bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systems and processes for regulation of investigational medical devices in Uganda
Authors: Mpaata Charles Norman , Matovu Brian , Takuwa Mercy , Kiwanuka Noah , Lewis Steff , Norrie John , Ononge Sam , Tuck Sharon , Wolters Maria , Demulliez Marc , Ssekitoleko Robert T.
Published: January 2023

Background

In many parts of the world, medical devices and the processes of their development are tightly regulated. However, the current regulatory landscape in Uganda like other developing countries is weak and poorly defined, which creates significant barriers to innovation, clinical evaluation, and translation of medical devices.

Aim

To evaluate current knowledge, systems and infrastructure for medical devices regulation and innovation in Uganda.

Methods

A mixed methods study design using the methods triangulation strategy was employed in this study. Data of equal weight were collected sequentially. First, a digital structured questionnaire was sent out to innovators to establish individual knowledge and experience with medical device innovation and regulation. Then, a single focus group discussion involving both medical device innovators and regulators to collect data about the current regulatory practices for medical devices in Uganda. Univariate and bivariate analysis was done for the quantitative data to summarize results in graphs and tables. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Ethical review and approval were obtained from the Makerere University School of Biomedical Sciences, Research and Ethics Committee, and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology.

Results

A total of 47 innovators responded to the questionnaire. 14 respondents were excluded since they were not medical device innovators. Majority (76%) of individuals had been innovators for more than a year, held a bachelor's degree with a background in Engineering and applied sciences, and worked in an academic research institute. 22 of the 33 medical device innovators had stopped working on their innovations and had stalled at the proof-of-concept stage. Insufficient funding, inadequate technical expertise and confusing regulatory landscape were major challenges to innovation. The two themes that emerged from the discussion were “developing standards for medical devices regulation” and “implementation of regulations in practical processes”. Legal limitations, lengthy processes, and low demand were identified as challenges to developing medical device regulations.

Conclusions

Efforts have been taken by government to create a pathway for medical device innovations to be translated to the market. More work needs to be done to coordinate efforts among stakeholders to build effective medical device regulations in Uganda.
Using machine learning to estimate the calendar age based on autonomic cardiovascular function
Authors: Schumann Andy , Gaser Christian , Sabeghi Rassoul , Schulze P. Christian , Festag Sven , Spreckelsen Cord , Bär Karl-Jürgen
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Aging is accompanied by physiological changes in cardiovascular regulation that can be evaluated using a variety of metrics. In this study, we employ machine learning on autonomic cardiovascular indices in order to estimate participants’ age.

Methods

We analyzed a database including resting state electrocardiogram and continuous blood pressure recordings of healthy volunteers. A total of 884 data sets met the inclusion criteria. Data of 72 other participants with an BMI indicating obesity (>30 kg/m²) were withheld as an evaluation sample. For all participants, 29 different cardiovascular indices were calculated including heart rate variability, blood pressure variability, baroreflex function, pulse wave dynamics, and QT interval characteristics. Based on cardiovascular indices, sex and device, four different approaches were applied in order to estimate the calendar age of healthy subjects, i.e., relevance vector regression (RVR), Gaussian process regression (GPR), support vector regression (SVR), and linear regression (LR). To estimate age in the obese group, we drew normal-weight controls from the large sample to build a training set and a validation set that had an age distribution similar to the obesity test sample.

Results

In a five-fold cross validation scheme, we found the GPR model to be suited best to estimate calendar age, with a correlation of r=0.81 and a mean absolute error of MAE=5.6 years. In men, the error (MAE=5.4 years) seemed to be lower than that in women (MAE=6.0 years). In comparison to normal-weight subjects, GPR and SVR significantly overestimated the age of obese participants compared with controls. The highest age gap indicated advanced cardiovascular aging by 5.7 years in obese participants.

Discussion

In conclusion, machine learning can be used to estimate age on cardiovascular function in a healthy population when considering previous models of biological aging. The estimated age might serve as a comprehensive and readily interpretable marker of cardiovascular function. Whether it is a useful risk predictor should be investigated in future studies.
Comparison of staged-stent and stent-assisted coiling technique for ruptured saccular wide-necked intracranial aneurysms: Safety and efficacy based on a propensity score-matched cohort study
Authors: Zhang Guanghao , Zhang Renkun , Wei Yanpeng , Chen Rundong , Zhang Xiaoxi , Xue Gaici , Lv Nan , Duan Guoli , Wang Chuanchuan , Yu Ying , Dai Dongwei , Zhao Rui , Li Qiang , Xu Yi , Huang Qinghai , Yang Pengfei , Zuo Qiao , Liu Jianmin
Published: January 2023

Background

Application of stent-assisted coiling and FD in acute phase of ruptured wide-necked aneurysms is relatively contraindicated due to the potential risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic complications. Scheduled stenting after initial coiling has emerged as an alternative paradigm for ruptured wide-necked aneurysms. The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a strategy of staged stent-assisted coiling in acutely ruptured saccular wide-necked intracranial aneurysms compared with conventional early stent-assisted coiling strategy via propensity score matching in a high-volume center.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients with acutely ruptured saccular wide-necked intracranial aneurysms who underwent staged stent-assisted coiling or conventional stent-assisted coiling from November 2014 to November 2019 was performed. Perioperative procedure-related complications and clinical and angiographic follow-up outcomes were compared.

