bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Escaping Local Minima Via Appraisal Driven Responses
Authors: Damgaard Malte , Pedersen Rasmus , Bak Thomas
Published: November 2022

Inspired by the reflective and deliberative control mechanisms used in cognitive architectures such as SOAR and Sigma, we propose an alternative decision mechanism driven by architectural appraisals allowing robots to overcome impasses. The presented work builds on and improves on our previous work on a generally applicable decision mechanism with roots in the Standard Model of the Mind and the Generalized Cognitive Hour-glass Model. The proposed decision mechanism provides automatic context-dependent switching between exploration-oriented, goal-oriented, and backtracking behavior, allowing a robot to overcome impasses. A simulation study of two applications utilizing the proposed decision mechanism is presented demonstrating the applicability of the proposed decision mechanism.
Effects of Probiotics/Synbiotics Supplementation on Body Weight in Patients with Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of Randomized-Controlled Trials
Authors: Soltani Sepideh , Dehghani Fereshteh , Meshkini Fatemeh , Clayton Zachary Stephen , Abdollahi Shima
Published: November 2022

Objective
The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of probiotics/synbiotics supplementation on anthropometric measures in adults with diabetes, regardless of body weight.
Methods
PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to February 10, 2021. The effect sizes were pooled with the use of an inverse-variance random-effects model. The methodological quality of studies as well as quality of evidence was assessed using standard tools.
Results
Twenty-seven RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Overall, compared with their respective control groups, probiotics/synbiotics supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in body weight (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -0.62 kg; 95% CI: -0.97, -0.28; I2 = 81.1%, n = 23 studies]), body mass index (WMD: -0.20 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.33, -0.07; I2 = 78.4%, n = 25 studies), and waist circumference (WMD: -0.93 cm; 95% CI: -1.34, -0.53; I2 = 0%, n = 8 studies). However, no significant improvement was observed for hip circumference and waist to hip ratio.
Conclusions
Our analysis revealed that probiotics/synbiotics supplementation may assist with weight management in patients with diabetes, especially when used at higher doses, in younger adults, and in participants with obesity. However, more studies are needed to elucidate the anti-obesity effects of specific probiotic/synbiotic strains.
Diversity of bacterial symbionts associated with the tropical plant bug Monalonion velezangeli (Hemiptera: Miridae) revealed by high-throughput 16SrRNA sequencing.
Authors: Navarro-Escalante Lucio , Benavides Pablo , Acevedo Flor Edith
Published: November 2022

Insects and microbes have developed complex symbiotic relationships that
evolutively and ecologically play beneficial roles for both, the symbiont and the host. In most
Hemiptera insects, bacterial symbionts offer mainly nutritional, defense and reproductive roles
and have promoted the adaptive radiation of several hemipteran phytophagous lineages. The
tropical plant bug Monalonion velezangeli (Hemiptera: Miridae) is a polyphagous herbivore
considered an important insect pest for several economically-relevant tropical crops; however,
information about the composition of its bacterial microbiota was missing. In this study, we
describe the diversity and structure of the bacterial microbiota in the nymph and adult life stages
of M. velezangeli using Illumina high-throughput sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA gene
amplicons (meta-barcoding). We found that both insect life stages share a similar microbiota in
terms of bacterial diversity and community structure. The intracellular symbiont Wolbachia
(~92%) dominated the overall microbiome composition in these life stages, followed by the
potential gut-associated bacteria genera Romboutsia (1.8%), Ignavibacterium (0.8) and
Clostridium (0.70%) as the top most abundant taxa. The persistent presence of bacterial genera
Romboutsia, Ignavibacterium, Clostridium, Paracoccus, Allobaculum, Methylobacterium,
Sediminibacterium, Faecalibaculum, Faecalibacterium, Collinsella, Rothia and Sphingomonas
may suggest these are members of the core microbiota and could play important biological roles
for M. velezangeli. This data opens new questions and avenues to better understand the
contribution of symbiotic bacteria in the biological performance of this insect pest and provide
bases to explore other insect control methods.
Simplified equations for object trajectories in rotating space habitats and space juggling
Authors: Dipert Robert
Published: November 2022

Rotating space habitats provide artificial gravity as a physiological countermeasure for long term space habitation, though the lived experience of a person in these habitats requires further investigation. Movement planning will require adaptation to the Coriolis and centrifugal forces. The multicultural arts of juggling can provide psycho-physiological countermeasures and interesting insights into movement planning and arts in both microgravity and rotating localities. Previously developed equations of motion for thrown objects in rotating habitats have not been centered within the lived rotating environment. Here I show as set of simplified equations for object trajectories in rotating environments and their underlying mathematical framework. The full set of possible trajectories for objects thrown in rotating environments is provided and a simplified approach to the Coriolis and centrifugal force differential equation using complex algebra is demonstrated. On Earth, thrown objects travel along parabolas. In rotating space environments, thrown objects will travel along a set of mathematical curves known as roulettes, created by a fixed circle and rolling line with generator point connected to the line. These roulette trajectories will be the everyday experience of every person living on a rotating space habitat forever.
Transitions in metabolic syndrome and metabolic obesity status over time and risk of urologic cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Jiang Runxue , Wang Xia , Chen Shuohua , Wu Shouling , Hu Hailong , Cai Haifeng
Published: November 2022

