bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of eutrophication on microbial community structure in sediment, seawater, and phyllosphere of seagrass ecosystems
Authors: Deng Wenchao , Chen Shunyang , Chen Shiquan , Xing Bingpeng , Chan Zhuhua , Zhang Yao , Chen Bin , Chen Guangcheng
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Seagrass-associated microbial communities play a crucial role in the growth and health of seagrasses. However, like seagrass meadows, seagrass-associated microbial communities are often affected by eutrophication. It remains unclear how eutrophication influences the composition and function of microbial communities associated with different parts of seagrass.

Methods

We employed prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing combining microbial community structure analysis and co-occurrence network analysis to investigate variances in microbial community compositions, potential functions and complexities across sediment, seagrass leaves, and seawater within different eutrophic areas of two adjacent seagrass meadows on Hainan Island, China.

Results

Our results indicated that microbial diversity on seagrass leaves was significantly lower than in sediment but significantly higher than in seawater. Both sediment and phyllosphere microbial diversity showed no significant difference between the highly eutrophic and less eutrophic sites in each lagoon. However, sediment microbial diversity was higher in the more eutrophic lagoon, while phyllosphere microbial diversity was higher in the less eutrophic lagoon. Heavy eutrophication increased the relative abundance of phyllosphere microorganisms potentially involved in anaerobic metabolic processes, while reducing those responsible for beneficial functions like denitrification. The main factor affecting microbial diversity was organic carbon in seawater and sediment, with high organic carbon levels leading to decreased microbial diversity. The co-occurrence network analysis revealed that heavy eutrophication notably reduced the complexity and internal connections of the phyllosphere microbial community in comparison to the sediment and seawater microbial communities. Furthermore, ternary analysis demonstrated that heavy eutrophication diminished the external connections of the phyllosphere microbial community with the sediment and seawater microbial communities.

Conclusion

The pronounced decrease in biodiversity and complexity of the phyllosphere microbial community under eutrophic conditions can lead to greater microbial functional loss, exacerbating seagrass decline. This study emphasizes the significance of phyllosphere microbial communities compared to sediment microbial communities in the conservation and restoration of seagrass meadows under eutrophic conditions.
Enhancing dementia risk screening with GAN-synthesized periodontal examination and general blood test data
Authors: Oyama Katsunori , Isogai Toshiki , Nakayama Yohei , Kobayashi Ryoki , Kitano Daisuke , Karako Kenji , Sakatani Kaoru
Published: August 2024

Introduction

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of data augmentation to improve dementia risk prediction using machine learning models. Recent studies have shown that basic blood tests are cost-effective in predicting cognitive function. However, developing models that address various conditions poses challenges due to constraints associated with blood test results and cognitive assessments, including high costs, limited sample sizes, and missing data from tests not performed in certain facilities. Despite being often limited by small sample sizes, periodontal examination data have also emerged as a cost-effective screening tool.

Methods

To address these challenges, this study explored the effectiveness of data augmentation using the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique for Regression with Gaussian noise (SMOGN), a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN), and a Conditional Tabular GAN (CTGAN) on periodontal examination and blood test data. The datasets included parameters such as cognitive assessment results from the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), demographic characteristics, periodontal examination data, and blood test results. Linear regression models, random forests, and deep neural networks were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the synthesized data.

Results

This study used measured data from 108 participants and the synthesized data generated from the measured data. External validity was evaluated using a different dataset of 41 participants with missing items. The results suggested that normal GANs have the advantage of investigating models in data diversity, whereas CTGANs preserve the data structure and linear relationships in tabular data from the measured data, which drastically improves linear regression models.

Discussion

Importantly, by interpolating sparse areas in the distribution, such as age, the synthesized models maintained prediction accuracy for test data with extreme inputs. These findings suggest that GAN-synthesized data can effectively address regression problems and improve dementia risk prediction.
Global, regional, and national burden of stroke attributable to diet high in sodium from 1990 to 2019: a systematic analysis from the global burden of disease study 2019
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Ye Wen-qian , Xin Xue-Ke , Gao Ying-jie , Yang Fan
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Given the increasing occurrence of stroke and high-sodium diets (DHIS) over the past 30 years, it is crucial to assess the global, national, and regional impact of DHIS on the burden of stroke.

Methods and materials

The Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019 provided the study's data. We used the Bayesian meta-regression tool DisMod-MR 2.1 to evaluate the burden of stroke attributable to DHIS. Age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (ASDR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) were used to quantify the burden. We perform correlation analysis utilizing the Spearman rank-order correlation method, and we calculate the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) to evaluate temporal trends.

