bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The changes of umami substances and influencing factors in preserved egg yolk: pH, endogenous protease, and proteinaceous substance
Authors: Gao Binghong , Hu Xiaobo , Xue Hui , Li Ruiling , Liu Huilan , Han Tianfeng , Tu Yonggang , Zhao Yan
Published: September 2022

The study investigated the changes of nucleotides, succinic acid, and free amino acids amounts in yolk and the causes leading to the changes after pickling to uncover the fundamental umami component of preserved egg yolk. The findings demonstrated that while the contents of 5′-adenosine monophosphate (AMP), 5′-cytidine monophosphate (CMP), 5′-guanosine monophosphate (GMP), 5′-uridine monophosphate (UMP), and succinic acid increased after slightly decreasing aspartic acid (Asp) content in preserved egg yolk increased gradually. The contents of 5′-inosine monophosphate (IMP) and other free amino acids were gradually decreased. Comparing the taste activity value (TAV), it was found that the single umami substance, succinic acid, played a key role in inducing the umami taste. In combination with the Spearman correlation analysis, it was shown that the proteinaceous substance, which is the most significant umami component in preserved egg yolk, tended to condense first and subsequently disintegrate in an alkaline environment. The orthogonal partial least squares analysis (OPLS) found that pH was also affected by the changes in proteinaceous substance. These findings offer suggestions for enhancing the pickling procedure and investigating the optimal pickling period for preserved eggs.
Upgrading the physiochemical and sensory quality of yogurt by incorporating polyphenol-enriched citrus pomaces with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities
Authors: Alamoudi Soha A. , Saad Ahmed M. , Alsubhi Nouf H. , Alrefaei Ghadeer I. , Al-Quwaie Diana A. , Binothman Najat , Aljadani Majidah , Alharbi Mona , Alanazi Humidah , Babalghith Ahmad O. , Almuhayawi Mohammed S. , Gattan Hattan S. , Alruhaili Mohammed H. , Selim Samy
Published: September 2022

Industrial pomaces are cheap sources of phenolic compounds and fibers but dumping them in landfills has negative environmental and health consequences. Therefore, valorizing these wastes in the food industry as additives significantly enhances the final product. In this study, the citrus pomaces, orange pomace (OP), mandarin pomace (MP), and lemon pomace (LP) were collected by a juice company and subjected to producing polyphenols and fiber-enriched fractions, which are included in functional yogurt; the pomace powder with different levels (1, 3, and 5%) was homogenized in cooled pasteurized milk with other ingredients (sugar and starter) before processing the yogurt fermentation. The HPLC phenolic profile showed higher phenolic content in OP extract, i.e., gallic acid (1,702.65), chlorogenic acid (1,256.22), naringenin (6,450.57), catechin (1,680.65), and propyl gallate (1,120.37) ppm with massive increases over MP (1.34–37 times) and LP (1.49–5 times). The OP extract successfully scavenged 87% of DPPH with a relative increase of about 16 and 32% over LP and MP, respectively. Additionally, it inhibits 77–90% of microbial growth at 5–8 μg/mL while killing them in the 9–14 μg/mL range. Furthermore, OP extract successfully reduced 77% of human breast carcinoma. Each of pomace powder sample (OP, MP, LP) was added to yogurt at three levels; 1, 3, and 5%, while the physiochemical, sensorial, and microbial changes were monitored during 21 days of cold storage. OP yogurt had the highest pH and lowest acidity, while LP yogurt recorded the reverse. High fat and total soluble solids (TSS) content are observed in OP yogurt because of the high fiber content in OP. The pH values of all yogurt samples decreased, while acidity, fat, and TSS increased at the end of the storage period. The OP yogurts 1 and 3% scored higher in color, flavor, and structure than other samples. By measuring the microbial load of yogurt samples, the OP (1 and 3%) contributes to the growth of probiotics (Lactobacillus spp) in yogurt samples and reduces harmful microbes. Using citrus pomace as a source of polyphenols and fiber in functional foods is recommended to enhance their physiochemical and sensory quality.
The association of healthy eating index with periodontitis in National Health and Nutrition Examination Study 2011–2012
Authors: Li Xin-yu , Liu Hui , Zhang Lu-yu , Yang Xi-tao
Published: September 2022

Aim

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder caused by periodontopathic bacteria that causes inflammation of the supporting tissues around teeth. Previous studies have found that daily dietary nutritional intake can influence the development of periodontal disease. However, research on the Healthy Eating Index’s involvement in periodontitis is limited. The purpose of this study was to look at the link between the Healthy Eating Index and periodontitis.

Methods and design

We examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES), a nationally representative survey that was performed in 2-year cycles from 2011 to 2012. As part of our investigation, we used multivariate logistic regression models to investigate the independent relationship between the Healthy Eating Index and periodontitis. We used odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals to assess the significance of the connection (95% CI).

