bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combining proteomic markers to construct a logistic regression model for polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Tong Cheng , Wu Yue , Zhuang Zhenchao , Wang Zhejiong , Yu Ying
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Proteomics technology has been used in various fields in recent years for the Q6 exploration of novel markers and the study of disease pathogenesis, and has become one of the most important tools for researchers to explore unknown areas. However, there are fewer studies related to the construction of clinical models using proteomics markers.

Methods

In our previous study we used DIA proteomics to screen for proteins that were significant in 31 PCOS patients compared to women of normal reproductive age. In this study, we used logistic regression among these protein markers to screen out variables with diagnostic value and constructed logistic regression models.

Results

We constructed a logistic model using these protein markers, where HIST1H4A (OR=1.037) was an independent risk factor for polycystic ovary syndrome and TREML1 (OR=0.976) were protective factors for the disease. The logistic regression model equation is: Logit (PCOS) =0.036*[HIST1H4A]-0.024*[TREML1]-16.368. The ROC curve analyzing the diagnostic value of the model has an AUC value of 0.977 and a Youden index of0.903, which gives a cutoff value of 0.518 at this point. The model has a sensitivity of 93.5% and a specificity of 96.8%. Calibration curves show fair consistency of the model.

Discussion

Our study is the first to use proteomic results with clinical biochemical data to construct a logistic regression model, and the model is consistent. However, our study still needs a more complete sample to confirm our findings.
Advances in understanding and treating diabetic kidney disease: focus on tubulointerstitial inflammation mechanisms
Authors: Xu Chengren , Ha Xiaowen , Yang Shufen , Tian Xuefei , Jiang Hong
Published: October 2023

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a serious complication of diabetes that can lead to end-stage kidney disease. Despite its significant impact, most research has concentrated on the glomerulus, with little attention paid to the tubulointerstitial region, which accounts for the majority of the kidney volume. DKD’s tubulointerstitial lesions are characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and loss of kidney function, and recent studies indicate that these lesions may occur earlier than glomerular lesions. Evidence has shown that inflammatory mechanisms in the tubulointerstitium play a critical role in the development and progression of these lesions. Apart from the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone blockade, Sodium-Glucose Linked Transporter-2(SGLT-2) inhibitors and new types of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists have emerged as effective ways to treat DKD. Moreover, researchers have proposed potential targeted therapies, such as inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines and modulating T cells and macrophages, among others. These therapies have demonstrated promising results in preclinical studies and clinical trials, suggesting their potential to treat DKD-induced tubulointerstitial lesions effectively. Understanding the immune-inflammatory mechanisms underlying DKD-induced tubulointerstitial lesions and developing targeted therapies could significantly improve the treatment and management of DKD. This review summarizes the latest advances in this field, highlighting the importance of focusing on tubulointerstitial inflammation mechanisms to improve DKD outcomes.
Surviving & Thriving; a healthy lifestyle app for new US firefighters: usability and pilot study protocol
Authors: Hershey Maria Soledad , Bouziani Eleni , Chen Xin Yu (Maggie) , Lidoriki Irene , Hadkhale Kishor , Huang Ya-Chin , Filippou Theodoros , López-Gil José Francisco , Gribble Anne Katherine , Lan Fan-Yun , Sotos-Prieto Mercedes , Kales Stefanos N.
Published: October 2023

In the United States (US), new firefighters’ fitness and health behaviors deteriorate rapidly after fire academy graduation. Over the long-term, this increases their risks for chronic diseases. This study protocol describes the proposed usability testing and pilot study of a newly designed and developed healthy lifestyle smartphone app, “Surviving & Thriving”, tailored towards young US firefighters. “Surviving & Thriving” will provide interactive educational content on four lifestyle factors; nutrition, sleep, physical activity, and resilience, and include a personalized journey, habit tracker, and elements of gamification to promote engagement and long-term healthy behavior change. The first phase of the app development entails alpha testing by the research team and pre-beta testing by a fire service expert panel which will help refine the app into a pre-consumer version. Upon completion of the full app prototype, beta ‘usability’ testing will be conducted among new fire academy graduates from two New England fire academies to collect qualitative and quantitative feedback via focus groups and satisfaction surveys, respectively. A last phase of piloting the app will evaluate the app’s efficacy at maintaining/improving healthy lifestyle behaviors, mental health metrics, and physical fitness metrics. We will also evaluate whether firefighters’ perceived “health cultures” scores (ratings of each fire station’s/fire department’s environments as to encouraging/discouraging healthy behaviors) modify the changes in health metrics after utilizing the app for three to six months. This novel user-friendly app seeks to help new firefighters maintain/improve their health and fitness more effectively, reducing their risk of lifestyle-related chronic disease. Firefighters who can establish healthy habits early in their careers are more likely to sustain them throughout their lives.
Elevated expression of Toll-like receptor 4 and cytokines in both serum and myometrium at term may serve as promising biomarkers for uterine activation preceding labor
Authors: Chen Zixi , Li Jinpeng , Xu Wenjuan , Wu Xiaomei , Xiang Fenfen , Li Xiaoxiao , Zhang Mengzhe , Zheng Jin , Kang Xiangdong , Wu Rong
Published: October 2023

