bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Staphylococcus aureus CamS lipoprotein is a repressor of toxin production that shapes host-pathogen interaction
Authors: Schilcher Katrin , Severn Morgan M. , Jenul Christian , Avina Young-Saeng C. , Keogh Rebecca A. , Horswill Alexander R.
Published: January 2024

Lipoproteins of the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus aureus play a crucial role in various cellular processes and host interactions. Consisting of a protein and a lipid moiety, they support nutrient acquisition and anchor the protein to the bacterial membrane. Recently, we identified several processed and secreted small linear peptides that derive from the secretion signal sequence of S. aureus lipoproteins. Here, we show, for the first time, that the protein moiety of the S. aureus lipoprotein CamS has a biological role that is distinct from its associated linear peptide staph-cAM373. The small peptide was shown to be involved in interspecies horizontal gene transfer, the primary mechanism for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance among bacteria. We provide evidence that the CamS protein moiety is a potent repressor of cytotoxins, such as α-toxin and leukocidins. The CamS-mediated suppression of toxin transcription was reflected by altered disease severity in in vivo infection models involving skin and soft tissue, as well as bloodstream infections. Collectively, we have uncovered the role of the protein moiety of the staphylococcal lipoprotein CamS as a previously uncharacterized repressor of S. aureus toxin production, which consequently regulates virulence and disease outcomes. Notably, the camS gene is conserved in S. aureus, and we also demonstrated the muted transcriptional response of cytotoxins in 2 different S. aureus lineages. Our findings provide the first evidence of distinct biological functions of the protein moiety and its associated linear peptide for a specific lipoprotein. Therefore, lipoproteins in S. aureus consist of 3 functional components: a lipid moiety, a protein moiety, and a small linear peptide, with putative different biological roles that might not only determine the outcome of host–pathogen interactions but also drive the acquisition of antibiotic resistance determinants.
Differences in boundary behavior in the 3D vertex and Voronoi models
Authors: Lawson-Keister Elizabeth , Zhang Tao , Nazari Fatemeh , Fagotto François , Manning M. Lisa
Published: January 2024

An important open question in the modeling of biological tissues is how to identify the right scale for coarse-graining, or equivalently, the right number of degrees of freedom. For confluent biological tissues, both vertex and Voronoi models, which differ only in their representation of the degrees of freedom, have effectively been used to predict behavior, including fluid-solid transitions and cell tissue compartmentalization, which are important for biological function. However, recent work in 2D has hinted that there may be differences between the two models in systems with heterotypic interfaces between two tissue types, and there is a burgeoning interest in 3D tissue models. Therefore, we compare the geometric structure and dynamic sorting behavior in mixtures of two cell types in both 3D vertex and Voronoi models. We find that while the cell shape indices exhibit similar trends in both models, the registration between cell centers and cell orientation at the boundary are significantly different between the two models. We demonstrate that these macroscopic differences are caused by changes to the cusp-like restoring forces introduced by the different representations of the degrees of freedom at the boundary, and that the Voronoi model is more strongly constrained by forces that are an artifact of the way the degrees of freedom are represented. This suggests that vertex models may be more appropriate for 3D simulations of tissues with heterotypic contacts.
Genome replication in asynchronously growing microbial populations
Authors: Pflug Florian G. , Bhat Deepak , Pigolotti Simone
Published: January 2024

Biological cells replicate their genomes in a well-planned manner. The DNA replication program of an organism determines the timing at which different genomic regions are replicated, with fundamental consequences for cell homeostasis and genome stability. In a growing cell culture, genomic regions that are replicated early should be more abundant than regions that are replicated late. This abundance pattern can be experimentally measured using deep sequencing. However, a general quantitative theory linking this pattern to the replication program is still lacking. In this paper, we predict the abundance of DNA fragments in asynchronously growing cultures from any given stochastic model of the DNA replication program. As key examples, we present stochastic models of the DNA replication programs in budding yeast and Escherichia coli. In both cases, our model results are in excellent agreement with experimental data and permit to infer key information about the replication program. In particular, our method is able to infer the locations of known replication origins in budding yeast with high accuracy. These examples demonstrate that our method can provide insight into a broad range of organisms, from bacteria to eukaryotes.
An association of deficiencies in balanced dietary practices and inadequate iron and folic acid supplement’s intake during pregnancy and increasing risk of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia among Indian women
Authors: Das Priya , Das Tanu , Das Partha , Roy TamalBasu
Published: January 2024

