bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Personal Well-Being and National Determinants of Screening Mammography Among Women Over Fifty
Authors: Hovav Boaz , Brammli-Greenberg Shuli
Published: June 2024

Background
- Over 1.5 million cancer deaths among women could be avoided annually by primary prevention measures such as screening mammography (SM). SM utilization varies across countries, and little research attempted to explain why. The objective of the study is to understand the individual and country-level variables that determine SM utilization and variation across countries.
Methods
- Three multilevel models are used to analyze the data from the SHARE database for 26,672 women aged 50 or over from 27 countries. The key individual variables investigated are the CASP quality-of-life (QOL) index, the EURO-D depression index, and the Subjective-Health index. Government health expenditure (GHE), measured as a percentage of GDP, was used as the country-level variable.
Results
– SM utilization varied from 5–67% in the countries examined. On the individual level, higher QOL, psychological status, and health status are positively correlated with SM utilization while on the country level, GHE is positively correlated with SM utilization. Surprisingly, the interaction between individual and country-level variables shows that while SM utilization positively correlates with higher psychological status and health status in high-GHE countries, there is a negative correlation in low-GHE countries and only a weak positive correlation in mid-level GHE countries.
Conclusions
– The study is the first to show that the association between enhanced physical and psychological well-being and SM utilization varies across countries according to GHE. The existence of negative correlations in low-GHE countries and positive correlations in high-GHE countries underscores the disparities that need to be addressed.
Embracing Levin's Legacy: Advancing Socio-Technical Learning and Development in Human-Robot Team Design through Action Research and STS Approaches
Authors: Ang Karyne , Sankaran Shankar , Liu Dikai
Published: June 2024

This paper investigates the synergy between Levin's theories on technology transfer as a socio-technical learning and developmental process (TLD process), action research, and sociotechnical systems (STS) theories. Levin's extensive work highlights the significance of technology transfer as a means for organizational development. His TLD process emphasizes the intricate interplay between technology, organizational change, and learning and highlights the importance of incorporating cultural knowledge and skills into the technological transfer process. Contemporary STS views are introduced to complement and extend Levin's theories by providing a systemic lens to understand the broader socio-technical context in which technology transfer occurs. To illustrate the synergies and potential challenges from Levin’s theories of technology transfer with contemporary STS concepts, we use a qualitative study of a unique case about the design and development of human-robot teams (HRTs) for construction tasks. Our findings reveal that while Levin's theories provide a valuable foundation for understanding technology transfer and organizational change, contemporary sociotechnical systems face unique challenges in the context of AI-driven human-robot teams where intelligent robots also contribute to the sociotechnical learning. Moreover, the rapidly evolving nature of technology and innovations could exponentially impact on multidisciplinary design teams, stakeholder participation and inter-organizational dynamics. The discussions suggest an extension of co-generative learning to incorporate of ‘collaborative intelligence’ between human-robot teams enabled by AI. Consequently, Levin's theories of technology transfer might not fully address the complex ethical dilemmas caused by AI-driven HRT systems. Therefore addressing these challenges requires ongoing dialogue and collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers with different disciplinary backgrounds to develop robust and reliable sociotechnical systems frameworks to navigate the complexities of robotics and AI in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Accurately predicting optimal conditions for microorganism proteins through geometric graph learning and language model
Authors: Yang Yuedong , Zhu Mingming , Song Yidong , Yuan Qianmu
Published: June 2024

Proteins derived from microorganisms that survive in the harshest environments on Earth have stable activity under extreme conditions, providing rich resources for industrial applications and enzyme engineering. Due to the time-consuming nature of experimental determinations, it is imperative to develop computational models for fast and accurate prediction of protein optimal conditions. Previous studies were limited by the scarcity of data and the neglect of protein structures. To solve these problems, we construct an up-to-date dataset with more than 6 million proteins and propose GeoPoc based on geometric graph learning for the protein optimal temperature, pH, and salt concentration prediction. GeoPoc leverages protein structures and sequence embeddings extracted from pre-trained language model, and further employs a geometric graph transformer network to capture the sequence and spatial information. We first focused on in-house validation for optimal temperature prediction for robustness assessment, and achieved a PCC of 0.77. The algorithm is further confirmed in an independent test set, where GeoPoc surpasses the state-of-the-art method by 2.3\% in AUC. Additionally, GeoPoc was extended to pH and salt concentration prediction, and obtained AUC scores of 0.78 and 0.77, respectively. Through further interpretable analysis, GeoPoc elucidates the critical physicochemical properties that contribute to enhancing protein thermostability.
The impact of the multicomponent “Healthy and Vital” 3-month lifestyle intervention in health professionals: a single group pre-(multiple) post-study.
Authors: Boelens Mirte , Jong Jessica C. Kiefte-de , Schweitzer Dave H. , Elsgeest Liset E.M. , Mimpen Sytian , Hilders Carina G. J. M.
Published: June 2024

