bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reviews, trust, and customer experience in online marketplaces: the case of Mercado Libre Colombia
Authors: Peña-García Nathalie , Losada-Otálora Mauricio , Auza David Pérez , Cruz María Paula
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The research focuses on the crucial role of online reviews in shaping consumer trust in e-commerce platforms, examining the impact of perceived authentic and fake reviews on purchasing decisions and platform reputation. It assesses how consumers perceive review authenticity and quality and their effects on trust levels in reviews, marketplaces, and reputation systems. It also explores the relationship between trust forms and overall experiences.

Design/methodology

A quantitative approach is employed, utilizing a questionnaire distributed to recent Mercado Libre buyers. To test hypotheses, data from 326 valid responses are analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

Findings reveal that fake review perception negatively affects trust in rating systems, while high-quality reviews positively influence all trust forms. Customer experience is directly impacted by trust in marketplaces and rating systems, indicating a mediation effect of trust in the rating system on the relationship between fake review perception and customer experience.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include using a convenience sample and focusing on trust in the rating system rather than reviews or the marketplace, suggesting avenues for future research. Practical implications include recommendations to ensure review quality, enhance rating system controls, and promote review usage in the purchase process.

Originality

The study addresses a timely and relevant gap in understanding the impact of reviews on e-commerce trust, particularly within the context of Latin America and Mercado Libre’s dominance in the region’s e-commerce landscape.
First manifestation of cardiovascular disease according to age and sex in a Mediterranean country
Authors: Ortega Emilio , Genua Idoia , Mata-Cases Manel , Roqué Mercè , Vlacho Bogdan , Real Gatius Jordi , Franch-Nadal Josep , Mauricio Didac
Published: September 2024

Background

Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are the most common cause of death worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and type of first CV event in a broad cohort of Spaniards, focusing on age and sex differences.

Methods

This was a retrospective study using the SIDIAP database. Subjects aged 30–89 years in 2010 were included. Individuals with prevalent CV disease or atrial fibrillation were excluded. Subjects were followed until the occurrence of a CV event, death, or the study end (December 2016). CV outcomes (coronary heart disease [CHD], cerebrovascular or peripheral artery disease and heart failure [HF]) during follow-up were analyzed. Clinical, anthropometrical, and laboratory data were retrieved from clinical records.

Results

Overall, 3,769,563 at-risk individuals (51.2 ± 15.2 years) were followed for a median of 7 years. The cumulative incidence of a first CV event was 6.66% (men vs. women, 7.48% vs. 5.90%), with the highest incidence (25.97%) among individuals >75 years. HF (29%) and CHD (28.8%) were the most common first events overall; in men it was CHD (33.6%), while in women it was HF and cerebrovascular disease (37.4% and 27.4%). In younger age groups, CHD was more prevalent, with HF in older age groups. Baseline CV risks factors conferred more risk in younger ages and differed between men and women.

Conclusions

The incidence and type of the first CV event in this Mediterranean region were significantly influenced by age and sex. This information is relevant for tailoring primary prevention strategies including the treatment of risk factors.
Promoting health information system in guiding decisions for improving performance: an intervention study at the Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Giza, Egypt
Authors: Abdelgawad Yara H , Abd El Razik Madiha Said , Saleh Doa’a A , Abuelela Manal H , Salem Marwa Rashad
Published: September 2024

Objectives

This study aims to design and test a platform of key performance indicators (KPIs) and indices emphasizing achievements and improvement and helping decision-making.

Methods

An operations research study was designed to analyze data from the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) from July 2017 to June 2018 at the Research Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO), Giza, Egypt. The HMIS data were submitted to reform covering parameters in service delivery and corresponding indicators and indices. Data were grouped into four themes: human resources and outpatient, inpatient, and surgical operations. A total of 14 performance indicators were deployed to four specific indices and total performance indices and applied to six teams of ophthalmologists at RIO. The decision matrices were deliberated to demonstrate achievements and provide recommendations for subsequent improvements.

Results

Throughout 1 year, six teams of ophthalmologists (n = 222) at RIO provided the following services: outpatient (n = 116,043), inpatient (n = 8,081), and surgical operations (n = 9,174). Teams 2, 1, and 6 were the top teams in the total performance index. Team 4 had plunges in the outpatient index, and Team 5 faced limitations in the inpatient index.

Conclusion

The study provided a model for upgrading the performance of the management information system (MIS) in health organizations. The KPIs and indices were used not only for documenting successful models of efficient service delivery but also as examples of limitations for further support and interventions.
Willingness to use remote patient monitoring among cardiovascular patients in a resource-limited setting: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Kassaw Mitiku , Amare Getasew , Shitu Kegnie , Tilahun Binyam , Assaye Bayou Tilahun
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Currently, mortality by non-communicable diseases is increasing alarmingly. They account for approximately 35 million deaths each year, of which 14% are due to cardiovascular disease and 9.2% occur in Africa. Patients do not have access to healthcare services outside the healthcare setting, resulting in missed follow-ups and appointments and adverse outcomes. This study aimed to assess the willingness to use remote monitoring among cardiovascular patients in a resource-limited setting in Ethiopia.