Results

A total of 69 patients with staged stent-assisted coiling and 138 patients with conventional stent-assisted coiling were enrolled after 1:2 propensity score matching. The median interval time between previous coiling and later stenting was 4.0 weeks (range 3.5–7.5 weeks). No rebleeding occurred during the intervals. The rate of immediate complete occlusion was lower with initial coiling before scheduled stenting than with conventional stent-assisted coiling (21.7 vs. 60.9%), whereas comparable results were observed at follow-up (82.5 vs. 72.9%; p = 0.357). The clinical follow-up outcomes, overall procedure-related complications and procedure-related mortality between the two groups demonstrated no significant differences (P = 0.232, P = 0.089, P = 0.537, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that modified Fisher grades (OR = 2.120, P = 0.041) were independent predictors for overall procedure-related complications and no significant predictors for hemorrhagic and ischemic complications.

Conclusions

Staged stent-assisted coiling is a safe and effective treatment strategy for acutely ruptured saccular wide-necked intracranial aneurysms, with comparable complete occlusion rates, recurrence rates at follow-up and overall procedure-related complication rates compared with conventional stent-assisted coiling strategy. Staged stent-assisted coiling could be an alternative treatment option for selected ruptured intracranial aneurysms in the future.
Dietary patterns and risk for gastric cancer: A case-control study in residents of the Huaihe River Basin, China
Authors: Wu Xiaomin , Zhang Qian , Guo Hong , Wang Ning , Fan Xueqi , Zhang Bin , Zhang Wei , Wang Wanying , Fang Zhongze , Wu Jing
Published: January 2023

Aim

Evidence linking dietary patterns and the risk of gastric cancer was limited, especially in Chinese populations. This study aimed to explore the association between dietary patterns and the risk of gastric cancer in residents of the Huaihe River Basin, China.

Methods

The association between dietary patterns and the risk of gastric cancer was investigated through a case-control study. Dietary patterns were identified with factor analysis based on responses to a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Gastric cancer was diagnosed according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD 10). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated across the tertiles of dietary pattern scores using unconditional logistic regression models.

Results

A total of 2,468 participants were included in this study. Six main dietary patterns were extracted, and those patterns explained 57.09% of the total variation in food intake. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, individual disease history, family history of cancer and Helicobacter. Pylori (H. pylori) infection, comparing the highest with the lowest tertiles of dietary pattern scores, the multivariable ORs (95% CIs) were 0.786 (0.488, 1.265; Ptrend < 0.001) for the flavors, garlic and protein pattern, 2.133 (1.299, 3.502; Ptrend < 0.001) for the fast food pattern, 1.050 (0.682, 1.617; Ptrend < 0.001) for the vegetable and fruit pattern, 0.919 (0.659, 1.282; Ptrend < 0.001) for the pickled food, processed meat products and soy products pattern, 1.149 (0.804, 1.642; Ptrend < 0.001) for the non-staple food pattern and 0.690 (0.481, 0.989; Ptrend < 0.001) for the coffee and dairy pattern.

Conclusions

The specific dietary patterns were associated with the risk of gastric cancer. This study has implications for the prevention of gastric cancer.
Pharmacokinetics and biosafety evaluation of a veterinary drug florfenicol in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum 1792) as a model cultivable fish species in temperate water
Authors: Mallik Sumanta Kumar , Shahi Neetu , Pathak Richa , Kala Krishna , Patil Prasanna Kumar , Singh Bhupendra , Ravindran Rajisha , Krishna Nanitha , Pandey Pramod Kumar
Published: January 2023

In two experimental trials; florfenicol pharmacokinetics following a single dose oral administration at 15 mg kg−1 fish body weight and biosafety through extended medicated feeding were studied in the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. The pharmacokinetic trial was conducted for 5 days, whereas the biosafety experiment lasted for a 30-day safety margin followed by a 20-day residual period analysis at 3, 5 and 10 times greater than the therapeutic dose 10 mg kg−1 biomass day−1. Cmax µg kg−1 calculated for florfenicol were found to be 5,360 in intestine, 2,890 in gill, 2,250 in kidney, 973 in liver and 273 in plasma, obtained at Tmax of 16 h. Intestine had utmost area under the concentration–time curve (tissue/plasma) of 13.83 h μg kg−1 and a prolonged half life (t1/2ß) of 28.62 h. The highest apparent metabolic rate value in the kidney (0.327) showed a high level of biotransformation of florfenicol to its metabolite florfenicol amine. The apparent distribution rate of florfenicol amine in muscle, in comparison to the parent drug florfenicol, indicated elimination of the medication mostly in the form of florfenicol amine with t1/2 of 16.75 h. The biosafety of florfenicol orally administered to rainbow trout recorded effective feed consumption, physiological responses, drug tolerance and significantly low drug concentrations in muscle of rainbow trout, thus its usage at 10 mg kg−1 fish body weight is recommended. In the study, the rapid absorption, greater bioavailability, enhanced dispersion, slower elimination and biosafety of the drug form a significant basis for the florfenicol and its metabolite florfenicol amine as a useful antibacterial agent in aquaculture.
Bulleyaconitine A reduces fracture-induced pain and promotes fracture healing in mice
Authors: Peng Jun , Xiao Sheng , Xie Juan , Fu Wan
Published: January 2023