Results

Globally, DHIS accounts for 17,673.33 thousand disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and 700.98 thousand deaths of stroke in 2019. The burden of stroke attributable to DHIS has declined between 1990 and 2019 globally and in the majority of regions, with the largest declines seen in regions with high sociodemographic indexes (SDI). Both ASMR and ASDR were higher regionally in regions with moderate SDI than those in developed regions. Furthermore, the absolute values of EAPC, reflecting the rate of decrease, were notably lower in these regions compared to developed nations. High-income North America, categorized within the SDI regions, notably witnessed the smallest decline in ASDR over the last three decades. Additionally, from 1990 to 2019, males consistently bore a larger burden of stroke attributable to DHIS.

Conclusion

The burden of stroke attributable to DHIS remained a major concern despite advancements in public knowledge of stroke and their utilization of emergency medical services. Over the past 30 years, more burden has been placed on males and regions with moderate SDI values; in males, higher EAPC values for both ASMR and ASDR have been found. This underscores the urgent need for effective interventions to alleviate the burden of stroke associated with DHIS.
Altered regional neural activity and functional connectivity in patients with non-communicating hydrocephalus: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Huang Xiaoyuan , Jin Lu , Chang Tengwu , Liu Jian , Qu Yuan , Li Jinyong , Bai Wenju , Li Chuzhong , Wang Jichao
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Cognitive impairment is a frequent clinical symptom of non-communicating hydrocephalus (NCH) involving multiple domains, including executive function, working memory, visual-spatial function, language, and attention. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be used to obtain information on functional activity in local brain areas and functional connectivity (FC) across multiple brain regions. However, studies on the associated cognitive impairment are limited; further, the pathophysiological mechanisms of NCH with cognitive impairment remain unclear. Here, we aimed to explore alterations in regional neural activity and FC, as well as the mechanisms of cognitive impairment, in patients with NCH.

Methods

Overall, 16 patients with NCH and 25 demographically matched healthy controls (HCs) were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and fMRI. Changes in regional homogeneity (ReHo), degree centrality (DC), and region of interest-based FC were analyzed in both groups. The relationship between fMRI metrics (ReHo, DC, and FC) and MMSE scores in patients with NCH was also investigated.

Results and discussion

Compared with the HC group, the NCH group exhibited significantly lower ReHo values in the left precentral and postcentral gyri, and significantly higher ReHo values in the left medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). The NCH group also showed significantly higher DC values in the bilateral MPFC compared with the HC group. Regarding seed-based FC, the MPFC showed reduced FC values in the right superior parietal and postcentral gyrus in the NCH group compared with those in the HC group. Moreover, within the NCH group, MMSE scores were significantly negatively correlated with the ReHo value in the left MPFC and the DC value in the bilateral MPFC, whereas MMSE scores were significantly positively correlated with FC values. To conclude, regional neural activity and FC are altered in patients with NCH and are correlated with cognitive impairment. These results advance our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the association between NCH and cognitive impairment.
New CAD modeling approach in Geant4 with half-space CSG
Authors: Qiu Y.
Published: August 2024

Geant4 offers constructive solid geometry (CSG) for modeling detector geometries, but representing intricate computer-aided design (CAD) structures can be cumbersome. This article presents a novel approach that overcomes this limitation. A new CSG solid type called “half-space solid” enables the equivalent representation of complex CAD solids within Geant4. An automatic program utilizes optimized decomposition algorithms to convert CAD solids into half-space solids. The geometry description markup language (GDML) has been extended to accommodate the half-space solid type alongside the development of interfaces for exporting converted geometries and their subsequent import into Geant4. These advancements establish a fully automated workflow for converting CAD geometries into CSG-based representations suitable for Geant4 simulations. The reliability of the half-space solid-based modeling approach has been verified through comparisons with established Geant4 solids for both simple shapes and a complex fusion reactor model. The excellent agreement obtained from these comparisons demonstrates the efficiency of this new approach.
Harnessing nature’s pharmacy: investigating natural compounds as novel therapeutics for ulcerative colitis
Authors: Huang You , Wu Qiuhong , Li Sha , Lin Xia , Yang Shasha , Zhu Rui , Fu Chaomei , Zhang Zhen
Published: August 2024

Backgrounds

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a form of chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and UC diagnosis rates continue to rise throughout the globe. The research and development of new drugs for the treatment of UC are urgent, and natural compounds are an important source. However, there is a lack of systematic summarization of natural compounds and their mechanisms for the treatment of UC.

Methods

We reviewed the literature in the databases below from their inception until July 2023: Web of Science, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data, to obtain information on the relationship between natural compounds and UC.

Results

The results showed that 279 natural compounds treat UC through four main mechanisms, including regulating gut microbiota and metabolites (Mechanism I), protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier (Mechanism II), regulating intestinal mucosal immune response (Mechanism III), as well as regulating other mechanisms (Mechanism Ⅳ) such as cellular autophagy modulation and ferroptosis inhibition. Of these, Mechanism III is regulated by all natural compounds. The 279 natural compounds, including 62 terpenoids, 57 alkaloids, 52 flavonoids, 26 phenols, 19 phenylpropanoids, 9 steroids, 9 saponins, 8 quinonoids, 6 vitamins, and 31 others, can effectively ameliorate UC. Of these, terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids have the greatest potential for treating UC. It is noteworthy to highlight that a total of 54 natural compounds exhibit their therapeutic effects by modulating Mechanisms I, II, and III.

