bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DEVELOPING A SPEAKING SIMULATION WEBSITE FOR BUSINESS ENGLISH STUDENTS: AN ATTEMPT TO ENHANCE STUDENTS’ SPEAKING SKILLS AND PROMOTE AUTONOMOUS LEARNING
Authors: Mustain Kun , Husniyah Af’idatul , Zubaidi
Published: August 2023

Tuntutan dari tempat kerja masa depan telah mengubah cara guru mengelola kelas, dari lebih fokus pada penyampaian materi pembelajaran, menjadi beroperasi pada berbagai sumber daya untuk mengeluarkan ide-ide baru dan memecahkan masalah kehidupan nyata. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan dan mengevaluasi e-book dan website yang dibuat untuk mengatasi kekurangan mahasiswa dalam mengakses materi belajar mandiri untuk kemampuan berbahasa Inggris Bisnis yang sesuai dengan kurikulum mereka dan sesuai dengan tingkat kemahiran bahasa Inggris mereka. Penelitian ini menggunakan Model ADDIE untuk mengembangkan dan mengevaluasi materi digital bagi mahasiswa Bahasa Inggris Bisnis dengan empat tahapan utama yaitu; Menganalisis, Mendesain, Mengembangkan, Menerapkan, dan Mengevaluasi. E-book terdiri dari sepuluh topik yang dipilih berdasarkan analisis kebutuhan dan tinjauan pustaka. Evaluasi dilakukan oleh satu guru Bahasa Inggris dan 13 siswa Bahasa Inggris Bisnis sebagai pengguna, masing-masing mengisi survei untuk mengevaluasi website. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa situs Business English Speaking menyediakan berbagai sumber dan tugas yang bervariasi bagi mereka untuk belajar dan mempraktikkan keterampilan berbicara mereka secara mandiri, sehingga mereka lebih mandiri dalam proses belajar, meskipun beberapa fiturnya perlu lebih ditingkatkan. Para siswa juga melaporkan bahwa situs web dan e-book telah dirancang dengan baik dengan berbagai tugas dan materi otentik yang dapat membantu mereka meningkatkan keterampilan berbicara karena mereka memiliki lebih banyak materi dan eksposur ke kosakata Bahasa Inggris Bisnis.
Antibacterial performance of a porous Cu-bearing titanium alloy by laser additive manufacturing
Authors: Xu Jiawei , Lu Yanjin , Pan Xiyun , Zhan Desong , Wang Qiang , Zhang Ning
Published: August 2023

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is the most common species that causes peri-implantitis. It forms an irreversible dense biofilm and causes inflammation. A novel 3D-printed porous TC4-6Cu alloy was fabricated using selective laser melting (SLM) technology for the dental implant, which is anticipated to inhibit biofilm formation. We attempted to investigate the antibacterial ability and antibacterial mechanism of the 3D-printed porous TC4-6Cu alloy against P. gingivalis. This work used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser confocal microscopy (CLSM) to detect the antimicrobial ability of the alloy against sessile P. gingivalis. The results indicated that the 3D-printed porous TC4-6Cu alloy could cause bacterial fragmentation and deformation. Plate antimicrobial counting experiments showed that the antibacterial rates of the alloy against adherent bacteria and planktonic bacteria after 24 h were 98.05% and 73.92%, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of Cu2+ were tested to appraise the antibacterial property of the alloy against planktonic P. gingivalis. The relationship between the antibacterial mechanism of the alloy with oxidative stress was evaluated through ROS fluorescence intensity and protein leakage concentration. The results revealed that the alloy significantly eliminated adherent bacteria and inhibited biofilm formation. Moreover, 3D-printed porous TC4-6Cu alloy demonstrated significant bactericidal ability by inducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which could result in protein leakage from the bacterial cell membrane. This research may open a new perspective on the development and biomedical applications for dental implantation.
Bioethanol production from alkali-pretreated rice straw: effects on fermentation yield, structural characterization, and ethanol analysis
Authors: Ningthoujam Reema , Jangid Pankaj , Yadav Virendra Kumar , Sahoo Dipak Kumar , Patel Ashish , Dhingra Harish Kumar
Published: August 2023

Current ethanol production technology has a dire need for efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars. The conversion requires pretreatment of the biomass, one of the most expensive steps, and thus it is quite necessary to identify the most cost-effective and high-efficiency conversion method. In this study, rice straw (RS) biomass was pretreated using 4% NaOH alkali, soaked for 4 h, and autoclaved for 30 min. The structural and morphological changes were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis in both native and alkali-treated RS. The FTIR analysis revealed that native RS contains a considerable amount of lignin that was removed after the pretreatment process. The XRD pattern of the RS revealed an increasing crystallite size of the pretreated lignocellulosic biomass. The study of SEM clearly showed the distorted structure and surface porosity after the pretreatment process. Enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency was checked by comparing the commercial enzymes and microbial hydrolysis extracted from a fungal isolate. The best-reducing sugar yield obtained was 0.62 g/L, achieved at optimized conditions from the commercial enzymes. Fermentation efficiency was checked using the yeast isolate Saccharomyces cerevisiae in both the native and pretreated substrate, and the highest ethanol concentration (21.45%) was achieved using 20% w/v biomass loading, enzyme loading (2:1:1), and fermentation for a week at 30°C and pH 4.5. This concentration was higher than that of the untreated RS (3.67%). The ethanol thus produced was further checked for analysis by the 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods.
Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with hippocampal resting state connectivity in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer
Authors: Lesnovskaya Alina , Ripperger Hayley S. , Donofry Shannon D. , Drake Jermon A. , Wan Lu , Poniatowski Alexa , Donahue Patrick T. , Crisafio Mary E. , Gilmore Alysha D. , Richards Emily A. , Grove George , Gentry Amanda L. , Sereika Susan M. , Bender Catherine M. , Erickson Kirk I.
Published: August 2023