Results

Individuals with a lower total healthy eating index were more likely to have periodontitis. A higher healthy diet index was associated with a lower prevalence of periodontitis (OR = 0.69; 95%CI: 0.49–0.97), according to adjusted multivariate regression models. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis revealed that the non-linear relationship between HEI-2015 and periodontitis was statistically significant and that high HEI-2015 reduced periodontitis prevalence.

Conclusion

The study’s findings revealed that dietary structure was linked to the prevalence of periodontitis. Patients with a higher Healthy Eating Index were less likely to have periodontitis. There is a need for future prospective longitudinal studies to confirm causality.
Case report: A case of giant accessory hepatic lobe torsion combined with left hepatic vein branch thrombosis in a child
Authors: Xiong Xiangang , Lou Yonghua , Zhou Teng , Zheng Zebing , Liu Yuanmei , Liu Rui , Zhang Kaizhi , Gong Yuan , Tang Chengyan , Jin Zhu
Published: September 2022

The accessory hepatic lobe (AHL) is a rare congenital malformation of the hepatic tissue, among which the giant AHL is the rarest in children. Patients without complications are usually asymptomatic, and most auxiliary examinations cannot provide a definitive preoperative diagnosis. Surgical procedure is the only recommended management for patients who suffered from the complications of AHL. We report the case of a rare pediatric giant AHL torsion combined with left hepatic vein branch thrombosis which was successfully treated by laparoscopic lobectomy followed by excision of AHL.
An economic evaluation of knee osteoarthritis treatments in Thailand
Authors: Luksameesate Parnnaphat , Tanavalee Aree , Taychakhoonavudh Suthira
Published: September 2022

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different knee OA care sequences compared to standard treatment reimbursed by the major health insurance payer in Thailand.

Method: We used decision analytical modeling to evaluate the effect of either adding etoricoxib or crystalline glucosamine sulfate compared to standard treatment from a societal perspective over patients’ lifetimes. Data were analyzed based on efficacy, whereas adverse events were considered as a substate. Model input data were retrieved from relevant published literature and the Standard Cost Lists for Health Technology Assessment, Thailand. All health outcomes were measured in a unit of quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was applied to examine the costs and QALYs. Sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the robustness of the model.

Result: The results demonstrated that adding crystalline glucosamine sulfate (before diclofenac plus proton pump inhibitors, PPI) into the standard care sequence was a dominant strategy compared to the standard care sequence. Adding etoricoxib alone or including crystalline glucosamine sulfate (after diclofenac plus PPI) was dominated by adding crystalline glucosamine sulfate (before diclofenac plus PPI), whereas in a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold in Thailand, adding of both crystalline glucosamine sulfate (before diclofenac plus PPI) and etoricoxib were cost-effective when compared to adding crystalline glucosamine sulfate alone with ICER of 125,547 Thai baht/QALY (3,472 US dollars/QALY).

Conclusion: The addition of crystalline glucosamine sulfate and etoricoxib into standard knee OA treatment were cost-effective at the WTP threshold in Thailand. In addition, early initiation of crystalline glucosamine sulfate would be less costly and more effective than delayed treatment or the use of standard treatment alone.
Opportunities and pitfalls in (sub)diffuse reflectance spectroscopy
Authors: Witteveen Mark , Faber Dirk J. , Sterenborg Henricus J. C. M. , Ruers Theo J. M. , van Leeuwen Ton G. , Post Anouk L.
Published: September 2022

For a long time, steady-state reflectance spectroscopy measurements have been performed so that diffusion theory could be used to extract tissue optical properties from the reflectance. The development of subdiffuse techniques, such as Single Fiber Reflectance Spectroscopy and subdiffuse SFDI, provides new opportunities for clinical applications since they have the key advantage that they are much more sensitive to the details of the tissue scattering phase function in comparison to diffuse techniques. Since the scattering phase function is related to the subcellular structure of tissue, subdiffuse measurements have the potential to provide a powerful contrast between healthy and diseased tissue. In the subdiffuse regime, the interrogated tissue volumes are much smaller than in the diffuse regime. Whether a measurement falls within the diffuse or subdiffuse regime depends on tissue optical properties and the distance between the source and detector fiber for fiber-optic techniques or the projected spatial frequency for hyperspectral imaging and SFDI. Thus, the distance between source and detector fibers or the projected spatial frequency has important implications for clinical applications of reflectance spectroscopy and should be carefully selected, since it influences which tissue optical properties the technique is sensitive to and the size of the tissue volume that is interrogated. In this paper, we will review the opportunities and pitfalls in steady-state reflectance spectroscopy in the subdiffuse and the diffuse regime. The discussed opportunities can guide the choice of either the diffuse or subdiffuse regime for a clinical application, and the discussed pitfalls can ensure these are avoided to enable the development of robust diagnostic algorithms. We will first discuss the relevant basics of light-tissue interaction. Next, we will review all the tissue scattering phase functions that have been measured and investigate which scattering phase function models are representative of tissue. Subsequently, we will discuss the sensitivity of diffuse and subdiffuse techniques to tissue optical properties and we will explore the difference in the interrogation depth probed by diffuse and subdiffuse techniques.
Fast data-driven computation and intuitive visualization of fiber orientation uncertainty in 3D-polarized light imaging
Authors: Schmitz Daniel , Benning Kai , Schubert Nicole , Minnerop Martina , Amunts Katrin , Axer Markus
Published: September 2022