Conclusion

This review serves as a comprehensive resource for the pharmaceutical industry, researchers, and clinicians seeking novel therapeutic approaches to combat UC. Harnessing the therapeutic potential of these natural compounds may significantly contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of patients with UC and promotion of disease-modifying therapies in the future.
Comparative effectiveness and safety of four traditional Chinese medicine injections with invigorating blood circulation, equivalent effect of anticoagulation or antiplatelet in acute myocardial infarction: a Bayesian network meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Jiaping , Shang Juju , Liu Hongxu , Li Xiang , Lai Xiaolei , Lou Yan , Zhou Huiwen
Published: August 2024

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine injections with invigorating blood circulation (TCMI-IBCs), which have been used as antithrombosis therapies, are widely employed by Chinese clinicians as adjuvant therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Objective: A Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted to contrast the effectiveness and safety of four TCMI-IBCs in AMI.

Methods: Eight Databases were thoroughly searched before 31 December 2023, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on the application of TCMI-IBCs combined with conventional treatments (CT) to treat AMI. All-cause mortality (ACM) was the major endpoint. Secondary outcomes included bleeding events, malignant arrhythmia (MA), recurrent myocardial infarction (RMI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and adverse events. Stata17.0 and GeMTC software were employed for Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Results: A total of 73 eligible RCTs involving 7,504 patients were enrolled. Puerarin injection (PI), Danhong injection (DI), sodium Tanshinone IIA Sulfonate injection (STSI), and Danshen Chuanxiongqin injection (DCI) combined with CT can significantly reduce the occurrence of ACM and improve LVEF in AMI (P < 0.05), while without significant impact on bleeding events or MA (P > 0.05). STSI + CT would be the optimal treatment strategy in lowering RMI and ACM. DI + CT was the most likely to be the optimal strategy in reducing MA occurrence and improving LVEF. CT was likely the most effective strategy in reducing bleeding events. However, DI + CT exhibited the least favorable safety.

Conclusion: TCMI-IBCs + CT had potential benefits in the treatment of AMI. STSI + CT showed the most favorable performance in treating AMI, followed by DI combined with CT.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=384067, identifier CRD42022384067.
Predicting non-chemotherapy drug-induced agranulocytosis toxicity through ensemble machine learning approaches
Authors: Huang Xiaojie , Xie Xiaochun , Huang Shaokai , Wu Shanshan , Huang Lina
Published: August 2024

Agranulocytosis, induced by non-chemotherapy drugs, is a serious medical condition that presents a formidable challenge in predictive toxicology due to its idiosyncratic nature and complex mechanisms. In this study, we assembled a dataset of 759 compounds and applied a rigorous feature selection process prior to employing ensemble machine learning classifiers to forecast non-chemotherapy drug-induced agranulocytosis (NCDIA) toxicity. The balanced bagging classifier combined with a gradient boosting decision tree (BBC + GBDT), utilizing the combined descriptor set of DS and RDKit comprising 237 features, emerged as the top-performing model, with an external validation AUC of 0.9164, ACC of 83.55%, and MCC of 0.6095. The model’s predictive reliability was further substantiated by an applicability domain analysis. Feature importance, assessed through permutation importance within the BBC + GBDT model, highlighted key molecular properties that significantly influence NCDIA toxicity. Additionally, 16 structural alerts identified by SARpy software further revealed potential molecular signatures associated with toxicity, enriching our understanding of the underlying mechanisms. We also applied the constructed models to assess the NCDIA toxicity of novel drugs approved by FDA. This study advances predictive toxicology by providing a framework to assess and mitigate agranulocytosis risks, ensuring the safety of pharmaceutical development and facilitating post-market surveillance of new drugs.
Muscle reoxygenation is slower after higher cycling intensity, and is faster and more reliable in locomotor than in accessory muscle sites
Authors: Arnold Jem I. , Yogev Assaf , Nelson Hannah , van Hooff Martijn , Koehle Michael S.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Wearable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can be used during dynamic exercise to reflect the balance of muscle oxygen delivery and uptake. This study describes the behaviour and reliability of postexercise reoxygenation with NIRS as a function of exercise intensity at four muscle sites during an incremental cycling test. We discuss physiological components of faster and slower reoxygenation kinetics in the context of sport science and clinical applications. We hypothesised that reoxygenation would be slower at higher intensity, and that locomotor muscles would be faster than accessory muscles. We quantified test-retest reliability and agreement for each site.

