bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Whole-Genome Sequencing of 117 Chromosome Segment Substitution Lines for Genetic Analyses of Complex Traits in Rice
Authors: Fan Jiongjiong , Hua Hua , Luo Zhaowei , Zhang Qi , Chen Mengjiao , Gong Junyi , Wei Xin , Huang Zonghua , Huang Xuehui , Wang Qin
Published: January 2022

Rice is one of the most important food crops in Asia. Genetic analyses of complex traits and molecular breeding studies in rice greatly rely on the construction of various genetic populations. Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) serve as a powerful genetic population for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in rice. Moreover, CSSLs containing target genomic regions can be used as improved varieties in rice breeding. In this study, we developed a set of CSSLs consisting of 117 lines derived from the recipient ‘Huanghuazhan’ (HHZ) and the donor ‘Basmati Surkb 89–15’ (BAS). The 117 lines were extensively genotyped by whole-genome resequencing, and a high-density genotype map was constructed for the CSSL population. The 117 CSSLs covered 99.78% of the BAS genome. Each line contained a single segment, and the average segment length was 6.02 Mb. Using the CSSL population, we investigated three agronomic traits in Shanghai and Hangzhou, China, and a total of 25 QTLs were detected in both environments. Among those QTLs, we found that RFT1 was the causal gene for heading date variance between HHZ and BAS. RFT1 from BAS was found to contain a loss-of-function allele based on yeast two-hybrid assay, and its causal variation was a P to S change in the 94th amino acid of the RFT1 protein. The combination of high-throughput genotyping and marker-assisted selection (MAS) is a highly efficient way to construct CSSLs in rice, and extensively genotyped CSSLs will be a powerful tool for the genetic mapping of agronomic traits and molecular breeding for target QTLs/genes.
Assembly and comparative analysis of the first complete mitochondrial genome of Acer truncatum Bunge: a woody oil-tree species producing nervonic acid
Authors: Ma Qiuyue , Wang Yuxiao , Li Shushun , Wen Jing , Zhu Lu , Yan Kunyuan , Du Yiming , Ren Jie , Li Shuxian , Chen Zhu , Bi Changwei , Li Qianzhong
Published: January 2022

Background

Acer truncatum (purpleblow maple) is a woody tree species that produces seeds with high levels of valuable fatty acids (especially nervonic acid). The species is admired as a landscape plant with high developmental prospects and scientific research value. The A. truncatum chloroplast genome has recently been reported; however, the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) is still unexplored.

Results

We characterized the A. truncatum mitogenome, which was assembled using reads from PacBio and Illumina sequencing platforms, performed a comparative analysis against different species of Acer. The circular mitogenome of A. truncatum has a length of 791,052 bp, with a base composition of 27.11% A, 27.21% T, 22.79% G, and 22.89% C. The A. truncatum mitogenome contains 62 genes, including 35 protein-coding genes, 23 tRNA genes and 4 rRNA genes. We also examined codon usage, sequence repeats, RNA editing and selective pressure in the A. truncatum mitogenome. To determine the evolutionary and taxonomic status of A. truncatum, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis based on the mitogenomes of A. truncatum and 25 other taxa. In addition, the gene migration from chloroplast and nuclear genomes to the mitogenome were analyzed. Finally, we developed a novel NAD1 intron indel marker for distinguishing several Acer species.

Conclusions

In this study, we assembled and annotated the mitogenome of A. truncatum, a woody oil-tree species producing nervonic acid. The results of our analyses provide comprehensive information on the A. truncatum mitogenome, which would facilitate evolutionary research and molecular barcoding in Acer.
Developing indicators of age-friendly neighbourhood environments for urban and rural communities across 20 low-, middle-, and high-income countries
Authors: Rugel Emily J. , Chow Clara K. , Corsi Daniel J. , Hystad Perry , Rangarajan Sumathy , Yusuf Salim , Lear Scott A.
Published: January 2022

Background

By 2050, the global population of adults 60 + will reach 2.1 billion, surging fastest in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed indicators of age-friendly urban environments, but these criteria have been challenging to apply in rural areas and LMIC. This study fills this gap by adapting the WHO indicators to such settings and assessing variation in their availability by community-level urbanness and country-level income.

Methods

We used data from the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study’s environmental-assessment tools, which integrated systematic social observation and ecometrics to reliably capture community-level environmental features associated with cardiovascular-disease risk factors. The results of a scoping review guided selection of 18 individual indicators across six distinct domains, with data available for 496 communities in 20 countries, including 382 communities (77%) in LMIC. Finally, we used both factor analysis of mixed data (FAMD) and multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) approaches to describe relationships between indicators and domains, as well as detailing the extent to which these relationships held true within groups defined by urbanness and income.

