bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical features and plasma metabolites analysis in Chinese obese children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Liu Xiaoxiao , Ma Shifeng , Li Jing , Song Mingkun , Li Yun , Qi Yingyi , Liu Fei , Fang Zhongze , Zheng Rongxiu
Published: February 2025

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and plasma metabolites of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Chinese obese children, and to develop machine learning-based NAFLD diagnostic models.

Methods

We recruited 222 obese children aged 4 to 17 years and divided them into an obese control group (OC) and an obese NAFLD group (ON) based on liver ultrasonography. Mass spectrometry metabolomic analysis was used to measure 106 metabolites in plasma. Binary logistic regression was used to identify NAFLD-related clinical variables. NAFLD-specific metabolites were illustrated via volcano plots, cluster heatmaps and metabolic network diagram. Additionally, we applied eight machine learning methods to construct three diagnostic models based on clinical variables, metabolites, and clinical variables combined with metabolites.

Results

By evaluating clinical variables and plasma metabolites, we identified 16 clinical variables and 14 plasma metabolites closely associated with NAFLD. We discovered that the level of 18:0-22:6 phosphatidylethanolamines was positively correlated with the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride-glucose index, and triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, whereas the level of glycocholic acid was positively correlated with with the levels of alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, insulin, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Additionally, we successfully developed three NAFLD diagnostic models that showed excellent diagnostic performance (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of 0.917, 0.954 and 0.957, respectively).

Conclusion

We identified 16 clinical variables and 14 plasma metabolites associated with NAFLD in obese Chinese children. Diagnostic models using these features showed excellent performance, indicating their potential for diagnosis.
Marrow adiposity content and composition are not associated with incident fragility fractures in post-menopausal women
Authors: Philippoteaux Cécile , Badr Sammy , Lombardo Daniela , Cailliau Emeline , Ruschke Stefan , Karampinos Dimitrios C , Cotten Anne , Paccou Julien
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Noninvasive measurement of bone marrow adipose tissue using MRI and proton density fat fraction (PDFF) may enhance clinical fractures prediction in postmenopausal women. This study aimed to assess the association between PDFF measurements and clinical fracture incidence.

Material and methods: A longitudinal study was conducted. Postmenopausal women with recent osteoporotic fractures (<12 months) and with osteoarthritis without fractures were included. Lumbar spine and proximal femur PDFFs were measured at baseline using water-fat imaging (WFI) and DXA scans. Clinical fractures were recorded during follow-up.

Results

Among 195 participants (mean age 67.4 ± 10.0 years, BMI 27.2 ± 5.9 kg/m²), the PDFF (WFI-based) was higher at the proximal femur (57.8 ± 9.6%), particularly at the femoral head (90.0 ± 4.9%), compared to the lumbar spine. Over a mean follow-up of 37.2 ± 11.6 months, seven participants died, 29 (14.9%) experienced incident clinical fractures, and one was lost to follow-up. The lack of an association between WFI-based PDFFs and the incidence of clinical fractures was demonstrated regardless of the region of measurement (HR= 0.95 [95% CI 0.67–1.35], p=0.77 at the lumbar spine, HR= 1.07 [95% CI 0.71–1.63], p=0.74 at the femoral neck). Stepwise regression analysis did not alter these findings, and the variable ‘recent osteoporotic fractures’ was found to be significantly associated with incident clinical fractures.

Conclusions

This study found no evidence of a relationship between PDFF and clinical fracture incidence in postmenopausal women. Further studies are necessary in larger cohorts and longer follow-up periods.
Lung Volume-Dependent Decrease in Projected Frontal Area Contributes to Reducing Active Drag in Front Crawl
Authors: Washino Sohei , Murai Akihiko , Mankyu Hirotoshi , Kanehisa Hiroaki , Yoshitake Yasuhide
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate whether a lung volume-dependent decrease in the projected frontal area (PFA) contributes to reducing active drag in the front crawl.

Methods

Twelve competitive male swimmers performed a 15 m front crawl at 1.20 m·s−1 while sustaining one of three lung volume levels: maximal inspiration (INSP), maximal expiration (EXP), or intermediate (MID). The three-dimensional positions of the reflective markers attached to the swimmers’ bodies were measured using an underwater motion-capture system. Based on the body shape obtained from the photogenic body scanner, an individual digital human model was created using model vertices color-coded into eight body segments. The time series of the volumetric swimming motion was reconstructed using the individual digital human model and motion capture data. The PFA of each body segment was calculated using image processing. The pressure drag index (PDI), defined as the value excluding the drag coefficient while simultaneously considering the PFA and horizontal velocity, was calculated for each body segment.