Method

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2021 among cardiovascular patients at referral hospitals in Ethiopia. A structured interview questionnaire was used to collect the data. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 397 study participants. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed and a 95% confidence level with a p-value <0.05 was used to determine the level of association between variables.

Result

In total, 81.61% of the study participants were willing to use remote patient monitoring [95% confidence interval (CI) = 77.4%–85.1%]. Age [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.90–0.98], having a mobile phone (AOR = 5.70; 95% CI: 1.86–17.22), and perceived usefulness (AOR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.18–1.82) were significantly associated with willingness to use remote patient monitoring among cardiovascular patients.

Conclusion

Cardiovascular patients had a high willingness to use remote patient monitoring. Age, perceived usefulness of remote patient monitoring, and having a mobile phone were significantly associated with a willingness to use remote patient monitoring.
Stress modeling for the upper and lower crust along the Anninghe, Xianshuihe, and Longmenshan Faults in southeastern Tibetan plateau
Authors: Xu Junshan , Zeng Xiangfang
Published: September 2024

Earthquake occurrence depth in the crust is related to stress, temperature, and brittle–ductile transition, which is also near the transition depth of the upper to lower crust. The composition variation between the upper and lower crust causes remarkable changes of rheological properties and variation in stress distribution. Clarifying the detailed stress distribution in the upper and lower crust is crucial for understanding the brittle–ductile transition and the stress environment of the seismogenic zone. The Southeastern Tibetan Plateau (SETP), with wide spread of active strike−slip faults and clustered earthquakes, provides a natural field for investigating the relationships between crustal stresses, deformation behaviors, and earthquake mechanics. By considering the rheological properties of granite and anorthite, this paper established stress models with different boundary depths (15, 20 and 25 km) between the upper and lower crust along the Anninghe, Xianshuihe, and Longmenshan Faults in the SETP with a horizontal strain of 6 × 10−4 extracted from in situ stress data. The stress model with different geothermal gradients and a boundary depth of 20 km between the upper and lower crust suggests two distinct types of the brittle–ductile transition below these three faults. Simultaneously, the stress model can account for the continuity of earthquake depth distribution below the Longmenshan Fault and the seismic gap below the Anninghe and Xianshuihe Faults. The continuity of earthquake depth distribution or seismic gap below these three faults can be explained by their different geothermal gradients. These findings provide new insights for understanding the stress environment of the seismogenic zone in the SETP. Our model reveals the relationships between differential stress, seismicity, brittle–ductile transition, and boundary depth of the upper and lower crust in the continental crust, and connects the multiple observations from geophysics and geology. Furthermore, our model provides insights for studying multiple processes in the continental crust, such as crustal deformation, fault slip, and earthquake occurring.
Review on the research progress of earth pressure on slope retaining structure
Authors: Zhou Yijun , Wei Haobin
Published: September 2024

The earth pressure of slope retaining structure is one of the problems that are often encountered in geotechnical engineering but have not yet been fully understood and well solved. At present, there are still a lot of problems that need to be solved. For complex conditions such as stratified soil or containing ground water, the distribution law of earth pressure and the displacement mode of retaining structure need to be further studied. This paper summarizes the existing research on earth pressure of slope retain structures. According to the research methods, it is divided into three categories: research on the theoretical calculation method of earth pressure, research on earth pressure by model test, and research on earth pressure by numerical simulation. Focused discussions are carried out respectively, and the previous research results are summarized. At present, there are still a lot of problems that need to be solved in the research of earth pressure of slope retaining structure, and the calculation formula of earth pressure and the assumed fracture surface of earth are lack of experimental verification and engineering measurement.
An analysis of the effects of learner-centered software education and required support strategies
Authors: Ahn Seongjin , Oh Kyungsun
Published: September 2024

Introduction

This study investigates support strategies to enhance basic software education as a liberal arts course at Konkuk University, South Korea, by integrating design thinking and computational thinking to mitigate the cognitive load of programming.

Methods

A study with 190 students utilized a learner-centered approach, incorporating design thinking and computational problem-solving, and evaluated its effectiveness through pre-and post-tests and structural equation modeling.

Results

The intervention successfully reduced the cognitive load associated with programming tasks and led to positive changes in computational thinking factors. Our analysis also revealed that cognitive load negatively impacted all computational thinking factors and that improvements in computational thinking factors were sustained into subsequent stages of the learning process.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that as differences in student learning capabilities become more pronounced, a variety of tailored learning strategies must be employed. Software education should incorporate computational thinking factors such as problem decomposition, abstraction, and algorithmic procedures to lower cognitive load. Additionally, it is crucial to foster immersion in learning by implementing attention, relevance, confidence, and achievement strategies.
MG53’s non-physiologic interaction with insulin receptor: lack of effect on insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation in muscle, heart and liver tissues
Authors: Lee Kyung Eun , Nishi Miyuki , Kim Jongsoo , Murayama Takashi , Dawson Zachary , Wang Xiaoliang , Zhou Xinyu , Tan Tao , Cai Chuanxi , Takeshima Hiroshi , Park Ki Ho
Published: September 2024

Rationale

MG53’s known function in facilitating tissue repair and anti-inflammation has broad applications to regenerative medicine. There is controversy regarding MG53’s role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective

This study aims to address this controversy – whether MG53’s myokine function contributes to inhibition of insulin signaling in muscle, heart, and liver tissues.