Results

Together, the results of the FAMD and MTMM approaches indicated substantial variation in the relationship of individual indicators to each other and to broader domains, arguing against the development of an overall score and extending prior evidence demonstrating the need to adapt the WHO framework to the local context. Communities in high-income countries generally ranked higher across the set of indicators, but regular connections to neighbouring towns via bus (95%) and train access (76%) were most common in low-income countries. The greatest amount of variation by urbanness was seen in the number of streetscape-greenery elements (33 such elements in rural areas vs. 55 in urban), presence of traffic lights (18% vs. 67%), and home-internet availability (25% vs. 54%).

Conclusions

This study indicates the extent to which environmental supports for healthy ageing may be less readily available to older adults residing in rural areas and LMIC and augments calls to tailor WHO’s existing indicators to a broader range of communities in order to achieve a critical aspect of distributional equity in an ageing world.
A randomised controlled trial on roles of prostaglandin E1 nebulization among patients undergoing one lung ventilation
Authors: Li Pengyi , Gu Lianbing , Tan Jing , Song Zhenghuan , Bian Qingming , Jiao Dian , Xu Zeping , Wang Lijun
Published: January 2022

Background

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has been reported to maintain adequate oxygenation among patients under 60% FiO2 one-lung ventilation (OLV). This research aimed to explore whether PGE1 is safe in pulmonary shunt and oxygenation under 40% FiO2 OLV and provide a reference concentration of PGE1.

Methods

Totally 90 esophageal cancer patients treated with thoracotomy were enrolled in this study, randomly divided into three groups (n = 30/group): Group A (60% FiO2 and 0.1 µg/kg PGE1), Group B (40% FiO2 and 0.1 µg/kg PGE1), and Group C (40% FiO2, 0.2 µg/kg PGE1). Primary outcomes were oxygenation and pulmonary shunt during OLV. Secondary outcomes included oxidative stress after OLV.

Results

During OLV, patients in Group C and B had lower levels of PaO2, SaO2, SpO2, MAP, and Qs/Qt than those in Group A (P < 0.05). At T2 (OLV 10 min), patients in Group C and B exhibited a lower level of PaO2/FiO2 than those in Group A, without any statistical difference at other time points. The IL-6 levels of patients in different groups were different at T8 (F = 3.431, P = 0.038), with IL-6 in Group C being lower than that in Group B and A. MDA levels among the three groups differed at T5 (F = 4.692, P = 0.012) and T7 (F = 5.906, P = 0.004), with the MDA level of Group C being lower than that of Group B and A at T5, and the MDA level of Group C and B being lower than that of Group A at T7. In terms of TNF-α level, patients in Group C had a lower level than those in Group B and A at T8 (F = 3.598, P = 0.033). Compared with patients who did not use PGE1, patients in Group C had comparable complications and lung infection scores.

Conclusion

The concentration of FiO2 could be reduced from 60 to 40% to maintain oxygenation. 40% FiO2 + 0.2 µg/kg PGE1 is recommended as a better combination on account of its effects on the inflammatory factors.

Trial registration: Chictr.org.cn identifier: ChiCTR1800018288, 09/09/2018.
Application of machine learning missing data imputation techniques in clinical decision making: taking the discharge assessment of patients with spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage as an example
Authors: Wang Huimin , Tang Jianxiang , Wu Mengyao , Wang Xiaoyu , Zhang Tao
Published: January 2022

Background

There are often many missing values in medical data, which directly affect the accuracy of clinical decision making. Discharge assessment is an important part of clinical decision making. Taking the discharge assessment of patients with spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage as an example, this study adopted the missing data processing evaluation criteria more suitable for clinical decision making, aiming at systematically exploring the performance and applicability of single machine learning algorithms and ensemble learning (EL) under different data missing scenarios, as well as whether they had more advantages than traditional methods, so as to provide basis and reference for the selection of suitable missing data processing method in practical clinical decision making.

Methods

The whole process consisted of four main steps: (1) Based on the original complete data set, missing data was generated by simulation under different missing scenarios (missing mechanisms, missing proportions and ratios of missing proportions of each group). (2) Machine learning and traditional methods (eight methods in total) were applied to impute missing values. (3) The performances of imputation techniques were evaluated and compared by estimating the sensitivity, AUC and Kappa values of prediction models. (4) Statistical tests were used to evaluate whether the observed performance differences were statistically significant.

Results

The performances of missing data processing methods were different to a certain extent in different missing scenarios. On the whole, machine learning had better imputation performance than traditional methods, especially in scenarios with high missing proportions. Compared with single machine learning algorithms, the performance of EL was more prominent, followed by neural networks. Meanwhile, EL was most suitable for missing imputation under MAR (the ratio of missing proportion 2:1) mechanism, and its average sensitivity, AUC and Kappa values reached 0.908, 0.924 and 0.596 respectively.

Conclusions

In clinical decision making, the characteristics of missing data should be actively explored before formulating missing data processing strategies. The outstanding imputation performance of machine learning methods, especially EL, shed light on the development of missing data processing technology, and provided methodological support for clinical decision making in presence of incomplete data.
Hospital management practices in county-level hospitals in rural China and international comparison
Authors: Hu Min , Chen Wen , Yip Winnie
Published: January 2022

Background

Although management is important in healthcare, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have little experience measuring the competence of hospital management. While improving hospital management is the main focus of hospital reform in China, few studies have empirically documented the baseline situation to inform policy design.

