bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Schistosome egg antigen stimulates the secretion of miR-33-carrying extracellular vesicles from macrophages to promote hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis in schistosomiasis
Authors: Qi Xin , Pu Yanan , Chen Fanyan , Dong Liyang , Ma Yongbin , Wang Junling , Yin Guo , Lu Di , Chen Xiaojun , Zhu Jifeng , Li Yalin , Zhou Sha , Su Chuan
Published: May 2023

Schistosomiasis is a serious and neglected disease with a high prevalence in tropical and subtropical countries. The primary pathology of hepatic schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) or Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infection is egg-induced granuloma and subsequent fibrosis in the liver. Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is the central driver of liver fibrosis. Macrophages (Mφ), making up 30% of cells in hepatic granulomas, directly or indirectly regulate HSC activation by paracrine mechanisms, via secreting cytokines or chemokines. Currently, Mφ-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are broadly involved in cell communication with adjacent cell populations. However, whether Mφ-derived EVs could target neighboring HSCs to regulate their activation during schistosome infection remains largely unknown. Schistosome egg antigen (SEA) is considered to be the main pathogenic complex mixture involved in liver pathology. Here, we demonstrated that SEA induced Mφ to produce abundant extracellular vesicles, which directly activated HSCs by activating their autocrine TGF-β1 signaling. Mechanistically, EVs derived from SEA-stimulated Mφ contained increased miR-33, which were transferred into HSCs and subsequently upregulated autocrine TGF-β1 in HSCs through targeting and downregulating SOCS3 expression, thereby promoting HSC activation. Finally, we validated that EVs derived from SEA-stimulated Mφ utilized enclosed miR-33 to promote HSC activation and liver fibrosis in S. japonicum-infected mice. Overall, our study indicates that Mφ-derived EVs play important roles in the paracrine regulation of HSCs during the progression of hepatic schistosomiasis, representing a potential target for the prevention of liver fibrosis in hepatic schistosomiasis.
Crop pest detection by three-scale convolutional neural network with attention
Authors: Wang Xuqi , Zhang Shanwen , Wang Xianfeng , Xu Cong
Published: June 2023

Crop pests seriously affect the yield and quality of crop. To timely and accurately control crop pests is particularly crucial for crop security, quality of life and a stable agricultural economy. Crop pest detection in field is an essential step to control the pests. The existing convolutional neural network (CNN) based pest detection methods are not satisfactory for small pest recognition and detection in field because the pests are various with different colors, shapes and poses. A three-scale CNN with attention (TSCNNA) model is constructed for crop pest detection by adding the channel attention and spatial mechanisms are introduced into CNN. TSCNNA can improve the interest of CNN for pest detection with different sizes under complicated background, and enlarge the receptive field of CNN, so as to improve the accuracy of pest detection. Experiments are carried out on the image set of common crop pests, and the precision is 93.16%, which is 5.1% and 3.7% higher than ICNN and VGG16, respectively. The results show that the proposed method can achieve both high speed and high accuracy of crop pest detection. This proposed method has certain practical significance of real-time crop pest control in the field.
Association of gamma-glutamyl transferase variability with risk of osteoporotic fractures: A nationwide cohort study
Authors: Kim Dongyeop , Kim Jee Hyun , Lee Heajung , Hong Iksun , Chang Yoonkyung , Song Tae-Jin
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is related to inflammation, osteoporosis, and vascular diseases. Recently, changes in metabolic parameters have been proposed as osteoporosis biomarkers. We aimed to assess longitudinally the association of GGT variability with osteoporotic fractures.

Methods

From the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort database, participants who underwent three or more health examinations between 2003 and 2008 were included (n = 1,072,432). Variability indexes were as follows: (1) coefficient of variation (CV), (2) standard deviation (SD), and (3) variability independent of the mean (VIM). The primary outcome was occurrence of osteoporotic fracture, defined as identification of one of the following international classification of diseases-10 codes: vertebral fractures (S22.0, S22.1, S32.0, S32.7, T08, M48.4, M48.5, M49.5), hip fractures (S72.0, S72.1), distal radius fractures (S52.5, S52.6), or humerus fractures (S42.2, S42.3).

Results

During a median of 12.3 years (interquartile range 12.1–12.6), osteoporotic fractures occurred in 49,677 (4.6%) participants. In multivariable analysis, GGT variability based on CV positively correlated with the occurrence of osteoporotic fracture (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] of the highest quartile compared with the lowest quartile 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–1.18,P< 0.001). These results were consistent even when GGT variability was defined by SD (adjusted HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.19–1.25,P< 0.001) and VIM (adjusted HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.09–1.15,P< 0.001).

