bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Altitude on Thyroid Disorders according to Chinese Three-Rung, Ladder-like Topography：National Cross- Sectional Study
Authors: Gong Boshen , Wang Youmin , Zhang Jin-an , Zhang Qiao , Zhao Jiajun , Li Jiashu , Wang Xichang , Han Yutong , Yu Ziwei , Zhang Chenyu , Peng Bingcong , Xing Yumin , Li Qiuxian , Wang Ping , Li Yongze , Teng Weiping , Shan Zhongyan
Published: April 2023

Background: Chinese topography appears a three-rung ladder-like distribution of decreasing elevation from northwest to southeast, which is divided by two sloping edges. To explore the association between three-rung ladder-like regions and thyroid disorders according to unique Chinese topographic features, we conducted an epidemiological cross-sectional study from 2015–2017 that covered all 31 mainland Chinese provinces.
Methods: A total of 78,470 participants aged ≥18 years from a nationally representative cross-sectional study were included. Serum thyroid peroxidase antibody, thyroglobulin antibody, and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels; urine iodine concentration; and thyroid volume were measured. The three-rung ladder-like distribution of decreasing elevation from northwest to southeast in China was categorized into three topographic groups according to elevation: first ladder, >3000 m above sea level; second ladder, descending from 3000 - 500 m; and third ladder, descending from 500 m to sea level. The third ladder was further divided into groups A (500-100 m) and B (<100 m). Associations between geographic factors and thyroid disorders were assessed using linear and binary logistic regression analyses.
Results: Participants in the first ladder group were associated with lower thyroid peroxidase (β=-4.69; P=0.00) , thyroglobulin antibody levels (β=-11.08; P=0.01), and the largest thyroid volume (β=1.74; P=0.00), compared with the other groups. The second ladder group was associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (odds ratio=1.30, 95% confidence interval [1.18-1.43]) and subclinical hypothyroidism (odds ratio=0.61, 95%confidence interval [0.57-0.66]) (P<0.05) compared with the first ladder group. Group A (third ladder) (500-100 m) was associated with thyroid nodules and subclinical hypothyroidism (P<0.05). Furthermore, group B (<100 m) was positively associated with autoimmune thyroiditis, thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibody positivity, and negatively associated with overt hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, and goiter compared with the first ladder group(P<0.05).
Conclusion: We are the first to investigate the association between different ladder regions and thyroid disorders according to unique Chinese topographic features. The prevalence of thyroid disorders varied among the three-rung ladder-like topography groups in China, with the exception of overt hyperthyroidism.
Kinetic regularities of Lewis Acid-catalysed glycolysis of polycarbonate
Authors: Kurneshova Tatyana A. , Dzhabarov Georgy V. , Sapunov Valentin N. , Kozlovskiy Roman A. , Voronov Mikhail S. , Varlamova Elena V. , Sergeenkova Mariya P. , Shafiev Daniil N.
Published: April 2023

This research focuses to studying on the process of glycolysis of polycarbonate (PC) catalyzed by zinc chloride. The degradation of polyester into monomers (bisphenol A, or BPA, and ethylene carbonate, or EC), which may then interact with one another to generate the matching ethers, was discovered to be the process. As a result, the optimal conditions for the depolymerization of PC to obtain bisphenol A and ethylene carbonate with the highest yield were therefore identified as 180 °C, a molar ratio of 11 between EG and PC, and a mass concentration of 0.12% ZnCl2. A scheme of PC glycolysis has been proposed, and a mathematical model adequately describing the experimental data has been developed.
The Drug Efficacy Testing in Ex Vivo 3D Cultures (DETECt) platform enables rapid identification of effective drugs and drug combinations for ovarian cancer patients
Authors: Seashore-Ludlow Brinton , Åkerlund Emma , Gudoityte Greta , Moussaud-Lamodière Elisabeth , Lind Olina , Bwanika Henri Colyn , Lehti Kaisa , Saheli Sahar , Carlson Joseph , Wallin Emelie , Fernebro Josefin , Ostling Paivi , Kallioniemi Olli , Joneborg Ulrika
Published: April 2023

