bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring adaptive teaching in classroom discourse: Effects on student learning in elementary science education
Authors: Hardy Ilonca , Meschede Nicola , Mannel Susanne
Published: December 2022

Adaptive teaching is considered fundamental to teaching quality and student learning. It describes teachers’ practices of adjusting their instruction to students’ diverse needs and levels of understanding. Adaptive teaching on a micro level has also been labeled as contingent support and has been shown to be effective in one-to-one and small-group settings. In the literature, the interplay of teachers’ diagnostic strategies and instructional prompts aiming at tailored support are emphasized. Our study adds to this research by presenting a reliable measurement approach to adaptive classroom discourse in elementary science which includes a global index and the single indices of diagnostic strategies, instructional support, and student understanding. Applying this coding scheme, we investigate whether N = 17 teachers’ adaptive classroom discourse predicts N = 341 elementary school students’ conceptual understanding of “floating and sinking” on two posttests. In multilevel regression analyses, adaptive classroom discourse was shown to be effective for long-term student learning in the final posttest, while no significant effects were found for the intermediate posttest. Further, the single index of diagnostic strategies in classroom discourse contributed to long-term conceptual restructuring. Overall, teachers rarely acted adaptively which points to the relevance of teacher professional development.
The levels of BMI and patterns of obesity and overweight during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experience from the Iran STEPs 2021 survey
Authors: Djalalinia Shirin , Yoosefi Moein , Shahin Sarvenaz , Ghasemi Erfan , Rezaei Nazila , Ahmadi Naser , Rezaei Negar , Azmin Mehrdad , Rezaei Shahabeddin , Nasserinejad Maryam , Mohammadi Esmaeil , Haghshenas Rosa , Shabestari Alireza Namazi , Jamshidi Hamidreza , Dastjerdi Marziyeh Vahid , Larijani Bagher , Farzadfar Farshad
Published: December 2022

Background

Obesity and its increasing burden have become an urgent health problem all over the world. Benefiting from a national representative sample, the present study aimed to estimate the distribution of body mass index (BMI) levels and its association with metabolic and lifestyle risk factors in an Iranian adult population by sex, age, and geographical distribution.

Methods

This study involves a national survey of noncommunicable disease risk factor surveillance (STEPs) in Iran. Through systematic random sampling, in compliance with safety considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic, of the 28,520 adults who gave voluntary consent and included in the study, 27,874 participants completed the questionnaires (step 1), 27,745 individuals were anthropometrically measured (step 2), and 18,119 individuals completed laboratory evaluation (step 3). Anthropometric measurements followed based on standard protocols and by using calibrated instruments.

Results

In 2021, the national prevalence of normal weight, obesity, and overweight/obesity in ≥18-year-old Iranian adults was estimated at 33.61% (95% CI: 32.99–34.23), 24.96% (24.39–25.53), and 63.02% (62.39–63.65), respectively. Compared to women, Iranian men had a lower mean BMI [25.54 (24.95–26.13 vs. 27.6 (27.07–28.12) kg/m2] (p < 0.001). There was also a significant difference in the national prevalence rate of overweight/obesity [women: 66% (61–71), men: 53% (46–60) (p < 0.001)]. The prevalence of obesity was significantly higher in participants suffering from metabolic and lifestyle risk factors. The study of the geographical extent of obesity and overweight shows that compared to national levels, the highest prevalence of being underweight was seen in the southeastern provinces. On the other hand, the highest prevalence of obesity belonged to the northeastern and central provinces. The highest provincial prevalence of obesity was almost 2.5-fold higher than the lowest provincial prevalence.

Conclusion

The study reveals a significant difference between the prevalence of obesity in male and female participants and between different regions of the country. These findings will help policymakers, clinicians, and researchers to more accurately estimate the obesity/overweight problem and to implement more effective interventional programs to promote strategies of prevention and control of weight gain.
Co-occurrence of antimicrobials and metals as potential drivers of antimicrobial resistance in swine farms
Authors: Congilosi Jena L. , Wallace Joshua S. , Neher Timothy P. , Howe Adina , Soupir Michelle L. , Aga Diana S.
Published: December 2022

