bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of Sexual Health Interventions for Nursing Students: A Systematic Review
Authors:   1. Nikole Bekman Troxman Prize*,   2.	Sarit Shimony -  Kanat,   3.	Anna C. Kienski Woloski Wruble Kienski Woloski Wruble
Published: September 2023

Background
Nursing students' education in sexual health lacks uniformity in content and assessment skills. Although various educational interventions have been developed to bridge this gap, their effectiveness still needs to be determined.
Objectives
The current systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of sexual health educational interventions for nursing students regarding the educational content, duration, and evaluation of these interventions.
Methods
This systematic review follows the preferred reporting guidelines for systematic reviews. The initial search was performed in 2021 and replicated in 2023. A comprehensive search was conducted across four databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE), resulting in 610 sources. Following the screening process, thirty-two interventional studies were deemed eligible for inclusion. The quality assessment of these studies was conducted using The Effective Public Health Project tool, which was found appropriate for evaluating this type of interventional research.
Results
The studies had a global representation, although most were conducted in the USA. Only a few educational interventions involved nursing students. Three main categories emerged from the analysis of the educational interventions: one-time interventions, workshops, and semester courses. These categories differed in terms of their duration. Upon evaluating the educational intervention programs, it was found that the majority relied on participant self-reporting, while only a few included objective effectiveness tests.
Conclusions
The systematic review reveals inconsistent educational intervention programs regarding content, duration, and evaluation methods. This variability makes it difficult to assess their effectiveness in improving students' clinical skills. It emphasizes the importance of establishing standards in the field, particularly in incorporating sexual health content and developing sexual health assessment skills as integral parts of nursing students' professional training.
The Development and Effects of a Social Constructivist Approach in an Interprofessional Discomfort Care Online Education Program
Authors: Choi ﻿Young-Rim , Lee ﻿Ye-na , ﻿Kwon ﻿Dai Young , Kim ﻿Dayeong , Park ﻿Won Hee , ﻿Chang ﻿Sung Ok
Published: September 2023

Background The importance of interprofessional education (IPE) programs is increasing due to the complexity and multidimensional aspects of discomfort in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). The social constructivist approach, which is helpful in IPE, has received considerable attention in education. This study aimed to develop and identify the effects of an interprofessional discomfort management online education program using a social constructivist approach.Methods Using the Network-Based Instructional System Design model, five steps were employed for online educational program development: analysis, design, production, implementation, and evaluation. We modified the framework of interprofessional discomfort care and a C3 (case-based, collaborative, and contextual learning) instructional model to construct the program. The study used a non-equivalent control group pre-post-test design with 54 interprofessional participants from four LTCFs.Results The pre-post outcomes were statistically significant for proactivity in problem-solving (t = − 2.244, p = 0.030), team outcomes (t = − 2.457, p = 0.017), and transactive memory system (t = − 3.229, p = 0.002). The results of the learners’ educational program-related satisfaction were as follows: overall degree of satisfaction, 3.67 ± 0.67; difficulty, 3.56 ± 0.82; suitability for practice, 3.83 ± 0.64, content, 3.69 ± 0.75; and educational method, 3.46 ± 0.86.Conclusions These findings support the effectiveness of the social constructivist approach education program for the awareness of discomfort care in LTCF healthcare professionals and can contribute to the improvement of IPE.
Use of a combination of diaphragmatic ultrasound and muscle relaxation monitoring in predicting post-extubation adverse respiratory events among elderly patients in an anesthesia intensive care unit
Authors: Huang Lun , Xia Bo , Cheng Lei , Hu Xian-Wen , Zheng Li-Dong , Cheng Feng
Published: September 2023

Objective
The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of using a combination of diaphragmatic ultrasound and muscle relaxation monitoring in predicting adverse respiratory events after extubation among elderly patients in an anesthetic intensive care unit (AICU).
Methods
The study participants were 120 elderly patients who were in the AICU after laparoscopic radical resection for colorectal cancer. Based on whether there were critical respiratory events (CREs) after extubation, they were divided into the adverse event group and the non-adverse event group. We used logistic regression to identify factors influencing the occurrence of CREs post-extubation in elderly patients. Using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, we analyzed the value of each indicator in predicting CREs post-extubation.
Results
We included 109 patients in the final analysis. In the adverse event group (n = 19), the age, proportion of females, and proportion of preoperative respiratory diseases were higher than in the non-adverse event group (n = 90). The muscle relaxation value, quiet breathing diaphragmatic excursion during extubation (DE-QB), deep breathing diaphragmatic excursion during extubation (DE-DB), and deep breathing diaphragmatic thickening fraction during extubation (DTF-DB) of patients in the adverse event group were significantly lower than those in the non-adverse event group (P < 0.05). Using binary logistic regression analysis, we identified muscle relaxation value, DE-DB, and DTF-DB during extubation as significant predictors of CREs post-extubation in elderly patients (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the combination of the muscle relaxation value, DE-DB, and DTF-DB during extubation for predicting CREs after extubation in elderly patients was 0.949, which was higher than that of any single indicator.
Conclusion
The combination of diaphragmatic ultrasound and muscle relaxation monitoring was more accurate in predicting CREs post-extubation among elderly patients in the AICU.
Vitamin D Level as a Predictor of Dysmobility Syndrome in Middle-aged and older adults with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Ma yongfang , Liu Bowei , Yin Fuzai , Liu Junru , Wang Xing , Fan Dongmei , Sun Lina , Lu Lanyu
Published: September 2023

