bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating Students’ Use of the Moodle Platform: A Pilot Study Testing
Authors: Zulherman  , Zain Farah Mohamad , Sailin Siti Nazuar
Published: September 2023

The use of the Moodle platform during the pandemic has dramatically increased, especially in education and learning. There have been numerous studies on user acceptance of learning technology. However, until now, there has been no evaluation research on user satisfaction by transformational leadership as a mediator. This study evaluated user satisfaction, namely students, based on the UTAUT and Delone McLean models. The method used is random sampling as a pilot study of 2 classes at a private Islamic university in Jakarta, Indonesia. In this study, we used ten variables, namely; Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Social Influence (SI), Facilitating Conditions (FC), System Quality (SQ), Information Quality (IQ), Service Quality (SeQ), Transformational Leadership (TL), User Satisfaction (US). The results showed that eight hypotheses were accepted out of 6, so 75% of this pilot study was successful. We concluded that how students act significantly affects how interested they are in using the Moodle platform.
Determining the role of environmental covariates on planktivorous elasmobranch population trends within an isolated marine protected area
Authors: Saltzman J , White ER
Published: September 2023

Studies have found predictable relationships between the behavior of planktivores and environmental conditions, suggesting that they may be especially sensitive to environmental change. Most studies to date, however, are based on limited observations, include few of the environmental covariates that influence planktivore behavior, and often do not occur over long enough durations to determine the effects of environmental change. As such, exploration of long-term data sets on planktivores is necessary to disentangle the potential impacts of oceanographic and environmental variability. To elucidate the relationship between 3 groups of planktivorous elasmobranchs (whale sharksRhincodon typus, mobula raysMobulaspp., and manta raysManta birostris)and environmental variability, we employ hierarchical modeling to examine trends in elasmobranch counts from underwater visual censuses (UVCs), conducted over the last 27 yr (1993-2019) by divemasters from Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Data from UVCs were integrated with primarily remotely sensed environmental and oceanographic data. Models revealed that for planktivorous elasmobranchs, environmental variables (chlorophylla, lunar cycle, and salinity) are correlated with occurrence and predicted relative abundances. In lunar phases of lower illuminations, there were significant predicted increases in relative abundances of mobula rays, increased chlorophylladecreased whale shark relative abundance, and increases in salinity correlated with increases in mobula relative abundance but did not correlate with increased observations of mantas or whale sharks. Our findings highlight the need to consider environmental conditions when evaluating the efficacy of marine protection and demonstrate the potential ranging effects of environmental variability on planktivores at Cocos.
Putting up with a pandemic
Authors:   , Koppert Tim Yannick
Published: September 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic created a unique opportunity to examine health as a function of multiple real-life stressors, especially in people with a chronic disease. Early studies indicated that the pandemic had an impact on social, physical and emotional aspects of life. This thesis examined mental and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic in people with and without a chronic illness. Psychological flexibility is assumed to help dealing with adverse circumstances. We examined whether and to what extend psychological flexibility played a health-protecting role during the pandemic and whether the questionnaire that was used to assess psychological flexibility might be shortened.

The five studies of this thesis yielded the following main findings:

Although patients with an Inflammatory Rheumatic Disease (IRD) were more worried and stressed during the acute peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 compared to those without an IRD, their level of mental well-being was not lower compared to that of patients before the pandemic in 2018. There was no indication that psychological flexibility was a protective factor against a deterioration of health.

Higher worry and stress during the pandemic, having a Central Sensitivity Syndrome (CSS) and lower psychological flexibility were all associated with more severe somatic symptoms. However, the association of stress with somatic symptoms was not particularly strong in people with a CSS and psychological flexibility did not buffer this association. The hypothesis that COVID-19 stress augments somatic symptoms particularly in people with a CSS, was not confirmed by our research.

Although health of women with fibromyalgia was persistently low, mental health was not lower and pain and physical functioning were even better during, compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Especially during the prolonged phase of the pandemic in 2021, young adults’ mental and physical health was low, with one exception: in young adults with a chronic illness and low psychological flexibility, physical health was found to be better during the prolonged phase, compared to the acute and pre-pandemic phases.

Factor analysis on the sixty items of the FIT-60 yielded a 2-factor solution, representing items of the ‘mindfulness and acceptance’ dimension of psychological inflexibility and of the ‘commitment and behavior change’ dimension of psychological flexibility, which were also represented in a succinct 18 item questionnaire: the FIT-18.