The association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and metabolic obesity (MO) status at baseline, their dynamic changes and the risk of developing urologic cancer (UC) have not been reported.This paper studied 97,897 observation subjects who were free of cancers at baseline (2006−2007). Transitions in MetS and MO status from 2006–2007 to 2008–2009 were considered. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% conﬁdence intervals (CIs) for UC were assessed by multifactorial Cox proportional risk regression models. During a median follow-up of 14.02 years, 554 cases of UC were diagnosed. MetS and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) increased the risk of developing UC at baseline. Transitions of MetS to MetS, MUO to MUO and even MUO to metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) over time significantly increased the risk of UC development. Thus, our study provides useful insights into preventing UC.
Serum endocan as a predictive biomarker of cardiovascular risk in obese pediatric patients
Authors: Morace Carmela , Curatola Selenia Lorenza , Mandraffino Giuseppe , Scuruchi Michele , Serranò Angela Elvira , Tropeano Angelo , Lombardo Fortunato , Salzano Giuseppina , Squadrito Giovanni , Versace Antonio Giovanni , Valenzise Mariella
Published: November 2022

Background: Endocan is a soluble dermatan sulfate PG (50kDa), expressed and secreted by endothelial cells of the dermal microvasculature, the coronary, the pulmonary arteries and the capillaries from adipose tissue. It plays an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular disorders, inflammation, endothelium dysfunction and neoangiogenesis. The biosynthesis of endocan is upregulated by inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1, TGF-β1 and by proangiogenic and growth factors like VEGF, EGF and FGF-2; conversely, it is downregulated by INF-γ and insulin level, but this event in obese patients is attenuated by insulin resistance.
Methods: The study included 19 patients with obesity (10 males and 9 females), aged between 2-18 years, screened at the pediatric Endocrinology Clinic of our Department in Messina (Italy).
Results: The results, compared with the healthy controlled group, have shown upraised endocan serum levels in children with BMI higher than normal (30,044 ±0,984), demonstrating a positive correlation trend between endocan and BMI (rho 0.356, p = 0.13). Furthermore endocan serum levels were significantly correlated to the insulin levels (rho 0.474, p = 0.047) and HOMA-IR (rho 0.434, p = 0.072). These findings confirm the correlation between endothelial damage and insulin resistance in obese children. Instead we did not found any association between Endocan and lipid serum levels, nor with the fasting blood glucose value (rho 0.024, p = 0.926). An elevated correlation was also revealed with steatosis, and with the ultrasound grade of liver steatosis (rho 0.514, p = 0.087 and rho 0.512, p = 0.088, respectively), despite not raising statistically significant results, given the small sample size, indeed only 12 children of the study underwent ultrasound.
Conclusions: We can assume that endocan could be used also in children with obesity as a biomarker and that could be a valid predictor in order to stratify the future cardiovascular risk in adulthood.
Retrospectively registered
Decoding individual differences in self-prioritization from the resting-state functional connectome
Authors: Zhang Yongfa , Wang Fei , Sui Jie
Published: November 2022

Although the self has traditionally been viewed as a higher-order mental function by most theoretical frameworks, recent research advocates a fundamental self hypothesis, viewing the self as a baseline function of the brain embedded within its spontaneous activities. This hypothesis has been behaviorally established by observed self-biased effects, but its neural embeddedness remains uncorroborated. To provide a test, we investigated the association between spontaneous neural connectivity and robust self-prioritization in a perceptual matching task using task-irrelevant functional magnetic resonance imaging in 348 participants. By decoding whole-brain connectivity patterns, the support vector regression model successfully predicted the magnitude of behavioral self-prioritization, supporting the fundamental self hypothesis. The functional connectivity among default mode, cognitive control, and salience networks served as prominent neuromarkers of self-biased behavior. We further proposed a fundamental self-network model that portrays the brain mechanisms by which the self emerges internally and regulates responses to the external environment.
Electric field-induced interfacial instability in a ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal
Authors: Máthé Marcell , Farkas Bendegúz , Péter László , Buka Ágnes , Jakli Antal , Salamon Peter
Published: November 2022