A fracture is a severe trauma that causes dramatic pain. Appropriate fracture pain management not only improves the patient’s subjective perception, but also increases compliance with rehabilitation training. However, current analgesics for fracture pain are unsatisfactory because of their negative effects on fracture healing or addiction problems. Bulleyaconitine A (BLA), a non-addictive analgesic medicine, is used for the treatment of chronic pain of musculoskeletal disorders in clinical practice, whereas the effects of BLA on fracture pain is undefined. To evaluate the analgesic effects of BLA on fracture, we generated tibial fracture mice here. It is found that oral administration of BLA to mice alleviates fracture-induced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. Interestingly, BLA significantly increases locomotor activity levels and reduces anxiety-like behaviors in fractured mice, as determined by open-field test. Notably, BLA treatment promotes bone mineralization and therefore fracture healing in mice, which may be attributed to the increase in mechanical stimulation caused by exercise. Our study suggests that BLA can be used as a promising analgesic agent for the treatment of fracture pain.
Cannabidiol regulates apoptosis and autophagy in inflammation and cancer: A review
Authors: Fu Ze , Zhao Peng-Yue , Yang Xing-Peng , Li Hao , Hu Shi-Dong , Xu Ying-Xin , Du Xiao-Hui
Published: January 2023

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a terpenoid naturally found in plants. The purified compound is used in the treatment of mental disorders because of its antidepressive, anxiolytic, and antiepileptic effects. CBD can affect the regulation of several pathophysiologic processes, including autophagy, cytokine secretion, apoptosis, and innate and adaptive immune responses. However, several authors have reported contradictory findings concerning the magnitude and direction of CBD-mediated effects. For example, CBD treatment can increase, decrease, or have no significant effect on autophagy and apoptosis. These variable results can be attributed to the differences in the biological models, cell types, and CBD concentration used in these studies. This review focuses on the mechanism of regulation of autophagy and apoptosis in inflammatory response and cancer by CBD. Further, we broadly elaborated on the prospects of using CBD as an anti-inflammatory agent and in cancer therapy in the future.
Case Report: Clinical benefit from multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor and PARP inhibitor in a patient with cancer of unknown primary with BRCA1 large genomic rearrangement
Authors: Yu Ling , Lin Jietao , Li Hanhan , Sun Lingling , Wang Shubo , Chen Yaoxu , Chen Hanrui , Lin Lizhu
Published: January 2023

Background: Cancer of unknown primary (CUP), which accounts for 3%–5% of new cancer cases every year, involves the presence of a type of histologically confirmed metastatic tumors whose primary site cannot be confirmed by conventional diagnostic methods. This difficulty in identifying the primary site means that CUP patients fail to receive precisely targeted therapy. Most patients are treated with empiric chemotherapy, with a median survival of 6 months and even poorer prognosis within an unfavorable subset of CUP.

Case report: An 80-year-old woman presented with masses in the abdomen. Following comprehensive imagological and immunohistochemical examinations, she was diagnosed with CUP. She emphatically declined chemotherapy; thus, anlotinib has been administered with patient consent since 02/07/2019, and stable disease (SD) was observed for 2 years. During subsequent treatment, a large genomic rearrangement in BRCA1 was identified in the patient via NGS, and SD was observed for a further 6 months following olaparib treatment. The type of LGR identified in this patient was discovered to be BRCA1 exon 17-18 inversion (inv), which has never been previously reported.

Conclusion: For CUP patients, a chemo-free regimen seems to be acceptable as a first-line treatment, and NGS-guided targeted treatment could improve patient outcomes.
Identification of CDPKs involved in TaNOX7 mediated ROS production in wheat
Authors: Hu Chun-Hong , Li Bin-Bin , Chen Peng , Shen Hai-Yan , Xi Wei-Gang , Zhang Yi , Yue Zong-Hao , Wang Hong-Xing , Ma Ke-Shi , Li Li-Li , Chen Kun-Ming
Published: January 2023

