bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proband-independent haplotyping based on NGS-based long-read sequencing for detecting pathogenic variant carrier status in preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic diseases
Authors: Zhang Peiyu , Zhao Xiaomei , Li Qinshan , Xu Yaqiong , Cheng Zengmei , Yang Lu , Wang Houmei , Tao Yang , Huang Guanyou , Wu Rui , Zhou Hua , Zhao Shuyun
Published: March 2024

Preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic diseases (PGT-M) can be used to select embryos that do not develop disease phenotypes or carry disease-causing genes for implantation into the mother’s uterus, to block disease transmission to the offspring, and to increase the birth rate of healthy newborns. However, the traditional PGT-M technique has some limitations, such as its time consumption, experimental procedural complexity, and the need for a complete family or reference embryo to construct the haplotype. In this study, proband-independent haplotyping based on NGS-based long-read sequencing (Phbol-seq) was used to effectively construct haplotypes. By targeting the mutation sites of single gene disease point mutations and small fragment deletion carriers, embryos carrying parental disease-causing mutations were successfully identified by linkage analysis. The efficiency of embryo resolution was then verified by classical Sanger sequencing, and it was confirmed that the construction of haplotype and SNP linkage analysis by Phbol-seq could accurately and effectively detect whether embryos carried parental pathogenic mutations. After the embryos confirmed to be nonpathogenic by Phbol-seq-based PGT-M and confirmed to have normal copy number variation by Phbol-seq-based PGT-A were transplanted into the uterus, gene detection in amniotic fluid of the implanted embryos was performed, and the results confirmed that Phbol-seq technology could accurately distinguish normal genotype embryos from genetically modified carrier embryos. Our results suggest that Phbol-seq is an effective strategy for accurately locating mutation sites and accurately distinguishing between embryos that inherit disease-causing genes and normal embryos that do not. This is critical for Phbol-seq-based PGT-M and could help more single-gene disease carriers with incomplete families, de novo mutations or suspected germline mosaicism to have healthy babies with normal phenotypes. It also helps to reduce the transmission of monogenic genetic diseases in the population.
Secure federated learning for Alzheimer's disease detection
Authors: Mitrovska Angela , Safari Pooyan , Ritter Kerstin , Shariati Behnam , Fischer Johannes Karl
Published: March 2024

Machine Learning (ML) is considered a promising tool to aid and accelerate diagnosis in various medical areas, including neuroimaging. However, its success is set back by the lack of large-scale public datasets. Indeed, medical institutions possess a large amount of data; however, open-sourcing is prevented by the legal requirements to protect the patient's privacy. Federated Learning (FL) is a viable alternative that can overcome this issue. This work proposes training an ML model for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) detection based on structural MRI (sMRI) data in a federated setting. We implement two aggregation algorithms, Federated Averaging (FedAvg) and Secure Aggregation (SecAgg), and compare their performance with the centralized ML model training. We simulate heterogeneous environments and explore the impact of demographical (sex, age, and diagnosis) and imbalanced data distributions. The simulated heterogeneous environments allow us to observe these statistical differences' effect on the ML models trained using FL and highlight the importance of studying such differences when training ML models for AD detection. Moreover, as part of the evaluation, we demonstrate the increased privacy guarantees of FL with SecAgg via simulated membership inference attacks.
Assessing interstitial fluid dynamics in type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes cases through diffusion tensor imaging analysis along the perivascular space
Authors: Tuerxun Rukeye , Kamagata Koji , Saito Yuya , Andica Christina , Takabayashi Kaito , Uchida Wataru , Yoshida Seina , Kikuta Junko , Tabata Hiroki , Naito Hitoshi , Someya Yuki , Kaga Hideyoshi , Miyata Mari , Akashi Toshiaki , Wada Akihiko , Taoka Toshiaki , Naganawa Shinji , Tamura Yoshifumi , Watada Hirotaka , Kawamori Ryuzo , Aoki Shigeki
Published: March 2024

Background and purpose

Glymphatic system in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but not in the prodrome, prediabetes (Pre-DM) was investigated using diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS). Association between glymphatic system and insulin resistance of prominent characteristic in T2DM and Pre-DM between is yet elucidated. Therefore, this study delves into the interstitial fluid dynamics using the DTI-ALPS in both Pre-DM and T2DM and association with insulin resistance.

Materials and methods

In our cross-sectional study, we assessed 70 elderly individuals from the Bunkyo Health Study, which included 22 with Pre-DM, 18 with T2DM, and 33 healthy controls with normal glucose metabolism (NGM). We utilized the general linear model (GLM) to evaluate the ALPS index based on DTI-ALPS across these groups, considering variables like sex, age, intracranial volume, years of education, anamnesis of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and the total Fazekas scale. Furthermore, we have explored the relationship between the ALPS index and insulin resistance, as measured by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) using GLM and the same set of covariates.

