bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The transmembrane protein Syndecan is required for stem cell survival and maintenance of their nuclear properties
Authors: Eldridge-Thomas Buffy L. , Bohere Jerome G. , Roubinet Chantal , Barthelemy Alexandre , Samuels Tamsin J. , Teixeira Felipe Karam , Kolahgar Golnar
Published: February 2025

Tissue maintenance is underpinned by resident stem cells whose activity is modulated by microenvironmental cues. Using Drosophila as a simple model to identify regulators of stem cell behaviour and survival in vivo, we have identified novel connections between the conserved transmembrane proteoglycan Syndecan, nuclear properties and stem cell function. In the Drosophila midgut, Syndecan depletion in intestinal stem cells results in their loss from the tissue, impairing tissue renewal. At the cellular level, Syndecan depletion alters cell and nuclear shape, and causes nuclear lamina invaginations and DNA damage. In a second tissue, the developing Drosophila brain, live imaging revealed that Syndecan depletion in neural stem cells results in nuclear envelope remodelling defects which arise upon cell division. Our findings reveal a new role for Syndecan in the maintenance of nuclear properties in diverse stem cell types.
Comprehensive proteolytic profiling of Aedes aegypti mosquito midgut extracts: Unraveling the blood meal protein digestion system
Authors: O’Donoghue Anthony J. , Liu Chenxi , Simington Carter J. , Montermoso Saira , Moreno-Galvez Elizabeth , Serafim Mateus Sá M. , Burata Olive E. , Lucero Rachael M. , Nguyen James T. , Fong Daniel , Tran Khanh , Millan Neomi , Gallimore Jamie M. , Parungao Kamille , Fong Jonathan , Suzuki Brian M. , Jiang Zhenze , Isoe Jun , Rascón Alberto A.
Published: February 2025

To sustain the gonotrophic cycle, the Aedes aegypti mosquito must acquire a blood meal from a human or other vertebrate host. However, in the process of blood feeding, the mosquito may facilitate the transmission of several bloodborne viral pathogens (e.g., dengue, Zika, and chikungunya). The blood meal is essential as it contains proteins that are digested into polypeptides and amino acid nutrients that are eventually used for egg production. These proteins are digested by several midgut proteolytic enzymes. As such, the female mosquito’s reliance on blood may serve as a potential target for vector and viral transmission control. However, this strategy may prove to be challenging since midgut proteolytic activity is a complex process dependent on several exo- and endo-proteases. Therefore, to understand the complexity of Ae. aegypti blood meal digestion, we used Multiplex Substrate Profiling by Mass Spectrometry (MSP-MS) to generate global proteolytic profiles of sugar- and blood-fed midgut tissue extracts, along with substrate profiles of recombinantly expressed midgut proteases. Our results reveal a shift from high exoproteolytic activity in sugar-fed mosquitoes to an expressive increase in endoproteolytic activity in blood-fed mosquitoes. This approach allowed for the identification of 146 cleaved peptide bonds (by the combined 6 h and 24 h blood-fed samples) in the MSP-MS substrate library, and of these 146, 99 (68%) were cleaved by the five recombinant proteases evaluated. These reveal the individual contribution of each recombinant midgut protease to the overall blood meal digestion process of the Ae. aegypti mosquito. Further, our molecular docking simulations support the substrate specificity of each recombinant protease. Therefore, the present study provides key information of midgut proteases and the blood meal digestion process in mosquitoes, which may be exploited for the development of potential inhibitor targets for vector and viral transmission control strategies.
Bioaccumulation, sources and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Lilium davidii var. unicolor
Authors: Sun Haixu , Xia Tianxiang , Cheng Hongguang , Wu Zhenzhen , Cheng Qianding , Lu Lu , Fu Chunbao
Published: February 2025

Dietary uptake is the main pathway of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, there is no data regarding the pollution and health risks posed by PAHs in Lilium davidii var. unicolor. We measured the concentrations of 16 PAHs in lily bulbs from Lanzhou; analyzed the bioaccumulation, sources, and pollution pathways of PAHs; assessed the influence of baking on PAH pollution in the bulb; and assessed the cancer risks associated with PAH exposure via lily consumption. The total PAH concentrations in raw bulbs were 30.39–206.55 μg kg-1. The bioconcentration factors of total PAHs ranged widely from 0.92 to 5.71, with a median value of 2.25. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the octanol-water partition coefficients and water solubility values played important roles in the bioaccumulation of naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and fluoranthene in the raw bulb by influencing PAH availability in soil. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis with multivariate linear regression indicated that biomass and wood burning, coal combustion, diesel combustion, and petroleum leakage were the major sources of PAHs in the raw bulbs. The paired t-test showed that the PAH concentrations in the baked bulbs were higher than those in the raw bulbs. PAH compositions in lily bulb changed during the baking process. Baked bulbs exhibited a higher cancer risk than raw bulbs. Local adults had low carcinogenic risks from consuming lily bulbs. This study fills the knowledge gap about PAH pollution and the related health risks of PAHs in the Lanzhou lily.
Long term cost-effectiveness analysis of IDegLira in the treatment of type 2 diabetes patients compared to GLP-1RA added to basal insulin after IDegLira entered the national reimbursement drug list in China
Authors: Xiao Dunming , Weng Junling , Zhang Lei , Xing Chang , Wei Yan , Chen Yingyao
Published: February 2025

Background

Degludec insulin liraglutide injection is the world’s first and only approved basal insulin GLP-1RA injection in China (GLP-1RA stands for Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of IDegLira versus GLP-1RA added to basal insulin regimen (combined regimen) for patients with type 2 diabetes in China.