The application of animal manures to cropland is an important nutrient recycling strategy in many parts of the world. Commonly, aggregated manure wastes contain chemical stressors including veterinary antimicrobials, heavy metals, and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) that can stimulate the development and proliferation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While the presence of antimicrobials in manure is well-documented, the co-occurrence of other potentially impactful chemical stressors in swine manure remains underreported. This study quantifies and analyzes correlations between antimicrobials, metals, and certain ARGs present in manure samples from swine farms in Iowa, United States. Relationships between chemical stressors and different stages of swine production or feed composition are also investigated. Results revealed substantial levels of tetracyclines [up to 1,260 µg g−1dry weight (d.w.) of manure for oxytetracycline] detected in all samples. Tiamulin, two ionophores (monensin and lasalocid), and one macrolide (tilmicosin) were detected at maximum class concentrations of 9.4, 0.547, and 0.472 µg g−1d.w., respectively. The median relative abundances ofermBandtetMwere 0.13 and 0.17 copies g−1wet weight (w.w.) manure (normalized to 16S gene), respectively. Additionally, high levels of copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) were detected in all samples, with maximum concentrations of 887, 1,900, and 2,100 µg g−1d.w., respectively. Notably, uranium (U) was detected in 11 samples, at concentrations up to 0.77 µg g−1. A global analysis of AMR-stressor relationships using Spearman’s rank correlation indicates Cu, and Ba are the most positively and significantly correlated with cytotoxic anhydrotetracycline (ATC) and/or anhydrochlortetracycline (ACTC) concentrations in all tested facilities (Cu-ATC:ρ= 0.67,p= 0.0093; Cu-ACTC:ρ= 0.75,p= 0.0022; Ba-ATC:ρ= 0.84,p= 0.0002). Interestingly,ermBandtetMgenes were strongly, positively correlated to each other (ρ= 0.92,p< 0.0001), suggesting possible co-selection, despite the absence of correlation between ARGs and tetracycline concentrations. This study demonstrates the complexity of interactions between antimicrobials, metals, and ARGs in multiple manure storage pits prior to cropland application.
City size, technological innovation, and urban income inequality: Empirical evidence from China family panel studies
Authors: Zhang Xinfang , Fu Yu , Zhuang Haitao
Published: December 2022

Cities in China are expanding and evolving innovatively at an accelerated rate. In this context, the question of whether all communities and individuals may benefit equally from urbanization and innovation merits investigation. We develop a two-way fixed-effect model employing data from the China Family Panel Studies for 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018 to investigate the roles of city size and technological innovation in urban income inequality. In addition, we adopt a model with a mediating effect to study the impact of city size on urban income inequality by technological innovation. The empirical results are as follows: 1) urban income inequality tends to increase with city size, technological innovation, and the effect of city size on urban income inequality by technological innovation. 2) According to a regional heterogeneity test, city size has a significant impact on income inequality in western provinces and in first- and second-tier cities. Likewise, the size of non-resource-based cities has a significant impact on income inequality. Considering the potential endogeneity of city size, we devise an instrumental variable using historical population. The outcomes of a robustness test validate these findings. From the vantage point of city size and technological advancement, this research provides policymakers with a reference for lowering income inequality in urban areas.
Impact of oceanic gateway and CO2 changes on the East Asian summer monsoon during the mid-pliocene in a coupled general circulation model
Authors: Song Zhaoyang , Zhang Yuming
Published: December 2022

The Pliocene epoch from about 5.3 million to about 2.6 million years before present is the most recent period of sustained global warmth similar to the near future projections. The restriction of the Indonesian Passages, the closure of the Panama Seaway and declining atmospheric CO2-concentration are suggested to have caused the global climate evolution to the present-day condition. Here, we present the Pliocene sea surface temperature (SST) reconstructions along with sensitivity experimental results from a coupled General Circulation Model. We find that, in terms of SST, simulated model sensitivity to CO2 is in good agreement with the Pliocene reconstructions in most regions except the North Atlantic and Arctic. This suggests the necessity for improved boundary conditions and a possible underestimation of internal climate feedback at the high-latitudes. The responses of East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) to the oceanic gateway and CO2 are investigated. Influences of declining CO2 on the EASM are more prominent. An intensification of the intensity of EASM by ∼50% is simulated in response to the declining CO2, which is largely attributed to the strengthened land-ocean thermal contrast, while the precipitation decreases by ∼4.8%. In contrast, the restriction of two seaway changes only drives relatively weak changes with respect to wind speed and precipitation. A water vapor budget analysis suggests that the reduced atmospheric moisture content due to decreasing CO2 significantly contributes to precipitation response.
Comparison of ultrasound and UV technologies to control bulking and foaming in a wastewater treatment facility. A case study in an industrial park in Morelos, Mexico
Authors: Hernández-Romano Jesús , Trevino-Quintanilla Luis , Guillén-Garcés Angélica , Barragán-Trinidad Martín , Bustos-Terrones Victoria , Díaz de Anda Diana K. , Moeller-Chávez Gabriela
Published: December 2022

