bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How precision, strength and flexibility affect badminton skills
Authors: Al-selmi Abeer , Haseeb Suhad , Hasib Niam Riadh , Abdel Salam Abdel Razzaq Zina
Published: May 2024

The importance of the research lies in developing flexibility exercises (positive and negative) that help improve the level of physical and skill performance, address some weak points, and develop factors that work to implement skills with a wider range of motion, accuracy, and high strength. This is what makes the game of badminton more developed and successful. Performing (dimensions) strokes And the forward projection) by not using the wrist and the correct movement of the striking arm. This makes the player’s performance ineffective, which requires her to practice flexibility and movement flow to address this weakness. The study aims to prepare exercises using flexibility (positive and negative) and to know the effect of flexibility exercises on some physical characteristics, accuracy and power of strikes (dimensions and forward projection،The researchers experimental method by designing two equal groups and on a sample of (10) female players. As for the field study procedures, flexibility exercises (positive and negative) were carried out over a period of (10) weeks and two units per week. The researchers concluded that Flexibility exercises (positive and negative) developed some physical characteristics and the accuracy and power of strokes, the data was analyzed using the spss version 26 application ., The results showed that (2) concentration has a significant impact on badminton skills ,with asignification mark of Push up test in 15 sec 2,01
Effects of light and water column nutrient availability on eelgrass Zostera marina productivity in Eeyou Istchee, eastern James Bay, Quebec
Authors: Davis KE , Noisette F , Ehn JK , Kuzyk ZZA , Peck CJ , O’Connor MI
Published: May 2024

Eelgrass Zostera marina meadows provide valuable ecosystem services to coastal communities. These shallow-water ecosystems in Eeyou Istchee (eastern James Bay, Quebec, Canada) support Cree ways of life by providing waterfowl foraging habitat, fish nurseries, and natural storm buffers. In 2019-2021, Eeyou Istchee eelgrass extent and shoot size remained well below historical baseline levels following a major decline in the late 1990s. We experimentally tested the potential roles of present-day nutrient and light conditions in limiting eelgrass productivity during the growing season. We tested the hypothesis that eelgrass growth is limited by water column nutrients using in situ nutrient additions in 2 eelgrass meadows. Eelgrass growth rate did not respond to nutrient addition at either site. We then assessed the ability of eelgrass to grow in low light conditions by producing ex situ production-irradiance curves. Eelgrass at both sites showed no evidence of low light acclimatization with saturating irradiances of 224 and 260 µmol photons m-2 s-1 and compensation points of 31 and 61 µmol photons m-2 s-1. We observed eelgrass growth rates of about 3.8% areal growth per day during the peak growth period, which are high when compared to other rates globally. Together, our results suggest that Eeyou Istchee eelgrass is growing under sufficient water column nutrient levels, but suboptimal growing season water column light conditions. Because Eeyou Istchee eelgrass meadows must endure long periods of seasonal ice-cover, light limitation during the short growth season may have longer-lasting impacts on these meadows than in more temperate ones.
Resilience of coastal marine metacommunities to increasing hydraulic connectivity
Authors: Smeti E , Tsirtsis G , Meziti A , Kormas KA , Danielidis DB , Roelke DL , Spatharis S
Published: May 2024

Coastal ecosystems typically comprise water patches of different salinities that host distinct communities of species. This salinity-driven heterogeneity can be vulnerable to changes in between-patch connectivity due to altered water levels. Despite the potentially grave implications for higher trophic levels, the impact of increased connectivity on phytoplankton assemblages is largely unknown. Here, we investigate the effect of increasing connectivity on assemblage resistance and recovery along a strong salinity gradient of 40-61 psu. We deployed mesocosms within a saltwork system and hydraulically connected enclosures of 3 salinity levels at 3 connectivity levels. We hypothesized that assemblage composition of high salinity would be more resistant to press invasions during connectivity; however, high connectivity would decrease compositional resistance and recovery irrespective of salinity. We found that high salinity assemblages were indeed more resistant and recovered better at low connectivity. High connectivity also impacted the function of high salinity assemblages by replacing large diatoms with small flagellates, preventing assemblage recovery. Counterintuitively, low salinity assemblage composition recovered better at higher connectivity, and this was attributed to rescue effects of rarer and stenohaline species within a more variable nutrient environment. Here, we show that normal (i.e. marine) salinity assemblages are vulnerable to anticipated changes in coastal hydrological regimes whereas higher salinity assemblages are impacted above a certain connectivity threshold.
Effects of elevated pCO2 on bioenergetics and disease susceptibility in Pacific herring Clupea pallasii
Authors: Murray CS , Gregg JL , Mackenzie AH , Jayasekera HT , Hall S , Klinger T , Hershberger PK
Published: May 2024

