bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structure and factorial invariance of a brief version of the Eating Attitudes Test in Peruvian university students
Authors: Ramos-Vera Cristian , Basauri-Delgado Miguel , Obregón Stefanny Huamán , Saintila Jacksaint
Published: December 2023

Background

University students often experience significant changes in their eating habits, which can increase the risk of developing eating disorders (ED). This situation calls for the creation of brief assessment tools to identify college students who may be most at risk. The aim of the study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Eating Attitudes Test-8 (EAT-8) in a Peruvian university population; additionally, the possible differences in the scores of the instrument according to sociodemographic variables, such as gender and age, were examined.

Methods

A psychometric study was conducted on 610 participants (M = 24.3, SD = 2.16, and 61.5% female), aged 19 to 31 years, belonging to four universities of different professional careers.

Results

The unidimensional eight-item model was found to have fit indices that confirm acceptable factorial validity (X2/df = 3.23, CFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.977, RMSEA = 0.061, SRMR = 0.049) and an internal consistency of 0.833 for the Cronbach's alpha coefficient and 0.838 for the McDonald's omega coefficient. In addition, the EAT-8 was reported to be invariant according to gender and age; likewise, there were no significant differences in the age and gender categories.

Conclusion

The EAT-8 has solid psychometric properties, including validity, reliability, and invariance, in the Peruvian university population, which supports its ability to assess the risk of developing ED in this specific group.
The ethics of sense-making
Authors: Weichold Martin , Candiotto Laura
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we contribute to the arising field of “enactive ethics,” that is, the application of enactive cognitive science to the field of ethics. To this end, we will make a case that an “ethics of sense-making” should exist. With “sense-making,” we mean the permanent everyday embodied activity of interpreting the surroundings we are in, as well as our role in them. In other words, we mean the activity of understanding our environments in such a way that certain things, but not others, stand out as meaningful and relevant to us. We argue that sense-making can be performed in ethically better or worse ways. For example, one might make sense of a potentially provocative comment either as an insult or as an invitation for a respectful discussion. How one makes sense in this case will affect oneself, the other, and their present and future relations. We propose that it is often helpful to hold humans responsible for their ways of sense-making. This opens up the possibility to transform their sense-making and the worlds they inhabit. This also has significance for their eudaimonic well-being. Our ethics of sense-making focusses on the ubiquitous activities of sense-making, which, when changed, will lead to great ethical improvements of people’s actions, choices, and character traits.
Recovered memories of trauma as a special (or not so special) form of involuntary autobiographical memories
Authors: Dodier Olivier , Barzykowski Krystian , Souchay Céline
Published: December 2023

Recovered memories of trauma are memories of traumatic events experienced generally during childhood, but of which the persons were unaware until they retrieved it. Legal decisions are sometimes based on such recovered memories, the validity of which is often questioned. Yet, people can recover genuine traumatic memories of childhood abuse. In this paper, we present and further discuss the idea that recovered traumatic memories can be interpreted in the context of the autobiographical memory framework. Specifically, we argue that recovered memories may be accessed after exposure to incidental cues that initiate unexpected spontaneous memory retrieval. Thus, we relate the recovered memory phenomenon to involuntary autobiographical memories and argue that it is an example of highly stressful, emotionally negative, and intense involuntary memories that were yet never recalled. This novel, evidence-based perspective leads us to reconsider the examination of the validity of eyewitness testimony as a continuum ranging from the least valid form (i.e., memories recovered in highly suggestive context facilitating its factitious reconstruction) to the most valid form (i.e., memories that were triggered by cues without any person’s voluntary engagement), and this in relation with how internal (e.g., age and internal cue) or external (e.g., suggestion in therapy, suggestion during investigative interview, and contextual cue) factors may influence memory retrieval. Finally, we propose several recommendations for experts that may be useful in assessing the validity of a testimony based on recovered memories.
Effects of auditory white noise stimulation on sustained attention and response time variability
Authors: Egeland Jens , Lund Olaf , Kowalik-Gran Iwona , Aarlien Anne Kristine , Söderlund Göran B. W.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

“The moderate brain arousal model” claims that white noise improves attention by optimizing brain arousal. We analyze Conners’ Continuous Performance Test-3 (CCPT-3) performance, expecting to find reduced reaction time variability with noise mediated by decrease under long event-rates and in later parts of the test, indicating that noise reverse fall in phasic and tonic arousal.

Methods

Sixty-five children with high or lower ADHD-symptoms from a child psychiatric unit, succeeded to complete the CCPT-3 with and without white noise.

Results

Noise reduced overall variability, improved performance in later parts of the test, and reduced response variability under the longest event rate particularly in the high symptoms group. No overall change in omissions and commissions, but the high symptoms group made fewer omissions during noise compared the low symptom group.

Discussion

The study indicates an arousal effect of noise but should be replicated with other noise variants and amplitudes to improve effect and compliance.
Exploring the typology of decision-makers, institutions, and incentives that shape health decisions in Pakistan and insulate decision makers from citizens feedback
Authors: Khan Adnan A. , Khan Romesa , Khawaja Zainab , Ibrahim Muhammad , Shaheen Zarnab , Khan Ayesha
Published: December 2023

Introduction

In developing countries such as Pakistan, program and policies underperform in providing public good as weak institutions lead to decisions that are unresponsive to citizens and are driven by personal motivations of the incumbents. We describe the decision-making processes in the health sector through the framework of “Public Choice” theory which posits how individual motives shape institutional performance and direction.