Background

Breast cancer and its treatment are associated with aberrant patterns of resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) between the hippocampus and several areas of the brain, which may account for poorer cognitive outcomes in patients. Higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been associated with enhanced rsFC and cognitive performance; however, these associations have not been well studied in breast cancer. We examined the relationship between CRF, rsFC of the hippocampus, and cognitive performance among women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

Methods

Thirty-four postmenopausal women newly diagnosed with Stage 0-IIIa breast cancer (Mage = 63.59 ± 5.73) were enrolled in a 6-month randomized controlled trial of aerobic exercise vs. usual care. During baseline assessments, participants completed functional brain imaging, a submaximal CRF test, and cognitive testing. Whole-brain, seed-based analyses were used to examine the relationship between CRF and hippocampal rsFC, with age, years of education, and framewise displacement included as covariates. Cognition was measured with a battery of validated neurocognitive measures, reduced to seven composite factors.

Results

Higher CRF was positively associated with greater rsFC of the hippocampus to a cluster within the dorsomedial and dorsolateral frontal cortex (z-max = 4.37, p = 0.003, cluster extent = 1,020 voxels). Connectivity within cluster peaks was not significantly related to cognitive factors (all ps > 0.05).

Discussion

CRF was positively associated with hippocampal rsFC to frontal cortex structures, comprising a network of regions commonly suppressed in breast cancer. Future longitudinal research is needed to explore whether baseline rsFC predicts long-term cognitive resilience in breast cancer.
Enabling text comprehensibility assessment for people with intellectual disabilities using a mobile application
Authors: Säuberli Andreas , Hansen-Schirra Silvia , Holzknecht Franz , Gutermuth Silke , Deilen Silvana , Schiffl Laura , Ebling Sarah
Published: August 2023

In research on Easy Language and automatic text simplification, it is imperative to evaluate the comprehensibility of texts by presenting them to target users and assessing their level of comprehension. Target readers often include people with intellectual or other disabilities, which renders conducting experiments more challenging and time-consuming. In this paper, we introduce Okra, an openly available touchscreen-based application to facilitate the inclusion of people with disabilities in studies of text comprehensibility. It implements several tasks related to reading comprehension and cognition and its user interface is optimized toward the needs of people with intellectual disabilities (IDs). We used Okra in a study with 16 participants with IDs and tested for effects of modality, comparing reading comprehension results when texts are read on paper and on an iPad. We found no evidence of such an effect on multiple-choice comprehension questions and perceived difficulty ratings, but reading time was significantly longer on paper. We also tested the feasibility of assessing cognitive skill levels of participants in Okra, and discuss problems and possible improvements. We will continue development of the application and use it for evaluating automatic text simplification systems in the future.
Right ventricular contraction patterns in healthy children using three-dimensional echocardiography
Authors: Valle Christopher , Ujvari Adrienn , Elia Eleni , Lu Minmin , Gauthier Naomi , Hoganson David , Marx Gerald , Powell Andrew J. , Ferraro Alessandra , Lakatos Bálint , Tősér Zoltán , Merkely Béla , Kovacs Attila , Harrild David M.
Published: August 2023

Background

The right ventricle (RV) has complex geometry and function, with motion along three separate axes—longitudinal, radial, and anteroposterior. Quantitative assessment of RV function by two-dimension echocardiography (2DE) has been limited as a consequence of this complexity, whereas newer three dimensional (3D) analysis offers the potential for more comprehensive assessment of the contributors to RV function. The aims of this study were to quantify the longitudinal, radial and anteroposterior components of global RV function using 3D echocardiography in a cohort of healthy children and to examine maturational changes in these parameters.

Methods

Three-dimensional contours of the RV were generated from a cohort of healthy pediatric patients with structurally normal hearts at two centers. Traditional 2D and 3D echo characteristics were recorded. Using offline analysis of 3D datasets, RV motion was decomposed into three components, and ejection fractions (EF) were calculated (longitudinal-LEF; radial-REF; and anteroposterior-AEF). The individual decomposed EF values were indexed against the global RVEF. Strain values were calculated as well.

Results

Data from 166 subjects were included in the analysis; median age was 13.5 years (range 0 to 17.4 years). Overall, AEF was greater than REF and LEF (29.2 ± 6.2% vs. 25.1 ± 7.2% and 25.7 ± 6.0%, respectively; p < 0.001). This remained true when indexed to overall EF (49.8 ± 8.7% vs. 43.3 ± 11.6% and 44.4 ± 10%, respectively; p < 0.001). Age-related differences were present for global RVEF, REF, and all components of RV strain.