Overall, this thesis implies that, with exception of young adults, people were perhaps mentally and physically healthier than expected during the pandemic. The expected larger health-preserving role of psychological flexibility, in worse times of the pandemic and in people with a chronic illness, was hardly confirmed. This suggests that more nuanced research is needed, regarding interventions that could support people with low flexibility in putting up with life after the pandemic.
The effect of 2-day heat stress on the lipid composition of bovine milk and serum
Authors: Li Cheng , Liu Zhiqian , Bath Carolyn , Marett Leah C. , Pryce Jennie , Rochfort Simone
Published: September 2023

Milk and serum were collected from dairy cows before and during a 2-day heat challenge. The concentrations of free short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the fatty acid (FA) profile, and the abundance of the major species of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and sphingomyelin (SM) were measured, and samples collected during heat exposure were compared with those collected prior to heat exposure. It was found that a 2-day heat challenge did not alter the global FA composition of milk fat nor the content of the major phospholipids. Although the concentration of SCFAs C3 and C4 and some lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) species in milk was found to be associated with the forage type, neither of these lipid molecules can be used as an indicator of acute heat stress. While it is a positive finding that short-term heat stress has no detrimental effect on the FA composition or the nutritive quality of milk fat, this study highlights the complexity of validating a milk lipid biomarker for heat stress in dairy cows.
Growth factors in the treatment of Achilles tendon injury
Authors: Lin Meina , Li Wei , Ni Xiang , Sui Yu , Li Huan , Chen Xinren , Lu Yongping , Jiang Miao , Wang Chenchao
Published: September 2023

Graphical Abstract
Specific Gestalt principles cannot explain (un)crowding
Authors: Choung Oh-Hyeon , Rashal Einat , Kunchulia Marina , Herzog Michael H.
Published: September 2023

The standard physiological model has serious problems accounting for many aspects of vision, particularly when stimulus configurations become slightly more complex than the ones classically used, e.g., configurations of Gabors rather than only one or a few Gabors. For example, as shown in many publications, crowding cannot be explained with most models crafted in the spirit of the physiological approach. In crowding, a target is neighbored by flanking elements, which impair target discrimination. However, when more flankers are added, performance can improve for certain flanker configurations (uncrowding), which cannot be explained by classic models. As was shown, aspects of perceptual organization play a crucial role in uncrowding. For this reason, we tested here whether known principles of perceptual organization can explain crowding and uncrowding. The answer is negative. As shown with subjective tests, whereas grouping is indeed key in uncrowding, the four Gestalt principles examined here did not provide a clear explanation to this effect, as variability in performance was found between and within categories of configurations. We discuss the philosophical foundations of both the physiological and the classic Gestalt approaches and sketch a way to a happy marriage between the two.
Informing the ethical review of human subjects research utilizing artificial intelligence
Authors: Makridis Christos Andreas , Boese Anthony , Fricks Rafael , Workman Don , Klote Molly , Mueller Joshua , Hildebrandt Isabel J. , Kim Michael , Alterovitz Gil
Published: September 2023

Introduction

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) has produced many opportunities, but also new risks that must be actively managed, particularly in the health care sector with clinical practice to avoid unintended health, economic, and social consequences.

Methods

Given that much of the research and development (R&D) involving human subjects is reviewed and rigorously monitored by institutional review boards (IRBs), we argue that supplemental questions added to the IRB process is an efficient risk mitigation technique available for immediate use. To facilitate this, we introduce AI supplemental questions that provide a feasible, low-disruption mechanism for IRBs to elicit information necessary to inform the review of AI proposals. These questions will also be relevant to review of research using AI that is exempt from the requirement of IRB review. We pilot the questions within the Department of Veterans Affairs–the nation's largest integrated healthcare system–and demonstrate its efficacy in risk mitigation through providing vital information in a way accessible to non-AI subject matter experts responsible for reviewing IRB proposals. We provide these questions for other organizations to adapt to fit their needs and are further developing these questions into an AI IRB module with an extended application, review checklist, informed consent, and other informational materials.

Results

We find that the supplemental AI IRB module further streamlines and expedites the review of IRB projects. We also find that the module has a positive effect on reviewers' attitudes and ease of assessing the potential alignment and risks associated with proposed projects.

Discussion

As projects increasingly contain an AI component, streamlining their review and assessment is important to avoid posing too large of a burden on IRBs in their review of submissions. In addition, establishing a minimum standard that submissions must adhere to will help ensure that all projects are at least aware of potential risks unique to AI and dialogue with their local IRBs over them. Further work is needed to apply these concepts to other non-IRB pathways, like quality improvement projects.
The untapped potential of seascape genomics in the North Pacific
Authors: Timm Laura E. , Tucker Nicholas , Rix Anna , LaBua Savannah , López J. Andrés , Boswell Kevin M , Glass Jessica R
Published: September 2023

