bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automation of the Ad Hoc Approach for Derandomization of Proteins: A Tutorial for Undergraduates in Molecular Sciences
Authors: Olamoyesan Adewale
Published: June 2024

Data analysis and manipulation software are vulnerable to user error during data processing and computations take considerable time when handling huge data and multiple repetitive tasks. These problems are usually mitigated by creating an app to repeat any given task reproducibly any number of times. This paper discusses the development of app that systematically automates the ad hoc approach for derandomization of proteins and, or peptides. Thirty second-year undergraduates with little-to-no prior knowledge of computer programming are (were) asked to create this app with modules that sequentially convert spectra from original units to molar extinction and subtract baseline spectrum from the resultant spectra, derandomize the spectra by removing suspected significant unfolded domains from them, concatenate the generated files to a single file in an acceptable format for structural analysis, process our group structural algorithm output files into a user-friendly format to ease data analysis. In addition, they are (were) asked to prepare protein solution, determine its concentration spectroscopically, collect circular dichroism measurements of the protein, derandomize the protein spectra, and determine the secondary structure of the resultant protein spectra with our structure algorithm. The assessment results demonstrated that the students could prepare samples for CD analysis, collect spectra of proteins, and create an app to automate the ad hoc approach. The hands-on activities enable students to acquire knowledge in basic programming and circular dichroism, CD spectroscopy.
A New Combination of Teaching and Learning Elements in and out of Class: The PDCA Iterative Improvement Pedagogy and Its Empirical Evidence
Authors: Ding Xiaoliang
Published: June 2024

In order to address the issues of abundant learning resources under the Internet plus condition, but college students do not invest enough time in learning out of class, and some teachers and students are still accustomed to one-way teaching, a new combination of teaching and learning elements in and out of class, the PDCA Iterative Improvement Pedagogy, is designed. And educational experiments were conducted in two public elective courses. The investigation indicates that after engaging in collaborative learning both inside and outside the classroom, students not only acquire professional knowledge but also experience comprehensive growth in transferable abilities and non-intellectual factors. This holds universal significance for reforming the traditional classroom teaching system, effectively utilizing online learning resources, increasing student engagement in self-study outside of class, enhancing the learning efficiency of the “research-teaching-study nexus,” considering both individual growth and social skills training, integrating professional education with holistic education, and implementing quality assurance practices into the daily teaching process.
An Appraisal of Routine Immunization Coverage Among Children 0-2 Years in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State
Authors: Daniel Ebenezer , Olawale Oluseyi , Avwerhota Michael , Bello Ahmed , Tomori Michael , Popoola Israel , Ogun Adebanke , Salami Aisha , Alewi Olukayode , Popoola Taiwo , Ekwuluo Celestine
Published: June 2024

Immunization is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases such as Tuberculosis, Poliomyelitis, Haemophilus Influenza type b (HIB), Diphtheria, Pertusis, Tetanus and Hepatitis B, neonatal tetanus yellow fever, measles, cerebrospinal meningitis and is estimated to avert between 2 and 3 million deaths each year. The objective of this study is to appraise routine immunization coverage among children 0-2 years in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, designed to appraise routine immunization coverage among children 0-2 years in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State. The study focused on children 0-2 years. Majority 102 (25.2%) of the respondents were within the age range of 25-29 years, 82 (20.5%) were >39 years. 314 (78.5%) were Yorubas. 385 (96.2%) had good knowledge while 15 (3.8%) had poor knowledge. 374 (93.5%) of the women have positive attitude while 26 (6.5%) of them have negative attitude. Most of the respondents, 391 (97.8%) of the respondents reported that they have taken their child to the health facility for immunization and 232 (58%) have taken their child to 4-5 immunization sessions. Based on the findings of the present study, it could be concluded that very few of the women had poor knowledge of childhood immunization, majority of the women had positive attitude score and practice of childhood immunization, practice of childhood immunization is quite high, and the uptake of childhood immunization is quite high.
How Does Corporate Image Attract Job Seekers – An Empirical Study of Moderated Mediation of Employer Image in Macao Food & Beverage Industry
Authors: Wei Hong , Chen Cao
Published: June 2024

While organization image and employer image are two constructs highlighted in the employer attractiveness studies, what relationship between two images is yet unknown. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between two constructs, and further the employer image research from Younis and Hammad in 2019. The empirical study utilized self-administered questionnaires to collect primary data of employees in Macao Food and Beverage industry. From November 2022 to April 2023, 303 valid samples were recruited and organized. Using SPSS and Amos statistical software, the study found that both corporate image and employer image are predictors of organization attraction, and employer image plays as a partial mediator of employer attraction model. Simultaneously, organization attraction predicted job seekers' application intentions and person-organization fit has been significantly affecting the process of mediating and moderating process of hypothetical conceptual model. Findings suggested that an attractive employer brand could help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of recruitment. This study provided marginal contribution to the employer brand research and offers practical implications for the Macao Food and Beverage Industry. Theoretically, the study found effects of image transmitting in predicting organization attraction between corporate image and employer image and person-organization fit role during the transmission. In the practice, managers should consider different images when building organization attractiveness and highlight communication between organization image messages (corporate image and employer image) and recipients (job seekers), and to maximize effects of recruitment. More studies should be conducted to understand how different images are transferred.
Climatology of Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature and Associated Heat Waves in the U.S. Great Plains
Authors: Davis Benjamin , Martin Elinor R. , Illston Bradley G.
Published: June 2024