Methods

We assessed the management practices of county-level hospitals in Guizhou in southwest China during 2015. We used the Development World Management Survey (D-WMS) instrument to interview 273 managers in 139 hospitals. We scored the management practices of the sampled hospitals, overall and in four dimensions (operations, monitoring, targets, personnel management) and three processes (implementation, usage, monitoring). We then converted the scores to the WMS scale and compared these with data from two other LMICs and seven high-income countries (HICs).

Results

On a scale of 1 (‘worst practice’) to 5 (‘best practice’), the mean (SD) hospital D-WMS scores were 2.57 (0.46) overall; 2.71 (0.48), 2.64 (0.58), 2.40 (0.64), and 2.56 (0.40) for operation, monitoring, target, and personnel, respectively; and 2.43 (0.48), 2.62 (0.48), and 2.66 (0.47) for implementation, usage, and monitoring, respectively. After conversion to WMS scores, China ranked seventh of 10 countries, after six HICs and higher than one HIC and two other LMICs (Brazil and India). China ranked higher than the two LMICs in each of the four dimensional scores.

Conclusions

Chinese county-level hospitals should improve their low quality of management by prioritizing target-setting and process implementation, particularly in personnel management. Meanwhile, modern management training should be given to most clinical managers.
Relationship between housing insecurity, diabetes processes of care, and self-care behaviors
Authors: Mosley-Johnson Elise , Walker Rebekah J. , Thakkar Madhuli , Campbell Jennifer A. , Hawks Laura , Pyzyk Sarah , Egede Leonard E.
Published: January 2022

Background

The aim of this analysis was to examine the influence of housing insecurity on diabetes processes of care and self-care behaviors and determine if that relationship varied by employment status or race/ethnicity.

Methods

Using nationally representative data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2014-2015), 16,091 individuals were analyzed for the cross-sectional study. Housing insecurity was defined as how often respondents reported being worried or stressed about having enough money to pay rent/mortgage. Following unadjusted logistic models testing interactions between housing insecurity and either employment or race/ethnicity on diabetes processes of care and self-care behaviors, stratified models were adjusted for demographics, socioeconomic status, health insurance status, and comorbidity count.

Results

38.1% of adults with diabetes reported housing insecurity. Those reporting housing insecurity who were employed were less likely to have a physicians visit (0.58, 95%CI 0.37,0.92), A1c check (0.45, 95%CI 0.26,0.78), and eye exam (0.61, 95%CI 0.44,0.83), while unemployed individuals were less likely to have a flu vaccine (0.84, 95%CI 0.70,0.99). Housing insecure White adults were less likely to receive an eye exam (0.67, 95%CI 0.54,0.83), flu vaccine (0.84, 95%CI 0.71,0.99) or engage in physical activity (0.82, 95%CI 0.69,0.96), while housing insecure Non-Hispanic Black adults were less likely to have a physicians visit (0.56, 95%CI 0.32,0.99).

Conclusions

Housing insecurity had an influence on diabetes processes of care and self-care behaviors, and this relationship varied by employment status and race/ethnicity. Diabetes interventions should incorporate discussion surrounding housing insecurity and consider differences in the impact by demographic factors on diabetes care.
Ultra-processed food and incident type 2 diabetes: studying the underlying consumption patterns to unravel the health effects of this heterogeneous food category in the prospective Lifelines cohort
Authors: Duan Ming-Jie , Vinke Petra C. , Navis Gerjan , Corpeleijn Eva , Dekker Louise H.
Published: January 2022

Background

The overall consumption of ultra-processed food (UPF) has previously been associated with type 2 diabetes. However, due to the substantial heterogeneity of this food category, in terms of their nutritional composition and product type, it remains unclear whether previous results apply to all underlying consumption patterns of UPF.

Methods

Of 70,421 participants (35–70 years, 58.6% women) from the Lifelines cohort study, dietary intake was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. UPF was identified according to the NOVA classification. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to derive UPF consumption patterns. The associations of UPF and adherence to UPF consumption patterns with incidence of type 2 diabetes were studied with logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, diet quality, energy intake, alcohol intake, physical activity, TV watching time, smoking status, and educational level.

Results

During a median follow-up of 41 months, a 10% increment in UPF consumption was associated with a 25% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (1128 cases; OR 1.25 [95% CI 1.16, 1.34]). PCA revealed four habitual UPF consumption patterns. A pattern high in cold savory snacks (OR 1.16 [95% CI 1.09, 1.22]) and a pattern high in warm savory snacks (OR 1.15 [95% CI 1.08, 1.21]) were associated with an increased risk of incident type 2 diabetes; a pattern high in traditional Dutch cuisine was not associated with type 2 diabetes incidence (OR 1.05 [95% CI 0.97, 1.14]), while a pattern high in sweet snacks and pastries was inversely associated with type 2 diabetes incidence (OR 0.82 [95% CI 0.76, 0.89]).