Pre-eclampsia or eclampsia is a serious reproductive health problem which can cause maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. However till the notable reasons of it is not very clear at all. The main essence of the present study was to examine the association between dietary intake, iron and folic acid consumption during pregnancy and the chances of occurrences of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia among Indian women. A cross sectional observational study was performed by using NFHS-5 (2019–21) data. 190,797 ever married women aged between 15–49 years who had a live birth in the past five years preceding the survey were availed for this study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to find out the association between dietary and supplementary intake and occurrences of eclampsia. About 3.6% of the sample women had pre-eclampsia or eclampsia. The results of the study indicated that the likelihood of the prevalence of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia was significantly higher among those women who did not take adequate diet and as well as not consumed iron and folic acid tablet or syrup for at least 90 days during pregnancy compared to those women who took adequate diet and iron and folic acid supplementation even after controlling some maternal, health and lifestyle, socio-economic and demographic characteristics. Integrated and quality ANC services can only ensure adequate nutritional intake in terms of healthy and balanced diet. So, quality ANC services and with this micronutrients intake could be an effective way to reduce the prevalence of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia.
Dosing of lumbar spinal manipulative therapy and its association with escalated spine care: A cohort study of insurance claims
Authors: Anderson Brian R. , Whedon James M. , Herman Patricia M.
Published: January 2024

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between three distinct spinal manipulative therapy dose groups and escalated spine care by analyzing insurance claims from a cohort of patients with low back pain.

Methods

We compared three distinct spinal manipulative therapy dose groups (low = 1 SMT visits, moderate = 2–12 SMT visits, high = 13+ SMT visits), to a control group (no spinal manipulative therapy) regarding the outcome of escalated spine care. Escalated spine care procedures include imaging studies, injection procedures, emergency department visits, surgery, and opioid medication use. Propensity score matching was performed to address treatment selection bias. Modified Poisson regression modeling was used to estimate the relative risk of spine care escalation among three spinal manipulative therapy doses, adjusting for age, sex, retrospective risk score and claim count.

Results

83,025 claims were categorized into 11,114 unique low back pain episodes; 8,137 claims had 0 spinal manipulative therapy visits, with the remaining episodes classified as low dose (n = 404), moderate dose (n = 1,763) or high dose (n = 810). After propensity score matching, 5,348 episodes remained; 2,454 had 0 spinal manipulative therapy visits with the remaining episodes classified as low dose (n = 404), moderate dose (n = 1,761), or high dose (n = 729). The estimated relative risk (vs no spinal manipulative therapy) for any escalated spine care was 0.45 (95% confidence interval 0.38, 0.55, p <0.001), 0.58 (95% confidence interval 0.53, 0.63, p <0.001), and 1.03 (95% confidence interval 0.95, 1.13, p = 0.461) for low, moderate, and high dose spinal manipulative therapy groups, respectively.

Conclusions

For claims associated with initial episodes of low back pain, low and moderate dose spinal manipulative therapy groups were associated with a 55% and 42% reduction, respectively, in the relative risk of any escalated spine care.
Identification and characterization of two novel KCNH2 mutations contributing to long QT syndrome
Authors: Owusu-Mensah Anthony , Treat Jacqueline , Bernardi Joyce , Pfeiffer Ryan , Goodrow Robert , Tsevi Bright , Lam Victoria , Audette Michel , Cordeiro Jonathan M. , Deo Makarand
Published: January 2024

We identified two different inherited mutations in KCNH2 gene, or human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG), which are linked to Long QT Syndrome. The first mutation was in a 1-day-old infant, whereas the second was in a 14-year-old girl. The two KCNH2 mutations were transiently transfected into either human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells or human induced pluripotent stem-cell derived cardiomyocytes. We performed associated multiscale computer simulations to elucidate the arrhythmogenic potentials of the KCNH2 mutations. Genetic screening of the first and second index patients revealed a heterozygous missense mutation in KCNH2, resulting in an amino acid change (P632L) in the outer loop of the channel and substitution at position 428 from serine to proline (S428P), respectively. Heterologous expression of P632L and S428P into HEK cells produced no hERG current compared to the wild type (WT). Moreover, the co-transfection of WT and P632L yielded no hERG current; however, the co-transfection of WT and S428P yielded partial hERG current. Action potentials were prolonged in a complete or partial blockade of hERG current from computer simulations which was more severe in Purkinje than ventricular myocytes. Three dimensional simulations revealed a higher susceptibility to reentry in the presence of hERG current blockade. Our experimental findings suggest that both P632L and S428P mutations may impair the KCNH2 gene. The Purkinje cells exhibit a more severe phenotype than ventricular myocytes, and the hERG current blockade renders the ventricles an arrhythmogenic substrate from computer modeling.
Mapping stakeholders’ relationships management in fulfilling corporate social responsibility: A study of China’s construction industry
Authors: Zhang Yuqing , Jiang Weiyan , Ye Kunhui , Liang Yuanshu , Wang Xiaowei
Published: January 2024

