bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cell-Specific Regulation of Inflammatory Cytokines and Acute-Phase Proteins by the Glucocorticoid Receptor
Authors: Winkler Rebecca , Lu Hong
Published: November 2023

Background. Literature and data mining found abnormal induction of chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) and CXCL8 and down-regulation of CXCL2 in inflammatory liver diseases. This study was performed to understand the glucocorticoid receptor’s (GR’s) effects on chemokine and acute-phase protein expression in human liver, in settings of bacterial infection (modeled using LPS) or inflammation (modeled using TNFα). Methods. Primary human hepatocytes (PHH) were treated with combinations of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and dexamethasone (DEX) for 24 h, following which chemokine mRNA and protein expression were analyzed using qPCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay assays. Dual luciferase assays were performed on transfected cell lines. Mutant CXCL2 promoters were used in dual luciferase assays to identify specific regions of the CXCL2 promoter affected by GR, TNFα, or hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α, a liver-enriched transcription factor). Results. In PHH from donor 1, GR strongly inhibited LPS-induced CXCL1 and CXCL8 translation and transcription, whereas CXCL2 transcription tended to increase with DEX treatment. In PHH from donor 2, DEX treatment inhibited protein expression and secretion of CXCL1 and CXCL8 induced by TNFα and/or LPS, whereas CXCL2 upregulation was largely unaffected by DEX treatment. In nonliver HEK293T cells GR activity inhibited CXCL2 promoter activity. However, in liver-derived HEPG2 cells, GR induced CXCL2 promoter activity. A 407-base pair region upstream of CXCL2 promoter is necessary for full GR functionality in HEPG2 cells. TNFα synergized with HNF4α in inducing CXCL2 promoter activity in HEPG2 cells. Conclusions. GR’s effects on chemokine expression are cell-type specific and chemokine specific. GR down-regulated CXCL1 and CXCL8 in different cell types, whereas the specific activation of CXCL2 in hepatocytes and down-regulation of CXCL2 in nonhepatocytes by GR appears due to cell-specific utilization of CXCL2 promoter. By specifically increasing GR activity in the liver, we may normalize chemokine imbalances and prevent sepsis in inflammatory liver diseases.
Association between Sleep Duration and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Mu Lin , Li Chao , Zhao Wenying , Li Aihua , Zhao Dong , Zhang Baoyu
Published: November 2023

Objective. In this study, we aimed to estimate the impact of sleep duration on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods. Consecutive patients with T2DM undergoing transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in our center from October 2017 to February 2021 were analyzed. The association of the risk of LVH in T2DM patients was evaluated using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results. This study finally included 2689 adult patients (mean age 51.8 ± 12.5 years, 56.2% men, mean sleep duration 7.6 ± 1.4 hours per day). Of all patients, 655 (24.4%) patients were diagnosed with LVH and 2034 did not have LVH. All patients were adults and were diagnosed with T2DM. In the univariate and multivariate regression analyses, gender, sleep duration, body mass index (BMI), waist, hemoglobin (Hb), blood creatinine (Cr), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) were associated with LVH. In the restricted cubic spline (RCS) model, the cut-off points of sleep duration given refer to the group of patients with T2DM and LVH were 8 hours per day. With the cut-off points, the multivariable analysis demonstrated that, for diabetic patients, LVH was significantly correlated with a sleep duration of 8 hours per day, hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and HDL-c. Conclusion. For patients with T2DM, long sleep duration (>8 hours per day), hemoglobin, BUN, and HDL-c were independently associated with LVH. This trial is registered with NCT03811470.
TABLE 3 from Physical Activity During Adolescence and Early-adulthood and Ovarian Cancer Among Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation
Authors: Guyonnet Emma , Kim Shana J. , Xia Yue Yin , Giannakeas Vasily , Lubinski Jan , Randall Armel Susan , Eisen Andrea , Bordeleau Louise , Eng Charis , Olopade Olufunmilayo I. , Tung Nadine , Foulkes William D. , Couch Fergus J. , Aeilts Amber M. , Narod Steven A. , Kotsopoulos Joanne
Published: November 2023

Association between vigorous physical activity (in MET-hours/week) and ovarian cancer among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation
TABLE 1 from Physical Activity During Adolescence and Early-adulthood and Ovarian Cancer Among Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation
Authors: Guyonnet Emma , Kim Shana J. , Xia Yue Yin , Giannakeas Vasily , Lubinski Jan , Randall Armel Susan , Eisen Andrea , Bordeleau Louise , Eng Charis , Olopade Olufunmilayo I. , Tung Nadine , Foulkes William D. , Couch Fergus J. , Aeilts Amber M. , Narod Steven A. , Kotsopoulos Joanne
Published: November 2023

Comparison of cases and controls with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation
Supplementary Table 7 from Physical Activity During Adolescence and Early-adulthood and Ovarian Cancer Among Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation
Authors: Guyonnet Emma , Kim Shana J. , Xia Yue Yin , Giannakeas Vasily , Lubinski Jan , Randall Armel Susan , Eisen Andrea , Bordeleau Louise , Eng Charis , Olopade Olufunmilayo I. , Tung Nadine , Foulkes William D. , Couch Fergus J. , Aeilts Amber M. , Narod Steven A. , Kotsopoulos Joanne
Published: November 2023

