bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An adaptive metamodel-based global approximation method for black-box type problems
Authors: Xiao-liang Yin , ling-peng Yin , Chen Qian
Published: June 2023

An adaptive metamodel-based global approximation (AMGA) method for solving the global approximation problem of black-box models in large design domain is proposed in this study. The method employs the RBF model to compute the Hessian matrix and a heuristic direct search algorithm DIRECT to find the maximum curvature point of the metamodel surface, through which the design domain is split to obtain additional sampling points and to achieve fast update and fast valuation of the metamodel. The initial design domain is split into a series of sub-design domains by continuous iterations, and the metamodels built within the various sub-design domains achieve the global approximate model of the entire design domain. To demonstrate the final effect of the global approximation model and design domain splitting, six common two-dimensional test functions are chosen. The AMGA method is further tested using seven typical test functions and compared to other sampling and metamodel updating methods, with the findings demonstrating the usefulness of the proposed method in the low-dimensional scenario (less than four variables). Finally, the AMGA method is applied to a sophisticated electric car model, yielding good results.
Cooperation in the Time of COVID
Authors: Butterworth Jade , Smerdon David , Baumeister Roy , von Hippel William
Published: June 2023

Humans evolved to be hyper-cooperative, particularly when among people who are well known to them, when relationships involve reciprocal helping opportunities, and when the costs to the helper are substantially less than the benefits to the recipient. Because humans’ cooperative nature evolved over many millennia when they lived exclusively in small groups, factors that cause cooperation to break down tend to be those associated with life in large, impersonal, modern societies: when people are not identifiable, when interactions are one-off, when self-interest is not tied to the interests of others, and when people are concerned that others might free ride. From this perspective, it becomes clear that policies for managing pandemics will be most effective when they highlight superordinate goals and connect people or institutions to one another over multiple identifiable interactions. When forging such connections is not possible, policies should mimic critical components of ancestral conditions by providing reputational markers for cooperators and reducing the systemic damage caused by free riding. In this article, we review policies implemented during the pandemic, highlighting spontaneous community efforts that leveraged these aspects of people’s evolved psychology, and consider implications for future decision makers.
Barriers to research progress for perioperative care practitioners working in cardiothoracic surgery
Authors: Britton Carolina Relvas , Rathinam Sridhar , Birchall Martin , Iles-Smith Heather , Krishnamoorthy Bhuvaneswari
Published: June 2023

Policy and research literature worldwide support the need to build research capacity and capability among non-medical practitioners within healthcare systems. However, there exists a paucity of evidence on whether practitioners in cardiothoracic surgery are attuned to this and on what barriers or enablers exist. A survey was carried out with non-medical practitioners working in cardiothoracic surgery in the United Kingdom to explore attitudes towards health research and audit, and to identify current challenges and barriers to surgical research and audit as perceived by cardiothoracic nurses and allied health professionals. A total of 160 completed questionnaires were returned. 99% of respondents supported the need for research and believed that evidence-based surgical care improves outcomes for patients. Seventy-two percent reported that their employer motivates them to take part in national research or audit but, only 22% were allocated time to do so within their role; 96% reported their interest in being involved in research and audit, yet only 30% believed they had the skills to undertake research, and 96% reported needing additional training. More work is needed to increase awareness, capacity and capability among cardiothoracic surgery care practitioners, and indeed other specialities to achieve research progress.
High-throughput microfluidic blood testing to phenotype genetically linked platelet disorders: an aid to diagnosis
Authors: Fernandez Delia I. , Provenzale Isabella , Canault Matthias , Fels Salome , Lenz Antonia , Andresen Felicia , Krümpel Anne , Dupuis Arnaud , Heemskerk Johan W. M. , Boeckelmann Doris , Zieger Barbara
Published: June 2023

Linking the genetic background of patients with bleeding diathesis and altered platelet function remains challenging. We aimed to assess how a multiparameter microspot-based measurement of thrombus formation under flow can help identify patients with a platelet bleeding disorder. For this purpose, we studied 16 patients presenting with bleeding and/or albinism and suspected platelet dysfunction and 15 relatives. Genotyping of patients revealed a novel biallelic pathogenic variant in RASGRP2 (splice site c.240-1G>A), abrogating CalDAG-GEFI expression, compound heterozygosity (c.537del, c.571A>T) in P2RY12, affecting P2Y12 signaling, and heterozygous variants of unknown significance in the P2RY12 and HPS3 genes. Other patients were confirmed to have Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type 1 or 3. In 5 patients, no genetic variant was found. Platelet functions were assessed via routine laboratory measurements. Blood samples from all subjects and day controls were screened for blood cell counts and microfluidic outcomes on 6 surfaces (48 parameters) in comparison with those of a reference cohort of healthy subjects. Differential analysis of the microfluidic data showed that the key parameters of thrombus formation were compromised in the 16 index patients. Principal component analysis revealed separate clusters of patients vs heterozygous family members and control subjects. Clusters were further segregated based on inclusion of hematologic values and laboratory measurements. Subject ranking indicated an overall impairment in thrombus formation in patients carrying a (likely) pathogenic variant of the genes but not in asymptomatic relatives. Taken together, our results indicate the advantages of testing for multiparametric thrombus formation in this patient population.
Nelarabine: when and how to use in the treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Shimony Shai , DeAngelo Daniel J. , Luskin Marlise R.
Published: June 2023

