bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cooperative spin crossover: analog to digital – and back
Authors: Dürrmann Andreas , Hörner Gerald , Baabe Dirk , Heinemann Frank , de Melo Mauricio , Weber Birgit
Published: November 2022

Cooperativity among spin centres has long been the royal road to impose magnetic bistability in terms of thermal hysteresis. In this work we access magnetic multi-metastability of the iron(III) complex [Fe(L)2][BPh4] (1) at low temperature, in addition to thermal bistability. The packing of the low-spin and high-spin forms of crystalline1differs only marginally what ultimately leads to very minor thermal variation in the lattice constants. This indicates that the SCO-immanent breathing of the complex cation is almost fully compensated by the anion matrix. We believe that this structural conservatism is the origin of the unique cooling-rate dependence of the residual low-temperature magnetisation in1. The system state of1can be continuously tuned between the trapped high-spin (ON) and the relaxed low-spin state (OFF), as a simple function of the cooling rate. That is, cooperative spin crossover can be the source of bistable and multi-metastable system states in the very same material.
Climate feedback with latitude diagnosed from radiation budgets, temperatures and cloudiness
Authors: Goodwin Philip , Williams Richard G.
Published: November 2022

Estimates of climate feedback (λ, in Wm-2K-1) and equilibrium climate sensitivity typically focus on the global mean values, and are constrained by the time-evolution of the climate system in response to forcing, evaluated from historical observations, palaeo-reconstructions and/or numerical simulations. Here, a framework is presented to evaluate the climate feedback with latitude, λ(ϕ), from the dependence of the radiative response to surface temperature using spatial observations of the climatological mean state. Assuming local cloud type is insensitive to climate state, but allowing cloud amount to vary, we find significant latitudinal variation in climate feedback: hemispheric maxima occur in the subtropics of λ(ϕ)=1.8±0.2 Wm-2K-1 (±1-sigma); while hemispheric minima occur in the midlatitudes of λ(ϕ)= -0.10±0.15 Wm-2K-1 (Northern hemisphere) and λ(ϕ)=0.15±0.22 Wm-2K-1 (Southern hemisphere). The global mean climate feedback estimated from spatially averaging λ(ϕ) comes to λ(ϕ) =1.05±0.13 Wm-2K-1, in good agreement with the latest temporal response-to-forcing derived climate feedback estimate of 1.16±0.4 Wm-2K-1 from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment Report 6. Our approach diagnosing climate feedback is complementary to existing temporal response-to-forcing estimates as it is based around different underlying assumptions, for example our approach does not require accurate quantification of historic radiative forcing. We anticipate that the presented framework for evaluating latitudinal climate feedback will prove useful across a number of applications, including: analysing and comparing complex Earth system models; exploring Arctic amplification of anthropogenic warming; and exploring palaeo-climate cycles linked to orbital insolation changes at northern mid-latitudes.
Significant association of urinary copper levels with bronchiectasis in non-smokers living in the vicinity of petrochemical complex: a population-based study
Authors: wang chih-wen , Chen Szu-Chia , Wu Da-Wei , Lin Hung-Hsun , Chen Huang‐Chi , Hung Chih-Hsing , Kuo Chao-Hung
Published: November 2022

Copper in particulate matter was associated with increased incidence of respiratory disease. However, the association between urinary copper levels and interstitial lung changes remains unclear. We conducted this population-based study in southern Taiwan during 2016 and 2018. We excluded individuals with history of lung carcinoma, pneumonia, and smoking. Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) were performed for all participants. Lung interstitial changes included the presence of ground-glass opacity (GGO) or bronchiectasis in LDCT images. We categorized urinary copper levels into quartiles (Q) (Q1: ≤1.03; Q2: >1.04 and ≤ 1.42; Q3: >1.43 and ≤ 1.89, and Q4: >1.90 µg/dL). The risk of interstitial lung changes was calculated by multiple logistic regression analysis. The highest quartile (Q4) (5.3%) of urinary copper levels had significantly higher ratio of bronchiectasis than other quartiles (Q1: 2.1%, vs. Q2: 3.2%, vs. Q3: 2.1%, p = 0.049). We found that the highest quartiles of urinary copper levels (Q4) (OR: 3.38, 95% CI: 1.17–9.75; p = 0.024) was significantly associated with an increased risk of bronchiectasis compared with the lowest quartile (Q1) of urinary copper levels after adjustment for urinary creatinine, age, gender, ALT, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, waist circumference, triglycerides, and HDL-C. The dose-response trend was significant (Ptrend= 0.045). There is no significant association between GGO and quartiles of urinary copper levels. We observed that urinary copper levels were significantly associated with bronchiectasis. A significant dose-response effect was observed. The relationship between copper exposure and interstitial lung disease needs more studies to elucidate in the future.
Mindfulness Facets Differentially Relate to Self-Reported Negative and Positive Emotional Eating Types in Treatment-Seeking Adults with Overweight/Obesity
Authors: Barnhart Wesley R. , Kalantzis Maria A. , Braden Abby L.
Published: November 2022