Methods

Based on the perspective of the health system, the study adopts the Swedish Institute for Health Economics diabetes cohort model. The baseline and clinical efficacy data in the model are from the EXTRA study. The cost includes glucose-lowering medication, background treatment cost, and complication treatment costs. The prices of IDegLira and GLP-1RA are based on the national medical insurance payment standards. Insulin adopts the national volume-based procurement average price. Other cost and utility data are sourced from published literature. The health outcome indicator is quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The simulation time horizon is 30 years. The discounting rate of cost and health outcomes is 5%.

Results

In clinical output, IDegLira could reduce the cumulative incidence of various chronic complications in patients compared to the combined regimen. The eye diseases (background, proliferative retinopathy, macular edema, and visual loss) decreased by 24.4%, 41.1%, 18.9%, and 12.2%, respectively. Neuropathy decreased by 17.3%. Proteinuria and end-stage renal disease decreased by 25.9% and 17.6% respectively. Ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and myocardial infarction (stroke) decreased by 0.8%, 1.1%, and 4.7%, respectively. In the base-case analysis, IDegLira compared to the combined regimen shows an incremental cost of -34,254 CNY and an incremental QALYs of 0.436. Under the threshold of 1 times the per capita GDP of China in 2022 (85,698 CNY), IDegLira is a dominant scheme with lower cost and better health outcome. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, the probability of IDegLira being cost-effective is 100%, indicating that the base-case analysis results are robust.

Conclusion

Compared with the combined regimen, the use of IDegLira for Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes can improve long-term health output, save medical costs, and is a dominant scheme.
Probing the role of Coniferin and Tetrahydrocurcumin from Traditional Chinese medicine against PSAT1 in early-stage ovarian cancer: An in silico study
Authors: Zhang Jia , Gangwar Shalesh , Bano Nagmi , Ahmad Shaban , Alqahtani Mohammed S. , Raza Khalid
Published: February 2025

Ovarian cancer, a formidable gynaecological malignancy, poses a significant global health challenge, and it is characterised by late-stage diagnosis and a high mortality rate. Even in its early stages, when treatment choices are scarce, ovarian cancer is still a complicated cancer to treat. In this work, we used computational approaches to find putative Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) inhibitors that target Phosphoserine Aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1), a crucial enzyme linked to the development of early-stage ovarian cancer. Using a methodical screening approach, we chose a panel of TCM compounds and prepared them, expected to interact with PSAT1. We next evaluated the binding affinities using molecular docking, which helped to identify Coniferin and Tetrahydrocurcumin compounds as potent inhibitors with the docking score of -8.8 kcal/mol and -8.9 Kcal/mol, respectively, and compared to the native ligand. The inhibitory effects of Coniferin and Tetrahydrocurcumin compounds were evaluated with the Pharmacokinetic studies and compared with the standard values, which resulted in an utter performance against each descriptor of the QikProp and performed the Molecular Interaction Fingerprints that resulted in the most interaction residues with counts were 4GLY, 4ASN, 4HIE, 4SER, 4THR, 3ARG and many more. Further, 100ns MD Simulation was performed in neutralised water, resulting in entirely stable deviations, fluctuations, and many intermolecular interactions, and the MM\GBSA studies on all 1000 trajectories have supported the complex’s stability. The computational studies have shown a completely stable performance that supports Coniferin, and Tetrahydrocurcumin can be a potent inhibitor of PSAT1. However, further experimental works are needed to confirm this study.
Comparative analysis of grape berry microbiota uncovers sour rot associates from a Maryland vineyard
Authors: Jumbam Blaise , Toro Magaly , Hu Mengjun
Published: February 2025

Grape sour rot (GSR) is a disease complex involving fungi and bacteria that can cause significant yield losses of susceptible varieties. It is widely spread in the eastern U.S. and other grape-growing regions globally. Previous studies suggest that damaged fruit skin and feeding insects like Drosophila spp. are required for the disease to occur. Current control strategies for the management of sour rot are not sustainable, and research on the implications of chemical management of the disease on microbiome diversity is scarce. Our aim was to: i) investigate the effect of insecticide application and netting treatment on the microbiota of GSR-susceptible and tolerant grape varieties; and ii) identify the core microbial assemblages potentially associated with grape sour rot development in Maryland. Using a combined analysis of culture-dependent and independent data, we found that microbiota diversity of healthy grape berries did not change with netting, insecticide application, and between varieties. There was a significant difference in bacterial diversity between healthy and sour rot-affected berries. Komagataeibacter was consistently associated with infected berries followed by Acetobacter and Gluconobacter. This is the first study to report the association of Komagataeibacter with GSR-infected berries. It is thus imperative to investigate its role alongside that of other identified core microbiomes in sour rot development. Candida and Pichia were also consistent genera in infected berries. Several unidentified Candida, Pichia, and other fungal species from infected berries formed the core mycobiomes and it would be worth investigating their involvement in GSR development in Mid-Atlantic vineyards.
Molecular identification and genetic diversity analysis of Cryptosporidium spp. infecting dogs from central and northern Jordan: Detection of zoonotic genotype IId
Authors: Mukbel Rami M. , Etoom Eman M. , Hammad Haifa B. , Enemark Heidi L. , Abu Halaweh Marwan M.
Published: February 2025

