bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence, risk factors, and vaccine effectiveness of COVID-19 infection in thai children, adolescents, and young adults in the omicron era
Authors: Chaiyakulsil Chanapai , Sritipsukho Paskorn , Satdhabudha Araya , Bunjoungmanee Pornumpa , Tangsathapornpong Auchara , Sinlapamongkolkul Phakatip , Sritipsukho Naiyana
Published: May 2023

Background and objectives

The study of prevalence, risk factors, and vaccine effectiveness (VE) in children, adolescents, and young adults during the Omicron era has been limited, making this the objectives of the study.

Methods

A prospective, test-negative case-control study was conducted on patients aged 0–24 years old classified as patients under investigation (PUI) from January to May 2022. PUI with positive RT-PCR within 14 days were classified as cases, whilst PUI with negative RT-PCR in 14 days were controls. Univariate and multivariate analyses determined risk factors; VE was calculated using [1-adjusted odds ratio (OR)] × 100.

Results

The final analyses included 3,490 patients with a PUI infection rate of 45.6%. Heterologous vaccination regimens, including inactivated vaccines, viral vectors, and mRNA were utilized during the study period. A total of 2,563 patients (73.5%) had received at least 2 vaccine doses, regardless of regimen. Male gender and household infections were independent risk factors for the development of infection, with an adjusted OR of 1.55 and 1.45, respectively. Underlying comorbidities and obesity were not significantly associated with the development of infection. Patients with underlying comorbidities were more likely to have at least moderate severity of infection with the adjusted OR of 3.07. Age older than 11 years was associated with lower infection risk and development of at least moderate infection with adjusted OR of 0.4 and 0.34, respectively. Vaccinated participants also had a lower risk of developing at least moderate infection: adjusted OR of 0.40. The adjusted VE of any vaccination regimen for infection prevention for one, two, three, or more than four doses was 21.8%, 30.6%, 53.5%, and 81.2%, respectively. The adjusted VE of any vaccination regimen for prevention of at least moderate severity of the disease for one, two, three, or more than four doses was 5.7%, 24.3% 62.9%, and 90.6%, respectively.

Conclusion

Disease prevalence among PUI was substantially high during the Omicron wave. A two-dose vaccination regimen does not appear sufficient to ensure protection against infection.
Suxiao Jiuxin Pill attenuates acute myocardial ischemia via regulation of coronary artery tone
Authors: Li Sa , Zhan Jiaguo , Wang Yucheng , Oduro Patrick Kwabena , Owusu Felix Boahen , Zhang Jiale , Leng Ling , Li Ruiqiao , Wei Shujie , He Jun , Wang Qilong
Published: May 2023

Suxiao Jiuxin Pill (SJP) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine drug used to manage heart diseases. This study aimed at determining the pharmacological effects of SJP in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and the molecular pathways its active compounds target to induce coronary artery vasorelaxation. Using the AMI rat model, SJP improved cardiac function and elevated ST segment. LC-MS and GC-MS detected twenty-eight non-volatile compounds and eleven volatile compounds in sera from SJP-treated rats. Network pharmacology analysis revealed eNOS and PTGS2 as the key drug targets. Indeed, SJP induced coronary artery relaxation via activation of the eNOS-NO pathway. Several of SJP’s main compounds, like senkyunolide A, scopoletin, and borneol, caused concentration-dependent coronary artery relaxation. Senkyunolide A and scopoletin increased eNOS and Akt phosphorylation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) revealed an interaction between senkynolide A/scopoletin and Akt. Vasodilation caused by senkyunolide A and scopoletin was inhibited by uprosertib (Akt inhibitor) and eNOS/sGC/PKG axis inhibitors. This suggests that senkyunolide A and scopoletin relax coronary arteries through the Akt-eNOS-NO pathway. In addition, borneol induced endothelium-independent vasorelaxation of the coronary artery. The Kv channel inhibitor 4-AP, KCa2+ inhibitor TEA, and Kir inhibitor BaCl2 significantly inhibited the vasorelaxant effect of borneol in the coronary artery. In conclusion, the results show that Suxiao Jiuxin Pill protects the heart against acute myocardial infarction.
Buyang Huanwu Decoction alleviates cerebral ischemic injury through modulating caveolin-1-mediated mitochondrial quality control
Authors: Xu Yaqian , Chen Bowei , Yi Jian , Tian Fengming , Liu Yingfei , Ouyang Yin , Yuan Chunyun , Liu Baiyan
Published: May 2023

Introduction: Mitochondrial quality control (MQC) is an important mechanism of neural repair after cerebral ischemia (CI). Recent studies have shown that caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is an important signaling molecule in the process of CI injury, but its mechanism of regulating MQC after CI is still unclear. Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BHD) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula that is often used to treat CI. Unfortunately, its mechanism of action is still obscure.

Methods: In this study, we tested the hypothesis that BHD can regulate MQC through Cav-1 and exert an anti-cerebral ischemia injury effect. We used Cav-1 knockout mice and their homologous wild-type mice, replicated middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model and BHD intervention. Neurobehavioral scores and pathological detection were used to evaluate neurological function and neuron damage, transmission electron microscopy and enzymology detection of mitochondrial damage. Finally, western blot and RT-qPCR expression of MQC-related molecules were tested.