Background
Mindfulness is a meaningful therapeutic target in the treatment of emotional eating in adults with overweight/obesity. Descriptive research mapping relations between mindfulness facets and emotional eating types in treatment-seeking adults with overweight/obesity is needed.
Methods
Cross-sectional relations between mindfulness facets (i.e., acting with awareness, describe, non-judgment, non-reactive, and observe; Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form) and emotional eating types (i.e., self-reported negative and positive emotional eating; Emotional Eating Scale-Revised, Emotional Appetite Questionnaire) were examined in a treatment-seeking sample of adults with overweight/obesity.
Results
Significant bivariate correlations revealed negative relations between mindfulness facets and emotional eating types. Multiple regressions revealed that higher describe (β=-.42, p = .004) mindfulness was associated with lower self-reported emotional eating-anger/anxiety; higher non-reactive (β=-.31, p = .01) and non-judgment (β=-.28, p = .02) mindfulness were associated with lower self-reported emotional eating-depression; and higher observe (β=-.24, p = .05) and non-judgment (β = .26, p = .04) mindfulness were associated with lower and higher self-reported emotional eating-positive, respectively.
Conclusions
Research with adults with overweight/obesity should be inclusive of mindfulness facets to best capture the nature of relations with self-reported negative and positive emotional eating types.
Clinical impact of sarcopenia for overweight or obese patients with colorectal cancer
Authors: Chen Wei-Zhe , Lin Feng , Yu Ding-Ye , Zhang Feng-Min , Shen Zi-Le , Zhu Guang-Lou , Chen Wen-Hao , Dong Qian-Tong , Yu Zhen
Published: November 2022

Background:
Sarcopenia, overweight and obesity are all dynamic change of body composition, which may have negative effect on the prognosis for patients with colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive role of sarcopenia on the overweight or obese patients with colorectal cancer.
Methods:
We conducted a study on the population of overweight or obese patients with colorectal cancer who underwent curative surgeries in two centers between 2015 and 2021. They were grouped by the present of sarcopenia. Propensity score match analysis was used to balance the baseline of clinicopathologic characteristics of two groups. Then, the postoperative outcomes were compared between two groups. Independent risk factors were evaluated for complications using univariate and multivariate analysis.
Results:
Of 827 patients enrolled, 126 patients were matched for analysis. Patients with sarcopenia had higher incidence of total complication and medical complication, higher rate of laparoscopic surgery performed, and higher hospitalization costs. They also had worse overall survival and disease-free survival. Old age (≥65 years, P = 0.012), ASA grade (Ⅲ, P= 0.008), and sarcopenia (P = 0.036) were independent risk factors for total complications. ASA grade (Ⅲ, P = 0.002) and sarcopenia (P = 0.017) were independent risk factors for medical complications.
Conclusions:
Sarcopenia was prevalent among overweight or obese patients with colorectal cancer and was associated with negative postoperative outcomes. Early recognition of changes of body composition could help surgeons well prepared for surgical treatment for overweight or obese patients.
Do Gasoline Prices Impact Support for Climate Policies?
Authors: Carballo Ireri Hernandez , Sisco Matthew
Published: November 2022

Do fuel prices impact individuals' support for climate policies? We use weekly retail gasoline prices combined with individual survey data from the International Panel on Climate Change and Air Pollution and the Gallup Poll Social Series to analyze this question. Leveraging time and regional variation in gasoline prices, we find that policy support for some (but not most) environmental policies decreases with higher fuel prices. Specifically, we find that in weeks where gasoline prices are higher, there is lower support for phasing out of combustion-engine cars and slightly lower support for protecting the environment at the risk of economic growth. Further analysis suggests that this is driven by increased worry about the availability and affordability of energy and worry about the economy and not by decreased concern about the environment. We further find that lower-income individuals and those identifying as more liberal, while more likely to support phasing out gasoline- and diesel-fueled vehicles, decrease their support faster with increases in gasoline prices. We do not find any significant association between gas prices and other climate policies surveyed on such as funding research into renewables, regulating CO2, and requiring companies to pay a carbon tax.
Development and validation of an online portion size norm assessment tool
Authors: Liu Qingzhou , Wang Leanne , Guo Siyi , Allman-Farinelli Margaret , Rangan Anna
Published: November 2022

Background
Portion size norms (described as a typical perception of how much of a given food individuals choose to eat in one eating occasion) may have shifted towards larger sizes due to the high availability of large package and serving sizes. This is especially concerning for discretionary foods that are energy-dense and nutrient-poor. Currently, there is a lack of validated tools to assess portion size norms for common foods. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and validate an online image-based tool to examine the portion size norms of discretionary foods among Australian consumers.
Methods
Using a within-person crossover design, an online survey with image-series of 15 discretionary foods and drinks was validated against corresponding real foods. Participants selected their normal portion size using both methods and could choose from a scale ranging from 0 (do not eat this food) to 9 (greater than the largest option displayed). Agreement between methods was examined using cross-classification and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC).
Results
A sample of 114 Australian adults were recruited (mean age 24.8 years). Cross classification indicated over 90% of selections (ranging from 86-96%) were matched in the same or adjacent portion size option. ICC was 0.85 across all foods, and 12 of the 15 foods demonstrated a good to excellent level of agreement (ICC >0.75).
Conclusion
This novel food images survey showed good agreement when compared with corresponding real foods. This survey may be a valuable tool to examine portion size norms for common discretionary foods among Australian adults in future studies.
A retrospective analysis and clinical application value of the expression levels of high mobility group protein B1, β1 globulin and Toll-like receptor 4 in serum of children with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Wang Wei , Li Yuanyuan , He Feng
Published: November 2022