Study design

We determined the binding affinity of the recombinant human MG53 (rhMG53) to the insulin receptor extracellular domain (IR-ECD) and found low affinity of interaction with Kd (>480 nM). Using cultured C2C12 myotubes and HepG2 cells, we found no effect of rhMG53 on insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation (p-Akt). We performed in vivo assay with C57BL/6J mice subjected to insulin stimulation (1 U/kg, intraperitoneal injection) and observed no effect of rhMG53 on insulin-stimulated p-Akt in muscle, heart and liver tissues.

Conclusion

Overall, our data suggest that rhMG53 can bind to the IR-ECD, however has a low likelihood of a physiologic role, as the Kd for binding is ~10,000 higher than the physiologic level of MG53 present in the serum of rodents and humans (~10 pM). Our findings question the notion proposed by Xiao and colleagues – whether targeting circulating MG53 opens a new therapeutic avenue for type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications.
The inverse associations between composite-dietary-antioxidant-index and sarcopenia risk in US adults
Authors: Wang Kang , Zhou Qin , Jiang Zhongbiao , Liu Shiping , Tang Hanfen
Published: September 2024

Background

It remains unknown whether composite-dietary-antioxidant-index (CDAI) is associated with the risk of sarcopenia. This study investigated the association of CDAI with sarcopenia risk among general US adults.

Methods

A total of 10,093 participants were enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) from 6 survey cycles (2003-2004, 2005-2006, 2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2015-2016 and 2017-2018). Multivariate logistic regression was carried out to examine the relationship between CDAI and the risk of sarcopenia. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves were employed to analyze nonlinear relationships.

Results

In a multi-variable logistic regression model adjusting for demographics, lifestyle, economic status and other dietary factors, higher CDAI score was related to a lower risk of sarcopenia among US adults. Compared the highest quartile of CDAI score with the lowest, the OR and 95%CI were 0.49 (0.31-0.75). Furthermore, the RCS demonstrated a linear dose-response relationship between CDAI and sarcopenia (Pnon-linearity=0.92). These results remained consistent across subgroups stratified by age, sex, physical activity, drinking status, body mass index (BMI), smoking habits, energy intake, and Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score. In addition, the favorable associations of CDAI were primarily attributed to Vitamin E intake.

Conclusion

A higher CDAI score was associated with a lower risk of sarcopenia. According to these results, a greater adherence to CDAI may benefit sarcopenia prevention in adults.
Biosorption of methylene blue by bone meal: experimental and modeling with machine learning and full factorial design
Authors: de Araujo Leandro Goulart , Martins Gabriel Fuitem , Campera Alexssandra Andrea Antunes , Marumo Júlio Takehiro , Guilhen Sabine Neusatz
Published: September 2024

Sorption technologies have been proposed for the treatment of water containing methylene blue (MB), a toxic and persistent pollutant. Despite its environmental risks, the role of process variables in MB removal has not been fully explored through experimental design. The objective of this study is to assess the potential of bone meal powder (BMP), an underexplored agricultural byproduct, as an affordable adsorbent for the removal of MB from water. BMP was subjected to a series of analytical characterization techniques, and its adsorption capacity was evaluated through a comprehensive factorial design, which investigated the effects of biosorbent dosage, solution pH, and initial MB concentration. The study revealed that the highest adsorption level was 14.49 mg g−1, attained under the following conditions: 1 g L−1 BMP, pH 11, and 100 mg L−1 MB. The adsorption equilibrium was reached within 60 min, with a measured capacity (qexp) of 18 mg g−1. Theoretical adsorption isotherms indicated a capacity of 63 mg g−1, which aligned well with the Langmuir model. To predict adsorption outcomes, machine learning models were applied, with multiple linear regression performing best. Optimization of decision trees and neural networks improved accuracy but risked overfitting. FT-IR, XRD, and ICP analyses indicated ion exchange as a significant mechanism of adsorption. In desorption studies, H2SO4 was the most effective agent, achieving 68.72% desorption efficiency. BMP exhibited optimal recyclability for up to four cycles before efficiency declined.
Spatial distribution of available phosphorus in surface road and trackway surface materials on a sheep farm in Ireland
Authors: Fenton Owen , Daly Karen , Tuohy Pat , Cardiff John , Leach Simon , Sifundza Lungile Senteni , Murnane John
Published: September 2024