As the critical sensors and decoders of calcium signal, calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) has become the focus of current research, especially in plants. However, few resources are available on the properties and functions of CDPK gene family in Triticum aestivum (TaCDPK). Here, a total of 79 CDPK genes were identified in the wheat genome. These TaCDPKs could be classified into four subgroups on phylogenesis, while they may be classified into two subgroups based on their tissue and organ-spatiotemporal expression profiles or three subgroups according to their induced expression patterns. The analysis on the signal network relationships and interactions of TaCDPKs and NADPH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases, NOXs), the key producers for reactive oxygen species (ROS), showed that there are complicated cross-talks between these two family proteins. Further experiments demonstrate that, two members of TaCDPKs, TaCDPK2/4, can interact with TaNOX7, an important member of wheat NOXs, and enhanced the TaNOX7-mediated ROS production. All the results suggest that TaCDPKs are highly expressed in wheat with distinct tissue or organ-specificity and stress-inducible diversity, and play vital roles in plant development and response to biotic and abiotic stresses by directly interacting with TaNOXs for ROS production.
The combined effects of filter-feeding bivalves (Cristaria plicata) and submerged macrophytes (Hydrilla verticillate) on phytoplankton assemblages in nutrient-enriched freshwater mesocosms
Authors: Du Xue , Song Dan , Wang Huibo , Yang Jingshuang , Liu Hui , Huo Tangbin
Published: January 2023

Freshwater ecosystems are threatened by eutrophication, which causes persistent and harmful algal blooms. Filter-feeding bivalve mollusks and submerged macrophytes (SMs) alleviate the eutrophication effects by inhibiting phytoplankton biomass blooms. However, very little is known about whether and how the combined manipulation of filter-feeding bivalves and SMs control eutrophication and influence phytoplankton assemblages. Here, we performed a nutrient-enriched freshwater mesocosm experiment to assess the combined effects of the filter-feeding bivalve Cristaria plicata, a cockscomb pearl mussel, and the macrophyte Hydrilla verticillate on the biomass and composition of phytoplankton assemblages. We found that addition of C. plicata and H. verticillate decreased the water nutrient concentrations and suppressed overall phytoplankton biomass. Further, distinct differences in taxa between restoration and control treatments were observed and noticeably competitive exclusion of cyanobacteria in the restoration treatments occurred. An antagonistic interaction between filter-feeding bivalves and SMs was only detected for total cyanobacteria biomass demonstrating that a larger magnitude of SM restoration may override the effect of filter-feeding bivalves. Our results suggest that manipulation, through the addition of bivalves as grazers, associated with the restoration of SMs, is an efficient approach for reducing cyanobacterial blooms and alleviating eutrophication.
Mitigation of water scarcity with sustained growth of Rice by plant growth promoting bacteria
Authors: Mahreen Naima , Yasmin Sumera , Asif Muhammad , Yahya Mahreen , Ejaz Khansa , Mehboob-ur-Rahman  , Yousaf Sumaira , Amin Imran , Zulfiqar Sana , Imran Asma , Khaliq Shazia , Arif Muhammad
Published: January 2023

Climate change augments the risk to food security by inducing drought stress and a drastic decline in global rice production. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have been known to improve plant growth under drought stress. Here in the present study, we isolated, identified, and well-characterized eight drought-tolerant bacteria from the rice rhizosphere that are tolerant to 20% PEG-8000. These strains exhibited multiple plant growth-promoting traits, i.e., 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity, exopolysaccharide production, phosphate (P)-solubilizing activity (51–356 µg ml-1), indole-3 acetic acid (IAA) production (14.3–46.2 µg ml-1), and production of organic acids (72–178 µg ml-1). Inoculation of bacterial consortium (Bacillus subtilis NM-2, Brucella haematophilum NM-4, and Bacillus cereus NM-6) significantly improved seedling growth and vigor index (1009.2-1100) as compared to non-inoculated stressed plants (630-957). Through rhizoscanning, efficiency of the consortium was validated by improved root parameters such as root length (17%), diameter, and surface area (18%) of all tested genotypes as compared with respective non-inoculated stressed treatments. Furthermore, the response of consortium inoculation on three rice genotypes was positively correlated with improved plant growth and drought stress ameliorating traits by the accumulation of osmoprotectant, i.e., proline (85.8%–122%), relative water content (51%), membrane stability index (64%), and production of antioxidant enzymes to reduce oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species. A decrease in temperature and improved chlorophyll content of inoculated plants were found using infrared thermal imaging and soil plant analyzer development (SPAD), respectively. The key supporting role of inoculation toward stress responses was validated using robust techniques like infrared thermal imaging and an infrared gas analyzer. Furthermore, principal component analysis depicts the contribution of inoculation on stress responses and yield of tested rice genotypes under water stress. The integration of drought-tolerant rice genotype (NIBGE-DT02) and potential bacterial strains, i.e., NM-2, NM-4, and NM-6, can serve as an effective bioinoculant to cope with water scarcity under current alarming issues related to food security in fluctuating climate.
An assist for cognitive diagnostics in soccer (Part II): Development and validation of a task to measure working memory in a soccer-specific setting
Authors: Knöbel Simon , Lautenbach Franziska
Published: January 2023