In recent years, the microscopy technology referred to as Polarized Light Imaging (3D-PLI) has successfully been established to study the brain’s nerve fiber architecture at the micrometer scale. The myelinated axons of the nervous tissue introduce optical birefringence that can be used to contrast nerve fibers and their tracts from each other. Beyond the generation of contrast, 3D-PLI renders the estimation of local fiber orientations possible. To do so, unstained histological brain sections of 70 μm thickness cut at a cryo-microtome were scanned in a polarimetric setup using rotating polarizing filter elements while keeping the sample unmoved. To address the fundamental question of brain connectivity, i. e., revealing the detailed organizational principles of the brain’s intricate neural networks, the tracing of fiber structures across volumes has to be performed at the microscale. This requires a sound basis for describing the in-plane and out-of-plane orientations of each potential fiber (axis) in each voxel, including information about the confidence level (uncertainty) of the orientation estimates. By this means, complex fiber constellations, e. g., at the white matter to gray matter transition zones or brain regions with low myelination (i. e., low birefringence signal), as can be found in the cerebral cortex, become quantifiable in a reliable manner. Unfortunately, this uncertainty information comes with the high computational price of their underlying Monte-Carlo sampling methods and the lack of a proper visualization. In the presented work, we propose a supervised machine learning approach to estimate the uncertainty of the inferred model parameters. It is shown that the parameter uncertainties strongly correlate with simple, physically explainable features derived from the signal strength. After fitting these correlations using a small sub-sample of the data, the uncertainties can be predicted for the remaining data set with high precision. This reduces the required computation time by more than two orders of magnitude. Additionally, a new visualization of the derived three-dimensional nerve fiber information, including the orientation uncertainty based on ellipsoids, is introduced. This technique makes the derived orientation uncertainty information visually interpretable.
Deciphering OPDA Signaling Components in the Momilactone-Producing Moss Calohypnum plumiforme
Authors: Inagaki Hideo , Miyamoto Koji , Ando Noriko , Murakami Kohei , Sugisawa Koki , Morita Shion , Yumoto Emi , Teruya Miyu , Uchida Kenichi , Kato Nobuki , Kaji Takuya , Takaoka Yousuke , Hojo Yuko , Shinya Tomonori , Galis Ivan , Nozawa Akira , Sawasaki Tatsuya , Nojiri Hideaki , Ueda Minoru , Okada Kazunori
Published: September 2022

Jasmonic acid (JA) and its biologically active form jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile) regulate defense responses to various environmental stresses and developmental processes in plants. JA and JA-Ile are synthesized from α-linolenic acids derived from membrane lipids via 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA). In the presence of JA-Ile, the COI1 receptor physically interacts with JAZ repressors, leading to their degradation, resulting in the transcription of JA-responsive genes by MYC transcription factors. Although the biosynthesis of JA-Ile is conserved in vascular plants, it is not recognized by COI1 in bryophytes and is not biologically active. In the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, dinor-OPDA (dn-OPDA), a homolog of OPDA with two fewer carbons, and its isomer dn-iso-OPDA accumulate after wounding and are recognized by COI1 to activate downstream signaling. The moss Calohypnum plumiforme produces the antimicrobial-specialized metabolites, momilactones. It has been reported that JA and JA-Ile are not detected in C. plumiforme and that OPDA, but not JA, can induce momilactone accumulation and the expression of these biosynthetic genes, suggesting that OPDA or its derivative is a biologically active molecule in C. plumiforme that induces chemical defense. In the present study, we investigated the biological functions of OPDA and its derivatives in C. plumiforme. Searching for the components potentially involving oxylipin signaling from transcriptomic and genomic data revealed that two COI1, three JAZ, and two MYC genes were present. Quantification analyses revealed that OPDA and its isomer iso-OPDA accumulated in larger amounts than dn-OPDA and dn-iso-OPDA after wounding. Moreover, exogenously applied OPDA, dn-OPDA, or dn-iso-OPDA induced the transcription of JAZ genes. These results imply that OPDA, dn-OPDA, and/or their isomers potentially act as biologically active molecules to induce the signaling downstream of COI1-JAZ. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation analysis showed the physical interaction between JAZs and MYCs, indicating the functional conservation of JAZs in C. plumiforme with other plants. These results suggest that COI1-JAZ-MYC mediated signaling is conserved and functional in C. plumiforme.
A chromosome-scale genome assembly of turmeric provides insights into curcumin biosynthesis and tuber formation mechanism
Authors: Yin Yanpeng , Xie Xiaofang , Zhou Luojing , Yin Xianmei , Guo Shuai , Zhou Xianjian , Li Qingmiao , Shi Xiaodong , Peng Cheng , Gao Jihai
Published: September 2022