Ocean acidification can affect the immune responses of fish, but effects on pathogen susceptibility remain uncertain. Pacific herring Clupea pallasii were reared from hatch under 3 CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) treatments (ambient, ∼650 µatm; intermediate, ∼1500 µatm; high, ∼3000 µatm) through metamorphosis (98 d) to evaluate the effects of ocean acidification on bioenergetics and susceptibility to an endemic viral disease. Mortality from viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) was comparable between herring reared under ambient and intermediate pCO2 (all vulnerability testing at ambient pCO2). By contrast, fish reared under high pCO2 experienced significantly higher rates of VHS mortality, and the condition factor of survivors was significantly lower than in the other pCO2 treatments. However, the prevalence of infection among survivors was not influenced by pCO2 treatment. Pre-flexion larval development was not affected by elevated pCO2, as growth rate, energy use, and feeding activity were comparable across treatments. Similarly, long-term growth (14 wk) was not affected by chronic exposure to elevated pCO2. Herring reared under both elevated pCO2 treatments showed an average reduction in swimming speed; however, wide intra-treatment variability rendered the effect nonsignificant. This study demonstrates that the VHS susceptibility and bioenergetics of larval and post-metamorphic Pacific herring are not affected by near-future ocean acidification predicted for coastal systems of the North Pacific. However, increased susceptibility to VHS in fish reared under 3000 µatm pCO2 indicates potential health and fitness consequences from extreme acidification.
Serum Vitamin D Level in Overweight Individuals and Its Correlation With the Incidence of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Qu YL , Song YH , Sun RR , Ma YJ , Zhang Y
Published: May 2024

In this study, we investigated the serum vitamin D level in overweight individuals and its correlation with the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Between May 2020 and May 2021, the Department of Gastroenterology at the People’s Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine treated a total of 321 outpatients and inpatients with NAFLD, who were included in the NAFLD group, while 245 healthy age- and gender-matched individuals were included in the control group. All the data were collected for the relevant indices, including fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine transaminase, and 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D. The patients with NAFLD were divided into the normal BMI group, the overweight group, and the obese group, according to the body mass index, and the 25(OH)D levels were compared between the different groups. Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between the serum 25(OH)D level and NAFLD. Regarding the serum 25 (OH)D level, it was lower in the NAFLD group than in the control group ([18.36 + 1.41] µg/L vs [22.33 + 2.59] µg/L, t = −5.15, P<0.001), and was lower in the overweight group than in the normal group ([18.09 ± 5.81] µg/L vs [20.60 ± 4.16] µg/L, t = 0.26, P = 0.041). The serum 25(OH)D level was thus negatively correlated with the incidence of NAFLD in overweight individuals (r = 0.625, P<0.05). In conclusion, the level of 25(OH)D decreased in patients with NAFLD with increasing BMI (normal, overweight, obese).
Keywords: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease • Vitamin D
Learning and Memory Impairments With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Tian T , Xu X , Song J , Zhang X , Yuan H , Zhong F , Li J , Hu Y , Zhang D
Published: May 2024

ADHD is a common chronic neurodevelopmental disorder and is characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity and are often accompanied by learning and memory impairment. Great evidence has shown that learning and memory impairment of ADHD plays an important role in its executive function deficits, which seriously affects the development of academic, cognitive and daily social skills and will cause a serious burden on families and society. With the increasing attention paid to learning and memory impairment in ADHD, relevant research is gradually increasing. In this article, we will present the current research results of learning and memory impairment in ADHD from the following aspects. Firstly, the animal models of ADHD, which display the core symptoms of ADHD as well as with learning and memory impairment. Secondly, the molecular mechanism of has explored, including some neurotransmitters, receptors, RNAs, etc. Thirdly, the susceptibility gene of ADHD related to the learning and impairment in order to have a more comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis.
Key words: Learning and memory • ADHD • Review
Self-Management Interventions for Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review of Single Subject Research
Authors:   Korean Association For Persons With Autism, Sim Sehwa , Lee Kwinam , Lee Haena , Kim Yu-ri
Published: May 2024

This study analyzed domestic and international research on self-management interventions for adolescents and adults with ASD, aiming sought to explore their practices and implications. A total of 21 domestic and international articles published between 2013 and 2023 were selected to analyze research trends and intervention contents, and the quality of each study was analyzed according to qualitative indicators. The results showed that 12 studies included adolescents, nine studies included participants in early adulthood, and only one study included middle-aged adults over 40 years old. Self-monitoring was the most common self-management subcomponent (19 studies). Thirteen studies used self-monitoring alone, while seven studies used it in combination with other self-management subcomponents. The most common dependent variables were social communication and occupational skills (5 studies). One study met all 22 quality indicators, and six out of 21 studies met 90% or more of the total score. Based on these findings, the study suggests implications for the field of self-management interventions for adolescents and adults with ASD and provides directions for future research.
A Case Study of Parent Coaching in Autism Early Intervention
Authors:   Korean Association For Persons With Autism, Kim Gospel Yejin , P P , P P
Published: May 2024