Results: After CI, mice showed neurologic impairment, neuronal damage, and significant destruction of mitochondrial morphology and function, and MQC was imbalanced. Cav-1 deletion aggravated the damage to neurological function, neurons, mitochondrial morphology and mitochondrial function after CI, aggravated the imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics, and inhibited mitophagy and biosynthesis. BHD can maintain MQC homeostasis after CI through Cav-1 and improve CI injury.

Discussion: Cav-1 can affect CI injury by regulating MQC, and this mechanism may be another target of BHD for anti-cerebral ischemia injury.
Inhibition of prejunctional parasympathetic pathways by β3-adrenoceptor agonists in the isolated pig detrusor: comparison with human detrusor studies
Authors: D’Agostino Gianluigi , Salvatore Stefano , Calvi Paolo , Condino Anna Maria
Published: May 2023

Adrenergic receptors of the β3-subtype (β3-ADRs) seem to represent a new target for a more effective pharmacological treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), a wide spread urinary disorder. A promising opportunity for OAB therapy might rely on the development of selective β3-ADR agonists, but an appropriate preclinical screening, as well as investigation of their pharmacological mechanism(s), is limited by poor availability of human bladder samples and of translational animal models. In this study, we used the porcine urinary bladder as experimental tool to ascertain the functions of β3-ADRs in the control the parasympathetic motor drive. Tritiated acetylcholine ([3H]-ACh), mainly originated from neural stores, was released by electrical field stimulation (EFS) in epithelium-deprived detrusor strips from pigs bred without estrogens. EFS produced simultaneously [3H]-ACh release and smooth muscle contraction allowing to asses neural (pre-junctional) and myogenic (postjunctional) effects in the same experiment. Isoprenaline and mirabegron produced on the EFS-evoked effects a concentration-dependent inhibition antagonized by L-748,337, a high selective β3-ADR antagonist. The analysis of the resultant pharmacodynamic parameters supports the notion that in pig detrusors, as well as in previously described human detrusors, the activation of inhibitory β3-ADRs can modulate neural parasympathetic pathways. In such inhibitory control, the involvement of membrane K+ channels, mainly of the SK type, seems to play a pivotal role similarly to what previously described in humans. Therefore, the isolated porcine detrusor can provide a suitable experimental tool to study the mechanisms underlying the clinical efficacy of selective β3-ADR compounds for human use.
MSFNet: modality smoothing fusion network for multimodal aspect-based sentiment analysis
Authors: Xiang Yan , Cai Yunjia , Guo Junjun
Published: May 2023

Multimodal aspect-based sentiment classification (MABSC) aims to determine the sentiment polarity of a given aspect in a sentence by combining text and image information. Although the text and the corresponding image in a sample are associated with aspect information, their features are represented in distinct semantic spaces, creating a substantial semantic gap. Previous research focused primarily on identifying and fusing aspect-level sentiment expressions of different modalities while ignoring their semantic gap. To this end, we propose a novel aspect-based sentiment analysis model named modality smoothing fusion network (MSFNet). In this model, we process the unimodal aspect-aware features via the feature smoothing strategy to partially bridge modality gap. Then we fuse the smoothed features deeply using the multi-channel attention mechanism, to obtain aspect-level sentiment representation with comprehensive representing capability, thereby improving the performance of sentiment classification. Experiments on two benchmark datasets, Twitter2015 and Twitter2017, demonstrate that our model outperforms the second-best model by 1.96% and 0.19% in terms of Macro-F1, respectively. Additionally, ablation studies provide evidence supporting the efficacy of each of our proposed modules. We release the code at: https://github.com/YunjiaCai/MSFNet.
Effects of exercise of different intensities on withdrawal symptoms among people with substance use disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Hao , Su Wantang , Cai Jiajia , Zhao Li , Li Yan
Published: May 2023

Background: Exercise can effectively attenuate withdrawal symptoms and reduce relapse, but it is unknown whether exercise of different intensities produces different results. This study aimed to systematically review the effects of different exercise intensities on withdrawal symptoms among people with substance use disorder (SUD).

Methods: Systematic searches for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on exercise, SUD, and abstinence symptoms were conducted via electronic databases, including PubMed, up to June 2022. Study quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2.0) for assessment of risk of bias in randomized trials. The meta-analysis was performed by calculating the standard mean difference (SMD) in outcomes of interventions involving light-, moderate-, and high-intensity exercise for each individual study using Review Manager version 5.3 (RevMan 5.3).