Farm roadway runoff is a high-risk source of pollution when connectivity with waters occurs. Nutrients in this runoff are dominated by fresh animal deposits, but recent dairy and beef farm studies showed that available phosphorus (P) accumulates in roadway surface material and can be lost in runoff. A current knowledge gap is to examine available P concentrations in unsealed roadway and trackway (non-maintained) network of a lowland sheep farm. The present study focused on a 45 ha farm stocked with 544 sheep in south-east Ireland. Ten locations were sampled along with the adjacent fields for available P (i.e., Morgan’s P) and ancillary parameters (e.g., pH, total P and heavy metals) in December 2022. The first sampling location was on an aggregate roadway and the other nine were on trackways representing an older aggregate roadway network used by the flock but now covered with soil and grass. Results showed a distinct difference in surface material pH between roadway and trackway locations. Trackways had a pH that mimicked adjacent fields around the agronomic optimum for grassland of ∼6.2. All sampling locations had elevated available P concentrations, ranging from 26.3 to 111.0 mg L−1 (mean 62.8 mg L−1), similar to the spatial distribution for dairy farms but above those found at beef farms previously studied. The highest available P concentrations were found in roadway and trackway sections adjacent to the farmyard. Other elevated sampling areas were on trackways (87.3 or 97.7 mg P L−1) away from the farmyard where sheep are funnelled to pasture, stop to seek shade, urinate and defecate but do not graze. By contrast the average available P concentration for the surrounding fields was 8.4 mg L−1 with a range of 2.7–15.9 mg L−1. Two sampling areas combine to create a critical source area where a high available P source becomes visibly mobilised as runoff during rainfall, discharges into an open drainage ditch, which is then connected to a local stream. Breaking the pathway before runoff enters the open ditch could be a cheap and effective way of mitigating nutrient losses at these two locations.
Early B lymphocyte subsets in blood predict prognosis in sepsis
Authors: Sun Yingqian , Lu Yan , Pan Xinling , Zhang Chengliang , Wang Liang , Zhang Longyi
Published: September 2024

Background

B lymphocytes play a key role in immunosuppression. This study investigated the prognostic value of B cell subsets in sepsis.

Methods

Flow cytometry was used to assess peripheral B cell subsets from patients with sepsis on the first and seventh days following admission, as well as 111 healthy controls. The patients were divided into survivors and non-survivors, based on 28-day prognosis.

Results

The analysis showed abnormal distribution and selective depletion of B cells and its subsets in the early stages of sepsis. On day 1, compared with survivors, non-survivors showed significant decreases in the proportion and absolute count of transitional (Tr) B cells, reductions in the proportion of CD5+ B cells, and increases in the proportion of double-negative (DN) B cells. On day 7, the proportions and absolute counts of Tr and CD5+ B cells significantly decreased whereas the proportion of DN B cells significantly increased in non-survivors. Ninety-four survivors and 15 non-survivors were included in our paired-sample rank-sum test. Compared to day 1, only the survivors showed significant increases in absolute B, Tr B, and CD5+ B cell counts by day 7. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the proportion of DN B cells on day 1 (hazard ratio = 1.092 [95% confidence interval: 1.035–1.152], P = 0.001) was a risk factor for mortality, and Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis showed that patients with proportions of DN B cells > 11.81% on day 1 had poorer prognoses. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that B cell subset parameters could predict mortality (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC], 0.741) and enhanced the prognostic value of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (AUC, 0.840).

Conclusion

Our study revealed that deficiencies of B, Tr B, and CD5+ B cells, as well as a persistent increase in the proportion of DN B cells, were associated with poor prognosis—and that B cell subsets showed predictive value to mortality. These results provide new insights into the roles of B cell subsets in sepsis, as well as ways to better manage its progression and predict its course.
Podoplanin expressing macrophages and their involvement in tertiary lymphoid structures in mouse models of Sjögren’s disease
Authors: Hovd Aud-Malin Karlsson , Nayar Saba , Smith Charlotte G. , Kanapathippillai Premasany , Iannizzotto Valentina , Barone Francesca , Fenton Kristin Andreassen , Pedersen Hege Lynum
Published: September 2024

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are formed in tissues targeted by chronic inflammation processes, such as infection and autoimmunity. In Sjögren’s disease, the organization of immune cells into TLS is an important part of disease progression. Here, we investigated the dynamics of tissue resident macrophages in the induction and expansion of salivary gland TLS. We induced Sjögren’s disease by cannulation of the submandibular glands of C57BL/6J mice with LucAdV5. In salivary gland tissues from these mice, we analyzed the different macrophage populations prior to cannulation on day 0 and on day 2, 5, 8, 16 and 23 post-infection using multicolored flow cytometry, mRNA gene analysis, and histological evaluation of tissue specific macrophages. The histological localization of macrophages in the LucAdV5 induced inflamed salivary glands was compared to salivary glands of NZBW/F1 lupus prone mice, a spontaneous mouse model of Sjögren’s disease. The evaluation of the dynamics and changes in macrophage phenotype revealed that the podoplanin (PDPN) expressing CX3CR1+ macrophage population was increased in the salivary gland tissue during LucAdV5 induced inflammation. This PDPN+ CX3CR1+ macrophage population was, together with PDPN+CD206+ macrophages, observed to be localized in the parenchyma during the acute inflammation phase as well as surrounding the TLS structure in the later stages of inflammation. This suggests a dual role of tissue resident macrophages, contributing to both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory processes, as well as their possible interactions with other immune cells within the inflamed tissue. These macrophages may be involved with lymphoid neogenesis, which is associated with disease severity and progression. In conclusion, our study substantiates the involvement of proinflammatory and regulatory macrophages in autoimmune pathology and underlines the possible multifaceted functions of macrophages in lymphoid cell organization.
The surveillance of viral infections by the unconventional Type I NKT cell
Authors: Rajashekar Varshini , Stern Lauren , Almeida Catarina F. , Slobedman Barry , Abendroth Allison
Published: September 2024