Objective

Increased inflammation and cytokine levels are considered risk factors and promoters of preterm birth (PTB). However, the regulatory mechanism of pregnancy-related inflammation remains unclear. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays a critical role in inflammatory responses in various diseases. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate whether TLR4 is involved in the inflammatory responses during uterine activation for labor, with the goal of identifying potential biomarkers for uterine activation at term.

Materials and methods

We used flow cytometry to detect TLR4 expression on CD14+ maternal blood monocytes in the first, second, and third trimesters. ELISA was employed to measure TLR4 and cytokines levels in the maternal serum of term non-labor (TNL), term labor (TL) women and LPS induced preterm labor and PBS injected controls. TLR4siRNA was transfected into the human myometrial smooth muscle cells (HMSMCs), which were subsequently treated with IL-1β. The mRNA and protein levels of TLR4, uterine contraction-related protein connexin 43 (CX43), oxytocin receptor (OTR), MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway, and cytokines were analyzed using qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry.

Results

The study revealed TLR4 expression on CD14+ maternal blood monocytes was higher in the third trimester group compared to the first and second trimester groups (p<0.001). Maternal serum concentrations of TLR4 and cytokines were significantly higher in the TL group than the TNL group (p<0.001). TLR4, OTR, CX43, activated MAPK/NF-κB expression, and cytokines levels were upregulated in TL group, and similarly significantly higher in the LPS-induced preterm group than in the control group. Using the HMSMCs we demonstrated that TLR4siRNA transfection suppressed contractility. Interfering with TLR4 expression reduced the expression of OTR, CX43, cytokines, and MAPK/NF-κB activation. There was a significant positive relationship between TLR4 expression and the inflammatory status in the myometrium. ROC analysis indicated that TLR4 and cytokines may serve as potential biomarkers for predicting uterine activation for labor.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that TLR4 and cytokines can act as stimulators of uterine activation for labor at term. Furthermore, the MAPK/NF-κB pathway appears to be one of the potential signaling pathways mediating TLR4’s regulation of parturition initiation.
Population genetics of Camellia granthamiana, an endangered plant species with extremely small populations in China
Authors: Chen Sufang , Li Wenyan , Li Wei , Liu Zhongcheng , Shi Xianggang , Zou Yanli , Liao Wenbo , Fan Qiang
Published: October 2023

Introduction:Camellia, the largest genus of Theaceae, is well-known for having high economic values. Camellia granthamiana demonstrates large beautiful flowers with some primitive characters, such as multiple large and persistent bracteoles and sepals, was listed as Vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List.

Methods: In this study, we investigated all possible records of the species, and sampled four natural populations and five cultivated individuals. By applying shallow-genome sequencing for nine individuals and RAD-seq sequencing for all the sampled 77 individuals, we investigated population genetic diversity and population structure of the species.

Results and discussion: The results showed that the population sampled from Fengkai, previously identified as C. albogigias, possessed different plastid genome from other species possibly due to plastid capture; the species possesses strong population structure possibly due to the effect of isolation by distance, habitat fragmentation, and self-crossing tendency of the species, whose effective population size declined quickly in the past 4,000 years. Nevertheless, C. granthamiana maintains a medium level of genetic diversity within population, and significant differentiation was observed among the four investigated populations, it is anticipated that more populations are expected to be found and all these extant populations should be taken into instant protection.
Population-based study of the durability of humoral immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Peterhoff David , Wiegrebe Simon , Einhauser Sebastian , Patt Arisha J. , Beileke Stephanie , Günther Felix , Steininger Philipp , Niller Hans H. , Burkhardt Ralph , Küchenhoff Helmut , Gefeller Olaf , Überla Klaus , Heid Iris M. , Wagner Ralf
Published: October 2023

SARS-CoV-2 antibody quantity and quality are key markers of humoral immunity. However, there is substantial uncertainty about their durability. We investigated levels and temporal change of SARS-CoV-2 antibody quantity and quality. We analyzed sera (8 binding, 4 avidity assays for spike-(S-)protein and nucleocapsid-(N-)protein; neutralization) from 211 seropositive unvaccinated participants, from the population-based longitudinal TiKoCo study, at three time points within one year after infection with the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 virus. We found a significant decline of neutralization titers and binding antibody levels in most assays (linear mixed regression model, p<0.01). S-specific serum avidity increased markedly over time, in contrast to N-specific. Binding antibody levels were higher in older versus younger participants – a difference that disappeared for the asymptomatic-infected. We found stronger antibody decline in men versus women and lower binding and avidity levels in current versus never-smokers. Our comprehensive longitudinal analyses across 13 antibody assays suggest decreased neutralization-based protection and prolonged affinity maturation within one year after infection.
Genome-wide Mendelian randomization identifies putatively causal gut microbiota for multiple peptic ulcer diseases
Authors: Zhao Jingwei , Hou Yucheng , Xie Tianyi , Zhu Yizhang , Feng Xinyi , Zhang Yong , Yang Ziyi , Gong Wei
Published: October 2023

