bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relevance of Marriage Plans for Cohabiting Emerging Adults’ Psychological Well-Being: Considering Economic Security and Relationship Quality
Authors: Sevareid Eric E. , Manning Wendy D. , Longmore Monica A. , Giordano Peggy C.
Published: May 2024

Family researchers have considered the presence of marriage plans to distinguish between non-marital cohabiting unions. We assess, in the context of emerging adulthood, whether marriage plans differentiate between cohabitors in terms of psychological well-being. Analyzing data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS), we examined associations for depressive and anxiety symptoms in a sample of 300 emerging adult cohabitors. We also compared cohabitors with 216 married emerging adults (total N = 516). We also assessed relationship quality and economic security as possible confounding factors. Results suggested that cohabitors without marriage plans experienced more frequent anxiety and depressive symptoms. However, significant associations did not remain in multivariable models, particularly when considering economic security. Findings indicate that marriage plans may be inadequate for differentiating between cohabitors’ well-being. We find that economic security and discrete relationship quality measures better explain differences than marriage plans. These findings add to burgeoning research on cohabitation in emerging adulthood.
Looking Back, Moving Forward: A Systematic Review of Entrepreneurship Studies in Communication Research
Authors: Shin Charis , Fu Jiawei Sophia
Published: May 2024

Despite scholarly consensus that communication is significant to entrepreneurial organizing, communication research in entrepreneurship is nascent. To advance theory and empirical research, this article presents a systematic review of entrepreneurship studies published in communication journals. Through a comprehensive keyword and literature search, we identified 49 relevant articles published in the past 30 years. Content and computational analyses suggest scholars have studied entrepreneurship in a variety of communication domains and sub-fields, including news and journalism, new media technologies, and social networks. Furthermore, most research has focused on conventional entrepreneurship and the processes supporting it rather than entrepreneurship’s antecedents and/or outcomes. Based on our review, we highlight six areas for future research in the intersection of communication and entrepreneurship: (1) entrepreneurial identity, (2) innovation, (3) social networks, (4) digital technologies, (5) institutions, and (6) entrepreneurship by historically underrepresented and minoritized groups.
Impact of an individualized pain plan to treat sickle cell disease vaso-occlusive episodes in the emergency department
Authors: Siewny Lauren , King Allison , Melvin Cathy L. , Carpenter Christopher R. , Hankins Jane S. , Colla Joseph S. , Preiss Liliana , Luo Lingzi , Cox Lisa , Treadwell Marsha , Davila Natalia , Masese Rita V. , McCuskee Sarah , Gollan S. Siera , Tanabe Paula
Published: May 2024

To address acute vaso-occlusive episodes (VOEs), the leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits among individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD), we conducted the clinical study, ALIGN (An Individualized Pain Plan with Patient and Provider Access for Emergency Department care of SCD), across 8 sites. We hypothesized an improvement of 0.5 standard deviations in perceived quality of ED pain treatment of a VOE after implementing individualized pain plans (IPPs) accessible to both patients and providers. Patients with SCD were aged 18 to 45 years, owned a cell phone, and had an ED VOE visit within 90 days prior. Patients completed the perceived quality of care surveys at baseline and within 96 hours after an ED VOE visit. Providers completed surveys regarding comfort managing VOEs at baseline and after managing an enrolled patient. Most of the 153 patients were African American (95.4%), female (64.7%), and had Hb SS/Sβ0 genotype (71.9%). The perceived quality of ED pain treatment was high at both baseline and after implementation of IPPs; our primary outcome hypothesis was not met, because no statistically significant change in the patient-perceived quality of ED treatment occurred. A total of 135 providers completed baseline and follow-up surveys. On a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 being extremely comfortable managing VOEs, 60.5% reported a score ≥6 after IPP implementation vs 57.8% at baseline. Almost all (97.6%) ordered the recommended medication, and 94.7% intended to use IPPs. In this implementation protocol, all sites successfully implemented IPPs. Patients and ED providers both endorsed the use of IPPs. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as # NCT04584528.
Effect of LncRNA LOC106505926 on myogenesis and Lipogenesis of porcine primary cells
Authors: Shi Mingyue , Yang Shuai , Zhao Xiaolei , Sun Di , Li Yifei , Yang Jingxian , Li Meng , Cai Chunbo , Guo Xiaohong , Li Bugao , Lu Chang , Cao Guoqing
Published: May 2024

Background

Skeletal muscle development and fat deposition have important effects on meat quality. The study of regulating skeletal muscle development and fat deposition is of great significance in improving the quality of carcass and meat. In the present study, whole transcriptome sequencing (including RNA-Seq and miRNA-Seq) was performed on the longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) of Jinfen White pigs at 1, 90, and 180 days of age.

