bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences and perceptions of migrant populations in South Africa on COVID-19 immunization: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
Authors: Mukumbang Ferdinand C , Ndlovu Sibusiso , Adebiyi Babatope O
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Migrant populations (asylum seekers, permit holders, refugees, and undocumented migrants) living in South Africa face various individual, social, and physical circumstances that underpin their decisions, motivation, and ability to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. We conducted a qualitative study to explore the experiences and perceptions of migrant populations in South Africa on COVID-19 vaccines to inform recommendations for improved COVID-19 immunization.

Methods

We conducted an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) with 20 asylum seekers, permit holders, refugees, and undocumented migrants living in South Africa. We applied a maximum variation purposive sampling approach to capture all three categories of migrants in South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and recorded electronically with consent and permission from the study participants. The recordings were transcribed and analyzed thematically following the IPA using Atlas.ti version 9.

Results

Four major reflective themes emanated from the data analysis. (1) While some migrants perceived being excluded from the South African national immunization program at the level of advertisement and felt discriminated against at the immunization centers, others felt included in the program at all levels. (2) Skepticism, myths, and conspiracy theories around the origin of SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 vaccine are pervasive among migrant populations in South Africa. (3) There is a continuum of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance/hesitancy ranging from being vaccinated through waiting for the chance to be vaccinated to refusal. (4) Accepting the vaccine or being hesitant follows the beliefs of the participant, knowledge of the vaccine’s benefits, and lessons learned from others already vaccinated.

Conclusion

COVID-19 vaccine inclusiveness, awareness, and uptake should be enhanced through migrant-aware policies and actions such as community mobilization, healthcare professional training, and mass media campaigns.
Alcohol and cause-specific mortality in Russia: the Know Your Heart Study 2015–23
Authors: Mitkin Nikita A. , Brenn Tormod , Unguryanu Tatiana N. , Malyutina Sofia , Cook Sarah , Kudryavtsev Alexander V.
Published: November 2024

Background

Alcohol-related mortality in Russia exceeds the world average and presents a critical public health concern. This study assesses the impact of alcohol consumption levels on mortality and investigates mortality predictors among Russians, including people treated for alcohol-related diagnoses (narcology patients).

Methods

We examined 2629 men and women aged 35–69 years who participated in the Know Your Heart study (2015–17), Arkhangelsk, Russia. The participants were categorized into five drinking levels (non-drinking, low-risk, hazardous, harmful, narcology patients) and followed up using a regional mortality database. We used Cox proportional hazards regressions to analyze sociodemographic and cardiovascular biomarkers as mortality predictors among narcology patients and general population and to compare mortality risks across the five drinking levels.

Results

During a median follow-up of 6.3 years, 223 (8.5%) participants died. Age- and sex-standardized all-cause mortality rates per 100,000 person-years were 1229 (95% CI: 691–1767) in non-drinking participants, 890 (95%CI: 684–1096) and 877 (95%CI: 428–1325) in low-risk and hazardous drinking participants, 2170 (95%CI: 276–4064) in those with harmful drinking, and 4757 (95%CI: 3384–6131) in narcology patients. The largest proportions of deaths were caused by cardiovascular diseases (37.2%), neoplasms (20.2%), and external causes (13.9%). Compared with low-risk drinkers, narcology patients had higher risks of death with hazard ratios of 3.23 (95%CI: 2.02–5.16) for all-cause mortality, 3.25 (95%CI: 1.52–6.92) for cardiovascular diseases, 9.36 (95%CI: 2.63–33.3) for external causes, and 7.79 (95%CI: 3.34–18.1) for other causes. Neoplasm-related mortality did not differ between groups. All-cause mortality in the general population had positive associations with smoking, waist-to-hip ratio, resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and negative associations with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and higher education. These associations were substantially weaker and non-significant in narcology patients. Cardiovascular mortality in narcology patients was increased with higher education, while male sex, LVEF and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide had less impact compared to the general population sample.

Conclusion

Narcology patients face markedly higher mortality risks—threefold from all causes and cardiovascular diseases, ninefold from external causes, and sevenfold from other causes. Compared with the general population, conventional mortality risk factors were less predictive of deaths in narcology patients.
International models of accreditation and certification for hospitals with a focus on nursing: a scoping review
Authors: Gurisch Carolin , Kleine Joan , Maier Claudia Bettina
Published: November 2024

Background

Quality assurance in hospitals is essential for ensuring patient safety, quality of care and efficiency. The nursing profession is a key contributor to healthcare quality, yet, a comprehensive overview and comparison of the role and scope of nursing as part of accreditation and certification schemes has been lacking. The aim was to identify if and to what extent international accreditation or certification schemes focus on nursing, and to compare their conceptual models and outcome indicators.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted. A search strategy was developed together with a librarian and carried out in January 2024 in Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Reviews and Google Scholar. Additionally, authoritative websites of accreditation/certification holders were searched. Inclusion criteria were studies on international accreditation or certification schemes for hospital settings with relevance to nursing published in English or German. Screening and data analysis adhered to the Joanna Briggs Institute’s methodology, with reporting following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guideline (PRISMA-ScR).