Supplementary Table 7 shows the comparison of cases in the matched analysis and larger longitudinal study.
Supplementary Table 4 from Physical Activity During Adolescence and Early-adulthood and Ovarian Cancer Among Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation
Authors: Guyonnet Emma , Kim Shana J. , Xia Yue Yin , Giannakeas Vasily , Lubinski Jan , Randall Armel Susan , Eisen Andrea , Bordeleau Louise , Eng Charis , Olopade Olufunmilayo I. , Tung Nadine , Foulkes William D. , Couch Fergus J. , Aeilts Amber M. , Narod Steven A. , Kotsopoulos Joanne
Published: November 2023

Supplementary Table S4 shows the association between vigorous physical activity (in MET-hr/week) and ovarian cancer among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, stratified by BMI at age 18.
Supplementary Table 3 from Physical Activity During Adolescence and Early-adulthood and Ovarian Cancer Among Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation
Authors: Guyonnet Emma , Kim Shana J. , Xia Yue Yin , Giannakeas Vasily , Lubinski Jan , Randall Armel Susan , Eisen Andrea , Bordeleau Louise , Eng Charis , Olopade Olufunmilayo I. , Tung Nadine , Foulkes William D. , Couch Fergus J. , Aeilts Amber M. , Narod Steven A. , Kotsopoulos Joanne
Published: November 2023

Supplementary Table 3 shows the association between moderate physical activity (in MET-hr/week) and ovarian cancer among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, stratified by BMI at age 18.
FIGURE 1 from Physical Activity During Adolescence and Early-adulthood and Ovarian Cancer Among Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation
Authors: Guyonnet Emma , Kim Shana J. , Xia Yue Yin , Giannakeas Vasily , Lubinski Jan , Randall Armel Susan , Eisen Andrea , Bordeleau Louise , Eng Charis , Olopade Olufunmilayo I. , Tung Nadine , Foulkes William D. , Couch Fergus J. , Aeilts Amber M. , Narod Steven A. , Kotsopoulos Joanne
Published: November 2023

Flow diagram describing subject selection.
Data from Physical Activity During Adolescence and Early-adulthood and Ovarian Cancer Among Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation
Authors: Guyonnet Emma , Kim Shana J. , Xia Yue Yin , Giannakeas Vasily , Lubinski Jan , Randall Armel Susan , Eisen Andrea , Bordeleau Louise , Eng Charis , Olopade Olufunmilayo I. , Tung Nadine , Foulkes William D. , Couch Fergus J. , Aeilts Amber M. , Narod Steven A. , Kotsopoulos Joanne
Published: November 2023

Abstract
In the general population, physical activity has been associated with a lower risk of several cancers; however, the evidence for ovarian cancer is not clear. It is suggested that early-life physical activity may differentially impact risk. Whether this is true among women at high risk due to a pathogenic variant (mutation) in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes has not been evaluated. Thus, we performed a matched case–control study to evaluate the association between adolescent and early-adulthood physical activity and ovarian cancer. BRCA mutation carriers who completed a research questionnaire on various exposures and incident disease and with data available on physical activity were eligible for inclusion. Self-reported activity at ages 12–13, 14–17, 18–22, 23–29, and 30–34 was used to calculate the average metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-hours/week for moderate, vigorous, and total physical activity during adolescence (ages 12–17) and early-adulthood (ages 18–34). Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the OR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of invasive ovarian cancer associated with physical activity. This study included 215 matched pairs (mean age = 57.3). There was no association between total physical activity during adolescence (ORhigh vs. low = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.61–1.36; Ptrend = 0.85), early-adulthood (ORhigh vs. low = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.51–1.20; Ptrend = 0.38) and overall (ORhigh vs. low = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.54–1.23; Ptrend = 0.56) and ovarian cancer. Findings were similar for moderate (Ptrend ≥ 0.25) and vigorous (Ptrend ≥ 0.57) activity. These findings do not provide evidence for an association between early-life physical activity and BRCA-ovarian cancer; however, physical activity should continue to be encouraged to promote overall health.
Significance:
In this matched case–control study, we observed no association between physical activity during adolescence or early-adulthood and subsequent risk of ovarian cancer. These findings do not provide evidence for an association between early-life physical activity and BRCA-ovarian cancer; however, being active remains important to promote overall health and well-being.
Impairment of Endothelial Function by Aerosol From Marijuana Leaf Vaporizers
Authors: Liu Jiangtao , Nabavizadeh Pooneh , Rao Poonam , Derakhshandeh Ronak , Han Daniel D. , Guo Raymond , Murphy Morgan B. , Cheng Jing , Schick Suzaynn F. , Springer Matthew L.
Published: November 2023

Background

Marijuana leaf vaporizers, which heat plant material and sublimate Δ‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol without combustion, are popular alternatives to smoking cannabis that are generally perceived to be less harmful. We have shown that smoke from tobacco and marijuana, as well as aerosol from e‐cigarettes and heated tobacco products, impair vascular endothelial function in rats measured as arterial flow‐mediated dilation (FMD).

Methods and Results

We exposed 8 rats per group to aerosol generated by 2 vaporizer systems (Volcano and handheld Yocan) using marijuana with varying Δ‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol levels, in a single pulsatile exposure session of 2 s/min over 5 minutes, and measured changes in FMD. To model secondhand exposure, we exposed rats for 1 minute to diluted aerosol approximating release of uninhaled Volcano aerosol into typical residential rooms. Exposure to aerosol from marijuana with and without cannabinoids impaired FMD by ≈50%. FMD was similarly impaired by aerosols from Yocan (237 °C), and from Volcano at both its standard temperature (185 °C) and the minimum sublimation temperature of Δ‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (157 °C), although the low‐temperature aerosol condition did not effectively deliver Δ‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol to the circulation. Modeled secondhand exposure based on diluted Volcano aerosol also impaired FMD. FMD was not affected in rats exposed to clean air or water vapor passed through the Volcano system.