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL) is a rare hematologic malignancy most commonly affecting adolescent and young adult males. Outcomes are dismal for patients who relapse, thus, improvement in treatment is needed. Nelarabine, a prodrug of the deoxyguanosine analog 9-β-arabinofuranosylguanine, is uniquely toxic to T lymphoblasts, compared with B lymphoblasts and normal lymphocytes, and has been developed for the treatment of T-ALL/LBL. Based on phase 1 and 2 trials in children and adults, single-agent nelarabine is approved for treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory T-ALL/LBL, with the major adverse effect being central and peripheral neurotoxicity. Since its approval in 2005, nelarabine has been studied in combination with other chemotherapy agents for relapsed disease and is also being studied as a component of initial treatment in pediatric and adult patients. Here, we review current data on nelarabine and present our approach to the use of nelarabine in the treatment of patients with T-ALL/LBL.
Tanshinone IIA changed the amniotic fluid volume and regulated expression of AQP1 and AQP3 in amniotic epithelium cells: a promising drug treating abnormal amniotic fluid volume
Authors: Pan Shuangjia , Lan Yehui , Chen Baoyi , Zhou Yujia , Ying Xinxin , Hua Ying
Published: June 2023

Background

Many studies have confirmed the association of aquaporins (AQPs) with abnormal amniotic fluid volume (AFV). In our previous experiments, we found that Tanshinone IIA was able to regulate the expression of AQP1 and AQP3. However, the exact mechanism by which Tanshinone IIA regulates AQPs protein expression and its effect on AFV remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Tanshinone IIA on AFV and the possible molecular mechanism of regulation of AQP1 and AQP3.

Methods

The expression of AQPs protein in the amniotic membranes was compared between pregnant women with normal pregnancy and those with isolated oligohydramnios. The AQP1 knockout (AQP1-KO) mice and wild-type (WT) mice were treated with saline or Tanshinone IIA (10 mg/kg) at 13.5GD and 16.5GD. Human amniotic epithelium cells (hAECs) from pregnant women with normal AFV and isolated oligohydramnios were incubated with 35 μmmol/L Tanshinone IIA or 25 mmol/L LiCl [inhibitor of glycogen synthetic kinase 3β (GSK-3β)]. The protein expressions of AQPs, GSK-3β, phospho-GSK-3β (Ser9) in fetal membranes of mice and human amniotic epithelium cells were detected by western blotting.

Results

The expression of AQP1 protein in the amniotic membrane of isolated oligohydramnios was increased compared with normal pregnancy. The AFV in AQP1-KO mice is higher than that in WT mice. In wild-type mice, AFV in Tanshinone IIA group was significantly higher than that in control group, and AQP1 protein expression was significantly lower than that in control group, but in AQP1 knockout mice, Tanshinone IIA reduced amniotic fluid volume and AQP3 protein expression at 16.5GD. Tanshinone IIA reduced AQP1, AQP3 and p-GSK-3β (Ser9) protein expression in normal hAECs, and this effect was inhibited by LiCl. In hAECs with oligohydramnios, the down-regulation of AQP1 and up-regulation of AQP3 by Tanshinone IIA was independent of GSK-3β signaling pathway.

Conclusions

Tanshinone IIA may increase AFV in normal pregnancy by downregulating AQP1 protein expression in the fetal membranes, which may be associated with p-GSK-3β signaling pathway. But a larger AFV in AQP1-KO mice was significantly attenuated by Tanshinone IIA, which may be related to AQP3. Tanshinone IIA is a promising drug for the treatment of amniotic fluid abnormality.
Predicting dry weight change in Hemodialysis patients using machine learning
Authors: Inoue Hiroko , Oya Megumi , Aizawa Masashi , Wagatsuma Kyogo , Kamimae Masatomo , Kashiwagi Yusuke , Ishii Masayoshi , Wakabayashi Hanae , Fujii Takayuki , Suzuki Satoshi , Hattori Noriyuki , Tatsumoto Narihito , Kawakami Eiryo , Asanuma Katsuhiko
Published: June 2023

Background

Machine Learning has been increasingly used in the medical field, including managing patients undergoing hemodialysis. The random forest classifier is a Machine Learning method that can generate high accuracy and interpretability in the data analysis of various diseases. We attempted to apply Machine Learning to adjust dry weight, the appropriate volume status of patients undergoing hemodialysis, which requires a complex decision-making process considering multiple indicators and the patient’s physical conditions.

Methods

All medical data and 69,375 dialysis records of 314 Asian patients undergoing hemodialysis at a single dialysis center in Japan between July 2018 and April 2020 were collected from the electronic medical record system. Using the random forest classifier, we developed models to predict the probabilities of adjusting the dry weight at each dialysis session.