Cryptosporidium spp. are common causes of gastrointestinal disease in both humans and animals. This was a cross-sectional study conducted to determine the infection rate and genetic characteristics of Cryptosporidium infecting dogs in Jordan. A total of 249 faecal samples were collected from stray, pet, and breeding dogs from kennels (independent of their clinical condition) across three governorates in Jordan (Amman and Zarqa in Central Jordan and Irbid in Northern Jordan). Faecal samples were screened for Cryptosporidium using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 18S rRNA gene, revealing an overall infection rate of 18.9% (47 out of 249). Cryptosporidiosis was significantly associated with indoor dogs, dogs cohabiting with other animals, and consuming raw food. Among the successfully sequenced samples, 25 (58.1%) were Cryptosporidium canis, 15 (34.9%) were Cryptosporidium parvum, and three (7.0%) were Cryptosporidium baileyi. Multiple diversity tests were employed, indicating low genetic differentiation between the studied populations of C. parvum and C. canis. Stability was observed for C. parvum, with minimal expansion observed for C. canis. Notably, each species exhibited a single dominant haplotype, consistent with the AMOVA results, where most of the variability occurred within populations. Further genotyping of C. parvum and C. canis was conducted by sequencing the gp60 gene. C. parvum isolates worldwide displayed solely the zoonotic IId genotypes, namely, IIdA20G1, IIdA22G1, IIdA18G1, and IIdA19G1. In contrast, the C. canis isolates exhibited the animal subtypes XXe and XXd. Consequently, dogs may serve as a source of infection with C. parvum and pose a public health risk in Jordan.
Comparisons of performances of structural variants detection algorithms in solitary or combination strategy
Authors: Duan De-Min , Cheng Chinyi , Huang Yu-Shu , Chung An-ko , Chen Pin-Xuan , Chen Yu-An , Hsu Jacob Shujui , Chen Pei-Lung
Published: February 2025

Structural variants (SVs) have been associated with changes in gene expression, which may contribute to alterations in phenotypes and disease development. However, the precise identification and characterization of SVs remain challenging. While long-read sequencing offers superior accuracy for SV detection, short-read sequencing remains essential due to practical and cost considerations, as well as the need to analyze existing short-read datasets. Numerous algorithms for short-read SV detection exist, but none are universally optimal, each having limitations for specific SV sizes and types. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of six advanced SV detection algorithms, including the commercial software DRAGEN, using the GIAB v0.6 Tier 1 benchmark and HGSVC2 cell lines. We employed both individual and combination strategies, with systematic assessments of recall, precision, and F1 scores. Our results demonstrate that the union combination approach enhanced detection capabilities, surpassing single algorithms in identifying deletions and insertions, and delivered comparable recall and F1 scores to the commercial software DRAGEN. Interestingly, expanding the number of algorithms from three to five in the combination did not enhance performance, highlighting the efficiency of a well-chosen ensemble over a larger algorithmic pool.
Prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli in urban and peri-urban garden ecosystems in Bangladesh
Authors: Pramanik Pritom Kumar , Hoque M. Nazmul , Rana Md. Liton , Islam Md. Saiful , Ullah Md. Ashek , Neloy Fahim Haque , Ramasamy Srinivasan , Schreinemachers Pepijn , Oliva Ricardo , Rahman Md. Tanvir
Published: February 2025

In the past decade, there has been a notable rise in foodborne outbreaks, prominently featuring Escherichia coli as a primary pathogen. This bacterium, known for its prevalence in foodborne illnesses and as a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance, was isolated from raw vegetables, soil, and water samples collected from rooftop and surface gardens in urban (Dhaka North City Corporation; DNCC and Dhaka South City Corporation; DSCC) and peri-urban (Gazipur City Corporation; GCC) areas of Bangladesh. In this study, 145 samples including vegetables (n = 88), water (n = 27) and soils (n = 30) from DNCC (n = 85), DSCC (n = 30), and GCC (n = 30) were analyzed to assess the prevalence of E. coli using culture, biochemical tests, and PCR targeting the malB gene. E. coli was detected in 85 samples, indicating an overall prevalence of 58.62% (95% CI: 50.48–66.31). In urban areas (DNCC and DSCC), the prevalence rates were 44.70% and 80.0%, respectively, with surface gardens showing higher contamination rates (70.83%) than rooftop gardens (46.57%). In the peri-urban GCC, overall prevalence of E. coli was 76.7%, with rooftop gardens more contaminated (93.33%) than surface gardens (60.0%). Antibiogram profiling of 54 randomly selected isolates revealed 100% resistance to ampicillin, with varying resistance to ciprofloxacin (25.92%), tetracycline (14.81%), cotrimoxazole (14.81%), imipenem (9.25%), and fosfomycin (1.0%). Notably, all isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, nitrofurantoin, and cefotaxime. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was found in 14.81% of isolates. The blaTEM gene was present in 81.48% of the isolates, while the tetA gene was detected in 3.70%. These findings underscore the urgent global health concern posed by the significant presence of E. coli in fresh vegetables, highlighting the need for improved safety measures and monitoring to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance through the food chain.
Solvothermal synthesis of polyvinyl pyrrolidone encapsulated, amine-functionalized copper ferrite and its use as a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent
Authors: Heydari Fatemeh , Ilosvai Ágnes M. , Kovács Noémi , Máthé Domokos , Kristály Ferenc , Daróczi Lajos , Kaleta Zoltán , Viskolcz Béla , Nagy Miklós , Vanyorek László , Forgách László , Szigeti Krisztián
Published: February 2025