Conclusions

Acute direct exposure and modeled secondhand exposure to marijuana leaf vaporizer aerosol, regardless of cannabinoid concentration or aerosol generation temperature, impair endothelial function in rats comparably to marijuana smoke. Our findings indicate that use of leaf vaporizers is unlikely to reduce the vascular risk burden of smoking marijuana.
“Horse and Rider He Threw into the Sea” (Exod 15:1)
Authors: Geljon Albert C.
Published: November 2023

This article examines the use of the horse as an image of the body and of passion in the Alexandrian theological tradition. It started with Philo, who regarded the horse as a symbol of passion. Clement and Origen adopted the Philonic interpretation. Origen, who exploited the image most, saw the horse as representing the body, bodily things, irrational passions and desires of the flesh. Finally, following in Origen’s footsteps, Didymus also interpreted the horse as a figure of the body. In addition, both Origen and Didymus distinguished between the image of the horseman and that of the rider, following the example of a predecessor, whom they did not mention by name: Philo.
Rubble Walls of Contingency: Language, the Self, and the Mediterranean Imaginary
Authors: Baldacchino John
Published: November 2023

Though I am not a linguist by trade, writing “of” (rather than “about”) literary philosophy in Maltese with the intent of exploring the interrelationship between the experience of the contingent self, displacement, and the pain of beauty, becomes a linguistic affair. In this paper I explore how doing philosophy in Maltese brings one to engage with disciplines in which one was entirely educated in other languages (in this case, primarily in English and Italian), and how this opens new opportunities that move inwards as well as outwards. This aspect of directional thinking, as it were, also enters those immanent and external spheres by which phenomenology and aesthetics are put in play. This refers to how the “musk” of one’s language (a term whose linguistic use I first encountered in Seamus Heaney’s take on poetry’s indigeneity), is bound to carry one’s aesthetic imaginary onto a wide horizon whose boundaries could only be likened to the porousness of rubble walls. Such rubble walls – these ħitan tas-sejjieħ (in Maltese) – tend to mark territories while facilitating a high degree of fluency between them, to the extent that we could speak of the pattern of bocage as a contingency of meaning just as the pattern of bricolage implies an act of an intentional weaving. This paper reflects on the process of writing in Maltese as a means by which contingency as an approach to living and thinking, remains core to the understanding of how the self is immersed in what we broadly identify with the poetics (and therefore, the making) of the Mediterranean imaginary.
Wildlife Conservation, Food Production and ‘Development’: Can They be Integrated? Ecological Agriculture and Elephant Conservation in Africa
Authors: Kiley-Worthington M.
Published: November 2023

It is widely believed that (i) there must be a conflict between food production and conservation, and (ii) that development must be related to economics. Both these beliefs are questioned. It is suggested that ecological agriculture, which includes ethologically and ecologically sound animal management (the criteria for which are outlined) can reduce conflicts between conservation and food production. African elephants are taken as an example illustrating different attitudes to conservation. It is proposed that, rather than developing further the present common conservation attitude of ‘wildlife apartheid’, the future of elephants in many parts of Africa may rest on bringing them closer to the voters where the welfare of neither the human nor elephant is compromised. Here, they can act as both as workers, and as ‘wildlife ambassadors’. This approach needs further research and development, but preliminary results show significant possibilities for reducing these apparently conflicting land use interests in some geographical areas.
Association between probiotic consumption and serum perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): results from NHANES, 2003–2018
Authors: Liao Yangjie , Chen Jiang , Li Jingbo , Wang Jiayi , Cheng Long , Guo Min
Published: November 2023

Background

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a category of pervasive and enduring environmental pollutants that present a risk to human health. Although growing evidence suggests that probiotics can potentially alleviate the adverse effects of PFAS, large cross-sectional studies on the relationship between probiotic consumption and PFAS remain lacking.

Objective

The objective of this study is to assess the association between the exposure of probiotics and serum levels of PFAS.

Methods

This analysis included individuals aged 20 and above who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2003 and 2018. Probiotic consumption was considered when a participant reported consuming yogurt during the two 24-h dietary recall or using a probiotic supplement in dietary supplement questionnaires over the past 30 days.

Results

This study involved 9469 adults, out of which 1333 had been exposed to probiotics. We found negative associations between probiotic consumption and serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (β: − 0.19, 95% CI − 0.35 to − 0.02; P = 0.027), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) (β: − 0.1.27, 95% CI − 2.23 to − 0.32; P = 0.010). The consumption of probiotic supplements alone was associated with reduced perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) (β: − 0.19, 95% CI − 0.28 to − 0.10; P < 0.001). No statistically significant association was identified between probiotic consumption and perfluorohexane sulphonic acid (PFHxS).