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the effect of 25-(OH) Vit D on Dysmobility Syndrome (DMS)in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) patients, including 330 patients (66.96±8.78 years old) with T2DM who were admitted to the Qinhuangdao First Hospital from October 2020 to February 2022. The 25-(OH) Vit D is grouped at the 25th percentile into two groups (group A <36.2nmol/L, group B ≥ 36.2nmol/L). Data on grip strength, six meters grip strength, and level of 25-(OH) vitamin D were collected and measure bone mineral density (BMD) by Dual-energy X-ray (DXA). The incidence of DMS in patients with T2DM was 25.5%. The proportion of vitamin deficiency is 67.9% in patients with T2DM. Compared with patients without DMS, the level of 25-(OH)Vit D in patients with DMS was lower (41.74±14.60 vs 47.19±13.01, P＜0.05). With DMS as the dependent variable, Gender, age, vitamin D level, HbA1c, ALB, HDLC, eGFR, Diabetic retinopathy, diabetes nephropathy, and diabetes peripheral neuropathy were taken as independent variables, and logistic regression analysis was performed to find the independent factors, which include age (OR value=1.175，95%CI：1.110-1.243, P=0.000), low levels of 25-(OH) Vit D (OR value=2.910，95%CI：1.357-6.242, P=0.006), and higher levels of HbA1c(OR value=1.288, 95%CI: 1.085-1.529, P=0.004), they are associated with the risk of DMS’s prevalence in T2DM patients. But males reduce the risk of DMS by 51.3% (OR value=0.487, 95%CI: 0.238-0.998, P=0.05).
Neglected sleep problems: A multi-center cross-sectional study of gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Yu Jingya , Chen Zhixiang , Chen Yanhan , Wang Xingyu , Luo Zhongchen , Fan Jili , Chen Lingyao , Tang Jiao , Zhao Qinghua
Published: September 2023

Background
Poor sleep quality is a prevalent problem, but in pregnant women, studies mainly explore the influence of sleep disorder on gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM), and limited data detected the sleep quality among gestational diabetes mellitus women. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the sleep quality and its predictors among gestational diabetes mellitus women.
Methods
A total of 618 pregnant women with GDM were invited to participate in the survey by convenience sampling method in the obstetric clinics of four general tertiary hospitals in Chongqing from July to August 2022. Data were collected utilizing sociodemographic characteristics, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Sleep Hygiene Scale, and the Pregnancy-related Anxiety Scale (PrAS). By using linear regression analysis, the predictors of sleep quality were identified.
Results
393 women with gestational diabetes were finally included. The PSQI score was (5.83 ± 3.41). Notably, 43.77% of patients had actual sleep per night of less than 8 hours and 45.55% had poor sleep quality. Worrying during the day about your inability to fall asleep (β = 0.204, P < 0.01), body image concern (β = 0.159, P < 0.01), going to bed thirsty (β = 0.160, P < 0.01), educational attainment (β=-0.150, P < 0.01), avoidance (β = 0.124, P < 0.01), sleep disturbed by bed partner’s sleep (β = 0.126, P < 0.01), and worrying as you prepare for bed about your inability to fall asleep (β = 0.137, P < 0.01) significantly affected the sleep quality of gestational diabetes mellitus women.
Conclusions
The proportion of insufficient sleep duration and poor sleep quality in gestational diabetes mellitus women was exceptionally high, significantly affected by poor sleep hygiene habits and pregnancy-related anxiety. The findings may enrich the theoretical understanding of sleep quality in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and help healthcare professionals timely identify sleep disorders, accurately dock those with poor sleep quality and conduct appropriate interventions, such as developing sleep hygiene habits education programs and resources, and body image acceptance based on cognitive behavioral therapy.
The Overview of Cybercrime and Cyber Security in Nigeria and Its Future Trends
Authors: Auwal Aminu Muhammad
Published: September 2023