Studies of sessile droplets and fluid bridges of a ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal in externally applied electric fields are presented. It is found that above a threshold a fingering instability occurs, resembling to Rayleigh-type instability observed in charged droplets in electric fields or circular drop-type instabilities observed in ferromagnetic liquids in magnetic field. The frequency dependence of the threshold voltage was determined in various geometries. The nematic director and ferroelectric polarization direction was found to point along the tip of the fingers that appear to repel each other, indicating that the ferroelectric polarization is essentially parallel to the director. The results are interpreted in analogy to the Rayleigh and circular drop-type instabilities.
Trauma-specific mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for women with post-traumatic stress disorder and a history of domestic abuse: intervention refinement and a randomised feasibility trial (coMforT study)
Authors: Lewis Natalia V , Gregory Alison , Feder Gene S , Angill-Williams Aishlyn , Bates Sophie , Glynn Joel , Halliwell Gemma , Hawcroft Claire , Kessler David , Lawton Michael , Leach Rwth , Millband Sarah , Pitt Katherine , Zammit Stan , Malpass Alice
Published: November 2022

Background:Women who have experienced domestic violence and abuse (DVA) are at increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD). In 2014-15, we developed a prototype trauma-specific mindfulness-based cognitive therapy curriculum (TS-MBCT) for the treatment of PTSD in a DVA population. This study aimed to refine the prototype TS-MBCT and evaluate the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) testing its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.Methods:Intervention refinement phase was informed by evidence synthesis from a literature review, qualitative interviews with professionals and DVA survivors, and a consensus exercise with experts in trauma and mindfulness. We tested the refined TS-MBCT intervention in an individually randomised parallel group feasibility trial with pre-specified progression criteria, a traffic light system, and embedded process and health economics evaluations.Results:The TS-MBCT intervention consisted of eight group sessions and home practice. We screened 109 women in a DVA agency and recruited 20 (15 TS-MBCT, 5 self-referral to National Health Service (NHS) psychological treatment), with 80% follow-up at 6 months. Our TS-MBCT intervention had 73% uptake, 100% retention, and high acceptability. Participants suggested recruitment via multiple agencies, and additional safety measures. Randomisation into the NHS control arm did not work due to long waiting lists and previous negative experiences. Three self-administered PTSD/CPTSD questionnaires produced differing outcomes thus a clinician administered measure might work better. We met six out of nine feasibility progression criteria at green and three at amber targets demonstrating that it is possible to conduct a full-size RCT of the TS-MBCT intervention after making minor amendments to recruitment and randomisation procedures, the control intervention, primary outcomes measures, and intervention content. At 6 months, none of the PTSD/CPTSD outcomes ruled out a clinically important difference between trial arms indicating that it is reasonable to proceed to a full-size RCT to estimate these outcomes with greater precision.Conclusions:A future RCT of the coMforT TS-MBCT intervention should recruit from multiple DVA agencies, NHS and non-NHS settings, have an active control psychological treatment, use robust randomisation and safety procedures, and clinician-administered measures for PTSD/CPTSD.Trial registration: ISRCTN64458065 11/01/2019, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN64458065?q=64458065&filters=&sort=&offset=1&totalResults=1&page=1&pageSize=10
Characterization and the comprehensive expression analysis of tobacco valine-glutamine genes in response to trichomes development and stress tolerance
Authors: Yan Xiaoxiao , Luo Rui , Liu Xiangyang , Hou Zihang , Pei Wenyi , Zhu Wenqi , Cui Hong
Published: November 2022

Valine-glutamine genes (VQ) acted as transcription regulators and played the important roles in plant growth and development, and stress tolerance through interacting with transcription factors and other co-regulators. In this study, sixty-one VQ genes containing the FxxxVQxxTG motif were identified and updated in the Nicotiana tobacum genome. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that NtVQ genes were divided into seven groups and genes of each group had highly conserved exon-intron structure. Expression patterns analysis firstly showed that NtVQ genes expressed individually in different tobacco tissues including mixed-trichome (mT), glandular-trichome (gT), and nonglandular-trichome (nT), and the expression levels were also distinguishing in response to methyl jasmonate (MeJA), salicylic acid (SA), gibberellic acid (GA), ethylene (ETH), high salinity and PEG stresses. Besides, only NtVQ17 of its gene family was verified to have acquired autoactivating activity. This work will not only lead a foundation on revealing the functions of NtVQ genes in tobacco trichomes but also provided references to VQ genes related stress tolerance research in more crops.
Cyclophosphamide combined with methylprednisolone can play a therapeutic role by delaying the aging of pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Xu Qingjie , Zhang Manka , Tang Ming , Li Zhouping , Liu Yin , ma Tao , Rao Zhiguo , Yang Keyu , He Xiaoxu , Ma Runlin , Xue Xiaoyan
Published: November 2022

