bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of Helicobacter pylori strain types and analysis of risk factors among subjects from Hainan Province, China
Authors: Chen Runxiang , Zhang Daya , Lv Yanting , Huang Shimei , Li Da , Zeng Fan , Chen Chen , Zhang Xiaodong , Chen Shiju , Wang Jun , Bai Feihu
Published: May 2024

Objective

To explore the prevalence of type I and type II Helicobacter pylori infection and investigate risk factors in a population from Hainan Province in China.

Methods

Data came from a large, cross-sectional study conducted from August 2022 to April 2023 involving five cities of Hainan. Subjects with confirmed 14C-urea breath test (UBT) and positive serological assay were included. All subjects had a gastroscopy. According to presence or absence of CagA/VacA proteins, subjects were classified as either type I (present) or type II strains (absent). Gastroscopic findings and several socio-demographic factors were examined for correlation with antibody serotyping.

Results

In total, 410 subjects were investigated for H. pylori strain types. The overall prevalence of the highly virulent, type I H. pylori strain was 79% (324/410) and type II strain was 21% (86/410). There was a strong association between type I strain and peptic ulcer disease. Of several sociodemographic factors investigated, only smoking and data over baseline (DOB) values showed significant differences between type 1 and type II strains. Logistic regression analysis showed a lower risk of type I H. pylori infection in smokers compared with non-smokers, and a higher risk of H. pylori type I infection in subjects with medium and high data over baseline (DOB) values compared with subjects who had low DOB values.

Conclusion

Highly virulent, type I H. pylori infections predominate in Hainan and the co-positivity of CagA and VacA antibodies are related to type I H. pylori infection. We found that Type I H. pylori was closely associated with peptic ulcer disease and the DOB values were generally high.
Pneumocystis murina lesions in lungs of experimentally infected Cd40l–/– mice
Authors: Cappelleri Andrea , Canesi Simone , Bertola Luca , Capo Valentina , Zecchillo Alessandra , Albano Luisa , Villa Anna , Scanziani Eugenio , Recordati Camilla
Published: May 2024

The Cd40l–/– mouse is a well-established model of X-linked hyper-immunoglobulin M (IgM) syndrome, an immunodeficiency disorder of human beings characterized by the lack of expression of the CD40 ligand (CD40L) on activated T-cells, predisposing to infections with opportunistic pathogens like Pneumocystis jirovecii. The aim of our study was to describe the pulmonary lesions in Cd40l–/– mice experimentally infected with Pneumocystis murina, in comparison with naturally infected severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded lungs from 26 Cd40l–/–, 11 SCID, and 5 uninfected Cd40l–/– mice were examined by histology and immunohistochemistry for the presence of the pathogen and for leukocyte populations (CD3, CD4, CD45R/B220, CD8a, Iba-1, Ly-6G, CD206, MHC II, and NKp46/NCR1). Infection was confirmed by immunohistochemistry in 18/26 (69%) Cd40l–/– mice and in 11/11 (100%) SCID mice. Fourteen out of 26 (54%) Cd40l–/– mice had interstitial pneumonia. Twenty-three out of 26 (88%) Cd40l–/– mice had peribronchiolar/perivascular lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, rich in B-cells and Mott cells. Acidophilic macrophage pneumonia was additionally found in 20/26 (77%) Cd40l–/– mice. Only 4/11 (36%) SCID mice had interstitial pneumonia, but no peribronchiolar/perivascular infiltrates or acidophilic macrophage pneumonia were observed in this strain. This study represents the first description of pulmonary histopathological lesions in Cd40l–/– mice infected with P. murina. We speculate that the singular characteristics of the inflammatory infiltrates observed in Cd40l–/– mice could be explained by the specific immune phenotype of the model.
Stacking ensemble learning fused with whale optimisation algorithm based method for crown prediction of hot-rolled strip
Authors: Meng Ling Ming , Ding Jing Guo , Du Haozhan , Dong Zi Shuo , Gao Peng , Zhang Dian Hua
Published: May 2024

Precision of strip shape is one of the important indexes to measure the quality of strip steel in hot rolling. Accurate prediction of strip shape can realise the timely adjustment of the production system, which is the important foundation for ensuring the quality and stable production of hot-rolled strip steel products. Given the poor accuracy of the traditional mechanism model, this paper proposes a stacking ensemble learning for crown prediction that consist of the random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), categorical boosting (CatBoost) and linear regression, whose hyperparameters are optimised by whale optimisation algorithm (WOA) Firstly, the key features are selected by analysing the feature importance and the Pearson correlation coefficient between rolling parameters. Then, the hyperparameters of the stacking ensemble learning are optimised by four meta-heuristic algorithms during modeling process, among which WOA has the best optimisation effect. Compared to RF, XGBoost, LightGBM, CatBoost and the stacking, proposed method has the highest prediction accuracy that the hit rate reaches 98.58% in the range of 5.0 μm of crown deviation. In addition, the effect of strip width, bending force, rolling force and roll shifting on crown are analysed based on Shapley additive explanations (SHAP).
The landlord state goes abroad: The remaking of the Norwegian ‘Energy Nation’ as a global rentier
Authors: Heiret Yngve Solli
Published: May 2024