The prevalence of cybercrimes in Nigeria has exhibited a consistent upward trajectory in recent years. This paper aims to offer a comprehensive assessment of the rate of cybercrime and cybersecurity incidents in Nigeria over a specified period.
The study utilizes data sourced from the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) as well as a distributed survey administered to a diverse cohort of students, staff, and workers, employing basic statistical analysis and nearest neighbour analysis.
The study's findings reveal a significant surge in cybercrime rates in recent times, particularly within sectors encompassing social, financial, and educational domains, among others. The findings also underscore the persistent increase of cybercrime over time, which is largely attributed to inadequate action from government bodies, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies.
Consequently, it is recommended that law enforcement agencies and regulatory entities intensify their efforts to monitor and address these criminal activities. Ultimately, proactive initiatives should be directed towards safeguarding the most vulnerable demographic groups against cybercrime victimization.
A scoping review on the barriers to and facilitators of health services utilisation related to refugee settlement in regional or rural areas of the host country
Authors: Coumans J.V.F. , Wark S.
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND
Healthcare access and equity are human rights. Worldwide conflicts, violence, and persecution have increased the number of refugees and/or asylum seekers. Because urban areas are already densely populated, governments have aimed to increase refugee resettlement in rural and/or regional areas. Because of the complex healthcare needs of refugees, this creates challenges for healthcare service providers. Identifying barriers to accessing healthcare in rural areas is therefore important to better inform policy settings and programmes that will provide culturally appropriate patient-centred care to the refugee community.
METHODS
This review scoped 22 papers written in English between 2018 and July 2023 from five countries (Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Bangladesh, and Lebanon) in order to provide an overview of the barriers and possible solutions to facilitate refugees’ access to healthcare.
RESULTS
The reviewed literature summarised the perceptions of at least 3,561 different refugees and 259 rural health service providers and/or administrators and identified major challenges. These include communication (illiteracy in the resettlement country language and lack of a suitable interpreter), lack of cultural awareness of health services, discrimination, and access difficulties (transportation, availability of health specialist services, cost). As a consequence, it was identified that improving access to affordable housing, employment through credential recognition, competence-level education for children, facilitating language training, and adapting health information would increase resettlement and encourage access to healthcare.
CONCLUSIONS
Refugees face significant barriers to accessing and engaging with healthcare services. This impacts their integration into rural communities and increases the prevalence of psychosocial issues like feelings of loneliness, low self-esteem, a lack of autonomy, and a lack of empowerment over informed decision-making, especially for women, jobless men, and the elderly. These findings support the need for additional support for refugees and healthcare providers to improve language proficiency and cultural competency. Policymakers need to improve the availability and accessibility of employment, housing accessibility, and service mobility. Additionally, more research is needed to assess the efficacy of emerging innovative programmes that aim to close the gap by delivering culturally appropriate patient-centred care to refugee communities in rural areas.
Temporal changes of 137Cs concentrations in the Far Eastern Seas: Partitioning of 137Cs between overlying waters and sediments
Authors: Hirose Katsumi , Povinec Pavel P.
Published: September 2023

Deep-ocean sediments, similarly as seawater, are important reservoirs of 137Cs, an anthropogenic radionuclide with a relatively long half-live found in the Earth system. To better understand the geochemical behavior of 137Cs in the ocean, we examined the temporal changes of 137Cs activity concentrations in the overlying waters and in sediments from the Far Eastern Seas (Sea of Japan, SOJ, and Okhotsk Sea, OS) during the period 1998 - 2021. The 137Cs activity levels showed exponential changes during the observed periods. The decay-corrected change rates of 137Cs in SOJ exhibited a slow increase during the observed period, whereas 137Cs in seawater and sediment in OS decreased gradually. This reflects a topographical difference, as SOJ is a semi-closed sea, whereas OS receives continuously inflow of subarctic waters. To elucidate the transfer processes of 137Cs from seawater to sediment, we discussed the temporal changes of the partition coefficients (Kd) of 137Cs between the overlying water and the surface sediment. In shallow areas (< 1500 m depth), Kd values were almost constant within the sampling periods, although the temporal changes in Kd values occurred in deeper waters (> 2500 m depth). The Kd values increased with increasing depth, which may reflect a pressure effect as a possible mechanism. These findings suggest that the chemical process may be important as factors controlling the transport of 137Cs between seawater and sediment, although more complicated phenomena occurred in deep waters and sediments of the SOJ (> 3000m depth).
Muscle pathology associated with cardiac function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Yoon Jin A , Lee Heirim , Lee In Sook , Song You Seon , Lee Byeong-Ju , Kim Soo-Yeon , Shin Yong Beom
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to investigate the associations between echocardiogram-based cardiac function indices and fibrosis of the abdominal and lower extremity muscles in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and identify the indices predictive of cardiac function changes during disease progression. Twenty-one non-ambulant patients with DMD who consented to participate in the study were enrolled. The association between cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis of the abdominal and lower extremity muscles was determined by analyzing the echocardiography and elastography data for the abdominal and extremity muscles. The patients’ mean age was 18.45 ± 4.28 years. The strain ratios of the abdominal and quadriceps muscles were significantly higher than that of the medial gastrocnemius muscle (GCM). The rectus abdominis muscle showed a higher strain ratio than the biceps femoris muscle and GCM, and the quadriceps muscle showed a higher strain ratio than the GCM. The strain ratio of the rectus abdominis muscle was negatively correlated with the left ventricular ejection fraction. The degree of fibrosis of respiratory muscles was also significantly associated with cardiac dysfunction; therefore, it can be used as a predictor of cardiac dysfunction in patients with DMD in clinical practice.
NanoPyx: super-fast bioimage analysis powered by adaptive machine learning
Authors: Henriques Ricardo , Saraiva Bruno , Cunha Inês , Brito António , Follain Gautier , Portela Raquel , Haase Robert , Pereira Pedro , Jacquemet Guillaume
Published: September 2023