Background
Working in healthcare often involves stressful situations and a high workload, and many healthcare workers experience burnout complaints or suffer from mental or physical problems. This also affects the overall quality of health care. Many previous workplace interventions focused on knowledge exchange instead of other health cognitions, and were not particularly effective. Multicomponent lifestyle interventions may offer the potential in improving lifestyle and well-being of healthcare professionals. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a multicomponent lifestyle intervention “Healthy & Vital” for healthcare professionals on several health-related outcomes.
Methods A pre- (multiple) post-pilot study has been conducted using data from 2012-2018 to evaluate the lifestyle intervention in 126 female healthcare professionals. Measurements were conducted before, directly after the intervention (at 3 months), and 6 months after finishing the intervention (at 9 months). Participants filled out questionnaires and anthropometrics measurements were conducted by a dietitian. The intervention is based on the ASE-model, theory of planned behavior, and motivational interviewing techniques. The intervention included workshops related to stress, eating, sleep, and individual meetings with a dietitian. Multilevel linear mixed models with a random intercept and fixed slope were used to evaluate the impact on lifestyle self-efficacy, eating behavior, anthropometric outcomes and quality of life.
Results Improvements were observed for lifestyle self-efficacy (total: beta=1.32 95%CI 0.94;1.48, I know: beta=1.19 95%CI 0.92;1.46, and I can: beta=1.46 95%CI 1.19;1.73), eating behavior (emotional eating: beta=-0.33 95%CI-0.44;-0.23, external eating: beta=-0.35 95%CI -0.44;-0.26, and diet/restrictive behavior: beta=0.41 95%CI 0.30;0.51), anthropometric outcomes (weight: beta=-5.03 95%CI -5.93;-4.12, BMI: beta=-1.873 95%CI -2.06;-1.41, waist circumference: beta=-6.83 95%CI -8.00;-5.65, and body fat percentage: beta=-1.80 95%CI -2.48;-1.17) and multiple outcomes of quality of life (physical functioning: beta=4.43 95%CI 1.98;6.88, vitality: beta=7.58 95%CI 4.74;10.42, pain: beta 4.59 95%CI 0.91;1.827, general health perception: beta=7.43 95%CI 4.79;10.07, and health change: beta=21.60 95%CI 16.41;28.80) directly after the intervention. The improvements remained after a six-month follow-up.
Conclusions Multicomponent interventions such as “Healthy and Vital” for healthcare professionals may be useful for improving the health of healthcare workers. More research using other designs with a control group, such as a stepped-wedge or RCT, is needed to verify our findings.
Trial registration: Retrospectively registered on May 1 2024 at the Open Science Framework Registries (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/Z9VU5)
Tracking Over 30 Years of Coral Reef Infrastructure Degradation in Barbados
Authors: Griffith Aliyah , Castillo Karl , Lee Sandra , Buglisi Max
Published: June 2024

Coral reefs face escalating threats from global and local stressors, with climate change exacerbating these challenges in the Caribbean. This study focuses on coral reef infrastructure in Barbados, where Lewis (2002) documented reef degradation in the 1990s. As 30 years have passed, we chose to determine the rate of change of reef infrastructure and quantify associated substrate presence along the western reefs of Barbados. Using satellite and geotagged imagery, we analyzed 19 reef structures from 2013 to 2023 along the western coast of Barbados, comparing them to Lewis's findings in 1950 and 1991. We also ground-truthed five sites previously categorized as highly degraded reefs to confirm reef structural integrity and substrate-type presence. We confirmed ongoing structural loss, averaging ~146.9 m2 annually across all sites. We identified four primary substrate types: coral, algae-covered substrate, rubble, and sand, with algae-covered substrate predominating and projected to persist. Our results underscore the urgency of monitoring and highlight the potential limitations of satellite assessment. This research enhances understanding of reef dynamics and offers a framework for identifying vulnerable areas, which are crucial for effective conservation efforts.
The mediating role of social support on self-management and quality of life in cirrhotic patients
Authors: Zhang Ying , Xiao LeYao , Liu Qian , Zhang XinYi , Li MingDan , Xu YaLi , Dai Mei , Zhao Fei , Shen YouShu , Salvador Jordan Tovera , Yang Ping
Published: June 2024

Background
Insufficient social support is linked to patients' inability to manage their chronic illnesses on their own, and cirrhosis patients are frequently related with malnourishment and physical inactivity that lowers their quality of life. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the potential mediating function of social support in the relationship between self-management and quality of life, as well as the impact of exercise frequency and malnutrition risk assessment on these variables.
Methods
Convenience sampling was used to select cross-sectional data from 257 liver cirrhosis patients who visited the infection department of a tertiary hospital using in Zunyi City between 2021 and 2022. The Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ), the Nutritional Risk Screening Tool (RFH-NPT), the Social Support Scale (SSRS), the Self-Management Behavior Scale for Cirrhotic Patients, and demographic questionnaires were used to evaluate the patients.
Results
（1）Social support and self-management had a positive correlation (r=0.668, 0.665, both P<0.001) with quality of life. (2) Self-management was found to have a direct predictive influence on quality of life by mediation analysis, while social support was found to have a mediating effect between the two variables of 0.489 (95% CI: 0.362,0.629) and 40.58% of the overall effect was accounted for by the indirect effect.
(3) Social support, self-management, and quality of life were all influenced independently by the frequency of exercise and the assessment of malnutrition risk.
(4) After confounders were eliminated from the regression model analysis, Model I accounted 14.5% of the variance in the quality of life control variables, while Model II explained 49.5%. 56.9% of the variation in quality of life was explained by Model III once the social support variable was included.
Conclusions
Quality of life is enhanced by self-management through the mediation of social support. Social support and self-management were additionally moderated by the frequency of exercise and the assessment of nutritional risk, both of which were independent factors. These results imply that patients with cirrhosis may experience an improvement in quality of life from self-management programs designed to strengthen social support.
Implications of sea-level rise on the coastal villages of Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India: A geospatial perspectives
Authors: Veeran Yoganandan , Swornamma John Bose Rajayan , Balasubramaniyan Monisha
Published: June 2024