Methods

Twenty-one trained cyclists performed two trials of an incremental cycling protocol with 5-min work stages and 1-min rest between stages. NIRS was recorded from the locomotor vastus lateralis and rectus femoris muscles, and accessory lumbar paraspinal and lateral deltoid muscles. Reoxygenation time course was analysed as the half-recovery time (HRT) from the end of work to half of the peak reoxygenation amplitude during rest. Coefficient of variability (CV) between participants, standard error of the measurement (SEM) within participants, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for test-retest reliability were evaluated at 50%, 75%, and 100% peak workloads. A linear mixed-effects model was used to compare differences between workloads and muscle sites.

Results

HRT was slower with increasing workload in the VL, RF, and PS, but not DL. VL had the fastest reoxygenation (lowest HRT) across muscle sites at all workloads (HRT = 8, 12, 17 s at 50%, 75%, 100% workload, respectively). VL also had the greatest reliability and agreement. HRT was sequentially slower between muscle sites in the order of VL < RF < PS < DL, and reliability was lower than for the VL.

Discussion

This study highlights the potential for using wearable NIRS on multiple muscle sites during exercise. Reoxygenation kinetics differ between local muscle sites with increasing intensity. Moderate-to-good reliability in the VL support its increasing use in sport science and clinical applications. Lower reliability in other muscle sites suggest they are not appropriate to be used alone, but may add information when combined to better reflect systemic intensity and fatigue during exercise at different intensities.
Triple gene mutations boost amylose and resistant starch content in rice: insights from sbe2b/sbe1/OE-Wxa mutants
Authors: Chen Xiaoqiong , Guo Qiaoling , Yang Xiaoli , Yuan Meng , Song Jianguo , Fu Hongyan , Zhang Hongyu , Xu Peizhou , Liao Yongxiang , Ali Asif , Du Kangxi , Wu Xianjun
Published: August 2024

Previous studies have modified rice's resistant starch (RS) content by mutating single and double genes. These mutations include knocking out or reducing the expression of sbe1 or sbe2b genes, as well as overexpressing Wxa. However, the impact of triple mutant sbe2b/sbe1/OE-Wxa on RS contents remained unknown. Here, we constructed a double mutant with sbe2b/RNAi-sbe1, based on IR36ae with sbe2b, and a triple mutant with sbe2b/RNAi-sbe1/OE-Wxa, based on the double mutant. The results showed that the amylose and RS contents gradually increased with an increase in the number of mutated genes. The triple mutant exhibited the highest amylose and RS contents, with 41.92% and 4.63%, respectively, which were 2- and 5-fold higher than those of the wild type, which had 22.19% and 0.86%, respectively. All three mutants altered chain length and starch composition compared to the wild type. However, there was minimal difference observed among the mutants. The Wxa gene contributed to the improvement of 1000-grain weight and seed-setting rate, in addition to the highest amylose and RS contents. Thus, our study offers valuable insight for breeding rice cultivars with a higher RS content and yields.
The effect of contextual interference on transfer in motor learning - a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Czyż Stanisław H. , Wójcik Aleksandra M. , Solarská Petra
Published: August 2024

Since the initial study on contextual interference (CI) in 1966, research has explored how practice schedules impact retention and transfer. Apart from support from scientists and practitioners, the CI effect has also faced skepticism. Therefore, we aimed to review the existing literature on the CI effect and determine how it affects transfer in laboratory and applied settings and in different age groups. We found 1,287 articles in the following databases: Scopus, EBSCO, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, supplemented by the Google Scholar search engine and manual search. Of 300 fully screened articles, 42 studies were included in the systematic review and 34 in the quantitative analysis (meta-analysis). The overall CI effect on transfer in motor learning was medium (SMD = 0.55), favoring random practice. Random practice was favored in the laboratory and applied settings. However, in laboratory studies, the medium effect size was statistically significant (SMD = 0.75), whereas, in applied studies, the effect size was small and statistically non-significant (SMD = 0.34). Age group analysis turned out to be significant only in adults and older adults. In both, the random practice was favored. In adults, the effect was medium (SMD = 0.54), whereas in older adults was large (SMD = 1.28). In young participants, the effect size was negligible (SMD = 0.12).