Conclusions

The heterogeneity of UPF as a general food category is reflected by the discrepancy in associations between four distinct UPF consumption patterns and incident type 2 diabetes. For better public health prevention, research is encouraged to further clarify how different UPF consumption patterns are related to type 2 diabetes.
Primary low-grade extrauterine endometrial stromal sarcoma: analysis of 10 cases with a review of the literature
Authors: Wu You , Li Nan , Zhang Rong , Bai Ping
Published: January 2022

Background

This study aimed to analyze the clinical and pathological features of extrauterine endometrial stromal sarcoma (EESS) and explore an effective therapeutic regimen to reduce the recurrence rate in low-grade EESS patients.

Methods

Ten LG-EESS patients who were treated at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Institute and Hospital from June 1999 to June 2019 were collected and analyzed.

Results

(1) Patient demographics are summarized in manuscript. Preoperative CA125 examination showed that 8 patients had a median level of 49.5 U/L (15.4–168.0 U/L). (2) All ten patients underwent tumor cytoreductive surgery. Five patients underwent optimal tumor resection and achieved an R0 resection. After the initial surgery, 7 patients who had multiple metastasis were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, 2 patients with vaginal ESS were treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and 6 patients with ER/PR positive received hormone therapy with or without chemotherapy. (2) Most EESS patients had multiple tumors. The omentum was the most commonly affected site, followed by the ovaries. (3) The median follow-up was 94 (range: 27–228) months, and recurrence was observed in 3 patients (n = 10, 30%) who underwent non-optimal surgery and no hormone therapy. The 5-year and 10-year DFS rates were both 70%, as shown in Fig. 2. OS was both 100% at 5 and 10 years.

Conclusion

As a conclusion, EESS is a rare disease and LG-EESS has a good prognosis. Surgery remains the available treatment for patients. LG-EESS has a risk of late recurrence which requires a long-term follow-up. With a limited sample size, our study shows optimal tumor reductive surgery and adjuvant hormone therapy may significantly reduce the risk of recurrence.
Effect of lentivirus-mediated growth and differentiation factor-5 transfection on differentiation of rabbit nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Zhu Kun , Zhao Rui , Ye Yuchen , Xu Gang , Zhang Changchun
Published: January 2022

Background

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a natural progression of age-related processes. Associated with IDD, degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a pathologic condition implicated as a major cause of chronic lower back pain, which can have a severe impact on the quality of life of patients. As degeneration progression is associated with elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, enhanced aggrecan and collagen degradation, and changes in the disc cell phenotype. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological and cytological characteristics of rabbit nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells (NPMSCs)—a key factor in IDD—and to determine the effect of the growth and differentiation factor-5 (GDF5) on the differentiation of rabbit NPMSCs transduced with a lentivirus vector.

Methods

An in vitro culture model of rabbit NPMSCs was established and NPMSCs were identified by flow cytometry (FCM) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Subsequently, NPMSCs were randomly divided into three groups: a transfection group (the lentiviral vector carrying GDF5 gene used to transfect NPMSCs); a control virus group (the NPMSCs transfected with an ordinary lentiviral vector); and a normal group (the NPMSCs alone). FCM, qRT-PCR, and western blot (WB) were used to detect the changes in NPMSCs.

Results

The GDF5-transfected NPMSCs displayed an elongated shape, with decreased cell density, and significantly increased GDF5 positivity rate in the transfected group compared to the other two groups (P < 0.01). The mRNA levels of Krt8, Krt18, and Krt19 in the transfected group were significantly higher in comparison with the other two groups (P < 0.01), and the WB results were consistent with that of qRT-PCR.

Conclusions

GDF5 could induce the differentiation of NPMSCs. The lentiviral vector carrying the GDF5 gene could be integrated into the chromosome genome of NPMSCs and promoted differentiation of NPMSCs into nucleus pulposus cells. Our findings advance the development of feasible and effective therapies for IDD.
Intraosseous ganglion cyst mimicking chondrosarcoma on MRI: a case report
Authors: Seo Eun Hye , Yoon Yu Sung , Cha Jang Gyu , Kim Hee Kyung
Published: January 2022

Background

The intraosseous ganglia is a benign cyst, rarely locate in the olecranon process. As intraosseous ganglia can mimic malignant bone tumor, computed tomography (CT) is important for diagnosis even when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggests malignant bone tumor, such as chondrosarcoma.

Case presentation

In this paper, we report a 42-year-old woman with intraosseous ganglia in the olecranon process of the ulna. She complained pain in right elbow for 3 weeks. MRI revealed an intraosseous mass which initially diagnosed as chondrosarcoma. However, followed computed tomography (CT) demonstrated scattered intralesional gas and no underlying mineralization, and we can exclude chondrosarcoma from diagnosis.