Extreme heat such as that seen in the United States and Europe in summer 2022 can have significant impacts on human health and infrastructure. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Army use wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) to quantify the impact of heat on workers and inform decisions on workload. WBGT is a weighted average of air temperature, natural wet-bulb temperature, and black globe temperature. A local hourly, daily, and monthly WBGT climatology will allow those planning outdoor work to minimize the likelihood of heat-related disruptions. In this study, WBGT is calculated from the ERA5 reanalysis and is validated by the Oklahoma Mesonet and found to be adequate. Two common methods of calculating WBGT from meteorological observations are compared. The Liljegren method has a larger diurnal cycle than the Dimiceli method, with a peak WBGT about 1°F higher. The high- and extreme-risk categories in the southern U.S. Great Plains (USGP) have increased from 5 days per year to 15 days from 1960 to 2020. Additionally, the largest increases in WBGT are occurring during DJF, potentially lengthening the warm season in the future. Heat wave definitions based on maximum, minimum, and mean WBGT are used to calculate heat wave characteristics and trends with the largest number of heat waves occurring in the southern USGP. Further, the number of heat waves is generally increasing across the domain. This study shows that heat wave days based on minimum WBGT have increased significantly which could have important impacts on human heat stress recovery.
Atmospheric Rivers in East Asia Summer as the Continuum of Extratropical and Monsoonal Moisture Plumes
Authors: Park Chanil , Son Seok-Woo
Published: June 2024

East Asian atmospheric rivers (ARs) exhibit the most pronounced activity in summer with significant impacts on monsoon rainfall. However, their occurrence mechanisms are yet to be revealed in detail. In this study, we unravel the inherently complex nature of East Asian summer ARs by applying a multiscale index that quantifies the relative importance of high-frequency (HF) and low-frequency (LF) moisture transports in AR development. It is found that both HF and LF processes contribute to shaping the summertime ARs in East Asia, contrasting to the wintertime ARs dominated by HF processes. Stratification of ARs with the multiscale index reveals that HF-dominant ARs are driven by baroclinically deepening extratropical cyclones, analogous to the widely accepted definition of canonical ARs. In contrast, LF-dominant ARs result from an enhanced monsoon southwesterly between a quasi-stationary cyclone and an anticyclone with the latter being the anomalous expansion of the western North Pacific subtropical high. Such a pattern is reminiscent of the classical monsoon rainband. While HF-dominant ARs are transient, LF-dominant ARs are quasi-stationary with a higher potential for prolonged local impacts. The intermediate ARs, constituting a majority of East Asian summer ARs, exhibit synoptic conditions that combine HF- and LF-dominant ARs. Therefore, East Asian summer ARs cannot be explained by a single parent system but should be considered as a continuum of extratropical-cyclone-induced and fluctuating monsoon-flow-induced moisture plumes. This finding would serve as a base for the advanced understanding of hydrological impacts, variability, and projected change of East Asian ARs.

Significance Statement

Despite the accumulation of studies on summertime atmospheric rivers (ARs) in East Asia, a comprehensive explanation for their occurrence mechanisms remains elusive. This study disentangles their complicated nature through case-level multiscale analyses. In contrast to wintertime ARs, summertime ARs are shaped by both high- and low-frequency moisture transports. The high-frequency moisture transport is associated with migratory extratropical cyclones which are suppressed but still active in summer, while the low-frequency moisture transport arises from the fluctuation of a quasi-stationary monsoon southwesterly along the periphery of the western North Pacific subtropical high. The varying relative contribution of high- and low-frequency components from one AR to another suggests that East Asian summer ARs represent a continuum of extratropical and monsoonal moisture plumes.
Synergizing AI and Physical Expertise to Close the Water Budget from Satellite Data
Authors: Aires Filipe , Pellet Victor
Published: June 2024