Most wastewater treatment plants use activated sludge-based biological systems for this purpose. The latter must effectively remove organic matter and, at the same time, show good sedimentability. However, sometimes there is an excessive proliferation of certain bacteria, giving rise to filamentary swelling, compromising the excellent sedimentability of the sludge. In this sense, the study’s objective was to evaluate the effect of applying two different technologies, the application of low-frequency ultrasound and UV radiation. Some bench-scale experiments were performed using the bulked sludge from the secondary clarifier of a wastewater treatment facility in an industrial park (CIVAC) in Morelos, Mexico, affected by filamentous organisms. Results showed that for the UV application for two, four, and 6 min, the settleability of the mixed liquor suspended solids was not improved; on the other hand, the cavitation effect caused by the ultrasound application demonstrated effective action against the destruction of filamentous organisms. The 10 min condition showed a significant decrease in the filament integrity of the microorganisms and a significant improvement of sedimentation velocity and sludge volume index (SVI) values and settleability of the sludge, but not enough to satisfy national discharge regulations related to total suspended solids in the treated effluent. Molecular identification indicates the presence of the genera Thauera and Brevundimonas in the sludge.
Turn-taking skills in mammals: A systematic review into development and acquisition
Authors: Abreu Filipa , Pika Simone
Published: December 2022

How human language evolved remains one of the most intriguing questions in science, and different approaches have been used to tackle this question. A recent hypothesis, the Interaction Engine Hypothesis, postulates that language was made possible through the special capacity for social interaction involving different social cognitive skills (e.g., joint attention, common ground) and specific characteristics such as face-to-face interaction, mutual gaze and turn-taking, the exchange of rapid communicative turns. Recently, it has been argued that this turn-taking infrastructure may be a foundational and ancient mechanism of the layered system of language because communicative turn-taking has been found in human infants and across several non-human primate species. Moreover, there is some evidence for turn-taking in different mammalian taxa, especially those capable of vocal learning. Surprisingly, however, the existing studies have mainly focused on turn-taking production of adult individuals, while little is known about its emergence and development in young individuals. Hence, the aim of the current paper was 2-fold: First, we carried out a systematic review of turn-taking development and acquisition in mammals to evaluate possible research bias and existing gaps. Second, we highlight research avenues to spur more research into this domain and investigate if distinct turn-taking elements can be found in other non-human animal species. Since mammals exhibit an extended development period, including learning and strong parental care, they represent an excellent model group in which to investigate the acquisition and development of turn-taking abilities. We performed a systematic review including a wide range of terms and found 21 studies presenting findings on turn-taking abilities in infants and juveniles. Most of these studies were from the last decade, showing an increased interest in this field over the years. Overall, we found a considerable variation in the terminologies and methodological approaches used. In addition, studies investigating turn-taking abilities across different development periods and in relation to different social partners were very rare, thereby hampering direct, systematic comparisons within and across species. Nonetheless, the results of some studies suggested that specific turn-taking elements are innate, while others are acquired during development (e.g., flexibility). Finally, we pinpoint fruitful research avenues and hypotheses to move the field of turn-taking development forward and improve our understanding of the impact of turn-taking on language evolution.
Construction of a novel miRNA regulatory network and identification of target genes in gestational diabetes mellitus by integrated analysis
Authors: Ding Liyan , Shen Yi , Wang Anqi , Lu Changlian , Gu Xuefeng , Jiang Liying
Published: December 2022

Backgrounds: Given the roles of microRNA (miRNA) in human diseases and the high incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), the aim of the study was to examine miRNA signatures and crucial pathways, as well as possible biomarkers for GDM diagnosis.

Methods: We conducted a two-stage study to explore functional miRNA and those target genes. Twelve participants (6 GDM and 6 non-GDM) were first enrolled and performed RNA sequencing analysis. The overlapped candidate genes were further screened in combination with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of GEO datasets (GSE87295, GSE49524 and GSE19649) and potential target genes of DEMs. Candidate genes, critical pathways, small molecular compounds and regulatory networks were identified using bioinformatic analysis. The potential candidate genes were then investigated using the GEO dataset (GSE103552) of 19 participants in the validation stage (11 GDM and 8 non-GDM women).

Results: Briefly, blood samples were sequenced interrogating 50 miRNAs, including 20 upregulated and 30 downregulated differentially expressed microRNAs(DEMs) in our internal screening dataset. After screening GEO databases, 123 upregulated and 70 downregulated genes were overlapped through DEGs of GEO datasets and miRNA-target genes. MiR-29b-1-5p-TGFB2, miR-142-3p-TGFB2, miR-9-5p-FBN2, miR-212-5p-FBN2, miR-542-3p-FBN1, miR-9-5p-FBN1, miR-508-3p-FBN1, miR-493-5p-THBS1, miR-29b-3p-COL4A1, miR-432-5p-COL5A2, miR-9-5p-TGFBI, miR-486-3p-SLC7A5 and miR-6515-5p-SLC1A5 were revealed as thirteen possible regulating pathways by integrative analysis.