Seascape genomics provides a powerful framework to evaluate the presence and strength of environmental pressures on marine organisms, as well as to forecast long term species stability under various perturbations. In the highly productive North Pacific, forage fishes, key trophic links across ecosystems, are also contending with a rapidly warming climate and a litany of associated oceanographic changes (e.g., changes in salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, primary production, etc.). These changes can place substantial selective pressures on populations over space and time. While several population genomics studies have targeted forage fishes in the North Pacific, none have formally analyzed the interactions between genotype and environment. However, when population genomics studies provide collection location information and other critical data, it is possible to supplement a published genomic dataset with environmental data from existing public databases and perform “post hoc seascape genomics” analyses. In reviewing the literature, we find pertinent metadata (dates and locations of sample collection) are rarely provided. We identify specific factors that may impede the application of seascape genomics methods in the North Pacific. Finally, we present an approach for supplementing data in a reproducible way to allow for post hoc seascape genomics analysis, in instances when metadata are reported. Overall, our goal is to demonstrate – via literature review – the utility and importance of seascape genomics to understanding the long term health of forage fish species in the North Pacific.
Predictors and prognostic implications of hospital-acquired pneumonia in patients admitted for acute heart failure
Authors: Polovina Marija , Tomić Milenko , Viduljević Mihajlo , Zlatić Nataša , Stojićević Andrea , Civrić Danka , Milošević Aleksandra , Krljanac Gordana , Lasica Ratko , Ašanin Milika
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Data on predictors and prognosis of hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) in patients admitted for acute heart failure (AHF) to intensive care units (ICU) are scarce. Better knowledge of these factors may inform management strategies. This study aimed to assess the incidence and predictors of HAP and its impact on management and outcomes in patients hospitalised for AHF in the ICU.

Methods

this was a retrospective single-centre observational study. Patient-level and outcome data were collected from an anonymized registry-based dataset. Primary outcome was in-hospital all-cause mortality and secondary outcomes included length of stay (LOS), requirement for inotropic/ventilatory support, and prescription patterns of heart failure (HF) drug classes at discharge.

Results

Of 638 patients with AHF (mean age, 71.6 ± 12.7 years, 61.9% male), HAP occurred in 137 (21.5%). In multivariable analysis, HAP was predicted by de novo AHF, higher NT proB-type natriuretic peptide levels, pleural effusion on chest x-ray, mitral regurgitation, and a history of stroke, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Patients with HAP had a longer LOS, and a greater likelihood of requiring inotropes (adjusted odds ratio, OR, 2.31, 95% confidence interval, CI, 2.16–2.81; p < 0.001) or ventilatory support (adjusted OR 2.11, 95%CI, 1.76–2.79, p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, sex and clinical covariates, all-cause in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients with HAP (hazard ratio, 2.10; 95%CI, 1.71–2.84; p < 0.001). Patients recovering from HAP were less likely to receive HF medications at discharge.

Discussion

HAP is frequent in AHF patients in the ICU setting and more prevalent in individuals with de novo AHF, mitral regurgitation, higher burden of comorbidities, and more severe congestion. HAP confers a greater risk of complications and in-hospital mortality, and a lower likelihood of receiving evidence-based HF medications at discharge.
Long-term adoption of bed planted conservation agriculture based maize/cotton-wheat system enhances soil organic carbon stabilization within aggregates in the indo-gangetic plains
Authors: Joseph Ann Maria , Bhattacharyya Ranjan , Biswas D. R. , Das T. K. , Bandyopadhyay K. K. , Dey Abir , Ghosh Avijit , Roy Plabani , Naresh Kumar Soora , Jat S. L. , Casini Ryan , Elansary Hosam O. , Bhatia Arti
Published: September 2023

Sustainability of contemporary crop establishment and management practices is questioned due to soil degradation, higher carbon emission and declining soil productivity. Hence, this study was conducted to address the impacts of conservation agriculture (CA) practices like permanent broad beds (PBB), permanent narrow beds (PNB) and zero tilled flat beds (ZT) with residue retention on soil organic carbon (SOC) protection within aggregates in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). Compared to conventionally tilled (CT) plots, the total SOC content was ∼27%–33% higher in the CA plots on equivalent mass basis. The soil physical properties, such as soil aggregation and mean weight diameter were considerably improved under the CA practices. The macroaggregates were ∼41, 37% and 27% higher in the PBB with residue (PBB + R), PNB with residue (PNB + R) and ZT with residue (ZT + R) plots (CA plots), respectively, than the CT plots in the surface soil (0–15 cm). The plots under PBB + R had ∼31% higher microaggregates within macroaggregates than the CT plots (24.4 g 100 g−1) soil. An increase in SOC content by ∼72, 55% and 69% was observed in the PBB + R, PNB + R and ZT + R plots over the CT plots in microaggregates within macroaggregates (3.02 Mg ha−1). However, plots under PBB + R, PNB + R and ZT + R had only ∼11, 3% and 23% more SOC within silt + clay fraction, respectively, than CT plots (5.85 Mg ha−1). Thus, SOC stabilization within microaggregates inside macroaggregates was the major mechanism, and not the chemical stabilization within silt + clay, of C sequestration under CA. As aggregate-associated carbon is an ecosystem property that strongly affects organic carbon stabilization, water holding capacity and resistance to erosion, growing maize/cotton–wheat system under PBB + R practice is a viable option for carbon sequestration in the IGP and similar agro-ecologies.
Vaccine hesitancy and knowledge regarding maternal immunization among reproductive age women in central Italy: a cross sectional study
Authors: Moschese Viviana , De Angelis Luigi , Capogna Maria Vittoria , Graziani Simona , Baglivo Francesco , Pietropolli Adalgisa , Miraglia Del Giudice Michele , Rizzo Caterina ,   the Italian Society of Pediatric Allergology and Immunology (SIAIP) Vaccine Committee
Published: September 2023