Copper ferrite nanoparticles for use as MRI contrast agents were synthesized using two different methods. A novel microwave-assisted (MW) solvothermal method was developed and compared to a conventional 12-hour synthesis (Reflux) as an eco-friendlier approach. This innovative synthesis method successfully produced nanoparticles with enhanced properties compared to traditional ferrite materials. The nanoparticles’ morphological and magnetic properties were evaluated and tested in in-vivo MRI studies. The results revealed both similarities and differences between the amine-functionalized copper ferrite nanoparticles. FTIR, XRD, HRTEM, and VSM analyses indicated improved properties in the CuFe2O4-NH2 MW particles, while AFM confirmed successful polymer encapsulation of the nanoparticles. For the CuFe2O4-NH2 MW sample, 76.8 wt% copper ferrite and 23.2 wt% magnetite were detected, with crystallite sizes of 8 ± 2 nm and 13 ± 2 nm, respectively. In the CuFe2O4-NH2 Refl. sample, in addition to these two magnetic phases, larger copper particles (31.6 wt%) were also formed. DLS analysis demonstrated that the CuFe2O4-NH2 MW sample exhibited excellent colloidal stability, maintaining its size distribution in aqueous media for 3 hours without aggregation, unlike the CuFe2O4-NH2 Refl. sample, which showed slight aggregation. The CuFe2O4-NH2 MW sample displayed superparamagnetic behavior (Ms: 15 emu/g, Mr: 0 emu/g, Hc: 0 Oe), while the CuFe2O4-NH2 Refl. sample exhibited ferromagnetic characteristics (Ms: 40 emu/g, Mr: 1.35 emu/g, Hc: 30 Oe). Both samples produced comparable results during in vitro MRI measurements, showing similar T2* relaxation and signal characteristics. Further in vivo studies demonstrated that both samples induced significant hypointense changes. The study provides valuable insights into the synthesis, properties, and potential applications of these materials, emphasizing the importance of eco-friendly methods and the optimization of ferrite-based MRI contrast agents.
Utilizing the subtractive proteomics approach to design ensemble vaccine against Candida lusitaniae for immune response stimulation; a bioinformatics study
Authors: Naz Habiba , Timotheous Rimsha , Sarwar Muhammad Farhan , Nadeem Tariq , Awan Mudassar Fareed , Ali Sajed , Awais Sophia , Ahmed Irfan
Published: February 2025

Vaccines have always been one of the promising therapeutic sources against many pathogens including infectious fungi. Candida lusitaniae is also one of those fungi which is responsible for different infections in human beings including vaginitis, endocarditis, endophthalmitis and blood stream infections. There is thus, a need to adopt effective therapeutic strategies to tackle such infections. Vaccine is one of those efficient therapeutic agents which stimulates immune response and prevents a certain infection to get hazardous. Keeping in view this very important concept, we have designed in-silico vaccine against C. lusitaniae by following the subtractive proteomics approach. Initially, the screening of therapeutic targets was performed to identify potent vaccine candidates from the whole proteome of C. lusitaniae. Several significant factors were taken into account in this context, such as stability index, IFN status, allergenicity, and antigenicity. As a result, four distinct proteins that were both antigenic and non-allergenic, were selected from the whole proteome. Furthermore, physiochemical investigation revealed that these vaccine candidates were stable and that their IFN status was positive. Notably, each of these proteins was non-homologous to human beings. This particular attribute of the selected proteins i.e., to be non-homologous, was made in order to possess the ability to trigger an immunological response in host (humans). Furthermore, the whole proteome (WP) vaccine was constructed accordingly. The structural modelling of all the selected vaccine candidates was then performed to proceed them further for docking with the human toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). Afterwards, the codon optimization was executed, followed by in-silico cloning of the final vaccine construct. The pet28A plasmid was incorporated for this purpose while, the SnapGene tool was utilized for this particular analysis. Ultimately, the immune simulations were executed to assess the immune response of the designed vaccine (WP). Upon final results, it was found that highest count of IgG and IgM was achieved i.e., up to 700000 between the days 8 to 13 and then slowly neutralized till the day 30. These results signified that the designed vaccine possessed the potential to stimulate the required immune response.
Prevalence of prolonged transitional neonatal hypoglycemia and associated factors in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kebede Solomon Demis , Kassaw Amare , Aytenew Tigabu Munye , Agmas Kindu , Kefale Demewoz
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Most neonates experience transient hypoglycemia, which typically responds well to treatment and is associated with a favorable prognosis. However, hypoglycemia persisting beyond 48 hours, termed prolonged transitional Neonatal hypoglycemia (PTNHG), can result in abrupt neuronal injury and long-term neurodevelopmental impairments. Identifying its prevalence and associated risk factors is critical to inform clinical practices and improve neonatal outcomes.