Conclusions

Increased GGT variability is associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures in the Korean population. Maintaining constant and stable GGT level may help reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures.
Pregnant women’s intentions to use maternity waiting homes and its associated factors in rural districts of Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Hasen Habtamu , Arage Getachew , Mulusew Manayeh , Delil Romedan , Endale Ashebir , Mosa Hassen , Ahmed Ritbano
Published: June 2023

Background

As part of a strategy to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality, Ethiopia’s government has made a significant effort to expand the number of Maternity Waiting Homes (MWHs). However, worldwide there is a substantial regional variation in pregnant women’s intention to use MWHs. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess pregnant women’s intention to use maternity waiting home and its associated factors in the rural district of Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study carried out on 385 pregnant women from March 1–28, 2020. A systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit the study participants. SPSS software (version 24.0) was used to enter and analyze the data. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine an association between each independent and dependent variables. Odds ratio with their 95% confidence intervals was computed to ascertain the existence and strength of an association, and statistical significance was affirmed at a p-value of < 0.05.

Results

The prevalence of pregnant women’s intension to use MWHs was observed to be 55.6%. A poor wealth status (AOR = 2.52; 95% CI:1.05–6.05), having a previous history of institutional delivery (AOR = 4.78; 95% CI:1.16–9.64), attending four or more antenatal care visits (AOR = 3.34; 95%CI:1.35–8.29), having obstetric complications during previous pregnancy (AOR = 3.76; 95% CI:1.45–9.77), and having favourable attitude towards MWHs (AOR = 13.51; 95% CI: 5.85–9.54) had a significant association with an intention to use MWHs.

Conclusions

According to the findings of this study, more than half of pregnant women have been intended to use MWHs. Therefore, boosting the uptake of the antenatal care visit, raising awareness about the risk and consequences of obstetric complications, and strengthening behavioral modification strategies is very crucial to increase pregnant women’s intention to use MWHs.
A cross-circulatory platform for monitoring innate allo-responses in lung grafts
Authors: Glorion Matthieu , Pascale Florentina , Estephan Jérôme , Huriet Maxime , Gouin Carla , Urien Céline , Blanc Fany , Rivière Julie , Richard Christophe , Gelin Valérie , De Wolf Julien , Le Guen Morgan , Magnan Antoine , Roux Antoine , Schwartz-Cornil Isabelle , Sage Edouard
Published: May 2023

Lung transplantation is the only curative option for end-stage chronic respiratory diseases. However the survival rate is only about 50% at 5 years. Although experimental evidences have shown that innate allo-responses impact on the clinical outcome, the knowledge of the involved mechanisms involved is limited. We established a cross-circulatory platform to monitor the early recruitment and activation of immune cells in an extracorporeal donor lung by coupling blood perfusion to cell mapping with a fluorescent marker in the pig, a commonly-used species for lung transplantation. The perfusing pig cells were easily detectable in lung cell suspensions, in broncho-alveolar lavages and in different areas of lung sections, indicating infiltration of the organ. Myeloid cells (granulocytes and monocytic cells) were the dominant recruited subsets. Between 6 and 10 h of perfusion, recruited monocytic cells presented a strong upregulation of MHC class II and CD80/86 expression, whereas alveolar macrophages and donor monocytic cells showed no significant modulation of expression. This cross-circulation model allowed us to monitor the initial encounter between perfusing cells and the lung graft, in an easy, rapid, and controllable manner, to generate robust information on innate response and test targeted therapies for improvement of lung transplantation outcome.
Medium and long-term prognosis in hospitalised older adults with multimorbidity. A prospective cohort study
Authors: Molina Siena , Martinez-Urrea Ana , Malik Komal , Libori Ginebra , Monzon Helena , Martínez-Camblor Pablo , Almagro Pere
Published: June 2023

Background

Data about long-term prognosis after hospitalisation of elderly multimorbid patients remains scarce.

Objectives

Evaluate medium and long-term prognosis in hospitalised patients older than 75 years of age with multimorbidity. Explore the impact of gender, age, frailty, physical dependence, and chronic diseases on mortality over a seven-year period.

Methods

We included prospectively all patients hospitalised for medical reasons over 75 years of age with two or more chronic illnesses in a specialised ward. Data on chronic diseases were collected using the Charlson comorbidity index and a questionnaire for disorders not included in this index. Demographic characteristics, Clinical Frailty Scale, Barthel index, and complications during hospitalisation were collected.

Results

514 patients (46% males) with a mean age of 85 (± 5) years were included. The median follow-up was 755 days (interquartile range 25–75%: 76–1,342). Mortality ranged from 44% to 68%, 82% and 91% at one, three, five, and seven years. At inclusion, men were slightly younger and with lower levels of physical impairment. Nevertheless, in the multivariate analysis, men had higher mortality (p<0.001; H.R.:1.43; 95% C.I.95%:1.16–1.75). Age, Clinical Frailty Scale, Barthel, and Charlson indexes were significant predictors in the univariate and multivariate analysis (all p<0.001). Dementia and neoplastic diseases were statistically significant in the unadjusted but not the adjusted model. In a cluster analysis, three patterns of patients were identified, with increasing significant mortality differences between them (p<0.001; H.R.:1.67; 95% CI: 1.49–1.88).