Results

The results showed that a total of 245 differentially expressed miRNAs were screened in any two comparisons, which may be involved in the regulation of myogenesis. Among them, compared with 1-day-old group, miR-22-5p was significantly up-regulated in 90-day-old group and 180-day-old group. Functional studies demonstrated that miR-22-5p inhibited the proliferation and differentiation of porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells (PSCs). Pearson correlation coefficient analysis showed that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) LOC106505926 and CXXC5 gene had strong negative correlations with miR-22-5p. The LOC106505926 and CXXC5 were proven to promote the proliferation and differentiation of PSCs, as opposed to miR-22-5p. In terms of mechanism, LOC106505926 functions as a molecular sponge of miR-22-5p to modulate the expression of CXXC5, thereby inhibits the differentiation of PSCs. In addition, LOC106505926 regulates the differentiation of porcine preadipocytes through direct binding with FASN.

Conclusions

Collectively, our results highlight the multifaceted regulatory role of LOC106505926 in controlling skeletal muscle and adipose tissue development in pigs and provide new targets for improving the quality of livestock products by regulating skeletal muscle development and fat deposition.
Climatic niche evolution and niche conservatism of Nymphaea species in Africa, South America, and Australia
Authors: Nzei John M. , Martínez-Médez Norberto , Mwanzia Virginia M. , Kurauka Joseph K. , Wang Qing-Feng , Li Zhi-Zhong , Chen Jin-Ming
Published: May 2024

Background

Interest in the evolution of climatic niches, particularly in understanding the potential adaptive responses of species under climate change, has increased both theoretically and within macroecological studies. These studies have provided valuable insights into how climatic traits of species influence their niche evolution. In this study, we aim to investigate whether niche conservatism plays a role in the species diversification of Nymphaea, a group of aquatic plants with a cosmopolitan distribution that is facing severe habitat loss. We will use climatic models and phylogenetic data for 23 species to reconstruct Nymphaea’s niche evolution, measure niche overlap, and assess disparity through time while testing for evolutionary models.

Results

There was a lot of overlap in niches both within and between groups, especially for species that can be found in many places. The breadth and peaks of the niche profile varied depending on the bioclimatic variables, which suggested that the species evolved differently to cope with changes in climate. The analysis also showed that evolutionary changes happened across the phylogeny, with weak to moderate signals. The morphological disparity index (MDI) values indicated that there were disparities within subclades over time but not between or among them. Niche reconstruction and evolution analysis revealed both convergent and divergent evolution among various variables. For example, N. immutabilis, N. atrans, N. violancea, and N. nouchali evolved towards intermediate temperatures for bio2 and bio3 (isothermity) while moving towards extreme temperatures for bio8 and bio9 (wettest and driest average quarterly temperatures).

Conclusion

Our study will improve our understanding of how changes in climatic niches are potentially driving the evolution of Nymphaea. It has significant scientific implications for the limits, assemblages, evolution, and diversification of species. This information is crucial for the ongoing efforts of conservation and management, particularly considering the inevitable effects of climate change.
Salicylic acid and Tocopherol improve wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Physio-biochemical and agronomic features grown in deep sowing stress: a way forward towards sustainable production
Authors: Saeed Saleha , Ullah Sami , Amin Fazal , Al-Hawadi Jehad S. , Okla Mohammad K. , Alaraidh Ibrahim A. , AbdElgawad Hamada , Liu Ke , Harrison Matthew Tom , Saud Shah , Hassan Shah , Nawaz Taufiq , Zhu Mo , Liu Haitao , Khan Mushtaq Ahmad , Fahad Shah
Published: May 2024

Background

The rate of germination and other physiological characteristics of seeds that are germinating are impacted by deep sowing. Based on the results of earlier studies, conclusions were drawn that deep sowing altered the physio-biochemical and agronomic characteristics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Results

In this study, seeds of wheat were sown at 2 (control) and 6 cm depth and the impact of exogenously applied salicylic acid and tocopherol (Vitamin-E) on its physio-biochemical and agronomic features was assessed. As a result, seeds grown at 2 cm depth witnessed an increase in mean germination time, germination percentage, germination rate index, germination energy, and seed vigor index. In contrast, 6 cm deep sowing resulted in negatively affecting all the aforementioned agronomic characteristics. In addition, deep planting led to a rise in MDA, glutathione reductase, and antioxidants enzymes including APX, POD, and SOD concentration. Moreover, the concentration of chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids, proline, protein, sugar, hydrogen peroxide, and agronomic attributes was boosted significantly with exogenously applied salicylic acid and tocopherol under deep sowing stress.

Conclusions

The results of the study showed that the depth of seed sowing has an impact on agronomic and physio-biochemical characteristics and that the negative effects of deep sowing stress can be reduced by applying salicylic acid and tocopherol to the leaves.
Dexmedetomidine versus remifentanil in nasal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Janipour Masoud , Bastaninejad Shahin , mohebbi Alireza , Amali Amin , Owji Seyed Hossein , Jazi Kimia , Mirali Rojan Abdollahzadeh , Moshfeghinia Reza
Published: May 2024

Background

Nasal surgeries, addressing anatomical variations for form and function, require careful anesthesia administration, including dexmedetomidine and remifentanil. This meta-analysis evaluates their safety and efficacy variations in nasal surgeries, emphasizing patient comfort and optimal outcomes.