Results

In the T2DM group, the ALPS index demonstrated a reduction compared with the NGM group [family-wise error (FWE)-corrected p < 0.001; Cohen's d = −1.32]. Similarly, the Pre-DM group had a lower ALPS index than the NGM group (FWE-corrected p < 0.001; Cohen's d = −1.04). However, there was no significant disparity between the T2DM and Pre-DM groups (FWE-corrected p = 1.00; Cohen's d = −0.63). A negative correlation was observed between the ALPS index and HOMA-IR in the combined T2DM and Pre-DM groups (partial correlation coefficient r = −0.35, p < 0.005).

Conclusion

The ALPS index significantly decreased in both the pre-DM and T2DM groups and showed a correlated with insulin resistance. This indicated that changes in interstitial fluid dynamics are associated with insulin resistance.
Prediction of tumor lysis syndrome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia based on machine learning models: a retrospective study
Authors: Xiao Yao , Xiao Li , Zhang Yang , Xu Ximing , Guan Xianmin , Guo Yuxia , Shen Yali , Lei XiaoYing , Dou Ying , Yu Jie
Published: March 2024

Background

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) often occurs early after induction chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and can rapidly progress. This study aimed to construct a machine learning model to predict the risk of TLS using clinical indicators at the time of ALL diagnosis.

Methods

This observational cohort study was conducted at the National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disease. Data were collected from pediatric ALL patients diagnosed between December 2008 and December 2021. Four machine learning models were constructed using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) to select key clinical indicators for model construction.

Results

The study included 2,243 pediatric ALL patients, and the occurrence of TLS was 8.87%. A total of 33 indicators with missing values ≤30% were collected, and 12 risk factors were selected through LASSO regression analysis. The CatBoost model with the best performance after feature screening was selected to predict the TLS of ALL patients. The CatBoost model had an AUC of 0.832 and an accuracy of 0.758. The risk factors most associated with TLS were the absence of potassium, phosphorus, aspartate transaminase (AST), white blood cell count (WBC), and urea levels.

Conclusion

We developed the first TLS prediction model for pediatric ALL to assist clinicians in risk stratification at diagnosis and in developing personalized treatment protocols. This study is registered on the China Clinical Trials Registry platform (ChiCTR2200060616).

Clinical trial registration

https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2200060616.
Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related acquired amegakaryocytosis thrombocytopenia: a case report and literature review
Authors: Rivet Valérian , Sibaud Vincent , Dion Jérémie , Volosov Thibaut , Biteau Mélanie , Pastissier Andréa , Delavigne Karen , Cougoul Pierre , Rauzy Odile , Comont Thibault
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are used in several advanced malignancies and may cause various immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Among them, hematological irAEs are less described. Acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (AAT) is a rare immune hematologic disorder characterized by severe thrombocytopenia and complete absence of megakaryocytes in bone marrow.

Case presentation

Herein, we present the case of a patient in their 40s with metastatic melanoma who developed an AAT after 12 cycles of nivolumab (anti-PD1). His platelet count decreased by ≤5 × 109/l without other cytopenia. Bone marrow biopsy showed normal cellularity with a complete absence of megakaryocyte and T-CD8+ lymphocyte infiltration. Given the failure of systemic steroids, eltrombopag was started, an oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA), and his platelet count subsequently increased with complete response.

Discussion

Four other cases are described on literature with the same features than non-ICI-related AAT. All cases occurred after anti-PD/PD-L1 treatment with a median onset of 5 weeks. The presentation of our case is quite different with delayed cytopenia. Both ciclosporin and TPO-RA seem to be efficient therapies.

Conclusion

TPO-RA could be preferred in oncologic patients, but safety data are still missing to define clear guidelines for immune-related AAT management.
Cytotoxic response of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes of head and neck cancer slice cultures under mitochondrial dysfunction
Authors: Greier Maria do Carmo , Runge Annette , Dudas Jozsef , Hartl Roland , Santer Matthias , Dejaco Daniel , Steinbichler Teresa Bernadette , Federspiel Julia , Seifarth Christof , Konschake Marko , Sprung Susanne , Sopper Sieghart , Randhawa Avneet , Mayr Melissa , Hofauer Benedikt Gabriel , Riechelmann Herbert
Published: March 2024

Background

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are highly heterogeneous tumors. In the harsh tumor microenvironment (TME), metabolic reprogramming and mitochondrial dysfunction may lead to immunosuppressive phenotypes. Aerobic glycolysis is needed for the activation of cytotoxic T-cells and the absence of glucose may hamper the full effector functions of cytotoxic T-cells. To test the effect of mitochondrial dysfunction on cytotoxic T cell function, slice cultures (SC) of HNSCC cancer were cultivated under different metabolic conditions.