Background: Aging is a natural process characterized by a progressive functional impairment and reduced capacity to respond adaptively to environmental stimuli.Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)has been found to increase considerably with age.Immunosenescence,oxidative stress,abnormal shortening of telomeres, apoptosis, and epigenetic changes affecting gene expression have been proposed to contribute to the aging process,and aging-associated diseases. The above indicates that aging can increase the incidence of IPF. So can the occurrence of aging be aggravated after IPF? We examined pathological damage, collagen deposition, oxidative stress and immunosenescence to determine whether bleomycin(BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) accelerates aging in rats. If so, what drugs can inhibit or delay this aging. In clinical studies,the combination of methylprednisolone(MP) and cyclophosphamide(CTX) has shown great benefits in patients with IPF, but its effect on aging resulting from fibrosis is not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated whether MP combined with CTX could delay or inhibit aging in IPF rats. It may provide new targets for the treatment of IPF.
Methods: PF rat models were induced by BLM and treated with MP or MP/CTX combination.Transmission electron microscope, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson staining were used to measure the morphology of PF. α-SMA and collagen I levels were examined by western blot and immunohistochemistry. Malondialdehyde(MDA),myeloperoxidase(MPO),lutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) levels were determined using commercial kits.T cells were analyzed with flow cytometry.
Results: We found that pathological damage, collagen deposition, oxidative stress, and T-cell senescence were increased after BLM-induced PF. The combined use of MP and CTX can alleviate pathological damage, reduce oxidative stress response, such as reducing MDA and MPO levels, and increasing SOD and GSH-PX activities. And inhibition of T cell senescence in lung tissue, such as reduction of CD27-CD28- CD4+ T cells in BLM-induced PF.
Conclusions: BLM-induced PF aggravated the occurrence of aging in rats. The combination of MP and CTX can inhibit or delay aging, and thus play a therapeutic role in IPF.These findings provide new insights into the mechanism by which MP and CTX act in combination on IPF.
A Below Ground Chemical Fight for Phosphate and Habitat - Interactions of Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz with Microorganisms
Authors: Schulz Margot , Hofmann Diana , Thiele Björn , Rahmati Mehdi , Siebers Meike , Schütz Vadim , Jeong Seungwoo , Bigler Laurent , Held Federico , Wu Bei , Babic Nikolina , Kovacic Filip , Hamacher Joachim , Hölzl Georg , Dörmann Peter
Published: November 2022

BACKGROUND and AIMS

Glucosinolates and isothiocyanates of young Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz can eliminate microbial species in the soil. It was aimed to demonstrate that only isothiocyanate insensitive microorganisms with phosphate solubilizing activity can be successfully used to improve the plant´s phosphate supply.

METHODS

We performed rhizotron growth studies and 33P–Imaging to study the uptake of phosphate solubilized from 33P-apatite by inoculated plants and determined the phosphate solubilization capacities of microorganisms by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Secondary metabolites of Camelina sativa and of the soil fungus Penicillium aurantiogriseum were analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS. Microorganisms and plant seedlings were cultured for growth inhibition studies. Phospholipid fatty acids in soil samples were investigated by gas chromatography and the data analyzed by clustering and principal component analysis.

RESULTS

1. The inoculants Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas laurentiana did not improve the phosphate uptake of Camelina sativa and Abutilon theophrasti.
2. The intrinsic soil microorganisms, including Penicillium aurantiogriseum, the inoculants and the assemblies of root colonizing microorganisms are able to solubilize phosphate from apatite and compete for phosphate.
3. Camelina´s glucosinolates and derived isothiocyanates and, as well secondary metabolites released by P. aurantiogriseum, particularly cyclo-(L-Leu-L-Pro), have the capacity to suppress plant and fungal growth and to destroy a phosphate solubilizing bacterial consortium that colonizes Camelina roots.
4. Loss of young Camelina´s key secondary metabolites, the glucosinolates, is of advantage for fungi, as verified by a green manure experiment.

CONCLUSION

The results underline functions of secondary metabolites when organisms are under competive conditions for phosphate uptake.
Ectopic overexpression of GRK5 promotes malignant glioma progression closely associated with MSN-CD44 expression and glioma localization
Authors: Yang Yang , Xi Zhiyu , Wu Jing-Jing , Ni Shengyuan , Ling Shiying
Published: November 2022

Background
Gliomas are highly invasive and lack of effective targeted therapy. GRK5 is involved in several pathologic conditions including cancer. GRK5 phosphorylated MSN on T66 and regulated the subcellular distribution of MSN, which was a glioma progression marker that induces proliferation via interaction with CD44. Therefore, targeting GRK5-MSN-CD44 may provide a novel approach for the treatment of gliomas.
Materials and methods
GRK5-knockdown and GRK5-upregulated glioma cell lines were generated by using the lentivirus transfection method. The GRK5 and MSN expression and the association with the malignant characters in glioma were determined by Western blot and qRT-PCR. By using double-immunofluorescence and triple immunofluorescence analysis, the subcellular localization and distribution characteristics of GRK5-MSN-CD44 in gliomas were detected. The cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were determined by CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry respectively.
Results
GRK5 expression was up-regulated in human gliomas and positively correlated with MSN expression. GRK5-MSN and MSN-CD44 were found co-expressed in gliomas respectively. GRK5-MSN-CD44 were co-localized in the membrane of glioma cell and abundant in glioma stem cell niches. VEGF and N-cadherin expressions were increased/decreased according to the up-regulation/down-regulation of GRK5. And Bax expression showed decreased/increased according to GRK5 over-expression/low-expression. The proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells were improved due to the upregulation of GRK5. And the apoptosis of glioma cells was decreased/increased due to the up-regulation/down-regulation of GRK5.
Conclusion
Ectopic overexpression of GRK5 promoted the malignant progression of glioma and is closely related to MSN-CD44 interaction. GRK5-MSN-CD44 provides a new idea for gene targeted therapy of glioma.
A European measurement scale for material deprivation
Authors: Farcomeni Alessio , Pittau Maria Grazia , Viviani Sara , Zelli Roberto
Published: November 2022