The expanding scale and complexity of microscopy image datasets require accelerated analytical workflows. NanoPyx meets this need through an adaptive framework enhanced for high-speed bioimage analysis. At the core of NanoPyx, the Liquid Engine dynamically generates optimised CPU and GPU-based code variations, learning and predicting the fastest based on input data and hardware. This data-driven optimisation achieves over 10x faster processing, becoming broadly relevant to reactive microscopy and computing fields requiring efficiency.
Food Waste-Based Carbonization for Biochar Production in West Java Province, Indonesia: Life Cycle Assessment Approach
Authors: Djarot Ira Nurhayati , Nuha Nuha , Paminto Ari Kabul , Wijayanti Sri Peni , Widyastuti Netty , Setiawan Arief Ameir Rahman , Putra Agusta Samodra , Handayani Titin
Published: September 2023

Life cycle assessments regarding the recycling of food waste through industrial anaerobic processes, pyrolysis, and integrated waste treatment systems have been extensively reported. Among these processes, carbonization emerges as a technique to convert moist food waste into biochar, primarily for soil remediation application. In this study, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to evaluate the environmental performance of biochar production through carbonization from food waste in Bekasi, Indonesia. A life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) showed that this process would absorb 6,852 kg of CO2eq per t of biochar produced, contributing to decarbonization, and reducing global warming potential. In the sphere of CO2 emissions associated with biochar production CO2eq from syngas and wood fires were identified as the major contributors. However, the presence of methane recovery from the use of food waste classifies the impact of the biochar production process as offsetting. On the other hand, terrestrial ecotoxicity and human non-carcinogenic toxicity are the most dominant effects, with values of 745.1 kg 1,4-DCB and 680.7 kg 1,4-DCB. The impact of this process on terrestrial ecotoxicity is related to wood combustion and the presence of P2O5 and K2O in the final product. Non-carcinogenic toxic effects in humans are due to the zinc content in biochar products. Treating food waste with a carbonation approach has shown environmental benefits for climate change mitigation, in addition to economic benefits in the form of marketable biochar.
Integrating Transcriptomics, Glycomics And Glycoproteomics To Characterize Hepatitis B Virus-associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Li Zhuo , Zhang Na , Dong Zewen , Wang Xin , Zhou Jian , Gao Juan , Yang Yunyun , Li Jing , Guan Feng , Tan Zengqi
Published: September 2023

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks as the third most common cause of cancer related death globally, representing a substantial challenge to global healthcare systems. In China, the primary risk factor for HCC is the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Aberrant serum glycoconjugate levels have long been linked to the progression of HBV-associated HCC (HBV-HCC). Nevertheless, few study systematically explored the dysregulation of glycoconjugates in the progression of HBV-associated HCC and their potency as the diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.Methods An integrated strategy that combined transcriptomics, glycomics, and glycoproteomics was employed to comprehensively investigate the dynamic alterations in glyco-genes, N-glycans, and glycoproteins in the initiation and development of HBV- HCC.Results Bioinformatic analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets uncovered dysregulation of fucosyltransferases (FUTs) in liver tissues from HCC patients compared to adjacent tissues. Glycomic analysis indicated an elevated level of fucosylated N-glycans, especially a progressive increase in fucosylation levels on IGHA1 and IGHG2 determined by glycoproteomic analysis.Conclusions The findings indicate that the abnormal fucosylation plays a pivotal role in the progression of HBV-HCC. Systematic and integrative multi-omic analysis is anticipated to facilitate the discovery of aberrant glycoconjugates in tumor progression.
Electrochemical skin conductance by Sudoscan in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients
Authors: Chiu Liang-Te , Lin Yu-Li , Wang Chih-Hsien , Hwu Chii-Min , Liou Hung-Hsiang , Hsu Bang-Gee
Published: September 2023

Background. Peripheral neuropathy is prevalent among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Sudoscan non-invasively detects polyneuropathy by measuring electrochemical skin conductance (ESC). We conducted a study on sudomotor function in CKD patients across various stages based on their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).Methods. In this cross-sectional study of 700 CKD patients, all underwent Sudoscan. Pathological ESC was defined as hands < 40 µS or feet < 50 µS.Results. Among participants, 344 had diabetes, and 356 did not. Hands and feet ESC decreased with CKD progression (stage 1–2, 3, 4–5: 54.0 (39.0–68.0), 45.5 (30.0–63.0), 41.8 (26.5–60.5), p trend < 0.001; 64.5 (53.5–74.0), 60.5 (43.0-72.5), 55.0 (39.0-69.8), p trend < 0.001). Pathological hands and feet ESC increased in later CKD stages (stage 1–2, 3, 4–5: 26.6%, 40.9%, 45.7%, p trend < 0.001; 21.7%, 34.0%, 40.6%, p trend < 0.001). Positive hands and feet ESC-eGFR correlation existed, irrespective of diabetes. Diabetic patients had lower hands and feet ESC than non-diabetics as CKD progressed. However, multivariate regression found no significant ESC-eGFR association.Conclusion. Pathological sudomotor function was common in non-dialysis CKD stages 4–5. Diabetic patients had worse function. Sudomotor dysfunction progressed with renal disease but eGFR was not an independent risk factor.
Foraging areas of Orlog's gull in an estuarine ecosystem of Argentina: are they underprotected?
Authors: Petracci Pablo , Caruso Nicolás Carmelo , Sala Luciano Francisco La , Marbán Leandro , Sotelo Martín , Carrizo Martín , Sarria Rodolfo
Published: September 2023