Conclusions

The intraosseous ganglia can mimic bone tumor in MRI; therefore, CT is essential for accurate characterization of bone tumor. Even if MR imaging strongly suggests chondrosarcoma of the bone, CT should be performed as additional study.
Removal of iron and manganese from groundwater sources using nano-biosorbents
Authors: Akbari Zadeh Mohammad , Daghbandan Allahyar , Abbasi Souraki Behrouz
Published: January 2022

Background

The presence of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) ions in rocky beds leads to groundwater pollution. Moreover, their excessive concentration causes bad taste and color stains of water.

Methods

Tea leaves-derived char (TLC), rice straw-derived char (RSC), and nanosilica (NS) were used to adsorb Fe and Mn ions from water sources. The effects of parameters such as contact time, composition percentage, and particle size of biosorbents in a fixed-bed adsorption column were investigated.

Results

The study on the adsorption of Fe and Mn ions showed that the amount of adsorption increased significantly by decreasing the particle size. Furthermore, the combination of nano-biosorbents with nanosilica improved the adsorption. The Thomas and Adams–Bohart models adequately indicated the adsorption of Fe and Mn ions onto nano-biosorbents in the column mode. The TLC and RSC with NS are applicable for the removal of Fe and Mn ions from groundwater.

Conclusions

According to the BET analysis results, with more crushing of biosorbents by ball mill and placing them in the furnace, specific surface area of tea leaves and rice straw increased from 0.29 to 3.45 and from 3.70 to 10.99 m2/g, respectively. The absorption of iron and manganese from the aqueous solution increased with the percentage of nano-silica. According to breakthrough curves, under best conditions (the seventh mode), nano-biosorbents could remove 98.05% and 97.92% of iron and manganese ions, respectively. The maximum equilibrium capacity of the adsorption column (mg/g) was 256.56 for iron and 244.79 for manganese.

Graphical abstract
ADHD Prescription Medications and Their Effect on Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Berezanskaya Jenny , Cade William , Best Thomas M. , Paultre Kristopher , Kienstra Carolyn
Published: January 2022

Background

Stimulant medications used for the treatment of Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are believed to provide a physical advantage in athletics, but several of these medications are not regulated by the World Anti-Doping Association. Given the prevalence of ADHD among the athlete population and concern for abuse of ADHD medications, this review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate effects of ADHD medications on athletic performance, thereby appraising the validity of claims of performance enhancement.

Methods

A search of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Review databases was performed for all randomized controlled trials evaluating athletic performance after ingestion of placebo or ADHD treatment medications from August 2020 through November 2020. All RCTs identified from these search criteria were included for screening, with exclusion of any animal studies. Two reviewers (JB, CK) assessed methodological quality and risk of bias using CONSORT 2010 and Cochrane Collaboration tools. Study results were compiled with corresponding p values for each finding. Effect sizes (Cohen’s D) for athletic performance and physiological changes were aggregated for each study. Studies were further screened for homogeneity that would allow for meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was calculated using I2.

Results

A total of 13,033 abstracts evaluating amphetamine, methamphetamine, methylphenidate, and bupropion were screened. The final analysis included nine studies, six of which found significant improvement in athletic performance with use of stimulant medications (p < 0.05). Methylphenidate and amphetamine were consistently identified to have a performance effect. Secondary effects identified included significant increase in heart rate, core temperature, and elevation of various serum hormone levels (p < 0.05). Effect size evaluation found seven studies demonstrating small to large effects on physical performance, as well as in categories of cardiometabolic, temperature, hormone, and ratings of perceived exertion, to varying degrees. A meta-analysis was performed on two studies, demonstrating conflicting results.

Conclusions

Dopaminergic/noradrenergic agonist medications appear to have a positive effect on athletic performance, as well as effects on physiological parameters. Further consideration of medications currently not regulated, i.e. bupropion, is warranted given evidence of athletic performance enhancement.

PROSPERO trial registration number: CRD42020211062; 10/29/2020 retrospectively registered.
Frequent tracheal suctioning is associated with extubation failure in patients with successful spontaneous breathing trial: a single-center retrospective cohort study
Authors: Haruna Junpei , Tatsumi Hiroomi , Kazuma Satoshi , Sasaki Aki , Masuda Yoshiki
Published: January 2022

Background

Extubation failure, i.e., reintubation in ventilated patients, is a well-known risk factor for mortality and prolonged stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). Although sputum volume is a risk factor, the frequency of tracheal suctioning has not been validated as a predictor of reintubation. We conducted this study to examine whether frequent tracheal suctioning is a risk factor for reintubation.

Patients and methods

We included adult patients who were intubated for > 72 h in the ICU and extubated after completion of spontaneous breathing trial (SBT). We compared the characteristics and weaning-related variables, including the frequency of tracheal suctioning between patients who required reintubation within 24 h after extubation and those who did not, and examined the factors responsible for reintubation.

