species associations betweenPrasinophytesandProteobacteria. Phylogenetic placement revealed eukaryotic MAGs to be more diverse in the Arctic whereas prokaryotic MAGs were more diverse in the Atlantic Ocean. Approximately 70% of protein families were shared between Arctic and Atlantic MAGs for both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. However, eukaryotic MAGs had more protein families unique to the Arctic whereas prokaryotic MAGs had more families unique to the Atlantic.

Conclusion

Our study provides a genomic context to complex phytoplankton microbiomes to reveal that their community structure was likely driven by significant differences in environmental conditions between the polar Arctic and warm surface waters of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean.
Transforming OpenAPI Specification 3.0 documents into RDF-based semantic web services
Authors: Muhamad Wardani , Suhardi  , Bandung Yoanes
Published: April 2022

Web services are provided with documents that at the very least specify the endpoint, input parameters, and output or response of each operation to expose their capabilities. This should be considered through an understandable format for humans and/or machines. In the Representational State Transfer (REST) architectural style, the OpenAPI Specification (OAS) is used as a reference to create web service descriptions. However, it only supports syntactic interoperability, leading to the incapability of supporting the automated selection process. To overcome this, OAS documents must be enhanced by including semantics to each resource to provide “understandable” services. Therefore, this study aims to develop a system capable of transforming resources in OAS documents into RDF-based semantic web services. To begin, a relational database schema based on the OAS structure is created to store all objects in the OAS document. The published open-linked vocabulary was then used to create the ontology, which maps resources and their relationships on the RDF data model. To build RDF-based semantic web services, R2RML was used to generate the relational database model into triple RDF. The proposed system was also tested through prototyping and using a dataset of 106 OAS documents, which were downloaded from APIs.guru between 5–10 May 2021. The number of triple RDFs generated per document varied with resource rate. An OAS document generates 36 to 16,505 triple RDF in a dataset. The end product was a triple RDF knowledge base maintained by a graph management database. It is now possible to find service operations, input and output parameters, and service composition requirements utilizing the repository semantic web services using SPARQL. On the other hand, the use of relational databases to store OAS resources increased reuse efficiency by approximately 48%, owing to service developers designing interoperability between uniform parameter services, which were then used as input and output.
The stability of different aggregation techniques in ensemble feature selection
Authors: Salman Reem , Alzaatreh Ayman , Sulieman Hana
Published: April 2022

To mitigate the curse of dimensionality in high-dimensional datasets, feature selection has become a crucial step in most data mining applications. However, no feature selection method consistently delivers the best performance across different domains. For this reason and in order to improve the stability of the feature selection process, ensemble feature selection frameworks have become increasingly popular. While many have examined the construction of ensemble techniques under various considerations, little work has been done to shed light on the influence of the aggregation process on the stability of the ensemble feature selection. In contribution to this field, this work aims to explore the impact of some selected aggregation strategies on the ensemble’s stability and accuracy. Using twelve classification real datasets from various domains, the stability and accuracy of five different aggregation techniques were examined under four standard filter feature selection methods. The experimental analysis revealed significant differences in both the stability and accuracy behavior of the ensemble under different aggregations, especially between score-based and rank-based aggregation strategies. Moreover, it was observed that the simpler score-based strategies based on the Arithmetic Mean or L2-norm aggregation appear to be efficient and compelling in most cases. Given the data structure or associated application domain, this work’s findings can guide the construction of feature selection ensembles using the most efficient and suitable aggregation rules.
India’s ban on antimicrobial fixed-dose combinations: winning the battle, losing the war?
Authors: Sulis Giorgia , Pradhan Richeek , Kotwani Anita , Gandra Sumanth
Published: April 2022

Background and objectives

India, the country with the largest market availability of antimicrobial fixed-dose combinations (FDCs), banned certain antimicrobial FDCs in September 2018. Our objective was to examine the impact of Government ban on the sales of antimicrobial FDCs.

Methods

The sales patterns of 14 of the 26 banned antimicrobial FDCs were analyzed using monthly private sector drug sales data from IQVIA (a comprehensive and nationally representative drug sales database) between January 2018 and December 2019. We carried out descriptive analyses to evaluate the trend in sales over time for banned and non-banned antimicrobial FDCs using cumulative sales volumes.

Results

Overall, the cumulative sales volume of banned antimicrobial FDCs declined by 75% between January and September 2018 and the same months of 2019, although some banned FDCs continued to be available in significant volumes. The effectiveness of the ban was offset by several pathways. First, the sales of combinations containing moieties belonging to the same drug-classes as the antimicrobials in the banned FDCs increased after the ban. Second, while certain formulations of particular combinations were banned, the sales of other non-banned formulation of these combinations increased. Third, in some cases, products containing new non-antimicrobial components added to the banned combinations remained available.