Results: In total, 22 RCTs (n = 1,537) were included. Overall, exercise interventions had significant effects on withdrawal symptoms, but the effect size varied with exercise intensity and by outcome measure (i.e., for different negative emotions). Light-, moderate-, and high-intensity exercise reduced cravings after the intervention [SMD = −0.71, 95% CI = (−0.90, −0.52)], and there were no statistical differences between the subgroups (p > 0.05). Light-, moderate-, and high-intensity exercise reduced depression after the intervention [light, SMD = −0.33, 95% CI = (−0.57, −0.09); moderate, SMD = −0.64, 95% CI = (−0.85, −0.42); high, SMD = −0.25, 95% CI = (−0.44, −0.05)], with moderate-intensity exercise producing the best effect (p < 0.05). Only light- and moderate-intensity exercise relieved anxiety after the intervention [light, SMD = −0.48, 95% CI = (−0.71, −0.26); moderate, SMD = −0.58, 95% CI = (−0.85, −0.31)]. Only high-intensity exercise worked in alleviating stress [SMD = −1.13, 95% CI = (−2.22, −0.04)]. Both irritability and restlessness could be improved by light- and moderate-intensity exercise [irritability, SMD = −0.74, 95% CI = (−0.98, −0.50); restless, SMD = −0.72, 95% CI = (−0.98, −0.47)], and there were no statistical differences between the subgroups (p > 0.05). Moderate- and high-intensity exercise decreased withdrawal syndrome after the intervention [moderate, SMD = −0.30, 95% CI = (−0.55, −0.05); high, SMD = −1.33, 95% CI = (−1.90, −0.76)], with high-intensity exercise producing the best effects (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Overall, exercise leads to improvements in withdrawal symptoms in individuals with SUD, but these effects vary significantly between the exercise of different intensities and according to the type of withdrawal symptoms. Moderate-intensity exercise has the greatest benefits in improving depression and anxiety; high-intensity exercise has the greatest benefits in improving withdrawal syndrome.

Systematic Review Registration:www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier, CRD42022343791
Physiological and morphological responses of Pinus ponderosa seedlings to moisture limitations in the nursery and their implications for restoration
Authors: Pinto Jeremiah R. , Sloan Joshua L. , Ervan Gokhan , Burney Owen T.
Published: May 2023

Successful establishment of Pinus ponderosa seedlings in the southwestern United States is often limited by stressful and harsh site conditions related to drought severity and severe disturbances such as wildfire and mining operations. Seedling quality has an important influence on outplanting performance, but nursery practices that typically employ optimal growing environments may also be limiting seedling morphological and physiological performance on stressful outplanting sites. To address this, a study was established to test alterations in seedling characteristics subjected to irrigation limitations during nursery culture and their subsequent outplanting performance. This study was conducted as two separate experiments: (1) a nursery conditioning experiment examined seedling development of three New Mexico seed sources exposed to three irrigation levels (low, moderate, and high); (2) a simulated outplanting experiment examined a subset of the seedlings from experiment 1 in a controlled outplanting environment consisting of two soil moisture conditions (mesic, maintained via irrigation and dry, irrigated only once). In the nursery study, the lack of interactions between seed source and irrigation main effects for most response variables indicate that low irrigation treatment level responses were consistent across a range of sources. Irrigation treatment levels from the nursery resulted in few morphological differences; however, the low irrigation level increased physiological parameters such as net photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency. In the simulated outplanting experiment, seedlings subjected to less irrigation in the nursery had greater mean height, diameter, needle dry mass, and stem dry mass; additionally, low irrigation levels in the nursery increased the amount of hydraulically active xylem and xylem flow velocity. Overall, this study shows that nursery culture irrigation limitations, regardless of the seed sources tested, can improve seedling morphology and physiological functioning under simulated dry outplanting conditions. This may ultimately translate to increased survival and growth performance on harsh outplanting sites.
CO2 recycling by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase enables cassava leaf metabolism to tolerate low water availability
Authors: Punyasu Nattharat , Kalapanulak Saowalak , Saithong Treenut
Published: May 2023

Cassava is a staple crop that acclimatizes well to dry weather and limited water availability. The drought response mechanism of quick stomatal closure observed in cassava has no explicit link to the metabolism connecting its physiological response and yield. Here, a genome-scale metabolic model of cassava photosynthetic leaves (leaf-MeCBM) was constructed to study on the metabolic response to drought and stomatal closure. As demonstrated by leaf-MeCBM, leaf metabolism reinforced the physiological response by increasing the internal CO2 and then maintaining the normal operation of photosynthetic carbon fixation. We found that phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) played a crucial role in the accumulation of the internal CO2 pool when the CO2 uptake rate was limited during stomatal closure. Based on the model simulation, PEPC mechanistically enhanced drought tolerance in cassava by providing sufficient CO2 for carbon fixation by RuBisCO, resulting in high production of sucrose in cassava leaves. The metabolic reprogramming decreased leaf biomass production, which may lead to maintaining intracellular water balance by reducing the overall leaf area. This study indicates the association of metabolic and physiological responses to enhance tolerance, growth, and production of cassava in drought conditions.
Performance of testers with contrasting provitamin A content to evaluate provitamin A maize for resistance to Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin production
Authors: Mboup M. , Aduramigba-Modupe A.O. , Maazou A.-R. S. , Olasanmi B. , Mengesha W. , Meseka S. , Dieng I. , Bandyopadhyay R. , Menkir A. , Ortega-Beltran A.
Published: May 2023