Objective

The pathogenesis of peptic ulcer diseases (PUDs) involves multiple factors, and the contribution of gut microbiota to this process remains unclear. While previous studies have associated gut microbiota with peptic ulcers, the precise nature of the relationship, whether causal or influenced by biases, requires further elucidation.

Design

The largest meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies was conducted by the MiBioGen consortium, which provided the summary statistics of gut microbiota for implementation in the Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Summary statistics for five types of PUDs were compiled using the FinnGen Consortium R8 release data. Various statistical techniques, including inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median (WM), weighted mode, and simple mode, were employed to assess the causal relationships between gut microbiota and these five PUDs.

Result

In the intestinal microbiome of 119 known genera, we found a total of 14 causal associations with various locations of PUDs and reported the potential pathogenic bacteria of Bilophila et al. Among them, four had causal relationships with esophageal ulcer, one with gastric ulcer, three with gastroduodenal ulcer, four with duodenal ulcer, and two with gastrojejunal ulcer.

Conclusion

In this study, the pathogenic bacterial genera in the gut microbiota that promote the occurrence of PUDs were found to be causally related. There are multiple correlations between intestinal flora and PUDs, overlapping PUDs have overlapping associated genera. The variance in ulcer-related bacterial genera across different locations underscores the potential influence of anatomical locations and physiological functions.
Meta-analysis of the association between toll-like receptor gene polymorphisms and hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Du Yuxuan , Li Shumin , Wang Xinyu , Liu Jialu , Gao Yan , Lv Weimiao , Liu Ping , Huang Haiyan , Luan Junwen , Zhang Leiliang
Published: October 2023

Objective

The objective of this study is to investigate the association between toll-like receptor (TLR) 3/7 gene polymorphisms and the infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and SinoMed were searched to identify studies focusing on the association between the TLR3 rs3775290 or the TLR7 rs179008 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the HCV infection. All the related articles were collected from the inception of each database to 15 January 2023. Our meta-analysis was conducted using the allelic model, the dominant model, and the recessive model. Outcomes were presented by odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). The heterogeneity across studies was assessed by the I2 test. A subgroup analysis was performed to explore the source of heterogeneity. Funnel plots were drawn to assess the risk of publication bias. Review Manager 5.4 was used for statistical analysis.

Results

Ten articles were finally included, among which six studies were analyzed for rs3775290 and five studies were analyzed for rs179008. Studies relating to rs3775290 included 801 patients and 1,045 controls, whereas studies relating to rs179008 included 924 patients and 784 controls. The results of the meta-analysis showed that there is no significant association between rs3775290 gene polymorphism and HCV infection (T vs. C: OR = 1.12, 95%CI 0.97–1.30; TT+CT vs. CC: OR = 1.20, 95%CI 0.73–1.96; TT vs. CT+CC: OR = 1.13, 95%CI 0.68–1.89). The recessive model showed that rs179008-T allele homozygotes had an 89% increased risk of infection by HCV compared with rs179008-A allele carriers (TT vs. AT+AA: OR = 1.89, 95%CI 1.13–3.16). The results of the subgroup analysis demonstrated that the characteristics of the control population may serve as an important source of heterogeneity. In the African populations, individuals with homozygous rs179008-T alleles had a higher risk of infection by HCV than rs179008-A allele carriers (OR = 2.14, 95%CI 1.18–3.87). We did not find that this difference existed in the European populations (OR = 1.24, 95%CI 0.43–3.56).

Conclusion

There is no significant association between rs3775290 single nucleotide polymorphism and the infection by HCV. Individuals with homozygous rs179008-T alleles have a higher risk of an infection by HCV than rs179008-A allele carriers, which is statistically significant in the African populations.
UroVysion™ fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) possibly has a high positive rate in carcinoma of non-urothelial lineages
Authors: Ke Chunjin , Liu Xuguang , Wan Jie , Hu Zhiquan , Yang Chunguang
Published: October 2023

Background: Positive UroVysion™ fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is generally considered as urothelial carcinoma (UC). We clarify if UroVysion™ FISH can be positive in carcinoma of non-urothelial lineages (CNUL), and verify the consistency of urine FISH and histological FISH in CNUL.