Results

There were significant interactions between lung volume and body segment on PFA and PDI (both p < 0.001). Specifically, the PFA and PDI of the head segment were smaller in INSP than in EXP (p ≤ 0.046); in addition, the PFA and PDI of the trunk and femur segments were smaller in INSP and MID than in EXP (p ≤ 0.003).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the decrease in PFA caused by the increase in lung volume directly contributes to reducing active drag.
The genome sequence of the Coppice Mining Bee, Andrena helvola (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Falk Steven , Monks Joseph ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: February 2025

We present a genome assembly from a female Andrena helvola (Coppice Mining Bee; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Andrenidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 442.47 megabases. Most of the assembly (91.93%) is scaffolded into 7 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.61 kilobases in length.
The genome sequence of an orbweaving spider, Gibbaranea gibbosa (Walckenaer, 1802)
Authors: Crowley Liam M. , Wilding Craig S ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: February 2025

We present a genome assembly from a specimen of Gibbaranea gibbosa (orbweaving spider; Arthropoda; Arachnida; Araneae; Araneidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 2,816.88 megabases. Most of the assembly (98.61%) is scaffolded into 13 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X1 and X2 sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 14.1 kilobases in length.
The genome sequence of the European mole, Talpa europaea Linnaeus, 1758
Authors: Pearce Nicola , O’Brien Michelle F. , Lopez Colom Rosa ,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: February 2025

We present a genome assembly from a female Talpa europaea (European mole; Chordata; Mammalia; Eulipotyphla; Talpidae). The assembly contains two haplotypes with total lengths of 2,060.98 megabases and 2,056.47 megabases. Most of haplotype 1 (98.6%) is scaffolded into 17 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. Haplotype 2 was assembled to scaffold level. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.93 kilobases in length.
Conservative treatment of older adult patients with shoulder
diseases: a narrative review
Authors: Kim Kook Jong , Jeong Ho-Seung
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive guide for managing older
adult patients with shoulder diseases, specifically rotator cuff tears and
osteoarthritis, and to explore effective nonsurgical treatment options. Chronic
rotator cuff tears are typically degenerative, whereas acute tears result from
trauma. A key feature of these tears is tendon degeneration accompanied by type
III collagen predominance, predisposing tears to progression. Osteoarthritis in
the glenohumeral joint arises from wear-and-tear changes that compromise
cartilage integrity, leading to pain and restricted motion. Accurate clinical
assessment and imaging, including plain radiographs, ultrasonography, and MRI,
facilitate diagnosis and guide treatment. The physic-al examination emphasizes
range of motion, rotator cuff strength, and scapular stability. Management
strategies prioritize pain relief, function preservation, and improving
mobility. Nonsurgical modalities, including exercise, manual therapy, and
activity modification, constitute first-line treatments, especially for older
adults. Pharmacological approaches involve NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections,
and neuropathic pain medications. Steroid injections have short-term benefits,
but repeated treatments may compromise tissue integrity. Platelet-rich plasma is
a regenerative option that may improve tendon healing, but mixed findings
highlight the need for further investigation. A structured physical therapy
program focusing on range of motion and strengthening is essential, with
alternative interventions used judiciously. Patients should be counseled
regarding the potential progression of tears and the possible need for future
surgical intervention if nonsurgical methods are unsuccessful. Multimodal
approaches, including joint mobilization and personalized exercise regimens,
hold potential for optimizing functional outcomes and supporting independence in
older adults.
Environmental disease monitoring by regional Environmental Health
Centers in Korea: a narrative review
Authors: Park Myung-Sook , Kim Hwan-Cheol , Kim Woo Jin , Hong Yun-Chul , Choi Won-Jun , Hwang Seock-Yeon , Lee Jiho , Hong Young-Seoub , Kim Yong-Dae , Hong Seong-Chul , Sung Joo Hyun , Jeong Inchul , Lee Kwan , Park Won-Ju , Bae Hyun-Joo , Yoon Seong-Yong , Lee Cheolmin , Jeong Kyoung Sook , Bae Sanghyuk , Choi Jinhee , Kim Ho-Hyun
Published: February 2025

This study explores the development, roles, and key initiatives of the Regional
Environmental Health Centers in Korea, detailing their evolution through four
distinct phases and their impact on environmental health policy and local
governance. It chronicles the establishment and transformation of these centers
from their inception in May 2007, through four developmental stages. Originally
named Environmental Disease Research Centers, they were subsequently renamed
Environmental Health Centers following legislative changes. The analysis
includes the expansion in the number of centers, the transfer of
responsibilities to local governments, and the launch of significant projects
such as the Korean Children’s Environmental Health Study (Ko-CHENS ).
During the initial phase (May 2007–February 2009), the 10 centers
concentrated on research-driven activities, shifting from a media-centered to a
receptor-centered approach. In the second phase, prompted by the enactment of
the Environmental Health Act, six additional centers were established,
broadening their scope to address national environmental health issues. The
third phase introduced Ko-CHENS, a 20-year national cohort project designed to
influence environmental health policy by integrating research findings into
policy frameworks. The fourth phase marked a decentralization of authority,
empowering local governments and redefining the centers' roles to focus
on regional environmental health challenges. The Regional Environmental Health
Centers have significantly evolved and now play a crucial role in addressing
local environmental health issues and supporting local government policies.
Their capacity to adapt and respond to region-specific challenges is essential
for the effective implementation of environmental health policies, reflecting
geographical, socioeconomic, and demographic differences.
Functional assessment of movements of men in the first period of adulthood who are engaged in health fitness
Authors: Grygus Igor , Dolishnyi Mykhailo
Published: February 2025