Methods

Tumor samples from 21 patients with HNSCC were collected, from which, SC were established and cultivated under six different conditions. These conditions included high glucose, T cell stimulation, and temporarily induced mitochondrial dysfunction (MitoDys) using FCCP and oligomycin A with or without additional T cell stimulation, high glucose and finally, a control medium. Over three days of cultivation, sequential T cell stimulation and MitoDys treatments were performed. Supernatant was collected, and SC were fixed and embedded. Granzyme B was measured in the supernatant and in the SC via immunohistochemistry (IHC). Staining of PD1, CD8/Ki67, and cleaved­caspase­3 (CC3) were performed in SC.

Results

Hematoxylin eosin stains showed that overall SC quality remained stable over 3 days of cultivation. T cell stimulation, both alone and combined with MitoDys, led to significantly increased granzyme levels in SC and in supernatant. Apoptosis following T cell stimulation was observed in tumor and stroma. Mitochondrial dysfunction alone increased apoptosis in tumor cell aggregates. High glucose concentration alone had no impact on T cell activity and apoptosis. Apoptosis rates were significantly lower under conditions with high glucose and MitoDys (p=0.03).

Conclusion

Stimulation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in SC was feasible, which led to increased apoptosis in tumor cells. Induced mitochondrial dysfunction did not play a significant role in the activation and function of TILs in SC of HNSCC. Moreover, high glucose concentration did not promote cytotoxic T cell activity in HNSCC SC.
Hyperuricemia research progress in model construction and traditional Chinese medicine interventions
Authors: Zhou Hongyan , Yang Jingyi , Yuan Xiaoqing , Song Xinyu , Zhang Xingcai , Cao Ting , Zhang Jiayu
Published: March 2024

Hyperuricemia (HUA), a severe metabolic disease derived from purine metabolism disorder, will lead to abnormally increased serum uric acid (SUA) levels in the body. Studies have shown that HUA is highly related to gout, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, chronic kidney diseases, and so on. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shows excellent results in treating HUA because of its unique advantages of multi-metabolites and multi-targets. This article reports on the use of TCM components for uric acid (UA)-lowering activity with excellent efficacy and low side effects based on established HUA models. This work summarizes the advantages and limitations of various HUA disease models for efficacy evaluation. Applications of TCM in HUA treatment have also been discussed in detail. This paper reveals recent research progress on HUA in constructing evaluation models and systematic TCM interventions. It will provide a scientific reference for establishing the HUA model and suggest future TCM-related HUA studies.
Article review: Brazilin as potential anticancer agent
Authors: Raptania Callista Najla , Zakia Syifa , Fahira Alistia Ilmiah , Amalia Riezki
Published: March 2024

Brazilin is the main compound in Caesalpinia sappan and Haematoxylum braziletto, which is identified as a homoisoflavonoid based on its molecular structure. These plants are traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory to treat fever, hemorrhage, rheumatism, skin problems, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, brazilin has increased its interest in cancer studies. Several findings have shown that brazilin has cytotoxic effects on colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, multiple myeloma, osteosarcoma, cervical cancer, bladder carcinoma, also other cancers, along with numerous facts about its possible mechanisms that will be discussed. Besides its flavonoid content, brazilin is able to chelate metal ions. A study has proved that brazilin could be used as an antituberculosis agent based on its ability to chelate iron. This possible iron-chelating of brazilin and all the studies discussed in this review will lead us to the statement that, in the future, brazilin has the potency to be a chemo-preventive and anticancer agent. The article review aimed to determine the brazilin mechanism and pathogenesis of cancer.
A 6-week randomized-controlled field study: effect of isokinetic eccentric resistance training on strength, flexibility and muscle structure of the shoulder external rotators in male junior handball players
Authors: Vetter Sebastian , Witt Maren , Hepp Pierre , Schleichardt Axel , Schleifenbaum Stefan , Roth Christian , Denecke Timm , Henkelmann Jeanette , Köhler Hans-Peter
Published: March 2024

Background: Team handball involves a tremendous amount of shoulder motion with high forces during repeated extended external range of motion. This causes shoulder complaints and overuse injuries. While eccentric training for the lower extremity shows preventive effects by improving strength, range of motion and fascicle length, there is a research gap for the shoulder joint and for advanced tissue characterization using diffusion tensor imaging.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of 6-week eccentric isokinetic resistance training on strength, flexibility, and fiber architecture characteristics of the external rotators compared to an active control group in junior male handball players.

Methods: 15 subjects were randomly assigned to the eccentric training group and 14 subjects to the active control group (conventional preventive training). Primary outcome measures were eccentric and concentric isokinetic strength of the external rotators, range of motion, and muscle fascicle length and fascicle volume.

Results: The intervention group, showed significant changes in eccentric strength (+15%). The supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles showed significant increases in fascicle length (+13% and +8%), and in fractional anisotropy (+9% and +6%), which were significantly different from the control group.