Methods: All CNUL subjects detected by urine FISH assay due to haematuria from Tongji Hospital were screened. Meanwhile, 2 glandular cystitis and 2 urothelial carcinoma were served as negative or positive control. Paraffin-embedded tissue sections of all subjects were sent to the pathology department for histological FISH detection.

Results: A total of 27 patients were included in this study, including 9 with adenocarcinomas, 11 with squamous cell carcinomas, and 7 with other tumour types. The overall positive rate in urine FISH was 64.00% (16/25) in patients with CNUL, 77.78% (7/9) in those with adenocarcinoma and 54.55% (6/11) in those with squamous carcinoma. There was a significant difference in the GLP p16 gene deletion rate between UC and CNUL (100% vs. 8.00%, p = 0.017). Histological FISH results showed that the histological results of 19 patients were consistent with their urine FISH results, and only one patient with stage Ⅲa urachal carcinoma had inconsistent histological FISH results (positive) and urine FISH (negative) results.

Conclusion: We demonstrated for the first time the application value of FISH in CNUL on urine samples. Positive urine FISH tests indicate not only UC, but also CNUL. UroVysion™ FISH possibly has a high positive rate in CNUL. CNUL and UC have different genetic changes shown by FISH.
Coordinated interplay between palmitoylation, phosphorylation and SUMOylation regulates kainate receptor surface expression
Authors: Yucel Busra P. , Al Momany Enaam M. , Evans Ashley J. , Seager Richard , Wilkinson Kevin A. , Henley Jeremy M.
Published: October 2023

Kainate receptors (KARs) are key regulators of neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission. KAR surface expression is tightly controlled in part by post-translational modifications (PTMs) of the GluK2 subunit. We have shown previously that agonist activation of GluK2-containing KARs leads to phosphorylation of GluK2 at S868, which promotes subsequent SUMOylation at K886 and receptor endocytosis. Furthermore, GluK2 has been shown to be palmitoylated. However, how the interplay between palmitoylation, phosphorylation and SUMOylation orchestrate KAR trafficking remains unclear. Here, we used a library of site-specific GluK2 mutants to investigate the interrelationship between GluK2 PTMs, and their impact on KAR surface expression. We show that GluK2 is basally palmitoylated and that this is decreased by kainate (KA) stimulation. Moreover, a non-palmitoylatable GluK2 mutant (C858/C871A) shows enhanced S868 phosphorylation and K886 SUMOylation under basal conditions and is insensitive to KA-induced internalisation. These results indicate that GluK2 palmitoylation contributes to stabilising KAR surface expression and that dynamic depalmitoylation promotes downstream phosphorylation and SUMOylation to mediate activity-dependent KAR endocytosis.
Infant feeding practices in three Latin American countries in three decades: what demographic, health, and economic factors are relevant?
Authors: Meira Camila Abadia Rodrigues , Buccini Gabriela , Azeredo Catarina Machado , Conde Wolney Lisbôa , Rinaldi Ana Elisa Madalena
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Studies in Latin America have focused either on analyzing factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) or infant formula (IF).

Purpose

Analyze the association between economic, sociodemographic, and health factors with EBF, mixed milk feeding (MixMF), and exclusive use of IF in three Latin American and Caribbean countries in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.

Methods

Cross-sectional time-series study using data from Demographic and Health Surveys between the 1990s and 2010s in Colombia (1995–2010), Haiti (1994–2017), and Peru (1996–2012) accounting for a sample of 12,775 infants under 6 months. Hierarchical logistic multilevel regression models were used to estimate the adjusted association between infant feeding outcomes (EBF, MixMF, exclusive use of IF) and contextual level DHS survey decade (1990s, 2000s and 2010s) and economic factors (Gross Domestic Product by purchasing power parity, female wage and salaried workers, labor force participation rate female) as well as individual level sociodemographic (maternal age, maternal education, number of children in the household, wealth index, mother living with a partner, area of residence, mother working outside of home), and health factors (breastfed in the first hour, C-section).

Results

Factors associated with EBF cessation were c-section (OR: 0.76; 95%CI: 0.64, 0.92), mothers working outside of the home (OR: 0.79; 95%CI: 0.69, 0.90), families in the highest income quintile (OR: 0.64; 95%CI: 0.49, 0.84), and female wage and salaried workers (OR: 0.92; 95%CI: 0.91, 0.94). MixMF was associated with women with higher education (OR: 1.54; 95%CI: 1.21, 1.97), mother working outside of the home (OR: 1.26; 95%CI: 1.10, 1.43), c-section (OR: 1.37; 95%CI: 1.15, 1.62), families in the highest income quintiles (OR: 2.77; 2.10, 3.65). and female wage and salaried workers (OR: 1.08;95% CI: 1.05, 1.09). Exclusive use of IF was associated with a mother working outside of the home (OR: 2.09; 95%CI: 1.41, 3.08), c-section (OR: 1.65; 95%CI: 1.09, 2.51), families in the highest income quintiles (OR: 12.08; 95% CI: 4.26, 34.28), the 2010s (OR: 3.81; 95%CI: 1.86, 7.79), and female wage and salaried workers (OR: 1.12; 95%CI: 1.07, 1.16).

