bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is there any association between undesired children and health status of under-five children? Analysis of a nationally representative sample from Bangladesh
Authors: Alam Md. Zakiul , Islam Md. Syful
Published: July 2022

Background

Child health, especially childhood mortality, is one of the critical indicators of human development. No child mortality is desirable, but it is still high in Bangladesh. We aimed to assess the effect of the child's desired status on childhood morbidity and mortality in Bangladesh.

Methods

We used the data from the nationally representative cross-sectional Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2017–18 and restricted the analyses to children born in the past five years preceding the survey. We estimated the undesired status (excess in boy, girl, both, and parity) by subtracting an ideal number of children from the total live birth. We measured childhood mortality (perinatal, early neonatal, neonatal, post-neonatal, infant, child, and under-five mortality), morbidity (fever, diarrhea, cough, and acute respiratory infectious-ARI), nutritional problems (stunting, wasting, underweight, and low birth weight), and treatments (postnatal care, treatment for fever, diarrhea/cough, and vitamin A supplementation). Finally, we utilized the chi-square test and multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analyses.

Results

The prevalence of undesired children was 19.2%, 21.5%, 3.7%, and 25.4% for boys, girls, both boys and girls, and parity, respectively. Age, education, residence, division, and wealth index were significantly associated with undesired children. The prevalence of under-five mortality was 3.3% among desired children, almost double (5.4%) among undesired children. The likelihood of under-five mortality was [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.05, p ≤ 0.001] higher among undesired children. Despite lower under-five mortality among higher socioeconomic status, the relative contribution of undesired children to under-fiver mortality was substantial. The undesired girl children were associated with an increased likelihood of moderately wasting (aOR: 1.28, p = 0.072), severely underweight (aOR: 1.41, p = 0.066), and low birth weight (aOR: 1.50, p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, the undesired children were 19% (p ≤ 0.05) more likely to be infected with fever. The undesired children had lower treatment for diarrhea and fever/cough and were less likely to get vitamin A supplementation (aOR: 0.71, p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusions

The share of childhood morbidity, mortality, and malnutrition were higher among undesired children. Every child should be wanted, and no unwanted pregnancies are desirable; thereby, the government should reemphasize the proper use of family planning methods to reduce child mortality and malnutrition.
The superposition effects of air pollution on government health expenditure in China— spatial evidence from GeoDetector
Authors: Xia Qi , Zhang Xiyu , Hu Yanmin , Tian Wanxin , Miao Wenqing , Wu Bing , Lai Yongqiang , Meng Jia , Fan Zhixin , Zhang Chenxi , Xin Ling , Miao Jingying , Wu Qunhong , Jiao Mingli , Shan Linghan , Wang Nianshi , Shi Baoguo , Li Ye
Published: July 2022

Background

As the fifth-largest global mortality risk factor, air pollution has caused nearly one-tenth of the world’s deaths, with a death toll of 5 million. 21% of China’s disease burden was related to environmental pollution, which is 8% higher than the US. Air pollution will increase the demand and utilisation of Chinese residents’ health services, thereby placing a greater economic burden on the government. This study reveals the spatial impact of socioeconomic, health, policy and population factors combined with environmental factors on government health expenditure.

Methods

Spearman’s correlation coefficient and GeoDetector were used to identify the determinants of government health expenditure. The GeoDetector consist of four detectors: factor detection, interaction detection, risk detection, and ecological detection. One hundred sixty-nine prefecture-level cities in China are studied. The data sources are the 2017 data from China’s Economic and Social Big Data Research Platform and WorldPOP gridded population datasets.

Results

It is found that industrial sulfur dioxide attributed to government health expenditure, whose q value (explanatory power of X to Y) is 0.5283. The interaction between air pollution factors and other factors will increase the impact on government health expenditure, the interaction value (explanatory power of × 1∩× 2 to Y) of GDP and industrial sulfur dioxide the largest, whose values is 0.9593. There are 96 simple high-risk areas in these 169 areas, but there are still high-risk areas affected by multiple factors.

Conclusion

First, multiple factors influence the spatial heterogeneity of government health expenditure. Second, health and socio-economic factors are still the dominant factors leading to increased government health expenditure. Third, air pollution does have an important impact on government health expenditure. As a catalytic factor, combining with other factors, it will strengthen their impact on government health expenditure. Finally, an integrated approach should be adopted to synergisticly governance the high-risk areas with multi-risk factors.
The pedagogical value of near-peer feedback in online OSCEs
Authors: Sader Julia , Cerutti Bernard , Meynard Louise , Geoffroy Frédéric , Meister Véronique , Paignon Adeline , Junod Perron Noëlle
Published: July 2022

Purpose of the article

During the Covid-19 pandemic, formative OSCE were transformed into online OSCE, and senior students (near peers) substituted experienced clinical teachers. The aims of the study were to evaluate quality of the feedbacks given by near peers during online OSCEs and explore the experience of near-peer feedback from both learner’s and near peer’s perspectives.

Materials and methods

All 2nd year medical students (n = 158) attended an online OSCE under the supervision of twelve senior medical students. Outcome measures were 1) students’ perception of the quality of the feedback through an online survey (Likert 1–5); 2) objective assessment of the quality of the feedback focusing on both the process and the content using a feedback scale (Likert 1–5); 3) experience of near peer feedback in two different focus groups.