This paper explores the global political economy of the relationship between energy, ground rent, and the state. In its role as the ‘nation’s landlord’, the state is widely acknowledged to have a central role in the political economy of energy, either as the enabler and guarantor for private rent extraction or by itself controlling the extraction and redistribution of rents engendered by national energy resources. This paper broadens the geographical purview of research on the landlord state by aiming attention at the rise in recent decades of the state as a major rentier in the world market. More than asserting ownership over land and its appurtenances within territorial borders, landlord states have become significant owners and profiteers of extraterritorial energy resources. Taking the historical geography of the Norwegian energy industry as an empirical point of departure, the paper explores how the landlord state that was built in the 20th century by taking public control over national energy resources since the turn of the millennium has become a considerable owner of energy resources abroad, effectively positioning itself as a major global rentier.
Improving Short-Haul Intermodal Transit Times on Low-Density Rail Corridors with Platoons of Self-Propelled Autonomous Railcars
Authors: Roscoe Geordie S. , Parkes Matthew M. , Dick C. Tyler
Published: May 2024

U.S. freight railroads consume in excess of 13 billion liters of diesel fuel yearly. Although efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions have made substantial progress in the last decades, the benefits are relatively incremental and will not be sufficient to realize full decarbonization. Several independent efforts are underway to develop alternative locomotive fuels and propulsion technologies designed to fit within the typical locomotive envelope. In addition to these more conventional efforts, multiple startup companies are working to develop self-propelled autonomous railcars (SPARCs) that can achieve targeted decarbonization levels while also disrupting the traditional railroad operating paradigm. SPARC operations with multiple platoon lengths, as well as a control scenario with a conventional train length of 110 railcars, were simulated on an example corridor linking a port with an inland intermodal terminal. This line was single track with short sidings on inconsistent intervals, which is typical of U.S. branch lines serving few local customers without heavy through traffic. For all traffic levels simulated, SPARCs had a much lower transit time than the conventional trains. Optimal platoon length varied between 15- and 38-vehicles per platoon depending on the traffic demand, well under North American standards of over 100 railcars per train.
Impact of Environmental Conditions on Predicting Condition Rating of Concrete Bridge Decks
Authors: Yang Chan , Wang Xin , Nassif Hani
Published: May 2024

Highway agencies prioritize maintaining bridge infrastructure through bridge management systems amid budget constraints. The premature deterioration of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge decks caused by more frequent and increasingly heavy truck load spectra coupled with aggressive environmental conditions has become a critical concern. Despite the prevalence of conventional models and the emerging popularity of machine learning (ML) models in bridge deterioration predictions, they fall short in feature selection and handling of climate conditions, leading to suboptimal accuracy. To address these gaps, this study presents a data-driven framework utilizing ML-based techniques to predict the condition rating of RC bridge decks with a focus on identifying the influencing factors that affect the deck condition. The framework employs the XGBoost algorithm for model development, encompassing comprehensive datasets that include structural, geographical, and climate variables from across the U.S. Furthermore, the Shapley additive explanations approach is applied to identify the explanatory variables with the most impact. Age emerged as the most crucial factor, followed by freeze-thaw cycles and truck traffic, as indicated by the average daily truck traffic. Rainfall also plays a substantial role in deck deterioration. Based on feature importance and monotonicity, this study recommends a series of bridge classifications for transportation agencies to incorporate into their deterioration models. Overall, this research enhances understanding of the primary causes of bridge deck deterioration, enabling more informed decisions about funding allocation and bolstering bridge performance against environmental challenges.
Ultrasound assisted techniques for starch modification to develop novel drug delivery systems: A comprehensive study
Authors: Kumar Vipin , Kumarasamy Vinoth , Bhatt Pankaj , Dixit Raghav , Kumar Mukesh , Shukla Chandra Prakash , Subramaniyan Vetriselvan , Kumar Sunil
Published: May 2024

Starch derived from plants plays an essential role in pharmaceuticals due to its components Amylose and Amylopectin, which form essential granules for drug delivery. Its biocompatibility and cost-effectiveness make it indispensable in pharmaceutical formulations, facilitating controlled drug release and tablet breakdown. The effectiveness and safety of drug formulations are often hindered by challenges such as low solubility and stability. In order to overcome these obstacles, current research is focused on modifying the properties of starch. The goal is to improve its solubility, swelling, erosion, stability, and ability to release drugs. A promising solution that has emerged is ultrasound-based modification. This technique has shown great potential in transforming starch granules, leading to improved solubility, degradability, and control over drug release. Not only is this method efficient and quick, but it also has the added benefit of being eco-friendly. This discussion will explore the mechanisms behind the modification of starch based on ultrasound, delving into both the physical and chemical changes that occur in starch granules. The analysis explores the utilization of modified starch induced by ultrasound in the field of drug delivery, investigating its stability and compatibility with biological systems. By exploring the capabilities and difficulties associated with the use of ultrasound to change starch for the delivery of drugs, we highlighted its potential as a leading and effective methodology.
Regular selves constructed through genres: A socio-cognitive approach to the study of positioning acts in Italian rectors’ inaugural speeches
Authors: Yu Danni , Vergaro Carla
Published: May 2024