Methods
50 healthy children are selected as the healthy control group during the same period. The molecular levels of serum HMGB family proteins in the children are detected by Enzyma-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), and flow cytometry is used to detect the levels of serum Toll-like receptors and their expression levels.
Results
The classification and expression levels of serum globulin are detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. By comparison of the expression levels of serum HMGB1, β1 globulin and TLR-4, the correlation between the expression levels of the above factors and the incidence of disease is analyzed. The experimental results show that expression levels of serum HMGB1, β1 globulin and TLR-4 in the study group are significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
It is clearly evident that Serum HMGB1, β1 globulin and TLR-4 are highly expressed in the serum of children with JIA, and are positively correlated with the occurrence of the disease.
The efficacy of an oral probiotic associated with a fixed combination of benzoyl peroxide and adapalene in the treatment of acne: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Authors: Rocha Marco Alexandre Dias da , Schalka Sergio , Bayan Fernanda Calvente , Yoshizumi Thais Helena C. B. Matsuda , Blum Vinicius Fontanesi
Published: November 2022

Objective: Clinical trial carried out to evaluate the superiority of efficacy of a treatment regimen with an oral probiotic associated with a fixed combination of 0.1% adapalene and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide compared to an oral placebo with the same topical treatment in patients with mild to moderate acne.
Patients and Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted with 212 patients aged from 12 to 35 years; 107 in the test treatment arm and 105 in the comparator arm. The study was divided into two phases of 90 days each, totaling 180 days. In the first phase, patients received treatment with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide and 0.1% adapalene associated with a probiotic (IT), or 2.5% benzoyl peroxide and 0.1% adapalene associated with placebo (CT). In the second phase (90 days), patients received only oral treatment with a probiotic or placebo. Efficacy criteria were: reduction of the Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) scale to 0 or 1, and reduced lesion count.
Results: There was a significant difference in the proportion of participants with IGA 0 or 1 – the arm receiving the test treatment was superior to the comparator group at all study time points (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days) (p<0.05). Regarding lesion counts, the test arm was superior, although this difference was not statistically significant. Both treatments were safe and well tolerated.
Conclusion: In light of the evidence on efficacy and safety, treatment with probiotics should be considered as an adjuvant therapy for acne control.
Characterisation of Staphylococcus species from subclinical mastitis dairy cattle in Free State Province, South Africa
Authors: Khasapane Ntelekwane George , Thekisoe Molifi Matlhahane Oriel , Khumalo Zamantungwa Thobeka Happiness , Koos Myburgh , Nkhebenyane Sebolelo Jnae
Published: November 2022

Background: Mastitis is an important disease in dairy industry causing major economic burden. Subclinical mastitis (SCM) is regarded as one of the most economically important diseases affecting the dairy industry due to the financial constraints incurred by it. Subclinical mastitis as compared to clinical mastitis does not cause visible changes in the udder or physical changes of the milk hence the need for routine testing and surveillance.
Materials and methods: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows of small-holder farms in the Free State province using California mastitis test (CMT) and somatic cell counts (SCC) and further characterise staphylococcal species isolated by using Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results: The CMT results revealed that out of 166 cows, only 55 (33%) were positive for intramammary infection. The quarter level prevalence based on SCC was 87 (54%) for intramammary infections. Out of 50 bacterial culture isolates, 48 (96%) were identified as S. aureus (76%), S. epidermidis (4%), S. chromogenes (12%) and S. haemolyticus (4%) by MALDI-TOF MS. The 16S rDNA PCR products and obtained sequences indicated that S. aureus was the dominant species infecting tested cows at 76%, followed by S. chromogenes, S. agnetis, S. argenteus and S. devriesei at 10%, 4%, 4%) and 1% respectively.
Conclusions: This study has shown the presence of diverse Staphylococcusspecies infecting subclinical mastitis cows in sampled areas of the Free State province. It further indicated the importance of using various diagnostic tools for bacterial infection surveillance involved in subclinical mastitis to ensure accurate species identification.
LncRNA BCAR4 promotes migration, invasion, and chemo-resistance by inhibiting miR-644a in breast cancer
Authors: wu tangwei , Li xiaoyi , yan ge , Tan zheqiong , Zhao dan , Liu shuiyi , Wang hui , xiang yuan , Chen Weiqun , Lu Hongda , Liao Xinghua , Li yong , Lu Zhongxin
Published: November 2022