This case study explores the factors that may influence the parent coaching fidelity and intervention fidelity in a parent-implemented intervention within the context of early intervention for autism. Drawing from Stahmer et al.’s (2020) research, the study involved one early intervention provider, two parents, and two toddlers either diagnosed with or at a high likelihood of autism. Video behavior coding was used as the primary method for data collection, focusing on (1) the duration spent on each coaching strategy, (2) the frequency of feedback types, and (3) the frequency of toddlers’ behaviors that were challenging to address. The study data, parent coaching fidelity, and intervention fidelity outcomes were analyzed and compared, and implications and recommendations for early intervention settings were summarized based on the results. The discussion focuses on the importance of adopting the implementation science framework for promoting effective parent coaching and parent-implemented intervention practices, the significance of support for early intervention providers and families, the need for factor analysis in studies with larger sample sizes to facilitate more statistically meaningful outcomes, and the importance of implementing cultural adaptation processes when introducing evidence-based parent-implemented intervention programs from other countries to South Korea.
Diversity, equity and inclusion in One Health could crucially support prevention of health threats, but a change in mindset is needed
Authors: Robbiati Claudia , Miarisoa Andriamandroso Antsa , Auerswald Heidi , Cediel Becerra Natalia , Dente Maria Grazia , Thi Dien Nguyen , Garnier Julie , Berger González Monica , Riley Tamara , Weiszhar Kim Laura , Winkler Andrea Sylvia , Alders Robyn
Published: May 2024

One Health (OH) has been recognized as an approach to enhance the health of the environment, plants, animals and humans and to promote global health security. However, implementing OH is difficult, since it requires effective and equitable collaboration, communication and sharing. The OH High-Level Expert Panel definition of OH sets principles of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at its core. We argue that, by addressing the barriers that hamper OH to adhere to these principles, the implementation of the approach could be significantly enhanced. A rapid review of the literature was conducted, followed by semi-structured interviews of twelve OH practitioners from the Women for OH Network. Barriers to full implementation of the OH principles were grouped into the following categories: structural, conceptual, governance, power dynamics, participation and representation, and knowledge systems, with mindset being an overarching barrier. Crucially, a commitment to realize DEI in OH could support a shift to prevention, through the engagement of various disciplines (environmental and social sciences), actors (communities, civil society, donors, private sector) and poorly represented groups (Indigenous people, farmers, individuals from low- and middle-income countries and especially women across these groups), which are intimately connected with the drivers unlaying the emergence of health threats. Priority actions to address these barriers will require a change of mindset at all levels. Therefore, we recommend advocacy, awareness, capacity building and co-development with communities regarding the incorporation of DEI into OH in an iterative process.
Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Home Care Services Utilisation Among Adults: Results of The Retrospective Study
Authors: KOŞUCU Sibel NARGİZ , GÜRSOY Ayla , ÇETİN Arife ALTIN
Published: May 2024

Aim: To examine how the use of home care services changed for individuals across service types and sociodemographic characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic.Setting and Participants: In this retrospective descriptive study, the services provided by a private hospital's home health services unit between March 2020 and March 2022 were examined. Data were obtained from private hospital databases. Results: We determined that 1398 patients received 2097 home visits and 2574 health services. Most of the patients were over 65 years old and female. Approximately half of the home health services (45.7%) were done to take a specimen for blood and urine analysis. Most specimens were due to routine medical examinations for chronic disease. Other frequently requested services are Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing, surgical and pressure wound dressing, drug administrations (intramuscular, intravenous and subcutaneous), medical examination and nasogastric/urinary catheter applications. Conclusions and Implications: Those who applied most to home care during the pandemic period; were women, 65 years old and had a chronic disease. The most common reason for home care applications was to take specimens at home. This study provides information about the change in-home care services in pandemic situations. So, it sheds light on future research or contributes to making plans to manage similar conditions that cause changes in health services.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Academic Performance, Level of Knowledge, and the Health and Well-being of Students on an HBCU Campus
Authors: Wilks Sharon M. , Archie Birthale , Perkins Emory L. , Smith Clarissa , McNeil Angela
Published: May 2024

Count your blessings if you are alive and well enough to read the researchers’ study! As of November 12, 2022, there have been 630,832,131 confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide, including 6,584,104 deaths reported by The World Health Organization (2022) [1] that impacted every aspect of human life. COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 and was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. It is strongly contagious and has continued to spread across the world [2].
Brief research report: the evolution of animal welfare legislation for pigs in 13 EU member states, 1991-2020
Authors: Wallenbeck Anna , Wichman Anette , Höglind Lisa , Agenäs Sigrid , Hansson Helena , Ferguson Shon
Published: May 2024

This brief report characterizes and maps changes in six key aspects of pig animal welfare (AW) legislation in 13 countries in the European Union (EU) during the period 1991-2020, focusing primarily on aspects of AW likely to impact the economic performance and international competitiveness of the pig production sector. National AW legislation in the selected EU member states that exceed the EU minimum levels within the six selected key areas are also mapped. Analysis of changes in AW over time, using legislative texts, academic literature, and an expert survey, revealed that AW-legislation at the national level has generally become more stringent, in line with EU directives, and that a number of member states have introduced additional AW legislation that exceed EU minimum levels. This review helps to uncover historical changes in and can form the basis for further research investigating effects of changes in AW legislation.
Survival, incidence, and predictors of diabetic neuropathy among type 2 diabetic patients in hospitals of Addis Ababa
Authors: Tilahun Eden , Workina Abdata , Habtamu Asaminew , Tufa Hailu , Abebe Fikadu , Fikadu Ayele , Atomsa Fulea
Published: May 2024

Background

Diabetic neuropathy is a very common complication of diabetes mellitus. Thus, measuring the incidence of diabetic neuropathy is a key element in tracking the progress of epidemics of diabetes mellitus and an indication of early accessibility for healthcare in terms of type 2 diabetic patients.