Methods

Four electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL Complete) were searched for records in English. Studies that measure the effect of dexmedetomidine versus remifentanil on patients underwent nasal surgery were included. The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. A random-effect model was preferred and statistical analysis was performed by Stata software version 17.

Results

Out of an initial pool of 63 articles, five studies were selected for this analysis. All of these chosen studies were Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). The meta-analysis involved a total of 302 participants, with 152 in the remifentanil group and 150 in the dexmedetomidine group. The analysis aimed to compare the effects of Dexmedetomidine and Remifentanil on heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) during surgery. Both groups exhibited similar MAP and HR, with the exception of a slightly lower HR in the remifentanil group at the 15th minute of surgery (Standardized Mean Difference: -0.24 [-0.83, 0.34]). Furthermore, when evaluating the impact of these medications on post-surgery outcomes, including pain levels, the use of pain relief medications, patient-surgeon satisfaction, agitation scores, and recovery time, no significant differences were observed between the two medications in any of these aspects.

Conclusion

In summary, the study compared Dexmedetomidine and Remifentanil in nasal surgeries anesthesia. No significant differences were found in heart rate, blood pressure, satisfaction, pain, agitation, or recovery time. The study had limitations, and future research should establish standardized protocols and consider various surgical factors.
Cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of GPR22 ameliorates cardiac injury in mice with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Chang Chin-Chuan , Chen Chih-Hung , Hsu Shu-Yuan , Leu Steve
Published: May 2024

Background

The activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) signaling by external stimuli has been implicated in inducing cardiac stress and stress responses. GPR22 is an orphan GPCR expressed in brains and hearts, while its expression level is associated with cardiovascular damage in diabetes. Previous studies have suggested a protective role of GPR22 in mechanical cardiac stress, as loss of its expression increases susceptibility to heart failure post-ventricular pressure overload. However, the involvement and underlying signaling of GPR22 in cardiac stress response to ischemic stress remains unexplored.

Methods

In this study, we used cultured cells and a transgenic mouse model with cardiomyocyte-specific GPR22 overexpression to investigate the impact of ischemic stress on GPR22 expression and to elucidate its role in myocardial ischemic injury. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced by left coronary artery ligation in eight-week-old male GPR22 transgenic mice, followed by histopathological and biochemical examination four weeks post-AMI induction.

Results

GPR22 expression in H9C2 and RL-14 cells, two cardiomyocyte cell lines, was decreased by cobalt chloride (CoCl2) treatment. Similarly, reduced expression of myocardial GPR22 was observed in mice with AMI. Histopathological examinations revealed a protective effect of GPR22 overexpression in attenuating myocardial infarction in mice with AMI. Furthermore, myocardial levels of Bcl-2 and activation of PI3K-Akt signaling were downregulated by ischemic stress and upregulated by GPR22 overexpression. Conversely, the expression levels of caspase-3 and phosphorylated ERK1/2 in the infarcted myocardium were downregulated with GPR22 overexpression.

Conclusion

Myocardial ischemic stress downregulates cardiac expression of GPR22, whereas overexpression of GPR22 in cardiomyocytes upregulates Akt signaling, downregulates ERK activation, and mitigates ischemia-induced myocardial injury.
MiR-31-5p alleviates septic cardiomyopathy by targeting BAP1 to inhibit SLC7A11 deubiquitination and ferroptosis
Authors: Liu Yafeng , Hu Niandan , Ai Bo , Xia Hao , Li Wenqiang
Published: May 2024

Septic cardiomyopathy is one of the most severe and common complications in patients with sepsis and poses a great threat to their prognosis. However, the potential mechanisms and effective therapeutic drugs need to be explored. The control of cardiac cell death by miRNAs has emerged as a prominent area of scientific interest in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disorders in recent times. In the present investigation, we discovered that overexpression of miR-31-5p prevented LPS-induced damage to H9C2 cells and that miR-31-5p could inhibit BAP1 production by binding to its 3’-UTR. BRCA1-Associated Protein 1 (BAP1) is a ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase. BAP1 upregulation blocked effect of miR-31-5p on H9C2 cell injury. Moreover, BAP1 inhibited the expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) by deubiquitinating histone 2 A (H2Aub) on the promoter of SLC7A11. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-31-5p and downregulation of BAP1 inhibited SLC7A11 mediated ferroptosis. In addition, the downregulation of SLC7A11 reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-31-5p on the expression of myocardial injury and inflammatory factors, and cell apoptosis was reversed. In conclusion, these results indicate that miR-31-5p alleviates malignant development of LPS-induced H9C2 cell injury by targeting BAP1 and regulating SLC7A11 deubiquitination-mediated ferroptosis, which confirmed the protective effect of miR-31-5p on H9C2 cell injury and revealed potential mechanisms that may provide new targets for treatment of septic cardiomyopathy.
Malignant melanotic schwannoma of the cervical spinal cord: a case report
Authors: Chen Sihan , Wei Yiting
Published: May 2024

