bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Host range of strand-biased circularizing integrative elements: a new class of mobile DNA elements nesting in Gammaproteobacteria
Authors: Idola Desmila , Mori Hiroshi , Nagata Yuji , Nonaka Lisa , Yano Hirokazu
Published: April 2023

Background
The strand-biased circularizing integrative elements (SEs) are putatively non-mobilizable integrative elements for transmitting antimicrobial resistance genes. The transposition mode and the prevalence of SEs in prokaryotes remain vague.
Results
To corroborate the transposition mode and the prevalence of SEs, hypothetical transposition intermediates of an SE were searched for in genomic DNA fractions of an SE host. Then, the SE core genes were defined based on gene knockout experiments, and the synteny blocks of their distant homologs were searched for in the RefSeq complete genome sequence database using PSI-BLAST. A genomic DNA fractionation experiment revealed that SE copies are present in a double-stranded nicked circular form in vivo. Operonic structure of three conserved coding sequences (intA, tfp, intB) and srap located at the left end of SEs were identified as essential for attL × attR recombination. The synteny blocks of tfp and srap homologs were detected in 3.6% of the replicons of Gammaproteobacteria but not in other taxa, implying that SE movement is host-dependent. SEs have been discovered most frequently in the orders Vibrionales (19% of replicons), Pseudomonadales (18%), Alteromonadales (17%), and Aeromonadales (12%). Genomic comparisons revealed 35 new SE members with identifiable termini. SEs are present at 1 to 2 copies per replicon and have a median length of 15.7 kb. Three newly identified SE members carry antimicrobial resistance genes, like tmexCD-toprJ, mcr-9, and blaGMA-1. Further experiments validated that three new SE members possess the strand-biased attL × attR recombination activity.
Conclusions
This study suggested that transposition intermediates of SEs are double-stranded circular DNA. The main hosts of SEs are a subset of free-living Gammaproteobacteria; this represents a rather narrow host range compared to those of mobile DNA element groups discovered to date. As the host range, genetic organization, and movements are unique among the mobile DNA elements, SE and its distant relative, GInt, provide a new model system for host-mobile DNA element coevolution studies.
Business sustainability behaviour and alignment with climate targets
Authors: Cenci Simone , Burato Matteo , Rei Marek , Zollo Maurizio
Published: April 2023

Climate actions by the private sector are crucial to cutting global emissions and meeting the climate targets set by the Paris Agreement. In recent years, an increasing number of companies have pledged to help achieve those targets. However, the emissions pathways of most companies are still not aligned with these goals. To explain the root causes of this discrepancy between effort and outcome, we developed a new methodology to track the actions implemented by major public corporations to reduce their emissions. Our analysis shows that, compared to their peers, companies with emissions pathways aligned with climate targets prioritise actions focused on innovation and stakeholder engagement, such as investing in research and development, new products and fostering cooperation with other ecosystem players. Importantly, this differential behaviour can explain companies' alignment with climate goals. Overall, we provide a systematic framework to track companies' efforts to align their emissions with climate targets. Our approach can be used by investors and policymakers to redirect capital towards its most sustainable use and to design behaviourally founded policy interventions to align business emissions with climate targets.
Antimicrobials sales comparison before and after the implementation of nationwide restriction policy in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alajel Sulaiman , Alzahrani Khaloud O. , Almohaisen Amal , Alrasheed Meshael M. , Almomen Salwa M.
Published: April 2023

Background: Antimicrobials dispensing without a prescription is recognized as a pathway for the emergence of antimicrobial resistance; a serious global public health issue in need of urgent regulatory responses. In mid-2018, the Saudi Ministry of Health initiated a nationwide antimicrobial restriction policy, in which pharmacies are strictlyprohibited from dispensing antimicrobial drugs without physicians’ prescription. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if this restriction policy implemented by the Saudi Ministry of Health has led to decrease in antimicrobial drugs sales.
Methods: The annual retail sales information of antimicrobials was obtained from the pharmaceutical database, IQVIA-Multinational Integrated Data Analysis System (IQVIA-MIDAS®) between 2017 and 2019 to compare sales before and after the intervention. Antimicrobial drugs include the following: antibiotics; antifungals; antimycobacterials; combinations and other drugs. Nonparametric Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used to assess changes in antimicrobials sales from pre- to post- intervention periods.
Results: Our results showed that this intervention policy has achieved significate effects in reducing total antimicrobials sales by 23.2% from 818,916,437 SAR in 2017 to 648,383,630 SAR in 2019. Wilcoxon Signed Rank test showed a statistically significant median decrease in total antimicrobials sales after the intervention with a p-value = 0.0397. Reduction in the antibiotic amoxicillin was responsible for most of the decrease in antimicrobials sales with 70% less in 2019 compared to 2017. On the contrary, continuous increase in sales of some antimicrobial drugs following the restriction policy was observed led by the antibiotic amoxicillin/clavulanic acid.
Conclusion: Our data support the implementation of antimicrobials restriction measures as an effective means of controlling excessive antimicrobials sales and dispensing without prescriptions.
Assessment of Value-Based Healthcare Delivery in Cardiac Care for Children of Amish Families
Authors: Chowdhury Devyani , Ather Mishaal , Snyder Corey , Kodavatiganti Mallika , Eenennaam Fred van , Brigatti Karla , Strauss Kevin
Published: April 2023