Objective

To assess survival, incidence, and predictors of diabetic neuropathy among type 2 diabetic patients in hospitals of Addis Ababa from June 25 to August 25, 2023.

Methods

An institutional-based retrospective follow-up study design was used among newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients at hospitals of Addis Ababa. A chart review tool that contains socio-demographic, clinical, and comorbidity characteristics, biochemical characteristics, and the status of type 2 patients was used. A cleaned data was exported from Epi-data manager 4.6 version to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Bivariate Cox regression analysis was done to identify predictors of diabetic neuropathy at a 95% confidence level.

Result

A total of 414 type 2 diabetic patients were included in the study. Of these, 97 (23.4%) developed diabetic neuropathy. Variables like having hypertension (AHR 11.25, 95% CI 3.73–33.93), anemia (AHR 4.18, 95% CI 1.78–9.82), high-density lipoprotein < 40 mg/dl (AHR 5.07, 95% CI 1.38–18.67), high creatinine level (AHR 14.67, 95% CI 4.27–50.40), diabetic retinopathy (AHR 4.32, 95% CI 1.32-14.18), and diabetic nephropathy (AHR 2.50, 95% CI 1.09–6.57) were associated with the incidence of diabetic neuropathy. The mean time to develop diabetic neuropathy was 4.94 years, CI (4.50–5.38), and the mean survival time was 6.61 years.

Conclusion

The incidence of diabetic neuropathy was high relative to other studies. Variables like having hypertension, anemia, high-density lipoprotein, high creatinine level, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic nephropathy were predictors of diabetic neuropathy. The mean time to develop diabetic neuropathy was 5 years, with a survival mean time of 7 years.
Mechanisms and benefits of cardiac rehabilitation in individuals with stroke: emerging role of its impact on improving cardiovascular and neurovascular health
Authors: Cuccurullo Sara J. , Fleming Talya K. , Petrosyan Hayk , Hanley Daniel F. , Raghavan Preeti
Published: May 2024

Human and animal studies have demonstrated the mechanisms and benefits of aerobic exercise for both cardiovascular and neurovascular health. Aerobic exercise induces neuroplasticity and neurophysiologic reorganization of brain networks, improves cerebral blood flow, and increases whole-body VO2peak (peak oxygen consumption). The effectiveness of a structured cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program is well established and a vital part of the continuum of care for people with cardiovascular disease. Individuals post stroke exhibit decreased cardiovascular capacity which impacts their neurologic recovery and extends disability. Stroke survivors share the same risk factors as patients with cardiac disease and can therefore benefit significantly from a comprehensive CR program in addition to neurorehabilitation to address their cardiovascular health. The inclusion of individuals with stroke into a CR program, with appropriate adaptations, can significantly improve their cardiovascular health, promote functional recovery, and reduce future cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events thereby reducing the economic burden of stroke.
Toward explainable AI in radiology: Ensemble-CAM for effective thoracic disease localization in chest X-ray images using weak supervised learning
Authors: Aasem Muhammad , Javed Iqbal Muhammad
Published: May 2024

Chest X-ray (CXR) imaging is widely employed by radiologists to diagnose thoracic diseases. Recently, many deep learning techniques have been proposed as computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) tools to assist radiologists in minimizing the risk of incorrect diagnosis. From an application perspective, these models have exhibited two major challenges: (1) They require large volumes of annotated data at the training stage and (2) They lack explainable factors to justify their outcomes at the prediction stage. In the present study, we developed a class activation mapping (CAM)-based ensemble model, called Ensemble-CAM, to address both of these challenges via weakly supervised learning by employing explainable AI (XAI) functions. Ensemble-CAM utilizes class labels to predict the location of disease in association with interpretable features. The proposed work leverages ensemble and transfer learning with class activation functions to achieve three objectives: (1) minimizing the dependency on strongly annotated data when locating thoracic diseases, (2) enhancing confidence in predicted outcomes by visualizing their interpretable features, and (3) optimizing cumulative performance via fusion functions. Ensemble-CAM was trained on three CXR image datasets and evaluated through qualitative and quantitative measures via heatmaps and Jaccard indices. The results reflect the enhanced performance and reliability in comparison to existing standalone and ensembled models.
Input-parallel output-series Si-SiC hybrid inverter with fractional harmonic elimination
Authors: Yu Qinhai , Liu Chuang , Li Ruifeng , Pei Zhongcheng , Guo Dongbo , Mao Tingrui , Shao Xinming
Published: May 2024