Background
Metastasis and drug resistance of breast cancer have become a barrier to treating patients successfully. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known as vital players in cancer development and progression.
Methods
The RT-qPCR were used to detect the gene expression. Colony formation assay, would healing assay, and transwell assay were performed to investigate oncogenic functions of cells. CCK8 assay was used to detect the cell vability. Western blot was applied to detect the protein level. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the relationship between molecules. Mouse orthotopic xenograft tumor models were established to evaluate the effects of BCAR4 on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo.
Results
LncRNA BCAR4 was significantly increased in breast cancer patients’ tissues and plasma and upregulated in breast cancer cell lines. BCAR4 upregulation was correlated with the TNM stages and decreased after surgical removal of breast tumors. Silencing of BCAR4 suppressed breast cancer cell colony formation, migration, invasion, and xenograft tumor growth and promoted chemo-sensitivity. Mechanistically, BCAR4 facilitates breast cancer migration and invasion via the miR-644a-CCR7 axis of the MAPK pathway. BCAR4 promotes ABCB1 expression indirectly by binding to and down-regulating miR-644a to induce chemo-resistance in breast cancer.
Conclusions
Our findings provide insights into the oncogenic role of BCAR4 and implicate BCAR4 as a potential diagnostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic agent to suppress metastasis and inhibit chemo-resistance of breast cancer.
Novel Ferroptosis-related gene signature for predicting the prognosis of breast cancer
Authors: Xu Jinwen , Guo Yan , Cui Yuqing , Chen Fengzhi , Li Yangyang , Yao Guanyu , Chen Xuesong
Published: November 2022

Background: Ferroptosis is a novel form of regulated cell death, however, the potential functions of ferroptosis in the breast cancer (BRCA) prognosis, immune infiltration, and drug resistance remain unknown. Methods: In this study, the characteristic patterns of ferroptosis in estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) breast cancer were systematically investigated with the interactions between ferroptosis and the tumor microenvironment (TME). On the mRNA expression profiles of 56 ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs), two ferroptosis patterns were constructed, with distinct prognosis, immune cell infiltrations and tamoxifen resistance. Results: The high ferroptosis scores were characterized by better prognosis, increased immune cell infiltration, higher immune and stromal scores, lower tumor purity, lower tumor mutational burden (TMB) and better Tamoxifen response, immune-related pathways showed statistically significant activation, while pathways related to cell repair and metabolism showed significant inhibition. Conclusion: Collectively, ferroptosis could be involved in the diverse and complex TME. Evaluation of the ferroptosis patterns may heighten the comprehension about immune infiltrations in the TME, ferroptosis-related risk score model can predict the prognostic of ER + BRCA patients and for the treatment of resistance to tamoxifen administration and assisting oncologists to generate individualized immunotherapeutic strategies.
Methodology for determination of contrast agent relaxivity using MRI
Authors: Reyes-Molina Israel , Hernández-Rodríguez Armando , Cabal-Mirabal Carlos , Gonzalez-Dalmau Evelio
Published: November 2022

Knowledge of the longitudinal and transverse relaxivities (r1 and r2) of a contrast agent (CA) is essential for its magnetic characterization. These parameters can be measured using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) clinical scanners with the advantage of characterizing the CA under the same experimental conditions where it will be employed. Nevertheless, when using MRI, there are several limitations to be considered, and we provide ways to compensate for them to obtain more accurate results. Here, we present a fast and robust methodology to determine the relaxivity of CA solutions using a 3T MRI clinical scanner with a birdcage coil. Relaxivity measurements were performed on a phantom consisting of 5 samples of copper sulfate at different concentrations. We optimized image acquisition for total scan time using three different pulse sequences. Post-processing steps following image acquisition were implemented in a semiautomatic MATLAB toolbox. Relaxation times were estimated using the three-parameter model with the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Statistical comparisons demonstrate good reproducibility and robustness in the relaxivity estimation by each method.
Exploring the changes of perceptual eye position after SMILE based on the virtual reality platform
Authors: Luo linbi , kong Xiangmei , Huang Junting , Guo Lu , Lv Hongbin
Published: November 2022

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pattern of changes in perceptual eye position in patients after Femtosecond Laser Small Incision Lenticule Extraction(SMILE), which was examined using the visual perception detection system developed by the National Engineering and Technology Research Center for Healthcare Appliances.
METHODS: A total of 141 patients participated in this prospective study. The patients were divided into three groups according to the degree of myopia: low myopic group
( equivalent spherical refraction ≤ 3.00D), moderate myopic group(3.00D < equivalent spherical refraction ≤ 6.00D), and high myopic group (equivalent spherical refraction > 6.00D). The relationship of perceptual eye position was measured by the computer-controlled visual perception detection system before, 1 day, 1 week and 1 month after surgery to investigate the changes of perceptual eye position after SMILE.
RESULTS: The differences in horizontal perceptual eye position were statistically significant at all time periods (X2=82.004, P<0.001), and the horizontal perceptual eye position improved at 1 day and 1 week postoperatively compared with that before surgery, but rebounded in January postoperatively. The differences in vertical perceptual eye position were statistically significant at all time periods (X2=38.59, P<0.001), and the vertical PEP improved at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month postoperatively compared with the preoperative level, but the improvement was small. The difference between horizontal perceptual eye position and vertical perceptual eye position in all three groups was not statistically significant, and it can be concluded that the deviation of perceptual eye position after SMILE is not related to the degree of myopia.
CONCLUSION: Most myopic patients have perceptual eye position shift before refractive correction, and SMILE surgery can improve the perceptual eye position shifts significantly in the early postoperative period, but the long-term results need to be further observed.
Efficacy of salvage therapies after failure of adjuvant anti- PD-1 monotherapy for melanoma in Chinese population: A multi-institutional cohort study
Authors: Jia Dong-Dong , Xu Yu , Li Ting , Yang Ji-Long , Chen Yong , Li Tao
Published: November 2022