Type I NKT cells, also known as Invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells, are a subpopulation of unconventional, innate-like T (ILT) cells which can proficiently influence downstream immune effector functions. Type I NKT cells express a semi-invariant αβ T cell receptor (TCR) that recognises lipid-based ligands specifically presented by the non-classical cluster of differentiation (CD1) protein d (CD1d) molecule. Due to their potent immunomodulatory functional capacity, type I NKT cells are being increasingly considered in prophylactic and therapeutic approaches towards various diseases, including as vaccine-adjuvants. As viruses do not encode lipid synthesis, it is surprising that many studies have shown that some viruses can directly impede type I NKT activation through downregulating CD1d expression. Therefore, in order to harness type I NKT cells for potential anti-viral therapeutic uses, it is critical that we fully appreciate how the CD1d-iNKT cell axis interacts with viral immunity. In this review, we examine clinical findings that underpin the importance of type I NKT cell function in viral infections. This review also explores how certain viruses employ immunoevasive mechanisms and directly encode functions to target CD1d expression and type I NKT cell function. Overall, we suggest that the CD1d-iNKT cell axis may hold greater gravity within viral infections than what was previously appreciated.
Bryde’s whales produce Biotwang calls, which occur seasonally in long-term acoustic recordings from the central and western North Pacific
Authors: Allen Ann N. , Harvey Matt , Harrell Lauren , Wood Megan , Szesciorka Angela R. , McCullough Jennifer L. K. , Oleson Erin M.
Published: September 2024

In 2014, a novel call was discovered in autonomous acoustic recordings from the Mariana Archipelago and designated a “Biotwang”. It was assumed to be produced by a baleen whale, but without visual verification it was impossible to assign a species. Using a combination of visual and acoustic survey data collected in the Mariana Archipelago, we determined that Biotwangs are produced by Bryde’s whales. Bryde’s whales occur worldwide in tropical and warm temperate waters, but their population structure and movements are not well understood. Genetic and morphological data recognize two populations in the western North Pacific (WNP), separate from those elsewhere in the Pacific. We used a combination of manual and machine learning annotation methods to detect Biotwangs in our extensive historical passive acoustic monitoring datasets collected across the central and western North Pacific. We identified a consistent seasonal presence of Biotwangs in the Mariana Archipelago and to the east at Wake Island, with occasional occurrence as far away as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and near the equator (Howland Island). The seasonal occurrence of Biotwangs is consistent with Bryde’s whales migrating between low and mid-latitudes, with a small peak in calling between February and April and a larger peak between August and November as the whales travel past the recording sites. Our results provide evidence for a pelagic WNP population of Bryde’s whales with broad distribution, but with seasonal and inter-annual variation in occurrence that imply a complex range most likely linked to changing oceanographic conditions in this region.
Performance assessment of sentinel-3/6 altimeter data for marine gravity recovery
Authors: Ma Aoyu , Chao Nengfang , Qin Pengbo , Hwang Cheinway , Zhu Chengcheng , Chen Gang , Wang Zhengtao , Wang Shuai
Published: September 2024

High-precision sea surface height is crucial for determining the marine gravity field. The Sentinel-3/6 altimetry missions, equipped with SRAL and Poseidon-4 altimeters, provide this essential data. However, there is a lack of comprehensive assessment of the Sentinel-3/6 altimeters for inverting marine gravity anomalies (MGA). In this study, we employ the inverse Venning-Meinsz method to derive nine sets of 1’×1’ MGAs in the South China Sea (SCS) and the Ross Sea (RS). Specifically, MGAs from Sentinel-3A, Sentinel-3B, Sentinel-6 SARM, Sentinel-6 LRM, HY-2A, ICESat-2, and CryoSat-2 are denoted as S3A, S3B, S6S, S6L, H2A, IS2, and CS2, respectively. MGA from the combined HY-2A, ICESat-2, and CryoSat-2 is referred to as HIC, while 3SHIC denotes the MGA from the combination of Sentinel-3/6 SARM, HY2A, ICESat-2, and CryoSat-2. We assess the performance of these MGAs using the EGM08, DTU17, SIO V32.1, and SDUST2021 gravity field models, as well as shipboard gravity across different ocean regions. Among the Sentinel-3/6 MGAs, S3B exhibits the highest accuracy in the SCS, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 5.277 mGal, followed closely by S3A. Conversely, S3A demonstrates the highest accuracy with an RMSE of 4.635 mGal, followed by S3B in the RS. The inversion accuracy of MGAs from S6S and S6L are comparable, though S6S outperforms S6L in the open sea. The performance of MGAs from Sentinel-3/6 matches or surpasses that of other altimetry missions during the same period. In the SCS, the best-performing MGA is 3SHIC, with an RMSE of 4.585 mGal, closely matching DTU17. However, 3SHIC exhibits superior performance in the RS with an RMSE of 4.263 mGal compared to DTU17 and SDUST 2021. Furthermore, the performance of 3SHIC, which integrates Sentinel-3/6 data, improves that of HIC by 0.74% and 3.37% in the SCS and RS, respectively. These results underscore the contribution of Sentinel-3/6 altimeters to the MGA, particularly in coastal and high-latitude regions. Integration of Sentinel-3/6 data with other altimetry satellites is expected to enhance the spatial resolution and accuracy of the global marine gravity field, especially with the successful establishment of the network of Sentinel-6 in the future.
Back to the past: long-term persistence of bull kelp forests in the Strait of Georgia, Salish Sea, Canada
Authors: Mora-Soto Alejandra , Schroeder Sarah , Gendall Lianna , Wachmann Alena , Narayan Gita , Read Silven , Pearsall Isobel , Rubidge Emily , Lessard Joanne , Martell Kathryn , Costa Maycira
Published: September 2024