This paper proposes an input-parallel output-series (IPOS) Si-SiC hybrid inverter with dual-frequency harmonic elimination modulation strategy. The proposed topology composed of two power conversion cells and a three-phase five-column medium-frequency step-down transformer, the low-frequency power conversion cell (LFPC-C, 1 kHz) leverages strong current-carrying capacity of silicon-based devices for dealing with the system main power, and the high-frequency power conversion cell (HFPC-C, 30 kHz) based on wide-bandgap semiconductor SiC devices is used to addressing the fractional harmonics compensation power. This topology combines the strong current carrying capability of Si devices with the low switching loss of SiC devices at high frequency and achieves high quality power conversion at low cost and low loss. Compared to existing “IPOP” Si-SiC hybrid inverters, this topology adopts a coupling step-down transformer on the output side of both LFPC-C and HFPC-C, which can effectively reduce current stress of HFPC-C SiC devices. Additionally, a dual-frequency harmonic elimination modulation strategy based on the topology is proposed to solve the fractional harmonics caused by the LFPC-C. The paper establishes a mathematical model according to the harmonic distribution characteristics of the LFPC-C and HFPC-C, and designs the system control schedules. Building upon the derivation of the voltage ripple model and the design of hardware parameters, Si IGBT and SiC MOSFET were selected for constructing a 7.5 kW prototype for testing, and the experimental results validate the feasibility of this topology and the accuracy of theoretical analysis.
Risks associated with wastewater reuse in agriculture: investigating the effects of contaminants in soil, plants, and insects
Authors: Trotta Vincenzo , Baaloudj Oussama , Brienza Monica
Published: May 2024

Rapid urbanization has heightened the urgency of the necessity for sustainable water management in agriculture. This review focuses on the impacts of using reused wastewater in agricultural practices, specifically highlighting the nutrient benefits and consequences of pollutants on important environmental elements. It investigates the impact of contaminants on agricultural ecosystems by assessing the soil composition and nutrient equilibrium. This research also examines the impact of pollution exposure on plants and insects, elucidating the behavioural adaptations and their broader ecological consequences in agricultural environments. Eventually, a comprehensive analysis was conducted to consolidate these findings, emphasizing the challenges and significance of implementing sustainable practices. This study highlights the necessity of addressing the health and environmental concerns associated with the agricultural reuse of wastewater, while also giving valuable information to guide future regulations.
Environmental regulation effects from the perspective on the industrial chain: evidence from energy enterprises in China
Authors: Zhang Su , Yan Qing , Huang Xin , Yan Bin
Published: May 2024

More attention has been paid to environmental regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the energy industry under the transformation of industrial structure. This paper takes microdata of Chinese energy enterprises from 1998 to 2012 as a sample to build a duty-sharing model, analyzes the effect of environmental regulations on the industrial chain, and explains the “double growth” phenomenon that occurred in China, which is nothing short of miraculous in terms of the environment and economy. In the industrial chain, the environmental obligations and responsibilities will be shared between upstream and downstream enterprises due to trade linkages. This paper finds that environmental responsibilities will move forward through the industrial chain when environmental regulations are strengthened. Downstream companies will loosen “relative” control constraints, thereby expanding output but increasing demand for upstream products. Different from the existing research, we claim that, since environmental regulation has a differential effect on the industrial chain, it will promote the growth of output in the entire chain, in contrast to the theory of “cost compliance”, which claims that environmental regulation will inevitably lead to the output. Based on this research, this paper puts forward some suggestions and insights on how the government implements environmental regulations.
The immunomodulatory mechanism of acupuncture treatment for ischemic stroke: research progress, prospects, and future direction
Authors: Kuang Hongjun , Zhu Xinzhou , Chen Huan , Tang Han , Zhao Hong
Published: May 2024

Ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the leading causes of death and disability. Complicated mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of IS. Immunomodulatory mechanisms are crucial to IS. Acupuncture is a traditional non-drug treatment that has been extensively used to treat IS. The exploration of neuroimmune modulation will broaden the understanding of the mechanisms underlying acupuncture treatment. This review summarizes the immune response of immune cells, immune cytokines, and immune organs after an IS. The immunomodulatory mechanisms of acupuncture treatment on the central nervous system and peripheral immunity, as well as the factors that influence the effects of acupuncture treatment, were summarized. We suggest prospects and future directions for research on immunomodulatory mechanisms of acupuncture treatment for IS based on current progress, and we hope that these will provide inspiration for researchers. Additionally, acupuncture has shown favorable outcomes in the treatment of immune-based nervous system diseases, generating new directions for research on possible targets and treatments for immune-based nervous system diseases.
The oxidant-antioxidant imbalance was involved in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Authors: Zhou Jing , Zhou Jiao , Liu Ruowu , Liu Yafeng , Meng Juan , Wen Qiao , Luo Yirui , Liu Shixi , Li Huabin , Ba Luo , Du Jintao
Published: May 2024

Background

Although oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiological process of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), the specific underlying mechanism is still unclear. Whether antioxidant therapy can treat CRSwNP needs further investigation.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analyses were performed to detect the distribution and expression of oxidants and antioxidants in nasal polyp tissues. qPCR revealed correlations between oxidase, antioxidant enzymes and inflammatory cytokine levels in CRSwNP patients. Human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpCs) and primary macrophages were cultured to track the cellular origin of oxidative stress in nasal polyps(NPs) and to determine whether crocin can reduce cellular inflammation by increasing the cellular antioxidant capacity.