Background
Value-based healthcare is a prominent concept that focuses on patient health outcomes to ensure more efficient healthcare. This patient-centered approach can be applied to establish community-specific personalized care. Unique healthcare solutions need to be developed to adapt to the needs of specific populations. This study highlights the comparison of the delivery of care between the Amish and the Non-Amish community in children who have undergone cardiac surgery.
Methods
The results are interpreted to reflect areas of the healthcare delivery that lack value. Pediatric Integrated Care Survey (PICS) was sent to parents/guardians of 160 children who had undergone at least one cardiac surgery, and were followed at Cardiology Care for Children. Majority of the self-pay population consisted of the Amish. The survey consisted of 5 components: access, communication, family impact, goal creation and team functioning. Composite score calculation was done to gauge favorable responses. An independent sample t-test was conducted to assess the differences in patient-centered care, with a 95% confidence interval (p <0.05), between the insured and self-pay patients.
Results
The self-pay community reported fewer medical comorbidities and had a lower utilization of healthcare than those who were insured. Access to care was equally good in both groups. The self-pay group felt that they had better communication and family impact, whereas the insured group felt that the short and long term goals were better defined. The self-pay and the insured groups valued different components, reflecting different perceptions of healthcare.
Conclusion
The study suggests the need for innovations in the delivery of cardiac care for children of Amish families. Value and impact of care should be regularly addressed with both the providers and patients. Clear communication between physicians and patients is critical including establishing short and long-term goals. Decision-making should be equal amongst patients and their families. The role of the patients' families should be regularly addressed. Healthcare utilization, cost, and value should be recognized and addressed. Ultimately, a more efficient healthcare delivery system reduces cost for patients and creates high-value care.
Metamorphic success and production cost of Holothuria scabra reared on microalgal concentrates compared with live microalgae
Authors: Garpa Tomilyn Jan , Caasi Olivier Josh , Juinio-Meñez Marie Antonette
Published: April 2023

Larval food is a bottleneck in the culture of Holothuria scabra. Whether larval metamorphic success and juvenile production can be improved using microalgae concentrates was investigated. Larvae were reared under a fixed daily feeding ration of 20,000 cells mL-1 using three commercial concentrates (Instant Algae®, Reed Mariculture Inc.): TW1200 (Thalassiosira weisflogii; TW), TISO1800 (Isochrysis sp.; TISO), and Shellfish1800 (mixed diatom; SHELL) and compared with live Chaetoceros calcitrans (CC). The diet efficacy was evaluated based on larval development rate, sizes and survival to late auricularia (LA) with hyaline spheres (HS), and post settlement. Larvae in TW did not progress beyond LA. The average size during LA in TISO (855.7 ± 62.67µm) was significantly higher compared with SHELL. Larvae fed CC reached LA stage earlier, attained significantly larger sizes (1028.43 ± 19.38 µm), and have significantly higher incidence and size of HS. Better metamorphic and settlement performance in CC and SHELL may be related to the higher carbohydrate content in these feeds. The average number of post-settled juveniles in CC (9,268 ± 2,183.79) was over three times more than in SHELL, and an order of magnitude for TISO. Because of the low juvenile yield and longer feeding duration, the estimated cost of producing each juvenile using SHELL is PhP 2.00 and PhP 11.77 for TISO, compared to PhP 0.52 using CC. Development of local microalgal concentrates can enable more hatcheries to undertake sandfish culture, and access to more affordable supplemental feed to promote higher post settlement success.
Antipodal Duality between the Higgs and 3-Gluons via of Graviton Regularization
Authors: Maalouf Hani W.
Published: April 2023

The link between the Higgs and 3-gluons is seen provided by a non-Gaussian Regularization for the
Graviton based on indices, such is shown with factors from the Anti-podal Symmetry. That resolves,
their so far abstract connection, via the MHV vertices.
The procedure relied on a small variation of the Lagrangian cosmological term constant,
under a scalable Gauss-Bonnet Gravity. And can resolve, via alternating or even not specific
gravitational expansion coefficients, diagrams convergences containing Gluons and Higgs.
Computing with Speculations
Authors: Tabacchi Marco Elio
Published: April 2023