Results

Of the 400 patients enrolled, reintubation was required in 51 (12.8%). The most common cause of reintubation was difficulty in sputum excretion (66.7%). There were significant differences in sex, proportion of patients with chronic kidney disease, pneumonia, ICU admission type, the length of mechanical ventilation, and ICU stay between patients requiring reintubation and those who did not. Multivariate analysis showed frequent tracheal suction (> once every 2 h) and the length of mechanical ventilation were independent factors for predicting reintubation.

Conclusion

We should examine the frequency of tracheal suctioning > once every 2 h in addition to the length of mechanical ventilation before deciding to extubate after completion of SBT in patients intubated for > 72 h in the ICU.
Path dependency when prioritising disaster and humanitarian response under high levels of conflict: a qualitative case study in South Sudan
Authors: Mena Rodrigo , Hilhorst Dorothea
Published: January 2022

In high-conflict scenarios, humanitarian needs often surpass resources, and humanitarians are faced with ongoing challenges of whom to prioritise and where to work. This process is often referred to as ‘targeting’, but this article uses the concept of ‘triage’ to emphasise how prioritisation is a continuous and political process, rather than a one-off exercise to find the best match between needs and programme objectives. This study focused on South Sudan, exploring the formal and informal dynamics at the national, regional and local levels of humanitarian decisions. The article is based on semi-structured interviews and multiple meetings and observations of programmes over four months of fieldwork in 2017. This fieldwork was beset by many of the problems that humanitarians also encounter in their work, including complicated access, logistics difficulties and security challenges. Humanitarian action is meant to be flexibly deployed to respond to priority needs resulting from conflict or disasters, and agencies have multiple tools and policies to facilitate this. However, in reality, we find humanitarian action largely locked into path-dependent areas of intervention because agencies must rely on logistics, trust and local partners, all of which take years to develop, and because local actors’ commitment to see programmes continued.
Generalization enhancement of artificial neural network for turbulence closure by feature selection
Authors: Zhu Linyang , Zhang Weiwei , Tu Guohua
Published: January 2022

Feature selection targets for selecting relevant and useful features, and is a vital challenge in turbulence modeling by machine learning methods. In this paper, a new posterior feature selection method based on validation dataset is proposed, which is an efficient and universal method for complex systems including turbulence. Different from the priori feature importance ranking of the filter method and the exhaustive search for feature subset of the wrapper method, the proposed method ranks the features according to the model performance on the validation dataset, and generates the feature subsets in the order of feature importance. Using the features from the proposed method, a black-box model is built by artificial neural network (ANN) to reproduce the behavior of Spalart-Allmaras (S-A) turbulence model for high Reynolds number (Re) airfoil flows in aeronautical engineering. The results show that compared with the model without feature selection, the generalization ability of the model after feature selection is significantly improved. To some extent, it is also demonstrated that although the feature importance can be reflected by the model parameters during the training process, artificial feature selection is still very necessary.
Unexplored Functions of Sex Hormones in Glioblastoma Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Lee Juyeun , Troike Katie , Fodor R’ay , Lathia Justin D
Published: January 2022

Biological sex impacts a wide array of molecular and cellular functions that impact organismal development and can influence disease trajectory in a variety of pathophysiological states. In nonreproductive cancers, epidemiological sex differences have been observed in a series of tumors, and recent work has identified previously unappreciated sex differences in molecular genetics and immune response. However, the extent of these sex differences in terms of drivers of tumor growth and therapeutic response is less clear. In glioblastoma (GBM), the most common primary malignant brain tumor, there is a male bias in incidence and outcome, and key genetic and epigenetic differences, as well as differences in immune response driven by immune-suppressive myeloid populations, have recently been revealed. GBM is a prototypic tumor in which cellular heterogeneity is driven by populations of therapeutically resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs) that underlie tumor growth and recurrence. There is emerging evidence that GBM CSCs may show a sex difference, with male tumor cells showing enhanced self-renewal, but how sex differences impact CSC function is not clear. In this mini-review, we focus on how sex hormones may impact CSCs in GBM and implications for other cancers with a pronounced CSC population. We also explore opportunities to leverage new models to better understand the contribution of sex hormones vs sex chromosomes to CSC function. With the rising interest in sex differences in cancer, there is an immediate need to understand the extent to which sex differences impact tumor growth, including effects on CSC function.
Fathers' Multiple-Partner Fertility and Children's Educational Outcomes
Authors: Ginther Donna K. , Grasdal Astrid L. , Pollak Robert A.
Published: January 2022

Fathers' multiple-partner fertility (MPF) is associated with substantially worse educational outcomes for children. We focus on children in fathers' second families that are nuclear: households consisting of a man, a woman, their joint children, and no other children. We analyze outcomes for almost 75,000 Norwegian children, all of whom lived in nuclear families until at least age 18. Children with MPF fathers are more likely than other children from nuclear families to drop out of secondary school (24% vs. 17%) and less likely to obtain a bachelor's degree (44% vs. 51%). These gaps remain substantial—at 4 and 5 percentage points, respectively—after we control for child and parental characteristics, such as income, wealth, education, and age. Resource competition with the children in the father's first family does not explain the differences in educational outcomes. We find that the association between a father's previous childless marriage and his children's educational outcomes is similar to that between a father's MPF and his children's educational outcomes. Birth order does not explain these results. This similarity suggests that selection is the primary explanation for the association between fathers' MPF and children's educational outcomes.
Supply chain logistics – the role of the Golgi complex in extracellular matrix production and maintenance
Authors: Hellicar John , Stevenson Nicola L. , Stephens David J. , Lowe Martin
Published: January 2022

