bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Influence of Working Status Changes on Physical Activity and Non-Communicable Diseases in Korean Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Insights from a Longitudinal Panel Study
Authors: Park Jeong-Hui , Choe Ju-Pil , Kim Jisu , Hwang In-Whi , Lee Jung-Min
Published: July 2024

Purpose
The primary aim of the present study was to comprehensively elucidate the intricate interplay between alterations in working status, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), and physical activity (PA) among Korean middle-aged and older adults, employing a longitudinal panel study design.
Methods
This study analyzed longitudinal data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006–2020) with 40,808 participants aged 45 years and older. Changes in working status were categorized, focusing on (1) yes – yes (e.g., indicative of sustained employment), (2) yes – no (e.g., denoting a transition from employment to non-employment), (3) no – yes (e.g., representing a shift from non-employment to employment), and (4) no – no (reflecting a continual non-employment status). The study examined prevalent NCDs (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases) and their association with working status and PA using a chi-square test and random-effect multinomial logistic regression.
Results
Individuals currently employed (adjusted RRR = 0.688, p = 0.000) or transitioning to employment (adjusted RRR = 0.755, p = 0.000) had a heightened risk of physical inactivity. Those engaged in work exhibited an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases (yes – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.653, p = 0.000; no – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.168, p = 0.000) and diabetes (yes – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.535, p = 0.000; no – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.124, p = 0.000) compared to those never employed. Furthermore, current workers demonstrated a heightened risk of cancer (yes – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.871, p = 0.000; no – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.089, p = 0.014) and chronic respiratory diseases (yes – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.467, p = 0.000; no – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.121, p = 0.029) than those never employed during the survey.
Conclusion
This longitudinal study revealed that individuals engaged in or transitioning to employment displayed a reduced likelihood of regular PA. Moreover, those with work history, transitioning, or consistently working, exhibited increased vulnerability to all NCDs compared to those without work experience.
Optimization of the elderly multimorbidity management model: A study on the mediating effect of health literacy on self-efficacy and health status
Authors: Li Linjin , Xu Zhaoyi , Zhang Dan
Published: July 2024

Background
The prevalence of chronic diseases and chronic comorbidities among the elderly is increasing annually with the advent of an aging population, making health management for elderly patients with chronic conditions essential. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the relationship between self-efficacy, health literacy, and health status among elderly comorbid patients, and further explore the potential mechanisms by which self-efficacy and health literacy influence health status. The goal is to provide a scientific basis for optimizing the content of elderly comorbidity management models and improving the health status of patients.
Methods
Adopting a multistage stratified cluster random sampling method, elderly multimorbidity patients in communities of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province were selected as the survey subjects. Using the "Health Survey Questionnaire for Elderly Multimorbidity Patients" for face-to-face interviews, 1200 elderly individuals were surveyed, and 987 valid patient data were selected. Descriptive analysis was conducted on the self-efficacy, health literacy, and health status of elderly multimorbidity patients in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. A structural equation model was constructed to analyze the mediating effect of health literacy between self-efficacy and health status.
Results
In the survey of 987 elderly multimorbidity patients in this study, the average score for self-efficacy was 8.07 ± 1.36, indicating a high level on average; the average score for health literacy was 32.16 ± 9.39, suggesting a possible inadequacy in health literacy level; and the average score for health status was 73.60 ± 19.70. The well-fitted structural equation model results demonstrate that self-efficacy and health literacy of elderly multimorbidity patients have a positive impact on health status. Specifically, the mediating effect of health literacy on the relationship between self-efficacy and health status accounts for 38.3% of the total effect, serving as a partial mediator with a significant mediating effect.
Conclusions
In the multimorbidity management model for the elderly, it is essential to incorporate interventions to enhance patient self-efficacy and improve health literacy in order to promote the health of patients.
Detection of gallstone-related disease using dual-energy CT and effective atomic number analysis
Authors: Lo Luzinda , Smith Callum , Hassam Shabeer
Published: July 2024

Introduction: This audit aims to evaluate the utility of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in accurately identifying gallstone-related disease. Preferred imaging modalities such as ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) have high sensitivity for identifying cholesterol stones which are radiolucent on conventional CT, however, are limited by their availability. This audit seeks to assess whether the analysis of post-processed dual energy datasets may be able to provide more thorough analysis of the biliary system and enhance gallstone visibility.
Methods: Retrospective audit series of dual energy contrast-enhanced CT abdomen examinations performed for acute abdominal pain at our hospital over 6 months. All CT studies were evaluated by two Radiology registrars for the presence of gallstone-related disease using conventional DECT and post processing material decomposition images. This was correlated with complementary modalities (US, MRCP and ERCP), to assess their effect in improving radiolucent gallstone visualisation.
Results: The final data set included 69 patients with gallstone related disease. Stone composition analysis identified 36 patients with poorly seen gallstone-related disease on DECT before post-processing; which included 28 patients with predominantly cholesterol-containing stones, 6 patients with sludge, and 2 patients with pigmented stones. Post-processing increased conspicuity in 50% of the examined patients (n=18).
Conclusion: DECT is underutilised at many Australian hospitals, including our own. Our findings demonstrate that post-processed DECT atomic number maps have the potential to enhance conspicuity of cholesterol gallstones in a subset of patients.
Informant Accuracy of IQCODE, AD8 and GPCOGi for diagnosis of dementia: Does your friend know best?
Authors: Chingono Jasmine , Creavin Samuel Thomas , Fish Mark , Cullum Sarah , Bayer Antony , Purdy Sarah , Ben-Shlomo Yoav
Published: July 2024

Background

Increasing numbers of people are requiring evaluation for possible dementia. There has been limited research exploring the accuracy of informant questionnaires in primary care.