Conclusion: Overall, thirteen candidate miRNA-target gene regulatory pathways representing potentially novel biomarkers of GDM diseases were revealed. Ten chemicals were identified as putative therapeutic agents for GDM. This study examined a series of DEGs that are associated with epigenetic alternations of miRNA through an integrated approach and gained insight into biological pathways in GDM. Precise diagnosis and therapeutic targets of GDM would be further explored through putative genes in the future.
Immune landscape-based machine-learning–assisted subclassification, prognosis, and immunotherapy prediction for glioblastoma
Authors: Li Haiyan , He Jian , Li Menglong , Li Kun , Pu Xuemei , Guo Yanzhi
Published: December 2022

Introduction

As a malignant brain tumor, glioblastoma (GBM) is characterized by intratumor heterogeneity, a worse prognosis, and highly invasive, lethal, and refractory natures. Immunotherapy has been becoming a promising strategy to treat diverse cancers. It has been known that there are highly heterogeneous immunosuppressive microenvironments among different GBM molecular subtypes that mainly include classical (CL), mesenchymal (MES), and proneural (PN), respectively. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of immune landscapes among them is essential for identifying novel immune markers of GBM.

Methods and results

In the present study, based on collecting the largest number of 109 immune signatures, we aim to achieve a precise diagnosis, prognosis, and immunotherapy prediction for GBM by performing a comprehensive immunogenomic analysis. Firstly, machine-learning (ML) methods were proposed to evaluate the diagnostic values of these immune signatures, and the optimal classifier was constructed for accurate recognition of three GBM subtypes with robust and promising performance. The prognostic values of these signatures were then confirmed, and a risk score was established to divide all GBM patients into high-, medium-, and low-risk groups with a high predictive accuracy for overall survival (OS). Therefore, complete differential analysis across GBM subtypes was performed in terms of the immune characteristics along with clinicopathological and molecular features, which indicates that MES shows much higher immune heterogeneity compared to CL and PN but has significantly better immunotherapy responses, although MES patients may have an immunosuppressive microenvironment and be more proinflammatory and invasive. Finally, the MES subtype is proved to be more sensitive to 17-AAG, docetaxel, and erlotinib using drug sensitivity analysis and three compounds of AS-703026, PD-0325901, and MEK1-2-inhibitor might be potential therapeutic agents.

Conclusion

Overall, the findings of this research could help enhance our understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment and provide new insights for improving the prognosis and immunotherapy of GBM patients.
Risk of psoriasis in people with hidradenitis suppurativa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gau Shuo-Yan , Preclaro Ivan Arni C. , Wei James Cheng-Chung , Lee Chien-Ying , Kuan Yu-Hsiang , Hsiao Yu-Ping , Juang Sin-Ei , Ma Kevin Sheng-Kai
Published: December 2022

Background

Hidradenitis suppurativa were associated with comorbidities in various organ systems. Inflammatory dermatological diseases such as pyoderma gangrenosum were reported to be associated with hidradenitis suppurativa. Nevertheless, as for the association between hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriasis, evidences were insufficient. In many studies, the association between psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa has been reported. However, some evidence seems to be controversial. The purpose of the systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess whether there was significant association between HS and psoriasis.

Methods

On June 01, 2022, we appraised 2,795 articles from databases including PubMed, Web of Science and Embase. Search syntaxes were based on ‘hidradenitis suppurativa’ or ‘acne inversa’ with “psoriasis”, “comorbidities” or ‘epidemiology’. Synonyms were determined based on MeSH terms and Emtree. Observational results that evaluated the odds ratio for people with hidradenitis suppurativa who had psoriasis were extracted for qualitative synthesis.

Results

After the selection process of the initial 2,795 studies, ten observational studies, including 3 cohort studies, 1 case-control study, and 6 cross-sectional studies, were extracted for critical appraisal. Based on the integration of 7 studies (with more than 560,000 participants included), people with hidradenitis suppurativa had a higher risk of having psoriasis, with a 2.67-fold risk (95% CI, 1.84, 3.87). The association remained in the sensitivity analyses utilizing strict adjustment models. In the analysis that only included studies with a similar study design and adjustments in obesity-related factors, the risk of people with hidradenitis suppurativa having psoriasis was 3.24 (95% CI, 2.27, 4.62). In male patients with HS, the risk of having psoriasis was 4.30-fold higher than male patients without HS (95% CI, 2.37, 7.78). Likewise, in an analysis including 3 cross-sectional studies, the risk of female HS patients having psoriasis was 3.94-fold higher than female HS-free patients (95% CI, 2.34, 6.63).

Conclusions

The co-occurrence of hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriasis can greatly increase the burden of the disease. Psoriasis could be one of the critical comorbidities of hidradenitis suppurativa and should be recommended for future screening and follow up. The association between the two diseases should be kept in mind in managing hidradenitis suppurativa patients. More prospective studies are needed to establish the true magnitude of the association between psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa.
Case report: Transfusion independence and abolition of extravascular hemolysis in a PNH patient treated with pegcetacoplan
Authors: Fattizzo Bruno , Versino Francesco , Zaninoni Anna , Marcello Anna Paola Maria Luisa , Vercellati Cristina , Artuso Silvia , Barcellini Wilma
Published: December 2022