Results

One hundred six medical students answered the questionnaire and had their feedback session videotaped. The mean perceived overall quality of senior students’ overall feedback was 4.75 SD 0.52. They especially valued self-evaluation (mean 4.80 SD 0.67), balanced feedback (mean 4.93 SD 0.29) and provision of simulated patient’s feedback (mean 4.97 SD 0.17). The overall objective assessment of the feedback quality was 3.73 SD 0.38: highly scored skills were subjectivity (mean 3.95 SD 1.12) and taking into account student’s self-evaluation (mean 3.71 (SD 0.87). Senior students mainly addressed history taking issues (mean items 3.53 SD 2.37) and communication skills (mean items 4.89 SD 2.43) during feedback. Participants reported that near peer feedback was less stressful and more tailored to learning needs– challenges for senior students included to remain objective and to provide negative feedback.

Conclusion

Increased involvement of near peers in teaching activities is strongly supported for formative OSCE and should be implemented in parallel even if experience teachers are again involved in such teaching activities. However, it requires training not only on feedback skills but also on the specific content of the formative OSCE.
Adapting user-centered design principles to improve communication of peer parent narratives on pediatric tracheostomy
Authors: Yan Haoyang , Kukora Stephanie K. , Pituch Kenneth , Deldin Patricia J. , Arslanian-Engoren Cynthia , Zikmund-Fisher Brian J.
Published: July 2022

Background

Parents who have to make tracheostomy decisions for their critically ill child may face forecasting errors and wish to learn from peer parents. We sought to develop an intervention with peer parent narratives to help parents anticipate and prepare for future challenges before making a decision.

Methods

To ensure that the intervention reflects parents’ needs (rather than experts’ opinions), we adapted a user-centered design (UCD) process to identify decision-critical information and refine the presentation format by interviewing parents who had tracheostomy decision making experience. Phase 1 (n = 10) presented 15 possible forecasting errors and asked participants to prioritize and justify the problematic ones. It also asked participants to comment on the draft narratives and preferred delivery mode and time of the intervention. Phase 2 (n = 9 additional parents and 1 previous parent) iteratively collected feedback over four waves of user interviews to guide revisions to the informational booklet.

Results

Phase 1 revealed that parents wanted information to address all forecasting errors as soon as tracheostomy becomes an option. They also highlighted diverse family situations and the importance of offering management strategies. The resulting prototype booklet contained five sections: introduction, child’s quality of life, home care, practical challenges, and resources. Feedback from Phase 2 focused on emphasizing individualized situations, personal choice, seriousness of the decision, and caregiver health as well as presenting concrete illustrations of future challenges with acknowledgement of positive outcomes and advice. We also learned that parents preferred to use the booklet with support from the care team rather than read it alone.

Conclusions

A UCD process enabled inclusion of parental perspectives that were initially overlooked and tailoring of the intervention to meet parental expectations. Similar UCD-based approaches may be valuable in the design of other types of patient communications (e.g., decision aids).
Effects of a compassion-based program on the grief experienced by caregivers of people suffering from dementia: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Jahani Leila , Abolhassani Shahla , Babaee Sima , Omranifard Victoria
Published: July 2022

Background

Dementia is a syndrome that reduces the cognitive and functional abilities of the brain increasing the need for care. The caregivers of these patients are mostly their family members. The great care burden causes devastating effects on the health of family caregivers and the grief experienced by these family caregivers is considerable. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a compassion-based program on the grief experienced by caregivers of people suffering from dementia.

Method

The present study was a randomized controlled clinical trial in which 70 family caregivers of people suffering from dementia were sampled through the block method and they were divided into experimental and control groups. The data collection tools included demographic information questionnaire and grief inventory that was completed before, a week and a month after the implementation of the compassion-based program in five sessions virtually by sending offline content to the experimental group. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS 22 software using the repeated measures analysis of variance.

Results

The mean comparison of scores of the grief experienced in the experimental group between pretest and posttest and follow-up, unlike the control group, showed a significant difference (p < 0.001). The mean scores of the experimental and the control groups were significantly different in terms of experiencing mourning and all of its fields (p < 0.001). The mean comparison of post-test and follow-up showed that the effect of a compassion-based program at the follow-up stage has been mitigated.

Conclusions

According to the study results, the compassion-based program reduced the grief experienced by the family caregivers of people suffering from dementia. Nevertheless, the effect of a compassion-based program has been reduced over time. This program can be a good guide for providing society-oriented services to the health team.

Trial registration

This study is registered by Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with decree code:IRCT20190712044181N4 on 02/06/2020.
Effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors on blood pressure in patients with heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Min , Yi Tieci , Fan Fangfang , Qiu Lin , Wang Zhi , Weng Haoyu , Ma Wei , Zhang Yan , Huo Yong
Published: July 2022

Background

Recent studies have shown that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) can achieve significant improvement in blood pressure in people with diabetes. Furthermore, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have established that SGLT2i have a cardioprotective effect in adults with heart failure (HF). Therefore, we performed this systematic review an meta-analysis to determine the effect of SGLT2i on blood pressure in patients with HF.