Methods

A weighted inverse-variance random-effects model was employed for the analysis. Heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using a forest plot, I2 statistics, and Egger’s test. Data extraction was conducted from May 20 to May 27, 2023, for studies published since 2020. A random blood sugar (RBS) concentration of <47 mg/dL measured 48–72 hours after birth was used to define PTNHG. Eight studies comprising a total of 3686 neonates were included in the analysis.

Results

The pooled prevalence of PTNHG was 19.71% (95% CI: 16.85–22.56) with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 79.20%, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that PTNHG prevalence was similar for studies with sample sizes >400 and ≤400, at 18% (95% CI: 15–22) and 21% (95% CI: 17–26), respectively. Similarly, prevalence estimates were comparable when using RBS thresholds of <47 mg/dL (21%; 95% CI: 16–27) and <40 mg/dL (18%; 95% CI: 15–22). Significant factors associated with PTNHG included preterm birth (AOR = 3.31; 95% CI: 2.57–4.04), hypothermia (AOR = 3.41; 95% CI: 2.19–4.62), being an infant of a diabetic mother (IDM) (AOR = 4.71; 95% CI: 2.15–7.26), delayed breastfeeding initiation beyond one hour (AOR = 3.26; 95% CI: 2.03–4.49), and pathological jaundice (AOR = 2.37; 95% CI: 1.91–2.84).

Conclusions

Nearly one-fifth of hospitalized neonates experienced PTNHG. Fortunately, most of the associated risk factors were modifiable. Prioritizing early breastfeeding initiation, particularly in cesarean section deliveries and IDM cases, and integrating PTNHG management into national NICU guidelines could significantly reduce the burden of neonatal hypoglycemia.

Trial registration

Prospero ID: CRD42023424953. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023424953.
Construction and validation of a predictive model for the risk of osteoporosis in patients with chronic kidney disease based on NHANES data
Authors: She Chunjie , Liu Hefeng
Published: February 2025

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients tend to exhibit a heightened susceptibility to osteoporosis owing to abnormalities in mineral and bone metabolism. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a nomogram for the prediction of osteoporosis risk in patients with CKD.

Methods

1498 patients diagnosed with CKD were enrolled from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data spanning 2005–2010, 2013–2014, and 2017–2018. The dataset was randomly divided into a training set and a validation set in a ratio of 7:3. Utilizing the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression technique for predictor identification, followed by employing multivariate logistic regression based on the selected predictors to construct a nomogram. The performance of the prediction model was assessed using various metrics, including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curve, the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

The construction of the nomogram was based on five predictors, namely age, height, weight, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and history of fracture. The AUC of 0.8511 in the training set and 0.8184 in the validation set demonstrates robust discriminability. Furthermore, the excellent calibration and clinical applicability of the model have been thoroughly validated.

Conclusions

Our study suggests a nomogram, providing nephrologists with a convenient and effective tool for identifying individuals at high risk of osteoporosis and avoiding adverse outcomes related to CKD.
Intervention effectiveness in reducing the clustering of non-communicable disease risk factors in the workplace: A quasi-experimental study
Authors: Guesmi Nahla , Ben Fredj Sihem , Zammit Nawel , Ghammam Rim , Harrabi Imed , Chouikha Firas , Maoua Maher , Maatoug Jihen , Ghannem Hassen
Published: February 2025

Understanding the clustering patterns of non-communicable disease risk factors is important to address chronic diseases effectively, thus minimizing their onset and enhancing overall health. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of a three-year workplace intervention in decreasing clustering of non-communicable disease risk factors in employees. A quasi-experimental study, including six companies, was conducted in the governorate of Sousse between 2010 and 2014. It involved an intervention group (Sousse-Jawhara and Sousse-Erriadh) and a control group (M’saken). The sample of participants in both groups was representative. Actions promoting physical activity, healthy diet, and smoking cessation in the workplace were included in this intervention. The participants’ socio-demographic characteristics and data concerning the risk factors were collected through interviews using a pretested questionnaire. The clustering of tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, obesity, and high blood pressure were examined pre- and post-intervention. In the intervention group, the mean risk factors per employee decreased significantly from 1.99 ± 1.00 to 1.81 ± 1.05 (p < 10−3). A minor non-significant increase, from 1.72 ± 0.97 to 1.78 ± 1.11, was noted in the control group. In the intervention group, the prevalence of two risk factor clusters dropped significantly from 40% to 34.4% pre- and post-intervention (p = 0.014). However, a non-significant decline was noted in the control group. Combinations such as obesity/hypertension and unhealthy diet/physical inactivity tended to aggregate in both groups. Overall, the intervention program showed significant protective effects in reducing the co-occurrence of multiple risk factors in the intervention group, with an adjusted OR of 0.81; CI95% [0.68–0.97]. Along with the existing literature, the present study confirmed the feasibility and effectiveness of health promotion programs in reducing non-communicable disease risk factors and their clustering. Integrating this intervention program into a national health policy could potentially generalize its positive impact.
Calculating age-specific prevalence rates of female genital mutilation / cutting (FGM/C) for use as an input variable in extrapolation calculations and as predictors of future prevalence in countries of origin
Authors: Callaghan Sean
Published: February 2025