Methods

We conducted 84 qualitative interviews with five types of stakeholders: politicians, senior and mid-level bureaucrats, donors, public health experts and media personnel spanning 2 periods over a decade. The initial interviews were conducted during 2013–2015 period and a case study on decision-making during the COVID-19 response was added in 2020–2022 period.

Findings

Most new ideas originate from top political leadership, guided by personal agendas or political expediency. Senior bureaucrats implement politicians’ agenda and mid-level officials maintain the status quo and follow established “authority.” Since officials’ performance, promotions, transfers, and the rare dismissals are based on tenure deviations rather than work performance, individuals and institutions are reluctant to take initiative without “consensus” among their colleagues often leading to inaction or delays that obviate initiative and reform. The public sector lacks institutional memory, formal information gathering, and citizen engagement, impacting public goods, health services, and policies. Media and donor personnel are important influencers. However, media mostly report only “hot issues” in health, with short publication and reader attention cycles. Donor personnel are the most likely to follow evidence for decision making, albeit while following their institutional priorities determined centrally. The COVID-19 response is presented as a contrast from usual practices, where evidence was used to guide decisions, as the pandemic was perceived as a national threat by the highest leadership.

Conclusion

Absence of citizen feedback and formal systems for evidence gathering and processing leads to decisions that neglect the needs of those they serve, prioritizing personal or political gains and perpetuating the status quo. However, the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the importance of evidence-based decision-making and offers valuable lessons for reforming decision-making processes.
Greenway interventions effectively enhance physical activity levels—A systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Deng Yujia , Liang Jinghong , Chen Qibing
Published: December 2023

Background

Previous studies have examined the impact of greenway interventions on physical activity (PA); however, the results have been inconclusive. In order to address this issue, our study conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to thoroughly evaluate the evidence and determine the effectiveness of greenway interventions in promoting PA.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search of literature databases, such as Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed (via Medline), Cochrane Library, and Scopus, up to June 15, 2023. To synthesize the available evidence, we performed a meta-analysis using a random effects model. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the criteria developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Results

A total of 9 publications were identified, involving 6, 589 individuals. The overall quality of most included studies was rated as moderate to high. Our study found that the greenway was effective in promoting PA among participants. Specifically, active travel (AT) showed a standard mean difference (SMD) of 0.10 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04 to 0.17], moderate-to-vigorous PA had an SMD of 0.11 (95% CI: 0.02 to 0.20), and total PA had an SMD of 0.14 (95% CI: 0.06 to 0.21). We also observed significant differences in AT levels among participants based on greenway characteristics, exposure distance, exposure duration, and male-to-female ratio.

Discussion

Newly developed or upgraded greenways have been shown to effectively promote PA. Additionally, research suggests that the longer a greenway has been in existence, the greater the benefits it provides for PA. As a result, the construction of greenways should be recognized as an effective public health intervention.
Artificial intelligence applied to analyzes during the pandemic: COVID-19 beds occupancy in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Authors: Barreto Tiago de Oliveira , Veras Nícolas Vinícius Rodrigues , Cardoso Pablo Holanda , Fernandes Felipe Ricardo dos Santos , Medeiros Luiz Paulo de Souza , Bezerra Maria Valéria , Andrade Filomena Marques Queiroz de , Pinheiro Chander de Oliveira , Sánchez-Gendriz Ignacio , Silva Gleyson José Pinheiro Caldeira , Rodrigues Leandro Farias , Morais Antonio Higor Freire de , dos Santos João Paulo Queiroz , Paiva Jailton Carlos , Andrade Ion Garcia Mascarenhas de , Valentim Ricardo Alexsandro de Medeiros
Published: December 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic is already considered one of the biggest global health crises. In Rio Grande do Norte, a Brazilian state, the RegulaRN platform was the health information system used to regulate beds for patients with COVID-19. This article explored machine learning and deep learning techniques with RegulaRN data in order to identify the best models and parameters to predict the outcome of a hospitalized patient. A total of 25,366 bed regulations for COVID-19 patients were analyzed. The data analyzed comes from the RegulaRN Platform database from April 2020 to August 2022. From these data, the nine most pertinent characteristics were selected from the twenty available, and blank or inconclusive data were excluded. This was followed by the following steps: data pre-processing, database balancing, training, and test. The results showed better performance in terms of accuracy (84.01%), precision (79.57%), and F1-score (81.00%) for the Multilayer Perceptron model with Stochastic Gradient Descent optimizer. The best results for recall (84.67%), specificity (84.67%), and ROC-AUC (91.6%) were achieved by Root Mean Squared Propagation. This study compared different computational methods of machine and deep learning whose objective was to classify bed regulation data for patients with COVID-19 from the RegulaRN Platform. The results have made it possible to identify the best model to help health professionals during the process of regulating beds for patients with COVID-19. The scientific findings of this article demonstrate that the computational methods used applied through a digital health solution, can assist in the decision-making of medical regulators and government institutions in situations of public health crisis.
Doctors and Artificial Intelligence: Working Together for a Healthier Future
Authors: Debad Susan J. , Metcalfe Jane
Published: December 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing healthcare in some amazing ways. AI is like a smart computer brain that can learn and think almost like we do. It helps scientists study diseases and make new medicines. AI can schedule doctor appointments appointments easily and shorten the amount of time patients must wait at the clinic. AI chatbots can translate languages so doctors and patients can easily understand each other, and can answer patients’ health questions from home. In the future, it might become common to “see” virtual doctors online instead of going to the clinic. Doctors and AI make a great team to keep people healthy. AI can scan test results, spot problems early, and help doctors understand tons of health data quickly. While AI is super helpful, it is important to remember that it is still a tool. Just like we trust our doctors, we can learn to trust AI as we see it in action, making lives better and healthier.
Reactions to environmental allergens in cats with feline lower airway disease
Authors: Hartung Birte F. , Mueller Ralf S. , Gauss Jana , Weitzer Tamara , Boehm Teresa M. S. A. , Palić Jelena , Schulz Bianka
Published: December 2023