Systematic review registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier CRD42021228267.
The relationship between media multitasking and creativity: a multi-test, multi-method analysis
Authors: Chen Shi , Bai Han , Zeng Zhicheng , Yu Quanlei , Zhao Qingbai
Published: August 2024

Media multitasking is widespread, yet its relationship with creativity remains unclear. This study employs a combination of measures, including the media multitasking questionnaire, alternative uses task (AUT) for divergent thinking, Chinese compound remote association task (CCRAT) for convergent thinking, and a creative problem-solving task, to examine the relationship between media multitasking and creativity. Extreme values grouping [one standard deviation above or below the mean of the media multitasking index (MMI)], median value grouping, and regression analysis were used to explore the relationship between media multitasking and creativity. The results revealed the following findings: (1) across the three analysis methods, there was no significant relationship between media multitasking and performance on the AUT task. However, within the range of one standard deviation above or below the mean of the MMI, media multitasking showed a significant positive correlation with fluency, flexibility, and total scores on the AUT task. (2) Media multitasking significantly predicted the accuracy of responses on the CCRAT task positively. (3) Media multitasking significantly predicted lower scores on the applicability of creative problem-solving tasks.
Evaluation of professional satisfaction of audiologists working in Türkiye based on their personality characteristics and sector of work
Authors: Çelikgün Bahtiyar , Büyükkal Furkan , Minga Recep , Ölçek Gül
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study investigates the relationship between audiologists' personality traits and professional satisfaction.

Design

Big Five-50 Personality Traits and Professional Satisfaction Scale was used to examine the relationship between audiologists' personality traits and professional satisfaction. Statistical analyzes were performed with SPSS and AMOS programs.

Study example

This study examines 167 audiologists who completed a minimum of an undergraduate program in audiology before the professional field.

Results

The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicate that both scales are reliable and valid. There is a significant relationship between extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability and occupational satisfaction. However, there is no significant relationship between intelligence/imagination and professional satisfaction.

Conclusions

Extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability/neuroticism affect job satisfaction. Understanding these dynamics can inform strategies that will increase the professional wellbeing and productivity of audiologists.
Examining the influence of problematic internet use on sleep quality in Chinese adolescents: a study using the extended Stressor-Strain-Outcome (SSO) model
Authors: Gong Zhuliu , Guo Yi , Fan Siyuan , Sun Xinying , Wu Yibo
Published: August 2024

Objective

This study aims to explore how problematic internet use may affect the sleep quality of Chinese adolescents using the extended Stressor-Strain-Outcome (SSO) model. The model posits that stressors indirectly influence behavioral outcomes through the mediation of emotional and physiological strain responses.

Method

A sample of 4,365 adolescents in China participated in this study, which utilized questionnaires and other methods to develop a novel SSO model. In this model, problematic internet use was considered as the stressor, anxiety as an indicator of tension, and sleep quality as the ultimate outcome. Family health was introduced as a moderating variable.

Results

The study found that problematic internet use can significantly and positively predict adolescents’ anxiety (β = 0.132, p < 0.001) and sleep quality (β = 0.362, p < 0.001). Furthermore, anxiety was identified as a significant mediating factor between problematic internet use and sleep quality [Effect = 0.066, p < 0.05, 95% CI (0.014, −0.0018)]. Family health was observed to have a moderating effect on the relationship between problematic internet use and anxiety (β = −0.075, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The research indicates that problematic internet use not only directly increases individual anxiety as a stressor but also indirectly impacts sleep quality by exacerbating anxiety. However, a positive family health status can effectively moderate the adverse impact of problematic internet use on anxiety.
Mental health problems raise the odds of cognitive impairment in COVID-19 survivors
Authors: Chakrabarty Madhushree , Chatterjee Piali , Mukherjee Adreesh , Das Gautam , Mollah Rafikul Islam , Mondal Banshidhar , Sardar Swarup , Basu Ayanendranath , Ghosh Mrinalkanti , Sengupta Amitabha , Pal Sankar K. , Biswas Atanu
Published: August 2024

Background

COVID-19 survivors around the globe are suffering from mental health issues. While mental health problems can be an early warning sign of dementia, they may also increase the chances of developing the disease. In this study, we examined the mental health of COVID-19 survivors and mapped its associations with cognitive and demographic variables.

Method

COVID-19 survivors listed in the databases of three tertiary care hospitals in Kolkata were contacted sequentially. 376 willing patients were interviewed over the telephone. 99 COVID-19 patients and 31 matched controls participated in the in-person interviews that were arranged for a more detailed investigation. The participants were administered standardized tests that are widely used for the assessment of cognitive functioning and mental health status.

Result

64.89% of COVID-19 survivors reported a deterioration in physical functioning. 44.95% reported a decline in mental health, whereas 41.49% reported a drop in cognitive performance. Detailed investigations revealed that they had an increased risk of having depression, anxiety, and poor sleep quality by 91%, 68%, and 140%, respectively. 6.1% of the patients had mild cognitive impairment, and 4% had dementia. COVID-19 patients who had depression and anxiety were 8.6 and 19.4 times more likely to have cognitive decline, respectively. Compared to the matched controls, COVID-19 patients had greater depression (p<.001), anxiety (p<.001), stress (p =.003), and insomnia (p <.001). They also scored significantly lower on Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III (p =.009) and Picture Naming Test (p =.005) and took significantly longer to complete Trail Making Test-A (p =.002).