This paper proposes a refined method for calculating age-specific prevalence rates of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) to enhance the accuracy of estimates calculated using Yoder and Van Baelen’s Extrapolation-of-FGM/C-Countries-Prevalence-Data method. Previous studies, particularly in the United States, have faced limitations, including the failure to disaggregate prevalence data by age and overlooking historical trends. To address these limitations, this study outlines a comprehensive seven-step approach. Using Ethiopia as a case study, prevalence rates were calculated and aligned with target migrant population data. This involved adjusting age cohorts, extrapolating prevalence to younger age groups, and considering historical trends. Results demonstrate significant differences compared to previous estimates, indicating overestimation of girls at risk of FGM/C in some studies. The proposed method offers a standardized approach applicable beyond the United States, potentially improving estimates globally. By providing nuanced prevalence data, this method contributes to better understanding the true prevalence of FGM/C in migrant populations. This same method can also be used to predict future trends in FGM/C and other practices.
Influences of footstrike patterns and overground conditions on lower extremity kinematics and kinetics during running: Statistical parametric mapping analysis
Authors: Zhuang Yifang , Zhou Wenxing , Zeng Ziwei , Mo Shiwei , Wang Lin
Published: February 2025

This study investigated lower extremity biomechanics when running on different surfaces among runners with different footstrike patterns. Thirty rearfoot strikers (RFSs) and non-rearfoot strikers (nRFSs) ran at 3.3 m/s on a specially designed indoor track covered with three surfaces: artificial grass, synthetic rubber, and concrete. A motion capture system with ten cameras combined a force plate was used to collect marker trajectory and ground reaction force (GRF) during the running stance phase. A two-way analysis of variance with statistical parametric mapping was employed to evaluate differences in the biomechanics of the lower extremities between footstrike patterns and among running surfaces. The nRFSs exhibited significantly greater ankle inversion angles and increased inversion and internal rotation moments at midstance compared to the RFSs. Conversely, the RFSs demonstrated significantly greater knee abduction moments in late stance. Running on stiffer surfaces was associated with greater vertical GRF in late stance, as well as increased knee and hip extension moments during midstance. Furthermore, running on stiffer surfaces was associated with increased knee abduction moments, hip abduction moments, and hip external rotation moments during late stance. These findings suggested that nRFSs endure more ankle loads, while RFSs face increased knee loads. However, regardless of the footstrike pattern, runners may benefit from selecting softer surfaces to reduce the risk of injury.
Characteristic analysis and surgical exploration for acetabular roof fractures: Multicenter retrospective cohort study
Authors: Zhang Ruipeng , Yin Yingchao , Chen Wei , Zhuang Yan , Fan Shicai , Yi Chengla , Lyu Gang , Zheng Longpo , Guo Xiaodong , Li Ming , Liu Guangyao , Hou Zhiyong , Zhang Yingze
Published: February 2025

Background

Acetabular roof was a crucial structure for maintaining the stability of hip joint; however, its important role was not especially emphasized in the Letournel-Judet classification system. Acetabular roof was segmented into the roof column and roof wall in Three-column classification and fracture in this area alone was defined as A3 injury. The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics and surgical strategy of A3 injury.

Methods

Patients with roof column/wall fractures received surgical management from January 2015 to 2019 January at nine level-1 trauma centers were retrospectively analyzed. Fracture data, surgical incision, operation time, blood loss, fracture healing and relevant complications were recorded to explore fracture characteristics and appropriate surgical strategy. Reduction quality was assessed based on postoperative radiographic examination. Merle d’Aubigné score was used to assess the functional outcome during the follow-up.

Results

A total of 60 patients met the inclusion criteria in this study. Mean operation time was 112.83±21.77 min, and mean intraoperative blood loss was 396.67±182.00 ml. Satisfactory reduction quality was obtained in 49 cases (81.67%). All fractures healed well at an average mean of 3.07 months. Satisfactory outcomes were obtained in 46 cases (76.67%), and mean Merle d’Aubigné score was 15.53±1.33 points at the final follow-up. Reduction quality and functional outcome showed no statistical difference in three subtypes (P<0.05). Reduction quality and functional outcome presented positive correlation in three subtype fractures (P<0.05). The complication rate was 11.67% (7/60) in this study.