It’s a realistic approach with the coastline geometry of the sea level rise by statistical analysis of aerial data and concludes with the coastal elevation effects on the different segments of the coastal regions at the village level in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu, India. The physical responses of the coastal zones to extract the coastal landforms of Kanyakumari, India by the comprehensive analysis of inundation scenarios, can find out the risk factors of relative sea level rise. The study area was encompassed into three taluks (Agastheeswaram, Kalkulam, and Killiyoor) and derived into 17 revenue coastal villages for the Land use /Landover (LU/LC) prepared from the satellite imagery with the digital elevation model, The sea level rise scenarios were generated into four class, such as very high (-2m to 0m), high (0m to 0.5m), moderate (0.5m to 1.0m), and low (1.0m). Among the three taluks in the study area, the Agastheeswaram taluk will be inundated 1132.23 ha (10.76%) of the coastal area and Killiyoor taluk will be inundated 327.99 ha (5.39%) of the coastal area are under immediate risk of 0.5m rise in sea-level. Overall, this study exposed significant increases: more than 17% of the coastal population living in the Low Elevation Coastal Zone of the Kanyakumari coast will be exposed to future sea level inundation.
Clinicopathological significance of CD36 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Sakurai Kotaro , Tomihara Kei , Yamazaki Manabu , Yamada Shin-ichi
Published: June 2024

CD36, a fatty acid scavenger receptor expressed in tumors, is associated with a poor prognosis in several types of cancers. We previously reported the involvement of CD36 in the proliferation and migration of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. However, little is known regarding the clinical significance of CD36 expression in OSCC. In the present study, we evaluated the association between CD36 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with OSCC. Immunohistochemical expression of CD36 was quantified using the H-score, and its association with clinicopathological characteristics was evaluated in 32 OSCC cases. The mean H-score for CD36 expression in the membrane was 83.27. CD36 expression was significantly correlated with the mode of invasion and differentiation of OSCC cells. Moreover, high CD36 expression was significantly correlated with a low survival rate and relapse in patients. Our results suggest that CD36 may be a predictive biomarker for OSCC malignancy and prognosis.
A Social Network Analysis Approach To Organizational İsolation İn Public Schools.
Authors: YARIM Mehmet Ali
Published: June 2024

Background
This study, which aims to examine the causes and consequences of organizational isolation in schools with the help of social network analysis, is included in the embedded explanatory pattern model, which is one of the mixed method models.
Methods
The research was conducted in the 2022–2023 academic year in the center of Erzurum, Turkey, on ten schools selected by purposeful sampling method.
Results
According to the results of the research, while organizational loneliness is not seen in small schools, there are individuals experiencing loneliness in large schools. The main reason for these individuals' loneliness is their social relationships and communication at school. Individuals who become lonely have a negative perception of social relations at school and isolate themselves from school activities and communication. As a result of this situation, negative consequences such as exclusion, burnout, lack of belonging, mobbing and pessimism emerge.
Conclusions
Even if the culture, climate and structure of the school are positive, individuals may experience loneliness. The reason for this is the meaning that individuals attach to social relations at school.
Complement Membrane Attack Complexes Disrupt Proteostasis to Function as Intracellular Alarmins
Authors: Song Guiyu , He Liying , Jiang Quan , Barkestani Mahsa , Wang Shaoxun , Wang Qianxun , Ren Pengwei , Fan Matthew , Johnson Justin , Mullan Clancy , Jane-wit Dan
Published: June 2024

Internalized pools of membrane attack complexes (MACs) promote NF-kB and dysregulated tissue inflammation. Here, we show that C9, a MAC-associated protein, promotes loss of proteostasis to become intrinsically immunogenic. Surface-bound C9 is internalized into Rab5 + endosomes whose intraluminal acidification promotes C9 aggregates. A region within the MACPF/CDC domain of C9 stimulates aggrephagy to induce NF-kB, inflammatory genes, and EC activation. This process requires ZFYVE21, a Rab5 effector, which links LC3A/B on aggresome membranes to RNF34-P62 complexes to mediate C9 aggrephagy. C9 aggregates form in human tissues, C9-associated signaling responses occur in three mouse models, and ZFYVE21 stabilizes RNF34 to promote C9 aggrephagy in vivo. Gene-deficient mice lacking ZFYVE21 in ECs showed reduced MAC-induced tissue injury in a skin model of chronic rejection. While classically defined as cytotoxic effectors, MACs may impair proteostasis, forming aggregates that behave as intracellular alarmins.
Evaluation of groundwater quality and contamination hazardous using water quality index and physicochemical analysis in Assiut governorate, Upper Egypt
Authors: O Nassar W. , Hosny Rasha , Ghareeb Mohammed , Abd-Elhamid Hany F. , Zelenáková Martina , Gad Manal
Published: June 2024