Methods

We used the Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed databases to identify RCTs (published through to April 29, 2022) that evaluated the effect of SGLT2i on HF. The primary endpoint was defined as change in blood pressure. Secondary composite outcomes were heart rate, hematocrit, body weight, and glycated hemoglobin. The N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire scores, and estimated glomerular filtration rate were also evaluated.

Results

After a literature search and detailed evaluation, 16 RCTs were included in the quantitative analysis. Pooled analyses showed that SGLT2i were associated with a statistically significant reduction in systolic blood pressure of 1.68 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI] − 2.7, − 0.66; P = 0.001; I2 = 45%) but not diastolic blood pressure (mean difference [MD] −1.06 mmHg; 95% CI −3.20, 1.08; P = 0.33; I2 = 43%) in comparison with controls. Furthermore, SGLT2i decreased body weight (MD − 1.36 kg, 95% CI − 1.68, − 1.03; P < 0.001; I2 = 61%) and the glycated hemoglobin level (MD − 0.16%, 95% CI − 0.28, −0.04, P = 0.007; I2 = 91%) but increased hematocrit (MD 1.63%, 95% CI 0.63, 2.62, P = 0.001; I2 = 100%). There was no significant between-group difference in heart rate (MD − 0.35; 95% CI − 2.05, 1.35, P = 0.69; I2 = 0).

Conclusions

SGLT2i decreased systolic blood pressure in patients with HF but had no effect on diastolic blood pressure. These inhibitors may have numerous potentially beneficial clinical effects in patients with HF.
Deletion of NTH1 and HSP12 increases the freeze–thaw resistance of baker’s yeast in bread dough
Authors: Chen Bo-Chou , Lin Huan-Yu
Published: July 2022

Background

The intracellular molecule trehalose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae may have a major protective function under extreme environmental conditions. NTH1 is one gene which expresses trehalase to degrade trehalose. Small heat shock protein 12 (HSP12 expressed) plays a role in protecting membranes and enhancing freezing stress tolerance.

Results

An optimized S. cerevisiae CRISPR-Cpf1 genome-editing system was constructed. Multiplex genome editing using a single crRNA array was shown to be functional. NTH1 or/and HSP12 knockout in S. cerevisiae enhanced the freezing stress tolerance and improved the leavening ability after freezing and thawing.

Conclusions

Deleting NTH1 in the combination with deleting HSP12 would strengthen the freezing tolerance and protect the cell viability from high rates of death in longer-term freezing. It provides valuable insights for breeding novel S. cerevisiae strains for the baking industry through a more precise, speedy, and economic genome-editing system.
CDC6 is a prognostic biomarker and correlated with immune infiltrates in glioma
Authors: Wang Feng , Zhao Fen , Zhang Li , Xiong Lai , Mao Qing , Liu Yanhui , Qiu Xiaoguang , Wang Xiang , Shui Lin , Chen Xi , Ren Kexing , Shui Pixian , Zhang Qiongwen , Deng Yifei , Li Weimin , Xie Xiaoqi , Wu Dengbin , Li Tao , Lang Jinyi , Liu Lei , Chen Huaying , Xu Jianguo , Bai Sen , Li Zhiping , Yue Qiang , Chen Ni , Zhou Bingwen , Yi Cheng , Wei Yuquan , Fu Yuchuan , Luo Yong , Gou Qiheng , Liu Lunxu , Liu Yuanzhao , Kang Jingbo , Wang Junjie , Jing Dongcun , Zhang Fuquan , Yang Xiaoyan , Li Xianfeng , Jiang Tao , Zhang Zongcun , Zhou Yizhi , Yi Junlin
Published: July 2022

Background

Cell division cycle 6 (CDC6) has been proven to be associated with the initiation and progression of human multiple tumors. However, it’s role in glioma, which is ranked as one of the common primary malignant tumor in the central nervous system and is associated with high morbidity and mortality, is unclear.

Methods

In this study, we explored CDC6 gene expression level in pan-cancer. Furthermore, we focused on the relationships between CDC6 expression, its prognostic value, potential biological functions, and immune infiltrates in glioma patients. We also performed vitro experiments to assess the effect of CDC6 expression on proliferative, apoptotic, migrant and invasive abilities of glioma cells.

Results

As a result, CDC6 expression was upregulated in multiple types of cancer, including glioma. Moreover, high expression of CDC6 was significantly associated with age, IDH status, 1p/19q codeletion status, WHO grade and histological type in glioma (allp < 0.05). Meanwhile, high CDC6 expression was associated with poor overall survival (OS) in glioma patients, especially in different clinical subgroups. Furthermore, a univariate Cox analysis showed that high CDC6 expression was correlated with poor OS in glioma patients. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that CDC6 was mainly involved in pathways related to DNA transcription and cytokine activity, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) revealed that MAPK pathway, P53 pathway and NF-κB pathway in cancer were differentially enriched in glioma patients with high CDC6 expression. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) showed CDC6 expression in glioma was positively correlated with Th2 cells, Macrophages and Eosinophils, and negative correlations with plasmacytoid dendritic cells, CD8 T cells and NK CD56bright cells, suggesting its role in regulating tumor immunity. Finally, CCK8 assay, flow cytometry and transwell assays showed that silencing CDC6 could significantly inhibit proliferation, migration, invasion, and promoted apoptosis of U87 cells and U251 cells (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In conclusion, high CDC6 expression may serve as a promising biomarker for prognosis and correlated with immune infiltrates, presenting to be a potential immune therapy target in glioma.
Effects of different potassium-lowering regimens on acute hyperkalemia in hemodialysis patients: a real-world, retrospective study
Authors: Yao Lan , Xing Xiaoyang , Li Yubao , Zhang Fangxing , Li Ping , Liang Xianhui , Wang Pei
Published: July 2022