Conclusion

COVID-19 survivors in this study had major mental health issues even one year after contracting the virus. They had significant cognitive deficits that might progress into dementia. Strict monitoring and systematic treatment plans should be implemented as soon as possible.
Acceptance of a third COVID-19 vaccine dose, vaccine interchangeability, and clinical trial enrolment among parents of children 12–17 years in Lima, Perú
Authors: Celis Carlos R. , Ecker Lucie , Alvarado-Gamarra Giancarlo , Alcalá-Marcos Katherine , Atamari-Anahui Noé , Balmaceda Maria Pia , Florian Kevin , Paredes de la Fuente Rodrigo , Howard Leigh M. , Grijalva Carlos G. , Lanata Claudio F.
Published: August 2024

Objectives

To characterize factors associated with parental willingness for their children participation in a COVID-19 vaccine trial, use of different COVID-19 vaccines and acceptance of a third vaccine dose.

Methods

Parents of children aged 12–17 years in Lima, Perú were asked to complete an online questionnaire via social networks, from November 9, 2021, to April 23, 2022. We calculated crude and adjusted prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals to compare factors with the mentioned outcomes.

Results

From 523 parents responding, 374 completed the survey. 90.4% would give their children a third vaccine dose, 36.6% would allow their children participation in a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial, and 33.2% would accept different vaccine brands between doses. Parental belief that COVID-19 vaccine studies met quality standards was associated with acceptance of a third booster dose (adjusted PR 3.25; 95% CI1.57–6.74; p = 0.002), enrolment in a COVID-19 clinical trial (adjusted PR 4.49; 95% CI1.25–16.06; p = 0.02), and acceptance of different COVID-19 vaccine brands between doses (adjusted PR 10.02; 95% CI1.40–71.95; p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Most parents would accept a third vaccine booster dose, approximately a third would participate in COVID-19 vaccine trials. Believing COVID-19 vaccines studies fulfilled quality standards was associated with the study outcomes. It is necessary to inform about the rigorous processes for the development of COVID-19 vaccines to generate confidence in parents to accept these vaccine-related outcomes.
Is it really better to “die” than “live”? Reflections on the practice of “death with dignity” in China
Authors: Chen Long , Ren Minghui
Published: August 2024

Aim

To analyze the causes of the controversy caused by “death with dignity” in China, and to provide some useful thoughts for the practical exploration of “death with dignity.”

Subject and methods

By combing the periodical literature, legal texts and practice, we find that the Medical Regulations of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, which was revised and passed by China in 2022, recognized the legal effect of “living will” for the first time in legislation, which triggered a wide-ranging social discussion on “death with dignity” and brought many controversies.

Results

Due to the influence of traditional culture, policies and laws, medical service supply capacity and other factors, death with dignity suffers from great practical resistance.

Conclusion

The exploration of “death with dignity” system needs to start with the problems encountered in practice, focusing on cultivating a good system implementation environment, strengthening the top-level design of “death with dignity” system, and improving the national social security system for hospice care.
Bacterial contamination in the different parts of household air conditioners: a comprehensive evaluation from Chengdu, Southwest China
Authors: Sun Donglei , Tang Li , Long Keyan , Sun Weilian , Zhang Zunzhen
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Air flow driven by air-conditioner has a significant impact on the indoor environment, however, the bacterial contamination conditions in the different parts of air-conditioners have not been fully elucidated.

Methods

In this study, we assessed the bacterial pollution in the four parts, including air outlet, filter net, cooling fin and water sink, of ten household air-conditioners quantitatively and qualitatively from Chengdu, southwestern China.

Results

The microbial cultivation results showed the large total bacterial counts of 5042.0, 9127.6, 6595.1, and 12296.2 CFU/cm2 in air outlet, filter net, cooling fin, and water sink. Furthermore, the sequencing data showed that these four parts displayed different bacterial characteristics. At the level of genus, Caproiciproducens and Acidipropionibacterium were predominant in air outlet. Bacillus, Acinetobacter, Paracoccus, and Corynebacterium were detected as the characteristic bacteria in filter net. For cooling fin, Rhodococcus, Achromobacter, and Nocardioides were the dominant bacteria. The genera of Methylobacterium-Methylorubrum, Brevibacterium, Stenotrophomonas, and Psychrobacter were identified as the bioindicators in water sink. The bioinformatic analysis on the sequencing data illustrated that the bacteria from air-conditioners were associated with metabolic disturbance.