Businesses today face a strong call for implementing corporate social responsibilities (CSR) subject to stakeholders’ multiple expectations on the creation of long-term value. However, a vast majority of companies have struggled with the challenge of stakeholder management in CSR fulfillment, giving rise to a waste of enterprise resources. This study aims to map out stakeholders’ relationships in CSR fulfillment to underscore stakeholder management. 253 CSR reports published by Chinese listed construction companies from 2010 to 2021 were collected and analyzed to map the stakeholders’ relationships. The results show that construction companies usually stress the importance of corporate governance and workers interest, followed by construction quality and environmental preservation in implementing CSR. They adopt three types of stakeholder management approaches: coercive, cooperative, and coordinated approaches. The study presents the latest effort in managing stakeholders’ relationships in the domain of CSR research. It favors construction firms to reconsider CSR activities from the stakeholder management perspective.
Patient satisfaction with the quality of care received is associated with adherence to antidepressant medications
Authors: Donneyong Macarius M. , Bynum Mary , Kemavor Ameena , Crossnohere Norah L. , Schuster Anne , Bridges John
Published: January 2024

Background

There is a paucity of evidence on the association between satisfaction with quality of care and adherence to antidepressants.

Objectives

To examine the association between patient satisfaction with healthcare and adherence to antidepressants.

Methods

A cohort study design was used to identify antidepressant users from the 2010-2016Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data, a national longitudinal complex survey study design on the cost and healthcare utilization of the noninstitutionalized population in the United States. The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems were used to measure participants’ satisfaction with access and quality of care, patient-provider communication and shared decision-making (SDM). Patients were considered satisfied if they ranked the quality of care at ≥9 (range: 0[worst]– 10[best]). Antidepressant adherence was measured based on medication refill and complete discontinuation. MEPS sampling survey-weighted multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between satisfaction and adherence to antidepressants. We tested for the potential presence of reverse associations by restricting the analysis to new users of antidepressants. The roles of patient-provider communication and SDM on the satisfaction-adherence association were examined through structural equation models (SEM).

Results

Among 4,990 (weighted counts = 8,661,953) antidepressant users, 36% were adherent while 39% discontinued antidepressants therapy. Half of antidepressant users were satisfied with the healthcare received. Satisfied patients were 26% (OR = 1.26, 95%CI: 1.08, 1.47) more likely to adhere and 17% (OR = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.71, 0.96) less likely to discontinue, compared to unsatisfied antidepressant users. Patient satisfaction was also associated with higher odds (OR = 1.41, 95%CI: 1.06, 1.88) of adherence among a subgroup of new users of antidepressants. The SEM analysis revealed that satisfaction was a manifestation of patient-provider communication (β = 2.03, P-value<0.001) and SDM (β = 1.14, P-value<0.001).

Conclusions

Patient satisfaction is a potential predictor of antidepressant adherence. If our findings are confirmed through intervention studies, improving patient-provider communication and SDM could likely drive both patient satisfaction and adherence to antidepressants.
Pre-treatment 18F-FDG-PET/CT parameters as biomarkers for progression free survival, best overall response and overall survival in metastatic melanoma patients undergoing first-line immunotherapy
Authors: Peisen Felix , Gerken Annika , Dahm Isabel , Nikolaou Konstantin , Eigentler Thomas , Amaral Teresa , Moltz Jan H. , Othman Ahmed E. , Gatidis Sergios
Published: January 2024

Background

Checkpoint inhibitors have drastically improved the therapy of patients with advanced melanoma. 18F-FDG-PET/CT parameters might act as biomarkers for response and survival and thus can identify patients that do not benefit from immunotherapy. However, little literature exists on the association of baseline 18F-FDG-PET/CT parameters with progression free survival (PFS), best overall response (BOR), and overall survival (OS).

Materials and methods

Using a whole tumor volume segmentation approach, we investigated in a retrospective registry study (n = 50) whether pre-treatment 18F-FDG-PET/CT parameters of three subgroups (tumor burden, tumor glucose uptake and non-tumoral hematopoietic tissue metabolism), can act as biomarkers for the primary endpoints PFS and BOR as well as for the secondary endpoint OS.

Results

Compared to the sole use of clinical parameters, baseline 18F-FDG-PET/CT parameters did not significantly improve a Cox proportional-hazard model for PFS (C-index/AIC: 0.70/225.17 and 0.68/223.54, respectively; p = 0.14). A binomial logistic regression analysis for BOR was not statistically significant (χ2(15) = 16.44, p = 0.35), with a low amount of explained variance (Nagelkerke’s R2 = 0.38). Mean FDG uptake of the spleen contributed significantly to a Cox proportional-hazard model for OS (HR 3.55, p = 0.04).