The primary water sources for Egypt are the River of the Nile and groundwater. Evaluating and assessing these vital resources is crucial for responsible usage and meeting the growing demand for water. In Assiut area, groundwater stands as the second most significant freshwater source, serving all sectors including industrial sector, agricultural sector, and lastly domestic sector. Unfortunately, the source of groundwater in Assiut governorate face the imminent threat of contamination, primarily due to agricultural and other activities. A hydrochemical investigation was conducted graphically and spatially within GIS environment in the limestone Eocene aquifer of the designated study area. This research involved the collection and analysis of twelve groundwater samples to realize the physiochemical characteristics, providing insights into the hydrochemistry of the water. The assessment of water quality involved evaluating parameter concentrations and comparing them to drinking water and irrigation standards set by both the Organization of World Health (WHO) and the Egyptian Specifications (ES). These parameters comprise of; Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Nitrate (NO3-) and Fluoride (F-). The analysis indicates that the groundwater is not entirely suitable for drinking, particularly concerning TDS, COD, and TOC. In certain samples, the parameters concentrations surpass the allowable limits defined by both WHO and ES. This is due to the increase in domestic and industrial wastewater discharge the stretch, as well as other harmful anthropogenic activities, and human interventions. The findings of this study could help the policymakers to take the suitable action to protect people and animals’ health form contaminated water.
Matched comparative study of 3D printed microporous tantalum prosthesis versus autologous bone graft in the final stage of Masquelet induced membrane surgery
Authors: Yang Yin , Xu Yongqing , Shi Jian , Zhang Hu , He Xiaoqing , Qi Baochuang , Wang Ten , Yu Wei , Li Gang , Fan Xinyu
Published: June 2024

Introduction:
Masquelet induced membrane surgery is a viable option for the reconstruction of extensive bone defects. This study aimed to comprehensively compare the clinical efficacy of 3D printed microporous tantalum prosthesis and autologous bone graft in the final stage of Masquelet induced membrane surgery during the treatment of lower extremity osteomyelitis with large segmental bone defect.
Methods
A prospective analysis was conducted on 43 patients with large segmental bone defect caused by lower extremity osteomyelitis treated with Masquelet induced membrane surgery. Among these, 21 patients were implanted 3D printed microporous tantalum prosthesis (Prosthesis group), while 22 patients were implanted autologous bone graft (Autologous bone group) in the final-stage surgery. Follow-up was conducted for 12 months postoperatively. Clinical efficacy was evaluated using the Paley grade for bone defect healing, Visual analog scale (VAS), Lower extremity functional scale (LEFS), Fernandez-Esteve eschar score, and time to full weight-bearing. The clinical outcomes between the two treatment groups were compared.
Results
Postoperatively, the scores of VAS and LEFS significantly improved compared to preoperative values in both groups (all P < 0.001). Compared to the Autologous bone group, the Prosthesis group demonstrated significantly higher LEFS scores and Fernandez-Esteve eschar scores, along with a significantly shorter time to full weight-bearing (all P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Both implants show remarkable efficacy in the reconstruction of large segmental bone defect caused by lower extremity osteomyelitis. However, 3D printed microporous tantalum prosthesis exhibits certain advantages over the autologous bone graft in terms of limb function recovery, bone callus growth, and early weight-bearing.
Population genomics of eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, in a well-mixed estuarine system: advancement and implications for restoration strategies
Authors: Stasse Alyssa , Brown Bonnie L.
Published: June 2024

Eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, are historically a keystone species in many of the estuaries in which they reside, providing critical ecosystem services. Because oyster populations have been on the decline, restoration initiatives currently are underway in many estuarine systems including Great Bay Estuary (GBE), New Hampshire. Results of prior studies of eastern oyster population genomics cannot be applied directly to GBE, as it is a well-mixed estuarine system that is relatively contained, and the sources of recruits are split among cultivated and native. This study aimed to identify the population genomic structure of eastern oysters in GBE, to facilitate determination of effective population size and estimation of genetic differentiation among subpopulations. Results showed moderate genomic differentiation among native, cultivated, and restoration C. virginica subpopulations in the Bay. A small number of breeders (Ne=163 – 276) was found in all subpopulations except the Lamprey River site (Ne=995). This research provides a contemporary snapshot of eastern oyster subpopulation structure at the genomic level in GBE that will facilitate restoration and enhanced management.
The efficacy of norepinephrine application in Mammotome-assisted minimally invasive resection for benign breast neoplasm: A retrospective study Running title：norepinephrine application in benign breast neoplasm
Authors: Sun Yafei , Xu Zipeng , Hu Jing , You Lina , Chen Chaobo
Published: June 2024