Background

Hyperkalemia is a common and potentially life-threatening electrolyte disorder in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of potassium-lowering regimens during treatment of acute hyperkalemia in MHD patients.

Methods

This retrospective real-world study (RWS) was conducted among 139 MHD patients. They were given different potassium-lowering regimens, viz. the insulin and glucose (IG) intravenous administration group (IG, 46 patients), the sodium polystyrene sulfonate group (SPS, 33 patients), the sodium zirconium cyclosilicate group (SZC, 38 patients), the IG + SZC group (22 patients). The primary efficacy end point was the rate of serum potassium decline at 2 h. The rates of adverse events were also compared.

Results

At 2 h, the mean ± SE change of serum potassium level was − 0.71 ± 0.32 mmol per liter (mmol/L) in IG group, − 0.43 ± 0.38 mmol/L in SPS group, − 0.64 ± 0.36 mmol/L in SZC group, − 1.43 ± 0.38 mmol/L in IG + SZC group (P < 0.01). The serum potassium level in IG + SZC group decreased more than that in the other three groups (P < 0.01), while the serum potassium level in SPS group decreased less than that in the other three groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference on the decrease of the serum potassium level between IG group and the SZC group (P = 0.374). The IG group and the IG + SZC group had higher rates of symptomatic hypoglycemia. The SPS group had significant decreases of serum calcium and serum magnesium after treatment.

Conclusions

Among MHD patients with acute hyperkalemia, SZC had similar potassium-lowering efficacy with IG intravenous administration at 2 h and superior on convenience and side-effects.
Aged microglia promote peripheral T cell infiltration by reprogramming the microenvironment of neurogenic niches
Authors: Zhang Xiaotao , Wang Rui , Chen Haoran , Jin Chenghao , Jin Ziyang , Lu Jianan , Xu Liang , Lu Yunrong , Zhang Jianmin , Shi Ligen
Published: July 2022

Background

The immune cell compartment of the mammalian brain changes dramatically and peripheral T cells infiltrate the brain parenchyma during normal aging. However, the mechanisms underlying age-related T cell infiltration in the central nervous system remain unclear.

Results

Chronic inflammation and peripheral T cell infiltration were observed in the subventricular zone of aged mice. Cell-cell interaction analysis revealed that aged microglia released CCL3 to recruit peripheral CD8+ memory T cells. Moreover, the aged microglia shifted towards a pro-inflammation state and released TNF-α to upregulate the expression of VCAM1 and ICAM1 in brain venous endothelial cells, which promoted the transendothelial migration of peripheral T cells. In vitro experiment reveals that human microglia would also transit to a chemotactic phenotype when treated with CSF from the elderly.

Conclusions

Our research demonstrated that microglia play an important role in the aging process of brain by shifting towards a pro-inflammation and chemotactic state. Aged microglia promote T cell infiltration by releasing chemokines and upregulating adhesion molecules on venous brain endothelial cells.
Issues and recommendations for the residual approach to quantifying cognitive resilience and reserve
Authors: Elman Jeremy A. , Vogel Jacob W. , Bocancea Diana I. , Ossenkoppele Rik , van Loenhoud Anna C. , Tu Xin M. , Kremen William S. ,   the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: July 2022

Background

Cognitive reserve and resilience are terms used to explain interindividual variability in maintenance of cognitive health in response to adverse factors, such as brain pathology in the context of aging or neurodegenerative disorders. There is substantial interest in identifying tractable substrates of resilience to potentially leverage this phenomenon into intervention strategies. One way of operationalizing cognitive resilience that has gained popularity is the residual method: regressing cognition on an adverse factor and using the residual as a measure of resilience. This method is attractive because it provides a statistical approach that is an intuitive match to the reserve/resilience conceptual framework. However, due to statistical properties of the regression equation, the residual approach has qualities that complicate its interpretation as an index of resilience and make it statistically inappropriate in certain circumstances.

Methods and results

We describe statistical properties of the regression equation to illustrate why the residual is highly correlated with the cognitive score from which it was derived. Using both simulations and real data, we model common applications of the approach by creating a residual score (global cognition residualized for hippocampal volume) in individuals along the AD spectrum. We demonstrate that in most real-life scenarios, the residual measure of cognitive resilience is highly correlated with cognition, and the degree of this correlation depends on the initial relationship between the adverse factor and cognition. Subsequently, any association between this resilience metric and an external variable may actually be driven by cognition, rather than by an operationalized measure of resilience. We then assess several strategies proposed as potential solutions to this problem, such as including both the residual and original cognitive measure in a model. However, we conclude these solutions may be insufficient, and we instead recommend against “pre-regression” strategies altogether in favor of using statistical moderation (e.g., interactions) to quantify resilience.