Conclusion

The injury mechanism of A3 injury was the direct impaction from femoral head on acetabular roof. Reduction and fixation of A3 injury were technique demanding, and poor prognosis may be accompanied even treated by experienced surgeons. Appropriate surgical strategies (Table 5) based on fracture characteristics in three subtypes of A3 injury were the premise of accepted prognosis.
Behavioral intention to use electronic cigarettes in the Philippines: The role of social influence, knowledge, price and health impact
Authors: Belmonte Zachariah John A. , Prasetyo Yogi Tri , Victoria Pamela Eyre R. , Cahigas Maela Madel L. , Nadlifatin Reny , Gumasing Ma. Janice J.
Published: February 2025

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes have gained significant popularity as an alternative to traditional cigarettes, yet limited research has examined the factors influencing their adoption, particularly in developing nations like the Philippines, where usage is rising. This study investigates the behavioral drivers of e-cigarette use, with a particular focus on the role of knowledge, alongside social influence, perceived price impact, perceived health impact, and perceived usefulness. Using purposive sampling, 310 valid responses were collected from current e-cigarette users, traditional cigarette users, or individuals with prior experience with these products. A structured questionnaire with 21 indicators was administered, and data were analyzed using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that knowledge is the strongest predictor of behavioral intention, highlighting the critical role of informed awareness about the risks and impacts of e-cigarettes in shaping user decisions. Social influence, perceived price impact, and perceived health impact also significantly influence behavioral intention, demonstrating the interconnectedness of cognitive, social, and economic factors. Interestingly, perceived usefulness did not have a significant effect, challenging assumptions about the importance of functional benefits in driving e-cigarette adoption. These results underscore the importance of education and awareness campaigns in addressing misconceptions about e-cigarettes. Policymakers, regulators, and health professionals should prioritize knowledge-driven interventions to empower individuals to make informed decisions and mitigate e-cigarette use, particularly among younger and economically vulnerable populations.
LazyAct: Lazy actor with dynamic state skip based on constrained MDP
Authors: Zhang Hongjie , Chen Zhenyu , Deng Hourui , Feng Chaosheng
Published: February 2025

Deep reinforcement learning has achieved significant success in complex decision-making tasks. However, the high computational cost of policies based on deep neural networks restricts their practical application. Specifically, each decision made by an agent requires a complete neural network computation, leading to a linear increase in computational cost with the number of interactions and agents. Inspired by human decision-making patterns, which involve reasoning only on critical states in continuous decision-making tasks without considering all states, we introduce the LazyAct algorithm. This algorithm significantly reduces the number of inferences while preserving the quality of the policy. Firstly, we incorporate a state skipping branch into the actor network to bypass states with minimal impact. Subsequently, we establish optimization objectives for single-agent and multi-agents inference, incorporating cost constraints based on the IMPALA and MAPPO frameworks, respectively. Finally, we utilize pre-training and fine-tuning techniques to train the policy network. Extensive experimental results indicate that LazyAct reduces the number of inferences by approximately 80% and 40% in single-agent and multi-agents scenarios, respectively, while sustaining comparable policy performance. The inferences reduction significantly decreases the time and FLOPs required by the LazyAct algorithm to complete tasks. Code is available here https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wyoqo6q9gyt86zobfgbvx/h?\rlkey=0moyxsnoiisfs9y4h89hsou1l&dl=0.
Host 3’ flap endonuclease Mus81 plays a critical role in trimming the terminal redundancy of hepatitis B virus relaxed circular DNA during covalently closed circular DNA formation
Authors: Zhang Hu , Long Quanxin , Liu Yuanjie , Marchetti Alexander L. , Liu Cheng-Der , Sun Ning , Guo Haitao
Published: February 2025

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) relaxed circular DNA (rcDNA) possesses an 8–9 nucleotide-long terminal redundancy (TR, or r) on the negative (-) strand DNA derived from the reverse transcription of viral pregenomic RNA (pgRNA). It remains unclear whether the TR forms a 5’ or 3’ flap structure on HBV rcDNA and which TR copy is removed during covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) formation. To address these questions, a mutant HBV cell line HepDES-C1822G was established with a C1822G mutation in the pgRNA coding sequence, altering the sequence of 3’ TR of (-) strand DNA while the 5’ TR remained wild type (wt). The production of HBV rcDNA and cccDNA in HepDES-C1822G cells was comparable to wt levels. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis revealed that the positive (+) strand DNA of rcDNA and both strands of cccDNA predominantly carried the wt nt1822 residue, indicating that the 5’ TR of (-) strand DNA serves as the template during rcDNA replication, forming a duplex with the (+) strand DNA, while the 3’ TR forms a flap-like structure, which is subsequently removed during cccDNA formation. In a survey of known cellular flap endonucleases using a loss-of-function study, we found that the 3’ flap endonuclease Mus81 plays a critical role in cccDNA formation in wild-type HBV replicating cells, alongside the 5’ flap endonuclease FEN1. Additionally, we have mapped the potential Mus81 and FEN1 cleavage sites within the TR of nuclear DP-rcDNA by RACE-NGS analyses. The overlapping function between Mus81 and FEN1 in cccDNA formation indicates that the putative 5’ and 3’ flap formed by TR are dynamically interchangeable on rcDNA precursor. These findings shed light on HBV rcDNA structure and cccDNA formation mechanisms, contributing to our understanding of HBV replication cycle.
Benchmarking the Trends of Urbanization in the Gulf Cooperation Council: Outlook to 2050
Authors: Marzouk Osama
Published: February 2025