Conclusions

In healthy children, anteroposterior shortening is the dominant component of RV contraction. Evaluation of 3D parameters of the RV in children is feasible and enhances the overall understanding of RV function, which may allow improvements in recognition of dysfunction and assessment of treatment effects in the future.
Self-expanding vs. balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valves in small aortic annuli
Authors: Kornyeva Anastasiya , Burri Melchior , Lange Rüdiger , Ruge Hendrik
Published: August 2023

Background

Clinical consequences of prosthesis–patient mismatch (PPM) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is currently in the focus of clinical research. Patients with small aortic annulus are at higher risk to display PPM. Data on incidence and clinical consequences of PPM after TAVR with either balloon-expandable (BEV) or self-expanding (SEV) transcatheter heart valves in small aortic annulus are sparse.

Methods

Patients with small aortic annulus (perimeter < 72 mm or aortic annulus area < 400 mm2) who underwent BEV or SEV with contemporary transcatheter heart valve types were identified from the institutional TAVR database. Propensity score matching was applied for imbalanced baseline characteristics between patients undergoing BEV or SEV. Echocardiography and clinical follow-up beyond 3 years was reported following VARC-3 recommendations. Primary endpoint was the incidence of pre-discharge PPM and its association with 3-year mortality.

Results

From a total of 507 patients with small aortic annulus, 192 matched patient pairs with SEV or BEV were identified. Mean age was 81 ± 7 (SEV) vs. 81 ± 6 (BEV) years (p = 0.5), aortic annulus perimeter was 69 ± 3 vs.69 ± 3 mm, (p = 0.8), annulus area was 357 ± 27 vs.357 ± 27 mm2 (p = 0.8), and EuroScore II was 5.8 ± 6.6 vs.5.7 ± 7.2 (p = 0.9). SEV resulted in less moderate (20% vs. 31%, p < 0.001) and severe pre-discharge PPM (9% vs.18%, p < 0.001) compared to BEV. At discharge (7 ± 4 vs. 12 ± 9 mmHg, p = 0.003) and at 1-year follow-up (7 ± 5 vs.13 ± 3 mmHg, p < 0.001), SEV displayed lower mean gradients compared to BEV. Estimated survival after SEV was 85% (95% confidence interval (CI): 80%–90%) at 1 year, 80% (95% CI: 75%–86%) at 2 years, and 71% (95% CI: 65%–78%) at 3 years; estimated survival after BEV was 87% (95% CI: 82%–92%) at 1 year, 81% (95% CI: 75%–86%) at 2 years, and 72% (95% CI: 66%–79%) at 3 years, with no significant difference among the groups (p = 0.9) Body surface area (OR: 1.35, p < 0.001), implantation of BEV (odds ratio (OR): 3.32, p < 0.001), and the absence of postdilatation (OR: 2.16, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for any PPM. At 3 years, patients without PPM had a higher 3-year survival compared with patients with ≥moderate PPM (77% vs. 67%, p = 0.03).

Conclusion

BEV implantation in patients with small annulus was associated with a twofold higher incidence of pre-discharge severe PPM compared to SEV implantation. Survival at 3 years after TAVR was similar after BEV and SEV. However, patients with the absence of pre-discharge PPM had a higher 3-year survival compared to patients with ≥moderate PPM.
A new method for the treatment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury based on γδT cell-mediated immune response
Authors: Luo Wei , Bian Xiaohong , Liu Xiaona , Zhang Wenchao , Xie Qing , Feng Limin
Published: August 2023

Acute myocardial ischemia is a disease with high morbidity and mortality, and re-perfusion is currently the best intervention. However, re-perfusion may lead to further myocardial injury and increase the area of myocardial infarction. The mechanism of myocardial ischemia-re-perfusion injury is complex, but with more in-depth study, it has been proved that the immune system plays an important role in the process of MIRI. Among them, the γδT cell population has received increasing attention as the main early source of IL-17A in many immune response models. Because γδT cells have the characteristics of linking innate immunity and adaptive immunity,they can rapidly produce IL-17A and produce subsequent immune killing of cardiomyocytes. It can be seen that γδT cells play an important role in MIRI. Therefore, here we review the research progress of immune response in myocardial ischemia-re-perfusion injury, the key characteristics of γδT cells and the role of rapidly produced IL-17 in myocardial ischemia-re-perfusion injury, and propose relevant treatment strategies and prospects for myocardial repair, in order to provide new ideas and methods for clinical treatment of myocardial ischemia-re-perfusion injury.
The Cenozoic spatiotemporal exhumation of the SE Tibetan Plateau: insight from the data mining and modeling of low-temperature thermochronology
Authors: Liu Fangbin , Wang Min , Liu Honghua , Ni Ran
Published: August 2023

Introduction: The SE Tibetan Plateau is distinct from other margins due to its high elevation, long wavelength, and low relief. A clear understanding of the Cenozoic exhumation history of this region is the key to understanding the special geomorphological process and the associated mechanisms. Previous thermochronological studies have either focused on vertical sections or horizontal variations in the local regions. However, the spatiotemporal exhumation pattern of the entire SE Tibetan Plateau is enigmatic.

Methods: In this article, we have compiled 1,202 thermochronological data using joint kernel density estimation (KDE) and linear inversion approaches to address the exhumation process.