A multitude of Earth observation (EO) products are available for monitoring the terrestrial water cycle. These EO datasets have resulted in a multiplicity of datasets for the same geophysical variable. Furthermore, inconsistencies between the water components prevent the water budget closure. A maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimator has been used in the past to optimally combine EO datasets. This framework has many advantages, but it can only be utilized when all four water components are available (precipitation P, evapotranspiration E, total water storage change dS, and river discharge R) and solely at the basin scale. By combining physical expertise with the statistical inference of neural networks (NNs), we designed a custom deep learning scheme to optimize EO data. This hybrid approach benefits from the optimization capabilities of NNs to estimate the parameters of interconnected physical modules. The NN is trained using basin-scale data (from MAP results) over 38 basins to obtain optimized EOs globally. The NN integration offers several enhancements compared to MAP: Independent calibration/mixing models are obtained with imbalance reduction and optimization at the pixel level, and environmental variables can be used to extrapolate results to unmonitored regions. The NN integration enables combining EO estimates of individual water components (P, E, dS, and R) in a hydrologically coherent manner, resulting in a significant decrease in the water budget imbalance at the global scale. Mean imbalance errors can be significant on raw EOs, but they become negligible when EOs are integrated. The standard deviation (STD) of the imbalance is around 26 mm month−1 for raw EOs, and they decrease to 21 when combined and 19 when mixed.
Medical, Psychiatric, and Sociodemographic Predictors of Clozapine Initiation at an Academic Medical Center
Authors: Shangraw Kathleen , Schmutz Christian , Dowdle Tom , Kelley Ryan , Porter Caleb , Reynolds Merrick , Schwartz Zachary , Sutton Olivia , Kious Brent
Published: June 2024

Background and Hypothesis

Clozapine is an effective yet underutilized treatment for treatment‐resistant schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This study aimed to identify factors affecting clozapine prescribing patterns among patients with treatment‐resistant schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder at an academic medical center.

Study Design

This retrospective combined cohort and case‐control study examined demographic, socioeconomic, medical and psychiatric characteristics to determine predictors of clozapine initiation. Eligible patients had a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder with at least two prior antipsychotic trials and were admitted to a University of Utah inpatient psychiatric facility (1/2014–3/2021). Patients who did and did not receive clozapine during the index hospitalization were compared in cohort and case‐control study arms.

Study Results

Twelve percent (59/477) of the cohort received clozapine during the index admission. Among the cohort (n = 477), Black patients were twice as likely to receive clozapine than White and Hispanic patients (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.20–3.97, p = 0.008). In the case‐control analysis, patients with a greater number of previous psychiatric admissions (OR 1.14, p = 0.079) and antipsychotic trials (OR 1.40, p = 0.038) had greater odds of receiving clozapine. Homelessness was identified as a predictor against clozapine use (OR 2.77, p = 0.014).

Conclusions

This is the first study to identify homelessness as a predictor against clozapine use, which raises important clinical and ethical considerations. Our findings also add to the literature on clozapine prescribing discrepancies among ethnic‐minority patients. Overall, clozapine remains underutilized as the gold‐standard treatment for treatment‐resistant schizophrenia‐spectrum disorders, reinforcing a need to improve evidence‐based prescribing.
IL-9 secreted by leukemia stem cells induces Th1-skewed CD4+ T cells, which promote their expansion
Authors: Radpour Ramin , Simillion Cedric , Wang Bofei , Abbas Hussein A. , Riether Carsten , Ochsenbein Adrian F.
Published: June 2024

In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), leukemia stem cells (LSCs) and leukemia progenitor cells (LPCs) interact with various cell types in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment, regulating their expansion and differentiation. To study the interaction of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the BM with LSCs and LPCs, we analyzed their transcriptome and predicted cell-cell interactions by unbiased high-throughput correlation network analysis. We found that CD4+ T cells in the BM of patients with AML were activated and skewed toward T-helper (Th)1 polarization, whereas interleukin-9 (IL-9)–producing (Th9) CD4+ T cells were absent. In contrast to normal hematopoietic stem cells, LSCs produced IL-9, and the correlation modeling predicted IL9 in LSCs as a main hub gene that activates CD4+ T cells in AML. Functional validation revealed that IL-9 receptor signaling in CD4+ T cells leads to activation of the JAK-STAT pathway that induces the upregulation of KMT2A and KMT2C genes, resulting in methylation on histone H3 at lysine 4 to promote genome accessibility and transcriptional activation. This induced Th1-skewing, proliferation, and effector cytokine secretion, including interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). IFN-γ and, to a lesser extent, TNF-α produced by activated CD4+ T cells induced the expansion of LSCs. In accordance with our findings, high IL9 expression in LSCs and high IL9R, TNF, and IFNG expression in BM–infiltrating CD4+ T cells correlated with worse overall survival in AML. Thus, IL-9 secreted by AML LSCs shapes a Th1-skewed immune environment that promotes their expansion by secreting IFN-γ and TNF-α.
Inflammasome activation in patients with Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus–associated diseases
Authors: Lage Silvia Lucena , Ramaswami Ramya , Rocco Joseph M. , Rupert Adam , Davis David A. , Lurain Kathryn , Manion Maura , Whitby Denise , Yarchoan Robert , Sereti Irini
Published: June 2024

Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV)–associated diseases include Kaposi sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman disease (MCD), and KS inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS). PEL, MCD, and KICS are associated with elevated circulating inflammatory cytokines. However, activation of the inflammasome, which generates interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 via active caspase-1/4/5, has not been evaluated in patients with KSHV-associated diseases (KADs). Herein we report that patients with HIV and ≥1 KAD present with higher plasma levels of IL-18 and increased caspase-1/4/5 activity in circulating monocytes compared with HIV-negative healthy volunteers (HVs) or people with HIV (PWH) without KAD. Within KAD subtypes, KICS and MCD shared enhanced caspase-1/4/5 activity and IL-18 production compared with HVs and PWH, whereas patients with PEL showed remarkably high levels of inflammasome complex formation (known as apoptosis–associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain). Moreover, caspase-1/4/5 activity and IL-18 plasma levels correlated with KSHV viral load, indicating KSHV-driven inflammasome activation in KAD. Accordingly, factors released by cells latently infected with KSHV triggered inflammasome activation and cytokine production in bystander monocytes in vitro. Finally, both supervised and unsupervised analyses with inflammasome measurements and other inflammatory biomarkers demonstrate a unique inflammatory profile in patients with PEL, MCD, and KICS as compared with KS. Our data indicate that detrimental inflammation in patients with KAD is at least partially driven by KSHV-induced inflammasome activation in monocytes, thus offering novel approaches to diagnose and treat these complex disorders. These trials were registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT01419561, NCT00092222, NCT00006518, and NCT02147405.
Serglycin controls megakaryocyte retention of platelet factor 4 and influences megakaryocyte fate in bone marrow
Authors: Lykins Joshua , Becker Isabelle C. , Camacho Virginia , Alfar Hammodah R. , Park JoonWoo , Italiano Joseph , Whiteheart Sidney W.
Published: June 2024

Megakaryocytes (MKs) produce platelets, and similar to other hematopoietic progenitors, they are involved in homeostatic aspects of their bone marrow niche. MKs release and endocytose various factors, such as platelet factor 4 (PF4)/CXCL4. Here, we show that the intra-α-granular proteoglycan, serglycin (SRGN), plays a key role in this process by retaining PF4, and perhaps other factors, during MK maturation. Immature, SRGN–/– MKs released ∼80% of their PF4, and conditioned media from these cells negatively affected wild-type MK differentiation in vitro. This was replicated in wild-type MKs by treatment with the polycation surfen, a known inhibitor of glycosaminoglycan (GAG)/protein interactions. In vivo, SRGN–/– mice had an interstitial accumulation of PF4, transforming growth factor β1, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor α in their bone marrow and increased numbers of immature MKs, consistent with their mild thrombocytopenia. SRGN–/– mice also had reduced numbers of hematopoietic stem cells and multipotent progenitors, reduced laminin, and increased collagen I deposition. These findings demonstrate that MKs depend on SRGN and its charged GAGs to balance the distribution of PF4 and perhaps other factors between their α-granules and their adjacent extracellular spaces. Disrupting this balance negatively affects MK development and bone marrow microenvironment homeostasis.
Genes divided according to the relative position of the longest intron show increased representation in different KEGG pathways
Authors: Dvorak Pavel , Hlavac Viktor , Hanicinec Vojtech , Rao Bhavana Hemantha , Soucek Pavel
Published: June 2024

Despite the fact that introns mean an energy and time burden for eukaryotic cells, they play an irreplaceable role in the diversification and regulation of protein production. As a common feature of eukaryotic genomes, it has been reported that in protein-coding genes, the longest intron is usually one of the first introns. The goal of our work was to find a possible difference in the biological function of genes that fulfill this common feature compared to genes that do not. Data on the lengths of all introns in genes were extracted from the genomes of six vertebrates (human, mouse, koala, chicken, zebrafish and fugu) and two other model organisms (nematode worm and arabidopsis). We showed that more than 40% of protein-coding genes have the relative position of the longest intron located in the second or third tertile of all introns. Genes divided according to the relative position of the longest intron were found to be significantly increased in different KEGG pathways. Genes with the longest intron in the first tertile predominate in a range of pathways for amino acid and lipid metabolism, various signaling, cell junctions or ABC transporters. Genes with the longest intron in the second or third tertile show increased representation in pathways associated with the formation and function of the spliceosome and ribosomes. In the two groups of genes defined in this way, we further demonstrated the difference in the length of the longest introns and the distribution of their absolute positions. We also pointed out other characteristics, namely the positive correlation between the length of the longest intron and the sum of the lengths of all other introns in the gene and the preservation of the exact same absolute and relative position of the longest intron between orthologous genes.
The effects of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes on susceptibility to severe COVID-19 in the Iranian population
Authors: Karami Narges , Barani Shaghik , Fani Mona , Meri Seppo , Shafiei Reza , Kalantar Kurosh
Published: June 2024

Background

Variations in the innate and adaptive immune response systems are linked to variations in the severity of COVID-19. Natural killer cell (NK) function is regulated by sophisticated receptor system including Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) family. We aimed to investigate the impact of possessing certain KIR genes and genotypes on COVID19 severity in Iranians. KIR genotyping was performed on 394 age/sex matched Iranians with no underlying conditions who developed mild and severe COVID- 19. The presence and/or absence of 11 KIR genes were determined using the PCR with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP).