Methods

A diagnostic accuracy study to explore the influence of informant relationship type on the accuracy of IQCODE, AD8 and GPCOGi in primary care.
240 participants were recruited from 21 general practitioner (GP) surgeries in the South West of England.
The reference standard for a diagnosis of dementia was made against ICD-10 criteria based on specialist clinician assessment. A threshold of greater than 3.3 on IQCODE, greater or equal to 2 on AD8 and less than 5 on the informant component of GPCOG (GPCOGi) was used to indicate an abnormal test.

Results

Of 238 participants with informant data, 131 had dementia, 60 CIND, and 47 had normal cognition. Median informant age was 70 years (IQR 60 years to 78 years). 71% of informants were female and 56% of informants were spouses.
On all three questionnaires, compared to spouses, adult descendants tended to score participants more cognitively impaired, whereas friends scored participants less cognitively impaired. However, there was little evidence of difference by informant relationship type once fully adjusted.
Overall accuracy was similar for all three informant questionnaires with an AUROC of 0.67 (95% CI, 0.62 to 0.72) for IQCODE, 0.64 (95% CI, 0.60 to 0.69) for AD8 and 0.59 (95% CI, 0.56 to 0.63) for GPCOGi. Friends tended to have the highest AUROC at 0.89 (95% CI 0.78 to 1) for IQCODE, 0.88 (95% CI 0.77 to 0.99) for AD8 and 0.69 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.81) for GPCOGi. This difference was significant for IQCODE (p=0.0004) and AD8 (p=0.0001).

Conclusions

Most informants were either a spouse or adult descendant. Overall, informants, when using IQCODE, AD8 or GPCOGi may be useful at ruling out dementia but less useful for ruling it in. We found no evidence of difference between spouse or adult descendants but friends (while accounting for only 8% of informants) performed significantly better overall on IQCODE and AD8 due to an increase in specificity without loss of sensitivity.
Diffusion tensor imaging analysis of aged dogs with and without canine cognitive dysfunction
Authors: Henry Jamie , Ukai Masayasu , Antonakakis Markos , Zhou Tianjian , Moreno Julie A. , Burzynska Agnieszka Z. , McGrath Stephanie
Published: July 2024

Background
Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is a naturally occurring disease in aged dogs that shares many behavioural and pathological similarities with Alzheimer’s disease. There has been little research on in vivo imaging of CCD, and to the best of our knowledge, no studies have investigated the use of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to visualize brain atrophy. The primary aim of this study was to determine the applicability of DTI for imaging various regions of the canine brain. A secondary aim was to determine whether DTI could be used to differentiate healthy aging dogs from dogs with CCD. We hypothesized that DTI could be used to image the canine brain, providing insight into the diffusivity of axons in various regions, and could reveal differences in DTI parameters between dogs with and without CCD. DTI was used to measure the mean fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AxD) and radial diffusivity (RD) in the corpus callosum (CC) and thalamus of the dogs.
Results
Our data revealed that DTI can be used to image the diffusivity of the CC and thalamus and revealed an overall decrease in the mean FA and increase in the mean MD, AxD, and RD in these two structures in dogs with CCD compared to healthy dogs. Further research is required to determine whether DTI has the ability differentiate aged dogs from dogs with CCD.
Conclusions
These results demonstrated that DTI could be used to evaluate white matter integrity in the canine brain with and without CCD, indicating that the use of DTI could provide valuable insight into neuropathological changes due to CCD, revealing further translational applicability of CCD as a model for AD.
Association of serum creatinine variability and risk of 1-year mortality among patients with cancer
Authors: Li Lin , Yang Huanhuan , Zhang Yi , Liu Jianchao , Li Shunfei , Wang Lijun , Liu Yunning , Li Wen-Qing , Chen Guo-Chong , Liu Wei , Li Zhihui
Published: July 2024

Creatinine variability has a close and reciprocal relationship with cancer risk. However, the role of creatinine variability on mortality among cancer patients remains unclear. Thus, the objective here is to fill this gap. We conducted a multi-center study including all patients with solid tumors admitted to eight hospitals in China between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2019, on their primary admission. The variability of blood creatinine was evaluated by the standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation(CV). All deaths and causes of death were identified from the Chinese National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Surveillance Points System. Analyses were constructed by multiple Cox regression models. The study comprised a total of 41,911 cancer patients, of which 9,050 events were observed. Higher serum creatinine fluctuation was associated with an elevated risk of one-year mortality significantly, with a hazard ratio of 1.62 (95% confidence interval, 1.52-1.72; P <0.001) for the standard deviation of creatinine in quartile four compared with quartile one. Furthermore, the association persisted even though all creatinine was within the clinically normal range. The coefficient of variation of creatinine showed similar results. Higher serum creatinine fluctuation during hospital admission is associated with an elevated risk of one-year mortality among cancer patients, even if the fluctuation is within the clinically normal range.
Can self-rated health be useful to primary care physicians as a diagnostic indicator of metabolic dysregulations amongst patients with type 2 diabetes? A population-based study
Authors: Umeh Kanayo , Adaji S
Published: July 2024