The biomechanical and biochemical properties of connective tissues are determined by the composition and quality of their extracellular matrix. This, in turn, is highly dependent on the function and organisation of the secretory pathway. The Golgi complex plays a vital role in directing matrix output by co-ordinating the post-translational modification and proteolytic processing of matrix components prior to their secretion. These modifications have broad impacts on the secretion and subsequent assembly of matrix components, as well as their function in the extracellular environment. In this Review, we highlight the role of the Golgi in the formation of an adaptable, healthy matrix, with a focus on proteoglycan and procollagen secretion as example cargoes. We then discuss the impact of Golgi dysfunction on connective tissue in the context of human disease and ageing.
Intrinsic Neuromuscular Fatigability in Humans: The Critical Role of Stimulus Frequency
Authors: Yacyshyn Alexandra F. , McNeil Chris J.
Published: January 2022

Electrically evoked contractions provide insight into intrinsic neuromuscular fatigability and also represent a valuable technique to maintain muscle mass in a clinical setting. To appropriately investigate intrinsic fatigability and design optimal stimulation protocols, it would seem to be crucial to stimulate the muscle at a frequency equivalent to the mean motor unit discharge rate expected at the target force level.
Regular and App-Enhanced Maintenance of Physical Activity among Latinas: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Mendoza-Vasconez Andrea S. , Solis Becerra Esther , Badii Nathaniel , Crespo Noe , Hurst Samantha , Larsen Britta , Marcus Bess H. , Arredondo Elva M.
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Few studies have focused on physical activity (PA) maintenance, particularly among minority populations; smartphone apps could provide valuable tools. This study aimed to 1) assess and understand PA maintenance among Latinas who completed a PA intervention, and 2) evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of commercial smartphone apps as tools for PA maintenance.

Methods

For this feasibility study, 27 Latinas who completed a PA intervention and increased their PA were randomly assigned to enhanced maintenance (i.e., taught to use commercial smartphone apps, n = 14) or regular maintenance (i.e., no additional treatment, n = 13). After 3 months, the feasibility and acceptability of using apps for PA maintenance was assessed via survey questions, analyzed using descriptive statistics. PA was reassessed via the 7-d PA recall and analyzed using longitudinal mixed effects regression models. Qualitative data were collected via open-ended interview questions and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Forty-three percent of enhanced maintenance participants reported using study apps at least “a little” and 21% using them “a lot.” Although not statistically significant, enhanced maintenance participants reported a smaller drop in PA from postintervention to postmaintenance, compared with regular maintenance participants. Several participants expressed approval of the apps, whereas others reported on factors that kept them from using the apps for PA maintenance.

Conclusions

Incorporating lessons learned from this study, larger randomized trials are warranted to evaluate the efficacy of using smartphone apps to support PA maintenance. The widespread use of apps could make them ideal tools to support PA maintenance after interventions in different settings.
Arranjos institucionais e capacidades estatais em nível subnacional: A política de educação em direitos humanos de São Paulo
Authors: Salgado Cortez Ana Claudia , Lotta Gabriela Spanghero
Published: January 2022

Este artigo tem como objetivo compreender o arranjo institucional e as capacidades estatais geradas em uma política intersetorial, participativa e subnacional. O trabalho analisa a política de educação em direitos humanos no município de São Paulo entre 2013 e 2016 a partir de análise documental e entrevistas. Combinamos o modelo de análise de arranjos institucionais proposto por Lotta e Favareto (2016), que analisa diferentes dimensões dos arranjos, com o modelo proposto por Pires e Gomide (2016), que propõe duas dimensões de capacidades estatais: político-relacional e técnico-administrativa. Nossa principal contribuição teórica dá-se em demonstrar a existência de uma relação direta entre as capacidades político-relacionais e técnico-administrativas no nível subnacional, a partir de uma combinação entre elementos de articulação horizontal e vertical do arranjo.
The post-pandemic era: will physical distancing be a perceived way of life?
Authors: Khan Soban Qadir , Al-Humaid Jehan , Farooqi Faraz Ahmed , Gad Mohammed M. , Al-Hareky Muhanad , Al-Onaizan Faisal , Al-Harbi Fahad A.
Published: January 2022

Background: This study aimed to determine whether people living in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia would prefer to continue the practice of physical distancing after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic or to return to their previous way of life.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2020 to October 2020 in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. A pre-tested questionnaire was sent electronically through social media. Data on participants’ demographics and their perspectives regarding post-pandemic physical distancing were collected. The calculated sample size was 1,066; however, the total number of responses included in the analysis was 989.