Discussion

This study reveals the distinct bacterial compositions in the different parts of air-conditioner, and provides new clues for the non-negligible bacterial pollution in this common appliance from Chinese households.
Freshwater Ecosystems: Carbon Sequestration Champions
Authors: Franco-Cisterna Belén , Drost Annemieke Marije , van Santvoort Vera , Sarkis Savannah , McGowan Suzanne
Published: August 2024

Nature helps us fight climate change by removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it underground—a process called carbon sequestration. Some freshwater ecosystems, like lakes, are great at carbon sequestration. Surprisingly, small organisms play a big role here! When tiny algae and bacteria in the water photosynthesize, they take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it to organic carbon (the carbon that forms all living organisms). The organic carbon moves through the ecosystem as it is eaten by other organisms or as it sinks to the bottom as either poop or the remains of dead organisms. When organic carbon reaches the bottom, it can remain buried for a long time. Aquatic plants and material from land that washes into freshwater can also sink and end up as sequestered carbon. It seems like freshwater ecosystems sequester carbon more efficiently than other environments, but scientists still have more work to do. Because of the huge diversity of water bodies across the world, scientists need to know which are the real carbon sequestration champions.
Physicochemical, techno-functional, and proteolytic effects of various hydrocolloids as fat replacers in low-fat cheddar cheese
Authors: Murtaza Mian Shamas , Sameen Aysha , Rehman Abdur , Huma Nuzhat , Hussain Fatma , Hussain Shahzad , Cacciotti Ilaria , Korma Sameh A. , Ibrahim Salam A. , Ma Yong Kun
Published: August 2024

This study aimed to investigate the physiochemical properties, techno-functional attributes, and proteolytic impacts of incorporating different hydrocolloids as fat substitutes in low-fat cheddar cheese. The effects of hydrocolloids (gums) and dietary fiber, both individually and in combination, were studied for the production of low-fat cheddar cheese with the same textural and functional attributes as full-fat cheese. Physicochemical, techno-functional attributes, organic acid, and proteolysis analyses were performed at 0 and 90-day storage intervals. The results of different combinations were compared with positive (4% fat) and negative (2% fat) controls, and it was observed that using fat replacers improved the textural and functional properties of low-fat cheddar cheese. A significant difference was observed in the meltability and flowability of low-fat cheese samples with different analytes. The proteolysis pattern in low-fat cheese also differed from that of its full-fat counterpart. Three treatments were considered the best: T2 (guar gum at 0.45%), T6 (guar gum, inulin, and resistant starch at 33%), and T7 (all analytes at equal concentrations). The findings revealed that hydrocolloids notably improved the texture, meltability, and sensory characteristics of low-fat cheddar cheese. Additionally, SEM images revealed that the microstructure variations can be attributed to changes in the hydrocolloids water retention and fat content. The Pearson correlation coefficient revealed relationships between different functional properties, contributing to understanding how hydrocolloids as fat replacers impact the overall quality of low-fat cheddar cheese. This study offers useful information for the dairy sector to manufacture low-fat cheeses that have enhanced customer acceptance and provide nutritional advantages.
First evidence for temperature’s influence on the enrichment, assembly, and activity of polyhydroxyalkanoate-synthesizing mixed microbial communities
Authors: Trego Anna , Palmeiro-Sánchez Tania , Graham Alison , Ijaz Umer Zeeshan , O’Flaherty Vincent
Published: August 2024

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are popular biopolymers due to their potential use as biodegradable thermoplastics. In this study, three aerobic sequencing batch reactors were operated identically except for their temperatures, which were set at 15 °C, 35 °C, and 48 °C. The reactors were subjected to a feast–famine feeding regime, where carbon sources are supplied intermittently, to enrich PHA-accumulating microbial consortia. The biomass was sampled for 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of both DNA (during the enrichment phase) and cDNA (during the enrichment and accumulation phases). All temperatures yielded highly enriched PHA-accumulating consortia. Thermophilic communities were significantly less diverse than those at low or mesophilic temperatures. In particular, Thauera was highly adaptable, abundant, and active at all temperatures. Low temperatures resulted in reduced PHA production rates and yields. Analysis of the microbial community revealed a collapse of community diversity during low-temperature PHA accumulation, suggesting that the substrate dosing strategy was unsuccessful at low temperatures. This points to future possibilities for optimizing low-temperature PHA accumulation.
Overview of Available Functioning Data in Switzerland: Supporting the Use of Functioning as a Health Indicator Alongside Mortality and Morbidity
Authors: Moreira Beatriz , Hodel Jsabel , Selb Melissa , Kim Jiin , Fellinghauer Carolina , Bickenbach Jerome , Sabariego Carla
Published: August 2024

Objectives

To identify official sources that routinely collect data on functioning in Switzerland, to provide an overview of the existing data and its comparability, and to assess the extent to which the data is suitable for developing a functioning metric and indicator.

Methods

Data sources were identified through an iterative search. Standardized rules were applied to map the functioning information assessed by the sources using a current WHO functioning and disability survey as a reference framework for the content comparison.

Results

Four sources were identified: the Swiss Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), the Swiss Health Survey (SHS), the Lausanne cohort 65+ (Lc65+), and the Swiss Household Panel (SHP). All tools addressed sleep functions, energy level, emotional functions, and sensation of pain. Additionally, nine functioning categories were common across three sources.