Cognitive diagnostics is of increasing interest to researchers and practitioners in the context of talent identification and performance enhancement in professional soccer. Research addressing the relevance of cognitive skills for sports performance has been based on the cognitive component approach (i.e., general cognitive processes) and the expert performance approach (i.e., sport-specific cognitive processes). Following the aim to combine the strengths of both approaches, we have previously developed and validated tasks to measure inhibition and cognitive flexibility in a soccer-specific setting, including a soccer-specific motor response. In line with the broad consistency on three core executive functions, this further development of diagnosing executive functions is to be completed with a task for the assessment of working memory. For this purpose, 60 amateur players with a soccer experience of at least one competitive season (Mage = 25.95,SDage = 4.59) first conducted a computer-based version of then-back (3-back) task followed by a 3-back task that required a soccer-specific motor response (i.e., pass) performed in a soccer-specific setting (i.e., SoccerBot100). Results show good reliability for both tasks. With regard to convergent validity, significant correlations between the computerized and soccer-specific task could be determined in target trials for response time (r = 0.446) and accuracy (r = 0.401). Thus, the soccer-specificn-back task can be considered a potentially valid instrument for assessing working memory and potentially allows soccer clubs to diagnose the three core executive functions in a consistent soccer-specific setting.
The effect of educational computer games on the academic resilience, academic self-regulation, and academic achievement of EFL students
Authors: Deng Lin , Daverpanah Nikoo , Izadpanah Siros
Published: January 2023

Introduction

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the field of educational computer games (ECGs). Although ECGs have been researched, more analyses still need to be performed on these variables to check their effects on language learning.

Methods

To this end, 74-third grade female state high school students from two schools in Zanjan were selected through a two-stage cluster random sampling method. The number of students in each class was 37. One of the classes (control group) was trained traditionally and the other was for one semester through the researchers-made ECGs. After completing the training, the research tools were performed as a post-test on the experimental and control groups. The data collection stage took place for about 6 months.

Results

Based on the results from the research questions, the use of training computers has been effective in increasing AR, ASR, and AA.

Discussion

It has significant implications for teachers and learners in the EFL context and opens interesting opportunities for administrators and curriculum developers to explore when planning EFL courses.
Blowing the lid off! Bottle-directed, extractive foraging strategies in synurbic bonnet macaques Macaca radiata in southern India
Authors: Pal Arijit , Mahato Santanu , Leca Jean-Baptiste , Sinha Anindya
Published: January 2023

Nonhuman individuals and groups, living in anthropogenic landscapes, often adopt adaptive foraging strategies, mediated by their day-to-day interactions with humans and their artefacts. Exploring such novel behavioral manifestations, especially in the Anthropocene, offers us insights into behavioral innovations and their transmission in such rapidly changing ecologies. In this study, employing field experiments, we investigated an example of human-induced, extractive foraging behavior – the extraction of liquid contents from plastic bottles – in a synurbic bonnet macaque Macaca radiata population. The main aims of the study were to examine the distribution, diversity, inter-individual variability and intra-individual flexibility of bottle-directed manipulative behaviors, and to explore the social and environmental factors driving this behavioral practice. We video-recorded the manipulation of partially filled plastic bottles and the extraction of liquid across four groups of bonnet macaques in southern India. Two socio-demographic factors – age class and group membership – and one environmental factor – food provisioning – were identified as major determinants of inter-individual variation in the performance of sophisticated manipulative techniques and in bottle-opening success. Our results also suggest that age-related physical maturation, experiential trial-and-error learning, and possibly social learning contributed to the acquisition of foraging competence in this task. These findings illuminate the mechanisms underlying inter-individual behavioral variability and intra-individual behavioral flexibility amongst free-ranging individuals of a cercopithecine primate species, traditionally known for its ecological adaptability and behavioral plasticity. Finally, this study documents how the presence of humans, their artefacts and their activities facilitate the development of certain behavioral traditions in free-ranging nonhuman populations, thus providing valuable insights into how human–alloprimate relations can be restructured within the increasingly resource-competitive environments of the Anthropocene.
The impact of the digital economy on enterprise innovation behavior: Based on CiteSpace knowledge graph analysis
Authors: Yu Wenling , Zhang Lipai , Yang Chen
Published: January 2023

Introduction

As a new trend, the digital economy will promote “digital industrialization” in the process of promoting “industrial digitalization.” It can accelerate technological innovation by adjusting managerial behavior and strategic decisions, promoting and protecting technological research and development, and providing technological infrastructure. While technological innovation, which generally occurs in enterprises, will promote a new round of upgrading, optimization, and even reshaping of the whole industry. The two are highly synergistic. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to study the impact of the digital economy era on enterprise innovation behavior.

Methods

We analyzed the impact of the digital economy era on corporate innovation behavior in the Web of Science database from 2010 to 2020 through bibliometric and scientific knowledge mapping methods.