Spinal cord malignant melanotic schwannoma (MMNST) is a rare central nervous system tumor that originates from the spinal cord or spinal myelin sheath cells and can produce melanin. This type of tumor is usually highly aggressive and malignant, with a poor prognosis. The clinical manifestations of spinal cord MMNST are mainly pain, paresthesia, muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, etc., and symptoms of spinal cord compression, such as intestinal and bladder dysfunction, paraplegia, etc. Early detection of tumor lesions can facilitate tumor removal, improve patients’ quality of life, and prolong patients’ survival. In this case report, a 27-year-old young woman was diagnosed with MMNST of the cervical spinal cord due to weakness of her limbs in our hospital, and underwent surgical resection. The patient’s limbs returned to normal after surgery. It is worth mentioning that the patient visited our hospital 7 months ago for “right upper limb pain for 3 days” and was diagnosed with a cervical spine space-occupying lesion at the same position this time, but the pathology report was “hemosiderosis”. This case report aims to raise awareness of the problem of spinal cord MMNST and contribute to greater knowledge of this rare tumor.
Value of combining biological age with assessment of individual frailty to optimize management of cancer treated with targeted therapies: model of chronic myeloid leukemia treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BIO-TIMER trial)
Authors: Casile Mélanie , Albrand Gilles , Lahaye Clément , Lebecque Benjamin , Besombes Joévin , Bourgne Céline , Pereira Bruno , Saugues Sandrine , Jamot Caroline , Hermet Eric , Berger Marc G.
Published: May 2024

Background

In the era of targeted therapies, the influence of aging on cancer management varies from one patient to another. Assessing individual frailty using geriatric tools has its limitations, and is not appropriate for all patients especially the youngest one. Thus, assessing the complementary value of a potential biomarker of individual aging is a promising field of investigation. The chronic myeloid leukemia model allows us to address this question with obvious advantages: longest experience in the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, standardization of therapeutic management and response with minimal residual disease and no effect on age-related diseases. Therefore, the aim of the BIO-TIMER study is to assess the biological age of chronic myeloid leukemia or non-malignant cells in patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and to determine its relevance, in association or not with individual frailty to optimize the personalised management of each patient.

Methods

The BIO-TIMER study is a multi-center, prospective, longitudinal study aiming to evaluate the value of combining biological age determination by DNA methylation profile with individual frailty assessment to personalize the management of chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Blood samples will be collected at diagnosis, 3 months and 12 months after treatment initiation. Individual frailty and quality of life will be assess at diagnosis, 6 months after treatment initiation, and then annually for 3 years. Tolerance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors will also be assessed during the 3-year follow-up. The study plans to recruit 321 patients and recruitment started in November 2023.

Discussion

The assessment of individual frailty should make it possible to personalize the treatment and care of patients. The BIO-TIMER study will provide new data on the role of aging in the management of chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which could influence clinical decision-making.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, ID NCT06130787; registered on November 14, 2023.
Pathology skills lab: use of macroscopic tumor models in pathology teaching
Authors: Bernhardt Marit , Sanders Christine , Hommerding Oliver , Nagy Dora , Kreft Tobias , Zhou Xiaolin , Kristiansen Glen
Published: May 2024

Background

The shortage of pathologists in Germany, coupled with an aging workforce, requires innovative approaches to attract medical students to the field. Medical education must address different learning styles to ensure that all students are successful.

Methods

The pilot project “Practical Pathology” aims to enhance students' understanding of pathology by providing hands-on experience in macroscopic gross analysis through the use of tumor dummies built from scratch.

Results

An evaluation survey, completed by 63 participating students provided positive feedback on the course methodology, its relevance to understanding the pathology workflow, and its improvement over traditional teaching methods. The majority of students recognized the importance of hands-on training in medical education. Students with previous work experience rated the impact of the course on knowledge acquisition even more positively.

Conclusion

The course improved students' understanding of pathological processes and potential sources of clinical-pathological misunderstanding. An increase in motivation for a potential career in the field of pathology was observed in a minority of students, although this exceeded the percentage of pathologists in the total medical workforce.
Enhancing AI competence in health management: students’ experiences with ChatGPT as a learning Tool
Authors: Naamati-Schneider Lior
Published: May 2024

Background

The healthcare industry has had to adapt to significant shifts caused by technological advancements, demographic changes, economic pressures, and political dynamics. These factors are reshaping the complex ecosystem in which healthcare organizations operate and have forced them to modify their operations in response to the rapidly evolving landscape. The increase in automation and the growing importance of digital and virtual environments are the key drivers necessitating this change. In the healthcare sector in particular, processes of change, including the incorporation of artificial intelligent language models like ChatGPT into daily life, necessitate a reevaluation of digital literacy skills.

Methods

This study proposes a novel pedagogical framework that integrates problem-based learning with the use of ChatGPT for undergraduate healthcare management students, while qualitatively exploring the students’ experiences with this technology through a thematic analysis of the reflective journals of 65 students.

Results

Through the data analysis, the researcher identified five main categories: (1) Use of Literacy Skills; (2) User Experiences with ChatGPT; (3) ChatGPT Information Credibility; (4) Challenges and Barriers when Working with ChatGPT; (5) Mastering ChatGPT-Prompting Competencies. The findings show that incorporating digital tools, and particularly ChatGPT, in medical education has a positive impact on students’ digital literacy and on AI Literacy skills.