Background
Although most of the management of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) occurs in primary care, and physicians are tasked with using a ‘whole person’ approach, there is currently a lack of research on psychosocial diagnostic indicators for detecting metabolic abnormalities in T2DM patients. This study examined relations between SRH and metabolic abnormalities in patients with type 2 diabetes, adjusting for metabolic comorbidity.
Method
A total of 583 adults with type 2 diabetes were identified from the 2019 HSE (Health Survey for England). Data on metabolic syndrome (MetS) was extracted, including lipids (high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure (systolic/diastolic), and anthropometric measures (BMI, waist/hip ratio). Bootstrapped hierarchical regression and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used to analyse the data.
Results
Adjusting for metabolic covariates attenuated significant associations between SRH and metabolic abnormalities (HDL-C, HbA1c), regardless of MetS status. However, relations between SRH and HbA1c remained marginally significant, after metabolic adjustments (β = -0.15, p = 0.04). Analysis by gender uncovered covariate-adjusted associations between SRH and both HDL-C (in men) and HbA1c (in women) (p’s = 0.01). SEM revealed no indirect associations between SRH, metabolic abnormalities, and lifestyle factors.
Conclusions
SRH may help primary care physicians identify T2DM patients with HDL-C and HbA1c abnormalities, irrespective of comorbid metabolic biomarkers.
Design and development of metal-organic framework-based nanocomposite hydrogels for quantification of deferiprone in exhaled breath condensate
Authors: Moharami Reza , Karimzadeh Zahra , Soleymani Jafar , Jouyban-Gharamaleki Vahid , Khoubnasabjafari Maryam , Rahimpour Elaheh , Jouyban Abolghasem
Published: July 2024

In this study, a novel fluorescence nanoprobe based on MIL-101 metal-organic frameworks embedding into the agarose hydrogel was fabricated using a hydrothermal technique and used for sensitive quantification of deferiprone in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples. The morphology and characterization of MIL-101/agarose nanocomposite hydrogel was studied by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering instrument, powder X-ray diffraction analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The probe showed a reasonable fluorescence intensity quenching in the presence of deferiprone due to the interactions between iron centers in MIL-101 (Fe) and deferiprone, which likely formed non-fluorescent complexes. The proposed nanoprobe demonstrated a linear calibration curve in the range from 0.005 to 1.5 µg mL− 1 with a detection limit of 0.003 µg mL− 1. The intra- and inter-day precision for determinations of deferiprone with concentration of 1.0 µg mL− 1were 0.3% and 0.4% (n = 5), respectively. This method demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity towards deferiprone in the EBC samples and also presented a sensing platform with simplicity, convenience, fast implementation, and cost-effective in medical monitoring.
Schiff-base system of glutaraldehyde crosslinked chitosan- algae-montmorillonite clay K10 biocomposite: Adsorption mechanism and optimized for removal of methyl violet 2B dye
Authors: Sando Muna Sarhan , Farhan Ahlam M. , Jawad Ali H.
Published: July 2024

Heren, Chitosan (CH), Algae (AL), and Montmorillonite clay K10 (MK10) were used in the hydrothermal synthesis of a new Schiff-base system of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked chitosan-based biocomposite (CH-AL-MK10/GL) for the removal of a model cationic dye (MV (2B)) from aqueous environments. Various analytical methods were employed to evaluate the characteristics of the synthesized biocomposite (e.g., BET surface analysis method, elemental analysis, FTIR, SEM-EDX, XRD, and point of zero charge). The key adsorption parameters (CH-AL-MK10/GL dose, pH, and time) were optimized using the BBD model and the optimum adsorption (%) value of 86.4% was achieved at the following operating conditions: CH-AL-MK10/GL dose: 0.99 g/100mL, pH: 8.3, time: 418min and a quadratic model was generated for predicting the dye removal values based on the adsorption conditions. The adsorption equilibrium data revealed great compatibility with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 98.3 mg/g. Hence, the adsorption of MV (2B) by CH-AL-MK10/GL was considered to be through chemisorption in an initially monolayered fashion which then proceeds to a multilayered model after the surface layer reaches a saturated state. The results of all the characterization methods as well as the adsorption equilibrium studies were utilized to determine the possible interactions between the CH-AL-MK10/GL surface and MV (2B) dye molecules and the electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding, Yoshida hydrogen bonding and n- π stacking interactions were concluded to be responsible for the adsorption process.
Identification of oxidative stress-related diagnostic marker genes and immune landscape in interstitial cystitis by bioinformatics and machine learning
Authors: Fu Chaowei , Zhang Yuwei , Zhao Yu , Wang Shiyu , Zhou Yuhua , Lv Jing , Jin Shengkai , Liu Fengping , Feng Ninghan
Published: July 2024