Conclusions

In our cohort, individual diseases had a limited predictive prognostic capacity, while the combination of chronic illness, frailty, and physical dependence were independent predictors of survival.
High-frequency fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) observations to assess water quality drivers at an enclosed beach
Authors: Searcy Ryan T. , Phaneuf Jacob R. , Boehm Alexandria B.
Published: June 2023

Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are monitored at beaches to assess water quality and associated health risk from recreational exposure. However, monitoring is generally conducted infrequently (i.e. weekly or less often), potentially leading to inaccurate assessment of water quality at a beach at the time of use. While some work has shown that FIB in marine environments can vary over short (e.g. subhourly) time scales, that work has been mainly focused on ‘open’ beaches. ‘Enclosed’ beaches—those that are partially barriered from exchange with offshore water and thus have different residence times and mixing dynamics in the nearshore environment—have been less studied. Here we present results from a high-frequency (once per 30 minutes) FIB sampling event conducted within a Central California, USA, harbor over 48 hours. FIB concentrations at this enclosed site were more variable at high-frequencies than what has been reported at open beach sites. Correlation and regression analyses showed FIB concentrations were most strongly associated with chlorophyll a concentration, turbidity, wind speed, and tide level. Results indicate the importance of measuring FIB concentrations and explanatory environmental parameters at appropriate temporal resolutions when conducting water quality monitoring or source tracking studies. Overall, this work highlights how high-frequency sampling can effectively provide information about water quality dynamics at beaches of interest.
Lost in HELLS: Disentangling the mystery of SALNR existence in senescence cellular models
Authors: Consiglio Arianna , Venturin Marco , Briguglio Sabrina , Rossi Clara , Grillo Giorgio , Bellosta Stefano , Cattaneo Maria Grazia , Licciulli Flavio , Battaglia Cristina
Published: May 2023

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of cellular senescence by transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally modulating the expression of many important genes involved in senescence-associated pathways and processes. Among the different lncRNAs associated to senescence, Senescence Associated Long Non-coding RNA (SALNR) was found to be down-regulated in different cellular models of senescence. Since its release in 2015, SALNR has not been annotated in any database or public repository, and no other experimental data have been published. The SALNR sequence is located on the long arm of chromosome 10, at band 10q23.33, and it overlaps the 3’ end of the HELLS gene. This investigation helped to unravel the mystery of the existence of SALNR by analyzing publicly available short- and long-read RNA sequencing data sets and RT-PCR analysis in human tissues and cell lines. Additionally, the expression of HELLS has been studied in cellular models of replicative senescence, both in silico and in vitro. Our findings, while not supporting the actual existence of SALNR as an independent transcript in the analyzed experimental models, demonstrate the expression of a predicted HELLS isoform entirely covering the SALNR genomic region. Furthermore, we observed a strong down-regulation of HELLS in senescent cells versus proliferating cells, supporting its role in the senescence and aging process.
Cyclists’ exposure to traffic-generated air pollution in multi-modal transportation network design problem
Authors: Mortazavi Moghaddam Elham , Shiran Gholamreza , Jafarian-Moghaddam Ahmad Reza , Naaman Ali
Published: June 2023

Moving toward sustainable transportation is one of the essential issues in cities. Bicycles, as active transportation, are considered an important part of sustainable transportation. However, cyclists engage in more physical activity and air intake, making the quality of air that they inhale important in the programs that aim to improve the share of this mode. This paper develops a multi-modal transportation network design problem (MMNDP) to select links and routes for cycling, cars, and buses to decrease the exposure of cyclists to traffic-generated air pollution. The objective functions of the model include demand coverage, travel time, and exposure. The study also examined the effect of having exclusive lanes for bicycles and buses on the network. In the present study, the non-dominated storing genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) solves the upper-level and a method of successive average (MSA) unravels the lower level of the model. A numerical example and four scenarios evaluate the trade-off between different objective functions of the proposed model. The results reveal that considering exposure to air pollution in our model results in a slight increase in travel time (4%) while the exposure to traffic-generated air pollution for cyclists was reduced significantly (47%). Exclusive lanes also result in exposure reduction in the network (60%). In addition, the demand coverage objective function performs well in increasing the total demand in the network by 47%. However, more demand coverage leads to a rise in travel time by 28% and exposure by 58%. The model also showed an acceptable result in terms of exposure to traffic-generated air pollution compared to the model in the literature.
Flexor tendon degeneration affects short-term outcomes of open trigger digit release
Authors: Abdul Nasir Mardhiyah , Ahmad Tunku Sara , Low Tze Hau , Devarajooh Cassidy , Gunasagaran Jayaletchumi
Published: May 2023