Background
The majority of melanoma patients experienced relapse during the adjuvant therapy or after the end of the therapy.
Method
A total of sixty-one patients from 3 melanoma centres who recurred having received adjuvant pembrolizumab for resected stage III/IV melanoma were enrolled. Disease characteristics, recurrence characteristics, subsequent management and outcomes were noted.
Result
A total of sixty-one patients were enrolled in this study. Median time to first relapse from commencement of adjuvant pembrolizumab was 8 months (1–22 months). First recurrences were locoregional alone in 25 (41%), distant alone in 29 (47.5%) and concurrent locoregional and distant relapse in 7 (11.5%). 3 (60%) patients treated with adjuvant pembrolizumab following surgery, 2 (100%) patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, 2 (66.7%) patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and pembrolizumab combined and 3 (100%) patients treated with adjuvant radiotherapy and pembrolizumab combined had further recurrence. Of three patients treated with adjuvant BRAF/MEKi following first relapse, none have yet recurred. Of 8 patients treated with pembrolizumab alone, only one patient (12.5%) who recurred after ceasing adjuvant PD1 had a partial response. The overall response rate to BRAF/MEKi was 75%, 3/4, to pembrolizumab in combination with an oral multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor was 22.2%, 2/9, to chemotherapeutic agents alone was 33.3%, 1/3 and to chemotherapeutic agents combined with pembrolizumab was 37.5%, 3/8. The patient treated with imatinib had progressive disease after 3 months of treatment. Of 6 patients who received temozolomide combined with pembrolizumab, 3 (3/6, 50%) had a partial response. The median OS of patients who relapsed locoregionally only was longer than patients who relapsed distally at first recurrence (35 months and 14 months, respectively; P < 0.01).
Conclusion
Outcomes of patients with disease recurrence during or after completion of 1-year adjuvant anti-PD1 were poor despite multimodality treatment.
A multi-responsive diarylethene chemosensor via salicylaldehyde linking fluorescein unit
Authors: Li Xue , Ai Yin , Kang Huimin , Fan Congbin , Liu Gang , Ding Haichang , Pu Shouzhi
Published: November 2022

A novel multi-responsive diarylethene derivative (1O) by linking a fluorescein group has been synthesized. Colorless 1O not only displayed good photochromic property to form cyclization state 1C, but also the 1C having multi-responsive characteristic to Cu2+ and basic stimulations. After Cu2+ was introduced, 1C showed excellent absorption and fluorescent spectra changed upon binding with Cu2+. The color of 1C solution turned from purple to colorless and the corresponding fluorescence color changed from dark to yellow, and the binding stoichiometry of 1C to Cu2+ was 1:1 and the detection limit was 0.11 µM. Moreover, 1C displayed distinctly reversible change on absorption and fluorescent spectra in basic environment, the basic environment can discolor the solution and turn on the fluorescence effect, suggesting that 1C can be used as pH sensor.
Association between arteriosclerosis and the risk of falls in the elderly
Authors: Zhang Kexin , Ju Yanmin , Yang Di , Cao Mengyu , Liang Hong , Leng Jiyan
Published: November 2022

Objective: To study the risk factors of falls in the elderly and explore the correlation between arteriosclerosis and the risk of falls in the elderly.
Method: This is a cross-sectional study. The subjects were inpatients ≥ 60 years old in the cadre ward of the first hospital of Jilin University from May 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020. The following information was obtained from the past comprehensive geriatric assessment database of the cadre ward. Ankle brachial index (ABI) and ankle brachial pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were measured by OMRON arteriosclerosis detection device. We assessed according to the internationally used fall risk assessment tool (FRA), ≤ 2 points are divided into low-risk group, 3 - 9 points are divided into medium-risk group, and ≥ 10 points are divided into high-risk group.
Results: There were significant differences among the three groups in age, weight, educational background, low gait speed, cognitive impairment, malnutrition, ability of daily living, depression (P < 0.05). The baPWV and ABI were higher in high-risk group than in low-risk group; The baPWV in high-risk group was higher than that in medium risk group and low-risk group. For each additional unit of baPWV, the probability of the fall risk increasing by one level is 1.701 times higher than the original (OR= 1.701, 95%CI: 0.533-11.822, P= 0.001). For each additional unit of ABI, the probability of the fall risk increasing by one level is 1.976 times higher than the original (OR= 1.976, 95%CI: 1.213-3.219, P= 0.006).
Conclusion:The increase of baPWV and the decrease of ABI are closely related to the increased risk of falls in the elderly.
Extensive Reading Affects Second Language Listening Proficiency: an fNIRS Study
Authors: Chiba Katsuhiro , Miyazaki Atsuko , Yokoyama Satoru
Published: November 2022

