bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The clinical spectrum of MELAS and associated disorders across ages: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Cox Benjamin C. , Pearson Jennifer Y. , Mandrekar Jay , Gavrilova Ralitza H.
Published: December 2023

Objective

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is a severe multisystemic disease, although some have a milder phenotype. We aimed to evaluate the clinical spectrum of this disease from MELAS patients to asymptomatic carriers and identify predictors of severity.

Methods

We reviewed 81 patients, who had MELAS or had positive genetics without meeting clinical criteria. Patients who met criteria including lactic acidosis, encephalomyopathy, and stroke-like episodes (SLE) were categorized as MELAS, symptomatic non-MELAS, and asymptomatic. MELAS was further categorized as “standard-onset” if the first stroke-like episode (SLE) occurred before age 40 or “late-onset.”

Results

Eighty-one patients were included: 42 MELAS (13 late-onset), 30 symptomatic non-MELAS, and 9 asymptomatic. MELAS patients had lower BMI at onset (mean 18.6 vs. 25.1 asymptomatic and 22.0 symptomatic non-MELAS, p < 0.05). There was a trend toward higher serum heteroplasmy in MELAS compared to symptomatic non-MELAS and asymptomatic (means 39.3, 29.3, and 21.8% p = 0.09). Symptomatic non-MELAS had more sensorineural hearing loss as first presenting symptom (51.6% vs. 24.4%, p < 0.05). MELAS had higher prevalence of seizures (88.1% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.05) and shorter survival from onset to death (50% mortality at 25 years vs. 10%, p < 0.05). Late-onset MELAS had longer disease duration from first symptom to first SLE (mean 16.6 vs. 9.3 yrs) and also lived longer (mean age at death 62 vs. 30). Standard-onset MELAS had more neurologic involvement at onset than late-onset (51.7% vs. 15.4%). Late-onset patients had more prevalent diabetes (69.2% vs. 13.8%) and nephropathy (53.8% vs. 10.3%). Patients with late-onset MELAS also had more organ systems involved (mean 4.1 vs. 2.7, p < 0.05). There was a trend toward higher heteroplasmy levels in standard-onset (mean 44.8% vs. 25.3%, p = 0.18).

Discussion

Our study highlights the spectrum of MELAS. The lower BMI in MELAS at presentation as well as higher rates of sensorineural hearing loss as initial symptom in symptomatic non-MELAS may be useful clinical markers. While many patients present before age 40 with SLE, some can present with SLE later in life. Standard onset MELAS is more likely to present with neurologic symptoms. Late-onset is more likely to suffer diabetes or nephropathy and have more organ systems involved.
Complex torcular dural arteriovenous fistula leading to cortical venous reflux-induced severe varix and subsequent bilateral cerebral hemispheric hemorrhage: a case report
Authors: Li Ziqi , Hou Pengwei , Chen Qizuan , Mu Shuwen , Li Jun , Fang Yi , Jiang Wenting , Tian Xinhua , Wang Shousen
Published: December 2023

Background and importance

Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) with cortical venous reflux (CVR) are associated with a higher incidence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). We report a rare case of a complex torcular dAVF with severe cortical veins (CV) varix leading to extensive bilateral cerebral hemorrhages. This discovery suggests a potential new subtype of dAVF. The case underscores the necessity of a comprehensive understanding of hemodynamic changes in dAVFs and the importance of considering venous compensatory capacity in treatment. This case challenges existing classifications and treatment strategies for dAVFs, highlighting the need for further research and discussion within the neurosurgical community.

Clinical presentation

A 56-year-old male was admitted to the hospital presenting with dizziness, fatigue, and numbness. Brain CT scans revealed extensive bilateral cerebral hemorrhages. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) identified a complex torcular dAVF. No cerebral sinus venous thrombosis was detected, but a venous variation in the left transverse sinus was observed. Preoperative DSA demonstrated the patient’s well-developed venous compensatory ability. Subsequently, the patient underwent transarterial embolization. The patient made a good recovery. Follow-up DSA and MR angiography at 3 months and 1 year post-treatment showed no recurrence.

Conclusion

DAVFs are rare lesions, prone to ICH, particularly when CVR is involved. We report a rare case of CVR with severe varix leading to hemorrhagic lesions in both cerebral hemispheres. Our aim is to alert neurosurgical colleagues worldwide to this potential new subtype and to evaluate treatment options, in order to assist those who may encounter such cases in the future.
Evaluation and management of orthostatic headache in hypermobility disorders
Authors: Fermo Olga P.
Published: December 2023

Headache is a frequent symptom among patients with hypermobility spectrum disorders. This mini review focuses specifically on a challenging aspect of headache evaluation in all patients, but especially those with hypermobility – the orthostatic headache. While the differential for an orthostatic headache is overall limited, patients with hypermobility disorders have risk factors for all of the most commonly encountered orthostatic headache disorders. The most common conditions to produce orthostatic headaches are discussed – spontaneous intracranial hypotension, cervicogenic headache, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Less common etiologies of orthostatic headache pertinent to any patient are presented in table format.
Effects of presentation level on speech-on-speech masking by voice-gender difference and spatial separation between talkers
Authors: Oh Yonghee , Friggle Phillip , Kinder Josephine , Tilbrook Grace , Bridges Sarah E.
Published: December 2023