Actuality. Over the past decades, a body of scientific knowledge has been accumulated on the problem of studying the state of human motorics in mature age during the process of physical exercises. Data from numerous studies indicate that impaired posture of people in mature age, a decrease in the level of physical fitness is a relevant today problem.
Research objective is to determine the motor preparedness of men aged 26–31 years old who are engaged in health fitness using the Functional Movement Screen test system.
Research results. At the stage of the ascertaining experiment, it was planned to conduct a functional assessment of physical fitness and movements of men aged 26–28 years old (n=16) and 29–31 years old (n=17) involved in the experiment. It was found that in test 1 (“Deep Squat”), where a deep squat was performed, most men (87.87%) received high scores (2 or 3 points), which is a good result. When stepping over the barrier (“Hurdle Step” – test 2), a significant part (69.7%) experienced problems with balance and coordination and received only 1 point. None received 3 points, which indicates the need to improve these skills. When performing a lunge in test 3 (“In-Line Lung”), more than half (57.58%) of the participants received scores of 2 or 3 points, which indicates a satisfactory ability to perform such an exercise. Test 4 (“Shoulder Mobility”) on the mobility of the shoulder girdle was performed by half of the participants (45.45%) with 1 point, that is, they had problems with the mobility of the shoulder girdle. Almost half (45.45%) of the subjects performed the raising of straight leg (“Active Straight Leg Raise” – Test 5) with limited flexibility, but there was also a significant number (45.45%) who scored 2 points. When performing Test 6 (“Trunk Stability Push Up”), the majority of participants (81.82%) showed a high level of body strength and stability, receiving 2 or 3 points. Also, more than 80% of the participants demonstrated satisfactory or high rotational stability, receiving 2 or 3 points for Test 7 (“Rotary Stability”).
Conclusions. It was found that men aged 26-28 had better overall functional fitness compared to men aged 29-31. This is confirmed by higher average values of the overall functional assessment compared to men aged 29-31, as evidenced by a difference of 2.16 points (p<0.01).
¿Cómo se informan los venezolanos? Aproximación al panorama desinformativo en Venezuela
Authors: Cañizález Andrés , Torrealba Mariela
Published: February 2025

En este artículo, se brinda un contexto sobre la reconfiguración del sistema mediático en Venezuela. Además, se abordan la desinformación y las dinámicas informativas internas. Guiados por la pregunta de investigación ¿cómo se informan los venezolanos?, se aplican diversas encuestas y entrevistas semiestructuradas. Los autores aportan perspectivas no concluyentes por la propia naturaleza del fenómeno abordado, partiendo del resultado de un sondeo limitado a sectores populares de un Estado centrooccidental del país acerca de cómo los máspobres viven la desinformación y las dificultades para informarse. En la línea de responder el interrogante que da orientación a este texto, los autores comparten cuatro experiencias offline puestas en práctica desde una iniciativa de la sociedad civil venezolana. Dada la ausencia de literatura que aborde las consecuencias del reacomodo mediático en Venezuela y su impacto sobre el ejercicio periodístico, registrado bajo el gobierno de Nicolás Maduro, se presentan valoraciones parciales sobre estas experiencias informativas en las que confluyen entidades de la sociedad civil, periodistas y ciudadanía: 1) producción y distribución de papelógrafos que simulan la primera plana de un diario; 2) emisión de contenidos informativos mediante una red radial de estaciones de radio comunitaria afiliadas a la Iglesia católica; 3) envío masivo de sms con noticias a educadores y líderes sociales principalmente, desprovistos de celulares inteligentes; 4) emisiones simuladas del programa “Radio Comunal”, con participación de público en vivo desde distintas comunidades desfavorecidas, para difundir denuncias e interactuar con sus habitantes. Se cierra con una reflexión de estas experiencias que representan, si bien con limitado alcance geográfico, un intento de paliar la desinformación en sectores específicos de Venezuela, y son respuestas socialmente válidas en un entorno de desinformación generalizada.
Infrastructure Decision Preferences and the Influence of Social Justice Education
Authors: Van-Hein Sackey Charles , Cao Christine , Nock Destenie , Armanios Daniel , Davis Alex
Published: February 2025