Conclusion: Eccentric isokinetic training has a significant effect on the function and macroscopic structure of the shoulder external rotators in male junior handball players. While strength parameters and muscle structure improved, range of motion did not change. This research helps understanding the physiology of muscle and the role of eccentric training on shoulder function and muscle structure. Furthermore, DTI was found to be a promising tool for advanced tissue characterization, and the in vivo derived data can also serve as model input variables and as a possibility to extend existing ex-vivo muscle models. Future research is needed for functional and structural changes following convenient eccentric field exercises.
Genetic gains in forage sorghum for adaptive traits for non - conventional area through multi-trait-based stability selection methods
Authors: Behera Partha Pratim , Singode Avinash , Bhat B. Venkatesh , Ronda Venkateswarlu , Borah Nayanmoni , Verma Harendra , Gogoi Labhya Rani , Borah Jyoti Lekha , Majhi Prasanta Kumar , Saharia Niharika , Sarma Ramendra Nath
Published: March 2024

Introduction

In the Asian tropics, unpredictable weather increases the risk of abiotic stresses in sorghum areas, making it harder to meet predicted demand. Genotype-by environment interaction (GEI) and the lack of an effective multi-trait-based selection approach make it challenging to breed climateresilient forage sorghum that adapts to nonconventional areas.

Methods

The present investigation carried out to estimate genetic parameters, inter trait associations, genetic gain under selection (SGs) of 95 diverse forage sorghum genotypes. Fourteen forage yield and other secondary traits were evaluated at five different growing seasons at two locations. Negative and positive genetic gains under selection were estimated across different growing seasons including Kharif, Rabi and Summer in the year 2020 and 2021.

Results and discussion

The GEI effects were significant (P < 0.001) for all the studied traits. The multi trait based stability indices have been said to assist breeders in ensuring sustained progress in primary traits likeforage yield without sacrificing genetic advancement in secondary traits. Fourteen genotypes were selected through each evaluation methods including genotype – ideotype distance index (MGIDI), multi-trait stability index (MTSI), multi-trait stability and mean performance (MTMPS) and multi-trait index based on factor analysis and genotype-ideotype distance (FAIBLUP Index), assuming 15% selection intensity. According to MGIDI, the selected genotypes exhibited desired positive genetic gains for dry forage yield per plant, inter-nodal length, green forage yield per plant, and plant height and negative genetic gains for days to 50% flowering. The strength and weakness plot is a potential graphical tool as portrayed by MGIDI, to identify and develop desirable genotype for particular environment. Two genotypes, G36 (302B) and G89 (348B) were found to be common across all four evaluation methods based on all the studied traits.

Background

Multi-trait stability evaluation approaches are reliable and accessible for selecting multiple traits under varied testing environments with low multicollinearity issues. These tools proved effective in enhancing selection strategies and optimising breeding schemes for the development of climate-resilient forage sorghum genotypes. The aforementioned genotypes were found to be the most reliable, high-yielding, and earlymaturing and could be suggested for variety and hybrid development and ideotype breeding programmes to ensure the food and nutritional security.
Brandt’s vole hole detection and counting method based on deep learning and unmanned aircraft system
Authors: Wu Wei , Liu Shengping , Zhong Xiaochun , Liu Xiaohui , Wang Dawei , Lin Kejian
Published: March 2024

Rodents are essential to the balance of the grassland ecosystem, but their population outbreak can cause major economic and ecological damage. Rodent monitoring is crucial for its scientific management, but traditional methods heavily depend on manual labor and are difficult to be carried out on a large scale. In this study, we used UAS to collect high–resolution RGB images of steppes in Inner Mongolia, China in the spring, and used various object detection algorithms to identify the holes of Brandt’s vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii). Optimizing the model by adjusting evaluation metrics, specifically, replacing classification strategy metrics such as precision, recall, and F1 score with regression strategy-related metrics FPPI, MR, and MAPE to determine the optimal threshold parameters for IOU and confidence. Then, we mapped the distribution of vole holes in the study area using position data derived from the optimized model. Results showed that the best resolution of UAS acquisition was 0.4 cm pixel–1, and the improved labeling method improved the detection accuracy of the model. The FCOS model had the highest comprehensive evaluation, and an R2 of 0.9106, RMSE of 5.5909, and MAPE of 8.27%. The final accuracy of vole hole counting in the stitched orthophoto was 90.20%. Our work has demonstrated that UAS was able to accurately estimate the population of grassland rodents at an appropriate resolution. Given that the population distribution we focus on is important for a wide variety of species, our work illustrates a general remote sensing approach for mapping and monitoring rodent damage across broad landscapes for studies of grassland ecological balance, vegetation conservation, and land management.
Environmental parameters factors exploration on lettuce seed germination with hydrogel
Authors: Huang Yanhua , Chang Yanbin , Ni Zheng , Wang Lizhi
Published: March 2024