Curcuma longa, known as the ‘golden spice’ and ‘life spice’, is one of the most commonly utilized spices in the world and also has medicinal, cosmetic, dye and flavoring values. Herein, we present the chromosomal-level genome for turmeric to explore the differences between tubers and rhizomes in the regulation of curcumin biosynthesis and the mechanism of tuber formation. We assembled the turmeric genome into 21 pseudochromosomes using Pacbio long reads complemented with Hi-C technologies, which has a total length of 1.11 Gb with scaffold N50 of 50.12 Mb and contains 49,612 protein−coding genes. Genomic evolutionary analysis indicated that turmeric and ginger have shared a recent WGD event. Contraction analysis of gene families showed possible roles for transcription factors, phytohormone signaling, and plant-pathogen interactions associated genes in adaptation to harsh environments. Transcriptomic data from tubers at different developmental stages indicated that candidate genes related to phytohormone signaling and carbohydrate metabolic responses may be associated with the induction of tuber formation. The difference in curcumin content between rhizomes and tubers reflected the remodeling of secondary metabolites under environmental stress, which was associated with plant defense in response to abiotic stresses. Overall, the availability of the C. longa genome provides insight into tuber formation and curcumin biosynthesis in turmeric as well as facilitating the understanding of other Curcuma species.
Wood degradation by Fomitiporia mediterranea M. Fischer: Physiologic, metabolomic and proteomic approaches
Authors: Schilling Marion , Maia-Grondard Alessandra , Baltenweck Raymonde , Robert Emilie , Hugueney Philippe , Bertsch Christophe , Farine Sibylle , Gelhaye Eric
Published: September 2022

Fomitiporia mediterranea (Fmed) is one of the main fungal species found in grapevine wood rot, also called “amadou,” one of the most typical symptoms of grapevine trunk disease Esca. This fungus is functionally classified as a white-rot, able to degrade all wood structure polymers, i.e., hemicelluloses, cellulose, and the most recalcitrant component, lignin. Specific enzymes are secreted by the fungus to degrade those components, namely carbohydrate active enzymes for hemicelluloses and cellulose, which can be highly specific for given polysaccharide, and peroxidases, which enable white-rot to degrade lignin, with specificities relating to lignin composition as well. Furthermore, besides polymers, a highly diverse set of metabolites often associated with antifungal activities is found in wood, this set differing among the various wood species. Wood decayers possess the ability to detoxify these specific extractives and this ability could reflect the adaptation of these fungi to their specific environment. The aim of this study is to better understand the molecular mechanisms used by Fmed to degrade wood structure, and in particular its potential adaptation to grapevine wood. To do so, Fmed was cultivated on sawdust from different origins: grapevine, beech, and spruce. Carbon mineralization rate, mass loss, wood structure polymers contents, targeted metabolites (extractives) and secreted proteins were measured. We used the well-known white-rot model Trametes versicolor for comparison. Whereas no significant degradation was observed with spruce, a higher mass loss was measured on Fmed grapevine culture compared to beech culture. Moreover, on both substrates, a simultaneous degradation pattern was demonstrated, and proteomic analysis identified a relative overproduction of oxidoreductases involved in lignin and extractive degradation on grapevine cultures, and only few differences in carbohydrate active enzymes. These results could explain at least partially the adaptation of Fmed to grapevine wood structural composition compared to other wood species, and suggest that other biotic and abiotic factors should be considered to fully understand the potential adaptation of Fmed to its ecological niche. Proteomics data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD036889.
Non-coding RNA expression analysis revealed the molecular mechanism of flag leaf heterosis in inter-subspecific hybrid rice
Authors: Wang Mengyao , Wang Jianbo
Published: September 2022

Heterosis has been used widespread in agriculture, but its molecular mechanism is inadequately understood. Plants have a large number of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), among them, functional ncRNAs that have been studied widely containing long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA) that play a role in varied biological processes, as well as microRNA (miRNA), which can not only regulate the post-transcriptional expression of target genes, but also target lncRNA and circRNA then participate the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network. However, the influence of these three ncRNAs and their regulatory relationships on heterosis is unknown in rice. In this study, the expression profile of ncRNAs and the ncRNA regulatory network related to heterosis were comprehensively analyzed in inter-subspecific hybrid rice. A total of 867 miRNAs, 3,278 lncRNAs and 2,521 circRNAs were identified in the hybrid and its parents. Analysis of the global profiles of these three types of ncRNAs indicated that significant differences existed in the distribution and sequence characteristics of the corresponding genes. The numbers of miRNA and lncRNA in hybrid were higher than those in its parents. A total of 784 ncRNAs (169 miRNAs, 573 lncRNAs and 42 circRNAs) showed differentially expressed in the hybrid, and their target/host genes were vital in stress tolerance, growth and development in rice. These discoveries suggested that the expression plasticity of ncRNA has an important role of inter-subspecific hybrid rice heterosis. It is worth mentioning that miRNAs exhibited substantially more variations between hybrid and parents compared with observed variation for lncRNA and circRNA. Non-additive expression ncRNAs and allele-specific expression genes-related ncRNAs in hybrid were provided in this study, and multiple sets of ncRNA regulatory networks closely related to heterosis were obtained. Meanwhile, heterosis-related regulatory networks of ceRNA (lncRNA and circRNA) and miRNA were also demonstrated.
Peer victimization (bullying) on mental health, behavioral problems, cognition, and academic performance in preadolescent children in the ABCD Study
Authors: Menken Miriam S. , Isaiah Amal , Liang Huajun , Rivera Pedro Rodriguez , Cloak Christine C. , Reeves Gloria , Lever Nancy A. , Chang Linda
Published: September 2022