Background
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammatory disease with autoimmune associations that is challenging to diagnose and treat. Recent findings indicate that oxidative stress (OS) is a crucial pathophysiological mechanism in IC. Moreover, the interactions between OS, inflammation, and immune cell infiltration are highly complex. Therefore, this study aims to identify biomarkers linked to OS in the development of IC and to elucidate their relationship with immune cell infiltration. These findings could provide new research directions for the diagnosis and treatment of IC.
Methods
The GSE711783 dataset from the GEO database was utilized to identify differentially expressed genes in IC, while OS-related genes were obtained from the GeneCards database. Hub genes associated with OS were identified through integrated analysis using WGCNA and protein-protein interaction networks. Gene regulatory networks involving transcription factors, TF-miRNA interactions and gene-disease associations were analyzed using relevant databases. Diagnostic marker genes associated with OS were refined using machine learning algorithms. Subsequently, a nomogram diagnostic prediction model was developed and validated through in vitro experiments. Potential drug candidates were identified using the DSigDB database, and the immune landscape in IC was explored using the CIBERSORT algorithm.
Results
We identified a total of 68 differentially expressed genes related to OS, alongside 15 hub genes. Among these, four genes—BMP2, MMP9, CCK and NOS3—were further selected as diagnostic markers. Using the ANN model, ROC curve analysis, and nomogram diagnostic prediction model, all four genes demonstrated excellent diagnostic efficacy. Additionally, these genes exhibited strong associations with T cells CD4 memory resting, T cells CD4 memory activated, and Eosinophils. Finally, decitabine emerged as the most promising drug molecule for IC treatment.
Conclusion
We identified four diagnostic marker genes related to OS that are pivotal in the pathogenesis of IC, influencing both OS and immune responses. These findings highlight new avenues for research in the diagnosis and treatment of IC.
Optimizing Electron-Beam Photothermal Pyrolysis Parameters for Enhanced Molecular Biodegradability of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Plastics
Authors: Porandla Rishika
Published: July 2024

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), a synthetic plastic notable for its lack of biodegradability and harmful emissions during deterioration, has potential to be molecularly adjusted by Photo-Oxidative Ultraviolet (UV) Degradation. This research investigates the influence of electron beam irradiation and near-infrared (NIR) laser-induced photothermal treatment utilizing gold nanoparticles on PVC plastic in order to establish the optimized molecular weight and beam time exposure for biodegradable PVC properties. PVC powder samples with varying number-average molecular weights ranging from 20 kDa to 90 kDa, unplasticized PVC film, gold nanoparticles, and varying exposure time of a 100 kGy electron beam from 80 to 115 milliseconds were employed for the study. Outcomes from PVC irradiation reveal the optimal parameters for inducing biodegradability in samples while preserving structural integrity: an e-beam exposure duration of 95 milliseconds applied to PVC powder with a sample molecular weight of 20 kDa, though also causing discoloration due to polymer chain breakage and hydrogen embrittlement. Analysis of the ratio of number average molecular weight Mn and weight average molecular weight Mw demonstrated that shorter irradiation durations result in lower molecular weights. Later comparison of glass transition temperature Tg vs. molecular weight indicated how molecular weight is a factor of influence on Tg and crystallinity, which is low in biodegradable polymers. Future work will aim to scale up the procedure for industrial applications and investigate the treatment’s applicability to a variety of thermoplastics, including fluoropolymers, polyacrylates, and ethylene copolymers.
Correlates of depression, anxiety, and stress among patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Yang Kun , Geng Zhaoyang , Gong Yifan , Xiaohan Xu , Yan Shiyan , Zhang Haoran , Jiang Quan , Liu Hongxiao
Published: July 2024

Background
The recurrent nature and prolonged course of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) impose substantial psychological disorders on patients. The aim of this study was to assess psychological disorders and analyze the overall risk of psychological disorders as well as the factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress in ankylosing spondylitis.
Methods
Patients diagnosed with AS were selected from the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) database for data analysis. General demographic characteristics and disease-related features of the patients were collected. The study analyzed clinical differences between patients with and without psychological disorders. Specific clinical characteristics of depression, anxiety, and stress were statistically analyzed. Clinical factors associated with overall psychological status and specific psychological disorders (depression, anxiety and stress) were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.
Results
In our study cohort, 26.72% of AS patients were identified with psychological disorders, with 17.5% experiencing depression, 21.1% suffering from anxiety, and 7.9% reporting stress. We also observed significant overlaps among depression, anxiety, and stress in AS patients, with 53.47% experiencing multiple psychological disorders. Disease activity, health index, fatigue levels, and PGA were identified as significant factors associated with psychological disorders. Age, health index, fatigue levels, and PGA were the main influencing factors for depression; disease activity and PGA for anxiety; and disease activity, ASAS-HI, and fatigue for stress.
Conclusions
The study reveals a significant prevalence of psychological disorders among individuals with AS, which correlates closely with disease activity, health index, fatigue levels, and PGA. These findings highlight the imperative for assessment of psychological conditions into the comprehensive management approach for AS patients.
Prevalence and Associated Factors of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infections among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Women in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: OKUNADE Kehinde S. , BADMOS Kabir B. , OKORO Austin , AWOLOLA Nicholas A. , NWAOKORIE Francisca O. , ADELABU Hameed , ADEMUYIWA Iyabo Y. , ADEKANYE Temitope V. , AKHENAMEN Packson O. , ODOH Elizabeth , OKOYE Chinelo , AKANMU Alani S. , BANJO Adekunbiola A. , ANORLU Rose I. , BEREK Jonathan S.
Published: July 2024