Results and discussion

Our study found that: the research on enterprise innovation behavior in the digital economy era has formed eight research directions, such as expertise, human capital FSA, integration in global value chains, financial innovation, fintech, people preference shift, internet of everything, and consumer co-creation. In addition, the research hotspots on enterprise innovation behavior in the digital economy era range from enterprises’ perception of digital economy contact, to enterprises’ familiarity with digital technology and its application, to enterprises’ attempted evolution of digital transformation, reflecting the potential of both theoretical and practical characteristics. Finally, we present an outlook on the future cross-sectional development of research on enterprise innovative behavior in the digital economy era and propose a research trend based on the Chinese context.
Ewww–Investigating the neural basis of disgust in response to naturalistic and pictorial nauseating stimuli
Authors: Berretz Gesa , Dutschke Canan , Leonard Elodie , Packheiser Julian
Published: January 2023

Emotion induction in psychological and neuroscientific research has been mostly done by presenting participants with picture or film material. However, it is debatable whether this passive approach to emotion induction results in an affective state comparable to real-life emotions, and if the neural correlates of emotion processing are ecologically valid. To investigate the appropriateness of pictures for the induction of emotions, we presented 56 participants in a within-subjects design with naturalistic disgusting and neutral stimuli as well as with pictures of said stimulus material while recording continuous EEG data. We calculated asymmetry indices (AIs) for alpha power as an index of emotion processing and emotion regulation at the F3/4, F5/6, F7/8, and O1/2 electrode pairs. Participants reported higher disgust ratings for disgusting naturalistic compared to disgusting pictorial stimuli. Investigating changes in the EEG signal in participants with a pronounced disgust response (n= 38), we found smaller AIs for naturalistic stimuli compared to pictures. Moreover, in this disgusted sub-sample, there were smaller AIs in response to naturalistic disgusting stimuli compared to pictorial disgusting and neutral stimuli at the O1/2 electrode pair indicating stronger activation of the right relative to the left hemisphere by naturalistic stimuli. As the right hemisphere has been shown to display dominance in processing negative and withdrawal-associated emotions, this might indicate that naturalistic stimuli are more appropriate for the induction of emotions than picture stimuli. To improve the validity of results from emotion induction, future research should incorporate stimulus material that is as naturalistic as possible.
The association between gene polymorphisms in voltage-gated potassium channels Kv2.1 and Kv4.2 and susceptibility to autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Liu Zehui , Yang Xiaolei , Guo Peiwen , Wang Feng , Xia Wei , Chen Yuxin , Zou Mingyang , Sun Caihong
Published: January 2023

Background

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heritable form of neurodevelopmental disorder that arises through synaptic dysfunction. Given the involvement of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels in the regulation of synaptic plasticity, we aimed to explore the relationship between the genetic variants in the KCNB1 and KCND2 genes (encoding Kv2.1 and Kv4.2, respectively) and the risk of developing ASD.

Methods

A total of 243 patients with ASD and 243 healthy controls were included in the present study. Sixty single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (35 in KCNB1 and 25 in KCND2) were genotyped using the Sequenom Mass Array.

Results

There were no significant differences in the distribution of allele frequencies and genotype frequencies in KCNB1 between cases and controls. However, the differences were significant in the allelic distribution of KCND2 rs1990429 (pBonferroni < 0.005) and rs7793864 (pBonferroni < 0.005) between the two groups. KCND2 rs7800545 (pFDR = 0.045) in the dominant model and rs1990429 (pFDR < 0.001) and rs7793864 (pFDR < 0.001) in the over-dominant model were associated with ASD risk. The G/A genotype of rs1990429 in the over-dominant model and the G/A–G/G genotype of rs7800545 in the dominant model were correlated with lower severity in the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI–R) restricted repetitive behavior (RRB) domain.

Conclusion

Our results provide evidence that KCND2 gene polymorphism is strongly associated with ASD susceptibility and the severity of RRB.
Association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and heart failure: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of more than 7 million participants
Authors: Yang Yu-shan , Pei Ying-hao , Gu Yuan-yuan , Zhu Jun-feng , Yu Peng , Chen Xiao-hu
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Exposure to air pollution has been linked to the mortality of heart failure. In this study, we sought to update the existing systematic review and meta-analysis, published in 2013, to further assess the association between air pollution and acute decompensated heart failure, including hospitalization and heart failure mortality.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and OVID databases were systematically searched till April 2022. We enrolled the studies regarding air pollution exposure and heart failure and extracted the original data to combine and obtain an overall risk estimate for each pollutant.

Results

We analyzed 51 studies and 7,555,442 patients. Our results indicated that heart failure hospitalization or death was associated with increases in carbon monoxide (3.46% per 1 part per million; 95% CI 1.0233–1.046, P < 0.001), sulfur dioxide (2.20% per 10 parts per billion; 95% CI 1.0106–1.0335, P < 0.001), nitrogen dioxide (2.07% per 10 parts per billion; 95% CI 1.0106–1.0335, P < 0.001), and ozone (0.95% per 10 parts per billion; 95% CI 1.0024–1.0166, P < 0.001) concentrations. Increases in particulate matter concentration were related to heart failure hospitalization or death (PM2.5 1.29% per 10 μg/m3, 95% CI 1.0093–1.0165, P < 0.001; PM10 1.30% per 10 μg/m3, 95% CI 1.0102–1.0157, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The increase in the concentration of all pollutants, including gases (carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone) and particulate matter [(PM2.5), (PM10)], is positively correlated with hospitalization rates and mortality of heart failure.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42021256241.
Early detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants through dynamic co-mutation network surveillance
Authors: Huang Qiang , Qiu Huining , Bible Paul W. , Huang Yong , Zheng Fangfang , Gu Jing , Sun Jian , Hao Yuantao , Liu Yu
Published: January 2023

Background

Precise public health and clinical interventions for the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a global rush on SARS-CoV-2 variant tracking, but current approaches to variant tracking are challenged by the flood of viral genome sequences leading to a loss of timeliness, accuracy, and reliability. Here, we devised a new co-mutation network framework, aiming to tackle these difficulties in variant surveillance.