Social justice considerations are critical in today’s engineering education. As an example, access to electricity will be crucial to the development of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by powering essential sectors and services that would yield economic growth and an improved quality of life. Because infrastructure investments are often allocated to urban areas, it is important for stakeholders to equally prioritize rural electrification in their efforts to achieve universal electrification. These stakeholders make decisions on allocating infrastructure investment based on their underlying values and preferences. It is therefore important to introduce and integrate ideas of fairness and social justice into the engineering curriculum. Our paper investigates the influence of social justice education on decision preferences among students tasked with planning electricity systems. We engaged graduate and undergraduate students in a discrete choice experiment to determine their preferences for equality. In our study, we find that an interactive social justice education module can be effective in increasing equality preferences among non–U.S.-citizen students by 22%. Among students with relatively low preferences for equality, we find that the education module was effective in increasing preference by 18% on average and up to 191%, which translated into more equitable resource allocation. As such, we show that an education intervention for stakeholders may be effective in improving equitable electrification in SSA. The preference elicitation and education module presented in this paper could be repurposed by instructors to include other contexts in their course content (e.g., money, water, housing, etc.) or to people wanting to educate decision makers about social justice.

History: This paper has been accepted for the INFORMS Transactions on Education Special Issue on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in OR/MS Classrooms.

Funding: This work was supported by the National Science Foundation [Grant 2121730].
Estimating Erratic Measurement Errors in Network-Wide Traffic Flow via Virtual Balance Sensors
Authors: Zheng Zhenjie , Wang Zhengli , Fu Hao , Ma Wei
Published: February 2025

Large-scale traffic flow data are collected by numerous sensors for managing and operating transport systems. However, various measurement errors exist in the sensor data and their distributions or structures are usually not known in the real world, which diminishes the reliability of the collected data and impairs the performance of smart mobility applications. Such irregular error is referred to as the erratic measurement error and has not been well investigated in existing studies. In this research, we propose to estimate the erratic measurement errors in networked traffic flow data. Different from existing studies that mainly focus on measurement errors with known distributions or structures, we allow the distributions and structures of measurement errors to be unknown except that measurement errors occur based on a Poisson process. By exploiting the flow balance law, we first introduce the concept of virtual balance sensors and develop a mixed integer nonlinear programming model to simultaneously estimate sensor error probabilities and recover traffic flow. Under suitable assumptions, the complex integrated problem can be equivalently viewed as an estimate-then-optimize problem: first, estimation using machine learning (ML) methods, and then optimization with mathematical programming. When the assumptions fail in more realistic scenarios, we further develop a smart estimate-then-optimize (SEO) framework that embeds the optimization model into ML training loops to solve the problem. Compared with the two-stage method, the SEO framework ensures that the optimization process can recognize and compensate for inaccurate estimations caused by ML methods, which can produce more reliable results. Finally, we conduct numerical experiments using both synthetic and real-world examples under various scenarios. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of our decomposition approach and the superiority of the SEO framework.

History: This paper has been accepted for the Transportation Science Special Issue on Machine Learning Methods for Urban Mobility.

Funding: The work described in this paper was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant Project No. 72288101, 72101012, 72301023] and a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China [Grant Project No. PolyU/15206322].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2023.0493 .
Production and Characterization of Bio-Briquettes Derived from Torrefied Cocoa Pod Husk and Durian Peel
Authors:   Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung 35365, Indonesia, Herlambang Aldillah ,   Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Jambi, Muaro Jambi 36361, Indonesia, Boangmanalu Imo Lolona ,   Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung 35365, Indonesia, Tursida Faiza ,   Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung 35365, Indonesia, Budiman Arief ,   Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia,   Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia, Kusuma Hersandy Dayu Kusuma ,   Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang 45363, Indonesia, Saputra Andri ,   Department of Rubber and Plastic Processing Technology, Politeknik ATK Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta 55187, Indonesia
Published: February 2025

The utilization of agricultural waste as a renewable energy source has gained significant attention in addressing environmental and energy challenges. The durian peel and cocoa pod husk as agriculture waste is widely found in Indonesia and could be used as bio-briquette sources. The purpose of this research is to produce and evaluate the physicochemical and energetic characteristics of briquette fuel derived from a blend of durian peel and cocoa pod husk. The process of preparing briquettes involved drying, torrefying, crushing, mixing with a binder, compacting, and finally drying the resulting briquettes. Proximate analysis, differential scanning calorimetry analysis, energetic analysis, and infrared spectroscopy analysis were used to characterize the briquettes that were formed. The study revealed that the bio-briquette produced from cocoa pod husk had a moisture content of 9.78%, ash content of 28.32%, volatile content of 29.41%, and fixed carbon of 32.49%. Conversely, the bio-briquette made from durian peel had a moisture content of 7.06%, ash content of 10.47%, volatile content of 34.94%, and fixed carbon of 47.53%. The calorific value of the durian peel bio-briquette exceeded that of the cocoa pod husk bio-briquette, measuring 6,448 cal/g and 4,872 cal/g, respectively. The combination of 45% durian peel and 45% cocoa pod husk increased the calorific value of the bio-briquette to 6,634 cal/g. The bio-briquettes produced in this study were found to be satisfactory for fuel energy. The economic analysis value according to the break-even point is reached or payback period (PP) within 3.46 years with an annual production capacity of 1,875,000 kg.
Understanding the characteristics of unpaid carers living in financial hardship: risks and vulnerabilities
Authors: Cartagena-Farias Javiera , Brimblecombe Nicola
Published: February 2025