Many previous studies have reported that speech segregation performance in multi-talker environments can be enhanced by two major acoustic cues: (1) voice-characteristic differences between talkers; (2) spatial separation between talkers. Here, the improvement they can provide for speech segregation is referred to as “release from masking.” The goal of this study was to investigate how masking release performance with two cues is affected by various target presentation levels. Sixteen normal-hearing listeners participated in the speech recognition in noise experiment. Speech-on-speech masking performance was measured as the threshold target-to-masker ratio needed to understand a target talker in the presence of either same- or different-gender masker talkers to manipulate the voice-gender difference cue. These target-masker gender combinations were tested with five spatial configurations (maskers co-located or 15°, 30°, 45°, and 60° symmetrically spatially separated from the target) to manipulate the spatial separation cue. In addition, those conditions were repeated at three target presentation levels (30, 40, and 50 dB sensation levels). Results revealed that the amount of masking release by either voice-gender difference or spatial separation cues was significantly affected by the target level, especially at the small target-masker spatial separation (±15°). Further, the results showed that the intersection points between two masking release types (equal perceptual weighting) could be varied by the target levels. These findings suggest that the perceptual weighting of masking release from two cues is non-linearly related to the target levels. The target presentation level could be one major factor associated with masking release performance in normal-hearing listeners.
Quantitative imaging for 177Lu-PSMA treatment response monitoring and dosimetry
Authors: Meyer Catherine , Szidonya Laszlo , Winters Celeste , Mench Anna , Mallak Nadine , Mittra Erik
Published: December 2023

PSMA-targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy is an established treatment option for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). However, response rates and duration using 177Lu-PSMA-617 vary considerably between patients. Quantitative 177Lu SPECT imaging is one approach that may be leveraged to more closely monitor inter-cycle response, as well as patient-specific absorbed doses. In this work, we describe our experience implementing quantitative imaging throughout the course of 177Lu-PSMA treatment, including serial SPECT imaging to monitor response and for individualized dosimetry. We also describe our imaging protocols and dose calculation workflows for 3D voxelized patient-specific organ and tumor dosimetry, including a review of the current landscape and efforts towards harmonized dosimetry.
Prevalence and prognostic value of baseline sarcopenia in hematologic malignancies: a systematic review
Authors: Zeng Xiaofeng , Zhang Liying , Zhang Yu , Jia Shuli , Lin Taiping , Zhao Xuman , Huang Xiaoli
Published: December 2023

Background

The correlation between sarcopenia and hematological malignancy prognosis is still controversial. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Objectives: To explore sarcopenia’s prevalence and prognostic value in hematologic malignancies.

Data sources and methods

We searched Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library through Ovid SP using an appropriate search strategy on August 28, 2022, and updated the search results on January 9, 2023. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The pooled prevalence of sarcopenia was calculated with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Relationships between sarcopenia and prognostic value were expressed as hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI. HR means the probability of something undesirable, i.e., death or disease progression.

Results

The search identified more than 3992 studies, and 21 (3354 patients, median or mean age ranging from 36 to 78 years) were finally included. The risk of bias in the studies was low to medium. All included studies were diagnosed based on low muscle mass (LMM). Muscle mass was assessed mainly through imaging technologies, and different cut-offs were applied to determine LMM. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 44.5%, which could fluctuate by age. Subgroup analysis showed that older people had a higher sarcopenic rate than the non-elderly group. Sarcopenia resulted in an inferior prognosis [overall survival: HR 1.821, 95% CI 1.415-2.343; progression-free survival: HR 1.703, 95% CI 1.128-2.571).

Conclusion

Sarcopenia has a prevalence of over 30% in malignant hematologic patients and is associated with a poorer prognosis. Future studies with a standardized sarcopenia diagnostic criterion were needed to investigate sarcopenia’s prevalence and prognostic effects in hematologic malignancies.
Blood glucose forecasting from temporal and static information in children with T1D
Authors: Marx Alexander , Di Stefano Francesco , Leutheuser Heike , Chin-Cheong Kieran , Pfister Marc , Burckhardt Marie-Anne , Bachmann Sara , Vogt Julia E.
Published: December 2023

Background

The overarching goal of blood glucose forecasting is to assist individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in avoiding hyper- or hypoglycemic conditions. While deep learning approaches have shown promising results for blood glucose forecasting in adults with T1D, it is not known if these results generalize to children. Possible reasons are physical activity (PA), which is often unplanned in children, as well as age and development of a child, which both have an effect on the blood glucose level.

Materials and Methods

In this study, we collected time series measurements of glucose levels, carbohydrate intake, insulin-dosing and physical activity from children with T1D for one week in an ethics approved prospective observational study, which included daily physical activities. We investigate the performance of state-of-the-art deep learning methods for adult data—(dilated) recurrent neural networks and a transformer—on our dataset for short-term (30 min) and long-term (2 h) prediction. We propose to integrate static patient characteristics, such as age, gender, BMI, and percentage of basal insulin, to account for the heterogeneity of our study group.