The Salish Sea, a dynamic system of straits, fjords, and channels in southwestern British Columbia, is home to ecologically and culturally important bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) forests. Yet the long-term fluctuations in the area and the persistence of this pivotal coastal marine habitat are unknown. Using very high-resolution satellite imagery to map kelp forests over two decades, we present the spatial changes in kelp forest area within the Salish Sea, before (2002 to 2013) and after (2014 to 2022) the ‘Blob,’ an anomalously warm period in the Northeast Pacific. This analysis was spatially constrained by local environmental conditions. Based on nearshore sea surface temperatures (SSTs) from four decades (1984–2022), we found two periods of distinct increases in SST, one starting in 2000 and another in 2014. Further, the highest SST anomalies occurred on warmer coastlines in the enclosed inlets and the Strait of Georgia, while smaller anomalies were found on colder coastlines near the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Discovery Passage. The total area of bull kelp forests from 2014 to 2022 has decreased compared to 2002 to 2013, particularly in the northern sector of the Salish Sea. Using the satellite-derived kelp data, we also present an analysis of kelp persistence compared with historical distribution of kelp forests depicted on British Admiralty Nautical Charts from 1858 to 1956. This analysis shows that warm, sheltered areas experienced a considerable decrease in persistence of kelp beds when compared to satellite-derived distribution of modern kelp, confirming a century-scale loss. In particular, the presence of kelp forests in the Strait of Georgia and on the warmest coasts has decreased considerably over the century, likely due to warming temperatures. While the coldest coasts to the south have maintained their centennial persistence, the northern Salish Sea requires further research to understand its current dynamics. This research contributes to a wider understanding of temporal and spatial factors for kelp from the regional perspective of the Salish Sea.
The small incisions combined with interrupted buried suture blepharoplasty: flexible-rigid fixation
Authors: Cao Jingjing , Yan Lingling
Published: September 2024

Background

The traditional full incision blepharoplasty is the most commonly used in Asia. However, it has significant drawbacks like long recovery period, excessive surgical marks etc. We offer a new suture idea and combine it with interrupted suture buried blepharoplasty to improve these disadvantages.

Methods

In our procedure, the orbital septum is opened and separating the levator aponeurosis-the retro-orbital septum complex under this 3–5 millimeters small incision, a flexible-rigid fixation would be made: suture fixation was made to the tarsus-the complex-lower lip orbicularis oculi muscle. We interrupted bury the sutures in the uncut skin between the two small incisions.

Results

This paper included 333 patients divided into small incision groups using flexible-rigid fixation (n = 244, 73.3%) and full incision groups using rigid fixation (n = 89, 26.7%). Both at 6-month and at 5-year postoperative follow-up, the satisfaction of small incision group was statistically higher than the full incision group. The overall postoperative complication rate was statistically significantly less in the small incision. The permanence was not statistically different. For Assignment of Postoperative Effort Score (PES) results, at 6 months postoperatively, the mean score was 8.29 ± 1.32 in the small incision group, 7.86 ± 1.54 in the full incision group. At 5 years postoperatively, the mean score was 7.48 ± 1.45 in the small incision group, 7.51 ± 1.73 in the full incision group. None were statistically different.

Conclusion

The small incisions group achieves a higher level of patient satisfaction and more mild trauma in the surgical area, has a low complication rate, and a decent degree of durability.
Challenges and opportunities in transitional care process in Behçet’s syndrome
Authors: Di Cianni Federica , Mastrolia Maria Vincenza , Biancalana Edoardo , Marinello Diana , Emmi Giacomo , Mosca Marta , Simonini Gabriele , Talarico Rosaria
Published: September 2024

Behçet’s syndrome (BS) is a rare chronic multi-systemic inflammatory disorder that usually involves adults between third and fourth decades of life, while pediatric and juvenile onset are relatively rare. BS young patients (YP) often develop a full-blown disease late after onset, requiring careful diagnostic workup and regular follow-up while they grow up. In this regard, the purpose of transitional programs is to ensure continuous high-quality care to YP with chronic conditions, providing them with the skills necessary to become independent and empowered adults able to chronically self-manage their disease. EULAR/PReS released the first set of standards and recommendations for transitional care (TC) of YP with juvenile-onset rheumatic diseases, but the appropriate timing for transition, the tools to evaluate patients’ readiness, and indicators of transition plans effectiveness still need to be identified. Although little is known regarding TC in BS, it is easy to assume that BS YP will benefit from developmentally and disease-specifically appropriate transition plans, which may promote continuity of care, improve perceived quality of life and prevent poor disease outcomes. This perspective article discusses the key concepts and the goals of TC, addressing the potential challenges and opportunities of TC for YP with BS in clinical practice.
The development of a machine learning model to train junior ophthalmologists in diagnosing the pre-clinical keratoconus
Authors: Jiang Yang , Jiang Hanyu , Zhang Jing , Chen Tao , Li Ying , Zhou Yuehua , Chen Youxin , Li Fusheng
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a machine learning model (ML model) to train junior ophthalmologists in detecting preclinical keratoconus (PKC).