Results

The areas under the receiver-operating-characteristic curves of the models for adjusting the dry weight upward and downward were 0.70 and 0.74, respectively. The average probability of upward adjustment of the dry weight had sharp a peak around the actual change over time, while the average probability of downward adjustment of the dry weight formed a gradual peak. Feature importance analysis revealed that median blood pressure decline was a strong predictor for adjusting the dry weight upward. In contrast, elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein and hypoalbuminemia were important indicators for adjusting the dry weight downward.

Conclusions

The random forest classifier should provide a helpful guide to predict the optimal changes to the dry weight with relative accuracy and may be useful in clinical practice.
Effect of osteoarthritis and its surgical treatment on patients’ quality of life: a longitudinal study
Authors: Mezey Gyöngyi Anna , Paulik Edit , Máté Zsuzsanna
Published: June 2023

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the primary causes of pain and disability worldwide leading to patients having some of the worst health-related quality of life (QOL). The purpose of our study was to investigate the progression of the generic and disease-specific QOL of osteoarthritic patients going through total hip or knee replacement surgery and the factors that might alter the effect of surgery on QOL.

Methods

A longitudinal study was performed based on data collected from 120 OA patients who filled in the short version of the WHO’s generic measure of quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) and the disease-specific Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) before and after surgery.

Results

Domains related to physical health status showed relatively lower scores in patients before surgery. Patients reported a significant increase of QOL after surgery in the WHOQOL-BREF physical domain, especially if they were from the younger group (< 65 years, p = 0.022) or had a manual job (p = 0.008). Disease-specific QOL outcome results indicate that overall patients gained significantly better QOL in all domains of the WOMAC score. Patients with hip OA seemed to have the most benefit of their operation as they reported better outcome in WOMAC pain (p = 0.019), stiffness (p = 0.010), physical function domains (p = 0.011) and total score (p = 0.007) compared to knee OA patients.

Conclusion

There was a statistically significant improvement in all domains concerning physical functions in the study population. Patients also reported significant improvement in the social relationship domain, which indicates that OA itself as well as its management might have a profound effect on patients’ life beyond the reduction of their pain.
Teachers’ and students’ perspectives on the needs of community practice teachers: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Tao Lin , Yang Ying , Ma Xiaolin , Fu Lan , Liu Suzhen
Published: June 2023

Background

An accurate assessment of teaching needs is necessary to ensure targeted teacher training programs are developed and implemented to improve teaching outcomes. The assessment of teaching needs from different perspectives helps to identify teaching needs more accurately. Therefore, based on the different perspectives of teachers and students, this study aimed to identify and evaluate the needs of community practice teachers by measuring discrepancies between perceived teaching importance and actual teaching performance, with a focus on the influencing factors.

Methods

A survey was circulated to 220 teachers in 36 community health service centers and 695 students in 6 medical schools in Southwest China. The participants anonymously completed the teacher or student version of the Chinese version of the Teacher Teaching Needs Questionnaire, which is predominantly used to assess the teaching needs of teachers. Both versions of the questionnaire include 27 items, covering 3 dimensions (including teaching skills, teaching environments, and teaching contents). The ordinal logistic regression was conducted to explore the factors that influenced teaching needs.

Results

The teachers and students produced overall self-evaluated teaching needs scores of 0.61 and 0.62 respectively. The teachers from provincial capital cities and low-educated teachers had teaching needs that are lower (OR = 0.641,95% CI: 0.461–0.902, OR = 15.352, 95% CI: 1.253–26.815, separately). Teachers with < 3 years of teaching experience had higher teaching needs (OR = 3.280, 95% CI: 1.153–10.075) than those with > 10 years of experience. Compared with teachers who self-evaluated their teaching outcomes as poor, those who reported extremely excellent (OR = 0.362, 95% CI: 0.220–0.701), excellent (OR = 0.638, 95% CI: 0.426–1.102), and ordinary (OR = 0.714, 95% CI: 0.508–1.034) teaching outcomes had lower teaching needs. Compared with teachers who self-evaluated their teaching abilities as poor, those who reported extremely excellent (OR = 0.536, 95% CI: 0.313–0.934), excellent (OR = 0.805, 95% CI: 0.518–1.269), and ordinary (OR = 0.737, 95% CI: 0.413–1.322) teaching abilities had lower teaching needs.

Conclusions

Greater assistance should be provided to teachers with lower levels of education, fewer than three years of teaching experience, and who are located in non-capital cities, as these individuals require additional efforts to strengthen competencies. The education department should pay more attention to teacher feedback on practical outcomes and teaching abilities, as this can be used to devise the best teacher development plans.