This study aims to provide a socio-cognitive approach to understand how the identity associated with a social category is constructed through regular positioning acts in conventionalized genres. Using genre-based positioning analysis, we analyzed a corpus of 30 Italian rectors’ inaugural speeches and identified six rhetorical moves regularly used in the genre, which revealed three underlying positionings – representative of the university, value disseminator, and advocate – associated with the social role of university rectors in the Italian higher education context. Drawing on the Entrenchment and Conventionalization Model (hereafter ECModel), we analyzed how these positionings are conventionalized through shared conformity profiles of the genre in the onomasiological, semasiological, syntagmatic, and contextual dimensions. This study implies that genres can be important mediums through which the cognitive entrenchment and social conventionalization of positionings contribute to constructing our regular selves to be performed in the social domain.
A Study to Evaluate the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Hepatitis B Vaccination Among Medical, Dental, Nursing and Physiotherapy Students
Authors: Divya C. V.  , Nithya G.  , Premlal K. S.
Published: May 2024

Introduction:

The term ‘hepatitis’ describes an inflammation of the liver. A viral infection commonly causes it, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis. These include hepatitis caused by drugs, alcohol, toxins and other pharmaceuticals, as well as hepatitis caused by autoimmune conditions. The World Health Organisation suggested that by the close of the 20th century, all nations should include the Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) in their regular infant and childhood immunisation regimens.

Objective:

To evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis B vaccination among students attending medical, dental, nursing and physiotherapy courses.

Materials and Methods:

Students studying medicine, dentistry, nursing and physiotherapy at a tertiary health care facility in Kerala’s Kozhikode district are participating in this cross-sectional survey. A structured, open-ended questionnaire that the self-administered knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) used to gather information regarding HBV infection and vaccination was employed to assess the KAP. For the assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice, appropriate scoring was carried out. Utilising SPSS Software version 20.0, the data was analysed.

Results:

Out of the total 335 students who responded, 256 (76.4%) students were vaccinated, 232 (69.3%) showed poor knowledge towards Hepatitis B vaccination, 6 (16.7%) were not vaccinated and the remaining 23 (6.9%) are not sure about vaccination status. About 38.8% of students have good practice and show a significant association between knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis B vaccination among students.

Conclusion:

This study shows an association between knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis B vaccination among students, implying that a better understanding of the disease has a positive effect on the practices exercised by an individual.
Integrated Intensive Intervention: Academic and Behavioral Support in Tier 3
Authors: Duble Moore Tobey , Bourget Jessica , Plumb Ashley , Power Mara E. , Melton Chloe , Coyne Michael , Simonsen Brandi
Published: May 2024

Students who require intensive individualized intervention often demonstrate needs in both academic and behavioral domains. However, practices around assessment and development of interventions are often siloed and separate, which can be a barrier to implementing intensive individualized support in an integrated manner to maximize efficiency. In this article, we provide a blueprint for educators to work collaboratively to complete an integrated assessment that can lead to developing a truly integrated individualized intervention. We also share a vignette demonstrating how team members might create a team to complete an integrated assessment and create a corresponding intervention plan.
Exploring the Link Between Exogenous Thyroid Hormones and Dementia Symptoms: A Real-World Disproportionality Analysis of FDA Adverse Event Reporting System
Authors: Zhou Jianxing , Lai Weipeng , Wei Zipeng , Xu Baohua , Liu Maobai , Zhang Nanwen , Wu Xuemei
Published: May 2024

Background:

A growing body of evidence indicates a strong association between exogenous thyroid hormone (ETH) and brain health. Establishing the potential relationship between ETH therapy and dementia symptoms is crucial for patients with thyroid disorders.

Objective:

In this study, we investigate the potential association between ETH therapy and dementia symptoms by exploring the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.

Methods:

Disproportionality analysis (DPA) was conducted using postmarketing data from the FAERS repository (Q1 2004 to Q4 2023). Cases of dementia symptoms associated with ETH therapy were identified and analyzed through DPA using reporting odds ratios and information component methods. Dose and time-to-onset analyses were performed to assess the association between ETH therapy and dementia symptoms.

Results:

A total of 9889 cases of ETH-associated symptoms were identified in the FAERS database. Dementia accounted for a consistent proportion of adverse drug reactions each year (3.4%-6.3%). The DPA indicated an association between ETH therapy and dementia symptoms, which remained significant even across sex, age, and indications. The median time-to-onset of dementia symptoms was 7.5 days, and the median treatment time was 40.5 days. No significant dose-response relationship was observed.