Historical data since 1950 and prospects for 2050 are presented here to show the trends of urbanization locally in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as compared to the regional (Western Asia), and global counterparts. The trends are also examined for countries grouped based on their level of development (more developed, less developed, and least developed) and their level of income (high, upper-middle, lower-middle, and low). Countries with higher development level or income have more urbanization percentage than those with lower development level or income. Whereas Oman has consistently the lowest urbanization percentage among the GCC countries, it has the fastest urbanization rate during 1950-1995. The gap among all GCC countries is expected to decay, where all will have an urbanization percentage of 87% or more in 2050. The data presented here are predominantly based on processing row data published by the United Nations (UN) through its Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
Bridging the Financial Gap: Baitul Maal Wat Tamwil (BMT) as A Medium for Women’s Empowerment and Financial Inclusion
Authors: Rahayu Ninik Sri
Published: February 2025

This paper is derived from the findings of community service programs aimed at improving women's access to Islamic microfinance Institutions, thereby empowering them and increasing their financial inclusion. The method to achieve the objective was through three educational sessions. The first session introduced participants to Islamic microfinance institutions, mainly focusing on BMT. The second session concentrated on women's empowerment, while the final session highlighted the importance of financial inclusion for women. The outcomes of these activities were increased knowledge, awareness, and skills among women regarding BMT, women's empowerment, and financial inclusion. In the future, additional training programs are necessary to further enhance women's empowerment, primarily related to financial and digital literacy, as these skills still need to be developed among the participants.
Analysis of Divorce Problems Outside the Court According to Hadith and Compilation of Islamic Law
Authors: Nur Rofiq  , Ema Marhumah  , Rahmawati  , Orien Effendi  , Nurul Aeni
Published: February 2025

The ideal hope for a household is the realization of a happy, harmonious and peaceful family. It's just that this often doesn't materialize because of a family problem and dispute that is difficult to compromise on, so the path taken is divorce (talak). The problem that will be examined is the validity of divorce outside the courtroom in the perspective of hadith. This article will contain an explanation of the problems of divorce with the formulation of important issues; first, what is the law on divorce?, and second, how is the hadith about divorce understood in the Indonesian context? To answer this question, the writer uses descriptive-analytical theory. After the required data has been collected, the authors carry out an analysis and comparison with positive law through the Compilation of Islamic Law. As a result, divorce is indeed something that is permitted by religion and at the same time becomes behavior that is hated by Allah. So it takes policy and comprehensive understanding of this problem. On the other hand, the state requires that the divorce process be carried out in the Religious Courts, in order to ensure the benefit of each party and become a standard legal basis.
Implementation of the Hadith on Maintain the Cleanliness by Santri of Siti Fatimah Islamic Boarding School, Kanggraksan
Authors: Fatimaturrohmah  , Anis Anisatun Muthi'ah , Lukman Zain M Sakur  , Alfian Febriyanto
Published: February 2025

The issue of cleanliness is one aspect that Islam pays great attention to. This can be seen from several Al-Qur'an texts and hadiths which equate the level of cleanliness with a person's faith, so it is appropriate for Muslims to implement clean living behavior in their daily lives, especially students in Islamic boarding schools. This article explains the existence of various religious texts regarding cleanliness which are studied by santri through recitation with two basic questions; first, what is the knowledge of the Siti Fatimah Islamic Boarding School students regarding cleanliness traditions?; and second, does the students' knowledge of the hadith on cleanliness have a relationship with clean living behavior? These questions were then studied using quantitative methods with a correlational approach and analyzed using the theory of reasoned action. The results of this research show that there is no significant relationship between knowledge of cleanliness hadiths and clean living behavior of Siti Fatimah Islamic Boarding School students. Based on the analysis of the theory of reasoned action, the santri's clean living behavior is purely a behavior, there are no other influencing factors.
The Connectivity of Hadith and Modern Sains: Case Study on Hadith about Pomegranate
Authors: Baiq Mira Nurfatihah  , Ma'sum Al Anwari Ahmad Ubaidillah
Published: February 2025

The Prophet through his hadiths taught goodness to his people, both in the realm of attitude, character, worship, and even greater things. In practice, Muslims only implement the prophet's commands to the extent of religious doctrine which considers the prophet to be ma'shum, but they forget the conceptual dimensions that actually support the truth of what the prophet conveyed. This article discusses the connectivity between the hadith of the Prophet SAW and sains through two fundamental questions; first, what is the methodological conceptual relationship between hadith and sains?, and second, to what extent is the truth of hadith seen from a scientific perspective? Both questions are analyzed using descriptive-analytical research methods which will then be compared to find the meeting point. The results found a very close relationship between hadith and sains, where both are built on methodology and are objective. The truth is not just a claim, but the truth is proven through data and facts.