Objectives

Aeroallergens have been discussed as potential triggers for feline asthma (FA), which can be induced experimentally by allergen sensitization. To date, only few studies have investigated reactions to environmental allergens in cats with naturally occurring feline lower airway disease (FLAD). The aim of the study was to compare results of intradermal testing (IDT) and serum allergen-specific immunoglobulin E-(IgE) testing (SAT) in cats with FLAD, and to investigate possible associations with allergen exposure.

Material and methods

Eight cats with eosinophilic airway inflammation (EI), ten cats with mixed inflammation (MI), six with neutrophilic inflammation (NI), and 24 healthy cats (HC) were included. Cats diagnosed with FLAD were assigned to the different inflammatory groups based on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BLAF) cytology. SAT was performed in all cats; IDT was only carried out in cats with FLAD. Information about the cats' environment and potential allergen exposure was obtained using an owner questionnaire.

Results

In comparison to 83% of HC with positive reactions on SAT only 52% of cats with FLAD had positive responses (p = 0.051). Significantly more positive reactions per cat were detected on IDT than on SAT (p = 0.001). No significant difference was found for positive reactions per cat on SAT when compared between HC, NI, EI, and MI (p = 0.377). Only “slight” agreement was found for most allergens when reactions obtained in both tests in cats with FLAD were compared, except for “moderate” agreement for English plantain (k = 0.504) and Alternaria alternata (k = 0.488). Overall, no clear association between the cats' environment and allergen reactions were detected.

Conclusions and clinical importance

Interpretation of allergy test results in cats with FLAD should be done in the context of clinical signs and individual factors.
Establishment and Thorough Characterization of Xenograft (PDX) Models Derived from Patients with Pancreatic Cancer for Molecular Analyses and Chemosensitivity Testing
Authors: Behrens Diana , Pfohl Ulrike , Conrad Theresia , Becker Michael , Brzezicha Bernadette , Büttner Britta , Wagner Silvia , Hallas Cora , Lawlor Rita , Khazak Vladimir , Linnebacher Michael , Wartmann Thomas , Fichtner Iduna , Hoffmann Jens , Dahlmann Mathias , Walther Wolfgang
Published: December 2023

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumor models are essential for identifying new biomarkers, signaling pathways and novel targets, to better define key factors of therapy response and resistance mechanisms. Therefore, this study aimed at establishing pancreas carcinoma (PC) PDX models with thorough molecular characterization, and the identification of signatures defining responsiveness toward drug treatment. In total, 45 PC-PDXs were generated from 120 patient tumor specimens and the identity of PDX and corresponding patient tumors was validated. The majority of engrafted PDX models represent ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC). The PDX growth characteristics were assessed, with great variations in doubling times (4 to 32 days). The mutational analyses revealed an individual mutational profile of the PDXs, predominantly showing alterations in the genes encoding KRAS, TP53, FAT1, KMT2D, MUC4, RNF213, ATR, MUC16, GNAS, RANBP2 and CDKN2A. Sensitivity of PDX toward standard of care (SoC) drugs gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and abraxane, and combinations thereof, revealed PDX models with sensitivity and resistance toward these treatments. We performed correlation analyses of drug sensitivity of these PDX models and their molecular profile to identify signatures for response and resistance. This study strongly supports the importance and value of PDX models for improvement in therapies of PC.
Treat-to-Target and Regular Surveillance of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Are Associated with Low Incidence and Early-Stage Detection of Malignancies: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Parigi Tommaso , Allocca Mariangela , Furfaro Federica , D’Amico Ferdinando , Zilli Alessandra , Dal Buono Arianna , Gabbiadini Roberto , Bonovas Stefanos , Armuzzi Alessandro , Danese Silvio , Fiorino Gionata
Published: December 2023