Results

The search identified 17.315 records. After removing duplicates and screening of titles/abstracts, 336 full-texts remained. A total of 124 studies were included, identifying seven international accreditation/certification schemes: European Foundation for Quality Management, Evaluation and Quality Improvement Program, International Organization for Standardization 9001, Joint Commission International®, Magnet Recognition Program®, Pathway to Excellence® Program, Qmentum®. The different schemes ranged from nursing-specific to having no specific focus on, but relevance for, nursing and varied in their topics, focus on structure, process and outcome quality and structure and content of requirements. Additionally, outcome indicators varied, with differences in the extent to which indicators were nurse-sensitive, compulsoriness of data collection, and use of external benchmarking.

Conclusions

The seven international schemes show large conceptual variations as to their focus on nursing and differences in the degree of nurse-specific outcome indicators. Hospital and nursing managers, policymakers, patients and the public need to understand the content and outcome dimensions of the schemes when making decisions or assessing hospital quality data.
Community perspectives on barriers to injury care in Northern Malawi: a three delays framed assessment using focus groups and photovoice
Authors: Whitaker John , Togun Ella , Gondwe Levie , Zgambo Donaria , Amoah Abena S. , Dube Albert , Rickard Rory , Leather Andrew JM , Davies Justine
Published: November 2024

Introduction

The global burden of injury is huge, falling disproportionately on poorer populations. The benefits of qualitative research in injury care are recognised and its application is growing. We used a novel application of focus group discussions with photovoice to rapidly assess barriers at each of three delay stages; seeking (delay-1), reaching (delay-2) or receiving (delay-3) injury care in Northern Malawi.

Methods

Three community Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) of individuals with (FGD1) and without (FGD2) recent injury experience and community leaders (FGD3) discussed barriers to seeking, reaching or receiving care following injury. Participants from FGD1 subsequently used a digital camera and, following training in photovoice, took photographs illustrating barriers to injury care. Participants reconvened to discuss images which they believed illustrated important barriers. A framework method analysis compared barriers generated to those identified by an earlier Delphi study.

Results

Seven of eight invited adult community members attended each discussion group. Within the FGDs, all prior Delphi derived delay 1 barriers were described. Within delay 2, all but three were discussed by community participants. Those not covered were: 1) “communication” ;2) “prehospital care”; 3) “coordination”. Within Delay 3, only “capacity”was not highlighted by participants during the study.

Additional health system barriers not identified in the Delphi were inductively derived. Within Delay 1, these were labelled; “religious or other beliefs”; “indecision”;
“fear or lacking courage”; and “community/bystander engagement”. Within Delay 2, “lack of assistance” was derived. Within Delay 3; “alleged corruption”; “interfacility transfer”; and “police processes” were all identified during analysis.

The photovoice group provided 21 photographs evidencing 15 barriers. Delay 1 was the most frequently captured by images (12/21).The individual barriers most frequently described were “transport” and “roads” (6/21 and 5/21, respectively). The photovoice group did not describe any additional barriers not covered in the prior FGDs.

Conclusion

We identified several barriers within this health system. Participants illustrated how some barriers impact on multiple phases of delay. The method was quick, low cost and participants grasped the technique and research question effectively. We recommend this approach for future health system assessments.
The PI3K-AKT-mTOR axis persists as a therapeutic dependency in KRASG12D-driven non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: McDaid W. J. , Wilson L. , Adderley H. , Martinez-Lopez A. , Baker M. J. , Searle J. , Ginn L. , Budden T. , Aldea M. , Marinello A. , Aredo J. V. , Viros A. , Besse B. , Wakelee H. A. , Blackhall F. , Castillo-Lluva S. , Lindsay C. R. , Malliri A.
Published: November 2024

Introduction

KRASG12C and KRASG12D inhibitors represent a major translational breakthrough for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and cancer in general by directly targeting its most mutated oncoprotein. However, resistance to these small molecules has highlighted the need for rational combination partners necessitating a critical understanding of signaling downstream of KRAS mutant isoforms.

Methods

We contrasted tumor development between KrasG12C and KrasG12D genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs). To corroborate findings and determine mutant subtype-specific dependencies, isogenic models of KrasG12C and KrasG12D initiation and adaptation were profiled by RNA sequencing. We also employed cell line models of established KRAS mutant NSCLC and determined therapeutic vulnerabilities through pharmacological inhibition. We analysed differences in survival outcomes for patients affected by advanced KRASG12C or KRASG12D-mutant NSCLC.

Results

KRASG12D exhibited higher potency in vivo, manifesting as more rapid lung tumor formation and reduced survival of KRASG12D GEMMs compared to KRASG12C. This increased potency, recapitulated in an isogenic initiation model, was associated with enhanced PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling. However, KRASG12C oncogenicity and downstream pathway activation were comparable with KRASG12D at later stages of tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo, consistent with similar clinical outcomes in patients. Despite this, established KRASG12D NSCLC models depended more on the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, while KRASG12C models on the MAPK pathway. Specifically, KRASG12D inhibition was enhanced by AKT inhibition in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions

Our data highlight a unique combination treatment vulnerability and suggest that patient selection strategies for combination approaches using direct KRAS inhibitors should be i) contextualised to individual RAS mutants, and ii) tailored to their downstream signaling.
Targeting mitochondrial metabolism by the mitotoxin bromoxib in leukemia and lymphoma cells
Authors: Schmitt Laura , Krings Karina S. , Wolsing Andre , Buque Xabier , Zimmermann Marcel , Flores-Romero Hector , Lenz Thomas , Lechtenberg Ilka , Peter Christoph , Stork Björn , Teusch Nicole , Proksch Peter , Stühler Kai , García-Sáez Ana J. , Reichert Andreas S. , Aspichueta Patricia , Bhatia Sanil , Wesselborg Sebastian
Published: November 2024

Targeting mitochondrial metabolism represents a promising approach for cancer treatment. Here, we investigated the mitotoxic potential of the polybrominated diphenyl ether bromoxib, a natural compound isolated from the marine sponge Dysidea family. We could show that bromoxib comprised strong cytotoxicity in different leukemia and lymphoma cell lines (such as HL60, HPBALL, Jurkat, K562, KOPTK1, MOLT4, SUPB15 and Ramos), but also in solid tumor cell lines (such as glioblastoma cell lines SJ-GBM2 and TP365MG). Bromoxib activated the mitochondrial death pathway as evidenced by the rapid translocation of Bax to the mitochondria and the subsequent mitochondrial release of Smac. Accordingly, bromoxib-induced apoptosis was blocked in caspase 9 deficient Jurkat cells and Jurkat cells overexpressing the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. In addition, we could show that bromoxib functioned as an uncoupler of the electron transport chain with similar rapid kinetics as CCCP in terms of dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), processing of the dynamin-like GTPase OPA1 and subsequent fragmentation of mitochondria. Beyond that, bromoxib strongly abrogated ATP production via glycolysis as well as oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) by targeting electron transport chain complexes II, III, and V (ATP-synthase) in Ramos lymphoma cells. Thus, bromoxib’s potential to act on both cytosolic glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration renders it a promising agent for the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma.
Drug prioritization identifies panobinostat as a tailored treatment element for patients with metastatic hepatoblastoma
Authors: Demir Salih , Hotes Alina , Schmid Tanja , Cairo Stefano , Indersie Emilie , Pisano Claudio , Hiyama Eiso , Hishiki Tomoro , Vokuhl Christian , Branchereau Sophie , Brock Penelope , Schmid Irene , Zsiros József , Kappler Roland
Published: November 2024

Background

Patients with metastatic hepatoblastoma are treated with severely toxic first-line chemotherapies in combination with surgery. Yet, inadequate response of lung metastases to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy still compromises patient outcomes making new treatment strategies, tailored to more efficient lung clearance, mandatory.

Methods

We harnessed a comprehensive patient-derived xenograft platform and a variety of in vitro and in vivo assays to establish the preclinical and biological rationale for a new drug for patients with metastatic hepatoblastoma.

Results

The testing of a library of established drugs on patient-derived xenografts identified histone deacetylase inhibitors, most notably panobinostat, to be highly efficacious on hepatoblastoma cells, as compared to non-cancerous cells. Molecularly, the anti-tumor effect of panobinostat is mediated by posttranslational obstruction of the MYC oncoprotein as a result of dual specificity phosphatase 1 upregulation, thereby leading to growth inhibition and programmed cell death. Of clinical importance, upregulation of the MYC target gene nucleophosmin 1 is indicative of response to panobinostat and associated with metastatic disease in patients with hepatoblastoma. The combination of panobinostat with the current SIOPEL 4 induction protocol, consisting of cisplatin and doxorubicin, revealed high synergies already at low nanomolar levels. The simulation of a clinical trial, with this combination therapy, in patient-derived xenograft models, and ultimately heterotypic lung metastasis mimics clearly underscored the potency of this approach.

Conclusion

Integrated studies define MYC inhibition by panobinostat as a novel treatment element to be introduced into the therapeutic strategy for patients with metastatic hepatoblastoma.
Validation of Vetscan Imagyst®, a diagnostic test utilizing an artificial intelligence deep learning algorithm, for detecting strongyles and Parascaris spp. in equine fecal samples
Authors: Steuer Ashley , Fritzler Jason , Boggan SaraBeth , Daniel Ian , Cowles Bobby , Penn Cory , Goldstein Richard , Lin Dan
Published: November 2024

Background

Current methods for obtaining fecal egg counts in horses are often inaccurate and variable depending on the analyst’s skill and experience. Automated digital scanning of fecal sample slides integrated with analysis by an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm is a viable, emerging alternative that can mitigate operator variation compared to conventional methods in companion animal fecal parasite diagnostics. Vetscan Imagyst is a novel fecal parasite detection system that uploads the scanned image to the cloud where proprietary software analyzes captured images for diagnostic recognition by a deep learning, object detection AI algorithm. The study describes the use and validation of Vetscan Imagyst in equine parasitology.

Methods

The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of the Vetscan Imagyst system in terms of diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in testing equine fecal samples (n = 108) for ova from two parasites that commonly infect horses, strongyles and Parascaris spp., compared to reference assays performed by expert parasitologists using a Mini-FLOTAC technique. Two different fecal flotation solutions were used to prepare the sample slides, NaNO3 and Sheather’s sugar solution.