Conclusions

The results underscore the evolving nature of these skills in an AI-integrated educational environment and offer valuable insights into students’ perceptions and experiences. The study contributes to the broader discourse about the need for updated AI literacy skills in medical education from the early stages of education.
Comparison of children and adults in deep brain stimulation for Tourette Syndrome: a large-scale multicenter study of 102 cases with long-term follow-up
Authors: Gao Yuan , Wang Shu , Wang Anni , Fan Shiying , Ge Yan , Wang Huimin , Gao Dongmei , Wang Jian , Mao Zhiqi , Zhao Hulin , Zhang Hua , Shi Lin , Liu Huanguang , Zhu Guanyu , Yang Anchao , Bai Yutong , Zhang Xin , Liu Chong , Wang Qiao , Li Renpeng , Liang Kun , Brown Kayla Giovanna , Cui Zhiqiang , Han Chunlei , Zhang Jianguo , Meng Fangang
Published: May 2024

Background

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising therapy for refractory Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS). However, its long-term efficacy, safety, and recommended surgical age remain controversial, requiring evidence to compare different age categories.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study recruited 102 GTS patients who underwent DBS between October 2006 and April 2022 at two national centers. Patients were divided into two age categories: children (aged < 18 years; n = 34) and adults (aged ≥ 18 years; n = 68). The longitudinal outcomes as tic symptoms were assessed by the YGTSS, and the YBOCS, BDI, and GTS-QOL were evaluated for symptoms of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and quality of life, respectively.

Results

Overall, these included patients who finished a median 60-month follow-up, with no significant difference between children and adults (p = 0.44). Overall, the YGTSS total score showed significant postoperative improvements and further improved with time (improved 45.2%, 51.6%, 55.5%, 55.6%, 57.8%, 61.4% after 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and ≥ 60 months of follow-up compared to baseline, respectively) in all included patients (all p < 0.05). A significantly higher improvement was revealed in children than adults at ≥ 60 months of follow-up in the YGTSS scores (70.1% vs 55.9%, p = 0.043), and the time to achieve 60% improvement was significantly shorter in the children group (median 6 months vs 12 months, p = 0.013). At the last follow-up, the mean improvements were 45.4%, 48.9%, and 55.9% and 40.3%, 45.4%, and 47.9% in YBOCS, BDI, and GTS-QOL scores for children and adults, respectively, which all significantly improved compared to baseline (all p < 0.05) but without significant differences between these two groups (all p > 0.05), and the children group received significantly higher improvement in GTS-QOL scores than adults (55.9% vs. 47.9%, p = 0.049).

Conclusions

DBS showed acceptable long-term efficacy and safety for both children and adults with GTS. Surgeries performed for patients younger than 18 years seemed to show acceptable long-term efficacy and safety and were not associated with increased risks of loss of benefit compared to patients older than 18 at the time of surgery. However, surgeries for children should also be performed cautiously to ensure their refractoriness and safety.
An eco-friendly liquid chromatographic analysis of the triple therapy protocol of amoxicillin, metronidazole and vonoprazan for H. Pylori eradication: application to combined dosage forms and simulated gastric fluid
Authors: Mahgoub Hoda , Ragab Marwa A. A. , Tarek Salma , Maher Hadir M.
Published: May 2024

Helicobacter pylori has a big sway when peptic ulcers are concerned. For its eradication, different protocols have been approved. Among which, the tripartite therapy protocol which embraces vonoprazan as potassium competitive acid blocker in combination with amoxicillin and metronidazole as antibiotics. An environmentally benign HPLC method is addressed in order to simultaneously determine amoxicillin (AMX), metronidazole (MET) and vonoprazan (VPZ) in bulk powder and combined tablet mixture. Full separation of AMX, MET and VPZ is accomplished using C8 column, and a gradient mobile phase system, composed of methanol and phosphate buffer of a pH value of 5. Fine linearity in the concentration ranges 50–600 µg mL−1 amoxicillin, 50–400 µg mL−1 metronidazole and 10–100 µg mL−1 vonoprazan was denoted by the high correlation coefficient (0.9999). The method accuracy and precision are confirmed upon analyzing AMX, MET and VPZ triple therapy not only in their synthetic mixtures and combined tablet mixtures but also in their combined tablet mixtures in simulated gastric fluid. AMX, MET and VPZ triple therapy could be routinely analyzed in QC labs, in case of being co-formulated, using the presented method. Three different assessment tools were adopted revealing the benign environmental impact of presented method.
Relationships between body condition score, body weight and body measurements in alpacas
Authors: Buchallik-Schregel Johannes , Kiene Frederik , Buchallik Juliane , Marahrens Hannah , Ossowski Nina , Schumacher Carolin Viktoria , Gerstel Berit , Reimers Ulla , Ganter Martin , Wagener Matthias Gerhard
Published: May 2024