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) germination is sensitive to environmental conditions. Recently, hydrogel has received increased attention as an alternative media to soil for seed germination. Compared to soil seeding, hydrogel-aided germination provides more controlled seeding environments. However, there are still challenges preventing hydrogel-aided seed germination from being widely used in industry production or academic studies, such as hydrogel formulation variations, seeding operation standardization, and germination evaluation. In this study, we tested how the combination of multiple environmental conditions affect lettuce seed germination time, which is measured as the time needed for the first pair of leaves to appear (leaf emergence) or, alternatively, the third leaf to appear (leaf development). We found that germination time and success rate of two lettuce varieties (Iceberg A and Butter Crunch) showed different sensitivities to pH, Hoagland formulations and concentrations, light intensity, and hydrogel content. We have conducted statistical analysis on the correlation between germination time and these environmental conditions.
Organ-level distribution tandem mass spectrometry analysis of three structural types of brassinosteroids in rapeseed
Authors: Tong Jianhua , Zhao Wenkui , Wang Keming , Deng Danyi , Xiao Langtao
Published: March 2024

Background

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a class of naturally occurring steroidal phytohormones mediating a wide range of pivotal developmental and physiological functions throughout the plant’s life cycle. Therefore, it is of great significance to determine the content and the distribution of BRs in plants.Regretfully, although a large number of quantitative methods for BRs by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) have been reported, the in planta distribution of BRs is still unclear because of their lower contents in plant tissues and the lack of effective ionizable groups in their chemical structures.

Methods

We stablished a novel analytical method of BRs based on C18 cartridge solid-phase extraction (SPE) purification, 4-(dimethylamino)-phenylboronic acid (DMAPBA) derivatization, and online valve-switching system coupled with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electro spray ionization-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). This method has been used to quantify three structural types of BRs (epibrassinolide, epicastasterone, and 6-deoxo-24-epicastaster one) in different organs of Brassica napus L. (rapeseed).

Results

We obtained the contents of three structural types of BRs in various organ tissues of rapeseed. The contents of three BRs in rapeseed flowers were the highest, followed by tender pods. The levels of three BRs all decreased during the maturation of the organs. We outlined the spatial distribution maps of three BRs in rapeseed based on these results, so as to understand the spatial distribution of BRs at the visual level.

Conclusions

Our results provided useful information for the precise in situ localization of BRs in plants and the metabolomic research of BRs in future work. The in planta spatial distribution of BRs at the visual level has been studied for the first time.
Microbiological impact of long-term wine grape cultivation on soil organic carbon in desert ecosystems: a study on rhizosphere and bulk sandy soils
Authors: Wang Zhiheng , Li Wenchao , Wang Yuejuan , Wang Xuefei , Ma Tingting , Liu Yanlin , Wei Yuqing
Published: March 2024

The improvement of nutrients in soil is essential for using deserts and decertified ecosystems and promoting sustainable agriculture. Grapevines are suitable crops for desert soils as they can adapt to harsh environments and effectively impact soil nutrients; however, the mechanisms underlying this remain unclear. This study explored the impact of the different duration(3, 6, and 10 years) of grape cultivation on soil organic carbon, physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, microbial communities, and carbon cycle pathways in both rhizosphere and bulk soils. Partial least squares path modeling was used to further reveal how these factors contributed to soil nutrient improvement. Our findings indicate that after long-term grape cultivation six years, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, and enzyme activities has significantly increased in both rhizosphere and bulk soils but microbial diversity decreased in bulk soil. According to the microbial community assembly analysis, we found that stochastic processes, particularly homogenizing dispersal, were dominant in both soils. Bacteria are more sensitive to environmental changes than fungi. In the bulk soil, long-term grape cultivation leads to a reduction in ecological niches and an increase in salinity, resulting in a decrease in soil microbial diversity. Soil enzymes play an important role in increasing soil organic matter in bulk soil by decomposing plant litters, while fungi play an important role in increasing soil organic matter in the rhizosphere, possibly by decomposing fine roots and producing mycelia. Our findings enhance understanding of the mechanisms of soil organic carbon improvement under long-term grape cultivation and suggest that grapes are suitable crops for restoring desert ecosystems.
Validation of the PL-C Quest in China: understanding the pictorial physical literacy self-report scale
Authors: Wu Yu , Wang Xinxiang , Wang Hongbiao , Wang Lijuan , Tian Ying , Ji Zhiguang , Wang Liyan
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The notion of physical literacy is gaining interest from several countries as a potential mechanism for understanding the development of the physical self. This research endeavor represents an inaugural attempt to translate the Australian Physical Literacy Questionnaire for Children (PL-C Quest) into Chinese to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the PL-C Quest to assess physical literacy among children in mainland China.

Methods

The Beaton translation paradigm was used to carry out language translation, back-translation, cultural adaptation, and presurveys. Data were collected from 642 children aged 6–12 years, with a mean age of 9.71 years (SD 1.816), to test the reliability of the Chinese version of the PL-C Quest.

Results

The PL-C Quest items translated well (6.187 ~ 15.499) and correlated well (0.441 ~ 0.622). The Chinese version of the PL-C Quest had good reliability, with retest reliability values ranging from 0.91 to 0.74, Cronbach’s alpha from 0.65 to 0.894, and McDonald’s ω from the Spearman-Brown Coefficient was 0.84. The validity results are acceptable because the CFI, IFI, and TLI values are above 0.8 and close to 0.9, but the model fit’s chi-square degrees-of-freedom ratio of 2.299, the RMSEA of 0.05, which was less than 0.08.