Objective

Peer victimization is a substantial early life stressor linked to psychiatric symptoms and poor academic performance. However, the sex-specific cognitive or behavioral outcomes of bullying have not been well-described in preadolescent children.

Methods

Using the baseline dataset of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study 2.0.1 data repository (N = 11,875), we evaluated associations between parent-reported bullying victimization, suicidality (suicidal ideation, intent, and/or behavior), and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), as well as internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems, cognition, and academic performance.

Results

Of the 11,015 9-10-year-old children included in the analyses (5,263 girls), 15.3% experienced bullying victimization, as reported by the primary caregiver. Of these, boys were more likely to be bullied than girls (odds ratio [OR], 1.2 [95% CI, 1.1–1.3]; p = 0.004). Children who were bullied were more likely to display NSSI or passive suicidality (OR, 2.4 [95% CI, 2.0–2.9]; p < 0.001) and active suicidality (OR, 3.4 [95% CI, 2.7–4.2]; p < 0.001). Bullied children also had lower cognitive scores, greater behavioral problems, and poorer grades (p < 0.001). Across all participants, boys had poorer grades and greater behavioral problems than girls; however, bullied boys had greater behavioral problems than girls in several areas (p < 0.001). Compared to their non-bullied peers, bullied children with greater non-suicidal self-injury or suicidality also had greater behavioral problems and poorer grades (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

These findings highlight the sex-specific effects of bullying, and the negative associations of bullying victimization with cognitive performance, behavioral problems, and academic performance. Future longitudinal studies will identify the natural history and neural correlates of these deficits during adolescence.
RETRACTED: An empirical assessment of financial literacy and behavioral biases on investment decision: Fresh evidence from small investor perception
Authors: Weixiang Sun , Qamruzzaman Md , Rui Wang , Kler Rajnish
Published: September 2022

To have enough financial literacy, an investor must be able to make intelligent investment choices, and on the other hand, the heuristic bias, the framing effect, cognitive illusions, and herd mentality are all variables that contribute to the formation of behavioral biases, also known as illogical conduct, in the decision-making process. The current research looks specifically at behavioral biases and financial literacy influence investment choices, particularly on stock market investment. For the research, a representative sample of 450 individual investors was evaluated. A structured questionnaire was designed using the Likert’s scale method to elicit the research variables, and the data acquired were analyzed using the SEM method. According to the findings, there was a statistically significant link between heuristic bias and the development of behavioral bias in decision-making. Nevertheless, cognitive illusions, the herd mentality, and the framing effect all have a deleterious impact on behavioral biases. In addition, investors often adhere to heuristic biases rather than other irrational strategies when making investment judgments. Therefore, individual investors’ financial literacy level greatly influences the choices made about investments in the stock market.
Evidence of validity of internal structure of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT-Sp-12) in Brazilian adolescents with chronic health conditions
Authors: Alvarenga Willyane de Andrade , Nascimento Lucila Castanheira , Rebustini Flávio , dos Santos Claudia Benedita , Muehlan Holger , Schmidt Silke , Bullinger Monika , Liberato Fernanda Mayrink Gonçalves , Vieira Margarida
Published: September 2022

This study explored the evidence of validity of internal structure of the 12-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Spiritual Wellbeing Scale (FACIT-Sp-12) in Brazilian adolescents with chronic health conditions. The study involved 301 Brazilian adolescents with cancer, type 1 diabetes mellitus, or cystic fibrosis. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Item Response Theory (IRT) were used to test the internal structure. Reliability was determined with Cronbach’s Alpha and McDonald’s Omega. The EFA suggested a one-dimensional scale structure in contrast to the original 2-factor model or the 3-factor model which were not reproduced in the current CFA. All quality indicators for the EFA one-factor exceeded the required criteria (FDI = 0.97, EAP = 0.97, SR = 3.96 and EPTD = 0.96, latent GH = 0.90. and the observed GH = 0.85). The FACIT-Sp-12 for adolescents yielded strong evidence for a 1-factor model and with good reliability.
High school and transition experiences of twice exceptional students with autism spectrum disorder: Parents’ perceptions
Authors: Madaus Joseph , Tarconish Emily , Langdon Shannon W. , Gelbar Nicholas
Published: September 2022