Background

Vaccination in pregnancy offers protection to the mother and the newborn. In Italy, influenza, pertussis, and COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended in pregnancy, but vaccination coverage is still far from the National Immunization Plan goals. We aimed to assess knowledge and attitude on maternal immunization in two groups of Italian women, in pregnancy and in reproductive age (non pregnant).

Methods

A cross sectional study on Italian childbearing age women gathering information on their knowledge on maternal immunization and attitudes to receiving influenza and pertussis vaccines in pregnancy was carried out at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, between September 2019 and February 2020. Logistic and multinomial regressions were chosen as statistical tests for our analysis.

Results

1,031 women participated in the survey by answering the questionnaire. Out of these, 553 (53.6%) women were pregnant, and 478 (46.4%) were in the reproductive age. 37% (204/553) of pregnant women and 41% (198/476) of non pregnant women are aware of the existence of an immunization plan for pregnant women in Italy. The group with age between 20 and 30, for both pregnant women and women in the reproductive age, has a better knowledge of vaccination in pregnancy. Working status is a variable associated with more awareness about vaccination during pregnancy only for pregnant women (OR = 2.34, p < 0.00001). Educational status, trimester of pregnancy and knowledge on the topic are associated with vaccine hesitancy in our multivariate analysis for pregnant women. In the reproductive age group women who had a previous pregnancy are more likely to be hesitant towards vaccination in pregnancy, on the other hand the one with a higher knowledge and educational status are more likely to get vaccinated.

Conclusions

The study highlights the persistent vaccine hesitancy among Italian women of reproductive age and pregnant women. Despite healthcare providers being identified as a reliable source of information, their recommendations alone are insufficient to overcome vaccine hesitancy. Factors such as employment status, educational level, pregnancy trimester, and knowledge about vaccinations during pregnancy influence vaccine hesitancy. Tailored educational interventions and communication campaigns targeting these areas can help reduce vaccine hesitancy and promote maternal immunization.
The real ethical problem with metaverses
Authors: Munn Nick , Weijers Dan
Published: September 2023

Many philosophers hold that the human risks associated with the development and use of metaverses arise primarily from their status–they are unreal in ways that make the experiences within them meaningless and thereby less prudentially valuable. This purported unreality is not merely a result of the virtual or intangible nature of metaverses. Rather, it arises from the idea that, regardless of the experiences, interactions, and affordances of metaverses, what we do in these spaces is somehow different and impoverished compared to what we do in the physical world. Those who think this believe that our behavior and interactions within metaverses are inferior to our behaviors and interactions in the physical world in a way that confers less value on the lives of those engaging regularly within metaverses. Some commentators worry that repeated exposure to these impoverished virtual experiences will somehow dehumanize us or make us worse at offline interactions, and certainly reduce the amount of time we have for more meaningful real-world pursuits. If true, this would be a serious concern for metaverse-evangelists and users. However, in this article we will argue that it is not so— in fact, metaverses are morally relevantly similar to the physical world, and capable of providing most of the experiences and interactions we find in the physical world – whether positive or negative. However, metaverses are not without risks. We claim that the real ethical problem with metaverses arises, in their current instantiation, from the risks involved in their development as commercial enterprises, locking users into particular infrastructures and placing power over the continuation or termination of the metaverse in the hands of a corporate entity that has goals and motivations independent of those of the users of the metaverse.
High CD8+tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes indicate severe exhaustion and poor prognosis in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma
Authors: Zhu Qiqi , Yang Yiming , Deng Xueqin , Chao Ningning , Chen Zihang , Ye Yunxia , Zhang Wenyan , Liu Weiping , Zhao Sha
Published: September 2023

Background

Exhaustion of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), characterized by the overexpression of immune checkpoints (IC), is a major impediment to anti-tumor immunity. However, the exhaustion status of CD8+TILs in angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL) remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the exhaustion status of CD8+TILs in AITL and its influence on prognosis.