Results

Integrating static patient characteristics (SPC) proves beneficial, especially for short-term prediction. LSTMs and GRUs with SPC perform best for a prediction horizon of 30 min (RMSE of 1.66 mmol/l), a vanilla RNN with SPC performs best across different prediction horizons, while the performance significantly decays for long-term prediction. For prediction during the night, the best method improves to an RMSE of 1.50 mmol/l. Overall, the results for our baselines and RNN models indicate that blood glucose forecasting for children conducting regular physical activity is more challenging than for previously studied adult data.

Conclusion

We find that integrating static data improves the performance of deep-learning architectures for blood glucose forecasting of children with T1D and achieves promising results for short-term prediction. Despite these improvements, additional clinical studies are warranted to extend forecasting to longer-term prediction horizons.
Twinning as a risk factor for neonatal acute intestinal diseases: a case-control study
Authors: Peila C. , Spada E. , Riboldi L. , Capitanio M. , Pellegrino F. , Coscia A.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Acute intestinal diseases (AID), including necrotizing enterocolitis and spontaneous intestinal perforation, are a group of conditions that typically present in preterm infants, and are associated with an elevated mortality and morbidity rate. The risk factors for these diseases remain largely unknown. The aim of the study is to identify the correlation between twinning and the development of AID.

Methods

A single-center retrospective case–control study was conducted. We recruited all infants with a diagnosis of AID, confirmed by anatomopathology, recovered in NICU between 2010 and 2020. Considering the rarity of the outcome, 4 matched controls for each subject were randomly chosen from the overall population of newborns. Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were calculated using a conditional logistic regression model and a multivariate model by the creation of a Directed Acyclic Graph (www.dagitty.net).

Results

The study population resulted in 65 cases and 260 controls. The two groups present similar median gestational age and mean birthweight in grams. The cases have a higher frequency of neonatal pathology (defined as at least one of patent ductus arteriosus, early or late sepsis, severe respiratory distress) (84.6% vs. 51.9%), medically assisted procreation (33.8% vs. 18.8%) and periventricular leukomalacia (10.8% vs. 2.7%), and a lower frequency of steroids prophylaxis (67.7% vs. 86.9%). About 50% of cases needed surgery. The OR for the direct effect were difference from one using logistic regression booth without and with repeated measures statements: from 1.14 to 4.21 (p = .019) and from 1.16 to 4.29 (p = .016), respectively.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that twinning may be a risk factor for the development of AID. Due to the small number of cases observed, further studies on larger populations are needed.
GABAA receptors as plausible molecular targets and mediators for taurine and homotaurine actions
Authors: Meera Pratap , Uusi-Oukari Mikko , Lipshutz Gerald S. , Wallner Martin
Published: December 2023

Dementia and autoimmune diseases are prevalent conditions with limited treatment options. Taurine and homotaurine (HT) are naturally occurring sulfonate amino acids, with taurine being highly abundant in animal tissues, but declining with age in the blood. HT is a blood-brain barrier permeable drug under investigation for Alzheimer’s disease. HT also has beneficial effects in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis likely through an anti-inflammatory mechanism mediated by GABAA receptor (GABAAR) agonism in immune cells. While both taurine and HT are structural GABA analogs and thought to be GABA mimetics at GABAARs, there is uncertainty concerning their potency as GABA mimetics on native GABAARs. We show that HT is a very potent GABA mimetic, as it evokes GABAAR-mediated currents with an EC50 of 0.4 μM (vs. 3.7 μM for GABA and 116 µM for taurine) in murine cerebellar granule cells in brain slices, with both taurine and HT having similar efficacy in activating native GABAARs. Furthermore, HT displaces the high affinity GABAAR ligand [3H]muscimol at similarly low concentrations (HT IC50 of 0.16 μM vs. 125 μM for taurine) in mouse brain homogenates. The potency of taurine and HT as GABAAR agonists aligns with endogenous concentrations of taurine in the blood and with HT concentrations achieved in the brain following oral administration of HT or the HT pro-drug ALZ-801. Consequently, we discuss that GABAARs subtypes, similar to the ones we studied here in neurons, are plausible targets for mediating the potential beneficial effects of taurine in health and life-span extension and the beneficial HT effects in dementia and autoimmune conditions.
Safety and risks of CBD oils purchased online: unveiling uncertain quality and vague health claims
Authors: Vida Róbert György , Strauss Lilien Victoria , Bajtel Ákos , Kiss Tivadar , Csupor Dezső , Fittler András
Published: December 2023

Introduction: The unmet need for highly effective, naturally derived products with minimal side effects results in the over-popularity of ever-newer medicinal plants. In the middle of 2010, products containing cannabidiol (CBD), one of the special metabolites of Cannabis sativa, started to gain popularity. For consumers and healthcare providers alike, the legal context surrounding the marketing of CBD products is not entirely clear, and the safety of using some products is in doubt. Companies in the online medicinal product market profit from the confusion around CBD oils.