Conclusions

The present study could not confirm the capability of the pre-treatment 18F-FDG-PET/CT parameters tumor burden, tumor glucose uptake and non-tumoral hematopoietic tissue metabolism to act as biomarkers for PFS and BOR in metastatic melanoma patients receiving first-line immunotherapy. The documented potential of 18F-FDG uptake by immune-mediating tissues such as the spleen to act as a biomarker for OS has been reproduced.
Distinct microglial transcriptomic signatures within the hippocampus
Authors: Chintamen Sana , Gaur Pallavi , Vo Nicole , Bradshaw Elizabeth M. , Menon Vilas , Kernie Steven G.
Published: January 2024

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, are crucial in the development of the nervous system. Recent evidence demonstrates that microglia modulate adult hippocampal neurogenesis by inhibiting cell proliferation of neural precursors and survival both in vitro and in vivo, thus maintaining a balance between cell division and cell death in the neural stem cell pool. There are increasing reports suggesting these microglia found in neurogenic niches differ from their counterparts in non-neurogenic areas. Here, we present evidence that hippocampal microglia exhibit transcriptomic heterogeneity, with some cells expressing genes associated with neurogenesis. By comprehensively profiling myeloid lineage cells in the hippocampus using single cell RNA-sequencing, we have uncovered a small, yet distinct population of microglia which exhibit depletion in genes associated with homeostatic microglia and enrichment of genes associated with phagocytosis. Intriguingly, this population also expresses a gene signature with substantial overlap with previously characterized phenotypes, including disease associated microglia (DAM), a particularly unique and compelling microglial state.
Prognostic model for survival in patients with neuroendocrine carcinomas of the cervix: SEER database analysis and a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Yu Caixian , Wu Xiaoliu , Zhang Shao , Zhang Lan , Zhang Hongping , Yang Hongying , Zhao Min , Li Zheng
Published: January 2024

Objective

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (NECC) is extremely rare in clinical practice. This study aimed to methodologically analyze the clinicopathological factors associated with NECC patients and to develop a validated survival prediction model.

Methods

A total of 535 patients diagnosed with NECC between 2004 and 2016 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database, while 122 patients diagnosed with NECC at Yunnan Cancer Hospital (YCH) from 2006 to 2019 were also recruited. Patients from the SEER database were divided into a training cohort (n = 376) and a validation cohort (n = 159) in a 7:3 ratio for the construction and internal validation of the nomogram. External validation was performed in a cohort at YCH. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, the Log-rank method test was used for univariate analysis of prognostic influences, and the Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis.

Results

The 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for patients with NECC in SEER were 43.6% and 39.7%, respectively. In the training cohort, multivariate analysis showed independent prognostic factors for NECC patients including race, tumor size, distant metastasis, stage, and chemotherapy (p<0.05). For extended application in other cohorts, a nomogram including four factors without race was subsequently created. The consistency index (C-index) of the nomogram predicting survival was 0.736, which was well-validated in the validation cohorts (0.746 for the internal validation cohort and 0.765 for the external validation cohort). In both the training and validation cohorts, the 3-year survival rates predicted by the nomogram were comparable to the actual ones. We then succeeded in dividing patients with NECC into high- and low-risk groups concerning OS using the nomogram we developed. Besides, univariate analysis showed that chemotherapy ≥4 cycles may improve the OS of patients at YCH with NECC.

Conclusion

We successfully constructed a nomogram that precisely predicts the OS for patients with NECC based on the SEER database and a large single-center retrospective cohort. The visualized and practical model can distinguish high-risk patients for recurrence and death who may benefit from clinical trials of boost therapy effectively. We also found that patients who received more than 4 cycles of chemotherapy acquired survival benefits than those who received less than 4 cycles.
Global adoption of 6-month drug-resistant TB regimens: Projected uptake by 2026
Authors: Gupta Aastha , Juneja Sandeep , Babawale Victor , Rustam Majidovich Nurov , Ndjeka Norbert , Thi Mai Nguyen Phuong , Nargiza Nusratovna Parpieva , Robert Omanito David , Tiara Pakasi Tiffany , Terleeva Yana , Toktogonova Atyrkul , Waheed Yasir , Myint Zaw , Yanlin Zhao , Sahu Suvanand
Published: January 2024

Background

The WHO has issued a call to action urging countries to accelerate the rollout of new WHO-recommended shorter all-oral treatment regimens for drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), which remains a public-health crisis. The all-oral, 6-month BPaL/M regimen comprises 3–4 drugs: pretomanid used in combination with bedaquiline and linezolid, with or without moxifloxacin. This regimen has been recommended by the WHO for use in DR-TB patients instead of ≥9-month (up to 24-month) regimens. This study aims to project this regimen’s use, along with its components bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid, and other treatments for DR-TB globally through 2026. It is intended to guide global health stakeholders in planning and budgeting for DR-TB interventions. Projected usage could help estimate cost of the individual components of DR-TB regimens over time.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with national TB programme participants in key countries to gather intelligence on established plans and targets for use of various DR-TB treatment regimens from 2023 to 2026. These data informed development of projections for the global use of regimens and drugs.

Results

Consistent global growth in the use of shorter regimens in DR-TB treatment was shown: BPaLM reaching 126,792 patients, BPaL reaching 43,716 patients, and the 9-11-month all-oral bedaquiline-based regimen reaching 13,119 patients by 2026. By 2026, the longer all-oral regimen is projected to be used by 19,262 patients, and individualised treatment regimens by 15,344 patients.