Most patients with advanced ovarian cancer (OC) relapse and progress despite systemic therapy, pointing to the need for improved and tailored therapy options. Functional precision medicine can help to identify effective therapies for individual patients in a clinically relevant timeframe. Here, we present a scalable functional precision medicine platform: DETECt (Drug Efficacy Testing in Ex vivo 3D Cultures), where the responses of primary patient cells to drugs and drug combinations are tested with live-cell imaging. We demonstrate the delivery of individual drug sensitivity profiles in 20 samples from 16 patients with ovarian cancer in both 2D and 3D culture formats, achieving over 90% success rate in providing actionable data six days after operation. All patients in this cohort received carboplatin as treatment and the ex vivo carboplatin drug response scores were significantly different between patients with a complete clinical response and those with a partial response or progression (p<0.05). In addition, carboplatin ex vivo response also predicted progression free interval (PFI) of patients (p<0.05). We find that the 3D culture format better retains proliferation and characteristics of the in vivo setting. Using the DETECt platform we evaluate 27 tailored combinations with results ready 10 days after operation. Notably, carboplatin and A-1331852 (Bcl-xL inhibitor) showed an additive effect in four of eight OC samples tested. Interestingly, afatinib treatment led to an increase of BIM and Bcl-xL expression in OC cells, which could be reversed by Bcl-xL inhibition, leading to increased cell death and synergy in 5/7 OC models. In conclusion, our 3D DETECt platform can rapidly define potential, clinically relevant data on efficacy of existing drugs in OC for precision medicine purposes, as well as provide insights on emerging drugs and drug combinations that warrant testing in clinical trials.
Free triiodothyronine serves as a potential predictor of long-term heart failure following acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Chen Senyang , Qian Yan , Shen Jiarui , Zhang Jiajia , Gong Kaizheng , Zhao Pei
Published: April 2023

Background To investigate the potential role of free triiodothyronine (FT3) for predicting long-term heart failure (HF) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods A total of 269 patients admitted to our hospital with AMI were assessed between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2018 and followed up for a median of 39 months. Patients were categorized into HF group or non-HF group according to the occurrence of HF after AMI. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to identify factors independently associated with long-term HF. According to the median level of FT3, the patients were segregated into two groups: the low-level group (FT3 ≤ 4.63pmol/L) and the high-level group (FT3 ≥ 4.64pmol/L) and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate the HF-free survival between the two groups. Receiving operating characteristics (ROC) curves were constructed and area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the predictive accuracy of FT3 on long-term HF among patients with AMI.Results Compared to those in non-HF group, patients in HF group were significantly older, had higher levels of creatinine and D-Dimer, but lower levels of hemoglobin and FT3, lower LVEF and a lower proportion of PCI treatment (p < 0.05 for all). Multivariable Cox regression analysis suggested that age (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04–1.10; p < 0.001), FT3 (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.47–0.96; p = 0.028), LVEF (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93–0.97; p < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for long-term HF after AMI. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated significantly decreased HF-free survival among patients with lower FT3 level (log-rank p < 0.01). The ROC analysis revealed FT3 had good performance in prediction long-term HF after AMI (AUC = 0.736, 95% CI 0.676–0.797; p < 0.01).Conclusions Lower level of FT3 is not only an independent risk factor for long-term HF after AMI, but also predicts a higher risk of long-term HF following AMI. Our findings are intriguing for long-term medical management of patients with AMI.
Widespread habitat loss and redistribution of marine top predators in a changing ocean
Authors: Braun Camrin , Lezama-Ochoa Nerea , Farchadi Nima , Arostegui Martin , Alexander Michael , Allyn Andrew , Bograd Steven , Brodie Stephanie , Crear Dan , Curtis Tobey , Hazen Elliott , Kerney Alex , Mills Katherine , Pugh Dylan , Scott James , Morse Riley Young , Lewison Rebecca
Published: April 2023

The Northwest Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico are among the fastest warming marine ecosystems, a trend that is expected to continue through this century with concomitant changes to large-scale currents and far-reaching implications for ocean dynamics and marine ecosystems. Here we examine the distribution of 12 highly migratory top predator species using predictive models and project expected habitat changes to 2100 using three downscaled climate model outputs. Our models predict widespread losses of suitable habitat for most species, concurrent with substantial northward displacement of core habitats that exceed 500 km. These changes include up to a >70% loss of suitable habitat by area for some commercially- and ecologically-important species. We also identify predicted hotspots of multi-species habitat loss focused offshore of the U.S. Southeast and Mid-Atlantic coasts. For several species, the predicted changes are already underway, which are likely to have significant impacts on the efficacy of static regulatory frameworks and instruments used to manage highly migratory species. The ongoing and projected effects of climate change highlight the urgent need to adaptively and proactively manage dynamic marine ecosystems.
Event Cache: An Independent Component in Working Memory
Authors: Zhou Hui , Wu Jinglan , Li Jiaofeng , Pan Zhihe , Lu Jinying , Shen Mowei , Wang Teng-Fei , Hu Yuzheng , Gao Zaifeng
Published: April 2023

Working memory (WM) has been a major focus of cognitive science and neuroscience for the past 50 years. While most WM research has centered on the mechanisms of objects, there has been a lack of investigation into the cognitive and neural mechanisms of events, which are the building blocks of our experience. Employing confirmatory factor analysis and resting-state and task fMRI, our study demonstrated for the first time that events have an independent storage space within WM, known as the event cache, with distinct neural correlates compared to object storage in WM. The cerebellar network was found to be the most essential network for event cache, with the left cerebellum Crus I being particularly involved in encoding and maintaining events. Our findings shed critical light on the neuropsychological mechanism of WM by revealing event cache as an independent sub-component of WM and encourage the reconsideration of theoretical models for WM.
Mid-infrared Raman Amplification in Silicon Core Fiber
Authors: Huang Meng , Sun Shiyu , Saini Than , Fu Qiang , Xu Lin , Wu Dong , REN HAONAN , Shen Li , Hawkins Thomas , Ballato John , Peacock Anna
Published: April 2023