Results

The expression of NOS2, NOX1, HO-1 and SOD2 was increased in nasal epithelial cells and macrophages derived from nasal polyp tissue. Oxidase levels were positively correlated with those of inflammatory cytokines (IL-5 and IL-6). Conversely, the levels of antioxidant enzymes were negatively correlated with those of IL-13 and IFN-γ. Crocin inhibited M1 and M2 macrophage polarization as well as the expression of NOS2 and NOX1 and improved the antioxidant capacity of M2 macrophages. Moreover, crocin enhanced the ability of antioxidants to reduce inflammation via the KEAP1/NRF2/HO-1 pathway in HNEpCs treated with SEB or LPS. Additionally, we observed the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of crocin in nasal explants.

Conclusion

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of CRSwNP by promoting various types of inflammation. The oxidative stress of nasal polyps comes from epithelial cells and macrophages. Antioxidant therapy may be a promising strategy for treating CRSwNP.
Long-term humoral and cellular immunity against vaccine strains and Omicron subvariants (BQ.1.1, BN.1, XBB.1, and EG.5) after bivalent COVID-19 vaccination
Authors: Hyun Hakjun , Nham Eliel , Seong Hye , Yoon Jin Gu , Noh Ji Yun , Cheong Hee Jin , Kim Woo Joo , Yoon Sun Kyung , Park Se-Jin , Gwak WonSeok , Lee June-Woo , Kim Byoungguk , Song Joon Young
Published: May 2024

Background

The assessment of long-term humoral and cellular immunity post-vaccination is crucial for establishing an optimal vaccination strategy.

Methods

This prospective cohort study evaluated adults (≥18 years) who received a BA.4/5 bivalent vaccine. We measured the anti-receptor binding domain immunoglobulin G antibody and neutralizing antibodies (NAb) against wild-type and Omicron subvariants (BA.5, BQ.1.1, BN.1, XBB.1 and EG.5) up to 9 months post-vaccination. T-cell immune responses were measured before and 4 weeks after vaccination.

Results

A total of 108 (28 SARS-CoV-2-naïve and 80 previously infected) participants were enrolled. Anti-receptor binding domain immunoglobulin G (U/mL) levels were higher at 9 months post-vaccination than baseline in SAR-CoV-2-naïve individuals (8,339 vs. 1,834, p<0.001). NAb titers against BQ.1.1, BN.1, and XBB.1 were significantly higher at 9 months post-vaccination than baseline in both groups, whereas NAb against EG.5 was negligible at all time points. The T-cell immune response (median spot forming unit/106 cells) was highly cross-reactive at both baseline (wild-type/BA.5/XBB.1.5, 38.3/52.5/45.0 in SARS-CoV-2-naïve individuals; 51.6/54.9/54.9 in SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals) and 4 weeks post-vaccination, with insignificant boosting post-vaccination.

Conclusion

Remarkable cross-reactive neutralization was observed against BQ.1.1, BN.1, and XBB.1 up to 9 months after BA.4/5 bivalent vaccination, but not against EG.5. The T-cell immune response was highly cross-reactive.
Case report: Decreased hemoglobin and multiple organ failure caused by ceftizoxime-induced immune hemolytic anemia in a Chinese patient with malignant rectal cancer
Authors: Lou Can , Liu Meng , Ma Ting , Yang Liu , Long Dan , Li Jiaming , Lei Hang , Xiang Dong , Wang Xuefeng , Li Lei , Cai Xiaohong
Published: May 2024

Background

Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia (DIIHA) is a rare but serious condition, with an estimated incidence of one in 100,000 cases, associated with various antibiotics. This study reports on a case of ceftizoxime-induced hemolysis observed in a patient in China.

Case description

A Chinese patient diagnosed with malignant rectal cancer underwent antimicrobial therapy after laparoscopic partial recto-sigmoid resection (L-Dixon). After receiving four doses of ceftizoxime, the patient developed symptoms including rash, itchy skin, and chest distress, followed by a rapid decline in hemoglobin levels, the presence of hemoglobin in the urine (hemoglobinuria), renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Laboratory analysis revealed high-titer antibodies against ceftizoxime and red blood cells (RBCs) in the patient’s serum, including immunoglobulin M (IgM) (1:128) antibodies and immunoglobulin G (IgG) (1:8) antibodies, with noted crossreactivity to ceftriaxone. Significant improvement in the patient’s hemolytic symptoms was observed following immediate discontinuation of the drug, two plasma exchanges, and extensive RBC transfusion.