Results

Patients with mild symptoms had higher frequency ofKIR2DS1 (p = 0.004) and KIR2DS2 (p = 0.017) genes compared to those with severe disease. While KIR3DL3 and deleted variant of KIR2DS4 occurred more frequently in patients who developed a severe form of the disease. In this study, a significant increase of and B haplotype was observed in the Mild group compared to the Severe group (respectively, p = 0.002 and p = 0.02). Also, the prevalence of haplotype A was significantly higher in the Severe group than in the Mild group (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

These results suggest that the KIR2DS1, KIR2DS, and B haplotype maybe have a protective effect against COVID-19 severity. The results also suggest the inhibitory gene KIR2DL3 and haplotype A are risk factors for the severity of COVID-19.
OsAlR3 regulates aluminum tolerance through promoting the secretion of organic acids and the expression of antioxidant genes in rice
Authors: Su Chang , Wang Jingbo , Feng Jing , Jiang Sixu , Man Fuyuan , Jiang Linlin , Zhao Minghui
Published: June 2024

In acidic soils, aluminum (Al) toxicity inhibits the growth and development of plant roots and affects nutrient and water absorption, leading to reduced yield and quality. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate and identify candidate genes for Al tolerance and elucidate their physiological and molecular mechanisms under Al stress. In this study, we identified a new gene OsAlR3 regulating Al tolerance, and analyzed its mechanism from physiological, transcriptional and metabolic levels. Compared with the WT, malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content were significantly increased, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and citric acid (CA) content were significantly decreased in the osalr3 mutant lines when exposed to Al stress. Under Al stress, the osalr3 exhibited decreased expression of antioxidant-related genes and lower organic acid content compared with WT. Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis showed the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway plays an important role in OsAlR3-mediated Al tolerance. Exogenous CA and oxalic acid (OA) could increase total root length and enhance the antioxidant capacity in the mutant lines under Al stress. Conclusively, we found a new gene OsAlR3 that positively regulates Al tolerance by promoting the chelation of Al ions through the secretion of organic acids, and increasing the expression of antioxidant genes.
Seasonal distribution and upsurge of respiratory viruses among indigenous tribes with ILI and SARI in a far-flung Car Nicobar Island
Authors: Muruganandam Nagarajan , Vipat Veena , Jadhav Sheetal , Vins Alwin , Beniwal Nisha , Kaur Harpreet , Renuka Remya Rajan , Parvez Rehnuma , Potdar Varsha
Published: June 2024

Background

Respiratory viral illnesses among children are a prominent cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. The aim of this study is to understand the seasonal pattern and surge of respiratory viruses among the Nicobarese tribe.

Methods

Respiratory specimens were collected from both ARI and SARI cases attended the BJR district hospital in Car Nicobar Island, India, between 2021 and 2022. Respiratory viruses were identified from the specimens by using the qRT-PCR assay. Meteorological parameters were collected and evaluated using Microsoft Excel and SPSS 21. The significant association between the surge of respiratory viruses and each climatic parameter was evaluated.

Results

In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, 471 ILI cases were enrolled, and 209 of these were positive for respiratory viral infections. Of these respiratory virus infections, 201 (96.2%) were infected with a single respiratory virus infection, and 8 (3.8%) had mixed viral infections. Fever, cough, and chills were the most common symptoms of respiratory illness among this indigenous population. There was a significant link between respiratory viruses and influenza-like illness in children (below 5 years and 6 to 15 years).

Conclusion

This prevalence study revealed that viral respiratory infections were more common in children than adults. Among these respiratory viruses, respiratory syncytial virus A (RSV) and influenza B virus were predominantly reported among tribal children up to age five years. In the year 2021, these viruses were recorded frequently during the winter season. Climate factors such as high humidity, high precipitation, moderate temperature, and moderate rainfall are found to be correlated with respiratory viral infections. This study implicates important information for preventing a further outbreak of respiratory viral infections in Car Nicobar Island.
Protocol for the MS-CEBA study: an observational, prospective cohort study identifying Cognitive, Energetic, Behavioural and Affective (CEBA) profiles in Multiple Sclerosis to guide neuropsychological treatment choice
Authors: Reinhardt Anniek , Rakers Sandra E. , Heersema Dorothea J. , Beenakker Ernesto A. C. , Meilof Jan F. , Timmerman Marieke E. , Spikman Jacoba M.
Published: June 2024

Background

Neuropsychological symptoms in the Cognitive, Energetic, Behavioural, and Affective (CEBA) domains are common in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and can negatively affect societal participation. The current study aims to investigate whether there are combinations of symptoms in the different CEBA domains that consistently occur together, that is, if there are CEBA profiles that can be identified. If so, this study aims to develop a screening instrument identifying CEBA profiles in PwMS to select the most suitable neuropsychological rehabilitation treatment for a given CEBA profile and consequently improve the societal participation of PwMS.