Methods

To avoid simultaneous input and modeling of the whole large-scale data, we dynamically investigate the nucleotide covarying pattern of weekly sequences. The community detection algorithm is applied to a co-occurring genomic alteration network constructed from mutation corpora of weekly collected data. Co-mutation communities are identified, extracted, and characterized as variant markers. They contribute to the creation and weekly updates of a community-based variant dictionary tree representing SARS-CoV-2 evolution, where highly similar ones between weeks have been merged to represent the same variants. Emerging communities imply the presence of novel viral variants or new branches of existing variants. This process was benchmarked with worldwide GISAID data and validated using national level data from six COVID-19 hotspot countries.

Results

A total of 235 co-mutation communities were identified after a 120 weeks' investigation of worldwide sequence data, from March 2020 to mid-June 2022. The dictionary tree progressively developed from these communities perfectly recorded the time course of SARS-CoV-2 branching, coinciding with GISAID clades. The time-varying prevalence of these communities in the viral population showed a good match with the emergence and circulation of the variants they represented. All these benchmark results not only exhibited the methodology features but also demonstrated high efficiency in detection of the pandemic variants. When it was applied to regional variant surveillance, our method displayed significantly earlier identification of feature communities of major WHO-named SARS-CoV-2 variants in contrast with Pangolin's monitoring.

Conclusion

An efficient genomic surveillance framework built from weekly co-mutation networks and a dynamic community-based variant dictionary tree enables early detection and continuous investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants overcoming genomic data flood, aiding in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Strategies for implementing the interRAI home care frailty scale with home-delivered meal clients
Authors: Juckett Lisa A. , Oliver Haley V. , Hariharan Govind , Bunck Leah E. , Devier Andrea L.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Frailty is a complex condition that is highly associated with health decline and the loss of independence. Home-delivered meal programs are designed to provide older adults with health and nutritional support that can attenuate the risk of frailty. However, home-delivered meal agencies do not routinely assess frailty using standardized instruments, leading to uncertainty over the longitudinal impact of home-delivered meals on frailty levels. Considering this knowledge gap, this study aimed to facilitate home-delivered meal staff's implementation of a standardized frailty instrument with meal clients as part of routine programming. This article (a) describes the use of Implementation Mapping principles to develop strategies supporting frailty instrument implementation in one home-delivered meal agency and (b) examines the degree to which a combination of strategies influenced the feasibility of frailty instrument use by home-delivered meal staff at multiple time points.

Methods and materials

This retrospective observational study evaluated staff's implementation of the interRAI Home Care Frailty Scale (HCFS) with newly enrolled home-delivered meal clients at baseline-, 3-months, and 6-months. The process of implementing the HCFS was supported by five implementation strategies that were developed based on tenets of Implementation Mapping. Rates of implementation and reasons clients were lost to 3- and 6-month follow-up were evaluated using univariate analyses. Client-level data were also examined to identify demographic factors associated with attrition at both follow-up time points.

Results

Staff implemented the HCFS with 94.8% (n = 561) of eligible home-delivered meal clients at baseline. Of those clients with baseline HCFS data, staff implemented the follow-up HCFS with 43% of clients (n = 241) at 3-months and 18.0% of clients (n = 101) at 6-months. Insufficient client tracking and documentation procedures complicated staff's ability to complete the HCFS at follow-up time points.

Discussion

While the HCFS assesses important frailty domains that are relevant to home-delivered meal clients, its longitudinal implementation was complicated by several agency- and client-level factors that limited the extent to which the HCFS could be feasibly implemented over multiple time points. Future empirical studies are needed to design and test theoretically derived implementation strategies to support frailty instrument use in the home- and community-based service setting.
Effects of risk perception and agricultural socialized services on farmers' organic fertilizer application behavior: Evidence from Shandong Province, China
Authors: Ren Zhong
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The application of organic fertilizer is an important measure to control agricultural non-point source pollution, improve the quality of cultivated land and enhance the degree of agricultural green development.

Methods

Based on the survey data of sample farmers in Shandong Province, China, the binary Probit model is used to analyze the influence of risk perception and agricultural socialized services and their interaction on farmers' organic fertilizer application behavior, and further analyze the difference of influence between groups of risk perception and agricultural socialized services on farmers' organic fertilizer application behavior with different characteristics.