Objective
Although Mammotome-assisted minimally invasive resection (MAMIR) has been widely accepted for treating breast benign nodules, the procedure remains very technical and challenging. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of norepinephrine application in MAMIR concerning intraoperative hemorrhage, postoperative pain and postoperative hospitalization.
Methods
A total of 306 patients with breast nodules admitted at the Xishan people’s Hospital of Wuxi City between June 2021 and July 2023 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for outcomes.
Results
A total of 155 who accepted MAMIR were included in this study. Univariable analysis indicated that bilateral nodules, operation time and intraoperative hemorrhage were risk factors for increasing postoperative hospitalization, while the usage of norepinephrine during operation helped to reduce postoperative hospitalization (P < 0.05), but none of them were independent factors influencing postoperative hospitalization according to the multivariable analysis (P > 0.05). Furthermore, multivariate analysis identified the usage of norepinephrine during MAMIR as an independent factor associated with reducing intraoperative hemorrhage (OR = 0.11, 95%CI: 0.05–0.26, P < 0.001) and relieving postoperative pain (OR = 0.02, 95%CI: 0.004–0.08, P < 0.001).
Conclusions
Norepinephrine could help to reduce postoperative hospitalization and intraoperative hemorrhage, also relieve postoperative pain for breast benign nodules resection, which was an independent protective factor for relieving postoperative pain and reducing intraoperative hemorrhage.
Impact of Policy Change on Late-Term Abortion: A Two Decades Analysis
Authors: zlotin marina pekar , Berman Yael Nehama , Melcer Yaakov , Radinsky Igal Igor , Maymon Ron
Published: June 2024

Objective Advances in ultrasound and molecular genetics have changed the field of late termination of pregnancy (LTOP), sparking ethical debates worldwide. In 2007, Israel updated its LTOP policies, requiring a 30% or higher probability of severe handicap for approval of LTOP after 24 weeks’ gestation.
Purpose In this retrospective study we compared LTOP indications and approval rates before (Group 1: 1998–2007) and after (Group 2: 2008–2021) this policy change.
Methods Shamir medical records from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2021 were examined, and yielded 4057 abortions of which 338 were identified as LTOP preformed after 24 weeks’ gestation. These cases were then categorized into two groups. Data including maternal age, obstetric history, indications for abortion, diagnosis, week of termination, and genetic/sonographic findings were analyzed. The approval rates and indications pre- and post- policy change were compared.
Results Group 1 (LTOP 1998–2007) comprised 135 cases (39.9%), and Group 2 (LTOP 2008–2021) was composed of 203 cases (60.1%). Fetal structural anomalies remained the dominant indication for both groups (66.7% and 56.2%, respectively), with a slight increase in confirmed genetic anomalies from 28.1% (Group 1) to 33% (Group 2).
Conclusion Despite the policy changes in 2007, our findings indicate an increase from 39.9–60.1% in the rate of LTOP. Technological advances in genetic evaluation and sonography may have contributed to the increased detection and approval of cases. These results highlight the importance of ongoing ethical reviews and adherence to strict protocols for early detection and termination before 24 weeks’ gestation.
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Does Not Improve Anesthetic Recovery in Rodents
Authors: Goodnough Candida L , Montoya July , Cartusciello Erica B , Floranda Erin L , Gross Eric R
Published: June 2024

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) is implicated in bioenergetics, DNA repair, and senescence. Depletion of NAD+ is associated with aging and neurodegenerative disease, prompting a growing interest in NAD+ supplementation. With rising over-the-counter use of NAD, understanding their impact on perioperative recovery becomes essential. This study investigates the effect of NADH, a common NAD+ precursor, on anesthesia in rodents. Baseline and post-anesthesia (1.5% isoflurane) open field and Y-maze activity were recorded in adult male and female C57/BL6 mice (n = 8–10/group). NADH (150 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) or vehicle (0.9% normal saline) were given at baseline or during anesthesia. The NADH-treated group exhibited a significant decrease in open-field activity relative to vehicle-treated. This diminished activity was reflected in reduced distance travelled and average velocity after emergence from anesthesia in the NADH-treated group. NADH treatment did not improve Y-maze performance after anesthesia as the number of visits to the novel arm was significantly decreased. This study demonstrates a potentially adverse impact of NADH on recovery from anesthesia. We revealed a depression in open-field activity and Y-maze performance with NADH supplementation, an indicator of cognitive recovery in rodents. The broad implications of NAD+ in aging are likely to shape supplementation trends, highlighting the importance of understanding the potential influence of administering NAD+ on anesthetic sensitivity and recovery.
The cochlear morphology alteration and hearing loss in Cep250 knockout mice
Authors: Nan Benyu , Gu Xi , Wu Xinlei , Chen Keyang , Zhang Chuqin , Fan Qijun , Chen Yingying , Chen Bobei , Huang Xiufeng
Published: June 2024