Results: The results reveal that at least six episodes of rapid cooling have occurred since the Cenozoic, which include ∼61–58 Ma, 38–35 Ma, 32–23 Ma, 18–13 Ma, 11–6 Ma, and 4–3 Ma. Furthermore, the entire SE Tibetan Plateau underwent spatially inhomogeneous exhumation throughout the main episodes.

Discussion: We infer that all cooling episodes may be attributed to the lateral extrusion and continuous convergence between the Indian and Eurasian continents. Meanwhile, climate changes (e.g., intensified Asian summer monsoon and glacial processes) have also played a non-negligible role in shaping the landscape since the Miocene. Our results will provide new insights into geodynamic mechanisms of the exhumation processes throughout the whole SE Tibetan Plateau since the Cenozoic.
Deviatoric stress-strain curve construction with strain-softening account via the damage-modified Duncan-Chang, arctangent and informer models: a comparative analysis
Authors: Teng Zhen-Chao , Zhou Ya-Dong , Teng Yun-Chao , Liu Xiao-Yan , Liu Jia-Lin , Li Bo
Published: August 2023

Engineering construction in cold regions cannot be separated from permafrost research. This study aimed to determine the mechanical properties and changing laws of artificially frozen clay through triaxial tests. Two models have been established: a physical model based on the tradi-tional phenomenological constitutive theory and a deep learning model based on the data-driven constitutive theory, taking into account the softening phenomenon. The accuracy and applica-bility of the models were verified, followed by a comparative analysis. The results of the analysis are as follows. The Duncan-Chang model can describe the characteristics of the hardening-type deviatoric stress-strain curve, but it cannot describe the characteristics of the softening-type de-viatoric stress-strain curve. The Modified Duncan-Chang (MDC) model fails to accurately de-scribe the characteristics of a smooth deviatoric stress-strain curve. The Strain-Damage Modified Duncan-Chang (SD-MDC) model exhibits a good fit in both the ascending and descending seg-ments of the curve, but it lacks effectiveness in the convergence segment of the S-shaped sof-tening curve. For this reason, this paper has chosen the arctangent function to establish a Strain-Damage Modified arctangent constitutive model (SD-MAM). This model accurately re-flects the stress evolution process of different types of frozen soils. Additionally, the Informer time series prediction algorithm was utilized to develop the Informer permafrost deviatoric stress prediction model which achieved an R2 value above 99%. In comparison to the SD-MAM model, the Informer model demonstrates higher precision, does not rely on assumptions, is cost-effective, and has a wide range of applications. However, it lacks physical meaning, and interpretability, and requires further discussion regarding the reliability of the results. This study offers valuable insights into the development and application of constitutive models for frozen soils.
Defining the ferroptotic phenotype of beta cells in type 1 diabetes and its inhibition as a potential antidiabetic strategy
Authors: Markelic Milica , Stancic Ana , Saksida Tamara , Grigorov Ilijana , Micanovic Dragica , Velickovic Ksenija , Martinovic Vesna , Savic Nevena , Gudelj Andjelija , Otasevic Vesna
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Recently, the involvement of ferroptotic cell death in the reduction of β-cell mass in diabetes has been demonstrated. To elucidate the mechanisms of β-cell ferroptosis and potential antidiabetic effects of the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) in vivo, a mouse model of type 1 diabetes (T1D) was used.

Methods

Animals were divided into three groups: control (vehicle-treated), diabetic (streptozotocin-treated, 40 mg/kg, from days 1-5), and diabetic treated with Fer-1 (1 mg/kg, from days 1-21). On day 22, glycemia and insulinemia were measured and pancreases were isolated for microscopic analyses.

Results

Diabetes disturbed general parameters of β-cell mass (islet size, β-cell abundance and distribution) and health (insulin and PDX-1 expression), increased lipid peroxidation in islet cells, and phagocytic removal of iron-containing material. It also downregulated the main players of the antiferroptotic pathway - Nrf2, GPX4, and xCT. In contrast, Fer-1 ameliorated the signs of deterioration of β-cell/islets, decreased lipid peroxidation, and reduced phagocytic activity, while upregulated expression of Nrf2 (and its nuclear translocation), GPX4, and xCT in β-cell/islets.

Discussion

Overall, our study confirms ferroptosis as an important mode of β-cell death in T1D and suggests antiferroptotic agents as a promising strategy for the prevention and treatment of diabetes
Effects of green credit policy on the risk of stock price crash
Authors: Liu Meng , Dai Bin , Liu Yiran
Published: August 2023

Green credit policy (GCP) is a specific instrument for the credit resource allocation dimension in the financial sector, and stock price crashes are an important manifestation of financial market risks that cannot be ignored. However, there are gaps in existing research on how green credit policies affect the stock price crash risk (SPCR). Using the Green Credit Guidelines as a quasi-natural experiment, this paper examines the impact of green credit policies on SPCR of heavily polluting firms. It confirms the crash risk is significantly increased for heavily polluting enterprises, mainly due to facing greater financing pressure; and that corporate governance mechanisms reduce its impact, finding that firms with higher analyst attention, higher levels of independent directors, and higher shares held by institutional investors. The effect between GCP and SPCR is not significant for companies with higher analyst attention, higher levels of independent directors, and higher shareholdings of institutional investors. At the same time, it is less significant in regions with high level of financial development. These results of this paper not only enrich the literature in green credit-related fields, but also provide a reference value for understanding the implementation effect of GCP in China to the stock price crash in the capital market.
Current observer-based critical conduction mode control of a bidirectional DC–DC converter in battery charging/discharging applications
Authors: Wan Dai , Li Jinliang , Zhang Lulin , Xu Jingtao
Published: August 2023