Background: Given the synergistic relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, knowledge of the genotypic prevalence and associated factors of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) among HIV-infected women is crucial for developing targeted interventions such as appropriate screening tests and effective genotype-specific vaccination.
Objectives: We determined the prevalence of any HR-HPV and multiple HR-HPV infections and identified associated factors among a cohort of women living with HIV infections (WLHIV) in Lagos, Nigeria.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study analysed the data of 516 WLHIV who underwent cervical cancer screening as part of the COMPASS-DUST study at the HIV treatment centre of Lagos University Teaching Hospital from July 2023 to March 2024. Multivariable binary logistic regression models were performed to explore factors associated with HR-HPV and multiple HR-HPV infections.
Results: Among the 516 WLHIV enrolled (mean age, 46.5±7.3 years), the overall HR-HPV prevalence was 13.4% (95% CI, 10.6–16.6), disaggregated as 3.3% for HPV16/18 (95% CI, 1.9–5.2) and 11.6% for other HR-HPV genotypes (95% CI, 9.0–14.7). Nineteen women (3.7%; 95% CI, 2.2–5.7)had multiple HR-HPV genotype infections. Having a recent serum CD4+ cell count ≤560 cells/µL (adjusted OR 3.32; 95% CI 1.06–10.38) and HPV 16/18 genotype infections (adjusted OR 38.98; 95% CI 11.93–127.37) were independently associated with an increased risk of multiple HR-HPV infections.
Conclusion: The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the epidemiology of HR-HPV infections and highlight the need for tailored interventions and continuous monitoring. By addressing these challenges through targeted screening, effective ART management, and vaccination programs, we can improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of cervical cancer in this vulnerable population.
Three-stage document-level entity relation extraction
Authors: Lu Ben , Wang Xianchuan , Ming Wenkai , Wang Xianchao
Published: July 2024

Document-level entity relation extraction aims to extract all relations between entity pairs from unstructured text. Aiming at the problems of multi-mention entity, long-distance entity Relation and complex relation reasoning, this paper proposes a document relation extraction Model TSDRE (Three stage document Relation extraction Model) based on text coreference resolution and relation reasoning. Firstly, the CorefQA model was used to resolve the referential pronouns in the document. Secondly, the document was cut by sentence, and the PRGC model was used to extract the relationship at sentence level. Finally, the information of entity pairs that may have complex relationships, relationship reasoning information and evidence statements are taken as known information, encoded and used as the input of the model, and the BERT model is used to reason about complex relationships and determine the possible relationship categories of entity pairs. The experimental results show that the proposed model is at least 0.18,0.15,0.21 higher than other comparison models in the three indicators of validation set F1, test set F1, and lgnF1. TSDRE can extract the entity pair relationship information contained in the document more accurately and comprehensively.
The treatment of Tofacitinib for rosacea through the inhibition of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway
Authors: Sun Rui , Fan Huiping , Liu Jiayun , Gao Guomin , Liu Chengqi , Zhang Dong , Ma Weiyuan
Published: July 2024

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by facial erythema and telangiectasia. Despite ongoing research, the pathogenesis of rosacea remains incompletely understood, and current therapies are not entirely satisfactory. The JAK/STAT signaling pathway plays an essential role in immunoregulation, inflammation, and neurovascular regulation. Inhibition of the JAK/STAT pathway appears to hold promise as a potential therapy for rosacea. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the JAK inhibitor tofacitinib on rosacea and to preliminarily explore its therapeutic mechanism. To this end, a rosacea-like mouse model was induced using LL37 and treated with a 2% tofacitinib emulsion. The results demonstrated that topical application of tofacitinib significantly ameliorated rosacea-like phenotype, reduced the infiltration of CD4+ T cells and mast cells, and suppressed dermal angiogenesis. RT-qPCR analysis revealed a reduction in mRNA expression levels of STAT1, STAT4, and STAT5a in skin lesions following topical tofacitinib treatment. Additionally, three patients diagnosed with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR) were included in the study and treated with oral tofacitinib, leading to a significant improvement in erythema and flushing symptoms. These findings collectively suggest that tofacitinib alleviates LL37-induced rosacea-like skin inflammation in mice and rosacea skin lesions by inhibiting the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.
Absorption Spectroscopy of 40Ca Atomic Beams Produced via Pulsed Laser Ablation: A Quantitative Comparison of Ca and CaTiO3 Targets
Authors: Battles Kevin D. , McMahon Brian J. , Sawyer Brian C.
Published: July 2024