Trial registration

Not applicable.
Developing the CARE intervention to enhance ethical self-efficacy in dementia care through the use of literary texts
Authors: Lauridsen Sigurd , Schou-Juul Frederik , Folker Anna Paldam , Simonsen Peter , Phil Marie-Elisabeth , Skov Sofie Smedegaard
Published: June 2023

Background

Dementia care is essential to promote the well-being of patients but remains a difficult task prone to ethical issues. These issues include questions like whether manipulating a person with dementia is ethically permissible if it promotes her best interest or how to engage with a person who is unwilling to recognize that she has dementia. To help people living with dementia and their carers manage ethical issues in dementia care, we developed the CARE intervention. This is an intervention focused on promoting the ethical self-efficacy of people living with dementia and carers, i.e., their confidence that they can manage ethical issues when they occur. The purpose of this paper is to explain and discuss how we have developed the CARE intervention to promote the ethical self-efficacy of people living with dementia, their family, and professional carers through a specific and, we believe, new use of literary texts.

Methods

The CARE intervention has been developed in two phases: First, we conducted a needs assessment of the occurrence of ethical issues in dementia care and the need for an intervention to support people living with dementia and their carers in managing such issues. Second, in a design phase, we developed the CARE intervention to meet identified needs.

Results

To address identified ethical issues in dementia care we designed the CARE intervention as a workshop format where people living with dementia and carers can meet, discuss literary texts, and deliberate on how to solve such issues. The workshop is structured by the following elements: An agenda of ethical issues, a collection of literary cases exemplifying ethical issues, a moderator with an understanding of dementia care, and an overview of the ethical principles relevant to the discussion of ethical issues. >This workshop concept is operationalized in three applications tailored to meet the specific ethical issues of each of the study´s three target groups: people living with dementia and family carers, professional and family carers, and professional carers.

Conclusion

We conclude the paper by stating that it is possible to develop an intervention that promotes the ethical self-efficacy of people living with dementia and family and professional carers.
Wealth inequalities in physical and cognitive impairments across Japan and Europe: the role of health expenditure and infrastructure
Authors: Le Dung D. , Quashie Nekehia T. , Brandt Martina , Ibuka Yoko
Published: June 2023

Although prior research has provided insights into the association between country-level factors and health inequalities, key research gaps remain. First, most previous studies examine subjective rather than objective health measures. Second, the wealth dimension in health inequalities is understudied. Third, a handful of studies explicitly focus on older adults. To bridge these research gaps, this study measures wealth-related inequalities in physical and cognitive impairments and examines the extent to which welfare states moderate wealth inequalities in physical and cognitive impairments among older people across Japan and Europe. We utilized harmonized data on non-institutionalized individuals aged 50–75 from the Japanese Study of Aging and Retirement (JSTAR) and the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) (N = 31,969 for physical impairments and 31,348 for cognitive impairments). Our multilevel linear regression analyses examined whether national public health spending and healthcare access resources explained cross-country differences in wealth inequalities in physical and cognitive impairments. We applied a concentration index to quantify the degree of wealth inequalities in impairments. The findings indicate that inequalities in both impairment outcomes favored wealthier individuals in all countries, but the magnitude of inequality varied by country. Furthermore, a higher share of public health spending, lower out-of-pocket expenditure, and higher investment in healthcare resources were associated with lower wealth inequalities, especially for physical impairments. Our findings suggest that different health interventions and policies may be needed to mitigate specific impairment inequalities.
Discovery of extracellular vesicle-delivered miR-185-5p in the plasma of patients as an indicator for advanced adenoma and colorectal cancer
Authors: Shi Yun-Jie , Fang Yu-Xiang , Tian Tong-Guan , Chen Wei-Ping , Sun Qiang , Guo Fang-Qi , Gong Pi-Qing , Li Chun-Mei , Wang Hao , Hu Zhi-Qian , Li Xin-Xing
Published: June 2023

Background

We aimed to evaluate whether extracellular vesicles (EV)-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) can be used as biomarkers for advanced adenoma (AA) and colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

We detected the changes in the plasma EV-delivered miRNA profiles in healthy donor (HD), AA patient, and I-II stage CRC patient groups using miRNA deep sequencing assay. We performed the TaqMan miRNA assay using 173 plasma samples (two independent cohorts) from HDs, AA patients, and CRC patients to identify the candidate miRNA(s). The accuracy of candidate miRNA(s) in diagnosing AA and CRC was determined using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) values. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association of candidate miRNA(s) as an independent factor for the diagnosis of AA and CRC. The role of candidate miRNA(s) in the malignant progression of CRC was explored using functional assays.

Results

We screened and identified four prospective EV-delivered miRNAs, including miR-185-5p, which were significantly upregulated or downregulated in AA vs. HD and CRC vs. AA groups. In two independent cohorts, miR-185-5p was the best potential biomarker with the AUCs of 0.737 (Cohort I) and 0.720 (Cohort II) for AA vs. HD diagnosis, 0.887 (Cohort I) and 0.803 (Cohort II) for CRC vs. HD diagnosis, and 0.700 (Cohort I) and 0.631 (Cohort II) for CRC vs. AA diagnosis. Finally, we demonstrated that the upregulated expression of miR-185-5p promoted the malignant progression of CRC.