Methods: In our study, we employed a complex method known as risk-based safety mapping of the online pharmaceutical market, which included health claim content analysis of online stores, test purchases, and labeling and quantitative analysis of the CBD content.

Results: There were discovered 16 online retailers selling an average of 2–7 goods and CBD oils with a concentration of 3%–5% (30–50 mg/mL) CBD. The majority (n/N = 10/16, 62.5%) displayed potential health-related benefits indirectly on their website, and in the case of one web shop (n/N = 1/16, 6.3%), we detected COVID-19-related use. Altogether, 30 types of purported “indications” were collected. A total of 12 CBD oil products were test-purchased from online retailers in December 2020. Upon evaluating the packaging and product information, we noticed that three products (n/N = 3/12, 25%) lacked instructions on use, hence increasing the risk of inappropriate application and dosing. The cannabidiol content was quantified using UHPLC. The measured CBD concentrations of the products ranged from 19.58 mg/mL to 54.09 mg/mL (mean 35.51 mg/mL, median 30.63 mg/mL, and SD ± 12.57 mg/mL). One (8.33%) product was underlabeled, five (41.67%) were over-labeled, and only every second product (50%) was appropriately labeled based on the quantitative assessment of CBD concentration.

Discussion: Further research and quality control are necessary to establish the regulatory context of the usage and classification of CBD and other cannabinoids in nonmedicinal products (e.g., food supplements), as authorities and policymakers worldwide struggle with the uncertainties surrounding CBD products.
Boswellia carterii oleoresin extracts induce caspase-mediated apoptosis and G1 cell cycle arrest in human leukaemia subtypes
Authors: Jones Matthew Allan , Borun Anna , Greensmith David James
Published: December 2023

Background: Leukemias are a common cancer in adults and children. While existing treatments are effective, they are associated with severe side-effects compounded by the emergence of drug resistance. This necessitates the need to develop new drugs and phytopharmaceuticals offer a largely untapped source. Oleoresins produced by plants in the genus Boswellia have been used for centuries in traditional medicine and recent work suggests they may exhibit anti-cancer activity. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear and most existing research focusses on Boswellia serrata; just one of many species in the Boswellia genus. To address these limitations, we elucidated the anti-cancer potential and associated mechanisms of action of Boswellia carterii.

Methods: A methanolic solvent extraction method was optimised. The effect of methanolic extracts of B. carterii on leukaemia (K562, MOLT-4 and CCRF-CEM) and normal (PBMC) cell line viability was assessed using MTT assay and flow cytometry. Cell morphology, apoptosis (Annexin-V/propidium iodide), mitochondrial membrane potential (Rhodamine-123) and the cell cycle (propidium iodide) were evaluated using flow cytometry. Regulatory protein expression was quantified using Western Blot.

Results: Methanolic extracts of B. carterii oleoresin reduced the viability of K562, MOLT-4 and CCRF-CEM cell lines with selectivity indexes of between 1.75 and 2.68. Extracts increased the proportion of cells in late apoptosis by 285.4% ± 51.6%. Mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased by 41% ± 2% and the expression of cleaved caspase-3, -7, and -9 was increased by 5.7, 3.3, and 1.5-fold respectively. Extracts increased the proportion of cells in subG1 and G1 phase by 867.8% ± 122.9% and 14.0 ± 5.5 and decreased those in S phase and G2/M by 63.4% ± 2.0% and 57.6% ± 5.3%. Expression of CDK2, CDK6, cyclin D1, and cyclin D3 were decreased by 2.8, 4.9, 3.9, and 2.5-fold.

Conclusion: We are the first to report that methanolic extracts of B. carterii are selectively cytotoxic against three leukemia cell lines. Cytotoxic mechanisms likely include activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway and cell cycle arrest through downregulation of CDK2, CDK6, cyclin D1, and cyclin D3. Our findings suggest that B. carterii may be an important source of novel chemotherapeutic drugs and justifies further investigation.
Why does strawberry fruit weight distribution show positive skewness? A simulation model reveals the underlying processes of fruit production
Authors: Cao Zhihao , Jiang Zhenfeng , Liu Guanghui , Wang Yong , Qu Hongchun
Published: December 2023

It is widely accepted that the weight distribution of plant fruits conforms to a standard normal distribution. However, some overlooked evidence suggests that some fruits, including strawberries, exhibit positive skewness in fruit weight distribution. This intriguing observation has received limited attention thus far. To shed light on this phenomenon, we conducted a comprehensive simulation study utilizing greenhouse-grown strawberries as our research subject. We modeled the entire process from bee pollination to pollen fertilization on the stigma and fruit growth. The experimental results demonstrated the reliability of the proposed simulation model and revealed that the positive skewness of the fruit weight distribution was the result of the multiplication of several complex intermediate variable distributions, which led to an approximately lognormal distribution. The simulation model and the derived conclusions presented in this paper offer a plausible explanation for the weight distribution patterns observed in strawberry production systems. Furthermore, research results have the potential to be applied to other berry plants that undergo similar bee pollination processes, thereby expanding our understanding of fruit weight distributions across different species.
Health-related quality of life and family functioning of primary caregivers of children with down syndrome
Authors: Rozensztrauch Anna , Wieczorek Karolina , Twardak Iwona , Śmigiel Robert
Published: December 2023

Background

Down Syndrome (DS; OMIM #190685), known as trisomy 21, is one of the most common genetic disorders in the human population and the commonest known cause of intellectual disability. The study was conducted to investigate the quality of life (QoL) of children with DS syndrome and its impact on family functioning.