We aimed to investigate the association between flexor tendon degeneration and outcome of open trigger digit release. We recruited 162 trigger digits (136 patients) who had open trigger digit release from February 2017 to March 2019. Intraoperatively, six features of tendon degenerations were identified: irregular tendon surface, tendon fraying, intertendinous tear, synovial thickening, hyperaemia of sheath and tendon dryness. Longer duration of preoperative symptoms was associated with worsening tendon surface irregularity and fraying; increased number of steroid injections was associated with worsening tendon surface irregularity and dryness; higher DASH score was associated with severe tendon fraying, dryness and intertendinous tear; limited proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) motion was associated with severe tendon dryness. At 1-month post-surgery, DASH score remained high in severe intertendinous tear group while PIPJ motion remained limited in severe tendon dryness group. In conclusion, the severity of various flexor tendon degenerations influenced the outcome of open trigger digit release at 1-month but did not affect the outcome at 3- and 6-months post-surgery.
Binding of Tau-derived peptide-fused GFP to plant microtubules in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Inaba Hiroshi , Oikawa Kazusato , Ishikawa Kazuya , Kodama Yutaka , Matsuura Kazunori , Numata Keiji
Published: June 2023

Studies on how exogenous molecules modulate properties of plant microtubules, such as their stability, structure, and dynamics, are important for understanding and modulating microtubule functions in plants. We have developed a Tau-derived peptide (TP) that binds to microtubules and modulates their properties by binding of TP-conjugated molecules in vitro. However, there was no investigation of TPs on microtubules in planta. Here, we generated transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants stably expressing TP-fused superfolder GFP (sfGFP-TP) and explored the binding properties and effects of sfGFP-TP on plant microtubules. Our results indicate that the expressed sfGFP-TP binds to the plant microtubules without inhibiting plant growth. A transgenic line strongly expressing sfGFP-TP produced thick fibrous structures that were stable under conditions where microtubules normally depolymerize. This study generates a new tool for analyzing and modulating plant microtubules.
Genome-wide study of linkage disequilibrium, population structure, and inbreeding in Iranian indigenous sheep breeds
Authors: Barani S. , Nejati-Javaremi A. , Moradi M. H. , Moradi-Sharbabak M. , Gholizadeh M. , Esfandyari H.
Published: June 2023

Knowledge of linkage disequilibrium (LD), genetic structure and genetic diversity are some key parameters to study the breeding history of indigenous small ruminants. In this study, the OvineSNP50 Bead Chip array was used to estimate and compare LD, genetic diversity, effective population size (Ne) and genomic inbreeding in 186 individuals, from three Iranian indigenous sheep breeds consisting of Baluchi (n= 96), Lori-Bakhtiari (n= 47) and Zel (n= 47). The results of principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that all animals were allocated to the groups that they sampled and the admixture analysis revealed that the structure within the populations is best explained when separated into three groups (K  =  3). The averager2values estimated between adjacent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at distances up to 10Kb, were 0.388±0.324, 0.353±0.311, and 0.333±0.309 for Baluchi, Lori-Bakhtiari and Zel, respectively. Estimation of genetic diversity and effective population size (Ne) showed that the Zel breed had the highest heterozygosity andNe, whereas the lowest value was found in Baluchi breed. Estimation of genomic inbreeding usingFROH(based on the long stretches of consecutive homozygous genotypes) showed the highest inbreeding coefficient in Baluchi and the lowest in Zel breed that could be due to higher pressure of artificial selection on Baluchi breed. The results of genomic inbreeding andNeshowed an increase in sharing haplotypes in Baluchi, leading to the enlargement of LD and the consequences of linkage disequilibrium and haplotype blocks confirmed this point. Also, the persistence of the LD phase between Zel and Lori-Bakhtiari was highest indicating that these two breeds would be combined in a multi-breed training population in genomic selection studies.
Reinterpretation of anthocyanins biosynthesis in developing black rice seeds through gene expression analysis
Authors: Lee Choonseok , Lee Yang-Seok , Hong Ha-Cheol , Hong Woo-Jong , Koh Hee-Jong , Jung Ki-Hong
Published: June 2023

The biosynthesis of anthocyanins is still questionable in regulating the quantities of anthocyanins biosynthesized in rice seeds and the expression levels of transcription factors and the structural genes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of anthocyanins. We herein investigated the relationship between the accumulated anthocyanin contents and the expression levels of genes related to the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in rice seeds. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry analysis of cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) in rice seeds showed no accumulation of C3G in white and red rice cultivars, and the differential accumulation of C3G among black rice cultivars. RNA-seq analysis in rice seeds, including white, red, and black rice cultivars, at twenty days after heading (DAH) further exhibited that the genes involved in the biosynthesis of anthocyanins were differentially upregulated in developing seeds of black rice. We further verified these RNA-seq results through gene expression analysis by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in developing seeds of white, red, and black rice cultivars at 20 DAH. Of these genes related to the biosynthesis of anthocyanins, bHLHs, MYBs, and WD40, which are regulators, and the structural genes, including chalcone synthase (CHS), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), flavonoid 3´-hydroxylase (F3´H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), were differentially upregulated in black rice seeds. The correlation analysis revealed that the quantities of C3G biosynthesized in black rice seeds were positively correlated to the expression levels of bHLHs, MYBs and WD40, CHS, F3H, F3´H, DFR, and ANS. In addition, we present bHLH2 (LOC_Os04g47040) and MYBs (LOC_Os01g49160, LOC_Os01g74410, and LOC_Os03g29614) as new putative transcription factor genes for the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in black rice seeds. It is expected that this study will help to improve the understanding of the molecular levels involved in the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in black rice seeds.
Impaired microvascular circulation in distant organs following renal ischemia
Authors: Dominguez Jesus H. , Xie Danhui , Kelly K. J.
Published: June 2023