Results

Diagnostic sensitivity of the Vetscan Imagyst algorithm for strongyles versus the manual reference test was 99.2% for samples prepared with NaNO3 solution and 100.0% for samples prepared with Sheather’s sugar solution. Sensitivity for Parascaris spp. was 88.9% and 99.9%, respectively, for samples prepared with NaNO3 and Sheather’s sugar solutions. Diagnostic specificity for strongyles was 91.4% and 99.9%, respectively, for samples prepared with NaNO3 and Sheather’s sugar solutions. Specificity for Parascaris spp. was 93.6% and 99.9%, respectively, for samples prepared with NaNO3 and Sheather’s sugar solutions. Lin’s concordance correlation coefficients for VETSCAN IMAGYST eggs per gram counts versus those determined by the expert parasitologist were 0.924–0.978 for strongyles and 0.944–0.955 for Parascaris spp., depending on the flotation solution.

Conclusions

Sensitivity and specificity results for detecting strongyles and Parascaris spp. in equine fecal samples showed that Vetscan Imagyst can consistently provide diagnostic accuracy equivalent to manual evaluations by skilled parasitologists. As an automated method driven by a deep learning AI algorithm, VETSCAN IMAGYST has the potential to avoid variations in analyst characteristics, thus providing more consistent results in a timely manner, in either clinical or laboratory settings.

Graphical Abstract
End-point diagnostics of Giardia duodenalis assemblages A and B by combining RPA with CRISPR/Cas12a from human fecal samples
Authors: Wang Yilin , Yu Fuchang , Fu Yin , Zhang Qian , Zhao Jinfeng , Qin Ziyang , Shi Ke , Wu Yayun , Li Junqiang , Li Xiaoying , Zhang Longxian
Published: November 2024

Background

Giardia duodenalis is a common enteric protozoan parasite that is categorized into eight assemblages (A–H). In particular, assemblages A and B are zoonotic, capable of infecting both humans and animals worldwide, resulting in significant economic losses and public health challenges in epidemic regions. Thus, the development of rapid, accurate and non-laboratory-based diagnostic methods for infected animals is crucial for the effective prevention and control of giardiasis. Recent advancements in clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) protein (Cas12a) systems allow promising avenues for nucleic acid detection, characterized by their high flexibility, sensitivity and specificity.

Methods

Combined recombinase polymerase amplification and CRISPR/Cas12a systems were combined and used as end-point diagnostic methods (termed REPORT) to detect G. duodenalis assemblage A and B. The diagnostic results can be observed by fluorescence readouts with the naked eye under blue light or colorimetric signals using a lateral flow strip (LFS).

Results

The limit of detection (LOD) of the REPORT‑based G. duodenalis assemblage A detection was 2.04 CFU/ml and 10 trophozoites per gram (TPG), and the LOD of assemblage B was 1.1 CFU/ml and 10 cysts per gram (CPG). The REPORT‑based G. duodenalis assemblage A and assemblage B detection methods have strong specificity and no cross-reactivity with other assemblages of G. duodenalis or common enteric parasitic protozoa and have excellent performance in clinical sample detection.

Conclusions

This study presents a novel strategy for the direct identification of G. duodenalis assemblages A and B, requiring neither highly trained personnel nor costly specialized equipment.

Graphical Abstract
Small heterodimer partner-interacting leucine zipper protein suppresses pain and cartilage destruction in an osteoarthritis model by modulating the AMPK/STAT3 signaling pathway
Authors: Moon Jeonghyeon , Cho Keun-Hyung , Jhun JooYeon , Choi JeongWon , Na Hyun-Sik , Lee Jeong Su , Lee Seung Yoon , Min Jun-Ki , Shetty Anan , Park Sung-Hwan , Kim Seok Jung , Cho Mi-La
Published: November 2024

Objective

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease caused by the breakdown of joint cartilage and adjacent bone. Joint injury, being overweight, differences in leg length, high levels of joint stress, abnormal joint or limb development, and inherited factors have been implicated in the etiology of OA. In addition to physical damage to the joint, a role for inflammatory processes has been identified as well. Small heterodimer partner-interacting leucine zipper protein (SMILE) regulates transcription and many cellular functions. Among the proteins activated by SMILE is the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, which mediates the activities of CD4 + T helper cells, including Th1, Th2, and Th17, as well as Treg cells. PPAR-γ binds to STAT3 to inhibit its transcription, thereby suppressing the expression of the NF-κB pathway, and in turn, the expression of the inflammatory cytokines interferon (IFN), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which are sub-signals of STAT3 and NF-κB.

Methods

OA was induced in control C57BL/6 mice and in C57BL/6-derived SMILE-overexpressing transgenic (SMILE Tg) mice. The protein expression levels in the joint and spleen tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence images. In addition, flow cytometry was performed for detecting changes of the changes of immune cells.

Results

Less cartilage damage and significantly reduced levels of OA biomarkers (MMP13, TIMP3 and MCP-1) were observed in SMILE Tg mice. Immunohistochemistry performed to identify the signaling pathway involved in the link between SMILE expression and OA revealed decreased levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and phosphorylated AMPK in synovial tissues as well as a significant decrease in phosphorylated STAT3 in both cartilage and synovium. Changes in systemic immune cells were investigated via flow cytometry to analyze splenocytes isolated from control and SMILE Tg mice. SMILE Tg mice had elevated proportions of CD4 + IL-4 + cells (Th2) and CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + cells (Treg) and a notable decrease in CD4 + IL-17 + cells (Th17).