One of the difficulties in learning English as a foreign language (EFL) is obtaining sufficient input in the language. The importance of input in EFL settings has been discussed for decades, and extensive reading (ER) has been proposed to supply input to learners of English. Many studies have provided evidence that ER enhances learners' reading proficiency, vocabulary, and grammar. Interestingly, some studies have reported the effect of ER on listening besides reading skills. The current study aimed to clarify the effect of ER on listening ability from both behavioral and neurophysiological points of view. The participants were university students in Japan who took the same compulsory English class and were required to complete 150,000 words of ER per semester. To examine the effect of ER, measurements were obtained at three time points: the beginning of the spring semester, the end of the spring semester, and the end of the fall semester. Our results showed that ER training affects both behavioral performance and brain activity during foreign language listening and that ER training enables listening processing with less energy. The findings demonstrate that ER training affects real-time processing during foreign language listening tasks.
Flexible process planning based on predictive models for Machining time and energy consumption
Authors: Chu Hongyan , Dong Ke , Yan Jun , Li Zhuoran , Liu Zhifeng , Cheng Qiang , Zhang Caixia
Published: November 2022

Machining time and energy consumption are common process planning evaluation metrics. However, it is difficult to obtain accurate machining time and energy consumption values in the process planning stage, which may result in obtaining process routes that are not optimal. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a flexible process planning method based on processing time and energy consumption prediction models. Since there are many factors affecting processing time and energy consumption in discrete workshops, the main factors affecting processing time and energy consumption are analyzed based on historical workshop processing data, a processing time and energy consumption prediction model for process planning is established, and an RBF neural network is designed for prediction. Considering the flexibility of multiple processes, a mathematical model of the flexible process planning problem based on the machining time and energy consumption prediction model was established. A multi-objective algorithm using a multidimensional real number coding method is proposed for problem solving with the completion time and energy consumption minimization as the optimization objective. Finally, simulation experiments are conducted to verify the validity of the prediction model based on the data obtained from the analysis of a mold manufacturing plant. Meanwhile, the best performance of the SPEA2 algorithm with parameters {crossover rate: 0.8, mutation rate: 0.8} was determined through comparative analysis by combining two common multi-objective algorithms, SPEA2 and NSGA-II, with a machined part as an example, and the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed process planning model was verified.
Association between seasonal factors and severity of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome in children
Authors: xu xueyun , He yanyu , Jiang Yuting , Lv Meng , Geng Yaxuan , Wang Zhihui , Zhang Zhen , Wang Fengqian , Wang Shuqi , Zhu Huie , Wang Yuqing
Published: November 2022

Background
Limited data are available on the relationship between seasonal factors and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of seasonal factors on the severity of OSAHS in children.
Methods
Children presenting with snoring and/or mouth breathing, suspected of having OSAHS, and admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine of the Children's Hospital of Soochow University from December 2016 to February 2022 were enrolled in this study. The severity of OSAHS was determined by full-night polysomnography (PSG) in the sleep laboratory. The correlation between seasonal factors and PSG monitoring results was analyzed.
Results
Of the 589 included patients, 301 cases (51.1%) were diagnosed with OSAHS. Among them, 77 cases (25.6%) were detected in spring, 74 cases (24.6%) were detected in summer, 59 cases (19.6%) were detected in autumn, and 91 cases (30.2%) were detected in winter. There were 238 cases (79.1%) of tonsillitis hypertrophy, 276 cases (91.7%) of adenoid hypertrophy, 215 cases (71.4%) of rhinitis/sinusitis, and 36 cases (12.0%) of asthma. The proportion of rhinitis/sinusitis and tonsillar hypertrophy in spring was higher than that in summer (P = 0.015 and 0.036, respectively), and the proportion of adenoid hypertrophy in winter was higher than that in summer (P = 0.024). The diagnostic rate of severe OSAHS in winter was higher than that in summer (χ2 = 7.053, P = 0.008). The respiratory arousal index in winter was higher than that in summer (H = -39.297, P = 0.018), and the spontaneous arousal index in spring was higher than that in autumn (H = 44.059, P = 0.020). It was found that the rapid eye movement (REM)-apnea index (AI) in spring and winter was higher than that in summer (H = 52.292, -52.554; all P < 0.05). The comparison of PSG results of children with OSAHS under the age of 7 years in different seasons showed that the respiratory arousal index in winter was higher than that in summer (H = -35.570, P = 0.008). The REM-AI in winter and spring was higher than that in summer and autumn, respectively (H = -33.929 and − 38.632; H = 30.665 and 35.368, all P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Severe OSAHS is more common in winter. Respiratory events are increased in spring and winter, mainly in preschool children. Seasonal factors may have a certain impact on OSAHS.
Factors affecting uncertain radiologic reports for pediatric abdominal ultrasound in pediatric emergency departments
Authors: Hwang Soyun , Chung Hyun Jung , Park Joong Wan , Lee Eui Jun , Lee Ha Ni , Kim Jin Hee , Jue Jie Hee , Choi Young Hun , Jung Jae Yun
Published: November 2022