Seabird populations worldwide are facing significant declines due to various threats, making them valuable bioindicators of marine ecosystem changes. Understanding their foraging behavior and identifying crucial foraging areas is essential for their conservation. In this study, we focused on Olrog’s Gull (Larus atlanticus), a near-threatened species endemic to the Atlantic coast of Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. Our objectives were to assess the distribution of foraging areas (FAs) and home ranges, describe temporal flight patterns, and evaluate FA overlap with protected areas in the Bahía Blanca Estuary (BBE), Argentina. We used GPS tracking with dynamic Brownian bridge movement models (dBBMM) to analyze Olrog’s Gull behavior during their breeding season. Our results revealed well-defined FAs, with 72% of them being located outside protected areas, raising concerns about potential threats to the species. We observed sex-related differences, with females covering longer distances during foraging flights. Additionally, several FAs were situated near industrial sites, posing health risks due to potential pollution. This study contributes novel insights into Olrog’s Gull foraging ecology, particularly in the most critical breeding area for the species. We developed a dynamic web application for easy access to conservation-relevant information. Our findings emphasize the need for enhanced protection of key FAs, especially those outside existing protected areas, to safeguard the species and its ecosystem. These results underscore the importance of informed policy decisions to preserve Olrog’s Gull populations and their habitats in the face of growing human-related threats.
Effects of GPR157 Gene Copy Number Variation on Growth Traits of Four Chinese Local Goat Breeds
Authors: Zhao Jiahao , Wang Xianwei , Fu Changqi , Du Lei , Yao Zhi , Xin Xiaoling , Zhang Zijing , Ru Baorui , Xu Zejun , Wang Eryao , Peng Wei , Huang Yongzhen
Published: September 2023

Copy number variation is caused by the rearrangement of the genome, and it has gradually become a method to study the effect of gene polymorphism on gene expression.The effects of genetic polymorphisms on livestock development are increasingly important in molecular breeding.Chinese goats have the advantages of high reproductive rate and good environmental adaptability, but there are still some obvious defects in the growth and development of goats, such as poor meat production performance and slow growth. In order to improve the growth performance and market competitiveness of Chinese goats and promote the development of Chinese goat industry, a lot of research has been done on effective molecular markers. In this study, qPCR and data association analysis were used to detect and analyze the correlation effect of GPR157 gene copy number variation in Chinese goats. The results showed that the GPR157 gene had a significant effect on the growth traits of four Chinese goats, and it was the basic material and effective information for molecular marker breeding of goats. GPR157 is a G protein-coupled receptor located on the primary cilia of RGPs in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and can bind to Gq-like G proteins through GPR157-Gq-IP3 signaling and participate in neuronal differentiation. The research of GPR157 gene mainly focuses on neurodevelopment and diseases such as high myopia, and there are few studies on animal breeding.In this study, 633 blood samples were collected from five Chinese goat breeds (Guizhou black goat, GB; Guizhou white goat, GW; Taihang black goat, TB; Bohuai hybrid goat, GH; and Henan Huai goat, HH) for GPR157 gene CNV type detection. The correlation between CNV types and growth traits was analyzed by SPSS 26.0 software and analysis of variance.The results showed that the distribution of different copy number types in different breeds of goats was different.In GH sheep, the frequency of deletion type is higher than other breeds, close to 50%, in HH sheep, the frequency of deletion type is close to 40%; in TH sheep, the frequency of duplication type exceeds 80%; in and BH sheep The frequency is slightly higher than GB, about 23%,Association analysis showed that the CNV of the GPR157 gene had a positive effect on the growth and development of goats:In GH sheep, individuals with deletion copy number performed better than copy copy number individuals in terms of body height and length (P < 0.01). The functional role and molecular mechanism of GPR157 gene in animal growth and development are still unclear, and further research is needed. This study aims to provide basic materials for molecular breeding of Chinese goats.
Prevalence and Neurological Outcomes of Comatose Patients withExtracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: Feng Cheng-Yuan , Kolchinski Anna , Kapoor Shrey , Khanduja Shivalika , Hwang Jaeho , Suarez Jose I , Geocadin Romergryko G , Kim Bo Soo , Whitman Glenn , Cho Sung-Min
Published: September 2023