Discussion/Conclusion

Factors related to women empowerment and gender equality jeopardized EBF and favored the exclusive use of IF in Latin America. Therefore, workplace interventions to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding practices are key to reducing exclusive use of IF.
Association of tea and its extracts with colorectal adenomas: meta-analysis and systematic review
Authors: Guan Xifei , Liu Nawen , Zhu Zhixin , Xu Yanxue , Xiong Dehai , Li Xiuyang
Published: October 2023

Background

There are many studies on the association of tea and its extracts with colorectal adenomas, but the results have varied. The study aims to investigate the effect of tea and its extracts on colorectal adenomas using meta analysis and systematic review.

Methods

Literature was obtained through PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and Chinese BioMedical Literature Service System since the establishment of the database until April 31, 2023. Search terms include adenomas, polyps, colorectal, rectal, rectum, tea, epigallocatechin, drinking and beverages. Meta-regression analysis was used to infer the source of heterogeneity. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics and Q test. The effect measures were odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Stata17.0 software was used for data processing.

Results

The findings indicated that study design (t = 0.78, P = 0.454), types of tea intake (t = 1.35, P = 0.205), occurrences (t = -0.19, P = 0.852), regions (t = 1.13, P = 0.281) and grades of adenomas (t = 0.06, P = 0.952) were statistical homogeneity. Tea and its extracts were negatively correlated with the risk of colorectal adenomas (OR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.66–0.98). No publication bias was found in this study (t = -0.22, P = 0.828) and the results are robust.

Conclusion

This study suggests that tea and its extracts have a certain protective effect on colorectal adenomas, which provides scientific evidence for preventive strategies for colorectal adenomas. As for the causal relationship between tea and its extracts on colorectal adenomas, further prospective studies are needed.
PD-1 combined with lenvatinib and TACE for the transformational treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma combined with portal vein tumor thrombus: a case report and literature review
Authors: Liu Sheng , Xiong Rui , Duan Chuanyi , Tang Jiang , Yin Tao , Dai Sisi
Published: October 2023

Background

The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma combined with portal vein tumor thrombus is poor, with a median survival of only 3-6 months. PD-1 combined with targeted therapy may provide an opportunity for patients with BCLC C stage hepatocellular carcinoma combined with portal vein tumor thrombus to undergo radical surgery, significantly prolonging their survival time.

Case presentation

A middle-aged 51-year-old male who was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma combined with portal vein main stem tumor thrombus at our center in May 2020, with a BCLC stage of C, liver cirrhosis, HBV infection, and preoperative evaluation as unresectable. The liver function was Child-Pugh A. The initial treatment was lenvatinib combined with PD-1 therapy, followed by one cycle of TACE treatment. The tumor and thrombus volume significantly reduced, followed by continuous TACE combined with immunotherapy and targeted therapy, leading to the appearance of portal vein main stem emboli. After multidisciplinary discussion, surgical resection was performed, and the embolus was removed, achieving a cure. The patient has been tumor-free for over 34 months.

Conclusion

PD-1 combined with lenvatinib and local TACE create conditions for radical surgery, and it is hoped that more real-world research data can provide better evidence for the transformational treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma combined with portal vein tumor thrombus.
Association between lipid variability and the risk of mortality in cancer patients not receiving lipid-lowering agents
Authors: Kim Seohyun , Kim Gyuri , Cho So Hyun , Oh Rosa , Kim Ji Yoon , Lee You-Bin , Jin Sang-Man , Hur Kyu Yeon , Kim Jae Hyeon
Published: October 2023

Aim

We investigated the association between total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) variability and cancer patient mortality risk.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 42,539 cancer patients who were not receiving lipid-lowering agents and who had at least three TC measurements within 2 years of their initial cancer diagnosis. Using a multivariable Cox regression model, the risk of mortality was evaluated.

Results

In multivariable analysis, Q2 (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24–1.41), Q3 (aHR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.56–1.76), and Q4 (aHR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.84–2.08) of coefficient of variation (CV) in TC were significantly associated with mortality risk compared to Q1, showing a linear association between higher TC variability and mortality (P for trend<0.001). Q2 (aHR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.06–1.77), Q3 (aHR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.06–1.85), and Q4 (aHR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.14–1.97) were all significantly associated with a higher risk of death compared to Q1 in multivariable Cox regression for the association between CV in LDL and all-cause mortality (P for trend=0.005).