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are accessing college in increasing numbers. Within this cohort are students who are twice exceptional—those who are both academically talented and diagnosed with ASD. Little is known about factors and experiences that impact their successful transition to college. Parents play a critical role in the secondary transition process, but currently, there is a paucity of research that examines their perceptions of this experience. This study presents the results of semi-structured interviews with the parents of 10 college students with ASD who were enrolled in postsecondary institutions in the United States. The parents provided perceptions of their student’s best and most challenging aspects of high school, as well as of the transition preparation the student received. Suggestions were offered in regard to how transition services can be improved for this group of students. Implications for planning and practice are presented.
Legislative and judicial responses to workplace sexual harassment in mainland China: Progress and drawbacks
Authors: Wang Hao
Published: September 2022

Background

China has recently upgraded its anti-sexual harassment laws and regulations. The first-ever Chinese Civil Code, which took effect in 2021, has explicitly defined sexual harassment and imposed affirmative duties on employers to prevent and correct work-related sexual harassment. This study aims to map the status quo of China's anti-sexual harassment legal system and explore its progress and limits in dealing with workplace sexual harassment.

Methods

We reviewed China's anti-sexual harassment laws at the national, provincial, and municipal levels and observed how they were enforced in courts. All judicial cases of workplace sexual harassment published by Chinese courts between January 2021 and June 2022 were examined. From a comparative law perspective, we then identified the progress and drawbacks of China's legislative and judicial responses to workplace sexual harassment.

Results

China's current anti-sexual harassment legal system, while have made commendable progress, has its drawbacks: the definition of sexual harassment remains to be clarified and expanded to make it clear that sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination and can include hostile environment harassment that is not directed against a specific person; the employer's obligations to prevent and correct sexual harassment need further delineation; employers lack guidelines for establishing a fair and effective grievance procedure; the difficulty of proving sexual harassment in litigation remains unsolved; the employer liability doctrine for sexual harassment lacks clarity; workers not in a traditional employment relationship receive inadequate legal protection from work-related sexual harassment.

Conclusions

The issues mentioned above merit consideration in China's future law revisions and judicial practice. In China and other societies where gender inequality remains high, it is recommended to regulate sexual harassment as a form of discrimination and to set clear compliance standards for employers in preventing and correcting sexual harassment.
Tree-based, two-stage risk factor analysis for postoperative sepsis based on Sepsis-3 criteria in elderly patients: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Peng Xiaorong , Chen Chaojin , Chen Jingjing , Wang Yanlin , Yang Duo , Ma Chuzhou , Liu Zifeng , Zhou Shaoli , Hei Ziqing
Published: September 2022

Background

Sepsis remains the leading cause of postoperative death in elderly patients and is defined as organ dysfunction with proven or suspected infection according to Sepsis-3 criteria. To better avoid potential non-linear associations between the risk factors, we firstly used a tree-based analytic methods to explore the putative risk factors of geriatric sepsis based on the criteria in the study.

Methods

Data of 7,302 surgical patients aged ≥ 65 years at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2015 to September 2020 were collected. An analytic method that combined tree-based analysis with the method of Mantel-Haenszel and logistic regression was adopted to assess the association between 17 putative risk factors and postoperative sepsis defined by the Sepsis-3 guideline by controlling 16 potential confounding factors.

Results

Among the 16 potential covariates, six major confounders were statistically identified by the tree-based model, including cerebrovascular diseases, preoperative infusion of red blood cells, pneumonia, age ≥ 75, malignant tumor and diabetes. Our analysis indicated that emergency surgery increases the risk of postoperative sepsis in elderly patients by more than six times. The type of surgery is also a crucial risk factor for sepsis, particularly transplantation and neurosurgery. Other risk factors were duration of surgery > 120 min, administration of steroids, hypoalbuminemia, elevated creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, hematocrit, platelets, glucose, white blood cell count, abnormal neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and elevated hsCRP-to-albumin ratio.

Conclusions

Our study uses an effective method to explore some risk factors for postoperative sepsis in elderly by adjusting many potential confounders and it can provide information for intervention design.
Research trends of mesenchymal stem cells application in orthopedics: A bibliometric analysis of the past 2 decades
Authors: Deng Zhibo , Luo Fenqi , Lin Yuan , Luo Jun , Ke Dianshan , Song Chao , Xu Jie
Published: September 2022

Background

Bibliometric analysis and visualization tools were used to determine the development trend of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in orthopedics in the past 20 years, so as to guide researchers to explore new directions and hotspots in the field in the future.

Methods

In the Web of Science Core Collection, all articles about the application of MSCs in orthopedics from 2002 to 2021 were searched. The qualitative and quantitative analysis was performed based on Web of Science and CiteSpace software.