Interpretation and conclusions

While sales of the banned antimicrobial FDCs decreased in 2019, we identified several mechanisms that counterbalanced the ban, including implementation failure, rising sales of congeners, and products with additional non-antimicrobial components.
An assessment of health risks posed by consumption of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables among residents in the Kampala Metropolitan Area in Uganda
Authors: Ssemugabo Charles , Bradman Asa , Ssempebwa John C. , Sillé Fenna , Guwatudde David
Published: April 2022

Background

Pesticide use for fruits and vegetable production in Uganda may result in presence of residues on produce which may pose health risks to consumers. Uganda does not have an established system for monitoring pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables and assessing potential health risks. This research aimed to conduct a health risk assessment of presence of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables in the Kampala Metropolitan Area in Uganda.

Method

Pesticides were measured in 160 fruits and vegetables samples collected at farms, markets, street vendors, restaurants and homes; and analysed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fruit and vegetable consumption information was collected from 2177 people. Pesticide concentrations were compared with European Union maximum residual limits (MRLs). Mean values of pesticide concentration residues found in the sample of fruits and vegetables; and fruits and vegetables intake and body weight were used to calculate the estimated daily intake (EDI) of pesticide residues. EDI values were compared with acceptable daily intakes (ADI) to calculate the hazard quotient by age group, and stage at which consumption happens along the chain.

Results

Overall, 57 pesticides were detected in fruits and vegetables from farm to fork. Of the 57, 39 pesticides were detected in all the fruits and vegetables studied. Concentrations of fonofos, fenitrothion and fenhexamid were above the European Union MRLs in some samples. Hazard quotients based on dietary ingestion scenarios for 18 pesticides, including dichlorvos (444) alanycarb (314), fonofos (68), fenitrothion (62), dioxacarb (55) and benfuracarb (24) and others, were above 1, indicating the possibility of chronic health risk to consumers. Chronic health risk decreased with age but was stable for stage at which consumption happens along the food chain. The number of pesticides with EDI greater than the ADI decreased with increase in age; with 18, 13, 9, 11, 8, 9, and 9 pesticides for age groups < 5, 5-12, 13-19, 20-25, 36-49 and ≥ 50 respectively.

Conclusion

Chronic dietary pesticide exposures to Ugandans are likely common, and for some pesticides result in exposure exceeding health-based benchmarks. Risks were highest for younger participants. There is an urgent need to increase monitoring and regulation of pesticides in fruits and vegetables in order to protect consumers, especially the children who are vulnerable to the adverse effects of pesticides.
Nanotechnology-enabled immunoengineering approaches to advance therapeutic applications
Authors: Chuang Skylar T. , Conklin Brandon , Stein Joshua B. , Pan George , Lee Ki-Bum
Published: April 2022

Immunotherapy has reached clinical success in the last decade, with the emergence of new and effective treatments such as checkpoint blockade therapy and CAR T-cell therapy that have drastically improved patient outcomes. Still, these therapies can be improved to limit off-target effects, mitigate systemic toxicities, and increase overall efficacies. Nanoscale engineering offers strategies that enable researchers to attain these goals through the manipulation of immune cell functions, such as enhancing immunity against cancers and pathogens, controlling the site of immune response, and promoting tolerance via the delivery of small molecule drugs or biologics. By tuning the properties of the nanomaterials, such as size, shape, charge, and surface chemistry, different types of immune cells can be targeted and engineered, such as dendritic cells for immunization, or T cells for promoting adaptive immunity. Researchers have come to better understand the critical role the immune system plays in the progression of pathologies besides cancer, and developing nanoengineering approaches that seek to harness the potential of immune cell activities can lead to favorable outcomes for the treatment of injuries and diseases.
Modeling trend changes in percent of under five-year-old children with malnutrition amongst 39 Asian countries from 1987 to 2016 via growth mixture model
Authors: Keshani Parisa , Shahraki Hadi Raeisi
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Malnutrition is an important public health issue and the main cause of child morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. The present study aimed to model trend changes in percentage of the malnourished children under 5 among 39 Asian countries during 1987 to 2016.

Methods

Information about percentage of the malnourished under 5 years children based on under-weight (weight for age) malnutrition for 39 Asian countries were extracted from Gapminder web site during 1987 to 2016. To cluster Asian countries based on trend changes, Growth Mixture Model (GMM) was implemented. All the statistical analyses were performed in Mplus 7.4 software and P < 0.10 in likelihood ratio test (LRT) was considered as statistically significant.