Methods

The correlation between CD8+TILs and IC expression in AITL was analyzed using single-cell RNA sequencing (n = 2), flow cytometry (n = 20), and RNA sequencing (n = 20). Biological changes related to CD8+TILs exhaustion at different cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) levels (mean expression levels of CD8A, CD8B, GZMA, GZMB, and PRF1) in AITL were evaluated using RNA sequencing (n = 20) and further validated using the GEO dataset (n = 51). The impact of CD8 protein expression and CTL levels on patient prognosis was analyzed using flow cytometry and RNA sequencing, respectively.

Results

Our findings demonstrated that the higher the infiltration of CD8+TILs, the higher was the proportion of exhausted CD8+TILs characterized by the overexpression of multiple IC. This was accompanied by extensive exhaustion-related biological changes, which suggested severe exhaustion in CD8+TILs and may be one of the main reasons for the poor prognosis of patients with high CD8+TILs and CTL.

Conclusion

Our study comprehensively reveals the exhaustion status of CD8+TILs and their potential negative impact on AITL prognosis, which facilitates further mechanistic studies and is valuable for guiding immunotherapy strategies.
Construction and validation of a predictive model for the risk of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis after peritoneal dialysis catheterization
Authors: Dai Rong , Peng Chuyi , Sang Tian , Cheng Meng , Wang Yiping , Zhang Lei
Published: September 2023

Aim

To construct and validate a risk prediction model for the development of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP) in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods

This retrospective analysis included patients undergoing PD at the Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, between January 2016 and January 2021. Baseline data were collected. The primary study endpoint was PDAP occurrence. Patients were divided into a training cohort (n = 264) and a validation cohort (n = 112) for model building and validation. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was applied to optimize the screening variables. Predictive models were developed using multifactorial logistic regression analysis with column line plots. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit tests were used to verify and evaluate the discrimination and calibration of the prediction models. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to assess the clinical validity of the prediction models.

Results

Five potential predictors of PDAP after PD catheterization were screened using LASSO regression analysis, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), serum ALBumin (ALB), uric acid (UA), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and diabetes mellitus (DM). Predictive models were developed by multi-factor logistic regression analysis and plotted in columns. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) values were 0.891 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.829–0.844) and 0.882 (95% CI: 0.722–0.957) for the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed a good fit (p = 0.829 for the training cohort; p = 0.602 for the validation cohort). The DCA curves indicated that the threshold probabilities for the training and validation cohorts were 4–64% and 3–90%, respectively, predicting a good net gain for the clinical model.

Conclusion

NLR, ALB, UA, hsCRP, and DM are independent predictors of PDAP after PD catheterization. The column line graph model constructed based on the abovementioned factors has good discriminatory and calibrating ability and helps to predict the risk of PDAP after PD catheterization.
Differential response of the soil nutrients, soil bacterial community structure and metabolic functions to different risk areas in Lead-Zine tailings
Authors: Liu Zexun , Zhuang Jiayao , Zheng Kang , Luo Chengcheng
Published: September 2023

Rapid growth in the mining industry has brought about a large formation of tailings, which result in serious destruction of the ecological environment and severe soil pollution problems. This study assesses soil nutrients, soil bacterial community and soil microbes’ metabolic function in heavily polluted areas (W1), moderately polluted areas (W2), lightly polluted areas (W3) and clean areas (CK) using 16S Illumina sequencing. The results of this study showed that compared with CK, a severe loss of soil nutrients and richness of OTUs (Chao1 and ACE indices) were observed with the aggravated pollution of tailings. The Chao1 and ACE indices in the W1 group decreased significantly by 15.53 and 16.03%, respectively, (p < 0.01). Besides, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria was high whereas and relative abundance of Chloroflexi in the polluted areas. Among them, W1 groups increased significantly the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and decreased significantly the relative abundance of Chloroflexi, these can be used as indicator phyla for changes in soil community structures under polluted stress. Tax4 Fun analysis showed that W1 groups affected the soil bacterial community and altered the primary types of biological metabolism in polluted areas. Tailings have adverse impacts on soil bacterial community and metabolic functions, and the deterioration in soil quality is dependent on the levels of tailings pollution. Cumulatively, this study provides valuable information on the bacterial community structure and metabolic functions in the tailing polluted soil.
Insights into early evolutionary adaptations of the Akkermansia genus to the vertebrate gut
Authors: González Dámariz , Morales-Olavarria Mauricio , Vidal-Veuthey Boris , Cárdenas Juan P.
Published: September 2023