Conclusion

In this cross-sectional, nationally representative study, probiotic ingestion was negatively associated with several serum PFAS compounds. These findings carry substantial implications for designing interventions that target the reduction of accumulated PFAS levels in the body and mitigating the resulting adverse health effects.
Epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of intra-abdominal traumatic neuromas - a narrative review
Authors: Wang Yaoqun , Yang Sishu , Li Bei , Shuai Cunyong , Xiong Xianze , Lu Jiong
Published: November 2023

Traumatic neuroma (TN) is a disorganized proliferation of injured nerves arising from the axons and Schwann cells. Although TN rarely occurs in the abdominal cavity, the incidence of TN may be underestimated because of the large number of asymptomatic patients. TN can cause persistent pain, which seriously affects quality of life. TN of the biliary system can cause bile duct obstruction, leading to acute cholangitis. It is difficult to differentiate TN from malignancies or recurrence of malignancy, which results in a number of patients receiving aggressive treatment. We collected cases reports of intra-abdominal TN over the past 30 years form PubMed and cases diagnosed in our medical center over the past 20 years, which is the largest case series of intra-abdominal TN to the best of our knowledge. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, classification, diagnosis, and management of intra-abdominal TN.
Association of renal resistive indices with kidney disease progression and mortality
Authors: Kharsa Chloe , Beaini Chadia , Chelala Dania , Aoun Mabel
Published: November 2023

Background

Renal resistive indices (RRI) have been shown to predict the progression of kidney disease. This study aims to evaluate the association of RRI with mortality and dialysis initiation after adjustment to therapeutic and life style interventions.

Methods

This is a retrospective study that included all chronic kidney disease patients followed for at least two years in three nephrology clinics between 2006 and 2019 and who had a RRI level in their files. Kaplan Meier and log rank test compared the survival of patients with normal versus high RRI. Cox regression analysis evaluated the association between RRI and death or dialysis initiation after adjustment to treatments and life style modifications.

Results

A total of 192 patients were analyzed: 68 had RRI < 0.7 and 124 had RRI ≥ 0.7. Their mean age was 66.5 ± 13.1 years at first visit, 78.1% were males. There was a negative correlation between baseline eGFR and RRI (p < 0.001; Spearman correlation coefficient = -0.521). The survival was significantly better in patients with RRI < 0.7 with a Log Rank test < 0.001. The univariate cox regression analysis showed a significant association between RRI and mortality (HR = 1.08; 95%CI: 1.04–1.11; p < 0.001) that remained significant after adjustment to cardiovascular risk factors and interventions such as salt reduction, blood pressure control, statins and RAAS inhibitors (HR = 1.04; 95%CI: 1.00–1.08; p = 0.036). Cox regression analysis showed a significant association between RRI and dialysis initiation (HR = 1.06; 95%CI 1.01–1.10; p = 0.011).

Conclusion

Our study revealed that patients with an elevated RRI ≥ 0.7 are at a higher risk of mortality after adjustment to medications and lifestyle modifications. RRI can, according to this study, be considered as an independent prognostic factor in CKD patients.
The influence of health literacy and knowledge about smoking hazards on the intention to quit smoking and its intensity: an empirical study based on the data of China’s health literacy investigation
Authors: Sun Siwen , Yu Huifang , Ling Jie , Yao Dingming , Chen Haixiao , Liu Guilin
Published: November 2023

Objective

This study explored the relationship between smokers’ health literacy, knowledge of smoking hazards, and their intention to quit.

Methods

Based on data from the 2019 Health Literacy and Tobacco Use Surveillance among residents of a city in Zhejiang Province, 1120 male smokers were screened. Differential tests were used to analyze whether smokers with varying levels of health literacy and knowledge about smoking hazards differed in their intention to quit smoking and the intensity of their intention. A multi-factor logistic regression model was constructed to explore the extent of these differences.

Results

Only 24.8% of smokers had higher health literacy. Among smokers, those with an intention to quit had a higher health literacy level compared to those without such intention (32.7% vs. 17.0%, p < 0.001). Health literacy levels did not differ significantly between groups with different intensity of intention to quit (34.2% vs. 31.9% vs. 30.1%, p = 0.435). About 48.7% of the smokers a higher level of knowledge about smoking hazards. It was more prevalent in the intent to quit group compared to the no intent to quit group (54.0% vs. 43.4%, p < 0.001), and the low intent to quit group had lower knowledge compared to the moderate and high intent to quit groups (49.1% vs. 56.6% vs. 63.4%, p = 0.011). After adjusting for other influences, smokers with lower health literacy were less likely to have intention to quit (OR = 0.659, p = 0.016). And the association between knowledge about smoking hazards and whether smokers have the intention to quit is no longer significant, but it significantly affects the intensity of the intention to quit among smokers who already have the intention (OR = 0.623, p = 0.005).

Conclusion

General health literacy may play a role in facilitating smokers’ progression from the stage of no intent to quit to one of intent to quit, but a more specific understanding of the harms of smoking may be needed to increase the strength of intent to quit.
Association between biomarkers of redox status and cytokines with different patterns of habitual physical activity in eutrophic and overweight/obese preschoolers: multivariate analysis of a cross-sectional study
Authors: Viegas Ângela Alves , Santos Thiago , Nobre Juliana Nogueira Pontes , Santos Jousielle Márcia dos , Silva Lage Vanessa Kelly da , Fernandes Amanda Cristina , Peixoto Marco Fabrício Dias , Morais Rosane Luzia De Souza , Sartorio Alessandro , Mendonça Vanessa Amaral , Lacerda Ana Cristina Rodrigues
Published: November 2023

Background

Although it is well known that obesity is frequently associated with reduced levels of habitual physical activity (HPA), which contributes to determining severe oxidative stress and inflammatory state, this association is however unknown in preschoolers so far. This study aimed to investigate the association between biomarkers of redox status and cytokines with different patterns of HPA according to the adiposity of preschoolers.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 50 preschoolers (25 overweight/obese, OW/OB and 25 eutrophic, EU), matched for age, sex, economic level, and maternal education. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, substances reactive to thiobarbituric acid (TBARS), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNFRs), and leptin levels were evaluated. HPA levels were evaluated by accelerometry (ActiGraph GT9X accelerometer). Correlation, multiple linear regression, and partial least squares regression analysis were used to determine the association between redox status biomarkers and cytokines with different patterns of HPA (HPA level, bouts of moderate to vigorous physical activity [MVPA], and multivariate pattern of HPA) in EU and OW/OB preschoolers.