Mortality in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients remains very high, although very important advances in understanding the pathophysiology and in diagnosis and supportive care have been made. Most commonly, adverse outcomes are related to extra-renal organ dysfunction and failure. We and others have documented inflammation in remote organs as well as microvascular dysfunction in the kidney after renal ischemia. We hypothesized that abnormal microvascular flow in AKI extends to distant organs. To test this hypothesis, we employed intravital multiphoton fluorescence imaging in a well-characterized rat model of renal ischemia/reperfusion. Marked abnormalities in microvascular flow were seen in every organ evaluated, with decreases up to 46% observed 48 hours postischemia (as compared to sham surgery, p = 0.002). Decreased microvascular plasma flow was found in areas of erythrocyte aggregation and leukocyte adherence to endothelia. Intravital microscopy allowed the characterization of the erythrocyte formations as rouleaux that flowed as one-dimensional aggregates. Observed microvascular abnormalities were associated with significantly elevated fibrinogen levels. Plasma flow within capillaries as well as microthrombi, but not adherent leukocytes, were significantly improved by treatment with the platelet aggregation inhibitor dipyridamole. These microvascular defects may, in part, explain known distant organ dysfunction associated with renal ischemia. The results of these studies are relevant to human acute kidney injury.
Status exploration and analysis of regional hospice and palliative care networks in Germany: A protocol for a mixed-methods study
Authors: Schwabe Sven , Buck Christoph , Herbst Franziska A. , Schleef Tanja , Stiel Stephanie , Schneider Nils
Published: June 2023

Background

Multi-professional cooperation between healthcare providers is a key quality criterion of hospice and palliative care. While hospice and palliative care networks can support cooperation on a local level, opportunities for wider cooperation through the establishment and development of regional hospice and palliative care networks in Germany have not yet been explored systematically.

Aims

The HOPAN study aims at: (1) identifying regional hospice and palliative care networks in Germany, (2) analysing these networks using an adapted quality assessment tool, and (3) proposing setting-sensitive recommendations for network development and exploring the benefits of these recommendations.

Methods

HOPAN is a prospective, observational, mixed-methods study comprising three work packages (WPs). In WP1, the stock of regional hospice and palliative care networks in Germany will be identified via database, literature, and internet research. In WP2a, focus groups will be conducted to adapt an existing maturity model for healthcare networks to regional hospice and palliative care networks. In WP2b, a questionnaire will be sent to each identified regional hospice and palliative care network to gain insight into their structure and status of development. In WP2c, group discussions will be conducted to develop setting-sensitive recommendations for these networks. Finally, in WP3, these recommendations will be sent to all participating hospice and palliative care networks, and the benefits of the recommendations will be evaluated via a questionnaire.

Discussion

Empirically developed setting-sensitive recommendations should enable the systematic establishment and management of regional hospice and palliative care networks in Germany, considering the specific needs and potential of each network. The study findings are expected to improve the overall development of hospice and palliative care services.

Trial registration

The study was prospectively registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien) (Registration N° DRKS00030629; date of registration: 02 November 2022). The study is searchable under the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform Search Portal of the World Health Organization, under the German Clinical Trials Register number.
Breast self-examination: Knowledge, practice and associated factors among 20 to 49 years aged women in Butwal sub-metropolitan, Rupandehi, Nepal
Authors: B. K. Manisha , Kaphle Hari Prasad
Published: June 2023

Background

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in the world and also among Nepalese women. Breast self-examination is an important, cheap, and easy method for early diagnosis of breast cancer which can be cured in the majority of cases if diagnosed in the early stages. In developing countries like Nepal where the awareness regarding breast cancer and breast self-examination is poor, breast cancers are diagnosed at late stages resulting in a poor prognosis of the disease. The study assessed knowledge, practice, and factors associated with breast self-examination.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 262 women in the Butwal sub-metropolitan adopting multi-stage sampling. A pre-tested structured interview schedule and an observation checklist were used to collect the data. Data was entered in EPI-data and necessary univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were done in SPSS.

Results

The study found that more than half of the participants (55.3%) had poor knowledge of BSE. Only one-fourth (27.1%) of them were practicing BSE and among them, most of them (93.0%) had poor practice. The factors such as ethnicity from Brahmin/Chhetri [AOR = 2.099, 95% CI (1.106–3.981)], use of contraceptive devices [AOR = 9.487, 95% CI (2.166–41.558)], personal history of breast lump [AOR = 12.502, 95% CI (1.639–95.387)], family history of breast cancer [AOR = 5.729, 95% CI (1.337–97.512)], and knowledge of BSE [AOR = 4.407, 95% CI = 2.160–34.650)] were significant determinants of BSE practice among 20–49 years women.