Conclusion

Population data sources in Switzerland routinely collect comparable functioning data, which can serve as the basis for creating a functioning indicator. Among others, this indicator is relevant to complement mortality and morbidity data and to support both the estimation of rehabilitation and long-term care needs.
Incidence, Nature and Natural History of Additional Histological Findings in Preimplantation and Implantation Kidney Transplant Biopsies
Authors: Paterson A. L. , Broecker V. , Gray M. , Chalisey A. , Pettigrew G. J. , Summers D. M.
Published: August 2024

The quality assurance provided by preimplantation biopsy quantification of chronic damage may allow greater use of kidneys from expanded criteria donors, and thereby expand the deceased donor pool. Preimplantation biopsy may, however, identify additional acute or chronic pathologies not considered in the scoring of chronic damage, and these may influence the decision to implant or discard the kidney. This single-centre retrospective cohort study of a contemporary UK donor population systematically characterised the nature of additional findings in 1,046 preimplantation and implantation biopsies over an eight-year period. A diverse range of findings were identified in 111/1,046 (11%) organs; most frequently diabetic glomerulopathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, (micro)thrombi, neutrophil casts, and immunoglobulin/complement staining. Seventy (63%) of these were transplanted, with subsequent biopsy in 41 (58%) cases confirming that 80% of the initial acute changes had spontaneously resolved, while there was no progression of diabetic glomerulopathy, and the lesions of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis were not identified. Over 75% of assessable grafts with additional histological findings at the time of transplant showed adequate function at one-year following transplant. In conclusion, most histological abnormalities that may be identified in addition to chronic scarring in preimplantation kidney biopsies would not preclude transplantation nor predict poor graft function.
Advanced UAV Design Optimization Through Deep Learning-Based Surrogate Models
Authors: Karali Hasan , Inalhan Gokhan , Tsourdos Antonios
Published: August 2024

The conceptual design of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) presents significant multidisciplinary challenges requiring the optimization of aerodynamic and structural performance, stealth, and propulsion efficiency. This work addresses these challenges by integrating deep neural networks with a multiobjective genetic algorithm to optimize UAV configurations. The proposed framework enables a comprehensive evaluation of design alternatives by estimating key performance metrics required for different operational requirements. The design process resulted in a significant improvement in computational time over traditional methods by more than three orders of magnitude. The findings illustrate the framework’s capability to optimize UAV designs for a variety of mission scenarios, including specialized tasks such as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), combat air patrol (CAP), and Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). This flexibility and adaptability was demonstrated through a case study, showcasing the method’s effectiveness in tailoring UAV configurations to meet specific operational requirements while balancing trade-offs between aerodynamic efficiency, stealth, and structural weight. Additionally, these results underscore the transformative impact of integrating AI into the early stages of the design process, facilitating rapid prototyping and innovation in aerospace engineering. Consequently, the current work demonstrates the potential of AI-driven optimization to revolutionize UAV design by providing a robust and effective tool for solving complex engineering problems.
Analysis of Moisture Migration and Microstructural Characteristic of Green Sichuan Pepper (Zanthoxylum armatum) during the Hot-Air Drying Process Based on LF-NMR
Authors: Li Bin , Liu Chuandong , Luo Hang , Han Chongyang , Zhang Xuefeng , Li Qiaofei , Gong Lian , Wang Pan , Zeng Zhiheng
Published: August 2024

To have a deeper understanding on the moisture migration patterns and microstructural changes of Green Sichuan Pepper during the hot-air drying process, the low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) technology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methodology were adopted to analyze the moisture distribution, migration patterns and microscopic structural changes under different drying temperatures (45, 55 and 65 °C). The LF-NMR scanning results showed that the internal moisture of the Green Sichuan Pepper mainly includes bound water, immobilized water and free water, which can be respectively symbolized by the relaxation time ranges of T21 (0.1–10 ms), T22 (10–500 ms) and T23 (500–10,000 ms). The immobilized water accounts for 83.72% of the internal water, resulting in the significant drying difficulty of Green Sichuan Pepper. During the drying process, the content of immobilized water and free water exhibited a decreasing trend, while the bound moisture content initially increased and then decreased. In addition, the LF-NMR analysis showed that the parameters peak area A2 demonstrated a high correlation with the moisture content of Green Sichuan Pepper, enabling the prediction of moisture content changes during the drying process. Additionally, the SEM results showed that the pore degree and pore density on the pericarp surface of Green Sichuan Pepper perform significant changes during the drying process, which might be a good explanation for revealing some commonly recognized drying phenomena on Green Sichuan Pepper hot-air drying. In summary, the findings presented in the present work provide some new insights into the moisture distribution, migration patterns and microstructural changes of Green Sichuan Pepper, which can offer theoretical guidance for optimizing the drying process of Green Sichuan Pepper.