Results

OW/OB preschoolers had lower CAT activity, higher levels of TAC, TBARS, and cytokines, and similar levels of HPA to EU preschoolers. In EU preschoolers, SOD activity exhibited a stronger negative association with moderate intensity ranges of HPA (R2 = 0.18), and negative correlation with sTNFRs (r = -0.40 to -0.46). TBARS had a stronger positive association with ranges of light intensity in the multivariate pattern of HPA (R2 = 0.10). In OW/OB preschoolers, the HPA multivariate associative pattern was predominantly from vigorous intensity ranges. Thus, SOD activity had a positive association with the multivariate pattern of HPA (R2 = 0.38) and MVPA bouts (β [95% CI] = 0.457 [0.0026. 0.0576]). TAC had a negative association with the multivariate pattern of HPA (R2 = 0.38) and MVPA bouts (β [95% CI] = -0.718 [-0.0025. -0.0003]). Additionally, leptin levels were lower in OW/OB preschoolers engaged in vigorous physical activity (VPA) (8000–9999 counts/min) for longer periods of time.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that OW/OB preschoolers have higher levels of oxidative stress biomarkers and pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to EU preschoolers. Moreover, VPA may exert antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects in OW/OB preschoolers.
EMNPD: a comprehensive endophytic microorganism natural products database for prompt the discovery of new bioactive substances
Authors: Xu Hong-Quan , Xiao Huan , Bu Jin-Hui , Hong Yan-Feng , Liu Yu-Hong , Tao Zi-Yue , Ding Shu-Fan , Xia Yi-Tong , Wu E , Yan Zhen , Zhang Wei , Chen Gong-Xing , Zhu Feng , Tao Lin
Published: November 2023

The discovery and utilization of natural products derived from endophytic microorganisms have garnered significant attention in pharmaceutical research. While remarkable progress has been made in this field each year, the absence of dedicated open-access databases for endophytic microorganism natural products research is evident. To address the increasing demand for mining and sharing of data resources related to endophytic microorganism natural products, this study introduces EMNPD, a comprehensive endophytic microorganism natural products database comprising manually curated data. Currently, EMNPD offers 6632 natural products from 1017 endophytic microorganisms, targeting 1286 entities (including 94 proteins, 282 cell lines, and 910 species) with 91 diverse bioactivities. It encompasses the physico-chemical properties of natural products, ADMET information, quantitative activity data with their potency, natural products contents with diverse fermentation conditions, systematic taxonomy, and links to various well-established databases. EMNPD aims to function as an open-access knowledge repository for the study of endophytic microorganisms and their natural products, thereby facilitating drug discovery research and exploration of bioactive substances. The database can be accessed at http://emnpd.idrblab.cn/ without the need for registration, enabling researchers to freely download the data. EMNPD is expected to become a valuable resource in the field of endophytic microorganism natural products and contribute to future drug development endeavors.
Impact of COVID-19 research: a study on predicting influential scholarly documents using machine learning and a domain-independent knowledge graph
Authors: Rabby Gollam , D’Souza Jennifer , Oelen Allard , Dvorackova Lucie , Svátek Vojtěch , Auer Sören
Published: November 2023

Multiple studies have investigated bibliometric features and uncategorized scholarly documents for the influential scholarly document prediction task. In this paper, we describe our work that attempts to go beyond bibliometric metadata to predict influential scholarly documents. Furthermore, this work also examines the influential scholarly document prediction task over categorized scholarly documents. We also introduce a new approach to enhance the document representation method with a domain-independent knowledge graph to find the influential scholarly document using categorized scholarly content. As the input collection, we use the WHO corpus with scholarly documents on the theme of COVID-19. This study examines different document representation methods for machine learning, including TF-IDF, BOW, and embedding-based language models (BERT). The TF-IDF document representation method works better than others. From various machine learning methods tested, logistic regression outperformed the other for scholarly document category classification, and the random forest algorithm obtained the best results for influential scholarly document prediction, with the help of a domain-independent knowledge graph, specifically DBpedia, to enhance the document representation method for predicting influential scholarly documents with categorical scholarly content. In this case, our study combines state-of-the-art machine learning methods with the BOW document representation method. We also enhance the BOW document representation with the direct type (RDF type) and unqualified relation from DBpedia. From this experiment, we did not find any impact of the enhanced document representation for the scholarly document category classification. We found an effect in the influential scholarly document prediction with categorical data.
Structural characteristics of microbial exopolysaccharides in association with their biological activities: a review
Authors: Wang Wei , Ju Yuhao , Liu Nan , Shi Shengbo , Hao Lujiang
Published: November 2023

Many microbial exopolysaccharides (EPS) have been reported in the last decade, and their fermentation processes, functional properties and applications, structural characterization, and biological activities have been extensively studied. Despite the great diversity of biological activities already described for EPS, only a few have been exploited industrially. The main reason for this is that the structure–activity relationship of EPS has not been clearly defined. In this review, we collected EPS-related publications from two databases, the Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and reviewed the correlation between the structural characteristics of EPS and observed biological activity, as reported in studies over the last decade. This review focused on the antioxidant, antitumor, immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, antibacterial, and gut microbial-modulating activities of EPS. This review aimed to lay a foundation for researching the structure–activity relationship of EPS and provide a theoretical basis for important scientific studies and applications of EPS.