Background: Coma and disorders of consciousness is understudied in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The objective of our study was to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and in-hospital outcomes of comatose ECMO patients.
Method: This is a retrospectively observational cohort study in a tertiary academic hospital. All adults (age≥18) who received venoarterial (VA) or venovenous (VV) ECMO support between 11/2017 and 04/2022 were included. We defined "24-hour off sedation" as no sedative infusion (except dexmedetomidine) or paralytics administration over a continuous 24-hour period while on ECMO. "Off-sedation coma" (comaoff) was defined as GCS ≤8 after achieving 24-hour off sedation. "On-sedation coma" (comaon) was defined as GCS≤8 during the entire ECMO course without off-sedation for 24 hours. Neurological outcomes were assessed at discharge using the modified Rankin scale (good 0-3 and poor 4-6).
Results: The cohort consisted of 230 ECMO patients (VA-ECMO 143, median age 54, male 65%). "24-hour off sedation" was achieved in 32.2% VA-ECMO and 26.4% VV-ECMO patients. Among all patients off sedation for 24 hours (n=69), 56.5% VA-ECMO and 52.2% VV-ECMO patients experienced comaoff. Among those unable to be sedation-free for 24 hours (n=161), 50.5% VA-ECMO and 17.2% VV-ECMO had comaon. Comaoff was associated with poor outcomes (p<0.05) in both VA-ECMO and VV-ECMO groups while comaon only impacted the VA-ECMO group outcomes. In a multivariable analysis, the number of packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusion (aOR=1.16, 95% CI=1.04-1.28), average lactate level (aOR=1.91, 95% CI=1.11-3.30), and acute brain injury (ABI) (aOR=6.41, 95% CI=1.17-35.26) during ECMO support were independent risk factors for comaoff after adjusting for renal replacement therapy, ECMO configuration (VA vs. VV), worst pre-ECMO PaO2 and PaCO2.
Conclusions: Comaoff was common in ECMO patients and was associated with poor neurological outcomes at discharge. The number of pRBC transfusions, high lactate levels, and ABI were independent risk factors.
Violence in Context. Lethal Traumas in the First Colonization of Lanzarote Island (Canary Islands)
Authors: Alberto-Barroso Verónica , Delgado-Darias Teresa , Moreno-Benítez Marco , Suárez-Medina Ibán , Mendoza-Medina Félix , Velasco-Vázquez Javier
Published: September 2023

Lanzarote is marked by a scarce preservation of skeletal remains of the Berber populations that inhabited the island before the Norman Conquest in the 15th century AD. This is an anomalous situation for people that lived uninterruptedly on the island for about 1,400 years.The recent study of the few available human bones is providing transcendental data for the knowledge of the ways and conditions of life and, especially, of conflicts involving physical violence. The aim of this paper is to analyse the evidence of bone trauma in two individuals, male and female respectively, and to discuss the manner of their deaths. The results suggest the male was repeatedly stabbed, while the traces in the female consist of several energetic blows to the skull. Both cases display patterns of lesions revealing different forms of violence of significant interest for the comprehension of the conflicts and historical contexts in which they occurred. Apart from the lethal injuries themselves, the early chronology of the remains and the type of weapons used provide an exceptional opportunity to explore one of the least known moments in the first human history of Lanzarote: the initial stages of the stable colonisation of the island by imazighen groups.
Bioactive VS4-based sonosensitizer for robust chemodynamic, sonodynamic and osteogenic therapy of infected bone defects
Authors: He Yaqi , Liu Xin , Lei Jie , Ma Liang , Zhang Xiaoguang , Wang Hongchuan , Lei Chunchi , Feng Xiaobo , Yang Cao , Gao Yong
Published: September 2023

Most bone defects caused by bone disease or trauma are accompanied by infection, and there is a high risk of infection spreading and defect expansion. Clinical treatments include local debridement and systemic administration of antibiotics still have a high failure rate. Therefore, it is desired to develop a high efficiency strategy against these two possible consequences. In this study, an ultrasound responsive vanadium tetrasulfide-loaded MXene (VSM) Schottky junction is constructed for rapid methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clearance and bone regeneration. Due to the peroxidase (POD)-like activity of VS4 and the abundant Schottky junctions, VSM has high electron-hole separation efficiency and a decreased band gap, exhibiting a strong chemodynamic and sonodynamic antibacterial efficiency of 94.03%. Under the stimulation of medical dose ultrasound, the steady release of vanadium element promotes the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs). The in vivo application of VSM in infected femoral plateau bone defects of rats also has a great therapeutic effect, eliminating MRSA infection, inhibiting inflammation and improving bone regeneration. The present work successfully develops an ultrasound responsive VS4-based versatile sonosensitizer for robust effective antibacterial and osteogenic therapy of infected bone defects.
Genomic Profiles of Japanese Patients with Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Fujii Erisa , Kato Mayumi Kobayashi , Yamaguchi Maiko , Higuchi Daiki , Koyama Takafumi , Komatsu Masaaki , Hamamoto Ryuji , Ishikawa Mitsuya , Kato Tomoyasu , Kohno Takashi , Shiraishi Kouya , Yoshida Hiroshi
Published: September 2023