Providing care for longer hours is associated with detrimental effects on carers’ employment and earnings. However, very little is known about carer financial hardship, especially from an intersectional perspective. This study makes use of the UK Household Longitudinal Study to investigate associations between providing care and poverty. Findings show that unpaid carers are more likely to face poverty than non-carers and that this gap has become wider over time. Employment and older age seem to be protective characteristics associated with a lower likelihood of poverty. These findings support the recognition of the many challenges faced by unpaid carers.
Continued T12 transmission and shared antibiotic resistance during 2018–2023 Vibrio cholerae outbreaks in Cameroon
Authors: Ngomtcho Sen Claudine Henriette , Akenji Blaise Mboringong , Ndip Roland , Azman Andrew S. , Tayimetha Yanick Carolle , Guenou Etienne , Engamba Sylvain , Okomo Marie Claire Assoumou , Lessler Justin , Wohl Shirlee
Published: February 2025

Seventh pandemic Vibrio cholerae was first identified in Cameroon in 1971, causing several sporadic disease clusters with few cases. More recent years have seen larger cholera outbreaks, but the mechanism behind these periodic outbreaks is poorly understood, and it is unclear the degree to which antibiotic resistant strains contribute to disease burden and spread. We used whole genome sequencing to characterize 13 V. cholerae isolates from the 2018–2019, 2020, and 2021–2023 cholera epidemics in Cameroon. All these isolates belonged to the T12 lineage, and most showed the same antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pattern regardless of year. This suggests that cholera outbreaks in Cameroon are, at least in part, a continuation of the outbreaks previously reported in 2018 and as far back as 2012. This finding has important implications for cholera management since it suggests the ongoing presence of pathogenic cholera even in years with few reported cases. Similarly, the AMR results suggest the need for new treatment approaches, as resistance to many common antibiotics was found even within our limited sample set. As such, whole genome sequencing should be implemented in low-income countries such as Cameroon to improve disease surveillance and to detect and predict pathogen antibiotic resistance profiles.
Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and Childhood Protective Factors (CPF) on physical and mental health of medical students of a public sector medical university
Authors: Ali Usman , Imran Nazish , Khan Muhammad Shaheryar
Published: February 2025

The current study aimed to assess the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and Childhood Protective Factors (CPF) on physical and mental health of medical students of a public sector medical university. An online cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out at a public sector medical university in Lahore, Pakistan from 1 June 2024 to 30 August 2024. The study tool consisted of sociodemographic questions, an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) questionnaire, and a Resilience Questionnaire for measuring childhood protective factors and self-reported physical and mental health in the last 4 weeks. Data was entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 26.0. A total of 368 medical students participated in the survey of which 125 (33.96%) were male and 243 (66.03%) were females. A higher Childhood Protective Factor (CPF) score significantly predicted good physical health (AOR 1.516, 95% CI 1.085–2.120, p <.01) and excellent physical health (AOR 1.61, 95% CI 1.151–2.263, p <.001). A higher ACE score significantly predicted fair mental health (AOR .767, 95% CI .624–.944, p <.05), good mental health (AOR .746, 95% CI .604–.922, p <.01), and excellent mental health (AOR .746, 95% CI .604–.922, p <.01). Our study shows that ACE was a significant predictor of self-reported mental health but not physical health. However, CPF was a significant predictor of physical and mental health.
Comparative analysis of adolescent pregnancy and delivery outcomes versus early adulthood pregnancy in the Asante Akim North District, Ghana
Authors: Owusu Selina Achiaa , Aloryito Edward Etse , Sotame Esther , Asiedu Benjamin
Published: February 2025