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), increase the risk of malignancies, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to assess the incidence of malignancies in IBD patients managed using a treat-to-target approach and recommended surveillance. We retrospectively searched the electronic databases of two tertiary IBD centers in Milan from 2010 to 2019 for new diagnoses of malignancy in patients with pre-existing IBD. A total of 5239 patients with a follow-up of 19,820 years were included. In total, 71 malignancies were diagnosed in 70 patients (38 CD, 32 UC) with a mean age of 52.9 years, of whom 64% were former or active smokers. The annual incidence of all malignancies was 358 per 100,000 patient years (95% CI 275–444), and the standardized incidence rate (SIR) was 0.93 (95% CI 0.73–1.16). Gastrointestinal cancers were the most frequent (n = 17, 23.9%), in particular, CRC (n = 9), with an incidence of 45 per 100,000 (95% CI 15–74) and an SIR of 1.18 (95% CI 0.54–2.09). CRC occurred mainly in UC patients (6/8), while small bowel cancer was seen in CD patients (5/9). Melanoma and breast cancer (n = 8 each) were the most common non-GI cancers. No significant difference in incidence was found between CD or UC. Death occurred in nine patients (11%) and was due to cancer in eight of these cases, two of which were IBD-related. Most malignancies included in the surveillance were diagnosed at early (I–II) stages (20 vs. 4, p < 0.05). In patients with IBD, treat-to-target and strict surveillance were associated with a low incidence of cancer, similar to that of the general population, and the detection of malignancies at an early stage.
An Updated Review on the Emerging Role of Indocyanine Green (ICG) as a Sentinel Lymph Node Tracer in Breast Cancer
Authors: Akrida Ioanna , Michalopoulos Nikolaos V. , Lagadinou Maria , Papadoliopoulou Maria , Maroulis Ioannis , Mulita Francesk
Published: December 2023

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has become the standard of care for clinically node-negative breast cancer and has recently been shown by clinical trials to be also feasible for clinically node-positive patients treated with primary systemic therapy. The dual technique using both radioisotope (RI) and blue dye (BD) as tracers for the identification of sentinel lymph nodes is considered the gold standard. However, allergic reactions to blue dye as well as logistics issues related to the use of radioactive agents, have led to research on new sentinel lymph node (SLN) tracers and to the development and introduction of novel techniques in the clinical practice. Indocyanine green (ICG) is a water-soluble dye with fluorescent properties in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum. ICG has been shown to be safe and effective as a tracer during SLNB for breast cancer and accumulating evidence suggests that ICG is superior to BD and at least comparable to RI alone and to RI combined with BD. Thus, ICG was recently proposed as a reliable SLN tracer in some breast cancer clinical practice guidelines. Nevertheless, there is lack of consensus regarding the optimal role of ICG for SLN mapping. Specifically, it is yet to be determined whether ICG should be used in addition to BD and/or RI, or if ICG could potentially replace these long-established traditional SLN tracers. This article is an updated overview of somerecent studies that compared ICG with BD and/or RI regarding their accuracy and effectiveness during SLNB for breast cancer.
Retrospective Correlation between First Drug Treatment Duration and Survival Outcomes in Sequential Treatment with Regorafenib and Trifluridine/Tipiracil in Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Real-World Subgroup Analysis
Authors: Signorelli Carlo , Chilelli Mario , Giannarelli Diana , Basso Michele , Calegari Maria , Anghelone Annunziato , Lucchetti Jessica , Minelli Alessandro , Angotti Lorenzo , Zurlo Ina , Schirripa Marta , Morelli Cristina , Dell’Aquila Emanuela , Cosimati Antonella , Gemma Donatello , Ribelli Marta , Emiliani Alessandra , Corsi Domenico , Arrivi Giulia , Mazzuca Federica , Zoratto Federica , Morandi Maria , Santamaria Fiorenza , Saltarelli Rosa , Ruggeri Enzo
Published: December 2023

Background: Patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) rarely receive third-line or further treatment. In this context, regorafenib (R) and trifluridine/tipiracil (T) are two important novel therapeutic choices with statistically significant increases in overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease control, with different toxicity profiles. This study is a subgroup analysis of our larger retrospective study, already published, whose objective was to assess the outcomes of patients when R and T were given sequentially. Patients and Methods: The study involved thirteen Italian cancer centers on a 10-year retrospective observation (2012–2022). In this subgroup analysis, we focused our attention on the correlation between the first drug treatment duration (<3 months, 3 to <6 months and ≥6 months) and survival outcomes in patients who had received the sequence regorafenib-to-trifluridine/tipiracil, or vice versa. Results: The initial study included 866 patients with mCRC who received sequential T/R, or R/T, or T or R alone. This analysis is focused on evaluating the impact of the duration of the first treatment in the sequence on clinical outcomes (OS, PFS) and includes 146 and 116 patients of the T/R and R/T sequences, respectively. Based on the duration of the first drug treatment, subgroups for the T/R sequence included 27 patients (18.4%) who received T for <3 months, 86 (58.9%) treated for 3 to <6 months, and 33 (22.6%) treated for ≥6 months; in the reverse sequence (R as the first drug), subgroups included 18 patients (15.5%) who received their first treatment for <3 months, 62 (53.4%) treated for 3 to <6 months, and 35 (31.0%) treated for ≥6 months. In patients who received their first drug treatment for a period of 3 to <6 months, the R/T sequence had a significantly longer median OS (13.7 vs. 10.8 months, p = 0.0069) and a longer median PFS (10.8 vs. 8.5 months, p = 0.0003) than the T/R group. There were no statistically significant differences between groups with first drug treatment durations of <3 months and ≥6 months. Conclusions: Our analysis seems to suggest that the administration of R for a period of 3 to <6 months before that of T can prolong both OS and PFS, as compared to the opposite sequence.
Prognostic Implications of LRP1B and Its Relationship with the Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Wang Rui , Zhang Guangtao , Zhu Xiaohong , Xu Yan , Cao Nida , Li Zhaoyan , Han Chen , Qin Mengmeng , Shen Yumiao , Dong Jiahuan , Ma Fangqi , Zhao Aiguang
Published: December 2023