Conclusion

This case, together with previous reports, underscores the importance of considering DIIHA in patients who exhibit unexplained decreases in hemoglobin levels following antibiotic therapy. A thorough examination of the patient’s medical history can provide crucial insights for diagnosing DIIHA. The effective management of DIIHA includes immediate cessation of the implicated drug, plasma exchange, and transfusion support based on the identification of specific drug-dependent antibodies through serological testing.
Study on the relationship between informatization and marine eco-efficiency in China–taking 11 coastal provinces as examples
Authors: Dai Baodong , Cao Jifeng , Chen Gonghang , Ma Cheng
Published: May 2024

This article focuses on 11 coastal provinces in China and selects relevant data from 2008 to 2021. The improved entropy method is used to calculate the level of informationization development in each province. The Malmquist index is used to calculate the marine ecological efficiency of each province. The panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model is established to study the dynamic relationship between informationization and marine ecological efficiency. The results show that: (1) There is a long-term equilibrium relationship between informationization and marine ecological efficiency, and informationization is a Granger cause of marine ecological efficiency at the 5% significance level. (2) Overall, informationization has a promoting effect on marine ecological efficiency, but with a certain lag; the improvement of marine ecological efficiency also benefits the development of informationization. (3) There is a bidirectional relationship between informationization and marine ecological efficiency, and informationization has become the main influencing factor of marine ecological efficiency.
Contrastive learning with token projection for Omicron pneumonia identification from few-shot chest CT images
Authors: Jiang Xiaoben , Yang Dawei , Feng Li , Zhu Yu , Wang Mingliang , Feng Yinzhou , Bai Chunxue , Fang Hao
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Deep learning-based methods can promote and save critical time for the diagnosis of pneumonia from computed tomography (CT) images of the chest, where the methods usually rely on large amounts of labeled data to learn good visual representations. However, medical images are difficult to obtain and need to be labeled by professional radiologists.

Methods

To address this issue, a novel contrastive learning model with token projection, namely CoTP, is proposed for improving the diagnostic quality of few-shot chest CT images. Specifically, (1) we utilize solely unlabeled data for fitting CoTP, along with a small number of labeled samples for fine-tuning, (2) we present a new Omicron dataset and modify the data augmentation strategy, i.e., random Poisson noise perturbation for the CT interpretation task, and (3) token projection is utilized to further improve the quality of the global visual representations.

Results

The ResNet50 pre-trained by CoTP attained accuracy (ACC) of 92.35%, sensitivity (SEN) of 92.96%, precision (PRE) of 91.54%, and the area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve (AUC) of 98.90% on the presented Omicron dataset. On the contrary, the ResNet50 without pre-training achieved ACC, SEN, PRE, and AUC of 77.61, 77.90, 76.69, and 85.66%, respectively.

Conclusion

Extensive experiments reveal that a model pre-trained by CoTP greatly outperforms that without pre-training. The CoTP can improve the efficacy of diagnosis and reduce the heavy workload of radiologists for screening of Omicron pneumonia.
Ovarian Cancer surgical consideration is markedly improved by the neural network powered-MIA3G multivariate index assay
Authors: Roy Choudhury Manjusha , Pappas Todd C. , Twiggs Leo B. , Caoili Emma , Fritsche Herbert , Phan Ryan T.
Published: May 2024

Background

Surgery remains the main treatment option for an adnexal mass suspicious of ovarian cancer. The malignancy rate is, however, only 10–15% in women undergoing surgery. This results in a high number of unnecessary surgeries. A surveillance-based approach is recommended to form the basis for surgical referrals. We have previously reported the clinical performance of MIA3G, a deep neural network-based algorithm, for assessing ovarian cancer risk. In this study, we show that MIA3G markedly improves the surgical selection for women presenting with adnexal masses.

Methods

MIA3G employs seven serum biomarkers, patient age, and menopausal status. Serum samples were collected from 785 women (IQR: 39–55 years) across 12 centers that presented with adnexal masses. MIA3G risk scores were calculated for all subjects in this cohort. Physicians had no access to the MIA3G risk score when deciding upon a surgical referral. The performance of MIA3G for surgery referral was compared to clinical and surgical outcomes. MIA3G was also tested in an independent cohort comprising 29 women across 14 study sites, in which the physicians had access to and utilized MIA3G prior to surgical consideration.

Results

When compared to the actual number of surgeries (n = 207), referrals based on the MIA3G score would have reduced surgeries by 62% (n = 79). The reduction was higher in premenopausal patients (77%) and in patients ≤55 years old (70%). In addition, a 431% improvement in malignancy prediction would have been observed if physicians had utilized MIA3G scores for surgery selection. The accuracy of MIA3G referral was 90.00% (CI 87.89–92.11), while only 9.18% accuracy was observed when the MIA3G score was not used. These results were corroborated in an independent multi-site study of 29 patients in which the physicians utilized MIA3G in surgical consideration. The surgery reduction was 87% in this cohort. Moreover, the accuracy and concordance of MIA3G in this independent cohort were each 96.55%.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate that MIA3G markedly augments the physician’s decisions for surgical intervention and improves malignancy prediction in women presenting with adnexal masses. MIA3G utilization as a clinical diagnostic tool might help reduce unnecessary surgeries.
Genome cloning and genetic evolution analysis of eight duck-sourced novel goose parvovirus strains in China in 2023
Authors: Zhan Guangjian , Liu Nan , Fan Xiaole , Jiang Wansi , Yuan Mengxue , Liu Yunwang , Dong Shishan
Published: May 2024

Introduction

There are three major categories of waterfowl parvoviruses, namely goose parvovirus (GPV), Muscovy duck parvovirus, and novel goose parvovirus (NGPV). NGPV can infect both Cherry Valley ducks and mule ducks, resulting in short beaks and dwarfism syndrome, and the incidence of short beaks and dwarfism syndrome rises annually, posing a significant threat to the waterfowl breeding and the animal husbandry. Therefore, clarifying the biological characteristics and genetic evolution of NGPV is very important for the prevention and control of NGPV.