Conclusion

The study concluded that most of the women had poor knowledge and practice of breast self-examination. The study also indicated the influence of ethnicity, contraceptives, personal and family history of cancer/early warning signs, and knowledge for practicing breast self-examination. There is an immediate need to increase the knowledge and practice of breast self-examination to prevent and detect breast cancer in its early stage.
Is anyone truly healthy? Trends in health risk factors prevalence and changes in their associations with all-cause mortality
Authors: Yu Winnie W. , Pooni Rubin , Ardern Chris I. , Kuk Jennifer L.
Published: June 2023

Objective

The purpose of the study was to determine trends in the prevalence of individual health risk factors across time and to examine if their associations with mortality have changed over time.

Methods

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES III– 1988–1994 and NHANES 1999–2014; age ≥20 years) was used to examine differences in the odds ratio (OR) of 5-year mortality risk associated with various common health risk factors over the two survey periods using weighted logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, obesity category and white ethnicity (n = 28,279).

Results

Over 97% of individuals had at least one of the 19 risk factors examined with no difference in the prevalence over time (P>0.34). The prevalence of lifestyle, social/mental and physical risk factors (2.2 to 19.1%) increased over time (P<0.0002), while the prevalence of having physiological risk factors decreased by ~6.5% (P<0.0001). Having any lifestyle or social/mental risk factor was significantly associated with a higher 5-year OR for mortality risk in 1999–2014, than 1988–94. In particular, having low education or use of mental health medication were not associated with mortality risk in 1988–94 (P>0.1), but were significantly associated with a higher 5-year OR for mortality in 1999–2014 (P<0.0001). Conversely, physiological risk factors were more weakly related with mortality risk in 1988–1994, than 1999–2014. Having any physical risk factor, and poor self-rated health were similarly related with 5-year mortality risk at both timepoints.

Conclusion

Health risk factors have both increased and decreased in prevalence over time, along with changes in the association between many of the risk factors and mortality risk. Taken together, these changes complicate interpretation of temporal trends and warrant cautious interpretation of population health patterns based on surveillance data.
Survival, movements, home range size and dispersal of hares after coursing and/or translocation
Authors: Reid Neil
Published: June 2023

Hare coursing is the pursuit of a hare by dogs for sport. In recent years in Ireland, between 2,900 to 3,700 hares have been caught from the wild (under Government license) and held in captivity for up to 8 weeks. Hares are given a head start and coursed in an enclosed arena by two muzzled greyhounds where the object is not to kill the hare, but judge the dogs on their ability to turn the hare which escapes under a partition through which the dogs cannot follow. Recent licence returns suggest over 99% of hares survive and are released back into the wild. This study aimed to assess survival and behaviour of coursed hares after their release sometimes into unfamiliar territory. Forty hares were tracked using GPS-radio collars for six months after release in a factorial experimental design to test the impact of coursing and translocation on survival, movements, home range size and dispersal. Coursed and uncoursed hares did not differ in observed mortality rates, movements, home range sizes or dispersal distances after release back into the wild though fewer coursed than uncoursed hares were relocated six months after release, due to a combination of collar strap failures and radio silence. Spatial behavior was similar between the cohorts once translocated hares, which moved further and had larger home range sizes during the first four days after release, had settled. Two hares released shortly before sunset were killed in road traffic collisions during their first night. Releasing hares during daylight, preferably as early as possible, may provide time for animals to settle before darkness. Suggestions are made for potential methodological improvements such as the use of cellular (mobile phone) or satellite communication technology mounted on stouter straps to reduce failures and improve relocation rates.
HIV, asymptomatic STI, and the rectal mucosal immune environment among young men who have sex with men
Authors: Van Doren Vanessa E. , Smith S. Abigail , Hu Yi-Juan , Tharp Gregory , Bosinger Steven , Ackerley Cassie G. , Murray Phillip M. , Amara Rama R. , Amancha Praveen K. , Arthur Robert A. , Johnston H. Richard , Kelley Colleen F.
Published: May 2023