More than half of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) treated with complement fraction C5 inhibitors experience residual anemia and hemolysis. This is partly due to the persistent activation of the complement cascade upstream C5, resulting in C3 deposition on PNH erythrocytes and extravascular hemolysis in the reticuloendothelial system. Pegcetacoplan is the first proximal C3 inhibitor to be approved for PNH basing on favorable efficacy and safety data in both naïve and eculizumab treated PNH. Here we report the first Italian patient treated with pegcetacoplan in a named patient program. The patient suffered from hemolytic PNH associated with CALR+ myeloproliferative neoplasm and was heavily transfusion dependent despite eculizumab therapy. Treatment with pegcetacoplan induced a dramatic improvement in Hb, along with normalization of unconjugated bilirubin and reticulocytes, as markers of extravascular hemolysis. Sequential laboratory workup showed the disappearance of C3 deposition on erythrocytes by direct anti-globulin test, the increase of PNH clone on erythrocytes, and a peculiar right shift of the ektacytometry curve. The drug was well tolerated, and the patient reported a significant improvement in his quality of life. Overall, pegcetacoplan appears a safe and effective option “ready to use” in the clinic for patients with PNH and suboptimal response to anti-C5 agents.
Radiotherapy induced immunogenic cell death by remodeling tumor immune microenvironment
Authors: Zhu Songxin , Wang Yuming , Tang Jun , Cao Min
Published: December 2022

Emerging evidence indicates that the induction of radiotherapy(RT) on the immunogenic cell death (ICD) is not only dependent on its direct cytotoxic effect, changes in the tumor immune microenvironment also play an important role in it. Tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) refers to the immune microenvironment that tumor cells exist, including tumor cells, inflammatory cells, immune cells, various signaling molecules and extracellular matrix. TIME has a barrier effect on the anti-tumor function of immune cells, which can inhibit all stages of anti-tumor immune response. The remodeling of TIME caused by RT may affect the degree of immunogenicity, and make it change from immunosuppressive phenotype to immunostimulatory phenotype. It is of great significance to reveal the causes of immune escape of tumor cells, especially for the treatment of drug-resistant tumor. In this review, we focus on the effect of RT on the TIME, the mechanism of RT in reversing the TIME to suppress intrinsic immunity, and the sensitization effect of the remodeling of TIME caused by RT on the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
Bone homeostasis disorders increased the mortality of sepsis patients: A preliminary retrospective cohort study
Authors: Wang Dong , Wang Jingyi , Zheng Xi , Diao Shuo , Li Wenxiong , Ma Wenliang
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Sepsis is a common clinical syndrome and nearly 20% of all deaths are related to sepsis. As an important part of the body, bone homeostasis disorders are closely related to inflammatory response, but the correlation between bone homeostasis and sepsis, sepsis shock was unknown. The objective of this study was to explore the relation of bone homeostasis on sepsis and sepsis shock.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, patients were enrolled between April 2018 and May 2022 from Beijing Chaoyang hospital. Primary outcomes were serum indicators reflected bone homeostasis, such as cross-linked carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b) and piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 (PIEZO1).

Results

The data were analyzed retrospectively. among 88 evaluable patients, 45 were sepsis (19 were sepsis shock) and 43 were non-sepsis. There was no significant difference in age, gender, BMI, combination diseases, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospital stay. Patients with sepsis or sepsis shock had higher serum CTX-I, TRACP-5b, PIEZO1 (p < 0.05). Spearman’s rank correlation test showed that CTX-I, TRACP-5b, PIEZO1 and the three together (CTX-I + TRACP-5b + PIEZO1) had strong correlation with sepsis or sepsis shock (p < 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and precision-recall curve (PRC) showed that these indicators could predict the occurrence of sepsis or sepsis shock (p < 0.05). Besides, decision curve analysis (DCA) and interventions avoided curve (IAC) displayed a high net benefit of bone homeostasis disorders indicators on sepsis or sepsis shock. Kaplan–Meier survival curves revealed that sepsis or shock patients with high value indicators (>0.47227) had a higher mortality (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Bone homeostasis disorders could increase the mortality of sepsis and sepsis shock patients.
Functional responses of key marine bacteria to environmental change – toward genetic counselling for coastal waters
Authors: Pinhassi Jarone , Farnelid Hanna , García Sandra Martínez , Teira Eva , Galand Pierre E. , Obernosterer Ingrid , Quince Christopher , Vila-Costa Maria , Gasol Josep M. , Lundin Daniel , Andersson Anders F. , Labrenz Matthias , Riemann Lasse
Published: December 2022