Results and discussion

We found that risk perception has a significant negative impact on farmers' organic fertilizer application behavior. Farmers with stronger technical risk perception and market risk perception are less likely to apply organic fertilizer. Agricultural socialized services have a significant positive impact on farmers' organic fertilizer application behavior, and can effectively alleviate the inhibitory effect of risk perception on farmers' organic fertilizer application behavior. The roles of risk perception and agricultural socialized services vary greatly among different farmer groups. For older generation, large-scale and pure agricultural farmers, agricultural socialized services can more effectively alleviate the inhibitory effect of risk perception on organic fertilizer application behavior.
Sequencing patterns of ventilatory indices in less trained adults
Authors: Pühringer Martin , Ring-Dimitriou Susanne , Iglseder Bernhard , Frey Vanessa , Trinka Eugen , Paulweber Bernhard
Published: January 2023

Submaximal ventilatory indices, i.e., point of optimal ventilatory efficiency (POE) and anaerobic threshold (AT), are valuable indicators to assess the metabolic and ventilatory response during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). The order in which the ventilatory indices occur (ventilatory indices sequencing pattern, VISP), may yield additional information for the interpretation of CPET results and for exercise intensity prescription. Therefore, we determined whether different VISP groups concerning POE and AT exist. Additionally, we analysed fat metabolism via the exercise intensity eliciting the highest fat oxidation rate (Fatmax) as a possible explanation for differences between VISP groups. 761 less trained adults (41–68 years) completed an incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer until volitional exhaustion. The ventilatory indices were determined using automatic and visual detection methods, and Fatmax was determined using indirect calorimetry. Our study identified two VISP groups with a lower work rate at POE compared to AT in VISPPOE < AT but not in group VISPPOE = AT. Therefore, training prescription based on POE rather than AT would result in different exercise intensity recommendations in 66% of the study participants and consequently in unintended physiological adaptions. VISPPOE < AT participants were not different to VISPPOE = AT participants concerning VO2peak and Fatmax. However, participants exhibiting a difference in work rate (VISPPOE < AT) were characterized by a higher aerobic capacity at submaximal work rate compared to VISPPOE = AT. Thus, analysing VISP may help to gain new insights into the complex ventilatory and metabolic response to exercise. But a methodological framework still must be established.
Nitrogen balance is a predictor of farm business performance in the English Farm Business Survey
Authors: Gray Betts Clare , Hicks Damien , Reader Mark , Wilson Paul
Published: January 2023

Global environmental sustainability and food security are fundamental societal issues, and most crop production relies upon inputs from organic or inorganic nitrogen sources. Previous research in the Global North has demonstrated a typical over application of nitrogen across global agriculture with substantial negative impacts on the environment. The objective of this work was to draw on English Farm Business Survey (FBS) data of non-organic General Cropping and Cereal farms to explore the relationship between farm gate nitrogen balance, fertilizer application advice and farm business performance. A mixed effects generalized modeling approach was used to partition the variance into random (such as year, or farm ID) and fixed effects (those of interest). Whilst the financial performance of farm businesses is subject to high variance and multiple drivers, a negative relationship was detected between business performance and farm gate nitrogen balance, we demonstrate that nitrogen lost to the environment of >60 kg per hectare is associated with a significant negative impact on farm performance. Supplier-provided fertilizer advice was also associated with reduced farm performance. These results imply a positive effect on farm performance of enhancing on-farm understanding of crop nutrient requirements through the provision of accredited fertilizer advice. Within the stated bounds our model demonstrates good predictivity on randomly subsetted data, and is presented as a tool for use in scenario modeling of interventions such as agri-environment schemes, Natural Capital and Ecosystems Assessment, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Comparison of robot versus fluoroscopy-assisted pedicle screw instrumentation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery: A retrospective study
Authors: Hou Canglong , Yang Huan , Chen Yu , Yang Yilin , Zhang Beichen , Chen Kai , Li Ming , Yang Mingyuan , Chen Kai
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to explore whether a robot-assisted (RA) technique has advantages over the conventional fluoroscopy-assisted (FA) technique in clinical and radiological outcomes and whether it could decrease the incidence of mis-implantations of pedicle screws in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) correction surgery. A total of 101 patients with AIS were recruited (RA group: 45 patients underwent RA screw insertion; FA group: 56 patients underwent FA screw insertion). When comparing the radiological data between the two groups, the major and secondary curves were both corrected proficiently with no difference in Cobb angle comparison at the last follow-up, suggesting that both the RA technique and the FA technique could lead to efficient radiographic correction and similar clinical outcomes (all, p > 0.05). In the RA group, operation time, blood loss, and transfusion volume were significantly greater than those in the FA group, while the accuracy of screw implantations in patients with AIS with a thoracic scoliotic curve in the RA group was higher than that in the FA group. In conclusion, both the RA and FA techniques could approach proficient radiographic correction and similar clinical outcomes in AIS surgery. Compared with the conventional fluoroscopy technique, the RA technique might improve the accuracy of screw implantations in patients with AIS with a thoracic scoliotic curve, while the increased operation time, blood loss, and transfusion volume might be the disadvantages due to the preliminary stage of the learning curve.