High rate of adolescent pregnancies in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) has become a major threat to the health and safety of young female adolescents. Despite the evidence of maternal of adolescent pregnancies globally, little is known, especially in low-income countries. This study assessed adolescent pregnancy and delivery outcomes compared to young adults and in the Asante Akim North District, Ghana. Quantitative study was conducted using secondary data on pregnancies and deliveries of teenagers in the Asante Akim North District from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2020 on 1st November 2021 to 1st December 2021. Health facilities and participants were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data was collected using a structured extraction form and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools with the help of STATA version 16 at a significant level of 0.05. A total of 3036 records (1144 adolescent records and 1892 early adult records) contributed to the study. Most of the adolescent participants (98.5%) were aged 15–19 years, and had attained primary education (48.9%). The proportion of adolescent pregnancies in the study setting is 13.35%. Adolescent pregnancies were associated with Postpartum Haemorrhage (P-value = 0.001), Uterine Tract Infections (P-value < 0.001), Genital Tract Sepsis (P-value < 0.001), Maternal death (P-value < 0.001) and anaemia in pregnancies (P-value = 0.036). The study found the proportion of adolescent pregnancies and deliveries to be high and therefore requires prompt and effective adolescent reproductive health education.
Integrating status-neutral and targeted HIV testing in Zimbabwe: A complementary strategy
Authors: D. Mugauri Hamufare , Mugurungi Owen , Chirenda Joconiah , Takarinda Kudakwashe , Mangwiro Prosper , Tshimanga Mufuta
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Zimbabwe exclusively implemented targeted HIV testing until 2022 when Status-neutral testing was embraced. Whilst targeted testing aims to expand access and uptake of testing among high-risk individuals, status-neutral testing emphasizes post-test linkage to prevention and treatment services. To address how the two concepts relate in practice, we explored how status-neutral and targeted testing concepts correlate, in developing a double-edged strategy for effective case identification and linkage to prevention and treatment.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study on 36 multi-stage sampled sites across 4/10 provinces of Zimbabwe. A national screening algorithm was used to determine patient risk profiling and eligibility for testing. Screened-out patients were offered HIVST. Both screened and non-screened patients were tested and analysed for positivity ratios and linkage to post-test services. Epicollect5 was used to collect data and analysed using EpiData software and Stata. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted at a 5% significance level.

Results

Of 23,058 HIV tests done, females constituted 55% (n = 12,698), whilst 63.5% (n = 14,650) were retested. Through screening, at-risk patients contributed 75.1% to the overall positivity (1,296/1,727), from 66% (n = 15,289) of the total HIV tests conducted. All screened-out patients were non-reactive on HIVST: 1,182/1,182. The 45–49-year category was 3.6 times more likely to test positive (a95%CI:2.67,4.90). Males were 3.09 times more likely to test positive in adjusted analysis (a95%CI: 2.74, 3.49). First tests were 65% more likely to test HIV positive (a95%CI: 1.43, 1.91) whilst screened patients were 3.89 times more likely to link to HIV prevention services (a95%CI: 3.05, 4.97), against 25.5% (n = 1,871) linkage among patients not screened.

Conclusion

The complementarity of the status-neutral and targeted testing approaches is evident from our results. By prioritizing high-risk individuals for testing and ensuring comprehensive linkage to both prevention and treatment services, these integrated strategies can effectively identify and manage people living with HIV. This combined approach optimizes resource use, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and contributes to improved health outcomes and reduced HIV transmission rates.
Gynura procumbens leaf extract-loaded self-microemulsifying drug delivery system offers enhanced protective effects in the hepatorenal organs of the experimental rats
Authors: Shill Manik Chandra , Jalal Md. Faisal Bin , Shuma Madhabi Lata , Mollick Patricia Prova , Muhit Md. Abdul , Halder Shimul
Published: February 2025

Gynura procumbens, known as longevity spinach, is a plant traditionally used in tropical Asian countries for its anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-hypertensive, and anti-hyperglycemic properties. The current study aimed to enhance the hepatorenal protective activity of Gynura procumbens leaf extract (GLE) by developing a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS). SMEDDS-GLE exhibited the formation of small micelles with a mean droplet size of 231 nm. This resulted in a significant enhancement in the dispersion of GLE in water, as evidenced by a dispersibility that was at least 4.8 times greater than that of GLE alone. In the rat model of hepatic injury induced by cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg, i.p.), the administration of SMEDDS-GLE (75 mg-GLE/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced liver damage, observed by histological examination and reduced levels of plasma biomarkers associated with hepatic injury. Furthermore, according to histological examination findings and plasma biomarkers assessment, SMEDDS-GLE enhanced the nephroprotective benefits of GLE in the rat model of acute kidney injury. Based on these findings, a strategic application of the SMEDDS-based approach could be a viable choice to enhance GLE’s nutraceutical properties.
Inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum growth in banana by silver nanoparticles: In vitro and in vivo assays
Authors: Mendoza Natalia Veronica , Yánez Paola , Magdama Freddy , Pacheco Ricardo , Vielma Joel , Vanegas María Eulalia , Bogdanchikova Nina , Pestryakov Alexey , Chong Pablo
Published: February 2025