Conclusion

EV-delivered miR-185-5p in the plasma of patients is a promising diagnostic biomarker for colorectal AA and CRC.

Trial registration The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, China (Ethics No. 2022SL005, Registration No. of China Clinical Trial Registration Center: ChiCTR220061592).
Influence of depression and interpersonal support on adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV
Authors: Nutor Jerry John , Gyamerah Akua O. , Alhassan Robert Kaba , Duah Henry Ofori , Thompson Rachel G.A. , Wilson Natalie , Harris Orlando , Gutierrez Jose , Hoffmann Thomas J. , Getahun Monica , Santos Glenn-Milo
Published: June 2023

Background

Poor adherence and under-utilization of antiretroviral therapy (ART) services have been major setbacks to achieving 95-95-95 policy goals in Sub-Saharan Africa. Social support and mental health challenges may serve as barriers to accessing and adhering to ART but are under-studied in low-income countries. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of interpersonal support and depression scores with adherence to ART among persons living with HIV (PLWH) in the Volta region of Ghana.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 181 PLWH 18 years or older who receive care at an ART clinic between November 2021 and March 2022. The questionnaire included a 6-item simplified ART adherence scale, the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the 12-item Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-12 (ISEL-12). We first used a chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test to assess the association between these and additional demographic variables with ART adherence status. We then built a stepwise multivariable logistic regression model to explain ART adherence.

Results

ART adherence was 34%. The threshold for depression was met by 23% of participants, but it was not significantly associated with adherence in multivariate analysis(p = 0.25). High social support was reported by 48.1%, and associated with adherence (p = 0.033, aOR = 3.45, 95% CI = 1.09–5.88). Other factors associated with adherence included in the multivariable model included not disclosing HIV status (p = 0.044, aOR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.03–4.54) and not living in an urban area (p = 0.00037, aOR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.11–0.52).

Conclusion

Interpersonal support, rural residence, and not disclosing HIV status were independent predictors of adherence to ART in the study area.
Physical discipline as a normative childhood experience in Singapore
Authors: Sudo Mioko , Won Ying Qing , Chau Winnie W. Y. , Meaney Michael J. , Kee Michelle Z. L , Chen Helen , Eriksson Johan Gunnar , Yap Fabian , Rifkin-Graboi Anne , Tiemeier Henning , Setoh Peipei
Published: June 2023

Background

The cultural normativeness theory posits that specific parenting behaviors can be interpreted as displays of appropriate parenting in contexts where they are deemed normative. Previous studies suggest high acceptance of physical discipline in Singapore, where strict parenting could be interpreted as care for the child. However, there is a lack of studies on the local prevalence and implications of physical discipline. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Singaporean children experiencing parental physical discipline, longitudinal changes in this prevalence, and how exposure to physical discipline relates to children’s evaluation of their parents’ parenting.

Methods

Participants were 710 children with parental reports of physical discipline at one or more assessments at ages 4.5, 6, 9, and 11 years in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes birth cohort study. Parental reports of physical discipline were obtained using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire or the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire across the four assessments. Child reports of their parents’ care and control were obtained using the Parental Bonding Instrument for Children at the age 9 assessment. Prevalence was specified as being exposed to at least one physical discipline at any frequency. A generalized linear mixed model was performed to examine whether children’s age predicted their exposure to physical discipline. Linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate whether children’s exposure to physical discipline predicted their evaluation of their parents’ parenting.

Results

The prevalence of children experiencing at least one physical discipline was above 80% at all ages. There was a decrease in this prevalence from age 4.5 to 11 years (B = − 0.14,SE = 0.01, OR = 0.87,p < 0.001). The more frequent the paternal physical discipline children were exposed to, the more likely they were to report lower levels of care (B = − 1.74,SE = 0.66,p = 0.03) and higher levels of denial of psychological autonomy by fathers (B = 1.05,SE = 0.45,p = 0.04). Maternal physical discipline was not significantly associated with children’s evaluation of their mothers’ parenting (ps ≥ 0.53).

Conclusions

Physical discipline was a common experience among our Singaporean sample, consistent with the notion that strict parenting could be regarded as a form of care. However, exposure to physical discipline did not translate to children reporting their parents as caring, with paternal physical discipline being negatively associated with children’s evaluations of paternal care.
Callous-unemotional traits and externalizing problem behaviors in left-behind preschool children: the role of emotional lability/negativity and positive teacher-child relationship
Authors: Tan Ruifeng , Guo Xinying , Chen Suiqing , He Guixian , Wu Xingtao
Published: June 2023

Background

Callous-unemotional traits and emotional lability/negativity of young children have been regarded as the markers of externalizing problem behaviors. Based on the sensitivity to threat and affiliative reward model and the general aggression model, emotional lability/negativity may act as a mediator in the relationship between callous-unemotional traits and externalizing problem behaviors. Additionally, a positive teacher-child relationship could act as a buffer given the parental absence in left-behind children. However, these links remain unexplored in left-behind preschool children. Therefore, this study explored the link between callous-unemotional traits of left-behind preschool children and externalizing problem behaviors, as well as the mediating role of emotional lability/negativity and the moderating role of a positive teacher-child relationship.