The incidence of vulvar carcinoma varies by race; however, it is a rare disease, and its genomic profiles remain largely unknown. This study examined the characteristics of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) in Japanese patients, focusing on genomic profiles and potential racial disparities. The study included two Japanese cohorts: the National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH) cohort comprised 19 patients diagnosed between 2015 and 2023, and the Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics cohort comprised 29 patients diagnosed between 2019 and 2022. Somatic mutations were identified by targeted or panel sequencing, and TP53 was identified as the most common mutation (52–81%), followed by HRAS (7–26%), CDKN2A (21–24%), and PIK3CA (5–10%). The mutation frequencies, except for TP53, were similar to those of Caucasian cohorts. In the NCCH cohort, 16 patients of HPV-independent tumors were identified by immunohistochemistry and genotyping. Univariate analysis revealed that TP53-mutated patients were associated with a poor prognosis (log-rank test, P = 0.089). Japanese VSCC mutations resembled those of Caucasian vulvar carcinomas, and TP53 mutations predicted prognosis regardless of ethnicity. The present findings suggest potential molecular-targeted therapies for select VSCC patients.
Astragaloside IV Reduces Mutant Ataxin-3 Levels and Supports Mitochondrial Function in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3
Authors: Lin Yongshiou , Cheng Wenling , Chang Juichih , Wu Yuling , Hsieh Mingli , Liu Chin-San
Published: September 2023

This study investigated the effects of astragaloside IV (AST) on the neurodegenerative disease of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3). Human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells expressing mutant ataxin-3 protein with 78 CAG repeats (MJD78) were used as an in vitro model, and SCA3 transgenic mice harboring an allele with a pathological polyglutamine tract with expanded 84 CAG repeats (SCA3 84Q) were used as an in vivo model. Protein expression analysis revealed that AST treatment reduced mutant ataxin-3 protein expression and aggregation via increased the autophagic flux in the MJD78 cells. Oxidative stress levels were elevated in the MJD78 cells but were reduced after AST treatment, which also increased antioxidant capacity; these findings were obtained using flow cytometry and antioxidant enzyme activity assay. Furthermore, treatment with AST ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction in the MJD78 cells, including that related to mitochondrial membrane potential, respiration, and mitochondrial dynamics. Additionally, AST administration improved motor function and provided protection against Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellum of the SCA3 84Q mice. In conclusion, AST administration increase the capability of antioxidants and reduced either cellular or mitochondrial oxidative stress and improve the process of mitochondrial quality control by fusion, fission, and autophagy. Summarizing, aforementioned mechanisms reduced intracellular mutant ataxin-3 protein aggregation to achieve therapeutic effectiveness in the SCA3 model.
Dynamic Response of Circular Concrete-filled Steel Tubular Columns under Very Low-elevation Lateral Impact Loads: Tests and Deflection Calculation Method
Authors: Liang Jiayu , Liu Yanhui , Zhao Yichao , Xu Nan
Published: September 2023

An experimental investigation of circular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns subjected to very low-elevation lateral impacts was performed. Six circular CFST members were prepared for lateral impact tests according to the typical CFST columns in high-speed railway stations in China. The impact location was at the height of the 2/9 column, which was determined according to the impact point between the running train and the column. There were three variables in the tests: the thickness of the steel tube, the impact velocity, and the axial load. The failure modes were determined in the tests, along with the time histories of the impact force and the deflection at the impact location. A finite-element analysis was performed to examine the effects of the axial load and scaling on the maximum deflection. According to the travelling plastic hinge theory, a three-stage rigid plastic mechanical model was employed to describe the impact process, in which the impact location was at the non-mid-span, and a calculation method for the deflection was developed. The method is generally applicable to CFST columns at any impact position. A comparison with the test results indicated that deflections can be calculated with reasonable accuracy using the proposed method.
Ocular surface parameters changes following endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy in Primary Acquired Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
Authors: Zhang Xiao-lin , Li Meng , Zhang Ke-ke , Gong Yan
Published: September 2023

Purpose: To evaluate Ocular surface parameters in patients with epiphora caused byprimary acquired nasolacrimal obstruction(PANDO), before and after endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EDCR) and to compare with fellow eyes.
Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty-nine patients who underwent successful dacryocystorhinostomy surgery were included in the study.The Sjögren’s International Collaborative Clinical Alliance (SICCA) ocular staining score (OSS), tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer tear test (with and without anesthesia), and Lid wiper staining score of PANDO eyes and fellow eyes were measured preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 month.
Results: Preoperatively,the SICCA OSS score of the PANDO eye was significantly lower than that of the fellow eye (P<0.001),Schirmer test I (without anesthesia) of PANDO eye was significantly higher than that of fellow eye(P=0.024).The differences observed between PANDO eyes and fellow eyes in all other parameters were not significant (p>0 .05).After surgery, the differences between the PANDO eye and fellow eye gradually disappeared(p>0 .05).
In PANDO eyes,when comparing preoperative values with postoperative values，SICCA OSS values showed a statistically significant increase（P<0.001），Schirmer tear test (without and with anesthesia)(P=0,P=0.046)、and Lid wiper staining Korb score(P=0.004)showed a statistically significant decrease.
In fellow eyes,when comparing preoperative values with postoperative 1-monthvalues, the Korb score of the fellow eye was significantly lower after surgery than before (P=0.004),all other parameters showed no significant changes.
Conclusions: Obstruction of Nasolacrimal Duct results in the decrease of tear clearance and the increase of wetness of ocular surface.After successful endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy （EDCR）surgery,the moisturization of PANDO eyes were reduced,the differences observed between PANDO eyes and fellow eyes in all parameters were disappeared.
Botnet detection based on Markov chain and Fuzzy rough set
Authors: Ezzatneshan Aziz , Farizani Seyed Reza Kamel Tabbakh , Kheirabadi Maryam , Ghaemi Reza
Published: September 2023