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV and bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) including gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis; yet research into the immunologic effects of these infections is typically pursued in siloes. Here, we employed a syndemic approach to understand potential interactions of these infections on the rectal mucosal immune environment among YMSM. We enrolled YMSM aged 18–29 years with and without HIV and/or asymptomatic bacterial STI and collected blood, rectal secretions, and rectal tissue biopsies. YMSM with HIV were on suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) with preserved blood CD4 cell counts. We defined 7 innate and 19 adaptive immune cell subsets by flow cytometry, the rectal mucosal transcriptome by RNAseq, and the rectal mucosal microbiome by 16S rRNA sequencing and examined the effects of HIV and STI and their interactions. We measured tissue HIV RNA viral loads among YMSM with HIV and HIV replication in rectal explant challenge experiments among YMSM without HIV. HIV, but not asymptomatic STI, was associated with profound alterations in the cellular composition of the rectal mucosa. We did not detect a difference in the microbiome composition associated with HIV, but asymptomatic bacterial STI was associated with a higher probability of presence of potentially pathogenic taxa. When examining the rectal mucosal transcriptome, there was evidence of statistical interaction; asymptomatic bacterial STI was associated with upregulation of numerous inflammatory genes and enrichment for immune response pathways among YMSM with HIV, but not YMSM without HIV. Asymptomatic bacterial STI was not associated with differences in tissue HIV RNA viral loads or in HIV replication in explant challenge experiments. Our results suggest that asymptomatic bacterial STI may contribute to inflammation particularly among YMSM with HIV, and that future research should examine potential harms and interventions to reduce the health impact of these syndemic infections.
HIV-1 capsid stability enables inositol phosphate-independent infection of target cells and promotes integration into genes
Authors: Sowd Gregory A. , Shi Jiong , Fulmer Ashley , Aiken Christopher
Published: June 2023

The mature HIV-1 capsid is stabilized by host and viral determinants. The capsid protein CA binds to the cellular metabolites inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) and its precursor inositol (1, 3, 4, 5, 6) pentakisphosphate (IP5) to stabilize the mature capsid. In target cells, capsid destabilization by the antiviral compounds lenacapavir and PF74 reveals a HIV-1 infectivity defect due to IP5/IP6 (IP5/6) depletion. To test whether intrinsic HIV-1 capsid stability and/or host factor binding determines HIV-1 insensitivity to IP5/6 depletion, a panel of CA mutants was assayed for infection of IP5/6-depleted T cells and wildtype cells. Four CA mutants with unstable capsids exhibited dependence on host IP5/6 for infection and reverse transcription (RTN). Adaptation of one such mutant, Q219A, by spread in culture resulted in Vpu truncation and a capsid three-fold interface mutation, T200I. T200I increased intrinsic capsid stability as determined by in vitro uncoating of purified cores and partially reversed the IP5/6-dependence in target cells for each of the four CA mutants. T200I further rescued the changes to lenacapavir sensitivity associated with the parental mutation. The premature dissolution of the capsid caused by the IP5/6-dependent mutations imparted a unique defect in integration targeting that was rescued by T200I. Collectively, these results demonstrate that T200I restored other capsid functions after RTN for the panel of mutants. Thus, the hyperstable T200I mutation stabilized the instability defects imparted by the parental IP5/6-dependent CA mutation. The contribution of Vpu truncation to mutant adaptation was linked to BST-2 antagonization, suggesting that cell-to-cell transfer promoted replication of the mutants. We conclude that interactions at the three-fold interface are adaptable, key mediators of capsid stability in target cells and are able to antagonize even severe capsid instability to promote infection.
Targeted IS-element sequencing uncovers transposition dynamics during selective pressure in enterococci
Authors: Kirsch Joshua M. , Ely Shannon , Stellfox Madison E. , Hullahalli Karthik , Luong Phat , Palmer Kelli L. , Van Tyne Daria , Duerkop Breck A.
Published: June 2023

Insertion sequences (IS) are simple transposons implicated in the genome evolution of diverse pathogenic bacterial species. Enterococci have emerged as important human intestinal pathogens with newly adapted virulence potential and antibiotic resistance. These genetic features arose in tandem with large-scale genome evolution mediated by mobile elements. Pathoadaptation in enterococci is thought to be mediated in part by the IS element IS256 through gene inactivation and recombination events. However, the regulation of IS256 and the mechanisms controlling its activation are not well understood. Here, we adapt an IS256-specfic deep sequencing method to describe how chronic lytic phage infection drives widespread diversification of IS256 in E. faecalis and how antibiotic exposure is associated with IS256 diversification in E. faecium during a clinical human infection. We show through comparative genomics that IS256 is primarily found in hospital-adapted enterococcal isolates. Analyses of IS256 transposase gene levels reveal that IS256 mobility is regulated at the transcriptional level by multiple mechanisms in E. faecalis, indicating tight control of IS256 activation in the absence of selective pressure. Our findings reveal that stressors such as phages and antibiotic exposure drives rapid genome-scale transposition in the enterococci. IS256 diversification can therefore explain how selective pressures mediate evolution of the enterococcal genome, ultimately leading to the emergence of dominant nosocomial lineages that threaten human health.
Effectiveness of Pseudomonas aeruginosa type VI secretion system relies on toxin potency and type IV pili-dependent interaction
Authors: Rudzite Marta , Subramoni Sujatha , Endres Robert G. , Filloux Alain
Published: May 2023