Conclusion and relevance:

This study provides evidence for a link between ETH therapy and dementia. Clinicians are therefore advised to exercise vigilance, conduct comprehensive monitoring, and consider individualized dosing to mitigate potential reactions to ETH drug administration.
Research Advances in the Roles of N6-Methyladenosine Modification in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Zhang Yuhong , Ling Yufeng , Zhou Ying , Shi Xiu , Shen Fangrong , Zhou Jinhua , Chen Youguo , Yang Fan , Gu Yanzheng , Wang Juan
Published: May 2024

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological tumor, characterized by its insidious and frequently recurring metastatic progression. Owing to limited early screening methods, over 70% of OC cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, typically stage III or IV. Recently, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification has emerged as a hotspot of epigenetic research, representing a significant endogenous RNA modification in higher eukaryotes. Numerous studies have reported that m6A-related regulatory factors play pivotal roles in tumor development through diverse mechanisms. Moreover, recent studies have indicated the aberrant expression of multiple regulatory factors in OC. Therefore, this paper comprehensively reviews research advancements concerning m6A in OC, aiming to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of m6A-associated regulators on pivotal aspects, such as proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance, in OC. Furthermore, it discusses the potential of m6A-associated regulators as early diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets, thus contributing to the diagnosis and treatment of OC.
Measurement properties of the Thai translation of the Recovery Assessment Scale – Domains and Stages (RAS-DS) and comparison of recovery experiences between Thai and Australian consumers living with serious mental illness
Authors: Khemthong Supalak , Scanlan Justin Newton , Hancock Nicola
Published: May 2024

Personal recovery, a western conceptualisation that focuses on hope and living meaningful lives of choice rather than focusing on symptom reduction, is a more recent concept in many Asian countries including Thailand. One way to promote recovery-oriented service delivery is to use outcome measures that capture self-reported personal recovery. This study aimed to evaluate a Thai translation of a self-report measure of mental health recovery, the Recovery Assessment Scale – Domains and Stages (RAS-DS). The study also explored the cultural similarities and differences between Thai ( n  =  190) and Australian ( n  =  301) recovery experiences by comparing Thai and Australian participant responses to RAS-DS items. Data were analysed using Rasch analysis. Analyses revealed that the Thai version of the RAS-DS had adequate measurement properties. Cultural comparisons suggested that most aspects contained within the RAS-DS appear to be applicable across both Thai and Australian contexts. Three findings suggest linguistic or cultural differences in Thai and Australian recovery experiences: (i) a ceiling effect for Thai participants, (ii) some items were “harder” or “easier” for one cultural group to endorse than the other, and (iii) a few items were “misfitting” for Thai participants.
Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Customer Experience
Authors: Chen Ying , Prentice Catherine
Published: May 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been widely adopted in the service sector to enhance the customer experience and gain a competitive advantage. However, there are a limited number of papers that focus on the relationship between AI and customer experience, and there is no clear framework to reveal how AI influences the customer experience. Therefore, this paper will address how AI affects the customer experience and develop a conceptual framework of AI applications in customer experience along the customer journey. A two-step research design is adopted in this paper. The first phase aims to identify a framework through an extensive systematic literature review of the relevant databases. The findings cover three main themes: AI experience, AI functions, and AI services. A research framework is created on the basis of the findings. This paper contributes to consumer behavior and services by integrating AI with customer experience and providing a comprehensive framework for guiding future research. The study also offers practical implications for practitioners to enhance customer experience.
Pre-attentive and Attentive Auditory Event-related Potentials in Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism
Authors: Schall Ulrich , Fulham Ross , Günther Max , Bergmann Jessica , Thienel Renate , Ortmann Julie , Wall Natalie G , Gómez Álvarez Paula , Youlden Anne-Marie
Published: May 2024

Abnormalities in auditory processing are believed to play a major role in autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Both conditions often co-occur in children, causing difficulties in deciding the most promising intervention. Event-related potentials (ERPs) have been investigated and are showing promise to act as potential biomarkers for both conditions. This study investigated mismatch negativity (MMN) using a passive listening task and P3b in an active auditory go/no-go discrimination task. Recordings were available from 103 children (24 females): 35 with ADHD, 27 autistic, 15 autistic children with co-occurring ADHD, and 26 neurotypical (NT) children. The age range considered was between 4 and 17 years, but varied between groups. The results revealed increases in the MMN and P3b amplitudes with age. Older children with ADHD exhibited smaller P3b amplitudes, while younger autistic children showed reduced MMN amplitudes in response to phoneme changes compared to their NT counterparts. Notably, children diagnosed with autism and ADHD did not follow this pattern; instead, they exhibited more similarities to NT children. The reduced amplitudes of phonetically elicited MMN in children with autism and reduced P3b in children with ADHD suggest that the two respective ERPs can act as potential biomarkers for each condition. However, optimisation and standardisation of the testing protocol, as well as longitudinal studies are required in order to translate these findings into clinical practice.
Tackling health inequalities through the development of the wider public health workforce
Authors: Roberts W , Owolabi B , Pearson-Stuttard J
Published: May 2024