Conclusion

The study shows BPaL/M will be used in majority of DR-TB patients by 2024, reaching 78% by 2026. However, national efforts to scale-up, case-finding, monitoring, drug-susceptibility testing, and implementation of new treatments will be essential for ensuring they are accessible to all eligible patients in the coming years and goals for ending TB are met. There is an urgent need to engage communities in capacity building and demand generation.
Supervised diagnostic classification of cognitive attributes using data augmentation
Authors: Yoon Ji-Young , Gweon Gahgene , Yoo Yun Joo
Published: January 2024

Over recent decades, machine learning, an integral subfield of artificial intelligence, has revolutionized diverse sectors, enabling data-driven decisions with minimal human intervention. In particular, the field of educational assessment emerges as a promising area for machine learning applications, where students can be classified and diagnosed using their performance data. The objectives of Diagnostic Classification Models (DCMs), which provide a suite of methods for diagnosing students’ cognitive states in relation to the mastery of necessary cognitive attributes for solving problems in a test, can be effectively addressed through machine learning techniques. However, the challenge lies in the latent nature of cognitive status, which makes it difficult to obtain labels for the training dataset. Consequently, the application of machine learning methods to DCMs often assumes smaller training sets with labels derived either from theoretical considerations or human experts. In this study, the authors propose a supervised diagnostic classification model with data augmentation (SDCM-DA). This method is designed to utilize the augmented data using a data generation model constructed by leveraging the probability of correct responses for each attribute mastery pattern derived from the expert-labeled dataset. To explore the benefits of data augmentation, a simulation study is carried out, contrasting it with classification methods that rely solely on the expert-labeled dataset for training. The findings reveal that utilizing data augmentation with the estimated probabilities of correct responses substantially enhances classification accuracy. This holds true even when the augmentation originates from a small labeled sample with occasional labeling errors, and when the tests contain lower-quality items that may inaccurately measure students’ true cognitive status. Moreover, the study demonstrates that leveraging augmented data for learning can enable the successful classification of students, thereby eliminating the necessity for specifying an underlying response model.
Detection of CTLA-4 level and humeral immune response after the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine in certain Iraqi provinces participants
Authors: Al-Kaif Laith A. I. K. , Al-Ameri Hussain , Alfatlawi Wael Rasheed Obaead , Mahdi Ammar Eesa , Al-Khafaji Younis A. K. , Al-Saadi Mohammad Abd-Kadhum , Al-Charrakh Alaa H. , Al-Mammori Raheem T. , Akkaif Mohammed Ahmed
Published: January 2024

Background

Evaluating immune responses following COVID-19 vaccination is paramount to understanding vaccine effectiveness and optimizing public health interventions. This study seeks to elucidate individuals’ immune status after administering a second dose of diverse COVID-19 vaccines. By analyzing immune responses through serological markers, we aim to contribute valuable insights into the uniformity of vaccine performance.

Methods

A total of 80 participants were enrolled in this study, with demographic and COVID-19 infection-related data collected for categorization. Serum samples were acquired within a specified timeframe, and SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG rapid tests were conducted. Moreover, CTLA-4 levels were measured through ELISA assays, allowing us to assess the immune responses comprehensively. The participants were divided into eight groups based on various factors, facilitating a multifaceted analysis.

Results

The outcomes of our investigation demonstrated consistent immune responses across the diverse types of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Iraq. Statistical analysis revealed no significant distinctions among the vaccine categories. In contrast, significant differences were observed in CTLA-4 among the control group (non-infected/non-vaccinated, infected/non-vaccinated) and infected/Pfizer, non-infected/Pfizer, and infected/Sinopharm, non-infected/sinopharm (P = 0.001, < 0.001, 0.023, respectively). This suggests that these vaccines exhibit comparable effectiveness in eliciting an immune response among the study participants.

Conclusions

In conclusion, our study’s results underscore the lack of discriminatory variations between different COVID-19 vaccine types utilized in Iraq. The uniform immune responses observed signify the equitable efficacy and performance of these vaccines. Despite minor quantitative discrepancies, these variations do not hold statistical significance, reaffirming the notion that the various vaccines serve a similar purpose in conferring protection against COVID-19.
A study on the impact of tourism destination image and local attachment on the revisit intention: The moderating effect of perceived risk
Authors: Wei Jiahua , Zhou Lewei , Li Lei
Published: January 2024

The revisit intention of tourists is an important guarantee for the sustainable and healthy development of tourism destination, and has also received attention from the current academic community. However, there is still insufficient research on the antecedents of revisit intention from the perspectives of tourism destination, image and nostalgia emotion. This study takes China’s ecological tourism scenic area (Guilin Lijiang Scenic Area) as a case study, and uses questionnaire survey method to obtain research data for empirical research. The results of this study confirm that tourism destination image has a positive impact on nostalgia emotions and local attachment, nostalgia emotion has a positive impact on local attachment, and local attachment has a positive impact on revisit intention. Perceived risk plays a negative moderating effect between local attachment and revisit intention. In addition, this study also examined the mediating effect of nostalgia emotion and local attachment. This study is beneficial for enriching the theory of the influence mechanism of revisit intention from the perspective of consumer psychology. It is an interdisciplinary research result of management and psychology, providing theoretical reference for improving revisit intention in tourism destinations and promoting their healthy development.
Reported side-effects following Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the north-west province, Iran: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Eterafi Majid , Fouladi Nasrin , Golizadeh Majid , Shaker Hamidreza , Matin Somaieh , Safarzadeh Elham
Published: January 2024