Methods

This study is an observational, prospective cohort study consisting of 3 phases. Phase 1 focuses on the identification of CEBA profiles in a large sample of PwMS (n = 300). Phase 2 focuses on validating these CEBA profiles through replication of results in a new sample (n = 100) and on the development of the screening instrument. Phase 3 focuses on qualitatively evaluating in a small group of PwMS whether the selected treatment is suitable for the given CEBA profile or whether existing neuropsychological treatments should be adapted to meet the needs of PwMS suffering from symptoms in multiple CEBA domains simultaneously. Primary outcome is the CEBA profile, which will be derived from performance on neuropsychological assessment consisting of tests and questionnaires regarding the CEBA domains using a latent profile analysis. Inclusion criteria include MS diagnosis, sufficient ability in the Dutch language, and an age between 18 and 70 years.

Discussion

The results of the current study will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the entire spectrum of neuropsychological symptoms in PwMS. Identification of possible CEBA profiles, and accordingly, the development of a screening instrument determining the CEBA profile of PwMS in clinical practice, contributes to the timely referral of PwMS to the most suitable neuropsychological rehabilitation treatment. If necessary, adjustments to existing treatments will be suggested in order to sufficiently meet the needs of PwMS. All of this with the ultimate aim to improve societal participation, and thereby quality of life, of PwMS.

Trial registration

Dutch Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (CCMO) NL83954.042.23; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06016309.
Research on segmentation model of optic disc and optic cup in fundus
Authors: Chen Naigong , Lv Xiujuan
Published: June 2024

Background

Glaucoma is a worldwide eye disease that can cause irreversible vision loss. Early detection of glaucoma is important to reduce vision loss, and retinal fundus image examination is one of the most commonly used solutions for glaucoma diagnosis due to its low cost. Clinically, the cup-disc ratio of fundus images is an important indicator for glaucoma diagnosis. In recent years, there have been an increasing number of algorithms for segmentation and recognition of the optic disc (OD) and optic cup (OC), but these algorithms generally have poor universality, segmentation performance, and segmentation accuracy.

Methods

By improving the YOLOv8 algorithm for segmentation of OD and OC. Firstly, a set of algorithms was designed to adapt the REFUGE dataset’s result images to the input format of the YOLOv8 algorithm. Secondly, in order to improve segmentation performance, the network structure of YOLOv8 was improved, including adding a ROI (Region of Interest) module, modifying the bounding box regression loss function from CIOU to Focal-EIoU. Finally, by training and testing the REFUGE dataset, the improved YOLOv8 algorithm was evaluated.

Results

The experimental results show that the improved YOLOv8 algorithm achieves good segmentation performance on the REFUGE dataset. In the OD and OC segmentation tests, the F1 score is 0.999.

Conclusions

We improved the YOLOv8 algorithm and applied the improved model to the segmentation task of OD and OC in fundus images. The results show that our improved model is far superior to the mainstream U-Net model in terms of training speed, segmentation performance, and segmentation accuracy.
The impact of family factors and communication on recreational sedentary screen time among primary school-aged children: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ding Xueting , Ji Ying , Dong Yuan , Li Zhijing , Zhang Yan
Published: June 2024

Background

Childhood obesity is increasingly recognized as a major public health challenge worldwide, and excessive sedentary screen time is emerging as a key risk factor. This study aimed to assess the recreational screen sedentary time of Chinese primary school-aged children and investigate the relationship between screen-related family factors and the outcome variable.

Methods

Our study used data from a cross-sectional survey collected from fifth-grade students and their parents in Beijing, China, from April to May 2018 (n = 2,373). The questions included basic demographic information, family socioeconomic status, students’ and parents’ sedentary and exercising habits, within-family communicational factors, and health belief patterns. The recreational screen sedentary time of the children was compared across demographic groups. The study employed multivariate linear regression models to examine associations between children’s screen time and various family factors, as well as the moderating effect of overall family communication.

Results

Our findings revealed an average daily recreational screen sedentary time of 2.4 h among participants. Screen time significantly varied across demographic categories, including children’s sex, age, residence, parents’ education, household income, family size, and primary family member. After adjustment, the proportion of child-owned digital devices (p < 0.01), child’s personal room (p < 0.05), family screen-viewing together (p < 0.01), and parental screen time (p < 0.01) were positively related to children’s recreational sedentary screen time. Parental restrictions on screen time (p < 0.001) and attitudes toward reducing sitting time (p < 0.01) were correlated with a decrease in children’s screen time. The overall family communication environment significantly moderated the effects of parental practice of restricting children’s screen time (p < 0.001), positive reinforcement by parents (p < 0.05), and parents’ recreational sedentary screen time (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings underscored the significance of family dynamics, parental practices, and communication in shaping children’s screen time behaviors, providing valuable insights for tailored interventions and strategies to reduce childhood obesity.
An organizational working time reduction and its impact on three domains of mental well-being of employees: a panel study
Authors: Mullens Francisca , Laurijssen Ilse
Published: June 2024

Background

Work hours are an important aspect of one’s job and these in turn have the potential to impact people’s well-being. Much research investigating the link between working hours and well-being uses cross-sectional data. Longitudinal studies, especially those studying the same subjects changing their working time, can study the impact of work time more clearly. Using panel data, this study aims to explore the impact of a reduction in working time on three domains of well-being: general well-being, job-related well-being (positive work experience) and work-family well-being (work-family conflict). In addition, our study offers insights into the role of concomitant changes in work and private circumstances of employees as we investigate whether the impact of shorter working hours for well-being is mediated by changes in the participants’ and circumstances related to paid and unpaid work resources.