Background

The nutritional status in alpacas is often masked by their dense fibre coat. Its assessment is commonly approached by different body condition scores (BCS) that rely on manual palpation of defined anatomical regions. However, BCS is an important diagnostic tool to aid recognition of diseased South American camelids (SACs) and low BCS has been associated with conditions like anaemia and neutrophilia. For dose-dependent veterinary treatment, body weight (BW), that should be as accurate as possible, is required. As on-site weighing with scales is often not possible, BW can mostly only be roughly estimated. To date, it remains unclear whether BCS in alpacas provides reliable information on BW or the ratios of BW to body length commonly known as Body Mass Index (BMI) or Ponderal Index (PI). Equations to estimate BW based on body measurements are available in the literature. Nonetheless, respective equations were developed in growing alpacas or adult llamas and BCS was not included.

Results

To compare six different BCS approaches and to examine the relationship between BCS and BW, body measurements and BCS scores were recorded in a herd of 105 alpacas. The examined BCS approaches showed significant (p < 0.05) but poor to moderate positive correlations to BW, BMI or PI. A solely visual inspection of BCS, in contrast, was not correlated with BW, BMI or PI. Equations previously developed in other studies provided an accurate estimation of BW. Multiple linear regression showed that the accuracy in predicting BW could be further increased by adding BCS data and sex.

Conclusion

Our observations indicate that most selected BCS approaches are not only important measures of nutritional status but can also be used to create more accurate models for BW calculation in alpacas. The study also supports the claim that a purely visual inspection of alpacas is not an adequate method to evaluate the nutritional status of these animals.
The mediating role of trait emotional intelligence in the relationship between parental neglect and cognitive emotion regulation strategies
Authors: Beyazit Utku , Yurdakul Yeşim , Ayhan Aynur Bütün
Published: May 2024

Background

Examining children’s abilities to recognize and regulate their emotions in the context of parental neglect is of significant importance in order to comprehend the dynamics of and to support the development of emotional skills of children, particularly those at risk of neglect. From this point of view, the aim of the study was to examine the mediating role of trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) in the relationship between parental neglect and cognitive emotion regulation strategies (CERS) in children.

Method

The study group consisted of 265 children (135 girls and 130 boys) who were attending two separate primary schools in the city center of Antalya, Turkey. The mean age of the children was 10.27 ± 0.45. As the data gathering instruments, an “Individual Information Form” was administered to assess the socio-demographic information of the children, while the “Multidimensional Neglectful Behavior Scale-Child Report was administered to examine the level of neglect of children by the parents, the “Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Child Form” was administered to assess the trait emotional intelligence level, and the “Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies for Children Scale” was administered to assess the CERS of the children.

Result

It was found that trait EI played a full mediator role in the relationship between CERS and both maternal and paternal neglect (p < .05), except for the relationship between paternal neglect and maladaptive CERS (p > .05).

Conclusions

The results may suggest that neglected children use all emotion regulation skills, including both adaptive and maladaptive, to cope with their negative emotional experience, but may use adaptive CERS more if their trait EI is higher.
ConvSRGAN: super-resolution inpainting of traditional Chinese paintings
Authors: Hu Qiyao , Peng Xianlin , Li Tengfei , Zhang Xiang , Wang Jiangpeng , Peng Jinye
Published: May 2024

Existing image super-resolution methods have made remarkable advancements in enhancing the visual quality of real-world images. However, when it comes to restoring Chinese paintings, these methods encounter unique challenges. This is primarily due to the difficulty in preserving intricate non-realistic details and capturing comple semantic information with high dimensionality. Moreover, the preservation of the original artwork’s distinct style and subtle artistic nuances further amplifies this complexity. To address these challenges and effectively restore traditional Chinese paintings, we propose a Convolutional Super-Resolution Generative Adversarial Network for Chinese landscape painting super-resolution, termed ConvSRGAN. We employ Enhanced Adaptive Residual Module to delve deeply into multi-scale feature extraction in images, incorporating an Enhanced High-Frequency Retention Module that leverages an Adaptive Deep Convolution Block to capture fine-grained high-frequency details across multiple levels. By combining the Multi-Scale Structural Similarity loss with conventional losses, our ConvSRGAN ensures that the model produces outputs with improved fidelity to the original image’s texture and structure. Experimental validation demonstrates significant qualitative and quantitative results when processing traditional paintings and murals datasets, particularly excelling in high-definition reconstruction tasks for landscape paintings. The reconstruction effect showcases enhanced visual fidelity and liveliness, thus affirming the effectiveness and applicability of our approach in cultural heritage preservation and restoration.
Bombax costatum Pellegr. & Vuillet attenuates pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure and cognitive impairment in rats via inhibition of oxidative stress
Authors: Buba Hasiya Sule , Garba Sani Hyedima , Zirahei Joseph Vandi , Chiroma Samaila Musa , Dibal Nathan Isaac
Published: May 2024

Objectives

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder resulting from excessive electrical discharge in the brain. Bombax costatum (BC) is an herb being used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of seizures. This study evaluated the possible anti-convulsant potential of stem bark ethanolic extract of BC on PTZ-induced kindling in rats.