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), millions of people depend on maize as a primary staple. However, maize consumers in SSA may be exposed to malnutrition due to vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and unsafe aflatoxin levels, which can lead to serious economic and public health problems. Provitamin A (PVA) biofortified maize has been developed to alleviate VAD and may have additional benefits such as reduced aflatoxin contamination. In this study, maize inbred testers with contrasting PVA content in grain were used to identify inbred lines with desirable combining ability for breeding to enhance their level of resistance to aflatoxin. Kernels of 120 PVA hybrids generated by crossing 60 PVA inbreds with varying levels of PVA (5.4 to 51.7 µg/g) and two testers (low and high PVA, 14.4 and 25.0 µg/g, respectively) were inoculated with a highly toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus. Aflatoxin had a negative genetic correlation with β-carotene (r = −0.29, p < 0.0001) and PVA (r = −0.23, p < 0.0001), indicating that hybrids with high PVA content accumulated less aflatoxin than those with low to medium PVA. Both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects of lines and testers were significant for aflatoxin accumulation, number of spores, PVA, and other carotenoids, with additive gene actions playing a prominent role in regulating the mode of inheritance (GCA/SCA ratio >0.5). Eight inbreds had combined significant negative GCA effects for aflatoxin accumulation and spore count with significant positive GCA effects for PVA. Five testcrosses had combined significant negative SCA effects for aflatoxin with significant positive SCA effects for PVA. The high PVA tester had significant negative GCA effects for aflatoxin, lutein, β-carotene, and PVA. The study identified lines that can be used as parents to develop superior hybrids with high PVA and reduced aflatoxin accumulation. Overall, the results point out the importance of testers in maize breeding programs to develop materials that can contribute to controlling aflatoxin contamination and reducing VAD.
Priority conservation area of Larix gmelinii under climate change: application of an ensemble modeling
Authors: Gao Minglong , Zhao Guanghua , Zhang Shuning , Wang Zirui , Wen Xuanye , Liu Lei , Zhang Chen , Tie Niu , Sa Rula
Published: May 2023

Larix gmelinii(Rupr.) Kuzen is a major tree species with high economic and ecological value in the Greater Khingan Mountains coniferous forest of Northeast China. Reconstructing the priority Conservation Area ofLarix gmeliniiunder Climate could provide a scientific basis for its germplasm conservation and management. The present study used ensemble and Marxan model simulations to predict species distribution areas and delineate priority conservation areas forLarix gmeliniiin relation to productivity characteristics, understory plant diversity characteristics, and climate change impacts. The study revealed that the Greater Khingan Mountains and the Xiaoxing'an Mountains, with an area of approximately 300 974.2 km2, were the most suitable forL. gmelinii. The stand productivity ofL. gmeliniiin the most suitable area was significantly higher than that in the less suitable and marginally suitable areas, but understory plant diversity was not dominant. The increase in temperature under future climate change scenarios will reduce the potential distribution and area underL. gmelinii; the species will migrate to higher latitudes of the Greater Khingan Mountains, while the degree of niche migration will gradually increase. Under the 2090s-SSP585 climate scenario, the most suitable area forL. gmeliniiwill completely disappear, and the climate model niche will be completely separated. Therefore, the protected area ofL. gmeliniiwas demarcated with a target of the productivity characteristics, understory plant diversity characteristics and climate change sensitive area, and the current key protected area was 8.38 × 104km2. Overall, the study’s findings will lay a foundation for the protection and rational development and utilization of cold temperate coniferous forests dominated byL. gmeliniiin the northern forested region of the Greater Khingan Mountains.
The link between emotion comprehension and cognitive perspective taking in theory of mind (ToM): a study of preschool children
Authors: Macheta Krystian , Gut Arkadiusz , Pons Francisco
Published: May 2023

The study examined the relation between perspective taking embedded in theory of mind (ToM) and emotion comprehension (EC) in young children. Our study involved children from Poland aged 3–6 (N = 99; 54% boys) from public and private kindergartens residing mainly in urban areas, whose parents could mostly be classified as middle class. The children were examined with the Test of Emotion Comprehension (TEC) and three tasks targeting three aspects of ToM: a first-order false belief task, an appearance-reality test, and a mental states opacity task. The results showed similarities in performances between these different measures. However, only the opacity task predicted the emotion comprehension test results (η2 = 0.13). The results indicate that the key element of ToM that explains individual differences in children’s emotion comprehension is the full-blown understanding of perspective taking, namely that having access to an object under one description does not ensure access to that object under all descriptions. In the research, we took also into account the linguistic side of such specific competences as ToM and EC, which allowed us to see the role of language in scaffolding the development of children’s ability to handle such socially fundamental tasks as understanding emotions and epistemic states.
Toward a new model of human resource management practices: construction and validation of the High Wellbeing and Performance Work System Scale
Authors: Parent-Lamarche Annick , Dextras-Gauthier Julie , Julien Anne-Sophie
Published: May 2023

Introduction

The integrated mutual gains model suggests five provisional sets of human resource management (HRM) practices that should benefit both employees and organizations and, as such, be explicitly designed to have a positive impact on wellbeing, which, in turn, can affect performance.