Conclusion

In cancer patients who do not receive lipid-lowering agents, high variability in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels was found to pose significant role in mortality risk.
A common modular design of nervous systems originating in soft-bodied invertebrates
Authors: Gribkova Ekaterina D. , Lee Colin A. , Brown Jeffrey W. , Cui Jilai , Liu Yichen , Norekian Tigran , Gillette Rhanor
Published: October 2023

Nervous systems of vertebrates and invertebrates show a common modular theme in the flow of information for cost-benefit decisions. Sensory inputs are incentivized by integrating stimulus qualities with motivation and memory to affect appetitive state, a system of homeostatic drives, and labelled for directionality. Appetitive state determines action responses from a repertory of possibles and transmits the decision to a premotor system that frames the selected action in motor arousal and appropriate postural and locomotion commands. These commands are then sent to the primary motor pattern generators controlling the motorneurons, with feedback at each stage. In the vertebrates, these stages are mediated by forebrain pallial derivatives for incentive and directionality (olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, pallial amygdala, etc.) interacting with hypothalamus (homeostasis, motivation, and reward) for action selection in the forebrain basal ganglia, the mid/hindbrain reticular formation as a premotor translator for posture, locomotion, and arousal state, and the spinal cord and cranial nuclei as primary motor pattern generators. Gastropods, like the predatory sea slug Pleurobranchaea californica, show a similar organization but with differences that suggest how complex brains evolved from an ancestral soft-bodied bilaterian along with segmentation, jointed skeletons, and complex exteroceptors. Their premotor feeding network combines functions of hypothalamus and basal ganglia for homeostasis, motivation, presumed reward, and action selection for stimulus approach or avoidance. In Pleurobranchaea, the premotor analogy to the vertebrate reticular formation is the bilateral “A-cluster” of cerebral ganglion neurons that controls posture, locomotion, and serotonergic motor arousal. The A-cluster transmits motor commands to the pedal ganglia analogs of the spinal cord, for primary patterned motor output. Apparent pallial precursors are not immediately evident in Pleurobranchaea’s central nervous system, but a notable candidate is a subepithelial nerve net in the peripheral head region that integrates chemotactile stimuli for incentive and directionality. Evolutionary centralization of its computational functions may have led to the olfaction-derived pallial forebrain in the ancestor’s vertebrate descendants and their analogs in arthropods and annelids.
Defining digital coaching: a qualitative inductive approach
Authors: Diller Sandra J. , Passmore Jonathan
Published: October 2023

The term ‘digital coaching’ is widely used but ill-defined. The present study therefore investigates how digital coaching is defined and how it differentiates from face-to-face coaching and other digital-technology-enabled (DT-enabled) formats, such as digital training, digital mentoring, or digital consulting. A qualitative inductive approach was chosen for more in-depth and open-minded content. Based on previous studies on the importance of asking coaches working in the field, 260 coaches working in the field of digital coaching were surveyed. The given answers depict the importance of differing between forms of DT-enabled coaching. Thus, digital coaching is a DT-enabled, synchronous conversation between a human coach and a human coachee, which is different to artificial intelligence (AI) coaching and coaching that is supported by asynchronous digital and learning communication technologies. Due to this definition and differentiation, future studies can explore the digital coaching process and its effectiveness – particularly in comparison to other formats. Furthermore, this clear definition enables practitioners to maintain professional standards and manage client’s expectations of digital coaching while helping clients understand what to expect from digital coaching.
Workers’ emotional exhaustion and mental well-being over the COVID-19 pandemic: a Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling (DSEM) approach
Authors: Perinelli Enrico , Vignoli Michela , Kröner Friedrich , Müller Andreas , Genrich Melanie , Fraccaroli Franco
Published: October 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant challenges to the workforce, particularly concerning emotional and mental well-being. Given the prolonged periods of work-related stress, unexpected organizational changes, and uncertainties about work faced during the pandemic, it becomes imperative to study occupational health constructs under a dynamic methodological perspective, to understand their stable and unstable characteristics better. In this study, drawing on the Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling (DSEM) framework, we used a combination of multilevel AR(1) models, Residual-DSEM (RDSEM), multilevel bivariate VAR(1) models, and multilevel location-scale models to investigate the autoregression, trend, and (residual) cross-lagged relationships between emotional exhaustion (EmEx) and mental well-being (MWB) over the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected weekly on 533 workers from Germany (91.18%) and Italy (8.82%) who completed a self-reported battery (total number of observations = 3,946). Consistent with our hypotheses, results were as follows: (a) regarding autoregression, the autoregressive component for both EmEx and MWB was positive and significant, as well as it was their associated between-level variability; (b) regarding trend, over time EmEx significantly increased, while MWB significantly declined, furthermore both changes had a significant between-level variability; (c) regarding the longitudinal bivariate (cross-lagged) relationships, EmEx and MWB negatively and significantly affected each other from week to week, furthermore both cross-lagged relationships showed to have significant between-level variance. Overall, our study pointed attention to the vicious cycle between EmEx and MWB, even after controlling for their autoregressive component and trend, and supported the utility of DSEM in occupational health psychology studies.
Profile analysis through self-determination theory and intention to be physically active: differences according to gender and age
Authors: Manzano-Sánchez David
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Physical Education in the current education system has various objectives,including educating students on the values of physical activity and increasing the physical activity levels of students.