Results

A total of 2,207 articles were retrieved. After excluding non-article articles such as review and letter and non-English language articles, 1,489 articles were finally included. Over the past 2 decades, the number of publications on the application of MSCs in orthopedic diseases increased. Among them, the United States, China, Japan and the United Kingdom have made significant contributions in this field. The most productive institution was Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Journal of Orthopedic Research published the largest number of publications. The journal with the highest citation frequency was Experimental Hematology. The authors with the highest output and the highest citation frequency on average were Rochy S. Tuan and Scott A. Rodeo, respectively. “Mesenchymal stem cell”, “in vitro” and “Differentiation” were the top three keywords that appeared. From the keyword analysis, the current research trend indicates that the primary research hotspots of MSCs in orthopedics are the source of MSCs, in vitro experiments and the differentiation of MSCs into bone and cartilage. The frontiers of this field are the combination of MSCs and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), the treatment of knee diseases such as osteoarthritis, osteogenic differentiation, and the application of biological scaffolds combined with MSCs.

Conclusion

Over the past 2 decades, the application of MSCs in orthopedic diseases has received increasing attention. Our bibliometric analysis results provide valuable information and research trends for researchers in the field to understand the basic knowledge of the field, identify current research hotspots, potential collaborators, and future research frontiers.
Empyema caused by Eikenella halliae diagnosed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) after pulmonary surgery: A case report
Authors: Huang Jie , Wang Liming , Xu Yumei , Hu Xinhua , Yu Ronghuan , Chen Shi , Wang Baoqing
Published: September 2022

Background

Empyema is one of the complications of pulmonary surgery for lung cancer, the incidence of which is not very high, but in severe cases, it can even lead to death, and it is always difficult to diagnose the cause by conventional methods.

Case presentation

In this study, we report a clinical case of empyema caused by Eikenella halliae after pulmonary surgery in a 55-year-old man. He had a fever, cough, and expectoration for 3 days and was diagnosed with right hydropneumothorax and empyema, pneumonia, postoperative malignant tumor of the right lower lobe (adenocarcinoma), and hypertension. The microbiology laboratory reported Gram-negative bacteria in pleural effusion, which was preliminarily considered as Eikenella based on culture and 16S rRNA sequencing. Furthermore, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of sputum samples was performed two times and reported negative results and the presence of E. halliae, respectively. The pathogen was finally confirmed as E. halliae by whole genome sequencing, suggesting the high-resolution ability of mNGS in the clinical diagnosis of this case.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first case report of E. halliae infection in China, indicating increased pathogenicity of Eikenella sp. in immunocompromised patients, especially after invasive operations. Our findings emphasize that mNGS allows bacterial diagnosis of empyema and can significantly improve the accuracy of the diagnosis.
Gastrointestinal problem among Indian adults: Evidence from longitudinal aging study in India 2017–18
Authors: Dawoodi Sameer , Dawoodi Inshiya , Dixit Priyanka
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Diseases and illnesses of the gastrointestinal system (GIS) have grown in the last decade due to considerable lifestyle changes. People with gastrointestinal (GI) diseases have a high prevalence of depression, stress, anxiety, and impaired central nervous system functioning. Therefore, this study aims to explore the factors associated with the self-reported gastrointestinal problems among the Indian elderly and to explore the relationship between non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension, heart diseases, diabetes, and neurological or psychiatric and gastrointestinal disorder.

Methods

This study uses data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), a population-based national survey, conducted during 2017–2018 with a representative sample of 72,250 individuals. Descriptive statistics were used to provide the frequency distribution of sociodemographic and economic profiles of adults. Bivariate analysis was used to understand the percentage distribution of adults suffering from gastrointestinal problems by their background characteristics. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with gastrointestinal problems. In the binary logistic regression analysis, a systematic model building procedure was adopted.

Results

The overall prevalence of self-reported gastrointestinal problems was 18%, with significant variations among regions, and it substantially increased with the increasing age of men. Hypertension and neurological problems have significant individual effects on gastrointestinal problems. Prevalence was higher in those who suffered from neurological or psychiatric problems (27%) than in those who suffered from hypertension (22%) and heart disease (23%). Adults from the age group 45–54 (1.11, p < 0.01) and 55–64 (1.09, p < 0.01) years were significantly more likely to have gastrointestinal problems compared with the <44 years age group. Former and current smokers and adults with the habits of chewing tobacco were significantly more likely to report gastrointestinal problems than their counterparts. Moreover, the increasing economic status significantly and positively increased the likelihood of having self-reported gastrointestinal problems among adults.

Conclusion

Aging-related gastrointestinal problems are physiological or pathological and more prevalent in the elderly population aged 64 years and above. Hence, policies and interventions have to be made age-specific. Gastrointestinal problems among older adults are acquiring greater importance in clinical practices to plan effective treatment, administration of gastrointestinal drugs, the early screening of gastrointestinal diseases. Given the policy focus through Health and Wellness centers for accessible NCD care, it is important that gastro-intestinal illnesses receive more focus and systemic support.
Assessment of COVID-19 prevention practice and associated factors in Jimma town, Ethiopia: A mixed study
Authors: Bedane Deriba , Abdissa Daba , Leta Bati , Gerema Urge , Lomboro Abraham , Kune Guta , Neme Abiru , Kene Kumsa , Berhanu Nimona , Dubiwak Abebe Dukessa , Tareke Kasahun Girma
Published: September 2022

Background

COVID-19 has affected the mental and physical wellbeing, social structure, countries' economy as well as individuals and community resilience, trust, and inequalities among societies. However, now almost all of the activities have been returned to the pre-corona era, despite the emergence of new strains and the spread of the disease. Hence, this study was conducted to assess COVID-19 prevention practice and the associated factors.