Coastal ecosystems deteriorate globally due to human-induced stress factors, like nutrient loading and pollution. Bacteria are critical to marine ecosystems, e.g., by regulating nutrient cycles, synthesizing vitamins, or degrading pollutants, thereby providing essential ecosystem services ultimately affecting economic activities. Yet, until now bacteria are overlooked both as mediators and indicators of ecosystem health, mainly due to methodological limitations in assessing bacterial ecosystem functions. However, these limitations are largely overcome by the advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics methods for characterizing the genetics that underlie functional traits of key bacterial populations – “key” in providing important ecosystem services, being abundant, or by possessing high metabolic rates. It is therefore timely to analyze and define the functional responses of bacteria to human-induced effects on coastal ecosystem health. We posit that categorizing the responses of key marine bacterial populations to changes in environmental conditions through modern microbial oceanography methods will allow establishing the nascent field of genetic counselling for our coastal waters. This requires systematic field studies of linkages between functional traits of key bacterial populations and their ecosystem functions in coastal seas, complemented with systematic experimental analyses of the responses to different stressors. Research and training in environmental management along with dissemination of results and dialogue with societal actors are equally important to ensure the role of bacteria is understood as fundamentally important for coastal ecosystems. Using the responses of microorganisms as a tool to develop genetic counselling for coastal ecosystems can ultimately allow for integrating bacteria as indicators of environmental change.
Structural investigation of human cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc− (Sxc−) using homology modeling and molecular dynamics
Authors: Hang Tran Dieu , Hung Huynh Minh , Beckers Pauline , Desmet Nathalie , Lamrani Mohamed , Massie Ann , Hermans Emmanuel , Vanommeslaeghe Kenno
Published: December 2022

The cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc−(Sxc−) belongs to the SLC7 family of plasma membrane transporters. It exports intracellular glutamate along the latter’s concentration gradient as a driving force for cellular uptake of cystine. Once imported, cystine is mainly used for the production of glutathione, a tripeptide thiol crucial in maintenance of redox homeostasis and protection of cells against oxidative stress. Overexpression of Sxc−has been found in several cancer cells, where it is thought to counteract the increased oxidative stress. In addition, Sxc−is important in the central nervous system, playing a complex role in regulating glutamatergic neurotransmission and glutamate toxicity. Accordingly, this transporter is considered a potential target for the treatment of cancer as well as neurodegenerative diseases. Till now, no specific inhibitors are available. We herein present four conformations of Sxc−along its transport pathway, obtained using multi-template homology modeling and refined by means of Molecular Dynamics. Comparison with a very recently released cryo-EM structure revealed an excellent agreement with our inward-open conformation. Intriguingly, our models contain a structured N-terminal domain that is unresolved in the experimental structures and is thought to play a gating role in the transport mechanism of other SLC7 family members. In contrast to the inward-open model, there is no direct experimental counterpart for the other three conformations we obtained, although they are in fair agreement with the other stages of the transport mechanism seen in other SLC7 transporters. Therefore, our models open the prospect for targeting alternative Sxc−conformations in structure-based drug design efforts.
Coordinating human-robot collaboration by EEG-based human intention prediction and vigilance control
Authors: Lyu Jianzhi , Maýe Alexander , Görner Michael , Ruppel Philipp , Engel Andreas K. , Zhang Jianwei
Published: December 2022

In human-robot collaboration scenarios with shared workspaces, a highly desired performance boost is offset by high requirements for human safety, limiting speed and torque of the robot drives to levels which cannot harm the human body. Especially for complex tasks with flexible human behavior, it becomes vital to maintain safe working distances and coordinate tasks efficiently. An established approach in this regard is reactive servo in response to the current human pose. However, such an approach does not exploit expectations of the human's behavior and can therefore fail to react to fast human motions in time. To adapt the robot's behavior as soon as possible, predicting human intention early becomes a factor which is vital but hard to achieve. Here, we employ a recently developed type of brain-computer interface (BCI) which can detect the focus of the human's overt attention as a predictor for impending action. In contrast to other types of BCI, direct projection of stimuli onto the workspace facilitates a seamless integration in workflows. Moreover, we demonstrate how the signal-to-noise ratio of the brain response can be used to adjust the velocity of the robot movements to the vigilance or alertness level of the human. Analyzing this adaptive system with respect to performance and safety margins in a physical robot experiment, we found the proposed method could improve both collaboration efficiency and safety distance.
One-year prevalence and clinical characteristics in chronic dizziness: The 2019–2020 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Kim Eun Ji , Song Hee-Jung , Lee Hak In , Kwon Eunjin , Jeong Seong-Hae
Published: December 2022

Introduction

In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the 1-year prevalence and related factors in the general population with an experience of chronic dizziness.

Methods

This study analyzed persons (n = 5,163) who respond to dizziness and nutrition questionnaire from participant of Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2019-2020).

Results

Of individuals over 40 years, 25.3% of the general population (61.6% females) reported either dizziness or imbalance for the past year. Moreover, 4.8% of the patients reported they suffered from chronic dizziness or imbalance for more than 3 months. In multiple regression analysis, patients with chronic dizziness were older, females, had lower body mass index (BMI), had stress awareness, and had a history of tinnitus within 1 year (>5 min per episode). Relative to normal body weight, both overweight and mild obesity (obesity stages 1 and 2) were associated with a significantly lower risk of chronic dizziness. Overweight, obesity stage 1, and obesity stage 2 had odds ratios of 0.549 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.332–0.910], 0.445 (95% CI, 0.273–0.727), and 0.234 (95% CI, 0.070–0.779), respectively.