Discussion

After translation and cultural adaptation, the Chinese version of the PL-C Quest is a reliable measurement tool and can be used in the Chinese region.
Genetic background determines synaptic phenotypes in Arid1b-mutant mice
Authors: Kim Hyosang , Kim Eunjoon
Published: March 2024

ARID1B, a chromatin remodeler, is strongly implicated in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Two previous studies on Arid1b-mutant mice with the same exon 5 deletion in different genetic backgrounds revealed distinct synaptic phenotypes underlying the behavioral abnormalities: The first paper reported decreased inhibitory synaptic transmission in layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) region of the heterozygous Arid1b-mutant (Arid1b+/−) brain without changes in excitatory synaptic transmission. In the second paper, in contrast, we did not observe any inhibitory synaptic change in layer 5 mPFC pyramidal neurons, but instead saw decreased excitatory synaptic transmission in layer 2/3 mPFC pyramidal neurons without any inhibitory synaptic change. In the present report, we show that when we changed the genetic background of Arid1b+/− mice from C57BL/6 N to C57BL/6 J, to mimic the mutant mice of the first paper, we observed both the decreased inhibitory synaptic transmission in layer 5 mPFC pyramidal neurons reported in the first paper, and the decreased excitatory synaptic transmission in mPFC layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons reported in the second paper. These results suggest that genetic background can be a key determinant of the inhibitory synaptic phenotype in Arid1b-mutant mice while having minimal effects on the excitatory synaptic phenotype.
Anxiety in Polish adult patients with inborn errors of immunity: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Grochowalska Kinga , Ziętkiewicz Marcin , Nowicka-Sauer Katarzyna , Topolski Mariusz , Więsik-Szewczyk Ewa , Matyja-Bednarczyk Aleksandra , Napiórkowska-Baran Katarzyna , Zdrojewski Zbigniew
Published: March 2024

Background

Patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) experience recurrent infections, autoimmunity, and malignancies. Owing to repeated medical procedures, the need for constant treatment and surveillance, and the unpredictable course of the disease, patients with IEI are prone to develop mental health disorders, including anxiety. In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence and level of anxiety symptoms in adult Polish patients with IEI and explore the determinants of anxiety in this group of patients.

Methods

Data from 105 Polish patients with IEI were collected via the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), brief illness perception questionnaire (B-IPQ), illness cognition questionnaire (ICQ), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and a questionnaire on general health and demographic data. For statistical analyses of data, the normality of distribution of quantitative data was assessed, and internal consistency of tests was investigated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient; moreover, we performed the analysis of correlations and between-group differences, and path analysis to explore causal relationships. Significance was considered at p < 0.050.

Results

Thirty-eight (36.2%) patients had anxiety symptoms (HADS-A ≥ 8); 14 (13.3%) patients had severe anxiety (score ≥ 11), and 24 (22.9%) had moderate anxiety (score of 8–10). Patients with poor sleep quality, higher pain frequency, younger age, and no fixed income had higher anxiety scores than others. Emotional and cognitive representations of illness were positively correlated with anxiety levels. Intense anxiety was related to more negative illness perception, higher helplessness, lower illness acceptance, and lower perceived benefits.

Discussion

Anxiety is common in patients with IEI. However, results indicate that it is not related to a more severe course of IEI or several comorbidities, whereas, pain frequency and poor sleep quality were identified to be important clinical factors for anxiety. Because anxiety was related to negative illness perception, psychological therapy may apply to this group of patients.
The prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of tobacco and nicotine use among students in healthcare disciplines in Saudi Arabian universities: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Aldhahir Abdulelah M. , Siraj Rayan A. , Alqarni Abdullah A. , Alqahtani Jaber S. , Alyami Mohammed M. , Majrshi Mansour S. , Alwafi Hassan , Alqahtani Mohammed M. , Monshi Sarah S. , Al-Zalabani Abdulmohsen H. , Alanazi Abdullah M.
Published: March 2024

Background

Tobacco smoking is one of the most significant health-related problems worldwide. However, the prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of tobacco and nicotine use among students on healthcare courses in Saudi Arabia are limited.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire that was distributed via SurveyMonkey between November 2022 and June 2023 to all student universities offering healthcare courses. Data are presented as frequency and percentages. The associated sociodemographic factors with current tobacco and nicotine use were subjected to logistic regression.