Raman scattering provides a convenient mechanism to generate or amplify light at wavelengths where gain is not otherwise available. When combined with recent advancements in high power fiber lasers that operate at wavelengths ~2 μm, great opportunities exist for Raman systems that extend operation further into the mid-infrared (IR) regime for applications such as gas sensing, spectroscopy, and biomedical analyses. Here, a thulium-doped fiber laser is used to demonstrate Raman emission and amplification from a highly nonlinear silicon core fiber (SCF) platform at wavelengths beyond 2 μm . The SCF has been tapered to obtain a micrometer sized core diameter (~1.6 μm) over a length of 6 cm, with losses as low as 0.2 dB/cm. A maximum on-off peak gain of 30.4 dB was obtained with a modest average pump power of 12.4 mW, with simulations indicating that the gain could be increased to up to ~50 dB by extending the SCF length. Simulations also show that by exploiting the large Raman gain and extended mid-infrared transparency of the SCF, cascaded Raman processes could yield tunable systems with practical output powers across the 2-5 μm range.
L-arginine, matters for skin health of leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus)
Authors: Liang Weixing , Deng Hongjin , Zhang Jiacheng , Chen Guanlin , Dong Xiaohui , Zhang Shuang , Tan Beiping , Chi Shuyan
Published: April 2023

An 8 weeks feeding trial was conducted in leopard coral grouper to observe the effects of dietary arginine (Arg) level on growth and skin health about development, pigmentation, antioxidant ability, immune capacity. Fish were feed five iso-lipidic and iso-proteic diets containing the Arg 2.4%, 2.9%, 3.4%, 3.9%, 4.4%, respectively. Results shown that the optimal dietary Arg value for best growth of leopard coral grouper was 3.72% of dry matter (corresponding to 6.73% of dietary protein) based on weight gain rate. The epidermis thickness of back skin and abdomen skin in Arg3.4, Arg3.9 and Arg4.4 groups was significantly higher than Arg2.4 and Arg2.9 groups. The SOD, carotene and astaxanthin in Arg4.4 group were significantly higher than Arg2.4 and 2.9 groups. Key genes in nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate, glutathione synthesis and ceramide synthesis pathways were significantly upregulated in Arg3.4 than Arg2.4 group, the synthesis genes of immune factors were significantly upregulated in Arg3.4 than Arg2.4 group. Suitable dietary Arg level can promote the morphological development, improve the antioxidant ability, enhance the immune capacity and reduce the consumption of pigment of skin. The results supported that Arg is an effective skin health enhancer for leopard coral grouper.
Trophic structure and a temporal shift in trophic diversity of mobile consumers in a subarctic estuary
Authors: George Jillian Rae St. , Petersen Stephen D. , Roth James D. , Ferguson Steven H. , Yurkowski David J.
Published: April 2023

Quantifying trophic relationships within and between species in terms of trophic position, ontogeny, and trophic diversity provides information on community-level structure and function. Little attention has been focused on examining the trophic structure and temporal changes of communities in freshwater-marine coupled systems in the subarctic and associated impacts of anthropogenic activity on trophic interactions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify the trophic position of mobile consumers within the lower Churchill River area (Churchill, Manitoba, Canada), examine trophic position variation in relation to ontogeny, and measure the trophic diversity of a fish assemblage before (1993–1995) and after (2019–2020) the installation of the Churchill River weir in the late 1990s. We used stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) to quantify individual and population-level variation in trophic position of thirteen fish species and two seal species and also assessed six community-level metrics of a three fish species assemblage between time periods. Overall, species that mainly foraged on freshwater resources occupied lower trophic positions than species that mainly consumed marine resources. Trophic position increased with fish age only in cisco, fourhorn sculpin, Greenland cod, and northern pike. A temporal shift from a trophically diverse to a more trophically redundant fish assemblage occurred between 1993–1995 and 2019–2020. As a result, these predator species now play similar trophic roles. Information on the trophic structure of this sub-Arctic estuarine system over two time periods may help with understanding how anthropogenic activity may have influenced the trophic diversity of a fish assemblage inhabiting this system.
The impact of urbanization on the place of death of older adults in China from an interprovincial perspective
Authors: Yuan Miaoyu , Tu Li , Cheng Lin , Xiang Nan , Hu Ankang
Published: April 2023