A novel, alternative approach to the fundamental logic of commonsense reasoning has been recently advanced by Enric Trillas, based on the idea that in order to allow for creativity in automated reasoning, the standard operations of inducing and abducing must be complemented by guessing, or speculating. In this paper, after a recall of Trillas' skeleton formal model, a number of interactive examples that visualize some of the concept involved in Computing with Speculations are presented, followed by a discussion and some proposals on how to overcome some technical hurdles in implementing speculations in a real computational context. Such examples want to be a contribution towards an experimental inquiry, whose concrete implementation ought to be based on the Computational Learning approaches described. The general aim is to introduce, albeit in a prototypical form, a theoretical framework for Natural Reasoning, and the tools to evolve such framework, in combination with other similar endeavours, into a full system of Natural Computing.
Global, Regional, and National Quality of Care Index of Cervical and Ovarian Cancer: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2019
Authors: Azangou-Khyavy Mohammadreza , Ghasemi Erfan , Rezaei Negar , Khanali Javad , Kolahi Ali-Asghar , Malekpour Mohammad-Reza , Heidari‐Foroozan Mahsa , Nasserinejad Maryam , Mohammadi Esmaeil , Abbasi-Kangevari Mohsen , Ghamari Seyyed-Hadi , Ebrahimi Narges , Koolaji Sogol , Khosravifar Mina , Fateh Sahar Mohammadi , Larijani Bagher , Farzadfar Farshad
Published: April 2023

Background and objective: Cervical cancer is the most preventable and ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological cancer. However, in the world, there are disparities in health care performances resulting in differences in the burden of these cancers. The objective of this study was to compare the health-system quality of care and inequities for these cancers using the Quality of Care Index (QCI).
Material and methods: the 1990-2019 data of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) was analyzed to extract rates of incidence, prevalence, mortality, DALY, YLL, and YLD of cervical and ovarian cancer. Four indices were developed as proxy for the quality of care using abovementioned rates. Thereafter, a Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was applied to construct the Quality of Care Index (QCI) as a summary measure of the developed indices.
Results: The incidence of cervical cancer decreased from 1990 to 2019, whereas the incidence of ovarian cancer increased between these years. However, the mortality rate of both cancers decreased in this interval. The global age-standardized QCI for cervical cancer and ovarian cancer were 43.1 and 48.5 in 1990 and increased to 58.5 and 58.4 in 2019, respectively. QCI for cervical cancer and ovarian cancer generally decreased by aging, and different age groups had inequitable QCIs. Higher income countries generally had higher QCIs for both cancers, but exceptions were also observed.
Conclusions: disparities in the quality of care of cervical and ovarian cancer at various locations, among different SDI levels, and age groups were observed. Acknowledging these disparities highlights the imperative to improve health care systems to reach the aim of equity in the quality of health care for these cancers.
A Novel Strategy for the Detection of Aedes albopictus kdr gene Based on Multiplex PCR-Mass Spectrometry Minisequencing Technology
Authors: mu qunzheng , zhao xin , li fengfeng , li wenyu , zhou xinxin , lun xinchang , wang yiguan , hua dongdong , liu qiyong , xiao di , meng fengxia
Published: April 2023

Objectives
The objective of this study was to construct a novel strategy for the mutation detection of knockdown resistance(kdr)gene in Aedes albopictus using multiplex PCR-mass spectrometry minisequencing technique (mPCR-MS minisequencing).
Methods Based on the single-base mass probe extension of multiplex PCR amplification products in wild and mutant genotype, a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) method was established to detect 3 mutated sites in Ae. albopictus kdr gene: locus 1016,1532 and 1534.
Results The detection of the three sites can be conducted simultaneously by double PCR amplification combined with MALDI-TOF MS, achieving a detection limit of 20fg/ul. This method is extensible and flexible, and can be used in a high-throughput manner, easily allowing the addition of new mutation sites as needed to identify and track new kdr gene as they emerge.
Conclusions
mPCR-MS minisequencing provides a new option for the detection of kdr gene in Ae. Albopictus.
Using Teaching Interaction Procedure to Increase Empathetic Responding During Cross-racial Behavior Analytic Supervisory Relationships
Authors: Robinson Sapphire U. , Parks Natalie , Lewis Heather L. , Rigdon Charda'e P.
Published: April 2023

As graduate student's racial/ethnic identities continue to diversify among individuals pursuing applied
behavior analysis, there is an increased risk for marginalization to occur during supervision. To promote
successful supervisor-supervisee relationships, supervising behavior analysts need to acquire culturally
responsive practices such as empathetic responding and partake in continuous education to shape their
supervising repertoire. This will expand their ability to provide quality support for supervisees belonging
to various identity groups. The teaching interaction procedure is a training tool that can be used to teach
culturally responsive practices to supervising behavior analysts. It is an evidenced- based tool that has
been used to teach social skills to children and adults. This training tool procedural components consist of
labeling the social skill, providing rationale for that social skill, describing the steps involved in the social
skill, modeling examples and non-examples of the social skill, and providing feedback throughout the
process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the teaching interaction procedure effectiveness as a
training tool to teach empathetic responding skills to three supervising behavior analysts within crossracial
dyads in a web-based training format. The results of a multiple-baseline design will show the
teaching interaction procedure was effective at training all 3 supervisors empathetic responding in a
contrived setting and suggests this had a positive impact on the perceived level of satisfaction among their
supervisees.
Efficacy of 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT3) antagonists adjuvant therapy for moderate to severe obsessive–compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Eissazade Negin , Mosavari Hesam , Eghdami Shayan , Boroon Mahsa , Ashrafi Faria , Shalbafan Mohammadreza
Published: April 2023