Purpose of study

To assess the quality of life of children with trisomy 21 and the impact of the disorder on the family.

Methods

We used a cross-sectional questionnaire study. The respondents were 52 parents of children with trisomy 21. The following structured questionnaires were used: the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales, the PedsQL™ Family Impact Module and Study-Specific Questionnaire (SSQ).

Results

The combined scores, with a mean value of approximately 55 out of a possible 100 points, indicated a significant impact of the child’s genetic defect on family functioning. In the overall QOL, the highest rated domain was physical functioning (x̅ =60.14; SD = 23.82) and the lowest was school functioning (x̅ =51.36; SD = 18.72). Better school functioning (p = 0.022) was reported for girls. The presence of reduced muscle tone also had a negative impact on the child’s functioning in the physical (p = 0.036), emotional (p = 0.011), psychosocial (p = 0.027) and overall QOL domains (p = 0.023).

Conclusion

Overall, our results showed that the quality of life of children with trisomy 21 is impaired. There was a positive association between the child’s QOL and the QOL of their parents, as well as the general functioning of the child’s whole family. For this reason, an improvement in the QOL of parents and the family functioning is closely related to an increased QOL of the child. The continuous deepening of knowledge of QOL in individual trisomy 21 management allows for better preparation and ongoing care for the patients concerned.
Gross motor coordination in relation to weight status: a longitudinal study in children and pre-adolescents
Authors: Biino Valentina , Pellegrini Barbara , Zoppirolli Chiara , Lanza Massimo , Gilli Federica , Giuriato Matteo , Schena Federico
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Gross Motor Coordination (GMC) is crucial for the adequate development of motor competence. Our purpose in this semi-longitudinal study was to evaluate the influence of BMI on GMC in children and pre-adolescents of both sexes, across school years (classes).

Methods

We evaluated 117 subjects (aged 8–13 years) belonging to three different cohorts for 4 consecutive years, providing data over 6 years (classes). GMC was assessed through the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) test. Class and weight status effects were then evaluated by dividing the subjects into a normal weight group and an overweight group based on their weight status.

Results

A significant increase across classes was found for BMI (p < 0.001) and KTK raw score (p < 0.001) and a decrease was found for KTK normalized score (MQ) (p = 0.043). Significantly lower MQ values were found for girls. Absolute GMC increased across the years and there was no difference between boys and girls. Correlations between GMC scores and BMI were negative and significant in 5 of 6 classes. It was confirmed that overweight subjects had lower MQ and RAW values than normal-weight subjects, with no class-by-weight status interaction.

Discussion

The level of competence and its development are strictly dependent on weight status during childhood and pre-adolescence. The present investigation suggests that the adequate development of GMC requires not only targeted physical education programs but also the promotion of healthy habits aimed at maintaining a normal weight status during childhood and pre-adolescence.
Cross-sectional study of factors related to COVID-19 vaccination uptake among university healthcare students
Authors: Kondo Akiko , Abuliezi Renaguli , Ota Erika , Oki Tomomi , Naruse Kazuko
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Healthcare students are more likely to become infected than other university students as they may encounter patients with COVID-19 during clinical training. Vaccination uptake is essential to prevent infection. This study explored factors related to COVID-19 vaccination uptake among healthcare students.

Methods

This cross-sectional study conducted online surveys of undergraduate and graduate nursing and healthcare graduate students from four medical universities in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area of Japan. Data were collected from June to August 2022, when the fourth vaccination program was initiated.

Results

Data from 1,169 students were analyzed (response rate = 37.3%). The mean age was 25.1 ± 7.6 years, and most were female (82.3%). Academic majors included nursing (68.0%), medicine (16.3%), dentistry (9.3%), and others (6.4%). Thirty students (2.6%) were not vaccinated, one student (0.1%) had received one vaccination, 997 (85.3%) had received three, and 27 (2.3%) had received four. The major reason for not being vaccinated was insufficient confirmation of its safety (n = 25). Students who had received at least one vaccination (n = 1,139), 965 (84.7%) reported experiencing adverse side effects, the most frequent being pain at the injection site (76.2%), followed by fever (68.3%). In the logistic regression, a greater number of vaccinations (3–4 times) was associated with older age (odds ratio, OR = 1.53), working (OR = 1.67), and more frequent infection-preventive behaviors (OR = 1.05). Significantly fewer students were vaccinated at University B than at University A (OR = 0.46). Additionally, those majoring in subjects other than nursing (OR = 0.28), and students from non-Asian countries (OR = 0.30) were less likely to be vaccinated.