Results

Overall, 5,012, of whom 3,872 (77.25%) were males, responded to the online survey. The prevalence of current tobacco and nicotine use was 3,553 (71%). The majority of users used electronic nicotine delivery systems (1,622: 32.36%). The current use of cigarettes (AOR: 1.75 (1.42 to 2.15)), e-cigarettes (AOR: 1.17 (1.01 to 1.37)), and smokeless tobacco substances (AOR: 1.35 (1.02 to 1.90)) were more pronounced among males compared to female students. However, the current use of a hookah was less among males (AOR: 0.74 (95% CI: 61 to 0.91)). Smoking cigarettes was practiced less among students living in other regions compared to the Central Region. However, smokeless tobacco substances seem to be more prevalent in the Western, Southern, and Northern Regions, (AOR: 1.57 (95% CI: 1.09 to 2.26)), (AOR: 1.43 (95% CI: 1.04 to 1.95)), and (AOR: 1.57 (95% CI: 1.09 to 2.26)), respectively.

Conclusion

Smoking is prevalent among students in the healthcare disciplines, with electronic nicotine delivery systems being the most used product. Several sociodemographic factors were associated with higher tobacco or nicotine use.
Research status and trends of enterprise safety culture: a knowledge graph analysis based on CiteSpace
Authors: Wen Ming , Gou Zhaohui , Xiong Chaogang , Wang Yao , Cheng Dan
Published: March 2024

The cultivation of safety culture within enterprises has evolved into a pivotal facet of overall safety progress, drawing increased attention from a myriad of businesses. With a comprehensive examination of relevant literature, 635 documents from both domestic and international sources were selected as the subjects of analysis. The developmental trends, both domestically and internationally, follow a generally consistent pattern, resembling an inverted “V” shape. The initial phase witnessed gradual development, followed by a substantial and rapid growth phase in the mid-term. In the later phase, a decline is observed. This study utilizes the CiteSpace software for keyword clustering analysis, employing the Log Likelihood Ratio (LLR) algorithm with default parameters to delve into the themes within the specific research field of enterprise safety culture. It was observed that domestic research predominantly centers on the practical perspective of mitigating accidents through the establishment of enterprise safety culture, while international research places greater emphasis on theoretical considerations, specifically focusing on the impact of safety culture atmospheres within enterprises on employees.
Organs in orbit: how tissue chip technology benefits from microgravity, a perspective
Authors: Jogdand Aditi , Landolina Maxwell , Chen Yupeng
Published: March 2024

Tissue chips have become one of the most potent research tools in the biomedical field. In contrast to conventional research methods, such as 2D cell culture and animal models, tissue chips more directly represent human physiological systems. This allows researchers to study therapeutic outcomes to a high degree of similarity to actual human subjects. Additionally, as rocket technology has advanced and become more accessible, researchers are using the unique properties offered by microgravity to meet specific challenges of modeling tissues on Earth; these include large organoids with sophisticated structures and models to better study aging and disease. This perspective explores the manufacturing and research applications of microgravity tissue chip technology, specifically investigating the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.
Isolation of feline islets of Langerhans by selective osmotic shock produces glucose responsive islets
Authors: Porter Lauren T. , Adin Christopher A. , Crews Chiquitha D. , Mott Jocelyn , Gilor Chen
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Pancreatic islet isolation is essential for studying islet physiology, pathology, and transplantation, and feline islets could be an important model for human type II diabetes mellitus (T2D). Traditional isolation methods utilizing collagenases inflict damage and, in cats, may contribute to the difficulty in generating functional islets, as demonstrated by glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). GLUT2 expression in β cells may allow for adaptation to hyperosmolar glucose solutions while exocrine tissue is selectively disrupted.

Methods

Here we developed a protocol for selective osmotic shock (SOS) for feline islet isolation and evaluated the effect of different hyperosmolar glucose concentrations (300 mmol/L and 600 mmol/L) and incubation times (20 min and 40 min) on purity, morphology, yield, and GSIS.

Results

Across protocol treatments, islet yield was moderate and morphology excellent. The treatment of 600 mmol/L glucose solution with 20 min incubation resulted in the highest stimulation index by GSIS.

Discussion

Glucose responsiveness was demonstrated, permitting future in vitro studies. This research opens avenues for understanding feline islet function and transplantation possibilities and enables an additional islet model for T2D.
Institutional Pension Insurance in Sustainable Development of Urban–Rural Intergenerational Support
Authors: Kang Chen , Cheng Mingwang , Wei Xinyu
Published: March 2024

Parental downward support plays an important role in urban and rural sustainable development. It is of great significance to study parental downward transfers and their motivation. However, there is no consensus on the motivation behind parental downward transfers in China. This study examines the timing and monetary impacts of social pensions on parental downward transfers and assesses the motivations behind them. We found that pension insurance encouraged rural parents to provide time and monetary support to their children. Unlike rural parents, pension insurance increased the monetary support of urban parents but inhibited their time support. Because of the higher income level of urban parents and the better organization of the domestic service market, parents have the motivation and conditions to reduce their time support and increase monetary support. Our findings highlight the importance of parental downward transfers in urban and rural sustainable development.
Design and Experiment of Precision Seed Metering Device for Flow Adsorption of Quinoa Seeds
Authors: Zhong Wendong , Zhao Xuan , Liu Fei , Bai Hongbin , Dong Wenxue , Hu Hengtong , Kong Xiang
Published: March 2024