Botnets now make up a wide range of cyber-attacks, which are a network of infected computers connected to the Internet, with remote control. So far, a lot of research has been done in this field, the proposed methods are based on the signatures of discovered botnets, anomalies, traffic behavior, and addresses. Each method has both advantages and disadvantages. This research proposes a structure for performing identification operations, which is presented in this research based on the Markov chain and is based on behavioral analysis. A disadvantage of the past methods is the inability to receive network information at a very high speed. In this research, it has tried using a solution to receive traffic at a very high speed of about 40 Gbps and analyze it. To be able to perform the analysis with a lower overhead. The proposed method can investigate the behavior of botnets by examining the area of behavior better than the previous solutions, and as a result, during the solutions used by botnets to hide their behavior, it can counter and identify suspicious flows. The accuracy of the proposed method was found to be 96.170%.
Optimal design of bamboo under transverse bending
Authors: Sato Motohiro , Chalermsin Carol Lee , Kanahama Tohya
Published: September 2023

Bamboo, a natural functionally graded material (FGM), exhibits self-adaptive properties that are potentially responsible for its distinct vascular bundle distribution. This study explores the optimal spatial distribution of vascular bundles to maximize flexural rigidity during transverse bending. We compared the expression for volume fraction of fibers with a verified volume fraction expression and utilized the Halpin-Tsai equation to derive expressions for transverse Young's modulus and flexural rigidity. The optimal distribution was consistent with the actual distribution in Moso bamboo, which exhibits significant ovalization of the cross section due to pure bending. Bamboo behaves as a cylindrical shell near its base where the ovalization effect is significant and as a beam at other regions. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of flexural rigidity from pure bending is optimized at all positions in wild bamboo, demonstrating its potential as a versatile FGM that can adjust its distribution under both pure and transverse bending.
Real-Time Phishing Threat Detection using Lexical URL Features and Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: K SRUTHI , S Manohar Naik S Manohar Naik
Published: September 2023

Phishing attacks continue to pose a significant and ever-evolving threat to individuals, organizations, and the overall cybersecurity ecosystem. Machine learning plays a vital role in phishing attack detection. Researchers have put forth numerous machine learning-based strategies. The presence of a massive number of features can significantly deteriorate the performance of machine learning algorithms. The dependence of the feature on third parties poses problems for machine learning models in the context of real-time phishing detection. In this work, we propose a strategy for detecting lightweight, third-party independent lexical features of URLs that can detect phishing attempts in real time. We used 19964 instances of legitimate and phishing URLs from the ISCXURL-2016 dataset for our test purposes. We employed a range of feature selection and the most appropriate classification methods to detect phishing URLs; out of all the strategies, the Random Forest feature extractor and the Random Forest classifier produced the best accuracy of 99.89%.
Evaluating the Efficacy of Supervised Learning vs. Large Language Models for Identifying Cognitive Distortions and Suicidal Risks in Chinese Social Media
Authors: FU Guanghui , Qi Hongzhi , Zhao Qing , Song Changwei , Zhai Wei , Luo Dan , Shuo Liu , Yu Yi Jing , Wang Fan , Zou Huijing , Yang Bing Xiang , Li Jianqiang
Published: September 2023

Large language models, particularly those akin to the rapidly progressing GPT series, are gaining traction for their expansive influence. While there is keen interest in their applicability within medical domains such as psychology, tangible explorations on real-world data remain scant. Concurrently, users on social media platforms are increasingly vocalizing personal sentiments; under specific thematic umbrellas, these sentiments often manifest as negative emotions, sometimes escalating to suicidal inclinations. Timely discernment of such cognitive distortions and suicidal risks is crucial to effectively intervene and potentially avert dire circumstances. Our study ventured into this realm by experimenting on two pivotal tasks: suicidal risk and cognitive distortion identification on Chinese social media platforms. Using supervised learning as a baseline, we examined and contrasted the efficacy of large language models via three distinct strategies: zero-shot, few-shot, and fine-tuning. Our findings revealed a discernible performance gap between the large language models and traditional supervised learning approaches, primarily attributed to the models' inability to fully grasp subtle categories. Notably, while GPT-4 outperforms its counterparts in multiple scenarios, GPT-3.5 shows significant enhancement in suicide risk classification after fine-tuning. To our knowledge, this investigation stands as the maiden attempt at gauging large language models on Chinese social media tasks. This study underscores the forward-looking and transformative implications of using large language models in the field of psychology. It lays the groundwork for future applications in psychological research and practice.