While the vaccination was introduced as a promising tool to control the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, concerns about vaccine-related side effects had grown. Due to the widespread administration of the COVID-19 vaccine worldwide for the first time, it was necessary to evaluate the safety and potential side effects in recipients. This study aims to assess, the incidence of adverse effects following Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccination and identify their related factors. In this cross-sectional survey-based study, 453 volunteers participated, including 235 men and 218 women. The reported adverse reactions from recipients of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Oxford-AstraZeneca) vaccine were collected by using a questionnaire. The findings showed that the incidence of adverse reactions, such as neurological, systematic, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and local symptoms were significantly higher after the first dose compared to the second dose. Systematic symptoms were the most prevalent reported side effects after the first and second dose injection. The demographical study of participants showed that individuals aged 18–34 and females were more prone to present adverse events following vaccination. However, no significant relationship was found between the occurrence of side effects and the recipients’ body mass index. Despite the life-saving role of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, it may have some adverse reactions in recipients. The severity and frequency of side effects were different. So, they were dependent on several factors, including gender and age. Altogether, post-vaccination adverse reactions were mild and tolerable.
The impacts of college educational satisfaction and helpfulness of career support on life satisfaction among Korean youth: The mediating role of mental health
Authors: Lee Sangmi
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to investigate the structural relationships between college educational satisfaction, the helpfulness of career support, and mental health, and how these factors influence the life satisfaction of late adolescents and young adults. The study utilized data from 550 Korean individuals 18–24 years of age who have experienced going to college, collected in the “2021 Youth Socio-Economic Reality Survey” conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute. Data analysis was conducted with SmartPLS 3.0 software, using a structural equation model with the partial least squares method. The mediating impact of mental health was validated using bootstrapping. The study yielded several key findings. First, college educational satisfaction, the helpfulness of career support, and mental health all exerted a significant and positive influence on the life satisfaction of young people. Second, college educational satisfaction was found to significantly positively affect youth’s mental health. Third, mental health was identified as playing a significant positive mediating role in the connection between college educational satisfaction and the life satisfaction of young people. The study underscores the importance of enhancing mental health, alongside improving college educational satisfaction and career support, to boost the life satisfaction of young people. Suggestions based on these findings are discussed.
Job satisfaction and work stress among physicians in Norway and Germany—A cross-sectional study
Authors: Voltmer Edgar , Rosta Judith , Köslich-Strumann Susen , Goetz Katja
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Physicians’ health and wellbeing are important albeit often neglected quality indicators of health care systems. The aims of the study were to compare job satisfaction and work stress among doctors in Germany and Norway, and to identify predictors for job satisfaction.

Methods

All active physicians in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany (N = 13,304) and a nationwide sample of Norwegian physicians (N = 2,316) were surveyed in a cross-sectional design in 2021. Response rates of German and Norwegian physicians were n = 4,385 (33%) and n = 1,639 (70.8%), respectively. In addition to age, sex, and work-hours, the main outcome measures were the validated Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS) and the short form of the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERI).

Results

There were significant differences between Norwegian and German physicians in job satisfaction but with small effect sizes. All effort scores of German physicians were significantly higher and four of seven reward scores significantly lower than for their Norwegian colleagues. The proportion of German physicians in the state of a gratification crisis was significantly higher (67%) than in their Norwegian colleagues (53%). In both countries, physicians with a gratification crisis scored significantly lower on all items of job satisfaction. There were only minor gender differences in job satisfaction and effort-reward balance. Age, effort, and reward accounted for 46% of the explained variance of job satisfaction.

Conclusions

Lower job satisfaction and reward in some areas and higher perceived effort of physicians in Germany than in Norway are still in favor of Norwegian working conditions, but the differences seem to diminish. The high proportions of gratification crises in both countries warrants appropriate measures for prevention and health promotion.
Non-fibril form but not fibril form of human islet amyloid polypeptide 8–20 changes brain functions in mice
Authors: Suginoma Hinaho , Owada Ryuji , Katano-Toki Akiko , Mori Ayaka , Fujioka Jun , Nakamura Kazuhiro
Published: January 2024