A current observer-based digital critical conduction mode control of a bidirectional DC–DC converter with full-range soft switching for battery charging/discharging applications is proposed in this paper. Under the proposed control method, the bidirectional DC/DC converter operates in the critical continuous mode (CRM), the full-range zero-voltage switching (ZVS) can be achieved, and the inductor current ripple can be optimized. The CRM control is achieved by the proposed current observer, and the zero-crossing detection (ZCD) analog circuit or current sampling circuit can be eliminated. Therefore, compared with existing methods, the design complexity of the hardware circuit can be simplified. In addition, the proposed current observer can estimate the inductor current over a wide range of load and voltage variations. Therefore, the proposed control method can be applied to a wide range of charging and discharging applications. Finally, a prototype with 30–60 V input voltage, 24 V output voltage, and 75–150 kHz switching frequency is built. The experimental data and waveforms prove the correctness and advantages of the solutions proposed in this paper.
Identifying greener solvents for square wave voltammetry applications in functional food analysis
Authors: Montney Jaycie M. , Siddiqui Abdur-Rahman , Flores Sebastian A. , Fhaner Matthew J.
Published: August 2023

Electrochemical methods, specifically square wave voltammetry (SWV) offer fast, portable, and quantitative screening for antioxidant levels and lipid degradation in consumer products. Initial studies within our research group utilized benzene as the non-polar component in solvent systems utilized for analysis. In order to explore additional applications of SWV, less hazardous solvent systems that maintain or improve on previous figures of merit for analytes of interest are necessary. To this extent, ethanol was selected as the polar solvent under the 7th principle of green chemistry (use of renewable feedstocks). To replace our non-polar species (benzene), four solvent candidates were identified under the 5th principle of green chemistry (safer solvents and auxiliaries) including diethyl ether, acetonitrile, isopropyl alcohol, and ethyl acetate. Each solvent was investigated on its own, and then in varying combinations of v/v ratios with ethanol. Each solvent combination was used to investigate the limit of detection, lower limit of quantitation, sensitivity, and linearity of previously studied antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene, sesamol, and rosemary extract. Each antioxidant was found to yield improved figures of merit depending on the solvent combination tested. After comparing all antioxidant figures of merit, it was found that 50%–50% ethanol—acetonitrile and 50%–50% ethanol—ethyl acetate were within the top five solvent systems for all antioxidants tested, providing a more green alternative to benzene solvent systems.
Crossing the Rift valley: using complete mitogenomes to infer the diversification and biogeographic history of ethiopian highlands Ptychadena (anura: Ptychadenidae)
Authors: Lyra M. L. , Kirchhof S. , Goutte S. , Kassie A. , Boissinot S.
Published: August 2023

The Ethiopian Highlands are considered a biodiversity hotspot, harboring a high number of endemic species. Some of the endemic species probably diversified in situ; this is, for example, the case of a monophyletic clade containing 12 known species of grass frogs of the genus Ptychadena. The different species occur at elevations ranging from 1,500 to above 3,400 m and constitute excellent models to study the process of diversification in the highlands as well as adaptations to high elevations. In this study, we sampled 294 specimens across the distribution of this clade and used complete mitogenomes and genome-wide SNP data to better understand how landscape features influenced the population structure and dispersal of these grass frogs across time and space. Using phylogenetic inference, population structure analyses, and biogeographic reconstructions, we found that the species complex probably first diversified on the south-east side of the Great Rift Valley. Later on, species dispersed to the north-west side, where more recent diversification occurred. We further demonstrate that Ptychadena species have dispersed across the Great Rift Valley at different times. Our analyses allowed for a more complete understanding of the contribution of geological events, biogeographic barriers and climatic changes as drivers of species diversification and adaptation in this important biogeographic region.
Identification and expression of cysteine sulfite decarboxylase genes and their response to hyposalinity stress in Ruditapes philippinarum
Authors: Zhang Zhichao , Wang Jun , Huo Zhongming , Nie Hongtao , Yan Xiwu , Ding Jianfeng
Published: August 2023

Cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSAD) is a rate-limiting enzyme in taurine biosynthesis. In this study, the structure and expression characteristics of the RpCSAD gene in Ruditapes philippinarum were analyzed. The pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent amino acid carboxylase structural domains and catalytic active sites of six copies of RpCSAD were highly conserved. Tissue expression analysis demonstrated that RpCSAD1 and RpCSAD3-6 was primarily expressed in the mantle tissue, and RpCSAD2 in the water tube and gonad tissue. After exposure to hyposalinity stress, the expression levels of RpCSADs were found to be upregulated in all three shell-colored groups of clams. Remarkably, there was a pronounced increase in the expression of RpCSAD1-6 observed specifically in the zebra shell-color groups. These findings strongly suggest the involvement of taurine metabolism in the response of zebra shell-color clams to low salinity stress, thereby emphasizing its critical role in the adaptation mechanisms. These findings could contribute to a better understanding the mechanisms of osmotic stress tolerance in shellfish.
A grounded theory research protocol on an attempt to practice interprofessional collaborative care by a primary care clinic health professional fresh graduate in diabetes care
Authors: Num Kelly Sze Fang , Aizuddin Azimatun Noor , Tong Seng Fah , Mohamed Said Mohd Shahrir
Published: August 2023