Conclusion

Our results show that overexpressed SMILE attenuates the symptoms of OA, by increasing AMPK signaling and decreasing STAT3, thus reducing the levels of inflammatory immune cells.
TRIM28 regulates the coagulation cascade inhibited by p72 of African swine fever virus
Authors: Zhu Xuejiao , Li Fang , Fan Baochao , Zhao Yongxiang , Zhou Junming , Wang Dandan , Liu Renqiang , Zhao Dongming , Fan Huiying , Li Bin
Published: November 2024

In 2018, African swine fever virus (ASFV) emerged in China, causing extremely serious economic losses to the domestic pig industry. Infection with ASFV can cause disseminated coagulation, leading to the consumption of platelets and coagulation factors and severe bleeding. However, the mechanism of virus-induced coagulation has yet to be established. In our study, ASFV downregulated the coagulation process, as detected by D-dimer (D2D) and Factor X (F10) expression in pigs challenged with ASFV HLJ/18. In vitro, ASFV infection increased Factor IX (F9) and Factor XII (F12) expression while downregulating F10 expression in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). African swine fever virus induced both intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation cascades. In addition, several encoded proteins affect the expression of the crucial coagulation protein F10, and among the encoded proteins, p72 inhibits the activity and expression of F10. Proteomic analysis also revealed that p72 is involved in the coagulation cascade. p72 can interact with F10, and its inhibitory functional domains include amino acids 423–432 and amino acids 443–452. Finally, we found that F10 and p72 interact with tripartite motif-containing protein 28 (TRIM28). TRIM28 knockdown resulted in a decrease in F10 expression. Importantly, TRIM28 contributes to the reduction in F10 protein expression regulated by p72. Our findings revealed an inhibitory effect of the viral protein p72 on the ASFV infection-induced coagulation cascade and revealed a role of TRIM28 in reducing F10 expression, revealing a molecular mechanism of ASFV-associated coagulation.
Steered Response Power for Sound Source Localization: a tutorial review
Authors: Grinstein Eric , Tengan Elisa , Çakmak Bilgesu , Dietzen Thomas , Nunes Leonardo , van Waterschoot Toon , Brookes Mike , Naylor Patrick A.
Published: November 2024

In the last three decades, the Steered Response Power (SRP) method has been widely used for the task of Sound Source Localization (SSL), due to its satisfactory localization performance on moderately reverberant and noisy scenarios. Many works have analysed and extended the original SRP method to reduce its computational cost, to allow it to locate multiple sources, or to improve its performance in adverse environments. In this work, we review over 200 papers on the SRP method and its variants, with emphasis on the SRP-PHAT method. We also present eXtensible-SRP, or X-SRP, a generalized and modularized version of the SRP algorithm which allows the reviewed extensions to be implemented. We provide a Python implementation of the algorithm which includes selected extensions from the literature.
Interactive effects of intangible cultural heritage and tourism development: a study based on the data panel PVAR model and coupled coordination model
Authors: Du Yixuan , Chen Long , Xu Jinyi
Published: November 2024

Exploring the coordination and analysis of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and tourism development is a key issue in advancing cultural heritage and conservation in Chinese society. This paper employs panel data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2013 to 2022, utilizing the coupled coordination degree model and the panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model. In terms of provinces and regions, the data investigates the development relationship between intangible cultural heritage and tourism. The results of the study are: 1. The degree of coupling coordination between the two has shown an increasing trend over the ten-year sample data period. In 2021 and 2022, COVID-19 will have a stronger negative impact on the coupling degree. 2. The eastern coastal provinces of China, as well as the municipal areas, have a higher level of coupling coordination. Inland provinces, such as those in central and western China, exhibit relatively lower levels of coordination. The PVAR model data reveals a positive correlation between the interactions generated by intangible cultural heritage. The development of intangible cultural heritage has a particular impact on tourism. Intangible cultural heritage, in turn, depends on its own development. We should strengthen the development of intangible cultural heritage in the future. The study's findings provide theoretical references for the coordinated development of intangible cultural heritage and tourism in China.
Application of deep learning algorithms for identifying deterioration in the ushnisha (Head Bun) of the Leshan Giant Buddha
Authors: Zhang Chaokai , Peng Ningbo , Wang Lixu , Chen Yinjia , Zhang Yue , Sun Bo , Wang Fengrui , Huang Jizhong , Zhu Ye
Published: November 2024