Discussion

It is necessary to pay attention to and encourage the vaccination of students who engage in low levels of preventive behavior, students who are young, international, or unemployed, and those in non-healthcare professional majors.
Electrocoagulation using aluminum electrodes as a sustainable and economic method for the removal of kinetic hydrate inhibitor (polyvinyl pyrrolidone) from produced wastewaters
Authors: Al-Marri Jawaher S. , Abouedwan Aisha B. , Ahmad Mohammad I. , Bensalah Nasr
Published: December 2023

Electrocoagulation is a water treatment technology capable to remove a variety of organic pollutants from water. It is advantageous compared to chemical coagulation due to the controlled dissolution of coagulants by regulating the current density and pH. In this work, the removal of kinetic hydrate inhibitor (KHI) (polyvinyl pyrrolidone, PVP) from water by electrocoagulation using Al electrodes was investigated. The effects of several experimental conditions including the nature of the supporting electrolyte, the current density, and the initial pH value on the electrochemical dissolution of aluminum was evaluated. The findings of the experiments revealed that both chemical and electrochemical dissolution play important roles in the generation of hydroxo-aluminum species. Corrosion studies demonstrated that the presence of chloride ions in water promotes aluminum dissolving via pitting corrosion, whereas the presence of phosphate ions inhibits aluminum corrosion by the deposition of a thick passive layer of aluminum hydroxide/phosphate on the metal surface. The theoretical and experimental amounts of aluminum, increase linearly with increasing specific electrical charge for Q< 2.5 Ah/L, which correlates well with Faraday's Law. The removal of KHI from 0.1M NaCl aqueous solutions by electrocoagulation using aluminum electrodes achieved high removal efficiency in terms of total organic carbon (TOC) up to 95%. TOC decay during galvanostatic electrolysis confirmed the removal of KHI molecules by Al-electrocoagulation at different current densities and pH conditions. The primary mechanism involved in eliminating KHI from water by electrocoagulation using Al electrodes includes mainly the adsorption of PVP molecules on the surface of Al(OH)3 flocs and their enmeshment inside the solid coagulants.
Diatoms Like It Light! How Diatom Eating Habits Help Us Understand the Past Ocean
Authors: Closset Ivia , Doering Kristin , Liguori Bianca T. P.
Published: December 2023

Have you ever wondered if today’s oceans were different millions of years ago? Well, a group of small algae called diatoms can help us to find this out. Diatoms build a strong glass skeleton, like a shell, which can last for thousands and even millions of years after their deaths. To build their glass skeletons, diatoms take up silicon from the seawater, similar to us eating food to build our bodies. Diatoms preferentially use one type of silicon in their menu, leaving behind the type they do not like. Researchers can track this eating habit by measuring the proportion of the two types of silicon stored within diatoms. Using this silica-print like a fingerprint, scientists can investigate what the surface ocean was like, how much diatoms were eating silicon, and how these organisms have affected Earth’s past climate.
Impacts of Kelvin-Helmholtz billow formation on GNSS radio occultation measurements of sporadic-E
Authors: Knisely Andrew J. , Emmons Daniel J.
Published: December 2023

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Radio Occultation (RO) has shown great promise for monitoring sporadic-E layers. However, extracting sporadic-E information from RO signals remains a difficult task due to the many unknown parameters such as length, intensity, vertical thickness, and small-scale structure or turbulence. To further our understanding of sporadic-E turbulence, we investigate the power spectra of sporadic-E layers during Kelvin-Helmholtz billow formation. Additionally, RO signals traversing the billows are simulated to analyze the impact on both amplitude and phase. From this, we find that the horizontal power spectrum is generally steeper in sporadic-E layers without billow formation, and the spectrum flattens as small-scale structures develop. Additionally, the typical “U”-shaped RO amplitude profiles produced by sporadic-E layers become asymmetric and less defined as the billows form and progress, showing that a single sporadic-E layer can produce a variety of RO signatures as it evolves over time. Ultimately, these results provide valuable insight for both modeling RO signals through sporadic-E layers and inverting RO data to extract information about the layers.
Young women’s and men’s climate adaptation practices and capacities in Kenya livestock production systems
Authors: Bullock Renee Marie , Miriti Philip , DuttaGupta Tanaya
Published: December 2023