Background: Recent studies have shown that low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1b (LRP1B), as a potential tumor suppressor, is implicated in the response to immunotherapy. The frequency of LRP1B mutation gene is high in many cancers, but its role in gastric cancer (GC) has not been determined. Methods: The prognostic value of LRP1B mutation in a cohort containing 100 patients having received radical gastrectomy for stage II–III GC was explored. By analyzing the data of LRP1B mRNA, the risk score of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between LRP1B mutation-type and wild-type was constructed based on the TCGA-STAD cohort. The infiltration of tumor immune cells was evaluated by the CYBERSORT algorithm and verified by immunohistochemistry. Results: LRP1B gene mutation was an independent risk factor for disease-free survival (DFS) in GC patients (HR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.28–5.14, p = 0.008). The Kaplan–Meier curve demonstrated a shorter survival time in high-risk patients stratified according to risk score (p < 0.0001). CYBERSORT analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly concentrated in CD4+ T cells and macrophages. TIMER analysis suggested that LRP1B expression was associated with the infiltration of CD4+ T cells and macrophages. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that LRP1B was expressed in the tumor cells (TCs) and immune cells in 16/89 and 26/89 of the cohort, respectively. LRP1B-positive TCs were associated with higher levels of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and CD86/CD163 (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that LRP1B-positive TCs represented an independent protective factor of DFS in GC patients (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.10–0.93, p = 0.042). Conclusions: LRP1B has a high prognostic value in GC. LRP1B may stimulate tumor immune cell infiltration to provide GC patients with survival benefits.
Self-Reported Baseline Quality of Life Mirrors Treatment-Specific Characteristics of Cancer Patients
Authors: Thronicke Anja , Oei Shiao Li , Grieb Gerrit , Grabowski Patricia , Roos Juliane , Schad Friedemann
Published: December 2023

Background: Baseline quality of life (bQL) has been shown to be a predictor of the clinical outcome of oncological patients. The primary objective of the present study was to examine the role of bQL as a treatment predictor in oncological patients. Methods: In this prospective study, all-stage cancer patients registered in the Network Oncology registry were enrolled, and their bQL at diagnosis was evaluated. Results: Five hundred and thirty-eight oncological patients were eligible (median age 64 years). We show that survival-predicting bQL variables such as pain, low physical functioning or financial burden at tumor diagnosis were linked to lower systemic treatment (p = 0.03), reduced surgery (p = 0.007) or reduced oncological treatment compliance (0.01), respectively. Lastly, female gender and older cancer patients exhibited a tempered bQL. Conclusion: Our study is one of the first to reveal that bQL at tumor diagnosis is significantly associated with the prediction of oncological treatment with distinctive age- and gender-related patterns. Our results emphasize the need to address the physical, psychosocial, and financial burden of cancer patients prior to their oncological treatment with respect to age and gender. The associations found here pave the way for early integration of patient-reported outcomes into oncological supportive concepts.
Population Size, Non-Breeding Fraction, and Productivity in a Large Urban Population of Burrowing Parrots (Cyanoliseus patagonus)
Authors: Lera Daiana N. , Cozzani Natalia , Tella José L. , Zalba Sergio
Published: December 2023

Psittaciformes are one of the bird orders with the highest number of threatened species and the most marked declining population trends. At present, the lack of information on the population size, reproductive fraction, and productivity of most parrot populations makes it difficult to design effective conservation actions. In this study, we monitored a population of Burrowing Parrots (Cyanoliseus patagonus) breeding in urbanized habitats in the southwest of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Every December and February from 2018 to 2023, we counted the individuals arriving at a single communal roost, located in the main park of Bahía Blanca city, which gathers all the parrots breeding in 18–22 colonies within a radius of 20 km. Censuses were conducted before (December) and immediately after the incorporation of juveniles into the flocks (February). Breeding pairs were also counted annually in the colonies, and the average annual productivity and the proportion of juveniles were estimated from surveys in pre-roosting and feeding areas in February. The non-breeding fraction approached half of the population with no statistically significant differences among years (range: 37–53%), and the breeding population showed little annual variation, with a minimum of 1363 and a maximum of 1612 breeding pairs. The proportion of juveniles in the flocks and the estimated productivity showed larger variations among breeding seasons. Our results add insight to the scarce information available on the breeding-to-non-breeding-population ratios in parrots, and birds in general, and show key breeding parameters for a species that is thriving well in urban habitats.
Demonstration of a Frequency Doubler Using a Tunnel Field-Effect Transistor with Dual Pocket Doping
Authors: Kim Jang Hyun , Kim Hyunwoo
Published: December 2023