Method

An organization of about 60 (female) employees trialed a shorter workweek for one calendar year in 2019. All full-time employees reduced their hours. The part-time working employees can be used as a control group. Panel data (survey and time-use diary data) of a 30-h workweek trial in Belgium was collected in four waves over two years in a pre- and post-intervention design. Change over time (waves) was analyzed through multilevel growth models.

Result

A decrease in work-family conflict was observed during the shorter workweek. Part of this decrease is explained by concomitant changes in work and private circumstances, such as sufficiency in free time, schedule control, and satisfaction with work pressure. Positive work experience and general well-being tend to have decreased during the shorter workweek, although this could partly be explained by other organizational changes and not by the reduction in working hours per se. Schedule control helped suppress these somewhat negative effects of organizational changes on positive work experience.

Conclusion

Reduced working hours have the largest and most positive impact on work-family conflict. The feeling of having enough leisure time contributes to this increased well-being. Especially for women, who were the majority in this study, a reduction in working time might be beneficial as they often bear more responsibility for household work and care tasks. Next to the duration of working time, schedule control/autonomy has an important impact on well-being.
Decision regret after prostate biopsy for prostate cancer diagnosis: a Korean multicenter cohort study
Authors: Kim Hwanik , Bang Woojin , Shim Myungsun , Oh Cheol Young , Cho Sung Yong , Chung Mun Su , Cho Dae Sung , Kim Sun Il , Lee Seung Hwan , Koo Kyo Chul , Lee Kwang Suk , Cho Jin Seon
Published: June 2024

Background

Many people struggle with the choice in a series of processes, from prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis to treatment. We investigated the degree of regret after the prostate biopsy (PBx) and relevant factors in patients recommended for biopsy for suspected PCa.

Methods

From 06/2020 to 05/2022, 198 people who performed PBx at three institutions were enrolled and analyzed through a questionnaire before and after biopsy. Before the biopsy, a questionnaire was conducted to evaluate the sociodemographic information, anxiety scale, and health literacy, and after PBx, another questionnaire was conducted to evaluate the decision regret scale. For patients diagnosed as PCa after biopsy, a questionnaire was conducted when additional tests were performed at PCa staging work-up.

Results

190 patients answered the questionnaire before and after PBx. The mean age was 66.2 ± 7.8 years. Overall, 5.5% of men regretted biopsy, but there was no significant difference between groups according to the PCa presence. Multivariate analysis, to identify predictors for regret, revealed that the case when physicians did not properly explain what the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test was like and what PSA elevation means (OR 20.57, [95% CI 2.45–172.70], p = 0.005), low media literacy (OR 10.01, [95% CI 1.09–92.29], p = 0.042), and when nobody to rely on (OR 8.49, [95% CI 1.66–43.34], p = 0.010) were significantly related.

Conclusions

Overall regret related to PBx was low. Decision regret was more significantly related to media literacy rather than to educational level. For patients with relatively low media literacy and fewer people to rely on in case of serious diseases, more careful attention and counseling on PBx, including a well-informed explanation on PSA test, is helpful.
Assessment of physical literacy in 8- to 12-year-old Pakistani school children: reliability and cross-validation of the Canadian assessment of physical literacy-2 (CAPL-2) in South Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Hadier Syed Ghufran , Liu Yinghai , Long Liu , Hamdani Syed Muhammad Zeeshan Haider , Khurram Haris , Hamdani Syed Danish , Danish Shaista Shireen , Fatima Syeda Urooj
Published: June 2024

Background

The increasing prevalence of physical inactivity, declining fitness, and rising childhood obesity highlight the importance of physical literacy (PL), as a foundational component for fostering lifelong health and active lifestyle. This recognition necessitates the development of effective tools for PL assessment that are applicable across diverse cultural landscapes.

Aim

This study aimed to translate the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy-2 (CAPL-2) into Urdu and adapt it for the Pakistani cultural context, to assess PL among children aged 8–12 years in Pakistan.

Method

The Urdu version of CAPL-2 was administered among 1,360 children aged 8–12 from 87 higher secondary schools across three divisions in South Punjab province, Pakistan. Statistical analysis includes test-retest reliability and construct validity, employing confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate the tool’s performance both overall and within specific subdomains.