Graphical Abstract
Impact of critical illness on cholesterol and fatty acids: insights into pathophysiology and therapeutic targets
Authors: Lauwers Caroline , De Bruyn Lauren , Langouche Lies
Published: November 2023

Critical illness is characterized by a hypercatabolic response encompassing endocrine and metabolic alterations. Not only the uptake, synthesis and metabolism of glucose and amino acids is majorly affected, but also the homeostasis of lipids and cholesterol is altered during acute and prolonged critical illness. Patients who suffer from critically ill conditions such as sepsis, major trauma, surgery or burn wounds display an immediate and sustained reduction in low plasma LDL-, HDL- and total cholesterol concentrations, together with a, less pronounced, increase in plasma free fatty acids. The severity of these alterations is associated with severity of illness, but the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are multifactorial and only partly clarified. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge of how lipid and cholesterol uptake, synthesis and metabolism is affected during critical illness. Reduced nutritional uptake, increased scavenging of lipoproteins as well as an increased conversion to cortisol or other cholesterol-derived metabolites might all play a role in the decrease in plasma cholesterol. The acute stress response to critical illness creates a lipolytic cocktail, which might explain the increase in plasma free fatty acids, although reduced uptake and oxidation, but also increased lipogenesis, especially in prolonged critical illness, will also affect the circulating levels. Whether a disturbed lipid homeostasis warrants intervention or should primarily be interpreted as a signal of severity of illness requires further research.
Anti-Hu antibody seropositive neuropathy with large and small fiber involvement mimicking alcoholic neuropathy: a case report
Authors: Papantoniou Michail , Zampelis Thomas , Rentzos Michail , Karakalos Dimitrios
Published: November 2023

Background

Anti-Hu antibody neuropathy is considered a rare acquired peripheral neuropathy, but common among paraneoplastic syndromes. Typically, is described as subacute sensory neuronopathy and electrophysiological findings are usually suggestive of a sensory axonal neuropathy.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 67-year-old man referred to our clinic with a 4-month history of progressive pain and paresthesias of distal lower limbs. He had a 30-year history of alcohol abuse and smoking. Alcoholic neuropathy was considered the most likely diagnosis, considering his history and evaluation. The patient’s neurological examination revealed symmetric bilateral superficial and deep sensory loss in the lower extremities, reduced Achilles tendon reflexes and wide based gait. Electrophysiological testing was suggestive of axonal sensory-motor polyneuropathy and small fiber involvement. Even though alcohol consumption was discontinued, symptoms gradually worsened. Further testing was performed and the patient was found seropositive for anti-Hu antibody. Small-cell lung cancer was detected later, but patient passed away before treatment for cancer was administrated.

Conclusions

The aim of our paper is to report a case of a rare paraneoplastic syndrome that can cause progressive sensory-motor neuropathy with large and small fiber involvement, which should be rapidly differentially diagnosed from other neuropathies, so that the underlying cause can be identified and, potentially, treated.
Vernacular Visions in North and South Korea: Interlingual Translations of Unyŏng chŏn (The Tale of Unyŏng) and Ideologies of National Literature
Authors: Pieper Daniel
Published: November 2023

This article focuses on two translations of The Tale of Unyŏng (Unyŏng chŏn 雲英傳, early seventeenth century) into vernacular Korean in South Korea (1960) and North Korea (1966). Looking beyond the classical paradigm of interlingual and intralingual translation as “translation proper” and “rewording,” respectively, the article argues that translations of classical Korean fiction from Literary Sinitic into vernacular Korean represented a form of transitional intralingual translation as each nation navigated away from active membership in the Sinographic Cosmopolis and attempted to establish a new national literature and literary medium. Whereas the South Korean translation is tethered closely to the Literary Sinitic original in terms of lexicon, orthography, and representation of classical allusions and perpetuates three tiers of literacy, the North Korean translation hews much more closely to spoken vernacular and traditional kungmun manuscript versions of classical fiction and embodies the overriding North Korean policy of sinograph abolition and han'gŭl promotion.
Peer review reports
Authors: Cadernos Gestão Pública e Cidadania
Published: November 2023

Cadernos Gestão Pública e Cidadania
Diretorias e conselhos ciborgue: A inteligência artificial na alta liderança
Authors: Chukr Mafra Ney Eduardo
Published: November 2023

Como a relação entre máquinas e homens pode mudar a governança corporativa e a maximização de valor organizacional
Desafio da Liderança
Authors: Sant’Anna Anderson
Published: November 2023

Como ir além do princípio do management - das competências técnicas, operacionais e de monitoramento de pessoas etarefas - e desenvolver a capacidade de influenciar, engajar e inspirar equipes.
Como diagnosticar os pilares da Transformação Digital
Authors: Machado Débora , Dai Prá Martens Cristina , Kniess Cláudia Terezinha
Published: November 2023

Instrumento desenvolvido em pesquisa mostra aos gestores em que níveis a organização se encontra em termos de empreendedorismo, inovação e maturidade da Transformação Digital
Το οικονομικό έγκλημα στον αθέμιτο ανταγωνισμό των επιχειρήσεων
Authors: Τριανταφυλλίδης Ιωάννης
Published: November 2023