Conclusions

Caution should be taken in the use and interpretation of the residual-based method of cognitive resilience. Rather than identifying resilient individuals, we encourage building more complete models of cognition to better identify the specific adverse and protective factors that influence cognitive decline.
RNA modification-related variants in genomic loci associated with body mass index
Authors: Wu Jingyun , Wang Mimi , Han Limin , Zhang Huan , Lei Shufeng , Zhang Yonghong , Mo Xingbo
Published: July 2022

Background

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified hundreds of loci for body mass index (BMI), but functional variants in these loci are less known. The purpose of this study was to identify RNA modification-related SNPs (RNAm-SNPs) for BMI in GWAS loci. BMI-associated RNAm-SNPs were identified in a GWAS of approximately 700,000 individuals. Gene expression and circulating protein levels affected by the RNAm-SNPs were identified by QTL analyses. Mendelian randomization (MR) methods were applied to test whether the gene expression and protein levels were associated with BMI.

Results

A total of 78 RNAm-SNPs associated with BMI (P < 5.0 × 10–8) were identified, including 65 m6A-, 10 m1A-, 3 m7G- and 1 A-to-I-related SNPs. Two functional loss, high confidence level m6A-SNPs, rs6713978 (P = 6.4 × 10–60) and rs13410999 (P = 8.2 × 10–59), in the intron of ADCY3 were the top significant SNPs. These two RNAm-SNPs were associated with ADCY3 gene expression in adipose tissues, whole blood cells, the tibial nerve, the tibial artery and lymphocytes, and the expression levels in these tissues were associated with BMI. Proteins enriched in specific KEGG pathways, such as natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity, the Rap1 signaling pathway and the Ras signaling pathway, were affected by the RNAm-SNPs, and circulating levels of some of these proteins (ADH1B, DOCK9, MICB, PRDM1, STOM, TMPRSS11D and TXNDC12) were associated with BMI in MR analyses.

Conclusions

Our study identified RNAm-SNPs in BMI-related genomic loci and suggested that RNA modification may affect BMI by affecting the expression levels of corresponding genes and proteins.
Evidence of cerebellar TDP-43 loss of function in FTLD-TDP
Authors: Pickles Sarah , Gendron Tania F. , Koike Yuka , Yue Mei , Song Yuping , Kachergus Jennifer M. , Shi J. , DeTure Michael , Thompson E. Aubrey , Oskarsson Björn , Graff-Radford Neill R. , Boeve Bradley F. , Petersen Ronald C. , Wszolek Zbigniew K. , Josephs Keith A. , Dickson Dennis W. , Petrucelli Leonard , Cook Casey N. , Prudencio Mercedes
Published: July 2022

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 pathology (FTLD-TDP) is a neurodegenerative disease primarily affecting the frontal and/or temporal cortices. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that the cerebellum contributes to biochemical, cognitive, and behavioral changes in FTLD-TDP. To evaluate cerebellar TDP-43 expression and function in FTLD-TDP, we analyzed TDP-43 protein levels and the splicing of a TDP-43 target, STMN2, in the cerebellum of 95 FTLD-TDP cases and 25 non-neurological disease controls. Soluble TDP-43 was decreased in the cerebellum of FTLD-TDP cases but a concomitant increase in insoluble TDP-43 was not seen. Truncated STMN2 transcripts, an indicator of TDP-43 dysfunction, were elevated in the cerebellum of FTLD-TDP cases and inversely associated with TDP-43 levels. Additionally, lower cerebellar TDP-43 associated with a younger age at disease onset. We provide evidence of TDP-43 loss of function in the cerebellum in FTLD-TDP, supporting further investigation into this understudied brain region.
Spatial heterogeneity analysis and source identification of heavy metals in soil: a case study of Chongqing, Southwest China
Authors: Chen Wende , Cai Yankun , Zhu Kun , Wei Jun , Lu Yutian
Published: July 2022

Background

Heavy metal pollution in urban soil is an important indicator of environmental pollution. Selecting the best interpolation method can accurately reflect the distribution characteristics of heavy metals in soil. In addition, source analysis can reveal heavy metal pollution of soil and help manage and protect the soil environment. This study used a uniform sampling method and obtained a total of 342 sampling points. After acid reduction, the concentration of As, Cu, and Mn in each sample was determined by ICP-MS (Agilent VISTA, USA). The accuracy and results of different spatial interpolation methods were compared and the CATREG model was used to identify the sources of heavy metal pollution.

Results

The average concentration of As, Cu, and Mn were 5.802 mg kg −1, 23.992 mg kg−1, and 573.316 mg kg−1, respectively, lower than the soil background value of Chongqing. Compared to other Chinese cities and countries in the world, the concentration of As and Cu was lower in Chongqing, while the concentration of only Mn was higher. The interpolation results of inverse distance weighting (IDW) and radial basis function (RBF) largely retained the maximum information of element concentration. Soil source identification found that population density mainly affected Cu (0.539), slope Mn (0.206), and water quality As (0.453). The highest hotspot value (99% confidence interval), high hotspot value (95% confidence interval), and high hotspot value (90% confidence interval) of As were adjacent to the secondary water environment. Furthermore, the highest hotspot value of Cu was mainly located in the surrounding areas with population density > 3000/km2 and 1000–3000/km2. Mn was distributed along the slope direction and diffused from center to periphery.