Methods

An extensive review of the literature on scales that used a high-performance work system to assess HRM practices, as well as an extraction of items related to the theoretical dimensions of the integrated mutual gains model, were performed. Based on these preliminary steps, an initial scale with the 66 items found most relevant in the literature was developed and assessed regarding its factorial structure, internal consistency, and reliability over a two-week period.

Results

Exploratory factorial analysis following test -retest resulted in a 42-item scale for measuring 11 HRM practices. Confirmatory factor analyses resulted in a 36-item instrument for measuring 10 HRM practices and showed adequate validity and reliability.

Discussion

Even though the five provisional sets of practices were not validated, the practices that emerged from them were assembled into alternative sets of practices. These sets of practices reflect HRM activities that are considered conducive to employees’ wellbeing and, consequently, their job performance. Consequently, the “High Wellbeing and Performance Work System Scale” was created. Nonetheless, future research is necessary to evaluate the predictive capacity of this new scale.
The time scales of irreversibility in spontaneous brain activity are altered in obsessive compulsive disorder
Authors: Bernardi Davide , Shannahoff-Khalsa David , Sale Jeff , Wright Jon A. , Fadiga Luciano , Papo David
Published: May 2023

We study how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects the complexity and time-reversal symmetry-breaking (irreversibility) of the brain resting-state activity as measured by magnetoencephalography (MEG). Comparing MEG recordings from OCD patients and age/sex matched control subjects, we find that irreversibility is more concentrated at faster time scales and more uniformly distributed across different channels of the same hemisphere in OCD patients than in control subjects. Furthermore, the interhemispheric asymmetry between homologous areas of OCD patients and controls is also markedly different. Some of these differences were reduced by 1-year of Kundalini Yoga meditation treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that OCD alters the dynamic attractor of the brain's resting state and hint at a possible novel neurophysiological characterization of this psychiatric disorder and how this therapy can possibly modulate brain function.
Psychological impacts of intervention to improve a therapeutic garden for older adults with dementia: a case study conducted at a care facility
Authors: Meneghetti Chiara , Murroni Veronica , Borella Erika , Melendugno Andrea , Carbone Elena , Goldin Giulia , Cavalli Raffaele , Basso Andrea , Pazzaglia Francesca
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Exposure to nature is known to support psychological wellbeing, and can support People with Dementia (PwD). Here we describe a case study conducted at a care facility for PwD to examine the effect of their exposure to nature after intervention to renovate an existing Therapeutic Garden (TG). Changes in frequency of attendance and behavior in the TG were examined. A single case was also considered to assess individual benefits.

Materials and methods

Twenty-one PwD participated in the study. Their behavior in the TG was observed for 4 weeks before and after the intervention (using behavioral mapping), and measures of individual characteristics (general cognitive functioning, behavioral/neuropsychiatric symptoms, depression, and quality of life) were administered.

Results

Ten of the 21 PwD visited the TG more often after the intervention, their social behaviors (e.g., talking to others) increased, and their active isolated behavior in the garden (e.g., smelling, touching flowers) tended to increase. The increase in social behavior related to less severe baseline depressive symptoms. Passive isolated behaviors related to more impaired baseline cognitive functioning. The case of Mrs. A extended the findings for the whole sample: although her dementia symptoms (apathy, motor disturbances) worsened, she visited the TG more often after the intervention, her social exchanges and active isolated actions increased, and her agitation and wandering decreased.

Discussion

These results support the benefits of exposure to nature for PwD, and underscore the importance of considering users’ profiles to optimize their use of a TG.
United Kingdom aid cuts: implications for financing health systems
Authors: McDade Kaci Kennedy , Mao Wenhui , Prizzon Annalisa , Huang Ro W. , Ogbuoji Osondu
Published: May 2023

Background

The United Kingdom (UK) used to be the second largest bilateral provider of official development assistance (ODA) for health. However, in 2021 the UK government cut its annual aid budget by 30%. We aim to understand how these cuts might affect financing for health systems in UK aid recipient countries.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of domestic and external funding for 134 countries that received UK aid for the 2019–2020 budget year. We grouped countries into two cohorts: those that continued to receive aid in 2020–2021 (“budget”) and those that did not (“no budget”). Data was collected from publicly available datasets and we compared UK’s ODA, UK’s health ODA with total ODA, general government expenditures and domestic general government health expenditure to assess the donor dependency and donor concentration of budget and no budget countries.

Findings

Budget countries are more reliant on external aid to finance their governments and health systems than no budget countries, with a handful of exceptions. While the UK does not appear to be a major ODA contributor among most no budget countries, it is in many budget countries. Two no budget countries in particular may be faced with health systems financing challenges given their high ratios of UK health aid to domestic government health expenditures: the Gambia (1.24:1) and Eritrea (0.33:1). Although “safe” for this budget cycle, a number of low-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have very high ratios of UK health aid to domestic government health expenditures, including South Sudan (3.15:1), Sierra Leone (0.48:1), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (0.34:1).