Whether fibril formation increases or decreases cytotoxicity remains unclear. Aggregation of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), a pivotal regulator of glucose homeostasis, impairs the function and viability of pancreatic β cells. Evidence suggests that low-order oligomers of hIAPP are more toxic to β cells than fibril. However, it remains unclear whether non-fibril form of hIAPP specifically alters brain functions. This study produced fibril and non-fibril forms from a single hIAPP 8–20 peptide. The non-fibril form-injected mice showed changes in spontaneous motor activities, preference for location in the open field and social behavior. In contrast, the fibril-injected mice showed no changes in these behavioral tests. In line with the behavioral changes, the non-fibril form led to impaired neurite outgrowth of cultured neuron-like cells and the loss of neurons in the mouse hippocampus. These findings suggest that non-fibril form but not fibril form of hIAPP changes brain functions.
The prognostic impact of body mass index in breast cancer according to tumor subtype
Authors: Kim Jae-Myung , Kim Ju-Yeon , Jung Eun Jung , Kwag Seung-Jin , Park Ji-Ho , Cho Jin-Kyu , Kim Han-Gil , Jeong Chi-Young , Ju Young-Tae , Lee Young-Joon
Published: January 2024

Purpose: Several studies demonstrated that obesity and underweight were negatively associated with outcomes of breast cancer. However, the results are still controversial, and the impact of body mass index (BMI) on distant metastasis-free survival (MFS), which might directly affect mortality, was less well evaluated. Our study aimed to verify the prognostic effect of BMI in breast cancer.Methods: A retrospective analysis of 504 patients with stage I-III breast cancer who underwent surgery from January 2005 to December 2013 was performed. The patients were divided into three groups according to preoperative BMI: underweight <18.5 kg/m2, normal weight 18.5–24.9 kg/m2, and overweight ≥25 kg/m2. The association between body weight status and breast cancer recurrence was analyzed. Subgroup analysis by tumor subtype according to receptor status was also performed.Results: The median follow-up period was 88 months. For disease recurrence, histologic grade and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positivity were independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. Stage, histologic grade, HER2-positivity, and BMI status were independent prognostic factors for distant metastasis. In survival analysis, overweight and underweight were significant predisposing factors for MFS, but not for disease-free survival (DFS). In the estrogen receptor (ER)-positive group, overweight and underweight patients had significantly worse DFS and MFS than normal weight patients. In the ER-negative or HER2-positive group, BMI status had no significant association with DFS and MFS.Conclusion: The prognostic role of BMI on the survival outcomes of patients with breast cancer was different by tumor subtype. In ER-positive patients, overweight and underweight statuses had a negative prognostic effect on DFS and MFS, respectively.
Unusual mesentery metastasis of differentiated thyroid cancer: a case report
Authors: Chwa Sunyoung , Lee Seung Hun , Lee Seung Hyun
Published: January 2024

Distant metastases of well-differentiated thyroid cancers (WDTCs) to bone and lungs are well known, while intra-abdominal, mesenteric metastases are very rare. Herein, we report a case of intra-abdominal, mesenteric metastasis of WDTC. A 62-year-old man underwent thyroid lobectomy for follicular thyroid cancer. One year later, lung metastasis was observed. The patient simultaneously underwent lung wedge resection and complete thyroidectomy. Eleven years later, serum thyroglobulin level was elevated. On the work-up study, a metastatic lesion in the lungs and a mass in the mesentery were identified. Two lesions of the lung and mesentery were surgically resected. The mass in the mesentery was pathologically diagnosed as metastatic WDTC.
Viscum album, as alternative and bridge to palliative chemotherapy in recurrent gallbladder cancer following laparoscopic radical cholecystectomy:
a case report
Authors: Shin Joonggyeong , Yim Eunsang , Kang Chang Moo
Published: January 2024

A 78-year-old female patient was initially treated with laparoscopic radical cholecystectomy for gallbladder cancer (pT2aN1M0, stage IIIB). The patient then received adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine. After completion of adjuvant chemotherapy, multiple lymph node metastases were observed in follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan, but the patient refused to go through further chemotherapy. One year after the recurrence, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) level was 1,925 U/mL with follow-up high-resolution CT/abdomen-pelvic CT showing the increased size of multiple lymph node metastases, and the patient began to undergo Viscum album therapy (0.2 mg, subcutaneously, three times a week). After the V. album therapy was initiated, a decrease in the size of metastatic lymph nodes and CA19-9 level, which was decreased to 252 U/mL, was observed. Seventeen months after continuous V. album therapy, the patient agreed to have palliative chemotherapy. The patient underwent gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy and showed stable disease during follow-up. This case report suggests that V. album therapy showed anticancer effects and may act as a bridge to palliative chemotherapy for patients with inappropriate general conditions to undergo chemotherapy for recurrent gallbladder cancer.
Islam and Politics: Rereading Political Practice from Muhammadiyah Political Experience in South Sulawesi
Authors: Muallim Muallim , Muammar Muammar , Suardi Wekke Ismail
Published: January 2024