This article highlights how developing the public health workforce can lead to improvement of the public’s health, and consequently promote health-driven prosperity in areas and populations where health inequalities are most prevalent.
Challenges and opportunities in the immunotherapy era: balancing expectations with hope in small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Khan Raza , Coleman Niamh
Published: May 2024

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a biologically aggressive subtype of lung cancer, a lethal disease characterized by rapid tumor growth, early relapse, a strong tendency for early widespread metastasis, and high genomic instability, making it a formidable foe in modern oncology practice. While the management of non-SCLC has been revolutionized in the era of immunotherapy, progress in SCLC has been more muted. Recent randomized phase III clinical trials have combined programmed death ligand-1 inhibitors to a chemotherapy backbone and demonstrated improved survival; however, the absolute benefit observed is short months. There is an undeniable urgent need for better responses, better agents, novel therapeutic approaches, and more rational, biomarker-driven clinical trials in SCLC. In this review, we discuss the rationale and current understanding of the biology of SCLC in the modern era of immunotherapy, discuss recent advances in front-line immunotherapeutic approaches that have changed clinical practice globally, provide an overview of some of the challenges and limitations that have staggered immune checkpoint blockade in SCLC, and explore some of the novel immunotherapeutic approaches currently being investigated.
Prevalence and Magnitude of Olfactory Dysfunction in Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Fornazieri Marco A. , Garcia Ellen C.D. , Montero Ricardo H. , Borges Ricardo , Bezerra Thiago F.P. , Pinna Fábio R. , Doty Richard L. , Voegels Richard L.
Published: May 2024

Background

Although allergic rhinitis (AR) can negatively impact the ability to smell, the degree to which this occurs is not clear and prevalence estimates vary among studies. This study had 4 main objectives: (1) To estimate the prevalence and the degree of olfactory dysfunction in AR patients; (2) To compare olfactory perception between AR patients with different persistence and severity of symptoms and determine if olfactory testing may aid in differentiating among Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) groups; (3) To determine whether allergic reactions to different allergens differentially impact olfactory function, and (4) Verify possible changes in the olfactory epithelium (OE) caused by AR.

Methods

One hundred thirty-three patients with AR and one hundred controls were tested. The main outcome was the score in University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT®). The OE was examined using immunofluorescence markers for neuronal activity, apoptosis, oxidative stress, signal transduction, eosinophils, and epithelial thickness.

Results

Prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in the AR patients was higher (AR: 42.9% vs controls: 9%, P < .001). No difference was found either between intermittent and persistent disease cases ( P = .58) or between cases with mild and those with moderate/severe symptomatology ( P = .33). Lower olfactory capacity was not associated with the reaction to more ( P = .48) or diverse types of allergens ( Ps > .05). Although not significant, patients with AR had a greater amount of eosinophilia and a lower amount of cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) in the OE.

Conclusion

The study highlights a higher prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in AR patients compared to controls, but olfactory testing may not effectively differentiate AR severity or allergen sensitivities. Although trends suggest potential pathophysiological changes in the OE of AR patients, further research is needed to validate these findings.
Life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding in a case of neurofibromatosis 1 and gastrointestinal stromal tumour managed with surgical intervention as a case report
Authors: Gokhale Vijayashree , Mangudkar Sangram , Yadav Ponvijaya , Lingineni Varun , Pharande Satbir
Published: May 2024

A 63-year-old patient with skin neurofibromas since birth was brought to emergency in a critical state due to massive bleeding per rectum. After stabilization and massive transfusion, the patient underwent Gastro-Intestinal (GI) endoscopy and abdominal computed tomography. A mass was identified in the jejunum. On laparotomy, multiple neurofibromas were seen in the jejunum. The segment with bleeding tumour was resected. Histopathology revealed benign spindle cell neoplasm, a gastrointestinal stromal tumour. The patient recovered and was discharged on day 15.
“There’s Always a Way to Get Around the Guidelines”: Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Content Moderation on TikTok
Authors: Lookingbill Valerie , Le Kimanh
Published: May 2024