Background: obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is the fourth most common mental disorder, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the cornerstone of its pharmacological treatment. About 40-60% of the cases are treatment-refractory, and this makes searching for second-line treatment necessary. 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT3) antagonists are among the many medications that have been used in augmentation with SSRIs.
Objectives: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we assessed the efficacy of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in augmentation with SSRIs in treating moderate to severe OCD.
Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane library, and Google Scholar for relevant trials published up to December 2022. The effect size was the mean difference in Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive scale (Y-BOCS) scores before and after receiving 5-HT3 receptor antagonist drugs in augmentation with SSRIs in moderate to severe OCD patients.
Results: We included 6 randomized-controlled trails (RCTs) with 334 patients assessing the effect of the augmentation of SSRIs with ondansetron, granisetron, and tropisetron on treating moderate to severe OCD. Our results were in favor of the experimental group in total (Z=8.37, P<0.00001), in the compulsion subgroup (Z=5.22, P<0.00001), and in the obsession subgroup (Z=8.33, P<0.00001). They are well-tolerated, and have mild side effects and do not result in withdrawal.
Conclusion: Augmentation of 5HT-3 antagonists with SSRIs can be beneficial in treating moderate to severe OCD. Further multi-center trials under adequate conditions in longer periods are needed to help come up with a comprehensive action plan.
Few-Shot Machine Learning at the Grid Edge: Data-Driven Impedance Models for Model-Free Smart Inverters
Authors: Li Yufei , Liao Yicheng , Chen Minjie , Wang Xiongfei , Nordstrom Lars , Mittal Prateek , Poor H. Vincent
Published: April 2023

The future electric grid will be supported by a vast number of smart inverters distributed at the edge of the grid. These inverters' dynamics are commonly characterized as impedances under small-signal perturbations and are critical for ensuring grid stability and resiliency. However, the operating conditions of these inverters can vary widely, resulting in various impedance patterns and complicating grid-inverter interaction behaviors. Current analytical impedance models necessitate a comprehensive and accurate comprehension of system parameters while also relying on multiple assumptions to simplify system complexities. They can hardly capture the complete electrical behaviors of physical systems when inverters are controlled with sophisticated algorithms or performing complex functions. Real-world impedance acquisitions across multiple operating points through simulations or measurements are expensive and impractical. Leveraging the recent advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, we present InvNet, a few-shot machine learning framework capable of characterizing inverter impedance patterns across a wide operation range, even with limited impedance data for each inverter. The InvNet can extrapolate from physics-based models to real-world models and from one inverter to another. Comprehensive evaluations were conducted to verify the effectiveness of our proposed approach in various application scenarios, and all data and models were open-sourced. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of machine learning and neural networks as powerful techniques for modeling the intricate black-box characteristics of grid-edge energy systems and analyzing the behaviors of such systems with larger-scales that cannot be accurately described using traditional analytical methods.
A study on the contributions of sonication to the identification of bacteria associated with intubation cannula biofilm and the risk of ventilator- associated pneumonia
Authors: Codru Ioana , Sava Mihai , Vintilă Bogdan Ioan , Bereanu Alina Simona , Bîrluțiu Victoria
Published: April 2023

Ventilator-associated pneumonia is one of the most severe complications of critically ill patients that need mechanical respiratory support, as it poses a significant risk of prolonging hospitalization, disability, and even death. This is why physicians worldwide target newer methods for prevention, early diagnosis, and early target treatment for this condition. There are few methods for a quick etiological diagnosis of pneumonia, especially point of care, and most are only readily available in some intensive care units. This is why a new, simple, and cheap method is needed for determining the bacteria that might be infectious in a particular patient. The method in question is sonication. Method: In this prospective, observational, single-center study, endotracheal cannula specimens will be collected from a minimum of 100 patients in our intensive care unit. This specimen will be submitted to a specific sonication protocol for bacteria to dislodge the biofilm inside the cannula. The resulting liquid will be seeded on growth media, and then a comparison will be made between the germs in the biofilm and the ones in the tracheal secretion of the patient. The primary purpose is to determine the bacteria before the appearance of a manifest infection.
Research on highway rain monitoring based on rain monitoring coefficient
Authors: Wang Xingyu , Feng Haixia , Wang Na , Zhu Maoxin , Ning Erwei , Li Jian
Published: April 2023

Aiming at the problem of the impact of highway rain on people's life and property safety and traffic safety, this paper proposes an algorithm based on the combination of frequency domain and spatial domain, threshold and morphology, combining high-pass filtering, full-domain value segmentation, method, mask processing, and morphological open-operated denoising to construct the rain coefficient model Prain coefficient, and judge the size of rain according to the value of Prain coefficient. And the data of sunny, cloudy, and rainy days of different sections and different periods of the Jinan Bypass G2001 line were used to verify, and then to warn about the driving safety of vehicles on the highway. The main findings of this paper are: using the rain coefficient model Prain coefficient constructed in this paper, the cloudy and rainy days can be accurately identified and the size of the rain can be judged; this method is not only applicable to highways but also to ordinary road sections; the accuracy of the model is verified and the algorithm in this paper has the highest accuracy. The research in this paper is important for road traffic safety, especially road traffic safety in bad weather such as rain.
Noradrenaline transporter PET reflects neurotoxin-induced noradrenaline level decrease in the rat hippocampus
Authors: SAKAI TAKAYUKI , Hattori Saori , Ogata Aya , Yamada Takashi , Abe Junichiro , Ikenuma Hiroshi , Ichise Masanori , Suzuki Masaaki , Ito Kengo , Kato Takashi , Kimura Yasuyuki
Published: April 2023