Methods

A total of 1,334 corneal topography images (The Pentacam HR system) from 413 keratoconus eyes, 32 PKC eyes and 222 normal eyes were collected. Five junior ophthalmologists were trained and annotated the images with or without the suggestions proposed by the ML model. The diagnostic performance of PKC was evaluated among three groups: junior ophthalmologist group (control group), ML model group and ML model-training junior ophthalmologist group (test group).

Results

The accuracy of the ML model between the eyes of patients with KC and NEs in all three clinics (99% accuracy, area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve AUC of 1.00, 99% sensitivity, 99% specificity) was higher than that for Belin-Ambrósio enhanced ectasia display total deviation (BAD-D) (86% accuracy, AUC of 0.97, 97% sensitivity, 69% specificity). The accuracy of the ML model between eyes with PKC and NEs in all three clinics (98% accuracy, AUC of 0.96, 98% sensitivity, 98% specificity) was higher than that of BAD-D (69% accuracy, AUC of 0.73, 67% sensitivity, 69% specificity). The diagnostic accuracy of PKC was 47.5% (95%CI, 0.5–71.6%), 100% (95%CI, 100–100%) and 94.4% (95%CI, 14.7–94.7%) in the control group, ML model group and test group. With the assistance of the proposed ML model, the diagnostic accuracy of junior ophthalmologists improved with statistical significance (p < 0.05). According to the questionnaire of all the junior ophthalmologists, the average score was 4 (total 5) regarding to the comprehensiveness that the AI model has been in their keratoconus diagnosis learning; the average score was 4.4 (total 5) regarding to the convenience that the AI model has been in their keratoconus diagnosis learning.

Conclusion

The proposed ML model provided a novel approach for the detection of PKC with high diagnostic accuracy and assisted to improve the performance of junior ophthalmologists, resulting especially in reducing the risk of missed diagnoses.
Genomic analysis and functional properties of Lactobacillus johnsonii GJ231 isolated from healthy beagles
Authors: Zhao Mengdi , Li Yueyao , Zhang Yuanyuan , Li Guangyu
Published: September 2024

Probiotics are one of the management tools to improve the host’s healthy microbiota. The positive effects of probiotics on host health are species-specific, so probiotics isolated from host’s own gut may be most beneficial. Many of the metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids, bacteriocins, and hydrogen peroxide) produced by Lactobacillus johnsonii have specific inhibitory profiles against invading pathogens. In this study, we isolated L. johnsonii GJ231 from the intestinal tract of healthy female beagles. The genome size of 1.763 M encoded a total of 1,691 predicted genes. Many carbohydrate-active enzymes responsible for carbohydrate degradation and the production of short-chain fatty acids were also predicted. The metabolic profile of short-chain fatty acids in L. johnsonii GJ231 was determined using LC–MS/MS. The bacteriocin-producing gene bacteriocin (lactacin F) in L. johnsonii GJ231 was also predicted. In vitro, experiments demonstrated that GJ231 can thrive in weak acids, 0.3% bile salts, and artificial gastrointestinal fluid models. It was tolerant of to high temperatures up to 70°C, was non- hemolytic, inhibited pathogenic bacteria, and had a high antioxidant capacity. In vivo safety experiments conducted in mice revealed that oral administration of GJ231 not only had no toxic side effect but also increased their antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, combining the above test results, which collectively demonstrate that canine-derived L. johnsonii GJ231 was a non-pathogenic, acid-tolerant and bile-salt-tolerant probiotic strain that inhibits pathogenic bacteria and improves host antioxidant function. This may make it a promising candidate for the development of innovative functional foods for pets.
Green manure (Ophiopogon japonicus) cover promotes tea plant growth by regulating soil carbon cycling
Authors: Shao Shuaibo , Li Zhongwei , Zhu Yanqi , Li Yi , Li Yuanping , Wu Linkun , Rensing Christopher , Cai Pumo , Wang Caihao , Zhang Jianmin , Li Qisong
Published: September 2024

Introduction

In mountainous tea plantations, which are the primary mode of tea cultivation in China, issues such as soil erosion and declining soil fertility are particularly severe. Although green manure cover is an effective agricultural measure for restoring soil fertility, its application in mountainous tea plantations has been relatively understudied.

Methods

This study investigated the effects of continuous green manure cover using the slope-protecting plant Ophiopogon japonicus on tea plant growth and soil microbial community structure. We implemented three treatments: 1 year of green manure coverage, 2 years of coverage, and a control, to study their effects on tea plant growth, soil physicochemical properties, and soil bacterial and fungal communities.