Results: The average age of the participants was 31.15±11.93 years. There were 435 men and 554 women in the study. Participants showed significantly high levels of disagreement with statements indicating that they were willing to use public transportation (61%), attend social gatherings (36%), and hug relatives or colleagues (40%) after the pandemic (p<0.001); however, 43% agreed that they would spend time with family or friends (p<0.001). The level of education was also found to be significantly related to the responses, and the level of disagreement increased as the level of education increased (p<0.001).

Conclusions: One-third of the study participants planned to continue engaging in physical distancing even after the current pandemic and if the COVID-19 related restriction will remain in place for longer, there is chance to increase in this proportion. However, it cannot be concluded whether or not this behavior will prevail in the long run, after the ease in restrictions. If so, it may greatly affect some businesses and perhaps some social norms and values as well.
Causes and consequences of psychological stress in the working life and emergency services of veterinary professionals in the Federal Republic of Germany: A protocol for a nationwide cross-sectional study
Authors: Böckelmann Irina , Pohl Robert , Darius Sabine , Thielmann Beatrice
Published: January 2022

Background: Veterinarians are exposed to high workloads. International studies show they have an above-average risk of suicide and burnout. Hardly any studies dealing with causes and consequences of workload and emergency services are available in Germany.

Methods: The aim of the observational cross-sectional study presented here is to assess their workloads and working conditions (Slesina questionnaire), health situation and well-being (KÖPS questionnaire - physical, psychological and social symptoms; Maslach Burnout Inventory MBI-GS; WHO-5 well-being index), as well as occupational psychological aspects (irritation scales; overcommitment; questionnaire on work-related behavior and experience patterns AVEM) which will be recorded and analyzed according to general sociodemographic and occupational data (sector-, gender, assignment- and country-specific). In addition, the heart rate variability of some members of the veterinary profession will be analyzed using 24 hour electrocardiogram recordings, which together with the subjective insights into the stress situation from the questionnaires, will allow objective psychophysiological stress analyses.

Conclusions: The results of the study will provide further empirical insights into the workloads and stresses faced by the veterinary profession in Germany, based on which important insights into this professional group’s mental health can be identified. In this way, it should be possible to identify (mis)stress-triggering factors in the target groups, derive target group-specific recommendations for health-promoting work design, and identify approaches to veterinary studies and career selection.
Improving prediction of core transcription factors for cell reprogramming and transdifferentiation
Authors: Raevskiy Mikhail , Kondrashina Anna , Medvedeva Yulia
Published: January 2022

Identification of transcription factors (TFs) that could induce and direct cell conversion remains a challenge. Though several hundreds of TFs are usually transcribed in each cell type, the identity of a cell is controlled and can be achieved through the ectopic overexpression of only a small subset of so-called core TFs. Currently, the experimental identification of the core TFs for a broad spectrum of cell types remains challenging. Computational solutions to this problem would provide a better understanding of the mechanisms controlling cell identity during natural embryonic or malignant development, as well as give a foundation for cell-based therapy. Herein, we propose a computational approach based on over-enrichment of transcription factors binding sites (TFBS) in differentially accessible chromatin regions that could identify the potential core TFs for a variety of primary human cells involved in hematopoiesis. Our approach enables the integration of both transcriptomic (single-cell RNA sequencing, scRNA-seq) and epigenenomic (single-cell assay for transposable-accessible chromatin, scATAC-seq) data at the single-cell resolution to search for core TFs, and can be scalable to predict subsets of core TFs and their role in a given conversion between cells.
Tourette syndrome research highlights from 2020
Authors: Hartmann Andreas , Atkinson-Clement Cyril , Depienne Christel , Black Kevin
Published: January 2022

We present here research from 2020 relevant to Tourette syndrome (TS). The authors briefly summarize a few reports they consider most important or interesting.
Design, adaptation, and diffusion of an innovative tool to promote shared contraceptive decision-making: Balanced Counseling Strategy Plus
Authors: Warren Charlotte E , McClair Tracy L , Kirk Karen R , Ndwiga Charity , Yam Eileen A
Published: January 2022

Contraceptive decision-making is highly complex, and family planning (FP) clients choose methods according to a host of personal, interpersonal, and context-specific considerations. These include concerns about side effects, confidence in their ability to adhere to daily or monthly use, efficacy of methods, partner support, and HIV vulnerability. FP decision support tools can support FP clients and providers to engage in a joint decision-making process to ensure clients make informed choices about contraception. For more than two decades, the Balanced Counseling Strategy (BCS) and Balanced Counseling Strategy Plus (BCS+) decision support tools have been used in lower- and middle-income countries, informed by implementation science research and iterative updates and refinements to reflect new developments in contraceptive technology and HIV prevention strategies. To inform the development and scale-up of future FP decision support tools, as well as share lessons from translating implementation science results to practice, this article describes the development, evaluation, and proliferation of BCS and BCS+.