Background
The neuropathological changes of early Alzheimer's disease (AD) include neurodegenerative loss of noradrenaline neurons in the locus coeruleus with decreasing noradrenaline availability in their projection areas such as the hippocampus. This diminishing noradrenaline availability is thought to play an important role pathophysiologically in the development of cognitive impairment in AD, because noradrenaline is not only essential for maintaining cognitive functions such as memory, learning and attention, but also its anti-inflammatory action, where its lack is known to accelerate the progression of AD in the mouse model. Therefore, the availability of in vivo biomarkers of the integrity of noradrenaline neurons may be beneficial for furthering our understanding of the role played by the noradrenaline system in the progressive cognitive dysfunction seen in AD patients. In this study, we investigated if PET imaging of noradrenaline transporters can predict the level of noradrenaline in the brain. Our hypothesis was PET measured noradrenaline transporter densities could predict the level of noradrenaline concentrations in the rat hippocampus after lesioning of noradrenaline neurons in this region.
Results
We chemically lesioned the hippocampus of rats (n = 15) by administering a neurotoxin, DSP-4, in order to selectively damage axonal terminals of noradrenergic neurons. These rats then underwent PET imaging of noradrenaline transporters using [11C]MRB ((S, S)-[11C]Methylreboxetine). To validate our hypothesis, postmortem studies of brain homogenates of these rats were performed to measure both noradrenaline transporter and noradrenaline concentrations. [11C]MRB PET showed decreased noradrenaline transporter densities in a DSP-4 dose-dependent manner in the hippocampus of these rats. In turn, these PET measured noradrenaline transporter densities correlated very well with in vitro measured noradrenaline concentrations as well as in vitro transporter densities.
Conclusions
[11C]MRB PET may be used as an in vivo biomarker of noradrenaline concentrations in the hippocampus of the neurodegenerating brain. Further studies appear warranted to extend its applicability to AD studies.
Chameleon Sequences: Ordered or Disordered
Authors: Shahmirani Zohre , Goliaei Bahram , Bahramali Golnaz , Minuchehr Zarrin , Jafaripour Sedighe. Sadat , Shariatpanahi Seyed Peyman
Published: April 2023

Chameleon seqeuences represent a class of sequences violating the important paradigm of molecular biology of one sequence-one structure. Chameleon sequences adopt two different structures in the same protein or in another protein. Why these short sequences are capable of changing their structure has remained unknown. We have examined some properties of chameleon sequences and compared them with those from intreinsically disordered regions of proteins and sequences with known unique secondary structure. Our results show that chameleon sequences have charge distributions very similar to ordered sequences. The GRAVY value of ordered sequences differ from that of intrinsically disordered sequences. Chameleon sequences have GRAVY values close to ordered sequences. A charge-hydropathy plot cleary demonstrated the distribution of ordered, chameleon, and intrinsically disordered regions of proteins. Here again, chameleon sequences placed themselves close to ordered sequences. A conformational analysis of chameleon sequences revealed slight deviations of dihedral angles from ordered sequence values. Based on our analysis we propose that chameleon sequences, with close distance to ordered sequences, have gained limited capability of changing their secondary structure under suitable conditions.
Association between spicy food and hypertension as well as specific types of blood pressure among Han Chinese aged 30–79 years in Sichuan Basin: a population-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Chen Liling , Ding Rui , Luo Qinwen , Ding Xianbin , Yang Xianxian , Liu Xiang , Li Zhifeng , Xu Jingru , Tang Xiaojun , Meng Jiantong , Gao Xufang , Tang Wenge , Wu Jing
Published: April 2023