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is an antibacterial weapon that is used by numerous Gram-negative bacteria to gain competitive advantage by injecting toxins into adjacent prey cells. Predicting the outcome of a T6SS-dependent competition is not only reliant on presence-absence of the system but instead involves a multiplicity of factors. Pseudomonas aeruginosa possesses 3 distinct T6SSs and a set of more than 20 toxic effectors with diverse functions including disruption of cell wall integrity, degradation of nucleic acids or metabolic impairment. We generated a comprehensive collection of mutants with various degrees of T6SS activity and/or sensitivity to each individual T6SS toxin. By imaging whole mixed bacterial macrocolonies, we then investigated how these P. aeruginosa strains gain a competitive edge in multiple attacker/prey combinations. We observed that the potency of single T6SS toxin varies significantly from one another as measured by monitoring the community structure, with some toxins acting better in synergy or requiring a higher payload. Remarkably the degree of intermixing between preys and attackers is also key to the competition outcome and is driven by the frequency of contact as well as the ability of the prey to move away from the attacker using type IV pili-dependent twitching motility. Finally, we implemented a computational model to better understand how changes in T6SS firing behaviours or cell-cell contacts lead to population level competitive advantages, thus providing conceptual insight applicable to all types of contact-based competition.
Terror without training: First-hand experiences of student journalists covering the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings
Authors: Neill Karen
Published: May 2023

In 2019, 51 people were killed in terror attacks at two mosques in Christchurch, a city on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand with a population of around 400,000 people. It was the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history and the first terror attack of its kind on home soil, attracting extensive international media attention. Given the city’s relative isolation, early coverage was by local media and included local journalism students who had responded to a developing event. This study explores the first-hand experiences of these undergraduate broadcast journalism students who, just a few weeks into a new academic year, covered the news story for national and international media. Using mini focus groups, this descriptive study sheds light on how students with little to no trauma training coped with reporting on such an extreme and unprecedented event and the crucial role soft skills played in guiding their actions.
Musical engagement at any cost? Community music leaders’ embrace of technology-enabled music-making during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Evison Fiona
Published: May 2023

In an alternative universe to popular music (PM) education, many community music (CM) educators turned to technology during unprecedented pandemic disruptions, attempting to maintain group music-making and social connections. This study investigates CM technology-aided pandemusicking, drawing from case studies of twelve Canadian leaders, and finding that music fields, values and goals were blurred. These leaders often used recorded and live internet music-making, which required adopting digital technologies that align more closely with PM fields than their traditional practices. Pandemusicking was often a difficult solution, but leaders were aided by increased consumption and skill-partnerships. Nuanced considerations from literature on media culture counter utopian rhetoric about tech-enabled democracy, consumption and participation while prompting reflections on broader implications of a technological world that leaves some music participants and educators behind. This outcome has vital implications for leaders with inclusive goals, who work with wide age ranges, and it suggests potential roles of PM education and educators.
An effective distraction? Fantasy football during the times of COVID-19
Authors: Ghosh Dastidar Sayantan , Basu Roy Sharanya
Published: May 2023

The popularity of fantasy sports has increased exponentially over the last few decades. The existing literature has predominantly focused on the negative effects of fantasy football (or, fantasy sports in general) on mental health because of its association with gambling and internet addictions. Using primary data collected through online surveys, this study attempts to examine the role of fantasy football within a completely new context by asking whether it acted as an effective distraction for the fantasy football managers during the COVID-19 pandemic. About 70% of the participants consider fantasy football to be an effective escape from day-to-day activities. Approximately two-thirds of the managers in our sample report that they were negatively affected by the suspension of fantasy football at the advent of COVID-19. Once resumed, fantasy football helped mitigate some of the negative emotions caused by COVID-19 and it worked as a distraction for 78.5% of the managers during the pandemic. The statistical analysis indicates that though the role of fantasy football as a distraction was evident across all age groups the effect was more acute in case of the highly involved managers (defined by, level of competitiveness and time invested in the game during weekends).
Trust in government and intention to emigrate in a post-soviet country: Evidence from Azerbaijan
Authors: Aliyev Khatai , Gasimov Ilkin
Published: May 2023

Intention to emigrate has been one of the most challenging issues globally over the last decade for both migrant-sending and receiving countries. Rising emigration intentions trigger migration attempts and brain drain, while migrant-receiving countries are challenged by illegal emigration. Self-perceived trust in government is one of the fundamental determinants of citizens' emigration aspirations. This research applies path analyses to explore direct and indirect effects of trust in government on emigrating intentions in a post-soviet country – Azerbaijan. Using a pool of two social survey data (N=4092,n_Male=2106,n_Female=1986,〖Mean〗_Age=31.82) within a serial mediation analysis framework, we conclude that the trust in government has a significant direct (65-70%) and indirect (30-35%) negative impact on emigration aspirations among the people of Azerbaijan. The relationship is mediated by self-reported life satisfaction. Perceived income adequacy also mediates the relationship indirectly via life satisfaction. A key novelty of the study is that, contrary to popular belief, emigration aspirations in Azerbaijan are revealed to be less economic in motivation and are mainly explained by the lack of trust in government, which also reduces individuals' satisfaction with life. Therefore, improving the quality of public services and the trust in government institutions would reverse intentions to emigrate. The research can be replicated in other developing countries, and the findings can be used to design policies aimed at controlling international emigration issues.