Results

Based on P-value of LRT, the model with 3 clusters was selected. Although, cluster 3 with 9 countries had higher intercept in 1987 and the worst situation in malnutrition, they gained a sharp decrease (− 0.93) in percentage of malnourished children under five annually. The slope of − 0.64 for cluster 1 countries indicate a moderate decrease annually in percent of children with malnutrition. The other 20 countries with slope of − 0.29 in their linear trend belonged to cluster 2 which shows slow decrease in the percentage of children with malnutrition.

Conclusion

The investments in public health and education programs, as well as political commitment and government proper response in line with needs and demands are crucial to promote food security, nourishing diets and improving child nutrition. Certainly, most of them are still a long way from eradicating malnutrition.
No association between dietary magnesium intake and body composition among Iranian adults: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Mirrafiei Amin , Jabbarzadeh Bahareh , Hosseini Yasaman , Djafarian Kurosh , Shab-Bidar Sakineh
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Obesity is becoming more prevalent worldwide. Magnesium (Mg) intake may play a role in the regulation of energy metabolism and body weight. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the association between dietary Mg intake and body composition among healthy adults.

Methods

A total of 778 adult men and women aged 18–59 years who attended health care centers in Tehran, Iran, entered the final analysis. Dietary intake was assessed with a validated and reliable food frequency questionnaire with 168 items and the dietary Mg intake was estimated using Nutritionist IV software. Anthropometric measurements and blood samples were collected and body composition was evaluated employing the Body Mass Index (BMI), A Body Shape Index (ABSI), Body Adiposity Index (BAI), Body Roundness Index (BRI), Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI), Lipid Accumulation Index (LAP), and Triglyceride-Glucose index (TyG). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the association of the dietary Mg intake with body composition indices.

Results

The mean daily dietary Mg intake was 294 ± 140 mg in men and 262 ± 112 mg in women. Unadjusted linear regression showed that dietary magnesium intake is significantly associated with a waist to hip ratio (WHR) and total cholesterol (TC) in men, and hip circumference (HC) in women. After adjusting for potential confounders including age, education, marriage, occupation and smoking, total energy intake, and activity score, there remained no significant association between dietary Mg intake and any of the body composition indices including BMI, ABSI, BAI, BRI, VAI, LAP, and TyG neither in men nor women.

Conclusion

Higher Mg intake was not associated with anthropometric indices in Iranian adults, according to our findings. Additional observational studies would be beneficial in clarifying the existing findings.
The Relationship Between Acute Exercise-Induced Changes in Extramuscular Connective Tissue Thickness and Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness in Healthy Participants: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial
Authors: Tenberg Sarah , Nosaka Kazunori , Wilke Jan
Published: April 2022

Background

The extramuscular connective tissue (ECT) has been shown to play a significant role in mechanical force transmission between musculoskeletal structures. Due to this and owing to its tight connection with the underlying muscle, the ECT may be vulnerable to excessive loading. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of eccentric elbow flexor exercise on the morphology of the biceps brachii ECT. In view of the high nociceptive capacity of the ECT, an additional objective was to elucidate the potential relationship between ECT damage and the occurrence of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

Methods

Eleven healthy participants (♂ = 7; 24 ± 2 years) performed fatiguing dumbbell elbow flexor eccentric exercise (EE) for one arm and concentric exercise (CE) for the other arm in random order and with random arm allocation. Before, immediately after and 24–96 h post-exercise, maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque of the elbow flexors (dynamometer), pressure pain (algometer), palpation pain (100 mm visual analog scale), biceps brachii ECT thickness and ECT/muscle mobility during passive movement (both high-resolution ultrasound) were examined.

Results

Palpation pain, suggestive of DOMS, was greater after EE than CE, and maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque decreased greater after EE than CE (p < .05). Relative to CE, EE increased ECT thickness at 48 (+ 17%), 72 (+ 14%) and 96 (+ 15%) hours post-exercise (p < .05). At 96 h post-EE, the increase in ECT thickness correlated with palpation pain (r = .68; p < .05). ECT mobility was not different between conditions, but compared to CE, muscle displacement increased at 24 (+ 31%), 72 (+ 31%) and 96 (+ 41%) hours post-EE (p < .05).

Conclusion

Collectively, these results suggest an involvement of the ECT changes in delayed onset muscle soreness.
Antimicrobial use in lactating sows, piglets, nursery, and grower-finisher pigs on swine farms in Ontario, Canada during 2017 and 2018
Authors: Bosman Angelina L. , Deckert Anne E. , Carson Carolee A. , Poljak Zvonimir , Reid-Smith Richard J. , McEwen Scott A.
Published: April 2022

Background

Data on antimicrobial use (AMU) in pig production are needed for the development of good antimicrobial stewardship practices to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria that can cause illness in animals and humans. In Canada, there is a lack of quantitative data on AMU in the farrowing and nursery stages of pig production. This study aimed to determine which antimicrobial active ingredients are currently used in farrowing, nursery, and grower-finisher herds in the province of Ontario, Canada, and to quantify AMU using various metrics. We collected data on herd demographics, biosecurity, health status, and AMU during one production cycle from 25 farrowing and 25 nursery herds in Ontario, between May 2017 and April 2018, and obtained data from 23 Ontario grower-finisher herds during the same time frame from the Public Health Agency’s Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance. We applied frequency measures, and weight-, and dose-based metrics to the data.