Interpretation

The 2021–2022 UK aid cuts could have negative impacts in a few countries highly dependent on UK health aid. Its departure could leave these countries with rather large funding gaps to fill and create a more concentrated donor climate.
Associations between the muscle quality index and adult lung functions from NHANES 2011–2012
Authors: Weng Luoqi , Xu Zhixiao , Chen Yuhan , Chen Chengshui
Published: May 2023

Background

The muscle quality index (MQI), as an important component of sarcopenia, is defined as the ratio of muscle strength to muscle mass. Lung function, is a clinical indicator to assess ventilation and air exchange function. This study investigated the relationship between lung function indices and MQI in the NHANES database from 2011 to 2012.

Methods

This study included 1,558 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2011 to 2012. Muscle mass and muscle strength were assessed using DXA and handgrip strength, and all participants underwent pulmonary function measurements. Multiple linear regression and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess the correlation between the MQI and lung function indices.

Results

In the adjusted model, MQI was significantly correlated with FVC% and PEF%. And, after quartiles of MQI in Q3, where FEV1%, FVC%, and PEF% were all associated with MQI, in Q4, a lower relative risk of a restrictive spirometry pattern was linked to increased MQI. Compared to the lower age group, the relationship between the MQI and lung function indices was more significant in the higher age group.

Conclusion

There was an association between the MQI and lung function indices. Furthermore, in the middle-aged and older adult populations, lung function indicators and restrictive ventilation impairment were significantly associated with MQI. This implies that improving lung function through muscle training may be beneficial to this group.
Frailty and risk of adverse outcomes among community-dwelling older adults in China: a comparison of four different frailty scales
Authors: Qin Fei , Guo Yanfei , Ruan Ye , Huang Zhezhou , Sun Shuangyuan , Gao Shuna , Ye Jinghong , Wu Fan
Published: May 2023

Background

Data on which frailty scales are most suitable for estimating risk in Chinese community populations remain limited. Herein we examined and compared four commonly used frailty scales in predicting adverse outcomes in a large population-based cohort of Chinese older adults.

Methods

A total of 5402 subjects (mean age 66.3 ± 9.6 years, 46.6% male) from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) in Shanghai were studied. Frailty was measured using a 35-item frailty index (FI), the frailty phenotype (FP), FRAIL, and Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI). Multivariate logistic regression models were performed to evaluate the independent association between frailty and outcomes including 4-year disability, hospitalization, and 4- and 7-year all-cause mortality. The accuracy for predicting these outcomes was determined by evaluating the area under the curve (AUC). The prevalence of frailty, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated using our proposed cut-off points and other different values.

Results

Prevalence of frailty ranged from 4.2% (FRAIL) to 16.9% (FI). FI, FRAIL and TFI were comparably associated with 4-year hospitalization, and 4- and 7-year mortality (adjusted odds ratios [aORs] 1.44–1.69, 1.91–2.22 and 1.85–2.88, respectively). FRAIL conferred the greatest risk of 4-year disability, followed by FI and TFI (aOR 5.55, 3.50, and 1.91, respectively). FP only independently predicted 4- and 7-year mortality (aOR 1.57 and 2.21, respectively). AUC comparisons showed that FI, followed by TFI and FRAIL, exhibited acceptable predictive accuracy for 4-year disability, 4- and 7-year mortality (AUCs 0.76–0.78, 0.71–0.71, 0.65–0.72, respectively), whereas all scales poorly predicted 4-year hospitalization (AUCs 0.53–0.57). For each scale, while specificity estimates (85.3–97.3%) were high and similar across all outcomes, their sensitivity estimates (6.3–56.8%) were not sufficient yet. Prevalence of frailty, sensitivity, and specificity varied considerably when different cut-off points were used.

Conclusion

Frailty defined using any of the four scales was associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. Although FI, FRAIL and TFI exhibited fair-to-moderate predictive accuracy and high specificity estimates, their sensitivity estimates were not sufficient yet. Overall, FI performed best in estimating risk, while TFI and FRAIL were additionally useful, the latter perhaps being more applicable to Chinese community-dwelling older adults.
Contours of a research ethics and integrity perspective on open science
Authors: Lindemann Tom , Häberlein Lisa
Published: May 2023

This article argues that adopting a research ethics and integrity perspective could support researchers in operationalizing the open science guiding principle “as open as possible, as closed as necessary” in a responsible and context-sensitive manner. To that end, the article points out why the guiding principle as such provides only a limited extent of action-guidance and outlines the practical value of ethical reflection when it comes to translating open science into responsible research practice. The article illustrates how research ethics and integrity considerations may help researchers understand the ethical rationale underpinning open science as well as recognize that limiting openness is necessary or at least normatively permissible in some situations. Finally, the article briefly discusses possible consequences of integrating open science into a responsibility-centered framework and implications on research assessment.
Differential effects of acute exercise on emotional memory in men and women
Authors: Nakamura Miyuki , Kawata Yujiro , Hirosawa Masataka , Ota Tsuneyoshi , Shibata Nobuto
Published: May 2023