Pulsed laser ablation is an increasingly prevalent method for fast ion trap loading of various species, however characteristics of the ablation target source material can affect the ion-loading process. One factor which can reduce the atomic flux from a target is oxidation during atmospheric exposure when preparing or making changes to the ion trap vacuum system. Recent work has shown that perovskite ablation targets produce consistent atomic densities even after exposure to atmosphere when compared to elemental source targets. In this work, we directly compare calcium (Ca) and calcium-titanate (CaTiO$_3$) ablation targets, characterizing the neutral atomic beam flux using resonant, time-resolved absorption spectroscopy of the 423 nm $^{1}S_0 \rightarrow$ $^{1}P_1$ transition in neutral Ca. We measure the ablation plume longitudinal and transverse temperatures, number density, ion production, and spot lifetime for each target. In addition, we compare the ablated atomic beam density for both targets before and after 21 hours of exposure to atmosphere, demonstrating the relative robustness of the CaTiO$_3$ source.
Brain and cancer associated binding domain mutations provide insight into CTCF’s relationship with chromatin and its ability to act as a chromatin organizer
Authors: Skok Jane , do catherine , Jiang Guimei , Cova Giulia , Katsifis Christos , Narducci Domenic , Yang Jie , Sakellaropoulos Theodore , Vidal Raphael , Lhoumaud Priscillia , Tsirigos Aristotelis , Regis Faye Fara , Kakabadze Nata , Nora Elphège , Noyes Marcus , Cheng Xiaodong , Hansen Anders
Published: July 2024

Although only a fraction of CTCF motifs are bound in any cell type, and approximately half of the occupied sites overlap cohesin, the mechanisms underlying cell-type specific attachment and ability to function as a chromatin organizer remain unknown. To investigate the relationship between CTCF and chromatin we applied a combination of imaging, structural and molecular approaches, using a series of brain and cancer associated CTCF mutations that act as CTCF perturbations. We demonstrate that binding and the functional impact of WT and mutant CTCF depend not only on the unique properties of each protein, but also on the genomic context of bound sites. Our studies also highlight the reciprocal relationship between CTCF and chromatin, demonstrating that the unique binding properties of WT and mutant proteins have a distinct impact on accessibility, TF binding, cohesin overlap, chromatin interactivity and gene expression programs, providing insight into their cancer and brain related effects.
Reducing delays in the genomic epidemiology of tuberculosis: a flexible and decentralized analysis of each incident case
Authors: Sanz-Pérez Amadeo , Rodríguez-Grande Cristina , Buenestado-Serrano Sergio , Martínez-Lirola Miguel , Plata-Barril Beatriz , Herranz-Martín Marta , Peñas-Utrilla Daniel , Muñoz Patricia , Pérez-Lago Laura , de Viedma Darío García
Published: July 2024

Background: Genomic analysis has markedly improved our knowledge of the transmission dynamics of M. tuberculosis. The high-throughput analysis provided by short-read platforms in reference laboratories ensures coverage of all TB cases in a population, guaranteeing the identification of complete transmission chains. However, this strategy inevitably leads to delays until genomic data are available at local level. We evaluated an alternative approach based on a case-by-case genomic analysis of primary cultures from each incident case.
Methods: The strategy was evaluated in 23 consecutive stain-positive cases diagnosed in Almeria, Spain over a 4-month period (March-July 2023). DNA was purified from primary cultures on LJ medium. Nanopore sequencing and reusage of flow cells was performed.
Results: In 52% of cases, sufficient culture growth was obtained to prepare sequencing libraries <20 days after inoculation. Up to two isolates were loaded per run to ensure rapid availability of results. Seven flow cells in all were needed, which were reused up to 6 times. In 61% of isolates, optimal genome coverage (>90% at >20X) was achieved in less than 2.5 hours of sequencing, which enabled new cases to be labeled as clustered (39%), or orphans (61%) on the same day. Nanopore data correlated with those ultimately obtained using high-throughput short-read sequencing.
Conclusions: Our strategy could offer a flexible and more rapid decentralized alternative for local settings, accelerating the information on clusters needed to tailor control interventions.
Financial security of Ukraine under martial law: Impact of macroeconomic determinants
Authors: Zhuravka Fedir , Chorna Svitlana , Petrushenko Yuriy , Alwasiak Stanislaw , Kubakh Tetiana , Mordan Yevgeniya , Soss John
Published: July 2024