Akkermansia, a relevant mucin degrader from the vertebrate gut microbiota, is a member of the deeply branched Verrucomicrobiota, as well as the only known member of this phylum to be described as inhabitants of the gut. Only a few Akkermansia species have been officially described so far, although there is genomic evidence addressing the existence of more species-level variants for this genus. This niche specialization makes Akkermansia an interesting model for studying the evolution of microorganisms to their adaptation to the gastrointestinal tract environment, including which kind of functions were gained when the Akkermansia genus originated or how the evolutionary pressure functions over those genes. In order to gain more insight into Akkermansia adaptations to the gastrointestinal tract niche, we performed a phylogenomic analysis of 367 high-quality Akkermansia isolates and metagenome-assembled genomes, in addition to other members of Verrucomicrobiota. This work was focused on three aspects: the definition of Akkermansia genomic species clusters and the calculation and functional characterization of the pangenome for the most represented species; the evolutionary relationship between Akkermansia and their closest relatives from Verrucomicrobiota, defining the gene families which were gained or lost during the emergence of the last Akkermansia common ancestor (LAkkCA) and; the evaluation of the evolutionary pressure metrics for each relevant gene family of main Akkermansia species. This analysis found 25 Akkermansia genomic species clusters distributed in two main clades, divergent from their non-Akkermansia relatives. Pangenome analyses suggest that Akkermansia species have open pangenomes, and the gene gain/loss model indicates that genes associated with mucin degradation (both glycoside hydrolases and peptidases), (micro)aerobic metabolism, surface interaction, and adhesion were part of LAkkCA. Specifically, mucin degradation is a very ancestral innovation involved in the origin of Akkermansia. Horizontal gene transfer detection suggests that Akkermansia could receive genes mostly from unknown sources or from other Gram-negative gut bacteria. Evolutionary metrics suggest that Akkemansia species evolved differently, and even some conserved genes suffered different evolutionary pressures among clades. These results suggest a complex evolutionary landscape of the genus and indicate that mucin degradation could be an essential feature in Akkermansia evolution as a symbiotic species.
A mini-review: recent advancements in temporal interference stimulation in modulating brain function and behavior
Authors: Zhu Zhiqiang , Yin Lijun
Published: September 2023

Numerous studies have assessed the effect of Temporal Interference (TI) on human performance. However, a comprehensive literature review has not yet been conducted. Therefore, this review aimed to search PubMed and Web of Science databases for TI-related literature and analyze the findings. We analyzed studies involving preclinical, human, and computer simulations, and then discussed the mechanism and safety of TI. Finally, we identified the gaps and outlined potential future directions. We believe that TI is a promising technology for the treatment of neurological movement disorders, due to its superior focality, steerability, and tolerability compared to traditional electrical stimulation. However, human experiments have yielded fewer and inconsistent results, thus animal and simulation experiments are still required to perfect stimulation protocols for human trials.
Combined early palliative care for non-small-cell lung cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial in Chongqing, China
Authors: Chen Mengting , Yu Huiqing , Yang Liejun , Yang Hong , Cao Haoyang , Lei Lei , Ma Liling , Liu Shihong , Tian Ling , Wang Sixiong
Published: September 2023

Purpose

More effective approaches are needed to improve the prognosis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Thus, we used the E-warm model to assess how early integration of interdisciplinary palliative care was related to the quality of life (QoL), psychological functioning, pain management, and nutrition factors of NSCLC patients.

Methods

This randomized controlled trial enrolled 280 newly diagnosed NSCLC patients, which were randomly divided (1:1) into combined early palliative care (CEPC) and standard oncological care (SC) groups. At baseline and after 24 weeks, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to assess QoL and psychological function, respectively. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) were used to assess cancer patients’ pain and nutrition levels. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes comprised changes in the QoL, psychological functioning, pain, and nutrition state. The intention-to-treat method was applied for analysis. This study was registered at www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2200062617).

Results

Of the 140 patients enrolled in the CEPC and SC groups, 102 and 82 completed the research. The CEPC group presented higher QoL than the SC group (p < 0.05). Additionally, fewer patients presented depressive symptoms in the CEPC group than in the SC group (p < 0.05), as well as better nutritional status (p = 0.007) and pain management (p = 0.003). Compared to the SC group, CEPC patients had significantly longer OS (20.4 vs. 24.6 months, p = 0.042; HR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.04-0.85, p = 0.029).

Conclusion

With combined early palliative care, NSCLC patients lived longer, had better QoL, were psychologically stable, were in less pain, and were more nutritionally satisfied.
Characteristics of second primary breast cancer after ovarian cancer: a Korea central cancer registry retrospective study
Authors: Lee Eun-Gyeong , Lim Jiwon , Ha Hyeong In , Lim Myong Cheol , Chang Yoon Jung , Won Young-Joo , Jung So-Youn
Published: September 2023

Background

Second primary cancer has become an important issue among cancer survivors. This study sought to determine the differences in clinicopathologic outcomes between second primary breast cancer (SPBC) after ovarian cancer and primary breast cancer (PBC) in the Republic of Korea.