Conclusions

In this study, the prevalence of chronic dizziness in the general population was 4.8%. Our study demonstrated that overweight and mild obesity were independently associated with a lower risk of chronic dizziness in adults for the past year. Therefore, the optimal BMI for patients with dizziness should be defined and managed according to an integrated care pathway.
Coupling of sensorimotor and cognitive functions in middle- and late adulthood
Authors: van Wieringen Astrid , Van Wilderode Mira , Van Humbeeck Nathan , Krampe Ralf
Published: December 2022

Introduction

The present study explored age effects and the coupling of sensorimotor and cognitive functions in a stratified sample of 96 middle-aged and older adults (age 45-86 years) with no indication of mild cognitive decline. In our sensorimotor tasks, we had an emphasis on listening in noise and postural control, but we also assessed functional mobility and tactile sensitivity.

Methods

Our cognitive measures comprised processing speed and assessments of core cognitive control processes (executive functions), notably inhibition, task switching, and working memory updating. We explored whether our measures of sensorimotor functioning mediated age differences in cognitive variables and compared their effect to processing speed. Subsequently, we examined whether individuals who had poorer (or better) than median cognitive performance for their age group also performed relatively poorer (or better) on sensorimotor tasks. Moreover, we examined whether the link between cognitive and sensorimotor functions becomes more pronounced in older age groups.

Results

Except for tactile sensitivity, we observed substantial age-related differences in all sensorimotor and cognitive variables from middle age onward. Processing speed and functional mobility were reliable mediators of age in task switching and inhibitory control. Regarding coupling between sensorimotor and cognition, we observed that individuals with poor cognitive control do not necessarily have poor listening in noise skills or poor postural control.

Discussion

As most conditions do not show an interdependency between sensorimotor and cognitive performance, other domain-specific factors that were not accounted for must also play a role. These need to be researched in order to gain a better understanding of how rehabilitation may impact cognitive functioning in aging persons.
Programming ability prediction: Applying an attention-based convolutional neural network to functional near-infrared spectroscopy analyses of working memory
Authors: Guo Xiang , Liu Yang , Zhang Yuzhong , Wu Chennan
Published: December 2022

Although theoretical studies have suggested that working-memory capacity is crucial for academic achievement, few empirical studies have directly investigated the relationship between working-memory capacity and programming ability, and no direct neural evidence has been reported to support this relationship. The present study aimed to fill this gap in the literature. Using a between-subject design, 17 programming novices and 18 advanced students performed an n-back working-memory task. During the experiment, their prefrontal hemodynamic responses were measured using a 48-channel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) device. The results indicated that the advanced students had a higher working-memory capacity than the novice students, validating the relationship between programming ability and working memory. The analysis results also showed that the hemodynamic responses in the prefrontal cortex can be used to discriminate between novices and advanced students. Additionally, we utilized an attention-based convolutional neural network to analyze the spatial domains of the fNIRS signals and demonstrated that the left prefrontal cortex was more important than other brain regions for programming ability prediction. This result was consistent with the results of statistical analysis, which in turn improved the interpretability of neural networks.
Effects of implementation strategies aimed at improving high-value verification methods of nasogastric tube placement: A systematic review
Authors: Li Jiamin , Sun Xiangyu , Wu Xinjuan
Published: December 2022

Background

X-ray and pH testing, which clinical practice guidelines have proven to be effective in determining nasogastric tube (NGT) placement, were named the high-value methods. Implementation strategies can help to integrate high-value methods into particular contexts. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence of implementation strategies aimed at improving high-value verification methods of NGT placement.

Methods

PubMed, ProQuest, and CINAHL were searched until June 2022. The Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care (EPOC) taxonomy was used to categorize implementation strategies.

Results

The initial search identified 1,623 records. Of these, 64 full-text studies were reviewed. Finally, 12 studies were included and used for qualitative synthesis. Eleven studies used an education component as an implementation strategy. Only one study based their implementation strategy on a barriers and facilitators assessment. None of the studies reported enough detail of the implementation strategy used in their studies. Seven studies were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Three of these seven studies revealed a significant improvement of the high-value method after strategy implementation. As heterogeneity was present in the high level, the pooled effect estimated was not calculated.

Conclusion

Most studies used an implementation strategy with an educational component. Unfortunately, no conclusion can be drawn about which strategy is most effective for improving high-value verification methods of NGT placement due to a high level of heterogeneity and a lack of studies. We recommend that future studies fully connect their implementation strategies to influencing factors and better report the details of implementation strategies.