Russia’s open aggression against Ukraine has resulted in significant changes across all sectors of the Ukrainian economy and its financial sphere, including financial security. The paper aims to identify the impact of the primary macroeconomic determinants, i.e., military defense spending, non-performing bank loans, exchange rate, foreign debt, and state (total) reserves, on the financial security of Ukraine under martial law. The canonical correlation analysis is employed to assess the strength of the relationship between the above macroeconomic indicators and the level of the state’s financial security. It was found that the reduction of the state’s financial security level in 2022 was 63.9%, explained exactly by the changes in the above macroeconomic determinants after the start of a full-scale invasion. The study determined the degree of influence of each indicator on Ukraine’s financial security level. An increase in the level of military defense spending, non-performing bank loans, hryvnia’s devaluation, and external debt growth had a direct negative impact on Ukraine’s financial security. At the same time, an upsurge in total reserves had an indirect negative impact (through the external debt growth). The research findings confirm the necessity for effective monitoring and management of the macroeconomic indicators to maintain both Ukraine’s financial security and macro-financial stability in order to ensure its’ sustainable economic development during the postwar recovery period.
AcknowledgmentThis research is financially supported by the NATO SPS Program “Security of territorial communities: evidence from the Eastern European countries”.
Are there any benefits from prescribing a cardiac cytoprotector to enhance the quality of life in patients with coronary heart disease and chronic heart failure?
Authors: Statsenko M. Е. , Turkina S. V. , Lopushkova Yu. Е.
Published: July 2024

Introduction. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, which leads to a high mortality in this category of patients. Issues regarding the prevention of the onset and progression of coronary heart disease (CHD) and chronic heart failure (CHF) in patients with T2D and/or metabolic syndrome (MS) are still not fully understood. The use of metabolic drugs with cardioprotective effects, in particular Mildronate®, is one of the possibilities to improve the effectiveness of combination treatment of CHD and CHF.

Aim. To study the effect of Mildronate® on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with CHD and CHF, suffering from T2D and/or MS.

Materials and methods. A total of 2.084 patients with co-occurring two (or more) disorders: obesity, type 2 diabetes, angina pectoris, CHT, and CHF were included in the INDICOR observational study conducted in real-life clinical practice settings. Group 1 received therapy with disease-modifying agents prescribed due to CHD and T2D; Group 2 received Mildronate® at a dose of 1000 mg per day in addition to the same therapy. The studied lab test results were assessed at baseline and 42 days of therapy.

Results. A 42-day course of therapy in patients receiving Mildronate® at a dose of 1000 mg per day in addition to disease-modifying therapy (DMT) contributed to a percentage increase in the number of patients with CHD, FC (functional class) I angina pectoris (Δ,% + 63%, p < 0.001 ) as compared to the control group with no significant changes (Δ,% + 7%, p > 0.5). A significant increase in the number of patients with FC I CHF was recorded in Group 2 (from 23.5 to 42.1%, Δ,% + 79%) as compared to Group 1, where no significant changes were detected (22.7 to 23.7%, Δ,% + 4%). The QoL in patients with CHF based on data collected using the Minnesota Questionnaire and QoL in patients with CHD based on data collected using the Seattle Questionnaire significantly improved in the groups that received Mildronate® in addition to DMT, as compared with the group of patients who were only on DMT.

Conclusion. Results from the Seattle and Minnesota questionnaires showed that the use of Mildronate® as part of combination therapy in patients with CHD and CHF, suffering from T2D and/or MS, contributed to a significant reduction in the frequency of angina attacks and lowering angina FC, CHF FC, and also enhanced the quality of life in this category of patients.
Aproximación teórico-conceptual del marketing inclusivo: una perspectiva desde las discapacidades sensoriales
Authors: Hincapié-Naranjo Laura , Torres-Sarria Sara , Castro-Peña Mónica Yuleni , Vásquez-Hernández John Eider
Published: July 2024

Las personas con discapacidades sensoriales enfrentan barreras de comunicación y accesibilidad en el mercado debido a la falta de estrategias de marketing inclusivas, generando una vulneración de los derechos de esta población al no brindarles lo necesario para poder satisfacer sus necesidades. Lo anterior, puede deberse en parte a limitaciones en el acceso a información y conocimiento de un marketing más inclusivo, así, en el presente estudio se opta por realizar una aproximación teórica-conceptual sobre cómo se ha entendido el marketing inclusivo y poder concluir y discutir sobre el papel que ha tenido en este el segmento de población con discapacidades sensoriales. Para el desarrollo del estudio se utilizan técnicas estadísticas y juicios cualitativos basados hallazgos bibliográficos tras una búsqueda sistematizada en la base de datos Scopus y Web of Science, por medio de la herramienta Core of Science. A través de este estudio se logró identificar una línea de entendimiento muy estrecha entre el marketing social y el marketing inclusivo; además del establecimiento de conclusiones y discusión sobre cómo se percibe la inclusión en el marketing y hacia qué segmentos vulnerables se han dirigido principalmente las estrategias y conceptos desarrollados hasta el momento.
A dispersão de arquivos de pessoas como estratégias de preservação e acesso: o arquivo de Rubim Santos Leão de Aquino
Authors: Gomes Michele de Almeida , Lima Ana Luce Girão Soares de
Published: July 2024