Interprofessional collaborative care (IPCC) can improve the quality of care in patients with chronic diseases in primary care settings. In Malaysia, many medical and healthcare universities have adopted the concept of the interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) framework by the World Health Organization (WHO) and implemented interprofessional learning (IPL) in their curriculum to prepare fresh graduates for interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in the health workforce albeit in various degrees. However, there are potential challenges in putting what they have learned into practice, especially in managing chronic diseases due to the complexity of behavior changes required. Diabetes care is a classic example of such chronic disease management. This article presents a qualitative research protocol exploring the processes and challenges of fresh graduates attempting to practice IPC when managing diabetes mellitus (DM) in primary care clinics. A grounded theory (GT) approach will be adopted.
RabGAP AS160/TBC1D4 deficiency increases long-chain fatty acid transport but has little additional effect on obesity and metabolic syndrome in ADMSCs-derived adipocytes of morbidly obese women
Authors: Mikłosz Agnieszka , Łukaszuk Bartłomiej , Supruniuk Elżbieta , Grubczak Kamil , Kusaczuk Magdalena , Chabowski Adrian
Published: August 2023

The Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160), also known as TBC1 domain family member 4 (TBC1D4), represents a crucial regulator of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Recent evidence suggests that AS160/TBC1D4 may also control the cellular entry of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), resulting in changes to the lipid profile of muscles and fat cells in lean subjects. However, there are virtually no data on AS160/TBC1D4 expression and its modulatory role in lipid metabolism in the adipocytes from morbidly obese individuals of different metabolic status. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the three main factors, i.e., AS160 silencing, obesity, and metabolic syndrome on lipid uptake and profile in fully differentiated adipocytes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) of lean and obese (with/without metabolic syndrome) postmenopausal women. Additionally, we tested possible interactions between the explanatory variables. In general, obesity translated into a greater content of fatty acid transporters (especially CD36/SR-B2 and SLC27A4/FATP4) and boosted accumulation of all the examined lipid fractions, i.e., triacylglycerols (TAGs), diacylglycerols (DAGs), and free fatty acids (FFAs). The aforementioned were further enhanced by metabolic syndrome. Moreover, AS160 deficiency also increased the abundance of SLC27A4/FATP4 and CD36/SR-B2, especially on the cell surface of the adipocytes derived from ADMSCs of subcutaneous deposit. This was further accompanied by increased LCFA (palmitic acid) uptake. Despite the aforementioned, AS160 silencing seemed unable to significantly affect the phenotype of the adipocytes stemming from obese patients with respect to their cellular lipid profile as we observed virtually no changes in TAG, DAG, and FFA contents when compared to cells with the reference level of proteins. Nevertheless, knockdown of AS160 stimulated fatty acid oxidation, which may indicate that adaptive mechanisms counteract excessive lipid accumulation. At the same time, adipocytes of visceral origin were rather insensitive to the applied intervention.
Case report: Central alveolar hypoventilation in a survivor of cardiopulmonary arrest
Authors: Wang Fajun , Darby Joseph
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Ondine’s curse is a rare respiratory disorder that is characterized by central alveolar hypoventilation (CAH) during sleep. It is most commonly congenital. However, it can also be acquired very rarely. Herein, we report a young survivor who developed CAH following cardiopulmonary arrest.

Case presentation

A 35-year-old man was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit following unwitnessed cardiopulmonary arrest. Following resuscitative interventions, he remained comatose. Early diagnostic testing showed elevated neuronal specific enolase (28.7 ng/ml), absent cortical responses on evoked potential testing and MRI evidence of restricted diffusion in the cerebellum, hippocampi, juxtacortical white matter, superior cerebellar peduncles, dorsal pons, dorsolateral medulla, and upper cervical spinal cord. Ten days following admission, the patient remained comatose and underwent tracheostomy. He subsequently began to emerge from coma but had persistent unexplained hypotension and bradypnea necessitating ongoing vasopressor and respiratory support. Repeat MRI on hospital day 40 revealed residual FLAIR hyperintensities in the medulla within the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). After being discharged to long-term acute care facility, he was successfully liberated from mechanical ventilation 70 days post arrest.