Method

Data were collected on 525 left-behind children aged 3 to 6 years from rural kindergartens in China. Preschool teachers reported all data through an online survey platform. Moderated mediation analysis was performed to examine whether the mediated relation between callous-unemotional traits and externalizing problem behaviors was moderated by a positive teacher-child relationship.

Results

The results showed callous-unemotional traits significantly predicted externalizing problem behaviors and lability/negativity acted as a mediator, while a positive teacher-child relationship acted as a protective factor in moderating the relationship between callous-unemotional traits and emotional lability/negativity. This study identified a moderated mediation effect among the four variables in left-behind preschool children in China.

Conclusion

The findings provide support for the advancement of theoretical foundations, and provide an avenue for further exploration to support the mental health and overall development of left-behind children during early childhood.
The downregulation of miR-509-3p expression by collagen type XI alpha 1-regulated hypermethylation facilitates cancer progression and chemoresistance via the DNA methyltransferase 1/Small ubiquitin-like modifier-3 axis in ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Wu Yi-Hui , Huang Yu-Fang , Wu Pei-Ying , Chang Tzu-Hao , Huang Soon-Cen , Chou Cheng-Yang
Published: June 2023

Background

MicroRNAs are a group of small non-coding RNAs that are involved in development and diseases such as cancer. Previously, we demonstrated that miR-335 is crucial for preventing collagen type XI alpha 1 (COL11A1)-mediated epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) progression and chemoresistance. Here, we examined the role of miR-509-3p in EOC.

Methods

The patients with EOC who underwent primary cytoreductive surgery and postoperative platinum-based chemotherapy were recruited. Their clinic-pathologic characteristics were collected, and disease-related survivals were determined. The COL11A1 and miR-509-3p mRNA expression levels of 161 ovarian tumors were determined by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Additionally, miR-509-3p hypermethylation was evaluated by sequencing in these tumors. The A2780CP70 and OVCAR-8 cells transfected with miR-509-3p mimic, while the A2780 and OVCAR-3 cells transfected with miR-509-3p inhibitor. The A2780CP70 cells transfected with a small interference RNA of COL11A1, and the A2780 cells transfected with a COL11A1 expression plasmid. Site-directed mutagenesis, luciferase, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were performed in this study.

Results

Low miR-509-3p levels were correlated with disease progression, a poor survival, and high COL11A1 expression levels. In vivo studies reinforced these findings and indicated that the occurrence of invasive EOC cell phenotypes and resistance to cisplatin are decreased by miR-509-3p. The miR-509-3p promoter region (p278) is important for miR-509-3p transcription regulation via methylation. The miR-509-3p hypermethylation frequency was significantly higher in EOC tumors with a low miR-509-3p expression than in those with a high miR-509-3p expression. The patients with miR-509-3p hypermethylation had a significantly shorter overall survival (OS) than those without miR-509-3p hypermethylation. Mechanistic studies further indicated that miR-509-3p transcription was downregulated by COL11A1 through a DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) stability increase. Moreover, miR-509-3p targets small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-3 to regulate EOC cell growth, invasiveness, and chemosensitivity.

Conclusion

The miR-509-3p/DNMT1/SUMO-3 axis may be an ovarian cancer treatment target.
Identification of STEAP3-based molecular subtype and risk model in ovarian cancer
Authors: Zhao Zouyu , Sun Chongfeng , Hou Jishuai , Yu Panpan , Wei Yan , Bai Rui , Yang Ping
Published: June 2023

Background

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common malignancies in women. It has a poor prognosis owing to its recurrence and metastasis. Unfortunately, reliable markers for early diagnosis and prognosis of OC are lacking. Our research aimed to investigate the value of the six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate family member 3 (STEAP3) as a prognostic predictor and therapeutic target in OC using bioinformatics analysis.

Methods

STEAP3 expression and clinical data were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Unsupervised clustering was used to identify molecular subtypes. Prognosis, tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), stemness indexes, and functional enrichment analysis were compared between two definite clusters. Through the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis, a STEAP3-based risk model was developed, and the predictive effectiveness of this signature was confirmed using GEO datasets. A nomogram was used to predict the survival possibility of patients. Additionally, TIME, tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE), stemness indexes, somatic mutations, and drug sensitivity were evaluated in different risk groups with OC. STEAP3 protein expression was detected using immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results

STEAP3 displayed marked overexpression in OC. STEAP3 is an independent risk factor for OC. Based on the mRNA levels of STEAP3-related genes (SRGs), two distinct clusters were identified. Patients in the cluster 2 (C2) subgroup had a considerably worse prognosis, higher immune cell infiltration, and lower stemness scores. Pathways involved in tumorigenesis and immunity were highly enriched in the C2 subgroup. A prognostic model based on 13 SRGs was further developed. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the overall survival (OS) of high-risk patients was poor. The risk score was significantly associated with TIME, TIDE, stemness indexes, tumor mutation burden (TMB), immunotherapy response, and drug sensitivity. Finally, IHC revealed that STEAP3 protein expression was noticeably elevated in OC, and overexpression of STEAP3 predicted poor OS and relapse-free survival (RFS) of patients.