Methods and materials

We searched the Korea Central Cancer Registry and identified 251,244 breast cancer cases that were diagnosed between 1999 and 2017. The incident rate and standardized incidence ratio (SIR) were calculated. Demographic and clinical characteristics and overall survival (OS) rates were estimated according to age, histological type, and cancer stage.

Results

Among the 228,329 patients included, 228,148 were patients with PBC, and 181 patients had SPBC diagnosed after ovarian cancer (OC). The mean ages at diagnosis were 56.09 ± 10.81 years for SPBC and 50.65 ± 11.40 years for PBC. Patients with SPBC were significantly less likely than patients with PBC to receive adjuvant radiotherapy (14.92% vs. 21.92%, p = 0.02) or adjuvant chemotherapy (44.75% vs. 55.69%, p < 0.01). Based on the age-standardized rate (ASR), the incidence of SPBC after OC was 293.58 per 100,000 ovarian cancer patients and the incidence of PBC was 39.13 per 100,000 women. The SIR for SPBC was 1.27 (1.09-1.46, 95% Confidence interval) in the patients overall. The 5-year OS rates were 72.88% and 89.37% for SPBC and PBC (p < 0.01). The OS rate in SPBC decreased significantly with advanced stage and older age.

Conclusion

The incidence of breast cancer is about 1.27 times higher in ovarian cancer patients than in healthy people. The survival outcomes were worse for SPBC than for PBC and were related to older age and advanced stage. Active screening for breast cancer is necessary in ovarian cancer patients.
Neuroprotective potential of Marsilea quadrifolia Linn against monosodium glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in rats
Authors: Subramanian Arunkumar , Tamilanban T. , Sekar Mahendran , Begum M. Yasmin , Atiya Akhtar , Ramachawolran Gobinath , Wong Ling Shing , Subramaniyan Vetriselvan , Gan Siew Hua , Mat Rani Nur Najihah Izzati , Wu Yuan Seng , Chinni Suresh V. , Fuloria Shivkanya , Fuloria Neeraj Kumar
Published: September 2023

Graphical Abstract
Molecular interactions between the soilborne pathogenic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina and its host plants
Authors: Shirai Miwa , Eulgem Thomas
Published: September 2023

Mentioned for the first time in an article 1971, the occurrence of the term “Macrophomina phaseolina” has experienced a steep increase in the scientific literature over the past 15 years. Concurrently, incidences of M. phaseolina-caused crop diseases have been getting more frequent. The high levels of diversity and plasticity observed for M. phasolina genomes along with a rich equipment of plant cell wall degrading enzymes, secondary metabolites and putative virulence effectors as well as the unusual longevity of microsclerotia, their asexual reproduction structures, make this pathogen very difficult to control and crop protection against it very challenging. During the past years several studies have emerged reporting on host defense measures against M. phaseolina, as well as mechanisms of pathogenicity employed by this fungal pathogen. While most of these studies have been performed in crop systems, such as soybean or sesame, recently interactions of M. phaseolina with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana have been described. Collectively, results from various studies are hinting at a complex infection cycle of M. phaseolina, which exhibits an early biotrophic phase and switches to necrotrophy at later time points during the infection process. Consequently, responses of the hosts are complex and seem coordinated by multiple defense-associated phytohormones. However, at this point no robust and strong host defense mechanism against M. phaseolina has been described.
Whether mindfulness-guided therapy can be a new direction for the rehabilitation of patients with Parkinson’s disease: a network meta-analysis of non-pharmacological alternative motor-/sensory-based interventions
Authors: He Shenglan , Fang Wanyi , Wu Jiaoyang , Lv Hang , Zhang Jueyu , Wang Tunyi , Huang Yingjie , Li Guangyao , Li Min
Published: September 2023

Background

The treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD) consumes a lot of manpower and financial resources. Non-pharmacological alternative motor-/sensory-based interventions are optimized for the rehabilitation of PD patients. Mindfulness-based therapy shows ideal efficacy, but the diversity of the therapy brings difficulties to the selection of clinicians and patients.

Methods

Network meta-analysis in the Bayesian framework was used to evaluate the efficacy of non-pharmacological alternative motor-/sensory-based interventions in improving motor and non-motor symptoms in PD patients.