Exercise may change emotional memory, which is associated with the induction of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. This effect of exercise may be influenced by exercise-induced cortisol release. Depending on sex, cortisol exerts differential effects on emotional memory consolidation. However, whether acute exercise and exercise-induced cortisol release have sex-dependent effects on emotional memory has not been established. Therefore, first, we aimed to determine the effects of acute exercise on emotional memory, separately for men and women, in a within-subjects design. Second, we aimed to examine whether the effects of acute exercise on emotional memory are related to the effects of exercise-induced cortisol release, separately for men and women. Sixteen healthy men and 15 healthy women were presented with positive and negative emotional images, followed by either rest or a vigorous-intensity cycling exercise condition using a within-subjects design on separate days. Salivary cortisol was measured before presenting the emotional images presentation and 20 min after each intervention. Emotional memory was assessed two days later. Vigorous-intensity exercise decreased emotional memory in women, whereas there was no change in men after rest or exercise. Cortisol levels increased after exercise intervention in both men and women, although there was no association between cortisol levels and emotional memory. These findings demonstrate that the effect of a single bout of vigorous-intensity exercise on emotional memory differs between men and women and is associated with decreased emotional memory in women.
Integrated agriculture-aquaculture as an alternative to improving small-scale fish production in Zambia
Authors: Hasimuna Oliver J. , Maulu Sahya , Nawanzi Kundananji , Lundu Benjamin , Mphande Joseph , Phiri Chisomo J. , Kikamba Edwin , Siankwilimba Enock , Siavwapa Sillah , Chibesa Moses
Published: May 2023

Aquaculture is a significant industry in food production, and its contribution to food and nutrition security is well acknowledged. Zambia’s aquaculture production has continued to increase significantly, thus playing a key role in supplying animal protein sources for human consumption. However, recent estimates show that 75% of the national aquaculture production comes from large-scale commercial producers despite being by far the minority while the majority of small-scale producers contribute the remaining 25% of the total annual production. This low production by small-scale producers is attributed to insufficient financial resources, poor management and utilization of farm resources, lack of access to competitive markets, and more recently a changing climate. In this research, we examine the viability of integrated agriculture-aquaculture (IAA) as a means for small-scale producers in Zambia to boost their aquaculture output despite the numerous obstacles they face. In addition, the obstacles that could prevent small-scale farmers from adopting IAA have been emphasized. We conclude that IAA has the potential to dramatically boost small-scale aquaculture production in Zambia, but information and understanding must be improved to make it a more feasible alternative.
Exploring the association between fat-related traits in chickens and the RGS16 gene: insights from polymorphism and functional validation analysis
Authors: Ye Mao , Fan Zhexia , Xu Yuhang , Luan Kang , Guo Lijin , Zhang Siyu , Luo Qingbin
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Excessive fat deposition in chickens can lead to reduced feed utilization and meat quality, resulting in significant economic losses for the broiler industry. Therefore, reducing fat deposition has become an important breeding objective in addition to achieving high broiler weight, growth rate, and feed conversion efficiency. In our previous studies, we observed high expression of Regulators of G Protein Signaling 16 Gene (RGS16) in high-fat individuals. This led us to speculate that RGS16 might be involved in the process of fat deposition in chickens.

Methods

Thus, we conducted a polymorphism and functional analysis of the RGS16 gene to investigate its association with fat-related phenotypic traits in chickens. Using a mixed linear model (MLM), this study explored the relationship between RGS16 gene polymorphisms and fat-related traits for the first time. We identified 30 SNPs of RGS16 in a population of Wens Sanhuang chickens, among which 8 SNPs were significantly associated with fat-related traits, including sebum thickness (ST), abdominal fat weight (AFW), and abdominal fat weight (AFR). Furthermore, our findings demonstrated that AFW, AFR, and ST showed significant associations with at least two or more out of the eight identified SNPs of RGS16. We also validated the role of RGS16 in ICP-1 cells through various experimental methods, including RT-qPCR, CCK- 8, EdU assays, and oil red O staining.

Results

Our functional validation experiments showed that RGS16 was highly expressed in the abdominal adipose tissue of high-fat chickens and played a critical role in the regulation of fat deposition by promoting preadipocyte differentiation and inhibiting their proliferation. Taken together, our findings suggest that RGS16 polymorphisms are associated with fat-related traits in chickens. Moreover, the ectopic expression of RGS16 could inhibit preadipocyte proliferation but promote preadipocyte differentiation.

Discussion

Based on our current findings, we propose that the RGS16 gene could serve as a powerful genetic marker for marker-assisted breeding of chicken fat-related traits.
Los semilleros de investigación como estrategia de investigación formativa en las Universidades de Sudamérica: una revisión sistemática
Authors: Morales-Santillán Santiago Rubén , Peralta-Herrera Tatiana Katerine
Published: May 2023