Results

The Urdu version of CAPL-2 demonstrated strong content validity, with a Content Validity Ratio of 0.89. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the four-factor structure proposed by the original developers, evidenced by excellent model fit indices (GFI = 0.984, CFI = 0.979, TLI = 0.969, RMSEA = 0.041). High internal consistency was observed across all domains (α = 0.988 to 0.995), with significant correlations among most, excluding the Knowledge and Understanding domains. Notably, gender and age significantly influenced performance, with boys generally scoring higher than girls, with few exceptions.

Conclusion

This study marks a significant step in the cross-cultural adaptation of PL assessment tools, successfully validating the CAPL-2 Urdu version for the Pakistani context for the first time. The findings affirm the tool’s suitability for assessing PL among Pakistani children, evidencing its validity and reliability across the Pakistani population.
Skilled reaching test for shoulder function assessment in a rat model of rotator cuff tear: a pilot study
Authors: Liu Yang , Fu Sai-Chuen , Yao Shi-Yi , Yung Patrick Shu-Hang
Published: June 2024

Background

Functional assessments are crucial to evaluate treatment outcomes in clinical and animal studies on rotator cuff injuries. While gait analysis is commonly used to assess animal models of rotator cuff tears, it is less relevant for human patients as the human shoulder is typically assessed in a non-weight-bearing condition. The present study introduces the skilled reaching test as a shoulder functional assessment tool for rats, which allows for evaluation without weight bearing.

Methods

In the control group, 8 male Sprague–Dawley rats received rotator cuff tear surgery without repair. In the rotator cuff repair group, 20 rats received rotator cuff repair at 4 weeks post rotator cuff tear. For the skilled reaching test, rats were trained to extend their forelimbs to fetch food pellets, and the number of trials, number of attempts and the success rate were recorded. The gait analysis and skilled reaching test were performed at baseline, 4 weeks post-tear, 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks post-repair. The repeated measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate the effects of time on the shoulder function. The significance level was set at 0.05.

Results

The skilled reaching test required 216 h to conduct, while the gait analysis took 44 h. In the rotator cuff repair group, gait performance significantly deteriorated at 1 week post-repair and restored to 4 weeks post-tear levels at 4 weeks post-repair. Regarding the skilled reaching test, the number of attempts, number of trials and the success rate decreased at 1 week post-repair. Subsequently, there was a brief rebound in performance observed at 2 weeks post-repair, followed by a continued decline in the number of attempts and trials. By 8 weeks post-repair, only the success rate had restored to levels similar to those observed at 4 weeks post-tear.

Conclusion

The skilled reaching test can detect functional deficiencies following rotator cuff tear and repair, while it requires high time and labour costs.
When synchronous mucinous metaplasia and neoplasia of the female genital tract and peutz-jeghers syndrome meet: a case report and literature reviews
Authors: Zhou Yue , Wang Xinyi , Li Yang , Zhang Weiru , Xu Xiaoxuan , Pang Yingxin , Liu Peishu
Published: June 2024

Background

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is characterized by the presence of hamartomatous polyps in the gastrointestinal tract and mucocutaneous pigmentation on the lips, oral mucosa, nose, fingers, and toes. Synchronous mucinous metaplasia and neoplasia of the female genital tract (SMMN-FGT) refers to the occurrence of multifocal mucinous lesions in at least two sites, including the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, in the female genital tract. SMMN-FGT and PJS are rare diseases with a very low incidence, especially when occurring simultaneously.

Case presentation

We report a case in which a woman with a large mass on the left ovary underwent a gynecological surgery and was diagnosed with cervical gastric-type adenocarcinoma and mucinous lesions in the endometrium, bilateral fallopian tubes, and ovary, i.e., SMMN-FGT, by postoperative paraffin pathology. The patient sought medical attention for abdominal distension and enlargement. A gynecological ultrasound revealed a multilocular cystic mass in the pelvis, while serum tumor markers were within normal limits, with mildly elevated carbohydrate antigen 199 and carbohydrate antigen 125 levels. Cervical thin-prep cytology test result was negative. The patient had a family history of PJS with black spots on her skin and mucous membranes since the age of 8 years. She underwent multiple partial small bowel resections and gastrointestinal polypectomy owing to intestinal obstruction and intussusception. She underwent left adnexectomy, hysterectomy, right salpingectomy, greater omental resection, appendectomy and right ovary biopsy, and received six courses of adjuvant chemotherapy with Lopressor plus Carboplatin. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous serine threonine kinase 11 germline mutation and there were no signs of recurrence during the 18-month follow-up period after treatment.

Conclusions

This is a rare case in which PJS was complicated by SMMN-FGT. Owing to its extreme rarity, there are no guidelines, but reported cases appear to indicate a poor prognosis. We retrospectively reviewed all cases of collisions between PJS and SMMN-FGT and explored the clinical features, pathological characteristics, diagnosis, treatment methods, and prognosis when the two diseases coexisted. The aim is to deepen the clinicians’ understanding of this disease for early detection, diagnosis and treatment.