Background: Usher syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by sensorineural hearing loss, progressive vision loss, and in some cases, vestibular dysfunction. It is the most common cause of combined deafness and blindness. Cep250 is a candidate gene for atypical Usher syndrome. This study explores inner ear morphological and auditory functional changes in atypical Usher syndrome using a Cep250−/− mouse model.
Methods: We constructed the Cep250−/− mice using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology, and analyzed scRNA-seq data derived from studying Cep250 expression in the cochlea of normal mice at different stages. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were applied to wild-type, heterozygous and homozygous Cep250−/− mice at about P30 to P60 to assess the general function of the inner ear. The swimming test was used to examine the vestibular function of the inner ear. Immunofluorescent staining was applied to observe hair cell morphology and count hair cell numbers.
Results: We demonstrate that Cep250−/− mice exhibit impaired hearing function, particularly in high-frequency ranges, whereas their vestibular function remains unaffected. Immunofluorescence staining reveals a significant reduction in the number of cochlear hair cells in Cep250−/− mice, confirming the association between Cep250 gene mutation and hearing function loss. Heterozygous mice show no significant changes in hearing, indicating that a single allele mutation in Cep250 is insufficient to affect normal Cep250 expression levels.
Conclusion: Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of atypical Usher syndrome and may guide future research and therapeutic strategies for this condition.
Complete mitochondrial genome of Agropyron cristatum reveals gene transfer and RNA editing events
Authors: Ou Taiyou , Wu Zinian , Tian Chunyu , Yang Yanting , Li Zhiyong
Published: June 2024

Background As an important forage in arid and semi-arid regions, Agropyron cristatumprovides livestock with exceptionally high nutritional value. Additionally, A. cristatum exhibits outstanding genetic characteristics to endure drought and disease. Therefore, rich genetic diversity serves as a cornerstone for the improvement of major food crops. The purposes of this study were to systematically describe mitogenome of A.cristatumand preliminarily analyze its internal variations.
ResultThe A. cristatum mitogenome was a single-ring molecular structure of 381,065 bp that comprised 52 genes, including 35 protein-coding, 3 rRNA and 14 tRNA genes. Among these, two pseudoprotein-coding genes and multiple copies of tRNA genes were observed. A total of 320 repetitive sequences was found to cover more than 10% of the mitogenome (105 simple sequences, 185 dispersed and 30 tandem repeats), which led to a large number of fragment rearrangements in the mitogenome of A. cristatum. Leucine was the most frequent amino acid(n=1087,10.8%) in the protein-coding genes of A. cristatum mitogenome, and the highest usage codon was ATG(initiation codon). The number of A/T changes at the third base of the codon was much higher than that of G/C. Additionally, 81 RNA editing sites were predicted, which were considerably fewer than those reported in other plant mitogenomes. Most of the RNA editing site base positions were concentrated at the first and second condon bases, which were C to T transitions. Moreover, we identified 95 sequencce fragments (total length of 34，343bp) that were transferred from the chloroplast to mitochondria genes, introns, and intergenic regions. The stability of the tRNA genes was maintained during this process. Selection pressure analysis of 23 protein-coding genes shared by 15 Poaceae plants, showed that most genes were subjected to purifying selectionduring evolution, whereas rps4, cob, mttB, and ccmBunderwent positive selection in different plants. Finally, a phylogenetic tree was constructd based on 22 plant mitogenomes, which showed that Agropyronplants have a high degree of independent heritability in Triticeae.
ConclusionThe findings of this study provide new data for a better understanding of A. cristatum genes, and demonstrate that mitogenomes are suitable for the study of plant classifications, such as those of Agropyron. Moreover, it provides a reference for further exploration of the phylogenetic relationships within Agropyron species, and establishes a theoretical basis for the subsequent development and utilization of A. cristatum plant germplasm resources.
Agro-morphological characterization of 100 pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] accessions of Indian National Gene Bank and assessment of diversity present for efficient utilization in pigeonpea improvement programs
Authors: Mishra Anchal , Gore Padmavati , Sahu Mayuri
Published: June 2024

Altogether 100 genotypes of pigeonpea including 6 checks viz; KRG- 33, PT-0012, UPAS-120, CORG-9701, BDN-716, C.G ARHAR-2 were evaluated in Augmented Block Design. Characterization and grouping of genotypes for yield specific traits were carried out with the help of descriptor of pigeonpea suggested by PPV&FRA. The knowledge of nature and extent of genetic variation are available in the pigeonpea genotypes, collection, conservation and characterization of genotype is the backbone of any crop improvement program which in turn depends on the extent of genetic diversity in gene pool. Diversity in plant genotypes provides opportunity for plant breeders to develop new and improved cultivars with desirable characteristics, which include both preferred traits viz. earliness and yield attributing traits.In the present study assessment of genetic diversity is done wih the help of D2 Analysis. 100 accessions were grouped into 6 clusters. The intra cluster distance varied from 0 to 1713.60 and the inter cluster varied from 2235.09 to 9750.48 it clearly demonstrated considerable amount of genetic divergence present in material study.
Association of PM 2.5 and its components with hospital admissions, length of hospital stay, and hospital costs due to type 2 diabetes in Shanghai
Authors: Liang Hongyu , Zhou Wenyong , Wen Zexuan , Wei Jing , Wang Weibing
Published: June 2024