Actualmente, la investigación formativa se ha convertido en una necesidad que toda universidad debe atender para ofrecer a la sociedad profesionales competentes en el campo de su especialidad e investigación, capaces de aportar a la solución de diferentes problemas. En este sentido, el objetivo es analizar los estudios científicos que existen sobre semilleros de investigación en las universidades de Sudamérica, a fin de centrar la atención en su funcionamiento e impacto en las habilidades investigativas de los estudiantes de pregrado; a partir de una revisión sistemática de artículos empíricos, con metodología propia, publicados en base de datos de Scopus, Web of Science, Scielo, Google académico, RIED, Eric. Después de identificar los 234 estudios generales que cumplían los criterios de inclusión iniciales, se seleccionaron los que tenían entre su objeto de estudio a los semilleros de investigación en las universidades de Sudamérica, en el marco de la investigación formativa; de ellos se derivó la muestra de análisis final, compuesta por 12 estudios que abordaban esta temática de forma central. Entre los principales resultados se encuentra la escasez de publicaciones sobre semilleros de investigación como tal, pero a fin de lograr los objetivos del estudio se amplió la búsqueda como investigación formativa en las universidades de Sudamérica, profundizando su análisis en la estrategia de semilleros de investigación. En toda la producción científica encontrada, se destaca la importancia que estos tienen para gestionar y desarrollar competencias investigativas en los estudiantes universitarios, dejando en evidencia la necesidad de su implementación en las universidades.
Validación del cuestionario índice para la inclusión en la educación superior en la Universidad de Cuenca
Authors: Cedillo-Quizhpe Isabel Cristina , Clavijo-Castillo Ruth , Cabrera-Ortiz Freddy Patricio
Published: May 2023

Atender la educación inclusiva en la educación superior es una prioridad que va más allá del acceso a la universidad. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo validar el cuestionario índice para la inclusión en la educación superior que valora las políticas, culturas y prácticas inclusivas. Para ello, se aplicó el instrumento a una muestra probabilística estratificada de 155 profesores y 354 estudiantes de la Universidad de Cuenca, Ecuador. El modelo de ecuaciones estructurales permitió realizar un análisis factorial confirmatorio con el método de Máxima Verosimilitud y Mínimos Cuadrados No Ponderados. El análisis se realizó en el software AMOS 21. Se validó el modelo de la escala que valora las políticas, culturas y prácticas inclusivas en el contexto universitario; el modelo demostró un ajuste adecuado para los índices absolutos (CMIN, GFI, RMSEA y RMR), índices incrementales (TLI, NFI y CFI) e índices de parsimonia (CMIN/DF y AIC). Se realizó un análisis de invarianza factorial cuyos ajustes reportan valores adecuados a todas las restricciones establecidas. La diferencia del índice incremental CFI de los modelos con restricciones respecto al modelo sin restricciones muestra un valor inferior a 0,01. En consecuencia, el cuestionario constituye una herramienta válida que permite evaluar la forma de cómo se ha gestionado la educación inclusiva en el contexto universitario. De la misma manera, se recomienda el empleo de todos los ítems, indistintamente, para estudiantes y docentes universitarios.
Consensus Big Data Clustering for Bayesian Mixture Models
Authors: Karras Christos , Karras Aristeidis , Giotopoulos Konstantinos C. , Avlonitis Markos , Sioutas Spyros
Published: May 2023

In the context of big-data analysis, the clustering technique holds significant importance for the effective categorization and organization of extensive datasets. However, pinpointing the ideal number of clusters and handling high-dimensional data can be challenging. To tackle these issues, several strategies have been suggested, such as a consensus clustering ensemble that yields more significant outcomes compared to individual models. Another valuable technique for cluster analysis is Bayesian mixture modelling, which is known for its adaptability in determining cluster numbers. Traditional inference methods such as Markov chain Monte Carlo may be computationally demanding and limit the exploration of the posterior distribution. In this work, we introduce an innovative approach that combines consensus clustering and Bayesian mixture models to improve big-data management and simplify the process of identifying the optimal number of clusters in diverse real-world scenarios. By addressing the aforementioned hurdles and boosting accuracy and efficiency, our method considerably enhances cluster analysis. This fusion of techniques offers a powerful tool for managing and examining large and intricate datasets, with possible applications across various industries.
Process Chain-Oriented Design Evaluation of Multi-Material Components by Knowledge-Based Engineering
Authors: Herrmann Kevin , Plappert Stefan , Gembarski Paul , Lachmayer Roland
Published: May 2023

The design of components suitable for manufacturing requires the application of knowledge about the manufacturing process chain with which the component is to be manufactured. This article presents an assistance system for decision support in the context of design for manufacturing. The assistance system includes explicit manufacturing process chain knowledge and has an inference engine that can automatically evaluate the manufacturability of a component design based on a given manufacturing process chain and resolve emerging manufacturing conflicts by making adjustments on the component or resource side. A link with a CAD system additionally enables the three-dimensional representation of derived manufacturing stages and manufacturing resources. Within the assistance system, a manufacturing process chain is understood as a configurable design object and is implemented via a constraint satisfaction problem. Furthermore, the required abstraction of manufacturing processes within finite domains can be reduced to the extent that necessary modeling resolution is achieved by incorporating empirical or simulative surrogate models into the CSP. The assistance system was conceptually validated on a tailored forming process chain for the production of a multimaterial shaft and provides added value, as valuable manufacturing information for component designs is automatically derived and made available in explicit form during the component development.