Conclusion

We report the first survivor of cardiopulmonary arrest who was complicated by CAH and hypotension with MRI verified ischemic injury to the bilateral NTS regions. Despite this injury, ventilator and vasopressor dependency resolved over a period of 10 weeks. Our case highlighted the essential functions of NTS in regulating the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
Neuroblastoma of the lumbosacral canal in an adult: a case report and literature review
Authors: Jiang Qingyu , Gao Haihao , Gao Gan , Li Yang , Cheng Haofeng , Shi Guoliang , Shang Aijia
Published: August 2023

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a leading cause of death in children. It usually occurs in the adrenal gland and rarely in the spinal canal. Here, we report the case of a 48-year-old male patient with abnormal thickening of the cauda equina nerve as revealed by lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging. The patient’s main clinical manifestations were numbness and pain in both lower limbs. The patient underwent surgical treatment; however, intraoperatively, an unclear border was observed between the cauda equina nerve and the tumor; therefore, the tumor was not forcibly excised. The postoperative pathological results were reported as NB. The disease known as NB, which is extremely rare. We believe that a pathological biopsy is extremely vital for diagnosing NB, and aggressive post-operative radio-chemotherapy could potentially prolong the patient’s survival time.
Type A personality, sleep quality, and cerebral small vessel disease: investigating the mediating role of sleep in a community-based study
Authors: Zhou Xirui , Huang Hao , Qu Wensheng , Yu Zhiyuan , Zhao Jing , Wu Lingshan , Zhang Yi , Kong Qianqian , Wang Ziyue , Luo Xiang
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Type A behavior pattern (TABP) is a personality type characterized by rapid speech, impatience, competition, and hostility. Asymptomatic cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is often endemic in older adults. Individuals with TABP commonly experience suboptimal sleep quality, and a correlation exists between sleep disturbances and CSVD. We investigated the relationship between TABP and CSVD markers and further explored the mediating role of sleep quality in the relationship between TABP and CSVD.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey included 764 community-dwelling adults aged 55–85 years. The TABP Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to assess personality and sleep quality, respectively. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine relationships between variables of interest. In addition, mediation analyses with bootstrapping were used to test whether sleep quality mediated the relationship between TABP and CSVD.

Results

Of the 764 participants [median age 65 (61–69) years, 59.9% female], the population with type A personality accounted for 44.8%. After adjusting for covariates, TABP scores (p = 0.03) and PSQI scores (p < 0.001) were significantly correlated with CSVD. In addition, sleep quality partially mediated the association between type A behavior and CSVD, and the mediating effect was 10.67%.

Conclusion

This study showed that type A behavior was a risk factor for CSVD among older community-dwelling adults and that sleep quality mediated the relationship between type A behavior and CSVD. Changing type A behavior may help improve sleep quality, which may in turn reduce the prevalence of CSVD.
Parathyroid adenoma with rare severe pathological osteolytic lesion: a case report and literature review
Authors: Chen Jia , Tang Gusheng , Peng Ye , Cheng Hui
Published: August 2023

Parathyroid adenomas are benign proliferative disorders of parathyroid glands. Patients typically exhibit hyperparathyroidism and elevated serum calcium levels due to elevated levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH). We report a newly diagnosed case of a rare pathological osteolytic lesion. Radiological evaluation revealed multiple bony lesions in multiple parts of the pelvis, vertebral body, and spinous process, suggesting hematological neoplasms or bone marrow metastatic carcinoma. The morphology revealed many abnormal cells in the bone marrow smear. Furthermore, serum calcium and PTH levels were significantly increased compared to normal levels. Doppler color ultrasound showed a thyroid mass (left), suspected parathyroid adenoma, thyroid, and isthmus nodular goiter (right). The patient underwent bilateral neck exploration with parathyroidectomy, and serum calcium and PTH levels significantly decreased on the second day after surgery and had a surgical cure.
Up-regulated serum lactate dehydrogenase could become a poor prognostic marker in patients with bladder cancer by an evidence-based analysis of 2,182 patients
Authors: Wei Xiaoyu , Chai Yumeng , Li Zhouyue , Che Xuanyan , Zhang Yong , Zhou Zhongbao , Wang Xiang
Published: August 2023

Background

A growing number of studies have considered serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as an indicator of bladder cancer (BC) prognosis. However, a meta-analysis of the serum LDH’s influence on BC prognosis is still missing.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were exhaustively searched for studies comparing oncological outcomes between high-LDH and low-LDH patients. Standard cumulative analyses using hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were performed using Review Manager (version 5.3) for overall survival (OS) in patients with BC.

Results

Six studies involving 2,182 patients were selected according to predefined eligibility criteria. The results showed that serum LDH level was significantly associated with OS (HR = 1.86, 95%CI = 1.54-2.25, p<0.0001) in BC. Sensitivity analysis showed the stability of the results. Subgroup analysis revealed that the levels of serum LDH had a significant impact on the OS of BC patients among different groups including publication time, research country, sample size, tumor stage, LDH cut-off value, therapy and follow-up time (all HR>1 and p<0.05), revealing that the ability of serum LDH is not affected by other factors.

Conclusion

Our findings indicated that a high level of serum LDH was associated with inferior OS in patients with BC. However, caution must be taken before recommendations are given because this interpretation is based upon very few clinical studies and a small sample.
Word usage as measured by parental checklists and language samples: trends, comparisons, and implications
Authors: Gatt Daniela , Camilleri Liberato , Grech Chloe
Published: August 2023

Background

Although parental checklists are well-known for their potential in indexing young children’s lexicon size, they can also be used to track children’s acquisition of individual words. Word-level data can be used to identify the checklist words most and least commonly employed across groups of children. Like parent-completed vocabulary checklists, samples of spontaneous language use collected from multiple children can also generate measures of word commonality, concerned with the numbers of children producing individual words. To our knowledge, comparisons of word usage as determined by parental checklist and language sample data obtained in parallel from the same children have not been carried out. Also scarce in the empirical literature are item-level analyses of early bilingual lexicons that explore word usage across two emerging languages. The present study aimed to contribute toward bridging both gaps through the analysis of data generated by a bilingual Maltese-English adaptation of the vocabulary checklist of the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories: Words and Sentences (CDI: WS) and spontaneous language samples for the same children. An additional objective was to derive implications for revising the current version of the vocabulary checklist, in preparation for its eventual standardization.