Conclusions

Different spatial interpolation methods are significant for the analysis of soil properties. Heavy metals have a high degree of coincidence with environmental factors such as slope and population. The results of this research provide a reference for formulating effective control and management strategies for heavy metal pollution of soil.

Graphical Abstract
Updated absolute gravity rate of change associated with glacial isostatic adjustment in Southeast Alaska and its utilization for rheological parameter estimation
Authors: Naganawa Kazuhiro , Kazama Takahito , Fukuda Yoichi , Miura Satoshi , Hayakawa Hideaki , Ohta Yusaku , Freymueller Jeffrey T.
Published: July 2022

In Southeast Alaska (SE-AK), rapid ground uplift of up to 3 cm/yr has been observed associated with post-Little Ice Age glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA). Geodetic techniques such as global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and absolute gravimetry have been applied to monitor GIA since the last 1990s. Rheological parameters for SE-AK were determined from dense GNSS array data in earlier studies. However, the absolute gravity rate of change observed in SE-AK was inconsistent with the ground uplift rate, mainly because few gravity measurements from 2006 to 2008 resulted in imprecise gravity variation rates. Therefore, we collected absolute gravity data at six gravity points in SE-AK every June in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and updated the gravity variation rate by reprocessing the absolute gravity data collected from 2006 to 2015. We found that the updated gravity variation rate at the six gravity points ranged from −2.05 to −4.40 $$\upmu$$
μ
Gal/yr, and its standard deviation was smaller than that reported in the earlier study by up to 88 %. We also estimated the rheological parameters under the assumption of the incompressible Earth to explain the updated gravity variation rate, and their optimal values were determined to be 55 km and $$1.2 \times 10^{19}$$

1.2
×

10
19

Pa s for lithospheric thickness and upper mantle viscosity, respectively. These optimal values are consistent with those independently obtained from GNSS observations, and this fact indicates that absolute gravimetry can be one of the most effective methods in determining sub-surface structural parameters associated with GIA accurately. Moreover, we utilized the gravity variation rates for estimating the ratio of gravity variation to vertical ground deformation at the six gravity points in SE-AK. The viscous ratio values were obtained as −0.168 and −0.171 $$\upmu$$
μ
Gal/mm from the observed data and the calculated result, respectively. These ratios are greater (in absolute) than those for other GIA regions (−0.15 to −0.16 $$\upmu$$
μ
Gal/mm in Antarctica and Fennoscandia), because glaciers in SE-AK have melted more recently than in other regions.

Graphical Abstract
Extremely large flares/multiple large flares expected from sunspot groups with large area
Authors: Watari Shinichi
Published: July 2022

The possible occurrence of major space weather events, such as large solar flares within one hundred years, is studied anticipating their effects on our social facilities. However, the continuous soft X-ray (SXR) observation of flares by Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) started in 1975, and the period of data collection is less than 50 years. On the other hand, ground-based sunspot observations have a long history. Their duration of data collection exceeds 100 years. The possibility of the occurrence of extremely large flares is estimated using the daily sunspot area data of individual sunspot groups between 1879 and 2016 using the catalogue complied by the Debrecen Heliophysical Observatory in Hungary and the catalogue updated by Mandal, Krivova, Solanki, Shinha, and Banerjee in 2020. It had become clear that large sunspot groups with the potential to produce Carrington-class flares (areas of more than 3000 MSH) have appeared on a total of 119−139 days between 1879 and 2016, and a sunspot group with the potential to produce an X100-class flare appeared between March and April 1947. According to the past major space weather events, the large sunspot groups caused a series of multiple large flares instead of just one large flare. We tried to estimate the probabilities of occurrence of a SXR flare $$\ge$$
≥
X100 for 30-, 50-, and 100-year periods to be 0.70−0.76, 0.87−0.91, and 0.98−0.99, respectively, using the complementary cumulative distribution function (CCDF) of sunspot areas for the 138-year data.

Graphical Abstract
Micronization using combined alkaline protease hydrolysis and high-speed shearing homogenization for improving the functional properties of soy protein isolates
Authors: Hao Junyu , Zhang Zhuchi , Yang Ming , Zhang Yongli , Wu Tao , Liu Rui , Sui Wenjie , Zhang Min
Published: July 2022

The present study aimed to investigate the functional properties of soybean protein isolate (SPI) treated with alkaline protease and high-speed shearing homogenization. Alkaline protease-hydrolyzed SPIs that were characterized by varying degrees of hydrolysis between 0 and 6% were treated with high-speed shearing homogenization to obtain different micro-particulate proteins. The results showed that this combined treatment could significantly reduce the particle size of SPI by markedly degrading the structure of both the 7S and 11S subunits, thereby resulting in a significantly reduced content of β-sheet and β-turn structures. The surface hydrophobicity increased considerably for samples with hydrolysis below the threshold of 2% and then declined gradually above this threshold. Furthermore, the combination of hydrolysis and homogenization significantly improved the emulsion stability of SPI hydrolysates. It also significantly improved the foaming properties of SPI. These results demonstrated that alkaline protease hydrolysis combined with high-speed shearing homogenization represents a promising approach for improving the functional and structural properties of SPI.