This article is part of the research developed in 2022 in the Cultural Heritage Preservation and Management Program of Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz. It aimed to investigate the phenomenon of dispersion in people’sarchives deposited in memory spaces. To analyse, we had as object of study Rubim Santos Leão de Aquino’s archives(1929-2013), history professor, whose collection was fragmented into parcels and destined todifferent entities, such as the Study Program, Documents Education and Society –Proedes, from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. To achieve this purpose, we carried out an exploratory study on the dispersion in people's archives, collected the biographical data of the producer and the archives, identified the actors involved and listed the destination criteria. The result achieved was the mapping of the places that received the documentation with the elaboration of the collection's dispersion cartography.
Bridging Real-World Data Gaps: Connecting Dots Across 10 Asian Countries
Authors: Julian Guilherme Silva , Shau Wen-Yi , Chou Hsu-Wen , Setia Sajita
Published: July 2024

The economic trend and the health care landscape are rapidly evolving across Asia. Effective real-world data (RWD) for regulatory and clinical decision-making is a crucial milestone associated with this evolution. This necessitates a critical evaluation of RWD generation within distinct nations for the use of various RWD warehouses in the generation of real-world evidence (RWE). In this article, we outline the RWD generation trends for 2 contrasting nation archetypes: “Solo Scholars”—nations with relatively self-sufficient RWD research systems—and “Global Collaborators”—countries largely reliant on international infrastructures for RWD generation. The key trends and patterns in RWD generation, country-specific insights into the predominant databases used in each country to produce RWE, and insights into the broader landscape of RWD database use across these countries are discussed.
Conclusively, the data point out the heterogeneous nature of RWD generation practices across 10 different Asian nations and advocate for strategic enhancements in data harmonization. The evidence highlights the imperative for improved database integration and the establishment of standardized protocols and infrastructure for leveraging electronic medical records (EMR) in streamlining RWD acquisition. The clinical data analysis and reporting system of Hong Kong is an excellent example of a successful EMR system that showcases the capacity of integrated robust EMR platforms to consolidate and produce diverse RWE. This, in turn, can potentially reduce the necessity for reliance on numerous condition-specific local and global registries or limited and largely unavailable medical insurance or claims databases in most Asian nations. Linking health technology assessment processes with open data initiatives such as the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model and the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics could enable the leveraging of global data resources to inform local decision-making. Advancing such initiatives is crucial for reinforcing health care frameworks in resource-limited settings and advancing toward cohesive, evidence-driven health care policy and improved patient outcomes in the region.
High-Resolution Eye-Tracking System for Accurate Measurement of Short-Latency Ocular Following Responses (Preprint)
Authors: Miladinovic Aleksandar , Quaia Christian , Kresevic Simone , Ajčević Miloš , Diplotti Laura , Michieletto Paola , Accardo Agostino , Pensiero Stefano
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND

Ocular following responses (OFRs), small amplitude short-latency reflexive eye movements, have been used to study visual motion processing, with potential diagnostic applications. However, they are difficult to record with commercial video-based eye trackers, especially in children.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to design and develop an eye tracker specialized for measuring OFRs, trading off lower temporal resolution and a smaller range for higher spatial resolution.

METHODS

We developed a high-resolution eye and head tracking system based on a high-resolution camera operating in the near-infrared spectral range, coupled with infrared illuminators and a dedicated post-processing pipeline, optimized to measure OFRs in children. To assess performance, we: (1) evaluated our head-tracking algorithm's resolution in artificial and real-use settings, (2) compared OFRs measured simultaneously with our system and a scleral search coil in an experienced adult, and (3) tested the system's ability to measure OFRs in a clinical setting in children.

RESULTS

Using artificial and in-vivo calibration techniques we found that our system has an in-vivo resolution of approximately 0.06°, which is sufficient for recording OFRs. Our system successfully measured OFRs in 16 children in short recording sessions lasting less than 5 minutes. Robust OFR responses were detected in all 16 subjects using the system presented.

CONCLUSIONS

Our system effectively addresses the limits of other OFR measurement methods and offers a versatile solution suitable for clinical applications, particularly in children where eye-tracking is more challenging.
Lagrange's Mean Value Theorem and Taylor's Theorem and Their Applications
Authors: Lu Jian , Wan Qi
Published: July 2024

Lagrange's mean value theorem and Taylor's theorem are two important and widely used formulas in calculus courses. In this paper, we introduce the method for proving Lagrange's mean value theorem and Taylor's theorem using Rolle's theorem, and the application of these two theorems in estimating the value of integrals, determining the concavity and convexity of functions, and solving the limits of functions.
A Study of Health Related Quality of Life among Female College Students in Mumbai
Authors: Malhotra Dr. Hemani
Published: July 2024

Abstract: Youth is the window of opportunity that sets the stage for a healthy and productive adulthood and to reduce the likelihood of health problems in later years. University life is a major transition which may affect the quality of life due to changes in physical, social and environmental interaction. The purpose of the study was to focus on different interrelated domains of health i.e. physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing in college students. A total of 228 subjects were selected for the cross-sectional study. The SF-36 questionnaire was used for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the study participants. The results indicated that the average BMI of the participants was 20.8 kg/m2. Out of 8 HRQoL Domains, average scores of 4 domains (Physical functioning, body pain, social role functioning and general health perceptions) were around 55% indicating moderate health scores. Assessing the quality of life in adolescent girls is vital for identifying key determinants that influence their well-being and would provide an overall understanding and will serve as a base in planning necessary interventions for young adults