The Leshan Giant Buddha’s ushnisha (Head Bun) has suffered from loss of lime plaster, cracks, and biological damage, compromising its structural integrity and reducing the effectiveness of the drainage system in the Buddha's head. The infiltration of moisture has led to water damage within the statue, significantly accelerating its weathering. This situation urgently requires protection and reinforcement measures. Detecting deterioration in the ushnisha is a crucial step in the preservation process. In this study, we utilized two deep learning models for pixel-level semantic segmentation of the damage. Due to the small size of the cracks, a weighted loss function was applied to improve both the training speed of the model and the efficiency of crack identification. This weighting strategy proved effective for both models. The weighted K-Net model achieved a mean accuracy (mAcc) of 90.23% and a mean intersection-over-union (mIoU) of 69.55%, with a damage segmentation speed of 7 images per second, which is 1309 times faster than manual segmentation. By applying the trained deep learning models to re-examine the ushnisha, we successfully identified damage that had been overlooked during manual annotation. Using the model’s enhanced results, we conducted a comprehensive quantification of the damage across all ushnisha and identified the most severely affected areas. Additionally, we performed a model interpretability analysis to explain the decision-making process and principles of the deep learning models. This research provides significant practical value for detecting and quantifying damage in the Leshan Giant Buddha.
Examination of factors impacting spitting or vomiting among children under 5 years of age during seasonal malaria chemoprevention: a quantitative study in Burkina Faso, Chad, Nigeria and Togo
Authors: Gao Chen , Huang Sikai , Ibinaiye Taiwo , Sawadogo Benoît , Traore Adama , Compaoré Cheick Saïd , Awokou Fantche , Nnaji Chukwudi A. , Baker Kevin , Wang Duoquan , Richardson Sol
Published: November 2024

Background

Since 2012, the World Health Organization has recommended seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine (SPAQ) for children aged 3–⁠59 months in regions where malaria transmission is seasonal. Full ingestion of SMC medicines without spitting or vomiting during a complete 3-day course is critical to ensure effectiveness of SMC medicines and to avoid development of antimalarial resistance. Although evidence suggests that spitting or vomiting is not rare, there is limited analytical evidence on potential factors associated with spitting or vomiting in SMC campaigns.

Methods

We utilized data from SMC coverage surveys conducted in Burkina Faso, Chad, Togo and Nigeria between 2020 and 2022. Episodes of spitting or vomiting were defined as SMC-eligible children spitting out most of the dose or vomiting the entire dose within 30 min of SPAQ administration as reported by primary caregivers. We conducted a cross-sectional study using mixed-effects logistic regression with variables including household socioeconomic variables and caregiver knowledge of SMC, to identify factors associated with spitting or vomiting.

Results

The proportion of SMC-eligible children spitting or vomiting SPAQ doses ranged from 1.81% in Nigeria to 4.36% in Chad. The odds of spitting or vomiting were lower among children administered medicines under community distributor (CD) supervision, and whose primary caregivers had a high degree of knowledge of SMC. Spitting or vomiting were negatively associated with caregiver adherence to AQ administration and caregiver reporting of children’s adverse reactions to SMC medicines. Over half of the children experiencing a spitting or vomiting episode did not receive a replacement dose from CDs. Redosing was positively associated with caregiver educational attainment, caregiver knowledge of SMC, and directly supervised medicine administration.

Conclusions

CD-supervised administration of SPAQ can strengthen community engagement strategies to enhance appropriate administration and full ingestion of SMC medicines according to the SMC delivery protocol.
Serum level of myostatin and type I interferon-inducible gene expression in dermatomyositis patients and its relation to insulin resistance
Authors: Nageeb Rania S. , Mohamed Noura Mostafa , Soliman Ahmad Sallam , Ebaid Amany M. , Mohammad Nancy Abdelhamid
Published: November 2024

Background

Data regarding the relation between serum myostatin level, type I interferon-inducible gene expression and insulin resistance in dermatomyositis patients are limited. This study aimed to assess serum myostatin level, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and type I interferon-inducible gene expression in dermatomyositis patients. We evaluated the role of serum myostatin level, and type I interferon-inducible gene expression in the pathogenesis of dermatomyositis as well as the relation of serum myostatin level and type I interferon-inducible gene expression to the occurrence of insulin resistance. We evaluated serum levels of myostatin and HOMA-IR utilizing ELISA as well as IFIT1 and Mx1(MxA) gene expression with RT-PCR in 25 dermatomyositis patients (group A) and 25 obviously sound subjects as controls (group B).

Results

Among group A, body mass index, serum levels of myostatin, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, IFN-inducible genes Mx1 and IFIT1 were more significantly increased as well as; serum level of myostatin was positively correlated with age, gender, fasting insulin level, body mass index, and HOMA-IR.

Conclusions

Serum level of myostatin, Mx1 and IFIT1 gene expression act as hazard factors of insulin resistance in group A.
Total antioxidant capacity status in non-obese adolescent females with PCOS: a cross-section study
Authors: Zaki Moushira , Sherity Safenaz Y. El , Metkees Mohamed , Salem Sondos , Elnahas Tamer , Salama Ehab , Girgiss Mina Wassef , Youness Eman Refaat
Published: November 2024

Background

The endocrine disease polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has a number of complications. Teenagers all over the globe are becoming increasingly concerned about the syndrome. It has been suggested that oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of PCOS.

Aim

The purpose of the present work was to estimate total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in non-obese adolescents and decide if the TAC could be a potential marker for the prediction and diagnosis of PCOS.

Methods

Serum samples were collected to assess the levels of follicle stimulant hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), serum lipids, and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in 50 non-obese patients with PCOS and 50 controls; correlation analysis was made between serum lipid, hormonal parameters, and TAC.