The short-term influence of particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and its individual elements on hospital costs, the length of hospital stay (LOS), and hospital admissions caused by type 2 diabetes remains unclear. A generalized additive model (GAM) was utilized to assess the association with these indicators for every 10 µg/m3 rise in PM2.5 and its components. For every 10 µg/m3 rise in PM2.5 and its components, with a lag time of 0 days, there was a significant increase in daily hospital costs, LOS and hospital admissions for type 2 diabetes. The three indicators increased approximately linearly with organic matter (OM) concentration at all concentrations tested while they increased linearly with a specific concentration range for PM2.5 and other components concentrations. These findings suggested that short-term exposure to elevated levels of PM2.5 as well as its components increased the risk of hospital costs, LOS, and hospital admissions due to type 2 diabetes.
A Multi-Task Learning-based applicable AI model precisely predicts stage, histology, grade and LNM for cervical cancer
Authors: Wang Zhixiang , Gao Huiqiao , Wang Xinghao , Grzegorzek Marcin , Li Jinfeng , Sun Hengzi , Ma Yidi , Zhang Xuefang , Zhang Zhen , Dekker Andre , Traverso Alberto , Zhang Zhenyu , Qian Linxue , Xiao Meizhu , Feng Ying
Published: June 2024

Purpose To build a Multy-Task Learning (MTL)-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) model that can precisely predict clinical stage, histology, grade and LNM for cervical cancer simultaneously.Methods A retrospective database with preoperative clinical information of cervical cancer was used as training set. A prospective database was collected as independent validation set. The ANN algorithm was used to build a MTL based AI model. The accuracy and weighted F1 score were calculated as evaluation indicators. The performance between MTL model and Single-Task Learning (STL) model was compared. Furthermore, the Turing test was performed by gynecologists and compared with this AI model.Results A total of retrospectively 223 and 58 prospectively cervical cancer cases were enrolled into the training set and independent validation set. The accuracy of this cervical cancer AI model constructed with ANN algorithm in predicting stage, histology, grade and LNM were 75%, 95%, 86% and 76%, respectively. And the corresponding weighted F1 score were 70%, 94%, 86%, and 76%, respectively. The average time consumption of AI simultaneously, doctor, and doctor with AI predicting stage, histology, grade and LNM for cervical cancer was 0.01s (95%CI: 0.01–0.01) ,581.1s (95%CI: 300.0-900.0) ,and 534.8s (95%CI: 255.0-720.0) per 20 patients, respectively. Except for LNM, both the accuracy and F-score of the AI model were significantly better than STL AI, doctors and AI-assisted doctors in predicting stage, grade and histology. (P < 0.05) The time consumption of AI was significantly less than that of doctors’ prediction and AI-assisted doctors’ results. (P < 0.05)Conclusions A multi-task learning AI model can simultaneously predict stage, histology, grade and LNM for cervical cancer preoperatively with minimal time consumption.
A Multispectral Automated Transfer Technique (MATT) for machine-driven image labeling utilizing the Segment Anything Model (SAM)
Authors: Gallagher James , Gogia Aryav , Oughton Edward
Published: June 2024

Segment Anything Model (SAM) is drastically accelerating the speed and accuracy of automatically segmenting and labeling large Red-Green-Blue (RGB) imagery datasets. However, SAM is unable to segment and label images outside of the visible light spectrum, for example, for multispectral or hyperspectral imagery. Therefore, this paper outlines a method we call the Multispectral Automated Transfer Technique (MATT). By transposing SAM segmentation masks from RGB images we can automatically segment and label multispectral imagery with high precision and efficiency. For example, the results demonstrate that segmenting and labeling a 2,400-image dataset utilizing MATT achieves a time reduction of 87.8% in developing a trained model, reducing roughly 20 hours of manual labeling, to only 2.4 hours. This efficiency gain is associated with only a 6.7% decrease in overall mean average precision (mAP) when training multispectral models via MATT, compared to a manually labeled dataset. We consider this an acceptable level of precision loss when considering the time saved during training, especially for rapidly prototyping experimental modeling methods. This research greatly contributes to the study of multispectral object detection by providing a novel and open-source method to rapidly segment, label, and train multispectral object detection models with minimal human interaction. Future research needs to focus on applying these methods to (i) space-based multispectral, and (ii) drone-based hyperspectral imagery.
“Dentists are never seen”: Perspectives of key policy actors on multiple job holding among dentists in Nairobi, Kenya
Authors: Ogada Cyril , Rispel Laetitia C.
Published: June 2024