Backgrounds
Abdominal pain is a common cause for children presenting to pediatric emergency department (PED), which often requires ultrasound (US). However, uncertain reports can lead to additional imaging, which
Objective
In this study, we evaluated the factors affecting uncertain reports in pediatric abdominal ultrasound in the PED.
Materials and Methods
This is a retrospective cohort study. Children younger than 18 years at the study hospital between January 2017 and December 2019 who underwent an abdominal US in the PED were eligible. After exclusion, researchers manually reviewed every US report and classified. To identify factors that lead to an uncertain report, univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed.
Results
A total of 1006 patients was included in the final analysis. After review, 796 patients were tagged as certain reports, and 210 were tagged as uncertain reports. Children with uncertain reports were more likely to have undergone an additional CT scan (31.0% vs. 2.5%, p <0.001), and had a longer PED length of stay (321 minutes vs. 284.5 minutes, p =0.042). After logistic regression, US performed by a radiology resident (odds ratio [OR] 5.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.63-7.15) was the most significant factor.
Conclusion
Several factors are responsible for uncertain radiologic reports of abdominal US in the pediatric population. Uncertain radiologic reports increase the likelihood of additional CT scans. Measures to improve the clarity of radiologic reports must be considered to improve the quality of care in children visiting the PED.
Inequalities in willingness to pay for Zambia’s National Social Health Insurance Scheme
Authors: Mulenga Kabaso , Booysen Frederik
Published: November 2022

This paper investigates socioeconomic inequalities in household willingness to pay for National Social Health Insurance. The paper used data from the nationally representative Zambia Household Health Expenditure and Utilization Survey. Contingent Valuation was used to elicit willingness to pay using a bidding game technique. A concentration curve and a concentration index were used to measure inequalities in willingness to pay, while Wagstaff et al. decomposition was used to identify the factors that contribute to these inequalities. The concentration index for socioeconomic inequalities in willingness to pay was estimated at 0.161, indicating that willingness to pay was concentrated among affluent households. The Wagstaff et al. decomposition results suggested that the ability to pay, proxied by per capita expenditure, contributed most to the inequalities in willingness to pay. Thus, policy makers should target programs that create employment and income generating activities that absorb everyone regardless of their socioeconomic status.
JEL Classification Codes: I12, I13, I14, I15, I18 and I19
Characterization of tungiasis infection and morbidity in Kenya reveals increase in disease burden during COVID-19 school closures.
Authors: Elson Lynne , Matharu Abneel K , Riithi Naomi , Ouma Paul , Mutebi Francis , Feldmeier Herman , Krücken Jürgen , Fillinger Ulrike
Published: November 2022

Background: Tungiasis is a common but extremely neglected tropical skin disease caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans. Female sand fleas penetrate the skin, particularly at the feet, and cause severe inflammation with pain and itching, acute and chronic morbidity. This study aimed to characterize disease burden in two highly affected regions in Kenya, to test the use of simple thermography to detect tungiasis-associated inflammation and to create a new two-level classification of disease severity that may be used for mapping, targeting, and monitoring interventions in future.
Methods: From February 2020 to April 2021, 3,532 pupils age 8-14 years were randomly selected in 35 public primary schools and examined for tungiasis and associated pathology. Of the infected pupils, 266 were randomly selected and their households visited. An additional 1,138 family members were examined. Infra-red thermography was used to assess inflammation. An all-pathology score was created combining the number of locations on the feet with acute and chronic pathologies and infra-red hotspots.
Results: Based on multilevel mixed effects logistic models, the odds of infection with tungiasis among school pupils was three times as high in Kwale than in Siaya (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)0.28, 95% CI 0.1-0.6); three times higher in males than in females (AOR2.9, 95%CI 2.2-3.7) and three times lower among pupils sleeping in a house with a concrete floor (AOR0.32,95%CI 0.24-0.44). The odds of finding an infected person among the household population during active school terms was approximately a half of that when schools were closed due to COVID-19 (AOR0.44, 95% CI 0.3-0.7). Infection intensity was positively correlated with inflammation (Spearman’s rho =0.68, p<0.001) and all-pathology score (rho 0.86, p<0.001). Based on the two-level classification, severe cases were associated with a threefold higher level of pain (OR2.99, 95% CI 2-4.4) and itching (OR3.31, 95% CI 2.2-4.9) than mild cases.
Conclusions: Thermography was a valuable addition for assessing morbidity and the proposed two-level classification of disease severity clearly separated patients with mild and severe impacts. The burden of tungiasis severely increased during COVID-19 restrictions and reinforced that underlying risks are found in the home environment more than in school.
Explainable Artificial Intelligence as a reliable annotator of archaeal promoter regions
Authors: SganzerlaMartinez Gustavo , Perez-Rueda Ernesto , Kumar Aditya , Sarkar Sharmilee , Silva Scheila Avila e
Published: November 2022