Climate change adaptation strategies must be identified and tailored to diverse locations and livestock production systems to be effective. Social factors such as gender, wealth, age and education levels generate differentiated abilities and capacities to cope with climate shocks. In this study we draw upon 48 sex disaggregated focus group discussions with youth to understand young people’s engagement in the livestock sector and their livestock adaptation strategies. We first explore whether gender and locational differences exist in young women’s and men’s engagement in the livestock sector, specifically which livestock species young women and men rear. Next, we describe young women’s and men’s livestock adaptation strategies in mixed crop and livestock and agropastoral systems. Lastly, we share insights about relationships that shape young women’s and men’s engagement in livestock during their transitions to adulthood. Youth rear certain species more than others, such as chickens and dairy cows. Livestock adaptation practices are generally low. Gendered practices during transitions to adulthood differ for young women and men and household relationships mediate young women’s and men’s livestock production engagement. Intergenerational transfers are gendered, however, are changing in all locations. Women’s opportunities to inherit or acquire land, for instance, have expanded. Transitions into new households, however, often reinforce gendered access to resources and women’s labor. Recommendations on how to better develop inclusive and sustainable policies that provide support to youth in livestock and strengthen their adaptation capacities are provided.
Preliminary evaluation of safety and migration of immune activated mesenchymal stromal cells administered by subconjunctival injection for equine recurrent uveitis
Authors: Cassano Jennifer M. , Leonard Brian C. , Martins Bianca C. , Vapniarsky Natalia , Morgan Joshua T. , Dow Steven W. , Wotman Kathryn L. , Pezzanite Lynn M.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), an immune mediated disease characterized by repeated episodes of intra-ocular inflammation, affects 25% of horses in the USA and is the most common cause of glaucoma, cataracts, and blindness. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory properties, which are upregulated by preconditioning with toll-like receptor agonists. The objective was to evaluate safety and migration of TLR-3 agonist polyinosinic, polycytidylic acid (pIC)-activated MSCs injected subconjunctivally in healthy horses prior to clinical application in horses with ERU. We hypothesized that activated allogeneic MSCs injected subconjunctivally would not induce ocular or systemic inflammation and would remain in the conjunctiva for >14 days.

Methods

Bulbar subconjunctiva of two horses was injected with 10 × 106 pIC-activated (10 μg/mL, 2 h) GFP-labeled MSCs from one donor three times at two-week intervals. Vehicle (saline) control was injected in the contralateral conjunctiva. Horses received physical and ophthalmic exams [slit lamp biomicroscopy, rebound tonometry, fundic examination, and semiquantitative preclinical ocular toxicology scoring (SPOTS)] every 1–3 days. Systemic inflammation was assessed via CBC, fibrinogen, and serum amyloid A (SAA). Horses were euthanized 14 days following final injection. Full necropsy and histopathology were performed to examine ocular tissues and 36 systemic organs for MSC presence via IVIS Spectrum. Anti-GFP immunohistochemistry was performed on ocular tissues.

Results

No change in physical examinations was noted. Bloodwork revealed fibrinogen 100-300 mg/dL (ref 100–400) and SAA 0–25 μg/mL (ref 0–20). Ocular effects of the subjconjucntival injection were similar between MSC and control eyes on SPOTS grading system, with conjunctival hypermia, chemosis and ocular discharge noted bilaterally, which improved without intervention within 14 days. All other ocular parameters were unaffected throughout the study. Necropsy and histopathology revealed no evidence of systemic inflammation. Ocular histopathology was similar between MSC and control eyes. Fluorescent imaging analysis did not locate MSCs. Immunohistochemistry did not identify intact MSCs in the conjunctiva, but GFP-labeled cellular components were present in conjunctival phagocytic cells.

Discussion

Allogeneic pIC-activated conjunctival MSC injections were well tolerated. GFP-labeled tracking identified MSC components phagocytosed by immune cells subconjunctivally. This preliminary safety and tracking information is critical towards advancing immune conditioned cellular therapies to clinical trials in horses.
Effects of dietary Chinese herbal mixtures on productive performance, egg quality, immune status, caecal and offspring meconial microbiota of Wenchang breeder hens
Authors: Liu Mengjie , Huang Jieyi , Ma Ming , Huang Gengxiong , Zhang Yingwen , Ding Yiqing , Qu Qian , Lv Weijie , Guo Shining
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Chinese herbal mixtures (CHMs) on productive performance, egg quality, immune status, anti-apoptosis ability, caecal microbiota, and offspring meconial microbiota in hens. A total of 168 thirty-week-old Wenchang breeder hens were randomly divided into two groups, with each group comprising six replicate pens of fourteen hens. The groups were fed a basal diet (CON group) and a basal diet with 1,000 mg/kg CHMs (CHMs group) for 10 weeks. Our results showed that dietary supplementation with CHMs increased the laying rate, average egg weight, hatch of fertile, and offspring chicks’ weight while concurrently reducing the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and embryo mortality (p < 0.05). The addition of CHMs resulted in significant improvements in various egg quality parameters, including eggshell strength, albumen height, haugh unit, and the content of docosatetraenoic acid (C20:4n-6) in egg yolk (p < 0.05). The supplementation of CHMs had a greater concentration of IgA and IgG while decreasing the content of IL-6 in serum compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). Addition of CHMs to the diet increased the expression of Bcl-2 and IL-4 in liver and ovary, decreased the expression of IL-1β, Bax, and Caspase-8 in jejunum and ovary, and decreased the expression of NF-κB in liver, jejunum, and ovary (p < 0.05). Moreover, dietary CHMs reduced the abundance of Desulfovibrio in caecal microbiota as well as decreased the abundance of Staphylococcaceae_Staphylococcus and Pseudomonadaceae_Pseudomonas in the offspring meconial microbiota (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the CHMs could improve productive parameters by enhancing immune status, anti-apoptosis capacity, and modulating the caecal microbiota of Wenchang breeder hens, as well as maintaining the intestinal health of the offspring chicks.
Longitudinal Analysis of Canine Oral Microbiome Using Whole Genome Sequencing in Aging Companion Dogs
Authors: Templeton Ginger B. , Fefer Gilad , Case Beth C. , Roach Jeff , Azcarate-Peril M. Andrea , Gruen Margaret E. , Callahan Benjamin J. , Olby Natasha J.
Published: December 2023