The predominant practice of establishing a material deprivation scale as the raw sum of a relatively small set of binary items has obvious returns in terms of communication and simplicity of use. However, it can be misleading when basic measurement properties are not met. Only within the Rasch measurement approach, these requirements can be properly addressed. In Rasch models, material deprivation is treated as an unobservable numerical variable (latent trait) that can be inferred from a set of observable items, each representing a different aspect of the same latent trait. Based on Rasch model analytical procedure and using the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) pre-Covid data, this paper develops a European measurement reference scale for material deprivation which ensures validity and comparability across different countries. Specifically, from a pool of potential items, we introduce a stochastic method to select the largest number of items that guarantee the property of uni-dimensionality of the latent trait, not necessarily ensured by the Rasch model. We also adjust for possible differential item functioning (DIF) to better ensure comparability of the scale across European countries. We finally estimate prevalence rates of material deprivation in 28 European countries. Prevalence rates estimated using the traditional counting approach substantially differ from the figures estimated with the new measurement scale when DIF occurs.
Seasonal monitoring of river and lake water surface areas at global scale with deep learning
Authors: Carbonneau Patrice , Bizzi Simone
Published: November 2022

Much progress has been made over the last decade to build global inventories of freshwater resources. However, existing freshwater inventories are generally produced for a fixed period in time and/or do not discriminate lakes and rivers. The emergence of deep learning methods and Big Data platforms such as Google Earth Engine offers a potential solution. Here we presenta unique global raster dataset of 6.7 terapixels at a spatial resolution of 10 m produced with a deep learning workflow. This dataset uses Sentinel-2 imagery downloaded from Google Earth Engine to delineatefreshwater as separate semantic classes of rivers and lakes. Ourstudy site covers the non-polar globe, 89% of the terrestrial landmass, with repeat surveys for the months of April, July and October 2021. This gives us the first global-scale direct count of lakes larger than 1 hectare as ~7.3 million. Also the repeat surveys allow us topresent the firstintra-annual ranges for the areas distinctly occupied by rivers and lakes where we find that basins influenced by the Asian summer monsoon (e.g. the Ganges) closely followed by the Amazon display the largest intra-annual range of river area per unit basin area. Finally, we find that whilst maximum of lake water surface occurs in October 2021, the maximum river surfaceis in July 2021 leading us to conclude that the global maximum occurrences of river waterand lake water are not synchronous.
Sources of Wage Inequality: Decomposing the Conditional Gini Coefficient
Authors: Hurtado Carlos
Published: November 2022

I develop an econometric method to determine the characteristics that affect the disparity in the distribution of a positive random variable, e.g., income or wages. I relate the conditional Lorentz curve to the conditional quantile function to decompose the conditional Gini index. The proposed procedure uses polynomial approximations of the estimates of the conditional quantile regression coefficients to decompose the factors and characteristics that contribute most to the inequality of the distribution of the random variable. Moreover, this paper proposes a technique to disentangle the temporal changes in the distribution. I demonstrate the use of the method using U.S. hourly wages for the years 1986 and 2015. I find that increases in the proportion of workers with high school and associate degrees are significantly correlated to reductions in inequality of the wage distribution in the U.S. during the analysis period.
JEL Classification Numbers: C13, C21, C43, D63
The causal mutation in ARR3 gene for high myopia and progressive color vision defect
Authors: Gu Lei , Cong Peikuan , Ning Qingyao , Jiang Bo , Wang Jianyong , Cui Hongguang
Published: November 2022

The ARR3 gene, also known as cone arrestin, belongs to the arrestin family and is expressed in cone cells, inactivating phosphorated-opsins and preventing cone signals. Variants of ARR3 reportedly cause X-linked dominant female-limited early-onset (age < 7 years old) high myopia (<-6D). Here, we reveal a new mutation (c.228T>A, p.Tyr76*) in ARR3 gene that can cause early-onset high myopia (eoHM) limited in female carriers, and protan/deutan color vision defect affecting both genders. Using ten years of clinical follow-up data, we identified gradually worsen cone dysfunction/color vision as a key feature among affected individuals. We present a hypothesis of unbalanced color-vision signal output that had lowered blue color contribution from cone cells could potentially explain the etiology of this disease.
A head-to-head comparison of Well-being of Older People (WOOP) and EQ-5D-5L in patients, carers and general public in China
Authors: Ran Xun , Mao Zhuxin , Yang Zhihao
Published: November 2022