Background:Spicy food has cardiovascular-protective effects, but its effect on hypertension is uncertain. This study aimed to explore the association between spicy food and hypertension as well as specific types of blood pressure in Sichuan Basin, China.Methods:A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the Sichuan Basin baseline dataset from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) study, including data from electronic questionnaires, medical examinations, and clinical laboratory tests. A total of 43,657 residents aged 30–79 years were included in the final analysis. Multiple logistic regression was performed to explore the effect of spicy food on hypertension and multiple linear regression was applied to estimate the effect of spicy food on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP).Results:For hypertension, negative associations were found only in females: compared to those who do not eat spicy food, the odds ratios of consuming spicy food 6-7 days/week, consuming spicy food with strong strength, and years of eating spicy food-to-age ratio were 0.886 (0.799, 0.982), 0.757 (0.587, 0.977), 0.632 (0.505, 0.792), respectively. For SBP, negative effects of consuming spicy food were found in both genders: among males, the β coefficients of 1-2 days/week, weak strength, and years of eating spicy food-to-age ratio were 0.931 (-1.832, -0.030), -0.639 (-1.247, -0.032), and -2.952 (-4.413, -1.492), respectively; among females, the β coefficients of 3-5 days/week, 6-7 days/week, weak strength, moderate strength, and years of eating spicy food-to-age ratio were -1.251 (-2.115, -0.388), -1.215 (-1.897, -0.534), -0.788 (-1.313, -0.263), -1.807 (-2.542, -1.072), and -5.853 (-7.195, -4.512), respectively. Conversely, higher years of eating spicy food-to-age ratio was found to be related to a higher DBP with β coefficients of 1.300 (0.338, 2.263).Conclusion:Spicy food consumption is inversely related to hypertension among 30–79 years in Sichuan Basin, especially in females. The protective effect of spicy food appears to be on SBP.
Development of an AI System to Monitor Atrial Fibrillation with an ECG-based Stroke Potential Detection Engine Running in the Cloud
Authors: Okamura Tomoyuki , Quan Nguyen Sy , Kobayashi Takuya
Published: April 2023

Recent developments in medical technology and their global spread have extended human life expectancy. Even acute illnesses that once had very low survival rates can now be treated quickly and minimally invasively. On the other hand, prognosis and quality of life are becoming increasingly important. For example, cardiogenic cerebral infarction (CCI) is one of the diseases for which the life-saving rate of patients has risen sharply, but the decline in quality of life due to physical and mental impairment in the prognosis and the costs associated with the care of such patients have become a problem. Therefore, early detection and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), which is considered to be a cause of cardiogenic stroke, is attracting attention as a means of stroke prevention. However, early detection of AF requires electrocardiographic recording and diagnosis by a physician at the time of AF onset. We have therefore analysed data from different electrocardiographs and developed an AI that can determine the presence or absence of AF with high accuracy. This AI has been designed to operate in the cloud and can receive, analyse and judge data from electrocardiographs worn by people at the onset of atrial fibrillation, whether they are in or out of the hospital. This makes it possible to obtain electrocardiographic data from people in their daily lives, easily determine whether or not they have developed AF and, if it is determined that they have to visit a medical facility and receive treatment at an early stage. As a result, the prevention rate of cardiogenic stroke can be increased, reducing the quality of life due to its sequelae and the costs required to care for the patient. This AI and related system construction will play a major role in addressing the problems associated with a society with a long life expectancy, which is likely to increase in the future.
A Neoadjuvant Therapy Compatible Prognostic Staging for Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zhu Lingyu , Shen Shuo , Wang Huan , Zhang Guoxiao , Yin Xiaoyi , Shi Xiaohan , Gao Suizhi , Han Jiawei , Ren Yiwei , Wang Jian , Jiang Hui , Guo Shiwei , Jin Gang
Published: April 2023

Objective: A refined staging system compatible with upfront surgery (UFS) and neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for PDAC was developed to revise the prediction ability of the AJCC staging system.
Background: The AJCC staging system was developed for patients who have undergone UFS for PDAC, and it has limited prognostic ability for patients receiving NAT.
Methods: We analyzed 146 PDAC patients who underwent resection after NAT and 1771 patients who underwent UFS between 2012 and 2021 at the Changhai Hospital. Cox proportional regression analysis was used to identify the clinicopathological features and the Neoadjuvant Therapy Compatible Prognostic (NATCP) staging was designed based on these variables. Validation was performed in the prospective NAT cohort and the SEER database. The staging system was then compared with the AJCC staging system in terms of prognostic accuracy.
Results: The multivariate analysis demonstrated that tumor differentiation and number of positive lymph nodes were independently associated with OS in the NAT cohort. The NATCP staging simplified the AJCC stages, incorporated tumor differentiation and restaged the disease according to the survival differences observed in the Kaplan-Meier curves. The median OS for NATCP stages IA, IB, II and III were not reached, 31.7 months, 25.0 months, 15.8 months in the NAT cohort and 30.1 months, 22.8 months, 18.3 months ,14.1 months in the UFS cohort. The NATCP staging demonstrated better accuracy compared with the AJCC staging system and was validated in the validation cohort.
Conclusions: The NATCP staging provided better prognostic ability than the current AJCC staging system for resected PDAC regardless of the use of NAT and may facilitate clinical decision-making based on accurate prediction of OS of patients.
Early Puberty Paradox: An Investigation of Anxiety Levels of Mothers and Children, Children's Quality of Life and, Psychiatric Diagnoses
Authors: KARDAŞ Burcu , KARDAŞ Ömer , Demiral Meliha , Özbek Mehmet Nuri
Published: April 2023