Motivation
Archaea are a vast and unexplored cellular domain that thrive in a high diversity of environments, having central roles in processes mediating global carbon and nutrient fluxes. For these organisms to balance their metabolism, the appropriate regulation of their gene expression is essential. A key momentum in regulating genes responsible for the life maintenance of archaea is when transcription factor proteins bind to the promoter element. This DNA segment is conserved, which enables its exploration by machine learning techniques.
Results
Here, we trained and tested a support vector machine with 3935 known archaeal promoter sequences. All promoter sequences were coded into DNA Duplex Stability. After, we performed a model interpretation task to map the decision pattern of the classification procedure. We also used a validation dataset of known-promoter sequences. Our results showed that an AT rich region around position − 27 upstream (relative to the start TSS is the most conserved in the analyzed organisms. In addition, we were able to identify the BRE element (-33), the PPE (at -10) and a position at + 3, that provides a more understandable picture of how promoters are organized in all the archaeal organisms. Finally, we used the interpreted model to identify potential promoter sequences of 135 unannotated organisms, delivering regulatory regions annotation of archaea in a scale never accomplished before (https://pcyt.unam.mx/gene-regulation/). We consider that this approach will be useful to understand how gene regulation is achieved in other organisms apart from the already established transcription factor binding sites.
New constraints of terrestrial and oceanic global gross primary productions from the triple oxygen isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2 and O2
Authors: Liang Mao-Chang , Laskar Amzad H. , Barkan Eugeni , Newman Sally , Thiemens Mark H. , Rangarajan Ravi
Published: November 2022

Representations of the changing global carbon cycles under climatic and environmental perturbations require highly detailed accounting of all atmosphere and biosphere exchange. These fluxes remain unsatisfactory, as a consequence of data with limited spatiotemporal coverage and precision and restrict accurate assessments. Through the nature of intimate coupling of global carbon and oxygen cycles via O2 and CO2 and their unique triple oxygen isotope compositions in the biosphere and atmosphere, greater insight is available. We perform analysis of their isotopic compositions with the widest geographical and temporal coverage (123 new measurements for CO2) and constrain, on an annual basis, the global CO2 recycling times (1.5±0.2 yr) and gross primary productivities of terrestrial (~170-200 PgC/yr) and oceanic (~90-120 PgC/yr) biospheres. Observed inter-annual variations in CO2 triple oxygen isotopic compositions were observed at a magnitude close to the largest contrast set by the terrestrial and oceanic biospheres. The seasonal cycles between the east-west Pacific Ocean were found to be drastically different. This intra-annual variability implies that the atmospheric CO2 turnover time is not much longer than the tropospheric mixing time (less than ~5 months), verifying the derived recycling time. The new measurements and analyses and incorporation of other global data sets develop an independent approach, providing a strong constraint to biogeochemical models.
The embryology, metamorphosis, and muscle development of Schizocardium karankawa sp. nov. (Enteropneusta) from the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Jabr Noura , Gonzalez Paul , Kocot Kevin M. , Cameron Christopher
Published: November 2022

Schizocardium karankawa n. sp. has been collected from subtidal muds of the Laguna Madre, Texas, and the Mississippi coast, Gulf of Mexico. The Texas population is reproductive from early February to mid-April. Gametes are liberated by a small incision in a gonad. Oocyte germinal vesicle breakdown is increased in the presence of sperm, and the highest fertilization success was in the artificial seawater Jamarin U. Manually dechorionated embryos develop normally. Development was asynchronous via a tornaria larva, metamorphosis and maintained to the juvenile worm 6 gill-pore stage. Phalloidin-labeled late stage tornaria revealed retractor muscles that connect the pericardial sac with the apical tuft anteriorly, and the oesophagus ventrally, and muscles cells of the early mesocoels. The muscle development of early juvenile worms began with dorso-lateral trunk muscles, lateral trunk bands, and sphincters around the gill pores and anus. Adult worms are characterized by a stomochord that bifurcates anteriorly into paired vermiform processes, gill bars that extend almost the entire dorsal to ventral branchial region resulting in a narrow ventral hypobranchial ridge, and an elaborate epibranchial organ with six zones of discrete cell types. The trunk has up to three rows of liver sacs, and lateral gonads. The acorn worm evo-devo model species Saccoglossus kowalevskii, Ptychodera flava, and Schizocardium californicum are phylogenetically distant with disparate life histories. Differences of S. karnakawa from S. californicum include larval anal cilia, the number of gill pores and hepatic sacs, and elaborations of the heart-kidney-stomochord complex. Further comparative study of S. karankawa and S. californicum could help shed light on how development evolves at large and fine scales.
Functional characterization of a soybean GmSUT4 gene reveals its involvement in plant growth and development regulation through sugar metabolism
Authors: Chen Peng , Wu Xia , Yue Jiao , Nie Jingzhi , Mubeen Samavia , Luo Dengjie , Cao Shan , Wang Caijin , Wu Qijing , Zhang Hui , Pan Jiao , Chen Channi , Wang Meng
Published: November 2022

Soybean sucrose transporter GmSUT4 regulated plant growth and development through sugar metabolism