Introduction:
Recently, Well-being of Older People measure (WOOP) was developed and validated in a Dutch population. Although WOOP was developed targeting the older people, it has the potential for use in a wider population. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between WOOP and EQ-5D-5L and compared their psychometric properties in a sample of patients, carers and healthy general public covering a wider age group.
Method:
We conducted a cross-sectional study in Guizhou Province, China between July and August 2022. Data was collected using paper and pencil. We analysed and reported the acceptability, item response distribution, the Spearman correlation coefficients of all items, the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) of all items, the known-group validity and the convergent validity of EQ-5D-5L utility and WOOP utility.
Results:
A total of 322 participants completed the survey with 105 patients, 101 carers and 116 healthy general public. 9% of participants had at least one missing response. Three items of WOOP did not have any level 5 responses and EQ-5D-5L had more level 1 responses. The correlations were low between EQ-5D-5L and WOOP items and the three-factor EFA showed these two instruments had only one shared factor and the other two factors were only related to WOOP items. Younger people had lower missing response rate and a different response distribution for three items.
Discussion:
WOOP measures a broader construct beyond health while EQ-5D-5L is a more sensitive instrument when health is considered alone. There is a potential of using WOOP in a wider population.
Tools for Assessing Professional Identity in Health Profession Education: A Scoping Review
Authors: Tabatabaei Zahra Sadat , Amini Homayoun , Mafinejad Mahboobeh Khabaz
Published: November 2022

Background
Learning about the formation and development of professional identity and its principled planning in universities play an essential role in the development of the identity of individuals in educational and professional environments. Although the formation and development of identity is the main goal of Health Profession Education, due to the complexity of this process and its multidimensional nature, appropriate measurement and evaluation criteria are not readily available. To address this gap, a scoping review was conducted to explore current knowledge in assessing professional identity and map directions for future research.
Methods
The present scoping review was conducted based on the five-step framework of Arksey and O'Malley. At first, the research question was formulated. Then, PubMed, Eric, ProQuest, Scopus databases and Google scholar search engine were systematically searched until September 2022. The two authors independently selected all articles based on screening eligibility criteria and charted the data. Finally, the eligible articles were analyzed using descriptive analysis of studies on the characteristics and psychometrics of the tools and their underlying theories.
Results
After extensive searching 9,924 studies were identified. 162 studies were selected for full-text review of which 17 articles were eligible to be included. More than half of the articles were from England and Japan. Most of the target group was studies on nursing and medical students. In 14 studies included, tools and psychometric properties were mentioned. Several theories were used to develop professional identity assessment tools. Identity theories were the basis for designing or developing most tools. In identity theories, social identity theory and Kagan's constructive-developmental theory were used more than others.
Conclusions
The results of this scoping review will help researchers to choose or develop reliable and valid tools in accordance with clear conceptual and theoretical frameworks to measure and evaluate the formation and development of professional identity in Health Profession Education. Developing comprehensive tools that underpin the appropriate conceptual framework provides the possibility of evaluating the continuous and nonlinear process of the formation and development of professional identity which can be implemented at a large scale.
Sleep hygiene and sleep quality in Iranian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Chehri Azita , Shetabi Maryam , Khazaie Habibolah , Zakiei Ali
Published: November 2022

Objectives
Sleep is one of the issues that attracted the attention of researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers focused their studies on the prevalence of sleep disorders, sleep quality, and sleep duration. However, they paid less attention to sleep hygiene. To this end, the present study sought to investigate sleep hygiene and sleep quality in Iranian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
The present study was conducted using a descriptive cross-sectional design. The research population consisted of all adolescents living in Kermanshah (western Iran) in 2021. The participants were a sample of 610 adolescents. They completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI) and Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Scale (ASHS).
Results
The mean sleep quality score for the participants was 7.14 ± 2.47, indicating the high frequency of sleep problems affecting the participants. There were significant correlations between all components of sleep hygiene and sleep quality. There was also a significant correlation (r = -0.46 between sleep hygiene and sleep quality (P < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in sleep hygiene and sleep quality between the male and female adolescents.
Conclusions
The data in this study confirmed the poor observance of sleep hygiene in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and reported frequent sleep problems among the participants. The results also indicated a significant relationship between sleep hygiene and sleep quality in adolescents. Thus, sleep hygiene components can predict sleep quality.
Sema4d regulates the bone metabolism in combination with leptin or melatonin
Authors: Lin Zhenen , Xiong Shengren , Lin Yu , Li Zhaohui , Xie Dan , Lin Xuchao , Chen Xuesheng , Lin Xueyi
Published: November 2022