Objective

The purpose of the present study is to analyze the motivational profiles of students, to understand which profiles have higher levels of responsibility, satisfaction of autonomy, competence, and social relationship needs; intention to be physically active; and perception of autonomy support.

Methods

A total of 752 students from Primary, Secondary, and Non-compulsory Education (M = 13.809; SD = 1.984, 47.9% boys and 52.1% girls), from different educational centers in Spain, participated in the study, to whom a series of questionnaires were administered to find out their values of the mentioned variables. The results established the existence of four profiles: “high quality,” “low quality,” “high quantity,” and “low quantity” of motivation.

Results

The results reflect that the students of the “high quality” and “high quantity” profiles had higher values in all the variables in relation to the other two groups (except in amotivation and external regulation), discussing the differential analysis between the four groups. The group with the best results was the “high quantity” profile, as opposed to the “low quantity” profile. In turn, no differences were found according to gender, but according to the educational stage, the Primary Education stage was more related to the more self-determined profiles.

Discussion and conclusion

Therefore, it is necessary to look for more self-determined motivational profiles from an early age in order to improve levels of responsibility, perception of autonomy, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, and the intention to be physically active.
The effect of anxiety, depression, and structural social capital on life satisfaction among people with hearing disabilities: a cross-sectional study in Shanghai, China
Authors: Wei Xiaomin , Wang Ting , Zhang Yuxin , Jiang Nan , Wang Quqing , Cao He , Shi Xinrui , Wang Jiwei
Published: October 2023

Background

Life satisfaction (LS) serves as a crucial indicator of social wellbeing and plays a significant role in formulating strategies aimed at enhancing health outcomes among the hearing-disabled population. This study aimed to examine the effect of anxiety, depression, and structural social capital on life satisfaction among people with hearing disabilities in Shanghai, China.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai, China. As of March 2022, 337 people with hearing disabilities were recruited from the Shanghai Disabled Persons' Federation. An online survey was conducted using a four-part questionnaire to collect data including demographic characteristics, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Social Capital Scale (SCS), and a single-item question to measure life satisfaction. One-sample t-tests, Pearson's correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis were performed.

Results

Anxiety (β = – 0.153) and depression (β = – 0.242) were significant factors influencing life satisfaction among people with hearing disabilities. Structural social capital also played an influential role in life satisfaction, and people with hearing disabilities who lack social networks (β = 0.125) and social support (β = 0.121) reported significantly lower levels of life satisfaction. However, no significant relationship was found in this study between LS and other components of structural social capital, such as social participation.

Conclusion

This study shows that paying attention to mental health is critical for people with hearing disabilities to achieve social wellbeing and promote LS improvement. At the same time, the government and society also need to focus on the structural social capital, provide various social service programs, enhance social support, and expand social networks, improving LS for people with hearing disabilities.
Good behavior game – study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of a preventive behavior management program in a Swedish school context
Authors: Djamnezhad Dariush , Bergström Martin , Andrén Per , Hofvander Björn
Published: October 2023

Background

Early conduct problems and school failure are prominent risk factors for several adverse outcomes in later life. With the potential of reaching many children at early stages of their life, school-based interventions constitute a valuable approach to universal prevention. Good behavior game (GBG) is a promising school-based behavior management program, having shown immediate reductions in conduct problems along with several long-term positive effects. Adapting interventions to new contexts may however affect their effectiveness. The current study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Swedish adaption of GBG under pragmatic conditions. The intervention is hypothesized to reduce conduct problems in the classroom (primary outcome). Secondary analyses will investigate changes in conduct problems in common school areas, classroom climate, teacher collective efficacy, on-task behavior, as well as investigating behavioral management practices, implementation, and barriers to implementation.

Methods

This is a cluster-randomized trial with two parallel groups. Schools will be randomized (1,1, stratified by their areas sociodemographic index score) to be provided training in GBG or perform business-as-usual. The intervention and data collection lasts for a school year. Data will be collected at three time points: at baseline in the beginning of the school year (prior to training in GBG), after three months, and after nine months (at the end of the school year; primary endpoint). Data consists of teacher-rated measures of conduct problems, classroom climate, teacher collective efficacy, behavior management practices, and implementation factors, along with demographic factors. In addition, data will be collected by independent and blinded observers using corresponding measures in a subset of randomly chosen classrooms. Procedural fidelity will be rated and collected by GBG-trainers during nine observations throughout the school year. Statistical analysis will include frequentist intention-to-treat analysis, and comparisons of estimates with a corresponding Bayesian model using weakly informative priors. The study has currently completed data collection.