Purpose Early puberty signs lead to an increase in anxiety levels of parents and children. The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of life and anxiety levels of girls and their mothers who were admitted to a pediatric endocrinology clinic with concerns about early puberty.Methods Girls and their mothers who were admitted to endocrinology outpatient clinic with concerns about early puberty were compared to healthy control group. Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders-Parent form (SCARED), Quality of Life for Children Scale-parent form (PedsQL) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were administered to the mothers. Children were evaluated with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (Kiddie-SADS Lifetime Version) (K-SADS-PL).Results The study sample consisted of 92 girls, 62 of them administered to clinic with concerns about early puberty. There were 30 girls in early puberty group (Group 1), 32 girls in the normal development group (Group 2) and 30 were in the healthy control group (Group 3). The anxiety level of Group 1 and Group 2 was significantly higher and their quality of life was significantly lower when compared to Group 3 (p < 0,001). Mother’s anxiety level was found significantly higher in Group 2 (p < 0,001). It has shown that, anxiety level and quality of life of children was associated with anxiety level of mothers and the current Tanner stage (rspearman = 0.302, p < 0.005).CONCLUSION Mothers and children who have concerns about early puberty are negatively affected when early puberty is a possibility. For this reason, educating parents will prevent negative impacts of this situation on children. At the same time, it will decrease health burden.
The diagnostic and prognositic significances of HIF1A in glioma patients, a meta-analysis and bioinformatics approach
Authors: Ming Cheng , Zheng Liang , Zhang Mao , Wu Jumin , Feng Yuelan , Wu Yun , Wang Xiaoqin , Wang Xiaomin
Published: April 2023

Background Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in the development and progression of tumors. Recent studies have assessed the relationship between expression level of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1A) and prognosis in gliomas patients, and some of the results indicated the gliomas patient with high expression level of HIF1A seemed to have relatively poor prognosis. However, the heterogeneity among these studies was large. So to comprehensively and quantitatively summarize the evidence on the survival of patients with gliomas, a meta-analysis and a bioinformatics analysis was performed.Results Totally, 12 papers including 912 patients were subjected to final analysis. The combined hazard ratio (HR) was 1.47 (95% CI: 1.24–1.70) in the analyses of OS, and the significant heterogeneity (I2 = 48.0%, P = 0.027) was observed. Further, subgroup analyses by ethnicity were conducted: the combined hazard ratio (HR) for Caucasian was 1.30 (95% CI: 1.03 − 1.56, I2 = 40.1%, p = 0.112), and that for Asian was 2.03 (95% CI: 1.56–2.50, I2 = 9.0%, p = 0.355). By analyzing the datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) ,Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) and cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics, it was found that there were significantly different for HIF1A expressional levels between gliomas and the normal samples, and HIF1A expressional levels were related to overall survival rate (OS), tumor recurrence and some prognostic factors (eg. 1p/19q co-deletion, IDH mutation and MGMT methylation) of giloma patients.Conclusions Taken together, HIF1A could be a diagnostic marker and independent prognostic factor for gliomas, and comparing with Caucasian patients, Asian patients with HIF1A overexpression tended to have a more poor prognosis.
Improving the Performance and Interpretability on Medical Datasets using Graphical Ensemble Feature Selection
Authors: Battistella Enzo , Ghiassian Dina , Barabási Albert
Published: April 2023

A major hindrance towards using Machine Learning on medical datasets is the discrepancy between a large number of variables and small sample sizes.
While multiple feature selection techniques have been proposed to avoid the resulting overfitting, overall ensemble techniques offer the best selection robustness.
Yet, current methods designed to combine different algorithms generally fail to leverage the dependencies identified by their components.
Here, we propose Graphical Ensembling (GE), a graph-theory-based ensemble feature selection technique designed to improve the stability and relevance of the selected features.
Relying on four datasets, we show that GE increases classification performance with fewer selected features.
For example, on rheumatoid arthritis patient stratification, GE outperforms the baselines by 9% Balanced Accuracy with fewer features than the baseline methods.
We use data on sub-cellular networks to show that the selected features (proteins) are closer to the known disease genes, and the uncovered biological mechanisms are more diversified.
By successfully tackling the complex correlations between biological variables, we anticipate that GE will improve the medical applications of machine learning.
Impact of green finance on green total factor productivity based on environmental governance perspective-Take a provincial panel in China as an example
Authors: wu ziqian
Published: April 2023

This paper selects provincial panel data from 2011–2020 and establishes a spatial error model to quantitatively analyze the impact of green finance on green total factor productivity from an environmental governance perspective. The results show that: green finance has a significant positive and significant direct effect on green total factor productivity improvement; there is significant heterogeneity in the promotion effect of green finance on green total factor productivity, concluding that the impact of green finance on green industries in the eastern and central regions have a greater impact on GTFP enhancement, green finance has a limited impact on the western region, and the effect on low-carbon pilots is greater than the effect on non-low-carbon pilots; with the improvement of environmental governance, the positive promotion relationship between the comprehensive level of green finance and green total factor productivity is strengthened; the comprehensive level of green finance has a There is a direct promotion effect and a single threshold effect, when green finance is smaller than the threshold, the direct promotion effect is stronger; the level of environmental governance promotes the improvement of green total factor productivity by the comprehensive level of green finance, and there is a positive effect and a double threshold effect, as the level of environmental governance improves, the improvement of green total factor productivity by green finance shows a "rising first and then declining "With the improvement of environmental governance, the improvement of green total factor productivity by green finance shows an "inverted U-shaped" change.
Understanding the role of eye movement pattern and consistency in isolated English word reading through hidden Markov modelling
Authors: Liao Weiyan , Hsiao Janet Hui-wen
Published: April 2023