Materials and methods

For 44 Maltese children aged 12, 18, 24, and 30 months, the words reported by their main caregivers on the vocabulary checklist were identified, along with their respective semantic categories. For the same children, 20-min language samples obtained during free play with the caregiver were transcribed orthographically. Words identified through parental report and language sampling were analyzed for commonality, i.e., the number of children producing each word.

Results

Comparison of the word usage patterns obtained through both methods indicated differences in the words most commonly sampled and those most commonly reported, particularly in relation to grammatical categories. Notwithstanding these differences, positive and significant correlations emerged when considering all grammatical categories and languages across commonality levels.

Discussion

The commonality scores based on parental checklist data have implications for reconsidering the length and language balance of the Maltese-English adaptation of the CDI: WS vocabulary checklist. Sampled word usage patterns can contribute additional objectivity in updating the reporting instrument in preparation for its eventual standardization.
Methylphenidate as a treatment option for substance use disorder: a transdiagnostic perspective
Authors: van Ruitenbeek Peter , Franzen Luisa , Mason Natasha Leigh , Stiers Peter , Ramaekers Johannes G.
Published: August 2023

A transition in viewing mental disorders from conditions defined as a set of unique characteristics to one of the quantitative variations on a collection of dimensions allows overlap between disorders. The overlap can be utilized to extend to treatment approaches. Here, we consider the overlap between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and substance use disorder to probe the suitability to use methylphenidate as a treatment for substance use disorder. Both disorders are characterized by maladaptive goal-directed behavior, impaired cognitive control, hyperactive phasic dopaminergic neurotransmission in the striatum, prefrontal hypoactivation, and reduced frontal cortex gray matter volume/density. In addition, methylphenidate has been shown to improve cognitive control and normalize associated brain activation in substance use disorder patients and clinical trials have found methylphenidate to improve clinical outcomes. Despite the theoretical basis and promising, but preliminary, outcomes, many questions remain unanswered. Most prominent is whether all patients who are addicted to different substances may equally profit from methylphenidate treatment.
Prediabetes in rural adolescent girls from DERVAN cohort: data from the KONKAN region of the state of Maharashtra, India (DERVAN-4)
Authors: Patil Suvarna , Patil Netaji , Hardikar-Bhat Pallavi , Dervankar Omkar , Joglekar Charudatta , Bhat Rohit , Nandoskar Ajit , Yadav Arvind , Nilawar Anup
Published: August 2023

Background

India is witnessing an epidemic of type 2 diabetes. Overweight/obesity, overnutrition, physical inactivity, and family history are well-known risk factors for diabetes. We investigated the role of undernutrition in the development of diabetes among rural adolescent girls.

Methods

DERVAN cohort study was set up in the KONKAN region of the western Indian state of Maharashtra. It enrolled 1,520 adolescent girls (16–18 years old at the time of enrollment). We measured glycemic parameters (glucose, insulin, and HbA1C) and body size using anthropometry and body composition using bioimpedance. Prediabetes was diagnosed using the American Diabetic Association (ADA) criteria. We also calculated various HOMA indices for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), β-cell function (HOMA-β), insulin sensitivity (HOMA-S), and compensatory β-cell response using a homeostasis model. BMI, body fat%, and waist circumferences were treated as exposures and all the glycemic parameters and indices as outcomes.

Results

The median age of the subjects was 16.6 years. The median weight, height, and BMI were 40.7 kg, 151.7 cm, and 17.5 kg/m2, respectively. Prevalence of underweight was 28.8%, and stunting was observed in 30.4%. Thinness and obesity using BMI were observed in 58.4% and 4.2%, respectively. The median body fat% was 22.5, and excess body fat (>35%) was observed in 5.7%. The prevalence of prediabetes was 39.4%. Fasting insulin concentrations, HOMA-IR, and HOMA-β showed a positive trend across body composition quartiles (p < 0.001). HOMA-S and compensatory β-cell response showed an inverse trend (p < 0.001). Compared with prediabetic girls in the overweight/obese group, girls most undernourished group had lower median insulin concentrations (8.1 μIU/ml vs. 17.1 μIU/ml), lower HOMA-IR (1.1 vs. 2.3), and lower HOMA-β (75.6 vs. 129.2) but higher sensitivity (87.4 vs. 43.7) (p < 0.001) for all.

Conclusion

We have reported a high prevalence of prediabetes among rural adolescent girls with a very low prevalence of obesity. Prediabetes in obesity is driven by hyperinsulinemia and overworking of the pancreas while poor β-cell function and poor insulin secretion are major drivers in the undernourished group. The high-risk diabetes screening programs are much needed for the undernourished populations. Caution should be exercised for planning the interventions as overfeeding (or overnutrition) is likely to put the populations at risk of development of obesity and insulin resistance.