The stigmatized nature of nonsuicidal self-injury may render TikTok, a short-form, video-sharing social media platform, appealing to individuals who engage in this behavior. Since this community faces biased scrutiny based on stigmatization surrounding mental health, nonsuicidal self-injury users may turn to TikTok, which offers a space for users to engage in discussions of nonsuicidal self-injury, exchange social support, experience validation with little fear of stigmatization, and facilitate harm reduction strategies. While TikTok’s Community Guidelines permit users to share personal experiences with mental health topics, TikTok explicitly bans content that shows, promotes, or shares plans for self-harm. As such, TikTok may moderate user-generated content, leading to exclusion and marginalization in this digital space. Through semi-structured interviews with 8 TikTok users and a content analysis of 150 TikTok videos, we explore how users with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury experience TikTok’s algorithm to engage with content on nonsuicidal self-injury. Findings demonstrate that users understand how to circumnavigate TikTok’s algorithm through hashtags, signaling, and algospeak to maintain visibility while also circumnavigating algorithmic detection on the platform. Furthermore, findings emphasize that users actively engage in self-surveillance, self-censorship, and self-policing to create a safe online community of care. Content moderation, however, can ultimately hinder progress toward the destigmatization of nonsuicidal self-injury.
The Beck Depression Inventory-II in Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged and Older Greeks: Factor Structure and Demographic Associations
Authors: Economou Alexandra , Konsolaki Eleni , Kalsi Ishar Alexander , Psychountaki Maria
Published: May 2024

Evaluating depressive symptomatology in older adults is important for monitoring and treatment. However, few studies have examined the association of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) to demographic characteristics in middle-aged and older adults or have tested its factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Participants were 542 middle-aged and older Greek community-dwellers of a wide education range. The BDI-II score was correlated with age and education and one-way analysis of variance compared mean score in men and women, controlling for differences in education. In addition to the unidimensional model, eight models were tested using CFA: four two-factor models, a three-factor model, two bifactor models, and a hierarchical model with three first order factors and a second order factor. Age was marginally associated with BDI-II score; education was inversely associated with it in this sample of a wide range of education. Women scored higher than men, although controlling for education attenuated the differences. Internal consistency was similar to that of other studies. Of the nine models tested using CFA eight showed good fit but the bifactor models yielded anomalous factor loadings. The hierarchical model of Byrne, Stewart, Kennard, and Lee showed the best fit in terms of all the indices. The results indicate the presence of a second-order general depression factor that influences highly correlated first-order factors and extend the applicability of the hierarchical model to older community dwellers.
Alleviation of migraine related pain and anxiety by inhibiting calcium-stimulating AC1-dependent CGRP in the insula of adult rats
Authors: Li Yang , Li Chenhao , Chen Qi-Yu , Hao Shun , Mao Jingrui , Zhang Wenwen , Han Xun , Dong Zhao , Liu Ruozhuo , Tang Wenjing , Zhuo Min , Yu Shengyuan , Liu Yinglu
Published: May 2024

Background

Recent animal and clinical findings consistently highlight the critical role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in chronic migraine (CM) and related emotional responses. CGRP antibodies and receptor antagonists have been approved for CM treatment. However, the underlying CGRP-related signaling pathways in the pain-related cortex remain poorly understood.

Methods

The SD rats were used to establish the CM model by dural infusions of inflammatory soup. Periorbital mechanical thresholds were assessed using von-Frey filaments, and anxiety-like behaviors were observed via open field and elevated plus maze tests. Expression of c-Fos, CGRP and NMDA GluN2B receptors was detected using immunofluorescence and western blotting analyses. The excitatory synaptic transmission was detected by whole-cell patch-clamp recording. A human-used adenylate cyclase 1 (AC1) inhibitor, hNB001, was applied via insula stereotaxic and intraperitoneal injections in CM rats.

Results

The insular cortex (IC) was activated in the migraine model rats. Glutamate-mediated excitatory transmission and NMDA GluN2B receptors in the IC were potentiated. CGRP levels in the IC significantly increased during nociceptive and anxiety-like activities. Locally applied hNB001 in the IC or intraperitoneally alleviated periorbital mechanical thresholds and anxiety behaviors in migraine rats. Furthermore, CGRP expression in the IC decreased after the hNB001 application.

Conclusions

Our study indicated that AC1-dependent IC plasticity contributes to migraine and AC1 may be a promising target for treating migraine in the future.
Poor healthy lifestyle and life’s essential 8 are associated with higher risk of new-onset migraine: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Lei Yuexiu , Zhang Lili , Shan Zhengming , Gan Quan , Xie Qingfang , Huang Ying , Yan Wen , Xiao Zheman
Published: May 2024

Background

Lifestyle are closely related to migraine. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the association between Healthy lifestyle or Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) and the risk of migraine. The objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between Healthy lifestyle scores and Life’s essential 8 scores, and migraine.

Methods

332,895 UK Biobank participants without migraine were included. Healthy lifestyle were assessed using seven lifestyle factors, and categorized as poor, intermediate, or ideal. LE8, based on the American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health (CVH), consist of eight indicators classified as low, moderate, or high CVH. The Cox proportional hazard model was employed to examine the association between Healthy lifestyle scores, LE8 scores, and migraine, with calculations for population-attributable fraction (PAF) and cumulative incidence.