Στόχος της διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι η ανάδειξη των προβλημάτων που παρουσιάζει η παρεχόμενη ποινική προστασία έναντι πράξεων αθέμιτου ανταγωνισμού και η επίλυσή τους μέσω συγκεκριμένων προτάσεων για νομοθετικές βελτιώσεις. Προκειμένου να επιτευχθεί αυτός ο στόχος επιχειρείται ουσιαστική κριτική ανάλυση των ποινικών διατάξεων που τυποποιούν εγκλήματα αθέμιτου ανταγωνισμού. Μετά την de lege lata εξέταση των νομοτυπικών υποστάσεων των εγκλημάτων αθέμιτου ανταγωνισμού και τη σύνοψη των βασικών στοιχείων κάθε εγκλήματος, διατυπώνονται de lege ferenda προτάσεις για τη βελτίωση της νομοθετικής τους τυποποίησης. Οι αξιόποινες πράξεις που εξετάζονται αρχικά είναι τα εγκλήματα αθέμιτης προσέλκυσης καταναλωτών και συγκεκριμένα η παραπλανητική διαφήμιση (άρθρο 4 ν. 146/1914) και οι ιδιαίτερες μορφές αθέμιτης προσέλκυσης πελατών των άρθρων 6 και 9 ν. 146/1914, οι οποίες τιμωρούν την αναγγελία εκποίησης εμπορευμάτων προερχόμενων από πτώχευση και την παράβαση διατάξεων που καθορίζουν τον τρόπο λιανικής πώλησης εμπορευμάτων αντίστοιχα, καθώς και των ποινικών παραβάσεων που προβλέπονται στο ν.δ. της 16.9.1926 «Περί απαγορεύσεως εν ταις συναλλαγαίς της συνάψεως συμβάσεων κατά το καλούμενον σύστημα ''Boule de neige"». Εν συνεχεία, αναλύονται τα εγκλήματα αθέμιτης εκμετάλλευσης ξένης φήμης και οργάνωσης επιχείρησης (εγκλήματα παρασιτικού ανταγωνισμού), στα οποία εντάσσονται οι τυποποιούμενες στο ν. 146/1914 αξιόποινες πράξεις της παραπλανητικής χρησιμοποίησης ξένων διακριτικών γνωρισμάτων επιχείρησης (άρθρο 14 ν. 146/1914) και της άνευ δικαιώματος χρήσης ή ανακοίνωσης σε τρίτους εμπορικών και βιομηχανικών απορρήτων ή της επιχείρησης εξώθησης στις πράξεις αυτές (άρθρα 16-17 και 18 εδ. β' ν. 146/1914). Ακολούθως, ερμηνεύονται τα εγκλήματα παρεμποδιστικού αθέμιτου ανταγωνισμού και συγκεκριμένα η συκοφαντική δυσφήμηση επιχείρησης (άρθρο 12 ν. 146/1914) και η καταχρηστική εκμετάλλευση σχέσης οικονομικής εξάρτησης (άρθρο 18α ν. 146/1914). Υιοθετήθηκε ο «κλασικός» τρόπος εξέτασης των ποινικών διατάξεων που τυποποιούν εγκλήματα, δηλαδή εξετάζονται τα προστατευόμενα από τις οικείες ποινικές διατάξεις έννομα αγαθά, οι αντικειμενικές και υποκειμενικές υποστάσεις των εγκλημάτων, οι επαπειλούμενες ποινές και ο τρόπος ποινικής δίωξής τους, ενώ όπου κρίνεται αναγκαίο γίνεται αναφορά στην απόπειρα, τη συμμετοχή και τη συρροή, ως μορφές εμφάνισης των εγκλημάτων, αλλά και σε τυχόν ειδικά ζητήματα. Αφού, λοιπόν, αναλυθούν τα εγκλήματα αθέμιτου ανταγωνισμού και διαπιστωθούν τα προβλήματα της παρεχόμενης ποινικής προστασίας, στα συμπεράσματα της διδακτορικής διατριβής διατυπώνονται de lege ferenda προτάσεις για την ορθότερη νομοθετική τυποποίηση των σχετικών εγκλημάτων και την αποτελεσματικότερη ποινική προστασία έναντι πράξεων αθέμιτου ανταγωνισμού.
Scheduling Smarter: Scheduling Decision Impact on Nurse-Aide Turnover
Authors: Mayo Kevin , Webb Eric , Ball George , Bretthauer Kurt
Published: November 2023

Research problem: High turnover rates in long-term nursing facilities exacerbate the existing shortage of caregivers, a trend that will only worsen as the population of the United States ages. Part-time certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide a significant amount of patient care in these facilities. CNAs also have high annual rates of turnover, which can harm health outcomes and increase the cost of care. In this study, we empirically analyze the effect of scheduling decisions on part-time CNA turnover. We explore three research questions that examine both how much and with whom a CNA is scheduled to work. We seek to empirically answer how (1) hours worked and (2) coworker variability influence turnover for part-time CNAs and if (3) coworker variability moderates the relationship between hours worked and CNA turnover. Methodology/results: Using novel data from one of the nation’s largest nursing home organizations, which includes data for 6,221 part-time CNAs at 157 facilities in the United States over a 26-month period, we identify two scheduling levers managers may be able to use to influence turnover. As hours worked increase, turnover first decreases and then increases, demonstrating a nonlinear U-shaped relationship between hours worked and turnover. We also find that high coworker variability increases turnover while also moderating the effects of hours worked on turnover. In post hoc analyses, we demonstrate that high CNA turnover has negative impacts on patient health. Managerial implications: These findings suggest that managers may be able to leverage part-time CNA scheduling to reduce turnover, improving both the quality and cost of care. Specifically, we demonstrate that managers can reduce CNA turnover by increasing hours worked, scheduling coworkers together consistently and doing both simultaneously.

Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2021.0533 .
ÂŞIK PAŞA’YA GÖRE ALPLIĞIN ŞARTLARI VE AT ŞARTININ OSMANLI KORSAN GAZİ SAZ ŞAİRLERİNDEKİ DEĞİŞİMİ
Authors: GÖKÇE Göksel
Published: November 2023

Bu çalışmada Âşık Paşa’nın Garîbnâme adlı eserinde yer alan alplığın şartlarından at sahibi olmak ve Osmanlı dönemi korsan saz şairlerinin bu şartlara uyumu ele alınmıştır. Paşa eserinde devleti ve milleti din düşmanlarından korumak üzere savaşması gereken ideal savaşçı tipini dokuz maddeyle tarif etmiş ve iyi bir ata binmeyi dördüncü sıraya koymuştur. Çalışmanın kapsamında Osmanlı dönemi Cezayir sahası XVI, XVII ve XVIII. yüzyıllar korsan gazi saz şairlerinin at unsuruyla ilgili şiirleri incelenmiştir. Çalışmanın amacı, Osmanlı tarihi için büyük önem arz eden gazilik kavramının değişen ve gelişen hayat şartlarına bağlı olarak geçirdiği dönüşümlerden birini ortaya koymaktır. İnceleme esnasında metin şerhi yöntemi uygulanmış ve şiirlerin içerdikleri kavramlar konuyla ilişkileri bakımından izah edilmiştir. Buna ek olarak, Garîbnâme’de yer alan at sahibi olma şartının Osmanlı donanmasında yerini gemiye bıraktığı, korsan gazilerin gemileriyle atlar arasında çeşitli söz sanatları vasıtasıyla benzerlik kurdukları, ortaya çıkan benzerlik üzerinden gazâ kültürünün önde gelen isimlerinden Hz. Ali’nin atı Düldül’e atıfta bulundukları, atlara ad konulması gibi gemilere isimler verdikleri bu isimlerden birinin meşhur şair Köroğlu’nun atı Kır At ile benzediği tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, askerlik söz konusu olduğunda teçhizat üzerinde ortaya çıkan yenilik ve gelişmelerin, katı kuralları olan gelenekleri dahi değiştirdiği görülmüştür. Bununla beraber, Türk tarihi açısından büyük öneme sahip at unsurunun gazâ geleneği içerisinde tamamen kaybolmayıp keskin değişimlerde dahi gazi saz şairlerinin eserlerinde kendini gösterdiği tespit edilmiştir.
NÍVEL DE SERVIÇO LOGÍSTICO-PORTUÁRIO: estudo comparativo dos portos de Rio Grande e Itapoá para exportações de autopeças produzidas no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul
Authors: Borsato Suelen , Bergmann Borges Vieira Guilherme , Santos Carlos Honorato Schuch
Published: November 2023

O mundo atual tem se mostrado cada vez mais conectado, com economias interdependentes e processos produtivos deslocalizados e dependentes de cadeias de suprimentos de alcance global. Para que esse sistema de produção funcione, os portos têm destacada importância, representando elos que podem contribuir para a competitividade das empresas. Dado esse contexto, este trabalho teve como objetivo central analisar comparativamente os portos de Rio Grande e Itapoá, pela ótica de exportadores, em relação ao embarque de autopeças fabricadas no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Considerando-se esse objetivo e levando em conta os principais critérios associados ao nível de serviço logístico-portuário identificados na literatura, foi realizada uma survey orientada aos gestores das empresas desse setor e região. Os dados coletados foram analisados mediante de procedimentos de estatística descritiva e análise de regressão múltipla. Os resultados indicaram como critérios estatisticamente significantes os custos portuários e a eficiência portuária. Juntos, esses critérios foram capazes de explicar 55,9% da avaliação geral do Porto de Rio Grande comparativamente ao de Itapoá, constituindo fatores críticos para a competitividade desses dois portos pela ótica dos respondentes.
Industrialization in an Age of China Rising: A Tale of Two Chinese Automobile Companies in Malaysia
Authors: Zhang Miao , Lim Guanie
Published: November 2023

Abstract: This article aims to contribute to the exploration of the ways through which Malaysia—the fourth largest economy in Southeast Asia—has engaged Chinese investment to pursue industrialization. It does so by comparing and contrasting the different approaches by which two of the most important Chinese-financed automobile projects, Chery Automobile's assembly operations in 2008 and Zhejiang Geely's partial acquisition of local producer Proton in 2017, have been embedded into the Malaysian political economy. While Chery Automobile ended up with a conundrum of extremely low local sales, Zhejiang Geely has fostered mutually beneficial partnerships with Proton and its cohort of suppliers that are shaped by the industry's ethnopolitical directives. More recently, Zhejiang Geely has exported an increasingly larger proportion of vehicles from its Malaysian operations. The contrasting fate of these projects illustrates that while they are driven by Chinese money and technological know-how, they are not necessarily Chinese-dominated. It is domestic politics—the establishment of a functional politico-commercial coalition in particular—that matters in shaping the outcome and impact of Chinese investment in Malaysia. More importantly, the paper highlights how foreign direct investment and the supposed (positive and negative) externalities are intimately tied to local factors such as political institutions and ethnocentric directives.