Results

Adolescents with PCOS had significantly lower levels of TAC compared with controls and showed significant higher values of LH, FSH, and LH/FSH ratio. There were significant negative correlations between TAC levels with LH, FSH, and LH/FSH. Linear regression analysis revealed statistically significant correlations between TAC and LH and FSH levels in non-obese adolescents with PCOS.

Conclusion

Serum TAC level was diminished in non-obese PCOS patients and was related to increase of LH/FSH ratio. So, quantification of TAC activity in serum could be of value in assessment of cases at higher risk for development of PCOS, suggesting its possible role in regulating sex hormones and could have potential roles in the etiopathogenesis of PCOS in non-obese adolescent females.
Examining HPO by organ and system to facilitate practical use by clinicians
Authors: Dohi Eisuke , Takatsuki Terue , Tateisi Yuka , Fujiwara Toyofumi , Yamamoto Yasunori
Published: November 2024

The Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) is widely used for annotating clinical text data, and sufficient annotation is crucial for the effective utilization of clinical texts. It was known that the use of LLMs can successfully extract symptoms and findings, but cannot annotate them with the HPO. We hypothesized that one of the potential issue for this is the lack of appropriate terms in the HPO. Therefore, during the Biomedical Linked Annotation Hackathon 8 (BLAH8), we attempted the following two tasks in order to grasp the overall picture of HPO. (1) Extract all HPO terms for each of the 23 HPO subclasses (defined as categories) directly under the HPO "Phenotypic abnormality" and then (2) search for major attributes in each of 23 categories. We employed LLM for these two tasks related to examining HPO and, at the same time, found that LLM didn't work well without ingenuity for tasks that lacked sentences and context. A manual search for terms within each category revealed that the HPO contains a mix of terms with four major attributes: (1) Disease Name, (2) Condition, (3) Test Data, and (4) Symptoms and Findings. Manual curation showed that the ratio of symptoms and findings varied from 0 to 93.1% across categories. For clinicians, who are end-users of medical terminology including HPO, it is difficult to understand ontologies. However, for good quality ontology is also important for good-quality data, and a clinician’s help is essential. It is also important to make the overall picture and limitations of ontologies easy to understand in order to bring out the explanatory power of LLMs and artificial intelligence.
Effect of ion temperature anisotropy on ITG mode in reversed-field-pinch plasmas
Authors: Liu Tiancheng , Liu Songfen , Jia Meixia , Kong Wei , Dong Jiaqi
Published: November 2024

The Ion Temperature Gradient (ITG) mode instability in the Reversed-Field-Pinch (RFP) plasmas with anisotropies in ion temperature and its gradient, is studied for the first time using the gyrokinetic integral eigenmode equation. Detailed numerical results indicate that ITG instability is reduced by ion temperature anisotropy, specifically when the temperature is higher in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field or sufficiently high in the direction parallel to the magnetic field, with Landau damping playing a significant role. Moreover, the driving force of the ion temperature gradient in the parallel direction for the ITG mode is stronger than that in the perpendicular direction, particularly when the parallel ion temperature is higher. In addition, the study provides detailed insights into the synergistic effects of ion temperature anisotropy with magnetic shear, poloidal wave number, safety factor, and density gradient on ITG mode. It also elucidates the threshold of the ion temperature gradient necessary for mode excitation.
Superconductivity in a background of topological spin texture
Authors: Cheng Tao , Tang Dingwen , Lu Rong , Miao Jian-Jian , Chen Wei-Qiang
Published: November 2024

Motivated by a recent experiment on high-temperature superconductors (Wang Z. C. et al., Nature, 615, (2023) 405), we perform a theoretical study to distinguish the nature of the topological spin texture in the superconducting phase of an underdoped cuprate. We propose a phenomenological tight-binding model of electrons with spin-singlet pairing hopping in the background of topological spin texture on the square lattice to capture the coupling of electrons and the topological spin texture. Two types of topological spin texture relevant to the experiment are considered, i.e., Bloch skyrmion and sinusoidal vortex, and the Bogoliubov-de Gennes mean-field theory is employed to calculate the gap functions and local density of states. We discover an emergent d

xy
-wave component in the imaginary part of the gap function for skyrmion, but this is not present for vortex. For skyrmion, each coherent peak in the local density of states splits into two spatially uniform peaks, while for vortex, it splits into two spatially modulated peaks. Our study reveals the qualitatively different consequences of two types of topological spin texture, and can be possibly detected in the further STM experiment.
A possible exploration of the cause for the wide-range scattering of the G values
Authors: Yang Taotao
Published: November 2024

A statistical theory about gravity is obtained in this paper by studying the change of zero-point energy of one-dimensional vacuum caused by mass. The theory indicates that the measured value of the gravitational constant obtained by the present method is not a constant but a quantity related to acceleration and it will increase when the acceleration decreases. Our theory accords well with the experimental data by fitting high-precision measurement of the gravitational constant during the last two decades, the critical acceleration is obtained by the fitting, and the value is

 