Conclusion

In summary, this study revealed that STEAP3 reliably predicts patient prognosis and provides novel ideas for OC immunotherapy.
Isolated splenic peliosis: a case report
Authors: Nassr Bahaa , Hassan Wael Abdu , Nassr Hasan , Allouzi Abdullah , Al-Shebly Mohammed
Published: June 2023

Background

Peliosis is a rare condition with anatomopathological characteristics that affect the liver. However, splenic peliosis is even more unique and rare. Patients with such abnormality usually exhibit no symptoms. Moreover, this is a lethal condition due to the high probability of splenic rupture accompanied by shock.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 29-year-old Arab female who was admitted to the hospital with severe upper abdominal pain that started 1 week from the date of admission, associated with nausea, anorexia, low-grade fever, and vomiting, with no past medical history or comorbidities. A computerized tomography scan with contrast showed intraperitoneal free fluid along with multiple hypodense splenic cysts. Hence, an emergent exploratory laparotomy with splenectomy was performed. Splenic peliosis was confirmed by the histopathological examination.

Conclusion

Further investigations are warranted if peliosis is confirmed in one organ, for example, the liver, to detect its presence in any other potential organs that can be affected by peliosis. Splenic peliosis is extraordinarily rare. Furthermore, such a disease has no established management plan. Definitive treatment is surgical. Many aspects of splenic peliosis remain puzzling requiring more research in the near future.
Multiplicity of positive periodic solutions to third-order variable coefficients singular dynamical systems
Authors: Li Shengjun , Zhang Fang
Published: June 2023

In this paper, by applying a nonlinear alternative principle of Leray–Schauder and Guo–Krasnosel’skii fixed point theorem on compression and expansion of cones, together with truncation technique, we study the existence of multiplicity noncollision periodic solutions to third-order singular dynamical systems. By combining the analysis of the sign of Green’s function for a linear equation, we consider the systems where the potential has a repulsive singularity at origin. The so-called strong force condition is not needed, and the nonlinearity may have sign changing behavior. Recent results in the literature, even in the scalar case, are generalized and improved.
Adolescent peer support for mental health problems: evaluation of the validity and reliability of the Mental Health Support Scale for Adolescents
Authors: Lu Shurong , Hart Laura M. , Jorm Anthony F. , Gregg Karen , Gross Maxine , Mackinnon Andrew J. , Morgan Amy J.
Published: June 2023

Background

The Mental Health Support Scale for Adolescents (MHSSA) is a criterion-referenced measure of adolescents’ supportive intentions towards peers with mental health problems, which was developed for use in evaluations of adolescent mental health interventions, such as the teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) program. The present study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the MHSSA.

Methods

A sample of 3092 school students (Mean ± SD: 15.9 ± 0.4 years old) and 65 tMHFA Instructors (the adult group with known expertise in tMHFA) completed the 12 items of the MHSSA. A sub-sample of 1201 students repeated the scale after a 3-4-week interval. Item concordance rates with the tMHFA Action Plan across helpful and harmful intentions scales were calculated. Scale reliabilities were assessed using agreement coefficients from a single test administration and test-retest reliability measured by intraclass correlation coefficients. The mean differences of MHSSA scores of students and Instructors were compared using independent samples t-tests, while convergent validity was tested via correlations of the scale with validated measures of confidence in providing help, social distance and personal stigma.

Results

The average score of Instructors was significantly higher than that of students. The scale was positively associated with confidence in providing help, whilst negatively associated with social distance and dimensions of personal stigma. All scales of MHSSA had high agreement coefficients (all > 0.80) and fair to good test-retest reliability over 3–4 weeks.

Conclusions

The MHSSA shows evidence of validity and reliability for use among adolescents for evaluating the quality of intentions to help peers with mental health problems.
From ambient vibration data analysis to 1D ground-motion prediction of the Mj 5.9 and the Mj 6.5 Kumamoto earthquakes in the Kumamoto alluvial plain, Japan
Authors: Hailemikael Salomon , Di Giulio Giuseppe , Milana Giuliano , Vassallo Maurizio , Bordoni Paola
Published: June 2023