Materials and methods

A community-based cross-sectional study triangulated with the qualitative findings was conducted in Jimma town, Oromia, Ethiopia. A total of 422 sample households were involved in the quantitative study. The quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire and 12 key informants were also interviewed for the qualitative part. The quantitative data were processed and entered into the Epi Data version 4.6 (software) and analyzed using SPSS 26.0. Similarly, the qualitative data were analyzed using ATLASti.7.1.04 software package. Descriptive statistics and binary logistics regression (p < 0.25) were conducted to identify the candidate variable for multivariable logistics regression analysis (p < 0.05) and a 95% confidence interval was used to establish the level of significance of the variables with the practice.

Results

Interviews were conducted with a total of 422 participants, yielding a response rate of 100%. Good preventive practices were found to be adopted by 13.3% of the respondents. People aged ≥ 50 years, [AOR = 2.85, 95%, CI = 1.246–0.53] who recovered from COVID-19, [AOR = 2.41, 95%, CI = 1.184–0.92], had chronic diseases [AOR = 3.70, 95%, CI = 1.887–0.25], and living with COVID-19 high risk [AOR = 2.96, 95%, CI = 1.475–0.991 were independently associated with good preventive practices.

Conclusion

In this study, it was understood that there were poor COVID-19 preventive practices among the study participants. There was a disparity in adherence to the preventive practices in relation to (i.e., 50 and above years) the experience of contracting COVID-19 and people aged above 65 years old living with the high-risk group. In addition, the community had different misconceptions or risk perceptions related to COVID-19 infection and preventive practices. This highlights the need to design health education programs and implement risk and/or social and behavior change communication interventions to change perceptions or misconceptions of people or community members to bring about the desired behavioral change and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Implementing participatory nature-based solutions in the Global South
Authors: Wolff Erich , Rauf Hanna A. , Diep Loan , Natakun Boonanan , Kelly Kris , Hamel Perrine
Published: September 2022

This article delves into the participatory aspects of the implementation of nature-based solutions (NbS) in the Global South. It examines the practices of community engagement in several projects conducted in informal settlements and how they relate to project visions. Building on previous work on community engagement for urban upgrading projects, we examine the relationship between the methods used to engage communities and the goals that guide the design and implementation of NbS. In doing so, we explore engagement practices that can support the emergence of transformative approaches in historically disadvantaged areas. We discuss how the degree of participation offered by different methods, such as citizen science and serious games, can substantially influence the outcomes of NbS projects by making them more integrated and site-specific. We conclude by discussing how the transformative implementation of NbS entails a multi-stakeholder proactive approach that is capable of supporting changes in the socio-ecological systems.
Diagnostic ability and its influenced factors of ultrasound-guided percutaneous pleural needle biopsy diagnosis for malignant pleural mesothelioma
Authors: Zhang Yuxin , Tang Jiaxin , Zhou Xinghua , Chen Wuxi , Zhang Shiyu , Li Yuqin , Zhou Dazhi , He Liantu , Tang Qing
Published: September 2022

Background

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly invasive malignant tumor. Ultrasound guidance has the advantages of real-time, convenience and nonradiative. We sought to identify diagnostic value and its influenced factors of ultrasound-guided percutaneous pleural needle biopsy (US-PPNB) for MPM.

Methods

Patients who underwent US-PPNB between March 2014 and March 2020 and were finally diagnosed with MPM were retrospectively analyzed. We retrospectively analyzed the US-PPNBs pathological results of all patients clinically confirmed as MPM, and divided US-PPNBs into correctly and incorrectly diagnosed groups. Patient, thoracic, and biopsy variables that affected diagnostic accuracy were assessed. All variables significant on univariate analyses were subjected to multivariate logistic regression to identify significant predictors of diagnostic accuracy. We derived cutoffs for all significant continuous variables and used the Mantel–Haenszel test to determine whether the diagnostic accuracy of US-PPNB for MPM increased with pleural thickness.

Results

In total, 49 patients with clinically confirmed MPM underwent US-PPNB; 37 diagnoses were correct and 12 were incorrect (accuracy = 75.5%). The pleura was significantly thicker in the correctly diagnosed group (p < 0.001). The pleural thickness cutoff was 4.15 mm and diagnostic accuracy increased with pleural thickness grade (p for trend <0.05). The diagnostic accuracy was significantly higher when 16-G rather than 18-G biopsy needles were used (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that pleural thickness (odds ratio: 17.2, 95% confidence interval: 2.8–104.1, p = 0.002) and needle size (odds ratio: 6.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.0–44.5, p = 0.044) independently predicted diagnostic accuracy.

Conclusion

US-PPNB afforded high MPM diagnostic accuracy, and pleural thickness and needle size significantly impacted accuracy.