Fusarium wilt is a devastating disease that affects banana crops worldwide. In Ecuador, bananas are one of the most important commodities and staple food. Nanoparticles are emerging as innovative solutions to control fungal diseases in plant protection. In this study, in vitro and in vivo assays were carried out to validate Fusarium oxysporum growth and disease inhibition. 96-well plates experiments were used to calculate the IC50 of three different silver nanoparticle formulations (Argovit-1220, Argovit-1221, and Argovit-C) against four Ecuadorian Fusarium strains race 1 (EC15-E-GM1, EC19-LR-GM3, EC35-G-GM6, EC40-M-GM2). More than 95% inhibition rate was obtained at 25 mg L−1 concentration. Fusarium wilt in vivo assay (greenhouse conditions) was carried out with Gros Michel plants, where better control was obtained by applying silver nanoparticles to the roots, reducing disease development by an average of 68%. This study shows that silver nanoparticles have a high antifungal potential for controlling the Fusarium wilt of bananas. To our knowledge, this is the first study to test the potential of AgNPs against Fusarium oxysporum race 1 in vitro and in vivo under greenhouse conditions.
Growth of Spirulina spp. at different temperatures and their impact on pigment production, oxidants and antioxidants profile
Authors: Rehman Maha , Shah Talha , Shabir Talha , Iqra  , Din Taj Ud , Chahar Mamata , Verma Rajni , Aulakh Damanjeet , Daud Muhammad , Naeem Rehan , Kinki Abdela Befa
Published: February 2025

The study investigated the effect of different temperatures on the growth, pigment production, oxidative stress markers, and antioxidant profile of Spirulina spp. The results showed that the maximum growth of Spirulina was observed at 20°C, while the chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid contents decreased at higher temperatures. Additionally, the concentration of oxidants such as MDA and H2O2 increased with temperature, while the concentration of antioxidants such as SOD, POD, and APX also increased with temperature. However, the optimal concentration of antioxidants varied with temperature, with the highest concentration of SOD and POD observed at 30°C and the highest concentration of CAT and APX observed at 20°C. Overall, the study suggests that the growth of Spirulina is temperature-dependent, with optimal growth observed at 20°C. Additionally, the study highlights the complex relationship between temperature and oxidative stress in Spirulina, with both oxidants and antioxidants increasing with temperature. However, the optimal concentration of antioxidants varies with temperature, indicating the need for further research to understand the mechanisms underlying these observations. The findings of this study have implications for the cultivation of Spirulina, particularly in regions where temperatures fluctuate significantly, and may also have implications for the use of Spirulina as a dietary supplement.
Delayed hepatic response and impaired cytokine dynamics in aged mice following burn injury: Implications for elderly patient care
Authors: Muro Israel , Qualman Andrea C. , Meza Monge Kenneth , Pratap Akshay , Kovacs Elizabeth J. , Idrovo Juan-Pablo
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Burn injuries in elderly patients result in higher morbidity and mortality compared to younger individuals. This study investigates age-related differences in inflammatory hepatic responses to burn injuries.

Method

Young (8–10 weeks) and aged (20-21 months) female C57BL/6 mice were subjected to a 15% total body surface area burn or sham injury. Serum and liver samples collected at 3, 6-, 9-, 12-, and 24-hours post-injury were analyzed for serum amyloid A (SAA) levels, SAA1 and SAA2 hepatic gene expression, serum cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10), and hepatic STAT3 activation.

Results

Aged mice showed a delayed and dysregulated response. In young mice, SAA levels rose significantly at 6 hours postburn (5.09 ±  0.2-fold), while in aged mice, SAA increased at 12 hours (39.1 ±  2.06-fold), p <  0.01. Hepatic expression of SAA1 and SAA2 also peaked early in young mice (8.357 ±  1.257-fold and 5.91 ±  0.664-fold at 3 hours) but was delayed until 12 hours in aged mice. Young mice demonstrated early IL-6 peaks at 3 hours (990 ±  83.2 pg/ml), while aged mice reached a delayed, higher IL-6 peak at 24 hours (3804 ±  1408 pg/ml, p <  0.05). Similar age-related delays occurred for IL-1β and TNF-α. Aged mice had significantly elevated IL-10 at 6 hours (993.9 ±  99.41 pg/ml vs. 67.69 ±  6.635 pg/ml in young, p <  0.001). STAT3 activation peaked at 3 hours in young mice (2.686 ±  0.226-fold) but was delayed until 24 hours in aged mice (0.5958 ±  0.0368-fold, p <  0.05).

Conclusions

This study identifies age-related variations in inflammatory markers and acute hepatic responses to burn injuries, with aged mice showing delayed and reduced inflammatory responses compared to younger counterparts. These findings underscore the importance of age-specific strategies in burn injury management to enhance outcomes for elderly burn patients.
Effectiveness of a school-based physical activity intervention on overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Pakistan
Authors: Tanveer Moazzam , Asghar Ejaz , Badicu Georgian , Batrakoulis Alexios , Tanveer Umar , Brand Serge , de Sousa Fernandes Matheus Santos , Ardigò Luca Paolo
Published: February 2025

Background

Childhood obesity poses a significant public health challenge, yet effective school-based physical activity (PA) interventions remain scarce, especially in Pakistan. There is a lack of data assessing the impact of such interventions on obesity and related health outcomes in Pakistani school children.