Background The place of death is an important measure of death quality. This study aimed to analyse the distribution and changes in the place of death of elderly individuals in China from an interprovincial perspective and its intrinsic association with rapid urbanization.Methods A hierarchical logistic model was constructed to carry out the analysis, using a combination of micro data from the China Health Influence Tracking Survey on the Elderly (CLHLS) 2011, 2014, and 2018 death samples and macro data at the provincial level from the China Statistical Yearbook.Results From 2011–2018, 95.04% of older Chinese adults died at home in rural areas, while 81.53% in urban areas. The overall hospital dying ratio of older adults first increased and then decreased, with the hospital dying ratio of urban older adults showing a significant downwards trend and rural older adults showing a slow upwards trend. The higher the number of medical beds per 10,000 people, the more likely the urban elderly are to die in hospitals. The higher the number of community general practitioners per 10,000 people, the more likely the urban elderly are to die at home. Older adults who were bedridden before death were more likely to die in a hospital, it was negatively moderated by the number of physician assistants per 10,000 population. Older adults with lower income were more likely to die at home, it was negatively moderated by the number of community health posts per 10,000 people.Conclusions Chinese older adults mainly die at home, especially in rural areas. The place of death of the urban elderly has become "deinstitutionalized", while rural elderly individuals are still in the stage of transition from home to the hospital. In urban China, the positive effect of regional medical care level on hospital dying and the positive effect of community medical resources on home dying occur simultaneously. Improvements at the regional medical level can increase the accessibility of medical services for older adults with certain mobility abilities and increase their probability of dying in the hospital. The abundance of community medical resources can alleviate the inequality of medical care utilization caused by the income disparity of elderly individuals.
Optimization Analysis of Construction Parameters of Step Method and CD Method for Super Large Section Tunnel Crossing Water Rich Fault Fracture Zone
Authors: Zhu ting , Liu Yuanming
Published: April 2023

When the Extra large section tunnel crosses the water-rich fault fracture zone, due to the poor stability of the surrounding rock itself and the disturbance generated by the construction, it is easy to cause instability of the surrounding rock, which can lead to collapse and other disasters. When the tunnel construction, often out of the construction method selection difficulties and tight schedule, in order to shorten the construction period and save costs, the tunnel through the fractured section of the surrounding rock often choose the step method, CD method construction, therefore, the optimization of the construction parameters of the step method is of great significance. This paper relies on the actual project, through the method of numerical simulation, the palm face extrusion displacement and 30m from the target section after the plastic zone of the surrounding rock, the initial support force as indicators. To analyze and simulate the changes of tunnel vault settlement, surrounding rock stress changes and initial support axial force, bending moment and safety coefficient in the excavation of different step heights in the construction of three-step method and CD method. Therefore, the factors affecting the stability of surrounding rock and the optimal construction step height are obtained. According to the simulation results, with the increase of the upper step height, the vault settlement and peripheral convergence increase, the initial support safety factor becomes smaller, and the plastic zone of the surrounding rock at 30m from the target surface becomes larger, and the optimal working condition for the construction of the three-step method is working condition two (the upper, middle and lower step heights are 0.45H, 0.35 and 0.2H respectively), and the optimal working condition for the construction of the CD method is working condition seven [the left (right) upper and left ( (right) upper step height is 0.5H, 0.5H respectively)].
The Association between Plant-Based Dietary Index and Odds of Diabetic Nephropathy in Women: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Jebraeili Haniyeh , Mirzababaei Atieh , Abaj Faezeh , Mohsenian Saman , Mirzaei Khadijeh
Published: April 2023

Recent research has suggested that adherence to plant-based dietary index (PDI) may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and related complications like DN. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the possible association of PDI with the odds of DN. We enrolled 105 eligible women with DN and 105 controls (30–65 years) who were referred to the Kowsar Diabetes Clinic in Semnan, Iran. A 147-iteme food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to evaluate an overall PDI, healthy plant-based diet index (hPDI), and unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI). Biochemical variables and anthropometric measurements were assessed for all patients using the pre-defined protocols. According to our final analyze, after controlling for potential confounders, participants with greater adherence to overall PDI (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.15–0.56; P < 0.001) and hPDI (OR: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.15–0.56; P < 0.001) had 71% and 70% lower odds of DN compared to those with a low adherence. Conversely, subjects with a higher adherence to the uPDI were positively associated with increased odds of DN (OR = 5.00; 95% CI = 2.78–8.98; P < 0.001) and (OR = 4.27; 95% CI = 2.24–8.14; P < 0.001) in the crude and adjusted models, respectively. The result of this study showed that greater adherence to overall PDI and hPDI was inversely associated with the odds of DN. However, further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these results. Plant-based diet; Diabetic nephropathy; Diabetes; case-control
Professional calling among nursing students: A Latent Profile Analysis
Authors: Jiang Hu , Mei Yongxia , Wang Xiaoxuan , Zhao Zhixin , Lin Beilei , Wang Wenna , Zhang Zhenxiang
Published: April 2023