, the standard error is

; the theory predicts that when the acceleration in the torsion pendulum experiment is around or less than critical acceleration, the gravitational constant value measured by the existing method will be significantly greater than the current measured value.
Weight Loss Induces Changes in Vitamin D Status in Women With Obesity But Not in Men: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Holt Rune , Holt Joachim , Jorsal Mads Joon , Sandsdal Rasmus Michael , Jensen Simon B K , Byberg Sarah , Juhl Christian Rimer , Lundgren Julie Rehné , Janus Charlotte , Stallknecht Bente Merete , Holst Jens Juul , Juul Anders , Madsbad Sten , Jensen Martin Blomberg , Torekov Signe Sørensen
Published: November 2024

Context

Obesity is associated with low vitamin D status -, and recent studies have suggested a difference in vitamin D metabolism between females and males.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of weight loss on vitamin D status in individuals with obesity, and secondarily, whether vitamin D metabolism differs between women and men.

Methods

Secondary analysis from a randomized placebo-controlled trial, designed to investigate the efficacy of 52 weeks of treatment with either liraglutide, exercise, or both combined compared with placebo on weight loss maintenance after an 8-week low-calorie diet-induced weight loss in 195 individuals with obesity (body mass index 32-43 kg/m2).

Results

The low-calorie diet-induced weight loss resulted in an increase in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in both women and men [12 nmol/L (95% confidence interval [CI] 9-15) and 13 nmol/L (95% CI 8-17); P < .001 for both]. Women who experienced a further weight loss during the 52 weeks of intervention had an increase in serum 25(OH)D compared with women regaining weight [14 nmol/L (95% CI 6-22); P = .001]. Interestingly, women experiencing further weight loss at week 52 had a lower serum 25(OH)D at baseline compared with women regaining weight [54 nmol/L (SD 19) vs 70 nmol/L (SD 25), P < .001.]

Conclusion

Weight loss induced by a low-calorie diet resulted in an increase in serum 25(OH)D in both women and men. Only in women, further weight loss had an additional beneficial impact on vitamin D. Additionally, initial low serum 25(OH)D was associated with successful weight loss maintenance in women but not men.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT04122716
Association of Lower Serum Sclerostin Levels With Elevated Risk for Increased Arterial Stiffness: The JPOS Cohort Study
Authors: Tamaki Junko , Tachiki Takahiro , Jaalkhorol Myadagmaa , Dongmei Namiraa , Komastu Misa , Tsuda Kouji , Kudo Asako , Kamiya Kuniyasu , Kouda Katsuyasu , Kajita Etsuko , Kagamimori Sadanobu , Iki Masayuki
Published: November 2024

Context

Studies on the relationship between serum sclerostin, a Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor, and atherosclerosis have yielded inconsistent results.

Objective

We aim to longitudinally investigate the relationship between serum sclerostin levels and the risk of increased arterial stiffness in Japanese community-dwelling women from the Japanese Population-based Osteoporosis Study (JPOS).

Methods

Of 1044 women aged ≥ 50 years whose brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) value was available in a baseline survey in 2011-2012, we excluded 374 whose baPWV values were ≥ 1800 cm/s, set as the cutoff for increased arterial stiffness, and 8 with missing data. Of the remaining 662 women, 556 participated in the 4- to 5-year follow-up study and were included in the analysis. The coefficient of variation of the sclerostin measurement was 3.45%. We obtained odds ratios (ORs) for sclerostin at baseline, categorized by tertiles, with the high tertile as reference for increased arterial stiffness.

Results

Increased arterial stiffness occurred in 94 women during a mean follow-up of 4.0 years. The increased arterial stiffness rates in the low, medium, and high tertiles were 22.2%, 16.1%, and 12.4%, respectively (trend test P = .013). The ORs for the medium and low tertiles for increased arterial stiffness were 1.58 (P = .205) and 2.16 (P = .027), respectively, after adjusting for age and baseline baPWV. After further adjustment for baseline body mass index, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and whole-body bone mineral content, the ORs for the medium and low tertiles were 1.65 (P = .181) and 2.50 (P = .014), respectively.

Conclusion

Lower serum sclerostin levels were associated with elevated risks for increased arterial stiffness in Japanese community-dwelling women.
Extravasation of immune and tumor cells from an endothelial perspective
Authors: Dupas Amandine , Goetz Jacky G. , Osmani Naël
Published: November 2024

Crossing the vascular endothelium is a necessary stage for circulating cells aiming to reach distant organs. Leukocyte passage through the endothelium, known as transmigration, is a multistep process during which immune cells adhere to the vascular wall, migrate and crawl along the endothelium until they reach their exit site. Similarly, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which originate from the primary tumor or reseed from early metastatic sites, disseminate using the blood circulation and also must cross the endothelial barrier to set new colonies in distant organs. CTCs are thought to mimic arrest and extravasation utilized by leukocytes; however, their extravasation also requires processes that, from an endothelial perspective, are specific to cancer cells. Although leukocyte extravasation relies on maintaining endothelial impermeability, it appears that cancer cells can indoctrinate endothelial cells into promoting their extravasation independently of their normal functions. In this Review, we summarize the common and divergent mechanisms of endothelial responses during extravasation of leukocytes (in inflammation) and CTCs (in metastasis), and highlight how these might be leveraged in the development of anti-metastatic treatments.