Results

Results demonstrate that green manure coverage significantly promote the growth of tea plants, enhanced organic matter and pH levels in soil, and various enzyme activities, including peroxidases and cellulases. Further functional prediction results indicate that green manure coverage markedly promoted several carbon cycling functions in soil microbes, including xylanolysis, cellulolysis, degradation of aromatic compounds, and saprotrophic processes. LEfSe analysis indicated that under green manure cover, the soil tends to enrich more beneficial microbial communities with degradation functions, such as Sphingomonas, Sinomonas, and Haliangium (bacteria), and Penicillium, Apiotrichum, and Talaromyce (fungi). In addition. Random forest and structural equation models indicated that carbon cycling, as a significant differentiating factor, has a significant promoting effect on tea plant growth.

Discussion

In the management practices of mountainous tea plantations, further utilizing slope-protecting plants as green manure can significantly influence the soil microbial community structure and function, enriching microbes involved in the degradation of organic matter and aromatic compounds, thereby positively impacting tea tree growth and soil nutrient levels.
Cognitive processing speed improvement after cochlear implantation
Authors: Mosnier Isabelle , Belmin Joël , Cuda Domenico , Manrique Huarte Raquel , Marx Mathieu , Ramos Macias Angel , Khnifes Riad , Hilly Ohad , Bovo Roberto , James Chris J. , Graham Petra L. , Greenham Paula
Published: September 2024

Background

Untreated hearing loss has an effect on cognition. It is hypothesized that the additional processing required to compensate for the sensory loss affects the cognitive resources available for other tasks and that this could be mitigated by a hearing device.

Methods

The impact on cognition of cochlear implants (CIs) was tested in 100 subjects, ≥60 years old, with bilateral moderately-severe to profound post linguistic deafness using hearing aids. Data was compared pre and 12 and 18 months after cochlear implantation for the speech spatial qualities questionnaire, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Trail making test B (TMTB) and digit symbol coding (DSC) from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale version IV and finally the timed up and go test (TUG). Subjects were divided into young old (60–64), middle old (65–75) and old old (75+) groups. Cognitive test scores and times were standardized according to available normative data.

Results

Hearing significantly improved pre- to post-operatively across all age groups. There was no change post-implant in outcomes for TMTB, TUG or MMSE tests. Age-corrected values were within normal expectations for all age groups for the TUG and MMSE. However, DSC scores and TMTB times were worse than normal. There was a significant increase in DSC scores between baseline and 12-months for 60- to 64-year-olds (t[153] = 2.608, p = 0.027), which remained at 18 months (t[153] = 2.663, p = 0.023).

Discussion

The improved attention and processing speed in the youngest age group may be a consequence of reallocation of cognitive resources away from auditory processing due to greatly improved hearing. The oldest age group of participants had cognition scores closest to normal values, suggesting that only the most able older seniors tend to come forward for a CI. Severe to profoundly deaf individuals with hearing aids or cochlear implants were still poorer than age-equivalent normally hearing individuals with respect to cognitive flexibility, attention, working memory, processing speed and visuoperceptual functions. Due to a lack of data for the TUG, TMTB and DSC in the literature for hearing impaired individuals, the results reported here provide an important set of reference data for use in future research.
Multistability of bursting rhythms in a half-center oscillator and the protective effects of synaptic inhibition
Authors: Ellingson Parker J. , Shams Yousif O. , Parker Jessica R. , Calabrese Ronald L. , Cymbalyuk Gennady S.
Published: September 2024

For animals to meet environmental challenges, the activity patterns of specialized oscillatory neural circuits, central pattern generators (CPGs), controlling rhythmic movements like breathing and locomotion, are adjusted by neuromodulation. As a representative example, the leech heartbeat is controlled by a CPG driven by two pairs of mutually inhibitory interneurons, heart interneuron (HN) half-center oscillators (HCO). Experiments and modeling indicate that neuromodulation of HCO navigates this CPG between dysfunctional regimes by employing a co-regulating inverted relation; reducing Na+/K+ pump current and increasing hyperpolarization-activated (h-) current. Simply reducing pump activity or increasing h-current leads to either seizure-like bursting or an asymmetric bursting dysfunctional regime, respectively. Here, we demonstrate through modeling that, alongside this coregulation path, a new bursting regime emerges. Both regimes fulfill the criteria for functional bursting activity. Although the cycle periods and burst durations of these patterns are roughly the same, the new one exhibits an intra-burst spike frequency that is twice as high as the other. This finding suggests that neuromodulation could introduce additional functional regimes with higher spike frequency, and thus more effective synaptic transmission to motor neurons. We found that this new regime co-exists with the original bursting. The HCO can be switched between them by a short pulse of excitatory or inhibitory conductance. In this domain of coexisting functional patterns, an isolated cell model exhibits only one regime, a severely dysfunctional plateau-containing, seizure-like activity. This aligns with widely reported notion that deficiency of inhibition can cause seizures and other dysfunctional neural activities. We show that along the coregulation path of neuromodulation, the high excitability of the single HNs induced by myomodulin is harnessed by mutually inhibitory synaptic interactions of the HCO into the functional bursting pattern.