In this study, a frequency doubler that consists of a tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET) with dual pocket doping is proposed, and its operation is verified using technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulations. The frequency-doubling operation is important to having symmetrical current characteristics, which eliminate odd harmonics and the need for extra filter circuitry. The proposed TFET has intrinsically bidirectional and controllable currents that can be implemented by pocket doping, which is located at the junction between the source/drain (S/D) and the channel region, to modify tunneling probabilities. The source-to-channel (ISC) and channel-to-drain currents (ICD) can be independently changed by managing each pocket doping concentration on the source and drain sides (NS,POC and ND,POC). After that, the current matching process was investigated through NS,POC and ND,POC splits, respectively. However, it was found that the optimized doping condition achieved at the device level (namely, a transistor evaluation) is not suitable for a frequency doubler operation because the voltage drop generated by a load resistor in the frequency doubler circuit configuration causes the currents to be unbalanced between ISC and ICD. Therefore, after symmetrical current matching was performed by optimizing NS,POC and ND,POC at the circuit level, it was clearly seen that the output frequency was doubled in comparison to the input sinusoidal signal. In addition, the effects of the S/D and pocket doping variations that can occur during process integration were investigated to determine how much frequency multiplications are affected, and these variations have the immunity of S/D doping and pocket doping length changes. Furthermore, the impact of device scaling with gate length (LG) variations was evaluated. Based on these findings, the proposed frequency doubler is anticipated to offer benefits for circuit design and low-power applications compared to the conventional one.
Culture Shock: An Investigation into the Tolerance of Pathogenic Biofilms to Antiseptics in Environments Resembling the Chronic Wound Milieu
Authors: Paleczny Justyna , Brożyna Malwina , Dudek Bartłomiej , Woytoń Aleksandra , Chodaczek Grzegorz , Szajnik Marta , Junka Adam
Published: December 2023

Credible assessment methods must be applied to evaluate antiseptics’ in vitro activity reliably. Studies indicate that the medium for biofilm culturing should resemble the conditions present at the site of infection. We cultured S. aureus, S. epidermidis, P. aeruginosa, C. albicans, and E. coli biofilms in IVWM (In Vitro Wound Milieu)—the medium reflecting wound milieu—and were compared to the ones cultured in the laboratory microbiological Mueller–Hinton (MH) medium. We analyzed and compared crucial biofilm characteristics and treated microbes with polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride (PHMB), povidone-iodine (PVP-I), and super-oxidized solution with hypochlorites (SOHs). Biofilm biomass of S. aureus and S. epidermidis was higher in IVWM than in MH medium. Microbes cultured in IVWM exhibited greater metabolic activity and thickness than in MH medium. Biofilm of the majority of microbial species was more resistant to PHMB and PVP-I in the IVWM than in the MH medium. P. aeruginosa displayed a two-fold lower MBEC value of PHMB in the IVWM than in the MH medium. PHMB was more effective in the IVWM than in the MH medium against S. aureus biofilm cultured on a biocellulose carrier (instead of polystyrene). The applied improvement of the standard in vitro methodology allows us to predict the effects of treatment of non-healing wounds with specific antiseptics.
PEPITEM Treatment Ameliorates EAE in Mice by Reducing CNS Inflammation, Leukocyte Infiltration, Demyelination, and Proinflammatory Cytokine Production
Authors: Alassiri Mohammed , Al Sufiani Fahd , Aljohi Mohammed , Alanazi Asma , Alhazmi Aiman Saud , Alrfaei Bahauddeen M. , Alnakhli Hasan , Alshawakir Yasser A. , Alharby Saleh M. , Almubarak Abdullah Y. , Alasseiri Mohammed , Alorf Nora , Abdullah Mashan L.
Published: December 2023

To investigate the effect of the therapeutic treatment of the immunopeptide, peptide inhibitor of trans-endothelial migration (PEPITEM) on the severity of disease in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a model for human multiple sclerosis (MS), a series of experiments were conducted. Using C57BL/6 female mice, we dosed the PEPITEM in the EAE model via IP after observing the first sign of inflammation. The disease was induced using MOG35-55 and complete Freund’s adjuvants augmented with pertussis toxin. The EAE score was recorded daily until the end of the experiment (21 days). The histological and immunohistochemistry analysis was conducted on the spinal cord sections. A Western blot analysis was performed to measure the protein concentration of MBP, MAP-2, and N-Cadherin, and ELISA kits were used to measure IL-17 and FOXP3 in the serum and spinal cord lysate. The therapeutic treatment with PEPITEM reduced the CNS infiltration of T cells, and decreased levels of the protein concertations of MBP, MAP-2, and N-Cadherin were observed, in addition to reduced concertations of IL-17 and FOXP3. Using PEPITEM alleviated the severity of the symptoms in the EAE model. Our study revealed the potential of PEPITEM to control inflammation in MS patients and to reduce the harmful effects of synthetic drugs.
Arabidopsis SEC13B Interacts with Suppressor of Frigida 4 to Repress Flowering
Authors: Yang Yanqi , Tian Hao , Xu Chunxue , Li Haitao , Li Yan , Zhang Haitao , Zhang Biaoming , Yuan Wenya
Published: December 2023