We present horizontal ground motion predictions at a soft site in the Kumamoto alluvial plain for the Mj 5.9 and Mj 6.5 Kumamoto earthquakes of April 2016, in the framework of an international blind prediction exercise. Such predictions were obtained by leveraging all available information which included: (i) analysis of earthquake ground motions; (ii) processing of ambient vibration data (AMV); and (iii) 1D ground response analysis. Spectral analysis of earthquake ground-motion data were used to obtain empirical estimates of the prediction site amplification function, with evidence of an amplification peak at about 1.2 Hz. Horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio analysis of AMV confirmed this resonance frequency and pointed out also a low-frequency resonance around 0.3 Hz at the prediction site. AMV were then processed by cross-correlation, modified spatial autocorrelation and high-resolution beamforming methods to retrieve the 1D shear-wave velocity (Vs) structure at the prediction site by joint inversion of surface-wave dispersion and ellipticity curves. The use of low frequency dispersion curve and ellipticity data allowed to retrieve a reference Vs profile down to few thousand meters depth which was then used to perform 1D equivalent-linear simulations of the M 5.9 event, and both equivalent-linear and nonlinear simulations of the M 6.5 event at the target site. Adopting quantitative goodness-of-fit metrics based on time–frequency representation of the signals, we obtained fair-to-good agreement between 1D predictions and observations for the Mj 6.5 earthquake and a poor agreement for the Mj 5.9 earthquake. In terms of acceleration response spectra, while ground-motion overpredictions were obtained for the Mj 5.9 event, simulated ground motions for the Mj 6.5 earthquake severely underestimate the observations, especially those obtained by the nonlinear approach.

Graphical Abstract
Home stimulation, development, and nutritional status of children under 2 years of age in the highlands of Madagascar
Authors: Rakotomanana Hasina , Hildebrand Deana , Gates Gail E. , Thomas David G. , Fawbush Fanjaniaina , Stoecker Barbara J.
Published: June 2023

Background

The Vakinankaratra region of Madagascar has a high burden of child undernutrition which, in addition to poor psychosocial stimulation, is a strong risk factor of poor child development. However, there are limited studies evaluating the relations between developmental deficits, child nutrition outcomes, and home stimulation in the region. The purpose of this study was to assess the development of children aged 11–13 months in relation to their nutritional status and to examine parental home stimulation attitudes and practices in the Vakinankaratra region.

Methods

Cognitive (n = 36), language (n = 36), motor (n = 36), and socioemotional (n = 76) development were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III. Household stimulation environment was evaluated using the family care indicators survey. Stunting (length-for-agez-score < − 2) and underweight (weight-for-agez-score < − 2) were determined using the 2006 WHO growth standards. Perceptions of and barriers to greater home stimulation for children were collected using focus group discussions among parents and in-depth interviews with community nutrition agents.

Results

Almost all mothers reported that parent–child interaction with talk and play was very important. Alarmingly high stunting rates (> 69%) were observed in this subsample. Limited time and tiredness were the major barriers to home stimulation mentioned by parents and confirmed by key informants. Children had a very limited variety of play materials, and most of the mothers used household objects (75%) and materials from outside the house (71%) as children’s toys. Composite cognitive [mean (SD): 60 (10.3)], motor [61.9 (13.4)], language [62 (13.2)], and socioemotional [85.1 (17.9]) scores were low. Fine motor, cognitive, and receptive and expressive language scores were correlated [0.4 < r < 0.7,p < 0.05].

Conclusions

The very high stunting rates and very low performance on cognitive, motor, language, and socioemotional development assessments of children in the Vakinankaratra region require urgent attention.
Graph representation learning-based residential electricity behavior identification and energy management
Authors: Chen Xinpei , Yu Tao , Pan Zhenning , Wang Zihao , Yang Shengchun
Published: June 2023

It is important to achieve an efficient home energy management system (HEMS) because of its role in promoting energy saving and emission reduction for end-users. Two critical issues in an efficient HEMS are identification of user behavior and energy management strategy. However, current HEMS methods usually assume perfect knowledge of user behavior or ignore the strong correlations of usage habits with different applications. This can lead to an insufficient description of behavior and suboptimal management strategy. To address these gaps, this paper proposes non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) assisted graph reinforcement learning (GRL) for intelligent HEMS decision making. First, a behavior correlation graph incorporating NILM is introduced to represent the energy consumption behavior of users and a multi-label classification model is used to monitor the loads. Thus, efficient identification of user behavior and description of state transition can be achieved. Second, based on the online updating of the behavior correlation graph, a GRL model is proposed to extract information contained in the graph. Thus, reliable strategy under uncertainty of environment and behavior is available. Finally, the experimental results on several datasets verify the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Boomerang of bullet from the chest cavity—an autopsy case
Authors: Khan Mohd Kaleem , Kumar Jitendra
Published: June 2023

Background

What if you fire a bullet and, like a boomerang, it comes back towards you after hitting the target, leaving no trace in the body.

Case presentation

A similar case was presented to us for an autopsy at the district mortuary, Aligarh, with a bullet unusually ricocheting within the thoracic cavity and taking almost path of incidence after grazing over the 3rd rib and coming out just closure to the entry wound towards the musketeer. The presence of stippling at both the entrance and exit wounds poses a challenge to interpreting the track of the injury.

Conclusion

Thorough and detailed examination at autopsy and crime-scene investigation revealed a strange ricochet event within the chest cavity.