Graphical Abstract
Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D and Triglycerides-Glucose index among Indian adolescents
Authors: Mustafa Akif , Shekhar Chander
Published: July 2022

Background

Vitamin D deficiency has been found to associated with numerous skeletal and non-skeletal diseases including Diabetes Mellitus. Insulin Resistance (IR) is considered as one of the primary reasons of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). The association between vitamin D deficiency and IR has been extensively explore in previous studies, but none of them focused on Indian adolescents, and none of them used the TyG index as IR marker. Hence, this population-based cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between insulin resistance (IR) assessed using the Triglycerides Glucose Index (TyG index) and vitamin D measured by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (25(OH)D).

Methods

For this study, we utilized data from the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS, 2016–18). The study is based on a sample size of 10,167 adolescents aged 10–19 years. The TyG index cut-off value of 4.65 was used to classify IR. We examined associations between the TyG index and serum 25(OH)D using multiple linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Odds of Insulin Resistance among vitamin D deficient/insufficient adolescents were assessed using multivariable logistic regression.

Results

A significant negative association was found between serum 25(OH)D and the TyG index, where a 10% increase in serum 25(OH)D was associated with 0.56 (95% CI = -0.67, -0.45) unit decrement in the TyG index. The odds of having IR were 90% higher among vitamin D deficient adolescents (OR: 1.90; 95% CI = 1.62—2.23) compared to adolescents with adequate levels of vitamin D. The association between vitamin D deficiency and IR was independent of sex; in other words, the association between vitamin D and IR was significant in both the sexes.

Conclusion

Independent of sex, this study found a significant inverse association between vitamin D and insulin resistance in Indian adolescents. The findings of this study highlight the utility of TyG index and the importance of vitamin D in lowering the risk of T2DM in future generations of the country.
Adaptation of a Danish online version of the Oxford Physical Activity Questionnaire (OPAQ) for secondary school students—a pilot study
Authors: Lykkegaard Charlotte Raadkjær , Wehberg Sonja , Waldorff Frans Boch , Søndergaard Jens , Holden Sinead
Published: July 2022

Objective

To adapt and partly validate a Danish online version of the patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) Oxford Physical Activity Questionnaire (“OPAQ”) and evaluate mobile phones and tablets as data capturing tool to identify potential problems and deficiencies in the PROM prior to implementation in the full study.

Methods

The OPAQ was translated into Danish by a formalised forward-backward translation procedure. Face validity was examined by interviewing 12 school students aged 10–15, recruited from two Danish public schools. After modifications, the online version of the Danish OPAQ was pilot tested in a convenience sample of seven school students for 1 week. Simultaneous objective accelerometer data were captured during the registration period.

Results

No major challenges were identified when translating OPAQ. Based on the interviews, the Danish version of OPAQ was perceived to be easy to understand in general, and the questions were relevant for tracking activities during the week. Five of the 12 participants had difficulties with understanding the introductory question: “what is your cultural background” in the original OPAQ. The interviews revealed that the participants recalling 7 days forgot to record some of the physical activity they had done during the week, indicating issues with the weekly recall method.

After transforming to the online version, this was reported to be easy and quick to fill in (taking 1–3 min per day), and participants reported the daily design was helpful to remember activities. There was good correspondence between the online version and objective actigraphs with a tendency to underreport. Six participants reported 10–60 min less moderate to vigorous physical activity compared to the actigraphs, while one participant reported 3 min more.

Conclusion

Participants found the online OPAQ quick and easy to complete during a 1-week period. Completing daily rather than weekly may help limit issues with recall. Overall, there was good agreement between the objective actigraphs and the OPAQ, though the OPAQ tended to slightly underreport moderate to vigorous physical activity.

The Danish online version of OPAQ may be useful for capturing school students’ physical activity when objective measures are not feasible.
The relationship between spatiotemporal gait parameters and cognitive function in healthy adults: protocol for a cross-sectional study
Authors: Fukuoka Tatsuya , Irie Shun , Watanabe Yoshiteru , Kutsuna Toshiki , Abe Akiko
Published: July 2022

Background

Motor dysfunctions, such as slower walking speed, precede the occurrence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment, suggesting that walking parameters are effective biomarkers for detecting early sub-clinical cognitive risk. It is often also concurrent with self-complained cognitive dysfunction, called motoric cognitive risk (MCR) syndrome. Our preliminary study found several walking parameters, obtained by a three-dimensional motion capture system, to be correlated with computer-based assessments of various cognitive function modalities, although the sample size was small. The Cognitive-Gait (CoGait) Database Project, described in the current protocol, aims to establish a database of multi-dimensional walking and cognitive performance data, collected from a large sample of healthy participants, crucial for detecting early sub-clinical cognitive risk.