SECRETORY13 (SEC13) is an essential member of the coat protein complex II (COPII), which was reported to mediate vesicular-specific transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus and plays a crucial role in early secretory pathways. In Arabidopsis, there are two homologous proteins of SEC13: SEC13A and SEC13B. SUPPRESSOR OF FRIGIDA 4 (SUF4) encodes a C2H2-type zinc finger protein that inhibits flowering by transcriptionally activating the FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) through the FRIGIDA (FRI) pathway in Arabidopsis. However, it remains unclear whether SEC13 proteins are involved in Arabidopsis flowering. In this study, we first identified that the sec13b mutant exhibited early flowering under both long-day and short-day conditions. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT–PCR) analysis showed that both SEC13A and SEC13B were expressed in all the checked tissues, and transient expression assays indicated that SEC13A and SEC13B were localized not only in the ER but also in the nucleus. Then, we identified that SEC13A and SEC13B could interact with SUF4 in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, both sec13b and suf4 single mutants flowered earlier than the wild type (Col-0), whereas the sec13b suf4 double mutant flowered even earlier than all the others. In addition, the expression of flowering inhibitor FLC was down-regulated, and the expressions of flowering activator FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), CONSTANS (CO), and SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CO 1 (SOC1) were up-regulated in sec13b, suf4, and sec13b suf4 mutants, compared with Col-0. Taken together, our results indicated that SEC13B interacted with SUF4, and they may co-regulate the same genes in flowering-regulation pathways. These results also suggested that the COPII component could function in flowering in Arabidopsis.
Enhanced Activation of the S1PR2-IL-1β-Src-BDNF-TrkB Pathway Mediates Neuroinflammation in the Hippocampus and Cognitive Impairment in Hyperammonemic Rats
Authors: Sancho-Alonso María , Arenas Yaiza M. , Izquierdo-Altarejos Paula , Martinez-Garcia Mar , Llansola Marta , Felipo Vicente
Published: December 2023

Hyperammonemia contributes to hepatic encephalopathy. In hyperammonemic rats, cognitive function is impaired by altered glutamatergic neurotransmission induced by neuroinflammation. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Enhanced sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2) activation in the cerebellum of hyperammonemic rats contributes to neuroinflammation. in In hyperammonemic rats, we assessed if blocking S1PR2 reduced hippocampal neuroinflammation and reversed cognitive impairment and if the signaling pathways were involved. S1PR2 was blocked with intracerebral JTE-013, and cognitive function was evaluated. The signaling pathways inducing neuroinflammation and altered glutamate receptors were analyzed in hippocampal slices. JTE-013 improved cognitive function in the hyperammonemic rats, and hyperammonemia increased S1P. This increased IL-1β, which enhanced Src activity, increased CCL2, activated microglia and increased the membrane expression of the NMDA receptor subunit GLUN2B. This increased p38-MAPK activity, which altered the membrane expression of AMPA receptor subunits and increased BDNF, which activated the TrkB → PI3K → Akt → CREB pathway, inducing sustained neuroinflammation. This report unveils key pathways involved in the induction and maintenance of neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of hyperammonemic rats and supports S1PR2 as a therapeutic target for cognitive impairment.
Physiological Characteristics and Transcriptome Analysis of Exogenous Brassinosteroid-Treated Kiwifruit
Authors: Chen Chen , Cheng Dawei , Li Lan , Sun Xiaoxu , He Shasha , Li Ming , Chen Jinyong
Published: December 2023

Brassinosteroids (BRs) play pivotal roles in improving plant stress tolerance. To investigate the mechanism of BR regulation of salt tolerance in kiwifruit, we used ‘Hongyang’ kiwifruit as the test material. We exposed the plants to 150 mmol/L NaCl stress and irrigated them with exogenous BR (2,4-epibrassinolide). The phenotypic analysis showed that salt stress significantly inhibited photosynthesis in kiwifruit, leading to a significant increase in the H2O2 content of leaves and roots and a significant increase in Na+/K+, resulting in oxidative damage and an ion imbalance. BR treatment resulted in enhanced photosynthesis, reduced H2O2 content, and reduced Na+/K+ in leaves, alleviating the salt stress injury. Furthermore, transcriptome enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to BR treatment are involved in pathways such as starch and sucrose metabolism, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and plant hormone signal transduction, among others. Among the DEGs involved in plant hormone signal transduction, those with the highest expression were involved in abscisic acid signal transduction. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the expression of the AcHKT1 gene, which regulates ion transduction, and the antioxidant enzyme AcFSD2 gene, which is a key gene for improving salt tolerance. The data suggest that BRs can improve salt tolerance by regulating ion homeostasis and reducing oxidative stress.
Sphingomyelin Metabolism Modifies Luminal A Breast Cancer Cell Line under a High Dose of Vitamin C
Authors: Codini Michela , Fiorani Federico , Mandarano Martina , Cataldi Samuela , Arcuri Cataldo , Mirarchi Alessandra , Ceccarini Maria Rachele , Beccari Tommaso , Kobayashi Toshihide , Tomishige Nario , Sidoni Angelo , Albi Elisabetta
Published: December 2023