Methods

This study aimed to design and implement a school-based intervention targeting multiple levels of the socio-ecological model to increase physical activity and reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Pakistani youth. Conducted from October 2022 to January 2023 in Lahore, Pakistan, the 12-week, non-randomized controlled trial involved 1,200 students from eight schools, with four schools (n = 570) in the intervention group and four (n = 630) in the control group. Primary outcomes included changes in body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and the prevalence of overweight/obesity, measured through anthropometric assessments. Secondary outcomes involved alterations in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity duration. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, general linear mixed models, and repeated measures ANOVA were used for analysis.

Results

The intervention showed significant improvements across various socio-ecological levels. Intrapersonal factors saw a reduction in fast food consumption from 11.9% to 7.9% (F(1,1198) = 90.39, p < 0.001; η² = 0.074) and an increase in physical activity frequency from 11.9% to 39.6% (F(1,1198) = 465.25, p < 0.001; η² = 0.028). Screen time decreased from 27.0% to 7.4% (F(1,1198) = 219.83, p = 0.015; η² = 0.15), and normal sleep duration increased from 44.6% to 71.8% (F(1,1198) = 242.73, p < 0.001; η² = 0.16). At the interpersonal level, parental involvement in encouraging sports and providing financial support for sports activities significantly increased. School-level factors also showed positive changes, including improved sports facilities and equipment access. Community-level factors revealed increased opportunities for physical activity and a more supportive community environment. The intervention group’s BMI change (−0.06 ± 0.07 kg·m²) significantly differed from the control group’s (0.19 ± 0.09 kg·m²).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a multi-level intervention in boosting physical activity and addressing obesity among Pakistani school-aged children, supporting the implementation of similar school-based interventions.
The alteration of uterine microbiota participated in the activation of the decidual inflammatory response in early spontaneous abortion
Authors: Liu Ping , Chen Ge , Zhao Shitong , Kong Linglingli , Liao Xin , Cheng Meng
Published: February 2025

Background

Early spontaneous abortion (ESA) is one of the most common clinically recognized pregnancy complications. While multiple factors such as embryo abnormalities and maternal conditions may contribute to ESA, early identification and screening of maternal risk factors are increasingly important to explore the potential etiologies and improve prevention and treatment strategies for ESA. This study investigates the changes in uterine microbiota and the decidual immune response in ESA patients without embryo abnormalities.

Methods

ESA patients without embryo abnormality and artificial abortion (AA) controls were enrolled for clinical characteristics analysis. The decidual endometrium was subsequently collected for histological evaluation and inflammatory indicator detection. Moreover, 16S rRNA gene sequencing of uterine secretions was performed to investigate the differences in uterine microorganisms between the ESA and AA groups.

Results

Clinical analysis showed higher inflammatory response with elevated neutrophil counts in ESA patients. The increase in leukocytes, including neutrophils, was positively correlated with ESA. ESA patients presented significantly increased IL-1β expression in decidual stromal cells. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed greater diversity in the uterine microbiota of the ESA group, which presented decreased Lactobacillus abundance and increased abundance of other bacteria at the genus and species levels.

Conclusions

Changes in the uterine microbiome are likely related to inflammatory response and lead to early pregnancy loss.
Is MOOC really effective? Exploring the outcomes of MOOC adoption and its influencing factors in a higher educational institution in China
Authors: Huang Hao , Qi Dandan
Published: February 2025

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) has gained widespread adoption across diverse educational domains and plays a crucial role in advancing educational equality. Nevertheless, skepticism surrounds the effectiveness of MOOC due to their notably low completion rates. To explore the outcomes of MOOC adoption in higher education and improve its application efficiency, this study compares MOOC with traditional course in terms of mean score and pass rate. The study examines the factors influencing MOOC performance within the context of higher education, utilizing the method of Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). This study analyzed MOOC learning data from a college over a period of six years and a total of 4,282 Chinese college students participated in this study. The factor of learning environment was proposed for the first time, and it was proved to have a significant impact on learning behavior and MOOC performance in higher education. The results reveal that 1) MOOC has a lower pass rate than traditional course (including both compulsory and selective course); 2) MOOC has a lower mean score than selective course only; 3) we did not find a significant difference between MOOC and compulsory course in terms of the mean score; 4) Learning behavior, learning motivation, perceived value, learning environment, previous experience and self-regulation have significant and positive influences on MOOC performance in higher education. The study provides valuable insights that college administrators should pay attention to students’ learning environment, learning motivation and other factors while actively introducing MOOC.