Aged companion dogs have a high prevalence of periodontal disease and canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS) and the two disorders are correlated. Similarly, periodontal disease and Alzheimer’s Disease are correlated in people. However, little is known about the oral microbiota of aging dogs. The goal of this project was to characterize the longitudinal changes in oral microbiota in aged dogs. Oral swabs were taken from ten senior client-owned dogs on 2–3 occasions spanning 24 months and they underwent whole genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing. Cognitive status was established at each sampling time. A statistically significant increase in alpha diversity for bacterial and fungal species was observed between the first and last study visits. Bacteroidetes and proteobacteria were the most abundant bacterial phyla. Porphyromonas gulae was the most abundant bacterial species (11.6% of total reads). The species Lactobacillus gasseri had a statistically significant increase in relative abundance with age whereas Leptotrichia sp. oral taxon 212 had a statistically significant positive longitudinal association with cognition score. There is an increased fungal and bacterial alpha diversity in aging dogs over time and nearly universal oral dysbiosis. The role of the oral microbiota, particularly Leptotrichia and P. gulae and P. gingivalis, in aging and CCDS warrants further investigation.
Computers’ Interpretations of Knowledge Representation Using Pre-Conceptual Schemas: An Approach Based on the BERT and Llama 2-Chat Models
Authors: Insuasti Jesus , Roa Felipe , Zapata-Jaramillo Carlos Mario
Published: December 2023

Pre-conceptual schemas are a straightforward way to represent knowledge using controlled language regardless of context. Despite the benefits of using pre-conceptual schemas by humans, they present challenges when interpreted by computers. We propose an approach to making computers able to interpret the basic pre-conceptual schemas made by humans. To do that, the construction of a linguistic corpus is required to work with large language models—LLM. The linguistic corpus was mainly fed using Master’s and doctoral theses from the digital repository of the University of Nariño to produce a training dataset for re-training the BERT model; in addition, we complement this by explaining the elicited sentences in triads from the pre-conceptual schemas using one of the cutting-edge large language models in natural language processing: Llama 2-Chat by Meta AI. The diverse topics covered in these theses allowed us to expand the spectrum of linguistic use in the BERT model and empower the generative capabilities using the fine-tuned Llama 2-Chat model and the proposed solution. As a result, the first version of a computational solution was built to consume the language models based on BERT and Llama 2-Chat and thus automatically interpret pre-conceptual schemas by computers via natural language processing, adding, at the same time, generative capabilities. The validation of the computational solution was performed in two phases: the first one for detecting sentences and interacting with pre-conceptual schemas with students in the Formal Languages and Automata Theory course—the seventh semester of the systems engineering undergraduate program at the University of Nariño’s Tumaco campus. The second phase was for exploring the generative capabilities based on pre-conceptual schemas; this second phase was performed with students in the Object-oriented Design course—the second semester of the systems engineering undergraduate program at the University of Nariño’s Tumaco campus. This validation yielded favorable results in implementing natural language processing using the BERT and Llama 2-Chat models. In this way, some bases were laid for future developments related to this research topic.
Epileptic Encephalopathy GABRB Structural Variants Share Common Gating and Trafficking Defects
Authors: Hernandez Ciria C. , Hu Ningning , Shen Wangzhen , Macdonald Robert L.
Published: December 2023

Variants in the GABRB gene, which encodes the β subunit of the GABAA receptor, have been implicated in various epileptic encephalopathies and related neurodevelopmental disorders such as Dravet syndrome and Angelman syndrome. These conditions are often associated with early-onset seizures, developmental regression, and cognitive impairments. The severity and specific features of these encephalopathies can differ based on the nature of the genetic variant and its impact on GABAA receptor function. These variants can lead to dysfunction in GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition, resulting in an imbalance between neuronal excitation and inhibition that contributes to the development of seizures. Here, 13 de novo EE-associated GABRB variants, occurring as missense mutations, were analyzed to determine their impact on protein stability and flexibility, channel function, and receptor biogenesis. Our results showed that all mutations studied significantly impact the protein structure, altering protein stability, flexibility, and function to varying degrees. Variants mapped to the GABA-binding domain, coupling zone, and pore domain significantly impact the protein structure, modifying the β+/α− interface of the receptor and altering channel activation and receptor trafficking. Our study proposes that the extent of loss or gain of GABAA receptor function can be elucidated by identifying the specific structural domain impacted by mutation and assessing the variability in receptor structural dynamics. This paves the way for future studies to explore and uncover links between the incidence of a variant in the receptor topology and the severity of the related disease.