In isolated English word reading, readers have the optimal performance when their initial eye fixation is directed to the area between the beginning and word center, i.e., the optimal viewing position (OVP). Thus, how well readers voluntarily direct eye gaze to this OVP during isolated word reading may predict reading performance. Using Eye Movement analysis with Hidden Markov Models (EMHMM), we discovered two representative eye movement patterns during lexical decisions through clustering, which focused at the OVP and the word center respectively. Higher eye movement similarity to the OVP-focusing pattern predicted faster lexical decision time in addition to cognitive abilities and lexical knowledge. However, the OVP-focusing pattern was associated with longer isolated single letter naming time, suggesting conflicting visual abilities required for identifying isolated letters and multi-letter words. In pseudoword naming, higher consistency of the first fixation as measured in entropy predicted faster naming time in addition to cognitive abilities and lexical knowledge. In contrast, word naming performance was better predicted by lexical knowledge but not eye movement measures. Thus, developing a consistent eye movement pattern focusing on the OVP is essential for word orthographic processing and reading fluency. This finding has important implications for interventions for reading difficulties.
Impact of Chitosan-incorporated Toothpaste on Roughness, Gloss, and Antifungal Potential of Acrylic Resin
Authors: Theodorovicz Kaye Varaschin , Vieira-Junior Waldemir Franscisco , Garcia Raíssa Manoel , Gobbi Ludmila Pini Simões , Mori Mariana Mayume , Filho Benedito Prado Dias , Lima Debora Alves Nunes Leite , Sundfeld Daniel , Pini Núbia Inocencya Pavesi
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to test the efficacy of different silica-based toothpastes with or without chitosan, as a method of cleaning the acrylic surfaces of denture prostheses. Acrylic resin specimens were prepared to evaluate surface roughness and gloss (n = 10), and Candida albicans adhesion/inhibition (n = 2). Two toothpastes with different degrees of abrasiveness were used: Colgate (CT) and Elmex (EX), with or without 0.5% chitosan (Ch) microparticles (CTCh or EXCh, respectively). The negative control was brushed with distilled water. Brushing was simulated with a machine. Surface roughness and gloss were analyzed before and after brushing. Candida albicans incidence/inhibition was tested qualitatively to determine the acrylic resin antifungal activity. The roughness and gloss data were analyzed with a generalized linear model, and the Kruskal Wallis and Dunn tests, respectively (α = 5%). Brushing with toothpastes increased roughness and reduced gloss, compared with the negative control (p < 0.05). CT showed a more significantly different change in roughness and gloss, in relation to the other groups (p < 0.05). Addition of chitosan to CT reduced its abrasive potential, and yielded results similar to those of EX and EXCh. Specimens brushed with CT showed a higher potential for Candida albicans adherence, despite its higher antifungal action. Addition of chitosan to the toothpaste made both toothpaste and brushing more effective in inhibiting Candida albicans. CT had the potential to increase roughness, reduce gloss, and increase Candida albicans adherence. In contrast, chitosan added to CT showed greater antifungal potential, and a higher synergistic effect than EX.
Clinical features of Temporomandibular disorders: validity and reliability of the Fonseca Anamnestic Index in Persian
Authors: anbari fahime , Taghavi Farnoosh , Khalighi Hamidreza , zadeh Sara Tavakoli , Ahmadi Shayan , khosousisani sahba
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a group of disorders associated with masticatory dysfunction and include pain in masticatory muscles or temporomandibular joint (TMJ), limitation in mandibular movement, and clicking in the joint. Nowadays TMD is a worldwide problem. TMDs are usually diagnosed late because of the unawareness of patients and this results in complicated surgical treatments. So early diagnosis and treatment of TMD are essential.
Methods: We translated the Fonseca’s Anamnestic Index (FAI) from the English version to Persian and then checked its reliability and validity. The following data for 350 patients were recorded: demographic information, subjective symptoms based on FAI, and objective signs (presence of joint noise, maximum opening of jaws, occlusion type, presence of crossbite, and deviation).
Results: 350 patients precipitated in this study. Based on FAI scores 161(46%) people had TMD. There was no significant difference between occlusion classes in terms of the frequency of TMD. There was a significant difference between gender, cross-bite status, presence of TMJ sounds, short toothless space or no toothless space, and number of missing teeth in terms of TMD frequency. There was no significant difference between the mean maximum mouth opening and severity of TMD. There was a significant difference between deviation, deflection, or straight mouth opening in terms of severity of TMD.
Conclusion: This study confirmed the validity and reliability of the FAI in the Persian language. Our results showed there was a significant relationship between the severity of TMD and gender, unilateral posterior crossbite, deviation in mouth opening, joint sounds, the length and location of edentulous space, and the mean of the number of missing teeth.