Methods

Thirty-five Wistar rats were grouped into five (n = 7) and received normal saline, 35 mg/kg of PTZ, 5 mg/kg diazepam followed by 35 mg/kg PTZ after 30 min and BC stem back ethanolic extract at 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg followed by 35 mg/kg of PTZ intraperitoneally after 30 min. BC was administered orally daily while normal saline and PTZ were given intraperitoneally every other day for 26 days. Seizure activity was evaluated using the Racine scale, cognitive abilities through modified elevated plus maze and anxiety through forced swimming test. Further, the levels of GABA and oxidative stress biomarkers were also evaluated from the rat’s brain homogenate.

Results

Pretreatment with BC significantly reduced (p < .05) the seizure score and increased GABA level in BC treated rats when compared to PTZ alone treated rats. The first transfer latency of PTZ alone treated rats was significantly increased (p < .05) relative to the control rats and rats pretreated with diazepam and BC extract. Pretreatment with BC extract at 250 mg/kg was shown to significantly increase (p < .05) the activities of catalase, reduced glutathione, and superoxide dismutase compared to the PTZ alone treated rats.

Conclusions

Conclusively, BC was found to prevent seizure, avert neurodegeneration, and enhance cognition in PTZ-treated rats by regulating GABA level and enhancing antioxidant activity. Therefore, BC could be explored further for possible development of antiseizure agents.
Integrative genomic and transcriptomic analysis of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae pathotype IV, V, and IX in China reveals rice defense-responsive genes
Authors: Li Zecong , Shen Shujuan , Xia Kuaifei , Zhang Mingyong , Zeng Xuan
Published: May 2024

Bacterial blight of rice is a devastating disease caused by the gram-negative bacteria Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Chinese Xoo strain pathotypes IV, V, and IX are the major virulent Xoo strain types in South China sequentially from the 1990s to the present. Here, we report the isolation of GD0201 and GD0202, which belong to pathotypes IV and IX, respectively, and the complete genome sequence and transcriptomic analysis of GD0201 (IV), GD1358 (V), and GD0202 (IX). We found that resistance genes xa5, Xa23, and Xa27 confer strong resistance to all three Xoo strains, indicating that they are currently good choices for resistance rice breeding. The genome analysis reveals fewer TAL and non-TAL effector coding genes in GD0202 than in the other two strains, potentially contributing to its strong virulence. Transcriptomic analysis of ZH11 inoculated with the three Xoo strains strongly suggests that three Xoo strains for better infection repress the ethylene response factor (ERF) gene family members. Furthermore, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis revealed 14 hub genes potentially associated with rice response to the three Xoo strains. The expression of several hub genes was validated to be induced by all three Xoo strains, suggesting its role in bacterial blight disease response to Xoo strains. Genomic analysis of the Xoo strains belonging to pathotypes IV, V, and IX, identification of effectors and genes related to Xoo virulence in rice plants will provide insights into understanding the molecular mechanism underlying rice-Xoo interaction and the gene expression pattern in response to Xoo infection.
Impact of Clonal Hematopoiesis–Associated Mutations in Phase I Patients Treated for Solid Tumors: An Analysis of the STING Trial
Authors: Rodriguez Julieta , Baldini Capucine , Bayle Arnaud , Pages Arnaud , Danlos François Xavier , Vasseur Damien , Rouleau Etienne , Lacroix Ludovic , Alonso de Castro Beatriz , Goldschmidt Vincent , Seknazi Lauren , Hollebecque Antoine , Michot Jean-Marie , Champiat Stephane , Marabelle Aurelien , Ouali Kaissa , Marzac Christophe , Ponce Santiago , Micol Jean-Baptiste , Chaput Nathalie , Massard Christophe , Italiano Antoine
Published: May 2024

PURPOSE

With liquid biopsy's widespread adoption in oncology, an increased number of clonal hematopoiesis–associated mutations (CHm) have been identified in patients with solid tumors. However, its impact on patient outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to analyze and describe CHm in a cohort of phase I patients.

METHODS

Retrospective data collection from medical records and molecular profiles (Foundation One Liquid CDx Assay) was performed before first study drug administration at the Drug Development Department of Gustave Roussy (France) within the STING trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04932525 ). CHm prevalence was assessed using any and ≥1% variant allele frequency (VAF) in epigenetic modifier genes ( DNMT3A, TET2, and ASXL1).

RESULTS

From January 2021 to December 2022, 255 patients were enrolled in a phase I clinical trial. A total of 55% were male, with a median age of 62 years (24-86). Principal tumor locations were GI (27%) and genitourinary (21%). Overall, 104 patients (41%) had at least one CHm in liquid biopsy, with 55 patients (22%) having a VAF of ≥ 1%. The most frequent mutation was DNMT3A 73% at any VAF (n = 76) and 22% at 1% VAF (n = 23). Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were 3.8 months (m) for the CHm group versus 3.2 m for nonclonal hematopoiesis (CH; P = .08) and 18.26 m CHm versus 15.8 m non-CH ( P = .9), respectively. PFS increased in the CHm population treated with targeted therapy (hazard ratio, 0.6 [95% CI, 0.42 to 0.84]; P = .004).