The role of sphingomyelin metabolism and vitamin C in cancer has been widely described with conflicting results ranging from a total absence of effect to possible preventive and/or protective effects. The aim of this study was to establish the possible involvement of sphingomyelin metabolism in the changes induced by vitamin C in breast cancer cells. The MCF7 cell line reproducing luminal A breast cancer and the MDA-MB-231 cell line reproducing triple-negative breast cancer were used. Cell phenotype was tested by estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression, and proliferation index percentage. Sphingomyelin was localized by an EGFP-NT-Lys fluorescent probe. Sphingomyelin metabolism was analyzed by RT-PCR, Western blotting and UFLC-MS/MS. The results showed that a high dose of vitamin C produced reduced cell viability, modulated cell cycle related genes, and changed the cell phenotype with estrogen receptor downregulation in MCF7 cell. In these cells, the catabolism of sphingomyelin was promoted with a large increase in ceramide content. No changes in viability and molecular expression were observed in MB231 cells. In conclusion, a high dose of vitamin C induces changes in the luminal A cell line involving sphingomyelin metabolism.
Neurodegeneration of White and Gray Matter in the Hippocampus with FXTAS
Authors: Kargar Maryam , Hagerman Randi J. , Martínez-Cerdeño Verónica
Published: December 2023

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects older premutation carriers (55–200 CGG repeats) of the fragile X gene. Despite the high prevalence of the FXTAS disorder, neuropathology studies of individuals affected by FXTAS are limited. We performed hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining in the hippocampus of 26 FXTAS cases and analyzed the tissue microscopically. The major neuropathological characteristics were white matter disease, intranuclear inclusions in neurons and astrocytes, and neuron loss. Astrocytes contained more and larger inclusions than neurons. There was a negative correlation between age of death and CGG repeat length in cases over the age of 60. The number of astroglial inclusions (CA3 and dentate gyrus) and the number of CA3 neuronal inclusions increased with elevated CGG repeat length. In the two cases with a CGG repeat size less than 65, FXTAS intranuclear inclusions were not present in the hippocampus, while in the two cases with less than 70 (65–70) CGG repeat expansion, neurons and astrocytes with inclusions were occasionally identified in the CA1 sub-region. These findings add hippocampus neuropathology to the previously reported changes in other areas of the brain in FXTAS patients, with implications for understanding FXTAS pathogenesis.
Investigating the Human Intestinal DNA Virome and Predicting Disease-Associated Virus–Host Interactions in Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Authors: Hsieh Shen-Yuan , Savva George M. , Telatin Andrea , Tiwari Sumeet K. , Tariq Mohammad A. , Newberry Fiona , Seton Katharine A. , Booth Catherine , Bansal Amolak S. , Wileman Thomas , Adriaenssens Evelien M. , Carding Simon R.
Published: December 2023

Understanding how the human virome, and which of its constituents, contributes to health or disease states is reliant on obtaining comprehensive virome profiles. By combining DNA viromes from isolated virus-like particles (VLPs) and whole metagenomes from the same faecal sample of a small cohort of healthy individuals and patients with severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), we have obtained a more inclusive profile of the human intestinal DNA virome. Key features are the identification of a core virome comprising tailed phages of the class Caudoviricetes, and a greater diversity of DNA viruses including extracellular phages and integrated prophages. Using an in silico approach, we predicted interactions between members of the Anaerotruncus genus and unique viruses present in ME/CFS microbiomes. This study therefore provides a framework and rationale for studies of larger cohorts of patients to further investigate disease-associated interactions between the intestinal virome and the bacteriome.
A Bi-Level Programming Approach to Optimize Ship Fouling Cleaning
Authors: Wang Wei , Guo Haoran , Li Fei , Zhen Lu , Wang Shuaian
Published: December 2023

Ship fouling has significant adverse effects on vessel performance and environmental sustainability. Therefore, this research study develops a bi-level programming model to simultaneously optimize cleaning equipment deployment by cleaning service providers in the upper level and cleaning decisions by shipping companies in the lower level. To address the interaction within the bi-level problem, the model is transformed into a single-level formulation using the big-M method. This transformation greatly simplifies the complexity of the computation and reduces computation time. Numerical experiments are conducted using real-world data to evaluate the performance of the proposed models. In addition, sensitivity analyses are performed to investigate the influence of key parameters. The results indicate that cleaning service providers primarily purchase equipment in the first year based on the demand distribution. To maximize profit, they may choose to forgo a portion of the demand. The sensitivity analysis reveals that sacrificing part of the demand can lead to an additional USD 27 million in profits compared with satisfying all demand. Moreover, increasing the cleaning price reduces both demand and equipment purchases but increases total profits. Conversely, increasing purchase costs reduces profits and the total amount of equipment purchased. When service providers can no longer generate profits, they are likely to exit the market. These findings offer valuable insights for service providers and shipping companies in the practical deployment of cleaning equipment and foul cleaning decisions, respectively.