Background: One factor that influences nursing students' decision to pursue a nursing career is professional calling. It is important to comprehend nursing students' professional calling, which may have an impact on their career decisions and professional identities.
Objectives: To investigate possible calling types and contributing variables among nursing students.
Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.
Participants: A total of 10583 nursing students were enrolled in this survey.
Methods: From November 16th, 2022, to January 17th, 2023, a cross-sectional study was carried out among nursing students using a convenient sampling. The subjects were given the Chinese Calling Scale and the General Demographic Information Questionnaire. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to separate nursing students' professional calling into a variety of subgroups. To find the variables connected to the prospective calling categories, we used ordinal and multinomial Logistic regression analysis.
Results:We divided the respondents into three calling groups, low calling group (N=3204), moderate calling group (N=4492), and high calling group (N=2887), which accounted for 30.3%, 42.4%, and 27.3% of the total respondents, respectively, in accordance with the findings of the latent profile analysis. Across scale scores and dimensions for the three separate categories, three groups demonstrated statistically significant differences (both p<0.001). Profile membership was predicted by factors such as age, gender, location of origin, first volunteer experience, highest degree earned, marital status, student leadership experience, and political appearance.
Conclusion: Three latent calling patterns were found, and there was calling variability across nursing students.Special care should be given to students with low calling. Nursing students must use professional education tools to help them develop their professional identities and stabilize the nursing team.
Incorporating functional annotation with bilevel continuous shrinkage for polygenic risk prediction
Authors: Zhuang Yongwen , Kim Na Yeon , Fritsche Lars G. , Mukherjee Bhramar , Lee Seunggeun
Published: April 2023

Background:
Genetic variants can contribute differently to trait heritability by their functional categories, and recent studies have shown that incorporating functional annotation can improve the predictive performance of polygenic risk scores (PRSs). In addition, when only a small proportion of variants are causal variants, PRS methods that employ a Bayesian framework with shrinkage can account for such sparsity. It is possible that the annotation group level effect is also sparse. However, the number of PRS methods that incorporate both annotation information and shrinkage on effect sizes is limited. We propose a PRS method, PRSbils, which utilizes the functional annotation information with a bilevel continuous shrinkage prior to accommodate the varying genetic architectures both on the variant-specific level and on the functional annotation level.
Results:
We conducted simulation studies and investigated the predictive performance in settings with different genetic architectures. Results indicated that when there was a relatively large variability of group-wise heritability contribution, the gain in prediction performance from the proposed method was on average 8.0% higher AUC compared to the benchmark method PRS-CS. The proposed method also yielded higher predictive performance compared to PRS-CS in settings with different overlapping patterns of annotation groups and obtained on average 6.4% higher AUC. We applied PRSbils to binary and quantitative traits in three real world data sources (the UK Biobank, the Michigan Genomics Initiative (MGI), and the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES)), and two sources of annotations: ANNOVAR, and pathway information from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and demonstrated that the proposed method holds the potential for improving predictive performance by incorporating functional annotations.
Conclusions:
By utilizing a bilevel shrinkage framework, PRSbils enables the incorporation of both overlapping and non-overlapping annotations into PRS construction to improve the performance of genetic risk prediction. The software is available at https://github.com/styvon/PRSbils
Texturing the optimal wear-resistance micro/nano hierarchical structure for drug loading on titanium implants
Authors: Sefei Yang , Yanfang Zhang , Lei Zhou , Ruifang Jiang , Yuankun Hou , Tong Ding , Tengfei Wu , Chanfang Dong , Yanfei Huang , Zhiguo Xing
Published: April 2023

This paper aimed to texture a drug-loaded structure on the surface of the titanium implant. Firstly, ABAQUS software was used to construct the implant placement model and to calculate the imposed forces on the implant during placement. Then the femtosecond laser-machined microstructures were subjected to friction testing to select the most wear-resistant shape, and the structural parameters of the shape were optimized. A micro/nano hierarchical structure was developed on the surface of the titanium disc and commercial implant through anodization. The morphology and tribological properties were studied precisely. The results show that laser-textured dimple shapes reduced the contact area and stored wear debris, improving the wear resistance of the surface. The shape with a diameter of 150 μm, depth of 80 μm, and texture density of 5% exhibited high resistance against wear during implant insertion. In-vitro study using fresh porcine mandibles showed that TiO2 nanotubes inside the dimples remain intact after implant placement. In addition, the micro/nano hierarchical structure exhibited excellent wettability, promising for drug loading. The designed drug-loaded structure protects the original surface of the implant, which can safeguard the surface modifications of all commercial implants used clinically currently. The presented approach can improve the implant success rate in patients with bone metabolic clinical conditions.
The Effect of Social Media-Supported Learning on the Academic Achievement of Nursing Students and the Levels of Use of Social Media in Nursing Education: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Çiftçi Bahar , Erden Yasemin , Kahraman Handan Aydın
Published: April 2023