Results

During a median follow-up of 13.58 years, participants in intermediate (HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.99) or ideal category of Healthy lifestyle (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.91) significantly reduced migraine risk compared to the poor category. Similarly, high CVH (HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.92) also lowered migraine risk, while moderate CVH (HR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.85, 1.02) did not show a difference compared to low CVH. If all individuals adhered to higher categories of Healthy lifestyle and LE8, approximately 11.38% and 22.05% of migraine cases could be prevented. Among individual lifestyle factors, maintaining an ideal body mass index (BMI), physical activity, sleep duration, sleep pattern, and sedentary time were associated with substantial reductions in migraine risk, by 5.65%, 0.81%, 10.16%, 16.39%, and 6.57%, respectively.

Conclusion

Our study provides evidence that poor Healthy lifestyle and Life’s Essential 8 are associated with higher risk of new-onset migraine.
Grazing exclusion is more effective for vegetation restoration and nutrient transfer in the heavily degraded desert steppe
Authors: Hou Dongjie , Liu Jiayue , Li Nan , Han Beilei , Liu Changcheng , Wang Zhongwu
Published: May 2024

Background

Grazing exclusion is an efficient practice to restore degraded grassland ecosystems by eliminating external disturbances and improving ecosystems’ self-healing capacities, which affects the ecological processes of soil-plant systems. Grassland degradation levels play a critical role in regulating these ecological processes. However, the effects of vegetation and soil states at different degradation stages on grassland ecosystem restoration are not fully understood. To better understand this, desert steppe at three levels of degradation (light, moderate, and heavy degradation) was fenced for 6 years in Inner Mongolia, China. Community characteristics were investigated, and nutrient concentrations of the soil (0–10 cm depth) and dominant plants were measured.

Results

We found that grazing exclusion increased shoots’ carbon (C) concentrations, C/N, and C/P, but significantly decreased shoots’ nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations for Stipa breviflora and Cleistogenes songorica. Interestingly, there were no significant differences in nutrient concentrations of these two species among the three degraded desert steppes after grazing exclusion. After grazing exclusion, annual accumulation rates of aboveground C, N, and P pools in the heavily degraded area were the highest, but the aboveground nutrient pools were the lowest among the three degraded grasslands. Similarly, the annual recovery rates of community height, cover, and aboveground biomass in the heavily degraded desert steppe were the highest among the three degraded steppes after grazing exclusion. These results indicate that grazing exclusion is more effective for vegetation restoration in the heavily degraded desert steppe. The soil total carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus concentrations in the moderately and heavily degraded desert steppes were significantly decreased after six years of grazing exclusion, whereas these were no changes in the lightly degraded desert steppe. Structural equation model analysis showed that the grassland degradation level mainly altered the community aboveground biomass and aboveground nutrient pool, driving the decrease in soil nutrient concentrations and accelerating nutrient transfer from soil to plant community, especially in the heavily degraded grassland.

Conclusions

Our study emphasizes the importance of grassland degradation level in ecosystem restoration and provides theoretical guidance for scientific formulation of containment policies.
Establishment and validation of a predictive model for tracheotomy in critically ill patients and analysis of the impact of different tracheotomy timing on patient prognosis
Authors: Chen Xing-Hua , Zhao Jing-Jing , Chen Cheng , Yao Li
Published: May 2024

Background

In critically ill patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), it is unable to determine early which patients require tracheotomy and whether early tracheotomy is beneficial.

Methods

Clinical data of patients who were first admitted to the ICU and underwent invasive ventilation for more than 24 h in the Medical Information Marketplace in Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database were retrospectively collected. Patients were categorized into successful extubation and tracheotomy groups according to whether they were subsequently successfully extubated or underwent tracheotomy. The patients were randomly divided into model training set and validation set in a ratio of 7:3. Constructing predictive models and evaluating and validating the models. The tracheotomized patients were divided into the early tracheotomy group (< = 7 days) and the late tracheotomy group (> 7 days), and the prognosis of the two groups was analyzed.

Results

A total of 7 key variables were screened: Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score, pneumonia, traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage, hemorrhagic stroke, left and right pupil responses to light, and parenteral nutrition. The area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve of the prediction model constructed through these seven variables was 0.897 (95% CI: 0.876–0.919), and 0.896 (95% CI: 0.866–0.926) for the training and validation sets, respectively. Patients in the early tracheotomy group had a shorter length of hospital stay, IMV duration, and sedation duration compared to the late tracheotomy group (p < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in survival outcomes between the two groups.