This paper proposes a solution to the problem of tight population in the filling area of traditional air suction seed metering devices during quinoa sowing, which leads to inaccurate adsorption. The proposed method disperses the population into a stable seed flow and absorbs the seeds in a flow posture. The flow adsorption precision seed metering device is designed and improved, and the key structure parameters are optimized based on the shape and size parameters of quinoa seeds. A four-factor and three-level response surface orthogonal test is conducted using the Box–Behnken experimental design. The number of seeds, flow angle, negative pressure at the suction hole, and advancing speed are taken as experimental factors, and the qualified index of grain number per hole, qualified index of hole distance, and coefficient of variation of hole distance are used as evaluation indices. The results are optimized using extreme value theory, and it is found that when the seed amount is 5.82 mm, the flow angle is 31.08°, the negative pressure of the air chamber is 1.7 kPa, and the advancing speed is 3.82 km·h−1, and the qualified index of hole number is 94.37%, the qualified index of hole distance is 95.39%, and the coefficient of variation of hole distance is 4.51%. The results are in general agreement with the prediction through the bench validation test, which meets the requirements of quinoa seed metering devices.
Design and Experiment of a High-Clearance Mid-Tillage Weeder for Dryland Farming
Authors: Ye Shaobo , Zhang Xinchi , Wang Qi , Li Xin , Hu Fenshan , Song Haiyan , Zheng Decong
Published: March 2024

Mechanical weeding is an important technical means for organic and regenerative agricultural systems. Current weed control equipment has a variety of problems, such as difficulty adapting to high-stalk crops and poor operational quality. A high-clearance mid-tillage weeder (HMTW) has been developed to meet the mechanical weed control needs of high-stalk crops. The weeder mainly comprises a suspension device, a frame, parallel four-rod profiling mechanisms, weeding operation components, and depth-limiting soil-cutting devices. Based on the agronomic requirements of dryland flat planting, the overall structure of the HMTW was determined, and the weeding unit and flat shovel hoe were designed. Theoretical analysis was conducted on the depth stability of the HMTW, and an optimization mathematical model of the HMTW was established to further improve its tillage depth stability for agronomic requirements. The optimization objective was to minimize the deflection angle (∆β) of the profiling rod on a vertical plane, and the parameters of the parallel four-rod profiling mechanism were optimized. Based on the optimized structural parameters, a prototype of the HMTW was developed and evaluated. The test results show that the optimized HMTW exhibited a good weeding effect, and the tillage depth stability was within the design operating range. When the driving speed was 1.0 m/s and the tillage depth was 8 cm, the weed removal rate, seedling injury rate, seedling burial rate, and qualified rate of tillage depth were 90.8%, 3.2%, 4.1%, and 94%, respectively. The proposed HMTW successfully meets the weeding agronomic requirements of high-stalk crops for dryland farming, and the performance analysis and optimization models provide technical references for the design and development of such structures.
Research on Factors Affecting Global Grain Legume Yield Based on Explainable Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Li Yadong , Li Rujia , Ji Rongbiao , Wu Yehui , Chen Jiaojiao , Wu Mengyao , Yang Jianping
Published: March 2024

Grain legumes play a significant global role and are integral to agriculture and food production worldwide. Therefore, comprehending and analyzing the factors that influence grain legume yield are of paramount importance for guiding agricultural management and decision making. Traditional statistical analysis methods present limitations in interpreting results, but explainable artificial intelligence (AI) provides a visual representation of model results, offering insights into the key factors affecting grain legume yield. In this study, nine typical grain legume species were selected from a published global experimental dataset: garden pea (Pisum sativum), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), garden vetch (Vicia sativa), faba bean (Vicia faba), lentil (Lens culinaris), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), peanut (Arachis hypogaea), and white lupine (Lupinus albus). Seven commonly used models were constructed for each legume species, and model performance evaluation was conducted using accuracy, AUC, recall, precision, and F1 score metrics. The best classification model was selected for each grain legume species. Employing Decision Tree analysis, Feature Importance Evaluation, and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) as explainable techniques, our study conducted both individual and comprehensive analyses of nine leguminous crops. This approach offers a novel perspective, unveiling not only the unique responses of each crop to the influencing factors but also demonstrating the common factors across different crops. According to the experimental results, XGboost (XGB) and Random Forests (RF) are the best-performing models among the nine types of grain legumes, and the classification accuracy of a specific species is as high as 87.33%. Insights drawn from the feature importance map reveal that several factors, including aerial biomass, precipitation, sunshine duration, soil conditions, growth cycle, and fertilization strategy, have a pivotal influence. However, it was found from the SHAP graph that the responses of various crops to these factors are not the same. This research furnishes novel perspectives and insights into understanding the factors influencing grain legume yields. The findings provide a robust scientific foundation for agricultural managers, experts, and policymakers in the pursuit of optimizing pulse yields and advancing agricultural sustainability.