AimThe aim of the present study was to determine the effect of social media-supported learning on the academic achievement of nursing students and the level of social media use in nursing education.Bacground:Social media in nursing education has an important place.MethodThe study had a RCT.CONSORTchecklist was used to guide the reporting of this RCT. Students were asked to fill out the necessary forms as a pre-test.The subject of parenteral drug administration was explained interactively to all students by the same instructors for a total of 12hours for3weeks.After the theoretical lesson, each skill was demonstrated by the instructor in the laboratory setting in a24-hour laboratory lesson with the demonstration method in line with the checklists.After the training was completed, the necessary forms were filled out by the students.Videos and informative images about parenteral drug applications were shared with the intervention group for 4weeks through an Instagram page that was created for social media-supported learning. Questions and answers were shared on the subject every day in the story section.The answer to the question was shared in the story section the next day with explanations.At the end of the 4th week of the training, the students were asked to fill out the necessary forms as a post-test.ResultsAfter social media-supported learning, it was found that the difference between the post-test mean scores of the nursing students in the intervention and control group was statistically significant(p < 0.001).It was also found that the average of the exam results after the training increased compared to the average of the exam results before the training and the difference between the two scores was statistically significant(p < 0.001).ConclusionIt was concluded that social media-supported education had a positive effect on the academic achievements of nursing students and the level of social media use in nursing education.Relevancetoclinical practice:The use of social media in nursing education increases the permanence of education.
Serum exosomes contain filamentous alpha-synuclein and facilitate the propagation of Parkinson’s pathology
Authors: Tsunemi Taiji , Yuta Ishiguro , Shimada Tomoyo , Yoroisaka Asako , Ueno Shin-Ichi , Takeshige-Amano Haruka , Hatano Taku , Inoue Yuichi , Saiki Shinji , Hattori Nobutaka
Published: April 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is pathologically characterized by the deposition of a-synuclein (a-syn) containing Lewy bodies/neurites in both the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Recent evidence indicates the contribution of exosomes, nano-sized extracellular vesicles, to the dissemination of Lewy pathology in the PNS into the CNS and vice versa. We analyzed serum exosomes from patients with PD (n = 142), multiple system atrophy (MSA) (n = 18), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) (n = 28), rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (n = 31), and controls (n = 105). Although the number of exosomes significantly decreased in PD compared to controls (p = 0.002), the filamentous α-syn in exosomes quantified by our ELISA system significantly increased in PD compared to controls (p < 0.0001) and compared to MSA (p = 0.03) or PSP (p = 0.04). Further analysis revealed that exosomes facilitate the propagation of filamentous α-syn between neurons and from the PNS to the CNS. These results highlight that the serum exosomal a-syn filaments may reflect peripheral Lewy pathology and that exosomes can enhance the propagation into the CNS.
Analysis of Clinical Value and Necessity of Preoperative Colonoscopy in Patients with Anal Fistula
Authors: Xu Shumin , Zhang Luo , Cao Bo , Liu Fang , Li Zhi , Wang Kaiping
Published: April 2023

Background: To explore the clinical application value of preoperative colonoscopy in patients with anal fistula.
Methods: (1) This study analyzed 1796 patients with benign anorectal diseases who underwent preoperative intestinal endoscopy and met the surgical criteria in the past three years at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Of these patients, 949 with anal fistula were classified as group A and 847 non-anal fistula patients were classified as group B. We compared and analyzed the general information, endoscopic findings, pathological characteristics of polyp, distribution of bowel-inflammation location, and inflammatory bowel disease examination results between the two groups of patients. (2) 2275 anal fistula patients without surgical contraindications in the past three years at the hospital were selected. Based on whether they underwent preoperative intestinal endoscopy, 949 anal fistula patients who underwent preoperative intestinal endoscopy were classified as group A and 1326 anal fistula patients who did not were classified as group C. This study compared the detection rate of endoscopic lesions and IBD results between the two groups of patients.
Results: (1) There was no statistically significant difference in general information between groups A and B, indicating comparability. However, the abnormal detection rate in group A was higher than that in group B（P＜0.01）. In terms of endoscopic findings, the detection rate of bowel inflammation, IBD, and polyps in the anal fistula group was higher than that in the non-anal fistula group（P＜0.05）. Regarding the location of inflammation, group A exhibited a higher detection rate in the terminal ileum, ileocecal region, and ascending colon than group B（P＜0.05）. The incidence of IBD in group A was higher than that in group B, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups（P＞0.05）. (2) The study found that there was a statistically significant difference in the intestinal endoscopic detection rate between the two anal fistula groups (groups A and C)（P＜0.01）. The detection rate of IBD in the two anal fistula groups (groups A and C) had statistical significance（P＜0.05）. The detection rate of Crohn's disease in the two anal fistula groups (groups A and C) also had statistical significance（P＜0.05）.
Conclusions: Preoperative colonoscopy is of great clinical value in the preoperative evaluation of patients with anal fistula, and it is necessary to perform preoperative colonoscopy to exclude localized perianal lesions caused by inflammatory bowel disease, thereby reducing the rate of missed diagnoses and improving treatment outcomes.
Smoothness evaluation indices during sit-to-stand-to-sit motions in healthy older females and after hip fracture using an accelerometer
Authors: Shimamura Takeshi , Ishikawa Hitoshi , Fujii Hiromi , Katoh Hiroshi
Published: April 2023