Conclusion

The prediction model constructed and validated based on the MIMIC-IV database can accurately predict the outcome of tracheotomy in critically ill patients. Meanwhile, early tracheotomy in critically ill patients does not improve survival outcomes but has potential advantages in shortening the duration of hospitalization, IMV, and sedation.
Clinical and health care utilization variables can predict 90-day hospital re-admission in adults with Crohn’s disease for point of care risk evaluation
Authors: Dziegielewski C , Gupta S , Begum J , Pugliese M , Lombardi J , E Kelly , JD McCurdy , Sy R , N Saloojee , T Ramsay , EI Benchimol , SK Murthy
Published: May 2024

Background

Hospital re-admission for persons with Crohn’s disease (CD) is a significant contributor to morbidity and healthcare costs. We derived prediction models of risk of 90-day re-hospitalization among persons with CD that could be applied at hospital discharge to target outpatient interventions mitigating this risk.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study in persons with CD admitted between 2009 and 2016 for an acute CD-related indication. Demographic, clinical, and health services predictor variables were ascertained through chart review and linkage to administrative health databases. We derived and internally validated a multivariable logistic regression model of 90-day CD-related re-hospitalization. We selected the optimal probability cut-point to maximize Youden’s index.

Results

There were 524 CD hospitalizations and 57 (10.9%) CD re-hospitalizations within 90 days of discharge. Our final model included hospitalization within the prior year (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.76–6.08), gastroenterologist consultation within the prior year (aOR 0.185, 95% CI 0.0950–0.360), intra-abdominal surgery during index hospitalization (aOR 0.216, 95% CI 0.0500–0.934), and new diagnosis of CD during index hospitalization (aOR 0.327, 95% CI 0.0950–1.13). The model demonstrated good discrimination (optimism-corrected c-statistic value 0.726) and excellent calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit p-value 0.990). The optimal model probability cut point allowed for a sensitivity of 71.9% and specificity of 70.9% for identifying 90-day re-hospitalization, at a false positivity rate of 29.1% and false negativity rate of 28.1%.

Conclusions

Demographic, clinical, and health services variables can help discriminate persons with CD at risk of early re-hospitalization, which could permit targeted post-discharge intervention.
Clip-and-snare method with a pre-looping technique versus conventional method in the treatment of precancerous lesion and early gastric cancer: a retrospective study
Authors: Deng Ruichong , Wu Jiatong , Li Defeng , Wu Benhua , Shi Ruiyue , Tian Yanhui , Yao Jun , Wang Li-sheng
Published: May 2024

Background

Low grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN) and high grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) are potential precancerous lesion of gastric neoplasms. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the first option for the treatment of precancerous lesion and early gastric cancer (EGC). Traction is an effective method to improve efficiency, and reduce complications during ESD. In this study, we shared a useful traction method using the clip-and-snare method with a pre-looping technique (CSM-PLT) for precancerous lesion and EGC.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed patients received ESD combined with CSM-PLT or conventional ESD from June 2018 to December 2021 in Shenzhen People’s hospital. The primary outcome was resection speed.

Results

Forty-two patients were enrolled in ESD combined with CSM-PLT group and sixty-five patients in conventional ESD group respectively. Baseline characteristics were comparable among two groups (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in terms of R0 resection rate, en bloc resection rate (97.6% vs. 98.5%, P = 1.000 and 97.6% vs. 96.9%, P = 1.000, respectively), operation costs (933.7 (644.1-1102.4) dollars vs. 814.7 (614.6-988.3) dollars, P = 0.107), and hospital stays (8.0 ± 3.1 days vs. 7.3 ± 3.2 days, P = 0.236). In addition, no significant difference was observed with respect to complications (P>0.05). However, the resection speed of ESD combined with CSM-PLT was faster than that of conventional ESD (11.3 (9.4–14.9) mm2/min vs. 8.0 (5.8–10.9) mm2/min, P < 0.001), particularly lesions located in anterior wall and lesser curvature. In addition, the association between ESD combined with CSM-PLT and resection speed was still supported after propensity matching scores (PMS).

Conclusions

CSM-PLT can help to improve ESD efficiency without reducing the en bloc resection rate or increasing the incidence of complications.
Image fusion-based low-dose CBCT enhancement method for visualizing miniscrew insertion in the infrazygomatic crest
Authors: Sun Peipei , Yang Jinghui , Tian Xue , Yuan Guohua
Published: May 2024

Digital dental technology covers oral cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) image processing and low-dose CBCT dental applications. A low-dose CBCT image enhancement method based on image fusion is proposed to address the need for subzygomatic small screw insertion. Specifically, firstly, a sharpening correction module is proposed, where the CBCT image is sharpened to compensate for the loss of details in the underexposed/over-exposed region. Secondly, a visibility restoration module based on type II fuzzy sets is designed, and a contrast enhancement module using curve transformation is designed. In addition to this, we propose a perceptual fusion module that fuses visibility and contrast of oral CBCT images. As a result, the problems of overexposure/underexposure, low visibility, and low contrast that occur in oral CBCT images can be effectively addressed with consistent interpretability. The proposed algorithm was analyzed in comparison experiments with a variety of algorithms, as well as ablation experiments. After analysis, compared with advanced enhancement algorithms, this algorithm achieved excellent results in low-dose CBCT enhancement and effective observation of subzygomatic small screw implantation. Compared with the best performing method, the evaluation metric is 0.07–2 higher on both datasets. The project can be found at: https://github.com/sunpeipei2024/low-dose-CBCT.