Discussion

This study will provide knowledge in universal prevention and school-based interventions with high reach, as well as specific knowledge concerning the effectiveness of an adapted version of GBG under real-world conditions, along with factors affecting its implementation and effects.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05794893.
Innovation, advertising, personal selling, and sustainability in the industries massively benefited from major public health emergencies: paradoxical evidence from China
Authors: Xie Guangying , Zhang Cancan , Fang Qianqian , Tang Xiaole , Zhang Yani
Published: October 2023

Background

While major public health emergencies have severe socio-economic impacts, they may also present many opportunities for certain industries. For these industries that have benefited significantly (e.g., China’ s healthcare industry), the traditional emphasis on improving business performance through increased investment in innovation, marketing and sustainability may face contextual applicability challenges.

Methods

We used the data of healthcare industry in China during Covid-19 and the methods of hierarchical regression, moderating effect test to analyze the impact of innovation, advertising, personal selling, and sustainability on healthcare firms’ profitability. Three kinds of robust test including increasing the measurement range of variables, changing the data source and parameter estimation method, and Quantile regression are used.

Results

This paper finds that innovation, advertising, and environmental sustainability have significant negative impacts on profitability, while personal selling, social sustainability, and governance sustainability have significant positive impacts on profitability in the industries massively benefited from major public health emergencies. Besides, social sustainability can significantly moderate the relationship between innovation and profitability.

Conclusion

On one hand, for companies in industries that have benefited greatly from major public health emergencies, a shift in resource allocation from innovation, advertising, and environmental sustainability to personal selling, social sustainability, and governance sustainability may be more conducive to improving their profitability. On the other hand, for public health regulatory authorities, it is necessary to strengthen the supervision of sales representatives of health care enterprises, hospitals, public health organizations, etc., and appropriately subsidize the innovation of enterprises to enhance their innovation motivation.
The role of agricultural mechanization services in reducing pesticide input: promoting sustainable agriculture and public health
Authors: Li Xingchi , Zhu Mande
Published: October 2023

An increasing amount of pesticide input is posing a serious threat to the environment and public health. However, the quantitative analysis of the impact of agricultural mechanization services (AMS) on reducing pesticide input is not yet clear. In this study, the impact of AMS on pesticide input was estimated by using the Chinese Family Database and the endogenous switching regression model. Subsequently, testing the robustness of the model using the substitution variable method. The impact of AMS on different types of pesticides and the influence of farmers' choices of AMS on pesticide input under different terrain conditions and farm sizes were analyzed as well. The results demonstrate that AMS has a significant and negative impact on pesticide input, reducing pesticide expenditures by 56.08% for farmers who adopt AMS. For farmers who do not adopt AMS, adopting such services is assumed to reduce pesticide input by 14.97%. AMS can also reduce the use of insecticides and herbicides by over 54%. Compared to mountainous and hilly areas, AMS in plain areas increase the effectiveness of pesticide input reduction by 30.40%. Furthermore, small-scale farmers who adopt AMS can increase pesticide input reduction by 90 yuan/mu compared with large-scale farmers. Therefore, promoting the development of socialized AMS, strengthening AMS in mountainous and hilly areas, and expanding the scale of operation for small-scale farmers can help improve the effectiveness of pesticide input reduction. The results of this study can inform the development of strategies to reduce chemical pesticide use in agricultural soil.
Evading the algorithm: increased propensity for tax evasion and norm violations in human-computer interactions
Authors: Mutzner Nico , Oberhauser Vincent , Winter Fabian , Rauhut Heiko
Published: October 2023

Today's modern world is characterized by an increasing shift from human-to-human interaction toward human-computer-interaction (HCI). With the implementation of artificial agents as inspectors, as can be seen in today's airports, supermarkets, or, most recently, within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, our everyday life is progressively shaped around interacting with automated agents. While our understanding of HCI is evolving, it is still in nascent stages. This is particularly true in the sphere of non-cooperative strategic interactions between humans and automated agents, which remains largely unexplored and calls for further investigation. A deeper understanding of the factors influencing strategic decision-making processes within HCI situations, and how perceptions of automated agents' capabilities might influence these decisions, is required. This gap is addressed by extending a non-cooperative inspection-game experiment with a tax-evasion frame, implementing automated agents as inspectors. Here, a within-subject design is used to investigate (1) how HCI differs from human-to-human interactions in this context and (2) how the complexity and perceived capabilities of automated agents affect human decision-making. The results indicate significant differences in decisions to evade taxes, with participants more likely to evade taxes when they are inspected by automated agents rather than by humans. These results may also be transferred to norm violations more generally, which may become more likely when participants are controlled by computers rather than by humans. Our results further show that participants were less likely to evade taxes when playing against an automated agent described as a complex AI, compared to an automated agent described as a simple algorithm, once they had experienced different agents.