Background:
Studies that quantify the quality of sit-to-stand-to-sit (STS) motions, particularly in smoothness, are limited. This study aims to investigate the possibility and usefulness of qualitative evaluation during STS.
Methods:
This study included 36 females aged over 60 years, including 18 participants in each of the healthy and hip fracture groups. Measurements were performed at two different speeds: five STS as fast as possible (STSF) and 2 s for each motion (STS2s). Indices of smoothness, including the harmonic ratio (HR) and power spectrum entropy (PSE), were calculated from the measured data in each of the three axial directions and were compared.
Results:
HR in the vertical direction was significantly higher in the healthy group than in the hip fracture group for STSF and STS2s. Furthermore, PSE for all directions and triaxial composites was significantly lower for STS2s.
Conclusion:
This study suggests the usefulness of HR and PSE as qualitative evaluations for STS.
ROBO3 is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker that guides treatment option and Correlates with Immune Cell Infiltration in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Guo Shao-Jun , Chen Xue-Xing , Jiang Qi-xia , Cui Jing-ying , Yuan Guo-Lin
Published: April 2023

Based on cytogenetic and genetic markers for risk stratification, patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) show a very heterogeneous prognosis. Overexpression of ROBO3 has been reported to confer an unfavorable outcome in AML. However, it is unclear whether the prognostic effect of ROBO3 on AML is interfered by treatment option. In this study, we analyzed 148 AML patients with ROBO3 expression information using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We found ROBO3 was a new prognostic marker in AML administered chemotherapy. In multivariable analyses, high ROBO3 expression independently predicted lower EFS (HR = 1.820, P = 0.035) and OS (HR = 2.073, P = 0.011) when adjusting for other well-known prognostic factors. We further found allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT) could overcome the inferior outcomes associated with high ROBO3 expression. Construction nomograms including ROBO3 and other clinical parameters for predicting OS and EFS exhibited satisfactory accuracy and discrimination. Functional enrichment identified ROBO3 was involved in immune-related pathways. ssGSEA demonstrated notable differences and correlation in the immune cell infiltration. Notably, we confirmed that ROBO3 suppression could inhibit leukemia cell growth in vitro. Overall, our results provide new insights into the role of ROBO3 in AML, with promising clinical implications.
Sustainability Status of Karang Jeruk Reef Ecosystem Assessed by RAPFISH
Authors: Zuhry Noor , Afiati Norma , Purnomo Pujiono Wahyu , Hendrarto Boedi
Published: April 2023

As a coral reef in marine protected area in Tegal Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia, Karang Jeruk has been receiving several rehabilitation efforts in the past. Yet, the result have not been comprehensive so far. It is therefore to sustain; the reef requires a planned and synergistic effort by considering several dimensions. This study aims to analyze the level of sensitivity and level of sustainability of the reef by means of RAPFISH 2013 Version R, a multidimensional scaling approach. The results showed that the highest sustainability index was the ecological dimensions (80.08), followed by technological dimensions (59.42), social dimensions (44.83), institutional dimensions (29.41) and finally the economic dimensions (25.23). Hence, constructive priorities are needed for dimensions with low sustainability index values, so that equilibrium is achieved on all dimensions.
Edaphic and topographic gradients have differential influence on woody species assemblages on serpentine and non-serpentine soils in an African Savanna
Authors: Nyenda Tatenda , Musungwa Tenderano , Piyo Tafadzwa Terrence , Kowe Pedzisai , Muvengwi Justice , Witkowski Ed F.T
Published: April 2023

Background and aims
Understanding the determinants of plant species associations on unique serpentine substrates is crucial for restoration ecology yet understudied. We investigated the influence of local edaphic and topographic gradients on woody species associations on serpentine and non-serpentine soils along the Zimbabwe great Dyke.
Methods
Vegetation attributes were assessed in 62 plots located on serpentine and adjacent non-serpentine patches at varying slope magnitude and orientation. Plant community comparisons and relationships with soil and topographic variables were analyzed using ANOVA and ordinations.
Results
Aspect had more influence on woody composition, species associations and densities on- compared with off-serpentine soils. Lower species richness, tree/shrub densities were observed on-serpentine than non-serpentine patches. Soil Mg, Mg/Ca ratio, total Ni, Cr and Mn, and available Ni were significantly higher on-Serpentine than off-serpentine patches. All parameters (pH, Ca, Mg, Mg/Ca ratio; available Ni, Cr, Mn and total Mn) were similar between Serpentine east- and west-facing slopes, but only total Cr and Ni were higher on east-facing slopes. Only available Ni and Mn were higher on Serpentine piedmont than on slopes. Tree/shrub density and species richness were positively correlated to available Mn and Cr while negatively correlated to total and available Ni, pH, Mg/ca ratio and herbaceous plant cover.
Conclusion
Vegetation patterns on serpentine substrates are partly driven by intra-site edaphic (metals and Ca/Mg ratios) and topographic gradients. Aspect has differential influence on woody vegetation assemblages on serpentine and non-serpentine substrates. Combinations of species and environmental determinants observed can be used in mine site rehabilitation planning.
Improving effectiveness using nimotuzumab in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on the 18F-FDG PET/CT maximum standardized uptake value
Authors: Fu Xiaobin , Li Tingting , Fei Zhaodong , Chen Chuanben
Published: April 2023