CONCLUSION

CHm was commonly found in patients with solid tumors treated in phase I trials, with a prevalence of 41% in our cohort. The most frequently mutated gene was DNMT3A. The presence of CHm had no impact on the population of patients treated in the phase I trials.
Developing a Predictive Model for Metastatic Potential in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor
Authors: Greenberg Jacques A , Shah Yajas , Ivanov Nikolay A , Marshall Teagan , Kulm Scott , Williams Jelani , Tran Catherine , Scognamiglio Theresa , Heymann Jonas J , Lee-Saxton Yeon J , Egan Caitlin , Majumdar Sonali , Min Irene M , Zarnegar Rasa , Howe James , Keutgen Xavier M , Fahey Thomas J , Elemento Olivier , Finnerty Brendan M
Published: May 2024

Context

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) exhibit a wide range of behavior from localized disease to aggressive metastasis. A comprehensive transcriptomic profile capable of differentiating between these phenotypes remains elusive.

Objective

Use machine learning to develop predictive models of PNET metastatic potential dependent upon transcriptomic signature.

Methods

RNA-sequencing data were analyzed from 95 surgically resected primary PNETs in an international cohort. Two cohorts were generated with equally balanced metastatic PNET composition. Machine learning was used to create predictive models distinguishing between localized and metastatic tumors. Models were validated on an independent cohort of 29 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples using NanoString nCounter®, a clinically available mRNA quantification platform.

Results

Gene expression analysis identified concordant differentially expressed genes between the 2 cohorts. Gene set enrichment analysis identified additional genes that contributed to enriched biologic pathways in metastatic PNETs. Expression values for these genes were combined with an additional 7 genes known to contribute to PNET oncogenesis and prognosis, including ARX and PDX1. Eight specific genes (AURKA, CDCA8, CPB2, MYT1L, NDC80, PAPPA2, SFMBT1, ZPLD1) were identified as sufficient to classify the metastatic status with high sensitivity (87.5-93.8%) and specificity (78.1-96.9%). These models remained predictive of the metastatic phenotype using NanoString nCounter® on the independent validation cohort, achieving a median area under the receiving operating characteristic curve of 0.886.

Conclusion

We identified and validated an 8-gene panel predictive of the metastatic phenotype in PNETs, which can be detected using the clinically available NanoString nCounter® system. This panel should be studied prospectively to determine its utility in guiding operative vs nonoperative management.
Respiratory Depression Following Intraoperative Methadone: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Carlé Nicolai , Nikolajsen Lone , Uhrbrand Camilla G.
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND:

Methadone is used as a perioperative analgesic in the management of postoperative pain. Despite positive outcomes from randomized trials favoring methadone, concerns about its safety persist, particularly regarding respiratory depression (RD) and excessive sedation. In this study, we compared the incidence of naloxone administration between patients administered intraoperative methadone and those administered intraoperative morphine as a measure of severe RD. Time spent at the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) was used as a proxy variable for excessive sedation.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective cohort study including all patients aged ≥18 years who underwent surgery between March 2019 and March 2023 at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. We assessed the association between intraoperative administration of either methadone or morphine and postoperative naloxone administration within the first 24 hours using logistic regression (primary outcome). An analogous linear regression model was used for the secondary outcome of time spent in the PACU after surgery. Patients were weighted using propensity scores to adjust for potential confounding variables.

RESULTS:

A total of 14,522 patients were included in the analysis. Among the 2437 patients who received intraoperative methadone, 15 (0.62%) patients received naloxone within the first 24 hours after surgery compared to 68 of 12,0885 (0.56%) who received intraoperative morphine. No statistical difference was observed in the odds of naloxone administration between patients administered methadone or morphine (adjusted odds ratio 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21 [0.40–2.02]). Patients who were administered intraoperative methadone had a mean PACU length of stay (LOS) of 334 minutes (standard deviation [SD], 382) compared to 195 minutes (SD, 228) for those administered intraoperative morphine. The adjusted PACU LOS of patients administered intraoperative methadone was 26% longer compared to those administered intraoperative morphine (adjusted ratio of the geometric means 95% CI, 1.26 [1.22–1.31]).

CONCLUSIONS:

The incidence of naloxone administration to treat severe RD was low. No difference was observed in the odds of naloxone administration to treat severe RD between patients administered intraoperative methadone or intraoperative morphine. Intraoperative methadone was associated with longer stays at the PACU; however, this result should be interpreted with care. Our findings suggest that intraoperative methadone has a safety profile comparable to that of morphine with regard to severe RD.
Introduction
Authors: Zappe Florian
Published: May 2024

This introduction provides a short survey of the history of academic culture wars as a recurring phenomenon in the history of the modern university. It then outlines the concept of this special section as a nonpartisan and metaperspectival critical discussion of various selected aspects and historical manifestations of the multifaceted phenomenon of academic culture wars, concluding with a brief overview of the individual contributions.