Results

In all pigs, the highest quantity of AMU was administered in-feed. By all routes of administration and compared to other production stages, nursery pigs used more antimicrobials in mg/kg biomass and the number of Canadian defined daily doses per 1000 pig-days (doseCA rate), while grower-finisher pigs used more antimicrobials in total kilograms and the number of Canadian defined daily doses per pig. In suckling pigs in some herds, there was routine disease prevention use of ceftiofur, an antimicrobial active ingredient categorized as very highly important in human medicine by Health Canada. The top antimicrobial used in each stage of pig production often varied by the metric used. There was producer-reported growth promotion use of antimicrobials in suckling and grower-finisher feed.

Conclusions

The results of this study provide a current picture of AMU in pigs in Ontario and can be used as a basis for further research on AMU in farrowing and nursery herds in Canada. Our findings confirm that it would be useful to include farrowing and nursery herds in routine AMU surveillance in Canada. A future analysis using data from this project will examine factors that affect the quantity of AMU.
Effects of antirejection therapies for early subclinical acute rejection in renal transplant protocol biopsies
Authors: Sakurabayashi Kei , Muramatsu Masaki , Itabashi Yoshihiro , Oguchi Hideyo , Kawamura Takeshi , Hamasaki Yuko , Mikami Tetsuo , Tochigi Naobumi , Shishido Seiichiro , Sakai Ken
Published: April 2022

Background

Although recently strengthened immunosuppression protocols have decreased the incidence of clinical acute rejection of renal transplants, subclinical acute rejection and borderline changes remain problematic. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of antirejection therapies for early subclinical acute rejection and borderline changes.

Methods

In total, 269 renal transplant patients who received 3-month and 1-year protocol biopsies after renal transplantation were enrolled this study and divided into those with normal findings (Group A) and those with ≥ borderline changes (Group B) according to the 3-month pathological results. Pathological changes, graft function, and graft survival were evaluated at 1 year.

Results

The 3-month protocol biopsy revealed normal findings in 166 patients (Group A) and borderline changes and subclinical acute rejection in 103 patients (Group B). In Group A, 65.1% (n = 108) of the patients maintained normal findings at 1 year, while 30.1% (n = 50) deteriorated to ≥ borderline changes. In Group B, 52.4% (n = 54) of patients improved to normal. Among patients with subclinical acute rejection, 25.0% (n = 5) maintained subclinical acute rejection at 1 year despite antirejection therapy. The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate decreased from 60.4 ± 24.5 to 58.3 ± 19.0 mL/min/1.73 m2 in Group A and from 57.2 ± 28.2 to 53.7 ± 20.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 in Group B (p = 0.417). The 3-, 5-, and 7-year graft survival rates were 99.4%, 99.4%, and 97.6% in Group A and 100.0%, 98.6%, and 98.6% in Group B, respectively (p = 0.709).

Conclusions

Subclinical acute rejection is likely to recur. However, intervention for subclinical acute rejection in the early period after transplantation may help to prevent subsequent histological changes.
An analysis of privacy preservation in electric vehicle charging
Authors: Unterweger Andreas , Knirsch Fabian , Engel Dominik , Musikhina Daria , Alyousef Ammar , de Meer Hermann
Published: April 2022

Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining widespread adoption, which requires expanding the charging infrastructure. This infrastructure is part of a complex ecosystem that consists of multiple entities interacting with each other and exchanging (often personal) user data. Such a heterogeneous system with multiple participants exchanging personal data poses severe privacy risks to users. State-of-the-art literature insufficiently covers privacy aspects of charging ecosystem use cases. In this paper, a profound analysis of this ecosystem with respect to privacy is provided: First, the EV charging ecosystem and its entities are defined. Second, high-level use cases for EV charging identified in literature are analyzed and used for defining data flows within the charging ecosystem. Third, the identified use cases are compared in terms of privacy guarantees and adherence to standards. Fourth, representative implementations of these use cases are evaluated, i.e., all actors and (unintended) data flows are described and potential privacy threats are identified and visualized. It is found that privacy is not sufficiently covered by standards and implementations of EV charging use cases from literature. Furthermore, recommendations and future directions for protecting user privacy in the EV charging ecosystem are derived. In summary, stricter adherence to standards and privacy by design are suggested.