Results

A total of 58 studies (2,227 patients) were included. Compared with the non-intervention group, qigong was associated with improved outcomes in the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test (mean difference (MD) −5.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) −8.28 to −2.77), and UPDRS-I (MD −15.50, 95% CI −19.93 to −7.63). Differences between non-pharmacological alternative motor-/sensory-based interventions were not significant for PDQ-39, UPDRS-I, or UPDRS-II; however, qigong was superior to dance (MD −3.91, 95% CI −6.90 to −0.95), Tai Chi (MD −3.54, 95% CI −6.53 to −0.69), acupuncture (MD −6.75, 95% CI −10.86 to −2.70), music (MD -3.91, 95% CI −7.49 to −0.48), and exercise (MD −3.91, 95% CI −6.49 to −1.33) in the TUG test.

Conclusion

This network meta-analysis supports mindfulness-based therapy (e.g., qigong, yoga, and Tai Chi) as a preferred non-pharmacological alternative motor-/sensory-based intervention for PD rehabilitation.

Systematic review registration

https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-10-0109/, INPLASY2022100109.
Decision making influences movement variability and performance of high-level female football players in an elastic resistance task
Authors: Tuyà Viñas Sílvia , Fernández-Valdés Villa Bruno , Pérez-Chirinos Buxadé Carla , González Jacob , Moras Feliu Gerard
Published: September 2023

Introduction

The inclusion of sport-specific constraints in resistance training promotes the development of player abilities in an integrated way, which maximises the effectiveness of player adaptations induced by training. Considering that perceptual-cognitive abilities play a fundamental role in football, decision making could be introduced to enhance the cognitive similarity of resistance tasks to sport actions. However, it is unknown how decision making as a constraint could affect the player during an elastic resistance task. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of decision making of high-level female football players on movement variability and performance during an elastic band resistance task.

Methods

Twenty-three high-level female football players performed the elastic resistance task with a ball, both as attackers and as defenders without decision making (NDM) and with decision making (DM). The movement variability was quantified using the sample entropy derived from the acceleration recorded with an accelerometer placed at the lower back of each player. The passing accuracy of the attacker was quantified using a scoring scale.

Results

Results revealed that adding decision making to an elastic resistance task increased the movement variability of the defender but did not affect the movement variability of the attacker. In contrast, the passing accuracy of the attacker was reduced. Overall, the attacker had a higher movement variability compared to the defender.

Discussion

These findings suggest that decision making, as a football-specific constraint, can enhance the potential of an elastic resistance task in training. This is due to the fact that it reduces control and regularity of movement for the defensive role player and increases technical difficulty for the attacking role player. Furthermore, these effects are beneficial, as they can promote the adaptive processes necessary to optimise the performance of the players.
Opiate maintenance patients’ attitudes and self-reported adherence to protective measures against SARS-CoV-2 infections
Authors: Specka Michael , Kröckert Tobias , Trilling Mirko , Bonnet Udo , Schifano Fabrizio , Scherbaum Norbert
Published: September 2023

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic we assessed to which extent patients in opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) adhere to official recommendations regarding preventive intervention strategies against COVID-19.

Methods

Patients enrolled in two OMT clinics in Germany were interviewed applying a standardized questionnaire, which covered socio-demographic information, recent psychotropic substance use, recent social activities, the history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, attitudes toward official protection recommendations, and levels of adherence to these suggestions. Current mental and medical diagnoses were retrieved from medical files. In subjects without known infection and without vaccination, blood samples were tested for the identification of anti-SARS-CoV-2-S-antibodies. Interviews were performed between the end of May and the end of September 2021.

Results

Patients’ (n = 155) average age was 47 years; 74% were males. In addition to the opiate dependence, in nearly 80% of cases another medical disorder was recorded. The range of medical factors that predispose for severe COVID-19 outcomes were present in 39% of patients; 18% of the sample refused to be vaccinated. Nearly all patients reported having carried out a range of activities outside their residence during the week prior to the interviews, including visits of treatment facilities (86.5%; 95% confidence interval [80.2%; 91.0%]) or meeting with friends (64.5% [65.7–71.6%]). Despite the fact that only about 47.1% [39.2%; 55%] felt well informed about measures against infection, adherence to COVID-19 countermeasures was generally high: 83.9% [77.3; 88.8%] claimed to have worn face masks always/nearly always; social distancing was performed always/nearly always by 58.7% [50.8%; 66.2%]; and hand hygiene was conducted by 64.5% [56.7%; 71.6%] of participants. None out ofn = 25 tests from unvaccinated subjects was positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2-S-antibodies. Psychiatric comorbidity and educational degree were not statistically significantly associated with attitudes and compliance, except that patients with lower education felt relatively worse informed.

Conclusion

Self-reported adherence to recommended non-therapeutic intervention strategies and vaccination rates were similar to the German general population. Provision of more health-related information tailored to OMT patients appears necessary.