Background
Multiple job holding (MJH), the phenomenon of working in more than one paid job simultaneously, affects the achievement of universal health coverage. The dearth of research on MJH among dentists, especially in Africa, forms the backdrop to this study.
Objective
This study aimed to explore the perspectives of key policy actors on MJH among dentists in Nairobi, Kenya.
Methods
This qualitative study combined semi-structured interviews with key informants and in-depth interviews with dentists who are engaged in MJH. The key informants were selected purposively from the Kenyan government, the regulator, representative organizations of dentists, and oral health researchers and/or experts in human resources for health. The dentists were selected from the government, the private sector, and faith-based organizations, using snowball sampling. The interviews focused on knowledge and/or experiences of MJH, reasons for, and the consequences of MJH. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results
30 interviews were conducted, comprising 20 key informants, and 10 dentists. MJH among dentists is seen as a normative practice, facilitated by a profession characterized by high rewards and few or no adverse consequences from absenteeism. Although additional income is the primary motivation for MJH, low job satisfaction, the lack of continuing professional development, perverse incentives, and a dysfunctional and resource-constrained public health sector exacerbate MJH. The lack of regulation compounds the practice, while a strong private health sector provides opportunities for multiple sources of income, that negatively affects the provision of oral health services in the public sector.
Conclusion
MJH among dentists requires a multi-pronged approach that combines individual, system, and structural interventions.
An Elevated Triglyceride-Glucose Index Correlates with a Higher Risk of Gout: NHANES 2009-2018
Authors: Chen Yanhao , Li Xiang , Bao Jie , Fan Yongsheng , Huang Shuo
Published: June 2024

Background: Gout, characterized by recurrent inflammation, results from excessive uric acid deposition. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a reliable tool for assessing insulin sensitivity. However, the specific connection between the TyG index and gout is currently not well understood. To bridge this gap, our research aims to analyze the linkage between the TyG index and gout in U.S. adults.
Method: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) provided data covering 2009 to 2018. To guarantee a rigorous analysis, we selected participants older than 20 years with complete data on the TyG index and gout. Additionally, the research applied multiple regression and subgroup analysis to explore the distinct association linking the TyG index with gout.
Results: Ultimately, the study included 12,378 participants, presenting an average TyG index of 8.59 ± 0.68, with 604 (4.88%) suffering from gout. Employing fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis, the model reveals the positive correlation linking the TyG index with the incidence of gout (Model 3: OR=1.44, 95% CI: 1.25-1.67). Additionally, interaction analysis revealed that gender, diabetes, hypertension, smoking status, marital status, and education level had no significant influence on the connection linking the TyG index with gout.
Conclusion: A higher TyG index suggests an elevated risk of gout. Given the TyG index's critical role in evaluating insulin resistance (IR), initiating early interventions for IR might reduce gout occurrences.
Edge-Side Highly Configurable Accelerator With Efficient Automatic Structure Search Scheme
Authors: xiang haobin , wu wentao , yu miao , shao xinnan , li chunlei
Published: June 2024

As the integration of artificial intelligence and industry becomes increasingly interwined, there is a growing focus in both academia and industry on promoting neural networks to achieve real-time high-performance implement on resource-limited devices. Edge computing usually suffers limitations in terms of storage space, size, and power consumption, it’s a great challenge to deploy exisiting convolutional neural networks (CNN) such devices. To tackle this challenge, one of the effective approachs is network pruning, which aims to reduce the size of neural networks by elimination unnecessary parameters and connections. However, most existing network pruning schemes formulate the importance criteria manually, which introduced a lot of additional parameters, leading to insufficiently stable pruning effects, and the setting of design and parameters for pruning methods heavily relies on expert experience. In this paper, we proposed a new channel pruning method based on subtractive average optimizer, which can automatically search for the optimal network model substructure, called SABOPruner. In addition, a highly configurable lightweight and high-performance CNN accelerator is proposed. On this basis, we then designed a pipelined inference architecture based on local-aware region convolution to achieve highly parallel processing of fearures and weights and buffer scheduling. Inorder to verify the effectiveness of the above approach,VGG16 and ResNet56 were deployed on Xilinx XC7Z035 platform, and the experimental results showed that VGG16 can achieve 4.4 frames per second (FPS) and 1.26 times higher memory density compared to state-of-the-art designs, and ResNet56 can achieve 40FPS based on CIFAR-10 dataset.%MCEpastebin%
Trans-Arterial Chemoembolization or Bland Embolization for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Analysis
Authors: Ramos-Esqu Allan , Solis Bruno , Araya Wilberth , Garita-Rojas Esteban , Marenco-Flores Ana , Umañan Carlos
Published: June 2024

Background
Although Trans-Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) is the most common procedure for the treatment of intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), scarce data have demonstrated the superiority of this approach over bland embolization (TAE).
Aim
In this study we aimed to compare the effectiveness and liver-related complications of these two procedures through a propensity score matching (PSM) analysis.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of patients with HCC treated with first-line TAE (using Lipiodol ®) or TACE (using a chemotherapy-lipiodol emulsion or drug-eluting beads) in two referral centers between 2019 and 2021. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). A Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify predictors for OS after adjustment using a PSM.
Results
A total of 114 patients were analyzed, with 73 and 41 of them receiving TACE or TAE, respectively. All included patients had diagnosis of advanced chronic liver disease, with a Child-Pugh score A in 72.8%. After a median follow-up of 17.9 months and PSM adjustment, no difference in terms of OS (HR: 1.19; 95%CI: 0.64–1.96 p = 0.69) was observed between patients receiving TACE or TAE. After multivariate analysis, only the Child-Pugh score was independently associated to OS. The frequency of liver-related complications was similar among both groups (5 vs 7.5%; p = 0.17).
Conclusions
After PSM, TAE and TACE provide comparable long-term outcomes and liver-related complications in patients with HCC.