Methods

We will recruit healthy volunteers, 20 years or older, without any neurological musculoskeletal or psychiatric disorders. The estimated sample size is 450 participants, including a 10% attrition rate. Using computer-based cognitive assessments, participants will perform six tasks: (i) the simple reaction time task, (ii) Go/No-Go task, (iii) Stroop Color–Word Test, (iv) N-back test, (v) Trail Making Test, and (vi) digit span test. We will also conduct paper-based cognitive assessments such as the Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 for assessing MCR. Gait will be measured through joint kinematics and global positioning in participants’ lower legs while walking at a comfortable and faster pace, using pants with an inertial measurement unit-based three-dimensional motion capture system. Finally, we will establish a prediction model for various cognitive performance modalities based on walking performance.

Discussion

This will be the first study to reveal the relationship between walking and cognitive performance using multi-dimensional data collected from a large sample of healthy adults, from the general population. Despite certain methodological limitations such as the accuracy of measurements, the CoGait database is expected to be the standard value for both walking and cognitive functions, supporting the evaluation of psychomotor function in early sub-clinical cognitive risk identification, including motoric-cognitive risk syndrome.
Construction of antibacterial nano-silver embedded bioactive hydrogel to repair infectious skin defects
Authors: Dong Qi , Zu Dan , Kong Lingqiang , Chen Sunfang , Yao Jun , Lin Jiawei , Lu Lei , Wu Bing , Fang Bin
Published: July 2022

Background

Hydrogels loaded with antimicrobial agents have been widely used for treating infected wound defects. However, hydrogels derived from a porcine dermal extracellular matrix (PADM), containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), have not yet been studied. Therefore, we investigated the therapeutic effect of an AgNP-impregnated PADM (AgNP–PADM) hydrogel on the treatment of infected wounds.

Methods

An AgNP–PADM hydrogel was synthesized by embedding AgNPs into a PADM hydrogel. We examined the porosity, moisture retention, degradation, antibacterial properties, cytotoxicity, antioxidant properties, and ability of the PADM and AgNP–PADM hydrogels to treat infected wounds in animals.

Results

The PADM and AgNP–PADM hydrogels were pH sensitive, which made them flow dynamically and solidify under acidic and neutral conditions, respectively. The hydrogels also exhibited porous network structures, satisfactory moisture retention, and slow degradation. Additionally, the AgNP–PADM hydrogel showed a slow and sustained release of AgNPs for at least 7 days without the particle size changing. Thus, the AgNPs exhibited adequate antibacterial ability, negligible toxicity, and antioxidant properties in vitro. Moreover, the AgNP–PADM hydrogel promoted angiogenesis and healed infected skin defects in vivo.

Conclusions

The AgNP–PADM hydrogel is a promising bioderived antibacterial material for clinical application to infected wound dressings.
Allogeneic testes transplanted into partially castrated adult medaka (Oryzias latipes) can produce donor-derived offspring by natural mating over a prolonged period
Authors: Kayo Daichi , Kanda Shinji , Okubo Kataaki
Published: July 2022

Generally, successful testis transplantation has been considered to require immune suppression in the recipient to avoid rejection of the transplanted tissue. In the present study, we demonstrate in medaka that allogeneic adult testicular tissue will engraft in adult recipients immediately after partial castration without the use of immunosuppressive drugs. The allografted testes are retained in the recipient’s body for at least 3 months and are able to produce viable sperm that yield offspring after natural mating. Some recipients showed a high frequency (over 60%) of offspring derived from spermatozoa produced by the transplanted testicular tissue. Histological analyses showed that allografted testicular tissues included both germ cells and somatic cells that had become established within an immunocompetent recipient testis. The relative simplicity of this testis transplantation approach will benefit investigations of the basic processes of reproductive immunology and will improve the technique of gonadal tissue transplantation.
Bisphenol-A reduces DNA methylation after metabolic activation
Authors: Sugiyama Kei-ichi , Kinoshita Mawo , Grúz Petr , Kasamatsu Toshio , Honma Masamitsu
Published: July 2022

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an important environmental contaminant with adverse health effects suspected to be mediated through epigenetic mechanisms. We had reported that the FLO1-dependent flocculation of transgenic yeast expressing human DNA methyltransferase (DNMT yeast) is a useful tool in epigenotoxicology studies. In this report, we have investigated the effects of BPA in the presence of metabolic activation (S-9 mix) on the transcription level of the FLO1 gene in the DNMT yeast. In the presence of metabolic activation, BPA inhibited the intensity of green fluorescence reporter protein (GFP) driven by the FLO1 promoter. A metabolite of BPA, 4-methyl-2,4-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl) pent-1-ene (MBP), also exhibited similar inhibitory effect. Furthermore, BPA in the presence of S-9 mix had only a weak while MBP had no inhibitory effects on the expression of modified GFP reporter gene under the control of FLO1 promoter with reduced CpG motifs. Aforementioned behavior was confirmed by the inhibition of flocculation as well as FLO1 gene mRNA expression. In addition, the global DNA methylation level in the human HEK293 cells was also reduced by MBP. These results indicate that BPA metabolites have inhibitory effect on DNA methylation. Our approach offers a novel in vitro method for screening for chemicals that can alter the epigenome by a mechanism dependent on their metabolic activation.