Purpose
The present study aims to explore the regulatory function of Sema4D on bone metabolism in combination with leptin or melatonin, as well as the underlying mechanism.
Methods
The osteoporosis model was established in rats using the OVX method. The bilateral tibial specimens of rats were taken for Micro-CT scanning analysis and three-dimensional reconstruction. The pathological state of bone tissues was evaluated by the HE staining assay. The concentration of estradiol in the serum was detected by the ELISA assay. Six groups were divided in the present study: Control, OVX, OVX + NL, OVX + Sema4D, OVX + Sema4D + leptin, and OVX + Sema4D + MT groups. According to the above grouping, the Sema4D or leptin overexpressing vectors were injected into rats through the tail vein. 3D bone structure was detected by high-resolution micro-CT system. Serum bone-derived alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRAP-5b) activities were measured by ELISA. TRAP staining was used to calculate the number of osteoclasts in the metaphysis of the upper tibia. The expressions of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and leptin in bone tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.
Results
Compared to OVX + NL, the level of V/TV, Tb.N, BMD, and BMC in the OVX + Sema4D + leptin and OVX + Sema4D + MT groups was extremely elevated, accompanied by a declined Tb.Sp level. Compared to the OVX group, in the OVX + Sema4D + leptin and OVX + Sema4D + MT groups, the structure of bone trabeculae was relatively complete and tended to be closely arranged. The number of bone trabeculae was greatly increased and the number of TRAP-positive osteoclasts decreased significantly, accompanied by an upregulation of BMP-2 and leptin, and a declined activity of BALP and TRAP-5b.
Conclusion
The function of Sema4d on the microstructure of trabecular bone, bone formation, and repairment on the trabecular bone damage in osteoporosis rats was improved by leptin or melatonin.
Effect of Coffee on Color Stability and Surface Roughness of Newly Introduced Single Shade Resin Composite Materials.
Authors: Rohym Shaimaa , Tawfeek Hossam El Mandouh , Kamh Raghda
Published: November 2022

Background
Dentists started to follow the era of using single shade resin composite restorations to avoid color shade selection. Our study was done to evaluate and compare color stability of two single shade resin composite materials.
Methods
sixty samples were randomly allocated into two main groups (n = 30) according to the composite resin used: Group O: (Omnichroma) samples and Group V: (Venus Peral) samples. Each group was then divided into two subgroups (n = 15): group O1 and V1: samples immersed in coffee. Group O2 and V2: samples immersed in distilled water. Color changes (Δ E) and roughness values (Ra) were evaluated at baseline, 1st, and 14th days of immersion. Color change was assessed using Vita Easy Shade V while surface roughness was assessed using, profilometer and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), respectively. Data were collected and statistically analyzed using two-way variance analysis (ANOVA) and Tukeys post-hoc test (p < 0.05).
Results
Group O1 and V1 recorded the highest Δ E (P = 0.0002, 0.001, respectively) and Ra values (P < 0.001) no significant difference between both materials at 14 days
Conclusion
Single shade resin composite with smart chromatic material technology has dramatically color change and surface roughness that sacrifice esthetic success.
Nomogram of baseline CT-radiomics from small-cell lung cancer patients: evaluation of added prognostic value for overall survival and probability of distant metastasis
Authors: Zhang Ruiping , Chen Yazheng , Luo Yan'an , Wang Zhizhen
Published: November 2022

Objectives
To evaluate the added prognostic value of baseline CT-radiomics using nomogram for overall survival and probability of distant metastasis in small-cell lung cancer patients.
Materials and Methods
This retrospective study consisted of 122 patients with stage IIA-IIIB small-cell lung cancer, which 97 patients for training dataset and 25 for validation dataset. The function defined as rad_score was constructed by the linear combination of selected radiomics features from baseline CT images weighted by their respective logistic coefficients and intercept in the LASSO-Cox model. The nomogram was developed based on the above function for overall survival (OS) and calibrated by the Harrell’s concordance index (C-index). The performance of the classifiers for DM was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves with the indictor of area under curves (AUC). Furthermore, survival curve depicted by Kaplan-Meier method was compared with Log-rank test between low- and high-risk group.
Results
The nomogram performance of radiomics features and risk clinical factors (c-index of 0.64) don’t take advantage over the one of risk clinical factors-based alone (c-index of 0.596). The probability prediction of combination of the radiomics and clinical risk factor, radiomics alone, and clinical factors alone was shown, namely AUC of 0.673, 0.640 and 0.650, respectively. No significant different was found between ROCs (p-value > 0.4, Delong test). Moreover, we compared the Kaplan-Meier curves between low- and high-risk group, and showed p < 0.001 with Log-rank test.
Conclusion
In the study, we cann’t confirm the hypothesis that baseline CT-radiomics contribute to predict the OS and probability of DM significantly. Moreover, the nomogram model based on combination of radiomics and clinical parameters has disadvantage over clinical parameters alone, probably affected by heterogeneity of datasets or SCLC need more valuable information for prediction outcomes.
Understanding who is and isn’t involved and engaged in health research: Feasibility of capturing and analysing demographic data related to patient and public involvement and engagement within a clinical translational research environment
Authors: Keane Annie , Islam Safina , Parsons Suzanne , Verma Arpana , Farragher Tracey , Forde Davine , Holmes Leah , Cresswell Katharine , Williams Susannah , Arru Paolo , Howlett Emily , Turner-Uaandja Hannah , MacGregor Issy , Grey Tracy , Arain Zahra , Scahill Maura , Starling Bella
Published: November 2022