Systematic review registration

[www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/], identifier [CRD42022349997].
Genetics, genomics, and diet interactions in obesity in the Latin American environment
Authors: Guevara-Ramírez Patricia , Cadena-Ullauri Santiago , Ruiz-Pozo Viviana A. , Tamayo-Trujillo Rafael , Paz-Cruz Elius , Simancas-Racines Daniel , Zambrano Ana Karina
Published: December 2022

Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that could impact an individual’s health; moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared obesity a global epidemic since 1997. In Latin America, in 2016, reports indicated that 24.2% of the adult population was obese. The environmental factor or specific behaviors like dietary intake or physical activity have a vital role in the development of a condition like obesity, but the interaction of genes could contribute to that predisposition. Hence, it is vital to understand the relationship between genes and disease. Indeed, genetics in nutrition studies the genetic variations and their effect on dietary response; while genomics in nutrition studies the role of nutrients in gene expression. The present review represents a compendium of the dietary behaviors in the Latin American environment and the interactions of genes with their single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with obesity, including the risk allele frequencies in the Latin American population. Additionally, a bibliographical selection of several studies has been included; these studies examined the impact that dietary patterns in Latin American environments have on the expression of numerous genes involved in obesity-associated metabolic pathways.
Undernutrition was a prevalent clinical problem among older adult patients with heart failure in a hospital setting in Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Ahmed Hussen , Tadesse Abilo , Alemu Hailemaryam , Abebe Alula , Tadesse Melaku
Published: December 2022

Background

Undernutrition is a frequently noticed medical problem in patients with heart failure. It is caused by poor nutrient intake, malabsorption, systemic inflammation, neurohumoral activation, oxidative stress, and hypermetabolic state. Undernutrition results in a decrease in the quality of life and the survival rate in patients with heart failure. There is a paucity of documentation on undernutrition among patients with heart failure in sub-Saharan African countries. The study aimed to determine the magnitude and associated factors of undernutrition among older adult patients with heart failure in the hospital setting in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, between 1 June 2021 and 31 October 2021. A consecutive sampling method was used to recruit 262 study subjects. A Mini-nutritional assessment-full form (MNA-FL) Questionnaire was used to extract nutritional information among patients with heart failure. Patients with heart failure, who scored MNA-FL score <17, were declared to have undernutrition. The data were entered into EPI Info version 4.6.0.0 and then exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Explanatory variables associated with undernutrition in patients with heart failure were analyzed by applying a logistic regression model. A P-value of <0.05 was used to declare a significant association.

Results

A total of 262 patients with heart failure were included in the study. The mean age (± SD) of the study subjects was 64.6 (± 9.2) years. Hypertensive heart disease (111/262, 42%) was the most common cause of heart failure. Hypertension was the frequently observed comorbid disease. Based on the MNA-FL score for nutritional status, 75 out of 262 (28.6%, 95% CI: 22.9–34.4%) were undernourished (MNA-FL < 17), while 124 out of 262 (47.3%, CI: 41.5–53.1%) were at risk of undernutrition (MNA-FL = 17–23.5). The remaining 63 out of 262 (24.1%, 95% CI: 18.2–29.8%) study subjects were well nourished (MNA-FL > 24). On a multivariate analysis, patients with severe heart failure (New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III/IV) (AOR = 4.287, CI: 2.012–9.134, P-value < 0.001), with a duration of illness of 3–5 years (AOR = 3.225, CI: 1.138–9.137, P-value = 0.028), with a duration of illness of >5 years (AOR = 4.349, CI: 1.592–11.879, P-value = 0.001), presence of comorbidities (AOR = 2.29, CI: 1.06–4.96, P-value = 0.036), who underwent treatment with loop diuretics (AOR = 2.983, CI: 1.407–6.326, P-value = 0.040), and who reside in a rural area (AOR = 5.119, CI: 2.481–10.560, P-value < 0.001) were at risk of developing undernutrition.

Conclusion

Undernutrition was a significant clinical problem in older patients with heart failure. Nutritional interventions should be prioritized for patients with chronic and severe heart failure.
Prognostic value of Musashi 2 (MSI2) in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Jiang Lin , Xue Shanshan , Xu Jie , Fu Xiaoyang , Wei Jing , Zhang Chuanmeng
Published: December 2022

Musashi 2 (MSI2) is an RNA-binding protein that regulates mRNA translation of numerous intracellular targets and plays an important role in the development of cancer. However, the prognostic value of MSI2 in various cancers remains controversial. Herein, we conducted this meta-analysis including 21 studies with 2640 patients searched from PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases, and WanFang databases to accurately assess the prognostic significance of MSI2 in various cancers. Our results indicated that high MSI2 expression was significantly related to poor overall survival (HR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.66-2.05, P < 0.001) and disease-free survival (HR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.35-2.22, P < 0.001). In addition, MSI2 positive expression was associated with certain phenotypes of tumor aggressiveness, such as clinical stage, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis and tumor size. In conclusion, elevated MSI2 expression is closely correlated with poor prognosis in various cancers, and may serve as a potential molecular target for cancer patients.