Methods

Ducks with short beaks and dwarfism syndrome from Shandong and Henan Province were investigated by dissection and the tissue samples were collected for study. The NGPV genome was amplified by PCR, and the genome was analyzed for genetic evolution.

Results

Eight strains of NGPV were isolated, which were designated as HZ0512, HZ0527, HZ0714, HZ0723, HZ0726, HZ0811, HZ0815, and HN0403. The nucleotide homology among these strains ranged from 99.9% to 100%. The eight strains, along with other NGPVs, belong to GPV. The eight strains showed a 92.5%–98.9% nucleotide homology with the classical GPV, while a 96.0%–99.9% homology with NGPV.Therefore, it can be deduced that there have been no major mutations of NGPV in Shandong and Henan provinces in recent years.

Discussion

This study lays a theoretical foundation for further studying the genetic evolution and pathogenicity of NGPV, thereby facilitating the prevention and control of NGPV.
TUBB, a robust biomarker with satisfying abilities in diagnosis, prognosis, and immune regulation via a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis
Authors: Zhu Zaifu , Zhang Wei , Huo Shaohu , Huang Tiantuo , Cao Xi , Zhang Ying
Published: May 2024

Purpose

TUBB can encode a beta-tubulin protein. At present, the role of TUBB has not been ascertained in cancers. Hence, the importance of further systematic pan-cancer analyses is stressed to explore its value in the diagnosis, prognosis, and immune function of cancers.

Methods

By collecting and handling integrative data from the TCGA, Firehose, UCSC Xena, cBioPortal, GEO, CPTAC, TIMER2.0, TISCH, CellMiner, GDSC, and CTRP databases, we explored the potential diagnostic and prognostic roles of TUBB in pan-cancers from multiple angles. Moreover, the GSEA analysis was conducted to excavate the biological functions of TUBB in pan-cancers. In addition, survival profiles were described, and the differential expressions of TUBB in different molecular subtypes were discussed. Also, we utilized the cMAP function to search drugs or micro-molecules that have an impact on TUBB expressions.

Results

Based on the TCGA data, we found that TUBB was differentially expressed in a variety of tumors and showed an early-diagnostic value. Mutations, somatic copy number alterations, and DNA methylation would lead to its abnormal expression. TUBB expressions had relations with many clinical features. What’s more, TUBB expressions were validated to be related to many metabolism-related, metastasis-related, and immune-related pathways. High TUBB expressions were proved to have a great impact on the prognosis of various types of cancers and would affect the sensitivity of some drugs. We also demonstrated that the expression of TUBB was significantly correlated to immunoregulator molecules and biomarkers of lymphocyte subpopulation infiltration.

Conclusion

TUBB and its regulatory genes were systemically analyzed in this study, showing that TUBB had satisfying performances in disease diagnosing and prognosis predicting of multiple cancers. It could remodel the tumor microenvironment and play an integral role in guiding cancer therapies and forecasting responses to chemotherapy.
Cerebrospinal fluid/serum albumin ratio in patients with Lewy body disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Moyu , Gan Jinghuan , Yang Xia , Liu Shuai , Ji Yong
Published: May 2024

Background

Abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/serum albumin ratio (Qalb) levels have been observed in patients with cognitive impairment. Few studies have specifically focused on Lewy Body Disease (LBD), and the results were controversial. Thus, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate Qalb levels in patients with LBD by including data from different studies.

Method

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases for a collection of studies containing studies comparing Qalb levels in patients with LBD and healthy controls (including healthy controls and other dementia subtypes). In the initial search, 86 relevant papers were retrieved. Standardized mean differences (SMD) in Qalb levels were calculated using a random effects model.

Results

A total of 13 eligible studies were included. Mean Qalb levels were significantly higher in patients with LBD compared to healthy older adults [standardized mean difference (SMD): 2.95, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.89–5.00, Z = 2.81, p = 0.005]; and were significantly higher in patients with LBD than in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (SMD: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.42–1.83, Z = 3.15, p = 0.002);whereas mean Qalb levels were significantly higher in patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) compared to those with AD (SMD: 1.13, 95% CI,0.14–2.13, Z = 2.24, p = 0.03).

Conclusion

Qalb levels were significantly elevated in LBD patients compared with normal older adults and were higher than those in AD patients and FTLD patients, which helped in the differential diagnosis of LBD from other neurodegenerative diseases.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42024496616.