Background: Patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) can improve the relevance, quality, ethics and impact of research thus contributing to high quality research. Currently in the UK, people who get involved in research tend to be aged 61 years or above, White and female. Calls for greater diversity and inclusion in PPIE have become more urgent especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, so that research can better address health inequalities and be relevant for all sectors of society. Yet, there are currently no routine systems or requirements to collect or analyse the demographics of people who get involved in health research in the UK.
Methods: We developed a questionnaire to assess the demographics of people taking part in PPIE activities run by Vocal. Vocal is a non-profit organisation which supports PPIE in health research across the region of Greater Manchester in England. We implemented the questionnaire across Vocal activities between December 2018 and March 2022. We analysed our findings and compared them against local population demographic data, and available national data related to public contributors to health research.
Results: Our results show that it is feasible to assess the demographics of people who take part in PPIE activities, through a questionnaire system. Further, our emerging data indicate that we are involving a greater diversity of people in health research, as compared to available national data. Specifically, we involve more people of Asian, African and Caribbean heritage, and include a wider range of ages in our PPIE activities.
Conclusion: Our ‘learn by doing’ approach to assessing who does and doesn’t take part in Vocal’s PPIE activities has informed our practice and continues influence our strategic priorities for PPIE. Our system and learning reported here may be applicable and transferable to other similar settings in which PPIE is carried out. We attribute the greater diversity of our public contributors to our strategic priority and activities to promote more inclusive research since 2018.
Genome-wide association study implicates the role of TBXAS1 in the pathogenesis of depressive symptoms among the Korean population
Authors: Won Sungho , Park Kyungtaek , Do Ah Ra , Chung Yuree , Kim Min Ji , Rhee Sang Jin , Yoon Dae Hyun , Choi Seung Ho , Cho Sung Joon , Kim Han-Na , Ahn Yong Min
Published: November 2022

Although depression is an emerging disorder affecting many people worldwide, most genetic studies have been performed in European descent populations. Herein, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted in Korean population to elucidate the genomic loci associated with depressive symptoms. Two independent cohorts were used as discovery datasets, which consisted of 6 474 (1 484 cases and 4 990 controls) and 1 654 (557 cases and 1 097 controls) Korean participants, respectively. The participants were divided into case and control groups based on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Meta-analysis using the two cohorts revealed that rs6945590 was significantly associated with the risk of depressive symptoms [P = 2.83 × 10− 8; odds ratio (OR) = 1.23; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15–1.33]. This association was validated in other independent cohorts which were another Korean cohort (258 cases and 1 757 controls) and the East Asian study of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) (15 771 cases and 178 777 controls). The predicted expression levels of thromboxane A synthase 1 gene (TBXAS1), which encodes the enzyme thromboxane A synthase 1 and participates in the arachidonic acid (AA) cascade, was significantly decreased in the whole blood tissues of the participants with depressive symptoms. Furthermore, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis showed a causal association between TBXAS1 expression and the risk of depressive symptoms. In conclusion, as the number of risk alleles (A) of rs6945590 increased, TBXAS1 expression decreased, which subsequently caused an increase in the risk of depressive symptoms.
On the Efficiency of Heat Engines.
Authors: Bharathraj Goddalehundi
Published: November 2022

In a Gas Cylinder - Piston system, when the gas raises a mass M (on the piston) from a lower level z to an upper level z', then we say the gas has performed some work, W = Mg(z'-z). We can utilise two kinds of thermodynamic actions to enhance the height of the piston, without altering the mass on the piston. (A) We can enhance the temperature of the gas. (B) We can increase the number of particles in the system. The first process (A) is a pure Isobaric process, here the Volume expansion is proportional to the increasing Temperature. Process (B) is a combination of Isobaric-Isothermal process, here the expansion is proportional to the addition (pumping in) of extra Gas Particles. The textbook description of an Heat (Carnot) Engine is completely wrong. It is described as composed of 4 steps, (i) Adiabatic compression → (ii) Isothermal expansion → (iii) Adiabatic expansion and → (iv) Isothermal compression. In this, steps (ii) and (iv) ought to be Isobaric as it is described as achieved by connecting the system to an heat bath (source/sink) with only heat transfer and no mass transfer. In order to realise an Isothermal process we need to pump in or pump out gas particles at the same temperature as the particles in the system. Besides in steps (i) and (iii) the formulae used to characterise the adiabatic process are also wrong. When we use the proper steps with correct eqns, the maximum possible efficiency turns out to be only 1/(1+f/2), where f = degrees of freedom of the gas particles. The efficieny is not 1-T0/T1, where T0 = sink temperature and T1 = source temperature, as is usually calculated from the wrong theory.