Muhammadiyah is known as a da'wah and education organization, not politics. However, it does not mean that Muhammadiyah is anti-politics. Muhammadiyah also has an interest in politics to support its da'wah. Welcoming the 2024 general election This research will focus on how Muhammadiyah plays identity politics in South Sulawesi to support the victory of its cadres to occupy legislative and executive seats. This study uses a qualitative descriptive approach with data collection techniques based on a literature review by reading and analyzing scientific texts, journals, and news related to Muhammadiyah and political movements in South Sulawesi. It was found that the relationship between political parties and Muhammadiyah was dynamic, with several patterns being played, namely, institutional role, personal role, and neutral. Two models are seen, namely approaching and keeping a distance. Muhammadiyah, in politics, sometimes gets close to political power and keeps its distance from existing power. The participation of persyarikatan members is one form of Muhammadiyah's contribution to citizenship politics. Even though Muhammadiyah does not have a political party, it can distribute its cadres to any party as long as it is in line with the Muhammadiyah movement. This is intended so that Muhammadiyah continues to have the spirit of maintaining 'the same closeness' with all political parties.
Earth structures – a summary of the last 50 years
Authors: Vaníček Ivan
Published: January 2024

This paper discusses changes and developments in the field of Earth Structures that have been presented and discussed over the last fifty years at the annual national conferences on Foundation Engineering held (with foreign participation) in the city of Brno.
Family Roles and Support in Preventing Stunting: A Systematic Review
Authors: Fajar Nur Alam , Zulkarnain Mohammad , Taqwa Ridha , Sulaningsi Kiki , Ananingsih Esti Sri , Rachmayanti Riris Diana , Sin Siau Ching
Published: January 2024

Background: Stunting is inadequacy in physical growth. Stunting can be detrimental to children under five as it causes low intelligence, decreased endurance, and inhibited growth and development. This will increase risk of infections and non-communicable diseases in adulthood. The optimal implementation of family roles supports the improvement of nutritional status in toddlers so it can reduce the incidence of stunting.Method: This systematic review is written in accordance to the PRISMA guidelines. The process includes analysis on online articles from databases of ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar for the past five years the period from 2019 with the keywords "stunting and parents or family".Results: There are researches from eight articles related to the role and support of families in preventing stunting. Based on several syntheses reviewed, it was determined that culture can be an inhibiting factor in preventing stunting. Still, with local wisdom, it can also be a catalyst in reducing stunting itself. Culture is one of the specific nutrition interventions that can reduce the prevalence of stunting by emphasizing aspects of a mother as the “center of life”, family roles and support, and the role of fathers in preventing stunting. Families have an important role to play in preventing and managing the problem of stunting. Families play an important role in preventing stunting at every stage of life from fetus in the womb, to newborn, toddler, teenager, married, pregnant, and so on. Therefore, efforts to empower families are necessary.
Herbert George Wells. Socjalizm, utopia i melancholia
Authors: Franczak Jerzy
Published: January 2024

The article is a review of the most important works by Herbert George Wells in terms of the relationship between futurological vision, projected ideal and knowledge about the past. Wells is usually associated with a prospective attitude, with forecasting the future and modeling its desired image. Indeed, his science fiction novels, treatises and utopias try to answer the question of the paths of civilization’s development. But this work is accompanied by constant analysis of the past, correcting the scenarios of past events and shaping their new version. On the one hand, the retroactive formation of historical matter supports a utopia with a socialist profile, and on the other, it prevents its stabilization and closes it in the circle of left-wing melancholy, as described by Enzo Traverso. Some of the writer’s progressive ideas seem to be patient self-persuasion, others – such as fantasies about “fortunate disasters” – can be understood as attempts to escape from melancholy. Breaking free from its power, however, comes at a high price: it is the end of the socialist utopia, the abandonment of the idea of progress and the optimistic history of philosophy.
Święta ironia. Dwa oblicza parodii ekfrazy katedry w Pani Bovary Gustave’a Flauberta
Authors: Shukla Piotr
Published: January 2024

This article aims to analyze the use of parodic ekphrasis of the cathedral in Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary. This matter was first brought to attention by Małgorzata Czermińska, who pointed out the satirical nature of the literary description of the gothic church in Rouen. However, to truly understand the way in which the novelist transformed the traditional formula of ekphrasis in Madame Bovary one must consider two drastically different dimensions of this treatment. The inspiration for this division comes from the work of Renata Lis, who argued that Flaubert’s work is marked by a fundamental ambivalence concerning spirituality, resulting in a variety of representations of holiness in his novels. On one hand, the parody of ekphrasis in the novel serves the most obvious function – it’s a cause for the mockery of the bourgeoisie and its distorted spiritual and aesthetic sensibilities. On the other hand, the parodic aspect of the discussed fragment is reminiscent of Olga Freudenberg’s approach. According to this Russian scholar, the essence of parody is not expressed through comedy and ridicule but rather through tragedy and an inseparable connection to the sacred. Such an understanding of the parodic ekphrasis of the gothic temple in Madame Bovary highlights the remarkable consistency with which Flaubert reflected on the existential condition of the protagonist. Emma’s inability to grasp the aesthetic values and sanctity of the cathedral expresses her tragic tendency to misrecognize, which leads to the novel’s somber finale.