Background: This study was aimed towards improving the efficacy of nimotuzumab (NTZ) in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) using the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18-FDG PET) as a predictive and prognostic indicator.
Method: 248 patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) who met the inclusion criteria of our study were subjected to PET/CT scan in our hospital prior to chemoradiotherapy from January 2012 to June 2019. Survival differences and independent factors between groups were assessed by the Kaplan–Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Outcome measures included analysis of the cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER).
Result: The optimal cutoff value for the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was 12.92 while the area under concentration-time curve (AUC) for the SUVmax was 0.596. The prognostic significance for overall survival (OS) with NTZ treatment (P=0.023) and SUVmax (P=0.014) was indicated by multivariate analysis. Exploratory subgroup survival analysis revealed that NPC patients with SUVmax >12.92 treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) plus NTZ had a significantly improved 3-year OS than those treated with CCRT alone (96.2% vs. 73.2%, P=0.047). However, in those with SUVmax ≤12.92 treated with CCRT plus NTZ there was no statistically significant difference from those treated with only CCRT (97.6% vs.94.3%, P=0.129). The treatment cost with nimotuzumab was $6317.61, this additional cost being only $274.68 extra for every 1% increase in the OS rate, as indicated by the cost-effectiveness analysis.
Conclusion: In LA-NPC patients with SUVmax >12.92, adding NTZ to CCRT improves overall survival and is cost-effective. However, the addition of NTZ was not effective for patients with SUVmax ≤12.92.
Introducing MR-TADF Emitters into Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cells for Narrowband and Efficient Emission
Authors: Edman Ludvig , Tang Shi , Santos John dos , Wang Jia , Zysman-Colman Eli
Published: April 2023

Organic semiconductors that emit by the process of multi-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) can deliver narrowband and efficient electroluminescence while being processable from solvents and metal free. This renders them attractive for use as the emitter in sustainable light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs), but so far reports on narrowband and efficient MR-TADF emission from LEC devices are absent. Here, we address this issue through careful and systematic material selection and device development. Specifically, we show that the detrimental aggregation tendency of an archetypal rigid and planar carbazole-based MR-TADF emitter can be inhibited by its dispersion into a compatible carbazole-based blend host and an ionic-liquid electrolyte; and we further demonstrate that the tuning of this active material results in the desired achievement of balanced p- and n-type electrochemical doping, high solid-state photoluminescence quantum yield of 91%, singlet and triplet trapping on the MR-TADF guest emitter, and similarly sized electron and hole transport traps. The introduction of this designed metal-free active material into an MR-TADF LEC results in the attainment of bright blue electroluminescence of 500 cd/m2, which is delivered at a high external quantum efficiency of 3.8% and a narrow full-width-at-half-maximum of 31 nm.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic among patients with lung and head and neck cancer assisted in a public cancer center in Brazil
Authors: Veloso Gilson Gabriel Viana , Amaral Flávia Duarte , Nogueira-Rodrigues Angélica
Published: April 2023

Background There is no updated national data regarding the real impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delaying diagnosis and treatment among patients with lung, and head, and neck cancers in Brazil. This study aimed to analyze the COVID-19 pandemic impact on cancer diagnosis and clinical outcomes among lung, head, and neck cancer patients assisted in a tertiary cancer center in Southeastern Brazil, as well as to analyze these patients’ pretreatment clinical features.Methods Retrospective cohort of patients with lung or head and neck cancer assisted in a tertiary cancer center in southeastern Brazil between January/2019 and December/2021. To assess statistical differences among groups [i.e., cohort 2019 versus (vs.) 2020 and 2019 vs. 2021] chi-square test was used with a 5% significance level and 90% power for sample size calculation. Differences among baseline clinical features and sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated either by T-test for two samples or Fisher’s or Pearson’s chi-square test (for quantitative or qualitative variables). All utilized tests had a 5% significance level.Results 652 patients were included, 332 with lung and 320 with head and neck cancer; it was observed a significant decrease in oncologic treatment recommendations and increase in palliative care recommendation for patients with lung cancer, despite similar stages at diagnosis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more pain symptoms were reported at the first Oncology assessment (p < 0.05 in all of them). Compared to 2019, head and neck cancer patients diagnosed in 2021 presented a worse initial performance status (p = 0.017). There was a statistically significant reduction in mortality for patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2021 when compared to 2019 (p = 0.003).Conclusions This research highlights high mortality rates for patients with lung and head and neck cancer in Brazil, even before the pandemic started, as consequence of advanced diseases at diagnosis and limited access to best treatment options at the publica health system. This is a reflection of how fragile the public healthcare system even before facing an acute public health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the total impact on public health may follow for many years.